Get the Need2Know newsletter in your inbox every morning! Sign up here!

Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Wednesday, January 5, 2022:

"I HATE U" VARIANT

Move over Omicron and "Flurona": France has reported a new variant named “IHU,” which may harbor as many as 46 mutations. The variant has so far infected 12 patients in southeastern France, with the first linked to a fully-vaccinated person who had just traveled from Cameroon. IHU is currently being monitored to assess how infectious or dangerous it could be. INDEPENDENT UK 

NO SCHOOL

A battle between teachers and the mayor of Chicago means students are getting a surprise day off today. The teacher's union voted to switch to online learning due to record COVID-19 cases, but Mayor Lori Lightfoot is against the plan. Parents are still waiting to hear how their kids will be learning in the days ahead. Other cities including Cleveland, Milwaukee and Atlanta have switched to remote learning. NY TIMES

THE BIG QUIT

4.5 million workers voluntarily left their jobs in November, the highest number on record. While much focus has been on white-collar workers, in what is being heralded as “The Great Resignation,” the Labor Department found many of the quits were reported in the hotel and restaurant sectors, which tend to offer lower pay. The lagging report showed a rebound in the job market, although it's unclear how the post-Thanksgiving Omicron surge has affected these industries. AP

TRUMP NIXES JAN. 6 EVENT

Former President Donald Trump has canceled a press conference he had scheduled for January 6, exactly one year after supporters stormed the Capitol while Congress was certifying the results of the 2020 election. Trump says he's bowing out of this year's planned event because of the House Select Committee's “total bias and dishonesty” in the insurrection investigation. Fear not - Trump still plans to share his thoughts during a press conference coming up on January 15. AXIOS

COLD, COLD HIGHWAY

Rescuers in Virginia spent all day Tuesday trying to dig out hundreds of drivers stranded on I-95. Monday's winter storm brought traffic to a stop and everyone stuck on an icy 40-mile stretch of highway had to hunker down for the night in frigid temperatures. Among the weary travelers: Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who was on his way to Capitol Hill to work on voting rights. The Virginia Department of Transportation said everyone was cleared from the highway by Tuesday night and miraculously no serious injuries or deaths were reported. CBS NEWS

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM NAME DO-OVER

The Washington Football Team will reveal its permanent new name on February 2. The team finally dropped the name "Redskins" in 2020 after years of critics complaining it was offensive. Now the social media crowd is trying to guess whether we'll be cheering for the Armada, Presidents, Commanders, or something else next. ESPN

5G DELAY

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg convinced AT&T and Verizon to briefly postpone their 5G rollouts over worries that the new wireless service could interfere with plane safety. The airline industry says its concerned 5G, which relies on radio signals, could cause problems with pilot communications. Both companies had planned to launch the service today, but will now delay for two weeks, following Buttigieg’s call. CHEDDAR NEWS

FANATICS COLLECTS TOPPS

Global sports retailer Fanatics has acquired Topps, the granddaddy of trading cards, in a $500 million deal that includes the famed collectables arm. All 350 Topps employees will shift over to Fanatics Trading Cards, with the brand already beginning its manufacturing and distribution process. Fanatics will get an immediate boost in the industry as is acquires lucrative deals Topps has with major sports leagues like Formula 1 and Major League Soccer. ESPN

ENTERTAINMENT

CHRIS EVANS: Captain America is about to show his range as he plays Gene Kelly in a yet-to-be-titled film. DEADLINE

SOCIAL SNUB: After Miley Cyrus co-hosted a New Year’s Eve special with Pete Davidson, Kim Kardashian apparently unfollowed her on Instagram. PAGE SIX

LEFTOVERS: RESOLUTION APPS

It's January 5 - how is your New Year's resolution doing? If you need help sticking to your goal for more than a few days, the answer might be right in the palm of your hand. Wired put together this handy dandy list of apps that can help resolved users to do anything from running to meditation. WIRED

Need2Know Podcast Note: The Need2Know podcast is taking a break for now. We're looking forward to bringing you more context and analysis on the big stories of the day in a few weeks. In the meantime, check out our archive on Apple or Spotify, or watch on YouTube, and send us your feedback!

Share:
More In Culture
Will The Texas Grid Fail Again? ERCOT Says They Are 'Ready For This Storm'
Although this week's weather is predicted to be less severe than the 2021 storm, Texans are preparing for the worst - stocking up on supplies and emptying shelves in grocery stores, once again. Some Texans still have not recovered from last year's tragedy, and are heading into the next few weeks with anxiety for what's to come. Leslie Beyer, CEO of the Houston-based energy workforce & technology council, joins Cheddar News to discuss if the Texas grid will fail again.
The Black Student Debt Crisis and the Racial Wealth Gap Divide
Student loan debt continues to be a major concern for tens of millions of Americans who collectively owe about $1.7 trillion. Black college students often take on larger amounts of student debt in order to pay for a higher education. In turn, they are more likely to struggle post-graduation with repaying their debt, creating a racial wealth gap divide. Andre Perry, senior fellow at Brookings Institution joined All Hands to help break down the black student debt crisis.
American Red Cross Calls for Donors Amid Worst Blood Shortage in Over a Decade
The American Red Cross has declared its first-ever "national blood crisis" in the United States. Since COVID hit the U.S. in March 2020, blood donations have declined by 10 percent. American Red Cross Medical Director, Dr. Baia Lasky joined Cheddar News to discuss the country facing the worst blood shortage in over a decade. Dr. Lasky noted that as much as 40 percent of Americans are eligible to donate blood but only about 4 percent do so. "This is going to be ongoing," she said. "This is not an acute shortage. We really do need the commitment of people to come out and donate and donate again." Appointments to donate can be made by using the Red Cross Donor App, at RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
'Soil' Funding for Black Female Founders; Bringing West African Culture to Grocery Stores
On this episode of ChedHER: Co-Founder of VC firm CaJE breaks down how she's creating a new era of venture capital and empowering Black women with 'soil' funding to start and grow their businesses; AYO Foods Co-Founder discusses how the brand is bringing West African cuisine to the frozen food industry and building a grocery aisle her daughters can be proud of; Chief Marketing & Customer Experience Officer at Chase Auto talks her experience being a woman of color in the auto industry, and why transportation is so important to financial freedom.
How Transportation Can be Key to Financial Freedom
Renée Horne, chief marketing and customer experience officer at Chase Auto, joins ChedHER to discuss her experience being a woman of color in the auto industry and why transportation is so important to financial freedom.
Load More