News in :90 – Feb. 19, 2019

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders announced his bid for the 2020 presidential race. He wrote an email to his supporters, and within the email he said, “Our campaign is about transforming our country and creating a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial, and environmental justice”.

Sanders stunned the Democratic party in 2016 with his progressive proposals such as Medicare for all and free tuition. A problem he will face is the ability to expand his appeal beyond his mainly white base supporters. Sanders struggled to gain voters from minority parties, which could hurt him in the 2020 race due to the many candidates running, especially the several non-white candidates.

Sixteen states have filed a lawsuit Monday against President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration to fund a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra released a statement Monday saying “President trump treats the rule of law with utter contempt.”

Minnesota, as well as 15 other states such as Hawaii, Colorado, Illinois, and Delaware say that the diversion of military funding to wall-building will hurt their economies. California and New Mexico say the wall will hurt wildlife.

On Monday night, 16 people were rescued and many more trapped in a SeaWorld ride. Six gondolas stopped functioning in the San Diego SeaWorld due to a big gust of wind that tripped a circuit breaker. The ride that malfunctioned is called “Bayside Skyride”. Riders were lowered by harness and rescued by lifeguard boats.

On campus, a water main broke on University of St. Thomas’ south campus Monday morning. A public safety officer said that the water line did not belong to St. Thomas, but belongs to the city of St. Paul. Water and bathroom facilities were disrupted.

Isa Tine can be reached at tine8153@stthomas.edu.