Trump, Biden win New Hampshire primary

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January 23, 2024

kateschoolgym — Voters wait in line to pick up their ballots at New Boston Central School on Jan. 23, 2024. (Kate Brindley/New Hampshire Bulletin)

(New Hampshire Bulletin) — Donald Trump won the New Hampshire Republican primary Tuesday, capping off a primary season that saw numerous Republican heavyweights struggle to dislodge his enduring support. The Associated Press called the race at 8 p.m., an hour after most polls in the state had finished. AP also called the Democratic primary for President Joe Biden.

Trump drew on the strength of a dedicated Republican base that preferred to return his presidential style to office rather than topple him with an alternative. As he had in previous primaries, the former real estate mogul blanketed the state in large-scale rallies, avoiding the retail politics that have long defined the primary. His opponents, particularly Republican Gov. Nikki Haley, invested time in town halls and small venue visits like diners and restaurants.

Around the time of the call by the Associated Press, Haley was trailing Trump by about six percentage points. Haley had received an endorsement from Gov. Chris Sununu, who toured the state attending nearly every event of hers in the weeks ahead of the primary.

In Concord Tuesday night, Haley congratulated Trump on his win, saying he “earned” it. But, she added, “New Hampshire is first in the nation. It is not the last. This race is far from over.”

Democratic primary

Joe Biden is the winner of the New Hampshire Democratic primary – whether he wants it or not.

After a monthslong attempt by two candidates to topple the president in the Granite State, and Biden’s own decision to spurn the primary, Biden rode a wave of write-in votes Tuesday to solidify his earliest – if least official – victory. Biden handily defeated his closest competitors, Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips and author Marianne Williamson, according to projections from the Associated Press Tuesday night.

Supporters of the “Write-In Joe Biden” campaign hold signs outside of Winnacunnet High School in Hampton. (Hadley Barndollar | New Hampshire Bulletin)
The Democratic primary took an unusual twist when Biden declined to file his name on the New Hampshire Democratic ballot in October, citing a dispute between the state and the Democratic National Committee over the presidential nominating order. The DNC had approved a calendar in February that allowed South Carolina to vote first and New Hampshire to vote on the same day as Nevada; after New Hampshire officials rejected the plan, Biden chose not to participate in New Hampshire’s race.

Phillips and Williamson had tried to capitalize on Biden’s rejection of the primary, spending significant time in the state in the final weeks of the campaign. But New Hampshire-based supporters of Biden had organized a write-in campaign to elect him even without his cooperation, and a wave of surrogates, including Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, fanned out to make the case for writing in Biden.

In the final weeks, the Biden administration also sent a number of cabinet officials to the state, who are prohibited from official campaign activities by the Hatch Act. Those included Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack; each of the officials was there on official business not directly related to the Biden re-election effort.

Piedmont topples Agnes Scott 72-43 behind begley’s 17 Points

By

Joseph Garwood

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January 23, 2024

DEMOREST, Ga. – Piedmont women’s basketball bounced back on Tuesday night, toppling Agnes Scott 72-43 inside Cave Arena.

The Lions led wire-to-wire and held a double-digit advantage for most of the contest.

Sophomore Brooklyn Begley caught fire late, scoring a career-best 17 points on 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. She led the Lions and was one of just two players in double figures, joined only by Nae-Nae Eades, who poured in 10 points to go with four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Riley Bryan and Alexandria Willis added eight points each.

Overall, 15 different Lions found the scoring column in the win.

Piedmont raced out of the gate, erasing all doubt early on after scoring the first 14 points of the game and holding the Scotties scoreless until the 4:06 mark of the opening quarter.

Agnes Scott was able to find its footing with a 16-9 edge in the third quarter to claw back within shouting distance.

However, Begley’s big fourth quarter helped the Lions run away and hide and pull off the 29-point victory.

