Friday, May 22nd, 2020
Second Wave Predictions, College Controversies & New TSA Rules
All the news you need in less than 10 min:
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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 reading the latest happenings...
2nd Wave Predictions
Even though businesses are reopening in all 50 states, progress doesn’t look the same across the country. In some places, the infection rate is down. Elsewhere, there are still hundreds of new cases confirmed every day. So Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said during a CNN town hall we have to pay attention to the trends. He again emphasized the need for local governments to implement testing and contact tracing to prevent a second wave. President Trump says even if a surge happens, the country will stay open.
Fauci on States Reopening: CNN, Axios, Full Town Hall
Case Count/Death Toll: Johns Hopkins
No 2nd Shutdown: The Hill, CNBC, FOX News
Corpus Christi Shooting
A shooting at a Texas military base has now been tied to terrorism. One sailor was hurt but is expected to fully recover. A man reportedly shot her as he was trying to speed through a security gate at a naval air station in Corpus Christi. She was able to roll over and hit a switch that raised a barrier, stopping him from getting on base. Other security personnel shot and killed the man there. The FBI says the shooter expressed support for terror groups online.
Read More: CNN, AP
3rd Murder Arrest in Arbery Shooting
A 3rd person was arrested in the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia. He’s the black man who was killed during a fight with a father and son who are white. Arbery’s family believes it was a racist attack Now, William Bryan, the man who recorded video of the shooting is facing murder charges too. Investigators haven’t said why they decided to arrest him, but they’re expected to reveal more at a news conference today.
Read More: ABC News, NPR, WSJ
China/Hong Kong Security Law
Chinese leaders want more control over Hong Kong. China reportedly announced plans to impose new national security laws on the region. Right now, Hong Kong is part of China, but has some independence, like its own government. Fears of losing some of those freedoms prompted people in Hong Kong to protest for several months, starting last summer. Newly-proposed laws would stop those protests for good.
Read More: WSJ, CNBC, NYT
Jobless Claims Top 38 Million
Nearly 39 million Americans have lost their jobs in the last 9 weeks. 2.5 million of those claims are from last week. That’s concerning since most states had already starting reopening, and some people were supposed to be going back to work already. An economist from Stanford University told the New York Times he thinks 42% of recent layoffs are permanent.
Read More: NY Times, AP, Bloomberg, Survey of Businesses,
Tech Companies WFH Plans
Even Americans who have a job are likely not going into an office anymore. Now, many companies are considering keeping workers home indefinitely. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says he expects half of his employees will work from home in the next 5 to 10 years. Spotify employees will work from home until the end of the year and MasterCard will not ask employees to return until they’re comfortable.
Read More: WSJ, The Verge, Variety, TechCrunch, Reuters, BBC
New TSA Rules
The Transportation Security Administration is rolling out new travel rules. From now on, passengers will scan their boarding passes. They’ll be asked to separate carry-on food for screening and leave room in the lines between passengers. For now, masks are not required for passengers in most airports, but they are encouraged to wear them. Most major airlines are requiring face coverings on the plane.
Read More: USA Today, Forbes, TSA
College Bribery Guilty Plea
Actress Lori Loughlin and her husband, designer Mossimo Giannulli, could be headed to prison soon. They both reportedly plan to plead guilty today to conspiracy charges. They’re accused of paying $500,000 in bribes to get their 2 daughters into the University of Southern California. Court documents show their lawyers agreed with federal prosecutors. They’ll ask a judge to sentence Loughlin to 2 months and Giannulli to 5 months in prison. Then, prosecutors will drop the more serious charges that had them facing 50 years in prison. A judge still needs to sign off.
Read More: LA Times, USA Today, WSJ
University of California Testing Requirements
The University of California schools are ditching the need for prospective students to have SAT and ACT scores. All 10 schools in the UC system will phase out the requirement over the next 5 years. That’s because critics say the tests favor wealthy students who can pay for extensive test prep. However, people in favor of standardized tests say they’re needed as a uniform measurement of students across the country. UC schools plan to develop admission standards in the coming years.
Read More: LA Times, Politico, WaPo, NY Times
Smithsonian Collecting Pandemic Artifacts
The Smithsonian museums are collecting so-called pandemic artifacts to help tell the story of COVID-19. They’re asking people to submit things digitally now, like photos and videos. Later, collectors will also take things like homemade masks, handwritten grocery lists, test kits, and ventilators. The Smithsonian is planning an exhibit for next summer.
Read More: USA Today, NPR, Smithsonian
Memorial Day Weekend
Monday is the day we pause to remember men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Usually, there are events to honor their sacrifice. People also usually travel to see friends and family. However, this year is anything but ordinary. Instead, there are virtual events planned, like concerts and a parade featuring big-name celebrities.
Read More: Reuters, NBC News, Memorial Day Events
Feel Good Friday: Seniors Transform into DJs
Some isolated seniors are becoming radio DJs. Retirees are reportedly spinning beats for Radio Recliner, which was set up specifically for assisted-living facilities. The hour-long show airs online. To get it done, retirees record the introductions and transitions on their phones. Then, they send audio files to production staffers who handle the technical side of things. New episodes drop every weekday at noon.
Read More: AP, Radio Recliner