📚 Axios PM: Phone bans spread

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A growing number of states are banning cellphones in schools — almost always with bipartisan support, Axios' April Rubin reports.

☑️ Where it stands: Eight states have banned or restricted cellphones in schools.

• Education departments in another 10 states have issued policy recommendations or begun pilot programs to curb phone usage.
• And at least 11 states, as of December, were considering legislation to ban or restrict cellphone use in schools, per health nonprofit KFF.

📵 What they're saying: "It doesn't matter if you live in a big city or a rural town, urban or suburban, all children are struggling and need that seven-hour break from the pressures of phones and social media during the school day," Kim Whitman, co-founder of the Phone Free Schools Movement, told AP.

☎️ The other side: Those who oppose the bans, especially parents of K-12 students, argue that parents should be able to reach their children when needed.

• Many parents see cellphones as critical for safety and connectedness, especially in the face of emergencies like school shootings.

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These are the official portraits for President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Vance — "and they go hard," the transition said in a statement.

• With a raised eyebrow and a stone-faced stare, lit from below, Trump's portrait is reminiscent of his infamous mugshot, which became a powerful symbol for the MAGA faithful, Axios' Avery Lotz notes.

📷 The official portraits will hang in government offices across the country once Trump is sworn in.

3M's new docuseries "Green Works" spotlights five people tackling climate challenges through renewable energy, climate education, reforestation and more.

The reason: More people of all skill levels need to join the green economy to help combat climate change.

Learn about the project.

1. ⚾️ Bob Uecker — the beloved broadcast announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers — died at age 90. "Bob was the genuine item: always the funniest person in any room he was in, and always an outstanding ambassador for our National Pastime," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. Go deeper.
2. 🏦 Scott Bessent, Trump's nominee for Treasury secretary, endorsed stronger sanctions against Russia during his Senate confirmation hearing today. He also said the Fed should remain independent, but that Trump will "make his views known." Go deeper.
3. 🇮🇱 Israel delayed a Cabinet meeting to ratify the ceasefire deal with Hamas, but the U.S. still expects the agreement to take effect on Sunday. Go deeper.

Conan O'Brien will receive the Mark Twain Prize, celebrating his comedy career, the Kennedy Center announced today.

• O'Brien has been an important fixture in several eras of American comedy — from writing for "The Simpsons" and "Saturday Night Live" to taking over David Letterman's "Late Night" show in 1993.
• His irreverent but good-natured style earned him a loyal fan base that has stayed with him for decades, from NBC to his TBS show and now to a series of popular podcasts and web series.

🎤 "I am honored to be the first winner of the Mark Twain Prize recognized not for humor, but for my work as a riverboat pilot," O'Brien said in a statement.

• The ceremony will come just two weeks after O'Brien hosts the Oscars. It'll air on Netflix at a yet-to-be-determined date.

The 3M Young Scientist Challenge inspires students in grades 5-8 to develop creative solutions for real-world problems.

The idea: Nurture scientific thinking, collaboration and innovation among America's youth to help shape the next generation of problem-solvers.

Discover more.