thetennesseestar--2020-04-03--272,117 New Unemployment Claims This Week in Ohio, One of Worst States in Nation

Unemployment numbers in Ohio continue to surge as the coronavirus pandemic causes another 272,117 people to claim unemployment benefits , according to Fox19 .
Last week , 196,297 people filed for unemployment benefits .
This means that in the last two weeks 468,414 Ohioans have filed for government assistance , which is more than all of the 364,603 jobless claims that happened in 2019 .
Last week , 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits for the week of March 25 .
This beat the previous record of 3.3 million people that was set the prior week , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the two highest weeks for unemployment claims came in 1982 with 695,000 and in March 2009 at 665,000 , CNBC reports .
Of these almost 10 million jobless claims , Ohioans make up almost five percent .
To put this into perspective , Ohio had a total of 13,951 unemployment claims from March 1 to March 14 .
Yet these last two weeks , the Buckeye State saw the third biggest jump in total number of these claims , according to PBS .
This was a 3,347 percent increase .
The number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of COVID-19 is likely to increase as Gov .
Mike DeWine said this week that he might extend the stay at home order , which is set to expire April 6 .
“ We can not let this monster up .
We have to keep battling it .
We can ’ t walk away or it ’ s going to rear up and it ’ s just going to kill more Ohioans , ” he said during Tuesday ’ s press conference .
“ So we ’ re not to the point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all these new jobless claims , the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is having a hard time keeping up .
Lt .
Governor Jon Husted said that the state ’ s unemployment website traffic increased 20-fold , and Ohio is looking to double its workers at the unemployment call center , according to News5Cleveland .
“ I want you to know your voices are being heard and they ’ re being acted upon , ” he said at Tuesday ’ s press conference .
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ]

Unemployment numbers in Ohio continue to surge as the coronavirus pandemic causes another 272,117 people to claim unemployment benefits, according to Fox19. Last week, 196,297 people filed for unemployment benefits.
This means that in the last two weeks 468,414 Ohioans have filed for government assistance, which is more than all of the 364,603 jobless claims that happened in 2019.
Last week, 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits for the week of March 25. This beat the previous record of 3.3 million people that was set the prior week, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics.
Previously, the two highest weeks for unemployment claims came in 1982 with 695,000 and in March 2009 at 665,000, CNBC reports.
Of these almost 10 million jobless claims, Ohioans make up almost five percent.
To put this into perspective, Ohio had a total of 13,951 unemployment claims from March 1 to March 14. Yet these last two weeks, the Buckeye State saw the third biggest jump in total number of these claims, according to PBS. This was a 3,347 percent increase.
The number of Ohioans who will be laid off because of COVID-19 is likely to increase as Gov. Mike DeWine said this week that he might extend the stay at home order, which is set to expire April 6.
“We cannot let this monster up. We have to keep battling it. We can’t walk away or it’s going to rear up and it’s just going to kill more Ohioans,” he said during Tuesday’s press conference. “So we’re not to the point where we can let up.”
With all these new jobless claims, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is having a hard time keeping up. Lt. Governor Jon Husted said that the state’s unemployment website traffic increased 20-fold, and Ohio is looking to double its workers at the unemployment call center, according to News5Cleveland.
“I want you to know your voices are being heard and they’re being acted upon,” he said at Tuesday’s press conference.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media. If you have any tips, email Zachery at [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-04-03--Minnesota Health Officials Will Release Info on Nursing Homes with Coronavirus After Facing Criticis

Minnesota Health Officials Will Release Info on Nursing Homes with Coronavirus After Facing Criticism

The Minnesota Department of Health ( MDH ) said it will begin releasing information about the coronavirus pandemic ’ s impact on nursing homes throughout the state after facing criticism from Republican lawmakers for withholding the information .
Health officials said earlier this week that they would not disclose the names or locations of long-term care facilities where residents or staff have tested positive for COVID-19 in order to protect patient privacy .
But by Thursday afternoon they had changed their minds and said they will begin releasing the information as early as Friday .
“ With the current level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 we believe it is important to balance that value with the equally legitimate value of government transparency and of sharing information with the public to help them understand the course of the outbreak ” MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm said during a Thursday press conference .
“ To that end , we ’ ve decided to update our approach and to share more information about the outbreak in long-term care facilities , ” she added .
The announcement comes after state Senator Karin Housley ( R-St. Mary ’ s Point ) said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ only brings unnecessary grief and frustration to many Minnesota families.
” Housley said she thinks that the information can be released “ in a way that protects an individual ’ s right to privacy.
” “ I am uncomfortable with state officials withholding the names and locations of long-term care facilities with confirmed cases of COVID-19 , ” she said in a statement .
“ Therefore , I am asking Governor Walz and the Minnesota Department of Health to immediately disclose the names and locations of long-term care facilities where a resident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 – and that this remain the administration ’ s policy moving forward.
” Housley , chair of the Senate Family Care and Aging Committee , said other states like Colorado and Oregon are releasing this information .
One nursing home in Tennessee was hit so hard by the virus that it had to transfer all of its residents to a local hospital while it conducted a facility-wide cleaning .
As of Thursday , the Minnesota Department of Health was releasing information on the total number of positive cases , tests completed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The agency is also providing information on the age and gender of patients , the likely source of exposure to the virus , and the number of cases by county .
“ As Minnesotans confront a new reality , access to information is critical as we make decisions for ourselves and our loved ones .
We must make full disclosure the standard in Minnesota , ” said Housley .
“ Withholding this information only brings unnecessary grief and frustration to many Minnesota families .
In the midst of an unprecedented crisis , transparency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota now has 742 positive COVID-19 cases , 138 hospitalizations , and 18 deaths .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Background Photo “ Freeman Office Building ” by Tony Webster .
CC BY 2.0 .

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) said it will begin releasing information about the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on nursing homes throughout the state after facing criticism from Republican lawmakers for withholding the information.
Health officials said earlier this week that they would not disclose the names or locations of long-term care facilities where residents or staff have tested positive for COVID-19 in order to protect patient privacy. But by Thursday afternoon they had changed their minds and said they will begin releasing the information as early as Friday.
“With the current level of concern and the risk associated with COVID-19 we believe it is important to balance that value with the equally legitimate value of government transparency and of sharing information with the public to help them understand the course of the outbreak” MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm said during a Thursday press conference.
“To that end, we’ve decided to update our approach and to share more information about the outbreak in long-term care facilities,” she added.
The announcement comes after state Senator Karin Housley (R-St. Mary’s Point) said the MDH’s decision to withhold information “only brings unnecessary grief and frustration to many Minnesota families.”
Housley said she thinks that the information can be released “in a way that protects an individual’s right to privacy.”
“I am uncomfortable with state officials withholding the names and locations of long-term care facilities with confirmed cases of COVID-19,” she said in a statement. “Therefore, I am asking Governor Walz and the Minnesota Department of Health to immediately disclose the names and locations of long-term care facilities where a resident or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 – and that this remain the administration’s policy moving forward.”
Housley, chair of the Senate Family Care and Aging Committee, said other states like Colorado and Oregon are releasing this information. One nursing home in Tennessee was hit so hard by the virus that it had to transfer all of its residents to a local hospital while it conducted a facility-wide cleaning.
As of Thursday, the Minnesota Department of Health was releasing information on the total number of positive cases, tests completed, fatalities, hospitalizations, and recoveries. The agency is also providing information on the age and gender of patients, the likely source of exposure to the virus, and the number of cases by county.
“As Minnesotans confront a new reality, access to information is critical as we make decisions for ourselves and our loved ones. We must make full disclosure the standard in Minnesota,” said Housley. “Withholding this information only brings unnecessary grief and frustration to many Minnesota families. In the midst of an unprecedented crisis, transparency has arguably never been more important.”
Minnesota now has 742 positive COVID-19 cases, 138 hospitalizations, and 18 deaths.
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “Freeman Office Building” by Tony Webster. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-04-03--House Lawmaker Calls on Ohio State Senate to Pass Bipartisan Opioid Measure

