# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
President Biden left no doubts on day one in the White House that the Trump era of deregulation was over, according to a report.

Soon after taking office Jan. 20, Biden scrapped a Trump deregulation rule that had helped save the U.S. about $160 billion, according to an analysis by the American Action Forum (AAF), a think tank that focuses on economic and fiscal policy issues.

"I wager in saying that, going back in the modern era of presidents, even back through Reagan, this is probably the most deregulatory administration we've seen in terms of being able to quantify the economic savings that it produced," AAF report author Dan Bosch, the group's director of regulatory policy, told the Times.

The group's findings were reported Thursday by the Washington Times.

Trump's deregulation efforts as president were highlighted by a "one in, two out" rule that required two existing regulations to be scrapped every time a new regulation was enacted, according to the report.

The nation's 45th president also set limits on how much a regulation could cost.

Trump's actions saved the country $155 billion to $165 billion between 2017 and 2021, the AAF estimates, according to the Times.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TRANSITION COST NEARLY $20M MORE THAN TRUMP'S
"The range is in terms of economic impact, which is almost entirely borne by the private sector," Bosch told the newspaper.

In practice, however, the Trump administration wasn't always able to stick to the "one in, two out," rule because regulations in complicated areas, such as immigration, made implementation difficult, Bosch said. Nevertheless, the Trump administration was able to tackle regulations more aggressively than other administrations in the modern era, he said.

The Times noted that Trump's Office of Management and Budget pegged the savings at an even higher amount: closer to $200 billion between 2017 and 2020, with $144 billion saved in 2020 alone.
AS CONGRESS EYES $1.9 TRILLION COVID PACKAGE, $1 TRILLION FROM PAST BILLS UNSPENT
As of last April, Trump had issued 277 deregulation orders and his administration had added the fewest new rules to the Federal Register since records started being kept in the 1970s.

"We've cut far more regulations by a factor of a lot than any other administration, any other presidency," Trump said last May. "So, it's really something."

"We've cut far more regulations by a factor of a lot than any other administration, any other presidency."
- Former President Trump

After Biden took office, the new president quickly rescinded Trump's executive order, saying his administration needed more flexibility in order to address big issues such as the coronavirus, climate change, racism and the state of the U.S. economy, the Times reported.

Biden also announced a temporary freeze on and review of regulations finalized by the Trump White House as the incoming administration assessed whether any existing rules would conflict with Biden's policy agenda, according to the report. The practice is typical whenever a new administration enters the White House, the report said.

Advocacy groups like the environmental organization Evergreen Action have signaled support for greater use of the government's regulatory powers under Biden, the report noted.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS
Earlier this month, progressive columnist Katrina vanden Heuvel praised Biden, claiming "the era of small government is over," after Biden's tally for executive orders since taking office had reached 45.

But Clyde Wayne Crews, a vice president with the free-enterprise think tank the Competitive Enterprise Institute, said such groups didn't seem to take into account the full impact of regulations.

"I don't think progressives think regulations have any cost," Crews told the Times. "They always claim a net benefit, which means there's no stopping point, there's no governor or brake."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Biden on Day 1 scrapped Trump rule that helped US save $160 billion: report

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
President Biden left no doubts on day one in the White House that the Trump era of deregulation was over, according to a report. Soon after taking office Jan. 20, Biden scrapped a Trump deregulation rule that had helped save the U.S.

# data[].attributes.body
Scientists find a way to have a solar panel in orbit beam electricity back to Earth.  The panel known as (PRAM) is the size of a pizza box, and only can beam back enough to power a laptop.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
CNN exclusive: A solar panel in space is collecting energy that could one day be beamed to anywhere on Earth | CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scientists working for the Pentagon have successfully tested a solar panel the size of a pizza box in space, designed as a prototype for a future system to send electricity from space back to any point on Earth.

