Jul 09 California set to require face masks at schools this fall By Jocelyn Gecker, Associated Press Ahead of new school guidelines expected next week, health officials in California said Friday that requiring face coverings will allow all schools to reopen this fall for full in-person instruction. Continue reading
Jul 09 USDA unveils $500 million plan to help build more, smaller meat processing plants By David Pitt, Associated Press U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, announced the program Friday in addition to another $150 million to be used for existing small processing facilities to help them with unexpected costs the coronavirus pandemic caused and to compete… Continue reading
Jul 09 Watch 6:00 News Wrap: Vaccinated teachers, students can ditch masks inside schools, CDC says In our news wrap Friday, vaccinated teachers and students will no longer need to wear masks inside school buildings, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Police in Haiti have arrested 17 men in connection with Wednesday's assassination… Continue watching
Jul 09 Watch 4:55 Heatwaves are becoming more common. Here’s how the U.S. must plan for them Extreme heat and drought are baking the Western U.S. and Canada again this week, following hundreds of heat-related deaths in the Pacific Northwest last week. Record-breaking temperatures are expected to return to California over the weekend, including in the San… Continue watching
Jul 09 Biden tells Putin Russia must crack down on cybercriminals By Zeke Miller, Eric Tucker, Associated Press The warning to Putin was largely a repetition of the tough rhetoric Biden had used during their meeting in Geneva last month, when he warned that there would be consequences for continuing cyberattacks emanating from Russia. Continue reading
Jul 09 Biden fires holdover head of Social Security Administration By Darlene Superville, Associated Press The White House says President Joe Biden has fired the Social Security commissioner after the official refused to resign. Biden has also accepted the resignation of the agency's deputy commissioner. Continue reading
Jul 09 As frustration mounts, a White House push on voting rights By Jonathan Lemire, Zeke Miller, Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press The White House says Biden will travel to Philadelphia on Tuesday to discuss "actions to protect the sacred, constitutional right to vote." Biden met with civil rights leaders in the West Wing on Thursday. Continue reading
Jul 09 Elsa soaks NYC and New England as it races up East Coast By Michael Hill, Tom Hays, Associated Press The fast-moving storm Elsa lashed New York City and New England with heavy rain and high winds, flooding streets, toppling trees and hindering some rail service. Continue reading
Jul 09 Wildfires continue to burn in the West as high temperatures return By Associated Press Climate change is considered a "key driver" of a trend that is creating "longer and more intense dry seasons that increase moisture stress on vegetation and make forests more susceptible to severe wildfire."… Continue reading
Jul 09 Why can’t Olympians smoke weed? By Chloe Jones Her chances dashed at an Olympic debut, fellow elite athletes have come to Sha'Carri Richardson's defense and to say that sporting rules on pot are overdue for a change. Continue reading