The Hill Articles: April 15, 2021

Cruz no longer wearing mask in Capitol China’s economy grew nearly 20 percent in first quarter: report Lawyer for policeman who shot Adam Toledo: ‘Disheartening’ that no one’s asked how the officer’s doing Florida on track to pass ‘anti-riot’ law requiring state approval for decreases to city police budgets Illinois prosecutor didn’t ‘fully inform himself’ on Adam Toledo shooting before testifying Biden administration still seizing land near border despite plans to stop building wall: report Lawmakers demand justice for Adam Toledo: ‘His hands were up. He was unarmed’ Fauci believes Johnson & Johnson vaccine will get back on track ‘quickly’ Pentagon confirms legitimacy of Navy pilot’s unidentified aerial phenomena video Olympics, climate on the agenda for Biden meeting with Japanese PM Boehner on Afghanistan: ‘It’s time to pull out the troops’ New feature on Google Earth shows you the astonishing effects of climate change Illinois House passes bill that would mandate Asian-American history lessons in schools Overnight Defense: Administration says ‘low to moderate confidence’ Russia behind Afghanistan troop bounties | ‘Low to medium risk’ of Russia invading Ukraine in next few weeks | Intelligence leaders face sharp questions during House worldwide threats he Wisconsin Senate leader says state will not legalize marijuana Fyre Festival attendees to get $7K each after class-action settlement OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump official delayed releasing information on cancer-linked chemical in Illinois: watchdog | Advocacy groups say tech giants need to ‘step it up’ on sustainability |  GOP senator: Raising corporate taxes is a ‘non-starter’ Moderates’ $800B infrastructure bill is a tough sell with Democrats UN warns sexual violence being used as war weapon in Ethiopia’s Tigray region Oklahoma lawmaker faces backlash for saying transgender people are mentally ill Climate adaptation: The gaping hole in American environmental policy Industry groups want greater focus on recycling in infrastructure package On The Money: Weekly jobless claims fall to lowest level since lockdowns | Retail sales surge in March | Dow, S&P hit new records Minnesota man arrested for allegedly speeding off while officer’s arm was in car window Brazil doctor says country is underreporting infant COVID-19 deaths House Republican proposes constitutional amendment to prevent Supreme Court expansion Disney announces gender-inclusive dress code changes for cast members The Washington Football team may be finally ready for a new name Why the US will never leave Afghanistan Three Georgia officers injured after suspect opened fire with AK-47 during chase Poll: Biden handling of coronavirus keys positive approval rating Michael Jordan to present Kobe Bryant at Hall of Fame induction ceremony Trump official delayed releasing information on cancer-linked chemical in Illinois: watchdog Maryland could become the next state to outlaw the ‘gay panic’ defense 3 ways to invest in Latin America to curb migration Overnight Health Care: Johnson & Johnson delay prompts criticism of CDC panel | Pfizer CEO says third dose of COVID-19 vaccine ‘likely’ needed within one year | CDC finds less than 1 percent of fully vaccinated people got COVID-19 Hillicon Valley: Biden administration sanctions Russia for SolarWinds hack, election interference CBS merges news division with local TV stations Biden calls for dialogue with Russia amid raft of sanctions Florida’s new ban on transgender students in sports would allow schools to subject minors to genital inspections Biden can make history on nuclear arms reductions Biden nominates his first slate of ambassadors McCarthy hails ‘whole-of-government approach’ to climate Arkansas state House votes to end ‘Confederate Flag Day’ House passes bill to combat gender pay gap Kellyanne Conway joins Ohio Senate candidate’s campaign Sinema, Romney propose bill to tackle student loan debt Daunte Wright protester winks at camera in viral clip: I brought ‘soup for my family’ How cities are funding expensive green infrastructure with stormwater Amazon union vote marks crucial victory in battle for worker rights Zelensky to meet with France, Germany on Russia tensions California opens vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 and up Federal judge approves R. Kelly move to New York for sex-trafficking trial Ocasio-Cortez says she disagrees with holding up infrastructure over SALT Coronavirus ‘hug curtain’ image named World Press Photo of the Year NH governor will let mask mandate expire on Friday Musical tribute to Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger planned for next month Florida education official tells school districts to make masks optional next year Capitol Police watchdog paints damning picture of Jan. 6 failures Twitter permanently suspends Project Veritas’s James O’Keefe For the first time, scientists have created embryos that are part human and part monkey Missouri state senator proposes ‘Rush Limbaugh Day’ Officer wounded in raid that killed Breonna Taylor gets book deal Let’s close the park equity divide 4 in 10 transgender women in seven major US cities have HIV: CDC New study finds the last places on Earth with undamaged ecosystems Bodycam footage shows fatal police shooting at Ohio emergency room Democrats reintroduce bill to block US from using nuclear