Trump, Haley clash in New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 23, 2024

Voters in New Hampshire are heading to the polls this morning for the first-in-the-nation primary. And a young golf champ misses out on getting over a million dollars despite winning a PGA tournament. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Jan. 23,  2024.

Trump, Haley seek victory in New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary

The path to becoming the Republican nominee for president runs through New Hampshire on Tuesday, Jan. 23, as the state holds its first-in-the-nation primary. Voters are heading to the polls as the candidates in the two-person race are hoping to gain momentum.

Former President Donald Trump, the GOP frontrunner, called on his supporters to get out and vote in his final rally in the Granite State Monday night, Jan. 22.

“Grab your neighbor. Grab everybody. You got to, you got to go out because we have to win by big margins. And the reason we have to do that, all, it’s very simple, you know what the reason is in November,” Trump said. “We have to send the signal that we’re not playing games. This country has gone to hell. This country has gone to hell.”

Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador during the Trump administration, told her supporters at her final campaign event in the state that it’s time for Republicans to elect new leadership.

“I voted for Donald Trump twice. I was proud to serve America in his administration. But rightly or wrongly, chaos follows him. You know I’m right,” Haley said. “Chaos follows him, and we can’t be a country in disarray and have a world on fire and go through four more years of chaos because we won’t survive it.”

In a midnight voting tradition, six voters already cast their ballots in one New Hampshire community. Dixville Notch officially started the state’s primary, where the six voters all chose Nikki Haley. While the Republican candidates are vying for 22 delegates, it’s a different story on the Democratic side.

Due to the Democratic National Committee saying New Hampshire is violating the party’s rules by holding its primary ahead of others, the DNC said none of the state’s delegates will be at stake. President Joe Biden has not even put his name on the ballot, though his supporters have launched a write-in campaign. Our Lauren Taylor has a full report on New Hampshire’s Democratic presidential primary here.

24 Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza fighting; U.S., U.K. strike Houthi targets

Two dozen Israeli soldiers were killed in fighting on Monday, Jan. 22 in Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces, marking the single deadliest day for Israel’s army since the war with Hamas began in October. In a televised statement on Tuesday, Jan. 23, an IDF spokesperson said the reservists were demolishing buildings near the border between Israel and Gaza using explosives in an effort to secure the area so residents of Southern Israel could return back home.

That’s when the IDF said an RPG missile was fired at a tank that was protecting the troops. At the same time, an explosion occurred in the buildings, causing the structures to collapse, killing 21 soldiers; three others were killed in fighting earlier in the day. The IDF is still investigating what caused the building explosions. So far, 219 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the country began its operations.

Earlier on Monday, Jan. 22, Palestinian health officials said Israeli forces stormed a hospital in Southern Gaza. The IDF issued a statement reiterating its claims that Hamas “embeds itself in civilian population,” including in hospitals and schools.

Meanwhile, the U.S. and the U.K. launched a new round of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Monday, Jan. 22.

U.S. Forces, Allies Conduct Joint Strikes in Yemen

As part of ongoing international efforts to respond to increased Houthi destabilizing and illegal activities in the region, on Jan. 22 at approximately 11:59 p.m. (Sanaa / Yemen time), U.S. Central Command forces alongside UK… pic.twitter.com/BQwEKZqMAo

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 22, 2024

U.S. Central Command said the second round of attacks by the two nations struck missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, radars, and deeply buried weapon storage facilities. Central Command added that the strikes are intended to degrade the capability of the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from continuing their attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

SCOTUS rules federal agents can cut razor wire Texas installed at the border

The Supreme Court has weighed in on the latest bout in the ongoing fight on border enforcement between Texas and the federal government. The 5-4 ruling by the high court allows federal agents to cut razor wire installed by Texas. In a move to discourage illegal border crossings, Texas installed 30 miles of razor wire along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Justice Department argued that the razor wire was injuring some migrants and prevented the federal government from patrolling the border and getting migrants who needed help.

In early January, the federal government argued that Texas national guardsmen blocked agents from accessing part of the Rio Grande River, where it was reported that a woman and two children had drowned trying to cross the river. Border patrol agents allegedly were stopped from attempting to render aid to other migrants in distress. Texas, though, denied those allegations.

As for the SCOTUS ruling, none of the justices explained their vote, and Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for Gov. Greg Abbott (R), said the fight for the border is not over.

“This case is ongoing, and Governor Abbott will continue fighting to defend Texas’s property and its constitutional authority to secure the border,” Mahaleris said.

Cal State faculty reach tentative deal to end strike

The largest strike by university faculty members in U.S. history ended after California State University and the union representing thousands of faculty members reached a tentative deal to raise wages. On Monday, Jan. 22, just hours after a planned five-day walkout by 29,000 professors serving nearly 460,000 students, a deal was struck to raise wages and keep teachers in the classrooms. Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 23, faculty will be back at work at the nation’s largest public university system.

Union leaders said that the walkout was needed as wages haven’t kept up with the cost of living in California. This deal solidifies 5% bumps in salary retroactively to July 2023 and another 5% bump in July 2024; the deal also increased parental leave from six to 10 weeks.

“I am extremely pleased and deeply appreciative that we have reached common ground with C.F.A. that will end the strike immediately,” Mildred García, the California State University chancellor, said in a statement. “the agreement enables the C.S.U. to fairly compensate its valued, world-class faculty while protecting the university system’s long-term financial sustainability.”

In 2023, strikes and walkouts rocked several industries as workers and unions nationwide grappled with inflation and increased cost of living as wages lagged behind.

Dexter Scott King dies at 62 after cancer battle

Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of Martin Luther King Jr., passed away at the age of 62. King died Monday, Jan. 22, in California after a battle with prostate cancer, the family confirmed. Dexter King served as chairman of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, also known as the King Center, which was started by his late mother, Coretta Scott King, in 1968.

Statement from The King Center on the passing of Dexter Scott King: https://t.co/VWbIPxO5a1 pic.twitter.com/tTpoxjT8RK

— The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) January 22, 2024

Dexter King was just seven years old when his father was assassinated; he would go on to attend his father’s alma mater, Morehouse College in Atlanta. In 2002, King took a role in a TV movie, playing his father in the “Rosa Parks Story.” Dexter Scott King leaves behind his wife, whom he married in 2013.

20-year-old PGA tour champion can’t collect $1.5 million prize

A 20-year-old golfing phenom made history on Sunday, Jan. 21, becoming the youngest amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1910. But even though he won, he could not claim the $1.5 million prize. Nick Dunlap, a University of Alabama sophomore, won the American Express Tournament in California by one stroke.

However, because the rules say that amateurs can’t collect any prize money, the $1.5 million actually went to the second-place finisher. But because of his victory, the college student who brought his homework on his trip to the event now has the option to turn pro. Dunlap said he’s still deciding whether to finish school or join the PGA Tour.