mercurynews--2020-05-07--Dear Abby: I’m a teenage girl, and I’m hiding a secret that would enrage my father

DEAR ABBY : I am a teenage girl in an average family .
I started getting interested in LGBTQ+ and other social justice topics when I was in fifth grade .
Since then , I have realized that , among other things , I ’ m a lesbian , a liberal and an atheist .
This wouldn ’ t be a problem , but my father hates many of the things I am or stand for .
He ’ s an extremely conservative , Christian , gun-rights person , and he wants me and my brothers to join the military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best that I can be , and I try , but his idea of “ best ” is very different from mine .
• Dear Abby : I feel bad about his wife , but he won ’ t let me end our affair • Dear Abby : He ’ s in love with our cat , and I feel like giving her away • Dear Abby : I was a zombie on drugs .
Now my family doesn ’ t like the new me .
• Dear Abby : Why did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to my sickness ?
• Dear Abby : He doesn ’ t remember the nasty thing he said , but I can ’ t forget I have several mental problems , which resulted in me getting special privileges in school .
I use them whenever I can , but it is never enough for him .
He keeps searching through my grade book until he finds something new for me to do , regardless of the date it was assigned or whether it can be graded anymore .
I have various restrictions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can barely contact my friends .
It has gotten to the point that I am worried about when I come out and I ’ m looking forward to college just so I can get away .
Please tell me what to do in the meantime because college is five years away .
DEAR WAITING : You and your dad have very different outlooks on life , and that ’ s OK. That said , you must live under his roof for the next five years , so be diplomatic and keep some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible .
You may think your father is heavy-handed in parenting you , but has it occurred to you that when he goes through your grade book , he ’ s trying to make sure you know how to work all the problems in it ?
Placing restrictions on a minor ’ s use of technology is intelligent parenting , at least for someone just entering her teens .
Please try to cut him some slack .
Recognize there is a bright future ahead of you if you concentrate on your studies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down now .
DEAR ABBY : My 32-year-old son wanted to propose to his girlfriend , but didn ’ t have money for a ring .
My husband offered him my original engagement ring , assuming for some reason ( or maybe just not thinking ) that my old ring didn ’ t hold sentimental value to me , although I wore that 1/3-carat diamond every day for 32 years before getting a new , larger one .
After the ring was offered , I felt forced to let him have it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his girlfriend , and I also didn ’ t think she would settle for such a small diamond , but I figured he would have the diamond put into a setting that fit her .
I got over my feeling of loss knowing he would use the ring .
Well , he didn ’ t .
He gave her my ring , and then they went out and charged a nice-sized engagement ring that she selected .
My original ring now hangs on a chain in her jewelry box .
Should I ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LOT : Because your first engagement ring is not being used as intended and was only a placeholder until your son ’ s fiancee got what she really wanted , I see no reason why you shouldn ’ t ask , and I also see no reason why she shouldn ’ t graciously comply .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles @ @ @ @

DEAR ABBY: I am a teenage girl in an average family. I started getting interested in LGBTQ+ and other social justice topics when I was in fifth grade.
Since then, I have realized that, among other things, I’m a lesbian, a liberal and an atheist. This wouldn’t be a problem, but my father hates many of the things I am or stand for. He’s an extremely conservative, Christian, gun-rights person, and he wants me and my brothers to join the military.
He constantly pushes me to be the best that I can be, and I try, but his idea of “best” is very different from mine.
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Dear Abby: Our teen’s messy breakup has had awkward repercussions for us Advice | Dear Abby: I was annoyed to discover why our friends picked this restaurant I have several mental problems, which resulted in me getting special privileges in school. I use them whenever I can, but it is never enough for him. He keeps searching through my grade book until he finds something new for me to do, regardless of the date it was assigned or whether it can be graded anymore.
I have various restrictions on my use of technology, so I can barely contact my friends.
It has gotten to the point that I am worried about when I come out and I’m looking forward to college just so I can get away. Please tell me what to do in the meantime because college is five years away.
WAITING IN VIRGINIA
DEAR WAITING: You and your dad have very different outlooks on life, and that’s OK. That said, you must live under his roof for the next five years, so be diplomatic and keep some of your opinions to yourself as long as possible.
You may think your father is heavy-handed in parenting you, but has it occurred to you that when he goes through your grade book, he’s trying to make sure you know how to work all the problems in it? Placing restrictions on a minor’s use of technology is intelligent parenting, at least for someone just entering her teens.
Please try to cut him some slack. Recognize there is a bright future ahead of you if you concentrate on your studies to the best of your ability and buckle down now.
DEAR ABBY: My 32-year-old son wanted to propose to his girlfriend, but didn’t have money for a ring. My husband offered him my original engagement ring, assuming for some reason (or maybe just not thinking) that my old ring didn’t hold sentimental value to me, although I wore that 1/3-carat diamond every day for 32 years before getting a new, larger one.
After the ring was offered, I felt forced to let him have it. I knew it wouldn’t fit his girlfriend, and I also didn’t think she would settle for such a small diamond, but I figured he would have the diamond put into a setting that fit her. I got over my feeling of loss knowing he would use the ring.
Well, he didn’t. He gave her my ring, and then they went out and charged a nice-sized engagement ring that she selected. My original ring now hangs on a chain in her jewelry box. Should I ask for it back?
MEANS A LOT IN TEXAS
DEAR MEANS A LOT: Because your first engagement ring is not being used as intended and was only a placeholder until your son’s fiancee got what she really wanted, I see no reason why you shouldn’t ask, and I also see no reason why she shouldn’t graciously comply.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.


