On this edition of the Midday News Wrap, Tom spoke with NPR Justice Correspondent Carrie Johnson, Baltimore Sun Opinion Editor Andy Green and longtime local columnist Barry Rascovar about some of the week's top national and local news stories including further accusations of sexual misconduct, this time against Sen. Al Franken; the tax code revision passed by the House yesterday; and the status of the Senate plan, which -- for now, anyway -- is tied to repealing the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act.
The News Wrap began with discussion of Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ testimony this week to the House Judiciary Committee, the ongoing Russia investigations, and the upcoming special election in Alabama to fill a U.S. Senate seat. Carrie Johnson joined Tom from the studios of NPR in Washington.
Here in Baltimore, Police Detective Sean Suiter, a 43-year-old father of five children, died yesterday from injuries he received when he was shot in the head on Wednesday afternoon in Harlem Park while investigating a murder there.
In other local news, a verdict was reached this morning in the Trial Board hearing for Baltimore Police Lt. Brian Rice, the highest ranking officer involved in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray in 2015. He has been cleared of all charges.
WYPR reporter Dominique Maria Bonessi was at Lt. Rice's Trial Board hearing this morning. She joined Tom in studio to discuss the verdict.