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biden is attempting to change how colleges and universities that receive federal funding handle sexual assault cases.

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Administration officials say President Joe Biden is rethinking Trump administration policies that weakened how colleges and universities that get federal dollars handle sexual assault accusations on campus

WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden is rethinking Trump administration policies that weakened how colleges and universities that get federal dollars handle sexual assault accusations on campus, according to administration officials.

Biden is set to sign an executive order on Monday directing the Department of Education to review policies implemented by Donald Trump's administration, including changes to Title IX regulations that prohibit sex discrimination in federally funded institutions.

The new president focused on gender equity during his campaign and promised to strengthen Title IX if he won the White House. He also will sign a second executive order formally establishing the White House Gender Policy Council, according to two administration officials who briefed reporters on the plan. Biden's transition team announced his plans to create the council before he took office.

The order directing the review of Title IX could pave the way to a major shift in how colleges handle allegations of sexual misconduct moving forward.

Trump's education secretary, Betsy DeVos, in 2018 rescinded an Obama-era administration standard in cases of reported sexual assault from requiring a "preponderance of evidence" - meaning it is more likely than not that sexual harassment or violence occurred - to "clear and convincing evidence."

The DeVos changes reduced the liability of colleges and universities for investigating sexual misconduct claims and bolstered the due process rights of the accused, including the right to cross-examine their accusers through a third-party advocate at campus hearings.

Biden, as vice president, along with then-Education Secretary Arne Duncan in 2011 laid out the legal guidance of what was expected of college campuses in response to allegations of sexual violence on behalf of President Barack Obama's administration.

With the Education Department review, Biden's intent is to set policies that help ensure students have an environment that's free from sexual harassment and without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, according to one White House official who briefed reporters on the orders.

The order establishing the Gender Policy Council comes after Trump disbanded an office specifically focused on women's issues created during the Obama administration that was called the White House Council on Women and Girls.

While the new council is a resurrection of the Obama-era one, one administration official said that giving it a new name was acknowledgement that inequities can affect people of all genders. Still, the official said the council will primarily focus on issues facing women and girls because of "disproportionate barriers" they face.

The new council is tasked with helping push gender equity on the administration's domestic and foreign policy efforts. Some of the issues the council will focus on include combating sexual harassment, addressing structural barriers to women's participation in the workforce, decreasing gender wage and wealth gaps, addressing caregiving issues that have disproportionately impacted women and responding to gender-based violence.

The orders come as Biden plans to deliver remarks from the White House later Monday marking International Women's Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

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Biden order could change how colleges handle sex misconduct

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Administration officials say President Joe Biden is rethinking Trump administration policies that weakened how colleges and universities that get federal dollars handle sexual assault accusations on campus WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden is rethinking Trump administration policies that weakened how colleges and universities that get federal dollars handle sexual assault accusations on campus, according to administration officials.

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A county in Arizona, Gila, has recieved so many vaccine doses, it is able to offer vaccines to people 18 years or older, not just to specific parties and seniors. They were approved to vaccinate people 18+ on February 17. They were able to do this because their community worked together to reach out to many health organizations.

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one arizona county has so many vaccine doses

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it's now able to offer them to anyone over 18 - cnn

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One Arizona county has so many vaccine doses, it's now able to offer them to anyone over 18

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The small city in Arizona is offering vaccines to any Gila residents that are at least 18.

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John Pennington, some 40 year old dude from Walton, Kentucky, entered the Grand Canyon in Arizona by himself on Feb. 23. An investigation into the incident is still going on. No additional information was immediately available.

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The body is believed to be that of John Pennington, who vanished last week.

Authorities believe they have found the body of a Kentucky man who disappeared at the Grand Canyon last week.

John Pennington, 40, of Walton, Kentucky, was thought to have entered the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona on or around Feb. 23, abandoning his vehicle at the South Rim near Yaki Point.

He was believed to be traveling alone, possibly on a yellow 2005 Suzuki motorcycle, according to the National Park Service.

After days of searching the area, National Park Service personnel spotted a body and a motorcycle on Wednesday, below the South Kaibab Trailhead, south of Yaki Point.

Park rangers recovered the body, which was located approximately 465 feet below the canyon rim, according to the National Park Service.

The body was flown by helicopter to the rim and was then transferred to the Coconino County Health and Human Services Medical Examiner's Office in Flagstaff.

"Based on evidence found with the body, the individual is believed to be missing person John Pennington," the National Park Service said in a statement Thursday.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing. No additional information was immediately available.

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Body found 465 feet below Grand Canyon rim believed to be missing Kentucky man, authorities say

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The body is believed to be that of John Pennington, who vanished last week. Authorities believe they have found the body of a Kentucky man who disappeared at the Grand Canyon last week. John Pennington, 40, of Walton, Kentucky, was thought to have entered the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona on or around Feb.

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8 year old with rare blood disorder gets a service dog so she can be a kid again.

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Mia Vane has always dreamed of having a dog.

Mia Vane was living like many other 8-year-old girls last year -- going to school and playing soccer -- until the unthinkable happened.

Just after the pandemic hit, Mia was diagnosed with a serious form of a disease called aplastic anemia -- a rare blood disorder that damages bone marrow, so the body stops producing enough new blood cells to fight infection.

"I just started bruising after I was playing soccer," Mia told "Good Morning America." "And they just started getting all purple and stuff."

Because of the blood disorder, Mia can't be in school and risk getting sick with COVID-19. Any injury sends her straight to the emergency room. And while medications are keeping the disease in check, the only real cure is risky -- a bone marrow transplant.

To help Mia, her aunt Blake Brady nominated the 8-year-old for a service dog from 4E Kennels Healing Hearts program, which gifts service dogs to families in need.

Brady created a moving video pointing out the reasons why Mia is deserving of a dog.

"It's gonna let her be a kid again," said Brady. "It's gonna free her up to be a kid."

Mia, who has always wanted a dog of her own, was surprised with a 10-month-old goldendoodle named Dougie by Jeanette Forrey of 4E Kennels Healing Hearts, who helped train the pup.

"What an incredible young girl defying the odds, but being knocked down again and again by something she cannot control," said Forrey. "To bring just a small amount of sunshine and comfort and companionship to help her through the darkest days and the brightest moments is incredibly exciting."

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8-year-old battling rare blood disorder surprised with service dog

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Mia Vane has always dreamed of having a dog. Mia Vane was living like many other 8-year-old girls last year -- going to school and playing soccer -- until the unthinkable happened.

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A 19-year old girl sentenced to 25 years in a mental health facility is expected to appear in front of a court and ask for a release. Her and one of her friends lured someone into the woods stabbed them to appease the fictional character Slender Man.

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One of the teens convicted of stabbing a classmate to please the fictional internet horror character Slender Man is expected to ask for release from a Wisconsin mental health facility

WAUKESHA, Wis. -- One of the teens convicted of stabbing a classmate to please the fictional internet horror character Slender Man is expected to ask for release from a Wisconsin mental health facility.

Anissa Weier, 19, is scheduled to appear Wednesday before the Waukesha County Circuit Court judge who earlier sentenced her to 25 years in a mental health institution and ask for her conditional release.

Weier has spent more than three years at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute in Oshkosh after pleading guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide and a jury found her not criminally responsible due to a mental disease in the stabbing that nearly killed Payton Leutner.

Weier and Morgan Geyser lured their friend into woods at a Waukesha park in 2014 following a sleepover. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times, as Weier encouraged her, leaving the girl to die. All three girls were 12 at the time.

They told investigators they committed the crime to appease Slender Man.

Weier received the maximum sentence in December 2017 after more than three years of mental evaluations and failed attempts to get the case moved to juvenile court.

Judge Michael Bohren will determine whether Weier still poses "a significant risk" of bodily harm to herself or others or of seriously damaging property if conditionally released, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

During the hearing, Bohren will listen to medical professionals who evaluated Weier in recent months.

Geyser is serving a maximum 40-year sentence at a mental health facility.

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1 of 2 teens in Slender Man stabbing to ask for release

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One of the teens convicted of stabbing a classmate to please the fictional internet horror character Slender Man is expected to ask for release from a Wisconsin mental health facility WAUKESHA, Wis. -- One of the teens convicted of stabbing a classmate to please the fictional internet horror character Slender Man is expected to ask for release from a Wisconsin mental health facility.

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The San Diego Zoo announced on Thursday it was in the process of vaccinating many of its great apes after several of its gorillas became sick with the virus that causes COVID-19, in January. So far, four orangutans and five bonobos are in the process of being vaccinated.

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Several gorillas came down with coronavirus earlier this year.

It's no monkey business: These apes are getting vaccinated.

The San Diego Zoo announced on Thursday it was in the process of inoculating many of its great apes after several of its gorillas became sick with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in January.

