“WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats and Republicans banded together on Wednesday to advance a roughly $1 trillion proposal to improve the country’s aging infrastructure, overcoming months of political deadlock on one of President Joe Biden’s signature economic policy priorities.
The day of breakthroughs began with news of a deal, as a bipartisan bloc of 10 negotiators coalesced around a package to upgrade the nation’s roads, bridges, pipes, ports and Internet connections. The announcement from some of the group’s leaders, including Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., capped off a series of frenetic talks that nearly collapsed amid behind-the-scenes battles about the new spending and how to pay for it.
With that once-elusive agreement finally in hand, the Senate hours later then took its first formal legislative step. Lawmakers voted 67-32 to put themselves on track to begin debating infrastructure reform this week, clearing the first of many hurdles toward adopting a proposal that the White House has described as historic.
The twin developments marked an early victory for lawmakers who have struggled for years to turn their shared enthusiasm for infrastructure into actual investments in the country’s inner-workings. Several past presidents had called for robust, new public-works spending to replace old pipes and fix cracked bridges, yet only on Wednesday did the Senate actually move toward delivering on those promises.” Read more at Boston Globe
“WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats are preparing to release a revised voting rights bill as soon as this week, hoping to keep the legislation alive a month after Republicans blocked the consideration of a previous, more sweeping proposal.
Several key senators huddled inside majority leader Charles Schumer’s office on Wednesday to hash out the details of the bill, which is expected to at least partially incorporate a framework assembled by Senator Joe Manchin III, the West Virginia Democrat who expressed qualms about the previous bill.
They emerged saying a new product could be released in a matter of days.
‘It’s important that the American people understand that this is very much on our radar, and we understand the urgency, and we’re committed to getting some progress,’ said Senator Raphael Warnock, Democrat of Georgia, who said he asked Schumer of New York to call the meeting.” Read more at Boston Globe
“WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Wednesday sent another warning shot to Republican state legislatures that have initiated private audits of voting tabulations broadly viewed as efforts to cast doubt on the results of the presidential election.
The department warned that auditors could face criminal and civil penalties if they destroy any records related to the election or intimidate voters in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and federal laws prohibiting voter intimidation.
The admonishment came in election-related guidance documentsissued as part of the department’s larger plan to protect access to the polls, announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June. Another document released on Wednesday outlined federal laws on how ballots are cast and said that the department could scrutinize states that revert to prepandemic voting procedures, which may not have allowed as many people to vote early or by mail.
The warning was the Justice Department’s latest effort to alert state lawmakers that their audits could run afoul of federal law. Department officials cautioned the Republican-led Arizona State Senate in May that its audit and recount of the November election in Maricopa County, widely seen as a partisan exercise to fuel grievances over Donald J. Trump’s election loss, may be in violation of the Civil Rights Act.” Read more at New York Times
“Mask mandates. Postponed events. Full emergency rooms. Signs of the difficult early days of the pandemic are reemerging, and some experts say stricter vaccination compulsions may be the best way to prevent a full downward spiral. The US House is reinstating its mask mandate, prompting some conservatives to push back. White House officials are also preparing to enact Biden’s decision to require federal employees to get vaccinated. The CDC estimates only 49.3% of the US population is fully vaccinated -- a far cry from the 70% to 85% that experts have estimated would be needed to slow or stop the spread of the virus. In all, 49 states are seeing a surge in cases.” Read more at CNN
“Momentum for vaccine mandates seems to be building — which could ultimately matter much more than any mask-wearing guidelines.
Facebook, Google and Netflix all said yesterday that they would require many employees to have been vaccinated for Covid-19, with limited exceptions for medical or religious reasons. The companies joined Morgan Stanley, The Washington Post and several other high-profile private employers.
Several local governments — including New York State yesterday — have announced worker mandates that cover a few million people combined. In some cases, people can take a regular Covid test instead of being vaccinated.
More than 600 universities have announced mandates for students or employees. California State, the country’s largest four-year public university system, joined the list Tuesday. Many hospitals also have mandates, including the sprawling Veterans Health Administration and the Mayo Clinic.
Perhaps the biggest new rule is scheduled to be announced today — from President Biden, covering the millions who work for the federal government.
These high-profile announcements make it much easier for other organizations that had been considering mandates to go ahead: Their leaders no longer need to worry they will become the subject of national attention for enacting one.
