News of the “murder hornets’” arrival in the United States has set the internet abuzz in recent days. Two of the wasps — the world’s largest hornet species — were discovered late last year in Washington state, and scientists have since been trying to track the invasive insects to eradicate them.But how did the Asian giant hornets — which have…
Tracking down COVID-19’s patient zero and how that person first contracted the coronavirus may take years, especially as U.S.-China relations tumble to a new low.On Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the details of patient zero are “in the possession of only the Chinese Communist Party.” Beijing denies any such cover-up. That heightened tension is complicating rather than helping…
Watch the CBSN Originals documentary “Speaking Frankly: Title IX” in the video player above.The U.S. Education Department finalized campus sexual assault rules that bolster the rights of the accused, Secretary Betsy DeVos announced on Wednesday. The new policy also reduces legal liabilities for schools and colleges, and narrows the scope of cases schools will be required to investigate. The change reshapes the…
Curling up with a good book is an excellent way to pass the time during quarantine — and what better place to escape to than the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Fans of the seven-book series can now have J.K. Rowling’s words read to them by Harry Potter himself. Daniel Radcliffe, who played the title character in the film series,…
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that barbershops and nail and hair salons can reopen on Friday, May 8, and gyms could reopen on May 18 with restrictions. The announcement came as Texas recorded more than 2,000 coronavirus cases over May 2 and May 3, the most the state has seen in a two-day period since the coronavirus crisis began.According to…
A roughly 2-inch long insect known as the “murder hornet” has made its way to the U.S. for the first time ever, researchers said. The Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia, has been known to kill up to 50 people a year in Japan, according to The New York Times, and has the potential to devastate U.S. bee populations, which have…
With plenty of time for binge-watching during quarantine, TV viewers became obsessed with “Tiger King,” the Netflix docu-series that followed big cat owners – some of whom are not portrayed in the best light. One subject, Carole Baskin, hasn’t done any press to promote the documentary — until she was tricked into doing an interview by a couple of YouTubers.The…
A 91-year-old fashionista in Georgia is not letting her wardrobe go to waste. While Georgia is slowly opening up, Betty McDonald is in a high-risk group for coronavirus and she can’t go out to socialize. But she’s found a new way to show off her outfits.”I’ve got three closets full of clothes … and jewelry like you wouldn’t believe,” McDonald…
A roughly two-inch long insect known as the “murder hornet” has made its way to the U.S. for the first time ever, researchers said. The Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia, has been known to kill up to 50 people a year in Japan, according to The New York Times, and has the potential to devastate U.S. bee populations, which have…
A new ad campaign from a pro-Joe Biden super PAC says President Trump’s mantra of “America First” has come to fruition in one arena — COVID-19 illnesses and deaths in the U.S.The ad, dubbed “First,” is set to run in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, three battleground states that were key to Mr. Trump’s 2016 electoral win over Hillary Clinton. Priorities…
Dr. Anthony Fauci has seen his face on T-shirts, bobblehead dolls and even donuts — but you know you’ve become a pop culture icon when “Saturday Night Live” does a skit about you. And Fauci was pleased to see he wasn’t portrayed by just anybody — Brad Pitt played him on last Saturday’ episode.In an interview with Telemundo, the 79-year-old…
Washington — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed Joe Biden for president Monday, saying that his work helping the country recover from the 2008 recession and role in ushering the Affordable Care Act through Congress make him well-prepared to lead the country as it looks toward recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.”Elections are about the future,” Pelosi, a Democrat from California, said…
Nick Cordero’s former “Waitress” co-stars got together virtually to perform Cordero’s original song, “Live Your Life,” in support of the Broadway actor who’s been battling severe complications from COVID-19. Sara Bareilles, Keala Settle and Jessie Mueller are among the performers in the tribute. Cordero’s wife, Amanda Kloots, cried as she expressed gratitude for the emotional and heartfelt video to everyone involved…
A national gun safety advocacy group is offering up new guidelines for mayors now struggling to manage two public health crises at the same time — COVID-19 and gun violence. In guidelines released on Monday, Everytown for Gun Safety is urging mayors to prioritize gun violence intervention programs, which have seen success using outreach teams to stop violence before it…
Brad Pitt portrayed Dr. Anthony Fauci in the second at-home episode of “Saturday Night Live,” that featured musical guest Miley Cyrus, an Adam Sandler cameo and plenty of disinfectant jokes.A bespectacled Pitt, speaking in Fauci’s raspy voice, tried to recast false assurances and misstatements pitched by President Donald Trump during the pandemic, for instance when Trump said there’d be a…
Claire Danes, a former child actor and star of the Showtime series “Homeland,” has spent a lot of her life on a film set. “That must be really weird,” said correspondent Holly Williams. “It’s not weird for me, ’cause it’s been my whole life,” Danes replied. And she has been a working actor for three decades, known for performances that…
A Connecticut woman who lost her 32-year-old husband to coronavirus complications said she later found a heart-wrenching goodbye note that he had left for his family. Jonathan Coelho died on Wednesday, after a 28-day battle in the hospital and 20 days on a ventilator, his wife Katie said on Facebook.Coelho, who worked at a courthouse in Danbury, tested positive for…
Washington — New York Governor Andrew Cuomo angrily denounced Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for suggesting states facing a budget crisis spurred by the coronavirus pandemic should declare bankruptcy, calling it one of the “really dumb ideas of all time.”Cuomo, a Democrat, has been pushing Congress to approve federal relief to cash-strapped state and local governments reeling from the coronavirus…
Wogene Debele was nine months pregnant with her fourth child when she contracted COVID-19 and was admitted to the hospital. Doctors were able to deliver her baby boy three weeks ago, but because of the virus, Debele had to be separated from him immediately.This week, she lost her battle with the coronavirus before ever getting the chance to hold her…
The coronavirus pandemic, which has led most states to shut down almost all aspects of social and economic life, is also raising questions about what life will look like by the time the general election rolls around in November. The public got a preview of what voting in the age of the coronavirus looks like during the Wisconsin primary election. Voters…
Wednesday, April 22 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, an annual global celebration in support of environmental protection. But this year, the coronavirus pandemic is making it difficult to get outside and honor the beauty of the planet. With the majority of the world’s population in some form of isolation, Earth Day events have been canceled. However, organizations are getting creative and…
Brad Pitt: Hollywood heartthrob. Oscar-winning actor. Weather man? The 56-year-old took on a new role Sunday when he appeared in an episode of John Krasinski’s digital show, “Some Good News.” Pitt served as the show’s guest weatherman — although his forecast was rather short.Krasinski created “Some Good News” to highlight positive news during the coronavirus pandemic. On Friday, he threw…
Kids around the world are isolated at home, but soon, they’ll be able to spend their “Mondays with Michelle.” Former first lady Michelle Obama is hosting virtual read-alongs every Monday for the next four weeks. Each Monday, Mrs. Obama will choose a different children’s book to read live at 12:00 p.m. on the PBS KIDS and Penguin Random House social…
An officer was killed and two others wounded in what police called an “ambush” shooting Saturday night in San Marcos, Texas. The suspect died from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the San Marcos Police Department said. According to police, the officers responded to an assault/domestic disturbance call around 6 p.m. Saturday. Officers were then “ambushed” by a suspect…