Asa Hutchinson tells CNN’s Dana Bash that he hopes a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill passes in Congress, but he hopes that a sweeping reconciliation package does not.
Tennessee Passes Bill , Allowing Teachers to Carry Guns.
The Tennessee House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 68-28 on April 23, CBS News reports.
The legislation would grant some teachers
and staff the right to carry concealed
handguns at public schools.
The bill will now be sent to Republican
Gov. Bill Lee to either sign or veto. .
If signed into law, the legislation would represent the largest expansion of gun access in Tennessee since the deadly shooting at
The Covenant School in Nashville last year.
Teachers and staff carrying guns would only be known to administrators and police.
Teachers and staff carrying guns would only be known to administrators and police.
Other teachers and students' parents
would not be privy to the information. .
If a school worker wants to carry a handgun, they'd have to have a "permit and written authorization from the school's principal and local law enforcement," CBS News reports. .
If a school worker wants to carry a handgun, they'd have to have a "permit and written authorization from the school's principal and local law enforcement," CBS News reports. .
School districts would need
to grant permission as well.
A background check and 40 hours of training would also be mandatory.
However, school staff would be prohibited from carrying their guns during events at stadiums, gymnasiums or auditoriums. .
Protesters shouted
"Blood on your hands" after
the bill was passed by the
House on April 23
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Senate Passes $95 Billion , Foreign Aid Package.
On April 23, the U.S. Senate voted
79-18 to approve foreign aid for Ukraine,
Israel and Taiwan, 'The Guardian' reports. .
Today the Senate sends a unified
message to the entire world:
America will always defend
democracy in its hour of need, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, via statement.
Make no mistake, America will deliver
on its promise to act like a leader on the
world stage, to hold the line against
autocratic thugs like Vladimir Putin. , Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, via statement.
The package includes $60.8 billion for Ukraine,
$26.3 billion for Israel and $8.1 billion for Taiwan.
The package includes $60.8 billion for Ukraine,
$26.3 billion for Israel and $8.1 billion for Taiwan.
The package includes $60.8 billion for Ukraine,
$26.3 billion for Israel and $8.1 billion for Taiwan.
A provision to ban TikTok
after the election if ByteDance refuses
to sell the platform is also included.
The legislation will now head to President Biden, who told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on
April 23 that he will "move quickly" to provide aid.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised House Speaker Mike Johnson, .
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised House Speaker Mike Johnson, .
with whom he worked "hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder to get this bill done.".
A lot of people inside and
outside the Congress wanted this
package to fail. But today those in
Congress who stand on the side of
democracy are winning the day, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, via statement.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell also issued a statement.
Today’s action is overdue, but our work
does not end here. Trust in American
resolve is not rebuilt overnight. Expanding
and restocking the arsenal of democracy
doesn’t just happen by magic, Senate Majority Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, via statement
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Title IX Regulations Add Protections , for Transgender Students.
Title IX prohibits "sex-based discrimination at government-funded schools," 'The Hill' reports. .
On April 19, the Biden administration revealed the last of its changes to the federal civil rights law. .
The new regulations expand how sex discrimination is defined, now including
sexual orientation and gender identity. .
These final regulations build on the
legacy of Title IX by clarifying that
all our nation’s students can access
schools that are safe, welcoming,
and respect their rights. , Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, via statement.
The update also reinstates "protections for student survivors of sexual assault and harassment" which were changed under President Trump, 'The Hill' reports.
Catherine Lhamon, the Education Department’s assistant secretary for civil rights, .
says the new rules will help schools
respond to "all sex discrimination,
not limited to sexual harassment.".
Biden's final changes to Title IX
are sure to be condemned by Republicans
who view transgender protections as failing
to protect cisgender women and girls.
The new changes will take effect Aug. 1.
The Biden administration has not yet finalized an additional rule pertaining to sports eligibility. .
Since 2021, 24 states have passed laws prohibiting transgender student-athletes from playing on
sports teams that align with their gender identity
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Deadly Storms , Forecast to Cross , 1,000 Miles of the US.
'Newsweek' reports meteorologists have warned
that a life-threatening storm could impact millions of
people across the central United States this week.
On April 23, AccuWeather issued a warning regarding , "one of the most widespread severe
weather events so far in 2024.".
According to AccuWeather, the incoming storm , "will unleash tornadoes, hard-hitting hail
and damaging winds across a dozen states.".
On April 25, the first storm of the system is set
to arrive, closely followed by subsequent storms
expected to last throughout the weekend.
AccuWeather warned the storms are expected to pose a , "significant risk to lives and property.".
All modes of severe weather
are likely with the multiple-day
event in the central U.S, Bernie Rayno, AccuWeather Chief
On-Air Meteorologist, via 'Newsweek'.
