Apple News Today

Why Chicago’s COVID school-safety fight matters nationwide

<p>Chicago public schools are closed today as teachers and administrators fight over whether learning should be remote. <a href="https://apple.news/Akp_eac8iTSSMEbT0JIkp_g?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">CNN</a> and the <a href="https://apple.news/Ag4YVjyRTQyezTw0-ZJq0-A?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Chicago Tribune</a> report on a debate with national implications.</p> <p>Sentencing for people who stormed the Capitol a year ago has been inconsistent. <a href="https://apple.news/AwJqrxQPhQJ6usAu4JZCf2A?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">BuzzFeed News</a> crunches the data to discover how judges are grappling in real time with what the consequences should be.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/AUGRxF9-6TYeVOpGFeZJGJg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">NBC News</a> asks top forecasters with skin in the game what the economy could have in store over the year ahead.</p> <p>Engaged couples are often surprised to discover that many of the best wedding hashtags are taken. The <a href="https://apple.news/AD1K2M7dJTsStaol709ux0Q?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a> reports on how some are even paying consultants for unique ideas.</p>

Startup star to criminal: The downfall of Elizabeth Holmes

<p>Elizabeth Holmes was found guilty on four of 11 charges in her fraud trial. The <a href="https://apple.news/AxkwY2_ZVSNmMM3VNMweB4Q?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a> reports on the downfall of a startup founder who claimed to revolutionize the blood-testing industry.</p> <p>Capitol Police officers were attacked and beaten by insurrectionists. The <a href="https://apple.news/AGosr8_-PSmCItI6XIpgFcg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> details how the force is trying to recover and do its job amid low morale and a wave of resignations.</p> <p>A <a href="https://apple.news/ATOYAopp3RB-KdHcPTsa5pA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journa</a>l tech columnist recommends you activate this iPhone feature before you die.</p> <p>There&rsquo;s snow on the ground in parts of America. Is it safe to eat? <a href="https://apple.news/AMjWskDUxS-qKcNQCQrRkCA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">NPR</a> checks with scientists. Short answer: Yes, but think about a few things first.</p>

Why 2022 might not be defined by the pandemic

<p>COVID isn&rsquo;t gone, but 2022 may be the first year since its arrival that isn&rsquo;t defined by the pandemic. The <a href="https://apple.news/Asc0o24VrQgG3cfaYJD_WfA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> looks at what else could define the next 12 months.</p> <p>As we near the anniversary of the Capitol attack, <a href="https://apple.news/AfEijM2FkSS2qUlo_s3QXyQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Politico</a> reports on how the January 6 committee is getting new information about what happened.</p> <p>A new law aims to end costly surprise medical bills. <a href="https://apple.news/AAOjHtb7zSby1ernATPXgPQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">CNBC</a> explains how it could affect you.</p> <p>With supply-chain issues pushing chicken prices way up, restaurants are serving up more chicken thighs, which are cheaper than breasts. The <a href="https://apple.news/AMAzuugxvS8qpWhAV9NTscQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a> has the story.</p>

