Welcome to Bullet Point News!
Authorities work to find the source of racist texts sent to Black people nationwide after the election. Here’s what we know
- Racist text messages referencing slavery were sent to Black people nationwide following the presidential election.
- Federal and state authorities, including the FBI and FCC, are investigating the origin and distribution of these messages.
- The messages, sent from anonymized numbers, appear to have targeted recipients by name, suggesting the perpetrators obtained personal data.
- TextNow and TextSpot, two text messaging services, have reported and taken action against accounts used to send these messages.
- Children, college students, and adults across numerous states received the messages, causing significant emotional distress and sparking widespread condemnation.
- The NAACP and various attorneys general have denounced the messages, highlighting the concerning implications of increased hate speech.
- Investigators are exploring possibilities that the senders utilized anonymizing software and possibly data obtained online.
Source:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/09/us/racist-texts-black-people-investigation-what-we-know/index.html
Tuskegee University in Alabama shooting: 1 killed, several injured
- One person was killed and several others injured in a shooting at Tuskegee University during homecoming week.
- The deceased was not a student.
- The shooting occurred early Sunday morning, and the scene has been secured by law enforcement.
- The Alabama Bureau of Investigations is investigating, and no arrests have been made.
- This incident follows a series of shootings at homecoming events in recent weeks at other universities.
- Social media videos show people seeking cover during the shooting.
- The university is notifying parents and providing updates as information becomes available.
Source:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/10/us/tuskegee-university-alabama-shooting/index.html
Weeks after a chemical plant inferno, nearby residents say they’re suffering prolonged illnesses and financial upheaval
- Weeks after a chemical plant fire in Conyers, Georgia, residents report ongoing health issues like blurry vision, shortness of breath, and skin problems, although a direct link to the fire hasn't been medically proven.
- Residents also experienced significant financial losses due to business disruptions, medical bills, and evacuation costs.
- BioLab, the company responsible, has offered support, but residents feel it's insufficient to compensate for the harm caused and fear long-term health consequences.
- The fire was caused by a malfunctioning sprinkler system interacting with water-reactive chemicals, releasing toxic chlorine gas.
- Rockdale County filed a lawsuit against BioLab, seeking to shut down the plant and recover damages.
- The incident led to weeks of school closures and remote learning, impacting families financially and educationally.
- Residents express concerns about potential long-term health effects, property devaluation, and the ongoing presence of the chemical plant.
Source:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/10/us/chemical-plant-fire-conyers-georgia-residents/index.html
New look at Torso Killer's victims could uncover more about mysterious murderer
- Genetic genealogy is being used to identify the victims of Cleveland's "Torso Killer," who murdered at least 12 people between 1935 and 1938.
- Only two victims were previously identified, but the DNA Doe Project aims to identify the remaining 10 unidentified victims.
- The project involves exhuming remains and using advanced DNA technology to find relatives of the victims in order to establish their identities.
- Despite the age and potential degradation of the remains, there's optimism that the project will succeed, based on the success of similar projects, including identifying a victim of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
- A single anonymous donor is funding the lab costs for the DNA analysis.
- The "Torso Killer" was suspected to be a surgeon, Francis E. Sweeney, who was questioned but never confessed.
- The advanced DNA technology and investigative genetic genealogy techniques are proving instrumental in identifying victims in very old, cold cases.
Source:
Father livestreamed attempted murder of child safety case worker, escaped officer's net: police
- De'Andre Terrell Johnson, 32, livestreamed an attack on an Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) worker, choking him repeatedly after a meeting about custody of his child.
- Johnson was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and unlawful flight.
- The attack, which left the DCS worker with serious injuries, was witnessed by others in the building’s lobby and partially captured on the livestream.
- After the assault, Johnson fled the scene but was later apprehended by police following a high-speed chase.
- The DCS worker's injuries were considered life-threatening.
- The DCS is reviewing the incident to prevent future occurrences.
- Johnson is being held on a $500,000 cash bond.
Source:
Small town police on front lines of cartels' drug war costing American lives
- The city of Oxford, Alabama, is facing a significant drug problem, particularly with fentanyl, which is being trafficked from Mexico.
- The Oxford Police Department is actively combating this issue through undercover operations, demonstrating impressive resourcefulness despite limited resources.
- A new Investigation Discovery series, "Operation Undercover," highlights the Oxford Police Department's efforts and the broader fentanyl crisis.
- Fentanyl's potency, affordability, and widespread availability contribute to the severity of the overdose crisis in the U.S.
- Mexican cartels operate sophisticated distribution networks, using major highways like Highway 20 to reach smaller towns like Oxford.
