President-elect Donald Trump’s Defense Department picks could impact the United States’ weapons development, with the Senate advancing an annual $895 billion defense policy bill despite Democratic opposition to a transgender care provision. The bill allocates funds for defense and national security, focusing on quality-of-life improvements for service members and a pay raise for all service members. Controversy arose over a proposal to prohibit Tricare from covering transgender services for minor dependents, leading to concerns about partisanship in defense bills.
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Canadian wildfire smoke chokes Midwest as flood threat looms in Carolinas
A significant rainfall of 1 to 4 inches along the I-95 corridor prompted flash flood warnings, with Burlington County, NJ, receiving nearly 6 inches. As flooding risks shift to the Carolinas and Dallas-Fort Worth, wildfire smoke from over 650 Canadian fires is impacting air quality in the Midwest, with extreme heat advisories in effect across six states from Louisiana to South Carolina. Want More Context? 🔎
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