Nova Newsletter
February 13, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,714 words for you today - 9 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Canada School Shooting Suspect Identified As 18-Year-Old
Police began putting tape out near the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and surrounding buildings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026.(Jesse Boily /The Canadian Press via AP)
Canadian authorities identified the suspect in the Tumbler Ridge school shooting as an 18-year-old with a history of police mental health checks, a day after the attack in British Columbia.
Takeaways
Eight people were killed, including a teacher and five students ages 12–13.
Police say the suspect killed her mother and stepbrother at home first, then attacked the nearby school.
The suspect was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted wound.
More than 25 people were injured, making it Canada’s deadliest rampage since 2020.
Authorities said police had previously visited the suspect’s home to check on her mental health. The motive remains unclear, and investigators say no victims were specifically targeted.
Officers arrived at the school within two minutes and came under fire upon arrival. A long gun and modified handgun were recovered.
Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered flags lowered and canceled international travel as the nation mourns.
The tragedy is renewing scrutiny on mental health intervention and gun access in Canada. Read More
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Two U.S. Navy ships collided in the Caribbean Sea during a routine operation, leaving two personnel with minor injuries, U.S. Southern Command said.
Takeaways
The collision involved the USS Truxtun, a guided missile destroyer, and the USNS Supply, a fast combat support ship.
The incident occurred during a replenishment-at-sea, when ships sail side by side to transfer supplies.
Both ships remain operational and are sailing safely, officials said.
The Navy has launched an investigation into the cause of the collision.
The collision happened Wednesday afternoon while the ships were conducting close-quarters maneuvering required for refueling and resupply.
Southern Command said the injured personnel are in stable condition, though it remains unclear which ship they were aboard.
Collisions involving U.S. Navy vessels are rare, but past incidents have prompted reviews of navigation and operational procedures.
A damage assessment will determine whether the ships continue deployment or return to port. Read More
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The exterior of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building in Washington, is photographed March 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
The IRS improperly shared taxpayer information with the Department of Homeland Security, exposing data tied to thousands of people, according to a new court filing.
Takeaways
The disclosure stemmed from an IRS-DHS data-sharing agreement aimed at identifying immigrants in the U.S. illegally.
IRS verified about 47,000 of 1.28 million names requested by ICE.
For less than 5%, the IRS shared additional address details, potentially violating federal privacy laws.
Treasury notified DHS in January and requested remediation and disposal of the data.
The agreement, signed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, has triggered multiple lawsuits from immigrant rights groups.
Federal courts have since ordered the IRS to stop sharing residential addresses with ICE, citing unlawful disclosures.
Privacy advocates warn the breach could endanger individuals and erode taxpayer trust.
The case underscores rising tension between immigration enforcement and long-standing tax confidentiality rules. Read More
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Quick Headlines
An AP review found at least two dozen ICE employees and contractors charged with crimes since 2020, including abuse, corruption and misconduct. Experts warn rapid expansion and weakened oversight could increase risks as the agency grows. Read More
Lawyers for Chicago woman Marimar Martinez say newly released records show DHS misrepresented her 2025 shooting by a Border Patrol agent who fired five times. Texts show the agent was praised afterward. Martinez’s felony case was dismissed, and she plans to sue under federal law. Read More
Attorney General Pam Bondi told Congress Ghislaine Maxwell “will hopefully die in prison” amid scrutiny over her transfer to a minimum-security facility. Bondi said she was unaware who approved the move, drawing sharp criticism from Democrats. Read More
Documents reveal Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of DP World, exchanged emails with Jeffrey Epstein discussing business deals, sexual encounters, and elite contacts, including visits to Epstein’s properties in New York and the Virgin Islands. Bin Sulayem is now under renewed scrutiny alongside five others. Read More
WhatsApp says Russian authorities tried to fully block the app to push users toward state-backed MAX, a surveillance-linked messaging platform, affecting over 100 million people. The move follows broader Kremlin restrictions on social media and messaging apps since the Ukraine invasion. Read More
A Washington grand jury declined to indict six Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, over a video urging troops to refuse illegal orders, marking an unusual rebuke of the Justice Department. The decision follows Trump labeling the video “seditious” and ongoing Pentagon censure of Kelly. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Partial DHS Shutdown Looms but Most Operations Will Continue
The Department of Homeland Security could face a partial shutdown if Congress does not fund the agency by Friday, though most employees would remain on the job, and the public may notice little immediate disruption.
