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US forces sent to Djibouti to prep for possible Sudan evacuation

April 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The United States is sending additional military forces and equipment to a base in Djibouti to pre-position in case they are needed for the possible evacuation of Americans from Sudan, two U.S. officials told ABC News.

Fierce fighting between the Sudanese Army and a paramilitary force has raged in Sudan’s capital city of Khartoum since this past weekend, raising security concerns for Americans and citizens from other countries who have been trapped by the fighting.

More than 330 people have been killed in the fighting. There are an estimated 16,000 American citizens in Sudan, two U.S. officials told ABC News.

“The Department of Defense, through U.S. Africa Command, is monitoring the situation in Sudan and conducting prudent planning for various contingencies,” said Lt. Col. Phil Ventura, a Defense Department spokesman.

“As part of this, we are deploying additional capabilities nearby in the region for contingency purposes related to securing and potentially facilitating the departure of U.S. Embassy personnel from Sudan, if circumstances require it,” said Ventura. As a matter of policy and security, we do not speculate on potential future operations.

Two U.S. officials told ABC News that the additional personnel and capabilities are being sent to Djibouti where 5,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed at Camp Lemonnier, the large U.S. military base that is the hub for U.S. military operations in the Horn of Africa.

A top White House spokesman told reporters Thursday that President Joe Biden had authorized the movement of U.S. personnel in recent days.

“He authorized the military to move forward with prepositioning forces and to develop options in case, and I want to stress right now, in case there’s a need for an evacuation,” John Kirby, the National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications told reporters at a White House briefing.

“We want to make sure that we’ve got the capability ready in case it’s needed,” said Kirby who stressed that no decision had been made yet to evacuate American diplomats or citizens. He urged both sides to stop the violence and allow for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to be distributed to address shortages of food and medicine.

Any evacuation in Sudan would likely mean access to the airport in Khartoum where fighting has already damaged some civilian aircraft.

“What I can tell you is that we have good accountability of all our government personnel,” operating at the embassy said Kirby who acknowledged that not all of the U.S. diplomatic personnel are together.

“They’re still trying to get them all co-located together for their own safety, they are still sheltering in place where they are,” said Kirby.

While a U.S. diplomatic convoy was struck by gunfire earlier in the week, Kirby said “there’s no indication that either side is deliberately going after or trying to hurt target. Americans.”

ABC News’ Shannon Crawford contributed to this report

Durbin invites Chief Justice Roberts to testify about Supreme Court ethics

April 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Sen. Dick Durbin, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Thursday invited Chief Justice John Roberts to testify at a hearing about Supreme Court ethics.

Durbin, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, sent a letter to Roberts inviting him or “another Justice whom you designate” to appear before the committee on May 2 for a hearing “regarding the ethical rules that govern the Justices of the Supreme Court and potential reforms to those rules.”

The invitation comes after ProPublica reports revealing close ties between Justice Clarence Thomas and wealthy GOP donor Harlan Crow, including real estate Thomas and his family sold to Crow and extensive travel by Thomas that Crow facilitated or paid for. Those ties were not revealed on Thomas’ disclosure reports.

In his letter, Durbin, D-Ill., noted that the last time the Judiciary Committee heard from sitting justices on ethics was in 2011.

“Since then, there has been a steady stream of revelations regarding Justices falling short of the ethical standards expected of other federal judges and, indeed, of public servants generally. These problems were already apparent back in 2011, and the Court’s decade-long failure to address them has contributed to a crisis of public confidence. The status quo is no longer tenable,” Durbin wrote.

Durbin told reporters he gave the court prior notice that the letter was coming and that he expected Roberts to receive it Thursday afternoon.

The panel would have limited recourse to compel Roberts to testify if he refuses. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s continued absence as she recovers from shingles means the panel is deadlocked between Democrats and Republicans, rather than Democrats’ normal one-seat majority, and only a majority of members could vote to approve a subpoena for Roberts’ testimony.

It’s unclear if any Republicans would back such a move.

Roberts had yet to respond as of early Thursday afternoon.

Democrats have been up in arms following the ProPublica reports.

“This is beyond party or partisanship,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted earlier this month. “This degree of corruption is shocking — almost cartoonish. Thomas must be impeached.”

Republicans, meanwhile, have largely fallen in line behind Thomas.

“I have total confidence in the chief justice of the United States to deal with these court internal issues,” Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said this week, suggesting any ethics reforms should be left to the Supreme Court to determine.

Crow, meanwhile, has repeatedly maintained his relationship with Thomas included no wrongdoing and that he never tried to influence Thomas’ work on the court.

