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☆ Supreme Court blocks restrictions on Biden administration efforts to remove contentious social media posts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lawrence Hurley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday blocked in full a lower court ruling that would have curbed the Biden administration's ability to communicate with social media companies about contentious content on such issues as Covid-19. Donald Trump was president at the time, but the district court ruling focused on actions taken by the government after President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. But the appeals court still required the White House, the FBI and top health officials not to "coerce or significantly encourage" social media companies to remove content the Biden administration considers misinformation. The administration turned to the Supreme Court hoping to freeze Doughty's ruling in full. The district court ruling was on hold while the Supreme Court decided what steps to take.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Alito, Jim Hoft, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Terry Doughty, Biden, White, Karine Jean, Pierre, Vivek Murthy, Elizabeth Prelogar, Prelogar Organizations: Biden, U.S, Trump, Circuit, FBI, Supreme Locations: Louisiana, Missouri

☆ America's electric grid is in shambles. Biden has made the largest federal investment ever to try and fix it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Matthew Daly | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Biden announced $3.5 billion for 58 projects across the country to strengthen the electric grid. This is the largest federal investment ever made in grid infrastructure, said US Energy Secretary. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said it was the largest federal investment ever in grid infrastructure, supporting projects that will harden electric systems and improve energy reliability and affordability. The federal spending, combined with money promised by private partners, could result in up to $8 billion in investments nationally to upgrade the grid, Granholm said. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe largest grant, $464 million, will go to improve five transmission projects across seven Midwestern states, from Iowa to North Dakota.

Persons: Biden, Jennifer Granholm, Granholm, Chip Somodevilla, ″, Mitch Landrieu, Joe Biden, Landrieu, Jonathan Foley, Foley, Tim Walz, Steve Karnowski Organizations: US Energy, Service, Wednesday, Energy, Biden, Resilience, White House, Minnesota Gov, AP, of Commerce, CPS Energy, Consumers Energy, Flint, DTE Energy, Portland General Electric Locations: Maui, California, Georgia, Louisiana, American, Oregon, Iowa, North Dakota, Hawaii, California , Oregon , Utah, Minnesota, Locust Grove, Orleans, San Antonio, Texas , Colorado , New Mexico, Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan, Grand Rapids, Detroit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Wednesday announced $3.5 billion for 58 projects across the country to strengthen electric grid resilience as extreme weather events such as the deadly Maui and California wildfires continue to strain the nation’s aging transmission systems. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said it was the largest federal investment ever in grid infrastructure, supporting projects that will harden electric systems and improve energy reliability and affordability. The federal spending, combined with money promised by private partners, could result in up to $8 billion in investments nationally to upgrade the grid, Granholm said. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesThe largest grant, $464 million, will go to improve five transmission projects across seven Midwestern states, from Iowa to North Dakota. In southeastern Pennsylvania, PECO Energy Co. will increase grid reliability and resilience through substation flood mitigation and replacing aging infrastructure.

Persons: —, Biden, Jennifer Granholm, Granholm, ″, Mitch Landrieu, Joe Biden, ” Landrieu, ”, Jonathan Foley, ” Foley, Isabella O'Malley Organizations: WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Energy, Biden, Resilience, White House, Entergy, CPS Energy, DTE Energy, PECO Energy, Portland General Electric, Associated Press Locations: Maui, California, Georgia, Louisiana, American, Oregon, Iowa, North Dakota, Hawaii, California , Oregon , Utah, San Francisco, Locust Grove , Georgia, Orleans, San Antonio, Minnesota, Texas , Colorado , New Mexico, Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan, Detroit, Pennsylvania, New York

☆ US Supreme Court temporarily blocks order curbing Biden social media contacts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Andrew Chung | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday maintained a block on restrictions imposed by lower courts on the ability of President Joe Biden's administration to encourage social media companies to remove content deemed misinformation, including about elections and COVID-19. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito temporarily put on hold a preliminary injunction constraining how the White House and certain other federal officials communicate with social media platforms pending the administration's appeal to the Supreme Court. Alito first placed a temporary hold on the injunction pending the justices' review on Sept. 14. The Biden administration has argued that its officials did nothing illegal and had sought to mitigate the hazards of online misinformation, including about the pandemic, by alerting social media companies to content that violated their own policies. Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will DunhamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Joe Biden's, Samuel Alito, Alito, Biden, Terry Doughty, Doughty, Donald Trump, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: White, REUTERS, U.S, Supreme, Conservative, Facebook, District, Democrat, Republican, FBI, CDC, Cybsecurity, Infrastructure Security Agency, Thomson Locations: Palestine, Israel, Washington , U.S, Missouri, Louisiana, New York

