Tuesday, May 4th, 2021
Severe Storms, Refugee Rules & Thank a Teacher
All the news in about 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by LightStream.com/newsworthy and Noom.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 read the latest happenings...
Severe Storm Damage, Next Threat
Millions of Americans in the deep south are again dealing with a risk of severe weather. This time, the National Weather Service says the worst of it is expected to hit Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Today, people there could face very high winds, large hail, heavy rain, flash flooding, and tornadoes. A lot of people in these same areas have seen damage from other storms already this week. More than a dozen tornadoes were reported in Mississippi. At least one other tornado was confirmed near Atlanta, Georgia and at least two people died in that area.
Read More: AP, Weather Channel, USA Today, NWS
Mexico City Overpass Collapse
This morning, search and rescue teams are digging through wreckage in the aftermath of a Mexico City tragedy. A metro overpass collapsed, bringing train cars down with it. At least 15 people died and dozens more were hurt. As of early this morning, some people may be still trapped inside the train too. Video shows it was split in two and looked to be suspended over a road. Mexican officials say they’re going to investigate how this happened and who could be responsible.
Read More: Reuters, AP, NBC News, ABC News
U.S. Raises Refugee Admission Cap
President Biden officially raised the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U.S. to 62,500 for this year. That’s more than four times the number of refugees allowed in the U.S. last year under former President Trump. However, it’s also almost half of what Biden first promised a few months ago. The president says his administration is still working to rebuild the system since the last one cut budgets and staffing. He says at least some increase is needed now though to help people who are fleeing violence, conflict, and oppression in their home countries.
Read More: Politico, NPR, WSJ, Fox News, White House
EPA Climate Change Action
For the first time, the U.S. government is cracking down on greenhouse gases used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and building insulation. The EPA announced the new rule as part of a plan to slow climate change. The gases are called hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs. The EPA says it wants to lower HFC production and imports by 85% over the next 15 years. The EPA says phasing out the HFCs will not only help the climate but could save the economy more than $280 billion over the next three decades. There is a lot of support for the idea from both parties in Congress, environmentalists, and business groups.
Read More: WaPo, NY Times, AP, NPR, EPA
FDA Could OK Vaccine for Adolescents Soon
Some American children could start getting COVID-19 vaccines as soon as next week. News outlets are citing sources who say the FDA is on the verge of authorizing the Pfizer shots for kids between 12 and 15. Everyone 16 years and older is already eligible here in the U.S. Next, a federal advisory committee is scheduled to meet soon to review the latest data and talk about whether to recommend the shots for younger people. If they do recommend them as expected, adolescents will likely be eligible within days.
Read More: CBS News, NY Times, USA Today
More Children Near-Sighted
More children than ever before are having trouble with their vision. Scientists say near-sightedness is on the rise. Near-sighted people can see things fine up close, but they struggle to see things when they’re further away. New research suggests two causes: children spending more time looking at screens, and children spending less time outside. Experts say exposure to outdoor lighting helps eye health and people should try to look away from screens at least every 20 minutes.
Read More: NY Times, WaPo, ResearchGate, WHO
Bill and Melinda Gates Divorce
Two of the most influential philanthropists in the world are splitting up. Bill and Melinda Gates announced they are divorcing. Together, they ran what’s been considered the world’s largest private charitable foundation: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill Gates says they’ll continue to work together at the foundation. It funds various projects that work to reduce poverty and improve health in the developing world. They’ve devoted much of their fortune to it. Before that, Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft and the two met at the company in the 1980s. They’ve since had three children together.
Read More: CNBC, BBC, NPR, Bill Gates, Forbes
Verizon Sells Yahoo and AOL
Twp of the internet’s oldest and best-known brands are about to have a new owner again. Verizon is selling Yahoo and AOL for about half of what the company paid. Verizon first acquired AOL in 2015 for nearly $4.5 billion and then paid another $4.5 billion for Yahoo two years later. Now, both are getting sold along with some other media properties for a total of around $5 billion. The private equity firm Apollo Global Management will be the new owner. However, Verizon will still have a small stake in the company.
Read More: USA Today, WSJ, TechCrunch, The Verge, Verizon
Kroger’s Drone Home Delivery
Kroger started testing drone deliveries this week from a store in Ohio. The supermarket chain partnered with Drone Express for the project. The drones fly themselves, but Kroger says licensed drone pilots are managing the test flights to make sure everything runs smoothly. Kroger’s drones can only carry about five pounds right now, so it’s meant for last-minute items. The drone tracks your smartphone’s location for drop-offs. If all goes well, Kroger plans to begin customer deliveries later this spring around the Midwest.
Read More: Kroger, Cincinnati Enquirer, The Verge, Fox Business
Tanker Truck Driver Shortage
You could be spending more money on gas this summer because there aren’t enough drivers to deliver the fuel. The National Tank Truck Carriers trade group says up to 25% of its fleet isn’t being used right now. The driver shortage started before the pandemic, but COVID-19 made the problem worse. When gasoline demand went down, many truck drivers found other jobs and driving schools shut down. That meant fewer new people could get ready to replace retiring drivers. Now, industry analysts say as Americans start traveling again, higher demand could send average gas prices above $3 a gallon this summer.
Read More: Fox Business, CNN, ABC News
Teacher Appreciation Day & Deals
Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day. It’s part of a week-long celebration to thank our teachers for everything they do. Many stores and restaurants have special deals going on today. Places like Costco, Office Depot, and Staples are offering discounts for teachers. Restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wings and Sonic have deals going too. There are about 3.5 million teachers in the U.S. Surveys from the National Education Association show teachers work, on average, about 50 hours a week.
Read More: Thrillist, USA Today, White House, Admissionsly, NCES
Trivia Tuesday
Q: Which country produces the most coffee in the world?
Play along on today’s Instagram Stories Quiz. We’ll also have the answer right here next week.
Last Week’s Trivia Tuesday Answer
Q: Before the Beatles were formed, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison were originally members of which group?
A: The Quarrymen
Read More: Biography, NY Post, Cavern Club, AllMusic, Cheatsheet