Want to catch up with the news quickly? Here are the top stories from Monday, September 18, 2023.
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1. Government shutdown looms with no end in sight
Congress has just 13 days to come to an agreement on government funding, otherwise the government will shut down at the end of the month.
House Republicans presented a stopgap measure on Sunday that includes a nearly 8 percent cut on most federal agencies, as well as stricter border restrictions. The proposal also excluded funding for Ukraine and disaster relief. Several Republicans are expected to vote against the bill in line with Democrats, making it unlikely to pass.
2. Dreamers uncertain after federal judge rules DACA unlawful
A federal judge on Wednesday declared that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration program is unlawful.
Judge Andrew Hanen of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled that the Biden Administration could not codify the DACA policy into a federal regulation, but stopped short of ordering the repeal of deportation protections and work permits for over half a million immigrant "Dreamers."
The Biden Administration is expected to appeal the ruling, and the case is likely to escalate to the Supreme Court.
3. Flu season is here — it's time to get vaccinated
The CDC is recommending that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine by early October. While it is hard to predict the severity of this year's outbreak, after last year's early arrival and early peak, it's best to get ahead of the curb.
It takes approximately two weeks after vaccination for the body to develop antibodies against the flu. The vaccine is especially important for children — a 2022 study showed that it reduced children’s risk of life-threatening influenza by 75 percent.
4. Search for bodies continues at sea after devastating floods in Libya
Rescue teams are asking for more help in retrieving the bodies of those killed in the devastating floods that swept the port city of Derna, Libya last Sunday. World authorities met with their rescue teams over the weekend, who reported the majority of bodies are now in the water.
Many corpses have been seen in bays and coves, further out to sea, and by cliff-sides, which are only accessible by boat. Rescue teams are asking for the equipment needed to retrieve them.
