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

Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Thursday, January 6, 2022:

JAN. 6 ATTACK: ONE YEAR LATER

President Biden will make remarks this morning, calling for a peaceful democracy one year after the U.S. Capitol insurrection. Over 700 people have been arrested in connection with the attack so far, with Attorney General Merrick Garland recently defending the Justice Department’s decision to prosecute all of those involved. Although Trump beat an impeachment related to the riot, a House Select Committee is still looking at it from all angles to decide whether the former president or those in his lot should be charged. CNN

DEADLY PHILLY FIRE

Investigators are looking into the possibility a Christmas tree caught fire, killing 12 people in a Philadelphia row home, including eight children. They're also trying to figure out why the building owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority had an “odd layout” that could have blocked an escape route and why a number of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors did not appear to work. CBS PHILLY

GRAMMYS POSTPONED

You’ll have to wait to see your favorite artist take the Grammy stage this year. The 2022 award show was postponed due to the ongoing Omicron surge. This is the second year in a row that COVID forced the show to be delayed, with last year’s event eventually taking place in March in an outdoor venue. This time, the new date is still TBD. PEOPLE

GEORGE FLOYD'S NIECE SHOT

George Floyd’s four-year-old grandniece, Arianna Delane, was injured after shots were fired into a Houston apartment during the early morning hours on New Year’s Day. Her family rushed her to the hospital immediately, but say officers took four hours to arrive to investigate. Police say they're looking into why it took so long for officers to show up. So far, no word on a possible suspect or motive. CNN

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES:

PFIZER BOOSTER: The CDC is recommending kids ages 12 to 17 receive the Pfizer booster shot five months after their initial vaccine. The new guidance aligns with the FDA's  recommendations that were announced earlier this week. So far the Pfizer booster is the only one approved for kids this age. NPR

COVID TE$T$: As if it isn’t already painful enough trying to find a COVID test, Walmart and Kroger announced they will raise their prices, too. A deal they had with the White House to keep costs down expired, meaning it's going to cost an extra $5-$10 per pack unless a new deal emerges, although so far there is no indication that's going to happen. ABC 

CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST PARDONED

Homer Plessy has been posthumously pardoned by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards. In 1892 Plessy, a Creole man of African descent, was convicted of sitting in a whites-only section of a train after buying a ticket to push back against Louisiana’s Jim Crow laws. His case would end up in the Supreme Court as Plessy v. Ferguson, which challenged whether “separate but equal” was constitutional. Keith Plessy, 2Plessy’s first cousin thrice removed, hailed the pardon. NOLA.COM

SILVERADO TURNS ELECTRIC

The Chevy Silverado is getting an Earth-friendly upgrade. General Motors announced the upcoming all-electric pickup truck at CES 2022, the world’s largest tech convention that began yesterday. Aside from the demand for electric vehicles, GM officials say this is just one of the steps they’re taking to regain the company's title as a top U.S. auto seller after learning Toyota outsold them last year. CHEDDAR NEWS

NOVAK DJOKOVIC CANCELED

Just kidding, only his visa was. Or maybe he will be, too? The Serbian tennis star didn't find out until he landed in Australia that his visa was revoked over his COVID vaccination status. He thought he was in the clear when he received a medical exemption to play in the Australian Open, but officials say his visa wasn't valid. Djokovic is now staying in a quarantine hotel in Melbourne run by the immigration department, and has told his lawyers to appeal the visa cancellation. THE GUARDIAN

ENTERTAINMENT

AALIYAH ALBUM COMING: Former R&B star Aaliyah’s posthumous album, Unstoppable, will be released later this month, with collaborations from The Weeknd, Future, and Drake. BILLBOARD

SQUID GAME VOGUE COVER: Hoyeon Jung, the break-out star from Netflix’s Squid Games, is gracing the new cover of Vogue. The model-turned-actress opened up about experiencing overnight success and revealed which BLACKPINK singer she’s besties with. VOGUE

LEFTOVERS: ERIC ADAMS BACKTRACKS

After facing major backlash, NYC Mayor Eric Adams said his comments about “low-skilled” workers weren’t meant to be insulting – he meant to call people like cooks, messengers and dishwashers “low-wage” instead. Just days into his first term, Adams struck a nerve when he called for workers at big banks like JPMorgan and Citigroup to return to the office to support the economy, saying these "low-skilled" workers don’t have the “academic skills” to sit in an executive-level corner office. YAHOO NEWS

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
'Top Gun: Maverick' Tops Memorial Day Weekend Box Office
'Top Gun: Maverick' making an estimated $156 million domestically for its four-day opening weekend. Daniel Loria, SVP of Content Strategy and Editorial Director at Boxoffice Pro, joins Cheddar News to weigh in on the long-awaited sequel and the summer box office.
Streaming Wars Between Disney+ and Netflix Heat Up With Summer Kickoff
The holiday weekend saw Disney+ and Netflix competing head-to-head for streaming views as the Disney behemoth kicked off the unofficial start to summer with its release of "Obi-Wan Kenobi" and Netflix responded with the first part of "Stranger Things" Season 4. The streaming giants caught the eye of Wall Street, and Seth Schachner, the managing director at consultancy Strat Americas, joined Cheddar News to break down the heavy hitters. "This is a very tough, competitive game, and I don't see it getting any easier," he said. "I think you'll probably see more consolidation."
Cyborg Mobile President on Disrupting the Lack of Diversity in Tech
The founder and president of Cyborg Mobile Kobie Hatcher has been on a strong trajectory to disrupt his industry with a program called The New Technologists. It's not only meant to address the diversity gap within large tech companies but also help pave the way to transform the lives of young BIPOC students. He joined Cheddar News to talk about how he's working to make a difference with the lack of diversity in tech. “There's truly no lack of talent out there. It's just identifying them and letting them know that, hey, I've been in the tech sector for over 20 years. I see you. I know what you can bring, bring it, we need it," Hatcher said.
Constituent Service Platform Indigov Raises $25 Million
Constituent service platform Indigov recently raised $25 million in a Series B funding round. Indigov bills itself as a constituent relationship management tool that helps elected officials improve the way they organize, respond to, and engage those they serve. The startup's services are being used by federal, state, and local governments across the country, including the U.S. House of Representatives. Alex Kouts, founder & CEO of Indigov, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Making Winning Investments During the NBA Playoffs
The 2022 NBA playoffs are intensifying as four teams vie for an NBA finals berth. Tonight, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors can book their finals ticket with a win over the Dallas Mavericks, while Miami will be feeling the 'heat' tomorrow night, facing elimination against the Boston Celtics. And with the growing popularity of sports betting, the NBA playoffs offers a potential money-making opportunity for fans. Trysta Krick, host of BetMGM Tonight, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
AAA Predicts Pre-Pandemic Levels of Travel This Memorial Day Weekend
As the holiday weekend arrives, travelers are bracing themselves for higher gas prices amid the inflation surge, but Robert Sinclair, AAA spokesperson, joined Cheddar News to discuss how the higher costs likely won't hold people back this Memorial Day Weekend. “We're near pre-pandemic levels. Nearly 40 million people are traveling. And of that total, about 35 million will be driving to their destinations," he said.
Load More