Ohio State Representative Richard D. Brown ( D-Canal Winchester ) called on the State Senate Thursday to pass House Bill 10 ( HB 10 ) .
The legislation was passed unanimously in June , 2019 with the help of the bill ’ s co-sponsor Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus ( R-Paris Township ) .
“ The all-encompassing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies exactly why we need a dedicated office to focus on drug addiction in our state .
We can not afford to take our eye off the ball even in the face of another crisis , ” said Rep. Brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designated a priority bill by House Speaker Larry Householder – establishes the Governor ’ s Office of Drug Policy .
“ This legislation will allow state agencies and local governments to work together utilizing the best methods available for drug treatment , prevention , and rehabilitation , ” State Rep. Stoltzfus said in his introduction of the bill in 2019 .
After its passage in the House , the bill was taken up by the State Senate and referred to the General Government and Agency Review Committee .
From there , the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where it sits as of this writing .
“ Despite the COVID-19 crisis , those struggling with addiction still have to deal with these issues , and that is harder to do in a system that is disjointed and without comprehensive state-wide direction , ” Brown said , adding :

Ohio State Representative Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester) called on the State Senate Thursday to pass House Bill 10 (HB 10). The legislation was passed unanimously in June, 2019 with the help of the bill’s co-sponsor Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus (R-Paris Township).
“The all-encompassing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies exactly why we need a dedicated office to focus on drug addiction in our state. We cannot afford to take our eye off the ball even in the face of another crisis,” said Rep. Brown in a statement.
HB 10 – designated a priority bill by House Speaker Larry Householder – establishes the Governor’s Office of Drug Policy.
“This legislation will allow state agencies and local governments to work together utilizing the best methods available for drug treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation,” State Rep. Stoltzfus said in his introduction of the bill in 2019.
After its passage in the House, the bill was taken up by the State Senate and referred to the General Government and Agency Review Committee. From there, the bill was sent to the Finance Committee, where it sits as of this writing.
“Despite the COVID-19 crisis, those struggling with addiction still have to deal with these issues, and that is harder to do in a system that is disjointed and without comprehensive state-wide direction,” Brown said, adding:


thetennesseestar--2020-04-03--Whitmer Declares State of Disaster, Asks for Extension of State of Emergency by 70 Days

Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer has declared of a state of disaster for Michigan as well as extended the state of emergency , she announced on Wednesday .
“ Since Michigan announced our first confirmed cases of COVID-19 three weeks ago , we have taken some of the most aggressive measures in the country to mitigate the spread of the virus and protect Michigan families , ” said Whitmer in a statement .
“ Today ’ s action will allow my administration to respond more effectively to every facet of this crisis .
During this time , it ’ s crucial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep their distance from others .
We will get through this together.
” The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services originally confirmed the first coronavirus cases in the state on March 10 .
Michigan reported its first death from the virus a little more than a week later on March 18 .
As of Thursday afternoon , the number of coronavirus cases has grown to more than 10,700 confirmed cases and 417 deaths , according to data from the MDHHS .
Particularly hard-hit areas include Wayne , Oakland and Macomb counties , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan is still climbing , and we must continue to do everything we can to slow the spread , ” said MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health and Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun in a statement .
“ The governor has taken a number of critical steps to protect Michigan families , and this order today will allow that work to continue .
I will keep working closely with the governor and our partners across state government to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield asking for a concurrent resolution extending the state of emergency by 70 days .
Although both leaders agree with the need for an extended state of emergency , they also said they feel that 70 days is too long .
“ We agree that emergency circumstances persist in our state and are prepared to support an extension of the Governor ’ s Emergency Declaration , but feel a 70-day extension is too long , ” Shirkey told News 10 .
Whitmer ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the “ Stay Home , Stay Safe ” order , expire according to the time originally cited in each order , unless otherwise continued .
Read Whitmer ’ s letter to Shirkey and Chatfield here .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ]

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared of a state of disaster for Michigan as well as extended the state of emergency, she announced on Wednesday.
“Since Michigan announced our first confirmed cases of COVID-19 three weeks ago, we have taken some of the most aggressive measures in the country to mitigate the spread of the virus and protect Michigan families,” said Whitmer in a statement. “Today’s action will allow my administration to respond more effectively to every facet of this crisis. During this time, it’s crucial that Michiganders continue to stay home and keep their distance from others. We will get through this together.”
Whitmer originally declared a state of emergency on March 10.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services originally confirmed the first coronavirus cases in the state on March 10. Michigan reported its first death from the virus a little more than a week later on March 18.
As of Thursday afternoon, the number of coronavirus cases has grown to more than 10,700 confirmed cases and 417 deaths, according to data from the MDHHS. Particularly hard-hit areas include Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, as well as the City of Detroit.
“The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan is still climbing, and we must continue to do everything we can to slow the spread,” said MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health and Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun in a statement. “The governor has taken a number of critical steps to protect Michigan families, and this order today will allow that work to continue. I will keep working closely with the governor and our partners across state government to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”
Whitmer also sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield asking for a concurrent resolution extending the state of emergency by 70 days.
Although both leaders agree with the need for an extended state of emergency, they also said they feel that 70 days is too long.
“We agree that emergency circumstances persist in our state and are prepared to support an extension of the Governor’s Emergency Declaration, but feel a 70-day extension is too long,” Shirkey told News 10.
Whitmer’s office said that individual emergency orders, such as the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, expire according to the time originally cited in each order, unless otherwise continued.
Read Whitmer’s letter to Shirkey and Chatfield here.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-04-03--Michigan K-12 Schools Closed for Rest of School Year, Whitmer Announces

Michigan schools will be closed for the rest of the school year or until coronavirus restrictions are lifted , Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer announced on Thursday .
Distance learning will take place instead , she said .
“ My number one priority right now is protecting Michigan families from the spread of COVID-19 , ” Whitmer said in a statement .
“ For the sake of our students , their families and the more than 100,000 teachers and staff in our state , I have made the difficult decision to close our school facilities for the remainder of the school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on March 16 .
They were set to reopen on April 6 .
According to Whitmer ’ s office , the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators and the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers are working to develop a Continuity of Learning Plan template for schools to use to create their own plans .
The template is set to be available by Friday .
Districts will need to show how they plan to give students opportunities to learn remotely and how schools plan to manage and track the progress of students .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plan before it is implemented by the district .
Whitmer ’ s office also said that if the district requires online learning , it needs to ensure access to an appropriate device and an internet connection .
Students and families who can not participate will not be penalized .
“ As a parent , I understand the challenge closing schools creates for parents and guardians across the state , which is why we are setting guidelines for schools to continue remote learning and ensuring parents have resources to continue their children ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes , ” Whitmer said .
“ There is no video chat or homework packet that can replace the value of a highly trained , experienced teacher working with students in a classroom , but we must continue to provide equitable educational opportunities for students during this public health crisis.
” As of Thursday afternoon , Michigan has more than 10,700 confirmed cases of the coronavirus , according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services .
The death toll for the state is 417 .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ] Photo “ Gretchen Whitmer ” by Gretchen Whitmer .

