Good Tuesday afternoon. Arizona’s Supreme Court has reinstated a Civil War-era abortion ban, the parents of a Michigan school shooter were sentenced today to prison, and an Idaho teen has been charged in an alleged ISIS-inspired plot to attack churches. Here is what’s in our Nightly Rundown. |
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Arizona Supreme Court upholds near-total abortion ban from 1864 |
In a historic decision, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled the state can enforce an 1864 law criminalizing nearly all abortions. The Civil War-era law, enacted 160 years ago before Arizona became a state, carries a sentence of two to five years in prison for anyone aiding an abortion, except when the mother’s life is at stake. The ban is now set to go into effect in 14 days. “It is a dark day in Arizona,” said Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, calling the law “one of the most extreme abortion bans in the country.” The group Arizona Right To Life said in a statement it was “delighted” the court upheld the state’s “long history of protecting unborn babies and their mothers.” With the battle over abortion rights taking a central role in the 2024 election, former President Donald Trump said Monday that the issue should be left up to individual states. President Joe Biden vowed during his State of the Union address last month he would restore Roe v. Wade protections if Americans “send me a Congress that supports the right to choose.” |
James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of Michigan school shooter, sentenced to prison |
James and Jennifer Crumbley, the first parents in the U.S. to be convicted in connection with their child’s school shooting, were each sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison today in a Michigan courtroom. The Crumbleys were both found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter, one for each of the classmates their son killed. The pair appeared in court together, the first time they’ve seen each other since their trials were separated last fall, and since Jennifer Crumbley’s extramarital affair was revealed in court. Prosecutors say the Crumbleys ignored warning signs about their son’s mental health when they bought him a gun he later used in the 2021 shooting at Oxford High School. Before the sentences were handed down, relatives of the victims faced the Crumbleys and read impact statements. Nicole Beausoleil, who lost her daughter Madisyn Baldwin in the shooting, was the first to speak. “You failed as parents,” Beausoleil said. “The punishment that you face will never be enough. It will never bring her back.” |
Idaho teen arrested for alleged ISIS-inspired terror plot to attack churches |
An 18-year-old from Idaho was arrested and accused of concocting a “truly horrific plan” to attack churches in his hometown in the name of ISIS, according to the FBI. Alexander Mercurio, of Coeur d’Alene, was arrested Saturday by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, a day before authorities say he planned to carry out the attack. Mercurio intended to attack churchgoers with weapons including “knives, firearms, and fire,” the Justice Department said in a statement. Mercurio is charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, according to the federal complaint. He has not yet entered a plea. |
Trump loses bid to delay hush money trial while he appeals gag order |
Just days before Donald Trump’s hush money trial is set to begin, a New York appeals court judge has rejected a bid to delay the case while the former president’s attorneys fight the gag order imposed on him. It was the second failed attempt in less than 24 hours by Trump’s team to delay the trial, after an another appeals court judge rejected their arguments that Trump cannot get a fair jury trial in New York. Ahead of jury selection, scheduled to begin next Monday, the judge released a questionnaire for prospective jurors. In a letter Monday, the judge listed 42 questions on various topics. The form does not ask about political affiliations, but does ask prospective jurors questions about what kind of media they consume, and whether they follow Trump on social media. |
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What else we're watching: |
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Severe thunderstorms are expected to produce several tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds across most of Texas today, then the system will push east across the Gulf Coast Wednesday, the National Weather Service said. |
Norfolk Southern has agreed to a $600 million settlement over the toxic train derailment in in East Palestine, Ohio, more than a year ago. |
A Delta Air Lines flight from New York to Atlanta declared an emergency while landing today after a suspected lightning strike. |
Israel has purchased 40,000 tents for evacuees ahead of its planned Rafah offensive, Israeli media reported. |
One person was airlifted, and ten others were injured, when a school bus overturned in North Carolina today, officials said. The driver is being charged with failure to maintain lane control, according to Highway Patrol. |
Alec Baldwin had “absolutely no control” of his emotions on the “Rust” set, and his volatility “contributed to safety compromises on set,” prosecutors said in a new filing, in response to a motion by Baldwin’s attorneys to dismiss the case. |
A winner has come forward in Oregon to claim the $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot, the fourth largest prize in the game’s history. |
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Watch us this evening at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC, or check your local NBC station listing. After the broadcast, access Nightly News video on NBCNightlyNews.com or the NBC News app. |
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