Minnesota authorities are investigating the deaths of two women, Manijeh “Mani” Starren and Fanta Xayavong, whose bodies were found in separate storage units in the state. Starren had been reported missing by a tipster who said he had been threatened by Joseph Jorgenson, the man they both dated. Xayavong was reported missing by the same tipster who said she may have been a victim of sex trafficking. Jorgenson has been charged with second-degree murder in Starren's death.
News Mash
Residents of Seffner, Florida were shocked to find that the sinkhole that had opened up in 2013 and swallowed a man sleeping in his own house had reopened for a third time. Hillsborough County officials are monitoring the sinkhole and taking steps to ensure the safety of the surrounding area, reassuring residents that none of the homes appear to be in danger. The sinkhole has been filled with sand and rock and secured with chain-link fencing each time it has reopened.
At the two-day NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, tensions between Kyiv and Western capitals were on full display, highlighting fundamental divisions between the war-torn country and its Western partners. Despite attempts to paper over any discord, the summit revealed a complicated relationship between Kyiv and Western capitals, with debates over Ukraine's potential NATO membership being acrimonious and emotionally fraught. Ultimately, a statement was issued that Ukraine was “on the path to NATO membership”, though some analysts have argued this is unwise and unnecessary.
The University of Idaho has reversed its decision to demolish the house where four college students were brutally stabbed to death last November, following outrage from some of the victims' families. The university has apologized for not consulting the families and has promised to work with them to ensure that the house is preserved in a way that honors the victims, and to create a memorial for the victims. The university has not yet announced what will happen to the house after October.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has been removed from the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative lawmakers founded in 2015 to advance conservative policies. Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) made definitive comments on the matter during an appearance on NBC News' “Meet the Press NOW”. Greene, however, said she had not been informed of her ousting and was not concerned about it. Despite her removal, Greene said she had no time for the “drama club” and was not concerned about her ousting from the Freedom Caucus.
Relatives of the victims of a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York in 2022 have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against social media companies, weapon manufacturers, and gun retailers. The lawsuit, announced by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, seeks damages for the 10 people killed in the attack, as well as for the survivors and the victims’ families. It is a reminder of the need for increased regulation of online platforms and the need to address the proliferation of hate speech and conspiracy theories.
Ray Epps, a Trump supporter who attended the protests in Washington on January 6th, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News and former host Tucker Carlson. The suit alleges that Fox News and Carlson used Epps as a “scapegoat” after the Capitol assault, falsely claiming he was an undercover FBI agent responsible for the mob that broke into the Capitol. The suit seeks punitive and compensatory damages and argues that Fox News and Carlson recklessly disregarded the truth in a “years-long campaign” of false claims.
A Greyhound passenger bus crashed into three commercial motor vehicles on Interstate 70 in Madison County, Illinois, resulting in three fatalities and 14 injuries. Four people were taken to the hospital by helicopter and at least 10 others were taken by ambulance. The cause of the crash is still under investigation and the identities of the victims have not yet been released.