ABC News Live Rundown: Friday, March 24, 2023
Stay up to date on the developing stories making headlines.
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ABC NewsPolice carry out complex choreography in responding to campus protests: 'You need decisive action'
As protests continue erupting at U.S. college campuses over the war in Gaza, law enforcement from coast to coast is being tasked with carrying out a complex choreography: How to protect the constitutional right to free speech, while navigating volatile and potentially unsafe social unrest. Dynamic scenes of massive encampments, vocal demonstrations and building occupation have now been playing out on private and public college properties – where police assistance has to be requested, not forcibly and unilaterally imposed. Protests broke out last month at colleges and universities across the country in connection with the war in Gaza, with many pro-Palestinian protesters calling for their colleges to divest of funds from Israeli military operations or companies benefitting from the war.
- Good Morning America
Biden awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to Nancy Pelosi, Al Gore, Michelle Yeoh and more
President Joe Biden on Friday awarded 19 Americans with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. Biden kicked off the ceremony in the East Room by calling it "one of their favorite events at the White House." Biden shared anecdotes and accomplishments of the awarded individuals, and at times touched on the politics of the moment.
- ABC News
3 big takeaways from Day 11 of Trump's hush money trial
One of Donald Trump's closest former advisers testified Friday about the "frantic" hours in after his campaign learned about the existence and imminent release of the "Access Hollywood" tape, offering a glimpse into one of the most consequential moments of the 2016 presidential election. Hope Hicks spent nearly three hours on the witness stand, at one point breaking down in tears. Trump is on trial for allegedly falsifying business records to hide the reimbursement of a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
- ABC News
Campus protesters are demanding universities divest from Israel. Here's what that means.
Protests calling for colleges and universities to divest funds from Israeli military and governmental operations in Gaza, or companies they claim benefit from it, have continued to spread on campuses across the country, including Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and more. Many universities have a long history of divesting – that is, removing one's funds from an asset, in essence reversing a previous investment – in companies that have connections to or otherwise support fraught political issues, such as genocide, apartheid and other practices.
- ABC News
Noem backpedals on anecdote in book about meeting with Kim Jong Un
Noem's book, "No Going Back," has drawn backlash for how she describes shooting and killing her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, in an incident she said happened 20 years ago. Now, Noem -- widely rumored to be seeking to be a potential vice-presidential pick for former President Donald Trump -- is addressing new questions over an account of a meeting she said she had with the North Korean leader while she served in Congress.
- ABC News
Patients at Florida abortion clinic write messages for each other on walls
As abortion laws have become stricter across the nation, especially in the South, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the bathroom walls of one women's healthcare clinic in Florida have become a refuge for women seeking care. Around one year ago, patients at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Jacksonville started leaving messages of support for each other on the walls of the bathroom in the clinic's lobby, according to Morgan Daniel, the health center supervisor at Planned Parenthood Jacksonville. Daniel said staff members noticed the messages after a few were left initially on the baby changing station in the bathroom.
- ABC News
Over 31,000 Igloo youth bottles recalled due to possible choking hazard
Tens of thousands of Igloo-branded youth water bottles are being recalled due to a potential choking hazard. Youth Sipper Bottles are impacted by the recall. The agency said the silicone covers on the sippers can detach while they're being used, posing a possible choking hazard for children.
- ABC News
RFK Jr. contractor arrested for allegedly assaulting woman in New York
A key figure in Robert F. Kennedy Jr's effort to make the ballot in all 50 states was arrested Saturday in New York City for allegedly striking a woman, according to the New York City Police Department. Trent Pool, 37, whose petitioning company Accelevate 2020 received more than $300,000 from the Kennedy campaign in March, according to federal finance records, "wrapped his hand around [the woman's] neck making it hard for her to breath and then struck her with a closed fist, causing pain," the 25-year-old woman, who refused medical attention on scene, told police, according to an NYPD spokesperson. A Kennedy spokesperson told ABC News that Pool told campaign aides "the alleged incident never occurred" and referred ABC News to Pool's lawyer.
- ABC News
Houston area facing 'catastrophic' flood conditions as severe weather pummels Texas
The Houston area is bracing for "catastrophic" flooding Friday as severe downpours and extreme weather pummel parts of Texas. Harris County's Office of Emergency Management moved to its highest activation level Friday morning in anticipation of the imminent flooding, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo told reporters during a news conference. Hidalgo warned residents that the forecast has changed as heavy rains have already fallen in northern Polk County and will make their way to Harris County sooner than expected.
- ABC News
Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, wife indicted on charges of bribes tied to Azerbaijan
Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife were indicted Friday on charges of conspiracy and accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from foreign entities, the Justice Department announced. Prosecutors allege Cuellar and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, began accepting the roughly $600,000 in bribes beginning as early as December of 2014 from an oil and gas company owned by Azerbaijan's government as well as a bank headquartered in Mexico City. While Cuellar's wife allegedly propped up sham front companies on the promise of providing consulting services to the two companies in order to launder the payments, she "performed little to no legitimate work under the contracts" all while Rep. Cuellar was promising to use his office for the benefit of Azerbaijan's foreign policy as well as influencing "high-ranking" officials in the executive branch to benefit the Mexico City bank, according to the indictment.
- ABC News
Young people disapprove of Biden’s Israel policy. It may not mean much for November.
On Tuesday night, hundreds of New York Police Department officers entered Columbia University and the City College of New York to remove protestors who had set up encampments and taken over administrative buildings in opposition to Israel's conduct in its conflict against Hamas, U.S. military support for Israel and colleges' investments in companies tied to Israel — just one in a series of clashes on college campuses across the country that have captured the attention of the media and the public. Scenes of left-leaning collegiate protestors upset with President Joe Biden for his continued support for Israel — even as he's become more critical of its operations — and the lack of a ceasefire have raised the prospect that the Israel-Hamas conflict could significantly hurt Biden's support among younger voters in the 2024 presidential election.
- ABC News
Columbia University student shares account of police raids on campus
Columbia University has seen student protesters camping out on the school’s campus since April 17. Pro-Palestinian protesters are calling for the Ivy League school to financially pull out from companies and institutions that “profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation in Palestine,” according to an online statement from the group Columbia University Apartheid Divest. Following Columbia University President Minouche Shafik’s congressional hearing about antisemitism on campus, the encampment drew a larger group of protesters.
- ABC News
AI gadgets are here, but are they any good?
If 2023 was the year of AI software, 2024 is shaping up to be the year of AI hardware. Over the past few months, companies like Google, Samsung, Meta and Microsoft have shown off smartphones and laptops – even glasses – all of which claim to heavily integrate generative artificial intelligence. At an event in the TWA Hotel in New York City last month, customers took delivery of the very first Rabbit R1s.
- Good Morning America
Rihanna's Met Gala dresses: All her past looks from fashion's biggest night
Ahead of the 2024 Met Gala, we're taking a look at all the standout looks your favorite stars have worn in the past. When it comes to fashion's biggest night, Rihanna is one who never disappoints with her Met Gala fashion moments. Last year, Rihanna wore a dramatic white Valentino Haute Couture gown for the Costume Institute Benefit's theme, "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty."
- Good Morning America
Cinco de Mayo food deals: $1 tacos, free Chipotle delivery, Guac on The Rock and more
From complimentary guacamole to free delivery on burritos, restaurants are rolling out deals for diners this Cinco de Mayo. Check out the list below for a snapshot of some nationwide offers this weekend, and as always, be sure to check out eateries in your local area for additional specials to support independent restaurants. CPK is offering an all-day happy hour on May 5 to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with deals on the special menu starting at just $5.
- ABC News
Columbia under investigation amid allegations of anti-Palestinian discrimination
Columbia University is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education following allegations of discriminatory treatment of Palestinian students and their supporters. Palestine Legal, an advocacy group centered on Palestinian Rights, filed a civil rights complaint on behalf of four students and the student group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine with the DOE’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
- ABC News
Former government official charged for falsely accusing colleagues of participating in Jan. 6 attack
A former government official in Virginia has been charged for allegedly submitting false tips to the FBI and accusing seven of his coworkers of participating in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, newly unsealed court records show. Miguel Zapata was taken into custody Thursday after prosecutors accused him of using the FBI's anonymous tip website to report the allegations about his colleagues, several of whom were members of an unnamed intelligence agency. According to his arrest affidavit, Zapata said his former colleagues were tied to groups like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys and even accused some of sharing classified information with the extremist groups in what he described as a coordinated plot to overturn the government.
- ABC News
April jobs report misses expectations, signaling a possible slowdown
A worse-than-expected jobs report on Friday offered the latest evidence of an economic slowdown that could help ease inflation and trigger interest rate cuts. The trend, however, threatens to downshift the nation’s brisk economic growth. The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9%, which remains near a 50-year low.
- Good Morning America
Raven-Symoné tells 'trolls' to stop sending wife Miranda Pearman-Maday death threats
Raven-Symoné is defending her wife Miranda Pearman-Maday amid death threats. On Thursday, the actress shared a video on TikTok with Pearman-Maday asking people to stop sending her wife death threats. "I'm here with Miranda, my wife, to tell you to stop it in the comments and stop with the death threats in her DMs," Raven-Symoné began.
- ABC News
Police, cancer researchers team up to track stolen vehicles
Police in Portland, Oregon, are arresting more suspected car thieves and reducing the number of vehicles stolen, thanks to a partnership with cancer researchers. Officer Michael Terrett said he came up with the idea of a more strategic approach to battling car thefts after the city saw a steep rise in stolen cars in 2019. Terrett said they once found a stolen vehicle among every 31 pulled over.