Daily Briefing: A Trump mugshot?

Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY

March 31, 2023 at 6:38 AM·5 min read

Donald Trump is the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges. Also in the news: Turkey has OK'd Finland's bid to join NATO and what to know about the men's and women's Final Four in the NCAA Tournament.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. For the final day of Women's History Month, read this story about 23 women who changed journalism forever.

Here are Friday's headlines.

Grand jury indicts Donald Trump in New York

A New York grand jury voted to indict Donald Trump on Thursday. Though he is the first former president of the United States to be charged with a crime, he will be treated just like any other defendant in the criminal justice system.

The background: Though the charges were not made public, the grand jury has been investigating hush money payments to two women who claimed to have had sex with him. The outline of those payments became public only after he was elected in 2016.

When he is arrested Trump will be read his rights and processed just like any other defendant, experts say, including having a mug shot taken.
Trump has already denied the charges, threatening in a social media post that there would be "potential death & destruction" if charges were filed against him in the case.
Michael Cohen says Trump's indictment is only the beginning of a new chapter in the former president's legal saga.

People hold a flag to show their support for former President Donald Trump following the news of his indictment on Thursday, March 30, 2023.

Evacuation order lifted after Minnesota train derailment

An evacuation order was lifted midday Thursday after a train carrying ethanol derailed in rural Minnesota and several cars caught fire. BNSF Railway said 22 cars derailed, including about 10 carrying ethanol, four of which ruptured, causing the flammable fuel additive to catch fire. The track remained blocked on Thursday and local authorities said fire suppression and cooling operations could continue into the weekend. Every day, the nation's railroads move millions of tons of raw materials and finished goods around the country, but their safety record is getting new attention amid scrutiny of the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment disaster in February. Read more

The scene of a train derailment early Thursday, March 30, 2023 in Raymond, Minnesota.

More news to know now

Mandalay Bay shooter in Las Vegas who killed 58 was angry about how casinos treated him, the FBI says.
Hundreds protested at the Tennessee Capitol chanting "gun reform now."
A bill that would enshrine federal abortion rights was introduced in the House.
Gwyneth Paltrow was found not responsible by a Utah jury for a 2016 ski accident.
On today's 5 Things podcast, hear what’s next for former President Donald Trump after he was indicted. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.

The Final Four, an iconic Broadway musical and the Sacramento Kings. What happened in this week's news?

Biden in Rolling Fork as millions warned tornadoes are 'expected'

President Joe Biden on Friday will visit a Mississippi town ravaged by a deadly tornado even as a new series of severe storms threatens to rip across the Midwest and the South. Forecasters are warning of an outbreak of severe weather Friday afternoon and evening in at least 12 states from the Upper Midwest to the Deep South. Tens of millions of people live where the high winds and tornadoes are possible: Big cities in the highest danger areas include Nashville, Memphis, St. Louis, Des Moines and Little Rock. Read more

California water sources are rising after dramatic wet winter: See Lake Shasta and Diamond Valley Lake grow.

Women hug among the rubble of a home as cleanup continues in the aftermath of Friday's tornado on March 28, 2023, in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. At least 26 people died when an EF-4 tornado ripped through the small town and nearby Rolling Fork on Friday evening.

Finland receives Turkey endorsement to join NATO

Finland received the final approval it needed to join NATO when Turkey's parliament voted unanimously in favor Thursday, days after Hungary’s parliament also endorsed Helsinki’s accession. They were the last two holdouts in the way of Finland's membership, and they remain the only ones among NATO's 30 nations yet to accept Sweden's application despite expressing support for expansion. Alarmed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a year ago, Finland and Sweden abandoned their decades-long policy of nonalignment and applied to join the Western military alliance, which requires unanimous approval. Read more

Who is Evan Gershkovich? What we know about WSJ reporter arrested by Russia for espionage.
A ferry fire in the Philippines left at least 31 people dead.
Six U.S. troops suffered traumatic brain injuries after Iranian-backed attacks in Syria.

Turkish lawmakers vote in favor to approve Finland's application to join NATO, in the Turkish parliament on March 30, 2023.

