CNN: Local reporters in Covid hot spots push to break through to the unvaccinated. “As the Delta variant continues to spread, particularly among the unvaccinated, local reporters in Covid-19 hot spots are struggling to get through to vaccine resisters.”
Local 10: Landlords, tenants fill courts as eviction moratorium ends. “Historic amounts of rental assistance allocated by Congress had been expected to avert a crisis. But the distribution has been painfully slow: Only about $3 billion of the first tranche of $25 billion had been distributed through June by states and localities. A second amount of $21.5 billion will go to the states. More than 15 million people live in households that owe as much as $20 billion to their landlords, according to the Aspen Institute. As of July 5, roughly 3.6 million people in the U.S. said they faced eviction in the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey.”
New York Times: To Fight Vaccine Lies, Authorities Recruit an ‘Influencer Army’. “Fewer than half of all Americans age 18 to 39 are fully vaccinated, compared with more than two-thirds of those over 50, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And about 58 percent of those age 12 through 17 have yet to receive a shot at all. To reach these young people, the White House has enlisted an eclectic army of more than 50 Twitch streamers, YouTubers, TikTokers and the 18-year-old pop star Olivia Rodrigo, all of them with enormous online audiences.”
ABC 7: ‘More assertive’: Kaiser Permanente, others announce COVID-19 vaccine requirements. “There is a growing list of companies demanding proof of vaccination. On Monday, Kaiser Permanente announced how it plans to take protection a step further. It will now require all employees and physicians to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, and the more transmissible, more infectious Delta variant.”
The Scotsman: Covid Scotland: Social distancing removed but face masks and home working to remain as Level 0 ends on Monday. “Social distancing requirements will end in most settings, limits on outdoor gatherings will be lifted, and venues such as nightclubs can open. However, the legal requirement to wear face coverings will remain ‘for some time to come, including for older children in schools.”
GQ: Gen Z Are “Puriteens,” But Not For The Reasons You Think. “While generalizing about tens of millions of people is always difficult, a series of studies in recent years have reported that teens since the tail end of the millennial generation trend towards being less sexually active; they launch their sex lives later and have fewer sex partners than earlier generations. Gen Zers themselves—defined as those currently aged between 6 and 24—are aware of how they’re perceived.”
Women Love Tech: Simone Biles Is The First Olympian With A Personal Emoji! . “The Olympics never disappoints when it comes to keeping us on the end of our seat. But this time, we’re not talking about what’s happening on the track, but off it. Simone Biles has made history by becoming the first Olympian to be given her own emoji.”
CNET: Intel expands AI career education program to 18 community colleges. “The AI for Workforce Program offers students courses on data collection, computer vision, AI model training, coding, the societal impacts and ethics of AI technology. Students who complete the program will be awarded a certificate or associate degree in artificial intelligence.”
ABC 33: Alabama pharmacists, clinics see increased demand for COVID-19 vaccines. “Just 34 percent of Alabama’s population is fully vaccinated, which is lowest in the nation. However, demand for vaccines is increasing and that’s encouraging for health leaders.”
Bleeping Computer: BlackMatter ransomware gang rises from the ashes of DarkSide, REvil. “A new ransomware gang named BlackMatter is purchasing access to corporate networks while claiming to include the best features from the notorious and now-defunct REvil and DarkSide operations.”
Tampa Bay Times: Florida leads the nation in kids hospitalized for COVID. “Florida had 32 pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations per day between July 24 and 30, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adjusted for population, that’s 0.76 kids hospitalized per 100,000 residents, the highest rate in the country. The Florida Department of Health reported 10,785 new COVID-19 infections among children under 12 between July 23 and 29. That’s an average of 1,540 new cases per day.”
NBC News: A D for NASA, a C for HUD: Senate report warns agencies unprepared for cyberattacks. “A number of federal agencies are woefully unprepared for cyberattacks, while others ‘have not met the basic cybersecurity standards necessary to protect America’s sensitive data,’ according to a report released Tuesday by the Senate committee overseeing homeland security.”
The Conversation: Instagram’s privacy updates for kids are positive. But plans for an under-13s app means profits still take precedence. “Facebook recently announced significant changes to Instagram for users aged under 16. New accounts will be private by default, and advertisers will be limited in how they can reach young people. The new changes are long overdue and welcome. But Facebook’s commitment to childrens’ safety is still in question as it continues to develop a separate version of Instagram for kids aged under 13.”
NBC News: Biden to announce U.S. has delivered more than 100 million Covid shots abroad. “President Joe Biden will announce Tuesday that his administration has delivered more than 100 million Covid vaccine doses abroad — more than the donations of all other countries combined, the White House said.”
Mashable: Want to learn and share more about local Black history? Start with Google Maps.. “April Hamm knows Google Maps is more than just a tool to navigate from point A to B. She’s harnessed the power of the app to teach people about Black history in her current city of New Orleans. Though she grew up in a small town in Georgia, Hamm spent a lot of time visiting New Orleans as a kid. Since 2017, Hamm’s been a Google Maps Local Guide for her adopted city.”
