NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
_1 Bomb plot: A 23-year-old man was “out for blood” when he attempted to detonate what he believed was an explosives-laden van outside an Oklahoma City bank in a plot similar to the deadly 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building, authorities said Monday. During a meeting with undercover FBI agents in June, Jerry Drake Varnell of Sayre, Okla., said he held “III% ideology” and wanted “to start the next revolution,” a reference to the “Three Percenters” patriot movement — begun in 2008, galvanized by President Barack Obama’s election. Federal officials arrested Varnell early Saturday in connection with a plot to detonate a vehicle bomb in an alley adjacent to BancFirst in downtown Oklahoma City.
_2 Swift wins case: Taylor Swift won $1 and longawaited vindication after a jury decided that a radio host groped her during a pre-concert photo op four years ago. After a weeklong trial over dueling lawsuits, jurors determined that fired Denver DJ David Mueller assaulted the pop star by grabbing her backside during a backstage meet-andgreet. The six-woman, twoman jury also found that Swift’s mother and radio liaison were within their rights to contact Mueller’s bosses. Mueller sued the Swifts and their radio handler, Frank Bell, seeking up to $3 million for his ruined career. The singer-songwriter said in her countersuit that she wanted a symbolic $1 and the chance to stand up for other women.
_3 Wisconsin slayings: Three Illinois men whom authorities believe were gang members may have been targeted by a rival when they were shot to death at close range during a drag racing event in southeastern Wisconsin, sheriff ’s officials said Monday. The three men were fatally shot as they stood near a concession area in the parking lot of the Great Lakes Dragaway in the town of Paris at about 7 p.m. Sunday. Authorities are still looking for the male gunman.
_4 Arpaio pardon?: President Trump says he may grant a pardon to former Sheriff Joe Arpaio following his recent conviction in federal court, prompting outrage among critics who say the move would amount to an endorsement of racism. The report was welcome news for the former Phoenix-area sheriff, who lost a re-election bid in November and who was convicted of misdemeanor contempt of court on July 31. A federal judge ruled in 2013 that Arpaio’s officers racially profiled Latinos. But the sheriff refused to stop his immigration patrols, eventually leading to the criminal contempt of court case.
_5 Cadet’s milestone: Simone Askew marched into history Monday as the first black woman to lead the Long Gray Line at the U.S. Military Academy. After an early-morning 12-mile march back to the gray stone academic complex with 1,200 new cadets she led through the rigors of basic training at “Beast Barracks,” the 20-year-old international history major from Fairfax, Va., assumed duties as first captain of the 4,400-member Corps of Cadets. That’s the highest position in the cadet chain of command at West Point. As first captain, Askew is responsible for the overall performance of the Corps of Cadets. Her duties also include implementing a class agenda and acting as a liaison between the cadets and the administration.