Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Senate overcomes objections, passes bill to recognize Japanese American internment camp as historic
The Senate unanimously moved late Monday to establish a historic site at a former internment camp for Japanese Americans in Colorado, overcoming objections from a Utah senator to pass the bill ahead of the 80th anniversary of Franklin D. Roosevelt's decision to set up the camps during World War II. Published February 15, 2022
GOP enjoys double-digit lead in voter preference ahead of midterms, poll shows
Voters prefer Republican candidates over Democratic ones by nearly 13 percentage points ahead of the midterm elections and expect the GOP to be a check on President Biden, according to a poll released Tuesday by a conservative group. Published February 15, 2022
Ontario eases COVID-19 limits, says it is not because of protests
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says public venues will no longer have to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination as of March 1 but said the change was a response to pandemic trends and not protests in Ottawa and elsewhere in the province. Published February 15, 2022
Scientists work on next generation of coronavirus vaccines that are easier to take, more effective
Scientists are working feverishly to develop the next generation of coronavirus vaccines, including a nasal spray, even as President Biden and others struggle to get the current COVID-19 shots in Americans' arms. Published February 14, 2022
D.C. mayor lifts vaccination-checking mandate on businesses
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday she will no longer require businesses to check patrons' vaccination status at the door, effective Tuesday. Published February 14, 2022
Gov. Glenn Youngkin releases upbeat ad urging Virginians to get COVID-19 vaccine
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin released on Monday a public service announcement urging state residents to get vaccinated for COVID-19, part of a strategy that relies on upbeat messaging about the future instead of arm-twisting through mandates. Published February 14, 2022
Heritage Foundation index: U.S. economic freedom at all-time low after Biden’s first year
The conservative Heritage Foundation says economic freedom is at an all-time low under President Biden. Published February 14, 2022
Sen. Lujan said he is recovering from stroke, will return to D.C. in a few weeks
Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico says he will make a full recovery from the stroke he suffered last month and is set to return to Washington in a few weeks to vote on important legislation and President Biden's forthcoming Supreme Court pick. Published February 14, 2022
Ambassador Bridge over the U.S.-Canadian border reopened after arrests
Canadian officials said the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit reopened late Sunday after police arrested about two dozen remaining protesters at a COVID-19 demonstration that had shuttered the crossing for almost a week. Published February 14, 2022
Biden marks anniversary of Parkland shooting, calls for gun control legislation, anti-crime funding
President Biden on Monday marked the fourth anniversary of the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, by urging Congress to provide $500 million for community policing initiatives that reduce gun crime and new funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Marshals Service. Published February 14, 2022
FDA postpones review of child COVID-19 vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday postponed an advisory meeting on Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for young children and will wait for data on the third dose from trials, meaning the rollout for ages 0 to 4 might not begin until April. Published February 11, 2022
Ontario premier declares a state of emergency for trucker blockade, threatens prison for protesters
Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency in the province Friday and said truckers protesting COVID-19 rules will face "severe" consequences if they do not disperse from Ottawa and other locations. Published February 11, 2022
Dozens of House Republicans tell DHS Secretary Mayorkas to resign
Nearly four dozen of House Republicans called on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign Friday on grounds he is leaving the southern border "wide open" and making it difficult for agents to do their jobs. Published February 11, 2022
Scientists scramble on COVID-19 vaccine dosing; challenge remains for drugmakers
Health officials are coming to realize that while pushing COVID-19 vaccines to the market in record time likely saved hundreds of thousands of lives in America, it also meant they didn't get the dosing decisions exactly right. Published February 11, 2022
Ontario mayor seeks court order to remove trucker protest from border crossing
An Ontario mayor says he will seek a court order Friday that expands his power to remove truckers blocked a key border crossing as part of protests against COVID-19 rules. Published February 11, 2022
Nevada drops mask mandate, effective immediately, joining a trend
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak abruptly dropped a statewide mask mandate Thursday, saying a certain number of people won't get the COVID-19 vaccine and he doesn't want to hold the rest of society back. Published February 11, 2022
Biden calls on Democrats to pass drug negotiation, extend Obamacare subsidies
President Biden leaned on Democratic senators Thursday to extend supersized Obamacare subsidies and give struggling American families "breathing room" on prescription costs through Medicare negotiation. Published February 10, 2022
COVID-19 vaccines’ flaws dash hopes of reaching herd immunity
Herd immunity projection was just one of the areas where COVID-19 has humiliated policymakers and experts who have tried to lead the U.S. through the pandemic. Published February 10, 2022
Federal law enforcement increasingly worried about U.S. trucker convoy: Report
Federal law enforcement is increasingly concerned about disruptions from a U.S. trucker convoy that copies a similar protest in Canada. Published February 10, 2022
Some Democrats say they’re open to dropping the House floor mask mandate by March
Some House Democrats say Capitol Hill should ditch its mask mandate by March, as a number of blue state governors relent on COVID-19 rules because the omicron surge is easing and Americas want to get on with their lives. Published February 10, 2022
