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Here’s what’s happening today:
New study links COVID-19 vaccine to possible health issues
What to know: A new study found possible links between COVID-19 vaccines and slight increases in neurological, blood and heart-related conditions such as myocarditis, pericarditis and Guillain-Barre syndrome. The study is the largest of its kind since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Researchers stressed that an association between the vaccine and adverse side effects does not prove the vaccine caused them and that side effects were rare. Over the past three years, more than 13.5 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered around the world.
US set to veto UN’s Gaza cease-fire resolution
What’s happening: The U.N. Security Council is set to vote Tuesday on a resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. The U.S. has said it would veto the measure because it’s trying to make a deal on its own that would bring a truce in the Israel-Hamas war and release hostages held by Hamas. The latest >
Person of interest named in 11-year-old Texas girl’s disappearance
The latest: The Texas Department of Public Safety named Don Steven McDougal, 42, as a person of interest in the disappearance of an 11-year-old Texas girl who’s been missing since last week. Audrii Cunningham was supposed to catch a bus near her home in Polk County on Thursday but never showed up to school. A small backpack was found Friday near Lake Livingston Dam northeast of Houston, and now a massive search effort is underway in that area.
Person of interest: McDougal was arrested Friday on an unrelated charge of aggravated assault. The Texas Department of Public Safety said McDougal, who lives in a camper behind the home where Cunningham lives, is a family friend and was the last person to see the 11-year-old. McDougal has previous child enticement charges, but he was not required to register as a sex offender. While police consider McDougal their main person of interest, they’re not ruling out anyone else.
How to help: Polk County Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for Cunningham’s disappearance. People can contact the Sheriff’s Office at 936-327-6810 or the Polk County Crime Stoppers line at 936-327-7867 to submit tips.
Ex-YouTube parenting influencer Ruby Franke set to be sentenced
What to know: Utah mom and former YouTube star Ruby Franke and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt are set to be sentenced Tuesday. Franke pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse in December.
Video concerns: In 2020, the “8 Passengers” YouTube channel sparked controversy when one of Franke’s sons said he was forced to sleep on a beanbag as punishment for his prank on a sibling, and another video shows Franke saying she refused to bring food to her then-6-year-old daughter at school.
The arrests: Franke and Hildebrandt were arrested on six felony counts each of aggravated child abuse in August of last year after Franke’s 12-year-old son escaped Hildebrandt’s home, and a neighbor called police because the child appeared malnourished and had duct tape on his ankles and wrists. Responding officers also reported finding Franke’s 10-year-old daughter appearing to be malnourished inside Hildebrandt’s home. Find a timeline retracing key details of the case here >
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!
- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange begins his final legal battle to avoid extradition to the U.S. to face spying charges.
- Actor Pierce Brosnan, accused of trespassing in a Yellowstone thermal area, is due in court.
- Prosecutors are expected to provide an update on the court case of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the former Los Angeles-area gang leader charged with murder in the 1996 killing of hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur.
🌎 News Across America 🌎
Alabama’s Supreme Court has ruled frozen embryos are children under state law and subject to legislation dealing with the wrongful death of a minor. What we know >
Lawmakers in Hawaii are on the verge of passing a new initiative for the U.S.: a $25 “climate tax” targeting tourists. The latest on the proposal >
You’ve heard of “Snakes on a Plane,” but what about a snake on a chopper? Well, that was the case for coast guard crews in Florida. Check out a photo >
Does it feel like you’re seeing or smelling more skunks out lately? A small mammals expert in Oklahoma has the reason why >
A “superbug” that causes serious infections continues to spread in Las Vegas hospitals and health care facilities, reaching its highest levels in January. Read more >
The nation’s capital is seeing an uptick in youth violence and crime, but an organization in Washington, D.C., is mentoring at-risk teens and providing support to get to the root of the issue. Read more >
☀️ Good NewsNation ☀️
Teenager with Down syndrome completes Austin half-marathon: With the help of a friend, 18-year-old Owen Rawl completed the Austin Half-Marathon on Sunday morning. “I feel amazing,” Rawl told NewsNation affiliate KXAN. Read more >