# data[].attributes.body
317 schoolgirls were abducted by gunmen today in Nigeria. Nigerian government is sending heavy military forces to rescue these girls.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
LAGOS, Nigeria -- Gunmen abducted 317 girls from a boarding school in northern Nigeria on Friday, police said, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of students in the West African nation.

Police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the girls after the attack at the Girls Science Secondary School in Jangebe town, according to a police spokesman in Zamfara state, Mohammed Shehu, who confirmed the number abducted.

One parent, Nasiru Abdullahi, told The Associated Press that his daughters, aged 10 and 13, are among the missing.

"It is disappointing that even though the military have a strong presence near the school they were unable to protect the girls," he said. "At this stage, we are only hoping on divine intervention."

Resident Musa Mustapha said the gunmen also attacked a nearby military camp and checkpoint, preventing soldiers from interfering while the gunmen spent several hours at the school. It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties.

Several large groups of armed men operate in Zamfara state, described by the government as bandits, and are known to kidnap for money and for the release of their members from jail.

"We are angered and saddened by yet another brutal attack on schoolchildren in Nigeria," said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF representative in the country. "This is a gross violation of children's rights and a horrific experience for children to go through." He called for their immediate release.

Nigeria has seen several such attacks and kidnappings over the years, notably the mass abduction in April 2014 by jihadist group Boko Haram of 276 girls from the secondary school in Chibok in Borno state. More than a hundred of the girls are still missing.

Friday's attack came less than two weeks after gunmen abducted 42 people, including 27 students, from the Government Science College Kagara in Niger State. The students, teachers and family members are still being held.

In December, 344 students were abducted from the Government Science Secondary School Kankara in Katsina State. They were eventually released.

Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch, noted the recent abductions and tweeted that "Strong action is required from the authorities to turn the tide & keep schools safe."

Amnesty International also condemned the "appalling attack," warning in a statement that "the girls abducted are in serious risk of being harmed."

Teachers have been forced to flee to other states for protection, and many children have had to abandon their education amid frequent violent attacks in communities, Amnesty said.

---

AP writer Carley Petesch in Dakar, Senegal contributed to this report.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls taken in mass abduction

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
LAGOS, Nigeria -- Gunmen abducted 317 girls from a boarding school in northern Nigeria on Friday, police said, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of students in the West African nation.

# data[].attributes.body
A little girl with caner has her dream of flying come true and is made an honorary captain. "Ever was able to make her dream of becoming a U.S. Air Force pilot come true," the base wrote.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A 5-year-old girl battling cancer achieved her dream of becoming a U.S. Air Force honorary pilot this week thanks to Florida's MacDill Air Force Base and the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

Honorary Capt. Ever Young was given her orders to be a pilot-for-the-day from Col. Benjamin Jonsson, 6th ARW commander, according to a Facebook post by the base on Tuesday.

"Ever was able to make her dream of becoming a U.S. Air Force pilot come true," the base wrote.
FLORIDA'S TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE SEES JET CRASH LAND: PILOTS HOSPITALIZED

During her visit to MacDill on Tuesday, Young flew and landed a flight simulator. She also toured a KC-135 Stratotanker and the Air Traffic Control Tower.

Photos of her visit were posted by MacDill on its Facebook page.

"What an amazing story! Congratulations to everyone who went above and beyond to give a little girl some joy during a difficult time in her life," one user wrote.
PILOTS IN ALABAMA DEADLY MILITARY PLANE CRASH IDENTIFIED
"These kinds of stories is what our military is all about. Congratulations to all the [sic] men and [sic] women of the 6th AWC MacDill, AFB," another wrote.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
MacDill Air Force Base is located in Tampa, Fla.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Florida's MacDill Air Force Base makes dream come true for girl, 5, amid cancer battle

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A 5-year-old girl battling cancer achieved her dream of becoming a U.S. Air Force honorary pilot this week thanks to Florida's MacDill Air Force Base and the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Honorary Capt. Ever Young was given her orders to be a pilot-for-the-day from Col.

