May 2022 Current Events: US News

Updated August 26, 2022 | Infoplease Staff

World News | Disaster News | Science & Technology News

The world is a very busy place, and it's hard to stay on top of everything. Infoplease has got you covered. Here are the U.S. news events you need to know so far for May 2022:

  1. Celebrities Dazzled On the Met Gala Carpet With Theme Of "The Gilded Age"
  2. President Joe Biden Requests An Easier Pathway For Refugees From Afghanistan To Become US Citizens From Congress
  3. Father Of Murdered Child Pageant Winner JonBenet Ramsey Requests Further DNA Tests To Be Performed
  4. The United States Senate Failed to Codify Abortion Laws Into Federal Constitution
  5. High Inflation rates of the United States Moving Slowly For The First Time In Many Months
  6. Johnny Depp And Amber Heard Continue Their Civil Brawl In The Courts
  7. The Buffalo Shooting: Yet Another Racist Attack In A Multiracial Community
  8. The United States Senate Finally Passed The $40 Billion Aid To Ukraine
  9. Historical Deal Signed As US Soccer Agrees To Equal Pay For Men’s And Women’s Teams
  10. Baby Formula Flown In From Europe To Combat The Shortages In The US
  11. 21 People Killed By A Teenage Shooter In Uvalde, Texas

Celebrities Dazzled On the Met Gala Carpet With Theme “The Gilded Age”

Met Gala

Photo Source: Wikimedia

Tuesday, May 3, 2022 - The annual Met Gala was held on Monday evening and celebrities made sure to wear the very best and most creative in couture. The Met Gala, previously under the moniker of the Costume Institute Gala, has been around since 1948 and is a fundraising opportunity for New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and its Anna Wintour Costume Center, in particular. Over the years, the famed and fortunate have attended this event, dressed to the nines with elegant and creative takes on the annual theme, and the 2022 Met Gala was no different.

Among the dazzling attendees were Blake Lively in a double-sided and architectural-inspired gown, Ryan Reynolds in a dapper tuxedo, Carey Mulligan in glamorous gold glitz, Sebastian Stan in a unique neon pink look, and Kim Kardashian in a vintage dress that once was part of Marilyn Monroe’s wardrobe.
Source: Vogue

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President Joe Biden Requests An Easier Pathway For Refugees From Afghanistan To Become US Citizens From Congress

Joe Biden

Photo Source: iStock

Wednesday, May 4, 2022 - Refugees are not only restricted to the current crisis between Ukraine and Russia. For decades, the Middle East has also been a place of turmoil and stain for many countries’ citizens. As such, President Biden is pushing the US Congress for an easier way for refugees from Afghanistan who arrived within the country between July 31, 2021, and September 20, 2022, to become American citizens.

Holding immigrant status in a foreign country is not only a stressful experience, but it also comes with a tenuous position where deportation could be catastrophic if the individual is seeking protection and safety from an unstable or violent home country. If President Biden’s measure is passed, Afghan refugees will be able to trade their temporary protection status for full US citizenship— a step forward for humanitarianism.
Source: CNN

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Father Of Murdered Child Pageant Winner JonBenet Ramsey Requests Further DNA Tests To Be Performed

JonBenet Ramsey

Photo Source: CNN

Wednesday, May 4, 2022 - The father of JonBenet Ramsey has submitted a petition this week, asking the office of Colorado’s Governer Jarid Polis to let an outside agency take over the case and retest DNA evidence, in hopes of final closure.

At the age of 6, JonBenet Ramsey was discovered missing within her family home in Colorado in 1996, before a ransom note detailing a very specific amount of money was also found. However, this supposed kidnapping case soon took a dark turn when her father located JonBenet’s body in the basement of the home while investigators were on the scene, only a few hours later.

While no leads have been solidly identified in the subsequent years and the overall lack of progress, Mr. Ramsey is now asking Governor Polis to intervene and assign another agency to the case— one which might find new suspects from the preserved DNA.
Source: CNN

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The United States Senate Failed to Codify Abortion Laws Into Federal Constitution

Roe v Wade

Photo Source: AP Images

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 - Following the leak that the Supreme Court of the United States is looking to overturn Roe V. Wade, several efforts have been made to prevent this from happening. Apart from the votes, the leak has also led to a country-wide protest that striking down Roe V. Wade attacks reproductive rights. 

The Democrats moved quickly to vote to ingrain Abortion rights into the Federal Law as Constitutional rights. President Biden promised to sign any bill that secures reproductive rights.

The vote passed in the House; however, it failed to make the 60-majority needed to overcome the filibuster of the senate. The final counts were 49-51 – 49 votes in support of the motion and 51 opposing votes – with Vice president Kamala Harris presiding over the votes.

Ahead of the mid-term elections in November, Abortion rights have found their way to the center of the political discussion.

Source: BBC 

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High Inflation Rates Of The United States Moving Slowly For The First Time In Many Months

US inflation

Photo Source: AP Images

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 - The United States faces a nationwide crisis of shortages and inflation. This trend has steadied in April, but still, the inflations are close to the 40-year high.

Americans have struggled to afford some necessities, with market prices of fuel and food hitting the roof since August 2021. Air rates have increased by 40% in the previous three months. Property has become expensive for many Americans, particularly people of color, due to a rising housing market.

However, the Consumer Price Index showed that the rate of rising inflation is down from 1.2% in March to 0.3% in April.

The inflation is said to be aa a result of the tremendous imbalance between demand and supply, which is the secondary effect of the Pandemic. 

