First lab results show omicron variant has ability to avoid vaccine antibodies
Initial data indicate that omicron may be more transmissible even than delta, the variant that became dominant throughout the world this summer.
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Omicron possibly more infectious because of ties to common cold coronavirus, study says
The omicron variant is likely to have picked up genetic material from another virus that causes the common cold in humans, according to a new preliminary study.
Bloomberg pledges $750M to expand charter schools across U.S.
The plan, according to the Bloomberg Philanthropies website, is designed to create 150,000 new seats for students in charter schools in 20 metropolitan areas around the country.
COVID could cost the tourism industry $1.6T this year, and omicron might make it worse
The return of stricter COVID-19 restrictions to fight the latest variant has already left some travelers stranded. For many tourism businesses, it’s also threatening hopes of an upcoming holiday boost this year.
White House to spend $1.5B to attract doctors to underserved communities
The pandemic has highlighted what has long been a barrier to accessing quality medical care in rural areas and communities of color: provider shortages.
Big Tech pushing smart home devices as latest work-from-home tools
Amazon, Facebook parent Meta and Google are expanding work applications for the smart home, raising security and privacy concerns that could cost workers and their companies if not managed properly.
U.S. House passes $2T-plus spending package to expand social benefits, fight climate change
The measure adopted Friday amounts to a dramatic re-envisioning of the role of government in Americans’ daily lives. It still must survive an even tougher political slog in the days ahead.
House eyes vote this week on $2 trillion Biden spending plan
House Democrats hope to begin debate as soon as Wednesday on the proposal to overhaul the country’s health care, education, climate, immigration and tax laws, aiming to adopt the sweeping measure by the end of the week.
Here’s what new NCAA constitution means for college sports fans
On Monday, representatives of the full NCAA membership get the chance to weigh in during a specially called constitutional convention after being given a week to digest the 19-page document.
Biden approval hits new low as economic discontent rises, Post-ABC poll finds
Overall, the survey offers a set of harsh judgments about the president’s performance and the state of the economy. Together, they send a stark warning to Democrats about their prospects in the 2022 midterm contests.
Biden health officials push to make COVID booster shots available to all adults
The debate comes at a critical time for the Biden administration, with top advisers growing increasingly fearful the country could slide backward into a fifth pandemic wave amid colder weather and declining vaccine protection.
USPS chief says post office ready for holiday package rush
U.S. Postal Service officials say they have the staffing and resources to handle the coming onslaught of holiday packages, and avoid a repeat of the disastrous 2020 season that brought mail delivery to a crawl.
Nearing Monday vaccine deadline, thousands of federal workers seek exemptions
Tens of thousands of holdouts have requested exemptions on religious grounds, complicating President Joe Biden’s sweeping mandate to get the country’s largest employer back to normal operations.
More hotels making galleries part of the guest experience
Many of the art-forward hotels, such as the Art in Denver and the Alexander in Indianapolis, work with local artists to either showcase their portfolio for a specific amount of time or commission one-of-a-kind pieces to display on site indefinitely.
Minneapolis voters reject measure to replace police department
Voters in the city where the defund the police movement began soundly rejected a proposal Tuesday to replace their troubled police department in an election likely to have national implications in the debate over policing and racial justice.
Democrats scramble to get a drug-price compromise
The compromise would allow Medicare to negotiate some prescription drug prices but significantly scale back Democrats’ earlier ambitions.
Facebook changes its name to Meta as it focuses on virtual world
CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company plans to focus on what he described as the next wave of computing: a virtual universe where people will roam freely as avatars, attending virtual business meetings, shopping in virtual stores and socializing at virtual get-togethers.
Formula One racing gains new traction in U.S. with emerging fan base
Sunday’s U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, drew a sellout crowd of 140,000 that reflected the growth of Formula One racing in a country that executives view as critical to the sport’s development.
Facebook to pay more than $14M in U.S. settlement over discrimination against workers
Facebook has agreed to pay penalties over findings that the company’s hiring practices intentionally discriminated against Americans in favor of foreign workers, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
As supply chain troubles mount, Biden targets Los Angeles port
President Joe Biden said Wednesday that a new plan to keep a key U.S. port open “24 hours a day, seven days a week” would relieve pressure on an overworked supply chain that has frustrated Americans and blossomed into a major economic shortcoming.