It’s been a busy week with news, sports, entertainment, and politics!
Here are the ten most important stories you need to know heading into the weekend:
10. Grammy Winning Gospel Star Mandisa Dead At 47
Grammy winning gospel singer Mandisa, made famous from American Idol, has died.
According to The Hollywood Reporter:
“American Idol alum Mandisa has died at 47. A rep for the Christian singer told The Tennessean that Mandisa was found dead in her Nashville home on Thursday. The cause of death is unknown, the rep said, declining to share further details.
“We ask for your prayers for her family and close-knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time,” the rep added.
Fellow Christian singer Natalie Grant paid tribute to her late friend on social media. “I can’t quite find the words. When I learned of your passing yesterday, I begged God for it not to be true. I remember making our Opry debut together. We were so excited. But I remember our conversation so vividly. You belonged there. You always belonged, Disa,” she wrote.”
9. “Creepy” Caitlin Clark Press Conference Raises Eyebrows
A press conference with newly drafted WNBA star Caitlyn Clark has some questioning the appropriateness of a reporter’s comments.
“Caitlin Clark’s introductory press conference with the Indiana Fever went awry after a local reporter’s uncomfortable exchange with the basketball star went viral on social media.
During the 22-year-old’s presser on April 17, columnist Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star used his time to hold up his hands to form a heart towards her, a gesture Clark is known for doing with her family after every game.
Clark said, “You like that?” after Doyel’s gesture, to which he replied: “I like that you’re here.” Clark added, “Yeah, I do that at my family after every game.” Doyel responded, “Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine.”
Later, Doyel released a column in which apologized to Clark. “Caitlin Clark, I’m so sorry. Today I was part of the problem,” he wrote in a post with the column’s link.”
8. New Hampshire Releases Murderer Who Stabbed Couple To Death
A man who—along with a friend—stabbed a couple to death nearly 25 years ago in New Hampshire, will now be set free.
“A man who spent more than 20 years in prison for murdering two married Dartmouth College professors back in 2001 has been granted parole.
James Parker was 16 when he was part of a conspiracy with his best friend that resulted in the deaths of Half and Susanne Zantop in Hanover, New Hampshire. Now just shy of 40, he appeared before the state parole board, years after pleading guilty to being an accomplice to second-degree murder and serving nearly the minimum term of his 25-years-to-life sentence.
His lawyer and Department of Corrections staff said he has taken many steps through the years to rehabilitate himself and make life better for fellow inmates. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in prison and created paintings that are displayed in the building. He’s been a part of theatrical, musical and sports activities and has helped develop inmate education guides.”
7. Biden Says Uncle’s Remains Were Lost After WW2 Because Of Cannibals In New Guinea
In a bizarre statement during a recent speech, Joe Biden claimed his Uncle’s remains were lost after World War 2 because of cannibals.
“President Joe Biden on Wednesday suggested twice that the United States was unable to recover his uncle Ambrose Finnegan’s remains after Finnegan’s plane crashed near New Guinea during World War II, “because there used to be a lot of cannibals” in the region.
Biden’s accounting of his uncle’s death — and possible cannibalization — differs from the account published by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting agency, which says Finnegan’s plane, an A-20 Havoc headed to New Guinea on a courier flight, was “forced to ditch in the ocean” off the coast of the island “for unknown reasons.”
“And my uncle, they called him – Ambrose, they called him Bosie… and he became an Army Air Corps, before the Air Force came along, he flew those single engine planes as reconnaissance over war zones,” Biden said during remarks at the United Steelworkers Headquarters in Pittsburgh. “And he got shot down in New Guinea, and they never found the body because there used to be a lot of cannibals – for real – in that part of the New Guinea.”
6. Foreign Aid Package Has House Speaker Mike Johnson In The Hot Seat
Legislation providing aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan is causing problems for House Speaker Mike Johnson.
“The House advanced legislation Friday to send aid to Ukraine and other embattled U.S. allies overseas, clearing a key procedural hurdle after Democrats stepped in to back the measure — a rare move by the minority party, but one that was crucial to nudge the package forward in the face of fierce conservative opposition. The chamber approved the foreign aid rule in a 316-94 vote, opening up debate on a quartet of bills combining military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with humanitarian assistance to Gaza and other global war zones.
The advancement brings Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) one step closer to passing an explosive foreign aid package that has been the subject of intense debate within the Capitol — and his conference — for months amid dire warnings from lawmakers, U.S. officials and foreign figures that Kyiv’s beleaguered forces need more U.S. assistance.
But the bipartisan vote is sure to land Johnson in more hot water with his right flank, which has sharply criticized the package — both for the billions of dollars in Ukraine aid and the exclusion of border security — and have long denounced the Speaker’s tendency to work with Democrats to advance key priorities including, now, foreign assistance.”
5. Palestinian Protesters Arrested By NYPD At Columbia University
Dozens of pro-Palestenian demonstrators disrupting the Columbia University campus were forcefully removed by New York Police earlier this week.
“New York police removed a pro-Palestinian protest encampment at Columbia University on Thursday and arrested more than 100 demonstrators, including the daughter of a prominent Minnesota congresswoman.
