Friday, March 12, 2021

Wake-Up Call: Biden Wants Vaccines For All By May 1


President Biden said in a prime-time address last night, delivered on the one-year anniversary of the coronavirus being declared a pandemic, that he will make all states allow all adults to be eligible for a coronavirus vaccine by May 1st. However, he warned that actually administering all those vaccines will take time. He also said the administration is planning to launch a nationwide website to help people find vaccinations, addressing the frustrations Americans have been having in trying to get appointments.

In his 24-minute remarks from the White House East Room, Biden reflected back on the losses of life, businesses, financial security, and what he called "the details of life" as we remained separated from each other over the past year. He also looked forward to coming out from the shadow of the virus, telling Americans, "I need you to do your part," in getting vaccinated and urging friends and family members to do the same. He also urged that people continue to follow the guidelines of wearing masks and distancing so our progress is maintained. Biden offered hope that if Americans pull together, we will be able to gather with friends and family for Fourth of July celebrations, saying it would make this Independence Day also begin to, quote, "mark our independence from this virus."

Hours earlier, Biden signed his $1.9 trillion relief package into law, which he also spoke about during his address. It happened one day before had been expected, since the bill arrived at the White House earlier than anticipated. The White House said some people may begin getting direct deposits of their $1,400 direct payments this weekend.


➤THIRD-DEGREE MURDER CHARGE ADDED IN TRIAL OF EX-OFFICER ACCUSED IN GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING: The judge in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd last May restored a third-degree murder charge yesterday. An appellate court ruling in an unrelated case established new grounds to allow the third-degree charge. Chauvin is already facing charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter. A sixth juror was also added yesterday as jury selection in the case continued for a third day.

➤IMPEACHMENT PROBE LAUNCHED AGAINST CUOMO, MORE LAWMAKERS CALL FOR RESIGNATION: New York state Democrats launched an impeachment investigation against Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo yesterday and a majority of state legislators are now calling for his resignation. The heightened actions came one day after a Times Union report that an unidentified aide claimed Cuomo reached under her shirt and fondled her at the governor's mansion last year, the most serious of sexual harassment claims that have been made by several women in recent weeks. 

A lawyer for Cuomo said the state had reported the allegation to the Albany Police Department after the woman involved declined to do so herself. Cuomo has denied the accusation. Cuomo is also facing allegations that his administration hid how many nursing home residents died of Covid-19. In addition to the impeachment probe, a separate investigation of the sexual harassment allegations is being conducted by state Attorney General Letitia James.


➤UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS LOWEST SINCE EARLY NOVEMBER: Labor Department data out yesterday showed that the number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims fell to 712,000 last week, the lowest number since early November. That indicates fewer employers are cutting jobs amid a decline in coronavirus cases and an improving economy as business restrictions are eased. But while the first-time claims number is the lowest in months, it still remains historically high.

➤POLL...77 PERCENT SAY WORST OF PANDEMIC BEHIND US: After a historically devastating year caused by the coronavirus pandemic, a new CNN poll finds that Americans are finally feeling optimistic about the future. More than three-quarters, 77 percent, said the worst of the pandemic is now behind us, higher by 26 percentage points than it's been at any other point in the past year. The pandemic is still named as the top issue facing the country, but 30 percent feel that way now compared to 46 percent who said so in January. There's a wide gap by party, though, with 51 percent of Democrats saying the pandemic is the nation's most important issue compared to just 11 percent of Republicans. The more optimistic outlook comes as cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to fall from their peak in January, and as vaccinations continue to ramp up. But the poll reveals a partisan divide on the vaccines too, with 92 percent of Democrats saying they've gotten at least one dose of a vaccine or plan to get vaccinated, compared to just 50 percent of Republicans. 

➤IS THE FIVE-DAY COMMUTE OVER? NEW DATA SUGGESTS PEOPLE ONLY WANT TO WORK IN THE OFFICE TWO DAYS A WEEK: Some people have been working from home for about a year now, and it seems many don’t want to return to a five-day week of working in an office. A recent poll for Deloitte finds that those who can work from home would choose to continue to do so when restrictions ease, choosing to travel to an office only a couple of days of the week. On average, they said they would like to work in the office just two days a week. Experts predict that flexible working could help widen talent pools as geographical location becomes less important, and Chinese company Ctrip previously found that productivity increased by an average of 13 percent with its pre-pandemic working from home plan. Nicholas Bloom with Stanford Economics said in a 2020 report, “Working from home will be very much part of our post-Covid economy. The sooner policymakers and business leaders think of the implications of a home-based workforce, the better our firms and communities will be positioned when the pandemic subsides.”