weapons first Bodycam footage of officer fatally shooting 13-year-old released Local governments need long overdue infrastructure funding NASA’s Mars lander is in emergency hibernation — and it could die Chicago mayor urges calm amid release of shooting video Pfizer booster shot likely needed within 12 months, CEO says DOJ asks Supreme Court to decline to hear suit claiming all-male draft is discriminatory Progressive lawmakers press DHS chief on immigration detention NBA names Obama alum to be director for social justice initiatives McCarthy says Gaetz won’t be punished unless charges filed Pat Robertson: Chauvin should be put ‘under the jail’ NIH to make announcement on fetal tissue research policy amid Trump-era restrictions Johnson & Johnson delay prompts criticism of CDC panel What do George Floyd, Caron Nazario and Daunte Wright teach about policing? The US should help Palestinians vote regardless of potential outcomes Sarah Huckabee Sanders raised $4.8M for her gubernatorial campaign in two months Interior Department to reconvene council on Native American issues Officer who shot Daunte Wright makes initial court appearance Trump backs Wyoming GOP chair, citing Cheney censure Idaho woman says garbage bag full of feces was left in her front yard, Biden flag torn down House committee approves Big Tech antitrust blueprint Maxine Waters cuts off Jim Jordan, Fauci sparring at hearing: ‘Shut your mouth’ Pence undergoes surgery to receive pacemaker What America’s Thinking: April 15, 2021 Senators reintroduce bill to block NATO withdrawal Man charged with hate crimes in suspected arson of Black church in Massachusetts Top general: ‘Low to medium risk’ of Russia invading Ukraine in next few weeks Washington state moves to prevent sale or movement of ‘murder hornets’ A ‘Gray New Deal’ to restore America Watch live: Biden delivers remarks on Russia Intelligence leaders face sharp questions during House worldwide threats hearing Business groups oppose Paycheck Fairness Act, citing concerns it could threaten bonuses and negotiating DC police on Capitol’s west side called for help 17 times during riot: report Missouri city agrees to pay settlement in lawsuit over role in inmate’s death New US sanctions further chill Biden-Putin relations Pfizer CEO: Third dose of COVID-19 vaccine ‘likely’ needed within 1 year Body of missing LSU student found in Mississippi River Lawmakers launch bipartisan caucus on SALT deduction Union leader: ‘Amazon left no stone unturned’ in unionization fight Big bank CEOS to testify before Congress in May VMI appoints first Black superintendent in wake of recent allegations of racism UK summons Russian ambassador over cyberattacks, Ukraine CEO who gave employees $70K minimum wage says revenue tripled 6 years later We need Kristen Clarke and diverse officials for the Justice Department Sanders: Trump was right about ‘trying to end endless wars’ Man facing hate crime, arson charges in fire at predominantly Black church GOP senator: Raising corporate taxes is a ‘non-starter’ Fauci, Jim Jordan spar over pandemic restrictions Watch Live: Biden, Harris meet with Asian Pacific American Caucus Executive Committee McCarthy and Biden haven’t spoken since election Most say ‘not guilty’ verdict in Chauvin trial would be step backward for race relations: poll The science of hugging, and why we’re missing it so much during the pandemic How can colleges recover their civic souls? Baltimore woman wore wedding dress to get COVID-19 vaccination CNN’s Lemon defends network from ‘boys’ club’ criticism Man is suing federal government so he can sell his own organs Trump effort to allow drilling on 128M acres of Atlantic and Arctic oceans ended by court decision ABC News local stations president leaving company Canadian MP apologizes after being spotted nude on camera during virtual meeting Biden administration releasing $39B to help early childhood educators, child care providers Democrats roll out legislation to expand Supreme Court Pulmonologist: Claim that carbon monoxide could’ve contributed to George Floyd’s death ‘simply wrong’ Gallup editor discusses America’s growing optimism on COVID-19 Inmates are rising up in US jails and prisons over lethal COVID-19 conditions Biden can decarbonize electricity with these quick wins Treasury: Manafort associate passed ‘sensitive’ campaign data to Russian intelligence Chelsea Clinton: Pics of Trump getting vaccinated would help him ‘claim credit’ Poll: Confidence in Johnson & Johnson vaccine drops after CDC pauses use The Hill’s 12:30 Report: CDC identifies 5.8K COVID cases of 66M vaccinated Judge warns of mistrial in Chauvin case if prosecution witness even ‘hints’ at ‘newly discovered evidence’ 100 Nobel laureates urge Biden to make COVID-19 vaccines patent-free What’s making the LGBTQ community sick? To start, discrimination and trauma Pelosi nudges Biden on accepting more refugees Busch holding $20,000 contest to hire pup to promote its Dog Brew India’s COVID-19 situation is raging out of control with 200,000 cases in a single day Expert says we should be using ‘garlic-breath’ test to fight COVID-19 Delta announces $1.2 billion first quarter loss Pelosi says she won’t bring bill to expand Supreme Court to the floor CDC finds less than 1 percent of fully vaccinated people got COVID-19 US-Japan alliance in full bloom West Virginia governor plans to sign bill restricting transgender athletes