Still, vaccine mandates remain the exception. The vast majority of private companies have not required their workers to be vaccinated. Nor have almost any major companies required their customers — like airline passengers or theater goers — to be vaccinated. (One hurdle, some companies say, is the F.D.A.’s failure to grant the vaccines full approval, despite strong endorsements by the F.D.A.’s leaders.)
Mandates, in short, may be the most significant Covid response that the country has not yet really tried.
Mandates are controversial, obviously. Many Republican officials oppose them. Ohio has passed a law restricting school mandates, and Florida has banned businesses from requiring consumers to prove vaccination. Given this opposition, vaccine mandates are never going to be national.
But they could become much more common — and the Delta variant has led more politicians, business executives and other leaders to consider them. Several weeks ago, Covid appeared to be receding on its own: Vaccinations were rising, and cases were plunging. But the combination of lingering vaccine skepticism and the contagiousness of Delta has caused cases to surge.
Many Americans are now unhappily pondering the possibility that a return to normal life remains months away. The C.D.C. is telling some people to put their masks back on. Businesses, including Google, are delaying plans to bring workers back to the office, into the autumn. Parents are anxious that schools will not fully reopen this fall, which would almost certainly cause more academic and psychological damage for children. Many parents are also worried that children too young to be vaccinated remain vulnerable to “long Covid.”
The primary cause of all these problems, many experts say, is the large share of Americans who are unvaccinated — about one third of those eligible. The biggest costs of their refusal fall directly on them: They are risking their lives. But vaccinated people also pay a price, through restrictions on daily life — and the increased chances of future outbreaks, which could produce vaccine-resistant variants.
‘I think there’s some real anger brewing out there among vaccinated folks that’s not getting much attention, ‘David Nir, the political director of Daily Kos, wrote. My colleague Roni Caryn Rabin reported, ‘Many inoculated Americans are losing patience with vaccine holdouts.’ Kay Ivey, Alabama’s Republican governor, was harsher: ‘Time to start blaming the unvaccinated.’
Vaccine mandates are the policy manifestation of this frustration. They effectively tell the unvaccinated that their decision is hurting others and that society has an interest in pushing them to change. They can refuse, but they will pay a price — in lost access to a job, a college campus or other shared experiences where they may infect other people.” Read more at New York Times
“Fully vaccinated people from the U.S. and most of Europe will be allowed to enter England and Scotland without quarantining starting Monday.” Read more at New York Times
“Senator Mitch McConnell plans to buy radio ads promoting vaccines in Kentucky.” Read more at New York Times
“Federal pandemic aid will cut the number of Americans in poverty by a record 45 percent this year, a study found.” Read more at New York Times
“Responses to the January 6 insurrection are shifting into a new gear after Tuesday’s emotional hearing featuring police officers who were on duty the day of the attack. That same day, the top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee announced a deal on a roughly $2 billion spending bill to enhance Capitol security. Investigators on the House's January 6 select committee have vowed a deep dive into the attack, and are preparing for a battle over subpoena requests and other legal snarls. This week, the Biden Justice Department formally declined to assert executive privilege over testimony related to the incident, which means DOJ employees can provide ‘unrestricted testimony.’” Read more at CNN
“Remington Arms Co. has offered to pay nearly $33 million to settle claims that its marketing practices were in part responsible for the Sandy Hook school massacre that left 20 first-graders and six faculty dead, according to court documents.
The now-bankrupt gun maker proposed a settlement of $3.66 million apiece for nine families who lost loved ones in the 2012 shooting at the elementary school in Newtown, Conn., in a series of filings made in Connecticut Superior Court Tuesday.
Josh Koskoff, a lawyer representing the families, said they were considering their next steps.
‘Since this case was filed in 2014, the families’ focus has been on preventing the next Sandy Hook,’ Mr. Koskoff said in a statement. ‘An important part of that goal has been showing banks and insurers that companies that sell assault weapons to civilians are fraught with financial risk.’
Lawyers for Remington didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The settlement offer is a rare instance in which plaintiffs have gained traction against gun makers since a 2005 federal law granted them immunity from liability claims over acts of violence perpetrated with the weapons they manufacture. In 2019, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that Remington could be held legally responsible for marketing that allegedly made the AR-15 style rifle the weapon of choice for mass shooters.