Good-news stories you may have missed in 2021

<p>Wally Funk tried for decades to become an astronaut, at a time before NASA allowed women into orbit. This year she finally flew to space at age 82. The <a href="https://apple.news/AkQm2hFtzR1ujvPk85mpcQQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Atlantic</a> shares her remarkable story.</p> <p>Two women broke barriers in football in 2021. <a href="https://apple.news/AWKWKxCANR0OAXdoZV0GdAg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Sports Illustrated</a> has what you should know about Sarah Thomas, the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl. And <a href="https://apple.news/A4nbB1JOQSO-GiHc0ss3IPA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">NPR</a> introduces Maia Chaka, the first Black woman to officiate an NFL game.</p> <p>It started with a few kids biking to school together for safety. It turned into a mass movement that touched hearts around the world, <a href="https://apple.news/ALLXA-RYvR4OUw9BTZ0eywA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">NPR</a> reports.</p> <p>Two fierce rivals were neck-and-neck for Olympic gold. <a href="https://apple.news/A2XRubsABRjG_YxrYvoYzPg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Sports Illustrated</a> shows what happened next: Instead of going on to a tie-breaking round, they made the surprising decision to share victory.</p> <p>Zaila Avant-garde captured the nation&rsquo;s attention as the first African American winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. But <a href="https://apple.news/AuiA-sHIWQ1yvKqIHKQ9Mlg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Variety</a> found there was much more to her.</p> <p>In a year with its share of dark times, goofy moments on social media helped give us all a lift. <a href="https://apple.news/Akoiw8PeVROOc3-Z7z1WZNw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a> columnist Jason Gay lists some favorites.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/A-5J9EXoATzOu_DyXqzLh7w?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Apple News Spotlight</a> editors put together a special collection of the best good-news stories of the year.</p>

How the pandemic is killing non-COVID patients

<p>A primary-care doctor told the <a href="https://apple.news/A146ECx2cTueOrmBNFAwPsw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a> she&rsquo;s seen more than three times as many deaths among her patients this year as in 2020. None were from COVID.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/AI53D3DHUTfmVSjk4NCmNXw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">NPR</a> examines Joe Manchin&rsquo;s concerns about the climate spending in Build Back Better. And the <a href="https://apple.news/AY7AVPlLOS-O8Ja4no-nkRg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">New Yorker</a> looks at how West Virginians feel about the senator&rsquo;s latest moves.</p> <p>The <a href="https://apple.news/AtH-ckA4BSBuG2chAbkH4yg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a>&rsquo;s Middle Seat columnist reflects on how air travel has changed in the last two decades. Mostly, it&rsquo;s gotten worse.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/AyPpaIG2JTpqeJ-g8pKMGEA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wired</a> reports on a new study showing lemurs have rhythm when they sing, and explains how it could help us solve a longstanding mystery about humans and music.</p>

What to know now that Omicron is dominant in the U.S.

<p>Omicron is now the dominant variant of coronavirus in the U.S. <a href="https://apple.news/AcfnT6_gmQ3-YBvG2-kAcnw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">CNN</a> reports on what doctors and governments are warning us about.</p> <p>A <a href="https://apple.news/AU--g16wpRxm7nJWxIqe7Pg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a> investigation finds NYU is top-ranked &mdash; in loans that alumni and parents struggle to repay.</p> <p>When it comes to confirming federal judges, President Biden is on pace with Ronald Reagan&rsquo;s record. The <a href="https://apple.news/AzEPYEEdXSLaKBm_6AgMeBw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> explains why it could get harder from here.</p> <p>Finally, a millipede that lives up to its name, and then some. <a href="https://apple.news/ADcF15FReTDGbHSq4YidVfg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">National Geographic</a> looks at the discovery of the first millipede species with more than a thousand legs.</p>

What’s next for Biden’s agenda after Manchin’s “no”

<p>The <a href="https://apple.news/A3OBelPV5TWCMeUDad6s73w?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Atlantic</a> explores what Joe Manchin&rsquo;s &rdquo;no&rdquo; on the giant spending bill means for Biden&rsquo;s economic agenda.</p> <p>Democrats in Georgia helped flip the U.S. Senate and turn the state blue. <a href="https://apple.news/AR2bNCgo_RImV_hhPtacmmA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Politico</a> reports on how Republican state lawmakers are trying to dilute those gains.</p> <p>The Omicron coronavirus variant is spreading. The <a href="https://apple.news/A9R9m891VS4aIExsAJhS-BA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a> explains how to decide whether to change your holiday travel plans because of COVID.</p> <p>A Pulitzer Prize&ndash;winning science reporter canceled his 40th birthday party because of the Omicron variant. He writes in the <a href="https://apple.news/Ae7ODYeQsTSmg96TaifFB3Q?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Atlantic</a> about how he came to the decision.</p> <p>Electric cars are expected to be a part of reducing global carbon emissions. But mining the nickel needed for their batteries can itself be very environmentally damaging. <a href="https://apple.news/ACuUHpNOeTril2PFNCxb46w?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">NBC News</a> has the story.</p> <p>A <a href="https://apple.news/AU1MkyKUWRX223WWsdSC2LA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Deadspin</a> writer explains why he&rsquo;s outraged that the New York Giants&rsquo; Fan Appreciation Day gift was a medium-sized fountain drink.</p>

