1. Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old girl who performed at President Obama’s inauguration, was fatally shot by a gunman in a Chicago. Pendleton was with a group of friends Tuesday at a park in a South Side neighborhood, which is less than a mile from Obama’s hometown. She was shot in the back as she tried to escape. This is the 42nd killing in Chicago this month.

2. Judge John Cleland rejected Jerry Sandusky’s bid for a new trial Wednesday. Sandusky’s lawyers argued that they were not given enough time to prepare for the three-week trial that resulted in a guilty verdict. Cleland stated the former Penn State assistant football coach’s lawyers did not present any new evidence that would lead to new findings.

3.Israel conducted an airstrike on a Syrian military target. The strike was launched Wednesday to prevent Syrian president Bashar Assad’s regime from providing weapons to an Islamic militant group. The use of force against Syria by Israel is said to be rare by U.N. officials, but the Israeli government claims if Assad gives weapons to the group in Hezbollah that it will upset the power balance in the region.

4. An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck northern Chile on Wednesday. Officials said that a tsunami is unlikely and that no major damages have been reported. The earthquake hit at 4:14 p.m. and centered 27 miles. The government said there have been no deaths or serious injuries.

5. A massive storm hit the Southeast on Wednesday. Tornadoes and high winds overturned cars on a major Georgia highway and demolished homes and businesses. So far, two people have been killed. Similar weather situations have also occurred in Mississippi and Tennessee, where tornadoes touched down and brought winds reaching 115 mph. The devastating storms have struck most southern states from Missouri to Georgia.

6. Police are still searching for a gunman who shot and wounded three people on Wednesday in a Phoenix, Arizona office building. Authorities believe there is only one shooter and do not think the act was random. Police did not identify any suspects or the names of the wounded. The shooting took place at 10:30 a.m. after the gunman got into an argument.

Contact Maura Zurick at [email protected].