Richmond recovers from water crisis after storm wiped out power
A powerful winter storm struck the East Coast earlier this week which left residents in Richmond, Virginia, without power and caused a major water crisis, causing the city’s water treatment facility to go offline. The loss of power to the facility pushed the city into a state of emergency, with residents urged to boil water due to concerns over contamination.
Thursday, Jan. 9, marked the fourth day of the city’s water boil advisory. City officials said progress is being made in restoring normal water services.
“The system is now pressurized in all nine zones,” Richmond Mayor, Danny Avula said.
The restoration follows a concerted effort to bring the city’s water supply back online after the storm caused significant damage to the facility’s electrical systems.
Avula also announced the reservoir, which had dropped to low levels, is now fully replenished.
“The reservoir is at 18 feet, we’re at a full reservoir,” he said during a press conference Thursday.
The city has already begun taking samples from the filtered water in the system. Officials said they are hopeful the tests will show no contamination, allowing them to lift the boil water advisory.
Two rounds of tests will be needed before the advisory can be safely removed. Results are expected within 48 hours.
City engineers, working in the wake of the storm’s impact, rushed to repair the treatment facility’s power supply. Local officials acknowledged the storm exposed weaknesses in the city’s emergency preparedness. However, they noted steps have been taken to address the gaps.
“Making sure we have the right experts either onsite or a call away and increasing our surveillance and monitoring,” Avula said.
During the peak of the crisis, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin deployed water tankers to the city, providing emergency water supplies to hospitals and local distribution centers.
The governor also declared a statewide emergency, which allowed for a faster response and the delivery of essential water resources to affected communities.
Second winter storm threatens US, packing snow and ice
A second winter storm threatens millions across the U.S. as forecasters predicted a new storm system will bring a wintry mix to the South and Northeast. AccuWeather said the winter storm will hit Texas on Wednesday, Jan. 8, and move to the Northeast by the end of the week.
Dallas, Texas, could see one of its most significant snowfalls in recent years.
AccuWeather Chief Video Meteorologist Bernie Rayno forecasted several inches of snowfall in Dallas and along parts of I-20 in northern Texas.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for Wednesday evening until Friday afternoon.
Austin, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Nashville, Tennessee, could also see snow and ice.
To the west, weather experts forecasted about one to three inches of snow in New Mexico along I-40. Forecasters also warned of single-digit wind chills.
Rayno said that if this second winter storm strengthens, Americans could see a big snowstorm from the Carolinas to the Mid-Atlantic. It could also potentially reach New England, he said.
Authorities also warned of possible power outages due to the extreme cold and ice.
The storm threatens major travel disruptions for the second weekend in a row, starting 2025 with flight delays and cancellations.
At least 95 killed in 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Tibet
A powerful earthquake proves deadly in East Asia on Tuesday morning. And winter weather pounds the United States from the Great Plains to the East Coast. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
7.1 magnitude earthquake kills at least 95 in Tibet
At least 95 people are dead Tuesday after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake rocked Tibet, China, according to Chinese state media. The quake occurred just after 9 a.m. on Jan. 7 near Shigatse, one of Tibet’s holiest cities.
The quake reached a depth of 6.2 miles, damaging buildings and sending people running to the streets in neighboring Nepal and India. Cities as far away as Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital city about 240 miles away, felt tremors.
The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at a magnitude of 7.1, while the China Earthquake Networks Center reported it at 6.8. Multiple aftershocks followed the initial quake.
In addition to the dozens of lives lost, local authorities said the disaster injured at least 130 people.
First winter storm of 2025 leaves at least 4 dead across multiple states
The system moved east on Monday, Jan. 6, from the Great Plains to the East Coast. It brought snow, blizzard conditions and ice. The storm hit cities like Kansas City and Cincinnati the hardest.
Authorities said a public works employee in Missouri suffered a fatal injury while working to remove snow. Two people in Wichita, Kansas, died in a weather-related crash, and one person in Houston, Texas, most likely died as a result of the cold weather, according to local authorities.
The storm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes across at least a half-dozen states.
