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.
More jobless getting aid than in past even as cutoffs loom
WASHINGTON — Far more Americans are receiving unemployment benefits than the last time the jobless rate was at the current 6.1%, thanks to a major expansion of the federal safety net that has provided aid to millions of people out of work.
Shoppers go back to stores, but retailers face challenges
NEW YORK — Americans are going back to one of their favorite pastimes: store shopping.
Summer travel forecast calls for longer waits, fewer choices
After a year of coronavirus lockdowns, the start of summer beckons with vacation plans made possible by relaxed COVID-19 restrictions. But a severe worker shortage brings a warning for travelers: Expect delays and pack a little patience.
Biden orders more intel investigation of COVID-19 origin
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden ordered U.S. intelligence officials to “redouble” their efforts to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, including any possibility the trail might lead to a Chinese laboratory.
Moderna says its COVID-19 shot works in kids as young as 12
Moderna said Tuesday that its COVID-19 vaccine strongly protects children as young as 12, a step that could put the shot on track to become the second option for that age group in the U.S.
Schools try pep-rally tactics to get students vaccinated
SAN DIEGO — A growing number of public schools are using mascots, food trucks and prize giveaways to create a pep-rally atmosphere aimed at encouraging students to get vaccinated against the coronavirus before summer vacation.
When do I still need to wear a mask?
NEW YORK — When do I still need to wear a mask?
It depends, mostly on whether or not you’re vaccinated.
US jobless claims fall again as some states end federal aid
WASHINGTON — Fewer Americans sought unemployment benefits last week — the latest encouraging sign for the rebounding U.S. economy — just as Republican-led states are moving to cut off a federal benefit for the jobless.
Teen baker sweetens lives making desserts for those in need
Vedika Jawa’s mission to sweeten the lives of those in need began when she was just 13, on a family trip to San Francisco. She could not help but see the multitudes living on the streets.
Big gaps in vaccine rates across the US worry health experts
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — A steady crowd of people flowed into the New England Patriots’ stadium for their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this week in Massachusetts, which is nearing its goal of vaccinating more than 4 million and plans to close its biggest clinics in little more than a month.
COVID briefs for May 20
Las Vegas Strip rules to end for vaccinated
Republicans rebel against mask requirement in House chamber
WASHINGTON — Republicans are rebelling against the requirement that they wear a mask on the House floor, stoking tensions with majority Democrats who are refusing to change the rules following updated guidance from federal health officials.
‘City in transition’: New York vies to turn page on pandemic
NEW YORK — More than a year after coronavirus shutdowns sent “the city that never sleeps” into a fitful slumber, New York could be wide awake again this summer.
WH memo sees economic strength where critics see fragility
WASHINGTON — White House officials are seeking to quell anxiety about inflation and the pace of hiring, issuing a memo Tuesday that highlights robust economic gains as the United States gets vaccinated and recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.
Changed by pandemic, many workers won’t return to old jobs
There’s a wild card in the push to return to pre-pandemic life: Many workers don’t want to go back to the jobs they once had.
States, business sort out what new CDC mask guidance means
More than a dozen states quickly embraced new federal guidelines that say fully vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear masks indoors or out in most cases. But other states and cities and some major businesses hesitated amid doubts about whether the approach is safe or even workable.
The unwitting are the target of COVID-19 falsehoods online
Dr. Michelle Rockwell lost a pregnancy in December and shared her heartache with her 30,000 Instagram followers. Weeks later, she received the COVID-19 vaccine and posted about that, too.
US jobless claims fall to 473K as more GOP governors bar aid
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to 473,000, a new pandemic low and the latest evidence that fewer employers are cutting jobs as consumers ramp up spending and more businesses reopen.
‘Great day for America’: Vaccinated can largely ditch masks
WASHINGTON — In a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.
