Pence, whose conservative Christian views have repeatedly created a rift with the LGBTQ community, will benefit from a VIP-only fundraising event at Aspen’s Caribou Club Monday beginning about 5 p.m. local time. The Aspen Times first reported that local Republican leaders expect about 25 couples to attend the event, although the vice chair of the Pitkin County Republicans declined to disclose where the event would take place due to protest and security concerns....

Mahmoud Taluli, 44, suffers from epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV)—an incurable, inherited disorder caused by chronic infection with the common human papillomavirus (HPV). This leads to unusual bark-like growths on the hands and other body parts, NPR reported. As a result of these lesions—which can cause pain—the condition is sometimes described as “tree man syndrome.” To date, there have only been around 200 cases of EV reported in the medical literature and thus research on the disease is relatively limited....

Smith lit up a porous Lions defense Sunday, passing for 320 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-45 victory. He also rushed for 49 yards and another score on seven carries. And it wasn’t just Smith. The entire offense clicked (Seattle didn’t punt once in the game) as the Seahawks racked up their second win of the season. “Geno played spectacular football, spectacular football,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said after the game....

With Russell Wilson being traded to the Broncos last offseason, the Seahawks’ roster seemed devoid of starting-quality quarterbacks. It was a “battle” between Geno Smith and Drew Lock, which was ultimately decided by Pete Carroll to be won by Smith before Week 1. That didn’t stop rampant speculation over what the Seahawks were going to do. Would they trade for Jimmy Garoppolo? Baker Mayfield? Tank for C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young?...

“It’s not the ultimate and full justice that we want, but I think it’s the step in the right direction,” Brandon Williams, the nephew of Floyd, said to CBS Minnesota of the $27 million settlement the city agreed to pay the family on Friday. After accepting the settlement, the family came to 38th and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, where Floyd was killed last May as a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck....

Floyd died on May 25, aged 46, during an arrest in which a police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes. The officer, Derek Chauvin, is now facing second-degree murder and manslaughter charges. His death sparked Black Lives Matter protests across the U.S. and internationally, and his birthday sparks fresh calls for change. Politicians, including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, have paid tribute to Floyd online and have pledged to continue to fight for justice and change in his honor....

The 28-year-old found himself on the bench for the better part of the second half of the previous campaign despite fully recovering from a long-term injury that kept him out of action towards the end of last year. He could only manage 25 appearances in all competitions for the Glamour Boys, but he hardly played the full 90 minutes when Steve Komphela decided to start him. And the Mamelodi-born winger isn’t entirely pleased with the amount of game time he has been getting under Komphela....

“I am back in my fortress of solitude again, my isolated mountain cabin,” Martin wrote in a Saturday blog post. “I am back on the mountain again… which means I am back in Westeros again, once more moving ahead with Winds of Winter.” Martin writing at his cabin has long been an encouraging sign for readers of his A Song of Ice and Fire series awaiting the upcoming Winds of Winter....

According to a report from ABC News, several fundraising committees associated with Santos filed amendments to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on Wednesday identifying the new treasurer. However, the treasurer listed on the amended statements—veteran campaign finance treasurer Thomas Datwyler—denied ever working with Santos’ campaign in a statement to ABC News. “On Monday, we informed the Santos campaign that Mr. Datwyler would not be serving as treasurer,” Datwyler’s attorneys told the outlet....

The incoming member of the House of Representatives was due to be sworn in to the 118th Congress on Tuesday, but this was delayed after the Republicans (who control the House) failed to elect a speaker after three rounds of voting. The invitation has prompted accusations that the House’s ethical standards may have been broken. An image of an invitation first posted on Twitter by fellow New York congressman Ritchie Torres (D) on December 30 offered the chance to attend Santos’ “swearing-in celebration” for $100 as a basic attendee or $500 as a VIP....

Santos was already facing calls to resign from Congress, including from his local Republican Party, after it emerged he had lied about much of his background including attending college, working for top Wall Street firms and his mother being in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. In his updated federal finance report, filed on Tuesday, Santos had unticked the box claiming a $500,000 loan to his campaign came from “personal funds of the candidate,” which had previously been ticked....

The 29-year-old outfielder was forced to leave the game after his head appeared to hit the wall after he made a catch in centerfield. He stayed down on the ground for several moments before getting to his feet and exiting on the cart. Springer came into the matchup slashing .296/.388/.573 with 30 home runs and 78 RBIs in 104 games this season. He spent time on the injured list earlier this season with a hamstring injury....

Wednesday’s figures surpassed the previous high from the day before when 2,225 new daily cases were reported. There are also currently 1,570 patients hospitalized, which is the highest number of active hospitalizations the state has seen since the beginning of the pandemic. Public health alerts have been issued in both Cobb and Douglas counties for a “substantial rise” in newly confirmed COVID-19 cases. Despite the growing number of infections, Governor Brian Kemp said that he has no intention of imposing a statewide mask order, calling the issue “over politicized....

Kemp on Wednesday extended several public health provisions like limiting gatherings and enforcing health guidelines for restaurants until the end of July. However, the governor’s order also prohibited cities and counties from issuing requirements that masks, face shields or any other kind of personal protective equipment be worn in public, invalidating face covering orders that had already been issued by at least 15 localities. COVID-19 cases in Georgia have continued to pile up after beginning to rise dramatically late last month....

Georgia’s current vaccination rate for their population is 37 percent, while the national average is 47 percent. Hall County in particular is looking to boost their vaccination rates as only 29 percent of residents have received one shot, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dawson County’s vaccination rate is even lower, at only 25 percent. While court leaders are trying to avoid pressuring offenders into taking the deal, there is hope that many will see the benefits of the offer....

“Today, I am announcing that I will not be seeking reelection for a second term as Lieutenant Governor. It is truly an honor to serve as Lt. Governor and I have no intention of slowing down on my policy over politics platform,” Duncan wrote in a statement posted to Twitter. “The people of Georgia elected me to serve four years and I will give them nothing less…Our office will continue to go to work each and every day looking for ways to positively affect the lives of all 11 million Georgians....

Although Powell is no longer working directly with President Donald Trump’s campaign, the lawyer has continued to pursue legal challenges in multiple election battleground states in support of the president’s baseless claims of widespread voter fraud. Last month Trump supporters waited eagerly as Powell promised to “release the Kraken,” referring to legal actions that would supposedly reveal widespread voter fraud. President-elect Joe Biden was projected as the winner of the election nearly one month ago, but Trump has refused to concede as he pushes unfounded fraud claims....

Former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul recently reminded us that at the last Biden-Putin meeting, a decade ago in Moscow, the two leaders engaged in a sharp exchange over Russia’s occupation of Georgian territory. The more recent Russian aggression in Ukraine should be a reminder to all that the Kremlin ordered the 2008 invasion in Georgia as a response to NATO’s signal in favor of accession. Today, Russian soldiers still occupy 20 percent of Georgia’s territory....

The Georgia quarterback got some revenge against Alabama on Monday night, leading the Bulldogs to a 33-18 win and the College Football Playoff national championship only a month removed from a loss to the Crimson Tide in the SEC championship game. After turning the ball over in the fourth quarter on a controversial fumble call, Bennett stepped up on the big stage with two touchdown passes in the final frame to help Georgia capture its first national title since 1980....