The Hill Articles: December 30, 2020

Trump to cut Florida trip short, return to Washington on Thursday Merkel says 2020 was her most difficult year in office Serial killer Samuel Little who confessed to more than 90 murders dies in California hospital Wisconsin hospital says employee intentionally discarded coronavirus vaccine vials New Mexico fines two megachurches $10K each over packed Christmas Eve services Intel vice chair says government agency cyber attack ‘may have started earlier’ Ossoff slams Loeffler criticism of Warnock: She’s ‘been campaigning with a Klansman’ Secret Service making changes to presidential detail amid concerns current members are aligned with Trump: report Trump administration declassifies unconfirmed intelligence on China bounties on US forces in Afghanistan: report Friends and colleagues mourn loss of Louisiana Rep.-elect Luke Letlow Los Angeles County coronavirus deaths reach 10,000 total Census Bureau to miss deadline for first time: report Key test vote on Trump veto override set for Friday Canada to require negative coronavirus test for air travelers entering country Mom who gave birth while intubated with coronavirus makes ICU nurse godmother Texas’ most populous county tells residents to ‘cancel all gatherings’ for New Year’s ‘The Office’ star Angela Kinsey tests positive for COVID-19 Biden team asks Senate Democrats to recommend public defenders, civil rights lawyers for federal bench AstraZeneca vaccine likely won’t be authorized in US until April Alleged Boy Scout sex abuse victims sue LDS church, accusing leaders of cover-up New more contagious COVID-19 variant discovered in California Los Angeles residents attempt to block Christian singer from holding maskless concerts New York reports record number of daily COVID-19 positives Jeff Stein: Battle over $2K direct payments ‘putting tremendous pressure’ on Republican caucus Nearly every inmate at Alaska’s biggest prison has contracted COVID-19 NH GOP governor cancels inauguration ceremony, citing concerns over armed anti-mask protests Former Sanders spokesperson outlines how House progressives can force a Medicare for All vote GOP lawmaker thinks 100 Republicans could challenge Electoral College results More contagious coronavirus variant found in California, governor says Democrats push regulator to scrap proposed rule forcing banks to serve oil, gun companies Here are the Republicans planning to challenge the Electoral College results Dow closes at record in year-end rally Two big ideas for President Biden Black man wrongfully detained by maskless officer tests positive for COVID-19 days after incident Biden transition says more than half of 100 WH aides are people of color Sex workers warn of unintended consequences in Section 230 fight California to vaccinate teachers, increase student testing in bid to reopen schools Kentucky governor comes out in support of $2,000 stimulus checks New York will allow 6,700 fans at first Buffalo Bills home playoff game There must be accountability in the failed federal coronavirus response $2K stimulus checks bill blocked in Senate for second day McConnell signals House $2,000 stimulus checks bill won’t pass Senate CDC says new coronavirus variant has likely been transmitting person-to-person in the US Biden’s priorities will fail unless tackled together Now is the time to do big things Kemp dismisses Trump’s call to resign as ‘a distraction’ Walmart issues apology for tweet calling Hawley ‘sore loser’ after his pledge to contest Biden’s win Actress who played Mary Ann on ‘Gilligan’s Island’ dies of coronavirus Georgia voters flood polls ahead of crucial Senate contests The principal who inspired the movie ‘Lean on Me’ has died Several attendees at Republican club’s viral holiday party test positive for COVID-19: report Biden must make China more accountable for its Belt and Road Initiative Steven Soderbergh working on sequel to pandemic hit ‘Contagion’ Study from China’s CDC suggests Wuhan may have had 10 times as many COVID-19 cases as reported Health officials defend slow pace of coronavirus vaccinations Congress gave unemployed workers an early present — but Santa forgot states and cities Amazon acquiring podcast startup Wondery Biden aims to freeze Trump’s ‘midnight regulations’ NJ Democrat-turned-Republican to object to Electoral College count Oregon salon owner sues governor, state agencies over coronavirus restrictions Biden expected to name remaining Cabinet nominees in 2021 Three Moderna vaccine shipments to Texas held back due to temperature problems Electoral College action by Congress should be a formality, Biden team says The books about Donald Trump