Nursing home staff cases rose 10,353 in the week ending December 27, a jump of about 80 percent from the week prior, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. Resident case rates rose slightly, as residents are vaccinated at a significantly higher rate than staff, and death rates among residents stayed about the same as deaths among staff tripled to 58 over the last week. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a Thursday livestream that only 57 percent of nursing home residents and 25 percent of staff have received a booster dose of the COVID vaccine, both significantly below the national rates of 66 percent of those 65 and over, and 45 percent of fully vaccinated adults....

Patients delaying tests last year “may turn one public health crisis into many others,” Ned Sharpless, director of the National Cancer Institute, wrote in the journal Science. Sharpless said that because “elective” cancer surgeries and treatments have been reprioritized to save space for COVID-19 patients, cancers that were missed will be diagnosed at later, and potentially more acute, stages. Colonoscopies, mammograms, lung scans and Pap tests were some of the top tests Americans missed, and researchers are studying whether tumors detected now are more severe....

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) served a search warrant on Jones’ Tallahassee home on Monday morning. The agency said Jones has been under investigation after the Department of Health filed a complaint about someone illegally accessing the state’s emergency alert system last month, according to the Associated Press. Jones posted a 30-second video of the raid on her Twitter page, which has since amassed almost 10 million views....

But sometimes mediocre franchises become excellent across a single offseason. The top playoff seeds in 2019, of course, were unremarkable in 2018. The Ravens went from a 10-6 group demolished in the wild card round by the Chargers to a powerhouse led by an MVP-caliber season from Lamar Jackson. The 49ers didn’t make the postseason a year before taking control of a stacked NFC West division that featured the reigning conference champions Rams and ever-dangerous Seahawks....

It’s going to be fun following the path to his second contract. MORE: 18 rookies ready to elevate their new teams That’s presuming he makes it that far, but if he does, how will that deal look? How will he want it to look? How will the Cowboys want it to look? How will the league want it to look? And will it even be with the Cowboys, or is Elliott the next DeMarco Murray?...

Griffin was convicted of illegally entering a restricted area on the day of the riot but acquitted of a disorderly conduct charge, the Associated Press reported. Both charges are misdemeanors. Griffin is among at least 10 people charged in connection with the riot who were holding government office at the time or had recently run for office. Although hundreds of people have been charged with involvement in the riot, Griffin’s trial is so far only the second one related to January 6, the AP said....

And the Cowboys quarterback, who underwent surgery early in March to repair his left collarbone, had some good news for fans: He is healing “nicely” and looking forward to organized team activities in late May as part of a full offseason. The team had put the rehab timeline for Romo at six to eight weeks after surgery to repair the collarbone he broke twice during the 2015 season, forcing him to miss 12 games....

With Dallas leading Detroit 42-21 late in the game, the Lions had a chance to get back in the game with a big special teams play from returner Andre Roberts. Instead, he got a big hit from Jones. MORE: NFL Mock Draft 2017: Cowboys get greedy at RB Jones was lucky he didn’t get flagged for targeting, considering he nearly hit Roberts helmet-to-helmet. The no call likely hurts even worse for Lions fans, considering defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson was called for a very questionable unnecessary roughness call against Ezekiel Elliott, seemingly for tackling him too hard....

The hourglass is nearly empty in Dallas as Dez Bryant has yet to come to a long-term deal with the Cowboys. Jerry Jones and the Cowboys have until 4 p.m. ET to convince Bryant to sign before the franchise tag is activated on the superstar wideout, which would not please Bryant. The Cowboys are reportedly upping the ante by offering Bryant a deal worth $12.8 million per year, the equivalent to what he would make this season as the franchise player, but Bryant wants more, according to NFL....

MORE: Cowboys to open year-round restaurant at stadium McClain violated the league’s substance abuse policy for the second season in a row. Last year, he was suspended four games for the violation, and faces a harsher punishment in 2016 for repeating the offense. His absence will add misery to the Cowboys’ front seven, which now has three players suspended for the start of the season. Defensive ends Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence are suspended for the first four games....

The Cowboys hosted Washington on Thanksgiving in both 2016 and 2018, winning a pair of high-scoring games. Here’s another even year chance to dispatch their renamed (unnamed) arch rivals, avenging a tough road loss in Week 7. This time, it will be Andy Dalton dueling Alex Smith at quarterback. The Cowboys saw Ezekiel Elliott run like his old self last week, while rookie Antonio Gibson has been a nice backfield surprise for Washington....

Now the Pro Boel wide receiver hopes to catch your attention with his appearance. Dez Bryant officially has his own apparel line, “ThrowUpTheX.” This apparel line stems from Bryant’s signature end zone celebration dance. While Bryant’s end zone dance is a fan favorite for entertainment purposes, the brand expands beyondt the football field. This brand signifies an interactive movement of celebrating daily life accomplishments. “We want ThrowUpTheX to allow fans to share with one another how they accomplish great things on and off the field....

Methane is a greenhouse gas that is far more potent than carbon dioxide. It is released when biological material breaks down, such as during a cow’s digestive process. While the burning of fossil fuels is by far the biggest contributor to anthropogenic climate change, methane from the agriculture industry also has a role to play—and this mostly comes from cattle releasing the gas. Previously, scientists have proposed different ways to reduce methane emissions from livestock, such as introducing dietary changes....

The three retired skippers will officially be inducted July 27 in Cooperstown, N.Y., along with whoever is elected by the Baseball Writers Association of America when voting results are announced next month. "I can't tell you how excited I am," Torre said. "What makes it even better is to go in with these two guys ... you know, we waged a lot of battles against each other. It's just a great, great feeling....

East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) Police said the incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. in the Dublin Hills Regional Park, Alameda County. The child—who is not being named—was taken to Oakland Children’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is believed to be in a stable condition. The victim was left with a bite mark on her neck and a wound on her back but did not need surgery, EBRPD police lieutenant Gretchen Rose said yesterday, KPIX reported....

Pictures of a display inside a Cracker Barrel restaurant in East Windsor, Connecticut started circulating on social media earlier this week. The pictures sparked an immediate backlash, with one activist describing it as a “traumatizing” thing for Black people to see and a reminder of the dark history of lynchings in the U.S. “Having a noose, or even having a rope tied in such a way that resembles a noose, is very traumatizing to see as a Black person,” activist Keren Prescott told WTNH....

But his next flight could be the bumpiest yet. Ferguson’s upcoming gig has him a little antsy. Next week he’ll host the White House Correspondents’ dinner, the annual black-tie confab of political journalists, celebrities and Washington power players. Oh, and the leader of the free world also shows up to poke a little fun at himself. Maybe Ferguson should get over his Scottish pride and be very afraid. Granted, the correspondents’ dinner is an insular, little-seen event....

Friday saw the Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding trending online as Americans stuck at home debated how to recreate the recipe. While that’s not a bad idea, especially with extra time on your hands due to COVID, it seems much easier, and more promising, to order delivery from Magnolia Bakery to enjoy the authentic recipe. Magnolia Bakeries across America have same day ordering options, as well as the option to order in advance....

Crawford held up his end of the bargain in defeating Jean by TKO at the 2:30 mark of Round 10 to retain the WBO super lightweight title in front of a sold-out crowd of 11,020 from the CenturyLink Center in Crawford’s hometown of Omaha, Neb. MORE: 11 facts you didn’t know about Ronda Rousey | Rousey vs. Holm: Date, time, TV, PPV price “I’m ready (for Pacquiao)," Crawford told HBO’s Max Kellerman....