Details have emerged about the victims of the Baltimore bridge collapse as investigations continue. The recovery mission near the site of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has shifted to a salvage operation after two bodies were recovered. The National Transportation Safety Board shared more details about the vessel that crashed into the bridge, the Dali, with 23 people aboard. Two bodies were recovered, identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera. Four other people are presumed dead, including Miguel Luna and Maynor Suazo. The tragedy has shed light on the risks faced by the growing Latino labor force.
In another development, the fate of FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried will be decided by a federal judge today in New York. Bankman-Fried was found guilty of orchestrating a multimillion-dollar fraud that led to the collapse of his cryptocurrency exchange. Prosecutors are seeking up to 50 years in prison, while Bankman-Fried’s defense is requesting a much shorter sentence. The lack of remorse displayed by Bankman-Fried throughout the trial may heavily influence the judge’s decision.
Former Senator Joe Lieberman has passed away at the age of 82. Lieberman, a former Democratic vice presidential nominee who later became an independent, suffered complications from a fall. He was known for his moderate politics and served as Al Gore’s running mate in the 2000 presidential election. Tributes poured in from both sides of the political aisle for Lieberman, with former President George W. Bush calling him one of the most decent people he met during his time in Washington.
Donald Trump continues to make claims about crime rates, with a focus on surging crime levels in Democratic cities. However, data from the FBI shows that violent crime rates dropped by 6% across the board during Joe Biden’s presidency. The former president’s rhetoric does not align with the actual data, raising questions about his narrative. In other news, a United Nations plan drafted by the U.S. and Ecuador calls on Kenyan troops to police Haiti, where there is a history of foreign intervention. The plan is facing pushback from some Haitians who believe that foreign intervention may harm the country.
Meanwhile, a potentially historic discovery has been made at the North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina, with the unearthing of a cave that may have been used for moonshine production. Moonshine has a long history in the state and NASCAR, with many early stars coming to the sport after racing illegal moonshine. In a surprising trend, sexually transmitted infection rates have risen sharply among adults aged 55 and older, with rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis more than doubling in the U.S. over the past decade. This rise in infections highlights the need for increased awareness and education among older adults and healthcare providers.
In politics, a judge recommended the disbarment of John Eastman, a co-defendant of Donald Trump in the Georgia election interference case. A New Jersey representative is planning to propose legislation that would prohibit people charged with certain crimes from receiving classified information, which could have implications for figures like Sen. Bob Menendez and Donald Trump. Additionally, a rare gathering of three Democratic presidents—Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden—is expected to generate support for Biden’s re-election bid.
