Friday, October 8th, 2021
Debt Disaster Avoided, Ex-NBA Players Charged & Tesla Moves HQ
All the news you need in around 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by Ritual.com/newsworthy and JoinCrowdHealth.com/99 (Listen for the discount code)
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...
Pfizer Seeks OK for Kids Vaccine
Pfizer has now formally asked the FDA to give the green-light for kids 5 to 11 years old to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The younger kids would get a smaller dose. If regulators grant the Emergency Use Authorization, an estimated 28 million children in the U.S. would become eligible for the shots. Federal health officials are set to publicly discuss the evidence on October 26th, and the FDA vaccine chief has said he hopes authorization will happen “within a matter of weeks.”
Read more: NPR, LA Times, AP
U.S. Debt Disaster Avoided, For Now
The first crucial vote to avoid an economic crisis has now happened. After Senate leaders made a deal earlier this week, the Senate approved a bill last night to extend the government’s borrowing ability. The bill increases the debt limit by $480 billion, which will allow the U.S. to pay off its bills through at least December 3rd. It still needs to pass the House and get the president’s signature, but that’s all expected to happen before the Oct. 18th deadline. Then, expect another showdown over this same issue soon as the new deadline in December nears.
Read more: WSJ, Politico, AP, WaPo
Biden Restores Monuments’ Protection
President Biden is expected to announce plans today to restore environmental protections for three national monuments. Former President Trump had scaled back protections for these areas -- opening them up to mining and development. Now, President Biden’s plans are reportedly part of a series of steps to protect lands and waters, some of which are sacred to tribal nations. Already, conservation groups are welcoming the news, while some Utah lawmakers are pushing back.
Read more: WaPo, NYT, NBC News
Deadly Alabama Flooding
Days of pouring rain triggered widespread flooding across the Southeast, and it turned deadly in Alabama. Officials say at least four people were killed, including a young child, and many others had to be rescued from the floodwaters. In some areas, about 10 inches of rain fell in just 24 hours.
Read more: USA Today, Accuweather
Ex-NBA Players Charged in Healthcare Scheme
Former NBA players are facing federal charges for allegedly scamming the league’s health care fund out of millions of dollars between 2017 and 2020. Prosecutors say the 18 ex-players submitted fake invoices for medical and dental procedures that never actually happened, and they successfully pocketed about $2.5 million. The league called the charges “disheartening” and has promised to cooperate with investigators.
Read more: AP, CNN, WSJ, NY Post
Nobel Prize Winners Announced
The Nobel Prize in Literature went to Tanzanian-born novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah -- the first Black writer in nearly three decades to win the award. He’s the author of ten novels, and his work focuses on colonialism and the trauma of the refugee experience. Up next, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize will be announced early this morning.
Read more: BBC, Reuters, NobelPrize.org, PBS News
CDC Urges Flu Shot
The CDC is encouraging more Americans to get the annual flu vaccine right now. Flu season typically lasts from October to May, so health experts say the best time to roll up your sleeve is by the end of this month. Of course, last year, the flu was practically non-existent because of COVID-19 precautions, but health officials say they’re expecting a more serious flu season this year as more schools and businesses are back open. They’re concerned that the flu, combined with COVID-19, could overwhelm hospitals this winter.
Read more: USA Today, AP, NY Times, NFID
Airlines Prepare for Holiday Travel
Airlines are getting ready for a surge in holiday travel. United Airlines, for example, is now offering more flights this holiday season than at any other time since the pandemic started. The company also says the number of searches on its website and app for December flights is 16 percent higher compared to the same time in 2019.
Read more: CNBC, NY Times, Fox Business, United Airlines
Tesla HQ Moves to TX
Tesla is moving its headquarters from Silicon Valley in California to Austin, Texas. Despite the move, Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he plans to continue expanding company activities in California as well. Still, Musk publicly lashed out at some California government officials last year when he disagreed with the COVID-related health orders. He didn’t mention that during his announcement about the HQ move yesterday, though. Instead, Musk says moving Tesla to Texas is about making the location more accessible for workers, with things like more affordable housing.
Read more: The Verge, TechCrunch
YouTube on Climate Change Denial Videos
Starting next month, people who post videos on YouTube denying that climate change is real won’t be able to make money from those videos. Google-owned YouTube announced the change this week, saying the tech giant will use automation and human reviewers to enforce the new rule. That said, Google promises the change will not extend to videos that include debates about climate policy or discussions about the effects of climate change.
Read more: Axios, The Verge, Engadget
Draconid Meteor Shower
Be sure to check out the night sky this evening. The Draconid meteor shower is peaking tonight with an expected 10 meteors, or so-called shooting stars, per hour. This meteor shower is unique because it’s best viewed right around nightfall, so you don’t have to get up in the middle of the night to enjoy it.
Read more: USA Today, People, Earth Sky, American Meteor Society
Indigenous People’s Day and/or Columbus Day
A quick reminder: It’s either Columbus Day and/or Indigenous People’s Day this Monday, October 11th, so expect government offices, banks, the U.S. Postal Service, and some schools to be closed. The NewsWorthy will also be off on Monday, but we’ll be back in your ears tomorrow with our Special Edition Saturday episode (featuring Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles) and then your next news roundup will be here on Tuesday.
Read more: History, Smithsonian Magazine, Reuters, NPR, National Geographic
Feel Good Friday:
Children Discovered Fossils of Ancient Giant Penguin