Seattle police chief retires after vote to defund department
The Seattle chief of police has retired in response to the city council’s vote to defund the police force. Chief Carmen Best announced she will retire following the city council vote. The Seattle City Council voted to defund the police department budget by four million dollars and reduce the force by 100 officers. Supporters of police departments say the defunding across the nation will lead to mob rule and a rise in crime. The Seattle city council claims the money will be used towards Black, Latino and other minority communities in the city. Carmen Best was the first Black police chief in Seattle. Prior to the vote Chief Best wrote an open letter to the city council asking them not to defund the police department. Best says her retirement is due to a lack of respect by the City Council. Several city councils around the U.S. have voted to defund police departments claiming the act is to protect African American communities. According to a recent survey over 80 percent of African Americans say they do not want police defunded.
Churches defy California Governor’s order hold open service to congregations
Several churches in California are defying the state governor’s executive order to remain closed. Several pastors and church leaders say they have been patient enough after months of being closed. Governor Gavin Newsom closed churches for a second time citing COVID-19 concerns. A Ventura County Superior Court Judge further supported the ban by the governor. Justice Matthew Guasco ordered the executive order to remain in effect until August 21st. The pastors holding services say the church is essential and the governor is violating religious freedoms. Pastors in defiance so far have reported no officers have shown up at services to enforce the governor’s executive order.
Israel/ UAE sign historic peace treaty
President Trump announced a major peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The peace treaty was announced just this week by U.S. and Israeli officials. The UAE is only the third Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel since Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994. President Trump called the announcement a huge breakthrough and historic. President Trump’s comments were re-tweeted by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The president says more peace treaties are expected between Israel and other Arab countries soon. Palestinian officials protested the treaty. The leaders are still in opposition to Israel’s annexation of the West Bank. The annexation was temporarily halted due to the peace treaty. Israeli officials say they still plan to annex the West Bank but temporarily stopped plans at the request of the U.S.
SNBC HEALTH report : health benefits of red bell peppers
Researchers are recommending a fruit that has more Vitamin C than an orange. The fruit; the red bell pepper. According to researchers even though red bell peppers are cooked as a vegetable they are actually a fruit according to scientists. The sweeter tasting bell pepper is a natural source of Vitamin C containing 117 milligrams of the nutrient. Red bell peppers contain 30 different antioxidants making it one of the most nutrient rich fruits. The nutrients found in the red bell pepper contribute to fighting inflammation, heart disease, improves eye health, memory function, and cognitive skills. Researchers advise buying red bell peppers organic to obtain the full amount of nutrients in the fruit. Supplements to obtain your daily recommended dose of Vitamin C is considered an option, but doctors in the study say they prefer people to consume fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet to receive the necessary nutrients.