Meet John Cummings, the Catholic School Teacher Running for Congress

By Emily Drooby

New York’s 14th Congressional District is where Republican challenger John Cummings grew up, had his first job, and has his current teaching job.

Now he’s fighting to represent the district in Congress by mounting a bid against its current representative, Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Cummings drew inspiration from the school he attended, where he now teaches.

“My students have been after me to run for many, many years,” explained the Saint Raymond Catholic High School Civics teacher, who used to think it was an unwinnable seat once held by Democratic powerhouse Joe Crowley.

“But then congresswoman, now Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez pretty much came out of nowhere and defeated him, so it was pointed out to me by my students that was a ‘pretty lame excuse,’ to use their terminology,” he said.

Cummings decided to hit the campaign trail, but the former NYPD officer knows he has a long road ahead.

First comes the Republican Primary with five other announced candidates, including Scherie Murray, who called Ocasio-Cortez a crisis for Queens. Ruth Papazian who blamed Ocasio-Cortez for killing the Amazon deal, is also in the running.

If Cummings takes the primary, he would then face off against Ocasio-Cortez, a formidable opponent.

In the last election she won over 78 percent of the votes, trouncing her two opponents.

Since winning, Ocasio-Cortez has made a name for herself nationally by promoting liberal causes and sparking disputes with more moderate Democrats in the House.

But Cummings, who has either lived or worked in the district his whole life, is ready for the fight.

“A very long time ago I was told, ‘God makes the plan, and we don’t get to see the plan,’” he recalled.

But with his Catholic faith and lengthy law enforcement and education backgrounds, John is ready to represent the people.

The Republican Primary election for this district will be held in June. The winner of that election will face off against Ocasio-Cortez in November of 2020.

New York Post Columnist on Mass Shootings: ‘What is Plaguing American Young Men?’

Currents News Staff

New York Post columnist Maureen Callahan has been closely studying those who have killed so many precious and innocent people in mass shootings.

In her writing, she’s identified a connection between angry young men and mass shootings, calling it the “greatest threat facing America.”

She joins us to discuss how a shifting culture has affected these young men.

Five Years Later: Iraqi Christians Still Face Pain, Displacement of ISIS Attack

Currents News Staff

A nightmare began in Iraq five years ago, one that is still difficult to wake up from for many. In the summer of 2014, militants from the self-proclaimed Islamic State took Mosul and the Nineveh Plains in a lightning attack.

From Mosul, a city with three million inhabitants, 150,000 had to escape in a single night with only the clothes on their back. They were mostly Christians, Yazidis and moderate Muslims who did not accept the interpretation of Islam imposed on them by jihadists. An ultimatum was given to these civilians: die, pay a tax or convert to Islam.

Afterward, the terrorists took over the entire Nineveh Plains, destroying everything in their path: the unarmed population, their houses and their churches.

They captured women and children, making them slaves. A document broke down the cost according to the woman’s age and whether Christian or Yazidi.

Those who managed to escape took refuge in Iraqi Kurdistan, in the north of the country.

Since the beginning of the crisis, Pope Francis has been very aware of the destiny of these Christians. In December 2014, he sent them a video message that was screened in the streets of Erbil, Kurdistan. He assured them he desired to be with them soon.

Security conditions and the battle against jihadists have caused the Holy Father to postpone his visit to Iraq. However, the idea has never entirely been thrown out and could soon become a reality.

“I constantly think about Iraq, where I want to go next year,” Pope Francis later said in June of this year.

“This is so I can look to a peaceful future based on the shared pursuit of the common good of all parts of society, including religious ones; and not to fall back into tensions that come from the endless conflicts of regional powers,” he explained.

The pontiff has remained close to the Yazidis, whom the jihadists hated. He met with the ethnic group’s highest authority in the Vatican and with Nadia Murad, Nobel Peace Prize winner and slave survivor by the Islamic State.

The terrorist group was militarily defeated in 2017 although there are still thousands of missing people, especially women. Reconstruction after the invasion is slow, but even slower is the return of refugees, who will never forget the drama they experienced.

Currents News for Tuesday, August 6, 2019

On the newscast: Two cities still reeling from the shock of losing dozens of lives, will receive the President tomorrow. Set to assume the role of consoler-in-chief; The world’s two largest economies are going head-to-head as the U.S.-China trade war intensifies to new heights; Pope Francis will touch down in Africa next month. We have his itinerary; And the women behind the men who protect the Holy Father. An inside look.

