What was recovered from Mar-a-Lago in January?

Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY
·5 min read
2

A National Archives letter to Trump's lawyers in May details the urgency of the Mar-a-Lago search. A former police officer pleads guilty to lying on the Breonna Taylor search warrant. And the story of when a USA TODAY reporter got pulled over by the cops while riding in the Wienermobile.

👋 It's Laura Davis. It's Tuesday. Ready for the news?

But first, baby rhino alert! 🦏 First-time mother rhino, Livia, gave birth to a male white rhino (no name yet) at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The curious new calf is full of energy and super cute. See for yourself.

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe to the newsletter here or text messages here.

🌤 What's the weather up to in your neck of the woods? Check your local forecast here.

National Archives letter: Classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago

Months before FBI agents descended on Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, federal officials were privately outlining the urgency of a Justice Department investigation into the former president's handling of classified documents to Trump's attorneys, according to a May letter from the National Archives and Records Administration. Here's what we know.

  • In the letter: The acting archivist summarily rejected Trump's efforts to shield documents from scrutiny and notified attorneys that FBI agents would begin reviewing an initial cache of highly sensitive materials recovered from Trump's Florida property in January.

  • The January search: More than 100 classified documents were recovered in the initial 15 boxes of documents transferred to the National Archives from Mar-a-Lago – more than 700 pages – and some include the highest levels of classification, according to the letter. In the August search, 11 sets of classified documents and more than 20 boxes were carted away from the property.

Mar-a-Lago in Florida
Mar-a-Lago in Florida

🗳 Primary election live updates: Florida voters on Tuesday will pick a Democratic rival for Gov. Ron DeSantis. Meanwhile, a longtime Democratic New York House member will lose their seat in a primary. Follow along here.

Ex-detective pleads guilty in Breonna Taylor search-warrant cover-up

Former Louisville Metro Police Detective Kelly Hanna Goodlett pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of conspiring to violate the civil rights of Breonna Taylor for helping falsify an affidavit for the search of Taylor's apartment that ended in her death in March 2020. Goodlett admitted she lied about a postal inspector verifying that Taylor was receiving packages for her ex-boyfriend at her apartment before the raid. She faces a sentence of up to five years in prison. Keep reading.

A mural in Annapolis, Maryland, honors Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed by members of the Louisville Metro Police Department in March 2020.
A mural in Annapolis, Maryland, honors Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed by members of the Louisville Metro Police Department in March 2020.

What everyone's talking about

The Short List is free, but several stories we link to are subscriber-only. Consider supporting our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

What if I don't pay my federal student loans?

Don't want to look at how much you owe on student loans? You’re not alone. The pause on federal student loans has been extended multiple times since the beginning of the pandemic. But if you've seen jokes about never paying back your loans, "lol" and keep scrolling. Here's what happens if you don't pay.

Here's the deal:

  • What not to do: Don't adopt the "ostrich" method and "just put your head in the sand," experts say. Tackle it head on.

  • If you miss a payment: The student loan can go into default, which can damage your credit. You might also lose repayment plan options and face other penalties.

  • Having trouble making payments? You may have options. Contact the federal loan provider and explain the situation to explore repayment plans, forgiveness or other options.

👉 Student loan freeze: President Joe Biden could announce as soon as Wednesday the long-awaited decision whether to forgive $10,000 in student loan debt.

Too Much Talent Band performs during a rally to urge President Joe Biden to cancel student debt near the White House in Washington D.C., Wednesday, July 27, 2022.
Too Much Talent Band performs during a rally to urge President Joe Biden to cancel student debt near the White House in Washington D.C., Wednesday, July 27, 2022.

Bans off our books: Librarians take center stage in culture wars

Librarians have become targets of a new front in the culture wars over what and how to teach children about race and sex. Educators, including librarians, are being harassed more often amid a record-high number of book banning efforts. As the number of school librarians keeps dropping, many remain committed to their jobs – but wonder how much they can take. Read more about the challenges librarians face.

Martha Hickson is a veteran school librarian in New Jersey who was harassed and nearly booted from her job last year for refusing to remove controversial books from her library’s collection.
Martha Hickson is a veteran school librarian in New Jersey who was harassed and nearly booted from her job last year for refusing to remove controversial books from her library’s collection.

Real quick

📆 The Farmers' Almanac winter forecast just dropped. And it's gonna be frigid in some places. "Hibernation zone, glacial, snow-filled," to be exact. Yikes. See the forecast here.

A reporter's dream assignment on the Wienermobile

Handing the reins to reporter Cady Stanton for this one. Enjoy. 😊

On a hot July day, I sat waiting in the lobby of USA TODAY's Washington, D.C., bureau. When a large flash of orange and yellow passed by, I knew my ride had arrived: the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. I was setting out to meet the people — aka Hotdoggers — who drive the 27-foot long, 6-ton novelty vehicle. After hopping in, I was offered the spot of "shot-bun" in the front and reminded to buckle my "meat-belt." There's a certain childlike, giddy joy that comes from seeing a giant hot dog driving down city streets. People were waving. But about 30 minutes in, our drive was suddenly disrupted – we were getting pulled over. Keep reading.

A selfie inside the Wienermobile during our ride.
A selfie inside the Wienermobile during our ride.

A break from the news

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Subscribe to the newsletter here or text messages here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: National Archives Mar-a-Lago letter, Breonna Taylor, student loans. It's Tuesday's news.