3 Things To Know Today

1 Biden Lays Out Omicron Strategy

President Biden is outlining steps to deal with the growing threat of the COVID Omicron variant. Speaking at the White House, Biden acknowledged growing fears among Americans. And while he said that unvaccinated people will continue to be at the highest risk, he also admitted that those catching a case of Covid with Omicron variant aren’t likely to face severe illness or death. Biden stressed that fully vaccinated people should go ahead with plans to gather with family members over the holidays. He said full vaccinations include booster shots. Biden also cited CDC recommendations to wear facemasks in crowded settings, indoors and outdoors. Biden also announced that his administration is buying half-a-billion home test kits for free distribution to those who request them, starting next month – though he didn’t explain how that’s going to be rolled out. And on the front line? The President is deploying one-thousand military doctors, nurses and paramedics to U.S. hospitals. Government emergency response teams are being sent to six states that have been especially hard-hit by the latest COVID surge. Those states are Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arizona, New Hampshire and Vermont. FEMA is working with states to expand hospital bed capacity and safely transport COVID patients to other facilities, if necessary. FEMA will also be setting up new pop-up vaccination clinics across the U.S.

2 Possible Deadlock In Kim Potter Trial

Former Minnesota police officer Kim Potter will continue to wait for her fate as the jury in her trial ended deliberations yesterday without a verdict. While a decision could come today, it doesn’t appear likely. Jury members adjourned just after 6pm local time and were sequestered at a nearby hotel. But before that? They came into the courtroom to ask the judge how long they had to deliberate and what should be done if they cannot reach a consensus. Judge Regina Chu reread an earlier instruction that jurors should "deliberate with a view toward reaching agreement if you can do so without violating your individual judgment." She then sent them ‘home,’ with the expectation their work will continue today. If convicted, Potter could face as little as seven years. Potter is the White former Minnesota police officer who says she mistook her firearm for her Taser and fatally shot Daunte Wright following a tr

3 U.S. Population Growth In 2021 Slowest Since Nation's Founding

Population growth in the United States has dropped to the lowest level on record – as in, since our country became a country. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the population grew just 0.1 percent in 2021 – and it’s believed that’s due in large part to the Covid-19 pandemic. The population growth rate also stalled in 1918 and 1919, due to the Spanish Flu pandemic and World War I. In recent years, low population growth in recent years has been attributed to simultaneously rising death rates of the aging population and falling rates in both births and migration also declining. On a state level, the District of Columbia and New York had the greatest population declines, losing 2.9% and 1.6% of their populations, respectively. But who added the most? Idaho – which grew by 2.9%.


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