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COVID-19

Bodycam: NJ Police Chief Arrested After Own Officers Recused Themselves Bodycam: NJ Police Chief Arrested After Own Officers Recused Themselves
Bodycam: NJ Police Chief Arrested After Own Officers Recused Themselves Newly-released bodycam footage shows the DWI arrest of a New Jersey police chief after crashing his car in late 2024. Bodycam footage released Friday, Jan. 2 by YouTube channel Transparency Bodycam shows the Nov. 29, 2024 arrest of then-Sea Bright Police Chief Brett Friedman, who retired on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. The crash occurred at approximately 11:39 p.m, in the area of 766 Ocean Ave. in Sea Bright, where a blue 2020 Ford Explorer was involved in a single-vehicle crash, according to a Monmouth Beach Police Department incident report obtained by Daily Voice. Monmouth Beach Patrolma…
These States Have Highest Flu Rates As Christmas Arrives: See Map These States Have Highest Flu Rates As Christmas Arrives: See Map
These States Have Highest Flu Rates As Christmas Arrives: See Map Flu season is ramping up across the country, with several states now experiencing severe or rising levels of illness, and a fast-spreading “super flu” variant is driving the surge.  The CDC’s latest FluView report for the week ending Saturday, Dec. 13, shows widespread influenza activity in nearly every region, with the Northeast and Mountain West hit especially hard. As of Monday, Dec. 16, the CDC estimated that flu cases are growing or likely growing in 47 states. According to the agency, “very high” flu activity has been detected in  New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Col…
Here's When Americans Can Expect $2K Payments From Government, Trump Now Reveals Here's When Americans Can Expect $2K Payments From Government, Trump Now Reveals
Here's When Americans Can Expect $2K Payments From Government, Trump Now Reveals It won't be in time for Christmas. President Donald Trump is now saying when Americans can expect $2,000 payments from the government as a proposed "tariff dividend," excluding high-income individuals. Trump said Friday night, Nov. 14, that the payments would be distributed "sometime next year, during the year 2026." "The tariffs allow us to give a dividend," Trump said while speaking to reporters onboard Air Force One en route to Mar-A-Lago. "We’re going to do a dividend, and we’re also going to be reducing debt." The payments, which Trump has described as a "dividend" funded by tariff r…
CDC Approves Revamped Vaccine Rules, Emphasizes Patient Choice On COVID-19 Shots CDC Approves Revamped Vaccine Rules, Emphasizes Patient Choice On COVID-19 Shots
CDC Approves Revamped Vaccine Rules, Emphasizes Patient Choice On Covid-19 Shots The nation’s top public health agency is shifting how Americans get vaccinated for COVID-19 and changing how toddlers receive the chickenpox shot as part of a major overhaul of its immunization schedules. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adopted the new guidelines on Monday, Oct. 6, following recommendations from its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).  The update introduces “individual-based decision-making” for COVID-19 vaccinations — a major change from the agency’s previous universal recommendation for all individuals ages 6 months and older. U…
Groceries Harder To Afford For Nearly Half Of Americans Than In 2024: Poll Groceries Harder To Afford For Nearly Half Of Americans Than In 2024: Poll
Groceries Harder To Afford For Nearly Half Of Americans Than In 2024: Poll Nearly half of Americans say groceries are harder to afford than a year ago, according to a new survey. The Harris/Axios Vibes poll found that 47% of Americans believe groceries are more difficult to afford than they were in September 2024. The findings were released on Thursday, Oct. 2. More than half (54%) of independents and 50% of Democrats said grocery costs are harder to bear, while about a third (34%) of Republicans agreed with them. Just 19% of all people surveyed said prices are easier to manage, while about one in three say costs feel the same. John Gerzema, CEO of…
RFK Jr.’s CDC Panel Scraps Broad COVID Vaccine Recommendation RFK Jr.’s CDC Panel Scraps Broad COVID Vaccine Recommendation
RFK Jr.’s CDC Panel Scraps Broad COVID Vaccine Recommendation The CDC’s vaccine advisers appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. just broke with pandemic-era policy, scrapping a broad recommendation for COVID-19 shots. They have decided vaccination should be a personal decision made with a health care provider. On Friday, Sept. 19, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted unanimously to move COVID vaccination to “shared clinical decision-making,” according to meeting summaries.  Members also split 6–6 on whether to require prescriptions. The tie was broken when chair Dr. Martin Kulldorff …
Holiday Spending To Drop For First Time In Five Years, Survey Expects Holiday Spending To Drop For First Time In Five Years, Survey Expects
