The Federal Reserve will quicken the pace at which it's pulling back its support for the economy as inflation surges, and it expects to raise interest rates three times next year. In an abrupt policy shift, the Fed announced Wednesday that it will shrink its monthly bond purchases at twice the pace...
Supreme Court Again Lets Vaccine Mandate for Health Workers Stand
The Supreme Court refused Monday to halt a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for health care workers in New York that does not offer an exemption for religious reasons. The court acted on emergency appeals filed by doctors, nurses and other medical workers who say they are being forced to choose between...
San Francisco Gets Exemption From State’s New Indoor Mask Rule
California is exempting San Francisco from a rule that takes effect Wednesday requiring all people to wear masks indoors in a bid to contain a troubling rise in new coronavirus cases. San Francisco will continue to allow fully vaccinated people to remove their masks in gyms and workplaces while its...
Bacon Shortage Coming to California? Pork Farmers Seek Delay of New Law.
A coalition of California restaurants and grocery stores has filed a lawsuit to block implementation of a new farm animal welfare law, adding to uncertainty about whether bacon and other fresh pork products will be much more expensive or in short supply in the state when the new rules take effect on...
Europe, US Frustrated With Iranian Stance in Nuclear Talks
European diplomats are expressing frustration with Iran's stance in talks aimed at salvaging its tattered 2015 nuclear deal, saying they are wasting “precious time” dealing with new Iranian demands and that “time is running out." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday diplomacy remains the best option but...
Data Indicate Omicron Is Milder, Better at Evading Vaccines
The omicron variant appears to cause less severe disease than previous versions of the coronavirus, and the Pfizer vaccine seems to offer less defense against infection from it but still good protection from hospitalization, according to an analysis of data from South Africa, where the new variant is driving a surge...
California Imposes New Mask Mandate Starting Wednesday
California is re-imposing a statewide indoor mask mandate. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration announced the new mandate will start Wednesday and last until Jan. 15. The order comes as the per capita rate of new coronavirus cases in California has jumped 47% in the past two weeks. “We know people are...
California May Slash Rate Solar Users Get to Sell Power Back to Utilities
California’s 26-year-old program to get more people to put solar panels on their homes has been wildly successful, but state regulators may reduce the incentives for people to go solar in a bid to reduce electricity bills for the rest of residents in the most populous U.S. state. Current incentives...
Fox Anchor Chris Wallace Makes His Own News With Move to CNN
Veteran anchor Chris Wallace has left Fox News after 18 years for CNN, dealing a significant blow to Fox's news operation at a time that it has been overshadowed by the network's opinion side. Wallace delivered the surprising news that he was leaving at the end of the “Fox News Sunday” show he moderates,...
Newsom Wants to Go After Assault Guns With Law Like Texas Abortion Ban
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday pledged to empower private citizens to enforce a ban on the manufacture and sale of assault weapons in the state, citing the same authority claimed by conservative lawmakers in Texas to outlaw most abortions once a heartbeat is detected. California has banned the manufacture and...