Monday, July 20th, 2020
‘Pool Testing’ Approved, Civil Rights Icon Remembered & Historic Mars Mission
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 to review the latest happenings...
Hospitals Overwhelmed:
As COVID-19 cases continue to spike in some states, there are more reports of hospitals overwhelmed. For example, in Florida, at least 49 hospitals reported their ICUs are full, and hospitals around the state have said they don’t have enough of the drug to treat COVID-19. Both Florida and Texas reported more than 10,000 new cases each day for five days in a row. In California, teams of military doctors, nurses and more deployed to several hospitals in the state to help with staffing shortages. The mayor of Los Angeles says the city is ‘on the brink’ of new shutdown orders. Around the world, another grim milestone: the global death toll surpassed 600,000 over the weekend.
Hospitals Overwhelmed: CNN, USA Today, NBC Miami, LA Times, AP
Global Deaths Top 600K: Johns Hopkins, NPR
Mask Mandate Debate Cont’d: FOX News, VOA, NBC News
FDA Approves Pooled Testing:
The FDA gave its first emergency approval to an approach for testing known as “pooled testing.” Here’s how it works: instead of running each person’s test individually, labs combine parts of samples from several people and test them together. A negative result would mean everyone in that group is clear of the virus while only a positive result will lead to more individual testing. Why do this? It’s at least meant to stretch lab supplies further, cut the cost of testing, and allow ‘mass testing’ at schools or businesses (eventually).
Read more: CNN, The Hill, FDA
Congress Returns, Negotiate Relief Package
Congress returns from a two-week recess today, and the next trillion-dollar-plus coronavirus aid package is top of mind. But exactly what and how much will be in the new bill is still a big question mark. Top Republicans are set to meet with President Trump and the U.S. Treasury Secretary today to ‘fine-tune’ the legislation they hope to pass. There are already reports of tension.
Read more: Politico, WSJ, WaPo, AP
Civil Rights Icon Remembered:
Today the country continues to mourn the death of a civil rights icon. Rep. John Lewis died Friday at the age of 80. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last December. Lewis has been called the “conscience of Congress.” He was the youngest and last survivor of the “Big Six” civil rights activists who organized the 1963 March on Washington. Praise for the civil rights icon poured in from around the country. Today, Georgia’s Democratic leaders will meet to consider a nominee for his vacant House seat.
Read more: NYT, AP, Reuters
Strike for Black Lives:
Tens of thousands of workers in more than two dozen U.S. cities are expected to walk off the job today to take part in the “Strike for Black Lives.” A variety of action is expected, but organizers urge those who can’t fully strike to walk off the job for at least 8 minutes and 46 seconds – the amount of time prosecutors say a Minneapolis police officer held his knee on George Floyd’s neck. Labor unions and civil rights groups around the country worked together to plan this. Marches are also planned.
Read more: CNN, Fortune
Federal Agents in Portland:
New backlash against the Trump administration for sending federal agents to protests in the city of Portland, Oregon. Oregon’s Attorney General is suing multiple federal agencies involved, while top Democrats in the U.S. House are demanding government watchdogs investigate the situation. They call it alarming and urgent. They cited recent reports of unidentified federal agents dressed in camouflage grabbing people off the streets without a warrant, warning or explanation. President Trump tweeted, “We are trying to help Portland, not hurt it.” Trump called the demonstrations full of quote “lawless anarchists” and blamed local leadership for not doing enough to get the situation under control.
Read more: NYT, USA Today, Axios, Reuters
UAE First Mission to Mars:
The United Arab Emirates has taken a historic step with the launch of the Arab world’s first mission to Mars. The spacecraft called “Hope” successfully launched yesterday, kicking off a seven-month voyage to the red planet. The main goal is to study the weather on Mars, but it’s also to inspire the youth of the Middle East to pursue careers in math and science.
Read more: CNET, Reuters, CBS News
NFL Team Accused:
More than a dozen women are accusing a NFL team of sexual harassment, and now the league is responding. More than a dozen women told The Washington Post they were sexually harassed or verbally abused by former employees with the Washington Redskins during their time there. The NFL has now released a statement calling the allegations serious. The team says it’s hired a local law firm to review culture and conduct.
Read more: WaPo, USA Today, FOX News
NFL Players Concerned:
NFL training camps are set to open this week. For the most part, rookies will be the first to show up, and the rest of the players are scheduled to report by early next week. However, some of the sport’s biggest stars criticized the league on Twitter. They say they do want to play, but there’s no comprehensive plan to deal with COVID-19. Talks continue with the players union and the league.
Read more: Reuters, AP
World’s First Lab-Made Chicken Nuggets:
KFC is hoping to produce the world’s first lab-made chicken nuggets. The fast food chain teamed up with a Russian firm to essentially 3D-print them. Chicken cells will be mixed with plant material, and the combo is supposed to have the same taste and texture as natural chicken. So, these won’t be vegetarian, but KFC says it wants to try this out because lab-made meat can be more environmentally-friendly. They hope to test the final product this fall.
Read more: Engadget, The Verge, KFC
Largest Virtual Choir:
It’s the biggest virtual choir ever assembled. A new YouTube video features more than 17,000 people singing together in harmony. The singers are from 129 different countries, and they all recorded themselves at home. They then sent the clips to the composer to be edited into an epic choir performance. Watch it here!
Read more: CBS News, NPR, YouTube Video
Money Monday - Shrinking Credit Card Debt:
Americans are rapidly shrinking their credit card debt during the pandemic. New data from the Fed shows revolving consumer debt, which is mostly from credit cards, dipped below $1 trillion in May. It hasn’t been that low since 2011. Americans are likely spending less due to concerns about unemployment as well as fewer ways to spend because of restrictions in place.
Read more: CNN, Forbes, CNBC