FDA Inspection Finds Numerous Problems At Facility Intended To Make J&J Vaccine : Coronavirus Updates The report on Emergent BioSolutions' Baltimore factory found an array of problems, from peeling paint to inadequate measures to prevent cross-contamination. Manufacturing at the facility is on hold.Peeling paint. Cracked buckets. Employees dragging unsealed bags of medical waste. Procedures ignored. Inadequately trained staff. All of these were problems noted by U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspectors at the Emergent BioSolutions factory in Baltimore – a facility that is intended to...…FDA Inspection Finds Numerous Problems At Facility Intended To Make J&J Vaccine : Coronavirus Updates The report on Emergent BioSolutions' Baltimore factory found an array of problems, from peeling paint to inadequate measures to prevent cross-contamination. Manufacturing at the facility is on hold.Peeling paint. Cracked buckets. Employees dragging unsealed bags of medical waste. Procedures ignored. Inadequately trained staff. All of these were problems noted by U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspectors at the Emergent BioSolutions factory in Baltimore – a facility that is intended to...WW…

U.S. Health Officials Continue Pause Of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine An expert advisory committee to the CDC decided it needed more time to consider whether to recommend the restart administration of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson.An expert advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention decided Wednesday it needed more time to consider whether to recommend to resume administering the COVID-19 vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson. The committee's emergency meeting took place less than 36 hours after the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration a voluntary...…U.S. Health Officials Continue Pause Of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine An expert advisory committee to the CDC decided it needed more time to consider whether to recommend the restart administration of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson.An expert advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention decided Wednesday it needed more time to consider whether to recommend to resume administering the COVID-19 vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson. The committee's emergency meeting took place less than 36 hours after the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration a voluntary...WW…

Rusten Sheskey, Kenosha Officer Who Shot Jacob Blake, Will Not Face Discipline "Officer Sheskey was found to have been acting within policy," Kenosha, Wis., police Chief Daniel Miskinis said Tuesday, adding that he knows "some will not be pleased with the outcome."Kenosha, Wis., police said Tuesday that Rusten Sheskey, the police officer who shot Jacob Blake last summer, has been found to have acted within the law and department policy. In August, Sheskey at close range at the back of Blake, a Black man, as Blake walked away from the officer and toward a parked vehicle where two of his...…Rusten Sheskey, Kenosha Officer Who Shot Jacob Blake, Will Not Face Discipline "Officer Sheskey was found to have been acting within policy," Kenosha, Wis., police Chief Daniel Miskinis said Tuesday, adding that he knows "some will not be pleased with the outcome."Kenosha, Wis., police said Tuesday that Rusten Sheskey, the police officer who shot Jacob Blake last summer, has been found to have acted within the law and department policy. In August, Sheskey at close range at the back of Blake, a Black man, as Blake walked away from the officer and toward a parked vehicle where two of his...WW…

CDC Director Declares Racism A 'Serious Public Health Threat' "The pandemic illuminated inequities that have existed for generations and revealed for all of America a known, but often unaddressed, epidemic impacting public health: racism," Walensky said.Racism is a scourge in American society. It's also a serious public health threat, according to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In released Thursday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky pointed to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, as seen in case numbers, deaths and social consequence. "Yet,...…CDC Director Declares Racism A 'Serious Public Health Threat' "The pandemic illuminated inequities that have existed for generations and revealed for all of America a known, but often unaddressed, epidemic impacting public health: racism," Walensky said.Racism is a scourge in American society. It's also a serious public health threat, according to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In released Thursday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky pointed to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, as seen in case numbers, deaths and social consequence. "Yet,...WW…

Amtrak's 2035 Map Has People Talking About The Future Of U.S. Train Travel "You and your family could travel coast to coast without a single tank of gas onboard a high-speed train," President Biden said. The map shows 30 new routes across the U.S. that funding could create.When President Biden unveiled his major new last week, the proposal included much more than fixing crumbling bridges. And for those who wish America had a more robust passenger train network, it gave them something new: hope. Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure package has two provisions involving passenger rail: $85...…Amtrak's 2035 Map Has People Talking About The Future Of U.S. Train Travel "You and your family could travel coast to coast without a single tank of gas onboard a high-speed train," President Biden said. The map shows 30 new routes across the U.S. that funding could create.When President Biden unveiled his major new last week, the proposal included much more than fixing crumbling bridges. And for those who wish America had a more robust passenger train network, it gave them something new: hope. Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure package has two provisions involving passenger rail: $85...WW…

