The Hill Articles: August 19, 2021

Rice University announces switch to online classes for beginning of school year Arizona Senate must release election audit records: court Kentucky hospitals reaching ‘critical point’: governor Ken Klippenstein: Officials concerned that Taliban could use data from seized biometrics devices Professors at women’s HBCU refuse to teach in person due to COVID-19 concerns Larry David, Alan Dershowitz get into verbal altercation at grocery store Texas House Democrats end standoff, paving way for election overhaul Taliban calls on Afghan Muslim leaders to urge unity amid protests, fleeing citizens State Dept. will not charge for evacuation flights from Afghanistan St. Louis County prohibited from enforcing mask mandate UNICEF: 1B children at high risk of climate change implications UNICEF: Nearly half of world’s children at ‘extremely high risk’ of climate change impacts Oklahoma woman helps evacuate girls on Afghan robotics team We learned the value of telehealth during the pandemic: Congress must act now to extend it Overnight Defense: Chaos at the gates as Kabul evacs enter fifth day The Memo: Biden’s worst week raises big questions Greg Abbott undergoes antibody COVID-19 treatment following diagnosis Johnson & Johnson CEO to leave role in January Overnight Energy: Judge blocks permits for Alaska oil project Ex-fiancee of GOP recall candidate Larry Elder says he waved gun at her Harris traveling to Singapore, Vietnam amid Afghanistan turmoil 14M face severe hunger in Afghanistan amid conflict: World Food Program Hillicon Valley: Feds lay down marker in Facebook fight Iowa woman gets 25 years for trying to kill two children over their race US diplomats warned Blinken in July country could fall to Taliban: report Fox News requires employees to provide vaccination status Old Navy is unveiling a new size-inclusive, equal price campaign called ‘BODEQUALITY’ Pence headlines fundraiser for Youngkin in Virginia governor’s race Overnight Health Care: WH says more than one million vaccine doses administered in 24 hours | Texas faces tipping point as COVID-19 spreads | House Democrats press insulin manufacturers for lower prices Authorities say no bomb but materials discovered after threat near Capitol Texas won’t enforce ban on school mask mandates amid litigation, agency says Condemned Salem witch could be pardoned 328 years later Lawmakers flooded with calls for help on Afghanistan exit ‘Reverse zoo’ locks visitors in cages so lions can watch them Federal judge blocks Kentucky governor’s school mask mandate On The Money: White House rules out extension of pandemic jobless aid | Treasury: Few small business owners will see tax hikes GOP senator calls on Biden to fire Sullivan, national security team Man who claimed to have a bomb parked outside Library of Congress surrenders Poll: Majority say US didn’t do enough to quickly evacuate Americans, Afghan allies Kinzinger on GOP lawmaker’s Capitol bomb threat statement: ‘Evil’ The Hill’s Sustainability Report: Battle for ozone layer bought time for climate In light of sobering IPCC report, how can we address increasing flood risks? Jim Jordan asks DHS for docs as agency considers new social media monitoring Former University of Miami football player charged in teammate’s 2006 murder Government suspends permit for controversial Louisiana plastics plant GOP rift opens up over resettling Afghan refugees Women in the military are twice as likely to die by suicide than those who aren’t serving. The military’s culture is partly to blame Judge signs off on $850 million Boy Scouts sex abuse deal 10 reasons to hate the bipartisan ‘infrastructure’ bill Georgia bars local governments from enacting mask, vaccine mandates We’ve asked so much of our nurses, it’s time to give them reinforcements Austin music festival to require proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test PETA urges Utah zoo to shut down animal exhibits following alligator attack Putin at summit with Biden objected to US plan of bases near Afghanistan: report Justice Department orders revamp of inmates’ federal accounts We can save our coasts with a $10 billion investment Forty-four Republican senators demand Durham report be made public Beaches flying new shark flags after record number sighted in NY waters Three senators announce positive COVID-19 tests in single day Hostess issues nationwide recall for burger, hotdog buns over salmonella and listeria risks Congressional staff pay is still too low What America’s Thinking: August 19, 2021 Foreign lobbyists donated over $33M during 2020 election: report Mississippi sees 20,000 students quarantined following first week of school Oregon mandates COVID-19 vaccines for K-12 staff Sackler family denies responsibility for opioid crisis that has killed nearly 500k in US Younger children more likely to spread COVID-19 to households than older kids: study Why Biden and Congress can mandate masks if governors refuse to act Relative of journalist working for German broadcaster killed by Taliban New report says US government deliberately targeted Black Lives Matter Biden admin cancels student debt for borrowers with severe disabilities OnlyFans to ban ‘sexually-explicit conduct’ in October Facebook removes account of Capitol-area bomb threat suspect Chaos mars Afghan evacuation efforts; Biden criticism builds The Powell Doctrine could have helped us avoid the Afghanistan debacle Alabama now in ‘uncharted territory’ as state overwhelmed by COVID-19 spike 55 bipartisan senators call on Biden to ‘immediately evacuate’ Afghans who helped US Suspect taken into custody after claiming to have bomb near Capitol Puerto Rico orders businesses to require proof of vaccination Yellen, Walsh rule out extension of pandemic jobless aid Meghan McCain rails against Biden over Afghanistan, calls him ‘Jimmy Carter on acid’ Fracking linked to surface water quality for first time in new study Activists win legal victory in battle over notorious ‘Cancer Alley’ The purpose of a corporation is to seek profits, not popularity Watchdog group urges Jan. 6 committee to question Republican AGs Treasury: Few small business owners will see tax hikes under Biden proposal Even if you’re vaccinated, you could be infected with as much virus as someone who is unvaccinated Save $100 on lifetime subscription to CuriosityStream’s mind-expanding documentary service CDC director: Annual COVID-19 dose after booster not anticipated Coronavirus