The Short List

Mon Mar 27 2023

Julius Lasin | Audience editor

Six people, including three children, were killed in a mass shooting at a Tennessee elementary school. Israel's prime minister delays his controversial judicial reform plan. And U.S. lawmakers are increasing their push to hold Russia accountable for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

👋 Hi, it's Julius with Monday's news.

🦟 But first: A new mosquito in Florida. Culex lactator is a species native to Central and South America – and scientists say its risk to the health of humans and wildlife is not yet known.

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3 children, 3 adults killed in mass shooting at Nashville school

Three students and three staff members were fatally shot at an elementary school Monday in Nashville, Tennessee, officials said. Officers engaged and killed the shooter at The Covenant School, Nashville police spokesperson Don Aaron said. Police have identified the victims as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all age 9; Cynthia Peak, age 61; Katherine Koonce, age 60; and Mike Hill, age 61. Koonce was the headmaster at the school. The shooter was armed with at least two "assault-type rifles" and a handgun, according to police.

•	President Biden renews call to ban assault weapons, singling out guns used in deadly Nashville shooting
•	'Aren't you guys tired of this?': Woman who survived Highland Park shooting makes plea in Nashville.

A child weeps on a bus leaving The Covenant School in Nashville following a mass shooting there Monday.
Nicole Hester/The Tennessean

Israel's Netanyahu delays judicial reform plan after mass protests

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu temporarily suspended his controversial judicial reform legislation that has led to mass protests and caused anger across most parts of society, including the military. The plan, which would weaken the role of the Israeli Supreme Court, has been delayed until after the Israeli parliament recesses. Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, insists the reforms will prevent over-reach from Israel's courts. But critics say the move is at least partly aimed at helping Netanyahu with his legal troubles and is a direct and worrying challenge to Israel's democratic ideals. Read more about response to Netanyahu's plan.

•	Flights grounded, labor union strike: Netanyahu pauses judicial reform amid backlash.

Israelis in opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan block a highway during a protest in Tel Aviv on Sunday.
Ohad Zwigenberg, AP

What everyone's talking about

•	USA TODAY'S Women of the Year: Grace Young, cookbook author and advocate for Chinatowns, is an honoree.
•	Philadelphia's water 'safe' through at least Monday after chemical spill, utilities say.
•	Is Michelangelo's David statue pornographic? Come see yourself, Italian museum tells Florida school board.
•	QB Lamar Jackson reveals he requested trade from the Baltimore Ravens earlier in March.
•	Are you getting enough vitamin K? Probably, thanks to these foods in your diet.

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Capitol Hill pushes to hold Russia accountable for alleged war crimes

Lawmakers in the U.S. are intensifying pressure to hold Russia accountable for war crimes it is accused of committing in Ukraine. A pair of House and Senate committees will hold hearings in mid-April to bring attention to atrocities such as the civilian massacres in Bucha and Mariupol that U.S. officials are helping the Ukrainian government investigate and prosecute. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, plans to have the Ukrainian prosecutor general and victims of war crimes appear before the panel on April 19. Read the latest updates on Ukraine.

Who will join LSU, Iowa in women's Final Four?

The women's Final Four will be set tonight, with the last of the Elite Eight games tipping off Monday. Defending champion South Carolina opens the action tonight against Maryland in a rematch of an early season game where the Gamecocks won by 25 points on the road. The winner of this matchup will go on to face Iowa. The second game of the night features No. 1 Virginia Tech against No. 3 Ohio State. Virginia Tech enters as the likely favorite, riding a 14-game winning streak. LSU will face the winner of Ohio State-Virginia Tech next weekend. Follow along with tonight's games.

•	'Absolutely incredible': Caitlin Clark is perfect player at perfect time for women's basketball \| Opinion

A break from the news

•	🎧 Best audiobooks to listen to this month: Dive into titles from Viola Davis and Paris Hilton.
•	📱 Spam calls can be a real pain. Here's how to block scammers and telemarketing calls.
•	💤 Are you getting enough REM sleep? The answer might be in your dreams.

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