A fireworks display follows the "Salute to America" ceremony in front of the Lincoln Memorial, on July 4, 2019 in Washington, DC. The presentation featured armored vehicles on display, a flyover by Air Force One, and several flyovers by other military aircraft. (Photo: Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)
Americans celebrated their nation's 243rd anniversary of independence on Wednesday, with concerts, parades and a voracious display of hot dog-eating prowess in New York, as many cities and towns held fireworks displays after sundown.
Here's a look at some of the fireworks celebrations across the country.
Sadie Portillo, 7, left, her brother Santos, 6, right, and their cousin Adrienne Jaramillo, 6, wave American flags and came dressed to celebrate the Fourth of July and watch the fireworks display with their family at JeffCo stadium on July 4, 2019 in Lakewood, Colorado. (Photo: Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Joey Chestnut stuffs his mouth with hot dogs during the men's competition of Nathan's Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest, July 4, 2019, in New York's Coney Island. (Photo: Sarah Stier/AP)
A trumpeter who went only by the name Lenny plays a tune during the Santa Monica Fourth of July parade Thursday, July 4, 2019 in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo: Richard Vogel/AP)
A woman with a red, white and blue umbrella is seen on the National Mall while President Donald Trump gives his speech during Fourth of July festivities on July 4, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
From left to right, Caleb Cobb, Bryan Querrey, Alexx Cobb and Eric Voiers, of the Ripley Tabernacle Baptist Church, prepare to portray the Iwo Jima flag raising photo for the annual Independence Day parade in Ripley, W.Va., on July 4, 2019. (Photo: Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)
Miki Sudo, right, reacts after eating 31 hot dogs to win the women's competition of Nathan's Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest, July 4, 2019, in New York's Coney Island. (Photo: Sarah Stier/AP)
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive at an Independence Day celebration in front of the Lincoln Memorial, July 4, 2019, in Washington. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP)
Two and a half year old Zacky Kaplan rides his scooter while draped in the American flag as he makes his way along the parade route during the Santa Monica Fourth of July Parade on July 4, 2019 in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo: Richard Vogel/AP)
President Donald Trump speaks during an Independence Day celebration in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Washington. (Photo: Alex Brandon/AP)
President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence and others stand as the US Army Band performs and the US Navy Blue Angels flyover at the end of an Independence Day celebration in front of the Lincoln Memorial, July 4, 2019, in Washington. (Photo: Alex Brandon/AP)
President Donald Trump looks up during the military flyovers at the Independence Day celebration in front of the Lincoln Memorial,July 4, 2019, in Washington. The Washington Monument is in the background. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
The Washington Monument is visible as the US Navy Blue Angels flyover at the conclusion of President Donald Trump's Independence Day celebration in front of the Lincoln Memorial, July 4, 2019, in Washington. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP)
Fireworks go off over the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, July 4, 2019. (Photo: Susan Walsh/AP)
Fireworks seen from the Lincoln Memorial explode over the Potomac River for Independence Day, July 4, 2019, in Washington. (Photo: Andrew/AP Harnik)
Fireworks seen from the Lincoln Memorial explode over the Potomac River for Independence Day, July 4, 2019, in Washington. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP)
Fireworks light up the sky above the Brooklyn Bridge during Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show, July 4, 2019, in New York. (Photo: Frank Franklin II/AP)
Fireworks explode over Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol, at the National Mall, during the Independence Day celebrations in Washington on July 4, 2019, after President Donald Trump's 'Salute to America' remarks at Lincoln Memorial. (Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP)
People on the east side of Manhattan watch a fireworks display, part of Independence Day festivities, July 4, 2019, in New York. (Photo: Jeenah Moon/AP)
People watch fireworks light up the Brooklyn Bridge during the annual Macy's fireworks show on the East River from Manhattan July 4, 2019 in New York City. This is the 43rd annual July 4 display by the retailer. (Photo: Kena Betancur/Getty Images)
Fireworks spell out "USA" as they explode over the Lincoln Memorial during the Fourth of July celebrations in Washington, DC, July 4, 2019. (Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images)
Fireworks light up the night sky over Brooklyn on July 4, 2019 in New York City. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Fireworks light up the night sky over the Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse as part of an Independence Day celebration, July 4, 2019, in St. Louis. (Photo: Jeff Roberson/AP)
People on the east side of Manhattan watch a fireworks display, part of Independence Day festivities, July 4, 2019, in New York. (Photo: Jeenah Moon/AP)
A person watches Independence Day fireworks celebrations from the Liberty Memorial, July 4, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (Photo: Charlie Riedel/AP)
People watch Independence Day fireworks celebrations from the Liberty Memorial on July 4, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (Photo: Charlie Riedel/AP)
Fireworks are seen over the Lincoln Memorial during Fourth of July Independence Day celebrations in Washington, D.C. on July 4, 2019. (Photo: Joshua Roberts/Reuters)
A U.S. program created after the 2003 anthrax attacks to help detect biological weapons provided protection in less than half the states and couldn't detect many of the known threats, according to a report released Thursday. The program known as BioWatch, which described itself in a mission statement as a nationwide early warning system, was capable of detecting only six of 14 biological agents known to be potential threats. It also left detection equipment exposed and unguarded, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security found.
