Monday Morning Scoop: Gun Plans and Protests

White House Pivots on Raising Age to Legally Buy Assault Rifles

Betsy DeVos will chair a commission focused on stopping school shootings (Image: Gage Skidmore, Flickr)

Despite tough talk that defied the NRA and suggested support for raising the legal age to purchase assault rifles from 18 to 21, a new plan to prevent school shootings announced by the Trump administration yesterday didn’t include new age restrictions.

“Today we are announcing meaningful actions, steps that can be taken right away to help protect students,” said Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who will lead a commission that will study how to help states pay for firearms training for certain teachers and strengthen background checks and mental health support.

According to the Associated Press, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the plan “tiny baby steps designed not to upset the NRA, when the gun violence epidemic in this country demands that giant steps be taken.”

The announcement came just days before a nationwide school walkout planned for Wednesday. Get all the details on the upcoming student gun control protests here. 

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Deadly Helicopter Crash in New York’s East River 

Five people were killed Sunday evening when a helicopter crashed into the East River in New York City. The crash was captured on video by bystanders and quickly circulated on social media. 

The pilot was able to free himself and was rescued, New York fire officials said. 

The helicopter was part of the company Liberty Helicopters and was being used for a private photo shoot. According to reports, the pilot called for help over his radio, saying the engine had failed. 

Today in a Tweet 

Not that most college students need an excuse to sleep, but here ‘ya go: 

ICYMI: Review the Week in White House Drama

Unless this week is very unusual, there will be plenty of tough talk, tweetstorms, policy proposals and maybe a resignation or two in the White House.

Before it gets underway, catch up on what happened in the past seven days with CMN’s Rachael Blandau and The Week In White House Drama. She’ll be rounding up everything you need to know every weekend.

Phoenix Feels the Bern

Bernie Sanders spoke to an enthusiastic crowd at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona this weekend and it seems his supporters remain just as committed to the senator’s stance as they were during his 2016 election campaign. His remarks focused on immigration, economic disparities, and health care.

 Arizona is seen as a swing state in 2020, but Sanders insists he is purely focusing on the midterm elections this year and hasn’t made any decisions about another presidential run.

Last But Not Least: Scandal Hangs Over March Madness

Brackets are being printed and handed out, snubs and invitations being debated and college basketball fans are scheming ways to call in sick to work Thursday and Friday as the NCAA tournament is finally here.

But with all four of the tournament’s top seeds — Virginia, Villanova, Kansas, Xavier — tangled in a recruiting scandal that has given college hoops a black eye this season, the latest edition of March Madness will have a different feel. There is a realistic chance that this year’s champion may have the title stripped from them as the investigation unfolds and punishments are handed down.

It’s estimated that over $10 billion will be generated by office, dorm and online pools this year. And the champs in every one won’t have to answer to any NCAA investigators.

A sleepy Monday Morning Scoop was compiled by Natalia Kolenko, Roxanneh Mousavi, Rachael Blandau and the CMN Staff. Spring break over or just beginning?