Dec 10 WATCH: With deadline looming, COVID-19 aid talks continue By Associated Press Even as negotiations continue, congressional leaders are placing blame on each other for the lack of a final COVID-19 relief bill. A one-week extension of a potential government shutdown appears to have sapped some urgency from the talks. Continue reading
Dec 10 One-day U.S. deaths top 3,000, more than D-Day or 9/11 By Heather Hollingsworth, Associated Press Up until last week, the peak was 2,603 deaths on April 15, when New York City was the epicenter of the nation's outbreak. More than 106,000 people were hospitalized — also a record total. Continue reading
Dec 10 U.S. budget deficit up 25.1% in first 2 months of budget year By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press The Treasury Department reported Thursday that with two months gone in the budget year, the deficit totaled $429.3 billion, up from $343.3 billion in last year's October-November period. Continue reading
Dec 10 Minneapolis approves cuts to police budget, not staffing By Amy Forliti, Steve Karnowski, Associated Press The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a budget early Thursday that will shift about $8 million from the police department toward violence prevention and other programs — but will keep the mayor's targeted staffing levels for sworn officers intact, averting… Continue reading
Dec 10 U.S. jobless claims jump to 853,000 amid virus resurgence By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press The number of people applying for unemployment aid jumped last week to 853,000, the most since September, evidence that companies are cutting more jobs as new virus cases spiral higher. Continue reading
Dec 10 When it comes to coronavirus risks, Americans are divided over indoor sports By Jamie Leventhal A majority of Americans – 58 percent – say that people should not participate in indoor team sports this winter, according to the latest PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll. Continue reading
Dec 09 Watch 4:46 News Wrap: Biden's pick to lead the Pentagon raises concerns in Congress In our news wrap Wednesday, some Congress members say retired Army General Lloyd Austin's nomination for defense secretary could violate a rule prohibiting recently serving military officers from running the Defense Department, Britain health officials warn of possible side effects… Continue watching
Dec 09 Watch 3:44 Under pressure, lawmakers scramble to provide economic relief Lawmakers on Wednesday continued to tangle over the details of a bipartisan economic relief bill during the pandemic, even as two-thirds of Americans say the federal government needs to do more to address economic hardships created by the coronavirus, according… Continue watching
Dec 09 Watch 5:19 What this Texas emergency room physician needs to treat COVID patients More than 9,000 people are now hospitalized in Texas, and the death toll there is now above 23,000. Cases are spiking across the state including in and around Houston. Dr. Richina Bicette, of the Baylor College of Medicine and an… Continue watching
Dec 09 Watch 6:17 Facebook under fire as states seek to rein in the social media giant Facebook is one of the most valuable companies in the world, but its dominance is the subject of major new antitrust actions. A pair of lawsuits filed by the Federal Trade Commission, and by 46 states, allege that Facebook used… Continue watching