Three things for April 14
1. New York City subway gunman caught
On Wednesday, April 13, New York City police caught Frank James, the man responsible for the Brooklyn subway shooting which wounded 10 people.
After a 30-hour manhunt, James was arrested without incident. According to AP News, police said their top priority was getting the suspect, now charged with a federal terrorism offense, off the streets.
James, 62, posted dozens of online videos ranting about race, violence and his struggles with mental illness.
“One stands out for its relative calm: a silent shot of a packed New York City subway car in which he raises his finger to point out passengers, one by one,” reports AP News.
Surveillance cameras recorded James entering the subway system on Tuesday morning, dressed as a maintenance or construction worker.
“Police say fellow riders heard him say only ‘oops’ as he set off one smoke grenade in a crowded subway car as it rolled into a station. He then set off a second smoke grenade and started firing, police said. In the smoke and chaos that ensued, police say James made his getaway by slipping into a train that pulled in across the platform and exited after the first stop,” reports AP News.
For more information, read the full AP News article.
2. Elon Musk offers to buy Twitter for $43 billion
This morning, April 14. Twitter Inc. reported Tesla CEO Elon Musk has offered 3to buy Twitter.
Twitter Inc. said Musk, currently the company’s biggest shareholder, has proposed buying the remaining shares of Twitter at $54.20 per share, an offer worth more than $43 billion.
Musk said the price is his best and final offer, although he provided no details on financing. The offer is non-binding and subject to financing and other conditions, according to AP News.
“I invested in Twitter as I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe, and I believe free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy,” Musk said. “However, since making my investment I now realize the company will neither thrive nor serve this societal imperative in its current form. Twitter needs to be transformed as a private company.”
Musk revealed he has been buying shares in almost daily batches starting Jan. 31, ending up with a stake of about 9%. After Musk announced his stake, Twitter offered him a seat on the board on the condition that he not own more than 14.9% of the company’s outstanding stock, according to AP News.
Twitter Inc. said it will decide whether it is in the best interests of shareholders to accept Musk’s offer or continue to operate as a publicly-traded company.
3. Four churches destroyed in various disasters prepare for Easter
Four churches this year have been destroyed by natural disasters. Located in Kentucky, New York City, Louisiana and Colorado, these churches are now preparing for Easter on April 17.
Mayfield First United Methodist Church, destroyed by a tornado in Kentucky, will not be celebrating Easter in their 100-year-old sanctuary. Instead, members will walk into their temporary home, Christ United Methodist Church, to mark the holy day.
The Middle Collegiate Church, destroyed by a fire in New York City on Dec. 5, 2020, will worship at East End Temple. Rabbi Joshua Stanton of the East End Temple invited the congregation of Middle Collegiate Church to share the sacred space while they rebuild.
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, destroyed when Hurricane Ida hit the Louisiana coast, will celebrate in a rectory set up under a tent in the church’s parking lot.
“We have lots of hope. We hope that we can reclaim all that we’ve lost,” said Rev. Rajasekar Karumelnathan. “Easter strengthens us.”
Ascent Community Church in Colorado filled with smoke and ash during a wildfire. Bill Stephens, the pastor of the church, lost his home to the wildfire, while the church itself was largely spared.
“The flames wrapped around the building, scorching trees and shrubs in the parking lot. But ash and smoke seeped in through skylights and ventilation shafts, coating everything in sooty charcoal,” AP News reports.
Ascent church members returned in February after two months of worshipping in a hotel ballroom.
“That Jesus conquered the grave, conquered the sin. . . and breathed life on Easter Sunday,” Stephens said. “There’s something really powerful about thinking about ours as just a minor version of that.”
To read the full article by AP News, click here.
