NATIONAL GUARD

Ukraine’s intelligence agency has claimed responsibility for a car bombing that killed a member of the Russia-backed authority in the illegally annexed Luhansk region.

The Russian military says a Ukrainian missile strike on a shipyard in annexed Crimea had damaged a Russian ship.

U.S. officials say the Pentagon is developing plans to restructure the National Guard in Washington, D.

Officials say Ukrainian air defenses have shot down more than 30 Russian cruise missiles and drones in Moscow’s sixth air attack in six days on Kyiv.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is expanding the state National Guard’s mission to assist both the Oglala Sioux and the Rosebud Sioux Tribes with firewood and snow removal amid the relentless wind and life-threatening cold that have crippled their reservations in the southwestern corner of the state.

Soldiers are leaving the Army National Guard at a faster rate than they are enlisting.

Mexico's Senate has approved handing control of the country's recently created National Guard over to the military.

Mexico’s National Guard, created as a nominal civilian force in 2019, would be transferred completely to the authority of the country’s military.

The Pentagon has once again denied a request from the District of Columbia seeking National Guard assistance in dealing with thousands of migrants being bused to the city from Texas and Arizona.

Mexico's president has begun exploring plans to sidestep congress to hand formal control of the National Guard to the army.

The District of Columbia has requested National Guard assistance to help stem a “growing humanitarian crisis” prompted by thousands of migrants that have been sent to Washington by a pair of southern states.

His entire family spent Sunday and part of Monday morning searching for the teen until his body was found shot multiple times in the apartment building in the basement laundry room seen in the video player above.

Mexico’s immigration enforcement is increasingly militarized with the armed forces and National Guard now accounting for more migrant detentions than immigration agents.

Michigan’s National Guard has a more than two-decades-long relationship with the Latvian military. They participate in military training together.

The Pentagon has approved the deployment of 700 unarmed National Guard troops to Washington, D.

New Mexico is asking National Guard troops and state bureaucrats to volunteer to serve as substitute teachers as preschools and K-12 public schools struggle to keep classrooms open amid surging COVID-19 infections.

The Pentagon says it's streamlined the approval process for urgent use of National Guard forces in the District of Columbia.

More than 12,000 military service members refusing the COVID-19 vaccine are seeking religious exemptions, and so far they're having zero success.

The Capitol Police chief is about to gain new authority to request help from the National Guard.

More U.S. states desperate to defend against COVID-19 are calling on the National Guard and other military personnel to assist.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says no member of the National Guard will be allowed to participate in drills or other training required to maintain their status in the Guard unless they are vaccinated against COVID-19 or are given an exemption.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has rejected a request by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt that his state’s National Guard be exempt from a Pentagon requirement that all military members be vaccinated against COVID-19.

A dispute between the Oklahoma governor and the Pentagon over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate is setting up the first critical test of the military’s authority to require National Guard troops to get the shot.

The Wisconsin governor on Friday called 500 National Guard troops to Kenosha ahead of the highly anticipated verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial.

One West Michigan boy wants to be in the National Guard and the Make-A-Wish Foundation Michigan sped up the process. They brought 6-year-old Korbyn to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township.

A gas leak from the Ford Flat Rock Assembly Plant triggered voluntary evacuations of the area and officials have been testing levels of gas in sewers and homes.

Congress has overwhelmingly passed emergency legislation that will bolster security at the Capitol, repay outstanding debts from the violent Jan. 6 insurrection and increase the number of visas for allies who worked alongside Americans in the Afghanistan war.

President Joe Biden has signed emergency legislation that will bolster security at the Capitol, repay outstanding debts from the violent Jan. 6 insurrection and increase the number of visas for allies who worked alongside Americans in the Afghanistan war.

A top Army leader is defending the Pentagon’s response to the Jan. 6 insurrection.

National Guard troops are set to leave the U.S. Capitol and turn over security of the area to Capitol Police.

A House hearing on the Capitol insurrection has wrapped up after harsh words from lawmakers.

Trust between Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill has cratered as Joe Biden prepares to address House and Senate lawmakers for the first time in his presidency.

California has gone from worst to first in the rate of coronavirus infections.

More than 3,000 National Guard soldiers, along with police officers, sheriffs deputies and other law enforcement personnel have flooded Minneapolis in the wake of a verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged with murder in the death last year of George Floyd.

Defense Department and National Guard officials are denying some requests for troops to protect Washington, D.

An investigation has concluded that members of the Washington D.

This undated photo provided by Lubbock County (Texas) Sheriff's Office shows Larry Lee Harris. Idalou, Texas police said Harris, an Arizona man who held 11 National Guard Soldiers transporting COVID-19 vaccines at gunpoint, was arrested Tuesday, March 23, 2021. (Lubbock County Sheriff's Office via AP)LUBBOCK, Texas – Federal prosecutors have charged an Arizona man accused of forcing off the road a National Guard convoy transporting COVID-19 vaccines in West Texas, then holding 11 guard members at gunpoint. Larry Lee Harris, 66, of Willcox, Arizona, has been charged with assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, federal prosecutors announced in a statement Friday. He remained in the Lubbock County Detention Center on Friday pending an initial appearance in federal court.

