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COVID-19: Increase In Cases Sparks Concern At Start Of School Year COVID-19: Increase In Cases Sparks Concern At Start Of School Year
Covid-19: Increase In Cases Sparks Concern At Start Of School Year There's always plenty of anxiety at the start of a new school year, but that's especially true now due to increased COVID-19 cases. COVID-related hospitalizations have increased in the US for six straight weeks, with a 19-percent increase reported in the most recent week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The White House announced that First Lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID on Monday morning, Sept. 5, and is experiencing “mild symptoms." Three school districts in Kentucky and Texas briefly suspended in-person classes after surges of COVID cases. T…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Cause Of Death Revealed For Obamas' Personal Chef, Who Died On Martha's Vineyard: Report Cause Of Death Revealed For Obamas' Personal Chef, Who Died On Martha's Vineyard: Report
Cause Of Death Revealed For Obamas' Personal Chef, Who Died On Martha's Vineyard: Report Medical investigators have ruled the death of Tafari Campbell, the personal chef of former President Barack Obama, as an accident, reports said.  The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Massachusetts performed an autopsy on the 45-year-old Campbell, who died after he fell into the ocean while paddleboarding on July 23 on Martha's Vineyard. Pathologists concluded his death was caused by "submersion in a body of water."  Despite conspiracy theories online conjuring fantastic — and often impossible — reasons for his death, the autopsy confirmed the eyewitness reports.  …

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by Josh Lanier
News
Obamas' Chef Drowns In Paddleboarding Accident Near Martha's Vineyard Estate Obamas' Chef Drowns In Paddleboarding Accident Near Martha's Vineyard Estate
Obamas' Chef Drowns In Paddleboarding Accident Near Martha's Vineyard Estate A missing paddleboarder found dead in Martha's Vineyard has been identified as the longtime chef to the Obamas. Tafari Campbell, age 45, of Dumfries, Virginia, was found some 100 feet from shore in water about 8 feet deep on Monday, July 24, after he went missing paddleboarding a day earlier, Massachusetts State Police said. Campbell was paddleboarding Sunday in Edgartown’s Great Pond near Turkeyland Cove when he fell into the water around 7:45 a.m., Massachusetts State Police said.  Witnesses told troopers that he "appeared to briefly struggle to stay on the surface, and then submerg…

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by Cecilia Levine
Politics
Biden To Pardon Everyone Convicted On Federal Marijuana Possession Charges In Historic Move Biden To Pardon Everyone Convicted On Federal Marijuana Possession Charges In Historic Move
Biden To Pardon Everyone Convicted On Federal Marijuana Possession Charges In Historic Move In a historic move, President Joe Biden announced he is pardoning all of those with prior federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana.  The White House announced the marijuana reform on Thursday, Oct. 6 during Biden's visit to the Hudson Valley at an IBM facility in Poughkeepsie, saying he has directed Attorney General Merrick Garland to develop an administrative process to issue certificates of pardon to individuals who are eligible. Biden said thousands of people with federal convictions for marijuana possession have had their lives upended.  "Criminal records for m…

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by Nicole Valinote
Politics
NYer Will Become First Black White House Press Secretary NYer Will Become First Black White House Press Secretary
NYer Will Become First Black White House Press Secretary A native New Yorker has been tapped to take over as the top spokesperson for President Joe Biden’s White House. Karine Jean-Pierre, a Haitian-American who was raised in Queens Village and grew up on Long Island, in Hempstead, was chosen to become the 35th White House Press Secretary following the departure of outgoing Jen Psaki, a native of Fairfield County, Connecticut. Earlier story - Fairfield County Native Leaving Post As White House Press Secretary For TV Gig, Report Says The appointment makes Jean-Pierre the first Black woman and LGBTQ+ to hold that position. “Karine not only …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: VP Kamala Harris Tests Positive COVID-19: VP Kamala Harris Tests Positive
