CNN – National

By Alaa Elassar, CNN A suburban Alabama community is rallying behind a Black author after the school district rescinded an invitation to have him speak and read his books at local elementary schools during Black History Month. Award-winning children’s book author Derrick Barnes, known for writing stories for and featuring Black children, will no longer

By Alexandra Meeks, CNN If you find yourself gazing at the sky tonight, you may notice the moon appears slightly smaller than normal. That’s because you’re looking at a micromoon, a term used to designate when the moon is at a quite distant location in orbit around Earth. Here’s what else you need to know

By Hannah Sarisohn and Aya Elamroussi, CNN A single ticket in Washington state matched all winning numbers for Monday night’s Powerball jackpot of $754.6 million, the fifth-largest in its history, according to the game’s website. The winner’s ticket matched all the lucky numbers required to clench the grand prize: 5, 11, 22, 23, 69 and

By Sara Smart, Holly Yan and Michelle Watson, CNN Residents of the Ohio village of East Palestine remain unable to return home after a controlled release Monday of a toxic chemical from cars that were part of a train derailment three days ago, Mayor Trent Conaway said during an evening news conference. An operation to

By Celina Tebor and Alaa Elassar, CNN A man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting the 90-year-old owner of an iconic 24-hour candy shop in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood, according to the New York Police Department. Luis Peroza, 39, was arrested Friday on charges of assault for allegedly striking Ray Alvarez, the owner of Ray’s

By Hannah Sarisohn, CNN Police in suburban Atlanta are investigating after residents reported finding flyers with antisemitic imagery and messaging in their driveways. They were found Sunday morning in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody, according to officials in both cities, home to many Jewish families. On Twitter, Georgia Rep. Esther Panitch said on Twitter she received

By Hannah Sarisohn and Zoe Sottile, CNN Powerball players might just have a shot at winning $747 million, the fifth-largest jackpot in the game’s history. The Powerball jackpot rolled after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn on Saturday night, according to a news release from the game. If someone wins in Monday’s drawing, they’ll

By Hannah Sarisohn, CNN Residents near the site of a train derailment that sparked a massive fire in East Palestine, Ohio, were urged to evacuate immediately Sunday night due to the risk of an explosion, authorities said. “Within the last two hours, a drastic temperature change has taken place in a rail car, and there

By Hannah Sarisohn and Eric Levenson, CNN The Miami Police on Thursday unveiled a Black History Month-inspired vehicle wrap that features the pan-African colors, outlines of the African continent, raised fists and kente cloth. “Miami Police Supports Black History Month,” reads a message on the vehicle’s back window. The wrap and a Black History Month-inspired

By Zoe Sottile, CNN Customs officers intercepted 120 cockfighting spurs sent from Mexico City to Illinois, officials say. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Louisville Port of Entry discovered the package on January 17, according to a news release from the agency. It contained 120 cockfighting spurs, which are traditionally affixed to the natural

By Paradise Afshar and Michelle Watson, CNN Authorities in Austin, Texas, responded to gridlocked roads near an H-E-B grocery store this week after more than 250 people clamored for food that had been discarded due to the sustained power outage at the location. Travis County Constable Pct.4 George Morales III posted photos of the incident

By Zoe Sottile, CNN Madison Russo allegedly used social media to spread awareness about her battle with cancer and to raise almost $40,000 on GoFundMe — but the entire operation was a scam, according to Iowa police, who have charged Russo with theft. Russo, a 19-year-old TikTok content creator, raised more than $37,303 from 439

By Christina Maxouris, CNN Federal authorities made a grim and unexpected discovery in an unattended bag last week at a Detroit airport. Inside, the bag held a young dolphin’s skull, the US Customs and Border Protection said in a news release Friday. The bag was separated from its owners while traveling and when it arrived

By Celina Tebor and Emma Tucker, CNN A New York City directive allowing first responders to enforce a state law that allows them to potentially involuntarily commit people experiencing a mental health crisis can proceed after facing legal challenges by mental health advocates, a judge has ruled. The ruling, issued Monday by U.S. District Judge

By Melissa Alonso, CNN The Texas woman accused of killing Heidi Broussard and kidnapping the victim’s infant has been sentenced to 55 years in prison after pleading guilty to the 2019 murder, according the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. Magen Fieramusca, 37, was arrested more than a week after Broussard’s body was discovered in a

By Taylor Romine and Ralph Ellis, CNN A man wanted by police in Oregon in a bizarre incident at a house featured in “The Goonies” was the subject of a daring Coast Guard rescue when he was tossed from a stolen boat as it capsized, authorities said. On Wednesday, police in Astoria, Oregon, received a

By Justin Gamble, CNN Black children living in poverty face increased instances of stress and trauma that can alter their brain development, a new study found. The study was published this week by the American Journal of Psychiatry. Researchers at Harvard University examined MRI scans of 7,350 White and 1,786 Black children ages 9 and