8 states overwhelmingly approve noncitizen voting ballot measures
Voters in multiple states approved ballot measures that will allow only American citizens to vote in elections. Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin all passed the constitutional amendments that will require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote.
Voters in all of the eight states where the measure appeared approved it overwhelmingly by 62% or more. It’s already illegal for noncitizens to vote in elections in those states and at the federal level.
The amendments passed will modify existing language in those states’ constitutions to state that “only” citizens can vote. It currently says that “every citizen” or “all citizens” can do so.
Critics call the change “unnecessary,” while supporters say these laws are critical to protect the integrity of elections.
Some districts allow noncitizens to vote in local elections like the District of Columbia, and a few more areas in Maryland, Vermont and California.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington files for bankruptcy protection
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, Vermont, the state’s only diocese, filed for bankruptcy protection this week amid a surge of lawsuits alleging decades-old sexual abuse by clergy members. The diocese faced a rise in allegations after the Vermont Legislature removed the statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse claims in 2019.
The filing temporarily paused dozens of unsettled cases, signaling the start of a complex financial restructuring process. Bishop John McDermott initiated the bankruptcy proceedings, citing depleted assets and lack of insurance coverage for incoming settlements.
Since 2006, the diocese settled 67 cases, resulting in $34 million in payouts to victims. An additional $20 million was paid out between 2006 and 2019. More than 30 active cases are still pending resolution.
The diocese took significant measures, including selling church property and tapping into investments, to meet settlement obligations.
There are concerns about the equitable distribution of the diocese’s limited funds among survivors, as large settlements could potentially deplete resources for other claimants.
An independent committee’s 2019 report revealed 40 priests with credible claims of sexual abuse against minors, with most incidents occurring between 1950 and 1980.
Senate demands answers on popular weight loss drug’s price
As weight loss injections continue to grow in popularity, the maker of two of the most popular is testifying on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Sept. 24. The CEO of Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic and Wegovy, will testify before a Senate committee about the high cost of these popular drugs.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, the head of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, has been vocal about frustrations over how much Americans are charged for their medications.
While they’re pretty much the same thing, Ozempic is used to treat type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is specifically approved for weight loss purposes only. A previous report by the committee showed the price of Wegovy is significantly lower in European countries — for example, it’s about $140 a month in Germany and only $92 in the U.K., while the same drug runs Americans more than $1,300 a month.
Tomorrow, I will ask the CEO of Novo Nordisk, Mr. Lars Jørgensen:
Why are you charging the American people up to 10 or 15 times more for the same exact product than you're charging people in Canada and Europe? pic.twitter.com/DKaUiQSaM3
Ahead of the hearing, Novo Nordisk is defending its pricing structure in a statement saying, “We appreciate that it is frustrating that each country has its own healthcare system, but making isolated and limited comparisons ignores a fundamental fact…Unfortunately, even when we lower our prices, too often patients in the United States don’t receive the savings.”
The company also said Ozempic’s net price — which is how much money it makes after rebates and discounts are calculated — has gone down 40% since it was introduced in the U.S. Wegovy is “following a similar trajectory,” according to the company.
The Department of Health and Human Services said in a report published in February that in 2022, prices of all drugs in the U.S. were nearly three times as high as in other wealthy countries — despite whether they were name brand or generic.
US charges 6 Hamas leaders with terrorism over Oct. 7 attack
The U.S. Department of Justice has announced terrorism charges against senior leaders of Hamas. And with the kickoff to a new NFL season a day away, betting on the games is expected to break records. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024.
US charges 6 Hamas leaders with terrorism over Oct. 7 attack
The Department of Justice has announced charges against six senior Hamas officials for killing at least 43 Americans since the terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023, in Israel. Nearly a year later, there are mass protests taking place in the streets of Israel after six more bodies of hostages were recovered.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the federal charges unsealed Tuesday, Sept. 3, won’t be the last efforts by the DOJ to hold Hamas accountable for its heinous crimes.
Justice Department Announces Terrorism Charges Against Senior Leaders of Hamas pic.twitter.com/z8gS2lUGvV
“On Oct. 7, Hamas terrorists murdered nearly 1,200 people, including over 40 Americans, and kidnapped hundreds of civilians,” Garland said. “They perpetrated the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. The charges unsealed today are just one part of our effort to target every aspect of Hamas’ operations. These actions will not be our last.”
