Month: February 2024

Kansas City Police said that at least one person was killed and at 22 others were injured in a shooting in Kansas City, Missouri, after a rally on Wednesday celebrating the Chiefs Super Bowl victory. Police Chief Stacey Graves said at least 22 people have gunshot wounds, eight of whom had immediately life-threatening injuries and were transported to hospitals within 10 minutes. Seven others had life-threatening injuries, and six had minor injuries. Interim Kansas City fire chief Ross Grundyson added nine of the victims of the shooting were children, but said he does not yet have the ages of all of the victims.

Gunfire rang out as soon as the confetti began falling as the players left the stage, according to witnesses at the parade.Video on social media showed dozens of officers converging to the right side of the stage and running inside Union Station with their weapons drawn. Local News Press-NOW sports director Jacob Mikeil shared video of authorities rushing into the train station next to the stage.

The Kansas City Police Department said in a statement on social media that three suspects were detained after the shooting near a garage west of Union Station The department did not identify the suspects, and according to a preliminary investigation the shooting appears to be criminal in nature and not terrorism. Police Chief Stacey Graves added firearms were recovered: “We have recovered firearms. I don’t have a number for you or a caliber. We have recovered firearms.” 

Lisa Lopez-Galvan was killed in Wednesday’s shooting near the Kansas City Chiefs victory celebration, according to a statement from her sister, Carmen Lopez Murguia. Kansas City radio station KKFI 90.1 on Facebook identified Lopez-Galvan as one of its DJs: “It is with sincere sadness and an extremely heavy and broken heart that we let our community know that KKFI DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan, host of Taste of Tejano lost her life today in the shooting at the KC Chiefs’ rally. Our hearts and prayers are with her family.”

The Kansas City Chiefs organization posted a statement on social media, saying they were saddened by the shooting, calling it a “senseless act of violence” and said that their “hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all of Kansas City.” The team said players, coaches and staff are all safe and that they are in communication with local officials.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce posted on X: “I am heartbroken over the tragedy that took place today. My heart is with all who came out to celebrate with us and have been affected. KC, you mean the world to me.” Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill asked people to join him in prayer for the victims over “this heinous act…Pray that doctors & first responders would have steady hands & that all would experience full healing.”  Quarterback Patrick Mahomes said on the X,“Praying for Kansas City”, and guard Trey Smith said on X: “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by today’s incidents—a huge thank you to the first responders who ran towards the sound of danger. You’re the ones who should be celebrated today.”

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House Republicans narrowly voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the border, exactly one week after their first attempt to impeach him. The articles of impeachment against Mayorkas passed on Tuesday 214-213, with the majority made up of only Republicans and three Republicans voting with Democrats against impeachment. The Republican-led House claimed that Mayorkas failed to enforce border laws amid a “crisis” of high illegal immigration, allegations he denies as “baseless.”

Mayorkas is just the second Cabinet secretary in U.S. history to be impeached — and the first in nearly 150 years. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement: “From his first day in office, Secretary Mayorkas has willfully and consistently refused to comply with federal immigration laws, fueling the worst border catastrophe in American history. He has undermined public trust through multiple false statements to Congress, obstructed lawful oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, and violated his oath of office.  Since this Secretary refuses to do the job that the Senate confirmed him to do, the House must act … [He] deserves to be impeached, and Congress has a constitutional obligation to do so. Next to a declaration of war, impeachment is arguably the most serious authority given to the House and we have treated this matter accordingly.”

Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg said in a statement that “without a shred of evidence or legitimate Constitutional grounds, and despite bipartisan opposition, House Republicans have falsely smeared a dedicated public servant who has spent more than 20 years enforcing our laws and serving our country. Secretary Mayorkas and the Department of Homeland Security will continue working every day to keep Americans safe.”

President Joe Biden harshly criticized House Republicans after the vote for impeachment, saying: “History will not look kindly on House Republicans for their blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games.”

Mayorkas will now face a trial in the Democratic-controlled Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote – or 67 senators – will be needed to convict and remove him from office, which is very unlikely. The Senate is out of session, and the soonest it would take up the matter of impeachment would be after lawmakers return to Washington on Feb. 26.

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The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday asked for special counsel Jack Smith to file his response in former President Donald Trump’s immunity case by the afternoon of Feb. 20. The former president has pleaded not guilty to charges of undertaking a “criminal scheme” to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The high court’s request comes just one day after Trump filed an emergency application asking the justices to stay last week’s appeals court decision that rejected his claim of absolute immunity from prosecution in the election interference case. In Trump’s application to the Supreme Court his attorneys argued that the high court should allow the appellate process to play out — and effectively delay any possible trial indefinitely — given the magnitude of the issues and the stakes for the upcoming presidential election. His attorneys wrote: “allowing President Trump to pursue en banc review in the D.C. Circuit will provide an opportunity for similar thoughtful consideration in the lower court before this Court addresses the novel, complex, and momentous issues at stake in this appeal.”

Trump is seeking the dismissal of the case on the grounds that he has “absolute immunity” from prosecution for actions taken while serving in the nation’s highest office. Last week a three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s claim of presidential immunity, clearing the way for Trump to seek to appeal the issue to the Supreme Court.

