Brighter outlook for US as vaccinations rise and deaths fall
More than three months into the U.S. vaccination drive, many of the numbers paint an increasingly encouraging picture, with 70% of Americans 65 and older receiving at least one dose of a vaccine and COVID-19 deaths dipping below 1,000 a day on average for the first time since November.
AstraZeneca confirms strong vaccine protection after US rift
AstraZeneca insisted Wednesday that its COVID-19 vaccine is strongly effective even after counting additional illnesses in its disputed U.S. study, the latest in an extraordinary public rift with American officials.
Damage from virus: Utility bills overwhelm some households
SAN RAMON, Calif. — Millions of U.S. households are facing heavy past-due utility bills, which have escalated in the year since the pandemic forced Americans hunkered down at home to consume more power.
US colleges tout hopes for return to new normal this fall
TOLEDO, Ohio — Colleges throughout the U.S. are assuring students that the fall semester will bring a return to in-person classes, intramural sports and mostly full dormitories. But those promises come with asterisks.
Miami’s South Beach confronts disastrous spring break
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Florida’s famed South Beach is desperately seeking a new image.
AstraZeneca: US data shows vaccine effective for all adults
WASHINGTON — AstraZeneca reported Monday that its COVID-19 vaccine provided strong protection among adults of all ages in a long-anticipated U.S. study, a finding that could help rebuild public confidence in the shot around the world and move it a step closer to clearance in the U.S.
Biden says US to hit 100 million virus goal today
WASHINGTON — With the U.S. closing in on President Joe Biden’s goal of injecting 100 million coronavirus vaccinations weeks ahead of his target date, the White House announced Thursday that the nation is now in position to help supply neighbors Canada and Mexico with millions of lifesaving shots.
US schools prepare summer of learning to help kids catch up
MISSION, Kan. — After a dreary year spent largely at home in front of the computer, many U.S. children could be looking at summer school — and that’s just what many parents want.
US jobless claims rise to 770,000 with layoffs still high
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose last week to 770,000, a sign that layoffs remain high even as much of the U.S. economy is steadily recovering from the coronavirus recession.
Wall Street closes higher after Fed says will keep rates low
Stocks closed higher Wednesday, reversing an early slide after the Federal Reserve reassured Wall Street that it expects to keep its key interest rate near zero through 2023.
Man charged with killing 8 people at Georgia massage parlors
ATLANTA — A white gunman was charged Wednesday with killing eight people at three Atlanta-area massage parlors in an attack that sent terror through the Asian American community, which has increasingly been targeted during the coronavirus pandemic.
Experts: Virus surge in Europe a cautionary tale for US
Optimism is spreading in the United States as COVID-19 deaths plummet and states ease restrictions and open vaccinations to younger adults. But throughout Europe, dread is setting in with another wave of infections that is closing schools and cafes and bringing new lockdowns.
Researchers study impact of pandemic cancer screening pause
John Abraham’s colonoscopy was postponed for several months because of the pandemic. When he finally got it, doctors found a growth too big to be removed safely during the scope exam. He had to wait several weeks for surgery, then several more to learn it had not yet turned cancerous.
In Pennsylvania, Biden showcases aid to small businesses
CHESTER, Pa. — President Joe Biden turned up at a minority-owned flooring business in suburban Philadelphia on Tuesday to highlight how his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package can help small businesses and to put a face on those who have struggled throughout the pandemic.
NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week
A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media.
The Associated Press checked them out. Here are the facts:
AP-NORC poll: 1 in 5 in US lost someone close in pandemic
WASHINGTON — About 1 in 5 Americans say they lost a relative or close friend to the coronavirus, highlighting the division between heartache and hope as the country itches to get back to normal a year into the pandemic.
Job openings rise, layoffs fall as pandemic economy mends
WASHINGTON — Companies posted more open jobs in January while layoffs decreased as the economy heals slowly from the pandemic.
Former presidents, first ladies urge Americans to get shots
WASHINGTON — Four former presidents are urging Americans to get vaccinated as soon as COVID-19 doses are available to them, as part of a campaign to overcome hesitancy about the shots.
Biden aims for quicker shots, ‘independence from this virus’
WASHINGTON — One year after the nation was brought to a near-standstill by the coronavirus, President Joe Biden pledged in his first prime-time address Thursday night to make all adults eligible for vaccines by May 1 and raised the possibility of beginning to “mark our independence from this virus” by the Fourth of July. He offered Americans fresh hope and appealed anew for their help.
Why the pandemic left long-term scars on global job market
Esther Montanez’s housecleaning job at the Hilton Back Bay in Boston was a lifeline for her, a 31-year-old single mother with a 5-year-old son.
