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Police raid on newspaper prompts $3M payout, apology amid press freedom outcry
Officials in Marion County, Kansas, have agreed to pay more than $3 million and issue a formal apology over a 2023 police raid on a small-town newspaper that ignited national backlash and raised alarms about government overreach and press freedom.
The Marion County Record was raided after it received information about a local restaurant owner’s driving record — a story the paper ultimately chose not to publish. Days later, police obtained search warrants accusing the newsroom of identity theft and computer crimes, seizing computers, phones and reporting materials from both the paper’s office and the home of its publisher, Eric Meyer.
Meyer’s 98-year-old mother and co-owner, Joan Meyer, collapsed and died the day after the raid — a loss her son attributed to the stress of the search. The incident drew condemnation from national media organizations and First Amendment advocates who said it reflected a growing willingness by government officials to intimidate journalists.
"They intentionally wanted to harass us for reporting the news, and you’re not supposed to do that in a democracy," Meyer said after the settlement was announced.
KANSAS POLICE RAID NEWSPAPER'S OFFICE, PUBLISHER'S HOME TO SEIZE RECORDS; REPORTER INJURED
Two independent prosecutors later found that no crimes had been committed and said the warrants relied on inaccurate information from an "inadequate investigation."
As part of the settlement, Marion County Sheriff Jeff Soyez issued a written apology acknowledging his office’s role in the raid and expressing "sincere regrets" to Meyer and others targeted.
Former Police Chief Gideon Cody, who ordered the raid, resigned soon after and now faces a felony charge of interfering with a judicial process for allegedly persuading a potential witness to withhold information from investigators. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial in February.
Meyer said he hopes the outcome will deter future attempts by public officials to retaliate against journalists.
"The goal isn’t to get the money. The money is symbolic," Meyer said. "The press has basically been under assault."
FORMER KANSAS REPORTER ACCEPTS $235K SETTLEMENT OVER POLICE RAID OF LOCAL NEWSPAPER
The raid and ensuing lawsuit have become a national case study in press freedom and accountability, underscoring how even small local newsrooms can face government pressure — and how costly such overreach can become when it violates constitutional rights.
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The federal Privacy Protection Act generally prohibits police from searching newsrooms or seizing materials from journalists, except in rare circumstances involving alleged criminal wrongdoing — a defense that local officials cited at the time.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Bill to end government shutdown survives key hurdle before House-wide vote
The House will vote on reopening the federal government Wednesday after lawmakers' funding bill survived a key hurdle earlier in the morning.
The bipartisan deal to end the 42-day government shutdown advanced through the House Rules Committee overnight Wednesday, with all Republicans supporting the measure and all Democrats against.
It now moves to the full House for consideration, where multiple people familiar with GOP leaders' conversations told Fox News Digital they believe it will pass with nearly all Republicans on board.
Passage through the House Rules Committee is a meaningful step toward ending the shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history by roughly a week.
MIKE JOHNSON SPEAKS OUT AFTER SENATE BREAKTHROUGH ON GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
The panel's hearing to advance the bill lasted more than six hours, kicking off Tuesday evening and ending shortly after 1 a.m. on Wednesday.
Democrats attempted to force votes on amendments dealing with COVID-19-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year and other issues opposed by the GOP, though all failed.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., made a notable surprise appearance at one point, testifying in favor of his own amendment to extend those subsidies for another three years.
The lengthy hearing saw members on opposite sides of the aisle clash several times as well, with Democrats repeatedly accusing Republicans of robbing Americans of their healthcare and taking a "vacation" for several weeks while remaining in their districts during the shutdown.
"I am sick and tired of hearing you all say we had an eight-week vacation," House Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., said at one point. "I worked every day. I don't know about you. I don't want to hear another soul say that."
Democrats and some Republicans also piled on a provision in the funding bill that would allow GOP senators to sue the federal government for $500,000 for secretly obtaining their phone records during ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation.
"I think there's gonna be a lot of people, if they look and understand this, they're going to see it as self-serving, self-dealing kind of stuff. And I don't think that's right," Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said.
"I'm trying to figure out what we can do to force the Senate's hand to say, 'You're going to repeal this provision and fix it,' without amending it here."
The bill will now get a House-wide "rule vote," a procedural test that, if it passes, allows lawmakers to debate the legislation itself.
Lawmakers are expected to then hold a final vote sometime on Wednesday evening on sending the bill to President Donald Trump's desk for his signature.