While the heavy snow ended, the danger remained. Forecasters said the winter system is drawing cold air behind it, meaning states across the entire U.S. will experience a cold front.
Pentagon transfers 11 Yemeni detainees from Guantánamo Bay to Oman
The Pentagon said the U.S. transferred 11 Yemeni detainees to Oman, which agreed to help re-settle them. Two of the detainees are former bodyguards for Osama Bin Laden and were being held at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba.
None of the 11 detainees released were charged with crimes.
The move comes amid steps to reduce the population at the controversial U.S. military facility. Only 15 detainees remain at Guantánamo Bay’s detention facility, which the U.S. set up as the war on terror began after Sept. 11, 2001.
Of the 15 current detainees, only three are eligible for transfer. Three more are eligible for a periodic review, seven are involved in the military commissions process and two detainees were convicted and sentenced by military commissions.
In recent weeks, the Biden administration transferred four other detainees from Guantánamo, including one brought to the detention facility the day it opened in 2002. That person was never formally charged.
The move follows a recent ruling by a military judge that plea agreements with alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and two other accused terrorists are valid and binding. Those deals take the death penalty off the table for the three men, who remain at Guantánamo Bay.
Biden attends memorial service for New Orleans terror attack victims
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attended a memorial service Monday, Jan. 6, for the 14 victims killed in the New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans. The interfaith prayer service was held at the famous St. Louis Cathedral in the city’s French Quarter, less than a mile away from the scene of the Bourbon Street terror attack.
Jill and I traveled to New Orleans to stand with a community defined by strength and resilience.
To grieve. To pray. And let them know that America stands with them, and mourns with them. pic.twitter.com/26Phe203WF
The president spoke at the service, reassuring the people of New Orleans they are not alone and highlighting the city’s enduring strength and resilience amid tragedy. He referred to past devastation experienced by the city, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“If there’s one thing we know: New Orleans defines strength and resilience,” the president said. “You define it, whether it’s in the form of this attack, from this attack, or hurricanes or super storms. This city’s people get back up.”
The president and first lady also visited the Bourbon Street memorial, where they placed flowers and prayed for the victims.
While in New Orleans, the Bidens met privately with grieving families, survivors and first responders.
Though both cases were dismissed, the special counsel is required to provide a report to Garland, who can then decide whether to make it public.
According to the letter and a legal filing, Trump’s lawyers and two former co-defendants in the documents case viewed a two-volume draft copy of the report over the weekend. They called the report “one-sided” and “slanted.”
In the letter, Trump’s lawyer requested Garland fire Smith, who is set to resign before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, or let the decision on the release of the report be handled by Trump’s incoming attorney general, Pam Bondi.
The lawyers for Trump’s two former co-defendants in the documents case also asked the judge who dismissed the case to halt the report’s release, citing her ruling that Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional.
While it is not clear when the report will be released, the lawyers have asked the judge for a hearing on their request by Friday, Jan. 10, believing the release is “imminent.”
‘Shark Tank’ star Kevin O’Leary announces bid to buy TikTok
With millions of social media users counting down TikTok’s days in the U.S., one businessman is looking to prevent the ban from taking effect. “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary issued a press release Monday announcing his interest in purchasing TikTok.
O’Leary — known by “Shark Tank” fans as “Mr. Wonderful” — said he is partnering with former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt on the bid.
Speaking to Fox Business, O’Leary said he would need Trump’s help to seal the deal. O’Leary said he’s “protecting the privacy of 170 million American users” and “empowering creators and small businesses.”
TikTok faces a federal ban on Jan. 19 unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, sells. The Biden administration and other federal lawmakers believe TikTok threatens national security, accusing the Chinese government of using it to spy on Americans. Lawmakers fear the app is being used to weaponize and influence content Americans view.
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments from ByteDance on why it should prevent the ban.
Congress to certify Trump’s win; Biden issues warning to ‘not forget’ riots
Congress prepares to re-affirm President-elect Donald Trump as the next president of the United States on the fourth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots. And after a weekend of blizzard-like conditions in the Plains and Midwest, a major winter storm aims for the East Coast. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.
