1. Current Events 1-30-15

2. Romney to tell supporters his 2016 plans Friday Former Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney has made a decision on whether to go forward with a third presidential bid and will tell to supporters which way he is going in a Friday morning call. Another Romney source said "the call is an 'update' call with finance, political, policy and grassroots leadership around the country." While Romney will not officially announce his plans for 2016, he will clarify whether he is moving towards a run or pulling back from the prospect.

3. The call comes as Romney is facing deep skepticism from some quarters of the Republican party over his interest in another run for president. Even some former supporters and campaign officials expressed concerns that Romney wasn't the best option to take on expected Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, whom the GOP plans to portray as old news and out of touch. Do you think Romney could beat Clinton if he ran? Do you think people wouldn’t vote for him because of his religion?

4. Two former Vanderbilt football players found guilty of rape Two former Vanderbilt University football players (Corey Batey, and Brandon Vandenburg) were found guilty of rape and sexual battery by a Nashville jury on Tuesday. The victim, who was unconscious when she was raped in a dormitory on June 23, 2013, released a written statement that was read to the media by an assistant district attorney. It said she hoped publicity from the case would help spur conversation on how to end sexual assaults in all college campuses.

5. "Finally, I want to remind other victims of sexual violence: You are not alone. You are not to blame," the victim's statement said. Each man was represented by a different attorney, but they both argued that the players were very drunk that night and the video of the incident didn't prove guilt, WTVF reported. Albert Perez Jr., who represents Vandenburg, said his client was unable to comprehend what happened. What do you think about the defense’s position? What is an appropriate punishment?

6. Georgia executes man despite disability claim Twice-convicted murderer Warren Lee Hill was executed Tuesday, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/27/us/georgia- inmate-warren-hill-tuesday-execution/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/27/us/georgia- inmate-warren-hill-tuesday-execution/index.html Despite pleas by human rights groups and legal representatives who have argued that Hill's intellectual disability should have made him ineligible for the death penalty, Hill died by injection at the prison in Jackson, Georgia.

7. "The intellectual disability community, which has strongly supported Mr. Hill's case for many years, joined his legal team in the belief that the Supreme Court would step in and prevent Georgia's flagrant disregard of the Constitution on behalf of the rights of people with disabilities," said Kammer. He described the execution as "an abomination." The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles similarly voted to deny Hill clemency. Do you believe that mentally disabled individuals should face execution? Why? In what cases?

8. Missouri man charged with felony after alleged racial slur http://www.kctv5.com/story/27976254/missouri- man-charged-with-felony-after-alleged-racial-slur http://www.kctv5.com/story/27976254/missouri- man-charged-with-felony-after-alleged-racial-slur A white northwest Missouri man is charged with felony assault after he allegedly made a racially insensitive comment while confronting a black server as she took his breakfast order. Nodaway County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Rice announced Wednesday that he charged 65-year-old Tommy Dean Gaa, of Maryville, with felony assault motivated by discrimination.

9. Gaa is accused of confronting the woman on Sunday and grabbing her arm, causing bruising. A probable cause statement says Gaa said, "I have a place I would like to take you where I hung your grandpa" and used racial slurs. Gaa was released from the Nodaway County Jail on $4,900 bond. Online records don't indicate if he has an attorney. Rice says the comments were bad enough, but Gaa crossed the line when he grabbed the woman who is of African-American descent. Should what Gaa did be protected under the First Amendment? Why?

10. News of the Weird When a dump truck and a municipal bus collided around 1 p.m. on Jan. 5 in downtown Phoenix, it of course drew the attention of the passengers, bystanders, motorists and nearby construction workers. According to a report in the Arizona Republic, an unidentified man then immediately seized the moment, ran out from some bushes to the center of the commotion and flashed the crowd before running away.