News Sparks: Jerusalem Hit by Storm Elpis; Rite Aid forced to Shut due to Shoplifting Norm and more

Jerusalem Hit by Storm Elpis

Winter storm Elpis engulfed Israel Wednesday morning, bringing snow to the northern Golan Heights, as well as to Jerusalem in the evening.

In Jerusalem, the snow is expected to reach up to 6-8 inches. This cold front which is unusual for the Eastern Mediterranean Region began in Russia according to climate scientist Dr. Amit Givati.

 

Rite Aid forced to Shut due to Shoplifting Norm

The Rite Aid pharmacy on 8th Ave and 50th St in Manhattan will close on February 8 because of the rampant shoplifting that became the norm. Store sources claim thieves have ripped off more than $200,000 worth of merchandise in the past two months alone.  

“They come in every day, sometimes twice a day, with laundry bags and just load up on stuff,” one store employee told The Post, as two other employees stood by nodding in agreement. “They take whatever they want and we can’t do anything about it. It’s why the store is closing. They can’t afford to keep it open.”

Many unconcerned shoplifters have been caught on camera, but nothing can be done to stop them.

 

Grafton Thomas, Charged with Murder, Shirks Judgment once again 

Grafton Thomas, the 39-year-old who was indicted for the murder of Josef Neumann in a machete attack, has once again managed to shirk judgment by being considered mentally unfit to stand trial.

Rockland Judge Kevin Russo came to this decision Tuesday which commits him to state for a year and potentially longer if he’s still found mentally incompetent. 

Thomas is guilty of brutally stabbing five people with a machete at a Monsey Chanukah celebration in 2019. The most critically injured victim, Josef Neumann, 72, died three months after the attack. Thomas, who has irrevocably changed the lives of those he attacked that fateful night, is consistently being found mentally unfit to stand trial.

 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Running for Reelection

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Tuesday that she will be running for reelection, seeking to extend her over 30-year run in Congress, but she did not mention if she will be running for another speakership term, after saying in 2018 that this will be her last one in the leadership post.

Pelosi’s announcement comes after Democrats are retiring in record numbers as new district maps and the current political wave may be tilting Republican.

"I am running for reelection to Congress and respectfully seek your support," Pelosi, a Democrat from California, said in a video message. "I would be greatly honored by it and grateful for it."