Congress to certify Trump’s win; Biden issues warning to ‘not forget’ Jan. 6 riots
Senators and members of the House of Representatives will gather to tally the electoral votes of all 50 states and Washington, D.C., confirming Trump will be the 47th president of the United States.
Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Jan. 5, House Speaker Mike Johnson said a major winter storm heading toward the area would not prevent the congressional joint session from counting the electoral votes.
Monday’s joint session comes four years after the certification of votes affirming President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. Biden’s certification turned into chaos when rioters stormed the Capitol, looking to prevent then-Vice President Mike Pence from presiding over the certification. Many rioters insisted the election was stolen from Trump.
This year, Vice President Kamala Harris will oversee the electoral count of the election she lost and declare Trump the winner. Harris already conceded the race to Trump after he won 312 electoral college votes, surpassing the 270 needed to win the presidency. Harris won 226 votes.
Following the 2021 Capitol attack, Congress passed the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022. This act clarified that the vice president does not have the power to determine, accept, reject or adjudicate the vote results.
On Sunday, Biden spoke to new Democratic members of Congress about the events that unfolded in 2021 and the importance of the date.
“Tomorrow’s Jan. 6; we gather to certify the results of a free and fair presidential election and ensure a peaceful transfer of power,” Biden said. “It’s a day that [for] most of our history we took for granted, the sixth, but I hope we never take it for granted again.”
Biden wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post on Sunday. In it, he told Americans that while some may no longer want to mention what happened four years ago, it cannot be forgotten.
“We should be proud that our democracy withstood this assault. And we should be glad we will not see such a shameful attack again this year…” he wrote. “The election will be certified peacefully. I have invited the incoming president to the White House on the morning of Jan. 20, and I will be present for his inauguration that afternoon. But on this day, we cannot forget.”
Monday’s proceedings are the last official opportunity for any member of Congress to object to the electoral votes. Following the certification, Trump will be sworn into office on Jan. 20 for his second term. He vowed to pardon those convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 riots.
Biden signs Social Security Fairness Act into law
Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law Sunday. It’s expected to be one of the last major pieces of legislation of his term.
Today, I signed legislation expanding Social Security benefits for millions of teachers, firefighters, nurses, police officers, other public employees, and their spouses and survivors.
The law repeals a rule that limited certain public sector job retirees who collect pensions — such as firefighters, teachers, postal workers and police officers — from also claiming social security benefits.
The new law also eliminates limits on the benefits that surviving spouses can receive after they die.
The Senate passed the bill in December after the House approved it in November with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign this week: Reports
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce his resignation as early as Monday, according to multiple news outlets. It comes as his party, the Liberal Party, is set to hold its national caucus meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
Last month, Trudeau’s finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, publicly announced her resignation in a letter criticizing the prime minister. Since then, calls for his resignation have grown publicly and privately within his own party.
This is just the latest in a series of recent political struggles for the prime minister. In September, Trudeau faced a no-confidence vote in parliament, which later failed.
Trudeau and Trump have been locked in a public back-and-forth over tariffs with Trump threatening to put a 25% levy on Canadian imports.
Details emerge about New Orleans suspect’s actions in weeks before attack
More details emerged about the man authorities said killed 14 people and injured dozens more when he drove a rented truck into a crowd of revelers in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.
The FBI said Sunday the attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, visited the city twice in the weeks leading up to the deadly act of terrorism and recorded video of the area using Meta Smart Glasses.
The glasses allow users to record video hands-free and can also livestream on Meta platforms. Investigators said Jabbar wore the glasses to capture video while he rode a bicycle through the city’s French Quarter. He reportedly wore the glasses during the attack on Bourbon Street but was not livestreaming.
Authorities also believe Jabbar set fire to a short-term rental house in New Orleans where investigators found bomb-making material. They said he planted two bombs in the French Quarter before the truck attack but neither detonated.
Jabbar was killed after opening fire on responding police officers.
Millions of Americans under blizzard alerts as winter storm moves east
A major winter storm will continue to move through the Mid-Atlantic region today, followed by dangerously cold temperatures spreading across the central and eastern U.S. pic.twitter.com/sogRlbC6Y9
Major cities like Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia are preparing for snowy and icy conditions Monday and into Tuesday, Jan. 7. Meanwhile, parts of Virginia are expecting 5 to 12 inches of snow.
Impacts of this weather system could also be felt in the South, with severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes and damaging winds expected to hit Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and other southern states Monday night.
2025 Golden Globes crown best in movies, television
The 2025 Golden Globes rolled out the red carpet Sunday night for the best and brightest stars of film and television — but only a select few walked away with awards.
In the movie categories, the big winners were the films “Emilia Pérez” and “The Brutalist.” “Emilia Pérez” won four awards, including best musical or comedy. “The Brutalist” took home best drama and two other awards.
Over on the TV side of things, “Shōgun” topped the competition with four awards, including Best TV Drama. “Hacks” won Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy.
It was an especially memorable night for actress Demi Moore, who won her first acting award. She won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her role as an aging Hollywood star who undergoes a cloning procedure in “The Substance.”
Arctic air to bring freezing start to 2025 in much of US
Get ready to bundle up. Arctic weather will take over the warmer-than-usual temperatures that kicked off 2025 for a large part of the U.S.
Over the next couple of days, the coldest air of the season will move into the eastern part of the U.S., dropping temperatures to nearly 30 degrees below average in some areas.
🎆 As we round out 2024 and head into 2025, above normal warmth across the eastern half of the U.S. will be quickly replaced by a series of Arctic outbreaks… with the coldest air of the season set to take hold through next week. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/N046deYUpa
While the bitterly cold air already started to move in, the worst of it is expected to hit next week.
Forecasters said after the first wave of cold, two more rounds of arctic air will move in from Canada, setting up parts of the U.S. for a long-lasting run of freezing temperatures.
Gaetz responds after House Ethics Committee releases report
Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, who at one point was President-elect Trump’s pick for attorney general, is reacting to the House Ethics Committee’s report. And former President Bill Clinton remains hospitalized after developing a fever. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024.
Gaetz responds after House Ethics Committee releases report
The House Ethics Committee released its report on its investigation into former Congressman Matt Gaetz on Monday, Dec. 23. Now, the controversial former lawmaker has responded to the committee’s findings.
The investigation found “substantial evidence” President-elect Donald Trump’s first pick for attorney general broke state and federal laws while in office, including statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl.
Gaetz resigned from Congress in November after Trump elected him to lead the Department of Justice. He withdrew his name for consideration once stories about his alleged misconduct were revealed. The allegations caused him to lose support with Republican senators needed for confirmation.
Investigators with the House Ethics Committee conducted numerous interviews, reviewed thousands of documents and submitted dozens of subpoenas.
The committee typically doesn’t release its findings but a vote from the majority of the members said the report should be made public.
The House Ethics Committee said Gaetz attempted to derail its three-year investigation by refusing to be interviewed and failing to provide exonerating evidence.
Gaetz denies all allegations, calling them nothing more than “smears” from his political enemies.
He posted on X that he was “fully exonerated” by the DOJ following a federal investigation into sex trafficking claims in 2021. He said his actions were embarrassing but not criminal and he leads a different life now.
“In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated – even some I never dated but who asked. I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court – which is why no such claim was ever made in court,” Gaetz wrote.
“My 30’s were an era of working very hard – and playing hard too. It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life.”
The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes.
I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.
Then, the very “witnesses” DOJ deemed not-credible were…
Gaetz is suing the committee in federal court for releasing the report after he resigned from Congress. His lawyers argue the report will lead to irreversible damage to his reputation.
Gaetz has never been charged with a crime related to the report or any other allegations.
Straight Arrow News’ Political Correspondent Ray Bogan has a full report on the committee’s findings here.
Clinton remains hospitalized in D.C., recovering from fever
Former President Bill Clinton remains hospitalized in Washington, D.C. as he recovers from a fever. According to Angel Ureña, his deputy chief of staff, Clinton was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Monday afternoon for testing and observation.
