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A breakdown on the stand

Laura L. Davis   | Paste BN
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Kyle Rittenhouse took the stand in his own defense. Nearly 1 million kids have received a COVID-19 vaccine. And a suspected serial killer has been arrested. 

👋 Hey! It's Laura. Here's Wednesday's news, with a side of french fries vodka. 

But first, pass the ketchup! 🍟 Arby's is releasing a flavored vodka that tastes like their fries. Here's where to get it.

The Short List is a snappy Paste BN news roundup. Subscribe to the newsletter here or text messages here.

Kyle Rittenhouse testifies in murder trial

Kyle Rittenhouse testified Wednesday that a man he is accused of killing threatened to kill him on a night of violent protests in Kenosha last year after the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse, 18, broke down as he described the events that led to him fatally shooting Joseph Rosenbaum, 36. Rittenhouse is also accused of killing Anthony Huber, 26, and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz, 27. Rittenhouse was calm to start his testimony, but began to cry before the judge called for a morning break in the trial. Before the lunch break, Judge Bruce Schroeder, who multiple times raised his voice, berated a prosecutor over his lines of questioning. Rittenhouse's defense team asked for a mistrial after returning from the break, but Schroeder did not rule on the motion. Rittenhouse and his attorneys have said his acts were in self-defense, as he feared for his life that evening. He faces charges of intentional homicide, reckless homicide, and attempted homicide, and could get life in prison if convicted.

Almost 1 million young kids vaccinated

More than 900,000 kids ages 5-11 will have been vaccinated by day's end with their first COVID-19 shot, less than a week after the vaccines became available to the age group, the White House said Wednesday. Jeff Zients, President Joe Biden's COVID-19 response coordinator, said another 700,000 shots have been scheduled in pharmacies alone for elementary school-age kids. Much work remains to be done – the U.S. has about 28 million children ages 5-11. More than 20,000 vaccinations sites, from schools to pediatric doctors' offices, are up and running, and more are coming soon, Zients said.

What everyone's talking about

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Aaron Rodgers, Packers fined over COVID violations

The NFL told Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers to pay up for violating COVID-19 protocols. Rodgers has been fined $14,650 and the Packers have been fined $300,000, said NFL Vice President of Communications Brian McCarthy. Wide receiver Allen Lazard also received a fine of $14,650 for violating protocol. The NFL conducted a review of Rodgers’ and the Packers' activities related to COVID-19 protocols after the quarterback tested positive for COVID-19 last week, and when it was learned Rodgers wasn’t vaccinated, as he had publicly led people to believe. The team was warned that additional violations could result in escalated punishment, including loss of draft picks or change of draft order. 

Suspected serial killer arrested

A man who faces federal firearm charges may be responsible for at least six deaths in Kansas and Missouri this year, which investigators say appear to have been "random acts." Perez Reed, 25, whom the FBI called a "suspected serial killer," was arrested Friday at a train station in Independence, Missouri, with a loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol, which federal authorities said was used in at least some of the killings. Reed is charged with four murders in the St. Louis area, and is a suspect in two murders in October in Kansas City, Kansas. During an interview with police, Reed denied that he had hurt anyone, according to an affidavit.

Real quick

Off work. Don't text.

Sick of your boss buggin' you while you're off the clock? Move to Portugal! A law passed by the Portuguese parliament makes it illegal for employers to contact employees after work hours, a step the country has made to promote healthier work-life balance amid a surge of home workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Employers could face financial penalties for contacting employees outside of work hours, including increased gas and electricity bills, according to Portugal's Socialist Party government. The law is part of an effort to appeal to remote workers coming to Portugal. 

​​​​​A break from the news

🗣 Let's play! Paste BN launched something really fun. It's a new and improved Crossword App! Check it out!

This is a compilation of stories from across the Paste BN Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for The Short List newsletter here.

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