Midwest

Judges let Missouri lawsuit accusing China of pandemic-era PPE hoarding proceed

Published

2 years ago

January 13, 2024

Judges let Missouri lawsuit accusing China of pandemic-era PPE hoarding proceed

A lawsuit by the state of Missouri, which accuses China of hoarding masks and other protective equipment, may proceed, a judicial panel ruled Wednesday.
An Eighth District Court of Appeals panel, which otherwise dismissed Missouri’s standing to sue a sovereign foreign entity, allowed the hoarding claim alone to proceed.
“Missouri’s overarching theory is that China leveraged the world’s ignorance about COVID-19,” Judge David Stras wrote. “Missouri must still prove it, but it has alleged enough to allow the claim to proceed beyond a jurisdictional dismissal on the pleadings.”

A Missouri lawsuit accusing China of hoarding masks and other protective gear during the COVID-19 pandemic can move forward, federal judges ruled Wednesday.

A panel of the U.S. Eighth District Court of Appeals panel, however, otherwise agreed with a lower court’s 2022 ruling that tossed out Missouri’s case entirely, finding that federal rules prohibit a sovereign foreign entity from being sued in American courts. The state alleged that China’s officials were to blame for the pandemic because they didn’t do enough to slow its spread.

The appeals panel found that only one claim may proceed: an allegation that China hoarded personal protective equipment.

FAUCI TO BE GRILLED BY HOUSE GOP ON COVID ORIGINS, FUTURE PANDEMICS

“Missouri’s overarching theory is that China leveraged the world’s ignorance about COVID-19,” Judge David Stras wrote in the ruling. “One way it did so was by manipulating the worldwide personal-protective-equipment market. Missouri must still prove it, but it has alleged enough to allow the claim to proceed beyond a jurisdictional dismissal on the pleadings.”

Chief Judge Lavenski Smith dissented, writing that the whole lawsuit should be dismissed.

Republican Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey speaks to reporters after taking the oath of office in Jefferson City, Mo., on Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb, File)

“Immunity for foreign states under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, while not impenetrable, is quite stout and stronger than the claim alleged in this case,” Smith wrote. “It is certainly not strong enough to justify judicial intervention into an arena well populated with substantial political and diplomatic concerns.”

Missouri Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey, whose office filed the lawsuit, lauded the ruling Wednesday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“We are headed back to court to pursue remedies,” he posted.

The lawsuit, filed in April 2020, alleged that Chinese officials were “responsible for the enormous death, suffering, and economic losses they inflicted on the world, including Missourians.”

Neither the Chinese government nor any other Chinese defendant named in the case has responded to the lawsuit in court.

The Lawyers for Upholding International Law and The China Society of Private International Law filed briefs defending China against the lawsuit. Associated Press emails and voice messages left with lawyers for the groups were not immediately returned Wednesday.

China has criticized the lawsuit as “very absurd” and said it has no factual and legal basis. Legal experts have mostly panned it as a stunt aimed at shifting blame to China for the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Michigan

Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for Jan. 11, 2026

Published

25 minutes ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for Jan. 11, 2026

The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 11, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Daily 3 numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

Midday: 7-9-8

Evening: 9-9-9

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

Midday: 9-8-3-6

Evening: 4-3-6-4

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

05-06-12-14-24, Lucky Ball: 12

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Poker Lotto numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

AD-QS-6C-8D-4S

Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

02-04-17-20-30

02-05-13-20-23

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Keno numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

02-07-08-10-14-23-25-29-32-34-39-45-54-55-59-60-61-65-69-74-78-80

Check Daily Keno payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Michigan Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes up to $99,999.99, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Michigan Lottery’s Regional Offices.

To claim by mail, complete a ticket receipt form, sign your winning ticket, and send it along with original copies of your government-issued photo ID and Social Security card to the address below. Ensure the names on your ID and Social Security card match exactly. Claims should be mailed to:

Michigan Lottery

Attn: Claim Center

101 E. Hillsdale

P.O. Box 30023

Lansing, MI 48909

For prizes over $100,000, winners must claim their prize in person at the Michigan Lottery Headquarters in Lansing located at 101 E. Hillsdale in downtown Lansing. Each winner must present original versions of a valid government-issued photo ID (typically a driver’s license or state ID) and a Social Security card, ensuring that the names on both documents match exactly. To schedule an appointment, please call the Lottery Player Relations office at 844-887-6836, option 2.

