Ohio Gov. DeWine vetoes ‘medical free speech’ rights of doctors who dissent

National and international media news & headlines compiled by CLG

Mask mandates return in multiple states as doctors warn of ‘quad-demic’ of 4 viral infections | 2 Jan 2025 | Four viruses are hitting the US as millions go back to work after the holidays, data show. Official figures reveal that infections cause by flu, Covid, RSV (a respiratory illness that causes the cold) and norovirus (sometimes called the stomach flu) all started to surge over the Christmas period, when families gathered to celebrate. The surge in infections is prompting a return of mask mandates in some states, with a hospital system in Wisconsin this week becoming the latest to reinstate them. Hospitals in parts of California, Illinois, Indiana and New Jersey have also brought back the rules for staff and visitors. Officials in New York City are urging people to consider wearing a face mask on public transport.

Ohio Gov. DeWine vetoes ‘medical free speech’ provision | 4 Jan 2025 | Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine [R – RINO] let stand higher fees for public access to body cam footage but eliminated several provisions to other recently passed bills. DeWine announced late Thursday night he signed four bills into law but issued several line-item vetoes, including stopping provisions that would have allowed doctors to express different opinions from state views. The so-called “medical free speech protection” was a last-minute add to House Bill 315, a more than 400-page bill passed in the final hours of the last legislative session in December. The bill would have stopped state boards from disciplining doctors, pharmacists or other health care professionals who expressed medical opinions — either publicly or privately — that differ from the boards’ views.

Biden Commits 306 Million to Prevent ‘Potential Bird Flu Outbreak’ in Humans Ahead of Trump’s Return to Office | 4 Jan 2025 | The Biden regime has announced a 306 million investment to bolster bird flu monitoring and preparedness efforts across the United States to combat a so-called potential bird flu outbreak among humans, right before handing over the reins to President-elect Donald Trump. In November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first-ever case of avian influenza A(H5N1), commonly known as H5N1 bird flu, in a child in the United States. The young patient, a resident of California, reportedly experienced mild symptoms and has since been recovering following treatment with flu antivirals. Last week, the CDC confirmed the first severe U.S. human case of H5N1 bird flu in a 65-year-old Louisiana man who had contact with sick backyard birds. Predictably, experts are now sounding the alarms about the virus’s supposed mutations and potential for human transmission.

Mystery disease outbreak in China overwhelms hospitals in chilling echo of Covid dark days | 3 Jan 2025 | China is reportedly being ravaged by a mysterious viral outbreak that is overwhelming some hospitals. Videos on social media appear to show hospital units overrun with patients in face masks, and parents holding sick children in long lines in pediatric units. There have also been unverified reports that crematoriums and funeral homes are being overwhelmed. The alarming scenes and lack of official commentary have led some to draw similarities to the early days of the Covid outbreak in China. Local news reports have blamed a little-known virus called human metapneumovirus (HMPV) — which normally causes a mild cold-like illness — for the latest outbreak, though officials have yet to confirm this.

Mysterious fog sweeping U.S. sparks bioweapon fears amid alarming echoes of secret 1950 military program | 3 Jan 2025 | A thick, “mysterious” fog has descended upon a wide swath of the U.S., sparking fears of another “Operation Sea Spray.” For one week in September of 1950, the U.S. Navy sprayed massive amounts of bacteria into the air two miles off the coast of San Francisco, California. The aim of this secret biological warfare experiment was to learn how vulnerable large U.S. cities like San Francisco would be to a biowarfare attack by terrorists [the CIA, etc.]. Now, 75 years later, some Americans fear this may be happening again as they claim an “unnatural” fog with a “burning chemical-like smell” has plagued their communities in recent weeks… Parts of Texas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Florida, and Minnesota were under fog alerts when the bizarre reports surfaced this week.

U.S. plans 8 billion arms sale to Israel | 4 Jan 2025 | Joe Biden’s administration has notified Congress of a proposed 8 billion arms sale to Israel, two U.S. officials said, with Washington maintaining support for its ally whose war in Gaza has killed tens of thousands. The deal would need approval from House of Representatives and Senate committees and includes munitions for fighter jets and attack helicopters as well as artillery shells. The package also includes small-diameter bombs and warheads, according to the sources. Some of the munitions deliveries could be furnished through current U.S. stock, while the majority would take up to several years to deliver, the source said.

New Orleans Police will upgrade security for Super Bowl, Mardi Gras | 3 Jan 2025 | In a letter released Friday afternoon, the New Orleans Police Department says there will be increased security presence in concert with other agencies in the French Quarter. This comes a few days after a deadly terror attack killed 14 people and injured at least 35 on New Year’s Day when a truck was driven into a crowd in the city’s oldest neighborhood. The letter by Officer Reese Harper, the department’s director of communications, said Bourbon Street will be closed to vehicles from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. “to ensure the pedestrian mall remains a safe space for everyone.” The department also said additional crowd closures of side streets or major routes will be done as needed, depending on crowd size or special events. One of those special events is the 59th Super Bowl at Caesar’s Superdome on Feb. 9.

