AURN News

"With deep pride and soberness, I will pardon over 175,000 convictions. All convictions related to the possession of cannabis and cannabis paraphernalia."

That was Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Monday morning announcing the pardoning of over 175,000 marijuana convictions aimed to rectify past injustices.

The action includes more than 150,000 misdemeanor convictions for simple cannabis possessions and over 18,000 for related paraphernalia. The governor emphasized that this initiative aligns with Maryland voters' decision to legalize cannabis, which took effect in July 2023.

Baltimore, significantly impacted by these convictions, will see a transformative effect on many lives. The decision follows President Biden's call for state-level pardons and reflects a commitment to social equity and justice.

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"He's been convicted of 34 felonies, found liable for sexual assault, and he committed financial fraud. Meanwhile, Joe Biden's been working."

That is a new campaign ad put out by the Biden administration going directly after presidential candidate Donald Trump. The $50 million ad blitz focuses on Trump's felonies and will air in key battleground states starting today.

The 30-second "Character Matters" ad looks at Biden's commitment to families juxtaposed with Trump's legal troubles. Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts for falsifying business records last month.

Despite initial hesitation, Biden's team is now emphasizing his opponent's legal issues as polls show both candidates are neck and neck.

At a recent fundraiser, Biden labeled Trump a convicted felon, marking a strategic shift. The first presidential debate is set for June 27, adding urgency to both campaigns.

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On June 17, 1972, security guard Frank Wills exposed the Watergate break-in. Although President Richard M. Nixon and Washington Post star reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are most closely associated with the infamous Watergate scandal that led to Nixon's resignation, Frank Wills, a security guard at the Democratic National Committee headquarters, is often overlooked.

During his routine patrol, Wills noticed that the basement door had been taped open. He promptly alerted his supervisor and the police, leading to the discovery of five intruders.

While Woodward and Bernstein gained great fame, Willis sadly died in poverty in 2000 at the age of 54.

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DALLAS (AURN News) - Tony Evans, the prominent pastor, author, and the first African American to earn a doctoral degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, has stepped down from the Dallas-area megachurch he founded over 40 years ago after admitting to a past moral failing. In a statement issued last Sunday and posted on the website of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church, Evans acknowledged committing an unspecified sin "a number of years ago" that fell short of the biblical standards he had preached.

"When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God," Evans said in the statement. "I am, therefore, required to apply the same biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself that I have applied to others."

Evans said he has shared the matter with his wife, children, and church elders "and they have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me." No other details were provided. The church's website stated that interim leadership would be announced in the coming days, under the oversight of executive pastor Bobby Gibson and the elders.

One of the most prominent African American evangelical leaders, Evans recently married his second wife in a private ceremony. In a 2022 interview with the American Urban Radio Networks, Evans reflected on the historic role of Black churches as community hubs.

"The Black church historically was the center of life for the Black world...Not just religious life, it was the center of all of life," he said. "So we shouldn't be surprised that out of the Black church came our doctors, our lawyers, our teachers, our entertainment, our politicians, and on and on and on and on."

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Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas took more trips on GOP megadonor Harlan Crow’s private jet than previously known, as revealed by Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin.

Thomas flew on Crow’s plane in 2017, 2019, and 2021 for various U.S. trips, as well as a 2019 journey to Indonesia where he stayed on Crow's yacht. This information adds to the scrutiny of Thomas's luxury travel funded by friends with conservative ties.

Thomas, criticized for not disclosing these trips, claims he followed the court’s rules at the time, which have since been tightened to mandate such disclosures. His recent financial disclosures admitted an "inadvertent omission" of a hotel stay but omitted the private jet travel.

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The Oklahoma Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the last living survivors of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, dampening hopes for reparations. The suit, brought by centenarians Viola 'Mother' Fletcher and Lessie Benningfield 'Mother' Randle, aimed to hold the city accountable for the devastating attacks on the Greenwood District.

The court upheld a lower court's decision, stating that the plaintiff's claim did not meet the criteria under the state's public nuisance law. The survivor's legal team announced plans to petition for a rehearing, arguing that the destruction of 40 square blocks clearly constitutes a public nuisance.

They urged the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act. A statement from their legal team emphasized, "In 103 years since the Massacre, no court has held a trial addressing the Massacre and no individual or entity has been held accountable for it."

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The Senate has voted against a bill aimed at protecting access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), a move expected due to strong Republican opposition. The Right to IVF Act, sponsored by Democratic Senators Tammy Duckworth, Patty Murray, and Cory Booker, sought to prevent states from imposing IVF restrictions and mandate insurance coverage for treatment.

Despite support from Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, the bill fell short of the 60 votes needed. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the rejection, highlighting growing concerns over reproductive rights following recent court decisions. Republicans, however, argued the bill was unnecessary and infringed on religious freedoms.

The vote underscores the ongoing battle over reproductive health as the November election approaches.

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On June 12, 1963, civil rights leader Medgar W. Evers was assassinated by a white supremacist outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi, at the age of 37.

Evers began his involvement with the NAACP in 1952 while working for a Black-owned insurance company in the Mississippi Delta. As the first field secretary for the NAACP in Mississippi, he focused on recruiting members and investigating racial violence.

He also spearheaded voter registration efforts and organized mass protests. Evers and his family were frequent targets of white supremacist violence.

He was laid to rest on June 19, 1963, at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., where he was honored with a full military burial attended by over 3,000 mourners.

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Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has been found guilty on three felony gun charges by a 12-member jury. After deliberating for three hours, the jury convicted him of lying to a gun dealer and falsifying information on a gun application in 2018.

His lawyers argued that he did not intentionally lie, as Hunter did not perceive himself as a drug user or addict. According to federal law, it's illegal for anyone who is using or addicted to a controlled substance to possess a firearm.

Two of the counts carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years each, while the third has a max of five years. He also faces a potential fine of up to $750,000. No sentencing date has yet been scheduled.

While Hunter Biden expressed his disappointment with the verdict, in a statement, President Biden said he would accept the outcome of the case and continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

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In a major announcement that could bring relief to millions of Americans, Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled a new proposal to remove medical debt from credit reports. The move by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau aims to eliminate medical debt from the credit reports of over 15 million people, potentially raising their credit score by an average of 20 points.

The Biden-Harris administration is also urging state and local governments to take further action, including using public funds to buy and eliminate medical debt. Some states, like Arizona and Illinois, are already leveraging funds from the American Rescue Plan to wipe out billions in medical debt, setting an example for others.

The initiative is particularly significant for Black, Hispanic, low-income, and veteran communities, who are disproportionately affected by medical debt.

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