‘Emergency Summit’ on violence in Chicago
Illinois congressmembers Bobby Rush, Danny Davis and Robin Kelly have have convened an "emergency summit" to address gun violence in what has become known as the epicenter of murder in the United States. Over 200 people have been killed by gun violence in Chicago so far this year with a particularly bloody Fourth of July weekend, in which 72 people were shot and 12 were killed.
The two-day "National Summit on Violence in Urban Communities," hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus, will begin on Friday at the Chicago State University Convocation Center in Chicago. Over 1,000 people are expected to attend.
Targeting Texas
Attorney General Eric Holder began what is expected to be a multi-state effort to challenge voting laws in states the Department of Justice says discriminates by race. Holder started with Texas, where the DOJ opposes the way new congressional and state legislative district lines have been drawn because of the representation they give to Hispanic voters. A voter ID law signed by Republican Governor Rick Perry in 2011 is also under scrutiny.
Texas Republicans say these efforts are about partisan politics. Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Thursday said, "Texans should not -- and will not -- stand for the continued bullying of our state by the Obama Administration."
South Carolina, North Carolina and Alaska are also expected to receive attention from the DOJ.
Weiner support waning
New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner has lost support according to a new NBC4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll conducted after the latest revelations of improper behavior. He has now lost the lead to City Council President Christine Quinn.
On Thursday, Weiner estimated that he had inappropriate online contact with six to 10 women while in Congress and no more than three after resigning.