Weekly Update 3/4/24

Appropriations

Congressional leaders released bill text yesterday afternoon of half a dozen spending measures, a critical step toward funding the government after months of political turmoil spurred by House conservative demands to slash federal budgets…

2024 Election Watch

Today, 3/4, the Supreme Court unanimously restored Donald Trump to 2024 presidential primary ballots, rejecting state attempts to ban the Republican former president over the Capitol riot…

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley won her first GOP presidential nominating contest Sunday, 3/3, notching a victory in the Washington, D.C., primary, a win her campaign hopes will spark some momentum ahead of this week’s Super Tuesday contests…

California

Nearly half of Californians say it is difficult to tell if a cannabis retailer is licensed or not, according to a poll conducted by FM3 Research and released Monday, 2/26, by California’s Department of Cannabis Control…

By the end of the year, Californians may be able to get cheap overdose-reversal medication without a prescription…

California is in the midst of making behavioral health care more accessible, but there aren’t enough people to treat everyone…

President and Administration

On Thursday, 2/29, the Biden-Harris administration is announcing a series of new action that will…

The White House plans to announce a new federal task force focused on easing health care costs, according to three people with direct knowledge of the matter…

Americans ages 65 and older should receive an additional dose of the latest COVID-19 vaccine this spring, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday, 2/28…

The longstanding recommendation that people isolate for five days after testing positive for COVID-19 is no more…

 The evidence is mounting that your daily toke can be bad for your heart…

Vice President Harris announced key steps to lower the cost of childcare for working families and better support early educators, consistent with the President’s historic Executive Order on Care…

Congress

One big question hangs over federal tax policy right now — will the Senate pass a rare bipartisan tax bill or will that measure become another victim of Hill gridlock?…

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said he will fast-track a package of kids’ online safety bills for a Senate floor vote this week…

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on Wednesday, 2/28, that he will not run for another term as leader, ending a record-setting run atop the GOP conference…

Education

According to a study published by the American Psychological Association, nearly 70 percent of profiled school shooters perpetrated acts of violence against women, including intimate partner violence and sexual assault…

According to a study of 21 nurses from the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing, students who have many partial-day absences often seek out school nurses as a source of comfort and support…

Students who are exposed to violence at school tend to feel less safe, but a new study suggests that lockdown drills and training – designed to prepare students and teachers for a school shooting – may help mitigate those fears…

The Miami Archdiocese’s superintendent of schools says Catholic education is increasingly in demand in South Florida, now that all K-12 students regardless of income are allowed to use taxpayer-funded programs to pay for private school tuition…