Unprecedented Floods Strike US South and Midwest, 18 Confirmed Dead

In Pocatello, Idaho, police officers shot 17-year-old Victor Perez, who is autistic and intellectually disabled, after responding to a 911 call about a disturbance. According to a witness video, officers fired within seconds of arriving on the scene on April 5, 2025, as Perez approached them with a knife. As a result of the shooting, Perez, who also has cerebral palsy, is in critical condition and has undergone amputation of his leg. His aunt, Ana Vazquez, reported that doctors are assessing his brain activity and uncertainties remain about his recovery. The incident has sparked outrage, with the family and community questioning the police's rapid use of lethal force without attempting to de-escalate the situation. Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei acknowledged the "emotional" nature of the event but stated that officers must make quick decisions when faced with perceived threats. Critics, including former police officer Seth Stoughton, have raised concerns about the lack of non-lethal options and tactics to create distance before resorting to gunfire. This incident has prompted calls for better police training in handling individuals with disabilities.

A second child has succumbed to measles as the U.S. confronts its most severe outbreak in three decades, primarily affecting western Texas. The child, whose death was reported on April 7, 2025, was unvaccinated and had no pre-existing health conditions, suffering from complications caused by the highly contagious virus while hospitalized. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 600 cases of measles have been reported across the United States this year, a substantial increase from the 285 cases recorded in 2024. Health officials warn that this rise underscores the importance of vaccination as a critical preventive measure against the disease. In light of the crisis, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been advocating for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, emphasizing its role in controlling the outbreak during his visits to affected areas in Texas. The measles vaccine is considered highly effective, yet public hesitancy concerning vaccinations remains a challenge in mitigating outbreaks of this preventable disease.

A court in New York has ordered former pediatrician Stuart Copperman to pay a staggering $1.6 billion to over 100 women who accused him of sexual abuse dating back to the 1980s. According to court documents, the awards were handed down after Copperman failed to respond to the lawsuits, marking one of the largest cumulative payouts against a single individual in U.S. history for such claims. The Rev. Debbi Rhodes, one of the plaintiffs, expressed mixed feelings about the outcome, stating, "I’m not sure if he’s facing justice...to have a court say, definitively, ‘I believe you’—that’s heavy medicine right there." Copperman was stripped of his medical license in 2000 following complaints but faced no criminal charges. The plaintiffs were empowered to file their lawsuits under the Child Victims Act of 2019, which temporarily lifted the statute of limitations. "For decades, these women were silenced and dismissed," stated attorney Kristen Gibbons Feden. Despite the legal victory, many plaintiffs accept the likelihood of not seeing the compensation, as Copperman is now 89 and resides in South Florida.