AURN News

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis gave emotional testimony in the hearing to determine whether she should be tossed from former President Donald Trump's Georgia election subversion case. She was being pressed about vacations she took with Trump prosecutor Nathan Wade.

Wade earlier took the stand in a hearing to determine whether Willis should be tossed from Donald Trump's Georgia election case because of their romantic relationship. Wade said they split the cost of trips to Aruba, Napa, Belize, and a cruise, and Willis paid in cash. But they could not produce receipts.

Willis also said she doesn't have bank receipts but she has always had a lot of cash inside of her home and used that to pay for the trips. She added that she is not the one on trial. Earlier, Willis said all the accusations against her were lies.

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On February 15, 1968, Henry Lewis shattered racial barriers by assuming the role of director at the New Jersey Symphony, marking him as the first Black conductor and music director of a major American orchestra.

Born on October 16, 1932, in Los Angeles, Lewis embarked on his musical journey at the age of five with piano lessons, later mastering the clarinet and various string instruments. At just 16, he joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra as a double-bassist, concurrently serving with the Seventh Army Symphony in Germany during his tenure in the United States Armed Forces.

Upon Lewis's arrival at the New Jersey Symphony, it was merely a modest community ensemble. However, under his leadership, it underwent a profound metamorphosis, evolving into a prominent orchestra boasting a substantial $1.5 million budget, as reported by The New York Times.

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On this day in 1957, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was established at a meeting in New Orleans after the end of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as president of the civil rights organization, initially called the Southern Negro Leaders Conference on Transportation and Nonviolent Integration, until his death in 1968.

SCLC's first major campaign centered on voting rights. Titled the "Crusade for Citizenship," the goal was to register thousands of disenfranchised voters throughout the South so they could cast ballots in upcoming elections in 1958 and 1960. Through voter education clinics, it raised awareness among African Americans about the importance of the vote.

SCLC is credited with helping to lay the groundwork for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

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Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has been impeached by Republicans in a historic House vote after failing last week.

Majority House Leader Steve Scalise was back in Washington Tuesday after receiving cancer treatment, giving Republicans the necessary votes to overcome the razor-thin majority and get the impeachment over the finish line.

By a 214-213 vote, Mayorkas was the first cabinet official to be impeached since the 1870s. Mayorkas faced scrutiny from Republicans over his handling of the southern border. Several House Republicans say he committed high crimes and misdemeanors.

Things now head to the Senate, where an acquittal is almost certain (in which case, Mayorkas would not face removal from office).

President Joe Biden, in a statement, said "history will not look kindly on House Republicans" for their impeachment of the secretary of Homeland Security.

He called it a "blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games."

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The Senate is approving a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific. The legislation passed with a 70-29 vote this morning, sending the bill to an uncertain fate in the House.

"America led the way for freedom and democracy. And with this bill, the Senate declares that American leadership will not waver, falter or fail."

That was Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urging Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the bill to the House floor and pass it quickly as Ukraine continues to defend itself from Russia's invasion.

Schumer said if Republicans in the House kill the bill, it will be a win for Vladimir Putin.

"It would be a betrayal of our partners and allies and an abandonment of our service members. It's up to the House to meet this moment, do the right thing, and save democracy as we know it."

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On February 13, 1920, Andrew "Rube" Foster made history by establishing the Negro National League (NNL), marking a pivotal moment in African-American sports. Known as the "Father of Black Baseball," Foster's vision led to the creation of the first professional baseball league exclusively for Black players.

The NNL, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, provided a platform for Black athletes to showcase their talent and passion for the game in an era marked by segregation and discrimination. Under Foster's leadership, the NNL flourished, becoming a beacon of hope and opportunity for Black baseball players across the nation.

Despite facing numerous challenges, including financial constraints and racial prejudice, the NNL operated successfully until 1931, leaving a lasting legacy in American sports history.

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The Senate is moving forward with a $95 billion aid bill for Ukraine and Israel, but its fate in the House is uncertain. The money, which is for Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion and Israeli security assistance, passed a Senate procedural vote with the help of 18 Republicans in a rare Sunday session, despite former President Donald Trump's opposition.

If the bill passes the Senate, which leaders hope could happen as soon as Tuesday, it will head to the House, where many Republicans have expressed opposition.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden says he is working with U.S. allies in the Middle East to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. He met with the King of Jordan at the White House on Monday.

The president told reporters a deal between Israel and Hamas is in the works for a six-week pause in fighting. He also warned of the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, noting that too many of the 27,000 Palestinians killed in the conflict have been innocent civilians and children.

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Former President Donald Trump has stirred controversy with his recent statements about NATO during a rally in South Carolina. Trump suggested that if re-elected, he would allow Russia to act freely against NATO members who fail to meet defense spending targets.

President Joe Biden responded by highlighting Trump's position as a potential threat to the alliance. Accusing him of signaling a readiness to forsake NATO allies and embolden Russian aggression, particularly towards Ukraine.

The NATO secretary general also weighed in, emphasizing that any insinuation of a lack of mutual defense among allies jeopardizes both American and European security and puts military personnel at risk.

Senator Marco Rubio of Florida is defending Trump:

"NATO was broke or busted until he took over because people weren't paying their dues. And then he told the story about how he used leverage to get people to step up to the plate and become more active."

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Former President Donald Trump is present at a legal proceeding today in Florida related to allegations of mishandling classified documents. The event is taking place in Fort Pierce, Fla., with a specially equipped room intended for review of top-secret information.

Trump, alongside his legal team, is engaging in a private meeting with the presiding judge, absent the participation of prosecuting attorneys. The discussion aims to delve into the specifics of the case, with a particular focus on whether Trump's lawyers should be granted access to sensitive materials.

Trump was implicated in a legal dispute over his possession of numerous classified documents after his presidential term ended, alongside allegations of obstructing justice by concealing these documents from federal authorities.

These developments occur in the wake of findings by a special counsel that President Joe Biden did not violate any laws regarding his management of classified documents after serving as vice president.

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The formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was spurred by the devastating race massacre in Springfield, Illinois, in August 1908. The event saw a white mob ravage Black neighborhoods, torch businesses, and commit acts of lynching, leaving two Black men dead and many others injured.

By February 12, 1909, the NAACP was officially established in New York. Its founding members, numbering 60, included prominent individuals from both white abolitionist backgrounds and African-American communities, such as W.E.B. DuBois, Ida B. Wells, and Mary Church Terrell.

The organization's primary mission is to secure political, educational, social, and economic equality for people of color in the United States while striving to eradicate racial prejudice.

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