mercurynews--2020-05-08--Two Georgia men arrested in death of black man after outcry

By Russ Bynum and Ben Nadler | Associated Press SAVANNAH , Ga. — Georgia authorities arrested a white father and son Thursday and charged them with murder in the February shooting death of a black man they had pursued in a truck after spotting him running in their neighborhood .
The charges came more than two months after Ahmaud Arbery , 25 , was killed on a residential street just outside the port city of Brunswick .
National outrage over the case swelled this week after a cellphone video that appeared to show the shooting .
Gregory McMichael told police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his son chased after Arbery because they suspected him of being a burglar .
Arbery ’ s mother , Wanda Cooper Jones , has said she believes her son , a former football player , was just jogging in the Satilla Shores neighborhood before he was killed on a Sunday afternoon .
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrests the day after it began its own investigation at the request of an outside prosecutor .
The agency said in a news release that Gregory McMichael , 64 , and his 34-year-old son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jailed on charges of murder and aggravated assault .
The GBI news release said the McMichaels “ confronted Arbery with two firearms .
During the encounter , Travis McMichael shot and killed Arbery.
” No other details were immediately released .
It was not immediately known if either of the McMichaels had an attorney who could comment on the charges .
Gregory McMichael served as an investigator for Glynn County District Attorney Jackie Johnson .
He retired last year .
The connection caused Johnson to recuse herself from the case .
At a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp told reporters he was confident state investigators would “ find the truth.
” “ Earlier this week , I watched the video depicting Mr. Arbery ’ s last moments alive , ” Kemp told a news conference in Atlanta .
“ I can tell you it ’ s absolutely horrific , and Georgians deserve answers.
” Gregory McMichael told police he suspected the runner was the same man filmed by a security camera committing a break-in .
He and his grown son , Travis McMichael , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the truck .
The video shows a black man running at a jogging pace on the left side of a road .
A truck is parked in the road ahead of him .
One of the white men is inside the pickup ’ s bed .
The other is standing beside the open driver ’ s side door .
The runner crosses the road to pass the pickup on the passenger side , then crosses back in front of the truck .
A gunshot sounds , and the video shows the runner grappling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what appears to be a shotgun or rifle .
A second shot can be heard , and the runner can be seen punching the man .
A third shot is fired at point-blank range .
The runner staggers a few feet and falls face down .
Brunswick defense attorney Alan Tucker identified himself Thursday as the person who shared the video with the radio station .
In a statement , Tucker said he wasn ’ t representing anyone involved in the case .
He said he released the video “ because my community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and assumptions.
” Tucker did not say how he obtained the video .
He did not immediately respond to a phone message or an email .
The outcry over the killing reached the White House , where President Donald Trump offered condolences Thursday to Arbery ’ s family .
• Man charged with murder of slain Oakland father , assault on pregnant wife • Attorney of released sex assault suspect calls Livermore mayor ’ s letter an ‘ attack ’ on judge • Police : Customer opened fire in McDonalds after being asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very sad thing , ” Trump said in the Oval Office , “ but I will be given a full report this evening.
” Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has called Arbery ’ s death a “ murder.
” During an online roundtable Thursday , Biden compared the video to seeing Arbery “ lynched before our very eyes.
” The outside prosecutor overseeing the case , Tom Durden , had said Monday that he wanted a grand jury to decide whether charges are warranted .
With Georgia courts still largely closed because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could happen is mid-June .