Idalou, Texas police said Harris, an Arizona man who held 11 National Guard Soldiers transporting COVID-19 vaccines at gunpoint, was arrested Tuesday, March 23, 2021. (Lubbock County Sheriff's Office via AP)LUBBOCK, Texas – An Arizona man is accused of forcing off the road a National Guard convoy transporting COVID-19 vaccines in West Texas and then holding 11 guard members at gunpoint. None of the National Guard members were injured, and Harris was arrested Tuesday morning when police responded to the scene. He then ordered the guard members out of their vehicles at gunpoint, police said. AdIdalou police and deputies from the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene.

DETROIT – About 1,000 Michigan National Guard (MING) soldiers returned home Monday after a U.S. Capitol support mission. The National Guard members were deployed Jan. 29 to the National Capitol Region in Washington D.C. where they provided support to the D.C. National Guard and Capitol police for a post-inaugural security mission. According to a press release, the soldiers performed a variety of duties such as providing additional security, training and logistical support. “The men and women of the Michigan National Guard have always stepped up whenever called upon and their support for the Capitol region was no different,” said Gov. “The Michigan National Guard is ready to serve our state and nation whenever the opportunity arises, but we are always glad to have the soldiers return home.”

Lawmakers from both parties have decried the fencing as unsightly, expensive and beyond what is necessary, even though security fears remain high. The security perimeter extends far beyond the Capitol itself through neighboring parks and office buildings. AdBlodgett said.the outer perimeter fencing will be removed in the latter part of March and Independence and Constitution avenues, the two major thoroughfares that flank the Capitol, will be opened for traffic. An inner perimeter will be moved closer to the Capitol building this week, providing reopened access to nearby streets and some sidewalks. The political pressure to remove the security fencing has been building.

National Guard open a gate in the razor wire topped perimeter fence around the Capitol allow another member in at sunrise in Washington, Monday, March 8, 2021. The U.S. Capitol Police has asked for the fencing and the National Guard to remain, for now. As of Friday there were about 4,300 Guard troops in the city. "Our National Guard troops, who serve with great honor and distinction, are not law enforcement officers, and we will not abide the continued militarization of Capitol complex security,” wrote Sens. Coupled with the hiring of 350 additional officers, the report also recommends establishing a permanent “quick response force” within the Capitol Police but also at the National Guard in D.C. for emergencies.

According to the National Guard, troops from some states will stay in Washington for the entire two months. Military leaders were also concerned because governors initially expressed reluctance to have their troops stay in the city. Troops from the District of Columbia Guard will continue in the security mission. As of Friday there were about 4,300 Guard troops in the city. The National Guard Association of the United States also questioned the extension, noting that it was difficult for Guard leaders to find enough volunteers for the mission.

National Guard open a gate in the razor wire topped perimeter fence around the Capitol allow another member in at sunrise in Washington, Monday, March 8, 2021. The U.S. Capitol Police has asked for the fencing and the National Guard to remain, for now. This week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin formally approved a request that National Guard troops remain for about two more months. Close to 2,300 Guard troops will continue to provide security in Washington until May 23, at the request of the Capitol Police, the Defense Department said. "Our National Guard troops, who serve with great honor and distinction, are not law enforcement officers, and we will not abide the continued militarization of Capitol complex security,” wrote Sens.

There are currently about 5,100 Guard troops in Washington, and they were scheduled to leave this weekend. Early on, Guard members were briefly forced to take rest breaks and meals in a nearby cold garage, sparking outrage within the Biden administration. In addition, Guard members complained of bad food, and some said they became sick. On Monday, Kirby said about 50 Guard troops had been treated for gastrointestinal issues, out of the 26,000 that deployed to Washington. AdActing Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman made the request to have the Guard members stay on, setting off a series of discussions with the Pentagon and National Guard leaders.

National Guard keep watch on the Capitol, Thursday, March 4, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)WASHINGTON – The Capitol Police have requested that members of the National Guard continue to provide security at the U.S. Capitol for another two months, The Associated Press has learned. There were no signs of disturbance Thursday, but the Capitol Police's request for extended Guard assistance appeared mired in confusion within various congressional oversight authorities, according to letters obtained by The AP. The more than 5,000 Guard members currently in Washington, D.C., are all slated to go home March 12, ending the mission. AdCapitol Police officials have also told congressional leaders the razor-wire-topped fencing around the Capitol should remain in place for several more months.

