AM rundown: Biden in Mexico, NY nurses strike, Calif. floods

KARAH RUCKER: PRESIDENT BIDEN IS IN MEXICO…THOUSANDS OF NURSES IN NEW YORK ARE ON STRIKE. BUT FIRST THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS A NEWLY ELECTED SPEAKER.

WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA ON THEIR FIRST DAY OF BUSINESS.

THIS IS YOUR MORNING RUNDOWN WITH STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.

UNBIASED. STRAIGHT FACTS.

DAY ONE AGENDA FOR SPEAKER MCCARTHY

Cheryl Johnson | Clerk of House of Representatives: “The Honorable Kevin McCarthy of the state of California, having received a majority of the votes cast is duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

NEWLY ELECTED HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY WILL BE LEADING THE FLOOR IN THE HOUSE CHAMBER.

AND AFTER LAST WEEKS VOTE AFTER VOTE OF DISAGREEMENT WITHIN THE GOP…NOW IT’S ONTO BUSINESS.

THERE’S A LAUNDRY LIST OF ITEMS REPUBLICANS WANT…INCLUDING CUTS TO IRS FUNDING AND IMMIGRATION POLICY. 

BUT FIRST UP…THE HOUSE HAS TO PASS ITS RULES PACKAGE…WHICH WILL INCLUDE SOME OF THE CONCESSIONS MCCARTHY MADE TO REPUBLICAN HOLD-OUTS.

THE RULES ARE SLATED TO BE VOTED ON TONIGHT.

BIDEN VISITS BORDER THEN MEXICO

PRESIDENT BIDEN IS IN MEXICO MEETING WITH THE MEXICAN PRESIDENT…ARRIVING SUNDAY NIGHT AFTER FIRST TOURING THE BORDER-CITY OF EL PASO.

IT WAS HIS FIRST TRIP EVER TO THE BORDER…WHERE HE MET WITH TEXAS OFFICIALS INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR —

HOPEFUL THAT THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS WILL CONTINUE PAST THE PRESIDENTS VISIT THIS WEEKEND.

GOV. GREG ABBOTT | (R) TEXAS: “He’s never called me to talk to me about the immigration issue. Now, I provided him with a letter that provides tangible, concrete solutions that will stop illegal immigration. And I expect him to call me. And that’s what Secretary Mayorkas has also said.”

PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD ABOUT FOUR HOURS TO INSPECT BORDER CONDITIONS AND MEET WITH PERSONNEL BEFORE MOVING ON TO MEXICO.

HE’S NOW EXPECTED TO SIT DOWN WITH MEXICO’S PRESIDENT TO DISCUSS THE SHARED BORDER CRISIS.

CANADA’S PRESIDENT WILL ALSO BE SHOWING UP TODAY TO DISCUSS OTHER ISSUES IMPORTANT TO NORTH AMERICA’S LEADERS.

7,000 NEW YORK NURSES ON STRIKE

THOUSANDS OF NURSES IN NEW YORK ARE ON STRIKE TODAY.

ALL BECAUSE OF FAILED NEGOTIATIONS IN WORKER-CONTRACTS BETWEEN HOSPITALS AND UNIONS.

HOSPITALS IN MANHATTAN AND THE BRONX ARE THE ONES SHORT-STAFFED TODAY BECAUSE OF THE NURSES STRIKE.

TRAVEL-NURSES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN TO FILL THEIR PLACES…AND SOME PATIENTS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO OTHER HOSPITALS.

FOR THE NURSES ON STRIKE…THEIR MAIN STICKING POINT IS A STAFFING SHORTAGE.

THEY’RE ASKING THE HOSPITALS TO ADD MORE PERSONNEL.

AND WHILE THERE’S A WRITTEN AGREEMENT TO ADD 170 NEW POSITIONS…THE NURSES SAY IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF BEING OVERWORKED.

CONTINUOUS STORMS FLOOD CALIFORNIA

John Christie | Aptos Resident: “The storm was raging and we actually witnessed the pier go down. And it was not only a sight to see, but to hear it, to hear the pylons wrapping against each other and the destructive force of the water was just incredible.”

AFTER STORMS FLOODED PARTS OF CALIFORNIA LAST WEEK AND THROUGH THE WEEKEND…ANOTHER STORM IS SLATED TO BRING MORE DOWNPOURS AND HEAVY WINDS TO CENTRAL AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TONIGHT.

AND THEN ANOTHER POWERFUL SYSTEM IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY THAT COULD BRING ANOTHER SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN TO THE VALLEY.

ALREADY 12 PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS WARNING OF A “RELENTLESS PARADE OF ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS.”

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM TOLD RESIDENTS OVER THE WEEKEND “THE WORST OF THE WEATHER IS STILL TO COME.”

BRAZIL’S VERSION OF JAN. 6

IMAGES OUT OF BRAZIL DEPICT THOUSANDS OF PROTESTERS IN BRAZIL BREACHING CONGRESSIONAL BUILDINGS IN DEFIANCE OF ELECTION RESULTS.

SIMILAR TO IMAGES WE SAW IN OUR OWN COUNTRY TWO YEARS AGO ON JANUARY SIXTH. IT’S A SIMILAR PAGE TAKEN FROM AMERICA’S PLAYBOOK.

BRAZIL’S FORMER PRESIDENT…JAIR BOLSONARO…LOST RE-ELECTION. BY LESS THAN 2 PERCENTAGE POINTS. A HIGHLY-CONTESTED RACE.

PROTESTERS CLAIMING THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN…STORMING CONGRESS, THEIR SUPREME COURT AND PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN THE CAPITAL.

BRAZIL’S NEW PRESIDENT WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE A WEEK AGO…HE SAYS THE PROTESTERS WILL FACE PUNISHMENT.

NEARLY ONE THOUSAND PROTESTERS FROM JANUARY SIXTH HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.

BILLS WIN GAME FOR DAMAR HAMLIN

CLIP UP: “breaking a tackle…this place is going wild”

A PLAY THAT SENDS CHILLS DOWN YOUR SPINE. THE FIRST TIME THE BUFFALO BILLS STEP FOOT BACK ONTO THE FOOTBALL FIELD SINCE DAMAR HAMLIN’S COLLAPSE…AND THE TEAM SCORES A KICK-OFF RETURN TOUCHDOWN.

MEMBERS OF THE TEAM CALLING IT “SPECIAL” AND “SPIRITUAL.”
THE BILLS WON THE GAME…FOR DAMAR HAMLIN. WHO WATCHED HIS TEAM FROM HIS HOSPITAL BED WITH LOVED ONES.

REMEMBER…HAMLIN IS NUMBER 3 ON THE TEAM.
THAT KICK-OFF RETURN?
THE LAST TIME THE BILLS DID THAT WAS THREE YEARS AND 3 MONTHS AGO.

THEIR QUARTERBACK…THREW THREE TOUCHDOWNS ON SUNDAY.
AND THEIR DEFENSE…CAME UP WITH THREE INTERCEPTIONS.
LOTS OF THREES THAT SOME CALL AN EERIE COINCIDENCE.
AND OTHERS CALL A SIGN.

THESE ARE YOUR TOP HEADLINES ON THIS MONDAY MORNING.
THANKS FOR WATCHING STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.
YOUR PLACE FOR JOURNALISM WITHOUT AGENDA.