Department of Justice

Happening Today: Sanctuary Cities, Trump, ‘Fearless Girl,' Global Warming, Drake

What to Know

  • Attorney General Sessions warned sanctuary cities they could lose federal money for refusing to cooperate with immigration authorities
  • Mayor de Blasio says the popular statue of a young girl staring down Wall Street's famous "Charging Bull" will be allowed to stay longer
  • CogniFit is a computer game aimed at making elderly brains sharper to prevent falling, and it works, researchers say

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Sanctuary Cities Are Risking Federal Money, AG Sessions Says

Attorney General Sessions warned so-called sanctuary cities they could lose federal money for refusing to cooperate with immigration authorities and suggested the government would come after grants that have already been awarded if they don't comply. Sessions said the Justice Department would require cities seeking some of $4.1 billion available in grant money to verify they are in compliance with a section of federal law that allows information sharing with immigration officials. His statements in the White House briefing room brought to mind tough talk from President Trump's campaign and came just three days after the administration's crushing health care defeat. But Sessions also acknowledged he was reiterating a similar policy adopted by the Obama administration last year.

Fire Code Violations Found Days Before Blaze Killed 3, Officials Say

Three people died and seven people were rescued after a massive blaze ignited inside an apartment building in Oakland. Three people suffered injuries as a result of smoke inhalation, fire officials said, adding one person is still unaccounted for. The Alameda County Coroner's Office identified one of the victims as 64-year-old Edwarn Anderson. The four-alarm blaze, which was reported around 6 a.m. at 2551 San Pablo Ave., triggered "multiple rescues," fire officials said. Heavy flames and smoke could be seen spewing from the building. A resident said the fire may have been caused by a burning candle in a residence on the second floor of the building.

Trump Takes Aim at Obama's Efforts to Curb Global Warming

Moving forward with a campaign pledge to unravel former President Obama's sweeping plan to curb global warming, President Trump will sign an executive order that will suspend, rescind or flag for review more than a half-dozen measures in an effort to boost domestic energy production in the form of fossil fuels. As part of the roll-back, Trump will initiate a review of the Clean Power Plan, which restricts greenhouse gas emissions at coal-fired power plants. The regulation, which was the former president's signature effort to curb carbon emissions, has been the subject of long-running legal challenges by Republican-led states and those who profit from burning oil, coal and gas. Trump, who has called global warming a "hoax" invented by the Chinese, has repeatedly criticized the power-plant rule and others as an attack on American workers and the struggling U.S. coal industry.

'Fearless Girl' Statue Will Stay a Little Longer, De Blasio Says

Mayor Bill de Blasio says the wildly popular statue of a young girl staring down Wall Street's famous "Charging Bull" will be allowed to remain through February 2018. De Blasio says the artwork, called "Fearless Girl," has inspired many people and "fueled powerful conversations about women in leadership." "Fearless Girl" originally only had a temporary permit to stay until April 2. Now the statue, which stands on Department of Transportation property, will get a longer-term permit through the department's art program, the Office of the Mayor said. The mayor held a press conference at the statue, where he praised the work for sending a message of personal empowerment to women and girls.

Two Policemen Shot in 'Ambush-Style Attack,' Authorities Say

Two police officers were shot in an "ambush-style attack" in Northwest Miami-Dade, the Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed. The shooting happened near Northwest 62nd Street and 20th Avenue. Miami-Dade police said the two men were conducting an undercover gang investigation at the Andy Coleman Apartments when they were shot. Cameras captured the two police officers being rushed into Jackson Memorial Hospital. The two men, who appeared alert, arrived in a pickup truck and were being aided by police officers. The injured officers are in stable condition and in good spirits, police said. A search was underway for the suspect or suspects.

Computer Game Could Help Seniors From Falling Down, Researchers Say

CogniFit, a computer game aimed at making brains sharper. However, for two years one senior has been using the game off-label to test whether it can prevent him from falling down again. A University of Washington researcher recently won a $250,000 research grant from the National Institute for Nursing to study brain injury associated with falls, and to see if CogniFit will help retrain older adult brains so they have a lower risk of falling. “People's balance improved significantly in the pilot study,” the researcher said. The senior said he noticed a difference after just a few days of playing the game.

Drake's New Album Breaks Streaming Record

Drake, who was the most streamed act on Spotify last year, has started 2017 strong — his new album, "More Life," has broken the U.S. record for the number of online streams from a single album in one week. The rapper's 22-track album recorded 385 million streams across all platforms in its first week, beating the previous record holder — Drake. His 2016 album, "Views," had owned the title with 245 million streams until "More Life" showed up on March 18, according to Nielsen Music. It had competition from new albums by Ed Sheeran, Rick Ross and the soundtrack for "Beauty and the Beast."

Chance the Rapper Says He’s ‘Looking for an Intern’

Chicago’s Chance the Rapper is looking for an intern with experience “putting together decks and writing proposals,” the musician posted on Twitter. Chance, whose real name is Chancelor Bennett, did not elaborate on what specifically the intern would be working on—but that didn’t stop a torrent of applications from coming his way, mostly on Twitter. Applications came from a motley crew of Twitter users, such as Olympic diver Riley McCormick who said he’s now a second-year law student in Chicago. Others tweeted images of their resumes and argued about the issue of paid and unpaid internships.

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