1 Tropical Storm Arthur Brings Massive Flooding And One Death To The Southeast
Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, weakened overnight but still packs enough punch to cause dangerous flooding across the Southeast. A rare high risk for life-threatening flooding, the top-level warning that can be issued, covered southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and the western Florida panhandle yesterday. Cities under the warning include Gulfport, Hattiesburg, and McComb in Mississippi, plus Mobile and Pensacola. Some spots could get up to 20 inches of rain, with flash flood emergencies issued for Picayune, Mississippi, and parts of Louisiana. One public worker was killed in Mississippi while assisting with storm cleanup, but no other details about the incident had been released as of last night.
2 Supreme Court Issues Unanimous Ruling Striking Down Federal Gun Ban For Drug Users
The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a longtime federal ban on gun ownership for people who use illegal drugs cannot be applied to a Texas man who smoked marijuana several times a week. The decision was unanimous, 9 to 0. It sets new limits on prosecuting gun owners just for having a history of drug use, and it was welcomed by millions of cannabis users who had to give up their guns or risk up to 15 years in prison. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that drug use alone is not enough to send someone to prison or force them to give up firearms for life. More than 40 states have legalized marijuana in some form, but it is still illegal under federal law. The ACLU and the National Rifle Association both praised the decision, and gun safety groups said most of the law still stands as a common-sense public safety measure.
3 Luigi Mangione’s Lawyers Are Now Dropping A Psychiatric Defense In His Case
Luigi Mangione's lawyers said yesterday they are dropping a psychiatric defense in his New York murder trial, just one day after telling the court they planned to use it. On Wednesday, his team had argued he was suffering an extreme emotional disturbance when he allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan in 2024. That defense, if accepted by a jury, could have led to a shorter sentence by reducing the murder charge to manslaughter. One legal expert said using it would have meant Mangione effectively admitted to the killing but with mitigating circumstances, which differs from an insanity defense that seeks total absolution. His next court date is August 11th, ahead of the state trial in September. Jury selection in his separate federal stalking trial is set to begin in October.