The report is that the Federal Reserve is moving to increase interest rates in an attempt to regulate and stabilize prices.

Source: The Guardian 

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Johnny Depp And Amber Heard Continue Their Civil Brawl In The Courts

Depp v Heard trial

Photo Source: AP Images/Kevin Lamarque

Monday, May 16, 2022 - The civil case of harassment and abuse between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp has gone on for weeks now. In the recent proceedings, Ms. Heard has accused Mr. Depp of repeated abuse.

She alleged that she was attacked aboard the Orient Express train during their honeymoon in 2015. She said he struck her and held her neck in their compartment. Mr. Depp has made a series of counterarguments, with videos and recordings of physical abuse presented to the court. He is suing her for $50 million over an article where she claimed she was a victim of domestic violence.

Even though both Ms. Heard and Mr. Depp gave accounts of loving moments in their relationship while it lasted, the graphic details of other things that transpired in their marriage have made people wonder. 

Source: BBC 

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The Buffalo Shooting: Yet Another Racist Attack In A Multiracial Community

Buffalo shooting

Photo Source: AP Images/Matt Rourke

Sunday, May 15, 2022 - Ten people were shot dead by an 18-year-old man, Payton Gendron, in an attack that authorities have said was racially motivated.

The attacker was reported to have shouted racial slurs while shooting, had racial slurs on his weapon, and most of his victims were black.

The police have termed this gruesome incidence a hate crime and it is the worst mass shooting in the US so far in 2022. 

Of the 10 people killed, 3 were shot dead in the parking lot, while 7 were killed in the supermarket. Three people - all supermarket staff - were also injured.

According to the police commissioner, Payton came prepared with tactical gear, a helmet, and even a camera to live-stream the attack. An eyewitness report said they saw the attacker go into the supermarket “army-style”.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, in his statement, expressed hurt and sadness while consoling the community. He said, “We cannot let this hateful person divide our country."

Source: BBC 

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The United States Senate Finally Passed The $40 Billion Aid To Ukraine

US bill to aid Ukraine

Photo Source: AP Images/Senate Television

Thursday, May 19, 2022 - The US Senate has passed Joe Biden’s military and humanitarian aid measure for Ukraine, with a large bipartisan majority in favor. The aid was passed, with a final vote of 86 in favor and 11 against. 

The vote was set to take place last week after it was passed in the house with immense support, but Kentucky Senator Rand Paul intervened and delayed the votes till this week.

The package was more significant than President Biden’s proposed $33 billion. It was approved by all 50 Democrats in the Senate and all but 11 Republicans.

The bill is anticipated to be signed into law by the US president as soon as feasible.

New York Senator and Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer said help is on the way, really significant help. Help that could make sure that the Ukrainians are victorious.”

Source: The Guardian 

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Historical Deal Signed As US Soccer Agrees To Equal Pay For Men’s And Women’s Teams

Equal pay for women in soccer

Photo Source: AP Images/Patrick Semansky

Wednesday, May 18, 2022 - It has been six years since a handful of stars from the USWNT launched a campaign to end what they claimed was years of salary discrimination against female players. The athletes claimed that despite winning world championships and Olympic gold medals, they had been paid less than their male colleagues for decades.

There is now equity across the board in a new deal signed by the Men and Women’s soccer teams. However, the women’s team had to give up guaranteed salaries. The men had to agree to a new collective bargaining deal.

The new deal also allows the team to benefit from each other’s success. Prize money will be pulled together and split between the teams. 

The collective bargaining deal will haul 90% of the total revenue from competitions to the teams.

Before the deal, the women’s team gets 100% of their prize money while the men’s team gets around 60%-70% of the prize money.

Source: The Guardian 

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Baby Formula Flown In From Europe To Combat The Shortages In The US

Operation Fly Formula

Photo Source: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Monday, May 23, 2022 – Operation Fly Formula, an initiative by the Biden administration to battle the shortages in the US, saw the first supplies come in from Germany to Indianapolis International Airport.

Reports said that the Shipment brought in 78,000 pounds of formula, which will be enough to feed 9,000 babies and 18,000 toddlers for a week.

The operation will be beneficial to infants with cow-milk allergies and struggling caretakers battling shortages since February after several formula brands were recalled due to bacterial infections discovered in four children.

The US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said more formulas would arrive from Europe in the coming days.

The formula production will begin locally, as plants will be opened soon following the deal between the FDA and Abbott facility in Sturgis, Michigan, where the whole crisis started.

Once the plants are reopened, it could take up to eight weeks to restore the supplies.

Source: USA Today

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21 People Killed By A Teenage Shooter In Uvalde, Texas

Texas shooting

Photo Source: AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez

Wednesday, May 25, 2022 – Twenty-one people were killed in the recent shooting at an elementary school in Texas. Nineteen children and 2 adults suffered fatal shots from the 18-year-old shooter and injured several others.

The Gunman, who was suspected to have killed his grandmother before the rampage, entered the school premises with a handgun, an AR-15, body armor, and high-capacity magazines. Reports from investigators believe that he did not act alone.

The shooter named Salvador Ramos was reportedly seen when he got down from a vehicle with his ammunition. Several attempts were made to stop him but were unsuccessful before backup was called.

Several children who died have been identified as the families, and the Uvalde community mourns. 

The heinous event has caused political and moral uproar nationwide concerning gun legislation, sighting that gun violence overtook car crashes as the leading cause of death for US children and teenagers since 2020.

Source: BBC

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