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WASHINGTON, D.C.

DC Metro rail’s total shut down on Wednesday

The entire Washington, D.C. metro rail system will be shut down on Wednesday. The shutdown is an effort to inspect electrical cables that were inspected last year when smoke killed a rider on the yellow line and caused dozens to be sent to the hospital. The closure begins at 12 a.m. on Wednesday and will last until 5 a.m. on Thursday morning. Metro’s decision to close the rail system for 29 hours came from an incident that occurred on Monday at McPherson Square. The final conclusion came after a cable fire, which was the second in one year. “It’s happened twice in a year. I can’t wait for the third time,” General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said. “While the risk to the public is very low, I cannot rule out a potential life safety issue here, and this is why we must take this action immediately.”

MARYLAND

Suspect charged with 2^nd degree murder in the shooting of Prince George’s officer

Michael Ford, 22, is accused of shooting at a Maryland police station to allegedly provoke officers into killing him. The suspect is being charged with second-degree murder and facing 25 counts, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Officer Jacai Colson, who was struck by friendly fire (and officer on his police squad), was the lone victim in the shooting. Malik, 21 and Elijah, 18, who are both brothers of Michael Ford, are both facing numerous charges, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The brothers drove Michael to the station and recorded videos of the gunfire.

WORLD

North Korea sentences University of Virginia student to 15 years in prison

University of Virginia undergraduate student, Otto Warmbier, 21, is sentenced to 15 years of prison and hard labor in North Korea. In a one-hour trial held at the highest court in North Korea, the UVA student was charged with subversion under article 60 of North Korea’s criminal code. Warmiber stated that he had tried to steal a propaganda banner as a trophy for an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church. The 21-year-old said he was offered a used car worth $10,000 if he could get a banner and was also told that if he was detained and didn’t return, $200,000 would be paid to his mother in the form of a charitable donation. Warmbier’s family was reportedly “suffering from very severe financial difficulties.”

POLITICS

Obama nominates Merrick Garland for Supreme Court

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. Garland will possibly fill the vacancy left by deceased Justice Antonin Scalia. The decision is now challenging Republicans to drop their adamant refusal to consider any nominated choice in an election year. Obama calls the new nominee “one of America’s sharpest legal minds” and deserving of a full hearing and Senate confirmation vote.

ENTERTAINMENT

Russell Wilson and Ciara are engaged

Announced via Instagram, the Super Bowl winning quarterback Russell Wilson announced his engagement to Grammy award-winning singer Ciara. Wilson’s Instagram post has a video of himself and Ciara announcing the news with the caption, “She said Yes!!! Since Day 1 I knew you were the one. No Greater feeling… #TrueLove @Ciara.” The two have been dating since early 2015 and were very public about their decision to abstain from premarital sex. A wedding date has yet to be announced.