Editor’s Note: This listicle is part of a series by The Ball State Daily News summarizing five stories from around the world. All summaries are based on stories published by The Associated Press.
The Boston police commissioner is ousted over domestic abuse claims, people protest Enbridge oil pipeline, the Biden administration threatens legal action against Texas on shelter closures, water polo players get $14 million in a sex abuse settlement and the Supreme Court agrees to hear second 'state secrets' case make up this week's five national stories.
Boston police commissioner ousted over domestic abuse claims
Boston’s police commissioner was fired Monday following a bitter battle to keep his job after decades-old domestic violence accusations came to light. Acting Mayor Kim Janey announced Dennis White’s removal as the city’s top cop, four months after White was placed on leave over the allegations just days into his new job. Janey said White failed to fully cooperate with the city’s investigation into the claims and was a “reoccurring presence” at police headquarters while on leave, creating confusion for officers and fostering “a climate of intimidation” within the force.
Oil pipeline foes protest Enbridge's Line 3 in Minnesota
Hundreds of protesters chanting “Stop Line 3!” and “Water is life!” gathered at the headwaters of the Mississippi River in northern Minnesota on Monday, vowing to do whatever it takes to stop a Canadian-based company’s plan to replace an aging pipeline that carries oil from Alberta to Wisconsin. Environmental and tribal groups say Enbridge Energy’s plan to rebuild Line 3, which would carry Canadian tar sands oil and regular crude, would worsen climate change and risk spills in sensitive areas where Native Americans harvest wild rice, hunt, fish, gather medicinal plants, and claim treaty rights.
US threatens legal action against Texas on shelter closures
The Biden administration threatened Monday to pursue legal action if Texas Gov. Greg Abbott doesn’t rescind his order shutting down federally funded shelters that house migrant children who cross the U.S.-Mexico border without their parents. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, the deputy general counsel for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told the Republican governor that even though the state issues the licenses for the shelter, Congress has tasked his agency with caring for unaccompanied children.
Water polo players get $14 million in sex abuse settlement
A dozen female water polo players who accused their coach of sexual abuse will split nearly $14 million after settling a lawsuit against USA Water Polo and a California club. The athletes alleged that International Water Polo Club and the national governing body for the sport failed to protect them from abuse by coach Bahram Hojreh from 2012 to 2017. The $13.85 settlement with USA Water Polo and International Water Polo Club was filed Friday in Orange County Superior Court. It is being paid by the insurer for both organizations.
Supreme Court agrees to hear 2nd 'state secrets' case
The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to decide whether a lawsuit can go forward in which a group of Muslim residents of California allege the FBI targeted them for surveillance because of their religion. It’s the second case the court has accepted for the fall involving a government claim of “state secrets,” the idea that the government can block the release of information it claims would harm national security if disclosed. As is usual, the court didn’t comment Monday beyond saying it will take the case, which is expected to be heard after the court takes its summer recess and begins hearing arguments again in October.