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Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Wednesday, March 16, 2022:
'ROOM FOR COMPROMISE'
Even as Russia stepped up its bombardment of Kyiv on Tuesday, negotiations between the two countries showed signs of progress. One Ukrainian official said the talks were "very difficult and vicious" but that "there is certainly room for compromise." Russian President Vladimir Putin had a different view of the proceedings, saying Ukraine was "not demonstrating a serious attitude toward finding mutually acceptable solutions.” The news came as the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovenia visited Kyiv in solidarity with Ukraine, as bombs rained down on the city. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the U.S. Congress today via video and President Joe Biden confirmed his own plans to visit Europe to meet with allied leaders. Biden is also expected to announce an additional $800 million in aid for Ukraine. AP
SEWER DATA SHOWS CASES RISING
The CDC's wastewater monitoring system is showing signs of a slight uptick in Covid-19 cases in the U.S., even as cases remain low overall. The data came as mask mandates are lifted across the country and workers return to offices. Pfizer and BioNTech also announced they are seeking emergency authorization for a second booster shot for adults 65 and older, and an audit out of New York confirmed that the administration of former governor Andrew Cuomo hid nursing home deaths from the public. Meanwhile, baseball fans are waiting to see whether their favorite Mets and Yankees will be able to play this year since NYC still has a private-sector vaccine mandate - the same one which has kept NBA star Kyrie Irving from playing most of the season. NY TIMES
Oh that’s just the CDC monitoring our wastewater, nothing to see here.
BIDEN CALLS FOR EQUAL PAY
The Biden administration celebrated Equal Pay Day on Tuesday with the roll-out of a measure aimed at closing the gender pay gap for federal workers and contractors. The president signed an executive order that encourages government agencies to ban federal contractors from seeking information about salary history. While the order is more of a prod than a demand, it does call attention to persistent pay disparities between genders. THE DETAILS
We’re all for equal pay. Let’s use an investment banker’s salary.
SENATE PASSES 'SUNSHINE PROTECTION ACT'
Sorry, early-risers. Daylight savings time could soon be permanent. The Senate passed a bill that would end the annual ritual of setting back the clocks during the winter. The Sunshine Protection Act, if passed in the House and signed by President Biden, will make some commuters' mornings a little darker, but on the flip side, many will enjoy an extra hour of daylight in the evenings during the winter. CHEDDAR
BIDEN FED NOMINEE DROPS OUT
Democratic spoiler Joe Manchin does it again. Sarah Bloom Raskin, Biden's choice for vice chair of the Federal Reserve, withdrew her nomination after the West Virginia senator announced his opposition. With Republicans all lined up to vote no, Manchin's rejection tipped the scales against the former deputy Treasury secretary. The coal-state senator didn't like that Raskin saw a role for the Fed in forcing banks to account for climate change risks — a practice that is rapidly becoming more common around the world. THE NEW YORKER
RENT COSTS SKYROCKETS
Housing costs have been rising throughout the pandemic. Now renters are feeling the pressure too, according to a new report. Single-family rents jumped 12.6% year-over-year in January, which is up from a 3.9% increase in the same period last year, and price jumps are more than three times that in some Sun Belt cities. Experts said the housing market has become so difficult that many prospective homebuyers are simply giving up and renting. CNBC
MEME-STOCK MEETS MINING
What does metal mining have to do with movies? We don't know, but you can try to ask AMC Entertainment CEO Adam Aron, who announced the movie theater chain is buying a 22% stake in a Nevada-based gold and silver mine. Aron is calling the stake a "bold diversification move." While the connection between the companies is tenuous at best, that didn't stop Aron from making comparisons. Just like AMC, he said, Hycroft Mining has "rock-solid assets" but severe liquidity issues. Now he just needs to convince /wallstreetbets it's a buy. BLOOMBERG
CHICAGO OFFICERS NOT CHARGED
The Chicago Police Officers who shot and killed 13-year-old Adam Toledo and 22-year-old Anthony Alvarez in Chicago last year will not face charges due to "insufficient evidence." The killings were captured on video showing the officers chasing after the victims before shooting them. Foot chases are widely considered reckless and are known to lead to unnecessary shootings. The incident has led to renewed calls for reforms at the Chicago Police Department, which has long had a reputation for brutality and misconduct. CHICAGO TRIBUNE
'ANNA DELVEY' FIGHTS DEPORTATION
Anna Sorokin, the subject of the Netflix series "Inventing Anna," who scammed her way into New York's high society by pretending to be a German heiress, filed paperwork Monday to hold off her deportation from the U.S. The 31-year-old German woman has already spent more than three years behind bars and is currently under the custody of U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement. One judge has already declined an appeal from Sorokin, but as several Manhattan art collectors could tell you, she can be very convincing. CHEDDAR
LEFTOVERS: EIFFEL TOWER GROWS
They say you get shorter as you get older. Not so, says the Eiffel Tower. The 133-year-old landmark is actually getting 20 feet taller with the addition of a new communications antenna. The digital radio antenna was carried up by helicopter yesterday as tourists watched from the esplanade below. Whether this sparks a trend in topping off iconic landmarks remains to be seen. AP
SAY WHAT??
"I just got very lucky and kept not getting fired. That's a real key to having a long career: keep not getting fired."
-- Actor Bob Odenkirk on his success in "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul"
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!
