Tom Howell Jr.

First lady Jill Biden displays White House Christmas decor

First lady Jill Biden unveiled White House Christmas decor Monday that highlights "Gifts from the Heart" that unite the country -- including faith, family, the arts and service -- and pays homage to front-line workers who toiled through the coronavirus pandemic.

November 29, 2021

Are vaccine mandates worth the hassle? Economists, lobby groups say voluntary measures work better

President Biden's COVID-19 vaccine mandate is expected to push 23 million workers at large companies to get vaccinated, but the political backlash, disruptive legal fight and threat of workplace upheaval over the holiday season raises the question: Is it all worth it?

November 27, 2021

Biden orders travel ban on South Africa, other countries due to variant

The Biden administration said Friday it is restricting travel from South Africa and seven other countries because of fears about a new coronavirus variant with mutations that could make it more powerful against humans.

November 26, 2021

WHO: Mutation in South Africa, ‘omicron,’ is a variant of concern

The World Health Organization on Friday formally designated a coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa as one "of concern" as the U.S., Europe and others rushed to ban flights from the affected region and stock markets took a dive from the bitter news.

November 26, 2021

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says there are plans for a coup against him

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that opposition figures were planning a coup d'etat in the coming weeks, heightening tensions in a country already dealing with mounting pressure from Russia across the border.

November 26, 2021

WHO to debate dangerous South Africa coronavirus variant with ‘many mutations’

The World Health Organization will meet Friday to discuss what an alarming coronavirus variant with a "large number of mutations" could mean for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments as European countries started to ban flights from South Africa and surrounding nations.

November 26, 2021

Biden nominates Shalanda Young as White House budget director

President Biden on Wednesday said he will nominate Shalanda Young to serve as White House budget director, a move that will elevate her from an acting role to the permanent post if she is confirmed by the Senate.

November 24, 2021

Rapid COVID tests in spotlight as families gather again

The winter holidays are putting a sharp focus on at-home testing for COVID-19 as families look to ensure their first gatherings in two years don't turn into superspreader events.

November 24, 2021

Trump: Kyle Rittenhouse paid me a visit after Kenosha shooting acquittal

Former President Donald Trump said Kyle Rittenhouse visited his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida days after a jury in Wisconsin found the teen not guilty of charges related to shootings that killed two persons and injured a third during racially charged unrest in Kenosha last summer.

November 24, 2021

Texas leaders, White House hail plans for Samsung chip plant

Texas leaders and the White House are celebrating news that South Korean tech giant Samsung will build a $17 billion semiconductor plant outside of Austin, a move that could help fill a shortage of computer chips used in phones and cars.

November 24, 2021

White House announces 92% vaccination rate among federal workforce

The Biden administration's vaccine mandate for millions of federal workers seems to be working, with no apparent disruption to law enforcement, intelligence-gathering or holiday travel.

November 24, 2021

Germany starts to check COVID-19 documents on public transport

German inspectors on Wednesday will begin demanding proof of vaccination, COVID-19 recovery or a negative test on public transport as the country tries to mitigate a coronavirus surge that is gripping Europe.

November 24, 2021

Biden doesn’t support ‘Squad’ bill to abolish federal incarceration, White House says

The White House on Tuesday said President Biden enjoyed visiting the Michigan district of Rep. Rashida Tlaib earlier this month but he does not support a proposal that she and other members of the progressive "Squad" are championing to release federal prisoners within 10 years.

November 23, 2021

Biden orders release of strategic oil reserves, says high gas prices not caused by clean-energy push

President Biden insisted on Tuesday that Democrats' climate change policies are not causing high gas prices, as he ordered the release of 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in a bid to ease soaring prices at the pump.

November 23, 2021

Thomas Jefferson statue ousted from NYC City Hall

An 884-pound statue of Thomas Jefferson has been removed from City Hall in New York City after a contentious debate over his slave-owning past.

November 23, 2021

Biden to tap U.S. strategic oil reserve as gas pump prices surge

President Biden plans to release 50 million barrels of oil held in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an attempt to slash sky-high fuel prices on the cusp of the holidays, the White House said Tuesday.

November 23, 2021

White House rejects return of lockdowns as Europe’s new shutdowns spark protests

The White House said Monday it has no plans to shut down the economy again as COVID-19 chaos seizes Europe, with lockdowns meant to thwart a fourth wave triggering violent protests.

November 22, 2021

White House: Over 90% of federal workers have at least one COVID-19 shot

More than 90% of the 3.5 million federal employees subject to President Biden's COVID-19 vaccine mandate have received at least one dose, the White House said Monday, the deadline to comply.

November 22, 2021

Europe sees COVID-19 chaos amid new lockdowns

A top official said Monday that Germans will be "vaccinated, cured or dead" by the end of winter as Europe scrambles to stem another wave of the coronavirus at the start of the Christmas season, sparking a cycle of restrictions and raucous protests.

November 22, 2021

Biden briefed on Wisconsin parade tragedy

President Biden has been briefed about the parade tragedy in Wisconsin and will receive regular updates, the White House said Monday as law enforcement in Waukesha tried to unravel why a sport utility vehicle barreled into the parade-goers, killing five.

November 22, 2021