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‘Ebony Alert’ legislation could help address racial disparity in missing persons cases, advocates say

May 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — In the United States, Black Americans go missing at a disproportionate rate compared to other races, according to the National Crime Information Center. Last year alone, out of approximately 546,000 people reported missing, 36% of those were Black.

Lawmakers in California are hoping to address the disparity with recent legislation that would allow law enforcement to request an “Ebony Alert” to get the word out about missing Black women and children ages 12 to 25.

Derrica Wilson and Natalie Wilson, cofounders of the Black and Missing Foundation, say the legislation is a “step in the right direction” to getting more attention to cases that often go under the radar. They spoke to “GMA3” about the alarming rate of missing persons in the Black community and what they say needs to change in order to address the problem.

EVA PILGRIM: And joining us now are the cofounders of the Black and Missing Foundation, Derrica and Natalie Wilson. Thank you both so much for being with us. So, Derrica, I want to start with you. Why do such a disproportionate number of people of color go missing in this country? And your foundation says they are less likely to be featured on Amber Alerts. Why is that?

DERRICA WILSON: Absolutely. So we have our community going missing at an alarming rate. Typically, when families are going to law enforcement, their cases are often dismissed. Our children are classified as runaways and runaways does not meet the criteria to initiate an Amber Alert. And when it’s adults, oftentimes their disappearance is associated with some sort of criminal activity. And it really dehumanizes and desensitizes the fact that these are valuable members of our community.

DEMARCO MORGAN: And Natalie, a new bill was introduced in California that would allow law enforcement to request an Ebony Alert to get the word out about missing Black women and children ages 12 to 25. What do you make of this legislation?

NATALIE WILSON: Well, I believe that this legislation is a step in the right direction. When 40% of the missing population are people of color and they are under the radar, they’re not getting the same level of media coverage which can aid in their recovery. That is an issue. So we see this alert, it is in conjunction with the Amber Alert and the Silver Alert, so that the individuals that are most vulnerable can get the help that they need, because awareness is key and getting the media to cover these stories, it will be a great impact on these cases.

PILGRIM: Derrica, do you think that solves the problem? If law enforcement isn’t recognizing these people as missing, does changing the name of the alert fix the issue?

DERRICA: That is a great question. It really is a step in the right direction. But there needs to be enhanced training with law enforcement, and we have to start with the classification. Runaways does not meet the criteria for Amber Alert. So if law enforcement is immediately dismissing the case, would it also qualify for an Ebony Alert? So I think we have to look at it holistically. I think we have to really enhance the training, and I think we need to just terminate the classification “runaway” altogether. These children are missing. They are not in positions to make decisions on their own and they are endangered when they are missing in our community.

MORGAN: Natalie, what systemic changes need to be made to find people who are missing people of color?

NATALIE: Well, as Derrica mentioned, we need to change the classification from runaways, because if you are classified as a runaway, you do not get the Amber Alert, and you definitely don’t get any media coverage at all. But again, awareness is key, and we need to peel back the layers on the issues as to why people are disappearing. Sex trafficking, domestic violence and the list goes on and on. And we need to look at unhoused individuals that are homeless, you know, economic status. So there are so many issues as a community we need to take a look at. But we also need our community to get involved. Don’t turn a blind eye to the issue because it’s not your family member that’s missing.

MORGAN: It is so important to have you guys on the front lines. This is an important subject here, a very important topic, and we appreciate it. All right. Natalie and Derrica Wilson, thank you for being with us.

DERRICA: Thank you for having us.

Biden administration sending $300 million in new military aid to Ukraine

May 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Biden administration sending 0 million in new military aid to Ukraine

(WASHINGTON) — The Biden administration is sending a new $300 million military aid package to Ukraine as it prepares for an expected spring counteroffensive against Russia’s invading forces.

The Pentagon said Wednesday it will include “additional ammunition for U.S.-provided HIMARS, additional howitzers, artillery and mortar rounds, and anti-armor capabilities that Ukraine is using to push back against Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression.”

While American officials have publicly stated the the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine as long as necessary, they have refused to share any details about Ukrainian battle plans, for operational security reasons.

