Judge Clifton Newman spoke out Tuesday about the trial and sentencing of Alex Murdaugh, a lawyer convicted of killing his wife and son and stealing over $8 million from clients. Judge Newman said he had "no doubt" that Murdaugh loved his family despite committing an "unforgivable, unimaginable crime," and discussed the series of objections he heard during the trial. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of justice and the need to ensure a fair trial for all defendants, hoping Murdaugh can find peace despite his conviction.
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NFL player Ryan Hamlin recently joined Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Bill Posey on Capitol Hill to introduce the Access to AEDs Act, which seeks to raise awareness of the dangers of sudden cardiac arrest in children and increase access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in schools. Hamlin, who experienced sudden cardiac arrest himself, shared that more than 7,000 children under the age of 18 experience sudden cardiac arrest every year in the US, and that 1 in every 300 youth have an undetected heart condition that puts them at risk. The Act is supported by organizations such as the American Heart Association and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and would provide grants to schools to purchase AEDs and provide training for staff and students on how to use them.
The Biden administration has auctioned off 73 million acres of waters in the Gulf of Mexico to offshore oil and gas drilling, drawing criticism from environmentalists who argue it contradicts the president's campaign pledge to ban new fossil fuel development on public lands. The sale is expected to generate over $1 billion in revenue and major oil companies like Chevron, Shell, and BP are expected to submit the highest bids. The Biden administration has defended the sale, arguing that it will help the U.S. transition to a clean energy economy.
Dominion Voting Systems' presentation has revealed an email sent by Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott to the company's chairman, Rupert Murdoch, warning of the financial fallout if the network continued to fact-check Donald Trump's lies after the 2020 election. The presentation is part of Dominion's $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News, and Fox has responded by saying they will "vigorously defend" themselves against the "baseless claims." Murdoch had said Trump's claims were "pretty much a crime," and Scott had said the documents "demonstrate Dominion's continued reliance on cherry-picked quotes without context."
On Monday, a shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, left six people dead, including three nine-year-olds. The shooter, Audrey Hale, was killed by police at the scene. Witnesses reported that the head of the school, Katherine Koonce, had tried to protect the children from the shooter before her death. The Nashville community is coming together to support those affected by this tragedy, with the Covenant School setting up a memorial fund for the victims' families.
Mike Pence has signaled that he may drop efforts to avoid testifying in the Justice Department's criminal probe into former President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election. A federal judge ruled that Pence must comply with a subpoena and testify before the federal grand jury, and Pence has stated that he will obey the law. His testimony could provide important insight into the events of Jan. 6.
Prince Harry is suing the publisher of The Daily Mail for alleged phone tapping and other invasions of privacy, claiming the royal family withheld information from him and caused a delay in filing the lawsuit. In court this week, Harry said that “the Institution” had prevented him from learning sooner about the activity of The Daily Mail. The case is ongoing and could have implications for the royal family and the future of the monarchy.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs' press secretary, Josselyn Berry, has resigned after posting a meme on Twitter that some interpreted as advocating for violence against transphobes. This has sparked a debate about the use of social media by public officials, with some arguing for a higher standard and others advocating for free expression. Berry has not commented publicly on her resignation and it is unclear who will replace her.