Amid some Republican Party infighting, one GOP congressman is seeking to unite his caucus behind House Speaker Mike Johnson ahead of a pivotal vote that will decide whether he retains the gavel in 2025. Appearing Sunday on ABC's "This Week," Rep. Mike Lawler of New York said Republicans are "playing with fire" if they are considering replacing Johnson as speaker of the House, pointing to the chaotic removal of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year. RELATED STORY | Trump endorses Speaker Johnson to retain House gavel in 2025 "The fact is that these folks are playing with fire," Lawler said. "And if they think they're somehow going to get a more conservative Speaker, they're kidding themselves." "We can't get anything done unless we have a Speaker — including certifying President Trump's election on January 6th," Lawler added. "So, to waste time over a nonsensical, intramural food fight is a joke." RELATED STORY | Upcoming Congressional committees take shape on Capitol Hill Johnson won a unanimous voice vote during nominations for House GOP Conference leadership in November, but now faces a formal vote in the House when the next Congress begins in January. He will need to secure 218 votes, which means he can't afford many defections from Republicans, who are currently projected to hold a slim majority with 220 seats.DC Shopian reviews snow clearance operations on Mughal Road SHOPIAN: Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Mohammad Shahid Saleem Dar on Sunday visited Heerpora village to review the snow clearance operations on Mughal Road. He was accompanied by ADDC, Dr.Nasir Ahmad Lone, ADC, Dr. Zakir Hussain Faaz and other officers & officials of MED & Police. The DC emphasized the importance of clearing snow from the vital road which serves connecting link between Shopian and the Pir Pangal region. He also said that the snow clearance shall be completed upto Peer Ki Gali by tomorrow provided fair weather conditions. During his visit, the DC took stock of the snow clearance efforts ensuring that the road is cleared as soon as possible to facilitate smooth transportation and accessibility for residents and travelers. He also directed the concerned agencies to gear up their activities by deploying more snow cutters. The visit demonstrates the district administration’s commitment to minimizing disruptions and ensuring smooth vehicular movement during the winter season.
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GOP congressman urges Republicans to back Mike Johnson ahead of House speaker voteAlector halts Alzheimer's trial as drug fails key goal
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:29 p.m. ESTPHOENIX — Someone donated a gold coin worth more than $1,300 through a Red Kettle in the Phoenix area, according to the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Center. The half-ounce Gold American Eagle coin was dropped in a Red Kettle in the Valley. A note included with the coin read, “May this gold help the people in need during the Christmas season. Bless you all.” Face value of the coin is $25, but the Kroc Center had it appraised and sold it for $1,310. “We witness extraordinary acts of kindness and giving year-round, and this incredible donation is certainly no exception,” said Captain Dustin Rowe, Kroc Center Corps Officer. “We want to thank this generous donor from the bottom of our hearts.” Despite the donation, the Kroc Center’s Red Kettle donations are still down 18 percent compared to the same time last year. According to the Kroc Center, around 84 cents of every dollar donated to The Salvation Army nationally are used to support local programs and services. Watch 12News for free You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app! The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV . 12+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives. Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX." Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12+ app to add to your account , or have the 12+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.