A 6-year-old girl and her parents were injured in a shooting that took place in front of their home in Gaston County when a ball apparently rolled into their neighbor's yard, causing the neighbor to grab a gun and start shooting. The girl's father is currently in the hospital with severe injuries while the girl and her mother have been released. Police are looking for the suspect, Robert Louis Singletary, who was known for yelling at the neighborhood kids. This recent shooting is part of a string of wrong-place, wrong-time shootings across the US. Despite having more civilian guns than people, the reasons for the uptick in shootings are not clear. Each shooting has its unique circumstances. The authorities have secured warrants for Singletary, who should be considered armed and dangerous. The United States has not yet found a solution yet to reduce the number of shootings and its victims. Meanwhile, innocent people continue to suffer due to the reckless use of firearms.

President Joe Biden is reportedly preparing to announce his bid for re-election to formally put an end to any speculation about his intentions. The announcement is expected to be made next week and will coincide with the anniversary of his campaign announcement in 2019. According to sources, a campaign-style video will be released to ignite an aggressive fundraising effort to help Democrats hold the White House. Invitations have already gone out to some of the biggest donors and bundlers for Biden's previous campaign, and they have been asked to travel to Washington on Friday to see Biden outside the White House the following day. The gathering is not for fundraising but seen as an effort to rally donors before what is expected to be an expensive 2024 run. While Biden's aides have been quietly putting an infrastructure in place for a re-election campaign for months, the President himself has not made a formal announcement yet. Nevertheless, he has been vocal about his future campaign plans, and last week he told reporters that his intention to run has been finalized and will be announced soon.

Alabama is mourning the loss of 4 young people who were killed and 32 who were injured in a mass shooting at a Sweet 16 birthday party in Dadeville last Saturday. Two teen brothers have been arrested and charged as adults with four counts of reckless murder. Sgt. Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency announced the arrest and urged anyone at the venue that night to come forward. Gun violence now causes more deaths than any other cause among Alabama children. In Pittsburgh, PA, a similar shooting at a party on the North Side, left two people dead and at least eight others injured. One year on, there are still no new leads in the investigation, much to the frustration of the family members of the victims. Shootings and acts of violence have kept the police extremely busy and the top priority of finding the people responsible for the shootings has not been met with success. Alabama and Pennsylvania's need for gun control to protect the lives of their youths is now an urgent necessity.

Former President Donald Trump is intensifying his campaign against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as he prepares to enter the 2024 presidential race. Trump has been attacking DeSantis for some time, and even suggested he not run at all, causing the governor to visit Washington DC to meet members of Congress about the upcoming election. Trump is promoting endorsements from Florida lawmakers who have endorsed him to counter DeSantis' trip to the capital. On April 21, Trump planned to host a dinner party that included members of Florida’s congressional delegation who have backed him and not DeSantis.

Erin Perrine, communications director for "Never Back Down," a pro-DeSantis political action committee, said that Trump is on the attack because he is afraid of DeSantis's grassroots support, which is building momentum for a probable run for the presidency. Trump’s campaign has not provided a guest list for the April 21 event, but it is believed to include members of Florida’s delegation who have chosen to endorse him over DeSantis. Trump's approval rating among Republicans has increased and DeSantis is expected to announce his presidential plans after the Florida Legislature adjourns in May.

As the reputation of the Supreme Court judges is questioned, the Senate Judiciary committee has called upon Chief Justice John Roberts to testify at a hearing on the ethical rules governing the Supreme Court's conduct. The hearing will also address potential changes needing to transpire in the existing guidelines. The request comes during a tense time for the Supreme Court and its members, primarily due to Justice Clarence Thomas failing to report luxury trips with a billionaire and Republican donor. ProPublica found that Thomas embarked on luxurious getaways on the Dallas businessman's yacht and private jet, amounting to 20 years of undisclosed travels. Thomas claims that he was so advised by a personal friend that such hospitality from a close personal friend, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable. The judges' lifetime appointments and controversial decisions like that on Roe v. Wade have raised concerns of political bias, with Americans questioning the court's decisions being influenced by politics rather than the law.