New York judge sets Trump sentencing days before inauguration | 3 Jan 2025 | President-elect Trump’s bid to toss his conviction in his New York criminal hush m-ney case was denied on Friday. New York Judge Juan Merchan rejected Trump’s request to vacate the verdict in the case based on the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision. Sentencing is set for January 10 at 9:30 a.m, with the president-elect having the option to appear in person or virtually. But Merchan said he will not sentence the president-elect to prison. Merchan wrote in his decision that he is not likely to “impose any sentence of incarceration” but rather a sentence of an “unconditional discharge,” which means there would be no punishment imposed. Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20.

Biden Commits 306 Million to Prevent ‘Potential Bird Flu Outbreak’ in Humans Ahead of Trump’s Return to Office | 4 Jan 2025 | The Biden regime has announced a 306 million investment to bolster bird flu monitoring and preparedness efforts across the United States to combat a so-called potential bird flu outbreak among humans, right before handing over the reins to President-elect Donald Trump. In November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first-ever case of avian influenza A(H5N1), commonly known as H5N1 bird flu, in a child in the United States. The young patient, a resident of California, reportedly experienced mild symptoms and has since been recovering following treatment with flu antivirals. Last week, the CDC confirmed the first severe U.S. human case of H5N1 bird flu in a 65-year-old Louisiana man who had contact with sick backyard birds. Predictably, experts are now sounding the alarms about the virus’s supposed mutations and potential for human transmission.

U.S. winter storms could cause power outages, cut natgas supplies | 3 Jan 2025 | Freezing weather and snow storms across the U.S. could cause massive power outages over the next week and boost natural gas demand to its highest levels of the winter, according to energy analysts and reliability coordinators. The bump in demand comes as supplies of gas could drop due to the freezing of oil and gas wells and pipes, known in the energy industry as so-called “freeze-offs.” The jump in demand coupled with a drop in supply could drive up prices next week. “Appalachia and Rockies production face freeze-off risks as temperatures drop into the single digits or below,” analysts at energy consulting firm Gelber and Associates said in a note.

New Biden water heater ban will drive up energy prices for poor, seniors – expert | 5 Jan 2025 | The Biden regime is banning certain natural gas water heaters from the market as part of its climate change [aka the WEF’s “You’ll own nothing, and you’ll be happy”] agenda, a move critics say will jack up energy costs for low-income and senior households. The move in the final days [God willing] of the regime will take non-condensing, natural gas-fired water heaters off the shelves by 2029 in a bid to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which climate change advocates [corporate socialists] and Joe Biden say cause global warming. The new rules will require new tankless gas water heaters to use about 13% less energy than today’s least efficient tankless models. The rules apply to both non-condensing and condensing gas water heaters, but the rules hike efficiency requirements to a threshold that only condensing models can meet, effectively banning the cheaper but less efficient non-condensing models, according to The Washington Free Beacon.

Biden honors Dem donor George Soros, Hillary Clinton with Presidential Medal of Freedom, sparking outrage: ‘A national disgrace’ | 4 Jan 2025 | Joe Biden bestowed woke Democratic megadonor George Soros with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Saturday — outraging critics who ripped the selection as a “national disgrace.” Soros, 94, was among the 19 people chosen to receive the nation’s highest civilian honor at the White House, a group that included actor Denzel Washington and former senator Hillary Clinton — who also was panned as a recipient. “George Soros spent millions electing soft-on-crime politicians that let criminals wreak havoc in our major cities,” Montana Senator Tim Sheehy told The Post. “Hillary Clinton abandoned our Navy SEALs in Libya.” “Joe Biden’s decision to give Hillary Clinton and George Soros the Presidential Medal of Freedom is a national disgrace,” the GOPer added.

Mike Johnson Elected Speaker of the House After GOP Dissenters Change Their Votes | 3 Jan 2025 | Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) officially won the Speaker’s gavel after a few initial holdouts, receiving 218 votes — enough to secure the position. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) followed through with his pledge to vote against Johnson, casting a vote for Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN). Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) initially did not vote for Johnson either, instead choosing Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). Republican Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) voted for Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) for Speaker initially, but ultimately, the latter two changed their votes, putting Johnson over the edge on the first ballot. That brought Johnson to 218 votes, securing enough support to be elected Speaker once again.

Congestion toll takes effect, costing NYC commuters 9 to drive below 60th Street – as drivers rip plan and trash Hochul | 5 Jan 2025 | Motorists heading into some of Manhattan’s busiest neighborhoods have begun shelling out a first-in-the-nation 9 congestion toll — a controversial levy critics contend will drive people out of Gotham and devastate the local economy. The scheme officially took effect at midnight on Sunday, meaning drivers entering the city below 60th Street will now have to pay 9 during peak hours — 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends — and 2.25 for off-peak hours. During peak hours, large trucks will pay 21.60, small trucks 14.40 and motorcycles 4.50.

New Jersey Teachers No Longer Required to Pass Basic Literacy Test | 3 Jan 2025 | Aspiring teachers in New Jersey are no longer required to pass a basic skills in order to be certified. New Jersey Democratic Governor Phil Murphy passed Act 1669 as part of the state’s 2025 budget in June to address a teacher shortage, Read Lion reports. The law went into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Individuals seeking an instructional certificate will no longer need to pass the Praxis Core Test, a basic skills test for reading, writing, and math that is administered by the state’s Commissioner of Education. “We need more teachers,” Democratic Sen. Jim Beach, who sponsored the bill, said in May 2024 when the chamber cleared the bill in a 34-2 vote. Just a few months prior, Murphy also signed a similar bill into law that established an alternative pathway for teachers to sidestep the testing requirement.