Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Friday, April 2, 2021:

COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

The U.S. is tantalizingly close to doing an average of 3 million vaccine doses a day, as cases and hospitalizations are now back on the rise. Though because of vaccine uptake among seniors, this current wave -- centered in the Northeast and Michigan -- is likely to be much less deadly. The CDC is walking back comments made by its director that “vaccinated people do not carry the virus,” saying it’s possible but still unlikely that some fully-vaccinated people could still contract and spread it. The FDA has approved the first COVID tests meant for frequent at-home testing. Known as “serial tests,” the kits will be available over the counter within weeks. NY TIMES

GOP 'NO' ON INFRA

The chances that President Biden’s infrastructure package could become a rare spot of bipartisanship in Washington have been laid to rest. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the most powerful Republican in office, vowed to oppose the bill “every step of the way,” calling the $2 trillion proposal the “wrong prescription for America.” That all but ensures that Democrats will have to hold a united front and use the budget reconciliation process to pass the bill, as they did with the last stimulus. The White House wants it done this summer. POLITICO

CHAUVIN TRIAL: DAY 4

Testimony at the Derek Chauvin trial turned from bystander witnesses to experts who spoke about George Floyd’s medical condition, with paramedics testifying that Floyd appeared to be dead by the time they arrived on the scene. Chauvin’s former supervisor also testified that Chauvin didn’t tell him that he had knelt on Floyd’s neck and that officers should have stopped restraining Floyd when he quit resisting. The prosecution called Floyd’s girlfriend as a character witness; she spoke about their shared struggle with addiction and how he was a “mama’s boy” who was left “broken” by the death of his mother. STAR TRIB

TAIWAN TRAIN CRASH

A crowded passenger train derailed in Taiwan at the start of a long holiday weekend, killing at least 48 people and injuring 160. It appears to be the worst rail disaster in Taiwan’s history. According to local media, the train hit a construction vehicle that had rolled onto the tracks. AP

MARKET MILESTONE

The S&P 500 closed above 4,000 for the first time as the stock market kicked off April with a bang, led once again by tech stocks. President Biden’s announcement that he plans to pay for his infrastructure plan by raising corporate taxes has not put a dent in the rally on Wall St. -- at least not yet. Markets are closed today but the March jobs report will be released on schedule. Economists are expecting a gain of about 675,000 jobs. REUTERS

GAS TAX TALK

Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg made headlines a week ago when he endorsed an idea to tax drivers based on their miles driven as a way to partially fund the administration’s infrastructure bill. Buttigieg quickly walked back those comments after an outcry from progressive groups that called it a regressive tax that would unduly impact the working poor. But the growth in popularity of electric cars has some Democrats warming to the idea of an alternative to the federal gas tax, which hasn’t been raised since 1993, as a way to fund infrastructure investment and promote EVs. CHEDDAR

PLAY BALL

Opening Day 2021 had something for everyone: a rain out in Boston, a COVID postponement in D.C., snow in Detroit. Cubs fans booed their mayor at Wrigley. The Astros played to boos for the first time since their sign-stealing scandal. The Bleacher Creatures at Yankee Stadium were back. Baseball was played, too. TAKEAWAYS

POP RISING

Olivia Rodrigo dropped the follow-up to her smash hit single Drivers License, along with the announcement that her debut album, titled *O*R, will arrive on May 21. The new song is called Deja Vu and is a continuation of the break-up anthem that turned Rodrigo into the first break-out pop star of 2021:  WATCH THE VIDEO

SPOTTED...

…Queen Elizabeth, out and about without a mask, after Buckingham Palace confirmed the monarch has been fully vaccinated: SEE PIC

LEFTOVERS: JUST SUE IT

Nike has succeeded -- kind of -- in blocking the sale of Lil Nas X’s “Satan Shoes,” winning an injunction against MSCHF, the art collective that’s been hawking them in collaboration with the rapper. MSCHF says it’s already sold all but one of the 666 pairs produced, holding one back for a raffle that’s now on pause, and Nike’s claims are therefore irrelevant. Nike says it’s suffered harm to the brand from consumers who think the company is associating with Satan. CBS NEWS

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!

