Supreme Court Secret Recordings, Jerry West, and a Crab Invasion.

Adam Rogers
June 13, 2024

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A liberal activist secretly recorded Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito saying he agrees the U.S. should return "to a place of godliness."

Activist Lauren Windsor shared the recording on social media, although independent sources haven't confirmed its authenticity. The Supreme Court and Rolling Stone, the media outlet that received the recording, did not comment on the situation.
At a Supreme Court Historical Society event, Windsor pretended to be a conservative Christian and asked Alito about reducing political division in the country. Alito said he agreed that America should return to godliness. He also mentioned that the political divide is hard to bridge because some fundamental issues cannot be compromised.
Windsor argued that Alito's comments showed he was not impartial, which is crucial for a judge. James Duff, from the Supreme Court Historical Society, criticized the secret recording as inappropriate. Alito has recently faced scrutiny because flags associated with Trump supporters were flown outside his homes, leading to calls for him to step down from cases related to the 2020 election. Alito said his wife was responsible for the flags and denied knowing their controversial meanings.

Legendary basketball player and executive Jerry West passed away at age 86.

Known as the possible silhouette for the NBA logo, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame three times. West was the third player in NBA history to score 25,000 points and was an All-Star every year of his career. He led the Los Angeles Lakers to nine NBA Finals, winning one championship in 1972. He is one of three players to win an NBA Finals MVP, NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player, and an Olympic gold medal.
West, nicknamed "Mr. Clutch," was famous for his late-game heroics. He scored the most points in NBA Finals history and recorded the most 30-point games in Finals history with 31. Beyond his playing career, he was a highly successful executive, drafting and signing legendary players such as Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal.
Born in Chelyan, West Virginia, West had a difficult childhood and used basketball as an escape. He became a high school and college star before joining the Lakers. He detailed his struggles with depression in his memoir, showing how basketball helped him cope. Despite his hardships, he achieved great success and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Sarasota, FL, experienced a record-breaking 8 inches of rain in just three hours.

The rainfall caused flash flooding which delayed hundreds of flights across the state. The amount of rain was so unusual that it is only expected to happen every 500 to 1,000 years. Normally, the Tampa Bay area gets about 7.3 inches of rain in the entire month of June. Sarasota-Bradenton Airport recorded 3.93 inches of rain in just one hour, setting another record.
Coastal areas in Sarasota County saw up to 10 inches of rain, with more expected throughout the week. The severe weather was caused by a combination of deep tropical moisture from a disturbance called 90-L, a small area of low pressure off Florida's west coast, and a slow-moving weather band, according to meteorologist Jeff Berardelli.
The heavy rain comes after a long period of drought in Florida. Sarasota had received 25 inches less rain than usual since the beginning of 2023, making it the driest year on record. The dry soil helped absorb some of the rain, limiting flooding damage.

Hezbollah launched the most rockets at Israel in a single day since their conflict began eight months ago, in response to Israel killing the most senior Hezbollah commander yet. Iranian-backed Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire since the Gaza war started. Israel's strike also killed three other Hezbollah fighters. (More)

The U.S. Open begins today in North Carolina with a record $21.5 million purse, the largest ever for a men's major championship. The winner will earn $4.3 million. Scottie Scheffler, who has won five times on the PGA Tour this season, is the favorite. (More)

A gunman hijacked a bus in Atlanta with 17 people onboard, shot one passenger with their own gun, and forced the driver to speed away. This led to a chaotic police chase across the city. One passenger secretly stayed on the phone with 911, helping authorities track the bus. The bus finally stopped in Stone Mountain, where passengers escaped and the suspect was arrested without any trouble. The wounded passenger died later in the hospital. (More)

The U.S. expanded sanctions against Russia on Wednesday to weaken its economy during the war with Ukraine. The State Department is targeting over 100 Russian entities and people involved in energy, metals, mining, and sanctions evasion. The U.S. Treasury is also focusing on Russia's financial system, which supports its defense industry and war efforts. (More)

The Federal Reserve announced it would keep its main interest rate steady to fight inflation. The Fed noted the economy is growing well with strong job gains and low unemployment. However, inflation remains high and has not yet met the Fed's target. The Fed expects to make only one interest rate cut this year, a change from its earlier plan for more. (More)

New Zealand’s tree of the year looks like it’s walking.

Krispy Kreme introduces new mini doughnuts.

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