“We have never asked about a pending or lower court case, and Justice Thomas has never discussed one, and we have never sought to influence Justice Thomas on any legal or political issue. More generally, I am unaware of any of our friends ever lobbying or seeking to influence Justice Thomas on any case, and I would never invite anyone who I believe had any intention of doing that,” Crow said in a statement after the first ProPublica report was published.

In a statement last Friday, Thomas said, “Harlan and Kathy Crow are among our dearest friends, and we have been friends for over twenty-five years. As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them. Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable. I have endeavored to follow that counsel throughout my tenure, and have always sought to comply with the disclosure guidelines. These guidelines are now being changed, as the committee of the Judicial Conference responsible for financial disclosure for the entire federal judiciary just this past month announced new guidance. And, it is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future.”

ABC News’ Devin Dwyer contributed to this report.

Appeals court temporarily blocks GOP deposition of former Trump prosecutor

April 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — A federal appeals court on Thursday issued an administrative stay temporarily blocking the deposition of Mark Pomerantz by the House Judiciary Committee less than two hours before it was set to begin.

The subpoena of Pomerantz, a former prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s office, is part of an investigation into the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump by the Republican-led committee chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan.

Pomerantz was a special assistant district attorney who resigned in 2022 over Bragg’s unwillingness to pursue a case against Trump. After Pomerantz left Bragg’s office, he wrote a memoir about his experience, telling ABC News in February he felt “strongly you do have to apply the same legal standards to everyone, regardless of your president or pauper.”

District Attorney Alvin Bragg has sought to block the congressional subpoena, but on Wednesday a federal judge had denied his request — marking a win for Jordan, who is leading what he’s claimed is a probe into whether Bragg’s office used federal funds in the investigation of Trump.

Bragg has sued Jordan over the congressional probe, calling it a “transparent campaign to intimidate and attack” the office.

Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil on Wednesday declined to enjoin the subpoena for testimony about Trump’s indictment.

“In our federalist system, elected state and federal actors sometimes engage in political dogfights,” Vyskocil said in her ruling on Wednesday. “The Court does not endorse either side’s agenda. The sole question before the Court at this time is whether Bragg has a legal basis to quash a congressional subpoena that was issued with a valid legislative purpose. He does not.”

“It is not the role of the federal judiciary to dictate what legislation Congress may consider or how it should conduct its deliberations in that connection. Mr. Pomerantz must appear for the congressional deposition. No one is above the law,” Vyskocil’s decision said.

A spokesperson for Jordan celebrated the judge’s ruling.

“Today’s decision shows that Congress has the ability to conduct oversight and issue subpoenas to people like Mark Pomeranz, and we look forward to his deposition before the Judiciary Committee,” said spokesman Russell Dye.

Bragg’s office, on the other hand, immediately said it would seek a stay of the judge’s decision.

“We respectfully disagree with the District Court’s decision and are seeking a stay pending appeal,” a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The appeals court wrote Thursday a three-judge panel will consider Bragg’s appeal of a Wednesday ruling allowing the subpoena to move forward, and that its Thursday order “reflects no judgment regarding the merits of the parties’ respective positions.”

ABC News’ Katherine Faulders contributed to this report.

SpaceX live updates: FAA investigating explosion of Starship rocket

April 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(BOCA CHICA, Texas) — SpaceX will attempt a second launch of its Starship rocket after the first launch attempt was scrubbed due to a frozen valve in the pressurization system.

The launch will take place at the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas — about 20 miles east of Brownsville — with a 62-minute window opening at 9:28 a.m. ET. A live webcast will begin 45 minutes before liftoff.

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

Apr 20, 11:40 AM EDT
FAA investigating Starship explosion

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the explosion of SpaceX’s Starship that occurred a few minutes after liftoff.

The agency is responsible for protecting Americans during commercial space transportation launch and reentry operations.

“An anomaly occurred during the ascent and prior to stage separation resulting in a loss of the vehicle,” the FAA said in a statement. “No injuries or public property damage have been reported.”

“The FAA will oversee the mishap investigation of the Starship/Super Heavy test mission. A return to flight of the Starship/Super Heavy vehicle is based on the FAA determining that any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap does not affect public safety. This is standard practice for all mishap investigations.”

SpaceX said the rocket’s boosters did not properly separate following the launch.

-ABC News’ Gina Sunseri

Apr 20, 10:35 AM EDT
Elon Musk says next launch will be in ‘a few months’

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk congratulated the team in a tweet and said the next launch would be later this year, but didn’t give any specific dates.

