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In the news today: The CDC gets a new acting director as leadership turmoil leaves the agency reeling; all NATO members are projected to hit its old spending target; and police say the Minneapolis church shooter admired mass killers. Also, nature lovers are flocking to real-world versions of Pokémon Go. |
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, left, and Dr. Debra Houry are greeted by supporters at a rally for the departing scientific leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outside the CDC headquarters, Thursday, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Ben Gray)
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CDC gets new acting director as leadership turmoil leaves agency reeling
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The nation's top public health agency was left reeling Thursday as the White House worked to expel the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director and replace her with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s current deputy. Read more. |
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- Two administration officials said Jim O'Neill, the second-in-command at the Department of Health and Human Services, would supplant Susan Monarez, a longtime government scientist. O'Neill, a former investment executive who also served at the federal health department under President George W. Bush, does not have a medical background.
The saga began Wednesday night with the administration's announcement that Monarez would no longer lead the CDC. In response, three officials — Dr. Debra Houry, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis and Dr. Daniel Jernigan — resigned from senior roles at the agency.
- The turmoil triggered rare bipartisan alarm as Kennedy tries to advance anti-vaccine policies that are contradicted by decades of scientific research. A flashpoint is expected in the coming weeks as a key advisory committee, which Kennedy has reshaped with vaccine skeptics, is expected to issue new recommendations on immunizations.
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All NATO members projected to hit old spending target, with just three set to meet new goal
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NATO released data on Thursday showing that all its 32 members are projected to finally meet a longstanding goal of spending 2% of their overall economic output on defense this year, while only three meet a new goal set at 3.5% of GDP agreed in June. Read more. |
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A push for higher defense spending is one result of Russia's war in Ukraine, which has created profound security concerns across Europe. It is also a reaction to pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly accused European allies of not investing enough in their own security. Trump has warned Europeans that Washington might not defend those who fail to meet commitments.
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Police say Minneapolis church shooter was filled with hatred and admired mass killers
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The shooter who killed two Catholic school students and wounded more than a dozen youngsters sitting in the pews of a Minneapolis church once attended the same school and was "obsessed" with the idea of killing children, authorities said Thursday. Read more. |
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Family members described one of the victims, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, as a boy who loved his family, fishing, cooking, and any sport he was allowed to play. The parents of the other victim, 10-year-old Harper Moyski, said in a statement that she was a bright and joyful child. "Our hearts are broken not only as parents, but also for Harper's sister, who adored her big sister and is grieving an unimaginable loss," said Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin.
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A weed known as 'shaggy soldier' is added to iNaturalist in the New York City EcoFlora project in 2018. (AP Photo/Emiliano Rodriguez Mega)
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AI-driven nature apps are helping hikers identify wildlife
AI-driven nature apps are changing how people engage with wildlife on their hikes. Want to know what type of birds are around you using just their chirps, or if the plant you just scraped your leg on is huckleberry or poison ivy? Users, young and old, are turning to these apps to identify what they see on the trail. |
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