A panel appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. voted to recommend ending the decades‑long CDC guidance that called for routine hepatitis B vaccination for newborns. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 8–3 to advise delaying hepatitis B shots for infants at low risk until at least two months of age while continuing immediate vaccination for infants born to mothers who test positive or whose maternal status is unknown. The move follows earlier actions by HHS that replaced many ACIP members and prompted renewed scrutiny of childhood vaccine policy. Major medical groups including the American Academy of Pediatrics criticized the recommendation, saying it could harm children. Since the hepatitis B recommendation began in 1991, cases in children dropped dramatically. ACIP’s advice will be reviewed by the acting CDC director, who will decide whether to adopt it.
A widespread Arctic blast set record lows across parts of the Midwest and Northeast. At least 10 new record‑low temperatures were recorded as frigid air spread from the Midwest into the Northeast, with wind chills dipping into single digits or below zero in some areas. Washington, D.C., and other cities recorded significant cold and early season snow, disrupting travel and prompting school closures. Forecasters warned of additional waves of Arctic air to follow, prolonging the dangerous conditions.
Recordings of 911 calls from the deadly July 4 floods in Texas Hill Country were released, revealing frantic pleas for rescue as floodwaters rose in the predawn hours. The calls show residents and counselors trapped by rapidly rising water along the Guadalupe River; some survivors broke through walls and climbed onto roofs to escape. The released calls and local reports raised questions about warnings, preparedness, and communications that morning. Texas has launched investigative committees to examine what went wrong and whether officials and emergency systems could have done more.
The U.S. military struck another suspected drug smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific; officials say four people on board were killed. The strike comes amid controversy over a prior operation in September in which a second strike reportedly killed two survivors. Officials and lawmakers described differing accounts of a video shown to Congress by a Navy admiral: some say the video showed survivors attempting to reboard the boat and retrieve contraband; others say the men were clinging to debris and signaling for help. Pentagon officials say military lawyers reviewed the operation and that senior leaders supported the action; questions persist among lawmakers and human rights observers about the rules of engagement and the handling of survivors.
The Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to President Trump’s bid to end birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment for children born in the U.S. to parents without legal permanent status. Lower courts have ruled the proposed policy violates the Constitution; the Court is expected to decide the matter by early summer.
In business news, Netflix made a bid reported to be in the lead to acquire Warner Bros. in a deal that would combine major film and television libraries, including HBO and HBO Max, with Netflix’s streaming platform. The reported price exceeded $80 billion, but the sale faces potential regulatory scrutiny, objections from unions and competitors, and a separate plan to spin off Warner’s cable channels, including CNN. The outcome remains uncertain and could reshape streaming and media distribution.
From Sao Paulo, passengers evacuated a plane after a baggage conveyer belt caught fire during loading; the emergency slide was used and there were no reported injuries. In other industry news, famed architect Frank Gehry died; he was noted for the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
A human‑interest piece: at a Lowe’s store in Richmond, Virginia, staff rallied to find and rescue a beloved store cat, Francine, after she disappeared and was believed to have climbed onto a freight truck bound for a distribution center. Warehouse teams used bait, drones and cameras to search the facility; a grainy image eventually revealed Francine’s location and employees brought her home to a joyous reunion. The cat has since returned to her old routine, greeting customers in the garden department.
Other headlines noted tonight: the release of more details about the Supreme Court’s calendar and an interview preview on 60 Minutes with Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene; and a follow‑up on assistance to Ed Bambas, a retired auto worker who received donations and a check to fund his retirement after being forced back to work.
Reporters and correspondents contributing to the broadcast included Meg Oliver on the hepatitis B panel, Tom Hanson and Lonnie Quinn on the Arctic cold, Jason Allen on the Texas flood 911 calls, Charlie D’Agata on the ship strikes in the eastern Pacific and Elaine Quijano on the potential Netflix‑Warner deal. Steve Hartman reported the Lowe’s story about Francine the cat. The program was anchored by Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson.