“Federal judges block Trump's travel ban”

Wednesday afternoon, a federal judge in Hawaii issued a temporary restraining order nationwide over President Donald Trump's executive order and revised travel ban, hours before it was set to go into effect. In a 43-page ruling, US District Court Judge Derrick Watson, who presides in Hawaii, concluded in no uncertain terms that the new executive order failed to pass legal muster at this stage and the state had established "a strong likelihood of success" on their claims of religious discrimination. Trump publically denounced Watson's ruling, introducing his statement as "the bad, the sad news.” “This is, in the opinion of many, an unprecedented judicial overreach," Trump added, before pledging to take the issue to the Supreme Court if necessary. The practical effect of the ruling -- which applies nationwide -- is that travelers from six Muslim-majority countries and refugees WILL be able to travel to the US.

In Other News A Cincinnati-area restaurateur says he'll buy steak dinners for Northern Kentucky University's 15,000 students if the men's basketball team wins its first-ever NCAA Tournament game by beating No. 6-ranked Kentucky. Jeff Ruby says the promise could cost him and his steakhouse big if the underdog Norse topple the Wildcats. But, he says it's important to support hometown organizations and he sees Northern Kentucky as an asset to the area. The school is a first-timer in the NCCA Tournament. Police say a 70-pound popcorn ball worth hundreds of dollars that was swiped from a suburban Cleveland shop where it was being auctioned has been returned. The oversized snack dyed red, white and blue was taken from outside the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop over the weekend. But it was found intact in front of the shop Wednesday. It was created for a New Year's Eve popcorn ball drop and is being auctioned this week, with the proceeds slated to go toward renovations of a town hall. It's valued at $700.