Michigan schools will be closed for the rest of the school year or until coronavirus restrictions are lifted, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced on Thursday. Distance learning will take place instead, she said.
“My number one priority right now is protecting Michigan families from the spread of COVID-19,” Whitmer said in a statement. “For the sake of our students, their families and the more than 100,000 teachers and staff in our state, I have made the difficult decision to close our school facilities for the remainder of the school year.”
Whitmer originally closed the schools on March 16. They were set to reopen on April 6.
According to Whitmer’s office, the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators and the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers are working to develop a Continuity of Learning Plan template for schools to use to create their own plans. The template is set to be available by Friday.
Districts will need to show how they plan to give students opportunities to learn remotely and how schools plan to manage and track the progress of students. A regional intermediate school district must approve the plan before it is implemented by the district.
Whitmer’s office also said that if the district requires online learning, it needs to ensure access to an appropriate device and an internet connection. Students and families who cannot participate will not be penalized.
“As a parent, I understand the challenge closing schools creates for parents and guardians across the state, which is why we are setting guidelines for schools to continue remote learning and ensuring parents have resources to continue their children’s education from the safety of their homes,” Whitmer said. “There is no video chat or homework packet that can replace the value of a highly trained, experienced teacher working with students in a classroom, but we must continue to provide equitable educational opportunities for students during this public health crisis.”
As of Thursday afternoon, Michigan has more than 10,700 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The death toll for the state is 417.
Read the full executive order here.
– – –
Jordyn Pair is a reporter for The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected]
Photo “Gretchen Whitmer” by Gretchen Whitmer.


thetennesseestar--2020-04-03--Gov. DeWine Lengthens Ohio’s Stay-at-Home Order Until May 1

Gov .
Mike DeWine announced Thursday he will extended – both in duration and scope – Ohio ’ s “ Stay-at-Home ” Order until May 1 .
The original order was set to expire on Monday , April 6.. Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton signed the updated order on Thursday .
The new stay-at-home measure will take effect midnight on Monday .
“ We understand that this is tough – it is very difficult .
But , I would not be making these decisions if it wasn ’ t a matter of life and death , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep this monster down .
It ’ s not dead – it ’ s very much alive.
” Ohio is one of 38 states that are currently on a stay-at-home order , according to The Hill .
DeWine has been one of the most aggressive governors in combating the Chinese virus .
In March , the governor closed down schools , banned mass gatherings , shut down restaurants and delayed Ohio ’ s presidential primary .
With the stay-at-home order extension , unemployment numbers will likely increase during April .
In the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for unemployment benefits , which is more than all of the 364,603 jobless claims that happened in 2019 .
To help Ohioans through the coronavirus pandemic , DeWine created an economic advisory board that “ will help his administration work through the economic issues facing Ohio as the state looks toward the future , ” according to the governor ’ s press release .
The peak of COVID-19 is expected to hit Ohio around April 19 , the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation ( IHME ) model shows .
As of Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths , according to the state ’ s health department .
Updates to the new executive order include : • None The creation of a dispute resolution process for situations where two local health departments have come to a different conclusion on what is or is not an essential business .
• None The requirement that essential businesses determine and enforce a maximum number of customers allowed in a store at one time .
These businesses must ensure that people waiting to enter the stores maintain safe social distancing .
• None Direction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 14 days .
Exceptions include persons who live and work in trans-border areas , health care workers , public health workers , public safety workers , transportation workers and designated essential workers .
Visitors are instructed not to travel to Ohio if they are displaying symptoms , excepting in certain circumstances for medical care .
• None The mandate that wedding receptions be limited to no more than 10 people .
• None A clarification to close campgrounds with the exception where a camper or recreational vehicle in a campground serves as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are unable to secure safe alternative housing .
• None The requirement that public swimming pools and swimming pools at private clubs or housing complexes close to prevent transmission of COVID-19 .
This does not apply to private residential pools .
• None The clarification that retail garden centers can remain open but should determine and enforce a reduced capacity to keep customers and employees safe .
• None The closure of day camps for children .
• None The prohibition of organized youth and adult sports .
• None The clarification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing is practiced .
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ] Photo “ Mike DeWine ” by The Ohio Channel .

Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday he will extended – both in duration and scope – Ohio’s “Stay-at-Home” Order until May 1. The original order was set to expire on Monday, April 6..
Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton signed the updated order on Thursday. The new stay-at-home measure will take effect midnight on Monday.
“We understand that this is tough – it is very difficult. But, I would not be making these decisions if it wasn’t a matter of life and death,” said Governor DeWine. “We have to keep this monster down. It’s not dead – it’s very much alive.”
Ohio is one of 38 states that are currently on a stay-at-home order, according to The Hill.
DeWine has been one of the most aggressive governors in combating the Chinese virus. In March, the governor closed down schools, banned mass gatherings, shut down restaurants and delayed Ohio’s presidential primary.
With the stay-at-home order extension, unemployment numbers will likely increase during April. In the last two weeks, 468,414 Ohioans have filed for unemployment benefits, which is more than all of the 364,603 jobless claims that happened in 2019.
To help Ohioans through the coronavirus pandemic, DeWine created an economic advisory board that “will help his administration work through the economic issues facing Ohio as the state looks toward the future,” according to the governor’s press release.
The peak of COVID-19 is expected to hit Ohio around April 19, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) model shows.
As of Friday, Ohio has 3,312 cases and 91 deaths, according to the state’s health department.
Updates to the new executive order include:
The creation of a dispute resolution process for situations where two local health departments have come to a different conclusion on what is or is not an essential business.
The requirement that essential businesses determine and enforce a maximum number of customers allowed in a store at one time. These businesses must ensure that people waiting to enter the stores maintain safe social distancing.
Direction that travelers arriving to Ohio should self-quarantine for 14 days. Exceptions include persons who live and work in trans-border areas, health care workers, public health workers, public safety workers, transportation workers and designated essential workers. Visitors are instructed not to travel to Ohio if they are displaying symptoms, excepting in certain circumstances for medical care.
The mandate that wedding receptions be limited to no more than 10 people.
A clarification to close campgrounds with the exception where a camper or recreational vehicle in a campground serves as a citizen’s permanent residence and they are unable to secure safe alternative housing.
The requirement that public swimming pools and swimming pools at private clubs or housing complexes close to prevent transmission of COVID-19. This does not apply to private residential pools.
The clarification that retail garden centers can remain open but should determine and enforce a reduced capacity to keep customers and employees safe.
The closure of day camps for children.
The prohibition of organized youth and adult sports.
The clarification that fishing is permitted if proper social distancing is practiced.
Watch the full press briefing here:
– – –
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media. If you have any tips, email Zachery at [email protected]
Photo “Mike DeWine” by The Ohio Channel.


thetennesseestar--2020-04-04--Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Tennessee Double This Week

Davidson County retook its status as having the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases , according to new numbers that @ @ @ @ @ of Health released on their website Friday .
Overall , as of Friday night , @ @ @ @ @ cases , according to the TDH ’ s website .
Davidson County had 685 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ County had 640 cases .
Sumner County , meanwhile , ranked third with 283 cases @ @ @ @ @ with 221 cases .
Among the other confirmed cases , going by county and number @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee Star reported Sunday , at the start of the week Tennessee had 1,537 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ of what it had at the end of the week .
Chris Butler is an @ @ @ @ @ Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

Davidson County retook its status as having the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to new numbers that officials with the Tennessee Department of Health released on their website Friday.
Overall, as of Friday night, Tennessee had 3,067 confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to the TDH’s website.
Davidson County had 685 confirmed COVID-19 cases, whereas Shelby County had 640 cases.
Sumner County, meanwhile, ranked third with 283 cases and Williamson County ranked fourth with 221 cases.
Among the other confirmed cases, going by county and number of cases:
• Rutherford County: 127
• Knox County: 98
• Wilson County: 71
• Hamilton County: 67
• Robertson County: 51
• Putnam County: 50
• Montgomery County: 41
• Blount County: 33
• Tipton County: 28
• Cumberland County: 22
• Dickson County: 21
• Bradley County: 21
• Maury County: 20
• Washington County: 20
• Sullivan County: 18
• Fayette County: 17
• Madison County: 17
• Greene County: 16
• Marion County: 14
• Sevier County: 13
• Franklin County: 12
• Loudon County: 12
• Cheatham County: 11
• Grundy County: 11
• Anderson County: 10
• Hawkins County: 8
• Gibson County: 7
• Macon County: 7
• Trousdale County: 7
• Bedford County: 6
• Carroll County: 6
• Jefferson County: 6
• Chester County: 5
• DeKalb County: 5
• Dyer County: 5
• Hardeman County: 5
• Monroe County: 5
• Benton County: 4
• Campbell County: 4
• Cannon County: 4
• Henry County: 4
• Lincoln County: 4
• Marshall County: 4
• Carter County: 3
• Coffee County: 3
• Giles County: 3
• Grainger County: 3
• Hamblen County: 3
• Humphreys County: 3
• Jackson County: 3
• Lawrence County: 3
• McMinn County: 3
• McNairy County: 3
• Roane County: 3
• Scott County: 3
• Smith County: 3
• Bledsoe County: 2
• Claiborne County: 2
• Hardin County: 2
• Haywood County: 2
• Johnson County: 2
• Lauderdale County: 2
• Lewis County: 2
• Meigs County: 2
• Morgan County: 2
• Obion County: 2
• Overton County: 2
• Perry County: 2
• Polk County: 2
• Sequatchie County: 2
• Wayne County: 2
• White County: 2
• Clay County: 1
• Cocke County: 1
• Fentress County: 1
• Hickman County: 1
• Houston County: 1
• Unicoi County: 1
• Union County: 1
• Warren County: 1
• Weakley County: 1
As The Tennessee Star reported Sunday, at the start of the week Tennessee had 1,537 confirmed COVID-19 cases, about half of what it had at the end of the week.
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-04-04--Commentary: Left Moving from Proof of Concept to Execution on Plan to Bring Down America

Three things now moving rapidly below the surface of American politics and culture should alert conservatives to the extreme danger now facing the United States and the future of constitutional government .
The first is the successful execution of the Chinese Communist bio-warfare attack on the West ; the second is the speed at which the Cloward-Piven strategy of overwhelming government services to bring down the target government has advanced , and the third is the ease with which Far Left media operators have stampeded the executive branch of state and local government into enthusiastically violating the Constitution in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 virus .
Those with a sense of history will recall that in the last great attack on America – the Islamist attack on 9/11/2001 – the real strategic goal of the attackers was not the sad loss of life inflicted at the Twin Towers , the Pentagon and through the destruction of United Airlines flight 93 at Shanksville , Pennsylvania .
The goal was to destroy the American economy .
Yet , as economics and business researcher and author Marc Davis observed , “ the size , scope and strength of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the calculations had been concluded , the damage was relatively small .
Furthermore , the most severe effects were felt in a geographically limited area – Manhattan , Washington , DC , and Virginia – so the economic damage didn ’ t ripple out too far from ground zero.
” This time it is different – this time through our own government ’ s choices we have provided the Red Chinese with proof of concept on how a bio-warfare attack could work to destroy our economy and then allowed them to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack by permitting them continued access to our media to spread fear through propaganda , by permitting them continued access to our capital markets to rebuild any collateral damage to their own economy and by permitting them continued access to our homeland to spread the disease by keeping transportation links open between Red China and the United States open .
So , if this is an attack on the United States by Communist China , should we expect the Peoples Liberation Army to land in San Francisco tomorrow ?
Although they would probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is not where this attack is headed ; the next phase is the collapse or near collapse of government due to the overwhelming demand for services by those whose livelihoods have been destroyed in Red China ’ s biological attack on our homeland .
As Brandon Smith explained in an article for ZeroHedge , Columbia University , sociologist professors Richard Cloward and Francis Fox Piven introduced a political strategy to take down the federal constitutional order in 1966 in an article entitled ‘ The Weight Of The Poor : A Strategy To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a plan that they believed would eventually lead to the total transmutation of America into a full-fledged centralized welfare state ( in other words , a collectivist enclave ) .
The spearpoint of the Cloward-Piven strategy involved nothing less than economic sabotage against the U.S. Theoretically , according to the doctrine , a condition of overwhelming tension and strain could be engineered through the overloading of American welfare rolls , thereby smothering the entitlement program structure at the state and local level .
The implosion of welfare benefits would facilitate a massive spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial crisis that would lead to an even greater cycle of demand for a fully socialized system .
This desperation would then “ force ” the federal government to concentrate all welfare programs under one roof , nationalize and enforce a socialist ideology , and ultimately , compact an immense level of power into the hands of a select few .
As Cloward and Piven proposed , we now see the concentration of welfare programs to serve those made desperate and soon to be impoverished in the Democrat-led multi-trillion-dollar federal bailout and welfare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one that the attendent corporate bailout funds will be managed or at least influenced by Blackrock ’ s Chairman and CEO Larry Fink , who already controls a fund with an estimated pre-crash value of $ 7 trillion .
While the “ massive spike ” in poverty has yet to be realized , the massive spike in desperation is already upon us – millions who had never had it so good on New Years Day 2020 are now desperate about how to pay their rent or mortgage , where next week ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay April ’ s bills .
And , as Mr. Smith explained , the tactic of overwhelming the welfare structure REQUIRES the complicity of the government itself .
In the affluence of 21st century America a political movement could never create an army of impoverished people to collapse the government ; government , by fiat or incompetence , is the only entity that can create that massive spike in desperation and poverty .
And so today we see government , starting in Democrat-controlled states and localities , but quickly spreading to more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propaganda creating the millions of desperate , poverty-stricken people that Cloward and Piven posited would be necessary to collapse existing government structures and bring about a socialist America .
Today , analysts believe more than 10 million Americans are newly unemployed due to the response to the COVID-19 epidemic and an unprecedented 6.65 million Americans filed a new jobless claim in the week ending March 28 .
These vast numbers of newly unemployed are becoming even more deserate as unemployment office webportals crash and help lines are unavailable due to the sheer volume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a socialist America would be much less powerful economically and militarily and more ideologically aligned with the Red Chinese .
Fear and propaganda are key weapons in this assault on constitutional government and they have been deployed with great skill to put in place the final element of the battle plan : The meek acceptance of the suspension of their constitutional liberties by millions of Americans .
In state after state , jurisdiction after jurisdiction , Americans seem to have meekly accepted the suspension of the Constitution : The closure of houses of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious leaders , the suspension of the Second Amendment and the right to keep and bear arms , the suspension of the right to assemble and petition the government and the censorship of information by Leftwing corporations and media outlets are only some the most obvious .
These lockdowns and suspensions of civil liberties are unprecedented in times of peace , neither do they have any historical precedent in past epidemics , such as the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic .
They do , however , have precedent in the revolutionary histories of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberties , seized control of the flow of information and eventually seized control of the government and nationalized key industries and food distribution .
And so , we see today regular demands from Leftists , such as New York City ’ s Mayor Bill DeBlasio , for key industries to be nationalized .
And censorship of the news by Leftwing media outlets has now become common and accepted – even official statements of government policy from the President are censored .
And there is serious talk of deploying smartphone apps to track individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the COVID-19 epidemic .
There is also apparent social approval of neighbors shaming and informing on neighbors all in the name of coercing social conformity to allegedly fight the epidemic .
All of these extraordinary fear-based measures serve to erode American belief in the power of the individual to rule his or her own life , and to normalize and focus social pressure on those who may be inclined to resist extra-constitutional action by the government .
And they make it easier for Americans to accept government-imposed social conformity on the Red @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allege a conspiracy between the American Left and the Red Chinese government , rather they have similar goals and a record of acting with great alacrity when history presents them with an opportunity to advance toward those goals .
In an October 2019 column for Fox News , Prof. Victor Davis Hanson warned that “ far from a newly rich China becoming Westernized politically , the West and the rest of the world are more likely to become politically repressive like China.
” Professor Hanson was right , and , to the great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own political Left , the coronavirus panic has dramatically sped us toward that end .

by George Rasley
Three things now moving rapidly below the surface of American politics and culture should alert conservatives to the extreme danger now facing the United States and the future of constitutional government.
The first is the successful execution of the Chinese Communist bio-warfare attack on the West; the second is the speed at which the Cloward-Piven strategy of overwhelming government services to bring down the target government has advanced, and the third is the ease with which Far Left media operators have stampeded the executive branch of state and local government into enthusiastically violating the Constitution in the name of preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Those with a sense of history will recall that in the last great attack on America – the Islamist attack on 9/11/2001 – the real strategic goal of the attackers was not the sad loss of life inflicted at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and through the destruction of United Airlines flight 93 at Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The goal was to destroy the American economy.
Yet, as economics and business researcher and author Marc Davis observed, “the size, scope and strength of the U.S. economy was so immense that when all the calculations had been concluded, the damage was relatively small. Furthermore, the most severe effects were felt in a geographically limited area – Manhattan, Washington, DC, and Virginia – so the economic damage didn’t ripple out too far from ground zero.”
This time it is different – this time through our own government’s choices we have provided the Red Chinese with proof of concept on how a bio-warfare attack could work to destroy our economy and then allowed them to move directly to the execution phase of the attack by permitting them continued access to our media to spread fear through propaganda, by permitting them continued access to our capital markets to rebuild any collateral damage to their own economy and by permitting them continued access to our homeland to spread the disease by keeping transportation links open between Red China and the United States open.
So, if this is an attack on the United States by Communist China, should we expect the Peoples Liberation Army to land in San Francisco tomorrow?
Although they would probably be welcomed there with open arms, that is not where this attack is headed; the next phase is the collapse or near collapse of government due to the overwhelming demand for services by those whose livelihoods have been destroyed in Red China’s biological attack on our homeland.
As Brandon Smith explained in an article for ZeroHedge, Columbia University, sociologist professors Richard Cloward and Francis Fox Piven introduced a political strategy to take down the federal constitutional order in 1966 in an article entitled ‘The Weight Of The Poor: A Strategy To End Poverty‘.
This article outlined a plan that they believed would eventually lead to the total transmutation of America into a full-fledged centralized welfare state (in other words, a collectivist enclave). The spearpoint of the Cloward-Piven strategy involved nothing less than economic sabotage against the U.S.
Theoretically, according to the doctrine, a condition of overwhelming tension and strain could be engineered through the overloading of American welfare rolls, thereby smothering the entitlement program structure at the state and local level.
The implosion of welfare benefits would facilitate a massive spike in poverty and desperation, creating a financial crisis that would lead to an even greater cycle of demand for a fully socialized system. This desperation would then “force” the federal government to concentrate all welfare programs under one roof, nationalize and enforce a socialist ideology, and ultimately, compact an immense level of power into the hands of a select few.
As Cloward and Piven proposed, we now see the concentration of welfare programs to serve those made desperate and soon to be impoverished in the Democrat-led multi-trillion-dollar federal bailout and welfare bills just passed by Congress..It should surprise no one that the attendent corporate bailout funds will be managed or at least influenced by Blackrock’s Chairman and CEO Larry Fink, who already controls a fund with an estimated pre-crash value of $7 trillion.
While the “massive spike” in poverty has yet to be realized, the massive spike in desperation is already upon us – millions who had never had it so good on New Years Day 2020 are now desperate about how to pay their rent or mortgage, where next week’s groceries will come from and how to pay April’s bills.
And, as Mr. Smith explained, the tactic of overwhelming the welfare structure REQUIRES the complicity of the government itself. In the affluence of 21st century America a political movement could never create an army of impoverished people to collapse the government; government, by fiat or incompetence, is the only entity that can create that massive spike in desperation and poverty.
And so today we see government, starting in Democrat-controlled states and localities, but quickly spreading to more conservative states and localities through fear and propaganda creating the millions of desperate, poverty-stricken people that Cloward and Piven posited would be necessary to collapse existing government structures and bring about a socialist America.
Today, analysts believe more than 10 million Americans are newly unemployed due to the response to the COVID-19 epidemic and an unprecedented 6.65 million Americans filed a new jobless claim in the week ending March 28. These vast numbers of newly unemployed are becoming even more deserate as unemployment office webportals crash and help lines are unavailable due to the sheer volume of traffic.
And of course, a socialist America would be much less powerful economically and militarily and more ideologically aligned with the Red Chinese.
Fear and propaganda are key weapons in this assault on constitutional government and they have been deployed with great skill to put in place the final element of the battle plan: The meek acceptance of the suspension of their constitutional liberties by millions of Americans.
In state after state, jurisdiction after jurisdiction, Americans seem to have meekly accepted the suspension of the Constitution: The closure of houses of worship, the arrest of ministers and religious leaders, the suspension of the Second Amendment and the right to keep and bear arms, the suspension of the right to assemble and petition the government and the censorship of information by Leftwing corporations and media outlets are only some the most obvious.
These lockdowns and suspensions of civil liberties are unprecedented in times of peace, neither do they have any historical precedent in past epidemics, such as the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic.
They do, however, have precedent in the revolutionary histories of other nations where the Left has suspended constitutional liberties, seized control of the flow of information and eventually seized control of the government and nationalized key industries and food distribution.
And so, we see today regular demands from Leftists, such as New York City’s Mayor Bill DeBlasio, for key industries to be nationalized. And censorship of the news by Leftwing media outlets has now become common and accepted – even official statements of government policy from the President are censored.
And there is serious talk of deploying smartphone apps to track individuals in the name of containing the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. There is also apparent social approval of neighbors shaming and informing on neighbors all in the name of coercing social conformity to allegedly fight the epidemic.
All of these extraordinary fear-based measures serve to erode American belief in the power of the individual to rule his or her own life, and to normalize and focus social pressure on those who may be inclined to resist extra-constitutional action by the government.
And they make it easier for Americans to accept government-imposed social conformity on the Red Chinese model.
We don’t allege a conspiracy between the American Left and the Red Chinese government, rather they have similar goals and a record of acting with great alacrity when history presents them with an opportunity to advance toward those goals.
In an October 2019 column for Fox News, Prof. Victor Davis Hanson warned that “far from a newly rich China becoming Westernized politically, the West and the rest of the world are more likely to become politically repressive like China.” Professor Hanson was right, and, to the great advantage of the Red Chinese and our own political Left, the coronavirus panic has dramatically sped us toward that end.
– – –
Photo “Chuck Schumer” by Chuck Schumer.


thetennesseestar--2020-04-04--These States Say Abortions Are Essential During the Coronavirus Crisis

As states ban non-essential medical procedures to preserve personal protective equipment , some states are declaring that abortions are essential .
Health departments under Republican governors in Texas , Ohio , Oklahoma , Indiana and Iowa as well as the governor of Mississippi declared abortions non-essential and banned these procedures to preserve PPE for fighting coronavirus .
The American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) responded to these abortions bans with an assortment of lawsuits , in coordination with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and abortion providers in each of these states .
Meanwhile , Massachusetts , Michigan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois , Oregon , Hawaii and Virginia — all states that have banned elective medical procedures — deemed abortions essential during the outbreak .
Democratic attorney generals from Oregon , Massachusetts , New York , California , Colorado , Connecticut , Delaware , Hawaii , Maine , Michigan , Minnesota , Vermont , Virginia , Washington and Wisconsin also weighed in to express support for abortion , though not all of these states have stated that abortion is essential .
“ The safety and health of patients , health care providers , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sean Rankin , the Democratic Attorneys General Association Executive Director .
“ We are grateful to the people on the front lines of this epidemic who are ensuring people get the care they desperately need including access to family planning services.
” Rankin added : “ No one should use a public health crisis to push an ideological agenda , which is what we are now seeing .
In the face of these actions , Democratic AGs will continue to work together to protect the people in their states and fight for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Especially in this moment , Americans are looking for leaders who are putting their needs first.
” Massachusetts Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality director Elizabeth Kelley released a memorandum March 15 saying that all procedures that are “ non-essential , elective invasive ” procedures will be postponed or canceled while Massachusetts is under a state of emergency .
Her clarification came after the public health commissioner ordered doctors to cancel all non-essential procedures March 10 .
“ Terminating a pregnancy is not considered a nonessential , elective invasive procedure for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memorandum stated .
“ However , the ultimate decision is based on clinical judgment by the caring physician.
” The pro-life Massachusetts Citizens for Life told the Daily Caller News Foundation in a statement that the organization is “ disheartened ” to learn that abortion will still be permitted .
“ Women ’ s health and safety should be our top priority now , as always , ” Massachusetts Citizens for Life said .
“ Risking exposure to the highly contagious disease during visits to abortion clinics not only puts our women at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and their loved ones as well.
” Democratic Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s March 20 executive order banning non-essential medical and dental procedures specifically noted that “ pregnancy-related visits and procedures ” are to be considered essential .
The order differentiated between “ pregnancy-related visits and procedures ” and “ labor and delivery.
” “ It was explicit in the order that pregnancy-related care is included , ” Lori Carpentier , Planned Parenthood of Michigan president and CEO , told the Lansing State Journal .
“ You can rest assured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to our own interpretation.
” The Susan B. Anthony List criticized Whitmer for allowing abortions to continue during the pandemic .
“ Governor Whitmer requires Michiganders to delay important medical procedures deemed non-essential , and yet allows elective abortions to continue , ” SBA List president Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement Thursday .
“ Right now , we need to devote all of our resources to fighting this pandemic so that the most vulnerable can survive.
” She added : “ Abortion is an elective procedure that ends the life of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective equipment ( PPE ) away from our health care workers who are on the front lines .
Governor Whitmer should end these unnecessary procedures that further strain our health care system , and abortion businesses in the state should cooperate.
” Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz ’ s stay-at-home order exempts reproductive health care workers from this order and allows them to continue to work .
“ One of the first worker exemptions listed in Minnesota ’ s Stay at Home order is for providers of reproductive health care , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s that high up in the list because comprehensive reproductive health care is essential .
I ’ m proud of Minnesota for recognizing that basic fact .
I call on all states to do the same.
” Democratic Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker issued an executive order about social distancing and essential businesses March 20 that exempted reproductive health care providers from having to stay home .
Democratic New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy suspended all elective surgeries and invasive procedures March 23 , but noted that this did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pregnancies.
” “ Explicit exemption for family planning and termination of pregnancies , ” a March 23 press release from the governor ’ s office stated .
“ The order provides that it shall not be interpreted in any way to limit access to family planning services , including termination of pregnancies.
” The director of Community engagement at the Women ’ s Centers in New Jersey , Roxanne Sutocky , said in a statement that New Jersey is “ listening to medical experts and expressly names abortion care as an essential medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can remain available.
” “ The state of New Jersey has long served as a leader in reproductive healthcare access and pregnant people can access the abortion care they seek without the interference of mandated waiting periods , forced parental involvement , or insurance restrictions , ” Sutocky said , according to Rewire News .
The attorney general of Oregon , Ellen Rosenblum , said the state ’ s coronavirus executive order “ exempts abortion services from its delay of non-urgent surgical procedures.
” “ We will never budge from our guarantee of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion services , ” Rosenblum said .
The attorney general of Hawaii said reproductive health care will continue during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ While the current situation is burdening many sectors of our society , there is no basis to infringe upon a woman ’ s right to safe medical services , including reproductive health care , as part of the government ’ s response to COVID-19 , ” Democratic Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors said in a statement to Rewire News .
Democratic Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam ’ s March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical procedures noted that ‘ the full suite of family planning services and procedures ” are excluded from the ban .
Mary Margaret is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .

by Mary Margaret Olohan
As states ban non-essential medical procedures to preserve personal protective equipment, some states are declaring that abortions are essential.
Health departments under Republican governors in Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Indiana and Iowa as well as the governor of Mississippi declared abortions non-essential and banned these procedures to preserve PPE for fighting coronavirus. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) responded to these abortions bans with an assortment of lawsuits, in coordination with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and abortion providers in each of these states.
Meanwhile, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, New Jersey, Illinois, Oregon, Hawaii and Virginia — all states that have banned elective medical procedures — deemed abortions essential during the outbreak.
Democratic attorney generals from Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin also weighed in to express support for abortion, though not all of these states have stated that abortion is essential.
“The safety and health of patients, health care providers, and our communities is paramount,” said Sean Rankin, the Democratic Attorneys General Association Executive Director. “We are grateful to the people on the front lines of this epidemic who are ensuring people get the care they desperately need including access to family planning services.”
Rankin added: “No one should use a public health crisis to push an ideological agenda, which is what we are now seeing. In the face of these actions, Democratic AGs will continue to work together to protect the people in their states and fight for the critical resources and essential services required. Especially in this moment, Americans are looking for leaders who are putting their needs first.”
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality director Elizabeth Kelley released a memorandum March 15 saying that all procedures that are “non-essential, elective invasive” procedures will be postponed or canceled while Massachusetts is under a state of emergency.
Her clarification came after the public health commissioner ordered doctors to cancel all non-essential procedures March 10.
DAGA Co-Chair Oregon AG @EllenRosenblum: “Oregon’s Executive Order exempts abortion services from its delay of non-urgent surgical procedures … we will never budge from our guarantee of reproductive rights–including timely access to abortion services.” — Democratic AGs (@DemocraticAGs) March 26, 2020
“Terminating a pregnancy is not considered a nonessential, elective invasive procedure for the purpose of this guidance,” the memorandum stated. “However, the ultimate decision is based on clinical judgment by the caring physician.”
The pro-life Massachusetts Citizens for Life told the Daily Caller News Foundation in a statement that the organization is “disheartened” to learn that abortion will still be permitted.
“Women’s health and safety should be our top priority now, as always,” Massachusetts Citizens for Life said. “Risking exposure to the highly contagious disease during visits to abortion clinics not only puts our women at risk but their families, clinic staff, and their loved ones as well.”
Michigan
Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s March 20 executive order banning non-essential medical and dental procedures specifically noted that “pregnancy-related visits and procedures” are to be considered essential. The order differentiated between “pregnancy-related visits and procedures” and “labor and delivery.”
“It was explicit in the order that pregnancy-related care is included,” Lori Carpentier, Planned Parenthood of Michigan president and CEO, told the Lansing State Journal. “You can rest assured we didn’t leave it up to our own interpretation.”
The Susan B. Anthony List criticized Whitmer for allowing abortions to continue during the pandemic.
“Governor Whitmer requires Michiganders to delay important medical procedures deemed non-essential, and yet allows elective abortions to continue,” SBA List president Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement Thursday. “Right now, we need to devote all of our resources to fighting this pandemic so that the most vulnerable can survive.”
She added: “Abortion is an elective procedure that ends the life of an innocent human being and diverts critical personal protective equipment (PPE) away from our health care workers who are on the front lines. Governor Whitmer should end these unnecessary procedures that further strain our health care system, and abortion businesses in the state should cooperate.”
Minnesota
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s stay-at-home order exempts reproductive health care workers from this order and allows them to continue to work.
“One of the first worker exemptions listed in Minnesota’s Stay at Home order is for providers of reproductive health care,” said Democratic Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. “It’s that high up in the list because comprehensive reproductive health care is essential. I’m proud of Minnesota for recognizing that basic fact. I call on all states to do the same.”
Illinois
Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued an executive order about social distancing and essential businesses March 20 that exempted reproductive health care providers from having to stay home.
New Jersey
Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy suspended all elective surgeries and invasive procedures March 23, but noted that this did not include “family planning and termination of pregnancies.”
“Explicit exemption for family planning and termination of pregnancies,” a March 23 press release from the governor’s office stated. “The order provides that it shall not be interpreted in any way to limit access to family planning services, including termination of pregnancies.”
The director of Community engagement at the Women’s Centers in New Jersey, Roxanne Sutocky, said in a statement that New Jersey is “listening to medical experts and expressly names abortion care as an essential medical service, ensuring outpatient and hospital-based care can remain available.”
“The state of New Jersey has long served as a leader in reproductive healthcare access and pregnant people can access the abortion care they seek without the interference of mandated waiting periods, forced parental involvement, or insurance restrictions,” Sutocky said, according to Rewire News.
Oregon
The attorney general of Oregon, Ellen Rosenblum, said the state’s coronavirus executive order “exempts abortion services from its delay of non-urgent surgical procedures.”
NEW: Democratic Attorneys General Association Statement in Support of Access to Reproductive Health Care During #COVID19 Crisis Statements from DAGA Co-Chairs Oregon AG @EllenRosenblum & Massachusetts AG @maura_healey along with NY AG @TishJames & more 👇https://t.co/5noqPOdMx9 — Democratic AGs (@DemocraticAGs) March 26, 2020
“We will never budge from our guarantee of reproductive rights — including timely access to abortion services,” Rosenblum said.
Hawaii
The attorney general of Hawaii said reproductive health care will continue during the coronavirus pandemic.
Delaware AG @KathyJenningsDE: “I stand with Planned Parenthood, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and everyone who has stood up to oppose the opportunism of anti-abortion activists and politicians using a global pandemic to restrict abortion access.” — Democratic AGs (@DemocraticAGs) March 26, 2020
“While the current situation is burdening many sectors of our society, there is no basis to infringe upon a woman’s right to safe medical services, including reproductive health care, as part of the government’s response to COVID-19,” Democratic Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors said in a statement to Rewire News.
Virginia
Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s March 25 public health emergency order banning elective medical procedures noted that ‘the full suite of family planning services and procedures” are excluded from the ban.
– – –
Mary Margaret is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-04-04--Commentary: Coronavirus Consequences Coming Into View

