News Roundup: Here's What you Missed
By Jullian Aiden Bravo
@Mr_Reporter_
1. Judge in Hawaii Extends Order to Block Trump Travel Ban:
District Judge Derrick Watson in Hawaii extended his previous ruling blocking President Trump’s travel ban, which would have prevented refugees and people from Muslim countries from entering the U.S. Trump’s executive order has been criticized as a “Muslim ban” but Trump has denied this, arguing that the orders were necessary to protect Americans from terrorism. “We do not fault President Trump for being politically incorrect,” said Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin.
- Source: NBC News
2. Chris Christie Allies Receive Prison Time:
Two of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s allies were given prison time for their roles in the Bridgegate scandal of 2013 in which access lanes to the George Washington Bridge were intentionally shut down in retaliation against a democratic mayor who did not endorse Christie, a republican governor. Bill Baroni, who served as deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, received two years in prison and 500 hours of community service. Christie's former deputy chief of staff, Bridgette Kelly, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and one year probation.
- Source: USA Today, NBC News
3. Deal Reached in North Carolina to Repeal Controversial Bathroom Law:
Lawmakers in North Carolina announced on March 29 that they had struck a deal to repeal House Bill 2, which removes legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and sets rules that affect transgender bathroom use in public buildings. Gay rights activists continued to raise objections, arguing that the deal would still allow discrimination. House Bill 2 was signed in March 2016 by then-governor Pat McCrory, a Republican. According to the New York Times, It is unclear if the deal would put an end to the boycotts by sports leagues, businesses and others that have harmed North Carolina's reputation and economy.
- Source: The New York Times
4. Iraqi Forces Push For Key Mosque in Mosul:
The battle to take back the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State (IS) continues as Iraqi forces besiege the area around the Great Mosque of al-Nuri. This particular mosque is where IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed the establishment of a "caliphate" in 2014. According to Federal police chief Lt. Gen. Raed Jawdat, police have also retaken the Qadheeb al-Ban district and the al-Malab sports stadium. In just over a month 307 people have been killed and 273 wounded. Eastern Mosul was retaken in January. If the offensive proves successful, the final IS stronghold in Iraq will be no more.
- Source: BBC News
5. Al Gore’s New Film on Climate Change:
Al Gore’s new film titled “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power” is set to debut in theaters on July 28. Gore’s new film explores the effects that global warming has on Earth. The trailer for the film first debut the same day President Trump signed an executive order that would roll back the Obama administration’s policies on climate change and re-open federal land to coal mining.
- Source: Mashable