☆ Analysis: The affirmative action battle shifts to a new front
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( John Blake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The lawsuits against the US Navy and West Point suggest that opponents of affirmative action are serious about eliminating any policy of diversity based on race. It’s not surprising that the US Armed Forces have drawn criticism from affirmative action foes. As the country heads into the presidential election year, more lawsuits invoking the Voting Rights Act are expected to follow. Many Black workers historically used auto jobs to build careers, but advancement opportunities have diminished since the early aughts. “But the decline in US auto jobs and the erosion of unions have hit Black workers hardest,” he wrote.

Persons: CNN —, “, ” SFFA, It’s, Henry C, Harris , Jr, Rogers H, Beardon, Frank Frederick Doughton, Elmer B, Edward Blum, Blum, Alabama’s, —, Blum —, Holder, Shelby, you’ve, CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn, Evelyn Hockstein, Reuters Meyersohn, ”, John Blake Organizations: CNN, US Naval Academy, Harvard, University of North, Fair, US Military Academy, West, US Navy, US Armed Forces, Defense Department, Black US Army, Military, Fort, US Supreme, Republican, Alabama’s GOP, UAW, United Auto Workers, Detroit’s Big, Reuters Locations: University of North Carolina, America, Fort Benning, Georgia, Alabama, Florida , Louisiana, County, Detroit, Belleville , Michigan

☆ Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan vie to become House speaker as GOP votes to select candidate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Representative Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, April 27, 2023. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio are the top candidates for the post. It is unclear if either Scalise or Jordan can win the 217 votes needed to become the next speaker. "We got to get back to work today," Scalise told reporters. Jordan, when asked whether he would support Scalise, said he'd back "anyone who can get 217 votes."

Persons: Jim Jordan, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan of, Jordan, McCarthy, Scalise Organizations: Republican, GOP, House Republicans Locations: Ohio, Washington , DC, Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Israel

“Our children are in crisis, and it is up to us to save them,” Hochul said, comparing social media algorithms to cigarettes and alcohol. Those who opt out would receive chronological feeds instead, like in the early days of social media. Federal lawmakers have introduced a similar bill that would ban kids under 13 from using social media altogether. And numerous lawsuits against social media platforms have accused the companies of harming users’ mental health. Mulgrew called the New York legislation necessary in part due to a lack of action by the federal government to protect kids.

Persons: Kathy Hochul, Letitia James, Michael Mulgrew, Andrew Gounardes, Nily, “, ” Hochul, ” James, hasn’t, ”, TikTok, Mulgrew, ” Mulgrew Organizations: CNN, New York Gov, New York, United Federation of Teachers Manhattan, New, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tech, York Child Data, US Department of Health, Human Services, Social Media, Mental Health Locations: New York, States, Arkansas , Louisiana, Utah, York, United States

House Republicans are set to nominate a new speaker Wednesday, more than a week after the historic ouster of California Rep. Kevin McCarthy, as the chamber has been thrust into an unprecedented standstill. Two candidates have formally announced their bid for the speakership – House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. But with a razor-thin GOP majority in the chamber, whether either can get the votes needed to secure the gavel remains to be seen. The rule change, sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy, a Texas Republican, appears to have strong support in the conference. Still, McCarthy told reporters Tuesday evening that he instructed members of his conference not to nominate him.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan of, McCarthy, Chip Roy, Scalise, who’s, ” Scalise, Jordan –, Donald Trump, Jordan Organizations: Republicans, Rep, GOP, Texas Republican, California Republican Locations: Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Israel, Texas, California

☆ In a Chaotic House, the Next Speaker Must Unite These Three Factions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Kara Dapena | Aaron Zitner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Speaker candidates Reps. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Jim Jordan of Ohio must unite an unruly group of House Republicans with diverse political needs and interests. On the political right, about 40 members belong to the Freedom Caucus, who are among the most fiscally conservative and often refuse to compromise on their views. By contrast, 18 House Republicans represent districts that President Biden won in 2020, and all but one lean toward the political center.

