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News Brief: Week of Feb. 2-8

National

Senate votes to acquit President Trump in impeachment trial

The United States Senate voted on Wednesday, Feb. 5, to acquit President Donald Trump on two articles of impeachment, bringing an end to the monthslong impeachment process.

The trial made history as the third impeachment trial of a president in U.S. history. In addition, Senator Mitt Romney found the President guilty, becoming the first senator in U.S. history to vote to remove from office a president from the same party.

President Trump expressed his victory from a White House event on Thursday, Feb. 6.

“It was evil, it was corrupt, it was dirty cops, it was leakers and liars,” Trump said. “We went through hell, unfairly, did nothing wrong, did nothing wrong.”

First U.S. citizen dies from coronavirus

The U.S. embassy confirmed the first death of an American citizen from the coronavirus on Saturday, Feb. 8. The individual died in Wuhan, China, on Thursday, Feb. 6.

About 300 Americans were evacuated from Wuhan, arriving at military bases in California and Texas. Passengers will undergo a 14-day quarantine to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Approximately 812 people have now died from the virus, with all but two of the deaths occurring in China. Twelve cases have been confirmed in the U.S., and 11 Americans tested positive on a Japanese cruise ship.

Iowa caucuses marred by irregularities

The Associated Press announced Thursday, Feb. 4, it could not declare a winner in the Iowa Democratic caucuses, which occurred on Monday, Feb. 3. 

Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg leads Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders by two state delegate equivalents out of 2,152 counted, a margin of 0.09 percentage points.

However, the AP’s tabulation of the results is at 99% of precincts reporting, with data missing from one of 1,765 precincts. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez asked the Iowa Democratic Party to conduct a recanvass.

The caucus process was affected by problems with the mobile app used to report the results, causing delays in reporting. These issues are attributed to coding errors within the app and many caucus chairs’ difficulty in using the app.

Local/State

2 students dead, 4 injured following hit and run in Moore

Six students were struck in a hit-and-run accident on Monday, Feb. 3, leaving two dead and four injured.

The students, all members of the Moore High School track team, were on a run a half-mile away from the school when a pickup hit a car and then swerved into the sidewalk, hitting the students. The pickup then fled the scene but was stopped after three blocks.

The driver, 57-year-old Max Townsend, was under the influence at the time and was driving 65 to 70 mph. The Cleveland County District Attorney’s office has filed 13 charges against him, including two counts of manslaughter in the first degree, two counts of leaving the scene of a fatal accident, four counts of DUI causing great bodily injury and five counts of leaving the scene involving personal injury.

Senior Rachel Freeman died at the scene and sophomore Yuridia Martinez died of her injuries on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Senior Kolby Crum is in critical condition. Three students have been released from the hospital. 

Campus

Students welcome snow day

Oklahoma Christian University awoke to a snow day on Wednesday, Feb. 5, leaving classes canceled and students to enjoy their respite.

As previously reported by the Talon, Will Rogers World Airport measured 4.6 inches of snow. Oklahoma City had not received over four inches of snow from a single snowstorm since 2011.

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