March 28 top stories
It is March 28. Here are today’s top stories.
4 dead, 7 injured in stabbing rampage in Illinois
The suspect police accused of killing four people and injuring seven others during a stabbing rampage around 1 p.m. in Rockford, Illinois Wednesday.
22-year-old Christian Soto was taken into custody for the incident Wednesday. He faces more than 12 charges, including charges of murder and home invasion. Soto is expected to make his first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Authorities said those killed include a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman, a 49-year-old man and a 22-year-old man. A mail carrier was among those killed.
Three people died at the scenes. The fourth died at a hospital.
According to officials, four of the victims who were injured were in stable condition. One was in critical condition, and one was in serious condition.
Police said the motive and circumstances behind the attack are unclear.
3 Maryland middle schoolers charged with hate crimes
According to county prosecutors, three middle schoolers from southern Maryland have been charged with hate crimes after they displayed swastikas, performed Nazi salutes and made derogatory remarks about a classmate’s religion.
Calvert County officials said the harassment began in December and the students refused to stop despite repeated requests. The victim ultimately reported the behavior to Maryland State Police, which investigated and filed charges against the students.
The defendants, all 13, are students at Plum Point Middle School in Calvert County, which serves students in sixth through eighth grades and is located about 50 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. Their names are being withheld because they are underage.
Officials said the charges will be forwarded to the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services for appropriate action.
Calvert County Public Schools officials did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment Monday.
Puerto Rico declares dengue fever an epidemic as cases rise
Puerto Rico’s health secretary declared an epidemic on Monday following a spike in dengue cases.
The U.S. territory of 3.2 million people has reported at least 549 cases so far this year, compared with a total of 1,293 cases for all of last year. The majority of cases have been reported in the capital of San Juan.
More than 340 people have been hospitalized for the mosquito-borne virus.
Puerto Rico last declared a dengue epidemic in 2012.
The virus can cause crushing headaches, fever, vomiting, a rash and other symptoms. While most infected people don’t get symptoms, severe cases can lead to plasma leakage and death.
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Joe Lieberman, former U.S. senator and VP candidate, dead at 82
According to a statement issued by his family, former U.S. senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in the disputed 2000 election and who almost became Republican John McCain’s running mate eight years later, has died.
Lieberman died in New York City on Wednesday due to complications from a fall. He was 82.
He was the first Jewish candidate on a major party’s presidential ticket and would have been the first Jewish vice president.
In announcing his retirement from the Senate in 2013, Lieberman acknowledged that he did not always fit comfortably into conventional political boxes and felt his first responsibility was to serve his constituents, state and country, not his political party.
During his final Senate speech, Lieberman urged Congress to look beyond party lines and partisan rancor to break Washington gridlock.
See Alex for an update on the collapse of Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore. Here you go.
2 bodies recovered near collapsed Baltimore bridge
Thanks, Callie.
Divers who were searching for the six missing people at the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore recovered two bodies.
The two bodies were found trapped in a pickup truck that was submerged in waters around 25 feet deep near the middle of the bridge. They were identified as Dorlián Cabrera (26) and Alejandro Fuentes (35).
The two were a part of a road construction group that was filling potholes on the bridge when it collapsed after the cargo boat Dali struck it. The other four missing people are also construction workers. These four are presumed dead.
Divers are unable to immediately reach them due to dangerous conditions with the collapsed bridge and the amount of concrete and debris in the water.
Officials said the workers were from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, or El Salvador.
The investigation into what caused the Dali ship to lose power and crash into the bridge is expected to take 12 to 24 months to complete.
President Biden said he wants the federal government to pay for the full cost of reconstructing the bridge.
Thanks for that update. That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light!
4 dead, 7 injured in stabbing rampage in Illinois
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/rockford-stabbing-multiple-people/
3 Maryland middle schoolers charged with hate crimes
Puerto Rico declares dengue fever an epidemic as cases rise
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/27/1241210938/dengue-puerto-rico-public-health-emergency-facts-disease
Joe Lieberman, former U.S. senator and VP candidate, dead at 82
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/27/joe-lieberman-2000-vice-presidential-nominee-obit-033980
2 bodies recovered near collapsed Baltimore bridge
https://www.axios.com/2024/03/27/baltimore-bridge-collapse-bodies-recovered