Abby Zwerner, a teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, was allegedly shot by a 6-year-old student. Her lawyer has revealed that school staff had warned administrators three times that the child had a gun on him before the shooting occurred, but the warnings were ignored. The Newport News Police Department is currently investigating the incident, and Abby Zwerner is recovering from her injuries with the support of the community.
News Mash
The U.S. and its European allies are sending armor to Ukraine in order to support the country's efforts to resist Russian invaders. This includes 31 M1 Abrams tanks from the U.S., German-made Leopard 2 tanks from Germany and other European states, Challenger 2 tanks from Britain, and AMX-10 armored fighting vehicles from France. This move is a sign of confidence in Ukrainians’ ability to recapture territory from the Russian troops, and is intended to hit Russia’s troops hard in a ground offensive.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has defended freshman Congressman George Santos (R-N.Y.) despite his admission of fabricating parts of his background, saying that he has an obligation to serve his constituents. However, McCarthy has stated that if the Ethics Committee finds Santos has broken the law, he will be removed from office. The House Ethics Committee is currently investigating Santos' background and résumé, and the outcome of the investigation will determine the action the House will take.
Indian police have blocked students from entering a university in Delhi to prevent them from screening a BBC documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has been banned in the country. The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) has vowed to fight for the right to show the documentary and to challenge the government's decision, while students and activists have accused the government of trying to stifle free speech. Four people were reportedly detained by police, including officers in plain clothes, at Jamia Milia Islamia University.
Abigail Zwerner, a first-grade teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, was shot by her 6-year-old student after warning a loved one that the boy was armed and school administrators were failing to act. The student has been charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and Zwerner is currently in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.
Two former Arkansas law enforcement officers have been charged with civil rights violations for using excessive force during the arrest of Randal Worcester, which was captured on video and widely shared on social media. The incident has sparked a national conversation about police brutality and the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers. The findings of the investigation have been given to a special prosecutor, and it is unclear what the outcome of the case will be.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has formed a new House subcommittee, led by Rep. Jim Jordan, to investigate the Justice Department, FBI, and other "Deep State" players. This move has been met with criticism from both sides of the aisle, and McCarthy has also threatened to deny Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar a seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It remains to be seen whether McCarthy will be successful in his efforts, and how the subcommittee's investigations will unfold in the coming months.
On December 31st, an American Airlines employee was tragically killed at an Alabama airport after being pulled into an engine. The NTSB's preliminary report revealed that the ground crew had held a safety briefing prior to the airplane arriving at the gate, and that the flight crew had elected to leave both engines running during the two-minute engine cool-down period. The NTSB is continuing to investigate the incident, and has not yet released a final report or the name of the employee.