If you prefer to claim in person at one of the Michigan Lottery Regional Offices for prizes under $100,000, appointments are required. Until further notice, please call 1-844-917-6325 to schedule an appointment. Regional office locations are as follows:

Lansing: 101 E. Hillsdale St. Lansing; Phone: 844-917-6325
Livonia: 33231 Plymouth Road, Livonia; Phone: 844-917-6325
Sterling Heights: 34700 Dequindre Road, Sterling Heights; Phone: 844-917-6325
Detroit: Cadillac Place, 3060 W. Grand Blvd., Suite L-600, Detroit; Phone: 844-917-6325
Grand Rapids: 3391-B Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids; Phone: 844-917-6325
Saginaw: Jerome T. Hart State Office Building, 411 E. Genesee Ave., Saginaw; Phone: 844-917-6325

For additional information, downloadable forms, and instructions, visit the Michigan Lottery’s prize claim page.

When are Michigan Lottery drawings held?

Daily 3 & Daily 4: Midday at 12:59 p.m., Evening at 7:29 p.m.
Fantasy 5: 7:29 p.m. daily
Poker Lotto: 7:29 p.m. daily
Lotto 47: 7:29 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily
Daily Keno: 7:29 p.m. daily

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Michigan editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Minnesota

Why state charges for Minneapolis ICE shooting are possible but tricky

Published

37 minutes ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Why state charges for Minneapolis ICE shooting are possible but tricky

To get a case to trial, state prosecutors may have to show federal immunity doesn’t apply.

Many in Minnesota and across the country were outraged by the killing of Renee Nicole Good by a federal immigration agent in a Minneapolis neighborhood, and called for the agent to face charges. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who oversees the city’s police department, said the Trump administration’s characterization of the shooting as self-defense is “spin.”

But even if Minnesota prosecutors conclude the shooting was a crime, can they charge a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent for something he did on the job? No, according to Vice President JD Vance, who asserted that the agent has “absolute immunity” from criminal charges.

The reality isn’t so simple. Minnesota state prosecutors may, in fact, be able to prosecute the federal immigration agent who shot and killed a Minneapolis woman, though the pathway forward would come with special challenges.

State officials announced Jan. 9 that they are collecting evidence surrounding Good’s Jan. 7 death, a signal they may consider bringing charges. The move comes after President Donald Trump and other White House officials suggested the shooting was justified, and state authorities said the FBI pulled out of a joint investigation.

Though the U.S. Department of Justice hasn’t announced whether it will bring charges, the hasty statements by White House officials opposing charges make a federal prosecution seem highly unlikely, especially at a time when the lines between the DOJ and White House are increasingly blurred.

“When you have the president, the vice president, the secretary of homeland security all saying that this was self-defense, there’s zero chance that Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice will move forward with a prosecution at the federal level,” Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, told USA TODAY.

At a Jan. 9 news conference, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the top prosecutor for Minneapolis’ Hennepin County, Mary Moriarty, both said they haven’t yet made a charging decision when it comes to Good’s death, and will wait until evidence is evaluated.

Ellison led the state prosecution of Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis cop convicted in 2021 of murdering a Black man who was under arrest, George Floyd. Moriarty was elected in 2022 on a platform of holding police accountable.

Rahmani said he wouldn’t be surprised by a decision to bring charges.

“I think they ultimately will choose to prosecute,” Rahmani said. “Attorney General Ellison’s office has been pretty aggressive in these types of cases, dating back to George Floyd,” he added.

As tensions have flared over the Minneapolis death, federal agents shot and wounded two people during a traffic stop in Portland, Oregon, on Jan. 8. As with the Minnesota case, federal officials said the driver “weaponized his vehicle,” while local officials called for an investigation. Similar questions of potential state charges could arise in that case.

Here’s why Minnesota authorities could pursue state charges, but could also face challenges:

Hurdles to Minnesota prosecuting federal agent

One challenge to Minnesota officials bringing charges is that they would likely have to prosecute the case outside of their home turf. There’s a federal law allowing officers of federal agencies to move their cases to a federal court when they are being prosecuted for something they did as part of their official responsibilities.

That’s a significant disadvantage for state prosecutors, according to Mark Bederow, a criminal defense lawyer in New York City and former Manhattan prosecutor. He noted that, in a federal court, state prosecutors would be dealing with a different pool of potential jurors, a different judge, and different legal processes.

