The Hill Articles: February 17, 2022

Illinois state House Democrats vote to remove Republicans refusing to comply with mask mandate American-born Chinese skier Eileen Gu wins gold in halfpipe event Beijing Olympics spokesperson calls reports of human rights abuses against Uyghurs ‘lies’ Starbucks union activist says his location has a turnover rate of 140 percent Protect your AirPods with this 4-piece accessory kit Katie Halper discusses allegations against former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo Judge to dismiss challenge to Arkansas legislative maps unless DOJ joins case Ukrainian bobsledder is third Olympian to test positive for doping Blinken accepts invite to meet with Russian counterpart Senate passes resolution supporting Ukraine amid invasion fears Build business through Amazon Web Services with this 9-course bundle for only $30 Three baby formulas recalled by Abbott Nutrition amid warnings from FDA Ex-Trump lawyer Sidney Powell sues Verizon to try to block Jan. 6 subpoena Arkansas to raise wages for state employees by 2 percent Overnight Energy & Environment — Greens target Texas Democrat over oil ties On The Money — Congress averts government shutdown Rogan’s Spotify deal worth $200 million, double initial reports: NYT Nearly half of US bald eagle population suffers from lead poisoning, study finds Overnight Health Care — CDC: Anime convention not a superspreader Bucking the anti-China trend Senate passes bill to avert government shutdown 19 Austin officers indicted, $10M in settlements approved over 2020 protest injuries High rates of burnout among college mental health counselors is compromising quality of care, survey says Senators struggle to present unified front against Russia British PM calls attack on Ukrainian kindergarten a false flag operation The Memo: Risks grow for Biden as Ukraine crisis spirals Police say plans prepared for ‘imminent’ action against protesters in Ottawa McCarthy endorses Cheney primary challenger Gas pipeline regulators to consider climate impacts for new projects New Mexico, Washington join states lifting indoor mask mandates Hillicon Valley — FBI forms crypto unit Former Angels employee convicted in overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs Effective government requires regular budgets Stocks slump amid growing fears of Russia-Ukraine conflict Overnight Defense & National Security — Russia-Ukraine conflict reaches fever pitch Lou Dobbs says he would be excited for Jim Jordan as House speaker, calls McCarthy a ‘RINO’ These states sent the most athletes to the Winter Olympic Games Shuttered Massachusetts coal plant to be transformed into renewable energy manufacturing center Clean energy bill can curb long-term inflation Equilibrium/Sustainability — Microplastics make pollutants more toxic CDC: NYC anime convention was not a superspreader event CEO of Penguin Random House donates $500,000 to fight book bans Sergeant-at-arms says all members of Congress can attend State of the Union Trump backs Texas Republican who defeated his favored candidate in runoff UK cancels ‘golden visas’ program over concerns of illicit money and fraud Democrat Mucarsel-Powel rules out rematch with Gimenez in Florida Pilot program offers up to $25,000 to first-generation homeowners in Rhode Island Sports minister says Djokovic can compete at Italian Open Clinton tears into GOP, Fox News at NY Democratic convention Cuban American Bar Association leaders endorse Ketanji Brown Jackson for SCOTUS Bring back the talking filibuster and put an end to partisan gridlock Autistic children three times more likely to report negative changes during pandemic, study says Al Sharpton on Amir Locke: Only guilty of ‘being young and Black in America’ Oz, McCormick to skip Pennsylvania Republican Senate debate Democrats press IRS to address backlogs, improve customer service during filing season Manchin: White House acknowledges inflation is major concern Ukraine, Poland and UK agree on accord to combat Russian aggression When it comes to climate action, governments must retake the lead Conservatives dig in as Senate struggles to get shutdown deal US to increase COVID-19 vaccination help for 11 African countries NASCAR names first black director of the Daytona 500 The longer Trump’s China tariffs are in place, the greater the