Here's a roundup of news trending across the nation and world today.
What to know now:
1. Occupying the refuge: Protesters who took over a wildlife refuge in Oregon Saturday warned federal authorities that any attempt to get them to leave by use of force would be "putting lives at risk." The group, of which at least some are armed, is occupying the federal wildlife preserve in protest of a prison sentence for local ranchers for burning federal land.
2. Meeting on guns: President Obama will meet with Attorney General Loretta Lynch Monday to talk about way to use executive action to limit access to firearms for those with mental illnesses. While the White House did not identify specific measures being considered, the president did recently have staff members look into ways to expand background checks on those purchasing guns.
3. Remains of the El Faro: The National Transportation Safety Board has released photos of the freighter El Faro – the ship that sank in October when it ran into Hurricane Joaquin off the coast of the Bahamas. According to the NTSB, the remains of the ship were found in 15,000 feet of water. The top two decks of the vessel, where the bridge sat, were not found with the wreck, but some way away, suggesting they were torn from the ship before it sank. The ship's data recorder – its "black box" – was not recovered. Thirty-three crewmembers lost their lives when the ship sank.
4. Mayor shot, killed: The mayor of Temixco, Mexico, was shot and killed at her home Saturday, 24 hours after she was sworn into office. Three people, including a minor, are being held in connection with the murder, according to authorities. Law enforcement officials say the murder of Mayor Gisela Mota could be linked to organized crime. Mota was a former federal congresswoman described as "a strong and brave woman who on taking office as mayor, declared that her fight against crime would be frontal and direct."
5. Back on the trail: Former President Bill Clinton will hit the campaign trail Monday, stumping for his wife, Hillary, as she tries to secure the Democratic Party's nomination for president. Both Clintons have recently been attacked by Republican front-runner Donald Trump, who has brought up Bill Clinton's sex scandals and impeachment while campaigning recently.
And one more
A woman told authorities in Las Vegas Saturday that rapper Chris Brown hit her after she tried to take a picture of the singer with her cellphone. The incident allegedly happened at the Palms Casino Resort. The woman said Brown hit her and took the phone. Brown later posted a video to Instagram where he said he did not know the woman and that she was "probably too ugly to get in" to his room for his party. The video has since been taken down from Instagram, but the website TMZ copied it and has posted it on its website.
In case you missed it
A beautiful way to ring in the new year.
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