Daily Briefing: Diplomats flee Sudan
United States diplomats were airlifted from Sudan's capital while many Sudanese citizens desperately seek to flee the chaos amid a violent power struggle. Also in the news: Jury selection begins Monday in the trial involving a 2018 shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, and despite years advocating against abortion access, Republicans are now struggling to align their messaging.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Stressful Monday morning? Try mindfulness meditation.
Now, here we go with Monday's news.
Diplomats flee Sudan fighting as citizens struggle to escape
Details have emerged from the dramatic evacuation of U.S. diplomats from the Sudanese capital of Khartoum while aid workers and other Americans remained imperiled amid the raging warfare. US officials said Americans remaining in Sudan need to "shelter in place" while the U.S. works with international partners to arrange their safe exit. More than 420 people, including 264 civilians, have been killed and more than 3,700 wounded in the fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. Read more
39 bodies have been dug up in a cult investigation in Kenya.
Just 10 years ago, women were banned from combat. Now, they're on the front lines, climbing the ranks.
Trial begins in 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting
Jury selection is set to begin in the federal death penalty trial of a truck driver accused of shooting to death 11 Jewish worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Robert G. Bowers, from the Pittsburgh suburb of Baldwin, faces 63 counts in the Oct. 27, 2018, attack at the Tree of Life synagogue where members of three Jewish congregations were holding Sabbath activities. Jury selection begins Monday. If convicted, Bowers could get the death penalty. The 50-year-old offered to plead guilty in return for a life sentence, but federal prosecutors turned him down. Watch a video of congregants speaking out ahead of the trial.
More news to know now
A new border security plan is expected this week before Title 42 lifts.
Ken Potts, one of the last two survivors of USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor, has died at 102.
NBCUniversal's CEO is leaving the company after an ''inappropriate relationship.''
The Tennessee Three are set to meet with Biden at the White House on Monday.
Potential severe weather is expected in Florida Monday as spring chill conditions will overtake much of the country.
On today's 5 Things podcast, what new polling tells us about President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.
What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
Republicans seek footing on abortion
As the Republican Party struggles to present a consensus on abortion, 2024 hopefuls at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition spring kickoff event were quick to praise the U.S. Supreme Court for overturning Roe v. Wade and jockey for support among evangelical voters in Iowa.
Declared and potential 2024 candidates called for a restoration of faith in America over the weekend – railing against abortion, medical care for transgender kids, schools and President Joe Biden.
But 2024 hopefuls continue to disagree on the next steps for abortion law. Trump called himself “the most pro-life president in American history" while speaking at the event. Meanwhile, Former Vice President Mike Pence criticized Trump for not being open to federal restrictions.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he would sign into law a 15-week national abortion ban if he were president, a departure from his previous stance when he said the issue should be left up to individual states.
Republicans will “lose huge” in 2024 if states keep passing restrictive abortion ban, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., warned in a television interview.
Here's the latest on the Supreme Court halting restrictions on mifepristone and threats from anti-abortion groups to ditch Trump.
The way the IRS operates is about to undergo a major change
Following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, the Internal Revenue Service will receive nearly $80 billion in added funding from now through fiscal year 2031 to catch up with backlogs, hire more employees, implement 21st-century technology, go after increasingly sophisticated tax cheats and, in short, reinvent itself. The agency envisions significant changes to improve taxpayer services, quickly resolve problems, use technology to operate more effectively, expand the workforce, improve its culture and collect a lot more money from corporations, partnerships and wealthy individuals. Read more
Mortgage fees are changing for homebuyers next month.
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Coachella 2023's second weekend: Zendaya, Calvin Harris and Bad Bunny
Coachella's second weekend featured most of the same artists as the first weekend but it's far from a carbon copy. Frank Ocean was out as Sunday's headliner and was replaced by Blink-182, who a week ago was the surprise guest act. Yet, Blink-182 didn't close out the music and arts festival – that honor went to EDM star Skrillex, along with fellow DJs Fred Again and Four Tet. The final performances in the desert included surprise appearances by Zendaya and Sia with Labrinth – and Bad Bunny's apology for seemingly shading Harry Styles. Read more
Photo gallery: Coachella 2023 photos of Chromeo, Labrinth, Eladio Carrión and more.
Quick hits
The cheesecake was poisoned, the passport was stolen, the sentence is in: 21 years for attempted murder.
Girls need to know about their periods. Now Florida Republicans want to ban that, too.
The NBA is likely to investigate Dejounte Murray’s conduct after the Hawks' Game 4 loss to Celtics.
Spotted lanternfly eggs are hatching soon: ''Eliminate'' them before they spread, officials say.
The hot weather is here — shop the best beach tents on Amazon.
Photo of the day: The Daily Front Row's Annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards
Kim Kardashian, Keanu Reaves, Miley Cyrus and more celebrities gathered Sunday at the Beverly Hills Hotel for the Fashion Los Angeles Awards hosted by Daily Front Row Magazine to present their respective stylists with awards and share memories of working with them over the years.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.
Associated Press contributed reporting.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diplomats flee Sudan, Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial, GOP on abortion, Coachella: Daily Briefing
