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Biden's Covid relief bill is now law

Greetings, Quicktake readers! This week, Biden signs Covid relief into law, sending stimulus payments to some Americans as early as this weekend. Plus: 10 years after the Fukushima disaster, the road to recovery is long but not hopeless. Stream now for free.

Biden's Covid stimulus becomes law

President Joe Biden on Thursday signed the $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill into law in the U.S., exactly one year after the World Health Organization declared coronavirus a global pandemic. The move caps his first major legislative win and will speed aid to tens of millions of people, businesses and local governments—for many, not a moment too soon.

"I believe this historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of this country and giving people who built the country a fighting chance."

More than 29 million Americans have been infected and at least 529,000 have died from the virus. The pandemic has left roughly 10 million people unemployed and forced millions more to work from home, reinventing how we eat, dress and entertain ourselves. But hopeful stats have emerged, too: 95.7 million vaccine doses have been administered across 19% of the population.Andrew Mach

What to watch if

...you're seeing another anniversary make headlines. Japan marked 10 years since the Fukushima earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, and residents are still facing a long road to recovery.

  • Yasuo Takamatsu, 64, lost his wife, Yuko, when the 2011 tsunami hit, and he's been looking for her ever since. He learned to scuba dive to try to find her remains, which he's done every week for seven years.
  • Worried about what to feed their kids after the disaster, moms in Fukushima became radiation experts by monitoring food, soil and water in a lab called Tarachine, which means "beautiful mother."
  • The disaster hit the port city of Kesennuma hard. Now, the U.S.-based Black Tide craft brewery is aiming to spark a revival in tourism through its artisan ales.

Episodes to binge watch now

One question, answered

How can I qualify for that $1,400 stimulus check? Under the just-enacted law, Americans who earn as much as $75,000, or couples making $150,000, will begin receiving $1,400 direct payments as soon as this weekend. Single parents who earn $112,500 or less also get the full sum.

We want to know

Ready to grub on bugs? Crickets, grasshoppers and worms are gaining hype as sustainable protein sources thanks to their low eco-impact and high nutritional value. Leading the burgeoning market is Europe, where insects could soon be used to make snacks like protein bars and cookies.

Tell us: Would you jump on the insect protein bandwagon? Watch this video and let us know what you think.

Our favorites of the week

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