This Sunday we’ll be bringing in the news from the USA’s ABC News via Readspike World News.
At least one witness is expected to appear before the grand jury in Washington, D.C., investigating former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump aide Will Russell, who previously appeared before the grand jury, is set for a return appearance. Special counsel Jack Smith informed Trump that he is a target in the election probe, suggesting another indictment could be imminent. Witnesses, including Jared Kushner, have been questioned about Trump’s state of mind on Jan. 6 and whether he knew he lost the election. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and labeled the probe as a political witch hunt – Grand jury probing efforts to overturn 2020 election will speak with at least 1 more witness: Sources (ABC News)
The Department of Transportation (DOT) is investigating an incident where at least one Delta passenger was hospitalized for heat-related illness after the plane sat on the tarmac for hours in triple-digit temperatures in Las Vegas. The flight, bound for Atlanta, experienced extreme heat while taxiing at Harry Reid International Airport, leading to multiple passengers being treated for heat-related issues. Witnesses reported sitting on the hot plane for almost three hours in 111-degree weather. Delta Airlines is investigating the circumstances, and the DOT is examining the incident to ensure compliance with regulations requiring airlines to provide comfortable cabin temperatures during tarmac delays – Delta passengers fall sick while waiting on Vegas tarmac in triple-digit temperatures; DOT investigating (ABC News)
The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), central to the debate over COVID-19’s origins, has been suspended from U.S. funding opportunities by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The suspension is due to the WIV’s violation of the National Institutes of Health’s biosafety rules and failure to provide documentation on biosafety protocols and security measures. The NIH concluded that WIV’s research likely violated biosafety protocols, prompting the HHS to take “immediate action to protect the public interest.” The WIV, previously funded through EcoHealth Alliance, has not received NIH funding since the summer of 2020, and the suspension makes it ineligible for future federal awards. The WIV has 30 days to respond, and if they don’t, proceedings will begin to ban them longer term – US halts funding access to Wuhan lab at heart of COVID-19 origins debate (ABC News)
The $1 billion Powerball jackpot was won by a ticket sold in California. The winning numbers for the drawing were 7, 10, 11, 13, and 24, with the Powerball number 24. The jackpot ticket was sold at the Las Palmitas Mini Market in Los Angeles. The Powerball jackpot, which was last won on April 19, had reached a historic level, marking only the third time in Powerball’s history that a jackpot surpassed the billion-dollar threshold. The winner can choose between annual payments over 30 years or a lump sum payment. The Powerball jackpot has now reset to $20 million – Winning ticket for $1 billion Powerball jackpot sold in California (ABC News)
Four plaintiffs have testified in a lawsuit against the state of Texas, claiming that the state’s abortion bans put their lives in jeopardy. The lawsuit involves 15 individuals who allege that they were denied lifesaving emergency care due to Texas’ abortion laws. Lawyers representing the women are seeking a preliminary injunction on Texas’ abortion laws to allow for lifesaving abortions. The plaintiffs include individuals who experienced serious complications, such as sepsis and fatal fetal conditions, and were denied the necessary care due to the state’s restrictive abortion laws. The case is the first to be filed by women impacted by the abortion bans since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year – Women suing Texas over abortion bans give emotional testimony (ABC News)
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