News roundup: April 27 – June 12
Here are the top stories, April 27 to June 12 from Texas, the United States and around the world.
Texas
Santa Fe Shooting – A school shooting at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas occurred on May 18. The shooting left eight students and two teachers dead and 13 others wounded. The suspected shooter, 17-year-old student Dimitrios Pagourtzis, was taken into custody that day. Several families of the victims have joined a lawsuit against the parents of Pagourtzis, accusing them of gross negligence and access to Pagourtzis’ father’s .38 handgun and a sawed-off shotgun. Gov. Greg Abbot described the shooting as “one of the most heinous attacks that we’ve seen in the history of Texas schools.”
Houston-Microsoft alliance – A partnership between the city of Houston and Microsoft was announced by Mayor Sylvester Turner on May 4. The partnership will use sensors, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, drones and educational programs to enhance technology and STEM education in Houston. Turner said the partnership will look at improving city functions, finding efficient solutions to problems, and turn Houston into a hub for high-tech startups and venture capital.
HISD layoff – Houston Independent School District (HISD) began a series of layoffs for teachers for the 2018-2019 school year. The Houston Federation of Teachers stated April 27 that between 200 and 250 teachers, campus-based employees and staff at the central office will be affected. The layoffs are part of an effort to make cuts for a $115 million budget shortfall. The budget short is due in part to the impact of Hurricane Harvey on local property tax valuations. HISD encouraged any affected employees to seek other positions in the school district.
Harvey recovery – The city of Houston released a draft proposal June 8 detailing how the more than $1.1 billion in government funds for housing and recovery will be allocated. The proposal would utilize $600 million to fix or build single-family homes, while another $375 million would repair or construct apartments. An estimated 29 percent of Houston’s population had flood damage to their homes. The draft will be seen by Houston City Council on June 27, and still needs U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approval.
United States
Sexual harassment bill – The United States Senate released its version of a bill that would hold lawmakers accountable for sexual harassment. The Senate bill makes lawmakers pay for claims with their own money and make those payments public. The bill allows accusers 90 days after filing a claim to request a hearing or filing a civil action in federal district court. It requires members of both chambers to reimburse the U.S. Treasury for awards and settlements arising from harassment they themselves commit even if those members leave office. The House of Representatives passed a similar sexual harassment bill in February. Both versions will have to be reconciled and passed before a final version will be made law.
Immigration – United States officials stated June 7 that 1,600 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees will be transferred to federal prisons. Five federal prisons across the U.S. will temporarily take in detainees and asylum seekers awaiting civil immigration court hearings. One thousand detainees were bused to a federal prison in Victorville, California on June 9. Workers are moving about 500 inmates into a medium-security facility to make room for the detainees. Prison employee union leaders in California, Texas and Washington state, where the remainder of the detainees will be sent, said they were given little notice of the plan.
Navy hacked – The US Navy and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating a hack attack on a Navy contractor. The hack, allegedly by Chinese government hackers, stole hundreds of gigabytes of data, including plans for a supersonic anti-ship missile that was planned to be deployed to US submarines by 2020. The attack, which occurred in January and February, comes days before President Donald Trump attends a summit in Singapore with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a close ally of China. The contractor has not been identified.
Diplomat expelled – President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela ordered the expulsion of the top United States diplomat in Venezuela May 22. Maduro accused the diplomat, Todd Robinson, of being part of a “military conspiracy” against Venezuela’s socialist government. The expulsion was ratified in a new presidential mandate from Maduro following his victory in a controversial presidential election May 20.
International
Austria – Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced plans to close down seven mosques and potentially expel 60 imams from the country. Kurz claims the move is rooted in a 2015 law that requires Muslim organizations to express a positive view of Austrian state and society and bans foreign funding of religious institutions. Austrian Culture Minister Gernot Blumel told journalists the mosques were suspected of extremism. Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache added at the conference that the closings and expulsions were “just the beginning.”
Kenya – The Patel dam near the town of Solai, 120 miles north-west of Nairobi, burst on May 9. At least 2,000 people have been left homeless due to flooding in Solai, and at least 45 were killed and dozens of others still missing. It is estimated 70 million liters of water impacted Solai. The Kenyan government has made an appeal to its citizens May 11 to donate and aid in the recovery of the flood.
Russia – Russia launched a floating nuclear power plant April 28. The plant contains two nuclear reactors and will provide power to the Arctic city of Pevek. The plant will power the 100,000-person town, a desalination plant, and nearby oil rigs. The plant, called the Akademik Lomonosov, will be the northern-most nuclear power plant in the world and will replace the Bilibino nuclear power plant and the Chaunskaya Thermal Power Plant.
Italy – Italy’s populist government was sworn into power June 1. The new government is a coalition of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the far-right League party. The coalition represents the end of weeks of political turmoil in the European Union’s third-largest economy. The two parties were political opponents in the past but are expected to unite in their criticism and tough stance on the European Union.
North Korea – President Donald Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a summit in Singapore June 12. This meeting was the first face-to-face negotiation between the leaders of the two nations. The two discussed North Korea’s nuclear disarmament, steps towards ending the Korean War, and the cessation of United States-led war games with South Korea and Japan in the Sea of Japan and near the border of North Korea, concluding in a joint-signed agreement between the two nations. The details of the agreement, particularly the end of US military exercises, have been met with criticism, while North Korea’s promise to denuclearize has been met with skepticism.
On the bright side
Ken Jeong – Comedian Ken Jeong leaped offstage at a show in Phoenix, Arizona May 6 when a woman in the audience suffered a seizure. Jeong finished his standup routine after he and a paramedic tended to the woman, who was later transported by ambulance to a hospital. Jeong was a doctor before becoming an actor and is known for his memorable roles in “The Hangover” trilogy, “Community,” “Bob’s Burgers” and his own show “Dr. Ken.”