harm to America Judge rules Trump, children must comply with NY AG’s subpoena for testimony DC mayor’s job approval drops amid concerns over crime: poll Michele Tafoya on critical race theory: ‘Breaks my heart’ kids taught ‘that skin color matters’ Biden administration proposes eliminating barriers in ‘public charge’ rule Television leads in telling LGBTQ+ stories: report Students sue Missouri school over banned books Students say Yale, Stanford, MIT and Vanderbilt’s fossil fuel investments are illegal in new campaign Papa John’s founder confirmed to speak at CPAC Crisis standards of care ended in Colorado amid falling COVID-19 cases Model with Down syndrome featured in Victoria’s Secret campaign for the first time Gates says polio eradication in Pakistan possible in coming years The driving force behind Medicare Part B’s price increase was blunted—the price hike should be, too School apologizes for ‘Stuff Some Adults Don’t Want You to Read’ sign in library Joy Behar ‘might’ wear a mask in public ‘indefinitely,’ she says Nissan to build two new EV models in Mississippi Rand Paul threatens to block Ukraine-Russia resolution  Firefighters sue over ‘forever chemicals’ in gear Judge orders mental health evaluation for suspect in fatal Virginia college shooting Trump endorses candidate accused of ‘cruel and aggressive conduct’ toward estranged husband’s daughter Trump’s accounting firm has cut ties with him — here’s why the GOP can’t do the same Eric Adams’s first budget as NYC mayor leaves police funding flat California shifting to ‘endemic’ approach to COVID-19 FBI to form new cryptocurrency unit California lawmaker introduces bill of rights for cats, dogs Biden weighs temporary protected status for Afghans Beijing Olympics Winter 2022 Highlights Democrats ask GSA to consider canceling Trump DC hotel lease Paul: ‘No reason’ anyone should have to wear a mask while flying ‘Crack pipes’ aren’t the problem — stigmatizing harm reduction is Biden touts infrastructure law with vulnerable Democrat in Ohio 400,000 Teslas investigated over braking LePage approved to run for third term as Maine governor Ford, Volvo partner with startup to revitalize old electric vehicle batteries McConnell: Black Lives Matter bailing out shooting suspect in Kentucky ‘jaw-dropping’ California state lawmakers unveil bills to combat violence, harassment in public spaces Signs the coronavirus is becoming endemic Britt in new ad tells ‘boys in Washington’ to ‘man up’ Our mineral supply chain is a national security imperative Lawyer indicted in Durham probe asks court to dismiss charge Last US troops arrive in Poland Multiple celebrities backing Kenyatta in Pennsylvania Senate race Senate Judiciary chair wants Supreme Court pick confirmed by early April Showtime drops trailer for ‘The First Lady,’ featuring Viola Davis as Michelle Obama The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Lost dog follows senator around Capitol Hill DC attorney general’s lawsuit against Trump inaugural committee to go to trial in September George Zimmerman lawsuit against Trayvon Martin’s parents dismissed GOP reps call for release of security footage amid allegations of ‘reconnaissance tours’ Amazon, Microsoft and Starbucks teaming up to address homelessness in Seattle Time to use the Patriot Act against Putin’s Russian elite DeSantis signs book deal: report Kosovo president: Russia using Serbia to destabilize Balkans 70 percent of millennials are living paycheck to paycheck, report says Trudeau: Time for ‘illegal and dangerous’ protests to stop Uber now lets you see how many one and five-star ratings you get Blinken details Russian military plans at UN Security Council meeting Reports of sexual assaults at US military academies increase sharply LA area reports second-highest COVID-19 death toll in almost a year Trump-backed Arizona candidate called COVID-19 vaccine ‘crime against humanity’: report LeVar Burton to kids: ‘read banned books’ Ukrainian ambassador: Shelling by Russia-backed separatists a ‘brutal violation of the ceasefire’ Prosecutors request lighter sentence for ex-officer who killed Daunte Wright German court case could have huge repercussions for anyone who uses the internet Hundreds of beta testers using early version of Trump social media app: report White House won’t say when Biden is