Longwood officer hugged, taunted coworker despite COVID fears, chief says

The woman said she made it clear that she feared contracting COVID-19. Hernandez ignored her and followed her into her work space, the report said.

TSA: Travelers who violate mask mandate face fines up to $1,500

The TSA issued an update to its recent mask mandate for travelers passing through security checkpoints, confirming that violators face fines ranging from $250 up to $1,500, for repeat offenders.

APH provides update after first U.K. variant case found in Austin

Austin Public Health provided an update on the COVID-19 situation in our area. It comes just days after a confirmed case of the U.K. variant was found in Austin.

San Quentin prison fined with record amount from California workplace safety agency

The $421,880 fine against San Quentin State Prison is several times higher than any others levied by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, commonly known as Cal/OSHA. Only a few others exceed $100,000, and most are several thousand dollars.

Vice President Harris casts first tie-breaking vote as VP

The Senate early Friday approved a budget resolution that's a key step toward fast-track passage of President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan without support from Republicans. Vice President Kamala Harris was in the chair to cast the tie-breaking vote, her first.

Employers added 49K jobs last month as US unemployment fell to 6.3%

U.S employers added just 49,000 jobs in January, a sign that that the viral pandemic retains a tight grip on the economy nearly a year after it triggered a painful recession.

US rushes to catch up in the race to detect mutant COVID-19 variants

Despite its world-class medical system and its vaunted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. fell behind in the race to detect dangerous coronavirus mutations.

US COVID-19 death toll surpasses 450,000

Coronavirus deaths in the United States have surpassed 450,000. The number of daily deaths remains stubbornly high at more than 3,000 a day, despite falling infections and the arrival of multiple vaccines.

DOD issues order requiring face masks on all military installations

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin signed a memo on Thursday ordering all individuals present on U.S. military installations to wear face masks under the most recent CDC guidelines.

Missouri lawmaker charged with selling fake stem cell fluid, claiming it was treatment for COVID-19

Federal prosecutors allege Patricia Derges, who was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives, knowingly sold fake stem cells marketed as a treatment for COVID-19, defrauding individuals for thousands of dollars.

Jobless claims fall to 779,000; layoffs grind on

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell to 779,000 last week, a historically high total that shows that a sizable number of people are still losing jobs to the viral pandemic.

State GOP repeals mask mandate, followed by new Evers emergency order

Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled Legislature on Thursday repealed Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ mask mandate, brushing aside warnings from health experts against making Wisconsin one of only 10 states without a statewide order.

Who will receive a third stimulus check? What we know so far

Congressional Democrats are barreling ahead on passing a sprawling coronavirus relief plan without any Republican support, likely ensuring that most Americans will receive a third stimulus check.

Trader Joe's adds $2 per hour in COVID-19 'hazard pay' for workers

Trader Joe's is raising its workers' pay by an additional $2 an hour during the coronavirus pandemic, as Los Angeles weighs an ordinance that would mandate an extra $5 an hour for many workers at large grocery stores and pharmacies.