In a pivotal move on Tuesday, House Republicans pressed forward with a vote aimed at impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The impeachment effort revolves around the GOP’s accusation of Mayorkas’s “willful and systematic” failure to enforce immigration laws, asserting a critical stance amid escalating concerns over U.S.-Mexico border security.
The Homeland Security Committee is slated to deliberate on two articles of impeachment, marking a significant turn of events as immigration policies take center stage in the lead-up to the 2024 elections. Republicans are aligning themselves with the stringent immigration strategies championed by former President Donald Trump.
Mayorkas, a former federal prosecutor, issued a personal appeal, urging Republicans to collaborate with the Biden administration on enhancing border security rather than pursuing impeachment. Despite his plea, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., emphasized the necessity of the impeachment proceedings, anticipating a full House vote in the near future.
Impeachment proceedings based on “high crimes and misdemeanors” against a Cabinet member are rare, with Democrats condemning the move as a political ploy. Critics argue that the impeachment attempt could set a concerning precedent for future actions against civil servants. If successful, Mayorkas’s impeachment would mark the first instance of such action against a Cabinet official in nearly 150 years.
Legislators in the Florida House of Representatives have passed a groundbreaking bill that could enforce the strictest regulation on social media use by children in the United States. The legislation, known as Florida House Bill 1, seeks to prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing most social media platforms, irrespective of parental approval.
The bill specifically targets platforms that track user activity, allow content uploads by children, or employ addictive features designed to induce compulsive usage. The Florida House approved the bill with a vote of 106 to 13, with bipartisan support, and it will now move to the Republican-controlled Senate for further consideration.
Republican State Representative Fiona McFarland likened social media to “digital fentanyl” for children, emphasizing the addictive nature of these platforms during the bill’s promotion on the House floor. Another Republican legislator, State Representative Tyler Sirois, echoed these concerns, stating that social media platforms are taking advantage of the developmental stage of children.
Notably, most social media platforms currently have a minimum user age requirement of 13, but the proposed legislation aims to raise the age limit to 16. The bill empowers authorities to terminate social media accounts belonging to users under 16, including deleting information from existing accounts. Furthermore, it mandates social media sites to implement “reasonable age verification methods” to confirm users’ ages.
Opponents argue that the bill infringes on First Amendment rights and parental authority. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, advocates for federal oversight on social media regulation and contends that parental approval should suffice for minors’ social media use.
The legislative move in Florida comes at a time when social media companies, parents, legislators, and healthcare providers grapple with the challenges of balancing social media use and its impact on children. Meta recently announced new safety measures aimed at teens, including restricting private messages from strangers and introducing additional parental controls.
This legislative development is part of a broader conversation on the potential hazards of social media for youth, with New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently labeling it a “public health hazard” and an “environmental toxin.” As discussions on the role of social media in shaping adolescent mental health intensify, different stakeholders are exploring ways to address the associated challenges responsibly.
United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) has unveiled plans to cut 12,000 jobs and provided a revenue outlook for 2024 that fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, causing a sharp decline in its shares at the opening bell.
During a conference call on Tuesday morning, UPS CEO Carol Tome indicated that the company may explore the possibility of selling its Coyote truck load brokerage business. The decision to reduce the workforce is expected to result in $1 billion in cost savings for UPS.
In September, the Teamsters approved a tentative contract agreement with UPS, concluding contentious labor negotiations that had the potential to disrupt package deliveries for millions of businesses and households across the nation.
Tome emphasized the need to align the organization with its strategic goals and allocate resources to focus on crucial objectives. Additionally, UPS announced an increase of 1 cent in its quarterly dividend to shareholders of record on Feb. 20.
In a bid to streamline operations, UPS has mandated that employees return to the office five days a week in the coming year.
UPS anticipates 2024 revenue to fall in the range of approximately $92 billion to $94.5 billion, a figure below Wall Street’s expectations, which had forecasted a number exceeding $95.5 billion. Consequently, UPS shares plummeted nearly 9% on Tuesday.
