Republican Rep. Andy Ogles from Tennessee faced backlash after a recent Christmas card photo resurfaced online. The photo showed Ogles, his wife, and two of their children posing with rifles in front of their Christmas tree. The controversy grew after the recent mass shooting at a private Christian grade school in the same district he represents, leaving three children and three adults dead. Critics questioned his tone-deafness and glorification of guns. Ogles, however, defended the photo and his right to bear arms when asked if he had any regrets. The congressman has yet to issue an official statement about the controversy.

In another related article, a former friend and classmate of the Covenant shooter, Audrey Hale, has come forward to say that she received a disturbing message on the morning of the shooting. Averianna Patton, Hale’s former basketball teammate, says that Hale sent her an Instagram message saying that the post she made about Patton was a suicide note, and that she planned to die that day. Patton sought advice from her father and then contacted the national suicide prevention line and the Davidson County Sheriff's Office to report the message, but no action was taken before the shooting occurred. The authorities later found and killed Hale, who had murdered six people at the school.

.

Philadelphia officials have confirmed that the city's drinking water has not been affected by a chemical spill into the Delaware River. A pipe burst at a chemical plant in Bristol Township, located near the city, on Friday evening last week, spilling between 8,100 and 12,000 gallons of water-based latex finishing solution into the river. Although the substance is non-toxic to humans, concerns about contamination quickly emerged, prompting warnings from officials to residents to switch to bottled water. However, no traces of contamination have been found in the city's water supply, and authorities are now "confident that the threat has passed," Mayor Jim Kenney said last night. "We can all confidently say the threat has passed — I repeat: All the city's drinking water is safe to drink and will not be impacted by the spill." Sampling has failed to uncover any substance from the spill, and "models tracking the flow and tide of the Delaware River show the potential threat is passing us," Kenney added.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has written a letter to President Biden urging his administration to hold negotiations with Republicans over raising the nation's debt ceiling. The GOP leader argued that the White House has been "completely missing in action" from the debates, putting the US economy at risk by refusing to negotiate any changes to government spending. House Budget Committee chairman Jodey Arrington has also proposed requiring federal food benefits programs based on participation in the workforce. McCarthy suggested divesting unspent COVID relief funds, cutting non-defense spending, and strengthening federal work requirements. In response, the White House says that it is unwilling to enter negotiations until a Republican counterproposal is presented to Biden's budget request. As Republicans struggle to find common ground within their divided majority, McCarthy criticized Biden for a lack of leadership and willingness to "play politics." Nevertheless, McCarthy has signaled that House Republicans are prepared to cut federal spending by another $4 trillion if Biden agrees to work together. The government reached its debt limit of $31 trillion in January, but McCarthy and other leading Republicans are making a push to curb spending and reduce the nation's deficit.

Vice President Kamala Harris' visit to sub-Saharan Africa highlights the potential for the US to strengthen diplomatic and economic relationships in the region, particularly in securing minerals needed for clean energy. The three countries on her itinerary, Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia, are democracies with rich natural resources including lithium, nickel, copper, and cobalt. The US has a new priority in promoting investment in "friendly" countries to secure materials outside of China, which refines 80% of the world's lithium and 66% of its cobalt. China's dominance of the global critical minerals supply chain can be challenged by African minerals development, which can reorient the supply chain. Despite this potential, most African countries have had dismal recent economic performance. During her visit, Harris toured Ghana's Cape Coast slave castle and called for the history of enslaved people to be taught and remembered. Harris' visit is part of the Biden administration's pushback against China and their investment and diplomacy in the sub-continent. The US has a significant opportunity to leverage trade policy to their advantage and strengthen clean energy supply chains, particularly in light of China's investment in the area.

Dozens of Tennesseans gathered outside the state capitol building in Nashville to protest against the state's lack of action on gun access reform after six people were killed in a shooting at The Covenant School. The alleged shooter was identified as Audrey Hale, a 28-year-old who legally purchased guns from five different locations. Despite over 50 bills being filed on firearms and ammunition, access to guns in Tennessee has been expanding, with Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti earlier this year allowing all adults to carry handguns without a permit or background check, and Republican lawmakers seeking to allow adults to carry any firearms without permits. Gun safety advocates have criticized lawmakers for delaying bills related to firearms in the wake of the deadliest school shooting in the state's history. Activists including Representatives John Ray Clemmons and Caleb Hemmer called for action, while some Republicans such as Representative Tim Burchett suggested that "criminals are going to be criminals" and shrugged off the need for change. As the debate over gun legislation remains contentious, Tennesseans continue to demand that lawmakers take action and protect their communities.

