Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Wake-Up Call: Biden Doubles Order For COVID Meds


President Biden announced yesterday that the U.S. was doubling its order for Pfizer's new anti-viral pill that was recently authorized by the Food and Drug Administration to prevent serious illness and death from Covid-19, up to 20 million doses from 10 million, to be delivered by June. Sharing the news as he urged concern but not alarm about the omicron surge that is breaking records for daily cases, Biden called the pills "a game changer" that "have the potential to dramatically alter the impact of Covid-19." Speaking before meeting with his Covid response team, Biden emphasized that the vaccines, booster shots and therapeutic drugs have reduced the danger from Covid for the overwhelming majority who are fully vaccinated.


➤NORTH KOREA TEST FIRES SUSPECTED BALLISTIC MISSILE: North Korea test fired a suspected ballistic missile into the sea on Wednesday morning, according to South Korea and Japan, the North's first launch in about two months. North Korea launched a series of test launches between September and November, including a submarine-launched ballistic missile and a developmental hypersonic missile. This latest launch, the first since November, came after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last week vowed to further increase his country's military capability.


➤STRETCH OF I-95 IN VIRGINIA RE-OPENED, STRANDED MOTORISTS OFF HIGHWAY: Authorities in Virginia announced yesterday evening that a stretch of I-95 in the state had been reopened and all motorists who'd been stranded there for as much as a day had finally made it off the highway. Hundreds of people were stranded in freezing temperatures after traffic problems caused by a winter storm that dropped as much as 11 inches of snow in the area. The problems began Monday morning when a truck jackknifed on I-95, triggering a chain reaction among other vehicles. That eventually led to lanes in both directions being blocked across a 40-mile stretch of the highway between Richmond and Washington, D.C. Hundreds of people spent the night in their cars, many, if not most, without food or water and with concerns about running out of gas as temperatures dropped into the teens. Fortunately, there were no reports of serious injuries or deaths.

❆WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE TRAPPED IN YOUR CAR DURING A SNOWSTORM:  Sometimes winter weather can be so severe that drivers get trapped on the road for hours, or even overnight. So what can you do to prepare in case of this emergency? The American Red Cross says first, you should have an emergency kit stashed in your car with things like blankets, flashlights, nonperishable foods, liquids, and extra batteries. Next, if you're caught in snow and shelter or help isn’t visible within 100 yards, you should stay inside your vehicle. If possible, put a brightly colored cloth out of your window or tie it to your antenna to indicate distress. In cold temperatures, run the vehicle for no more than 10 minutes every hour to heat the cabin and preserve fuel. Also, make sure the exhaust pipe is clear, and the windows are cracked open to avoid letting exhaust fumes in. You should also keep huddled together inside the car with others to preserve heat, make sure to move your arms and legs occasionally, and stay hydrated. Finally, try not to sleep if you’re alone, but if you’re stranded for an extended period of time with others, take turns sleeping and keep an eye on one another.

🛫BUMPED FROM A FLIGHT? HERE’S WHAT YOU’RE ENTITLED TO: If you’ve ever been bumped from a flight you know how frustrating it can be. The U.S. Department of Transportation says nearly 130,000 passengers were bumped on U.S. flights between January and March 2019, 6,175 of them involuntarily. This is still something that can happen today. If you confirm your reservation, check in and arrive at the departure gate on time, and the airline fails to get you to your destination within one hour of your original arrival time, you’re entitled to compensation. There’s no limit to the amount of money or vouchers that the airline is able to offer, meaning it is well within your right to negotiate. According to TikTok user and lawyer Erika Kullberg, if you find yourself bumped from a flight and are subsequently subjected to a one-to-two-hour delay (or one-to-four-hour delay for international flights), you’re automatically entitled to as much as four times the cost of your fare one-way, even if you’re rebooked. (Though, per transportation.gov, airlines may limit the compensation to $775 if 200% of the one-way fare is higher than $775.) If the delay is longer than two hours (upwards of four hours for an international flight), that figure increases to eight times the cost (but again, compensation is limited to $1,550 if 400% of the one-way fare is higher than $1,500). Of course, there are a handful of scenarios in which you might be denied boarding in which you likely won’t receive compensation, including an aircraft change, weight and balance restrictions, downgrading, and more. 

➤HOUSE JAN. 6 COMMITTEE WANTS TO INTERVIEW FOX'S HANNITY: The House committee investigating the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol has requested an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity about his communications with former President Donald Trump, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and others in the days surrounding January 6th. Hannity's attorney, Jay Sekulow, told AP last night that they're reviewing the request and, quote, "will respond as appropriate." The letter to Hannity from the committee cited dozens of texts between Hannity, Trump and Meadows between December 31st, 2020 and January 20, 2021 about the presidential election and Trump's efforts to challenge the result. In one of the texts cited, Hannity said ahead of January 6th that he was, quote, "very worried about the next 48 hours," and in another to Meadows from December 2020 he says, referring to Trump, "I do NOT see January 6 happening the way he is being told."

➤TRUMP CANCELS PLANNED JANUARY 6TH PRESS CONFERENCE: Former President Donald Trump yesterday canceled a press conference that he'd planned to hold at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Thursday, the one-year anniversary of the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters. Trump had been expected to blast the House committee investigating the attack, according to AP, as well as to repeat his untrue claims about the presidential election being stolen. In his statement announcing the cancellation, Trump said he will instead speak about those topics at an already planned Arizona rally on January 15th. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Axios that he'd urged Trump to cancel the press conference.

