Only in America

Alabama Public Television refused to air an episode of the PBS animated children’s show Arthur, because it featured a same-sex wedding. The episode, “Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone,” depicted the wedding of Mr. Ratburn, a rat, and Patrick, an aardvark. The APT’s Mike McKenzie said that since parents weren’t warned about the gay wedding, “we felt it would be a violation of trust to broadcast the episode.”

Schools are turning to a smartphone app to help combat active shooters. The Share911 app, now in use in more than 200 schools nationwide, allows staff to share and receive information with police while a mass shooting is underway. “You can’t decide if you’re going to run, hide, or fight in the absence of information,” explained Share911 CEO Erik Endress.

Trump cashes in on D.C. hotel

President Trump reported earning $435 million in 2018, including $40.8 million from the Trump International Hotel just blocks from the White House, according to his financial disclosure form. The annual self-reported filings are notoriously vague, made worse by Trump’s conflating his businesses’ revenue with his personal income. His biggest moneymaker last year was the Trump National Doral golf course in Florida, generating $75.9 million, while Mar-a-Lago took in $22.7 million. His Washington hotel is often patronized by foreign diplomats and corporate officials seeking to curry favor with Trump. Several lawsuits charge that Trump taking their money violates the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which prohibits gifts or payments from foreign states.

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May 24, 2019 THE WEEK