Florida: DeSantis Rejects Vaccine Passports As 'Completely Unacceptable' : Coronavirus Updates DeSantis said he will issue emergency rules this week to prevent businesses from requiring proof of vaccination, and will work with Florida's Legislature on a permanent ban.As more Americans get vaccinated, the desire to get back out into the world and enjoy activities again is strong. The idea of so-called vaccine passports is increasingly discussed as a way for those who are vaccinated or negative for the coronavirus to prove they are virus-free, and return to something approaching normalcy. But...…Florida: DeSantis Rejects Vaccine Passports As 'Completely Unacceptable' : Coronavirus Updates DeSantis said he will issue emergency rules this week to prevent businesses from requiring proof of vaccination, and will work with Florida's Legislature on a permanent ban.As more Americans get vaccinated, the desire to get back out into the world and enjoy activities again is strong. The idea of so-called vaccine passports is increasingly discussed as a way for those who are vaccinated or negative for the coronavirus to prove they are virus-free, and return to something approaching normalcy. But...WW…

New Zealand Approves Paid Leave After A Miscarriage The policy will give parents the right to three days of paid leave when a pregnancy ends in stillbirth. "Their grief is not a sickness, it is a loss. And loss takes time," said the bill's initiator.New Zealand's Parliament has approved legislation that will provide three days of paid leave after a miscarriage or stillbirth, without needing to use sick leave. "The bill will give women and their partners time to come to terms with their loss without having to tap into sick leave," member of Parliament Ginny Andersen, according to Reuters....…New Zealand Approves Paid Leave After A Miscarriage The policy will give parents the right to three days of paid leave when a pregnancy ends in stillbirth. "Their grief is not a sickness, it is a loss. And loss takes time," said the bill's initiator.New Zealand's Parliament has approved legislation that will provide three days of paid leave after a miscarriage or stillbirth, without needing to use sick leave. "The bill will give women and their partners time to come to terms with their loss without having to tap into sick leave," member of Parliament Ginny Andersen, according to Reuters....WW…

1 Year Into The Pandemic, Reflecting On The Day That Changed Everything The WHO declared a pandemic. The NBA shut down its season. President Trump banned travel from Europe. Tom Hanks tested positive. On one day a year ago, the coronavirus became very real in America.A year into the coronavirus pandemic, the enormous changes in our lives have become unremarkable: The collection of fabric masks. Visits with friends or family only in small outdoor gatherings. Working or learning from home. Downtowns deserted at noon on a weekday. While some changes happened gradually, there was one day that...…1 Year Into The Pandemic, Reflecting On The Day That Changed Everything The WHO declared a pandemic. The NBA shut down its season. President Trump banned travel from Europe. Tom Hanks tested positive. On one day a year ago, the coronavirus became very real in America.A year into the coronavirus pandemic, the enormous changes in our lives have become unremarkable: The collection of fabric masks. Visits with friends or family only in small outdoor gatherings. Working or learning from home. Downtowns deserted at noon on a weekday. While some changes happened gradually, there was one day that...WW…

Gov. Andrew Cuomo Accused Of Sexual Harassment By Former Adviser Former economic adviser Lindsey Boylan alleges harassing behavior starting in 2016, including an unwanted kiss and a suggestion of strip poker, after being told the governor had a "crush" on her.A former adviser to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has shared details of alleged sexual harassment by the governor, including an unwanted kiss and touching. A spokeswoman for Cuomo denied the allegations. In published Wednesday, Lindsey Boylan describes troubling behavior from the time she first met the governor in January 2016. Boylan...…Gov. Andrew Cuomo Accused Of Sexual Harassment By Former Adviser Former economic adviser Lindsey Boylan alleges harassing behavior starting in 2016, including an unwanted kiss and a suggestion of strip poker, after being told the governor had a "crush" on her.A former adviser to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has shared details of alleged sexual harassment by the governor, including an unwanted kiss and touching. A spokeswoman for Cuomo denied the allegations. In published Wednesday, Lindsey Boylan describes troubling behavior from the time she first met the governor in January 2016. Boylan...WW…

Washington, D.C., Attorney General Karl Racine is suing Amazon, accusing the online retail giant of unfairly inflating prices and stifling competition. The lawsuit, filed in D.C. Superior Court on Tuesday, alleges violations of the city's Antitrust Act. In a call with reporters, Racine said Amazon has been "illegally abusing and maintaining its monopoly power by controlling prices across the online retail market" for years. The lawsuit focuses on the restrictions that third-party sellers agree to when they list their products on Amazon's marketplace. "Third-party sellers have to agree...…Washington, D.C., Attorney General Karl Racine is suing Amazon, accusing the online retail giant of unfairly inflating prices and stifling competition. The lawsuit, filed in D.C. Superior Court on Tuesday, alleges violations of the city's Antitrust Act. In a call with reporters, Racine said Amazon has been "illegally abusing and maintaining its monopoly power by controlling prices across the online retail market" for years. The lawsuit focuses on the restrictions that third-party sellers agree to when they list their products on Amazon's marketplace. "Third-party sellers have to agree...WW…