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New York Judge Upholds Donald Trump’s Conviction, Schedules Sentencing for Jan. 10

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MediaPunch / BACKGRID

A New York judge has upheld President-elect Donald Trump’s hush money conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Trump will be sentenced on January 10 – just 10 days before his inauguration on Jan. 20.

Trump was accused of using campaign funds to pay off Stormy Daniels, a professional escort. The payment was made by Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen. Trump then reimbursed Cohen out of his own pocket.

Trump was convicted by a jury in May 2024. His sentencing was delayed after Trump’s historic election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in November.

The Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity said presidents are protected from prosecution. But the trial judge said the Supreme Court’s ruling did not nullify Trump’s conviction since he committed his crimes when he was not in office.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg wanted to delay Trump’s sentencing until after he completes his second term in office in 2029.

But the judge wants Trump to go to prison or become the first U.S. president to serve his term as a convicted felon.

The New York case was the only one of four indictments against Trump to go to trial. Trump attended the trial in New York City every day while campaigning in other cities on the weekends.

Since Trump’s election win, two other indictments were dismissed.

A Georgia appeals court disqualified Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from pursuing a RICO case against Trump.

The RICO case will be handed over to another Georgia prosecutor. But there won’t be a trial while Trump is in office.

Also, special prosecutor Jack Smith has withdrawn his appeal of the Mar-A-Lago documents case against Trump. Smith declined to end his prosecution of Trump’s valet and property manager.

Nurse Arrested After Multiple Newborns Suffered Broken Bones in NICU

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Erin Elizabeth Strotman
Henrico County Sheriff’s Office

A registered nurse has been arrested following a 2-year investigation at a Virginia hospital, where newborns suffered horrific injuries.

Erin Elizabeth Strotman, 26, has been charged with malicious wounding and felony child abuse after an investigation into the incidents at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond, police said Friday.

Strotman, a Virginia native, graduated as a registered nurse in 2019. Her license to practice nursing has been suspended following her arrest.

Multiple babies suffered fractured legs and one baby even suffered a broken neck in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The arrest comes after newborn babies were found with fractured bones in the NICU in 2023 and 2024. The hospital recently said investigators did not know who was injuring newborn babies. But they suspected the person was a nurse or a doctor on staff.

“The Henrico County Police Division is utilizing all available resources to ensure a thorough investigation into this matter,” police said in a statement.

“This involves reviewing dozens of videos from inside the NICU. As previously mentioned, detectives are re-examining the 2023 and 2024 cases as part of this broader investigation.”

At one point, the hospital closed the NICU to new admissions while the investigation was ongoing. A statement on the hospital’s website said: “Out of an abundance of caution, we are not admitting any additional babies into our NICU at this time.”

But the unit was reopened despite not knowing who was injuring babies.

One couple whose son, Noah, suffered a fractured leg in the NICU, contacted Child Protective Services. Parents Dominique and Tori Hackey said then-newborn son Noah was doing well in the NICU until Dominique noticed his leg was discolored.

“It was kind of discolored, I told the doctor on staff,” Dominique told WTVR. He said the doctor took X-rays, and determined Noah had a fractured tibia in his lower leg, “and then she was like do you want to hold him?”

Dominique declined to hold his then-newborn son because he didn’t want to be blamed for injuring his own child.

“In my mind I’m like, I don’t want them to turn it around on us and say we broke his leg or anything like that. So I was like no, we don’t want to hold him,” Dominique added.

Tori Hackey and son Noah Hackey
WTVR

Noah’s mother, Tori, said the doctor told her “fractures occasionally happen” during normal procedures like giving an injection.

But multiple newborns suffering broken bones in the same NICU is impossible.

Dominique said he was concerned, so he contacted child protective services. In September he received a letter, which described level 1 physical abuse of Noah – the worst level in Virginia.

In October, police informed the Hackeys that other babies had also suffered broken bones at the Richmond hospital.

Henrico Doctors’ Hospital is a teaching hospital affiliated with a university, so patients and families can’t file lawsuits against the hospital.

Officials are investigating incidents at other hospitals where Strotman worked as a nurse.

Strotman is being held in a Richmond jail without bond.