So far, four orangutans and five bonobos are in the process of being vaccinated, the San Diego Union Tribune reported. The zoo would only say "some of the members of the great apes" were being vaccinated.

Zoetis, a producer of medicine and vaccinations for animals, provided the shots, according to the zoo, and they were not for human use.

"Zoetis provided our veterinarians with a limited supply of recombinant purified spike protein vaccine, intended for use in protecting animals against SARS-CoV-2," San Diego Zoo said in a statement. "The vaccine doses originated from a supply strictly intended for nonhuman use."

These are the first known vaccinations of great apes, the zoo said.

The zoo said the animals were getting two shots three weeks apart -- just like the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines developed for humans -- and had begun receiving them in January. Officials said they have seen no adverse reactions to the injections.

Meanwhile, the troop of gorillas at San Diego Zoo Safari Park that was infected is on the mend.

"The gorilla troop at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park are doing well and appear to be on their way to a full recovery," officials said in a statement.

The gorillas will not be vaccinated "as they were exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and we assume their own immune systems have developed antibodies to the virus," the park said.

In February, Lisa Peterson, executive director of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, said the zoo was "so grateful for the outpouring concern and support we've received while the troop safely recovered."

Vaccines for the primates known as humans remain in short supply around the country, including California.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that the state had administered 9.3 million vaccines. He was presumably not counting humans' closest living relatives.

The gorillas are just some of the many wild animals to come down with the virus during the pandemic. At the Bronx Zoo, at least eight big cats -- five tigers and three lions -- came down with the virus last year.
ABC News' Stephanie Fuerte contributed to this report.

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San Diego Zoo vaccinates great apes against COVID-19

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Several gorillas came down with coronavirus earlier this year. It's no monkey business: These apes are getting vaccinated. The San Diego Zoo announced on Thursday it was in the process of inoculating many of its great apes after several of its gorillas became sick with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in January.

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6 of Dr Suesses books some such as "Green eggs and ham" and "The Cat in the Hat" will be unpublished because of the outdated racial, ethnic, and gender differences. Some believe this is true and his books are wrong and some believe it is just apart of the new "cancel culture"

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In this lesson, students will explore the debate over whether and how an author's works should be posthumously curated to reflect evolving attitudes.

"If I Ran the Zoo," "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street," "On Beyond Zebra!" and "McElligot's Pool" were among the six Dr. Seuss books that his estate said "portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong." Credit... Christopher Dolan/The Times-Tribune, via Associated Press

Students in U.S. high schools can get free digital access to The New York Times until Sept. 1, 2021.
Featured Article: "Dr. Seuss Books Are Pulled, and a 'Cancel Culture' Controversy Erupts" by Alexandra Alter and Elizabeth A. Harris
Dr. Seuss is one of the world's most beloved and popular children's book authors, known for his memorable rhymes and fantastical characters. This week, his estate said it would stop selling six of his books because they contained offensive imagery. Although the author's most famous books, like "Green Eggs and Ham" and "Cat in the Hat," were untouched, his estate's decision has ignited a debate over what to do with outdated and insensitive depictions of racial, ethnic, cultural and gender differences in children's literature.

In this lesson, you will learn about the Seuss estate's decision and the debate over how an author's works should be posthumously curated, if at all, to reflect evolving attitudes. In a Going Further activity, you will consider and assess the work and legacy of Dr. Seuss.

Children's books were an important part of my childhood.

Children's books can have a deep and long lasting effect on a child - both good and bad, depending on the material.

If a children's book contains offensive material - such as outdated and insensitive depictions of racial, ethnic, cultural and gender differences - it should no longer be sold or read.

Classic children's books, even if outdated or offensive, should continue to be sold because they are now an important part of history and childhood tradition. It should be up to parents and schools to decide whether to read or teach them to children.

Note to teachers: Ideally, you might do this as a Barometer activity. Here is an option for doing it online. However, if you are teaching in person and have limited space in your socially distanced classroom, you might simply ask students to stand if they agree and remain seated if they disagree.
Before reading the featured article, write and share your views on the four statements below.

For each statement, decide whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree. Then discuss your thoughts with your classmates or explain in writing why you think the way that you do.

Read the article and then answer the following questions:
1. What reasons did Dr. Seuss Enterprises give for its decision to discontinue six lesser-known books, including "If I Ran the Zoo" and "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street"? How did the organization come to this decision?

2. The article says that Dr. Seuss is "one of the world's most enduringly popular children's book authors." Understand the scope of his appeal by finding some numbers in this article: What year was his first book published? How many books did Dr. Seuss go on to publish? How many total copies have his all of his books sold worldwide? How many copies of "Green Eggs and Ham" were sold in the United States last year? Following the recent controversy, how many of his books are on the top of Amazon's print best-seller list? Taken together, what do these numbers tell us about Dr. Seuss's popularity?

3. What has been the public response to the Seuss estate's decision? Why do some critics see this as another example of "cancel culture"?

4. According to the article, in recent decades, librarians and scholars have led a push to re-evaluate children's classics that contain stereotypes and caricatures. Give two examples from the article of children's books that have been revised, updated, taken out of libraries or even out of circulation.

5. What previous scrutiny and criticism has Dr. Seuss faced? Which of these charges do you find most persuasive, if any?

6. What is your reaction to the article? How does it affect your views on Dr. Seuss and his books? Does reading the article change any of your views from the warm-up activity? How do you think we - the public, book publishers, libraries, educators - should respond, if at all, to classics that some argue are "out of step with current social and cultural values"?
Option 1: Share your thoughts and opinions.
Choose one or more of the following writing prompts:

Do you have a favorite Dr. Seuss book? What do you think accounts for their enduring appeal?The playful rhymes? The fantastical characters? The positive themes and messages, such as in "The Lorax," about protecting the environment, or "The Sneetches," about prejudice and acceptance? Do you have a memorable childhood memory of reading or being read Dr. Seuss?

Ms. Alter and Ms. Harris write, "For many people, regardless of their politics, there is a disconnect between books that feel cozy and familiar from their childhood, and accusations that they could be offensive or hurtful." What do they mean by that statement? Have you ever seen a book you loved as a child come under scrutiny for being offensive or hurtful? If so, how did it feel? Did your childhood feelings affect how you critically re-evaluated the book?

In 2019, before the current controversy, Gabriel Smith wrote for Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance): "Two things can be true at the same time: Dr. Seuss is a prolific children's book author and global icon. And Dr. Seuss has a history of racial baggage that educators should understand when introducing his writing to their students." Do you agree with either or both of these statements? How should educators, parents and siblings talk to younger children about Dr. Seuss? How would you describe Dr. Seuss's legacy? Do you think you would read his books to your own children one day?

To learn more about Dr. Seuss's work and legacy and the charges of stereotyping, visit The Times's Theodor Seuss Geisel topic page or read some of these articles from beyond The Times:
Option 2: Explore the impact of stereotypical and offensive children's books on readers.
In " Six Seuss Books Bore a Bias," Charles Blow, a Times Opinion columnist, writes about the insidious and harmful affects of racism in children's books and culture:

As a child, I was led to believe that Blackness was inferior. And I was not alone. The Black society into which I was born was riddled with these beliefs.

It wasn't something that most if any would articulate in that way, let alone knowingly propagate. Rather, it was in the air, in the culture. We had been trained in it, bathed in it, acculturated to hate ourselves.

It happened for children in the most inconspicuous of ways: It was relayed through toys and dolls, cartoons and children's shows, fairy tales and children's books.

At every turn, at every moment, I was being baptized in the narrative that everything white was right, good, noble and beautiful, and everything Black was the opposite.

It concludes:

Racism must be exorcised from culture, including, or maybe especially, from children's culture. Teaching a child to hate or be ashamed of themselves is a sin against their innocence and a weight against their possibilities.

Read the entire piece and then tell us what you think: What aspects of Mr. Blow's essay resonate with you? Have you seen or experienced that children's books and popular culture can have a harmful impact on young minds - especially about what it means to be Black or white? Do you agree with his contention that "racism must be exorcised from culture, including, or maybe especially, from children's culture"? Why or why not?

Which children's books, if any, have you read that you found problematic, offensive or hurtful? Do you believe that any children's books had a negative impact on you? If so, explain why.
Option 3: Read a children's book aloud to someone.
Read Across America Day was March 2, the same day as Dr. Seuss's birthday. Started in 1998 by the National Education Association, Read Across America Day was created as a way to encourage children to read. Did you participate?

This year, the N.E.A. is focusing on diverse children's books and has provided a list of recommended reading for the year.

