VIDEO: John Cronin has never been one to let disability hold him back . The 22-year-old from Long Island, N.Y., was born with Down syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes developmental and intellectual delays. Motivated by his family’s love and encouragement, Cronin teamed up with his father 18 months ago to open a business. But not just any business. John’s Crazy Socks sells, you guessed it, socks.

ON THIS DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY On August 27, 1776, British forces defeated George Washington’s Continental Army at the Battle of Brooklyn. The battle began on August 22 when the British landed on Long Island in an effort to take New York City. After suffering some 1,000 casualties, Washington and his remaining troops were able to retreat to Manhattan using boats. The British reportedly could have taken the entire Continental Army as prisoners, but opted to let them go in the hopes the Americans would rescind their declaration of independence from Britain.

The Los Angeles Police Department is trying to reach out to immigrant communities to help fight gang violence. U.S. officials say that in Los Angeles and Chicago, gangs are responsible for at least half of the murders, and 13 percent of killings nationwide. Many gangs have ties to international cartels. Police say drug money and guns fuel the ongoing violence.

Earlier this month, Mustafa Omer lived in exile . Now, he’s the acting president of Ethiopia’s Somali region and one of the country’s most powerful people. The dramatic turnaround comes less than three weeks after federal forces stormed the regional capital, Jijiga, and forced the previous regional president, Abdi Mohamoud Omar, also known as Abdi Illey, to step down.

For the first time ever, 90 percent of Americans over the age of 25 have finished high school, and more than one-third of Americans over the age of 25 has a college degree or higher. That’s a large increase from 1940, when less than one-quarter of Americans had completed at least four years of high school, and just 4.6 percent had earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta says his meeting Monday with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House focused on trade and security issues. Kenyatta told VOA he believes his own country can attain domestic peace and security, after several election cycles marred by violence and disputes about the results.