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U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared gun violence a public health crisis, citing a surge in firearm-related injuries and deaths. Murthy is calling for banning automatic rifles, implementing universal background checks, regulating the gun industry, enacting laws to limit gun use in public spaces, and imposing penalties for improper gun storage.

However, these measures require congressional legislation, which faces strong opposition. Some states have adopted or are considering similar measures.

Murthy emphasized broad public concern about gun violence, referencing a poll showing widespread fear of gun-related harm to loved ones, and noted the staggering toll of over 48,000 firearm deaths in 2022.

His advisory has garnered support from medical professionals, with organizations like the American Academy of Family Physicians acknowledging the longstanding public health impact of gun violence.

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"Firearm violence has become the number one cause of death among children and adolescents."

The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has declared gun violence a public health emergency.

"Today, for the first time in the history of our office, I am issuing a Surgeon General's advisory on firearm violence. It outlines the urgent threat firearm violence poses to the health and well-being of our country."

He's advocating for the banning of automatic rifles, universal background checks, and stricter regulations on gun storage, and he's calling on Congress to make it happen. During his announcement, he pointed to the harm caused by firearm-related incidents, especially in Black communities.

"Fifty-four percent of adults in America report that they or a family member have experienced a firearm-related incident. Black individuals endure the highest rates of firearm homicides, while suicide rates are highest among veterans, older white individuals, and younger American Indian and Alaska Native people."

The American Academy of Family Physicians praised the declaration, while the National Rifle Association criticized the move.

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Millions of borrowers will now face uncertainty, as federal judges in Kansas and Missouri have blocked crucial parts of President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. The rulings prevent the Department of Education from easing repayment terms and accelerating debt cancellation for many.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed strong disagreement with the decision, affirming the Department of Justice will continue to vigorously defend the SAVE plan. The plan has benefited 8 million Americans with lower payments and faster debt relief. It was a cornerstone of the administration's efforts to fix the broken student loan system.

Despite the legal hurdles, the administration is determined to enroll more borrowers and provide ongoing support. The court's decision impacts efforts to lower payments for those with larger loans and shorten the required payment period from 25 to 20 years for forgiveness. The rulings follow earlier attempts to block Biden's broader student loan relief initiatives, highlighting ongoing legal battles surrounding the issue.

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(AURN NEWS) — The political world is buzzing with anticipation as preparations continue for the first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Scheduled for Thursday night in Atlanta, the high-stakes event, hosted by CNN, is poised to be a pivotal moment in the extremely close 2024 presidential race. It also comes much earlier on the calendar than we would typically see a presidential debate. 

The format will mark significant changes from previous debates between these political heavyweights. According to CNN, “The 90-minute debate will include two commercial breaks…and campaign staff may not interact with their candidate during that time.”

CNN also says that microphones will be muted, except when it is a candidate's designated time to speak. Trump and Biden will be prohibited from bringing props or pre-written notes. Each candidate will be provided with only the bare necessities: a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water. Another notable aspect of this debate is the absence of a live audience, which for Trump tends to be a source of energy and support. 

Weeks ago, CNN outlined its strict qualification criteria for debate participation. “All participating debaters must appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency and receive at least 15% in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters that meet CNN’s standards for reporting,” the news organization said.

The debate airs live on Thursday, June 17, 2024, at 9 PM ET on CNN.

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"We have to trust women."

On the two-year anniversary of Roe v. Wade being struck down, Vice President Kamala Harris posted a message on her X, formerly Twitter, page detailing the repercussions of that decision.

"Two years ago today. The highest court in our land, the United States Supreme Court, took a constitutional right that had been recognized from the people of America, from the women of America. And thereafter, in state after state, laws have been proposed and passed that will criminalize healthcare providers -- sometimes prison for life for healthcare providers -- that punish women, that make no exception, even for rape or incest, that are threatening the availability of IVF; that are attempting to threaten the availability of contraception."

In the message, the vice president urged Congress to restore the protections under Roe v. Wade. If they do, she says, the president will sign it into law.

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The Biden-Harris administration is commemorating the second anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, an issue central to Biden's reelection campaign. The Biden team is hosting over 50 events nationwide to mark the anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, which ended the federal legal right to abortion.

First Lady Jill Biden will attend events in Pennsylvania, while Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will hold events in Arizona, Maryland, and Michigan. The campaign has been using the rollback of reproductive rights to mobilize voters, especially young and female demographics, crucial to reelection.

The overturning of Roe has led to nearly two dozen states banning or severely restricting abortions, resulting in higher mortality and infant mortality rates and increased economic insecurity.

Vice President Harris emphasized that the fight for reproductive freedom is ongoing, warning that other rights could be at risk.

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NBA legend Samuel Jones was born June 24, 1933. Selected by the Boston Celtics in the 1957 NBA Draft, he spent his entire 12-season professional career with the team, winning the second-highest number of NBA championships ever, second only to teammate Bill Russell.

Jones was a five-time NBA All-Star and 10-time NBA champion, known for his perfect jump shot form and clutch shooting, earning him the nickname "The Shooter."

After retiring in 1969, Jones coached at Federal City College, North Carolina Central University, and served as an assistant for the New Orleans Jazz.

He was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1984. Samuel Jones, who died in 2021 at 88 years old, was also inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

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"I gave everything I had."

And that he did. That was the voice of Willie Mays, who died Tuesday at 93. He was one of the greatest baseball players of all time.

During last night's game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants at Rickwood Field, it was a special night of tributes.

"Please join us in a moment of silence as we remember the great Willie Mays."

Willie "Say Hey Kid" Mays was one of the last living players of the Negro League that started in 1948 with the Birmingham Black Barons. The Titan, whose iconic basket catch in the 1954 World Series is etched in the annals of sports history, played 22 seasons, including stints with the San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, and Oakland Athletics.

The Alabama native had 24 All-Star selections, a National League MVP award in 1965, and a World Series championship in 1954. He finished a career batting average of .302, 660 home runs, and in 1979 was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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(AURN NEWS) — A new Fox News poll suggests a major shift in the 2024 presidential race, with President Joe Biden now leading former President Donald Trump for the first time in months. The survey, released Wednesday, shows Biden ahead of Trump by a narrow margin of 50% to 48% in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup. This marks the first time since October 2023 that Biden has surpassed Trump in the network's polling.

When third-party candidates are included, the race tightens, but Biden maintains a slight edge. In the 5-way matchup, Biden garners 43% support, followed closely by Trump at 42%. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. secured 10%, while Dr. Cornel West, the lone African-American in the race, and Jill Stein each received 2%.

The poll also reveals potential challenges for both major candidates. Biden's support among Black voters, while still strong at 73%, has declined from the 79% he received before the 2020 election. Meanwhile, both Biden and Trump face high unfavorability ratings, with 56% and 57% of respondents viewing them negatively, respectively. Vice President Kamala Harris also faces image issues, with 57% of those polled expressing an unfavorable view.

The results of this poll come in the wake of Trump's recent conviction on 34 felony counts in New York, raising questions about the impact of his legal troubles on his political standing.

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Louisiana has become the first state to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom, a move supported by the Republican-controlled Legislature under a new conservative governor.

The law, signed by Republican Governor Jeff Landry, requires a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in large, easily readable font across all public classrooms, from kindergarten through state-funded universities.

Governor Landry asserted that "to respect the rule of law, you’ve got to start from the original lawgiver, which was Moses."

Opponents question the law's constitutionality and plan to challenge it in court. The mandated posters must be displayed by 2025.

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