The case surrounding the death of Akai Gurley, an African-American man who was fatally shot by a police officer in New York, is moving forward. Jury deliberations kicked off Tuesday. Rookie police officer Peter Liang shot and killed Gurley, who was unarmed, in a Brooklyn stairwell back in 2014. If found guilty, 28-year-old Liang could face up to 15 years behind bars. Liang was slapped with charges of manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment, official misconduct, and criminally negligent homicide. On Monday, he testified before the court, claiming he accidentally fired his gun and didn’t know someone else was in the stairwell. After realizing that he shot Gurley, Liang claims he couldn’t help him because he was never trained in first aid. Prior to the shooting, Liang was on the force for only 11 months. Read more.
Supreme Court Blocks President Obama’s Climate Change Plan
After proposing that federal funds be allocated towards overcoming climate change, President Obama’s plan has been denied by the Supreme Court. The court’s members, who lean more towards the conservative side, halted the “Clean Power Plan,” which was designed to decrease pollution from power plants. A petition previously created by 29 Republican leaders expressed opposition. “This stay will remain in place until the challenges have made their way through the Supreme Court, by which time Obama will likely have left office,” said Curt Levey, the executive director of the conservative FreedomWorks Foundation. “Thus, the stay may well be a fatal blow to the EPA’s attempt to dramatically expand its power and to the administration’s attempt to shove its climate change agenda down the throats of the American people.” The Environmental Protection Agency has to hold back from enforcing the “Clean Power Plan” until the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit examines a state lawsuit placed against it. The legal battle is slated for June. Read more.
Why #IMissBarackObama Became a Trending Topic
President Obama’s time in office is nearing its end, and his supporters are already reflecting on his tenure. A New York Times articled penned by writer David Brooks, titled “I Miss Barack Obama,” was widely shared across social media on Tuesday by many people who echoed his sentiments. “As this primary season has gone along, a strange sensation has come over me: I Miss Barack Obama,” wrote Brooks. “Many of the traits of character and leadership that Obama possesses, and that maybe we have taken too much for granted, have suddenly gone missing or are in short supply.” The piece gave birth to the social media hashtag #IMissBarackObama, prompting some to share both their positive and negative views about the President. “I Miss Barack Obama We will never see this kind of greatness in a President again,” read one tweet. “A legacy that will be hard to duplicate,” read another. Read more.
Actress Essence Atkins Nabs Lead Role in Marlon Wayans’ NBC Pilot
Things are shaping up for comedian Marlon Wayans’ upcoming NBC pilot. Actress Essence Atkins has nabbed a lead role on the comedic show, Marlon, which will pull inspiration from Wayans’ life. Atkins will play the role of his ex-wife. The show will be produced by Rick Alvarez, Michael Rotenberg, and Chris Moynihan. Moynihan will also write the script. The project is being created under Universal Television, 3 Arts, and Wayans Brothers Entertainment. Atkins and Wayans previously starred together in A Haunted House. Read more.
1. JANUARY: President Obama delivers the State of the Union address with the support of vice president Joe Biden. Obama gained mass support after his joke about winning both terms.
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2. JANUARY: President Barack Obama has an adorable moment with Akira Cooper at the Community Children's Center, one of the nation's oldest Head Start providers, in Lawrence, Kan.
Source:Pete Souza
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3. JANUARY: President Obama greets Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon arrival at Air Force Station Palam in New Delhi, India.
Source:Pete Souza
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4. JANUARY: President Barack Obama greets neighbors after visiting a model home at the Nueva Villas at Beverly, a single-family housing development owned by local nonprofit organization Chicanos Por La Causa Inc. in Phoenix, Ariz.
Source:Pete Souza
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5. FEBRUARY: President Barack Obama fakes a jump shot during an Affordable Care Act video taping for BuzzFeed in the White House Library. The video went viral thanks to jokes about his presidency and ultra-cool swag.
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6. FEBRUARY: Obama pals around with one of his biggest supporters, vice president Joe Biden. While he chose not to run in the 2016 presidential election, Obama said he would be in his corner.
Source:Pete Souza
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7. FEBRUARY: President Barack Obama talks with 13-year-old student Vidal Chastanet as "Humans of New York" founder Brandon Stanton photographs during a blog interview in the Oval Office. Obama was greatly inspired by Chastanet's comments on the popular "Humans of New York" Instagram page, where he shared his troubles finding courage in school and and life despite living in a dangerous area of Brooklyn, NY.
Source:Pete Souza
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8. MARCH: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama join hands with Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. as they lead the walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches, in Selma, Ala., March 7, 2015. Malia and Sasha Obama join hands with their grandmother, Marian Robinson.
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9. MARCH: Obama is a classic man as he puts on a green tie in observance of St. Patrick's Day.
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10. MARCH: President Barack Obama delivers remarks during the event to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala.
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11. APRIL: During the Correspondents' Dinner, his anger translator - played by Key & Peele comedian Keegan-Michael Key - helped Obama get out his biggest frustrations.
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12. APRIL: President Obama arrives in Jamaica to meet with the 15-member Caribbean Community. His trip marked a first for the sitting president and second since the country's independence.
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13. APRIL: Obama speaks with newly appointed Attorney General Loretta Lynch in the Oval Office.
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14. JUNE: President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are seen talking during the president's trip to the G7Summit in Bavaria, Germany.
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15. JUNE: President Obama sings "Amazing Grace" during the eulogy for South Carolina state senator and Rev. Clementa Pinckney during Pinckney's funeral service. Clementa was one of the nine victims who died after suspected shooter Dylann Roof entered the AME church and opened fire.
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16. SEPTEMBER: President Obama is featured on the popular show "Running Wild With Bear Grylls." Obama took the trip to highlight the importance of climate control.
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17. SEPTEMBER: The First Couple serve as "love goals" at the White House's state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan. Obama and Xi announced an agreement on controlling climate change and a mutual outlook on cyber security.
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18. OCTOBER: President Obama meets with Ahmed Mohamed, the student who was detained by Texas police for his homemade clock. The president stood by the teen, who many believe was the victim of Islamophobia.
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19. NOVEMBER: President Obama issues a warning to his critics who "pop off" at his policies towards Syrian refugees. Speaking at the OP 21 United Nations conference on climate change, Obama welcomed his Republican critics to the White House to lay down their own policies. No one has responded.
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20. DECEMBER: President Obama addresses the public from the Oval Office regarding the San Bernardino shooting.
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21. DECEMBER: All grown up! The First Family, including Obama's mother-in-law Marian Robinson, is seen at the White House's national Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 2.
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Continue reading 21 Of President Barack Obama’s Best Photos Of 2015
21 Of President Barack Obama's Best Photos Of 2015