🚘GM BESTED IN U.S. AUTO SALES FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1931: Japanese automaker Toyota bested General Motors in U.S. sales in 2021, the first time GM hasn't led auto sales in the U.S. for a full year since 1931, when it surpassed Ford. Toyota sold 2.332 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2021, compared with 2.218 million for GM, the companies said on Tuesday. GM's U.S. sales were down 13 percent in 2021, while Toyota's were up 10 percent.

🐶AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB RECOGNIZES TWO MORE DOG BREEDS: The American Kennel Club announced yesterday (January 4th) that it's recognizing two more dog breeds -- the mudi and the Russian toy -- making them eligible to compete for best in show at many U.S. dog shows, including the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Show. The mudi is a medium-size, shaggy dog descended from Hungarian sheepdogs. The Russian toy, which weighs no more than 6.5 pounds, was developed from small English terriers and became popular with Russian elites in the early 1700s. The AKC now recognizes 199 breeds.

➤PG&E FOUND TO BE HAVE CAUSED ANOTHER HUGE CALIFORINIA WILDIFRE: Utility company Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has been found to have caused another huge wildfire in the California. An investigation by the state’s fire response agency, Cal Fire, determined that a PG&E power line in the northern part of the state came into contact with a tree and sparked the Dixie Fire last summer, the second-largest in state history. Prosecutors are conducting a criminal investigation. PG&E previously admitted to manslaughter for its role in the 2018 Camp Fire.

➤EX-GOV. CUOMO WON'T FACE PROSECUTION OVER FONDLING ALLEGATION: A New York prosecutor said yesterday that former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo won't face criminal prosecution over an allegation that he fondled an aide. Albany County District Attorney David Soares said they wouldn't be able to prove the case for the misdemeanor charge. Soares said in a statement, "While we found the complainant in this case cooperative and credible, after review of all the available evidence, we have concluded that we cannot meet our burden at trial." Cuomo has denied the allegation made by Brittany Commisso, one of his former executive assistants, that he put his hand up her blouse and grabbed her breast in late 2020. State Attorney General Letitia James released a report last August that concluded Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women. He announced his resignation as governor a week later.


 ➤NFL MVP VOTER SAYS AARON RODGERS IS 'BAD GUY':  Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a favorite to be named this season's NFL MVP, which would be the fourth of his career. But he won't be getting everyone's vote, with veteran Chicago sportswriter Hub Arkush saying he won't vote for Rodgers, and it's not because of his play on the field. Arkush said on Chicago's 670 The Score radio station yesterday, "I don't think you can be the biggest jerk in the league and punish your team, and your organization and your fan base the way he did and be the Most Valuable Player." While acknowledging that he thinks Rodgers "probably" will win it, Arkush continued, "I think he's a bad guy, and I don't think a bad guy can be the most valuable guy at the same time." Arkush explained further, "We are told to pick the guy who we think is most valuable to his team. And I don’t think it says anywhere 'strictly on the field,' although I do think he hurt his team on the field by the way he acted off the field." Rodgers, who isn't vaccinated against Covid-19, missed a game this season after being put on the Covid list. Additionally, he misled reporters before the season by saying he was "immunized" against Covid, when he wasn't actually vaccinated.

🏈WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM TO ANNOUNCE NEW NAME ON FEBRUARY 2ND: The Washington Football Team announced on Tuesday that it will announce its new name on February 2nd. But it won't be the Wolves or RedWolves, which the NFL team said was popular with fans, because of trademarks held by other organizations. The new helmets and uniforms will feature the franchise’s burgundy-and-gold colors, with three stars on the collar and stripes on the shoulders of otherwise plain jerseys. Washington dropped its former name, the Redskins, in July 2020, after long facing complaints that it was racist toward Native Americans.

🏈KANSAS STATE TOPS LSU 42-20 IN TEXAS BOWL: Kansas State topped LSU 42-20 in the Texas Bowl last night. Sophomore running back Deuce Vaughn rushed for 146 yards and scored four touchdowns, three rushing and one receiving. Quarterback Skylar Thompson was 21 of 28 for 259 yards and three touchdowns and was named the Texas Bowl MVP.

🏈BROWNS QB MAYFIELD TO HAVE SHOULDER SURGERY, MISS FINAL GAME: Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing left shoulder and will miss Cleveland's last game of the season on Sunday. The 7-9 Browns were eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday. Mayfield has been playing with the shoulder injury since Week 2.

🏈EAGLES QB HURTS ASKS WASHINGTON WHAT'S BEING DONE AFTER STADIUM RAILING COLLAPSE: After Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts narrowly avoided a railing that collapsed as fans leaned over it toward him while he was walking toward the tunnel after the game against the Washington Football Team at FedEx Field on Sunday, he's now asking Washington what's being done in the wake of the incident. Hurts, who helped some fallen fans to their feet, sent a letter to the Washington Football Team and the NFL yesterday, saying, "I am writing to inquire what follow-up action is being considered." He stated: "I tried to handle the situation with a lot of poise and show compassion for the people that fell down, really, but it could’ve been so much worse. It didn’t hit me until after the fact . . . so I just wanted to see what could be done to make sure it doesn’t happen again."

🎾DJOKOVIC GIVEN MEDICAL EXEMPTION FROM VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS TO PLAY IN AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Tennis star Novak Djokovic was given a medical exemption to the strict Covid-19 vaccination requirements for the Australian Open to allow him to play in the tournament, one of the sport's four majors, which begins on January 17th. The top-ranked Djokovic of Serbia, who is seeking a record 21st Grand Slam singles title, wrote on Instagram Tuesday that he has “an exemption permission.” Djokovic has refused to reveal if he's vaccinated.




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