News Roundup 8/27/18

Photo Courtesy: CNN

1. Senator John McCain Dies at Age 81

On Saturday August 25th Senator John McCain died at 81 years old. McCain's family revealed his decision to discontinue medical treatment for his brain cancer on Friday, August 25, 2018. The Republican senator of Arizona battled with brain cancer for a year, but previously struggled with skin cancer. A prisoner-of-war turned politician, McCain held a forty-year political career that resulted in two presidential campaigns including one against Former President, Barack Obama. A national memorial service will be held at Washington’s National Cathedral on Saturday, September 1st. After the service, McCain will be laid to rest in Annapolis, Maryland.

Source: CNN

2.Victims Revealed from the Mass Shooting in Jacksonville

Three people were killed and 11 others injured at the Landing Mall in Jacksonville, Florida this past Sunday, August 26th. EA Sports’s Madden NFL 19 championship series was held at the Landing Mall,with live coverage from gaming network, Twitch TV, when gunshots were heard within the audio. An active shooter was reported at 1:34 p.m and when police arrived on scene at 1:36 p.m., they found the shooter, David Katz,dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities revealed Katz, 24-years-old, purchased two handguns in Maryland before traveling to the competition at Landing. It was also revealed Katz was a winner at a Madden tournament in New York a year ago. While the motives are unknown at this time, the victims were identified today as Elijah Clayton,22-years-old, and Taylor Robertson, 28-years-old.

Source: TIME

3.Deadly Fire Erupts in Chicago

A fire broke out in the second story of a coach house on Sunday, August 26th, in the city of Chicago. Authorities arrived on scene at 4 a.m. after a neighbor saw the smoke and reported it before going door-to-door to notify local residents of the fire. The fire killed eight people,six of them children, who were at the house for a family sleepover. According to the Washington Post, a fire department spokesperson revealed that investigators found the fire started from an, “Enclosed rear porch” of the house and that there were no working smoke detectors inside the building. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

Source: The Washington Post

4.Federal Judge Blocks the Release of 3D Gun Blueprints

Cody Wilson founder of the Defense Distributed, released files in 2013 of blueprints of a plastic handgun that is made from a 3-D printer. The Obama Administration had then mandated for the company to take the post down, leading Wilson to sue the government. After reaching a settlement with the Trump Administration in June 2018,Wilson decided to reveal the files again. Today, U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnikis sued an extension on an earlier restraining order created to block the blueprints from release after attorney generals argued the guns are a risk to public safety.

Source: NBC News 

5.Venus Williams Advances in her 20th US Open

Venus Williams, 38-years-old, won her first-round match today at the US Open in New York against Svetlana Kuznetsova, 33-years-old, continuing her undefeated streak of first-round match wins in the US Open. Kuznetsova had previously played against Williams at the 2003 Australian Open and 2007 Wimbledon, but lost both tournaments. This match is the first time,former US Open Champions play against each other in the first round, as Williams and Kuznetsoya have won titles prior.

Source: USA Today