This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click here.

Arrests Made Over Theft Of Yogi Berra World Series Rings

Charges against a ring of nine people for thefts of millions of dollars worth of paintings, sports memorabilia, and other valuables have been announced by federal authorities. The thefts took place over more than two decades at 20 museums, institutions, and stores across several states. The stolen goods included an Andy Warhol silkscreen, a Jackson Pollock painting, and nine World Series rings belonging to the late Yankees catcher Yogi Berra.

Stem-Cell Babies

Scientists in the United Kingdom claim that they have achieved a remarkable scientific feat — creating synthetic human embryos by using stem cells without any eggs or sperm. Professor Magdalena Żernicka-Goetz, of the University of Cambridge and the California Institute of Technology, announced the news on Wednesday at a conference in Boston, but the potential method is still a long way from being used clinically. It also raises serious ethical and legal questions.

TCU To Host Class About Drag

Texas Christian University’s course catalog shows the school will offer a course called “The Queer Art of Drag” this coming fall. The course will be taught by Dr. Nino Testa, who also goes by his drag name “Maria von Clapp.” A syllabus for the course indicates that students will use worksheets and vision boards to develop their own drag personas, culminating in a live lip-sync performance.

Global Meth Ring Busted

After a five month investigation, law enforcement in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have busted a massive drug syndicate accused of smuggling six tons of methamphetamine from Canada to Australia and New Zealand. The traffickers were intercepted smuggling the drugs through shipments of maple syrup and canola oil.

Conor McGregor Accused Of Sexual Assault

UFC superstar Conor McGregor has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in the bathroom at Kaseya Center, home to the Miami Heat. According to a report from TMZ, the incident allegedly took place at Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Heat and Denver Nuggets. McGregor’s representatives have denied the allegations. According to demand letters from attorney Ariel Mitchell, the victim was separated from her friend by Heat and NBA security, where she was forced into a bathroom inside the arena. McGregor then emerged from a stall and forcibly kissed the woman while security guards allegedly guarded the doors.

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Pat Sajak Resigning

After 41 years at the helm of “Wheel of Fortune,” Pat Sajak has announced that this will be his final season. As Sajak told NBC’s Al Roker, he always put the show first.

Sajak took over for Chuck Woolery in 1983 and now holds the Guinness world record for the longest-serving host of a single game show. Ryan Seacrest, Whoopi Goldberg, and letter spinner Vanna White have all been mentioned as replacements.

DOJ Investigating PGA-LIV Merger

The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division has informed the PGA Tour that it will review the organization’s proposed merger with LIV Golf. The announcement of the deal last week immediately triggered antitrust concerns and sent shockwaves through the golf world.

The man who killed 11 people and injured seven more during an attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2018 has been found guilty of all 63 counts he was facing and could now be sentenced to death. 

The shooter’s convictions included 11 counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death and 11 counts of hate crimes resulting in death. The shooting is considered by authorities to be the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history.

“There can be no forgiveness,” said the New Light congregation, one of the congregations that was targeted, in a statement the day before the convictions. “Forgiveness requires two components: that it is offered by the person who commits the wrong and is accepted by the person who was wronged. The shooter has not asked — and the dead cannot accept.”

A criminal complaint showed that the man told authorities that he intentionally targeted the synagogue because he hoped to kill Jewish people. The shooter’s defense attorneys acknowledged that he had done the shooting, but asked jurors to “scrutinize his intent.” 

“There will be no question that this was a planned act and that he killed 11 people,” defense attorney Judy Clarke said. 

The 50-year-old shooter opened fire on Jewish worshippers holding Sabbath services on October 27, 2018, at the synagogue in east Pittsburgh. The attack wounded several Holocaust survivors. 

“The message that the defendant chose to tell the world about himself was clear and unambiguous: He is filled with hatred for Jews,” said federal prosecutor Mary Hahn. 

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The shooter was armed with a Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, as well as three Glock .357 handguns — and fired all four of the firearms, authorities said. He had hoped to swap a guilty plea for no death penalty, but his offer was turned down. 

The jury will determine if the killer will be executed. The attacker’s legal team has said he has schizophrenia, as well as structural and functional brain impairments, claims that could be used by the defense as reasoning against the death penalty. 

“How and why did this man, who up until Oct. 27, 2018, had lived a solitary and law-abiding life, wreak the havoc and destruction that he did?” said federal public defender Elisa Long during the trial. 

U.S. District Judge Robert Colville oversaw the trial which took place in downtown Pittsburgh.