- The high number of overdose deaths in recent years surpasses deaths from gun and auto accidents combined.
Source:
Killer mom Susan Smith inspires 360 correspondences
-Susan Smith, who murdered her two young sons in 1994, is up for parole on November 20th.
-The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services has received 360 correspondences regarding her parole, with only six in favor.
-Smith recently received disciplinary action for communicating with a victim/witness.
-Public opinion overwhelmingly opposes her release, with many expressing strong negative sentiments.
-Smith initially claimed a carjacking but was later convicted of murdering her sons.
-She has a history of disciplinary infractions within prison, including a past sexual relationship with a guard.
-The parole decision will be based on this information along with public response.
Source:
Montana camping murder suspect claimed self-defense in 'heinous' tent attack
- Daren Christopher Abbey confessed to killing Dustin Kjersem, claiming self-defense, though Kjersem had offered him a beer.
- Abbey's lack of defensive injuries contradicted his self-defense claim, and he was charged with deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence.
- A beer can found at the scene, containing Abbey's DNA, was crucial in identifying him as the suspect.
- Abbey stole several items from Kjersem's campsite after the murder, including firearms, and attempted to destroy evidence.
- Kjersem's girlfriend discovered his body in the tent after he failed to meet her as planned.
- Abbey has a history of DUI offenses and a prior conviction for malicious harassment.
- Abbey's bail was set at $1.5 million.
Source:
Search for missing news anchor expands after authorities get new tip
- A renewed search for missing Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit, who vanished in 1995, led investigators to a site in Minnesota following a new tip.
- Police searched a property in Winsted, Minnesota, based on this lead, but no further details about the search's outcome were released to the public.
- Huisentruit's disappearance remains unsolved, with the lack of a body posing a significant challenge to the investigation.
- Her belongings were found near her car, suggesting a struggle, and a witness reported seeing a suspicious white van and hearing a scream.
- Despite the passage of nearly 30 years, police continue to actively investigate the case and encourage anyone with information to come forward.
- Sergeant Prochaska highlights the heartbreaking nature of the case and the difficulty of providing answers to Huisentruit's family and friends.
- The investigation is hampered by the lack of a body and the fact that the crime occurred before widespread use of DNA evidence, yet police collected evidence from dumpsters and set up roadblocks immediately after the incident, which has aided the investigation.
Source:
https://www.foxnews.com/us/search-missing-news-anchor-expands-after-authorities-get-new-tip
Masked attackers who attacked Jewish students near Chicago's DePaul University seen in new photo
- Two Jewish students were attacked near DePaul University in what police are investigating as a battery/hate crime.
- The attackers, described as two males around 20 years old, made antisemitic remarks before assaulting the students.
- One victim was a former Israeli Defense Forces member wearing a sign identifying himself as such.
- DePaul University President Robert Manuel condemned the attack, stating it violates the university's values and that the safety of students is the highest priority.
- Police released images of the suspects and are asking for public assistance in identifying them.
- The incident occurred near the university's student center.
- The attack follows previous anti-Israel protests on campus.
Source:
Monkeys that escaped a lab are a species used for human research since the 1800s
- Forty-three rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from a South Carolina medical research facility, but police reported no serious public danger.
- Rhesus macaques have been extensively used in scientific research since the late 1800s, contributing significantly to advancements in various fields, including vaccine development and space exploration.
- These monkeys possess 93% DNA similarity to humans, making them valuable subjects for genetic and biomedical research.
- Their social behavior, including political alliances and family structures, also offers insights into human social dynamics.
- The monkeys' hardiness and adaptability to various breeding conditions have contributed to their widespread use in research.
Source:
Ukraine says it launched drone attack on Russian chemical plant
- Ukraine's security service (SBU) claims a drone attack on a Russian chemical plant in Tula, resulting in explosions and smoke.
- The targeted Aleksinsky chemical plant produces gunpowder and ammunition for the Russian army.
- The attack triggered air raid alarms in various Russian regions.
- Russia's Ministry of Defense claims to have thwarted a drone attack, but doesn't specify the chemical plant.
- The Tula region governor reported damage to a private house from falling debris but no casualties.
- CNN verified social media footage showing the attack.
- A source in the SBU stated the attack is part of a broader operation targeting Russian military infrastructure.
Source:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/09/europe/ukraine-russia-chemical-plant-intl/index.html
Welcome to Bullet Point News!
Killer mom Susan Smith inspires 360 correspondences
-Susan Smith, who murdered her two young sons in 1994, is up for parole on November 20th.
-The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services has received 360 correspondences regarding her parole, with only six in favor.