The 42nd president is said to be in good spirits. Ureña told CNN Clinton hopes to be home for Christmas.
A New York Post source suspected that the hospital trip came after the former president suffered from dehydration.
Bill Clinton is 78 years old. He has faced a number of health scares in the past, including being hospitalized in California in 2021 for a urinary tract infection. He also underwent two heart procedures at New York-Presbyterian Hospital — in 2004 and 2010.
California pier partially collapses, sending 3 into the Pacific Ocean
About 150 feet of the pier had already been closed to the public because of damage from previous storms. That’s the portion that collapsed into the Pacific Ocean. It included a restroom building and construction equipment used for repairing the wharf.
Authorities said one of those who fell into the water was a manager on the construction project and the other two were contractors.
Investigators immediately evacuated the wharf. It will remain closed indefinitely.
The National Weather Service said the dangerous storm that led to the collapse will continue to impact beaches along the Pacific coast throughout Tuesday, Dec. 24.
Prosecutor drops appeal to reinstate charges in deadly ‘Rust’ shooting
Baldwin had been facing an involuntary manslaughter charge in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin was holding a prop gun that had been loaded with a live round when it discharged on the set near Santa Fe on Oct. 21, 2021, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
Baldwin has maintained he never pulled the trigger on the gun and did not know it was loaded with a live round. Prosecutors withdrew the appeal after the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office said it “did not intend to exhaustively pursue the appeal on behalf of the prosecution.”
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupting again
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is erupting again. The Hawaii Volcano Observatory said the eruption, which started about 2:30 a.m. Monday local time, is confined to a remote, closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.
Experts said the biggest concern right now is the threat of volcanic smog, or “vog,” which could reach homes downwind.
Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes.
Where are you likely to see a ‘white Christmas’ this year?
Those dreaming of a white Christmas are more likely to see one this year than last, which saw the least snow coverage on Christmas morning since record-keeping began in 2003. According to The Weather Channel, higher elevations of the West and areas near the Canadian border have the best chance of snow this year.
Meteorologists said there’s a good chance of a white Christmas from North Dakota and northern Minnesota into the Upper peninsula of Michigan and parts of northern New England, as well sections of the Northeast — mainly west of I-95 — and in the upper-Mississippi Valley.
So, what exactly is a white Christmas? It’s defined as one inch of snow accumulation on the ground on the morning of Dec. 25.
‘Bomb cyclone’ whips US Northwest, California with intense winds and rain
A so-called bomb cyclone, which meteorologists explain as a storm system that rapidly intensifies within 24 hours, whipped through California and the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The storm killed two people and left more than half a million households from Washington to California without power.
A tree reportedly collapsed on a home east of Seattle and killed a woman. Another woman died when a tree landed on a homeless encampment in Lynnwood, Washington.
Forecasters warn another bomb cyclone, while not as intense as the one Tuesday, is headed for the same region on Thursday, Nov. 21, through Friday, Nov. 22.
In California, the National Weather Service (NWS) extended a flood watch into Saturday, Nov. 23, for regions north of San Francisco. The agency is warning residents of the potential for flash flooding, as well as rock and mudslides over the next few days.
The NWS warned residents on the West Coast to danger caused by trees during strong winds and told people to avoid “exterior rooms and windows.” The agency also told drivers to heed caution.
US launches strikes against Iranian-backed targets 3 days in a row: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 5, 2024
The United States launches strikes against Iranian-backed targets in the Middle East three days in a row. And more than 100 people are dead after devastating wildfires tear through Chile. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.
U.S. launches strikes against Iran-linked groups in Middle East
Beginning this past Friday, Feb. 2, the U.S. launched a series of strikes against Iranian-backed groups in the Middle East for three days in a row. U.S. and Britain forces targeted Houthi Rebels in Yemen on Saturday, Feb. 3, striking facilities, missile systems and air defense systems as the U.S. continues to send a message for the group’s attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
The Houthis vowed to respond to the U.S.-led strikes in Yemen. Shortly after their statement was released, the U.S. launched another attack, destroying a cruise missile on Sunday, Feb. 4, that was said to be posing “an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships.”
