March 12 top stories
It is March 12. Here are today’s top stories.
Trump posts $91 million bond to appeal E. Jean Carroll verdict
Former President Trump posted a nearly $92 million bond in a New York court on Friday to appeal the $83.3 million in damages a jury ordered him to pay to writer E. Jean Carroll for defamation by denying her sexual assault allegations.
In New York, defendants in civil cases are required to pay a bond worth at least 110% of the judgment amount in order to delay paying the penalty as they appeal.
The bond is essentially a promise that the penalty will be paid if the defendant’s appeal fails to alter the verdict or judgment.
Trump who also faces a separate $450 million fine in New York’s civil fraud case over his business practices.
Trump has until March 25 to secure a bond of more than $454 million due to accrued interest each day while he appeals.
Trump asks to delay NY hush money trial until SCOTUS weighs his immunity claim
Former President Trump’s legal team on Monday asked the judge overseeing his New York hush money case to postpone the trial until the Supreme Court weighs in whether he has immunity.
The New York trial is poised to be the first of Trump’s four criminal cases to go to trial – possibly the only one to see a decision before the 2024 presidential election.
The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in late April over whether Trump is immune from prosecution for any crimes he committed while president, which has been a central argument for the former president’s legal team across his cases.
If the New York judge agrees with Trump’s request, his trial would be delayed beyond its current start date of March 25.
Russia to produce 3x more shells than US & Europe combined for Ukraine war
Multiple sources reported that Russia appears on track to produce nearly three times more artillery munitions than the US and Europe, a key advantage ahead of what is expected to be another Russian offensive in Ukraine later this year.
According to NATO intelligence estimates of Russian defense production, Russia is producing about 250,000 artillery munitions per month, or about 3 million a year. Russia is running artillery factories “24/7” on rotating 12-hour shifts. Their war machine works in full gear. A rough equivalent in the US would be if President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act, which gives the president power to order companies to produce equipment expeditiously to support the nation’s national defense.
Collectively, the US and Europe have the capacity to generate only about 1.2 million munitions annually to send to Kyiv.
A senior NATO official told a news outlet “What we are in now is a production war. The outcome in Ukraine depends on how each side is equipped to conduct this war.”
Officials say Russia is currently firing around 10,000 shells a day, compared to just 2,000 a day from the Ukrainian side. The ratio is worse in some places along the 600-mile front.
Airbnb to ban indoor security cameras
Airbnb, the short-term rental platform, announced Monday is banning the use of indoor security cameras in listings globally.
Previously, Airbnb allowed hosts to have indoor security cameras in common areas as long as the devices were clearly disclosed on the listing page and placed in visible spots in the home. Indoor security cameras, however, were never allowed in spaces like sleeping areas and bathrooms.
The update announced Monday clarifies that indoor security cameras are now prohibited in any listing, regardless of their location, purpose or prior disclosure.
Hosts who do currently have indoor security cameras have until April 30 to remove them. After this date, a host who violates the new policy could face consequences including listing or account removal on the platform.
Outdoor security cameras, such as doorbell cameras, will continue to be permitted in Airbnb. Hosts, however, will be required to disclose the presence and general location of any outdoor cameras to guests before they book.
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Princess of Wales apologizes for altering Mother’s Day photo
The Kensington Palace released the photo, showing Princess Kate surrounded by her three children, on Sunday to mark Mother’s Day in the U.K. But the image quickly faced scrutiny on social media for apparent editing lapses, including zipper and hair misaligned on Catherine and Charlotte has a portion of her sleeve missing among the others.
Photo agencies that distribute pictures to news outlets around the world – have strict guidelines on edits. As a result, major press agencies pulled the image over the weekend.
It was the first official photo of the princess released since she underwent surgery in January. The princess has stepped away from her official duties as she recovers from the procedure, which the palace previously said was “successful.”
Kensington Palace wrote in a post on X on Monday: “Like many amateur photographers I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.” The note was signed “C,” indicating it came from the princess.
Alex has a news story to share about a woman who found a loophole to steal gas.
Woman uses pump glitch to her advantage stealing over $27,000 of ‘free’ gas
Thanks, Callie.
I have a story from Nebraska of a 45-year-old woman who is accused of improperly using a gasoline rewards card to steal over 7,000 gallons of gas worth more than $27,000.
The rewards card was for Pump and Pantry in Lincoln. Police said the woman, Dawn Thompson, took advantage of a software update that inadvertently allowed the card to go from regular mode to demo mode if it was swiped twice. During demo mode, gas can be pumped without a charge.
Thompson allegedly used the card at least 510 times over six months. She is also accused of giving the gas card to another person in exchange for cash.
The gas station manager said he lost over $27,800 due to the woman’s actions. They contacted police because they believed someone was scamming them.
Police checked surveillance footage and saw Thompson using the rewards card to pump gas into her car several times. Police then looked up the rewards card information and court records to identify her.
Police said when they interviewed the woman, she said she got the card from a man who was paying off a car debt, but police discovered that the man was dead.
Thompson was arrested on March 6 and was charged with one count of theft by unlawfully taking over $5,000.
Thanks for that story. That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light!
Trump updates: Trump posts $91 million bond to appeal E. Jean Carroll verdict; Trump asks to delay NY hush money trial until SCOTUS weighs his immunity claim
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/08/nyregion/trump-carroll-bond-defamation.html
Russia to produce 3x more shells than US & Europe combined for Ukraine war
Airbnb to ban indoor security cameras
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/11/1237609591/airbnb-bans-indoor-security-cameras-surveillance-privacy
Princess of Wales apologizes for altering Mother’s Day photo
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-68534289
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/11/world/europe/princess-kate-middleton-photo-edit-apology.html
Woman uses pump glitch to her advantage stealing over $27,000 of ‘free’ gas
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/11/nebraska-woman-stole-gas/72932785007/