OnApril 17, 1993, a significant verdict was reached in the case of Rodney King, a black motorist who was brutally beaten by Los Angeles police officers during his arrest in 1991. Here are the details:
Sgt. Stacey Koon (42 years old) was found guilty of permitting excessive force during King’s arrest.
Laurence Powell (30 years old) was found guilty of using excessive force.
Officer Theodore Briseno (40 years old) and fired rookie Timothy Wind (32 years old) were acquitted of using excessive force.
All four officers were innocent of a second charge of aiding and abetting the other officers in the beating.
On This Day in Space! April 17, 1970: Apollo 13 Returns from Aborted Moon Mission By Hanneke Weitering
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The huge Saturn rocket carrying the Apollo 13 spacecraft lifts off the launch pad at Cape Kennedy, Fla., April 11, 1970.
On April 17, 1970, Apollo 13 returned to Earth after narrowly avoiding a deadly disaster in space. This was supposed to be the third mission to land on the moon.
Astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise launched on April 11 and were two days into their trip to the moon when an oxygen tank exploded, and NASA had to abort the mission. When the astronauts called mission control to report the incident, Swigert uttered the famous quote, “Houston, we’ve had a problem.”
With the service module running out of oxygen, they opted to use the lunar lander as a lifeboat. Because the oxygen was also used to power the spacecraft’s fuel cells, they were also running out of power. They shut down all nonessential systems and turned down the heat, and spent four cold, miserable days heading back to Earth. [NASA’s Apollo 13 Mission of Survival in Pictures]
They had to go back into the service module for reentry, and they didn’t know if their heat shield had been damaged by the explosion. Luckily they survived reentry and safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.
**FDA Recall Announcement Date: April 09, 2026, FDA Publish Date: April 13, 2026, Product Type: Gel Nail Polish Prohibited Methylene Chloride and Chloroform Company Name: Morovan Brand Name: Product Description: Gel Nail Polish Remover (15ml) Description: This recall involves Nail Polish Remover which is used for fast, safe, and gentle removal of gel nail polish and builder gel. This MOROVAN gel nail polish remover comes in a 15ml (0.5fl.oz) square turquoise bottle with a white cap, paired with a matching green packaging box. It is manufactured in China, with a production date of 02-07-2024 and an expiration date of 02-07-2027, offering a 3-year shelf life. Sold on Amazon.com
Incidents/Injuries: None reported
** Good Brain Tonic: Company Announcement Date: April 06, 2026, FDA Publish Date: April 14, 2026, Product Type: Food & Beverages Carbonated Soft Drinks Foodborne Illness: Reason for Announcement:
Consumers who have purchased Good Brain Tonic 16 oz or 32 oz bottles are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-516-608-8826.
** Liquid Blenz Corp. Recalls Product Due to Possible Health Risk Liquid Blenz Corp of Rockville Center, NY is recalling all codes of Good Brain Tonic because of Botulism potential. Botulism is a potentially fatal form of food poisoning and can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision, and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension, and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.
Good Brain Tonic was distributed nationwide in retail stores and via internet sales.
Good Brain is bottled in 16 oz & 32 oz Amber bottles with plastic cap. UPC code for 16 oz size is 860010984468 and 32 oz is 860010984475.
** Steam Shot Omni Reach and Steam Shot Omni Steam Cleaners with attachments
The recalled steam cleaners’ attachments can unexpectedly detach from the steam cleaners and expel hot water or steam onto users during use, posing a serious burn hazard. Contact BISSELL toll-free at 855-417-7001 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, email RecallNA@bissell.com or online at www.steamshot2026.com or www.BISSELL.com and click on “Product Recalls” for more information.
The Public Health Agency of Canada reports its investigation into a salmonella outbreak linked to pistachios is still active one year since recording the first infection. In an update April
Fish has been connected to two separate outbreaks in the Philippines and Vanuatu. Media reports on the number of sick people in the Philippines range from 20 to 51. The
Soo brand Mala Spicy Flavoured Beef Jerky and Pork Jerky are being recalled in Canada because of mold on the products. The recalled jerky was distributed in Alberta and British
Co-op brand creamy garlic and spinach salad is being recalled in Canada because of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the salad was distributed in
** Santa Fe Springs, California – April 07, 2026 – Blaine Labs, Inc. is voluntarily recalling three (3) lot numbers of Wound Care Gel products, 1 oz. & 3 oz. (0.1% Benzalkonium Chloride) to the consumer level due to microbial contamination.
The affected product has been found to contain Lysinibacillus fusiformis, an environmental organism.
** The FDA recommended the recall after a manufacturing facility inspection on Aug. 15, 2025, resulted in observations “that may bear on product quality,” the agency noted. However, specific details were not disclosed.
Xiamen Kang Zhongyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd., headquartered in Xiamen, China, initiated the recall on March 20, 2026. On Friday, the FDA classified the recall as Class II.
