Tuesday, June 9th, 2020
Asymptomatic Spread ‘Rare’, Officially in a Recession & Cartoons Disarmed
All the news in less than 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by Care.com. Go to www.Care.com/newsworthy or use promo code '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...
Asymptomatic Spread of COVID-19
The World Health Organization says COVID-19 is rarely spread by people without symptoms. For months, we’ve been hearing the opposite, but the W.H.O. found new evidence when looking at contact tracing data from countries that track both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. They found most people who came in contact with asymptomatic patients never got sick. However, the CDC estimates about 40% of COVID-19 cases are transferred by people who look and feel healthy, so other experts are asking to see more of the data from the W.H.O. For now, public health experts still say we should keep social distancing and wearing masks.
Read More: CNBC, Axios, CNN, CDC
States Report Uptick in Cases
The number of new COVID-19 infections is going up in at least 20 states. Some of those with the biggest spikes right now are Florida, California, Arizona, and North Carolina. Still, there are just as many states seeing decreases in new cases. The biggest progress is in previous hot spots like Illinois, New Jersey, and New York. Nearly 2 million Americans have been diagnosed with COVID-19 so far.
Read More: NY Times, Forbes, WSJ, WaPo
Case Count/Death Toll: Johns Hopkins
George Floyd Funeral
Today, the fourth and final service will be held for George Floyd. It will be a private funeral and burial in Houston, Texas, where Floyd grew up. Already, thousands of mourners showed up for a public memorial yesterday, exactly two weeks after Floyd died at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. Among those who attended were families of other black men who died in high-profile killings: Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Ahmaud Arbery, and Trayvon Martin.
Read More: Houston Chronicle, AP, Reuters, WaPo
Chauvin Bail Increased
The ex-Minneapolis police officer charged with murdering George Floyd faced a judge this week. His bail was set at $1 million, with some conditions. If he’s able to make bail, he won’t be able to work in security or law enforcement, he will have to give up all his guns and permits, and he won’t be able to contact the Floyd family. His release would also be supervised.
Read More: CNN, CBS News, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Dems Introduce Police Reform
Congressional Democrats unveiled a new police reform bill called the Justice in Policing Act. Among the procedures it would overhaul, it would require police officers to undergo racial profiling training, make sure all federal officers use dashboard cameras and body cameras, and create a national registry of officers with a history of aggressive behavior. The bill is expected to pass quickly in the Democrat-led House, but it’s not clear what will happen in the Republican-led Senate.
Read More: NY Times, USA Today, Politico, WSJ
Trump & Biden Say No to Defunding Police
President Trump wrote on Twitter that Democrats have “gone crazy” for wanting to “defund” and “abolish” the police. Some protesters and leaders in cities like Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and New York City have pushed for that kind of thing this week. On a federal level, it’s not likely. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden also said he doesn’t support defunding the police. Instead, he suggested adding benchmarks so police departments don’t receive federal funding if they don’t meet certain standards.
President Trump Defends Police: ABC News, Reuters, LA Times
Joe Biden on Police Reform: USA Today, AP, CBS News
U.S. Stocks Rally
Stocks surged yesterday to levels we haven’t seen since before the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. The NASDAQ closed at its first record high in nearly four months and the S&P 500 erased all its recent losses. The Wall Street Journal credits the most recent jobs report for the rebound since it showed the unemployment rate, while still high, is now lower than expected.
Read More: WSJ, AP, CNN
U.S. in a Recession
The U.S. economy is now officially in a recession and has been since February. The National Bureau of Economic Research is the nonprofit that always decides these things. The group made this announcement but didn’t give an end date to the recession. As for what comes next, it could all depend on what happens with COVID-19 in the months to come.
Read More: NBC News, NY Times, Axios, NBER
Airbnb Sees Demand in Local Stays
It seems Airbnb is making a comeback. Between mid-May and early June, the vacation rental company booked more nights in the U.S. than it did during the same period last year. Some of the most popular vacation spots reportedly include Southern California’s Big Bear Lake and the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and the Carolinas. Airbnb competitor Vrbo is also seeing a rise in U.S. reservations.
Read More: The Verge, USA Today, Bloomberg
Google Maps Rolls Out COVID-19 Updates
Google Maps is now offering users warnings about COVID-19 restrictions. People will get alerts about things like mask requirements or reduced capacity on buses and subways. Google is also making it easier for people to see crowding on mass transit. The new features are launching over the next few weeks.
Read More: Google, Engadget
Instacart Addresses 'Tip Baiting'
Grocery shopping service Instacart is trying to put an end to “tip baiting.” That’s when someone promises their shopper a big tip, then reduces it after the groceries are delivered. The company is now making users justify why they’re changing the tip. If people do it too often, their account will get shut down. The changes are already in effect.
Read More: USA Today, The Verge
Elmer Fudd & Yosemite Sam Disarmed
Cartoon characters Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam aren’t carrying guns in the Looney Toons reboot on HBO Max. Historically, Elmer Fudd has always carried a rifle and Yosemite Sam has carried two pistols. However, the executive producer behind the reboot said, “We’re not doing guns.” Still, the cartoons will be up to their same old shenanigans that include dynamite and booby traps. The throwback series started last week and is available on HBO Max.
Read More: CNN, USA Today, CBS News
New Mysterious Radio Burst from Space
Astronomers made another baffling find. They’re tracking mysterious radio waves coming from deep space for only the second time ever. The waves are coming in bursts and sticking to a rhythm. However, no one knows exactly where they’re coming from or why. Some scientists theorize they’re coming from a star, but that’s just a guess.
Read More: CNN, Space.com