White House recommits to getting Harriet Tubman on $20 bill after Trump delay
(CNN)The Biden administration says it is “exploring ways to speed up” release of $20 bills featuring abolitionist Harriet Tubman after the Trump administration delayed the move first initiated by President Barack Obama.”It’s important that our notes, our money — if people don’t know what a note is — reflect the history and diversity of our country, and Harriet Tubman’s image gracing the new $20 note would certainly reflect that,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Monday.A spokesperson for the Treasury Department confirmed to CNN that the agency is “exploring ways to resume” putting Tubman on the bill.There are production factors that will need to be considered in order for the bill to be released before 2028 — when the Trump administration estimated the new note would be unveiled. For example, the Tubman bill will need to produced in a new, high-speed printing facility, which is currently scheduled to begin printing in 2025.
Tubman, the once-enslaved African-American woman who guided dozens enslaved people to their freedom through the Underground Railroad in the 1800s, would replace President Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill.Tubman, born in Maryland, escaped the plantation where she was enslaved and went to Pennsylvania in 1849. Over the following decade, she made more than a dozen trips to Maryland to free enslaved persons, according to the National Parks Service.
During the Civil War, Tubman served as a US Army spy, scout, nurse and cook. And in her later years, Tubman was involved in the women’s suffrage movement.While campaigning in 2016, President Donald Trump called the decision to redesign the $20 with Tubman’s image front and center “pure political correctness.” He suggested at the time that Tubman be put on the $2 bill, which wasn’t being printed at the time, instead.And throughout his presidency, Trump expressed appreciation for Jackson, visiting his grave, tweeting about Jackson, “We honor your memory. We build on your legacy” and displaying Jackson portraits in the Oval Office.Different groups have criticized the glorification of Jackson’s legacy — specifically for owning slaves, his record on racial issues and his decision to sign legislation that ultimately led to the deadly “Trail of Tears.” That legislation forced tens of thousands of Cherokees out of Georgia and moved to what’s now Oklahoma.In a 2018 interview at the Economic Club of Washington, Trump Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin dodged when asked about progress with regard to the new bill, saying, “We haven’t made any decisions as to whether we’ll change the bill, or won’t change the bill.”Mnuchin later said the bill wouldn’t be unveiled until 2028 because of “technical issues.” But The New York Times reported in 2019 that in fact the “basic design already on paper most likely could have satisfied the goal of unveiling” the redesigned note by 2020. The paper said it obtained an image of the new note from a former department official, which “depicts Tubman in a dark coat with a wide collar and a white scarf.”According to the paper, the design “was completed in late 2016.
“This story has been updated with additional reporting on Tubman and the Treasury Department’s plans.
CNN’s Devan Cole contributed to this report.
via: https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/25/politics/harriet-tubman-20-biden-trump-obama/index.html
Photo Credit: cnn.com
Target pulling products allegedly made with forced monkey labor
Target will no longer sell coconut milk made by the Thai company Chaokoh after an investigation alleged the drink is tied to forced monkey labor, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals announced Monday.
“By dropping Chaokoh, Target is joining thousands of stores that refuse to profit from chained monkeys’ misery,” PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman wrote in a statement.
“PETA exposés have confirmed that Thai coconut producers are exploiting monkeys and lying about it, so there’s no excuse for any grocery store to keep Chaokoh on its shelves.”
PETA, which has been tracking monkey exploitation in Thailand since 2019, conducted two undercover investigations that found primates are forced to pick coconuts all day with chains around their necks. The group’s probe found “cruelty to monkeys on every farm, at every monkey-training facility, and in every coconut-picking contest that used monkey labor.”
“When not being forced to pick coconuts or perform in circus-style shows for tourists, the animals were kept tethered, chained to old tires, or confined to cages barely larger than their bodies,” PETA wrote in a news release.
Following PETA’s investigations, the coconut industry claimed they changed their practice and were no longer using monkey labor but a second probe found it was still happening.
“PETA Asia’s second investigation found producers still using monkey labor and industry insiders discussing how farms conceal this practice by simply hiding monkeys until auditors leave or by hiring contractors to bring in monkeys only during harvest time,” PETA said.
Target told The Post they decided to pull the products in November last year.
“We believe in the humane treatment of animals and expect those who do business with us to do the same,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement.
“We take seriously the claims made against Chaokoh, and given they were unable to sufficiently address the concerns raised, we made the decision to remove their product from our assortment.”
