Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 Four Killed In Georgia High School Shooting
Two teachers and two students were killed yesterday at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia by a lone gunman who also sent nine others to the hospital with injuries. A 14-year-old suspect was arrested on the scene, with Georgia Bureau of Investigation director Chris Hosey telling the press that Colt Gray surrendered to law enforcement immediately when they confronted him on campus. Hosey said that Gray will be charged with murder and tried as an adult. Late yesterday, authorities identified the four victims killed in the shooting: Richard Aspinwall, a 39-year-old math teacher and defensive coordinator for the school’s football team. Christina Irimie, a 53-year-old math teacher. Mason Schermerhorn, a 14-year-old student. Christian Angulo, another 14-year-old student. The nine people injured in the shooting include eight students and one teacher, with all expected to recover. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said at yesterday afternoon’s press conference that he didn’t know if any of the victims were targeted or if there was a connection between the shooter and the victims.
2 Crackdown On Russian Election Disinformation Announced By Attorney General
Russian election interference is back in the news. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced a crackdown yesterday on efforts by the Russian government to influence this year’s US presidential election by spreading disinformation to American voters. Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray gave examples of the kinds of things Russia has allegedly been doing, with Garland saying “The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to exploit our country’s free exchange of ideas in order to covertly further it’s own propaganda efforts.” Garland said the scheme involved payments to a company that’s been identified by sources as Tennessee-based Tenet Media, a company that features conservative commentators on its website that include Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, and Lauren Southern. The Justice Department indictment specifically points out that at least some of the commentators were “deceived” and didn’t know where the payments were coming from. The DoJ also announced that it seized 32 internet domains used to conduct a foreign malign influence campaign. Projects identified by authorities include the ”Good Old USA Project,” “Guerilla Media Campaign,” and the “US Social Media Influencers Network Project.”
3 House Panel Subpoenas Documents From Gov. Tim Walz As Part Of COVID Aid Scheme Investigation
The House Education and Workforce Committee issued subpoenas yesterday to the Minnesota Department of Education, the US Department of Agriculture, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over their responses to what federal prosecutors have called the largest pandemic fraud schemes in the country. A nonprofit named Feeding Our Future is alleged to have misused millions of dollars meant to feed children during the pandemic. Walz has said there was no “malfeasance’ at the state level, and the subpoena only requests information, not testimony from Walz.