In Conversation: Did Marilyn Manson hide his abuse of women in plain sight?

<p>In the past year, more than a dozen women have accused Marilyn Manson &mdash; whose real name is Brian Warner &mdash; of psychological or sexual abuse. Four women have filed civil lawsuits. Warner has denied all of the allegations. For <a href="https://apple.news/AMelK5ah1TeepnD5yTDU4eA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes"><em>Rolling Stone</em></a>, Jason Newman and Kory Grow spent nine months reporting on these claims and talked with several of the women who have come forward. They spoke with <em>Apple News Today</em> host Duarte Geraldino about their investigation.</p>

Biden’s big spending bill is still stuck. Here’s why.

<p>The <a href="https://apple.news/AfQmTHP4HSaCjz7pjFL9WBw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> explains why it&rsquo;s looking unlikely that Democrats will pass the president&rsquo;s nearly $2 trillion spending package ahead of the holidays.</p> <p>Waves of star athletes are testing positive for the coronavirus, disrupting games. ESPN reports on new COVID protocols being introduced by the <a href="https://apple.news/AaO3NDoUZRJuwcYKBO9czzw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">NFL</a> and <a href="https://apple.news/A7HhY6c5iRTilHOQSB45lxw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">NBA</a>.</p> <p>Claudette Colvin was arrested in 1955 for refusing to give up her bus seat for a white person &mdash; nine months before Rosa Parks&rsquo;s act of defiance. Nearly 70 years later, Colvin&rsquo;s record has finally been cleared. She talks to <a href="https://apple.news/Akmjbm0DFSO2UETFY9IFERg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">CBS News</a>.</p> <p>Are brain surgeons and rocket scientists smarter than the rest of us? Not necessarily, according to a new study. The <a href="https://apple.news/ACDwKNoBiSPmEbt42ZQA_iw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Guardian</a> has the story.</p>

Special Episode: Looking back on the making of 'Hooked'

<p>The Apple Original podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hooked/id1592401710"><em>Hooked</em></a> tells the story of Tony Hathaway. He went from working as a design engineer at the aerospace company Boeing to robbing 30 banks in a single year after becoming addicted to opioids.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In November, Shumita Basu spoke with <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hooked/id1592401710"><em>Hooked</em></a> host Josh Dean about the podcast when it was just getting started. Now that the final episode has aired, Basu and Dean are joined by Hathaway to reflect on the series as it comes to an end.</p>

Kamala Harris takes stock of a historic, turbulent year

<p>One year into her history-making role, Vice President Kamala Harris reacts to recent controversies and looks ahead to 2022, in an extensive interview with the <a href="https://apple.news/AixEHynBbSDyiDek9s0nXfg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">San Francisco Chronicle</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/AwCmIHVyHSFm1xc0qH1KeCQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Vox</a> looks at the good and bad news about the Omicron coronavirus variant so far.</p> <p>Pandemic student-debt relief is set to end in a few weeks. <a href="https://apple.news/AUpHyw0o1T5y-s2EhXQOmHw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Business Insider</a> reports on how some Democrats say the Biden administration should do more to help. It also speaks to a <a href="https://apple.news/AtVh8dCocTvy0OVOP-3odrQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">woman with $163,000 in student debt</a> who says she feels &ldquo;betrayed&rdquo; by the president.</p> <p>The <a href="https://apple.news/AeTj133nhS8mbfYBpps0iAw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> has the story of the woman who traded a bobby pin up to a house in 28 steps &mdash; and documented the process on TikTok.</p>