PETA has been lobbying major grocery chains to stop selling Chaokoh and so far, more than 26,000 stores, including Wegmans, Costco, Food Lion, Stop & Shop and now Target, have agreed to cut ties with the brand.
Meanwhile, Kroger, Albertsons and Publix are continuing the practice.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/01/25/target-pulling-products-allegedly-made-with-forced-monkey-labor/
Photo Credit: Christopher Sadowski
Terrorist who butchered UK soldier in 2013 falls seriously ill from COVID-19
A terrorist who butchered UK soldier Lee Rigby in 2013 is seriously ill from COVID-19, according to reports.
Self-styled “soldier of Allah” Michael Adebowale, 29, fell sick two weeks ago while serving 45 years in prison for the sickening meat-cleaver murder of the fusilier in south east London in May 2013, The Sun said.
He was moved to a hospital for the second time in days as his condition deteriorated, the UK paper said.
“He’s in a very bad way and fighting for every breath,” a source told The Sun.
“It’s reached the stage where it’s a 24/7 battle. If he deteriorates much further, intensive care would be the next step. He’s very young to be affected so badly.”
The BBC confirmed Adebowale was seriously ill in the hospital but said he was not yet on a ventilator or in intensive care.
Adebowale — who now uses the name Ismaail Kuti — and fellow killer Michael Adebolajo, 36, ran down Rigby close to his barracks before hacking him to death in the road, even trying to cut off his head.
The pair then waited to confront arriving cops — with Adebolajo standing with his weapons still in his blood-soaked hand as he tried to justify the killing to horrified onlookers.
Rigby’s mom, Lyn Rigby, 53, told The Sun she would hate for the terrorist to die young from the pandemic — because she wants to see him “serve every day” of his lengthy sentence.
“It would not be justice for COVID to take this man prematurely and end the sentence handed to him,” she told the UK paper.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/01/25/terrorist-who-butchered-uk-soldier-falls-seriously-ill-from-covid/
Photo Credit: REUTERS
Virginia cop reportedly bragged that he used Nancy Pelosi’s toilet during riot
A Virginia police officer charged in the deadly US Capitol riots allegedly boasted to a pal that he used House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s toilet during the uprising, according to a report.
Jacob Fracker, along with fellow Rocky Mount Police officer Thomas Robertson, were allegedly among the horde of supporters of then-President Trump who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 in an attempt to prevent Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s election win.
The day after the riot, Fracker allegedly sent a video to a pal over Facebook showing him wearing a gas mask inside the Capitol and bragging about his exploits, The Daily Beast reported, citing an FBI search warrant application the outlet obtained.
“Turning the camera towards himself, Fracker hits his chest multiple times,” the application reportedly states. “Fracker tells his Facebook friend, ‘S–t was wild lol I pissed in Nancy P’s toilet.’”
Fracker, who is reportedly also a corporal in the Virginia National Guard and a Marine Corps veteran, allegedly went on to claim in a message to the unidentified friend that he was among the first rioters to breach the seat of of American democracy.
“We did hahaha it was f–king amazing,” he wrote, according to the report. “Flash bangs going off, CS gas, rubber bullets flying by. Felt so good to be back in the s–t hahaha I was like 8th person inside the building, s–t was f–kin LIT.”
Five people died during the riot, among them a US Capitol Police officer pepper-sprayed and bludgeoned with a fire extinguisher.
Pelosi and her office were apparently among the primary targets of some of the rioters.
One rioter sat in the California Democrat’s chair and propped his foot up on her desk, and another swiped her laptop, while some stalked the halls calling her name, authorities have alleged.
Fracker, who is charged with unlawful entry into a restricted area and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, is on administrative leave.
It was not immediately clear if he had retained a lawyer to speak on his behalf.
He is among several law-enforcement officers from across the nation charged in or suspected of attending the riots.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/01/24/virginia-cop-bragged-he-used-nancy-pelosis-toilet-during-riot/
Photo Credit: AP
Elderly woman who ‘died’ of COVID-19 reappears at nursing home after 10 days
An elderly Spanish woman stunned her family when she showed up at her nursing home — more than a week after they were told she had died of COVID-19.
Rogelia Blanco’s relatives were informed the 85-year-old woman died of the virus on Jan. 13 and that her funeral was the next day, according to the La Voz de Galicia newspaper. They were unable to attend due to protocols in place during the pandemic.