Watch weeknights at 7:00 pm EST on NET-TV in the New York City area on Spectrum, Optimum, and Fios. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive notifications about new content.

U.S. Working Towards Healing Following Mass Shootings

By Emily Drooby

New Yorkers are joining the rest of the country in grieving the lives cut short and those forever changed by the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio.

Shoes, one for each victim, became a powerful image in memorial.

“The pathway of that bullet may physically stop, but the emotional trauma rips through the anatomy of our community, and the anatomy of our country it continues to travel and that is why we are here today,” said Brooklyn Boro President Eric Adams, who came to the vigil at Grand Army Plaza as the country is trying to heal.

Now, stories of survival are emerging.

“And he shot eight more bullets. And I counted them because I said, ‘one of those is going to be mine,’” said Maribel Latin, who was wounded in the El Paso shooting.

In Dayton, businesses reopened on Monday, August 6, including the bar targeted by the gunman. A gun show scheduled in the city for this weekend has been canceled.

In El Paso, a funeral home has announced that they will provide free funeral services for the families of those that lost a loved one.

The White House also announced that President Trump will be visiting both Ohio and Texas on August 7.

“What I can tell you is the president has wanted to go there since he learned of these tragedies and he, and he’s able to move around this country as Secret Service says that it’s safe and ready,” said Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the President.

The president plans to visit with victims’ families, survivors and law enforcement. He will also review recovery efforts.

This comes as more details emerge regarding El Paso shooting suspect, Patrick Crusius. Officials have stated that the 21-year-old alleged shooter has shown no regrets or remorse for his crimes, and described him as being emotionally cold.

According to El Paso police, Crusius picked the shopping plaza at random. He is being charged with capital murder, and the shooting is being called an act of terrorism.

The suspect in the Dayton shooting, Connor Betts, was fatally shot by police at the scene.

As the investigations continue, people are banning together in Brooklyn and around the United States, providing a light for each other in the dark.

Trade War Intensifies as U.S. Labels China a ‘Currency Manipulator’

Currents News Staff

A day after global markets were sent spiraling, President Trump has doubled down on his trade tactics with China, tweeting, “massive amounts of money from China and other parts of the world is pouring into the United States for reasons of safety, investment, and interest rates! We are in a very strong position.”

China announced this week that it would no longer buy U.S. agricultural goods, a move the American Farm Bureau called a “body blow” to U.S. farmers.

The People’s Bank of China also dropped the value of its currency against the dollar, prompting the U.S. Treasury Department to promptly label China as a currency manipulator for the first time in decades.

“The People’s Bank manipulates the currency by intervening in the foreign exchange markets,” said White House trade advisor Peter Navarro.

China denies manipulating its currency, stating the exchange rate for the yuan is based on “market supply and demand.”

This latest move by Beijing is likely in response to Trump’s surprise announcement last week that he would impose a 10 percent tariff on an additional $300 billion of Chinese imports to the U.S. impacting goods like cell phones, clothes and shoes.

“The president’s view has always been we have negotiated in good faith, we want to continue to negotiate in good faith with the Chinese unfortunately his view is that we didn’t make any progress at the Shanghai meeting so he took an action,” said White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow.

Family of El Paso Shooting Victim Grieves, Calls for Forgiveness

Currents News Staff

Angie Engilsbee was among the victims of a shooting rampage in El Paso on August 3.

Her relatives are now gathering together to mourn the 86-year-old they describe as a loving woman.

“My sister actually raised seven children, and she had 22 grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren,” said Josephine Romero, Angie’s sister.

Josephine also says her oldest sister was a hardworking, loving woman and lived in El Paso for the past 60 years.

The sisters last spoke with each other six days ago.

“She said, ‘Josephine take care of yourself, and I will see you soon.’ That’s the last word she told me,” Josephine said.

But on Saturday, the 86-year-old took a trip to Wal-Mart and never made it home.

“It’s a norm and it needs to stop. And you just never know when it’s going to be a loved one of yours, and it hits hard,” explained Jennifer Brantford, Angie’s niece.

Jennifer was heartbroken she won’t ever be able to tell her aunt how much she loves her again.

“Everybody wishes this but they wish that they can tell that person that they loved them one last time for sure,” she said.

The police have named 21-year-old Patrick Crusius as the suspect who killed 22 people at the El Paso Wal-Mart on Saturday, August 4.

Josephine is now left wondering why, and mourning her sister’s death.