“I’m not going to get into the specifics on timing in terms of any potential counteroffensive other than to say from the very beginning we’ve been working closely with Ukrainian leaders, with our allies and partners, to assess what Ukraine needs to defend their sovereignty and to take back their their sovereign territory,” Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said Tuesday.

The U.S. has now committed more than $35.7 billion in security assistance since the beginning of the invasion last February.

This has included more than 1.6 million artillery rounds, tens of thousands of anti-tank weapons, secure communications equipment, radar systems and more.

The new aid will come from existing U.S. military stockpiles, which means it can be sent to the battlefield relatively quickly.

The Pentagon also recently announced it is expediting its shipment of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, which are now expected to arrive in the fall.

“The United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements,” the Pentagon said.

Fed raises interest rates 0.25%, escalating inflation fight amid banking woes

May 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its short-term borrowing rate another 0.25%, escalating the central bank’s attack on inflation just two days after the forced sale of First Republic Bank.

The Fed’s 10th consecutive rate increase arrives less than a week after fresh government data showed that U.S. economic growth slowed over the first three months of this year.

Despite the economic turbulence, the central bank appears dedicated to tightening its grip on prices.

Inflation has fallen significantly from a summer peak though it remains more than double the Fed’s target of 2%.

Speaking in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell reasserted the central bank’s commitment to cooling price increases but left open the possibility that the Fed could pause increases at its next meeting.

“Inflation pressures continue to run high,” Powell said. “The process of getting inflation back down to 2% has a long way to go.”

In response to a question about additional rate hikes, Powell noted the removal of a sentence that appeared in the Fed’s previous rate hike announcement in March that said “some additional policy increases might be appropriate.”

Powell described the omission in the announcement on Wednesday as “meaningful,” saying a decision about any additional rate hikes would be “data dependent.”

Increases in the Fed’s benchmark interest rate have contributed to the financial emergency facing U.S. banks.

As the Fed aggressively hiked interest rates over the past year, the value of long-term Treasury and mortgage bonds dropped, punching a hole in the balance sheets at some banks.

Three of the nation’s 30-largest banks have failed since March. While high interest rates contributed to the collapses, each of the banks also retained a sizable portion of uninsured depositors, who tend to panic without a government backstop for their funds.

The announcement on Wednesday raises the benchmark rate to a target range of 5% to 5.25%.

In a statement, the Fed affirmed the stability of the financial system but acknowledged the distress would likely cool the lending environment.

“The U.S. banking system is sound and resilient,” the central bank said. “Tighter credit conditions for households and businesses are likely to weigh on economic activity, hiring, and inflation. The extent of these effects remains uncertain.”

The Fed has put forward a series of borrowing cost increases as it tries to slash price hikes by slowing the economy and choking off demand. The approach, however, risks tipping the U.S. economy into a recession and putting millions out of work.

Data released last week showed that economic growth slowed at the outset of this year, suggesting the rate hikes have helped put the brakes on business activity.

U.S. gross domestic product grew by a 1.1% annualized rate over the three months ending in March, according to government data released Thursday.

The data marked a slowdown from 2.6% growth in the previous quarter. The slowdown resulted from a decline in business investment and residential fixed investment, which includes money spent on home buying and construction, the data showed.

The U.S. added 236,000 jobs in March, which marks strong job growth, but lower than the average of 334,000 jobs added each month over the previous six months, according to government data.

Meanwhile, U.S. retail sales fell moderately in February but remained solid, suggesting that households still retain some pandemic-era savings.

What is Bluesky and how do you join?

May 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Major changes at Twitter under CEO Elon Musk in recent months have elicited some calls for an alternative platform.

One such app, Bluesky Social, has drawn attention as a possible Twitter rival and amassed a waitlist of aspiring users.

Launched by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Bluesky features some prominent users, including model Chrissy Teigen and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY.

Access to Bluesky is available on an invite-only basis while the platform undergoes testing.

Neither Bluesky nor Twitter immediately responded to a request for comment from ABC News.

Here’s what to know about Bluesky and how to join:

What is Bluesky?

