text: NEWS - THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024 - NEWS
  Overnight, an extensive outage impacted 911 services across parts of Nebraska, Texas, Nevada, and all of South Dakota, with emergency access only partially restored by midnight. CBS
  The U.S. is reaching "peak 65," marking the largest retirement wave in American history. But the financial outlook for many is grim. CBS
  VOA VIEW: Thank Dems and Biden - there is enough for illegal migrants.
  Health officials are warning consumers not to consume the Infinite Herbs basil sold at Trader Joe's after 12 people were sickened. CBS
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  Organic option is best when buying certain produce, especially blueberries, nonprofit group says in analysis of chemical residues. CBS
  The Supreme Court will consider Monday whether bans on public camping constitute "cruel and unusual punishment" barred by the Eighth Amendment. CBS
  The sanctions by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control target 16 individuals and two entities involved in Tehran's drone production. CNBC
  VOA VIEW: It should be abolished.
  Oil has sold off this week as traders unwind the geopolitical risk premium built into prices over the last two weeks. CNBC
  VOA VIEW: Don't count on no Israel counterattack.
  Columbia University President Minouche Shafik told students that the NYPD response was necessary because "these are extraordinary circumstances." FOX News
  Twenty-eight passengers and one crew member fell ill with a stomach bug on Silversea's luxury Silver Nova cruise liner, the CDC reported. FOX News
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  The U.S. Justice Department is intensifying efforts to reduce violent crime across the country, with a focus on gun violence and carjackings, officials said. FOX News
  VOA VIEW: Time will tell.
  Debate rages over whether LA's new congressional district map is racially or politically motivated after a judge ruled the previous map violated the Voting Rights Act. FOX News
  VOA VIEW: Racial gerrymander always favors blacks.
  New York City health officials are warning residents about an increase in transmitted bacterial illness spread by rat urine. FOX News
  VOA VIEW: NYC has become infectious cesspool.
  Two of the seven jurors chosen in former President Donald Trump's New York criminal trial were excused from jury duty Thursday as jury selection continues. UPI
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  Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has qualified for Michigan's 2024 presidential ballot, his campaign announced Thursday. UPI
  VOA VIEW: JFK will hurt Biden.
  China late Wednesday called on the United States to end its investigation into its shipbuilding industry, denouncing the probe as a politically motivated "mistake." UPI
  VOA VIEW: China fears the outcome.
  The protests, organized by the No Tech for Apartheid campaign, raised concerns about Google and Amazon's $1.2 billion contract with the Israeli government and military called Project Nimbus. LA Times
  VOA VIEW: A good example.
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  Prospective homebuyers are facing higher costs to finance a home with the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate moving above 7% this week to its highest level in nearly five months. Newsmax
  VOA VIEW: The facts are clear - a bad economy.
  A new bipartisan bill to change the tax code would require the IRS to be specific about accounting errors on Americans' tax returns and provide a computation of what the agency believes is the correct amount of tax owed. Newsmax
  An effort to force TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the social media app or face a ban in the U.S. was gaining steam in Congress on Thursday, with the House of Representatives setting a vote for Saturday and a key Senate Democrat voicing support for the move. Newsmax
  VOA VIEW: TIK TOK must go.
  President Joe Biden is still leading former President Donald Trump among young voters, but Trump is whittling away at those numbers, a Poll released Thursday shows. Newsmax
  VOA VIEW: As it should - young voters are not as dumb as Dems think.
  Donald Trump Jr. roasted House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on social media Thursday after Johnson's about-face on moving forward with a foreign-aid package without U.S. border security included. Newsmax
  VOA VIEW: A major Johnson mistake.
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  FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday told Jewish leaders that the bureau is on alert for potential threats against Jews before the start of Passover next week. Newsmax
  VOA VIEW: Vigilance is important.
  Eli Lilly (LLY.N), opens new tab said on Wednesday its weight-loss drug helped reduce episodes of irregular breathing associated with a common sleep-related disorder in two late-stage trials, paving the way for expanding use of the drug. New York Post
  Some news reports have included details about jurors that had been aired in open court. One was excused after she developed concerns about being identified. New York Times
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  Republicans and Democrats voted to advance a measure to extend a warrantless surveillance law, but skeptics in both parties were still pushing to make substantial changes before a final vote. New York Times
  VOA VIEW: Changes should be made.
  A New York judge on Thursday excused a woman who'd been sworn in as a juror for ex-President Donald Trump's trial but expressed unease about her impartiality and the amount of identifying information about her in public. Washington Times
  The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits didn't change last week as the labor market continues to defy efforts by the Federal Reserve to cool hiring. Washington Times
  VOA VIEW: The entire report is wrong.
  Democrats in the Arizona Senate cleared a path to bring a proposed repeal of the state's near-total ban on abortions to a vote after the state's highest court concluded the law can be enforced and the state House blocked efforts to undo the long-dormant statute. Washington Times
  VOA VIEW: Interesting reality.
  Alejandro N. Mayorkas, a Cuban immigrant who grew up in California, is the first U.S. Cabinet official impeached in nearly 150 years. LA Times
  VOA VIEW: It's needed - he must go.
