Friday morning news - June 3, 2022

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

Police: Tulsa gunman targeted surgeon he blamed for pain » The gunman who fatally shot four people at a medical center in Oklahoma on Wednesday specifically targeted the doctor who performed his recent back surgery.

Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin told reporters…

WENDELL: We have also found a letter on the suspect, which made it clear that he came in with the intent to kill Dr. Phillips and anyone who got in his way.

He said 45-year-old Michael Louis blamed Dr. Preston Phillips for ongoing pain after his operation.

Wendell said Louis bought a semiautomatic rifle at a local gun store around 2 p.m. on Wednesday. And just a few hours later, he opened fire at the hospital campus, killing Phillips and three others before turning the gun on himself.

Dr. Cliff Robertson, president of Saint Francis Health System, said it’s hard to fathom anyone targeting Phillips.

ROBERTSON: Dr. Phillips was the consummate gentleman. He was — he is a man that we should all strive to emulate.

Buffalo shooting suspect pleads not guilty to terror charge » Meantime, in New York, the white man charged with carrying out a racist mass shooting at a supermarket last month was arraigned in Buffalo on Thursday. Eighteen-year-old Payton Gendron pleaded not guilty to hate-motivated domestic terrorism and other charges.

All 10 people he’s accused of killing were black. Prosecutors say they have “overwhelming proof of the defendant’s guilt.”

Gendron has been held without bail since the shooting and is due back in court next month.

Biden calls for tighter gun laws, House Democrats look to deliver » President Biden addressed the nation last night regarding the latest wave of mass shootings.

BIDEN: My fellow Americans, enough! It’s time for each of us to do our part. It’s time to act, for the children we’ve lost, for the children we can save, for the nation we love. Let’s hear the call on the cry, let’s meet the moment, let us finally do something!

He called on Congress to pass stricter gun limits. And lawmakers in the House may do exactly that.

Members of the Judiciary Panel have spent days crafting a bill that would raise the age limit for buying a semi-automatic rifle from 18 to 21.

Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen:

COHEN: That’s what they want on their 18th birthday is an assault weapon? They got a problem, which means, we got a problem.

The legislation would also make it a federal offense to import, make, or possess large-capacity magazines.

But strong divisions remain on how best to address gun violence. Republican Congressman Jim Jordan said the changes Democrats are pushing would not solve the problem.

JORDAN: No one wants another tragedy. No one wants this to happen again. That’s why it’s regretful that Democrats have rushed to a markup today in what seems more like political theater than a real attempt at improving public safety or finding solutions.

Democrats may well have the needed votes to pass the bill over Republican objections. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House will vote on it next week.

But the real test will be in the Senate, where lawmakers are holding bipartisan talks on possible areas of common ground, including a federal “red flag” law.

Trump election probe grand jury hears from Raffensperger » Brad Raffensperger, the top election official in the state of Georgia, testified on Thursday in a probe of the actions of Donald Trump and others surrounding the 2020 election. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has that story.

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: Georgia’s secretary of state answered questions before a special grand jury. It’s part of a Fulton County investigation into whether former President Trump and others illegally tried to meddle in the 2020 election in the state.

Raffensperger arrived at the courthouse in downtown Atlanta Thursday morning.

As he climbed the courthouse steps, a reporter asked how the day would go, Raffensperger replied “hopefully short.”

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said her investigation includes looking into a January 2021 phone call. In that call, Trump told Raffensperger that he wanted to—quote—“find 11,780 votes” to seal his victory in the state.

Trump largely blamed Raffensberger and Gov. Brian Kemp for his election loss in Georgia. Raffensperger and Kemp both defeated Trump-endorsed challengers in last month's GOP primary.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Fewer Americans apply for unemployment benefits last week » Fewer Americans applied for jobless aid last week.

The Labor Department says applications for unemployment benefits fell by about 5 percent to 200,000 for the week ending on May 28th.

The week before that, the total number of Americans collecting jobless benefits fell to about 1.3 million, the fewest since 1969.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee kicks off with pomp » AUDIO: [Sound of crowd]

Queen Elizabeth II stepped gingerly onto a balcony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. On the ground below, tens of thousands of Britons waving Union Jack flags cheered for the queen. Her appearance marked the start of four days of celebrations to mark her 70 years on the throne.

A formation of British fighter jets flew over in the shape of the number 70.

AUDIO: [Jets]

Congratulations poured in from around the globe, from Australia to China, and of course, the White House.

BIDEN: Your majesty, congratulations on your platinum jubilee. For 70 years, you’ve inspired people with your selfless service and devotion to the people of the United Kingdom and the commonwealth.

Even North Korea’s Kim Jong Un offered his congratulations.

Elizabeth, who became queen at the age of 25, is Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the first to reach the milestone of seven decades on the throne.

I’m Kent Covington. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org. 

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