The ruling allowed the families to move forward with claims that Remington’s marketing campaigns violated Connecticut’s consumer-protection law, which prohibits advertising and marketing that is ‘immoral and unscrupulous.’” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“Big quake: A tsunami warning was issued for parts of Alaska after a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck the peninsula. A tsunami warning issued for Hawaii was canceled.” Read more at USA Today
“A growing share of U.S. adults say they know someone who is transgender or goes by gender-neutral pronouns, a Pew Research Center survey finds.” Read more at USA Today
“Chinese officials met with senior leaders of the Taliban in China yesterday, reinforcing a growing relationship between Beijing and the resurgent Islamist group. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the Taliban as an important military and political force in Afghanistan, and said China expects the group to play a big role in the country’s ‘peace, reconciliation and reconstruction process.’ The Taliban’s influence has rapidly expanded as the US nears the end of its military withdrawal from Afghanistan, stoking fears of more instability and violence to come. China, however, has specific interests at play here. Beijing has invested heavily in infrastructure in Central Asia in recent years, and has discussed the possibility of extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan.” Read more at CNN
“Cubans involved in the historic protests that gripped the country a few weeks ago are now facing mass trials, raising concerns about due process and the validity of some arrests. One man who was sentenced to a year in prison says he was arrested simply for trying to take photos of the demonstrations. Families of others who were arrested say they were detained just for being in the street. Cuban officials have refused to say how many people were arrested following the island-wide protests, which were the most significant the country has seen since Fidel Castro's revolution. Cubalex, a human rights organization, estimates about 700 Cubans were detained. Cuban officials justified the crackdown on protesters by saying the demonstrations had been fomented by Cuba's Cold War nemesis, the United States.” Read more at CNN
“TOKYO (AP) — Japanese officials sounded the alarm Thursday as Tokyo reported record-breaking coronavirus cases for the third straight day with the Olympics well underway.
‘We have never experienced the expansion of the infections of this magnitude,’ Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told reporters. He said the new cases were soaring not only in the Tokyo area but across the country.
Tokyo reported 3,865 new cases Thursday, up from 3,177 on Wednesday and double the numbers a week ago, setting an all-time high since the pandemic began early last year.
Japan has kept its cases and deaths lower than many other countries, but its seven-day rolling average is growing and now stands at 28 per 100,000 people nationwide and 88 in Tokyo, according to the Health Ministry. This compares to 18.5 in the United States, 48 in Britain and 2.8 in India, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.” Read more at AP News
“WASHINGTON — The United States is ramping up pressure on Poland in hopes of stopping legislation that would prevent families from receiving restitution for property seized during the Holocaust and communist era.
The United States said Wednesday that Poland is the only country in Europe to have regressed over the past year in meeting commitments to return seized property or provide compensation for Holocaust victims and their families. The public admonishment is likely to anger Polish authorities, who have rejected previous criticism on the matter.
The issue is one of several points of friction that have arisen or gotten worse between Washington and Warsaw since the Biden administration has been in office. Others include differences over the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 pipeline and a proposed restrictive media law.” Read more at Boston Globe
“Over 40 years, the Amazon has lost an area as big as California to deforestation and there’s no end in sight. Jessica Brice and Michael Smith report that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s government is engaged in an accelerated campaign to open up one of the world’s greatest natural resources to privatization and development. Some scientists warn it’s edging to the point where it will become a savanna rather than a rainforest.” Read more at Bloomberg
Farmland near União Bandeirantes, a community carved out of the jungle in the early 2000s.
Photographer: Larissa Zaidan for Bloomberg Businessweek
“DHAKA,Bangladesh (AP) — Days of heavy rainfall have pelted Rohingya refugee camps in southern Bangladesh, destroying dwellings and sending thousands of people to live with extended family or in communal shelters.
Just in the 24 hours to Wednesday alone, more than 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) of rain fell on the camps in Cox’s Bazar district hosting more than 800,000 Rohingya, the U.N. refugee agency said. That’s nearly half the average July rainfall in one day while more heavy downpours are expected in the next few days and the monsoon season stretches over the next three months.
‘The situation is further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. There is currently a strict national lockdown in response to rising cases across the country,’ the agency said.