“Congrats SpaceX team on an exciting test launch of Starship!” Musk tweeted. “Learned a lot for next test launch in a few months.”

Musk also shared a video of the Starship rocket right after liftoff.

Apr 20, 10:05 AM EDT
SpaceX congratulates team even after rocket self-destructs

SpaceX congratulated the team behind the Starship rocket launch, even after it was forced to self-destruct when the boosters failed to separate.

“With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s test will help us improve Starship’s reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multi-planetary,” SpaceX tweeted.

“Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting first integrated flight test of Starship!”

SpaceX said the team will be reviewing the data and working towards its next launch attempt.

Apr 20, 9:46 AM EDT
Starship boosters fail to separate from shuttle, rocket blown up

SpaceX was able to get its Starship rocket off the pad, but all didn’t go as planned.

About three minutes into flight, “Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly before stage separation,” SpaceX tweeted.

Therefore, SpaceX was forced to abort the mission and blow up the rocket, but the team says it’s more of a “success” than they hoped for.

Apr 20, 9:39 AM EDT
Starship launches into space

Starship launched at 9:33 a.m. ET, just five minutes after the launch window opened, on its inaugural flight.

The shuttle is currently the largest spacecraft in the world at about 393 feet and is expected to eventually carry passengers to the moon and Mars in a similar vein to NASA’s Artemis mission.

Starship is designed to carry up to 100 people on long-duration, interplanetary flights.

Apr 20, 9:23 AM EDT
What Starship’s journey will look like

For this first flight test, SpaceX said Starship will not attempt a vertical landing of Starship or a catch of the booster.

If successful, Starship and its rocket, which is called Super Heavy, will head up to the skies and 33 Raptor engines will ignite simultaneously. About eight minutes after liftoff, Super Heavy will splash down in the Gulf of Mexico.

Meanwhile, the spacecraft will travel about 150 miles — partially around the Earth — and then splash down in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii about 90 minutes after liftoff.

There will be a 62-minute window opening at 9:28 a.m. ET. A live webcast began 45 minutes before liftoff.

Apr 20, 8:45 AM EDT
Starship rocket is being loaded

SpaceX is fueling its Starship rocket — the world’s larger spacecraft — as it attempts a second launch.

The first launch attempt was scrubbed Monday due to a frozen valve in the pressurization system.

“The Starship team is go for prop load; team is keeping an eye on the weather,” SpaceX said in a tweet.

At least 78 dead in stampede during $9 aid event in Yemen’s capital

April 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

At least 78 dead in stampede during aid event in Yemen’s capital

(LONDON) — At least 78 people are dead and dozens more were injured after a stampede at a school in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Wednesday evening, according to local officials. The tragedy occurred on one of the last days of Ramadan, as people were reportedly gathering to receive a handout of about $9 per person that was being distributed by merchants.

Witnesses told officials the stampede was caused by someone trying to control the crowd by shooting into the air. The shooting reportedly hit an electrical wire which fell on the ground and caused electroshocks, which triggered more panic in the crowd, witnesses said.

The Houthi-run Interior Ministry said the stampede happened at a “random distribution of sums of money by some merchants,” blaming the merchants for the lack of organization and not coordinating with ministry officials.

Motaher al-Marouni, a senior health official in Sanaa, said at least 13 people were seriously injured, according to the Al-Masirah satellite TV channel.

The aid distributors quickly sealed off the school where the event was planned and barred people and journalists from approaching.

The two merchants in charge of the matter were arrested, the Interior Ministry said.

Sanaa has been under the control of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels since 2014. An ongoing civil war between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government directly claimed the lives of at least 150,000 people by the end of 2021, according to a United Nations report.

The number of casualties in the civil war could be 377,000 when including those killed through “both direct and indirect impacts,” the UN said.

Even before the recent conflict, according to the UN, Yemen was already the poorest nation in the Arab region, suffering from weak development as a result of local conflicts, chronic food insecurity and uncertain political transition.

About 20.7 million people out of the total population of 30.5 million in Yemen are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, UNICEF said, with 14.3 million people in acute need. The agency says around £10 ($12.45) provides life-saving therapeutic food for a child in Yemen for a week.

One-third of US households used government’s free COVID test website: CDC

April 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(ATLANTA) — About one-third of American households used the free at-home COVID-19 test site launched by the Biden administration, new federal data shows.

COVIDTests.gov was first launched in January 2022, when President Joe Biden pledged to give out 1 billion free rapid tests to combat the omicron surge at the time.