Holiday Spending To Drop For First Time In Five Years, Survey Expects Holiday shoppers are expected to spend less in 2025, marking the first decline since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new survey. PricewaterhouseCoopers released its 2025 Holiday Outlook on Wednesday, Sept. 3. The financial firm found that Americans plan to spend an average of $1,552 over the holidays, down 5% from 2024. Gift budgets are taking the biggest hit, dropping 11% to $721, as consumers pull back on shopping amid President Donald Trump's widespread tariffs. "People are going to keep shopping, but with continuing concerns about tariffs and elevated prices (especially on electr…
COVID-19 Cases 'Growing' Or 'Likely Growing' In 31 States, CDC Says COVID-19 Cases 'Growing' Or 'Likely Growing' In 31 States, CDC Says
Covid-19 Cases 'Growing' Or 'Likely Growing' In 31 States, CDC Says A late-summer COVID uptick is gaining momentum. Infections are “growing” or “likely growing” in 31 states, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) said after releasing new data Tuesday, Sept. 2, even as the national share of emergency department visits for COVID remains low. The CDC’s transmission model, based on emergency department trends through Aug. 26, estimates: In the Northeast, trends are mixed. Connecticut is flagged as growing. Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont are likely growing.  Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode …
Big Spike In COVID-19 Cases Revealed In New CDC Data Big Spike In COVID-19 Cases Revealed In New CDC Data
Big Spike In Covid-19 Cases Revealed In New CDC Data Federal health officials are sounding the alarm over a surge in COVID-19 cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just reported a noticeable increase in COVID test positivity rates across the United States in data posted Friday, Aug. 29. The latest numbers arrive just days before Labor Day weekend, a peak period for travel and gatherings. Test positivity climbed to 11.2 percent for the week ending Saturday, Aug. 23, up from 10.2 percent the previous week, according to updated CDC figures. Nearly half the country now faces a test positivity rate of at least 10 percent.…
FDA Limits Access To New COVID-19 Vaccines: Here's What To Know FDA Limits Access To New COVID-19 Vaccines: Here's What To Know
FDA Limits Access To New Covid-19 Vaccines: Here's What To Know As fall approaches, the Food and Drug Administration has authorized updated COVID-19 vaccines from both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, but with access limited to those most at risk for severe illness. On Wednesday, Aug. 27, the FDA approved the 2025-2026 formulas from both companies, each tailored to target the LP.8.1 sublineage — a new offshoot of the JN.1 Omicron variant — aligning the vaccines with the strains currently circulating in the US.  Pfizer-BioNTech’s COMIRNATY LP.8.1 is approved for adults 65 and older, as well as individuals ages 5 to 64 with at least one underlying health…
Kodak May Not Survive After 130+ Years, Iconic Film Company Warns: 'Substantial Doubt' Kodak May Not Survive After 130+ Years, Iconic Film Company Warns: 'Substantial Doubt'
Kodak May Not Survive After 130+ Years, Iconic Film Company Warns: 'Substantial Doubt' Kodak's "moment" may be coming to an end after 133 years. Eastman Kodak Company is warning investors that it may not be able to continue operating without securing new financing. The Rochester, New York, company disclosed its financial concerns in its quarterly earnings release on Monday, Aug. 11. The pioneering photography brand reported a $26 million loss in the second quarter of 2025. That's a $52 million swing from the same period in 2024. The poor earnings report sent Kodak's stock tumbling nearly 20% on Tuesday, Aug. 12. "As a result, these conditions raise substantia…
Summer COVID-19 Wave Builds: Nimbus Variant Still Dominant As Stratus Rises Summer COVID-19 Wave Builds: Nimbus Variant Still Dominant As Stratus Rises
Summer Covid-19 Wave Builds: Nimbus Variant Still Dominant As Stratus Rises Beach trips and heat waves aren’t the only things rising this summer. COVID-19 signals are climbing nationwide, and two Omicron offshoots appear to be leading the charge. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday, Aug. 8 upgraded national wastewater viral activity for COVID-19 from “low” to “moderate,” a change that arrives just as families prep for back-to-school.  Nationally, SARS‑CoV‑2 concentrations are up about 30 percent over the last month, with the Gulf Coast roughly double early‑June levels, according to CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System. Wast…
Police ID Gunman In CDC Attack That Killed 33-Year-Old Officer David Rose Police ID Gunman In CDC Attack That Killed 33-Year-Old Officer David Rose
