AURN News

Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters has mandated that all public schools incorporate the Bible, including the Ten Commandments, into their curriculum, starting immediately. The directive, part of the Oklahoma Academic Standards, is aimed at providing students with a comprehensive understanding of historical and cultural contexts, according to Walters.

Walters, a staunch conservative, argues the Bible is a critical document for understanding American history and Western civilization. Oklahoma's new mandate mirrors recent actions in Louisiana, where a law now requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms, sparking legal challenges.

Critics argue that the mandate infringes on the separation of church and state, and groups like Americans United for Separation of Church and State are prepping to challenge the directive.

The controversy continues as Walters continues to push forward with his vision of education.

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President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump face off in their first 2024 presidential debate, set to begin at 9 p.m. ET on CNN. The debate will be moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. It's a first-of-its-kind event featuring new rules like no live audience, muted microphones to avoid interruptions, and no opening statements.

President Joe Biden will be the first to give his closing statement. He'll also be standing to the right of the stage, due to a coin flip that he won between the two candidates. Both candidates are neck and neck in the polls, each with around 45 percent vote of preference. The stakes are high as they address crucial issues, such as the economy, immigration, foreign policy, and democracy.

Biden has been prepped at Camp David with his advisors, while Trump has been holding campaign events and interviews. With Biden at age 81 and Trump at 78, voters will be scrutinizing their ability to lead for the next four years.

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A U.S. Supreme Court opinion was inadvertently posted on the court's website suggesting it will permit emergency medical abortions in Idaho, first reported by Bloomberg News. The potential ruling would uphold a lower court's decision allowing hospitals to perform abortions when the mother's life is at risk.

The opinion, if finalized, would dismiss Idaho's appeal without addressing broader legal questions. The case has significant implications as it challenges state restrictions following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The ruling would invoke the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, which mandates hospitals to stabilize patients in life-threatening situations. The decision, expected to be finalized later this week, comes amid heated political debates on reproductive rights that could shape the landscape of emergency medical care and abortion access.

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Today, Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman announced the Biden-Harris administration is awarding $85 million in grants to tackle affordable housing barriers. The Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing program will help over 20 communities update housing plans, reform land use policies, streamline permits, and increase access to affordable housing.

The vice president emphasized the administration's commitment to lowering housing costs, stating every American deserves affordable housing, and this $85 million investment is a critical step towards that goal.

"I am proud to announce that we are taking a critical step forward by investing $85 million to help more than 20 communities throughout our country remove barriers to building more affordable housing," said Harris.

The program addresses challenges such as high land costs, inadequate infrastructure, and outdated policies, aiming to boost housing supply and provide development support.

Todman noted the substantial demand for this funding, with applications from 175 communities across 47 states. The initiative is part of the broader Biden-Harris Housing Supply Action Plan. Additional funding of $100 million will be available later this year.

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(AURN News) — When it comes to air travel we continue to see major records being broken across the country. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is reporting record-breaking numbers of passengers screened at airports nationwide. This past Sunday saw nearly 3 million travelers pass through TSA checkpoints, marking the highest single-day total ever recorded. The surge in air travel shows no signs of slowing down, with even greater numbers expected during the upcoming Independence Day holiday over the next two weeks.

This week, TSA Administrator David Pekoske announced that from Thursday through Monday, July 8, more than 32 million passengers are projected to travel through U.S. airports. This represents a significant 5.4% increase compared to last year.

"We expect this summer to be our busiest ever and summer travel usually peaks over the Independence Day holiday," Pekoske stated. He attributed the agency's readiness to handle the influx partly to recent improvements in staffing. "Compared to last year, we have cut our attrition rates by almost half and increased our recruiting as a result of the TSA Compensation Plan that was funded in the budget passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden."

Pekoske added, "The traveling public is on the move, which is a sign of a healthy economy. We are ready, along with our airline and airport partners, to handle this boost in passenger volumes."

Given the anticipated surge in travelers starting this week, you are strongly advised to arrive at the airport at least two hours before your scheduled departure times to allow for potential delays at security checkpoints.

