usahitman--2020-03-25--South Korean Crypto Exchanges Aid Police in Child Porn Investigation

South Korea ’ s four major cryptocurrency exchanges , Upbit , Bithumb , Coinone , and Korbit , reportedly stated that they would support the local police in investigating the so-called “ nth rooms ” phenomenon , which turned into a nation-wide scandal .
For years , dozens of South Korean middle school girls , and sometimes boys , were filmed performing violent sexual acts and self-harm .
The videos were then shared through Telegram chat rooms in exchange for payments made in cryptocurrency .
The Korean police found dozens of victims since the videos often displayed girls ’ names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million Koreans signed petitions to name the man who led the group that blackmailed girls and created the Telegram groups , the police decided to reveal his identity .
The name of the 24 year old criminal is Cho Ju-bin .
The police also revealed that over 10,000 people used the Telegram chatrooms , with some paying over $ 1,200 in crypto for gaining access .
So far , the police know about 74 people , including 16 minor girls , who had been exploited .
Elsewhere , reporters of local media agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 such Telegram chat rooms .
Other estimates from local media claim that there were up to 300,000 paying customers using similar chat rooms .
He is charged with abuse , threats and coercion , and violating the sexual abuse act , the child protection act , and the privacy act .
Although the police haven ’ t confirmed it yet , there are reports that a local crypto exchange traced the crypto transactions and found out that some of the fee-paying members were popular artists , professors , sports celebrities , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child porn suspect is a 24 year old man nicknamed “ baksa , ” which translates as “ doctor ” or “ guru.
” He managed the Telegram chat rooms where videos of child abuse were shared in exchange for payments .
Cho charged the viewers in crypto , which made it difficult for the police to trace and shut down the chat rooms .
However , given that South Korean law requires all crypto exchange clients to pass through KYC/AML verification procedures , the platform could help authorities find members and understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far , the police have tracked down 124 individuals related to the case .
Cho and 17 others have been detained .

South Korea’s four major cryptocurrency exchanges, Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, and Korbit, reportedly stated that they would support the local police in investigating the so-called “nth rooms” phenomenon, which turned into a nation-wide scandal.
Crypto Exchanges Reportedly Said Celebrities Were Users
For years, dozens of South Korean middle school girls, and sometimes boys, were filmed performing violent sexual acts and self-harm. The videos were then shared through Telegram chat rooms in exchange for payments made in cryptocurrency.
The Korean police found dozens of victims since the videos often displayed girls’ names and addresses.
After more than 5 million Koreans signed petitions to name the man who led the group that blackmailed girls and created the Telegram groups, the police decided to reveal his identity. The name of the 24 year old criminal is Cho Ju-bin.
The police also revealed that over 10,000 people used the Telegram chatrooms, with some paying over $1,200 in crypto for gaining access. So far, the police know about 74 people, including 16 minor girls, who had been exploited.
Elsewhere, reporters of local media agency Kookmin Ilbo discovered about 25,000 users across 30 such Telegram chat rooms.
Other estimates from local media claim that there were up to 300,000 paying customers using similar chat rooms.
He is charged with abuse, threats and coercion, and violating the sexual abuse act, the child protection act, and the privacy act.
Although the police haven’t confirmed it yet, there are reports that a local crypto exchange traced the crypto transactions and found out that some of the fee-paying members were popular artists, professors, sports celebrities, and startup founders and company CEOs.
The child porn suspect is a 24 year old man nicknamed “baksa,” which translates as “doctor” or “guru.” He managed the Telegram chat rooms where videos of child abuse were shared in exchange for payments. Cho charged the viewers in crypto, which made it difficult for the police to trace and shut down the chat rooms. However, given that South Korean law requires all crypto exchange clients to pass through KYC/AML verification procedures, the platform could help authorities find members and understand the magnitude of the incident.
So far, the police have tracked down 124 individuals related to the case. Cho and 17 others have been detained.
Read More Here


usahitman--2020-03-25--Los Angeles: Shutting Off Water and Power For ‘Non-Essential’ Businesses That Haven’t Closed

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti opened his daily briefing Tuesday recognizing what may have been the first teenage COVID-19 death in L.A. County and went on to announce actions against nonessential businesses that don ’ t close and a new portal for recruiting medics .
He reminded young people that the virus can hit them too , urging them to stay at home and practice social distancing .
“ Your behavior can save a life and take a life , ” Garcetti said .
“ And that life could be yours.
” The mayor addressed President Trump ’ s remarks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ opened up and just raring to go by Easter.
” Garcetti said he didn ’ t think L.A. would be back to normal “ in that short time.
” “ We won ’ t extend it one day longer than we need to , ” Garcetti said , but emphasized that the “ safer at home ” measure had to be followed through .
The mayor said L.A. is six to 12 days behind New York in being hit with a wave of positive cases .
“ The peak is not here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It will be bad.
” Garcetti emphasized the need for medical workers who can test , treat , heal and tend to coronavirus patients .
He announced that together with L.A. County , the city has opened up a portal for medical personnel recruitment , with both paid and pro-bono positions .
“ We need to be prepared for some of the darkness that is ahead , ” the mayor said .
“ Each one of us can be a light .
We can light a match of hope .
We can navigate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone .
And more importantly , what we do can ensure that more people exit that tunnel together… and that our city will rise again.
” The mayor went on to announce the “ business ambassadors program ” — an effort to get nonessential businesses to close .
“ This behavior is irresponsible and selfish , ” he said of those that remain open .
He said the Department of Water and Power will shut off services for the businesses that don ’ t comply with the “ safer at home ” ordinance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will contact the businesses before issuing further action , according to Garcetti .
“ The easiest way to avoid a visit is to follow the rules , ” he said .

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti opened his daily briefing Tuesday recognizing what may have been the first teenage COVID-19 death in L.A. County and went on to announce actions against nonessential businesses that don’t close and a new portal for recruiting medics.
He reminded young people that the virus can hit them too, urging them to stay at home and practice social distancing.
“Your behavior can save a life and take a life,” Garcetti said. “And that life could be yours.”
The mayor addressed President Trump’s remarks from earlier Tuesday about having the nation “opened up and just raring to go by Easter.” Garcetti said he didn’t think L.A. would be back to normal “in that short time.”
“We won’t extend it one day longer than we need to,” Garcetti said, but emphasized that the “safer at home” measure had to be followed through.
The mayor said L.A. is six to 12 days behind New York in being hit with a wave of positive cases. “The peak is not here yet,” he said. “It will be bad.”
Garcetti emphasized the need for medical workers who can test, treat, heal and tend to coronavirus patients. He announced that together with L.A. County, the city has opened up a portal for medical personnel recruitment, with both paid and pro-bono positions.
“We need to be prepared for some of the darkness that is ahead,” the mayor said. “Each one of us can be a light. We can light a match of hope. We can navigate that tunnel with each other and not alone. And more importantly, what we do can ensure that more people exit that tunnel together… and that our city will rise again.”
The mayor went on to announce the “business ambassadors program” — an effort to get nonessential businesses to close. “This behavior is irresponsible and selfish,” he said of those that remain open.
He said the Department of Water and Power will shut off services for the businesses that don’t comply with the “safer at home” ordinance.
Neighborhood prosecutors will implement safety measures and will contact the businesses before issuing further action, according to Garcetti. “The easiest way to avoid a visit is to follow the rules,” he said.
Read More Here


usahitman--2020-03-25--CME pushed to change gold delivery rules amid coronavirus lockdown

The London Bullion Market Association ( LBMA ) and several major banks that trade gold have asked U.S. exchange operator CME Group Inc CME.O to allow gold bars in London to be used to settle its contracts to ease disruption to trading , sources said .
The gap between gold futures on the CME ’ s Comex exchange in New York GCc1 widened above London spot prices XAU= by as much as $ 70 per ounce — or 4 % — on Tuesday .
The two usually remain within a few dollars of one another , and the gap skewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity to fall .
Traders feared shutdowns of air travel and precious metal refineries due to the coronavirus outbreak will make it harder to ship bullion from London to the United States to meet contractual requirements .
London is a key gold storage centre , where thousands of tonnes of metal underpin trading , but it uses 400-ounce bars which must be melted down and recast as 100-ounce bars to be accepted by Comex in New York .
The LBMA and executives at major gold-trading banks asked CME to allow 400-ounce bars to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the two sources , both of whom were involved in the discussions .
No one was immediately available for comment at CME after Reuters contacted the company via phone and email .
The rule change would obviate the need to reshape and transport metal , meaning it could remain in vaults in London while ownership is transferred .
If this happened spot and futures prices could converge and markets trade normally , sources said .

