News Rounup 10/18/18

Photo Courtesy: Associated press

By: Amalia Escobedo

1. Trump Threatens to send Military to Close U.S.-Mexico Border

On Thursday, October 18, President Trump threatened to send military troops to close down the U.S.-Mexico border. The threat came after a large caravan of immigrants from Honduras was seen making their way to the United States. Trump tweeted, “In addition to stopping all payments to these countries, which seem to have almost no control over their population, I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught - and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!” According to the Washington Post, Mexican officials stated that they would only allow those with proper documentation from the caravan into the U.S.

Source: Washington Post

2. “Ohio Officer Caught on Camera Warning Two Boys Holding BB Gun

A Columbus, Ohio police officer was caught on his body camera on October 17th approaching two boys with a BB gun. The two African-America males aged 11 and 13 were asked to drop to their knees before the officer, Peter Casuccio’s begin to lecture them bout holding a BB gun out in public. The video has since been posted on Facebook by the Columbus Police Division to warn youth but has gotten some controversial feedback.

Source: New York Times

3. Treasury Secretary Steven Munich Drops Out of Saudi Conference

On Thursday October 18, Treasury Secretary Steven Munich announced that he will not be attending the Conference being held in Saudi Arabia. Munich made this decision after Mike Pompeo urged President Trump to be patient with the Saudi investigation according to CNN. An investigation is being done on the death of Jamal Khashoggi a U.S. journalist claimed to have been killed by high ranking officials in Saudi Arabia.

Source: CNN

4. 2018 Midterm Election Could Reach Voter Turnout Record

The 2018 midterm elections could be seeing the highest voter turnout since the 1960’s Midterm elections. Michael McDonald a professor who studies and maintains voter turnout databases at the University of Florida states his prediction. According to NPR he believes there will be a turnout of 45 to 50 percent. The ballots have not seen such a high percentage of people casting votes since 1966 with a voter turnout of 49 percent.

Source: NPR

5. Australian Woman Charged For Fraudulent Cancer Claims

Lucy Wieland a 27 year old woman from Australia is being charged on accounts of faking that she had a terminal disease. Wieland made a GoFundMe account asking for money to fundraise for her ovarian cancer treatment. She also posted photos of her with medical equipment on her social media page. A member of the public gave officials a tip that Wieland was performing fraud. According to BBC she was charged for gaining $55,000 and GoFundMe has since removed her account and refunded all the members who gave.

Source: BBC