Trump signaled he was supportive of the legislation in comments to reporters on Monday.
THE 5 LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS IN HISTORY: WHAT HAPPENED, HOW THEY ENDED
"We'll be opening up our country very quickly," Trump said when asked if he backed the deal.
The Senate broke through weeks of gridlock on Monday night to pass the legislation in a 60-40 vote, with eight Democrats joining the GOP to reopen the government.
Meanwhile, travel disruptions have been causing chaos at U.S. airports, with air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers being forced to work without pay since last month. Many of those employees had been forced to take on second jobs to make ends meet, fueling staffing shortages and flight delays that threatened to overshadow the Thanksgiving holiday.
Millions of Americans who rely on federal food benefits were also left in limbo amid a partisan fight over whether and how to fund those programs during the shutdown.
The bill would extend fiscal year (FY) 2025 federal funding levels through Jan. 30 to give negotiators more time to strike a longer-term deal for FY 2026.
It would also give lawmakers some headway with that mission, advancing legislation to fund the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration; the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction; and the legislative branch.
They are three of 12 individual bills that are meant to make up Congress' annual appropriations, paired into a vehicle called a "minibus."
In a victory for Democrats, the deal would also reverse federal layoffs conducted by the Trump administration in October, with those workers getting paid for the time they were off.
A side-deal struck in the Senate also guaranteed Senate Democrats a vote on legislation extending Obamacare subsidies that were enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are set to expire at the end of this year.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., however, has made no such promise in the House.
Reagan-appointed judge resigns in protest of Trump, warns of president's 'assault on the rule of law'
A senior federal judge in Massachusetts who was appointed by former President Reagan announced he has resigned in protest against President Donald Trump, who he says has been "using the law for partisan purposes."
U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf, 78, resigned on Friday and explained that the Trump administration's actions that he described as threatening the rule of law compelled him to speak out.
In a piece for The Atlantic, Wolf wrote that he had looked forward to serving for the rest of his life when Reagan appointed him in 1985 but decided to step down last week because of Trump's "assault on the rule of law" that he finds "so deeply disturbing."
"I no longer can bear to be restrained by what judges can say publicly or do outside the courtroom," the former judge wrote. "President Donald Trump is using the law for partisan purposes, targeting his adversaries while sparing his friends and donors from investigation, prosecution, and possible punishment. This is contrary to everything that I have stood for in my more than 50 years in the Department of Justice and on the bench. The White House’s assault on the rule of law is so deeply disturbing to me that I feel compelled to speak out. Silence, for me, is now intolerable."
REAGAN-APPOINTED JUDGE, ONCE REBUKED BY SUPREME COURT, CONTINUES TO LAMBASTE TRUMP
"When I accepted the nomination to serve on the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, I took pride in becoming part of a federal judiciary that works to make our country’s ideal of equal justice under law a reality," he continued. "A judiciary that helps protect our democracy. That has the authority and responsibility to hold elected officials to the limits of the power delegated to them by the people. That strives to ensure that the rights of minority groups, no matter how they are viewed by others, are not violated. That can serve as a check on corruption to prevent public officials from unlawfully enriching themselves. Becoming a federal judge was an ideal opportunity to extend a noble tradition that I had been educated by experience to treasure."
Wolf added that he now wants to do "everything in my power to combat today’s existential threat to democracy and the rule of law."
The former judge noted that Trump cannot replace him with a nominee of his own, as former President Obama named Judge Indira Talwani as his successor in 2013.
Wolf criticized the Department of Justice’s prosecutions of former FBI Director James Comey and Democrat New York Attorney General Letitia James. The former judge also took issue with Trump’s social media post in which he asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute Comey, James and Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.
He also said that even if a prosecution ends in an acquittal, it "can have devastating consequences for the defendant."
Wolf also wrote that the DOJ must ensure prosecutors do not seek an indictment unless they have "sufficient admissible evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."
"Trump has utterly ignored this principle," Wolf wrote.
Wolf blasted Trump's "unconstitutional or otherwise illegal" executive orders, criticized the president's calls for judges to be impeached for ruling against him, said there was "corruption by [Trump] and those in his orbit" and emphasized that attacks on the courts have led to actual threats against judges.
"I resigned in order to speak out, support litigation, and work with other individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting the rule of law and American democracy," Wolf wrote. "I also intend to advocate for the judges who cannot speak publicly for themselves."