The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and several major banks that trade gold have asked U.S. exchange operator CME Group Inc CME.O to allow gold bars in London to be used to settle its contracts to ease disruption to trading, sources said.
The gap between gold futures on the CME’s Comex exchange in New York GCc1 widened above London spot prices XAU= by as much as $70 per ounce — or 4% — on Tuesday.
The two usually remain within a few dollars of one another, and the gap skewed trading in the London market, causing activity to fall.
Traders feared shutdowns of air travel and precious metal refineries due to the coronavirus outbreak will make it harder to ship bullion from London to the United States to meet contractual requirements.
London is a key gold storage centre, where thousands of tonnes of metal underpin trading, but it uses 400-ounce bars which must be melted down and recast as 100-ounce bars to be accepted by Comex in New York.
The LBMA and executives at major gold-trading banks asked CME to allow 400-ounce bars to be used to settle Comex contracts, said the two sources, both of whom were involved in the discussions.
No one was immediately available for comment at CME after Reuters contacted the company via phone and email.
The rule change would obviate the need to reshape and transport metal, meaning it could remain in vaults in London while ownership is transferred. If this happened spot and futures prices could converge and markets trade normally, sources said.
Read More Here


usahitman--2020-03-23--Harvey Weinstein Tests Positive for the Coronavirus

Harvey Weinstein Tests Positive for the Coronavirus .
The film producer , who is serving 23 years for sex crimes , has been isolated from other prisoners but has shown no symptoms .
Mr. Weinstein tested positive for the virus and was being held in isolation Monday at the Wende Correction Facility , east of Buffalo , according to the two people , who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to talk to reporters .
One of the people said the producer did not have symptoms and was under close observation .
It was not clear why he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the category of infected people for whom experts say the disease could be dangerous .
He is 68 and has had a series of health problems in recent months .
He was hospitalized twice in the jail ward at Bellevue Hospital Center for high blood pressure , heart palpitations and chest pain — once after his conviction and once after his sentencing .
During his first stay there , he had a procedure there to alleviate a blockage near his heart .
Late on Sunday , Michael Powers , president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Benevolent Association , told Reuters that he learned the formerly powerful producer had tested positive for the virus .
Mr .
Powers did not respond to requests for comment on Monday .
Mr. Weinstein ’ s positive test was first reported by The Niagara Gazette , a newspaper in Niagara Falls , N.Y. Mr. Weinstein ’ s lead counsel , Donna Rotunno , declined to say on Monday whether Mr. Weinstein had tested positive .
“ We are going to protect Mr. Weinstein ’ s privacy , ” she said in a statement @

Harvey Weinstein Tests Positive for the Coronavirus. The film producer, who is serving 23 years for sex crimes, has been isolated from other prisoners but has shown no symptoms.
Mr. Weinstein tested positive for the virus and was being held in isolation Monday at the Wende Correction Facility, east of Buffalo, according to the two people, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.
One of the people said the producer did not have symptoms and was under close observation. It was not clear why he had been tested.
Mr. Weinstein falls squarely within the category of infected people for whom experts say the disease could be dangerous. He is 68 and has had a series of health problems in recent months.
He was hospitalized twice in the jail ward at Bellevue Hospital Center for high blood pressure, heart palpitations and chest pain — once after his conviction and once after his sentencing. During his first stay there, he had a procedure there to alleviate a blockage near his heart.
Late on Sunday, Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, told Reuters that he learned the formerly powerful producer had tested positive for the virus. Mr. Powers did not respond to requests for comment on Monday.
Mr. Weinstein’s positive test was first reported by The Niagara Gazette, a newspaper in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Mr. Weinstein’s lead counsel, Donna Rotunno, declined to say on Monday whether Mr. Weinstein had tested positive. “We are going to protect Mr. Weinstein’s privacy,” she said in a statement.
Read More Here


usahitman--2020-04-16--Sources believe coronavirus outbreak originated in Wuhan lab as part of China’s efforts to compete w

Sources believe coronavirus outbreak originated in Wuhan lab as part of China’s efforts to compete with US

Sources believe coronavirus outbreak originated in Wuhan lab as part of China ’ s efforts to compete with US There is increasing confidence that the COVID-19 outbreak likely originated in a Wuhan laboratory , though not as a bioweapon but as part of China ’ s attempt to demonstrate that its efforts to identify and combat viruses are equal to or greater than the capabilities of the United States , multiple sources who have been briefed on the details of early actions by China ’ s government and seen relevant materials tell Fox News .
This may be the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” one of the sources said .
The sources believe the initial transmission of the virus – a naturally occurring strain that was being studied there – was bat-to-human and that “ patient zero ” worked at the laboratory , then went into the population in Wuhan .
The “ increasing confidence ” comes from classified and open-source documents and evidence , the sources said .
Fox News has requested to see the evidence directly .
Sources emphasized — as is often the case with intelligence — that it ’ s not definitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some inside the administration and the intelligence and epidemiological communities are more skeptical , and the investigation is continuing .
What all of the sources agree about is the extensive cover-up of data and information about COVID-19 orchestrated by the Chinese government .
Asked by Fox News ’ John Roberts about the reporting , President Trump remarked at Wednesday ’ s coronavirus press briefing , “ More and more we ’ re hearing the story…we are doing a very thorough examination of this horrible situation.
” Documents detail early efforts by doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ containment .
The Wuhan wet market initially identified as a possible point of origin never sold bats , and the sources tell Fox News that blaming the wet market was an effort by China to deflect blame from the laboratory , along with the country ’ s propaganda efforts targeting the U.S. and Italy .
U.S. Embassy officials warned in January 2018 about inadequate safety at the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab and passed on information about scientists conducting risky research on coronavirus from bats , The Washington Post reported Tuesday .
Responding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , said on Tuesday afternoon : “ It should be no surprise to you that we have taken a keen interest in that and we ’ ve had a lot of intelligence take a hard look at that .
I would just say at this point , it ’ s inconclusive , although the weight of evidence seems to indicate natural , but we don ’ t know for certain.
” “ Even today , I see them withholding information and I think we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press them to share , ” Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told “ America ’ s Newsroom ” on Wednesday , referring to China .
Esper added that he wouldn ’ t speak to “ intelligence reporting , ” but that “ most people believe it began naturally — it was organic , if you will .
I think in due course , once we get through the pandemic we ’ re in right now , there ’ ll be time to look back and really ascertain what happened and make sure we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent this in the future.
” Sources point to the structure of the virus , in saying the genome mapping specifically shows it was not genetically altered .
Speaking to “ The Story ” Wednesday evening , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo remarked : “ What we do know is we know that this virus originated in Wuhan , China .
We know there is the Wuhan Institute of Virology just a handful of miles away from where the wet market was .
There is still lots to learn .
You should know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diligently to figure it out.
” Concerning the State Department cables warning about the Wuhan laboratory , Pompeo said the installation “ contained highly contagious materials — we knew that , we knew that they were working on this program , many countries have programs like this .
In countries that are open and transparent , they have the ability to control them and keep them safe , and they allow outside observers in to make sure all the processes and procedures are right .
I only wish that that had happened in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s foreign ministry pushed back on the suspicion that the virus escaped from the facility , by citing statements from the World Health Organization that there is no evidence the coronavirus came from a laboratory .
Americans were originally helping train the Chinese in a program called PREVENT well before the Chinese started working on this virus .
The French government helped the Chinese set up the Wuhan lab .
China “ 100 percent ” suppressed data and changed data , the sources tell Fox News .
Samples were destroyed , contaminated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and academic articles stifled .
There were doctors and journalists who were “ disappeared ” warning of the spread of the virus and its contagious nature and human to human transmission .
China moved quickly to shut down travel domestically from Wuhan to the rest of China , but did not stop international flights from Wuhan .
Additionally , the sources tell Fox News the World Health Organization ( WHO ) was complicit from the beginning in helping China cover its tracks .

There is increasing confidence that the COVID-19 outbreak likely originated in a Wuhan laboratory, though not as a bioweapon but as part of China’s attempt to demonstrate that its efforts to identify and combat viruses are equal to or greater than the capabilities of the United States, multiple sources who have been briefed on the details of early actions by China’s government and seen relevant materials tell Fox News.
This may be the “costliest government cover-up of all time,” one of the sources said.
The sources believe the initial transmission of the virus – a naturally occurring strain that was being studied there – was bat-to-human and that “patient zero” worked at the laboratory, then went into the population in Wuhan.
The “increasing confidence” comes from classified and open-source documents and evidence, the sources said. Fox News has requested to see the evidence directly. Sources emphasized — as is often the case with intelligence — that it’s not definitive and should not be characterized as such. Some inside the administration and the intelligence and epidemiological communities are more skeptical, and the investigation is continuing.
What all of the sources agree about is the extensive cover-up of data and information about COVID-19 orchestrated by the Chinese government.
Asked by Fox News’ John Roberts about the reporting, President Trump remarked at Wednesday’s coronavirus press briefing, “More and more we’re hearing the story…we are doing a very thorough examination of this horrible situation.”
Documents detail early efforts by doctors at the lab and early efforts at containment. The Wuhan wet market initially identified as a possible point of origin never sold bats, and the sources tell Fox News that blaming the wet market was an effort by China to deflect blame from the laboratory, along with the country’s propaganda efforts targeting the U.S. and Italy.
U.S. Embassy officials warned in January 2018 about inadequate safety at the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab and passed on information about scientists conducting risky research on coronavirus from bats, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
Responding to the report, Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Tuesday afternoon: “It should be no surprise to you that we have taken a keen interest in that and we’ve had a lot of intelligence take a hard look at that. I would just say at this point, it’s inconclusive, although the weight of evidence seems to indicate natural, but we don’t know for certain.”
“Even today, I see them withholding information and I think we need to do more to continue to press them to share,” Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told “America’s Newsroom” on Wednesday, referring to China. Esper added that he wouldn’t speak to “intelligence reporting,” but that “most people believe it began naturally — it was organic, if you will. I think in due course, once we get through the pandemic we’re in right now, there’ll be time to look back and really ascertain what happened and make sure we have a better understanding so we can prevent this in the future.”
Sources point to the structure of the virus, in saying the genome mapping specifically shows it was not genetically altered.
Speaking to “The Story” Wednesday evening, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo remarked: “What we do know is we know that this virus originated in Wuhan, China. We know there is the Wuhan Institute of Virology just a handful of miles away from where the wet market was. There is still lots to learn. You should know that the United States government is working diligently to figure it out.”
Concerning the State Department cables warning about the Wuhan laboratory, Pompeo said the installation “contained highly contagious materials — we knew that, we knew that they were working on this program, many countries have programs like this. In countries that are open and transparent, they have the ability to control them and keep them safe, and they allow outside observers in to make sure all the processes and procedures are right. I only wish that that had happened in this place.”
On Thursday, China’s foreign ministry pushed back on the suspicion that the virus escaped from the facility, by citing statements from the World Health Organization that there is no evidence the coronavirus came from a laboratory.
Americans were originally helping train the Chinese in a program called PREVENT well before the Chinese started working on this virus. The French government helped the Chinese set up the Wuhan lab.
China “100 percent” suppressed data and changed data, the sources tell Fox News. Samples were destroyed, contaminated areas scrubbed, some early reports erased, and academic articles stifled.
There were doctors and journalists who were “disappeared” warning of the spread of the virus and its contagious nature and human to human transmission. China moved quickly to shut down travel domestically from Wuhan to the rest of China, but did not stop international flights from Wuhan.
Additionally, the sources tell Fox News the World Health Organization (WHO) was complicit from the beginning in helping China cover its tracks.
Read More Here


