News Roundup 10/18/20

How a 2nd-Grade Class Sent a Science Experiment to Space

Blue Origin, rocket company started by Jeffrey P. Bezos, is intended for schools to have the opportunity of sending experiments into space. It was able to achieve eight payloads on a 2019 flight and in 2017, second graders in Indiana were able to send their experiments up. This opportunity is allowing young adults to test different scientific experiments.

Kenneth Chang said, “Any school district now that affords football can afford spaceflight”.

Source: The New York Times

China warns it will take Americans Hostage

Beijing is warning the Department of Justice to drop charges against Chinese scientists arrested in the United States and making threats to take Americans hostage. Americans in China will be detained if the demands are not met. The charges being prosecuted are Visa fraud and allegedly lying to U.S. immigration authorities about their active duty statuses. Most of the scientists have pleaded not guilty on charges.

Source: New York Post

Pelosi gives White House 48 hours to get stimulus done before Nov. 3

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the house, made a decision Sunday morning to give the White House 48 hours to complete a deal with Covid-19 relief. These 48 hours will ensure that a decision is made before the upcoming election on Nov. 3. There is lots of skepticism surrounding this relief package due to the back and forth that has been going on.

When asked about whether or not it will be passed before Nov. 3, Nancy Pelosi said to ABC News “That depends on the administration”.

Source: USA Today

Hall of Fame Fred Dean passes away at age 68

Fred Dean, 49ers defensive end, at age 68 passed away on Oct. 14 from complications of COVID-19. Fred Dean played for the San Diego Chargers from 1975-1981 and the San Francisco 49ers from 1981-1985. He was a 2x Super Bowl Champion with the San Francisco 49ers. Dean held the record of 6 sacks in a 1983 game against New Orleans Saints, until 1990. He retired after the 1985 season and was entered in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

Source: New York Times

Possible “Third Peak” of Coronavirus in United States

Cases in the United States of Covid-19 are continuing to rise. Texas has been one of the only states in the US to have a “slight decrease” within the last 14 days which ended this past Saturday. In both Vermont and New Mexico, they have seen an increase of Covid-19 cases as it has spiked up more than 117% within the last two weeks. 

Dr. Todd Vento, director of Telehealth Infectious Disease Program of Utah-based Intermountain Health, told NBC, “We are really struggling.” 

Many people over this last week attended a Trump rally in Janesville, Wisconsin without masks. They were in mass gatherings and now has people fearing a “Third Peak” of Covid-19 could be on the rise.

Source: NBC News