National News Roundup: Government Shutdown Ends, Artemis II Launch Delayed, and Southern States Grapple with Power Outages
Washington D.C. – A busy Tuesday saw significant developments on multiple fronts, ranging from the end of a government shutdown to challenges with NASA's Artemis II moon mission and ongoing power outages in the South.
President Trump signed a massive funding bill Tuesday, ending a partial government shutdown after a four-day standoff. The House approved the package by a vote of 217 to 214, with 21 Republicans and 21 Democrats crossing the aisle, according to CBS News. Speaker Mike Johnson faced challenges in securing enough GOP votes but ultimately convinced a handful of holdouts to advance the measure for a final vote. The legislation includes five full-year spending bills and a two-week extension of funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Meanwhile, NASA announced a delay in the launch of the Artemis II moon rocket. The long-awaited flight, which will send four astronauts on a trip around the moon, is now targeted for March at the earliest. The delay comes after a dress rehearsal countdown ran into problems, including an out-of-limits hydrogen leak, leading to the test being called off early Tuesday. "With the conclusion of the wet dress rehearsal today, we are moving off the February launch window and targeting March for the earliest possible launch of Artemis II," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a post on X. NASA plans to conduct an on-pad repair of the fuel leak that derailed the dress rehearsal, followed by a second fueling test, before attempting another launch in March. Lori Glaze, a senior manager in NASA's Exploration Systems Development office, stated, "We are still in the process of assessing the data that we collected yesterday and developing the (repair) plan. We do believe...at this point that the work that's in front of us can be conducted out at the pad, and that's what we anticipate."
In other news, a judge in Oregon temporarily restricted federal officers from using tear gas and projectile munitions at protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland. U.S. District Judge Michael Simon ordered federal officers not to use chemical or projectile munitions unless the person targeted poses an imminent threat of physical harm. Simon also limited federal officers from firing munitions at the head, neck, or torso "unless the officer is legally justified in using deadly force against that person." The temporary restraining order is in effect for 14 days. Simon wrote that the nation "is now at a crossroads."
Across parts of the South, prolonged power outages continued to plague communities, exacerbating the challenges of boil-water advisories. In Mississippi, more than 36,000 homes and businesses had gone a second week without electricity after a historic winter storm brought heavy snow and ice to the region, damaging power lines and blocking access to some communities. The crisis forced families to rely on bottled water and gas heaters as freezing temperatures persisted. In Gravestown, volunteer firefighters conducted wellness checks, delivering water and basic supplies to residents who had been without power for days. James and Heather Albertson, a couple in Gravestown, were among those huddling around a gas heater inside their home.
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