US News Roundup: Politics, Health, and Safety

The United States is abuzz with a range of news stories that highlight the complexities and challenges facing the country. From record-breaking spending in the Texas Senate primary to a decline in newborn Hepatitis B vaccinations, and from a renewed call for school safety measures to the latest developments in US politics, there's no shortage of important stories to follow.

In Texas, a new record has been set for the most expensive Senate primary in US history, with a whopping $110 million spent on campaign advertising alone. According to data from AdImpact, approximately $88 million has been spent in support of Republican candidates, compared to just under $22 million for the two Democrats in the race. Sitting Sen. John Cornyn (R) has led the pack in ad spending, with a total of $64 million spent on advertising supporting his re-election campaign.

Meanwhile, a new research study has found that hepatitis B vaccination rates among newborns in the US declined by more than 10 percent from their peak in early 2023. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, analyzed data from over 12.4 million newborns and found that vaccination rates for HBV peaked at 83.5 percent in February 2023, but declined to 73.2 percent by August of last year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination as the most effective way to prevent infection, but last month altered its childhood immunization schedule and removed the hepatitis B vaccine from its list of recommended shots for all children.

In other news, the eighth anniversary of the Parkland school shooting has renewed calls for action on school safety. In an opinion piece, Reps. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), along with Tony Montalto, highlighted the need for Congress to take action to prevent future tragedies. The authors noted that since the Parkland shooting, school communities in nearly every state have been touched by violence, and that it's time for lawmakers to take concrete steps to address the issue.

On the political front, President Trump's recent State of the Union address highlighted his vision of hope and optimism for the country, but was met with skepticism by Democrats. In an opinion piece, Brian Almon argued that the president's speech presented a contrasting vision to the "darkness, despair, envy, anger, and resentment" presented by Democrats. However, others have criticized the president's speech as overly partisan and divisive.

Finally, House Democrats have opened an inquiry into the ouster of US antitrust chief Gail Slater, who was forced to resign earlier this month under a cloud of controversy. The request for a briefing from the Justice Department marks the first step in what is likely to become a larger investigation into the circumstances surrounding Slater's departure.

As these stories demonstrate, the US is a complex and multifaceted country, with a wide range of challenges and opportunities. From the world of politics to the realm of public health, there's no shortage of important news to follow.