Thursday, July 7th, 2022
‘Hero’ Citizen’s Call, Triple-Digit Temps & Need New Friends?
All the news you need in about 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp.com/newsworthy and Zocdoc.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 peruse the latest happenings.
Virginia Mass Shooting Prevented
Investigators say a “hero citizen” overheard a conversation about a mass shooting being planned on a big Independence Day fireworks show. That person called the police to report it. Officers say “that one phone call saved numerous lives” because the person heard right. Police worked with the FBI and DHS to track down two suspects who apparently had two assault rifles, a handgun, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. They were arrested for being non-American citizens in possession of guns, but investigators say more charges are possible.
Read More: Richmond Police, CBS News, AP, CNN, Fox News
Parade Shooter Considered 2nd Attack
Authorities are revealing more details about the mass shooting at a parade in Highland Park, Illinois. They say the suspect confessed to the shooting and said he considered a second 4th of July attack. After the first one, the gunman drove up to Madison, Wisconsin, where he saw another 4th of July event. Investigators say he thought about continuing his shooting spree there but reconsidered because he wasn’t prepared enough. He turned back to Illinois, where he was eventually arrested. The accused gunman has been charged with murder. If convicted, he’ll spend the rest of his life in prison.
Read More: NBC News, NY Times, AP, WSJ
New Uvalde Shooting Report
Police offices in Uvalde, Texas are facing new questions over a recent report about the mass shooting at an elementary school. It found there were several missed opportunities to stop the attack before it started. That would have saved the lives of 19 children and two teachers. For example, it says an armed Uvalde police officer spotted the gunman before he entered the armed school with a rifle. The officer had him in his gun sights but was waiting for permission from his supervisor to shoot. However, he didn’t hear a response over the police radio, so he held his fire. This report is just one of several reviews launched in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Read More: ALERRT, ABC News, NBC News, Fox News, AP
Trump’s White House Lawyer to Testify
Former President Trump’s top White House lawyer will talk to lawmakers investigating the Capitol riot. Pat Cipollone reportedly agreed to testify under oath tomorrow. His testimony is expected to be among the most important of the committee’s more than 1,000 interviews so far. That’s because other witnesses have said Cipollone was there for a lot of significant moments in the White House after the presidential election. It’s not clear what Cipollone is going to say since he’s been quiet about the investigation so far. Former President Trump says he did nothing wrong related to the January 6th riot.
Read More: WaPo, WSJ, NY Times, CNBC
Student Loan Forgiveness Proposals
The federal government has new plans to help alleviate student debt. For example, the Department of Education wants to remove interest capitalization where it’s not required by law. The proposal also makes it easier for students who say they were defrauded by for-profit colleges to get their loans forgiven. It calls for expanding loan forgiveness for students entering public service jobs and more. Some Republicans worry more debt relief could make inflation worse. However, the Biden administration is hoping to finalize the rules by this fall.
Read More: Education Dept., Bloomberg, NBC News, NY Times, WSJ
Another Central U.S. Heatwave
Some big American cities are in for the hottest temperatures so far this summer. In Dallas and Oklahoma City, it’s expected to top 103 today with high humidity. In Las Vegas, it will likely hit the 110-degree mark before the week is out. More records are expected to be broken elsewhere since a heatwave is impacting much of the plains and the south today. Overall, about 80 million Americans are under extreme heat warnings or advisories.
Read More: NWS, Accuweather, USA Today, NY Times, Bloomberg
Pharmacists Can Prescribe Covid Pill
The FDA is now allowing state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe an antiviral pill for Covid-19. The Plaxlovid drug is authorized for the treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 in adults and kids who are considered “high risk” for getting a severe form of the disease. Pharmacists must review the patients’ health records and look for any kidney or liver problems, as well as other medications they’re taking. Since the treatment must be given within five days after symptoms begin, the FDA says giving pharmacists the ability to prescribe it will help make sure patients who may need it have timely access.
Read More: FDA, AMA, Axios, Bloomberg, Fox News, CNN
Hiring Demand Still Strong
The numbers of job openings and people quitting their jobs are still high, and layoffs are near record lows. That’s based on new data from May released this week by the U.S. Labor Department. The information shows a slight dip in the number of job openings. There were 11.7 million openings in April but 11.3 million in May. Also, the 4.3 million people choosing to leave their jobs in May is down slightly from the peak in March. Now the big question is how long this strong labor market will last.
Read More: BLS, CNBC, CBS News, MarketWatch, NPR
Apple ‘Lockdown’ Protection
Apple is launching what it calls “lockdown mode”. It’ll be a new security option on the latest software updates for iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers. It’s meant to prevent rare but sophisticated cyberattacks and targeted spyware. It will be most useful for people like journalists, activists, and politicians who may be targeted by governments who want to read their text messages and emails or listen in on their surroundings. The new “lockdown” mode limits certain features that have been used in the past for sophisticated hacks. Apple says the setting is optional.
Read More: Apple, The Verge, NBC News, CNET, WSJ
Amazon Prime-Grubhub Deal
Amazon Prime members can now get the perk of free food delivery. Grubhub struck a deal with Amazon this week to offer free membership of Grubhub+ for one year. That normally costs $9.99 a month, and it means no delivery fees on all orders over $12. The deal with Amazon will likely expand Grubhub’s reach and give it more cash flow. For Amazon, it adds another benefit to prime membership. Amazon Prime members can activate the perk now.
Read More: Amazon (redeem offer), MarketWatch, WSJ, Today, NY Times
New AKC Breed
A new dog is joining the world’s largest group of purebreds. The American Kennel Club announced the Bracco Italiano received full recognition, making it the AKC’s 200th breed. This means Bracco Italianos can now compete at AKC events. The breed is orange and white or brown and white with floppy ears and a deep bark. It weighs between 55-90 pounds. The AKC says Bracco Italianos need regular exercise and mental stimulation. They are also known to be sensitive and gentle-natured and become close friends with children.
Read More: AKC, AP, GMA, People
Thing to Know Thursday: America’s Friendship Crisis
It seems Americans have fewer friends these days than they used to. A recent YouGov study found that 27% of millennials say they have no close friends. 22% say they have no friends at all. Experts say it makes sense since the pandemic made people more isolated. They say there are also other reasons for the trend, like how Americans tend to be more “geographically mobile”. However, other studies have shown that friendship lengthens our lives, improves our work performance, makes us better parents, and broadens our minds. Because of that, researchers say it’s best to put in the time to build meaningful friendships.
Read More: YouGov, OSU, Axios, Insider