House Republicans have introduced a bill that would open negotiations with the Biden administration to lift the nation's borrowing cap in exchange for cutting billions in federal spending and rolling back the president's policy priorities. The GOP leaders have presented this as an opening offer and a way to encourage the White House to come to the negotiation table. The legislation claims savings of $4.5 trillion to help fund the nation's mounting debt. Republicans suggested eliminating unspent COVID-19 relief funds to return around $50 to $60 billion to the government's coffers. Congress approved approximately $4.6 trillion in COVID-19 relief stimulus in 2020 and 2021, spending most of the money. Negotiations remain limited, with the United States having already hit its $31.4 trillion limit on borrowing that could lead to a financial crisis and recession in the country. Time is of the essence as the U.S. might run out of money in June to pay for its bills. Separately, President Biden and his top advisers will not accept any cuts with a debt-ceiling measure, which further complicates any attempts at reconciliation.

After the release of disturbing audio recordings, the Oklahoma State NAACP has called on the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate McCurtain County officials on the burials of black residents and any reports of intimidation or killings within the area. In response to allegations made after the recording was released, McCurtain Gazette-News released the full 3 hour, 37 minute audio, in which McCurtain County Sheriff Kevin Clardy reportedly boasted about confronting the local district attorney and threatened to harm him. Furthermore, the recording includes discussions about hiring hitmen to kill and bury local newspaper reporters, and references to hanging black men. Though it remains unverified for its authenticity, the recording had an immediate impact, prompting the resignation of county commissioner, Mark Jennings. Following the uproar, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has called for more resignations, including that of Clardy, Alicia Manning and Larry Hendrix, who are two other sheriff's department workers. Outrage has swept through the town of Idabel, and with the new call for an investigation, the situation is far from over.

In the span of a week, three unprovoked shootings occurred in different parts of the country after victims mistakenly approached the wrong house or vehicle. The shootings don't reflect a mass gun ownership problem per se, but it does highlight a problematic intersection of fear, frustration, and paranoia that has resulted in the senseless taking of innocent lives by gun owners. A string of attacks occurred after dark; the mounting vigilante justice shootings include shooting a young Black teen in Kansas City after he rang a white man's doorbell, killing a young woman in upstate New York, and injuring two cheerleaders in a grocery parking lot in Austin, Texas. Experts are divided on whether these incidents serve as a national trend but emphasize that shoots-like-these would not have happened if guns were not prevalent. Later developments will reveal whether these cases will fall under the "stand your ground" law that is pervasive in America.

A member of the board appointed by Ron DeSantis has accused Disney of agreeing to another secret deal to bypass the governor's plan to take away its privileges. Martin Garcia stated at a public meeting that a Disney subsidiary responsible for utilities in central Florida had made an “11th hour deal” to set its own utility rates until 2032. This announcement comes after a bill referred to as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, which would stop lessons on gender identity and sexual orientation in grades 4-12, sparked conflict between the Florida governor and the entertainment company. Disney has publicly criticized the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill. DeSantis responded with a campaign to strip Disney of some of the special legal status it has in Florida by appointing a state-appointed board to oversee Disney in the area. However, according to Garcia, Disney has outmanoeuvred DeSantis by striking a new deal with the land Disney World occupies in March, which safeguards its status for the foreseeable future.

In a recent interview, Senator John Fetterman opened up about his struggles with depression, detailing how it left him feeling disoriented and lost at times when walking around Washington, D.C. Fetterman recalls losing 25 pounds and experiencing incoherent thoughts while not realizing that he was depressed. It was only when he decided to check himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment that he realized something was wrong. Despite initially pushing back against the idea of getting help, he eventually sought professional treatment for clinical depression, which he spent five weeks in the hospital undergoing.

The first-time senator also experienced a stroke on the campaign trail last year, which left him with auditory processing issues and speech difficulties. However, Fetterman maintains that he has returned to Capitol Hill, and his depression is now in remission. He is adamant about wanting to stay on as a senator and serve a full six-year term. He is currently working with his staff to determine his legislative priorities and determine how best to assist him with his auditory processing challenges.

