The NYPD has arrested Jose Reyes, 31, for the attempted rape of a woman waiting for the Q train in NYC. A bystander saw the attack and rushed to stop it, while simultaneously filming the encounter. The NYPD used facial recognition software to identify the culprit, who has multiple other charges on file. None of the other charges are sex related, but at least three of them take place within the New York City public transport system. The victim sustained mild injuries but refused hospital care.
No one knew who Kyle Rittenhouse was before he showed up to the Kenosha protests armed with an AR-15 and used it to shoot three people, killing two of them. He has since been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, one count of first-degree reckless homicide, one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. The most serious of these crimes in Wisconsin is first-degree intentional homicide if convicted. Rittenhouse would face a mandatory life sentence if convicted.
(Warning, Graphic/Violent)
A crowd chases a suspected shooter down in Kenosha. He trips and falls, then turns with the gun and fires several times. Shots can be heard fired elsewhere as well, corroborating reports of multiple shooters tonight #Kenosha#KenoshaRiotspic.twitter.com/qqsYWmngFW
Over 130 stories have been published by digital news publishers since video and eyewitness accounts of what took place were made public. While opinions and conjecture about Rittenhouse’s actions have largely been shared on social media and cable news networks (the term ‘vigilante’ is getting thrown around), online news publishers are also getting into the fray. Some are sticking to headlines and reporting based on the facts known at the time, while others are peppering in subtle (and not so subtle) bias in describing Rittenhouse, his victims, and the killings themselves.
Here are a Variety of Headlines from Online News Publishers:
Kenosha gunman Kyle Rittenhouse said “I just killed somebody” on phone call after first shooting, documents say – nydailynews.com
Kenosha protestor killed by Kyle Rittenhouse remembered as a “peaceful person” – nypost.com
Aubrey Huff called Kenosha gunman Kyle Rittenhouse a “national treasure” – nypost.com
17-Year-Old “Blue Lives Matter” Fanatic Charged With Murder at Kenosha Protest
– thedailybeast.com
Teen Vigilante Killed Unarmed Kenosha Protestor Who Threw a Plastic Bag at Him
– thedailybeast.com
What we know so far about Kyle Rittenhouse, accused vigilante in Wisconsin shooting
– cleveland.com
GoFundMe Removes Fundraisers for Shooting Suspect Kyle Rittenhouse
– theepochtimes.com
Attorneys for Teen Accused of Kenosha Killings Establish Legal Defense Fund
– theepochtimes.com
Readers can get a reasonably quick understanding of the angle these news publishers are taking as more details about the incident become known. Some are sticking to the facts and nothing else in their headlines and reporting. Others are taking a more sensational or inflammatory approach by supporting the notion Rittenhouse did the world a favor because one of the men he killed has a criminal history that includes being a convicted sex offender and had an open criminal case for battery, disorderly conduct, and other domestic abuse charges in Wisconsin.
The other victim, Anthony Huber, had been arrested multiple times on battery and drug charges.
Whether the men Rittenhouse killed were good, bad, or somewhere in the middle as human beings should not merit justification for the actions of someone who would not have known that at the moment. Yet, the beat of the drum provoking extreme reactions from supporters of the victims and the shooter continues in the way information is being packaged and presented to the general public on all platforms.
It’s more important than ever to be aware of the information we are being served by news outlets and those posing as one, or the very least pretending to be a credible source of information.
For example, the term “vigilante” is used to describe Rittenhouse in 17 (and counting) different headlines. There are a dozen (and counting) other stories with a headline citing “self-defense” before any trial has gotten underway. Those terms account for just over 20 percent of the news coverage online in just under a week.
With those two terms alone being used to describe Rittenhouse or express some absolute knowledge and awareness of his intentions, it lends credence to the thought that this 17-year-old was justified in his actions, that vigilantism by white males is acceptable under the right circumstances, and could ultimately embolden others who have fantasies of doing the same. Especially when you have images and videos showing white police officers being mostly indifferent to Rittenhouse wandering around with an assault rifle before and after the shootings. It seems lost on some that the officers shown on video and in pictures of ignoring him as he passed by had no reason to apprehend him in that moment because they were, reportedly, unaware of his actions.
When stories published about a situation such as this seek to make up others’ minds instead of simply providing factual information, it does a disservice to that community and anyone else trying to understand what’s actually happening versus the narratives being pushed based on specific political or ideological agendas.
According to more those with more liberal political views, Rittenhouse is portrayed as a ‘Blue Lives Matter’ fanatic and likely white nationalist who traveled across state lines to confront protestors with a gun he was not legally allowed to possess. Those on the more conservative and alt-right political spectrum have immediately justified what Rittenhouse did, saying it was self-defense, or how no one should be surprised a vigilante would rise to protect a city that is being run into the ground by Democrats.
What about the bias of online news publishers?
Data based on publicly available data of published stories within the Konsume News Engine and third-party media bias site MediaBiasFactCheck.com.
