Plus Pages

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

The AM Rundown: COVID Reliefs Bill Passes



As expected, both houses of Congress quickly passed the $900 billion economic relief package that was agreed upon over the weekend. It now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature. The new measure includes a $600 check to most adult Americans. It also provides additional unemployment benefits of up to $300 a week for eleven weeks. The ban on evictions from rentals will be continued. More money also was added to the federal program that provides food assistance to those in need.

The legislation requires that the $600 checks be paid by January 15th but they are expected to go out sooner. 

➤FIND OUT WHEN YOU CAN GET THE VACCINE: A new online tool can help you estimate how long it will be before you can get a COVID-19 vaccination. The app, created by Ariadne Labs and the Surgo Foundation, bases its estimate on where you live, your job, your age, and your general health status,

➤BRITAIN IN ISOLATION: Nations around the world have shut their borders to Great Britain as people there go into isolation to ward off a new and highly infectious strain of the coronavirus. Most European nations have already banned travel from Britain. The U.S. had not yet decided on a ban as of late yesterday. Meanwhile, scientists are conducting tests to determine whether the vaccines now available are equally effective against this new mutant strain of the virus.


➤CHEATING SCANDAL AT WEST POINT: It seems that virtual exams are too much temptation even for students at West Point. The U.S. Military Academy is accusing 73 students of cheating on a calculus test that was administered remotely on the honor system. It is the largest cheating scandal at the academy since 1976. Most of the students have been placed in a program of after-hours classes on ethics and the honor code.


➤VOLCANO ON HAWAII'S BIG ISLAND ERUPTS: A volcano has erupted on the southeast corner of Hawaii's Big Island. Authorities have warned hundreds of residents who live nearby to shelter from the wind-driven ash but there were no immediate worries about threats to life. The U.S. Geological Society reports that the eruption began at about midnight December 20th, with lava flowing down the side of the volcano and boiling away a lake.


➤ROBERT E. LEE BOOTED FROM U.S. CAPITOL: A statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee has been removed from the United States Capitol where it has stood in the National Statuary Hall alongside George Washington for the past 111 years. The statue is one of the state of Virginia's contributions to the hall. It will be replaced by a statue of civil rights icon Barbara Johns, who led a student march for equal education in Farmville, Virginia, at the age of 16.


➤BURGER KING JUST ADDED A TON OF $1 MENU ITEMS: Burger King is adding a number of $1 items to its menu. Beginning on Monday (December 28th) you can get a classic Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Jr. sandwich, value fries, or a value soda for just $1. The prices will only last for a limited time.

➤TGI FRIDAYS OFFERING THE CLUCK-IT BUCKET TO CLOSE OUT 2020: TGI Fridays wants to help you kiss 2020 goodbye. The chain is doing this by introducing the Cluck-It Bucket. They say between December 26th, 2020 and January 12th, 2021, guests get Cluck-It Bucket for $20.20. Each is considered a shareable entrée—with boneless or bone-in wings, or even the brand’s chicken tenders—with your choice of sauce.


🏈PRO BOWL ROSTER ANNOUNCED: Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers will be the star quarterbacks in the 2021 AFC and NFC Pro Bowl rosters, announced yesterday on NFL Network. The game was originally scheduled for January 31st in Las Vegas, but it had to be canceled due to COVID-19. The NFL and EA Sports are now planning a week-long series of matchups featuring celebrities, NFL legends and current players, culminating in a virtual Pro Bowl game that is still TBA.

🏈VOLUNTEERS OPT OUT: The Tennessee Volunteers have opted out of their scheduled December 31st game against West Virginia's Mountaineers at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Coach Jeremy Pruitt and a number of players and other coaches have tested positive for COVID-19, the school announced.

The Vols' loss is the Black Knight's gain. The Army football team will play West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl on December 31st in place of Tennessee. Fans of the Black Knights went ballistic when the team was initially left out of the college football postseason.

🏈NORTH CAROLINA'S SURRATT TO ENTER DRAFT: University of North Carolina star linebacker Chazz Surratt has decided to enter the 2021 NFL Draft. That means he will pass on the Orange Bowl.

🏀LUKE KENNARD GETS A BIG DEAL: L.A. Clippers guard Luke Kennard has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the team. ESPN reports that he's getting $64 million with the new contract.


⚾LA RUSSA GETS A PLEA DEAL: Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge, allowing him to avoid jail time related to his arrest for driving under the influence in Phoenix 10 months ago. La Russa, who is 76, will pay a fine of $1,383 and serve 20 hours of community service.

🏈LINEBACKER KEVIN GREENE DIES AT 58: Hall of Fame linebacker Kevin Greene has died at the age of 58. The cause of death was not released. Greene played for 15 seasons starting in 1985 with the Los Angeles Rams, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers. He later coached for the Green Bay Packers and the New York Jets. He is survived by his wife and two children.

No comments:

Post a Comment