Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
CDC mask guidance gets mixed reaction in states
The White House and some Democratic leaders said they will adopt new federal guidelines on masking to prevent COVID-19, but the advice is landing with a thud in GOP-led regions, including ones that inspired the revision because of high transmission within their borders. Published July 28, 2021
CDC reverses mask guidance in high-transmission areas
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday advised vaccinated Americans to wear masks in schools and public indoor spaces with high or substantial transmission of the coronavirus, a major reversal of guidance issued two months ago as fears around the delta variant grow. Published July 27, 2021
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio says voices against the COVID-19 vaccinations are ‘criminal’
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday that anti-vaccine voices are "criminal" at this juncture in the pandemic, as the country fights a fast-moving coronavirus variant and schools get ready to reopen. Published July 27, 2021
Rep. Liz Cheney hails the late former Sen. Mike Enzi as ‘giant’ for Wyoming
Rep. Liz Cheney on Tuesday praised former Sen. Mike Enzi as an "absolute giant" for Wyoming following his shocking death late Monday from a bicycle accident that occurred days earlier. Published July 27, 2021
‘The nation depends on it’: COVID-19 vaccination drive replaces giveaways with arm-twisting
Efforts to get Americans vaccinated for COVID-19 took a forceful turn Monday with the Department of Veterans Affairs telling its doctors and nurses to get immunized within eight weeks. Published July 26, 2021
Biden to VA doctors: COVID-19 vaccination mandate is coming
President Biden said Monday the Department of Veterans Affairs will require its doctors to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Published July 26, 2021
Mayor Bill de Blasio: All NYC workers must be vaccinated or tested by mid-September
New York City workers must get vaccinated against COVID-19 or face weekly testing as of Sept. 13, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday, adding that thousands of teachers, police officers and firefighters to the health-worker mandate he announced a week ago. Published July 26, 2021
Medical groups call for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination among health workers
The American Medical Association and dozens of medical groups on Monday called for the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of health workers in the U.S. Published July 26, 2021
U.S., 20 nations demand the release of Cuban protesters
Foreign ministers from the U.S. and 20 other nations condemned the mass arrest and detention of Cubans participating in a wave of protests against the communist regime and the deprivations they face on the island. Published July 26, 2021
St. Louis mask mandate goes back into effect; Missouri AG Eric Schmitt says he will sue
The city of St. Louis and St. Louis County on Monday required everyone age 5 and older to wear a mask within public indoor spaces as part of an effort to thwart the fast-moving coronavirus. Published July 26, 2021
U.S. pivots to mandates, tough rules as vaccinations stall
After months of pleading and arm-twisting with the public to increase vaccinations, policymakers and employers are imposing mandates or devising rules that make life miserable for holdouts. Published July 23, 2021
Trump: Cleveland can’t be happy about ‘Guardians’
Former President Donald Trump wants everyone to know he's not happy with Cleveland's decision to change its "cherished" baseball team's name from the Indians to the Guardians. Published July 23, 2021
GOP plans Cuban freedom protest for day of Jan. 6 hearing
Congressional Republicans have lined up their counterprogramming to the first hearing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's select committee on the Jan. 6 riot -- a protest outside the Capitol. Published July 23, 2021
Cleveland Indians are now the ‘Guardians’: ‘We are loyal and proud and resilient’
The Cleveland Indians have changed their mascot name to the "Guardians," the baseball team announced Friday. Published July 23, 2021
Team USA doc: 83% of American athletes in Tokyo are vaccinated, but 100 still unvaccinated
Roughly 100 of more than 600 U.S. athletes competing in Tokyo for the Summer Games have not been vaccinated, the U.S. doctor said Friday. Published July 23, 2021
Ala. Gov. Kay Ivey fumes over worst vaccination rate in U.S.: ‘Start blaming the unvaccinated folks’
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said people are "supposed to have common sense" as she unloaded on unvaccinated people for driving coronavirus outbreaks and hospitalizations in her state. Published July 23, 2021
First lady Jill Biden hails Team USA as Tokyo Games kick off: ‘You did it during a global pandemic’
First lady Jill Biden hailed Team USA's sacrifices, "drive" and "faith" in Tokyo before the Summer Games formally kicked off Friday amid a sweeping coronavirus crisis. Published July 23, 2021
De Blasio bucks mask mandate as COVID-19 cases rise
Los Angeles County and other coronavirus hotspots are reimposing mask mandates but the Big Apple, the epicenter of last year's nightmare, is a glaring exception as cases climb due to the fast-moving delta strain. Published July 22, 2021
China rebuffs WHO’s push for COVID-19 origins study: ‘Disregards common sense and defies science’
A top Chinese official lashed out Thursday at plans for a second-phase study of whether the coronavirus leaked from a lab in Wuhan instead of developing in nature. Published July 22, 2021
Dr. Fauci: Trump team deserves ‘considerable credit’ for COVID-19 vaccines
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday the Trump administration deserves "considerable credit" for the development of the COVID-19 vaccines and the U.S. needs a politically unified stance against the virus, their "common enemy." Published July 20, 2021
