Tom Howell Jr.

Professor vows to fight on after judge rejects ‘natural immunity’ exemption

A psychiatry professor is vowing to continue the fight after a federal judge rejected his attempt to block a COVID-19 vaccine mandate at the University of California. Published October 3, 2021

Bernie Sanders: Fight over spending plans isn’t ‘Red Sox playing the Yankees’

Sen. Bernard Sanders said an infrastructure bill "won't happen overnight." Published October 3, 2021

Dr. Fauci: ‘Precious few’ religions oppose vaccines

Dr. Anthony Fauci said it is exceedingly rare for a major religion to oppose vaccines. Published October 3, 2021

Progressive chair Pramila Jayapal: ‘Didn’t want to pit roads and bridges against health care’

Rep. Pramila Jayapal said the progressive caucus is flexing its muscle to remind President Biden of his own agenda. Published October 3, 2021

Gavin Newsom to mandate COVID-19 vaccine for eligible students

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday said the state will require eligible students to get vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of attending school in person, making him the first governor to take the step. Published October 1, 2021

Food stamp benefits to jump after Congress-ordered review

A pandemic boost to food stamp benefits has expired, but recipients are set to see a jump in assistance anyway, due to Congress' decision in 2018 to review how benefits are calculated. Published October 1, 2021

WH team pleads for vigilance as COVID-19 numbers improve

U.S. health officials pleaded with Americans Friday to get a COVID-19 vaccine even as the delta surge that dominated the late summer shows signs of easing. Published October 1, 2021

Judge upholds Univ. of California vaccine mandate against a professor who cited natural immunity

A federal judge upheld the University of California's decision to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine instead of siding with a professor who said he had natural immunity and didn't need the shots. Published October 1, 2021

Merck sees promising results in trial of COVID-19 pill, will apply for emergency approval from FDA

Merck on Friday said it will seek emergency approval of an antiviral pill to treat COVID-19 after it significantly cut the risk of bad outcomes in clinical trials. Published October 1, 2021

Rising reports of ‘breakthrough infections’ fuel vaccine skeptics, scramble reopening plans

Infections in people who have been vaccinated are being reported with increasing frequency and are complicating efforts to reopen society and promote the shots. Published September 30, 2021

Activists dump a pile of fake bones at home of Biden chief of staff

Activists dumped a pile of fake human bones near the home of President Biden's chief of staff, Ron Klain, to protest a failure to scale up coronavirus-vaccine production for the rest of the world. Published September 30, 2021

Biden faces boos from GOP fans at Congressional Baseball Game

President Biden can't catch a break these days. In a surprise visit late Wednesday to the Congressional Baseball Game -- an event held up as a kumbaya exercise in bitter Washington -- he faced a chorus of boos from Republican fans behind the dugout. Published September 30, 2021

Breakthrough COVID-19 infections upend ‘Aladdin’ reopening, Harvard classes

Breakthrough coronavirus infections canceled a midweek Broadway performance of Disney's "Aladdin" just one night after it had reopened for the first time in 18 months, a high-profile sign of how increasing cases among the vaccinated are bedeviling efforts to move beyond the pandemic. Published September 30, 2021

Drop vaccine mandate on private business, House GOP tells Labor Dept.

House Republicans told Labor Secretary Marty Walsh on Wednesday to stop work on a regulation that would require COVID-19 vaccination or testing at large companies, accusing President Biden of weaponizing the federal bureaucracy. Published September 29, 2021

House Democratic bill includes hefty fines for labor violations

The House Democrats' massive social-welfare bill includes a tenfold increase in fines for companies that "willfully" or "repeatedly" violate sections of labor law dealing with hazards or serious physical harm to employees, a push that could set the table for hefty enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine rules. Published September 29, 2021