Nightly Brief

Top CNS stories for today including a former Trump campaign official pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy against the United States and one count of making a false a statement to the FBI agents; bowing to pressure from state officials, the Department of Interior significantly altered its bid to reorganize how it manages public lands and the national park system; Democratic gubernatorial candidates vying to replace Gov. Jerry Brown in November debated in San Diego on how to maintain the Golden State’s strict gun laws and reduce poverty; a new report says a group of serpent-like amphibians has developed tightly packed glands that enable them to burrow rapidly and hide from predators, and more.

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National

Rick Gates arrives at federal court in Washington on Feb. 23, 2018. Gates, a former top adviser to President Donald Trump's campaign is scheduled to plead guilty in the special counsel's Russia investigation to federal conspiracy and false statements charges. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

1.) A former Trump campaign official indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller in connection to his probe of Russia meddling in the 2016 election pleaded guilty Friday to one count of conspiracy against the United States and one count of making a false a statement to the FBI agents.

In this June 22, 2016 photo, the "Bears Ears" buttes are shown near Blanding, Utah. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is recommending that the new Bears Ears National Monument in Utah be reduced in size and says Congress should step in to designate how selected areas of the 1.3 million-acre site are categorized. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

**2.) ** Bowing to pressure from state officials, the Department of Interior significantly altered its bid to reorganize how it manages public lands and the national park system.

A bicyclist rides past a sign at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Friday, Feb. 23, 2018 in Parkland, Fla. Teachers and administrators returned for the first time since the Valentine's Day shooting that killed several people. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

**3.) ** Florida Governor Rick Scott rolled out a plan to address school shootings on Friday, amid growing outrage over the Parkland school shooting and inaction by the Republican-led Florida Legislature.

[Photo credit: CNS/Julie St. Louis]

Regional

Politico's Carla Marinucci asks questions of Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom Feb. 5, 2018 at the University of San Francisco. (MARIA DINZEO, Courthouse News Service)

5.) Democratic gubernatorial candidates vying to replace Gov. Jerry Brown in November debated in San Diego Thursday night how to maintain the Golden State’s strict gun laws and reduce poverty.

6.) Houston-area police are on edge after the social media-fueled fallout from the Florida shootings led to the arrest of students who threatened campus violence, and one superintendent said students who ditch class to protest gun laws will be punished.

**7.) ** Five churches and a Christian radio station sued a Wisconsin city, claiming its recently passed nondiscrimination ordinance protecting transgender residents should not apply to them.

Science

**8.) ** A group of serpent-like amphibians has developed tightly packed glands that enable them to burrow rapidly and hide from predators, according to a new report.

Research & Polls

9.) A week after 17 people were killed in a shooting at a Florida high school, a new poll finds that a large majority of Americans favor stricter gun-control laws.

International

FILE - In this file image made from undated video of a news bulletin aired by North Korea's KRT on Sept. 3, 2017, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un holds the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee. Japan's public broadcaster mistakenly sent an alert warning citizens of a North Korean missile launch and urging them to seek immediate shelter, then retracted it minutes later, days after a similar error in Hawaii. NHK television issued the message Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018 on its internet and mobile news sites as well as on Twitter, saying North Korea appeared to have fired a missile at Japan. NHK deleted its tweet after several minutes, issued a correction and apologized several times on air. (KRT via AP Video, file)

10.) President Donald Trump unveiled new sanctions against North Korea Friday morning during an address before the Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington.

Categories / Uncategorized

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