Stories of hope and resilience after the deadly tornadoes

<p>A tornado destroyed a Kentucky nursing home. <a href="https://apple.news/A0auUA02FT1u2880ZKv63lw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">USA Today</a> has the story of how all its residents survived.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/A1XferD1tRdOt2lmOSbKjnw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Bloomberg</a> looks at the major risks to the economy over the next year.</p> <p>Many people named Alexa say Amazon&rsquo;s voice assistant with the same name is changing the way people interact with them for the worse. Some are fighting back.&nbsp;The <a href="https://apple.news/AQNzgbfK4RlWkz7zbwG4F3g?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> talks to dozens of real-life Alexas.</p> <p>Steph Curry broke the NBA&rsquo;s 3-point record. Along the way, he has transformed how basketball is played. <a href="https://apple.news/AncOWZUc7SharQcl2BFDk1A?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">ESPN</a> reports on the history-making moment.</p>

Why is the U.S. defense bill so large? No one seems to know.

<p><a href="https://apple.news/Az3n7AO7BRy6lQOoSp6vgFQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Slate</a> columnist Fred Kaplan, a longtime observer of military spending, asks whether anyone actually looked at the $778 billion U.S. defense budget before passing it.</p> <p>The January 6 panel recommended holding Trump&rsquo;s former chief of staff in contempt, on a day of big revelations about the Capitol attack. <a href="https://apple.news/A9SoqKPSfSdu1YiwuVOKX4g?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">CNBC</a> has the key details.</p> <p>California plans to use a measure modeled on Texas&rsquo;s controversial anti-abortion law to try to get guns off the streets. <a href="https://apple.news/A-jrMl4CJQEKH7gCJF2IqiQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Vox</a> explains.</p> <p>When it comes to gift giving, is it really the thought that counts? Not quite, psychologists tell the <a href="https://apple.news/AhWOMF49HT9af2XphsTFHXA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a>.</p> <p>In the <a href="https://apple.news/ADdLA71rXRgKz0Ju9CagnUg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Players&rsquo; Tribune</a>, WNBA star A&rsquo;ja Wilson shares a powerful message for young Black women.</p>

What we know about climate change and deadly tornadoes

<p>Scientists are examining the role climate change may have played in the twisters that killed dozens of people in recent days. <a href="https://apple.news/A-ov0McRhSf6OHOc7Tz0pHg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">PBS NewsHour</a> looks at what&rsquo;s known and what&rsquo;s not yet clear.</p> <p>Many parents of school shooters ignore glaring warning signs. The <a href="https://apple.news/AUAI4tqKXRWGdXzEd9UQC8g?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> has the story of one grandmother who didn&rsquo;t.</p> <p>NASA is sending its new telescope to a very special parking spot a million miles away. The <a href="https://apple.news/As5xrYEVxQmKlZvlM88C7fg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Atlantic</a> explains why.</p> <p>A guy threw half a billion dollars in bitcoin in the garbage. The <a href="https://apple.news/Ak9tir9d9SUWZ3mNlrLU7VQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">New Yorker</a> speaks to him about his unusual quest to get it back.</p>

In Conversation: Inside the secret prisons where migrants are tortured and beaten

<p>For the <a href="https://apple.news/A8A5W26CARauEzftK84qb-w?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes"><em>New Yorker</em></a>, journalist Ian Urbina traveled to Libya to report on an EU-funded shadow immigration system that holds migrants in brutal detention centers. While reporting this story, Urbina was kidnapped, beaten, and detained himself. Now safely back home, he spoke with <em>Apple News Today</em> host Shumita Basu about how this shadow system works and the horrific conditions inside the detention centers.</p>

