Another U.S. hostage in Syria is dead. NBC suspends Brian Williams. And U.S. troops on Ebola duty are headed home.
It’s Wednesday and here are the 5 things to know for your New Day
ISIS U.S. CAPTIVE DEAD
Another hostage death: The family of Kayla Mueller revealed devastating news yesterday. The American hostage held by ISIS was dead, her family said. The news came in a message from her captors over the weekend. The message sent to the family included photos, according to a U.S. official. Last week, ISIS clamed Mueller, an aid worker who was captured in northern Syria in 2013, had been killed during a Jordanian airstirke on Raqqa, but offered no proof. The White House blamed ISIS for her death, saying they were responsible for her well-being.
ANCHOR SHAKEUP
Unpaid leave: “NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams has been suspended for six months without pay following revelations that he exaggerated tales from an Iraq War mission in 2003. There is a widespread belief among rank-and-file NBC staffers that he may never actually return to the anchor chair he has held since 2004. Meanwhile, NBC’s investigative unit is continuing to fact-check Williams’ past reports and could come up with more damaging revelations.
Fake-news changes: Jon Stewart is leaving “The Daily Show” after more than 15 years. Comedy Central had no immediate comment on when exactly Stewart will sign off, but it could happen as soon as this summer.
BOBBI KRISTINA
Investigation: Police have questioned Nick Gordon, the boyfriend of Bobbi Kristina Brown, about bruises on her chest after she was found unresponsive in a bathtub on January 31, a friend of the young woman said. Daphne Barak said Gordon told her that the bruises were a result of him performing CPR on her. Brown, the daughter of Bobby Brown and the late Whitney Houston, remains in a medically induced coma in a neuro intensive care unit at Atlanta’s Emory University Hospital.
CHRIS KYLE MURDER TRIAL
Court case begins: The trial begins today for the man accused of killing “American Sniper” Chris Kyle and another man. Prosecutors say Eddie Ray Routh murdered Kyle and fellow veteran Chad Littlefield at a firing range on February 2, 2013. Kyle’s fame made selecting a jury troublesome. His memoir, “American Sniper” is a best-seller and the movie based on the book has taken in close to $300 million at the box office.
EBOLA
Virus battle: The Pentagon said its bringing home nearly all the U.S. troops it sent to West Africa 10 months ago to help with the Ebola epidemic. At the peak, about 2,800 American military personnel were deployed. About half have already returned. All but about 100 will be back home by the end of April. There have been more than 22,000 reported confirmed, probable and suspected cases of Ebola since the outbreak began, with almost 8,800 known deaths. The number of new cases continues to drop, according to the World Health Organization.