Nation and world news in brief for June 13
Sen. Fetterman was speeding and ‘at fault’ for crash
PHILADELPHIA (TNS) — Sen. John Fetterman was “at fault” for a recent car crash in Maryland where he was found to have been speeding before ultimately rear-ending another vehicle on Sunday, according to a Maryland State Police report.
The Pennsylvania Democrat, his wife, Gisele, and the other driver, a woman from Pennsylvania, were sent to the hospital after the crash, which occurred around 7:45 a.m. Sunday. Both vehicles — Fetterman’s Chevrolet Traverse and the woman’s Chevrolet Impala — were towed after Fetterman allegedly passed the woman’s car at a “high rate of speed, well over the posted speed limit.”
Fetterman rear-ended her car just before the exit for I-68 in Hancock, Maryland, between Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The speed limit there is 70 mph.
The police report listed the extent of damage for both parties as “disabling.” No citations were issued and the Maryland State Police is investigating. Neither Fetterman nor the woman was tested for being under the influence of any alcohol or substances.
Jayson Boebert pleads guilty to reckless endangerment in January fights with family
DENVER (TNS) — Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s ex-husband, Jayson Boebert, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment in Garfield County District Court on Wednesday in separate cases related to fights with family members, according to court records.
Boebert, 43, initially faced six charges for separate confrontations with his ex-wife and their 18-year-old son in early January.
The other charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement, according to court records. Boebert was sentenced to six months unsupervised probation, a $40 fine and court costs for the misdemeanor.
Police were first called to the Miner’s Claim restaurant in Silt on Jan. 6 after Jayson and U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert got in an argument and Jayson called police to report “domestic violence abuse,” claiming his ex-wife punched him in the nose.
Jayson Boebert then refused to leave the restaurant when police arrived and later recanted his claim of domestic violence, according to police reports.
He was charged with disorderly conduct for making an offensive gesture, obstructing a peace officer and third-degree trespassing in the case, all of which were dismissed under the plea agreement.
Boebert was then arrested on Jan. 9 after police responded to his home outside of Silt at roughly 1 a.m. Boebert’s 18-year-old son told police his father came home drunk and started arguing with and shoving him, according to previous reporting. Boebert then grabbed a rifle and went outside.
He was charged with harassment, third-degree assault, reckless endangerment and prohibited use of a weapon for possessing a gun while drunk. Boebert pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and the other charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
S&P 500, Nasdaq post closing record highs after CPI, Fed
NEW YORK (Reuters) -The S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted record closing highs for a third straight day on Wednesday after inflation data came in softer than expected but the indexes ended off the day’s highs as the Federal Reserve projected only one interest rate cut this year.
The Fed’s March projections included three quarter-percentage-point reductions. The U.S. central bank, in a statement at the end of its June 11-12 meeting, also said it left its policy rate unchanged, as expected.
Stocks were choppy following the news and press conference with Fed Chair Jerome Powell, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq paring gains late and the Dow finishing near flat.
Democrat Sarah McBride could become first transgender member of US House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democrat Sarah McBride could be elected the first transgender member of the U.S. House of Representatives in the Nov. 5 election, after her primary rival in deeply Democratic Delaware dropped out of the race on Wednesday.
A member of the Delaware state assembly, McBride now faces a clear field in the Sept. 10 primary after Eugene Young, former director of the Delaware State Housing Authority, ended his candidacy. Other candidates have until July 8 to enter the race.
Success in November would mark a major milestone in the acceptance of transgender people in American culture, even as battles over transgender rights have become a partisan flashpoint in a deeply divided nation.
US railroad Amtrak on track to break passenger records in 2024
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak said on Wednesday it expects ridership to top pre-COVID 2019 levels this year for the first time and reach a record high even though it has less capacity.
Ridership was 20% higher in the first seven months of Amtrak’s budget year that began Oct. 1, and ticket revenue was up 10% versus the same period in 2023, according to written testimony by Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner to be presented at a hearing of a U.S. House of Representative subcommittee on Wednesday.
“We are on target to set a new all-time ridership record by exceeding the 32.3 million passengers” in 2019, Gardner said in the written testimony.
Amtrak passengers grew 45% from 2003 to 2019 to 32.3 million.