But on Saturday — 10 days later — she arrived back at the home in Xove, northern Spain. Her husband, who also lives there, was in a state of shock.
“I could not believe it,” her husband told the paper. “I was crying, after the death of my wife.”
The confusion happened when Blanco and other residents who tested positive for COVID-19 were transferred to another home, the Os Gozos residency in Pereiro de Aguiar, about 139 miles away, for specialized treatment late last month.
The woman who died was in fact Blanco’s roommate.
“Among the elderly people transferred were two women who were assigned the same room,” the San Rosendo Foundation, which runs the Xove nursing home, told the paper. “An identification error during the process of transfer from Xove to Pereiro de Aguiar led to the death of one of them being certified on Jan. 13, although the identity was wrongly assigned.”
The foundation expressed its regret and called the mix-up an “unfortunate incident,” according to the paper.
“This is a one-off event, among the more than 100 transfers that have been made since last December to Os Gozos,” the statement said.
A court has been informed to reverse the mistake.
With Post wires
via: https://nypost.com/2021/01/25/elderly-spanish-woman-who-died-of-covid-shows-up-at-nursing-home/
Photo Credit: nypost.com
Indianapolis teen killed family after getting in trouble for leaving home
An Indianapolis teen whose dad had just yelled at him for leaving the house without permission turned a gun on his family, killing five relatives, according to authorities and reports Monday.
“He shot them!’’ the 17-year-old suspect’s sister screamed in the middle of Sunday’s 3:45 a.m. bloodbath, according to a police report obtained by the local Fox 59 affiliate.
The dead were identified as Kezzie Childs, 42, Raymond Childs Jr., 42, their 18-year-old son Elijah, 13-year-old daughter Rita, 19-year-old Kiara Hawkins, and her nearly full-term unborn child, “Baby Boy Hawkins,” according to police and local station WRTV.
The alleged killer, who has not been named by authorities because of his age, was arrested Monday after cops tracked him down to the suburb of Plainfield, Ind., officials said.
His younger brother was critically wounded in the bloodshed — but lived to tell authorities what happened, according to the police report cited by Fox.
The boy said his alleged murderous sibling was enraged over being reprimanded by their father for taking off without permission.
The younger brother said he was with his parents downstairs when they heard the first gunshots upstairs and his sister screamed, Fox said.
The sound of more bullets followed — then the killer “came down the stairs with a draco gun, a handgun that shoots rifle rounds, and started shooting,’’ his brother allegedly told cops.
The younger sibling fled out the door, only to his brother chase after him, firing at him, Fox said.
The suspect faces charges of intentional manslaughter with a handgun and attempted murder.
His fatal victims were found riddled with gunshot wounds at the home and declared dead at the scene, authorities said.
“Yesterday, we promised swift justice for this heinous act. Today, we delivered on that promise,” Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Randal Taylor said in a tweet Monday.
“While removing the alleged perpetrator of yesterday’s mass murder from our neighborhoods does not bring back the lives senselessly lost, hopefully, it will bring us one step closer to healing as a community.’’
The crime left neighbors saddened and searching for answers.
“To take a whole family out like that … I just don’t understand,” Vicki Pinkston told WTHR.
Pinkston, who lives across the street from the crime scene, said she recently dropped off a few baby items for the expectant mother.
“I had just given them some stuff from my great-grandson when he was born, but he is bigger now. The baby was due next month,” Pinkston said, according to the station.
Pinkston said the family was “so sweet.
“Oh Lord, they say, ‘Hi, Miss, Vicki’ all the time,” she told Fox.
The mass murder comes as Indianapolis reels from its most violent year on record.
Indiana’s largest city recorded 245 homicides in 2020, according to the Indianapolis Star.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/01/25/indianapolis-teen-killed-family-after-getting-in-trouble-report/
Photo Credit: nypost.com
Bernie Sanders turns inauguration meme into sweatshirt for charity
(CNN) — The mittens, the pose, the social distancing — they all helped a photo of Senator Bernie Sanders at the inauguration become an internet sensation. And now the image can be part of your wardrobe.
Sanders’ campaign store is selling sweatshirts featuring the photo that inspired countless memes, and 100 percent of the proceeds are going to Meals on Wheels programs in Sanders’ home state of Vermont.
The $45 black crewneck sweatshirt is made in the USA and union printed, in true Sanders fashion.
