Texas' migrant arrest law is back on hold; Biden, Trump notch more primary victories; NCAA Tournament tips off

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted March 20 at 7:15 a.m. CT:

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — A federal appeals court has again prevented Texas from arresting and deporting migrants accused of entering the U.S. illegally, hours after the the law briefly took effect. Before a divided U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday let the state law take effect while a legal challenge plays out, some sheriffs were ready to relish an unprecedented state expansion into border enforcement, while others were reluctant. Hours later, an order by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals put the law again on hold.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has reached an agreement to provide Intel with up to $8.5 billion in direct funding and $11 billion in loans for computer chip plants in Arizona, Ohio, New Mexico and Oregon. President Joe Biden plans to talk up the investment on Wednesday as he visits Intel’s facility in Chandler, Arizona, which could be a decisive swing state in November’s election. He often says that not enough voters know about his economic policies and that they would support him if they did. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says the deal would put the United States in a position to produce 20% of the world’s most advanced chips by 2030 — up from the current level of zero.

TEMPE, Arizona (AP) — Joe Biden and Donald Trump are moving closer to a November rematch, as primary voters around the country urge their favored candidate to keep up the fight and worry about what might happen if their side loses this fall. Both candidates are already their parties’ presumptive nominees. Trump easily won Republican primaries in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas and Ohio. Biden did the same except in Florida, where Democrats had canceled their primary and opted to award all 224 of their delegates to Biden. Both Biden's and Trump’s campaigns are working to fire up their bases by tearing into each other and warning of the perils of the opponent.

ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia man is scheduled to be put to death in what would be the state’s first execution in more than four years. Willie James Pye was convicted of killing his former girlfriend Alicia Lynn Yarbrough three decades ago. The planned lethal injection using the sedative pentobarbital is set to happen at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the state prison in Jackson. Pye, who’s 59, would be the first person executed in Georgia since January 2020.

The Mega Millions jackpot has reached $977 million for Friday night’s drawing after no tickets matched all six numbers drawn on Tuesday night. The winning numbers drawn on Tuesday were 24, 46, 49, 62, 66 and the gold Mega Ball was 7. The estimated jackpot was $893 million with a cash prize of $421.4 million. The cash prize for Friday’s drawing is $461 million. Four people won $1 million each in California, Texas, Virginia and Florida.

The Mega Millions jackpot has reached $977 million for Friday night’s drawing after no tickets matched all six numbers drawn on Tuesday night. The winning numbers drawn on Tuesday were 24, 46, 49, 62, 66 and the gold Mega Ball was 7. The estimated jackpot was $893 million with a cash prize of $421.4 million. The cash prize for Friday’s drawing is $461 million. Four people won $1 million each in California, Texas, Virginia and Florida.

WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel says in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press the federal tax collector will expand its pursuit of high-wealth tax dodgers with new initiatives in the coming months.

In other news:

• Biden and congressional leaders announce a deal on government funding as a partial shutdown looms.
• Mississippi "Goon Squad" deputies get yearslong sentences for racist torture of two Black men.
• A Nebraska lawmaker faces backlash for invoking a colleague's name in a graphic account of rape.
• The NCAA Tournament tips off with two first-time winners, the College Football Playoff secures a TV partner, the Nuggets win a Western showdown, and the Predators remain the hottest team on ice.
• Clemson joins Florida State, becomes second school to sue ACC as it seeks to exit conference.
• The IOC excludes Russian and Belarusian athletes from taking part in the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

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