House Republicans have passed the "Lower Energy Costs Act" (H.R. 1), their top legislative priority, which seeks to increase domestic production of oil, natural gas, coal, and critical minerals, as well as ease permitting restrictions. The bill has been met with criticism from Democrats and environmental activists, and now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to face stiff opposition.
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A newly appointed board in Florida has discovered that their predecessors passed a restrictive covenant granting Disney "prior review and comment" over any changes made to properties in the district. This agreement was signed just weeks before the new board was appointed, stripping them of many of their powers. The board is now working to find ways to challenge the covenant and gain back the power that was taken away from them.
A BNSF freight train derailed near Raymond, Minnesota, early Thursday morning, causing four cars to catch fire and prompting the evacuation of nearby residents. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the derailment is currently under investigation. The evacuation order has been lifted, and BNSF is now working to clean up the site and repair the tracks.
District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies has appointed two veteran New Mexico lawyers, Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis, to serve as special prosecutors in the manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin and a weapons supervisor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer during a 2021 movie rehearsal. The appointment comes after the previous special prosecutor resigned due to missteps in the filing of initial charges and conflicting responsibilities. Morrissey and Lewis have both served as prosecutors in New Mexico for many years and will review the evidence to determine whether or not to move forward with the case.
Oscar Pistorius, the former Olympic runner, is set to attend a parole hearing on Friday that will decide if he can be released from prison 10 years after killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The hearing will assess Pistorius' conduct and disciplinary record in prison, his participation in educational or other training courses, and his mental and physical state to determine if he still poses a threat to public safety. If granted parole, Pistorius could be released from the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre in Pretoria, although the process may take days to finalize.
This article reports on a train derailment in Raymond, Minnesota that occurred early Thursday morning. 22 rail cars were carrying mixed freight, including ethanol and corn syrup, and 14 of the 40 cars were carrying hazardous material. The Raymond Fire Department was alerted to the derailment and evacuated nearby residents, and the fire has been contained. No injuries have been reported and the cause of the derailment is still under investigation.
Pope Francis is recovering from a respiratory infection and is being treated in Rome's Gemelli hospital. He has expressed his gratitude for the many messages of support he has received, and the Vatican has reported that his health is "progressively improving" as he continues with his planned treatments. The Pope is working from the hospital and the Vatican has not yet said when he is expected to be discharged.
On Monday, a mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee left six people dead, but the quick-thinking actions of the teachers saved the lives of many students. A candlelight vigil was held for the victims, attended by city leaders, musicians, and first lady Jill Biden. The tragedy has sparked a conversation about gun regulation and the importance of active shooter training in schools, with the teachers' actions being a testament to the power of such training.