Here's the biggest news you missed this weekend
At least 8 dead at concert during Astroworld Festival in Texas
Concertgoers trapped in crowds, unable to move. A complete breakdown in order and security. A panicked crush resulting in at least eight deaths and dozens injured. This was the scene of the Astroworld Festival in Houston on Friday, now one of the worst music concert tragedies in U.S. history. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said on CNN Sunday that a criminal investigation is underway that "will take weeks, if not longer." Twenty-five people were transported to hospitals and 13 remained there Sunday, Turner said. More than 300 people were treated on site. The known ages of the victims who died are 14 to 27 years old.
The crowd surge began around the time that rapper Travis Scott, the festival headliner, took the stage. "The crowd began to compress toward the front of the stage, and that caused some panic," said Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña. " ... People began to fall out, become unconscious, and it created additional panic."
- Astroworld Festival victims were teens, students and at least one aspiring model.
- 'They were not breathing': Survivors recount bodies trampled, overwhelmed security.
- Kylie Jenner says she, Travis Scott 'weren't aware' of deaths until after show.
Vaccine mandate for larger businesses temporarily halted by court
A federal appeals court on Saturday temporarily halted President Joe Biden's vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more workers. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or face mask requirements and weekly tests. Louisiana Attorney General Landry said the action stops Biden "from moving forward with his unlawful overreach.” The administration says it is confident that the requirement, which includes penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation, will withstand legal challenges in part because OSHA safety rules preempt state laws.
- Over half of employees would report a coworker for violating vaccine mandates, a new study says
New York City Marathon returns
The 50th running of the New York City Marathon on Sunday was a celebratory return to the streets of the Big Apple after last year's event was held virtually due to the pandemic. Just three months after claiming gold at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya won the 26.2-mile race, emerging from a lead pack of three in the final mile to finish in 2:22:39. Countryman Albert Korir won the men's race in dominant fashion, meanwhile, leaping into the air as he crossed the line with a time of 2:08:22. The New York City Marathon initially consisted of 127 people running laps around Central Park in 1970 with a $1 entry fee but has since blossomed into one of the largest and most iconic road races in the world.
- Molly Seidel breaks U.S. record at New York City Marathon – with two broken ribs.
Real quick
- Biden's approval drops to 38% in Paste BN/Suffolk poll.
- Prevea Health ends partnership with Aaron Rodgers after his comments about the COVID-19 vaccination.
- 'We’re not happy about that': NASCAR president denounces 'Let's Go Brandon' chant.
- Babies born to moms with COVID-19 when pregnant should be watched for long-term impacts, researchers say.
- 'SNL' unveils new Trump impression, Pete Davidson takes on Aaron Rodgers' COVID controversy.
- Ford's CEO responds to Twitter pleas for electrified 1978 F-100.
- People swear by apple cider vinegar for weight loss. Does it actually work?
Daylight saving time 'not helpful,' experts say
Sleep well? For most of the nation, daylight saving time ended at 2 a.m. Sunday, giving us back the hour of sleep we lost in the spring. The Department of Transportation, which is in charge of daylight saving time, says the practice saves energy, prevents traffic accidents and reduces crime. But sleep experts say the health consequences of losing sleep from daylight saving outweigh its value. “There’s really no reason we should continue to do this back and forth,” said Erin Flynn-Evans, a consultant to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s Public Safety Committee. “The negative health consequences and the negative effect on multi-vehicular crashes in the spring are just not worth it."
Biden hails House passage of $1.2T bipartisan infrastructure bill
After months of political wrangling, the House late Friday night passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill to modernize highways, rebuild water lines and provide billions for electric vehicle charging stations. It's the largest transportation spending package in U.S. history. The passage is a victory for Democrats and President Joe Biden, who had suffered a stinging defeat in Tuesday's elections. The bill, passed by the Senate in August, will now be sent to Biden, who will sign it into law. “Finally, infrastructure week! I’m so happy to say that,” Biden said Saturday at the White House, calling the passage of the bill a monumental step forward. “We did something that's long overdue, that long has been talked about in Washington but never actually been done," he said.
- 13 Republicans helped pass the infrastructure bill, and backlash from GOP colleagues was swift.
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This is a compilation of stories from across the Paste BN Network. Contributing: Associated Press.