Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Friday, July 17, 2020:
COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: The U.S. once again shattered its own record of new coronavirus cases: 77,000 on Thursday --14,000 of which were in Florida. In Miami Beach, the party scene on iconic Ocean Drive continues; worried that the Manhattan nightlife scene -- which has moved to the streets -- is getting out of control, Gov. Cuomo told bars in NYC they can no longer serve alcohol unless it’s accompanied by food, and all walk-up bar service will be shut down. Meanwhile, Georgia Gov. Brain Kemp is suing the mayor of Atlanta for defying his order and ordering everyone to wear masks. AP
COVID IN KIDS: In Florida, state data as of July 10 shows nearly one-in-three children who have been tested have been positive. Health officials are now worried that even kids who have mild or asymptomatic cases may be at risk of long-term damage. X-rays are showing lung damage in some children who don’t even get sick, and experts say it’s just not known whether that damage will become a chronic condition. SUN SENTINEL
RUSSIA HACKING VAX TRIALS: The U.S., UK and Canada say they have good evidence that Russian hackers are trying to steal Covid-19 vaccine research. The hacking group known as Cozy Bear, which intelligence agents believe is closely associated with the Kremlin, is said to be using spear-phishing and malware attacks to break into the systems of organizations working on various vaccine candidates. NPR
What a cute name for a group of Russian hackers.
SECOND STIMULUS?The battle over the next phase of economic stimulus is about to begin in earnest next week. The Senate is expected to release its version of a bill, which the House will then reject, at which point both chambers will begin negotiating. At stake: is there any more help coming for small businesses or the millions of Americans who were laid off or furloughed over the last four months? The $600/week enhanced unemployment benefits run out at the end of the month. USA TODAY
MORTGAGE RATES RECORD LOW: Mortgage rates are below 3 percent for the first time ever. The average rate on a 30-year fixed fell to 2.98 percent last week. The 15-year fixed fell to 2.48 percent. These are the lowest rates since Freddie Mac started surveying 50 years ago. The real-estate market is all over the place: record low rates are creating a frenzy for many buyers with stable income, though record unemployment and overall economic volatility is keeping many others away. CNN
TWITTER HACK: The FBI is now leading the investigation into the Twitter hack that compromised the accounts of more than 100 V.I.P. Twitter users, including Barack Obama, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. All that’s known for sure is that someone got access to a Twitter employee’s credentials, which allowed them to control most Twitter accounts for a period of hours. It’s still not known whether any Twitter employees were complicit, or if they were tricked into handing over their information. WIRED
Are you telling us Obama ISN’T sending us back double the amount of bitcoin we sent him?
REDSKINS EXPOSE: In an investigation into the culture of the D.C. NFL team, the Washington Post talked to 15 female former employees who say they were subjected to repeated verbal abuse and sexual harassment from top team officials, including members of owner Dan Snyder’s inner circle, the team’s radio announcer, and scouts. While Snyder was not directly implicated, the women say he presided over a misogynistic and abusive culture off the field. READ IT
KANYE REALLY RUNNING? Kanye West’s presidential ambitions appear to be serious. The rapper has qualified for the general election ballot in Oklahoma and is reportedly taking steps to get on the ballot in Florida and other states as a third-party candidate. According to filings with the Federal Election Committee, a “Kanye 2020” group has been submitting paperwork to run for the last two days. NY MAG
Just imagine the debates.
SPOTTED...
Henry Cavill (and his biceps) building a computer from scratch on Instagram, because why not: SEE VID
If you like watching hot people read computer assembly instructions this is the video for you.
...the home used for the exterior shots in Golden Girls, on the market at $3 million (but it’s not in Florida): SEE INSIDE
LEFTOVERS: TREBEK HEALTH UPDATE: Alex Trebek says in a new video that his cancer treatment is “paying off” and that his “numbers are good.” Trebek, experimenting with a new goateed look, also announced that for the first time ever, Jeopardy! will air classic old episodes from its vault for the remainder of the summer: WATCH
