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☆ Dolly Parton, country music legend, is helping millions of children across California
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Alexandra Coenjaerts | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Every child under the age of five in California is now qualified to receive a free book in the mail every month, thanks to the state’s expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Parton, legendary and award-winning country music artist, actress and icon, started the Imagination Library in 1995 with a vision to foster a love of reading. “Today is an amazing milestone for children and families across the state!” Parton said in a press release sent out by Governor Gavin Newsom’s office Tuesday. “Dolly Parton unites us through her music – and through her commitment to helping all kids develop a love for reading,” Newsom said. Since the initiative launched, the Imagination Library has gifted over 200 million books across 50 states.

Persons: Dolly, Parton, ” Parton, Governor Gavin Newsom’s, “ Dolly Parton, ” Newsom, Newsom, “, Greg Lucas Organizations: CNN, Imagination, Imagination Library, State Library Locations: California

☆ Mike Pence just officially filed to run for president in 2024, challenging Trump after dramatic January 6 fallout
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Former Vice President Mike Pence is runnning for president. Pence was loyal to Trump during most of his presidency, but stood up to him on January 6. By entering the race, Pence will officially challenge former President Donald Trump — a man he publicly stood by throughout his presidency, right up until Trump pressured him to subvert Joe Biden's 2020 election win. DeSantis has criticized Trump's response to the pandemic, though Trump handed the reins of the response to Pence during his tenure. Pence was deeply involved in the Trump administration, with his fingerprints especially visible on healthcare policy and on defending religious groups.

Persons: Mike Pence, He'll, Pence, —, Pence's, Donald Trump —, Trump, Joe Biden's, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Sen, Tim Scott of, Asa Hutchinson, Vivek Ramaswamy, Larry Elder, Ryan Binkley, Perry Johnson, Chris Christie, Doug Burgum, he'd, Wade, DeSantis, Alex Azar, Seema Verma Organizations: Trump, Service, Federal, Commission, Des, Des Moines Area Community College, CNN, Capitol, Florida Gov, DeSantis, GOP, Arkansas Gov, Former New Jersey Gov, North Dakota Gov, Pence, Republican, Indiana, Walt Disney Locations: Iowa, Des Moines, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Arkansas, Indiana, Roe, Florida, Indianapolis

☆ Texas Governor Signs Bill Banning Transgender Care for Minors
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Jacey Fortin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Why It Matters: Texas has one of the largest transgender populations in the country. people, nearly 30,000 transgender people ages 13 to 17 live in Texas, making it one of the states with the largest populations of transgender youth. The law reflects an effort in Texas and in much of the country by Republican elected leaders to restrict transgender rights. In Texas, officials had taken other steps to try to prevent transgender children from accessing medical transition care. According to the bill, minors already receiving prescribed medical treatment would be able “over a period of time and in a manner that is safe and medically appropriate” to “wean” themselves off the medication.

Persons: Abbott, wean, Ken Paxton, John Scott, Paxton Organizations: Williams Institute, Texans, American Academy of Pediatrics, Republican, Senate Locations: Texas, L.G.B.T.Q, United States, Arkansas

☆ Fitch warns it could still downgrade America’s credit rating despite debt ceiling resolution
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Fitch Ratings is keeping the United States on watch for a potential credit rating downgrade even after Congress passed a last-minute bill to avert a disastrous default. Although the resolution to the debt ceiling fight is a “positive,” Fitch expressed deep concern about the recurring brinksmanship and worsening polarization in Washington. That reasoning is similar to the rationale behind the downgrade by S&P in 2011 – an unprecedented step that occurred after Congress agreed to raise the debt ceiling. The latest debt ceiling battle has prompted more calls for reform or even eliminating the debt ceiling. This isn’t the first time the credit ratings firm has sounded the alarm about the messy state of affairs in America.

