New aid for Ukraine; House passes bipartisan tax relief; UMG pulling Taylor Swift, Drake from TikTok over licensing

Episode Description

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Feb. 1 at 7:15 a.m. CT:

BRUSSELS (AP) — A top European Union official says the 27 EU countries have sealed a deal to provide Ukraine with a new 50-billion-euro ($54 billion) support package despite weeks of threats from Hungary to veto the move.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Officials say 3 people have been killed and 9 were injured in a collapse of a hangar under construction on the grounds of the airport in Boise, Idaho. The cause of the collapse is under investigation.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed a roughly $79 billion tax cut package expanding the child tax credit for millions of families and restoring three key tax breaks for businesses. Prospects for the measure becoming law are still uncertain, but for a House that has struggled to get bills of consequence over the finish line and signed into law, the tax legislation could represent a rare breakthrough. The bill passed by a vote of 357-70.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The first of two back-to-back atmospheric rivers is drenching Northern California. Heavy rain and gusty winds began hitting the north on Wednesday and much of the San Francisco Bay Area and the Central Coast are under flood watch into Friday morning. The storm triggered statewide emergency preparations. The storm is expected to move south down the coast, hitting San Diego on Thursday with up to 3 inches of rain.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. adults are only feeling slightly better about the economy, despite stocks being near record highs and surprisingly strong growth last year. A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 35% of U.S. adults call the national economy good. President Joe Biden is running for reelection in part on the economy. The poll puts his overall approval rating at 38%.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Fans have been wondering for days whether Taylor Swift will make it to the Super Bowl next week to cheer on boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs and, if so, how many times she’ll show up on TV during the game. They can speculate all they want, but they won’t be able to bet on it legally in the United States.

The CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies have testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about child safety on their platforms. The hearing Wednesday came as lawmakers are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young people’s lives.

Universal Music Group, which represents artists including Taylor Swift, Drake, Adele, Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish, says that it will no longer allow its music on TikTok now that a licensing deal between the two parties has expired.

Two NBA stars return to their former home courts, the top two men's college basketball teams pull out wins, women's college basketball has a new number two all-time scorer, and the NFL fills its second-to-last head coaching vacancy. Tennessee and Virginia AGs are suing the NCAA over NIL-related recruiting rules. And the PGA Tour strikes a $3 billion deal with the Fenway-led investment group.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

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Hot Off The Wire is a collection of news, sports and entertainment reports. The program is produced by Lee Enterprises with audio provided by The Associated Press.