Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 Speaker Pelosi Rejects Two GOP Reps Chosen For Jan 6th Committee
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has kicked two Republican picks for the new committee investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Pelosi notified House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy that she’s rejecting Ohio's Jim Jordan and Indiana's Jim Banks. She cited past statements and actions by the two Republicans and said she is concerned about their impact on the "integrity of the investigation." Jordan and Banks both voted to challenge the official certification of President Biden's election as president. Pelosi said she is prepared to accept McCarthy's other three picks for the committee. McCarthy has accused Pelosi of politicizing the January 6th attack and this process – and it’s not hard to see why. After all, some of her picks for the panel also balked at certifying Trump as President.
2 Firefighters Gain Ground While Battling Large U.S. Wildfires
Firefighters in Southern Oregon are gaining ground while battling the country's largest wildfire. The massive Bootleg Fire is now 38-percent contained, up eight percent from the day before. It has scorched over 395-thousand acres so far. Meanwhile, California's Beckwourth Complex Fire near Lake Tahoe is nearing complete containment after torching over 105-thousand-acres. On top of that, the Robertson Draw Fire in southern Montana is 85-percent contained after burning over 29-thousand acres. All this fire? While there’s progress, it’s also contributing to New York City's worst air quality in 15 years. But thanks to Mother Nature pushing through a cold front and some rainfall, that’s clearing, too.
3 Ten Injured In Explosion At Kentucky Dippin' Dots Facility
Officials in Kentucky say that ten people are injured after an explosion at a Dippin' Dots facility in Paducah. Police say the explosion happened while liquid nitrogen was being unloaded from a truck yesterday. The condition of those injured was not released, but officials say they were able to get themselves out of the building. The facility makes ingredients for a third party. The explosion is under investigation. The company says they’re only concerned with one thing: their people, saying in a statement: "At this moment, our focus is on the well-being of our fellow employees who were injured.”