Just for subscribers:

A patient left legally blind in 2013 hasn't gotten a dime of a $21M malpractice award.
DeSantis is more than anti-''woke.'' He just delivered universal school choice to Florida.
Midnight heist of rare horse: Minnesota woman's bizarre fight with a Florida circus owner.
An uncovered Michigan family secret is worth a fortune.

These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here.

First-time teams in men's NCAA Tournament Final Four

A chance to play for a national championship will be on the line Saturday when the men's NCAA Tournament Final Four tips off in Houston. One of the most unpredictable tournaments in history has resulted in the first time no team seeded third or higher has made it to the national semifinals. Of this year's Final Four, three schools — Florida Atlantic, Miami and San Diego State — are making their first-ever appearances, while Connecticut is by far the most experienced with six trips to the Final Four and four national titles. Read more

Women's March Madness Final Four 2023: Schedule, times, streaming, TV info for Friday's games.
Nike launched a product designed to minimize risk of leaks while menstruating and being active.

Thanks in part to their suffocating defense, Andre Jackson Jr. and the UConn Huskies have not been seriously challenged on their way to the this year's Final Four.

One more thing

Breaking down the Taylor Swift Eras Tour's epic 44-song set list and its surprises.
Today is Transgender Day of Visibility. Here are eight ways that 650 bills are targeting the LGBTQ community.
How Women of the Year honoree Sandra Day O’Connor made her mark on the Supreme Court
New movies in theaters, streaming: ''Dungeons & Dragons,'' ''Tetris,'' ''Murder Mystery 2.''
Here are MLB opening day winners and losers.

.@jonmorosi says Rob Manfred hit the nail on the head with the new MLB Rules for the 2023 season pic.twitter.com/kO9cL9JwQV
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) March 31, 2023

Photo of the day: 2023 GLAAD Media Awards

The 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards celebrated the LGBTQ community amid the backdrop of continued attacks, including Tennessee's new laws banning gender-affirming health care and drag shows in public. Ricky Martin presented Bad Bunny with the Vanguard Award, praising the artist for "loudly standing with trans women and the entire community."

Read more on how Bad Bunny is empowering the LGBTQ community.

(L-R) Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin speak onstage during the GLAAD Media Awards at The Beverly Hilton on March 30, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump indictment, NCAA, Bad Bunny, tornado, Nashville, Finland NATO, train derailment: Daily Briefing