The recovery of the bodies of Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages in Gaza sparked a massive round of protests in Israel. Thousands of people are calling for more action to be taken to see the release of the remaining hostages.
The charges filed against six Hamas leaders include conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization, conspiracy to murder U.S. Nationals, and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction.
However, of the six Hamas officials charged, three of them are already dead. The other three have not yet been captured.
Zelenskyy: Ukraine to hold onto Russian territories ‘indefinitely’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv will be holding on to the Russian territories it seized last month indefinitely as its war with Russia stretches on. It’s part of a plan to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
Almost a month ago, Ukrainian troops took over Russia’s Kursk region in an unexpected operation. Ukraine now claims it controls nearly 500 square miles of Russian territory and has taken hundreds of Russian prisoners of war.
In an interview with NBC News, Zelenskyy would not discuss whether Ukraine planned to try to seize more Russian territory.
The interview aired hours before Ukraine’s foreign minister resigned Wednesday, Sept. 4, as a Ukraine parliament deputy warned it would be the “day of resignations,” with more than half of Zelenskyy’s cabinet members expected to be replaced.
Harris to announce economic plans, Trump to hold town hall
There are now less than nine weeks until Election Day and both presidential candidates will be on the road today.
The Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, is set to give a speech in New Hampshire, unveiling plans for new benefits for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Those plans are set to include a tax deduction of up to $50,000 for starting a small business; ten times the $5,000 amount currently granted to small businesses in their first year.
She is also set to announce a goal of 25 million small business applications during her first term if she’s elected president. That would surpass the 19 million new small businesses under the Biden administration.
Meanwhile, Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump will be holding a town hall in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
He’ll take questions during the event at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg hosted by Fox News’ Sean Hannity. The town hall will air Wednesday night on the network.
Both vice presidential candidates are also holding events Wednesday. Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is set to be in Pennsylvania and Republican Ohio Sen. JD Vance in Arizona.
Federal judge won’t intervene in Trump’s New York criminal case
A federal judge has rejected former President Trump’s request to intervene in his New York criminal case. Trump’s lawyers were hoping to move the case to federal court so they could try to have his conviction overturned in the wake of the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling.
The lawsuit brought by six Republican states and led by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey alleges they have documents proving the Biden administration plans to begin canceling loans this week, even though a cancellation plan technically does not exist yet.
Usually, states cannot file to block federal regulation until it’s officially in place, but in this case, the states say they have proof the secretary of education is implementing the plan without one officially being in place.
The lawsuit claims the administration has been planning this move since May. The Education Department has not commented on the pending litigation.
$35 billion expected to be bet on NFL this season
The NFL’s 2024 season kicks off Thursday, Sept. 5, and the American Gaming Association predicts Americans are about to dish out the big bucks betting on games. They say $35 billion will be placed in legal wagers this season.
If the association is right, that would be a roughly 30% increase from the amount bet on the NFL in the 2023 season.
Last season there was nearly $27 billion spent on legally betting on NFL games. Since then, even more states have passed laws to allow for legal betting markets, including North Carolina, Maine, and Vermont.
Betting is now legal in 38 states and Washington D.C.
The American Gaming Association said more bets are placed and more money is wagered on the NFL than any other league.
New indictment filed against Trump for role in Jan. 6 riot
Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on new charges in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. And an Israeli hostage freed from Hamas says the remaining hostages are “suffering.” These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024.
New indictment filed against Trump for role in Jan. 6 riot
The new filing is meant to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling from July that presidents have broad immunity for official acts while in office.
Special Counsel Jack Smith’s new indictment revolves around allegations related solely to the actions Trump took as a presidential candidate in 2020 in a personal and unofficial capacity.
Trump’s legal team told news outlets this latest indictment is not a surprise to them, nor does it change their position that the case should be dismissed. Trump’s lawyers are expected to ask for more time to review the case.
Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), was asked about these latest charges while on the campaign trail Tuesday, Aug. 27.
“It looks like Jack Smith doing more what he does, which is filing these absurd lawsuits in an effort to influence the election,” Vance said. “I mean, the one thing that I did see, which I felt was just classic lipstick on a pig is, you know, of course, the reason the Supreme Court threw out his lawsuit is because they said it implicated the president’s official acts, of course, which the president has immunity in conducting those official acts.”