FBI Special Agent Made One Small Change Following Nationwide Outrage

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Alethea Duncan
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The FBI has denied reports that it will fire the agent in charge of the New Orleans terror attack investigation.

Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, drove a Ford EV pickup truck through a crowd, killing 15 people on New Year’s Day. He was gunned down by police during a shootout.

FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan sparked confusion when she contradicted Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who said the attack was terror related.

“Know that the city of New Orleans was impacted by a terrorist attack. It’s all still under investigation,” Mayor Cantrell said during an early morning press conference on Wednesday.

But Duncan said the attack “was not a terrorist event.”

Shamsud-Din Jabbar
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The FBI later confirmed that an ISIS flag was found on Jabbar’s truck after he carried out the deadly attack.

Critics were outraged that Duncan lied to the American people. But what angered critics even more was the presence of her nose ring, which violates the FBI’s dress code. Some critics said the nose ring was symbolic of the FBI’s lax hiring standards.

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

At another press conference later that day, Duncan’s nose ring was gone, her hair was styled and moisturized, and she wore more professional attire.

According to the FBI’s official dress code guidelines, agents are expected to maintain a professional appearance that does not include nose rings and hair twists. Exceptions are made on cultural or religious grounds, reflecting the agency’s DEI policies.

Under the leadership of current FBI Director Christopher Wray, DEI policies took priority over the agency’s professional standards.

Wray announced he will resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term on January 20.

Meghan Markle slammed for wearing $65K worth of jewelry in new Netflix series: ‘She’s out of touch’

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Meghan McCain slammed Meghan Markle‘s new Netflix series as “out of touch” as Americans can’t pay for their groceries.

On Thursday, Markle dropped the trailer for her new Netflix series, “With Love, Meghan,” where she invites friends to her California home to share tips on cooking.

On New Year’s Day Markle, 43, returned to Instagram after a 5-year hiatus to post a new video. In the video, recorded by husband Prince Harry, Markle runs along the beach near their Montecito, California home. She paused to write “2025” in the sand.

The mom-of-2 is adorned with a diamond necklace — which the Daily Mail said sells for $15,000.

Markle wore even more expensive jewelry in the Netflix trailer — about $65,000 worth.

In an X (Twitter) post, McCain admitted she was a fan of Markle initially. But she slammed Markle for being out of touch with the everyday working American.

“Now that she wants to be American again instead of British aristocracy what she seems to forget is Americans want real, raw, uncensored,” McCain wrote in a post to X Thursday. “All of this even in the trailer is highly curated, produced and out of touch,” she added.

“This concept is ill advised,” McCain continued. “I would have told her to do a show helping bring fresh food to food deserts in low income neighborhoods. Do something to help people instead of your ego.”

McCain went on to say that the Duchess’s lifestyle is unattainable for many Americans, who “can’t pay for groceries.”

“We are a country in rage, uncertainty and intensity right now,” she added. “This is why the world doesn’t like you, nothing else. Just completely and utterly tone deaf to the moment.”

Markle’s fans defended her in the comments. One person posted a meme that accused McCain of being insecure. The meme’s text reads: “I’m an insecure White woman. Of course I obsessively hate Meghan Markle.”

CPS contacted after Miami Dolphins player posts inappropriate photo of his daughters

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X (Twitter)

Concerned Miami Dolphins fans contacted Child Protective Services to report Jalen Ramsey after he posted an inappropriate photo of his children on his social media.

Ramsey, one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks, tweeted out a New Year’s greeting. “Happy New Year! Keep God first always & everything else will follow… but go get after it too! LOVE.”

About 10 minutes later, Ramsey tweeted a photo that shows his three young daughters flipping off the camera.

He captioned the image: “It’s all love if you got love in your heart, but (middle finger) to the haters all year. We only want positivity round here.”

Ramey’s followers were shocked by the minor children’s inappropriate gestures. Especially since Ramsey posts Bible verses and other religious sentiments on his social media.

One X user asked Ramsey if his daughters knew how to twerk yet.

Ramsey, 30, disabled the comments on his X (Twitter) page. He responded to the reactions in follow-up tweets.

“I don’t be caring… you mfs don’t know me. just as a reminder lol,” he wrote in one tweet.

