Daily Briefing: Revived fear and trauma for Asian Americans

Shootings in a largely Asian American community in California have sent shockwaves among people who are still trying to regain equilibrium after waves of anti-Asian violence in recent years. Also in the news: A protest over the death of an environmental activist grew violent in Atlanta and the NFL's conference championship games are set.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Why do Americans talk so slow?

Now, here we go with Monday's news.

Monterey Park shooting leaves at least 10 dead

As investigators began probing the killing of five women and five men at a dance studio in this predominately Asian American community in California, Asian Americans across the nation say the incident has revived the fears and trauma brought on by a wave of hate incidents and tragedies over the last few years.

Context: The incident occurred at Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park on Saturday night, just after the city had launched its annual Lunar New Year festival.

• What we know: About 20 to 30 minutes after the suspected gunman killed 10 people at Star Ballroom Dance Studio, 72-year-old Huu Can Tran entered Lai Lai Ballroom & Dance Studio in Alhambra, California, with a gun and likely intending to shoot again, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. Two individuals at Lai Lai wrestled the firearm from the suspect, and he fled in a white van, according to Luna.

• What police say: Tran was discovered in a white van in the nearby town of Torrance, California, where authorities found him dead of a self-inflicted gunshot. The two individuals who disarmed the gunman prevented additional carnage, Luna said.

• Was the shooting a hate crime? Authorities have yet to discover a possible motive for the violence, including whether the shooting could have been a hate crime.

Protest of environmental activist's death turns violent in Atlanta

A protest turned violent in downtown Atlanta on Saturday night after the death of an environmental activist who was killed by authorities last week. The activist who went by the name Tortuguita, 26, was killed Wednesday as authorities cleared a small group of protesters from the site of a planned Atlanta-area public safety training center that activists have dubbed “Cop City.” The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has said Tortuguita was killed by officers after shooting and wounding a state trooper, but activists have questioned officials’ version of events, calling the killing a “murder” and demanding an independent investigation. Read more

More news to know now

• 🔵 Jeff Zients, who steered the COVID response, will be named White House chief of staff.

• ⚫ Colorado police officers and paramedics pleaded not guilty in the death of Elijah McClain.

• 🍞 Iowa GOP members have proposed to drastically limit what items SNAP beneficiaries can purchase.

• 💵 Tax season 2023 officially started: Here are key deadlines to keep in mind.

• 🎥 A documentarian embedded with the Proud Boys testified in a Jan. 6 trial. Here's what he said.

• 🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, Hampton County Guardian Managing Editor Michael DeWitt Jr. previews the 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.

Despite Ukraine's pleas, Germany hasn't decided on sending in-demand battle tanks

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Monday the government will ask Germany for permission to send German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Providing Ukraine with modern, Western tanks has been a sticking point among allies. The United States has not agreed to Ukraine's request for U.S. Abrams tanks, citing the need for maintenance and jet fuel. Western allies support sending Leopard tanks, which run on diesel fuel. However, Germany has not agreed to send the tanks, or to permit allies like Poland who operate them, to send them to Ukraine. Morawiecki said Warsaw would make its own decisions even if there is no permission from Germany. Read more

Donald Trump plans campaign stops as MAGA forces threaten to upend vote for RNC chair

After two months of social media, campaign meetings and political struggles, 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump is preparing to return to the public stage with messages aimed at potential Republican opponents – and potential criminal prosecutors. Meanwhile, the race for Republican National Convention leadership will be decided on Friday by secret ballot as Republican officials from all 50 states gather in Southern California. Friday’s vote serves as the latest high-profile leadership test for a deeply divided Republican Party grappling with questions about its future and Trump’s influence. Read more

• The 2024 presidential race has a new player: A special counsel investigating Donald Trump.

• Biden documents probe means US has 3 special counsel investigations at once. What are they?

Just for subscribers:

• 🚗 A Republican governor made a strong accusation against Ford — and it could help Michigan.

• ✈ Inside Southwest Airlines' Nashville airport meltdown and how a viral TikTok sparked a major review.

• 💧 Rio Verde Foothills residents sue Scottsdale over water woes as pressure rises on city.

• 🚨 For nearly 50 years, an Ohio woman collected her dead mother's VA benefits.

These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here. 

Chiefs-Bengals and Eagles-49ers to vie for Super Bowl 57

Four teams are left standing in the NFL. Championship Sunday is around the corner. Following the final two games of the divisional round, the respective AFC and NFC championship matchups have been set. In the AFC, it's a rematch of last year's conference title game, with the Cincinnati Bengals facing the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Philadelphia Eagles will host the NFC championship game as the league's No. 1 overall seed following their thrashing of the New York Giants on Saturday. Their opponent will be the San Francisco 49ers, whose dominating defense shut down the Cowboys Sunday night. Read more

• 32 things we learned from NFL divisional playoffs: Weekend signals changing of the guard at QB.

• ''I don't think we got respect'': Bengals enter AFC title game with chip on their shoulder.

📷 Photo of the day: Post-Roe women's marches across the US 📷

On the 50th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, demonstrators rallied for abortion rights protections across the country Sunday, led by a national demonstration in Madison, Wisconsin – a location reflecting the shift in focus on reproductive rights at the state level. Read more

• What a 10-foot buffer zone outside of a reproductive health clinic says about constitutional law.

• Supreme Court report on leak of draft opinion overturning Roe draws criticism from all sides.

Click here to see more photos from demonstrations for reproductive rights across the U.S..

One more thing

• 🏫 Teacher shortages are still hurting schools. Could unconventional programs help?

• 🗨 Michael J. Fox says he became an alcoholic, hid his Parkinson's diagnosis.

• 💐 Lisa Marie Presley was laid to rest near her dad Elvis at Graceland.

• 👶 Kylie Jenner revealed the name of her son with Travis Scott.

• 🎤 Beyoncé performed a secret concert in Dubai for a luxury hotel opening.

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: Monterey Park shooting, Trump, GOP, RNC, Tortuguita, Bengals, Roe, abortion, Beyoncé: Daily Briefing