Robert Mueller, Former FBI Director and Special Counsel, Dies at 81

[00:00] Peter Rowan: This is Neural Newscast. [00:02] Evelyn Hartwell: Here is the news that matters for Monday, March 23, 2026. [00:07] Peter Rowan: From Neural Newscast, I'm Peter Rowan. [00:11] Peter Rowan: Robert Mueller, the former FBI director who served as special counsel during the investigation into 2016 election interference, has died at the age of 81. [00:22] Evelyn Hartwell: And I'm Evelyn Hartwell. [00:24] Evelyn Hartwell: Mueller's family confirmed he passed away Friday. [00:28] Evelyn Hartwell: His death concludes a long career in public service that began as a decorated Marine officer during the Vietnam War. [00:36] Peter Rowan: His tenure as special counsel resulted in 34 individual charges. [00:42] Peter Rowan: While the investigation was extensive, Mueller famously did not reach a conclusion on whether then-President Trump obstructed justice. [00:50] Evelyn Hartwell: Former presidents from both parties have expressed their condolences. [00:55] Evelyn Hartwell: Many are highlighting Mueller's 12-year leadership of the FBI, [00:59] Evelyn Hartwell: specifically how he managed the Bureau in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. [01:04] Peter Rowan: In other news, New York's LaGuardia Airport is expected to reopen this afternoon. [01:11] Peter Rowan: The facility has been closed following a fatal collision involving an Air Canada regional jet. [01:18] Evelyn Hartwell: Two pilots were killed when their CRJ-900 struck a firefighting vehicle. [01:24] Evelyn Hartwell: That truck was responding to a separate emergency on the airfield at the time of the impact. [01:30] Peter Rowan: While 41 people were initially hospitalized, the Port Authority says most have now been discharged. [01:38] Peter Rowan: Federal investigators are beginning their inquiry into the cause of the crash. [01:44] Evelyn Hartwell: Hundreds of flights remain canceled today. [01:47] Evelyn Hartwell: Teams are examining how the firefighting truck and the arriving aircraft ended up on the same path. [01:53] Peter Rowan: Turning to sports, the Alabama Crimson Tide has reached the Sweet 16. [01:59] Peter Rowan: They secured their spot with a 90-65 victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders. [02:05] Evelyn Hartwell: Texas Tech reached the second round after facing the Acron Zips, Peter. [02:09] Evelyn Hartwell: That previous matchup showcased the Zips' league-leading assist record. [02:14] Peter Rowan: the Red Raiders relied on consistent scoring and rebounding from J.T. Toppen. [02:19] Peter Rowan: However, they were unable to keep pace with Alabama's perimeter shooting throughout the second half. [02:26] Evelyn Hartwell: With the win, Alabama secures its fourth straight appearance in the Sweet 16. [02:30] Evelyn Hartwell: Regional tournament brackets are set to continue later this week. [02:34] Peter Rowan: Here is what else we are watching. [02:37] Peter Rowan: Federal regulators are conducting a review of a United Airlines aircraft that reported an odor issue just before the LaGuardia collision. [02:46] Evelyn Hartwell: Additionally, the House Oversight Committee is expected to clarify the status of pending investigations. [02:52] Evelyn Hartwell: This follows the recent withdrawal of a committee subpoena. [02:55] Peter Rowan: Finally, the LSU Women's Basketball team is looking toward its next matchup. [03:01] Peter Rowan: The team recently set an NCAA record for the most 100-point games in a single season. [03:07] Evelyn Hartwell: Tomorrow, we will examine the broader implications of the latest federal aviation safety reports [03:13] Evelyn Hartwell: and the upcoming regulatory changes for regional carriers. [03:17] Peter Rowan: From Neural Newscast, I'm Peter Rowan. [03:20] Evelyn Hartwell: And I'm Evelyn Hartwell. [03:22] Peter Rowan: This has been Neural Newscast. [03:25] Peter Rowan: Thank you for listening. [03:27] Evelyn Hartwell: Find more at neuralnewscast.com. [03:30] Evelyn Hartwell: Neural Newscast is AI-assisted, human-reviewed. [03:34] Evelyn Hartwell: View our AI transparency policy at