The appellate panel dismissed Trump’s claims last week to legal immunity, saying that affording him such protection “would collapse our system of separated powers by placing the President beyond the reach of all three Branches.” U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has postponed that start date of Trump’s trial while waiting for his immunity appeal to play out; it was originally scheduled to start on March 4.

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On Tuesday, President Joe Biden slammed former President Donald Trump for recently saying that he would encourage Russia to attack NATO nations that he thought had insufficiently spent on defense as part of the mutual protection agreement.

Biden said in remarks from the White House: “The former president has sent a dangerous, and shockingly, frankly, un-American signal to the world. Just a few days ago, Trump gave an invitation to Putin to invade some of our NATO allies. He said if an ally didn’t spend enough money on defense, he would encourage Russia to, ‘Do whatever the hell it wants.’ Can you imagine? A former president of the United States saying that. The whole world heard it, and the worst thing is he means it. No other president in history has ever bowed down to a Russian dictator. Let me say this as clearly as I can: I never will. For God’s sake, it’s shameful, it’s dangerous, it’s un-American.”

The NATO treaty requires that if one member nation is attacked, the other members will aid in their defense. The only time the clause has been invoked was after the 9/11 attack.  Biden said that Trump views NATO as a “burden, and doesn’t see the alliance that protects America and the world.”  He added that Russian leaders likely “cheered” when they heard Trump’s comments, saying:  “As long as I’m president, if Putin attacks a NATO ally, the United States will defend every inch of NATO territory.”

Since his remarks Saturday at a rally in South Carolina. Trump has faced backlash. The former president said he would urge Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” if it attacked a NATO country that didn’t contribute enough toward the alliance’s defense spending: “Let’s say that happened. No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want, you got to pay your bills.”

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U.S. defense officials said on Monday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has canceled a trip to Brussels this week following his hospitalization on Sunday due to “an emergent bladder issue”. News of Austin’s hospitalization had raised questions as to whether Austin would be healthy enough to continue with that planned travel. U.S. defense officials said to multiple media outlets: “The secretary will no longer travel to Brussels and Wednesday’s Ukraine Defense Contact Group will now be held virtually.”

The Pentagon had announced last week that Austin would be traveling to Brussels to attend a monthly meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, the more than 50 countries providing military aid to Ukraine, and a separate meeting of NATO defense ministers. Austin’s latest hospitalization on Sunday was made public shortly after his security detail took him to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center seeking care for the new issue that appeared tied to his secret hospitalization in early January for complications resulting from a surgical procedure to treat his prostate cancer.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said in a recent statement: “At approximately 4:55 pm today, Secretary Austin transferred the functions and duties of the office of the Secretary of Defense to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. The Deputy Secretary of Defense has assumed the functions and duties. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House, and Congress have been notified.”

Late Sunday night, Dr. John Maddox and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, Austin’s doctors at Walter Reed, said he had been admitted to the critical care unit.  Their statement read: “Earlier today, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be seen for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue. Tonight, after a series of tests and evaluations, the Secretary was admitted into the critical care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for supportive care and close monitoring. At this time, it is not clear how long Secretary Austin will remain hospitalized. The current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery. His cancer prognosis remains excellent. Updates on the Secretary’s condition will be provided as soon as possible.”

Austin recently faced scrutiny and criticism after undergoing a surgical procedure for prostate cancer on Dec. 22, which led to a urinary tract infection and serious intestinal complications which led to his hospitalization on Jan. 1. However, the White House didn’t learn of Austin’s diagnosis or hospitalization  or three days, to which Austin recently apologized for: “I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis, and should also have told my team and the American public. I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people.”  Austin has said he directly apologized to Biden and told him he was “deeply sorry” for not letting him know of his diagnosis immediately.

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According to senior law enforcement officials, the assault style-type rifle used by the woman shot and killed Sunday afternoon at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston had “Palestine” written on it. Police have stated that two off-duty officers at the church returned fire, striking the shooter and killing her at about 1:50 p.m. The child, identified as the shooters’ son, was also struck during the incident and was in critical condition. Police Chief Troy Finner said at a news conference that the boy was approximately 5 years old.

Osteen said that the shooting happened between services as people were arriving for Spanish service. About 45,000 people attend services there every week, making it one of the largest megachurches in the country. In a statement on Facebook, Osteen urged his congregation to lean on their faith to cope with anguish: “Our community is devastated by today’s events and grateful for the swift actions of law enforcement. Together, we will rise above this tragedy and stand firm in our commitment to love and support one another.”

The shooter, identified as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, also made several undisclosed statements during the course of the incident, and law enforcement officials added that Moreno previously went by another male name. Moreno also stated she had a bomb, but a search of the vehicle showed there were no explosive devices. Police Chief Finner  said that one of the off-duty officers involved the incident is an agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and the other is a Houston police officer. Officials are investigating possible motives, but have not conclusively say what led to the shooting. They have not ruled out terrorism or hate crime-related motives.

Law enforcement records also revealed that Moreno had at least six prior arrests since 2005, including unlawful carrying of a weapon, which she pleaded guilty to; evading arrest; and assault on a public official, which was pleaded to a lesser charge.

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