National News - Page 161

Biden Urges Action as Covid Surge Hits Unvaccinated Americans

By Kevin Liptak and Kaitlan Collins Biden administration officials acknowledged Thursday the pandemic that appeared to be waning a month ago has entered a new, troubling phase. Speaking from the White House, President Joe Biden said the two dozen members of his Covid team were examining the surge in cases and hospitalizations among the still-sizable portion of the country that remains unvaccinated, and determining whether new mask recommendations were necessary. “We follow the science. What’s happening now is all the major scientific operations in this country and the 25-person group that we put together are looking at all the possibilities

Toledo African American Festival Returns with Local Stars

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By Madison Hahamy Homegrown talent is a highlight of the Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union’s African American Festival, which is back after a pandemic cancellation for its 16th year on Friday and Saturday. The festival includes a prayer breakfast, parade, and performances, most notably by singers Lyfe Jennings and Shirley Murdock, both native Toledoans who have not returned to the city in more than a year. Suzette Cowell, CEO of the Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union, said that the local ties that can be found throughout the two-day festival are intentional and ensure that the festival has “a hometown feeling.”

Tennessee to Relocate KKK Leader Bust to State Museum

By Aya Elamroussi and Rebekah Riess Tennessee officials voted Thursday to remove the bust of a Ku Klux Klan and Confederate leader Nathan Bedford Forrest from the State Capitol and into the Tennessee State Museum. “After more than a year in the making, this process has finally come to a close,” said Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who voted in favor of the removal. “I thank the members of the Capitol Commission, Historical Commission and State Building Commission for providing thoughtful input and ensuring confidence in the process. The State Museum provides the full historical context for these figures as

Climate Change Threatens U.S. Infrastructure Stability

By Pete Muntean and Chandelis Duster America’s infrastructure has taken a beating from extreme weather events in recent weeks spurred by climate change, raising concerns among officials that the nation’s roads, bridges and even commercial flights can’t stand the severe conditions. With roads buckling in the Pacific Northwest, a deluge drenching a New York City subway station and fatal flooding across Europe, scientists say climate change is here and immediate action is needed. The country’s crumbling infrastructure has commanded attention as the US has faced the unprecedented heat, drought and wildfires and the Biden administration has pushed costly proposals to

Delta Variant Raises Concerns Over Covid Breakthroughs

By Katia Hetter Coronavirus infections are on the rise again in the United States. While more than 99% of deaths are among those unvaccinated, anecdotal reports abound of breakthrough infections, or cases of fully vaccinated people who still test positive for Covid-19 — including several New York Yankee baseball players. How worried should vaccinated people be of contracting Covid-19? If you’re vaccinated, are you still able to transmit coronavirus to others, such as young children too young to get the vaccine themselves? Does the more transmissible Delta variant change the equation, and what precautions should vaccinated people still be taking?

Covid-19 School Vaccine Debate Amid Longstanding Mandates

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By Jacqueline Howard As debates abound over whether coronavirus vaccinations should be required in public schools, many experts point out that students already are required to receive several other routine vaccinations to attend childcare or classes in the United States. “There is an irony because we’ve had these long-standing mandatory vaccination requirements for schools,” Dr. William Moss, executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told CNN on Monday. But the singling out of coronavirus vaccines seems to be “obviously occurring in a broader social and political context around Covid-19 and

Delta Variant Detected on Capitol Hill, Sparks Caution

By Jessica Dean and Annie Grayer As the Delta variant emerges as the dominant strain of Covid across the country, the Capitol attending physician is warning Congress about the variant’s presence on Capitol Hill. “The Delta variant virus has been detected in Washington, DC and in the Capitol buildings,” Capitol Attending Physician Brian Monahan said in a letter obtained by CNN to House members and staff. Monahan wrote the Delta variant virus “represents a dire health risk to unvaccinated individuals” and reminded members and staff that vaccinations remain available through the Office of the Attending Physician. Monahan recommended vaccinated House

Six Texas Democrats in DC Test Positive for Covid-19

By Paul LeBlanc, Rachel Janfaza and Dianne Gallagher Another Texas state House Democrat who traveled to Washington, DC, last week has tested positive for Covid-19, an official with the group told CNN on Monday evening, bringing the number of infected legislators to six. The lawmakers are part of the group that left Texas, flying from Austin to Washington to break the state House’s quorum and block Republicans from passing a restrictive new voting law. Officials with the group told CNN that all of the lawmakers participating in the quorum break trip are fully vaccinated, including those who have tested positive

Harris Tests Negative After Meeting Texas Democrats with Covid

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By Jasmine Wright Vice President Kamala Harris tested negative for Covid-19 following a meeting with Texas state House Democrats, several of whom later tested positive, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. An official in the vice president’s office said that Harris’ testing occurred before her “routine doctor’s appointment” at Walter Reed Hospital, not because of the meeting with Texas legislators. Asked whether there was a safety concern related to Harris’ time spent around President Joe Biden, Psaki told reporters at Monday’s press briefing that the vice president was tested and “there was no detection of Covid-19.” “We take

Delta Variant Surge Threatens Biden’s Covid-19 Progress

 by Stephen Collinson It’s not over. Nowhere near it. If Joe Biden’s July Fourth fireworks marked a moment to declare the darkest days of the pandemic over, Monday was the day when reality dawned that the nation’s fight against Covid-19 is quickly sliding back in the wrong direction. A hybrid version of American life that will pass for normality for the foreseeable future is coming into view, in which most of the vaccinated live and many of those who refuse their shots get sick or die. In a moment of stark symbolism, new schools guidance released Monday from the American

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