The Hill Articles: March 31, 2021

California shooting leaves at least 4 dead Ben Shapiro faces backlash for comparing long lines at polls to Disneyland Trump portrait to debut in National Portrait Gallery upon reopening Woman behind $400M scam sentenced to 15 years in prison Biden would back MLB moving All-Star Game out of Georgia Stacey Abrams: Boycotts in Georgia not necessary — yet House Freedom Caucus chair objects to infrastructure proposal Gender reveal party results in two deaths after plane crash Daytime Emmy-winning production designer found dead in home months after going missing Computer error cost DC thousands in taxes on vacant, dilapidated homes DOJ asks for more time to make decision on turning over Trump taxes World Bank commits to implementing global warming policies: Reuters Biden’s dog has bathroom accident in White House hallway Sen. Mark Kelly helps administer vaccines in Arizona North Carolina officer resigns after viral video showed him body-slamming K-9 into car Three Texas teachers on leave after using ‘derogatory and hurtful’ words in test question Pennsylvania police officer filmed TikTok defending the Confederate flag while on duty Delta CEO, Georgia governor spar over state’s voter regulations OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Pentagon unveils policies reversing Trump’s transgender ban l Top US military officer calls Russia, Ukraine over ‘concerns’ about troop buildup Asian Americans pen letter to Ohio Lt. Gov. over tweet that ‘raised the anxiety and fear’ On The Money: Breaking down Biden’s infrastructure plan | Biden eyes tax hikes on corporations, households left alone Biden urges leniency for harsh crack sentences fueled by his crime bill Hillicon Valley: DHS chief lays out actions to boost cybersecurity after major hacks | Facebook removes video of Trump citing suspension from platform | Battle rages over vaccine passports Overnight Health Care: US death rate jumps by nearly 16 percent amid COVID-19 pandemic | Pfizer says vaccine 100 percent effective in kids 12 to 15 | Top Trump adviser pursued his own COVID-19 medical supply deals McConnell pans Biden’s infrastructure plan as a ‘major missed opportunity’ Chip shortage forces Ford to halt production at multiple plants 3 in 4 economists agree: something needs to be done about climate change, and fast Two toddlers dropped over a border barrier and left in New Mexico Pentagon unveils policies reversing Trump’s transgender ban Biden infrastructure proposal prioritizes funds for emerging technologies Virginia governor proposes expediting marijuana legalization 11 witnesses have already given emotional testimony in George Floyd trial US envoy for Yemen has ‘productive’ meetings amid stalling progress Google to begin office reopening in April NY prosecutors subpoena bank records of top Trump Org insider Five takeaways on Biden’s big infrastructure package Lofgren says she’s been briefed on ‘disturbing’ police report on riot From one ‘big house’ to another: DOJ must hold the leaders of Purdue Pharma accountable Graphic footage puts emotional charge into Day 3 of Chauvin trial Education Dept cancels student debt for more than 40k Americans with disabilities Shipments of Johnson & Johnson vaccine halted Cause of Tiger Woods crash won’t be released due to privacy concerns Spy agencies identify neo-Nazi group as ‘domestic extremism concern’ in US Biden makes case for infrastructure proposal: ‘We have to move now’ NIH begins early trials of Moderna vaccine against South African variant Biden declares March 31 Transgender Day of Visibility Gaetz, on the ropes, finds few friends in GOP Everything you should know about the Derek Chauvin trial over George Floyd’s death Biden’s HHS commits another $50M to ad campaign touting expanded health care coverage DHS chief lays out actions to strengthen cybersecurity in wake of major hacks Top US military officer calls Russia, Ukraine over ‘concerns’ about troop buildup Border Patrol canine sniffs out $60,000 worth of drugs hidden in breakfast burritos Washington state Senate passes legislation to ban private, for-profit prisons North Carolina House passes bill to limit governor’s emergency powers Washington state to open first federal vaccination site Native American health clinics, at the forefront of vaccine distribution, offer doses to general public OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Biden proposes billions for electric vehicles, building retrofitting| EPA chief to replace Trump appointees on science advisory panels | Kerry to travel to UAE, India to discuss climate change Key Senate Republican slams Biden plan as ‘wrong approach’ Texas court to review woman’s sentence for illegal voting conviction State Republican AGs sue Biden administration over relief bill Biden’s fast start: Do his first 100 days really matter? Microsoft wins bid to build augmented-reality headsets for US Army Democrats urge Biden to take executive action on assault-style firearms Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticizes Biden’s massive infrastructure plan Democrat Rita Hart withdraws challenge in Iowa House race America’s path forward to building equity in higher education Coca-Cola CEO says Georgia voting law unacceptable and ‘a step backward’ Defense contractor Cubic Corp accepts proposal to go private Robinhood to remove controversial confetti from app Truck carrying radioactive uranium compound crashes, closing North Carolina highway Google must post notices about worker rights following labor board settlement GAO hammers Ivanka Trump’s policy program Sarah Palin encourages mask wearing after revealing COVID-19 diagnosis Witness at Derek Chauvin trial breaks down in tears after video of incident is played Biden to hold first Cabinet meeting on Thursday What happens after one dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine? Vaccine passports will be convenient, but we should keep our privacy top of mind Apple is building a solar energy storage facility in California Poll: Voters split on legalizing marijuana nationwide Yellen calls for US to tackle financial risks after COVID-19 meltdown AP poll finds Biden with 61 percent approval rating France extends COVID-19 lockdown nationwide for one month Facebook removes video of Trump citing his suspension from platform Matt Gaetz’s father backs his claims of extortion plot: report Eliminating the ‘homework gap’ means more than ramping up digital access Asian American, Pacific Islander community least likely to report hate crimes: study Alzheimer’s group launches tool to connect patients with health resources Kentucky libertarian party compares vaccine passports to Holocaust badges Deshaun Watson releases statement from massage therapists supporting him Ex-Sanders aide addresses Ocasio-Cortez comments on progress under Biden What America’s Thinking: March 31, 2021 Cleveland Indians to ban face paint, headdresses at games Citi executive joins Black business leaders in opposing Georgia voting law RNC rolls out ad campaign hitting Democrats over election reform Rick Scott ‘very optimistic’ Grassley will run for another term Gloria Steinem, Halle Berry, more than 400 feminist leaders sign GLAAD open letter for transgender day of visibility NBC’s Lester Holt warns media against giving ‘platform for misinformation’ Bernie Sanders embraces ‘Medicare for More’ Swastikas discovered on Holocaust survivor’s car in Florida Governor signs Voting Rights Act of Virginia Trump attacks Biden over plan to raise corporate tax rate New York man arrested for violently attacking a 65-year-old Filipino woman Michigan man admits beating Black teen with bike chain due to his race FEC complaint accuses Georgia GOP of breaking campaign finance laws Biden’s infrastructure plan includes $18B in VA hospital upgrades Donations for Asian American groups surge after rise in attacks Why diplomacy has not returned Watch live: Biden delivers remarks on the economy, infrastructure plan Peace Corps announces second-ever domestic deployment to assist with vaccination efforts Biden’s EPA purges dozens of Trump’s science advisers Lawmakers call on Biden to put $10 billion toward coastal restoration How to think about infrastructure funding Swiss army to start allowing female soldiers to wear women’s underwear Putin critic Navalny starts hunger strike in jail for proper medical treatment Witness says he didn’t feel safe continuing to work at store after Floyd’s death Biden targets corporations, averts political flashpoints in tax proposal 82 unions and liberal groups call on Biden to create wealth tax Ex-officers acquitted in beating of Black colleague who was undercover at St. Louis protests Third day of Chauvin trial opens with footage of Floyd in convenience store Authorities catch Italian mafia fugitive after finding his YouTube cooking channel SEC chief grabs control New study finds toxic chemicals in water systems across the US Watchdog: EPA does not always follow internal rulemaking process The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by ExxonMobil – Biden moves focus to rebuilding infrastructure COVID-19 was third leading cause of death last year, CDC says Five of the oddest moments from Carlson-Gaetz interview Wisconsin Supreme Court repeals governor’s mask mandate Swift action on green financing is key to combating climate change Supreme Court seems wary of NCAA limits on student-athlete compensation McConnell says Biden called him to discuss infrastructure plan Former NYC mortuary workers charged with stealing credit cards from deceased National Building Museum to reopen with exhibit on gun violence EPA chief to replace Trump appointees on science advisory panels Blue Dogs push House leadership to allow more member input International Criminal Court upholds acquittal of former Ivory Coast president It’s time for a balanced conversation about Medicare Advantage spending Cuomo signs recreational marijuana bill into law Group launches $10M campaign against legislators who back ‘suppression of voting rights’ CDC’s director is