Thursday, February 6

Author: Grace Thompson

Democrats try to force a vote to release Matt Gaetz report as House Ethics panel has ‘no agreement’
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Democrats try to force a vote to release Matt Gaetz report as House Ethics panel has ‘no agreement’

Washington The House Ethics Committee did not agree to publicly release a report outlining their extensive investigation of former Representative Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's choice for attorney general, during their closed-door meeting on Wednesday. Before Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, is confirmed by the Judiciary Committee next year, a number of Senate Republicans and Democrats have stated that they would like to see the House report on the lengthy probe. The Ethics Committee had investigated claims that Gaetz used illegal drugs and committed sexual misconduct, received inappropriate gifts, provided preferential treatment to those with whom he had personal ties, and impeded the House investigation. Gaetz refuted the accusations. Reps. Susan Wild, D-Pa., and Michael G...
Braves’ Chris Sale, Tigers’ Tarik Skubal win Cy Young Awards
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Braves’ Chris Sale, Tigers’ Tarik Skubal win Cy Young Awards

MLB announced on Tuesday that Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves and Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers had earned the Cy Young Awards for the finest pitchers in their respective leagues. Skubal received the American League award, and Sale took home the National League accolade. Leading the NL and the AL in wins, ERA, and strikeouts, both earned Triple Crowns in their respective leagues this season. In his debut season with the Braves, Sale went 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA and 225 strikeouts. Since 2011, Sale has been the first player in the National League to earn the Triple Crown for pitching. Additionally, Skubal became the first player in the AL to win the Triple Crown for pitching in a full season since 2011. His 18-4 record, 228 strikeouts, and 2.39 ERA were strikingly identical to Sale's. On...
North Carolina GOP lawmakers vote to strip incoming Democratic leaders’ powers
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North Carolina GOP lawmakers vote to strip incoming Democratic leaders’ powers

Before the GOP most certainly loses its veto-proof supermajority in the Legislature next year, Republican lawmakers in North Carolina passed a comprehensive plan that will deprive the state's future Democratic governor and attorney general of important powers. The bill would give the state auditor, who will be occupied by Republican Dave Boliek following his victory over incumbent Democrat Jessica Holmes in the election on November 5, the power to select representatives to the state's election board, which regulates North Carolina's voting process. Since Attorney General Josh Stein defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the governor's office, which now holds that authority, will continue to be in Democratic hands. The State Board of Elections is traditionally governed by the same part...
Every uncalled congressional race left in the 2024 election
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Every uncalled congressional race left in the 2024 election

The Republican Party has taken control of the Senate and the House, and President-elect Donald Trump has secured a second term in office. However, a few congressional contests are still uncalled. Even while Republicans will control both houses—three House seats and one Senate seat are still up for grabs—it is unclear how big their majorities will be and how simple it would be for them to carry out Trump's agenda. Here are the races that the NBC News Decision Desk has not yet called, with votes still being tabulated (learn more about how those races are called). The lone Senate race left to call Pennsylvania: Despite Trump's victory, the state's Senate contest is being recounted. Against Republican Dave McCormick, a former hedge fund CEO who failed to secure the GOP Senate nominee in 202...
Freshman University of Mobile basketball player dies on campus
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Freshman University of Mobile basketball player dies on campus

This week, Kaiden Francis, a freshman basketball player at the University of Mobile in Alabama, passed away unexpectedly. In a message to students and teachers, university president Charles Smith stated that Francis, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, passed away after collapsing on campus Tuesday morning. "Kaiden never recovered and died earlier today, despite the prompt and valiant efforts of students and medical personnel. "As we deal with this tragedy, our hearts are heavy," Smith wrote in the letter, which was sent on Tuesday. Francis passed away following a trip to the gym, according to head basketball coach Darnell Archey. Archeysaidon "He will be truly missed," posted on Facebook. "Yesterday morning Kaiden Francis, freshman point guard from Fort Lauderdale unexpectedly passed away after ...
Doctors Without Borders halts operations in Haiti’s capital after escalation in violence
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Doctors Without Borders halts operations in Haiti’s capital after escalation in violence

