Nikki Haley has officially announced her presidential bid for 2024; three people are dead after a gunman opened fire at Michigan State University; and Ford announces restructuring ahead of their push to go electric. These stories and more highlight your daily rundown for Tuesday morning, February 14, 2023.
Nikki Haley announces run for president
Former South Carolina Gov. and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has announced that she is running for president, seeking the Republican nomination for the 2024 election. She made the announcement in a video posted to her Twitter account. The move was expected after she made hints at a run for the White House in recent weeks.
Haley is expected to deliver remarks Wednesday in Charleston, South Carolina, at a campaign launch event.
Michigan State deadly shooting
A deadly shooting Monday night at Michigan State University has left three people dead and five others injured. The shooter, 43-year-old Anthony Wayne McRae, had no affiliation to the campus.
An investigation is underway to determine why the man was on Michigan State’s campus on Monday.
The suspect shot and killed himself when confronted by police off university grounds. The shooter was carrying multiple magazines and two guns. The active shooter reports terrified students on campus. Video captured some of them frantically running away from the scene.
All campus activities are canceled for the next two days and even local elementary, middle and high schools will have no school as investigators try to find a motive.
U-Haul driver strikes pedestrians
A U-Haul driver went on what police call a “violent rampage” in Brooklyn. He crashed into pedestrians, cyclists, and a responding police officer. One person died from their injuries while another eight people were injured.
The U-Haul was first rented out in Florida in January and police say the suspect could have been living in the vehicle. Police were able to take the suspect into custody. He is identified as 62-year-old Weng Sor with a Nevada driver license.
According to the suspect’s family, who talked to the Associated Press, the driver has a history of mental illness and was off his medications. He also has a history of violence. His record indicating he spent 17 months behind bars for stabbing his brother in 2015. He served time again in 2020 for another stabbing.
Ford cuts jobs amid electric push
Ford has announced its cutting 3,800 jobs in Europe as part of a push to reduce costs as the company shifts its focus to building up its electric models. Ford is spending $50 billion on electrifying its vehicles. This includes a $3.5 billion business venture that opens a battery plant in Michigan that will take advantage of federal tax credits.
Higher costs for the company to revamp its EV’s will come at a cost to other Ford sectors. One in nine jobs in product development and administration across Europe will be cut. Ford’s goal is to offer an all-electric passenger car lineup by 2030.
United plane dips near ocean off Hawaii
A United airlines plane dropped within 800 feet of the ocean surface after taking off from Hawaii in mid December. The plane was heading to San Francisco.
The incident only recently came to the public’s attention. The Boeing airplane had dropped more than 1,400 feet before climbing again. The pilots on board are reportedly undergoing additional training. Federal investigators are involved in the case, looking into what went wrong. The FAA said the agency has taken appropriate action without providing further detail.
The airline industry is facing renewed scrutiny after close-calls and mishaps were reported at airports across the country.
BBC News raid follows documentary ban
Indian tax authorities raided the BBC’s offices Tuesday. This is weeks after the country banned the British Broadcast Company’s documentary that was critical of their prime minister’s alleged role in deadly riots from more than 20 years ago. BBC News said people are not allowed to enter or leave the offices.
The raids come after the Indian government used emergency powers to censor the documentary.
Barney is back, new look revealed
Barney is back! The friendly purple dinosaur, nostalgic to the millennial generation, is getting a reboot. This time the modern take on Barney will be in animation.
Toy giant Mattel announced the show “Barney and Friends” is set to return sometime next year.