The Biden administration has announced a proposal for three offshore oil and gas lease sales over the next five years, all of which will be situated in the Gulf of Mexico. Notably, no lease sales are planned for the Pacific, Atlantic or Alaskan waters.

The rationale behind the administration’s decision to allocate water for oil and gas leasing — despite President Biden’s campaign pledge to transition away from fossil fuels — lies in the crucial role these three leases play in advancing offshore wind development. This connection is established through the Inflation Reduction Act, which links the allocation of water resources for oil and gas with the offshore wind development.

The legislation stipulates that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management can only grant leases for offshore wind if it has already allocated 60 million acres for oil and gas in the previous year.

The Interior Department has stated that these three lease sales are the minimum required to support the administration’s goal of achieving 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.

While the limited number of leases is not expected to have an immediate impact on gas prices at the pump, analysts say it sets the stage for potential challenges in the long term.

Critics of the move, such as the American Energy Alliance, express disapproval.

“While President Biden continues to blame oil and gas companies for sustained high energy prices, his Department of Interior has taken yet another step to curtail domestic production and increase reliance on foreign sources of energy,” Thomas Pyle, president of the American Energy Alliance, said.

A city in California has passed an ordinance protecting the legal bodily liberties of elephants. The historic law marked the first legislation protecting the rights of nonhuman animals. The law was passed in an Ojai City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

It’s a decree that animal rights advocates have pushed for years.

“Recognizing the right to bodily liberty for elephants is the only way to truly protect them from human-caused harm, now and in the long run,” said Courtney Fern, director of Government Relations at the Nonhuman Rights Project.

Fern spoke ahead of the 4-to-1 Ojai City Council vote to approve the ordinance.

“Through scientific studies and observations, we have learned not only what elephants need to thrive but how captivity causes them immense physical and psychological harm,” Fern said. “As we gather here right now, there are 19 elephants in California being held captive against their will in small exhibits unjustly forced to exist for the benefit of their human captors.”

The groundbreaking protections in Ojai stem from an elephant named Tarra, who was held captive in Ojai Valley in the 1980s and forced to roller skate for human entertainment.

In 1995, Tarra was moved to a sanctuary in Tennessee. She was the first resident of what is now the largest elephant sanctuary in the U.S. Over the years, the sanctuary has become home to 32 elephants retired from zoos and circuses.

The legislation makes it illegal in Ojai to keep elephants in “captive settings that deprive them of their autonomy and ability to engage in their innate behaviors.”

Even though this ordinance marks progress being made, animal rights advocates say more needs to be done.

“While animal welfare laws can help reduce elephant suffering, they do not address the underlying problem, the fundamental loss of their freedom,” Fern said. “Elephants are majestic beings, they are autonomous, self-aware, and possess extraordinary emotional intelligence.”

California’s longest-serving senator, Dianne Feinstein, has died at the age of 90. President Joe Biden reacted to the news, calling her a “pioneering American and a true trailblazer.” While reactions continue to pour in, attention is already turning to the implications of her absence. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, is tasked with filling her seat.

After serving five terms as a U.S. senator, it became apparent to her colleagues on Capitol Hill over the last year that her health was declining, leaving her to miss out on votes in the Senate.

Senate Republicans were opposed to Democrats temporarily replacing Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee during that time, but they are now singing a different tune. 

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the top Republican on the committee said Friday, Sept. 29, that he will do “whatever the rules say” when it comes to replacing Feinstein.

While Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., moves to fill the vacancies Feinstein leaves behind, he also reacted to her passing, speaking from the Senate floor Friday.

“Our nation will be forever thankful to Senator Feinstein for the accomplishments she fought for. I, too, am personally indebted to Dianne, not just as a colleague — which of course I am in so many ways — but as a friend and father of two daughters,” Schumer said. “Dianne’s work extended far beyond the United States Senate floor as she gave a voice, a platform and a leader to women throughout the country for decades.”

Newsom has vowed to appoint a Black woman to the vacant seat and says he will not appoint any of the Democratic candidates already vying to win the seat in the 2024 election, including Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff.

“No, I don’t want to make another appointment,” Newsom explained to Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press.” “And I don’t think the people of California don’t want me to make another appointment because I’ve made plenty of appointments. That said, it’s my job and my responsibility and if we have to do it, we’ll do it.”

There’s no word yet on whom Newsom will appoint to the temporary position.

Beneath a remote expanse of wilderness in Canada lies a rare mineral deposit that officials have called the world’s most important untapped source of nickel, copper and cobalt. Worth an estimated $67 billion, these metals, located in a region known as the Ring of Fire, are essential for building the batteries that power electric vehicles.