Up next, the Lions will take on Covenant at home this Thursday, Jan. 25 at 5 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
– The Lions blitzed the Scotties to start the game, scoring 14 straight points before Agnes Scott found a basket.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
– Begley found the range from deep late, connecting on four of Piedmont’s five three-pointers made as a team. Her 17 points marked a season and career high for the sophomore.
– Eades reached double figures for the second time this season, scoring 10 points and contributing a team-high four assists to go with four rebounds and three steals.
– Agnes Scott’s Laila Williams scored a game-high 20 points in the loss.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
– The Lions put up 88 field goal attempts, nearly doubling Agnes Scott’s 46.
– Piedmont forced the Scotties into 36 turnovers on the night.

James Franklin “Frank” Southall, Sr.

By

Now Habersham

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January 23, 2024

James Franklin “Frank” Southall, Sr., age 81, of Demorest, Georgia, passed away on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center following an extended illness.

Born in Valdosta, Georgia, on February 27, 1942, he was a son of the late Joseph Benjamin & Frances Nolan Southall. Frank retired from the Gwinnett County School System with a career that spanned almost 30 years. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing and hunting and was an avid Georgia Bulldog fan.

Survivors include his loving wife of 52 years, Linda Mills Southall of Demorest, GA; son, James Franklin Southall, Jr. of Commerce, GA; daughter, Kim Southall of Brookhaven, GA; daughter by choice, Jennifer Barron of Brookhaven, GA; grandchildren, Carson Barrett, Luke Southall, & Kinsley Grace Southall; 10 siblings as well as numerous other relatives & friends.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 27, 2024, with Rev. Matthew Butler officiating. Interment will follow in the Hillside Gardens Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 26, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that all donations be made to The American Cancer Society at https://donate.cancer.org or to The American Heart Association at https://www.heart.org.

An online guest registry is available for the Southall family at www.HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

Arrangements are in the care & professional direction of Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens of Clarkesville, Georgia. (706) 754-6256

Ferguson to seek second term as probate judge

By

Dean Dyer, WRWH Radio

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January 23, 2024

White County Probate Judge Don Ferguson talks with Dean Dyer on WRWH Radio in Cleveland, Ga., on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. (wrwh.com)

White County Probate Judge Don Ferguson has announced his intention to seek a second term in office.

Ferguson, speaking on WRWH Radio in Cleveland Tuesday morning, said asked for everybody’s prayers, help, and support.

“I hope we’ve done a good job for everybody. I hope we’ve helped a lot of people; we’ve certainly tried,” said Ferguson.

The probate court is responsible for the probate and administration of estates for White County residents. It also provides services for misdemeanor traffic citations, game and fish violations, vital records, marriage licenses, firearms licenses, estates, guardianships of minors, and incapacitated adults.

Ferguson, who has been a practicing attorney for 30 years, is completing his first term in office and will be qualifying in March for reelection.

Uga X, winningest mascot in Georgia football history, dies

By

Joy Purcell

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January 23, 2024

Former University of Georgia mascot Uga X, the winningest mascot in the history of the university’s football team, has died.

UGA said the beloved white English bulldog, known as Que, died at his home in Savannah at age ten. His eight-year run as mascot from 2015 to 2022 included back-to-back national championships.

The Georgia Bulldogs posted a tribute video to social media on Tuesday, Jan. 23, saying Que “died peacefully in his sleep earlier this morning.”

Born May 27, 2013, Que formally began his tenure as UGA’s mascot in a collaring ceremony at the Georgia-Georgia Southern football game on Nov. 21, 2015. He retired at the end of the 2022 season after becoming the most decorated of all the Bulldog mascots.

Under Que’s watchful eye, the Georgia Bulldogs compiled a record of 91-18, won two SEC titles, and secured the 2021 and 2022 College Football Playoff national championships. On his watch, they made seven New Year’s Six bowl appearances.

The grateful Bulldogs praised their former mascot saying, “He will always be remembered as a Damn Good Dawg.”

