The delta variant is leading to a surge in new COVID-19 cases, along with growing calls for tougher restrictions. But officials also report vaccinations are on the rise, especially in some hotspots. Also, the CDC's eviction moratorium comes to an end, after Congress fails to extend it, leading to new worries that many Americans could lose their homes. And, NPR speaks to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona about the roadmap to getting kids back in school for in-person learning. More

This week's bonus episode of Up First comes from NPR's Throughline. The Olympics originated in Ancient Greece and were resurrected in the 1890's after a 1,500 year ban. Since then, the International Olympic Committee has been behind every Olympic Games. This episode explores the story of how the IOC turned the Olympics into a huge commercial success and whether the cities that host the games end up winning or losing. More

As the CDC tracks the delta variant and tells vaccinated Americans in high-risk areas to mask up, experts are warning about further mutations of the coronavirus. President Biden is adapting his messaging to the changing pandemic. And an update on wildfires tearing across many western states. More

Internal documents from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the delta variant of the coronavirus appears to cause more severe illness than earlier variants and could spread as easily as chickenpox. Also, defrocked Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was criminally charged Wednesday with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy in 1974. And, about 200 Afghan interpreters have been flown from Kabul to Virginia under a program to bring them to the U.S. because of their service to American forces. More

Senate Democrats and Republicans came together to advance a roughly $1 trillion proposal to improve the country's aging infrastructure, a deal months in the making. Also, President Biden is set to announce that all civilian federal employees must be vaccinated against the coronavirus or submit to regular testing and other restrictions. And, a look at how global warming is driving extreme and deadly weather this summer. More

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its guidance on wearing masks and is now recommending that some fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors if they live in areas with significant or high coronavirus spread. Also, four police officers testified about the physical and verbal assaults they faced responding to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in a highly emotional hearing. And, Olympic champion Simone Biles' withdrawal from the team and all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympics is renewing a conversation about the pressures and mental stress of elite athletes. More