Persons: Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, Biden Organizations: House Republicans, Freedom Caucus, Republicans Locations: Louisiana, Ohio

☆ Republicans face crucial vote in House speaker race that could shape Israel aid, government funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Scalise and Jordan will address the House GOP during a candidate forum at 5 p.m. this evening. Republican lawmakers will hold a vote Wednesday morning to select a candidate for speaker, which will then face a full floor vote. It is unclear whether Scalise or Jordan can secure the 217 votes needed to win the speakership on the House floor. Scalise said Monday that House Republicans needed to "get back on track" after McCarthy's ouster exposed deep divisions between hard-right Republicans led by Gaetz and more centrist members. Paul Ryan, a former speaker of the House, told CNBC he doesn't see a path forward for McCarthy.

Persons: Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, Powell, Graeme Jennings, Scalise, Jordan, Kevin McCarthy of, McCarthy, Sen, Ben Cardin, Claudia Tenney, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Steve Womack, Womack, Paul Ryan, Ryan Organizations: Republican, Washington , D.C, U.S, Washington Examiner, Bloomberg, Getty Images, GOP, Republicans, Biden, Israel's, Israel, Rep, California Republican, Fox News, CNBC Locations: Louisiana, Ohio, Washington ,, Jordan, Kevin McCarthy of California, Israel, Gaza, Washington, D, Maryland, New York, The U.S, Florida, Arkansas

☆ House speaker race live updates: Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise run to replace Kevin McCarthy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Aditi Sangal | Mike Hayes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Two candidates have stepped up to fill the vacuum: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio, who has the backing of former President Donald Trump. 2 House Republican after the speaker, Scalise has been a prominent figure in the conference and had long been seen as either a potential successor, or rival, to McCarthy. Before he became majority leader, Scalise served as House GOP whip, a role focused on vote counting and ensuring support for key party priorities. The majority leader, his current role, oversees the House floor and schedules legislation for votes. Read more about the race for a new House speaker.

Persons: Patrick McHenry of, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan of, Donald Trump, Kevin Hern, Jim Jordan, Trump’s, Jordan, Scalise, McCarthy, Read Organizations: Israel, Donald Trump . Oklahoma Rep, Committee, Freedom Caucus, Capitol, GOP, Republican, House, Caucus Locations: Washington, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, recessing, Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio

☆ Israel-Hamas war ratchets up pressure on Republicans to select House speaker in coming days
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A senior Biden administration official indicated to reporters on Saturday that the paralysis in the House could complicate U.S. efforts to support Israel. McCarthy, of California, was ousted by conservative Republicans last week, the first time a House speaker was deposed in a no-confidence vote in U.S. history. McCarthy told Fox News on Saturday that there is nothing the House can do until the body elects a speaker: "I don't know if that happens quickly," McCarthy said. House Republicans are expected to vote for a candidate to replace McCarthy on Wednesday morning. The Florida Republican said House Republicans will coalesce around Scalise or Jordan this week: "I reject the premise that this is going to drag on for weeks," Gaetz said.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan of, Jordan, Scalise, Hakeem Jeffries, Michael McCaul, McCaul, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Gerald R, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy's speakership, Gaetz Organizations: United, United States Capitol, Washington D.C, Biden, Republicans, Israel, Hamas, Fox News, House Republicans, GOP, Rep, House Foreign Affairs, CNN, NBC News Sunday, Ford, Pentagon . Defense, Sunday, Israel Defense Forces, Florida Republican, NBC News Locations: United States, Washington, Israel, California, Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Gaza, New York, Texas, Ohio, U.S, Florida, Scalise, Jordan

But should the vote drag on in the intensely divided chamber, some lawmakers warn that efforts to provide assistance to Israel amid the conflict would be stymied. Since McCarthy’s ouster, two candidates have formally announced their bid for the speakership – House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. Accordingly, questions about the role of Rep. Patrick McHenry, who stepped in as “speaker pro tempore” after McCarthy’s historic ouster, have begun circulating. The position is widely considered to be a placeholder with the primary function of helping the chamber to elect a new speaker. But some experts have argued the House can vote on resolutions, like one condemning Hamas, without a speaker.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy’s, “, Mike Lawler, McCarthy, what’s, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan of, Patrick McHenry, ”, Michael McCaul, ” McCaul, Dan Goldman, Chuck Schumer, Jacob J, Lew, Joe Biden, ” Sen, Ben Cardin Organizations: U.S ., Republicans, ”, New, New York Republican, CNN, Texas Republican, House Foreign Affairs, Israel, New York Democrat, Congress, State Department, Democrats, Maryland Democrat, Foreign Relations Locations: Israel, U.S, New York, Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Texas, China, Maryland

