overwhelmingly today to suspend normal trade relations with Russia
and with Belarus over the war in Ukraine.
The vote was 424 in favor with eight Republicans voting No. This
helps set the stage for President Biden to enact higher tariffs on
Russian imports.
The measure now heads to the Senate for final passage.
Former California governor and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger posted
a passionate nine minute video online today demanding Russian President
Putin stopped the war in Ukraine.
He also told the Russian people that they are being fed misinformation
and warn them of the reality of Putin's actions. It is a humanitarian
crisis.
Because of its brutality. Russia is now isolated from the Society
of Nations.
You're also not being told the truth about the consequences of this
war on Russia itself.
I regret to tell you that thousands of Russian soldiers that have
been killed
Schwarzenegger, who was born in Austria, said that his father had
a similar traumatic experience as a soldier with the Nazi army during
World War two on Wall Street stocks rallied for a third straight
day, even as oil prices jumped back above $100 a barrel.
The Dow Jones industrial Average climbed 417 points to close at
4 34,081, the NASDAQ Rose 178 points and the S and P. 500 added 54.
The number of Americans who filed for unemployment benefits hit a
fresh low for the year more evidence of a strong rebound in the U.
S job market. The Labor Department reported that new jobless claims
fell last week to 214,000 that is down 15,000 from the previous week.
And just over 1.4 million Americans were collecting unemployment
benefits in early March. That is a 50 year low.
White House Covid 19 response coordinator, Jeffries Science will
be stepping down next month after guiding the country through mass
vaccinations and multiple variants.
President Biden tapped Dr Ashish Joshi, who leads Brown University
School of public health to succeed him, White House press secretary
Jen Psaki said. It's a good time to make that transition.
Right now. We're at a point in the process where we have all of the
tools and we know the operational systems that are needed. And so
right now it's the appropriate time. And Jeff, of course, made this
decision
on his own. He extended a couple of times to stay longer through
some ups and downs in the pandemic.
We'll talk to one of the president's other top Covid advisors, Dr
Anthony Fauci, right after the news. Summary Cleanup effort is underway
in northeastern Japan, a day after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck
off the coast of Fukushima, killing for people power was restored
today to most of the two million people who lost electricity.
Some residents woke this morning to collapsed roofs and smashed furniture.
Officials also reported disruptions to transport
Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train was derailed between the Shi Roy.
She's out station in the Fukushima station, but there were no injuries
and all passengers have been rescued. The same area suffered a deadly
quake and tsunami 11 years ago which killed around 18,000 people
and caused a nuclear reactor meltdown.
Back in this country. The National Transportation Safety Board says
that a 13 year old boy was behind the wheel of a pickup truck that
hit a van in West Texas Tuesday night.
Nine people died, including six University of the Southwest students
and their golf coach and the underage driver. Investigators said
the truck was driving on a spare tire that blew out before the crash.
A new study has found that drivers of large trucks and SUVs are more
likely to hit pedestrians while making turns then cars that is, according
to findings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Pedestrian deaths were up 4% between 28 2019 and 2020. Researchers
say the increased popularity of larger vehicles might have factored
in to the rising number of deaths.
New data out today from the U. S. Census Bureau showed Americans
earned more and had more education. In the second half of the last
decade. Median annual household income rose from $54,000 to about
65,000 from 2016 to 2020.
During that time. The poverty rate also dropped from 15.5% to 12.8%
and a third of Americans over age 25 had a bachelor's degree or higher.
And average long term US mortgage rates have topped 4% for the first
time since May of 2019 Mortgage Buyer, Freddie Mac reported the rise
today a stark contrast to last year's record low mortgage rates of
under 3%.
Home buyers are already facing soaring home prices amid record high
inflation.
Still to come on the news hour. Rising rents squeeze Americans across
the country to sisters combat systemic racism and lack of access
in healthcare. Russia's invasion damages many of Ukraine's priceless
cultural sites.
Plus much more.
This is the PBS news hour from W. E to studios in Washington and
in the West from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona