US News
President Trump is reportedly considering using an executive order to deny immigrants entry if they are likely to require welfare, according to a draft memo circulating among administration officials. The draft order would also ask agencies to determine "whether an alien is deportable… for having become a public charge within five years of entry." A separate executive order drafted by Trump officials aims to eliminate the "jobs magnet" by restricting foreign worker visa programs.—The Washington PostConservatives Back Trump's Supreme Court Nominee
Conservatives have backed President Trump's selection of Judge Neil Gorsuch as his nominee for the vacant seat on the Supreme Court. The National Rifle Association called the nomination "outstanding," but even as some Democrats praised Gorsuch—announced on TV in primetime Tuesday—others in the party hinted at trying to block him by any means necessary.—VICE News
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Army Corps Ordered to Approve Pipeline, Says North Dakota Senator
The Army Corp of Engineers has been ordered to allow construction of a disputed section of the Dakota Access pipeline, according to North Dakota US senator John Hoeven. He said acting secretary of the army Robert Speer told the Army Corps to "proceed" with approval for the section under the Missouri River crossing near the Sioux's Standing Rock reservation.—APFourteen Jewish Centers Targeted with Bomb Threats
The JCC Association of North America said 14 Jewish centers across ten US states received and reported bomb threats on Tuesday. It was the third day in January that multiple centers had experienced bomb threats. "We are concerned about the anti-Semitism behind these threats," said David Posner, one of the associations' directors.—USA TodayIsrael Announces 3,000 More Settler Homes for West Bank
The Israeli government has granted approval for another 3,000 homes in the West Bank. Although settlement in occupied Palestinian territory is considered illegal by the international community, several major construction projects have been given the go-ahead since President Trump took office.—Al JazeeraArmed Cop Threatens Suicide in Istanbul
An armed police officer receiving treatment at a psychiatric hospital in Istanbul has barricaded himself in a room and has threatened to kill himself, according to Turkish media reports. Initial accounts suggested the man had taken medical staff hostage, but that was later denied by a hospital spokesman.—AP
The Army Corp of Engineers has been ordered to allow construction of a disputed section of the Dakota Access pipeline, according to North Dakota US senator John Hoeven. He said acting secretary of the army Robert Speer told the Army Corps to "proceed" with approval for the section under the Missouri River crossing near the Sioux's Standing Rock reservation.—APFourteen Jewish Centers Targeted with Bomb Threats
The JCC Association of North America said 14 Jewish centers across ten US states received and reported bomb threats on Tuesday. It was the third day in January that multiple centers had experienced bomb threats. "We are concerned about the anti-Semitism behind these threats," said David Posner, one of the associations' directors.—USA Today
International News
The Israeli government has granted approval for another 3,000 homes in the West Bank. Although settlement in occupied Palestinian territory is considered illegal by the international community, several major construction projects have been given the go-ahead since President Trump took office.—Al JazeeraArmed Cop Threatens Suicide in Istanbul
An armed police officer receiving treatment at a psychiatric hospital in Istanbul has barricaded himself in a room and has threatened to kill himself, according to Turkish media reports. Initial accounts suggested the man had taken medical staff hostage, but that was later denied by a hospital spokesman.—AP
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Ban Ki-moon Gives Up On Presidential Run in South Korean
Former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has announced he will not be running for the South Korean presidency, as had been expected by some observers. Ban revealed talks with leaders of his country's conservative parties had not gone well. "With all kinds of fake news, my intention for political change was nowhere to be seen and all that was left was grave scars to my family and myself, and to the honor of the UN, where I spent the past ten years," he said.—ReutersFrench Far-Right Leader Refuses to Repay Funding
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has refused to return some $321,000 to the European Parliament, despite the institution insisting she misused funds. The parliament claims Le Pen incorrectly spent cash on an aide working for her National Front Party in Paris. Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing. "I will not submit to the persecution," she said, though she risks losing some salary and other benefits.—BBC NewsSally Yates Nominated for Profile in Courage Award
Representative Jackie Speier, a California Democrat, has nominated former acting attorney general Sally Yates for a John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award. Speier said she had put forward Yates, who refused to defend President's Trump executive order on immigration, "4 standing 4 the public good."—The Huffington PostDylan Announces Triple Album
Bob Dylan has announced a new triple album called Triplicate, which will feature some songs made famous by Frank Sinatra. Dylan also released new track I Could Have Told You, a Carl Sigman and James Van Heusen-penned cut Sinatra dropped in 1959.—NoiseyTerrence Malick Movie to Open SXSW Film Festival
The South by Southwest Film Festival has announced the 125 feature films that will run during the 2017 season. Terrence Malick's Song to Song will open the nine-day festival in Austin, Texas, on March 10.—The Hollywood ReporterTexas Mayor Comes Out as Transgender
The mayor of New Hope, a small town in Texas, has come out as transgender. Jess Herbst wrote an open letter on the town's website entitled "I am Transgender," explaining that she began hormone replacement therapy two years ago.—The Dallas ObserverCanada Condemns Fox News Tweets
A spokesman for Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau condemned FOX News for false, now deleted, tweets regarding the identity of the man allegedly involved in the shooting at the Quebec mosque. His spokesman said the tweets "dishonour the memory of the six victims."—VICE
Former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has announced he will not be running for the South Korean presidency, as had been expected by some observers. Ban revealed talks with leaders of his country's conservative parties had not gone well. "With all kinds of fake news, my intention for political change was nowhere to be seen and all that was left was grave scars to my family and myself, and to the honor of the UN, where I spent the past ten years," he said.—ReutersFrench Far-Right Leader Refuses to Repay Funding
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has refused to return some $321,000 to the European Parliament, despite the institution insisting she misused funds. The parliament claims Le Pen incorrectly spent cash on an aide working for her National Front Party in Paris. Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing. "I will not submit to the persecution," she said, though she risks losing some salary and other benefits.—BBC News
Everything Else
Representative Jackie Speier, a California Democrat, has nominated former acting attorney general Sally Yates for a John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award. Speier said she had put forward Yates, who refused to defend President's Trump executive order on immigration, "4 standing 4 the public good."—The Huffington PostDylan Announces Triple Album
Bob Dylan has announced a new triple album called Triplicate, which will feature some songs made famous by Frank Sinatra. Dylan also released new track I Could Have Told You, a Carl Sigman and James Van Heusen-penned cut Sinatra dropped in 1959.—NoiseyTerrence Malick Movie to Open SXSW Film Festival
The South by Southwest Film Festival has announced the 125 feature films that will run during the 2017 season. Terrence Malick's Song to Song will open the nine-day festival in Austin, Texas, on March 10.—The Hollywood ReporterTexas Mayor Comes Out as Transgender
The mayor of New Hope, a small town in Texas, has come out as transgender. Jess Herbst wrote an open letter on the town's website entitled "I am Transgender," explaining that she began hormone replacement therapy two years ago.—The Dallas ObserverCanada Condemns Fox News Tweets
A spokesman for Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau condemned FOX News for false, now deleted, tweets regarding the identity of the man allegedly involved in the shooting at the Quebec mosque. His spokesman said the tweets "dishonour the memory of the six victims."—VICE