The Washington state House has passed a bill that would effectively end the use of natural gas in new buildings as part of a larger attempt to move toward full electrification in an "equitable" manner.On Tuesday‚ the House‚ which is controlled by Democrats‚ passed HB1589‚ also referred to as the Washington Decarbonization Act for Large Combination Utilities. The bill would prohibit any company serving at least 500‚000 natural gas customers from providing natural gas service to any commercial or residential building that did not receive or apply for natural gas services by June 30 of last year.While the bill technically addresses all such large natural gas companies‚ it would mainly affect Puget Sound Energy‚ which serves over 900‚000 natural gas and 1.2 million electricity customers‚ according to its website. Should HB1589 be signed into law‚ PSE would no longer be required to provide natural gas to its existing customers as mandated by current state law‚ reports claim.One provision in the bill would require that it take effect immediately. Another carved out exceptions for medical‚ correctional‚ and some manufacturing facilities. A previous iteration of the bill failed to pass last year‚ but this year‚ HB1589 passed easily‚ 52-45‚ mostly along party lines. A few Democrats did vote against it‚ but no Republican voted for it.According to an official House report‚ the purpose of the bill is to encourage "decarbonization" to help mitigate the effects of so-called climate change. In theory‚ it would support other state measures‚ including the Clean Energy Transformation Act and the Climate Commitment Act‚ to achieve "aggressive decarbonization goals for gas and electric utilities."However‚ saving the climate may not be the only goal of HB1589. Proponents of the bill‚ ever mindful of climate change's supposedly disproportionate impact on "low-income and BIPOC communities‚" boasted that it implements a form of restorative justice. "It used to be that if the rates for everyone were the same‚ that was considered equitable‚" said a summary opinion included in the official House report‚ "but some of those past assumptions are being reexamined and more equitable ways of approaching rates are being considered."With HB1589‚ gas companies such as PSE must "equitably distribute the benefits and burdens of electrification and decarbonization‚" the summary proudly claimed.Opponents argued that the measure would likely cause consumers' utility bills to skyrocket‚ especially in times of unusually high rates of consumption. Earlier this month‚ PSE asked customers to lower their thermostats and reduce hot water usage out of fear that the unseasonably cold weather would create too much "strain on the grid.""Not even two weeks have passed since thousands of Washington families fought bitter cold winter weather causing PSE to ask them to curb their energy use to reduce strain on the grid. Removing natural gas as a source of heating homes and water will cause our electrical grid to fail‚" said a statement from Greg Lane‚ the executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Washington.Still‚ others claimed that if small changes were made‚ the bill "could provide a national model for transitioning utilities to electricity."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A Cobb County judge has unsealed the divorce case for the lead Trump prosecutor in Georgia. Some suspect this exposure may in turn seal the fate of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis — Nathan Wade's alleged lover — as it pertains to her role prosecuting former President Donald Trump's controversial election interference case. After all‚ any damning records pertaining to the alleged affair between Willis and Wade will now be public. Willis did‚ however‚ receive some good news this week. Superior Judge Henry Thompson indicated Monday she will not have to testify in Wade's divorce case as originally planned; at least not until her alleged lover has been questioned under oath about his finances and their supposed affair‚ reported WAGA-TV. The Black Panther's daughter still faces mounting scrutiny outside the divorce proceedings. A Fulton County commissioner is now demanding answers from the Democratic DA concerning her relationship with Wade‚ keen to know whether or not everything is above board at the DA's office. Allegations Earlier this month‚ a court motion to disqualify Willis‚ filed on behalf of one of Trump's co-defendants‚ called out the Democratic DA for alleged misconduct and possible criminality. The broad outlines of the recent allegations against Willis are as follows: Willis was secretly embroiled in an "improper‚ clandestine personal relationship" with Nathan Wade‚ a married attorney; Despite Wade's lack of relevant experience and her failure to secure county approval‚ Willis appointed Wade top prosecutor on the Trump election interference case; Willis paid him better than at least one other special counsel‚ despite recently telling a church full of people otherwise; Wade filed for divorce the day after entering his contract with the Fulton County District Attorney's Office then proceeded to conceal relevant financial information from his estranged wife and the court‚ ultimately resulting in a contempt of court charge; That financial information might illuminate how Wade allegedly used Fulton County funds received by his law firm to pay for luxurious international and domestic vacations he ultimately took with Willis; and The arrangement between Wade and Willis was not only unethical but may have involved the commission of a federal crime prosecutable under the federal racketeering statute. Extra to alleged misconduct and possible criminality‚ the motion to disqualify appeared to also indicate that the Fulton County DA's office coordinated with the Biden White House in its effort to prosecute the Democratic incumbent's top political rival. Willis has since attempted to paint herself as a victim‚ intimating the allegations against her are the stuff of racially-motivated fantasy. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee‚ who is overseeing The State v. Donald John Trump‚ has scheduled a Feb. 15 evidentiary hearing to take up the misconduct allegations. Receipts Lawyers for Joycelyn Wade filed a motion in her divorce case Friday‚ which included credit card statements that appear to show Wade paid Willis' way for joint getaways‚ including airline trips to Miami in October 2022 and to San Francisco in April 2023‚ according to the Washington Post. The motion indicated that previously omitted discovery responses "demonstrated that [Wade] had paid for and taken trips unrelated to his work with the Fulton County District Attorney's office. ... The evidence is clear that Ms. Willis was an intended travel partner for at least some of these trips as indicated by flights he purchased for her to accompany him." The New York Times reported that Willis' lawyer‚ Cinque Axam‚ attempted Monday to once again keep her client out of the divorce case‚ suggesting the Democratic DA does not have a unique insight into the case and "does not share any accounts" with Wade. Andrea Dyer Hastings‚ Joycelyn Wade's lawyer‚ referred to Willis as the "alleged paramour of my client's husband" and told the judge‚ "I want to know about how he's been spending his money." "I have reasons to believe he's spending it on another woman‚" said Hastings. "That's my client's money. And I want to ask questions about that." Another investigation Atlanta News First reported that within hours of the travel receipts coming to light Friday‚ Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis sent a letter to Willis concerning the allegations that she "misused County funds and accepted valuable gifts and personal benefits from a contractor/recipient of County funds." "Separate from any potential inquiry by the State of Georgia‚ this situation requires confirmation of whether County funds provided for the operation of your office and its prosecutorial function were used in an appropriate manner‚ and whether any payments of County funds to Mr. Wade were converted to your personal gain in the form of subsidized travel or other gifts‚" added Ellis‚ who serves as audit committee chair. The commissioner's allusion to a state inquiry appears to be in reference to the investigation demanded earlier this month by Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene filed a complaint on Jan. 10 with Gov. Brian Kemp and Georgia Attorney General Christopher Carr requesting they order "the immediate and formal criminal investigation into the alleged criminal misconduct" by Willis‚ along with Wade. Ellis requested in his letter that Willis provide various materials‚ including invoices for services‚ costs‚ and fees submitted for payment by special prosecutors that have been received by her office since 2021 as well as details pertaining to the relevant professional experiences of her appointees. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

New York City Mayor Eric Adams promised that he would eliminate more than $2 billion of medical debt on behalf of upward of 500‚000 residents.Tackling what the mayor's office called the top cause of personal bankruptcy‚ Mayor Adams announced that the city would work with a nonprofit to buy medical debt in bulk from both hospitals and debt collectors. The city announced it would spend $18 million over three years in a partnership with a group called RIP Medical Debt‚ ABC News reported. "For middle- and working-class New Yorkers‚ medical bills can be financially devastating‚" Adams said in his announcement. "Working-class families often have to choose between paying their medical bills or some of the basic essentials that they need to go through life."The group has reportedly bought debt in bulk for pennies on the dollar in the past and has targeted debt belonging to those with low income. The decision-making process includes finding those whose medical bills are the equivalent of at least 5% of their annual household income‚ or have an income that is four times under the federal poverty line.In New York City‚ that number would be $31‚200 for a family of four‚ according to the New York Times.The program will have no application process‚ and those who have their debt erased would simply receive a letter by mail. The $2 billion in relief would equate to $4‚000 per person if 500‚000 residents benefited from the program.The nonprofit's website claimed it has eliminated over $10.4 billion in debt from over seven million families and individuals. Through a program conducted with Cook County‚ Illinois‚ for example‚ the nonprofit reportedly eliminated over $280 million of debt for more than 158‚000 residents — an average of just over $1‚770 per person.According to a 2020 report from Community Service Society‚ New York state had filed over 40‚000 lawsuits against patients for outstanding debts between 2015-2020.The New York Times reported that the state's largest hospital system‚ Northwell Health‚ had also sued patients for unpaid debts during COVID lockdowns. The hospital system later rescinded all legal claims filed in 2020. In December 2023‚ Governor Kathy Hochul also signed legislation that prevented health care organizations from reporting medical debt to credit agencies."That $2 billion trickles down to those households‚ who are not going to fall into our safety net‚” Mayor Adams added. "They’re not going to fall into our homeless system."