Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Thursday he will call a special session of the Florida legislature to vote on banning private companies from enacting vaccine mandates, as part of a plan to take even stronger action against public Covid restrictions, in a state already known for its aggressive stance.
Ever since Deng Xiaoping opened China to the world in the late 1970s, many in the West wanted to see the country succeed, because we thought China — despite its brutal authoritarian political structure — was on a path to a more open economy and society.
State legislative special elections provide an interesting index of partisan sentiment these days. That wasn’t so in the late 20th century, when clever candidates and local notables often got voters to cross party lines. But in this century of increasing partisan polarization and straight-ticket voting, local special elections are a proxy for opinions on national issues.
Southwest Airlines dropped a plan to put unvaccinated workers with pending exemptions on unpaid leave after a December 8 deadline following protests by their employees.
California parents and teachers who oppose Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom’s vaccine mandate planned a statewide walk-out. Those choosing to rally against the policy targeting students joined forces on Monday. Protest organizers urged parents to keep their children at home and asked teachers who support the walkout to stay home as well.
Jussie Smollett, the actor who allegedly falsely claimed he was the victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime, will stand trial beginning next month, after a Chicago judge denied his request to dismiss the case over his false police report.
Colin Powell, the first black Secretary of State who formulated foreign policy under several presidents, died Monday morning at the age of 84 of complications from COVID.