TRUMP’S US ATTORNEYS IN BLUE STATES FACE LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT COULD UPEND KEY PROSECUTIONS
"I cannot be confident that I will make a difference," he added. "I am reminded, however, of what Senator Robert F. Kennedy said in 1966 about ending apartheid in South Africa: ‘Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.’ Enough of these ripples can become a tidal wave."
The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts said Wolf's "steadfast commitment to the rule of law, determination in wrestling with novel issues of fact and law, and dedication to making fair, equitable and legally sound decisions without fear or favor are the hallmarks of his time on the bench."
"His many opinions on complex issues of law in notable cases have had a great impact on jurisprudence," Chief Judge Denise J. Casper said in the statement. "In addition, his tenure as Chief Judge led to the increased engagement with the bar and community, including the initiation of the Court’s bench/bar conference and his continued support of the Court’s Fellowship Programs. I, along with my colleagues and this Court community, applaud his years of dedicated service."
Trump says Chicago crime has fallen dramatically despite 'extraordinary resistance' from local Democrats
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that violent crime in Chicago has fallen sharply since the start of a federal crackdown known as "Operation Midway Blitz," crediting the Department of Homeland Security-led effort with driving shootings and robberies down across the Windy City.
The president’s Truth Social post claimed that shootings are down 35%, robberies down 41% and carjackings nearly 50% since the operation began several weeks ago.
"This has been achieved despite the extraordinary resistance from Chicago and Illinois Radical Democrat leadership," Trump wrote.
The post marks the president’s first public update on the initiative since late October, when DHS confirmed nine arrests, including three illegal immigrants, following what officials described as "one of the most violent days" of the operation.
DHS ‘BLITZES’ CHICAGOLAND, NETTING ‘MANY ARRESTS’ AS NOEM ONSITE FOR IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN
According to DHS statements obtained by Fox News Digital, agents faced multiple assaults and vehicle rammings during coordinated Oct. 22 raids in the Chicago suburbs of Cicero and Glendale Heights.
DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin called it "one of the most violent days we’ve had," confirming that one agent was injured and several patrol units were damaged. The raids targeted violent offenders and previously deported foreign nationals with criminal records.
The operation’s namesake honors Katie Abraham, a Chicago-area resident killed in September in a hit-and-run involving a suspected illegal immigrant.
DHS MARKS 'ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT DAYS' OF OPERATION MIDWAY BLITZ WITH SEVERAL ARRESTS
"Midway Blitz," launched in September, is part of a broader DHS initiative aimed at "criminal illegal aliens terrorizing Americans in sanctuary Illinois," according to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who said suspects who attacked agents "will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Trump’s post also reignited tensions with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both of whom have previously opposed large-scale immigration raids. The president accused them of obstructing enforcement and "encouraging violent resistance against ICE officers."
Trump said the next phase of "Midway Blitz" will include a "full surge" of federal agents in Chicago and Memphis, claiming the first wave has already delivered measurable results.
"As we ramp up more assets, these numbers will continue to drop," he wrote Tuesday.
The Illinois governor’s office and the Chicago mayor’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment. The White House directed Fox News Digital back to the President's comments on Truth Social.
Fox News Digital's Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
Texas man accused of child sex crimes avoids jail in plea deal with Soros-backed prosecutor: report
A Texas man accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a child will avoid prosecution on nine felony counts after striking a plea deal with a George Soros-backed Travis County prosecutor, according to a report.
Austin’s ABC affiliate KVUE reported that Richard Leigh Bell, 37, was indicted on nine felony charges — including one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, six counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, and two counts of indecency with a child. Those charges were dropped as part of a plea deal that allowed Bell to plead guilty to one count of injury to a child, a third-degree felony.
Under the deal, Bell was sentenced to five years of deferred probation. He must register as a sex offender and is barred from contacting the victim, her family, or any minors, KVUE reported. The plea included no jail time.
Outside the courtroom on Monday, the victim’s father told KVUE he was blindsided by the decision and said prosecutors Efrain De La Fuente and Lorraine Garcia failed to include him in discussions about the plea.
"I was outraged to find out that this was not only our first and last plea deal, but this was our deal whether I liked it or not," he said.
The father, who was not named to protect the victim’s identity, said he had expected a prison sentence for Bell.
"I think any parent would expect somebody to rot in jail for doing something like this," he told KVUE. "As time went on, I expected a realistic plea deal to be years at least—long enough to serve some time in prison where you belong if you have successfully carried out pedophilic acts."
In Texas, deferred adjudication lets defendants avoid a conviction if they complete probation successfully, though any violation can trigger sentencing on the original charge. Bell’s probation conditions — including mandatory sex offender registration and no-contact restrictions — will remain in place for the entire five-year term.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza’s office and has not received a response.
Garza, who took office in deep-blue Travis County in 2021 after a campaign backed by progressive billionaire Soros, pledged to "reimagine" criminal justice and prosecute police officers. He has defended his record as district attorney, saying he is "doing exactly what Travis County voters elected him to do — fixing our broken criminal justice system by standing with survivors, working to end the excessive use of force by police, and prioritizing treatment over incarceration for nonviolent drug offenses."
Critics have argued that Garza’s office has failed to advocate for victims and has promoted policies that make the city less safe.
He has also faced scrutiny for aggressively prosecuting police officers in a city still divided over the council’s 2020 decision to cut police funding.
That tension came to a head in 2023, when Garza sparked outrage for appearing at the funeral of a fallen police officer — a move some called "a slap in the face."
Texas man charged with multiple crimes for allegedly targeting Louisville coach Jeff Brohm, court records show
A grand jury indicted Texas resident Brian S. Mandel over alleged threats directed at Louisville football head coach Jeff Brohm, his family, quarterback Miller Moss and others.
The Louisville Courier Journal, citing court documents, reported that Mandel was indicted on multiple counts of second-degree terroristic threatening and a separate count of attempted extortion.
A Jefferson Circuit Court judge issued a warrant for Mandel's arrest. As of Tuesday evening, he had not been taken into custody. Court records show that his bond was set at $100,000.
The alleged extortion charge stems from Mandel possibly attempting to "obtain property of a value of $10,000 or more" from Moss by "threatening to inflict bodily injury," according to court filings.
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Louisville offensive coordinator Brian Brohm, Jeff's relative, was among those who were allegedly targeted by Mandel. A copy of the indictment stated that the threats were made between Nov. 8 and 9.
TEXAS TECH FOOTBALL COACH TAKES SWIPE AT NOTRE DAME'S INDEPENDENT STATUS
The Cardinals suffered an overtime defeat to the California Golden Bears on Saturday in Louisville.
An unnamed university police officer is listed as the complaining witness. A motive for the alleged crimes remains unclear. A detailed narrative was also not included in the indictment.
An athletics department spokesperson said the university will remain in communication with authorities throughout the investigation. "We commend law enforcement for their swift and decisive action in addressing this matter," a statement from the media relations department read. "Threats of violence have no place in our community or in sports, and we will continue to work closely with authorities to ensure a safe environment for all."
"The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community remain our highest priority," the statement continued. "Our student athletes and coaches deserve to compete, learn, and grow without fear. We are committed to supporting them and reinforcing the values of respect, integrity, and accountability that define our program."
Pending an arrest, Mandel is set to be arraigned Nov. 17.
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Trump grows frustrated with GOP for not touting his ‘greatest economy in history’
President Donald Trump gave Fox News an exclusive look inside the White House as he begins his 10th month in office while expressing his frustrations with the GOP for not selling his economy.
The commander-in-chief welcomed Fox News host Laura Ingraham to the White House, touring the Presidential Hall of Fame and previewing the new ballroom planned for the former East Wing site. He touted economic growth and his intentions to lower costs even more, calling it an almost "surgical" endeavor.
"The Republicans don't talk about it. The Democrats give false talk… And I say it all the time: Republicans have to talk about the fact that prices are down," Trump told "The Ingraham Angle."
The president called out GOP lawmakers for failing to spotlight what he describes as "the greatest economy in history."
TRUMP LAYS WREATH AT TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY ON VETERANS DAY
Trump credited his leadership for driving down costs, calling the economy his "thing."
The president argued the economy is potentially the strongest in American history and is positioning the United States ahead of its rivals.
"We are doing phenomenally well. This is the greatest economy we've ever had," Trump said.
TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON PLAN FOR 600,000 CHINESE STUDENT VISAS DESPITE MAGA BACKLASH
He targeted former President Joe Biden, accusing him of driving away American investment.
"Biden couldn't raise anything, no investment," Trump said. "I think investment went out of our country. I'm now at almost $18 trillion in nine months. That's the biggest in the history of the world. China's never done it, never done anywhere near that… It's investment, it's building auto plants, it's building AI plants. By the way, we're leading China by a lot on AI."
