Categories
News Daypop

New York City Mayor Announces Public Schools Will Begin Phased Reopening Dec. 7

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sunday that elementary schools in the city will re-open on December 7th, this despite the fact that cases throughout the United Sates continue to surge.

De Blasio said Sunday that public schools will re-open in phases with students in grades 3-k, Pre-k and K-5th grade returning in-person learning on Dec. 7, followed by students with the most complex disabilities on Dec. 10, while middle and high schools will remain closed. The decision to re-open comes after New York City Public Schools ended in-person instruction earlier this month after the city reached a 3% COVID-19 testing positivity rate.

New York City added 2,294 cases bringing its seven-day positive test result average to 2.75% and 3.5% for Saturday. Overall the state of New York added 6,723 new cases bringing its total to 641,161, with a statewide positivity rate of 4.27%, and 55 new deaths, bringing its death toll to 26,690.

New York City public schools will begin to reopen on Dec. 7

Via www.reuters.com
 

Categories
News Daypop

President-elect Biden Selects All-Female White House Senior Communications Team

On Sunday, President-elect Joe Biden announced an all-female White House senior communications team. In a statement, Biden’s transition team issued a statement declaring the team the “first senior White House communications team comprised entirely of women. These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better.”

Former President Barack Obama’s White House communications director, Jen Psaki will serve as White House press secretary, Biden announced.  Kate Bedingfield, who served as deputy campaign manager and communications director for Biden’s campaign will be the new White House communications director and Pili Tobar, Biden’s communications director for coalitions, will serve as deputy White House communications director.

Senior Biden campaign adviser and chief of staff to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will serve as principal deputy press secretary. Symone Sanders and Ashley Etienne — both senior advisers on Biden’s campaign — will serve as chief spokesperson for the vice president and communications director for the vice president respectively. Communications director for first lady Jill Biden will be filled by Elizabeth E. Alexander, another Biden campaign senior adviser.

Biden chooses an all-female senior White House press team

Via abcnews.go.com
 

Editorial credit: Alex Gakos / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

David Prowse, Original Darth Vader in ‘Star Wars,’ Dead at 85

David Prowse, the actor who played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy has died. He was 85. 

In a statement to BBC, Prowse’s agent, Thomas Bowington, said he died after a short illness. “Though famous for playing many monsters — for myself, and all who knew Dave and worked with him, he was a hero in our lives,” Bowington said, calling Prowse’s death “a truly and deeply heart-wrenching loss for us and millions of fans all over the world.” 

Prowse made his film debut in the 1978 James Bond spoof Casino Royale. The actor also also had roles on The Saint, Space 1999 and Doctor Who. Prowse was invited to audition for the roles of Darth Vader and Chewbacca in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope, and he chose to play Vader, with James Earl Jones voicing the character. 

Mark Hamill wrote on Twitter: “So sad to hear David Prowse has passed. He was a kind man & much more than Darth Vader. Actor-Husband-Father-Member of the Order of the British Empire-3 time British Weightlifting Champion & Safety Icon the Green Cross Code Man. He loved his fans as much as they loved him. #RIP.” 

David Prowse Dies, Darth Vader Actor from Star Wars Was 85

Via movieweb.com
 

Editorial credit: Dan Jamieson / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Blake Lively And Ryan Reynolds Donate $500,000 To Canadian Charities

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are donating $250,000 to Covenant House Vancouver and $250,000 to Covenant House Toronto to help the organization support at-risk, homeless and trafficked youth across Canada. 

According to its website, The Covenant House has “helped transform and save the lives” of more than 1 million runaway, trafficked and homeless young people. It reaches approximately 74,000 youth on a yearly basis. In a blog post featuring the news Wednesday, Kristy Hayter of Covenant House Vancouver wrote that their donation “an incredible act of kindness and philanthropy.” The donation comes as the coronavirus pandemic has increased job loss and anxiety among the people the Covenant House serves, the organization said. 

Reynolds encouraged others to donate, and gifts made to Covenant House Vancouver through Dec. 31 will be matched by Reynolds and Lively.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively donate $500,000 to support homeless youth in Canada

Via rss.cnn.com
 

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

President Trump Says He Will Leave White House Following Electoral Vote For Joe Biden

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he will leave the White House if the Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden.

Trump, who continued to cast doubt on the election result, took questions from reporters from the Diplomatic Room of the White House following a series of video conferences with military service members on Thanksgiving, assuring he would leave the White House on Jan. 20. However the President went on to say “it’s going to be a very hard thing to concede” and declared that the Electoral College would be making a “mistake” by voting for Biden. He also continued to allege “massive fraud” related to the election, saying, “You’re going to see things happening over the next week or two that are going to be shocking to people.”

After Thanksgiving, President Trump said he plans to travel to Georgia to hold a campaign-style rally, which he suggested would be in support of the state’s two Republican incumbent senators who face runoff races.

Inching toward exit, Trump says he’ll leave if Biden wins Electoral College vote

Via www.reuters.com
 

Editorial credit: Naresh777 / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Supreme Court Blocks Coronavirus Restrictions On Houses Of Worship

The U.S. Supreme Court issued an injunction blocking New York’s governor from enforcing 10- and 25-person occupancy limits on religious institutions. 

