Government shutdown 2019: News and updates for Saturday, Jan. 19

It's been almost a month. The partial government shutdown, amid a dispute over President Donald Trump's demand for $5.7 billion for a border wall, reached day 29 on Saturday. But there were hopeful signs. 

Here's a look at today's shutdown news: 

Trump makes offer, but sticks to $5.7 billion demand

The president made a speech on border security shortly after 4 p.m., touting a new plan to reopen the government that he said offered "lots of compromise." 

The plan he offered would:

• Provide $5.7 billion in border funding, which Democrats have previously said they would not support. 
• Provide a three-year extension of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for 700,000 people brought illegally into the country as children, along with a three-year extension for 300,000 people with temporary protected status.
• Provide $800 million to address urgent humanitarian needs.
• Provide $805 million for new drug detection technology at ports of entry.
• Hire 2,750 new border agents and law enforcement officials.
• Create 75 new immigration judge teams to deal with the backlog of cases.
• Reform the family reunification process, although Trump didn't offer much detail on those reforms.
• Allow children to apply for asylum in their countries of origin.

The president did not declare a national emergency, as he had threatened to do in the past, but did say he had promised during his campaign to fix the immigration crisis and would keep that promise "one way or another." 

The odds that Democrats will be enthusiastic about this proposal don't seem good. Before the speech, Democrats had said the deal as reported wouldn't be enough to bring about a deal to end the shutdown, citing the money for what they called an ineffective wall, and a lack of a path to citizenship for qualified migrants, USA Today reported. 

USA Today:Trump offers DACA protections in exchange for border wall; Democrats opposed

The Washington Post cited a senior House Democratic aide as saying the offer would not be a compromise because it would still include the demand for $5.7 billion for a wall and that it didn't offer a permanent fix for the DACA issue. 

Washington Post: Trump offers 3-year-extension of protection for 'dreamers' in exchange for $5.7 billion for wall; Democrats call it a 'non-starter'

Democrats shift strategy

In an effort to counter the president's portrayals of Democrats as opponents of border security – and to gain more control of the debate, "House Democrats have added more than $1 billion in border-related spending" to a package of bills that would reopen the government, the New York Times reported. 

Previously, Democrats had refused to negotiate until the government reopened, the Times noted. 

New York Times: House Democrats add $1 billion in border-related spending to measures to reopen government

Air travel under heavy strain in shutdown

While travelers may see effects of the shutdown at airports, like long lines, other hidden problems are taking a toll, Politico reported. They include cancellation of pilot training, delays in purchasing equipment and planes, and federal employees not showing up for work. 

Politico: Shutdown squeezes every part of air travel

Bush buys pizza for Secret Service working without pay

No, that's not a headline from 2005 (in fact, there were no shutdowns during George W. Bush's presidency).

But former presidents get security protection, and Bush delivered pizzas to his detail on Friday to thank them for working without pay during the shutdown, Fox News reported. He also urged government leaders to end the shutdown. 

Fox News: George W. Bush delivers pizza to Secret Service detail working through shutdown

Paypal offers help to federal employees

Online payment site PayPal joined the many businesses making special offers to furloughed federal employees on Friday. Paypal said it would offer federal employees loans of $500 without interest via PayPal Credit, CNBC reported. 

CNBC: PayPal offers up to $500 credit for federal employees affected by shutdown

More shutdown coverage: 

Wilmington's poor fear losing assistance if government shutdown continues

Federal court employees will work without pay after next week