Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Biden’s approval rating sinks to new low as the year ends
President Biden is ending the year with his approval rating at a new low, according to a high-profile poll Monday that finds the White House reeling from higher prices, the COVID-19 crisis and opposition to his social welfare bill. Published December 20, 2021
NYPD requires all cops to mask up amid COVID-19 surge
New York City police officers must wear a mask regardless of vaccination status, according to a new policy that coincides with a surge in COVID-19 cases. Published December 20, 2021
Moderna says COVID-19 booster offers ‘reassuring’ protection against omicron
Drugmaker Moderna said Monday its booster shot increased antibody levels against omicron in lab studies, providing what it called "reassuring" protection against the coronavirus variant that is ripping through many countries and will likely become dominant in the U.S. Published December 20, 2021
Schumer vows Build Back Better votes in the new year, wants to put senators on the record
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer told Democratic senators Monday he will not give up on President Biden's social welfare bill and will schedule votes in the new year so Sen. Joe Manchin III or other objectors must go on record in opposition. Published December 20, 2021
OSHA moves back vax-or-test deadline for private sector to Feb. 9
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration late Friday said it will extend the deadline for large businesses to comply with President Biden's vaccinate-or-test rule after a federal appeals court reinstated it. Published December 18, 2021
Feds slow-walk change in the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’
The Biden administration is resisting calls to update what it means to be "fully vaccinated," even though its own rhetoric and mounting data suggest an extra dose is needed to fight infection and the surging omicron variant of COVID-19. Published December 17, 2021
White House warns omicron will be dominant within weeks, bringing illness, death to unvaccinated
The Biden administration said Friday it expects omicron to become the dominant strain of the coronavirus within weeks and predicted the fallout will divide into two paths, causing mild cases among vaccinated-and-boosted Americans while the unvaccinated confront a winter of misery and death. Published December 17, 2021
Biden asks Supreme Court to reinstate vaccine mandate on health workers
President Biden wants the Supreme Court to reinstate his COVID-19 vaccine mandate on health workers who work at hospitals that receive federal funding. Published December 17, 2021
White House says Biden will win on Build Back Better as bill stumbles into 2022
President Biden will be victorious in getting his social welfare bill across the finish line, the White House said Friday despite signs the massive legislation will stumble into the new year without final passage. Published December 17, 2021
Dr. Fauci: Redefining fully vaccinated is on the table as boosters begin to be distributed
Redefining what it means to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is "on the table," Dr. Anthony Fauci said Friday, as the administration promotes a vaccine series, plus a booster, as the best way to protect against the coronavirus and its surging omicron variant. Published December 17, 2021
Biden pleads for wider vaccination amid omicron threat, warns unvaccinated of a deadly winter
President Biden told unvaccinated Americans on Thursday they face a winter of "severe illness and death" as he pleaded with Americans to use COVID-19 shots, including boosters, as a bulwark against the omicron variant. Published December 16, 2021
CDC panel recommends Pfizer, Moderna shots over J&J vaccine, citing rare blood-clotting side effect
COVID-19 vaccines that use messenger RNA are preferable to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday after reviewing data on an extremely rare but serious blood-clotting disorder linked to the J&J shot. Published December 16, 2021
Broadway struggles with COVID-19 surge; cancellations common
The winter spike in COVID-19 is exacting a heavy toll on Broadway, with top shows announcing cancellations due to cases among cast and crew. Published December 16, 2021
White House to companies: Hackers love to strike on holidays
The White House told companies to reset passwords, maintain IT staffing and patch vulnerabilities in their network in a Thursday memo that says hackers love to "lie in wait" for a holiday before attacking networks. Published December 16, 2021
France bans nonessential travel from the U.K., fearing omicron surge
France will ban nonessential travel from the U.K. on Saturday to try and slow the omicron variant that is surging on the other side of the English Channel. Published December 16, 2021
White House says no need to lock down amid omicron scare
The Biden administration said there isn't a need for lockdowns as the U.S. battles a coronavirus surge and the omicron variant threatens to romp through states in the coming weeks. Published December 15, 2021
NYC workplace vaccine mandate calls for fines up to $5K; de Blasio insists he’ll work with employers
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio issued an order Wednesday that says businesses will face fines that start at $1,000 and reach $5,000 per violation of his sweeping COVID-19 mandate that requires all private-sector employees to show proof of vaccination as of Dec. 27. Published December 15, 2021
Amtrak scales back COVID-19 vaccine mandate amid court order, fears of service cuts
Amtrak is backtracking on its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees after a court decision prompted it to reevaluate its policy and take steps to avoid service cuts the rules might have caused. Published December 15, 2021
NYC Mayor-elect Eric Adams selects Keechant Sewell to lead NYPD
New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams said Wednesday he will appoint Nassau County Chief of Detectives Keechant Sewell as the city's next police commissioner, making her the first woman to serve in the role. Published December 15, 2021
Georgetown University to require COVID-19 booster shots as of Jan. 21
Georgetown University said it will require people on campus to get a booster shot for COVID-19 by Jan. 21, a sign that some institutions will strengthen the definition of what it means to be fully protected by vaccines. Published December 15, 2021
