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.
VIDEO SOURCE: Inform
NEWS ROUNDUP: Jury Deliberations Begin For Cop Who Shot Akai Gurley…AND MORE was originally published on newsone.com