In somewhat disappointing fashion, just 13 percent of audited digital news coverage can be categorized as neutral or lacking in obvious bias. The percentage of news stories published that promote propaganda, conspiracy theories, or extreme ideological views nearly match that, accounting for 12 percent of coverage. Half of the news publishers covering the story have a Left or Left-of-Center bias in their reporting, and 25 percent have a Right or Right-of-Center bias.
The real issue here is the impact the intentionally misleading or extreme right-wing stories are having on the story’s overall narrative. Eschewing facts and verified information for false claims or ideologically driven narratives causes distrust among news consumers. Even more so as those sensationalized stories quickly make the rounds on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
How information is packaged and presented to us has a far more significant impact on our perception of that news than we sometimes realize. Because, even with a small portion of news stories being intentionally misleading or inciting a strong, adverse reaction for all the wrong reasons, there is not enough fact-based neutral and fair coverage to combat it.
A 25-year-old Nevada man first showed symptoms of the coronavirus in April. He complained of a sore throat and headache, testing positive for the coronavirus. A few weeks later his symptoms resolved and he had two negative tests for the virus in May. In early June his symptoms returned, this time including fever and dizziness. He was hospitalized on June 5th and tested positive for the coronavirus. He was confirmed to have antibodies, and researchers state that he was not immunosuppressed, nor was he taking any immunosuppressive medications. This is the first confirmed case of reinfection in the United States.
The second and third cases of West Nile Virus in Massachusetts have been discovered. The two men, one in his 50’s and the other in his 80’s, live in Middlesex county. West Nile Virus is usually spread through mosquito bites, with the infected showing few to no symptoms, and this appears to be the case here as well. Mosquitoes in Middlesex, Essex, and Norfolk counties have tested positive for the virus. Last year five cases were identified, but in general health authorities say that the risk of becoming infected with the virus is low.
In 2003 Lezmond Mitchell confessed to the brutal murders of 63-year-old Alyce Slim and her 9-year-old granddaughter Tiffany Lee. Mitchell and his accomplice stabbed Slim 33 times, later slitting the throat of Lee. Mitchell confessed to the murders and dismemberment of the bodies. Kerri Kupec, spokeswoman for the Justice Department said, “Nearly 19 years after Lezmond Mitchell brutally ended the lives of two people, destroying the lives of many others, justice finally has been served.” When asked if he had any final last words Mitchell stated, “No, I’m good.” He was executed by pentobarbital injection.
Everyone knows that Britney Spears had a very public breakdown back in 2007. She has recovered her career since then, starring in a Las Vegas residency and performing multiple world tours. Recently she asked that her father be removed as the sole conservator of her finances as he was attempting to create blocked accounts that she did not have access to. Her sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, has been appointed conservator in his place. Jamie Lynn, also a child actress who starred in Zoey 101 on Nickelodeon, appears to be on good terms with her sister, and it appears that Britney is pleased with this decision as well.
American Airlines announced on Tuesday they will be placing 19,000 employees on furlough starting in October. The CARES Act federal funding is about to run out, putting pressure on airlines that are facing decreasing numbers of passengers. “Today is the hardest message we have had to share so far,” said American CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom in a letter to the employees. Most of the staff being furloughed are flight attendants. “While the furlough is temporary, there is no way to predict how long it will last,” Jill Surdek, senior vice president of flight service at American Airlines, stated in the notification letter.
There is an asteroid headed towards Earth, but it will not cause any damage. The asteroid, named 2018VP1, was discovered in 2018. It has a projected 41% chance of entering Earth’s atmosphere on November 2nd, where it would then burn down into nothing. NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office posted the following tweet: “Asteroid 2018VP1 is very small, approx. 6.5 feet, and poses no threat to Earth! It currently has a 0.41 [percent] chance of entering our planet’s atmosphere, but if it did, it would disintegrate due to its extremely small size.” So no matter what you are worried about in 2020, this asteroid is not one of them.
120 party-goers gathered at a disco in Lima on Saturday night, violating the cities COVID prevention measures. The police raided the facility for the violation. Patrons tried to flee through the 2nd floor club’s only door, causing a bottleneck that resulted in 13 people dying from the stampede. 23 people were arrested, with 15 of them testing positive for the coronavirus. All of them will be quarantined. “It was a breeding ground for the transmission of this disease, there was a viral load because it was a closed environment,” said Claudio Ramirez, Health Ministry official.
A 65 person wedding in Maine has been linked to 41 positive coronavirus tests, and now one death. The indoor event, hosted at the Big Moose Inn in Millinocket on August 7th, caused secondary and tertiary contamination, with a whopping 366 tests being done. The infected range in age from 4 years to 98 years old. A reported 83% of the attendees have experienced coronavirus symptoms. The Maine Department of Health is investigating the venue, questioning the compliance of social distancing procedures.