The sweatshirt seems to be as popular as the meme — it’s currently sold out “due to overwhelming demand,” according to the campaign store website, which notes it could take up to eight weeks to receive the item.
Age Well, the largest provider of Meals on Wheels in Vermont, said on Twitter it’s “BLOWN AWAY by the support for our Meals on Wheels program” from the sweatshirt sales.
Age Well CEO Jane Catton told CNN affiliate WCAX, “On behalf of all of the area agencies on aging and our partners in the community who help us provide meal services, this is a tremendous gift and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
via: https://www.kmov.com/news/bernie-sanders-turns-inauguration-meme-into-sweatshirt-for-charity/article_66bbc4e4-1920-504f-94a1-52a3b5a5fbaf.html
Photo Credit: Friends of Bernie Sanders
Dozens of young girls secretly recorded undressing in Tennessee gym
A creep set up a hidden camera inside a Tennessee gym and recorded dozens of young cheerleaders, gymnasts and dancers undressing.
The Go-Pro camera was found inside the girls’ bathroom of Premier Athletics on Tuesday by the gym’s general manager, who handed the device over to cops, according to local news.
“Detectives believe that the suspect had been intermittently staging the camera to capture video in the restroom since September,” police said in a statement to NBC.
As of Friday, Franklin police officers have notified 47 of the 60 victims who were secretly recorded or their parents.. Most of the victims were young girls, police said.
No suspects have been named publicly.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/01/22/dozens-of-young-girls-recorded-undressing-in-tennessee-gym/
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Florida man wanted in Capitol riot busted after returning to DC for inauguration
A Florida man wanted for allegedly storming the US Capitol was arrested when he brainlessly returned to Washington, DC, for the presidential inauguration Wednesday, officials said.
Samuel Camargo, 26 — who was allegedly captured in video footage trying to breach the building during the riot on Jan. 6 — went back to his home in Broward County after the deadly siege, according to the Justice Department.
But despite allegedly knowing he was being hunted by the feds, he’s accused of fleeing back to Washington less than two weeks later, prosecutors said.
“[He] decided that he should attempt to attend the inauguration rather than turn himself into authorities,” the court filing states.
A FBI agent first contacted Camargo the day after the Capitol breach and he allegedly admitted to attending the riot — before the conversation became tense, prosecutors wrote in the court filing.
“He then became uncooperative and questioned the agent’s loyalty to the constitution before saying he had no more information to provide,” the filing states. “Following this interview, the defendant then posted on social media ‘Just finished speaking to an FBI agent, I believe I’ve been cleared.’”
When agents tried to arrest him at his home on Tuesday, and he had already fled back to Washington DC, prosecutors said.
But authorities collared Camargo in DC the next day, and he was charged with civil disorder, knowingly entering a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, according to the criminal complaint.
At a court hearing Thursday, a judge ordered him to remain behind bars, calling him a possible flight risk.
“Frankly this country is very large and there are many different places a defendant could hide within it,” US Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui said at the hearing.
The events leading to his arrest in DC were not immediately clear. Camargo’s lawyer couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday, the outlet reported. He had not yet entered a plea.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/01/21/florida-man-wanted-in-capitol-riot-busted-at-inauguration/
Photo Credit: US Department of Justice
Former Make-A-Wish Iowa CEO charged stealing funds meant for sick kids
The former CEO of Make-A-Wish Iowa was busted Thursday for allegedly embezzling tens of thousands of dollars meant to help sick and dying children, authorities said.
Jennifer Woodley, 40, was charged with first-degree theft and the unauthorized use of a credit card for the months-long theft that began in the summer of 2019, according to a criminal complaint.
Woodley became president of the Iowa chapter in August 2019.
Two months later, she granted herself a $10,000 bonus that wasn’t approved by the group’s board, the complaint states.
She is also accused of using the organization’s credit card to spend $23,000 on herself during a 10-month span, without reimbursing the group.
Dave Farnsworth, the board chairman for Make-A-Wish Iowa, said Woodley was fired. He said he notified the police after an internal investigation revealed there were some discrepancies in the group’s finances.
Woodley turned herself in to police and was booked into Polk County Jail.
She was released after posting $30,000 bond. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
With Post Wires
via: https://nypost.com/2021/01/23/make-a-wish-iowa-ceo-charged-with-stealing-funds/
Photo Credit: Polk County Jail via AP