The fourth quarter of 2023 saw a 7.8% decline in revenue to $24.92 billion, slightly missing Wall Street projections of $25.31 billion. Profits for the quarter ending in December dipped by over half to $1.61 billion, or $1.87 per share, from $3.45 billion, or $3.96 per share. On an adjusted basis, quarterly earnings per share reached $2.47, surpassing the average estimate by a penny, according to FactSet.
After grappling with freezing temperatures just a few weeks ago, Houston is experiencing a welcome reprieve as temperatures rise and sunshine graces the city. The recent wintry blast is now a distant memory, prompting the question: Is winter truly over?
Before delving into the intriguing query of Houston’s winter status, let’s explore this week’s relatively mild forecast.
High atmospheric pressure is ushering in quiet weather through at least Thursday, promising plenty of sunshine. Onshore winds from the Gulf of Mexico may introduce a few extra clouds on some days, resulting in partly cloudy skies rather than mostly sunny ones. However, any significant weather changes are expected to be minimal.
As the high pressure shifts eastward, southeasterly winds will bring progressively warmer temperatures each day. Tuesday is anticipated to have the chilliest morning, with temperatures in the lower 40s. By Tuesday afternoon, temperatures are expected to reach the mid-60s north of Houston and the upper 60s near and south of the city.
Wednesday and Thursday mornings will start in the middle to upper 40s, requiring a light jacket or windbreaker. Afternoons should see temperatures climb into the middle and upper 60s. Friday is poised to maintain similar warmth, though cloud cover and showers may influence temperatures in Southeast Texas.
Rain Returns by Friday
A trough of low atmospheric pressure is projected to sweep through the region with a cold front on Friday into Saturday, bringing the next chance for rain. Specifics about rainfall amounts and timing remain uncertain at this point, and further details are expected later in the week.
Global forecast models indicate that rain is likely to hold off until later on Friday, potentially sparing commuters from the need for umbrellas during the morning commute. As the weekend approaches, it might be prudent to have indoor plans on Saturday or consider shifting outdoor activities to Sunday, as the latter half of the weekend is expected to be drier and cooler.
Is Winter Truly Over?
Despite the prospect of cooler weather over the weekend, with temperatures dropping from the mid-60s on Saturday to the upper 50s on Sunday, it may be premature to declare winter’s end in Houston.
Meteorological winter, spanning from Dec. 1 to Feb. 29, still has several weeks remaining where cooler weather is plausible. However, the Climate Prediction Center’s temperature outlook through mid-February lacks a strong signal for a prolonged cold spell. Long-range global forecast models also indicate the absence of a significant cold surge. While occasional nighttime temperatures in the 30s may occur in Southeast Texas, a sustained period of chill does not seem imminent.
Historical climate records for the Houston area suggest that mid-February typically marks the unofficial end to winter chill. While chilly spells may persist beyond that date, Houston tends to experience its coldest temperatures before Feb. 15.
In conclusion, it appears that Houston has weathered the worst of Old Man Winter, signaling a potential transition to milder conditions.
A recently released FBI report unveiled a concerning trend, positioning schools as the third-highest location for hate crimes in the United States. The report, made public on Monday, indicates that as much as 10% of all reported hate crimes in 2022 occurred within educational institutions across the country.
The study highlighted that secondary schools, encompassing preschool to 12th grade, experienced the highest volume of hate crimes from 2018 to 2022. In 2022 alone, over 1,300 hate crimes were reported at schools and college campuses, with 890 incidents recorded at secondary schools during that year.
“During these five years, over 30 percent of juvenile victims of hate crimes experienced the offense at school, and nearly 36 percent of juvenile offenders committed the offense at school,” noted the report.
Hate crimes at schools ranked behind those committed at home and on the road, according to the FBI’s findings. The year 2022 witnessed a notable increase in school-related hate crimes compared to the previous two years, marked by disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report suggested that the 3.9% drop in reported hate crimes from 2019 to 2020 might be attributed to pandemic-related stay-at-home orders, leading to a shift from in-person to online learning.
