First Coast Happenings

By COLLEEN LONG and MATTHEW DALY LOS ANGELES (AP) — President Joe Biden is establishing two new national monuments in California that will honor Native American tribes, the White House confirmed Tuesday, as Biden seeks to conserve at least 30% of U. S. lands and waters by 2030 through his “America the Beautiful” initiative. Proclamations set to be signed Tuesday will create the Chuckwalla National Monument in Southern California near Joshua Tree National Park and the Sáttítla National Monument in Northern California.

By MICHELLE L. PRICE Unpaid medical bills will no longer appear on credit reports, where they can block people from mortgages, car loans or small business loans, according to a final rule announced Tuesday by the Biden administration. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule will remove $49 billion in medical debt from the credit reports of more than 15 million Americans, according to the bureau, which means lenders will no longer be able to take that into consideration when deciding to issue a loan. The change is estimated to raise the credit scores by an average of 20 points and could lead to 22,000 additional mortgages being approved every year, according to the bureau.

Democrats never seem to learn. Instead of being introspective on why another leader has switched political parties, they immediately run to their corner and start slinging attacks. It is fair criticism that the timing of Rep. Hillary Cassel’s switch was in poor taste. However, after election day, winners work for all of their constituents, not just those who voted for them or belong to their party. I don’t care who she caucuses with and I admire her courage to switch, knowing the vitriol she would face.

Q: Ira, I know money is the big reason for the Jimmy Butler drama, but do you think the team’s competitive potential is also affecting his decision making? When he came here, Bam Adebayo was young with what was thought to be a high ceiling. But Bam has reached that ceiling, so he wants out.

Here are the top stories for Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Get the weather forecast for today here. SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get our free Morning Update email. Sign up here. Driver sentenced to 12 years in 151 mph crash that killed 6 Historical Broward garage mural to be painted over with nature theme https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/01/06/civilian-police-oversight-in-florida-crumbles-after-2024-law-kicks-in/ \ Ex-mob wife turns her story into a comedy with a world premiere on a Boca Raton stage … and then maybe a movie! Many questions, few answers in horrific Delray crash | Editorial U.

Today is Tuesday, Jan. 7, the seventh day of 2025. There are 358 days left in the year. Today in history: On Jan. 7, 2015, masked gunmen stormed the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, a French newspaper that had caricatured the Prophet Muhammad, methodically killing 12 people, including the editor, before escaping.