Trump impeachment trial, March for Life rally, Eli Manning: 5 things you need to know Friday

Editors, USA TODAY

House Dems close opening arguments in Trump impeachment trial

House Democrats will be focusing on President Donald Trump's obstruction of congress when they complete their opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial Friday. On Thursday, Democratic impeachment managers attempted to persuade senators that the evidence presented in part of one of their opening arguments is grounds for Trump's removal from office based on the Constitution. Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said the articles of impeachment "are overwhelmingly supported by the evidence amassed by the House, notwithstanding the president’s complete stonewalling, his attempt to block all witnesses and all documents from the United States Congress.”

Trump to become first president to attend March for Life rally

As states and reproductive rights groups battle in courtrooms over the harshest crackdowns on abortion access in decades, tens of thousands of people are set to take to the street Friday calling for an end to the practice. President Donald Trump will attend the rally in Washington, D.C., making him the first president ever to join the annual event protesting abortion. This is the 47th year of the event, which is held around the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. Last year alone, 58 anti-abortion laws were passed, including 25 that banned the procedure to some extent, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports reproductive rights.

New visa restrictions targeting 'birth tourism' take effect

Some pregnant women will face a more difficult path to obtain a U.S. visa under new federal guidelines taking effect Friday. Under the guidelines, which are aimed at curbing "birth tourism," applicants deemed by consular officers to be coming to the U.S. primarily to give birth will now be treated like other foreigners coming to the U.S. for medical treatment — they must prove they have the money to pay for it. The State Department said the change "will help prevent operators in the birth tourism industry from profiting off treating U.S. citizenship as a commodity."

China building a hospital to treat coronavirus, expands lockdowns ahead of Lunar New Year

Transportation was shut down in at least 10 Chinese cities with a total of about 33 million people Friday, as the country tried to halt the spread of coronavirus. The new illness that is sweeping across the nation has killed at least 26 people and sickened more than 800. On the eve of the Lunar New Year, lockdowns were in place Friday in Wuhan, where the virus has been concentrated, and nine of its neighbors in central China’s Hubei province. The Wuhan government said Friday it was building a designated hospital with space for 1,000 beds. On Thursday, the World Health Organization declined to categorize coronavirus as a global health emergency, saying there is no evidence of human-to-human infection outside China. Earlier this week, U.S. health officials announced a Washington state native had contracted the virus. The man, in his 30s, had recently visited Wuhan and was in good condition at a local hospital. Airports in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta and San Francisco have stepped up health checks for passengers arriving from China.

Eli Manning to officially announce retirement from NFL

Longtime quarterback Eli Manning, 39, announced he will officially retire Friday, ending an era for the New York Giants. Manning was in the NFL for 16 seasons, went to four Pro Bowls, and won two Super Bowl MVPs. "For 16 seasons, Eli Manning defined what it is to be a New York Giant both on and off the field," Giants co-owner John Mara said in a statement, hailing him as "one of the very best players in franchise history." Manning finishes his career ranked seventh in NFL history in both passing yards and touchdowns. He also had a career 60.3% completion rate.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March for Life, Senate impeachment trial and 5 things to know Friday.