Israel Expands Gaza Operations, Refinery Fire, NFL Draft in DC & More | CBS News 24/7

Israel's Intensified Offensive in Gaza

• 🇮🇱 Israel's cabinet has approved plans to intensify its offensive in Gaza, aiming to seize more territory and call up additional troops.
• 🕊️ Families of hostages do not support an escalation and want their family members returned, with approximately 59 hostages remaining, 24 believed to be alive.
• 🇵🇸 Israeli officials aim to control aid centers and corral Palestinians into the south, with a potential operating center for aid in Rafah.
• 🇮🇷 Prime Minister Netanyahu vows retaliation against Houthi rebels, blaming Iran for missile strikes that temporarily shut down Israel's main airport.

Refinery Fire and Environmental Concerns

• 🔥 A large fire broke out at the Valero Oil Refinery in Benicia, California, producing a significant plume of black smoke visible from highways.
• ⚠️ Residents in the affected area were advised to stay indoors, close windows, and avoid breathing the smoke due to unknown air quality impacts.
• 🏭 The refinery has been in the news recently regarding significant operational changes, including potentially ceasing oil processing by next year.

White House Announcements and Political Developments

• 🏈 Washington D.C. will host the 2027 NFL Draft, announced by President Trump on the National Mall.
• 🇺🇸 President Trump is also exploring a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the U.S., stating the domestic movie industry is in decline.
• 🤝 The President is meeting with Russian-American ballerina Ksenia Karelina, who was released from Russian prison.
• 🏛️ House Republicans are working to pass President Trump's legislative agenda, with key hearings and markups scheduled for a reconciliation bill.

Legal and Social Issues

• ✡️ A Temple University student is suspended for an anti-Semitic sign at a bar, leading to an investigation and condemnation from the university president.
• ✈️ Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling for a full investigation into ongoing delays at Newark Airport, citing staffing shortages and outdated technology.
• ⚖️ Jury selection has begun for the federal racketeering and sex trafficking case against Sean "Diddy" Combs.
• 🚢 A rescue operation is underway in San Diego after a boat capsized at Tory Pines State Beach, with multiple fatalities and unaccounted individuals, suspected to be a human smuggling incident.

International and Weather Updates

• 🇻🇦 Cardinals are preparing for the conclave to elect a new pope in Vatican City, with diverse representation from around the globe.
• ⛈️ The East Coast and Northeast are expecting a rainy and cool week, with potential for flash flooding in the South due to two storm systems.
• 🇧🇷 Police in Brazil arrested two individuals in connection with an alleged bomb plot targeting a Lady Gaga concert.
• 🌊 Dozens were rescued from a sinking boat in Miami Beach; no one was reported injured.
• 🏝️ President Trump has suggested reopening Alcatraz as a functioning prison, a proposal facing practical and cost-related questions.