usahitman--2020-04-16--Apple and Google want your phone to become a coronavirus tracking device

Apple and Google grew into global forces by creating wildly popular devices and applications .
Their products became iconic for their elegant , user-friendly designs , and for their ability to handle heaps of data .
Now those companies , who have often gone head-to-head in the past , are trying to apply that technical sensibility and mass appeal to develop a huge program to help track — and ultimately contain — the spread of the coronavirus .
But despite their position as some of the most sophisticated smartphone technology makers in the world , they ’ ve never faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its scale and complexity , the pandemic adds tremendous challenges to all the normal questions that come with technology design , such as privacy and usability concerns .
Chief among them : Can they even get enough people to use their solution for it to really work ?
Apple and Google ’ s ambitious plan to help track the spread of the coronavirus using Bluetooth technology could need as many as half of all Americans to participate , and likely more , in order for the tracing scheme to work most effectively , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That requires not just user opt-in , but also sufficient testing , something the US system is struggling badly with .
Still , experts say the tech companies ’ solution could play an important role in fighting the pandemic .
For the past two and a half weeks the companies have worked together with public health authorities to outline the broad strokes of the plan , the companies told reporters on Monday .
If they succeed in helping fight the spread of the coronavirus , they could be hailed as heroes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services they ’ ve both sought to establish for years .
But now comes the hard part , as Apple and Google try to adapt their technological solution to the messy reality of a complex social and physical problem .
The core idea behind the companies ’ proposal is a time-tested way of controlling outbreaks : Contact tracing , or the work of identifying how a pathogen is jumping from person to person based on who those people have been in contact with .
Typically done by human interviewers , contact tracing has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to combat other infectious diseases , like Ebola — but it may be far too slow and labor-intensive to do by hand duringa worldwide pandemic .
Apple and Google ’ s response is to automate contact tracing at a global level , anonymously .
On Monday , the two companies released further details about their two-stage plan in a press briefing .
In the first stage , set to launch next month , Apple and Google will create a way for public health officials to tap into a new feature in iOS and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be able to voluntarily download , for free .
Only recognized public health authorities will be allowed to interact with the feature , known as an API .
Company officials also said they are working directly with health agencies and in many cases have offered app templates to use as a starting point.People who test positive for the novel coronavirus , the companies have said , will be able to enter their results in the apps without revealing their identities to the public .
Anyone else who ’ s downloaded a compatible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with those patients will then receive a notification that they may have been exposed .
Instead of location data , the entire system hinges on Bluetooth , the short-range wireless standard that many consumers already use to pair smartphones , earbuds , laptops and sound systems .
Companies like Google and especially Apple have tried to prove their privacy commitments to anxious consumers in the past .
But with nothing less than the public ’ s health at stake , expectations that they ’ ll honor those commitments are now higher than ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has many privacy advocates wary , saying it could ultimately open the door to more intrusive spying , even if it begins with good intentions.Still , in recent weeks , academics and industry have coalesced around Bluetooth-based proximity tracking over GPS location tracking , largely because geolocation data can often be reverse-engineered to deduce a person ’ s identity .
There ’ s still a privacy risk with the Bluetooth solution ( no system is foolproof ) but it ’ s far lower by comparison , because it doesn ’ t track where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s come into contact with other devices , said Vi Hart , lead author of a recent Harvard University white paper on digital contact tracing methods .
And , she told CNN , the system becomes even safer if the phones are tracked using randomly generated numbers rather than being linked directly to their owners ’ accounts or identities .

Apple and Google grew into global forces by creating wildly popular devices and applications. Their products became iconic for their elegant, user-friendly designs, and for their ability to handle heaps of data. Now those companies, who have often gone head-to-head in the past,are trying to apply that technical sensibility and mass appeal to develop a huge program to help track — and ultimately contain — the spread of the coronavirus.
But despite their position as some of the most sophisticated smartphone technology makers in the world, they’ve never faced a task quite like this. In its scale and complexity, the pandemic adds tremendous challenges to all the normal questions that come with technology design, such as privacy and usability concerns. Chief among them: Can they even get enough people to use their solution for it to really work?
Apple and Google’s ambitious plan to help track the spread of the coronavirus using Bluetooth technology could need as many as half of all Americans to participate, and likely more, in order for the tracing scheme to work most effectively, according to company officials and outside experts. That requires not just user opt-in, but also sufficient testing, something the US system is struggling badly with. Still, experts say the tech companies’ solution could play an important role in fighting the pandemic.
For the past two and a half weeks the companies have worked together with public health authorities to outline the broad strokes of the plan, the companies told reporters on Monday. If they succeed in helping fight the spread of the coronavirus, they could be hailed as heroes, perhaps even solidifying the foothold in health services they’ve both sought to establish for years. But now comes the hard part, as Apple and Google try to adapt their technological solution to the messy reality of a complex social and physical problem.
The core idea behind the companies’ proposal is a time-tested way of controlling outbreaks: Contact tracing, or the work of identifying how a pathogen is jumping from person to person based on who those people have been in contact with. Typically done by human interviewers, contact tracing has been used in conjunction with heavy testing to combat other infectious diseases, like Ebola — but it may be far too slow and labor-intensive to do by hand duringa worldwide pandemic.
Apple and Google’s response is to automate contact tracing at a global level, anonymously. On Monday, the two companies released further details about their two-stage plan in a press briefing. In the first stage, set to launch next month, Apple and Google will create a way for public health officials to tap into a new feature in iOS and Android using specially built apps that users will be able to voluntarily download, for free. Only recognized public health authorities will be allowed to interact with the feature, known as an API.
Company officials also said they are working directly with health agencies and in many cases have offered app templates to use as a starting point.People who test positive for the novel coronavirus, the companies have said, will be able to enter their results in the apps without revealing their identities to the public. Anyone else who’s downloaded a compatible app that has been in direct contact with those patients will then receive a notification that they may have been exposed. Instead of location data, the entire system hinges on Bluetooth, the short-range wireless standard that many consumers already use to pair smartphones, earbuds, laptops and sound systems.
Companies like Google and especially Apple have tried to prove their privacy commitments to anxious consumers in the past. But with nothing less than the public’s health at stake, expectations that they’ll honor those commitments are now higher than ever.
The prospect of large-scale pandemic surveillance has many privacy advocates wary, saying it could ultimately open the door to more intrusive spying, even if it begins with good intentions.Still, in recent weeks, academics and industry have coalesced around Bluetooth-based proximity tracking over GPS location tracking, largely because geolocation data can often be reverse-engineered to deduce a person’s identity.
There’s still a privacy risk with the Bluetooth solution (no system is foolproof) but it’s far lower by comparison, because it doesn’t track where a smartphone goes — only that it’s come into contact with other devices, said Vi Hart, lead author of a recent Harvard University white paper on digital contact tracing methods. And, she told CNN, the system becomes even safer if the phones are tracked using randomly generated numbers rather than being linked directly to their owners’ accounts or identities.
Read More Here


usahitman--2020-04-14--Andrew Cuomo’s Daughter Quickly Deletes Tweet Showing Che Guevara Photo In Living Room

To Democrats , a freedom-loving patriot like Donald Trump is to be looked down upon because he puts Americans first @ @ @ @ @ have no problem honoring – literally , honoring – racist , murderous tyrants .
For @ @ @ @ @ picture of Che Guevara in their living room speaks volumes .
But it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ re the daughter of the governor of New York .

To Democrats, a freedom-loving patriot like Donald Trump is to be looked down upon because he puts Americans first. And yet, they have no problem honoring – literally, honoring – racist, murderous tyrants.
For anybody to have a framed picture of Che Guevara in their living room speaks volumes. But it’s even worse when you’re the daughter of the governor of New York.
Now a closeup:


usahitman--2020-04-13--Architectural Digest: Drake’s Mansion Featuring Coronavirus Chandelier, Masonic Floor Tiles & More

The Toronto home of mega recording artist Aubrey Drake Graham is something else altogether .
Measuring 50,000 square feet , with amenities such as an NBA regulation-size indoor basketball court crowned by a 21-square-foot pyramidal skylight , Drake ’ s astonishing domicile certainly qualifies as extravagant .
But instead of vast expanses of cheap drywall and mountains of ungainly furniture upholstered with a hot glue gun , stately Drake Manor , as envisioned by Canadian architectural and interior designer Ferris Rafauli , is a marvel of old-world craftsmanship , constructed of limestone , bronze , exotic woods , and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sprawling property has been meticulously conceived and executed .
And there isn ’ t a Scarface poster in sight .
Dubbed The Embassy , the house takes its cues from traditional Beaux Arts architecture , distilled and slightly abstracted to imbue the classic idiom with a more contemporary spirit .
“ In form , materials , and execution , the structure is a proper 19th-century limestone mansion .
Indeed , the scale of the rooms sets the tone for the home experience from the moment one enters the vast entry hall , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inserts of Nero Marquina marble beneath a faceted ceiling of antique mirror framed in bronze .
The epic great room , which soars to 44 feet high , pumps up the volume even further .
At one end of the space , a bespoke concert grand piano by the venerable Austrian piano maker Bösendorfer designed in collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami and Rafauli sits nestled within a portal defined by floor-to-ceiling panels of macassar ebony set alongside bronze screens fronting more antique beveled mirror .
“ Drake ’ s world completely revolves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t going to buy just any piano .
This prized possession is an authentic marriage of artistry , craft , and quality , ” Rafauli notes .
The second jewel of the great room is a monumental iteration of Lobmeyr ’ s iconic Metropolitan chandelier , originally designed by Hans Harald Rath for the Viennese maker to decorate the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 1963 .
With more than 20,000 pieces of hand-cut Swarovski crystal , the dazzling light sculpture is the second largest installation of its kind in the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the details .
The bed and bed base , which weigh roughly one ton and cost more than many people ’ s entire homes , is from Rafauli ’ s new line for Hästens , called Grand Vividus .
The headboard , accented with antique mirror and channel-tufted leather , encompasses a whiskey-and-champagne bar on the reverse side .
The nightstands feature mother-of-pearl inlays , and the bedding incorporates an Alexander McQueen hummingbird tapestry from The Rug Company .
The centerpiece of the master bath is a 4,000-pound tub of faceted black marble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dramatic is Drake ’ s two-story closet , adorned with amethyst hardware , rock crystal , and seating upholstered in diamond-tufted shearling with polished nickel studs .
It ’ s the perfect place to display the musician ’ s extensive wardrobe , sneaker collection , and the array of precious Hermès Birkin bags that he has been amassing for years .

The Toronto home of mega recording artist Aubrey Drake Graham is something else altogether. Measuring 50,000 square feet, with amenities such as an NBA regulation-size indoor basketball court crowned by a 21-square-foot pyramidal skylight, Drake’s astonishing domicile certainly qualifies as extravagant. But instead of vast expanses of cheap drywall and mountains of ungainly furniture upholstered with a hot glue gun, stately Drake Manor, as envisioned by Canadian architectural and interior designer Ferris Rafauli, is a marvel of old-world craftsmanship, constructed of limestone, bronze, exotic woods, and other noble materials. Every detail of the sprawling property has been meticulously conceived and executed. And there isn’t a Scarface poster in sight.
Dubbed The Embassy, the house takes its cues from traditional Beaux Arts architecture, distilled and slightly abstracted to imbue the classic idiom with a more contemporary spirit. “In form, materials, and execution, the structure is a proper 19th-century limestone mansion.
Indeed, the scale of the rooms sets the tone for the home experience from the moment one enters the vast entry hall, which is clad in solid limestone with beveled inserts of Nero Marquina marble beneath a faceted ceiling of antique mirror framed in bronze. The epic great room, which soars to 44 feet high, pumps up the volume even further. At one end of the space, a bespoke concert grand piano by the venerable Austrian piano maker Bösendorfer designed in collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami and Rafauli sits nestled within a portal defined by floor-to-ceiling panels of macassar ebony set alongside bronze screens fronting more antique beveled mirror. “Drake’s world completely revolves around music, so he wasn’t going to buy just any piano. This prized possession is an authentic marriage of artistry, craft, and quality,” Rafauli notes.
The second jewel of the great room is a monumental iteration of Lobmeyr’s iconic Metropolitan chandelier, originally designed by Hans Harald Rath for the Viennese maker to decorate the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 1963. With more than 20,000 pieces of hand-cut Swarovski crystal, the dazzling light sculpture is the second largest installation of its kind in the world.
As always, God is in the details. The bed and bed base, which weigh roughly one ton and cost more than many people’s entire homes, is from Rafauli’s new line for Hästens, called Grand Vividus. The headboard, accented with antique mirror and channel-tufted leather, encompasses a whiskey-and-champagne bar on the reverse side. The nightstands feature mother-of-pearl inlays, and the bedding incorporates an Alexander McQueen hummingbird tapestry from The Rug Company.
The centerpiece of the master bath is a 4,000-pound tub of faceted black marble carved from a single block. Equally dramatic is Drake’s two-story closet, adorned with amethyst hardware, rock crystal, and seating upholstered in diamond-tufted shearling with polished nickel studs. It’s the perfect place to display the musician’s extensive wardrobe, sneaker collection, and the array of precious Hermès Birkin bags that he has been amassing for years.
Read More Here


usahitman--2020-04-13--The pope just proposed a universal basic income. Is the U.S. ready for it?

In his Easter address to popular movements of the world , Pope Francis encouraged activists to keep up their efforts and their hope under the pressure of a pandemic .
He repeated familiar refrains about the “ idolatry of money ” and “ ecological conversion.
” But he also allowed himself to offer a single policy proposal that movements might work toward : “ This may be the time , ” he said , “ to consider a universal basic wage.
” This points unmistakably to what is usually known as universal basic income—a regular , substantial cash payment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2015 , I reported on how the idea was becoming fashionable in Silicon Valley , as well as among activists on the American right and left .
Since then one luminary after another has voiced support and Andrew Yang had a surprisingly strong showing in the early days of the Democratic presidential campaign while focusing on basic income almost exclusively .
( John W. Miller also wrote about U.B.I .
for America . )
Now countries including the United States are normalizing government cash payments to individuals as part of Covid-19 relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ builds on this rapid escalation from a fringe fantasy to global rallying cry .
He also mentioned basic income in passing last month during a meeting with finance ministers .
Why is the head of the Roman Catholic Church advocating a little-tested , still-radical economic policy ?
It would not be the first time .
Modern Catholic social teaching began with Pope Leo XIII ’ s encyclical “ Rerum Novarum ” in 1891 , which sought to address the widening economic inequality of that Gilded Age—one not so unlike ours .
Leo sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and capital that rejected the absolutist tendencies of each .
Leo affirmed both the right to private property and the rights of organized labor , but he also sought to transform both .
The goal for governments , he advised , should be “ to induce as many as possible of the people to become owners.
” By drastically broadening access to capital , he wanted to reorient the relationship between capital and labor altogether .
This was not a detailed policy design but a call for experimentation , and it was heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parallel with communists to create one of the world ’ s leading economies for cooperative , democratically owned businesses .
Achievements from the Mondragon worker cooperatives in Basque country to the North American credit unions are direct descendants of Pope Leo ’ s call .
Today we still see evidence of this as Catholic entrepreneurs embrace employee ownership , and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development has backed a worker co-op now making protective masks for caregivers .
Pope Leo did not invent cooperative business , by any means , but his encouragement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and succeed .
By nudging social policymakers toward basic income , Pope Francis seems to be doing something similar .
He is seeding the idea both among political elites and social movements , inviting both to explore it .
As in “ Rerum Novarum , ” he is steering them toward a potentially transformative frame for economic thinking—one that is not zero-sum under current conditions but that alters the terrain altogether , as universal cash payments could do .
This could also become a bridge among partisans ; basic income has attracted interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luther King Jr. alongside Richard Nixon , the Cato Institute alongside the Roosevelt Institute .
Despite the enthusiasm for basic income in elite places like Silicon Valley , some of its most revealing test cases have been in what Pope Francis calls the “ peripheries ” —the parts of our world far from the centers of power , where prophetic voices frequently go unheard .
Brazil ’ s Bolsa Família program has helped lift millions out of poverty with cash payments , for instance , and the Alaska Permanent Fund has cut annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both programs are popular and have withstood the regimes of competing political parties .
What might be most perplexing about a pope embracing basic income is the Catholic Church ’ s longstanding emphasis on the importance and dignity of work .
Paying people whether they work or not could seem like an affront to that ethic .