“Canada could be the world’s number one supplier of critical minerals if they get it right now,” said Simon Moores, chief executive of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. 

With both Canada and the United States aiming to phase out gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035 in favor of an electrified fleet, the value of these resources has been climbing in recent years. Retrieving them, though, will likely be challenging.

This deposit of rare minerals is buried underneath a large ecosystem of peat bogs, which hold more carbon per square foot than even the Amazon rainforest. The peatlands and forests within the Ring of Fire eat carbon out of the atmosphere, storing away about 35 billion tons, equivalent to the emissions generated annually from 39 billion cars.

“If you have any type of disturbance that has the potential to have large-scale changes to how wet the site is or the vegetation community that’s there, you’re going to reduce the ability to store carbon,” said Maria Strack, a Canada Research Chair in ecosystem and climate at the University of Waterloo who specializes in peatland emissions.

Climate advocates have warned that attempting to dig for resources on this land could result in the release of more greenhouse gases than all of what Canada emits in one year. Local indigenous tribes have also spoken out against efforts to mine the Ring of Fire, which they have referred to as a project that will destroy their lands.

“We have made it very clear time and time again. We don’t want development. We’re not happy about that. It seems like they just ignore our voice,” said Rudy Turtle, chief of Grassy Narrows First Nation. “If we have to stand up physically or take some physical action, then we’re going to do that.”

“We are threatening to destroy so many forests and peat lands that eat the carbon out of the atmosphere. The impact could be catastrophic,” said Kate Kempton, a lawyer representing indigenous groups that are suing the Ontario government to halt development at several prospective mining sites, including the Ring of Fire.

Additionally, a lack of roads leading to the area has dissuaded prior attempts to start development. Despite these concerns, some Canadian government officials remain determined to dig up these minerals.

“If I have to hop on a bulldozer myself, we’re going to start building roads to the Ring of Fire,” said Doug Ford, premier of the province of Ontario, within which the Ring of Fire is located.

“If the premier wants to get a bulldozer to cross our river system, he’s going to be met by our people,” said Wayne Moonias, chief of Neskantaga First Nation.

A similar conflict has unfolded in the United States. Geologists believe they have uncovered the world’s largest deposit of lithium, another crucial electric vehicle battery component, within the McDermitt Caldera, an ancient supervolcano along the Nevada-Oregon border. Environmental groups and Native American tribal members have voiced concerns about mining and development around the site.

Target announced it would be shutting down select stores across the country, citing violence tied to ongoing organized retail theft. In Philadelphia, more than 50 people were arrested after looters ransacked multiple stores over two nights.The string of incidents resulted in the temporary closure of all state-run liquor stores in the area after several were broken into.   

As these incidents put a spotlight on issues the retail industry is facing, a new survey of 177 retail brands has been released showing just how much theft is costing these businesses.

The annual Retail Security Survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF) shows stores suffered a record $112.1 billion in losses last year, up about $18 billion from a previous high of $94 billion in 2021.

The survey notes that thefts — both external and internal — make up about 65% of what retailers refer to as shrink, or lost inventory.

The NRF says retailers are seeing “unprecedented” levels of theft and rampant crime in their stores. More than two-thirds of respondents say they are seeing higher levels of violence and aggression from thieves than the previous year.

In August, Target CEO Brian Cornell said his company has seen a 120% increase in shoplifting incidents with violence or threat of violence since the beginning of the year.

Forty-five percent of the retailers surveyed said they have reduced specific store operating hours to combat the crime. Twenty-eight percent reported closing specific stores, as Target is doing. The retailer is shutting nine locations including stores in cities like New York, Seattle and San Francisco.  

Though theft is a problem many retailers are facing, a recent analysis by CNBC says it might not always be the main reason businesses are experiencing lower profit margins. The network says other factors like excessive discounting could play a bigger role. 

The federal government employs more than 2 million civilian employees and 1.4 million active duty military service members who do not get paid during a government shutdown. But members of Congress, who make $174,000 a year, continue receiving their regular salary. 

That’s because Congress members’ compensation is written directly into the Constitution. 

Congressional leadership earns even more than rank-and-file members. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., makes $223,500, while party leaders in both chambers earn $193,400. President Biden’s $400,000 salary works the same way; he’ll keep getting paid, too. 

Straight Arrow News asked members if they should continue receiving paychecks during a shutdown. 

“No,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., said. 

