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With Pistorius facing premeditated murder charges, can he get a fair trial? Paul Callan weighs in
CNN legal contributor Paul Callan on what premeditated murder charges could mean for Oscar Pistorius.
What sequestration would look like: Laid-off teachers, national parks reduced hours, FBI on furlough
Christine Romans looks at the government services that would be hampered if major sequestration cuts go into effect.
VIDEO: Royal baby bump revealed – Kate Middleton makes first public appearance since December.
The Dutchess of Cambridge reveals her baby bump in her first official public appearance since her hospitalization.
Was Adam Lanza trying to emulate the Norway massacre? Susan Candiotti breaks down new report
(CNN) - The shooting spree at Sandy Hook Elementary School may have been motivated by a desire by Adam Lanza to outdo Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian man who killed 77 people in July 2011, law enforcement sources told CBS Evening News.
The unnamed sources said Lanza saw himself as being in direct competition with Breivik, who killed eight with a bombing in downtown Oslo before he moved to a nearby island where he hunted down and fatally shot 69 people.
According to the sources, the 20-year-old Lanza wanted to top Breivik's death toll and went to the Connecticut school on December 14 because it was the "easiest target" and had the "largest cluster of people."
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's Susan Candiotti breaks down the report.
READ MORE: Report: Sandy Hook shooter tried to emulate Norway massacre
Texas officials investigating suspicious death of adopted Russian boy – David Mattingly reports
(CNN) - Officials in West Texas said Monday they are investigating the "suspicious" death of a 3-year-old boy, adopted from Russia, and a Russian official blamed the death on "inhuman abuse."
The boy was born on January 9, 2010, and died on January 21, 2013, according to Konstantin Dolgov, the Russian Foreign Ministry's special representative for human rights.
"I would like to draw your attention to another case of inhuman abuse of a Russian child by U.S. adoptive parents," he said in a statement.
Dolgov claimed the child suffered injuries to his head and legs, as well as to his abdomen and internal organs. The wounds, he said, "could only be caused by strong blows."
Kim Herrington, an investigator with the Ector County Medical Examiner's Office, said the case was referred to his office because of the "suspicious" nature of the child's death.
Patrick Crimmins, of Texas Child Protective Services, said his office is investigating. The allegations include physical abuse and neglectful supervision, or neglect, he said.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's David Mattingly details more in the investigation.
READ MORE: Russia decries death of adopted boy in Texas
Pistorius breaks down in court, faces charge of premeditated murder – Robin Curnow reports
Pretoria, South Africa (CNN) - In an emotionally wrenching hearing Tuesday, a judge upgraded the charge against Oscar Pistorius to premeditated murder, saying he could not rule out the possibility that the track star planned the shooting death of girlfriend.
But the judge said he will consider downgrading the charge later.
Pistorius had been charged with murder for the Valentine's Day shooting of Reeva Steenkamp, and the hearing Tuesday was to determine whether he should be allowed to post bail.
But prosecutors had said they would try to get the charge upgraded. And throughout the proceeding, they hammered away at the possibility that Steenkamp's killing was premeditated. The defense countered by contending Pistorius thought his girlfriend was an intruder.
With the new charge, Pistorius' case for bail may prove much more difficult. The defense must now try to argue that "exceptional circumstances" exist that would justify bail.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's Robin Curnow reports on what she saw inside the courtroom and the chances of Pistorius being granted bail.
READ MORE: Oscar Pistorius bawls in court, faces charge of premeditated murder
Report claims Chinese Army unit behind hacking attacks against 115 U.S. organizations
Christine Romans on a New York Times report claiming a Chinese Army unit targeted 115 U.S. organizations in hack attacks.
CNN Trends: Burger King's Twitter hacked, China building Titanic II
Top trending stories: Burger King's Twitter account hacked, and Titanic replica being built in China.
VIDEO: World Health Organization says coronavirus spread to 12 in UK – Elizabeth Cohen reports
CNN's Elizabeth Cohen on the spread of the coronavirus in the United Kingdom, a potentially fatal SARS-like virus.
Questions surround death of country singer Mindy McCready – Nischelle Turner reports
(CNN) - They seemed so triumphant at the time: the lyrics to country music star Mindy McCready's hope-filled title track to her most-recent album "I'm Still Here." Now, those words sound like a cry for help.
"On a cold dark cloud, with nowhere to fall but down, like a single, naked, unrelenting tear ... I'm still here."
On Sunday, McCready, whose turbulent personal life overshadowed her music, was found dead on the front porch of her Arkansas home - the victim, authorities said, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
She was 37.
McCready leaves behind two boys - a 6-year-old and a 10-month-old.
Just a month earlier, police had paid another visit to the house in Heber Springs. On that day, they found the infant's father - record producer David Wilson - dead on the porch. He too had apparently taken his own life. He too had used a gun.
This morning on "Early Start," Nischelle Turner reports on the apparent suicide of country star Mindy McCready.
READ MORE: Embattled country star Mindy McCready dead at 37 of apparent suicide
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