History repeats itself
Former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial is underway. Multiple people were injured in a shooting in Minnesota. And be sure to tell your conspiracy theorist friends that COVID-19 did not leak from a lab in China.
It's Ashley with the news to know.
But first, cat got your tongue? A lawyer was forced to tell a judge "I'm not a cat" during a hilarious Zoom kitten filter mishap. 😸
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Trump's impeachment trial has begun
They say history repeats itself, so I suppose that brings us here: Trump’s second impeachment trial kicked off Tuesday. It’s historic not only because Trump is the first president to be impeached twice, but because he stands trial after he left office. Here's what you need to know:
How’d we get here? Why Trump was impeached a second time
The House voted to impeach the then-president one week after a pro-Trump mob ransacked the US Capitol as lawmakers voted to certify the results of President Joe Biden's victory in the November election. Five people died in the assault.
Today’s agenda: Whether the trial is constitutional
Six Republicans joined Democrats in voting that Trump’s impeachment trial is constitutional, allowing proceedings to move forward on its opening day. Trump’s legal team argued the case should be thrown out because he is no longer in office. But Democrats countered that they do have jurisdiction to hold the proceeding against a former official, citing previous impeachment trials involving officials after they left office. Now that the trial has been deemed constitutional, the Senate is set to begin hearing evidence Wednesday.
What are the odds: Will Trump be convicted?
At least 17 Republican senators would need to join all 50 Democrats to convict Trump by a two-thirds majority. A conviction, though unlikely, means Trump would be barred from ever holding office again. Most Republican senators have made their positions known about the trial, but a handful of GOP senators have no official statement regarding whether they will convict or not.
5 injured in shooting at Minnesota clinic
Authorities say five people were injured and one person was in custody Tuesday after a shooting at a health clinic in Buffalo, Minnesota. The state's governor confirmed that improvised explosive devices were involved in the incident. "It was an active shooter situation and some improvised explosive devices. It’s not confirmed yet the casualties or those injured," Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Tuesday afternoon. One suspect, who appears to have acted alone, was taken into custody, Walz said. The suspect's motive was unclear.
What everyone’s talking about
Princess Eugenie, one of Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren, gave birth to a baby boy, her first child and the monarch's 9th great-grandchild.
"Nothing but political downside": Why President Biden is steering clear of Donald Trump's second impeachment.
"To them, I'm just Dad": After three titles before parenthood, Tom Brady cherishes Super Bowls with children.
Snow, ice, bitter cold: Winter to hit hard this week as polar vortex descends on the nation.
Within days, you might be able to get a vaccine from your pharmacy: CVS, Walgreens, other pharmacies to begin delivering COVID-19 vaccines.
Kobe Bryant crash caused by pilot's poor decision-making, NTSB says
The National Transportation Safety Board concluded Tuesday that pilot Ara Zobayan's poor decision-making probably caused the helicopter crash involving NBA star Kobe Bryant. The NTSB found that Zobayan was flying under visual flight rules, which means he had to be able to see where he was going, but chose to fly into thick clouds, where he became spatially disoriented. Investigators also attributed fault to the company that operated the flight, citing its "inadequate review and oversight of its safety management processes." The NTSB's long-awaited findings come a little more than a year after the helicopter crashed in California, killing all nine people on board including Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.
It’s settled: It’s 'extremely unlikely' that COVID-19 originated in Wuhan lab
Conspiracy theorists, this one is for you: World Health Organization investigators said Tuesday that they would no longer pursue research into whether the coronavirus leaked from a lab in Wuhan, China. The WHO had spent several weeks on a fact-finding mission in Wuhan, where COVID-19 was first identified. Peter Ben Embarek, a food safety and animal diseases expert, announced that there was not enough evidence to support a hypothesis that the virus escaped from a Chinese biosafety laboratory in Wuhan – the Wuhan Institute of Virology – and that the WHO stood by its previous determination that COVID-19 most likely entered the human population through an intermediate animal.
Where did COVID-19 come from? A bat tucked inside a remote Chinese cave.
Real quick
A veteran Washington state trooper was killed in an alarming stretch of avalanches in the U.S.
Ohio serial killer Anthony Sowell, convicted in the killings of 11 women, has died in prison.
Dr. Laura Berman's 16-year-old son Samuel has died of an overdose: "My beautiful boy is gone."
Paris Hilton testified about abuse she says she suffered years ago at a boarding school in Utah.
Explainer: Here's how the Democrats' proposed $3,600 tax credit would work.
Mourning the loss of two legends
Singer Mary Wilson, who co-founded the legendary Motown group The Supremes, died unexpectedly on Monday at her home in Henderson, Nevada. She was 76. Diana Ross, who began singing with Wilson when the two were teenagers, wrote her a touching tribute: "I am reminded that each day is a gift," Ross tweeted, adding that she has "so many wonderful memories of our time together" and knows "The Supremes' will live on, in our hearts."
Marty Schottenheimer, a legendary NFL head coach, has died at 77. Schottenheimer posted a 200-126-1 record over 21 seasons with four teams, but is perhaps best known for suffering agonizingly close losses in the playoffs. Schottenheimer was known as a "player's coach," forming deep bonds with those who shared a locker room with him.
A break from the news
🍕 Save some dough today for National Pizza Day: Here’s where to find deals and get free pizza today.
💜 A few days until Valentine's Day! 14 amazing gifts to get on sale right now.
💰 USA TODAY's money editor Josh Rivera wrote about investing and some common questions from newbies and those thinking about joining the market.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump impeachment, Mary Wilson, Buffalo shooting, Kobe Bryant: Tuesday's news