“I wish that I could tell him myself: ‘Why did you do it? Look how many people you’ve ruined.'”

“He has no remorse, so I don’t have no really good things to say about him,” said Angie’s niece Sandi George, who will always look at the suspect as the man who took away her aunt from her family.

But for Jennifer, forgiveness is still the only way to heal.

“We need to reunite as one and stop racism. We need to love one another more,” she said.

The family plans on holding a funeral for Angie Engilsbee on August 9 at St. Pius Catholic Church in El Paso.

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Hosts Annual ‘Kid’s Fun Day’

Currents News Staff

On August 2, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens hosted its 11th Annual Kid’s Fun Day in Astoria, Queens, to help families and kids get ready for the back-to-school season. Over 700 children participated in the block party-style event at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish.

“We’re really excited, this is our eleventh year doing Kid’s Fun Day,” said CCBQ’s Director of Community Program Services, Debbie Hampson. “We started out very small and now we get over a thousand people a year. It’s become a street festival.”

Children enjoyed an inflatable maze and face painting while parents took the opportunity to collect school supplies and access resources from over 30 organizations tabling at the event.

Among the amenities: free blood screenings from the Floating Hospital, dental screenings by Healthplex, Child Safety ID’s by New York Life and hands-only CPR by Weill Cornell Medical College.

“There is a need in the community,” Debbie explained. “We were getting a lot of requests for backpacks and school supplies so this was a way for us to give it out to the community in addition to giving out resources to the community as well.”

However, not all families came for the resources offered. Eleven year-old Anwara Prapty came with her mother, Saima Shima, looking to have fun instead of spending her summer indoors.

“I like being with the community and joining community events,” said Prapty. “All around, gathering everyone, it’s really fun.”

Just like many of the kids, Prapty packed her bookbag with a ruler, coloring pages, highlighters, a book and other items offered by vendors.

“This a fabulous event and what’s exciting is how many people show up and are excited about it,” said Debbie. “We start getting calls in April asking, ‘When is Kid’s Fun Day?’ It’s really become a community event that people look forward to every year.”

Currents News for Monday, August 5, 2019

On the newscast: President Donald Trump is condemning racism and white supremacy as two young men opened fire in both Texas and Ohio; Now, the nation is mourning thirty lives lost. We’re learning about the victims from those who loved them most; Priests around the world are reading a letter from their Holy Father today. One that addresses the sex abuse crisis; Plus the American slave that could be the world’s next saint.

Watch weeknights at 7:00 pm EST on NET-TV in the New York City area on Spectrum, Optimum, and Fios. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive notifications about new content.

American Crisis: At Least 31 Killed in U.S. Mass Shootings

By Emily Drooby

Devastation hit the city of Dayton, Ohio when a gunman opened fire on a crowd outside a popular bar.

This occurred just 13 hours after a shooter fired into a crowd of shoppers in El Paso, Texas.

Between the two shootings, at least 31 are dead and over 50 people have been injured.

From an El Paso church to the Vatican, prayers for the victims being said all over the world.

Pope Francis has also spoken out, inviting others to pray for the victims with him.

“I am spiritually close to the victims of the violent attacks. that led to bloodshed of defenseless people in Texas, California and Ohio in the United States,” he said while speaking to a crowd at the Vatican.

President Trump has also leaned on God.

While addressing the nation on August 5, Trump offered his ideas on how to end the shooting epidemic. He asked for officials and social media companies to work on ways to better identify and act on early warning signs.

Trump also called for mental health law reform in the form of ‘red flag laws,’ to keep guns away from people who have been deemed a potential threat. He also proposed that those who commit mass murders and hate crimes face the death penalty.

Trump also placed heavy blame on the internet and the glorification of violence, adding that hate has no place in America.

“In one voice our nation must condemn racism, bigotry, and white supremacy,” he said.

The El Paso shooting suspect, Patrick Crusius, is believed to have authored a manifesto filled with racist and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

He is now facing the death penalty.

Connor Betts, who killed his own sister during the attack, has been identified as the Dayton shooter. He was fatally shot by police in less than a minute.

A former classmate said that in high school he had a hit list filled of people he wanted to kill and or rape.

“I saw him get pulled off the bus after school one day. And apparently, he had made a kill list, and I happened to be on it. I don’t know why,” said former classmate Spencer Brickler.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is now calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring lawmakers back to Washington for an emergency session on gun control.