Feb 18 WATCH: Texas crisis has governor facing energy industry By Paul J. Weber, Nomaan Merchant, Associated Press Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wants mandates that would require power plants to withstand extreme winter weather. The number of Texas residents still without electricity Thursday was fewer than 500,000 after historic snowfall and single-digit temperatures. Continue reading
Feb 18 Report slams Chicago response to unrest after Floyd’s death By Don Babwin, Associated Press The Office of Inspector General concludes that the department's top brass was woefully unprepared for the violence that erupted and did not provide officers on the front lines of the violence with nearly enough guidance of what they should be… Continue reading
Feb 18 WATCH: Pelosi calls effects of storm in Texas ‘heartbreaking’ By Associated Press Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi says a House panel will look into Texas' response to the problems that have been caused by the extreme weather in Texas. Continue reading
Feb 18 Path to citizenship in new Democratic immigration bill By Alexandra Jaffe, Associated Press The legislation will reflect the broad priorities for immigration reform that Biden laid out on his first day in office, including an increase in visas, funding to process asylum applications and new technology at the southern border. Continue reading
Feb 18 Experts warn against COVID-19 variants as states reopen By Marion Renault, Associated Press Scientists widely agree that the U.S. simply doesn’t have enough of a handle on the variants to roll back public health measures and is at risk of fumbling yet another phase of the pandemic. Continue reading
Feb 18 Longtime Illinois state legislator Michael Madigan to resign seat By John O'Connor, Associated Press An institution in Illinois politics, Madigan is resigning the post he has held for 50 years. He was tarnished by a federal investigation of Statehouse bribery announced last summer that implicated him. Continue reading
Feb 18 WATCH: Robinhood CEO Tenev defends actions in GameStop saga at hearing By Marcy Gordon, Alex Veiga, Associated Press The GameStop episode has been portrayed as a victory of the little guy over Wall Street titans, but not everyone is buying it. Lawmakers from both parties are among the skeptics. Continue reading
Feb 18 U.S. needs to brace for more deadly storms, experts say By Matthew Daly, Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press Deadly weather will be hitting the U.S. more often, and America needs to get better at dealing with it, experts said as Texas and other states battled winter storms that blew past the worst-case planning of utilities, governments and millions… Continue reading
Feb 17 Snowstorm brings ‘most dangerous conditions’ seen by Oregon utility By Sara Cline, Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press Nearly 150,000 customers remained without power in and around Portland, Oregon, six days after a massive snow and ice storm swept into the Pacific Northwest, taking out hundreds of miles of power lines as ice-laden trees toppled. Continue reading
Feb 17 Watch 10:42 Americans grapple with historic weather, with much of the U.S. still locked in deep freeze By Stephanie Sy Most of the nation is still locked in the deep freeze as a polar vortex that swept south is holding sway, claiming at least 30 lives and keeping the power off for more than 3 million people. Stephanie Sy reports,… Continue watching