Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Tuesday, June 1, 2021:

MEMORIAL DAY TRAVEL

ROADS & AIR: With COVID-19 cases in the U.S. at their lowest level in more than a year, millions of Americans hit the roads and the skies this Memorial Day Weekend. The TSA says nearly 2 million people passed through airport security checkpoints on Friday, a pandemic high. According to AAA Travel, travel is up by more than 60% compared to this time last year, and Las Vegas and Orlando were two of the most popular destinations. WASHINGTON POST

GAS PRICES: Demand for gasoline is nearing pre-pandemic levels, and prices in some states are at their highest Memorial Day level since 2014. According to GasBuddy.com, the highest prices are in California, followed by Hawaii, Nevada, Washington and Oregon. USA TODAY

REMEMBERING THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE

President Biden will travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma today to mark the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, when a white supremacist mob raided and burned the affluent Black neighborhood of Greenwood, leaving hundreds dead. The area was known as Black Wall Street, a thriving cultural and economic hub. To this day, no one has been prosecuted in connection with the massacre. 60 MINUTES

QANON AT CHURCH

Pastors are now expressing alarm about the growing number of congregants who believe in QAnon conspiracy theories. It comes as a new poll shows 15% of Americans agree with the QAnon contention that "the government, media, and financial worlds in the U.S. are controlled by a group of Satan-worshipping pedophiles who run a global child sex trafficking operation." AXIOS

TEXAS DEMS WALK OUT

Democrats in Texas staged a dramatic walkout of the State House over the weekend, to block passage of a restrictive new voting bill that would limit early voting hours, and make it easier for a judge to overturn an election if there are allegations of fraud. State Republicans said the bill will preserve the “purity of the ballot box,” and the governor has promised to pass the bill via special session. The house Democratic caucus sent a text message to members, writing, “Members, take your key and leave the chamber discreetly.” WASHINGTON POST

NETANYAHU OUT?

After 12 years as prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s days could be numbered. In an unlikely political alliance, Naftali Bennett, Netanyahu’s former lieutenant, and opposition leader Yair Lapid, are working to form a new government. Lapid is the head of the centrist party, and also a former TV news anchor and finance minister. If they can create a coalition, the two would take turns as prime minister. NPR

CHINA 3-CHILD POLICY

Facing a declining birth rate, China’s Communist Party says it will now allow all married couples to have three children, and also improve maternity leave and workplace protections. Back in 2016, China relaxed its “one-child” policy and allowed couples to have two children, although that didn’t do much to encourage families to have more kids. BBC

OSAKA

Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the French Open, one day after being fined for skipping her mandatory post-game press conference. She wrote on social media that she suffers from depression, and gets “huge waves of anxiety before” speaking to the media: "I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris.” READ POST

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

A sign that physical movie theaters are making a post-pandemic comeback: Paramount’s “A Quiet Place Part II” brought in $57 million over the Memorial Day Weekend-- that’s about what the movie was expected to bring in pre-pandemic. Paramount says, “We’re happy for movie theaters. This is a referendum on the future of moviegoing, so there’s a lot to celebrate.” Disney’s “Cruella,” also came out this weekend, both in theaters and available to rent on Disney Plus for $30. VARIETY

SPOTTED...

… Kate Middleton, dressed down in jeans and an H&M t-shirt, while getting her COVID-19 vaccine in London. The shirt costs $34.95 and is already sold out. SEE PIC

…Courteney Cox and Ed Sheeran, recreating the iconic ‘Friends’ dance routine, originally made famous when Cox and her on-screen brother, David Schwimmer, did the routine they developed in high school so they could be featured on “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve. SEE VIDEO

LEFTOVERS

Grabbing a cocktail to-go from a bar or restaurant isn’t just a pandemic fad. At least 20 states have approved, or are considering, measures that would allow restaurants to sell to-go drinks permanently. Prior to the pandemic, most states banned bars from selling cocktails to-go, but during the pandemic it became an important revenue source. CNBC

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
How Remote Work is Expanding Talent Pools Around the Globe
Mark Brim, President of Aquent's Recruiting Division Vitamin T, joins On The Job to discuss how remote work has transformed hiring and recruiting process across the board, and the latest trends surrounding remote hiring across the globe.
Miami Real Estate Market Explodes in Popularity During Pandemic
Miami's real estate market has boomed since early 2020, thanks to an overall strong housing market, remote work, and no income tax as incentives. The city is preparing to welcome even more residents as people relocate to warmer climates to work from home. Garrett Derderian, director of market intelligence at SERHANT, joined Cheddar to discuss the Magic City's red hot market.
Queen Latifah on Ending the Stigma Around Obesity, New Film 'Hustle'
Actor, entertainer, and hip hop icon Queen Latifah is partnering with It's Bigger Than Me, an initiative with the goal of ending the stigma around obesity. She joined Cheddar News to discuss how she is working toward educating others and having important conversations about the social struggles that come with obesity. “We can’t let the Queen Latifah’s of the world not exist. We need people to care about other people," the "Hustle" star said.
Venture Capitalist Moms Lead $12M Fundraise for Kinside Child Care Marketplace
Child care marketplace startup Kinside announced raising $12 million in a Series A round led by venture capitalists who are mothers themselves. The company aids parents searching for affordable child care easier by providing concierge support in a marketplace of verified professionals and helping them tap into flexible spending accounts (FSA) and other benefits. Founder and CEO Shadiah Sigala joined Cheddar News to talk about the fresh funds and the ongoing effects of the pandemic on the care of young children.
Truly You! Character Creator Shows Diversity in Children's Toys
When it comes to diversity in children's toys, we have come a long way as a society but we still have a ways to go. One group of students decided to take matters into their own hands. Truly You! Character Creator is a fashion illustration activity set made for youth by youth. Lindsay Buckingham, one of the toy’s creators, sat down with Cheddar News to talk all about it.
Joel Kim Booster and 'Fire Island' Cast on Putting Together the Gay Rom-Com
Perfect for Pride Month, Hulu’s "Fire Island" is a queer take on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The cast of the gay rom-com, Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora, and Matt Rogers, joined Cheddar News to discuss the groundbreaking film. "I had to write it completely and have something to point to, to say this is the story, this is actually good, this is something that people will want to watch," said the writer and star Booster. "And so it took a long time, but I'm very lucky and blessed that I had a lot of people along the way who believed in it."
Load More