Morning! While you were sleeping (or staying up to binge-watch Friends for the tenth time, or pulling an all-nighter in the library), a few things went down that you’ll probably want to know about. So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get scrolling.
What in the World
An armed teenager allegedly obsessed with the Columbine shooting was found dead in Colorado Wednesday from an apparent gunshot wound, bringing authorites’ massive manhunt to an end.
UPDATE: THERE IS NO LONGER A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY. More information to follow shortly. #FindSol
— FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) April 17, 2019
The FBI had been searching for 18-year-old Sol Pais, who traveled to Colorado from Florida this week and made threats against Denver-area schools, prompting the closure of all schools in the area on Wednesday.
According to ABC News, Pais flew from Miami, where she attended Miami Beach Senior High School, to Colorado, and proceeded to buy a shotgun and ammunition, Dean Phillips, special agent in charge of the Denver FBI.
Pais was apparently “infatuated” with the shooting at Columbine High School, which took place 20 years ago, HuffPost reports. Due to her “troubling” actions and behavior, including buying several one-way tickets to Colorado, she was considered a threat to the community.
Thank you to everyone for your continued efforts to locate Sol Pais. She is armed and dangerous and we are still working to locate her. Please continue to call 303-630-6227 or email denverfbitips@fbi.gov with tips. All further updates will come through twitter. #FindSol pic.twitter.com/4QtxJ5dJpX
— FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) April 17, 2019
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office had called Pais “extremely dangerous.”
“We take these threats seriously; it’s certainly not the first threat that we’ve had involving Columbine High School,” Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Shrader said at a news conference Tuesday night. “This opens a wound, especially on anniversary week for those families who are most deeply impacted by this.”
This Saturday will mark the 20th anniversary of the 1999 Columbine massacre, when two students opened fire at the school, murdering 12 classmates and a teacher before killing themselves.
In the wake of the manhunt for Pais, schools across the Denver area were closed Wednesday. And a local police bulletin obtained by The Denver Post Tuesday instructed officers to detain Pais for a mental health evaluation.
At a press conference Wednesday morning, Shrader said Pais was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. According to ABC News, tips led authorities Wednesday morning to Pais’ body, which was found off of a trail in Clear Creek, Colorado, said Clear Creek County Sheriff Rick Albers.
Authorities said Wednesday that all schools that were closed will be reopened under increased security.
“I’m very thankful this threat is over and we can get back to the business of learning,” John McDonald, executive director of security and emergency management for Jefferson County schools, said. “But we know that Columbine continues to attract people from around the world, and if I have any message: we are not a place to come visit if you are not a student… we are not a tourist attraction and we are not a place for you to come and gain inspiration.”
News You Can Eat
Carl’s Jr. announced that it is testing a CBD-infused burger, dubbed the “Rocky Mountain High: CheeseBurger Delight”, at a single location in Denver. The burger will be available during a one-day test on Saturday, which happens to be April 20th, the unofficial holiday for marijuana enthusiasts.
According to a press release from the burger company, the “Rocky Mountain High: CheeseBurger Delight” will be sold exclusively at the Carl’s Jr. on 4050 Colorado Blvd in Denver, Colorado, and, in keeping with the theme, will retail for $4.20.
4/20 only: We’re dropping our Rocky Mountain High Cheese Burger Delight with CBD-infused Santa Fe sauce at one Denver location only. #rockymountainhigh pic.twitter.com/Ekk4f4r1YL
— Carl’s Jr. (@CarlsJr) April 17, 2019
With this test, Carl’s Jr. will be the first major fast food chain to feature a cannabis-infused menu item, Business Insider reports.
The Denver Post reported that the secret will lie in the burger’s “Sante Fe Sauce,” which is infused with 5 milligrams of CBD. The oil used in the burger’s sauce will be derived from hemp, not THC (which is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that gets users high). In addition, customers will be limited to purchasing two burgers and must be 18 or over.
“The new Rocky Mountain High: CheeseBurger Delight ties back to our core strategy of being the first to bring bold and unexpected flavors that are at the forefront of hot restaurant trends to a quick service menu,” Patty Trevino, Senior Vice President, Brand Marketing at Carl’s Jr., said in a statement. “From our early introduction into plant-based options to bringing the rare indulgence of truffles to our menu with the new Bacon Truffle Angus Burger, our customers have come to expect innovative and unique menu offerings, and we’re thrilled to be the first quick service restaurant to be testing CBD infused options.”
But Trevino says it’s more than just a one-day specialty burger to celebrate 4/20, adding that Carl’s Jr. will be monitoring customer response and sales to see if there is a possibility of rolling out a CBD-infused burger across the nation, Business Insider reports.
“If anyone is going to do it, I would want Carl’s Jr. to do it,” Trevino said of potentially launching a CBD-infused burger nationally.
Then This Happened
One day before the highly anticipated release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on the Russia investigation, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he may hold a news conference following the release of the report on Thursday morning.
In an interview on “WMAL Larry O’Connor Show,” Trump also revealed that Attorney General William Barr would hold a news conference as well. Barr will hold a 9:30 a.m. news conference accompanied by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversaw the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election after Mueller’s appointment in May 2017.
Congress will receive Mueller report before noon Thursday, after Attorney General Barr’s news conference, Justice Department official says. https://t.co/FiOMsvGtbp
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 18, 2019
“You’ll see a lot of very strong things come out tomorrow,” Trump said in the interview. “Attorney General Barr is going to be giving a press conference and maybe I’ll do one after that, we’ll see.”
According to ABC News, the Justice Department declined to comment on a New York Times story which reported that “Justice Department officials have had numerous conversations with White House lawyers about the conclusions made by Mr. Mueller.”
Barr’s news conference was pitched and planned by individuals within the department, not a request of the president or the White House, said DOJ spokeswoman Kerri Kupece.
“It was our decision, and it was our idea,” Kupec said.
According to The Associated Press, the 400-page report is expected to reveal what Mueller found about possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia that fell short of criminal conduct. The report, which will be redacted, will also outline Mueller’s conclusions about formative episodes in Trump’s presidency, including the firing of former FBI Director James Comey and Trump’s attempts to publicly and privately undermine the investigation.
The report is also expected to not place the president in legal jeopardy, and Barr even made the decision that Trump should not be prosecuted for obstruction, AP reports. But Mueller’s report will likely paint the president in a bad light regarding his efforts to control the Russia investigation, as well as making the Trump campaign look eager to exploit Russian aid and emails stolen from Democrats and Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
A Justice official told ABC News that redacted copies of the report would go to Congress between 11 a.m. and noon.
In his interview, Trump did offer praise for his new attorney general broadly, saying that Barr has “been a fantastic attorney general, he’s grabbed it by the horn.”
Happy Thoughts
Today is National High Five Day!