# data[].attributes.body
Texas is still recovering from the super low temperatures and for some it may be months before they are fully recovered

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Texas is still reeling from devastating winter storms and for some, recovery could take months | CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
While state officials work to turn the lights back on for the remaining Texas households still in the dark and address widespread water disruptions, some residents are faced with damage that could take weeks – or months – to recover from.

# data[].attributes.body
US stock indexes, which have repeatedly hit all-time highs in recent weeks, which move opposite prices, continued to rise, indicating faith in the economic recovery.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
premarket: stocks are falling. but it's not all bad news - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Stocks are falling. But it's not all bad news

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A burst of anxiety is ricocheting across financial markets as Wall Street sets expectations for the next phase of the pandemic, which could take hold this spring and summer as vaccinations rise and coronavirus cases fall.

# data[].attributes.body
A New Jersey Plumber drove over 20 hrs to help winter storm victims in Texas.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A New Jersey plumber and his family drove for more than 20 hours to Texas to help storm victims who otherwise would have faced weeks without clean water.

Andrew Mitchell, whose dream to become a licensed plumber became a reality earlier this year, felt like "it was his calling" to go and help, his wife, Kisha Pinnock, told Fox News.

So Mitchell packed up the family car in Morristown with thousands of dollars' worth of supplies and prepared for the 22-hour journey with one goal in mind: "to make a difference."

By Sunday evening, Mitchell, Pinnock, their 2-year-old son, Blake, and Pinnock's brother (who is Mitchell's apprentice), Isaiah, made it to Houston.
MILLIONS IN TEXAS FACING WATER ISSUES AS STATE STILL REELING FROM EFFECTS OF DEADLY WINTER STORM
After the brutal winter storm ruptured pipes in the Lone Star state, leaving millions without access to clean water, there was a rallying cry from Texas-based plumbers for help, Pinnock said.

Before their journey, Mitchell had come across numerous posts on Facebook from plumbers who had called on out-of-state peers to come and help offset the demand.

"They legitimately said 'if you are an out-of-state plumber and you can come to Texas, we really need you. We are overwhelmed ...we are getting like 150 to 200 calls a day ... it's just literally impossible,'" Pinnock recalled her husband telling her.
TEXAS TO EXPERIENCE DRIER CONDITIONS, ABOVE-AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURES
From the moment they arrived Sunday afternoon, Mitchell and Isaiah Pinnock hit the ground running, according to Kisha Pinnock.

Every day since, they have been seeing customer after customer, visiting up to 10 houses per day.

On some days, they would leave around 7:30 a.m. and work until about 2 a.m. the next day, she said.

"It's like back to back to back," she said. "They aren't stopping,"

Even though plumbers have been racing to fix water pipes ruptured by record-low temperatures, the demand has been "impossible" to keep up with.

Kisha Pinnock said customers can barely get a plumber on the phone, and when they do, they're told the wait time is three to four weeks.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"It's a little heartbreaking to know that when we get to the people's houses they are so happy to even see a plumber," she said.

Their customers were beyond thankful. One of them shared how relieved they felt knowing that they wouldn't have to travel an hour to their friend's home just to take a shower.

"You don't even really realize the little things that you have until you don't have it," she said. "You can't cook, you can't clean, you can't wash your hands."

Kisha Pinnock said her husband had worked his entire life to become a plumber, starting his career under his father to getting his own license and opening his own company, Mitchell's Plumbing & Heating LLC.

After the storm hit, he knew it was his chance to do some good.

That alone was "what motivated him to come in the first place," she said.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
NJ plumber, family drive 22 hours to help Texas storm victims

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A New Jersey plumber and his family drove for more than 20 hours to Texas to help storm victims who otherwise would have faced weeks without clean water. Andrew Mitchell, whose dream to become a licensed plumber became a reality earlier this year, felt like "it was his calling" to go and help, his wife, Kisha Pinnock, told Fox News.