The new Democratic pre-electoral chorus is already audibly arising like a Wagnerian finale from the largely hidden choir .
President Trump , they intone , bungled this and must be investigated for his incompetence which is costing countless American lives .
Because of his negligence and stupidity , the country must be shut down for months to ensure an economic disaster entirely attributable ( unsurprisingly ) to the contemptible ineptitude of the Bad Orange Man .
CNN ’ s Brian Stelter , one of the battle-scarred , grizzled , veterans of the Long March of media Trump-haters , choreographically synchronized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times , and MSNBC , has already kicked off this new campaign , on the air and on the internet .
He has gathered together the usual sampling of Trumpophobic media group-thinkers , and followed Saul Alinsky ’ s first rule , accusing the enemy of precisely what he and his comrades are doing .
Stelter has gone forth to battle with the same grim earnest that he brought to the previous unsuccessful crusades for the Trump-Russia election rigging fable and the impeachment fantasy .
The pro-Trump media , outnumbered but victorious , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president and join with the 60 percent of Americans who think that he has generally led well in this struggle against the coronavirus , despite an overly optimistic launch .
For so long Stelter has uttered the old stock phrases “ walls are closing in , ” and “ the drip , drip , drip , ” and the almost daily “ bombshell ” of each new damaging allegation ( that evaporated overnight ) , that he could be operating on autocue as he storms out of the firehall again , tearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president on a completely spurious charge one more time .
No one can deny the vigor and imperishability of the hate and vitriol that propels the president ’ s media enemies again and again , no matter how often they are mowed down by the facts .
Theirs is a bloodless re-enactment of the Japanese defense of Okinawa 75 years ago : the Japanese defense force of 120,000 took 113,000 dead and 7,000 wounded , one of history ’ s few large engagements where one side had a 100 percent casualty rate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bold , or as General Bosquet famously said of the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War of 1854 : “ It is magnificent , but it isn ’ t war ; it ’ s insanity.
” It isn ’ t very professional , either .
Even less forgivable is the campaign , already begun by New York Times hit-person Maggie Haberman to tear down the White House ’ s coronavirus response coordinator , Dr. Deborah Birx , who is an indisputable expert doing an exceptionally capable job .
Birx has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being not only a respected medical doctor but a retired colonel and former ambassador .
Her offense is not to slag off the president who has recruited her .
The same media outlets have been engaged in a scandalous attempt to represent the Chinese response to the crisis as brilliant and to accept Beijing ’ s claim to have eliminated the virus within its own borders , in embarrassing contrast ( they suppose ) to Trumpian floundering about .
In reality , the Chinese were inexcusably dishonest in withholding the proportions of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truthful word about it up to and including this week—as they claim to have had almost no further fatalities and none at all in the past few days ; and were extremely negligent in not moving promptly to restrict outward travel and warn the world .
The same American media which have acclaimed the official Chinese performance with an adulatory hallelujah chorus have railed against President Trump for following the normal practice of identifying the coronavirus geographically .
The subordination of the World Health Organization as a cheerleader for China ’ s odium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership of the WHO to be sacked and replaced by people in whom it is possible to have some confidence .
By the time this horrible virus has ravaged the underdeveloped world—which is completely unprepared to deal with it and where the danger of horrific human devastation is the fear that dare not speak its name—the complacent support of the corrupt leadership of the United Nations and its agencies by African and Asian states may have abated .
In the aftermath of this crisis , China ’ s prestige will have been thoroughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have followed the lead of the United Kingdom in questioning the utility and efficacy of the European Union , which has provided no leadership at all .
Without question , the United States lacked adequate preparation for a pandemic .
There is no just reason for heaping abuse on the previous administration for not being prepared for what the country is now facing because it has not faced anything comparable since the Spanish flu a century ago .
Nor is it just to hammer President Trump for his somewhat cavalier opening reflections on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at that stage being warned that it could achieve the proportions it is achieving , or that the virus was distinctly more dangerous than outbreaks of aggressive flu in the last several decades .
The charges of unpreparedness are based mainly on a lethargic start to testing ; even three weeks ago it was necessary to send all tests , which only could be administered by appointment in hospitals , to Atlanta for evaluation .
These complaints have been effectively answered by the swift development of immediate testing devices that can be administered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within 15 minutes .
The president made exactly the right decision on Wednesday in permitting the two Dutch cruise liners with coronavirus-infected passengers to land at Port Everglades , Florida , and to do “ what is best for humanity.
” It was an admirable gesture and is widely interpreted in the world as generous and respectful of the universal character of the fight against this disease .
Trump and his advisors have now prepared the country for 100,000 deaths , but that total will only occur if the incidence of New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the country and if California only peaks at the end of April .
Preliminary evidence , indicative and not at all dispositive , is that California is almost at its peak now .
If this is the case , the death total will be far less than 100,000 and the country will likely reopen in May , if in stages , and the president will be deemed to have managed the crisis well and sustained and retrieved the economy well .
If the peak in California only comes late in April , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could approach 80,000 and the country might not be substantially open for business until mid-June .
Obviously , speculation is hazardous and these projections are rank guesses based on official statements of pandemic patterns .
Even in a suboptimal circumstance , it is hard to see where any case can be made for mismanagement by the administration , especially by those who accused him of “ racism ” and “ xenophobia ” for stopping the direct flights from China , ( e.g .
Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Chuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s trial balloon on CNN on Sunday about an investigation like that which followed the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon was preposterous .
In 2001 , there had been some badly misjudged intelligence , by the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations .
In the coronavirus crisis , the president moved quickly to end direct travel from China and then Europe , saving many lives and giving the United States the lowest fatality ratio of any large country with a sophisticated medical system and reliable reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is taking fiscal and social advantage of the crisis in the national interest with desirable tax reductions and , finally , an infrastructure renovation program .
This president is emulating the tactic of Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II in styling any legislation that involved official expense as a bill to assist members and veterans of the armed forces .
If something of durable value can be legislated along with the measures necessary to strangle the public health crisis and rescue the economically vulnerable , it will be a commendable nugget in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation will not get far off the ground .
Conrad Black has been one of Canada ’ s most prominent financiers for 40 years , and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world as owner of the British telegraph newspapers , the Fairfax newspapers in Australia , the Jerusalem Post , Chicago Sun-Times and scores of smaller newspapers in the U.S. , and most of the daily newspapers in Canada .
He is the author of authoritative biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon , one-volume histories of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently of Donald J. Trump : A President Like No Other .
He is a member of the British House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour .

by Conrad Black
The new Democratic pre-electoral chorus is already audibly arising like a Wagnerian finale from the largely hidden choir. President Trump, they intone, bungled this and must be investigated for his incompetence which is costing countless American lives. Because of his negligence and stupidity, the country must be shut down for months to ensure an economic disaster entirely attributable (unsurprisingly) to the contemptible ineptitude of the Bad Orange Man.
CNN’s Brian Stelter, one of the battle-scarred, grizzled, veterans of the Long March of media Trump-haters, choreographically synchronized with the Washington Post, New York Times, and MSNBC, has already kicked off this new campaign, on the air and on the internet. He has gathered together the usual sampling of Trumpophobic media group-thinkers, and followed Saul Alinsky’s first rule, accusing the enemy of precisely what he and his comrades are doing. Stelter has gone forth to battle with the same grim earnest that he brought to the previous unsuccessful crusades for the Trump-Russia election rigging fable and the impeachment fantasy.
The pro-Trump media, outnumbered but victorious, will indeed have the effrontery to defend the president and join with the 60 percent of Americans who think that he has generally led well in this struggle against the coronavirus, despite an overly optimistic launch.
For so long Stelter has uttered the old stock phrases “walls are closing in,” and “the drip, drip, drip,” and the almost daily “bombshell” of each new damaging allegation (that evaporated overnight), that he could be operating on autocue as he storms out of the firehall again, tearing through the pandemic-deserted streets to assault the president on a completely spurious charge one more time. No one can deny the vigor and imperishability of the hate and vitriol that propels the president’s media enemies again and again, no matter how often they are mowed down by the facts.
Theirs is a bloodless re-enactment of the Japanese defense of Okinawa 75 years ago: the Japanese defense force of 120,000 took 113,000 dead and 7,000 wounded, one of history’s few large engagements where one side had a 100 percent casualty rate. It is mad, but it is bold, or as General Bosquet famously said of the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War of 1854: “It is magnificent, but it isn’t war; it’s insanity.”
It isn’t very professional, either.
Even less forgivable is the campaign, already begun by New York Times hit-person Maggie Haberman to tear down the White House’s coronavirus response coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx, who is an indisputable expert doing an exceptionally capable job. Birx has an unblemished career of great distinction, being not only a respected medical doctor but a retired colonel and former ambassador. Her offense is not to slag off the president who has recruited her.
Aiding and Abetting Globalist Corruption
The same media outlets have been engaged in a scandalous attempt to represent the Chinese response to the crisis as brilliant and to accept Beijing’s claim to have eliminated the virus within its own borders, in embarrassing contrast (they suppose) to Trumpian floundering about.
In reality, the Chinese were inexcusably dishonest in withholding the proportions of the coronavirus outbreak, has not uttered a truthful word about it up to and including this week—as they claim to have had almost no further fatalities and none at all in the past few days; and were extremely negligent in not moving promptly to restrict outward travel and warn the world.
The same American media which have acclaimed the official Chinese performance with an adulatory hallelujah chorus have railed against President Trump for following the normal practice of identifying the coronavirus geographically. The subordination of the World Health Organization as a cheerleader for China’s odium and criminality will require that the entire leadership of the WHO to be sacked and replaced by people in whom it is possible to have some confidence.
By the time this horrible virus has ravaged the underdeveloped world—which is completely unprepared to deal with it and where the danger of horrific human devastation is the fear that dare not speak its name—the complacent support of the corrupt leadership of the United Nations and its agencies by African and Asian states may have abated.
In the aftermath of this crisis, China’s prestige will have been thoroughly besmirched and a number of states will have followed the lead of the United Kingdom in questioning the utility and efficacy of the European Union, which has provided no leadership at all.
Making Up for Lost Time
Without question, the United States lacked adequate preparation for a pandemic. There is no just reason for heaping abuse on the previous administration for not being prepared for what the country is now facing because it has not faced anything comparable since the Spanish flu a century ago. Nor is it just to hammer President Trump for his somewhat cavalier opening reflections on the coronavirus, as he was not at that stage being warned that it could achieve the proportions it is achieving, or that the virus was distinctly more dangerous than outbreaks of aggressive flu in the last several decades.
The charges of unpreparedness are based mainly on a lethargic start to testing; even three weeks ago it was necessary to send all tests, which only could be administered by appointment in hospitals, to Atlanta for evaluation. These complaints have been effectively answered by the swift development of immediate testing devices that can be administered anywhere by almost anyone and produce evaluations within 15 minutes.
The president made exactly the right decision on Wednesday in permitting the two Dutch cruise liners with coronavirus-infected passengers to land at Port Everglades, Florida, and to do “what is best for humanity.” It was an admirable gesture and is widely interpreted in the world as generous and respectful of the universal character of the fight against this disease.
Trump and his advisors have now prepared the country for 100,000 deaths, but that total will only occur if the incidence of New York ripples across all the heavily populated areas of the country and if California only peaks at the end of April.
Preliminary evidence, indicative and not at all dispositive, is that California is almost at its peak now. If this is the case, the death total will be far less than 100,000 and the country will likely reopen in May, if in stages, and the president will be deemed to have managed the crisis well and sustained and retrieved the economy well.
If the peak in California only comes late in April, however, the total number of fatalities could approach 80,000 and the country might not be substantially open for business until mid-June.
Tedious and Predictable Partisanship
Obviously, speculation is hazardous and these projections are rank guesses based on official statements of pandemic patterns. Even in a suboptimal circumstance, it is hard to see where any case can be made for mismanagement by the administration, especially by those who accused him of “racism” and “xenophobia” for stopping the direct flights from China, (e.g. Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer).
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trial balloon on CNN on Sunday about an investigation like that which followed the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon was preposterous. In 2001, there had been some badly misjudged intelligence, by the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations. In the coronavirus crisis, the president moved quickly to end direct travel from China and then Europe, saving many lives and giving the United States the lowest fatality ratio of any large country with a sophisticated medical system and reliable reporting except Canada and Germany.
The administration is taking fiscal and social advantage of the crisis in the national interest with desirable tax reductions and, finally, an infrastructure renovation program. This president is emulating the tactic of Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II in styling any legislation that involved official expense as a bill to assist members and veterans of the armed forces. If something of durable value can be legislated along with the measures necessary to strangle the public health crisis and rescue the economically vulnerable, it will be a commendable nugget in a rocky field. Pelosi’s investigation will not get far off the ground.
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Conrad Black has been one of Canada’s most prominent financiers for 40 years, and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world as owner of the British telegraph newspapers, the Fairfax newspapers in Australia, the Jerusalem Post, Chicago Sun-Times and scores of smaller newspapers in the U.S., and most of the daily newspapers in Canada. He is the author of authoritative biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon, one-volume histories of the United States and Canada, and most recently of Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other. He is a member of the British House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour.


thetennesseestar--2020-04-04--Dr Fauci Says Wet Markets Should Be Shut Down ‘Right Away’

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Friday called for wildlife markets like the one in China that is believed to have sparked the coronavirus pandemic should be shut down “ right away.
” “ It boggles my mind how when we have so many diseases that emanate out of that unusual human animal interface that we don ’ t just shut it down , ” Fauci said in an interview on “ Fox & Friends.
” Health experts believe that the novel coronavirus emerged out of a so-called wet market in Wuhan , China in November 2019 .
The SARS outbreak of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China .
Farmers at the markets sell live animals , chickens , cats , dogs , ferrets and others , as food or as pets .
The poor conditions of the markets and crowded spaces make it easier for viruses to transmit among the different animal species , and sometimes to humans .
Scientists believe that the novel coronavirus transmitted from a bat to another animal , and then to people at the Wuhan market .
The 2003 SARS outbreak has also been traced to a wet market in China .
Fauci @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House ’ s coronavirus task force , said he has no authority to direct wet markets to be closed .
But he expressed incredulity that some remain open in China and other Asian countries .
“ I don ’ t know what else has to happen to get us to appreciate that , and I think there are certain countries in which this is very common place , ” he said .
“ I would like to see the rest of the world really lean with a lot of pressure on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we ’ re going through right now is a direct result of that.
” Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Wet Market in China ” by Daniel Case .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .

by Chuck Ross
Dr. Anthony Fauci on Friday called for wildlife markets like the one in China that is believed to have sparked the coronavirus pandemic should be shut down “right away.”
“It boggles my mind how when we have so many diseases that emanate out of that unusual human animal interface that we don’t just shut it down,” Fauci said in an interview on “Fox & Friends.”
Health experts believe that the novel coronavirus emerged out of a so-called wet market in Wuhan, China in November 2019. The SARS outbreak of 2003 also originated from a wet market in China. Farmers at the markets sell live animals, chickens, cats, dogs, ferrets and others, as food or as pets. The poor conditions of the markets and crowded spaces make it easier for viruses to transmit among the different animal species, and sometimes to humans.
Scientists believe that the novel coronavirus transmitted from a bat to another animal, and then to people at the Wuhan market. The 2003 SARS outbreak has also been traced to a wet market in China.
Fauci, the top infectious disease expert on the White House’s coronavirus task force, said he has no authority to direct wet markets to be closed. But he expressed incredulity that some remain open in China and other Asian countries.
“I don’t know what else has to happen to get us to appreciate that, and I think there are certain countries in which this is very common place,” he said.
“I would like to see the rest of the world really lean with a lot of pressure on those countries that have that, because what we’re going through right now is a direct result of that.”
– – –
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Wet Market in China” by Daniel Case. CC BY-SA 3.0.