Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice.

• The Biden Administration is once again making free COVID tests available to U.S. households as it prepares for a winter surge – and more COVID deaths and hospitalizations.
• The Senate gives final Congressional approval to a whopping $858 billion dollar military policy spending bill after Democrats give in to the demand to rescind the vaccine mandate for members of the armed services.
• Another wrenching Congressional hearing on mass shootings at schools, including Uvalde and Sandy Hook survivors testimony.
• The California Public Utilities Commission lowers the incentives for rooftop solar systems, despite impassioned pleas from solar supporters.
• Elon Musk’s dismissal of unionized janitors prompts a protest at Twitter headquarters in San Francisco
• The House approves legislation that would allow Puerto Rico to hold the first ever binding referendum on whether to become the 51st state — or gain independence.

Image: Protesters rally at the Minnesota March for Our Lives in 2018 via Flickr

The post Biden Administration grants more free COVID tests bracing for winter surge; Senate passes $858 billion military spending bill; School shooting survivors testify before Congress urging stronger gun safety measures appeared first on KPFA.

This post was originally published on KPFA – The Pacifica Evening News, Weekdays.