1. Dallas Shivers as Arctic Blast Hits
Throughout the weekend, Dallas residents could be seen stocking up for the potential of show and ice later in the week. Sunday, the temperatures plunged the city, and a good portion of the nation, into the first arctic blast of the winter season. Dallas in is experiencing a significant cold snap with temperatures plummeting more than 40 degrees over a 12 hour period on Sunday. The City of Dallas has opened a warming center at the Grand Place Building in Fair Park at 3701 Grand Avenue to shelter those experiencing homelessness. Intake will open again on Monday, January 6, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Austin Street Center will also operate the site as the City’s external partner.
2. New Orleans Attack Investigation Ongoing
The city of New Orleans is in mourning following the horrific incident on New Year’s Eve, as a driver intentionally, in the morning, rammed a Turo rented pickup truck into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. The incident has shocked the nation and has raised serious questions about public safety. Investigations have revealed that the attacker, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, visited New Orleans twice in the months leading up to the attack. During these visits, he wore “Meta glasses” – augmented reality devices with embedded cameras – to record video of Bourbon Street, likely to plan his attack. These prior visits, coupled with the discovery of the Meta glasses on his person during the attack, suggest a degree of premeditation and planning in this horrific act of violence. Law enforcement agencies are actively investigating the incident to determine the motive and identify any potential accomplices.
3. Four Year Later, Congress Heads to Chambers to Certify Trump Election Win
Today, four years after Trump supporters descended upon the Capital in an attempt to stop the certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory, Congress will certifying the results of the 2024 presidential election, green lighting Trump to take office. While expected to go smoothly, elected leaders are pointed out that the probable lack of disruption will be because, this time, Trump will not claim, falsely, that he won the election. There will also be new rules at play, as in response to the chaotic scene four years ago, Congress passed new roles concerning the presidential certification process. Four years ago, one member of Congress could sign off on an objection, spiraling the governing body into a debate that could mean day’s worth of debate. Now, an objection is only valid if it is signed off on by one-fifth of each congressional chamber.
4. US Arms Sale to Israel Raises Concerns
Just ahead of Biden’s departure from the Oval, he made Congress aware of an $8 billion arms sale to Israel. This sale comes on the heels of claims from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the Biden Administration had quietly placed an “arms embargo” on the Middle East nation. Biden shuttered these claims, announcing that the United States has approved a significant arms sale to Israel, further prompting criticism from some human rights groups. This news highlights the complexities of US foreign policy in the Middle East and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict that the Biden Administration will leave for the incoming 2.0 Trump Administration.
5. Long-Range Missiles Fuel Global Tensions
Ukraine’s recent use of long-range missiles in their war with Russia is raising concerns about escalating tensions between the United States and Russia. Over the weekend, Moscow vowed retaliation, claiming that their military shot down several US-made long range ATACMS missiles, fired by Ukraine. But Moscow has warned of retaliation when the Biden Administration okayed the used of these long-range missiles months ago, saying that the U.S. and any other weapon-providing ally of Ukraine would be considered an aggressor. Russia’s Ministry of Defense said added that “these actions by the Kyiv regime, which is supported by Western curators, will be met with retaliation.”