The White House has analyzed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's plan to trim the federal deficit and has concluded that it would lead to a 22% cut to non-defense spending, leaving children poorer, veterans sicker, families hungrier, and housing more expensive. White House budget director Shalanda Young argued that McCarthy's budget caps mask the full extent of the likely cuts that would harm millions of U.S. households in the long run, writing in a draft that the GOP's legislation is "vague by design -- but that doesn't obscure the fact that it will force devastating cuts that will hurt millions of people, damage our economy and undermine our national security." In response, Republican lawmakers are not spelling out specific cuts to potentially minimize backlash to their plan. Instead, they are betting on public support for a smaller government. McCarthy's proposal would raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion into March 2024 in exchange for a long list of Republican priorities. President Joe Biden has opposed the idea of budget talks being involved in raising the limit on the government's legal borrowing authority.

Julie Su, President Biden's Labor Secretary nominee, faced a barrage of tough questions from Republican senators on her record as California's top labor official during her confirmation hearing on April 20. Many Republican senators, who are concerned that she is an ideologue who would drag workforce policy to the left, have mobilized a fierce opposition campaign against her nomination. Utah GOP Sen. Mitt Romney spent part of his time grilling Su on her handling of unemployment benefits in California during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly her lack of oversight on the state's Employment Development Department, which paid out billions on fraudulent claims. If Su does not secure the support of other key Democrats in the Senate, she may face an uphill battle to confirmation when the full chamber casts its vote. Su, however, appeared to be effectively pre-empting such attacks by Democrats supporting her nomination. Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which held the hearing, were quick to defend Su's record. Su would be the first ever Asian-American to become a Cabinet secretary if confirmed.

As the US federal debt reaches a record-high of $31.4tn, the government is running out of time to raise its borrowing limit. Republican House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, outlined his plan at the New York Stock Exchange, which involved sharp spending cuts in exchange for an increase in the debt ceiling. However, President Joe Biden and the Democrats refuse to negotiate, insisting on a clean proposal to raise the borrowing limit. This faced criticism from both sides, as some House Democrats are beginning to question Biden's refusal to sit down with McCarthy. Senator Joe Manchin has asked Biden to come to the table, stating that it is reasonable to disagree with a specific debt ceiling approach, but "we will achieve a historic default if President Biden continues to refuse to even negotiate". Unless an agreement is made by July, the federal government will run out of money, causing damage to multiple sectors. With elections on the horizon, both sides are determined to win this war of words, making the possibility of an agreement appearing slim.

As severe weather season approaches, it is important to educate oneself on different types of weather risks and be prepared for emergencies. Senior climatologist with Environment Canada, Dave Phillips, warns that, even though straight-line windstorms and tornadoes are not as common this summer, they are still a serious threat. Therefore, it is important to have a family emergency communication plan and measures in place to protect loved ones, pets, property, and livestock from the hazards of lifethreatening natural disasters and weather-related risks. The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) suggests having several ways to receive alerts, such as local meteorologists, weather advisories and warnings from local officials, the FEMA app, and the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR). Additionally, the Iowa Flood Information System provides real-time data and resources about stream levels, flood alerts and forecasts for more than 1,000 Iowa communities and flood inundation maps in all 99 counties. Being ready for severe weather means being aware, staying updated on weather warnings, and having a plan in place, including a battery-operated radio, and an emergency kit stocked with essentials.

After the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Brooklyn Nets to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series, Joel Embiid flirted with a triple-double (20 points, 19 rebounds, and seven assists). However, he expressed disappointment in his three blocks, saying, "I need the Memphis scorekeeper." It appears that Embiid was taking a shot at Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Memphis Grizzlies' scorekeeper, who were involved in a controversy earlier this season for allegedly padding Jackson's defensive stats. Specifically, his blocks on home court were questioned in comparison to his blocks during away games. Embiid's comments add to the recent trolling he's been doing during post-game interviews, including his jabs at the Nets after they called out the referees following Game 1. While Embiid continues to play at an MVP level, his off-court antics might draw increasing attention in the playoffs.

Tobias Harris has been a key player for the Philadelphia 76ers in their first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets. The Sixers are up 2-0 and Harris has played a significant role in their success so far. In the first two games, he has averaged 20.5 points on 60.7/66.7/100 shooting splits, eight rebounds, and three assists per game. Harris has been effective both on and off the ball, taking advantage of opportunities presented to him, and remaining focused when needed. He has shown a new level of confidence and aggressiveness in his game, which has helped the team immensely.

