Month: July 2023

Police confirmed that one woman was killed, and more than 20 others were injured in a fiery collision between a Chicago city bus and an SUV driving the wrong way on Sunday morning.

The woman was a passenger in a Dodge Journey SUV traveling the wrong way in the 4500 block of South DuSable Lake Shore Drive, with two others in the vehicle. According to the Chicago Transit Authority, the SUV hit a number 6 bus as it was heading north just before 6 a.m., causing the car to catch fire.

When first responders got to the scene, they found the vehicle on fire; the Chicago Fire Department tweeted that more than 20 people were triaged at the scene of the crash. The female passenger of the SUV was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead, while the male driver of the SUV was hospitalized in critical condition, as well as the third passenger, a woman, also listed in critical condition. The bus driver and 12 passengers were taken to a local hospital with unspecified injuries, officials said. None of the victims have been identified and an investigation is ongoing.

Editorial credit: gg5795 / Shutterstock.com

A mass shooting in downtown Cleveland, Ohio early on Sunday left nine people injured. According to reports, police responded after receiving calls of shots being fired at West Sixth Street and Johnson Court at about 2:30 a.m., after the suspect fired into a group of people before fleeing the scene. Victims were hospitalized at MetroHealth Medical Center, with at least one person listed in critical condition.

Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown said in a statement: “Gun violence is devastating Northeast Ohio and Clevelanders deserve to be safe. This epidemic is tearing at the fabric of our communities, and it will not end without significant legislative action.”

Police Chief Wayne Drummond said during a press briefing that the outcomes for the victims would have likely been worse if not for the quick response from police, who provided aid until paramedics arrived, and added that police are interviewing the victims and reviewing video of the incident. Mayor Justin Bibb added: “It truly shows the massive gun problem we have, not just in Cleveland, not just in Ohio, but across this nation. Every weekend we have a large police presence right here in the Warehouse District. Our first responders did a fantastic job to provide aid to all of the victims last night.”

Police are interviewing the victims and reviewing video of the incident. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Cleveland Police Department at 216-623-5318 or leave an anonymous tip with Crimestoppers at 216-25-CRIME. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.

Editorial credit: Kenneth Sponsler / Shutterstock.com

The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) announced they have fully approved the first drug shown to slow down Alzheimer’s disease. Leqembi, whose generic name is lecanemab, should be widely covered by the federal Medicare health insurance program, which primarily serves adults age 65 and older – meaning more people who are in the early stages of the disease will have access to the drug, and will be able to afford it.

Leqembi comes from the Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai, and its U.S. partner Biogen. The companies have said Leqembi will cost about $26,500 a year. In studies reviewed by the FDA, Leqembi appeared to slow declines in memory and thinking by about 27% after 18 months of treatment. It also dramatically reduced the sticky beta-amyloid plaques that tend to build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s.

In January, the drug received what’s known as accelerated approval from the FDA, based on its ability to remove the substance beta-amyloid from the brains of people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Full or traditional approval reflects the FDA’s assessment that Leqembi also helps preserve memory and thinking. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced in January it would broaden coverage of Leqembi on the same day the drug received full FDA approval. That should mean the drug will now be covered for most Medicare patients with early signs of cognitive problems and elevated levels of amyloid. Under the expanded coverage, a million or more Medicare patients are potential candidates for the drug. Leqembi requires an initial test to determine amyloid levels in the brain, intravenous infusions every other week, and periodic brain scans to detect side effects.

Dr . Sanjeev Vaishnavi, director of clinical research at the Penn Memory Center, said: “It’s not something that’s going to stop the disease or reverse it. But it may slow down progression of the disease and may give people more meaningful time with their families … It’s very exciting that we’re targeting the actual pathology of the disease.”

Editorial credit: Atthapon Raksthaput / Shutterstock.com

Houston police said that the 25-year-old man who was ‘located safe’ after allegedly disappearing eight years ago was never really missing, and has been living with his mother most of this time. The man, Rudolph “Rudy” Farias, was found alive at a Houston church roughly 8 miles from his family’s home over the weekend, after he seemingly vanished as a teenager eight years ago. However shortly after the news broke, community members began to raise questions about whether he was ever truly missing.

Police said on Thursday that Farias’ mother, Janie Santana, reported her then 17-year-old son missing on March 7, 2015. While he returned home the following day, on March 8, his mother continued to deceive police by claiming he was still missing. Lt. Christopher Zamora of the homicide division’s missing persons unit at the Houston Police Department said at a news conference Thursday: “During the eight-year time frame where he was missing, investigators followed up on many tips, leads, collected evidence proving that Rudy was not missing during the eight-year period. Many of these facts included contacts and statements with relatives, friends, neighbors and medical professionals.”

Zamora told reporters that there were multiple times when police officers spoke with the young man and he allegedly gave them fake names: “He made contact with patrol officers out on the street. However, during these contacts, fictitious names and dates of birth were given misleading officers, and Rudy would remain missing. In fact, both Janie (Santana), Rudy’s mother, and Rudy himself gave fictitious names while interacting with various patrol officers. After investigators talked with him yesterday, it was discovered that he returned home the following day, on March 8, 2015.”  When Farias was seen coming and going from the house over the years, Santana identified him as a nephew and not her allegedly missing son.

Santana said in a statement after Farias was ‘discovered’ that he was nonverbal and unable to communicate, adding that a good Samaritan discovered him and immediately called authorities. Zamora added: “Rudy is safe. He is with his mother by choice. He’s a 25-year-old man.” Police Chief Troy Finner said he doesn’t know why Farias’ mother allegedly maintained that her son was missing all of this time, and when asked if Farias was a victim or a potential suspect, Chief Finner declined to say: “The investigation is still going on … and I’m not going to say if he’s a victim or not.” 

Editorial credit: Artistic Operations / Shutterstock.com

Law enforcement officials said on Wednesday that lab testing has confirmed that white, powdery substance discovered by the Secret Service at the White House on Sunday was cocaine. Questions remain, however, about how the substance got into the building. The Secret Service is leading an investigation of how the substance got into the West Wing, which will include consulting cameras and entrance logs.

According to a U.S. Secret Service official, the cocaine was found Sunday evening in a small, zippered bag in part of the West Wing (which houses the Oval Office and offices of some of the president’s top aides and support staff).  The discovery caused a brief shutdown of the White House after it was found near an entrance where visitors taking tours are directed to leave their phones in small cubbies, officials said. An initial test of the substance conducted by the District of Columbia Fire Department soon after it was found indicated it was cocaine, and the formal lab test confirmed that result on Tuesday night.

Mr. Biden was not at the White House over the weekend. He, first lady Dr. Jill Biden and members of their family departed for Camp David on Friday. They returned to the White House on Tuesday for an event with the National Education Association and Fourth of July festivities. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Biden has been briefed on the incident and noted the area where the cocaine was discovered is “heavily traveled” by visitors, stating: “when it comes to visitors to the West Wing, they come for many reasons, obviously we do have West Wing tours that occur here on campus,” adding tours took place Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Editorial credit: Matthew Hodgkins / Shutterstock.com