“It’s a road game, instead of having home court advantage,” Bederow said.

In addition, state prosecutors would likely have to meet special legal standards to get the case to trial, because they would be prosecuting a federal agent. In that type of case, defendants often argue they can’t be prosecuted because of a constitutional provision – the Supremacy Clause – that puts federal law above state law.

Federal courts have sometimes blocked state prosecutions under that provision, out of concern that state authorities are using their prosecutorial power to frustrate the federal government from legitimately exercising its own powers, according to Bryna Godar, a staff attorney at the University of Wisconsin Law School’s State Democracy Research Initiative.

Godar wrote in the Lawfare legal publication that federal courts have repeatedly blocked state prosecutions when the federal official was reasonably carrying out lawful federal duties. But, outside those circumstances, courts have allowed the prosecutions to go forward.

“In many cases, the federal officer may ultimately walk away with immunity. But not always,” Godar wrote.

Another potential challenge is courts disagreeing on the exact contours of this type of immunity for federal officers, leaving the law in this area somewhat unsettled, according to Godar. The U.S. Supreme Court hasn’t weighed in on this type of immunity in more than a century.

Murder and manslaughter charges could be in play

Even if state officials do decide charges are warranted, they are unlikely to bring a first-degree murder charge, according to Rahmani. That crime generally requires premeditation.

He said state officials might consider a form of manslaughter or a lesser murder charge, which come with maximum penalties ranging from 10 to 40 years in prison. For example, a person can be guilty of second-degree manslaughter in Minnesota by unreasonably endangering a person’s life or of second-degree murder by intentionally killing someone without premeditation.

“It’s possible that there’s multiple charges and they don’t just land on one, to give jurors really the option,” Rahmani said.

‘Very tough job for prosecutors’

If the ICE agent ended up facing charges, he would likely argue he shot Good in self-defense, former prosecutors told USA TODAY.

Minnesota law allows officers to use deadly force if it’s reasonable for them to believe the force will protect them or another person from great bodily harm.

In this case, the agent may argue that Good appeared to be directing her SUV at him. Trump officials have highlighted video footage from the front of the SUV, saying it shows movement in the agent’s direction. Advocates for Good have pointed to footage from the rear, which shows the vehicle turning as if to pass the agent and get away.

Looking across multiple public videos, which show both Good’s handling of the wheel and the movement of the SUV’s tires, Good is driving simultaneously rightward and forward, as the agent stands towards the left, front side of her car. Then there are three brief sounds that may be bullet shots, one as the agent points his gun at the left side of the front windshield, and then two more as he is pointing at the side window as the car drives away.

Protests have mounted across the country, with many arguing the video shows the shots weren’t reasonable, and protesting what they see as ICE’s aggressive behavior — including towards U.S. citizens such as Good — more generally.

“They are already trying to spin this as an action of self-defense,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said at his Jan. 7 press conference. “Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly – that is bull—-.”

But Bederow said, as emotional as the case is, there is much more to be parsed out in terms of witness interviews and video analysis that could illuminate key legal questions, such as whether it was reasonable for the ICE agent to believe he was in danger.

“Lawyers who do this for a living and have experience in self-defense or justification cases realize that there’s a lot more nuance to this than saying, ‘She didn’t mow the guy down, and he shot and killed her,’” Bederow said.

If he does face charges, the agent might argue that he was operating in a heated environment — he and Good’s wife were filming each other outside the SUV as she asked if he “wanted to come at” them, just seconds before the shooting — and that he didn’t have the luxury of analyzing the direction of the SUV’s movements in a frame-by-frame, slow motion video.

“It’s going to be a very, very tough job for prosecutors, notwithstanding the fact that there is very disturbing video and a woman lost her life,” he said.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 winning numbers for Jan. 11, 2026

Published

49 minutes ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 11, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

Midday: 8-6-7

Midday Wild: 5

Evening: 9-9-9

Evening Wild: 4

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

Midday: 0-6-8-6

Midday Wild: 5

Evening: 7-2-3-6

Evening Wild: 1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

13-31-39-40-41, Cash Ball: 04

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

Early Bird: 11

Morning: 03

Matinee: 12

Prime Time: 06

Night Owl: 14

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

11-16-25-30-31

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.

To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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