End of eviction moratorium, extreme heat, Olympic stars: 5 things to know this weekend
Eviction moratorium ends after Congress fails to extend it
The eviction freeze expires Saturday after the House failed to pass a bill that would have extended it. The moratorium was put in place last September by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to protect Americans who have fallen behind on their rent during the coronavirus pandemic. President Joe Biden made an urgent plea Thursday for Congress to extend the nationwide moratorium on evictions, arguing a Supreme Court ruling had left him unable to act on his own. Biden had extended the moratorium through the end of July and would have "strongly supported" another extension, particularly as the delta variant drives a spike in new COVID-19 infections, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and House Majority Whip James Clyburn released a joint statement on the failed bill Friday, blaming the GOP: "It is extremely disappointing that House and Senate Republicans have refused to work with us on this issue."
Detroit Free Press reporting: Michigan has serious lack of affordable housing and ending the eviction moratorium could make it worse
New assistance: Biden administration offers aid for mortgage borrowers at risk of foreclosure due to the pandemic
Record high rents: Students struggle to find affordable housing in college towns
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Olympics: US men's basketball team is back in action; star swimmers win gold
The United States' men's basketball team returns to action Saturday as they take on the Czech Republic (8 a.m. ET, Peacock) in their final game of group play. Coming off a thumping of Iran Wednesday, Team USA will clinch a berth in the quarterfinal round with a win over the Czech Republic. They could move on if they lose, but they'd need to get some help. In the pool, Caeleb Dressel picked up his third gold of the Tokyo Olympics, winning the men's 100-meter butterfly and setting a record in the process. In her final swim of the Tokyo Games, Katie Ledecky won the 800-meter freestyle for the third consecutive Olympics to add to her medal haul. Gymnastics fans on Saturday also got more clarity on the status of star Simone Biles, who will not compete in the vault and uneven bar event finals Sunday. She is not ready to compete again after losing her sense of where she is in the air.
'They never asked me for my side of the story': US fencer confronts teammates wearing pink masks in apparent protest of his inclusion on team
'So far the results seem pretty positive': BMX racer Connor Fields suffered brain hemorrhage, injuries in crash
Attire at the Olympics: Why are some women still wearing skimpy uniforms?
Olympic updates: Track all of Saturday's biggest stories from Tokyo
Senate's work on infrastructure plan slides into unusual weekend session
Senators will return to Capitol Hill for a rare Saturday session as they try to make progress on a roughly $1 trillion infrastructure plan. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the chamber should be able to process the legislation quickly - "in a matter of days" - given the bipartisan support. But Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) offered a different prediction, saying, "It's going to be a grind." Cornyn said he expects Schumer to allow all senators to have a chance to shape the bill and allow for amendments from members of both parties. "I hope we can now pump the brakes a little bit and take the time and care to evaluate the benefits and the cost of this legislation," he said. The legislation hurdled an important procedural obstacle Wednesday as senators voted to move the bill – the largest transportation bill in U.S. history – to formal debate, clearing the way for one of President Joe Biden's key priorities.
Roads, bridges and broadband: What's in the infrastructure agreement
Reservations: Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema doesn't support Democrats' $3.5T reconciliation bill
President Joe Biden wants to provide millions with high-speed internet. It won't be easy.
What's bipartisanship? And why does President Biden care so much about it?
Extreme heat threatens more wildfires
Extreme heat in the Pacific Northwest and California will bring the potential for new wildfires into the weekend. In central and southern Oregon, temperatures could reach 106 degrees in some areas, while much of Washington could see record highs Friday and Saturday. The heat, mixed with dry conditions and the potential for thunderstorms, prompted red flag warnings across Oregon and parts of northern California, where multiple large wildfires are already burning. President Joe Biden on Friday met with governors across the West to discuss ongoing firefighting and wildfire prevention efforts.
'Going to be pretty hot': Heat wave, lightning could spark new wildfires in Pacific Northwest, California
Punishing and unforgiving summer: Heat dome brings record-breaking high temperatures to the West, exacerbating drought and wildfires
Previous coverage: How climate change is worsening wildfires, other natural disasters
Italy bans large cruise ships from sailing into Venice
Declaring Venice's waterways a "national monument," Italy is banning mammoth cruise liners from sailing into the lagoon city starting Sunday. The ban applies to the lagoon basin near St. Mark’s Square and the Giudecca Canal, which is a major marine artery in Venice. The ban was urgently adopted "to avoid the concrete risk" that the U.N. culture agency UNESCO would add Venice to its list of "world heritage in danger." Before the coronavirus pandemic severely curtailed international travel, cruise ships discharging thousands of day-trippers overwhelmed Venice and its delicate marine environment. Environmentalists and cultural heritage have battled for decades with business interests, since the cruise industry is a major source of revenue for the city.
Venice bans large cruise ships from city center: Move comes two years after canal boat crash
'We were amazed': Venice tourist recounts 2019 flooding inside hotel, resilience of the city
Contributing: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eviction moratorium end, Olympic stars: 5 things to know this weekend