Monday, January 24th, 2022
Americans Leave Ukraine, Big Sur Wildfire & Tax Season Begins
All the news you need in about 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by Seed.com/newsworthy and Zocdoc.com/newsworthy
Story Summaries
All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want to review the latest happenings...
US Military Aid Arrives in Ukraine
Ukraine is preparing to fight off a potential Russian invasion with help from the United States. About 170 tons of American weapons, ammunition, and more tools arrived in Kyiv over the weekend. Overall, the U.S. has provided $650 million in defense equipment and services to Ukraine in the past year. Other NATO members have sent weapons, too, and the British government sent in troops to train Ukraine’s military. However, the U.S. is still hoping Ukraine doesn’t need to use any of it. American diplomats are still trying to convince Russia to de-escalate the situation at the Ukrainian border.
Read more: CNN, NPR, BBC, Al Jazeera, State Dept. Spokesman
Ukraine Evacuations
The U.S. State Department started to clear out the American Embassy in Kyiv. That starts with nonessential staff and family members. The State Department is also urging any other Americans in Ukraine to leave the country now. Officials say the decision is just out of an abundance of caution, not that there’s actually an increased threat against Americans.
Read more: Fox News, ABC News, WaPo, Axios, State Dept.
UK Intelligence Suggests Russia Takeover
It looks like Russia already has a plan to install a pro-Russian government in Ukraine. That’s according to new intelligence out of the UK. It also says Russia chose a potential candidate, a former Ukrainian lawmaker who was voted out of office. Britain also named several other Ukrainian politicians it said had links with Russian intelligence involved in planning an invasion. As the New York Times reports, this was a highly unusual disclosure by British Intelligence officials. Here in the U.S., officials say they believe the intelligence is correct, but Russia’s government says none of it is true.
Read more: AP, WaPo, NY Times, Fox News, UK Govt.
Wildfire Around Big Sur
A wildfire is burning through the scenic area of Big Sur on the California coast. More than 500 people had to evacuate over the weekend. Part of the historic Pacific Coast Highway had to shut down in both directions. The fire started Friday in the Palo Colorado Canyon, then strong winds pushed it to the coast on Saturday. Thankfully, since then, the fire was contained 35%. It’s tough for firefighters since the area is known for winding turns and dramatic cliffs. Still, they’re promising to keep working on it from the ground and the sky. Crews from other parts of the state have been called in to help.
Read more: SF Chronicle, CNN, USA Today, NY Times, Accuweather, Cal Fire
Anti-Vaccine Mandate Rally
Thousands of people marched on our nation’s capital, from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial. They were there protesting Covid-19 vaccine mandates. Some protesters say they are facing mandates because of where they live, work, or go to school. Others say they don’t have to get vaccinated now, but they are worried vaccine mandates may be coming for them. Overall, the rally was mostly peaceful.
Read more: WaPo, WSJ, NBC News, The Hill
CDC’s Real-World Vaccine Study
This weekend’s march came two days after the CDC released its first studies based on real-world evidence that shows vaccines are giving people strong protection against the omicron variant of Covid-19. It said people who got fully vaccinated with either the Pfizer or Moderna shots, then got a booster, were able to stay out of the hospital 90% of the time. Still, about one in five American adults aren’t vaccinated.
Read More: NY Times, CNN, Fox News, CDC
Federal Employees Min. Wage Hike
Tens of thousands of federal workers can expect a raise soon. Federal agencies were told to start implementing a $15 an hour minimum wage. Before now, the minimum wage for federal contractors was just less than $11 an hour. Because of an executive order that President Biden signed last year, it's going up. That means about 70,000 workers from mainly the USDA Defense Department and Department of Veteran Affairs will all start making more money. The rule takes effect next week.