Police ID Gunman In CDC Attack That Killed 33-Year-Old Officer David Rose The identity has been released of a suspect who apparently targeted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) opened fire on four of its buildings in Atlanta. The gunman, now identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, was stationed just across the street from the CDC’s Roybal Campus in the upscale Druid Hills neighborhood, police say.  He allegedly unleashed a barrage of shots, terrifying employees and the nearby open-access campus of Emory University as the workday ended on Friday, Aug. 8. Authorities say White, a resident of  Kennesaw, Georgia. about 30 miles no…
CDC Flags 40-State COVID Growth As Omicron Offshoot Variant Drives Summer Spike CDC Flags 40-State COVID Growth As Omicron Offshoot Variant Drives Summer Spike
CDC Flags 40-State COVID Growth As Omicron Offshoot Variant Drives Summer Spike Fueled by a fast-growing new variant, COVID-19 infections are regaining ground just as summer travel peaks. New CDC transmission estimates released Friday, Aug. 1 show the effective reproduction number, or Rt, above one in 40 states, meaning overall US infections are again expanding. In 28 states the agency assigns its highest confidence category — “growing” — while another 12 fall into the “likely growing” bucket. No state is currently classified as declining, and nine are holding steady. For more info, view the CDC's interactive map here, and click on a specific state. Nationally, the R…
COVID-19: Lockdowns, Anxiety During Pandemic May Have Aged Your Brain, Study Reveals COVID-19: Lockdowns, Anxiety During Pandemic May Have Aged Your Brain, Study Reveals
Covid-19: Lockdowns, Anxiety During Pandemic May Have Aged Your Brain, Study Reveals New research reveals that simply living through the COVID-19 pandemic — regardless of infection — has measurably aged our brains, with the effect most pronounced in men and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The findings were part of major new study published Tuesday, July 22 in Nature Communications.  Even people who never caught the virus showed signs of accelerated brain aging, highlighting the pandemic’s far-reaching impact on public health, according to the findings. Researchers from the UK Biobank project analyzed brain scans from nearly 1,000 healthy adults, comparing t…
Moderna Slashing Hundreds Of Jobs As COVID-19 Vaccine Sales Slow Moderna Slashing Hundreds Of Jobs As COVID-19 Vaccine Sales Slow
Moderna Slashing Hundreds Of Jobs As Covid-19 Vaccine Sales Slow Vaccine manufacturer Moderna will lay off hundreds of employees about five years after it rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The layoffs make up about 10% of Moderna's global workforce, CEO Stéphane Bancel said in a staff memo on Thursday, July 31. The Cambridge, Massachusetts, biotech firm is trying to cut $1.5 billion in annual operating expenses by 2027. Bancel said the job cuts are a "necessary step forward" for the company. "This decision was not made lightly," he wrote. "It impacts teammates and friends who have dedicated themselves to our mission an…
COVID-19: Highly Transmissible Strains Spark Summer Surge In Some States COVID-19: Highly Transmissible Strains Spark Summer Surge In Some States
Covid-19: Highly Transmissible Strains Spark Summer Surge In Some States New surveillance shows COVID-19 is quietly heating up at the height of summer, fueling concerns about travel plans and back-to-school prep. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) time-varying reproductive number dashboard, seven states now have a rate above 1.2, meaning each infected person is, on average, passing the virus to more than one other individual.   Louisiana tops the list with an Rt of 1.28, followed closely by Florida (1.24), Nevada (1.22), and Hawaii (1.21). Texas, Mississippi and Alabama are hovering just above the 1.15 mark, signaling sus…
Ozzy Osbourne, Controversial Heavy Metal Pioneer, Dies Weeks After Farewell Show Ozzy Osbourne, Controversial Heavy Metal Pioneer, Dies Weeks After Farewell Show
Ozzy Osbourne, Controversial Heavy Metal Pioneer, Dies Weeks After Farewell Show Heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne, the once-troubled rockstar who co-founded Black Sabbath, has died less than three weeks after his farewell concert. Osbourne died on the morning of Tuesday, July 22, according to a family statement posted on his Instagram page. The "Crazy Train" singer was 76 years old. His family said that the rocker, nicknamed "The Prince of Darkness," passed away with them and "surrounded by love." "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning," the statement read. "We ask everyone to…
Chuck E. Cheese Opening Adult Arcade Spinoffs: See What's Inside Chuck E. Cheese Opening Adult Arcade Spinoffs: See What's Inside
Chuck E. Cheese Opening Adult Arcade Spinoffs: See What's Inside The place "where a kid can be a kid" is now somewhere a grown-up can also be a kid! Chuck E. Cheese is creating gaming centers that cater to adults called "Chuck's Arcade," the Texas company said in a news release on Monday, June 30. The new concept combines modern gaming and retro classics. The chain has opened 10 arcade-only locations in malls across eight states, including Trumbull, Connecticut; Nashua and Salem, New Hampshire; and Victor, New York. "Chuck E. Cheese has spent decades mastering the arcade experience — it's in our DNA," said CEO David McKillips. "Thanks to the expert…
