A gunman opens fire at a VA facility in Texas. John Boehner secures a third term as House speaker. And searchers find AirAsia’s tail section.
It’s Wednesday and here are the 5 things to know for your New Day.
AIRASIA
A potential breakthrough: Searchers have found the tail section of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 in the murky depths of the Java Sea, raising hopes that the plane’s black boxes might soon be recovered. That’s because the plane’s flight and data recorders are located there. Investigators hope the flight recorders will contain vital information that helps explain why the aircraft dropped off radar and went down into the sea on December 28 with 162 people on board.
HOSPITAL SHOOTING
The elusive ‘why’: We don’t know much about why a gunman opened fire at a VA Health Care facility in Texas yesterday, killing a doctor and taking his own life. The shooting took place at the El Paso VA Health Care System, next to the William Beaumont Army Medical Center. The facility will be closed today while the FBI takes up the investigation.
CONGRESS CONVENES
Keeping his gavel: John Boehner’s breathing a sigh of relief today. He’s back for a third term as Speaker of the House, but it wasn’t without a fight. The good news: Republicans control the Senate now and they have big plans to enact a conservative agenda. The bad news: The contentious election just to secure his job is a sign that the same dynamic Boehner’s seen in the last four years — resistance from conservatives — will continue to hamper his ability to govern the House.
TIME CAPSULE
Unearthing history: It was buried in Boston more than 200 years ago. Samuel Adams and Paul Revere had a hand in it, so did a local developer. Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts opened up the 1795 time capsule yesterday, breathlessly waiting to see how the items had weathered the years. Quite well, as it turns out. The stash included five folded newspapers, a Massachusetts commonwealth seal, a title page from Massachusetts colony records and at least 24 coins. And at the very bottom, an inscribed rectangular silver plate, likely made and engraved by Revere.
OFFICER SHOOTINGS
Recuperating: A pair of New York cops are in stable condition after getting shot when they responded to an armed robbery in the Bronx. The alleged shooter has been charged with five counts of attempted murder and his alleged accomplice was arrested on robbery charges. Police said the alleged shooter is said to have posted anti-police and anti-government statements on social media.