Associated Press
Panama Papers trial's public portion comes to an unexpectedly speedy end
The trial came eight years after 11 million leaked secret financial documents that became known as the “Panama Papers” prompted the resignation of the prime minister of Iceland and brought scrutiny to the then-leaders of Argentina and Ukraine, Chinese politicians, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, among others. Jürgen Mossack attended the trial, while his partner Ramón Fonseca did not for health reasons, according to his counsel. Panamanian prosecutors allege that Mossack, Fonseca and their associates created a web of shell companies that used complex transactions to hide money linked to illicit activities in the “car wash” corruption scandal of Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.
21m ago
NBC News
Charlottesville tiki torch carrier pleads guilty in Jan. 6 riot case
A former Marine who carried a tiki torch ahead of a 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., pleaded guilty in connection with the Jan. 6 riot.
29m ago
NBC News
USC cancels guest speakers, honorees at main commencement after valedictorian decision
Following the publicized decision to cancel a commencement speech by a Muslim valedictorian, the University of Southern California said Friday it will have no outside speakers or honorees at the main stage commencement event.
30m ago
AFP
Russia quietly exits Karabakh, ceding its clout 'for good'
When Russian troops deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh four years ago, their task was clear: keep the peace between bitter foes Armenia and Azerbaijan and prevent another war in the volatile region.The Kremlin deployed almost 2,000 troops in 2020 as part of a ceasefire deal that halted six weeks of brutal fighting between the arch-foes over the Karabakh region.
42m ago
TODAY
12 National Cold Brew Day deals for savings that'll wake you right up
How to find free and discounted coffee for National Cold Brew Day on Saturday.
42m ago
AFP
Hamas leader Haniyeh to hold Turkey talks
Hamas political leader Imsail Haniyeh will meet Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday with Middle East tensions at a high after Israel's reported attack on Iran and Gaza bracing for a new Israeli offensive.According to press reports, that have never been denied, Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders were in Istanbul when the attacks were launched.
52m ago
NBC News
California teacher dies in 140-foot fall at Arizona hiking trail
A California teacher died in a hiking accident on a steep and difficult mountain trail near Sedona, Arizona, this week, authorities said.
55m ago
NBC News
Iran and Israel's recent attacks, explained
With tensions between Israel and Iran at an all-time high, learn more about the countries' leaders, allies, nuclear capabilities and more.
1h ago
AFP
Hong Kong regulator to investigate PwC auditing of Evergrande
Hong Kong's accounting regulator said it would start an investigation into PwC's role in auditing Chinese real estate giant Evergrande, citing the publication of a "whistle-blower report".On Friday, Hong Kong's Accounting and Financial Reporting Council said "a whistle-blower report" had come to its attention.
1h ago
AFP
US agrees to pull troops from key drone host Niger: officials
The United States agreed Friday to withdraw its more than 1,000 troops from Niger, officials said, upending its posture in West Africa where the country was home to a major drone base.They agreed that a US delegation would head within days to the capital Niamey to arrange an orderly withdrawal, the officials said.
2h ago
NBC News
Ex-Philadelphia officer charged in 12-year-old's killing pleads guilty
A former Philadelphia police officer who killed a 12-year-old boy and allegedly fired two of the shots during a foot chase after the boy had discarded his gun pleaded guilty to murder Friday, the prosecutors’ office said.
2h ago
Reuters
Ecuador president declares state of emergency over energy crisis
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared a second state of emergency on Friday over an energy crisis that has already led to rationing in the South American country. Noboa, who took office in November, had declared an energy emergency and instituted power cuts earlier this week, but the cuts will be suspended on Sunday for a referendum he looks set to win on a raft of security measures. His first emergency declaration, in January, sought to tame surging crime by allowing more coordination between the military and police.
2h ago
CNN
US troops set to withdraw from Niger, State Department official says
US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met with Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine on Friday and they agreed – after Niger’s demands – that the US would militarily withdraw from the country, according to a State Department official.
2h ago
TODAY
75 thoughtful graduation wishes to celebrate commencement
Say "Congratulations" to a friend, family member or other graduate using one of these short, inspirational or funny graduation wishes perfect for the big day.
2h ago
CNN
How a store manager from India ended up killed on the battlefields of Ukraine fighting for Russia
They opened the box on a Sunday in late March, getting their first look at Asfan Mohammed since he departed India for Russia four months earlier.
2h ago
CNN
Explosions injure three people at pro-Iran military base, Iraqi security official says
At least three people were wounded after five explosions rocked a military base belonging to an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, a local security official told CNN Saturday.
2h ago
Associated Press
USC cancels graduation keynote by filmmaker amid controversy over decision to drop student's speech
The University of Southern California further shook up its commencement plans Friday, announcing the cancelation of a keynote speech by filmmaker Jon M. Chu just days after making the controversial choice to disallow the student valedictorian from speaking. The private university in Los Angeles on Monday said it was canceling valedictorian Asna Tabassum's speech at the May 10 ceremony because of safety concerns. Tabassum, who is Muslim, has expressed support for Palestinians in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, and university officials said the response to her selection as valedictorian had “taken on an alarming tenor.”
3h ago
Associated Press
US says a UN agency has agreed to help in distribution of aid to Gaza via sea route
The U.N. World Food Program has agreed to help deliver aid for the starving civilians of Gaza once the U.S. military completes a pier for transporting the humanitarian assistance by sea, U.S. officials said Friday. The involvement of the U.N. agency could help resolve one of the major obstacles facing the U.S.-planned project — the reluctance of aid groups to handle on-the-ground distribution of food and other badly needed goods in Gaza absent significant changes by Israel. An Israeli military attack April 1 that killed seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen intensified international criticism of Israel for failing to provide security for humanitarian workers or allow adequate amounts of aid across its land borders.
3h ago
CBS News
Girl, 7, starts lemonade stand to raise money for mother's headstone
The first time Emouree went to the cemetery with her grandmother, she couldn't understand why everyone else got a giant granite headstone, but her mother just received a tiny metal one.
3h ago
NBC News
Car insurance rates are nuts right now. Here’s how to lower your bill when cash is tight.
Auto insurance costs are up more than 22% since this time last year. It may be time to take that defensive driving course and bank the discount.
3h ago