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February 17, 2025

First Line News Articles for Monday, February 17 2025

Top Stories

Ukraine not invited to US-Russia peace talks, source tells BBC

Kyiv has not been invited to talks between the US and Russia aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, a senior Ukrainian government source has told the BBC.

Rubio, Netanyahu stand united in freeing hostages, eradicating Hamas, dealing with Iran’s dominance

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meeting in Israel on Sunday, declared the two nations’ mutual interest in releasing remaining hostages in Gaza, eradicating militant Hamas and addressing Iran’s dominance in the Middle East.

House Republicans Agree on Budget Resolution With Tax Cuts, Spending Reductions

House Republicans on Thursday approved a budget resolution that aims to fulfill much of President Donald Trump’s MAGA agenda.

Second Federal Judge Blocks Trump Order Ending Funding for Minor Trans Procedures

A federal judge on Friday blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order ending funding for medical institutions that provide puberty blockers and sex-change operations to minors, marking the second temporary restraining order against the administration’s plan to protect children from transgender procedures.

Latter-Day Saint News

Children learn about sharing Jesus’ love through service in Friend to Friend with Elder Bednar, Primary general presidency

As a Primary class in Salt Lake City learned how to plan, invite and serve, they learned more about their capacity to share Jesus Christ’s love through service.

President Dallin H. Oaks calls for emphasis on Easter and the literal, universal resurrection

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is “the most glorious event in history” and should be matched by emphasis on the celebration of Easter, a Latter-day Saint apostle said Sunday in a new video issued on social media.

Clean water, seedling nurseries and school improvements bless lives in the Pacific Area

For the first time in their lives, people in four villages on the Vanuatu island of Tanna in the South Pacific now have access to clean water.

President Lund visits Latter-day Saints at West Point

In his first visit to the United States Military Academy, the Young Men general president, who served in the U.S. Army himself, met with cadets and local members

President Nelson announces Salt Lake Temple open house

President Russell M. Nelson announced Friday, Feb. 14, the open house dates for the reopening of the Salt Lake Temple.

BYU to send students back to Jerusalem Center 18 months after Gaza war evacuation

Eighteen months after BYU evacuated students from its Jerusalem Center due to the Gaza war, the school announced it will resume student programs there in April.

Pioneers of Chile: Early Latter-day Saints tell stories of faith and reflect on Church growth over decades

In March 1976, in the final months of his mission, Raúl Vilugrón was sent to open missionary work for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Talagante, Chile, a city located 30 minutes outside of the capital of Santiago.

National

Divided appeals court denies White House’s attempt to fire watchdog

A divided federal appeals court has denied President Donald Trump’s request to fire a federal official from a post overseeing workplace protections for federal employees.

No injuries reported as earthquakes rattle Southern California and West Texas

Fire- and storm-ravaged Malibu, Calif., endured two relatively minor earthquakes followed by another in Idyllwild Saturday afternoon while West Texas recorded a 5.0 earthquake late Friday night.

Missouri court ruling paves the way for abortion access return

Women in Missouri are expected to again have access to abortion services within days, after a circuit court judge ruled business licenses imposed by the state on Planned Parenthood clinics were too onerous.

NTSB looking at possible bad data, missed tower message in Army chopper’s collision with jet

The U.S. Army Black Hawk crew possibly didn’t know there was an impending collision with a American Airlines jet in Washington, D.C., that resulted in the most deadly crash in the United States in 23 years, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Jennifer Homendy said Friday.

At Least 9 People Are Dead, Including 8 in Kentucky, Amid Latest Blast of Winter Weather

At least nine people have died in the most recent round of harsh weather to pummel the U.S., including eight people in Kentucky who died as creeks swelled from heavy rain and water covered roads.

Army Calling for AI Robots to Build Bridges Amid Combat

The U.S. Army is reportedly calling for defense contractors to work on artificial intelligence robots to build bridges under fire to save soldier and engineers’ lives and facilitate combat operations for tanks and ground forces.

Utah governor signs collective bargaining ban for teachers, firefighters and police unions

Utah’s Republican governor on Friday signed a collective bargaining ban that experts are calling one of the most restrictive labor laws in the country, despite overwhelming opposition from union members.

Trump Agenda on Track With Swift Cabinet Confirmations

Senate Republicans have had a productive month confirming President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees to enact his MAGA agenda, and Trump has just three Cabinet nominees remaining to be confirmed: the secretaries of labor, commerce, and education.

After Letter, Georgia State to Allow Pastor to Share Faith on Campus

Georgia State University reversed its decision to prohibit a local Christian man from sharing his faith on campus after receiving a letter from religious liberty defense group First Liberty Institute.

Trump Appeals to SCOTUS to Fire Biden Official

The Trump administration wants the Supreme Court to permit the firing of the head of the federal agency dedicated to protecting whistleblowers, according to documents obtained Sunday that would mark the first appeal to the justices since President Donald Trump took office.

World

Russian troops intensify attacks on Ukrainian forces in east, military says

Russian troops have sharply stepped up their attacks in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv’s military said on Sunday, as a NATO official predicted Moscow would increase the pace and intensity of its assaults with talks to end the war approaching.

J.D. Vance Warns Europe That Its Greatest Threat Comes ‘From Within’

Vice President J.D. Vance warned European leaders in Munich the greatest challenges threatening democracy today are from within.

Trump Says He Could Meet With Putin ‘Very Soon’ on Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he believes he could meet “very soon” with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

Macron to Hold Emergency Summit on Ukraine for European Leaders: Reports

French President Emmanuel Macron has reportedly called an emergency summit for European leaders to discuss Ukraine as President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to begin peace talks.

Three Israeli Hostages Released as Part of Gaza Cease-Fire Deal

Hamas released three Israeli hostages in exchange for more than 300 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday.

Science

NASA: 1.6% chance newly discovered asteroid will impact Earth in 2032

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has declared a 1.6% chance that a large asteroid would strike the Earth on Dec. 22, 2032.

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