Canada opens borders, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, R. Kelly trial: 5 things to know Monday
Canada opens to tourists. What you should know.
Canada opened its borders to fully vaccinated U.S. travelers on Monday, but local leaders say it will take time before tourism rates are comparable to 2019 levels. While Canadian businesses near the border have spent weeks preparing for the country's reopening, travelers may have a harder time getting certain reservations or could face longer wait times due to staffing shortages and supply chain issues. Planning a trip up north? All travelers, regardless of vaccination status, will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter. Additionally, travelers must show proof of vaccination in either English, French or a certified translation. Canada's government also suggests mask wearing in shared spaces, and certain provinces – including Quebec and Ontario – enforce mandates.
- US extends Mexico, Canada border restrictions through Aug. 21 despite Canada's plan to allow fully vaccinated Americans.
Prefer to listen? Check out the 5 Things podcast:
Committee that could start Gov. Cuomo impeachment meets
New York's Assembly Judiciary Committee, which could start an impeachment process, will meet on Monday as Gov. Andrew Cuomo faces pressure to leave office after a report detailed his alleged sexual harassment of female aides. Assembly Democrats are confident they have the votes to impeach Cuomo if he doesn't resign, and drawing up articles of impeachment could start in days. On Thursday, Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi said Cuomo's office would cooperate with the Judiciary Committee's work. Cuomo could also face misdemeanor charges if law enforcement can substantiate a complaint accusing the governor of groping an aide in the Executive Mansion, Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said. The report, released last Tuesday by Attorney General Letitia James' office, concluded Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women — including nine current or former state employees — in the past seven years.
- Melissa DeRosa, top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, resigns amid scandal
- Gov. Andrew Cuomo's alleged sexual harassment coincided with his public support of women
- 'He won't take responsibility': Cuomo accusers feel vindicated by AG’s findings
R. Kelly faces his first trial on sex trafficking charges
The trial of R. Kelly, the R&B star who's been locked up since 2019 awaiting trials in four separate cases, is set to begin Monday with jury selection as he faces multiple charges of sex trafficking and racketeering in a Brooklyn federal court. The charges in New York include child pornography, kidnapping, obstruction of justice, sex trafficking and racketeering for purposes of sexual exploitation of children. Prosecutors accuse the Grammy Award-winning singer of leading "a criminal enterprise" of managers, bodyguards and other employees, who allegedly helped Kelly recruit women and underage girls for sex and pornography, and to cross state lines for that purpose. Kelly, 54, has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him in all of the cases. The trial is projected to last about a month, with opening arguments scheduled to begin Aug. 18.
- R. Kelly jury to hear how he illegally wed underage Aaliyah at his sex-trafficking trial
- Photos: R. Kelly through the years
Amazon to mandate masks for its 900,000 workers in warehouses
Starting Monday, Amazon will be requiring all of its 900,000 U.S. warehouse workers to wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status. The move follows steps by a slew of other retailers, including Walmart and Target, to mandate masks for their workers. In many of those cases, the mandates apply to workers in locations of substantial COVID-19 transmission. Amazon said Friday that its call for a nationwide mask mandate for its warehouse workers was in response to the spread of COVID-19 variants in the U.S., and guidance from public health authorities and its own medical experts. Amazon has been requiring only warehouse workers not vaccinated against COVID-19 wear masks.
- What to have at home if you or a family member has COVID-19 — including the delta variant
- Mask mandates are back as COVID-19 cases surge due to the delta variant
Massive wildfire continues to devastate California
With the weather expected to begin settling down Monday, the largest single wildfire in California history continues to burn ferociously, threatening thousands of homes. After racing through hundreds of square miles of tinder-dry woodland and brush, the Dixie Fire was less than a quarter contained. At least 400 homes and other structures have been destroyed, Cal Fire officials said. And almost all of the town of Greenville, population about 1,000, has been destroyed after 370 homes and structures burned late last week. The Dixie fire was the largest among more than major 100 wildfires in 15 states. Those fires have burned more than 3,500 square miles, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Smoke from the Dixie Fire, along with the many other fires in the western U.S., also continues to flow into parts of Colorado and Utah, where the air quality in many areas was rated as unhealthy.
- A red sky and a road on fire: How this man 'barely survived' the Dixie Fire
- Haunting photos of California wildfire: Charred buildings, burned cars and an abandoned town
Contributing: The Associated Press