New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation from the position, citing lack of energy to do the job justice. She expects a new Labour Prime Minister to be sworn in by February 7, and her departure marks the end of a historic tenure as the first female Prime Minister of New Zealand. Ardern has been praised for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and her commitment to social justice.
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Washington court has unsealed search warrant documents related to the investigation of Bryan Kohberger, the 28-year-old accused of killing four University of Idaho students. The documents revealed the items seized from Kohberger's apartment, including a stained mattress cover, a computer tower, and a pillow with a "reddish/brown stain". Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder and the investigation is ongoing.
Solomon Pena, a failed Republican state House candidate and election denier, was arrested this week in connection to multiple shootings at the homes of state Democratic officials. Pena is accused of conspiring with and paying four men to carry out the attacks, and the state is requesting that he be detained before trial. Republican lawmakers have distanced themselves from Pena, and Democratic leaders have called for increased security measures as the investigation continues.
Flo Rida and his production company, Strong Arm Productions, have been awarded $82.6 million by a South Florida jury after it was found that Celsius Holdings Inc. had breached a contract with the rapper and singer and tried to hide money from him. The lawsuit alleged that Celsius had violated the conditions of an endorsement deal with Flo Rida and his production company. The jury's decision is a victory for Dillard and his production company, who will now receive the full amount of money they were owed.
Derek Chauvin's attorney argued in an appeals court that his client was deprived of a fair trial due to legal and procedural errors. Chauvin was convicted in April of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd, a Black man. The appeals court did not immediately rule on Chauvin’s attorney’s request to overturn the conviction, and is expected to issue a written opinion in the coming weeks.
The Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge from a group of firearms dealers in New York who sought to halt parts of the state's new laws regulating commercial gun sales. The dealers had requested an injunction to block the laws, but the Supreme Court rejected their request. This is the latest in a series of rulings that have upheld the state's new gun laws, and the appeal of the lower court's decision is still pending.
The Justice Department is taking a hard stance on the mishandling of classified documents, appointing special counsels to investigate both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) believes that both should be treated “exactly the same way” and that Garland “probably did the right thing by having two special counsels.” Trump is also facing a special counsel for multiple investigations, and it remains to be seen how the Justice Department will handle the investigations.
Donald Trump is criticizing religious conservatives who have not endorsed his 2024 presidential campaign, while Vice President Kamala Harris is preparing to speak in Florida to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and signal the Biden administration's commitment to abortion rights. Harris is focusing on reproductive rights, which could be met with resistance from religious conservatives, a key voting bloc in Republican primaries.