Four members of an Arkansas family have been tragically killed in a home explosion in Northfield Township, Michigan on December 30th. Authorities believe the explosion was likely caused by flammable fuel in the air and not a result of foul play. Richard Pruden, 72, the homeowner, remains in critical condition and the Northfield Township Police Department is continuing to investigate the cause of the explosion.
News Mash
A 30-year-old man has died after he breached an emergency exit at Salt Lake City International Airport and climbed into a plane engine. Authorities performed lifesaving efforts, but he died on the scene. The incident is under investigation by the Salt Lake City Police Department and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Harvard University President Claudine Gay has resigned from her position on Tuesday following intense scrutiny for her testimony at a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism and allegations of plagiarism in her academic work. After consulting with the university’s highest governing board, Gay concluded that it was in the best interests of Harvard for her to resign. The Harvard community has yet to comment on Gay’s resignation, and it is unclear who will take over the role of president in her absence.
Four people were killed in a suspected Israeli drone attack in Beirut, Lebanon on Tuesday, including a top official with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati called the attack a "crime" and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has vowed to retaliate against any Israeli targeting of Palestinian officials in Lebanon. International condemnation has called for an independent investigation into the cause of the explosion, as tensions between Israel and Lebanon continue to rise.
Israeli authorities have charged Roi Yifrach with taking advantage of the chaotic situation after a Hamas attack to join combat operations and steal military gear. Galit Distel Atbaryan, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet, has apologized for her role in the internal strife that preceded the attack. Yifrach's case serves as a reminder of the dangers of internal strife and the need for unity in times of crisis.
Early Tuesday morning, an armed man broke into the Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center in Denver, Colorado, shooting out a window and holding an unarmed security guard at gunpoint. He started a fire inside the building, causing "significant and extensive damage", but no injuries were reported. The Colorado State Patrol responded and the suspect surrendered, and the building is currently closed while repairs are made.
After 12 years of searching, the remains of Sandra Lemire were found in a minivan submerged in a retention pond in Kissimmee, Florida. The volunteer search and recovery team Sunshine State Sonar used new technology to locate the vehicle, which had been involved in a car accident. Lemire's family is relieved to have closure and is asking for privacy as they grieve.
On New Year's Day, a two-vehicle collision in Rochester, New York resulted in two fatalities and five injuries. The FBI is now investigating the incident as a possible terror incident after canisters of gasoline were found at the scene. Two passengers in the Outlander were killed and the driver and three other passengers were injured, while the driver of the Ford Expedition was also injured. Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them.