‘Bluegrass at the Old Schoolhouse’ revives Mt. Airy City Hall’s rich musical history

By

Jerry Neace

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January 23, 2024

Edgar Loudermilk Band -A. Tullis — The Edgar Loudermilk Band performs for about 50 people in the Mt. Airy City Hall auditorium on Jan. 19, 2024. (Photo by Adam Tullis)

Mount Airy’s old schoolhouse turned city hall revisited its rich musical history over the weekend when it came to life with the sounds of bluegrass music.

Two bluegrass bands performed Friday night, January 19, in the upstairs auditorium. The venue was used for concerts over 70 years ago, according to oral history and written accounts. Many up-and-coming performers passed through it on their way to the Grand Ole Opry, the stories go.

Local bluegrass artists, The Edgar Loudermilk Band, and Tugalo Holler, performed for nearly three hours Friday night in front of about 50 people. Both bands performed old bluegrass and gospel favorites as well as some of their original material. The concert was titled “Bluegrass at the Old Schoolhouse.”

Loudermilk is a Habersham County native with roots in Mt. Airy. His family still lives in and around the small town. Although Loudermilk now lives in Stephens County, he still considers Habersham County home. His grandfather went to school at the old schoolhouse in Mt. Airy.

From a phone call to the stage

Tugalo Holler performed at Mt. Airy City Hall Friday night. (Shelley Tullis)

Edgar Loudermilk has performed numerous times on the Grand Ole Opry stage with many notable bluegrass and country music artists over the years.

According to Loudermilk, the idea to play at the schoolhouse began last summer when he spoke with Shelley Tullis and her husband, Adam, about performing at the Chattahoochee Mountain Fair. That idea grew from those early conversations to a small concert, just to see if there was some interest.

Adam Tullis is a member of the Mt. Airy Town Council. He says the council decided to allow the performance to see if there would be any interest in the auditorium being used as a music venue like it was so many years ago.

Tullis says the council had discussed the possibility of the auditorium being used again for such events, but there is no commitment at this time.

A stop on the road to and from Nashville

According to Betty Sisk, author of the book “Once Upon a Time: Schools of Habersham County,” co-authored by Ellene Gowder, Sisk tells the story of hearing “the sounds of the Grand Old Opry celebrities on that stage: Minnie Pearl, Little Jimmy Dickens, James and Martha Carson and String Bean were among those who came to the school auditorium.”

Members of the Edgar Loudermilk Band and Tugalo Holler sign a wall behind the Mt. Airy stage after their performance. (Adam Tullis)

Local artist, the late John Kollock, mentioned it in his narrative accompanying one of his paintings of the old schoolhouse: “Touring shows also appeared on the stage, including stars from the Grand Ole Opry.”

There is a little-known tradition that many in the area are not aware of about those who perform on stage in the auditorium of the old schoolhouse. After they perform, they sign a wall backstage.

Mt. Airy Police Chief Jamie Bowden gave Now Habersham a quick tour showing those signatures. He says that whether it was a play or a concert, those who performed on stage signed the wall. Many of the signatures are signed in chalk, and time has made most unreadable.

Staying true to tradition, members of both bands signed and dated the wall Friday evening.

According to Kollock’s narrative, the schoolhouse opened on January 3, 1922, and closed at the end of the school term in 1955.

Men’s lacrosse tabbed second in USA South Preseason coaches poll

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Piedmont University Sports Information

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January 23, 2024

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Piedmont men’s lacrosse team was picked to finish second, as the USA South Preseason Coaches Poll was released Tuesday afternoon.

The Lions were picked to finish in second place, with 57 points and two first-place votes. Pfeiffer took the top spot in the poll, with the remaining seven first-place votes and 63 total points.

Last season, the Lions finished in a three-way tie for first place with a 7-1 conference record. Piedmont lost in overtime in the USA South Tournament Semifinals to Southern Virginia.

The Knights of Southern Virginia are ranked third with 47 total points, followed by LaGrange (42) and Methodist (41), who are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

Greensboro and Huntingdon finished in a tie for sixth in the voting with 25 points each as Brevard (13) and William Peace (11) rounded out the league.

