Monday, August 2, 2021

Wake-Up Call: Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation Finalized


The nearly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure legislation was unveiled last night after being finalized in a rare weekend session. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said a final vote on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could be held, quote, "in a matter of days." Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, one of the lead negotiators, said last night that it shows, quote, "we can put aside our own political differences for the good of the country." Another negotiator, Republican Senator Rob Portman, said the legislation will be, quote, "great for the American people." Among the new investments in the massive bill, it's expected to provide $110 billion for roads and bridges, $39 billion for public transit, $66 billion for rail and $55 billion for water and wastewater infrastructure, as well as billions or dollars for for airports, ports, broadband internet and electric vehicle charging stations.

➤FAUCI WARNS THINGS WILL GET WORSE AMID DELTA VARIANT SURGE: Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning that things are going to get worse amid the Covid-19 surge that's being driven by the delta variant, saying on ABC's This Week yesterday that more, quote, "pain and suffering" is coming. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, doesn't envision there being more lockdowns in the U.S., however, because enough people are vaccinated to avoid a repeat of the worst of last winter. However, he continued to urge people to get vaccinated, saying there aren't enough Americans vaccinated to, quote, "crush" the latest surge. 


In some good news, the delta surge seems to be convincing some people to get vaccinated, with Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, saying on CNN that vaccinations are up 56 percent in the U.S. in the last two weeks. Collins also said the the vaccines are working, quote, "extremely well" against the delta variant.

Meanwhile, Florida on Sunday broke its previous record for current hospitalizations, which was set more than a year ago before there were vaccines. The state reported yesterday that it had 10,207 people hospitalized with Covid, breaking its previous record of 10,170 from July 23, 2020. Florida is now leading the nation in per capita hospitalizations for Covid.


➤PELOSI, HOUSE DEMOCRATS CALL ON ADMINISTRATION TO EXTEND EVICTION MORATORIUM: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats yesterday called on the administration to extend the nation’s eviction moratorium. The moratorium that was implemented last year to protect people who were suffering financially amid the pandemic expired as of Saturday at midnight, and an estimated 3.6 million Americans are at risk of being evicted as early as today. The administration has said that a Supreme Court ruling means they can't extend the moratorium anymore and it has to be done by Congress. But Democrats were unable to get legislation passed quickly to do so. Some Democratic lawmakers said they were surprised when President Biden announced last Thursday that he wouldn't extend the moratorium.

➤TIKTOK STAR ANTHONY BARAJAS, SHOT IN MOVIE THEATER, HAS DIED: Nineteen-year-old TikTok star Anthony Barajas has died after having been on a life support since he and a friend was shot inside a Corona, California, movie theater, police and his family said Saturday. The friend, 18-year-old Rylee Goodrich, died after the shooting. Barajas and Goodrich were watching The Forever Purge last Monday when they were shot in the head. They were found by a theater employee after the last showing of the night. Police say the 20-year-old suspect, Joseph Jimenez, acted alone, and there's no indication he knew either of the victims, or that Barajas' TikTok fame played a role, calling the murders "completely unprovoked."

➤SARAH PALIN SUGGESTS SHE MAY RUN FOR SENATE FROM ALASKA:   After being everywhere for a while after she shot to fame as the Republicans' 2008 vice presidential nominee, Sarah Palin has largely been out of the headlines in recent years. But it looks like she might be eyeing a comeback. The former Alaska governor suggested during a discussion with New Apostolic Reformation leader Che Ahn before an audience last week that she might run for Senate in the state against the Republican incumbent, Senator Lisa Murkowski. Right Wing Watch reported that Palin said, "If God wants me to do it I will." She continued, "I would say you guys better be there for me this time, because a lot of people were not there for me last time," referring to the 2008 election she and GOP presidential nominee John McCain lost to Barack Obama. There already is another Republican in the race challenging Murkowski, Alaska Department of Administration commissioner Kelly Tshibaka, however Palin said she'd, quote, "never heard of her." Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Tshibaka, wanting to unseat Murkowski for voting to convict him during his second impeachment in the wake of the January 6th U.S. Capitol attack.

➤TWO PEOPLE TRYING TO ENTER CANADA FROM U.S. WITH FALSE COVID INFO FINED NEARLY $20K: Two people who provided false information about proof of Covid-19 vaccination and pre-departure Covid tests as they tried to enter Toronto from the U.S. were each fined nearly $20,000. Canada's Public Health Agency said the two also were "noncompliant" with the requirement to quarantine for 14 days and test upon arrival. Canada is set to reopen its border to fully-vaccinated Americans starting on August 9th.