National Guard stand guard at a perimeter fence at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, March 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)WASHINGTON – The Latest on a possible threat against the Capitol (all times local):5:50 p.m. Pittman says the board suggested some temporary fencing would be removed starting Friday, and the fencing around the outer perimeter of the Capitol complex would be removed starting March 12. Some fencing is likely to remain as law enforcement officials continue to track an increased number of threats against lawmakers and the Capitol. This comes two months after Trump supporters smashed through windows and doors to try to stop Congress from certifying now-President Joe Biden’s victory.

Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON – Worried about continuing threats, the acting chief of the U.S. Capitol Police appealed to congressional leaders Thursday to use their influence to keep National Guard troops at the Capitol, two months after the law enforcement breakdowns of the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection. Pittman said she needed the leaders' assistance with the three-member Capitol Police Board, which reports to them. Paul Irving, who served on the Capitol Police Board as House sergeant-at-arms, denied that Sund asked him to call the Guard. He ultimately called the commanding general of the D.C. National Guard just before 2 p.m., who in turn testified that the request for help was delayed by the Defense Department. “We have the razor wire, we have the National Guard.

Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON – Many questions remain unanswered about the failure to prevent the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Capitol Police also did its own intelligence assessment warning that Congress could be targeted on Jan. 6. Four House committees are probing what went wrong with that data collection, including the House intelligence committee. “I don’t want our committee’s examination to be about Trump or about Jan. 6,” Warner, D-Va., said in an interview. Thousands of National Guard troops still guard the Capitol, which is now surrounded by fencing and barbed wire and closed off to the public.

Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON – The Latest on congressional testimony about the Capitol insurrection (all times local):5 p.m. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer notified lawmakers late Wednesday of the sudden schedule change. Gibson comes to the Senate from a 33-year military career, including as a senior intelligence officer in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, supporting troops in the Middle East, Schumer said. The head of the National Guard for Washington, D.C., says Pentagon concerns about “optics” delayed the sending of troops to protect the Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack. Walker says D.C. officials pleaded with the Army officials to quickly send the National Guard to help police guard the Capitol.

Guard troops who had been waiting on buses were then rushed to the Capitol, arriving in 18 minutes, Walker said. Much of the focus at Wednesday's hearing was on communications between the National Guard and the Defense Department. Contee said Sund pleaded with Army officials to deploy National Guard troops as the rioting escalated. AdAccording to the Defense Department, Walker was called at 3 p.m. by Army officials, and was told to prepare Guard troops to deploy. Thousands of National Guard troops are still patrolling the fenced-in Capitol, and multiple committees across Congress are investigating Jan. 6.

There are reports that some of the food given to guard members is also moldy. The letter was sent to General Daniel R. Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau. In the letter, the Michigan Delegation wrote, “We understand that the decision was made to provide contracted meals to support the entire federal response stationed at the Capitol. However, it is clear that these contracted meals are poorly prepared, oftentimes inedible, and highly inadequate to support our soldiers. It is completely unacceptable that our men and women serving in Washington D.C. are being hospitalized due to the food they are being provided.

In this Feb. 2, 2021 file photo, acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman pays respects to U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP, Pool)WASHINGTON – The Latest on congressional testimony about the Capitol insurrection (all times local):12:30 p.m. The lawmaker who's chair of a hearing on the Jan. 6 riot says the U.S. Capitol Police’s acting chief failed to understand the threat facing lawmakers that day. The acting chief of the U.S. Capitol Police says the agency’s incident command protocols “were not adhered to” on the day of the Capitol insurrection. AdActing Chief Yogananda Pittman says commanders in charge of supervising the officers were supposed to be giving directions as the violent mob stormed the Capitol.

Three of the four security officials, including the Capitol police chief, resigned immediately after the attack. He testified Tuesday that he met with then-Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund on Jan. 4 and that he believed they agreed not to ask for the Guard. Sund says he requested Guard help again at 1:09 p.m. on Jan. 6, as rioters were massing outside the building. Sund says he did see an intelligence report created within the Capitol Police force warning that Congress could be targeted on Jan. 6. That report warned extremists were likely to attend and there were calls for people to travel to Washington armed.

Former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund testifies before a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs & Senate Rules and Administration joint hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, to examine the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Sund said he hadn’t seen an FBI field office report that warned of potential violence citing online posts about a “war." Sund said he did see an intelligence report created within his own department warning that Congress could be targeted on Jan. 6. ”Sund and Irving disagreed on when the National Guard was called and on requests for the guard beforehand. A House subcommittee will examine damage to the Capitol on Wednesday and will hear testimony from currrent security officials, including Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman, on Thursday.

(AP Photo/Christian Chavez)WASHINGTON – After decades of failed attempts to pass comprehensive immigration legislation, congressional Democrats and President Joe Biden are signaling openness to a piece-by-piece approach. They unveiled a broad bill Thursday that would provide an eight-year pathway to citizenship for 11 million people living in the country without legal status. “Even though I support full, comprehensive immigration reform, I’m ready to move on piecemeal, because I don’t want to end up with good intentions on my hands and not have anything,” said Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin has said that any final Senate bill likely “will not reach the same levels” as Biden’s proposal. AdIndeed, comprehensive bills negotiated by bipartisan teams of lawmakers failed multiple times during Republican George W. Bush’s administration and again in 2013 during Democrat Barack Obama's.

