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Winter Storm Blizzard Warnings Issued in U.S. Deep South Rupert Murdoch’s British tabloids Issue Apology to Prince Harry for Privacy Infringement Lawsuit
Disgraced former New Jersey senator Bob Menendez will not receive a new trial, due to an evidentiary issue during jury deliberations. Additionally, large holes have appeared at one Jersey Shore beach as a result.
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President Trump’s Sentencing
Judge in Donald Trump’s hush money case is providing his sentencing remarks, with President-elect Trump virtually present and sitting next to one of his defense lawyers, Todd Blanche – recently named by Trump to serve in his future Justice Department as deputy attorney general – serving as part of his defense team.
After two days of deliberations in New York, 12 jurors found President-elect Trump guilty of using campaign funds to reimburse his lawyer for making a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to influence the election. They recommended an unconditional discharge rather than prison, fines or probation sentences.
Trump’s attorneys have attempted to postpone the proceedings on the basis of constitutional immunity; however, their appeals before Merchan, two state appellate courts and the Supreme Court were ultimately unsuccessful.
TikTok’s Defamation Case
A recent court case overturns a law which protects Big Tech from defamation liability. At issue is a 10-year-old girl who hanged herself while taking part in TikTok’s Blackout Challenge.
On Dec. 6, a federal appeals court issued an injunction ordering that the parent company of social media app could be banned in the US unless it sells the service to another owner. As soon as this ruling was issued, however, the company requested intervention by the Supreme Court before its ban came into effect on Jan. 19.
Justice Neil Gorsuch questions Noel Francisco, lawyer for the company, about concerns that China could gain access to data on millions of American users using its app. Additionally, Gorsuch inquires as to whether it has met legal obligations regarding content moderation policies disclosure as well as giving regulators and researchers access to such information.
New York’s Free School Meals
Advocates believe children learn better when they have adequate food on hand. “A hungry student becomes distracted, unhappy, anxious and irritable,” notes Pino-Goodspeed, while healthy children with plenty to eat are more likely to succeed academically.
Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address saw her call for funding free breakfast and lunch for all students participating in schools that participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision program statewide, becoming the first initiative of its kind nationwide and expanding eligibility by nearly 300,000.
Advocates recognize this initiative will be difficult, so they’re appealing to local elected leaders for support in fighting this effort.
Bob Menendez’s Conviction
Bob Menendez was found guilty by a federal jury of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes for political influence, with 16 counts including bribery, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent against him. Sentencing will occur next month and could last decades in jail.
Prosecutors allege that Menendez leveraged his political standing to assist New Jersey businessmen, as well as Egypt and Qatar governments, by accepting gifts such as gold bars, cash payments and mortgage payments as gifts from them.
Menendez’s lawyers requested that his record be considered when sentencing him, citing how his hoard of envelopes filled with cash was likely an attempt at “intergenerational trauma”, stemming from Cuban assets being confiscated from their family members.
Ryan Carson’s Death
On Monday morning, well-known Brooklyn activist Ryan Carson was fatally stabbed before his girlfriend on a bus bench after attending a wedding. Police believe a man wearing a Champion brand hoodie approached and began an argument. Security video captured Carson trying to de-escalate before tripping over and falling to the ground – whereupon his assailant allegedly grabbed a knife before stabbing Carson three times, piercing his heart.
Friends and family held a vigil for 32-year-old Jacek Polanski who had an unwavering commitment to change. As an organizer for New York Public Interest Research Group he focused on recycling and solid waste policy as well as creating the “No OD NY” campaign after losing one of his closest friends due to opioid overdose in 2016. Furthermore he walked across New York state calling for bottle deposit laws.
