Month: February 2021

The House approved a resolution Thursday removing GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from her assigned committees. The final vote tally was 230-199 and 11 with Republicans voting in support of the resolution. Greene, a vocal supporter of Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of election fraud, has been condemned by Democrats and many Republicans for embracing numerous conspiracy theories in videos and social media activity before she took office this year.

Greene appeared to endorse violence against prominent Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and suggested that the Sandy Hook and Parkland shootings were staged “false flag” operations. They have since been taken down. The move to remove Greene from the House Education and Labor Committee, as well as the House Budget Committee, came after Republican leaders refused to remove her themselves following pressure from Democrats to do so. 

Greene said in a speech ahead of the vote: “These were words of the past and these things do not represent me, they do not represent my district and they do not represent my values. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity, and I’ll tell you why. I believe in God with all my heart, and I am so grateful to be humbled, to be reminded that I’m a sinner, and that Jesus died on the cross to forgive me for — to forgive me for my sins. This is something I absolutely rejoice in today to tell you all. I think it’s important for all of us to remember, none of us are perfect. None of us are.”‘

House votes to remove Marjorie Taylor Greene from committee assignments

Via www.msn.com

The House voted Thursday evening to remove Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from her…

02/04/2021 5:53 PM

 

Johnson & Johnson submitted an application on Thursday to the Food and Drug Administration for an emergency use authorization of its experimental Covid-19 vaccine. The FDA could grant that authorization within weeks; if authorized, it would give the U.S. a third Covid-19 vaccine, along with those from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

Dr. Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer at Johnson & Johnson, said in a press release, “Today’s submission for emergency use authorization of our investigational single-shot Covid-19 vaccine is a pivotal step toward reducing the burden of disease for people globally and putting an end to the pandemic.” Stoffels said the company would be ready to begin shipping vaccines if the FDA grants the company emergency use authorization. J&J previously said it expects to supply 100 million doses to the U.S. by June. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, made in partnership with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, only requires basic refrigeration and is given as a single dose. Other vaccines, including Pfizer and Moderna’s shots, require two doses.

J&J just asked the US for emergency authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine, kicking off a process that could green light its shot within weeks

Via www.msn.com

A third coronavirus vaccine could be weeks away from reaching the American public.  Johnson…

02/04/2021 4:44 PM

 

On Wednesday, the Virginia Senate approved legislation to abolish the death penalty, bringing the state one step closer to becoming the 23rd state to do so. The upper chamber of the General Assembly voted 21-17 on the bill along party lines. The Virginia House of Delegates must still vote on the legislation — and the two chambers must agree on a matching bill — before it can be sent to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam for signature. 

Gov. Northam, called for the repeal of the death penalty during his State of the Commonwealth address last month, saying, “It’s time to change the law and end the death penalty in Virginia. We’re taking these actions because we value people, and because we believe in treating people equitably. That matters in policy, and it matters in symbols.”

Twenty-two states have abolished the death penalty and three have moratoriums on the practice. President Joe Biden has promised to work toward repeal at the federal level.

Virginia Senate passes death penalty abolition bill

Via abcnews.go.com

The Virginia Senate has passed a bill that would abolish the death penalty

02/03/2021 8:19 PM

 

Prosecutors said on Wednesday that a former Ohio police officer has been indicted in the fatal shooting of a black man last month. Adam Coy, the white officer who served with the Columbus Police Department, was indicted by a Franklin County grand jury in the shooting death of Andre Hill, 47. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said Coy was indicted on charges of murder, felonious assault and dereliction of duty.

The shooting occurred on Dec. 22, when Coy and another officer, Amy Detweiler, responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle. Police body camera footage showed Hill emerging from a garage and holding up a cellphone in his left hand, seconds before he was fatally shot by Coy, Coy had not activated the body camera, but an automatic “look back” feature captured the shooting without audio. Detweiler told investigators that Coy yelled, “There’s a gun in his other hand” before opening fire. Hill was on the garage floor for several minutes before an officer came to his aid, and was taken to an area hospital where he later died.

Former Ohio police officer indicted in fatal shooting of Andre Hill

Via www.nbcnews.com

Adam Coy, a 19-year-veteran, had been fired from the Columbus police department. He was indicted…

02/03/2021 8:00 PM

Editorial credit: Picture This Images / Shutterstock.com

Prosecutors said on Wednesday that a former Ohio police officer has been indicted in the fatal shooting of a black man last month. Adam Coy, the white officer who served with the Columbus Police Department, was indicted by a Franklin County grand jury in the shooting death of Andre Hill, 47. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said Coy was indicted on charges of murder, felonious assault and dereliction of duty.

The shooting occurred on Dec. 22, when Coy and another officer, Amy Detweiler, responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle. Police body camera footage showed Hill emerging from a garage and holding up a cellphone in his left hand, seconds before he was fatally shot by Coy, Coy had not activated the body camera, but an automatic “look back” feature captured the shooting without audio. Detweiler told investigators that Coy yelled, “There’s a gun in his other hand” before opening fire. Hill was on the garage floor for several minutes before an officer came to his aid, and was taken to an area hospital where he later died.

Former Ohio police officer indicted in fatal shooting of Andre Hill

Via www.nbcnews.com

Adam Coy, a 19-year-veteran, had been fired from the Columbus police department. He was indicted…

02/03/2021 8:00 PM

 

Editorial credit: Picture This Images / Shutterstock.com