March 18 top stories
It is March 18. Hope your weekend was good. Here are today’s top stories.
Suspect arrested in NJ after deadly PA shootings
Police have arrested Andre Gordon suspected of killing three people in Falls Township, Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Law enforcement officials say all the victims had familial ties to the suspect. Gordon broke into a house in Falls Township on Saturday morning and fatally shot his 52-year-old stepmother and 13-year-old sister. Three others, who were inside the house, were able to hide as Gordon searched for them.
The suspect then drove to another house in Falls Township, where he broke in and fatally shot a 25-year-old woman – with whom he has two children. Gordon also attacked another woman inside the house with his assault rifle. She is currently being treated at a local hospital.
Gordon later fled to a nearby Dollar General store, where he stole a man’s car and traveled to Trenton, New Jersey, where he also has family ties.
Police said the suspect, Andre Gordon, who is believed to be homeless, used an AR-15-style rifle, but it is unclear how he obtained the weapon.
New Jersey authorities said Gordon surrendered peacefully in north Trenton and charged him, 26, on Sunday with multiple charges; carjacking, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of an assault firearm.
2) Judge rules Fani Willis can stay on Trump case if ex-boyfriend withdraws
Judge Scott McAfee ruled Friday that he is allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue on the election subversion case against former President Trump – but giving Willis the option to remove herself or Nathan Wade from the case.
Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor with whom she engaged in a romantic relationship, handed in his resignation letter hours after the ruling. This also came after an embarrassing two months that put Willis and Wade on trial themselves over their romantic relationship.
Willis survives, but the DA and her case are wounded. The detour over her relationship with Wade has left a stain on her case, both in court – where potential jurors are likely to be familiar with the situation – and the broader public, which will vote on whether to return Trump to the White House in November.
It remains unclear if Trump will face trial before November for his actions after the 2020 presidential election.
Ex-college football star arrested in poisoning deaths of girlfriend and unborn baby
According to Nashville Police, Blaise Taylor (27), the son of Texas A&M running backs coach Trooper Taylor, was arrested Thursday night on two charges of first-degree murder.
Per the police report, one year ago Taylor poisoned and subsequently killed his girlfriend, Jade Benning, who was five months pregnant at the time. Police believe the child was fathered by Taylor.
Benning was rushed to the hospital in Nashville on February 25, 2023 after experiencing what Taylor called an “allergic reaction.” The unborn child died two days after Benning’s admission to the hospital. Benning passed away nine days later on March 6.
A thorough investigation was launched involving crime laboratories and DNA evidence following Benning’s death, and a grand jury indicted Taylor last Wednesday.
At the time of Benning’s death, he worked in the NFL’s Tennessee Titans’ scouting department but left the position soon after.
Earlier this month, Taylor joined the A&M Athletics staff as a senior assistant. Taylor was a four-year starter at Arkansas State from 2014 to 2017.
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Lyft, Uber to leave Minneapolis due to minimum wage law
Multiple sources reported that Lyft and Uber said they will cease operations in Minneapolis starting May 1st after the city’s council voted Thursday to override a mayoral veto and require that ride-hailing services increase driver wages to the equivalent of the local minimum wage of $15.57 an hour.
Lyft called the ordinance “deeply flawed.” Uber did not immediately respond to a request for comment from a news outlet.
Critics of the bill say costs will likely spike for everyone, including people with low incomes and people with disabilities who rely on ride-hailing services. Supporters say the services have relied on drivers who are often people of color and immigrants for cheap labor.
Seattle and New York City have passed similar policies in recent years that increase wages for ride-hailing drivers, and Uber and Lyft still operate in those cities.
Alex has an update on the 2024 Russian presidential election. Here it is.
Putin Cements Hold on Russian Leadership
Thanks, Callie.
Russian President Vladimir Putin won his presidential election on Sunday, which extends his rule until 2030. The New York Times said it was a “rubber-stamp presidential election with no real competition.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. President Biden said the elections were obviously not free nor fair.
The Russian government said Putin won 87% of the vote to get his fifth term. He will now increase his grip on power and be able to continue to press on with the war in Ukraine.
A former main political opponent of Putin, Alexei Navalny, died last month in a Russian prison at the age of 47. Many believe that Putin made an order for him to be killed.
Putin mentioned Navalny during his victory speech last night. He claimed that he wanted to release him in a prisoner exchange before he died. Putin said it’s “unfortunate” that he died.
Navalny was a popular figure in Russia and could have been a strong challenger to Putin but he was repeatedly barred from running, was charged with an array of questionable charges, was poisoned, and was imprisoned until he died.
If Putin serves out his fifth term to 2030, he will be the longest-serving Russian leader since the 1700s.
Thanks for that update. That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light!
Suspect arrested in NJ after deadly PA shootings
Judge rules Fani Willis can stay on Trump case if ex-boyfriend withdraws
https://www.reuters.com/legal/georgia-trump-judge-allows-prosecutor-remain-case-2024-03-15/
Ex-college football star arrested in poisoning deaths of girlfriend and unborn baby
Lyft, Uber to leave Minneapolis due to minimum wage law
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/15/business/uber-lyft-minneapolis-minimum-wage/index.html
Putin Cements Hold on Russian Leadership
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/17/world/europe/russia-putin-election.html