Editor’s Note: This listicle is part of a weekly series by The Ball State Daily News summarizing five stories from around the world. All summaries are based on stories published by The Associated Press.
Michigan imposes sweeping restrictions to combat COVID-19, Georgia election workers began a presidential hand tally Friday, a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is successful in trials, the SpaceX capsule reaches the International Space Station and US governors impose new coronavirus restrictions ahead of Thanksgiving make up this week's five national stories.
Michigan halts classes, indoor dining as coronavirus surges
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration on Sunday ordered high schools and colleges to stop in-person classes, closed restaurants to indoor dining and suspended organized sports — including the football playoffs — in a bid to curb the state’s spiking coronavirus cases. The restrictions will begin Wednesday and last three weeks. They are not as sweeping as when the Democratic governor issued a stay-at-home order last spring but are extensive.
Masked workers start presidential hand tally in Georgia
Masked election workers in teams of two began counting ballots Nov. 13 in counties across Georgia, a hand tally of the presidential race that stems from an audit required by a new state law. The law requires that one race be audited to check that new election machines counted the ballots accurately, not because of any suspected problems with the results. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger chose to audit the presidential race and said the tight margin — Democrat Joe Biden leads Republican President Donald Trump by roughly 14,000 votes — meant a full hand count was necessary.
2nd virus vaccine shows striking success in US tests
A second experimental COVID-19 vaccine — this one from Moderna Inc. — yielded extraordinarily strong early results Monday, another badly needed dose of hope as the pandemic enters a new phase. Moderna said its vaccine appears to be 94.5% effective, according to preliminary data from an ongoing study. A week ago, competitor Pfizer Inc. announced its own vaccine looked 90% effective — news that puts both companies on track to seek permission within weeks for emergency use in the U.S.
SpaceX capsule with 4 astronauts reaches space station
SpaceX’s newly launched capsule with four astronauts arrived Monday at the International Space Station, their new home until spring. The Dragon capsule pulled up and docked late Monday night, following a 27-hour, completely automated flight from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The linkup occurred 262 miles (422 kilometers) above Idaho. This is the second astronaut mission for SpaceX. But it’s the first time Elon Musk’s company delivered a crew for a full half-year station stay. The two-pilot test flight earlier this year lasted two months.
Governors ratchet up restrictions ahead of Thanksgiving
From California to Pennsylvania, governors and mayors across the U.S. are progressing COVID-19 restrictions amid the record-shattering resurgence of the virus that is all but certain to get worse because of holiday travel and family gatherings over Thanksgiving. Leaders are closing businesses or curtailing hours and other operations, and they are ordering or imploring people to stay home and keep their distance from others to help stem a rising tide of infections that threatens to overwhelm the health care system.
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‘Freedom in letting go’
By Kate Farr / 37 minutes agoMy time here made me realize I’m more than my academic career.
Ball State's May 3 Commencement still to be held outside, light rain predicted
By NewsLink Indiana Weather and Staff Reports / 14 hours agoBall State University's Spring 2025 commencement ceremony May 3 is not expected to be indoors, despite forecasted rain showers in the early morning.
