WCTB

 U.S. President Donald Trump will propose on Monday a 21% cut in foreign aid and slashing social safety net programs in his $4.8 trillion budget proposal for fiscal 2021, according to senior administration officials. The budget will seek an increase in funds to counter developing economic threats from China and Russia, but will also raise funds by targeting $2 trillion (1.55 trillion pounds) in savings from mandatory spending programs in the United States.

The budget will raise military spending by 0.3% to $740.5 billion for the fiscal year 2021, starting Oct. 1 and propose higher outlays for defense and veterans, administration officials said. The White House proposes to slash spending by $4.4 trillion over 10 years.

That includes $130 billion from changes to Medicare prescription-drug pricing, $292 billion from cuts in safety net programs – such as work requirements for Medicaid and food stamps – and $70 billion from tightening eligibility rules for federal disability benefits.

Trump’s foreign aid proposal seeks $44.1 billion in the upcoming fiscal year compared with $55.7 billion enacted in fiscal year 2020, an administration official said.

Trump to propose sweeping cuts to foreign aid, safety net programs in latest budget

Via www.nbcnews.com

Trump sought in his budget proposal last year to slash foreign aid but faced steep resistance…

02/09/2020 3:52 PM

 

Editorial credit: Evan El-Amin / Shutterstock.com

One suspect is in police custody after two New York City police officers were shot and wounded half a mile apart on Saturday night and Sunday morning, in what officials are calling “assassination” attempts.

Police say that the suspect walked into the 41st precinct in New York City’s Bronx borough just before 8 a.m. Sunday and fired multiple rounds, wounding an officer. Police say that the same suspect is believed to have shot and wounded another police officer in a targeted shooting on Saturday evening.

In the first incident, an officer was struck in the chin and the neck, with the bullet nearly striking his carotid artery, The officer’s partner was able to help transport him to the hospital, and the wounded officer is expected to be released from the hospital on Sunday. The next morning, at about 7:56 a.m., the same suspect walked into the 41st precinct and pulled out a 9 mm Sauer gun. The suspect opened fire at several officers behind a desk, striking a male officer in the upper left arm, and then walked to an area near the desk and opened fire on officers and a civilian member of the police department. The second police officer wounded is being treated for his injuries, but is expected to fully recover.

During a press conference on Sunday, NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea characterized the shootings as “assassination” attempts against police officers. Shea did not release the suspect’s name, but said he has a long history of violence, including a conviction for a 2002 incident where he shot someone in the Bronx, carjacked a woman, crashed her vehicle and then engaged in a gunfight with police, Shea said. He was convicted for attempted murder, and was paroled in 2017, Shea said. The suspect was later charged with another crime, and was scheduled for a court date.

Suspect in NYPD ‘assassination’ incidents was on parole

Via abcnews.go.com

A police officer was shot in the arm inside a Bronx precinct less than 12 hours after another…

02/09/2020 2:01 PM

 

Editorial credit: BrandonKleinVideo / Shutterstock.com

The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into the Mississippi prison system, this coming after a string of inmate deaths in the last few months. Federal prosecutors announced that they are looking into conditions at four state prisons following the deaths of at least 15 inmates since late December.

The investigation is examining whether state corrections officials are adequately protecting prisoners from physical harm and will also look into whether there are adequate health care and suicide prevention services.

Violence is a recurring problem in Mississippi prisons, where many jobs for guards are unfilled.

Feds launch investigation into Mississippi prisons after string of deaths, outrage

Via abcnews.go.com

At least 15 inmates have died at Mississippi prisons since December.

02/06/2020 12:03 PM

 

A person of interest was taken into custody on Thursday afternoon following a massive manhunt for the gunman who shot two Maryland detectives.” The Anne Arundel Police tweeted, “we have a person of interest in custody in reference to the shootings of our detectives. We do not believe there is any further threat to our community.” 

Anne Arundel County Police Sgt. Jacklyn Davis said that the investigation began around 5 p.m. Wednesday when officers responded to a death investigation. They launched a homicide investigation and determined the victim’s car was missing. According to Sgt. Davis, Anne Arundel County detectives found the car in Baltimore by 11 p.m. and tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect shot one of the detectives. He was in “critical but stable condition” as of Thursday morning. Another detective continued to chase the shooter, but the suspect shot multiple rounds at the second detective, hitting him. He is currently in stable condition.

Man sought in shooting of 2 Md. police detectives found after manhunt

Via www.washingtonpost.com

BREAKING: Man sought in shooting of two Maryland police detectives is found after manhunt. Two…

02/06/2020 2:39 PM