The site was temporarily shut down in fall 2022 but relaunched in December as part of the White House’s winter preparedness plan.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which published its report Thursday, said more than 70 million test kits were shipped across the United States. The CDC report details how many kits were used and which groups used them.

The agency conducted a survey of 3,400 Americans aged 18 and older between April 14, 2022, and May 13, 2022, who were tested for COVID-19 in the previous six months.

Results showed that 59.9% of households — equivalent to about 77 million households — had ordered government kits. Only 38.3% — equivalent to about 49 million — reported using a test kit.

Of that group, 23.6% said they likely would not have tested without the COVIDTests.gov program.

There were no major differences when it came to who used the site by race and/or ethnicity.

About 42.1% of Black households placed at least one order as did 41.5% of Hispanic households, 34.8% of white households and 53.7% of households of other races.

As for other at-home tests — such as from a pharmacy, a doctor’s office or a drive-thru site — only about 11.8% of Black households used them compared to 45.8% of white households.

“Compared with White persons, Black persons were 72% less likely to use other home test kits,” the report read. “Provision of tests through this well-publicized program likely improved use of COVID-19 home testing and health equity in the United States, particularly among Black persons.”

Households made up of those aged 65 and older were the least likely to have used a test kit from the website, with only 26.8% doing so.

Meanwhile, households with individuals between ages 18 and 34 were the most likely to use a kit.

There were no major differences when it came to who used the program based on which region of the U.S. they lived in, education level or household income.

Additionally, participants were asked if they were aware of the COVIDTests.gov program and how the experience was.

The CDC found that 93.8% of households knew what the program was. Among those who used the test kits 95.5% rated the experience as “very acceptable” or “acceptable.”

“These data indicate that provision of free COVID-19 tests through the COVIDTests.gov program was not only widely used, but also provided a mechanism for millions of persons to receive COVID-19 testing who otherwise might not have,” the authors wrote.

“Moreover, this program likely led to improvement in equity of COVID-19 testing … these findings support the substantial health value of national programs that address critical health needs during a pandemic response,” they continued.

ABC News’ Cheyenne Haslett contributed to this report.

Woman sentenced to 21 years for trying to kill lookalike with poisoned cheesecake

April 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — On a late summer day in 2016, Viktoria Nasyrova traveled from Brooklyn to Queens so she could visit the Forest Hills home of Olga Tsvyk. She brought a special dessert with her.

The two women had a lot in common. They were both Russian speakers, both had dark hair, similar complexions and shared other physical traits.

The two women sat down to eat the cheesecake Nasyrova had brought and, soon after, Tsvyk felt sick and passed out. Her last memory was of seeing Nasyrova walking around her room, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

The following day, Tsvyk was discovered unconscious in her bed with pills scattered around her body as if she had attempted to kill herself, according to Katz. She was taken to a hospital for treatment.

When Tsvyk returned home, she realized that her passport and employment authorization card were missing, along with a gold ring and other valuables.

Prosecutors said Nasyrova poisoned Tsvyk with phenazepam, a highly potent sedative, concealed in the cheesecake. The residue was found on the dessert container.

The Drug Enforcement Administration tested the pills found on the floor near the victim and identified the same drug.

Nasyrova, 47, of Sheepshead Bay, was convicted in February of attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, unlawful imprisonment in the first degree and petit larceny.

On Wednesday, she was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

“A ruthless and calculating con artist is going to prison for a long time for trying to murder her way to personal profit and gain. Thankfully, the victim survived the attack on her life and we were able to deliver justice to her,” Katz said in a statement.

Three dead after eight tornadoes hit Oklahoma, officials say

April 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — At least three people are dead in Oklahoma after a string of tornadoes broke out Wednesday night, officials said.

There have been eight confirmed tornadoes in the state, according to the National Weather Service.

McClain County Emergency Management confirmed that a “large and extremely dangerous tornado” was over Cole, Oklahoma, Wednesday night. The McClain County Sheriff’s Office confirmed at least two deaths and said there were multiple injuries.

Overall, there were at least 15 reported tornadoes across three states: Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa. In addition, huge hail — some the size of a softball — was reported from Illinois to Texas.

Cole was “hit significantly,” Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Eric Foster said. There are “power lines down everywhere” and major damage to infrastructure, according to Foster, who said hundreds of first responders are on the scene.

On Wednesday night, the McClain County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook that it was responding to “reported injuries & persons entrapped within their shelters,” and that power lines were down and there were outages. McClain County is just south of Oklahoma City.