In his Easter address to popular movements of the world, Pope Francis encouraged activists to keep up their efforts and their hope under the pressure of a pandemic. He repeated familiar refrains about the “idolatry of money” and “ecological conversion.” But he also allowed himself to offer a single policy proposal that movements might work toward: “This may be the time,” he said, “to consider a universal basic wage.” This points unmistakably to what is usually known as universal basic income—a regular, substantial cash payment to people just for being alive.
Back in 2015, I reported on how the idea was becoming fashionable in Silicon Valley, as well as among activists on the American right and left. Since then one luminary after another has voiced support and Andrew Yang had a surprisingly strong showing in the early days of the Democratic presidential campaign while focusing on basic income almost exclusively. (John W. Miller also wrote about U.B.I. for America.)
Now countries including the United States are normalizing government cash payments to individuals as part of Covid-19 relief efforts. Pope Francis’s statement builds on this rapid escalation from a fringe fantasy to global rallying cry. He also mentioned basic income in passing last month during a meeting with finance ministers.
Why is the head of the Roman Catholic Church advocating a little-tested, still-radical economic policy?
It would not be the first time. Modern Catholic social teaching began with Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical “Rerum Novarum” in 1891, which sought to address the widening economic inequality of that Gilded Age—one not so unlike ours. Leo sought a response to the conflicts between labor and capital that rejected the absolutist tendencies of each.
Leo affirmed both the right to private property and the rights of organized labor, but he also sought to transform both. The goal for governments, he advised, should be “to induce as many as possible of the people to become owners.” By drastically broadening access to capital, he wanted to reorient the relationship between capital and labor altogether.
This was not a detailed policy design but a call for experimentation, and it was heard. In Italy, Catholics worked in parallel with communists to create one of the world’s leading economies for cooperative, democratically owned businesses. Achievements from the Mondragon worker cooperatives in Basque country to the North American credit unions are direct descendants of Pope Leo’s call.
Today we still see evidence of this as Catholic entrepreneurs embrace employee ownership, and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development has backed a worker co-op now making protective masks for caregivers. Pope Leo did not invent cooperative business, by any means, but his encouragement created space for others to try it and succeed.
By nudging social policymakers toward basic income, Pope Francis seems to be doing something similar. He is seeding the idea both among political elites and social movements, inviting both to explore it. As in “Rerum Novarum,” he is steering them toward a potentially transformative frame for economic thinking—one that is not zero-sum under current conditions but that alters the terrain altogether, as universal cash payments could do. This could also become a bridge among partisans; basic income has attracted interest from directions as otherwise divergent as Martin Luther King Jr. alongside Richard Nixon, the Cato Institute alongside the Roosevelt Institute.
Despite the enthusiasm for basic income in elite places like Silicon Valley, some of its most revealing test cases have been in what Pope Francis calls the “peripheries”—the parts of our world far from the centers of power, where prophetic voices frequently go unheard. Brazil’s Bolsa Família program has helped lift millions out of poverty with cash payments, for instance, and the Alaska Permanent Fund has cut annual checks to residents since the mid-1970s. Both programs are popular and have withstood the regimes of competing political parties.
What might be most perplexing about a pope embracing basic income is the Catholic Church’s longstanding emphasis on the importance and dignity of work. Paying people whether they work or not could seem like an affront to that ethic.
Read More Here


usahitman--2020-04-12--Fruit and vegetable plants/seeds ‘nonessential’ under governor’s order

An extended “ stay at home ” order by Governor Gretchen Whitmer bans selling fruit and vegetable plants .
Workers at greenhouses and nurseries say that makes no sense .
The governor wants people to restrict their trips from home to getting the essentials such as fuel and food .
Retail garden centers have been ordered to close temporarily .
Callie Gafner works at a small garden center .
She says banning fruit and vegetable plants does not help limit the spread of COVID-19 .
“ If you ’ re growing them yourself , you ’ re reducing the contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going anywhere .
You ’ re going out in your own garden and picking them up rather than going into the store and coming into contact with how many people ?
” Gafner explained .
She says garden centers can do “ no contact ” sales following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) .
“ [ I ] Just want us to be able to do curbside pickup and help our local customers to be able to do their own gardening and put the money back in the local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adds , at a time when so many people are troubled because of the COVID-19 pandemic , many find gardening relieves stress and is productive as well .
Farmers markets are also barred from selling seedlings for fruits and vegetables .
“ Currently there is a ban on all plant sales at the market .
So , that is a big portion of our May market and so we might have to limit particular vendors at that time , ” said Rori Jean Trench , Executive Director of the Fulton Street Market in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Radio ’ s Stateside program with April Baer .
In a news release , the Michigan Farm Bureau indicated that its president , Carl Bednarski , sent a formal request to Governor Whitmer to “ ask for a reconsideration of retail garden centers to be included as essential infrastructure workers .
”

An extended “stay at home” order by Governor Gretchen Whitmer bans selling fruit and vegetable plants. Workers at greenhouses and nurseries say that makes no sense.
The governor wants people to restrict their trips from home to getting the essentials such as fuel and food. Retail garden centers have been ordered to close temporarily.
Callie Gafner works at a small garden center. She says banning fruit and vegetable plants does not help limit the spread of COVID-19.
“If you’re growing them yourself, you’re reducing the contact between people because you’re not going anywhere. You’re going out in your own garden and picking them up rather than going into the store and coming into contact with how many people?” Gafner explained.
She says garden centers can do “no contact” sales following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
“[I] Just want us to be able to do curbside pickup and help our local customers to be able to do their own gardening and put the money back in the local economy,” Gafner said.
She adds, at a time when so many people are troubled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many find gardening relieves stress and is productive as well.
Farmers markets are also barred from selling seedlings for fruits and vegetables.
“Currently there is a ban on all plant sales at the market. So, that is a big portion of our May market and so we might have to limit particular vendors at that time,” said Rori Jean Trench, Executive Director of the Fulton Street Market in Grand Rapids in an appearance on Michigan Radio’s Stateside program with April Baer.
In a news release, the Michigan Farm Bureau indicated that its president, Carl Bednarski, sent a formal request to Governor Whitmer to “ask for a reconsideration of retail garden centers to be included as essential infrastructure workers.”
Source


usahitman--2020-04-12--Kentucky To Record License Plates At Church Services, Quarantine Car Occupants

Democrat Gov .
Andy Beshear has ordered state surveillance of any in-person church services conducted in Kentucky over Easter weekend , and mandatory quarantines for any who attend .
Kentucky State Police will record the license plate numbers of cars in church parking lots for in-person services and turn the owners ’ names over to local health departments , which will issue 14-day quarantine orders , according to an April 10 press release from the governor ’ s office .
It ’ s not clear how health departments will ensure whether the people at the services are the same as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registration .
Perhaps the police will record car occupants ’ names when they issue criminal misdemeanor citations that the governor ’ s office says worshippers will receive for violating the governor ’ s state of emergency order issued several weeks ago .
“ This is the only way we can ensure that your decision doesn ’ t kill someone else , ” Beshear said , according to the release .
“ That your decision doesn ’ t spread the coronavirus in your community , that your decision to go to a mass gathering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every other house of worship that is choosing the right thing , ” he continued .
In contrast , numerous public health officials , including those politicians are relying on for nationwide shutdowns , have said that most Americans will have to contract Covid-19 at some point to protect the vulnerable through herd immunity , since a vaccine usually takes nearly two years to develop .
The point of the quarantines , in fact , is not to prevent transmission but slow it so health providers can treat people at a steady pace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the states with the fewest cases and lowest spread of the dangerous disease despite a population with relatively high obesity and diabetes rates , which put people at higher risk when they contract Covid-19 .
Projections show the state has enough critical medical resources to care for all patients at the peak of the disease .
As of April 10 , when the governor issued these restrictions on religious practice for the highest holy day of the Christian year , 90 Kentuckians had died and 1,820 had contracted the disease , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0.002 percent killed .
At the time of his edict , the governor ’ s office said it was aware of only six churches in the entire state that had planned to hold in-person services on Easter .
Beshear ’ s command does not apply to drive-in services , although the governor presumed to ban drive-in services from including communion and any other form of in-person contact .
He also ordered cars at drive-in services to not contain “ groups ” of people .
According to longstanding constitutional precedent , government has no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worship .
While some outlets are reporting this surveillance order as part of an executive order , no such order is available on the governor ’ s official website alongside all the others listed as related to the Wuhan virus .
In fact , the governor ’ s demands for church services aren ’ t listed on his official coronavirus response page at all , but only on his news releases page .
Media similarly reported as an executive order what was in fact guidance from the governor of neighboring Indiana also attempting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive-in church services .
Since it ’ s unconstitutional for government to tell Americans how they may worship , it appears both governors may be presenting these commands without issuing formal orders through the legal process , in order to achieve citizen compliance while reducing their exposure to lawsuits .
Both governors issued these commands right before Easter — Indiana Gov .
Eric Holcomb one business day before , Beshear no business days before — which also precludes any possibility of legal redress in time for Easter services .

Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear has ordered state surveillance of any in-person church services conducted in Kentucky over Easter weekend, and mandatory quarantines for any who attend.
Kentucky State Police will record the license plate numbers of cars in church parking lots for in-person services and turn the owners’ names over to local health departments, which will issue 14-day quarantine orders, according to an April 10 press release from the governor’s office.
It’s not clear how health departments will ensure whether the people at the services are the same as those whose names are on the car registration. Perhaps the police will record car occupants’ names when they issue criminal misdemeanor citations that the governor’s office says worshippers will receive for violating the governor’s state of emergency order issued several weeks ago.
“This is the only way we can ensure that your decision doesn’t kill someone else,” Beshear said, according to the release. “That your decision doesn’t spread the coronavirus in your community, that your decision to go to a mass gathering doesn’t undermine the sacrifice of every other house of worship that is choosing the right thing,” he continued.
In contrast, numerous public health officials, including those politicians are relying on for nationwide shutdowns, have said that most Americans will have to contract Covid-19 at some point to protect the vulnerable through herd immunity, since a vaccine usually takes nearly two years to develop. The point of the quarantines, in fact, is not to prevent transmission but slow it so health providers can treat people at a steady pace without becoming overwhelmed.
Kentucky is one of the states with the fewest cases and lowest spread of the dangerous disease despite a population with relatively high obesity and diabetes rates, which put people at higher risk when they contract Covid-19. Projections show the state has enough critical medical resources to care for all patients at the peak of the disease.
As of April 10, when the governor issued these restrictions on religious practice for the highest holy day of the Christian year, 90 Kentuckians had died and 1,820 had contracted the disease, or 0.04 percent of the population sickened and 0.002 percent killed.
At the time of his edict, the governor’s office said it was aware of only six churches in the entire state that had planned to hold in-person services on Easter. Beshear’s command does not apply to drive-in services, although the governor presumed to ban drive-in services from including communion and any other form of in-person contact.
He also ordered cars at drive-in services to not contain “groups” of people. According to longstanding constitutional precedent, government has no legitimate authority to declare how Americans may worship.
While some outlets are reporting this surveillance order as part of an executive order, no such order is available on the governor’s official website alongside all the others listed as related to the Wuhan virus. In fact, the governor’s demands for church services aren’t listed on his official coronavirus response page at all, but only on his news releases page. Media similarly reported as an executive order what was in fact guidance from the governor of neighboring Indiana also attempting to ban churches from distributing communion during drive-in church services.
Since it’s unconstitutional for government to tell Americans how they may worship, it appears both governors may be presenting these commands without issuing formal orders through the legal process, in order to achieve citizen compliance while reducing their exposure to lawsuits. Both governors issued these commands right before Easter — Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb one business day before, Beshear no business days before — which also precludes any possibility of legal redress in time for Easter services.
Read More Here


usahitman--2020-04-12--FDA warns Alex Jones to stop pitching bogus coronavirus remedies

U.S. health officials are warning conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones to stop pitching bogus remedies for the coronavirus .
The Food and Drug Administration sent a warning letter Thursday ordering Jones to stop falsely claiming that toothpaste , mouth wash and other products sponsored by his show can help prevent COVID-19 .
Jones , known for pushing conspiracy theories about school shootings and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks , touted the products on multiple shows last month , according to the letter .
The agency states that by making these claims Jones is promoting illegal , unapproved drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk product seizures by government agents .
The letter gives Jones ’ company , Infowars.com , 48 hours to remove or correct the false material .
FDA warnings are not legally binding , but the agency can take individuals to court if they are ignored .
An email seeking comment from Jones ’ website was not immediately returned Friday morning .
The FDA has not approved any treatments or vaccines against the coronavirus , and the National Institutes of Health says no scientific evidence exists to suggest alternative remedies help .
The FDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month .
New York ’ s attorney general Letita James sent a cease-and-desist letter March 12 demanding Jones stop promoting many of the same phony products .

U.S. health officials are warning conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones to stop pitching bogus remedies for the coronavirus.
The Food and Drug Administration sent a warning letter Thursday ordering Jones to stop falsely claiming that toothpaste, mouth wash and other products sponsored by his show can help prevent COVID-19.
Jones, known for pushing conspiracy theories about school shootings and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, touted the products on multiple shows last month, according to the letter.
The agency states that by making these claims Jones is promoting illegal, unapproved drugs, which can carry financial penalties and risk product seizures by government agents.
The letter gives Jones’ company, Infowars.com, 48 hours to remove or correct the false material. FDA warnings are not legally binding, but the agency can take individuals to court if they are ignored.
An email seeking comment from Jones’ website was not immediately returned Friday morning.
The FDA has not approved any treatments or vaccines against the coronavirus, and the National Institutes of Health says no scientific evidence exists to suggest alternative remedies help.
The FDA warning follows earlier government warnings against Jones last month. New York’s attorney general Letita James sent a cease-and-desist letter March 12 demanding Jones stop promoting many of the same phony products.
Source


usahitman--2020-04-12--Ron DeSantis justifies reopening schools early: ‘No one under 25 has died from coronavirus’

Schools in Florida have been closed since March due to the coronavirus outbreak , but Governor Ron DeSantis is now mulling over the idea of reopening them in April .
“ We ’ re going to look at the evidence and make a decision , ” DeSantis told The Tampa Bay Times .
“ If it ’ s safe , we want the kids to be in school .
… Even if it ’ s for a couple of weeks , we think there would be value in that.
” Schools in Florida have been closed since March due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeSantis is now mulling over the idea of reopening them in April .
“ We ’ re going to look at the evidence and make a decision , ” DeSantis told The Tampa Bay Times .
“ If it ’ s safe , we want the kids to be in school .
… Even if it ’ s for a couple of weeks , we think there would be value in that.
” CNN noted that DeSantis said he didn ’ t think anyone younger than 25 had died from the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t think nationwide there ’ s been a single fatality under 25 , ” he said at a meeting to discuss social distancing .
“ For some reason , it just doesn ’ t seem to threaten , you know , kids.
” DeSantis , who also deemed it necessary to keep churches open during the pandemic , said that influenza takes a higher toll , according to The Hill .
“ And we lose in Florida between five and 10 kids a year for the flu , ” DeSantis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever reason , much more dangerous if you ’ re 65 and plus than the flu , no doubt about that .
If you ’ re younger , it just hasn ’ t had an impact .
so that should factor into how we ’ re viewing this .
I think the data on that has been 100 percent consistent .
I haven ’ t seen any deviation on that.
” DeSantis made the comments while concluding a 75-minute education roundtable that was attended by parents , teachers , and government officials .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be fewer , DeSantis doesn ’ t have his facts completely straight .
Data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the disease has claimed the lives of four people between the ages of 15 and 24 , and one child younger than age five has also died from the virus .

Schools in Florida have been closed since March due to the coronavirus outbreak, but Governor Ron DeSantis is now mulling over the idea of reopening them in April.
“We’re going to look at the evidence and make a decision,” DeSantis told The Tampa Bay Times. “If it’s safe, we want the kids to be in school. … Even if it’s for a couple of weeks, we think there would be value in that.”
Schools in Florida have been closed since March due to the coronavirus outbreak, but Governor Ron DeSantis is now mulling over the idea of reopening them in April.
“We’re going to look at the evidence and make a decision,” DeSantis told The Tampa Bay Times. “If it’s safe, we want the kids to be in school. … Even if it’s for a couple of weeks, we think there would be value in that.”
CNN noted that DeSantis said he didn’t think anyone younger than 25 had died from the virus.
“This particular pandemic is one where I don’t think nationwide there’s been a single fatality under 25,” he said at a meeting to discuss social distancing. “For some reason, it just doesn’t seem to threaten, you know, kids.”
DeSantis, who also deemed it necessary to keep churches open during the pandemic, said that influenza takes a higher toll, according to The Hill.
“And we lose in Florida between five and 10 kids a year for the flu,” DeSantis said. “This one, for whatever reason, much more dangerous if you’re 65 and plus than the flu, no doubt about that. If you’re younger, it just hasn’t had an impact. so that should factor into how we’re viewing this. I think the data on that has been 100 percent consistent. I haven’t seen any deviation on that.”
DeSantis made the comments while concluding a 75-minute education roundtable that was attended by parents, teachers, and government officials.
While coronavirus deaths among children do seem to be fewer, DeSantis doesn’t have his facts completely straight. Data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the disease has claimed the lives of four people between the ages of 15 and 24, and one child younger than age five has also died from the virus.
Source


usahitman--2020-04-12--Trump has declared major disaster in all 50 states at once, first time in history

Trump has declared major disaster in all 50 states at once , first time in history President Trump issued a major disaster declaration for Wyoming on Saturday , meaning that there is now such a declaration within all 50 states due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
It is the first time a president has ever declared a major disaster in all 50 states at once , according to Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere .
The move comes as confirmed cases of the coronavirus reached at least 519,453 as of Saturday afternoon .
At least 20,071 people have died in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death toll surpassing the one in hard-hit Italy — and a figure that has doubled , from 10,000 to more than 20,000 , in just five days .
Worldwide , confirmed cases have surpassed 1.75 million , and more than 100,000 people have died .
Wyoming Gov .
Mark Gordon formally sought the declaration on Thursday in a letter to the president .
The state had seen more than 200 cases of the coronavirus at that time .
“ Though Wyoming has not reached the dire situations of some states , this declaration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources when we need them , ” Gordon said .
The declarations make federal funding available for state and local governments , as well as some nonprofit organizations , according to the White House .
They can also help state governments coordinate with federal resources like the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) and the Army Corps of Engineers .
The virus is highly contagious , and authorities at various levels of government around the country have been urging social distancing guidelines or implementing stay-at-home restrictions in an attempt to slow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid close contact with one another , maintain good hand-washing hygiene and avoid leaving their homes as much as possible .

President Trump issued a major disaster declaration for Wyoming on Saturday, meaning that there is now such a declaration within all 50 states due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is the first time a president has ever declared a major disaster in all 50 states at once, according to Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere.
The move comes as confirmed cases of the coronavirus reached at least 519,453 as of Saturday afternoon. At least 20,071 people have died in the U.S. due to the disease, a death toll surpassing the one in hard-hit Italy — and a figure that has doubled, from 10,000 to more than 20,000, in just five days. Worldwide, confirmed cases have surpassed 1.75 million, and more than 100,000 people have died.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon formally sought the declaration on Thursday in a letter to the president. The state had seen more than 200 cases of the coronavirus at that time.
“Though Wyoming has not reached the dire situations of some states, this declaration will help us to prepare and mobilize resources when we need them,” Gordon said.
The declarations make federal funding available for state and local governments, as well as some nonprofit organizations, according to the White House. They can also help state governments coordinate with federal resources like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Army Corps of Engineers.
The virus is highly contagious, and authorities at various levels of government around the country have been urging social distancing guidelines or implementing stay-at-home restrictions in an attempt to slow the spread.
Americans are being urged to avoid close contact with one another, maintain good hand-washing hygiene and avoid leaving their homes as much as possible.
Source


usahitman--2020-04-12--Cuomo says de Blasio doesn’t have authority to keep NYC schools closed

Cuomo says de Blasio doesn ’ t have authority to keep NYC schools closed Even the coronavirus pandemic couldn ’ t stop Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio from squaring off in a petty — and very public — schoolyard brawl on Saturday , with Hizzoner announcing city schools would stay closed until the fall , only to be undercut by Albany two hours later .
“ There has been no decision on schools , ” Cuomo declared at an upstate press briefing , dismissing the mayor ’ s morning announcement affecting 1.1 million students as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t close them , and he can ’ t open them , ” Cuomo said .
A few hours earlier in City Hall , de Blasio said he made the decision after speaking the night before with Dr. Anthony Fauci , the infectious-disease expert on the White House ’ s coronavirus task force .
“ He was so clear about how important keeping the schools closed would be in our overall strategy , ” the mayor said .
“ It will help us to save lives.
” By Saturday evening , de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ My responsibility is not to another elected official , ” he said on MSNBC ’ s “ PoliticsNation.
” “ My responsibility is to those kids , those parents , those educators ” “ I have to do what I think is right to stop the coronavirus from holding the city in its grip .
I have to make sure we get out of this horrible moment in our city ’ s history and move forward.
” But Cuomo , whose emergency powers trump those of city officials , said it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make .
“ It is my legal authority in this situation ” via executive order , Cuomo said , quipping that if the mayor wants to close schools , he should do so during a blizzard .
“ This is not a snow day , ” the governor sniped .
Cuomo first ordered all schools in the state closed on March 18 for two weeks to stem the virus .
He later expanded that executive order to continue through April 29 , at which point the shutdown would be re-evaluated .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided in the next few days , because we don ’ t know , ” Cuomo said at his daily briefing in Albany .
“ I can ’ t tell you what June is going to look like .
I can ’ t tell you what May is going to look like .
But I can tell you it will be a metropolitan-wide decision .
”

Even the coronavirus pandemic couldn’t stop Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio from squaring off in a petty — and very public — schoolyard brawl on Saturday, with Hizzoner announcing city schools would stay closed until the fall, only to be undercut by Albany two hours later.
“There has been no decision on schools,” Cuomo declared at an upstate press briefing, dismissing the mayor’s morning announcement affecting 1.1 million students as a mere “opinion.”
“He didn’t close them, and he can’t open them,” Cuomo said.
A few hours earlier in City Hall, de Blasio said he made the decision after speaking the night before with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious-disease expert on the White House’s coronavirus task force.
“He was so clear about how important keeping the schools closed would be in our overall strategy,” the mayor said. “It will help us to save lives.”
By Saturday evening, de Blasio was digging in his heels.
“My responsibility is not to another elected official,” he said on MSNBC’s “PoliticsNation.” “My responsibility is to those kids, those parents, those educators”
“I have to do what I think is right to stop the coronavirus from holding the city in its grip. I have to make sure we get out of this horrible moment in our city’s history and move forward.”
But Cuomo, whose emergency powers trump those of city officials, said it was simply not de Blasio’s call to make.
“It is my legal authority in this situation” via executive order, Cuomo said, quipping that if the mayor wants to close schools, he should do so during a blizzard.
“This is not a snow day,” the governor sniped. Cuomo first ordered all schools in the state closed on March 18 for two weeks to stem the virus.
He later expanded that executive order to continue through April 29, at which point the shutdown would be re-evaluated.
“It’s not going to be decided in the next few days, because we don’t know,” Cuomo said at his daily briefing in Albany.
“I can’t tell you what June is going to look like. I can’t tell you what May is going to look like. But I can tell you it will be a metropolitan-wide decision.”
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usahitman--2020-04-11--Canada: Police to Make Home Visits to Check Quarantine Compliance and up to 1m dollar fines

Canada : Police to Make Home Visits to Check Quarantine Compliance and up to 1m dollar fines Canadian police are to begin visiting homes to enforce the government ’ s COVID-19 quarantine , the RCMP said on Friday , warning that “ recklessly ” failing to comply could result in a $ 1-million fine and three years in prison .
The RCMP said it had been asked by the Public Health Agency of Canada to help with national coordination and enforcement of the March 25 Quarantine Act Order that requires everyone arriving in Canada to stay home for 14 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine and advise them of the “ potential consequences of non-compliance , ” the police force said in a statement that cautioned violators could face “ significant penalties , including fines and imprisonment.
” The maximum fine for failing to comply with the quarantine is $ 750,000 and up to six months in prison , but those who put others at risk could face harsher penalties : up to a $ 1-million levy and three years imprisonment .
“ Arrests would be a last resort , based on the circumstance and the officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RCMP said .
Instead , police can issue those charged with a notice or summons requiring them to appear in court .
“ Choosing to ignore mandatory isolation and quarantine orders is not only against the law , it ’ s also putting citizens , first responders , health professionals and the most vulnerable at risk of exposure to the virus , ” said RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki .
Checks will “ generally be limited to persons who , after PHAC has done initial verifications by phone , text or e-mail , may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the RCMP statement said .
But enforcement will focus on “ education and encouragement , ” it said , adding “ RCMP officers will attempt to conduct physical verification with the individual while maintaining physical distancing.
” Police forces across the country have issued hundreds of tickets and even made arrests in some cases after people violated quarantine orders or social-distancing rules .
Today ’ s announcement could add clarity to questions about who is responsible for enforcing the Quarantine Act .
“ We don ’ t have enforcement powers , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday after a couple had reportedly been deliberately violating the 14-day self-isolation rules after returning to B.C .
from abroad .
“ All we can do is knock on the door give them a visit , and tell them basically what the rules are.
” The RCMP said it was “ playing a coordination role for all Canadian law enforcement by ensuring the appropriate police of jurisdiction is provided with the information required to conduct physical verification of compliance with the Order , including taking any enforcement actions deemed appropriate by the police @ @ @ @

Canadian police are to begin visiting homes to enforce the government’s COVID-19 quarantine, the RCMP said on Friday, warning that “recklessly” failing to comply could result in a $1-million fine and three years in prison.
The RCMP said it had been asked by the Public Health Agency of Canada to help with national coordination and enforcement of the March 25 Quarantine Act Order that requires everyone arriving in Canada to stay home for 14 days.
Officers will speak to those under quarantine and advise them of the “potential consequences of non-compliance,” the police force said in a statement that cautioned violators could face “significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment.”
The maximum fine for failing to comply with the quarantine is $750,000 and up to six months in prison, but those who put others at risk could face harsher penalties: up to a $1-million levy and three years imprisonment.
“Arrests would be a last resort, based on the circumstance and the officer’s risk assessment,” the RCMP said. Instead, police can issue those charged with a notice or summons requiring them to appear in court.
“Choosing to ignore mandatory isolation and quarantine orders is not only against the law, it’s also putting citizens, first responders, health professionals and the most vulnerable at risk of exposure to the virus,” said RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki.
Checks will “generally be limited to persons who, after PHAC has done initial verifications by phone, text or e-mail, may require a physical verification by police,” the RCMP statement said.
But enforcement will focus on “education and encouragement,” it said, adding “RCMP officers will attempt to conduct physical verification with the individual while maintaining physical distancing.”
Police forces across the country have issued hundreds of tickets and even made arrests in some cases after people violated quarantine orders or social-distancing rules.
Today’s announcement could add clarity to questions about who is responsible for enforcing the Quarantine Act.
“We don’t have enforcement powers,” North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring said on Monday after a couple had reportedly been deliberately violating the 14-day self-isolation rules after returning to B.C. from abroad.
“All we can do is knock on the door give them a visit, and tell them basically what the rules are.”
The RCMP said it was “playing a coordination role for all Canadian law enforcement by ensuring the appropriate police of jurisdiction is provided with the information required to conduct physical verification of compliance with the Order, including taking any enforcement actions deemed appropriate by the police of jurisdiction.”
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usahitman--2020-04-11--Hit by virus, Pentagon warns enemies: don’t test us

