Full Coverage of the Senate Impeachment Trial

PBS NewsHour: The Senate is expected to take the first steps in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial Thursday by swearing in all 100 U.S. senators. Stayed tuned to this stream for all of the day's events. The expected schedule is as follows:

-10:30am EST: PBS NewsHour's pre-show with all the information you need to know for today. -Noon EST: House democrats formally deliver the articles of impeachment to the Senate. -12:30pm EST: We rebroadcast our pre-show with all the information you need to know for today. -2:00pm EST: U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is sworn in to preside over the trial, and all U.S. senators are sworn in as jurors.

Pelosi Briefs Reporters as Democrats Deliver Impeachment Articles to the Senate

C-SPAN: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks to reporters ahead of the Senate impeachment trial. She also reacts to the GAO report saying the the White House Budget Office violated the law by withholding aid to Ukraine.

Click here for video.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy Holds a News Conference Prior to Impeachment Articles Being Read to the Senate

Lev Parnas Speaks Out for First Time: Trump Lied

This report was published on YouTube on January 15.

Libya: 'Turkey is Already Militarily Involved in the Country'

Russian Government Resignation: Mikhail Mishustin 'is a Safe Place Holder'

Syria: Government Strikes on Idlib Kill at Least 39 Fighters

Five French Ports Shut Down Due to French Strikes

Northern Ireland After Brexit: How Will Businesses Cope with New Rules?

Hundreds of Migrants from Honduras Cross Into Guatemala

Canada Provides Update Following International Meeting on Iran Plane Crash

Global News: Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne is expected to speak at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, following a meeting with the member countries of the International Coordination Response Group for the families of victims of Flight PS752.

Canada, Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan and the U.K. will meet to discuss the need for a thorough investigation and the steps needed to secure full cooperation from Iranian authorities.

Coverage begins at the 6:45 mark.

Governor Cuomo Visits Puerto Rico Following Earthquakes

The Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo: Governor Cuomo visits Puerto Rico to help the community and let residents know New York will continue doing everything in its power to help the island recover and rebuild following a series of devastating earthquakes.

Cuomo: Release the Full Funding for Puerto Rico

The Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo: Governor Cuomo called on the Trump administration to immediately release federal funds to Puerto Rico and declare a Major Disaster Declaration for the damage caused by the earthquakes.

City Council Hearing on NYCHA Gets Heated

This report was published on YouTube on January 15.

How to Protect Yourself from Flu Outbreak

This report was published on YouTube on January 15.

New 9/11 First Responder Study Highlights Risk of Leukemia

This report was published on YouTube on January 15.

Trial of 6-Year-Old’s Killer Exposes Lapses in City’s Child Welfare System

 Zymere Perkins

The New York Times: A Harlem man was convicted of murder in the beating of his girlfriend’s son after a trial that shed light on the city’s failure to intervene. 

Click here for the report. 

Meet New York’s Impeachment Managers

 
Click here for the report. 

Source: The New York Times

Bailout Up to $500 Million Proposed for Taxi Drivers Trapped in Loans

The New York Times: The proposal is the most far-reaching step taken in response to a Times investigation into exploitative practices in the industry.

Click here for the report. 

Happening in Harlem: 32nd Precinct Community Council Meeting

   Click on the flier to increase its size.

Source:  A. Smith, President/NYPD Civilian Volunteer
(32nd Precinct Community Council)

Governor Cuomo Announces Deployment of Additional Assets to Help Puerto Rico Respond to Earthquakes

The Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo: Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced the deployment of further assets to Puerto Rico to assist with emergency response efforts following a series of initial damage assessments conducted by the Governor and his delegation.
 

The Governor will deploy eight additional engineers and utility experts from the New York Power Authority to address power outages caused by the recent earthquakes and work to stabilize the island’s power system to help mitigate the repeated power outages.

Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at the Groundbreaking for the New York Hotel & Motel Trades Council

NYC Mayor's Office: Mayor de Blasio delivers remarks at the groundbreaking for the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council and Hotel Association of the NYC Queens Health Center.

Mayor de Blasio Visits OEM to Dispatch Additional Resources to Puerto Rico

This video was published on YouTube on January 14. 

NYC Mayor's Office: Mayor de Blasio visits New York City Emergency Management’s Emergency Operation Center to dispatch more City building inspectors, engineers and emergency managers to Puerto Rico in response to recent earthquakes.

EANY's 2020 Priorities Action Agenda

 

The following statement was issued by Environmental Advocates of New York (EANY). 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first “Earth Day” and the promises of clean water and air are still unfulfilled, with new environmental crises impacting us every day. As another generation marches to demand action to save the planet, our leaders must respond by maintaining this critical momentum. We are calling on our leaders to be big and bold in our funding commitments to the environment and to solve systemic challenges the state faces in respect to solid waste. 

Click here for the full announcement and agenda. 

Fact Check: Joe Biden Has Advocated Cutting Social Security for 40 Years

 
Click here for the report.

