my reporting

NBC News •

Republicans block Senate Democrats' push to replace Feinstein on Judiciary panel

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans blocked a request Tuesday by Democrats to temporarily replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee while the 89-year-old Californian recovers from illness.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer asked for unanimous consent to swap out Feinstein for Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., saying that Feinstein "made her wish clear" to be removed "until she returns to the Senate."

That was met with opposition from Sen. Lindsey Graham, the top Republican on the Judiciary Commit
NBC News •

How Congress avoided a government shutdown at the 11th hour

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy knew Friday night that if he wanted to stop the government from shutting down, he might have to do something he had avoided for months under pressure from far-right Republicans.

He was going to have to rely on Democrats.

Eight minutes before midnight — and with just a little more than 24 hours to figure out a way to keep funding the government — the speaker quietly filed a new bill.

At a House GOP meeting in the morning, he made the shocking announcem
NBC News •

Donald Trump calls for defunding federal police after his arrest in New York

WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump is egging on Republicans in Congress to “defund” federal law enforcement ahead of a government funding deadline this fall.

“Republicans in Congress should defund the DOJ and FBI until they come to their senses,” he posted on his social media platform, writing in all-caps. “The Democrats have totally weaponized law enforcement in our country and are viciously using this abuse of power to interfere with our already under siege elections!”

Trump’s commen
NBC News •

'Bulls---': GOP senators rebuke Tucker Carlson for downplaying Jan. 6 as 'mostly peaceful'

WASHINGTON — Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Senate Republicans lashed out at conservative Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Tuesday after he characterized the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol as "mostly peaceful chaos."

At a GOP leadership news conference, McConnell, R-Ky., said he wanted to align himself with the letter sent to the U.S. Capitol Police force by Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger, who denounced Carlson for spreading “offensive and misleading conclusions” about the in
NBC News •

McCarthy calls Jan. 6 riot video a Tucker Carlson 'exclusive' and says public will have it 'soon'

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Tuesday defended his decision to hand over tens of thousands of hours of security video from the Jan. 6 insurrection to Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

McCarthy told reporters that he was following the precedent of the House Jan. 6 committee in giving a news network early, exclusive access to video that he said he would later release more widely. "So he’ll have an exclusive, then I’ll give it out to the entire country," McCarthy said.

Asked
Advanced Reporting Times, Spring 2022 •

College Students Divided on the Future of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

As the academic year comes to an end, Michigan State University is among several universities that announced it will continue to require all students, faculty and staff on campus to be fully vaccinated with the booster shot for the 2022-2023 academic year, per the community letter released.

Emily Guerrant, MSU’s Vice President and University Spokesperson, expressed the confidence MSU’s administration feels with keeping the requirement. Guerrant stated the university prioritized research that sh
POLYGRAPH.info •

Tennessee Guard Calls Out Kremlin on Fake Mercenary Deaths

On March 17, Russian media reported that three U.S. servicemen purportedly working as military instructors were killed in fighting with forces of the Russia-backed Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) in the eastern Ukrainian town of Marinka.

“During the liberation of Marinka, three instructors allegedly from the United States were killed, the people’s militia of the DNR reported,” the RIA Novosti state news agency reported.

“During the liberation of the settlement from the Armed Forces of Ukraine,
POLYGRAPH.info •

Taliban Chicanery Keeps Girls Out of Secondary School Classes

On March 23, the Taliban reversed their pledge to allow girls to continue attending school after the sixth grade, the point at which “secondary” education starts in Afghanistan. Afghan girls heading to class that day were prevented from entering.

“Don’t come in here until we’ve got official permission. And when you come back, you have to wear a black face veil, a black chador and a black scarf,” one school’s principal told students, according to a report by National Public Radio (NPR).

Suhail
Advanced Reporting Times, Spring 2022 •

D.C. Residents Remain Divided On Short-lived Vaccine Mandates

With the District of Columbia no longer requiring proof of vaccination for entering a business, residents are concerned with this choice.

The district announced in December that residents must show proof of vaccination to enter businesses, due to a surge of COVID-19 cases. As cases declined, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said she is lifting the city’s mask mandate starting March 1.

Starting Feb. 15, the District of Columbia no longer requires indoor venues to verify vaccination status of patrons
WordPress.com •

JCU Associate Dean Steps Down from Disability Coordinator Position

ROME – Associate Dean of Academics, Professor Pamela Harris, steps down as the Coordinator of Learning Disability Accommodations and proposes a new full-time coordinator position after approximately 140 students requested accommodations this fall.

With a record number of 1,625 students enrolled this semester and about 8.6 percent of them requesting accommodations, Harris said the position requires someone who can solely focus on providing support for students with disabilities.

“Being the disa