Monday News: “The Enormous but Hidden Consequences of Antarctica’s Record Heat”; “Over 1,100 former DOJ officials say Attorney General Bill Barr must resign”; “Virginia lawmakers support raises for teachers, state employees”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, February 17.

• The Enormous but Hidden Consequences of Antarctica’s Record Heat (“Even the winners down here could become losers.”)
• Slowed by the Coronavirus, China Struggles to Reopen for Business (“Some factories are firing up again, but with many workers quarantined and parts in short supply, production is limited. The country’s leaders are trying to strike a balance between keeping people safe and getting vital industries back on track.”)
• White House Memo Admits There Was No “Imminent Threat” Before Soleimani Assassination
  (Yep, of course they lied.)
• The Bees and Other Creatures of My Childhood Are Disappearing (“So are my memories of them.”)
• China has reached a ‘dead end.’ Democracy is the only way out, a professor says.
• The climate crisis must reunite America — and yes, that could happen
• Coronavirus Cruise Passengers Land in U.S., Including 14 With Infections
• This is how democracy dies — in full view of a public that couldn’t care less
• Over 1,100 former DOJ officials say Attorney General Bill Barr must resign (“The officials argue Barr is setting a dangerous precedent in allowing the Department of Justice to become politicized.”)
• William Barr must quit over Trump-Stone scandal – former justice officials (“More than 1,000 public servants decry presidential interference”)
• If William Barr Truly Believed in Rule of Law, He Would Resign
• Democrats fear rule of law crumbling under Trump (Classic media headline, hide behind “Democrats fear” instead of just state the facts, in this case that the rule of law IS crumbling under Trump. Pathetic.)
• Trump campaign manager deletes dramatic Air Force One photo after people point out it’s from 2004
• Why President Trump asked Ukraine to look into a DNC “server” and CrowdStrike
• Warren faces pressure to revive fighter persona after ‘unity’ pitch falls flat (“So far, primary season contenders vying to unite the left and middle have flopped. Heading into Nevada, the Massachusetts senator is gambling she can break that streak.”)
• Advice to Democrats: Forget Iowa and New Hampshire
• Diversity is the Democrats’ strength — and their challenge
• Bloomberg needs a reckoning on his treatment of women
• Juan Williams: Don’t count Biden out
• Why Don’t We Know Which Democratic Candidate Can Beat Trump? (“We seem to know less than we did at the beginning of the primary.”)
• We Talked to the Man Behind That Nigerian Pete Buttigieg Fan Account. It’s Not Lis Smith.
• Topless protesters storm stage as Bernie Sanders campaigns in Nevada
• ‘A complete disaster’: Fears grow over potential Nevada caucus malfunction
• Buttigieg responds to Limbaugh’s homophobic remarks: ‘I love my husband’
• Trump attends wedding of Stephen Miller (Gack.)
• Video: Mt. Vernon Dems Mardi Gras 2020 Presidential Straw Poll Results – Bloomberg #1, Klobuchar #2, Buttigieg #3, Warren #4, Sanders #5, Biden #6
• With Broad Democratic Primary Field, General Assembly Support is Scattered Across the Field
• Virginia is poised to create its own health insurance marketplace. Here’s what you need to know.
• Will Virginia Democrats bite the billionaire who fed them?
• Flush with cash, Virginia lawmakers push bigger raises for teachers
• Virginia lawmakers support raises for teachers, state employees
• House, Senate budgets boost public employee compensation, but in different ways
• Video of Presentations; Speaker Filler-Corn Statement on House of Delegates Biennial Budget Proposal [UPDATED with Senate Video]
• It’s Time for Virginia to Join the National Popular Vote Compact – One-Person-One-Vote!
• Northam touts teaching program for HBCUs; Virginia fares well in AP results
• John Newby column: Keep Virginia’s life sciences innovation economy strong
• Menhaden regulations have plagued lawmakers for decades. Why were they able to find a fix this year? (“…for most stakeholders, the decisive factor seems to have been the threat of federal intervention”)
• Legislators Tackle Food Deserts
• Fairfax police chief said DOJ criticism about local cooperation after Ghaisar shooting is false
• Ebony Walden column: We need a commitment to a more equitable Richmond
• Bills raise questions about some of Southwest Virginia’s own Confederate symbols
• Temperatures seesaw this week between mild and cool, while extreme winter weather stays away