November Current Events 2023: U.S. News

Updated December 1, 2023 | Infoplease Staff

World News | Disaster News | Science & Technology News | Current Events This Week

The world is a very busy place, and it's hard to stay on top of everything. Infoplease has got you covered. Here are the U.S. news events you need to know so far for November 2023.

  1. Congressman From Minnesota To Challenge President Biden In Primaries
  2. Two People Confirmed Dead Due To A Shooting In Florida
  3. Schools In Portland, Oregon, Closes Due To Teachers’ Strike
  4. House Fails To Secure Enough Vote To Expel Lawmaker George Santos
  5. Appeals Court In The United States Upholds Illinois Assault Weapons Ban
  6. Five DeSantis Backers In Florida Switches To Former President Donald Trump
  7. Democrats In United States Senate Blocks Aid Meant For Israel That Does Not Include Ukraine
  8. Andy Beshear Re-Elected As The Governor Of Kentucky
  9. Doctors In The United States Complete World’s First Eye Transplant
  10. Former President Donald Trump Pushes For Live Broadcast Of Trial
  11. Impeachment Of Homeland Security Secretary Put On Hold After House Vote
  12. Crash In Ohio Highway Kills Six People, Leaving 18 Others Injured
  13. George Santos To Face Another Round Of Expulsion Vote
  14. Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, Endorses Former President Donald Trump
  15. Court Rules That Only Government Can Enforce Voting Rights Act
  16. Shooting At Walmart Store In Ohio Leaves One Person Dead And Three Others Injured

 

Congressman From Minnesota To Challenge President Biden In Primaries

Current Events

Photo Source: AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Friday, October 27, 2023 – Dean Phillips, a Congressman from Minnesota filed a long-shot presidential bid on Friday after he asked President Joe Biden to step aside. Though my Philips is likely to lose the bid against President Biden, some see his announcement as a sign of growing dissatisfaction with Mr. Biden in the Democratic party.

Mr. Philips has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2019, and he represents a mostly suburban district that includes parts of Minneapolis’ outskirts.  He formally filed to appear on the primary ballot in New Hampshire, the first primary election in the U.S.

During an interview session, Mr. Phillips said he believes that President Biden has done a spectacular job, but he thinks he cannot win a nationwide general election against tough opponents from other party.

Source: BBC

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Two People Confirmed Dead Due To A Shooting In Florida

Current Events

Photo Source: AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Sunday, October 29, 2023 – Police confirmed that two people have been killed in a shooting due to a clash between two groups. 18 people were hospitalized early Sunday morning. The Tampa police Chief, Lee Bercaw, said during a press conference that the police responded to the shooting just before 3 a.m. on the 1600 block of East 7th Avenue in the Ybor City area.

The videos that were posted showed people in Halloween costumes talking on the streets when the shots rang out, which created a stampede. One suspect involved in the shooting handed himself over to the police, though investigators believe that there were at least two shooters involved. 

An investigation is still on by the police to determine the cause of the fight between the two groups. Officers were present at the scene during the time of the shooting, but none of them got injured.

Source: The Guardian

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Schools In Portland, Oregon, Closes Due To Teachers’ Strike

Current Events

Photo Source: AP Photo/Claire Rush

Wednesday, November 1, 2023 – For the first time in history, the public school teachers in Portland, Oregon, walked off their jobs on Wednesday, after several months of failed negotiations, which has forced lots of schools to close and kept thousands of students out of class.

According to the district, the major problem is money. The union is requesting for 23 percent cost-of-living increase over the next three years, but the district only offered a 10.9 percent cost-of-living increase. The strike involves over 4,000 educators and affects close to 45,000 students across 81 schools.

The Portland Public Schools District said that it was seeking a fair sustainable settlement that honors its educators, focuses on student learning, and avoids the shutdown of schools. The governor of Oregon, Tina Kotek, who is a Democrat encourages both sides to find a resolution that delivers fair contracts for educators.

Source: Reuters 

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House Fails To Secure Enough Vote To Expel Lawmaker George Santos

Current Events

Photo Source: AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah

Thursday, November 2, 2023 – The United States House of Representatives has rejected a move to expel George Santos, a congressman from New York who was indicted on fraud charges last month. The vote ended 179-213, which is far short of the two-thirds majority that is needed to oust a member of the House.

24 of Mr. Santos' fellow Republicans voted to expel him, but over 30 Democrats voted against removing him. The lawmaker who is spending his first term in the House has denied 23 corruption charges and refuses to quit. In the history of the United States, only five lawmakers have been expelled, which includes three during the country’s civil war.

Recently, after prosecutors added more charges, not less than five of his fellow New York Republicans pushed for him to be removed.

