COURT DOCUMENTS SAY TRUMP DIRECTED HUSH-MONEY PAYMENTS… President Trump was actively involved in directing a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election, according to court documents from the closed campaign finance case against former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. Documents released yesterday describe a “series of calls, text messages, and emails” among Cohen, Trump, Trump campaign aide Hope Hicks, National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and Daniels’ attorney. The release came a day after the federal judge in the case disclosed that prosecutors had concluded their probe into Cohen’s campaign finance crimes.
HOUSE PASSES MINIMUM-WAGE BILL…The House voted 231-199 yesterday to pass legislation that would the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025, then index further hikes to median wage growth. It would also phase out lower minimum wage paid to tipped workers. Six Democrats opposed the bill, while three Republicans supported it. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is unlikely to take the bill up, while President Donald Trump has threatened to veto it.
TRUMP TO NAME SCALIA LABOR SECRETARY… President Trump yesterday announced that he plans to name Eugene Scalia as the next Labor Secretary. Scalia, the son of late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, is a partner at the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He replaces Alex Acosta, who resigned amid mounting questions over his role in accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s 2008 plea agreement.
70 ARRESTED AT TRUMP PROTEST… Police in Washington, D.C., yesterday arrested 70 people protesting the Trump administration’s immigration policy. Those arrested were taking part in a protest carried out by a coalition of Catholic groups. They were charged with unlawfully demonstrating in the rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building, authorities said. Demonstrators carried photographs of migrant children who died in federal custody and chanted their names in the building’s rotunda.
EPSTEIN TO REMAIN JAILED… Jeffrey Epstein will remain behind bars while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking dozens of underage girls, a judge ruled yesterday. U.S. District Judge Richard Berman rejected Epstein’s request to pay for armed guards to be under house arrest in his New York mansion valued at $77 million. Prosecutors had argued that Epstein posed a danger to the community and is a flight risk.
737 MAX GROUNDING IS COSTLY… The New York Times reported yesterday that Boeing expects to take a $5.6 billion hit due to the grounding of 737 Max planes nationwide following two deadly crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. The number represents how much the company will have to compensate airlines that were unable to fly the aircraft for months after it was grounded, according to the report. Boeing also said it was expecting an additional $1.7 billion in costs related to the 737 Max’s slowdown in production.
ENTERTAINMENT
‘FARGO’ ADDS TO CAST… Fargo is rounding out its Season 4 cast with additions Jason Schwartzman and Ben Whishaw, who are joining the previously announced Chris Rock, FX announced Thursday. The network revealed in August that Rock will play the head of a crime syndicate on the show. The season is set in 1950 in Kansas City, Missouri, where the heads of two criminal organizations have traded their eldest sons as part of an uneasy peace.
IN THEATERS… “The Lion King” tells the story about a young lion prince that flees his kingdom after the murder of his father and learns the true meaning of responsibility and bravery. The animated feature is rated PG.
SPORTS
MLB…
NL SCORES…
MIAMI 4 – San Diego 3… Brian Anderson doubled home Yadiel Rivera with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Harold Ramirez smacked a solo homer for the Marlins.
PHILADELPHIA 7 – L.A. Dodgers 6… The Phillies came up with four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally past the Dodgers. Rhys Hoskins struck the big blow with a two-run single.
St. Louis 7 – CINCINNATI 4… Tommy Edmon unloaded a grand slam during a five-run top of the sixth inning. Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer and singled home a run.
Washington 13 – ATLANTA 4… Starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg belted a three-run homer to cap an eight-run top of the third inning and added a two-run single in the fifth. On the mound, the righthander (12-4) allowed three runs on eight hits over 5-1/3 innings.
Milwaukee 5 – ARIZONA 1… Orlando Arcia singled home Eric Thames with a tie-breaking run and sparked a three-run Brewer rally in the top of the eighth inning. Ryan Braun led off the ninth with a homer. Zach Davies (8-2) surrendered a run on five hits over seven innings.
SAN FRANCISCO 3 – N.Y. Mets 2 (16 innings)… Brandon Crawford doubled home the tying run in the bottom of the 16th inning and scored the winning run on Donovan Solano’s single as the Giants outlasted the Mets.
AL SCORES…
BOSTON 5 – Toronto 0… Red Sox starter Chris Sale (4-9) pitched two-hit ball over six innings and struck out 12. Rafael Devers belted a three-run homer.
KANSAS CITY 6 – Chi. White Sox 5… The Royals erased a three-run deficit on their way past the White Sox. Cheslor Cuthbert homered to lead off the bottom of the third inning and Jorge Soler followed two batters later with a two-run shot.
N.Y. YANKEES 6 – Tampa Bay 2… Gio Urshula hit a two-run homer and doubled home a run to lead the Yankees past the Rays in the opener of a doubleheader. Aaron Hicks also went deep. Domingo German (12-2) allowed two runs on four hits over six innings.
N.Y. YANKEES 5 – Tampa Bay 1… The Yankees cruised past the Rays to complete a sweep of the twinbill. Luke Voit homered to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. Didi Gregorious singled home two runs.
CLEVELAND 6 – Detroit 3… Jordan Luplow and Jose Ramirez blasted two-run homers for the Indians. Trevor Bauer (9-7) allowed three runs on five hits over 6-2/3 innings.
MINNESOTA 6 – Oakland 3… Eddie Rosario connected for a go-ahead three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Twins downed the Athletics. Mitch Garver and C.J. Cron added solo blasts in the eighth.
Houston 6 – L.A. ANGELS 2… George Springer and Alex Bregman smacked solo homers for the Astros. Yordan Alvarez lined a two-run double. Wade Miley (8-4) gave up two runs on three hits over 5-1/3 innings. One of the runs he allowed was unearned.
TODAY’S NL SCHEDULE…
San Diego (Eric Lauer, 5-7) is at the Chi. Cubs (Jon Lester, 9-6)…
Pittsburgh (Jordan Lyles, 5-6) hosts Philadelphia (Jake Arrieta, 8-7)…
St. Louis (Adam Wainwright, 6-7) is at Cincinnati (Tyler Mahle, 2-10)…
Atlanta (Julio Tehera, 5-6) hosts Washington (Patrick Corbin, 7-5)…
Milwaukee (Jhoulys Chacin, 3-9) is at Arizona (Taylor Clarke, 2-3)…
the L.A. Dodgers (Hyun-Jin Ryu, 10-2) host Miami (Zac Gallen, 0-1)…
the N.Y. Mets (Jacob deGrom, 5-7) are at San Francisco (Tyler Beede, 3-3)
TODAY’S AL SCHEDULE…
Boston (David Price, 7-2) is at Baltimore (John Means, 7-5)…
Tampa Bay (TBA) hosts the Chi. White Sox (Reynaldo Lopez, 4-8)…
Kansas City (Mike Montgomery, 0-0) is at Cleveland (Shane Bieber, 8-3)…
Detroit (Jordan Zimmermann, 0-6) hosts Toronto (Marcus Stroman, 5-10)…
Texas (Mike Minor, 8-4) is at Houston (Justin Verlander, 11-4)…
Minnesota (Jake Odorizzi, 11-4) hosts Oakland (Chris Bassett, 6-4)…
the L.A. Angels (TBA) are at Seattle (Mike Leake, 7-8)
TODAY’S INTERLEAGUE SCHEDULE…
Colorado (Kyle Freeland, 2-6) is at the N.Y. Yankees (J.A. Happ)
Bob Sarber 