INSIDER
Vatican warns US bishops over get-tough Communion proposals
Read full article: Vatican warns US bishops over get-tough Communion proposalsThe head of the Vaticanโs doctrine office is warning U.S. bishops to deliberate carefully and minimize divisions before proceeding with a possible plan to rebuke Roman Catholic politicians for receiving Communion even though they support abortion rights.
National Guard troops from Roanoke eager to return home from protecting U.S. Capitol
Read full article: National Guard troops from Roanoke eager to return home from protecting U.S. CapitolThis includes taking down fences and barriers that once were protected by more than 25,000 National Guard troops. Two troops from Roanoke left their families at a momentโs notice to serve the nation. Twelve-hour shifts and at times the weather was a bit chilly, troops found ways to stay warm. โI got a text message saying โHey, I know we havenโt met yet, but show up to the armory tomorrow morning. Welcome to the National Guard.โโJohnson served active duty in the Marine Corps and joined the Virginia National Guard when he returned home.
Famous, local poet Nikki Giovanni reacts to Amanda Gormanโs Inauguration Day poem
Read full article: Famous, local poet Nikki Giovanni reacts to Amanda Gormanโs Inauguration Day poemBLACKSBURG, Va. โ Amanda Gorman, the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate, delivered a moving message on Wednesday during the Inauguration of President Joe Biden. โIt really just choked me up,โ said Nikki Giovanni about the young womanโs words. Giovanni, a world-renowned poet and a university distinguished professor at Virginia Tech, said that Gormanโs poem is what the nation needed to hear. With the worldโs eyes watching, Giovanni said that Gorman delivered the poem with grace. She did wish that the late poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1950, could have been around to hear Gormanโs poem.
Looking at the weather for Joe Bidenโs inauguration compared to previous ones
Read full article: Looking at the weather for Joe Bidenโs inauguration compared to previous onesThe National Weather Service office in Sterling, Virginia has weather records of every Presidential Inauguration, dating back to the first in 1789, when George Washington became president in New York City. The NWS says thereโs a 1-in-20 chance of snow falling at noon on Inauguration Day. Also, I will note that the 57-degree reading for Andrew Jacksonโs inauguration is considered unofficial as official weather records didnโt begin until 1871. Inauguration Day weather extremes (Copyright 2021 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.) Imagine being at William Howard Taftโs inauguration as nearly 10 inches of snow fell on that day in 1909!
Radford City schools closing all buildings on Inauguration Day
Read full article: Radford City schools closing all buildings on Inauguration DayRADFORD, Va. โ Radford City Public Schools Superintendent Rob Graham is making a decision he feels, โis in the best interest of the entire school community.โOn Jan. 20, 2021, no school district buildings will be open. This decision comes after school leadership has heard from many governmental officials Inauguration Day may be met with violent protests in many states. For those who have a child or children who were eligible for services and/or face-to-face learning on Wednesday, those learning opportunities will be rescheduled. Also, food distribution will happen on Wednesday as the school nutrition staff, bus drivers and custodians will be available during that time to assist with that. Below is the full text of Grahamโs post:
The Latest: Azar condemns Capitol riot in resignation letter
Read full article: The Latest: Azar condemns Capitol riot in resignation letterSecurity surrounds the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Azar says he will resign at noon on Jan. 20, when President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in. TSA is also providing officers to help the Secret Service screen people along the parade route and attending Bidenโs inauguration Wednesday. Penceโs call comes less than a week before President-elect Joe Biden and Harris are set to take office. President Donald Trump hasnโt reached out to Biden and has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of Bidenโs win.
Biden inauguration to feature virtual, nationwide parade
Read full article: Biden inauguration to feature virtual, nationwide paradeWASHINGTON โ President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration will include a "virtual parade across Americaโ consistent with crowd limits during the coronavirus era, organizers announced Sunday. Those are military traditions where Biden will review the readiness of military troops. Biden will also receive a traditional presidential escort with representatives from every branch of the military from 15th Street in Washington to the White House. Accordingly, organizers also said they will hold a virtual parade nationwide to โcelebrate Americaโs heroes, highlight Americans from all walks of life in different states and regions, and reflect on the diversity, heritage, and resilience of the country as we begin a new American era.โThe parade event will be televised and feature โdiverse, dynamicโ performances in communities across the country, the inaugural committee promised. โWe are excited about the possibilities and opportunities this moment presents to allow all Americans to participate in our countryโs sacred inaugural traditions," said Presidential Inaugural Committee Executive Director Maju Varghese said in a statement.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to leave telecom agency on January 20
Read full article: FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to leave telecom agency on January 20Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, a Republican, says he is leaving the telecommunications regulator on Inauguration Day. Section 230 shields internet companies from lawsuits about posts by users. The Trump administration has gone after the law, alleging with no evidence that social networks censor conservatives. Pai and another Republican commissioner, Michael O'Rielly, are leaving the agency. O'Rielly is leaving because the White House pulled his nomination after he said he wasn't sure the agency had authority on Section 230.
What happens if the US election is contested?
Read full article: What happens if the US election is contested?Even if the election is messy and contested in court, the country will have a president on Inauguration Day. But states' electoral votes have to be cast on Dec. 14. When the electors meet, the candidate who gets at least 270 of the 538 electoral votes wins. But what happens if election issues still prevent a winner from being named? In a contingent election, House members have to choose among the three people with the most electoral votes.