Child care for Americans is about to get bumpy.

Child Care Cliffhanger

The Story

Child care for Americans is about to get bumpy.

What do you mean?

At the end of this month, the American Rescue Plan is set to expire, wiping away $24 billion of federal funding that helped about 70,000 child care centers stay open during the pandemic. The funding helped boost workers’s salaries and waive some payment requirements for parents. Now, with the money set to run out on September 30, one in three child care programs around the country could close its doors.

And the children?

About 3.2 million children will be affected. Some parents may have to make the tough call to either find new child care or leave their jobs to take care of children full-time. Researchers said the cut in funding could cost the US economy $10.6 billion. Low-income families and people of color are more likely to live in child care deserts, leaving them with even fewer options.

Is anything being done to help?

​​In June, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) launched the Congressional Bipartisan Affordable Childcare Caucus to try to help mitigate the high costs of childcare.As for Congress, Democrats want an extra $16 billion for emergency child care funding for this year. But with a government shutdown looming over budget differences, it's not clear if it will pass.

theSkimm

Many parents and child care providers have called the government program a “lifeline.” Its end comes as women have returned to work at record-high rates amid rising prices and inflation. Now, those gains could be falling back as many parents are left without affordable child care.

Where there was some closure…

El Paso, TX. Yesterday, the gunman who killed 23 people at a Walmart agreed to pay about $5.5 million in restitution to the victims’ families. In 2019, the 25-year-old targeted Hispanics at Walmart after posting a racist manifesto that said the attack was “a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas.” The shooting stands as one of the deadliest mass shootings in US history. The agreement comes almost three months after the DOJ sentenced the gunman to 90 consecutive life sentences in prison after pleading guilty to federal hate crime charges. Texas prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. That trial date has not been set.

Who the police are looking into…

Russell Brand. Yesterday, UK police announced they are investigating allegations of “non-recent” sexual offenses in the country. Officials said the investigation comes on the heels of media outlets reporting that four women accused Brand of sexual assault and rape between 2006 and 2013. They also said they are looking into “a number of allegations of sexual offenses” in London. Still, the police didn’t directly name Brand. The comedian has denied the allegations. He’s accusing big tech, the government, and mainstream media of trying to censor him.

What's breaking the silence after getting called out…

Gymnastics Ireland. Yesterday, the sport’s national governing body apologized after a video from March 2022 resurfaced. The clip shows an official skip over a Black girl while handing out medals to a row of young gymnasts. The video caught the attention of seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles, who said the video broke her heart and that, “there is no room for racism in any sport or at all.” Gymnastics Ireland said it appointed an independent expert to review its policies and procedures to ensure “nothing like this will happen again.”

Who’s reached a temporary agreement…

Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas. Yesterday, the former couple filed to keep their two daughters in New York temporarily. The two have gone back and forth after Turner sued Jonas to take their kids to England and alleged he was withholding their passports. Jonas had denied the allegations.

What’s offering more than just hot dogs…

Costco.

What’s giving Google Translate a run for its money…

Spotify.

While Bad Bunny is giving us a preview...

“The Victoria’s Secret World Tour” is hoping to be Prime.