There was a mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado on March 22nd, leaving 10 people dead. After such tragedies, there's usually a surge in public debate over gun control and quick legislative responses—but in many states, gun laws have actually been loosened rather than strengthened. It’s unclear what will happen this time, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has ruled that states can restrict open carry. Meanwhile, the 6th Circuit said bump stocks aren’t classified as machine guns. President Biden is pushing Congress to consider a ban on assault-style weapons.
I never thought I'd be writing about Marco Rubio discussing Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) near military bases, but here we are—and his take is surprisingly measured, given the topic:
[Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xcg3H0uXJM]
A massive container ship, the Ever Given, is stuck in the Suez Canal, blocking one of the world’s most critical trade routes. Efforts to free it have taken days with no success so far, causing major disruptions to global supply chains. This could affect everything from groceries to electronics. Maybe now’s a good time to stock up on essentials like coffee and toilet paper—both are being impacted.
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Twitter post by Michael Sheetz:
"New @planetlabs satellite imagery shows the shipping traffic backup in the Gulf of Suez behind the stuck Ever Given. The Suez Canal handles 12% of global seaborne trade, with the blockage disrupting over $9 billion a day of goods."
Gas prices are climbing again, with the national average nearing $3 per gallon. In California, where gas is the most expensive, the average is now $3.88.
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Twitter post by Steven Russolillo:
"Gas prices are surging again, with the national average approaching $3 a gallon. In California, the most expensive market, average prices stand at $3.88."
This article is fascinating—it details the detective work needed to figure out why eagles were dying suddenly across the American South. What frustrates me is how gently the discovery of bromide in the water is presented. I get that journalists and researchers often need to be diplomatic to avoid losing funding or credibility, especially when dealing with powerful corporations. But the fact remains: there's a lot of bromide in the water, and identifying the source of this dangerous neurotoxin is crucial—yet it's mentioned almost as an afterthought.
Tornadoes caused widespread damage across Alabama and Tennessee, and 50 million people are still under threat of severe weather. Tens of thousands remain without power.
Globally, there are over 126 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 3.7 million new infections reported in the last week. Over 2.7 million people have died worldwide. In the U.S., there are more than 30.7 million cases, and over 559,000 Americans have lost their lives. The U.S. saw nearly 60,000 new cases in the past 24 hours, with 990 deaths reported. Brazil is currently leading in daily deaths and new cases, with over 2,600 deaths and nearly 100,000 new cases reported each day.
Many states are now opening up vaccine eligibility to all adults, and some are even allowing those over 16 to get vaccinated. There’s a helpful timeline online showing vaccination schedules for various states.
The U.S. may soon face a surplus of vaccines. To manage this, we could accelerate eligibility, encourage primary care providers to educate hesitant patients, and share excess doses with other countries.
Over 29 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses were illegally stored in an Italian factory. What’s most upsetting isn’t just the theft, but the fact that half the population could have been vaccinated with them. Only about 4% of Italians are currently vaccinated.
FEMA is offering financial assistance for funeral costs if you lost someone to COVID-19. Starting in April, eligible families can receive help with expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.
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Twitter post by FEMA:
"We all experienced so much grief during the last year. If you have lost someone due to COVID-19, we will start providing financial assistance in April for funeral expenses suffered after January 20, 2020."
AstraZeneca made another mistake in its already chaotic vaccine rollout by releasing outdated data on its U.S. efficacy rate. The National Institutes of Health had to step in to clarify. Eventually, the updated efficacy rate was found to be slightly lower (76% vs. 79%) for preventing symptomatic disease, but it remains 100% effective against severe illness and death.
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Twitter post by BNO News:
"Updated figures from AstraZeneca's vaccine trial in the U.S.: 76% efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19, down from the earlier 79%. Efficacy against severe disease remains 100%."
It's unimaginable to think about intubating a patient without anesthesia. That’s the reality in parts of Brazil, where the pandemic is spiraling out of control.
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Twitter post by Crawford Kilian:
"Brazil: 'It's like a punch in the stomach': anesthetist fears war scenes with a lack of sedatives for intubated patients."
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