If you could choose any children's book to read aloud to a young child, what would you choose and why? Consider the N.E.A.'s goal of diversity in children's literature. Will children of different races, genders and cultural backgrounds see themselves in a positive light in this book? Does this book perpetuate harmful stereotypes or disrupt them? What messages and values will your book choice teach young children?

Now that you have a good children's book selected and have made a strong case for your choice, find a child you know - a younger brother, sister, cousin or neighbor - and read it to them!
About Lesson of the Day
* Find all our Lessons of the Day in this column.
* Teachers, watch our on-demand webinar to learn how to use this feature in your classroom.

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Lesson of the Day: 'Dr. Seuss Books Are Pulled, and a "Cancel Culture" Controversy Erupts'

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In this lesson, students will explore the debate over whether and how an author's works should be posthumously curated to reflect evolving attitudes. Students in U.S. high schools can get free digital access to The New York Times until Sept. 1, 2021.

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The economic recovery from the pandemic is continuing as the unemployment rate fell to 6.2% today.  The pre-pandemic unemployment rate was 3.5%.  379,000 jobs have been added this month by employers.

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U.S. employers added 379,000 jobs last month, pushing the unemployment rate for February down by a fraction of a percentage point to 6.2%, the Department of Labor said Friday.

Friday's jobs report highlights how the pace of the labor market's recovery remains hampered by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The pre-pandemic unemployment rate in the U.S. was 3.5%.

Notable job gains last month occurred in leisure and hospitality (which saw an uptick of 355,000) that the DOL linked to easing pandemic-related restrictions. Employment declined last month in state and local government education (which saw a loss of 69,000 jobs) and construction (which shed 61,000 jobs).

"The labor market continued to reflect the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic," the DOL said.

Julia Pollak, a labor economist for the jobs site ZipRecruiter, told ABC News ahead of the report's release that hiring figures last month remain "disappointing" and "not consistent with a robust recovery."

"I think in the winter it was really just hard for the economy to recover much, given the fact that it's now so sensitive to weather with outdoor services beings the only show in town," she said.

"We also had this winter surge in COVID cases that led to renewed restrictions," Pollak added. "So it was a difficult time for employers to get back to business at full steam."

The DOL said in its release Friday that "severe winter weather across much of the country may have held down employment in construction," which saw some of the highest job losses last month.

A man walks past a "Now Hiring" sign on a window at Sherwin Williams store, Feb. 26, 2021, in Woodmere Village, Ohio.

Still, Pollak said that she holds some optimism for the labor market going forward, citing recent falling case counts across the country and a vaccine rollout that is "finally accelerating."

While it may not be captured in February's jobs report, Pollak said employers "really started expanding capacity and posting jobs in February, and that will translate into hiring in March."

Friday's data also highlighted the uneven recoveries for workers when broken down by racial groups. The unemployment rate last month for Black workers was 9.9% and for Hispanic workers was 8.5%. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for white workers was 5.6%.

Pollak also noted that the pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on women in the workforce, who have borne the brunt of child care responsibilities amid school closures and remote learning.

"For all the progress that women have made in the labor force in the last few years, it's often mothers who have to stay home and are forced out of their careers," she said.

Citing Census Current Population Survey data, she added, "It's women with children who had the largest decline in labor force participation."

Pollak said some threats to the recovery still lurk, including the concerning spread of new COVID-19 variants even amid the vaccine rollout.

"We can't possibly know what what's going to happen in the future; there's still tremendous uncertainty," she said. "But the news right now is overwhelmingly positive on the vaccine front and on the decline in cases."

And at a time when "the economy's never been so tied to the weather," Pollak added, the coming of spring also offers a bright spot for restaurants and other industries.

White House National Economic Council Director Brian Deese reacted to February's jobs report on Friday in an interview with MSNBC.

"Let's put this jobs number in perspective. One, we are 9.5 million jobs behind where we were a year ago, that's a bigger jobs hole than any point in the Great Recession," he said. "Number two, the unemployment rate, the measured unemployment rate, is 6.2%, but that doesn't capture the fact that we've seen historic reductions in the labor force."

This means "millions of people, many parents and mostly women, have left the labor force because they've been forced to take care of their kids or take care of a loved one in the pandemic situation," he said.

While Deese acknowledged the job growth, "we still have a long way to go" on the recovery, he argued.

Finally, Deese said President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan is aimed in part at addressing the major job losses seen in state and local government education last month.

The "plan's provisions to provide relief to states and localities" will ensure state and local governments don't have to choose between funding the fight against COVID-19 or their educators' jobs, he said.

ABC News' Molly Nagle contributed to this report.

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Employers added 379,000 jobs last month, pushing unemployment rate to 6.2%

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U.S. employers added 379,000 jobs last month, pushing the unemployment rate for February down by a fraction of a percentage point to 6.2%, the Department of Labor said Friday. Friday's jobs report highlights how the pace of the labor market's recovery remains hampered by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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On March 10th Texas will be removing it's state wide mask mandate. Stores will be allowed to open at maximum capacity and will no longer be require to have patrons wear masks, though if they wish to enforce the rule they are still aloud to do so. The removal has been called "neanderthal thinking" by President Biden and "risky" by Dr. Fauci.

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On March 10, the mask order will end and businesses can reopen at full capacity.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is opening up about his decision to end the state mask mandate, stressing that he still urges residents to take precautions, but Texans "no longer need government running our lives."

On March 10, Texas' mask order will end and businesses can reopen at full capacity, Abbott announced Tuesday.

In a Thursday interview with ABC Houston station KTRK, Abbott said the decision "was a product of the data that we have seen."

Thursday marked the lowest positivity rate and number of hospitalizations since October, Abbott said. Over 50% of Texans ages 65 and older have received at least one vaccine shot, he added.

"All the metrics are moving in the right direction," he told KTRK. "The numbers are adequate for people to be able to go back to work, open up and get back to a sense of normalcy, especially for our kids and schools, while at the same time making sure that people do follow the best practices."

"We are still urging people to continue to wear the mask," Abbott said.

In the face of backlash over his decision, including from President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci, Abbott conceded, "There's never going to be a uniform agreement on this."

The governor added, "If businesses don't feel safe opening, they should not be required to."

Abbott stressed, "We no longer need government running our lives. Instead, everybody must continue to assume their own individual responsibility to take the actions that they have already mastered to make sure that they will not be contracting COVID-19."

Biden on Wednesday called Abbott's ruling "Neanderthal thinking."

"I hope everybody has realized by now these masks make a difference," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office.

"The last thing we need is the Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, 'Everything's fine, take off your mask,'" Biden said.

Fauci said Abbott's decision was "quite risky."

"If you look at the amount of infection that is in the community right now, even though the slope is coming down sharply, if you look at the last seven day average, it's plateaued," Fauci said Wednesday in a livestream with United Food and Commercial Workers International Union President Marc Perrone.

"That's a dangerous sign because when that has happened in the past, when you pull back on measures of public health, invariably you've seen a surge back up," Fauci said.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves also said Tuesday that county mask mandates would be lifted and businesses could "operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules." Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey took a more conservative approach, announcing Thursday that she was extending the state's mask mandate until April 9.

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Texas governor on ending mask order: 'We no longer need government running our lives'

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On March 10, the mask order will end and businesses can reopen at full capacity. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is opening up about his decision to end the state mask mandate, stressing that he still urges residents to take precautions, but Texans "no longer need government running our lives."

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Gov. Abbott on Tuesday issued an executive order dropping the mask mandate and allowing businesses to reopen at 100% capacity beginning next Wednesday, citing the "recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations and safe practices" Texans have used to drive down Covid-19 numbers.

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Mexico City has launched what is planned to be the start of Latin Americas longest cable car system.  By June, the system will be more than six miles long.  The cars purpose is to transport the working class into the city for the workday.

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Mexico City has launched the first of what it hopes will be several cable-car lines in the poorer outskirts of the city of 9 million

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico City has launched the first of what it hopes will be several cable-car lines serving the poorer outskirts of the city of 9 million.

Thursday's inauguration of the first leg of the "Cablebus" line marks the latest chapter in Latin America's love affair with cable cars, which are seen in much of the world as largely for tourists and ski slopes.

The neighboring State of Mexico already has a cable car serving one northern Mexico City suburb, and the city's own first line was also built on the poor, crowded north side.

Cable cars are seen as a cheaper, quicker way to bring public transport to poor communities located high up hillsides. Since they're airborne, the car lines also don't have as many difficulties with Latin America's notoriously difficult issues of chaotic development, bad traffic and lack of rights-of-way.

By June, the line will run almost 9.2 kilometers (6 miles) from Cuautepec, a working class neighborhood on the northern edge of Mexico City, to the nearest subway and bus station. The stretch inaugurated Thursday covers just 1.7 kilometers (1.06 miles) of that route, to the neighborhood of Tlalpexco.