Members of the National Guard help motorists check in at a federally-run COVID-19 vaccination site set up on the campus of California State University of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. FEMA opened its first COVID-19 inoculation sites in Los Angeles and Oakland, part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to get shots into arms more quickly and reach minority communities hit hard by the outbreak. In snowy Chicago, Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said more than a hundred city vaccine sites didn’t get shipments Tuesday because of the extreme weather, leading to many cancellations. The Los Angeles site is “proximate to a community that has been disproportionately impacted by this pandemic,” Gov. “The effort here is to address that issue forthrightly.”The Biden administration plans to establish 100 federally assisted vaccination sites nationwide in cooperation with state authorities.

DETROIT – New reports surfaced recently about the possibility of National Guard troops staying in Washington, DC until at least the fall of 2021. So at the end of the day just explain to us why we have the national guard troops,” she said. So far the Department of Defense estimates the total cost for the 26,000 guard members deployed is nearly $500 million. The state National Guard did not provide a cost estimate for the nearly 1,000 troops from Michigan. McClain on Monday accused Pelosi of playing politics with Michigan’s National Guard.

AdCaldwell's lawyer is urging the judge to release him, saying he denies being a member of the Oath Keepers or ever going into the Capitol building. The Virginia man is among more than 200 people charged with federal crimes so far in the deadly siege. He was charged with conspiracy last month alongside two other accused members of the Oath Keepers, who are accused of planning in advance to carry out violence. Authorities say Caldwell began plotting to undo President Joe Biden's victory as early as the days after the election. Prosecutors said the Oath Keepers communicated during the attack about the location of lawmakers.

YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Washtenaw County Health Department and St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor hospital have partnered to staff a new COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Eastern Michigan University. “Running this community vaccination clinic is a huge undertaking,” Dr. Juan Luis Marquez, medical director at the Washtenaw County Health Department said in a statement. “We are grateful to partner with St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor to both continue and expand our community vaccination efforts. Registration will be done through the Washtenaw County Health Department. A member of the national guard is seen assisting in COVID-19 vaccination efforts at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti.

National Guard troops reinforce the security zone on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president on Wednesday. Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON – The cost of deploying about 26,000 National Guard troops to secure the U.S. Capitol in the wake of the deadly Jan. 6 riot is nearly $500 million, U.S. military officials said Thursday. Thousands of Guard members poured into the nation's capital and were stationed across the city to block traffic and protect lawmakers and landmarks. Officials said the nearly $500 million includes the costs of transporting Guard troops from their states to Washington, their salaries and benefits, as well as housing and other essentials. AdOfficials say the money is expected to cover the costs of the Guard through mid-March, when the troops are expected to leave.

(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, Pool)WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is ordering military leaders to spend time talking to their troops about extremism in the ranks, after a number of former and current military members took part in the riot at the U.S. Capitol last month. Kirby said while extremism has been a problem in the military in the past, the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, which left five people dead, was a “wake-up call” for military leaders. AdRooting out extremism within the ranks — much like efforts to do away with racism and violence against women — is difficult. Service members may hold whatever political or other beliefs they want, but they are held to much stricter standards on actions they are allowed to take. Under the Code of Military Justice, service members can't actively advocate for extremist, supremacist or criminal gang doctrine, ideology or causes, or participate in any way.

During the last two months of his tenure, former acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller removed a number of longtime members from several defense policy, health, science and business boards and replaced many with loyalists of former President Donald Trump. And he ordered all committee members who were appointed by the defense secretary to resign no later than Feb. 16. In November, however, Trump appointed him to that same post, just days after firing then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper and putting Miller in the job. Miller appointed Tata to the Defense Policy Board on Jan. 19, his last full day on the job. AdOne new congressionally mandated commission is also being purged of the four members that Miller appointed in early January.

LANSING – Hundreds of Michigan National Guard members are being sent to Washington, D.C. after the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning that the deadly Jan. 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol Building could motivate more domestic terrorists. In a letter House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Michigan’s Congressional Republicans asked for “an immediate intelligence briefing” about why 1,000 troops from the state’s National Guard are being redeployed to protect Washington. Rep. Lisa McClain said she hasn’t been given a briefing by the speaker or congressional leaders about any imminent threats. Three GOP officials from Michigan -- including McClain -- still voted to object to election results after the insurrection that killed six people. National Guard troops are expected to stay in D.C. through March.

