Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House Covid response coordinator, is leaving the Biden administration in June for a top position at Brown University as dean of its School of Public Health. Jha has overseen pandemic strategy since early 2022. His departure comes after the Biden administration ended the national emergency and public health emergency tied to the Covid pandemic and the World Health Organization declared an end to the global health emergency.
Business
Walmart Theft Incident Investigation
Kansas City police are investigating an incident in which a man was held down by officers in a Walmart. The man was accused of stealing a pizza, though his uncle claims he had a receipt. A video of the encounter was posted on TikTok, and the Kansas City Kansas Police Department is reviewing the actions of the three officers involved to see if they complied with policy.
AAPI Entrepreneurs Disrupt Groceries
Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) entrepreneurs are addressing the underrepresentation of Asian foods in US grocery stores by starting their own online food and beverage brands. Often centered around ingredients that tell stories about their cultures, these brands offer shoppers access to unique food items sourced from AAPI communities. AAPI-owned companies such as Homiah, Immi, Wildwonder, and Fly By Jing sell products ranging from spices and sauces to infused drinks and ramen noodles, providing an authentic taste of Asian cuisine for customers who may not have access to traditional Asian grocery stores.
Economist’s “Racist” Article
The Economist magazine has been heavily criticized for a “racist” article on why the Latin American region is the world’s slowest-growing regional economy. The scholars, journalists and historians that have hit back at the publication claim the heading and subtitle play into racist tropes of Latin American workers being lazy.