Month: January 2021

President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Monday to lift a ban issued by President Donald Trump that prevented transgender persons from serving openly in the U.S. armed forces. The Trump administration ordered that all military members must follow standards associated with their birth gender and prohibited those who have received transitional therapies from joining the military.

Biden wrote in the order, which appeared in the Federal Register on Monday, to “immediately prohibits involuntary separations, discharges, and denials of re-enlistment or continuation of service on the basis of gender identity or under circumstances relating to gender identity. It is the policy of my administration to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, and to fully enforce Title VII and other laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. It is also the policy of my administration to address overlapping forms of discrimination.”

The White House said Biden’s order states that “all Americans who are qualified to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States should be able to serve. President Biden believes that gender identity should not be a bar to military service, and that America’s strength is found in its diversity.”

Biden overturns Trump ban on transgender people serving in U.S. military

Via www.reuters.com

President Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order that overturned a controversial ban by…

01/25/2021 8:34 PM

 

Editorial credit: Yeongsik Im / Shutterstock.com

On Monday, the Senate confirmed Janet Yellen as the first woman to head the Treasury Department in an 84-15 vote.

Lawmakers approved Yellen to serve as Treasury secretary as Congress moves to weigh in on President Joe Biden’s cabinet selections. Yellen previously received unanimous approval from the Senate Finance Committee. As Treasury secretary, Yellen will head up the administration’s efforts to support Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus program, which she highlighted as a primary goal during her confirmation hearing.

Yellen was the first woman to serve as chair of the Federal Reserve. She said in a statement that the Biden administration must be able to provide coronavirus relief before turning to other issues, saying, “Right now, with interest rates at historic lows, the smartest thing we can do is act big,” she said.

Janet Yellen confirmed as treasury secretary with bipartisan support

Via www.msn.com

The Senate voted Monday evening to confirm Janet Yellen as treasury secretary with bipartisan…

01/25/2021 7:16 PM

 

Editorial credit: vasilis asvestas / Shutterstock.com

At least six people, including a pregnant woman and her unborn child, were killed after a shooting at a home in Indianapolis on Sunday. Police initially responded to reports of a juvenile injured by a gunshot; he was taken to Riley Children’s Hospital in critical condition and is expected to survive.

The victims were pronounced dead after being found at a private home, in what police described as the most significant mass shooting the city has experienced in more than a decade. Authorities said there were nearly a half dozen shootings throughout the city in a span of less than five hours and that a total of seven people were hospitalized in addition to the six found dead in the home.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Randal Taylor said in a statement, “What we saw this morning was a different kind of evil. I’m angry that the perpetrators felt they had the right to commit this senseless act in our community. It has to stop. Our community doesn’t deserve this.”Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said both local police and federal authorities are investigating the case, adding, “What happened this morning was not a simple act of gun violence. What happened this morning was a mass murder.”

Five people, unborn child killed in ‘act of mass murder’ in Indianapolis

Via www.nbcnews.com

Though a motive wasn’t immediately knoiwn, Mayor Joe Hogsett said the shooting had brought…

01/24/2021 5:05 PM

At least six people, including a pregnant woman and her unborn child, were killed after a shooting at a home in Indianapolis on Sunday. Police initially responded to reports of a juvenile injured by a gunshot; he was taken to Riley Children’s Hospital in critical condition and is expected to survive.

The victims were pronounced dead after being found at a private home, in what police described as the most significant mass shooting the city has experienced in more than a decade. Authorities said there were nearly a half dozen shootings throughout the city in a span of less than five hours and that a total of seven people were hospitalized in addition to the six found dead in the home.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Randal Taylor said in a statement, “What we saw this morning was a different kind of evil. I’m angry that the perpetrators felt they had the right to commit this senseless act in our community. It has to stop. Our community doesn’t deserve this.”  Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said both local police and federal authorities are investigating the case, adding, “What happened this morning was not a simple act of gun violence. What happened this morning was a mass murder.”

Five people, unborn child killed in ‘act of mass murder’ in Indianapolis

Via www.nbcnews.com

Though a motive wasn’t immediately knoiwn, Mayor Joe Hogsett said the shooting had brought…

01/24/2021 5:05 PM

At least six people, including a pregnant woman and her unborn child, were killed after a shooting at a home in Indianapolis on Sunday. Police initially responded to reports of a juvenile injured by a gunshot; he was taken to Riley Children’s Hospital in critical condition and is expected to survive. 

The victims were pronounced dead after being found at a private home, in what police described as the most significant mass shooting the city has experienced in more than a decade. Authorities said there were nearly a half dozen shootings throughout the city in a span of less than five hours and that a total of seven people were hospitalized in addition to the six found dead in the home.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Randal Taylor said in a statement, “What we saw this morning was a different kind of evil. I’m angry that the perpetrators felt they had the right to commit this senseless act in our community. It has to stop. Our community doesn’t deserve this.”Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said both local police and federal authorities are investigating the case, adding, “What happened this morning was not a simple act of gun violence. What happened this morning was a mass murder.”

Five people, unborn child killed in ‘act of mass murder’ in Indianapolis

Via www.nbcnews.com

Though a motive wasn’t immediately knoiwn, Mayor Joe Hogsett said the shooting had brought…

01/24/2021 5:05 PM

 

On Monday, President Joe Biden will sign a travel ban on most non-U.S. citizens entering the country who were recently in South Africa, where a new strain of Covid-19 has been identified. White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that available vaccines appear to be less effective against new, more contagious strains of Covid-19, but that they’ll still likely provide enough protection to be worth getting.

Biden will also reinstate travel restrictions that were rescinded by former President Donald Trump in January, which would ban the entry of non-U.S. citizens from the U.K., Ireland and much of Europe. Brazil would also be affected.

Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the agency was “putting in place this suite of measures to protect Americans and also to reduce the risk of these variants spreading and worsening the current pandemic. The CDC also announced that it will remove the option for airlines with flights from countries that lack Covid-19 testing to apply for temporary waivers for some travelers. The agency will implement the order on Tuesday.

                

Exclusive: Biden to impose South Africa travel ban to combat new COVID-19 variant – CDC

Via www.reuters.com

U.S. citizens entering the country who have recently been in South Africa starting Saturday in a…

01/24/2021 3:53 PM

 

President Joe Biden signed several executive orders on Thursday in the hopes of quickly implementing his administration’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. The orders laid out an aggressive new strategy to fight the pandemic. 

In addition to the executive actions, Biden unveiled a new, nearly 200-page national strategy during an announcement at the White House, saying, “This plan is comprehensive, based on science, not politics. It’s based on truth, not denial. And it’s based on detail. Help is on the way.” The Biden administration said under the plan, the federal government will use its resources and influence for a more effective national response, as well as to help state and local governments. 

Thursday’s orders will utilize the Defense Production Act to increase supplies necessary for conducting large-scale vaccine distribution and to increase testing, as well as producing more masks and other protective equipment. The administration is also working to establish a pandemic testing board. Officials said the Biden administration will also “clarify” health insurance companies’ obligation to cover COVID-19 testing.

Live Updates: Biden lays out COVID-19 strategy on first full day in office

Via www.cbsnews.com

President Joe Biden laid out his to plan to combat the coronavirus pandemic on his first full…

01/21/2021 6:35 PM

 

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