More from Karah Rucker
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Jury to hear opening statements in Trump’s first criminal trial
The 12-person jury is set to hear opening statements in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial. Learn more about what is in the $95 billion foreign aid package passed by the House. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, April 22, 2024. Jury to hear opening statements in Trump’s first criminal trial… -
Trump’s ‘hush money’ trial: Legal experts debate name coined by media.
Former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial, which began jury selection on Monday, April 15, has topped the week’s news cycle. Two key questions emerge: What is this case really about, and why is the media calling it a “hush money” trial when Trump isn’t being charged for paying off a porn star? The popularized… -
Department of Justice cracking down on carjackings in 7 states
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday, April 18, it plans to ramp up efforts to crack down on carjackings across the United States. The department announced the expansion of “Carjacking Task Forces.” The additional units will target areas described as a “public safety threat” in Washington, Oregon, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama.… -
Dozens detained during pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University
More than 100 students were arrested Thursday, April 18, at Columbia University during a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus’ main lawn. The arrests occurred as New York City police, in riot gear, dismantled a makeshift tent city that had been set up by the protesters without school permission after a second day of protest. University President Minouche… -
FBI director warns Chinese hackers waiting for ‘just the right moment’ to strike
FBI Director Christopher Wray warned that hackers linked to the Chinese government have infiltrated U.S. infrastructure and are waiting for “just the right moment to deal a devastating blow.” Wray emphasized the immediate threats China poses to U.S. national and economic security during his speech at the Vanderbilt Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats on… -
Israel carries out strike against Iran in response to drone attack
Israel struck back in its first military response to Iran since last weekend’s attack. The 12-person jury is selected in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, April 19, 2024. Israel carried out strike against Iran in response to drone attack Israeli forces struck back… -
Free speech fight after USC cancels valedictorian’s speech
The University of Southern California (USC) is continuing to receive backlash for its decision to cancel this year’s valedictorian’s graduation speech. USC banned Asna Tabassum, a senior majoring in biomedical engineering, from speaking at the school’s commencement ceremony in May, as the school cited safety concerns. Some Jewish students called for USC to disinvite Tabassum,… -
911 emergency outages resolved in four states
Emergency 911 services were restored Wednesday night, April 17, in South Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada and Texas following a major outage that left call centers unreachable for many residents. The cause has not been identified but Homeland Security has noted the increasing risks of cyberattacks on digital 911 systems. In Del Rio, Texas, the issue was traced to… -
Hawaii begins process of removing World War II Ha‘ikū Stairs
The “Stairway to Heaven” in Hawaii, officially known as the Ha‘ikū Stairs, is being dismantled after being closed to the public since 1987. Built by the U.S. Navy during World War II, the stairway consists of nearly 4,000 steps winding through a steep mountainside more than 2,800 feet above sea level. “I can promise you that this… -
Senate dismisses articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Mayorkas
The Senate took little time to dismiss impeachment charges against the Secretary of Homeland Security. A volcano erupted in Indonesia, prompting evacuations and fears of a tsunami. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, April 18, 2024. Senate dismissed articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Mayorkas The Senate quickly voted to dismiss… -
As US and China work to ease tensions, US Navy flies through Taiwan Strait
The U.S. Navy flew a patrol aircraft through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, April 17. The flyover happened just one day after discussions were held between the U.S. and China aimed at easing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. While the Taiwan Strait is considered international waters, China views it as part of its sovereign territory.… -
Caitlin Clark’s $76K WNBA first-year salary sparks wage gap debate
Women’s pay in professional sports is back in the spotlight after news hit that star player Caitlin Clark’s new WNBA contract is worth $76,535 her first year. The questions being debated are: Are women athletes fairly compensated given their teams’ lower revenue and ratings compared to the men’s? Or, is the pay gap too wide and… -
Heavy rain leads to ‘historic weather event’ in United Arab Emirates
Historic flooding in the United Arab Emirates has led to the closure of Dubai’s airport and schools canceling classes. The rain began late Monday, April 15, and by the night of Tuesday, April 17, Dubai had received more than 6 inches of rain in over 24 hours, far surpassing the city’s average annual rainfall of just…