At present, officials explained, residents at the top of the hill in Tlalpexco have to board crowded, small vans that travel much more slowly. Plus, they don't have the nice view the cable cars offer from their big windowed cars that can seat 10 passengers at a time. The cars run on electricity and can travel about 13 miles (20 kilometers) per hour, far faster than most traffic in the city.

"There are nearly a million inhabitants living in the area around the Cablebus, and they make their trips in small vans that descend through narrow streets, and that may take, from the highest point ... as long as 55 minutes or an hour," Guillermo Calderon, director of the electrical transportation system Mexico City.

Traditional transport solutions like bus or subway lines are almost impossible here, both because there are no rights of way in the densely packed slums, and they are crowded along hillsides on steep 15-degree slopes.

Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said a second cable car line is being built in Iztapalapa, another working class neighborhood, to the east.

"Having the best transportation for the poorest parts of the city reduces inequality," Sheinbaum said.

Cuautepec resident Evelyn Sánchez said that, like most people here, her biggest challenge is getting to the nearest subway station.

"It does take us a long time, and now with this, well now it is going to be a lot quicker," Sánchez said.

The city of Medellin, Colombia, launched its cable cars in 2004. Since then, many other Latin American cities have followed suit, ranging from from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to La Paz, Bolivia.

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Mexico City launches Latin America's latest cable car line

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Mexico City has launched the first of what it hopes will be several cable-car lines in the poorer outskirts of the city of 9 million MEXICO CITY -- Mexico City has launched the first of what it hopes will be several cable-car lines serving the poorer outskirts of the city of 9 million.

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Rep. Eric Swalwell sues Trump an many of his colleagues over inciting violence during the Jan 6th riots, and is holding them accountable over the damages done that day.

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A House impeachment manager and intelligence subcommittee chairman filed a federal lawsuit Friday against former president Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Rudolph W. Giuliani and Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), claiming they should be held liable for injuries and destruction caused by their incitement of the Jan. 6 mob assault on the Capitol.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who also sits on the judiciary and homeland security committees, alleged Trump and his fellow speakers at a rally near the White House that day were directly responsible for mobilizing a crowd of tens of thousands of pro-Trump supporters to march on the Capitol and priming them for violence.

Trump's actions before and during the assault - in which at least 800 people broke into the Capitol, attacked police and delayed Congress's confirmation of the presidential election results - "made clear he poses a risk of inciting future political violence," the complaint alleged.

[Read the lawsuit here]

"As a direct and foreseeable consequence of the Defendants' false and incendiary allegations of fraud and theft, and in direct response to the Defendants' express calls for violence at the rally, a violent mob attacked the U.S. Capitol," the 65-page suit asserted. "Many participants in the attack have since revealed that they were acting on what they believed to be former president Trump's orders in service of their country."

The lawsuit claims the four speakers violated the Reconstruction-era Ku Klux Klan Act by conspiring to violently interfere in Congress's constitutional duties and failing to act to stop the mob. It also accuses them of multiple counts of negligence under both federal and D.C. law, aiding and abetting, and infliction of emotional distress.

Trump spokesman Jason Miller said in a statement, "Eric Swalwell is a low-life with no credibility." Miller then repeated allegations in an Axios report from December that an alleged Chinese spy, Christine Fang, cozied up to Swalwell from 2012 to 2015 before he was briefed by U.S. intelligence officials about their concerns and cut off ties. Miller said "after failing miserably with two impeachment hoaxes," Swalwell is engaging on witch hunt on behalf of the Chinese.

"It's a disgrace that a compromised Member of Congress like Swalwell still sits on the House Intelligence Committee," Miller said.

Brooks in a statement called the suit frivolous and a "meritless ploy."

"I make no apologies whatsoever for fighting for accurate and honest elections," Brooks said.

Trump Jr. and Giuliani did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The suit is the latest claim against Trump and top allies to assert they had a role in the storming of the Capitol through their actions that day and weeks of baseless allegations that November's presidential election was stolen from him.

[House Homeland Security chairman sues Trump and Giuliani, accusing them of inciting Capitol riot]

The NAACP last month sued Trump, Giuliani and two extremist groups whose members have been accused of leading the violence at the Capitol - the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers - on behalf of Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.). Guiliani, Trump's campaign and others also face defamation claims related to their groundless post-election criticism of a former U.S. election cyber security official and vote counting machine maker.

Thursday's lawsuit paints a fuller picture of Trump's actions before and after the event, drawing on the House impeachment manager's case against the former president, suing under a wider theory of negligence. The suit does not focus on extremists who planned for violence but the "many more [who] were there for a political rally" before the defendants and others alleged "whipp[ed] them into a frenzy and turn[ed] them into a violent mob that participated in the attack."

"This is an important part of holding Trump - and the other Defendants - responsible for what happened on January 6th," said attorney Matthew Kaiser, speaking for three firms representing Swalwell, a House impeachment manager and Democratic Steering and Policy Committee co-chair.

[Trump's actions described as 'a betrayal of historic proportions' in trial brief filed by House impeachment managers]

Trump was acquitted last month in his second impeachment trial as 57 senators - seven Republicans and all 50 Democrats - voted to convict him of inciting the mob's attack. A two-thirds majority, 67 votes, was needed for a conviction. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voted for acquittal but said afterward that there was "no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible."

Thursday's lawsuit noted that McConnell also said Trump was not immune from civil liability for the event, which left five dead and resulted in 139 assaults on police officers. Republican Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) added that Trump could be held accountable "in a court of law."

The Democratic House members recounted how they and others were trapped in the House chamber as plainclothes officers barricaded doors and held off the mob at gunpoint, while other staff and members took shelter throughout the Capitol complex.

While hundreds of police, then Vice President Mike Pence, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and others "were put in mortal danger, and as the seat of American Democracy was desecrated by the insurgent mob," the complaint contended, Trump was reported by those close to him as being "delighted," "borderline enthusiastic," and "confused about why other people on his team weren't as excited as he was."

The suit recounts how Trump, Giuliani and the others exhorted listeners at a rally near the White House before the Jan. 6 attempted insurrection, with Giuliani calling for "trial by combat" and Trump saying he would join marchers down Pennsylvania Avenue to give lawmakers "the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country." Trump had repeatedly promoted the rally, posting on Twitter that it "will be wild!"

He praised participants afterward, tweeting: "Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!"

Trump's remarks followed his "lengthy history of normalizing violence" through rhetoric and social media, the suit contended. It asserted that Trump continued in a conspiracy to undermine confidence in election results once he fell behind by alleging, without evidence, that the election had been rigged and by pressuring elected officials, courts, and Congress to reject the results in Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan.

The complaint alleges that false and misleading election-related claims were given an exponential boost by Donald Trump Jr., who intentionally spread them on social media in an effort to "subvert the will of the people in the 2020 election."

Brooks likewise echoed Trump by saying that he "lack[ed] faith this was an honest election," that Congress could reject electoral votes of any state and "controls who becomes president" and that Trump did not lose Georgia, the suit recounts. At the Jan. 6 rally, Brooks told attendees that they were victims of a historic theft, that it was time to start "kicking a--," and asked if they were ready perhaps to sacrifice even their lives for their country.

The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorney's fees, a declaration that defendants violated the law and a requirement that they provide seven-days written notice before any future rally or public event in Washington on a day with any significant election or election certification event.

Tom Hamburger contributed to this report

Read more:

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Rep. Eric Swalwell sues Trump over Jan. 6 riot, alleging he poses risk of 'inciting future political violence'

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A House impeachment manager and intelligence subcommittee chairman filed a federal lawsuit Friday against former president Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Rudolph W. Giuliani and Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), claiming they should be held liable for injuries and destruction caused by their incitement of the Jan. 6 mob assault on the Capitol.

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NFL announced Maia Chaka will be the first Black female to be an offical referee on their roster.

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Jack Dempsey/Associated Press
The NFL announced Friday it has hired Maia Chaka as a game official for the 2021 season. She becomes the first Black woman to join the league's officiating roster.

"It didn't really hit me until just now," Chaka said during an appearance on NBC's show. "When I saw the introduction, I'm like, 'This is really real,' because this is just something that we're just always taught to work hard for. Sometimes we just don't take time to stop and smell our own roses."

Chaka, who also works as a health and physical education teacher in Virginia, joined the NFL's officiating development program in 2014.

She previously worked at the collegiate level, including stops in the Pac-12 and Conference USA.

"Maia's years of hard work, dedication and perseverance-including as part of the NFL officiating development program-have earned her a position as an NFL official," executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent Sr. said. "As we celebrate Women's History Month, Maia is a trailblazer as the first Black female official and inspires us toward normalizing women on the football field."

