‘Connections’ January 11: Answers and Hints for Puzzle #580

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake centered north of Malibu caused light and weak shaking across Southern California, with the strongest shaking felt in Malibu, Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, and Camarillo. The temblor was followed by several aftershocks, with the largest being 3.0 magnitude, but there were no immediate reports of damage. The epicenter was in the Santa Monica Mountains, 3 miles northwest of El Matador State Beach and 7 miles southwest of Thousand Oaks, with shaking...

A University of Pittsburgh student, Sudiksha Konanki, has gone missing during a spring break trip in the Dominican Republic. Last seen at a resort in Punta Cana, she was with a group of friends before mysteriously disappearing. Search and rescue efforts are underway, with support from local authorities, the embassy of India, and the State Department. Full Article

The town of al-Haffa in Syria's coast experienced a violent outbreak, resulting in over 1,000 deaths, with civilians being the majority of the casualties. The conflict stemmed from clashes between Assad loyalists and government forces in Latakia Province, leading to fears of a larger sectarian conflict in the region. Amidst the chaos, residents like Shadi Ahmed Khodar in Tartus expressed concern over the escalating violence and potential threats from both sides. Full Article

An 18-year-old New Hampshire teen, Nicholas Walton, is facing DUI charges after being found asleep in a vehicle blocking a highway. New Hampshire State Police responded to a report of a blue Ford F350 pickup truck stopped in the middle of Stark Highway South, with Walton passed out behind the wheel. Troopers arrested Walton for aggravated DUI, disobeying an officer, and other related charges, and he is set to be arraigned in Concord District Court....

Comedian Taylor Tomlinson performed at the Wang Theatre in Boston on her Save Me Tour, where she was surprised to find a young audience, including 11 and 12-year-olds. Tomlinson humorously interacted with the young fans, joking about their age and questioning their presence at a stand-up comedy show. Despite the unexpected audience, Tomlinson continued her tour, which includes dates in the U.S., Europe, and Canada through December. Full Article

Sunday marks the second deadline for the release of RFK and MLK assassination files, following the fallout from the Epstein files release by the DOJ. President Trump's executive order in January prompted DNI and officials to submit release plans for the RFK and MLK files by March 9, with previous plans for JFK files due on Feb. 7. The lack of new material in the Epstein files has sparked interest in the contents of the...