By Julia Stalnaker
● On Friday, May 7th, a federal grand jury indicted four former Minneapolis police officers, including Derek Chauvin, for violating George Floyd’s civil rights. Chauvin, who was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter last month, is charged with violating Floyd’s right to protection from the unreasonable force by a police officer. Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng are charged with failing to intervene and stop Chauvin’s use of excessive force. The three former police officers and their former colleague Thomas Lane is all charged with failing to give Floyd medical aid. Chauvin’s sentencing will take place June 25th, while Thao, Kueng, and Lane will go on trial in August. (NBC News, CNBC)
● Pfizer and BioNTech are requesting the FDA’s full approval of their COVID-19 vaccine for those sixteen and older. The vaccine, along with Moderna’s and Johnson & Johnson’s, had previously been given emergency use authorization, which Pfizer-BioNTech is now looking to expand to include children ages twelve to fifteen. (NPR)
● A GOP-led voting restrictions bill passed the Texas House on Friday, May 7th. The bill passed after an agreement was reached with Democrats that removed some of the elements considered most problematic by activists. Other restrictions still remain that would make sending mail-in ballots to all registered voters illegal and make it harder for the poll “watchers” to be removed, amongst other things. Republicans claim the bill will protect the election process, while Democrats point out its connections to former President Trump’s unfounded claims of 2020 election fraud and disparate effects on voters of color. (AP News, NPR)
● White House visitor logs were published by the Biden administration on Friday, May 7th, listing hundreds of visitors from January 20-31. These are the first visitor logs to be published since the Obama administration, as former President Trump refused to publish his visitor logs (with few exceptions). The move increases transparency in the West Wing. (The New York Times)
● Travel-based study abroad programs, canceled in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, are set to return soon with comprehensive health and safety monitoring. Global Education Oregon gathers information from the CDC, Department of State, and other sources to ensure the safety of students and
faculty on GEO-sponsored programs. Visit the GEO website for more information. (Around the O)
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