First rioter to enter U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 sentenced to 4 years in prison
On Tuesday, the Kentucky man who was the first person to enter the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 was sentenced to more than four years in prison. Michael Sparks, 47, was the first person to jump into the building after a window was broken that day.
A police officer who tried to subdue Sparks with pepper spray described him as “a catalyst” for the insurrection. The Senate had called for a recess just one minute before Sparks was able to enter the building.
The judge who sentenced Sparks to four years and five months called his actions “a national disgrace.”
More than 1,400 people have been charged with Jan. 6-related federal crimes.
Israeli hostage freed from Hamas says other hostages are “suffering”
One of the hostages taken by Hamas during its attack on Israel Oct. 7 was successfully rescued Tuesday by the Israeli military in a “complex operation.” Now, that man is speaking out.
The freed hostage, 52-year-old Qaid Farhan Alkadi, was reported to be in “normal” health following the high stakes rescue mission. Footage released by the Israeli military shows Alkadi smiling and interacting with IDF members, as well as family and medical staff at an Israeli hospital.
The IDF says it was able to locate and rescue Alkadi from underground due to extensive intelligence efforts. The Hostages and Missing Families forum stated Alkadi had managed to free himself before troops completed the rescue operation.
During the Hamas-led attack last October, approximately 250 individuals were taken hostage. Currently, more than 100 hostages are still believed to be in the hands of militants, but many are feared to already be dead.
OSHA Investigating after 2 killed in explosion at Delta facility in Atlanta
The exact cause of the explosion has not been released yet. Delta released a statement saying it is “heartbroken” at the loss of its team members.
OSHA is investigating the deadly incident.
Family says New Hampshire man died from mosquito-borne illness ‘EEE’
A New Hampshire man has died after contracting a mosquito-borne virus, family members say. They say the 41-year-old was hospitalized with eastern equine encephalitis, better known as EEE, and died within a week.
Health officials say EEE can cause flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, muscle aches and joint pain, and about one-third of people who develop EEE die from their infection. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for EEE.
AT&T said it has fixed an issue that caused service outages Tuesday night. Some local emergency officials said the issue affected peoples’ ability to call 911.
Dying with medical assistance is latest form of ‘health tourism’: Report
Living with a terminal illness can be miserable both mentally and physically, even with advances in modern medicine and technology. That is why many who face the end of their natural lives look to do so on their own terms. However, in the U.S. that is rarely an option.
A new report from KFF, formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation, shows dying with medical assistance, which used to be called physician-assisted suicide, is a new form of medical tourism.
Medical tourism, also known as health tourism, is when someone travels from their home, in this case, out of state, to receive treatment that would otherwise be denied or not even be an option.
Right now, dying with medical assistance is legal in only 10 states: Vermont, California, Washington, Colorado, Hawaii, New Jersey, Maine, New Mexico, Oregon and Montana, as well as Washington, D.C.
Nine of those states and the District of Columbia have laws dictating the process for choosing to die with medical assistance. In Montana, there is no specific law on the subject. However, it is not illegal after the state’s Supreme Court ruled there is no statute prohibiting health care providers from assisting patients in dying.
And while it is a sensitive topic, dying with medical assistance is being talked about in more and more states. This past legislative session, 18 states considered aid-in-dying laws. The Delaware Legislature passed one, however, that bill is still awaiting the governor’s approval.
These laws tend to apply only to residents of the individual state where dying with medical assistance is legal, but Vermont and Oregon lifted their residency requirements in 2023.
Since then, KFF says at least 26 people have traveled from other states to Vermont to die. That represents 25% of the assisted deaths reported there from May 2023 through June of this year.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, 23 people from out-of-state died with medical assistance in 2023, which is about 6% of the state’s total.
In every state that tracks medical aid in dying, more people got the prescription than actually used it, most commonly because their illness overcame them. A terminal form of cancer is often why patients seek medical assistance in dying.
Scientists say relentless floods in Vermont may be here to stay, here’s why
Vermont continued to experience historic flooding on Tuesday, July 30, and more rain is in the forecast for the rest of the week. However, scientists warn that while these scenes of devastation may be shocking, this type of catastrophic flooding could soon become the new normal.
Scientists said that climate change is fueling stronger and more saturated storms, and the United States’ East Coast may face some of the worst of the flooding. A recent study found that the East Coast’s precipitation is expected to rise by 52% by the end of the century.
“There’s more moisture available in the atmosphere as the climate warms,” National Weather Service meteorologist Peter Banacos said. “We’re seeing higher dew points. We’re seeing more moisture-laden air masses making it up into our latitude.”
At that rate, experts say that current infrastructure won’t keep up. Some reportedly fear that Vermont’s roads, bridges, culverts and wastewater facilities are in danger of being washed away with more flooding.
Vermont also has mostly older, smaller dams, designed to power textile mills, provide water storage and irrigate farms. However, as intense storms become a more common threat, these dams may no longer be useful. Heavy flooding in the state last year led to five dams failing and around 60 dams overtopping.
Meanwhile, state officials are in the middle of a multidecade project to strengthen infrastructure to endure the effects of climate change. Officials said that the goal is to replace and repair structures and are working on statewide floodplain standards.
Women’s risk of death higher depending on their state: Study
According to a new study, where in the U.S. women live could be a matter of life or death. In its first ever state-by-state analysis of women’s health, the Commonwealth Fund found women are facing a growing number of threats to their overall health and well-being.
The Commonwealth Fund is a private nonprofit that supports independent research and grants with the goal of improving health care.
The researchers used data from multiple sources — including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — to evaluate states on 32 specific metrics across three main areas:
Health outcomes.
Health care quality and prevention.
Coverage, access and affordability.
Researchers that found across the board, women are more likely to die from preventable causes, specifically those linked to reproductive health – like pregnancy-related issues or certain types of cancer. However, they also looked at other preventable causes, including substance use, COVID-19 and treatable chronic health conditions.
The study said life expectancy for U.S. women is the lowest it has been since 2006. Researchers contend that the biggest issues seem to be in states where abortion and contraception laws are stricter.
Straight Arrow News
States in the Northeast scored the highest for women’s health, with Massachusetts coming in on top. Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire rounded out the top five.
The lowest-ranked states are Mississippi, Texas, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The report shows the lowest ranked states tend more toward the southern U.S.
The study also found a link between states with expanded Medicaid coverage and lower mortality rates for women. The rolling back of pandemic-era Medicaid coverage has left millions of women either uninsured or facing significant gaps in their coverage – interfering with their access to care and leaving providers that serve low-income women at risk of closure.
According to the researchers, where a woman lives is becoming a key determinant in how dangerous it is to give birth, or if she’ll die from cancers that considered treatable with proper screening and routine care.
Biden’s physician responds to reports on Parkinson’s expert visits
President Joe Biden’s physician releases a letter as questions surround a Parkinson’s expert’s repeated visits to the White House. And former President Donald Trump’s deadline to pick a vice president nears with the Republican National Convention just days away. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
Biden’s physician responds to reports on Parkinson’s disease expert visits
Ever since President Joe Biden’s self-described “bad night” at the presidential debate, he and his team have had to field questions about his health. That was no different on Monday, July 8, when the concerns centered on a Parkinson’s disease expert who had recently visited the White House on several occasions.
According to public visitor logs, Dr. Kevin Cannard — a neurologist and “movement disorders specialist” from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center — visited the White House eight times in the eight-month span between July 2023 and March 2024, including a visit with the president’s personal physician.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked repeatedly about the visits during Monday’s press briefing. Jean-Pierre said Biden has seen a neurologist three times as part of annual physicals but would not confirm much else, saying the White House medical unit serves multiple personnel along with the president.
“I can tell you this — just going back to Parkinson’s for a little bit, so, to give you some answers here: Has the president been treated for Parkinson’s? No. Is he being treated for Parkinson’s? No, he’s not,” Jean-Pierre told reporters. “Is he taking medication for Parkinson’s? No. So those are the things that I can give you full-blown answers on but I’m not going to confirm a specialist, any specialist that comes to come comes to the White House, out of privacy.”
Hours later, White House physician Kevin O’Connor released a letter addressing the issue, saying Dr. Cannard was “the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals,” including one in February that showed no signs of any neurological disorders. O’Connor also confirmed the president has not seen a neurologist outside of those physicals.
The president himself wrote a letter earlier in the day to Democrats in Congress amid growing calls for him to step aside, saying he is “firmly committed to staying in the race.” He added he “wouldn’t be running again if” he did not “absolutely believe” he was the “best person to beat Donald Trump.”
A defiant Biden joined MSNBC’s Morning Joe shortly after sending the letter, saying it’s the voters who chose him as the Democratic nominee, and he is not concerned about those calling for him to drop out of the race.
“I’m getting so frustrated by the elites — not you guys — the elites in the party, oh, they know so much more,” the president said. “Any of these guys that don’t think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention.”
Biden to host NATO summit, will take questions from media
President Biden will look to answer critics’ calls for him to step aside as he welcomes world leaders to Washington, D.C. for the NATO summit that begins Tuesday, July, 9. Leaders from more than 30 NATO countries, as well as partners Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the European Union and Ukraine, will join the president to mark 75 years of the global alliance.
The summit will focus on supplying additional military and financial aid to Ukraine, including new steps to strengthen its air defenses. During the week, Biden will host an event with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and two dozen other leaders. He’ll also take part in his first bilateral meeting with new U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
On Thursday, July 11, the president will hold a press conference where he will take questions from the media.
Trump’s vice president search enters final days
Former President Trump is getting back on the campaign trail with a rally in Florida as the deadline to announce his pick for vice president looms. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity Monday, July 8 night, Trump did confirm Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, R, are under consideration.
But as to when we’ll find out who the official pick is, it seems even the former president isn’t quite sure.
“I think probably within the next week, week and a half, probably sometime — I’d love to do it during the convention,” he told Hannity. “My people say that’s a little complicated. You know, in the old days, they would announce the vice president during the convention. Today, with modern day technology you can’t do things that you could’ve done 50 years ago very easily. But probably a little before the convention but not much. It could even be during the convention that we’ll do it. I’d love to do it during the convention. I think it would be a very interesting build up and important for the convention and would make it even more exciting.”
The Republican National Convention kicks off Monday, July 15, in Milwaukee.
At least 6 dead in Texas after Beryl, millions without power
At least six people have been confirmed dead and millions are without power after Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas as a Category 1 storm on Monday, July 8. Dozens of people across the state also had to be rescued from flood waters after Beryl dropped up to ten inches of rain in some areas and tornadoes could be spotted across the state.
Officials in Texas said it’ll take “several days” to restore power, but they should be getting a clearer timeline at some point Tuesday.
Since making landfall, Beryl has weakened to a tropical depression. It’s now moving toward Arkansas, but rain from the storm is expected to hit as far north as Detroit by Tuesday night then dump heavy rain in Vermont by Wednesday, July 10.
Jury selection begins in Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial
On Monday, a judge ruled jurors will not hear evidence related to his status as a producer on the film, only his role as an actor in the movie.
Baldwin admitted he was holding a prop gun when a live bullet discharged. He’d previously stated that he did not intentionally pull the trigger and that the gun “went off.”
If convicted, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison.
Price of Forever stamps to increase starting next week
The price of stamps is going up again. Starting on Sunday, July 14, one Forever stamp will cost 73 cents — up five cents from its current price.
Border agents in Northeast arrest record number of undocumented immigrants
Border agents in Vermont, New York and New Hampshire have been busier than ever. According to the chief patrol agent of New England’s Swanton sector, Robert Garcia, agents have apprehended more than 12,000 undocumented immigrants from 85 countries in the first eight months of fiscal year 2024, which began last October. This number dwarfs the arrests made in previous years.
Swanton Sector Border Patrol Agents have apprehended people from 85 countries since October 2023. Border Security Is National Security. Report Suspicious Border Activity in Swanton Sector by calling 1-800-689-3362@USBPChief@CBP@DHSgovpic.twitter.com/24XcDQ1zfE
— Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia (@USBPChiefSWB) June 26, 2024
In 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 7,000 arrests, surpassing the combined total of the previous 11 years.
In March, several members of Congress expressed concern about the unprecedented surge in apprehensions along the northern border. Some members accused Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of directing his agency to abandon its duty of protecting the nation’s sovereign borders.
Comparing the first four months of fiscal year 2023 to the same period in 2024, Border Patrol agents apprehended just over 2,200 undocumented immigrants in 2023. The number rose to more than 4,700 in 2024 — a 114% increase.
Lawmakers are calling this surge unsustainable and urging the administration to secure the border. They also raised concerns about fentanyl coming through the borders, noting that the amount seized this fiscal year at the northern border could kill more than 270 million people.
In April, Mayorkas testified in front of two congressional committees, emphasizing the need for additional funds and resources to secure the nation’s borders and calling on Congress to pass immigration reform.
