Queen Elizabeth II has died, palace announces – National & International News – THU 8Sept2022

Queen Elizabeth II has died, aged 96. Memphis police arrest man after hours-long shooting spree; 4 dead. TX judge strikes down Obamacare mandated HIV-drug coverage on religious grounds.

NATIONAL NEWS

Memphis police arrest man after hours-long shooting spree; 4 dead

Memphis police have arrested Ezekiel Kelly, 19, after a shooting spree terrorized the city for several hours. Four people were killed and three others wounded in apparently random attacks. The shootings, some of which the shooter livestreamed on Facebook, took place at seven different locations. At least one took place at an AutoZone. Police haven’t yet released the identities of the victims. 

The first killing took place just before 1 am on Wednesday. As more reports came in, police advised citizens to shelter in place. Some of the details of the killing spree remain a bit sketchy. We do know that one woman was shot dead when Kelly stole her vehicle. At one point, Kelly crossed into Mississippi, dumping the previously stolen car in Southaven before carjacking another vehicle, an SUV. Police apprehended Kelly around 9pm in Whitehaven after a high-speed chase.

At 17, Kelly was charged as an adult for attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, using a firearm to commit a dangerous felony and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. Kelly eventually pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and received a 3-year sentence. He was released in March of this year, about 11 months after his sentencing. It’s possible Kelly got time off his sentence for his stay in jail before his sentencing.

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Texas judge: Obamacare requirement that employers cover HIV drug violates religious freedom

A federal judge in Texas has ruled that the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare) mandate that employer-provided health insurance must cover a common HIV prevention drug violates Christian employers’ religious freedoms. District Judge Reed O’Connor found that plaintiffs in the case successfully argued that mandating this coverage forces companies to “facilitate or encourage homosexual behavior”.

However, the ruling may have wider implications for other preventative healthcare coverage under the ACA. Judge O’Connor ruled that the panel that decided which preventative healthcare measures should be covered was appointed unconstitutionally. That opinion could jeopardize ACA-mandated employer healthcare coverage of birth control, cancer and heart disease screenings among other things. 

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Queen Elizabeth II has died

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has passed away, aged 96, at her Palace in Balmoral, Scotland. Queen II ruled for 70 years, making her Britain’s longest serving monarch ever. Earlier today, Buckingham Palace, her royal seat, had announced that the Queen was under “medical supervision” and that her doctors were concerned for her health. Her heir apparent Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Charles’ sister Princess Anne were already present and other royal family members were en route.

Though Britain’s dominion has shrunk somewhat since Elizabeth ascended the throne, she was revered in countries the world over and is the only British monarch most living people can remember. Her reign lasted through 15 British Prime Ministers and 14 US Presidents. Her last major official act as monarch was her meeting with newly-sworn-in Prime Minister Liz Truss on Tuesday. 

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