Trump also praised the speed of his administration’s economic efforts since taking over Biden’s White House.
"I haven't been here long. Nine months is not a long time, but look at what I've done to energy, look at the price of gasoline," he said.
The president pointed to one of his first economic feats of his second term — driving down the cost of eggs after prices hit a record high in January.
"They were hitting me with eggs. Eggs had quadrupled in price, and they're screaming at me. I said, ‘I just got here,’" Trump explained. "We got eggs down. We got it all down."
The president acknowledged weak spots in the economy — including the cost of beef and coffee — vowing to lower tariffs to ease prices.
"We're going to take care of all this stuff very quickly, very easily. It's surgical. It's beautiful to watch," he said.
Republican erupts at Democrat during shutdown hearing: 'My people aren't getting paid thanks to you'
Tensions flared at a House hearing to advance legislation aimed at ending the government shutdown on Tuesday night, with two senior lawmakers on opposite sides of the aisle trading barbs over the fallout.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., clashed with Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee repeatedly at the outset of the hearing. Cole accused Democrats of derailing the federal government, while McGovern railed against the GOP's refusal to attach provisions extending expiring enhanced Obamacare subsidies to its funding bill.
"This is the stuff you said you would never do. ‘We would never shut down the government. We would never do this.' That's exactly what you've done," House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said a short while later. "You're putting thousands of people out of work."
McGovern, who said emphatically that his constituents were "getting screwed," said, "You tried over 50 times to repeal the Affordable Care Act," Obamacare's formal name.
'THE PANDEMIC'S OVER': GOP, DEM SENATORS SPAR ON CAMERA OVER COSTLY OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES
He said he was getting calls from constituents who were "out of their minds" trying to figure out how to pay for healthcare without the subsidies."
"Well the most immediate crisis in my district are the thousands of workers that you and your colleagues have put out of work, that aren't getting a paycheck," Cole said.
"They're the ones that keep the airplanes flying. They're the ones that do the national weather center. They're wondering why they're not getting paid."
McGovern shot back, "You get no calls about healthcare?"
"We could have had these debates, we could have had these arguments. Why are they being held hostage?" Cole continued.
"The healthcare issue you're talking about is a subsidy you passed on your own, you said it was COVID-related…The most immediate crisis in my district, you've created. My people aren't getting paid thanks to you and your colleagues."
SCREAMING MATCH ERUPTS BETWEEN HAKEEM JEFFRIES, MIKE LAWLER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CHAOS CONTINUES
McGovern, who tried to interject multiple times, said, "So nobody in your district is complaining about healthcare?"
Cole conceded, "People complain everywhere about everything, but you asked me what the most important calls I get —"
McGovern cut him off with, "—We have a chance to do something about this."
"— is, ‘Why am I not getting paid? Why am I being forcibly furloughed?’" Cole continued.
"We have a chance to do something to help millions of people afford their health insurance. And what you're all telling me is you're not interested," McGovern said.
House Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., was ignored as she banged her gavel multiple times in an attempt to call order.
Cole, meanwhile, said the subsidies "have nothing to do with the work of my committee."
"But you're willing to hijack my committee," he continued, before McGovern cut him off again, accusing Republicans of voting to "cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires" in the GOP's "big, beautiful bill" earlier this year.
"But you could not extend these for people?" McGovern asked.
The House Rules Committee is the final hurdle for most legislation before it sees House-wide votes. Lawmakers on the key panel vote to advance a bill while setting terms for its consideration, like possible amendment votes and timing for debate.
The funding bill at hand is expected to advance through the committee on party lines. Democrats on the panel are likely to oppose the measure in line with House Democratic leaders, while Republicans have signaled no meaningful opposition.
The vast majority of House Democrats have threatened to oppose the bill over its exclusion of the enhanced Obamacare credits, despite the legislation netting support from eight members of their own party in the Senate.
Republican leaders have signaled a willingness to discuss reforms to the system, which they have criticized as flawed. However, they've rejected any notion of pairing a healthcare extension with a federal funding bill that is otherwise largely free of partisan policy riders.
Major Chinese bridge collapses into river just months after opening to traffic
A massive bridge at a hydropower station in southwest China collapsed Tuesday, sending concrete and steel plunging into a river just months after it opened, according to Chinese state media.
Reuters reported that an official from Barkam County confirmed the collapse to the Chinese state-run Global Times, saying no casualties had been reported.
The report added that cracks were detected a day earlier on the bridge’s road surface and slope, prompting authorities to impose temporary traffic controls.