# data[].attributes.body
Famous soccer star

Zlatan Ibrahimovic says that stars like lebron should "stay out of politics and stick to what they're good at." Many believe this was in responce to Lebron James harsh criticizm of former president Donald Trump.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the outspoken Swedish soccer star who currently plays in Serie A for AC Milan, was critical of LeBron James on Thursday for being political.

He was asked about basketball and the Los Angeles Lakers star in an interview for UEFA for Discovery+ in Sweden and said that he didn't like when superstar athletes such as James get into politics.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"[LeBron] is phenomenal at what he's doing, but I don't like when people have some kind of status, they go and do politics at the same time," he said. "Do what you're good at. Do the category you do. I play football because I'm the best at playing football. I don't do politics. If I would be a political politician, I would do politics. That is the first mistake people do when they become famous and they become in a certain status. Stay out of it. Just do what you do best because it doesn't look good."
LEBRON JAMES: POTENTIAL NBA ALL-STAR GAME 'PRETTY MUCH A SLAP IN THE FACE'
Ibrahimovic is one of the biggest showmen in soccer.

When he finished his time with the LA Galaxy, of Major League Soccer, he told fans "you're welcome." He expressed a cavalier attitude when he got the coronavirus, saying that COVID-19 had the "courage" to challenge him, and he is definitely sure that another person like him is not secretly being stationed at Area 51.

James has been praised for his work off the court, including getting Americans registered to vote for in the 2020 presidential election and for opening the I Promise School in his native Akron, Ohio.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The NBA great, who was critical of former President Donald Trump and his administration, has been criticized for picking and choosing his political statements, including falling mum on issues with the league and its ties to China.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: LeBron James, other sports figures should 'do what you're good at,' stay out of politics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the outspoken Swedish soccer star who currently plays in Serie A for AC Milan, was critical of LeBron James on Thursday for being political. He was asked about basketball and the Los Angeles Lakers star in an interview for UEFA for Discovery+ in Sweden and said that he didn't like when superstar athletes such as James get into politics.

# data[].attributes.body
Tiger Woods was in a serious car crash earlier this week. He suffered damage in his right leg and now has been moved to a hospital in Los Angeles.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tiger Woods, the golf legend involved in a serious car crash earlier this week, was moved to Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Thursday to continue "orthopedic care and recovery."

Woods had been receiving care at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He suffered extensive damage to his right leg in a rollover crash on Tuesday on the border of the communities of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes.

Dr. Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer and interim chief executive of Harbor-UCLA, outlined Woods' "significant injuries to his right lower extremity" in a statement that was posted to the golfer's Twitter account Wednesday.

A source close to the star athlete's camp told PEOPLE on Wednesday that Woods "doesn't want his career to end like this." The source also told the magazine that Woods would pursue returning to the course if it is at all possible once he recovers.
Fox News' Brie Stimson and Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tiger Woods moved to new hospital to continue care

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Tiger Woods, the golf legend involved in a serious car crash earlier this week, was moved to Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Thursday to continue "orthopedic care and recovery." Woods had been receiving care at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

# data[].attributes.body
Even with slowed infection rates officials predict another spike could be coming soon.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
us coronavirus: another covid-19 surge hangs in the balance. this is how experts say we keep it from becoming reality - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Another Covid-19 surge hangs in the balance. This is how experts say we keep it from becoming reality

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Even with slowed infection rates and increased vaccinations, officials say another devastating Covid-19 spike could be on the horizon depending on what the United States does next.

# data[].attributes.body
The "Equality Act" has passed in congress with 224 votes, including 3 republicans

# data[].attributes.body
Authorities in Northern Cantabria are investigating how an elephant killed a zookeeper with a blow from the trunk. 44 year old male zookeeper died in a hospital on Tuesday after being struck against bars, hitting his head, by a female elephant while cleaning its enclosure. The elephant that had struck him was 4.4 tons and most likely pregnant.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Authorities in Spain's northern Cantabria region are investigating how an elephant killed a worker at a local zoo

MADRID -- Authorities in Spain 's northern Cantabria region are investigating how an elephant killed a worker at a local zoo.

