Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Monday, May 10, 2021:

COVID-19: AIRBORNE TRANSMISSION

The CDC on Friday updated its public guidance on how COVID spreads, acknowledging that airborne transmission through microscopic droplets known as aerosols is a factor -- and  emphasizing that people can still get infected even if they’re more than six feet from an infected person because those aerosols can float in the air for an extended period of time. Meanwhile, Dr. Fauci now says he’s OK with loosening indoor mask requirements as more Americans become vaccinated. The rate of vaccinations in the U.S. continues to decline and some states are now turning down shipments from the federal government as their stockpiles grow. More than one-third of the population is fully vaccinated. AXIOS

STATE OF GOP

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is publicly backing Rep. Elise Stefanik of N.Y. to replace Rep. Liz Cheney in her leadership role of the party, all but ensuring Cheney will be ousted for failing to support former President Trump, likely this week. Republicans in Arizona are still in the process of auditing the 2020 election results, looking for evidence to support the false claims that the vote was rigged. Auditors are inspecting each ballot for bamboo fibers based on a conspiracy theory that a plane from South Korea flew to Phoenix with counterfeit ballots just after Election Day. AP

WEEKEND SHOOTINGS

COLORADO: A gunman killed six members of an extended family and himself at a birthday party in Colorado Springs on Mother’s Day. Police are still determining a motive, but believe the shooter was the boyfriend of one of the victims. COLO SPRINGS GAZETTE

NYC: Three bystanders, including a 4-year-old girl, were injured in a shooting in broad daylight in the middle of Times Square on Saturday. All of them are expected to survive. Gun violence in NYC has been on the rise since the start of the pandemic, with at least 463 people shot so far this year, nearly double the number in the same period of 2019, according to police data. NBC NY

AFGHANISTAN UNRAVELING

Violence in Afghanistan has gone from bad to worse since the U.S. announced it is withdrawing all remaining troops from the country. A triple bombing that targeted a high school in the capital killed at least 68 people, nearly all of them teenage girls. Rights groups say the brazen attack is likely a preview of what’s to come once U.S. forces are out of Afghanistan for good and the Taliban reconstitutes control. NY TIMES

PIPELINE ATTACK

A pipeline that delivers nearly half the fuel used on the East Coast is still shut down after a cyberattack threw it offline on Friday. Colonial Pipeline had to shut down 5,500 miles of the conduit because of a ransomware attack, and the company says there’s still no estimate on when the gasoline will be flowing again. It’s not clear yet if the disruption will impact gas prices, which are already flirting with $3 per gallon on the national average. REUTERS

LABOR MARKET

Friday’s incredibly disappointing jobs report -- 266,000 jobs added in April compared to expectations of 1 million -- is leading to increased calls to cancel the enhanced unemployment benefits extended in the last stimulus bill. The Chamber of Commerce is advocating for the extra $300 weekly benefit to be cancelled, arguing that it's creating a labor shortage that threatens to hold back the economic recovery. Even before the jobs report, South Carolina and Montana announced they’d kick people off the federal program at the end of June. YAHOO MONEY

JUICED 

The horse that shocked oddsmakers by coming behind to win the Kentucky Derby has failed a post-race drug test. Medina Spirit tested positive for excessive amounts of a steroid used to treat pain and inflammation, leading Churchill Downs to suspend Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and putting the colt’s Derby victory in jeopardy. Baffert denied any wrongdoing and promised to be transparent in the investigation. ESPN

MUSK ON SNL

Nearly 5 million people tuned in to watch Elon Musk host Saturday Night Live -- not huge, but still the third highest-rated episode of the season. Musk’s performance is getting mixed-to-decent reviews, with one columnist saying he brought a mix of “humility and hubris” and another saying he provided a much-needed “jolt” to the show. He also made a little news, announcing in the monologue that he has Asperger’s syndrome. The price of Dogecoin, the cryptocurrency favored by Musk, lost a third of its value after he called it a “hustle” during Weekend Update: WATCH THE MONOLOGUE

SPOTTED...

