Monday, December 6th, 2021
Shooter’s Parents Charged, Hawaii Blizzard & Bowl Games Set
All the news you need in about 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...
COVID Cases/Deaths Rising
It seems the U.S. could already be dealing with the latest winter wave of Covid-19. As of this weekend, on average, more than 121,000 Americans are testing positive each day. That's the first time in two months the daily average has gotten up to six digits. More than 1,600 Americans are also dying from Covid-19 every day. Most of these new cases and deaths are still attributed to the Delta version of Covid-19. But, the newer variant Omicron is also spreading. It’s now been confirmed in more than a third of American states.
Read More: Reuters, CNN, USA Today, Axios
New Omicron Details
Early signs show Omicron could be more contagious than other variants. And, because it has so many mutations, vaccines might be less effective against it. But, there have been some encouraging signs, too. President Biden’s chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, says Omicron might be less dangerous than Delta. Or, at least, that’s what he’s been seeing in South Africa where Omicron was first reported. Dr. Fauci says scientists need more information before they know for sure how severe the variant is. Lab tests are underway, but it could take weeks to find out.
Read More: The Hill, NY Post, AP, CNN
Alleged School Shooter’s Parents Arrested
The parents of the 15-year-old boy accused of shooting and killing his classmates at a Michigan high school are now being held in the same jail as their son. James and Jennifer Crumbley were arrested over the weekend. Investigators say they refused to intervene on the day of the tragedy, even though they were confronted over some disturbing behavior. The boy is facing murder charges, and his parents are facing involuntary manslaughter charges. But, they are pleading not guilty. The Crumbleys say their son did not have unrestricted access to the gun he used like a prosecutor said he did. But, they bought it for him as an early Christmas present.
Read More: AP, CNN, Fox News, ABC News, NY Times
Taliban ‘Summary Killings’
The U.S. and more than 20 other countries are condemning the Taliban over a concerning new report from the organization Human Rights Watch. The report says, since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in the summer, more than 100 former Afghan security forces have been killed or “forcibly disappeared.” It says the Taliban is responsible. Over the weekend, 22 powerful governments, including the U.S., issued a statement. It calls for a full and transparent investigation and says, “those responsible must be held accountable.” So far, the Taliban hasn’t responded to the statement or the report from Human Rights Watch.
Read More: NBC News, CNN, Al Jazeera, The Hill, HRW, State Dept.
Bob Dole Dies
Both Republicans and Democrats are paying respects to a longtime GOP leader. Bob Dole passed away over the weekend at 98 years old. He was Senate majority leader for more than a decade, a World War II veteran, and a three-time presidential candidate. It isn’t known how he died, but earlier this year, he said he’d been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. President Biden issued a lengthy statement celebrating Dole’s accomplishments as an “American statesman like few in our history.” Former presidents Bush, Trump, Obama, Clinton, and Carter, as well as many members of Congress, also paid tribute with statements.
Read More: ABC News, WaPo, WSJ, Fox News, Dole Foundation
Hawaii Blizzard Warning
Denver, Colorado still hasn’t seen any snowfall this season, but Hawaii has. Mountain peaks on the big island have been under a blizzard warning for most of the weekend, and it continues this morning. It’s not that unusual to see snow on Hawaii's summits. A blizzard warning was last issued for the state in 2018. But, what is strange is for the island state to see a blizzard warning before most of the continental U.S. The only places that have had blizzard warnings so far this season are the high plains of Wyoming, Nebraska, and South Dakota, along with a small sliver of Western Minnesota, and now Hawaii.
Read More: Accuweather, NBC News, CNN, NPR, NWS
Trump Social Media Group Raises $1B
Former President Trump's new social media company says it raised $1 billion from investors. Remember, back in October, Trump started his own company called Trump Media and Technology Group, with plans to launch a new messaging app called Truth Social. Trump says the company will be publicly traded through a merger with another company, Digital World Acquisition Corporation. Together, they say the $1 billion will come from “a diverse group” of investors, though they aren’t identifying who the investors are. Trump is listed as chairman of the new company, and the Truth Social app is expected to launch early next year.
Read More: Axios, The Hill, BBC, AP, Reuters
Embassy Employees Phones Hacked
At least 11 State Department employees were reportedly hacked. News outlets say people who work at the U.S. embassy in Uganda were impacted as well as others who are focused on the east African country. Their iPhones were infected with spyware developed by Israel's NSO Group, the surveillance firm the U.S. blacklisted last month. The New York Times says President Biden plans to bring this spyware up at a White House summit this week. Dozens of countries are invited, including Israel. The NSO says it will investigate the allegations.
Read More: NY Times, Reuters, WaPo, The Verge
Megachurch Stash Found
A plumbing repair at a famous megachurch uncovered hundreds of envelopes full of cash, checks, and money orders in the wall. A plumber was doing maintenance work at Pastor Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas when he stumbled upon the money, and he turned it all in. Houston police say the stash appears to be connected to a 2014 burglary. Back then, Lakewood Church reported losing more than $600,000 when a safe was broken into. The funds were insured, but the burglar was never caught. Police say the investigation is ongoing.
Read More: Houston Chronicle, WaPo, NY Times, Fox News
College Football Playoffs Decided
We now know which teams will be playing in the College Football Playoff. The top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will face off against the 4th-seeded Cincinnati Bearcats at the Cotton Bowl in Texas. And, the Michigan Wolverines will take on the Georgia Bulldogs at the Orange Bowl in Florida. Both of those games are on New Year’s Eve. The winners will face off for the National Championship in Indianapolis on January 10th. Cincinnati is the first team to reach the College Football Playoff from a non-Power Five conference in the eight-year history of this postseason format.
Read More: AP, ESPN, CBS Sports, CNN
Kennedy Center Honors
Five cultural icons received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors last night. These are lifetime achievement awards given at the Kennedy Center’s main opera house packed with big, high-profile guests. This year’s winners were Motown Records creator Berry Gordy, “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels, singer/actress Bette Midler, opera singer Justino Diaz, and folk music legend Joni Mitchell. The president and first lady were in attendance. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed the national anthem, and tons of other big stars performed as tributes to the honorees. The full event will air on CBS later this month.
Read More: Reuters, AP, Axios, Kennedy Center
Money Monday: Debt Collectors on Social Media
Debt collectors are now allowed to contact you on social media. However, there are some guidelines they have to follow. For example, they can’t comment on your posts where the public could see. But, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau now says they can message you privately on social media platforms. Also, the debt collectors must clearly identify themselves and include a way for you to stop getting these types of messages. The rule is meant to clarify the current law and explain what type of communication debt collectors are allowed to use. Of course, no matter how you’re contacted, look out for fake debt collectors and scams.
Read More: USA Today, WaPo, NBC News, Business Insider, CFPB