Today is Russia’s Victory Day and the world is watching very closely as President Vladimir Putin justifies his deadly war in Ukraine. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. D-N.Y., will initiate a vote later this week on the bill that would make Roe v. Wade a national law. The son of a late dictator may become the next president of the Philippines. Search efforts continue after a deadly explosion at a luxury hotel in Havana, Cuba. And it’s National Nurses Week, honoring the professionals who have endured unprecedented daily challenges amid the ongoing pandemic.
Up first, hundreds of day cares are closed today as educators go on strike. More than 200 child care and early learning providers across the U.S. have decided to close their doors Monday to demand greater public investment in their services. Early childhood professionals say they’re frustrated by a lack of progress on policy promises such as better wages and expanded subsidies. Few providers make much of a profit and many are in the red: Teaching and caring for young children is as expensive as it is essential.
Some news to know now:
👩💻 Millions of low-income Americans will be able to get high-speed internet service for no more than $30 a month under an agreement the Biden administration has reached with major internet providers.
Sen. Schumer to file cloture on bill that would make Roe v. Wade law
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., plans to file cloture Monday on a bill that would make Roe v. Wade a law. Schumer’s action would also set up a vote on the bill later this week. Making Roe v. Wade a law would head off a Supreme Court decision that could leave states the sole authority on whether to restrict abortion. The decision to move swiftly on legislation follows the leak of a draft opinion from the Supreme Court Monday that suggests the nation’s highest court will overturn the landmark case that guaranteed the constitutional right to abortion. The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022, which was introduced last week, does not have the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster in the 50-50 Senate, but it marks Democrats’ first legislative attempt to enshrine the right to abortion into law since the leak.
Russia celebrates Victory Day, Putin says troops in Ukraine ‘fighting for the motherland’
During a military parade on Victory Day, a national holiday in Russia to mark the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his troops in Ukraine were “fighting for the motherland, its future.” But Putin did not, as some analysts and Western officials expected, use his speech in Moscow’s Red Square on Monday to declare a full mobilization or “war” against Ukraine. He did not allude to any nuclear-related threats, another aspect of his address some observers were watching for. There was no declaration of victory. In brief remarks at the parade, Putin accused the West of preparing the ground for “an invasion of our land” and said NATO was an “obvious threat to Russia.” The annual parade showcases Russia’s military power and involves thousands of military hardware and hundreds of aircraft.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of late dictator, may become next president of the Philippines
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who bilked the country out of billions and ruled for years with an iron fist, could become the next president of the Philippines during Monday’s elections. Marcos Jr.’s running mate is vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte, who is the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte. The latest polls show both Marcos Jr. and Duterte with seemingly insurmountable leads in their races, which are held separately, despite family history and ongoing legal issues. Marcos’ biggest challenger, Leni Robredo – the current vice president who defeated Marcos in his bid for that office in 2016 – has mobilized a groundswell of support and has drawn huge crowds, but she is still polling at less than half his number.
Havana hotel death toll rises as dogs aid in search for survivors
Rescue crews continue to search for survivors Monday after an explosion at a luxury hotel in Havana, Cuba’s capital on Friday. The death toll of the powerful explosion increased to 31 Sunday evening as search crews with dogs hunted through the rubble of the building, looking for people still missing. The Hotel Saratoga, a five-star 96-room hotel, was preparing to reopen after being closed for two years when an apparent gas leak ignited, blowing the outer walls into busy streets just a block from the country’s Capitol building. The Health Ministry said the dead included four minors, a pregnant woman and a Spanish tourist, whose companion was seriously injured. The ministry also said 54 people were injured, with some 24 hospitalized. Authorities said the cause of the explosion was still under investigation, but they believed it to have been caused by a gas leak.
Nurse appreciation week amid pandemic year three
National Nurses Week officially kicked off May 6 with National Nurses Day. The week runs through May 12, which was the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. After over three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have been stretched thin by long hours and climbing hospital admissions. While they work longer hours, nurses may be forced to spend less time with each patient in order to meet demand for care. These conditions have drawn many nurses to work for contracting agencies as traveling nurses who fill temporary openings for higher pay. A new cycle has hit the industry as exhausted nurses leave stable jobs for better pay, spurring even more nurses to leave as health systems in dire need of help willingly pay an outsized rate for replacements.
At 80-1 odds, Rich Strike scored the second-biggest upset in Kentucky Derby history on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Rich Strike and jockey Sonny Leon covered the 1¼ miles on a fast track in 2:02.61 and finished three-quarters of a length in front of 4-1 favorite Epicenter.
“I don’t know how (to put the win into words),” trainer Eric Reed said. “I fell down in the paddock when he hit the wire. I about passed out. I’m so happy.”