interviewing Supreme Court candidates University of Texas at Arlington acknowledges it was built on land owned by Native Americans Texas synagogue hostage-taker wanted ‘machine gun,’ FBI says Illinois Democrat asks for details on new chairman’s vision for Postal Service Oregon Supreme Court rules Kristof can’t run for governor France recalling troops from Mali The end of ‘forced’ arbitration isn’t the beginning of corporate transparency Colbert to host live ‘Late Show’ with Sanders as guest after Biden State of the Union Mayor declares gun violence a public health crisis in Columbus Elon Musk blasted for tweeting Adolf Hitler meme Famous National Parks set visitation records in 2021. Here are the 10 most visited park sites. Sunlight can help clean up oil spills in the ocean, surprising even scientists We should stop obsessing over COVID numbers — but count infections better Fox’s Bartiromo: White House playing up Russia-Ukraine crisis to distract ‘from what Hillary Clinton did’ WHO: Decline in new COVID-19 cases could be tied to drop in testing Bass grabs lead in LA mayoral race: poll DOJ to investigate companies that exploit supply chain disruptions Union requiring boosters for vaccinated film crews LGBTQ+ youth face higher risk of eating disorders, suicide, study says COVID-19 patients at higher risk of mental health disorders: study Watch live: Biden delivers remarks on infrastructure from Ohio Russian skater at center of doping controversy takes fourth place Japan partially reopening borders in March Trump meets with Alabama GOP Senate candidate Katie Boyd Britt Russia expels No. 2 US diplomat from Moscow More than 160 House Republicans threaten to scuttle potential Iran deal Are we hopelessly divided — even in death? Biden warns Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen in next several days Movie rights sold for political thriller written by Hillary Clinton, Louise Penny More than half of students from a third of colleges earn less than high school grads, report US Olympic chief: Withholding medals ‘unfair to athletes’ Los Angeles DA modifies ban on trying juveniles as adults Senate group to examine federal prison system after corruption, abuse allegations Former Obama official: Biden dishonest to blame supply chain for inflation BioNTech CEO says omicron-specific vaccine delayed Biden’s Indo-Pacific strategy: An unserious strategy for deadly serious times Rising: February 17, 2022 Kremlin rejects ‘unfounded accusations,’ says it takes time to wind down exercises Biden to highlight $1B in funding for Great Lakes cleanup during Ohio visit Amazon to accept Visa cards at stores, sites Close the door on no-knock raids and usher in training and resources Weekly jobless claims rise by 23,000 Melania Trump unveils new line of $50 NFTs A test to determine COVID immunity could reshape US policy DC police lieutenant on leave amid probe into Proud Boys contacts: report Clyburn on Supreme Court pick: ‘I don’t believe in ultimatums’ Austin: Russian steps don’t show they are ‘ready to pack up and go home’ Hong Kong making up to 10,000 hotel rooms available for COVID-19 patients What judicial diversity does and does not mean Florida lawmakers advance 15-week abortion ban Bring the people back into the People’s House  Record 7 percent in US now identify as LGBT: Gallup New York AG: Trump defense of financial statements contradicts court filing Ending cancer as we know it Senators urge Biden to ‘impose significant costs’ if Russia invades Ukraine 13 of 143 GOP congressional candidates in Texas call Biden win legitimate: report CPAC’s straw poll is the first Trump vs. DeSantis primary Ukraine, Russia-backed rebels accuse each other of firing across cease-fire line These are the best smart coffee makers on the market Why Congress must vote on a new Iran nuclear deal Color blocking is TikTok’s newest trend. Here’s how it’s done The Hill’s Morning Report – Policies and politics on masks are changing New Hampshire bellwether points to challenges for Democrats Russia fight shows off tensions between McConnell, pro-Trump wing   Democrats try to regroup heading into rough November Green groups press for progressive upset in Texas House race COVID-19 rules boomerang on Democrats Midterms 2022: Is there a red wave building? Dog training is tough. These 5 things make it easier