Monday, March 21st, 2022
10M Forced to Flee, Railroad Strike & Medical Debt Wiped
All the news you need in about 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by TommyJohn.com/newsworthy and Pampers.com
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...
Latest Ukraine Attacks
Over the weekend, Russia launched more attacks against the Ukrainian people, not just the military. That’s according to authorities both in Ukraine and the U.S. However, Russia is still denying any violence against civilians. In one of the most recent attacks, Ukrainian officials say the Russians bombed an art school in Mariupol where hundreds of people were hiding out. Russians demanded Ukrainians surrender the city by this morning, but Ukraine rejected that offer. For now, Mariupol is still in Ukraine’s hands but surrounded by Russians. The death toll is still rising on both sides, with thousands of people killed.
Read more: AP, NPR, WSJ, CNN
Worries About Russian Forced Labor
The United Nations says more than 10 million Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes, with about 3.4 million people fleeing the country since the invasion started less than a month ago. Also, some Ukrainian officials say thousands of people are being forced into Russia, and one Ukrainian lawmaker says they’re being taken into concentration and prisoner camps. The Russian government says thousands of people have been taken from Ukraine to Russia, but it says they’re refugees, not captives, and that Russia is helping them. So far, no official comment from the U.S. or UN.
Read more: Reuters, NY Times, Business Insider, Fortune
Arkansas Car Show Shooting
On Saturday, at least 28 people, including children, were shot during a gunfight at an Arkansas car show. Authorities say two men fired guns at each other, but they didn’t hit each other. Instead, everyone who was shot was reportedly just caught in the crosshairs. One person died, and dozens more were hurt. One suspect is in custody, and police are still looking for at least one other man.
Read more: ABC News, NBC News, WSJ, WaPo
Shooting Near SXSW
Four people were shot early Sunday morning in downtown Austin, Texas. It happened in the popular 6th Street entertainment district, close to where the South by Southwest festival has been happening. Thankfully, all four people are expected to survive, and a suspect was arrested.
Read more: Austin American-Statesman, CNN, Fox News, Deadline
Rep Don Young Died
The longest-serving Republican in the history of the U.S. House passed away. Congressman Don Young died while traveling home to Alaska. He was 88 years old and spent nearly five decades representing Alaska in Congress. Young was first elected in 1973 during the Nixon administration. He was elected 24 more times and planned to run again this year. After his death, the House minority leader said in a statement, “His absence will leave Congress less colorful.”
Read more: Fox News, Axios, NY Times, The Hill, Office of Don Young
Justice Thomas Hospitalized
Another long-time conservative staple in Washington is dealing with a health scare. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas spent the weekend in the hospital. The high court says the 73-year old has an infection and has flu-like symptoms, but Thomas is on antibiotics and could be released in the next few days. Still, he’s not likely to be in court this week as the other justices hear arguments in four new cases.
Read more: NPR, WSJ, AP, NBC News, SCOTUS
Jackson Confirmation Hearing Begins
Today, Senators will start questioning the first Black woman to be nominated to the Supreme Court. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is facing her confirmation hearing, and she’s going into it with some fresh support. The American Bar Association gave Jackson its highest rating, unanimously calling her “well qualified.” However, some Republicans have brought up concerns, like if Jackson’s experience as a public defender could influence her view of the law and make her want to favor criminal defendants. If she’s confirmed, Jackson will take Justice Stephen Breyer’s seat on the court since he’s retiring this summer.
Read more: CBS News, NY Times, NPR, AP, WSJ
First Day of Spring
The spring equinox and the astronomical first day of spring have arrived in the Northern Hemisphere. To make record-keeping easier, meteorologists typically say the first day of Spring is March 1st. However, astronomically speaking, this year, the Earth’s equator aligned directly with the sun on March 20th. That means the northern half of the globe will start to tilt more toward the sun, leading to longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures.
Read more: Almanac, Today, KDVR, Fox Weather
NOAA Spring Forecast
This year, a government agency that forecasts the weather, NOAA, says the drought in the West may get worse. NOAA’s spring weather outlook says 60% of the continental U.S. is already facing some drought conditions, and they’re not expected to improve. More than half of the U.S. is also expected to see above-average temperatures this spring. Rainfall may be above average for parts of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and mid-Atlantic. So, those parts of the country could get some flooding.
Read more: USA Today, CNN, CBS News, NOAA, U.S. Drought Report
CP Rail Strike
Canada’s 2nd-biggest railroad operator had to shut down because of a union strike, and it could cause more supply chain problems. Canadian Pacific Railway is squaring off with a union that represents conductors and engineers. They haven’t been able to settle contract negotiations. So, workers went on strike. That means shipments of key goods like fertilizer, grains, and more were halted to and from the U.S. This work stoppage could end up hurting American farmers if it continues for too long. The railroad covers much of the Midwest, New England, and more.
Read more: CBC, Reuters, WSJ, AP
Russian Cosmonauts Wear Yellow & Blue
Three Russian cosmonauts showed up at the International Space Station wearing yellow and blue flight suits. Those colors match the Ukrainian flag. So, some people think it was their way of hinting that they disagree with Russia’s war in Ukraine. However, the head of the Russian Space Agency insisted the colors represent their alma mater, a technical university in Moscow where all three cosmonauts graduated.
Read more: CNN, NY Times, AP, Dmitry Rogozin
Pete Davidson Skipping Space
It turns out comedian and actor Pete Davidson won’t be going to space after all. We told you last week how he was planning to fly to the edge of space on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin flight later this week, but that’s no longer the case. The company said Davidson can’t make the flight, and it would announce his replacement soon. No word if it’s going to be another celebrity or a paying customer.
Read more: NY Times, AP, Blue Origin
Ye Barred from Grammy Performance
Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, is reportedly banned from performing at the Grammy Awards next month. As Variety reports, the Grammys dropped him from the lineup because of “concerning online behavior.” Ye has made online threats toward Pete Davidson because he’s been dating his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian.
Read more: Variety, AP, The Blast
‘Maury’ Ending 30-Year Run
It’s the end of an era for daytime television. After three decades of revealing paternity test results, exposing cheaters, reforming out-of-control teens, and more, it’s a wrap for “The Maury Show.” Deadline confirmed it with NBCUniversal, saying it was a mutual decision between the studio and veteran host Maury Povich. Povich says he plans on retiring after the current season ends. However, it’s not entirely over for fans. Reruns will live on in syndication.
Read more: Deadline, NPR, People, Variety
Money Monday: Credit Reporting Agencies Wipe Medical Debt
Most medical debt will vanish from credit reports soon. Three credit-reporting agencies announced they’re wiping around 70% of medical debt from American credit reports. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are making three changes. First, starting this summer, all paid medical debt will no longer show up on reports. Second, people will now get 12 months, instead of 6, to settle medical bills before unpaid collection debt shows up on their reports. The third change cuts out reporting all medical debt under $500, starting in the first half of 2023.
Read more: Axios, CNBC, CNN, NY Times, BusinessWire, CFPB