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Biden in Baltimore, Newsom back in public view, CMA Awards: 5 things to know Wednesday

Editors
USA TODAY

Biden lays out new efforts to ease supply chain congestion

President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit the Port of Baltimore Wednesday to promote  his $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which allocates funding to modernize the supply chain. While the president has yet to sign the bill into law, administration officials said they've started preparing to get the dollars out the door over the next few months. The bill provides billions of dollars for repairing outdated infrastructure at costal ports and upgrading obsolete inspection facilities. Supply-chain disruptions – caused by a variety of factors including backups at ports and warehouses, a shortage of truckers, factories having to close because of the coronavirus pandemic and a lack of shipping containers – have resulted in shortages and higher prices for consumers. They’re also a drag on the economy and are causing political problems for the administration. 

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Newsom to visit Southern California clinic after disappearing from public view

California Gov. Gavin Newsom will visit a COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot clinic in Los Angeles County Wednesday to highlight the state's ongoing efforts to increase vaccination rates heading into the winter season. Newsom has a full schedule again after receding from public view for nearly two weeks, since the end of October. He said Tuesday he chose to take his kids trick or treating on Halloween instead of discussing climate change with world leaders at COP26 in Scotland. The Democratic governor's comments, delivered at an economic summit in Monterey, came after increasing media coverage and criticism from Republicans about his whereabouts and what he was doing. Twitter users grilling Newsom's wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, about a new tweet and a since-deleted tweet didn't help matters. Newsom said Tuesday his absence was nothing more than a chance to recharge with his family after a frenetic three years in office, which included beating back a recall in September

Ahead of Paris testimony, Facebook whistleblower talks the metaverse

After stops at Capitol Hill in Washington, Parliament in London, the EU Parliament in Brussels and a tech conference in Lisbon, Portugal, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen will next address French lawmakers in Paris Wednesday and testify during two separate hearings. Speaking to The Associated Press Tuesday, Haugen warned the "metaverse" – the all-encompassing virtual reality world at the heart of the social media giant's growth strategy – will be addictive and rob people of more personal information while giving the company another monopoly online. Haugen said her former employer rushed to trumpet the metaverse recently because of the intense pressure it is facing after she revealed deep-seated problems at the company, in disclosures that have energized international efforts to crack down on Big Tech. Mark Zuckerberg has defended the company he founded, complaining last month leaked documents have painted "a false picture of our company."

Henry Ruggs III to be formally charged

Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III is due back in court Wednesday morning in connection with a fatal car crash last week. Ruggs, 22, is expected to be formally charged with a least four felonies, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, including two felony counts each of DUI and reckless driving in the Nov. 2 crash that killed Tina Tintor, 23. Ruggs could also be charged with possession of a firearm while under the influence after police say a loaded gun was found in his car after the crash. According to prosecutors, Ruggs had a blood alcohol level of .161 – twice the legal limit in Nevada – and was driving 156 mph when his Chevrolet Corvette Stingray struck Tintor's Toyota RAV-4, which caught on fire.

Luke Bryan hosts the CMA Awards, 'country music's biggest night'

Country superstar Luke Bryan will host the CMA Awards, which airs live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Several new talents are in the running for first-time wins. There will also be a few pretty conspicuous absences, including Morgan Wallen. The artist, who’s nominated for Album of the Year for "Dangerous: The Double Album," was caught on video earlier this year using a racial slur outside of his Nashville home. The Country Music Association previously announced that it "will not be inviting" Morgan to appear at the ceremony. Meanwhile, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton and Luke Combs are up for Entertainer of the Year.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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