Morning rundown: US takes out ISIS leader; gas prices surge

KARAH RUCKER: HEADLINES WE’RE FOLLOWING THIS MORNING – POLICE FOOTAGE OF AN ARREST IN MEMPHIS THAT LED TO A MAN’S DEATH WILL BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC TODAY. THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE IS TAKING UP AN IMPORTANT VOTE TODAY. AND GAS PRICES HAVE TAKEN AN UNUSUAL TURN FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. BUT FIRST…THE U.S. MILITARY CARRIED OUT A SUCCESSFUL COUNTER-TERRORISM MISSION.

THIS IS STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS. UNBIASED. STRAIGHT FACTS.

U.S. MILITARY TAKES OUT ISIS LEADER

THE U.S. HAS TAKEN OUT A KEY-ISIS LEADER AND 10 OTHER ISIS OPERATIVES IN SOMALIA. THERE WERE NO CIVILIAN OR AMERICAN CASUALTIES.

OFFICIALS SAY THE U.S. AND THE WORLD ARE SAFER TODAY BECAUSE OF THE OPERATION.

ISIS AND OTHER TERROR-GROUPS ARE A GROWING THREAT IN SOMALIA AND SURROUNDING REGIONS OF AFRICA.

PRESIDENT BIDEN GAVE FINAL APPROVAL TO CONDUCT THE MISSION. THE U.S. KILLED TWO TOP ISIS LEADERS IN SYRIA LAST YEAR.

MARINE CORPS OPENS NEW MILITARY BASE

THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS OFFICIALLY OPENED ITS FIRST NEW BASE IN 70 YEARS ON THURSDAY – A 4 THOUSAND ACRE BASE ON THE U.S. PACIFIC ISLAND OF GUAM. IT’S EXPECTED TO HOUSE UP TO 5 THOUSAND MARINES.

THE FORMAL OPENING OF THE BASE COMES AMID A BROADER U-S STRATEGY TO STRENGTHEN OUR PRESENCE AROUND THE PACIFIC AMID INCREASING TENSIONS WITH CHINA.

5 OFFICERS CHARGED IN TYRE NICHOLS’ DEATH

5 NOW-FORMER MEMPHIS POLICE OFFICERS WHO WERE FIRED FOR THEIR ACTIONS DURING THE ARREST OF TYRE NICHOLS EARLIER THIS MONTH HAVE NOW BEEN INDICTED ON CHARGES INCLUDING MURDER AND KIDNAPPING.

STEVE MULROY | SHELBY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: “The grand jury returned indictments against all five with the same charges and we had previously met with the family of Tyre Nichols to go over what these charges were going to be and that meeting with the family went rather well.”

THE CRIMINAL CHARGES COME ABOUT THREE WEEKS AFTER NICHOLS WAS HOSPITALIZED AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP AND ALTERCATION WITH POLICE.

HE DIED AT THE HOSPITAL FROM WHAT HIS FAMILY’S ATTORNEYS CALL “A SAVAGE BEATING.”

HIS DEATH HAS RESURFACED THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION OF POLICE BRUTALITY.

TODAY THE NATION IS BRACING ITSELF AS POLICE VIDEO OF THE ARREST IS EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC.

RNC TO ELECT A LEADER TODAY

TODAY THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE WILL BE ELECTING THEIR LEADER. IT’S BEEN A HIGHLY CONTENTIOUS FIGHT FOR THE PARTY’S TOP SEAT TO LEAD THEM INTO 2024.

TODAY’S SECRET-BALLOT VOTE MARKING THE FIRST COMPETITIVE RACE FOR THE POSITION IN MORE THAN A DECADE.

THERE ARE THREE TOP CANDIDATES. CURRENT CHAIR-WOMAN RONNA MCDANIEL. A TRUMP-LAWYER HARMEET DILLON. AND MY PILLOW CEO MIKE LINDELL.

IN NOVEMBER, A PRELIMINARY LOOK AT THE RACE HAS MCDANIEL LEADING — ENDORSED BY 101 R-N-C MEMBERS. 85 VOTES ARE NEEDED TO WIN.

GAS PRICES SURGE 40 CENTS IN A MONTH

GAS PRICES AT THE PUMP ARE 40 CENTS HIGHER TODAY THAN IT WAS ONE MONTH AGO. 12 CENTS HIGHER THAN THIS TIME LAST WEEK.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR REGULAR GAS IS AT 3.50 A GALLON. IT’S FAR LOWER THAN THE RECORD OF 5 BUCKS LAST JUNE. BUT THIS IS STILL AN UPWARDS TREND THAT WE DON’T TYPICALLY SEE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

SOME STATES HAVE IT WORSE THAN OTHERS. COLORADO’S GAS HAS GONE UP 95 CENTS IN JUST ONE MONTH.

EXPERTS SAY IT’S NOT DEMAND DRIVING UP PRICES BUT RATHER THE PROBLEM IS SUPPLY.

BEAR TAKES MORE THAN 400 SELFIES

HOW MANY PHOTOS DOES IT TAKE TO GET THAT PERFECT SELFIE? FOR THIS BEAR…IT WAS MORE THAN 400.

IN BOULDER COLORADO…A WILDLIFE CAMERA THAT SNAPS PICTURES WHEN IT SENSES MOTION…CAPTURED THIS BEAR POSING FOR THE CAMERA…SHOWING OFF FROM ALL SIDES TO FIND THE RIGHT ANGLE.

THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT THE CAMERA SNAPPED 500 PHOTOS. 400 OF WHICH WERE OF THIS DIVA BEAR…COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION GLOWING AND FLAUNTING IT FOR THE CAMERA.