The FDA is continuing to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections that has sickened at least 68 people. The outbreak was first reported by the Food and Drug Administration
** The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for raw beef and pork products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen. The products may contain sesame, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.
The raw beef and pork items were produced from December 1, 2025, through April 6, 2026. The following products are subject to the public health alert [view labels]:
1.5-lb. clear plastic containers with safety lids containing “QUALITY MEAT SKY RANCH PREMIUM PROVISIONS MARINATED BEEF RIBEYE ROLL /BULGOGI” with “SELL BY” dates of “DEC.11.25” through “APR.16.26”.
1.5-lb. clear plastic containers with safety lids containing “QUALITY MEAT SKY RANCH PREMIUM PROVISIONS MARINATED PORK TENDERIZED CT BUTT” with “SELL BY” dates of “DEC.11.25” through “APR.16.26”.
1.5-lb. clear plastic containers with safety lids containing “QUALITY MEAT SKY RANCH PREMIUM PROVISIONS MARINATED BEEF SLICED SHORT RIBS /LA STYLE” with “SELL BY” dates of “DEC.11.25” through “APR.16.26”.
1.5-lb. clear plastic containers with safety lids containing “QUALITY MEAT SKY RANCH PREMIUM PROVISIONS MRN PORK SINGLE BELLY CHOP / JUMULLEOK” with “SELL BY” dates of “DEC.11.25” through “APR.16.26”.
The products bear establishment number “EST. 1377” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to Lotte Plaza Market retail locations in Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia.
Tops Friendly Markets of Williamsville, NY is recalling all codes of Christopher Ranch Peeled Garlic and Garland Peeled Garlic because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum due to the product being kept at insufficient temperatures. Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium Product was distributed through Tops Markets in New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. The recalled products are identified as follows:
Garland Fresh Peeled Garlic, 6 oz., packed in plastic bags with a UPCs of 71894-00000 and 68826-75340, all product code dates.
Christopher Ranch Peeled Garlic, 6 oz., packed in plastic bags with UPC 74574-10852 ,all product code dates
** The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for a ground beef product that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically metal. A recall was not requested because the product is…
Impacted Products
16oz (1 lb.) PLASTIC, VACUUM-PACKED, packages containing “WHITE OAK PASTURES, RADICALLY TRADITIONAL FARMING, GRASSFED GROUND BEEF”.
** The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is retracting the public health alert issued on April 1, 2026, for Walmart Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets with “Best If Used By” date “Feb…
Impacted Products
29-oz. plastic bags containing approx. 36 “GREAT VALUE FULLY COOKED DINO SHAPED CHICKEN BREAST NUGGETS” with “BEST IF USED BY” date “FEB 10 2027,” lot code” 0416DPO1215,” and establishment number “P44164” printed on the back of the bag.
The FDA has issued an Advisory without batch numbers or expiration dates. At the request of the FDA, RAW FARM is issuing a Voluntary Recall of the batches of cheese below and any batches produced prior to these dates.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for frozen, dinosaur-shaped, ready-to-eat chicken nuggets that may be contaminated with unsafe levels of lead. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. However, FSIS is concerned that some products may still be in consumers’ freezers.
Microbial contamination was the leading cause of Finnish recalls in 2025. There were 299 recalls in Finland this past year, down slightly from 305 in 2024.
** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 19, 2026– West Sacramento, CA, Gear Isle is voluntarily recalling the following products to the consumer level. The products have been found to contain undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients, sildenafil and tadalafil.
Gold Lion Aphrodisiac Chocolate Sachet, UPC 795847916279, LOT# no lot number, Expires: 06/2027 ilum Sex Chocolate, UPC 1002448578911, LOT# no lot number, Expires: 12/25/2027.
** The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to raw cheddar cheese from Raw Farm LLC continues to grow. Out of nine cases so far, more than half are in children younger than 5 years old. Although the FDA has reported that raw milk cheese from Raw Farm dairy is the most likely source of the bacteria, the company has refused to recall its product.
Falcon Trading Company Inc. is recalling organic black bean products because they contain pesticide residue. The Royal Oaks, CA, company is recalling the three items listed below. Because these items
Auricchio brand Gorgonzola D.O.P dolce is being recalled in Canada because of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency test results.
Falcon Trading Company Inc. is recalling organic black bean products because they contain pesticide residue. The Royal Oaks, CA, company is recalling the three items listed below. Falcon Trading Company, Inc. of Royal Oaks CA is recalling the three items listed below. Because these items are sold in bulk, the lot numbers can be mixed in the sales bin. Therefore, we are recalling all lot numbers of the following items:
The wage gap is narrowest in the nation’s capital, where women have the best earning’s ratio — 91 cents, on average, for every dollar earned by their male counterparts. The state with the worst earnings ratio is Wyoming, where women make 64 percent of men’s earnings. The national average puts women at just 77 percent.