The strikes against the Houthis came hours after the U.S. carried out airstrikes against Iranian-backed forces in Syria and Iraq, including those responsible for the deadly attack in Jordan that killed three U.S. troops.
The strikes were aimed at more than 85 targets including command and control operations and other facilities.
“This was the beginning of a response. There will be more steps. Some of those steps will be seen, some may not be seen. But there will be more action taken to respond to the tragic death of the three brave service members,” White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told ABC News’ “This Week.” “And we cannot rule out there will be further attacks from Iranian-backed militia in Iraq and Syria or from the Houthis.”
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Get The Morning RundownTM straight to your inbox!
Senators reveal $118 billion bill for border security, Ukraine aid
A bipartisan group of senators unveiled a $118 billion package on Sunday, Feb. 5, that includes changes to America’s border policies while providing additional aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies. The 370-page bill includes $60 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and $10 billion in humanitarian aid — including for people in Gaza and the West Bank.
As for immigration reform, the bill includes approximately $20 billion for border security.
The bill calls for a mandated border shutdown should the daily average of migrant crossings reach 5,000. The bill also ends the practice known as “catch and release,” where migrants caught crossing the border illegally are released into the U.S. while they wait for their asylum application to be processed.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Senate would begin the process of moving forward with the legislation this week, but the bill is already facing opposition.
Just hours after the release of the bill’s text, House Speaker Mike Johnson said bill is “worse than expected,” adding if the bill reaches the House, it will be “dead on arrival.”
At least 112 killed in wildfires in Chile
At least 112 people are dead and hundreds remain missing after wildfires broke out in coastal cities in central Chile popular with tourists. The wildfires are believed to be the deadliest in the country’s history.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric says the death toll could rise as rescuers work to locate survivors in damaged homes.
The fires started on Friday, Feb. 2, but high winds along with high temperatures are making it difficult to get the flames under control.
Local officials are investigating whether the fires were intentionally set.
Boric declared two days of national mourning.
“All of Chile is suffering,” Boric said. “But we will stand up once again.”
California bracing for heavy rain, dangerous flooding & mudslides
California is bracing for what could be days of heavy rains and potentially life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides as a severe storm system moved in Sunday, Feb. 4.
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in eight counties, including Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernardino.
Nearly one million people in the state were without power at one point on Sunday. Classes at several universities are canceled.
In Northern California, snow is expected to bring whiteout conditions. The heavy rain is expected to continue in Southern California through Tuesday, Feb. 6.
New Jersey to host 2026 World Cup final
With more than two years to go, FIFA made it official — the 2026 World Cup final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. FIFA released the tournament’s schedule on Sunday, Feb. 4.
The U.S. will be hosting its first men’s World Cup since 1994. It will be sharing the hosting duties this time around with Mexico and Canada.
The 104-game tournament will feature 48 teams playing across 16 host cities. The opening match will take place on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City. The final in East Rutherford, New Jersey is set for July 19, 2026.
Taylor Swift makes music history at the Grammys
Taylor Swift has made music history once again. This time she did it at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night.
Swift won Album of the Year for “Midnights.” It was the fourth time the “Anti-Hero” singer won the category, which is the most of any artist in Grammy history.
Swift also won Best Pop Vocal Album earlier in the night, when she announced during her acceptance speech a new album would be released in April.
Arctic blast grips parts of U.S. with well-below zero temperatures
A bitter cold is sweeping across parts of the U.S. as Arctic air pushes south from Canada. The record-low temperatures are expected to last through at least midweek, impacting an NFL playoff game, as well as the first Republican presidential primary event, the Iowa Caucuses.
The National Weather Service predicts that temperatures may reach 30 degrees below zero from the Rocky Mountains into Iowa and northern Kansas on Monday, Jan. 15.
