Russia Unleashes Massive Drone and Missile Barrage on Ukraine, Killing Civilians 
France and Britain Lead 40-Nation Talks to Reopen Strait of Hormuz 
Trump Warns Iran on Nuclear Weapons Amid Ongoing Feud with Pope Leo 
House Republicans Near Deal on FISA Extension with Limited Reforms 
Trump Nominates Dr. Erica Schwartz as New CDC Director 
U.S. Signals Opposition to Bachelet's UN Secretary-General Bid 
U.S. and Philippines to Build 4,000-Acre Tech Hub Under Pax Silica Initiative 
IMF and World Bank Resume Ties with Venezuela, Opening Door to Billions in Funding 
Russia Launches Deadly Missile and Drone Strikes Across Ukraine, Killing Three Including a Child 
South Korea Denies U.S. Intelligence Restrictions Over North Korea Nuclear Site Disclosure 
U.S. Senate Blocks Resolutions to Halt $450 Million Weapons Sale to Israel 
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to Exit Federal Government at End of May 
Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Attempting to Block Hawaii's Climate Case Against Oil Giants 
Trump Administration Moves to Deport Iranian Academic Yousof Azizi Over Alleged Visa Fraud 
Justice Jackson Slams Supreme Court's Growing Use of Shadow Docket 
Ukraine's Svyrydenko Returns from U.S. With Renewed Support and Diplomatic Momentum 
China Navigates Diplomatic Tightrope Between Iran Peace Efforts and Trump Summit 
This week, the Biden administration announced that it would be providing $400 million for expanding internet access to rural areas in the country. This provision is part of President Joe Biden’s effort to expand internet access all over the country.
Speaking with reporters Thursday, infrastructure coordinator Mitch Landrieu said the $401 million provided would help people in rural areas get access to high-speed internet. The $401 million in loans and grants is coming from the ReConnect Program dispersed by the Agriculture Department.
“With this money, we are one step closer to President Biden’s ambitious goal of affordable and reliable internet for all,” said Landrieu.
The money will be used to support internet access expansion in 11 states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas, according to the USDA.
Vice President Kamala Harris will also be travelling to New York to unveil the formation of the Economic Opportunity Coalition, made up of 23 companies and foundations. The coalition aims to invest billions into low-income communities.
The White House said the coalition will “address economic disparities and accelerate economic opportunity in communities of color and other underserved communities.”
Among the founding members of the coalition are Ariel Investments, Bank of America, BNY Mellon, Capital One, Citi, Discover, Ford Foundation, Goldman Sachs, Google, Key Bank, Kresge Foundation, Mastercard, McDonald’s, McKinsey & Company, Micron, Momentous Capital, Moody’s, Netflix, Paypal, PNC, The Rockefeller Foundation, TIAA, and Upstart.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are set to reach a budget reconciliation deal on legislation that has provisions for the climate. The legislation, brokered by Senators Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin, was praised by clean energy advocates even as the legislation was a watered-down version of the previous legislation.
In a summary released by Schumer’s office, the bill would cut carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030, as well as a “methane emissions reduction program” to cut leaks of potential greenhouse gas methane from the drilling of natural gas.
Manchin said the legislation would invest in hydrogen, nuclear power, renewables, fossil fuels, and energy storage. More than $60 billion would be invested into environmental justice programs to fight pollution and address public health issues in disadvantaged communities.
$20 billion would be invested into “climate-smart” agriculture practices and $10 billion for tax credits in building clean energy manufacturing plants for EVs, wind turbines, and solar panels.
