Biden meets with senators, Britney Spears hearing, WNBA All-Star Game: 5 things to know Wednesday
Biden to meet with Senate Democrats about their $3.5T budget plan
President Joe Biden is set to meet with Senate Democrats at the Capitol Wednesday to discuss an agreement reached late Tuesday on a $3.5 trillion budget plan that would expand Medicare, fund climate-change initiatives and fulfill other parts of Biden's economic agenda. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, N.Y., announced the agreement for a budget reconciliation package that would fund "human infrastructure," a term Biden has used. "Every major program that President Biden has asked us for is funded in a robust way," Schumer said. Democrats hope to pass the legislation through reconciliation, which they could pass with a simple majority in the evenly divided Senate and avoid a filibuster. Yet, there's no guarantee Biden and the leaders can unite all Senate Democrats in support of the package.
- 'We have a deal':Biden reaches $1.2 trillion infrastructure compromise with bipartisan group of senators
- Recent analysis: Bipartisan infrastructure deal would give a bigger boost to economy than Biden plan
- '21st century Jim Crow assault is real': Biden urges Americans to challenge efforts to restrict voting rights
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Britney Spears conservatorship: Another possibly momentous hearing
The saga of Britney Spears' conservatorship case lurches into court again in Los Angeles Wednesday with the possibility of major developments. The hearing is supposed to focus on a number of intersecting matters: Will her father remain a conservator of her $60 million fortune? Can her long-time court-appointed lawyer quit? Can the conservator of her person, Jodi Montgomery, get enhanced security? And can the pop star hire her own lawyer to represent her? The hearing will come three weeks after a June 23 hearing that saw Spears deliver her first public words in court on the matter, saying she was being forced to take medication and use an intrauterine device for birth control and that she was not allowed to marry her boyfriend. She added that she wanted to own her own money. "I just want my life back," Spears said.
- Britney Spears' dad 'very concerned' about 'dangerous' threats: However, James Spears advises against co-conservator security request
- What is conservatorship? Why would someone need a conservator?
- Jamie Lynn Spears breaks public silence on her sister's conservatorship
Washington monument reopens after six-month COVID closure
The Washington Monument reopens Wednesday after being closed for six months due to COVID-19 safety measures. It's "another important step forward for Washington coming back from the pandemic," National Mall spokesperson Mike Litterst told USA TODAY. Tickets must be purchased through recreation.gov; none will be sold on site. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Face masks will be required for all visitors over the age of 2, regardless of vaccination status. The monument first closed for the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. It reopened in October and closed again in January.
- Previous coverage: Washington Monument closed until after Joe Biden's inauguration in wake of Capitol riots
- Patriotic places: See where American independence was won
It's International Nonbinary People's Day
About one in four LGBTQ youths identify as nonbinary, or someone who doesn't identify within the traditional gender dichotomy. That’s according to a new study released ahead of International Nonbinary People's Day this Wednesday. The Trevor Project collected data via social media between October and December 2020 from almost 35,000 LGBTQ youth between ages 13 and 24 across the U.S. The study comes at a pivotal moment when state lawmakers have passed a record number of bills targeting trans and nonbinary youth, Amit Paley, CEO and executive director of The Trevor Project, told USA TODAY.
- How transgender legislation lacks input from trans people
- School fights decision to reinstate teacher who opposed gender identity policy
WNBA All-Star Game offers Olympic preview
Women's basketball takes center stage Wednesday with the WNBA All-Star Game (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Las Vegas, and this year's contest will have a very unique setup. A roster of 12 WNBA All-Stars will take on the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team — which also features 12 current WNBA stars. Team USA will be led by five-time Olympians Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, while two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker will lead the All-Star squad along with Liz Cambage, who will get an early look at the U.S. team before facing them in the Tokyo Games as a member of Australia's Olympic team.
- New beginning: At 32, WNBA MVP Tina Charles is making the most of her fresh start with Washington Mystics
- Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi lead the way with their fifth Olympic appearance