The Ohio Department of Health and the Columbiana County Health Department have opened a special clinic in East Palestine, Ohio, in response to the Feb. 3 train derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals. The EPA has also announced an enforcement action against Norfolk Southern, and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has stated that the company will be held accountable for any health issues that arise. The clinic will remain open until the EPA has completed its cleanup and the area is deemed safe.
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The Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a case that could have major implications for the way websites rank content. The case involves a lawsuit brought by the family of Nohemi Gonzalez, who was killed in a 2015 ISIS attack, against Google for its automatic recommendations of user content. During the hearing, justices questioned how to protect websites from liability for content they do not create or control, while still exposing harmful content to liability. The court's decision could have a major impact on the way websites rank content.
Key takeaways: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has agreed to pay a $5 million fine to settle charges with the Securities and…
Ariana DeBose, an Oscar-winning actor and Broadway star, deactivated her Twitter account after her performance at the 76th annual BAFTAs went viral for the wrong reasons. The performance, which celebrated the nominees in the best lead and supporting actress categories, was deemed cringey by some viewers. DeBose's decision to deactivate her Twitter account came shortly after the performance, and it is unclear if she will reactivate it in the future.
In his annual state of the nation address, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of starting the war in Ukraine and announced that Russia is suspending its participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty. The US has condemned Putin's speech and is urging Russia to return to the negotiating table and extend the treaty, which is a "cornerstone of strategic stability" between the two nuclear superpowers.
Former Representative Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) has publicly criticized Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for her suggestion to divide the United States into red and blue states and to “shrink the federal government.” Cheney responded to Greene’s tweet by saying that such a suggestion was unconstitutional and reminded her that the United States is governed by the Constitution. Greene has previously been accused of calling for civil war and has been a vocal supporter of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection on the U.S. Capitol.
Home Depot has announced a $1 billion investment in its hourly workers, raising their average starting salary to $15 an hour. This move comes in response to the current red-hot job market, where unemployment has reached its lowest level since 1969. Home Depot's decision to raise its starting pay follows similar moves by other large retailers such as Amazon, who announced in September that starting pay for warehouse and delivery workers would be more than $19 an hour. This increase will benefit all hourly workers in the U.S. and Canada.
Barbara Lee, a single mother and former homeless person, announced her candidacy for the United States Senate on Tuesday. In her announcement video, she discussed her difficult upbringing and the obstacles she faced, including being denied access to certain places and services and having an abortion when it was illegal. Lee is running on a platform of progressive change and is the third Democratic Representative to announce their candidacy for the seat. Californians will have the opportunity to learn more about the candidates and their platforms before the election in 2024.