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
Brian Flores Files Lawsuit Against Three NFL Teams
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores has filed a lawsuit against his old team along with the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants. Flores alleged that the league has been following racist practices in its hiring process. Former NFL quarterback and Sports Analyst and Commentator, Lester Ray Ricard Jr, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
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