Midday rundown: Putin talks prisoner swaps, Amazon accused of stealing

KARAH RUCKER: A HIGH-PROFILE AND LONG-AWAITED PRISONER SWAP IS NOW COMPLETE. AND NOW RUSSIA’S PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS RESPONDED. THIS IS YOUR MORNING RUNDOWN AIMED DOWN THE MIDDLE WITH STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.

PUTIN: FUTURE PRISONER SWAPS POSSIBLE

PUTIN HAS TOLD REPORTERS MORE PRISONER SWAPS IN THE FUTURE ARE POSSIBLE.

AS THE U.S. WELCOMES WNBA STAR BRITTNEY GRINER BACK TO AMERICAN SOIL TODAY, THE COUNTRY IS ALSO STRUGGLING WITH AMERICAN MARINE PAUL WHELAN LEFT BEHIND.

WHEN PUTIN WAS ASKED IF FUTURE SWAPS ARE POSSIBLE, HE SAID “EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.” NOTING THAT “COMPROMISES HAVE BEEN FOUND” FOR THIS DEAL AND CAN HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

AMAZON ACCUSED OF STEALING DELIVERY DRIVER TIPS

AMAZON IS BEING SUED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING MORE THAN ONE MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF DELIVERY DRIVER TIPS.

THE LAWSUIT ACCUSES AMAZON OF “DECEIVING” ITS CUSTOMERS INTO THINKING TIP-MONEY THEY PAID ONLINE WAS GOING STRAIGHT TO THE DELIVERY DRIVER ON THEIR ROUTE. BUT THE LAWSUIT ALLEGES THE EXTRA MONEY CUSTOMERS TIPPED IN, AMAZON ACTUALLY USED TO COVER WAGE-INCREASES FOR DRIVERS ACROSS THE BOARD. THERE-BY SUBSIDIZING AMAZON’S LABOR COSTS.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LEADING THE LAWSUIT SAID QUOTE “My office will use every tool available to hold Amazon–and any company that lies to consumers and cheats workers–accountable. Amazon is one of the richest companies in the world. It can and must do better.”

AMAZON SAID THE LAWSUIT IS WITHOUT MERIT.

POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE AIR BAGS INVESTIGATED

AIR-BAG INFLATORS USED IN TENS OF MILLIONS OF CARS ARE NOW BEING INVESTIGATED AFTER FEDERAL SAFETY REGULATORS RAISED CONCERNS.

IN A LETTER SENT THIS WEEK TO A DOZEN AUTO MAKERS, OFFICIALS ARE ASKING FOR INFORMATION REGARDING INFLATORS USED IN PASSENGER AND DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAGS. THE CONCERN IS OVER THE POTENTIAL FOR THESE AIRBAGS TO EXPLODE.

THE AIRBAGS HAVE REPORTEDLY EXPLODED SIX TIMES AND LEFT TWO PEOPLE DEAD AND FOUR INJURED.

THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR SEVEN YEARS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVEN SMALL RECALL CAMPAIGNS IN THAT TIME-SPAN OVER THE AIRBAGS.

SOME CAR-MANUFACTURERS HAVE CONDUCTED THIRD-PARTY TESTING ON THE AIR-BAGS AND SAY THERE’S NO EVIDENCE OF AN AIR-BAG DEFECT.

HOUSE RELEASES REPORT ON WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

CONGRESS HAS RELEASED THEIR FINDINGS AFTER A YEAR-LONG INVESTIGATION INTO THE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS NFL FOOTBALL TEAM.

THE HOUSE COMMITTEE MEMBERS SAY THE OWNER, DAN SNYDER, ALONG WITH THE NFL,  FAILED TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

THEY ACCUSE SNYDER OF GOING TO EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS TO STALL INVESTIGATIONS INTO HIMSELF AND THE TEAM.

AND THE COMMITTEE ACCUSES THE NFL OF FAILING TO ADDRESS THE MISCONDUCT HAPPENING WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.

A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE COMMANDERS HAS INDIRECTLY RESPONDED TO THE HOUSE COMMITTEE’S FINDINGS.

SHE FORWARDED A MEMO WRITTEN BY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS CALLING THE INVESTIGATION “A SHAM” INTENDED TO HARASS A PRIVATE BUSINESS.

GIRL ASKS COUNTY FOR PERMISSION TO OWN UNICORN

A LITTLE GIRL IN CALIFORNIA IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO OWNING A UNICORN.

MADELINE JUST RECEIVED A LICENE FROM LOS ANGELES COUNTY GRANTING HER PERMISSION TO HAVE A UNICORN IN HER BACKYARD.

THIS IS THE LETTER MADELINE WROTE TO ANIMAL CONTROL, ASKING IF SHE CAN HAVE APPROVAL FOR A UNICORN TO LIVE IN HER BACKYARD IF SHE FINDS ONE.

A VERY LOGICAL FIRST GRADER KNEW THE FIRST STEP TO OWNING A MYSTICAL CREATURE, WAS GETTING PERMISSION.

IT WOULD’VE BEEN REALLY SAD TO FIND A UNICORN AND NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP IT.

THE COUNTY, GIVING HER A “PERMANENT UNICORN LICENSE” AND IN THE MEANTIME SENDING HER A STUFFED ANIMAL UNTIL SHE FINDS HER REAL-LIFE UNICORN.

NOW MISS MADELINE NEEDS TO GET BUSY WRITING ANOTHER LETTER…

THIS TIME TO SANTA…TO SEE IF ANY OF HIS REINDEER MIGHT HAVE ANY UNICORN FRIENDS.