00:00A new reward, a ransom note deadline passes, and investigators still say they have no suspect,
00:07as the search for Savannah Guthrie's mother intensifies.
00:10Plus, the U.S. and Iran back at the table, quietly.
00:14Indirect talks resume in Oman, with nuclear limits on the line and expectations sharply constrained.
00:20And lower drug prices without insurance.
00:23President Trump launches a new prescription site, pitching cash discounts and a different way to pay.
00:31The stories that matter, clear and credible, from across the country to around the world.
00:37These are your unbiased updates from Straight Arrow News.
00:42Good morning, I'm Craig DeGrelli.
00:44This morning, the FBI is offering a $50,000 reward in the search for Today Show host Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie.
00:52Authorities in Pima County, Arizona say they have still not identified a suspect
00:57and are treating a ransom note tied to the case as credible.
01:01Investigators say the note demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin and set a deadline of 5 p.m. Thursday.
01:07The FBI says the note referenced a second demand, scheduled for Monday if the transfer was not made.
01:14Officials would not disclose what the note threatened or what comes next if demands are not met.
01:19But TMZ, one of the media organizations that received a note, said the threat is much more serious after Monday.
01:27Authorities say at least three media organizations received ransom notes possibly related to the case
01:32and turned them over to investigators.
01:35The Pima County Sheriff confirms one person was arrested after a separate ransom note turned out to be a hoax.
01:41At this time, we have not identified a suspect or a person of interest in this case.
01:48We are working our best to do that.
01:51But to be clear, we have nobody of interest or any suspects that you would consider a prime suspect.
01:59We're just not there.
02:00We're not there yet.
02:01Sheriff Chris Nanos also confirmed that blood droplets found at Guthrie's home were a DNA match to the 84-year-old.
02:09He says her doorbell camera and pacemaker app were disabled early Sunday morning,
02:14around the time investigators believe she was abducted.
02:17While Nanos said Guthrie is, quote, still out there,
02:20he acknowledged authorities still have no proof she is alive.
02:24Meanwhile, her family continues to plead for contact.
02:27Her son Cameron posted a message on social media Thursday asking the abductors to reach out.
02:33Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you.
02:36We haven't heard anything directly.
02:39We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward.
02:44But first, we have to know that you have our mom.
02:47We want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact.
02:50Authorities have also raised concerns about the possible use of artificial intelligence tools,
02:55including deepfake videos, which experts say could complicate efforts to verify proof of life.
03:01Now to high-stakes diplomacy in the Middle East as the U.S. and Iran resume indirect talks in Oman,
03:08their first such channel in months, with a focus on Iran's nuclear program.
03:13Iranian state media says the talks took place in Muscat, with U.S. and Iranian delegations kept in separate rooms,
03:21exchanging written messages through Omani mediators.
03:24Oman is trying to revive a diplomatic track that stalled after earlier negotiations collapsed amid rising regional conflict
03:32and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
03:35But the talks are unfolding against new tension in the Gulf.
03:38Iran says it seized two foreign oil tankers near its territorial waters, accusing them of fuel smuggling.
03:44Crews were detained and referred to judicial authorities.
03:48Iranian officials framed the move as law enforcement, though details remain limited.
03:52The formal agenda in Oman is nuclear-related, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said
03:58any lasting agreement would also need to address Iran's missiles, its regional activities,
04:04and human rights conditions that Tehran continues to reject.
04:07The last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia is now officially over.
04:14President Trump let the new START agreement expire Thursday,
04:17ending the final set of binding limits on the world's two largest nuclear arsenals.
04:23In a post on True Social, Trump called the treaty badly negotiated and grossly violated,
04:28saying the U.S. should replace it with a new modernized deal.
04:32Trump praised what he described as a massive U.S. military rebuild,
04:36including nuclear modernization, new warships, and space force.
04:40And he said nuclear experts should now work toward a stronger agreement for the future,
04:46though he did not offer a timeline.
04:48New START, signed in 2010, capped the number of nuclear warheads, missiles, and bombers,
04:53and included inspections meant to prevent miscalculation.
04:57With its expiration, there are now no enforceable limits on U.S. and Russian nuclear forces.
05:03Russia had proposed a temporary extension without inspections.
05:07The Kremlin says it regrets the treaty's end,
05:11but claims it will continue to act responsibly on strategic stability.
05:15At the United Nations, concern over the treaty's collapse was immediate.
05:19This dissolution of decades of achievements could not come at a worse time.
05:25The risk of a nuclear weapon being used is the highest in decades.
05:29Yet even in this moment of uncertainty, we must search for hope.
05:34This is an opportunity to reset and create an arms control regime fit for rapidly evolving context.
05:42Experts caution that negotiating a replacement could take years,
05:47especially with China rapidly expanding its arsenal and showing little interest in joining talks.