There is a growing sense of urgency among lawmakers and the White House to address the looming debt ceiling deadline, with the US in danger of defaulting on its bills unless Congress raises or suspends the current $31tn cap as soon as this summer. However, controversy has erupted over what should be done given that Republicans want significant spending cuts in exchange for their support, while Democrats are calling for a "clean" bill that only raises the debt limit.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has written to President Biden laying blame on him for the impasse and demanding that spending cuts are made "to lower energy costs" and increase border security. However, Democrats argue that the Republicans must first produce a budget proposal to allow for meaningful discussion. Both sides remain dug in, with an unprecedented financial crisis set to be triggered if Congress fails to act.

Many, including analysts and investors, are calling for a resolution and swift action, warning of dire consequences for the economy and global markets if the US does not meet its obligations. At present, lawmakers are about to take a scheduled two-week recess, with time for negotiation rapidly running out.

Former Vice President Mike Pence has been ordered to testify in a grand jury investigation into former President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election, according to reports. The ruling went against legal efforts by Pence and Trump to limit the scope of questions the prosecutor could ask during the investigation. Judge James E. Boasberg ordered Pence to answer potential questions probing potential criminality by Trump, however, he can decline to discuss his actions on January 6. Pence had refused to testify before a House committee that investigated the insurrection, arguing that he was allowed to avoid giving evidence under the Constitution's "Speech or Debate" clause. The Justice Department is attempting to unveil Trump's role in provoking the violence, which led to several deaths and more than 1,000 arrests. The ruling may increase tensions between Pence and Trump, who have already been at loggerheads since Pence refused to go along with Trump's efforts to overturn the election. Trump is running for the White House again in 2024, and Pence indicated he may challenge him for the Republican nomination.

The Maryland Appellate Court has reinstated Adnan Syed's murder conviction, the subject of the popular "Serial" podcast, and has ordered a new hearing on whether the case should be vacated. Syed was arrested and convicted for the murder of his former high school girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, in 1999. Syed's original conviction was vacated in 2022 after it was found that prosecutors failed to provide adequate evidence.

However, the appeal court has now ruled that the initial hearing was conducted unfairly and that the victim's brother, Young Lee, was not given proper notice of the hearing on the motion to vacate. A new hearing will be ordered where Lee is given sufficient notice to attend the hearing in person, and the court will present its reasons to support the motion to vacate.

It is unclear whether Syed will have to return to prison, as the decision still allows room for a new hearing that could decide differently. The Maryland City State's Attorney's Office has not commented on the decision. The case has raised several questions about how the case was handled and about the rights of crime victims and their families.

Former Vice President Mike Pence has been ordered by a federal judge to comply with a grand jury subpoena in relation to the special counsel investigation into former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden. As part of the investigation, special counsel Jack Smith subpoenaed Pence for his testimony and documents related to the failed attempt by Trump and his allies to overturn the election. While Pence's lawyers had argued that his role as president of the Senate participating in the certification of the results should protect him from certain questions and records, the judge ordered him to provide answers to any questions that implicate any illegal acts on Trump's part. The judge also rejected arguments from Trump's legal team against the subpoena on the grounds of executive privilege.

It is not clear whether Pence or Trump's legal teams plan to appeal the ruling. Pence has previously vowed to fight the subpoena in the Supreme Court if necessary. This ruling marks a significant defeat for Trump's legal team's efforts to limit testimony from people close to the former president.

