Patch Morning Briefing: Trump Addresses Congress; Amazon Fails; Kansas Hate Crime

Good morning! It's Wednesday, but also, it's the first of March. You're halfway through the week and just at the beginning of the month. Here's what you need to know today.

Trump Sets Legislative Priorities

President Trump set the priorities for his first year and first term in office in an hour-long address to a joint session of Congress. But much of the details will be left to lawmakers to decide, rather the administration, if Trump's broad-strokes speech is any indication. Many commentators were impressed by the president's restrained performance — there were no accusations of "Fake news!" — and a CNN flash poll suggested viewers generally agreed. But his critics will surely find much to disagree with. (Patch)

An Amazon Glitch

Users of Amazon servers are approaching their work very cautiously today after major errors resulted in extensive website failures in many corners of the internet, affecting millions of users. Amazon is one of the major providers of hosting services, and some sites were completely down for hours Tuesday. Patch, too, experienced technical difficulties as a result. (Patch)

Kansas Shooting May Have Been A Hate Crime

Officials are investigating the Kansas shooting of two Indian men, one of whom was killed, as a hate crime. Reports say that a witness heard the shooter shout "Get out of my country!" prior to the attack. The president denounced the shooting in his speech before Congress. (Patch)

Quick Links

Rare Bag Of Moon Dust Back In Hands Of Inverness Woman (Patch)

Obamas' Book Deal Breaks $60 Million In Bidding War: Report (Patch)

City Of Hope Researchers Discover New Potential Cause Of Type 1 Diabetes (Patch)

Do You Know What The Affordable Care Act Does? Here's A Primer To Help (The Conversation)

Some Federal Employees Are Watching Tons Of Porn

Despite the egregious nature of the behavior, many of the worst offenders reportedly get a slap on the wrist. (Patch)

Alabama Mardi Gras Parade Crash Leaves 12 Students Injured

A car participating in a Mardi Gras parade in Alabama drove into a high school band before the event began, injuring 12 students, three of whom are in critical but stable condition, according to Gulf Shores city officials. (Patch)

Just A Regular Day On The New York City Subway

Betsy DeVos Faces Backlash Over Black Colleges Comments

After citing historically black colleges and universities as examples of "school choice," rather than of segregation, the Education secretary faced harsh criticism for misrepresenting racial history to advance her political agenda. (New York Times)

The Democratic Response To The Joint Session Of Congress Address

Trump spoke before the two houses of Congress. The man delivering the Democratic response spoke from a Kentucky diner. (Patch)

This Day In History

1961 — The U.S. Peace Corps was established

1998 — "Titanic" grossed more than $1 billion, the first movie to do so

Famous Birthdays

1807 — Wilford Woodruff, the fourth leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

1994 — Justin Bieber, Canadian pop singer

Photo credit: LoScalzo/Associated Press