Tuesday morning news: February 13, 2024

Winter weather » A monstrous winter storm is bearing down on northeastern states this morning, and officials are urging caution.

ADAMS: We’re strongly encouraging New Yorkers, if you don’t have to go out, stay home.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said much the same.

MCKEE: We’re talking about heavy snowfall beginning around 9 in the morning through the afternoon.

And Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey warned New Englanders:

HEALEY: We expect high wind gusts with the potential to bring down tree limbs and power lines — minor to moderate coastal flooding.

Some areas could see as much as a foot of snow.

Hostages rescued » Two Israeli men abducted by Hamas in October are now home with their families.

They are Fernando Simon Marman and Louis Har.

YAEL NIR: [Speaking Hebrew]

Dr. Yael Frenkel Nir is deputy director of Israel’s Sheba hospital. She said doctors checked out both men, and that they’re in good condition. But she added, “the marks of [their] time in captivity are visible.”

The Israeli Defense Forces extracted the hostages from the city of Rafah - under fire in a dramatic nighttime raid. Troops stormed a heavily guarded apartment as the IDF bombarded the surrounding area.

IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari.

HAGARI: They were intentionally held in the middle of a civilian neighborhood, inside a civilian building, to try and prevent us from rescuing them.

Biden and King of Jordan meeting » The White House says bringing the rest of the hostages home is a top priority for the president. And Biden welcomed Jordan’s King Abdullah in the Oval Office Monday to discuss efforts to broker a new cease-fire.

At a joint press conference with the king, Biden told reporters:

BIDEN: The United States is working on a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, which would bring an immediate and sustained period of common good to Gaza for at least six weeks.

Jordan has assisted in trying to arrange terms for a cease-fire along with countries like Egypt and Qatar.

Head of UNRWA defends agency » The head of the United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency, known as UNRWA is speaking out amid a major scandal.

LAZZARINI: No, I have no intention to resign. We have one government calling for the resignation. I haven’t heard any other government.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini heard there, one day after Israeli authorities revealed a Hamas tunnel network that runs under the agency’s Gaza headquarters.

And that revelation follows accusations that some UNRWA employees directly participated in the October 7th terrorist attacks against Israel.

More than a dozen countries suspended funding worth a half-billion dollars. Lazzarini is urging those nations to resume funding UNRWA’s relief efforts.

Austin hospitalized » After Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin checked back into Walter Reed military hospital this week some lawmakers say they’re concerned that his ongoing health issues could jeopardize American security.

GOP Congressman Michael McCaul chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

MCCAUL: The world is on fire right now, and if we’re not projecting strength, but rather weakness, it only invites aggression and conflict.

The secretary had to cancel a planned trip to Brussels to meet with NATO ministers.

Austin transferred his authority to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks as he undergoes treatment for a bladder infection. It’s reportedly the latest complication from his recent surgery for prostate cancer.

But Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder told reporters:

RYDER: The current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery. His cancer prognosis remains excellent.

Ryder said Austin might resume working from the hospital as soon as today.

Church shooting » Police have identified the suspect who opened fire inside Joel Osteen’s Lakewood church in Houston this week as 36-year-old Genesse Ivonne Moreno.

Houston PD Commander Chris Hassig:

HASSIG: We do believe that there was a familial dispute that has taken place between her ex-husband and her ex-husband’s family, and some of those individuals are Jewish. So we believe that that might possibly be where all of this stems from.

Moreno’s rifle had the word “Palestine” written on it.

The suspect was known to police and reportedly struggled with mental illness.

After opening fire inside the church, two off-duty police officers shot and killed Moreno.

Two other people were injured, including a seven-year-old boy believed to be Moreno’s son. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

Biden TikTok » Amid growing concerns about President Biden’s age, the Biden campaign joined TikTok ahead of the Super Bowl in a bid to connect with young voters.

SOUND: Chiefs or Niners? Two great quarterbacks — hard to decide.

That led to tough questions at a White House press briefing Monday given that U.S. intelligence has voiced concerns that the Chinese-owned social media app is a national security risk.

REPORTER: So, is the administration still weighing a ban on TikTok?

KIRBY: Again, I have nothing for you on that ….

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said only that TikTok remains banned on all federal government devices.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: What state governors are saying about abortion and unborn life. Plus, leaving Islam.

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