Government Shutdown Looms as Trump and Senate Democrats Reach Deal
Washington, D.C. – A partial government shutdown appeared likely as President Donald Trump and Senate Democrats reached an agreement Thursday evening to avert a looming funding lapse, according to Time. However, the deal's passage in both the Senate and the House remained uncertain with federal funding set to expire at midnight Friday.
The debate centered on immigration enforcement, amid high-profile incidents involving federal agents across the country, including two recent killings of U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, Time reported.
The potential shutdown followed one from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, which was the longest in U.S. history. That shutdown left hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed, disrupted flights across the country, and threatened states' food aid before Democrats relented on healthcare demands, according to Time.
Meanwhile, in Minnesota, tensions were high following the deaths of two American citizens at the hands of federal ICE agents. Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother and poet, was shot three times through her windshield on Jan. 7. Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse who cared for veterans in intensive care, was shot ten times on Jan. 24, according to Time. Time reported that video showed border patrol agents pinning him down before killing him. Neither individual had a criminal record, nor were they the target of any immigration enforcement action.
Time reported that these incidents raised questions about the role of federal agents in American cities and whether they can act with impunity.
In other news, Africa's soccer body issued fines worth more than $1 million and banned Senegal's coach and Senegalese and Morocco players Wednesday following a shambolic African Cup soccer final this month. The final involved a walk-off protest by one of the teams, fans trying to storm the field, and fights among journalists, according to the Associated Press, as reported by NPR Politics. The clashes occurred after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco late in the game.
In the world of arts and entertainment, the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of "Cyrano de Bergerac," starring Adrian Lester, was set to transfer to London's West End. Variety reported that the show would play the Noël Coward Theatre from June 13 through Sept. 5, with Lester reprising his role.
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