Author: Nolan White

On Tuesday, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that a second wave of the novel coronavirus will be far more deadly because it is likely to coincide with the start of flu season. What We Know: “There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through,” CDC Director Robert Redfield said in an interview with The Washington Post. “And when I’ve said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they don’t understand what I mean.”…

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Harvard University announced on Wednesday it will turn down $8.7m in federal coronavirus relief, a day after Donald Trump criticized the wealthy Ivy League school over taxpayer money it stood to receive. What We Know: Officials at Harvard said the school still faces significant financial challenges due to the pandemic but will refuse the money over concerns that “intense focus by politicians” will undermine the relief program created by Congress. “While we understand any reallocation of these resources is a matter for the Department of Education, we hope that special consideration will be given to Massachusetts institutions that are struggling to serve…

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Dr. Rick Bright says he is the first clear casualty of a White House war on the scientific process, when he was demoted for refusing to invest federal money in an untested coronavirus therapy that President Trump has embraced. What We Know: For weeks, there have been signs that the Trump administration is politicizing science. President Trump has repeatedly extolled the virtues of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for Covid-19. Bright says the drug has not been tested as a Covid-19 medication in a placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial, the scientific gold standard for determining a drug’s efficacy. Some…

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The Democratic Party of Texas announced Tuesday that it is planning to send voter registration applications and postage stamps to every Texan looking to vote in 2020. What We Know: The coronavirus is halting in person “get out and vote” campaigns in Texas so the Democratic Party of Texas is filling in this role. The state Democratic Party said it created a website, RegisterTexas.com, that will allow supporters of any party to request an application and a stamp mailed to them. The application is designed to come with a pre-addressed envelope addressed to each voter’s county clerk, so prospective voters…

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The Weather Channel is saying that Nielsen is engaging in “predatory pricing” because of its monopoly on ratings services. What We Know: In 2017, CF Entertainment signed a contract with The Nielsen Co. agreeing to pay $41,667 a month in exchange for rating numbers for its current and future cable networks. CF Entertainment, acquired The Weather Channel in 2018, Nielsen required in an amendment to the contract and increased the price to more than $475,000 a month. Allen states that the change effectively broke the original contract. “That payment, like each one it has made to Nielsen since April 2018,…

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The US has been closely monitoring reports on Kim’s health out of geopolitical concerns of major migration out of North Korea if Kim passes away. What We Know: The Kim family dynasty has ruled over North Korea since the end of Japanese rule in 1945. Kim recently missed the celebration of his grandfather’s birthday on April 15, which raised speculation about his well-being. He had been seen four days before that at a government meeting. According to intelligence reports, “the concerns about Kim’s health are credible but the severity is hard to assess”. North Korea is one of the most secluded countries…

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Florida’s governor, on Friday, gave the green light for some beaches and parks to reopen if it can be done safely. What We Know: Mayor Lenny Curry said Duval County beaches were reopening Friday afternoon with restricted hours, and they can only be used for walking, biking, hiking, fishing, running, swimming, taking care of pets, and surfing. The beaches will be open from 6 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 8 p.m., Curry said in a video posted to social media. Gatherings of 50 or more people are prohibited and people must still practice social distancing. “Folks, this could be…

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California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced the state would offer a $125m grant for immigrants in the state illegally that have been affected by the coronavirus. What We Know: In California, there are an estimated 2 million individuals who are in the state illegally and as a result will not be eligible to receive help from the CARES Act during the coronavirus shutdowns. This money is intendted to cover those individuals. Newsom noted that 10 percent of the state’s workforce is made up of immigrants in the country illegally and that they paid $2.5 billion in state and local taxes in 2019.…

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The Miami doctor was handcuffed in front of his home while he said he was loading supplies for homeless residents into a van. What We Know: Miami police said the officer stopped the doctor for leaving trash in his yard. Dr. Armen Henderson said racial profiling was a factor of why the officer decided to handcuff him. “If I was a fairer-skin person or a white person, just doing the same thing, I don’t believe he would’ve stopped me,” Henderson ​said. “It was the nature of the stop that really concerned me.” Henderson has been testing the city’s homeless residents for…

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Michelle Obama wants to make voting easier during the coronavirus pandemic. What We Know: Michelle Obama and her counterparts are asking the government to funnel resources into early voting to help people avoid long lines because of covid-19. “Americans should never have to choose between making their voices heard and keeping themselves and their families safe,” she said in a statement. She continued by saying “There is nothing partisan about striving to live up to the promise of our country: making the democracy we all cherish more accessible, and protecting our neighbors, friends, and loved ones as they participate in…

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