Grassley: Iowa can’t afford to be ‘babysitting’ unaccompanied minors David Hasselhoff’s daughter becomes first plus-size cover model in Playboy history Substack offering up to $100,000 advances to local journalists Four dead in Baghdad car bombing 1,500 rabbis accuse ADL of ‘grossly misplaced charges of anti-Semitism’ in attack on Tucker Carlson Derek Chauvin won’t testify at his murder trial over the death of George Floyd Wall Street spent $2.9B on campaigns, lobbying in 2020 election: study Buchanan to seek top GOP position on Ways and Means Committee Defense rests as Chauvin murder trial adjourns for the week Watch live: White House press briefing ‘Just say no’ just won’t work for Senate Republicans Biden administration says with ‘low to moderate confidence’ Russia behind Afghanistan troop bounties Bodycam video of Chicago police shooting 13-year-old to be released Thursday Biden must compel China and Russia to act on climate Biden has nearly 90-point approval gap between Democrats, Republicans: poll House Republicans circulate memo on legislative concepts targeting Big Tech Biden aide: Ability to collect daily intel in Afghanistan ‘will diminish’ Worries grow over GOP reluctance to take vaccines Biden’s UN Ambassador says white supremacy is woven into America’s founding documents and principles Watch live: Capitol Police inspector general testifies on riot Biden’s EPA gets serious about funding environmental justice Interior delays consideration of opening public Alaska lands to development Watch live: Democrats introduce legislation to expand Supreme Court France urges citizens to leave Pakistan after threats Pandemic helps boost rhino population in Nepal Watch live: Pelosi holds weekly press conference Chauvin invokes Fifth Amendment, won’t testify in defense Bezos to Amazon shareholders: ‘We need to do a better job for employees’ Experts say coronavirus itself could cause blood clots more often than vaccines amid arguments to end pause Meeting with Biden is a chance for Japan to condemn genocide in China Watch live: McCarthy press briefing Fourth straight night of clashes between protesters and police after fatal shooting of Daunte Wright Rising: April 15, 2021 Carlson hits back at Fauci: ‘Never for a minute doubted’ vaccines work Iran finalizes deal to purchase 60 million COVID-19 vaccines from Russia Reuters to adopt paywall Leaving Afghanistan: Is it victory or defeat? Oklahoma Senate passes protections for drivers who hit protesters blocking roadways New York Philharmonic gives first public performance in more than a year Ivanka Trump’s vaccination sparks backlash among her fans House advances bill to create commission on national slavery reparations American withdrawal need not return Afghanistan to the Taliban DOJ steps up antitrust probe of American Airlines-JetBlue partnership: report Baylor refuses championship Jeep after dealer’s remark about ‘hood’ All new US vehicles could be required to be electric by 2035, new study says Dow, S&P 500 set records on strong retail, jobless data Black Lives Matter activist charged with anti-Asian hate crime Leader of anti-coup campaign arrested in Myanmar Watch live: Fauci, other health officials testify on pandemic Vaccine halt highlights pitfalls of effective public health policy Chelsea Clinton calls on Facebook to ban Tucker Carlson Three teachers resign over assignment asking students how to punish slaves Watch live: Defense expected to rest its case in Derek Chauvin trial McAuliffe raises $4.1 million in first quarter Digital divides could disconnect the world ‘Buddy’ the beefalo escapes slaughterhouse, spends 8 months on the lam and will retire in Florida Retail sales surge 9.8 percent in March, spurred by stimulus Weekly jobless claims fall to lowest level since lockdowns Pelosi rips McConnell in new book: He’s an ‘enabler of some of the worst stuff’ Self provides credit-building approaches for people from all walks of life Japan official says Tokyo Olympics could still be canceled Save $50 on the highly coveted 8th-generation iPad Bipartisan measure can expedite development of therapies for rare diseases CNN news crew attacked while covering Minnesota police protests Oxford study shows higher clotting risks from COVID than vaccines Biden administration sanctions Russia for SolarWinds hack, election interference Panic porn: Did the CDC, FDA pour more doubt into vaccines after Johnson & Johnson pause? Blinken makes surprise visit to Afghanistan after withdrawal announcement Dozens arrested after manslaughter charge announced against officer in Daunte Wright shooting Russia vows response to any ‘illegal’ US sanctions Serious about climate change? Get serious about agriculture The government needs to get out of its own way on climate change The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Tax March – CDC in limbo on J&J vax verdict; Rep. Brady retiring Tax policy helped power-sector emissions fall 40 percent, can do more Democrats brace for new ‘defund the police’ attacks Republican lawmakers reintroduce bill to ban TikTok on federal devices Schumer lays groundwork for future filibuster reform Unions struggle to secure wins under Biden Advocates hammer Biden over landlords defying eviction ban Instagram sparks new concerns over ‘kidfluencer’ culture Democrats battle over best path for Puerto Rico Advocacy groups say tech giants need to ‘step it up’ on sustainability