Latest news with #LillianandAlbertSmallCapitalJewishMuseum
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Democratic Mayor's Budget Would Remove 25,000 People From Medicaid
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Democratic Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser has proposed a budget that would remove 25,000 people from Medicaid. The budget would update eligibility requirements for Medicaid in D.C. and subsequently lead to tens of thousands of people being kicked off the health coverage. Why It Matters Republicans have touted Medicaid cuts federally, with GOP leaders seeking changes to the program to pass a $2 trillion government spending cut. However, Democratic cuts to the program are relatively rare. Without access to Medicaid, many low-income D.C. residents would be forced to find other insurance or go without, potentially leading to medical debt and worse health outcomes. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser addresses a remembrance and reopening ceremony at the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum on May 29, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser addresses a remembrance and reopening ceremony at the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum on May 29, 2025, in Washington, To Know Bowser's fiscal 2026 budget would change eligibility to help curb the estimated $182 million increase in Medicaid costs for the city. "We also have to deal with the fact that Medicaid is growing at a substantially faster clip than the city's revenues," said Wayne Turnage, deputy mayor for D.C. Health and Human Services, as reported by local station WTOP News. Under the budget, childless adults and adult caregivers would be ineligible if they have an income 138 percent of the federal poverty level or above. This likely would cut off 25,575 residents from Medicaid. "While any cut to this program is going to be difficult, one silver lining is the city has alternative health plans that could be available to some who are no longer ineligible," Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek. "Ultimately, this could be a dilemma other cities facing rising expenses have to deal with in the coming years." Newsweek reached out to Bowser for comment via email. "When you have such cost inflation, the most pragmatic way to control costs in an entitlement program is to slow spending by reducing the number of people in the program," Turnage said during a presentation Tuesday. D.C. is facing a $1 billion decline in revenue over the several years, sparking the need to cut programs like Medicaid. "We think that we will be getting into an unsustainable decision-making loop of, 'I don't want to make hard choices,'" Bowser said. What People Are Saying D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, during a Tuesday briefing on the budget: "We can't invest in the best schools if we don't have revenue to do that. We can't have the types of human services programs that we've invested in if we don't have revenues. "If you don't have enough money, something has to go or you have to make more money." Chris Fong, CEO of Smile Insurance and a Medicaid specialist, told Newsweek: "This type of limitation would eliminate a larger number of DC residents from qualifying for Medicaid. These requirements are more commonly found in Republican leaning states. "It is surprising from a simply political position, but the current D.C. has been known to go against the more progressive democrat positions." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "D.C. is facing something than just a few years ago would have seemed highly unlikely: a severe reduction in its workforce due to recent labor cuts by the federal government and other major employers. Faced with fewer tax dollars and more expenses, this proposal would make childless adults and adult caregivers whose income is 138 percent of the federal poverty level ineligible for Medicaid." What Happens Next The D.C. council is set to debate the proposed changes during the budget process. Voting is expected to take place by early August. "The options the D.C. mayor has is to either increase the burden on the citizens of the city by increasing taxes or to reduce the number of Medicaid beneficiaries," Fong said. "I think it is likely this will pass given the current state of inflation and the challenges that the average citizen is running into when paying their daily bills."
UPI
7 days ago
- General
- UPI
Capital Jewish Museum reopens in an 'act of resilience'
1 of 5 | Visitors pray at a memorial to Yaron Laschinsky and Sarah Milgrim outside the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo May 29 (UPI) -- The Capital Jewish Museum reopened Thursday morning with an invitation-only tribute to the Israeli Embassy staffers who were killed outside its entrance last week. "Today's reopening is not simply a return to normal," museum president Chris Wolf told visitors, WNBW reported. "It is an act of resilience," Wolf said. "It is a declaration that we will not allow hate to silence our voices or diminish our commitment to building a better future." Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser was among those invited and who attended the reopening of the museum that is located near the intersection of 3rd Street and F Street in the capital's downtown district. "Part of my charge to my team in every difficult circumstance is that we have to get open [and] we have to get back to normal," Bowser said during the reopening event. "Thank you for getting open," she told museum officials and staff. Bowser also encouraged city residents and visitors to: "Keep showing up for the Jewish community." A 'most heinous form of anti-Semitism' Museum officials called the attack the "most heinous form of anti-Semitism" in a statement posted on the museum's website. "They are a stark and tragic reminder of the hatred that, regrettably, still exists in our world," the statement says. "In the face of such darkness, we are called upon to respond not with despair, but with resilience." The museum had closed for a week following the May 21 double homicide of Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, after they left a museum event and were waiting to cross