Why the Starbucks union vote is such a big deal

<p>The <a href="https://apple.news/A0pM90FdPTeyFHNcnJzeukA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a> reports on how the Starbucks union vote is about much more than Starbucks.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/AfIRVca21RgWkPWIC7eVfDg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">BBC News</a> is covering a deadly truck crash in Mexico that killed dozens of migrants from Central America trying to get into the U.S.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/AYRkS01bXSDOW2RlracvpUg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Bloomberg</a> explains how President Biden&rsquo;s massive spending bill would increase the credits available to electric-car buyers. And the <a href="https://apple.news/Av5B0CbrgSia-xE_g5rgvpQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> looks at how Black and Hispanic communities worry they&rsquo;re being left behind in the shift to electric vehicles because many of their neighborhoods have few charging stations.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/AfPoWKqMsQv-Kv8si7jHw-Q?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Vice</a> has the story of how New Zealand&rsquo;s government is planning to ban the sale of cigarettes to all future generations.</p>

Why Biden’s spending plan may not solve the housing crisis

<p>There&rsquo;s a lot of money in Biden&rsquo;s spending plan targeted at the affordable-housing crisis. <a href="https://apple.news/An5WDZkmgTJ6l6kA9wsiYhA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Vox</a> looks at why it may not do much about skyrocketing real-estate prices.</p> <p>The Senate and White House are backing arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Critics say this could worsen the deadly conflict in Yemen. <a href="https://apple.news/A_4UEYIU9SBKTshadlEipwA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Reuters</a> has the story.</p> <p>Dozens of previously unrecognized U.S. soldiers will receive Purple Hearts after being injured in an attack in Iraq nearly two years ago. A <a href="https://apple.news/AvQa7qOIER9eVlq9rV6vcog?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">CBS News</a> investigation helped them finally get their awards.</p> <p>Cybercriminals can ramp up activity during the busy holiday season. The <a href="https://apple.news/ARUnBY833QyW9keCbcoEMxQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a> explains how to avoid the latest scams online.</p>

Was Elizabeth Holmes’s testimony enough to save her?

<p>The case of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes may turn on her testimony. The <a href="https://apple.news/AQi8Rj5gKTuyp4m3SdX6v-Q?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a> looks at the moments that might sway jurors.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/AjniYN68gRE-s7Kxaxcka7g?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Forbes</a> explores how Biden&rsquo;s massive spending plan would change tax policy. <a href="https://apple.news/AvE7JAWUkQfWS8VqnIv8e2A?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Chalkbeat</a> reports on how the enhanced child tax credit has done a lot for families, but says Congress may not keep it.</p> <p>The recent Michigan killings are reigniting a debate over school safety. The <a href="https://apple.news/ASOL_NGnnSL-kppPEm4s52g?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Intercept</a> has the story.</p> <p>Ballet companies are reinventing <em>The Nutcracker</em>. <a href="https://apple.news/Aa22Nv-6nSGmvsUwQDZZ_lA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">CBS New York</a> reports on how Brooklyn Ballet is adding in new dance styles. And <a href="https://apple.news/AJDuNAjq2QGWGkBXmm3NPJA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">BBC</a> covers how the Scottish Ballet is making subtle changes in a bid to erase old stereotypes.</p>

Here’s what happens if Biden’s immigration overhaul passes

<p>The Build Back Better bill touches many areas. <a href="https://apple.news/A6bE9ctUyRBuM6bXgzZ22pw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Yahoo News</a> explains how it would change the American immigration system.</p> <p>In a crucial week for President Biden&rsquo;s foreign policy, <a href="https://apple.news/Al35jseMQQc6qsnFXQ02LLg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">CNN</a> looks at why the stakes are high for his call with Putin today. And <a href="https://apple.news/AgVa6QhENSkKbRADPUW26NA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Time</a> explains why he decided on a diplomatic boycott of China's Winter Olympics.</p> <p>A doctor shortage has made abortion services difficult to access for many people in the U.S., clinics say. The <a href="https://apple.news/AY_kqXmi1Tz-8CkeX9CGUsg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> has the story of one physician who commutes 800 miles to provide them.</p> <p>Is your cat a psychopath? Probably, researchers say. <a href="https://apple.news/AAzkhzmcyRsevIV-DolcDDg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Vice</a> has the story.</p>