☆ Matt Gaetz says it will 'absolutely' be worth it if he loses his congressional seat after leading the push to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Gaetz on Sunday seemingly has no regrets after leading the push to oust McCarthy as speaker. Gaetz told NBC's Kristen Welker it would "absolutely" be worth it if he lost his seat over the vote. He had a much more favorable view of Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan, who are both running to succeed McCarthy. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) responds to reports of Republican colleagues seeking to kick him out of Congress.

Persons: Gaetz, McCarthy, NBC's Kristen Welker, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, —, Matt Gaetz's, Kevin McCarthy, Kristen Welker, Matt Gaetz, Welker, Ohio — Organizations: Service, Press, Florida Panhandle, House Republican Conference Locations: California, America, Louisiana, Jordan

CNN —The House speakership drama enters a new week under increased urgency as Israel declared war Sunday following unprecedented surprise attacks by Hamas. Kevin McCarthy’s historic ouster as speaker leaves the House in uncharted legal territory regarding what it can do under acting Speaker Patrick McHenry. As the Biden administration looks to provide additional assistance to Israel, officials were unsure Saturday about what could be accomplished without a sitting speaker. As Jordan and Scalise vie for their colleagues’ support, Jordan said Sunday that he would lay out his plan to address the government funding deadline to his caucus Tuesday. “We’ve got to have 218 votes for a Republican speaker, and we’ve got to have 218 votes for how we deal with November 17 when the funding bill for the government comes due.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy’s, Patrick McHenry, Biden, Hakeem Jeffries, ” Jeffries, CNN’s Dana, Mike McCaul, Bash, ” McCaul, ” McCarthy, McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, Donald Trump, Kevin Hern, “, Jordan, Scalise, “ We’ve, we’ve, ”, ” Jordan Organizations: CNN, Republican Party, Democratic, White, National Security, Union, Foreign, The Texas Republican, Saturday, Fox, Ohio, Jordan . Oklahoma Rep, ”, Republicans, Sunday, Fox News Locations: Israel, Washington, McHenry, recessing, “ State, Louisiana, Jordan, Scalise

☆ A GOP congressman says conservative hardliners who helped oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker could 'very easily' cause the party to lose its House majority in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Tom Cole told The Atlantic that hardliners might "very easily" cost the GOP its House majority. Cole strongly vouched for McCarthy shortly before he was ousted as speaker in a 216-210 vote. And Cole told the magazine that McCarthy's ouster could "very easily" threaten the very House majority that the GOP fought so hard to win last year after losing it following the 2018 midterms. "This is going to cost us candidates," Cole told the magazine, again criticizing the votes of the eight breakaway GOP lawmakers. Currently, the leading candidates to succeed McCarthy as speaker are Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.

Persons: Tom Cole, Cole, McCarthy, —, Kevin McCarthy of, Tom Cole of, We're, he's, That's, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan of Organizations: GOP, Service, Atlantic, National Republican Congressional Locations: Atlantic, Kevin McCarthy of California, Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio

The House speaker election is days away after Kevin McCarthy’s historic ouster that has left the chamber in need of a successor. Two candidates have formally announced their bid for the speakership – House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. House Republicans are set to hold their own candidate forum behind closed doors on Tuesday before holding an internal election and chamber-wide vote in the following days. “No candidate for Speaker is likely to receive 96 percent of the Republican Conference vote required by this new precedent,” Rep. Tom McClintock of California said in a statement. But the California Republican made clear after the vote to boot him from the role that he wouldn’t run for speaker again.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy’s, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan of, they’re, Jordan, MAGA, McCarthy, Biden, Scalise, “, ” Jordan, Donald Trump, who’s, Kevin Hern, Tom McClintock, Kevin McCarthy, hadn’t, Carlos Gimenez of, ” Gimenez, Mitch McConnell Organizations: Republican, Fox News, Capitol, House Republicans, Republican Conference, California Republican, “ Locations: Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Oklahoma, California, –

☆ Alabama Democrats likely to flip seat under court-approved congressional map
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The three-judge panel selected a map that preserves the state's lone majority-Black district while creating a second district in which Black voters make up nearly half of the voting-age population. Democrats would need to flip five seats in the 435-seat House of Representatives to take back the majority in the November 2024 election. Civil rights groups challenged the Republican map, arguing that Republicans had deliberately spread Black voters thin to ensure they would continue to win six of the state's seven districts. "And it would not have been this way if the legislature had created a second opportunity district or majority-minority district." Similar challenges are also pending in Louisiana and Georgia, where civil rights groups have argued that Republican lawmakers illegally disadvantaged Black voters by manipulating congressional lines.

