The States

The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security voted along party lines early Wednesday to advance two articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Citing crime and robberies of workers, Kaiser Permanente directed its employees at its downtown Oakland headquarters to stay in their buildings for lunch. The world is awaiting President Joe Biden’s response to a drone attack in Jordan last weekend that left three U.S. service members dead and more than 30 injured. With the one-year anniversary of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, President Joe Biden says he will soon visit the area to meet with locals and assess the recovery efforts. Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters announced Tuesday that he had appointed the creator of a social media account known for its outspoken criticism of sexualized materials in school libraries to an advisory board that will govern them. And even as rent growth moderates, many continue to feel the strain.

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After hours of debate, House Committee advances Mayorkas impeachment articles
World awaits Biden’s response to death of U.S. service members in drone strike

Crime drives Oakland’s top employer to tell workers to stay in offices for lunch
Biden vague about East Palestine visit one year after train derailment
Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters appoints 'Libs of TikTok' creator to library committee

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Former President Trump won the Republican primary in New Hampshire, and President Biden won the Democratic primary on a write-in campaign since a conflict about when the primary should be held led to Biden not appearing on the ballot. Nearly 4,500 car dealers from across the country have signed onto a letter urging President Biden to slow down on his proposed electric vehicle mandate. There have been several developments in the dispute between Texas and the Biden administration over the southern border. Compton Community College in California started a pre-faculty training program originally marketed specifically to students of color. The National Council on Teacher Quality released a report indicating that 19 states lack critical policies to promote literacy. And jobless claims have reached their lowest point since September of 2022.

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Trump wins New Hampshire, Haley vows to continue

More car dealerships join call to 'tap the brakes' on EVs

Texas governor: Feds have broken compact with the states over border crisis
Republican governors rally to support Texas, Gov. Abbott in border fight with Biden administration
Retired FBI execs to Congress: Invasion at border 'perilous' for America

California community college launches program only for 'students of color''Report: Here's why 40% of fourth graders can't read at a basic level

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Former President Donald Trump dominated the Iowa Caucuses Monday evening, leaving little room for his opponents to forge a path forward and make the pitch they are viable candidates. A new national poll finds that most likely U.S. voters don't think former President Donald Trump should be removed from primary ballots – unless he's convicted of insurrection-related charges stemming from the 2021 protests at the U.S. Capitol. The migrant crisis in Illinois is prompting some policymakers around the state to take action. Two Ohio lawmakers want to pay students to go to school and to graduate, calling chronic absenteeism an education emergency. As gun violence remains a significant threat across the country, states, districts and schools debate ways to increase safety but policies allowing teachers to carry weapons in school remains controversial. And the latest consumer price index is out.

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‘Only getting started’: Trump full steam ahead, DeSantis faltering as primary moves forward

Poll: Voters split on attempts to remove Trump from ballot

Migrant influx to Illinois being felt in downstate communities

New bill would pay Ohio students to go to school

'Surprising': Teachers weigh in on carrying weapons at school

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A subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives held a hearing this week on the impacts of "woke" programs on military recruitment and moral. The New Mexico Supreme Court held a hearing on the case against Governor Lujan Grisham's executive order banning guns in certain public places. The Center Square's Voter's Voice poll shows Nikki Haley pulling ahead of Ron DeSantis with the Iowa caucuses right around the corner. In California, the state expanded it's state subsidized health coverage, Medi-cal, to most illegal immigrants, coverage that includes gender reassignment procedures and drugs. In contrast other, states are looking to limit access to gender reassignment procedures. Some states are moving away from letter grades for ranking the overall performance of schools. Data from United Van Lines shows where people are moving.

Read more on these stories:

- New Mexico Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in gun control case

- Federal court strikes down California's broad restrictions on concealed carry

- Haley surpasses DeSantis for 2nd in new GOP primary poll

- California illegal immigrants eligible for taxpayer-funded gender reassignment

- DeWine bans transgender surgeries on minors in Ohio

- What's behind the fight over A-F school grading?

