August 10, 2021

U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden watch a fireworks display from the second-floor balcony of the Executive Residence of the White House during a Fourth of July event on the South Lawn in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Sunday, July 4, 2021. The White House invited hundreds of essential workers, military families and administration staff members to view the Independence Day fireworks on the South Lawn as Biden touts a government vaccination drive that has helped get at least one dose to 67% of adults in the U.S.Photographer: Sarah Silbiger/Bloomberg via Getty Images

‘You made me so damn proud’: Biden praises Olympic athletes and extends invite to the White House

By Donald Judd PresidentĀ Joe BidenĀ and first lady Jill Biden met with members of the 2020 US Olympic Team Saturday in aĀ livestreamed virtual reception. “You handle yourself with such grace, and such decency, it just — you made me so damn proud,” the President told the group of Olympians over Zoom from his home in Delaware,

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United States' Kevin Durant (7) celebrates after a score during men's basketball gold medal game against France at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Team USA wins gold in men’s basketball for the fourth Olympics in a row

By Jill Martin Team USA avenged its early Olympic loss to France by beating the French men’s basketball team 87-82Ā for the gold medalĀ on Saturday in the Japanese city of Saitama. It was the 100th medal won by Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Games, and the country’s 32nd gold. Kevin Durant of the NBA’s Brooklyn

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens drops back to pass against the Tennessee Titansat M&T Bank Stadium on November 22, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson noncommittal about Covid-19 vaccine after contracting virus twice

By Amir Vera Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has now had Covid-19 twice, but when asked by reporters Monday whether the Ravens have spoken to him about getting vaccinated, he was noncommittal on vaccines. “I just got off the Covid list, so I’ve got to talk to my team about this and try to see

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AUSTIN, TX - JULY 08: The Texas State Capitol is seen on the first day of the 87th Legislative Special Session on July 8, 2021 in Austin, Texas. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott called the legislature into a special session, asking lawmakers to prioritize his agenda items that include overhauling the state's voting laws, bail reform, border security, social media censorship, and critical race theory. (Photo by Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images)

Judge signs order temporarily blocking arrest of quorum-busting Texas Democrats

By Dianne Gallagher, Wesley Bruer and Jade Gordon Texas DemocratsĀ who left the state last month in an attempt to stop the passage of restrictive voting bills can now return home to continue their protest without fear of being arrested, after a judge on Monday issued a temporary restraining order. The order, signed by Travis County

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NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2020-- Pedestrians walk past the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, the United States, Sept. 3, 2020. U.S. stocks plunged on Thursday, as a steep sell-off in tech shares dragged down the market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 807.77 points, or 2.78 percent, to finish at 28,292.73. The 30-stock index shed more than 1,000 points, or about 3.5 percent, at the lows. The S&P 500 fell 125.78 points, or 3.51 percent, to end at 3,455.06. The Nasdaq Composite Index sank 598.34 points, or 4.96 percent, to 11,458.10.(Photo by Wang Ying/Xinhua via Getty) (Xinhua/Wang Ying via Getty Images)

Nasdaq’s plan to boost diversity on corporate boards gets SEC approval

By Jazmin Goodwin The Securities and Exchange Commission approved Nasdaq’s proposal to increase diversity on the boards of companies listed on its exchange. The ruleĀ requiresĀ all Nasdaq-listed companies to have at least two diverse directors, including one woman and one member of an “underrepresented” minority group, including Black people, Latinos or members of the LGBTQ+ community.

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Dennis Thomas, Kool & the Gang co-founder, dies at 70

By Elizabeth Joseph and Alaa Elassar Kool & the Gang co-founder Dennis Thomas, often referred to as “Dee Tee,” has died. He was 70 years old. Thomas passed away in his sleep in New Jersey on Saturday, according to a statement posted to the Grammy Award-winning band’sĀ verified Facebook page. Born in Orlando, Florida, Thomas was

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WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 06: Shenita Binns (3rd L) and her daughter Ysrael Binns (4th L) of Atlanta, Georgia, participate in a ā€œFreedom Friday Marchā€ protest at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial August 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Activists continued to demonstrate for voting rights on the 56th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act and urged the US Senate ā€œto end the filibuster so we can pass legislation to solve the urgent crises confronting our nation, voting rights, DC statehood, and reparations.ā€ (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

NAACP launches national campaign in latest strategy to combat widespread voter suppression efforts

By Nicquel Terry Ellis The NAACP is partnering with several other civil rights groups to launch a national voter mobilization campaign this week that aims to engage more people in the fight for federal voting legislation and motivate voters to participate in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections. NAACP leaders say the “Fighting for Our Vote”

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WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 26: The U.S. Capitol Building is seen as the sun sets and a heavy thunderstorm blew through the area on Capitol Hill on July 26, 2021 in Washington, DC. Negotiations over the Infrastructure Bill continue in Congress as the rush to get it passed before their August recess after the initial agreement fell apart. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Schumer sets up final vote on $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill for Tuesday

By Clare Foran, Ali Zaslav and Paul LeBlanc The massiveĀ $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure packageĀ is poised for a final vote in the Senate on Tuesday morning after clearing the last procedural hurdle following months of furious negotiations. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday evening that Republicans and Democrats have reached an agreement for final passage

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A 12-year-old receives a first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at a mobile vaccination clinic during a back to school event offering school supplies, Covid-19 vaccinations, face masks, and other resources for children and their families at the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA in Los Angeles, California on August 7, 2021. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
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US vaccination rate is at its highest in weeks. But mandates may be needed for kids going back to school, expert says

By Madeline Holcombe As Americans gear up for a new school year against a backdrop of risingĀ Covid-19Ā cases, experts say there is no time to waste in getting already rising vaccination rates even higher. The US is currently averaging 486,332 people initiating vaccinations a day, which is a 10% increase over last week’s pace and the

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