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Why AP called the Pennsylvania 12th District primary for Summer Lee: Race call explained
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Migrants indicted in Texas over alleged border breach after judge dismissed charges
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Bipartisan lawmakers seek answers from Mayorkas after Russian cyberattacks on water systems in US
Lawmakers from different sides of the aisle concerned about recent cyberattacks on water systems in drought-stricken areas of the western U.S. are seeking answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on how hacks are going to be prevented in the future.
In a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Reps. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Pat Fallon, R-Texas, called for a briefing and answers regarding the January cyberattack launched against the water system in Muleshoe, Texas.
The hack caused the small Texas town’s water system to overflow, and within two hours, sent tens of thousands of gallons of water flowing out of the town’s water tower.
The attack was one of three on small towns in the rural Texas Panhandle and has been linked to a Russian hacktivist group.
RURAL TEXAS TOWNS REPORT CYBERATTACKS THAT CAUSED ONE WATER SYSTEM TO OVERFLOW
According to Mike Cypert, the city manager of Hale Center, there were about 37,000 attempts in four days to log into the city’s firewall. Ultimately, the attempted hack failed as the city “unplugged” the system and operated it manually.
But in Muleshoe, which has a population of about 5,000 people, hackers caused the system to overflow before it was shut down and taken over manually by city officials.
In the letter to Mayorkas, the legislators said the cybersecurity firm Mandiant attributed the attack to Sandworm, which is believed to be connected to Russia’s spy agency, the GRU.
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In 2018, Sandworm launched hacks against the Olympic Games in South Korea, and on Ukraine’s electrical grid.
Another group connected to Sandworm, the Cyber Army of Russia Reborn, claimed responsibility for the hack in Texas, the lawmakers wrote.
“Water facilities continue to be central to our nation’s critical infrastructure, and our water resources face many limitations,” Gallego and Fallon said. “Should a hack similar to the Texas incident occur in Arizona or other states that may lack sufficient water supply, it could disrupt operations across the region with devastating effects.”
They added that losing tens of thousands of gallons of water, like Muleshoe did in January, could have “devastating impacts” on rural communities across the country.
The two lawmakers sent a list of questions to Mayorkas, asking what actions his department is taking to respond to the hack against Muleshoe’s water system; what steps he is taking to protect the nation’s water facilities and other critical infrastructure from disruption; and what lessons his department has learned from previous hacks, pointing to an incident last year when an Iranian regime-linked cyber group conducted a hack against a water authority in Pennsylvania.
The letter marks the second time since December of last year that Gallego has requested a briefing from Mayorkas about DHS protection of U.S. water facilities and other critical infrastructure from adversary disruption.
Fox News Digital reached out to DHS for comment and did not immediately hear back.
In March, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan and Jake Sullivan, assistant to the president for National Security Affairs, sent a letter to the nation’s governors asking them to take steps to protect the water supply, including assessing cybersecurity and planning for a cyberattack.
“Drinking water and wastewater systems are an attractive target for cyberattacks because they are a lifeline critical infrastructure sector but often lack the resources and technical capacity to adopt rigorous cybersecurity practices,” Regan and Sullivan wrote.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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North Carolina lawmakers reconvene to address budget, vouchers before key elections
The North Carolina General Assembly begins its annual work session Wednesday with a little extra money to spend and limited pressing issues to address before key elections this fall and longtime state government leaders depart.
Following their landmark 2023 session that expanded Medicaid, restricted abortion, broadened gun rights, swelled private-school vouchers and weakened the governor, Republicans leading the House and Senate are talking about the traditionally “short” session to be just that — with a goal to finish by early summer.
NORTH CAROLINA GOV. COOPER VETOES 2 MORE BILLS, BUT BUDGET STILL ON TRACK TO BECOME LAW TUESDAY
“We dealt with a lot of weighty issues,” House Speaker Tim Moore, a Cleveland County Republican, told reporters recently. “Are there still some things left to be done? Yes, we’re going to deal with those.”
With all 170 legislative seats up for reelection in November and Republicans who approved last year’s agenda holding the narrowest of veto-proof majorities, party leaders will be careful to advance measures that won’t sway public opinion against their candidates in key districts. Legislation forcing local sheriffs to assist with federal immigration enforcement and locating more funds for the private-school scholarships could qualify.