While James Harden and Joel Embiid are the stars of the show, Harris has played an important third wheel to their success. The Sixers will need Harris to continue to step up and provide scoring and shooting alongside his teammates if they hope to make it far in the playoffs. Harris has been coachable and versatile, taking on the roles that the team needs from him. If he can maintain his level of play, the Sixers will have a better chance of going deep into the playoffs.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for several parishes in Louisiana, including Orleans, Jefferson, and Tangipahoa. The watch is expected to remain in effect until 4 p.m. on Saturday. A line of severe storms has already caused power outages to thousands of customers and temporarily suspended the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans and the Strawberry Festival in Ponchatoula. Although the Strawberry Fest has since reopened, a second round of storms is expected early Sunday morning. Meteorologist Michelle Morgan warns of strong wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour, heavy rain, and hail in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes. The weather service cautions against driving through floodwaters, and residents are urged to report street flooding and life-threatening emergencies to 911. Neutral ground parking is allowed in New Orleans until Sunday at 8 a.m., but do not block intersections, streetcar tracks, sidewalks, or bike paths.

Initial weather spotting reports indicate that these areas faced hailstorms on Wednesday. Numerous Twitter users tweeted about the hailstorms and "Nick C." tweeted a video showing golf ball-sized hail landing near LeRoy at around 4:26 pm. Some hail reports in McLean County showed a half-inch diameter of hail, and some were quarter-inch while Heyworth had smaller hail, described as "pea-sized." One-inch hail was also reported in Arrowsmith at 4:36 pm but no other damage reports were released. The primary threats of scattered storms are brief heavy downpours and lightning, and some of these storms may become strong to severe, posing a risk for large hail and damaging wind gusts. The NWS forecasts list isolated severe storms on Thursday afternoon and early evening that are heading from east to west. There is a low risk of tornado and flooding threats, according to the data. Below-normal temperatures are expected over the weekend, according to the NWS forecasts.

Philadelphia 76ers' Jalen McDaniels is uncertain to play in Thursday's Game 3 matchup against the Brooklyn Nets due to a non-COVID related illness, according to the recent NBA injury report. While the Sixers swept the first two games of the series in Philadelphia, McDaniels' absence could impact their line up for Game 3 at The Barclays Center. The team may decide to give more minutes to starter P.J. Tucker or explore other possibilities like Danuel House or Georges Niang if McDaniels is sidelined. McDaniels, a 6-10 forward, was acquired by the Sixers at the deadline in a deal with the Charlotte Hornets, playing 24 games so far this season, averaging 6.7 points and 3.2 rebounds while hitting 40% from the three-point range in 17.5 minutes per game. In Game 2, McDaniels played for 22 minutes but failed to land any of his three shot attempts. Nevertheless, McDaniels gives the team more length on the defensive end of the floor and the ability to shoot beyond the arc on the offensive end.

Multiple rounds of hail hit much of southeastern Wisconsin during the early afternoon on Wednesday, catching many residents by surprise. Various areas along the Wasatch Front, including Rubicon, experienced hailstones measuring up to two inches, marking the largest reported hailstones in Wisconsin since 1950. Although there were no official reports of injuries or severe damage, the National Weather Service issued several severe thunderstorm warnings throughout Wednesday, highlighting the potential vehicle damage and street flooding in certain areas. Despite the danger of severe weather conditions, many Wisconsin residents are still not receiving typical weather alerts, leaving them unprepared in the face of sudden and severe weather. Observers suggest improved alert techniques for areas affected by sudden weather changes. Officials advise that residents in Wisconsin should maintain an emergency kit and keep emergency contacts informed of their location during severe weather conditions.

Philadelphia 76ers coach, Doc Rivers, is trying to work the officials before Game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets. He claimed that James Harden and Joel Embiid are the most uncalled fouls leaders in the league and asked where that stat comes from. Erik Slater responded to Rivers' claim by questioning the source of that information. Rivers blurted, "I'm just saying. I will just say it's a stat that we know that is there. Can you find out for us? You're on ESPN, you can actually report it too if you'd like." Rivers is working the officials before the game even starts. He wants to flip the foul calls in favor of Philadelphia for Game 3, even if he has to devise some stats for it. However, this is unlikely to work while the Brooklyn Nets can boast of better discipline amongst their players, as evident from their number of fouls.

