Daily Briefing: A verdict in fewer than three hours
A South Carolina jury found disbarred attorney Richard "Alex" Murdaugh guilty of murder in the 2021 killings of his wife and son. Also in the news: A historic meeting between the U.S. and Russia and updates from the 2023 NFL Combine.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Happy Women's History Month. Here's a look at back at significant milestones for women in Congress.
Here's Friday's news.
Money, murder mystery
Former South Carolina attorney Richard "Alex" Murdaugh will be sentenced by a judge Friday morning after a jury found him guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. The minimum sentence for murder is 30 years in prison. The South Carolina Attorney General's Office is seeking life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The background: Murdaugh's wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22, were found fatally shot near dog kennels at the family's home on June 7, 2021. Murdaugh admitted in court that he lied to investigators when he told them he was not at the kennels before finding their bodies.
This has been a long, complex trial. After listening to more than five weeks of testimony from over 75 witnesses — including Murdaugh himself — the jury traveled Wednesday to the house where Murdaugh's family was fatally shot.
Murdaugh himself took the stand in his own defense last week. He repeatedly denied killing his family and suggested that a 2019 boat crash that Paul was involved in is the reason they were killed.
Murdaugh admitted to repeatedly lying to investigators about his whereabouts the night of the murders, citing his distrust for local law enforcement and paranoia induced by drug addiction.
👉 Keep reading: Here's our analysis on why Murdaugh took the stand, a read about the Murdaugh wives and what you should know about Netflix's three-part docuseries, "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal."
Ukraine denies attacking Russian civilians
A Ukrainian official on Thursday dismissed as "classic provocation" Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim that about 50 Ukrainian terrorists attacked villages in the Bryansk region of western Russia. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said in a tweet that Russia "wants to scare its people to justify the attack on another country." Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke briefly at the Group of 20 nations meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. The encounter marks the first time the two countries have met at a senior level since Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago, souring relations between Washington and Moscow. Read more
Go deeper: Blinken, Lavrov meet for first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
More news to know now
🚆 Federal investigators have new concerns about equipment involving the East Palestine train derailment.
⚫ Police: Idaho student murder suspect had a gun, knives, masks and gloves at family home.
💵 Sen. Joe Manchin floats a ''better program'' for the future of Social Security.
🛒 Here's why communities are pushing back against dollar stores.
🏈 Here's what we know about top NFL draft prospect Jalen Carter's role in a fatal crash.
🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, Hampton County Guardian Managing Editor Michael DeWitt, Jr. looks at how a guilty verdict was reached in the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.
🌤 What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
Ron DeSantis to make Iowa debut
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will make his Iowa debut next week with stops in Davenport and Des Moines as he flirts with an expected presidential run later this year. Polling shows that DeSantis has risen as an early favorite in the Republican presidential primary race, particularly as a possible foil to former President Donald Trump, who announced a campaign late last year. This will be DeSantis's first visit to the first-in-the-nation caucus state. Read more
An emotional meeting ended with DeSantis' New College of Florida board abolishing its diversity office.
Biden wants more nursing home staff, but owners say they need more funding.
More politics: Biden's new cybersecurity strategy shifts the burden from people to Big Tech.
Drag show restrictions, ban on gender-affirming care for minors signed into Tennessee law
Tennessee became the latest state to totally ban gender-affirming health care for transgender youth after Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill prohibiting surgeries and hormone treatments. Lee also signed the first law of its kind in the country that advocates fear severely restricts drag performances on public property, with language prohibiting "adult-oriented" entertainment harmful to children, including by "male and female impersonators." The legislation was filed after a flurry of controversies over drag shows across the state. Read more
Just for subscribers:
🐋 🦞Saving endangered right whales pits advocates against lobstermen.
🚗 Could GM surpass Tesla as the top-selling EV maker in the US?
📦 Here's how FedEx, Amazon and UPS are cutting costs.
✏ Biden touts immigration ideals. When will he protect Dreamers like me from deportation?
These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here.
New movies this week
This weekend, Michael B. Jordan is back for another "Creed" film in the long-running "Rocky" boxing franchise – directing this time and starring opposite Jonathan Majors – while Jason Statham reteams with his frequent collaborator, action director Guy Ritchie, for a globetrotting spy comedy with Aubrey Plaza, Josh Hartnett and Hugh Grant. Here's a guide to new movies that will satisfy every cinematic taste.
Angela Bassett is long overdue for an Oscar. Her advice? ''Just hang in there, girl.''
Time announced its 2023 Women of the Year: Quinta Brunson, Cate Blanchett, more honored.
TV Review: Riley Keough can sing, but ''Daisy Jones & the Six'' is a featherweight flop.
📷 Photo of the day: 2023 NFL scouting combine 📷
Workouts at the NFL scouting combine officially began Thursday in Indianapolis, Indiana, with defensive linemen and linebackers taking the field for drills and testing. Who will create the biggest buzz this year? Click here to read live updates on players' performances and click here for more photos from the drills in Indy.
One more thing
🐜 A giant flying bug found on the side of a Walmart is a Jurassic-era insect.
✊ Starbucks violated labor laws during unionization efforts, a judge ruled.
💲 Which college majors earn the most (and least) money after graduation?
🗨 With Netflix password sharing on the chopping block, here are other streaming services you can use.
🎤 Bad Bunny surprises Ivy Queen: Here are the top moments from the 2023 Billboard Women in Music awards.
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: Murdaugh trial, Russia, Ukraine, DeSantis, NFL Combine: Daily Briefing
