The News Roundup — Domestic

WAMU 88.5

Published November 25, 2020 at 4:28 PM CST

A dog stands near social distancing floor signage as holiday travelers pass through Los Angeles international Airport on Thanksgiving eve as the COVID-19 spike worsens and stay-at-home restrictions are increased on November 25, 2020 in West Hollywood, California.

Despite President Trump’s administration making it exceedingly difficult for President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team to do its work in full, the office of the president-elect has wasted no time in announcing some of its cabinet-level appointees. Of particular note is Biden’s choice for a new position: special presidential envoy on climate. Former State Secretary John Kerry will become thefirst-ever member of the national security council whose role focuses primarily on fighting climate change.

Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZenica all say their versions of a COVID-19 vaccine are outperforming their expectations. Each of their vaccines work to induce a response in the immune system to a protein in the virus.

Millions of Americans are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday despite experts warning against it. Coronavirus numbers in the United States are at an all-time high and many health analysts and stakeholders are worried about an exponential increase in transmission rates.

And a new Washington Post analysis revealed increased levels of hunger among Americans:

comparable data about households’ ability to get enough food.

Census Bureau survey data collected in late October and early November. That number climbed to more than 1 in 6 adults in households with children.

“It’s been driven by the virus and the unpredictable government response,” said Jeremy K. Everett, executive director of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty in Waco, Tex.

We cover all the most important stories from around the country in the News Roundup.