The NTSB released an investigative report on the April 17, 2021 crash in Spring, Texas, revealing that the driver had moved to the back seat after the crash and was wearing a seatbelt. The report also determined that Autopilot could not have been used on the street where the crash happened. The NTSB is continuing to investigate the crash and will release a final report in the coming months.
News Mash
The House Oversight and Accountability Committee has sent formal requests for documents to President Joe Biden's sons, Hunter and James Biden, and their business manager, as part of an investigation into any possible involvement by the president in their foreign business dealings. The letters seek documents and communications related to their financial conduct, particularly with individuals connected to the Chinese Communist Party. Chairman Comer is also investigating whether foreign entities sought to influence the president or his administration by providing financial benefits to his family members.
Andrew Watterson, Chief Operating Officer of Southwest Airlines, is set to appear before the Senate's Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to explain the airline's holiday travel debacle that led to 16,000 flight cancellations and millions of passengers getting stranded. Watterson will tell the committee that the airline "messed up" due to a winter storm and operational shortfalls, and has since taken steps to ensure similar problems do not occur in the future. The hearing is expected to provide further insight into the incident and result in recommendations for how airlines can better handle similar situations.
The US House of Representatives is set to condemn China for its use of a surveillance balloon over US airspace, which was shot down by the military on Saturday. The resolution, introduced by GOP Rep. Mike McCaul of Texas, denounces the Chinese Communist Party's efforts to deceive the international community and calls for the Biden administration to provide comprehensive briefings on the situation. The resolution is a sign of the growing tensions between the US and China, and has raised questions about the US's ability to detect and respond to foreign threats.
President Joe Biden addressed the recent discovery of a Chinese spy balloon that traversed the continental US, emphasizing his commitment to competing with China without looking for conflict. He also addressed an investigation into his handling of classified documents, stating that his staff didn't do a good enough job packing up his previous offices and that the items found were from 1974. Biden's response marks the second time this week that he's sought to downplay the effect of the balloon, while reassuring the public that he is taking the investigation seriously.
On Wednesday, a NewsNation correspondent was arrested while reporting live from an Ohio Emergency Management Agency press conference. The arrest was captured on camera and quickly spread across social media, prompting Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) to express concern about the incident. NewsNation said the correspondent was arrested after he was told to stop speaking during the governor's remarks and the incident is currently under investigation.
Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was admitted to a Washington, DC hospital Wednesday night after feeling lightheaded at the Senate Democratic retreat. Initial tests did not show any signs of a new stroke, but Fetterman, who had a near-fatal stroke last year, is remaining in the hospital overnight for observation and further tests. Joe Calvello, Fetterman's communications director, said in a statement that initial tests do not show any signs of a new stroke and that he is in good spirits.
On Wednesday evening, residents of East Palestine, Ohio were allowed to return home after a 50-car train derailed near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border and released toxic chemicals into the air. The evacuation order was issued as a precautionary measure, and testing showed the air had returned to normal levels. No injuries were reported, and Norfolk Southern is working with the EPA to clean up the site.