A group of Michigan members of Congress are seeking an intelligence briefing on the redeployment of the Michigan National Guard to Washington, D.C. It has come to our attention that 1,000 members of the Michigan National Guard will be returning to Washington, D.C. to assist with ongoing security efforts at the U.S. Capitol. It is also our understanding that this new assignment will require the Guard members to be in our nation's capital until mid-March. It is critical that there remains due justification to send members of Michigan's National Guard back to Washington, D.C. AdRelated: Michigan National Guard deploys additional troops to assist state with COVID-19 response

In this Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021 photo, riot fencing and razor wire reinforce the security zone on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Eileen Putman)WASHINGTON – The House’s chief law enforcement officer is tightening security for traveling lawmakers as Congress reassesses safety in an era when threats against members were surging even before Donald Trump’s supporters attacked the Capitol. Congress' 535 members travel frequently between their homes and the capital, and many have said they feel vulnerable in their districts and when they travel. The House members asked for tightened security procedures. President Joe Biden is in “close touch” with Pelosi about congressional security, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

National Guard troops patrol outside the Capitol as the security perimeter continues to shrink and many Guard units head home, two days after the inauguration of President Joe Biden on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021 in Washington. Members of both parties were irate about reports that Guardsmen were forced to take rest breaks outside the Capitol building. About 25,000 Guard members from across the country deployed to help secure President Joe Biden's inauguration, which went off with only a handful of minor arrests. First lady Jill Biden visited Guard troops outside the Capitol on Friday, bringing them cookies and thanking them for protecting her family. She noted that the Bidens’ late son, Beau, served in the Delaware Army National Guard.

They are, from left: Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda, age 54, from Rochester, NY; Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch, age 39, from Honeoye Falls, NY; and Chief Warrant Officer Two Daniel Prial, age 30, from Rochester, NY. (New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs via AP)MENDON, N.Y. – The three National Guard members killed when a helicopter crashed in an upstate New York field this week were experienced pilots with past deployments to Afghanistan, officials said Friday. Killed in the crash were Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda, 54, of Rochester, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch, 39, of Honeoye Falls, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial, 30 of Rochester, according to the National Guard. The crew had been conducting night vision goggle proficiency training in the local training area, the National Guard said. Skoda served in the Army from 1985 to 1987 and joined the National Guard 1987.

National Guard troops continue to be deployed around the Capitol one day after the inauguration of President Joe Biden, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)WASHINGTON – A day after President Joe Biden’s inauguration went off with only a handful of minor arrests and incidents, more than 15,000 National Guard members are preparing to leave Washington, D.C. and head home. The National Guard Bureau said Thursday that of the nearly 26,000 Guard troops deployed to D.C. for the inaugural, just 10,600 remain on duty. The bureau said the Guard is helping states with coordination and the logistics so that troops can get home. Guard members will have to turn in equipment, make travel plans and go through COVID-19 screening.

FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2021 photo provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner, National Guard members assisting with processing COVID-19 deaths, placing them into temporary storage at the medical examiner-coroner's office in Los Angeles. (Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner via AP, File)NEW YORK – Coronavirus deaths are rising in nearly two-thirds of American states as a winter surge pushes the overall toll toward 400,000 amid warnings that a new, highly contagious variant is taking hold. While the variant does not cause more severe illness, it can cause more hospitalizations and deaths simply because it spreads more easily. Although the state last week said anyone age 65 and older can start receiving the vaccine, Los Angeles County and some others have said they don’t have enough to immunize so many people. The death rate from COVID-19 in Los Angeles County — an epicenter of the U.S. pandemic — works out to about one person every six minutes.

He said Guard members are also getting training on how to identify potential insider threats. Multiple officials said the process began as the first Guard troops began deploying to D.C. more than a week ago. That could include involvement in prior investigations or terrorism-related concerns, said David Gomez, a former FBI national security supervisor in Seattle. Insider threats have been a persistent law enforcement priority in the years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, has been meeting with Guard troops as they arrive in D.C. and as they gather downtown.

At its busiest, close to two dozen armed protesters gathered, but they were significantly outnumbered by law enforcement. Lansing Mayor Andy Schor said there was no violence and no arrests were made. WATCH Local 4 News at 11Metro Detroit weather: Still slippery with flurries, snow showers Sunday eveningSnow showers continue Sunday evening. So far, a trace to a half-inch of snow has fallen Sunday. Another trace to half-inch is possible overnight.

LANSING, Mich. – Things were calm at the Capitol Building in Lansing Sunday. At its busiest, close to two dozen armed protesters gathered, but they were significantly outnumbered by police and National Guard. RELATED: Small numbers of protesters gather at fortified US capitolsLansing Mayor Andy Schor said there was no violence and no arrests were made. Timothy Teagan, who has attended protests in Michigan and other states, was armed with a rifle, cigarettes and beef jerky. More: Michigan law enforcement on armed Capitol protests this weekend: ‘We will be prepared’

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan law enforcement agencies are on high alert for expected armed protests at the Capitol in Lansing starting on Sunday. Michigan State Police, working with the Michigan National Guard and the FBI, have stepped up security around the Capitol and in surrounding areas, like Downtown Lansing. The FBI warned that armed protests are planned at all 50 state capitols leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration -- with protests expected Sunday in Michigan’s capital city. The Lansing Capitol Building will be closed over the weekend, and lawmakers will not be in session, amid the expected protests. More: Michigan law enforcement on armed Capitol protests this weekend: ‘We will be prepared’Follow updates from Local 4 reporters in Lansing below:

