Monday, June 15, 2020

Apple is set to announce that its next generation of Mac computers will be powered, for the first time, with processors developed by the company

Apple is expected to make the announcement at the WWDC 2020 development conference, which is set to start on June 22. Tests have shown that Apple’s ARM-based chips perform better than the Intel processors that the company has used since 2006, said Bloomberg. This could allow Apple to produce thinner and lighter notebooks in the future. Apple plans to introduce Macs powered by ARM processors next year. Apple needs to make the announcement before the Macs are launched to give developers time to design software for the new computers. Eventually, all Macs will run on ARM processors. To produce the chips, Apple will use technology licensed from Arm Ltd., which is part of the SoftBank Group. Due to coronavirus, WWDC will be an online-only event this year. (Bloomberg)

The first American woman to walk in space has become the first woman to reach the deepest known spot in the ocean

Kathy Sullivan and explorer Victor Vescovo descended to a depth of 36,000 feet, or nearly seven miles, in a submersible named Limited Factor. Known as the Challenger Deep, the deepest point in the ocean is located in the western Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench, some 200 miles southwest of Guam. Sullivan, 68, became the first American woman to walk in space in 1984. Seven men have reached the bottom of the Challenger Deep. They include oceanographer Jacques Piccard and film director James Cameron. (Axios)

Johnson and Johnson says human trials on coronavirus vaccine to start in July

Pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson said it will accelerate the development of its COVID-19 vaccine by launching human trials in late July instead of September. The study will examine the investigational vaccine’s safety and its ability to produce an immune response in more than 1,000 adults in the U.S. and Belgium, the company said. J&J’s chief scientific officer said its Janssen division sped up the timeline based on “the strength of the preclinical data we have seen so far and interactions with the regulatory authorities.” It wants to provide 1 billion doses globally through the course of 2021, provided the vaccine is safe and effective. (Washington Times)

New Mexico’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit sees surge in cases during pandemic

Following the state’s decision to have children practice distance learning due to COVID-19, the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office saw an uptick in reports about internet crimes against children. “So prior to the pandemic, we were seeing an average of 50 to 75 tips a month, and the minute children started staying home throughout the state, our tips went up to 300 a month,” said the commander of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Predators are using social media including Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok to reach children. (KOB 4)

Nebraska Sheriff looking for man photographed wearing utility belt, bra and carrying long knife

Polk County, Nebraska authorities are searching for a man caught on camera wearing peculiar clothes and trespassing. The images were captured by a property owner’s trail cam on land he rents near Polk, which is about 20 miles northwest of York. The photos show a man wearing a utility belt, a bra and not much else.  A long knife appears to be hanging from the belt. The camera picked up more shots of the mystery man the next morning. He was seen wearing slightly different clothes and riding off on an ATV. The owner says he’s missing a deer stand that was still in the box and was stored on the property. He thinks that’s what is on the back of the ATV in one of the photos. The owner sent the photos to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff said he considers the mystery man a possible threat and that the situation is “very concerning.” He says deputies checked an abandoned house in the area but didn’t find any sign of the man. People are asked to call 911 if they see the man. (News Channel Nebraska)

City Council Approves Budget With $27M More for San Diego Police After Hundreds Call to Defund

The San Diego, California City Council has voted 8-1 to adopt the proposed budget for the 2021 fiscal year, which includes the creation of a city Office of Race and Equity to tackle racial equity issues and a $27 million boost for the San Diego Police Department. The vote came following more than 10 hours of public comments from callers, many of whom called for a reduction in police department funding. Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s proposed budget would increase the police budget to $566 million for the fiscal year 2021, constituting about a third of the city’s general fund budget. The previous year’s budget for the SDPD was $539 million and 2019’s was $480 million. (NBC San Diego)

Police looking for rooster wanted in nugget theft

The Breaux Bridge, Louisiana Police Department is asking the community to be on the lookout for a theft suspect accused of a “fowl” crime. Police say they were notified of a theft that occurred involving a rooster. When they arrived, they discovered an innocent toddler enjoying chicken nuggets. The rooster approached the toddler, took his chicken nuggets, and fled the scene. The child’s mother attempted to stop the rooster, but was unsuccessful, police say. Officers are asking the public to be on the lookout for the chicken nugget thief. (KATC)

Mayor in New Jersey slammed for telling rally he is pro ‘good black people’

A New Jersey mayor who said at a rally that he was “pro-black for all the good black people” he knew sought to clarify his remarks following a backlash. The anti-discrimination demonstration in Clark, New Jersey began with residents from neighboring towns speaking about negative racial interactions they had experienced in Clark, including with police. There was no plan for Mayor Sal Bonaccorso to speak during the demonstration, event planners said. He was just supposed to be there to listen to the stories and then have open dialogue for future action in the town. 50 to 100 people attended the rally and that, while the crowd was diverse, the majority of participants were people of color. It was not until a few of the participants realized that the mayor had been standing to the side, smoking a cigar and joking with a friend while people were “telling their emotionally devastating stories,” that speakers addressed the mayor directly. One woman at the demonstration told Bonaccorso: “It’s not enough to say, ‘I’m not racist.’ You have to be anti-racist. OK? Pro-black,” according to videos posted to social media. She also asked the mayor: “Why is it so weird to be able to just say, ‘I am pro-black’? I am pro-black doesn’t mean that I’m not for all the people. That’s the thing.” Mayor Bonaccorso then told the diverse crowd, “I am pro-black for all the good black people that I know in my life.” His remark drew audible displeasure from the crowd. In a statement posted to his Facebook page, Bonaccorso said he has been mayor for a long time and is still learning. (NBC News)

