What we’re reading: Cashier testifies in George Floyd case, four dead in California shooting

By Izzy McFadden

Published Apr 1, 2021

FILE – This May 25, 2020, file image from a police body camera shows bystanders including Alyssa Funari, left filming, Charles McMillan, center left in light colored shorts, Christopher Martin center in gray, Donald Williams, center in black, Genevieve Hansen, fourth from right filming, Darnella Frazier, third from right filming, as former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was recorded pressing his knee on George Floyd’s neck for several minutes in Minneapolis. To the prosecution, the witnesses who watched Floyd’s body go still were regular people — a firefighter, a mixed martial arts fighter, a high school student and her 9-year-old cousin in a T-shirt emblazoned with the word “Love.” (Minneapolis Police Department via AP, File)

Cashier testifies to the use of a fake $20 bill used by George Floyd

A cashier who reported George Floyd’s $20 bill as counterfeit shortly before his death testified in the trial of Derek Chauvin, according to NPR.

The cashier said that he thought the bill was counterfeit and considered paying for Floyd’s cigarettes before deciding to tell his manager.

After Floyd refused to come back inside the Cup Foods store to talk to the manager, the police were called.

Martin claims to feel tremendous guilt, as right after the call, were the last moments of Floyd’s life.

He quit his job at the store shortly after Floyd’s death.

Four killed in Orange, California

Officials work outside the scene of a shooting, Thursday, April 1, 2021 in Orange, Calif. The gunman who killed four people and wounded a fifth at an office complex knew all the victims either through business or personally, Southern California police said Thursday. (Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP)

Four people were killed at a shooting in California last night, according to NBC News

Authorities later said that the shooting was no random act as all individuals involved were connected to the suspect through business or personal relationships.

One of the victims was a nine-year old boy.

A fifth person and the suspect were taken to the hospital. The cause of the suspect’s wound is uncertain – whether self inflicted or not.

Clinical trial shows vaccine effectiveness after a 6-month period

Carol Kelly, left, receives a Moderna variant vaccine shot from registered nurse Mary Bower at Emory University’s Hope Clinic, Wednesday afternoon, March 31, 2021, in Decatur, Ga. Kelly was the first person to receive a shot in this new clinical trial. (AP Photo/Ben Gray)

The Phase 3 clinical trial of the Pfizer/BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine confirmed its protection remains high for six months after the second dose, according to CNN.

The vaccine is said to remain more than 91% effective thus far against any COVID-19 symptoms for a six month period.

According to the CDC, the vaccine was 100% effective against severe disease.

“The information coming from Pfizer-BioNTech is good news with evidence that those enrolled in the clinical trials last year are still protected. So we know that immunity will not be short-lived,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine specialist and dean of the school of tropical medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Hotez also remains hopeful that protection could potentially last years, though no evidence exists to support that yet.