The legislature’s chief duty in even-numbered years is to adjust the second year of the two-year government operating budget that’s already enacted.
A consensus forecast by the legislature and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration says the state will collect an additional $1.4 billion through mid-2025 than previously anticipated. This compares to the $30.9 billion currently set to be spent in the fiscal year starting July 1.
As much as $400 million could be needed to make Medicaid spending adjustments because of a lower federal government match and the higher use of services by enrollees, Rep. Donny Lambeth of Forsyth County, a House budget writer, said this week.
And Moore and Senate Majority Leader Paul Newton said separately that GOP colleagues are prepared to set aside more money for the Opportunity Scholarship Program so that more families in higher-income brackets can receive grants this fall for their K-12 children to attend private or religious schools.
The current budget law did away with the program’s income caps to qualify, leading to a six-fold increase in applications this year.
But the state authority running the program said there isn’t enough to assist all qualifying applicants, and no aid would go to groups of applicants with the highest incomes. It wasn’t clear whether Republicans would seek to fully fund the scholarships for the coming year, which Moore said could require $300 million more.
Still, “I think there’s a high probability that we’re going to make sure the parents who want choice get choice for their children,” said Newton, a Cabarrus County Republican.
Cooper, who is term-limited from running for reelection, also will present his last budget proposal Wednesday. Cooper is hoping GOP legislators will listen to his calls to stop spending on the Opportunity Scholarship program that he’s opposed for years until public schools are “fully funded,” and for teachers to receive sizeable pay raises.
“We need to invest in public schools,” Cooper told reporters recently. “We know that to sustain the workforce of the future for all these jobs we’re attracting, we’ve got to make sure that our public schools are strong.”
On immigration, Newton said he suspects the Senate would take up a bill approved by the House last year that would force sheriffs to help federal agents interested in picking up jail inmates they believe are in the country illegally. Cooper successfully vetoed similar measures in 2019 and 2022, but that’s when GOP legislators lacked supermajorities.
State budget approval was nearly derailed last year when Senate Republicans sought to insert language that would have permitted construction of four more casinos in the state and the sanctioning and regulating video gambling machines statewide. But Republicans from both chambers have suggested discussions about sanctioning the gambling machines could resurface.
General Assembly staff estimated last year that revenue from the machines could generate over $400 million annually by later this decade. That could help make up for revenue losses now projected as approved individual and corporate income tax rates further decline. Republicans have downplayed talk of long-term shortfalls as hasty.
Democratic legislators seeking to halt what they consider bad GOP bills will face the same challenges that began last April when Rep. Tricia Cotham changed her registration to the Republican Party. Her switch secured the veto-proof majority in both chambers. All of Cooper’s vetoes last year were overridden.
“The numbers are what they are,” said House Minority Leader Robert Reives, a Chatham County Democrat. “I can still count and I know that the Republican caucus is going to vote 100% together.”
This short session also marks the last one for Moore, who is likely on his way to Congress in 2025 after a record five two-year terms leading the chamber. He comfortably won his primary election for the Republican-leaning 14th Congressional District.
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USPS commits to rerouting Reno-area mail despite bipartisan pushback and mail ballot concerns
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Biden says he’ll sign foreign aid bill Wednesday after Senate passage
President Biden praised the Senate after the chamber passed a $95 billion emergency foreign aid package, saying he would sign the legislation on Wednesday at the White House.
“Congress has passed my legislation to strengthen our national security and send a message to the world about the power of American leadership: we stand resolutely for democracy and freedom, and against tyranny and oppression,” Biden said in a statement.
The Senate, in a 79-18 vote, approved a package that includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $15 billion in military aid for Israel, $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza and other war-torn areas and $8 billion in security assistance to deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific.
The legislation also includes language to force the Chinese owner of TikTok to divest from the popular app, which more than 140 million Americans use, or otherwise face a ban within the United States.
The president said he would deliver remarks and sign the bill on Wednesday, allowing the U.S. to begin sending fresh weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week.
“I want to thank Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, and all of the bipartisan lawmakers in the Senate who voted for this bill,” Biden said. “This critical legislation will make our nation and world more secure as we support our friends who are defending themselves against terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin.”
The White House had for months pleaded with lawmakers to approve additional aid for Ukraine in particular as it fights against Russian aggression, but some conservative Republicans had pushed back against providing additional aid to Kyiv.
