Biden, Manchin at odds over $2T social spending bill, AP source says

According to a person familiar with the talks, President Joe Biden and Sen. Joe Manchin are said to be sharply divided over Democrats’ huge social and environmental bill.

2021: Year of the Great Resignation

An unexpected symptom of the pandemic shutdown has been something called The Great Resignation. For months a record number of workers quit their jobs. 

Army: 98% of active duty got COVID-19 vaccine by mandatory deadline

The Army said 98% of its active-duty force has gotten at least one dose of the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine, as of this week's deadline.

Masks will remain on inside DeKalb County schools this upcoming semester

The DeKalb County School District said staff and students will continue to be required to wear masks within DCSD buildings during the upcoming semester.

How to tell the difference between the common cold, flu and COVID-19

Is it COVID-19, the flu or the common cold? Jade Flinn, a nurse educator at Johns Hopkins Hospital’s biocontainment unit, outlines some of the key differences and similarities between the three illnesses.

Google memo lays out plan to fire employees who don't comply with vaccine mandate: report

Unvaccinated employees at Google may soon have to use the search engine to find job openings. A new company memo shows the company putting its workers on notice to comply with their vaccine policies or lose their jobs.

California's statewide indoor mask mandate kicks off as virus cases rise

The mandate requires everyone in California to mask up indoors, regardless of vaccination status, from December 15 through January 15.

Kroger to end some COVID-19 benefits for unvaccinated employees

Kroger, the country’s biggest traditional grocery chain, is ending some benefits for unvaccinated workers as big employers attempt to compel more to become vaccinated with cases of COVID-19 again rising.

Hobby Lobby raises minimum wage to $18.50 an hour

Hobby Lobby workers will be getting a raise to ring in the new year. The craft store chain announced it will raise its minimum full-time hourly wage to $18.50, effective January 1, 2022.

Canines in California trained to sniff out COVID from old socks

Dogs in Concord, Calif. are being trained to sniff COVID from old socks. The goal is to eventually use these COVID-sniffing canines in schools.

First antiviral pill for COVID-19 — developed in Atlanta — could receive FDA authorization

The US Food and Drug Administration could soon decide whether to authorize the first antiviral pill for COVID-19, molnupiravir. Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics say the treatment was able to cut the risk of hospitalization and death in high-risk individuals by 30%.

Omicron variant is milder but better at evading vaccines, South African data indicates

The omicron variant appears to cause less severe disease than previous strains, South African data suggests. But the Pfizer vaccine seems to offer less defense against infection.

COVID pandemic brings major increases in Georgia rental rates

The average cost of an apartment has been raised to new levels since the start of the year. And if you are waiting for prices to come down, don’t hold your breath.

Pfizer: COVID-19 pill remains effective against severe disease, omicron variant

Pfizer said its experimental COVID-19 pill Paxlovid reduced hospitalizations and deaths by 89% among high-risk adults when taken shortly after initial symptoms.

Air Force discharges 27 for refusing COVID-19 vaccine

The Air Force has discharged 27 people for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, making them what officials believe are the first service members to be removed for disobeying the mandate to get the shots.