By: Geralline Sapp
● President-elect Joe Biden announced a new science team as well as plans to promote the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to a Cabinet-level position. Biden nominated Eric Lander for the position who will have to be confirmed by the Senate after Biden is sworn into office. Lander’s credentials include biomedical research and serving on President Obama’s council of science advisors. In his appointing speech in Delaware Biden stated, “We’re going to lead with science and truth. We believe in both.” (NBC News
● Due to an increase in COVID cases along with the second wave and new variant, closures are being announced throughout the U.K., Germany, Ireland, Austria, Denmark, and the Netherlands. One of the biggest factors for closure has been schools and the rate at which children are infected by SARS-CoV-2. “The problem is schools may nonetheless act as vectors for transmission, causing the virus to spread between households,” U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson. (The Wall Street Journal)
● The death rate from cancer in the U.S. dropped 2.4% between 2017 to 2018, according to the American Cancer Society. Progress continues as the mortality rate has fallen 31% since 1991 thanks to a reduction in smoking and better detection and treatment. The pandemic has caused delayed or missed cancer screenings, but overall its effects will seem small compared to the increasing progress for decades to come. (The Wall Street Journal)
● U.S. veteran David Smith put together a group of fellow veterans and others to help clean up the streets of D.C. following the riots on January 6th, 2021. “Just because you served in the military doesn’t give you impunity to storm the Capitol building,” Smith. Another veteran, Hans Palmer, explained during the surge of BLM protests in the summer that he wants to erase the stigma that those in the military are not all conservative and they care about being activists. (The Washington Post)
● In response to the Jan. 6 insurrection in the D.C. capitol, many states declare emergencies and call upon the National Guard as we approach the inauguration. The FBI has issued warnings for state capitols and to expect possible violence. Oregon’s Legislature will convene Tuesday however will not be holding in-person meetings after consulting with police. (The Associated Press)
● Officials from the Oregon Health Authority announced on Thursday, Jan. 14, that coronavirus vaccination sites have met the goal of administering a total of 12,000 vaccine doses a day. Starting Jan. 23, seniors, child care providers, early learning and K-12 educators and staff, can begin receiving their first doses. However, meeting the scheduled goal depends on the rate of shipment from the federal government. (Oregon, Associated Press)
● Amazon announced the application of Alexa auto-assistant to be customizable in users’ cars. FiatChrysler is (right now) officially the first automaker to use this service. Amazon claims that its goal is to be available to all companies and integrate a third-party service. Amazon says that the service costs will depend on the device/vehicle, cases, and language requirements as well as other customizations made. (Forbes)
Comments