Persons: Terri Sewell, Martin Luther King Jr, Elizabeth Frantz, Donald Trump, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Joseph Ax, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Union, REUTERS, House, Republican, The U.S, Supreme, Circuit, Appeals, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Alabama, U.S, Black, The, Louisiana, Georgia

☆ The next GOP speaker will face the same traps that doomed McCarthy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Two candidates, GOP Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio, have already launched campaigns. He’s not the first GOP speaker to think so. But in this political climate, any Republican speaker who has to rely on Democratic votes is critically weakened and probably can’t last long. But the only way a Republican speaker will be able to pass aide to Ukraine will be to do so with Democratic help. The lack of such flexibility has been a fatal flaw of GOP speakers for years.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, he’d, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan of, Kevin Hern, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, tormentor, Nancy Pelosi, Garret Graves, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ” Graves, Donald Trump, “, ” McCarthy, He’s, John Boehner, shutdowns, –, Paul Ryan, Ryan, Trump, they’d, McCarthy –, Mike Lawler, Biden, ” Lawler, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Lawler, Jordan, CNN’s Manu Raju, Michael McCaul, Raju, Jordan didn’t, Scalise, don’t Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, United, Republican Party, Tea Party, Wisconsin Rep, “ America, Democratic, New, Trump, Foreign, Texas Locations: Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Oklahoma, Florida, Garret Graves of Louisiana, United States, New York, reining, Russia, China, Ukraine, Kyiv

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is leading a bipartisan congressional delegation to China next week, traveling to the country amid heightened tensions and after several members of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet visited over the summer. Schumer, along with Republican Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, is visiting government and business leaders in China, South Korea and Japan “with the goal of advancing U.S. economic and national security interests” in the region, his office said Tuesday. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited China in June, followed by visits of Treasury and Commerce secretaries Janet Yellen and Gina Raimondo as well as climate envoy John Kerry. Political Cartoons View All 1196 ImagesBiden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan also held two days of talks with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi in Malta last month. Wang is expected to visit Washington before the end of October on a trip that officials will nail down the date and venue of the expected Biden-Xi summit.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Joe Biden’s, Schumer, Republican Sen, Mike Crapo of, Schumer —, ”, Biden, Xi Jinping, China’s, Antony Blinken, Janet Yellen, Gina Raimondo, John Kerry, Jake Sullivan, Wang Yi, Wang, Crapo, Democratic Sens, Maggie Hassan, Jon Ossoff of, Republican Sens, Bill Cassidy of, John Kennedy of, Matthew Lee Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Biden, Economic Cooperation, Treasury, Democratic, ___ Associated Press Locations: China, Mike Crapo of Idaho, South Korea, Japan, Ukraine, Taiwan, South China, Asia, San Francisco, Malta, Washington, New Hampshire, Jon Ossoff of Georgia, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, John Kennedy of Louisiana

The five-year plan includes proposed sales in the Gulf of Mexico — the nation’s primary offshore source of oil and gas — in 2025, 2027 and 2029. The three lease sales are the minimum number the Democratic administration could legally offer if it wants to continue expanding offshore wind development. The lease program will guard against environmental damage caused by oil and gas drilling and other adverse impacts to coastal communities, Haaland said. “The (oil leasing) program is definitely informed by the IRA and the connection that the IRA makes between offshore oil and gas leasing and renewable energy leasing,” he said Thursday, referring to the Inflation Reduction Act. The Interior Department can’t sell the rights to drill for oil and gas offshore without first publishing a schedule that outlines its plans.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, Democratic Sen, Joe Manchin, Manchin, Harris, Deb Haaland, ”, Haaland, “, Biden's, Ryan Lance, Willow, Dyani Chapman, Tommy Beaudreau, Interior Department can’t, Rene Santos, Santos, Beth Lowell, Abigail Dillen, Sen, Dan Sullivan, ___ Brown, Becky Bohrer Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Biden, Interior Department, Interior Department’s, of Ocean Energy Management, drillers, BP, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Alaska Environment, Interior, P, Gulf, American Petroleum Institute, Chevron, Associated Press Locations: Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, Gulf, Mexico, West Virginia, Chevron, Brazil, Guyana, Louisiana, Oceana, Gulf Coast, Billings, Mont, Juneau , Alaska

