Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Biden unveils measures to bolster farm production amid food shortages, rising costs
President Biden announced steps to bolster production on U.S. farms Wednesday in a bid to reverse food shortages and pin blame for rising costs on Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Published May 11, 2022
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh finds a taste of home in Seoul
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh traveled thousands of miles for the inauguration of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday but still felt right at home: He found a Dunkin'. Published May 11, 2022
GOP senators to TV ratings board: Warn parents of ‘disturbing’ LGBTQ, sexualized content
Five Republican senators want the U.S. television rating system to warn parents of "sexual orientation and gender identity content" in children's shows. Published May 11, 2022
China decries WHO criticism of its zero-COVID policy
Chinese officials lashed out at the head of the World Health Organization on Wednesday for describing the communist nation's zero-COVID policy as unsustainable. Published May 11, 2022
CDC reports gun homicides spiked during pandemic, delves into gun-violence studies after long freeze
The gun-homicide rate jumped by a whopping 35% in 2020 against the backdrop of the pandemic while gun-involved suicides remained steady but alarmingly high, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report Tuesday. Published May 10, 2022
Susan Rice, a policy adviser, is the latest White House aide to test positive for COVID
Susan Rice, a White House adviser on domestic policy, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, making her the latest person in President Biden's orbit to get infected. Published May 10, 2022
Lithium-ion batteries cause another fire in NYC
New York City officials say a lithium-ion battery charging in a bike shop caused a major fire Monday in Queens, making it the latest blaze sparked by batteries for e-bikes and scooters. Published May 10, 2022
Biden to host King Abdullah II of Jordan amid Mideast tensions
President Biden will host King Abdullah II of Jordan and his son, Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, on Friday to shore up ties between their nations and promote stability in the Middle East, the administration said Tuesday. Published May 10, 2022
Biden suspends steel tariffs on Ukraine for one year
The Biden administration said Monday it will suspend Trump-era tariffs on Ukrainian steel for one year to help the country employ workers and maintain a vital industry as it repels Russian invaders. Published May 9, 2022
White House supports right to protest but condemns violence, threats to justices’ safety
The White House said Monday that President Biden believes in the right to protest but does not condone violence amid concerns that the firestorm over a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion on abortion will spiral out of control or pose threats to the justices and their families. Published May 9, 2022
Sen. Mike Lee: Leaked abortion opinion draft would bolster democracy, not erode it
Sen. Mike Lee of Utah said the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade and leave abortion laws to the states should be viewed as a boost to democracy because it forces the people to decide the policy matter instead of justices. Published May 9, 2022
Trump responds to ‘figurehead’ Mark Esper: I had to run the military myself
Former President Donald Trump is calling Mark T. Esper "weak and totally ineffective" as his defense secretary promotes a memoir that claims Mr. Trump wanted to shoot racial justice protesters in the legs and fire missiles into Mexico to stop drug cartels. Published May 9, 2022
G-7 leaders condemn committee vote for Hong Kong leader, a Beijing loyalist
Leaders of the Group of Seven nations aired "grave concern" Monday over the process that resulted in the election of Beijing loyalist John Lee as Hong Kong's new chief executive. Published May 9, 2022
N.Y. Gov. Hochul to isolate after positive COVID test
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul tested positive for the coronavirus Sunday as the U.S. battles fast-moving omicron lineages that were first detected in central New York. Published May 9, 2022
Biden announces push to cap internet costs for 48M households
The Biden administration said Monday it has partnered with 20 leading providers to cap internet service at $30 per month for an estimated 48 million households, characterizing high-speed access as essential to life in the 21st century. Published May 9, 2022
CDC scrambling to understand cause of over 100 hepatitis cases in kids
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is casting a "broad net" to understand why the U.S. and other countries are seeing a cluster of mysterious hepatitis cases in children that have resulted in five American deaths since October. Published May 6, 2022
Texas Gov. Abbott: Time to revisit requiring public schools to educate illegal immigrants
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wants to take a second look at a 1982 court ruling that required public schools to educate all children, including illegal immigrants. Published May 6, 2022
Louisiana GOP lawmakers advance stringent pro-life bill
State GOP lawmakers in Louisiana advanced a bill this week that would classify abortion as homicide and allow for prosecution of women who seek the procedure instead of just providers. Published May 6, 2022
New White House press secretary lives with CNN correspondent, raising conflict questions
The partner of President Biden's historic pick to become White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, is a CNN correspondent, raising new questions about the personal nexus between cable outlets and the political sphere. Published May 6, 2022
Chief Justice Roberts: Leak of abortion draft opinion ‘absolutely appalling’
Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. on Thursday called the leak of a draft opinion on abortion "absolutely appalling" during his first public appearance since the unusual breach sparked a political firestorm. Published May 6, 2022
