Tom Howell Jr.

Ontario mayor seeks court order to remove trucker protest from border crossing

An Ontario mayor says he will seek a court order Friday that expands his power to remove truckers blocked a key border crossing as part of protests against COVID-19 rules.

February 11, 2022

Nevada drops mask mandate, effective immediately, joining a trend

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak abruptly dropped a statewide mask mandate Thursday, saying a certain number of people won't get the COVID-19 vaccine and he doesn't want to hold the rest of society back.

February 11, 2022

Biden calls on Democrats to pass drug negotiation, extend Obamacare subsidies

President Biden leaned on Democratic senators Thursday to extend supersized Obamacare subsidies and give struggling American families "breathing room" on prescription costs through Medicare negotiation.

February 10, 2022

COVID-19 vaccines’ flaws dash hopes of reaching herd immunity

Herd immunity projection was just one of the areas where COVID-19 has humiliated policymakers and experts who have tried to lead the U.S. through the pandemic.

February 10, 2022

Federal law enforcement increasingly worried about U.S. trucker convoy: Report

Federal law enforcement is increasingly concerned about disruptions from a U.S. trucker convoy that copies a similar protest in Canada.

February 10, 2022

Some Democrats say they’re open to dropping the House floor mask mandate by March

Some House Democrats say Capitol Hill should ditch its mask mandate by March, as a number of blue state governors relent on COVID-19 rules because the omicron surge is easing and Americas want to get on with their lives.

February 10, 2022

Canada warns of supply shocks, blocked goods due to trucker protest

Canadian officials are warning that trucker protests against COVID-19 rules will disrupt the flow of goods and exacerbate problems in the supply chain.

February 10, 2022

Pandemic outcome will define Dr. Fauci’s legacy; shifts in advice divide Americans on partisan lines

Today, Dr. Anthony Fauci's face is on Halloween masks and billboards, his name has become synonymous with the COVID-19 pandemic, and anyone who doesn't recognize him must have taken social distancing so seriously that they have shut off society completely.

February 10, 2022

White House: No crack pipes in drug harm-reduction kits

The Biden administration said Wednesday the federal government will not fund crack pipes or reimburse grantees who put them in safe smoking kits after a dustup over reports saying a program designed to reduce harm from drug use would include the devices.

February 9, 2022

Bipartisan group urges FDA to act fast in approving over-the-counter hearing aids

Folks looking for bipartisanship in Washington should look no further than over-the-counter hearing aids.

February 9, 2022

CDC sticking with indoor mask rules even as states move on

President Biden's coronavirus team said Wednesday it is sticking with its guidance on indoor masking as it combats the back end of the omicron surge, even as the Democratic administration finds itself lagging behind blue-state governors who are rapidly lifting divisive COVID-19 rules.

February 9, 2022

VP Harris to attend high-profile Munich Security Conference amid Ukraine crisis

Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Germany for the Munich Security Conference this month, giving President Biden's deputy a big platform as Russia threatens to invade Ukraine, the White House said Wednesday.

February 9, 2022

Bystanders object as man arrested for car-honking in Ottawa in support of trucker protest

A 78-year-old man was arrested in Ottawa allegedly for honking his horn in support of the trucker convoy protesting COVID-19 rules in Canada.

February 9, 2022

Hong Kong reports over 1,000 COVID-19 cases, first deaths in six months

Hong Kong recorded more than 1,000 coronavirus infections Wednesday for the first time since the pandemic began and its first virus deaths in six months as the surge of the omicron variant challenges the city and China's broader zero-COVID policy.

February 9, 2022

N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul set to drop indoor mask mandate: Report

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected Wednesday to drop a mandate that forced businesses to either seek proof of full vaccination or demand mask-wearing indoors, making her the latest Democratic leader to relent on divisive COVID-19 rules as the omicron surge eases.

February 9, 2022

Va. judge temporarily blocks Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s ban on mask mandates in seven school districts

An Arlington judge issued an order Tuesday that temporarily blocks Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's ban on mask mandates in seven school districts.

February 9, 2022

J&J paused COVID-19 vaccine product at Dutch plant: Report

Johnson & Johnson reportedly shut down the only plant making usable batches of its COVID-19 vaccine even though many poor and developing nations are relying on the shots to immunize their populations.

February 8, 2022

Hong Kong imposes its toughest social distancing rules to date

Hong Kong announced Tuesday some of its toughest social distancing policies to date as rising case counts and the omicron variant challenge the sustainability of China's zero-COVID policy.

February 8, 2022

White House launches day of action to promote child tax credit

The Biden administration on Tuesday launched a massive outreach campaign to get millions of families to file their taxes so they can receive the second half of payments from the child tax credit.

February 8, 2022

Harm-reduction policies for drug addicts gain traction under Biden administration

The Justice Department is reportedly "evaluating" safe injection sites, a haven where people can use heroin and other illegal drugs in an effort to avoid fatal overdoses, though it is still considering the "appropriate guardrails" around the sites.

February 8, 2022