The FBI officials, when asked about the pandemic’s impact on hate crime data, did not provide a response during a press briefing on Monday.
The study also identified a specific timeframe for the occurrence of hate crimes in schools, with the most common quarter being October to December, accounting for nearly one-third of reported offenses during the five-year period from 2018 to 2022.
During this period, October emerged as the month with four hate crime offenses per day in schools nationwide, as per the FBI’s findings.
Breaking down the hate crime offenses, the report highlighted that anti-Black or African American hate crimes were the highest, with 1,690 incidents over the five-year period. This was followed by anti-Jewish hate crimes (745) and anti-LGBTQ hate crimes (741).
In 2022, the FBI recorded 11,643 reported hate crime incidents involving 13,346 related offenses, marking an increase from previous years in the five-year review. The report emphasized that intimidation was the most prevalent form of hate crime, followed by vandalism and simple assault.
During the press briefing, the FBI underscored its intent to draw attention to the data, indicating that state and local law enforcement are better positioned to offer resources to schools rather than the FBI.
In a significant development in one of aviation’s greatest mysteries, Deep Sea Vision, an ocean exploration company based in South Carolina, revealed on Saturday that it has captured compelling sonar images that could potentially be the wreckage of Amelia Earhart’s aircraft at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
The breakthrough was made possible by a high-tech unmanned underwater drone and a 16-member crew that surveyed over 5,200 square miles of the ocean floor between September and December.
The sonar images revealed a plane-shaped object located between Australia and Hawaii, approximately 100 miles off Howland Island, the intended refueling point for Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan. This is the area where the aviation pioneers were last heard from before disappearing in 1937.
Deep Sea Vision founder, Tony Romeo, expressed optimism about the findings, noting that the shape of the object closely resembles Earhart’s Lockheed Electra in both size and tail.
“All that combined, you’d be hard-pressed to convince me that this is not an airplane and not Amelia’s plane,” said Romeo.
The Deep Sea Vision team plans to conduct further investigations in the area where the images were captured later this year.
Earhart and Noonan’s disappearance nearly a century ago during their attempt to circumnavigate the globe has been one of the enduring mysteries of the 20th century. Despite various theories and speculations, neither their bodies nor their plane have been definitively located.
Tony Romeo, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer turned ocean explorer, sold his real estate company’s assets in 2022 to establish Deep Sea Vision. His team discovered the sonar images a month into their expedition but only realized the significance of their find on the last day of their trip.
“It was really a surreal moment,” Romeo recounted.
The potential discovery of Earhart’s plane at the ocean floor aligns with the theory that the aircraft ran out of fuel and sank. Other theories suggest that Earhart and Noonan may have landed on an island and perished or were taken by Japanese forces expanding in the region.
While acknowledging the various contributions to the Amelia Earhart story, Romeo emphasized the significance of her legacy as a skilled pilot. The investigation continues, offering new hope for solving a mystery that has captivated the world for decades.
In a recent announcement on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), tech mogul Elon Musk revealed that his company, Neuralink, has achieved a significant milestone by successfully implanting one of its wireless brain chips in a human. According to Musk, the patient is showing “promising” brain activity after the procedure and is reportedly “recovering well.”
Neuralink’s ambitious goal is to connect human brains to computers to address complex neurological conditions. Musk’s announcement places Neuralink among a select group of companies that have accomplished human brain chip implantation, marking a noteworthy advancement in the field.
Professor Anne Vanhoestenberghe from King’s College London acknowledged the significance of this achievement, highlighting that for companies producing medical devices, the first human test is a significant milestone. However, she emphasized the need for caution, noting that the true success of such endeavors can only be evaluated in the long term.
While Musk’s claim has garnered attention, there has been no independent verification, and Neuralink has not provided detailed information about the implantation procedure. BBC News has reached out to Neuralink and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for comment.