➤MCCARTHY UNDER FIRE AFTER SAYING 'WILL BE HARD NOT TO HIT' PELOSI WITH GAVEL: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has come under fire after saying during a Tennessee fundraiser Saturday night that it, quote, "will be hard not to hit" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a gavel. A reporter for Main Street Nashville tweeted audio of McCarthy's comment, which the California Republican made after being given an oversize gavel. When there is a new House speaker, the previous speaker ceremoniously gives them the gavel. Looking forward to the prospect of Republicans retaking control of the House after the 2022 midterms, McCarthy said, "I want you to watch Nancy Pelosi hand me that gavel. It will be hard not to hit her with it, but I will bang it down." Pelosi's deputy chief of staff tweeted, "A threat of violence to someone who was a target of a #January6th assassination attempt from your fellow Trump supporters is irresponsible and disgusting," and Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell called on McCarthy to resign, saying the U.S., quote, "has suffered enough violence around politics." A spokesman for McCarthy said he was "obviously joking."

🥓BACON COULD BECOME HARD TO FIND IN CALIFORNIA: Bacon could become hard to come by in California, after the state begins to enforce new animal welfare rules next year that were overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2018. The rules require that more space be provided for breeding pigs, egg-laying chickens, and veal calves. While national veal and egg producers believe they can meet the standards, only four percent of hog operations are currently in compliance with the new rules. Unless there's legal intervention to temporarily allow non-compliant meat to be sold, California will lose almost all of its pork supply.

📴STUDY..STATES THAT BAN DRIVERS’ CELLPHONE USE SEE DROP IN ACCIDENT DEATHS: You really should not text and drive, ever. A new study finds that states with hands-free cellphone restrictions for drivers have fewer driver deaths. But at the same time, those with regulations that allow for calls and texts and those that ban calling and texting only still have high numbers of fatal accidents. The 18 states that issued comprehensive bans on using handheld cellphones while driving between 1999 and 2016 saw about a seven percent reduction in the number of accidents with driver fatalities over the 17-year period. Still, there was no reduction in the number of non-driver fatalities or in total motor vehicle accident-related deaths during that time. Study co-author Dr. Motao Zhu said, “Our research demonstrates that hands-free laws save lives and reduce the societal costs associated with distracted driving.”

➤STUDY..MORE THAN HALF OF PEOPLE IN U.S. PLAGUED BY BACK, LEG PAIN:  Many Americans are in pain. New researcher from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that more than half of U.S. adults suffer from pain, with backs and legs being the most common sources. Overall, researchers found nearly 59 percent of American adults were dealing with pain. They found 39 percent had back pain, 37 percent had hip, knee, or foot pain, and nearly one-third had hand, arm, or shoulder pain in the past three months. About ten percent suffered from toothaches. Those 65 and older, women, white adults, and those with incomes below the federal poverty level ($25,750 for a family of four in 2019) were most-likely to have back pain and lower limb pain, as well as hand, arm, or shoulder pain. Lead study author Jacqueline Lucas adds, “Given what we know about the short- and long-term effects of pain, timely, up-to-date national estimates of location-specific pain are an important step in understanding the burden of pain on U.S. adults.”

➤NEW RESEARCH SHOWS THAT EATING FOODS HIGH IN FLAVONOIDS CAN KEEP YOUR MIND SHARP OVER TIME:  Go ahead and eat those fruits and veggies—a new study finds that eating foods high in flavonoids can help lessen the risk of cognitive decline. Foods such as peppers, oranges, strawberries, and blueberries are known to be high in flavonoids, and study author Dr. Walter Willet, with Harvard University, explains that flavonoids are compounds that are filled with antioxidants—and are found in most fruits and vegetables. The data shows that people who consumed 600 milligrams (which is about 0.02 ounces) of flavonoids every day had a 20 percent reduced risk of cognitive decline, as opposed to people who consumed just 150 milligrams each day. The researcher add that in addition to eating these foods, it’s important to prioritize a well-balanced lifestyle, which should be full of physical exercise and free from smoking.

➤SIMON BILES MAY GIVE IT ON LAST TRY AT THE OLYMPICS:  USA Gymnastics announced that she will attempt to compete in Tuesday’s balance beam final, the last event of the women’s gymnastics meet. There is no guarantee that she will actually compete. She may decide she is not capable at the last moment. Beam is not one of Biles’ strongest events and she is not considered a favorite to medal — she qualified seventh of eight competitors. Just getting out on the Olympic mat, though, appears to be enough for her.

➤TOKYO OLYMPICS: Highlights:
  • Italian Jacobs Wins 100-Meter Sprint - A largely-unknown Italian man was the surprise winner of the 100-meter sprint, one of the Olympics' marquee events, giving Italy its first-ever 100-meter gold medal. Lamont Marcell Jacobs finished the race in 9.8 seconds, inheriting the unofficial title of "world's fastest man" from retired Jamaican Usain Bolt, who won the gold in the last three Olympics. Jacobs was born in El Paso, Texas, to an American father and Italian mother, but after his parents split when he was six-months-old, his mother returned to Italy with Jacobs. American Fred Kerley won the silver medal and Canada’s Andre DeGrasse won bronze.


