Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Wednesday, February 10, 2021:
IMPEACHMENT II: DAY 1
The first day of Donald Trump's impeachment trial was heavy on legal history and technicalities as the opposing camps approved the rules of the proceedings and ultimately affirmed the constitutionality of impeaching a former president by a vote of 56 to 44. The prosecution made an emotional case for Trump's culpability in inciting the violent riots at Capitol Hill, including presenting vivid footage of rioters themselves, while the defense team called the impeachment politically-motivated and stressed how it would set a bad precedent for future presidents. Each side will now get up to 16 hours to make their case beginning today, although it's already expected Trump will have the 34 votes needed to acquit him. WATCH
COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
The World Health Organization has concluded that the coronavirus pandemic likely did not originate in a Chinese lab and instead the team of international and Chinese scientists doubled down on the more commonly held theory that the virus made the jump from animals to humans. Still, the U.S. State Department says it's looking into it and plans to use its own intel to reach a conclusion. Meanwhile, in the U.S., COVID-19 deaths are soaring in Hispanic communities 55 percent above the national rate, even as the Biden administration announced a concerted push to deliver vaccines to underserved areas through a network of federally funded clinics. The CEO of Johnson & Johnson has also said he expects people will need to re-up their vaccines annually. NY TIMES
BEHIND KOBE'S CRASH
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board found that the pilot in the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, and seven other people, was likely disoriented while attempting to climb above the clouds, when in fact the helicopter was rapidly descending. The pilot, Ara Zobayan, who had a close relationship with the basketball star, was likely trying to complete the flight despite inclement conditions, investigators said. The helicopter was just minutes from an airport before it crashed into a hill near Calabasas, Calif. AP
MINNESOTA MASS SHOOTING
On Tuesday morning, a 67-year-old local man attacked a health clinic in Buffalo, a small community of 15,000 in rural Minnesota, killing one person and injuring four others. Local law enforcement said the shooter, who was identified as Gregory Paul Ulrich, was well-known and the source of calls going back to 2003, including several that resulted in arrests, convictions for drunk driving, and possession of small amounts of marijuana. His former roommate told a local reporter the suspect was an addict furious at a doctor for refusing to prescribe him more painkillers. STAR TRIB
ELI LILLY'S CFO RESIGNS
Eli Lilly CFO Josh Smiley resigned on Tuesday following an independent investigation into misconduct that revealed "consensual though inappropriate" personal messages to employees. The company said it will not be disclosing any additional details to protect the privacy of those involved, but stated that the executive "exhibited poor judgement" and that it took swift action once the investigation was concluded. The company doesn't seem likely to try to claw back any of his pay, but will try to take away his 2020 bonus. WSJ
HUAWEI'S GAMBIT
Chinese telecom giant Huawei has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. for the Federal Communications Commission's designation of the company as a national security threat, which, along with other measures, has dashed the company's hope of making inroads into the domestic market for smartphones. The lawsuit calls the designation "arbitrary," while the FCC said the decision was based on "a substantial body of evidence." The Biden administration has yet to present a united front on China, as Gina Raimondo, Biden's nominee for Commerce Secretary, has declined to promise if the agency will maintain its blacklisting of the company. BUSINESS INSIDER
MAVS CANCEL NATIONAL ANTHEM
Did anyone realize the Dallas Mavericks haven't been playing the national anthem at home games this year? It's probably been easier to keep off the radar without fans in the stands, but billionaire owner Mark Cuban says he's decided the team would skip the tradition after consulting with NBA commissioner Adam Silver. No anthem would appear to mean no debate over kneeling in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, although so far it's unclear whether a no-anthem policy will breed its own pushback. ESPN
IN MEMORIAM: MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
Mary Wilson, a founding member of legendary vocal group The Supremes, died at 74. The group was essential in making Motown Records a national phenomenon. Wilson founded the group along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard as the Primettes. While Ross became a well-known pop star in her own right, Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, said in a statement that Wilson had worked hard over the years to boost the legacy of The Supremes. NY TIMES
GAMESTOP TUMBLES
In a sign that the meme-stock craze is finally coming to an end, GameStop shares fell below $50 on Tuesday in the wake of a massive short squeeze. Short interest in the brick-and-mortar retailer dropped to about 50 percent on Friday, coming down from more than 130 percent two weeks ago just prior to the frenzy, according to data from S3 Partners. CNBC
LEFTOVERS: KITTEN FILTER MISHAP
A Texas attorney had a lesson in Zoom etiquette on Tuesday when he showed up to a court hearing with a big-eyed kitten filter on his camera. Attorney Rod Ponton nonetheless plowed ahead after struggling to turn off the filter. Though his face was obscured, attendees of the hearing could see the cat's eyes darting around the screen. BUZZFEED
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