3 Things To Know Today

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1 CDC Drops Masks For Vaccinated People

The CDC is pulling back facemask guidelines for fully vaccinated Americans. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said it represents a return to "some sense of normalcy." Walensky warned about the unpredictability of virus mutations, or variants, and said facemask recommendations may have to be revised. Walensky praised the efficacy of the vaccines approved, and again urged everyone who has not been vaccinated to make a plan to get vaxxed. Meantime, masks remain recommended in crowded indoor settings and hospitals, airplanes, buses and trains. Those with compromised immune systems are also encouraged to seek guidance from their doctors about facemasks and social distancing.

2 Officials Say Two Trapped In Oklahoma Dam Explosion

A dam explosion in northeast Oklahoma has left two people trapped inside. According to Justin Alberty, spokesman for the Grand River Dam Authority, the two were doing routine work on the Kerr Dam near the town of Salina last night when the blast happened. Officials said a third worker was also at the site, but he was able to escape. Crews are working to free the two contractors, who are trapped 80-feet below the top of the dam. Their conditions are not known at this time, but there are reports that officials have been able to contact them. As for what caused the explosion, it hasn’t been determined, but Alberty said that there may have been a pocket of natural methane gas.

3 Toshiba Hit By Cyberattack As Colonial Pipeline Paid Their Hackers

Toshiba is the latest business to be hit by a cyberattack. Japanese broadcaster NHK is reporting that the electronics firm was hacked by the group known as DarkSide - the same group blamed for the Colonial Pipeline attack. A source familiar with the situation says it was Toshiba's European business unit that was hit. Toshiba has confirmed that it was investigating a possible hacking, and that it will release a strategy briefing shortly. On a related note, Bloomberg is reporting Colonial Pipeline quietly paid the hackers five-million dollars. Initially, the company said it had no intention of giving in to extortion, however they reportedly paid up within hours of their system being held for ransom using untraceable cryptocurrency. The report says hackers provided Colonial with a decrypting tool to restore its computer network after they made payment. However, the tool was so slow the company continued to rely on its own backups. Either way, the good news is that the Pipeline is back up.


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