The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday announced new guidelines limiting arrests by immigration authorities at domestic violence shelters, disaster relief sites and other "protected areas."
Why it matters: The new guidelines are part of a broader shift in approach on immigration policy under the Biden administration.
Texas state Rep. Matt Krause, chair of the Texas House Committee on General Investigating, announced Wednesday that he's initiating a probe into schools' library books, according to a letter sent to the state's education agency and other superintendents.
Why it matters: The probe focuses on books that discuss race, sexuality or "make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or sex," Krause wrote in the letter.
Two Virginia school districts have announced early departure plans for students on select Wednesdays as a way to alleviate ongoing teacher stress and fatigue due to the pandemic.
Driving the news: The Virginia Beach Public School board voted on Tuesday to end classes two hours early on select Wednesdays for at least the next three months, according to Aaron Spence, the superintendent of Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
The political organization led by voting rights activist Stacey Abrams is donating $1.34 million to the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt as part of an effort to wipe out medical debt.
Why it matters: The money will go towards settling over $210 million in debt owed by 108,000 people in Georgia, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, Abrams' organization, Fair Fight, said. It's also an extension of the group's push to promote full Medicaid expansion across the U.S.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said Tuesday that he "would never knowingly be disrespectful" regarding his failed meeting with state Sen. Tina Polsky — but he didn't apologize.
Driving the news: Ladapo’s remarks come almost a week after he attempted to meet with Polsky concerning his upcoming Senate confirmation hearing. Polsky ultimately sent Ladapo and two of his aides away for refusing to wear a mask, according to Florida Politics.
Cases and deaths from COVID-19 among workers at the five largest U.S. meatpacking companies were nearly three times higher than previously thought, according to a memo from the House panel probing the response to the pandemic.
Driving the news: At least 59,000 workers contracted COVID-19 and 269 workers died at Tyson Foods, JBS USA, Cargill, National Beef and Smithfield Foods — which together make up more than 80% of the beef market and 60% of the pork market in the U.S. — according to counts through January of this year.
Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick in a letter to students and staff Monday said a weeks-long student sit-in at a campus student center "must end."
Catch up fast: Students began their occupation of the Blackburn Center on Oct. 12, aiming to get school officials to address safety concerns in campus housing, and to give students representation on the board of trustees.
Pope Francis has agreed to visit Canada amid a growing scandal over the Catholic Church's role in the abuse of generations of the country's Indigenous children, the Vatican said Wednesday.
Why it matters: Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have long called on the church to apologize for its role in running residential schools where Indigenous children were subjected to physical and sexual abuse.
There is now legislative language behind the push to tax American billionaires on unrealized capital gains, as Sen. Ron Wyden last night released his 107-page plan.
Why it matters: This would be a sea change in U.S. tax policy, which has only applied to realized gains (otherwise known as income).
Amazon on Wednesday threw its support behind a U.S. House bill meant to deter online sales of counterfeit and stolen goods, after a lengthy lobbying battle against similar measures at the state and federal level.
Why it matters: Amazon dropping its opposition means the prospects of the legislation becoming law have brightened considerably, especially since fellow e-commerce companies Etsy and eBay already have endorsed the bill.
The State Department announced Wednesday that it has issued the first U.S. passport with an "X" gender marker.
Driving the news: The announcement comes after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in June the department had started plans to add a gender marker for individuals who do not identify as either male or female, according to a state department spokesperson.
President Biden and first lady Jill Biden will not be at the White House on Halloween to hand out candy to trick or treaters this year, according to Michael LaRosa, the first lady's press secretary.
Driving the news: The Bidens will be in Rome for the G20 summit, which takes place Oct. 30-31.
Senate Democrats on Wednesday released a billionaires' tax proposal, designed to help support President Biden's social spending and climate change legislation.
Why it matters: Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said the Billionaires Income Tax would raise "hundreds of billions of dollars" and would affect approximately 700 taxpayers who have more than $1 billion in assets or incomes of over $100 million a year.
Donald Trump is a TV star again — in political ads being run by both parties.
Why it matters: Records show millions of dollars have been spent on ads invoking Trump's name nearly a year after he lost his re-election campaign. It's more evidence of how polarizing and motivating a figure the former president remains for Democrats and Republicans alike.
Secretary of State Tony Blinken spoke on the phone on Tuesday evening with Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok after the military released him from custody.
Why it matters: Hamdok’s release was a result of pressure on Sudan’s military leader General Abdul Fattah al-Burhan from the U.S. and other countries but also from the different political parties in Sudan and massive protests in the streets.
Louisiana's statewide mask mandate is lifting for all settings except for some schools starting on Wednesday, Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) announced.
The big picture: The requirement has been in place since early August as the Delta variant surged across the state. Edwards tweeted Tuesday there had been a "sustained improvement across the state in new cases, test positivity & hospitalizations."
It turns out the best way for any of President Biden's would-be ambassadors to get confirmed by the Senate is to have served in the Senate — or been married to a senator.
Driving the news: Each of the four ambassadorial nominees confirmed Tuesday has a connection to the Senate. Their approval brings the president’s number of confirmed ambassadors to five, and the fifth has his own Senate link.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is telling colleagues he has deep concerns about a proposed “billionaire tax” but is waiting for more details before making a final decision, people familiar with the matter tell Axios.
Why it matters: The senator's doubts reveal an uncomfortable truth for the White House and congressional leaders as they race to finish — and pay for — their nearly $2 trillion social spending and climate package: A tax solution designed to satisfy Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) isn't necessarily acceptable to Manchin.
Steve Bannon's refusal to comply with a subpoena from the Jan. 6 Select Committee overshadows the fact that other key witnesses are providing reams of evidence to investigators.
Why it matters: Four years of investigative stonewalling by the Trump administration had a demoralizing effect on Democrats, leaving the impression congressional accountability is a pipe dream. The quiet compliance shows a committee investigation is still feared — and has some clout.
At least 667,000 Virginians — over 3 1/2 times more than in all of 2017 — have submitted early ballots for the general election taking place next week, according to data from the Democratic data firm TargetSmart.
Why it matters: The state's bellwether governor's race is expected to be close. It's hard to read much from early vote counts, though, given Democrats have generally been more likely to vote early than Republicans, and early voting has become more accessible and popular only recently in the state.
