Feb 3, 2017

Uber does damage control

Uber hasn't had the best week. The ride-share company has been trying to boost its image following the #DeleteUber trend last weekend and the drama surrounding CEO Travis Kalanick's participation in — and yesterday's resignation from — Trump's business advisory council.

As part of the damage control, Uber has been sending emails to users who have canceled their accounts, and reminding them that Trump's immigrant ban is "unjust, wrong, and against everything we stand for as a company," per CNBC. On Wednesday, users tweeted out photos of the messages they received after deleting their accounts.

Now, Uber is rolling out a new "Flat Fare" package, where users are able to purchase a series of rides at much cheaper prices.

Why this matters: Uber is going to great lengths to get back into its users' good graces, suggesting this week's PR turmoil has had a fairly significant impact on its relationship with its customers.

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Ursula Perano

Assault weapons ban dies in Virginia Senate despite Democratic control

Gun-rights ralliers at a protest outside the Virginia Capitol Building in January. Photo ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images.

An assault weapons ban died in the Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday despite a Democratic majority in the assembly, the Washington Post reports.

Why it matters: Democrats flipped the Virginia House and Senate last year after campaigning hard on gun control. The assault weapons bill would have banned future transfers and sales of all assault weapons in the state.

Go deeper3 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Ursula Perano

What we know: Deadly Storm Dennis whips at England, Wales and Ireland

Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images.

At least two deaths are being attributed to Storm Dennis on Monday as it continues to strike at parts of England, Wales and Ireland, per AccuWeather.

The big picture: Dennis is the second-strongest nontropical storm ever recorded in the North Atlantic Ocean. Its hurricane-force winds and heavy rains have caused widespread flooding across the United Kingdom. The army has been deployed in the U.K. to help with flood relief.

Go deeper26 mins ago - Science

Axios

Coronavirus cases rise as 14 American evacuees infected

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins, the CDC, and China's NHC; Note: China refers to mainland China and the Diamond Princess is the cruise ship offshore Yokohama, Japan. Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios

14 Americans evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship tested positive for the novel coronavirus before being flown in a "specialist containment" on a plane repatriating U.S. citizens back home, the U.S. government said early Monday.

The big picture: COVID-19 has now killed at least 1,775 people and infected more than 70,000 others. Most cases and all but five of the deaths have occurred in mainland China.

Go deeperUpdated 3 hours ago - Health