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Today marks the inaugural weekday of congestion pricing in NYC and drivers have their first experience dealing with its controversial new tolling system.
The e-bike and e-scooter safety bill is moving closer to becoming law.
Table of Contents
Bird flu
Bird flu is a type of influenza that most commonly infects birds; however, humans can also contract this virus and suffer devastating symptoms. Although human cases of bird flu are rarer but potentially deadly.
This outbreak in the US began in 2022 with H5N1 high-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This strain can quickly kill chickens and other domesticated birds in poultry farms; additionally it has affected wild waterfowl as well as traveling along migration routes into Europe, Asia and Africa.
As recently as early this year, H5N1 virus hit dairy cow herds and infected cattle became sick; some individuals in close contact with these infected cattle became ill as well; some were hospitalized and one even passed away from infection; but no evidence has shown it has spread between people yet. The CDC tracks outbreaks of H5N1 in the US via their map; if you come into close contact with poultry or dairy cows you should speak with your physician regarding antiviral medicine treatment options.
Winter storm
Winter storms often bring dangerous ice, snow and freezing rain conditions to millions of Americans across the United States, threatening power outages as well as making driving and walking hazardous or even impossible.
Over a dozen states are in the path of an unprecedented winter storm that is dropping record amounts of snow on the Plains and Midwest before moving east toward densely populated East Coast areas. According to National Weather Service forecasts, this system could be among the strongest to impact this region in years.
Kentucky and Virginia have declared states of emergency, and residents are being advised by government officials not to travel unless absolutely necessary. Many schools from Kansas to Missouri closed, as did numerous airlines canceled flights yesterday and today; yet for some children, snow days meant an opportunity for some sledding fun; in Delaware one family headed out to Rockford Park and enjoyed themselves!
Guantanamo Bay detainees
Twenty years ago, the United States opened an offshore detention facility known as Guantanamo Bay with the intent to bypass legal processes and hold people indefinitely without charge or trial. Guantanamo Bay once held 779 prisoners; today 39 remain and none have been charged or convicted for any crime.
Some prisoners have been approved for transfer or release, yet Congress has blocked those efforts. Others remain mired in an endless military commission case while still others may agree to plea deals that will eventually get them out.
Many detainees at Guantanamo Bay are torture survivors. One was 14 at the time he was captured, experiencing abuse such as having his head slammed against the floor and cigarettes being stubbed out on his arm before Reprieve lawyers secured his release. His story shows how innocent people can become caught up in US government counterterrorism policies; listen to this week’s edition of All Things Considered for more on his case!
Hulu + Fubo merger
Hulu, Fox and Warner Bros Discovery have decided to join forces and combine their live TV offerings into one entity, owned by Disney with 70% ownership and set for launch this summer. Disney will pay $220 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Fubo as part of this settlement while providing a $145 million term loan loan facility.
What it Means:
The deal will strengthen Disney’s position in the virtual multichannel video provider (vMVPD) market, giving it more competition against YouTube TV. Fubo will remain under current management while being overseen by a board chosen by Disney; their current management team will remain intact while being subject to board governance chosen by Disney; once combined service will boast over 6.2 million subscribers offering programming packages tailored specifically for consumer preferences at attractive price points as per news release; additionally they will launch a Sports & Broadcast service featuring networks including ABC, ESPN2, ESPNU SECN ACCN EWS plus streaming platform ESPN+