A Newtown panel voted to build a new school at the site of the Sandy Hook shooting.

Despite residents being divided on the decision, Newtown First Selectman Patricia Llodra believes the panel did everything they could.

"We all wanted a wonderful solution that would satisfy everyone and we realized that wasn't going to happen," she said. "We did the best we could do."

The plan includes the current school being demolished and reconstructed in the next 21 months.

On December 14, Adam Lanza killed 20 students and six teachers before killing himself.

Surviving students will remain at Chalk Hill School in Monroe until the new school is built.

President Obama encouraged America to remember the Sandy Hook massacre on Thursday.

During a press conference at The White House, Obama stressed the need for Americans to remember to advocate for change.

"Less than 100 days ago that happened and the entire country was shocked," he said. "And the entire country pledged we would do something about it and that this time we would be different. Shame on us if we've forgotten."

Last December, 20 children and 6 teachers lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

 Watch a clip of Obama's speech(below):

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Major League Baseball will honor Sandy Hook victims with a moment of silence before every 2013 Opening Day.

The tribute will take place before every game played on March 31 - April 2.

Players, coaches, and team personnel will also wear patches dedicated to the 26 victims who lost their lives.

"The unimaginable tragedy that befell  Newtown, Connecticut will never be forgotten," said Commissioner Bill Selig. "Major League Baseball, all 30 clubs and baseball fans from around the country and Canada offer our deepest sympathies and our unbridled support as the community continues to heal from this heartbreaking day."

20 children and 6 adults were killed during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that took place in December.

Officials confirm shooting at Prince Middle School in Atlanta, Georgia.

Two people have been injured in the shooting, including a 14 year old student.

The school has been placed on lockdown.

Three suspects have been taken into custody.

Watch live coverage of the shooting (below):

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Gabrielle Giffords, a former representative, who survived a shot to the head during an assassination attempt two years ago, begged Congress to put an end to gun violence on Wednesday.

"Too many children are dying. We must do something," she said. "Violence is a big problem. It will be hard. But the time is now. You must act. Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are counting on you."

Giffords husband Mark Kelly, a former astronaut also spoke at the hearing.

"The holes in our laws make a mockery of the background check system. Congress should close the private sales loophole, and the dangers people entered into that system." he said. "Gabby and I are pro-gun ownership. But we are also anti-gun violence. When dangerous people get dangerous guns, we are all more vulnerable."

This congressional hearing is the first since President Obama introduced his proposals to curb gun violence.

Wayne La Pierre, CEO of the NRA, believes that gun violence opponents should focus on mental health issues rather than banning assault weapons.

"The problem with gun laws is, criminals don't cooperate with them. The mentally ill don't cooperate with them," he said. "Law-abiding gun owners will not accept blame for the acts of violent or deranged criminals, nor do we believe the government should dictate what we can lawfully own and use to protect our families...We need to be honest about what works and what does not work. Proposals that would only serve to burden the law-abiding have failed and will fail in the future."

Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly will meet with President Obama later today.

Watch Gabrielle Giffords' call to action ( below):

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President Barack Obama announced proposals to ban assault weapons and to hold mandatory background checks for all gun buyers on Wednesday.

"We can't put this off any longer," Obama said to an audience that included relatives of Sandy Hook victims.

The National Rifle Association disagree with the effectiveness of Obama's proposals and plan to work against them.

The association released a statement saying,

"Attacking firearms and ignoring children is not a solution to the crisis we face as a nation. Only honest law-abiding gun owners will be affected and our children will remain vulnerable to the inevitability of more tragedy."

The president also has announced 23 steps he will take immediately without the approval of Congress.

He plans to improve background checks, revive federal research on gun violence, and put more resource officers in schools.

Watch the President's announcement (below):


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(via whitehouse.gov)

President Barack Obama refused debt ceiling negotiations with Republicans on Monday.

"If the goal is to make sure that we are being responsible about our debt and our deficit - if that's the conversation we're having. I'm happy to have that conversation," Obama said during a news conference. "What I will not do is have that negotiation with a gun at the head of the American people."

Republican leaders are asking for spending cuts to accommodate the increasing debt ceiling.

House of Representative Speaker John Boehner said, "The American people do not support raising the debt ceiling without reducing government spending at the same time."

If Congress does not raise the debt ceiling in time, the United States economy will go into default from inability to pay for government obligations.

Watch Obama's news conference (below):

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