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Riley Strain’s parents ‘unsure’ about last text before disappearance

What’s happening: A Missouri family continues to hold out hope that their son Riley Strain will return home safely after he disappeared while in Nashville earlier this month. The parents of the missing Mizzou student say they’re unaware who he last communicated with before he went missing. A family friend told “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” on Monday that Strain’s last communication was an unclear text message he sent to a new girl he was seeing. “She texted him to see how he was doing, if he was having fun. He sent kind of a scripted text back to her saying ‘Good lops,’” the friend said. Strain’s mother told “Banfield” she’s not sure who that text could be from: “I’m not sure … He’s got several friends that are female, male. I don’t know the individual he talked to at that time.” How the family’s feeling about the investigation >
 
New video: On Monday, body camera footage showing a brief interaction between Strain and a Nashville police officer was released. Watch >
 
Refresh: Strain, a University of Missouri college senior, vanished 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. Here’s a look at the timeline of events following Strain’s disappearance >

RFK Jr.: Government shouldn’t be involved in social media censorship

2024: Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he doesn’t think the government should be involved when it comes to censoring social media. “Social media sites are welcome to have community rules where they can censor stuff. But once the government gets involved, then the First Amendment is implicated,” Kennedy said on “CUOMO” Monday night. Watch the interview >
 
Zoom in: Kennedy’s comments come as the Supreme Court heard the first of three free speech cases Monday. The court heard arguments in Murthy v. Missouri, a case that could dictate how much the government can communicate with social media platforms. What to know >

Reddit, YouTube must face lawsuits claiming they enabled Buffalo shooter

What’s going on: Reddit and YouTube were ordered by a New York state judge to face lawsuits seeking to hold them responsible for allegedly helping enable the white supremacist who killed 10 Black people in 2022 at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket. The latest >

Shootings, fights hit Florida beaches despite restrictions

Crime on the beach: Despite efforts to ensure safety during spring break, Florida beaches are experiencing a wave of criminal activities, including violence, reported drug dealing and a teen allegedly pulling out a gun in a crowd. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood described the chaos in an interview with “On Balance” host Leland Vittert >

Fathers who lost children to fentanyl visit southern border

What’s happening: Ohio residents Mark Murphy and Tom Quehl are two fathers who have both lost a child to fentanyl. Their quest to make sure no one else goes through the same ordeal led them to the U.S.-Mexico border, where the deadly drug is illegally smuggled into the U.S. Murphy said after his daughter’s death there were a lot of “What ifs” for him. But now, he tells NewsNation correspondent Ali Bradley he’s focused on “what is.” “‘What is’ is our opportunity to really make a mark, really help people out — especially moms and dads that are suffering,” Murphy said. Their efforts and border tour >

 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!

• Presidential primary elections are being held in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas and Ohio.
• The U.S. Supreme Court hears a case regarding expert testimony in a drug trafficking case.
• NCAA March Madness First Four games are set for Tuesday.
• The House Foreign Affairs committee holds a hearing on the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
  

NEWS ACROSS AMERICA

New York City Mayor Eric Adams allegedly sexually assaulted a former NYPD administrative aide when the two worked together in 1993, a new complaint filed Monday claims. The latest >
 
Chinese-affiliated electric battery company Gotion is suing the Michigan town of Green Charter Township over its leaders’ objections to the construction of a plant near Big Rapids. What to know >
 
A Kentucky boy has died after eating a bunch of strawberries that were purchased from a school fundraiser, according to police. Full report >
 
Florida resident Ana Knezevich has been missing in Spain for over 40 days, and her estranged husband reportedly refused a polygraph test when the FBI offered him one. Watch “CUOMO” coverage of the case >
 
Explicit photos generated by artificial intelligence and passed around an Illinois high school have prompted a police investigation. Full report >
 
Police in Philadelphia are investigating after they say a child’s body was found inside a duffel bag in West Philadelphia’s Mantua neighborhood. The latest >
 
State officials in Connecticut are launching a public service announcement this week aimed at warning families of cannabis edibles designed to look like kid-friendly snacks. A closer look >
 
A California man is helping homeowners remove squatters from their properties as the issue of squatting takes hold in cities across the U.S. “NewsNation Now” report >

Elderly adventure-seeker skydives for first time

86-year-old Tennessee native Jean Overbay decided one day that she wanted to go skydiving, and that’s exactly what she did. Overbay’s life motto is: “If it isn’t dangerous, then it ain’t worth it.” Read more >

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