COVID-19

Why public health experts are concerned about BA.2.86, the latest COVID-19 variant

By Suresh V. Kuchipudi, The Conversation

Researchers still don’t know how well BA.2.86 will evade immunity or whether it will cause more severe disease than its predecessors.

How states are responding after federal funding for free school meals for all ends

By Geoff Bennett, Karina Cuevas, Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, Gabrielle Hays, Adam Kemp

During the pandemic, the federal government provided funds for free healthy school meals for students, but that program ended in 2022. Most states went back to the system they had before, but some will continue providing meals. NewsHour Communities Correspondents…

Continue watching

Jill Biden tests positive for COVID-19, President Biden’s results still negative

By Associated Press

First lady Jill Biden has tested positive for COVID-19.

Biden says he will request more funding for a new COVID-19 vaccine

By Seung Min Kim, Associated Press

President Joe Biden said Friday that he is planning to request more money from Congress to develop another new coronavirus vaccine, as scientists track new waves and hospitalizations rise, though not like before.

Justice Department announces charges against hundreds of alleged COVID-19 fraudsters

By Richard Lardner, Associated Press

The May-through-July operation underscores how pervasive the fraud was and the time it takes for law enforcement officials to hunt down, charge and convict people who stole money during a national emergency.

Some small music venues kept rocking even after COVID shut them down. Here’s how they did it

By Tim McPhillips

When I.M.P. opened the Atlantis in April, it was the independent music production company’s fifth venue in greater Washington, D.C. It was also its smallest. The concert hall is a tribute to the original 9:30 club, a beloved and intimate…

Watchdog calls for House committee to uninvite Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after his comments are blasted as antisemitic

By Ali Swenson, Associated Press

A watchdog group has asked a U.S. House committee to rescind an invitation to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after the Democratic presidential candidate was filmed falsely suggesting COVID could have been "ethnically targeted" to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people.

EU and Latin American leaders hold a summit hoping to rekindle a long-lost relationship

By Raf Cassert, Associated Press

European Union and Latin American leaders are gathering for a major summit of long-lost relatives. Whether it will also be a joyful reunion of friends remains to be seen after eight years.

Jesse Jackson to step down as head of civil rights organization Rainbow PUSH Coalition

By Gary Fields, Claire Savage, Associated Press

A spokesperson for Rep. Jonathan Jackson confirmed on Friday that the civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate plans to announce his decision on Sunday during the organization's annual convention.

Judge refuses to put hold on order limiting Biden administration contact with social media companies

By Kevin McGill, Associated Press

The judge's order came from a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general claiming the Biden administration censored free speech by pressuring companies to remove what it deemed misinformation on COVID-19.