5TYNK
1. Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin will now face a second-degree murder charge for the killing of George Floyd. He previously faced third-degree murder charges. The three former cops who were with Chauvin when he knelt on Floyd’s neck are now facing charges of aiding and abetting murder.
2. President Barack Obama appeared on a virtual town hall Wednesday.
Obama called recent events “difficult and scary and uncertain,” but said they also offer “an incredible opportunity.” “Part of what’s made me so hopeful is the fact that so many young people have been galvanized and activated and motivated and mobilized,” he said. He also spoke directly to young people of color, saying, “I want you to know that your lives matter. Your dreams matter.” Obama also addressed the recent protests. “This country was founded on protest… and every step of progress in this country, every expansion of freedom and every expression of our deepest ideals has been won through efforts that made the status quo uncomfortable.”
3. About 1,500 people crowded into and beyond City Hall Plaza on Wednesday afternoon, in Portland’s fifth protest in the past six days as protesters around the country demand an end to institutional racism and police brutality. Hamdia Ahmed, who helped organize Wednesday’s peaceful demonstration, was joined by several city officials including Mayor Kate Snyder, City Councilors and School Superintendent Xavier Botana. They took a knee together and urged the crowd of protesters, to fight against institutional racism.
4. The United States coronavirus cases top 1.8 million. America’s death toll stands at more than 107,000. The Maine CDC Wednesday reported 41 more cases of the coronavirus and one additional deaths. The statewide death toll stands at 95 with 2,418 cases of which 624 are active. Seventeen Hundred Mainers have recovered.
5. The NBA’s board of governors is expected to approve a plan this week for 22 teams to resume play in Orlando, Florida, starting July 31. Each team would play eight regular-season games to create playoff seeding, with Game 7 of the finals taking place October 12. Right now, the plan includes 13 teams from the Western Conference and nine from the Eastern Conference. The board will have a call on today at 12:30 p.m. to decide whether to ratify the plan. News of the plan went viral Wednesday after ESPN tweeted, “The NBA’s back.”
