On January 25, 2021, the Mohave County Sheriff's Office in Arizona announced that they had identified the woman found dead in the desert in 1971 as Colleen Audrey Rice. The sheriff's office had released a sketch of the woman in October 2021, which prompted members of the community to fund the DNA testing needed to identify her. The cause of death is still unknown, and the sheriff's office is asking anyone with information to contact them.
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NARA has sent a letter to representatives of the six most recent past presidential administrations, requesting an assessment of any classified materials in their possession. The letter also requests that any classified materials be turned over to NARA and that a written report be provided. This is part of the ongoing effort to ensure that all presidential records are properly preserved and accounted for, and a reminder of the importance of the Presidential Records Act.
Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter, visited Capitol Hill on Thursday to meet with House leaders from both parties and receive a law enforcement briefing. The meeting was likely related to the fairness of the platform and the ongoing debate over tech regulation. It is unclear what the outcome of the meeting was, but it is the latest in a series of high-profile visits to Capitol Hill by tech executives.
The Detroit Lions have announced the passing of former defensive end Jessie Lemonier at the age of 25. The team released a statement expressing their shock and sadness, and asked for privacy for Lemonier's family and friends. Lemonier had played in six games with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020 and seven games with the Detroit Lions in 2021. The cause of death has not been released.
After a 5-year-old was found alone on the street on January 10th, the search for 4-year-old Athena Brownfield began. Her remains were found in rural Grady County a week later, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has now confirmed her identity. Her caretakers are being questioned in connection with her disappearance, and the investigation is ongoing.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh has made his first public comments since the release of an investigative report, expressing optimism about the court, his colleagues, and the country. He praised his liberal colleagues and highlighted rulings in which the justices were not divided on ideological lines. His remarks come as the court is facing increased scrutiny over its rulings and its legitimacy.
On Wednesday night, a U.S. military operation in northern Somalia killed a senior leader of the Islamic State terrorist group, Bilal al-Sudani, and 10 other ISIS fighters. The operation was part of a larger effort to target and eliminate ISIS leaders and operatives in the region, and was successful with no civilian casualties. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said al-Sudani was responsible for fostering the growing presence of ISIS in Africa and funding the group's operations worldwide.
Five former Memphis police officers were charged with second-degree murder on Thursday in connection with the death of Tyre Nichols, a Black driver who was severely beaten during a traffic stop in January. The officers were fired after an internal investigation and are now facing criminal charges, sparking outrage across the country. The family of Nichols claims he fled the scene after being pulled over, fearing for his life, and the officers then caught up to him and beat him for three minutes.