CNN
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When you fill up your coffee machine or humidifier, is tap water your choice? Naturally, many of us question how sterile our tap water is – or maybe even get a bit anxious thinking about the microorganisms in our faucets. Despite some misconceptions, tap water is generally harmless when ingested during drinking and cooking because the microbes are killed by stomach acid. On the other hand, infectious disease experts are saying tap water is not OK for some other uses, including home medical devices.
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1. Biden
President Joe Biden’s legal team found another batch of classified government records following the initial discovery of classified documents at his former think tank office in Washington this past fall, people briefed on the matter told CNN on Wednesday. The initial batch of documents discovered contained 10 classified documents, including US intelligence materials and briefing memos about Ukraine, Iran and the UK. Some of the classified documents were “top secret,” the highest level. It is unclear at this time how many documents were in the second batch or what the documents were about. Classified records are supposed to be stored in secure locations. And under the Presidential Records Act, White House records are supposed to go to the National Archives when an administration ends. The situation has triggered criticism by Republicans, who argue that the federal government has set a political double standard in its approach to mishandled documents.
2. Covid-19
The Biden administration on Wednesday again renewed the Covid-19 public health emergency, a provision that gives the administration the authority to respond to the pandemic as cases are again on the rise. The public health emergency gives the federal government wide-ranging authority over a number of Covid-19-related areas, including data tracking and allowing pharmacists, rather than physicians, to administer the Covid-19 vaccine. The renewal comes amid the emergence of the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant and a spike in new cases. The latest numbers show that the 7-day average of weekly new Covid-19 cases is up 16.2% compared with the previous week, according to the CDC.
3. Gas stoves
The White House on Wednesday asserted that President Biden does not support a ban on gas stoves after a federal consumer safety official suggested that such a proposal was on the table. The federal government isn’t going to take away your gas sto …