Key takeaways: The Senate passed a defense policy bill that authorizes a 3% pay raise for troops, the largest in more than two decades. The…
News Mash
The NBA has suspended Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green indefinitely after he struck Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face during Tuesday night's game. Joe Dumars, the league's Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations, announced the suspension less than 24 hours after the incident, citing Green's repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts. Warriors coach Steve Kerr expressed disappointment with the suspension, but the NBA and the Warriors will continue to monitor the situation and make a decision when the time is right.
President Joe Biden held his first in-person meeting with families of eight Americans still unaccounted for and presumed taken captive by Hamas. He has expressed his commitment to reuniting them with their loved ones, while also warning of the consequences of Israel's "indiscriminate bombing" of Gaza. The Biden administration is working with the UN and other international partners to bring an end to the conflict and to ensure a sustainable peace agreement.
Seven fourth-grade students at Central Elementary School in Amherst County, Virginia experienced a reaction after eating gummy bears from a bag that tested positive for fentanyl. Five of the students were taken to the hospital for medical attention, and two people have been arrested in connection with the incident. The Amherst County Sheriff's Office is urging parents to be aware of what their children are bringing to school and to talk to them about the dangers of consuming unknown substances.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case concerning the accessibility of the abortion drug mifepristone, which was initially approved by the FDA but suspended by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in April 2020. The Biden administration and the maker of the drug are appealing to the Supreme Court to reverse the appellate ruling, which would impose restrictions on the drug, even in states where abortion remains legal. This is the first abortion case since the court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, and could have a significant impact on the accessibility of mifepristone and other abortion drugs.
Oprah Winfrey has revealed that she has recently turned to a weight-loss medication after years of struggling with her weight. She has experienced public ridicule for her size and has internalized the criticism, but now feels "relief, like redemption, like a gift" with the medication. She is using it as a tool to manage her weight and has adopted a holistic approach to her health, hoping to help others to overcome their own struggles with weight and body image.
Michael Manual Jackson-Bolanos, a 28-year-old Detroit man, has been charged with the murder of Detroit synagogue president Samantha Woll. Chief James White of the Detroit Police Department said that Jackson-Bolanos was taken into custody on Sunday and there is no evidence to suggest that the murder was a hate crime. Woll was found dead in her home in October due to a fatal stabbing and Jackson-Bolanos is currently being held in custody and is awaiting trial.
A federal judge has halted proceedings in the criminal case against former President Donald Trump, who is facing charges related to the 2020 election, while his appeal arguing presidential immunity is heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. All pending deadlines and court dates in the case have been put on pause, but not vacated, and if jurisdiction is returned to the judge, she will consider whether to retain or continue the dates of any still-future deadlines and proceedings, including the trial scheduled for March 4, 2024. The appeals court is expected to hear arguments in the case in the coming weeks, with the outcome of the case having major implications for Trump and the future of presidential immunity.