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

Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Tuesday, January 18, 2022:

VOTING RIGHTS

Senate Democrats will push for new voting right protections today that combine two key bills already passed by the House of Representatives. So far Democrats do not have the support needed to pass the bill. Still, the Senate cancelled its MLK Day recess in an effort to push ahead. Meanwhile, in a news conference yesterday with the family of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pressed lawmakers to take action on the legislation. NY TIMES

ACTIVISION FIRINGS

Dozens of Activision Blizzard employees have reportedly been fired or pushed out since last July as part of the company’s efforts to crack down on sexual harassment and misconduct. The Wall Street Journal reported the company received about 700 concerns of workplace misconduct, some of which were complaints about the same incidents, but a spokesperson disputes that number. The company was supposed to release a report on its investigation last year, but WSJ reported CEO Bobby Kotick, who has been accused of threatening a former assistant, turned it down, saying it could make the company's problems seem worse than they already did. WSJ
 

The kids playing their video games are better behaved than the adults making them. 

OLYMPICS TICKET SALES SCRAPPED

Days after reporting its first Omicron case in Beijing, China is discontinuing ticket sales for this year’s Winter Olympics in an effort to protect viewers from catching or spreading COVID. The country had already barred tourists from spectating, leaving little room for live viewing. Only selected invited spectators, who are thoroughly screened and tested, will have a front row view to this year’s games. Japan also cancelled tickets for spectators ahead of last year's summer games over COVID concerns. SCMP
 

We hope they at least have those creepy cardboard cutout crowds. 

AIRLINES ASK FOR ANOTHER 5G DELAY

Airlines are again asking the feds to push back the release of 5G wireless near airports. Service is set to begin on Wednesday, after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg personally intervened earlier this month. Companies warned the deployment could possibly ground thousands of flights and delay the global supply chain. Some airlines are now debating whether to cancel a number of international flights set to arrive in the U.S. tomorrow. REUTERS
 

5G. The G stands for grounded. 

SEA OF STOLEN PACKAGES

Missing a package? It might be on a Los Angeles train track. Thieves have been raiding cargo containers for months, stealing packages from Amazon and REI and leaving behind hundreds of empty boxes and unwanted items on train tracks. Seventeen train cars derailed in the city over the weekend, though it's unclear whether it was caused by the debris. No injuries were reported, and authorities said the derailment is currently under investigation. AP

AMAZON DROPS VISA DISPUTE

Amazon backed off on a proposed ban that would stop customers from paying with UK-issued Visa credit cards on its UK site. The tech giant originally complained over high processing fees associated with the credit card transactions, but then walked back on its quibble, saying it would work with the payment card corporation to resolve the dispute instead. WSJ
 

You can afford it, Amazon. 

PRICEY OJ

Florida orange prices are blooming, as the fruit experiences its shortest crop since World War II. The major cause is citrus greening, which spreads tree lice on the fruit and lowers its lifespan. Frozen concentrated orange juice prices have surged 50% since the pandemic began and the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported an increase in unusually small oranges this season. WSJ
 

And you thought mimosas were pricey before. 

OTHERWORLDLY GEM

A Dubai auction house unveiled a 555.55-carat black diamond, believed to have come straight from outer space. While the rare black diamond is naturally found in Brazil and Central Africa, experts believe the gem was formed by meteorites or its impact in colliding with Earth. The diamond, dubbed “The Enigma,” will be auctioned off in London, where it's expected to go for at least $6.8 million. AP
 

JUST out of our price range. 

BATTLING CROWS

Silicon Valley authorities have turned to $20 lasers to get rid of crows they say have been terrorizing Sunnyvale streets for years. For three weeks, city employees are spending hours scaring away crows with green lasers while also using a boombox to play the sounds of the birds in distress. The city says it had already tried chasing the crows away with a falcon before, but that only resulted in “limited success.” NY TIMES
 

Maybe some of these tech companies should pivot to crow defense systems. 

LEFTOVERS: GOLDEN GIRL

Bar patrons in Mineral Point, Wisconsin have been buying pints in honor of Betty White since 2019, hoping that one day the star would make an appearance. The town is where her third husband, Allen Ludden, grew up. White never came by, but even with her passing, they’re still carrying on the tradition by donating proceeds to animal charities, a cause that was close to White’s heart. Yesterday would have been her 100th birthday. WASH POST
 

America’s Grandma. 

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
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