Source: BBC

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Appeals Court In The United States Upholds Illinois Assault Weapons Ban

Current Events

Photo Source: AP Photo/Seth Perlman

Saturday, November 4, 2023 – An appeals court in the United States upheld an Illinois state ban on assault-style weapons on high-capacity ammunition magazines, which was enacted after the mass shooting in Chicago’s Highland Park suburb in 2022.

The attack left seven people dead and dozens more wounded. The vote in the three-judge panel of the 7th United States Circuit Court of Appeals ended 2-1 and threw out the injunction of a lower court imposed on the firearm restrictions in one set of cases and affirmed decisions keeping the law intact in another batch.

The Democratic-backed state measure bans the sale and distribution of many kinds of high-powered semiautomatic assault weapons, which includes AK-47 and AR-15 riffles, and large-capacity magazines. The measure was however challenged on the basis that it violated the United States Constitution’s Second Amendment right for individuals to “keep and bear arms.”

Source: Reuters 

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Five DeSantis Backers In Florida Switches To Former President Donald Trump

Current Events

Photo Source: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Saturday, November 4, 2023 – Shortly before a key party nomination debate in Miami next week, five Republican legislators in Florida have switched their endorsements from Governor Ron DeSantis to former United States President, Donald Trump.

The move is a major blow to DeSantis, whose once highly anticipated bid for the White House has floundered recently. However, it appears to be a boost for Trump, who remains dominant in the 2024 Republican race. Four candidates in the Republican party have qualified for the third Republican TV debate in Miami on Wednesday. Trump will however skip the debate, as he plans a rally in the state on the same day as the debate.

Governor DeSantis now has 93 Florida legislators’ endorsements from his home state, which is lower compared to the 99 endorsements he had in May.

Source: The Guardian

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Democrats In United States Senate Blocks Aid Meant For Israel That Does Not Include Ukraine

Current Events

Photo Source: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 – Democrats in the United States on Tuesday blocked a Republican effort to win quick approval. The approval would provide emergency aid to Israel but not assist in Ukraine’s war against Russia. The bill passed through the House of Representatives last week.

A Republican Senator said that the Senate mustn't delay the delivery of the important aid to Israel. However, the Democrats objected, saying that it is important that Ukraine is included in the aid as well. 

The bill passed by the House would provide $14.3 billion for Israel as it responds to the deadly attack on Oct.7 by Islamist Hamas militants but also cut the same amount of money from the IRS. Senator Patty Murray, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee said that their allies in Ukraine can no more afford a delay than their allies in Israel.

Source: Reuters 

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Andy Beshear Re-Elected As The Governor Of Kentucky

Current Events

Photo Source: AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley

Wednesday, November 8, 2023 – The Democratic incumbent governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, won a second term as the governor of the state. His hope that his support for abortion rights would convince voters was realized, even though skepticism of the national Democratic party grows in the state.

The governorship race, which is the highest profile election this year puts two former law firms’ colleagues against each other. The victory of Bashear signals to President Joe Biden and other Democrats that they should continue to focus on abortion rights in 2024.

Beshear’s victory continues his family’s political winning streak in the state which has mostly favored Republicans. His father, Steve Beshear was a former two-term governor. In 2015, Andy Beshear was elected the attorney general of the state and won the governorship election in 2019.

Source: The Guardian

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Doctors In The United States Complete World’s First Eye Transplant

Current Events

Photo Source: AP Photo/Joseph B. Frederick

Friday, November 10, 2023 – Surgeons in New York confirm that they have performed the first complete eye transplant in the world on a man. It is, however, not certain that he will regain his sight. Aaron James, a survivor of a high-voltage electrical accident, underwent 21 hours of surgery that replaced half of his face.

The surgeons at NYU Langone Health, who performed the complicated surgery confirmed that Mr. James, who is 46- year-old was recovering well from the dual transplant and the donated eye looked remarkably healthy.

One of the leading surgeons on the team, Dr Eduardo Rodriguez, said “The mere fact that they have accomplished whole-eye transplant with a face is a tremendous feat that may have long thought was not possible. 

According to Bruce E. Gelb, MD, a transplant surgeon at New York University, Mr. James will undergo continued medical monitoring. Dr. Gelb describes the observed progress in Mr. James' eye as "exceptional."

Source: BBC 

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Former President Donald Trump Pushes For Live Broadcast Of Trial

Current Events

Photo Source: AP Photo/Elizabeth Williams

Saturday, November 11, 2023 – The attorneys of former President Donald Trump have requested authorization for live, in-courtroom television coverage of his trial on charges that he conspired to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss. In response to efforts by numerous media outlets for permission to cover the trial live, the prosecutors in the case invoked the rule of federal court against broadcasting.

A rule has been in place for decades prohibiting televised broadcasting of criminal and civil proceedings in federal court, which can be generally attended by the public. However, the five-page submission filed by Trump’s attorneys does not mention the rule.

