5 things you need to know Wednesday
A new beginning for U.S., Israel as Netanyahu visits D.C.
When Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the White House on Wednesday, it will be more than just a meeting of friends and allies. The talks will set the tone for U.S.-Israeli relations under a Trump presidency following eight years of tensions under Obama. Trump's election raised Israel's hopes that the U.S. would embrace many of its positions in disputes with Palestinians, including expanded settlements and recognizing Jerusalem as the capital. But Trump changed his tune this month, saying new Israeli settlements "may not be helpful" and backing off a campaign pledge to relocate the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.
Sorry, millennials. Your driving is the worst
Millennial drivers are the worst. That’s not just their elders talking. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found 88% of drivers 19- to 24-years-old acknowledged engaging in risky behavior such as texting while driving, running red lights or speeding during the previous month, according to a report released Wednesday. The findings come as driving is becoming more dangerous. Traffic deaths rose to 35,092 in 2015, a 7% increase from a year earlier and the largest one-year jump in five decades. Drivers ages 60-74 reported the lowest rate of risky behavior, with 67.3% confessing.
Retailers head to Congress to fight border tax
Executives from AutoZone, Tractor Supply, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, Target, Best Buy, GAP and JC Penney meet with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. in hopes of thwarting a proposed import tax. The border-adjustment tax would potentially lead to price hikes of up to 15% on products ranging from apparel to electronics, according to the National Retail Federation. Advocates for the tax say it will raise revenue that can be offset with lower corporate tax rates while spurring job creation in the U.S.,as executives fear the tax will wipe out profits and potentially lead to consumers paying more for items such as clothing to cars.
NFL begins first round of roster moves with 'franchise tags'
The NFL offseason gets underway in earnest Wednesday when teams can begin placing "franchise tags" on key players they don't want to risk losing outright to free agency. A variety of top players are eligible to be "tagged," or given one-year contracts worth the average of the top five salaries at the player's position, including Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins and Chiefs safety Eric Berry. Teams have until March 1 to "tag" the player they wish to keep. Otherwise, they become unrestricted free agents who can sign with any team when free agency opens on March 9.
Be careful where you drive: nearly 56,000 bridges called structurally deficient
Nearly 56,000 bridges nationwide, which vehicles cross 185 million times a day, are structurally deficient, a bridge construction group announced Wednesday. The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) list of 55,710 deficient bridges includes high-profile spans such as Throgs Neck in New York, Yankee Doodle in Connecticut and Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C. According to the ARTBA analysis, more than one in four bridges (173,919) are at least 50 years old and have never undergone major reconstruction President Trump has proposed a $1 trillion infrastructure program for the next decade, but the source of funding remains uncertain.
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