Persons: New York CNN — Fitch, Fitch, ” Fitch, “ Fitch, Richard Francis, Francis, Joe Biden, Chris Krueger, ” Krueger, “, James McCormack, Fitch’s, ” McCormack Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Fitch, AAA, House Republicans, Congressional, Cowen’s Washington Research Group, Security, Medicaid, Fed, Treasury Locations: New York, United States, Washington, America

☆ Trump angrily disowned his loyalist former press secretary as a ‘RINO’ for citing poll numbers that didn’t show him beating DeSantis by enough
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Donald Trump accused Kayleigh McEnany of citing the "wrong" poll numbers on Fox News. McEnany was an ardent Trump loyalist, and served as White House press secretary for much of 2020. In a post on Truth Social page, Trump accused McEnany of citing the "wrong" poll numbers on Fox News and suggested that she was a "RINO," or "Republican in name only." "Kayleigh 'Milktoast' McEnany just gave out the wrong poll numbers on FoxNews," Trump wrote. An Emerson College poll released last Thursday said Trump had a 42 point lead over his rivals in Iowa.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kayleigh, McEnany, —, Kayleigh McEnany, Ron DeSantis, Trump, it's, FoxNews, Casper Milquetoast, Jesse Watters, Trump's pollsters, McLaughlin, DeSantis, Joe Biden Organizations: Fox News, Trump, White, Service, Republican, Associates, Emerson College Locations: Iowa

☆ This little-known rule shapes parking in America. Cities are reversing it
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Approximately 2 billion parking spots cover the country, enough to pave over the entire state of Connecticut. Cities have built so much parking through a policy few people know: minimum parking requirements. Mandatory parking minimums helped shape the modern makeup of America cities. More parking spaces mean bigger parking lots. There are an estimated three to eight parking spots for every car in America.

☆ Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Parenting in the era of ubiquitous screens and social media
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Dr. Sanjay Gupta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Other moves include laws that aim to tighten regulations on social media platforms in general, like those recently enacted by Arkansas and Utah. They are more likely to lie on their beds and scroll through endless social media feeds. Nowadays, she tells me, many teenagers feel an obligation to be on social media, or they will feel left behind. Lembke, who had her own struggles with problematic media use, told me, “Ten years from now, social media will not be what it is today. How to talk about screentimeNot sure how to start a conversation with your kids about internet and social media use?

☆ Paparazzi chase over Harry and Meghan polarizes public
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Michael Holden | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Harry's spokesperson said that on Tuesday night after leaving an awards ceremony where Meghan had been honoured, Harry, Meghan and her mother were subjected to a two-hour car chase involving "highly aggressive" paparazzi photographers which had put their lives at danger. Harry and Meghan are frauds." The royal family, as is customary, have stayed silent on the incident, but outside Buckingham Palace as across Britain, the public view was mixed. "I can't believe a two-hour car chase in New York. The couple's representatives say Harry and Meghan expect attention and to be photographed at public events, and so had made a very public entrance and exit on Tuesday.

☆ Premarket stocks: Investors shouldn't ignore this recession warning sign
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“Retail growth held on by the skin of its teeth this month,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData. The retailer posted disappointing sales for its first quarter and lowered its outlook for the year as customers slowed their spending. Total sales ticked up 0.5% during its latest quarter from a year ago, the company said Wednesday. The bill, which will take effect in January, specifically names TikTok as its target, prohibiting the app from operating within state lines. Pence said he expects to come to a decision about a presidential run before the end of June.

☆ Her son said his stepdad was sexually abusive. A judge gave the stepdad custody anyway. Then she found the photographs.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Olivia Gentile | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +58 min

Robert confronted Winenger with the allegations that November, and within weeks Winenger denied the claims in family court. In a family court hearing in Vista, California, on October 28, 2021, Commissioner Patti Ratekin chastised Jill Montes for allegedly alienating her kids from her ex-husband. From a list provided by the Delaware Family Court, Kelly chose a psychologist, William Northey. Their father cited the report in asking a Delaware family court judge to order the boys to change schools. Family Court of the State of Delaware, New Castle CountyCiting the email and a subsequent report, Michael pressed Ostroski to order the transfer.

