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Legislative Council Early Literacy Symposia Series starts Wednesday

In an earlier blog post, we reported on a different approach the Legislative Council is taking to its traditional interim period activities.  Scrapped, for this year only, is the traditional study committee approach. In its place will be a series of virtual symposium sessions on selected topics.

The first of these will be a virtual Early Literacy Symposia Series that will take place over the course of several Wednesdays in the month of August and the first week in September. All of the virtual presentations will begin at 2 pm, starting this Wednesday (8/5). 

Scheduled sessions include the following: (more…)

Despite pressure, Congress making little headway on additional coronavirus relief

Progress on an additional federal coronavirus relief package seems to have stalled somewhat, dimming hopes that more federal relief for schools can be enacted before the new school year starts in many states. Also unaddressed is the fate of the expansion of federal coronavirus unemployment benefits that ran out over the weekend.

Although negotiations continue on Capitol Hill, key senators, including Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the Senate majority leader, appear not to have been a part of them. For now, the talks are said to be largely taking place between the White House and the leadership of the House of Representatives.

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly hosted the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and the Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, for closed-door meetings on Saturday. They were joined in further meetings today (Monday, 8/3) by Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

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