By the end of May

A major vaccine timeline development, Texas rolls back masks, the billionaire and the pandemic

THE BIG STORY   The US will have enough COVID-19 vaccines for all adults by May, Biden says   On Tuesday, two pharmaceutical giants announced a significant partnership — Merck & Co. agreed to help produce the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine.   The promised numbers from this collaboration will make a huge difference — it means the US will have enough vaccine supply for all adults by the end of May, two months earlier than previously expected.   It was just weeks ago that Biden's administration said it expected to be able to inoculate every American adult by the end of July. But the welcome news of the Merck and Johnson & Johnson partnership accelerates the timeline. Biden likened the partnership to efforts seen during World War II.   Biden said Johnson & Johnson will begin operating its manufacturing facilities 24/7.   The president also announced that he was directing states to prioritize K–12 teachers and staff and childcare providers in vaccinations, saying he wanted every educator to receive at least one dose by the end of March. Jim Watson / Getty Images HELP US FIGHT FOR TRANSPARENCY   Our journalists filed 58 Freedom of Information Act lawsuits during Trump's presidency — more than any other media organization in the US. We have no plans to slow down, but pursuing that work is expensive and time consuming.   That's why every BuzzFeed News Membership sign-up or one-time contribution from now until March 15 will go toward our FOIA fund. When you contribute, you'll become a BuzzFeed News member and receive special member-only emails, including an inside look when we publish the next major FOIA scoop. Help us reach our goal of $100,000 for our FOIA fund by contributing here. STAYING ON TOP OF THIS   Texas is ending its mask mandate after the CDC warned against rolling back COVID-19 safety measures   Federal health officials are warning that lifting coronavirus safety measures now may lead to another spike in cases and deaths, but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he is moving ahead to end the statewide mask mandate.   At a restaurant in Lubbock, Abbott announced that "it is now time to open Texas 100%." The governor said a new executive order from his office "rescinds most of" the orders he has issued during the pandemic. This means in Texas, all businesses will be allowed to open at full capacity starting March 10.   Abbott acknowledged that COVID has not "suddenly disappeared," but said the responsibility should be on individuals to follow health protocols.  SNAPSHOTS   Joe Biden withdrew his nomination of Neera Tanden after pushback in the Senate. Tanden had drawn criticism from Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, dooming her nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget.   A judge released a man charged with assaulting a cop during the Capitol riots, saying the government messed up its case. Chief Judge Beryl Howell said she likely would have kept alleged Capitol rioter Clayton Mullins behind bars, but the government's arguments left her hands "tied."   US officials are deporting Haitian immigrants despite knowing they may face danger. Department of Homeland Security officials acknowledged internally that deported Haitian immigrants "may face harm" upon returning to their home country. THE BILLIONAIRE AND THE PANDEMIC   This billionaire has been partying through the pandemic while his company's workers died   Ricardo Salinas Pliego is Mexico's second-richest man. He's the founder of Grupo Salinas, a media, banking, telecommunications, and retail empire.   During the pandemic, his net worth has risen to $13.5 billion. And he has not been shy of flaunting his wealth on social media — whether it's with helicopter rides across the capital city's sky,  or a Christmas party with a live band and more than 50 maskless TV celebrities flouting social distancing rules.   Salinas Pliego has used his outsize influence to promote the notion that COVID requires few if any precautions. The school he owns stayed open. His television network — the country's second largest — called on Mexicans to ignore the government's top health official.   But as the billionaire publicly downplayed the dangers of the virus, his workers continued clocking in under allegedly dangerous conditions that left them vulnerable as infections surged across the country. PROTECT DOLLY AT ALL COSTS   Dolly Parton received a dose of the vaccine she helped fund   The icon received her first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. It's a nice full-circle moment — last year, Parton's fund donated $1 million for research to develop the vaccine.    But despite her donation, Parton was adamant that she had to wait in line until it was her time to receive a dose.   And now, that turn has arrived. After receiving the shot, Dolly wanted to encourage people to get vaccinated, so she added a new twist on a familiar tune: "Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaciiiiiiine, I'm begging of you please don't hesitate," she sang. Dolly Parton / Twitter Allow yourself to be hopeful today, Elamin 📝  This letter was edited and brought to you by Elamin Abdelmahmoud and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.     👉 Your support of BuzzFeed's journalism does not constitute a charitable donation, and your contribution is not eligible for a tax-deduction. 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