How Biden’s spending plan could transform U.S. health care

<p>The <a href="https://apple.news/AjQvZQqr5Tn-4a8G5wLio8Q?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> looks at how the roughly $2 trillion spending bill Congress is debating would overhaul U.S. health care.</p> <p>A jail term is the latest twist in the complicated story of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner who was later ousted as leader of Myanmar. <a href="https://apple.news/ABWzHGWAKQDmPcmVLcrIJUQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">BBC News</a> reports.</p> <p>The pandemic turned Americans into super savers. The <a href="https://apple.news/A5BsT3Ab7QzmyhSbZmVdNYA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a> explains what to consider if you&rsquo;ve got extra cash saved up.</p> <p>The world&rsquo;s first living robots can now reproduce, in a way unlike any known animal or plant. Don&rsquo;t be afraid, scientists tell <a href="https://apple.news/AHZeHRx70QKGUaTK6OhiWoA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">CNN</a>.</p>

In Conversation: America’s child-care system is broken. Can we fix it?

<p>The pandemic exposed something every working parent in the U.S. already knew: This country&rsquo;s child-care system is broken. Even after more than $50 billion in COVID-relief funding, the industry is still in crisis. <a class="" href="https://apple.news/AMJ0Ob3Y2SAyAR4rbSVwNFg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes"><em class="">Bloomberg Businessweek</em></a> reporter Claire Suddath talks with <em class="">Apple News Today</em> host Duarte Geraldino about the fundamental issues that exist in the U.S. child-care system today, some possible fixes, and how we got here.</p>

Why Delta is still dangerous as Omicron variant spreads

<p>The Omicron variant of the coronavirus is getting lots of attention, but many hospitals are still struggling to deal with the effects of Delta. The <a href="https://apple.news/AEM4A9uQWTwSlQ7TItvdt2A?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> has the story.</p> <p>Alabama&rsquo;s prisons are extremely dangerous and troubled. <a href="https://apple.news/AcOur6WjRRUq7L1dBTU2I7Q?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Politico</a> reports on how the facilities are so unsafe that the federal government may take control.</p> <p>This week&rsquo;s <a href="https://apple.news/AI5kwsQZJTjyYCUVLjUYwXA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">In Conversation</a> is with the Bloomberg Businessweek reporter who looked into how child care became the most broken business in America.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/A7G8hEvIfTMiGRJgY9gIZQg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">NPR</a> has the story of how a <a href="https://apple.news/AJBjQuFe9Q_uCvkfMBbeivQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Business Insider</a> report that MLB used two different kinds of balls is throwing a wrench into baseball&rsquo;s bitter labor dispute.</p>

The untold story of Mississippi’s sole abortion clinic

<p>The story of how Mississippi ended up with only one abortion clinic matters across America, regardless of how the Supreme Court rules in <em>Dobbs</em> v. <em>Jackson Women&rsquo;s Health Organization</em>. The <a href="https://apple.news/ARpncIU4QRzyOGb2iuAjJag?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> visited the state to see what happened.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/AchVLPmkwTV2GgUV2M6nTJg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">CNN</a> explains why the suspected Michigan school shooter has been charged with terrorism.</p> <p>A new California law aims to get people faster access to therapists. <a href="https://apple.news/Aj_waQeEmQWm_Sy-VEz5ZFg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Kaiser Health News</a> reports on concerns about how much it will actually help.</p> <p>A typo led some high school kids to a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with Tom Brady and his Super Bowl champion teammates. <a href="https://apple.news/AJGN0TMpYQDKBL1EDpOiLTg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">NBC</a> has the story.</p>

