U.S. airstrikes kill 150 militants

United States airstrikes on Saturday killed about 150 Shabab militants, who U.S. officials believed were preparing for an imminent attack on American troops and their allies. The strikes occurred in Somalia, where the militants had set up a training camp, according to The New York Times.

It was the deadliest attack against the group since the U.S. began its campaign against the Al Qaeda affiliate. Pentagon officials said the group had been training for a large-scale attack.

Officials also said they did not believe there were any civilian casualties.

More: U.S. attacks Shabab

 

Maria Sharapova admits doping

Maria Sharapova announced on Monday that she had failed drug tests during the Australian Open. The tennis player is currently No. 7 in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings. Her penalty has not been decided, according to ESPN.

Sharapova said she began taking the drug, meldonium, before the International Tennis Federation banned it. Numerous health issues, including low magnesium levels, regular bouts of the flu and evidence of diabetes, led her to take it.

She said she was not aware that a ban on the drug took effect on Jan. 1.

More: Maria Sharapova says she was not aware drug was banned

 

Coastal states torn over offshore oil drilling

Residents along the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia are adamant against opening their coastline to oil exploration, according to The New York Times. Soon, President Barack Obama’s administration is expected to propose a plan to open large areas of federal waters to oil and gas drilling.

Proponents say drilling will bring over a hundred thousand jobs to the area, while opponents say it will hurt the tourist industry and the people who make their livelihoods on the coast. Numerous coastal towns have passed resolutions against the plan.

More: Oil drilling in the southeast U.S.

 

Candidates forge ahead in primary process

After “Super Saturday,” business mogul Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton still led the way in states and delegates. Trump won Republican primaries in Kentucky and Louisiana, while Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) won Kansas.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders won in Nebraska and Kansas on Saturday and Clinton secured Louisiana.

On Sunday in Maine, the Democratic winner was Sanders and the Republican winner was Cruz. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)won Puerto Rico.

As of Tuesday night, Trump has 384 delegates and has won 12 states. Clinton has garnered 1,129 delegates and has won 11 states.

More: Super Saturday results

 

Knife found raises questions about O.J. case

The Los Angeles Police Department announced Friday that it is DNA testing a knife that was supposedly taken from O.J. Simpson’s former home, according to The New York Times. The knife had been in the possession of a retired police officer for unknown reasons.

Officials warned that the knife may not have anything to do with the murder case of Simpson’s wife, Nicole, but the story has made headlines around the U.S. nonetheless. Due to double jeopardy laws, Simpson cannot be tried again for the crime of killing his wife and her friend Ronald Goldman, despite any evidence the knife may show.

More: Knife announcement may not matter

 

Temperature crosses climate change milestone

The temperature in the northern hemisphere spiked 2 degrees Celsius (about 4 degrees Fahrenheit) above “normal” on Thursday, according to The Boston Globe. Governments around the world have set 2 degrees above normal as the absolute maximum of temperature change.

While it may still be years until that line is crossed regularly, the unusually warm winter happening in much of the world has disconcerted climate-change advocates.

More: Climate change marker crossed

 

Nancy Reagan dies at 94

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan died at 94 in her Los Angeles home on Sunday due to congestive heart failure, according to The Boston Globe.

Although she never sought credit, Reagan is known to have been actively involved in her husband’s, former President Ronald Reagan, political career. She was particularly instrumental in turning around the Iran-Contra scandal.

She will be buried alongside her husband at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.

More: The legacy of Nancy Reagan

 

Peyton Manning announces retirement

After 18 seasons in the NFL, Peyton Manning announced his official retirement from football on Monday. He led the Denver Broncos to a Super Bowl win in 2016 and was the oldest quarterback to ever win the game, according to The Denver Post.

Rumors had been circulating for quite a while that Manning would retire. Manning started at the Indianapolis Colts and then went to the Denver Broncos in 2012.

More: Manning retires after long career

 

Ben Carson drops out of race

After dismal performances in primaries, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson announced on Friday he would be dropping out of the presidential race. Carson had already skipped the Republican debate in Detroit and said he could not see a “political path forward” in the race, according to TIME.

Carson gained momentum early in his campaign, but fell apart after stumbling over foreign policy and some issues with advisers. Trump, Cruz, Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich remain in the Republican race.

More: Carson leaves campaign trail

 

NPR reporter Craig Windham dies

Award-winning journalist and veteran NPR reporter Craig Windham died Sunday at 66 of a pulmonary embolism, according to The Huffington Post.

Windham joined NPR in 1995, and his voice was familiar to many Americans. He also counseled youth on substance abuse and depression in his spare time.

More: The man with the familiar voice dies

Published on March 9, 2016 at 8:02 am

Contact Delaney: dovanwey@syr.edu