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An Atlanta cyclist helped apprehend a murder suspect by lending an officer his wheels

A cyclist assisted Atlanta police in the capture of a murder suspect by loaning an officer his bike for the chase. On Tuesday, officers were canvassing an area in the city’s Old Fourth Ward where a fatal shooting occurred when they spotted the suspect, according to a news release from the Atlanta Police Department. The…

Afghan translator who saved US lives and helped fellow translators escape danger becomes a US citizen

Janis Shinwari is celebrating his first Fourth of July as a US citizen. His journey to the US started on the battlefield in his native Afghanistan. Shinwari, 42, served nine years as a translator for US forces, knowing he was risking his life and endangering his family. During that span, Shinwari saved the lives of…

PSA: Please stop microwaving your books to get rid of coronavirus

Some things, we suppose, just need to be spelled out. Here’s one: Do not microwave your books to get rid of the coronavirus. That’s the word from staffers at the Kent District Library in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A few days ago, the library received a book that appears to have been burnt in a microwave.…

2 Texas counties urge residents to shelter in place as hospitals reach capacity

Hospitals in at least two Texas counties are at full capacity heading into the Fourth of July holiday weekend, with county judges urging residents to shelter in place. Judges in Starr and Hidalgo counties sent out emergency alerts Friday, warning residents that local hospitals in the Rio Grande Valley were at capacity. Judge Eloy Vera…

More than 1,400 Georgia healthcare workers sign letter asking governor for more coronavirus restrictions

More than 1,400 Georgia healthcare workers have petitioned the state’s governor asking that he impose further restrictions to slow the spread of Covid-19. Georgia has seen the virus surge in the past week, with the number of new cases increasing by over 50%. In a letter dated Thursday, the healthcare workers ask that Gov. Brian…

Gamblers can (legally) bet on the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest for the first time in the July Fourth event’s history

Bettors with the stomach for it can now legally put up their money to see how many hot dogs Joey Chestnut will take down. For the first time ever, wagering on the iconic July Fourth Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest is on the table for US sportsbooks. The event has long been a favorite…

Transgender advocacy group launches Spanish language hotline service

After experiencing a surge in calls, a transgender advocacy group launched a Spanish language version of their hotline on Wednesday. Trans Lifeline, which started as a hotline in 2014 and is run by transgender volunteers, says it has witnessed a massive increase of Spanish speakers seeking help in the last two years, according to a…

Instagram star flaunted lavish lifestyle but was actually conspiring to launder hundreds of millions of dollars, US prosecutors say

A Nigerian man nicknamed “Ray Hushpuppi” who flaunted his Rolls Royces, fancy watches and designer clothing on Instagram faces money laundering conspiracy charges in the United States, according to the Department of Justice. Ramon Olorunwa Abbas appeared in a federal court in Chicago on Friday. He is accused of conspiring to launder hundreds of millions…

2 more death row inmates at San Quentin die from coronavirus complications

At least three death row inmates at California’s San Quentin State Prison had coronavirus and died, corrections officials says. Scott Thomas Erskine, 57, and Manuel Machado Alvarez, 59, died Friday from “what appear to be complications related to Covid-19,” the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a statement. Both men had been hospitalized…

Dozens of administrators attended a school reopening meeting in California. One of them tested positive for Covid-19

Dozens of administrators from a California school district are in self-quarantine after attending an in-person meeting last month where an attendee tested positive for coronavirus. Santa Clara Unified School District Superintendent Stella Kemp said given the complexity of the plans for re-opening, the June 19 meeting of principals and administrators was held in-person with the…

In pursuit of Ghislaine Maxwell, authorities allege mysterious financial dealings with Jeffrey Epstein

In their pursuit of Ghislaine Maxwell for what they say is her role in Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking ring, federal prosecutors claim to have unearthed a series of unusual financial transactions involving the two that add a new layer to the mysterious financial complexities underpinning the larger Epstein saga. The financial relationship between Epstein,…

Officers fired over photos taken near Elijah McClain’s memorial

Two Aurora, Colorado, police officers involved in taking selfie photographs at the memorial site for Elijah McClain and an officer who failed to alert supervisors about the photos were fired on Friday. Interim Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson said officers Erica Marrero, Kyle Dittrich, and Jason Rosenblatt were terminated on Friday. A fourth officer, Jaron…

