Your Morning: Minnesota mourns officers, firefighter killed
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There’s a lot of news happening today. Let’s dive in:
Minnesota community mourns 2 officers, 1 firefighter killed
What happened: A suburban Minneapolis community is in mourning Monday after investigators say two police officers and a firefighter were killed Sunday at the scene of a domestic call in Burnsville, Minnesota. The suspect also died.
What we know: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said authorities are still piecing together details of what they call a “terrible day.” A SWAT team was called to a domestic situation Sunday at a home in a tree-lined neighborhood in Burnsville. Inside the home, authorities say an armed man had barricaded himself with his family, including seven children ranging in age from 2 to 15.
Negotiations lasted for hours before investigators say the suspect opened fire and fatally shot officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27, from multiple positions within the house. Adam Finseth, 40, a firefighter and paramedic, was also killed.
According to Evans, authorities “still don’t know the exact exchange of gunfire that occurred,” but added that law enforcement did return fire and the suspect was found dead. The suspect’s family and children were released from the home. None of them were hurt. Another police officer, Sgt. Adam Medlicott, is being treated at a hospital for injuries that are not life-threatening.
Truckers boycott NYC after Trump fraud ruling
What’s going on: A group of truckers supportive of former President Donald Trump are boycotting deliveries to New York City following the $355 million fine levied against him in a fraud case.
Refresh: Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron ordered Trump to pay $355 million for inflating his net worth over a decade to secure favorable loans. Under the ruling, Trump is also prohibited from holding officer or director positions in New York companies for three years. Trump called the judge a “very dishonest man” and said he plans to appeal the decision.
Texas will build camp for National Guard members in border city
What to know: Texas plans to build an operations base for up to 1,800 members of the National Guard in Eagle Pass, Texas. The move expands the presence of soldiers in the border city.
Zoom in: The 80-acre property along the Rio Grande will sit a short distance away from Shelby Park, the riverfront area where Texas has installed miles of razor wire and denied access to U.S. Border Patrol agents. The camp will be built in phases of 300 beds every 30 days, with the first phase slated to be completed by April.
California braces for flooding
What to know: Forecasters warn California’s central coast is at risk of “significant flooding,” with up to 5 inches of rain predicted for many areas. Hail, strong winds and brief tornadoes are also possible as the latest in a series of winter storms moves south. This storm is expected to move through quicker than the storms fueled by an atmospheric river earlier this month.
Daytona 500 delayed
Let’s not go racing? NASCAR postponed its season-opening Daytona 500 race until Monday due to two days of rain at Daytona International Speedway. The last time the Daytona 500 was postponed a full day was in 2012.
Times to know: The Xfinity Series is scheduled for Monday at 11 a.m. ET. The Daytona 500 will start after the Xfinity Series race, likely sometime around 4 p.m. ET.
From star to race car: Actor Frankie Muniz, who starred in the early 2000s hit sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle,” will be taking to the Daytona International Speedway, driving in the United Rentals 300 at NASCAR’s Xfinity Series. “I’m just going to go fast,” Muniz told NewsNation.
Meet Lightnin’: The Daytona 500 got its start in 1959, and 103-year-old Juanita “Lightnin’” Epton has been there since Day 1. For some NASCAR fans and drivers, it’s become a tradition to check in on Lightnin’ every year before the Daytona 500. When asked about the secret to her longevity, Epton said, “Well, the secret is I like what I do, and I work with some awfully nice people, so that keeps you in good spirits.”
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!
- The International Court of Justice holds hearings on Israel’s presence in Palestinian territory.
- Russian authorities have extended a probe into Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death.
🌎 News Across America 🌎
A Connecticut woman who discovered she has 22 half-siblings is suing a New Haven fertility doctor, alleging he lied and used his own sperm during insemination in the 1980s. Read more >
Celebrity pastor Joel Osteen’s Houston megachurch held a special service Sunday dedicated to healing a week after a woman opened fire at the church. Read more >
A group of five cyclists were attacked by a cougar on a Washington bike trail Saturday afternoon, leaving one woman hospitalized. Read more >
Two people have been arrested on charges of murder and abuse of a corpse following the discovery of a girl’s body encased in concrete and a boy’s remains in a suitcase in Colorado, according to police. Read more >
A woman recently bypassed a security checkpoint at Nashville International Airport and flew to Los Angeles — all without a boarding pass. Read more >
☀️ Good NewsNation ☀️
College baseball player appears in game with prosthetic leg after boating accident: It was a moment to remember. In the bottom of the eighth inning of Friday’s season opener for East Carolina University, sophomore Parker Byrd was called on to pinch hit. Byrd is now believed to be the first athlete to play in an NCAA Division I game with a prosthetic leg. Read more >