PBS News Hour

In the day's other news

Michigan banned the open carrying of guns in the state capitol. Last April, protesters, some with rifles and other weapons, swarmed the statehouse to oppose COVID-19 restrictions. And they tried to enter a legislative session. Some of the same extremists allegedly plotted to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer and now face criminal charges. President-elect Biden picked longtime diplomat William Burns today to be director of the CIA. Burns worked at the State Department for 33 years and served as ambassador to Russia and Jordan. Today, he promised not to let partisanship color intelligence. A number of states began expanding COVID-19 vaccinations today, as deaths nationwide topped 375,000. From Detroit to Dallas and San Diego, sports stadiums, convention halls and other sites became inoculation centers. But, in Arlington, Texas, Governor Greg Abbot said the biggest problem is that they need more doses to do the job.

GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R-TX)

We have the structure to vaccinate Texans very swiftly. This structure that we now have created can be expanded and will be expanded very swiftly across the state. The only limitation that we now face is the limitation of supply.

JUDY WOODRUFF

Meanwhile, in Chicago, 6,000 students resumed in-person learning in public schools. The teachers union opposed the move, citing safety concerns. Israel announced today that it's moving forward with plans for 800 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank. The news from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office could create tensions with the U.S. President-elect Biden has opposed settlement expansion. Cuba is back on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo charged today that Cuba is still harboring U.S. fugitives and supporting Venezuela's leader, Nicolas Maduro. President Obama took Cuba off the terror list in his moves to normalize relations. President Trump has awarded the Medal of Freedom to another staunch supporter of his. He's Congressman Jim Jordan. The Ohio Republican was part of Mr. Trump's defense team at his Senate impeachment trial last year. The Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor. And on Wall Street, stocks cooled off a bit, after setting records last week. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 89 points to close at 31008. The Nasdaq fell 165 points, and the S&P 500 slipped 25. Still to come on the "NewsHour": the attack on the Capitol forces a reckoning with radical right-wing political factions; plus, Tamara Keith and Amy Walter break down a tense week in Washington.