Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
COVID-19 was third-leading cause of death during pandemic, study shows
COVID-19 was the third-leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer during the pandemic, according to a new study of national death certificate records. Published July 5, 2022
Pope Francis sends condolences to Illinois, urges society to reject violence
Pope Francis told the Archbishop of Chicago he was "deeply saddened" by the July 4 parade shooting in Highland Park and urged society to reject violence in all of its forms. Published July 5, 2022
Biden: U.S. has ‘unity of purpose’ despite upheaval over economy, shootings, Supreme Court
President Biden said late Monday it can feel like America is moving "backward" because of recent economic pain and upheaval around a series of Supreme Court decisions, though insisted the country can rise to its "highest heights." Published July 5, 2022
Highland Park mayor says the U.S. should reexamine its gun laws, values
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering on Tuesday said she does not know where the alleged July 4 parade shooter got his rifle "but I do know it was legally obtained" and the U.S. needs tougher gun laws even though Congress just passed the most sweeping gun-control measures in decades. Published July 5, 2022
WNBA star Brittney Griner sends letter to Biden pleading for her release
The White House on Monday received a letter from U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner that pleads with President Biden to fight for her release from a Russian jail, saying she fears she will never return home. Published July 5, 2022
Biden’s COVID-19 vax push for kids suffers enthusiasm gap; parents’ interest wanes for preteens
The federal effort to vaccinate children against COVID-19 has been a much tougher slog, with parental anecdotes and federal data showing interest drops off below age 12, even as President Biden cheers the recent authorization of shots for 18 million children ages 6 months to 4 years. Published July 4, 2022
Jan. 6 panel members defend star witness, say Americans should ‘stay tuned’
The House Jan. 6 committee defended the credibility of star witness Cassidy Hutchinson on Sunday and upped the ante after a roller-coaster week of bombshell testimony, saying criminal referrals against former President Donald Trump are a distinct possibility. Published July 3, 2022
Trump eyeing early jump into 2024 race: Report
Former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering an early entrance into the 2024 White House race to reclaim the limelight and make his case that the Jan. 6 probe is politically motivated. Published July 3, 2022
Xavier Becerra says HHS exploring all options to expand abortion access
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said his agency will explore "everything that is out there" to expand abortion access. Published July 3, 2022
Homeland Security chief defends border efforts after Texas migrant smuggling tragedy
Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas defended inspections at the U.S.-Mexico border, but he struggled to explain how a truck got through a checkpoint packed with dozens of migrants who died in the Texas heat. Published July 3, 2022
Rep. Liz Cheney: More than one criminal referral against Trump is possible
Rep. Liz Cheney said it is possible the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol will make a criminal referral against former President Donald Trump. Published July 3, 2022
Rep. Adam Kinzinger defends Cassidy Hutchinson as a credible witness
Rep. Adam Kinzinger said he found former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson credible in her bombshell testimony about Jan. 6, 2021. Published July 3, 2022
S.D. Gov. Kristi Noem: Legislature must consider services for mothers amid abortion ban
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem pledged Sunday to "walk alongside" mothers now that abortion is illegal in most instances in her state. Published July 3, 2022
Jan. 6 committee emulates Trump’s showman style in its bid to undo him
The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot is using former President Donald Trump's showmanship playbook to try to scuttle his political future. Published July 1, 2022
West Hollywood trims sheriff’s presence despite concerns about crime
A city in Los Angeles County has reportedly voted to slash law enforcement funding despite concerns about rising crime. Published June 29, 2022
Dr. Anthony Fauci says he suffered Paxlovid ‘rebound’
Dr. Anthony Fauci says he experienced a rebound of COVID-19 symptoms after taking Paxlovid, the antiviral drug from Pfizer. Published June 29, 2022
Biden: NATO will defend ‘every inch’ of its territory
President Biden kicked off NATO meetings in Madrid on Wednesday by declaring the military alliance will defend "every inch" of its territory and committing to an enhanced military in Europe. Published June 29, 2022
White House rolls out monkeypox strategy with testing, 300,000 vaccine shots for at-risk populations
The White House will ramp up monkeypox testing and exponentially expand the reach of vaccines to at-risk contacts in the first phase of President Biden's plan to respond to a virus that's been pinging around the U.S. for over a month. Published June 28, 2022
FDA official: New-look COVID-19 booster campaign could start in October
Drugmakers should devise a COVID-19 vaccine that targets omicron and its sub-variants alongside the original strain, advisers to the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday after a robust debate about how to keep up with the swiftly evolving virus. Published June 28, 2022
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vows clemency for those who violate state abortion ban
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is vowing to grant clemency to anyone charged under an 1849 state law that bans abortions, in the latest attempt by Democrats to get around the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. Published June 28, 2022
