First Line News Articles for Wednesday, March 29 2023
Top Stories
Nashville mourns children and staff killed in school shooting
Nashville will hold a vigil on Wednesday to grieve the three children and three adults shot to death this week at a Christian elementary school, as Tennessee’s governor revealed that his wife was close friends with two educators killed in the attack.
Ukraine hits Russian-held city deep behind front as talk of counteroffensive grows
Ukraine struck a railway depot and knocked out power in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol deep behind front lines on Wednesday amid growing talk from Kyiv of a counterassault against Russian forces worn out by a failed winter offensive.
Senate votes to repeal Iraq and Gulf war authorizations, sending bill to the House
The Senate passed a bipartisan bill that would end the military authorizations allowing for U.S. involvement in the Gulf and Iraq wars, setting the stage for the official end to the conflicts that concluded years ago.
FDA Approves Over-The-Counter Narcan. Here’s What It Means
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved selling the leading version of naloxone without a prescription, setting the overdose-reversing drug on course to become the first opioid treatment drug to be sold over the counter.
LDS News
Called to paint: This Latter-day Saint veteran is on a mission to create portraits of deceased missionaries
Wounded Vietnam vet JR Johansen knew his health was failing, yet he answered a call to paint missionaries who died while serving. Now, scores of portraits later, heâs brought healing to grieving families all over the worldâand to himself.
Whatâs the current status for the 118 temples announced by President Nelson?
Whatâs the current status for the 118 temples announced by President Nelson?
Meet the 10 singers from 6 countries who will be performing with the Tabernacle Choir during general conference
The singers â from Brazil, Mexico, Ghana, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan â are part of the Tabernacle Choirâs pilot program
Find out about the 12th International Art Competition awards
Visitorsâ Choice Awards announced as the public show came to an end March 4
A labor of love: Local missionaries provide acts of love through free labor
A labor of loveâA group of young men in the Bryan/ College Station area come together and gather their hands to provide free labor to those in need within the community.
Temple design released
Two weeks after the location of the new Cody Temple for The Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was announced, local residents have been given their first look at the preliminary design of the new building.
National
Arizona Gov. Press Secretary Resigns Over Tweet After Shooting
After many GOP lawmakers called for Arizona Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs’ press secretary, Josselyn Berry, to be fired over her tweet suggesting the use of violence against those who disparage transgender people, Berry resigned Wednesday.
White House to Call for New Banking Rules
The White House is readying plans to push federal banking regulators to impose new rules on midsize banks after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank earlier this month, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the preparations.
Fed’s Powell Discussed FDIC Limits With House Republicans -Lawmaker
U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told Republican lawmakers that Congress should re-evaluate limits on the size of federally insured bank deposits, U.S. Representative Kevin Hern said on Wednesday.
North Carolina GOP ends pistol permit system after overriding Democratic governor’s veto
North Carolina House lawmakers voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s (D-NC) veto of a bill that would do away with background checks for handguns conducted by local law enforcement.
DOJ Discouraged Marshals From Arresting Illegal Protesters at Supreme Court Justices Homes, Senator Says
The Department of Justice appears to have discouraged the U.S. Marshals from arresting protesters illegally demonstrating at the homes of the Supreme Court justices, according to internal materials obtained by a United States senator.
Youngkin Signs Bill Banning Unequal Restrictions On Virginia Places Of Worship During State Emergencies
Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed legislation on Sunday that prohibits government officials from imposing discriminatory restrictions on places of worship during state emergencies.
Garland refuses to examine civil rights claims of Jan. 6 defendants: âI donât know anythingâ
Garland said defendants’ lawyers should make the argument in court that they have been held for too long
Drone video captures 33 swimmers in Hawaii harassing dolphins, authorities say
Federal authorities are investigating after they say a large group of swimmers was caught harassing a pod of dolphins just off Hawaiiâs Big Island on Sunday morning.
Bipartisan bill aims to increase penalties for US child labor violations
U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday introduced a bipartisan bill that would raise penalties on employers who violate child labor laws, in the wake of reporting and federal investigations that found a growing number of companies employing underage migrant workers in dangerous factory settings.
New Supreme Court rules make it ‘much harder’ for justices to avoid reporting gifts
Supreme Court justices and federal judges are now required to disclose additional information surrounding free gifts, such as stays at commercial properties and other hospitable offerings, according to new regulations quietly approved by the federal judiciary’s administrative arm.
World
Biden Says Heâs âVery Concernedâ about Potential Israel Judicial Overhaul
President Biden on Tuesday said he wants Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to abandon his proposals to overhaul the countryâs judiciary.
Saudi Arabia grows closer to Beijing with step toward membership in China-led security bloc
Saudi Arabiaâs cabinet on Wednesday approved a decision to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a China-led security bloc, in a sign of its deepening ties with Beijing.
Zelensky invites Chinaâs Xi to visit Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky invited Chinese leader Xi Jinping to visit Ukraine during an interview on Tuesday.
Russian court sentences single father to 2 years in prison for criticizing the war in Ukraine on social media
Russian man’s daughter drew an antiwar picture against the invasion which made authorities aware of the posts
Taiwan’s Tsai dismisses China’s threat to ‘fight back’ if she meets McCarthy
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen pledged that her government âwill only grow more determined to engage with the worldâ in the face of China’s threats.
Mexican President Vows to Deliver Justice for Migrants Killed in Fire
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday vowed to bring to justice whoever was responsible for the deaths of 38 migrants in a fire at a migrant holding center in the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez this week.
âWeâre not going anywhereâ: USS Nimitz arrives for naval drills in South Korea
A Navy carrier strike group steamed into South Koreaâs largest port Tuesday for a joint exercise a day after North Korea fired two ballistic missiles.
Sweden becomes ‘legitimate target’ by joining NATO, Russian envoy says
Sweden is summoning its Russian ambassador to capital Stockholm after the official made oblique threats of the country’s future if it joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Business
Senate Finance chair Wyden says Credit Suisse continues to use secret offshore accounts
Troubled Swiss lender Credit Suisse violated a 2014 plea agreement with the Justice Department by enabling wealthy U.S. residents to evade taxes with offshore accounts, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden said Wednesday.
Health
J&J bows out of RSV vaccine race after scrapping trial
Johnson & Johnson JNJ.N said it will discontinue the late-stage study of its experimental respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) adult vaccine, weeks after rivals Pfizer and GSK gained a lead in the race for the first vaccine against the virus.