NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
1 Brigade commander: The first Black woman to assume the top role leading fellow students at the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., will take up that position next semester as brigade commander, the academy said this week. Midshipman 1st Class Sydney Barber will be the commander for the spring semester. Brigade commander is the highest leadership position within the student body. Barber, of Lake Forest, Ill,, is a mechanical engineering major and aspires to commission as a Marine Corps ground officer. Barber will be the 16th woman selected for brigade commander in the 44 years women have been attending the academy.
2 Wrongful death lawsuit: A man who lost several relatives in the killings of eight people in southern Ohio four years ago filed a wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday against the suspects, saying he wants to be sure none of them receive financial gain from the crime. Tony Rhoden Sr. is seeking unspecified economic and punitive damages against four suspects in the April 2016 killings and two others who were charged with peripheral offenses. Four are awaiting trial in Pike County; charges were dropped against one suspect, and another pleaded guilty to an obstruction charge last year.
3 Manslaughter charge: An Oklahoma state senator from Tulsa was charged with firstdegree manslaughter after authorities say she was speeding and driving recklessly when her vehicle skidded off a rainslickened road and crashed into a man’s disabled vehicle, killing him. Democratic Sen. Alison IkleyFreeman, 29, who was seriously injured in the May crash, was charged Monday in Lincoln County. IkleyFreeman was traveling 91 mph in a 75 mph zone on the Turner Turnpike. Enrique Lopez, whose vehicle had skidded off the road earlier and was stuck in a ditch, died at the scene. IkleyFreeman was trapped in the wreckage for 40 minutes.
4 Emhoff role: Vice Presidentelect Kamala Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, will leave his job as a partner with a highprofile law firm to focus on his role in the Biden administration. A campaign spokeswoman said Tuesday that Emhoff will sever ties with DLA Piper by Inauguration Day. While Emhoff is not a lobbyist, the firm has lobbied the federal government on behalf of a range of corporate clients. Ethics experts say that connection could have presented an appearance of conflicts of interest as the Biden administration tries to restore trust and ethics in government following President Trump’s normshattering presidency. Emhoff is working with the transition team to determine the issues he will take on as the vice presidential spouse.
5 Pentagon officials: Three Pentagon officials resigned from the Pentagon on Tuesday, just one day after Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper. Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Policy James Anderson, Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security Joseph Kernan and Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense Jen Stewart submitted letters of resignation, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump dismissed Esper by tweet on Monday without explanation. The president had long bristled at Esper’s failure to be more supportive of him publicly.