Morning Headlines - Thursday, Apr. 11, 2024 | Recent News

U.S. and World Headlines

Trump Faces Do-Or-Die Moment With Hush Money Trial

Former President Trump is facing a do-or-die moment in his effort to delay the start of his first criminal trial with his choice of punting tactics dwindling in the days leading up to his day in court in New York.

The former president has vigorously fought to stave off his criminal trials until after Election Day – an endeavor that, if successful, could put the four cases against him on ice should he win the White House.

House Republicans Are In Chaos Again As Conservatives Derail A Key Surveillance Bill

A band of hard-right agitators, backed by former President Donald Trump, revolted against GOP leaders Wednesday, blocking renewal of a powerful surveillance program that is set to expire next week and throwing the GOP-led House into chaos once again.

Nineteen conservatives broke with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and his leadership team and voted down a "rule"; the vote was 193-228. It's yet another example of a minority of Republicans using the otherwise procedural vote to prevent the House from debating their own party's legislation.

Iowa Governor Signs Bill That Allows For Arrest Of Some Migrants

It will be a state crime for a person to be in Iowa if previously denied admission to or removed from the United States under a bill signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday.

The law, which takes effect July 1, targets "certain aliens," according to the text of Senate File 2340. It has elevated anxiety in Iowa's immigrant communities and has prompted questions among legal experts and law enforcement on how it will be enforced. It mirrors part of a Texas law that is currently blocked in court.

Dollar Stores Are Shutting Down Across America. They Did This To Themselves

These are tough times for two big US dollar store chains. In the past month, Family Dollar said it will close nearly 1,000 stores and 99 Cents Only said it will go out of business.

Both companies said inflation and shoplifting have contributed to their troubles. While inflation has pressured the companies’ low-income customer base and shoplifting has squeezed their profits, those factors alone can’t explain their difficulties.

Vietnamese Billionaire Sentenced To Death For $44B Fraud

It was the most spectacular trial ever held in Vietnam, befitting one of the greatest bank frauds the world has ever seen.

Behind the stately yellow portico of the colonial-era courthouse in Ho Chi Minh City, a 67-year-old Vietnamese property developer was sentenced to death on Thursday for looting one of the country's largest banks over a period of 11 years.

It's a rare verdict - she is one of very few women in Vietnam to be sentenced to death for a white collar crime.

First Campaign To Recall Vos Falls Short On Valid Signatures

The effort by supporters of former President Donald Trump to recall Wisconsin’s top elected Republican did not gather enough signatures to trigger the recall election and therefore should be rejected, state elections officials said April 10.

Trump backers angry with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos launched the recall effort, citing his refusal to decertify President Joe Biden’s narrow win in the state in 2020. Vos further angered Trump supporters when he did not back a plan to impeach Meagan Wolfe, the state’s top elections official.

Green Bay Man Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison For Dealing Fentanyl Resulting In Death And Possessing A Firearm As A Convicted Felon

U.S. Senior District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced a Green Bay man, Keenan J. Denruyter (age: 32), to 25 years in prison after he pled guilty to Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in Death, Possessing Fentanyl With Intent to Distribute, and Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition as a convicted felon.

Court records indicate that in June and July 2023, Denruyter repeatedly distributed counterfeit Percocet® “M30” pills containing fentanyl, resulting in the overdose deaths of two Green Bay females aged 17 and 18. Denruyter was on extended supervision at the time, having been released from state prison for felony cocaine delivery. As part of an ongoing investigation, the Brown County Drug Task Force (BCDTF) made controlled buys during which Denruyter sold fentanyl pills to an informant. BCDTF arrested Denruyter, finding hundreds of additional M30 pills and a loaded pistol. BCDTF’s investigation continued, leading to evidence connecting Denruyter to the two overdose deaths.

In Barron County, Burning Trash Powers Light Bulbs And Cheesemakers

Two of the nation’s power plants that create electricity from burning municipal trash are located in western Wisconsin.

In La Crosse, the Xcel Energy French Island Generating Plant reports incinerating about 72,000 tons every year. At the Barron County Waste to Energy Facility, nearly 300 pounds of household trash, plastic and other material is burned every 10 minutes.

Menominee Indian Tribe Sues Social Media Companies Over Native Youth Suicides

Two tribal nations are accusing social media companies of contributing to the disproportionately high rates of suicide among Native American youth.

Their lawsuit filed April 9 in Los Angeles county court names Facebook and Instagram’s parent company Meta Platforms; Snapchat’s Snap Inc.; TikTok parent company ByteDance; and Alphabet, which owns YouTube and Google, as defendants.