H-TOWN HEADLINES

• Welcome 621 to the 713: Starting today, the Houston metropolitan area will introduce a new area code, 621, to accommodate the region's growing population. This addition will join the existing area codes—713, 281, 832, and 346—and will be assigned to new phone services or additional lines.

• 13 Houston Area Restaurants and Chefs Are 2025 James Beard Award Semifinalists: The James Beard Foundation has announced its 2025 semifinalists, with 13 Houston chefs and restaurants recognized in various categories, highlighting the city's vibrant culinary scene.

• Suspected Drunk Driver Charged After Fatal Crash Kills Construction Worker in Southwest Houston: A man is facing multiple charges after a construction worker was killed and another injured in a crash in southwest Houston. The suspect was reportedly intoxicated at the time of the incident.

NATIONAL HEADLINES

• President Trump Orders Troops to U.S.-Mexico Border: President Donald Trump has directed the deployment of 1,500 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of an immigration crackdown. The troops will focus on building physical barriers and will not engage in law enforcement activities.

• Supreme Court Could Revive Lawsuit Against Texas Officer Who Shot Motorist: The U.S. Supreme Court is considering reviving a civil rights lawsuit against a Texas police officer who fatally shot Ashtian Barnes during a 2016 traffic stop over unpaid tolls. The justices suggested that a broader evaluation of the circumstances might be necessary.

• Jamie Dimon Warns of 'Inflated' Stock Market: JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon described the U.S. stock market as "kind of inflated," citing concerns over high asset valuations, deficit spending, persistent inflation, and geopolitical tensions.

• Lyondell to Begin Closure of Houston Refinery: LyondellBasell Industries will start the permanent shutdown of its 263,776 barrel-per-day Houston refinery this weekend, with the process expected to conclude by February. The closure follows unsuccessful attempts over seven years to sell the refinery.

• S&P 500 Hits Record High Amid AI Stock Surge: The S&P 500 reached a new peak as artificial intelligence stocks rallied following President Donald Trump's announcement of the $500 billion 'Stargate' AI infrastructure project. Companies like Oracle, OpenAI, SoftBank, Arm Holdings, Microsoft, and Nvidia saw significant gains.

United States of America—On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump wasted no time making his mark, signing a staggering 26 executive orders. These orders aim to reverse numerous policies from the previous administration while setting the tone for his new term. With topics ranging from immigration and energy to federal hiring and education, the executive orders signal a bold and immediate shift in priorities under the Trump administration. This rapid action underscores Trump’s commitment to his “America First” agenda and highlights his determination to fulfill campaign promises right out of the gate. During his first term (2017–2021), Trump issued a total of 220 executive orders, many of which also served to upend or replace policies of the administration before him. Now, as he embarks on a historic return to the White House, let’s take a closer look at the 26 executive orders signed on day one of his presidency.

1. Withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO): Directed the United States to withdraw from the WHO, citing dissatisfaction with its handling of global health issues.

2. Dismantling Federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs: Ordered the elimination of all DEI initiatives within federal agencies, placing related staff on immediate leave.

3. Recognizing Only Two Biological Sexes: Mandated federal recognition of only two biological sexes, effectively rolling back protections for transgender and non-binary individuals.

4. Deployment of Additional Troops to the U.S.-Mexico Border: Authorized the deployment of approximately 1,500 additional active-duty troops to the southern border to enhance security measures.

5. Renaming Geographic Landmarks: Ordered the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" and reverted Alaska's Mount Denali back to Mount McKinley.

6. Reinstatement of the "Remain in Mexico" Policy: Reimplemented the policy requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico during U.S. immigration proceedings.

7. Ending Birthright Citizenship: Issued an order aiming to end automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents.

8. National Energy Emergency Declaration: Declared a national emergency to lift restrictions on oil and gas drilling, promoting increased domestic energy production.

9. Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord: Directed the United States to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, reversing previous commitments to combat climate change.

10. Establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency: Created a new department aimed at reducing federal bureaucracy, appointing Elon Musk as its head.

11. Pardons Related to January 6 Capitol Riot: Granted pardons to individuals convicted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

12. Revocation of DEI Policies in Federal Hiring: Rescinded policies promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in federal hiring practices.

13. Establishment of "Fetal Personhood": Recognized fetuses as persons under federal law, impacting abortion rights and reproductive healthcare.

14. Construction of an "Iron Dome" Defense System: Initiated plans to develop a missile defense system similar to Israel's Iron Dome for domestic protection.

15. Cessation of Environmental Justice Offices: Ordered the closure of federal offices focused on addressing environmental disparities affecting marginalized communities.

16. Merit-Based Federal Hiring: Emphasized merit-based criteria over diversity considerations in federal employment decisions.

17. Halting U.S. Foreign Aid: Paused all foreign aid expenditures pending a comprehensive review of their alignment with "America First" policies.

18. Resumption of Border Wall Construction: Directed the immediate continuation of building the U.S.-Mexico border wall.

19. Expansion of Death Penalty Usage: Broadened the application of the federal death penalty to include certain drug offenses and crimes against law enforcement officers.

20. Review of Tech Industry Regulations: Ordered a review of Section 230 protections, potentially increasing liability for social media companies.

21. Establishment of a Task Force on Election Integrity: Created a task force to investigate and recommend measures to prevent alleged voter fraud.

22. Reinstatement of Federal Use of Private Prisons: Lifted restrictions on the federal government's use of private prison facilities.

23. Elimination of Climate Change Considerations in Policy Making: Removed requirements to consider climate change impacts in federal project assessments.

24. Restriction of Federal Funding for Sanctuary Cities: Cut federal funding to jurisdictions that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

25. Promotion of School Choice Initiatives: Expanded federal support for voucher programs and charter schools.

26. Reinstatement of Enhanced Interrogation Techniques: Authorized the use of certain interrogation methods previously deemed as torture.

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