April 26 (UPI) — The hush money trial of Donald Trump reached its fourth day Friday with former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker on the witness stand for cross-examination by the defense. Pecker testified Friday morning that he did not want to be involved in publishing the story about adult film actress Stormy Daniels’ alleged affair with the former president. Prior to this he testified to the prosecution that he had met with Trump at Trump Tower in 2015 to discuss suppressing negative stories about him. On Friday he said his reluctance to be involved in the Daniels story was not rela ..read more

April 25 (UPI) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday heard oral arguments on former President Donald Trump‘s claims of presidential immunity from the election interference case against him. Much of the three-hour hearing focused on whether there is a distinction between official presidential acts and private conduct regarding Trump’s alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. After a series of hostile questions, Trump attorney D. John Sauer conceded that some of the former president’s alleged conduct were private, contradicting Trump’s earlier claims that the entire prosecution ought to b ..read more

April 25 (UPI) — Ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker on Thursday testified that he purchased the rights to a story about an alleged affair Donald Trump had with a Playboy model so that it would not damage his 2016 presidential campaign. When asked by prosecutor Joshua Steinglass during the second day of Trump’s New York hush-money trial if the primary reason he purchased the right’s to the story from Karen McDougal, who alleged the affair, was to influence the 2016 election, Pecker replied, “Yes, it was.” Pecker also testified that he was aware that “expenditures by a corporation made ..read more

April 25 (UPI) — The New York Court of Appeals Thursday overturned film producer Harvey Weinstein‘s 2020 rape conviction and ordered a new trial. The appeals court said in a 4-3 ruling that the trial judge in Weinstein’s New York rape case improperly allowed testimony and evidence against Weinstein that was “irrelevant” and “prejudicial” to the criminal charges he faced. “The trial court’s rulings ran afoul of these time-honored rules of evidence. Accordingly, the order of the Appellate Division should be reversed, and a new trial ordered,” the appeals court said in its ru ..read more

April 24 (UPI) — Arizona’s Republican-controlled House voted Wednesday to overturn the state’s 1864 ban on nearly all abortions. The vote paves the way for a repeal that would revert Arizona abortion law to a 15-week ban. The measure, which now heads to the state Senate for a vote next week, passed Arizona’s House on Wednesday by a vote of 32 to 28 as three Republicans joined with Democrats. “I refuse to buy into the false notion pushed by the extremes on both sides of this issue that we cannot respect and protect women and defend new life at the same time,” state Rep. Matt Gre ..read more

April 24 (UPI) — Post Malone, Platinum Dunes and Vault Comics have announced a graphic novel and movie collaboration. Post Malone, a part-time northern Utah resident, created the original story. In Post Malone’s story, an 18-wheeler is sent back to medieval Europe to fight demons with its heavy artillery. Vault will publish the graphic novel in 2025 while Platinum Dunes develops a feature film adaptation. Platinum Dunes is the production company of Michael Bay and Brad Fuller. Their films include The Purge and Quiet Place series and two live-action  ..read more

April 24 (UPI) — The Transportation Department said on Wednesday issued a final rule requiring airline carriers to promptly give passengers cash refunds when owed for things like canceled or significantly delayed flights and delayed or lost baggage among other issues. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the new final rule was needed to make sure passengers were made whole for flight hiccups at or close to real-time so it can still be meaningful for them in their travels. “Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them – without headaches or h ..read more

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, April 23, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Rapper and pop artist Pitbull is coming to Utah. On Tuesday, the Cuban American artist announced his Party After Dark tour, with more than 25 stops planned, including one at the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater. That stop is on Sept. 25, a Wednesday. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday through LiveNation.com. For information on VIP packages, visit vipnation.com Pitbull, AKA Armando Christian Pérez, is well known for his high-energy party anthems, including “Give Me Everything” and “Timber,” and for the energy and playfulness that ..read more

April 23 (UPI) — The judge in Donald Trump‘s hush-money trial on Tuesday delayed a decision on whether the former president should be held in contempt for multiple alleged breaches of a gag order imposed on him in the case. Judge Juan Merchan said he will “reserve a decision” on Trump’s alleged gag order violation after he heard from the prosecution and Trump’s defense counsel. The court then went on a short break at around 10:45 a.m. EDT and reconvened after 11 a.m. It is not clear how Merchan will rule. Lawyers for the State of New York claimed Trump has “wilfu ..read more

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, April 22, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Iconic singer-songwriter Neil Young and Crazy Horse announced Monday that a Utah stop will wrap the current Love Earth tour. Young, 78, and Crazy Horse will end the tour on July 29 with a stop at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater, formerly USANA Amphitheater, in West Valley City. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Pacific Time Tuesday (April 23) through Neil Young Archives. General ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. Friday through Live Nation. The gig announcement says, “At time of purchase, fans can opt in to receive a physical CD of the&nbs ..read more