Issuing correction on a previous law of mine

THE BIG STORY

Arkansas's governor says he now regrets banning masks in schools

Politicians rarely admit when they've messed up, but as the Delta variant surges across the US and his state, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has. "In hindsight, I wish that had not become law," he said in a news conference on Tuesday. "But it is the law. So the only chance we have is to amend it or for the courts to say it has an unconstitutional foundation."

Multiple Republican-led states around the country have implemented similar laws banning face coverings in schools or other places, including Florida, Arizona, Utah, and Texas. Only time will tell if they, too, will unwind laws that have made it harder to keep the coronavirus under control. But hey, we have to start somewhere.

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

Elizabeth Holmes is about to go on trial, and Theranos patients will be allowed to testify against her

In an order filed Wednesday, US District Judge Edward J. Davila denied a motion by Holmes to suppress evidence of customer complaints and their test results in her criminal wire fraud trial.

The ruling lets prosecutors put patients who received erroneous test results on the witness stand as they attempt to prove that the 37-year-old former Silicon Valley CEO knew her company's technology was likely to produce inaccurate results but promoted it anyway. The testimonies would be a potentially critical piece of the case prosecutors will present to prove that her promises of using just a drop of blood to make medical diagnoses were actually fraud.

SNAPSHOTS

A Dallas firefighter allegedly lied about having COVID-19 to take paid sick time and then went on vacation to a water park resort.

Jennifer Aniston said she was forced to cut ties with anti-vaxxers in her friendship circle who "don't listen to facts."

A 37-year-old Nicaraguan woman died in ICE custody after testing positive for COVID-19, according to government documents. She crossed the border last week and said she was fearful of being transferred to her home country.

Britney Spears told a story about being "locked in her bathroom" and fans are theorizing that it's a metaphor for her life.

THE WEST'S WATER CRISIS

The shrinking Colorado River is becoming an urgent water crisis for millions of people in the West. Contributor Caitlin Ochs takes us on a photo tour of the drought-hit region and talks to scientists about how people are driving it. Caitlin Ochs for BuzzFeed News

BREAKING IT DOWN

An ASL interpreter performing "WAP" has gone viral on TikTok

A 20-year-old concertgoer captured American Sign Language interpreter Kelly Kurdi showcasing the skill that goes into interpreting a show like Megan Thee Stallion's recent Lollapalooza concert.

"I decided to record her because I am really a fan of music interpreters," said Guilherme Vital Senise da Silva, who recorded the performance. "I've [taken] some Brazilian Sign Language classes before, so I was trying to see how she was going to sign every song of that concert."

So how did she sign it? Ferociously, and people loved the clip he posted to TikTok. As the video makes its way to other platforms and a wider audience, da Silva said he hopes viewers take this as an opportunity to learn about sign language and the culture around it.

Here's to your path being clear today,

Brandon

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