Voices, The Peoples News
December 17, 2020
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 To Inform and Educate
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# Indigenous
Trump’s impact on Indian Country over four years. From legal decisions to on-the-ground policies, Indigenous lawyers describe the administration’s tactics as an “onslaught” removing federal protections of land and wildlife.
https://www.hcn.org/articles/indigenous-affairs-trumps-impact-on-indian-country-over-four-years
# Border / Immigration
Secret emails show the moment a top ICE lawyer tried — and failed — to get deported children flown back to the US https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hamedaleaziz/secret-emails-ice-deportation-flight-guatemala
# CoronaVirus
Pharmacists are finding extra doses in vials of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, but some already tossed the vials after administering the number of doses officially noted.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/16/pfizer-vaccine-extra-doses-447117
New Covid strain has ‘striking’ amount of mutations. Members of the UK’s
Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK), who have been investigating the evolved strain, say they have uncovered 17 alterations, which they described as ‘a lot’.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9058923/New-Covid-strain-17-mutations-scientist-say.html
HEROES Act to give $350 million in coronavirus aid to 50 of the richest communities nationwide, auditors reveal. “Should American taxpayers from lower-income areas be subsidizing the lifestyles of the rich and famous?”
https://www.nationofchange.org/2020/12/17/heroes-act-to-give-350-million-in-coronavirus-aid-to-50-of-the-richest-communities-nationwide-auditors-reveal/
FDA panel endorses Moderna COVID-19 vaccine https://www.statnews.com/2020/12/17/moderna-vaccine-fda-panel/
Some confusion as the vaccine rolls out…Governors say the CDC is cutting vaccine allocations. At least four state governors were told by the federal government to expect fewer coronavirus vaccine doses next week than had been originally planned.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/overnights/530746-overnight-health-care-fda-panel-endorses-moderna-covid-19
# Economy / Trade
Congressional leaders add stimulus checks to $900 billion relief package as they near deal. Congressional leaders add stimulus checks to $900 billion relief package as they near deal.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/congressional-leaders-discussing-adding-a-second-round-of-stimulus-checks-11608127735
Trump Blocks $200M In Medicaid Funds For California https://khn.org/morning-breakout/trump-blocks-200m-in-medicaid-funds-for-california/
Medicaid, CHIP Enrollment Up Nearly 6% During Pandemic; Poverty Grows https://khn.org/morning-breakout/medicaid-chip-enrollment-jumped-nearly-6-in-pandemics-early-months/
The Tax Time Bomb Congress Can Defuse. Unemployed individuals owe taxes on benefits, at the federal level and in 34 states.
https://prospect.org/coronavirus/unsanitized-tax-time-bomb-unemployment-benefits-taxed/
GOP Push to Keep Stimulus Check From People on Unemployment Draws Outrage The effort comes after the GOP already reportedly succeeded in paring back the duration of unemployment benefits.
https://truthout.org/articles/gop-push-to-keep-stimulus-check-from-people-on-unemployment-draws-outrage/
‘Sick’: Most Profitable US Companies Fired Workers, Enriched Shareholders During Pandemic https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/17/sick-most-profitable-us-companies-fired-workers-enriched-shareholders-during
‘Gratuitously Cruel’: Outrage as GOP Tries to Prevent People on Unemployment From Also Receiving Stimulus Check https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/17/gratuitously-cruel-outrage-gop-tries-prevent-people-unemployment-also-receiving
# Education / Schools
A school superintendent sent out a snow day announcement that’s making everyone emotional. “It is a time of renewed wonder at all the beautiful things that each season holds. A reminder of how fleeting a childhood can be. An opportunity to make some memories with your family that you hold on to for life.”
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/snow-day-letter
# Employment
Jobless Claims Are Headed ‘in the Wrong Direction.’ Another 885,000 people filed new jobless claims in the U.S. last week.
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/jobless-claims-heading-the-wrong-direction-2020-11-25
# Environment / Climate / Interior
Logging Near Yellowstone. The project will destroy nearly 66 square miles of important wildlife habitat.
https://buckrail.com/logging-project-proposed-near-yellowstone-national-park/
Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) has been selected to lead the Interior Department in President-elect Joe Biden’s administration, making history as the first Native American tapped for a Cabinet position.
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/529495-biden-names-haaland-as-interior-secretary
Scientists report unusual seismic activity in Antarctica: over 30,000 tremors https://www.zmescience.com/science/scientists-report-unusual-seismic-activity-in-antarctica-over-30000-tremors/
New projections warn that Greenland’s ice sheet will see 60% more melt than estimated https://www.zmescience.com/science/greenland-faster-melting-235635756/
Brain-eating amoeba infections expanding to Northern U.S. The organisms’
expanded range may be due to increased temperatures from climate change.
https://www.livescience.com/brain-eating-amoeba-expanded-range-northern-united-states.html
# Global Politics and other news
Air Force in Europe seeks defense against Chinese drones and Russian cruise missiles
https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/air-force-in-europe-seeks-defense-against-chinese-drones-and-russian-cruise-missiles-1.655492
Russian Forces Establish Presence On Syrian-Iraqi Border. Attacks on Iranian-backed forces there, have been conducted by Israel and the US-led coalition in support of the ISIS agenda.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russian-forces-establish-presence-syrian-iraqi-border
# Gov / Politics
McConnell getting much of what he wants in emerging relief deal https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/530594-mcconnell-getting-much-of-what-he-wants-in-emerging-relief-deal
Pence Plans to Admit Trump Lost Then Flee Country: The very same day that he affirms Trump’s defeat, the vice president is reportedly going to head off for a week-long trip to the Middle East and Europe.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/17/pence-trump-election-loss-447326
No, the US didn’t bomb 50,000 Chinese troops as they tried to invade Maine.
Every evolution of American politics gets the conspiracy theories it deserves https://taskandpurpose.com/news/china-invasion-conspiracy-theory/
Did Trump deliberately pursue genocide via his ‘herd immunity’ strategy?
“We want them infected,” reads an email from former Trump administration adviser Paul Alexander.
https://truthout.org/articles/did-trump-deliberately-pursue-genocide-via-his-herd-immunity-strategy/
Instead of Propping Up a Dying Empire, It’s Time to Finally End U.S.
Wars. The “war on terror” has truly become a war of generations.
https://truthout.org/articles/instead-of-propping-up-a-dying-empire-its-time-to-finally-end-us-wars/
‘Republican Party Doesn’t Give a Damn About You’: McConnell Admits Direct Checks Only Included to Help GOP Win in Georgia https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/17/republican-party-doesnt-give-damn-about-you-mcconnell-admits-direct-checks-only
Congress is barreling toward a rare weekend session as lawmakers race to wrap up a sweeping agreement to fund the government and provide badly needed coronavirus relief.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/530755-congress-set-to-blow-past-shutdown-deadline-amid-coronavirus-talks
# Law Enforcement
These Rogue Sheriffs Won’t Even Give Their Prisoners Masks. The Daily Beast contacted 35 sheriff’s offices where leaders have vocally opposed mask mandates. Of the respondents, only four have enforced mask policies at detention centers.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/these-rogue-sheriffs-wont-even-give-their-prisoners-masks
Kansas Deputy Intentionally Ran Over Black Man: Lawsuit. Lionel Womack, a former police detective, alleges in a federal lawsuit that a Kansas sheriff’s deputy purposely ran him over during an Aug. 15 traffic stop.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/12/17/lawsuit-video-shows-kansas-deputy-ran-over-black-man-intentionally/3942399001/
# LGBTQ
Delaware Senator Sarah McBride’s historic election win made her the highest ranking, openly trans government official in U.S. history.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90587103/how-sarah-mcbride-is-handling-the-double-duty-of-senator-and-trans-pioneer
# Marijuana / Hemp / CBD Oil
The Senate unanimously passed a marijuana research bill—one week after the House also approved separate cannabis science legislation.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/senate-passes-marijuana-research-bill-one-week-after-house-approves-similar-legislation/
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) sent lawmakers a budget proposal that funds steps to prepare for the legalization of marijuana as well as expungements of past cannabis records.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/virginia-governors-budget-funds-marijuana-expungements-and-preparation-for-legalization/
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) filed a new bill to triple the concentration of THC that can be in legal hemp crops, and make changes to federal rules to address the industry’s concerns.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/rand-paul-files-bill-to-increase-hemp-thc-limit-and-address-other-industry-concerns/
# Military / DOD
Air Force gets closer to ‘Skynet’ as artificial intelligence makes U-2 flight, paging John Connor.
https://taskandpurpose.com/military-tech/air-force-artificial-intelligence-u2/
# Social
Will a multimillion-dollar dock help a remote Alaska community get more services?
Alaska’s marine highway still faces uncertainty under severe budget cuts.
https://www.hcn.org/articles/north-latest-will-a-multimillion-dollar-dock-help-a-remote-alaska-community-get-more-services
# Technology
Russia’s massive hack demands a reckoning for U.S. cyber defenses https://wapo.st/3ahTbFL
38 States, Territories File Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google. It’s the third lawsuit against Google’s business practices in the past two months.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/12/17/google-faces-antitrust-lawsuit-38-states-over-search/3943665001/
# Veterans / VA
Biden’s pick for VA secretary vows to ‘fight like hell’ for veterans.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/12/11/bidens-va-secretary-pick-promises-to-fight-like-hell-for-veterans-and-their-families/
Congress passes sweeping end-of-year veterans bill. Congress approved a bill Wednesday that increases resources for homeless veterans, creates a Department of Veterans Affairs advisory committee for Native American veterans and mandates that every VA hospital hire a dedicated women’s health provider, among dozens of other measures.
https://www.stripes.com/news/us/congress-passes-sweeping-end-of-year-bill-impacting-every-corner-of-the-veteran-community-1.655573
Veterans organizations urge Trump to fire VA chief Wilkie. Congressional aide claims that she was sexually assaulted at a VA hospital.
https://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/veterans-organizations-urge-trump-to-fire-va-chief-wilkie-1.655548
The Department of Veterans Affairs will start billing veterans again for medical debts in January https://www.dav.org/learn-more/news/2020/va-to-resume-debt-collections-in-the-new-year/
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