NASA’s newest Mars rover hit the dusty red road this week, putting 21 feet on the odometer in its first test drive. The Perseverance rover ventured from its landing position Thursday, two weeks after setting down on the red planet to seek signs of past life. “This is really the start of our journey here,” said Rich Rieber, the NASA engineer who plotted the route.
Two top female aides to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) are reportedly departing his administration as the governor continues to grapple with two growing scandals. Press secretary Caitlin Girouard and interim policy adviser Erin Hammond have both left Cuomo's administration, Bloomberg reported on Friday. Their departures came after senior adviser Gareth Rhodes and first deputy press secretary Will Burns also announced they'd be leaving the Cuomo administration, though the governor's office has said these were previously planned, Bloomberg notes. They also said Hammond had been set to leave for several months to "focus on her family," and Girouard says she accepted another job in January, according to The Hill. But the departures come as Cuomo is facing growing criticism and calls to resign in the wake of three allegations of sexual harassment, including from two former aides. He's also under fire for his handling of data on COVID-19 nursing home deaths, with The New York Times reporting on Thursday that Cuomo aides rewrote a report to take out the number of New York nursing home residents who died from COVID-19. Girouard, Bloomberg points out, had issued the statement last week denying former aide Lindsey Boylan's sexual harassment claims, as well as the statement in December saying there is "simply no truth to these claims." Cuomo earlier this week apologized over the sexual harassment allegations, saying he didn't intend to act "in a way that made people feel uncomfortable" while denying that he ever "touched anyone inappropriately." However, Cuomo said he will not resign from office. On Friday, according to CNBC, state lawmakers moved to strip Cuomo of COVID-19 pandemic emergency powers. More stories from theweek.comWhy the Dr. Seuss 'cancellation' is chillingWhat Republicans talk about when they talk about the 'working class'A shocking number of Democrats voted against a $15 minimum wage
Fox NewsFor thoughts on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s harassment scandal, Fox News daytime show Outnumbered on Friday turned to Tyrus, who is currently embroiled in a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit from his former Fox Nation co-host Britt McHenry.“As far as, all women should be heard and respected, and then you need to have the investigation and then results of the investigation. Uhh, we need to respect those,” the Fox contributor said, when asked for his thoughts on the accusations against Cuomo, before quickly pivoting to the controversy over the governor’s alleged cover-up of coronavirus-related nursing home deaths.Later in the broadcast, Tyrus was asked to comment on why many prominent Democrats have not commented on the three women accusing Cuomo of sexual harassment. “It’s so important that we respect the process of the investigations and not be quick to pass judgments but at the same time, that's kind of across the board for everything,” he declared, adding: “This is not a fortunate situation but the investigation will be compelling and will give us the answer that we need.”Britt McHenry: Fox News Is Promoting My Harasser Tyrus While It Buries MeMcHenry, who recently made her first on-air Fox appearance in more than a year, alleged that the network has sidelined her while promoting and protecting Tyrus, whom she accused of sending lewd and inappropriate texts. Late last year, a judge denied Tyrus’ motion to dismiss McHenry’s lawsuit and said the case would move forward. Tyrus has continually denied the allegations and Fox has maintained that McHenry’s claims are “without merit.”Fox News turns to Tyrus, who is currently being sued by a Fox colleague for sexual harassment and retaliation, to weigh in on the Andrew Cuomo sexual misconduct scandal. pic.twitter.com/GzZSYOpYOp— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) March 5, 2021 Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
Experts feared the Johnson & Johnson vaccine's slightly lower efficacy rate would lead to an impression of a two-tiered system. That has been exactly the case in Detroit, where the mayor just rejected a shipment of the company's vaccine. CNN reports that Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (D) declined an allocation of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine this week, saying the other available vaccines are better. "Johnson & Johnson is a very good vaccine. Moderna and Pfizer are the best," he said. "And I am going to do everything I can to make sure the residents of the City of Detroit get the best." Stat News' Matthew Herper called this a "bad plan." It's true that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine trials showed a 72 percent efficacy rate, while Moderna and Pfizer, the two other approved coronavirus vaccines, have a rate of about 95 percent. But health experts say it's still an excellent option, and has other perks like only requiring a single shot and frequently leading to fewer side effects, reports The New York Times. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert, said people shouldn't overthink which one to get, and explained the vaccines can't really be compared head-to-head because of different trial circumstances. Besides, experts note, the raw numbers don't show the full picture. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine prevented all hospitalizations and deaths in its large clinical trial, meaning the slightly lower efficacy rate really only points to mild to moderate disease. Detroit's mayor, however, said the city has been able to meet demand with just its supply of Pfizer and Moderna doses, but CNN notes Duggan's administration only expanded vaccine eligibility to residents ages 50 and older with chronic medical conditions on Thursday. Duggan said he would accept Johnson & Johnson doses later on if all other doses are distributed and there are remaining residents who want a vaccine. More stories from theweek.comWhy the Dr. Seuss 'cancellation' is chillingWhat Republicans talk about when they talk about the 'working class'A shocking number of Democrats voted against a $15 minimum wage
