Welcome to the Terrier News Update. We look at all the top headlines and form a coherent briefing on all of the news spreading across the nation, giving you updates every two weeks. Feel free to contact our editors if you have any suggestions.
Happy election day?
Nov. 3, 2020. It’s been a long time coming. From the chaos of the coronavirus to the massive racial justice protests to the continuing damage of environmental disasters and even the ups and downs of US international relations, the entire year has been overshadowed by the presidential election.
The Washington Post reports record turnout in many states by early voters, including large electoral college winners like California and Texas. As of Oct. 16, 22 million Americans had already voted, according to the Associated Press.
By Oct. 24, Democrats had a lead in many states through early voting. However, according to Politico, experts on both sides expect a wave of republican votes to come in on election day itself, as more democrats have tended to vote early or use mail in ballots.
Whetheryou favor Donald Trump or Joe Biden, there is no denying that the trail so far has had several strange turns. The first debate was widely considered to be a flop, the second was canceled because the president became infected with the coronavirus and both candidates scheduled opposing town halls discussions to air on TV.
With the third debate on Oct. 23, both candidates ramped up personal attacks and targeted the other’s weaknesses, Trump continually attacking Biden’s career as a politician, and with Biden targeting Trump’s record in office.
Regardless of who your vote goes to this November, election day is once again a reminder of the democratic values of this country, and the importance of being an active and informed citizen.
COVID-19 on the rise
When it comes to the coronavirus, many people have gotten tired of wearing masks or social distancing from friends and family, but now is not the time to drop any restrictions or precautions. The US reported a single day with over 80,000 new cases according to CNN, and those numbers are likely to rise, possibly into the six-digit range by late November.
A new wave of shutdowns is also on the horizon as many governors stand by, unsure what a change at the federal level could mean for the virus response. However, with advanced contact tracing these shut downs could be avoidable, an expert told CNBC, and specific sites of the outbreak could be tracked and stopped before any serious uptake in cases.
The winter is on track to be a difficult season for everyone in terms of the coronavirus, and many news sources are encouraging people to stick to the things that have proven to work, such as wearing masks, social distancing, limiting gatherings and staying up to date on CDC practices.
Steps toward a new Middle East
In this week’s less depressing news, President Trump has managed to begin discussions between Sudan and Israel, opening the possibilities for trade relations and more diplomatic interactions between the countries, according to the New York Times.
However, while the White House played up the success of the event, the Times emphasized the importance of the deal as a first step, not a decisive victory.