Firefighter abseils from a 16-storey flat to save a little girl after she got stuck outside a balcony

A firefighter abseiled from a 16-story building to rescue a five-year-old Chinese child who got trapped outside her flat’s balcony in Kunming, the capital of southern China’s Yunnan province. The little girl climbed out of the window when her mother went downstairs to pick up deliveries. When her mother returned, she shocked to see her daughter clinging onto the window frame 130 feet above the ground. She immediately called the firefighters to rescue her kid. The five-year-old girl was standing on a tiny ledge and clinging onto the window when the firefighters arrived at the scene. A rescuer abseiled from a flat two stories above before grabbing the child and pushing her back to safety. It is believed that she was not hurt. A firefighter carefully lowered himself down from a neighbor’s home with the help of a harness and a colleague, who held the protective gear from above. The courageous rescuer slowly moved along the windows and reached the girl about 10 minutes later. He then picked up the child, lifted her, and put her back to her apartment. (The Nations)

Man causes $40K in damage at Miller Park after trying to write name with tractor

Prosecutors say a 40-year-old man from Milwaukee, Wisconsin has admitted to causing more than $40,000 in damage to Miller Park amid protests and rioting on June 2nd. According to a criminal complaint filed with the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, broke into the Brewers’ baseball stadium and got into a tractor, which he used to tear up the turf and dig holes in an attempt to “write his name in cursive with the tractor tires.” The incident began when a security guard found the man yelling inside the stadium, running down the levels of seats and at one point patting his body and saying that “I got a piece for you.” The security guard told prosecutors that indicated to him that he might be armed with a gun, according to the complaint. A field manager recounted that while the man was driving the tractor, he was yelling “Black Lives Matter” and that “We’re gonna burn this f—– down tonight,” the complaint states. The man eventually got out of the tractor, walked off the field and left the stadium. Police officers then detained the man. (WMTV)

Three children accused of causing $50,000 in damages to Oklahoma school

Officials say three children were arrested this weekend after they allegedly vandalized a local school building. The Altus, Oklahoma Police Department say the juveniles are accused of breaking into the Altus Intermediate School. Once inside the school, investigators say the vandals caused at least $50,000 in damages. Officials say surveillance cameras inside the school captured the juveniles damaging computers, dumping paint on floors and walls, using fire extinguishers in multiple rooms, and damaging doors and windows. Authorities say the juveniles, who are 6-years-old, 8-years-old, and 12-years-old, were released to their parents. (KFOR)

Ford recalls 2.15 million U.S. vehicles for potentially faulty door latches

Ford Motor Co said announced it will recall 2.15 million U.S. vehicles with potentially faulty door latches. The American automaker said the recall covers many 2011 through 2015 model-year vehicles. The recalled vehicles may not have had all door latches replaced or correctly replaced when repaired by dealerships under recalls issued in 2015 and 2016. Ford said a recalled vehicle with a faulty latch may unlatch while driving, but said it is not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to the condition. The recall covers some Ford Fiesta, C-Max, Focus, Mustang. Fusion, Escape, Transit Connect, Lincoln MKZ and MKC vehicles. Ford said the latches have a part susceptible to cracking that in some circumstances can lead to doors failing to close. If motorists repeatedly attempt to close the door, it may temporarily close but could open during driving. (Reuters)

Wanted couple used gun to steal Pepsi from Pizza Hut

A search is underway for a man and woman who used a gun to steal a bottle of soda from an area Pizza Hut. The Richland County, South Carolina Sheriff’s Department asked for the community’s help identifying the man and woman who it says argued with the restaurant manager before pulling a gun on him and stealing a two-liter bottle of Pepsi. The manager told the sheriff’s department he got into an argument with the man and woman after they came in to the restaurant. They complained to the manager their pizza delivery person did not bring a soda with the rest of their order, according to the release. During the altercation, both the man and woman walked behind the counter, when the man pulled out a gun and the woman took a bottle of Pepsi from the cooler, the sheriff’s department said. The man put the gun into his pocket before the couple left the Pizza Hut, according to the release. No injuries were reported by the sheriff’s department. (The State)

Monday Breaks Down With:

• Global Wind Day
• Lobster Day
• Magna Carta Day
• Native American Citizenship Day
• Nature Photography Day
• National Day of Prayer for Law Enforcement Officers
• Prune Day
• Ride To Work Day (Motorcycles) (Third Monday)
• World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
• Worldwide Day of Giving