Two storms, off the Pacific
coast on Tuesday, will swing
across the West and cause
moisture to surge northward from
the Gulf of Mexico while, at the
same time, temperatures surge, Bernie Rayno, AccuWeather Chief
On-Air Meteorologist, via 'Newsweek'.
'Newsweek' reports that the
states at greatest risk are:, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas,
Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee,
Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
According to AccuWeather, the storm is expected to cross
an estimated 1,000 miles on April 26, passing into
central Texas all the way from southern Minnesota. .
In addition to dangerous storm conditions,
the National Weather Service has warned
that critical fire weather conditions, "will also be present across parts of the
Southwest into the southern High Plains."
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Paul McCartney , Praises Beyoncé’s , 'Blackbird' Cover.
CNN reports that Paul McCartney
recently took to Instagram to praise
Beyoncé's cover of 'Blackbird.'.
CNN reports that Paul McCartney
recently took to Instagram to praise
Beyoncé's cover of 'Blackbird.'.
I think she does a magnificent version
of it and it reinforces the civil rights
message that inspired me to write
the song in the first place, Paul McCartney, via Instagram.
I think she does a magnificent version
of it and it reinforces the civil rights
message that inspired me to write
the song in the first place, Paul McCartney, via Instagram.
The 1969 Beatles track was
written by McCartney amid the
U.S. civil rights movement of the 1960s.
The 1969 Beatles track was
written by McCartney amid the
U.S. civil rights movement of the 1960s.
The music legend said the song was originally inspired by the
Little Rock Nine, a group of Black students who became the
first to desegregate schools in Arkansas in the late 1950s.
The music legend said the song was originally inspired by the
Little Rock Nine, a group of Black students who became the
first to desegregate schools in Arkansas in the late 1950s.
Anything my song and Beyoncé’s
fabulous version can do to ease racial
tension would be a great thing
and makes me very proud, Paul McCartney, via Instagram.
In his post, McCartney urged , "anyone who has not heard it yet to check it out.".
CNN reports that Beyoncé's cover is amplified
by four up-and-coming Black artists: .
Tanner, Adell.
Tiera, Kennedy.
Brittney, Spencer.
Reyna, Roberts
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
10 Things You May Not
Know About St. Patrick's Day.
1. The shortest St. Patrick's Day
parade only runs for 98 feet and
takes place in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
2. Saint Patrick’s birth name was actually
Maewyn Succat. He changed it to
Patricius after becoming a priest.
3. Shamrocks are said to have
been used by Saint Patrick as a
metaphor for the Holy Trinity.
4. Corned beef doesn’t actually contain corn.
It's name come from the use
of salt "corns" to cure meat.
5. Saint Patrick famously wore a
light shade of blue, not the traditional
green that is constantly seen.
6. Green became a significant color for
Ireland during its 1641 rebellion. Its importance
then carried over to St. Patrick’s Day.
7. St. Patrick’s Day used to be a strictly
religious and alcohol-free holiday in Ireland.
8. Saint Patrick wasn't actually Irish.
He was born in Britain and kidnapped
by Irish pirates at a young age.
9. In traditional Irish folk tales,
female leprechauns don’t exist.
10. The U.S. has 32 million people of
Irish descent, while Ireland’s total
population is only 4.7 million
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:22Published
Warnock Calls GOP’s Criticism , of Trans Visibility Day , ‘Opposite of Christian Faith’.
This year, Trans Day of Visibility
coincidentally fell on Easter Sunday.
President Joe Biden was attacked by Conservatives for making a declaration about the day, as he does every year, because it fell on the Christian holiday.
One of Biden's critics, Speaker Mike Johnson, called Biden's declaration an "outrageous
and abhorrent" attack on the religion. .
One of Biden's critics, Speaker Mike Johnson, called Biden's declaration an "outrageous
and abhorrent" attack on the religion. .
Senator Raphael Warnock, a reverend,
has denounced GOP criticism, calling it the
"opposite of the Christian faith," 'The Hill' reports. .
Apparently, the Speaker finds trans
people abhorrent, and I think he
ought to think about that, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash.
This is just one more instance
of folks who do not know how
to lead us trying to divide us, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash.
This is the opposite of the
Christian faith. Jesus centered the
marginalized. He centered the poor, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash.
And in a moment like this, we need
voices, particularly voices of faith,
who would use our faith not as a
weapon to beat other people down but
as a bridge to bring all of us together, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash.
The White House also issued a statement.
As a Christian who celebrates
Easter with Family, President
Biden stands for bringing people
together and upholding the dignity
and freedoms of every American, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, via statement.
Sadly, it’s unsurprising politicians
are seeking to divide and weaken
our country with cruel, hateful,
and dishonest rhetoric. President
Biden will never abuse his faith for
political purposes or for profit, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, via statement
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published