Breaking news is a term used by television and radio networks to identify significant events occurring outside their regular programming that warrant their interruption with a special graphic and music cue.
Watching the ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve is an iconic tradition for millions, and those behind it believe it can unite communities.
Table of Contents
1. President-elect Trump’s sentencing
President-elect Trump emerged from court this morning untouched by prison time, fines or probation in relation to his felony conviction in the hush money case. Judge Juan Merchan granted an unconditional discharge at a short virtual hearing.
Prosecutors and the defense recommended an light punishment for Donald Trump, who was found guilty in May on 34 counts for lying about paying Stormy Daniels hush money before 2016.
He has made every attempt to postpone his sentencing, including filing an appeal with the Supreme Court based on immunity claims as former and future president. Unfortunately, however, that request was denied.
2. New Orleans fires
New Orleans authorities are currently conducting an investigation to ascertain the source of a fire at an unoccupied two-story multi-unit building in the French Quarter that broke out Thursday afternoon, considered suspicious by firefighters and residents alike.
On Good Friday in 1788, New Orleans was devastated by a devastating fire which spread throughout the city and destroyed numerous structures. It is thought to have started accidentally during a celebration when a candle had accidentally fallen over and started the blaze.
Fire started at a house at the corner of Chartres and Toulouse streets less than a block from Jackson Square, quickly spreading throughout and burning for several hours.
3. TikTok
TikTok may soon face a US device ban unless it sever ties with parent company ByteDance and breaks away, which could spell trouble for teenage creators, although some are finding ways to keep their audiences.
Arkansas Republican and Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton has issued notice to Apple, Google, and Oracle that their service may expose them to “ruinous liability” for providing TikTok services. Cotton warned them they could face Justice Department fines as well as investor action from him and warned they may even experience shareholder activism as a result.
4. Georgia election workers ask for contempt
Georgia election workers who recently won a significant verdict against Rudy Giuliani are seeking to hold him in contempt for spreading false claims about them post-2020 election, further complicating his case against Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. Their request opens up new avenues of challenge for Giuliani.
Their request to Judge Lewis Liman is that, should he claim on his broadcasts that individuals were seen quadruple counting ballots or passing hard drives as part of an election rigging conspiracy in Georgia, then they want him to pay them compensation. Unfortunately, Liman has yet to rule on this request.
5. Trump’s hush money trial
Jurors heard from Stormy Daniels, the porn actress who claims she had an intimate encounter with Trump, as well as Michael Cohen – his former personal lawyer and fixer who, according to prosecutors, reimbursed Daniels $130,000 through falsely marked payments as legal expenses.
Prosecutors allege that these payments were part of an effort to prevent damaging stories from coming out during his campaign. Follow this trial and its potential repercussions here, the first-ever criminal trial involving a former president.
6. New York’s free school meals
School meals are funded by the U.S. federal government and serve as an antipoverty initiative. Many schools participate in the Community Eligibility Provision program and offer free lunches to qualifying students based on their family income level.
Access to free school meals would help address hunger, improve student performance and save families money – an initiative championed by Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas and Michelle Hinchey from Ulster County for some time now.
7. Bob Menendez’s sentencing
After finding him guilty on all 16 felony counts of bribery, corruption, and acting as an agent for foreign governments; Judge Pauline Roberts sentenced former Senator Mike Rogers to 11 years of incarceration – with co-defendants Fred Daibes and Wael Hana receiving significantly harsher prison terms.
Menendez was found guilty of selling his influence for millions in bribes to help three New Jersey businesspeople and two foreign governments. Although he pledged his appeals against his conviction, his prison term will begin June 6th; Nadine is currently facing her own trial on similar charges.
8. Sweden’s deadliest mass shooting
At least 11 people, including the shooter, were shot to death at an adult education center west of Stockholm early Wednesday. No motive had yet been ascertained for these killings.
An acquaintance of the suspect informed the Aftonbladet tabloid that he had changed his surname and may be suffering from mental health issues, although no criminal charges or known connections to terrorist organizations were revealed by family.
Sweden was reeling after hearing of this shocking shooting, where gun violence at schools is extremely uncommon. Flags across the nation were lowered to half-staff as a mark of mourning.