New Jersey State Sen. Samuel Thompson, a delegate for Trump in 2016 and 2020, announced that he is leaving the Republican Party and plans to seek reelection as a Democrat. This would expand the Democrats' edge in the state Senate and could have a significant impact on the upcoming election. Thompson cited local party leaders questioning his fitness for office due to his age as the reason for his switch, and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) welcomed him to the party.
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Austin Majors, a former child actor best known for his role on "NYPD Blue," has died in Los Angeles at the age of 33. The cause of death is pending further investigation. Majors was honored with a Young Artist Award in 2009 for his work on the show and is survived by his parents, two sisters, and a brother. His family has asked for privacy during this difficult time.
On Monday night, multiple injuries were reported in a shooting near Berkey Hall on the Michigan State University campus. The MSU Police Department is investigating the incident and has secured multiple buildings in the area. Five victims are being treated at Sparrow Hospital, but the severity of their injuries is unknown. The university is offering counseling and other resources to those affected by the shooting.
Michigan State University was rocked by two shootings on Monday night, resulting in multiple injuries and prompting a shelter in place order for the campus community. Police reported shots fired near Berkey Hall and another shooting at IM East, a campus fitness center. Police are continuing to respond to the situation and community members on and off campus should continue to shelter in place as they search for a suspect believed to be on foot.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has signed a bill into law that bans gender-affirming treatments for transgender minors in the state. The bill has been met with criticism from LGBT rights groups and medical professionals, who argue that it will put transgender youth at risk of depression and suicide and deny them access to necessary medical care. The law will take effect on July 1.
The College Board has announced the introduction of an AP African American Studies course to its curriculum, but has faced criticism from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for what he calls a "watered-down" version of U.S. history. The College Board has responded to the criticism with a letter claiming that the changes to the course were already in the works, raising questions about the organization's commitment to providing an in-depth education on race in U.S. history.
Czech Republic midfielder Jakub Jankto has become one of the few openly out active international men's soccer players after posting a video on social media announcing that he is gay. He expressed a desire to live without fear, violence, or prejudice, and was met with widespread support from the soccer community. His announcement is hoped to encourage more athletes to be open and honest about their sexuality.
The Dawn Project is using a Super Bowl ad to draw attention to the potential dangers of Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" system. The ad shows a Tesla running over a child-sized dummy and a fake baby in a stroller in a series of tests. The nonprofit group is calling out Tesla for allegedly knowing for more than six months that its software could cause potential dangers to pedestrians and drivers. The ad is part of a trend of more serious Super Bowl ads this year, and it remains to be seen if it will have the desired effect.