Month: May 2021

On Wednesday, SpaceX successfully launched and landed its Starship moon and Mars rocket for the first time in Texas. Liftoff of the rocket prototype, SN15, occurred at 6:25 p.m. EDT at the company’s Starbase spaceport in Boca Chica, Texas, about 23 miles east of Brownsville.

The flight was the fifth for a Starship prototype, after all previous ones ended with a fiery explosion. One flight, named SN10 in March, landed upright briefly, but exploded minutes later. The successful flight is part of an “outstanding period as we work to enable the future of human spaceflight and expansion into the solar system,” said SpaceX principal engineer John Insprucker. Just after the landing, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk posted on Twitter: “Starship landing nominal!”

NASA selected Starship to land astronauts on the moon as part of the planned Artemis missions. SpaceX also has sold a private flight around the moon using Starship to Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, scheduled for early 2023.

SpaceX successfully landed a Starship prototype for the first time

Via www.msn.com

SpaceX launched a high-altitude Starship prototype rocket and successfully landed it for the…

05/05/2021 6:58 PM

 

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The fired Atlanta Police officer who shot and killed Rayshard Brooks in a Wendy’s parking lot last summer has been reinstated by the Atlanta Civil Service Board. Officer Garrett Rolfe still faces murder charges in the killing of Brooks.

The review board released its decision Wednesday, stating: “Due to the City’s failure to comply with several provisions of the Code and the information received during witnesses’ testimony, the Board concludes the Appellant was not afforded his right to due process. Therefore, the Board GRANTS the Appeal of Garrett Rolfe and revokes his dismissal as an employee of the APD.”

The board hears the appeals of firings and other employment actions taken against public city employees. A City of Atlanta statement said Rolfe would be placed on administrative leave until his criminal charges are resolved.

Atlanta board reverses firing of officer charged in Rayshard Brooks’ death

Via www.nbcnews.com

Garrett Rolfe was fired from the Atlanta Police Department on June 13, a day after Brooks was…

05/05/2021 1:40 PM

 

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The legal team for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has filed a motion in a Minneapolis court requesting a new trial on multiple grounds, including jury misconduct. Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd last month. 

Chauvin’s attorney says the former officer should have a new trial in the “interests of justice; abuse of discretion that deprived the Defendant of a fair trial; prosecutorial and jury misconduct; errors of law at trial; and a verdict that is contrary to law.”  Attorney Eric Nelson writes in the filing: “The jury committed misconduct, felt threatened or intimidated, felt race-based pressure during the proceedings, and/or failed to adhere to instructions during deliberations, in violation of Mr. Chauvin’s constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial.” Nelson also claims that the court failed to sequester the jury during the trial, which resulted in their exposure “to prejudicial publicity regarding the trial during the proceedings, as well as jury intimidation and potential fear of retribution among jurors.”

Chauvin was found guilty April 20 of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Floyd. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25 and faces up to 40 years in prison, though Minnesota sentencing guidelines suggest he’s more likely to receive up to 15 years due to his lack of a prior criminal record.

Derek Chauvin files for new trial after murder conviction in George Floyd case

Via www.nbcnews.com

Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, filed the request alleging that the former officer’s…

05/04/2021 6:01 PM

 

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On Tuesday, President Biden set a new vaccination goal to deliver at least one dose to 70% of adult Americans by the 4th of July. The new goal comes as demand for vaccines has dropped off markedly nationwide, with some states leaving more than half their vaccine doses unused. Biden is calling for states to make vaccines available on a walk-in basis and will direct many pharmacies to do the same.  At the White House, Biden said: “You do need to get vaccinated. Even if your chance of getting seriously ill is low, why take the risk? It could save your life or the lives of somebody you love.”

Biden’s goal includes delivering at least the first shot to 181 million adults and fully vaccinating 160 million. More than 56% of adult Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 105 million are fully vaccinated. The U.S. is currently administering first doses at a rate of about 965,000 per day — half the rate of three weeks ago. “I’d like to get it 100%, but I think realistically we can get to that place between now and July Fourth,” Biden said.

Biden’s push comes as his administration has shifted away from setting a target for the U.S. to reach “herd immunity,” instead focusing on delivering as many shots into arms as possible. Officials said Biden’s vaccination target would result in a significant reduction in COVID-19 cases heading into the summer. The Food and Drug Administration is expected authorize the Pfizer vaccine for adolescents aged 12-15 by early next week and the White House is developing plans to speed vaccinations to that age group, hoping to deliver doses to pediatricians’ offices and other trusted locations, with the aim of getting as many adolescents vaccinated by the start of the next school year.

         

Biden to shift how vaccines are allocated, setting new 70 percent inoculation goal for July 4

Via www.nbcnews.com

The move comes as Biden is also aiming to have 160 million Americans vaccinated with both doses…

05/04/2021 3:16 PM

 

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On Monday, Bill and Melinda Gates shared a joint statement on Twitter, announcing their divorce: “After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage. Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives,” they said, referring to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest private foundation in the world worth over $40 billion and was founded in 2000.

The statement concluded: “We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives. We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life.”

The billionaire Microsoft co-founder, 65, and the philanthropist and former general manager at Microsoft, 56, married on the Hawaiian island of Lanai on January 1, 1994. They share three children: son Rory John, 21, and daughters Phoebe Adele, 18, and Jennifer Katharine, 25.

Bill and Melinda Gates are getting divorced, future of foundation in question

Via www.nbcnews.com

“After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the…

05/03/2021 4:53 PM

 

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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday that capacity restrictions in New York City will be lifted on May 19, which will include Broadway theaters. Restaurants, museums, movie theaters, retail stores and more will also be having their capacity restrictions lifted in New York City on May 19.

Though Broadway will be allowed to reopen on May 19, it doesn’t mean shows will be taking place right away. Cuomo said: “Broadway for example has a schedule. They have to produce a play before they can sell the play, so there is a schedule for them. But from a capacity point of view, they can all reopen on May 19.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio previously said in March that Broadway was aiming to reopen by the fall. All Broadway performances were suspended in March 2020 and then canceled for the remainder of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New York Capacity Restrictions to Lift May 19, Clearing Way for Broadway Reopening

Via www.msn.com

New York governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced that the state would be lifting all of its…

05/03/2021 1:01 PM

 

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