READ: Michigan AG asserts Lansing Capitol is unsafe as expected armed protest loomsThings were calm at the Capitol in Lansing Saturday night. Authorities installed six-foot barriers around the Capitol Building in preparation of armed protests Sunday. “I’m feeling much better regarding the events this weekend,” Nessel said. Michigan State Police troopers -- joined with members of the National Guard and Lansing police -- are ready for anything and everything. More: Michigan law enforcement on armed Capitol protests this weekend: ‘We will be prepared’

Military leaders spent chunks of Thursday evening and Friday calling states in an unprecedented appeal for more National Guard troops to help lock down much of the city in the days before President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. Kate Brown said she turned down the federal request to send at least 100 more National Guard troops to D.C. “I didn’t think that we could safely fill that commitment,” Brown said. Oregon has already agreed to send 30 to Washington, but state leaders are worried about violence at the state capitol in Salem. At that point, the new round of calls to the state governors and military leaders began. Roy Cooper initially agreed to send 200 Guard, and on Friday spokesman Ford Porter said the state will send 100 more.

State officials said Friday they have helped distribute 98 refrigerated trailers to help county coroners store dead bodies. There are now 98 of the trailers to help county coroners store bodies “with respect and dignity,” Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci said. California has received more than 3.5 million doses of the vaccine and has administered just over 1 million doses. Newsom said the state was on pace to exceed his goal of giving out roughly 1.5 million doses by Friday. While California has the second-highest number of deaths in the country, the state ranks 39th in the number of deaths per capita at 81.8.

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)LANSING, Mich. – Law enforcement agencies across Michigan are stepping up security measures at the Capitol and in surrounding areas to prepare for expected armed protests starting this weekend. Michigan State Police, working with the Michigan National Guard and FBI, says that have increased personnel and protective measures at the Capitol and in Downtown Lansing. The Lansing Police Department announced that there is an event planned for noon at the Michigan Capitol on Sunday, Jan. 17. “I can assure you that we take our responsibility for safeguarding the Capitol and those who work and visit here seriously and, together with our law enforcement partners, we will be prepared to ensure law and order.”On Friday, Michigan Gov. The FBI has warned local law enforcement agencies in all 50 states of possible armed protests at state Capitol buildings starting this weekend.

Vice President Mike Pence listens during a briefing about the upcoming presidential inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, at FEMA headquarters, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence has called his soon-to-be successor Kamala Harris to offer his congratulations, according to two people familiar with the conversation. Pence and Harris spoke Thursday afternoon and had a “good call," according to one of the people familiar with the conversation, with Pence congratulating Harris and offering his assistance. And in November 2016, Biden, Pence and their spouses met for lunch at the Naval Observatory after an earlier meeting at the White House. “I told Mike, the vice president-elect, that I'm available to him 24/7,” Biden said after the get-together.

LANSING, Mich. – Officials in Lansing are on high alert as new precautions are being taken ahead of expected protests Saturday and Sunday. After the deadly siege on the U.S. Capitol Building that left five dead, Michigan State Police raised the number of troopers patrolling Lansing. We just ask you do it safely and you respect our city, respect our state Capitol,” said Lansing Police chief Daryl Green. Militia group advises members to avoid protest at Michigan CapitolMichigan State Police are preparing for a protest expected Sunday at the state Capitol. A group that had planned to protest is now telling its members to avoid the Capitol.

Security surrounds the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Azar says he will resign at noon on Jan. 20, when President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in. TSA is also providing officers to help the Secret Service screen people along the parade route and attending Biden’s inauguration Wednesday. Pence’s call comes less than a week before President-elect Joe Biden and Harris are set to take office. President Donald Trump hasn’t reached out to Biden and has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of Biden’s win.

Members of the National Guard walk past the Dome of the Capitol Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. The initiation of multiple, simultaneous inquiries comes as failings in the government's preparation, coordination and response are coming into sharper focus more than a week after the riot. The Pentagon has said the Capitol Police turned down an offer for help days before the riot. At the Justice Department, the inspector general investigation will examine whether information was adequately shared by Justice to other agencies, including the Capitol Police, about the potential for violence. The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general office said it would look into the response of its component agencies, focusing in part on the Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

Michigan State Police are preparing for a protest expected Sunday at the state Capitol. A group that had planned to protest is now telling its members to avoid the Capitol. READ: State to install 6-foot fence around Michigan Capitol building ahead of possible armed protestsREAD: ‘Michigan Capitol is not safe’: AG Dana Nessel warns new ban on firearms not sufficientMichael and Wendy Lackomar are part of the Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia. Michael and Wendy said they are not sure if some of their militia will still go, but they think the protest may be calmer than expected. Michigan ‘prepared to respond accordingly’ if threat is made to state Capitol, Whitmer saysMembers of law enforcement are coordinating with the Michigan National Guard to make sure they’re prepared to respond to any sign of violence at the state Capitol, Gov.