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Parents of students involved in fighting at a Philadelphia high school believe it or not traveled to the school this week and got physically involved in the caught-on-video fighting themselves‚ which resulted in a lockdown and calls to police.What are the details?"Stop‚ stop‚ stop‚" one adult hollered in the the hallway at Paul Robeson High School in an attempt to break up a fight between two girls‚ WTXF-TV reported.The station said a person who wished to remain anonymous shared cellphone video of the fighting with WTXF and that the station blurred the video.The clip shows one girl grabbing another girl's hair as they throw punches and slam into lockers‚ the station said. At one point‚ an adult appears to try breaking up the fight but then walks away in an apparent attempt to get help‚ WTXF said‚ adding that what appears to be two male students try to break things up.Another video shows at least one person emerging from a brawl with a bloody face as well as a scene in a school office showing a woman trying to restrain a girl as another woman pulls another girl away‚ the station said.It's unclear what led to the Monday fights‚ WTXF said‚ adding that police said students were suspended.Officials with the School District of Philadelphia added to the station that several family members of the students came to the school and also became physically involved in the fighting‚ which forced the school to call police and the Office of School Safety. Officials also told WTXF that students were moved into classrooms and a lockdown lasted for about an hour.How are folks reacting?As you might guess‚ commenters underneath a PhillyVoice story about the violent incident turned up the sarcasm knob just a tad:"But now they are going to miss class and not be educated!" one commenter joked."Well‚ they're always asking for parental involvement‚" another commenter quipped."They say more kids should use [their] fists instead of guns‚" another commenter observed‚ tongue firmly in cheek.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre celebrated on Tuesday the Supreme Court's decision that allows Border Patrol agents to cut razor wire on the southern border because "it got in the way."Last year‚ Texas began installing razor wire on the southern border to deter migrants from entering the U.S. illegally. But in a 5-4 decision on Monday‚ the Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that barred agents from removing the razor wire absent of medical emergencies‚ a decision that thrilled the Biden administration.At the press briefing‚ Jean-Pierre said the administration is "certainly glad" it can remove the razor wire before making a telling admission about the barrier."It got in the way‚" she admitted‚ then claiming it was "ineffective.""And that's something that we have to remember: it was ineffective. And so now‚ it's going to allow border security to do their jobs; it's going to allow border security to actually act if there is an issue or a dangerous situation happening‚" she added. — (@) Jean-Pierre then essentially spoke out of both sides of her mouth. While she said the razor wire correctly worked as a barrier (i.e.‚ "it got in the way") she repeatedly claimed that it was "ineffective" without saying how. Ineffective at letting migrants enter the U.S. illegally? Moreover‚ the press secretary failed to explain how exactly the razor wire prevented Border Patrol officers from doing their jobs.Importantly‚ a federal judge had already found that Border Patrol agents weren't doing their jobs once they cut through the razor wire. That judge had agreed with Texas that Border Patrol agents were "not actually apprehending or processing migrants who cross through holes" in the barrier that federal agents had created‚ SCOTUSblog reported.While the Supreme Court has allowed the Biden administration to cut through the wire‚ Texas has not stopped installing it. Video captured on Tuesday showed Texas National Guard soldiers installing more barriers. — (@) Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R)‚ meanwhile‚ vowed on Tuesday to continue "to hold the line" and "not back down from our efforts to secure the border in Biden’s absence." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

