An outage at the FAA disrupts thousands of flights; assault rifles banned in Illinois and the COVID-19 public health emergency extended. These stories and more highlight the midday rundown for Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.
COVID-19 public health emergency extended
The Department of Health and Human Services has extended the COVID-19 public health emergency today. It’s something that was expected happen this week. This means COVID-19 tests and vaccines will continue to be paid for by the government.
Once the public health emergency ends, insurance companies will largely be responsible for the costs of COVID-19 treatments.
The administration is reportedly looking to end the public health emergency this spring.
7,700 flights canceled or delayed
There’s been nearly 7,000 flights delayed today and more than 1,000 canceled. The FAA experienced an outage this morning. It affected part of its system that relays important safety alerts to pilots on airborne issues and ground traffic at airports.
All airplanes were grounded until the system was fixed. Now, it’s causing a ripple effect, as travelers at airports are caught in an entanglement of cancellations.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, criticized the FAA today, calling the error “unacceptable.”
“The flying public deserves safety in the sky. The FAA’s inability to keep an important safety system up and running is completely unacceptable and just the latest example of dysfunction within the Department of Transportation. The administration needs to explain to Congress what happened,” said Cruz.
Illinois assault rifle ban in effect
The Illinois governor signed sweeping gun control legislation into law this week. Effective immediately, the sale and distribution of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines is banned in Illinois. The new law also bans switches used to convert handguns into assault weapons.
Illinois courts also have new powers to prevent dangerous individuals from possessing a gun, through firearm restraining orders.
The governor says the new measures are in response to the Highland Park shooting that happened in Illinois last July.
Possible prosecution over abortion pill
If a woman takes an abortion pill to terminate her pregnancy, she could be prosecuted for it in the state of Alabama. The news came straight from Alabama’s attorney general.
The state is one that already has an abortion ban. But just last week, the FDA approved two abortion pills that can be sent through the mail with a prescription.
The Department of Justice issued an opinion that the postal service could deliver pills in states that ban abortion. But Alabama is warning women that if they take the pill, they could face prosecution.
The state would use an existing law that makes it illegal for women to take drugs while pregnant.
More than half of all abortions in the U.S. are carried out through a pill.
More animal species found to have had COVID-19
It’s been known that animals could get COVID-19. But a new report says the problem is more widespread than previously known. Infection is occurring in both domesticated and wild animals.
Throughout the pandemic, hundreds of dogs and cats contracted the virus, as well as zoo animals like tigers, lions, gorillas, leopards and otters.
Only three wild species have tested positive for COVID-19 in the U.S. Those include mink, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. Experts say since testing wild animals is so infrequent, there’s a good chance that more species have been affected. How they’re getting COVID-19 remains a mystery.
New Girl Scouts cookie unveiled
If you’re in the winter blues, how about a Girl Scouts cookie to cheer you up? Girl Scouts cookies will soon be outside of a grocery store near you.
This is the first look at the newest addition to the batch. Introducing the highly-anticipated “Raspberry Rally” cookie. The “sister cookie” to the beloved Thin Mint.
It’s dipped in the same chocolate as a Thin Mint and it is the same texture on the inside. The difference is on the inside, it has a raspberry flavor.
If this cookie sounds good to you, it will have to be purchases online. It is the first ever online exclusive cookie that the Girl Scouts have ever sold.
