September 9, 2020 News Summary
US Politics and Economics
The decennial 2020 Census, a nationwide tally of all Americans, is facing numerous obstacles as September 30th approaches. For instance, the incumbent President and census bureau are on the fence concerning who should be counted. As the former attempts to remove undocumented immigrants from the tally, others worry that congress may not represent the entire country. The second obstacle, CNN writes, is the people. In parts of the country, government trust is at an all time low, and critics claim that Trump’s anti-immigration beliefs are frightening legal and illegal immigrants from participating. Lastly, the pandemic has placed strains on people’s livelihoods, complicating multiple plans, per ABC. Nonetheless, it is critical that the government receives accurate demographics of the people it’s required to serve.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been causing a major shift in the housing market because people are moving away from big-city apartments and into more spacious houses further away. A reasonable explanation is that the majority of workplaces have moved to an online setting, and, thus employees no longer have to worry about commuting. NPR reports that while this has resulted in a crash in the renting market, housing markets with great scenery have been boosted. The real estate company, Zillow, additionally reports that 3 million adults have returned to living with their parents, for there no longer is an incentive to stay in big cities.
Texas Politics
Throughout Texas, living centers for those with disabilities have disallowed face-to-face visitors for the 3,000 patients since March -- all in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Texas Tribune quotes Kelli Weldon, a spokesperson of the Health and Human Services Commission, who announced, “...we are following state and federal guidance limiting visitors to each SSLC to protect the health and safety of the people in these facilities, and we have worked to accommodate virtual visits and have received positive feedback from many families on those.” Relatives and loved ones express that many of those disabilities can’t grasp why family members aren’t visiting and struggle with online communication. Kelle Wood Rich, head of the Central Texas Autism Center, sympathizes, “Some of these kids have comorbidity with other disorders such as deafness, blindness, intellectual disabilities, and having that glass barrier, they don't understand it, you can't explain it.”
Health
According to CDC’s COVID Data Tracker, as of Sep 8, 2020, 1:16 PM, there are over 6.3 million cases and 189k deaths nationwide. California has the most amount of infections at nearly 738k, Florida with almost 643k, and Texas closely behind at 641.8k.
Per NBC, a study by four American economists and published by the German-based IZA Institute of Labor Economics, deduce that the crowded conditions with “minimal mask-wearing and social distancing by attendees” caused an event in Sturgis to result in about 266.8k COVID-19 infections. However, Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota alleges that the study was not “factual whatsoever,” followed it up by saying that the study was “a lot of speculation,” and that they did “napkin math and made up some of the numbers.” Nonetheless, at this time, South Dakota recorded a 126 percent increase, over 3,700 cases, in the last two weeks.
{NYTimes) Recently a study has found evidence that in certain people, COVID-19 attacks the brain. It hijacks the nearest brain cells to make copies of the virus and/or starve to death, while stealing all the oxygen. Additionally on Monday, Britain will br banning most get-togethers with more than 6 people, and those who break the new rules will be fined or arrested.
World Politics and Economics
As U.S. competes with China, Russia, and whatever other major rivals may emerge, it will be less about aircraft carriers, fighter jets, nuclear submarines, and stealth bombers but rather centered around helping other governments meet the vital needs of their citizens. China’s rapid and ambitious modernization of its military, and particularly its navy, will make it challenging for others to match it ship for ship in soft power and public goods.
Science and Technology
CNN reports that Google Maps has officially added traffic light icons at intersections in some of the U.S.’ major cities. Google declares that this update allows drivers to be more informed on the road, since,“ and the public awaits a second update for a redrawing of sidewalks and a "color-mapping algorithmic technique" for identification of varying terrains.
The ‘brushing’ scam occurs wher sellers set up fake accounts using names and addressed from a leaked database, send parcels that were not actually ordered, and write positive reviews for their own product.
CNET writes that Rameez Anward’s phone had many malfunctions. The device, paid by “the federally funded Lifeline program for low-income people”, is seemingly overcome with pop-up ads, and Nathan Collier, who works at Malwarebytes.Collier, confirms that the phone's settings and apps contained bad things that made it load corrupted apps known as adware.
In an iPhone 12 trailer from Apple, the lates model contains three updated cameras, similar to the iPhone 11 Pro. New colors include “rose pink,” “navy blue,” and a dark green.
Engineers at MIT have made a food sensor to detect signs of spoilage or bacterial contamination. In “a fillet of raw fish...injected with... E. coli. After less than a day, they found that the part of the sensor that was printed with bacteria-sensing bioink turned from blue to red — a clear sign that the fish was contaminated. After a few more hours, the pH-sensitive bioink also changed color, signaling that the fish had also spoiled.”
Southeast US Weather
(The Atlantic) In the Atlantic, there are 2 systems active: Paulette and Rene. The former moves north and heads into some wind shear, while Rene is expected to become a hurricane by Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, there are 2 disturbances to watch, with one disturbance coming off the coast of Africa and one by the east coast. Disturbance 1 by the east coast has a low chance of forming although it could intensify if more convection blows up around its Low-Level Circulation (LLC). This disturbance is heading west towards the Carolinas and might become a brief tropical storm. Disturbance 2, however, is doing well with a medium chance of forming and is about to move off the African Coast. Although it has a medium chance of forming there is currently strong shear around Cape Verde Islands which could slow its development. Otherwise, it is expected to decrease in the next 5 days.
(Pacific) The Pacific is starting to have some activity again with 2 disturbances but however both of them have a low chance of forming and moving along the west side of Mexico.
(Local: Houston, Texas) Today is mostly cloudy with some showers in the area, a high of 91 degrees Fahrenheit, and a low of 75 degrees Fahrenheit. In the 10-day forecast, it will stay cloudy until Friday before clouds roll in again with a 60 percet chance of rain on Sunday to next Friday or Saturday.
Are you aware… that 120 years ago the Great Storm of 1900 had just made landfall in Galveston?
Quick Query (Multiple Levels)
Easy: A tropical storm has winds up to?
30-35 mph
10-20 mph
40-74 mph
120-200 mph
Medium: Tropical cyclones can form in the Southern Hemisphere
True
False
Hard: Guess the storm below:
Monday’s answers: [Easy: True]; [Medium: 1. Rapid Intensification]; [Hard: Eyewall Replacement Cycle]
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Writers:
US Politics and Economics: Dylan, Miranda, and Annabelle
Texas Politics: Stephanie, Vicki, and Megan
Health: Matthew, David, and Owen
World Politics and Economics: Joseph, William, Jake, and Alexander
Science and Technology: Bryan, Yiqi, and Amelia
Southeast US Weather: Jade, Aiden, and Simon
Editor: VIA, Isabel, and Susanna
(All writers and editors are in middle to high school)
HYNC -September-9
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