This season, the Lions return two-year starter at goalie Johnny Matrona, who played a major role in regular season wins against Pfeiffer the past two seasons.

On the offensive end, the team’s four leading point scorers from a season ago return to the fold with Brady McGure, Michael Anderson, Connor Rogers, and Isaac Harrington back.

On the defensive end, two-time All-USA South performers Andrew Pagano and Eric Fewell return as well.

The Lions are scheduled to open the 2024 season on the road, taking on Oglethorpe on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Peach Cup Games in Mount Berry, Georgia.

2024 USA South Coaches Preseason Men’s Lacrosse Poll
Rank	Institution (1st Place Votes)	Points
1.	Pfeiffer*^ (7)	63
2.	Piedmont* (2)	57
3.	Southern Virginia*	47
4.	LaGrange	42
5.	Methodist	41
t-6.	Greensboro	25
t-6.	Huntingdon	25
8.	Brevard	13
9.	William Peace	11
*Defending Regular Season Tri-Champions^Defending Tournament Champions

Tensions boil over during Georgia House committee hearing on antisemitism bill

By

Ross Williams

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January 23, 2024

Capitol Police confirmed one person was arrested after a committee meeting was interrupted by shouting. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

(GA Recorder) — One person was arrested at the Georgia Capitol Monday after a contentious Senate committee hearing erupted into jeers over a controversial bill about antisemitism and Israel.

The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the bill aimed at defining antisemitism in state code. House Bill 30 by Marietta Republican Rep. John Carson would adopt the definition used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, requiring state agencies to use that definition as evidence for discriminatory intent in things like housing or employment discrimination, as well as under the state’s 2020 hate crimes law.

After the vote, supporters gave a standing ovation, while a handful of opponents approached lawmakers shouting “Free, free Palestine!” Officers escorted the demonstrators out and the hearing resumed quickly.

Separately, the committee voted 5-3 to advance Senate Bill 359 by Roswell Republican Sen. John Albers, which adds offenses like littering, illegal sign placement, disorderly conduct attempting to disturb a funeral, loitering and harassing communications to the state’s hate crimes law in an attempt to get at people who distribute antisemitic fliers and perform other hateful stunts.

A demonstrator shouts “Free Palestine” after the passage of Rep. John Carson’s antisemitism bill. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

Under HB 30, making antisemitic statements would not be a crime, but such statements could be used as evidence for enhanced penalties for underlying crimes.

The sticking point is that the definition calls certain criticisms of Israel – such as claiming it is a racist endeavor – antisemitic, which some free speech advocates say unjustly limits speech.

Georgia’s hate crimes law protects against acts based on one’s religion, but supporters say Jewishness is more than just religious, and specifically codifying antisemitism will provide more protection.

Carson has been pushing for a state definition of antisemitism for several years. Last year’s effort fell short in the committee over free speech concerns.

This year, leadership from both chambers signaled support for the bill as high-profile antisemitic demonstrations and hateful leaflet campaigns continue to alarm Jewish Georgians – and as violence in Gaza threatens to ignite a wider regional conflict.

The aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed, has sparked increased sympathy for the Jewish people but also heightened skepticism of the Israeli government. Israel’s military has killed 25,000 people in Gaza since Oct. 7, 70% of them women or children, according to the United Nations.

The House bill would prevent Georgia Jews from being targeted as a result of Israel’s policies, said Rabbi Larry Sernovitz, CEO of Hillels of Georgia. Sernovitz described an increase in antisemitic attacks, including a University of Georgia freshman who was physically and verbally assaulted shortly after Oct. 7. Sernovitz said the students’ attackers called him a “stupid, Israeli ‘F’” and were not charged with a hate crime.

“He, by the way, is a Jewish student from the metro Atlanta area and not an Israeli,” Sernovitz said. “The use of the word ‘Israeli’ instead of ‘Jew’ was integral in this decision. HB 30 would have protected him and so many others. And HB 30 includes this example of antisemitism, holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.”

Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar of Temple Beth Israel in Macon described being targeted by hate groups, whose tactics included phoning in a bomb threat, hanging an effigy outside her synagogue and distributing antisemitic literature in Jewish neighborhoods.

State Reps. Esther Panitch and John Carson speak in the hallway after the Senate Judicial Committee passed Carson’s antisemitism bill. The only current Jewish member of the Legislature, Panitch has pushed hard for the bill’s passage and said she was grateful to see it moving forward Monday. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

“As we address antisemitism, let us fortify the bonds that make us strong, the bonds of family, the bonds of community, and the unwavering belief in a brighter future for all Georgians and all Americans,” she said. “Together, we can reaffirm our commitment to a nation where the lamp of liberty shines brightly, dispelling the shadows of prejudice.”

Several Jewish Georgians also showed up at the meeting to speak against the bill. Political activist Marissa Pyle said the bill would do nothing to protect her from the antisemitic abuse she has suffered.

“However, what it does do is tell me, a Jewish person, that I am somehow being hateful against myself when I and Jews like me speak out about a foreign government, the Israeli government,” she said. “It gives me fewer rights to criticize a foreign government than my own under the guise of my own protection.”

Luma Younis, a Georgia Tech student from Clarkston, said she worries her criticism of Israel could get her family in trouble.

“As a family who has tenants, the notion that a decision to possibly decline a Jewish applicant for reasons outside of their ethnic or religious background could be construed as discriminatory and that my vocal political stances could be leveraged against us in a legal context is profoundly distressing,” she said. “The prospect that the very words I speak today might be turned into a tool for litigation against myself or my family members is antithetical to the values of free speech and justice. This scenario presents a disregard for my constitutionally protected rights but also inaccurately conflates my criticism of Israel with antisemitism.”

Carson said he was relieved to see the unanimous vote. He hopes Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Speaker Jon Burns’ support will help get the bill through both chambers.

“I’m more confident than I was last week,” he said with a laugh. “I’m cautiously optimistic that we’re going to get this done and protect the Jewish community.”

Season preview: TFS boys tennis

By

TFS Athletics

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January 23, 2024

The Indians open the 2024 season as the favorites to once again win the Region Championship. That’s no surprise after going 15-1, falling only in the Sweet 16 on the home court, and returning the entire singles lineup and nearly every player that notched a win.

Leading the charge will be the historic 1-2 punch of juniors Tanner Davis and TJ Cox. Both went a perfect 15-0 last season, with the former winning Region Singles Player of the Year honors. The 15-win mark ties the known school record in a single season. Davis (24 career wins) and Cox (23) will be anchoring the team. A few players could position themselves as the 3-singles player, with Zach Carringer (2) getting time there last year along with Jake Owensby. Carringer and Owensby won 10 matches together at 1-doubles for the second straight season, winning Region Doubles Team of the Year honors. Sophomore Glad Puscasu got some experience last year and stands to have a bigger role this time around.

“Our guys have been committed all year long in preparation for the 2024 season,” says coach Anthony Cox. “We are anchored by four juniors who play at a high level. They are competitive and really push each other to be the best they can be every day.”

With the historic season now in the rearview mirror, the Indians have put together a tougher non-region schedule in order to prepare for the bigger matches in the region and beyond. Cox, who was the Region Coach of the Year for both boys and girls, has the recipe for TFS to make another deep playoff run and stand atop the region.

“Our boys had a tremendous season in 2023, but they are not satisfied,” adds Cox. “After back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances, our sights are set on advancing past that round in the state tournament.”

“With both the boys and girls teams, once we get all the pieces of the lineup in place, we hope to get comfortable in our roles and play some high-level tennis,” exclaims Cox. “Tennis is a great sport to learn life principles, how to deal with pressure situations and overcome challenges, and how to persevere when things are tough. My goal for this group of young ladies and gentlemen is that they represent themselves, their families, and their school well and that they grow and mature as individuals during the course of the season.”