Chaka explained on Today she's hopeful her story will provide motivation and hope to the at-risk students she works with at the Renaissance Academy in Virginia Beach.

"I just want them to know if you have a passion for something and if have a drive for something, don't let it hold you back just because you think that something may give you some type of limitation," she said. "Just continue to work hard and always, always, always just follow your dreams."

Sarah Thomas became the NFL's first full-time female official in 2015. She worked Super Bowl LV last month, which saw the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, becoming the first woman to officiate in the league's championship game.

Shannon Eastin worked as an NFL official for part of the 2012 season during a referee lockout, making her the first woman to hold a role on a regular-season officiating crew.

Chaka also owns some pro experience, having worked for the XFL during its 2020 campaign, which was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.

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Maia Chaka Hired as NFL's 1st Black Female Official

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Jack Dempsey/Associated Press The NFL announced Friday it has hired Maia Chaka as a game official for the 2021 season. She becomes the first Black woman to join the league's officiating roster. "It didn't really hit me until just now," Chaka said during an appearance on NBC's show.

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The NFL had hired their first black female game official. Maia Chaka is the first black female hired by the NFL in the league's history. Maia has worked many years for the NFL, and was finally promoted to a game official.

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The NFL has hired Maia Chaka as the first Black female official in league history

NEW YORK -- The NFL has hired Maia Chaka as the first Black female official in league history. She will work games during the 2021 season.

"I am honored to be selected as an NFL official," Chaka said. "But this moment is bigger than a personal accomplishment. It is an accomplishment for all women, my community, and my culture."

Chaka enters the NFL after working in the Pac-12 and Conference USA. She was selected in 2014 for the NFL's Officiating Development Program, which identifies college officiating talent with the goal of showing them some of the same experiences as NFL officials before determining if they have the ability to succeed as an NFL official.

A graduate of Norfolk State, Chaka earned her bachelor's in education in 2006. She is a health and physical education teacher in the Virginia Beach public school system.

The NFL did not specify which officiating position she will work.

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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL

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NFL hires first Black female game official, Maia Chaka

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The NFL has hired Maia Chaka as the first Black female official in league history NEW YORK -- The NFL has hired Maia Chaka as the first Black female official in league history. She will work games during the 2021 season. "I am honored to be selected as an NFL official," Chaka said.

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A record breaking amount of people cast their vote for the president by mail last year.  A heated debate over this is forming in multiple american legislatures over this, with multiple conservative- dominated legislatures moving for tighter restrictions, while the Democrat led federal government is pressing an expansion of voting rights. Michael Waldman, president of the bipartisan Brennan Center, has called this a "great clash'" calling it "the most significant wave of [...] restrictions since the Jim Crow era.

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After a record number of Americans chose to cast their ballot by mail in 2020, Republican-led states and Democrat federal lawmakers are fighting a pitched battle over the rules governing the future of voting in the United States -- with special attention on whether voters will still be permitted to send their ballots through the mail.

This "great clash," as it is framed by Michael Waldman, president of the bipartisan Brennan Center for Justice public policy institute, pits multiple Republican-controlled state legislatures pushing bills for tighter restrictions against a Democrat-dominated federal government that has pressed ahead with a nationwide voting rights package.

"In states across the country, Republican legislatures are racing to enact restrictions on voting rights -- the most significant wave of such restrictions since the Jim Crow era," Waldman said. Conversely, said Waldman, Congress "can supersede that voter suppression wave, can override those laws."

At the heart of the fight is the widespread use of mail-in ballots. Voting by mail has been pushed by advocates for years, but the practice exploded in 2020 as a way to address the challenges of holding elections during the global coronavirus pandemic. Then-President Donald Trump seized on the practice -- both before and after his defeat -- to push unsupported claims that mail-in ballots are subject to greater risk of fraud, something experts have refuted.

Since January, more than 250 bills that would restrict access to voting have been introduced in 43 statehouses, according to Brennan Center for Justice officials. The "biggest chunk" of these proposals would "limit who can vote by mail and how easy it is to vote by mail," said Eliza Sweren-Becker, counsel in the Brennan Center's Democracy Program.

"Policymakers are essentially trying to put stumbling blocks in the way of voters in every step of the way in the mail voting process," Sweren-Becker said.

Much of the legislation being considered aims to slash recent rules that broadened access to voting by mail during the pandemic, such as no-excuse absentee voting and extended deadlines for ballots sent through the U.S. Postal Service.

Opponents of these recent rules say that changes made during the pandemic were not intended to be permanent. And they want to ensure that the act of in-person voting at polling precincts is not supplanted by more remote methods.

"Certainly some states want to reign in the practice pretty dramatically," said Jason Snead, the executive director of the Honest Elections Project, which is advocating for tighter election laws, "but most of the conversion is how we make this process work well and how to we secure this process."

"What we're talking about is the basic need to safeguard the process, and to show voters that the process has integrity can be trusted," Snead said.

The battle is particularly fierce in places like Arizona and Georgia, key battlegrounds where Democrat Joe Biden carried the vote, but Republicans maintain control of state government.

In Arizona, for example, one bill introduced by Republican legislators would require absentee ballots to be returned in person, not by mail. Conversely, another bill seeks to effectively ban the use of drop boxes and drive-through ballot drop-offs by mandating that absentee ballots can only be returned through the mail.

"So even within a single state sometimes there's a real conflict in the type of legislation being introduced," said Tammy Patrick, a senior adviser at the Democracy Fund, a nonpartisan election advocacy group.

Following the election, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey defended the state's election integrity in the face of criticism from Trump and others. "I trust our election system. There's integrity in our election system," Ducey said in an interview in December.

On Monday in Georgia -- where increased turnout helped Biden win the presidency in November and two Democrats win the state's Senate seats in January -- the Republican-controlled state legislature approved a new measure to change the state's absentee voting laws over the objections of Democrats and voting rights advocates.

"I felt like there were not any unreasonable changes that were made," Republican state representative Dale Washburn said of the bill. "[It] should provide more security and more confidence in the system."

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, has repeatedly said there was no evidence of fraud in the state's election. "We've never found systemic fraud, not enough to overturn the election," Raffenseperger told ABC's George Stephanopoulos in December.

Because Republicans control the levers of powers in both Arizona and Georgia, Sweren-Becker said, legislation aimed at curbing mail-in voting is expected to pass in some form.

Yet in Washington, where Biden is in the White House and Democrats now have majorities in both chambers of Congress, preserving access to absentee voting has emerged as a legislative priority.

On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 1, a sweeping voting rights bill that expands access to absentee voting with nationwide baselines. Democrats have cited Republican efforts to curb mail-in voting rules at the state level as the impetus for the legislation, which, if passed and enacted, would take precedence over statewide regulations during federal elections.

"We're not pursuing this reform against the backdrop of the status quo," the bill's lead sponsor, Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., told ABC News. "We're pursuing it against the prospect that the Republicans will take things in the wrong direction, and in a significant way."

Republican pushback to H.R. 1 has been swift and strong, with warnings that the bill's standards would usurp the states' constitutionally protected right to run their own elections.

On Thursday, 20 Republican state attorneys general warned that, if passed, the bill "would federalize state elections and impose burdensome costs and regulations on state and local officials."

Former Vice President Mike Pence, in an op-ed published this week in the Daily Signal, wrote that H.R. 1 would unfairly "force states to adopt universal mail-in ballots."

"Election reform is a national imperative, but under our constitution, election reform must be undertaken at the state level," Pence wrote.

Other experts fear that these statewide bills reflect partisan efforts to justify unsupported claims that the 2020 presidential election was undermined by widespread voter fraud.

"Lawmakers are using those lies to justify policies that limit voting access," Sweren-Becker said, calling it "disingenuous and misleading."

Sweren-Becker called efforts in GOP strongholds to change absentee voting rules a "backlash" to Trump's defeat.

Patrick, who said any so-called evidence of voter fraud underpinning these proposals is "not based on the facts," called 2020 "the most transparent election in our history."

"It was the most observed election; it was the most audited election," Patrick said. "There are definitely things that could and should be done to improve the process, but far too often the proposals being made are based on misinformation and lies."

In Georgia, where Black voters propelled Biden's victory due in no small part to expanded access to no-excuse mail-in voting, critics of the GOP's statewide voting proposals claim they will disenfranchise large swaths of Black voters, who overwhelmingly support Democrats.

"Democrats are more likely to be people of color," said Stacy Abrams, a Georgia-based voting rights advocate and former Democratic candidate for governor. "And so, whether [these bills] intend to target Democrats or not, they are absolutely targeting communities of color to silence their voices. But H.R. 1 would guarantee that, once again, we would have access to no-excuse absentee balloting."
ABC News' Benjamin Siegel contributed to this report.

