Cummins Inc. has agreed to pay a $1.675 billion penalty to settle claims by regulators that the company unlawfully altered 1 million 2013-2019 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup truck engines to bypass emissions tests. The penalty is the largest civil penalty the Justice Department has secured under the Clear Air Act and second largest environmental penalty ever secured. Cummins has also agreed to implement a comprehensive compliance program and be subject to independent oversight for a period of three years.
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Wisconsin's Supreme Court has ruled that the state's GOP-drawn legislative maps are unconstitutional and ordered the legislature to draw new maps for the 2024 general election. The court ruled 4-3 in favor of Democrats who argued that the legislative maps are unconstitutional, and if the current gerrymandered legislature can’t agree on a plan with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, the court said it’s prepared to create its own. This ruling could have a significant impact on the 2024 election, as it could shift the balance of power in the state legislature.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) is facing a significant financial deficit heading into the 2024 presidential election year, with only $7.6 million available, barely a tenth of the $21.3 million it had four years ago. This has caused anxiety among party leaders, and is compounded by former President Donald Trump's refusal to take part in any GOP debates so far. Trump has implied he may not debate any Republican challengers, but has said he looks forward to debating President Biden if both men are their party's nominees.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled in a 4-3 decision along ideological lines that the state's heavily gerrymandered legislative maps are unconstitutional and must be redrawn ahead of the 2024 elections. This is the first major case to be heard and decided by the court's new liberal majority, and could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has declined to take up a case regarding former President Donald Trump's immunity from prosecution for alleged crimes committed while in office. This decision allows the appeals process to play out first, and the question of Trump's immunity will be decided by the appeals court. The Supreme Court's decision is the latest development in the ongoing legal battle over Trump's alleged crimes, and it remains to be seen how the appeals court will rule.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department responded to a battery/disturbance call at Charlie Sheen's Malibu home. After an investigation, authorities determined that Sheen's neighbor, Electra Schrock, had forced her way into the home and attacked him. Schrock was arrested and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and residential burglary. No further details were released about the incident, and it is unclear if Sheen was injured.
Tesla is recalling over 120,000 vehicles due to doors that fail to comply with U.S. government regulations, which could increase the risk of injury during a crash. Tesla is releasing a free software update to resolve the issue and is notifying car owners by mail on Feb. 17, 2024. Customers with questions or concerns can contact Tesla customer service.
A super PAC supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the 2024 Republican presidential primary has canceled its remaining TV ad reservations in Iowa and New Hampshire, ceding advertising to a different super PAC, Fight Right, Inc. Never Back Down Chairman Scott Wagner said the group will focus on field operations to support DeSantis on the ground in the early states, while Fight Right will handle TV ad spending. The decision to cancel the remaining TV ad reservations comes as DeSantis continues to gain momentum in the race, and it remains to be seen how this will affect his chances.