Tuesday morning news: May 9, 2023

Border » A Democratic border state governor is voicing frustration with the Biden administration with floodgates set to open wider Thursday at the southern border.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs:

KATIE HOBBS: For the past three years, the federal government has used Title 42 as a temporary solution to a permanent problem. On May 11th, that will come to an end.

She said that will put a heavier burden on local communities to manage the influx of migrants crossing the border.

Hobbs said she’s heard from Border Patrol officials in Arizona who struggle to keep staff and communities whose pleas for help have gone unanswered.

HOBBS: Now with Title 42 set to expire, I’m afraid these challenges will only get worse. And I’m afraid the federal government is unprepared to meet the demands of the expected influx.

She said the Biden administration has failed to deliver a workable plan to handle the expected surge with border traffic already at record highs.

The White House, meantime, once again looked to pin the blame on Republicans. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre:

KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: They’re taking up a bill that would once again demonstrate that House Republicans are more interested in campaigning on immigration than actually solving it.

GOP leaders in the House are set to pass a border security plan which President Biden has vowed to veto if it arrives on his desk.

Migrant runover suspect » In the border town of Brownsville, Texas, the driver of an SUV that killed eight people when it slammed into a bus stop has been charged with manslaughter.

Police Chief Felix Sauceda:

FELIX SAUCEDA: Georg Alaverez is a Brownsvill local with an extensive rap sheet. He has been formally charged and arraigned with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

Authorities believe Alvarez lost control of his Range Rover after running a red on Sunday. But they aren’t ruling out the possibility that it was an intentional act.

Officials are awaiting toxicology reports to determine whether Alvarez was driving under the influence.

Drones Ukraine » Russia’s latest attacks across northern Ukraine have killed at least three more civilians. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER: Ukraine's air defenses shot down 35 Iranian-made drones over Kyiv in Russia’s latest nighttime assault. But officials said Monday that wreckage from a drone struck a two-story apartment building. Other debris struck a car parked nearby, setting it on fire.

Russian hit nearly 130 targets across northern Ukraine with rockets, drones, and artillery.

The United States is expected to announce a new $1.2 billion dollar aid package today to further bolster Ukraine’s air defenses.

Debt limit » A government union is suing Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen over the U.S. debt limit.

If the U.S. were to reach its borrowing limit, Yellen would be charged with deciding which bills to pay. And the Union says she doesn’t have to do that — only Congress does.

Yellen has said U.S. could start defaulting on its debt as early as June first.

President Biden is set to huddle with top lawmakers at the White House today to talk about raising the debt ceiling.

New airline cancellation rules » The White House wants airlines to pick up the tab for the extra costs to travelers when their flights are canceled for preventable reasons.

President Biden said later this year, his administration will push to make it mandatory …

JOE BIDEN: For all US airlines to compensate you with meals, hotels, taxis, ride shares or replan rebooking fees and cash miles and or travel vouchers.

The Department of Transportation has not yet finished drawing up the new rules, nor is it clear when it will.

Trade association and lobbying group Airlines for America says that airlines have no incentive to delay or cancel flights. And the rate of canceled flights is down slightly this year compared to last year.

Still, delays are more frequent and a few minutes longer, on average.

Blinken contempt » The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee says he’ll hold Secretary of State Tony Blinken in contempt of Congress. Blinken is resisting demands to hand over classified messages about the U-S withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The Committee specifically wants a cable from 2021 from a so-called “dissent channel” within the State Department. The channel allows personnel to communicate with senior officials about their concerns.

The committee believes staffers used the dissent channel to air concerns about the U-S withdrawal from Afghanistan before it took place.

State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel:

VEDANT PATEL: We'll continue to do what we can and what we need to to protect it.

The Committee has given the State Department until Thursday to hand over the documents or assert a legal reason why it shouldn’t have to hand them over.

I’m Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: The new moral landscape on display in King Charles’ Coronation. Plus, caring for foster families.

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