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The Iowa Caucus is coming up in less than two weeks. The Denver Mayer Mike Johnston says the city will spend $180 million on migrant services in 2024. Former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan asked to delay his trial. As the year ended, the U.S. national debt surpassed $34 trillion. A controversial new Title IX rule about transgender athletes is now expected in March.

Read more on these stories:

- Denver to spend $180M on migrants in 2024, mayor calls it 'unsustainable'
- Prosecutors see no reason to delay Madigan trial
- Judge moves Madigan trial date to October
- Calls for fiscal commission continue as U.S. debt tops $34 trillion
- Critics: Proposed Title IX changes would threaten viability of women's sports

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The Michigan Supreme Court has refused to hear a case that would have attempted to ban Donald Trump from being on the state's 2024 presidential primary ballot. Former President Donald Trump is leading President Joe Biden in a head-to-head matchup poll in several swing states, including Arizona. TikTok has clarified that videos promoting academic dishonesty violate its community guidelines and will be removed. Meta, which owns Instagram, did not respond to Chalkboard’s request for comment on its policies despite the proliferation of accounts offering to complete student’s work for a fee. And, there are several positives and negatives for the U.S. economy heading into 2024.

Read more:

- Michigan Supreme Court allows Trump to be on state's 2024 ballot
- Poll: Trump leads Biden in Arizona, other swing states
- Where do social media platforms land on cheating black market?

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The Colorado Supreme court ruled that Former President Trump cannot appear on the 2024 ballot because he engaged in insurrection. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs ordered National Guard troops to the southern border. Let's Go Washington is accusing three other organizations in Washington State of running an intimidation campaign against their signature drive. EV charging stations are at risk for hacking. A Jewish family refused a settlement with a Connecticut public school that would have required them to remain silent about the antisemitism their son experienced from other students. And as housing costs remain high, voters may bring their discontent to the polls.

Follow these stories:

Colorado Supreme Court bans Trump from 2024 ballot

Hobbs orders Arizona National Guard troops to border

Three Washington groups allegedly ran 'coordinated intimidation campaign' against signature drive

Electric vehicles present new security risks

'Disgusting': ADL chief condemns school's deal to buy silence on antisemitism

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A federal watchdog report shows abortion advocacy groups received nearly $2M between 2019 and 2021. Cities in California are taking different approaches to the homelessness crisis. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to formalize the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Senators from Illinois are proposing allowing non-citizens to serve in the U.S. military. U.S. student math scores from the Programme of International Student Assessment are the lowest they have ever been. The Federal reserve will likely continue to work towards 2% inflation in 2024.

Keep up with these stories:

- 'Appalling': Abortion advocacy groups received nearly $2B in taxpayer money

- Los Angeles withdraws controversial 'homeless in hotels' ballot measure 

- San Francisco to consider hiring non-profit for $36.9 million to head homeless outreach 

- House votes to back impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden

- Legislators seek to utilize non-citizens for military and police despite pushback 

- International test underscores US academic declines

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Updates in the House Oversight Committee's investigation into the Biden family's business dealings, as well as an indictment against Hunter Biden in California alleging tax evasion. In Washington state, a former state employed economist alleges he was encouraged to hide his findings about the impact of the carbon auction on gas prices. In Wisconsin, teacher unions are challenging Act 10 in the state Supreme Court. In Illinois, several cases against the state's ban on certain guns are working their way through the courts. In education news, the Department of Education continues to work overtime to finalize new Title IX rules regarding transgender athletes. And in economics, consumers continue to spend but they are spending out of their savings.

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There were a few developments in the House inquiry into the Biden family's business dealings this week. In Washington state, a Ballotpedia analysis showed how both campaign financing before elections and court decisions after in the non-partisan state supreme court lean heavily progressive. A new Biden administration rule that ties funding for free and reduced lunches to progressive transgender bathroom policies has gone into effect. In Pennsylvania, one state lawmaker is looking to divest state funds from China. The Center Square's Voters Voice poll found the majority of voters support parental notification when students request a change to their gender at school. Housing sales in October declined significantly.

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