Persons: he'd, Robert, stepdad, Thomas Winenger, Winenger, Robert's, Jill Montes, Montes, Patti Ratekin, she'd, Ratekin, Richard Gardner, Gardner, Lynn Steinberg, she's, Maya, shrieks, Joan Meier, They'd, —, Meier, Tom Brenner, Paige, Maggie Shannon, Claire, Eden, Weeks, Hester Prynne, Mitra Sarkhosh, Sarkhosh, San Diego Robert, Tom Winenger, Tamatha Clemens, Miguel Alvarez, Alvarez, overreact, Alvarez didn't, Bridges, Janell Ostroski, Linda Gottlieb, Ostroski, Michael D, Ashton, Alfield Reeves, Michael, Kelly D, Kelly, who've, Randy Rand, Chris, Rand, he's, Rand isn't, Jane Shatz of, Joann Murphey, Murphey, Steinberg, Ally Toyos, Kit R, Toyos, Emily, Richard Warshak, Elizabeth Loftus, Harvey Weinstein's, Loftus, Hannah Rodriguez, Linda Gottlieb's, Gottlieb, Rodriguez, Yvonne Parnell, Brian Ludmer, Ludmer, Parnell, aren't, Daniel Barrozo, Mom, Jean Mercer, Mercer, who'd, Michael Saini, Saini, Hannah Yoon, — Ashton, Judge Ostroski, William Northey, Northey, O, Addie Asay, mistreating Ashton, Rachel Brandenburg, Brandenburg, I've, Michael's, Gardner's, Gardner dosed, Dr, Paul Fink, Fink, Warshak, William Bernet, Patrick Clancy, doesn't, She'd, Brian Fitzpatrick, Sen, Susan Rubio, Meier's, Rebecca Connolly, didn't, Connolly, Heidi Simonson, Rubio, Theresa Manzella Organizations: Investigations, San, Business, Child Welfare, of, American Psychiatric Association, World Health Organization, American Professional Society, George Washington University, Violence Law, George Washington University Law School, Columbia University, PAS, Sarkhosh, San Diego County Sheriff's Department, California Health, Welfare Agency, Psychology, Bridges, Texas, Roane, Stockton University, University of Toronto, Families, Delaware Family Court, Family, Delaware Family, Association of Family, Conciliation, Newsday, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, HarperCollins, Family Bridges, Vanderbilt University, Disorders, The Justice Department, WHO, of Social Welfare, Family Law, Winenger, Montes, Superior Locations: San Diego County, Vista , California, of California, Family Bridges, United States, Santa Cruz , California, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, toddlerhood, Ratekin, San, California, Eden, New Castle County , Delaware, New York, Ashton, Delaware, Jane Shatz of California, Seattle, Southern California, Texas, Kansas, Toyos, Bozeman , Montana, Family, Tampa , Florida, New, Hudson Valley, Chino , California, Wilmington , Delaware, of Delaware, New Castle County, Denver, Washington, Pennsylvania, Susan Rubio of Los Angeles County, statehouses, Watsonville , California, Santa Cruz, Michigan , Kansas, Utah, Colorado, Montana

☆ Here's every country that has banned TikTok as the US threatens a nationwide ban. Montana is the first state to pass a total ban.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesPresident Joe Biden's administration has supported bills introduced in Congress that would give the president greater authority to ban apps like TikTok. Last month, Montana became the first state where lawmakers approved a bill banning the app. TikTok previously pledged to challenge it if it was enacted into law, and has called the bill "censorship" and a violation of the First Amendment. The current plan is to fine app store owners like Apple and Google, along with TikTok itself, $10,000 per day the app can be accessed by users in the state. TikTok users in the state will not be punished under the current plan.