The Cantabrian regional government says 44-year-old Joaquín Gutiérrez died in a hospital on Tuesday, several hours after a female elephant struck him with its trunk while he was cleaning its enclosure at the Cabárceno Nature Park near Santander.

The blow knocked Gutiérrez back and he hit his head against the pen's bars, officials said.

Gutiérrez had been working with elephants at the zoo for almost 20 years, local tourism chief Javier López Marcano said in a statement on the regional government's website.

The elephant that struck him had a foot infection and is likely pregnant, Marcano said. She weighs more than 4 metric tons (4.4 tons) .

Zoo and regional officials could not immediately be contacted Friday.

Police and CANTUR, the regional tourism organization that runs Cabárceno, are investigating the attack.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Elephant kills zookeeper with blow from trunk in Spain

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Authorities in Spain's northern Cantabria region are investigating how an elephant killed a worker at a local zoo MADRID -- Authorities in Spain 's northern Cantabria region are investigating how an elephant killed a worker at a local zoo.

# data[].attributes.body
Moderna has completed enrollment phase for a 2/3 study for covid-19 vaccine adolescence to ages 12-17.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Moderna has completed enrollment for a Phase 2/3 study of its COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents ages 12 to 17. In an update posted Thursday, the company said it had completed enrollment "of 3,000 participants."

The company has previously predicted that it will have results ahead of the upcoming school year.

The two-dose jab received emergency use authorization in December for individuals ages 18 and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, also a two-dose jab, was approved weeks earlier for use in individuals 16 and older. Johnson & Johnson submitted an EUA request for use of its one-shot vaccine in individuals 18 years and older, with the decision pending.
FDA EASES PFIZER COVID-19 VACCINE SHIPPING, STORAGE REQUIREMENT
Since the initial approvals, both Moderna and Pfizer have announced plans to study the vaccine in pediatric patients. Pfizer has since completed enrollment for its trial involving children ages 12 to 15 years old.

Moderna's CEO Stephane Bancel has said that he believes data on children younger than 11 will not be available until 2022. The company must first see the data from the trials involving 12 to 17 year olds before it can adjust for the younger populations.

Combatting vaccine hesitancy among adults in the U.S. has been a pivotal point of the nation's rollout, with many questioning the timeline of development versus the typical years-long process. Top officials, like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, has repeatedly said that technological advancements and federal funding made it possible.
HOW WOULD COVID-19 VACCINE MAKERS ADAPT TO VARIANTS?
"Vaccines are key, safe mechanisms that protect individuals and populations against infectious diseases," the American Academy of Pediatrics said, in it's interim guidance for COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents. "Building on existing science, numerous vaccines directed against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that casues COVID-19, have proceeded through development and are now in clinical trials."

The group lauded the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) process for approval and vaccination recommendations before stating:

"The AAP recommends that anyone 16 years of age and older who meets criteria in phased implementation groups, as recommended by the ACIP, receive the COVID-19 vaccine."
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
It later added that it is "critical that pediatric patients of all ages be included in trials as quickly as possible."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trial in kids ages 12 to 17 hits full enrollment

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Moderna has completed enrollment for a Phase 2/3 study of its COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents ages 12 to 17. In an update posted Thursday, the company said it had completed enrollment "of 3,000 participants." The company has previously predicted that it will have results ahead of the upcoming school year.

# data[].attributes.body
A bording school in northern Nigeria just had a mass abduction. There were 317 girls taken from the boarding school. The gunmen attacked a nearby military camp and checkpoint.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
LAGOS, Nigeria -- Gunmen abducted 317 girls from a boarding school in northern Nigeria on Friday, police said, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of students in the West African nation.

Police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the girls after the attack at the Girls Science Secondary School in Jangebe town, according to a police spokesman in Zamfara state, Mohammed Shehu, who confirmed the number abducted.

One parent, Nasiru Abdullahi, told The Associated Press that his daughters, aged 10 and 13, are among the missing.

"It is disappointing that even though the military have a strong presence near the school they were unable to protect the girls," he said. "At this stage, we are only hoping on divine intervention."

Resident Musa Mustapha said the gunmen also attacked a nearby military camp and checkpoint, preventing soldiers from interfering while the gunmen spent several hours at the school. It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties.

Several large groups of armed men operate in Zamfara state, described by the government as bandits, and are known to kidnap for money and for the release of their members from jail.

"We are angered and saddened by yet another brutal attack on schoolchildren in Nigeria," said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF representative in the country. "This is a gross violation of children's rights and a horrific experience for children to go through." He called for their immediate release.

Nigeria has seen several such attacks and kidnappings over the years, notably the mass abduction in April 2014 by jihadist group Boko Haram of 276 girls from the secondary school in Chibok in Borno state. More than a hundred of the girls are still missing.

Friday's attack came less than two weeks after gunmen abducted 42 people, including 27 students, from the Government Science College Kagara in Niger State. The students, teachers and family members are still being held.

In December, 344 students were abducted from the Government Science Secondary School Kankara in Katsina State. They were eventually released.

Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch, noted the recent abductions and tweeted that "Strong action is required from the authorities to turn the tide & keep schools safe."

Amnesty International also condemned the "appalling attack," warning in a statement that "the girls abducted are in serious risk of being harmed."

Teachers have been forced to flee to other states for protection, and many children have had to abandon their education amid frequent violent attacks in communities, Amnesty said.

---

AP writer Carley Petesch in Dakar, Senegal contributed to this report.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls taken in mass abduction

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
LAGOS, Nigeria -- Gunmen abducted 317 girls from a boarding school in northern Nigeria on Friday, police said, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of students in the West African nation.

# data[].attributes.body
Last night Lady Gagas dog walker was shot outside and her two dogs were stolen. The walker is in critical condition and the singer is offering 500,000 for the return of them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
new surveillance video shows the horrific attack on lady gaga's dog walker - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New surveillance video shows the horrific attack on Lady Gaga's dog walker

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Los Angeles Police Department is examining horrifying surveillance video showing two individuals attacking Lady Gaga's dog walker, opening fire on him and then fleeing the scene with the singer's two French bulldogs.

# data[].attributes.body
After days of debate, The House passed a bill that will prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ Americans.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The House on Thursday passed the Equality Act, a top agenda item for President Joe Biden that would prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ Americans in a 224-206 vote.

Three Republicans voted with all Democrats on the measure, which the House also passed two years ago but languished in the then-GOP-controlled Senate. In 2019, eight House Republicans supported the bill.

The measure would extend the protections of the Civil Rights Act to LGBTQ Americans to block discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., Tom Reed, R-N.Y., and John Katko, R-N.Y., voted with Democrats in support of the proposal on Thursday.

The vote followed two days of emotional and -- at times -- personal debate in the House between Democrats and Republicans, with some lawmakers speaking from their own life experiences on the floor.

"None of us should be evicted, fired or denied accommodations and services simply because of who we are and whom we love," said Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., who is one of the first openly gay Black men to serve in Congress.

Rep. Marie Newman, D-Ill., who spoke on the House floor on Monday in support of her transgender daughter, came under attack from Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a conservative who told Newman on Twitter that "your biological son does NOT belong in my daughters' bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports teams," and unsuccessfully tried to delay Thursday's vote by forcing the House to vote twice on a dilatory motion to adjourn.

Newman, whose Washington office is across the hall from Greene's, put up a transgender flag outside her door. Greene, in response, put up a poster that read: "There are TWO genders: Male & Female - Trust the Science!"

