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1. Voting in the Senate
The Senate on Sunday afternoon approved the Democrats’ $750 billion health care, tax and climate bill in a major victory for President Joe Biden and his party. The final, party-line vote was 51-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie. The Democratic-controlled House, which is expected to pass the legislation on Friday, must approve the bill before Biden can sign it into law. The measure includes a handful of important but narrow provisions to lower prescription drug prices and extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years. The bill would also be the largest climate investment in US history, cutting US greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office said. To boost revenue, the legislation would impose a minimum tax of 15 percent on the income that big companies report to shareholders, raising $258 billion over a decade. While the deal is much smaller than the $1.75 trillion version the House passed in October, Democrats and the White House say the bill could have a huge impact on many Americans.
2. Air travel
Another wave of airline cancellations and delays was felt across the US over the weekend. More than 7,700 flights were delayed and 950 canceled across the country on Sunday, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. It comes as global travelers return to the skies in droves after a pandemic-imposed hiatus. However, airlines and airports around the world are scrambling to meet the demand. Some flight attendants say that understaffing, along with unpredictable schedules, is taking a toll on their mental and physical well-being. What’s more, with fewer pilots available, some aviation experts predict these layoffs could continue for a decade as reductions in routes and routes drive up prices.
3. Immigration
At least 68 migrants arrived in New York over the weekend on buses sent by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, some of the migrants are being “forced” onto buses from Texas. But Abbott’s office says migrants are volunteering to be bused out of his state. Abbott has designated New York as a “drop-off location for the bus strategy as part (of) his response to the Biden administration’s open border policies that are overwhelming Texas communities,” the governor’s office said in a statement Friday . A vocal critic of the Biden administration’s immigration policies, Abbott began bussing hundreds of immigrants to Washington, D.C., earlier this year. More than 5,100 immigrants have since arrived in Washington from Texas on more than 135 buses.
4. Uvalde
The school district in Uvalde, Texas, where a school shooting occurred in May, is looking for an interim police chief as Pete Arredondo awaits his firing hearing, according to a report. Arredondo was placed on unpaid leave after his highly criticized handling of the shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, in which 19 children and two teachers were killed. Officials said Arredondo was the commander on scene during the shooting, but the chief disputed that, saying he did not believe he was in charge. Separately, the community school board president confirmed the district has zeroed in on a property to replace Robb Elementary. The head of the community also confirmed that the students will not return to the campus because many are still traumatized by the violence.
5. Gaza
A ceasefire between Israel and the Islamic Jihad militant group in Gaza is being observed today after violent clashes that have left dozens of Palestinians dead. The truce, announced Sunday afternoon by both sides, came about 50 hours after the escalation began, when Israel launched pre-emptive strikes against Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza. At least 44 Palestinians, including 15 children, were killed in the violence, according to Palestinian officials. Israel maintains that most of those killed in its airstrikes were militants. The escalation was the most serious in nearly 15 months, when the Israeli military and Hamas fought an 11-day war in May 2021.
BREAKFAST DESCRIPTION
Jewelry robbery caught on security camera This intense video shows a group of masked men stealing more than $2 million in diamond jewelry. Watch the video here. Casper hires sleep professionals with ‘excellent sleep skills’ The mattress brand hires people to sleep for a living. And yes, the dress code is pajamas. Seattle crowd celebrates Sue Bird’s final game of the regular season Sunday’s game at the Seattle Storm was the last for WNBA superstar Sue Bird. Check out some highlights from her touching mission here. The only pan every cook needs It doesn’t matter if you are an amateur foodie or a culinary genius… this cookware should always be in your kitchen. The photographer retakes portraits of models decades later Like fine wine, these models got even better with time. Check out the amazing before and after photos taken years apart.
IN MEMORY OF
Actor Roger E. Mosley, best known for his role as helicopter pilot Theodore “TC” Calvin on the 1980s hit show “Magnum, PI,” died Sunday, his daughter announced. He was 83. Mosley was injured in a car accident last week that left him paralyzed from the shoulders down and in critical condition. Mosley starred in more than 150 episodes of “Magnum, PI” alongside Tom Selleck on the crime adventure series, which ran for eight seasons from 1980 to 1988.
TODAY’S NUMBER
9,320 miles That’s the length of Google Equiano, an underwater Internet cable designed to deliver high-speed broadband along the west coast of Africa. Running thousands of miles along the seabed from Portugal to South Africa, sources say the cable could increase internet speeds more than fivefold in some countries by early 2023. The project, funded by the Google intends to help close the digital divide across the continent, where Internet access remains highly unequal.
TODAY QUOTE
“She is lucky to be alive. She has severe burns and has a long recovery ahead of her.” — A source close to Anne Heche told CNN Saturday that the actress is recovering after the car she was driving crashed into a Los Angeles home Friday and burst into flames. A spokesman for Heche said Sunday that she is in stable condition. Heche first became known for her role in the soap opera Another World. She was also thrust into the media spotlight for her romantic relationship with Ellen DeGeneres in the late 90s.
THE WEATHER TODAY
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AND FINALLY
Happy International Cat Day In honor of feline celebration, watch these cats take part in an extreme cup challenge. And remember, your day is as relaxed as you make it. Have a great time! (Click here to view)
