Wednesday, June 10th, 2020
Floyd’s Final Farewell, Chaotic GA Primary & Astronaut Makes History Again
All the news you need in 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 reading about the latest happenings…
George Floyd Laid to Rest
The man killed at the hands of Minneapolis police officers was finally laid to rest, capping off nearly a week of memorial services. George Floyd was buried next to his mother in Houston, Texas, the city where he grew up. Earlier, at a private funeral, pastors, family members, and civil rights leaders told mourners the end of Floyd’s life marked the beginning of broad change.
Read More: NBC News, AP, LA Times, WaPo
Philonise Floyd to Testify Before Congress
One of George Floyd’s younger brothers will testify on Capitol Hill during a hearing about police brutality. Democrats invited Philonise Floyd to speak. Republicans reportedly called another list of witnesses, including Fox News personality Dan Bongino. He used to be an agent in the U.S. Secret Service and is an outspoken defender of law enforcement. This hearing could impact if and how House lawmakers decide to move forward with a sweeping police reform bill.
Read More: ABC News, Politico, The Hill
Senate Republicans Police Reform
Republican senators are working on different legislation to address police reform. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate, is taking the lead. The bill will likely increase funding for body cameras, make lynching a federal crime, and require new training to de-escalate tense situations. Republicans hope to release a package by the end of the week.
Read More: Reuters, Politico, WSJ, Axios
Trump Theory about Buffalo Protester
President Trump tweeted a conspiracy theory about a video showing police officers in Buffalo, New York pushing a 75-year-old protester. The man fell to the ground and is now in the hospital. Trump’s tweet suggested the man could be part of a set-up to block police communications. There is no evidence to support that. Those who knew the protester say that’s absurd. Two officers involved in the incident are now facing criminal charges.
Read More: FOX News, USA Today, LA Times, Axios, NY Times, Tweet
WHO Clarifies Asymptomatic Spread Statement
World health leaders now say they’re not sure how often people without symptoms spread COVID-19. Just a day earlier, a top official with the World Health Organization said it’s “rare” for asymptomatic cases to spread. Now, she explains it was based on data that hasn’t been peer-reviewed. A lot more information is needed.
Read More: Axios, Stat, FOX News
Mask-Wearing Could Prevent 2nd Wave
A new study out of Britain’s Cambridge and Greenwich Universities found lockdowns alone won’t stop the second wave of COVID-19 infections. However, it found if an entire population wears masks, even the homemade ones, the epidemic would stay at a controllable level.
Read More: Reuters, Tampa Dispatch, Full Study
Coronavirus Hospitalizations Rise
In the U.S., some places are reporting an uptick in the number of severe COVID-19 cases. Hospitalizations have reportedly been on the rise in at least 9 states, including Texas, Arizona, and Arkansas, since Memorial Day. There’s also a concern mass protests could be putting people at a higher risk of getting the virus, but t’s still too early to know if those will have a significant impact.
Read More: WaPo, CNBC, Arizona Republic, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
GA Primary Voting Issues
Georgia faced serious problems during the state primary. In some locations, voting machines didn’t work. At least one polling place never got the machines. In others, poll workers weren’t trained on the new machines, so they couldn’t figure out how to operate them. Some voters said they waited hours in the summer heat to cast ballots. Others simply gave up and didn’t vote. Now, Georgia’s Secretary of State is investigating what happened, so the issues can be fixed before November’s general election.
Read More: NY Times, AJC, WSJ, CNN
First Black Service Chief Confirmed
In a unanimous vote, the Senate confirmed the first black chief of a U.S. military service. Gen. Charles Q. Brown will be the next chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force. Brown has served in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. He’s an F-16 fighter pilot and instructor. President Trump, who nominated Brown, called it “a historic day for America.”
Read More: AP, Politico, CNN, Tweet
First Woman to Reach Ocean Bottom
The first woman to walk in space made history again. Retired astronaut Kathy Sullivan traveled to the deepest point known in the ocean, becoming the first woman to make the journey. Sullivan reached the Challenger Deep, about 200 miles southwest of Guam. She had to go nearly 36,000 feet, or seven miles, below sea level. Now, she’s the first human to have been to both space and the bottom of the ocean.
Read More: USA Today, NBC News, Axios
MLB Virtual Draft Day
The 2020 MLB Draft starts today, but it will be anything but ordinary. First of all, it will be virtual. Also, this year’s event will only span five rounds, compared to the usual 40. Still, scouts say it’s been difficult working without a lot of data, since college and high school seasons were canceled. The first round of the draft is tonight at 7 p.m. ET on the MLB Network, MLB.com, and ESPN. The next four rounds will all happen tomorrow.
Read More: CBS Sports, SI, Portland Press Herald
“Cops” Gets Canceled
After 32 seasons, the TV show Cops was canceled. The show follows law enforcement officers as they patrol communities. However, the show has reportedly been criticized for years by people who say it glorifies police and edits out misconduct. Now, as nationwide protests over police brutality continue, Paramount Network decided to cut the show for good.
Read More: Deadline, USA Today, Hollywood Reporter, NYT
Work Wednesday: Voluntary Buyouts
More than 10,000 people have reportedly accepted buyout offers to leave their companies. United, Delta, American, and Southwest Airlines are all offering buyouts right now since the demand for travel is low. Some workers may be taking the money because they don’t want to risk getting laid off later without any kind of severance, but that’s not the only reason. Experts say some may have already been looking for a life change and this gives them a reason to take the plunge.
Read More: CNBC, CNN