West Coast winter storm, spring training, government shutdown deadline: 5 things to know Wednesday
Deal or no deal? Trump, lawmakers could be at odds as deadline looms
Facing a Friday deadline to avert another government shutdown, congressional negotiators on Wednesday will try to wrap up a tentative border security agreement.But is President Donald Trump on board? Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate could vote "in short order" on the proposal, announced late Monday, which includes $1.375 billion for a structure along the southern border — well below the $5.7 billion Trump has demanded. Trump slammed the agreement Tuesday and did not say whether or not he would sign the legislation. "Am I happy? The answer is no, I’m not," he said. Trump also said he would be "adding things" to the deal, but it wasn't clear whether lawmakers would agree.
West Coast braces for (another) winter storm
On the heels of sleet, snow, ice and power outages Tuesday in the Northeast, strong winds and snow showers are forecast Wednesday in the Midwest and Northeast. Meanwhile, nasty weather that also gave Seattle commuters headaches will move down the West Coast over the next few days, with 45 mph wind gusts and possible flash floods forecast Wednesday for San Francisco. "The worst of the storm is forecast to focus on central and northern California, with a heightened threat of flooding, mudslides, erosion, power outages, avalanches and road-closing snowfall in the mountains," AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski warned.
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Calling all baseball fans ...
While it might not seem like baseball season in most parts of the country, spring training is getting underway in Arizona and Florida for some clubs on Wednesday. While many fans celebrate the return of the game, two of its biggest stars still remain unsigned. Bryce Harper or Manny Machado could improve the fortunes for any team and tilt the league's balance of power this upcoming season. But they're not alone. Here are 100 players who fans should get to know as spring training commences.
Rapper 21 Savage to be released from immigration custody
Rapper 21 Savage has been granted bond and will be released by Wednesday morning, his lawyer Charles Kuck confirmed to USA TODAY. The 26-year-old musician, who was born in the United Kingdom as She'yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was placed in federal immigration custody following a "targeted operation" in Atlanta, ICE spokesman Bryan Cox confirmed to USA TODAY on Feb. 3. The rapper has long been considered an Atlanta native and was forced to cancel his plans to attend and perform at the Grammy Awards, despite earning two nominations as a featured artist on Post Malone's single "Rockstar." He still faces the possibility of deportation.
Denver teachers strike: Negotiations resume after stalemate
Denver teachers are set to extend their strike into a third day on Wednesday after negotiations with district leaders ended without a deal. The teachers, who are protesting for better pay and working conditions, are following the lead of educators across the country. Last year, West Virginia teachers launched the national “Red4Ed” movement with a nine-day strike in which they won 5 percent pay raises — most recently, Los Angeles teachers held a six-day strike last month. Reports from the school district indicate 58 percent of teachers did not report to work on Tuesday, slightly more than on Monday.
Contributing: Associated Press