1. New Congress Is Sworn In

2. The 115th Congress was sworn in yesterday on Capitol Hill, with the Republicans controlling both the House and the Senate. When President-elect Donald Trump takes office, it’ll be the first time in a decade the GOP is in charge of both houses of Congress and the White House. Starting at noon, the U.S. House of Representatives was convened. The election of the Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, commenced. After being sworn in, Ryan swore in all House Members of the 115th Congress. Elected and re-elected members of the U.S. Senate, approximately one third of the entire body, were sworn in at noon by outgoing Vice President Joe Biden. The Vice President also serves as President of the Senate. The oaths are required under the Constitution. As written in Article VI, “The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution.”

3. In Other News
Charles Manson, the cult leader whose followers committed heinous murders that shocked the nation almost a half century ago, has been hospitalized. One source reported that Manson, 82, is in serious condition. Manson is serving nine life terms for ordering a wave of killings in the summer of Manson was originally sentenced to death but the death penalty was briefly abolished in the state and his concurrent sentences were commuted to life in prison. Manson has been denied parole 12 times. His next parole hearing is set for 2027.
Janet Jackson,50, has given birth to a baby boy.