May Current Events 2024: U.S. News
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The world is a very busy place, and it's hard to stay on top of everything. Infoplease has got you covered. Here are the U.S. news events you need to know so far for May 2024.
- Power Demand In Texas To Hit Record High For May
- Standoff Between Police And A Father Leaves Son With Multiple Gunshot Injury
- Gender Identity Case In Maryland School District Will Not Be Heard By Supreme Court
- Bill To Restrict Abortion Pills Passed By Louisiana House
Power Demand In Texas To Hit Record High For May
Image Source: AP Images/Mark Vancleave
Friday, May 17, 2024 – Texas is bracing for record-breaking power usage in May due to an impending heatwave, following severe storms that left Houston in darkness. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) forecasts electric demand to surge next week, potentially surpassing previous May records.
ERCOT forecast that the electric grid would soar from 57,486 megawatts (MW) on Friday to 71,893 on May 20, 72,725 MW on May 21, and 74,346 MW on May 24. One megawatt can usually power close to 800 homes on a normal day, but as little as 200 homes on a hot day in Texas.
High temperatures in Houston are expected to spike into the low to mid-90s Fahrenheit. ERCOT spot market prices soar, with next-day power reaching a one-week high of $120 per megawatt-hour, compared to an average of $30 per MWh this year. Day-ahead prices hit $688 per MWh for one hour late on Friday.
Source: Reuters
Standoff Between Police And A Father Leaves Son With Multiple Gunshot Injury
Photo Source: AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Saturday, May 18, 2024 – In a tragic incident in suburban Phoenix, a man suspected of taking his 6-month-old son and the child's mother hostage was found dead in the rubble of a home that caught fire during a SWAT standoff. The baby, critically injured but stable, was hospitalized.
The father allegedly broke into the home where the mother and child lived, holding them hostage for hours before the mother escaped and alerted authorities. Police, responding to gunfire, rescued the injured child. Despite SWAT teams being on-site, the house caught fire with the father inside.
Nearby residents evacuated as the fire engulfed the house. The mother, with minor injuries, managed to escape, but details of her escape remain unclear. The child sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was airlifted to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.
Source: The Guardian
Gender Identity Case In Maryland School District Will Not Be Heard By Supreme Court
Photo Source: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
Monday, May 20, 2024 – The Supreme Court of the United States has declined to hear a case brought by parents in Maryland challenging a school district's policy on informing parents about their children's transgender or gender nonconforming identity. Represented by the National Legal Foundation, the parents contested a lower court ruling which denied them standing to challenge the policy.
The policy in question, implemented by the Montgomery County Board of Education, allows schools to develop gender support plans for students, ensuring their comfort in expressing their gender identity. It prohibits staff from disclosing these plans to parents without the student's consent.
While the plaintiffs expressed disappointment at the Supreme Court's decision, they anticipate future rulings addressing similar policies nationwide. The issue reflects the ongoing cultural debate over transgender rights, with conservative litigants contesting school policies that protect students' privacy regarding their gender identity.
Source: Reuters
Bill To Restrict Abortion Pills Passed By Louisiana House
Photo Source: AP Photo/Stephen Smith
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 – Lawmakers in Louisiana have passed a bill that would tighten restrictions on two drugs commonly used in abortion procedures. Mifepristone and misoprostol would be reclassified as controlled substances, potentially leading to fines and jail time for unauthorized possession.
The bill awaits approval from the state Senate and the Republican governor. If enacted, Louisiana would be the first state to categorize these drugs as "controlled dangerous substances." The legislation would also criminalize their possession without a valid prescription, although pregnant women would be exempt from prosecution.
Originally aimed at penalizing those providing abortion pills without a woman's knowledge, the bill has broad implications for abortion access, as these drugs are integral to over half of all abortions in the United States. While anti-abortion groups support the bill, doctors express concerns over its impact on other medical uses of the medications.
Source: BBC
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