Yahoo Sports Where’s the relief?
Thousands of square miles in the western United States are burning. In its race to develop a coronavirus vaccine, America is facing a monkey shortage. And, about that COVID-19 relief bill...
It's Alex, filling in for Ashley.
But first, at least he had a good time: An 80-year-old hiker missing for three nights showed up at a press event for his own disappearance.
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Another coronavirus relief package rejected
It's becoming increasingly unlikely that Congress will pass a coronavirus relief package ahead of the November election. Senate Democrats blocked a $300 billion COVID-19 stimulus bill Thursday, with Republicans acknowledging that the proposal stood little chance. Dubbed the the Delivering Immediate Relief to America’s Families, Schools and Small Businesses Act, it offered additional unemployment benefits for out-of-work Americans, funding for schools and liability protections for businesses and health care facilities. Lawmakers have only weeks left in session before the election and need to pass a series of spending bills to avert a government shutdown at the end of the month.
The West is on fire
At least seven people are dead. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed. And more than 100 major fires have scarred almost 7,000 square miles in the western United States — a swath of land larger than the state of Connecticut. And authorities say they really don't know just yet how much damage the infernos have done. In better news: The strong, gusty winds over the West are expected to weaken Thursday and into the weekend, the National Weather Service said. However, low humidity and warmer temperatures will be enough for elevated fire concerns to remain.
"Every piece of vegetation was burning": How a dramatic helicopter rescue from the blazing Creek Fire unfolded in California.
What everyone’s talking about
The NFL is back. Here's one reason why all 32 NFL teams could — and why they won't — win Super Bowl LV.
"Worst-case scenario": On the front lines of the California wildfires, residents stunned by fast-moving blazes.
Warner Bros. is now selling bottled Butterbeer. But Harry Potter fans in the US may be out of luck.
Tiger on the loose! Tennessee authorities are looking for a tiger after reported sightings in Knoxville.
Jane Fraser named CEO of Citigroup, becoming the first woman to lead a major Wall Street bank.
"Live from New York" once again: "SNL" announces return date for in-studio shows.
The pandemic isn't halting climate change. But climate change may exacerbate future pandemics
The coronavirus pandemic isn't stopping climate change, according to a new United Nations report. In fact, the world is getting closer to passing a temperature limit set by global leaders five years ago. “Record heat, ice loss, wildfires, floods and droughts continue to worsen, affecting communities, nations and economies around the world,” wrote United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Not only that, but COVID-19 may only be the beginning of global pandemics – a future scenario in which climate change may also play a role. "We have entered a pandemic era," said a recent study in the journal Cell, written by Dr. Anthony Fauci and medical historian Dr. David Morens.
Real quick
Another 857,000 workers file for unemployment as layoffs persist amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Trump administration is sanctioning a Ukrainian lawmaker for interfering in the 2020 presidential election, labels him "an active Russian agent."
Michigan university sorry for hosting two "cafes," one for students of color and the other for white students.
Diana Rigg, a British actress who became a 1960s style icon as secret agent Emma Peel in the TV series “The Avengers,” dies of cancer at the age of 82.
Trump's tensions with the military grow after reports that he disparaged soldiers, generals.
University of Missouri students say they were blocked by the school's chancellor on Twitter after complaining about the lack of COVID-19 precautions on campus.
The Trump, Woodward saga continues
Both President Donald Trump and Bob Woodward have drawn outrage after details from the veteran journalist's upcoming book, "Rage," were made public Wednesday. Trump told Woodward early on that he knew the coronavirus was highly contagious and "deadly stuff," even as he downplayed the threat in public. But many critics said Woodward might have saved lives if he had shared that information sooner, accusing him of putting book sales over people. Woodward, in an interview with the AP, said he needed time to determine whether Trump's statements about COVID-19 were accurate. In a tweet Thursday, Trump said that the fact Woodward sat on the revelations for so long indicates the journalist approved of his response to the pandemic.
"Why in the world would he do that?": Trump allies and opponents question decision to speak to Woodward.
America is facing a monkey shortage
Critical to the development of a coronavirus vaccine, the scientific community is facing a monkey shortage. Before drug companies call on human volunteers, monkeys are used in preclinical trials to test a vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. But with more than 100 vaccines in development around the world, there aren’t enough monkeys to go around. Nonhuman primate research centers have been strained in recent years because of restrictions on imported monkeys from countries such as China and India, and a lack of funding to support domestic breeding. While animal rights advocates condemn using primates in experiments, researchers say it's essential for development of medical science.
A break from the news
10 popular holiday gifts to buy now before they sell out.
All the best movies we saw at Toronto Film Festival, ranked.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus, Senate bill, wildfires, climate change, Woodward, Trump: Thursday's news