Read more: Axios, The Hill, Reuters, OPM
Intel Planning $20B Chip Facility in Ohio
Chipmaker Intel says it will tackle the global chip shortage by investing $20 billion in two factories. We've told you about the shortages of chips before, the ones that power everything from cars to home appliances to cell phones. Now, Intel says these two factories at one site in Ohio should help. Also, they’ll bring more tech jobs to the area. The 1,000-acre site is expected to make 3,000 company jobs and 7,000 construction jobs. The construction is expected to start this year, and the factories should start making chips by the end of 2025.
Read more: Reuters, WSJ, AP, Intel
New GM EV Factories
General Motors is also bringing in more jobs. News outlets say the automaker is expected to announce it will invest $6.5 billion in electric vehicle and battery plants in Michigan. It’s another step in GM’s plan to become carbon neutral by the year 2040. Reuters says GM is teaming up with LG Energy Solution to fund a battery factory in Lansing, Michigan. There will also be a plant in Orion Township that will make electric Chevy Silverados and GMC Sierra trucks. GM says these plants will create 4,000 jobs.
Read more: Forbes, AP, Reuters
Mark Cuban Opens Online Pharmacy
Billionaire investor Mark Cuban is launching an online pharmacy that promises to slash prescription drug prices. Cuban says Cost Plus Drugs will buy more than 100 medications directly from the manufacturers, allowing them to sell at a lower price. One of the drugs is a treatment for Leukemia that normally costs $10,000 a month. Cost Plus Drugs offers it at $47 a month. There’s a 15% markup on the drugs, a small pharmacist fee, and the cost to ship, too. Plus, they don't take insurance, meaning you have to pay out of pocket.
Read more: TheStreet, Fox Business, Forbes, Cost Plus Drugs
Meat Loaf Dies
Meat Loaf, the singer with some monstrous hits, died from Covid-19. He’s considered one of the greatest rock singers of all time. You may remember one of his biggest hits, “I’d do anything for love (but I won’t do that)”. His 1977 album “Bat Out Of Hell'' sold 65 million copies. He also won a Grammy for best solo rock vocal performances. Meat Loaf also starred in movies and TV shows, like “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. He was 74 years old.
Read more: TMZ, AP, Reuters, NY Post
Louie Anderson Dies
The veteran comedian Louie Anderson passed away from cancer. Anderson was a force to be reckoned with on-stage and on-screen for decades. He won an Emmy in 2016 for his role in “Baskets” and then two daytime Emmys for his work in “Life With Louie”. On stage, he scored half a dozen stand-up specials over the years. Anderson also wrote several best-selling books. He was 68 years old.
Read more: Deadline, NY Times, USA Today, AP
Olympics to Rely on Artificial Snow
For the first time, this year’s Winter Olympics will rely completely on man-made snow since Beijing doesn’t have enough of the real stuff on the ground or in the mountains. Artificial snow has been used at winter games in the past. However, there’s usually a mix of real and fake snow. This time, it’s all fake, and China promises there will be enough to support events like snowboarding and skiing. Experts are worried, however, that it could make water even more scarce than it already is since Beijing has been dealing with a shortage.
Read more: Bloomberg, WaPo, NY Times, IOC
Money Monday: Tax Filing Season Starts
The tax-filing season kicks off today. Already, the IRS is in crisis mode. An IRS watchdog says the agency could take even longer than last year to get your refund. Like so many other places, the IRS is facing a worker shortage. Plus, the agency is starting tax season with a backlog because of millions of unprocessed returns from last year. This year brings new challenges, too. Taxpayers will have to show monthly child tax credit payments and stimulus payments they got last year, both adding to the IRS workload.
Read more: AP. Fox Business, Bloomberg, CNBC
IRS Require Selfies
You may have to send a selfie with your tax return this year. If you need to log in to the IRS website, a simple username and password don’t cut it anymore. You’ll have to create an account with a third-party identity verification company called ID.Me. It requires a government document with a picture, like a driver's license or passport, and a selfie video. If you already have an IRS account, it will work through this summer, but after that, you’ll have to make a new one with ID.Me.
Read more: CNBC, TechRadar, Business Insider, The Verge, IRS