From New York, the greatest city in the world, it's The Update with Brandon Julien!

It's Day 21 of the MLB Lockout 🥎🔒.

On #TheUpdate this Wednesday, are no lockdowns a realistic vision? Outgoing mayor Bills De Blasio says that he's committed to keeping the city open as it grapples with another spike in coronavirus cases. The mayor said that New York can't see schools and businesses closed again like the city did in 2020 when COVID-19 first spread widely. Incoming mayor Eric Adams has postponed his January 1st inauguration, but he hasn't said yet whether shutdowns are part of his COVID plan. The U.S population growth dipped to it's lowest rate since the nation's founding during the first year of the pandemic. Figures released by the U.S Census Bureau show that the country grew by only 0.1%.

And the U.S has opened a formal investigation into a report that Tesla vehicles allow people to play video games on a center touch screen while they're driving. The action follows a complaint to the agency that Teslas equipped with "gameplay functionality" allow games to be played by the driver while the vehicles are moving. 🚘🎮

From New York, the greatest city in the world, it's The Update with Brandon Julien!

It's Day 20 of the MLB Lockout 🥎🔒.

On #TheUpdate this Tuesday, this is truly a wakeup call. Just a few weeks ago, this city seemed to be a relative bright spot in the coronavirus struggle. Now it's a hot spot once again, confronting a dizzying spike in cases, a scramble for testing, a quandary over New Year's Eve in Times Square, and an exhausting sense of déjà vu. There are important reasons why it isn't spring of 2020 all over again, but there are some echoes- like the hourslong lines at many testing sites. Former President Donald Trump is suing the New York Attorney General Letitia James, seeking to end her civil investigation into his business practices. Trump alleges the AG's investigation has violated his constitutional rights. And the holiday season is shining brightly despite COVID-19. From Maine to California, more light shoes have launched during the pandemic, and they're more elaborate than ever. Industry officials say that the events over a safe activity where people can enjoy a holiday spectacle either outside on foot or from their comfort of a vehicle. 🇺🇲🎄

From New York, the greatest city in the world, it's The Update with Brandon Julien!

It's Day 19 of the MLB Lockout 🥎🔒. Boy, that was one heck of a weekend, wasn't it?

On #TheUpdate this Monday, not too far from where we are, the fate of the annual New Year's Eve party in Times Square will be decided this week. Outgoing Mayor De Blasio says that a decision will be made before Christmas on whether it will go forward, as the omicron varient spreads rapidly through the city. This weekend truly brought a sense of deja vu- reminds you almost of where we were one year ago. The Rockettes Christmas show done for the year. Some Broadway shows cancelling performances because of outbreaks among cast members. Saturday Night Live with no audience- all thanks to the omicron varient. But one thing has changed: we have vaccines. And so far, city hospitals aren't seeing a repeat of the surges that swamped emergency rooms earlier in the pandemic. And in Washington, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia all but delivered a death blow to President Biden's $2 Build Back Better plan. Saying that he can't support the package in it's current form, he's single-handedly thrown his party's agenda into jeopardy. Furious colleagues are desperate to salvage what's left of a top priority, but the next steps are unclear. 🇺🇲

From New York, the greatest city in the world, it's The Update with Brandon Julien!

From New York, the greatest city in the world, it's The Update with Brandon Julien!

From New York, the greatest city in the world, it's The Update with Brandon Julien!

It's Day 16 of the MLB Lockout 🥎🔒.

On #TheUpdate this Friday, we're hitting the serious button when it comes to new COVID-19 cases. Alarmed by a rapid rise, and with the New Year's Eve party in Times Square in jeopardy again, city officials will distribute 1 million masks and 500,000 home tests. Mayor De Blasio says that the distributions are part of a broader plan to counter the virus' spread.

A federal judge has rejected OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma's sweeping deal to settle thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids. U.S District Judge Colleen McMahon found flaws in the way the bankruptcy settlement protects members of the Sackler family who own the company from lawsuits. And New Year's Eve fireworks that were called off last year on the Las Vegas strip due to the pandemic are returning with hopes for big crowds- even as the emerging omicron varient spreads in more states. New Year's Eve usually draws and estimated 300,000+ revelers and fills the city's more than 250,000 hotel rooms. 🎆🏨🎰