IRS Scam Busted: $93M COVID Fraud Tied To Attempted Hit On Alleged Mastermind IRS Scam Busted: $93M COVID Fraud Tied To Attempted Hit On Alleged Mastermind
IRS Scam Busted: $93M COVID Fraud Tied To Attempted Hit On Alleged Mastermind It started with a fake business. It ended with a shootout in broad daylight. Four people are facing federal charges in what prosecutors call the largest COVID-19 tax credit fraud scheme ever identified.  This $93 million operation allegedly involved fake companies, kickbacks, and a botched attempt to silence the ringleader. The sprawling indictment, unsealed in Los Angeles, details an alleged conspiracy to defraud the IRS by submitting false claims for Coronavirus Response Credits.  These federal tax refunds were designed to help small businesses cover sick and family leave wage…
COVID-19: ‘Razor-Blade Throat’ Variant Spreading Rapidly In US COVID-19: ‘Razor-Blade Throat’ Variant Spreading Rapidly In US
Covid-19: ‘Razor-Blade Throat’ Variant Spreading Rapidly In US A new COVID-19 variant marked by a painful “razor-blade throat” symptom is spreading rapidly in the United States. The strain, NB.1.8.1, also called Nimbus, is an offshoot of the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant JN.1. The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled NB.1.8.1 a Variant Under Monitoring, and public health officials say existing vaccines are still expected to protect against severe illness. NB.1.8.1 now accounts for 43 percent of US COVID cases, according to CDC data through Saturday, June 21. Globally, 22 countries have now reported its presence, including major spikes …
COVID-19: New Variant From China Spreading In US With Painful Symptom COVID-19: New Variant From China Spreading In US With Painful Symptom
Covid-19: New Variant From China Spreading In US With Painful Symptom A painful new symptom is drawing attention from doctors as another COVID-19 variant begins to spread across the US. The sore throat has been described as “razor-blade throat” — an intensely sharp, uncomfortable sensation that can be an early warning sign of infection.  Lately, it’s been linked to a newly identified strain: NB.1.8.1, also called Nimbus, a descendant of the Omicron subvariant JN.1. The World Health Organization has labeled NB.1.8.1 a Variant Under Monitoring, and public health officials say existing vaccines are still expected to protect against severe illness. The var…
$5.6M Multi-State Fraud Scheme With 1K+ Stolen IDs Lands Pennsylvania Man Federal Charges: DOJ $5.6M Multi-State Fraud Scheme With 1K+ Stolen IDs Lands Pennsylvania Man Federal Charges: DOJ
$5.6M Multi-State Fraud Scheme With 1K+ Stolen IDs Lands Pennsylvania Man Federal Charges: DOJ A Pennsylvania man is accused of stealing over $5.6 million in pandemic aid using more than 1,000 stolen or fake identities, federal prosecutors announced on Monday, June 16. Adepoju Babatunde Salako, 32, has been indicted in Colorado on multiple federal charges after allegedly orchestrating a nationwide COVID-19 benefits scam, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. Salako faces six counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and four counts of aggravated identity theft, according to t…
Peloton Launches Reselling Marketplace For Used Bikes, Other Equipment Peloton Launches Reselling Marketplace For Used Bikes, Other Equipment
Peloton Launches Reselling Marketplace For Used Bikes, Other Equipment If your Peloton has become a clothes rack, you can now turn it into cash. Peloton launched its new reselling platform called Repowered on Tuesday, June 3. The online marketplace will allow customers to buy or sell used equipment. Repowered is rolling out in the Boston, New York City, and Washington, DC, areas. Sellers can set their own prices and get guidance from the artificial intelligence-powered tool Archive. Buyers can benefit from a discount on the equipment activation fee. Sellers will also get up to $600 off new Peloton purchases after selling their old equipment. Pricing recommen…
McDonald's Snack Wrap Return Date Finally Revealed: Here's When It's Back McDonald's Snack Wrap Return Date Finally Revealed: Here's When It's Back
McDonald's Snack Wrap Return Date Finally Revealed: Here's When It's Back After years of impatiently waiting, McDonald's fans will finally be able to eat the chain's beloved snack wraps once again. McDonald's will officially bring its snack wrap back to US menus on Thursday, July 10. The company announced the highly anticipated return in a news release on Tuesday, June 3. The Chicago-based chain's announcement was an homage to NBA legend Michael Jordan's famous 1995 fax announcing his return to basketball: "CHICAGO (June 3, 2025) – The following statement was released today by Joe Erlinger, President of McDonald's USA, in response to questions about th…
