The Senate has begun in all day series of votes as Republicans attempt to pas...
The effort has been complicated by the president's nearly $2 billion fund to pay out taxpayer money to people
“who claim to have been targeted by what President Trump calls a weaponized federal government.”
The NPR's Eric McDaniel reports. The $70 billion package is meant to fund immigration and customs enforcement as well as border patrol for the rest of the president's time in the White House. Republicans thought they'd found a path to pass it on a party-line vote, Democrats don't support the funding, but some GOP lawmakers are now demanding an end to President Trump's self-allocated anti-weaponization fund before they advance the package. Trump's acting attorney general told Congress the fund can be used to pay insurrectionists to threaten lawmakers and attack the capital building on January 6, 2021.
Recent conflicting statements from the administration on whether it's decided to unalaterally end the payout fund have not helped matters. Amendment votes and negotiations will continue into the evening. Eric McDaniel and PNU is the capital. New York City officials say they are ready for huge World Cup soccer crowds expected later this month.
“At a press conference today, state and local officials detail plans to keep fans safe.”
Here's NPR's Brian Mann. Governor Kathy Hockel says New York City's bus subway and trains system will boost service to move up to 100,000 extra people. Many going to the New York New Jersey Stadium where World Cup matches will take place. State and local officials are also stepping up anti-terrorism measures. So you'll see more of a police presence, but also know that behind the scenes that our cyber analysts and experts are focused on this with every fiber in their being.
Mayor Zoran Bhamdani says there may be even bigger crowds. If a World Cup soccer game falls on the same day as a possible Nick Spurs NBA finals home game.
“This is a moment that we've been preparing for, we've been hoping for, and we shall fully prepare for.”
World Cup match in the New York New Jersey area is June 13th Brian Mann and PR news. Mortgage rates from the U.S. are dragging down the spring home buying season according to redfin new home listings are declining. And Pierre Steven Vassaha says mortgage rates are elevated. It was expected to be a strong home buying season.
Average interest rates for 30 year fixed mortgage drop below 6% in February, the first time in three and a half years.
But the war against Iran increased the cost of borrowing, and this week the mortgage rate is about 6 and a half percent. Real estate business Zillow says sales in May were below where they were a year ago, nearly 3% in housing recovery is back on pause. Families choosing to stick with renting are seeing the benefits of an apartment construction boom. The retail data company already matrix reports the average advertised rent was virtually flat compared to a year earlier. It's NPR news.
U.S. federal health officials are tracking the Ebola outbreak in East Central Africa as the disease continues to spread.
The United States has sent more than $160 million in financial assistance to the region, but is not as directly or closely involved in the Ebola response.
Compared to previous outbreaks, some experts say U.S. leadership is missing. One official with a pandemic center at Brown University says costs and concerns of the outbreak won't end until it is contained at the source. The Dow Jones industrial average is closing up more than 870 points. Stocks recovering from yesterday's declines, banks such as JP Morgan were among the leading gainers as investors rotated out of technology shares after chipmaker Broadcom posted disappointing earnings results. The rapper Drake has the week's biggest album and the week's biggest song, and pierced even Thompson reports.
It may Drake released three albums on a single day. Iceman, a beep tea, and made of honor. Last week he did something no one has ever done before. He landed all of the week's top three albums. This week, those three albums are still in the top 10, and Iceman holds it number one for a second week. Janice STFU holds it number one on the Hot 100 singles chart. It's one of four Drake songs in the top 10, and one of 29 Drake songs to crack this week's Hot 100. Steven Thompson and PR news. I'm Lakshmi Singh and PR news in Washington.
The surreal horror film Backrooms is a smash. The director is a 20 year old YouTuber and it's based on his popular web series. Why is this online phenomenon taking off at the box office? We get into it on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour. Listen via the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