As of Thursday, there are roughly 7,000 Guard members in Washington, with thousands more on the way. Officials say Guard members from all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, are deploying to the city. As of Thursday, there are roughly 7,000 Guard members in Washington, with thousands more on the way. Officials say 3,000 to 4,000 of those Guard members are armed. Pentagon officials approved requests to have some Guard members armed with either long guns or handguns, particularly those Guard members assigned near the U.S. Capitol.

Members of the National Guard walk past the Dome of the Capitol Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)WASHINGTON – All through downtown Washington, the primary sound for several blocks was the beeping of forklifts unloading more fencing. The number of National Guard troops coming to Washington to assist with security has so far grown to about 21,000, Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told Vice President Mike Pence at a briefing Thursday. National Guard members operate under strict rules of engagement on the use of force. D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee estimated Wednesday that more than 20,000 National Guard members would be active in the city on Inauguration Day.

___5:40 p.m.Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer vows there will be an impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, even if it’s after he leaves office and Democrat Joe Biden is inaugurated. If the House impeaches President Donald Trump, a Senate trial on whether to convict him of inciting insurrection seems all but certain to have to wait until President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated. ___1:05 p.m.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is suggesting that President Donald Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for promoting Arab-Israeli peace. ___12:45 p.m.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says President Donald Trump represents a “clear and present danger” to the nation and must be impeached. ___8:15 a.m.Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger is predicting more Republicans will join him in voting to impeach President Donald Trump.

With the Washington Monument in the background, people attend a rally in support of President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. The announcement comes after thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol last week as legislators were meeting to vote to certify Biden’s electoral win. The State Department is investigating what appears to be a “prank” after its website suggested President Donald Trump’s term would end Monday evening. It comes days after thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol to try to stop the congressional certification of Biden’s victory. The National Park Service is shutting down public access to the Washington Monument until Jan. 24, citing threats surrounding Joe Biden’s inauguration.

But given what we saw at the Capitol, people are very concerned that this could go in a much different direction. We’re at one of these moments where you’re going to see a transfer of power from not just one man to the next but one party to another. You’re going to see a significant shift in priorities from one administration to another. You’re going to see a changeover on Capitol Hill. But there are already some real concerns about what the Trump administration will leave the Biden administration, and whether that will hamper them at the start.

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON – Bracing for possible violence, the nation's capital has mobilized the National Guard ahead of planned protests by President Donald Trump's supporters in connection with the congressional vote expected Wednesday to affirm Joe Biden's election victory. Now with downtown D.C. businesses boarding up their windows, Mayor Muriel Bowser has requested a limited National Guard deployment to help bolster the Metropolitan Police Department. Because D.C. does not have a governor, the designated commander of the city’s National Guard is Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy. The D.C. Guard will provide specialized teams that will be prepared to respond to any chemical or biological incident. But the official said there will be no D.C. Guard members on the National Mall or at the U.S. Capitol.

The COVID-19 vaccination mission will be an ongoing endeavor as the Michigan National Guard works to stay in front of the demands of the healthcare system throughout the state. “The Michigan National Guard remains focused on supporting our communities, our neighbors, in this important task,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Across the state of Michigan, the National Guard also continues to support COVID-19 testing and assisting at local food banks. There are currently several hundred Michigan National Guard members supporting these missions. COVID-19 vaccination support by the guard is expected to continue into Spring 2021.

ANN ARBOR – Food Gatherers president and CEO, Eileen Spring, has been named United Way of Washtenaw County’s 2021 Woman of the Year. The award is given by UWWC’s Women United group to women who demonstrate leadership and commitment to the local community. Spring will be honored at UWWC’s annual “Power of the Purse” event on March 10, 2021, which will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Spring was central in developing a food security plan in response to the increased need due to the pandemic. From June 2019 to June 2020, Food Gatherers distributed 7.8 million pounds of food to those in need.

Gretchen Whitmer is asking President Donald Trump for an extension of the National Guard’s help to fight COVID-19 through March. Whitmer sent a letter to Trump requesting Title 32 authority be extended so the Michigan National Guard can continue aiding COVID-19 response and vaccine-related activities through March 31, according to state officials. Federal pay and benefits for the Michigan National Guard has already been authorized by Trump through the end of 2020. “The Michigan National Guard remains a crucial part of the state’s emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Guard is vital to our ongoing recovery as well,” Whitmer said. Michigan officials said in anticipation of rapid approval from the Food and Drug Administration, the state will look to the National Guard for help distributing the vaccine.

