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Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Tuesday, January 4, 2022:
HOLMES GUILTY
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes was found guilty on four out of 11 federal fraud charges after a four-month trial, a trove of embarrassing text messages, and even a surprise pregnancy. The jury found her not guilty of four other charges and deadlocked on the final three, which prosecutors can bring to trial again if they want. Now the former rising star of Silicon Valley is staring down 20 years in prison when she is sentenced. The trial of her business partner and former boyfriend “Sunny” Balwani is slated to start next week. CNBC
COVID LATEST
FDA: The FDA extended its emergency approval of Pfizer boosters to include 12- to 15-year-olds and recommends everyone 12 and up wait just five months between the second Pfizer vaccine and the booster (down from six months). More than a million new COVID cases were reported on Monday and the Johns Hopkins COVID tracker says 1 in 100 people in the U.S. have tested positive in just the last week. USA TODAY
'FLURONA': A pregnant woman in Israel tested positive for both COVID-19 and the flu, bringing us the first verified case of “flurona.” The patient reported having mild symptoms and did not know she was infected when she went into labor last week. The news of this combo follows the arrival of “Delmicron” in Europe, a mix of the Delta and Omicron COVID-19 variants, which reportedly brings more severe symptoms. THE DAILY BEAST
EAST COAST STORM
A winter storm hit states across the east coast on Monday, resulting in power outages for half a million people and mass road backups. Washington, D.C. experienced a record-breaking 8.5 inches of snow, while the Fredericksburg region in Virginia reached at least 14 inches. In Georgia and Tennessee, two children were killed due to falling trees. The winter snowstorm increased delays for air travelers, with more than 2,800 flights within the U.S. canceled. CNN
$3 TRILLION CLUB
Apple has officially hit a market valuation of $3 trillion, making it the first publicly traded company to ever do so. Shares of the tech conglomerate reached an all-time high of $182.88 thanks to booming demand for its iPhone 13 and media subscription services. The company hit $2 trillion less than two years ago. YAHOO FINANCE
REP. RUSH RETIRING
Rep. Bobby Rush, who has been representing Chicago's South Side for 30 years, says he is not running for re-election. First elected to Congress in 1992, Rush has been known for his dedication to civil rights and racial justice. Decades before heading to Capitol Hill, Rush co-founded the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party. Yet another claim to fame: Rush is the only one to have beaten Barack Obama in an election, when the future president tried challenging him in the 2000 Democratic primary. CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
IPOs OF 2022
The IPO machine is gearing up for yet another big year as a number of firms work on plans to go public. Forbes compiled a listing of the notable companies expected to bring on shareholders in 2022. Some to watch out for include private equity giant TPG, food delivery company Instacart and even Reddit. SEE THE LIST
BEANTOWN'S BURNING UP
Whoever said Boston is known for its cold winters can kick rocks. Beantown recorded a balmy 52.4 degree average last year, beating out the record last set in 2012. It was also one of the wettest years with more than 50 inches of rain and 21.7 inches of snow. That's still far off the snowfall record set in 2015 with 108 inches of snow. BOSTON.COM
HIKING RETREAT GONE WRONG
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two teens in Oregon thanks to an “SOS” sign they drew in the snow. The pair went camping on Christmas Day but failed to return home. Heavy snow in the area made it difficult for local law enforcement to search for the men, so they called in backup. Both hikers are expected to be ok. CBS NEWS
SPOTTED...
… The Weeknd unveils a new face ahead of his album release on Friday: WATCH
…Apple terrifies viewers with its new Apple Watch Series 7 commercial: WATCH
…new NYC Mayor Eric Adams says he hopes to bring "swagger" back to the city: WATCH
LEFTOVERS: DR. HOCKEY FAN
A Seattle Kraken fan took her eyes off the ice, and ended up saving a life. Nadia Popovici was sitting behind the players' bench during a game last fall when she spotted a small mole on the neck of Brian Hamilton, the assistant equipment manager of the Vancouver Canucks. When the game was over, she warned him it could be cancerous and it turns out she was right. Hamilton had the mole removed and both teams presented Popovici $10,000 to help with her medical school expenses. NY TIMES
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