that will never be written by his loyalists President Obama, John Legend cut new ad for Jon Ossoff Colorado investigating possible second case of coronavirus variant in National Guard members The media didn’t change after 2016 — will they make the same mistake after 2020? At current pace, vaccinating Americans adequately for COVID-19 will take 10 years Maryland House leader pledges repeal of state song over Confederate imagery Ohio inmate who survived execution attempt died of possible COVID-19 complications Apple and Tik Tok ban app that promotes parties during COVID-19 surges ‘How can you not get upset about dead dolphins:’ New fatal skin disease linked to climate crisis California police department investigating after video shows officer punching police dog ER nurse tests positive for COVID-19 a week after getting vaccine Pelosi announces creation of select committee on economic inequality Eastern Europe’s energy independence is the work of generations What America’s Thinking: December 30, 2020 Dr. Drew tests positive for COVID-19 Pelosi to seat Iowa Republican as Democratic challenger contests election results Space Force delays $12B deal with contractor after court rules company acted fraudulently: report US flies two B-52 bombers to Middle East ahead of possible Iranian attack Trump reportedly planning huge New Year’s Eve bash at Mar-a-Lago amid surging COVID-19 cases Not to ruin the party, but the 2021 forecast is nightmarish Some states are ignoring federal recommendations and vaccinating the elderly before essential workers Trump Georgia rally could backfire, electing Ossoff and Warnock Gingrich begs McConnell to set up vote on $2,000 checks Climate-fueled disasters accelerated in 2020 —we need a national resilience plan, fast Dozens of Cuban migrants protest at US-Mexico border, seek asylum Pelosi presses McConnell to allow vote on bill for $2,000 stimulus checks Biden to nominate first female deputy Defense secretary Hong Kong protesters who tried to flee to Taiwan sentenced to prison in China Getting it right and getting it wrong: Taking stock of 2020 Trump administration may place Cuba on terrorism list: report Appeals court sends lawsuit over House subpoena for Trump records back to lower court Bidens to appear on ‘New Years Rockin’ Eve’ Hawley to challenge Electoral College results in Senate Checks and balances work well with the Supreme Court and the election Wind power accounts for more than half of UKs electricity for first time House of Commons approves Brexit trade deal Japan’s challenges in the next year are greater than its opportunities Rising: December 30, 2020 UK health secretary says AstraZeneca approval provides enough vaccine orders for nation’s ‘whole population’ Trump administration to halt imports from Malaysian palm oil company over forced labor allegations UAE reports new daily high in coronavirus cases, detects new variant Louisville to terminate officers in Breonna Taylor raid, including one who fired fatal shot The fight begins over first primary of 2024 presidential contest ESPN’s Herbstreit to call Sugar Bowl from home after coronavirus diagnosis Trump calls on Georgia Gov. Kemp to resign Stocks rise in final days of 2020 UN says Trump Blackwater pardons violate international law Watch live: Pelosi holds press briefing California sets new coronavirus daily death record with 442 Convicted spy Jonathan Pollard welcomed in Israel Why we ‘send them money’ California nurse tests positive for COVID-19 before receiving second vaccine dose: report Explosion at airport kills at least 16 in Yemen What we must do to prevent the next SolarWinds hack Argentina Senate approves bill legalizing abortion US hits new daily high with 3,725 coronavirus deaths Texas Gov. Abbott urges speedy vaccinations, says doses ‘sitting on hospital shelves’ China’s Sinopharm reports coronavirus vaccine is 79 percent effective Biden, Harris to hit campaign trail in Georgia in final days before Senate runoffs Texas shatters daily coronavirus case record with nearly 27K tally Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine approved for emergency use in UK Meet the brand making skincare routines work for men Save an extra 20% on an adjustable standing desk to improve remote work in 2021 Stimulus check, veto override debates weigh on Georgia Senate runoffs Senate poised to override Trump’s defense bill veto Nursing homes hit early roadblocks in massive vaccine campaign Pace of vaccinations falls short of estimates, prompting alerts Biden faces challenges from Brexit 7 surprise moments from a tumultuous year in politics A vaccine, a Burrito and more: 7 lighter, memorable moments from 2020