Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will not meet with President Joe Biden when he visits the state this weekend to survey the damage from Hurricane Idalia. Sparky Abrandt, 78, is one of the lucky few whose home has survived the storm, and the Governor's office has said that they are committed to ensuring that the affected communities receive the resources they need to recover. It is unclear whether DeSantis will join the President on the trip.
News Mash
The Republican Party of Nevada has announced that they will be holding a caucus on February 8th to determine the state's presidential primary winner, causing a clash between the 2024 presidential campaigns and party leaders. In response, a super PAC supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' presidential run has suspended its door knocking outreach in Nevada and three other Super Tuesday states. This adjustment is a reminder of the outsized role the PAC has played in DeSantis' campaign, and it is unclear how this decision will affect the outcome of the election.
Mohamed Al Fayed, former owner of Harrods and Fulham Football Club, passed away peacefully of old age on August 30th, 2023. He was most famously known for his son Dodi Fayed, who died in a car crash with Princess Diana in 1997. The family has requested privacy and will be holding a private memorial service in the coming weeks to honor his life and legacy.
German prosecutors have charged a 98-year-old man with being an accessory to murder as a guard at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp between 1943 and 1945. The man is accused of having “supported the cruel and malicious killing of thousands of prisoners” and is facing more than 3,300 counts of being an accessory to murder. If the case goes to trial, he will be tried under juvenile law, taking account of his age at the time of the alleged crimes. This case is a reminder of the need for Germany to continue to investigate and prosecute those who committed such heinous crimes, regardless of their age.
Ruby Franke, a Utah YouTuber with over 2 million followers, and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt were taken into custody this week after authorities received a call about a malnourished child with open wounds and duct tape. Franke's sister Bonnie Hoellein posted a YouTube video expressing shock and sadness, but the link was later made unavailable. Franke and Hildebrandt are currently in custody, but it is unclear what charges they are facing.
In July, the bodies of two sisters and a teenage boy were found in a remote campsite in Colorado's Gunnison National Forest. Autopsy reports released this week suggest that the three likely died of hypothermia and malnutrition, having been exposed to extreme weather conditions. The 14-year-old was found to weigh just 40 pounds, and the family has warned against living off the grid. The Gunnison County Coroner's Office has not yet released the official cause of death, but the family has asked for privacy as they mourn the loss of their loved ones.
Dominic Pezzola, a Proud Boy member, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday for his involvement in the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. He was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding and destruction of government property, and was acquitted of a charge of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. His sentence serves as a warning to those who participated in the attack that they will be held accountable for their actions.
A viral incident occurred in Norfolk, Nebraska this week when police responded to a call about a vehicle with a cow inside, only to find a full-sized bull named Howdy Doody riding shotgun. Lee Meyer, the driver of the modified Ford Crown Victoria sedan, was cited by police for the incident, and the Norfolk police department released a warning about the dangers of transporting animals in a vehicle in a way that endangers their safety or the safety of others. The incident has been a source of amusement, but serves as a reminder to be mindful of the safety of animals and other drivers on the road.