wrong — COVID doom is not nigh         Mexican president censures US over State report critical of human rights EU agency finds no clot risk factor in Astrazeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine as more countries halt doses 29 finches discovered in hair rollers in man’s luggage at JFK airport Volkswagen’s ‘Voltswagen’ rebrand was an April Fool’s joke Groups urge FTC to investigate if Google promotes apps violating children’s privacy law Republicans commit to taking lowest road NASA, China exchanged information on Mars orbiters Senators press for answers in Space Command move decision Christy Smith launches congressional campaign, setting up rematch for competitive California House seat Wisconsin Supreme Court rules governor exceeded authority with mask mandate, emergency orders Biden infrastructure plan includes billions for electric vehicles, building retrofitting US death rate jumps by nearly 16 percent GOP leader says Gaetz would lose committee seat if charges true Delta CEO calls Georgia voting law ‘unacceptable’ following calls for boycott A post-COVID reinvention of higher education Soccer star Brandi Chastain: Pay gap’s endurance is ‘mind boggling’ Activists, celebs sign on to GLAAD pro-trans rights open letter Delta to begin selling middle seats What exactly is in Biden’s bold new infrastructure proposal? Biden to let Trump-era visa restrictions expire COVID-19 outbreak reported along China-Myanmar border Is it okay to waste infrastructure dollars? Rising: March 31, 2021 Stocks inch up as details emerge on Biden’s infrastructure plan Watch live: White House COVID-19 response team press briefing 42 percent of Americans feel comfortable attending in-person sports: poll Private sector jobs spike 517K in March: ADP Experts examine underside of ship that was stuck in Suez Canal Poll: Majority of California voters don’t back recall Germany suspends AstraZeneca vaccine for those under 60 Hunter Biden blasts Trump in new book: ‘A vile man with a vile mission’ Huawei says sales rose in 2020, but growth slowed amid US sanctions The power of civil disobedience More than 100 climate groups press Kerry on Wall Street’s role in global warming Pfizer vaccine 100 percent effective in teens Parents raffle off rifle in fundraiser for Florida high school Facebook to give users more control over what is in their newsfeed Swiss ambassador assaulted by intruders at DC residence Jennifer Love Hewitt recalls ‘gross’ questions about her body when she was young actress Britney Spears ‘cried for two weeks’ after viewing parts of Hulu documentary Incentivize public power’s clean energy future Watch live: Day 3 of Derek Chauvin trial Top Trump adviser pursued his own COVID-19 medical supply deals, documents show Kerry to travel to UAE, India to discuss climate change Italy expels Russian Embassy officials for alleged spying Phil Mattingly opens up about CNN, pandemic life and his big break into news Tackling America’s mental health and addiction crisis demands integrated care TikTok star Rochelle Hager killed in accident while on phone with fiancee Learn to speak conversational Spanish from day 1 with Jumpspeak Protect your digital activities with this collection of top-rated VPN services Apple offering paid time off for employees to get vaccinated NFL commissioner Roger Goodell: League expects full stadiums in 2021 Nearly 20 percent say they can’t afford needed health care: poll The US urgently needs a maritime-focused national defense strategy Pavlich: The Democrats next ‘public health’ power grab is coming Overnight Health Care: US joins 13 countries in raising ‘concerns’ with data in WHO team’s virus report | COVID-19’s fourth wave is hitting the US hard | American satisfaction with vaccine rollout surges to 68 percent: poll Ocasio-Cortez on Biden infrastructure plan: ‘Not nearly enough’ NYPD makes arrest in assault of elderly Asian American woman Why the unhinged woke brigade is a profound threat to our freedom Tucker Carlson: Matt Gaetz sexual allegation interview ‘one of weirdest’ he’s done Mellman: Biden’s smart bipartisan message Trump sued by two Capitol Police officers for ‘physical and emotional injuries’ suffered in riots Pfizer says vaccine 100 percent effective in kids 12 to 15 Budowsky: DeSantis medically, politically wrong to defy vaccine passports The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden seeks expanded government, tax hikes Five things to watch on Biden infrastructure plan GOP seeks new line of attack on Biden economic plans Georgia voter limits take root amid weakened Justice Department Battle rages over vaccine passports Biden seeks to learn from Obama errors The Memo: Biden faces risks as COVID-19 cases rise Business groups rethinking value of in-person lobbying High anxiety over Trump in Georgia GOP Both parties look to recruit Asian American candidates as violence against group increases Lobbying world Here’s what’s in Biden’s infrastructure proposal Iranian hackers targeting US, Israeli medical researchers: analysis