Due to storm damage, Oklahoma State Highway 74 to State Highway 76 was closed, according to the McClain County Sheriff’s Office.

Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee reported there was significant damage to its campus, but reported there were no injuries. Students living in three on-campus building were relocated on Wednesday night, according to a tweet.

The university also canceled classes on Thursday and Friday.

The cross country storm is moving east and is producing severe weather outbreak with tornadoes, huge hail and extreme straight line winds. On Thursday, severe weather will stretch east from Texas to Illinois, including major cities such as San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, St. Louis and Little Rock, Arkansas. The biggest threat will be damaging winds and huge hail.

Severe weather will move into the Southeast over the weekend and will stretch from the Carolinas down to Georgia. Cities in the bull’s-eye will be Savannah, Georgia; Charleston, South Carolina; Wilmington, North Carolina; and near Raleigh, North Carolina. Damaging winds will be the biggest threat Saturday.

The same storm will bring a threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms all the way to Washington D.C., Philadelphia and New York City Saturday evening.

Major flooding ongoing in the upper Mississippi river in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin is expected to get worse this weekend. The river is expected to continue to rise though the end of the week and into the weekend, reaching levels not seen in decades.

Man allegedly guns down parents and their two friends days after his release from prison

April 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(BOWDOIN, Maine) — A 34-year-old man allegedly shot and killed his parents and their two friends at a home in Bowdoin, Maine, days after his release from prison, authorities said.

Around 9:21 a.m. Tuesday, four people were found shot dead at the home: 72-year-old Robert Eger, 62-year-old Patricia Eger and 62-year-old Cynthia Eaton were found inside, while 66-year-old David Eaton was found in the barn, Maine State Police said at a news conference Wednesday.

The Eatons’ son, Joseph Eaton, had been released from the Windham Correctional Facility in Maine on April 14 after serving a sentence for aggravated assault, according to police. His mother picked him up from prison and brought him to Bowdoin to stay with the Egers, who were family friends, police said.

Shortly after the four bodies were found, around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Joseph Eaton allegedly shot three people as they drove south on Interstate 295 in Yarmouth, about 25 miles south of Bowdoin, police said.

One of the interstate shooting victims, a 25-year-old woman, is in critical condition, police said. The other two victims, a 51-year-old man and his 29-year-old son, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Joseph Eaton was taken into custody and “confessed to killing his parents and their friends in Bowdoin,” state police said. Joseph Eaton allegedly “believed that the vehicles he had shot on the interstate were police vehicles that were following him.”

He has been charged with four counts of murder, police said.

Joseph Eaton made his first appearance in court on Thursday morning. He spoke briefly, only to say he understood the charges against him, and did not enter a plea.

ABC News’ Darren Reynolds and Ben Stein contributed to this report.

SpaceX live updates: Starship rocket launches into space

April 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(BOCA CHICA, Texas) — SpaceX will attempt a second launch of its Starship rocket after the first launch attempt was scrubbed due to a frozen valve in the pressurization system.

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

Apr 20, 9:46 AM EDT
Starship boosters fail to separate from shuttle, rocket blown up

SpaceX was able to get its Starship rocket off the pad, but all didn’t go as planned.

About three minutes into flight, “Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly before stage separation,” SpaceX tweeted.

Therefore, SpaceX was forced to abort the mission and blow up the rocket, but the team says it’s more of a “success” than they hoped for.

Apr 20, 9:39 AM EDT
Starship launches into space

Starship launched at 9:33 a.m. ET, just five minutes after the launch window opened, on its inaugural flight.

The shuttle is currently the largest spacecraft in the world at about 393 feet and is expected to eventually carry passengers to the moon and Mars in a similar vein to NASA’s Artemis mission.

Starship is designed to carry up to 100 people on long-duration, interplanetary flights.

Apr 20, 9:23 AM EDT
What Starship’s journey will look like

For this first flight test, SpaceX said Starship will not attempt a vertical landing of Starship or a catch of the booster.

Meanwhile, the spacecraft will travel about 150 miles — partially around the Earth — and then splash down in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii about 90 minutes after liftoff.

There will be a 62-minute window opening at 9:28 a.m. ET. A live webcast began 45 minutes before liftoff.

Apr 20, 8:45 AM EDT
Starship rocket is being loaded

SpaceX is fueling its Starship rocket — the world’s larger spacecraft — as it attempts a second launch.

The first launch attempt was scrubbed Monday due to a frozen valve in the pressurization system.

“The Starship team is go for prop load; team is keeping an eye on the weather,” SpaceX said in a tweet.

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