If any element of the military were to get involved, it would likely be the National Guard under state control. A look at the potential National Guard role in the election:WHAT MIGHT THE GUARD DO? National Guard leaders have bought additional protective equipment and have increased troop training on proper procedures during protests. If the president federalizes Guard troops, they are then under his control, not the governor's. Legal experts say two laws expressly forbid the use of active-duty or federalized National Guard troops at the polls.

Army leaders said Tuesday that they have not received any requests to use active-duty or National Guard troops for possible civil unrest surrounding the presidential election next month, but are ready to do so if called on. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said no government agencies have asked for military troops. Thousands of National Guard troops, however, were used in Washington and in states across the nation to help law enforcement. The Army leaders on Tuesday also addressed other issues surrounding possible unrest. He and other Army leaders sat socially distant during the event and wore masks whenever they were not speaking.

Floyd’s death was captured in widely seen bystander video that set off protests around the world. As darkness fell Wednesday evening, hundreds of people took to the streets in south Minneapolis where protests were centered in the days after George Floyd’s death. In Minnesota, someone who posts bond is required to pay 10%, in this case $100,000, to the bail bond company. Chauvin's wife, Kellie Chauvin, filed for divorce shortly after Floyd's death. The other three officers charged in Floyd's death had previously posted bond amounts of $750,000 and have been free pending trial.

The moves come as Defense Department and National Guard leaders work to address shortfalls that were identified in the military response to the June protests triggered by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. It was an incredibly challenging thing.”Governors can use National Guard troops for a variety of things, ranging from natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires, to assisting with border security and civil unrest. Military police from the Arizona National Guard were mobilized at least twice this year in support of law enforcement, including to Wisconsin and in response to protests in Phoenix in the wake of Floyd's death. During the June protests, governors used their own Guard troops and, in some cases sought and received forces from other states. At the peak, in early June, there were more than 43,000 Guard forces deployed across 34 states and the District of Colombia to help with civil unrest.

(AP Photo/Christian Chavez)MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s president called on politicians and angry farmers in northern Mexico Friday to allow the country to pay its water debt to the United States, noting he does not want Mexico to become an issue in the U.S. elections. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that unlike 2016, candidates in the November presidential race have been “respectful” of Mexico and he wants to keep it that way. “We are not ruling out that we can comply,” said López Obrador. The United States gives Mexico four times more water from the Colorado River farther west under the treaty, and Mexico is worried about the possibility of losing that. López Obrador accused protesters of ignoring the interests of the nation, saying the treaty is very advantageous for Mexico.

He said that after the retreat, three suspects approached a guard detail and threatened to throw the grenades at them. At that point, Rodríguez Bucio said, trucks driven by protesters overtook the national guard convoy taking the three suspects for booking. The United States gives Mexico four times more water from the Colorado River farther west under the treaty, and Mexico is worried about the possibility of losing that. In early SeptemberBut a short time later Wednesday, the National Guard said in a series of Twitter messages that it had arrested three people with tear gas projectiles and a gun magazine Tuesday night. The National Guard said shots were fired from the vehicles and troops returned fire.

LANSING, Mich. President Donald Trump has granted Gov. Gretchen Whitmers request to extend the Michigan National Guards coronavirus (COVID-19) relief assistance through the end of the year. The states use of the National Guard was set to expire Aug. 21 due to a previous deadline, but members of the Guard can now receive federal pay and benefits for helping with the Michigan COVID-19 response through Dec. 31. Since COVID-19 was first discovered in our state, the Michigan National Guard has been a crucial part of our emergency response, from conducting testing and screening, distributing personal protective equipment and assisting at food banks across the state Whitmer said. We need the president and Congress to work together in a bipartisan way to support states like Michigan.

Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday afternoon President Donald Trump declared a major disaster area for mid-Michigan counties affected by widespread and severe flooding and dam failures in May. “Seeing the people and businesses of these communities pull together to help one another after this 500-year flooding event continues to inspire me,” Whitmer said. She later expanded her declaration to include Iosco County. Persistent steady rain resulted in excessive two-day rainfall totals reaching record levels at some locations. MORE: ‘Looked like Niagra Falls’ -- Dam that created Wixom Lake gives way, flooding mid-Michigan communitiesMultiple residents impacted by the flood have taken part of two federal class-action lawsuits filed against the dam owners.

National Guard troops cross East Pike en route to the the East precinct of the Seattle Police Department, Monday, June 8, 2020, in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)SEATTLE A U.S. judge has ordered Seattle police to temporarily stop using tear gas, pepper spray and flash-bang devices to break up peaceful protests, a victory Friday for groups who say authorities overreacted to recent demonstrations over police brutality and racial injustice. SEATTLE (AP) Hundreds are gathering and marching in the rain and some businesses have temporarily closed in response to Black Lives Matter Seattle-King Countys call for a statewide general strike on Friday. Police largely left the station after nights of face-offs where police tear gassed protesters and some protesters threw objects at them. The Black Lives Matter event is happening southeast of Capitol Hill in the in the Central District neighborhood.