CNN – National

By Lauren M. Johnson, CNN A hospital system in Texas is prepping tents for the overflow of patients after a surge in Covid-19 cases filled its hospitals to the verge of capacity. Harris Health System in Houston is reporting 1 in 4 patients at its two hospitals have tested positive for Covid-19. Ben Taub Hospital’s

By Rebekah Riess, CNN Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday announced “very startling numbers,” including the state’s largest single-day increase in hospitalizations, eclipsing its previous high of Covid-19 admissions. In a tweet, Hutchinson said there were only eight available intensive care unit beds in the state. The Arkansas Department of Health is reporting 995 new

By Amanda Jackson, CNN A young boy in Las Vegas had a surprise waiting for him as he headed out for the first day of fourth grade on Monday — a police escort to honor his late father. Over the summer break, Noah , 9, mourned the death of his father, Officer Jason Swanger of

By Carma Hassan, CNN Minnesota officials are offering a reward of up to $180,000 for information that solves the shootings of three children. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) on Monday announced the reward as well as a billboard campaign about it. Trinity Rayne Ottoson-Smith, 9, was shot while jumping

By Rebekah Riess and Steve Almasy, CNN In a move that escalated Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ fight over mask mandates, the governor’s office said Monday that the state board of education could move to withhold the salaries of superintendents and school board members who disregard the governor’s executive order that effectively prohibits mask mandates in

By Amir Vera, Paul Vercammen and Eric Levenson, CNN Robert Durst, the eccentric millionaire subject of the HBO crime documentary “The Jinx,” testified in his own defense Monday as he stands trial for murder in the 2000 killing of his close friend and confidante Susan Berman. Durst, once again, denied killing Berman and said he

By Amir Vera, CNN Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has now had Covid-19 twice, but when asked by reporters Monday whether the Ravens have spoken to him about getting vaccinated, he was noncommittal on vaccines. “I just got off the Covid list, so I’ve got to talk to my team about this and try to

By Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN The NAACP is partnering with several other civil rights groups to launch a national voter mobilization campaign this week that aims to engage more people in the fight for federal voting legislation and motivate voters to participate in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections. NAACP leaders say the “Fighting for Our

By Christina Zdanowicz, CNN The University of Wisconsin removed a 42-ton boulder from its Madison campus Friday after complaints from students of color who called the rock a symbol of racism. Chamberlin Rock, which had sat on Observatory Point since 1925, was named after Thomas Chamberlin, a geologist and former university president who served from

By Carma Hassan, CNN Austin, Texas, activated its emergency alert system on Saturday to warn the public about a surge of Covid-19 cases and encourage people to get vaccinated, the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center said on Twitter. “The COVID-19 situation in Austin is dire. Healthcare facilities are open but resources are limited due to

By Evan McMorris-Santoro and Rosalina Nieves, CNN Nakeenya Wilson takes a breath and uses the practiced, patient voice of a mom as she talks to her son. She’s getting him ready to go to kindergarten in a few days and she’s trying to explain what’s going on with Texas and masks and schools. “I’ve had

By Sonia Moghe, CNN Jury selection for singer R. Kelly’s trial begins Monday, with hundreds of potential jurors expected to appear in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, as Covid-19 cases surge, fueled by the Delta variant. Twelve jurors and six alternates will be selected, and those chosen will be the only members of the