September 7, 2020 News Summary
US Politics and Economics
As November 3rd approaches, voters grow increasingly concerned about disputes and chaos over election day. Incumbent President Trump has expressed his distrust in mail-in voting, calling it fraudulent and encouraging supporters to test the system by voting twice-- once by mail and once in-person. However, state representatives and secretaries claim to have already performed stress testing to ensure the system’s legitimacy, and others accuse the president of undermining the people’s faith in democracies voting process.
As many cities struggle to recruit enough poll workers to even make the election process happen, Ms. Magazine writes that companies, such as Old Navy, Tory Burch, and Warby Parker, are offering employees the choice to take paid hours off from their jobs and, instead, work the polls. Per the Wall Street Journal, collectively, corporations across the country have amassed about 350,000 workers to do the job. Furthermore, Patch writes that additional recruitment efforts are springing up nationwide. Statistically, 67 percent of poll workers in past elections are over 61, an age at high risk of being infected with COVID-19. Thus, groups at lower risk for COVID-19, including high schoolers, will be vital in this year’s election. Nonetheless, whether the pandemic will impact this year’s voting attendance remains to be seen.
Texas Politics
Opinions over utilizing physical force to halt protests against police brutality vary heavily in Texas, contributing to the acclaimed divide in our country. Some are sympathetic to protesters while others support the President’s belief of “law and order.” Dallas News claims that “federal riot forces” have been “deployed... to Kansas City, Mo.; Portland, Ore.; Seattle and other cities.” In addition, “mayors and governors” have been “pressured… to accept federal law enforcement to quell unrest and even floated the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act to order active-duty military into cities.”
Health
According to CDC’s COVID Data Tracker, as of Sep 7, 2020, 1:16 PM, there are nearly 6.23 million cases and 188k deaths related to the virus nationwide. California leads with the most cases at 732k, Florida places second at 639k, followed closely by Texas at 638k.
Per CNBC, India has passed Brazil in the number of COVID-19 cases by reaching a total of 4.2 million confirmed cases. Moreover, India has the world’s highest daily increase in cases and confirmed 2 million cases in a single month. Additionally, the virus rapidly spreads through the country’s smaller towns and villages, but the government has yet to put forth major restrictions.
World Politics and Economics
As India alleges that 5 men were abducted by the People’s Liberation Army, the standoff between China and India over the Himalayan border continues. Per CNN's report, the Indian Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, tweets that a “hotline message” regarding the 5 “kidnapped” men has been to the Chinese army. It may be possible that while hunting near the border, the men crossed to the other side.
According to BBC, doctors treating Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny announced that he is out of his induced coma and has improved physically. Since being flown to Germany after taking in a Novichok nerve agent and falling ill on a flight in Siberia, his supporters suspect that the politician was poisoned on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who declines any involvement. Representative for Navalny, Kira Yarmysh, tweets, "News about Alexei. Today he was taken out of an induced coma. Gradually he will be switched off from a ventilator. He responds to speech and to being addressed to." However, the hospital reminds, "It remains too early to gauge the potential long-term effects of his severe poisoning."
Southeast US Weather
(The Atlantic) Both active tropical storms, Paulette and Rene, formed today. According to the National Hurricane Center, Paulette is expected to maintain her status while trailing west-northwest; on the other hand, Rene may intensify into a hurricane by early Thursday. A disturbance off the east coast and heading towards the Carolinas has a 30 percent chance of forming. The NHC further anticipates a tropical wave to move off the coast of Africa with a 50 percent chance of forming.
History could be made with the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season, as the end of the naming list is reached. With only 4 more names to go, storms using greek letters is more viable than ever-- a resort that has not occurred since 2005.
(The Pacific) The vast Pacific is quiet with the exception of a single disturbance with a low chance of forming, but will, according to the NHC, slightly develop.
(Local: Houston, Texas) Today is partly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain. The high is 91 degrees Fahrenheit and the low dips to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Rain showers may go through northern parts of Houston, but the Greater Houston area should be less affected. However, tomorrow and possibly on Wednesday, rain can definitely be expected over the Greater Houston area before returning to sunny skies on Thursday. In the next week, showers may reappear on Sunday the 13th through Wednesday the 16th.
Are you aware that… 12 years ago today, Hurricane Ike peaked as a category 4 hurricane and was moving into the Gulf to hit Houston?
Quick Query (Multiple Levels):
Easy: Hurricane Katrina was the costliest storm in U.S. history
True
False
Medium: A hurricane with a small eye generally implies…
Rapid Intensification
Weakening
Eyewall replacement cycle
It’s not really there
Hard: What does EWRC stand for?
Yesterday's answers: [Easy: False]; [Medium: 2.]; [Hard: 870 millibars]
To get live coverage of the latest hurricane updates on the tropics, visit the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Tidbits, CyclonicWx, or watch Force Thirteen. Please stay safe, and for more on local weather, visit the NOAA Graphical Forecast.
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Writers:
US Politics and Economics: Dylan, Miranda, Yijia, and Caleb
Texas Politics: Stephanie, Vicki, and Megan
Health: Matthew, David, and Owen
World Politics and Economics: Joseph, William, Jake, and Alexander
Southeast US Weather: Jade, Aiden, and Simon
Editor: VIA, Isabel, and Mingyi
(All writers and editors are in middle to high school)
HYNC-September-7-2020
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