Tens of thousands of LAUSD employees, including teachers, are set to strike from Tuesday to Thursday, likely shutting down the nation's second-largest school system. The strike is a result of stalled contract negotiations between the SEIU and the district, with the union demanding a 6.5% pay raise, smaller class sizes, and more support staff. The district has offered a 6% raise, but the union has rejected it, and it is unclear how long the strike will last.
News Mash
The Biden administration has issued an ultimatum to TikTok, a popular social media app with over 100 million US users, to be sold by its Chinese owners or face a ban across the US. The move is in response to security concerns posed by the app's Chinese ownership, and marks a possible turning point in the long-running negotiations between federal officials and the company. TikTok has expressed disappointment with the ultimatum, and it remains to be seen how the company will respond.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin declared that US aircraft will continue to fly and operate in accordance with international law, following an incident involving a US drone and Russian aircraft over the Black Sea. The jets had dropped jet fuel on the drone, an unprecedented action, and Austin emphasized that it is incumbent upon Russia to operate military aircraft in a safe and professional manner. The incident has raised concerns over the safety of US aircraft in international airspace, and the US is expected to take further measures to ensure the safety of its aircraft.
This article discusses the missile launch by North Korea on Thursday morning, which overshadowed the planned summit between South Korea and Japan. The missile traveled approximately 1,000 km and reached an altitude of over 6,000 km, falling outside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone. This launch is a reminder of the ongoing tensions between North Korea and its neighbors, and the challenges they face in addressing the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
The Houston Independent School District (HISD), the largest school district in Texas and one of the largest in the nation, will have its superintendent and board of education trustees replaced by a new board appointed by the state Commissioner of Education. This move has angered Democrats, and deepens a rift between Texas' largest city and state Republican leaders. It is unclear what changes the new board will make, who will be appointed, or what impact the takeover will have on the district's students and staff.
Bobby Caldwell, the legendary singer-songwriter behind the 1978 platinum hit "What You Won't Do For Love," has passed away at the age of 71. His wife, Mary, confirmed the news and attributed his death to "FLOXED," a term used to describe the effects of fluoroquinolone toxicity after he was prescribed an antibiotic in 2017. Mary thanked fans for their prayers over the years and an official cause of death has not been released.
Make America Great Again Inc., a super PAC closely aligned with former President Donald Trump, has filed a 15-page complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics accusing Governor Ron DeSantis of running a "shadow presidential campaign" while in office. The complaint alleges that DeSantis is a de facto candidate for president while also serving as governor, and should have to resign under a state law that prohibits people from holding elected office while seeking another. Trump acknowledged earlier this week that DeSantis is "probably" his biggest challenger in the presidential primary, and the investigation will likely have a major impact on the political landscape in the coming months.
Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY) has announced that he would not support Rep. George Santos' (R-NY) potential candidacy in 2024, as federal and state investigators are probing Santos' role in the sale of a $19 million yacht involving two of his wealthy donors. Santos recently filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission signaling that he may be considering running for another term in Congress, but the Nassau County Republican Committee is not in support of his potential candidacy. It remains to be seen if Santos will decide to run for Congress again in 2024 and how the investigations into his finances will affect his campaign.