Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar has apologized for tweets suggesting that members of Congress support Israel because they are being paid to do so, which drew criticism from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The Minnesota Democrat said she had no intention of offending anyone, including Jewish Americans.

Retired astronaut Mark Kelly, who became a prominent gun-control advocate after his wife, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was shot in a failed assassination attempt, announced that he will run to finish John McCain’s last term in the U.S. Senate. If Kelly is nominated, the race would pit a Navy veteran and astronaut against a trailblazing Air Force pilot in the contest to replace McCain, a legendary Navy flyer who was famously shot down and held captive.

With winter snowstorms pummeling the Northwest again, schools closed across Washington state and the Legislature canceled all hearings Monday as a larger weather system wreaked havoc in the region and even brought snow to Hawaii. Hawaii officials said the blanket of snow at Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area is likely the first for any state park. Polipoli is at 6,200 feet and is possibly the lowest elevation snow ever recorded in the state.

Amanda Strodtman can be reached at stro9553@stthomas.edu.