Covid-19: VP Kamala Harris Tests Positive Fully vaccinated Vice President Kamala Harris has become the latest high-ranking elected official to test positive for COVID-19 amid an outbreak of cases in the Biden Administration. Harris tested positive for COVID-19 on both rapid and PCR tests, her office announced on Tuesday, April 26. According to Kirsten Allen, the press secretary to the vice president, Harris has exhibited no symptoms, is in isolation, and will continue to work from the Vice President’s residence. Harris "has not been a close contact to the President or First Lady due to their respective recent travel schedules,” …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: New One-Stop Site Launched For Info On Vaccines, Tests, Treatments, Masks COVID-19: New One-Stop Site Launched For Info On Vaccines, Tests, Treatments, Masks
Covid-19: New One-Stop Site Launched For Info On Vaccines, Tests, Treatments, Masks The federal government has set up a one-stop website for all things related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The White House has just launched COVID.gov, a website designed to consolidate information regarding everything from free high-quality masks and antiviral pills to vaccines, tests, and treatments. The launch of the website coincides with President Joe Biden’s promise in his “State of the Union” address, when he announced a “test-to treat program so people can get tested at a pharmacy, and if they're positive, receive antiviral pills on the spot at no cost.” Related story - COVID-1…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
New England Native Leaving Post At White House For TV Gig, Report Says New England Native Leaving Post At White House For TV Gig, Report Says
New England Native Leaving Post At White House For TV Gig, Report Says Fairfield County native Jen Psaki is going from the White House to the Peacock. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who hails from Stamford, will be leaving her post after more than a year under President Joe Biden to join MSNBC as a host and on-air expert, according to a report from Axios. Psaki, who has been a prominent face of the Biden administration, previously said that she would stay as press secretary for a year, but her time at the White House was extended following multiple international crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, and mo…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Here's How You Can Now Order Four More Free At-Home Tests COVID-19: Here's How You Can Now Order Four More Free At-Home Tests
Covid-19: Here's How You Can Now Order Four More Free At-Home Tests Americans are now eligible to order a second round of free at-home COVID-19 test kits from the federal government. In January, the website covidtests.gov was launched, permitting Americans to order up to four more free testing kits per household, though supplies were initially limited. Families that ordered up to four tests during the first round are now eligible to order another four, while households that missed the first round are now also able to order up to eight kits. During the first round of distribution of the kits, federal officials said that more than half of US households order…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CDC Expected To Greatly Ease Indoor Mask Guidance, Reports Say COVID-19: CDC Expected To Greatly Ease Indoor Mask Guidance, Reports Say
Covid-19: CDC Expected To Greatly Ease Indoor Mask Guidance, Reports Say The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to significantly ease its indoor mask mandate as the country continues its recovery from the latest wave of COVID-19 infections. According to multiple reports, the CDC is expected to announce a change in its guidance regarding masks, allowing most Americans to ditch their facial coverings indoors. The AP first reported the news, citing “two people familiar with the matter.” The new guidance is expected to be announced as soon as Friday, Feb. 25. It marks the first indoor mask guidance change from the CDC since July 2021. …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: New Mask Guidance Coming Soon, CDC Director Says At White House Briefing COVID-19: New Mask Guidance Coming Soon, CDC Director Says At White House Briefing
Covid-19: New Mask Guidance Coming Soon, CDC Director Says At White House Briefing The “new normal” may start to look more like the “old normal” as federal health officials are expected to loosen up COVID-19 mask mandates across the country. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced during a White House briefing on Wednesday, Feb. 16 that the agency will “soon put guidance in place” regarding mask-wearing. The announcement comes as the country continues to recover from the surge of Omicron cases that mounted over several months around the holiday season. Walensky said that the CDC will monitor certain metrics s…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Meet Willow: White House Has A Cat For First Time In More Than 12 Years Meet Willow: White House Has A Cat For First Time In More Than 12 Years