COVID-19: Here Are Symptoms Of New Variant Sparking China Surge Now Surfacing In US COVID-19: Here Are Symptoms Of New Variant Sparking China Surge Now Surfacing In US
Covid-19: Here Are Symptoms Of New Variant Sparking China Surge Now Surfacing In US A highly transmissible COVID-19 variant behind a rise in cases in China has made its way to the United States, and now attention is starting to focus on whether its symptoms bear any distinctions from numerous other strains. Earlier report: COVID-19: NB.1.8.1 Strain Behind China Surge Surfacing In US Cases of the NB.1.8.1 variant have shown up in US airport screenings, but there have not been enough for it to appear on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracker of COVID variants. NB.1.8.1 is now considered a “variant under monitoring,” with current vaccines expe…
COVID-19: Strain Behind New China Surge Now Surfacing In US, CDC Says COVID-19: Strain Behind New China Surge Now Surfacing In US, CDC Says
Covid-19: Strain Behind New China Surge Now Surfacing In US, CDC Says A new strain of COVID-19 gaining traction overseas is now being detected in the United States, according to health officials tracking the virus. Click here for a new, updated story: COVID-19: Here Are Symptoms Of New Variant Sparking China Surge Now Surfacing In US Airport screenings have identified cases of the NB.1.8.1 variant — the same strain linked to a surge in infections in China — among international travelers arriving in several US states, CBS News reports. The variant has been found in passengers tested at airports in the New York City area, California, Virginia, and Washington…
COVID-19: FDA Says It Will Limit Who Can Get Future Booster Shots COVID-19: FDA Says It Will Limit Who Can Get Future Booster Shots
Covid-19: FDA Says It Will Limit Who Can Get Future Booster Shots In a significant shift in vaccination policy, the Trump administration has revealed that approval for seasonal COVID-19 shots will be restricted to certain groups. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it will continue to approve boosters for those 65 and older as well as others at higher risk of severe disease. But it will require vaccine makers to conduct major new clinical trials on their effectiveness before approving them for wider use on the broader population.  The FDA’s revised framework, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Tuesday, May 20, stat…
CT Among 19 States Suing To Reverse Trump's 20,000 Health Care Job Cuts: 'Reckless, Dangerous' CT Among 19 States Suing To Reverse Trump's 20,000 Health Care Job Cuts: 'Reckless, Dangerous'
CT Among 19 States Suing To Reverse Trump's 20,000 Health Care Job Cuts: 'Reckless, Dangerous' Over one-third of U.S. states are urging a federal judge to reverse President Donald Trump’s decision to cut 20,000 Department of Health and Human Services employees, arguing the move could have dangerous and long-lasting effects on public health. Nineteen states — including Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland — along with Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit in Rhode Island on Monday, May 5. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced in March that the agency would cut nearly 25 percent of its workforce as part of Trump’s push to overhaul the federal government and reduce spendin…
Legendary Musician Postpones Shows After Being Hospitalized With COVID, Dehydration Legendary Musician Postpones Shows After Being Hospitalized With COVID, Dehydration
Legendary Musician Postpones Shows After Being Hospitalized With COVID, Dehydration An iconic musician was forced to cancel a pair of concerts after being hospitalized for both COVID-19 and dehydration. Carlos Santana, who founded the popular group Santana, postponed his shows scheduled for Tuesday, April 22 in San Antonio, Texas, and Wednesday, April 23 in Sugar Land, Texas. An announcement on the guitarist's website on Wednesday said the 77-year-old experienced dehydration yesterday, "and has since tested positive for COVID." Santana has since been released from the hospital and is expected to be back on stage on Friday, April 25, in Thackerville, Oklahom…
COVID-19: China Lab Leak Cited As Pandemic's 'True Origin' By Trump Administration COVID-19: China Lab Leak Cited As Pandemic's 'True Origin' By Trump Administration
Covid-19: China Lab Leak Cited As Pandemic's 'True Origin' By Trump Administration A lab-related incident involving gain-of-function research in China is the "true origin" of COVID-19, according to comprehensive new statement issued by the Trump Administration on Friday, April 18. The statement, which accuses public health officials and intelligence agencies of suppressing this narrative for political motives, now appears on both the covid.gov and whitehouse.gov websites. The newly launched webpage by the White House claims that public health officials have misled the American public through inconsistent messaging, impulsive reactions, and a lack of transparenc…