Due to an increase in violence and threats against its employees from Haitian authorities, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced on Tuesday that it is ceasing operations in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, and the surrounding metropolitan area. According to MSF, the suspension would begin on Wednesday and last until further notice. Since a fatal attack on one of its ambulances last week, police have stopped MSF's cars numerous times and directly harassed its employees, some with threats of rape and death, the organization said in a statement. "We have no choice but to suspend our projects when even law enforcement becomes a direct threat," said Christophe Garnier, the head of MSF's Haiti mission. "We are accustomed to working in conditions of extreme insecurity in Haiti and elsewhere...
Georgia woman sues in response to E. coli outbreak linked to carrots
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Georgia woman sues in response to E. coli outbreak linked to carrots

The Summary A Georgia woman has sued in response to the E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots. Melinda Pratt says she was hospitalized for three days with an E. coli infection that she contracted after she ate carrots from Grimmway Farms. The company issued a recall Saturday. The affected carrots were sold at major chains, including Trader Joe s, Whole Foods and Target. For years, Melinda Pratt has been purchasing organic carrots from Grimmway Farms' Bunny Luv brand. Pratt, 40, a mother of three from Savannah, Georgia, stated that on September 30, she purchased the brand's whole carrots from her neighborhood Sam's Club. She claimed that after eating them, she started having bloody diarrhea and abdominal discomfort that persisted like someone stabbing someone in the s...
‘Rust’ director says film’s premiere is ‘bittersweet’
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‘Rust’ director says film’s premiere is ‘bittersweet’

Rust debuted Wednesday at the Camerimage Film Festival in Poland, more than three years after the deadly shooting on the set. Joel Souza, the film's director, stated in an interview following the premiere that it's bittersweet. It would have been better, in my opinion, if the film had been completed long ago and Halyna had been there to discuss it with pride. On October 21, 2021, Alec Baldwin's prop gun fired a real round of ammunition on the set, killing Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Souza was also struck in the shoulder by the bullet. A judge in Baldwin's trial determined that New Mexico prosecutors had withheld evidence, leading to the case being dismissed over the summer despite Baldwin being charged with one count of manslaughter. It's been a long time dealing with the film, ...
Danish military says it’s staying close to Chinese ship after data cable breach
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Danish military says it’s staying close to Chinese ship after data cable breach

Days after two fiber-optic data telecommunication cables in the Baltic Sea were cut, the Danish military said on Wednesday that it was remaining near a Chinese ship that was temporarily parked in Danish seas. A Danish navy patrol ship was anchored close to the Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 on Wednesday in the Kattegat strait between Denmark and Sweden, according to MarineTraffic vessel tracking data. In a social media post, the military stated, "The Danish Defense can confirm that we are present in the area near the Chinese ship Yi Peng 3." It added that it had no more comments. The Danish military rarely makes public remarks on specific ships operating in Danish seas. It didn't explain why it was remaining on board the ship or address the cable breaches. Traffic data indicated that other...
Greeks go on general strike demanding higher pay
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Greeks go on general strike demanding higher pay

ATHENS As transportation workers, hospital physicians, school teachers, and construction workers joined a statewide strike to protest reduced living standards and demand higher compensation, ships arrived at Greek ports and railway and bus services were disrupted on Wednesday. In exchange for bailouts totaling 280 billion euros ($297 billion) during the 2009–2018 debt crisis, which cut a fourth off Greece's economic output and almost forced the country out of the eurozone, many Greeks saw their wages and pensions cut. The Greek economy has been slowly improving since 2018. Since assuming power in 2019, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' center-right government has increased the minimum monthly gross wage four times, to 830 euros per month, with plans to boost it even higher to 950 euros...