Jury Rules Ticketmaster a Monopoly as Tornadoes Tear Across U.S.

A federal jury has found Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster guilty of operating an illegal monopoly. The verdict, delivered Monday, concludes a major antitrust case brought by the U.S. Justice Department. It claims the companies used their dominant position to harm fans, artists, and smaller promoters. The ruling could force a major restructuring of the live entertainment giant. Legal experts say the court may now order Ticketmaster to change its business practices or even sell parts of its operation. Meanwhile, severe storms moved across the central and eastern United States. Multiple tornadoes caused significant damage in several states. The extreme weather grounded flights and threatened major events. The storm system is tracking eastward. Officials warn residents from the Midwest to the East Coast to prepare for dangerous conditions.