Republicans opposing the bill cited concerns that it would infringe on their religious beliefs and irrevocably impact women's sports across the country.

"When men or women claim to be able to choose their own sexual identity, they are making a statement that God did not know what he was doing when he made them," said Rep. Greg Stuebe, R-Fla. "You are going to singlehandedly destroy women's sports in the name of equality, how ironic."

Democrats and LGBTQ advocacy groups condemned the rhetoric from Greene and other Republicans in opposition to the bill.

"Their attacks on trans people and the transgender community are just mean, mean," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said of the "despicable comments."

Alphonso David, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, called the comments "dangerous and transphobic."

"These comments actually create additional stigma against communities that need to be protected," he said.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, 44 transgender or gender non-conforming Americans were killed last year, the highest tally the organization has ever recorded.

"(The attacks are) not based on fact, they're based on fear," he said.

The Equality Act will need to garner the support of 60 senators to get to Biden's desk for his signature, which would require the support of at least 10 Republicans, assuming all Democrats back the package.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a critical swing vote who cosponsored the legislation in 2020, told the Washington Blade this week that she would not do so this year, pointing to unspecified changes she requested that were not made. She did not say what changes she had sought.

"Sen. Collins supports ensuring fairness and equal treatment of all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and she is considering all possible options to do so, including introducing her own bill," Collins' spokeswoman Annie Clarke told the Washington Blade.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will take up the measure, but has not yet scheduled a meeting to do so.
ABC News' Trish Turner contributed to this report.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
House passes bill that would prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ Americans after days of heated debate

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The House on Thursday passed the Equality Act, a top agenda item for President Joe Biden that would prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ Americans in a 224-206 vote. Three Republicans voted with all Democrats on the measure, which the House also passed two years ago but languished in the then-GOP-controlled Senate.

# data[].attributes.body
A homeless man rescued all the animals at a shelter after it caught on fire. A fire engulfed the kitchen of the shelter leaving animals trapped inside. Keith Walker, said to have rescued them because he cant live without his dog and wouldn't be here without him so he wanted save all those other dog.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A homeless man rescued all the animals at a shelter after it caught on fire | CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A homeless man risked his life to save several cats and dogs trapped at an Atlanta animal shelter after it caught fire, the facility's founder said.

# data[].attributes.body
On Thursday, the US military struck a site in Syria used by Iranian-backed militia groups in response to rocket attacks on American forces in the region. This strike drew criticism from a Democratic lawmaker. The site wasn't specifically tied to the rocket attacks, but Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, says that it was.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
syria air strikes: us carries out strikes in targeting iranian backed militia structures - cnnpolitics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
US carries out air strikes in Syria targeting Iranian backed militias

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The US military on Thursday struck a site in Syria used by two Iranian-backed militia groups in response to rocket attacks on American forces in the region in the past two weeks, generating concern among lawmakers who said Biden had not asked for the necessary congressional authorization.

# data[].attributes.body
Scientists have discovered a new ¨home grown¨ variant of Covid-19 that it circulating around New York. They called it B.1.526.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Researchers are studying the new variant's transmissibility and lethality.

Scientists are now studying a new "home-grown" COVID-19 variant that has been identified and is circulating in the New York City area.

The variant, which scientists are calling B.1.526, was identified separately by two research groups. Researchers at the California Institute of Technology and at Columbia University published their separate findings this week, ahead of a formal scientific peer review process.

While analyzing over 1,100 samples for mutations found in the South Africa and Brazil variants, Columbia researchers didn't detect high numbers of those specific variants.

"Instead we found high numbers of this home-grown lineage," Dr. Anne-Catrin Uhlemann, associate professor of medicine in Columbia University's division of infectious diseases, said in a statement.

So far, Columbia researchers say they have identified at least 80 cases of the new variant across the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, indicating the variant isn't confined to a single outbreak.

Looking back through a database of COVID-19 genetic samples, researchers found traces of B.1.526 dating back to November. According to the CalTech study, this new variant accounted for approximately 25% of New York coronavirus genomes that were sequenced and deposited into the variant database in February.

