Key takeaways: A grand jury has been convened in Manhattan to investigate the hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels by former President…
News Mash
Solomon Peña, a failed Republican candidate for New Mexico's state House, has been indicted on 14 criminal counts, including three counts of criminal solicitation to commit shooting at a dwelling or occupied building and two counts of conspiracy to commit shooting at a dwelling or occupied building. Peña had been arrested by Albuquerque police in January after shots were fired at the home of a county commissioner in December and is believed to be the "mastermind" behind the attacks. The Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office has not yet released any further details about the charges or the evidence that led to the indictment.
Australian authorities are searching for a missing radioactive capsule containing Caesium-137, which fell off a truck during a 870-mile journey from Gudai-Darri mine site to Perth. The capsule is part of a gauge used to measure the density of iron ore feed and is emitting both gamma and beta rays. A team with specialized car-mounted and portable detection equipment has been sent to search for the capsule, but so far it has not been located, triggering a radiation alert for large parts of Western Australia. Rio Tinto has apologized for the incident and is supporting the search.
This article discusses the ongoing investigation into the death of Tyre Nichols, who was beaten by Memphis police officers on January 8th. In response to the incident, three Memphis Fire Department personnel have been fired and two more police officers have been put on leave. The Shelby County District Attorney is looking into all those involved in the incident, from the officers and paramedics on scene to those who filed the paperwork.
Alex Murdaugh is standing trial on two counts of murder in South Carolina, with prosecutors presenting evidence from law enforcement and forensic experts. The defense has raised concerns about the evidence collection and analysis, as well as the established motive for the murders. The trial is ongoing, and it is unclear when a verdict will be reached.
The Dallas Zoo is investigating the disappearance of two emperor tamarin monkeys, which were found to have an intentional cut in their enclosure. The Dallas Police Department is conducting an investigation, and the zoo is asking anyone with information to contact them. This is the latest in a series of incidents at the zoo involving missing or dead animals.
More than 65 current and former Democratic US senators, members of the US House, governors, mayors and legislators from a dozen Southern states have sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison, urging them to select Atlanta as the host city for the 2024 Democratic National Convention. The letter argues that the choice would solidify the party's gains in Georgia and demonstrate commitment to the entire region, as well as thank the people of Georgia for their support in the 2020 election. Houston's mayor has also joined Atlanta's bid, adding his name to the letter in the hopes that their message will be heard and that Atlanta will be chosen as the host city.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has welcomed MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell into the fold, despite his baseless claims of election interference. At its winter meeting, the RNC passed a resolution urging Republican members to pass the most aggressive anti-abortion legislation possible in the run-up to 2024, blaming weak midterms performance on candidates not pushing their anti-abortion stances hard enough. The resolution follows a call for a ban on all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest, and is likely to be a key issue in the 2024 election.