A code of conduct for SCOTUS

Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY
·4 min read
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The Supreme Court adopted its first code of conduct. Hospitals in war-torn Gaza City are in peril amid fuel shortage. And Jill Biden wants answers about better care for women's health issues.

👋 Hey! Laura Davis here. Hope you had a nice weekend! It’s time for Monday’s news.

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Ethics pressure leads to first code of conduct

For the first time in its 234-year history, the Supreme Court announced Monday that it's adopting a code of conduct − a response to a litany of recent controversies involving private jet travel and posh vacations accepted by some justices that polls suggest has undermined public faith in the nation's highest court. The code, which the court said was agreed to by all nine members, includes guidance about accepting payment for travel and connections with political parties involved in cases before the court, among other things. But the code itself included no enforcement mechanism – an omission the court's critics immediately focused on. 🔎 Here's what to know.

Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts arrives before President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol on Feb. 7 in Washington.
Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts arrives before President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol on Feb. 7 in Washington.

Biden calls for sparing Gaza hospitals crippled by fighting

Public health officials say hospitals in Gaza City are in peril amid a fuel shortage that's rendered them inoperable as escalating combat between Israeli ground forces and militants approaches the facilities. At Al Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in Gaza, Israeli ground forces are closing in as more than 3,500 staffers, patients and sheltering civilians remain inside. Israeli military officials say several hospitals are housing Hamas militants, either inside the facilities or in tunnels beneath them. Hamas officials denied the claims.

  • President Joe Biden said Monday the hospitals "must be protected'' and expressed a desire for "less intrusive action'' from the Israeli military in its battle against Hamas. 👉 Follow our coverage for live updates.

Palestinians react as civilians, injured in Israeli raids, arrive at Nasser Medical Hospital on Nov. 13 in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Heavy fighting rages in the northern Gaza Strip as Israel encircles the area, despite increasingly pressing calls for a cease-fire. The leaders of the main U.N. agencies issued a rare joint statement to express their indignation.

📬 Sign up for USA TODAY's Israel and Hamas war newsletter to receive weekday updates on the escalating conflict.

What everyone's talking about

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Why can't women get better care for menopause, heart attacks?

The first lady wants some answers. Women aren't getting the care they need when it comes to menopause, heart attacks and other health issues, according to the Biden administration. Now, first lady Jill Biden is giving the administration 45 days to amp up efforts to change that. The goal is to try and correct the fact that women have been understudied and underrepresented in health research – despite making up more than half the population. “If you ask any woman in America about her health care, she probably has a story to tell," Biden said Monday. The effort will prioritize areas of research where additional investments could make a big difference. 🩺 What we know.

First lady Jill Biden tours the National Cancer Institute with Jodie Haydon (not pictured), partner of of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md., on Oct. 25. The visit today showcases the collaboration between U.S. and Australian researchers in pediatric cancer research
First lady Jill Biden tours the National Cancer Institute with Jodie Haydon (not pictured), partner of of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md., on Oct. 25. The visit today showcases the collaboration between U.S. and Australian researchers in pediatric cancer research

APEC summit cranks up in San Francisco

Amid talks of San Francisco's downward spiral, or "doom loop," the city has been busy prepping to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, which is being held in the U.S. for the first time since 2011. Leaders from the 21-member APEC group are gathered in San Francisco to talk about how to better spur trade and economic growth across the Pacific region. Can APEC spark a bounce back in San Francisco amid a longstanding homelessness crisis, rising crime and the exodus of major retail outlets? 👉 Take a closer look.

A break from the news

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hello: laura@usatoday.com. This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court's code of conduct, Gaza hospitals, APEC: Monday's news