Recent Stories
Stephen Moore: Coming ‘red state-blue state’ divide on reopenings after coronavirus restrictions
White House economic adviser Stephen Moore on Tuesday said the rush of “red” states to reopen parts of their economy in the coming weeks is going to put pressure on more Democratic-leaning states to do the same.
Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom: Can’t envision massive crowd of baseball fans anytime soon
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he can’t envision a big crowd of sports fans congregating in a stadium anytime soon and that when businesses and schools do open in his state, they’ll look radically different.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: Southeastern states sharing ideas on reopening plans
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday said a handful of southeastern states including Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina have discussed response plans as some of them prepare to reopen parts of their economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
U.K. Parliament to hold virtual debates amid virus lockdown
By Jill Lawless – Associated Press
Britain’s Parliament is going back to work, and the political authorities have a message for lawmakers: Stay away.
Conspiracy theorists burn 5G towers claiming link to coronavirus
By Kelvin Chan, Beatrice Dupuy and Arijeta Lajka – Associated Press
The CCTV footage from a Dutch business park shows a man in a black cap pouring the contents of a white container at the base of a cellular radio tower. Flames burst out as the man jogs back to his Toyota to flee into the evening.
Muslims try to keep Ramadan spirit amid virus restrictions
By Samy Magdy and Lee Keathy – Associated Press
Every year during Ramadan, the Light of Muhammad Mosque sets up long tables on the street and dishes up free meals at sunset for the poor to break their daily fast. It’s a charity that many rely on in this impoverished district on the edge of the Egyptian capital.
U.N. urges world to quickly scale up medicines, vaccines
By Cara Anna, Elena Becatoros and Chris Blake – Associated Press
The U.N. General Assembly has demanded global action to quickly scale up the development of and access to medicines, vaccines and equipment to battle the pandemic, while the World Health Organization warned Tuesday that rushing to ease coronavirus lockdowns could lead to a resurgence of the outbreak.
Trump to suspend immigration to U.S. amid coronavirus
President Trump announced Monday he would temporarily suspend immigration into the United States due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Needed relief’: Airlines to receive billions in aid from coronavirus relief fund
Six U.S. airlines reached an agreement with the federal government Monday to receive billions in aid, and the Treasury Department paid its first installment of $2.9 billion to dozens of other carriers that have enrolled in the payroll support program.
Pandemic squeezes finances of Democratic grassroots donors
By Brian Slodysko and Bill Barrow – Associated Press
Well-to-do donors gathered last August at the sprawling Charlotte, North Carolina, home of Erskine Bowles, a former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, where they nibbled finger food, sipped wine and listened to Joe Biden.
Coronavirus origins in lab not ruled out by scientific studies
A scientific study recommended by White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci pointing to the origin of coronavirus pandemic as a jump from animals to humans also concludes it cannot be ruled out that the virus may have escaped from a laboratory.
‘Perfect storm’: Coronavirus latest challenge facing embattled Iraq
Iraq faces a “perfect storm” of challenges from plummeting oil prices to rising COVID-19 rates, President Barham Salih warned Monday, as it struggles to form a government after more than a year of delay while sitting at the epicenter of rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
USC antibody study shows coronavirus ‘far more widespread,’ death rate ‘much lower’
An antibody study released Monday found that the novel coronavirus infection rate in Los Angeles County “far exceeds” the number of confirmed cases, meaning that the fatality rate is also “much lower” than previously thought.
‘Unlawful mandates’: Conservatives rebel against COVID restrictions, rally for reopening
Conservatives rallied in state capitals from Pennsylvania to Arizona on Monday to reopen businesses from the coronavirus shutdown, a groundswell warning to governors to halt the unprecedented expansion of their powers.
China’s effort to hide outbreak would have blocked CDC researchers on ground, experts say
Health professionals who spent years working overseas say that it’s far from certain whether the CDC position, had it been left in place, would have made any difference at all.
AOC deletes gleeful tweet on oil industry’s coronavirus collapse: ‘You absolutely love to see it’
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faced a torrent of social-media backlash on Monday after tweeting her “love” for the oil industry’s pandemic-prompted implosion.
Georgia governor to start lifting coronavirus restrictions Friday
By Associated Press
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday rolled out aggressive plans to reopen the state’s economy, saying many businesses shuttered to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus may reopen their doors as early as Friday.
Crippled by coronavirus: Pentagon anticipates 3-month delay on big projects
Pentagon officials anticipate a three-month delay across several of its big-ticket projects as a result of the manufacturing closures brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Poison control centers receiving more exposure calls amid coronavirus pandemic: CDC
Poison control centers have received more chemical exposure calls so far this year than the previous two years, showing a possible temporal link to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Facebook to delete protest events that ‘defy government’s guidance on social distancing’
Facebook will delete event pages for protests that defy state governments’ mandates regarding the coronavirus pandemic, the company said Monday.
National Restaurant Association projects $50 billion sales losses for food service industry in April
The National Restaurant Association said Monday the restaurant and food service industry will lose $50 billion in sales by the end of April if current projections remain the same.
Rouhani cries foul, says Trump’s ongoing sanctions against Iran ‘inhumane’
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday said the ongoing sanctions the U.S. is applying to Iran amid the coronavirus pandemic is “more inhumane than ever,” as the country struggles to contain the spread of the highly contagious virus.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine: K-12 schools will be closed for rest of academic year
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday that K-12 schools will be closed for in-person learning for the rest of the academic year and that students will continue to learn remotely.
D.C. mayor appoints Cabinet official to oversee court-ordered COVID-19 protocols at D.C. Jail
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed a Cabinet-level official Monday to oversee court-ordered requirements to slow the spread of the coronavirus at the D.C. Jail.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says South Korea sent 500,000 coronavirus tests
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan took to heart President Trump’s call for states to step up in the coronavirus fight, announcing Monday he’d spent three weeks procuring a half-million tests from a South Korean company.
AOC skeptical of emergency coronavirus relief deal: ‘I’m not here for a $5 bill’
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is withholding support for the new emergency coronavirus rescue deal being hammered out by the White House and Congress, as she and other far-left House members say the talks fall far short of their priorities.
Senate slates Tuesday for vote on emergency coronavirus funding
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell teed up a Senate vote on the emergency interim stimulus package for Tuesday afternoon.
Oshie wants season to resume, but ‘safety needs to be No. 1’
Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie, like most pro athletes staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic, is itching to get back to competition. But in order to resume and complete the 2019-20 NHL season, Oshie said the safety of everyone involved must be atop the list of considerations.
N.J. woman charged for organizing ‘reopen’ protest in Trenton
A New Jersey woman was charged with violating the governor’s “stay at home” order after organizing a protest outside the state capitol building Friday.
Andrew Cuomo: Trump is right on testing, but states need help with supply chain
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday said President Trump is right to say that testing for the new coronavirus should primarily be a state responsibility, but that the federal government can step in to help on supply chain issues for testing materials.
Feds require nursing homes to report coronavirus cases within 12 hours
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is implementing more reporting requirements for nursing homes with cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Belgium’s officials see sharp decline in new coronavirus cases, indicating its peak has passed
Officials in Belgium said Monday they believe the peak of the coronavirus outbreak in the country has passed as the number of patients admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 symptoms has sharply declined.
British officials warn of second coronavirus wave if restrictions are lifted prematurely
The British government has its eyes set on preventing a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak in its country as the U.K. moves closer to easing restrictions once the crisis has settled, a spokesman for the prime minister’s office said Monday.
Putin warns that Russia has not seen the peak of coronavirus yet
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday said that while the coronavirus outbreak in his country is beginning to slow, the peak of the outbreak has not yet been reached.
Britain to review handling of coronavirus outbreak after crisis passes: culture minister
The British government will launch a review into its handling of the coronavirus outbreak once the crisis has passed, Culture Minister Oliver Dowden said Monday.
Dr. Anthony Fauci pumps the brakes on antibody testing
Dr. Anthony Fauci is pumping the brakes on near-term prospects for reliable antibody testing that can conclusively show whether a person is immune to the coronavirus.
Dr. Fauci: ‘Real’ economic recovery won’t happen without virus under control
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, says a “real” economic recovery isn’t going to happen until the virus is “under control.”
Secret Service offers tips for Americans to guard against counterfeit stimulus checks
The Secret Service issued a warning Monday for Americans to protect themselves from counterfeit Treasury checks that are being mailed to taxpayers as part of the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package.
Key modeler: U.S. is past daily coronavirus death peak
A professor that helps run one of the most prominent coronavirus projection models on Monday said the United States is already past the “peak” in terms of daily COVID-19-related deaths.
Bill de Blasio: Trump is ‘not doing anything’ to help NYC get back on its feet
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday said President Trump is “not doing anything” to help the city get back on its feet financially amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Novartis wins approval from FDA to start hydroxychloroquine clinical trial
Novartis has reached a deal with the Food and Drug Administration to proceed with a clinical trial on the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug, in treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the Swiss drug company announced on Monday.
Scott Gottlieb, former FDA head: ‘Hopefully,’ we’ll be there on testing by September
Former Food and Drug Commissioner Scott Gottlieb on Monday said it likely won’t be until September before the United States is at an ideal testing capacity amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Miami police disperse crowd by David Guetta’s relief concert
By Associated Press
Police said they dispersed crowds violating social distancing guidelines during David Guetta’s coronavirus relief concert in Miami.
Losing face: The rise of the mask, and what’s lost behind it
By Ted Anthony – Associated Press
On Saturday afternoons, the Strip District neighborhood of Pittsburgh becomes a jam-packed hub of old-fashioned shopping. People stride along Penn Avenue, hopping from greengrocer to butcher to fishmonger to Italian market, smiling and gesturing and jabbering as they go.
Nations seek to ease nursing home loneliness yet keep residents safe
By Raf Caset and Angela Charlton – Associated Press
Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes just wanted to do the humane thing.
Shake Shack gets funding, to return paycheck protection loan
By Associated Press
The burger chain Shake Shack says it has obtained new funding and will return a small-business loan it got to help weather the coronavirus crisis.
Oil price goes negative as demand collapses; stocks dip
By Stan Choe, Damian J. Troise and Alex Veiga – Associated Press
Oil prices plunged below zero on Monday as demand for energy collapses amid the coronavirus pandemic and traders don’t want to get stuck owning crude with nowhere to store it.
‘Under siege’: Overwhelmed Brooklyn care home tolls 55 dead
By Bernard Condon, Matt Sedensky and Jennifer Peltz – Associated Press
As residents at a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington, began dying in late February from a coronavirus outbreak that would eventually take 43 lives, there was little sign of trouble at the Cobble Hill Health Center, a 360-bed facility in an upscale section of Brooklyn.
4/20 fizzle: Marijuana industry tested as virus slams economy
By Michael R. Blood – Associated Press
The unofficial holiday celebrating all things cannabis arrives Monday as the nation’s emerging legal marijuana market braces for an economic blow from the coronavirus crisis, with many consumers reducing spending or going underground for deals.
As mail voting pushed, some fear loss of in-person option
By Christina A. Cassidy and Nicholas Riccardi – Associated Press
Scrambling to address voting concerns during a pandemic, election officials across the country are eliminating polling places or scaling back opportunities for people to cast ballots in person – a move raising concerns among voting rights groups and some Democrats who say some voters could be disenfranchised.
Los Angeles forces city workers to take 26 furlough days
By Associated Press
Thousands of Los Angeles city workers must take 26 furlough days – the equivalent of a 10% pay cut – over the course of the next fiscal year as the nation’s second-largest city deals with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis.
Trump issues order deferring of some tariffs
President Trump issued an executive order Sunday night giving the Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin the authority to defer certain tariff payments due to the coronavirus crisis.
‘Not a fan’: Trump defends cutting Mitt Romney from coronavirus conference call
President Trump on Sunday said he had no use for Sen. Mitt Romney but insisted he wasn’t holding a grudge against him for being the only Republican to vote for his impeachment.
Coronavirus likely to transform world far more than 1918 flu pandemic
All eyes are now on the COVID-19 crisis, which could be as consequential as the Black Death, as fleeting as the 1918 flu or somewhere in between.
‘Great partner’: Trump plays short clip of Cuomo praising feds
As the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 40,000, President Trump on Sunday played a video clip of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo praising the federal government as a “great partner” in treating the coronavirus and ensuring his hard-hit state had enough capacity to handle a surge in hospital needs.
Trump to use Defense Production Act to increase swab manufacturing
President Trump on Sunday said he was ready to use the Defense Production Act to force U.S. companies to produce more swabs for coronavirus tests.
Trump’s reelection hopes likely hinge on coronavirus rebound
President Trump’s plan to run for reelection on a strong economy evaporated in just a month as 22 million Americans lost their jobs in the COVID-19 pandemic, and now his prospects rest on economic comebacks in some battleground states with Democratic governors.
Israelis accuse Netanyahu of endangering democracy
By Obed Balilty – Associated Press
More than 2,000 Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Sunday, demonstrating against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to form an “emergency” government with his chief rival and accusing him of using the coronavirus crisis to escape prosecution on corruption charges.
Steven Mnuchin: Putting Trump’s name on stimulus checks was my idea
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday it was his idea to put President Trump’s names on the stimulus checks going out to many Americans as part of the coronavirus-relief package.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee rips Trump for encouraging ‘insubordination’
By Associated Press
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee again blasted President Donald Trump’s call to “liberate” parts of the country from state stay-at-home and other orders designed to combat the spread of the coronavirus, saying Sunday that Trump is fomenting a potentially deadly “insubordination” before the pandemic is contained.
Recent Commentary Columns
Hospitals have vested interest to inflate the coronavirus counts
The more coronavirus patients hospitals see, the more money hospitals get. That puts hospitals in a tight conflict of interest spot when it comes to reporting true figures.
South Korea successfully holds general elections during COVID-19 pandemic
By Anthony B. Kim
South Korea’s response to the coronavirus outbreak appears to have been remarkably successful. Unlike most of the Western world, it has managed to stop the spread of the virus, without shutting down its economy.
Dictator? Trump understands limits to his power better than press does
Reporters are forever vacillating between accusing President Trump of not doing enough and doing too much. They will claim whatever it takes at any given moment to tarnish, ridicule or undermine this president.
COVD-19 crisis has re-ignited a sense of community, charity and personal responsibility
By Kay C. James
Citizens understand the need to slow the spread of the virus so hospitals can have enough equipment and staff to manage the caseload. However, now that we’ve slowed the spread, they’re anxious to get back to life and work.
Many small businesses will fail in the next few months, but not because of COVID-19
By Gene Marks
Small businesses won’t fail because of COVID-19 and the recession that it caused. They will fail because they should fail. They rode the wave of a booming economy that generated enough disposable income to hide those dubious ventures and marginally-run operations.
After an overreaction to COVID-19, it’s time to liberate America
Recent arbitrary executive orders by some governors have driven many who have never before demonstrated for or against anything into the streets of state capitals, with more likely to come.
CARES Act must not discourage Americans from returning to the labor force
By Richard Berman
How will the thousands of newly shuttered restaurants, bars, hotels and other businesses reopen when their furloughed staff realize they can earn just as much money staying home?
Trump’s COVID-19 briefings puncture media and Democrats’ lies about the president
By Ronald Kessler
The millions of viewers who watch the White House briefings on the pandemic get to see the real Donald Trump. That Trump is quite different from the myths perpetrated by his detractors.
Greatest threat America faces during COVID-19 pandemic is loss of liberty
If anything is clear in the history of civilization, as well as that of the church, it is this: When you sacrifice human freedom for the sake of human safety, you almost always diminish the human being.