Takeaways
DHS is the last unfunded federal agency for FY 2026, with past spending bills covering other departments.
Over 90% of DHS staff, including ICE and CBP personnel, would continue working, though many would temporarily go unpaid.
Funding stalemates stem from Democrats demanding immigration enforcement reforms after the Minneapolis deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good.
Essential functions—from law enforcement to disaster relief and airport security—would continue, leveraging prior appropriations and emergency funds.
Extended shutdowns could strain operations, causing staff fatigue, attrition, and slower passenger processing at airports.
The agency’s funding impasse follows a two-week temporary appropriation approved in January while lawmakers negotiate reforms to roving patrols, use-of-force policies, and ICE transparency measures. Republicans largely resist these changes, seeking concessions like sanctuary city crackdowns.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem retains authority to reallocate existing resources, including money from the $165 billion One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which injected $75 billion into ICE and $64 billion into CBP.
Most of DHS’s 272,000 employees are deemed essential, covering divisions from FEMA and TSA to the Coast Guard and Secret Service. Essential law enforcement and disaster response functions would continue, though TSA staff working without pay could lead to longer airport security lines if the shutdown drags on.
Other federal agencies, including the IRS, national parks, and air traffic control, remain funded and would be unaffected by a DHS lapse.
Extended negotiations will determine whether DHS avoids operational strain or faces long-term impacts on personnel and public services. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni Fail To Settle Lawsuit
Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni appeared in a New York federal courthouse for mandatory settlement talks aimed at avoiding a May trial over sexual harassment claims.
Takeaways
The six-hour closed-door talks ended without a settlement, Baldoni’s attorney confirmed.
Lively alleges sexual harassment and a coordinated effort to damage her reputation during and after filming It Ends With Us.
Baldoni previously countersued Lively and Ryan Reynolds, but that case was dismissed last year.
The trial, set for May 18, could draw high-profile witnesses from across Hollywood.
The lawsuit has fueled a yearlong legal battle that has spotlighted power dynamics and gender issues in the entertainment industry.
Court filings suggest figures such as Taylor Swift, Hugh Jackman, and Gigi Hadid may have relevant information.
With settlement talks exhausted, the case is now on track for a closely watched courtroom showdown. Read More
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6. Dawson’s Creek Star James Van Der Beek Dies At 48
Actor James Van Der Beek, best known for Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues, died at age 48 after battling colorectal cancer, his family confirmed.
Takeaways
Van Der Beek died Wednesday, surrounded by family, according to a statement posted on Instagram.
He revealed a Stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2024 and spoke publicly about treatment and recovery.
He rose to fame as Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek, which ran for six seasons starting in 1998.
He is survived by his wife and six children.
Van Der Beek became a defining face of late-1990s television and later starred in films including Varsity Blues, earning an MTV Movie Award.
In recent years, he used his platform to spotlight the rise of colorectal cancer in younger adults.
His death marks the loss of a formative figure for a generation of TV viewers. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
World Radio Day
On This Day — February 13
World Radio Day – World Radio Day marks the launch of UN Radio and highlights radio’s enduring role in delivering news, education, and culture worldwide, especially in hard-to-reach communities.
ENIAC Debuts, 1946 – The ENIAC computer is unveiled at the University of Pennsylvania as the first general purpose electronic computer, helping launch the modern computing era.
Mars Opportunity Mission Ends, 2019 – NASA confirms the Mars Opportunity rover’s mission is over after a massive dust storm cut off communications, ending an extraordinary 15-year exploration of the Red Planet.
Life Hack of the day
🍍 ♨️ Grill Pineapples to Caramelize Sugars and Boost Flavor.
Want to make pineapple taste even sweeter? Slice it and place it on the grill for a few minutes on each side. The heat caramelizes the natural sugars, boosting the flavor and adding a delicious smoky touch. It’s a simple way to turn fresh pineapple into a tropical treat.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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