Scientists say they're seeing more cases of the variant now than they first did months ago, but it's not clear yet if this variant is more transmissible.

Although it shares a mutation in common with the variants that originated in South Africa and Brazil, the B.1.526 variant is unique and will need to be studied further to understand its impact on transmissibility, lethality or the vaccine.

Researchers from Columbia said they are planning to step up their efforts to track this new variant by sequencing 100 samples per day.

"Increasing our genomic sequencing effort will help us better understand the impact of the new variant and keep our eyes open for new variants that may pop up in our area," Uhlemann said.

Nationally, New York City has one of the highest case rates per 100,000 people over the last seven days, according to the COVID Tracking Project.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New COVID-19 variant circulating in New York City, scientists say

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Researchers are studying the new variant's transmissibility and lethality. Scientists are now studying a new "home-grown" COVID-19 variant that has been identified and is circulating in the New York City area. The variant, which scientists are calling B.1.526, was identified separately by two research groups.

# data[].attributes.body
A family in Texas had lit their fireplace during the power outages and hadn't turned it off before going to bed. A woman lost her mom and her three kids in the fire.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
texas power outages: mother who lost her three children in a fire after they were trying to stay warm speaks out - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mother who lost her three children and her mom in a fire during Texas power outages talks about the tragic night

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As Texas hobbles back to normal life after a devastating winter storm, one mother is still trying to come to terms with a heart-wrenching and unfathomable personal tragedy.

# data[].attributes.body
Hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls were taken in a mass abduction. They believe 317 girls are being held captive. Military and police are working on getting the girls home safely.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
LAGOS, Nigeria -- Gunmen abducted 317 girls from a boarding school in northern Nigeria on Friday, police said, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of students in the West African nation.

Police and the military have begun joint operations to rescue the girls after the attack at the Girls Science Secondary School in Jangebe town, according to a police spokesman in Zamfara state, Mohammed Shehu, who confirmed the number abducted.

One parent, Nasiru Abdullahi, told The Associated Press that his daughters, aged 10 and 13, are among the missing.

"It is disappointing that even though the military have a strong presence near the school they were unable to protect the girls," he said. "At this stage, we are only hoping on divine intervention."

Resident Musa Mustapha said the gunmen also attacked a nearby military camp and checkpoint, preventing soldiers from interfering while the gunmen spent several hours at the school. It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties.

Several large groups of armed men operate in Zamfara state, described by the government as bandits, and are known to kidnap for money and for the release of their members from jail.

"We are angered and saddened by yet another brutal attack on schoolchildren in Nigeria," said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF representative in the country. "This is a gross violation of children's rights and a horrific experience for children to go through." He called for their immediate release.

Nigeria has seen several such attacks and kidnappings over the years, notably the mass abduction in April 2014 by jihadist group Boko Haram of 276 girls from the secondary school in Chibok in Borno state. More than a hundred of the girls are still missing.

Friday's attack came less than two weeks after gunmen abducted 42 people, including 27 students, from the Government Science College Kagara in Niger State. The students, teachers and family members are still being held.

In December, 344 students were abducted from the Government Science Secondary School Kankara in Katsina State. They were eventually released.

Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch, noted the recent abductions and tweeted that "Strong action is required from the authorities to turn the tide & keep schools safe."

Amnesty International also condemned the "appalling attack," warning in a statement that "the girls abducted are in serious risk of being harmed."

Teachers have been forced to flee to other states for protection, and many children have had to abandon their education amid frequent violent attacks in communities, Amnesty said.

---

AP writer Carley Petesch in Dakar, Senegal contributed to this report.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls taken in mass abduction

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
LAGOS, Nigeria -- Gunmen abducted 317 girls from a boarding school in northern Nigeria on Friday, police said, the latest in a series of mass kidnappings of students in the West African nation.