U.S. Steel sale: President Biden has signed an order blocking the sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel. Biden said such a sale threatens to hurt the security of the United States. Biden’s order also prohibits U.S. Steel from being sold to any other entity that is controlled by foreign interests. Biden’s order instructs the U.S. Attorney General to take any steps necessary to enforce the order.
Plane crash: Two people were killed and 19 injured when a single-engine airplane crashed into the roof of a furniture manufacturing company at Fullerton, California. The airplane was a Vans RV-10, which had four seats but had only two people on board at the time of the crash. The airplane had just taken off from the Fullerton Municipal Airport. A fire broke out after the airplane struck the building.
Justice Thomas: The U.S. Judicial Conference has declined to refer Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to the Justice Department for possible criminal prosecution over his failure to disclose various gifts he received over several years. Democratic Senators had asked the Judicial Conference to make such a referral in view of Thomas failing to disclose millions of dollars in trips and other gifts he accepted but did not disclose in financial disclosure reports. The Judicial Conference said that a referral is not required because Justice Thomas has now agreed to abide by disclosure requirements.
Net neutrality: The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down an attempt by the Biden Administration to require the Federal Communications Commission to enforce net neutrality rules that prohibit internet companies from slowing down or blocking access to some websites. Net neutrality that ensures equal access to all internet sites was introduced by the Obama Administration, then killed when Donald Trump assumed the presidency. The Biden Administration sought to reinstate net neutrality, which has been opposed by Republican members of the Federal Communications Commission.
Wayne Osmond: Singer and musician Wayne Osmond has died at age 73 in a hospital in Salt Lake City. He had suffered a massive stroke. Wayne Osmond was a member of the family group The Osmonds and performed on the group’s hit records in the 1960s and 1970s. He also was part of The Osmonds when the group rocketed to fame as a result of appearing regularly on the Andy Williams TV show. Â
Explosion: Spencer Evans, special agent in charge of the FBI in Las Vegas, says the agency is trying to find the motive that resulted in Matthew Livelsberger blowing up a rented Tesla vehicle in front of the Trump hotel in Las Vegas. Authorities said Livelsberger committed suicide before the explosives in the truck detonated. The investigation into the Las Vegas explosion continues as does the investigation into the terrorist attack in New Orleans in which the driver of a rented truck killed 14 people.