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'A great clash': Mail-in voting emerges as main target in renewed voting-rights battle

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After a record number of Americans chose to cast their ballot by mail in 2020, Republican-led states and Democrat federal lawmakers are fighting a pitched battle over the rules governing the future of voting in the United States -- with special attention on whether voters will still be permitted to send their ballots through the mail.

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Texas and Mississippi threw away the mask mandate in there states. The Number of Americans getting tested for Covid-19 have dropped significantly over the last few months.

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Public heath experts have been critical of states such as Texas and Mississippi that tossed aside mask mandates this week at a critical juncture in the nation's pandemic.

But they also warn of another threat to hard-fought gains in recent weeks - the number of Americans getting tested for coronavirus has dropped significantly since January.

While the testing slowdown may be the result of fewer infections, it also might signal too many Americans are growing complacent as the second year of COVID-19 marches on and millions get vaccinated every week.
Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.
Testing remains a staple of the effort to control COVID-19, along with wearing masks, social distancing, avoiding crowded indoor places and hand hygiene. While officials are optimistic vaccines will offer protection, some warn the nation might be letting its guard down before enough Americans are protected from the virus.

"A lot of people are just kind of done with the pandemic," said Mary K. Hayden, professor of internal medicine and pathology at Rush Medical College in Chicago.

In January, labs and other testing sites completed an average of nearly 1.9 million tests each day as cases reached record levels. Average daily testing dropped to 1.5 million in February and 1.3 million so far in March, according to figures from the COVID Tracking Project.

Hayden said the nation's testing never reached levels that public health officials thought was "adequate or optimal" to control the virus.

"We never quite got there," said Hayden, an Infectious Diseases Society of America fellow. "And now we're dropping."

Testing declines, social distancing eases

Testing was hard to get when the first major outbreaks emerged last spring in metro Seattle and New York. The nation slowly built capacity with private labs, and now the U.S. can test more than 2 million each day.

This current slump is not the first time Americans have sought fewer tests. In the summer, testing dropped in several Southern states before cases came roaring back.

Daily cases still surpass levels of late summer and fall, but fewer people in recent weeks likely were exposed to the virus compared to January's peak. That means fewer people are experiencing symptoms that compel them to get tested.

As the pandemic rolls into year two, people are less willing to get screened for the virus, Hayden said. Earlier in the pandemic, people sought testing even if they had no symptoms or mild symptoms because they were worried about the virus. Now, based on anecdotal reports, it seems fewer non-symptomatic people are getting tested, she said.

Another factor: public health agencies are focusing limited resources on getting more Americans vaccinated. Former large testing sites, such as Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and State Farm Stadium near Phoenix, have converted to mass vaccination sites.

As testing wanes, public health officials are worried about recent moves by state government to ease social distancing.

Governors in Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Montana and Iowa declared masks are no longer required to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Of those five states, Johns Hopkins University data show only Montana's ratio of positive tests over the past week is less than 5%, the threshold the World Health Organization recommends before reopening.

Although local governments and private businesses can make their own choices about wearing masks in public places, such as restaurants, eliminating state mask mandates and allowing more people to gather indoors undermines virus-control strategies that have been pivotal in reducing spread of COVID-19, said Romney Humphries, a Vanderbilt University Medical Center professor of pathology, microbiology and immunology.

She said relaxing social distancing contributes to "an overall culture of the pandemic is winding down" and may convince some people testing is less important.

"All of those things are creating a sense for the public that the pandemic is over," Humphries said. "By no means is that true."

Only 21% of adults had received at least one dose of vaccine as of Thursday, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Four out of five U.S. adults have not been vaccinated.

Even those who received just one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine are not fully protected. With the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine bolstering the nation's vaccine supplies, President Joe Biden said there should be enough doses for every American by the end of May.

More vaccine on the way: Three vaccines. Increased manufacturing. How US will have enough COVID-19 vaccine for every US adult in May - or even sooner.

Dr. Rebecca Weintraub, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School's Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, said people are not fully protected until two weeks after they get both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.

And although early data is positive, it's still not known whether the vaccine prevents spread of the virus from an immunized person to others.

"What we do know is the virus is circulating in our communities," Weintraub said. "And so one of the most effective ways to understand, either am I infected or could I be infected, is to get tested."

Virus variants: More COVID-19 variants emerge closer to home: What to know about the ones discovered in Brazil, New York, California

The College of American Pathologists said members have noted a "significant decrease" in the number of tests at health care institutions nationwide.

In metro Seattle, testing has dropped in tandem with new cases. At the University of Washington's lab, tests surged in the late fall. Now tests are about half of this fall's peak, said Geoffrey Baird, the University of Washington's acting chair of laboratory medicine and pathology.

The vaccine rollout is a pivotal period that Baird and others are watching. If vaccination efforts slow, more states relax mask mandates and new variants gain traction, it could lead to another big spike in cases, Baird said.

"All of us in the testing business are wondering what will occur in the coming month or two," he said.

Hayden said the public must remain vigilant, even as more and more people get vaccinated.

"While the infection rates are much lower, they are still high," Hayden said. "I don't think were at a place yet where we can really relax our overall strategies and reduce testing."
Contributing: Karen Weintraub Contact Ken Alltucker at alltuck@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: As Americans get vaccinated, fewer are getting tested for COVID-19. Doctors say that could be a big problem.

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As Americans get vaccinated, fewer are getting tested for COVID-19. Doctors say that could be a big problem.

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Public heath experts have been critical of states such as Texas and Mississippi that tossed aside mask mandates this week at a critical juncture in the nation's pandemic. But they also warn of another threat to hard-fought gains in recent weeks - the number of Americans getting tested for coronavirus has dropped significantly since January.

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A family in NC rabbit gave birth to 24 babies. This unoffically ties the Guiness World Record.

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March 5 (UPI) -- A North Carolina family's pet rabbit gave birth to a litter of 24 baby bunnies -- unofficially tying the Guinness World Record.

Tiffany Robins of Winston-Salem said her family was told their male rabbit, Romeo, was fixed before they got him, so they were shocked when their female rabbit, Vader, started giving birth.

"It was like 10, then 15 and then I was like, 'Oh, my gosh, we have 24 bunnies,'" Robins told WFMY-TV.

Robins said her family is hand-feeding some of the babies to ease the strain on the mother rabbit.

The family looked up the Guinness World Record and discovered Vader's litter ties the record for the largest litter of rabbits, which was set in New Zealand.

The Robins family said Romeo is now staying with a family friend to prevent further surprise pregnancies.

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North Carolina family's rabbit ties world record with litter of 24 babies

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March 5 (UPI) -- A North Carolina family's pet rabbit gave birth to a litter of 24 baby bunnies -- unofficially tying the Guinness World Record. Tiffany Robins of Winston-Salem said her family was told their male rabbit, Romeo, was fixed before they got him, so they were shocked when their female rabbit, Vader, started giving birth.

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John McAfee accused of $23 million securities fraud. Between November 2017 and February 2018, John McAfee leveraged his fame as a computer programmer to make more than $23 million by recommending a number of "initial coin offerings" to his Twitter followers, federal prosecutors alleged.

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The software developer is accused of a cryptocurrency pump-and-dump scheme.

A household name in computer security software was charged Friday with securities fraud.

Between November 2017 and February 2018, John McAfee leveraged his fame as a computer programmer to make more than $23 million by recommending a number of "initial coin offerings" to his Twitter followers, federal prosecutors alleged.

The problem, according to federal prosecutors in New York, was that McAfee failed to disclose he was a paid pitchman. An associate of McAfee's, Jimmy Gale Watson, also has been charged in the alleged scheme.

"McAfee and Watson exploited a widely used social media platform and enthusiasm among investors in the emerging cryptocurrency market to make millions through lies and deception," acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said. "The defendants allegedly used McAfee's Twitter account to publish messages to hundreds of thousands of his Twitter followers touting various cryptocurrencies through false and misleading statements to conceal their true, self-interested motives."

Watson was arrested in Texas, where he's expected to make an initial court appearance later on Friday.

McAfee is in Spain, where he was arrested last year for tax evasion. The Justice Department is trying for his extradition. He could not be reached for comment.

According to court records, the two men "took active steps" to conceal their secret compensation arrangements with ICO issuers from ICO investors, and McAfee made false and misleading statements and omissions to hide the arrangements from investors.

Federal prosecutors also alleged McAfee and Watson engaged in a pump-and-dump scheme in which they bought large quantities of publicly traded cryptocurrencies at inexpensive prices, knowing McAfee would publicly tout them and drive up their prices before the two men sold theirs.

