Jul 17 Democrats say White House blocking CDC head from testifying By Matthew Daly, Associated Press Democrats said they invited CDC Director Robert Redfield to testify next Thursday, but the White House rebuffed them. Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott called it alarming that the Trump administration would prevent CDC officials from appearing before the committee "at a… Continue reading
Jul 17 Congressional Democrats and Republicans debate coronavirus liability policy By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press A new plan from Senate Republicans to award businesses, schools, and universities sweeping exemptions from lawsuits arising from inadequate coronavirus safeguards is putting Republicans and Democrats at loggerheads. Continue reading
Jul 17 Georgia mask debate ensnares Trump as Gov. Kemp battles Atlanta By Jeff Martin, Ben Nadler, Associated Press More than a dozen other cities and counties defied Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and issued local orders requiring that masks be worn in public. The dispute ratched up several notches this week, leading to tough talk from both the governor… Continue reading
Jul 17 Chicago plans to have kids in classrooms two days a week By Kathleen Foody, Associated Press Most Chicago children would return to the classroom two days a week and spend the other three days learning remotely once the school year begins under a tentative plan outlined by officials from the nation’s third-largest school district… Continue reading
Jul 17 Remote region of Brazil’s Amazon experiences first deaths by coronavirus By Mauricio Savarese, Associated Press The first deaths from COVID-19 have come to a vast, remote region of the Amazon that Brazil’s government says is home to greatest concentration of isolated Indigenous groups in the world. Continue reading
Jul 17 WATCH: California Gov. Gavin Newsom outlines strict guidelines for schools By Jocelyn Gecker, Kathleen Ronayne, Associated Press The rules announced Friday include a mandate that students above 2nd grade and all staff wear masks in school. Newsom's new guidance mandates that public schools in California counties that are on a monitoring list for rising coronavirus infections cannot… Continue reading
Jul 17 The pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on children’s economic vulnerability By Anna Bokun, Jessie Himmelstern, Wonjeong Jeong, Ann Meier, Kelly Musick, Rob Warren, Econofact Many children at greatest risk are in states with weak track records of social support, and they need better access to income security, childcare, education, and nutrition. Delaying this support will exacerbate the long-term implications of the pandemic on a… Continue reading
Jul 17 NYC poised to open zoos, play ball under reopen plan, mayor says By Associated Press Mayor Bill de Blasio says New York City is on track to allow zoos to open at limited capacity and professional sports without spectators starting next week under the next phase of its reopening. Continue reading
Jul 17 WATCH: Former Fed chairs urge Congress to do more to save the U.S. economy By Martin Crutsinger, Marcy Gordon, Associated Press Former Federal Reserve Chairs Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen will testify, starting at 12:30 p.m. ET today. Watch their remarks here. Continue reading
Jul 17 Countries across the globe battle flare-ups of COVID-19 By Elaine Kurtenbach, Nomaan Merchant, Menelaos Hadjicostis, Associated Press Outbreaks in the world’s latest hot spots pushed the confirmed global case tally toward 14 million on Friday. Governments are frantically trying to prevent and put down fresh outbreaks and keep their economies running as the pandemic accelerates in some… Continue reading