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U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared gun violence a public health crisis, citing a surge in firearm-related injuries and deaths. Murthy is calling for banning automatic rifles, implementing universal background checks, regulating the gun industry, enacting laws to limit gun use in public spaces, and imposing penalties for improper gun storage.

However, these measures require congressional legislation, which faces strong opposition. Some states have adopted or are considering similar measures.

Murthy emphasized broad public concern about gun violence, referencing a poll showing widespread fear of gun-related harm to loved ones, and noted the staggering toll of over 48,000 firearm deaths in 2022.

His advisory has garnered support from medical professionals, with organizations like the American Academy of Family Physicians acknowledging the longstanding public health impact of gun violence.

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"Firearm violence has become the number one cause of death among children and adolescents."

The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has declared gun violence a public health emergency.

"Today, for the first time in the history of our office, I am issuing a Surgeon General's advisory on firearm violence. It outlines the urgent threat firearm violence poses to the health and well-being of our country."

He's advocating for the banning of automatic rifles, universal background checks, and stricter regulations on gun storage, and he's calling on Congress to make it happen. During his announcement, he pointed to the harm caused by firearm-related incidents, especially in Black communities.

"Fifty-four percent of adults in America report that they or a family member have experienced a firearm-related incident. Black individuals endure the highest rates of firearm homicides, while suicide rates are highest among veterans, older white individuals, and younger American Indian and Alaska Native people."

The American Academy of Family Physicians praised the declaration, while the National Rifle Association criticized the move.

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Millions of borrowers will now face uncertainty, as federal judges in Kansas and Missouri have blocked crucial parts of President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. The rulings prevent the Department of Education from easing repayment terms and accelerating debt cancellation for many.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed strong disagreement with the decision, affirming the Department of Justice will continue to vigorously defend the SAVE plan. The plan has benefited 8 million Americans with lower payments and faster debt relief. It was a cornerstone of the administration's efforts to fix the broken student loan system.

Despite the legal hurdles, the administration is determined to enroll more borrowers and provide ongoing support. The court's decision impacts efforts to lower payments for those with larger loans and shorten the required payment period from 25 to 20 years for forgiveness. The rulings follow earlier attempts to block Biden's broader student loan relief initiatives, highlighting ongoing legal battles surrounding the issue.

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(AURN NEWS) — The political world is buzzing with anticipation as preparations continue for the first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Scheduled for Thursday night in Atlanta, the high-stakes event, hosted by CNN, is poised to be a pivotal moment in the extremely close 2024 presidential race. It also comes much earlier on the calendar than we would typically see a presidential debate. 

The format will mark significant changes from previous debates between these political heavyweights. According to CNN, “The 90-minute debate will include two commercial breaks…and campaign staff may not interact with their candidate during that time.”

CNN also says that microphones will be muted, except when it is a candidate's designated time to speak. Trump and Biden will be prohibited from bringing props or pre-written notes. Each candidate will be provided with only the bare necessities: a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water. Another notable aspect of this debate is the absence of a live audience, which for Trump tends to be a source of energy and support. 

Weeks ago, CNN outlined its strict qualification criteria for debate participation. “All participating debaters must appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency and receive at least 15% in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters that meet CNN’s standards for reporting,” the news organization said.

The debate airs live on Thursday, June 17, 2024, at 9 PM ET on CNN.

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"We have to trust women."

On the two-year anniversary of Roe v. Wade being struck down, Vice President Kamala Harris posted a message on her X, formerly Twitter, page detailing the repercussions of that decision.

"Two years ago today. The highest court in our land, the United States Supreme Court, took a constitutional right that had been recognized from the people of America, from the women of America. And thereafter, in state after state, laws have been proposed and passed that will criminalize healthcare providers -- sometimes prison for life for healthcare providers -- that punish women, that make no exception, even for rape or incest, that are threatening the availability of IVF; that are attempting to threaten the availability of contraception."

In the message, the vice president urged Congress to restore the protections under Roe v. Wade. If they do, she says, the president will sign it into law.

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