Virginia makes waves, Romney feels the heat, Waiting on Iowa, & Celebrity scents
NewsHero Beta - Feb 6, 2020 - Issue 28
Welcome to today’s edition of NewsHero for Thursday, February 6, 2020.
We hope you’ve been liking the new daily version of our newsletter. We’ve been liking putting each one together, discussing in editorial meetings what to include and how to deliver it (and just who the hero of the story might be).
We’ve opted to stick with a consistent layout: two quick mentions called NewsHero Notes, followed by three items for our Afternoon Brief. Next there’s one story that we go a wee bit deeper with, then the Extra! Extra! we end with, which serves as an editorial space where sometimes we have a bit of fun.
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Team NewsHero
U.S. astronaut Christina Koch shortly after the landing of the Russian Soyuz MS-13 space capsule in Kazakhstan, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (Sergei Ilnitsky/Pool Photo via AP)
NewsHero Notes
Welcome home! Christina Koch, the NASA astronaut who set a record for the longest spaceflight by a woman, landed safely Thursday after spending nearly 11 months in orbit.
They say parenting is the hardest job. Finland has announced a new policy that provides nearly seven months of paid leave to each parent. Women lead the five parties in Finland's coalition government, with 34-year-old Sanna Marin as Prime Minister.
Afternoon Brief
Non-impeachment
Well the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump has come and gone, and not surprisingly Mitt Romney is being dealt a hefty dose of criticism (“abuse”) from his peers for voting to have the president removed, though Trump was ultimately acquitted Wednesday. Votes were 52-48 on abuse of power charges, and 53-47 on obstruction of justice.
Iowa Caucus
Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez called for a re-canvass of all results in Iowa on Thursday, as the struggle to verify the data from Monday night's caucuses continues. The Iowa Democratic Party has released partial results showing Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders nearly tied ahead of the rest of the Democratic candidates. So far, 97 percent of the vote has been released, but reports say it’s still too close to make a call.
Coronavirus
This week we covered the group of health professionals who first tried to warn of the coronavirus outbreak and were subsequently punished by the Chinese government for “spreading rumors.” Now, one of them has been killed by the virus. Li Wenliang, a Chinese doctor, contracted the virus while working at Wuhan Central Hospital and ultimately succumbed, according to the hospital treating him.
Virginia Makes Bold Moves On Big Issues
Since Democrats took control, new legislation has been quick to appear
The Virginia State Capitol on Jan. 8, 2020 in Richmond, Virginia. (Zach Gibson/Getty)
Ever since Democrats won control of Virginia’s General Assembly in November officially turning the state blue, its Senate and House of Delegates have been making some bold moves.
A bill that would ban conversion therapy for minors is working its way through the ranks. The legislation would make it illegal for heath professionals to engage in conversion therapy for Virginians under the age of 18, and would prohibit state funds from being used for the practice. Conversion therapy, trying to forcibly change someone's sexual orientation or gender identity, has been thoroughly de-bunked, and studies show it can increase the risk of depression and suicide.
Equal Rights Amendment supporters demonstrate outside Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va. on Jan. 8, 2020.(AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Virginia last week became the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, which guarantees women equal rights under the law. Constitutional amendments must be ratified by three-quarters of the states, which is 38, but a ratification deadline enacted by Congress passed decades ago. Three Democratic state attorneys general (from Nevada, Illinois, and, yes, Virginia) then sued a U.S. government official to recognize the state’s vote to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and adopt it into the Constitution.
The Virginia House of Delegates and Senate also just passed a bundle of gun control measures, including limiting handgun purchases to once a month; universal background checks on gun purchases; allowing gun bans in public buildings, parks and other areas; and the “red flag” bill allowing authorities to temporarily take guns away from anyone deemed to be dangerous to themselves or others.
Virginia just might be a representation of America’s future as it makes these long strides in core issues. But just how distant is that future?
Extra! Extra!
Did you know that Gwyneth Paltrow was selling a candle via her company Goop that allegedly smells like her vagina? Sorry, we weren’t going to touch this one but it gets even better. Now, singer Erykah Badu is seemingly aiming to one-up Paltrow by introducing an incense, soon to be sold by her Badu World Market, that smells like her vagina. Badu’s, not Paltrow’s, that is. Certainly there would be a lawsuit if someone started selling a product that smelled like someone else’s private parts.
Anyhow, we never saw that Al Pacino movie Scent of a Woman, but it’s surely about this very topic. Which brings up a concern. Is this going to become a wide-spread showbiz celebrity trend? We’re not going to get a scent-of-Al-Pacino aerosol spray are we? Don’t tell the president! He’d no doubt be quick to whip out some product aimed to further his legend. Wait, they already make one!
Sources:
NASA’s record-setting Koch, crewmates safely back from space - AP News
Finland's Women-Led Government Has Equalized Family Leave: 7 Months For Each Parent - NPR
Trump acquitted on all charges in Senate impeachment trial - NY Post
GOP Sen. Romney faces awkwardness, 'abuse' for defying Trump on impeachment - USA Today
Trump shows off acquittal headlines at National Prayer Breakfast - The Hill
Iowa caucus results: DNC chair calls for a recanvass as chaos ensues - CNN
Iowa caucus live updates - NPR
DNC chair calls for recanvassing results as Buttigieg, Sanders reach virtual tie - NBC News
Coronavirus kills Chinese whistleblower doctor - BBC News
Chinese doctor who sounded Wuhan virus alarm is critically ill, hospital says, after state media reported he had died - CNN
Doctor Who Tried to Warn of Outbreak Is Near Death From Coronavirus - New York Times
Ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ children advances in Virginia legislature - CNN
Virginia On Track to Become First State in the South to Fully Protect Minors from Anti-LGBTQ ‘Conversion Therapy’ - Southern Equality
Equality Virginia’s Day of Action Tomorrow in Richmond - Outwire 757
Virginia gun laws: House passes seven control measures - Washington Post
What Made Virginia Change Its Mind on Guns? - New York Times
Gun-Control Bills Move Forward in Virginia - Wall Street Journal
'Red flag' gun laws designed to 'save lives', opponents say it violates civil rights - WSET
Democratic AGs sue to force US to adopt ERA in Constitution - AP News
Virginia's long path to ratifying the ERA - CNN
Erykah Badu takes on Gwyneth Paltrow with vagina incense - Complete Music Update