“Barbenheimer” could not be denied.“Barbie” director Greta Gerwig‚ on the other hand‚ will have to wait till next year. Or the year after.The summer’s movie sensation‚ individually known as “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer‚” scored 21 Oscar nominations combined Tuesday. "Oppenheimer" looks to be the big winner on March 10‚ with a possible sweep for director Christopher Nolan’s look at the atomic bomb’s creation.“Barbie” snagged a Best Picture nod along with two Best Supporting Actor categories‚ but Gerwig’s snub will make the most noise in an industry obsessed with checking identity boxes.That #OscarsSoWhite hashtag might get a workout‚ too.“The Color Purple‚” the musical update on Steven Spielberg’s 1985 classic‚ got shut out in most major categories.Shut out entirely? Black filmmaker/activist Ava DuVernay’s “Origin.” The film divided critics with its lecturing look at race in America‚ adapted from Isabel Wilkerson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.”The film’s key players have made noise about it being overlooked during the bigger awards season competition. DuVernay complained the studio’s modest budget prevented it from competing against the better-funded competition.“Origin” star Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor predicted her film would come up empty earlier in the week‚ telling Variety “that ship has sailed‚ and that’s all right.”She previously played the race card to explain away the film’s poor award-season showing.“I think it is brave creatively‚ I think it is brave in its message‚ I think it confronts things in a way that is innovative‚” Ellis-Taylor continued. “And I just think that we [in Hollywood] award the white guys for that kind of work.”Yet “American Fiction‚” the story of a black intellectual stymied by the literary world’s woke virtue-signaling‚ performed far better. The stinging satire got warmly received by both liberal Hollywood and the progressive critics despite skewering virtue-signaling tropes.Plus‚ multiple black performers scored acting nominations‚ from Da’Vine Joy Randolph of “The Holdovers” to Colman Domingo for “Rustin.”The nominations recognized several films unfamiliar to most moviegoers. “The Zone of Interest‚” a subtle assault on the monsters behind the Nazi-era concentration camps‚ has made just $1.5 million so far in U.S. theaters.The import “Anatomy of a Fall” similarly underwhelmed with $3.9 million stateside.“Past Lives‚” a touching story of childhood sweethearts reuniting as adults‚ made $10.9 million.At least “The Holdovers‚” another modest grosser ($18 million)‚ can now be seen on Peacock’s streaming service.The most stupefying nomination may belong to America Ferrera. The “Ugly Betty” alum snagged a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for “Barbie.” She plays a woman whose daughter rejects everything the Barbie doll stands for.Ferrera’s rant-slash-lecture on why it’s “impossible” to be a woman stops the feminist film cold. Her performance is fine overall‚ but that moment likely wooed a few voters to her cause.The actress leaned into the film’s feminist DNA during awards season‚ complete with a speech at the Critics Choice Awards that read like a woke manifesto."To me‚ this is the best and highest use of storytelling: to affirm one another’s full humanity‚ to uphold the truth that we are all worthy of being seen — black‚ brown‚ indigenous‚ Asian‚ trans‚ disabled‚ any body type‚ any gender. We are all worthy of having our lives richly and authentically reflected."Ferrera also called the film’s overt feminism necessary.“There are a lot of people who need feminism 101.”Message received. Now‚ will audiences be receptive to this year’s nominees?Far-left comedian Jimmy Kimmel will once again host the Oscars ceremony‚ to be held March 10 on ABC. The former “Man Show” host’s transformation from dude-bro comic to propagandist is undeniable‚ courtesy of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” showcase.Still‚ Kimmel toned down the political banter last year and watched the show’s ratings perk up from 2022. That made it the third-worst ratings performance ever for the gala‚ but a rare uptick given the sorry state of awards shows today.(The recent Emmys telecast slumped to record-low numbers.)President Donald Trump‚ barring a seismic change in polling‚ is now the presumptive GOP candidate to unseat President Joe Biden this fall. The U.S.-Mexico border is on the minds of both Democrats and liberals. And every week‚ there’s a new‚ unsettling video clip of President Biden looking lost on stage.Can Kimmel resist all of the above and do his best Billy Crystal imitation‚ giving us a unifying show that honors Hollywood‚ not the industry’s politics?We’ll find out March 10.

The British Invasion was in full swing with a dozen songs at the top of the U.S. chart‚ including 5 from The Beatles. It's quite a list The post The Number One Singles of 1965: The British Are Coming appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

Lethal Company isn't short on enemies as‚ if you've played it‚ you and your teammates will know. But install Lethal Company's new Crowd Control mod‚ and it won't just be the monsters you have to worry about. Anyone watching will be able to sap your strength‚ freeze you in place‚ close the ship's doors on you‚ and make your scrap-salvaging life a living hell.   Continue reading Amazing new Lethal Company mod adds the most dangerous enemy possible MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games‚ Best horror games‚ Best indie games

The burials at the cemetery near the western Ukrainian village of Ostriv displayed a puzzling mix of Kyivan and Baltic customs. The post Skeletons With Rings Around Their Necks Uncovered At A 1‚000-Year-Old Cemetery In Ukraine appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Los Angeles Times Employees Beginning to Be Laid Off