Dozens gathered near the Tennessee state capitol on Tuesday for gun legislation after The Covenant School shooting took six lives. The gunman purchased seven guns from five different locations legally. With over 50 firearm and ammunition bills filed, there have been no official responses to the shooting from either House Speaker Cameron Sexton or Lt. Gov. Randy McNally. Jason Sparks, who lost his brother to gun violence, stated that lawmakers walked out as he testified two weeks ago. Rep. John Ray Clemmons stated that accountability is the only thing preventing action against gun violence. While some Republican leaders, like Rep. Bryon Donalds, believe that the nation's right to bear arms should not be compromised, others urged the adoption of mental health programs and research. However, it is clear that the nation must address gun violence after yet another tragedy in Tennessee.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy sent a letter to the White House calling for more robust negotiations about raising the nation's borrowing limit. McCarthy expressed concern regarding the potential risks that the already fragile US economy faces if the debt ceiling situation is not resolved. McCarthy proposed a series of places to start saving money, including reclaiming unspent Covid-19 relief funds and strengthening work requirements for social programs. However, the White House states that negotiations cannot proceed until Republicans offer a counter-proposal to the White House's budget request, which was unveiled earlier this month. House Republicans are struggling to find an agreement between the different factions of their narrowly divided majority. McCarthy criticized President Biden for not sitting down with him to discuss the matter. In response to this, the White House said it is time for Republicans to stop playing games and agree to pass a clean debt ceiling bill. The current $31 trillion cap must be raised or suspended by Congress as soon as this summer or risk a default, an unprecedented crisis that could trigger a potential recession in the United States.

In Argentina's friendly match against Curacao, Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick leading Argentina to a resounding 7-0 victory. Messi reached a milestone by scoring his 100th international goal for Argentina. His first goal came in the 20th minute when he received a pass from Giovani Lo Celso and slotted a low shot. Nicolas Gonzalez doubled their lead in the 28th minute, followed by Messi's second goal with his trademark curling shot. Enzo Fernandez scored the fourth for the team, with Messi completing his hat-trick in the 37th minute with a simple finish. Three minutes before the final whistle, Gonzalo Montiel sealed the game for Argentina. With this victory, Messi has now scored his seventh hat-trick for his country, and he is the only Argentinian to achieve this feat.

Messi's achievement brought joy and celebration among his teammates and coach Lionel Scaloni. Messi's fellow goalscorer, Nicolas Gonzalez, said, "You cannot describe Messi in words. He's the best in the world and he shows it match after match, day after day. Every time he touches the ball, he makes you smile." With 102 goals to his name, Messi remains third on the all-time scorers' list, behind Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (122) and Iran's Ali Daei (109). This friendly match was Argentina's second since winning the World Cup in December 2022.

After a successful run in the OCTA qualifiers, the Canadian men's soccer team are back in action for the CONCACAF Nations League. The team is set to take on Curacao in Willemstad on March 25th, followed by a game against Honduras on March 28th in Toronto. A victory or even a draw in Curacao will secure a spot for the team in the CONCACAF Championship. The Canadian team currently ranks 53, just behind Honduras at 81 and Curacao at 86. The two top teams across each League A group qualify for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup later in summer. The Canadian men have already beaten Curacao 4-0 earlier in the Nations League competition. However, this is a chance for Canada's soccer stars, such as Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, to build on their success and secure another critical win. With Herdman stating that "there is so much to play for in March," the team will be looking to make a statement on the international stage and secure their spot in the Gold Cup. Fans can catch the game in Canada via OneSoccer or follow along on Canada Soccer's digital platforms.

Despite receiving interest from Division I schools, Sydney Cherney, the leading scorer in Wisconsin's girls basketball league, chose to commit to Division II program Grand Valley State on her first visit to the campus. The 5-foot-9 guard averaged 31.6 points per game during her junior year and was initially planning to wait until after the AAU season before making her decision. Although the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay showed interest, an offer was not extended until after Cherney's AAU season, by which time she had already made her decision to join Grand Valley State. Cherney cited the positive environment and upbeat players and coaches she met at the Allendale, Michigan campus as reasons for her decision. “As soon as I walked into Grand Valley State and they gave me an offer, I knew there was nothing that was going to beat that,” she said. The Lakers posted a 31-3 record last season and won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship.

Justin Edwards has secured the top spot in ESPN's 100 rankings, pushing D.J. Wagner into the second slot and Isaiah Collier into third. Edwards' impressive display of 25 points, 12 rebounds, six steals, four assists, and one block helped his team capture a victory during the Hoopball Classic broadcasted nationally. His continued productivity on both ends of the basketball court, as well as his agility, has been a calling card for scouts over the years. However, with D.J. Wagner and Isaiah Collier having great senior seasons, the top spot is still up for grabs.

