Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
DOT publishes dashboard to name and shame airlines over family seating, fees
The Department of Transportation is shining a light on which airlines let families sit together on planes without paying a fee for the privilege. Published March 6, 2023
NYC agrees to pay $21,500 each to detained George Floyd protesters
New York City has agreed to pay $21,500 each to more than 300 protesters who were confined by police in a "kettling" tactic during the 2020 protests in the wake of George Floyd's death while in police custody in Minneapolis. Published March 1, 2023
Biden hails record of DHS service on 20th anniversary of post-9/11 department
President Biden marked the 20th anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security Wednesday by hailing its 260,000 employees for allowing Americans to "live their lives" and "dream their dreams" after its formation in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. Published March 1, 2023
Biden praises Eli Lilly for capping insulin price at $35
President Biden hailed Eli Lilly & Co. on Wednesday for capping out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35, a move that aligns with a key priority for the administration. Published March 1, 2023
Gov. Gavin Newsom ends California’s COVID-19 emergency after 3 years
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has officially ended the state of emergency around COVID-19 in his state nearly three years after he established urgent measures due to the onset of the virus in early 2020. Published March 1, 2023
Lawmakers grapple with response to fentanyl, split over punishment versus focus on treatment
Grieving parents and a top former drug agent warned Congress on Wednesday of a major disconnect between the risk of fentanyl overdoses and the level of awareness in America, but lawmakers didn't agree on the right way to thwart trafficking and the drug threat. Published March 1, 2023
Trump takes lead in a two-man matchup with DeSantis, poll shows
Former President Donald Trump leads Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a hypothetical two-man race for the GOP nomination, after having trailed the governor in a similar poll one month ago. Published March 1, 2023
FDA cracks down on ‘tranq’ imports due to new drug trend
The Food and Drug Administration is beefing up efforts to ensure that xylazine, an animal sedative known as "tranq," is not diverted to the illicit drug supply. Published March 1, 2023
China reacts angrily to Wray’s COVID lab-leak comments, revives Fort Detrick claim
Beijing on Wednesday reprised bogus claims that COVID-19 might have come from a Maryland lab after FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said publicly Tuesday that federal investigators believe the pandemic likely started with a lab leak in Wuhan, China. Published March 1, 2023
Biden raises specter of Obamacare repeal, hoping for leverage in budget talks with GOP
President Biden revived the Obamacare wars on Tuesday, pointing to the law that Democrats muscled to passage in 2010 as a likely target for Republicans who want to rein in spending as part of tense debt-limit negotiations. Published February 28, 2023
Sen. John Fetterman on the path to recovery but it may take weeks: Staff
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is "doing well" but will be absent from the Senate for several weeks, according to his staff. Published February 28, 2023
D.C. crime bill threatened by doubts from Democrats on way to Biden
The District of Columbia's overhaul of the criminal code suffered a major blow Tuesday as Congress' effort to rescind the local bill picked up key Democratic support in the Senate, clearing the way for potential passage by next week and forcing President Biden to decide whether to veto the effort. Published February 28, 2023
Biden to revive the specter of Obamacare repeal in Va. speech
President Biden plans to maintain his campaign-style attacks on Republicans Tuesday by pointing to repeated GOP efforts to repeal or dismantle the health law he muscled across the finish line with President Barack Obama and Democrats in 2010. Published February 28, 2023
Biden pressed to declassify COVID intel suspecting China lab as source
Republican lawmakers told President Biden on Monday to declassify the intelligence behind the Department of Energy's conclusion the coronavirus pandemic most likely resulted from a laboratory leak in China. Published February 27, 2023
Bird flu situation is ‘under control’ after rural scare, say Cambodian officials
Cambodian officials said Monday the bird flu situation in a rural village is "now under control" following the death of an 11-year-old girl from the H5N1 strain. Published February 27, 2023
Trump leads DeSantis by 15 points in new survey of emerging 2024 GOP field
Former President Donald Trump has a 15-percentage-point lead on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a new survey that takes stock of the potential GOP primary field one year before the 2024 presidential contests begin. Published February 27, 2023
Trump cheers push for Georgia investigation into Zuck Bucks grant
Former President Donald Trump is calling for a probe of Facebook leader Mark Zuckerberg after a watchdog group alleged that a Georgia county accepted money from a Zuckerberg-funded group despite a state ban on outside funding for elections. Published February 27, 2023
Federal teams go door to door in East Palestine to check on household health after derailment
Federal teams went door to door over the weekend to check on 350 households in East Palestine, Ohio, and inquire about their health after a freight train containing hazardous chemicals derailed earlier this month, the White House said Monday. Published February 27, 2023
Money, money, money: Big profits drive cartels’ fixation on fentanyl
Fentanyl made in clandestine labs has proved highly deadly and is increasingly found in a range of drugs other than heroin, including cocaine and fake prescription pills. Still, it raises the question: Why would suppliers be willing to kill some of their customers? Published February 24, 2023
Girl in Cambodia dies from rare bird flu case
An 11-year-old girl has died from the bird flu in Cambodia's first known case in humans in nearly a decade. Published February 24, 2023