The wage gap costs working women and their families tens of thousands of dollars in lost wages and directly affects women’s retirement security. These numbers are worse for women of color, andThe Simple Truth examines racial and ethnic breakdowns. White and Asian women earn, respectively, 82 percent and 88 percent of white men’s earnings. African American and Hispanic women earn much less — just 70 percent and 61 percent of what white men earn, on average.
“Equal Pay Day, which this year falls on April 17, is an unfortunate reminder of how far we have to go to reach true pay equality. The wage gap hasn’t moved significantly in nearly a decade, and at this rate, we’ll be marking Equal Pay Day for the next 60 years,” said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE.
In addition to the release ofThe Simple Truth, AAUW branches across the nation will mark Equal Pay Day by holding rallies, wearing red to symbolize how women’s wages are in the red, handing out Pay Day candy bars, and hosting bake sales with discounts for women.
“The gender pay gap is unlikely to go away on its own. Our publications and tools will empower our advocacy on behalf of women and their families,” said Catherine Hill, AAUW director of research. “The Simple Truth is a useful resource for women, the media, and society at large as we work to address this stubborn inequality.”
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The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation’s leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 600 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW’s founding 130 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW’s commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections.
1492 – Christopher Columbus signed a contract with Spain to find a passage to Asia and the Indies.
1521 – Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church.
1524 – New York Harbor was discovered by Giovanni Verrazano.
1535 – Antonio Mendoza was appointed first viceroy of New Spain.
1629 – Horses were first imported into the colonies by the American Massachusetts Bay Colony.
1704 – John Campbell published what would eventually become the first successful American newspaper. It was known as the Boston “News-Letter.”
1758 – Frances Williams published a collection of Latin poems. He was the first African-American to graduate from a college in the western hemisphere.
1808 – Bayonne Decree by Napoleon I of France ordered the seizure of U.S. ships.
1810 – Pineapple cheese was patented by Lewis M. Norton.
1824 – Russia abandoned all North American claims south of 54′ 40′.
1860 – New Yorkers learned of a new law that required fire escapes to be provided for tenement houses.
1861 – Virginia became the eighth state to secede from the Union.
1864 – U.S. Civil War General Grant banned the trading of prisoners.
1865 – Mary Surratt was arrested as a conspirator in the Lincoln assassination.
1875 – The game “snooker” was invented by Sir Neville Chamberlain.
1895 – China and Japan signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki. It was the end of the first Sino-Japanese War. In the treaty China ceded Taiwan to Japan.
1916 – The American Academy of Arts and Letters obtained a charter from the U.S. Congress.
1917 – A bill in Congress to establish Daylight Saving Time was defeated. It was passed a couple of months later.
1935 – “Lights Out” debuted on NBC Radio. It ran until 1952.
1941 – Igor Sikorsky accomplished the first successful helicopter lift-off from water near Stratford, CT.
1941 – The office of Price Administration was established in the U.S. to handle rationing.
1946 – The last French troops left Syria.
1947 – Jackie Robinson (Brooklyn Dodgers) performed a bunt for his first major league hit.
1961 – About 1,400 U.S.-supported Cuban exiles invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs in an attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro. It was an unsuccessful attack.
1964 – Jerrie Mock became first woman to fly an airplane solo around the world.
1964 – The Ford Motor Company unveiled its new Mustang model.
1967 – “The Joey Bishop Show” debuted on ABC-TV.
1967 – The U.S. Supreme Court barred Muhammad Ali’s request to be blocked from induction into the U.S. Army.
1969 – In Los Angeles, Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of assassinating U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
1969 – Czechoslovak Communist Party chairman Alexander Dubcek was deposed.
1970 – Apollo 13 returned to Earth safely after an on-board accident with an oxygen tank.
1975 – Khmer Rouge forces capture the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. It was the end of the five-year war.
1983 – In Warsaw, police routed 1,000 Solidarity supporters.
1983 – In New York, a transit strike that began on March 7 ended.
19840 – In London, demonstrators outside the Libyan Embassy were fired upon from someone inside. Eleven people were injured and an English Police woman was killed.
1985 – The U.S. Postal Service unveiled its new 22-cent, “LOVE” stamp.
1985 – In Lebanon, the cabinet resigned as Shiites took W. Beirut.
1987 – In Sri Lanka, Tamil guerrillas killed 122 people in a road ambush.
1989 – In Poland, courts gave Solidarity legal status.
1993 – A federal jury in Los Angeles convicted two former police officers of violating the civil rights of beaten motorist Rodney King. Two other officers were acquitted.
1996 – Erik and Lyle Menendez were sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing their parents.
1999 – In India, the government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee collapsed after losing a vote of confidence.
2002 – At the National Maritime Museum in London, the exhibit “Skin Deep – A History of Tattooing” opened.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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