ROUNDUP NEWSWIRES >>> NATIONAL NEWS ROUNDUP: The latest US news, top stories from around the nation – By Brian Harrod.

 

ROUNDUP NEWSWIRES >>> NATIONAL NEWS ROUNDUP: The latest US news, top stories from around the nation – By Brian Harrod PHOTO: Coverage of national news, U.S. politics, elections, business, arts, culture, health and science, and technology. https://roundupnewswires.com/index.php/2021/02/21/national-news-roundup-the-latest-us-news-top-stories-from-around-the-nation-by-brian-harrod/ BUZZ FEED: How Facebook Went Easy On Alex Jones And Other Right-Wing Figures "Mark [Zuckerberg] called for a more nuanced policy and enforcement strategy," Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone said of the Alex Jones decision, which also affected the bans of other extremist figures. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/mark-zuckerberg-joel-kaplan-facebook-alex-jones?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4 ### CNN: Oath Keeper Claims She was VIP Security at Trump Rally before Riot, Met with Secret Service agents A leader in an alleged Oath Keepers conspiracy in the US Capitol insurrection claims she was given a VIP pass to the pro-Trump rally on January 6, had met with Secret Service agents and was providing security for legislators and others, including in their march to the Capitol, according to a new court filing. I suppose walking up to an agent and saying "hi" counts as a meeting. I read another article on her that said when she found out she was wanted for questioning she drove eight hours to turn herself in to local police. Where the hell do you live that you have to drive eight hours to get to the "local" police? That, and when she got there they had never heard of her, She is going to have a real tough time in prison being Trans. I feel bad she was duped and possibly has serious mental issues, like many others, in the Trump's Q Cult, .... https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/21/politics/oath-keepers-vip-security-capitol-riot/ ### UPI: Man Begins Beer Diet for Lent An Ohio man is marking the Christian tradition of Lent by giving up solid foods for 46 days and getting the majority of his sustenance from beer. He says he did it the last two years and lost 40-50 lbs each time. I guess if those are Guinness, that's basically a whole day's meal ... https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/02/19/Ohio-man-forgoes-food-for-46-day-Lent-beer-diet/9531613765885/ ### AXIOS: Under Biden U.S. Vaccine Rollout Now Among Best in the World America's much-maligned vaccine rollout is actually going relatively well, at least compared to other wealthy countries. It's amazing how much the roll out of the vaccine has improved since the 300 lb Trump waddled off to Mar-A-Lardo. It could be argued that Trump is ultimately responsible for the deaths of 500,000 Americans simply because he couldn't figure a way to gain a personal, political or monetary profit from the effort to stop the virus from spreading..... https://www.axios.com/vaccine-distribution-by-country-us-rollout-doses-9c47fa53-6a2e-4c56-8792-dd31bee34b10.html ### BUZZ FEED: Jailed Transgender Oath-Trumper Fears for Her Safety Jessica Watkins, an Oath Keeper charged with conspiring to storm the US Capitol, has asked to be released from jail pending trial, alleging that she has been "treated harshly" and is at "particular risk in custody" because she is transgender. Wait...what??? Transgender Oath Keeper? Ok...the end really is near. So the Trump ranks really do practice inclusiveness...... https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jessicagarrison/oath-keeper-transgender-jail-jessica-watkins ### ASSOCIATED PRESS: How Will We Know We've Reached Herd Immunity? Health officials around the world are racing to vaccinate enough people to stop the spread of COVID-19, but what qualifies as "enough" is still an open question. More from the article... ...The goal is to get to "herd immunity," which is when enough people have immunity, either from vaccination or a past infection, to stop uncontrolled spread. Herd immunity doesn't make any one person immune, and outbreaks can still flare up. It means that a virus is no longer easily jumping from person to person, helping to protect those who are still vulnerable to catching it. Nobody knows for sure what the herd immunity threshold is for the coronavirus, though many experts say it's 70% or higher. And the emergence of variants is further complicating the picture. HOW IS THE HERD IMMUNITY THRESHOLD CALCUATED? It's a formula based on how contagious a virus is " or how many people catch the virus from one infected person, on average.... https://apnews.com/article/when-do-we-reach-herd-immunity-explained-8da12b3d4f6e33c0c6562f29f81ca52a ### NEW YORK TIMES: His Lights Stayed on During TX Freeze. Now He Owes $16,752. "My savings is gone," said Scott Willoughby, a 63-year-old Army veteran who lives on Social Security payments in a Dallas suburb. He said he had nearly emptied his savings account so that he would be able to pay the $16,752 electric bill charged to his credit card - 70 times what he usually pays for all of his utilities combined. For customers whose electricity prices are not fixed and are instead tied to the fluctuating wholesale price, the spikes have been astronomical. looks like the “Energy State” sure does know how to set things up so the “Energy Billionaires” can make a killing out of a crisis!. Deregulation is wonderful up until the moment that it isn't and innocent people are left paying for the decisions and mistakes of capitalists freed