Today is Valentine’s Day. If you’re single, don’t fret. There are lots of ways you can still spread the love around. Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door. (You can also get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.)
1. Border security bill
If everything goes according to plan today, a bipartisan border security and spending package bill will be voted on by the House and Senate and then be on President Trump’s desk by tonight. The President says he’ll sign it (and avert another partial government shutdown), but he’s changed his mind at the last minute in the past in these situations, so nothing is really certain until he puts pen to paper. The bill includes $1.375 billion for barriers and fencing on parts of the US-Mexico border, far short of the $5.7 billion Trump originally sought for a wall. You can read the bill here.
2. Paul Manafort
Paul Manafort’s in trouble again. A federal judge said he “intentionally” lied to special counsel Robert Mueller’s office, the FBI and a grand jury. So, the judge pulled Manafort’s plea deal. That means Mueller doesn’t have to lobby for a reduced sentence for Manafort, as he’d agreed to. Lawyers for Manafort, the chairman for Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, said he did not intentionally lie. Manafort faces two sentencings, the first scheduled for March 13. One of the things the judge said Manafort lied about was his interactions with a Russian associate during and after the campaign. Which brings up a question asked repeatedly during this probe: Why have so many of the President’s associates been caught lying about their contacts with Russians?
3. Parkland school shooting
It’s been exactly one year since a gunman opened fire on students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, killing 17 people and forever changing the lives of those who survived. But the Parkland community isn’t going to mark this day with bitterness or anger. It’s going to be a “day of service and love,”the school’s principal says. Students and their families are also urged just to simply spend time together. The school will be open today, but any student who misses will have the absence excused. There will be a moment of silence this morning and an interfaith memorial service later in the day. Click here for a collection of stories and videos about how survivors are dealing with their grief.
4. Maria Ressa
Philippines journalist Maria Ressa, a high-profile critic of the country’s President, has been arrested. She was taken into custodyon “cyber libel” charges against Rappler, the online news site she runs. Ressa and Rappler have reported on and criticized President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs. Many human rights advocates consider these libel charges, along with previous tax evasion charges she’s faced, as nothing more than payback and harassment from Duterte.
5. Kentucky students video
There’s no evidence that a group of Kentucky high school students made racist or offensive statementsduring an encounter last month with Native American activists at the Lincoln Memorial. This finding comes from a reportcommissioned by Covington Catholic High School and the Diocese of Covington after video of the incident went viral. The report says the students also never chanted “build the wall,” as alleged. The bishop said the teens had been exonerated. There was no immediate comment from Nathan Phillips, the Omaha Nation elder seen in the videos with one of the teens.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
All grown up?
Disney dropped the first trailer for “Frozen II,” and it looks like Anna and Elsa have joined up with “The Avengers” or something.
Opportunity over
Opportunity’s days of roving around Mars are officially over. NASA made one last attempt to contact the rover, but the call went unanswered.
Delivered with love
Meet the man making special Valentine’s Day deliveries to widows and military families, reminding them that they aren’t alone.
Table for two
Waited until the last minute to make Valentine’s Day plans with your sweetie? Maybe you can still get a table at one of the world’s most romantic restaurants.
TODAY’S NUMBER
$22 trillion
The national debt, which no one in Washington seems particularly bothered about right now
TODAY’S QUOTE
“You don’t trample over the men who have given Colin Kaepernick and me the right to free speech.”
Colorado sports store owner Stephen Martin, who pulled Nike items from his shop in response to former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick’s protests against racial injustice and police brutality. Martin felt Kaepernick, a Nike pitchman, was disrespecting the military by taking a knee during the National Anthem. But sales at Martin’s store plummeted, and now he’s closing it.
AND FINALLY
Health nut
Ferrero Rocher hazelnut chocolates are already divine, but could they be healthier? This gourmet pastry chef gives it a try. (Click to view.)
