August 2015 Current Events: U.S. News
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Here are the key events in United States news for the month of August 2015.
Appeals Court Strikes Down Texas Voter ID Law (Aug. 5): A federal appeals panel rules that Texas's voter ID law, which was passed in 2011, discriminates against blacks and Hispanics and violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The panel orders a lower court to re-evaluate if the law was in fact written with discriminatory intent and to fix it if it was passed under such circumstances.
Republicans Hold First 2016 Presidential Debate (Aug. 6): The first prime time debate for the 2016 Republican presidential candidates is held in Cleveland, Ohio. The debate features the top ten candidates in the polls, including Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. As expected, Trump makes waves throughout the night, including a refusal to pledge his allegiance to an eventual Republican nominee because he will not rule out a third-party bid.
State of Emergency Declared in Ferguson (Aug. 9): In Ferguson, Mo., gunfire is exchanged near protests being held on the first anniversary of Michael Brown's death. During the exchange, an 18 year-old African American man, Tyrone Harris Jr. is shot and critically wounded by police. (Aug. 10): Harris is charged by prosecutors on multiple counts, including felony assault on a police officer. Meanwhile, Steve Stenger, the St. Louis County executive, declares a state of emergency in Ferguson. Police arrive from nearby cities to help maintain control of the town.
First Female Army Rangers Make History (Aug. 21): Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver make history by becoming the first two women to graduate from the Army Ranger School, along with 94 other students. They graduate in the first year that the Army has opened the course to women. About 2015's course, Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh says in a statement, "This course has proven that every Soldier, regardless of gender, can achieve his or her full potential." Despite graduating from the Army Ranger School, Griest and Haver will not be allowed to serve with the 75th Ranger Regiment because it has yet to lift its ban on female soldiers.
1st Lt. Kristen Griest
Source: John Bazemore for Associated Press
2016 Presidential Candidate Donald Trump
Source: Charles Rex Arbogast for Associated Press
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