hospitalizations among those under 50 hits new high To get the doctors we need, expand their opportunities to train Court strikes down Biden immigration enforcement priorities Welcome to ground zero of climate chaos Dolly Parton on helping fund vaccine development: ‘I knew something bad was on the rise’ US flies F/A-18 fighter jets over Kabul as evacuation continues Two senators test positive in breakthrough COVID-19 cases Sanders traveling to Iowa, Indiana to pitch Biden’s spending package Biden’s bold plan will close more than the digital divide Afghanistan fiasco proves we didn’t leave soon enough Texas woman who took private plane to Jan. 6 riot pleads guilty to misdemeanor Governor’s mandate may force football coach to get vaccinated White House: More than one million vaccine doses administered in past 24 hours McAuliffe fires back at Youngkin with ad touting support from law enforcement New ‘Jeopardy’ host apologizes for sexist comments in podcast T-Mobile admits massive security breach exposing more than 40M people More than 323K disabled borrowers to receive automatic student loan forgiveness CDC creating disease forecasting center to gauge emerging threats Taliban declare ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’ Tropical Storm Henri set to hit New England EU foreign policy chief: Taliban takeover of Afghanistan a ‘catastrophe’ Earth’s hottest month on record: In the US, the West burned while the East flooded Two more Americans struck with mysterious Havana syndrome Restaurants sue over NYC vaccine mandate: ‘arbitrary and capricious’ Environmental group sues to declare ‘toxic time bomb’ PVC a hazardous waste The Hill’s 12:30 Report — Presented by AT&T — Former CDC director previews a tough school year ahead From COVID to Kabul, international mismanagement of crises GOP Sen. Roger Wicker tests positive in COVID-19 ‘breakthrough’ case People traveling through airport checkpoints at 10-week low Singapore deporting British man after conviction for not wearing mask GOP senator urges Biden to renominate Jerome Powell American Airlines says no alcohol in coach cabins until 2022 School board president praised a ruling that the team name does not violate laws against discrimination Taliban spokesperson says China could contribute to Afghanistan’s development Two arrested at Nashville airport after reportedly refusing to wear masks on separate flights Young Afghan soccer player among those dead after clinging to US evacuation plane Israel loosening restrictions on blood donations from gay men Environmental controversy erupts over Obama’s presidential library With Haiti in chaos, we must rewrite the script on disaster aid FTC revamps Facebook antitrust lawsuit after initial setback Sixty-one percent of households owed no federal income taxes last year: analysis FAA calling for $500K in fines against unruly airline passengers Amazon planning large physical retail stores: report BIPOC lives really do matter in new census report FAA proposed fines for unruly passengers in 2021 exceed $1M First witness in R. Kelly trial says she had sex with him when she was 16 House members to urge FDA to remove in-person requirement for abortion medication Taliban commander rules out democracy in Afghanistan: ‘It is Sharia law and that is it’ Biden administration launches review of coal leasing on federal lands Taliban intensify search for Afghans who aided US: report China’s challenge to the global economic recovery DOJ tells court that Missouri gun law unconstitutional House Democrats press insulin manufacturers for lower prices One US airport is home to 1,300 endangered snakes Scientists show that cuddling with a dog significantly improves your well-being No Labels praises moderate Democrats threatening to derail budget resolution Dozens of Illinois school districts on probation for defying governor’s mask mandates Wildfire burns across Sierra Nevada for first time in recorded history In surprise move, Amazon will open large department stores in multiple states Capitol Police negotiating with man seen with possible detonator near Capitol Recognize, fund and support Afghan peacebuilders now Rising: August 19, 2021 Boebert discloses husband’s earnings as consultant for energy firm Facebook launches virtual reality office space as part of ‘metaverse’ plan University of California vowing more equity, transparency in campus policing Michigan bill seeks to bar employers, including hospitals, from requiring vaccines More than 2,000 have died from Haiti earthquake Biden ignores Congress to increase SNAP 35 missing in North Carolina flooding California school district requiring vaccines for eligible students in possible first for state New AP poll finds two-thirds don’t think Afghanistan War was worth fighting WHO blasts plans for vaccine booster shots as immoral International response to Haiti’s earthquake must avoid 2010 mistakes Biden says he will get COVID-19 booster House Intel Committee to receive briefing on Afghanistan Build a better business with lifetime entrepreneur assistance for less than $100 Another Texas school district adds masks to dress code Weekly jobless claims fall 29K to new post-lockdown low Nicole Kidman granted Hong Kong quarantine exemption for TV series South Carolina GOP to hold Myrtle Beach event showcasing 2024 hopefuls Senators call on Taiwan for aid in automotive chip shortage Groups call on Apple to drop plans to scan children’s messages Toyota cutting production due to chip shortage, COVID-19 surge Biden says he doesn’t believe the Taliban have changed Biden might prefer you didn’t, but pay attention to the Venezuela negotiations Washington state requiring all teachers, school staff to be vaccinated Florida’s largest school district mandates masks in defiance of DeSantis Biden denies military commanders recommended he leave troops in Afghanistan July was a Frankenstein month created by the fossil fuel industry Fewer Americans say they are drinking alcohol: Gallup Several people killed during rally in Afghanistan: report Facing the facts in Afghanistan As child hospitalizations rise, leaders must act now The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by AT&T – Biden: US military stays in Afghanistan until last American is out Billions in US weaponry seized by Taliban The Memo: Prolonged COVID-19 war scrambles political landscape Texas faces tipping point as COVID-19 spreads Jake Sullivan becomes public face of Biden’s crisis on Afghanistan