SUMMARY: On March 7, 1965, Black voting rights marchers, including 17-year-old Charles Mauldin, faced violent attacks by Alabama state troopers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, an event known as Bloody Sunday. This brutality galvanized support for the Voting Rights Act, signed into law on August 6, 1965, which dismantled discriminatory practices and boosted Black voter turnout. Yet, survivors like Mauldin and Richard Smiley warn current laws and policies are rolling back these rights through voter ID laws, mail voting limits, and reduced federal oversight after the 2013 Supreme Court decision. The fight for voting rights remains ongoing and crucial.

Read the full article

The post The Voting Rights Act is turning 60. Civil rights marchers recall a hard-won struggle appeared first on www.wxxv25.com

SUMMARY: A U.S. Coast Guard report on the 2023 Titan submersible disaster concluded it was caused by preventable safety failures and deliberate efforts by OceanGate, its operator, to avoid oversight. The implosion killed all five aboard, including CEO Stockton Rush. The report criticized OceanGate’s flawed safety culture, noting ignored “red flags,” falsified safety info, and inadequate design and inspection processes. Financial pressures led to outdoor winter storage, damaging the vessel’s hull. The report calls for stronger regulation of private deep-sea tourism. Lawsuits have followed, including one from French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet’s family. The Titan’s wreck was found near the Titanic site.

Read the full article

The post Titan submersible disaster that killed 5 on way to Titanic was preventable, Coast Guard says appeared first on www.wxxv25.com

SUMMARY: Charlie, a 10-year-old yellow lab, eagerly surfs and competes at the World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica, California, joining 15-20 canine surfers. Dogs in life vests ride waves solo, tandem, or with humans, judged on balance, duration, and tricks. Iza, a 5-year-old French bulldog, won the medium single surfer heat, overcoming her owner David Fasoli’s disability to defy expectations. Charlie enjoys the crowd and can steer his board with his owner Jeff’s guidance, showing true passion without needing treats. Fellow lab Rosie surfs routinely, strengthening the bond with her owner Steve Drottar, creating mutual joy and accomplishment beyond typical walks.

Read the full article

The post Who’s the top dog? Wave-riding canines compete in the World Dog Surfing Championships appeared first on www.wxxv25.com