5 stories you need to read this week
From Congress considering banning TikTok, to a New York judge banning ghost guns in their state, here are five important stories you need to read this week.
House passes TikTok ban bill, but its Senate path unclear
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill banning TikTok nationwide unless its China-based owner, ByteDance, sells its company’s stakes to a non-Chinese owner within five months. Supporters of the bi-partisan bill say that the law protects American data from China as Chinese national security laws compel organizations to assist with intelligence gathering. Although the bill passed the House, it would need two-thirds of the Senate to officially become law. President Biden said he will sign the bill if it comes to his desk.
Context: Over 170 million Americans use TikTok and it’s the home of the $104.2 billion creator economy, including influencers and small businesses.
6 eighth graders charged over an online chat that included a mock slave auction: DA
Six Massachusetts eighth graders face criminal charges after posting hateful and racist comments in a Snapchat group chat that included threats and a mock slave auction, according to Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni. All six have been charged with threat to commit a crime, according to the district attorney's office.
"There is no question that the alleged behavior in this case of these six juveniles is vile, cruel and contemptible," Gulluni said. "Seeing it, and facing the reality that these thoughts, that this ugliness can exist within middle school students here in this community in 2024 is discouraging, unsettling and deeply frustrating."
Nex Benedict died by suicide, according to a medical examiner
The death of Nex Benedict, a non-binary teen who was bullied because of her gender identity, has been ruled a suicide, according to Oklahoma’s medical examination officer. The report shows Benedict had toxic levels of two drugs in their system and died of an overdose. The day before her death, Benedict got into an altercation with other girls at their school who had been picking on them and their friends because of the way they dressed, according to Nex’s mother, Sue Benedict.
“Bullying and harassment have a significant impact on students and, tragically, many of these youths believe that suicide is the only option for peace,” said Brandon Dilawari, a case manager at Rainbow Youth Project USA, an Indiana-based group that aims to improve the safety and wellness of LGBTQ+ young people. “This is not an isolated incident by any means.”
Court order permanently blocks Florida gun retailer from selling certain gun parts in New York
A federal judge in New York banned a Florida gun retailer (Indie Guns) from selling or delivering certain gun parts in New York that officials say could be used to assemble untraceable ghost guns and later sold without background checks. The retailer, which adversities its guns as “UNSERIALIZED UNREGISTERED UNTRACABLE, will pay a $7.1 million settlement.
Bernie Sanders Proposes Reducing Americans’ Workweek to 32 Hours
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont proposed legislation calling for a 32-hour workweek in the U.S., allowing workers to earn the same as they would during a 40-hour workweek. Under Sanders’ proposal, which has gotten minimal traction in Congress, businesses would have to pay overtime to workers who work more than eight hours a day at a time-and-a-half rate, and those with work days longer than 12 would get double their normal pay.
(Photos from Canva)