☆ Opinion | How to Use the Debt Ceiling to Inflict Cruelty on the Poor
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( David Firestone | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

In 2021, 61 percent of the 25 million people on Medicaid were working in full- or part-time jobs. The bill would also require many adults 19 to 55 to work 80 hours a month to receive federally subsidized health coverage from Medicaid. Republicans couldn’t repeal the act through the front door, so they are using the leverage provided by the debt ceiling to try to achieve their ideological aim. It’s been clear for years that these kinds of work requirements don’t actually put people back to work; they just pry people away from the benefits they need. In 2018, Arkansas became the first state to impose very similar work requirements on Medicaid, before a federal judge ended the experiment the next year.

☆ Montana governor bans TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Greg Gianforte signed a bill Wednesday banning TikTok in the state. The bill, which will take effect in January, specifically names TikTok as its target, prohibiting the app from operating within state lines. In a statement to CNN, TikTok said it would push to defend the rights of users in Montana. “Governor Gianforte has signed a bill that infringes on the First Amendment rights of the people of Montana by unlawfully banning TikTok, a platform that empowers hundreds of thousands of people across the state. NetChoice, a technology trade group that includes TikTok as a member, called the Montana bill unconstitutional.

Still, Bremen is the first federal state to hold an election this year and as such, the results will be closely watched. The conservatives are polling in second place on 26-28%, meaning the SPD could win back its pole position in its traditional stronghold. But the Left party is on fragile ground at a national level due to internal strife which could have regional repercussions. That has given a boost to local right-wing populist party Buerger in Wut (Citizens in Rage). It is focusing on immigration and fighting crime and is now polling 9-10%, up from 3% a few months ago.

☆ Biden on Debt Ceiling Talks: Government ‘Default Is Not an Option’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Lawmakers Fight for Child Vloggers to Be CompensatedFor children who appear in monetized content online, like vlogs and social media posts, there are currently no laws to protect them or ensure they get a cut of the money they help earn. Now, some state lawmakers are fighting to change that. Tech News Briefing producer Zoe Kuhlkin joins host Zoe Thomas to explain why Illinois may be the first state to cross the finish line. Photo: Getty Images

☆ Dianne Feinstein returning to U.S. Senate after health-related absence
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Richard Cowan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Dianne Feinstein, 89, will return to Washington on Tuesday after a months-long absence due to illness, her spokesman said, restoring Democrats' 51-49 majority to full strength. The trailblazing lawmaker had been sidelined since February as she recovered from a bout of shingles, which had led to calls from some fellow Democrats to step aside and allow someone else to take her place. “I’m glad that my friend Dianne is back in the Senate and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a written statement. Democrats' worries were further heightened as lawmakers have been spending 2023 arguing over raising the nation's borrowing authority. Feinstein could provide crucial support for whatever debt limit bill comes before the Senate that would avert a first-ever default on U.S. debt.

☆ Why Elon Musk Is Building Two Old-Fashioned Company Towns in Texas
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Thousands Evacuated as Wildfires Spread Across Alberta, Canada
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Vehicle Strikes and Kills at Least Eight People in Texas
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Police Clash With Jordan Neely Protesters in NYC Subway
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Texas Mall Shooter Used AR-15 Style Rifle to Kill Eight People
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ King Charles III's Coronation: How the Historic Day Unfolded
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Texas Mall Shooting Leaves at Least Eight People Dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Coronation: King Charles III Is Crowned Britain’s Monarch
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ DeSantis to Visit Wisconsin, a 2024 Battleground, as He Circles Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Nicholas Nehamas | Alexandra Glorioso | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ron DeSantis of Florida is expanding his political travel as his poll numbers slip ahead of an expected presidential campaign, visiting rural north-central Wisconsin on Saturday in a sign of his intent to compete for voters beyond early nominating states like Iowa. Declared candidates, including former President Donald J. Trump, have largely focused on making appearances in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, three of the first states on the Republican nominating calendar next year. “It’s a smart move by DeSantis,” said Brandon Scholz, a lobbyist and former executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party. “You don’t go to Wausau, Wisconsin, to get cheese curds. It shows that DeSantis is thinking about his strategy beyond the early states, and that he’s picking his spots well.”

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