Major indexes blast to new records as Wall Street sets aside worries that COVID variants could stub economic growth. Source

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan joins Major to talk about vaccination efforts in his state, the debate over mask mandates, and the governor’s own political aspirations on this week’s episode of “The Takeout with Major Garrett.” Source

A CDC expert panel met Thursday to discuss the small risk of rare side effects linked to some COVID-19 vaccines. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reviewed cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder associated with the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. There have been 100 reported cases, including one death, among the more than 13 million J&J doses given in the U.S. Dr. David Agus explains why the committee says the benefits of the vaccines far outweigh any risks. Source

The closure has shut down El Paso’s tourism, shopping and dining business from the Mexican city of Juárez. Source

The State Department is making it more difficult for some travelers to renew passports, temporarily not accepting last-minute bookings online. CBS News correspondent Christina Ruffini has more on the decision, which comes as pandemic restrictions ease nationwide and more Americans are looking to resume travel. Source

When police in Guatemala harassed and assaulted Estuardo because he was gay, he sought asylum in the U.S. – but his journey only grew more nightmarish from there, he tells CBS News. Now he’s in Texas, where he awaits a decision in his asylum case while running an LGBTQ+ shelter to help members of his community who are trying to cross the border from Central America. Source

The CDC reports cases of a drug-resistant fungus spread in a Washington, D.C. nursing home and two Dallas-area hospitals, and several patients died. CBSN’s Elaine Quijano has details. Source

Ponzi schemer who stole billions earned all of $710 for 3,000 hours of labor as a behind-bars orderly in North Carolina. Source

Celeb chef known for his orange Crocs and ponytail settles charges that he and his restaurant company degraded women. Source

“I just want to make my community proud, make America proud, and show the world something new,” Bloom said. Source