Tom Howell Jr.

Canadian truckers disrupt major bridge traffic as Trudeau scrambles to end protest

Truckers blocked part of the busiest U.S.-Canada border crossing as officials scrambled to try to put an end to COVID-19 protests that have disrupted daily life in Ottawa and elsewhere.

February 8, 2022

American University unknowingly distributed counterfeit KN95 masks, says campus newspaper

American University in Washington unknowingly distributed fake KN95 masks to students during the first week of in-person classes, according to the student newspaper.

February 8, 2022

White House taps federal workforce to serve as ‘model-actor’ for pro-union behavior

The White House on Monday proposed ways to bolster union strength in the federal workforce and support private-sector workers looking to organize as President Biden draws a straight line between the labor movement and America's history and economic progress.

February 7, 2022

N.Y. Dems face heat for maskless photo-ops

A pair of New York Democrats are taking heat for not wearing masks during indoor photo-ops even as they urge residents to cover their faces as part of the COVID-19 fight.

February 7, 2022

Former State Dept. spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus to run for Congress in redrawn Tennessee district

Morgan Ortagus, a former State Department spokeswoman in the Trump administration, said Monday she will run for Congress in a redrawn Tennessee district, lending drama to the GOP primary and raising questions about former President Donald Trump's clout.

February 7, 2022

N.J. ends mask rules for schools, gives local leaders the option to keep mandates

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday he will no longer require students and school staff to wear masks as of March 7, making him the latest blue-state governor to relent after two years of divisive COVID-19 mandates.

February 7, 2022

Ottawa mayor declares state of emergency over truckers clogging Canada’s capital

The mayor of Ottawa declared a state of emergency Sunday to deal with truckers who've clogged the Canadian capital's downtown to protest COVID-19 rules.

February 7, 2022

CDC expands efforts to detect coronavirus in wastewater, sees uses beyond the pandemic

Want to know if a COVID-19 wave is heading to your town? Check the poop.

February 4, 2022

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds lets COVID-19 emergency orders expire

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Thursday she will end emergency proclamations tied to the coronavirus as states and countries around the world begin to treat COVID-19 as something that must be managed like influenza or other diseases and not as a public health crisis.

February 4, 2022

Canadian trucker convoy seeks legal help after GoFundMe suspends fundraising page

Canadian truckers protesting COVID-19 rules said they are lawyering up after GoFundMe suspended their fundraising page.

February 4, 2022

Austria becomes first Western democracy to mandate COVID-19 vaccine

Austria became the first Western democracy to require the COVID-19 vaccine after President Alexander Van der Bellen signed the mandate into law on Friday.

February 4, 2022

Pelosi warns Olympic athletes against protesting ‘ruthless’ Chinese government

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned American athletes Thursday to beware of the "ruthless" Chinese communist government if they decide to speak out against human rights abuses while they are in Beijing for the Winter Olympics Games that begin Friday.

February 3, 2022

Biden pushes for elusive unity at annual National Prayer Breakfast

President Biden told lawmakers on Thursday they need to spend more time with each other -- even if it's over lunch -- to overcome deep political divides and deliver on his push to unify Washington at a time when partisans seem to be drifting farther apart.

February 3, 2022

Biden administration says Medicare enrollees can get free COVID tests by early spring

The Biden administration said Thursday that Americans covered by Medicare, the federal insurance program for seniors, will be able to get free COVID-19 tests from pharmacies starting this spring.

February 3, 2022

Surgeon general says FDA won’t cut corners in approving COVID-19 vaccine for young kids

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is assuring parents that regulators won't take shortcuts in authorizing a COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech for kids younger than 5 as the Food and Drug Administration employs a two-step process to get a jump-start on the rollout.

February 3, 2022

When will the pandemic be over? It’s complicated, scientists say

Don't expect President Biden or the World Health Organization to tell you when the COVID-19 pandemic is over. They're not sure themselves.

February 2, 2022

CDC, State Dept. urge caution and warn against travel to Mexico because of COVID-19, violence

The federal government is warning travelers to avoid travel to Mexico due to the twin threats of COVID-19 and violent crime.

February 2, 2022

N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul enjoys commanding lead over Democratic challengers: poll

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is dominating the Democratic field ahead of a gubernatorial primary in June with a 42-point lead over her nearest challenger, while the GOP primary is a toss-up between Rep. Lee Zeldin and former Trump administration official Andrew Giuliani, according to a poll released Tuesday.

February 2, 2022

Biden aims to reduce cancer deaths by 50% over next 25 years

President Biden said Wednesday he will relaunch the Cancer Moonshot program he started during the Obama administration, citing progress in treatments and care.

February 2, 2022

Pfizer set to request emergency approval of COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 5

U.S. regulators are planning to review and authorize Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 5 before data on a third -- and potentially necessary -- shot is available.

February 1, 2022