Severe winter storms in California have left at least 16 people dead and a child missing after heavy rains and flash flooding across the state. Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose request to declare a federal state of emergency was approved by the White House, has called on the state's residents to remain "hyper-vigilant" ahead of what is expected to be several more days of severe weather. Nearly 200,000 homes and businesses were without power as of Tuesday morning, per PowerOutage.us. Read more.

The United States Supreme Court is tackling several key issues this term, having already heard oral arguments on major cases, and will be releasing important opinions in the coming months. From questions regarding immigration enforcement to race-based college admissions and First Amendment rights, these decisions could have a broad impact on judicial precedent and the lives of everyday Americans. Read CP's list of four Supreme Court decisions to pay attention to in 2023 here.

First-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner, 25, managed to save her entire class after she was intentionally shot in the hand and chest by a 6-year-old student as she taught at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Va. Zwerner, who is being hailed a "hero" for her bravery, was hospitalized in stable condition after Friday's shooting. During a Monday press conference, Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said the teacher's first concern was for her students. "When I met with Abigail’s family on Saturday, and they took me up to her [hospital] room, she asked me first question, ‘Do you know how my students are?’ She was worried about them," Drew said. The police chief stated that the legally purchased firearm belonged to the child's mother, and the boy hid it in his backpack and brought it to school. The shooter was taken into custody for evaluation at a nearby hospital and was ordered to be temporarily detained by a judge so he can receive treatment while the shooting is investigated. Read more.

Limited Run Games has fired an unnamed employee amid social media backlash for following several right-leaning Twitter accounts. The company’s announcement, which indicated the firing took place after an investigation, followed the publication of a Twitter thread chastising the company’s community manager as "a transphobe who follows a who's who of right-wing transphobic creeps." The community manager, who goes by the name Kara Lynne on Twitter, published a tweet in May 2016 contending that "If you think the # of trans crying about using a bathroom is higher than the perves using the excuse, you are what is wrong with this world." The tweet came at a time when policies allowing trans-identified people to use bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity as opposed to their biological gender grew as a subject of intense debate, especially as the Obama administration advised school districts nationwide to adopt such policies. Critics continue to voice concerns that such policies could be abused by those seeking to do harm. Lynne’s termination has sparked outrage against the video game company, including calls for boycotts. Read more.

In this editorial, Wallace B. Henley discusses artificial intelligence in light of AI machine XoXe. When asked about the existence of God, the machine indicated that it does not believe in God "because I have not seen any evidence that He exists." Henley asserts that XoXe won't ever see such "evidence" because it "is a contraption with a body of slick metal, a virtual soul, and no spirit" and is not a human being made in the image of God. "As human beings, our bodies are the 'temple of God.' We have the capacity for communing with Him, of sensing His presence and growing in our knowledge of Him. But without a spirit, how can XoXe ever have any 'evidence' for God’s Being?" Henley asks. Read more.

Activist and influencer Reagan Scott reflects on New Year's resolutions and why people should not wait for January 1 to get serious about accomplishing their goals. In concluding that the only necessary resolutions are those that make believers more Christ-like, Scott offers up a list of three of her goals as a mother, including fervently teaching her son the Word of God. Read the full list here.

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Texas lawmakers are returning to work Tuesday for the 88th legislative session and are expected to take up a bill that would prohibit schools from teaching elementary and middle school students about sexual orientation or gender identity. House Bill 631, introduced by Rep. Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands), would expand restrictions on teaching such curriculum "by school personnel or third parties" from kindergarten through the fifth grade or "in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards," while HB 1155, authored by Frisco Republican Rep. Jared Patterson, would extend that restriction until the eighth grade. The bills, which are similar to legislation signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last year, would require school districts to notify parents in the event school officials provide services involving a "student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being." They also call for the Texas Education Agency to "review and revise" best practices for school counselors and educators ahead of the 2024 school year. Read more.

"Resurrection," the much-anticipated sequel to "The Passion of the Christ," is set to begin filming this spring. The movie will depict the days between Christ's crucifixion and His resurrection. Jim Caviezel will reprise his role of Jesus, and Maia Morgenstern as Mary, Christo Jivkov as John, and Francesco De Vito as Peter. Caviezel shared details about the second installment of the hit with Breitbart News in 2020, saying, "It's going to be the biggest film in history." Despite its lack of industry support, the first film earned $612 million worldwide in 2004 with a production budget of just $30 million. Learn more.