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First Line News Articles for Thursday, May 13 2021
Top Stories
Biden signs cyberorder to shore up federal security after pipeline hack
President Joe Biden on Wednesday ordered an overhaul of federal software systems and the contractors that supply them, days after a ransomware hack shuttered the largest petroleum pipeline between Texas and New York.
Israel-Palestinian Clashes Kill 55, Sparking Fear of ‘Full-Scale War’
Relentless rocket fire and rioting in mixed Jewish-Arab towns fueled growing fears Wednesday that violence between Israel and Palestinians that has claimed 55 lives could spiral into “full-scale war”.
Biden Speaks to Netanyahu, Says Israel Has a ‘Right to Defend Itself’
President Biden on Wednesday said he had spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel “for a while” and declared his “unwavering support” for the country’s “right to defend itself” amid recent hostilities between the Jewish state and Palestinians,
COVID Deaths Hit Lowest Level in Ten Months
Deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the U.S. have dropped to an average of around 600 per day, marking the lowest level in ten months.
House Republicans Vote to Oust Liz Cheney from GOP Leadership
House Republicans ousted Representative Liz Cheney (R., Wyo.) from her post as House GOP Conference Chair in a Wednesday morning voice vote, multiple outlets reported.
LDS News
Former Young Men general president called to serve as Brazil MTC president
A new MTC president and companion have been called to serve by the First Presidency. They will begin their service when the MTC resumes onsite training.
Free virtual summit to address how we can minister to those who struggle with mental health
When we desire to minister to someone who struggles with mental illness, it is natural to avoid these interactions out of a fear of saying the wrong thing or accidentally hurting rather than helping. Or maybe as a bishop or Relief Society leader we aim to encourage an individual but end up causing more harm than good.
Going for the goal: Why MyKayla Skinner is giving the Olympics one more shot
On November 14, 2019, MyKayla Skinner Harmer achieved a goal she has dreamed of since she was a little girl sitting in Primary. It was a goal she has worked toward her entire life. Readers may recognize MyKayla’s name because of gymnastics, but this goal had nothing to do with the Olympic sport, and it wasn’t achieved in a gym. It was the day she walked through the doors of the Gilbert Arizona Temple and was married for time and all eternity.
Are Latter-day Saint voters turning blue?
Are Latter-day Saint voters turning blue? Last month’s Cook Political Report concludes that all four of Utah’s congressional districts are among the most Democratic-trending in the country. Latter-day Saint voters in Arizona doubled their Democratic turnout from 2016.
‘Stations of the Cross’: BYU videos aim to educate, share rich Christian tradition
Students and faculty at Brigham Young University have produced two videos that will educate Latter-day Saints about a rich Christian tradition and foster greater understanding about the death of Jesus Christ among all faiths and religions.
Grand Teton park to do restoration work on Mormon Row
Built in 1938, Grand Teton National Park’s historic Pink House on Mormon Row is a fixer-upper.
Church donation helping to feed refugees settling in Houston
Latter-day Saints in Houston and neighboring communities have become adept at looking out for those in need. Hurricanes, floods and extreme weather have tormented Southeast Texas in recent years — and each time, Church members responded.
National
Republicans describe ‘productive’ meeting with Biden, but no deal on infrastructure
House and Senate leaders in both parties met with President Joe Biden for more than an hour Wednesday for “productive” talks that have not yet yielded a critical deal on infrastructure.
Biden rolls out racially diverse slate of judicial nominees, including a Bush nominee
President Biden on Wednesday announced his intent to nominate three new Court of Appeals nominees and three new District Court nominees – picks that the White House says embody his commitment to ensuring judicial nominees “represent not only the excellence but the diversity of our nation,” the White House said.
Brood X cicadas force businesses, homeowners to take precautions
Brood X, a classification of the trillions of periodical cicadas that have descended in states across the eastern and southern U.S., has emerged after a 17-year hiatus — and already closed one restaurant.
US Waives Environmental Rule to Ease Fuel Shortages in 12 States
U.S. environmental regulators issued emergency fuel waivers on Tuesday to help alleviate shortages in reformulated gasoline in 12 states and the District of Columbia as supplies tighten five days after a cyberattack shuttered the nation’s biggest pipeline.
US Justice Clarence Thomas Raises Questions Amid Pandemic
When the U.S. Supreme Court heard its first-ever oral argument by teleconference rather than in person as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, one major change was immediately clear: the normally silent Justice Clarence Thomas was asking questions.
Border Officials Apprehended Over 178,000 Migrants in April, Keeping Pace With March Surge
Border officials apprehended over 178,600 migrants along the southern border in April, up 3% from March, Customs and Border Protection announced Tuesday.
FCC Commissioner Slams Baltimore Prosecutor’s ‘Chilling’ Request for Investigation Into Fox Affiliate Over Bias
The senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission criticized the Democratic Baltimore City state attorney’s recent request for an investigation into a local Fox affiliate as an attack on free speech.
Colonial Pipeline Restarts after Hack; Supplies Will Take Several Days to Rebound
The Colonial Pipeline resumed operation Wednesday evening, though its operators announced it could take several days for the supply chain to return to normal.
Biden administration to finish 13-mile section of Trump’s border wall in Texas
The Biden administration will allow a short stretch of former President Donald Trump’s border wall in southeastern Texas to be completed following a three-month freeze on all projects up and down the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border, according to a report.
Senate Commerce Committee advances Biden’s FTC nominee Lina Khan
The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday advanced President Biden’s nominee to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Lina Khan.
World
Iran now enriching uranium to 63% purity — UN watchdog
Amid talks on renewing nuke deal, IAEA said to conclude Tehran exceeding 60% enrichment cap it announced, bringing it even closer to weapons-grade level
Blinken Stresses US Resolve in Call With Russian Diplomat
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Russian counterpart on Wednesday that the Biden administration will not waver in responding to aggression from Moscow in the United States or elsewhere.
US sanctions Chinese official for alleged religious freedom violations
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday announced sanctions on a Chinese Communist Party official for alleged gross violations of human rights that include violations of religious freedom.
Israeli Ambassador Accuses Tlaib of Encouraging Terror Groups to Attack Jews
Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. accused Representative Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) of “stoking tensions” with her recent comments about the conflict between Israel and Palestinians and suggested her words “encourage terror groups such as Hamas” to “carry out attacks against Jews.”
Business
McDonalds to Help HHS Promote COVID Vaccinations
One of the nation’s largest fast-food chains is partnering with the federal government in the push to get more people vaccinated against COVID-19.
Amazon Wins Court Fight Against $303 Million EU Tax Bill
Amazon on Wednesday won its fight against an EU order to pay about 250 million euros ($303 million) in back taxes to Luxembourg as Europe’s second highest court dealt a blow to the bloc’s efforts to make multinational corporations pay more tax.
Science
See NASA’s Mars Ingenuity helicopter take flight in eye-popping 3D video
You can’t go to Mars (yet), but you can pretend like you’re chilling on the red planet with NASA’s new 3D video of the Ingenuity helicopter’s dramatic third flight.
Health
Scientists race to study variants in India as cases explode
A potentially worrisome variant of the coronavirus detected in India may spread more easily. But the country is behind in doing the kind of testing needed to track it and understand it better.
U.S. CDC finds more clotting cases after J&J vaccine, sees causal link
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday it had found more cases of potentially life-threatening blood clotting among people who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and sees a “plausible causal association”.
Economy
Consumer Prices See Largest Yearly Jump Since 2008 as Evidence of Inflation Mounts
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks the cost of a variety of consumer goods as well as housing and energy prices, has risen 4.2 percent from a year ago, notably higher than the estimated 3.6 percent. It is the largest yearly increase since September 2008.
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