Notably, Neuralink has faced criticism in the past, with reports of animal testing resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,500 animals. The FDA granted permission for human testing in May 2023, allowing Neuralink to conduct a six-year study involving the surgical placement of 64 flexible threads onto a part of the brain controlling “movement intention.” These threads facilitate the recording and wireless transmission of brain signals to an app that decodes the user’s intended movements.
Musk also revealed Neuralink’s first product, named “Telepathy,” which aims to enable control of devices, including phones and computers, through thought. Initial users are expected to be individuals who have lost the use of their limbs. Musk envisions Telepathy offering improved communication for individuals with conditions like motor neurone disease, citing the late Stephen Hawking as an example.
While Musk’s involvement has brought attention to Neuralink, other companies in the brain-computer interface space, such as Blackrock Neurotech and Precision Neuroscience, have notable track records dating back two decades. The future of brain-computer interfaces holds potential for transformative medical advances, though widespread availability may still be years away.
In an unforgettable NFC Championship clash, the San Francisco 49ers scripted a remarkable comeback, erasing a 17-point halftime deficit to secure a 34-31 victory against the Detroit Lions. The win not only clinched the franchise’s eighth NFC championship but also punched their ticket to Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, setting up a highly anticipated rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs, their opponents from Super Bowl LIV.
The first half painted a dire picture for the 49ers, facing a dominant Lions performance that left them frustrated and trailing by 17 points. Running back Christian McCaffrey emphasized the need for focus, Coach Kyle Shanahan described the team as angry, and defensive end Nick Bosa labeled the situation embarrassing.
Despite a proud history and veteran presence, the 49ers entered the locker room knowing that their season was on the line. Shanahan’s halftime message urged a more aggressive approach in all facets of the game, stating, “Regardless of any of that stuff, we’re not going out like this.”
The second half saw an astonishing turnaround as the 49ers unleashed a surge of 27 consecutive points, tying for the largest comeback in an NFC Championship Game. The victory not only showcased the team’s resilience but also marked their 38th playoff win in NFL history, surpassing the New England Patriots and Packers.
Shanahan acknowledged the challenging first half, where the Lions outgained the 49ers, limited their offensive output, and showcased physical dominance in the run game. The turnaround began with explosive plays, including a crucial 51-yard catch by receiver Brandon Aiyuk and a forced fumble by safety Tashaun Gipson, leading to quick touchdowns.
Quarterback Brock Purdy played a pivotal role in the comeback, throwing for 174 yards and a touchdown and contributing 49 rushing yards in the second half. The defense adjusted, limiting the Lions to seven points, and the special teams made critical plays when needed.
Now, the 49ers look ahead to Super Bowl LVIII, where they aim to redeem themselves against the Kansas City Chiefs. The matchup promises to be a significant challenge, with both teams displaying peak performance in the postseason. As the 49ers celebrate their NFC championship, they set their sights on one more goal — winning the Super Bowl.
The victory not only cements the 49ers’ place in NFL history but also sets the stage for a thrilling showdown in Super Bowl LVIII.
As companies move to reestablish pre-pandemic workplace norms, an alarming trend has emerged — not only are employees being ushered back into the office, but those choosing to remain remote are facing higher layoff risks, according to recent data.
The Wall Street Journal reported that full-time remote workers were 35% more likely to be laid off than their in-office counterparts in 2023, based on findings from Live Data Technologies. The data revealed that 10% of remote employees experienced layoffs last year, compared to only 7% of those working in the office or adopting a hybrid model.
This shift comes on the heels of a surge in layoffs experienced last year and recent job cuts spanning various sectors, impacting media outlets such as Business Insider, the Los Angeles Times, Pitchfork, and Sports Illustrated, as well as commerce sites like eBay and Wayfair, along with tech giants like Microsoft.
Andy Challenger, Senior Vice President at the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, explained to the Journal that the emotional distance associated with virtual interactions could contribute to the higher likelihood of remote workers being included in layoff lists. The lack of a close personal relationship with remote employees may make them easier targets during staff reductions.
George Penn, Managing Vice President at the advisory firm Gartner, noted that this trend aligns with the sentiments revealed in a 2021 Gartner survey, where managers and executives tended to view in-office employees as higher performers.