  US President Joe Biden called for a hike in steel tariffs on "cheating" China Wednesday as he courted blue-collar voters on an election campaign trip to the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Newsmax
  VOA VIEW: Biden is running scared.
  The Heartland Institute revealed that 28% of likely voters would be willing to engage in illegal voting activity if it would help their preferred candidate win the 2024 presidential election. Newsmax
  VOA VIEW: Madness - Dems will try very hard.
  A classified addendum to an official Russian foreign policy document includes plans to weaken the U.S. and its allies in all areas. Newsmax
  VOA VIEW: Russia should be watched.
  Russian online campaigns to influence the upcoming U.S. presidential election kicked into gear over the past 45 days, but at a slower pace than in past elections. Newsmax
  VOA VIEW: Russia wants Biden to remain in office.
  The Justice Department has reached a deal to pay approximately $100 million to 100 women and girls who were sexually assaulted by former national women's gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. Newsmax
  VOA VIEW: Taxpayers should no pay for the actions of a corrupt doctor.
  President Biden twice implied Wednesday that his uncle Ambrose Finnegan was eaten by cannibals in New Guinea after his plane went down during World War II — even though military records show that the aircraft disappeared over the Pacific. New York Post
  VOA VIEW: Biden has clearly lost his mind.
  Democrats moved quickly to sweep aside the article of impeachment accusing the homeland security secretary of refusing to enforce immigration laws, calling it unconstitutional. New York Times
  VOA VIEW: Dems will have to pay at the polls.
  Experts and couples are challenging the conventional wisdom that sex is essential to relationships. New York Times
  VOA VIEW: Only by liberal fools.
  The officer, Jatonya Muldrow, said she had been transferred to a less desirable position based on her sex. Lower courts ruled that she had failed to show concrete harm. New York Times
  Winning the state, where he narrowly defeated Donald J. Trump in 2020, is crucial to his re-election strategy. New York Times
  VOA VIEW: Biden is spreading lies.
  Ford Motor has issued a recall on over 450,000 SUVs and pickups over an electrical issue that could result in loss of drive power. Washington Times
  Pro-life groups were dismayed when former President Donald Trump declined to support federal limits on abortion access, but one leading organization says that shouldn't stop abortion foes from voting for him. Washington Times
  VOA VIEW: The country needs to oust Biden.
  Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill to codify the meaning of "woman" in state law, becoming the second female Democratic governor to nix such legislation over concerns about transgender rights. Washington Times
  VOA VIEW: Hobbs is an idiot.
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  Private religious schools are more effective at producing engaged citizens than traditional K-12 public campuses, a study has found. Washington Times
  Colleges increasingly are offering optional graduation celebrations divided by race, sexuality and income in their first spring commencement season since the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action. Washington Times
  House Republican leadership on Wednesday unveiled three bills that are part of a complicated plan by Speaker Mike Johnson to approve more foreign aid. CBS
  VOA VIEW: It may not pass without Dems.
  President Biden is on a three-day swing through Pennsylvania and the Rust Belt. CBS
  VOA VIEW: Anything to buy votes.
  The vehicles' failure to detect a "sudden degradation" in the battery could lead to to a sudden loss of power, Ford warns. CBS
  VOA VIEW: A major problem for Ford.
  The Senate is set to convene for the impeachment trial of Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday afternoon, with Democrats aiming to bring the effort to a quick end. CBS
  VOA VIEW: A full trial is needed - Dems say no trial, period.
  The campaign will work with private and public sector partners to combat rising rates of child exploitation and abuse online. CBS
  VOA VIEW: Very little will be accomplished under Biden administration.
  The IMF forecast will be galling for Western nations which have sought to economically isolate and punish Russia for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. CNBC
  The Biden administration released its new proposal to forgive student debt for millions of Americans. It hopes this plan will survive legal challenges. CNBC
  VOA VIEW: Don't count on it = no loan forgiveness.
  President Joe Biden will call on the U.S. Trade Representative to triple the China tariff rate on steel and aluminum imports. CNBC
  Dozens of anti-Israel agitators took over Columbia University's campus on Wednesday, demanding divestment from companies connected to Israel. FOX News
  VOA VIEW: They should be ousted.
  The Biden administration plans to reject the construction of an access road to the Ambler mining district in northern Alaska. The rejection is expected later this week. FOX News
  One home invasion suspect was shot and another died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after targeting a Southern California home. FOX News
  VOA VIEW: Home invasion must be stopped.
  A Disney Cruise Line worker was arrested for possession of child pornography — the third crew member at the company to be charged for child pornography this year. FOX News
  The U.S. Senate Wednesday will scrutinize Boeing's safety practices at two committee hearings. Whistleblower Sam Salephour will appear but Boeing's CEO David Calhoun will not. UPI
  The United States will impose new sanctions targeting Iran, the White House said late Tuesday, in response to Tehran's weekend attack on Israel. UPI
  Restaurants in California are being warned not to serve certain oysters on the half-shell, from Republic of Korea, which could be contaminated with norovirus, the Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday. UPI
  Electronic voting technology company Smartmatic announced Tuesday it has settled its defamation lawsuit against conservative news outlet One America News for broadcasting lies about the 2020 election. UPI