  • Americans Lee, Skinner Win Gymnastics Event Medals: Americans Sunisa Lee, who won the gold in the gymnastics all-around, and MyKayla Skinner won medals in individual gymnastics events. Lee, who was expected to be in a battle for gold with Belgium's Nina Derwael in the uneven bars, had to settle for bronze after making some mistakes. Derwael won the gold and Anastasiia Iliankova of the Russian Olympic Committee took silver. Skinner won silver in the vault, getting the opportunity after she hadn't qualified for any event finals and was set to go home, ending her gymnastics career. While she came in fourth in the qualifying round for vault, there is a two-athlete per country rule, and Simone Biles and Jade Carey qualified ahead of her. But with Biles' withdrawal, Skinner took the open spot. Carey, however, who was a favorite for gold, had a major mistake and finished out of the medals. Rebeca Andrade of Brazil, who came in second in the all-around won the gold.
  • U.S. Women's Basketball Team Beats France: The U.S. women's basketball team beat France 93-82, having won all three of their games so far.
  • American Harrison Wins Silver in 100-Meter Hurdles, Puerto Rico's Camacho-Quinn Gets Gold: American Keni Harrison won silver in the women's 100-meter hurdles, coming in second to gold medal-winner Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico. Harrison, the world record-holder in the event, had been a favorite to win gold.

  • High Jumpers Split Gold Medal - Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy and Mutaz Barshim of Qatar agreed to split the gold medal in the high jump. They were tied, with each perfect until they each missed three times at the Olympic-record height of seven feet, 10 inches. Track officials gave them the opportunity for a jump-off, but then Barshim asked if they could split the gold. The officials said it was possible, Tamberi agreed, and they were co-gold medalists.

  • Hassan Wins 1,500-Meter Heat After Falling - Dutch runner Sifan Hassan won her heat in the 1,500-meters after tripping over another runner and falling at the start of the final lap. The world champion crossed the finish line first, qualifying for the semifinals.
  • Belarusian Sprinter Under Protection of Japanese Authorities - Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was under the protection of Japanese authorities Monday, the day after she refused to get on a plane for home, claiming she was being forced to leave after she publicly criticized her coaches at the Olympics. The 24-year-old sought protection from police at the airport. She's already been offered asylum by Poland and the Czech Republic, and the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation, a dissident athletic organization, said she may seek asylum in Germany or Austria.
MEDAL COUNT: (As of 3:30 a.m. ET) - The U.S. is in first place with 60 medals, followed by China with 53 and the Russian Olympic Committee with 44. In the gold medal count, China leads with 24, the U.S. is second with 20, and Japan is third with 17. ESPN'S MEDAL TRACKER: https://es.pn/3hZWIw0

OTHER SPORTS:

🏒SHARKS' KANE DENIES GAME-FIXING ALLEGATIONS: The San Jose Sharks' Evander Kane yesterday denied his wife's allegations on Instagram the day before that he bet on NHL games, including against his team, and fixed games. Kane tweeted, "I have NEVER gambled/bet on Hockey, NEVER gambled/bet on a Sharks game, NEVER gambled/bet on any of my games and NEVER thrown a hockey game." The NHL said Saturday night that it knew about Anna Kane's allegations, which it said it takes "very seriously," and planned to carry out a full investigation. Anne Kane had written: "How does the NHL let a compulsive gambling addict still play when he’s obviously throwing games to win money? . . . Can someone ask [Commissioner] Gary Bettman how they let a player gamble on his own games? Bet and win with bookies on his own games?" Evander Kane said the two are in the process of getting a divorce and called his wife "mentally unwell."

🏀REPORTS..LEONARD, PAUL BOTH DECLINE OPTIONS: The L.A. Clippers' Kawhi Leonard has declined his $36 million player option for next season to become a free agent, and the Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul has also declined his $44 million option for next season to be a free agent, according to ESPN. However, according to the reports, the expectation is Leonard will negotiate a new deal to stay with the Clippers, and both Paul and the Suns are, quote, "motivated" to negotiate a new deal.



⚾RANGERS' HEIM HITS WALK-OFF HOME RUN FOR SECOND STRAIGHT GAME: Texas Rangers rookie Jonah Heim hit a walk-off home run for the second straight game yesterday (August 1st) in the Rangers' 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners in the ninth inning. The night before, Haim hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win, also against Seattle. Heim is the first MLB rookie to have walk-off homers in consecutive games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He's also the first player to have consecutive walk-off homers since Albert Pujols did it with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011.
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