March 09, 2024

Helicopter carrying National Guardsmen, Border Patrol agent crashes; Congress passes spending bills ahead of shutdown

22 minutes

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted March 9 at 7:45 a.m. CT:

LA GRULLA, Texas (AP) — The military says a helicopter flying over the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas has crashed, killing two National Guard soldiers and a Border Patrol agent. Another soldier on board has been injured. The UH-72 Lakota helicopter was assigned to the federal government’s border security mission when it went down near Rio Grande City. The crash happened mid-afternoon Friday while the helicopter was conducting aviation operations. Authorities didn't provide more details. The cause is under investigation.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has approved a $460 billion package of spending bills in time to meet a midnight deadline for avoiding a shutdown of many key federal agencies. The vote gets lawmakers about halfway home in wrapping up their appropriations work for this budget year. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. Meanwhile, lawmakers are negotiating a second package of six bills, including defense, in an effort to have all federal agencies fully funded by March 22. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says the first bill’s passage will allow agencies to hire more air traffic controllers, give federal firefighters a raise and boost support for homeless veterans, among other things.

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Illegally imported goose intestines hidden under rattlesnakes, federal authorities say.

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—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

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