Mr. Trump is battling with four criminal prosecutions and several civil lawsuits. He is currently under a gag order that prohibits him from using social media platforms to denounce prosecutors, potential witnesses, and court staff.

Source: The Guardian

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Impeachment Of Homeland Security Secretary Put On Hold After House Vote

Current Events

Photo Source: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Tuesday, November 14, 2023 – The United States House of Representatives has voted to pause the attempt to impeach Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. The vote ended a Republican campaign that alleges that he has been derelict in his duty of managing the United States-Mexico border.

Republican Representative, Majorie Taylor Greene introduced an impeachment article that says that Mr. Mayorkas, who is an appointee of President Joe Biden violated his oath of office by failing to constrain the record numbers of migrants arriving at the border. 201 Democrats were joined by eight Republicans to vote in favor of referring the articles back to the House Homeland Security Committee.

The vote came less than five days before the Congress’ deadline to extend funding to avoid a fourth partial government shutdown in a decade. House Republicans have also launched an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

Source: Reuters

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Crash In Ohio Highway Kills Six People, Leaving 18 Others Injured

Vehicle badly damaged beyond repair in accident

Photo Source: Getty Images

Wednesday, November 15, 2023 – Ohio state police confirmed that six people were killed and 18 others were injured due to a crash, which involved a charter bus, a tractor-trailer truck, and three other vehicles on a highway in Central Ohio.

The bus was carrying students and adult chaperones from the Tuscarawas Valley school district in eastern Ohio to an education conference. Three passengers from the bus were killed, and 16 out of the 18 injured that were injured were also from the bus. Also pronounced dead at the scene were all three adults who were riding in one of the two passenger cars involved in the wreck.

Some of the students on the bus were members of the band, who were scheduled to perform at the Ohio School Boards Association convention, an annual event in Columbus.

Source: Reuters

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George Santos To Face Another Round Of Expulsion Vote

Current Events

Photo Source: AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib

Friday, November 17, 2023 – Following the head of the House ethics committee introducing a motion to expel George Santos from Congress, he will face a new expulsion vote. It is expected that the House will vote after Thanksgiving. It would be the second time in about a month the House will weigh expelling him.

The Chairman of the ethics committee, Micheal Guest, who is a Republican said, “given Santos’ violations, he is not fit to serve as a Member of the United States House of Representatives.” Mr. Santos, who has not been in the House for up to a year survived a vote on his expulsion in early November.

The reports from the ethics committee, which consists equal number of Republicans and Democrats consist of voluminous details about alleged frauds. He was also accused of creating fictional loams for his campaign.

Source: BBC 

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Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, Endorses Former President Donald Trump

Current Events

Photo Source: AP Photo/Eric Gay

Sunday, November 19, 2023 – Former President of the United States, Donald Trump has won the endorsement of the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, at an event close to the United States-Mexico border on Sunday. Mr. Trump said he is honored by Governor Abbott’s endorsement.

Mr. Trump, who is leading the Republican Nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden, traveled to Edinburg, Texas, with Mr. Abbott to visit Texas National soldiers, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, and other service members that are stationed there.

Mr. Trump has promised to crack down on illegal immigration and restrict legal migration if he is elected next year. His plans include a promise to restore his 2019 “Remain in Mexico” program. This program will force people seeking asylum who are not Mexicans to stay in Mexico for the resolution of their cases.

Source: Reuters 

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Court Rules That Only Government Can Enforce Voting Rights Act

Current Events

Photo Source: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Monday, November 20, 2023 – A federal appeals court in the United States on Monday ruled that only the United States government, and not outside groups or citizens could sue to enforce the Voting Rights Act’s provisions. Lawsuits from voting rights groups, and not the government has enforced civil right law, which outlaws racial discrimination as it relates to voting.

The ruling came from a case that was brought by the Arkansas State Conference NAACP and Arkansas Public Policy Panel concerning new maps that were created during redistricting that the two groups claimed that it diluted the voting power of Black voters in the state.

The voting rights group expects that the ruling would be appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The ruling of the eight circuits applies to the states under the circuit court: Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Source: The Guardian 

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Shooting At Walmart Store In Ohio Leaves One Person Dead And Three Others Injured

Current Events

Photo Source: Getty Images

Tuesday, November 21, 2023 – At least one person was killed, and three others injured in a shooting at Walmart on Monday, in Ohio. Police in Beavercreek said that they responded to the shooting and that there was no longer any active threat to the public. 

The police posted on X, saying that the building was cleared and secured and that there was no active threat. However, they did not release any details about possible casualties. Police confirmed that they would release more information when it became available. A spokesperson for parent company Kettering Health confirmed that Soin Medical Center received three patients,

In a statement from Walmart, they said “they are heartbroken by the incident at their Beavercreek, Ohio store. This remains a developing situation, and they are working closely with investigators on the scene.”

Source: Reuters

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