➤DICTIONARY.COM ADDS HUNDREDS OF NEW ENTRIES FOR 2021: Dictionary.com has updated its database with hundreds of new words, many of which were inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, or the social and cultural movements of the last year. Two of the new words are “cromulent” and “embiggen,” which were inspired by a 1996 episode of “The Simpsons,” during a scene which hinged on the meanings of both of the nonsense words. Dictonary.com says “cromulent” means “acceptable or legitimate,” and that “embiggen” means “to make or become bigger.” Another word being added is “supposably,” which comes from the character Joey Tribbiani from the show “Friends.” Other terms added include “hybrid learning,” “superspreader,” and a new definition for the word “Zoom.” Other entries, like “doomscolling” (obsessively checking the internet for bad news) or “sleep hygiene” (trying to maintain our quality of sleep) were directly inspired by habits that many of us were partaking in during lockdown, too. And timely cultural terms being added include: “Critical Race Theory,” “BIPOC,” and “overpolice.”


➤MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL BANNING TRANSGENDER ATHLETES IN FEMALE SPORTS: Republican Governor Tate Reeves signed legislation yesterday banning transgender athletes from competing in girls and women's sports. Reeves had tweeted earlier this month that the measure would, quote, "protect young girls from being forced to compete with biological males for athletic opportunities." Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, called the legislation "unjust and discriminatory," saying it opens up transgender kids to, quote, "more harassment, abuse and violence." Legal challenges to the new law are expected. Mississippi is the second state to enact such a ban, after Idaho did so last year. At least 20 other states are considering similar legislation.

🏀DUKE OUT OF ACC TOURNAMENT DUE TO COVID CASE: Duke's men's basketball team had to pull out of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament yesterday due to a positive Covid-19 and the quarantining and contact tracing they'll have to do because of it. The ACC announced that Duke's quarterfinal game against Florida State scheduled for last night had been canceled. Duke athletics director Kevin White said the team's season is over, which ends their streak of 24 consecutive NCAA appearances. It was Duke's first positive Covid test all season.

🏀NBA FINES, SUSPENDS LEONARD FOR USING ANTI-SEMITIC TERM: Commissioner Adam Silver announced Thursday that the NBA had fined the Miami Heat's Meyers Leonard $50,000, the maximum allowed, and suspended him for one week after he used an anti-Semitic term while playing a livestreamed video game Monday. The Heat had said Tuesday that Leonard would be away from the team indefinitely. He will also be required to participate in a cultural diversity program. Silver called the comment "inexcusable and hurtful," but also said he believes Leonard is, quote, "genuinely remorseful." Leonard apologized Tuesday, saying he didn't know what the term meant.
 

🏌GARCIA LEADING AFTER FIRST ROUND OF PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Spain's Sergio Garcia is in first place after the opening round of The Players Championship at the TPC at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. He ended the day at 7-under 65, two strokes ahead of American Brian Harman. The first round was suspended because of darkness, with 21 players not able to finish.

🏈TEXANS REACH ONE-YEAR DEAL WITH INGRAM: The Houston Texans have reached a one-year deal with former Baltimore Ravens running back Mark Ingram that's worth up to $3 million, ESPN reported yesterday. Ingram was released by the Ravens in January after two years. The 31-year-old, who won a Heisman Trophy while at Alabama, had previously been with the New Orleans Saints for his first eight seasons.

⚾MLB TESTING OUT RULES CHANGES IN THE MINOR LEAGUES: MLB said yesterday  that it will be experimenting with several rules changes in the minor leagues this season. They will include an automated strike zone, restrictions on defensive positioning, larger bases, restrictions in pitchers' ability to hold baserunners, and on-field timers. The league said the goal is to, quote, "increase action on the basepaths, create more balls in play, improve the pace and length of games, and reduce player injuries."
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