Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Tuesday, December 29, 2020:

STIMULUS CHECK SHOWDOWN

The House voted overwhelmingly to raise stimulus check payments from $600 to $2,000, as President Trump has demanded, with a few dozen Republicans joining nearly all the Democrats. Now the action turns to the Senate, where it’s unclear whether Maj. Leader Mitch McConnell will take up the proposal, even as the president has said he was promised Senate Republicans would do so. Democrats are trying to use this as a political maneuver to show that Republicans are deeply divided on the issue of raising direct payments, in the hopes it could help them in the Georgia runoff election next week. The Treasury Dept. is scrambling to send the first $600 direct checks out this week, as it had originally promised before the president delayed signing the bill. POLITICO

COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

One in 17 Americans have now been infected with COVID-19, and 1 in 1,000 have died. The TSA screened 1.3 million passengers at airports on Sunday, a new pandemic record. New York state has approved a ban on evictions until at least May. Public health officials in the UK are alarmed by how quickly the virus is still spreading despite more than half the country being under a strict lockdown. NY TIMES

NASHVILLE LATEST

Federal investigators say they may never know why a 63-year-old Tennessee man drove his RV into downtown Nashville on Christmas morning and blew it up, damaging 40 buildings and knocking out cell service to the region -- while also warning people in the immediate vicinity to evacuate. Anthony Quinn Warner is believed to be the only person responsible for the suicide bombing. Investigators say his father worked for AT&T and they are looking into whether that may be relevant. An AT&T transmission facility was significantly damaged in the blast. Newly released photos show the extent of the damage to the area: SEE IT

UNJUSTLY JAILED

SAUDI ARABIA: One of the most well-known women’s rights activists in Saudi Arabia has been sentenced to nearly six years in jail under a vague counterterrorism law. Loujain al-Hathloul has been locked up for years after she was charged with agitating against the government for leading the campaign against the kingdom’s ban on women driving. Al-Hathloul could be released for time served as soon as March. AP

CHINA: A Chinese journalist who was one of the first to sound the alarm about the initial coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan a year ago has been sentenced to four years in jail. Zhang Zhan, working independently, traveled to Wuhan back in February and documented the first cases of the virus and the government’s early attempts to contain it. Her reporting stopped abruptly in May, when she was detained by police. Zhang was found guilty of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” CNN

YEAR IN CANNABIZ

Was 2020 the year that cannabis went from losing its last bit of stigma to becoming essential? The industry matured by leaps and bounds this year as many consumers saw it as a necessary salve for getting through lockdown. Cannabis-related measures swept the November election wherever they were on the ballot. Now activists and entrepreneurs are looking for signs that a Biden White House may be more pot-friendly than past administrations, though federal legalization would still remain highly unlikely unless Democrats win control of the Senate next month. CHEDDAR

DELIVERY DRONES

The U.S. is a one step closer to seeing the widespread use of commercial drones for package delivery. The FAA has issued new rules that will allow small unmanned aerial vehicles to fly over populated areas at night, clearing a hurdle for companies like UPS, FedEx and CVS to use drones as a means for delivering packages, documents and prescriptions. REUTERS

BILLS BLOW OUT PATS

In case there was any doubt that the AFC East torch has been passed, the Buffalo Bills crushed the New England Patriots, 38-9, in Monday Night Football after already clinching the division title. The Bills, led by superstar QB Josh Allen, have now swept the Pats for the first time since 1999. YAHOO SPORTS

LOUGHLIN FREED

Lori Loughlin has been released from federal prison and is back home with her family in Los Angeles. The Full House actress served two months for her role in the nationwide college admissions scandal. Loughlin reportedly had a “tearful reunion” with her daughters upon release. PEOPLE

SPOTTED...

… Nick Cannon and his partner, Brittany Bell, announcing the birth of their new daughter, Powerful Queen Cannon: SEE PIC

LEFTOVERS: GOLD HEADPHONES

Did you see the new $550 Apple headphones and think to yourself, “I wish these cost more?” Well, it’s your lucky day. Caviar, a Russian company known for making gold-plated versions of popular gadgets, is releasing custom AirPods Max plated in “pure gold” for $108,000 a pair. There are only two pairs being produced, so act fast: SEE PIC

Podcast scheduling note: We'll be dark this week, but back to biz in 2021. So bookmark our podcast and start 2021 fresh! 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
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