AURN News

In another striking blow to reproductive rights, the Florida Supreme Court has solidified a 15-week abortion restriction and more severely activated a draconian six-week ban signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis.

The harsh measure, set against the backdrop of ongoing national debate, significantly curtails women's autonomy over their health decisions. In a simultaneous decision, the court did allow a November ballot amendment that could enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, giving Floridians a chance to reverse these restrictions.

President Joe Biden vehemently criticized the court's decision as outrageous, highlighting the dire consequences for women's access to essential health services in Florida and beyond. He lambasted these extreme laws for jeopardizing women's health and freedom, emphasizing that such measures intimidate healthcare providers with the threat of incarceration for delivering professional medical care.

The ban, which significantly heightens the stakes for the upcoming election, spotlights the ongoing battle over reproductive rights.

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The White House is bustling with excitement for the 144th annual Easter Egg Roll. Expected are about 40,000 guests to partake in an event rich with history dating back to the 1870s.

The event has survived wars and pandemics and invites children to partake in the joyous activities of egg rolling on the South Lawn. This year, the festivities are themed "EGG-ucation," focusing on turning the event into a vibrant educational experience that underscores the significance of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) subjects.

Efforts to set the stage for an enlightening and entertaining day have been immense, with staff and volunteers preparing the South Lawn and Eclipse to mimic a lively school community. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will grace the event and highlight the importance of supporting this tradition.

The event features 64,000 eggs supplied by North Carolina-based Braswell Family Farms and Sauder’s Eggs in Pennsylvania.

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On April 1, 1984, Marvin Gaye, the beloved icon of Motown, was shot by his father, Rev. Marvin Gay Sr., just one day shy of his 45th birthday. 

Despite his prior success, including winning his first Grammy and reclaiming the charts with his hit "Sexual Healing," Marvin Gaye returned to his parents' Los Angeles residence in 1983. His father, Rev. Marvin Gay Sr., an ordained minister, enforced strict moral standards at home, all while harboring an alleged double life.

On the morning of April 1, a heated argument between father and son escalated into violence, tragically resulting in Marvin Gaye being shot three times in the chest by his own father.

Marvin Gaye's legacy as a musical genius endures through his soulful hits such as "What’s Going On," "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)," and "Mercy Mercy Me."

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(AURN News) - As the 2024 presidential race heats up, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are trading barbs over crime and support for law enforcement.  

Trump has ramped up attacks on the Biden administration's handling of crime following the deadly shooting of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller during a traffic stop this week. On his Truth Social platform, the former president wrote: "POLICE ARE THE GREATEST PEOPLE WE HAVE. THERE IS NOTHING, AND NOBODY LIKE THEM—THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN..."

He added in another post, "THIS IS SUCH A SAD OCCASION—WE HAVE TO STOP IT, WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO LAW AND ORDER...WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF THINGS DIFFERENTLY—BECAUSE THIS NOT WORKING...THIS IS HAPPENING TOO OFTEN..."

The White House defended Biden's longstanding support for law enforcement. During a briefing aboard Air Force One Thursday following Trump’s remarks. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president "has stood with law enforcement his entire career and continues to stand with them as they put their lives on the line for their communities. Under his leadership, we will continue to support police officers.”

Jean-Pierre also took a jab at the previous administration over crime. "I’m going to be careful about saying anything about 2024, but violent crime surged under the previous administration, which repeatedly attempted to cut the COPS program," she said.

Recent FBI data shows an estimated 1.7% decrease in national violent crime in 2022 compared to 2021 estimates. The report also estimates a 6.1% nationwide decrease in murders compared to the prior year.

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(AURN News) - This Easter weekend, as millions of American Christians flock to churches to mark Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, the significance of the Black church in the nation's spiritual fabric remains strong. 

According to data from the Pew Research Center, 47.9 million people living in the U.S. identify as Black – a 32% increase from 2000. And while the Black community's ties to faith institutions appear to be evolving, particularly among younger generations, the Black church's impact on the journey toward racial equality is widely acknowledged.

Pew's research also shows that more than half of Black Americans who attend church do so at Black-majority congregations. However, Black Millennials and Gen Z-ers are less likely to rely on prayer, to have grown up in church, or to regularly attend religious services, with 49% of Black Millennials and 46% of Black Gen Z seldom or never attending.  

Still, the Black church's role in the struggle for civil rights remains strong. Three-quarters of Black Americans surveyed by Pew say that Black churches have played at least "some" part in helping advance equality for Black people, with three in ten stating these institutions have done "a great deal."

Despite shifting generational attitudes, Black Americans collectively remain the nation's most religiously devout racial demographic, with 97% professing belief in God.

