President Joe Biden signed into law Monday the $768 billion defense policy bill that includes a pay raise for troops, reforms of the military justice system and billions to spend on research and development deemed critical for the U.S. military to remain competitive with Russia and China. The 2022 National …
Read More »House Oversight Committee To Investigate Deadly Astroworld Tragedy
The U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee has launched a bipartisan investigation into Live Nation, addressing the tragic crowd crush that left ten concertgoers dead at last month’s Astroworld festival in Houston. The Washington Post reports that the probe was initiated on Wednesday (December 22) by Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, …
Read More »President Biden Finalizes Pay Raise For Federal Employees
President Joe Biden last week issued an executive order implementing his plan to provide federal civilian employees with an average 2.7% pay raise next year. As originally proposed in his fiscal 2022 budget plan, the raise provides federal workers with a 2.2% across-the-board raise, as well as an average 0.5% increase …
Read More »South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu dies at 90
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu, 90, has died in Cape Town, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in a statement on Sunday. Alongside late Nelson Mandela, Tutu was one of the most important voices against the old system of white minority rule known as apartheid. The Anglican cleric also …
Read More »Student loan payment pause is extended — but many lawmakers and borrowers want more
Nadra Nittle Originally published by The 19th President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he’s extending the pandemic pause on federal student loan payments through May 1, 2022, a move that drew both quick praise from advocates and renewed calls to cancel student debt outright. A moratorium on payments has been …
Read More »13.6 Million People Have Signed Up for Health Coverage Through ACA In 2021
This year’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) Open Enrollment Period is outpacing all previous years, a historic high of more than 13.6 million people already enrolled in health insurance coverage for 2022 through HealthCare.gov and State-based Marketplaces (SBMs). The American Rescue Plan (ARP) has made coverage more affordable and accessible for …
Read More »Biden surprises families at Children’s National Hospital on Christmas Eve
Children completing a Christmas Eve art project at Children’s National Hospital unexpectedly had a chance to show off their creations to President Joe Biden. President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visit patients and families at Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC. on Christmas Eve. pic.twitter.com/LgSbig7aLR — Poli Alert …
Read More »United and Delta Airlines Forced to Cancel Hundreds of Christmas Eve Flights Due to the Rise of Covid Cases
Both United and Delta Airlines announced Thursday that an increase of COVID-19 infections had forced them to cancel hundreds of Christmas Eve flights. The cancellations came as the Transportation Safety Administration reported that Christmas traffic is returning to pre-pandemic levels. “The nationwide spike in Omicron cases this week has had …
Read More »President Biden Announces Two More Federal Judge Nominees
With 40 federal judges confirmed in the first year of his presidency – the most since Ronald Reagan was in his first year – President Joe Biden has announced two more nominations for the federal judiciary to close out the year. The President’s nominee for the United States Court of Appeals …
Read More »FDA authorizes second COVID-19 antiviral pill, Merck’s molnupiravir
One day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization to Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral pill, Paxlovid, the agency on Thursday granted the same emergency use authorization to Merck’s antiviral medication, molnupiravir. Both pills are intended only for people who are at high risk for hospitalization and death from severe …
Read More »Pfizer’s Covid-19 Pill Authorized by FDA
Pfizer‘s antiviral Covid-19 pill Paxlovid has been authorized by the FDA for emergency use. The drugmaker says the pill, which could be available to patients as early as this weekend, is meant to treat mild to moderate Covid-19 diagnosis in patients who are at increased risk of hospitalizations or death. The FDA …
Read More »U.S. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon Carjacked In Philadelphia
On Wednesday afternoon, Democratic Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon was the victim of an armed carjacking in South Philadelphia. Police say it happened in FDR Park after a tour that included members of Congress. Scanlon was walking to her parked vehicle and was approached by two men driving a dark-colored SUV. Both …
Read More »White House Extends Student Loan Pause Through May 1
On Wednesday, the White House and the U.S. Department of Education announced a 90-day extension of the pause on student loan repayment, interest, and collections through May 1, 2022. The extension will allow the Administration to assess the impacts of the Omicron variant on student borrowers and provide additional time …
Read More »Orleans DA orders ‘full review’ of Michelle Odinet’s work as prosecutor
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams has ordered a complete review of all cases during the ’90s when Judge Michelle Odinet was a prosecutor. Odinet is on unpaid suspension pending the outcome of more than 100 complaints filed with the Louisiana Judiciary Commission over a video that has drawn national …
Read More »Rep. Scott Perry Refuses To Speak With Jan. 6 Committee
The day after the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection called for an interview with Rep. Scott Perry (R -Pa.), the lawmaker on Tuesday said he would refuse to speak with the panel, citing failures of the “radical Left.” “I stand with immense respect for our Constitution, the …
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