In Other News

A bill was passed in the Virginia State Senate that would allow for terminally ill patients in Virginia to have the option of medically assisted death. According to WRIC, Senate Bill 280, sponsored by Sen. Ghazala F. Hashimi, narrowly passed 21 to 19 after advancing from Senate committee with similar numbers. The proposed bill would allow adults diagnosed with terminal conditions to request a self-administered substance from a healthcare provider to end their life. Commonly known as the “Death by Dignity” bill, similar legislation has passed in 10 other states and Washington, D.C., so far. People who seek this type of death when suffering from terminal diagnoses have consequently left Virginia to pursue medically assisted death in other states. SB 280 passed the Senate and will have to pass through the House of Delegates next.

National

Tragedy struck in Kansas City during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade Wednesday, Feb. 14. Shots were fired in the crowd toward the end of the parade, sending the event into chaos. According to Fox4KC, there were more than 20 people injured and one killed; Police Chief Stacey Graves said the shots were fired during a dispute between several people. The woman killed in the incident was Elizabeth Lopez-Glavan, a local DJ and radio host for KKFI. Half of the shooting victims were under 16 years old. Originally, three people were detained at the site of the shooting but one was released. The two others, both juveniles, have had charges filed against them, although their identities and ages have not been announced yet. According to The Guardian, the shooting happened just outside of Union Station despite over 800 police officers in the surrounding area. Attendee Trey Filter was assisted by others in tackling one of the shooters. “I don’t know what (I) was thinking,” the Kansas native said. “We was like, ‘We got him.’ I’ll always remember that. And then they started screaming, ‘There’s a gun!’” Kansas City is one of the top targets in the country that the U.S. Department of Justice is attempting to crack down on violent crimes.

National

Two protesters dumped red powder on the protective case that surrounds the U.S. Constitution Wednesday, Feb. 14. The National Archives galleries and building were evacuated around 2:30 p.m. due to the incident. According to AP News, two men covered themselves in the powder and covered the case housing of the Constitution, although no damage to the document was done. “We are determined to foment a rebellion,” one of the men said. “We all deserve clean air, water, food and a livable climate.” Both men were detained and will be prosecuted for vandalism. The National Archives announced that the rotunda was closed for cleanup Feb. 15, and the rest of the museum will open as scheduled. According to ABC News, climate protesters have been targeting important landmarks and art pieces in an attempt to bring attention to their cause. A similar case happened in Italy, where protesters attached images of flood damage to the protective barrier of Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” in Florence.

Bessire is the special assignments reporter for the Liberty Champion. Follow him on X