KARAH RUCKER: WE’RE GETTING OUR FIRST LOOK AT THE DEFENSE BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE PENTAGON TO REMOVE ITS VACCINE MANDATE FOR MILITARY MEMBERS. THIS IS YOUR MIDDAY UPDATE AIMED DOWN THE MIDDLE WITH STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.

END TO MILITARY VAX MANDATE ADDED TO DEFENSE BILL

THE HOUSE IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE BILL TO A VOTE TOMORROW. IN IT IS LANGUAGE THAT WOULD REPEAL A REQUIREMENT FOR MILITARY MEMBERS TO HAVE TAKEN THE COVID-19 VACCINE. A REQUEST FROM REPUBLICANS AND COMPROMISE FROM DEMOCRATS.

IF THE MEASURE PASSES THE HOUSE, IT THEN GOES TO THE SENATE. SENATE REPUBLICANS SAY THEY WANT MORE, THREATENING TO STALL THE BILL ONCE IT GETS TO THE SENATE.

RIGHT NOW AS IT STANDS, THE DEFENSE BILL DOESN’T REQUIRE THE PENTAGON TO REHIRE MILITARY OR PROVIDE BACK-PAY TO THOSE WHO WERE FIRED.

THE GOP WANTS A SEPARATE VOTE TO REINSTATE MILITARY AND PAY THEM FOR TIME LOST.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY ASPECTS OF DEFENSE BILL

THAT’S NOT THE ONLY NOTEWORTHY ITEM COMING FROM THE DFENSE BILL. LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING TO GIVE ANOTHER 800 MILLION DOLLARS TO UKRAINE.

THAT’S ON TOP OF THE TWENTY BILLION DOLLARS THE U.S. HAS SENT TO UKRAINE SO FAR.

A QUICK SIDEBAR TO THIS. WE TOLD YOU YESTERDAY ABOUT HOW AMERICANS FEEL ABOUT THE AID THE U.S. IS SENDING TO UKRAINE. THAT STORY IS ON OUR WEBSITE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS DOT COM.

ONE OTHER NOTEWORTHY ITEM ABOUT THE DEFENSE BILL, IS RATHER SOMETHING LEFT OUT.

SENATOR JOE MANCHIN HAS PUSHED TO INSERT AN ENERGY PERMIT PLAN THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR ENERGY PROJECTS TO BE EXPEDITED. INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION OF A NATURAL GAS PIPELINE IN HIS STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

ZELENSKYY NAMED TIMES PERSON OF THE YEAR

Volodymyr Zelenskyy | UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: “I’m grateful to you for being with us, for the fact that the United States of America really supports Ukraine.”

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, ALONG WITH THE “SPIRIT OF UKRAINE”, HAVE BEEN NAMED TIME’S PERSON OF THE YEAR, UNVEILING THE MAGAZINE’S COVER TODAY.

THE CEO OF TIME MAGAZINE SAYING THIS YEAR’S CHOICE WAS “THE MOST CLEAR-CUT IN MEMORY”.
TIME HAS CHOSEN A “PERSON OF THE YEAR” EVERY YEAR SINCE 1927.

JUDGE PUTS NEW OREGON GUN LAW ON PAUSE

VOTERS IN OREGON PASSED A MEASURE IN THE MIDTERMS, REQUIRING SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BUY A GUN TO ACQUIRE A PERMIT FROM POLICE FIRST.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO IN EFFECT THIS WEEK, BUT A JUDGE JUST DELAYED THE LAW FROM TAKING EFFECT. POLICE NOW HAVE A 30-DAY EXTENSION TO PREPARE A SYSTEM FOR PERMITS. THE STATE OF OREGON IS ALREADY APPEALING THE RULING.

WITH LOOMING STRICTER GUN LAWS, GUN PURCHASES IN THE STATE HAVE SKY-ROCKETED SINCE THE MEASURE PASSED IN NOVEMBER.

LOS ANGELES BANS USE OF STYROFOAM

THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES IS SAYING “NO MORE” TO STYROFOAM. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE PASSED AN ORDINANCE AIMED AT L.A. RESTAURANTS, COFFEE SHOPS, AND RETAILERS TO END THE USE OF STYROFOAM.

ANY BUSINESS WITH MORE THAN 26 EMPLOYEES CAN NO LONGER HAVE STYROFOAM COFFEE CUPS OR TO-GO BOXES FOR FOOD.

THE COST OF STYROFOAM IS TYPICALLY CHEAPER FOR BUSINESSES. BUT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARGUE IT’S COSTLY TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

BIDEN TO SIGN BILL BANNING BIG CAT OWNERSHIP

VOICE OF JOE EXOTIC | TIGER KING: “They have a heart an a soul and a mind. I’ve learned from them. But Carol Baskin keeps saying I can’t have these tigers.”

VOICE OF CAROL BASKIN | BIG CAT RESCUE: “We will end the private possession of these cats.”}

ANOTHER WIN FOR CAROL BASKIN. TODAY PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL SIGN A BILL, BANNING THE BREEDING AND SELLING OF BIG CATS. THE LAW WILL ULTIMATELY STOP PEOPLE FROM OWNING TIGERS.

THE MASSIVE DOCUMENTARY ON NETFLIX, TWO YEARS AGO, RENEWED SUPPORT TO STOP PEOPLE LIKE THE “TIGER KING” FROM OWNING THE EXOTIC ANIMAL.

JOE EXOTIC IS STILL BEHIND BARS SERVING A 22 YEAR SENTENCE FOR ATTEMPTING TO HIRE A HIT MAN TO TAKE OUT CAROL BASKIN.

AND AS FOR THE SO CALLED MOTHER THERESA OF BIG CATS, CAROL BASKIN IS STILL RUNNING BIG CAT RESCUE AND SHE PRAISED THE BILL’S PASSAGE IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST.