Nightly Rundown: Brian Walshe’s disturbing Google searches; Ukraine deadly helicopter crash; Candidate arrested for shootings in court; Winter storm slams central U.S.; JetBlue planes bump at JFK; Deadly polar bear attack
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 |
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Wednesday, January 18, 2023 |
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Good Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors say the husband of a missing Massachusetts mother made some disturbing Google searches, Ukraine’s interior minister is among at least 14 people killed in a helicopter crash, and the failed candidate accused in a series of shootings targeting Democrats in New Mexico is set to appear in court. Here is what’s in our Nightly Rundown. |
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Prosecutors say Brian Walshe dismembered and discarded wife’s body |
The husband of missing Massachusetts mother-of-three Ana Walshe dismembered her body before discarding it, prosecutors alleged today during his arraignment. Brian Walshe pleaded not guilty in Quincy District Court to the murder of his wife, and improper transport of remains. According to prosecutors, Walshe made several gruesome Google searches including “10 ways to dispose of a dead body if you really need to” on the day his wife disappeared. Investigators also found items discarded in a dumpster, about an hour’s drive from the Walshe’s home, which have been linked to the couple through DNA testing, including slippers, tissues and a Tyvek suit, prosecutors said. Brian Walshe previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of misleading police. |
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Ukraine helicopter crash kills at least 14 including interior minister |
A helicopter crash near a kindergarten outside Kyiv has killed at least 14 people, including Ukraine’s interior minister and at least one child, officials said. Interior minister Denys Monastyrskyi is the highest-ranking Ukrainian official killed since the war began nearly a year ago. At least nine of the victims were onboard the emergency services helicopter when it went down in foggy conditions in a suburb about 15 miles northeast of the capital, police said in a statement. Other casualties were reported on the ground. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. Ukraine’s security service said it was considering at least three possible causes, including malfunction, a violation of flight rules or “deliberate actions to destroy the vehicle.” The tragedy comes just days after a Russian missile strike on an apartment building in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro killed 40 people. |
Candidate arrested in shootings targeting Democrats to appear in court |
The failed Republican candidate for the New Mexico state House accused of orchestrating a series of shootings targeting Democratic officials is set to make his first court appearance this afternoon, and we’re now learning he was previously sentenced to prison on a felony conviction. Solomon Pena served seven years in prison from 2009 to 2016, according to a New Mexico Department of Corrections spokesperson. Pena was previously charged with multiple counts including larceny, burglary of a vehicle, receiving stolen property, conspiracy to receive stolen property, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. In this latest incident, Penais accused of paying and conspiring with four men to shoot at the homes of two state lawmakers and two county commissioners, authorities said. Ring cam video obtained by Albuquerque police appears to show Pena at a prior residence of one of the Democratic officials who was targeted. Police have called Pena an “election denier” who may have been motivated by anger over his landslide loss in November. Pena often promoted rhetoric against President Joe Biden and was belligerent to neighbors who opposed his political views, a homeowners association board member said Tuesday. A lawyer for Pena could not be reached for comment on the case on Tuesday. |
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Winter storm targets central U.S. as it moves east |
A multi-hazard winter storm that’s already brought rain to the West Coast and heavy snow to the Rockies is targeting the Plains and Midwest today as it continues its eastward sweep across the country. Winter weather alerts are in effect for 18 million people stretching from the Rockies to the Upper Midwest. Denver picked up 7.7 inches of snow by early today, officially making it the city’s largest January snowstorm since 1992. In the South, a line of strong to severe thunderstorms will enter the lower Mississippi Valley this afternoon. A tornado watch is in effect for sections of eastern Texas, western Louisiana and southern Arkansas until 4 p.m. CT today. |
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What else we're watching: |
A JetBlue plane bound for Puerto Rico hit an empty aircraft as it pushed back from the gate area today at New York’s JFK airport, an airline spokesman said. The incident comes just days after a close call between two planes on JFK’s runway. |
The State Department now says two U.S. citizens, and two legal permanent residents were among those killed in the Yeti Airlines plane crash in Nepal. |
Derek Chauvin’s attorney is asking an appeals court today to throw out his convictions in the murder of George Floyd, arguing Chauvin did not receive a fair trial. |
Microsoft announced today it would cut 10,000 jobs, while Amazon said it will slash 18,000 jobs, the largest workforce cut in the company’s 28-year history. |
Parents in Virginia expressed their outrage during an emotional meeting of the Newport News school board on Tuesday night, less than two weeks after a 6-year-old allegedly shot his teacher at an elementary school. |
Embattled GOP Rep. George Santos was awarded spots on two House committees, as he faces several investigations after admitting he lied about large parts of his resume. The latest allegation against him comes from a disabled veteran who says Santos stole $3,000 in donations raised on GoFundMe for his dying service dog in 2016. Santos called the allegation “fake.” |
A polar bear killed a young mother and her 1-year-old son in Alaska before it was shot dead by a resident, state troopers said. |
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Watch us this evening at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC, or check your local NBC station listing. After the broadcast, access Nightly News video on NBCNightlyNews.com or the NBC News app. |
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