-Smith recently received disciplinary action for communicating with a victim/witness.
-Public opinion overwhelmingly opposes her release, with many expressing strong negative sentiments.
-Smith initially claimed a carjacking but was later convicted of murdering her sons.
-She has a history of disciplinary infractions within prison, including a past sexual relationship with a guard.
-The parole decision will be based on this information along with public response.
Source:
Killer mom Susan Smith inspires 360 correspondences
-Susan Smith, who murdered her two young sons in 1994, is up for parole on November 20th.
-The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services has received 360 correspondences regarding her parole, with only six in favor.
-Smith recently received disciplinary action for communicating with a victim/witness.
-Public opinion overwhelmingly opposes her release, with many expressing strong negative sentiments.
-Smith initially claimed a carjacking but was later convicted of murdering her sons.
-She has a history of disciplinary infractions within prison, including a past sexual relationship with a guard.
-The parole decision will be based on this information along with public response.
Source:
Montana camping murder suspect claimed self-defense in 'heinous' tent attack
- Daren Christopher Abbey confessed to killing Dustin Kjersem, claiming self-defense, though Kjersem had offered him a beer.
- Abbey's lack of defensive injuries contradicted his self-defense claim, and he was charged with deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence.
- A beer can found at the scene, containing Abbey's DNA, was crucial in identifying him as the suspect.
- Abbey stole several items from Kjersem's campsite after the murder, including firearms, and attempted to destroy evidence.
- Kjersem's girlfriend discovered his body in the tent after he failed to meet her as planned.
- Abbey has a history of DUI offenses and a prior conviction for malicious harassment.
- Abbey's bail was set at $1.5 million.
Source:
Search for missing news anchor expands after authorities get new tip
- A renewed search for missing Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit, who vanished in 1995, led investigators to a site in Minnesota following a new tip.
- Police searched a property in Winsted, Minnesota, based on this lead, but no further details about the search's outcome were released to the public.
- Huisentruit's disappearance remains unsolved, with the lack of a body posing a significant challenge to the investigation.
- Her belongings were found near her car, suggesting a struggle, and a witness reported seeing a suspicious white van and hearing a scream.
- Despite the passage of nearly 30 years, police continue to actively investigate the case and encourage anyone with information to come forward.
- Sergeant Prochaska highlights the heartbreaking nature of the case and the difficulty of providing answers to Huisentruit's family and friends.
- The investigation is hampered by the lack of a body and the fact that the crime occurred before widespread use of DNA evidence, yet police collected evidence from dumpsters and set up roadblocks immediately after the incident, which has aided the investigation.
Source:
https://www.foxnews.com/us/search-missing-news-anchor-expands-after-authorities-get-new-tip
Masked attackers who attacked Jewish students near Chicago's DePaul University seen in new photo
- Two Jewish students were attacked near DePaul University in what police are investigating as a battery/hate crime.
- The attackers, described as two males around 20 years old, made antisemitic remarks before assaulting the students.
- One victim was a former Israeli Defense Forces member wearing a sign identifying himself as such.
- DePaul University President Robert Manuel condemned the attack, stating it violates the university's values and that the safety of students is the highest priority.
- Police released images of the suspects and are asking for public assistance in identifying them.
- The incident occurred near the university's student center.
- The attack follows previous anti-Israel protests on campus.
Source:
Monkeys that escaped a lab are a species used for human research since the 1800s
- Forty-three rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from a South Carolina medical research facility, but police reported no serious public danger.
- Rhesus macaques have been extensively used in scientific research since the late 1800s, contributing significantly to advancements in various fields, including vaccine development and space exploration.
- These monkeys possess 93% DNA similarity to humans, making them valuable subjects for genetic and biomedical research.
- Their social behavior, including political alliances and family structures, also offers insights into human social dynamics.
- The monkeys' hardiness and adaptability to various breeding conditions have contributed to their widespread use in research.
Source:
Ukraine says it launched drone attack on Russian chemical plant
- Ukraine's security service (SBU) claims a drone attack on a Russian chemical plant in Tula, resulting in explosions and smoke.
- The targeted Aleksinsky chemical plant produces gunpowder and ammunition for the Russian army.
- The attack triggered air raid alarms in various Russian regions.
- Russia's Ministry of Defense claims to have thwarted a drone attack, but doesn't specify the chemical plant.
- The Tula region governor reported damage to a private house from falling debris but no casualties.
- CNN verified social media footage showing the attack.
- A source in the SBU stated the attack is part of a broader operation targeting Russian military infrastructure.
Source:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/09/europe/ukraine-russia-chemical-plant-intl/index.html