News Wrap: Pope warns of 'tyrants' spending billions on wars

[0:00] In today's other headlines, Pope Leo is warning of a world ravaged by a handful of tyrants who [0:06] spend billions on war. His comments came during a visit to Cameroon, where the government is [0:11] mired in a long-standing conflict with separatist fighters. But his message also comes amid ongoing [0:16] tensions with the Trump administration over its war in Iran, which the pontiff has openly [0:21] criticized. Today, the Pope took particular aim at those using Christian theology to justify [0:27] violence. [0:34] His remarks follow criticism by Vice President J.D. Vance that Leo should, quote, be careful [0:48] when he talks about matters of theology. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has frequently invoked [0:53] scripture to justify America's military efforts in Iran. In Virginia, police say that former [0:59] Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife last night before killing himself. [1:04] JUSTIN FAIRFAX, former Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, former Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, [1:05] shot and killed his wife last night before killing himself. [1:09] JUSTIN FAIRFAX, former Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, former Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, [1:10] this has been an ongoing domestic dispute surrounding what seems to be a complicated or messy divorce. [1:13] J.D. Vance Authority said Mr. Fairfax was facing a court-ordered deadline to move [1:18] out of his family's home and that the couple's two teenage children were in the house during [1:23] the shooting. Fairfax was once a rising star in the state's Democratic Party, nearly succeeding [1:28] Governor Ralph Northam in 2019. His political career was derailed by sexual assault allegations, [1:34] which he denied. [1:35] President Trump nominated Erica Schwartz to be the next director of the Centers for Disease [1:40] Control and Prevention. She served as deputy surgeon general during Trump's first term and [1:45] was directly involved in the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her nomination comes [1:50] after a year of leadership shake-ups at the agency and a number of controversial policy changes [1:56] overseen by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Those include an overhaul of childhood vaccine [2:02] recommendations. Schwartz will need Senate confirmation before taking on the role. [2:07] In the meantime, Secretary Kennedy spent the day defending his health agenda in two appearances [2:12] before lawmakers. Speaking before the House Ways and Means Committee, Kennedy justified a [2:17] 12 percent cut to his department's budget. Republicans on the committee praised him as a breath of fresh [2:23] air, but Democrats challenged him on a number of fronts, including vaccines. [2:28] A deadly measles outbreak in Texas killed an unvaccinated six-year-old, the first such death [2:34] in a decade. Do you agree with the majority of doctors that the measles vaccine could have saved [2:40] that child's life in Texas? [2:41] It's possible, certainly. [2:45] At one point, the longtime vaccine skeptic conceded that a vaccine could have prevented [2:51] a deadly case of the measles, but otherwise he largely held his ground. Today's hearings were the [2:56] first of seven appearances for Kennedy over the coming week. The Senate voted today to lift a [3:03] federal ban on mining upstream from Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. [3:09] The yeas are 50, the nays are 49, and the joint resolution is passed. [3:13] The Republican-led measure now goes to the president for his signature. It's a major win for a [3:18] Chilean company which wants to mine nickel and copper from forests near the U.S.-Canada border. [3:23] Environmentalists warn it will contaminate the ecosystem of lakes and bogs, one beloved by Minnesotans [3:30] and one Native American tribes rely on for fishing and rice harvesting. The mining project still needs [3:36] state permits and could face court challenges before construction begins. [3:41] Officials on the Northern Marianas say some communities may not have power or water for weeks after a monster [3:48] typhoon tore through the Pacific Islands this week. Super typhoon Sinlaku, the strongest tropical cyclone [3:55] this year, left roads impassable for repair crews. Back stateside, Wisconsin is under a state of emergency [4:02] after days of heavy rains submerged streets and stranded cars leading to multiple water rescues. [4:08] The water is up here to me. You know what I'm saying? And I'm 5-11, so the water is up here to me. [4:15] Flood watches and warnings remain in effect across much of Wisconsin and neighboring Michigan through tonight. [4:22] Elsewhere, hail hammered parts of nearly a dozen states, including Iowa. And a possible tornado tore through Clinton, Missouri, [4:36] toppling homes and power lines. In the meantime, across much of the Southern and Eastern U.S., [4:42] mid-spring will feel like the height of summer well into the weekend. An abnormal heat wave is shattering records [4:48] in places like New York City and Washington, D.C. [4:51] Russia launched its deadliest attack on Ukraine this year, killing at least 16 people overnight and today. [4:58] Huge fires erupted in the capital of Kyiv after an hours-long aerial barrage. More than 100 people were injured. [5:05] Russia's defense ministry said it was in retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on targets inside Russia. [5:11] It comes as Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy has been visiting European nations, [5:16] seeking more air defense systems to block these attacks. [5:20] On Wall Street today, stocks ticked higher as investors searched for clues on when the Iran war will end. [5:27] The Dow Jones industrial average rose 115 points on the day. The Nasdaq closed at another new record, [5:33] adding around 80 points. The S&P 500 posted its 11th gain in the last 12 sessions. [5:39] And a British scholar has solved a mystery around where exactly Shakespeare bought his only home in London. [5:46] King's College professor Lucy Monroe says this 17th-century property plan, found in London's city archives, [5:53] shows the exact location of the house he bought in 1613. The home was already marked by this sign, [6:00] saying that Shakespeare purchased lodgings near this site. Turns out the house was not near, [6:05] but right there after all. It's believed the property was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. [6:12] The discovery raises new questions about how Shakespeare spent his final years before his death in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1616. [6:20] Still to come on the NewsHour, a growing number of small private liberal arts colleges close their doors. [6:27] We look at the Trump family's business dealings during this administration. [6:31] And Dave Chappelle discusses his support for his local public media. [6:37] This is the PBS NewsHour from the David M. Rubenstein Studio at WETA in Washington, headquarters of PBS News. [6:49] Support journalism you trust. Support PBS News. Donate now, or even better, start a monthly contribution today.