the street outside while on foot. Both were employed by the Israeli Embassy in the nation's capital and were a couple who many said likely were about to become engaged. Lischinsky was an Israeli-German citizen and had purchased an engagement ring ahead of a trip to Jerusalem, where he planned to propose marriage. Milgrim was born in Kansas and was a U.S. citizen. A history of anti-Israel activity Chicago resident Elias Rodriguez, 31, is a U.S. citizen and is charged with two counts of murder and other related crimes after traveling from Illinois to Washington, D.C., before the shooting. He did not enter a plea during his arraignment hearing. Rodriguez has a history of involvement in far-left and pro-Palestinian events and is recorded shouting, "free, free, free Palestine," as he was being arrested, according to an FBI affidavit. He had entered the museum that Lischinsky and Milgrim had just exited immediately after the shooting, the affidavit and witnesses say. Witnesses said he yelled, "I did it for Gaza," while admitting to the attack when police arrived and arrested him. Video footage from surveillance cameras in the area shows a man who looks and was dressed the same as Rodriguez walking past a group of four people, including Lischinsky and Milgrim. The man in the video then turned to face their backs, drew a firearm and shot Lischinsky and Milgrim in their backs. Video footage shows the man reloading the firearm and shooting each victim several more times. The FBI affidavit says law enforcement recovered a 9mm pistol from the scene that records show Rodriguez purchased in Illinois in 2020 and declared in his checked baggage when he flew to the capital. Spent casings from 21 cartridges were found at the scene, suggesting the shooter used two 10-round magazines and a chambered bullet during the attack.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
We Must Stand in Solidarity Against Hate
An embassy official cleans blood off the sidewalk at the shooting location outside of the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum on May 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. Credit - Tasos Katopodis—Getty Images On Wednesday night in Washington, D.C., two young staffers from the Israeli embassy, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were shot and killed after leaving a Jewish community event. Witnesses say the attacker shouted 'Free Palestine' before opening fire. He reportedly said, 'I did it for Gaza.' This was a targeted antisemitic attack. And tragically, this is not an isolated incident. Since the October 7 massacre in Israel, antisemitism has surged with renewed intensity across North America. It's showing up on campuses, in protests, on social media—and now, in the streets of the U.S. capital. Perhaps most alarming is the growing ease with which it is tolerated, rationalized, or ignored. There is a long and painful history of antisemitism being treated as an afterthought—even in spaces devoted to human rights and justice. But this form of hate is not just persistent—it's shape-shifting, virulent, and, as we've seen, increasingly violent. Over the years, my work in human rights—particularly through the Raoul Wallenberg Centre—has shown me how hate, left unchecked, mutates and spreads. In various board and leadership roles, I've worked to help build coalitions that advance a united front against systemic racism, antisemitism, islamophobia, and other forms of hate. But make no mistake: antisemitism today demands urgent, focused attention. That's why building meaningful alliances is not just important—it's essential. Efforts like Van Jones' Exodus coalition, which brings Black and Jewish leaders together to confront rising hate and promote mutual understanding, offer a blueprint for the kind of solidarity this moment demands. These coalitions don't dilute the unique dangers faced by each group—they strengthen our collective resolve to confront them all. Yes, we can care about Palestinian rights and still denounce antisemitism unequivocally. But doing so requires empathy. And it requires the courage to speak with clarity—especially when it's inconvenient or unpopular. The victims in Washington were not symbols. They were real people, with families and futures. Their deaths must not be just another headline. Let them be a wake-up call. This is not the time for silence. It is time for clarity. And above all, it's a time for courage. Let's honor those we've lost not just with grief—but with action. Let's stand together—firmly, unapologetically—against the ancient hatred that has once again shown its deadly face. Contact us at letters@
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What is the Capital Jewish Museum? What to know about site of fatal DC shooting
Two Israeli embassy staffers were killed by a lone gunman in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, May 21, as the pair left an evening event at the Capital Jewish Museum a little over a mile from the White House. The staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were locally employed staff according to the Israeli foreign ministry. Israel's ambassador to the U.S. told reporters the pair were soon-to-be engaged. Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said a man, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, shot at a group of four people with a handgun, hitting both Lischinsky and Milgrim. He was seen pacing outside the museum prior to the shooting, Reuters reported, and chanted "Free Palestine, Free Palestine", after being taken into custody by event security after having entered the museum. The museum is located 1.3 miles from the White House in Washington, D.C., in a busy part of the city packed with federal offices and museums. "We are deeply saddened and horrified by the senseless violence outside the Museum this evening," the Capital Jewish Museum posted in a statement on Instagram late Wednesday night. "Our condolences and heartfelt sympathies go to the victims and their families." The Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum says on its website that it "explores the Jewish experience in the national capital region" by connecting the past to the present via "thought-provoking exhibitions, dynamic