October 22, 2020 News Summary
US Politics and Economics
The second presidential debate took place this evening at 8 pm CDT Thursday, October 22, at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. The debate was moderated by Kristen Welker from NBC, and both candidates will have their mics muted while the other candidate is talking. The mute button were in the hands of the debate commission’s production crew. Topics in the center stage tonight included COVID-19, race, climate change, and national security. The six sections total encompass a total of 90 minutes.
Currently, according to the US Elections Project, 44 million ballots have been cast -- 32 million of which being mail ballots and 12 million being in-person votes. Texas leads with 5.3 million ballots, and California is in a close second with 5.1 million. With 12 days left until the election, Texas also has the highest turnout rate-- 60%-- compared to the number of ballots cast in 2016. To compare with the previous election, this time last year, there were roughly 6 million ballots cast.
Texas Politics
Even before the Trump administration made the “zero-tolerance” policy on the US-Mexico border situation, many children have been separated from their families. However, evidence proves that this issue is resurfacing. Texas Tribune reports, “On Tuesday, those lawyers submitted a court filing with a grim update: They have not yet been able to reach the parents of 545 separated children. About two-thirds of those parents are believed to be somewhere in Central America — without their children.” More than 2,800 families were separated in 2018, and about 5 out of 6 families are still in the US. Lee Gerent, an ACLU attorney, says “When we will find these parents is impossible to know, but we will not stop until we find every last family.”
Health
According to CDC’s COVID Data Tracker, as of October 22, 2020, 12:15 PM, there are almost 8.31 million cases and 221.4k deaths nationwide. California leads with the most infections at a total of 874k, and Texas follows with 833.5k cases.
(CNBC) On Thursday, the FDA approved Gilead Sciences’ antiviral drug remdesivir, which was also used on the incumbent President, as a treatment for COVID-10. “...the FDA granted the drug an emergency use authorization, allowing hospitals and doctors to use it on patients hospitalized with the disease even though the medication had not been formally approved by the agency.”
Science and Technology
Co-authored by Associate Professor Julie Shah, the book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting Robots: The Future of Human-Robot Collaboration,” “...explores a future populated with robot helpers.” Shah explains, “Part of the book is about designing robotic systems that think more like people, and that can understand the very subtle social signals that we provide to each other, that make our world work. But equal emphasis in the book is on how we have to structure the way we live our lives, from our crosswalks to our social norms, so that robots can more effectively live in our world.”
Staying at home has further increased contribution to air pollution, per BBC. “...accounting for 21% of total NOx emissions across Greater London, for instance,” burned gas from greater boiler use will likely rise “56% [by] this winter due to coronavirus changing work patterns.”
Southeast US Weather
(Atlantic) Tropical Storm Epsilon is still speeding up and will likely make its turn north this Friday or Saturday. The other storm currently skips across the Gulf, following the direction of the Gulf Stream, with an increased 30% chance of forming.
(Pacific) The disturbance has a 10% chance of forming due to unfavorable crosswinds. It moves about 6mph to the west.
( Local) The current temperature has settled around 81 degrees Fahrenheit, and the high for the next 10 days is anticipated to be 88 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 56 degrees Fahrenheit. During next Tuesday and Wednesday, there will be medium rain showers along with scattered clouds.
In Montana, the current recorded low temperature is 48 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas, in California, the heat and forest fires force evacuations from nearby towns.
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Writers:
US Politics and Economics: Dylan, Miranda, Caleb, and Annabelle
Texas Politics: Stephanie, Vicki, and Megan
Health: Matthew, David, and Owen
Science and Technology: Bryan, Yiqi, Amelia, and Joseph L.
Southeast US Weather: Jade, Aiden, and Simon
Editor: VIA
(All writers and editors are in middle to high school)