January 9 top stories
It is January 9. Here are today’s top stories.
Updates on Boeing investigations
The head of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the fittings at the top of the door plug of the Alaska Airlines plane that had a hole was fractured. It allowed the plug door to move upward and outward. There were supposed to be bolts holding it in place but it is unknown if they were damaged or there at all.
In separate news, United Airlines said it found loose bolts on at least five of its planes during inspections.
The FAA has already ordered all planes with this model, the Boeing 737 Max 9, to be grounded.
This means that obviously, investigations will focus on the plug door and bolts for all planes of this model. The plug door is to cover up an exit door if an airline doesn’t need one in a particular area.
Trump attends court hearing on immunity
Today three judges in a D.C. appeals court heard arguments from Donald Trump’s legal team on whether he should be granted immunity to avoid criminal prosecution for trying to intervene in the 2020 election.
Trump’s legal team said when he challenged the results of the 2020 election, he was acting in his official duty as president.
Axios said the judges appeared skeptical. One judge said it is “paradoxical” if a president, who is supposed to make sure America follows its laws, can be allowed to violate laws.
In this case, Trump is charged with federal counts of conspiring to defraud the U.S., conspiring to disenfranchise voters, and conspiring and attempting to obstruct an official proceeding (Jan. 6).
Axios said however the three-judge panel rules, the losing party, whether it’s Trump’s side or the Department of Justice, is likely to appeal to the Supreme Court. So this case will persist for a while.
Michigan wins CFP National Championship
The University of Michigan defeated the Washington Huskies on Monday night to win the College Football Playoff National Championship. It is Michigan’s first championship since 1997.
———
Sponsored video by Sorenson: www.sorenson.com
———
Defense Sec. had prostate cancer treatment
The U.S. military announced that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization in the first week of January was due to complications from a procedure to treat prostate cancer. The cancer was detected in December and he underwent surgery and returned home, but due to health issues, he was hospitalized on Jan. 1. The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center said the cancer was detected early and his prognosis is excellent. But the complications were severe enough to send Austin to the hospital, where he is still at. There was controversy over Austin’s hospitalization because, for almost a week, the White House and the public were not aware of it.
2023 was hottest year on record
A European agency that tracks climate change on Earth said 2023 has been confirmed as the hottest year on record. The previous record was 2016 and the data for this record goes back to 1850.
The agency said December 2023 was the warmest December ever. Last July and August were also the warmest ever on record.
NASA to experiment commercial supersonic travel
NASA announced a new experimental aircraft that is designed to fly at supersonic speeds but without creating extremely loud sonic booms.
The aircraft is called X-59. It looks like a fighter jet with a long, needle-like nose.
CBS News explained that the U.S. banned supersonic travel over the country (i.e. from L.A. to NYC) due to public concern about sonic booms over populated areas.
A NASA leader said they want to do experiments and tests and if they are successful, air travel over land can be twice as fast, quiet and safe.
The tests will take at least two years.
That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/alaska-airlines-emergency-fittings-top-door-plug-fractured/story
https://www.axios.com/2024/01/09/trump-immunity-2020-election-case-appeals-court
https://www.axios.com/2024/01/09/michigan-washington-national-championship-college-football
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nasa-experimental-x-59-aircraft-commercial-supersonic-travel/