The game may be men's or women's, but it is always exciting to see the next generation of young athletes take the court. Five players taking the floor in the McDonald's All-American game showcased five different family histories in basketball in 2023. From Peja Stojakovic's son, Andrej, to LeBron James' son, Bronny, basketball seems to run through their veins. Amanda Muse, a Heritage star and UCLA commit, dominated during her senior season averaging 14.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks while maintaining a 59% field goal shoot. Her remarkable performance helped her garner the spotlight during the McDonald's All-American game where she scored 18 points, grabbed four rebounds, and assisted on a game-winning three-pointer buzzer-beater. Finally, Hannah Hidalgo made history by earning co-MVP honours at the McDonald's All-American games with 26 total points and tying the single-game steals record with eight. Her performance was indeed reminiscent of the two famous Arike Ogunbowale shots from the 2018 Final Four.

Costa Rica pulled off a dramatic comeback in the CONCACAF Nations League over Martinique with two late goals, earning them a 2-1 victory in Group B. Despite trailing for much of the game, the Ticos managed to level the score in the 88th minute thanks to a goal from Aaron Suarez, before Anthony Contreras sealed the win in stoppage time. This result means Costa Rica only need a win against Panama in their final game to secure a spot in the CNL finals. The victory also secured their qualification for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. Martinique, meanwhile, has confirmed their spot in the Gold Cup Prelims.

Costa Rica went into the game against Martinique knowing that a defeat would knock them out of the CNL Finals. However, their determination to win was evident as they searched for a goal throughout the match. Despite conceding an 18th-minute goal from Mickael Biron, they didn't give up and continued to push forward even when Martinique was reduced to 10 men after Biron's red card. The Ticos will now hope to replicate their winning performance in their crucial game against Panama for a spot in the CNL finals.

On Monday, a tragic incident claimed the lives of seven people, including three children, at The Covenant School in Nashville. According to eyewitnesses, the shooter was a former student who had been expelled from the school last year. The gun used in the shooting was reportedly a semi-automatic rifle that he had legally purchased online a few months back.

The police responded to the incident within minutes of receiving the first call and apprehended the suspect, who is now in custody. The victims were quickly transported to the hospital; however, their injuries were severe, and they couldn't survive.

The community is understandably in shock, and several groups have expressed outrage and concern about the ease of access to firearms. They are calling for stricter gun laws and safety measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

As the investigation continues, details are slowly emerging, but more questions than answers remain. What led the perpetrator to commit such a heinous act, and how could it have been prevented? The people of Nashville and the rest of the country are left to mourn the devastating loss of life and demand change.

Cory Sandhagen continued his impressive run of form in the UFC bantamweight division with a dominant five-round split decision win over Marlon Vera on Saturday. Despite the judge's split decision, there was no doubt that Sandhagen emerged as the clear winner. The stats tell the story, with Sandhagen out-landing Vera in total strikes 193 to 71 and converting three takedowns. He executed his game plan to perfection, taking Vera down early and using feints, footwork, and takedowns to evade Vera's attempts to come back at him in later rounds. Sandhagen is quickly becoming a standout in a crowded bantamweight division and has now positioned himself as a legitimate contender for the title. Speaking after the fight, Sandhagen called for a No. 1 contender fight against Merab Dvalishvili, who is on a nine-fight win streak. "I would feel so slimy if I asked for a title shot before Merab," said Sandhagen. "Merab is an absolute animal. I respect him a ton. I want that No. 1 spot. Merab, you're hungry, I got something for you to eat and it don't taste good." It remains to be seen whether Sandhagen will fight Dvalishvili next, but he has certainly made a strong case for himself as one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC.

The Appellate Court of Maryland reinstated the murder conviction of Adnan Syed on Tuesday, citing the right of the victim's family to attend a hearing deciding whether to vacate Syed’s conviction. The decision overturned Judge Melissa Phinn’s ruling, which vacated Syed’s conviction in September 2022 as a result of the mishandling of evidence and the possible wrongful clearing of two suspects. The appellate panel found that requiring the victim's brother, Young Lee, to attend the hearing via Zoom, violated Maryland laws protecting crime victims. The panel granted Lee's request for a new hearing where he is given adequate notice of the proceedings and the opportunity to appear in person. In response, Lee’s attorney David Sanford praised the decision and called for a transparent hearing.