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To safeguard American families from deceptive health insurance plans, President Joe Biden has introduced a groundbreaking rule aimed at eradicating so-called junk health insurance policies. These low-quality plans, criticized for failing to protect adequate coverage when it is most needed, have left countless consumers facing substantial medical bills for treatments supposedly covered.

The new regulation ensures short-term health insurance policies are strictly limited to a duration of three months, with a potential one-month extension, contrasting sharply with the previous allowance of up to three years. Furthermore, insurance providers are now mandated to transparently disclose the limitations of their coverage.

This initiative forms part of the Biden-Harris administration's broader strategy to eliminate hidden fees and deceptive practices across various industries, reaffirming the commitment to uphold the Affordable Care Act's promise of comprehensive, fair health insurance for all.

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The Second District Court of Appeals in Fort Worth, Texas, has overturned the unjust voter fraud conviction and subsequent five-year imprisonment of Crystal Mason for casting a provisional ballot while on probation.

The 2016 case shed light on Mason, a Black woman, and her unawareness of her ineligibility to vote due to a prior felony conviction. This fact was pivotal in challenging the prosecution's claim that her signing of an affidavit included awareness of her voting rights status. Justice Wade Birdwell clarified that the affidavit's language did not conclusively prove that she intentionally violated the law (read the full ruling). 

Mason's case sparked major bipartisan concern over the severity of the sentence and pointed to a larger battle over voting rights, particularly among Black and brown communities.

Mason says she is determined to prevent similar injustices, while her legal team is heavily criticizing prosecutors' motives as a warning to voters.

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On March 29, 1945, basketball legend Walt "Clyde" Frazier was born in Atlanta. As the point guard for the New York Knicks, his impressive career included averaging 19.3 points per game and setting numerous team records in points scored, games played, and assists.

Frazier's career spanned seven NBA All-Star games. He clinched two championships with the Knicks in 1970 and 1973, solidifying his status as a basketball icon. Frazier was also the first athlete paid to endorse a sneaker, a suede style made by Puma.

In recognition of his remarkable contributions to basketball, Frazier was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1987.

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Joel Lieberman, known for his groundbreaking role as the first Jewish vice presidential candidate and a distinguished tenure in the U.S. Senate, has passed away at 82 surrounded by his loved ones due to complications from a fall.

His career was marked by significant moments such as his nomination alongside Al Gore in the 2000 election and his stance on various key issues positioning him as a centrist within the Democratic Party.

Lieberman's commitment to bipartisanship and his independent streak led him to support the Iraq war, causing a rift within his party and leading to his independence and a victory in 2006. Lieberman's political journey was also notable for his support of Republican John McCain in 2008, showcasing his cross-party alliances.

The dedication to his Orthodox Jewish faith alongside a career advocating for important issues like environmental protection and health care reform underscored his unique position in American politics. His loss is felt across the political spectrum with tributes acknowledging his service and impact on American political life.

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R. Kelly's lawyer told an appeals court yesterday that all kinds of legitimate organizations, even college fraternities, could be deemed racketeering organizations under a law used to convict the R&B superstar at his Brooklyn trial of sexually abusing young fans. Now, this lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, is seeking to reverse R. Kelly's 2021 convictions or win him a new trial. She tried to convince him. Three judges in a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan that prosecutors improperly used a racketeering statute written to shut down organized crime to go after the singer. She said it wasn't fair that prosecutors charged R. Kelly with leading a racketeering influence and corrupt organization known as RICO from 1994 to 2018 and this is the law that they used to convict him. Ooh! Could it be true? Maybe the fat lady hasn't sung on the R. Kelly situation yet. Stay tuned.

And Dr. Dre got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was unveiled on Tuesday. You know, Dre is known for his career as a performer, producer, founder, and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics and co-founder and president of Death Row Records. Well, Snoop Dogg was on hand along with music impresario Jimmy Iovine. And by the way, the star is right next to Snoop's, right in front of the El Capitan Entertainment Center. Dre's star is the 2,775th star since the completion of the Walk of Fame back in 1961. You know, Dre has always said he was inspired by the 1981 single Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel. Oh, I do remember that one. Anyway, after hearing that, he went on to be a DJ himself and he frequently attended a club called Eve's After Dark. Now, this was over in the Willowbrook section of Compton. He would watch many DJs perform, and then when he became one himself, he was known as Dr. J, the nickname of his favorite basketball player, Julius Irving. Well, he later became Dr. Dre based on his first name and Irving's nickname. How about that? Things that you just need to know. And congratulations to Dr. Dre for all of the work he's done in the community.

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