Mississippi records highest COVID-19 death rate in the US

Mississippi has surpassed New Jersey as the state with the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., with roughly 1 of every 320 Mississippians having succumbed to the coronavirus.

Biden tasks OSHA with enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates

President Joe Biden directed OSHA to write a rule forcing employers with at least 100 workers to require staff get vaccinated or produce weekly test results showing they are virus free.

Hospitals in multiple states rationing health care amid crushing COVID-19 surge

Idaho's public health leaders have expanded health care rationing statewide amid a massive increase in the number of coronavirus patients requiring hospitalization.

Florida surpasses 50K COVID-19 deaths after battling delta wave

Health officials say the state of Florida has surpassed 50,000 coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tallied 50,811 deaths after adding more than 1,500 COVID-19 deaths provided by state authorities on Thursday. 

24 GOP state attorneys general threaten lawsuit over federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates

Two dozen Republican attorneys general are warning the White House of impending legal action if a proposed coronavirus vaccine requirement for as many as 100 million Americans goes into effect.

Flags displayed on National Mall in honor of 600,000+ COVID-19 deaths in U.S.

A new art exhibition is being installed on the National Mall that features more than 600,000 white flags, each one representing a life lost to COVID-19 in the U.S. during the pandemic.

Aluminum prices soar, adding to construction headaches

Aluminum prices have surged 47% in 2021. Aluminum is used in roofing, fencing, siding, gutters, insulation, nails, and many other products connected to construction.

US unemployment claims rise as delta variant weighs on economy

U.S. unemployment claims rose last week to 332,000 from a pandemic low, a sign that worsening COVID-19 infections may have slightly increased layoffs.

Small businesses cope with pandemic fallout | Hispanic Heritage Month

Latinos are starting businesses at a faster rate than the national average, growing 34% over the last 10 years, according to the New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

COVID cluster linked to Electric Zoo music festival on Randall's Island

The city's Health Department is investigating what it calls a "cluster of COVID-19 cases" linked to the Electric Zoo music festival on Randall's Island.

Nicki Minaj says she was invited to White House after COVID-19 vaccine tweet

Nicki Minaj’s tweet comes just days after she posted a separate, controversial tweet in which she claimed her cousin’s friend allegedly became impotent and suffered swollen testicles after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Moderna study: Recently vaccinated have stronger protection from breakthrough COVID-19

Moderna on Wednesday posted a study suggesting immunity from its COVID-19 vaccine may wane over time, saying that a booster shot is necessary to maintain strong protection against variants of concern.

Auburndale High teacher dies at Lakeland hospital after contracting COVID-19

An Auburndale High School science teacher has died after contracting COVID-19. D’Anthony Dorsey was just 24 years old and a life-long athlete.

Long COVID-19: NIH launches large-scale studies on extended illness

The National Institutes of Health announced it has awarded nearly $470 million to New York University’s Langone Health in order to launch national population studies to better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19.

Pope blames 'virulence of uncertainty' for COVID-19 vaccine resistance

Pope Francis says he doesn't understand why people refuse to take COVID-19 vaccines, noting “humanity has a history of friendship with vaccines.”

Judge blocks New York's medical worker vaccine mandate

Judge David Hurd in Utica has temporarily blocked the state of New York from forcing medical workers to be vaccinated after a group of health care workers sued, saying their Constitutional rights were violated.