Politics

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced the state is joining the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, making Illinois the second U.S. state to do so since the U.S. withdrawal became official; officials said the move connects Illinois to global alerts and international response networks.

House Republican leaders plan a Tuesday vote to pass a Senate-approved funding package after funding lapsed Saturday, and DHS would be held to a two-week stopgap through Feb. 13 while talks continue.

Gov. Josh Shapiro will introduce 'Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development' standards in his budget address that would require data center developers to cover new power costs, commit to transparency and local hiring, and meet water‑conservation standards; he will ask the Legislature to codify the guidelines and link compliance to faster permitting and available tax credits.

EPA chief Lee Zeldin announced restrictions on five chemicals, and supporters of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement have been meeting with the agency after previously influencing federal health policy.

Taylor Rehmet won a special election in a deep-red Tarrant County Texas state Senate district by a double-digit margin. Analysts say many independents and some Republicans voted for him, prompting questions about GOP voter retainment ahead of 2026.

Federal immigration agents have been operating near Columbia Heights and other Minneapolis-area schools, and school officials report several students and family members were detained; district leaders say attendance has fallen and staff have added protective and support measures.

President Trump said he had asked Vladimir Putin to pause strikes on Kyiv and that Putin agreed; hours later Russian forces launched drone and missile strikes and Ukrainian officials reported civilian casualties.

FEMA advanced upfront Public Assistance funding to Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana after a severe winter storm, using amended emergency declarations to reimburse emergency protective measures and sustain response operations.

At the Trump Kennedy Center world premiere of the documentary "MELANIA," President Trump said the first lady has been more outspoken this term and Melania said she is selective about when she speaks.

The Senate agreed to remove the Homeland Security funding bill from a six-bill package, advance five spending bills, and extend DHS funding at current levels for two weeks while talks continue on ICE reforms; the House is not set to return until Monday, making a short lapse possible.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar announced a run for Minnesota governor after Gov. Tim Walz ended his bid for a third term, and she filed paperwork on Jan. 22 to form a campaign committee.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said outreach crews are working around the clock as the city reports that about seven of the ten recent cold-related deaths involved suspected hypothermia, and City Hall says crews have helped more than 200 people into shelter since last week.

The U.S. Department of the Interior approved the proposed 1.5 million acre-foot Sites Reservoir, clearing a key federal hurdle and allowing Bureau of Reclamation funding. The project aims to store Sacramento River water for use in droughts across large parts of California.

Mayor Mike Johnston announced 2026 priorities that include adding affordable housing, reducing street homelessness and cutting gun-related violence, and he cited past progress such as 5,600 affordable units added since taking office.

At the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg on Jan. 15, Gov. Josh Shapiro spoke with attendees and vendors while accompanied by state police and reporters; some vendors said they did not vote for him and do not plan to in November, and Shapiro said he respected their honesty.

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani says city agencies are fully mobilized ahead of a winter storm, and the Emergency Operations Center will activate in person at 7 a.m. Sunday.

Assemblymember David A. Alvarez introduced AB 35 to exempt Proposition 4 funds from the Administrative Procedure Act so $10 billion in voter-approved climate funding can be disbursed more quickly; the bill advanced from the Assembly Appropriations Committee and now awaits a floor vote.

Gov. Maura Healey said electricity bills will be reduced by 25% and gas bills by 10% for February and March, and that the $180 million cost will come from existing state funds; National Grid will implement targeted winter relief that includes temporary deferrals customers will pay back later.

Sen. Mark Kelly said in a CNN interview that he is weighing a 2028 presidential run and described an obligation to push back against what he called a weaponization of the federal government; he has also been targeted by the Trump administration after appearing in a video urging troops to refuse 'illegal orders'.

Gov. Spencer Cox reaffirmed Utah's approach of balancing rule of law with dignity, while the Republican-led Legislature opened its 2026 session with bills that would limit immigrants' access to benefits, driving privileges and some services.

Vendors at Karmel Mall in south Minneapolis say many shops have closed and customer traffic has fallen as residents report fear of recent immigration enforcement in the city.

Bernice King said Martin Luther King Jr. Day offers a "somewhat of a saving grace" amid political division and cited recent federal policy moves; she also said the King Center plans to redevelop a nonviolence curriculum for law enforcement.

Hundreds of counterprotesters in Minneapolis overwhelmed a small pro-ICE rally and forced attendees to leave; the Minnesota National Guard was mobilized and staged but not deployed.

Longtime activist Bill McKibben, after installing new solar panels on his Vermont home, said rising U.S. electricity prices and the Trump administration's actions against renewable energy could have political consequences for the GOP ahead of 2026.

President Donald Trump praised Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado after she presented him her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal; the Norwegian Nobel Committee said Nobel prizes cannot be revoked or transferred.

Mayor Jacob Frey urged ICE to leave Minneapolis after the killing of Renee Good and said the city does not need more federal troops; the Trump administration has said it plans to send additional forces and the president threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act.

Gov. Brian P. Kemp will deliver his final State of the State address to a joint session of the General Assembly, and Georgia Public Broadcasting is streaming the speech live.

Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Ashley Moody plan to introduce legislation that would bar members of Congress and their immediate family from buying or owning individual stocks, joining several House proposals on the issue.

Thousands marched in Minneapolis and demonstrations were planned nationwide after the fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE officer and separate shootings in Portland; Minnesota leaders urged protesters to remain peaceful.

Governor Kathy Hochul is scheduled to speak at York College today to present a universal child care proposal that she has said would include a $1.7 billion commitment in the next budget to expand care and aim to fund services for children up to age 3.