Tallulah Falls’s first serve is set for January 25 at Gainesville, and the first home match is slated for February 6 while hosting Cherokee Bluff.

SCHEDULE | ROSTER | HISTORY & RECORDS

HABCO Commission resets qualifying fees after calculation error

By

Jerry Neace

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January 23, 2024

HABCO and Ann Cain — Habersham County Human Resources Director Ann Cain apologizes to the commission for providing incorrect qualifying fees during the December 2023 meeting. (Habersham County livestream)

A calculation error forced the Habersham County Commission to rescind a previous vote on qualifying fees and reset those fees for this year’s election.

During their December regular meeting, the commission approved qualifying fees for the 2024 election cycle. However, after a closer look, commissioners questioned the fees, especially for county commission seats.

Habersham County Human Resources Director Ann Cain explained to commissioners the fees are based on the salary of the elected office. She said everything adds to that base pay, such as becoming certified or becoming chairman.

Commission Chairman Ty Akins asked Cain, “So, the longer you’re a commissioner, the more it costs to run again?” She replied, “Yes. It’s a percent of the bottom line you bring in.”

That information proved incorrect. County staff discovered the error, and after researching the matter, Cain presented commissioners with a new set of qualifying fees at their Jan. 16 meeting.

“First, I want to apologize for the incorrect fees being provided at the last meeting,” said Cain. She then added, “I am confident that the fees being presented tonight are correct for approval.”

After amending their previous vote, the Habersham County Commission set the new qualifying fees.

Based on the new fee schedule, it will cost candidates $288 to qualify to run for county commission. The qualifying fee for the school board is $153. Other fees for other local offices range from $750 for county coroner to $3,210.97 for state court judge.

2024 Qualifying Fees approved by the Habersham County Commission at their January 16, 2024 meeting. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

Qualifying for the May primary begins on Monday, March 4, and will run until noon on Friday, March 8.

Funding seen as a last hurdle to final U.S. Senate immigration deal

By

Ariana Figueroa

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January 23, 2024

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks at a regularly scheduled weekly press conference just outside the U.S. Senate chamber on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. The lawmakers largely focused on final negotiations for President Joe Biden’s supplemental funding request for aid to Ukraine and Israel in exchange for changes to the U.S. immigration system. (Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — A bipartisan agreement that would make the most substantial changes to immigration policy in 30 years hinges on funding disputes, key senators said Tuesday.

While senators have not finalized the text of the agreement, they are discussing changes to the White House’s use of parole authority to grant temporary protections to migrants by allowing them to live and work in the United States without visas. Senators also want to raise the bar for migrants to claim asylum.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said during a Tuesday press conference that senators will get a chance to review the bill text, but did not indicate when he would bring the deal to the floor for a vote. Senate Democrats and Republicans have pushed for a quick deal on immigration policy to free up aid to Ukraine.

There were few specifics on the holdups to an agreement, but funding appeared to be one. “One of the things we have to discuss is the appropriations process because there will be a need for new money, and you know, we’re all discussing how much is there,” Schumer said. “There’s some disagreements. We’re trying to come to an agreement.”

Senate appropriators are working out “technical details,” said Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, the lead Republican negotiator working with Arizona independent Kyrsten Sinema and Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy.

“We’re still cranking through everything,” Lankford said.

The top Republican on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, said that appropriators are reviewing the immigration policies in the negotiated deal.

Collins added that there are some details that have not yet been finalized.

“There still is a lot of text that is bracketed on some major issues and where negotiations are still continuing,” she said. “This is a real challenge for us to get accurate cost estimates from (the U.S. Department of Homeland Security) and (the Congressional Budget Office) if we don’t have the final text.”

Collins said she hopes the Senate will vote on the deal this week, “but obviously, members are going to want to look at the actual text.”

Even if the Senate passes an agreement to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan as part of a global security supplemental package, it’s unclear if House Speaker Mike Johnson will bring the legislation to a vote.

Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has advocated for the inclusion of H.R. 2 – a bill that would codify some hard-line Trump-era immigration policies – the House passed with only Republican votes last year.

Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have rejected the inclusion of the House bill, arguing that any agreement on immigration needs to be bipartisan.

Aid critical for Ukraine, senators say

During a Tuesday press conference, McConnell stressed the importance of Congress passing the supplemental global security package.

“The rest of the world is basically at war,” the Kentucky Republican said.

He added that it’s an “ideal time” to address immigration policy at the Southern border.

“If this were not divided government, we wouldn’t have an opportunity to do anything about the border,” he said. “In fact, I don’t think we’d get 60 votes for any border plan if we had a fully Republican government. This is a unique opportunity where divided government has given us an opportunity to give us an outcome.”

For months, Lankford, Sinema, and Murphy have worked to strike a deal with the White House to free up more than $100 billion in supplemental global security aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and for U.S. border security.

Senate Republicans have hinged their support for the foreign assistance on immigration policy changes at the Southern border.

Murphy said a deal needed to be reached quickly because of the war in Ukraine.

“Ukraine is at a breaking point,” Murphy said. “We’re not engaged in a theoretical conversation about Ukraine possibly losing the war; they will lose the war very soon if we don’t get them aid.”

The White House said that it sent its last round of aid to Ukraine, and there are concerns that Ukraine is running out of ammunition as it nears the third year of war with Russia.

“We want to get this done as soon as possible,” Schumer said.

Biden backs immigration changes

President Joe Biden last week made one of his strongest public statements to date when he said that he backed “significant policy changes” to asylum law. It was a stark reversal from his campaign promise to protect asylum law and move away from the harsh immigration policies of former President Donald Trump’s administration.

As the 2024 presidential election campaign gets underway, immigration has become a central way for Republicans to criticize Biden and Democrats, as well as a central issue for Trump, the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination.

As an unprecedented number of migrants head to the Southern border to claim asylum, Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has added to the strain in major Democratic-run cities by placing migrants on buses and planes to such cities, often without warning local officials.

Nine Democratic governors on Monday sent a letter to Biden and congressional leaders requesting federal aid and urging changes to immigration law as their states take in an overwhelming number of asylum seekers.

The two major policy issues senators are negotiating are raising the bar for migrants to claim asylum and curbing the administration’s use of parole authority, which grants temporary protections to migrants.

The executive branch has used parole since the 1950s, but the Biden administration has invoked that authority more often to manage the large number of migrants at the Southern border, according to data compiled by Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, or TRAC, which compiles immigration data.

For example, in fiscal year 2021, about 30,000 migrants were paroled, and in fiscal year 2022, more than 130,000 migrants were paroled, according to TRAC. That number increased in fiscal 2023, when in the first 10 months, more than 301,000 migrants were paroled, according to TRAC.

Recently, Biden has used that authority to grant temporary protections for migrants at the border, as well as more than 140,000 Ukrainians, more than 76,000 Afghans, and 168,000 Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan nationals.

Senate Republicans have made clear that limiting the White House’s use of parole is a “red line” issue, and without it, no deal will be made.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has also been part of talks in the Senate as House Republicans are moving forward with a markup of articles of impeachment for Mayorkas next week over immigration policies at the Southern border.

Ashley Murray contributed to this report.

Biden, Harris vow to restore protections for abortion rights as 2024 campaign launches

By

Jennifer Shutt

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January 23, 2024

(States Newsroom) — President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris made abortion access the centerpiece of their reelection bid Tuesday by holding their first joint campaign rally of the 2024 election cycle.

“With your voice, with your power, with your vote, we can restore the protections that have been around for over 50 years under Roe v. Wade,” Biden said to a crowd at George Mason University in Manassas, Virginia, on the same day voters were going to the polls in the New Hampshire primary.

“Give me a Democratic House of Representatives and give me a bigger Democratic Senate,” he said. “And we will pass a new law restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade, and I will sign it immediately.”

Biden spoke on the stage of the Hylton Performing Arts Center, surrounded by red-and-blue signs that read “Defend Choice” and “Restore Roe.”