Footage of the collapse, shared widely on Chinese social media, showed the Hongqi Bridge in Sichuan Province buckling before falling into the river below, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENT AMONG 5 KILLED IN NEW YORK TOUR BUS CRASH AFTER NIAGARA FALLS VISIT
The incident occurred around 3 p.m. local time near the G317 national highway, according to China Central Television (CCTV) News.
Local transportation and public security bureaus said the right-bank slope of the bridge showed signs of deformation Monday afternoon, just hours before the collapse.
Authorities quickly shut down the structure to all traffic and issued a public notice warning of potential safety risks.
CLIMBER DIES NEAR MOUNT EVEREST, WHERE HIKERS BEGIN TO EVACUATE AFTER SNOWSTORM
According to Times Now, the Hongqi Bridge was located in Sichuan Province’s mountainous Maerkang area and completed earlier this year as part of the G317 national highway—an important route connecting central China to Tibet.
The 758-meter-long, cantilevered two-lane beam bridge stood roughly 625 meters above the gorge floor, with piers reaching up to 172 meters in height. It was built by the state-backed Sichuan Road & Bridge Group as part of efforts to expand access to the Tibetan Plateau.
3 WORKERS REMAIN HOSPITALIZED AFTER COLLAPSE OF CLOSED BRIDGE IN RURAL MISSISSIPPI KILLED CO-WORKERS
The bridge’s construction was part of a broader government push to improve connectivity and spur economic growth across western China’s rugged terrain, Times Now reported.
It was intended to serve as a symbol of the country’s infrastructure ambitions but had only reopened to traffic a few months before the collapse—marking a short-lived chapter for what was meant to showcase China’s engineering progress.
State-run outlets have not yet identified the cause of the collapse, though early assessments suggest geological instability may have played a role. No vehicles or pedestrians were on the bridge at the time, officials said, and investigations are underway.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Jeffries reveals last-minute move to extend COVID-era subsidies as House shutdown vote looms
Democrats will attempt to attach a three-year extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies to spending legislation that looks poised to end the ongoing government shutdown.
Jeffries and a handful of other Democrats at a press conference on Tuesday said the last-gasp effort would be submitted as an amendment.
"Before the Rules Committee this evening, House Democrats will give the Republicans another opportunity to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits by introducing an amendment that will extend these tax credits for a three-year period of time," Jeffries said.
SCREAMING MATCH ERUPTS BETWEEN HAKEEM JEFFRIES, MIKE LAWLER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CHAOS CONTINUES
"Republicans have created a healthcare crisis all across America. You now have an opportunity to actually take some action by working with Democrats before the Rules Committee this evening to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credit," he continued.
Democrats have also introduced several other amendments, including a prohibition on blanket firings of federal workers until 2029, a prevention to cuts to Medicaid or Medicare, a restriction to cuts for several federal safety-net programs and more.
Those amendments are almost certain to fail.
The government entered a 42-day shutdown on Oct 1 when Democrats rejected a Republican-led short-term spending bill over unrelated healthcare demands. Democrats led by Jeffries and Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., demanded Congress first consider extending temporary, COVID-era Obamacare subsidies that lawmakers passed in 2021 as an emergency response to the pandemic.
MIKE JOHNSON EYES WEDNESDAY VOTE WITH END OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN SIGHT
Now that those subsidies are set to sunset at the end of the year, Democrats have raised alarms that their expiration could leave millions of Americans paying significantly higher healthcare premiums overnight.
Republicans rejected those demands out of hand and now look poised to re-open the government without having made any concessions on the subsidies.
The short-term spending bill before the House would extend government funding through Jan. 30, 2026 and advances three of the twelve annual spending bills. It also prohibits the Trump administration from conducting mass layoffs to its federal workforce through January 30.
DEMOCRATS, LEFT EMPTY-HANDED IN SHUTDOWN, TURN FURY ON SCHUMER
Democrats at Tuesday’s press conference framed Democrats’ stand on the Obamacare subsidies as a longstanding prioritization of healthcare issues.
"Democrats have been fighting Republicans in a long struggle to provide healthcare to Americans. We have been fighting Republicans when we created Medicare, when we created Medicaid, when we created the Affordable Care Act, and we're not going to give up that fight," Rep. Teresa Fernández said.
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The House of Representatives is set to consider the spending package on Wednesday evening as lawmakers rush back to Washington, D.C. from across the country.