Thursday, April 28th, 2022
Prisoner Swap, Phasing Out Old Bulbs & Pop Star Superhero
All the news you need in about 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by Rothys.com/newsworthy and bollandbranch.com (Listen for the discount code)
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 peruse the latest happenings.
US-Russia Prisoner Swap
Russia released an American Marine veteran from a Russian prison in exchange for a Russian man who’s been imprisoned in the U.S. The American, Trevor Reed, has been in custody for nearly three years because Russian authorities say he assaulted a police officer. However, Reed’s family says he’s innocent. On the other hand of the exchange, the U.S. released a Russian pilot who was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was arrested 12 years ago for trying to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. Top U.S. officials say they’ve been negotiating this trade for months, even before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Read More: NY Times, ABC News, AP, CNN, Fox News
DHS Secretary Grilled
At back-to-back hearings, both Democrats and Republicans grilled the Homeland Security secretary about how the federal government is prepared to handle an influx of people trying to cross the southern border once the Biden administration ends Title 42. Democrats told Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas that they need a more detailed plan. Many Republicans listed off the historically high number of border crossings, and a few called on the secretary to resign. However, Mayorkas defended himself, saying the agency has been preparing for an increase, and it’s come up with a few ideas.
Read More: ABC News, WSJ, The Hill, CBS News
Minneapolis Police Investigation
The state of Minnesota wrapped up a two-year investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department, and it found a pattern of racial discrimination. The Minnesota Human Rights Department started looking into the MPD after George Floyd’s death. In the end, the department said there were real differences in how MPD officers treat people of color and white people in similar situations. In response, the interim police chief called the report “deeply concerning”, but she also said her department has been making a lot of changes and more will be coming.
Read More: Minneapolis Star Tribune, NY Times, AP, Axios, WSJ, MDHR
Pandemic Phase Over?
The nation’s top infectious disease expert is clarifying some comments he made about the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier this week, when Dr. Fauci did an interview with PBS news, he said, “We are certainly… out of the pandemic phase.” Then, he changed his tune when he spoke with the AP, saying, “We are in a different moment of the pandemic.” He clarified that the pandemic isn’t over, but this is a different phase of it when Americans can get back to normal in many ways. He says that’s true since the levels of hospitalizations and deaths haven’t had a big spike, even as the number of new cases has gone up.
Read More: PBS News, AP, WaPo, NPR, NY Post, CNN
Southern California Restricts Watering
For the first time, officials in Southern California declared a water shortage emergency. Because of that, they imposed unprecedented outdoor watering restrictions. Starting on June 1st, about six million people in the area will only be allowed to use water outside one day a week. That will be to do everything from watering lawns to filling swimming pools to washing cars. Overall, the goal is for everyone in the area to cut down on their water use by 20-30%. It will be up to each local agency to enforce the rules. If they don’t meet the monthly targets, they could face big fines. This is happening because of California’s driest drought on record.
Read More: LA Times, CBS News, Axios, WaPo, MWD of SoCal
New Light Bulb Standards
The U.S. Energy Department finalized rules this week that set stricter energy-efficient standards for light bulbs. Together, they’ll phase out the sale of most incandescent bulbs. Supporters say this will save energy and money. LED lights are said to last up to 50 times as long as the old-fashioned kind while using much less electricity. However, critics point to the higher up-front cost of the LEDs and varying costs of electricity around the country, saying customers should still have a choice. Either way, retailers will have to stop selling non-compliant bulbs by July of 2023.
Read More: Fox Business, CNBC, NY Times, WaPo, DOE
New Comcast-Charter Platform
The two biggest cable operators in the U.S. are teaming up to join the streaming wars. Comcast and Charter say they’re working on what they call a “next-generation streaming platform.” It will be made for a variety of branded 4K streaming devices and smart TVs. This is the type of thing that will compete directly with other streaming aggregation platforms like Roku, Amazon’s Fire TV, Apple TV 4K, and more. However, the companies say the broadband and cable sides of their businesses will stay independent.
Read More: Variety, The Verge, 9to5Mac, Deadline, Comcast
Apple Launches DIY Repairs
Apple opened its self-repair online store, complete with a bunch of parts, tools, and manuals to repair the iPhone 12, 13, and third-generation iPhone SE. This means you can now fix things like the display, battery, or camera if needed. The parts are the same ones Apple’s authorized repair providers have, and the cost is the same. If you don’t want to buy the tools, you can also rent them for a week for about $50. Still, Apple says it’s best to take your phone to a certified technician since that will be the “safest and most reliable way to get a repair.”
Read More: CNET, The Verge, CNBC, 9to5Mac, Apple
NFL Draft Round 1
The NFL draft kicks off tonight with even more spectacle than usual. This year, it’s happening in Las Vegas, complete with a red carpet above the famous Bellagio fountains, showgirls lining the players’ walkway, and big-name musical acts like Weezer and Marshmello in concert. The purpose of it is to let teams pick new players to add to their rosters. The draft order is mostly based on each team’s record the previous year. This year, the Jacksonville Jaguars have the top pick for the second year in a row. Round one of the draft kicks off tonight at 8 p.m. CT.
Read More: ESPN, USA Today, AP, CBS Sports, NFL
Bad Bunny Marvel Movie
A Grammy-winning singer is about to become a Marvel superhero on the big screen. Bad Bunny is going to star in ‘El Muerto’. That makes him the first Latino to get the lead role in a live-action superhero movie in the Marvel universe. El Muerto is a character who first appeared in the Spider-Man comic book. He’s a superpowered, champion wrestler who fought Spider-Man, then teamed up with him to defeat a bad guy. The new movie is set to come out in January of 2024.
Read More: Deadline, NPR, CNN, Variety
Thing to Know Thursday: Lifesaving Street Art
One new study found colorful crosswalks and painted intersections might make streets safer. The research was commissioned by Bloomberg Philanthropies, which supports street art. The study compared crash data before and after streets were painted. It found intersections with the asphalt art saw a 17% drop in total crashes, and there was a 50% drop in crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists. One theory is that colorful art grabs drivers’ attention, making them slow down and lookout. However, in the past, the federal government has cracked down on crosswalk art that doesn’t conform to uniform standards for road markings.
Read More: Axios, Bicycling Magazine, Bloomberg Philanthropies