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Pressure to Settle $1 Billion Claim From Nassar Survivors Against FBI
Survivors of Larry Nassar, including Olympian Simone Biles, are seeking $1 billion in damages from the FBI due to its failure to investigate the former gymnastics team doctor convicted of committing years of serial sexual abuse of minors. Jack Queen, a senior reporter at Law360, joined Cheddar News to break down the legal grounds of this case. "This is one of the biggest black eyes that the Bureau has faced in generations, quite frankly, and the FBI has taken full responsibility and admitted that it completely botched this investigation," he said. "So, there's a lot of pressure to settle."
Elevate Prize Foundation Wants to Create 'Fanbase for Good' With $10K Awards
The Elevate Prize Foundation is donating $10,000 to different grassroots organizations based on a theme every month to help scale their work, focusing on a different theme each time. Upcoming prizes will help uplift an organization supporting the LGBTQ community and one mobilizing to help end gun violence. The foundation's CEO Carolina Garcia Jayaram joined Cheddar to discuss the initiative and why it's important to uplift these grassroots organizations. "We are identifying social entrepreneurs around the world to help them scale their work. but the ultimate purpose of that is to create the first-ever fanbase for good," she said. "We're trying to make good famous and by inspiring people to think about the role they can play in doing good in the world."
Stephanie Shojaee on Paving the Way for Women in Real Estate
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Hot summer could lead to rolling blackouts
We are already starting to feel the effects of summer. Heat waves in Texas and California are already sending temperatures soaring. That could spell trouble for the nation's power supply. there are new concerns about outages in many areas of the country. Cheddar's Shannon Lanier explains the two main causes of blackouts, and what states are doing to keep the lights on and the air conditioning running.
U.S. traffic deaths hit 16 year high
If you have been on the road this past year, you've probably seen more accidents on the road than you ever have. You're not wrong. Traffic fatalities are not only increasing they are hitting historic highs. Almost 43,000 people died in motor vehicle accidents in 2021. Cheddar's Shannon Lanier investigates - and finds out why.
U.S. Stocks Closed at Session Highs Tuesday
U.S. stocks close Tuesday at session highs after a subpar start to the trading day. Tim Chubb, Chief Investment Officer at the wealth advisory firm, Girard, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss. 'We're starting to see the moderation of three core things -- we've seen the moderation of prices, we've seen the moderation of wage growth we've seen in the labor market, and we've also seen a moderation of job openings,' he says.
Gymnasts Seek $1 Billion From FBI Over Larry Nassar Case
The victims from the USA gymnastics sexual abuse scandal continue to seek justice. Survivors of Larry Nassar are seeking more than one-billion dollars from the FBI for failing to stop the convicted sports doctor when the agency first received allegations. According to a report released by the Justice Department's Inspector General, FBI agents knew in July of 2015 that Nassar was accused of abusing gymnasts; however, Nassar wasn't arrested until December of 2016. The group that filed the claim includes Olympic medalist Simone Biles and around 90 other women. Louise Radnofsky, sports reporter at The Wall Street Journal, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Kat Tat on Becoming 'Elite' Black Woman Tattoo Artist in Unwelcoming Industry
Tattoo artist Katrina "Kat Tat" Jackson, famous for starring in the VH1 hit series "Black Ink Crew: Chicago," is also the first Black woman to own a tattoo shop in Beverly Hills. She joined Cheddar News to discuss her trailblazing work, the stigma BIPOC tattoo artists face in the industry, and the way the space has changed for artists of color since her start. "In the beginning, I remember walking into a tattoo shop just like, hey, I wanna learn, I wanna be a tattoo artist and kind of just being laughed at, not taken seriously," she said. "Even with the tattoo conventions, a lot of African American tattoo artists were almost scared to go to conventions because it's not a welcoming environment."
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