Avelo Airlines announced plans to expand its service at Charleston International Airport by adding a new nonstop flight twice a week to Wilmington, Delaware, starting June 23. The new route provides the first-ever direct flight between the cities and will be operated by a Boeing 737-800 aircraft that seats 189 passengers. Introductory one-way fares start at $39 and flights must be booked by May 1 for travel through September 6. The flight departs from Wilmington Airport at 6 p.m. and arrives at Charleston at 7:45 p.m., while the departure from Charleston is at 8:25 p.m. with arrival in Wilmington at 10:05 p.m.

The new service is part of Avelo Airlines' expansion in the southeastern United States. Avelo Airlines started offering nonstop flights three times a week between Charleston and New Haven in 2022. In addition, the airline announced that it will launch nonstop flights from Myrtle Beach International Airport to Wilmington on June 23. Myrtle Beach will be the first, and currently only, airport to offer direct flights to Wilmington, which is described as the Delaware Valley's most convenient and travel-friendly airport that encompasses portions of four states: Delaware, Southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey, and the northern Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Wingstop is offering a limited-time menu item, the Wingstop Hot Box, to help with any and all munchies during 4/20 celebrations. This product gives customers three chicken options, fries, a 20 oz. drink, and ranch dip for a complete meal. The chicken is hand sauced-and-tossed in a spicy, cheesy dry rub, drizzled with spicy lit ranch, and topped with hot cheese puff dust and natural herb seasoning to bring an amped up flavor to accompany or enhance celebrations.

Available from April 20th until April 23rd at nationwide restaurants, the Wingstop Hot Box is priced from $8.99 to $13.99, depending on the customer's protein selection. Michael Skipworth, Wingstop's President and CEO, stated that the Wingstop team is "serious about serving flavor," and created the Wingstop Hot Box for the 4/20 celebration. Wingstop's "Highspitality" team prepared the Wingstop Hot Box meal for every type of glassy-eyed guest who is looking for the perfect meal. The Wingstop Hot Box can be ordered on the Wingstop app or website.

Mikal Bridges recently opened up about his disappointment when the 76ers traded his rights to the Phoenix Suns during the 2018 NBA Draft. Against his expectations, Bridges was selected in the top 10, but he was still thrilled because he had grown up in the Philly suburbs and his mother worked for the Sixers. So, when the trade went through 15 minutes later, he was, in his own words, “pissed off” and “couldn’t control [his] emotions”. Not only did Philly lose out on his skills, but all plans for creating the feel-good story of the evening, that of a son uniting with a mother in the same professional league, were tossed aside. Since then, Tyneeha Rivers, Bridges’ mother, has gone on to work as the Chief People Officer at Cureleaf in NY.

Now, after being traded to the Nets, Bridges and Rivers will get the chance to take on the 76ers in the NBA Playoffs on Sunday. Bridges has played the 76ers 11 times during his career, averaging 12.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals. In the Nets’ only game versus the 76ers this season, Bridges scored 23 points in his debut.

Jeanette L., a Senior Software Engineer at Disney, shared her experience of being laid off from the company, which she described as her “dream workplace”, in a post on LinkedIn. Jeanette expressed her denial about losing her job, but thanked her team and colleagues for the time spent working on innovative projects. Jeanette’s story comes after Disney’s announcement in February that it planned to eliminate 7,000 positions from its workforce of around 220,000. Reports indicate that around 4,000 of those job cuts will occur in areas like television, film, theme parks, and corporate positions, including the entertainment division. These cuts will reportedly impact all regions where Disney operates. Affected employees are expected to be notified starting next week. While these job cuts are part of a larger effort to save the company $5.5bn annually, media analysts have suggested it reflects a shift in attention from subscriber growth to the high cost of running online platforms. Other major media companies, including NBCUniversal, Warner Bros Discovery, and Paramount Global, have recently announced job cuts as well.