The Arctic storms have proven deadly, as ABC News reported four people were killed, and thousands were left without electricity in the Northwest. A toppled tree fell on a house in Oregon killing one man. Two others died of possible hypothermia, and a fire that spread from a stove after a tree fell on a house killed a fourth person. Officials in Portland estimate around 100 trees were toppled during the storm.
The winter storm system also brought snowfall to the South and pounded the Northeast. In Buffalo blizzard conditions forced the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Buffalo Bills NFL playoff game to be moved to Monday, Jan. 15, at 4:30 p.m. ET. Buffalo Bills fans helped dig out snow from a buried Highmark Stadium over the weekend. The fans were rewarded for their hard work being paid $20 an hour.
Logan Eschrich, a storm chaser who was in Buffalo, who helped dig the stadium out told ABC News, “We made progress shoveling, but not much at all.”
The game still could be in jeopardy; The National Weather Service is predicting heavy lake-effect snow to arrive in New York from Lake Erie, adding to the one to two feet of snow already covering parts of Upstate New York. New York isn’t the only state feeling the wrath of Winter; in Montana and the Dakotas, sub-zero wind chills as low as 50 degrees below zero are expected.
As temperatures continue to plummet, officials are urging customers to limit electricity use. From Texas to Nebraska, power utilities are asking customers to voluntarily conserve energy. In Nebraska, Omaha Public Power District appealed to customers to lower thermostat temperatures and reduce appliance usage to prevent “controlled outages.”
Passengers taking to the “friendly skies” also felt the impact of Winter storms. Airports across the country experienced delays and cancellations.
As more severe weather is expected on Monday Jan. 15 and Tuesday, Jan. 16, it remains to be seen if the grips of Winter will go away anytime soon. It’s not just snow that’s the problem; The Sunshine State is expecting rain and thunderstorms. Meanwhile, forecasters said freezing rain is likely in parts of the Appalachian Mountains.
Haley, DeSantis face off in GOP debate as Trump holds town hall: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 11, 2024
As the Iowa caucuses near, two Republican candidates spar on the debate stage while the former president holds a town hall. And an avalanche leads to at least one death at a California ski resort. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024.
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Get The Morning RundownTM newsletter straight to your inbox!
Candidates clash in 2-person debate; Trump holds town hall
With just days to go until the Iowa caucuses, all eyes were on the Hawkeye state Wednesday night, Jan. 10, as two Republican candidates took the debate stage while the GOP frontrunner held a town hall at the same time. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley answered questions on immigration, abortion, Ukraine, and social issues while vying to be the alternative to former President Donald Trump, who has a commanding lead in polls nationwide and in Iowa.
The two candidates clashed throughout the night, each taking shots at the other. DeSantis said Haley is focused on appeasing her donors.
“We don’t need another mealy-mouthed politician who just tells you what she thinks you want to hear just to try to get your vote, then to get into office and to do her donor’s bidding,” DeSantis said.
Haley fired back and said DeSantis spread lies about her and had a piece of advice for those at Drake University, the location of the CNN debate.
“He has switched his policies multiple times, and we’ll call that out tonight,” Haley said. “But every time he lies, Drake University, don’t turn this into a drinking game because you will be overserved by the end of the night.”
The two sparred on their records, with Haley questioning DeSantis’ ability to lead the country, saying his campaign is “exploding” after seeing numerous personnel changes and millions of dollars spent. DeSantis responded that Haley is focusing on the political process, arguing that it is a topic voters don’t care about and a good window into her leadership.
The candidates touched on the former president, agreeing that Trump should have been on stage with them. However, the former president decided to skip the debate, taking part in a town hall on Fox News instead, where he was asked about a running mate.
“Well, I can’t tell you that, really. I mean, I know who it’s going to be,” Trump said.
The GOP field dwindled hours before the debate and the town hall when former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie dropped out of the race. Christie said there wasn’t a path forward for him to become president, and he would continue his goal to stop Trump from retaking office. But it was a hot mic moment just before his announcement that is getting a lot of attention. Christie was picked up on a livestream by his campaign criticizing Nikki Haley’s chances of becoming president.