Several students involved in the protest said they also were suspended from Columbia and Barnard College, including Isra Hirsi, who is the daughter of Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Omar had questioned Columbia’s president, Nemat Shafik, at a hearing Wednesday in Congress about the school’s targeting of pro-Palestinian protesters.
Police said 108 people, including Hirsi, were charged with trespassing at the private Ivy League institution. Two people were also charged with obstructing government administration.”
4. President Trump’s New York Jury Selection Complete: Meet The Jurors
Jury selection in President Trump’s New York trial is now complete, so who are the jurors that will decide the case?
“Juror No 1
Juror No 1, a man, works in sales and previously worked as a waiter, and has some college education. He is married with no children, and says he gets news from a range of outlets such as the New York Times, the Daily Mail, Fox News and MSNBC.
Juror No 2
Juror No 2 is a married man who works in investment banking. He has an MBA in finance. He described himself as someone who “reads basically everything” and said that while he doesn’t hold any strong beliefs or opinions, he does follow the news and sees Trump’s Truth Social posts via Twitter. He told the court that he had not read any of Trump’s books, but had seen quotes from The Art of the Deal.
Juror No 3
Juror No 3 is a man who appeared to be in his late 20s or early 30s, who is originally from the west coast. He works in corporate law and said that he gets his news from the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Google.
Juror No 4
Juror No 4 is a man who is originally from the west coast. He is a security engineer with some college education, and is married with children. He said he was not on social media, and once served on a criminal jury in the past though could not remember the verdict. When asked if he had any concerns about returning a guilty verdict, he said no.
Juror No 5
Juror No 5 is a young woman who said that she had friends with strong opinions on Trump, but that she was not a political person and avoided the news. She said she did appreciate Trump’s candor, and that he “speaks his mind, and I’d rather that than someone who’s in office who you don’t know what they’re thinking”.
Juror No 6
Juror No 6 is a woman who works in tech. She told the court that she had no strong feelings about Trump, and pledged to be fair and impartial. She is unmarried with no children, and gets her news from the New York Times, Google, Facebook and TikTok.
Juror No 7
Juror No 7 is a man in his late middle age who works as a civil litigator. He is married with children and has never served on a jury. He gets his news from a variety of outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post and the Washington Post, and from podcasts.
Juror No 8
Juror No 8 is a retired wealth manager who is married with children. Asked if he had any strong opinions about Trump, he paused for a moment before answering yes. When the judge followed up to ask him if he could be fair and impartial, he said he could.
Juror No 9
Juror No 9 is a woman who told the court she believed she could fully follow the judge’s instructions, but was not well versed in legal proceedings. She lives alone, does not follow the news closely and is originally from New Jersey.
Juror No 10
Juror No 10 is a man who works in e-commerce and said he did not really check the news, but listens to podcasts on behavioral psychology. He is originally from Ohio.
Juror No 11
Juror No 11 is a woman who said she did not follow the news, but did watch late-night comedy shows. She is originally from California, and said she had never rallied for or against Trump. One of her close friends was convicted of financial fraud, she said.
Juror No 12
Juror No 12 is a woman who works as a physical therapist. She lived in a few states before coming to New York, reads major news outlets and listens to podcasts about sports and faith.”
3. Mayorkas Impeachment Dismissed In Senate
Impeachment charges passed by the House against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has been tossed in the Senate.
“The Senate clash over the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas lasted less than three hours as Democrats moved quickly on Wednesday to dismiss the charges as unconstitutional.
The stunted Senate trial marked the end of the deeply partisan and historic effort to convict and remove Mayorkas from office over his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Senate Democrats voted along party lines to kill the two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas as unconstitutional for failing to meet the constitutional bar of a high crime or misdemeanor, arguing that it could set a dangerous precedent and that a cabinet member should not be impeached merely for carrying out the policies of their Administration.”
2. Judge May Not Allow President Trump To Attend Barron’s Graduation
The Judge in President Trump’s New York trial sparked outrage this week after he refused to say whether or not Trump can attend his son Barron’s high school graduation.
“While Merchan quickly declined to adjourn for the Supreme Court hearing — noting that Trump’s first priority should be attending his trial — he kicked the question of Barron’s graduation down the line, saying that he has no issue with the nature of the request but needs to see how the trial unfolds before making a decision.
“Regarding counsel’s request that the court adjourn on Friday, May 17th for Mr. Trump to attend his son’s high school graduation and Friday, June 3rd to allow a member of the defense team to attend their son’s graduation, I cannot rule on those two requests at this time,” Merchan said.
“It really depends on how we are doing on time and where we are in the trial,” he continued. “If everything is going according to schedule without unnecessary delays, then I am sure we will be able to adjourn for one or both of those days, but if we are running behind schedule, we will not be able to.”
1. Israel Bombs Iran In Response To Drone Attack
After a drone attack from Iran last weekend, Israel responded this week by bombing the “Islamic Republic.”
“Israel launched a retaliatory strike against Iran early Friday morning local time, a senior U.S. official told ABC News.
The strike followed Iran’s attack on Saturday, when Tehran sent a volley of more than 300 drones and missiles toward targets in Israel, according to Israeli military officials. All but a few were intercepted by Israel and its allies, including the United States, officials said.
Iran’s weekend attack came more than six months after Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7, after which the Israeli military began its bombardment of Gaza.”
