News Roundup 5/10/21
Here are the Covid-19 rule changes take effect Monday in Massachusetts
Massachusetts plans on meeting their goal of vaccinating 4.1 million residents by the beginning of June and has infection rates continue to drop. Several Phase 4 industries including amusement parks and road races are able to resume in operation for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Concert venues and large stadiums for sports will also be opening and increase their maximum capacity from 12% to 25%. Grocery and retail stores are no longer required to offer certain hours of operation for seniors. Entertainment such as singing can resume indoors with social distancing guidelines that remain in restaurants and event venues.
Source: Boston News
More than 40 attorneys general urge Facebook to stop plans for an Instagram for kids
On Monday, 44 attorney generals signed a letter addressed to Mark Zuckerberg, owner of Facebook. They urged him to start a plan for an Instagram intended for younger users. Congress and child safety groups also spoke out after this letter, highlighting the mental health and privacy concerns they expressed as well. During a Congressional hearing in March, Zuckerberg was asked about the company’s plans for building a version of Instagram for younger users. Although Instagram does not formally allow users under 13 years of age to use their platform, no age restriction has been placed to prevent any actions.
Source: CNN Business
US Coast Guard ship fired around 30 warning shots at Iranian fast boats in latest tense encounter
Approximately firing 30 warning shots, A US Coast Guard took action when a large group of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy fast boats conducted “unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers”. Six US Navy vessels were escorting a guided missile submarine, the USS Georgia, when they encountered a group of 13 IRGCN “fast attack boats”. Coming at a high speed as close as 150 yards, Iran’s Navy came dangerously close to US ships operating in the Persian Gulf.
Source: CNN
What’s in the Texas Voting Bill and When Republicans Might Pass It
On Friday, Texas’s House of Representatives passed a bill that would introduce a host of new voting restrictions in the state, sending the legislation to the State Senate. The legislation, called S.B. 7, has arrived at the Senate and it is filled with new amendments. The amendments have lightened some of the original restrictions placed previously. As the bill has already been passed the Senate once, it does not need to go through the full committee process in the Senate. Known as a conference committee, selected members of the Legislature are gathered behind closed doors and a final version of the bill would be made. The bill will then be sent back to both chambers for a final up-or-down vote, without any amendments permitted.
Source: New York Times
Biden says people able to work must take jobs to lose unemployment
Business owners are reporting that they are unable to find enough workers willing to come back to work. As a result, President Biden wants to make sure people that have job offerings take that opportunity or they will lose the benefits of Covid-19 unemployment. Although the changes he has stated have yet to be certain, there will be potential changes in having a stricter enforcement. Biden makes sure citizens know that those who are offered a “suitable job” need to take it. He acknowledges that those who do not want to work are continuously receiving unemployment benefits. As a result, Biden makes this announcement in hopes of having a change of returning workers in the future.
Source: New York Post