He added in another tweet: “Blessed beyond imagination [praying hands].”

Ramsey was a standout cornerback for the Florida State Seminoles and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars fifth overall in the 2016 NFL draft.

He won a Super Bowl ring with the LA Rams in 2021. At the time, Ramsey was the highest paid defensive player in the NFL. He was traded to the Dolphins during the 2023 offseason. And he signed a 3 year, $72.3 million contract with the Dolphins in 2024.

Apple Agrees to Pay $95 Million Settlement for Siri Eavesdropping On Private Conversations

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Getty Images/Tetra images RF

Millions of Apple users are eligible to receive a check from a $95 million class-action settlement alleging that Siri eavesdrops on private conversations.

Apple has agreed to pay the hefty settlement for selling recordings of private conversations to third-party advertisers.

Some Apple consumers will receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled Apple device, such as iPhone, iPad, MacBook and Apple Watch. Drivers who enable Siri in their cars are also eligible for a payout.

Via Mashable.com — “The lawsuit centers around customer complaints that Siri was unintentionally activated and a 2019 report from a whistleblower via The Guardian that Apple contractors heard voice recordings while testing for quality control. This included “confidential medical information, drug deals, and recordings of couples having sex,” according to the investigation. Siri is only supposed to activate upon hearing the wake word “hey Siri,” but there were reported instances of Siri being triggered by other things — such as the sound of a zipper, an Apple Watch being raised in a certain way, and hearing a voice.”

Apple users have long suspected that Siri was listening in on their phone calls – even though they did not activate Siri by saying “Hey Siri.”

South_agency / E+ / Getty Images

Consumers complained that they saw ads online for a product that they mentioned in a private conversation.

To receive their cut of the settlement, Apple users must submit a claim for up to 5 Apple devices with Siri (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, or Apple TV).

Users must also swear under oath that they accidentally activated Siri “during a conversation intended to be confidential or private,” according to the settlement proposal.

Waka Flocka Admits He Lied About Getting Jumped (Video)

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Waka Flocka Flame
Instagram

Rapper Waka Flocka Flame admits he lied about getting jumped by 10 people. On New Year’s Day, the rapper posted what appeared to be a fake photo of his bruised face. The post claimed that Waka, real name Juaquin Malphurs, 38, was attacked by a group of 10 people.

The image seemed to show what looked like stage makeup around his eyes. His eyes were not swollen or bloodshot, and a “bruise” on his nose looked like it was painted on.
 
RELATED: Waka Flocka called out for posting fake photo of ambush attack
 
Those who questioned the validity of the photo also pointed out that he didn’t look like a man who was jumped by 10 people.

On Thursday, Waka Flocka admitted he made the story up.

Hours after going viral, Waka posted a video claiming he couldn’t believe people fell for his prank.

In a follow-up post, Waka criticized journalists for not doing their due diligence. “Not a single media outlet that reported on my sh*t reached out to me or to my team to confirm anything,” he wrote.

“They ran with my caption as they headline. Imagine a world where facts ain’t checked and a IG post can steer a string of #news.”

He added: “Internet be so quick to believe sh*t without doing any research… too many ppl just proved how easy it is to believe #fakenews.”

Waka Flocka Flame

Waka could have fooled more people if he used a better makeup artist.

Even though Auntie Sandra is a registered nurse (RN), some of my Roses and thorns doubted my assessment skills.

One loyal reader wrote: “Where is the proof its fake? Just because ppl on the net said its fake doesn’t mean it is. His eye looks swollen to me.”

Judge Grants Jay-Z’s Request to File Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit

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Jay-Z
Grok

A federal judge has granted Jay-Z’s attorney Alex Spiro’s request to file a motion to dismiss an amended lawsuit.

The ruling is good news and bad news for the rapper.

The good news is, Judge Analisa Torres has agreed to delay the trial until she rules on the motion to dismiss.

The bad news is, Jay-Z will have to wait until at least mid-March to find out if she will dismiss the case. His chances don’t look good.

Jay-Z has until Feb. 6 to file the motion. The plaintiff has until Feb. 28 to file her opposing documents. Then Jay-Z has until March 14 to file his reply, if any.

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In an amended lawsuit filed on Dec. 8, an Alabama woman identified as “Jane Doe” claims Jay-Z and Sean Combs drugged and assaulted her at an after-party following the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2000.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Combs was arrested in Manhattan in September and charged with human trafficking. He is in a Brooklyn jail awaiting trial scheduled for May 2025.

Jay-Z vigorously denied the allegations. In a new motion filed on Monday, Spiro argued that the statute of limitations expired in August 2021.

In an explosive rebuke last month, Judge Torres rejected the “combative” letters and motions filed by Spiro.

“The Court will not fast-track the judicial process merely because counsel demands it,” Judge Torres wrote.

Torres noted that Spiro used aggressive legal tactics “attempting to impugn the character of Plaintiff’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee”.

Torres added that “[Spiro’s] relentless filing of combative motions containing inflammatory language and ad hominem attacks is inappropriate, a waste of judicial resources, and a tactic unlikely to benefit his client.”

Donny & Marie’s Brother Wayne Osmond Dead at 73

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Anwar Hussein/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Osmond Brothers’ legend Wayne Osmond (far left), has died from complications of a stroke, his family confirmed on Thursday. He was 73.

“Wayne Osmond, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully last night surrounded by his loving wife and five children,” the family’s statement obtained by local ABC affiliate KTVX read.

“His legacy of faith, music, love, and laughter have influenced the lives of many people around the world.”

Wayne was the second eldest of The Osmonds group, and the fourth oldest of the 9 Osmond children.

Michael Putland/Getty Images

Wayne (left) is pictured in London in 1973 with his brothers (L-R) Merrill, Jimmy, Donny, Alan and Jay.

Wayne, Alan, Merrill and Jay started out singing as a barbershop quartet before younger brother Donny Osmond joined the group and they became a barbershop quintet.

The brothers performed for years on Disneyland After Dark. Andy Williams’s father, Jay, saw them perform and he told his son to book them on his television show, “The Andy Williams Show.”

The Osmond Brothers’ next big break came when their song “One Bad Apple” skyrocketed to No. 1 on the charts in 1970. The song was originally written for their competition, The Jackson 5. But Berry Gordy rejected “One Bad Apple” for the Jackson 5 because Motown Records had its own in-house songwriting team.

There were hard feelings in the Black community when The Osmonds stole the Jackson 5’s spotlight with an R&B song. But the 2 super groups eventually met and became good friends.

Listen to “One Bad Apple” below.

A’Ja Wilson struggling to sell $16 tickets to jersey retirement ceremony

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Ethan Miller/Getty Images

A’Ja Wilson is struggling to sell $16 tickets to her upcoming jersey retirement ceremony. The Las Vegas Aces superstar will attend her No. 22 jersey retirement ceremony at the Colonial Life Arena in South Carolina on Feb. 2, 2025.

That same day, Caitlin Clark will attend her sold-out jersey retirement ceremony in Iowa. Tickets for Clark’s jersey ceremony sold for $300.

Wilson vented her frustration at South Carolina fans after her $16 tickets went unsold. Sources say Wilson is upset that tickets for Caitlin Clark’s standing room only jersey ceremony in Iowa are sold out.

According to reports, Iowa opened additional sections in the arena to accommodate Caitlin’s fans to attend her jersey ceremony. Caitlin is the third Iowa Hawkeye player in history to have her jersey retired.

Candice Ward/Getty Images

A’ja Wilson’s fans are upset that both jersey ceremonies are being held on the same day, but in different states.

Wilson, 28, is also annoyed that tickets to her ceremony are only going for $16, while Caitlin Clark is commanding NBA-level prices.

Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Caitlin’s jersey ceremony will be broadcast nationwide on Fox Sports. There are no broadcasts planned for Wilson’s ceremony.

Despite Wilson’s superior WNBA achievements, she is not receiving the same respect as her peer, Caitlin.

Sports analysts note that Wilson graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2018. She has a statue in front of the building since 2021. But South Carolina waited 7 years to retire her jersey. Fans blame the school for coordinating Wilson’s jersey ceremony on the same day as Caitlin’s ceremony.