Morning! While you were sleeping (or staying up to binge-watch Friends for the tenth time, or pulling an all-nighter in the library), a few things went down that you’ll probably want to know about. So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get scrolling.
What In The World
On Wednesday, May 8, Uber and Lyft drivers worldwide plan to go on strike for anywhere between two and 24 hours.
This is the first massive strike in the rideshare industry. Drivers in several cities like New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and Los Angeles plan to protest together in an effort for better wages and job security, according to USA Today.
In New York, drivers plan to protest from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., while drivers in Los Angeles will strike for 24 hours. According to The Independent, drivers in the UK will also observe the protest. During the strikes, drivers will log off their rideshare apps.
Ride-hailing drivers in more than a dozen cities plan to strike on Wednesday ahead of Uber’s highly anticipated Wall Street debut https://t.co/Wdy3HTbJyA
— CNN (@CNN) May 8, 2019
In a press release, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance outlined three major demands: that rideshare companies end “unfair” deactivations of drivers; guarantee that drives will ear 80 to 85 percent of the fare; and stop “upfront” pricing where a rider may be charged a different price than the driver is paid. Many rideshare drivers aren’t paid minimum wage, according to USA Today. Rideshare Drivers United, an independent rideshare drivers association in LA that called for the strike, also demanded that Uber and Lyft show drivers the estimated fare payment and destination before they accept the trip; the right to organize without consequences; and emission standards for new vehicles added to the apps.
The protest will take place a day before Uber goes public at a $90 billion valuation.
Rumor Has It
On Tuesday, TMZ reported that Kim Kardashian West’s prison reform work has helped to release 17 people over the last 90 days. All of the inmates reportedly were in prison for low-level drug offenses.
Kardashian West was largely helped by lawyer Brittany K. Barnett and attorney MiAngel Cody of The Decarceration Collective, TMZ reported. Cody told CNN that Kardashian West funded the legal work as part of the collectives “90 Days To Freedom” campaign. Barnett also mentioned that the effort wouldn’t have worked without the business mogul’s financial aid.
As well, Cody said Kardashian West helped reunite many of the families after the inmates were released.
“When people get out of prison, they might be incarcerated hundreds of miles from their families and they might need help getting home. Really important, critical things that people might not realize—and those are things Kim is helping with as well,” Cody said, per CNN.
Kim Kardashian and her legal team have quietly helped free 17 prisoners over the last 90 days.
Each of them having served years of life sentences without parole for low-level drug offenses.
— UberFacts (@UberFacts) May 7, 2019
Back in 2018, Kardashian West pushed for the release of Alice Marie Johnson, who served over 20 years in prison for a first-time drug offense. She also helped to secure the releases of Jeffrey Stringer and Cyntoia Brown. Most of Kardashian West’s criminal justice work has been aimed at releasing those who’ve committed low-level or first-time drug offensives. Except for Brown, who was given a life sentence at 16 years old for killing a man who forced her into prostitution. According to The Globe and Mail, she received clemency by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam in February.
According to TMZ, Kardashian West has successfully lobbied for the release of Jamelle Carraway, who was in prison for 11 years on for possession of crack cocaine; Eric Balcom, who stayed in jail for 16 years of a life sentence for a drug conviction; and Terrence Byrd, who served 25 years for possession. TMZ reported that she and her team are working to free more inmates.
Then This Happened
On Tuesday, a school shooting at STEM School in Highlands Ranch has left one student dead and eight others injured, CNN reported.
Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock identified one suspect as Devon Erickson, 18, but provided no other information as “we still have interviews to conduct and we want to make sure we have the most accurate information,” The New York Times reports. The other suspect is believed to be a juvenile and a student at the school.
The shooting reportedly happened shortly before 2 p.m. local time. The school was placed on lockdown, and the rest of the students were moved to the Northridge Recreation Center, USA Today reports.
#stemshooting 7 possibly 8 students have been injured. Two shooters in custody. SWAT still clearing school. Students being bused to Northridge Rec Center. Parents please have patience with reunification process.
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) May 7, 2019
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Twitter that eight students were injured in the shooting. As of right now, two of the victims were in serious condition at Littleton Adventist Hospital, the Denver Channel said. Three have been released from the hospital, one victim is currently in good condition at Children’s Hospital, and two are currently stable at the Sky Ridge Medical Center. One 18-year-old male was killed, authorities said.
According to NBC News, there are 1,850 students in STEM School: 550 in elementary school, 700 in middle school, and 600 in high school. The school is located eight miles away from Columbine High School.
Happy Thoughts
It’s only the middle of the week, so you guys deserve a cute image of a puppy!