Protesters calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas repeatedly interrupted the rally, though Biden-Harris supporters in the audience chanted “four more years” or “let’s go Joe” in an attempt to drown out the nearly dozen people who took turns throughout the speech criticizing the president.

One protester shouted, “How many kids have you killed?” and another yelled, “Israel kills two mothers every hour,” according to White House pool reports.

Warnings of national abortion ban

Harris, speaking before Biden, said that another Republican administration in the White House would try to implement a nationwide ban on abortions, a new possibility given the Supreme Court’s actions in 2022.

“In the 19 months since, in states across our nation, extremists have proposed and passed laws that criminalize doctors and punish women — laws that make no exception even for rape and incest,” Harris said.

“And let us all agree, one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling her what to do with her body,” Harris added.

Amanda Zurawski, a Texas woman who has filed a lawsuit against the state, told the rally of how, after “grueling” fertility treatments, she learned when she was 18 weeks pregnant that her cervix had prematurely dilated and her membranes had ruptured.

“We were, with 100% certainty, going to lose our baby girl. We were devastated,” Zurawski said. “What I needed at that point was an abortion so I could safely and with dignity deliver my daughter. I needed to begin the healing process, both physically and emotionally. But unfortunately, this was post-Roe Texas.”

The abortion laws in Texas meant she would have to wait until she was sick enough for her life to be considered endangered before a doctor could provide an abortion. That happened after three days and going into septic shock, Zurawski said.

“What I went through was nothing short of barbaric and it didn’t need to happen, but it did because of Donald Trump,” Zurawski said. “Over and over again, Donald Trump brags about killing Roe v. Wade. It is unthinkable to me that anyone could cheer on these abortion bans that nearly took my life.”

Dobbs decision aftermath

The Supreme Court first recognized a constitutional right to abortion in 1973 during the landmark Roe v. Wade case that has been a fulcrum of American politics ever since.

The nine justices on the high court reaffirmed the right to end a pregnancy during their 1992 decision in Casey v. Planned Parenthood.

But the court, including three justices nominated by Trump, overturned the nationwide right to an abortion in 2022 in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, when the conservative justices wrote, “the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.”

Conservative state legislatures have moved to implement strict restrictions on abortion access and, in some cases, approved bans in the nearly two years since that ruling, leading to a patchwork of access and confusion among medical professionals.

The same Supreme Court is expected to hear two additional cases on abortion access this year: one regarding pregnancy termination in emergency medical circumstances and another concerning access to a pharmaceutical used in medication abortions and miscarriage care.

Both of those rulings are expected to come out this summer, just months before voters will head to the polls in November to decide control of the White House, House and Senate.

‘He intended for them to overturn Roe’

Speaking in front of the crowd in Virginia on Tuesday, Harris noted that Trump “handpicked” the three Supreme Court justices he nominated because he “intended for them to overturn Roe, he intended for them to take your freedoms.”

“He is the architect of this health care crisis, and he is not done,” Harris said. “And the extremists are not done.”

Harris noted that since the Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to abortion, Democrats and Republicans in several states have placed protections on abortion and reproductive access into their state constitutions by placing the issue directly on the ballot.

“Since Roe was overturned, tens of millions of Americans in red states and blue marched to the polls in defense of fundamental freedoms,” she said. “The voice of the people has been heard and it will be heard.”

Biden said that Trump was counting on voters to stop caring or vote on issues other than reproductive rights and abortion access during the election. But he called on Americans not to forget the differences between Democrats and Republicans on abortion and other issues.

“I believe 2024 is going to be the most important election we’ve had since 1860,” Biden said, referring to the election of President Abraham Lincoln before the Civil War.

“The reasons are clear. Democracy is on the ballot. Freedom is on the ballot,” Biden added. “Like the freedom to choose; the freedom to vote; the freedom to love who you want; the freedom to go to work, go to school, go to your house of worship without fear of being gunned down by a weapon of war.”