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‘Squad’ member survives challenge from centrist Democrat after anti-Israel rhetoric threatened re-election
A member of the far-left “Squad” survived a challenge from a centrist Democrat on Tuesday despite her sharp criticism of Israel that threatened her effort to win re-election in a district with a sizable Jewish community.
Rep. Summer Lee, a first-term congresswoman, will once again be the Democrat nominee to represent Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District, after defeating local councilwoman Bhavini Patel.
Lee’s victory follows that of fellow “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., in 2022, when she was nearly ousted in her own primary after making controversial remarks about police and Israel throughout her political career.
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The race was viewed as an early test of how progressive Democrats critical of Israel might perform with voters as the party faces a continued divide over support for one of America’s closest allies in the Middle East amid continued Gaza military operations in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack.
Since the attack and the war’s escalation, Lee had called for a ceasefire and opposed sending more funding to Israel.
She had come under fire in recent months from pro-Israel groups and the Jewish community for her rhetoric on the war, including an open letter signed by dozens of rabbis condemning her “divisive rhetoric” they said had been “perceived as openly antisemitic.”
DEMOCRATS HOLD MAJOR 2024 ADVANTAGE AS HOUSE REPUBLICANS FACE FURTHER CHAOS, DIVISION
While campaigning, Patel framed Lee’s anti-Israel stance as part of a left-wing politics too extreme for the people of the district, and argued it ran in contrast to President Biden’s agenda as he faces his own challenge of winning Pennsylvania against former President Donald Trump in November.
The issue of antisemitism was a particularly potent issue in the 12th district because it is home to the synagogue where a gunman killed 11 congregants in 2018, the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history.
Lee’s victory helped her avoid being the first House Democrat incumbent to lose a primary this year. Other “Squad” members are also expected to face tough primary challenges from centrist Democrats, including Reps. Cori Bush, D-Mo., Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.
Fox News’ Emma Colton and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Senate approves $95B aid package for Ukraine and Israel, awaits Biden’s signature
A $95 billion package with aid to both Ukraine and Israel passed the Senate on Tuesday night after the House’s various adjustments were approved in the lower chamber over the weekend.
By a vote of 79 to 18, the Senate sent the package to President Biden’s desk, and he is expected to sign off on the additional foreign aid. It notably passed with more votes than the previous Senate-passed version had garnered in February.
The package ultimately included aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, alongside measures requiring TikTok to divest from Chinese-owned ByteDance and to allow $5 billion in Russian assets held in U.S. banks to be transferred to Ukraine.
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Biden had initially requested the supplemental foreign aid in October. A different version of the package with funds for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan passed the Senate in February but was never voted on in the House.
Under the measures, roughly $61 billion is set aside for supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia, about $26 billion is allotted for Israel and humanitarian aid, and nearly $8 billion is provided for the Indo-Pacific and Taiwan.
The Senate cleared the way for quick passage of the bills earlier on Tuesday when it voted in favor of invoking cloture, 81-19.
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After the cloture motion passed, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., celebrated, telling senators in floor remarks, “In a resounding bipartisan vote, the relentless work of six long months has paid off: Congress is sending the supplemental to President Biden’s desk.”
“This is an important day for America and a very important day for freedom-loving countries around the world,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., remarked to reporters following the vote to invoke cloture.
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Prior to the cloture vote, a significant number of senators sought a motion to table an amendment tree, which blocks other amendments from being considered in regular order. The motion to table was a close vote, with 48 supporting it and 50 voting against, allowing the amendment tree to stand.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., released a statement following the motion’s failure, noting that it meant his amendment wouldn’t be considered. He wanted to see votes on his two amendments to the package, which would have ended unconditional aid to Israel and restored funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
“Polls show that a majority of Americans, and a very strong majority of Democrats, want to end U.S. taxpayer support for Netanyahu’s war against the Palestinian people,” Sanders said in a statement. “It is a dark day for democracy when the Senate will not even allow a vote on that issue.”
A number of Republican lawmakers also wanted votes on their respective amendments, including Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who proposed an amendment to require repayment of the foreign aid loan to Ukraine, in order to make it “real.”
If any amendments were passed in the Senate, the bill would be sent back to the House for its consideration once again.
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