81 arrested in overnight Chicago raid
On Feb. 23 and 24 the Chicago Police Department made 81 arrests for gun- and drug-related incidences, according to ABC News. Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson reported that the majority of the arrests were of previously convicted felons, documented gang members or identified as victims or offenders of gun violence. The Chicago police are currently looking for 40 more people.
President Trump won’t attend correspondents’ dinner
According to BBC, President Trump has declined to attend the Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 29. He made the announcement through Twitter after some newspapers and broadcasters were excluded from a press briefing by the White House. This will be the first time in over 90 years the sitting president will not attend the dinner.
CDC finds fatal drug overdoses doubled
According to ABC News, the CDC found that fatal drug overdoses have doubled since 1999. This number has surpassed both the number of car accidents and suicides in 2015. The number of fatal overdoses multiplied from 6.1 deaths per 100,000 to 16.3 deaths per 100,000, which is greater than 13.4 suicides per 100,000 or 11.1 fatal car accidents per 100,000. In 2015, the states affected the most were West Virginia, New Hampshire, Kentucky and Ohio. Middle-aged adults were the main victims, especially people between the ages 45 to 54.
New Orleans parade crowd hit by truck
Twenty-eight people were injured in New Orleans during a Mardi Gras parade on Feb. 25 when a pick-up truck hit the crowd, according to BBC. One of the 28 was a police officer. The police arrested the driver who was suspected to be intoxicated. Terrorism is not currently being considered as a motive for this crime.
