Monday, March 15th, 2021
Winter Storm, FEMA at the Border & Beyoncé’s Grammy Record
All the news you need in about 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by Fitbod.me/newsworthy & EveryBottleBack.org
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...
Winter Storm Aftermath
Millions of Americans are dealing with the aftermath of the latest severe winter storm. Parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Nebraska just got hit with up to four feet of snow. More than 2,000 flights were canceled in and out of Denver, Colorado this weekend. Many highways and local roads were shut down too. Today, Denver public schools are taking a snow day. So are the cities of Cheyenne and Casper in Wyoming. Today, heavy storms are expected to move into Midwest states like Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois.
Read More: USA Today, KMGH, Weather Channel, NWS
FEMA to Help Migrant Children
Extra help is on the way to the U.S.-Mexico border. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, is now tasked with helping care for migrant children who show up without a parent or another adult. It will make sure they get food, water, and basic medical care. The agency will also help find child-friendly shelters for unaccompanied minors. Lately, the number of kids arriving at the border on their own has been growing faster than the Biden administration can transfer them. Child shelters are nearly at capacity.
Read More: NPR, AP, NY Times, CBS News, DHS
London Police Make Vigil Arrests
Police in London arrested several women who were attending a vigil over the weekend. The event was held in honor of a 33-year-old woman who disappeared on her walk home earlier this month. She was found dead a week later and it was a police officer who was later arrested and charged with her kidnapping and murder. This past weekend, police warned that people were not allowed to gather because of COVID-19 health protocols, but hundreds of people showed up at a park anyway. Officers broke up the event by dragging people off in handcuffs. Now, an independent investigation is underway.
Read More: Reuters, BBC, AP
COVID-19 Spring Break Fears
Police officers in the U.S. have had to break up some big crowds gathering for spring break. About 100 people were arrested over the weekend in Miami Beach, Florida when police responded to unruly crowds. Florida’s hotels, beaches, and bars are packed, mostly with college students. Airports have been full too. Tourism is Florida’s number one industry and many businesses rely on the food of visitors each year, so some Florida officials are embracing the crowds. However, health officials are worried this could lead to another surge in COVID-19 cases.
Read More: CNN, ABC News, FOX News, USA Today
LA County Lifting Restrictions
Some COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted in the most populous county in the U.S. As new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are going down in Los Angeles County, businesses can start to reopen today, including restaurants, gyms, and movie theaters. Still, they won’t be able to fully reopen. Restaurants and theaters can be 25% full. For gyms, it’s 10%.
Read More: LA Times, KTLA, KNBC
Grammy Awards
Women dominated the Grammy Awards last night and made history. Beyoncé broke the record for the most Grammys won by any singer or performer. It was her Best R&B Performance win for Black Parade that put her over the top, marking her 28th Grammy throughout her career. Four other women won the top four awards of the night. Megan Thee Stallion won Best New Artist, Song of the Year went to H.E.R. for I Can’t Breathe, Taylor Swift won Album of the Year for Folklore, and Record of the Year went to Billie Eilish for Everything I Wanted.
Read More: LA Times, AP, CBS News, Grammys
NCAA Selection Sunday
We now know which teams are going to this year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament, known as March Madness. The four number-one seeds are Gonzaga, Michigan, Baylor, and Illinois. Overall, there’s a full roster of 68 teams in the tournament. For the first time since 1976, both Duke and Kentucky won’t be there because they didn’t have enough wins. March Madness officially kicks off this Thursday. A national champion will be crowned in three weeks.
Read More: CBS Sports, AP, WaPo
Print Your Bracket Here: NCAA
Drew Brees Announces Retirement
Legendary quarterback Drew Brees is retiring. Brees broke the news on social media with a video of his kids cheering about getting to spend more time with their dad. Brees had a 20-year career in the NFL and the last 15 years with the New Orleans Saints. He led the Saints to their first and only Super Bowl win. That year, he was named Super Bowl MVP. He also appeared in Pro Bowls. Next, Brees will reportedly become a football analyst for NBC.
Read More: NFL, ESPN, TODAY, Drew Brees
New ‘Bachelorette’ Hosts
The longtime host of ABC’s The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, Chris Harrison, will sit the next season out. The Bachelorette will have two co-hosts filling in: former bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe. Harrison has stirred up a lot of controversy in recent weeks after defending a contestant this season who was seen at a plantation-themed fraternity formal back in 2018. He said she was getting some unfair criticism because she may not have known better at the time. Critics said he was excusing racism.
Read More: NPR, USA Today, Variety, The Bachelor
Emmanuel Acho Hosts ‘After the Final Rose’
It’s not clear what the future holds for The Bachelor host Chris Harrison. You won’t see him on tonight’s After the Final Rose special either. Instead, ABC tapped Emmanuel Acho to host tonight’s finale. The former NFL player is recently known as the author of the New York Times bestselling book Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man. In tonight’s special, he will discuss the season with Bachelor star Matt James and his top three finalists.
Read More: LA Times, GMA, NY Times
Money Monday: Update on Stimulus Payments
Banks started processing the COVID-19 relief payments over the weekend and you can check online to see when you’ll get yours. The IRS updated the “Get my Payment” tool on its website. With it, you can see the status of your payment and when it’s supposed to be delivered. You’ll also see if it will be coming via a direct deposit, check in the mail, or pre-paid debit card. Remember, Americans who made less than $80,000 a year in their latest tax return will get up to $1,400 in direct payments.
Read More: CNBC, USA Today, Fox Business
Check The Status of Your Payment: IRS
Change of Address Form: IRS