"As alleged, McAfee and Watson used social media to perpetrate an age-old pump-and-dump scheme that earned them nearly two million dollars," said the FBI's Bill Sweeney. "When engaging in illegal activity, simply finding new ways to carry out old tricks won't produce different results. Investment fraud and money laundering schemes carry a strict penalty under federal law."

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John McAfee accused of $23 million securities fraud

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The software developer is accused of a cryptocurrency pump-and-dump scheme. A household name in computer security software was charged Friday with securities fraud. Between November 2017 and February 2018, John McAfee leveraged his fame as a computer programmer to make more than $23 million by recommending a number of "initial coin offerings" to his Twitter followers, federal prosecutors alleged.

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On March 10, mask orders in Texas are being completely removed and reopening everything at full capacity. Texas' governor said that everyone needs to "take the actions that they have already mastered" to stop the spread of the virus without using masks.

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On March 10, the mask order will end and businesses can reopen at full capacity.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is opening up about his decision to end the state mask mandate, stressing that he still urges residents to take precautions, but Texans "no longer need government running our lives."

On March 10, Texas' mask order will end and businesses can reopen at full capacity, Abbott announced Tuesday.

In a Thursday interview with ABC Houston station KTRK, Abbott said the decision "was a product of the data that we have seen."

Thursday marked the lowest positivity rate and number of hospitalizations since October, Abbott said. Over 50% of Texans ages 65 and older have received at least one vaccine shot, he added.

"All the metrics are moving in the right direction," he told KTRK. "The numbers are adequate for people to be able to go back to work, open up and get back to a sense of normalcy, especially for our kids and schools, while at the same time making sure that people do follow the best practices."

"We are still urging people to continue to wear the mask," Abbott said.

In the face of backlash over his decision, including from President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci, Abbott conceded, "There's never going to be a uniform agreement on this."

The governor added, "If businesses don't feel safe opening, they should not be required to."

Abbott stressed, "We no longer need government running our lives. Instead, everybody must continue to assume their own individual responsibility to take the actions that they have already mastered to make sure that they will not be contracting COVID-19."

Biden on Wednesday called Abbott's ruling "Neanderthal thinking."

"I hope everybody has realized by now these masks make a difference," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office.

"The last thing we need is the Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, 'Everything's fine, take off your mask,'" Biden said.

Fauci said Abbott's decision was "quite risky."

"If you look at the amount of infection that is in the community right now, even though the slope is coming down sharply, if you look at the last seven day average, it's plateaued," Fauci said Wednesday in a livestream with United Food and Commercial Workers International Union President Marc Perrone.

"That's a dangerous sign because when that has happened in the past, when you pull back on measures of public health, invariably you've seen a surge back up," Fauci said.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves also said Tuesday that county mask mandates would be lifted and businesses could "operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules." Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey took a more conservative approach, announcing Thursday that she was extending the state's mask mandate until April 9.

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Texas governor on ending mask order: 'We no longer need government running our lives'

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On March 10, the mask order will end and businesses can reopen at full capacity. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is opening up about his decision to end the state mask mandate, stressing that he still urges residents to take precautions, but Texans "no longer need government running our lives."

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Astronauts on the ISS are did a second space walk this week to help prepare the station for new solar panels to be installed later this year. The solar panels are designed to fit over the old ones to boost the stations power capacity by 30% to accommodate more crew and experiments. The new panels are being built by Boeing and are being launched by SpaceX.

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A pair of astronauts are spacewalking for the second time this week to get the International Space Station ready for new solar panels

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- For the second time this week, a pair of astronauts floated outside Friday to get the International Space Station ready for new solar panels.

NASA's Kate Rubins and Japan 's Soichi Noguchi headed toward the unfinished work from Sunday's spacewalk, located on the far port end of the orbiting lab. They needed to finish installing mounting brackets and struts, and tighten some sticky bolts.

The equipment will support the first set of improved solar panels, due to arrive in June.

NASA is upgrading the space station's power grid to accommodate more astronauts and experiments, now that SpaceX is launching crews and Boeing should be too by year's end. The eight solar panels up there now have degraded over time; the oldest were launched 20 years ago.

The six new solar wings - smaller but more efficient - will fit over the older ones and boost the station's power capability by up to 30%. Boeing is supplying the panels, which will be launched in pairs by SpaceX over the next year.

During Sunday's spacewalk, Rubins and NASA astronaut Victor Glover encountered a number of stubborn bolts that prevented them from completing the support set-up.

NASA decided the leftover work was more important than the other chores that had been scheduled for Friday's spacewalk, namely venting and rearranging hoses for ammonia coolant. Future spacewalkers will deal with that.

The latest spacewalk should be the last for the station's current residents, whose half-year missions are coming to a close.

Rubins will return to Earth in mid-April in a Russian capsule, along with two Russians. Noguchi, Glover and two other NASA astronauts will fly SpaceX back in late April or May.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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national aeronautics and space administration

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Spacewalking astronauts tackle more solar panel advance work

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A pair of astronauts are spacewalking for the second time this week to get the International Space Station ready for new solar panels CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- For the second time this week, a pair of astronauts floated outside Friday to get the International Space Station ready for new solar panels.

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It is predicted that, following an agreement between Russia and the OPEC, gas prices might reach $3 p/g by Memorial Day, which would be the first time in 2,300 days (October, 2014).

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Drivers of gasoline-powered cars and trucks just got more bad news about the price of oil, the primary driver of gas prices. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia have agreed together to plan to keep oil production "steady." The means one of the world's major sources of crude won't pump more, just as the world's economy begins to emerge (in some cases quickly) from the COVID-19-induced recession. In fact, China, the world's largest oil importer, has set its gross domestic product forecast at 6% for this year.

As the price of oil has risen, predictions that gasoline will top $3 nationwide for the average gallon of regular have grown. Recently, the carefully followed analysts at GasBuddy forecast a 70% chance per-gallon gas prices will reach $3 by Memorial Day. The company added: "The last time the national average reached the $3/gal threshold was over 2,300 days ago, on October 10, 2014, but did get close in 2018, when the national average reached $2.97 per gallon."

Additionally, oil prices have risen an extraordinary 81% since the U.S. presidential election, taking gas prices with them. Crude oil prices, which were $36 a barrel at the end of November, have risen to $65, the highest price in a year. Gas prices also have surged. Thursday, the average price for a gallon of regular in the United States was $2.75, up from $2.46 a month ago.

The best predictor of gasoline prices is oil prices. They almost always outweigh refinery costs, transportation costs and state gas taxes.

Gas prices in some states vary from the national average for several reasons. The first is proximity to refineries. States near the huge refineries along the Gulf of Mexico tend to have the lowest prices in the country. Notably, the five states with the lowest per-gallon gas prices are Mississippi ($2.41), Texas ($2.47), Oklahoma ($2.49), Louisiana ($2.42) and South Carolina ($2.49). The transportation costs from refineries to nearby areas shaves the average price of gas down, compared with much of the rest of the nation.

Another primary factor in prices is gasoline taxes. According to the American Petroleum Institute survey of state gas taxes as of January 1, the U.S. average is $0.5523 a gallon. States with low gas taxes include Missouri ($0.3582), Mississippi ($0.3719) and New Mexico ($0.3738). The states with the highest gas taxes are California ($0.8145) and Pennsylvania ($0.7710).

Four states currently have average prices for a gallon of regular of over $3. California's $3.70 price clearly is affected by its gas tax. In Hawaii, the price of $3.43 is affected by a relatively high gas tax at $0.6524 per gallon. However, the cost of transportation to islands that are 2,500 miles from the west coast is also a major contributor to Hawaii's price. The price for a gallon of regular in Washington is $3.14. Its gas tax is a high $0.678 per gallon. In Nevada, the price is $3.07 a gallon.

If the GasBuddy analysis is correct, people who might drive for Memorial Day, despite COVID-19, will pay more at the pump than they did last year.

ALSO READ: Here's How Long a DUI Can Stay on Your Record in Every State

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Gas May Hit $3 for First Time in 2,300 Days

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Drivers of gasoline-powered cars and trucks just got more bad news about the price of oil, the primary driver of gas prices. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia have agreed together to plan to keep oil production "steady."

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Congressman Eric Swalwell is suing President Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, and Rep Mo Brooks over the Jan 6. Capitol riot. He is claiming they inspired the mob with false evidence and led them to cause large amounts of damage and the death 5 people.

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A House impeachment manager and intelligence subcommittee chairman filed a federal lawsuit Friday against former president Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Rudolph W. Giuliani and Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), claiming they should be held liable for injuries and destruction caused by their incitement of the Jan. 6 mob assault on the Capitol.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who also sits on the judiciary and homeland security committees, alleged Trump and his fellow speakers at a rally near the White House that day were directly responsible for mobilizing a crowd of tens of thousands of pro-Trump supporters to march on the Capitol and priming them for violence.

