National News Roundup: Government Shutdown Ends, NASA Delays Moon Launch, and More
Washington, D.C. – A busy week in national news saw the end of a government shutdown, a delay in NASA's Artemis II moon launch, and scrutiny of the National FFA organization.
President Trump signed a massive funding bill on Tuesday, ending a partial government shutdown that lasted four days. The House approved the package with a vote of 217 to 214, with 21 Republicans and 21 Democrats crossing party lines, 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. The legislation includes five full-year spending bills and a two-week extension of funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats are reportedly demanding reforms to immigration enforcement agencies like ICE.
In space exploration news, NASA announced a delay in the launch of its Artemis II moon mission. Originally slated for February, the launch is now targeted for March at the earliest. The delay comes after a dress rehearsal countdown experienced problems, including an out-of-limits hydrogen leak, CBS News reported. "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. He added, "We fully anticipated encountering challenges. That is precisely why we conduct a wet dress rehearsal. These tests are designed to surface issues before flight and set up launch."
Meanwhile, Sen. Mitch McConnell was hospitalized after experiencing flu-like symptoms, according to ABC News. "In an abundance of caution, after experiencing flu-like symptoms over the weekend, Senator McConnell checked himself into a local hospital for evaluation last night," said McConnell spokesman David Popp in a statement. "His prognosis is positive and he is grateful for the excellent care he is receiving. He is in regular contact with his staff and looks forward to returning to Senate business." McConnell, 84, announced last February that he would end his long tenure in the Senate at the end of his current term.
In Las Vegas, a property manager was arrested in connection with a possible illicit biological lab operation and faces a federal firearm charge, ABC News reported. Ori Solomon, the property manager of the residence where the alleged bio lab was located, was arrested over the weekend, police said. According to a federal criminal complaint, "numerous firearms" were seized from his home that were illegal for him to possess. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the case, with 1,000 samples sent for testing after the discovery of the possible biological lab.
Finally, federal lawmakers are scrutinizing the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) over its ties to a Chinese Communist Party-controlled agribusiness and its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Fox News reported. The House Ways and Means Committee and the Congressional FFA Caucus are leading the inquiry, citing national security concerns and questions about the organization's tax-exempt status. The lawmakers are concerned about the FFA's relationship with Syngenta Group.
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