Bluesky is a text-oriented social media platform on which users can post messages as long as 300 characters. Like Twitter, the messages posted on Bluesky appear on a newsfeed displayed to users. The app is available on iOS and Android.

The platform operates on an open framework, meaning that users can post their messages to a server tailored for specific interests or communities. The system design resembles that used on another text-first app, Mastodon, as well as the decentralized platform Discord.

The site began in 2019 as a venture at Twitter overseen by Dorsey, and spun out as an independent company last year.

Development of the site started after a tweet from Dorsey announcing Twitter’s plans to fund a decentralized social media platform, Bluesky said in a blog post. The eventual leaders at Bluesky were among those who sent direct messages to Dorsey in response to his post, the blog added.

As of last April, Bluesky had received $13 million in funding from Twitter to “ensure freedom and independence,” Bluesky said in a statement last year.

Who owns Bluesky?

The board of directors at Bluesky features Dorsey as well as Jeremie Miller, the founder in the late 1990s of a free instant messaging service called Jabber.

The CEO of Bluesky is Jay Graber, who formerly founded an events-oriented social media site called Happening and worked as a software engineer on a cryptocurrency Zcash, according to LinkedIn. She also serves on the board.

The company is owned by Graber as well as “the Bluesky team,” the Bluesky website says.

While Bluesky has retained a traditional structure featuring a board and chief executive, the company said it aspires to take control of content away from a top-down entity and return it to creators.

“Traditional social networks are often closed platforms with a central authority,” the website says. “There’s a small group of people who control those companies, and they have total control over how users can use the platform and what developers can build.”

The system organization offered at Bluesky “changes this,” the website adds.

Dorsey criticized Musk’s leadership at Twitter on Bluesky last week, saying that “all went south” at the platform after Musk’s acquisition, CNBC reported.

Is Bluesky a viable challenger to Twitter?

Since Bluesky is still in its infancy, whether the app can compete with Twitter remains unclear.

Right now, Bluesky is much smaller than Twitter. The Bluesky app has recorded more than 360,000 downloads in the Apple store as well as over one million inquiring users on its waitlist, Fortune reported last week.

As of last week, more than 40,000 users had been given access to Bluesky, Bloomberg reported.

For context, Twitter reported 41.5 million average daily active users over the three months ending in June, which marked the last earnings report period before Musk took the company private.

The platform’s user data is no longer publicly available but in November Musk said usage had reached “an all-time high.”

How do you get Bluesky invite?

Access to Bluesky is only available to users who receive an invite, since the site is undergoing testing.

A sign-up on the company’s website allows individuals to join a waitlist by sharing their email address.

The company has not offered a timeline for when it plans to make the site public.

1st RSV vaccine for older adults in US cleared by FDA in historic approval

May 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the first RSV vaccine in the U.S.

Scientists have been trying to develop an RSV vaccine for decades after previous high-profile attempts failed.

The vaccine, made by the pharmaceutical company GSK, is for older adults. Pfizer and Moderna are also developing similar RSV vaccines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still needs to weigh in with specific recommendations, which is expected in June. GSK anticipates it will have enough vaccine to meet demand in time for the fall and winter respiratory illness season.

GSK said it has “millions of doses ready to be shipped.”

Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement: “Older adults, in particular those with underlying health conditions, such as heart or lung disease or weakened immune systems, are at high risk for severe disease caused by RSV. Today’s approval of the first RSV vaccine is an important public health achievement to prevent a disease which can be life-threatening and reflects the FDA’s continued commitment to facilitating the development of safe and effective vaccines for use in the United States.”

RSV is a viral infection that leads to mild illness for most people; however, it can be dangerous for older adults and some young children. RSV is a common cause of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD), which affects the lungs and can cause life-threatening pneumonia and bronchiolitis, according to the FDA.

Each year between 60,000 and 120,000 older adults are hospitalized due to RSV.

RSV circulation is seasonal, typically starting in the fall and peaking in the winter. Pharmaceutical companies are also working on RSV vaccines that are targeted at young children.

Parents of teenager who died by suicide after sextortion scam urge ‘tough’ conversations with children

May 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(MARQUETTE, Mich.) — The parents of a teenager who died by suicide are urging others to have “tough” conversations about sextortion scams — saying that frank communication could save other teenagers’ lives.

