The Short List

Sat Apr 13 2024

John Riley | Audience Editor

O.J. Simpson's death forced many Americans to remember a painful chapter in the country's history. A new biography reveals Barbara Walters' professional triumphs and personal pain. And an Oklahoma criminal case offers a rare look inside a Mexican drug cartel.

👋Welcome to another weekend! It's John Riley, here again with some of the best stories of the week from USA TODAY. There's a lot to get to, so let's get going.

But first: Don't forget Tax Day. Monday, April 15, is the deadline to file your tax return.🤔 Here's how to file for an extension. Questions? See our Tax Season index. Already filed? Here's why your refund may be taking longer.💸

O.J. Simpson's complicated legacy

🔴O.J. Simpson, who passed away Thursday, never got involved with civil rights issues, unlike other athletes of the late 1960s. Yet later, it seemed he was the beneficiary of criminal-justice payback. "The so-called "Trial of the Century" and its aftermath struck at the heart of racial inequities in America and a criminal justice system that historically has victimized people of color. That's part of his legacy, too," writes USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell. ▶Why Simpson's legacy strikes at the heart of race in America

•	Kato Kaelin: He thinks Simpson was guilty of the killings
•	Timeline of Simpson's life: From the Heisman to white Bronco chase and murder trial
•	The Ford Bronco chase: The memory is haunting, even after his death
•	Nicole Brown Simpson: She and O.J. had a tumultuous marriage

New Barbara Walters biography shares her visionary story

🟣Pioneering broadcaster Barbara Walters smashed through glass ceilings, but she showed the scars in a personal life that never gave her contentment. In a new book, "The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters", USA TODAY's Susan Page writes that Walters was a perfectionist and a second-guesser who could drive those around her crazy. But she worked harder than anyone else. ▶ Why Walters found happiness elusive despite her success.

•	What we know about Barbara: From her notorious pal to the 'SNL' nickname
•	Check out: USA TODAY's weekly Best-selling Booklist

He double-crossed a Mexican cartel with knockoff guns

🔵Andrew Scott Pierson's journey from America's heartland to life in a volatile Mexican border town started in 2012 with his rise to prominence as a gun expert and drug cartel go-to guy. It ended with officers surrounding Pierson's home and marching him across a bridge out of Mexico. In interviews with Texas police, he told about cartel supervisors' love of "bling'd out" guns with gold triggers, and how he ordered a boss designer Versace gun grips. ▶ His case gives a rare look at an American imbedded in a Mexican drug cartel.

Keep reading: Scroll down for more great stories.👇 See you next week!