Meet Willow: White House Has A Cat For First Time In More Than 12 Years Call it the Oval Pawffice. First lady Jill Biden announced that America’s first family has welcomed Willow, a 2-year-old, gray-and-white feline to the White House, making her the first cat in the Oval Office in more than a decade. Biden, a community college professor, said that she named the cat after her hometown of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. “A farm cat from Pennsylvania, Willow made quite an impression on Dr. Biden in 2020 when she jumped up on the stage and interrupted her remarks during a campaign stop," Biden spokesperson Michael LaRosa said. "Seeing their immediate bond, the owner…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Here's When White House Will Start Distributing 400 Million N95 Masks COVID-19: Here's When White House Will Start Distributing 400 Million N95 Masks
Covid-19: Here's When White House Will Start Distributing 400 Million N95 Masks With free COVID-19 at-home testing kits being shipped out this week, the White House is set to begin distributing millions of N95 masks as the pandemic approaches the beginning of its third year. President Joe Biden’s administration will make upwards of 400 million N95 masks available for free at thousands of locations across the country beginning this week, officials said on Wednesday, Jan. 19 as the Omicron variant continues to be the dominant strain of the virus. Related story - COVID-19: Website For Ordering Free At-Home Tests Launches Sooner Than Expected Officials said that the plan …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Website For Ordering Free At-Home Tests Launches Sooner Than Expected COVID-19: Website For Ordering Free At-Home Tests Launches Sooner Than Expected
Covid-19: Website For Ordering Free At-Home Tests Launches Sooner Than Expected Some Americans were granted access to free at-home rapid COVID-19 tests through the federal government a day earlier than initially planned as the website went live before expected. The White House announced last week that beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 19, it will begin distributing up to one billion free testing kits, however, some reported that they were able to place their orders on Tuesday, Jan. 18, a day early as the website had a "soft" launch. Original story - COVID-19: Here's When Americans Can Order Free At-Home Tests On Tuesday afternoon, the White House confirmed that the website…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Here's When Americans Can Order Free At-Home Tests COVID-19: Here's When Americans Can Order Free At-Home Tests
Covid-19: Here's When Americans Can Order Free At-Home Tests With the Omicron COVID-19 variant raging, Americans will soon have access to free at-home test kits that will be made available through a federal website. Beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 19, the White House announced that it will be distributing one billion tests that it plans to buy this year that will be provided to Americans in need for free. According to the White House, tests will take approximately seven to 12 days to ship, and can be requested at COVIDTests.gov beginning on Jan. 19. Officials said that "tens of millions” of tests are already on hand, and a half billion will be availabl…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Omicron Now Dominant Variant In US; CDC Reveals Percentage Of New Cases COVID-19: Omicron Now Dominant Variant In US; CDC Reveals Percentage Of New Cases
Covid-19: Omicron Now Dominant Variant In US; CDC Reveals Percentage Of New Cases Less than three weeks after the first case of the highly transmissible Omicron variant was identified in the United States, it's now the nation's most dominant strain of the COVID-19 virus. Omicron accounted for 73 percent of new infections last week, federal health officials announced Monday, Dec. 20. That's nearly a six-fold increase in only one week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. The first Omicron-related death in the United States was confirmed in Harris County, Texas - a man in his 50s. It has not been reported whether he was vaccinated or had any pre-exis…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Study Reveals Top 5 Symptoms Of Omicron Variant COVID-19: Study Reveals Top 5 Symptoms Of Omicron Variant
Covid-19: Study Reveals Top 5 Symptoms Of Omicron Variant Click here for an updated story - COVID-19: New Omicron Variant Symptom Emerges, Physicians Say COVID-19 cases are spiking ahead of the holidays, with the Omicron variant now having been identified in 48 states and 89 countries. “We’ve seen cases of Omicron among those who are both vaccinated and boosted and we believe these cases are milder or asymptomatic because of vaccine protection,” said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House COVID-19 briefing on Friday, Dec. 17. Preliminary lab studies indicate Omicron may not a…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Can You Safely Enjoy The Holidays Amid Surge In Cases Ahead Of Christmas? COVID-19: Can You Safely Enjoy The Holidays Amid Surge In Cases Ahead Of Christmas?
