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Trump impeachment, COVID-19 vaccination expansion, Galaxy S21: 5 things to know Thursday

Editors, USA TODAY
·4 min read

After House impeachment of Trump, Senate awaits article to start trial

The Senate is poised to begin another impeachment trial for President Donald Trump after the House voted Wednesday to charge the outgoing president with inciting the insurrection at the Capitol last week that left five people dead. But senators must first receive the article of impeachment House lawmakers approved – and there's no telling how long they'll wait. The Senate must move directly to the trial once it receives the article. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., declined repeatedly to respond to questions about when she would send the article to the Senate. It's possible the trial could occur during the first days of President-elect Joe Biden's presidency, which begins with his inauguration Wednesday, though unlikely before then.

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Coronavirus: Biden to outline plans for vaccination expansion

On Thursday, President-elect Joe Biden is expected to outline plans for his administration to speed vaccines to more people, following major changes to the U.S. government’s vaccination distribution efforts. Earlier this week, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar asked states to expand vaccinations to people 65 and older, as well as others with comorbidities – two or more medical conditions – provided they have some form of medical documentation. The incoming Biden administration's transition officials said it didn't make sense to hold back vaccines at a time when more Americans are dying than at any point in the pandemic. The U.S. has more than 23 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 384,600 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

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Winds halt trains in Wyoming, set records in Montana. Thursday will bring more

Powerful gusts projected to top 70 mph are in store from Colorado, Idaho and Montana to the Dakotas, Wyoming, Nebraska and Utah, prompting wind warnings through Friday, according to the National Weather Service. The same high and low pressure combinations contributing to those winds were responsible for a powerful storm that left a trail of damage in the Pacific Northwest — killing one person and causing a highway to shut down after a landslide. The winds were so extreme that Union Pacific stopped trains between North Platte, Nebraska, and Green River, Wyoming, "until it is safe to resume service," according to a statement on its website. In Montana, the NWS in Billings reported a gust of 68 mph at the airport, breaking a record set on the same day seven years ago.

Flint water crisis: New details in Michigan's criminal probe

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is set to announce new details in the state's Flint water crisis investigation on Thursday. Nessel's office said the outcome of the state's criminal investigation would be discussed, but did not release any details about who may be charged or what the nature of the charges could be. On Wednesday, Nessel filed two charges of willful neglect of duty against former Gov. Rick Snyder. Snyder, a Republican who has been out of office for two years, was governor when state-appointed managers in Flint switched the city’s water to the Flint River in 2014 as a cost-saving step while a pipeline was being built to Lake Huron. The water, however, was not treated to reduce corrosion — a disastrous decision affirmed by state regulators that caused lead to leach from old pipes and poison the distribution system used by nearly 100,000 residents.

Samsung expected to unveil new Galaxy S21 smartphone

Samsung is planning to host its Unpacked event on Thursday, where it's widely expected to introduce its next flagship Galaxy smartphone. An invite sent to media features an image of a smartphone inside a cube with the title "Welcome to the Everyday Epic." The event is roughly a month earlier than its typical February showing. Last year, Samsung introduced tech lovers to the Galaxy S20. Multiple published reports suggest the company will unveil its successor, the S21. The event will take place near the end of CES, the biggest technology event of the year.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump impeachment, COVID-19 vaccinations: 5 things to know Thursday