… J.Lo, serenading her mother with “Sweet Caroline” on stage at the Global Citizen Vax Live concert: WATCH

...Bo, the Obamas’ first pet, in a tribute posted to Instagram by Michelle Obama announcing his death. The 12-year-old Portuguese water dog passed away from cancer: SEE PIC

LEFTOVERS: ...MUST COME DOWN

The remnants of a 100-foot Chinese rocket splashed down in the Indian Ocean near the Maldives late Saturday night. There were no reports of damages or injuries from the falling wreckage. Despite the Pentagon saying it was tracking the rocket’s reentry, there were no alerts issued until Chinese media reported the landing after the fact. NASA blasted China for “failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris.” CNN

Listen to the N2K Podcast! Looking for more context and analysis on the big stories of the day? Check out our podcast! Hosts Jill and Carlo break down the headlines, every weekday morning Listen on Apple or Spotify, or watch on YouTube, and send us your feedback!

Share:
More In Culture
California Starts Largest U.S. Food Waste Recycling Program
California's new composting law will affect what residents do in their kitchens. As of this week, Californians will have to recycle excess food in an effort to reduce emissions caused by food waste. Cities and counties will turn recycled food into compost or use it as a renewable energy source. California's new law is the largest mandatory residential food waste recycling program in the country. Rachel Wagoner, Director of the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery called the law 'the biggest change to trash' since recycling started in the 1980s. She joined Cheddar Climate to discuss.
Sweetgreen Launches Salad Subscription Service 'Sweetpass'
Fast-casual restaurant chain Sweetgreen is rolling out its first salad subscription service called sweetpass as it looks to customers tackling new year weight loss and health goals. Members will receive up to 30 percent off of purchases.
Severe Snowstorm Blankets D.C., Mid-Atlantic Region
Washington DC and the surrounding areas saw a record breaking snow storm Monday as a strong storm system works its way across the eastern U.S. The extreme weather event caused extensive damage in the greater Washington area, leaving thousands in the region without power. Jonathan Porter, Chief Meteorologist, AccuWeather, joined Wake Up with Cheddar to discuss the fierce storm.
Over 3,000 Flights Canceled on Monday Over Severe Weather, Crew Shortages
Airlines canceled more than 3,000 flights on Monday over severe weather and crew shortages. The cancellations come on one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season, and is a continuation of the industry-wide disruption that started before Christmas. Thomas Pallini, Aviation Reporter for Insider joined Wake Up with Cheddar to discuss.
End of Child Tax Credit Could Mean Slide Back Into Increasing Child Poverty
Millions of Americans with young children have relied on the child tax credit since the federal government began issuing checks in July 2021. The last round of payments was sent out just before the Christmas holiday — at the same time as the omicron variant surged. Leah Hamilton, associate professor of social work at Appalachian State University, joined Cheddar to discuss what the end to the tax credit means as the U.S. sees the end of many relief programs and its highest number of COVID cases since the start of the pandemic. "It'll become harder for families to meet their basic needs, increasing national childhood poverty rates and the proportion of families who have difficulty putting food on the table, maintaining stable housing, and paying their bills," Hamilton said. She also pointed to research that the credit as a long-term investment in children offsets claims that it contributes to macroeconomic impacts like inflation.
NYT Piece Claims Silicon Valley Investors and Founders Contorted Legal Tax Break to Avoid Taxes on Investment Profits
Several Silicon Valley insiders are being accused of contorting a 1990s-era tax break to avoid taxes on millions of dollars of investment profits. The tax break is known as the qualified small business stock exemption, and it allows early investors in certain companies to avoid half of the taxes on up to $10 million in capital gains. A piece recently published in the New York Times says venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz replicated the tax exemption by giving shares of companies to friends and family, who would otherwise face a 23.8% capital gains bill. The CEO of Roblox is also accused of replicating the tax break for his family members at least 12 times. Although the loophole known as 'stacking' is considered to be legal, the Times piece implies that the exemption has been manipulated for the ultra-wealthy to become more wealthy. Greycroft co-founder and Chairman Emeritus Alan Patricof joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Competitive Stock-Trading Mobile App Zingeroo Raises $8.5 Million
There is a new player in the mobile app stock trading space. Zingeroo recently announced a funding round of $8.5 million. The company says it aims to bring 'friendly competition' to stock trading, by literally breaking trading down into daily and weekly competitions between friends. Zingeroo also says it hopes its new approach can make trading more accessible, educational, and social than ever before. Zingeroo co-founder and CEO Zoe Barry joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell for more.
Load More