Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivered an address proposing a more consumer-friendly budget for the fiscal year 2025 in New Jersey on Feb. 27. This budget includes raised corporate taxes, raised state revenue taxes and more funding toward specific sections of the state’s infrastructure.
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A pod of 14 killer whales were trapped by sea ice, discovered off the coast of Japan’s Hokkaido on Feb. 6. Following the report, the news of the trapped pod spread quickly. According to The Guardian, environmental groups raised concerns, and social media posts soon prompted government action.
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The Republican party failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas earlier this week. On Feb. 6, the impeachment charges moved to the House floor for a vote. Not only did this impeachment fail, but it failed narrowly, in a final vote of 214 to 216. The division present in the Republican party has become potentially problematic with some of its own representatives voicing their disagreements with the actions of other members
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Alabama carried out the nation’s first ever execution by nitrogen hypoxia on Jan. 25. Kenneth Smith was sentenced to death in 1988, after he was one of two people convicted in the murder of Elizabeth Sennett. Smith had previously survived an execution attempt in 2022 by lethal injection, according to NBC. As a result, Smith’s legal team decided to push for a different method of execution; in this case the previously untested nitrogen hypoxia method. His team also submitted multiple appeals to save his life, but all were denied by the U.S. Supreme Court as a result of his past violent crime, according to CNN.
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On Nov. 30, the United Nations met in the United Arab Emirates to discuss climate change at the Conference of the Parties Summit, also known as COP28. COP28 is the 28th United Nations climate conference and includes countries that have signed the original United Nations climate contract in 1992. It also includes other countries that have joined since. This conference will be in continuance from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, according to BBC.
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On Nov. 13, the Supreme Court made a decision that will forever alter the structure of American government. Following recent news of donations and gifts given to justices on behalf of the wealthy and elite, the Supreme Court has officially enacted a formal ethics code, signed off by all nine justices after much debate, according to Politico.
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On Nov. 14, the Supreme Court is expected to reevaluate and discuss U.S. v. Rahimi, a domestic violence case that has the potential to renew the precedent on future gun control laws, as ABC News reports. This case will be the first gun rights case the Supreme Court will be ruling on since last year’s New York Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen decision, where the Court ruled conservatively.
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On Oct. 30, a high court in Japan asserted that the North Korean government holds responsibility for human rights violations. As reported by the plaintiffs, many people were attracted to the promises of North Korea from 1959 to 1984, mainly due to the promise of free healthcare, jobs, benefits and education. However, upon arriving in North Korea, none of those promises were ever fulfilled.
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On Oct. 19, a momentous event occurred that could potentially destroy the chances of reelection for former President Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election. According to AP News, Sidney Powell, Donald Trump’s former attorney and colleague throughout his re-election campaign, pleaded guilty to six counts of conspiracy in the 2020 election.
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On Oct. 2, the Nobel Prize Winners for 2023 were announced. The Nobel Prize was first developed conceptually by Alfred Nobel, a Renaissance inventor, entrepreneur, scientist and businessman. He also held interests in poetry and drama. Each of his interests are reflected in the six different types of Nobel Prizes, which are Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace and Economics.
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