Source: The Intercept_

Moms 4 Housing: Meet the Oakland Mothers Facing Eviction After Two Months Occupying Vacant House

Senate Republican and Democratic Leadership News Conferences

C-SPAN: Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and other Senate Republican leaders speak to reporters in the Capitol following their weekly caucus luncheon. 

Click here for video. 

C-SPAN: Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other Senate Democratic leaders speak to  reporters in the Capitol following their weekly caucus luncheon.
 

Click here for video.

Bernie and Elizabeth Spat: Making Trump's Day

'Future Hope' Column 

By Ted Glick

The best line I’ve seen since the story broke a couple days ago about the Elizabeth Warren/Bernie Sanders spat was this Twitter post by Sunrise Movement leader Varshini Prakash: “mom and dad are fighting and all I wanna do is go to my room and put my headphones on.”

That’s how I’ve been feeling, as someone who’s always supported Bernie but who has appreciated much of what Warren has been saying and who clearly is generally on the same page as Bernie on most major issues.

I’ve written in the past about how powerful it would be if there was either a Warren/Sanders or a Sanders/Warren ticket, if both of them end up as the top two candidates going into the Democratic Convention. The one with fewer delegates, I’ve said, should then get behind the winner and they would both then run as a team.

Differences and divisions in politics, among progressives, among people in general, are nothing new, but this sure feels bad. There ain’t nothing Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg and mainstream-to-corporate Democrats want more than to break the connection between the two strong progressives.

I do not believe that Bernie Sanders said to Elizabeth Warren in a two-person meeting no one else was in that “a woman couldn’t win the White House.” As so many have said, this completely doesn’t compute with what Bernie Sanders has been about for almost 50 years.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: tedglick.com

James Murdoch Slams News Corp Over Climate-Change Denial

A Daily Beast Exclusive

Rupert Murdoch’s younger son and his wife issued a rare public rebuke of the family’s media empire and its promotion of climate-change skeptics during Australia’s bushfire crisis.

Click here for the report.

The Last of New York’s Black Cowboys

A quarter of the cowhands out West were black. Some in the city want to honor their history. A Harlem composer found a way.

Click here for the report.

Source: The New York Times 

Romance Writers Trade Group Cancels Awards Amid Racism Allegations

Backlash Grows Over Oscars' Lack of Diversity

Australia Bushfires: Over a Billion Animals Feared Dead in Mega-Blazes

Top US Military Commander Signals Plans to Reduce American Military Presence in Africa

Israeli Army Spokesman Denies Israel Defence Forces' Involvement in Soleimani Killing

Anti-French Sentiment on the Rise in the Sahel

U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on Soleimani Killing

Iran Makes First Arrests Over Downing of Ukrainian Passenger Plane

NYPD Officer Yells 'You Fu--in' Jews' at Hasidic Father and Son in Boro Park

 

Brooklyn, NY - This past Friday night, a Hasidic father and his 17-year old son were walking home after spending time at a tisch, a rabbinical event in Boro Park. As they were crossing the street at 15th Avenue and 50th Street a police car with its lights on drove by and the police officer who was driving the car rolled his window down and yelled “you fu--in’ Jews” at them. The officer laughed and drove off, leaving them shocked and stunned.

The family reached out to Dov Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, on Sunday evening to ensure this matter is addressed in a professional and swift manner. The family was terrified but they're willing to come forward so this antisemitic act is addressed and the individual involved is held responsible for his actions.

"I have so much respect for NYC's Finest but sometimes, things like this happen. This incident must be thoroughly investigated by senior officials in the NYPD. With antisemitism reaching unprecedented levels, we can’t allow any form of hate to be tolerated," said Hikind.

Source: Americans Against Antisemitism

'Peace Week' 2020 to Kick Off with NY City Hall Press Conference

 

January 15 through 22 will mark the 10th annual New York Peace Week. 

Hosted by LIFE Camp Inc., the City of New York, the NYC Crisis Management System, community partners and local gun violence activists, Peace Week will feature interactive special events geared towards inspiring youth and communities to take personal action to promote peace. 

Peace Week 2020 will kick off with a press conference on the steps of New York City Hall at 11 a.m. Additionally, the Forgiveness Dinner will bring together families impacted by gun violence. 

A community town hall and a number of other events and activities are scheduled.

Click here for a list of public events. 

 

Source: Rachel Noerdlinger

Governor Cuomo Deploys Assets to Puerto Rico to Assist With Earthquake Response

Governor Cuomo authorized the deployment of 115 National Guard to Puerto Rico during the next 90 days to assist in emergency response efforts following a series of earthquakes that impacted the island.

Mayor de Blasio Makes Announcement at Kick Off Rally for NYC Census 2020 Count Campaign

Mayor de Blasio attends a rally to kick off the NYC Census 2020 Complete Count Campaign with community partners, labor unions, and elected officials. 

The Mayor makes an announcement about a new investment in community and ethnic media.

