Your Morning: Biden to visit Ohio a year after train derailment
A Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, causing around 1,500 to evacuate. To avoid an explosion, officials vented and burned five tank cars, releasing 116,000 gallons of vinyl chloride, which is a carcinogen, into the air.
Minutes later, a toxic plume of smoke smothered the region. Although the Environmental Protection Agency gave the OK for residents to return three days later, they reported rashes and sickness when they came back to East Palestine.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
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There’s a lot going on Friday! Let’s dive in:
Biden travels to Ohio train derailment site
What’s happening: President Joe Biden on Friday will visit the site of last year’s train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Facing heat: Republicans have blasted the president for not making the trip sooner, as some residents feel the government has downplayed their health and safety concerns. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to criticism, saying, “The president has always said when the time is right and when it made sense for him to go, he would go.”
2024 election: Biden is venturing into the village of 5,000 that’s considered Republican territory amid his reelection campaign. During the president’s visit, there will be a separate rally for former President Donald Trump. The sentiment from residents on Biden’s response has been: “He should’ve been here.” The White House has emphasized that officials with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were on the ground within hours of the derailment.
Background: On the evening of Feb. 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed as it traveled through East Palestine, spilling toxic chemicals, including vinyl chloride, into the area. Then, the train was intentionally set on fire in what officials said was a controlled burn to guard against a larger possible explosion. This has sparked health concerns among residents.
Calls for disaster declaration: Ahead of Biden’s visit to East Palestine, a watchdog group sent the president a letter asking him to issue a major disaster declaration for the community, provide long-term health care for residents, ramp up environmental testing and give relocation funding to those wanting to leave the area. The EPA says it has removed more than 176,000 tons of hazardous waste from East Palestine and removed or treated more than 49 million gallons of water.
Russia’s prison service: Opposition leader Alexei Navalny has died
Breaking news: Alexei Navalny, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest foes who staged anti-Kremlin protests, died in prison Friday. He was 47. The Federal Prison Service said Navalny, who was serving a 19-year sentence, felt unwell after a walk and lost consciousness.
10-year-old survives gunshot after Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade
Parade shooting: 10-year-old Sam Arellano told NewsNation he survived a gunshot wound following Wednesday’s Super Bowl parade in Missouri. Arellano hid behind a trash can when he heard the shots, something he credits his school for teaching him to do. He was shot in the torso, and the bullet missed his lung by about four inches.
Latest developments: Two juveniles remain in police custody Friday morning in connection to the Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting earlier this week. A third person, originally detained at the scene, has since been released. No charges have been filed. One person died and 22 others were injured after police say a dispute between several people broke out into gunfire.
5 revelations from the explosive Fani Willis hearing in Georgia
What happened: Tensions exploded Thursday during a hearing to determine whether Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from the 2020 election interference prosecution of former President Donald Trump due to a relationship with another prosecutor in the case. Willis took the witness stand to defend her once-romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. “I’m not on trial, no matter how hard you try to put me on trial,” Willis said.
What’s next: Willis is expected to return to the witness stand Friday.
Verdict in Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial expected Friday
What’s going on: A verdict is expected Friday in former President Donald Trump’s New York civil fraud trial. Trump could be hit with millions of dollars in penalties and other sanctions.
Zoom in: Judge Arthur Engoron has already ruled Trump inflated his wealth on financial statements given to banks and insurers to secure loans. In the case, New York Attorney General Letitia James is seeking $370 million and a ban on the former president and other defendants from doing business in the state. Trump has denied any wrongdoing. His lawyers insist they will appeal if Engoron rules against him.
White House: Russia has obtained a ‘troubling’ emerging anti-satellite weapon
What to know: The White House confirmed Thursday that Russia has obtained a “troubling” emerging anti-satellite weapon but said it can’t directly cause “physical destruction.” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said such a weapon is not currently operational. The White House confirmed intelligence after a warning Wednesday from the Republican head of the House Intelligence Committee, Ohio Rep. Mike Turner.
What we’re watching 👀
We’re keeping an eye on these topics today. Make sure you tune in to our latest coverage and share your thoughts with us on social media!
- One of the suspects in the Times Square attack on NYPD officers will be arraigned Friday.
- Charles McGonigal, the former head of intelligence for the FBI’s New York office, is set to be sentenced after pleading guilty to concealing cash from an outside source.
- French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to sign a bilateral security agreement.
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Today’s Take 📺
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