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Carlee Russell expected to appear in court

What’s happening: Alabama nursing student Carlethia “Carlee” Russell, who was convicted of falsely telling police she was abducted last year, will appear in court Thursday for a new plea hearing five months after being sentenced by a municipal judge. The latest >
 
Refresh: Russell made national headlines last summer after fabricating a story about being kidnapped when she stopped her car to check on a toddler who was wandering on the side of a highway in Hoover. After police launched massive search efforts, the 26-year-old returned home on her own 49 hours after disappearing. Two weeks later, Russell admitted she made up the story and prosecutors filed charges against her. Timeline of the case >

Escaped inmate and accomplice still at large after Idaho hospital ambush

What’s going on: Investigators are searching for an escaped Idaho prison inmate described as a white supremacist gang member and an accomplice after the accomplice shot corrections officers as they were transporting the inmate from a Boise hospital, authorities said. According to police, accomplice Nicholas Umphenour is suspected of shooting two corrections officers during Wednesday’s ambush in the ambulance bay at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. Umphenour and inmate Skylar Meade drove off after the shooting in a gray 2020 Honda Civic with Idaho plates. It’s not known where they are or where they are headed. The search >

‘Little Rascals’ arrested after bank robbery

Bank robbery: Three boys between the ages of 11 and 16, dubbed the “Little Rascals” on account of their age, were taken into custody in connection with the robbery of a Wells Fargo bank in Texas. According to authorities, the boys passed a teller a threatening note and got away with an undisclosed amount of cash. After investigators released surveillance photos of the young suspects, the parents of two of the boys identified them to law enforcement and the third was recognized by officers. Latest in the case >

Couple talked with Riley Strain before he vanished: Friend

The latest: A close friend of missing Mizzou student Riley Strain’s family said a couple that was visiting Nashville interacted with the 22-year-old on the night he vanished. “The mother reached out, she saw Riley and made a comment, like, ‘You’re not driving tonight?’ and he goes, ‘No ma’am,’” Chris Dingman said. Watch the interview on NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” >
 
The search: Strain went missing March 8 after reportedly being removed from a downtown Nashville bar. On Sunday, Strain’s bank card was found on the embankment of the Cumberland River. Nashville police said there is currently no indication of foul play and have been scrambling to retrace his steps in a bid to unravel the circumstances of his disappearance. Here’s a look at the timeline of events >

New York state urges court not to let Trump forgo $454M bond

What to know: New York state lawyers asked an appellate court Wednesday not to believe former President Donald Trump’s claims it’s impossible for him to post a bond fully covering a $454 million civil fraud judgment while he appeals. Attorneys for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said he couldn’t find an underwriter willing to take on the entire amount, but the state argues Trump and his co-defendants have not explored every option. The latest >

Ex-Nickelodeon producer responds to allegations from child actors

‘Quiet on Set’: Former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider posted an apology video online following the release of “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” a documentary series that details allegations made against him. In the video, the former producer said the series was “embarrassing,” and that he owed some people “a pretty strong apology.” Those interviewed in the series allege Schneider, who produced shows such as “Drake and Josh” and “The Amanda Show,” placed young actresses in overly sexually suggestive scenes, played favorites and made inappropriate comments to and about women on the crew. Full report >

20% of students use financial aid for betting, experts say

March Madness: The NCAA men’s basketball tournament is underway and is one of the largest betting events in the country, experts say. At least 38 states and Washington, D.C., allow some form of legal sports betting, and the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling found that at least one-fifth of college students tap into their financial aid funds for betting. Full breakdown >

 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!

• Reddit shares are expected to commence trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
• NOAA announces its U.S. Spring Outlook.
  

NEWS ACROSS AMERICA

A Texas sheriff recently rescued a desperate migrant abandoned by smugglers in a desolate area of Texas. Watch >
 
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Wednesday that requires local municipalities to ban homeless people from setting up camps or sleeping in public places. What to know about the measure >
 
A New York judge on Wednesday set a trial date for Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran indicted in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway last year. Latest on the case >
 
Taylor Swift fans caused seismic activity during the star’s Los Angeles show last year, California researchers reported. Details on their findings >
 
A Texas man is the subject of a federal investigation after authorities say he boarded a Delta Air Lines flight in Utah without a proper ticket. How he got on the plane >
 
A teacher at a Christian school in Florida was arrested Tuesday after he was accused of using yearbook photos of students to create AI-generated child pornography. What investigators are saying about the case >
 
It may be the old steel mills of Pittsburgh or the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia that first come to mind when thinking of Pennsylvania. But between those two huge metro areas is some of the most productive farmland in the U.S. How lawmakers are aiming to keep it that way >

Veteran offers yoga classes geared toward healing trauma

A 25-year combat veteran in Texas is offering trauma-informed yoga classes for the local military community, but she’s trying to extend her reach so that more people join her classes. Read more >

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