CNN travel | A national museum where veterans, not war, come first

Columbus, Ohio (CNN) — Military museums across the United States and around the world often offer visitors glimpses of world wars, commemorating the men and women who sacrificed their lives for their country.

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum has a broader goal: to represent veterans — not just war.

War stories are present, of course, but they aren’t primary. Instead, there’s attention given to the decision to serve, training and boot camp, the sacred oath, deployment and personnel roles, separation from friends and family, survival, sacrifice and homecoming.  —read more—

CNN politics | Biden plans executive actions that would undo Trump’s policies

(CNN) – President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to reassert the United States’ leadership role on the global stage through a series of day-one executive actions that would mark a drastic turn from outgoing President Donald Trump’s policies.

Now that Biden has defeated Trump, his transition team is beginning to turn his campaign-trail promises into plans he can implement early in his presidency.

Biden’s first focus is likely to be the worsening coronavirus pandemic. He is set to name a 12-person coronavirus task force on Monday, two sources with knowledge of his plans said. Biden also said during the campaign that he will speak with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious diseases expert, before taking office.  —read more—

CNN politics | ‘Her story is our story:’ Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sisters bask in Kamala Harris’ victory

(CNN) – Michelle Arrington was on a plane headed to a beach reunion with her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority sisters Saturday when American history happened.

The Atlanta lawyer said she switched on her cellphone when she landed in Richmond, Virginia, saw a stream of 72 messages and “I thought ‘it has to be it.’ ”

Kamala Harris had become the first woman, the first Black woman, the first South Asian — and yes, the first member of the storied Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority — elected as vice president.  –read more–

F1 | Hamilton wins wild race in Imola as Mercedes clinch seventh-straight constructors’ title

Lewis Hamilton spearheaded Mercedes claiming their record seventh consecutive constructors’ title at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, leading home team mate Valtteri Bottas and a delighted Daniel Ricciardo – but there was late race drama as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen retired from P2 after appearing to suffer a tyre issue, bringing out a Safety Car that led to a climactic race ending.

Bottas had enjoyed a strong start to the Imola race from pole position, leading into Turn 2 as Hamilton lost out to Verstappen on the run down to Tamburello on Lap 1 and moved to third.

But Mercedes’ decision to give Hamilton a long first stint paid dividends when Renault’s Esteban Ocon retired at the side of the track on Lap 29, the resultant Virtual Safety Car allowing Hamilton to pit from the lead – Bottas and Verstappen having boxed earlier in the race – and retain P1.  —read more—

sky sports F1 | Lewis Hamilton exclusive: Creating a lasting impact beyond breaking F1’s records

“You want to look back and say I was a part of something much bigger than myself, than my team, than the sport, and I did it with a whole group of people and a lot of force against us, but also a lot of force because there was many of us pushing in the same direction”

Lewis Hamilton has just become Formula 1’s new record holder for race victories and could, within a space of the next fortnight, also equal the record number of championships with a seventh world title.  —read more—

CNN politics | These states could legalize marijuana this November

(CNN) – Four more states could choose to legalize recreational marijuana through ballot measures this Election Day.

Voters in Republican-led Arizona and South Dakota and Democrat-led Montana and New Jersey will consider proposals to legalize recreational marijuana. Another red state, Mississippi, is weighing a pair of ballot questions to legalize medical marijuana. Currently, 11 states have legalized full, adult marijuana use. All but two did so by ballot initiative, which poses the question directly to voters.

Polls show that the ballots initiatives have support in Arizona, Montana and New Jersey.  –read more—