Federal investigators released new details from the cockpit voice recorder in the LaGuardia runway collision that killed two pilots when an Air Canada Express jet struck a fire truck. The NTSB says controllers had cleared the truck to cross Runway 4 shortly before the Air Canada flight landed; tower personnel issued multiple last‑second “stop” commands. Because the truck lacked a transponder, the airport’s ASDE‑X ground detection system did not register it. Investigators called the crash the result of “many, many things” going wrong. Thirty‑nine people were taken to hospitals and six remain hospitalized. The NTSB plans interviews with air traffic controllers and the firefighters who were in the vehicle.
At U.S. airports, TSA checkpoints continue to strain amid the partial government shutdown as officers work without pay. The agency reports hundreds of officers have quit and thousands are calling out. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told CBS News that rising jet fuel costs and the shutdown have pushed airfares up, estimating fares increased roughly 15–20% in the past month. Lawmakers appear close to a deal to restore pay for TSA workers, and some proposals would include bonuses for officers who worked without pay.
In the Oval Office, President Trump said he believes Iran is negotiating and that Tehran “gave us a present” tied to oil and the Strait of Hormuz, though he declined to give specifics. The U.S. has deployed additional forces to the region amid the escalating conflict; reports say more than 5,000 extra personnel are heading overseas, including elements of the 82nd Airborne. Republican lawmakers and others are pushing the White House for clearer operational plans, including options near Kharg Island and along Iran’s coast.
Fighting continued in Ukraine as Russia launched a massive drone barrage — nearly 1,000 drones over a 24‑hour period, about half during daylight — that damaged historic buildings and caused civilian casualties. In western Ukraine, a nearly 400‑year‑old church sustained damage. Officials reported several dead and many wounded.
CBS News investigators uncovered potential hospice fraud in California. State records flagged hundreds of hospice programs in Los Angeles County for possible abuse, prompting House Republicans to open an oversight inquiry and call the findings “alarming evidence of fraudulent activity.”
On the Gulf Coast, firefighters battled a large explosion and blaze at Valero’s Port Arthur refinery in Texas. The plant, one of the nation’s largest, temporarily halted operations; no injuries have been reported.
The Southeast baked under an unusual heat wave, with nearly 2,000 warm temperature records set in two weeks. Meteorologists warned of severe storms midweek across parts of the Midwest as Gulf moisture and wind shear collide, forecasting damaging winds and a tornado risk before cooler air moves in for some areas.
U.S. markets saw suspicious trading in the minutes before President Trump announced the postponement of strikes on Iranian energy targets. Traders placed large wagers betting oil prices would fall just before the nonpublic decision became public — activity that raises insider‑trading concerns. Regulators often investigate such patterns, but analysts say probes can be limited by resources and enforcement priorities.
In Hawaii court, the wife of an anesthesiologist on trial testified about an alleged attack. Prosecutors say Gerhardt König pushed his wife off a cliff, assaulted her with a syringe and a rock, and tried to silence her during a birthday hike. The alleged victim, Arielle König, described the assault on the stand; a nurse who helped after the incident detailed the injuries. The defendant’s attorney says she attacked him; prosecutors point to his statements to family members as a confession. If convicted, König faces up to life in prison.
A New Mexico jury found Meta liable for endangering children’s mental health and exposing minors to predators on its platforms, awarding $375 million in damages. The state accused the company of failing to protect young users; Meta says it will appeal.
OpenAI announced it will shut down Sora, its app that generated video from text prompts amid concerns about deepfakes and misuse. The company did not provide a specific timeline for the shutdown.
In lighter stories, a quick‑response helicopter crew rescued a goldendoodle from the Seneca River near Syracuse minutes after a 911 call; the dog was returned home safely. And in Chicago, a delivery robot drove into a glass bus shelter, shattering it on camera while the machine kept rolling, unharmed.
Only in America: a renewed debate over dress codes. Ruth’s Chris steakhouse posted a policy asking guests not to wear hats, gym clothes, poolwear, tank tops or exposed underwear. Casual chains like Chili’s responded that their only requirement is that customers be clothed, sparking conversation about standards of public attire and recent reactions to casual dress at airports and government buildings.
That’s the CBS Evening News for March 24.