News Roundup: Here's What You Missed
By Oluwakemi Ike
@kemgross
1. Hearing to be Held on Russian Election Meddling:
Members of the House Intelligence Committee have scheduled a hearing for F.B.I director James B. Comey and director of National Security Adm. Michael S. Rogers as the panel investigates Russia's influences in the 2016 presidential election. The panel will also be focusing on the ties between President Trump’s associates and Russia. Although James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, denied the existence of the allegations. Rep. Adam Schaffer reported to “Meet The Press” about the definite possibility of a conspiracy through Russia. “There is certainly enough for us to conduct an investigation,” said Schiff. “The American people have a right to know and in order to defend ourselves, we need to know whether the circumstantial evidence of collusion and direct evidence of deception is indicative of more.”
- Source: NBC News
2. Uber’s Second President Bails:
The popular transportation service, Uber has just lost their president, Jeff Jones after just six months with the title. Jones left Target to start a career with Uber as the second executive. His main goal was to restructure the businesses tainted reputation of sexual harassment and sexism charges. “The beliefs and approach to leadership that have guided my career are inconsistent with what I saw and expected at Uber,” Jones stated. Jones was second in command to CEO Travis Kalanick who needed help leading the company after its numerous problems. Jones is the latest in the series of executives leaving the company.
- Source: CNN
3. Ex-North Carolina Police Chief Detained at Airport
Former Alexandria deputy police chief, Hassan Aden was held for 90 minutes at JFK International Airport because of his name. Aden was returning from celebrating his mothers birthday in Paris when he was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and was asked, “Are you traveling alone?” He was then told to, “take a walk.” Aden was escorted to a makeshift office and was hardly given information as to why he was being held up and his cellphone usage was prohibited. “It just feels like ever since the talk of the travel ban it’s like now there's actually – there's some tangible experience…of that talk,” said Italian-born Aden. Although he is not Muslim, he is aware of the prejudgement and attitudes authorities could uphold due to his name.
- Source: The Washington Post
4. Legendary N.Y. Daily News Columnist Jimmy Breslin Dies at 88:
The Pulitzer Prize winner Jimmy Breslin died Sunday in his home in Manhattan. He was 88 years-old. He was a best selling author, but also a beacon in New York City journalism for decades. He was known for documenting the heart of the city with a sharp wit and blunt outlook. Although he was loved and loathed, his hard-hitting words captured the attention of the New York community and many more around the country. He often stated that he applied a sportswriter approach to his news columns. He would avoid the herd of journalists waiting for the winner and go straight to the loser’s locker for the story. “So you go to a big thing like this presidential assassination,” he said, in a 2006 New York Times interview. “Well, you’re looking for the dressing room, that's all. And I did. I went there automatic.” The Pulitzer committee explained that his columns “consistently championed ordinary citizens.”
- Source: New York Times
5. Beauty and the Beast Beats Hollywood Records:
Beauty and the Beast gained $170 million at the North American box office. The box office smash broke the record for the biggest March opening that was made last year by Bateman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. The Disney musical also made $180 million in overseas ticket sales, now on track to make $1 billion worldwide. “The world is a pretty cynical place right now, and Beauty and the Beast gave audiences an opportunity to go back to a time of innocence,” said Greg Foster, chief executive of IMAX.
- Source: New York Times