How activists are preparing for a post–Roe v. Wade America

<p>As the Supreme Court hears a major abortion case, <a href="https://apple.news/AYniEDGAYSYC4rNyrnucMUg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Politico</a> looks at how activists on both sides of the issue are already planning for a world where <em>Roe v. Wade</em> is overturned.</p> <p>New York City has introduced America&rsquo;s first government-run drug-injection sites, in a new effort to reduce opioid-overdose deaths. <a href="https://apple.news/AWpBvIaoHRkKlcPFY4Sjgbw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">NPR</a> has the story.</p> <p>The <a href="https://apple.news/A-SgHuyYPQN6bx7xADqCDMg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Guardian</a> reports on American librarians who say there&rsquo;s a major rise in organized efforts to ban books in schools. The <a href="https://apple.news/AVPkM7EH-QaqG59uP_UsgTw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">New Yorker</a> explains why the battle over what kids read in class may not end anytime soon.</p> <p>Hiring a Santa Claus is a tough task this year, after COVID hit the Santa community hard. The <a href="https://apple.news/A9S1h57mxSFGRNAfq5bzyCg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> uncovers the lengths people are going to in order to find one.</p>

The brutal shadow system keeping migrants out of Europe

<p>In an extensive investigation, the <a href="https://apple.news/A8A5W26CARauEzftK84qb-w?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">New Yorker</a> takes a look inside the coastal patrols and brutal, secretive detention centers that Libyan forces use to keep migrants from Africa and the Middle East out of Europe.</p> <p>A little-known Supreme Court clerk quietly and single-handedly transformed American abortion law for decades. The <a href="https://apple.news/A6h4y7-TsQZKlp2YLx2Syow?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> has the untold story of <em>Roe v. Wade</em>.</p> <p>The market for starting pitchers is on fire, even as Major League Baseball heads toward a lockout. The <a href="https://apple.news/AwGb1KO6STsWbe26qCRqF1w?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a> explains.</p> <p>At midnight, Barbados cut its last remaining ties to the British monarchy, removing Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. <a href="https://apple.news/AAeA3ZoJSQh-PhEjuB5k2FQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">CNN</a> has the story.</p>

What we know — and don’t — about the Omicron variant

<p>There are lots of questions about the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The <a href="https://apple.news/AsZL_-NhVQY-_GWL_dxuzpg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Atlantic</a> breaks down what we know so far. And <a href="https://apple.news/An_uIK9ufQhuG3Z4tLboNJw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Fox News</a> interviews National Institutes of Health director Dr. Francis Collins.</p> <p>Opening arguments begin today in the sex-trafficking trial of Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. <a href="https://apple.news/Ad3_7c-KvRQyCJAc7mBV9dw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">USA Today</a> previews what it may reveal.</p> <p>A new book looks into how changes at Boeing may have led to the design flaws implicated in the 737 Max crashes, which killed hundreds of people. <a href="https://apple.news/ASsvmG9vMT-iwSM3Az3YAEQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Bloomberg Businessweek</a> has an exclusive excerpt.</p> <p>Canada&rsquo;s maple-syrup cartel is tapping its reserves of the sweet topping amid supply issues and strong demand. The <a href="https://apple.news/A4TIsy2vIQpaWY8J8yMxRHw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> has the story.</p>

Who gets to claim self-defense in fatal shootings?