The FBI is assisting a hate crime investigation after a noose was found at a Kalamazoo, Michigan, high school

A hate crime investigation was launched after a noose was found hanging from the press box of a high school football stadium in Michigan. Security staff at Kalamazoo Central High School discovered the noose Thursday afternoon, according to a news release by the Township of Kalamazoo Police Department. The incident is being investigated as a…

NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson tests positive for Covid-19, will miss Sunday’s race

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has tested positive for Covid-19 and will miss Sunday’s race in Indianapolis, according to his team, Hendrick Motorsports. Johnson tested positive Friday afternoon after learning that his wife, Chandra, had tested positive, according to a news release. In Johnson’s absence, Justin Allgaier will drive the No. 48 Chevrolet…

An 8-year-old was killed and three others hurt during shooting at Alabama mall

An 8-year-old child was killed when shooting broke out Friday afternoon at the Riverchase Galleria shopping mall in a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, authorities tweeted. “Breaking: sadly, an eight year old child was killed earlier today at the Galleria. (We) will work tirelessly to bring the responsible individuals to justice. The investigation continues,” the Hoover…

If they’re going to rename the Washington Redskins, these are the likeliest contenders

The Washington Redskins could be sporting a new team name this fall, if and when the 2020 NFL season begins. Calls have been growing for the team to change its name in light of the recent protests against racial injustice and police brutality. Team owner Dan Snyder has resisted calls in the past to have…

Black high school baseball player says fans yelled ‘You should have been George Floyd’ and ‘Get back to the fields’

Competitive banter on the field during baseball games is a norm between teams and typically stretches into the bleachers among fans, but one school district in Iowa is saying comments made during a high school game crossed the line. A Black player for Charles City High School heard “several bigoted comments yelled from the crowd”…

A vintage clothing store isn’t arguing with customers about wearing masks

Antique Sugar co-owner Sarah Bingham is tired of arguing with customers who don’t want to put on a mask before coming into the vintage clothing shop in Phoenix, Arizona. The store was closed for 2½ months because of the coronavirus pandemic. Bingham said they put up a polite sign when the store reopened on June…

2 Oklahoma officers are charged with second-degree murder in man’s 2019 death

Two Oklahoma police officers were charged with second-degree murder this week in the Taser death of a 28-year-old man last year, authorities report. The charges follow a season of protests against police brutality and systemic racism after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Jared Lakey, 28, died on July 6, 2019, after being tased…

MLB cancels its 2020 All-Star Game

As the MLB season gears up for a late start this month, one thing will be missing: its annual All-Star Game. Major League Baseball made the announcement Friday, writing that — with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic — the annual game between the American League and the National League wouldn’t be possible this year. The Los…

A family posted a Martin Luther King Jr. quote in honor of Black Lives Matter. Their town told them to take it down

When George Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck, a New York family wanted to honor his life and show support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Since Avisia Brown and her mother had multiple health issues and didn’t feel safe going to protests, they decided to put several signs on…

Boy Scouts of America shows support for Black Lives Matter and will require some scouts to earn diversity badge

In a statement released in support of Black Lives Matter, the Boy Scouts of America said it will require Eagle Scouts to earn a diversity and inclusion badge. It’ll examine its own role in perpetuating racism, too. The organization, which also condemned the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, said it “has…

Workers, officials say too little too late after Tyson closes Waterloo pork plant: ‘All they talked about was production’

After more than a week of public pressure, Tyson announced Wednesday morning it will “indefinitely suspend operations” at its Waterloo, Iowa, pork processing plant that employs 2,800 people. However, workers and some officials say the halt comes too late. Almost half of Black Hawk County, Iowa’s Covid-19 cases are connected to the plant, according to…

New York crematories overwhelmed by the number of dead get help from volunteers

Crematoriums in hard hit areas of New York have a backlog of nearly a month and now volunteers are coming to their aid. Mike Lanotte, the executive director for the New York State Funeral Directors Association tells CNN that volunteers are helping to ease the burden that downstate crematories in places like Manhattan, Brooklyn and…

A guide to the NFL Draft: How to watch and what to know

It’s been nearly six weeks since live sports were stopped in the US and fans are getting antsy. Luckily, the NFL is still planning to hold the 2020 NFL Draft, giving action-starved fans something to watch while isolating in their homes. But since the world is still grappling with the coronavirus, some things will be…

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