Covid-19: Can You Safely Enjoy The Holidays Amid Surge In Cases Ahead Of Christmas? With many areas in the nation seeing the largest rise in COVID-19 cases since January, coupled with the arrival of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, many Americans are entering the holiday season with uncertainty. Though breakthrough cases are inevitable, health experts agree that if you've been vaccinated and had your booster, whether you're exposed to Delta or Omicron, you should be very well protected against serious disease that could put you in the hospital. “We’ve seen cases of Omicron among those who are both vaccinated and boosted and we believe these cases are milder or asy…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Biden Nominates Caroline Kennedy, Figure Skater Michelle Kwan For Ambassador Posts Biden Nominates Caroline Kennedy, Figure Skater Michelle Kwan For Ambassador Posts
Biden Nominates Caroline Kennedy, Figure Skater Michelle Kwan For Ambassador Posts A pair of prominent public figures have been tabbed for ambassadorships by President Joe Biden. The White House announced that Caroline Kennedy, age 64, the last surviving child of former President John F. Kennedy, has been nominated to serve as an ambassador to Australia after previously filling the same role in Japan for former President Barack Obama. “I am always grateful to the courageous Solomon Islanders and Australian coast watchers who rescued my father during World War 2, and if confirmed, I will work hard to repay this debt," Kennedy said in a statement. "I look forward to collabo…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Head Of President Biden’s Security Detail Leaving To Take Wall Street Job, Report Says Head Of President Biden’s Security Detail Leaving To Take Wall Street Job, Report Says
Head Of President Biden’s Security Detail Leaving To Take Wall Street Job, Report Says The top person tasked with keeping President Joe Biden safe will be leaving his post for a cushy job on Wall Street, according to multiple reports. David Cho, the head of Biden’s security detail, has been hired by an investment firm after being a part of the Secret Service for more than two decades. The news was first reported by Bloomberg, which cited people close to the situation who are familiar with the matter. It is unclear what firm has plucked Cho away from the White House. Cho was the first Korean American to become a special agent-in-charge of the Secret Service’s Presidential Pr…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: US Tightens Travel Testing Requirements, Extends Mask Mandate In New White House Plan COVID-19: US Tightens Travel Testing Requirements, Extends Mask Mandate In New White House Plan
Covid-19: US Tightens Travel Testing Requirements, Extends Mask Mandate In New White House Plan President Joe Biden announced a series of new measures to combat COVID-19 amid the emergence of the Omicron variant. Biden said in an announcement on Thursday, Dec. 2, that early next week the United States will require all inbound international travelers to get a COVID-19 test within one day of departure, regardless of their nationality or vaccination status.  "This tighter testing timeline provides an added degree of public health protection as scientists continue to assess the Omicron variant," the announcement from the White House reads. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States COVID-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States
Covid-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States Omicron, the new strain of COVID that has caused worldwide alarm the last week, has been detected in the United States for the first time. Health officials had been bracing for the first such Omicron case for days, and early Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 1, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention confirmed a person in California has been infected with the new strain. The San Francisco Department of Health said the individual was a traveler who returned from South Africa on Monday, Nov. 22, and tested positive for COVID on Monday, Nov. 29. The individual was fully vaccinated and experi…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
COVID-19: White House Press Secretary, A New England Native, Tests Positive COVID-19: White House Press Secretary, A New England Native, Tests Positive
Covid-19: White House Press Secretary, A New England Native, Tests Positive White House press secretary Jen Psaki has tested positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19. Psaki, a Connecticut native who is fully vaccinated, grew up in Fairfield County, and graduated from Greenwich High School, said on Sunday, Oct. 31 that she made the decision not to travel with President Joe Biden to Europe after one of her family members tested positive for the virus. Psaki (pronounced Saki), said she made the decision on Wednesday, Oct. 27, after members of her household tested positive for COVID-19.  She tested negative for four days, but on Sunday, she revealed she teste…

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
COVID-19: Supply-Chain Issues Causing Shortages Of Items At Supermarkets, Other Retailers COVID-19: Supply-Chain Issues Causing Shortages Of Items At Supermarkets, Other Retailers
Covid-19: Supply-Chain Issues Causing Shortages Of Items At Supermarkets, Other Retailers Supply-chain issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic are leading to product shortages in stores across the country. According to a report from Bloomberg, the issues have arisen due to factors including rising COVID-19 cases, rising demand for certain products, and labor shortages. The beverage industry has struggled due to a shortage of packaging, including aluminum cans, the news outlet reported. Other products have seen shortages due to rising demand. Lunchables, Kraft Heinz Co.'s packaged snack products, have been in greater demand as children have returned to school. Bloomberg reporte…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: US To Lift Travel Ban For Vaccinated Foreign Nationals COVID-19: US To Lift Travel Ban For Vaccinated Foreign Nationals
Covid-19: US To Lift Travel Ban For Vaccinated Foreign Nationals The United States is planning to open travel for foreign nationals who are vaccinated against COVID-19. The new policy was announced on Monday, Sept. 20 by Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 pandemic response coordinator. Travel ban lifted! Vaccinated, pre-flight tested Europeans will again be able to travel to the US from November, just as vaccinated Americans are today allowed to travel to the EU. https://t.co/XPwtvlMBWw… — Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis 🇪🇺 (@EUAmbUS) September 20, 2021 Unvaccinated American travelers will have stricter testing requirements under the new policy, i…

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by Nicole Valinote
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns COVID-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns
Covid-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns The COVID-19 pandemic may not yet have reared its ugliest head as the number of new infections continues to surge across the US, increasing the chances of a new variant forming even more contagious than the Delta strain, White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci is cautioning. In a new interview with Axios, Fauci said that the COVID-19 infection rate could be unsustainable and is 10 times where it needs to be in order for the pandemic to end. 
