Monday night fire kills 100 animals at pet store
Crews discovered “what can only be described as a horrible tragedy” after thick smoke and poisonous gases filled the pet store on the northwest side, a fire department spokesperson said.
Associated Press
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Federal ban on housing foreclosures extended until June 30
The moratorium on foreclosures of federally guaranteed mortgages had been set to expire on March 31. Census Bureau figures show that almost 12% of homeowners with mortgages were late on their payments.
Vaccine delays leave grocery workers feeling expendable
A decentralized vaccine campaign has resulted in patchwork of policies that differ from state to state, and even county to county in some areas, resulting in an inconsistent rollout to low-paid essential workers who are exposed to hundreds of customers each day.
COVID-19 shots might be tweaked if variants get worse
The good news: Many of the new COVID-19 vaccines are made with new, flexible technology that’s easy to upgrade. What’s harder: Deciding if the virus has mutated enough that it’s time to modify vaccines—and what changes to make.
Andretti, Jourdain team up to run in Mexican racing series
The former CART rivals see an opportunity to attract young Mexican talent to racing and put IndyCar back in Mexico.
Activists fear Biden’s commitment to higher minimum wage
The president has seemingly undermined the push to raise the minimum wage by acknowledging its dim prospects in Congress, where it faces political opposition and procedural hurdles.
Virus might never go away but could change into mild annoyance
If humans must learn to live with COVID-19, the nature of that coexistence depends not just on how long immunity lasts, but also how the virus evolves.
Obamacare sign-ups reopen as Democrats push for more aid
HealthCare.gov’s market for subsidized health plans reopens Monday for a special three-month sign-up window as the Democratic-led Congress seeks a boost in financial help that could cut premiums by double digits.
Business owners ponder whether to require COVID-19 shots
Employers can require many staffers to be vaccinated under guidelines from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
GM’s Chevy Bolt SUV joins parade of new U.S. electric vehicles
The Bolt will bring the total number of EVs on sale in the U.S. to at least 23, and Edmunds.com expects that figure to reach 30 this year.
Senate votes to acquit Trump in historic impeachment trial
The vote was 57-43, short of the two-thirds needed for conviction. Seven Republicans broke for their party to find Trump guilty.
CDC: Strong evidence in-person schooling can be done safely
The nation’s top public health agency said Friday that in-person schooling can resume safely with masks, social distancing and other strategies, but vaccination of teachers, while important, is not a prerequisite for reopening.
Biden: Governors, mayors need $350B to fight COVID-19 impact
Republican lawmakers have stressed that some past aid to state and local governments remains unspent and revenues have rebounded after slumping when the coronavirus first hit.
Amazon faces biggest union push in its history
The stakes are high. If organizers succeed in Bessemer, Alabama, it could set off a chain reaction across Amazon’s operations nationwide, with thousands more workers rising up and demanding better working conditions.
Airlines push White House to reject testing for U.S. flights
Airlines are strongly opposed to requiring coronavirus testing before domestic flights, saying it would further devastate air travel, which has still not returned even to half its pre-pandemic level.
Democrats pushing Biden’s COVID-19 bill through House committees
The Ways and Means Committee approved its $940 billion chunk of Biden’s proposal on a 25-18 party-line vote, highlighting a frenzied week that’s seeing a dozen House panels fashion contributions to the sprawling measure.
Valparaiso University dropping Crusaders sports nickname
President-elect Jose Padilla will oversee a committee that will consider adopting a new team name and mascot for the 3,100-student, Lutheran school in northwest Indiana.
Bombardier to end Learjet production, cut 1,600 jobs
Canada’s Bombardier announced Thursday that it will stop production of the Learjet later this year to focus on more profitable planes. The iconic jet was among the first private luxury planes.
Autoworkers will face uncertain future in era of electric cars
For workers at GM and other automakers, the future could be perilous. The more environmentally focused plants of the future will need significantly fewer workers, mainly because electric vehicles contain 30% to 40% fewer moving parts than petroleum-run vehicles.
U.S. unemployment claims tick down slightly
Thursday’s government report showed a sizable rise in the total number of Americans who are receiving jobless aid, including through extended benefit programs—a sign that long-term unemployment may be growing.