California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that the state will not be renewing its multi-million dollar contract with Walgreens due to the pharmacy chain's decision to not distribute abortion medication by mail in 21 U.S. states. The current contract has resulted in the state paying out approximately $54 million, and Newsom has taken a strong stance against any attempts to limit access to abortion services. The state will instead explore other options for furnishing the same services to protect reproductive rights in California.
Posts tagged as “The U.S. Air Force Academy”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was hospitalized Wednesday after tripping at a Washington, D.C. hotel. He has served in the Senate for nearly four decades, and is the chamber's longest-serving party leader in U.S. history. McConnell is currently receiving treatment in the hospital, though his spokesperson did not provide a timeline for his return.
House Republicans have announced plans to investigate the select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, with the Justice Department arguing that defendants should not be allowed to delay their criminal trials. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has suggested the committee was politically biased and is looking into Capitol security and the legal treatment of the defendants. The outcome of the investigation is unknown and it is unclear how it will affect the Jan. 6 defendants.
On Tuesday, a data breach at the Washington, D.C. health insurance marketplace potentially exposed the personal identifiable information (PII) of hundreds of lawmakers and staff. House Chief Administrative Officer Catherine L. Szpindor informed recipients of the breach in an internal memo and warned them that their data may have been compromised. The FBI is currently investigating the breach and the House is providing additional security measures to protect the data of its members and staff.
At a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Avril Haines and Christopher Wray discussed the risks posed by China, including the potential for the Chinese government to use TikTok to control data and shape public opinion in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Haines noted that Beijing still believes it benefits from a more stable relationship with the U.S., despite recent tensions.
A 64-year-old woman died while hiking in Big Bend National Park in Texas on Monday, despite attempts by park rangers and a U.S. Border Patrol agent to revive her. The NPS warned visitors to take precautions when hiking due to the hot temperatures in March, and expressed their condolences to the woman's family and friends.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy addressed the controversy surrounding Fox News host Tucker Carlson's coverage of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. McConnell expressed his support for the letter sent by Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger denouncing Carlson, while McCarthy defended his decision to give Carlson surveillance footage from the Capitol. Both McConnell and McCarthy have expressed their support for Carlson's right to free speech.
The US is planning to relax Covid-19 testing restrictions for travelers from China on Friday, following a surge in cases and lack of transparency from Chinese officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had previously announced a requirement for travelers to prove they had tested negative for the virus before flying to the US from China, Hong Kong, and Macau. This decision is part of an effort to protect US citizens from the spread of the virus, though it is unclear if the US will continue to require negative tests in the future.