“The endgame is to suppress the virus,” Fauci said. "Right now, we're still in pandemic mode, because we have 160,000 new infections a day. That's no…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: CDC Outlines 'Key Strategies' Schools Should Employ To Keep Kids, Staff Safe COVID-19: CDC Outlines 'Key Strategies' Schools Should Employ To Keep Kids, Staff Safe
Covid-19: CDC Outlines 'Key Strategies' Schools Should Employ To Keep Kids, Staff Safe The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its COVID-19 safety guidelines for schools as students return to the classroom.  CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the most important recommendation from the agency is that everyone eligible for COVID-19 vaccination gets vaccinated before school starts.  Walensky shared the guidelines at a White House press briefing on Tuesday, Aug. 31. Walensky said universal masking is also important for students, teachers, staff and visitors, regardless of their vaccination status. The CDC also recommended that schoo…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: CDC Announces Starting Date For Booster Shots COVID-19: CDC Announces Starting Date For Booster Shots
Covid-19: CDC Announces Starting Date For Booster Shots Federal health officials have set a date for when they plan to begin rolling out COVID-19 booster shots to help curtail the spread of new variants of the virus. Citing new data that showed Pfizer and Moderna vaccines’ effectiveness wanes over time, President Joe Biden’s administration announced that beginning the week of Monday, Sept. 20, booster shots would be made available for many Americans. Earlier story - COVID-19: US Expected To Announce Time Frame For All Americans To Get Booster Shots The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sa…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Report: 'Unprofessional Behavior' Leads HBO To Pause Production In Region Report: 'Unprofessional Behavior' Leads HBO To Pause Production In Region
Report: 'Unprofessional Behavior' Leads HBO To Pause Production In Region Alleged "unprofessional behavior" on the set of the HBO series "White House Plumbers," filming in New York's Hudson Valley shut down the set for a day, according to a brand-new report. There was an on-set altercation on Wednesday, Aug. 4, involving director/executive producer David Mandel and a member of the prop department, which led to the prop workers walking off the set, Deadline is reporting.  During the incident, which was reportedly captured on audio recording, Mandel allegedly is heard cursing and threatening the prop master that he will never work again. The shutdow…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
Biden Calls On Cuomo To Resign After Scathing Sexual Harassment Report Biden Calls On Cuomo To Resign After Scathing Sexual Harassment Report
Biden Calls On Cuomo To Resign After Scathing Sexual Harassment Report The most powerful man in America has become the latest major political figure to call for the resignation of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo following the independent investigation that found he allegedly sexually harassed at least 11 women. President Joe Biden called on Cuomo to step away from office in Albany following New York Attorney General Letitia James’ investigation into sexual harassment allegations. Original story - Cuomo Sexually Harassed 'Multiple Women,' Including State Trooper, Scathing AG Report Charges 
“Yes. He should resign. I understand the state legislature may decide to im…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: Obama's Martha's Vineyard Birthday Bash To Have Hundreds Of Guests, Sparking Concerns COVID-19: Obama's Martha's Vineyard Birthday Bash To Have Hundreds Of Guests, Sparking Concerns
Covid-19: Obama's Martha's Vineyard Birthday Bash To Have Hundreds Of Guests, Sparking Concerns Click here for an updated story - COVID-19: Obama 'Significantly' Scales Back Martha's Vineyard 60th Birthday Bash Guest List Former President Barack Obama is set to hold a party with hundreds of guests to celebrate his 60th birthday amid concerns as the Delta variant continues to spread in the United States. Axios reported that the event will take place this weekend in Martha's Vineyard. A source reportedly told the outlet that guests will be required to be tested for COVID-19, but they did not specify what proof they would be required to offer. Axios also reported that the party with…

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by Nicole Valinote