National News
National News

U.S. Education Dept. Launches First Federal Effort To Track School Reopening
Ever since the pandemic closed the nation’s schools in March 2020, there has been no official national source for understanding where schools have reopened, how many hours of live instruction students are getting online and just how unequal the access to learning has been over the past 11 months. Continue Reading U.S. Education Dept. Launches First Federal Effort To Track School Reopening

President Biden Doesn’t Think $15 Federal Minimum Wage Hike Will Survive COVID-19 Relief Bill
President Biden said on Friday that his plan to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour is unlikely to happen as part of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid package. Continue Reading President Biden Doesn’t Think $15 Federal Minimum Wage Hike Will Survive COVID-19 Relief Bill

Congress Approves Budget, Paving The Way For President Biden’s COVID-19 Relief Package
The House quickly approved a budget resolution intended to speed the drafting of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. The Senate approved the same budget resolution early Friday morning. With the Senate evenly divided, Vice President Harris cast the tiebreaking vote. Continue Reading Congress Approves Budget, Paving The Way For President Biden’s COVID-19 Relief Package

‘Just Cruel’: Digital Race For COVID-19 Vaccines Leaves Many Seniors Behind
With millions of older Americans eligible for COVID-19 vaccines and limited supplies, many continue to describe a frantic and frustrating search to secure a shot, beset by uncertainty and difficulty. The efforts to vaccinate people who are 65 and older have strained under the enormous demand that has overwhelmed cumbersome, inconsistent scheduling systems. Continue Reading ‘Just Cruel’: Digital Race For COVID-19 Vaccines Leaves Many Seniors Behind

House Removes Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene From Her Committee Assignments
The House of Representatives has voted to strip Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of her committee assignments, following uproar over her past incendiary comments and apparent support of violence against Democrats. The vote was 230 to 199. Continue Reading House Removes Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene From Her Committee Assignments

Parler CEO Is Fired After ‘Constant Resistance’ Inside The Conservative-Friendly Site
Parler, the far-right-friendly social media site that was knocked offline after the violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, has fired its CEO. John Matze said the company removed him as chief executive, following a fight with conservative donor Rebekah Mercer, who controls Parler’s board, after an apparent fight over the future of free speech on Parler. Continue Reading Parler CEO Is Fired After ‘Constant Resistance’ Inside The Conservative-Friendly Site

Canada Lists Proud Boys As A Terrorist Group, Alongside ISIS And Al-Qaida
Canada’s government designated the Proud Boys and 12 other extremist groups as terrorist entities on Wednesday, placing the groups on the same list as the Islamic State and al-Qaida. Continue Reading Canada Lists Proud Boys As A Terrorist Group, Alongside ISIS And Al-Qaida

President Biden Moves Ahead On Relief Bill Without GOP, But Signals Checks Could Be Targeted
President Biden and congressional Democrats are pressing ahead on a massive $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, taking the steps in the House and Senate to approve the measure without Republican support. Continue Reading President Biden Moves Ahead On Relief Bill Without GOP, But Signals Checks Could Be Targeted

A Rocky Road On The Way To Herd Immunity For COVID-19
Scientists estimate that somewhere between 70% and 85% of people need to be immune from the coronavirus before the disease will wane through a process known as herd immunity. Both natural immunity and vaccines can play a role in achieving that goal. But getting there won’t be easy. Continue Reading A Rocky Road On The Way To Herd Immunity For COVID-19

Dolly Parton Says She Turned Down Presidential Medal Of Freedom — Twice
Last fall, former President Barack Obama told Stephen Colbert that he was “shocked” Dolly Parton hadn’t gotten a Presidential Medal of Freedom during his time in office. “That was a screwup,” he said. “I think I assumed she had already got one.” Continue Reading Dolly Parton Says She Turned Down Presidential Medal Of Freedom — Twice

Brian Sicknick, Capitol Police Officer Slain By Mob, Will Lie In Honor In Rotunda
Brian Sicknick, the U.S. Capitol Police officer who was fatally injured during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol complex, will be given the rare distinction of lying in honor in the building’s Rotunda. Sicknick’s remains are scheduled to arrive Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET in a motorcade including his family. Continue Reading Brian Sicknick, Capitol Police Officer Slain By Mob, Will Lie In Honor In Rotunda

Miguel Cardona, Biden’s Education Secretary Nominee, Is New To D.C. — But Not To Classrooms
On Wednesday, lawmakers will have some tough questions for Miguel Cardona, President Biden’s nominee to be the next U.S. education secretary. The Connecticut educator will no doubt have to navigate the choppy policy waters of school choice, how to close opportunity gaps and, most critically, how he would help schools reopen as the pandemic rages. Continue Reading Miguel Cardona, Biden’s Education Secretary Nominee, Is New To D.C. — But Not To Classrooms