Syed's prolonged legal saga sparked intense interest after the true-crime podcast "Serial" questioned the fairness of his trial and raised concerns about the thoroughness of his legal representation. It is unclear whether Syed will have to return to prison while awaiting the new hearing. Syed can appeal the decision to the Maryland Supreme Court.

Twitter has seen an 89% dip in advertising revenue in the last two months, following billionaire Elon Musk's takeover of the social media platform in October last year, according to research by Sensor Tower. The top 10 advertisers on Twitter spent just $7.6m on ads, a fall of $71m (89%), between September and October 2022. Although Twitter has seen a slight uptick in the number of daily users, advertisers have yet to return to the site, possibly due to Musk’s 75% job cuts and the resulting chaos on the platform-induced changes. Among the early casualties of Musk's takeover were major brands, such as Coca-Cola, Ford, HBO, and Amazon, which all pulled their ads from Twitter. While some reports suggest that the number of brands spending on the platform has risen in recent months, several media agencies, such as IPG and Horizon Media, are still advising clients to proceed with caution due to the company's turbulent state.

Criticism is mounting against Republican Representative Andy Ogles, whose district includes Nashville, after a resurfaced photo from 2021 showed him and his family posing with guns in front of their Christmas tree. The controversy comes in the aftermath of the Nashville school shooting, which claimed six lives, including three children. Gun control advocates and Democrats have condemned Ogles for glorifying gun culture on social media, with some arguing that such behavior contributes to future incidents of gun violence. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, tweeted, "How much more bloodshed will it take? It's. The. Guns." However, pro-gun advocates argue that such a connection is unfounded and that Ogles' actions are consistent with his Second Amendment rights. The Tennessee lawmaker has since deleted the controversial post from his Facebook account. The resurfacing of the photo comes amid continued debate over the role of guns in American society and prompts the question of whether individuals who proudly display firearms on social media contribute to gun violence in the United States.

Former Vice President Mike Pence has been ordered by Judge James Boasberg to comply with the grand jury subpoena in the special counsel's investigation of former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. Pence had previously vowed to challenge the subpoena, arguing that his role as president of the Senate granted him constitutional protections against testifying about certain legislative activities. However, Boasberg ruled that Pence does have limited protections regarding his role on Jan. 6, 2021, when he presided over a joint session of Congress that confirmed President Joe Biden's victory over Trump. But Pence is not immune from testifying about alleged "illegality" by Trump.

Trump had pressured Pence to reject key Electoral College votes for Biden during the congressional proceeding in hopes of sending them back to states whose officials would then pick Trump as their winner. Pence refused to aid in that plan, saying he did not have the constitutional power to unilaterally throw out electoral votes. Boasberg also rejected arguments put forward by Trump's attorneys against the subpoena on the grounds of executive privilege. It remains to be seen whether Pence or Trump's legal teams are planning to appeal the rulings.

On Monday afternoon, a mass shooting took place at The Covenant School in Nashville that left at least six people dead. The police reported that the attacker came carrying a handgun and two assault-type rifles, which he used against the students and adults at the school. This incident highlights the challenges faced by lawmakers in Tennessee, who have been trying to make it almost effortless to own firearms. The state already has lenient gun laws, such as no waiting period, no gun registration, and no licensing required, except for concealed carry. Reportedly, Tennessee Republicans have been trying to eliminate any remaining gun restrictions, such as expanding access to guns for teens and fighting against the permit requirements for carrying concealed firearms.

The rhetoric surrounding gun ownership in Tennessee keeps advocating for easy access with the argument that gun ownership is a constitutional right. However, the increasing number of mass shootings is questioning this right. The Nashville School Shooting is the 129th mass shooting in the United States in 2023, indicating an ongoing terrible trend. Lawmakers should look into gun restrictions and permit required to make it harder for guns to fall into the wrong hands, and perhaps such incidents will prevent the tragedy that occurred at The Covenant School.

.