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Biden administration announces acquisition of 200M additional vaccine doses

On Thursday, President Joe Biden said his administration has finalized a deal for 200 million additional COVID-19 vaccine doses. Biden said the acquisition will give the United States a total of 600 million doses, enough to inoculate 300 million people by the end of July. Biden also announced that federally run community health centers will begin receiving vaccine doses.

During a visit to the National Institutes of Health Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory, Biden said, “Just this afternoon, we signed the final contracts for 100 million more Moderna and 100 million more Pfizer vaccines.” He said the two companies also reached an agreement to expedite the delivery of 100 million vaccine doses originally scheduled to arrive in June to be delivered in May.

Last week, the administration said retail pharmacies will begin receiving direct shipments from the federal government Thursday. National pharmacy chain Rite Aid announced it will begin administering vaccines on Friday in California, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania as well as Philadelphia and New York City, which are designated as separate jurisdictions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 34.72 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine to date, and 11.19 million have received two.

Biden administration finalizes deal for 200 million vaccine doses from Pfizer, Moderna

Via www.nbcnews.com
 

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Democrats rest their case in impeachment trial of Donald Trump

U.S. House impeachment managers rested their case on Thursday in the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. In their third day of presentations, the Democrats presented video clips and other evidence showing participants saying they attacked the Capitol at the behest of Trump. 

The House team also relied heavily on video footage during the first half of its presentation Wednesday, which included several videos from Capitol security cameras that hadn’t been seen publicly before. In finalizing the case, Democrats called on senators to vote in favor of Trump’s guilt. Five people died as a direct result of the attack and dozens were injured. The FBI has so far made hundreds of arrests. 

Trump attorneys Bruce Castor and David Schoen are expected to begin presenting their defense on Friday. After both sides are finished making their presentations, senators will be able to start asking questions. Then the Senate may have to vote on admitting witnesses or evidence, after which both sides will each have 4 hours to make their closing arguments. After that, the Senate will deliberate and render its verdict. The trial is expected to last into next week.

‘Damage’ control: Key takeaways from Day Three of Trump’s second impeachment trial

Via www.nbcnews.com
 

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President Biden announces executive order for new sanctions on those responsible for the military coup in Myanmar

President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday he had approved an executive order for new sanctions on those responsible for the military coup in Myanmar, repeating demands for the generals to give up power and free civilian leaders. Biden said the order enables his administration “to immediately sanction the military leaders who directed the coup, their business interests as well as close family members,” adding that Washington would identify the first round of targets this week, and was taking steps to prevent the generals in Myanmar — also known as Burma — having access to $1 billion in Myanmar government funds held in the United States.

The Feb. 1 coup overthrew elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian-led government, and occurred less than two weeks after Biden took office. Biden said, “I again call on the Burmese military to immediately release the democratic political leaders and activists,. The military must relinquish power it has seized.”

Biden announces U.S. sanctions against leaders of Myanmar military coup

Via www.nbcnews.com
 

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Trump impeachment trial opens with graphic video of Capitol riot

A graphic video was shown to members of the Senate at the start of former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial on Tuesday, containing the violence and obscenities shouted by the pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol building on Jan. 6. The Democratic House impeachment managers presented the footage as a way of walking through the events of Jan. 6. 

The video showed Capitol police being overrun by the mob, people using flag staffs to break the building’s windows, a police officer screaming as he was attacked, and the gunshot that killed Ashli Babbitt, one of five who died during during the violence. It was also interspersed with clips from the speech Trump was delivering at the same time on the Ellipse outside the White House, including one in which he said, “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”

The video also contained footage of Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell speaking on the chamber floor as the mob breached the Capitol. It also displays a tweet from Trump calling into question the intentions of then-Vice President Mike Pence followed by videos of Trump supporters shouting “Hang Pence.” Trump was also shown in a clip from later in the day, when he told the insurrectionists to “go home, we love you.”

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Suspet in custody after shooting at Minnesota clinic leaving one dead, five injured

One person was killed and many more injured and a suspect was taken into custody following a shooting at a health clinic in Minnesota on Tuesday morning. Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke said during a press conference that Police received a call of shots fired at the Allina Health clinic in Buffalo, Minn., about 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis, before 11 a.m. where they found the victims and the suspect. Five people were taken to area hospitals, including three who were in critical but stable condition.

Officers found a suspicious package in a corner of the lobby during a search of the area conducted after the suspect was apprehended. Authorities also evacuated and investigated the Buffalo Super 8 Motel, where the suspect was staying, and found additional suspicious devices. Police identified the suspect as Gregory Paul Ulrich, 67, of Buffalo, and said they had received “several calls” related to Ulrich dating back to 2003. 

1 dead, 3 critical in shooting at Minnesota clinic; explosives found and suspect in custody

Via www.nbcnews.com
 

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Trump attorneys denounce upcoming impeachment case as Senate leaders set rules for trial

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell have agreed to the rules for former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. Trump’s legal team, however, slammed the process as an effort to silence a political opponent. Trump’s legal team also filed a brief on Monday, denying that Trump had a part in inciting the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol, which occurred while Congress was certifying the Electoral College votes in favor of President Joe Biden

Under the agreed-upon rules (which can be found here), the process will begin Tuesday with four hours divided equally to present arguments on the constitutionality of the trial. That will be followed by 16 hours to present their case at trial Wednesday for whether Trump must be held responsible for the riots. The rules also allow for senators to question both parties for a total of four hours following the presentations. There will be two hours of arguments on whether the Senate will consider motions to subpoena witnesses and documents.

Politics live updates: Transportation secretary quarantining; Democrats unveil details of Trump’s second impeachment trial

Via www.usatoday.com
 

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Facebook and Instagram to crackdown on anti-vaccine misinformation

Facebook announced Monday that they would take action against users and groups on Facebook and Instagram that spread misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine – or vaccines in general.

Facebook said in a blog post, “We will begin enforcing this policy immediately. Groups, pages and accounts on Facebook and Instagram that repeatedly share these debunked claims may be removed altogether.”  Facebook already has banned advertisements that spread misinformation about vaccines.

In December, the company announced posts that spread misinformation about COVID-19 would be labeled as inaccurate, with links to correct information. The new policy was developed along with the World Health Organization to debunk claims to include those that COVID-19 was man-made in a lab; that vaccines are not effective, toxic, dangerous or cause autism; or that “it’s safer to get the disease than to get the vaccination.” Anti-vaccine activists have used social media to undermine the public’s confidence in the vaccines.

Facebook bans misinformation about all vaccines after years of controversy

Via www.msn.com
 

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Four skiers killed, four injured in avalanche in Salt Lake City, Utah area

Four skiers died and four others were injured after an avalanche in the Salt Lake County. The skiers, ranging in age from 23 to 48, were reported to be at 9,800 feet elevation near Wilson Glade in Millcreek Canyon around 11 a.m. Saturday.

According to the Utah Avalanche Center, the avalanche covered 250 feet of ground and the hurtled snow was 2.5 feet deep. All eight of the skiers were wearing beacons at the time of the avalanche, and one of the survivors experienced hypothermia and others were doing well, according to authorities. Conditions of the other survivors were not disclosed, but officials say they were able to locate and dig out the other four skiers, who had already died.

The Utah Avalanche Center posted on Twitter, “we are overwhelmed with sadness to report” the deaths of the skiers. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox also posted on Twitter: “This is a terrible tragedy and our prayers go out to the victims and families involved. We are grateful to the first responders and others who engaged in this rescue and recovery effort. With avalanche danger high right now, please exercise extreme caution.”

Utah avalanche: Four skiers dead, four rescued after avalanche in Utah backcountry

Via www.msn.com
 

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House Democrats to introduce $3,000 per child benefit as part of Biden relief package

House Democrats plan to unveil legislation Monday to provide $3,000 per child to tens of millions of families as part of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package.

Under the proposal, the Internal Revenue Service would provide $3,600 over the course of the year per person younger than 6 years old and $3,000 per year for children aged 6-17, with payments sent monthly beginning in July. It also includes a provision decreasing the payments for couples who earn more than $75,000 per year and couples earning more than $150,000 per year.

The proposal comes after the Senate approved a budget resolution and the House passed a blueprint instructing committees to begin drafting its own relief legislation, the first step which allows House Democrats to bypass needing at least 10 Republicans to vote to advance the legislation.

Stimulus update: Democrats to unveil $3,000 child benefit as part of Biden relief package

Via www.msn.com
 

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FDA expected to fast-track approval of J&J experimental COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use authorization

Johnson & Johnson submitted an application on Thursday to the Food and Drug Administration for an emergency use authorization of its experimental Covid-19 vaccine. The FDA could grant that authorization within weeks; if authorized, it would give the U.S. a third Covid-19 vaccine, along with those from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

Dr. Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer at Johnson & Johnson, said in a press release, “Today’s submission for emergency use authorization of our investigational single-shot Covid-19 vaccine is a pivotal step toward reducing the burden of disease for people globally and putting an end to the pandemic.” Stoffels said the company would be ready to begin shipping vaccines if the FDA grants the company emergency use authorization. J&J previously said it expects to supply 100 million doses to the U.S. by June. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, made in partnership with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, only requires basic refrigeration and is given as a single dose. Other vaccines, including Pfizer and Moderna’s shots, require two doses.

J&J just asked the US for emergency authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine, kicking off a process that could green light its shot within weeks

Via www.msn.com