☆ Girl Scout cookies are getting more expensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Girl Scout cookies are getting more expensive. But now the higher price will apply to other cookies that the troops sell, including the more classic varieties. Girl Scout cookie prices have been rising from $5 to $6. “Each of our 111 Girl Scout councils sets local Girl Scout Cookie prices based on several factors,” a spokesperson for Girl Scouts of the USA told CNN. But Girl Scouts learned last year that there is a market for higher-priced cookies, thanks to the Raspberry Rally debacle.

Persons: Hudson, John Moore, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Girl Scouts Heart, Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts of, USA, CNN, “, ” Troops, Consumers, Thin Mint, eBay Locations: New York, Louisiana, Girl Scouts of Northern California

Tipton, an appointee of Republican former President Donald Trump, blocked the Biden administration from enforcing the $15 minimum wage in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, states that last year filed a lawsuit challenging the executive order. The minimum wage under federal law is $7.25 an hour, though many states set higher minimums. Four states and several cities have a minimum wage of at least $15. Only Congress can set minimum wages and adopt other employment policies unless it specifically grants those powers to federal agencies, Tipton wrote. In January, a federal judge in Arizona dismissed a similar challenge to Biden's executive order by five other Republican-led states.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Drew Tipton, Donald Trump, Biden, Tipton, Lynn Fitch, Daniel Wiessner, Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: Moffett Federal, REUTERS, District, Democratic, Republican, U.S, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Mountain View , California, U.S, Texas, Victoria, Tipton, Texas , Louisiana, Mississippi, Arizona, Albany , New York

☆ New Orleans braces for drinking water emergency from drought-stricken Mississippi River
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Denise Chow | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell signed an emergency declaration Friday in response to concerns that salt water encroaching upriver could affect the availability of safe drinking water in the coming weeks. Treasure hunters comb the shoreline of the Mississippi River after it was exposed by low water levels on October 18, 2022 near Portageville, Missouri. Around 2,000 residents in Plaquemines Parish, south of New Orleans, were already relying on bottled water this summer after salt water infiltrated the area's water systems. The mouth of the Mississippi River sits substantially below sea level, which means some salt water from the Gulf of Mexico naturally creeps inland. Salt water is denser than fresh water, so it flows like a wedge along the riverbed underneath the fresh water of the Mississippi.

Persons: Stephen Murphy, LaToya Cantrell, Murphy, we've, John Bel Edwards, Nature, Col, Cullen Jones, We've Organizations: Tulane University's School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine, Louisiana Gov, Army Corps of Engineers, Army Corps, Corps, New, New Orleans District Locations: Mississippi, Tiptonville, Tenn, New Orleans, Louisiana, Gulf, Mexico, Portageville , Missouri, Belle Chasse, Plaquemines Parish, Lower Mississippi

☆ An El Niño winter is coming: What could that mean for the US?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

El Niño is one of three phases of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, which tracks water temperature changes in the equatorial Pacific Ocean that can have rippling effects on weather patterns around the globe. A wetter southern tier and a drier northern tier in an outlook for this winter from the Climate Prediction Center have all the fingerprints of an El Niño winter. El Niño winter patterns are less regular in California, the Southwest and the Northeast. The Northeast doesn’t have a well-defined set of expectations during an El Niño winter. A very strong El Niño during the 2015-2016 winter contributed to the warmest winter on record for the US mainland, according to NOAA.

Persons: it’s, Niño, El Niño, Niña, Harry Lynch Organizations: CNN, El, West, NOAA, Rockies, snowpack, ., Raleigh News, Observer, Tribune, Service, Carolinas Locations: El, Southern, Texas , Louisiana, Mississippi, South, Pacific Northwest, Plains, Midwest, Pacific, California, Raleigh , North Carolina, Texas, East Coast

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