Good afternoon, this is Brooke Howard with the Daily Beast. It's Thursday, October 15, and these are the top stories the Chi Chi team is watching right now. So much for the president's so-called amazing economy, huh? Researchers have found that 8 million more Americans have fallen into poverty since May, when federal aid largely dried up as the coronavirus pandemic raged on.
The study, which was conducted at Columbia University, saw that the number of people in poverty now is even higher than it was before the health crisis hit the U.S. A separate study from the University of Chicago and Notre Dame found that the number of Americans who are considered to be poor has increased by 6 million in the past three months, with living conditions worse for black people and children. An author of the Chicago study told the New York Times, the numbers show people are having, quote, a lot more trouble paying their bills, paying their rent, putting food on the table. Hundreds of thousands of Americans postponed routine cancer screenings at the beginning of the pandemic out of fear of contracting the coronavirus.
However, this also reportedly led to an increase in advanced cancer diagnoses. According to the Wall Street Journal, without early detection, patients have fewer treatment options and have a higher likelihood of dying from cancer. The National Cancer Institute earlier this year projected that skipped cancer screenings could result in at least 10,000 additional cancer-related deaths over the course of the next decade, with the center's director saying, quote, there's really almost no way that does not turn into increased mortality. 21st-century oncology, a national cancer care provider, said that 18% of its breast cancer patients this year have an advanced stage of the disease, in comparison to 12% in 2019.
Likewise, the medical testing company Quest Diagnostics said its weekly number of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients decreased by nearly 52% in March and early April, compared to pre-pandemic, suggesting that fewer people were getting screened. The company's senior medical director affirmed that, quote, cancer does not take a pause, even when society does. An aide and flight crew member who recently traveled with Senator Kamala Harris had tested positive for COVID-19. The Biden campaign confirmed that neither individual came into close contact with either Harris or Joe Biden in the last two days before the positive test.
The two members who tested positive are Liz Allen, Harris's communications director, and an unnamed non-staffed flight crew member. Although the campaign believes they are not required to quarantine under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, Harris's travel has been canceled through Sunday. At least they're being cautious. Harris will continue to campaign virtually before returning to the campaign trail on Monday.
This is, essentially, the formation of a hate group militia. Former and active-duty U.S. military personnel have allegedly been targets for recruitment with a militant neo-Nazi group. According to NBC News, secret recordings revealed that the group, called the base, wants military members to join it and prepare for what it believes to be society's imminent collapse.
The recordings, which were provided to NBC News by the Southern Poverty Law Center, reportedly contained calls between the leader of the base and more than 100 potential recruits. About 20% of those recruits were active military members or had served in the armed forces in some capacity. The leader, Ronaldo Nazaro, was born in the U.S., but reportedly runs the base from his apartment in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Nazaro reportedly once worked with U.S. Special Forces on fighting counterterrorism and was employed by the Pentagon as a contractor. He will just not leave her alone. President Trump continued his attacks on Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday, and his timing could not be more inappropriate.
As authorities announced charges against a 14th suspect and the botched plan to kidnap the Democratic lawmaker and violently overthrow the government, Trump said during an interview Thursday, quote, Michigan, she has to open up. Whitmer wants to be a dictator in Michigan, and the people cannot stand her. The president blasted the governor's COVID-19 policies and insisted that people want to get back to work. The president has repeatedly attacked Whitmer even after authorities announced charges last week against more than a dozen people who allegedly conspired to kidnap the governor and put her on trial for treason.
In total, 14 suspects have been charged for their roles in the alleged abduction plot. The group also discussed attacking the state capitol building and storming a police facility. That's all for today. Check back every weekday morning and afternoon for more news you need to know.
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