Good morning, and welcome to The Epoch Times News Brief for Thursday, May 2, 2024. I’m Bill Thomas, and today, we’re exploring some really important headlines—from the presidential debate scheduling to the new Title IX changes, and President Joe Biden’s energy rules that could raise home prices. Additionally, there’s a story about an E. coli outbreak linked to organic walnuts that might affect many of us here in the United States.
Trump Campaign Issues a Rebuke
The Trump campaign has expressed strong objections to the Commission on Presidential Debates’ refusal to move up the debate schedule until after millions of Americans have already cast their ballots.President Trump’s campaign representatives said in a recent statement that voters deserve to hear from both candidates before they begin casting their votes, and they called the commission’s decision “unacceptable” and a “grave disservice” to the electorate. Previously, they had requested the debates to be held “much earlier” than the commission’s planned first debate in mid-September.
The statement comes after the commission told Fox News that it would stick with its debate schedule, which was released last November. Four debates are planned: three presidential and one vice presidential.
The first presidential debate will take place on Sept. 16, with subsequent debates on Oct. 1 and Oct. 9, and the vice presidential debate is set for Sept. 25.
The Trump team has been pushing for earlier and more frequent debates since both candidates have now secured their party’s nominations.
The Biden campaign has largely avoided addressing debates directly with President Trump, but last week, President Biden said that he’s “happy” to debate President Trump.
In response to President Biden’s remarks, President Trump suggested last week any location, including the White House, as a venue for debates. Also, his campaign team said in a statement on Tuesday that the former president remains committed to debating President Biden “anytime, anywhere, anyplace.”
Title IX Rules: 6 More States Sue Biden Admin Over ‘Radical and Illegal’ Changes
Six Republican state attorneys general have sued the Biden administration’s Department of Education, criticizing the recent updates to Title IX as “radical and illegal.”Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a longstanding policy designed to protect people from discrimination based on sex in schools and education programs, especially those that receive funding from the federal government.
However, the Department of Education last week rolled out newly updated Title IX rules that include expanded protections for LGBT students for the first time.
The lawsuit, led by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman and Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
According to the attorneys general, these changes conflict with state laws and could negatively affect students, families, and schools. They’re asking the court to pause and overturn these new policies.
Mr. Skrmetti said in a recent press release: “Under this radical and illegal attempt to rewrite the statute, if a man enters a woman’s locker room and a woman complains that makes her uncomfortable, the woman will be subject to investigation and penalties for violating the man’s civil rights.” Mr. Skrmetti also said: “Federal bureaucrats have no power to rewrite laws passed by the people’s elected representatives, and I expect the courts will put a stop to this unconstitutional power grab.”
The attorneys general of Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia have also joined Tennessee and Kentucky in the lawsuit, which was filed on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, Republican attorneys general from nine states including Alabama and Louisiana filed similar legal challenges against the newly updated policies. The Texas attorney general also filed a lawsuit on Monday against the expanded rules, calling them “unlawful” and claiming they mandate schools to comply with a “radical gender ideology.”
New Biden Energy Rules Will Significantly Raise Costs: Home Builders Associations
The Biden administration’s latest energy efficiency standards for new homes, set to take effect at the end of this month, are sparking up some controversy. These new regulations, introduced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are designed to cut carbon emissions by setting higher energy standards for federally funded housing projects.However, the National Association of Home Builders and the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City argue that these rules will add over $30,000 to the cost of an average new home, making housing less affordable and potentially worsening the housing crisis.
On the other hand, the Biden administration contends that any increase in initial building costs will be balanced out by significant energy savings over time. They estimate these savings to be around $15,000 for single-family homes and over $5,000 for multifamily units over 30 years.
However, the home builders associations argue that the initial costs associated with the new regulations will be substantial and may outweigh the potential long-term savings. They claim that these increased costs will make it unaffordable for thousands of families to enter the housing market.
They believe these upfront costs could make older, less efficient homes more appealing, thereby driving up their prices. They also fear that the new regulations will discourage new construction, which might limit efforts to boost housing supply and reduce costs.
The new climate-related rules come as house prices in the United States are already hitting record highs, intensifying the affordability challenges.
Supplemental Security Income Beneficiaries Will Get Two Payment Checks in May
Americans who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will get two payments in May due to a scheduling issue that prevents payments from being made on weekends or holidays.Typically, SSI is paid on the 1st of each month, but if that falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment moves to the preceding business day. This is the first time this year that two payments will be made in a single month.
For 2024, the maximum SSI payment amounts to $943 for individuals and $1,415 for couples. But these amounts might be adjusted depending on living situations and any food aid received. However, new rules coming into effect on Sept. 30 will prevent reductions in SSI due to rental subsidies and similar assistance.
Eligibility for SSI is based on strict income and asset limits. Adults who qualify usually have minimal income or assets and might be disabled, blind, or over 65.
The current income ceiling is less than $2,000 from employment or less than $1,000 from other sources monthly, with asset caps at $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples.
These asset limits have remained unchanged since 1984. There’s a bipartisan push through the “SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act” to significantly raise these limits to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for couples, and to adjust them annually for inflation.
Contaminated Walnuts Trigger Multistate E. coli Outbreak: CDC
Twelve individuals have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome and another seven have been hospitalized after eating organic walnuts contaminated with E. coli from Gibson’s Farm, a company based in Hollister, California.This is a very serious illness that affects the blood and kidneys, and is commonly caused by certain types of bacteria, particularly E. coli.
The affected walnuts were distributed in bulk to over 300 stores across 19 states. Following the outbreak, a voluntary recall was issued just a few days ago on April 27. The FDA is actively working with Gibson’s Farm and its distributors to pinpoint the full scope of the impacted products and their locations.
Most of those who became ill reported purchasing the walnuts from bulk bins at food co-ops or natural food stores in Washington state or California.
Symptoms of an E. coli infection, which include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting, typically arise within nine days of consuming the contaminated food.
The FDA urges consumers to check their pantries for any potentially contaminated walnuts and dispose of them immediately. The FDA also advises consumers not to eat any organic walnuts and to thoroughly clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that the walnuts have been in contact with.
This incident marks the second E. coli outbreak in the United States this year, the first being linked to raw cheddar cheese. However, that outbreak did not lead to a recall.
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Finally, as we do each and every day on the News Brief program, we wrap things up with a very “notable” quote. This one comes to us from the brilliant mind of Albert Einstein, who said: “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”
Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who is widely held to be one of the greatest and most influential scientists of all time. He’s best known for developing the theory of relativity.
For all of us here at The Epoch Times News Brief, I’m Bill Thomas, thank you so much for joining us today, and we’ll see you right back here tomorrow for another edition of the Epoch Times News Brief. Have a fantastic day today!
