Monday, November 29th, 2021
New Covid Variant, High-Profile Trial Begins & Happy Hanukkah
All the news you need in about 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by RadPowerBikes.com and Ritual.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 review the latest happenings...
Covid Omicron Variant
A new variant of Covid-19 has the attention of health experts all around the world. It's called Omicron, and the World Health Organization says it’s a “variant of concern.” There is no scientific proof the variant is more deadly or contagious than other strains already circulating. But, the WHO says Omicron has some genetic mutations that could help it spread quickly. For now, scientists say it’s likely the vaccines on the market will work against it. But, several vaccine makers say they’re studying the variant now to make sure. President Biden is expected to give an update today about America's response to this new variant.
Read More: WaPo, WSJ, Reuters, NPR, NBC News, White House, WHO
3 Men Guilty of Killing Ahmaud Arbery
Three white men accused of killing a Black man in a racist attack last year are now convicted murderers. A jury found Travis McMichael, his father Gregory, and their neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, guilty of murdering Ahmaud Arbery. Now, they all face a mandatory sentence of life in prison. The McMichaels’ lawyers say they plan to appeal the verdict. This jury wasn’t asked to decide whether racism was the main motivator for the murder, but the McMichaels and Bryan also face federal hate crime charges over that. The federal part of the case is scheduled to go to trial in February.
Read More: AJC, AP, Fox News, CNN
Ghislaine Maxwell Trial Starts Today
British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, is going to trial today. She has been accused of helping lure underage girls for Epstein to sexually abuse for many years. At least four women who say Maxwell preyed upon them when they were underage are planning to testify against her. Maxwell is pleading not guilty. This trial is expected to last six weeks. If she is found guilty, she could face up to 70 years in prison.
Read More: NPR, WaPo, Sky News, NY Post, NBC News
More Smash-and-Grab Robberies
Several upscale stores around the U.S. have recently been dealing with a wave of smash-and-grab robberies. Large groups of thieves have been swarming stores, ransacking shelves, and running off. Most of these crimes have happened in California, but similar robberies were reported in Chicago and the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Officials think these robberies might be orchestrated by criminals running larger crime networks, and investigators are trying to figure out why so many incidents are happening now.
Read More: CNN, The Hill, Reuters, Today
Winter Storms Forecast
Millions of Americans are in for wintery weather this morning. Snow, wind, and cold temperatures are expected in the northern U.S. from Wisconsin to Maine. Some places like Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio, already saw up to four inches of snow over the weekend. Now, today and tomorrow, the snow should be pretty light. Then, this storm is expected to move out quickly. But, two more winter storm systems are expected to roll into New England this week, bringing below-average temperatures and more snow.
Read More: Weather Channel, Accuweather, NWS
Canada Taps Maple Syrup Reserves
It seems there’s a global shortage of maple syrup. The Canadian federation that controls nearly three-quarters of the world’s maple syrup supply is now taking action. It’ll release about half of its emergency stockpile, about 50 million pounds of maple syrup. The shortage is reportedly being blamed on a drop in production due to weather conditions. At the same time, the pandemic led to more demand for syrup as people cooked from home more often. So, the Quebec maple syrup producers say they’ll release half of their reserves and authorize more production next year.
Read More: Fox Business, Bloomberg, CNN, The Guardian, WaPo
Popular Aerosol Sprays Recalled
Procter & Gamble is recalling 18 different Old Spice and Secret aerosol sprays that have expiration dates through September 2023. The recall is because a cancer-causing chemical, called benzene, was found in some of the products. The CDC says exposure to high levels of benzene can cause cancer or more short-term effects like dizziness. P&G, the company behind the brands, says the levels of benzene found in the recalled sprays wouldn’t likely cause health issues. Still, anyone who owns the sprays should stop using them and throw them away. You can then apply for a refund on the Old Spice or Secret websites.
Read More: Axios, WSJ, CNN, NY Post, P&G (see full list)
RIP Stephen Sondheim
The entertainment world is saying goodbye to the man behind some of Broadway's most popular and celebrated shows. Stephen Sondheim died over the weekend at 91 years old. He wrote the lyrics for classics like “West Side Story” and “Gypsy.” He also created the music and lyrics for “Company,” “Follies,” “Sweeny Todd,” “Into the Woods,” and many more. Last night in Times Square, members of every Broadway musical got together to pay tribute. They all sang “Sunday,” from Sondheim’s musical, “Sunday in the Park with George.” Then, “Hamilton” creator Lin Manuel-Miranda read a few passages of Sondheim's lyrics to the crowd.
Read More: NY Times, USA Today, AP, Variety
Soul Train Award Winners
The 2021 Soul Train Awards honored the best in soul, hip-hop, and R&B music. For the first time, the awards were held at the legendary Apollo Theater in New York City. The event also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the “Soul Train” TV show which showcased the best music and popular dances from Black culture. Last night’s show included performances from stars like Maxwell, Ashanti, Leon Bridges, and many more. The prestigious “Lady of Soul Award” went to Ashanti, and Maxwell was given the “Living Legend” award.
Read More: BET, Deadline, CBS News, Newsweek
Thanksgiving Weekend Box Office
Two family movies topped the Thanksgiving weekend box office this year. Disney's animated “Encanto” brought in more than $40 million in North America between Wednesday and Sunday. Sony's “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” came in second place, and “House of Gucci” starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver rounded out the top three earners. In fact, “House of Gucci” had the best opening for a drama in the last two years.
Read More: Variety, CNBC, THR, Deadline
Hanukkah Celebrations
Today is the first full day of Hanukkah! The holiday started at sundown last night, and it lasts through Monday, December 6th. The dates are different each year because they’re based on the Hebrew calendar. However, the holiday always lasts eight nights. Also known as the Festival of Lights, it’s celebrated by Jewish people around the world. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff spoke at the annual lighting of the National Menorah last night. People also celebrate Hanukkah with prayer, traditional food like latkes, games like dreidel, and gift exchanges. So, Happy Hanukkah!
Read More: WABC, Indianapolis Star, CNN, Times of Israel, Almanac, White House
Money Monday: Cyber Monday/Black Friday Sales
Today is expected to be the biggest online shopping day of the year. Business Insider says Cyber Monday is a particularly great time to shop for technology and gift cards, but it’s important to act quickly because inventory may be lower than usual. Great sales are available on many sites including Target, Walmart, Kohl’s, Home Depot, Best Buy, Macy’s, and Amazon. Malls and stores already had pretty decent-sized crowds on Black Friday. But, they didn’t see the typical huge rush because online shopping has gotten more common, and a lot of discounts have been spread out over the last few weeks.
Read More: CNET, NBC News, Business Insider, AP