PLUS: The Covid-19 headlines you need to know, a distraction, and something to read.
By Eve Sneider | 01.20.22 | Lawmakers ask the FTC to probe rapid test price-gouging, China limits Olympics spectators, and New Zealand rules out lockdowns. But first, here's this week's big story: |  | Schools are among the institutions being hit hard by the Omicron surge, with classroom attendance plummeting and many teachers calling in sick due to the highly contagious strain. To patch staffing gaps, New Mexico has asked state employees and National Guard members to help with substitute teaching. Similarly, Oklahoma's governor issued an executive order that will let state workers substitute teach without impacting their regular job, pay, or benefits. Parts of California and Chicago face teacher shortages too. And as of this week, New York City is granting students who are sick more flexibility to learn remotely. When many schools pressed on with in-person learning despite the latest wave of cases, some students became concerned about the lack of additional safety measures. In response, there have been student-led walkouts and petitions across the country calling for better masks, regular testing, safe outdoor spaces, and more provisions for safer learning. | | Two senators have asked the FTC to investigate alleged price-gouging for at-home Covid-19 rapid tests, saying that the Omicron surge creates ideal conditions for predatory behavior. (CBS News) Earlier this week, China said that tickets to the Winter Olympics won't be sold to the general public given the rapid spread of Omicron. Only approved groups will be permitted to watch events in person. (Washington Post) New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said that restrictions may be tightened if community transmission of Omicron is detected, but that the country will avoid lockdowns. (Reuters) Czech folk singer Hana Horka, who was unvaccinated, died last weekend after intentionally catching Covid so that she would have fewer restrictions on her behavior. (BBC) An American Airlines flight from Miami to London turned around about an hour after takeoff on Wednesday night because a passenger refused to comply with the airline's mask requirement. (New York Times) | | Disney's new animated musical, Encanto, features songs by Broadway notable Lin-Manuel Miranda and ample dancing. That could be its downfall. | | In the early 2000s, bloghouse represented a new frontier for music-lovers online. At the time, the distinction between the mainstream and the underground was eroding, and part of what made new songs so exciting was how you could find them: in unexpected corners of the internet. | |
0 Comments:
Post a Comment