Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Friday, April 9, 2021:

FLASH: PRINCE PHILIP HAS DIED AT 99 - BUCKINGHAM PALACE

BIDEN ON GUNS

President Biden announced a number of modest executive actions on gun safety that do not require Congress’ approval, calling the country’s gun violence epidemic “an international embarrassment.” The president instructed the Justice Dept. to crack down on “ghost guns,” the hard-to-trace firearms that can be bought in a kit without a background check, and stabilizing braces that turn pistols into short-barreled rifles. He also nominated a gun-control advocate to run the ATF, which has been without a permanent chief since 2015. CBS NEWS

GUN VIOLENCE

Biden’s actions on guns came during a particularly upsetting week of gun violence in America. Police say a former NFL player, Phillip Adams, killed five people and himself in South Carolina. Before that, a mother and her two daughters were shot and killed by the mother’s ex-boyfriend in Brooklyn. He also killed himself. On the same day, two brothers in Dallas carried out a murder-suicide pact by shooting four members of their family and themselves. BUZZFEED

COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

The allocation of Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses is expected to drop dramatically next week as a result of that Baltimore factory that accidentally ruined millions of doses, a big setback to the national vaccine drive as it’s now averaging over 3 million doses a day. Pfizer and Moderna shipments remain steady, and the CDC says more than a quarter of U.S. adults are now fully vaccinated. Notre Dame is the latest college to require that students show proof of vaccination if they want to be on campus in the fall, following similar policies from Cornell, Rutgers, Brown and Northeastern. USA TODAY

CHAUVIN TRIAL: DAY 9

A pulmonologist testified at the Derek Chauvin trial that George Floyd died from a lack of oxygen to his brain, vehemently denying the defense’s argument that Floyd’s cause of death was from drugs or an underlying medical condition. Dr. Martin Tobin, a star witness for the prosecution, said: “A healthy person subjected to what Mr. Floyd was subjected to would have died as a result of what he was subjected to.” That is among the most damning testimony for the defense so far. STAR TRIB

AMAZON UNION DRIVE

Amazon holds a wide lead in the Bessemer, Alabama union vote, with about half the ballots counted as of this morning. So far, there are 1,100 votes against unionization and 463 in support. The union needs to win at least half the 3,215 votes to be recognized. The retail union that led the organizing effort is calling for a probe into Amazon’s conduct during the election, including a claim that it improperly had a ballot dropbox installed at the fulfillment center; Amazon says it did that to make voting easier. CNBC

STREAMING WARS

Netflix will be the streaming home to Sony Pictures Entertainment movies for the next few years, starting in 2022. All of the studio’s movies will go to Netflix after their theatrical runs; that includes the Marvel franchises owned by Sony, such as Spider-Man and Venom. Netflix has been mostly Marvel-free ever since Disney pulled its content for Disney+. Separately, WarnerMedia’s CEO reiterated that the straight-to-HBO Max deal is a one time thing that won’t repeat next year. IGN

MASTERS WEEKEND

Here’s something you don’t see every day: Rory McIlroy, making his approach shot on the No. 7 hole during the first round at Augusta, hit the ball right into a spectator -- who just happened to be his dad. McIlroy struggled with an opening round of 76 as he tries to win his first green jacket and complete a rare career grand slam. Justin Rose is in the lead heading into Day 2. ESPN

POSTHUMOUS PRINCE

Five years after Prince died, his estate is prepping a new album of “lost” music to be released this summer. The album, recorded in 2010 and titled Welcome 2 America, will drop on streaming service July 30. The title track was just released: LISTEN

SPOTTED...

…People across Israel, stopping in their tracks -- and cars -- as a siren wails for the Holocaust’s six million victims on Holocaust Remembrance Day: SEE IT

LEFTOVERS: BEAUTY QUEEN MELEE

The reigning Mrs. World beauty queen has been arrested in Sri Lanka after she ripped the crown from the head of another beauty queen, allegedly injuring her. Caroline Jurie, Mrs. World 2020, walked on stage at the Mrs. Sri Lanka competition last weekend as Pushpika De Silva was being crowned the winner and forcibly removed De Silva’s tiara, saying she didn’t deserve it because she was a divorcee: WATCH

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
SCOTUS Mississippi Abortion Rights Case 'Direct Challenge' to Roe v. Wade
The Supreme Court will be hearing arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health on Wednesday over a Mississippi law banning abortions after 15 weeks. Jimmy Hoover, the Supreme Court editor-at-large for Law360, joined Cheddar to break down the momentous legal fight. "This is the biggest abortion case at the Supreme Court in 30 years," he said. "It is a … a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade."
Global Rescue Helping Travelers in Natural Disasters
In recent years, extreme weather events like flooding and wildfires have become more frequent, and more severe - and scientists say global warming is to blame. Climate crises could leave people in need of help, and that's where Global Rescue steps in. The crisis response firm employs former Navy Seals and Army Rangers to rescue travelers from climate-related emergencies. Global Rescue CEO Dan Richards joins Cheddar Climate to discuss.
Grammarly Raises $200 Million for Product Innovation and Team Growth
Cloud-based AI-powered writing assistant Grammarly recently raised $200 million in a funding round that values the company at $13 billion. The funding will be used to help Grammarly achieve its goal of becoming more ubiquitous, as the company says it wants to be the go-to writing assistant for wherever people type. Grammarly also says it aims to solve what it calls one of the most critical problems facing people and businesses today -- ineffective communication. Grammarly global head of product Rahul Roy-Chowdhury joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
CODE (RED) Campaign Tackles COVID-19 and AIDS Relief on Giving Tuesday
Jennifer Lotito, president and COO at the non-profit (RED), joined Cheddar to discuss the CODE (RED) campaign as the organization looks to expand its mission to support both AIDS and COVID-19 relief. She explained that people can get involved in the campaign for Giving Tuesday and ahead of World AIDS Day by shopping (RED) branded products and even using credit card rewards points to add their own support. Lotito also pointed out that COVID-19 has also impacted HIV testing as people avoid clinics out of fear of the other pandemic.
Talking Men's Wellness and Mental Health With the Movember Foundation
The Movember Foundation is celebrating the end of Movember, the annual fundraising event that involves the growing of moustaches as a way to draw attention to men's health issues, including suicide prevention and prostate cancer. Mark Hedstrom, the U.S. executive director for the Movember Foundation, joined Cheddar to discuss the organization's goals and the fundraising partnerships it's secured. He also talked about normalizing conversations around men's mental health.
Why Far-Right Groups Have Adopted Viking Imagery; Understanding Viking History
On this episode of Cheddar Reveals, Dr. Dorothy Kim, Assistant Professor of Medieval Literature at Brandeis University, discusses the roots that modern-day white supremacy has in Viking history, despite its many factual inaccuracies; Vikings are often misunderstood and while their brutality is what's shown in popular culture, there are many misconceptions about who they really were. Philip Parker, Historian and author of 'The Northmen's Fury', helps break down the true Viking history.; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Viking Women.'
Understanding Viking History
Vikings are often misunderstood and while their brutality is what's shown in popular culture, there are many misconceptions about who they really were. Philip Parker, Historian and author of 'The Northmen's Fury', joins Cheddar Reveals to break down the true Viking history.
Load More