March 19 top stories
It is March 19. Here are today’s top stories.
Trump unable to secure $454M bond in NY fraud case, his lawyers tell court
Former President Trump’s lawyers told a New York appeals court that Trump can not find an insurance company to underwrite his $454 million bond to cover the massive judgment against him in the New York attorney general’s civil fraud case.
His attorneys said he has approached 30 underwriters to back the bond, which is due by the end of this month. The potential underwriters are seeking cash to back the bond, not properties. They could not accept real estate to secure the civil fraud bond and it is a major obstacle for Trump.
Trump’s lawyers have asked the appeals court to delay posting the bond until his appeal of the case is over, arguing that the value of Trump’s properties far exceeds the judgment.
Trump posted a $91.6 million bond earlier this month as part of his appeal in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case.
First over-the-counter birth control pill now available
The rollout is underway for Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill approved in the United States, and online sales began Monday morning.
Consumers can start ordering Opill online on Monday, and orders will be fulfilled within a day or two. So far, the product will be available at Opill.com and Amazon.
The company said because privacy is important to them, Opill orders will be sent in plain, unbranded orders.
Online access to Opill will benefit women who live in remote rural areas or who may not have access to transportation in order to travel to stores that carry it.
The FDA approved Opill without an age restriction and Opill should be considered by individuals who desire birth control but are unable to see a primary care physician, gynecologist or other provider who can prescribe birth control pills.
2 Black men tortured by Mississippi officers call for toughest sentences
Eddie Parker and Michael Jenkins said they were often not believed when they tried, for months, to tell people about the grueling violence and torture they endured at the hands of six white law enforcement officers.
What happened? According to their lawsuit, Parker and Jenkins claimed the six white law enforcement officers illegally entered their home in Braxton, Mississippi and handcuffed, kicked, waterboarded, tased and attempted to sexually assault them over nearly two hours, before one of the deputies put a gun in Jenkins’ mouth and shot him. It broke his jaw and severely lacerated his tongue.
Now, more than a year later, the men – both of whom are Black – and their attorney say justice may finally come as the white officers who tortured them for nearly two hours are set to be sentenced in federal court this week.
Their lead attorney said Monday, “It’s an important day, not only for Mississippi, but it’s an important day for accountability, for police brutality all across America.”
Parker and Jenkins are expected to testify in federal court this week. They said they want the maximum sentence and they want the sentences to match the crimes.
In their lawsuit, they seek $400 million in damages for alleged abuse by Rankin County deputies.
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U.S. bans last form of asbestos still in use
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday announced a United States ban on the ongoing use of chrysotile asbestos – a carcinogen that the agency estimates is linked to more than 40,000 U.S. deaths each year.
Exposure to asbestos is known to cause lung cancer, ovarian cancer and other cancers.
Asbestos is currently used in the U.S. in products such as brake linings and gaskets in cars and in the production of chlorine bleach.
The EPA administrator said “While the use of asbestos in the United States has been declining for decades, the use of chrysotile asbestos has continued to this day. Because of its resistance to heat, fire and electrical conduction, it has remained in use for a variety of construction and industrial products.”
The import of chrysotile asbestos is banned immediately, but fully phasing out could take anywhere from six months to 12 years in some sectors–automotive and chemical industries.
See Alex for a brief on the crisis in Haiti. Here you go.
Evacuation flights to US begin as Haiti deteriorates
Thanks, Callie.
On Sunday, more than 30 U.S. citizens left Haiti on a government-chartered flight to escape the worsening situation in the country.
Powerful gangs in Haiti have seized control of several areas and there are reports of violence and looting. There is also a crisis of food shortages that threatens millions of residents.
The Haiti government is in a state of collapse after a power struggle between the former prime minister and gangs.
The U.S. has urged U.S. citizens to leave as soon as possible. More U.S. citizens may be trying to leave but they face dangers if they want to travel to certain airports.
One of the passengers who left on Sunday’s government-chartered flight said the suffering in Haiti is just terrible, and that she feels it is very stressful to see the country going through this act of violence and destruction. Another person said she wants to stay at her home in Haiti but she can’t.
The executive director of aid organization UNICEF said the situation in Haiti is like the film “Mad Max,” which shows a chaotic post-apocalyptic future. The director said many people are suffering and the organization cannot get aid to them because there’s no control over the situation there.
Thanks for that brief. That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light!
Trump unable to secure $454M bond in NY fraud case, his lawyers tell court
First over-the-counter birth control pill now available
2 Black men tortured by Mississippi officers call for toughest sentences
U.S. bans last form of asbestos still in use
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/18/climate/biden-administration-bans-asbestos.html
Evacuation flights to US begin as Haiti deteriorates