promoearn: The charges Trump could face in NY

Monday, March 20

A decision on possible charges in an investigation of former President Donald Trump could be imminent. Chinese leader Xi Jinping visits Russia for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine. And the massive snowfall totals in California are the biggest seen in decades.

🙋‍♂️ Hello! It's Julius here with Monday's news.

👶 But first: It's a girl! A rare, critically endangered eastern bongo was recently born at Michigan zoo.

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🌤 What's the weather up to in your neck of the woods? Check your local forecast here.

What we know about the Trump investigation in New York

With a decision on possible charges in the Manhattan district attorney's investigation of Trump now believed to be imminent, public information indicates that the heart of the investigation remains focused on a hush-money payment the former president made to a porn actress. District Attorney Alvin Bragg hasn't explained his strategy and Trump hasn't been charged. But the payment could potentially be used to build a case for falsifying business records and violating campaign finance law. Here's what we know about the investigation.

•	House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says Americans should not protest if Donald Trump is indicted.
•	New York grand jury investigating Trump could hear from lawyer undercutting Michael Cohen.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event Monday, March 13, 2023, in Davenport, Iowa.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event on March 13 in Davenport, Iowa.

Ron Johnson, AP

China's Xi visits Russia for talks with Putin

Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Monday for two days of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Xi's first visit since Russia invaded Ukraine would appear to show support for Putin, who needs trade deals and bullets as he faces pressure from economic sanctions and reports that his military is running low on equipment. China has called for a cease-fire and peace talks, a plan praised by Moscow but rejected by Kyiv since it would keep Russian troops in occupied territory. Follow the latest updates on Russia and Ukraine.

China's President Xi Jinping, accompanied by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, walks past guards during a welcoming ceremony at Moscow's Vnukovo airport on Monday.

ANATOLIY ZHDANOV/Kommersant Photo/AFP via Getty Images

What everyone's talking about

•	Men's NCAA Tournament: Eight things we've learned so far.
•	Gwyneth Paltrow to go to trial 7 years after Utah ski slopes crash.
•	Amazon layoffs continue: Tech giant to cut another 9,000 jobs, CEO says.
•	Car recalls: Ford, Honda vehicles among 1.9 million cars under recall.
•	Chris Rock jokes Paul Pelosi 'knows how I felt' after Oscars slap at Adam Sandler's Mark Twain Prize ceremony.

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President Biden issues his first veto

President Joe Biden issued his first veto Monday after Congress voted to block a Labor Department rule allowing retirement plans to weigh the long-term impacts of social factors and climate change on investments — a move Republicans say is a "woke" policy that hurts retirees' pockets. In comparison, Trump vetoed 10 bills, while President Barack Obama vetoed 12 bills. The policy Congress voted against is environmental, social and governance, which is an investing strategy that takes into account businesses' environmental and social risks as part of a wider financial analysis. Read more about Biden's veto.

President Joe Biden announces sweeping executive orders about gun control from Monterey Park, California where 11 people were shot to death in January.

President Joe Biden issued the first veto of his presidency on Monday.

Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY

More than 56 feet of snow recorded in California

A whopping 677 inches of snow has fallen at the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory, a University of California, Berkeley research station in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The latest total — taken during the "water year," Oct. 1 through Sept. 30 — is the most in more than 70 years. And since late February, areas with snowfall surpassing 50 feet in California have expanded. "We have seen a four-fold increase in total area of snowfall greater than 50 feet in recent weeks," said Shawn Carter, a scientist at the National Water Center. Check out a visual look at the state's snowfall.

•	Live weather updates: Chilly start to spring as millions under freeze warnings and watches; more rain, snow to hit California.
•	See how drenched California is — and why it would take multiple years like this to erase drought.

In an aerial view, a home is seen covered in snow on March 03, 2023 in Twin Bridges, California.

A home is covered in snow on March 3 in Twin Bridges, Calif.

Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

A break from the news

•	🌳 Spring renewal: Everything you need to make yard work as breezy as possible this season.
•	🍦 Free ice cream: Dairy Queen, Rita's offering first day of spring freebies.
•	🧡 A wonderful sight: See toddler's look of wonder seeing his mom clearly for the first time.

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