Trump's actions before and during the assault - in which at least 800 people broke into the Capitol, attacked police and delayed Congress's confirmation of the presidential election results - "made clear he poses a risk of inciting future political violence," the complaint alleged.

[Read the lawsuit here]

"As a direct and foreseeable consequence of the Defendants' false and incendiary allegations of fraud and theft, and in direct response to the Defendants' express calls for violence at the rally, a violent mob attacked the U.S. Capitol," the 65-page suit asserted. "Many participants in the attack have since revealed that they were acting on what they believed to be former president Trump's orders in service of their country."

The lawsuit claims the four speakers violated the Reconstruction-era Ku Klux Klan Act by conspiring to violently interfere in Congress's constitutional duties and failing to act to stop the mob. It also accuses them of multiple counts of negligence under both federal and D.C. law, aiding and abetting, and infliction of emotional distress.

Trump spokesman Jason Miller said in a statement, "Eric Swalwell is a low-life with no credibility." Miller then repeated allegations in an Axios report from December that an alleged Chinese spy, Christine Fang, cozied up to Swalwell from 2012 to 2015 before he was briefed by U.S. intelligence officials about their concerns and cut off ties. Miller said "after failing miserably with two impeachment hoaxes," Swalwell is engaging on witch hunt on behalf of the Chinese.

"It's a disgrace that a compromised Member of Congress like Swalwell still sits on the House Intelligence Committee," Miller said.

Brooks in a statement called the suit frivolous and a "meritless ploy."

"I make no apologies whatsoever for fighting for accurate and honest elections," Brooks said.

Trump Jr. and Giuliani did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The suit is the latest claim against Trump and top allies to assert they had a role in the storming of the Capitol through their actions that day and weeks of baseless allegations that November's presidential election was stolen from him.

[House Homeland Security chairman sues Trump and Giuliani, accusing them of inciting Capitol riot]

The NAACP last month sued Trump, Giuliani and two extremist groups whose members have been accused of leading the violence at the Capitol - the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers - on behalf of Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.). Guiliani, Trump's campaign and others also face defamation claims related to their groundless post-election criticism of a former U.S. election cyber security official and vote counting machine maker.

Thursday's lawsuit paints a fuller picture of Trump's actions before and after the event, drawing on the House impeachment manager's case against the former president, suing under a wider theory of negligence. The suit does not focus on extremists who planned for violence but the "many more [who] were there for a political rally" before the defendants and others alleged "whipp[ed] them into a frenzy and turn[ed] them into a violent mob that participated in the attack."

"This is an important part of holding Trump - and the other Defendants - responsible for what happened on January 6th," said attorney Matthew Kaiser, speaking for three firms representing Swalwell, a House impeachment manager and Democratic Steering and Policy Committee co-chair.

[Trump's actions described as 'a betrayal of historic proportions' in trial brief filed by House impeachment managers]

Trump was acquitted last month in his second impeachment trial as 57 senators - seven Republicans and all 50 Democrats - voted to convict him of inciting the mob's attack. A two-thirds majority, 67 votes, was needed for a conviction. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voted for acquittal but said afterward that there was "no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible."

Thursday's lawsuit noted that McConnell also said Trump was not immune from civil liability for the event, which left five dead and resulted in 139 assaults on police officers. Republican Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) added that Trump could be held accountable "in a court of law."

The Democratic House members recounted how they and others were trapped in the House chamber as plainclothes officers barricaded doors and held off the mob at gunpoint, while other staff and members took shelter throughout the Capitol complex.

While hundreds of police, then Vice President Mike Pence, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and others "were put in mortal danger, and as the seat of American Democracy was desecrated by the insurgent mob," the complaint contended, Trump was reported by those close to him as being "delighted," "borderline enthusiastic," and "confused about why other people on his team weren't as excited as he was."

The suit recounts how Trump, Giuliani and the others exhorted listeners at a rally near the White House before the Jan. 6 attempted insurrection, with Giuliani calling for "trial by combat" and Trump saying he would join marchers down Pennsylvania Avenue to give lawmakers "the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country." Trump had repeatedly promoted the rally, posting on Twitter that it "will be wild!"

He praised participants afterward, tweeting: "Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!"

Trump's remarks followed his "lengthy history of normalizing violence" through rhetoric and social media, the suit contended. It asserted that Trump continued in a conspiracy to undermine confidence in election results once he fell behind by alleging, without evidence, that the election had been rigged and by pressuring elected officials, courts, and Congress to reject the results in Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan.

The complaint alleges that false and misleading election-related claims were given an exponential boost by Donald Trump Jr., who intentionally spread them on social media in an effort to "subvert the will of the people in the 2020 election."

Brooks likewise echoed Trump by saying that he "lack[ed] faith this was an honest election," that Congress could reject electoral votes of any state and "controls who becomes president" and that Trump did not lose Georgia, the suit recounts. At the Jan. 6 rally, Brooks told attendees that they were victims of a historic theft, that it was time to start "kicking a--," and asked if they were ready perhaps to sacrifice even their lives for their country.

The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorney's fees, a declaration that defendants violated the law and a requirement that they provide seven-days written notice before any future rally or public event in Washington on a day with any significant election or election certification event.

Tom Hamburger contributed to this report

Read more:

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Rep. Eric Swalwell sues Trump over Jan. 6 riot, alleging he poses risk of 'inciting future political violence'

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A House impeachment manager and intelligence subcommittee chairman filed a federal lawsuit Friday against former president Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Rudolph W. Giuliani and Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), claiming they should be held liable for injuries and destruction caused by their incitement of the Jan. 6 mob assault on the Capitol.

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There was a body found 465 feet below the rim of the Grand Canyon. It is believed to be the body of John Pennington who was 40 years of age. He is thought to have gone missing in the Grand Canyon National Park on February 23 and believed to be traveling alone. The investigation of what happened is still ongoing.

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The body is believed to be that of John Pennington, who vanished last week.

Authorities believe they have found the body of a Kentucky man who disappeared at the Grand Canyon last week.

John Pennington, 40, of Walton, Kentucky, was thought to have entered the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona on or around Feb. 23, abandoning his vehicle at the South Rim near Yaki Point.

He was believed to be traveling alone, possibly on a yellow 2005 Suzuki motorcycle, according to the National Park Service.

After days of searching the area, National Park Service personnel spotted a body and a motorcycle on Wednesday, below the South Kaibab Trailhead, south of Yaki Point.

Park rangers recovered the body, which was located approximately 465 feet below the canyon rim, according to the National Park Service.

The body was flown by helicopter to the rim and was then transferred to the Coconino County Health and Human Services Medical Examiner's Office in Flagstaff.

"Based on evidence found with the body, the individual is believed to be missing person John Pennington," the National Park Service said in a statement Thursday.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing. No additional information was immediately available.

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Body found 465 feet below Grand Canyon rim believed to be missing Kentucky man, authorities say

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The body is believed to be that of John Pennington, who vanished last week. Authorities believe they have found the body of a Kentucky man who disappeared at the Grand Canyon last week. John Pennington, 40, of Walton, Kentucky, was thought to have entered the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona on or around Feb.

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At 8:20 a.m. at least 7 people were injured in New York when a vehicle plowed through a dining area. A white van hit a black sedan sending it through the dining area. At least two children were one of the 7 injured. The sedan keep going and hurtled through another building. The people were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Luckily no one was seating in the outdoor dining area during the collision.

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At least seven people - including two children - were injured Friday morning in a two- vehicle crash that sent a car careening into an outdoor dining setup in Manhattan, police said.

The chain reaction smash-up occurred just after 8:30 a.m. when a white van hit a black sedan, sending the car hurtling through the dining area at the intersection of East 50th Street and Second Avenue.

The van kept going, plowing into another structure, police said.
NYC SEES 75% JUMP IN FEBRUARY SHOOTINGS; DE BLASIO INSISTS: 'WE ARE THE SAFEST BIG CITY IN AMERICA'
Videos on Citizen app show the dramatic aftermath - piles of debris scattered in the intersection just outside a Starbucks, as well as a traffic light and street sign that were mowed down.

Airbags inside the sedan, which had front-end damage, were deployed.
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL KEEP DR. SEUSS BOOKS ON ITS SHELVES: HERE'S WHY
A driver was taken into custody and may have been under the influence, police said.

The FDNY said seven people - five adults and two kids - were taken to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.
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No one was in the outdoor dining area at the time of the crash, police said.
This report originally appeared in the New York Post.

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At least 7 injured in New York as vehicle plows through outdoor dining area

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At least seven people - including two children - were injured Friday morning in a two- vehicle crash that sent a car careening into an outdoor dining setup in Manhattan, police said. The chain reaction smash-up occurred just after 8:30 a.m.