Employee anxiety is growing due to the rise of the delta variant, with some saying they feel pressured to return to the office without added precautions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed course in its mask guidelines on Monday, advising that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in regions where the virus is surging. The CDC also recommended indoor masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors at schools nationwide, regardless of vaccination status. Schools Brace for a Chaotic Reopening With Delta Raging - Bloomberg With virus surge, US to keep travel restrictions for now - Associated Press @GMA: "We did, over this last several days now, see new science for demonstrated that those who were vaccinated, that they could, in fact, transmit, if they are one of those rare breakthrough infections.” — CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on new mask guidance. President Joe Biden is considering a vaccine or testing mandate for all federal workers, falling in line with mandates in California and New York that require public employees to either get vaccinated or wear masks and regularly show proof of a negative virus test. Vaccine resistance remains strong especially among white evangelicals, posing hurdles for church leaders who hope to persuade them otherwise. McConnell strives to counter 'bad advice' to boost U.S. Republican vaccination rate - Reuters Georgia US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene sues Pelosi over mask fine - Atlanta Journal-Constitution Google reported a 2% jump in revenue in second-quarter earnings, with the rise fueled by demand for online advertising. Apple forecasted slowing revenue growth at its earnings call, signaling that the company could no longer hold off the effects of the global chip shortage. Microsoft bests earnings estimates as Azure posts 51% growth; shares fall - TechCrunch Spotify’s paid subscribers hit 165M as podcast listening ‘improved modestly’ - The Verge @tomwarren: It feels like the global chip shortage is starting to hit Big Tech more. Microsoft seeing the impact on Surface / Windows this Q, and now Apple is warning of impacts to iPhone / iPad for September Q Average hourly pay grew at a rapid clip of 3.6% in June compared to 2020, but even faster inflation may have offset the growth. Economists who use a metric called real wages — a measure of income after accounting for the cost of goods and services — said average pay declined by about 2%. Fed Meeting Will Focus on Tapering Timeline - Wall Street Journal Economists say inflation won't last; CEOs beg to differ - Reuters How extreme weather feeds inflation - Axios Historically Black colleges and universities are deploying federal pandemic funds to forgive millions in student debt, citing students’ difficult financial situations following the pandemic. Many students dropped out who could not afford to pay off their balances and re-enroll for the next term. Walmart To Pay Full College Tuition And Books For Workers - NPR NJ college to erase $5 million in student debt, offering lottery for vaccinated students - PIx11 "Wages are rising, but inflation may have given workers a 2% pay cut" - CNBC / Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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