Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
J&J paused COVID-19 vaccine product at Dutch plant: Report
Johnson & Johnson reportedly shut down the only plant making usable batches of its COVID-19 vaccine even though many poor and developing nations are relying on the shots to immunize their populations. Published February 8, 2022
Hong Kong imposes its toughest social distancing rules to date
Hong Kong announced Tuesday some of its toughest social distancing policies to date as rising case counts and the omicron variant challenge the sustainability of China's zero-COVID policy. Published February 8, 2022
White House launches day of action to promote child tax credit
The Biden administration on Tuesday launched a massive outreach campaign to get millions of families to file their taxes so they can receive the second half of payments from the child tax credit. Published February 8, 2022
Harm-reduction policies for drug addicts gain traction under Biden administration
The Justice Department is reportedly "evaluating" safe injection sites, a haven where people can use heroin and other illegal drugs in an effort to avoid fatal overdoses, though it is still considering the "appropriate guardrails" around the sites. Published February 8, 2022
Canadian truckers disrupt major bridge traffic as Trudeau scrambles to end protest
Truckers blocked part of the busiest U.S.-Canada border crossing as officials scrambled to try to put an end to COVID-19 protests that have disrupted daily life in Ottawa and elsewhere. Published February 8, 2022
American University unknowingly distributed counterfeit KN95 masks, says campus newspaper
American University in Washington unknowingly distributed fake KN95 masks to students during the first week of in-person classes, according to the student newspaper. Published February 8, 2022
White House taps federal workforce to serve as ‘model-actor’ for pro-union behavior
The White House on Monday proposed ways to bolster union strength in the federal workforce and support private-sector workers looking to organize as President Biden draws a straight line between the labor movement and America's history and economic progress. Published February 7, 2022
N.Y. Dems face heat for maskless photo-ops
A pair of New York Democrats are taking heat for not wearing masks during indoor photo-ops even as they urge residents to cover their faces as part of the COVID-19 fight. Published February 7, 2022
Former State Dept. spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus to run for Congress in redrawn Tennessee district
Morgan Ortagus, a former State Department spokeswoman in the Trump administration, said Monday she will run for Congress in a redrawn Tennessee district, lending drama to the GOP primary and raising questions about former President Donald Trump's clout. Published February 7, 2022
N.J. ends mask rules for schools, gives local leaders the option to keep mandates
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday he will no longer require students and school staff to wear masks as of March 7, making him the latest blue-state governor to relent after two years of divisive COVID-19 mandates. Published February 7, 2022
Ottawa mayor declares state of emergency over truckers clogging Canada’s capital
The mayor of Ottawa declared a state of emergency Sunday to deal with truckers who've clogged the Canadian capital's downtown to protest COVID-19 rules. Published February 7, 2022
CDC expands efforts to detect coronavirus in wastewater, sees uses beyond the pandemic
Want to know if a COVID-19 wave is heading to your town? Check the poop. Published February 4, 2022
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds lets COVID-19 emergency orders expire
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Thursday she will end emergency proclamations tied to the coronavirus as states and countries around the world begin to treat COVID-19 as something that must be managed like influenza or other diseases and not as a public health crisis. Published February 4, 2022
Canadian trucker convoy seeks legal help after GoFundMe suspends fundraising page
Canadian truckers protesting COVID-19 rules said they are lawyering up after GoFundMe suspended their fundraising page. Published February 4, 2022
Austria becomes first Western democracy to mandate COVID-19 vaccine
Austria became the first Western democracy to require the COVID-19 vaccine after President Alexander Van der Bellen signed the mandate into law on Friday. Published February 4, 2022
Pelosi warns Olympic athletes against protesting ‘ruthless’ Chinese government
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned American athletes Thursday to beware of the "ruthless" Chinese communist government if they decide to speak out against human rights abuses while they are in Beijing for the Winter Olympics Games that begin Friday. Published February 3, 2022
Biden pushes for elusive unity at annual National Prayer Breakfast
President Biden told lawmakers on Thursday they need to spend more time with each other -- even if it's over lunch -- to overcome deep political divides and deliver on his push to unify Washington at a time when partisans seem to be drifting farther apart. Published February 3, 2022
Biden administration says Medicare enrollees can get free COVID tests by early spring
The Biden administration said Thursday that Americans covered by Medicare, the federal insurance program for seniors, will be able to get free COVID-19 tests from pharmacies starting this spring. Published February 3, 2022
Surgeon general says FDA won’t cut corners in approving COVID-19 vaccine for young kids
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is assuring parents that regulators won't take shortcuts in authorizing a COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech for kids younger than 5 as the Food and Drug Administration employs a two-step process to get a jump-start on the rollout. Published February 3, 2022
When will the pandemic be over? It’s complicated, scientists say
Don't expect President Biden or the World Health Organization to tell you when the COVID-19 pandemic is over. They're not sure themselves. Published February 2, 2022