05:53A Maryland man is facing attempted murder charges after investigators say
05:58he targeted a senior Trump administration official.
06:00According to CBS News, investigators arrested 26-year-old Colin DeMarco last month
06:06after he allegedly showed up at the Northern Virginia home of Russell Vogt,
06:11the director of the Office of Management and Budget.
06:14Court records indicate DeMarco was seen on a ring doorbell camera
06:17while wearing gloves, a surgical mask, sunglasses, and a backpack.
06:22Investigators say he looked through Vogt's mailbox and asked a neighbor if anyone was home.
06:27That neighbor told police DeMarco appeared to have a gun tucked under his shirt.
06:32DeMarco later admitted to going to the home,
06:34telling investigators he wanted to confront Vogt over Project 2025,
06:39a conservative policy agenda developed ahead of the 2024 election.
06:44He denied carrying a weapon or planning to hurt anyone.
06:47But according to CBS News, investigators uncovered notes describing a weapon stash,
06:52a drafted manifesto and document titled Body Disposal Guide.
06:57Authorities also point to social media messages in which DeMarco is accused of discussing the killing
07:03of President Trump and referencing Vogt directly.
07:06Investigators say DeMarco expressed admiration for Luigi Mangioni,
07:11who is charged and now on trial in the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.
07:16DeMarco is scheduled to appear in court later this month.
07:19President Trump is rolling out a new prescription drug website,
07:23pitching it as a major move to cut costs for Americans who pay cash for medications.
07:29It's called TrumpRx.
07:31The Trump administration says the site includes discounted prices for more than a dozen drug makers,
07:36including Pfizer and Novonordisk.
07:38One example, a four-week supply of Wagovi is listed at $199 for the first two months,
07:44then $349 after that, well below the drug's roughly $1,400 list price.
07:51TrumpRx does not deliver medication directly.
07:54Users print a coupon and fill the prescription at a participating pharmacy.
07:58The White House says the program is aimed at uninsured Americans,
08:02people with high deductibles, and patients whose medications aren't covered by insurance,
08:07and urges consumers to check out the site before paying out of pocket.
08:10But a health economist told CBS News most insured patients are still likely to run prescriptions
08:17through their insurance, calling TrumpRx less a replacement and more of an alternative.
08:23Finally this morning, it's a big weekend for sports.
08:26The Winter Olympics are getting underway, the Super Bowl is on Sunday,
08:29and for dog lovers everywhere, it's time for the Puppy Bowl.
08:34This year, it's not just Team Rough versus Team Fluff.
08:37For the first time, puppies of all ages are getting their moment.
08:41The Puppy Bowl will spotlight senior dogs in a special halftime matchup
08:45with Team Oldie facing off against Team Goldie.
08:48And while special needs dogs have appeared before,
08:51this year's lineup is the most inclusive yet.
08:55This year, with 15 and all different types of special needs,
08:58wheelchairs, sight-hearing impaired, one's missing an ear, God love her,
09:02there's so many different things happening.
09:04We thought, let's pull in as many as we can, let's bring in the seniors as well.
09:08At halftime, we have a senior exhibition game of senior adoptable dogs
09:12to showcase as many different dogs as we can.
09:14So that is what's new this year, is like the sheer amount of special needs dogs
09:19and how blended they are into Team Rough and Team Fluff.
09:24Sounds great.
09:25Puppy Bowl 22 will feature 150 dogs from 72 shelters across the United States,
09:31Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands.
09:33The game kicks off Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern, with the pregame starting at 1.
09:38It will air across Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, True TV, HBO Max, and Discovery+.
09:44And here's the best part.
09:45Every single dog you see, young and old, as well as special needs,
09:49will be adopted into a loving home.
09:52Because who doesn't love a cute dog or a puppy?
09:56Great way to end Unbiased Updates.
09:58All right, before we head out, here's what we're tracking today.
10:01At 11, Energy Secretary Chris Wright is set to brief reporters on grid reliability
10:05and energy affordability as winter storms continue to strain systems across the country.
10:11At 2, Archbishop Designate Ronald Hicks will be formally installed as the new Archbishop of New York,
10:17succeeding Timothy Cardinal Dolan after nearly 16 years in that role.
10:21That same hour, the spotlight turns to Italy,
10:23where San Siro hosts the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
10:30And later this afternoon, spring arrives early at the Chicago Botanic Garden
10:34with its annual Orchid Show opening to the public.
10:38No caps, no clickbait, just the news you actually need.
10:41Sign up for our Unbiased Updates newsletter.
10:44Go to san.com slash newsletters.
10:46Those of your Unbiased Updates for this Friday, we'll see you back here on Monday.
10:49Who do you have on Sunday, Patriots or Seahawks?
10:53For all of us here at Straight Arrow News, I'm Craig DeGrowley.
10:56Have a great day and a fantastic weekend.
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