In Springfield, a Maine man has been sentenced to life for murders and a shooting spree. Meanwhile, Tennessee has joined Florida in passing a law allowing the death penalty for child rapists. The impact of the border crisis from Rio is being felt across the United States. Locally, there are ongoing deliberations in the Karen Read murder trial and the Supreme Court ruling that is unlikely to change the city’s approach to homeless issues.
In national and world news, a new book commemorating the women who influenced Theodore Roosevelt has been released. Members of the NEA are pushing for an Israel boycott at their annual meeting, while a teenage girl was tragically shot to death during an altercation at a mall. Hurricane Beryl, a Category 4 storm, is closing in on Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, with at least 6 deaths reported. The Biden White House staff now has a record number, with a $225 million payroll.
On another front, freelance workers in Springfield have received new protections under a law that came into effect on July 1. The United States Supreme Court has declined to review cases on Illinois’ assault weapons ban and has allowed cities to ban outdoor sleeping, sparking mixed reactions. Officials in Springfield are hopeful that a new apartment complex will boost the downtown economy.