programming, and creative public experiences." The museum, once the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, reopened as the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum on June 9, 2023. The four-floor building incorporates Washington, DC's oldest synagogue, with the 146-year-old historic brick synagogue moved and restored to sit alongside the modern museum building at the corner of 3rd and F Streets NW. "The Museum's collection includes more than 24,000 digital and print photographs, 1,050 objects, and 800 linear feet of archival materials from the 1850s to the present day, including oral histories, personal papers, and business and organizational records," the museum announced upon its 2023 opening. "These collections provide a multifaceted portrait of local Jewish life and form the base of the inaugural exhibitions and also provide research materials for scholars, genealogists, students, and the general public." Current and upcoming exhibitions include: "LGBT Jews in the Federal City" and "What is Jewish Washington." Previous events explored the life of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the impact of the Jewish deli on American cuisine, and Jewish comics. The event the two staffers attended Wednesday night was held by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that supports Israel and confronts antisemitism, according to its website. The 'Young Diplomats Reception' was held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET for Jewish young professionals and the D.C. diplomatic community, according to the event tickets, themed "turning pain into purpose." The reception invited members of the Multifaith Alliance and nonprofit organization IsraAID to discuss "humanitarian diplomacy" and responses to humanitarian crises in the Middle East and North Africa. The museum is closed today, Thursday, May 22, following the shooting. Its regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Wednesday through Sunday. Contributing: Reuters. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to know about capital Jewish museum after Israelis killed
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
What is the Capital Jewish Museum? What to know about site of fatal DC shooting
What is the Capital Jewish Museum? What to know about site of fatal DC shooting Show Caption Hide Caption Two Israeli Embassy Workers Killed Outside Jewish Museum In DC Two Israeli embassy workers were killed on May 21, near the Jewish Capital Museum in Washington DC. unbranded - Newsworthy Two Israeli embassy staffers were killed by a lone gunman in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, May 21, as the pair left an evening event at the Capital Jewish Museum a little over a mile from the White House. The staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were locally employed staff according to the Israeli foreign ministry. Israel's ambassador to the U.S. told reporters the pair were soon-to-be engaged. Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said a man, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, shot at a group of four people with a handgun, hitting both Lischinsky and Milgrim. He was seen pacing outside the museum prior to the shooting, Reuters reported, and chanted "Free Palestine, Free Palestine", after being taken into custody by event security after having entered the museum. Where is the Capital Jewish Museum? The museum is located 1.3 miles from the White House in Washington, D.C., in a busy part of the city packed with federal offices and museums. "We are deeply saddened and horrified by the senseless violence outside the Museum this evening," the Capital Jewish Museum posted in a statement on Instagram late Wednesday night. "Our condolences and heartfelt sympathies go to the victims and their families." What is the Capital Jewish Museum? The Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum says on its website that it "explores the Jewish experience in the national capital region" by connecting the past to the present via "thought-provoking exhibitions, dynamic programming, and creative public experiences." The museum, once the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, reopened as the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum on June 9, 2023. The four-floor building incorporates Washington, DC's oldest synagogue, with the 146-year-old historic brick synagogue moved and restored to sit alongside the modern museum building at the corner of 3rd and F Streets NW. "The Museum's collection includes more than 24,000 digital and print photographs, 1,050 objects, and 800 linear feet of archival materials from the 1850s to the present day, including oral histories, personal papers, and business and organizational records," the museum announced upon its 2023 opening. "These collections provide a multifaceted portrait of local Jewish life and form the base of the inaugural exhibitions and also provide research materials for scholars, genealogists, students, and the general public." Current and upcoming exhibitions include: "LGBT Jews in the Federal City" and "What is Jewish Washington." Previous events explored the life of former Supreme Couty Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the impact of the Jewish deli on American cuisine, and Jewish comics. Israeli staffers killed after attending event at the DC museum The event the two staffers attended Wednesday night was held by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that supports Israel and confronts antisemitism, according to its website. The 'Young Diplomats Reception' was held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET for Jewish young professionals and the D.C. diplomatic community, according to the event tickets, themed "turning pain into purpose." The reception invited members of the Multifaith Alliance and nonprofit organization IsraAID to discuss "humanitarian diplomacy" and responses to humanitarian crises in the Middle East and North Africa. The museum is closed today, Thursday, May 22, following the shooting. Its regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Wednesday through Sunday. Contributing: Reuters. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