<p>Closing arguments have concluded in the trial of the three white men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was out jogging. The <a href="https://apple.news/AhzE6ofVxT5So7xYh8ryJVg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> reports that many people across the U.S. are viewing the jury&rsquo;s decision as a test of the movement for racial justice.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Teachers have experienced intense burnout during the pandemic. Unlike workers in many other industries, however, K&ndash;12 educators have not left their jobs in alarming numbers. <a href="https://apple.news/AF49ojq-2TGeJjHf2cX77Pg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">FiveThirtyEight </a>explores why.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>With the TSA expecting the number of airline passengers traveling for Thanksgiving to reach pre-pandemic levels this year, <a href="https://apple.news/AlYUczNN9TZyaGtDCNy5vJw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">USA Today</a> has a guide for any mishaps that may arise along your route. And be warned: Not all Thanksgiving food can fly in your carry-on bag. <a href="https://apple.news/A_lByq0fWS-2Ql-3EsWvcpQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Travel &amp; Leisure</a> lists what you can bring.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The <a href="https://apple.news/AS92WUbyNR_iDv0U3XduBBw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a> looks at research showing that reconnecting with old friends can boost mood, self-esteem, and confidence.</p>

How a $2 trillion plan could transform the social safety net

<p>House Democrats passed President Biden&rsquo;s $2 trillion spending plan to revamp the country&rsquo;s health-care, climate policy, education, and tax laws. The <a href="https://apple.news/AoM4WRXRFQPm0q0vBZtRAyw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> breaks it down.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/AKLKCsL4tSHyGyqzO1IZZkw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Vox</a> reports that more than 140,000 kids have lost a caregiver during the pandemic. Experts worry that the loss, combined with interruptions to social support systems, will result in a generation of traumatized children.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The U.S. has millions more job openings than people looking for work. The CEO of the world&rsquo;s biggest job portal tells <a href="https://apple.news/Am5_iyc5vSdWVpoRlGTYC_A?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Fortune</a> why he thinks killing the r&eacute;sum&eacute; could help address the issue.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>We&rsquo;re bombarded by notifications all day long &mdash;&nbsp;and it&rsquo;s likely making us much less productive. The <a href="https://apple.news/ADiKn2GubQleyvUAElUG0OA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Wall Street Journal</a> offers tips on how to regain control.</p>

In Conversation: Jelani Cobb on the backlash to critical race theory

<p>The <em>New Yorker</em>&rsquo;s Jelani Cobb says conservatives weaponizing critical race theory aren&rsquo;t acting in good faith. He speaks with <em>Apple News Today</em> host Shumita Basu about his recent piece for the <a href="https://apple.news/AqOnqIwHvSZS1XWSjwBAkig?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes"><em>New Yorker</em></a> about the founder of the concept, Derrick Bell. Cobb says that Bell could have predicted today&rsquo;s backlash and that real critical race theory can help us understand today&rsquo;s debate over false depictions of this term.</p>

Why it’s time to check in on Europe’s unusual border crisis

<p>The House has approved a bill containing around $1.9 trillion in social spending. The key part of President Biden&rsquo;s agenda faces obstacles in the Senate. <a href="https://apple.news/AaAnqU4xxRT6Qsxm5AZLyCw?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">CNN</a> reports.</p> <p>There are big new developments in the unusual immigration fight playing out in Europe. The <a href="https://apple.news/ALtznWgEvRL-2gOKFYvMyUA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> breaks down what&rsquo;s important to understand.</p> <p>There are new concerns about the safety of Peng Shuai, a Chinese tennis star who accused a powerful leader of the Communist Party of sexual abuse then vanished. The <a href="https://apple.news/A8moAqFkjRZiEXC9bov_ROA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Los Angeles Times</a> looks at how women&rsquo;s tennis is rallying to support her. And <a href="https://apple.news/AR9sQreuvTDO9Fa6pGkIYVQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">USA Today</a> examines the very different responses to her disappearance from the Women's Tennis Association and the International Olympic Committee.</p> <p>Is your boss secretly watching your computer? The <a href="https://apple.news/A3m1agBPATnmPz7Pbl8jn7Q?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Los Angeles Times</a> reports on how the increase in working from home has led to more companies using monitoring software to track employees.</p> <p>The birth of 10 Komodo dragons in a Texas zoo is a big win toward conserving the endangered species. The <a href="https://apple.news/A3APNY4xBROKANK5-t6PVcQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a> spoke to people who helped make it possible.</p>