'A summer of freedom': Vaccine gives new meaning to July 4th
President Joe Biden wants to imbue Independence Day with new meaning this year by encouraging nationwide celebrations to mark the countryโs effective return to normalcy after 16 months of coronavirus pandemic disruption and more than 600,000 lives lost.
Major storm heads to Northeast after blanketing Midwest
"Rosie" runs in the snow on the National Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, in Washington. It was already impacting coronavirus vaccinations in New York and New Jersey, with appointments for Monday needing to be canceled and rescheduled. The storm system blanketed parts of the Midwest in the most snow some places had seen in several years. In Wisconsin, snow depths in some counties near Lake Michigan had reached more than 15 inches (38 centimeters), and the snow was still falling. Much of the region could see blizzard-like conditions, with a foot to 18 inches (30 to 45 centimeters) of snow.
White House begins talks with lawmakers on COVID-19 relief
At least a dozen senators met for an hour and 15 minutes in a virtual call with White House National Economic Council director Brian Deese and other senior White House officials. Many hope to approve a relief package before former President Donald Trump's trial, which is set to begin in two weeks, overtakes Washingtonโs attention. Senators also wanted more data on how the White House reached the $1.9 trillion figure. โIt was about how can we work together to help the people of this country.โWhite House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients and White House legislative affairs director Louisa Terrell also joined the call. โWeโre going to continue to push because we canโt wait,โ said White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
7 moments that made President Bidenโs inauguration ceremony historic
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. During his inauguration speech in 1981, President Ronald Reagan spoke about how the United States goes through the common ritual of having an inauguration ceremony every four years, even if it seems unusual to other nations. No lunchUsually after the ceremony, there is an extravagant lunch in the Capitol Rotunda with the new president, politicians and other representatives. No outgoing presidentBefore Wednesday, the last president to skip his successorโs inauguration was Andrew Johnson in 1869. But President Donald Trump opted to skip Bidenโs ceremony, leaving the White House in the morning and landing in Florida just before the inauguration festivities began.
The Latest: Trump predicts โsuccessโ for new administration
The federal government has launched a new website that will serve as a clearinghouse for records from former President Donald Trumpโs administration. Biden brought a dark blue rug out of storage to replace a lighter colored one installed by former President Donald Trump. Workers removed the giant sign from the departmentโs C Street lobby on Wednesday shortly after President Joe Biden was inaugurated. ___4:55 p.m.President Joe Biden has directed that federal agencies halt all rulemaking until his administration has time to review proposed regulations. Former President Donald Trump flew to Florida before Biden was sworn into office.
Hollywood on the Potomac: A-list turns out for Biden-Harris
While stars mostly eschewed Trump's inauguration four years ago, the A-list was back for Biden. Brooks was careful to call his decision to perform on Wednesday non-political, and in the spirit of unity. He had performed during the inaugural celebration for Obama in 2009, but turned down a chance to perform for Trump in 2017, citing a scheduling conflict. Alone with his guitar, The Boss sang his โLand of Hope and Dreamsโ in front of the Lincoln Memorial. The celebrity component only increased over time, and one of the starriest inaugurations was that of John F. Kennedy in 1961.
Thousands of flags flooding the National Mall is stunning, and the reason for them is moving
The "Field of Flags" is illuminated on the National Mall as the U.S Capitol Building is prepared for the inauguration ceremonies for President-elect Joe Biden on January 18, 2021 in Washington, DC. One of the first glimpses of Bidenโs inauguration was revealed Monday night, when thousands of U.S. state and territory flags were set across the National Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol with lights beaming on them. *Check out our art installation of nearly 200,000 state and territory flags accompanied by 56 pillars of light ๐คฉWe canโt wait for this to be showcased on #InaugurationDay! Itโs a stunning art installation, and people on Twitter are already praising it for being super creative and incredibly moving. On the National Mall, @BidenInaugural is currently lighting nearly 200,000 flags โ one for each person who cannot attend the inauguration.
KSAT Kids: Today in History, Nov. 13
Today is Friday, Nov. 13, the 318th day of 2020. On Nov. 13, 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a measure lowering the minimum draft age from 21 to 18. In 2000, lawyers for George W. Bush failed to win a court order barring manual recounts of ballots in Florida. President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at the White House, where they pledged to slash Cold War-era nuclear arsenals by two-thirds.
Thousands march in Washington to pray and show Trump support
Followers of Franklin Graham march from the Lincoln Memorial to Capitol Hill, during the Prayer March at the National Mall, in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)WASHINGTON โ Thousands of people packed the National Mall in downtown Washington on Saturday to pray and show their support for President Donald Trump. The march, which stretched from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol, was held just hours before Trump was set to announce he was nominating a conservative judge for the Supreme Court. Some sported red caps with the words โLetโs Make America Godly Again,โ a play on Trumpโs signature MAGA caps. Vice President Mike Pence, speaking from the steps of the memorial, said he came to extend Trumpโs โgreetings and gratitudeโ and asked them to pray for the new Supreme Court nominee.
Nearly 70,000 marchers return to National Mall 57 years after MLKs I Have a Dream speech
Fifty seven years ago Friday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and delivered his I Have a Dream speech, pushing for racial justice. In commemoration of Kings speech, around 70,000 marchers returned to the same location with the message that the dream has yet to be fully realized. We will fulfill my grandfathers dream, shouted Dr. King Jr.s granddaughter from the podium on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. That is, were not there yet.Under the theme Get Your Knee Off Our Necks, marchers traveled from the Lincoln Memorial to the Martin Luther King Jr. Monument, condemning ongoing racial injustices. Notable figures like reverend Al Sharpton, and Martin Luther King Jrs son, MLK III, also withstood the heat and put pandemic fears aside, speaking out at the demonstration.
From big cities to backyards, July 4 not usual blowout bash
The fireworks were not announced until an hour or so before to avoid attracting large crowds during the coronavirus pandemic. This is traditionally a weekend for gathering in large groups for historic ceremonies and social events, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said. The Fourth of July remains a party, though Americas 244th birthday wont be the usual blowout bash. Fireworks will still crackle over the National Mall in Washington and other places, though with fewer people packed together watching them. But whether its big cities or small towns bursting with pride, theres a desire to make sure some show goes on, no matter what it looks like.
Trump's DC July 4th: fireworks and face masks
A mile-long firing of 10,000 fireworks would be the largest in recent memory, Bernhardt said. The Trump administrations Salute to America comes as Americans are dealing with surging cases of COVID-19 and a resulting recession and wave of unemployment. Bernhardt said authorities planned to have 300,000 face coverings on hand to give away at the National Mall. The Interior Department said visitors would be encouraged to wear masks and keep a six-foot distance from one another. Like last year, donations are helping support part of the cost of the July 4th events, Bernhardt said.
Watchdogs: Trump's Independence Day gala in 2019 cost $13M
All rights reserved)Government watchdogs say President Trumps Fourth of July gala in the nations capital last year cost taxpayers more than $13 million, twice as much as previous celebrations. Trumps desire to have Department of Defense military vehicles participate helped drive up the cost, according to the Government Accountability Office. Some other costs, such as for military flyovers of the National Mall, were not included in the estimate, the report said. Trumps military-focused Independence Day event went beyond the traditional concert and fireworks of years past. The GAO estimated that holiday celebrations from 2016 to 2018 cost from $6 million to $7 million annually.