What we’re reading: Google faces a multi-billion dollar lawsuit, an update on Trump’s indictment and more

AP

Law enforcement personnel confer outside Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Friday, March 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

By Delaney Vega, Staff Writer
Published Mar 31, 2023

Publishers are filing a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against Google

One of Google’s many campus buildings in Mountain View, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Publishers are seeking $4.2 billion in compensation from Google for lost revenue, according to BBC News. Charles Arthur, a former technology editor for the Guardian, claims that Google unlawfully abused a dominant position over online advertisements in such a way that it reduced what profit publishers received. This is the second of such lawsuits against Google. A similar case was launched last November. This new case concerns the advertising technology which decides and applies what advertisements consumers will see, how much they cost and the amount publishers may earn. The lawsuit, filed March 30, states that Google inflated the advertisement technology prices and reduced sales revenues of publishers. “The CMA [Competition and Markets Authority] is currently investigating Google’s anti-competitive conduct in ad tech, but they don’t have the power to make Google compensate those who have lost out,” Arthur said. “We can only right that wrong through the courts, which is why I am bringing this claim.”

Lawyers say former president Trump will plead ‘not guilty’ following historic indictment

Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers state that Trump will issue a not-guilty plea and he will not show up to court in handcuffs, according to Reuters. Trump’s defense lawyers insist that he will follow other protocols for the arraignment after a New York grand jury voted to indict Trump for hush money payments to an adult film star Stormy Daniels. Joe Tacopina, one of Trump’s defense lawyers, outlined that the courthouse will close as Trump arrives, he will then appear in front of a judge and plead not-guilty in question of the legal liability of the case. Tacopina said that the handcuffs are unnecessary as it would come off as “parading him,” and that there is already so much publicity from the case, according to The Guardian. New York state and city police as well as the Secret Service are not “going to allow this to become a circus, at least as much as humanly possible,” said Tacopina.

At least a dozen injuries confirmed from Little Rock tornado

A home is damaged and trees are down after a tornado swept through Little Rock, Ark., Friday, March 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew DeMillo) (AP)
Officials report at least a dozen people are injured after a devastating tornado hit Little Rock, Ark., according to BBC News. The tornado tore through Little Rock on Friday, causing severe damage to several blocks seen through aerial footage posted by the Weather Channel.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center, one of the state’s largest hospitals located in Little Rock, said it was expecting at least 15-20 patients as a result of the twister. On Twitter, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. requested that Gov. Sanders deploy the state’s National Guard to the city. Additionally, he is urging citizens to stay off the roads as emergency crews respond.

Funerals commence in Nashville following Covenant School shooting

Children sign a cross at an entry to Covenant School, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn., which has become a memorial to the victims of Monday’s deadly school shooting. (AP Photo/John Amis) (AP)
The first funeral for victims of the Covenant School shooting in Nashville happened March 31, just a day after officials released the 911 calls, according to CNN. The funeral was held at Woodmont Christian Church for Evelyn Dieckhaus who was 9-years-old, followed by a private reception. According to Dieckhaus’ obituary, guests were invited to wear joyful colors “in tribute to Evelyn’s light and love of color.” Additionally, on March 30, Nashville officials made the 911 calls of the shooting public in which many of the callers were heard whispering, saying they were locked in classrooms and heard numerous gunshots in the school. Further funeral arrangements were disclosed on March 30 for the six victims of which include three adults and three students, according to AP News.