Patch Morning Briefing: Storm Fallout; Immigration Ban Stalls Again; And Coffee Taxes

Good morning! You're not dreaming, it's really Friday. Here's what you need to know before the weekend.

TO THE SUPREME COURT, WE GO!

President Trump and his team are likely gearing up for a continued judicial battle after losing another case against the administration's immigration ban. This time, three judges in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled unanimously against the order, rejecting a bid to reinstate the suspended ban. Unsurprisingly, Trump was not too happy about this, which he made clear — where else? — on Twitter:

Hillary Clinton — a former secretary of State who readers may be familiar with — produced the following tweet to represent the unanimous ruling:

WINTER STORM NIKO SLAMS THE NORTHEAST

Some schools are canceled again today as cities are cleaning up the remnants of one of the strongest storms yet this winter. Niko delayed planes, trains and commutes, knocking out power in certain regions. Its impact stretched from Baltimore up through Maine. (Patch)

CONWAY IN HOT WATER

Senior counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway may face "disciplinary action" after endorsing Ivanka Trump's brand on "Fox and Friends." This is a big no-no under federal ethics rules, at least according to Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. In a letter to the Office of Governmental Ethics, Chaffetz noted that punishment for a first offense of this kind can range from a 5-day suspension to dismissal. But the final decision is likely up to Trump. (Patch)

QUICK HITS

Wells Fargo Pulls Plug On Coin Counting Machines, Following National Trend (Patch)

Immigration Sweeps Around Southern California Round Up Residents At Their Homes (Patch)

Happily Ever After: Police Recover Stolen Wedding Gown (Patch)

Oregon Considers Coffee Tax: And You Thought The Boston Tea Party Was Something? (Patch)

TOWN HALLS GET ROWDY

Just as conservative activists protested at town halls with lawmakers under President Obama, liberal activists are doing the same under Trump. Here's last night's town hall in Utah with Chaffetz, who heads the committee that has investigative power over the executive branch:

SELFIES FOR ME, BUT NOT FOR THEE

A new survey finds an odd paradox in a ubiquitous but controversial art form.

(Patch)

HAPPY FEAST OF ST. PAUL'S SHIPWRECK

OK, this one's a little weird, but bear with me. Malta, a tiny country off the coast of Italy with around half a million people, happens to have the most public holidays in the entire European Union. Feb. 10 marks St. Paul's return to Jerusalem, where he wrecked his ship, according to the Bible. Since St. Paul is the patron saint of Malta, the government has made the celebration a public holiday.

A TINY PART OF THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE'S LARGEST PHOTO

THE BENEFITS OF DRIVING LESS

Car wrecks have declined in the United States, meaning fewer deaths and injuries, because people are driving less often. But it seems people aren't replacing this with other forms of transportation; they're just staying at home.

(CityLab)

MICHAEL FLYNN AND THE RUSSIAN CONNECTION

According to a late-night report from the Washington Post, contrary to public statements, the national security adviser discussed sanctions with Moscow before Trump's inauguration. The Post explains: "Flynn’s communications with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak were interpreted by some senior U.S. officials as an inappropriate and potentially illegal signal to the Kremlin that it could expect a reprieve from sanctions that were being imposed by the Obama administration in late December to punish Russia for its alleged interference in the 2016 election."

(Washington Post)

MARCO RUBIO PLEADS FOR CIVIL DEBATE

Photo credit: Alisdare Hickson