NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week
A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week.
Personal ties: Harris’ family in India grapples with COVID
WASHINGTON — G. Balachandran turned 80 this spring — a milestone of a birthday in India, where he lives. If not for the coronavirus pandemic, he would have been surrounded by family members who gathered to celebrate with him.
5-year prison term for Hawaii psychiatric hospital escape
HONOLULU — A man who spent decades in a Hawaii psychiatric hospital for killing a woman was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday for escaping from the facility in 2017 and flying to California before he was captured.
US tribe shares vaccine with relatives, neighbors in Canada
BABB, Mont. — On a cloudy spring day, hundreds lined up in their cars on the Canadian side of the border crossing that separates Alberta and Montana. They had driven for hours and camped out in their vehicles in hopes of receiving the season’s hottest commodity — a COVID-19 vaccine — from a Native American tribe that was giving out its excess doses.
US says fate of nuclear pact up to Iran as talks resume
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is signaling that Iran shouldn’t expect major new concessions from the United States as a new round of indirect nuclear talks is set to resume.
National Day of Prayer inspires pleas for unity and justice
U.S. soldiers were fighting in Korea when President Harry S. Truman signed a congressional resolution calling for an annual National Day of Prayer. The purpose was for people to gather in houses of worship to pray for world peace, according to an Associated Press report from April 17, 1952.
Remote learning still widespread even after Biden hits goal
President Joe Biden met his goal of having most elementary and middle schools open for full, in-person learning in his first 100 days in office, according to new survey data, but the share of students choosing to return continues to lag far behind.
News briefs for May 7
GOP seeks unity, even if that means embracing election lie
National Teacher of Year focuses on individual student needs
LAS VEGAS — The coronavirus pandemic forced students out of the classroom and starkly revealed how learning difficulties, distractions and challenging home dynamics can make it tough to adhere to a rigid curriculum.
Study: Residents left big metros during pandemic for family
Cece Linder was living in a 770-square-foot apartment outside Washington, D.C., last spring when the area went into lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mayor proposes change to Oahu’s tiered virus restrictions
HONOLULU — New confirmed coronavirus infections have surpassed a threshold that calls for increased restrictions on Oahu, but Honolulu’s mayor wants to change the parameters of its tiered system to allow gatherings and businesses to stay open.
Some in GOP worry new limits will hurt their voters, too
As Republicans march ahead with their campaign to tighten voting laws in political battlegrounds, some in their party are worried the restrictions will backfire by making it harder for GOP voters to cast ballots.
More support easing vaccine patent rules, but hurdles remain
GENEVA — Several world leaders Thursday praised the U.S. call to remove patent protections on COVID-19 vaccines to help poor countries obtain shots. But the proposal faces a multitude of hurdles, including resistance from the pharmaceutical industry.
Unemployment claims fall to a pandemic low of 498K
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell last week to 498,000, the lowest point since the coronavirus pandemic struck 14 months ago and a sign of the job market’s growing strength as businesses reopen and consumers step up spending.
India’s gov’t eases hospital oxygen shortage as demand jumps
NEW DELHI — Under order by the Supreme Court, India’s government on Thursday agreed to provide more medical oxygen to hospitals in the capital city of New Delhi, potentially easing a 2-week-old shortage that worsened the country’s exploding coronavirus crisis.
In GOP stronghold, Biden pushes for his infrastructure plan
LAKE CHARLES, La. — With a badly aging bridge as his backdrop, President Joe Biden stood in reliably Republican Louisiana on Thursday to pressure GOP lawmakers to support his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan — and yet express a willingness to compromise on the corporate tax hikes he’s recommending to pay the cost.
COVID’s US toll projected to drop sharply by the end of July
NEW YORK — Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19’s toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday.
Ceremonies, prayer mark day of awareness for Native victims
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Some shared agonizing stories of frustration and loss. Others performed ceremonies and said prayers.
All called for action.
Justice Department worried about Arizona Senate recount
PHOENIX — The U.S. Department of Justice expressed concern Wednesday about ballot security and potential voter intimidation arising from the Republican-controlled Arizona Senate’s unprecedented private recount of the 2020 presidential election results in Maricopa County.
Families mourn victims of Mexico City subway collapse
MEXICO CITY — Jose Luis Hernandez Martinez crossed Mexico City every day on subway Line 12 between his home on the city’s south side and the body shop where he worked repairing mangled cars.
