Wednesday, October 13th, 2021
New Border Rules, Aspirin Advice & Toy Inclusivity
All the news you need in about 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by Rothys.com/newsworthy and BetterHelp.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 reading about the latest happenings…
Moderna Booster Shot Review
An expert advisory panel is expected to look at data from both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson regarding Covid-19 booster shots this week. A vote on whether to recommend the extra doses of those shots will follow. Already, the FDA released a review of data from Moderna. The vaccine maker says an extra half dose of its vaccine, given at least six months after the second dose, can increase antibodies that fight off Covid-19. Remember, the FDA has already given the OK for booster shots to certain Americans who got the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago.
Read More: NY Times, WaPo, NPR, WSJ, FDA
U.S. to Open Canada, Mexico Borders
For the first time in nearly two years, people in Canada and Mexico will soon be able to drive into the U.S. The land borders have been closed to tourists traveling by car, truck, train, or ferry since March of 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, unless for essential reasons, such as trade. Now, the Biden administration says that will change next month. Legal, fully vaccinated travelers will be able to come into the U.S. for any reason, even just to visit. Remember, last month the U.S. announced it was also lifting the restrictions for vaccinated people who wanted to fly here.
Read More: USA Today, Bloomberg, WSJ, NY Times, DHS
No More ICE Worksite Raids
Federal immigration agents are no longer carrying out mass workplace raids. For years, officers with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been raiding businesses and arresting workers suspected of living in the U.S. without legal permission. Some raids have ended with hundreds of arrests. Many presidents have supported the raids, but workers groups have called them unfair and discriminatory. ICE agents are now being told to focus instead on employers who are exploiting undocumented workers with things like unfair wages and unsafe working conditions.
Read More: Axios, WaPo, Fox News, ABC News, AP, DHS
CA Alisal Fire
The Alisal Fire burning near Santa Barbara, California is growing out of control this morning. It has already forced hundreds of people from their homes, and more people are being told to evacuate now. It’s not clear yet what started it, but nearly 21 square miles have been scorched so far. As of this morning, it’s only 5% contained. Hundreds of firefighters have been trying to get a hold of it, but winds have been fanning the flames. Yesterday, high winds also forced aircrews to be grounded because of unsafe flying conditions.
Read More: LA Times, CNN, ABC News, WSJ, InciWeb
Western U.S. Snow
The same storm that brought high winds to places like California, Nevada, and New Mexico brought heavy snow to the Rockies, and it’s still falling this morning. Parts of Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho could see up to 2 feet of snow. It’s also windy in those places, so some people could be dealing with blizzard conditions. On top of that, temperatures are far below average. Meanwhile, most of the eastern half of the country is getting mild, almost summer-like, weather for at least the next several days.
Read More: Weather Channel, Fox News, WaPo, USA Today, NWS
FDA Authorizes First E-Cigarette
For the first time, the FDA has authorized an e-cigarette. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company can now sell three of its Vuse vape products, all of which are tobacco flavored. Federal health officials say data from the company showed the e-cigarette helped smokers cut back on traditional cigarettes, which lowered their exposure to harmful chemicals. However, E-cigarettes still vaporize a nicotine-laced liquid, and they’ve become popular among teens in recent years who had never smoked before. R.J. Reynolds will face certain restrictions when it comes to advertising, and it is not allowed to sell certain flavored products.
Read More: Reuters, AP, CNN, The Verge, FDA
New Guidelines on Aspirin
The advice about aspirin is changing. Medical experts now say most adults should not be taking aspirin daily, even in low doses. The highly influential U.S Preventive Services Task Force says older patients who have never had a heart attack or stroke should not take aspirin as a preventive measure. It says aspirin could cause internal bleeding, and the risk outweighs any potential benefits for most people. However, low-dose aspirin is still recommended for people who’ve already had a heart attack or stroke. The panel says all patients should ask their doctors before starting or stopping a daily aspirin regimen.
Read More: AP, NY Times, WaPo, Axios, NBC News, USPSTF
IMF Global Growth Forecast
It seems the American economy isn’t rebounding as quickly as expected. That’s according to a new outlook from the International Monetary Fund (IMF.) The global lending agency says it now expects the U.S. economy to grow 6% this year. However, just three months ago, the IMF forecast said 7%. The biggest reason for the change is supply chain issues. Since inventory is down, manufacturing and sales have taken a hit. Still, the IMF says the American economy is growing, not shrinking, and that pattern is expected to continue for the next couple of years at least.
Read More: WSJ, CNBC, NY Times, IMF
Gas Prices Hit 7-Year High
You’ve probably noticed it is costing a lot more to fill up our tanks these days. AAA says the average national price for a gallon of gas hit $3.27 this week. That’s more expensive than at any other time in the last seven years. This is typically the time of year when prices start to go back down since people tend to drive less once summer is over. But, experts say the problem is higher costs for crude oil are being passed on to drivers.
Read More: CNN, Fox Business, CNBC, AAA, GasBuddy
NHL Is Back
The National Hockey League is officially back in action for what’s expected to be its first normal season since 2019. League organizers say teams will play a full 82-game schedule, which began last night. This season, the NHL says nearly all players are vaccinated. There are also no more quarantine restrictions between the U.S. and Canada, so even those games are back to normal. Arenas are at full capacity. This season, hockey games will also air on ESPN for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Read More: ESPN, NY Times, Front Office Sports, NHL
Lego to Remove Gender Bias from Toys
The largest toymaker in the world says it wants to make playtime more inclusive. Lego is removing “gender bias and other harmful stereotypes” from its toys and marketing campaigns. For example, toys will no longer have labels saying whether they’re for boys or girls. The company announced the change after surveying young children and their parents across seven countries, including the U.S. Lego says it hopes by making changes, it’ll encourage both young girls and boys to pursue their ambitions and not feel limited by gender stereotypes.
Read More: The Guardian, WaPo, CBS News, Lego
William Shatner Heads to Space Today
Captain Kirk is blasting off into space for real, as long as the weather cooperates. 90-year-old actor William Shatner, who played the iconic role of Captain James Kirk on Star Trek, will become the oldest person to fly in space. The Blue Origin spacecraft will go 66 miles into the air where Shatner, a Blue Origin executive, and two paying passengers will experience weightlessness. The flight will last about 15 minutes from start to finish. The launch is scheduled to start this morning at 9:30 am EST, and will be streamed live online in its entirety.
Read More: CNET, Space.Com, NPR, USA Today
Watch Live Stream: Blue Origin
Work Wednesday: Record Number of Workers Quitting
More people have been quitting their jobs than at any other time in the last 21 years. A new Labor Department report says 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs in August, almost 3% of the American workforce. Reasons for quitting range from more job openings with higher pay to fear of new Covid-19 outbreaks. As the AP reports, the highest quit rates were in industries that involve close contact with other people, like the hospitality industry and retail. On the flip side, the turnover rate isn’t as severe in industries like manufacturing, construction, transportation, and warehousing. The Labor Department’s report found quit rates to be mostly flat among people in professional and business fields who largely have the option to work from home.
Read More: WaPo, CNBC, MarketWatch, Insider, AP, Labor Dept.