After 50 years, the Burlington Police Department has identified William DeRoos as the suspect in the 1971 murder of Rita Curran, a 24-year-old Vermont teacher. Advances in DNA technology and genetic genealogy allowed authorities to identify DeRoos, who had a fight with his spouse on the night of the killing and later became a Buddhist monk. Acting Chief of the Burlington Police Department, Jon Murad, said that the random violence of Curran’s murder left a stain on the community and devastated her family. The Burlington Police Department is continuing to investigate the case and is asking anyone with information to contact them.
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Alex Murdaugh is on trial for the double murder of his wife and one of his sons. The defense's first witness, his surviving son Buster Murdaugh, testified that his father was "destroyed" and "just broken down" after learning of the shootings. He described his family as "close-knit" and said that disagreements were solved with civility. The defense is attempting to counter the prosecution's case and is expected to call more witnesses in the coming days.
On April 4, Wisconsin will hold a general election for the state Supreme Court that could have a major impact on the state’s future. The election will be between two candidates, Janet Protasiewicz and Dan Kelly, who have vastly different ideologies and connections. Protasiewicz is a liberal candidate endorsed by a Democratic abortion rights group, while Kelly is a conservative with connections to the former president’s allies. If Protasiewicz wins, it could have a major impact on the state’s future, as the court’s decisions have a major influence on state laws. The outcome of this election will be closely watched by both sides.
Vladimir Putin has announced Russia's suspension of the New START nuclear arms agreement, and has mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops in response to U.S. and British forces training Ukrainian forces in advanced weaponry. This has caused nuclear tensions between the two countries, and the U.S. and other countries have called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Michael Regan, head of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is leading federal efforts to address the aftermath of a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which released plumes of black smoke and contaminated the soil and waterways. Regan has been meeting with residents and state officials, and the EPA has ordered Norfolk Southern to pay for all necessary cleanup. The EPA is also working with the Ohio EPA to ensure the environment is safe and the affected communities are taken care of.
Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., admitted to being "a terrible liar" in a candid interview this week, having made numerous false claims about his mother's having been in the Twin Towers on 9/11 and his "Jew-ish" ancestry. Host Piers Morgan grilled Santos about how he thought he could get away with the fabrications, to which Santos responded that he didn't think he'd ever be found out. Questions about Santos' biography have swirled since a New York Times investigation last year, and it remains to be seen if he will be held accountable for his actions.
Wisconsin voters will head to the polls on Tuesday to decide which two candidates will advance to the general election for the state Supreme Court, a race that could determine which party holds the majority on the state's highest court. The ballot features two conservative and two liberal candidates, as well as a nonbinding advisory question about welfare benefits. The outcome of the election could have major implications for abortion access, congressional district lines, and 2024 presidential election legal fights.
President Joe Biden spoke in Poland on Tuesday, praising the democracies of the world for coming to Ukraine's defense against Russia's year-long invasion. This has sparked a divide among Republican 2024 presidential hopefuls over the US role in Ukraine, with some believing the Biden administration has done too much and others believing the US has not done enough. Biden alluded to his potential re-election bid in his speech, and the debate over the US role in Ukraine is likely to continue as the 2024 presidential race heats up.