“Managers believe employees who work remote are lower performers than those that come to the office,” said Brian Kropp, Chief of Human Resources Research at Gartner. “They will on average be more likely to lay off those who are working remote than those who are coming into the office.”
The challenge, as Kropp emphasized, is the “out of sight, out of mind” dynamic, making remote workers vulnerable during downsizing decisions.
Alyssa Ciesky, a talent acquisition specialist in San Antonio, concurred, noting the lack of a “personal connection” with remote workers, making them “easy to get rid of.” Ciesky, who herself was laid off from a fully remote role in 2022, emphasized the challenges of maintaining rapport when her boss was based in England.
In addition to higher layoff rates, Live Data Technologies found that remote workers are more likely to voluntarily leave their jobs. The data indicated that 12% of remote employees sought and secured new positions within two months, compared to 9% of hybrid or in-person workers.
David Risch, a recruiter in the supply chain industry, highlighted the employer perspective, cautioning remote workers with the phrase, “easy come, easy go.” Risch emphasized the reciprocal nature of investment, suggesting that companies are more likely to invest in employees who show commitment to the organization.
In a significant development amid the ongoing border battle between Texas and President Biden, a coalition of 26 attorneys general is steadfastly supporting Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s assertion of Article I powers to defend his state “against invasion.” The move comes as the Biden administration faces criticism for its perceived failure to enforce federal immigration laws.
Governor Abbott stirred controversy last week when he declared his intent to utilize Article I powers to counter what he labeled an “invasion” at the border. The legal grounds for Abbott’s decision are now under scrutiny, setting the stage for a courtroom clash over the governor’s authority.
The 26 Republican attorneys general expressed their backing for Texas, asserting that the influx of “millions of people illegally coming into Texas as part of a coordinated assault on our border is an invasion.” They maintained that states must have the ability to defend themselves from such threats.
The border crisis reached a critical point last week when the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to temporarily lift a lower court’s injunction, allowing the federal government to cut razor fencing installed by Texas along the border near Eagle Pass. Despite the court’s decision, Governor Abbott insisted that the order did not prevent him from continuing to construct razor wire fencing, drawing criticism from the White House.
Addressing the controversy, the attorneys general clarified in their letter, “As lawyers yourselves, you must know that reports that Texas is ignoring or ‘defying’ the Supreme Court are wrong, either misunderstanding or deliberately misstating the law.”
They emphasized that the Supreme Court’s order did not prescribe specific actions for Texas, commending the state for its efforts to protect the border despite the federal government’s ability to cut the barriers.
Quoting Article I, section 10, clause 3 of the Constitution, the attorneys general argued that states have the right to act in self-defense under certain circumstances. They pointed to Article I, Section 10, which, according to Abbott, was “triggered” by Biden’s perceived inaction at the border. This section specifies that states can engage in war or respond to an invasion without the consent of Congress.
Referencing a 2012 Supreme Court case, the attorneys general quoted the late Justice Scalia, who asserted that states have a “sovereign interest in protecting their borders.”
Highlighting the security risks associated with the border situation, they pointed out that criminal elements, including cartels and terror groups, exploit the chaos to orchestrate mass influxes. They argued that millions of people illegally entering Texas constitute an invasion, overwhelming the state’s capacity to manage the situation and posing potential threats.
Attorneys General Brenna Bird of Iowa and Sean Reyes of Utah, leaders of the coalition, emphasized the urgency of the matter. Since Biden’s inauguration in 2021, they noted that over 6 million illegal immigrants have crossed the southern border, equating it to adding the populations of Iowa and Utah to the country in less than three years.
“The invasion on our southern border has made every state a border state,” said Attorney General Bird, emphasizing that if the Biden administration fails to secure the border, states have the constitutional authority to defend themselves.
Echoing this sentiment, Attorney General Reyes asserted, “Texas’ fight is our fight, and if the White House will not defend our laws and innocent citizens, states have the authority under the U.S. Constitution to defend themselves.”
