UNC Charlotte begins healing, Added intrigue to Barr testimony: 5 things you need to know Wednesday
UNC Charlotte begins healing after campus shooting
In what Chancellor Philip L. Dubois called "the worst day in the history" of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, an ex-student opened fire in a classroom building on Tuesday evening, killing two people and injuring four others. The lone suspect was identified as Trystan Andrew Terrell, 22, who, according to school records, was last enrolled in fall 2018. Police disarmed and apprehended him in the room where pistol shots rang out, said Jeff Baker, the university’s police chief, crediting the officers' actions with saving lives. Three of the injured were in critical condition at local hospitals and the fourth was stable, Baker said. The Associated Press reported that a vigil was being planned for Wednesday at the campus. In addition, the university cancelled exams, which were scheduled to begin Thursday, through the end of the week. Dubois said it was unclear when they would resume.
Added weight for Barr appearance after Mueller letter surfaces
Attorney General William Barr is scheduled to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday to discuss his handling of the Special Counsel's Robert Mueller's report examining Russian interference in the 2016 election. But Barr's public appearance now has added weight thanks to the new information revealed Tuesday that Mueller privately objected to a summary Barr delivered to the public, clearing President Donald Trump of having obstructed the investigation, a Justice Department spokeswoman said. Mueller communicated his frustration to Barr in writing after the attorney general disclosed the special counsel's conclusions in a summary letter to Congress on March 24. Mueller emphasized that nothing in Barr's March 24 letter "was inaccurate or misleading, but he expressed frustration over the lack of context and the resulting media coverage regarding the special counsel's obstruction analysis," a DOJ spokeswoman said in a statement. The USA TODAY Editorial Board writes Barr has "his work cut out for him."
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Couple to plead guilty in college admissions scandal
A wealthy California couple is expected to plead guilty to conspiracy charges Wednesday in Boston federal court for allegedly paying more than $600,000 in bribes to get their daughters accepted into college. Bruce and Davina Isackson, of Hillsborough, California, would become the first parents in the nation's college admissions cheating scandal to plead guilty in court. A dozen additional parents, including actress Felicity Huffman, have signed plea agreements with the Justice Department. Prosecutors say the Isacksons paid cheating-scheme mastermind Rick Singer to get one daughter into the University of California at Los Angeles and another into the University of Southern California. The couple faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; Bruce Isackson could face an additional 20 years on money laundering charges.
Power struggle in Venezuela likely to lead to more violence, unrest
An escalating showdown between President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido has sparked renewed violence and unrest in Venezuela that may continue on Wednesday. Clashes erupted Tuesday with officials loyal to Maduro saying they confronted a "coup" after Guaido called for an uprising. In a television appearance Tuesday night, Maduro declared that the opposition had attempted to impose an "illegitimate government" with the support of the United States and neighboring Colombia. Guaido countered with his own video message in which he urged Venezuelans to again take to the streets on Wednesday. The situation is extremely fluid and volatile as some experts say that if Guaido's push does not gain momentum, the country will sink further into a dictatorship. If he succeeds, it will still be a long road to recovery for South American nation.
US, China officials try to resolve tariff war
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Wednesday meet with Chinese officials for talks aimed at ending a tariff war over Beijing's trade practices. President Donald Trump last year raised U.S. duties on $250 billion of Chinese imports in response to complaints Beijing steals technology and unfairly subsidizes Chinese companies. Beijing has retaliated by raising import duties on $110 billion in U.S. goods. A Chinese team is scheduled to visit Washington next week for another round of negotiations.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UNC Charlotte begins healing, Added intrigue to Barr testimony: 5 things you need to know Wednesday
