3 Things To Know Today

Vintage movie countdown, illustration

Photo: Science Photo Library RF

1 Texas Wildfires Raging Out Of Control, Almost A Million Acres Burned So Far

Wildfires in the Texas panhandle has consumed more than 1-million acres of land, forced evacuations, cut power to thousands of homes and businesses and left one person dead. The Texas A&M Forest Service says the fire is the second largest in the state’s history, with the largest blaze going in the Smokehouse Creek, which at the time of writing this, is only 3-percent contained. “We do have one confirmed fatality from the Scotts Acres (neighborhood in Stinnett),” Hutchinson County Public Engagement Coordinator Deidra Thomas said. While Thomas didn't identify the victim, the family of Joyce Blankenship, 83, told news outlets she had died at her house in Stinnett. Her grandson, Nathan Blankenship, told CNN he and his father tried calling her several times Tuesday during the fire but she didn’t respond. The next day, they said they’d received news that she had died. “The house was gone,” said Blankenship. “There was no way she could’ve gotten out.” Power lines in the fire’s path have also been decimated. The North Plains Electric Cooperative says it will need to restore around 115 miles of power lines that were destroyed in the fires. “Our lines serve the area surrounding (the city of) Canadian, and there is extensive damage around the outskirts of the town and in the rural areas all the way to Glazier," the company's general manager, Randy Mahannah, said yesterday. The company’s goal is to have power restored by Monday.

2 Congress Strikes Deal To Avoid Federal Shutdown Friday Night

Bipartisan lawmakers have reached a deal to prevent a partial government shutdown, agreeing on six spending bills to fund various federal agencies. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the agreement, pushing the funding deadlines deeper into March to allow more time for Congress to pass the deal. The House returned to session after a recess, and lawmakers promised a 72-hour review period before voting on the funding agreement. However, a short-term continuing resolution is needed to fund agencies through March 8th and March 22nd. The House plans to vote on the short-term bill with all members needing to consent. As for pushing various agendas, Schumer has emphasized the importance of resisting extreme demands to avoid a shutdown on the Senate floor.

3 The Leap Day Political Roundup

Leap Day only comes once every four years, just like presidential elections, and today there’s a ton of political news. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on the floor of the Senate yesterday that he’ll be stepping down from his position as the head of the Republican Conference this year, ending a record-setting time serving as a Senate leader. The Supreme Court announced yesterday that it will decide whether former President Donald Trump is entitled to immunity from prosecution for acts allegedly committed while in office. The court will hear arguments in the case during the week of April 22nd and could issue a ruling shortly after that. Judge Tracie Porter of Cook County, Illinois ruled yesterday that Trump should be removed from the primary ballot in Illinois since the Supreme Court has yet to decide if states can stop him from being listed as a candidate because of the 14th amendment.


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