Las Notis is a daily news column that gets you up to speed on the political, media + other going ons in Latin America and the diaspora—all in one quick digest.
- Here’s your glimpse at what’s going on today:
- The Senate made a last-minute revision to Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package on Friday that means jobless Americans will get a smaller weekly unemployment benefit, but will receive payments for an additional month. This is a change from the bill the House passed last week, which would have provided an extra $400 a week through August 29. [CNN]
- The Biden administration announced that it wants to process and release migrant families that are seeking asylum more quickly by converting detention facilities into “processing centers.” These converted centers would provide background checks, health screenings–potentially even COVID-19 vaccinations–before migrants are released into the U.S. with their court orders. [NPR]
- An appeals court has cleared the way for the Minnesota attorney general’s office to try to have a a third-degree murder charge against Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer accused of killing of George Floyd, reinstated. The third-degree murder charge has been dismissed by Peter Cahill of the Fourth Judicial District Court in what he determined “lack of probable cause.” [NBC News]
- Nancy Navarro, a member of the Montgomery County Council in Maryland, has encouraged Latino immigrants not to be ashamed of their accents after two people made fun of her at a virtual public hearing this week.“If you have an accent, wear it with pride and keep moving forward. This won’t stop us from achieving our dreams and our goals,” Navarro said. [NBC]
- As the COVID-19 death toll continues to rise in Brazil, President Bolsonaro told Brazilians to “stop whining.” Local city and state officials have taken the initiative to set safety regulations for their citizens, from São Paolo declaring a “code red” non-essential business lockdown to governors discussing buying vaccines directly from manufacturers in lieu of a federal distribution plan. [BBC]
- Cardi B deactivated her Twitter after social media trolls blasted her for releasing a new doll she designed herself instead of an album. “I have so much pressure,” she reportedly said on Instagram. “I’m working on a lot of shit to please people.” [Cosmopolitan]