NYC Sending 24 More City Workers to Puerto Rico After Earthquakes

Click here for the report.

Source: PIX 11 News

Bill to End Religious Exemptions for Vaccinations Collapses in N.J.

The New York Times: The proposal had been one of the nation’s broadest, but it came under intense criticism from vaccine skeptics.  

Click here for the report.

Did NYPD Illegally Target People of Color for Subway Fare Evasion?

Attorney General Letitia James Launches Investigation

Click here for the report. 

Source: CNN

New York Employers Must File Soon to Prevent Delays in Employees’ Tax Refunds

 
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance reminded employers to accurately file their withholding tax returns ahead of the January 31 deadline. This will help ensure that any refunds owed to their employees won’t be delayed.

Employers must remit the personal income taxes withheld from their employees’ wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, and other similar income and also file a completed Form NYS-45, Quarterly Combined Withholding, Wage Reporting, and Unemployment Insurance Return, by the end of the month.

“Employers have an important responsibility to report the correct amount of tax withheld from their employees, keeping in mind the new filing requirements that went into effect in 2019,” said New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Michael Schmidt.
Filing changes

Quarterly filings are now independent of one another, so the fourth quarter return due January 31 is no longer a cumulative total for the year. Employers report only the amount of gross wages and tax withheld for all employees paid during the fourth quarter.

Avoid common errors

To avoid common errors that can result in penalties and delay refunds owed to employees, employers must report:

• The correct federal employer identification number (EIN). Be sure to report the correct employer/payer EIN. If any numbers are transposed or incorrect, the return information may not be posted to the appropriate account.
• All employees. Include all employees employed during the quarter. Be sure to include accurate reporting data for each employee.
• The quarterly total federal gross wages subject to withholding tax, which include wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, and other similar income. This amount is for the quarter being filed only, not the full year.
• The amount withheld for all jurisdictions. Report the total New York State, New York City, and Yonkers tax withheld (when applicable).
• The correct total of tax withheld. Verify that the total tax withheld reported on both Forms NYS-1 and NYS-45 for the quarter being filed reconciles with the grand total for New York State, New York City, and Yonkers tax withheld (when applicable) for the quarter.

Penalties for late filing or failure to file

Employers who fail to file a completed Form NYS-45 by the deadline face financial penalties of up to $10,000. They also risk delaying any tax refunds owed to their employees. That’s because the Tax Department will not issue the refunds until it verifies reported withholding amounts.

More information

Important filing reminders for Form NYS-45 and Form NYS-45-ATT
 
Withholding tax filing requirements

Older New Yorkers Urged to Get Flu Shot

With the dramatic increase in the number of reported flu cases and hospitalizations across the state in recent weeks, the New York State Office for the Aging reminds older New Yorkers and caregivers about the importance of getting their flu vaccination as soon as possible. It’s not too late—flu season can extend as late as May.
 

“The best way to protect against the flu is to get an annual flu shot,” said Acting Director Greg Olsen. “Our immune systems are more easily compromised as we age, and older adults, especially those with chronic health conditions, have an increased risk of developing serious complications from the flu. Getting the flu vaccine helps prevent the spread of the virus and offers vital protection for older adults and their caregivers.”

Flu activity has been high this season and continues to increase. According to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), last week 1,964 New Yorkers were hospitalized with lab-confirmed influenza, up 34 percent from the previous week. To date, there have been 5,694 flu-related hospitalizations. In addition, 10,085 laboratory-confirmed flu cases were reported to the State Department of Health last week, a nine-percent increase in cases from the week prior. There have been 32,848 lab-confirmed cases of the flu reported so far this season.

Influenza symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. People infected with the flu may also have respiratory symptoms without a fever. The flu can cause mild to severe illness. Adults aged 65 years and older, people with certain chronic medical conditions, young children, and pregnant women are among those who are at highest risk.
 
Older adults often bear the greatest burden of severe flu consequences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in recent years between about 70% and 85% of seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older, and between 50% and 70% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations have occurred among older adults.

According to the CDC, adults over the age of 65 should take the following precautions:

• Get your annual flu shot as soon as possible. As long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination should continue throughout flu season, even in January or later.

• Practice good health habits, including covering coughs, washing hands often, and avoiding people who are sick.

• Seek medical advice quickly if you develop flu symptoms to see whether you might need medical evaluation or treatment with antiviral drugs. It's very important that antiviral drugs be used early to treat flu in people who are very sick with flu (for example, people who are in the hospital).
• Get pneumococcal vaccines. People who 65 years and older should also be up to date with pneumococcal vaccination to protect against pneumococcal disease, such as pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections. Talk to your doctor to find out which pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for you.

For more information:

• The New York State Flu Tracker provides timely information about local, regional, and statewide influenza activity. (NYSDOH)
• 65 or Older? You and the Flu (NYSDOH)
• People 65 Years and Older & Influenza (CDC)

Source: New York State Office for the Aging