“Me neither,” Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., added. 

“No,” Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., said.. 

Every lawmaker had an opportunity to put their money where their mouth is earlier in September when Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., introduced the McCarthy Shutdown Act. The act would have withheld member pay during an ongoing shutdown — it didn’t pass.

“It’s ridiculous that we still get paid while folks like TSA workers are asked to work without a paycheck,” Craig said in a statement. 

During the 35-day shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019, more than 100 members of Congress rejected pay. They donated it to nonprofit organizations or told congressional administrators to withhold it.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the longest-serving senator from her state has died, according to people familiar with the matter. Feinstein, who was 90, made herself known for advocating and trying to find common ground with her colleagues on the other side of the aisle to pass stricter gun legislation.

Feinstein wrote and passed a 10-year assault weapons ban in 1994. The National Rifle Association objected to the ban and after it expired, it was never renewed or replaced.

She served in the U.S. Senate for three decades.

In February 2023, Feinstein, at the age of 89, announced she would retire at the end of 2024 as questions about her health began to circulate. Feinstein was elected to the Senate in 1992 and served 50 years in public office.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) will have to appoint a temporary successor to fill the open Senate seat in the wake of Feinstein’s death.

United Airlines is making it easier for travelers in wheelchairs to find accommodations after a probe by the federal government. According to a U.S. Department of Transportation release, this stems from a complaint filed against the airline by disability advocate Engracia Figueroa.

Figueroa filed the complaint after her custom wheelchair was damaged on a United flight in 2021. According to a lawsuit filed by Figueroa’s siblings, she later died after sustaining an injury from using a manual wheelchair that was not fitted to her body.

Between 2019 and 2022, airlines mishandled more than 32,000 wheelchairs and scooters on domestic flights, or 31 per day, according to a Paralyzed Veterans of America release.

The Thursday, Sept. 28 announcement from the Transportation Department said United Airlines will implement “industry-leading actions” to improve the travel experience for passengers who use wheelchairs.

“Everyone ought to be able to travel safely and with dignity, and I’m glad that United is taking steps to improve their service for passengers who use wheelchairs,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “For our part, we at USDOT will continue working to make air travel safer and more accessible for people with disabilities, and for the millions of Americans who step on a plane every day.”

Travelers will be able to use United’s website to filter through and book tickets on planes with cargo doors large enough to fit their wheelchairs. Some planes have cargo doors that are too small to fit certain wheelchairs in with the other checked luggage.

United also agreed to pay the difference if a passenger is forced to take a more expensive flight to accommodate the dimensions of their motorized wheelchair.

The plan is to implement this technology in early 2024. United added that it will start with a pilot program in Houston to find what best accommodates passengers with wheelchairs.

Elon Musk, owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, visited the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday, Sept. 28, as the billionaire finds himself more involved in the nation’s political landscape. Musk met local law enforcement and politicians at the Texas border with Mexico to get a firsthand look at the situation.

Musk’s visit comes off the heels of a busy week at the border as thousands of migrants have hopped on freight trains and buses headed for the U.S. border in an increase of migrants seeking asylum.

Musk visited Eagle Pass, where the border has been flooded by migrants wading across the Rio Grande in recent days. The Texas National Guard set up coils of razor wires along the bank of the river, but that has not seemed to deter migrants.

Musk, an immigrant from South Africa, took to his social media platform, offering his thoughts on immigration policy.

“I believe that we need a greatly expanded legal immigration system and that we should let anyone in the country who is hard working and honest and would be a contributor to the United States, we should have expedited legal approval for anyone who, sort of, falls into that category,” Musk said. “But then, by the same token, we should also not be allowing people in the country if they are breaking the law.”

In the video, Musk said he is “extremely pro-immigrant,” but added that if nothing is done about the swarms of migrants crossing the border illegally, the U.S. is going to have a “collapse of social services.” Musk pointed to New York City as an example.

“Even America’s largest city, New York, is buckling under the pressure of just how many illegal immigrants are going to New York,” Musk said. “If New York can’t handle it, pretty much no part of the country can.”

Musk has a vested interest in the Texas economy as there is a Tesla Gigafactory plant in Austin and a SpaceX launch facility off the coast of Boca Chica.

With just hours to go for Congress to act, we look at what could be affected if a government shutdown begins this weekend. And it’s the end of an era as Netflix ships out its final DVDs. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.

Congress has only hours to act before government shutdown begins

Congress has only hours left to come to an agreement to prevent a government shutdown from starting Sunday, Oct. 1 at 12:01 a.m. Both chambers are working on different methods to avert the first shutdown since 2018.

