National News Round Up: Nov. 5-11

TEXAS SHOOTING

On Sunday, Nov. 5, Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, walked in the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, during the service and shot dead 26 people and wounded 20. Those killed ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years old. Everybody who was in the church was either killed or wounded.

    When Kelley walked out of the church, he was confronted and shot by an armed resident, who also helped to chase Kelley in the car after. The chase ended with Kelley pulling over and killing himself with a shot in the head after calling his father.

    Kelley use to be an Air Force airman until he faced a trial for beating his wife and a stepson. The guilty plea led Kelley to a one-year sentence in a military prison which was followed by a bad-conduct discharge. A little before it, in 2012, Kelley escaped from mental health facility after he “was caught sneaking guns onto an Air Force base” and “attempting to carry out death threats against military superiors,” according to the Washington Post.

    Air Force acknowledged their failure to report the incident to FBI which would have blocked Kelley from legally purchasing guns.

DEMOCRATS WIN BIG

Ralph Northam won the Virginia governor’s race beating Republican Ed Gillespie, who was endorsed by President Trump.

    “Virginia sent a strong message that Trump-style division - pitting people against people - that is not the Virginia way. That is not the American way,” Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said at Northam’s victory party, according to CNN.

    Trump blamed Gillespie for the defeat in a tweet. “Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for. Don’t forget, Republicans won 4 out of 4 House seats, and with the economy doing record numbers, we will continue to win, even bigger than before!”

    Phil Murphy won a race for a New Jersey governor’s office from Republican Chris Christie, who held it for eight years.

WIN FOR MINORITIES

Two openly transgender people won elections for public office.

    Danica Roem, who openly ran as a transgender candidate, won a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, defeating Bob Marshall, who held the office for over 26 years. Once in the office, Roem would be first openly transgender candidate to be elected and serve in a state legislative body, CNN reports.

    Andrea Jenkins became the first openly transgender person of color to be elected for the public office. Jenkins won with more than 70 percent of the votes a seat in the Minneapolis City Council, the Star Tribune reported

    Ravinder Bhalla was elected to be the first Sikh mayor in the state of New Jersey.

    There are several more “first” wins from the Election Day held by minorities’ representatives.

PUERTO RICO

Three thousand survivors of Maria hurricane who still lived in shelters will be transported to the US mainland by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Many of them may end up in New York or Florida.