U.S. officials said attacks on three commercial ships represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security. Also in the news: Some parents have become resigned that they will spend the rest of their lives buried under parent PLUS debt. The college football playoff roster has been set.
I’m Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Here’s how to strengthen your immune system this winter.
Here is the news to know Monday.
Vessels attacked and Israel expands ground offensive in Gaza
The U.S. military says three commercial ships in the Red Sea were struck by ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen.
The USS Carney shot down three drones while responding to distress calls from the vessels after they were targeted. The incident marks a possible escalation of the war just as Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip intensifies following a weeklong truce.
- The attacks, combined with an increase in clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah near the Lebanon border, could represent steps toward an expansion of the war in the region, something the Biden administration has labored to prevent.
- Meanwhile, Israel has renewed its calls for mass evacuations from the southern Gaza, where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have already fled in recent weeks. Experts say Israeli’s evacuation warnings are useless for people who may not have the means to move.
- Over the weekend, Vice President Kamala Harris sharply criticized both Hamas and Israel, saying the Biden administration wants the conflict to end and for both to provide more protection for Palestinians in Gaza.
Black, working-class families resort to parent PLUS loans: Will the debt ever go away?
Parent PLUS loans were created in the 1980s for high-income parents who didn’t have enough liquid cash to cover their kids’ tuition in a single lump-sum payment. In conversation with several parent PLUS borrowers, most of them Black, USA TODAY found many had something in common: the inability to afford college but a profound desire to make it happen; a lack of complete and reliable information about the loans; a belief that this was their only option – endorsed by the colleges themselves; and a conflicted sense about whether it was all worth it. Parents spoke of their conviction that college for their children wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. But are the loans a trap?
More news to know now
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House GOP prepares to launch Biden impeachment probe
House Speaker Mike Johnson told lawmakers they would next soon turn to a vote to formally authorize the impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden over the business dealings of his son Hunter. But it’s uncertain that the House, now down a Republican member, will have enough votes for a historic impeachment measure. Proceedings against Biden are only an impeachment inquiry, not a full-scale impeachment effort. The inquiry into allegations that Biden financially benefited from his family’s overseas business dealings has yet to produce direct evidence. Read more
Wisconsin city files lawsuit against ‘forever chemical’ makers amid groundwater contamination
Wausau, Wisconsin, is suing numerous manufacturers of so-called “forever chemicals,” commonly referred to as PFAS, in an attempt to hold them responsible for widespread contamination of the city’s water. The suit targets companies that manufactured the chemicals — which are used in various industrial and consumer products — for decades without informing customers of the risks. Wausau has one of the most extensive PFAS contaminations in the state, with contamination in all of its drinking water wells. The city council recently approved borrowing $17.5 million to finance a treatment system that will be installed over the course of the next year. Read more
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College football playoff: Michigan, Washington, Texas and Alabama are in
The final College Football Playoff with four teams is set: Michigan is the top seed after running through the Big Ten unbeaten. No. 2 seed Washington won its way into the field with a second defeat of Oregon. The difficulty came with the final two spots. Texas and Alabama were one-loss champions of the Big 12 and SEC, respectively. The Longhorns had the edge on the Crimson Tide due to a road victory in Tuscaloosa in Week 2. The committee took both of them, and Florida State became the first unbeaten team in the Power Five left out of the semifinals. Read more
Photo of the day: 2023 Kennedy Center Honors celebrate Queen Latifah, Dionne Warwick and Billy Crystal and more
The 46th Kennedy Center Honors celebrated a variety of recipients – singer Dionne Warwick; actor and comedian Billy Crystal; actress, singer and rapper Queen Latifah; soprano Renée Fleming; and singer and songwriter Barry Gibb. Five different artists all with two critical ingredients in common: an unwavering commitment to their craft and a lot of love to give the world around them. Check out more photos of the honors.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.
Associated Press contributed reporting.
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