With an aircraft carrier forced into port and staff at bases handling nuclear missiles hit by COVID-19 , the US military wants rivals to understand : don ’ t test us , we have not been weakened .
Statement after statement from the Pentagon has sought to deliver that message amid questions this week over whether the US fighting force can maintain full readiness , with cases among service members now at 2,031 .
“ We ’ re still capable and we ’ re still ready no matter what the threat , ” Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want any mixed messages going out there to any adversaries that they can take advantage of an opportunity , if you will , at a time of crisis , ” he added .
“ That would be a terrible and tragic mistake if they thought that.
” Unlike rivals Russia , China and Iran , the US Defense Department has tried to be transparent about the outbreak , publishing daily totals of infections among its troops , civilian workers and families .
Including civilian staff , military family members , and contractors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,366 on Friday , with one death .
Having initially given the location of cases , it now only offers broader totals , however , to avoid enemies knowing the points at which US forces might have been weakened .
One is well-known : the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt , forced to dock in Guam for an extended period because of an outbreak that has hit 416 of the 4,800 aboard .
More than half the sailors have been evacuated while the entire crew is tested and the warship undergoes a thorough cleaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing that coronavirus cases had appeared on 150 military bases , challenging the Pentagon ’ s secrecy .
Hans Kristensen , an expert on nuclear weapons at the Federation of American Scientists , says all but one US nuclear installation has been hit by the virus .
US military strategy rests on demonstrating its ability to project power around the world at any time , so that no one dares attack .
That ’ s why the case of the Roosevelt , one of two US aircraft carriers in the western Pacific , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship ’ s captain released a letter describing a dire outbreak aboard the vessel , it infuriated his commanders , who accused him of disclosing sensitive information related to Navy readiness .
The captain was fired .
But the Pentagon has been completely aware of the danger .
In early March the military established a system of “ bubbles , ” creating two separate operating teams for submarines and nuclear missile silos .
Team members are quarantined for 14 days and then kept segregated so that if an infection hits one , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t get social distancing in a submarine or even in a tank .
But you take prudent measures as best you can , ” said Defense Secretary Mark Esper .
The readiness concerns continue .
Coronavirus has surfaced in the crews of three other carriers , none on deployment : the Ronald Reagan , docked in Japan , and the Carl Vinson and Nimitz , both undergoing maintenance in Washington state .
The infected sailors have been evacuated and have all recovered , according to the Navy .
While also stressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Joint Chiefs vice chairman General john Hyten said Thursday the Navy was working hard to protect the entire fleet from shipboard COVID-19 outbreaks .
“ To think that it will never happen again is not a good way to plan , ” he said of the Roosevelt case .
Questions about US military readiness persist in part because of rumors and disinformation often coming from Russia , said Laura Cooper , Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense .
“ We have seen a number of threads of information that are heating up about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others , ” Cooper , a Russia expert , told reporters .
Milley said that 2,000 infected personnel out of a fighting force of 2.3 million was “ not huge.
” “ And I want to make sure everyone clearly understands that the readiness of the US military is still strong , ” he added .
“ We ’ re still capable and we ’ re still ready no matter what the threat .
”

With an aircraft carrier forced into port and staff at bases handling nuclear missiles hit by COVID-19, the US military wants rivals to understand: don’t test us, we have not been weakened.
Statement after statement from the Pentagon has sought to deliver that message amid questions this week over whether the US fighting force can maintain full readiness, with cases among service members now at 2,031.
“We’re still capable and we’re still ready no matter what the threat,” Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley said Thursday.
“I wouldn’t want any mixed messages going out there to any adversaries that they can take advantage of an opportunity, if you will, at a time of crisis,” he added.
“That would be a terrible and tragic mistake if they thought that.”
– 150 bases affected –
Unlike rivals Russia, China and Iran, the US Defense Department has tried to be transparent about the outbreak, publishing daily totals of infections among its troops, civilian workers and families.
Including civilian staff, military family members, and contractors, total Department of Defense infections were at 3,366 on Friday, with one death.
Having initially given the location of cases, it now only offers broader totals, however, to avoid enemies knowing the points at which US forces might have been weakened.
One is well-known: the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, forced to dock in Guam for an extended period because of an outbreak that has hit 416 of the 4,800 aboard.
More than half the sailors have been evacuated while the entire crew is tested and the warship undergoes a thorough cleaning.
On Thursday Newsweek published a map showing that coronavirus cases had appeared on 150 military bases, challenging the Pentagon’s secrecy.
Hans Kristensen, an expert on nuclear weapons at the Federation of American Scientists, says all but one US nuclear installation has been hit by the virus.
– Social distancing on a submarine –
US military strategy rests on demonstrating its ability to project power around the world at any time, so that no one dares attack.
That’s why the case of the Roosevelt, one of two US aircraft carriers in the western Pacific, has unsettled Pentagon leadership.
When the ship’s captain released a letter describing a dire outbreak aboard the vessel, it infuriated his commanders, who accused him of disclosing sensitive information related to Navy readiness. The captain was fired.
But the Pentagon has been completely aware of the danger. In early March the military established a system of “bubbles,” creating two separate operating teams for submarines and nuclear missile silos.
Team members are quarantined for 14 days and then kept segregated so that if an infection hits one, the other team remains ready.
“You can’t get social distancing in a submarine or even in a tank. But you take prudent measures as best you can,” said Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
The readiness concerns continue. Coronavirus has surfaced in the crews of three other carriers, none on deployment: the Ronald Reagan, docked in Japan, and the Carl Vinson and Nimitz, both undergoing maintenance in Washington state.
The infected sailors have been evacuated and have all recovered, according to the Navy.
While also stressing that US force readiness has not diminished, Joint Chiefs vice chairman General john Hyten said Thursday the Navy was working hard to protect the entire fleet from shipboard COVID-19 outbreaks.
“To think that it will never happen again is not a good way to plan,” he said of the Roosevelt case.
– Disinformation –
Questions about US military readiness persist in part because of rumors and disinformation often coming from Russia, said Laura Cooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense.
“We have seen a number of threads of information that are heating up about the readiness of the US military and others,” Cooper, a Russia expert, told reporters.
Milley said that 2,000 infected personnel out of a fighting force of 2.3 million was “not huge.” “And I want to make sure everyone clearly understands that the readiness of the US military is still strong,” he added.
“We’re still capable and we’re still ready no matter what the threat.”
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usahitman--2020-04-11--Coronavirus texts lead to Florida man’s murder arrest in wife’s disappearance

Texts saying the coronavirus sickened a missing Florida woman led police to charge her estranged husband with murder , according to reports .
Jupiter police are still searching for Gretchen Anthony , 51 .
She disappeared in middle of March , weeks after filing for divorce from her husband David Anthony , 48 , according to reports .
Anthony and his Nissan Frontier were found in Las Cruces , New Mexico , on March 31 .
He was arrested there on charges of second-degree murder and kidnapping , Jupiter police said this week .
“ As the investigation progressed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ David E. Anthony is responsible for her disappearance and related homicide which was determined to have occurred on March 21 , 2020 , ” police said in a news release .
Police said they began investigating on March 25 after a woman reported getting a “ suspicious text message ” from Gretchen Anthony .
The text said she had COVID-19 and was being held by the “ CDC ” after being checked out at Jupiter Medical Center , WPEC-TV reported Thursday , citing the arrest report .
The friend said she received the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An officer went to the hospital and was told Anthony wasn ’ t a patient , but found her Mini Cooper with her purse in the parking lot , the station reported .
The arrest report says police interviewed a man who also said he got a text message from Gretchen Anthony the morning of March 24 , saying that she was at Jupiter Medical Center with an “ acute ” case of COVID-19 and was being taken to a CDC center in Belle Glade , Fla. , where they “ sedated her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn ’ t have a facility in Belle Glade .
The station quoted the arrest report as saying that on March 26 police spoke to a neighbor of Gretchen Anthony who asked them if they were there to investigate “ the attack that occurred Saturday morning , ” March 21 .
The neighbor told officers that shortly after 6 a.m. she heard a woman ’ s voice from Gretchen Anthony ’ s patio let out “ a blood-curdling scream ” and then heard a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it hurts !
” according to the station .
Another neighbor told police he also heard the screams and noticed David Anthony ’ s truck parked on the road , with the bed loaded up and covered with a tarp , the station reported .

Texts saying the coronavirus sickened a missing Florida woman led police to charge her estranged husband with murder, according to reports. Jupiter police are still searching for Gretchen Anthony, 51.
She disappeared in middle of March, weeks after filing for divorce from her husband David Anthony, 48, according to reports. Anthony and his Nissan Frontier were found in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on March 31. He was arrested there on charges of second-degree murder and kidnapping, Jupiter police said this week.
“As the investigation progressed and further evidence collected, it is believed David E. Anthony is responsible for her disappearance and related homicide which was determined to have occurred on March 21, 2020,” police said in a news release.
Police said they began investigating on March 25 after a woman reported getting a “suspicious text message” from Gretchen Anthony. The text said she had COVID-19 and was being held by the “CDC” after being checked out at Jupiter Medical Center, WPEC-TV reported Thursday, citing the arrest report.
The friend said she received the text the morning of March 23.
An officer went to the hospital and was told Anthony wasn’t a patient, but found her Mini Cooper with her purse in the parking lot, the station reported.
The arrest report says police interviewed a man who also said he got a text message from Gretchen Anthony the morning of March 24, saying that she was at Jupiter Medical Center with an “acute” case of COVID-19 and was being taken to a CDC center in Belle Glade, Fla., where they “sedated her,” according to the station.
Police said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t have a facility in Belle Glade.
The station quoted the arrest report as saying that on March 26 police spoke to a neighbor of Gretchen Anthony who asked them if they were there to investigate “the attack that occurred Saturday morning,” March 21.
The neighbor told officers that shortly after 6 a.m. she heard a woman’s voice from Gretchen Anthony’s patio let out “a blood-curdling scream” and then heard a woman yell, “No! No it hurts!” according to the station.
Another neighbor told police he also heard the screams and noticed David Anthony’s truck parked on the road, with the bed loaded up and covered with a tarp, the station reported.
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