from reasonable oversight..... https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/20/us/texas-storm-electric-bills.html ### NEW YORK TIMES: Power Back in Texas, But Water Systems Are Hosed The end of frigid weather across Texas was in sight on Friday, but many residents who fled their homes this week in search of warm beds and showers were just discovering the extent of the winter storm's destruction. Nearly half the state's population -- about 13 million people -- remained under boil-water advisories after freezing temperatures overwhelmed systems providing clean water. Colorado also got near record cold and some snow. But the regulated utility delivered reliable power for about 2/3 what folks in Dallas pay. That's before Texans started getting $3,000 electric bills. the water continued to flow. All over the country except Texas wind turbines continued to spin and deliver power because they have deicers. Roads are plowed so you can go anywhere you want to. Enjoy your "freedum" Texas.... https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/19/us/winter-storm-weather-live/ NBC NEWS: Biden Approves Major Disaster Declaration Over Texas Deep Freeze President Joe Biden has declared a major disaster in Texas as the state reels from a severe winter storm that left millions of people without power amid freezing temperatures. After approving an emergency declaration several days ago, President Biden has now declared a “major disaster” exists in Texas and is sending more federal assistance. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing, home repairs & low-cost loans for uninsured property. Two questions: Do supporters of Texas’ secession from the US oppose disaster aid from the US federal government? Does Texas AG Ken Paxton, who joined case to overturn the election, consider President Biden’s emergency declaration for the state illegitimate?.... https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/president-biden-declares-major-disaster-texas-following-severe-winter-storm-n1258442 ### THE BBC: Alexei Navalny: Putin Critic Loses Appeal Against Jailing Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has lost an appeal against his jailing for violating the terms of a suspended sentence. Some say, this was the end game that former President Trump was working towards. Weaponizing the federal legal establishment for his own political gain... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56137020 ### REUTERS: Share of U.S. Workers Holding Multiple Jobs Is Rising The share of Americans working more than one job to make ends meet has been growing over the past two decades, and the pay from second jobs make up a substantial share of workers' earnings, according to a paper published by the U.S. Commerce Department. More from the article... ...An estimated 7.8% of U.S. workers had more than one job as of the first quarter of 2018, up from 6.8% in 1996, according to new data unveiled by the Census bureau, which provides a more detailed analysis of multiple job holders than was previously available. The findings were based on data from 18 states.... https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-economy-multiple-jobs-idUSKBN2AH2PI ### CNN: United Flight Sheds Debris over Colorado After Engine Failure A United Airlines flight bound for Honolulu was forced to return to Denver International Airport Saturday after suffering an engine issue... https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/20/us/united-airlines-flight-returns-debris/index.html ### POLITICO: Trump Gears Up for War with His Own Party There's no longer a chief of staff to screen his calls and he keeps no predictable working hours. So an unspoken rule has governed Donald Trump's calendar since he left Washington last month: To sit down with the former president, you must belong to his posh Palm Beach club or know how to contact him directly. More from the article... ...According to three people familiar with the planning, Trump will soon begin vetting candidates at Mar-a-Lago who are eager to fulfill his promise to exact vengeance upon incumbent Republicans who've scorned him, and to ensure every open GOP seat in the 2022 midterms has a MAGA-approved contender vying for it.... So, are we about to see just how much of an influence fmr Pres Trump continues to have over the Republican Party. My guess at this point is that his influence is stronger than many expect, but it may not play out as well as he expects.... https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/20/trump-republican-party-midterms-470370 ### MOTHER JONES: Georgia Republicans Doubling Down on Voter Suppression After Donald Trump failed to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, Republicans in the state's legislature are doing everything they can to make it more difficult for Democrats to win the next one. With almost no public notice, Georgia House Republicans introduced a 48-page bill to significantly change voting procedures in the state in a way that particularly targets Black voters in the Atlanta metro area. This followed similar moves by the state Senate earlier in the week.... https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/02/georgia-republicans-voter-suppression-bill/ ### Brian Harrod is the publisher and editor of the RoundupNewswires.com news website, as well as, the hyper local YonkersNewswire.com news and social media pages. You can learn more about Mr. Harrod at BrianHarrod.com. https://roundupnewswires.com/index.php/2021/02/21/national-news-roundup-the-latest-us-news-top-stories-from-around-the-nation-by-brian-harrod/