“Yeah, that’s what you get. I mean, look, she’d spent $68 million so far just on TV, spent $68 million so far, $59 million by DeSantis, and we spent $12 (million),” Christie said. “I mean, who’s punching above their weight, and who’s getting a return on their investment? You know? And she’s gonna get smoked. And you and I both know it; she’s not up to this.”
Christie has not yet said if he would be endorsing any of the remaining candidates.
Donald Trump will not give his closing arguments in NY civil trial
Donald Trump will not deliver his closing arguments on Thursday, Jan. 11, in his civil fraud trial in New York as he hoped to do. The judge in the case was initially open to the idea, but only if the former president agreed to certain parameters.
However, in a series of heated email exchanges made public Wednesday, Jan. 10, Trump’s lawyers would not agree to the stipulations by the judge’s deadline, calling them unfair and saying Trump is being wrongfully demeaned. The judge responded by telling Trump’s team that he would not grant any further extensions, saying, “Take it or leave it.”
On his social platform, Truth Social, Trump called the judge “mean and nasty” and indicated he will still attend the court proceedings on Thursday, Jan. 11. The former president is accused of falsifying business records to receive better deals from banks and insurers. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Hunter Biden makes surprise visit as Republicans move to hold him in contempt
Hunter Biden is expected to plead not guilty on federal tax charges in a Los Angeles courtroom. This comes a day after the president’s son made a surprise visit to Capitol Hill as House Republicans moved to hold him in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena and not showing up to testify privately in their impeachment probe into his father, President Joe Biden. As the House Oversight Committee debated whether Hunter Biden should be held in contempt, he walked in and sat in the front row.
Biden’s appearance set off a political frenzy as a Republican called for his arrest on the spot, and Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene shouted that he was a “coward.” The House Oversight Committee and Judiciary Committee voted to push forward with holding Biden in contempt of Congress, with all Republicans voting for and Democrats voting against.
It is the latest in the impeachment probe into President Biden in which Republicans claim he financially benefited from his family’s business dealings as he served as vice president. Though the Bidens deny any wrongdoing, and Republicans have not produced any evidence of wrongdoing.
Now, the House will hold a final vote, and if the contempt referral passes, the Department of Justice will decide whether or not to prosecute Hunter Biden. In addition to these developments and the tax charges, Hunter Biden is also facing federal gun charges for unlawfully possessing a firearm.
1 killed, 3 injured in avalanche at California ski resort
One person was killed, and three others were injured when an avalanche hit a California ski resort near Lake Tahoe on Wednesday, Jan. 10. The avalanche occurred as a major winter storm brought heavy snow and gusty winds to the region.
The sheriff’s office said the debris field at the Palisade Tahoe Ski Resort spanned about 150 feet long and 10 feet deep. The person killed has been identified as a 66-year-old man who lived in a town nearby. The others are said to have suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The resort had just opened for the first time this season 30 minutes before disaster struck. The cause of the avalanche is under investigation.
Amazon cutting hundreds of positions in its studio, streaming.
Amazon is laying off several hundred employees in its streaming and studio operations. The online retail giant said in an internal memo on Wednesday, Jan. 10, that the company will eliminate hundreds of jobs in its Prime Video and MGM studios departments.
The cuts also affect around 500 roles in the Twitch streaming platform. In the memo to staff, Amazon leadership said the company would be shifting its investments to focus on the highest-impact products. Amazon has laid off more than 27,000 positions since late 2022.
Researchers say climate change led to the extinction of largest apes ever to live
New research is shedding more light on what happened to a great ape species, referred to by some as the real King Kong, that disappeared hundreds of thousands of years ago. The largest apes on record stood at ten feet tall, weighed 650 pounds, and likely resembled modern Orangutans. Now, scientists suggest climate change was the reason behind their extinction.
The apes survived in Southern China for around 2 million years, living off the fruits and flowers in the tropical forests. However, scientists said as the region experienced more dry seasons, the forests began producing fewer fruits for the apes to eat. The researchers analyzed pollen and sediment samples preserved in Chinese caves and fossilized teeth to help solve the mystery of the giant apes’ extinction.