In an unsigned majority opinion, the court said the restrictions would violate religious freedom and are not neutral because they “single out houses of worship for especially harsh treatment.” While religious institutions were affected, businesses categorized as essential could admit as many people as they wish, the court said, and the list of such businesses included acupuncture facilities and others the court said were not essential. The court said there’s no evidence that the organizations that brought the lawsuit have contributed to the spread of Covid-19.

During a briefing call with reporters on Thanksgiving morning, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo said: “The Supreme Court ruling on the religious gatherings is more illustrative of the Supreme Court than anything else …. This was really just an opportunity for the court to express its philosophy and its politics. It doesn’t have any practical effects,” he said, adding, “The decision isn’t final. Second, it didn’t affect our mass gathering rules. So it didn’t mention those. It didn’t mention the overall limits.”

High court blocks NY coronavirus limits on houses of worship

Via abcnews.go.com
 

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Alicia Vikander to Star And Produce ‘Dial M for Murder’ TV Series

Alicia Vikander is set to star in and executive produce the upcoming TV adaptation of Dial M For Murder.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, the show is ‘Designed as an anthology series that will reset each season, the new take reimagines Frederick Knott’s 1952 play and its subsequent 1954 feature film by Alfred Hitchcock.” Adding another aspect to the reimagining, the anthology series will ‘tell the crime thriller from the female perspective.’  Vikander and writer/producer Terence Winter teamed with MGM/UA Television to develop the series, which currently has no network attached to it.

The 1954 film adaptation of Dial M For Murder revolves around an ‘ex-tennis pro’ named Tony Wendice,’ played by Ray Milland, who ‘wants to have his wealthy wife, Margot (Grace Kelly) murdered so he can get his hands on her inheritance.’ When he discovers Margot’s affair with Mark Halliday, Tony ‘comes up with the perfect plan to kill her.’ 

Alicia Vikander Set to Star & Produce ‘Dial M For Murder’ Anthology Series

Via www.justjared.com
 

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

‘Jeopardy!’ Shares Alex Trebek’s Posthumous Thanksgiving Message

The late Alex Trebek pre-recorded a special Thanksgiving message while filming an episode of Jeopardy! The official Jeopardy! Twitter account shared the pre-recorded video on Thursday, stating that his message was “high on our list of things to be thankful for.” 

In his message, Trebek reminded everyone that there are “reasons to be thankful” despite having to celebrate amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, saying, “You know, in spite of what America and the rest of the world is experiencing right now, there are many reasons to be thankful. There are more and more people extending helpful hands to do a kindness to their neighbors, and that’s a good thing.” Trebek ended his message by encouraging everyone to “keep the faith.” “We’re going to get through all of this, and we will be a better society because of it.”

Trebek passed away at the age of 80 on Nov. 8 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The longtime gameshow host had taped his final episodes just two weeks before his death. Former Jeopardy! player Ken Jennings will serve as interim host of the syndicated series when it resumes production Nov. 30. 

Alex Trebek pre-recorded touching Thanksgiving message: ‘Keep the faith’

Via www.nbcnews.com
 

Editorial credit: Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Dow Hits 30,000 As Presidential Transition Officially Goes Forward

Dow Jones Industrial Average traded above 30,000 for the first time as President-elect Joe Biden formally begins his transition.

Stocks finished higher Tuesday, with the Dow finishing up nearly 455 points, or 1.54%, to 30,046, and set an intraday all-time high of 30,116. The S&P 500 gained 1.62% and the Nasdaq Composite finished up 1.31%.

Reports said Biden would nominate former Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen as treasury secretary. Yellen would be the first woman to lead the department. She also was the first woman to serve as Fed chair after her Senate confirmation in 2014. In addition, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will put $455 billion in unspent Cares Act funding into an account that Yellen will need authorization from Congress to access. Mnuchin plans to place the money into the agency’s General Fund, a Treasury Department spokesperson said Tuesday. That fund can be tapped only with “authority based on congressionally issued legislation,” according to the Treasury’s website.

Dow hits 30,000 as Trump signals exit from White House

Via www.cbsnews.com
 

Editorial credit: Immersion Imagery / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

President-elect Biden Formally Introduces National Security And Foreign Policy Team

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris formally announced their team of foreign policy and national security officials. Speaking in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden and Harris were joined on stage by their picks, including Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken, Homeland Security Secretary nominee Alejando Mayorkas and Avril Haines, Biden’s pick for director of national intelligence.

Also joining the group were Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Biden’s nominee for U.N. ambassador; Jake Sullivan, nominee for national security adviser; and former Secretary of State John Kerry, who will be joining the Biden administration as the special presidential envoy for climate.

Biden said the picks he unveiled represented “an unrelenting belief in the promise of America” and looked ahead to the next step in the nomination process: Senate confirmation, saying, “I hope these outstanding nominees receive a prompt hearing, and that we can work across the aisle in good faith to move forward for the country. Let’s begin that work to heal and unite, to heal and unite America, as well as the world.”

Key lines from the unveiling of Biden’s top national security and foreign policy team

Via www.msn.com
 

Editorial credit: Alex Gakos / Shutterstock.com