The agency said it was saddened by the deaths of six people at the camps earlier this week, five in a landslide caused by the rains and a child swept away by floodwaters.” Read more at AP News
“Gymnast Simone Biles continues to be the main topic of discussion at the Tokyo Olympics after she withdrew from the women's all-around competition to focus on her mental health. Jade Carey will take Biles' place for Team USA in Thursday's event. There was lots of action in the pool earlier as Bobby Finke grabbed an unexpected gold in the men's 800-meter freestyle. And Caeleb Dressel set an Olympic record to win gold in the men's 100 free final. The women's 4x200 freestyle relay team, anchored by Katie Ledecky, won silver. Elsewhere, the men's individual golf competition has begun with with opening round play.” Read more at USA Today
“U.S. pole vaulter tests positive for Covid-19 at the Olympics. Sam Kendricks, who is ranked No. 2 in the world and won a bronze medal in 2016, won’t compete in Tokyo and has been placed in isolation.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“Many NBA teams and players will take a significant step Thursday when the 2021 NBA Draft takes place. The Detroit Pistons hold the No. 1 overall pick and are expected to draft guard Cade Cunningham from Oklahoma State. The draft will start picking up momentum with the Houston Rockets picking at No. 2, where analysts believe they are considering a number of players — primarily Jalen Suggs, Evan Mobley and Jalen Green. There will also be room for trades in the top half of the NBA Draft, with the New Orleans Pelicans already trading the No. 10 pick in a package deal that netted them the No. 17 overall pick and center Jonas Valanciunas. The draft will air on ESPN starting at 8 p.m. ET.” Read more at USA Today
“Crowds will descend on Chicago’s Grant Park on Thursday, when the four-day Lollapalooza music festival starts. It's the first major multi-genre music festival in the U.S. since March 2020, and the largest mass gathering event in the country since that time, with an expected 100,000 fans a day. Foo Fighters, Post Malone, Tyler, The Creator and Miley Cyrus are set to lead the lineup. Attendees will have to show proof they’ve had COVID-19 vaccinations or have tested negative within the last three days.” Read more at USA Today
“The final new episodes of the PBS Kids animated series ‘Arthur’ will air next year, bringing the show to a close after an unprecedented 25-season run. The series, which debuted in 1996 and revolves around the life of an 8-year-old anthropomorphic aardvark named Arthur Read, became known for portraying matters such as diabetes awareness and gay marriage.” Read more at USA Today
“Lives Lived: Dusty Hill was the bearded bassist who made up one third of ZZ Top, among the best-selling rock bands of the 1980s. He died at 72.” Read more at New York Times
“LOS ANGELES (AP) — ‘Better Call Saul’ star Bob Odenkirk had a ‘heart related incident ‘when he collapsed on the show’s New Mexico set, and his condition is stable as he recovers at a hospital, his representatives said Wednesday.
‘We can confirm Bob is in stable condition after experiencing a heart related incident,’ the statement said. ‘He and his family would like to express gratitude for the incredible doctors and nurses looking after him, as well as his cast, crew and producers who have stayed by his side. The Odenkirks would also like to thank everyone for the outpouring of well wishes and ask for their privacy at this time as Bob works on his recovery.’
Odenkirk collapsed Tuesday on the Albuquerque set where the ‘Breaking Bad’ spin-off is shooting its sixth and final season. Crew members called an ambulance that took the 58-year-old actor to a local hospital.
Shortly before the statement was released, Odenkirk’s son Nate, the elder of his two children, tweeted, ‘He’s going to be OK.’
The sixth season of the spin-off prequel to ‘Breaking Bad’ is set to air on AMC next year. Both shows were shot in and mostly set in Albuquerque.” Read more at AP News
FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1982 file photo, Ron Popeil, the man behind those late-night, rapid-fire television commercials that sell everything from the Mr. Microphone to the Pocket Fisherman to the classic Veg-a-Matic, sits surrounded by his wares in his office in Beverly Hills, Calif. Ron Popeil, the quintessential TV pitchman and inventor known to generations of viewers for hawking products including the Veg-O-Matic, the Chop-O-Matic, Mr. Microphone and the Showtime Rotisserie and BBQ, died Wednesday, July 28, 2021 his family said. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)
“LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ron Popeil, the quintessential TV pitchman and inventor known to generations of viewers for hawking products including the Veg-O-Matic, the Pocket Fisherman, Mr. Microphone and the Showtime Rotisserie and BBQ, has died, his family said.
Popeil died ‘suddenly and peacefully’ Wednesday at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his family said in a statement. He was 86. No cause of death was given.
Popeil essentially invented the popular image of the American television pitchman, whose novel products solved frustrating problems viewers didn’t know they had. He popularized much of the vernacular of late-night TV ads and infomercials, with lines like ‘Now how much would you pay?’ and ‘Set it and forget it.’” Read more at AP News
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