Residents of Lewiston, Maine were ordered to shelter in place Wednesday night due to two active shooter events reported by law enforcement agencies. The Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office is asking people to stay inside their homes with the doors locked while they investigate the suspect at large. The Maine State Police are requesting anyone with information to contact them and remain vigilant.
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After a six-week strike, the United Auto Workers union and Ford Motor Company have reached a tentative agreement, praised by President Joe Biden and UAW President Shawn Fain. The details of the agreement have not yet been released, but if ratified by the union's membership, it could serve as a blueprint to resolve contract talks with the other two Detroit automakers and end the work stoppages.
The United Auto Workers union and Ford have reached a tentative agreement in principle, which could signal the end of the nearly six-week strike with the Big Three automaker. The agreement includes a 25% general wage increase over the life of a new four-year contract, with cost-of-living pay increases potentially lifting the total pay raises above 30%. Ratification of the agreement with all three automakers is needed before the strike can officially end, and the estimated $2 billion in lost production can be recovered.
The State University System of Florida has ordered the deactivation of all Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters on its 12 public universities due to the group's "harmful support for terrorist groups." The decision was made in consultation with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and has sparked debate over the war between Israel and Hamas and the U.S. government's foreign policy in the Middle East. Supporters of SJP argue that the organization is a peaceful advocacy group, while critics point to its support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The decision to shut down SJP chapters has been met with criticism from both sides of the debate.
Key takeaways: Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) was elected as the 56th speaker of the House. Democrats have already begun to push forward with attack ads…
Scholastic, the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books, has reversed its decision to allow school districts to opt in or out of selling a selection of books about race and gender. This reversal has been met with praise from the publishing industry, and is a positive step towards promoting inclusivity and diversity in children's literature. The company is committed to providing access to books that reflect the experiences of all children, creating a more equitable and inclusive society.
Democratic Representative Jamaal Bowman of New York has been charged with a misdemeanor for falsely pulling a fire alarm in a Capitol Hill office building. Bowman has admitted to activating the alarm and the charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail. The U.S. Capitol Police have sent the case with charges to prosecutors for their consideration, and Bowman's case is still pending.
Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana was elected as the 56th speaker of the House in a party-line vote, with all 220 Republicans voting for him. Johnson is a close ally of former President Donald Trump and had led many of the 2020 election challenges, including an amicus brief signed by more than 100 House Republicans. Johnson is the most ideologically conservative speaker since Newt Gingrich in the 1990s and is now second in line to the presidency.