The Democratic-led Senate is looking to pass a bipartisan stopgap bill that would continue to fund the government until Nov. 17. The bill includes $6 billion in funding for Ukraine and another $6 billion for domestic disaster relief.  

House Republicans, who have already rejected the Senate’s measure, are focusing their attention on the dozen of annual spending bills — passing three which fund the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and State Department.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested on Thursday, Sept. 28, that a shutdown could be avoided if the Senate adds border provisions to their stopgap bill. McCarthy said the House would vote on its own version of a stopgap bill on Friday which would fund the government through October.

So what could happen if a government shutdown does in fact occur this weekend?   

• All federal agencies except those deemed essential would stop working. This means Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security would continue. However, hundreds of thousands of other federal workers would be furloughed.
• Those essential employees, including air traffic controllers, TSA screeners, and military personnel on active duty would work without pay until the shutdown ends then they’d receive back pay.
• The shutdown would stop food safety inspections by the FDA, EPA inspections and FEMA disaster relief.
• Programs like Head Start for preschoolers would lose funding and national parks and certain museums could close.
• Officials say Americans who receive benefits from SNAP would still get assistance through October, but if the shutdown drags on that could change.
• You would still be getting mail — as the U.S. Postal Service isn’t funded by taxpayer dollars.

House Republicans issue subpoena for Hunter Biden’s bank records

A House impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden got underway with a hearing on Thursday. During the six-hour hearing on Capitol Hill, House Republicans said they would be issuing subpoenas for additional person and business banking records from Hunter Biden and the president’s brother James Biden.

According to Fox News, the House Oversight Committee believes they have a trace of $24 million brought in by the Biden family by “selling Joe Biden as the brand.” The White House called the hearing a “baseless wild goose chase” and a distraction from the shutdown.

Elon Musk visits U.S.-Mexico border

X owner Elon Musk visited the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday to livestream areas of Eagle Pass, Texas. The tech billionaire was seen talking with officials and using his camera to show what he was seeing at the border.

The month of September is on pace to surpass records of migrants crossing the border with more than 142,000 in the first half of the month. In a four-minute clip of his visit, Musk shared his take on the border crisis, which is an issue he has been vocal about on social media. 

“We should let anyone in the country who is hardworking and honest and who will be a contributor to the U.S.,” Musk said. “By the same token, we should not be allowing people in the country if they are breaking the law. The law is there for a reason.”

United to make changes for passengers in wheelchairs after investigation

United Airlines has made changes to its online booking to better accommodate passengers in wheelchairs. Now passengers will be able to add a filter to the booking tool that will allow them to find flights better equipped to fit a motorized wheelchair in the storage portion of the plane. Currently some cargo doors on planes are too small to easily get a wheelchair to fit among the other luggage and belongings being stored below.

United will also pay the fare difference for passengers who need to upgrade their flight in order to be better accommodated.

This change came about after a government-led investigation into the airline’s policies. The investigation found that all airlines cumulatively had mishandled more than 30,000 wheelchairs and scooters in a three-year span.

Cantaloupe recall due to potential salmonella contamination

Thousands of cantaloupes in 19 states could potentially be contaminated with salmonella, according to the FDA. Eagle Produce, based out of Scottsdale, Arizona, has issued a voluntary recall of more than 6,000 cases of whole cantaloupes.

The impacted melons have the brand name Kandy on them with the number code 4-0-5-0 printed on the bottom of the sticker. While there have been no reported illnesses, the FDA recommends customers not eat the fruit.

The FDA says the cantaloupes were distributed between Sept. 5 and Sept. 16 in California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington D.C. 

Netflix ends DVD-by-mail service after 25 years

Netflix is shipping out its final DVDs on Friday as it closes out the part of its business that put the company on the map after 25 years. Netflix announced in April it would be shutting down its DVD-by-mail service citing the decrease in DVD releases in recent years as the company focuses on its streaming offerings.

In 2011, Netflix decided to separate video streaming from its DVD business which at the time had more than 16 million subscribers. Fast forward to today, there are now just under one million DVD subscribers. In comparison, Netflix’s streaming service boasts 238 million subscribers worldwide.

Netflix is telling its DVD devotees they can keep any discs they receive by mail. Netflix started shipping out DVDs in 1998 with the first one being the 1988 movie “Beetlejuice.”

Our business correspondent Simone Del Rosario has a Five for Friday looking back at the most rented DVDs in Netflix history.