Jordan DeMay, a 17-year-old from Marquette, Michigan, took his own life on March 25, 2022, after three Nigerian men pretended to be a female online and coerced DeMay to send a nude photo of himself, according to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten. When he did, the three men allegedly demanded $1,000 from him. DeMay told the men he was going to take his own life due to their mistreatment, and they responded “good” and “enjoy your miserable life,” Totten said.

“Jordan’s smile could light up any room,” his mother, Jennifer Buda told reporters at a press conference with federal law enforcement officials on Wednesday. “Jordan’s charm and beautiful smile were contagious. Drawing people to him wherever he went and leaving a lasting impression on everyone he met.”

Buda said she “can’t imagine” what was going through her son’s head that night because of the “senseless act” against her son.

“When we were informed that Jordan was potentially a victim of an internet scam called sextortion via Instagram, there was never a hesitation in our minds to share his story,” Buda said. “We wanted everyone to be aware about sextortion and have those tough conversations with their families so if it did happen to them, they knew to talk to someone.”

Three men, Samuel Ogoshi, 22, Samson Ogoshi, 20, and Ezekiel Ejehem Robert, 19, all of Lagos, Nigeria, allegedly posed as a girl on Instagram and interacted with “hundreds” of victims, including DeMay, according to Totten. After DeMay’s death, the FBI opened an investigation, which they say led them to the three men in Nigeria. There is no lawyer listed for the men.

“This was a multifaceted investigation that involves identifying dozens of victims following the digital breadcrumbs left behind by the sextortion is on the internet,” Jim Tarasca, the FBI special agent in charge of the Detroit field office, said.

The three men are in the process of being extradited to the United States, according to federal officials.

Sextortion, according to the FBI, is a crime in which people adopt fake identities online, coerce victims to send nude photos of themselves and then try and get the victims to pay money in exchange for a promise not to post the photos.

Over the past year, law enforcement agencies have received over 7,000 reports related to the online sextortion of minors — resulting in at least 3,000 victims, primarily boys, according to the FBI. More than a dozen sextortion victims were reported to have died by suicide, according to the Department of Justice.

Younger victims in particular may feel ashamed of their actions, but they aren’t to blame, federal officials said. Sextortion cases are on the rise, with perpetrators all over the world attempting to exploit minors, Tarasca said.

“It’s a disturbing trend that we’ve been seeing across the country and that, for that matter internationally, the culprits aren’t just in Nigeria,” he said. “They are like many cyber scams, cyber base scans throughout the world from other countries. Some are right here in the United States. So it is an opportunity for people to make money.”

Americans lost $10.3 billion to internet scams in 2022, marking the highest losses in five years, according to the FBI.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated.

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or worried about a friend or loved one, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

300,000 fentanyl pills, powdered fentanyl smuggled in SUV gas tank: NYC prosecutors

May 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — A recent seizure of $5 million worth of fentanyl in New York City revealed a new tactic cartels are using to smuggle drugs into the United States, prosecutors and federal drug agents said Wednesday.

Approximately 300,000 fake oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and more than 11 pounds of powdered fentanyl were recently recovered from the gas tank of an SUV, according to the New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office.

“This seizure demonstrates one of the many ways evil drug cartels, like the Sinaloa cartel, smuggle fentanyl from Mexico to major cities like New York for street distribution,” U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration special agent in charge Frank Tarentino said in a statement.

The vehicle, a red Ford Expedition with Texas plates, was stopped in the Bronx on Sunday, where a task force of DEA agents and NYPD officers discovered a hidden compartment that accessed the gas tank from inside the SUV, prosecutors said.

The fentanyl pills and powdered fentanyl were contained in vacuum-sealed packages and submerged in the vehicle’s gas tank, according to New York City special narcotics prosecutor Bridget Brennan.

“At a time when our city’s overdose rates are at a record high, the discovery of more than 11 pounds of powdered fentanyl and hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills manufactured to look like prescription pills, concealed in the gas tank of a truck near the Bronx Court House, is truly alarming,” Brennan said in a statement.

The fentanyl seized from the Ford Expedition is believed to have originated in Mexico, and the investigation revealed that the vehicle has crossed the U.S.-Mexico border multiple times, according to prosecutors.

The driver — identified by prosecutors as Enrique Perez, 44, of Columbus, Ohio — was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. Bail was set at $200,000 during an arraignment hearing on Monday.

“Thanks to this investigation, hundreds of thousands of dangerous pills were taken off the streets of the Bronx,” Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said in a statement. “These fake oxycodone pills containing fentanyl would have ruined so many lives and would have likely killed many.”

Atlanta mass shooting live updates: 1 killed, 4 hurt; suspect at large

May 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(ATLANTA) — One person is dead and four are injured from a mass shooting at an Atlanta medical center on Wednesday, police said.

Police have released these images of the suspect, identified as 24-year-old Deion Patterson, who they say is at large.

Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern.

May 03, 3:50 PM EDT
39-year-old woman killed, 4 women injured

The manhunt is ongoing for the mass shooting suspect, 24-year-old Deion Patterson, Atlanta police said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. Police said the gun has not been recovered.

The shooting, which unfolded in a medical center waiting room, killed a 39-year-old woman, police said.

The four injured victims, who are all women, are “fighting for their lives,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said. They are ages 71, 56, 39 and 25, police said.

“As soon as possible I’ll be in touch with the families of the victims,” he said.

Patterson’s family is cooperating with the investigation, police said.

May 03, 3:17 PM EDT
Doctor recounts performing surgery as shooting unfolded 1 floor below

Dr. Timothy Simons was performing surgery one floor above the scene where the shooting unfolded.

He told ABC News he completed the surgery and then sheltered in place.

When police came to clear the building floor by floor, Simons said he was told to put his hands up to verify that he was not the shooter.

“Then they escorted us all down the stairs,” he said.

-ABC News’ Janice McDonald

May 03, 2:58 PM EDT
Carjacking may be connected to shooting

As Atlanta police search for the suspected gunman, 24-year-old Deion Patterson, they say a car was stolen “not long after the shooting” and remains missing.

“We are working to locate the carjacked vehicle and to determine whether it is connected to the shooting,” police said.

May 03, 2:31 PM EDT
Doctor saw officers swarm his building

Dr. Ahmed Ali, a radiation oncologist at the building, told ABC Atlanta affiliate WSB that he was returning from his lunch break when he saw armed officers swam the scene.

“I was worried what was happening,” he said. “Building security … they told me gunshots were coming from the 11th floor. They said there was a pool of blood in the elevator shafts when the doors opened.”

-ABC News’ Ivan Pereira

May 03, 2:30 PM EDT
3 critically injured, 1 remains in ER

Of the four people who were shot and injured, three are in critical condition and one is in the emergency department, according to hospital officials.

All four are adults, officials said.

May 03, 2:02 PM EDT
1 dead, 4 injured

One person was killed and four were injured in the shooting at Laureate Medical Center in Atlanta, according to police.

“Officers are actively searching for the suspect and any other victims,” police said.

Northside Hospital tweeted that it’s “cooperating with law enforcement following the shooting at our midtown #Atlanta location earlier this afternoon. We urge people in the area to shelter in place and follow instructions from law enforcement on the scene.”

Atlanta mass shooting live updates: One killed, four hurt; suspect at large

May 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(ATLANTA) — One person is dead and four are injured from a mass shooting at an Atlanta medical center on Wednesday, police said.

Police have released these images of a suspect who they say is at large.

Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:

May 03, 2:02 PM EDT
1 dead, 4 injured

One person was killed and four were injured in the shooting at Laureate Medical Center in Atlanta, according to police.

“Officers are actively searching for the suspect and any other victims,” police said.

Atlanta shooting live updates: One dead, three hurt; suspect at large

May 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(ATLANTA) — One person is dead and three are injured from an active shooter incident Wednesday in Atlanta, police said.

Police cautioned, “The suspect is believed to be armed and dangerous and should not be approached.”

Anyone in the area is urged to shelter in place.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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