[vemba-video id=”us/2020/05/07/ahmaud-arbery-shooting-death-call-for-justice-savidge-pkg-newday-vpx.cnn”]
By Russ Bynum and Ben Nadler | Associated Press
SAVANNAH, Ga. — Georgia authorities arrested a white father and son Thursday and charged them with murder in the February shooting death of a black man they had pursued in a truck after spotting him running in their neighborhood.
The charges came more than two months after Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was killed on a residential street just outside the port city of Brunswick. National outrage over the case swelled this week after a cellphone video that appeared to show the shooting.
Gregory McMichael told police after the February shooting that he and his son chased after Arbery because they suspected him of being a burglar. Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper Jones, has said she believes her son, a former football player, was just jogging in the Satilla Shores neighborhood before he was killed on a Sunday afternoon.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrests the day after it began its own investigation at the request of an outside prosecutor. The agency said in a news release that Gregory McMichael, 64, and his 34-year-old son, Travis McMichael, had both been jailed on charges of murder and aggravated assault.
The GBI news release said the McMichaels “confronted Arbery with two firearms. During the encounter, Travis McMichael shot and killed Arbery.” No other details were immediately released.
It was not immediately known if either of the McMichaels had an attorney who could comment on the charges.
Gregory McMichael served as an investigator for Glynn County District Attorney Jackie Johnson. He retired last year. The connection caused Johnson to recuse herself from the case.
At a news conference before the arrests were announced Thursday, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp told reporters he was confident state investigators would “find the truth.”
“Earlier this week, I watched the video depicting Mr. Arbery’s last moments alive,” Kemp told a news conference in Atlanta. “I can tell you it’s absolutely horrific, and Georgians deserve answers.”
Gregory McMichael told police he suspected the runner was the same man filmed by a security camera committing a break-in. He and his grown son, Travis McMichael, grabbed guns and began a pursuit in the truck.
The video shows a black man running at a jogging pace on the left side of a road. A truck is parked in the road ahead of him. One of the white men is inside the pickup’s bed. The other is standing beside the open driver’s side door.
The runner crosses the road to pass the pickup on the passenger side, then crosses back in front of the truck. A gunshot sounds, and the video shows the runner grappling with a man in the street over what appears to be a shotgun or rifle. A second shot can be heard, and the runner can be seen punching the man. A third shot is fired at point-blank range. The runner staggers a few feet and falls face down.
Brunswick defense attorney Alan Tucker identified himself Thursday as the person who shared the video with the radio station. In a statement, Tucker said he wasn’t representing anyone involved in the case. He said he released the video “because my community was being ripped apart by erroneous accusations and assumptions.”
Tucker did not say how he obtained the video. He did not immediately respond to a phone message or an email.
The outcry over the killing reached the White House, where President Donald Trump offered condolences Thursday to Arbery’s family.
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Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has called Arbery’s death a “murder.” During an online roundtable Thursday, Biden compared the video to seeing Arbery “lynched before our very eyes.”
The outside prosecutor overseeing the case, Tom Durden, had said Monday that he wanted a grand jury to decide whether charges are warranted. With Georgia courts still largely closed because of the coronavirus, the soonest that could happen is mid-June.


mercurynews--2020-05-08--Polar vortex in the East as the Southwest prepares to bake

It ’ s a tale of two extremes across the country , with temperatures well below normal in the East and triple-digit highs pushing well above normal in the Southwest .
Seasonal whiplash will be felt over a large portion of the country , going from near-record highs to near-record lows in just a matter of a few days .
We could likely see record-breaking heat on Thursday in the Southwest .
Around 25 million people are under some sort of heat watch , warning or advisory in the Southwest , including in Phoenix and Los Angeles .
An excessive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scorching temperatures , even by local standards , is expected .
Phoenix will reach 105 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday , with triple-digit temperatures lasting through at least Monday , making for a sizzling Mother ’ s Day weekend .
Near-record heat is expected in Los Angeles , where downtown is expected to reach the mid-90s the next few days .
Death Valley could top 110 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend .
On the flip side , the East will be feeling the chill , in a big way .
“ A strong push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will reinforce the cold air and bring conditions more like February as opposed to May , ” CNN Meteorologist Dave Hennen said .
Dozens of records for the lowest high temperatures could be broken over the next few days .
Detroit , Indianapolis and Louisville could all potentially break records early Saturday morning , with low temperatures in the upper-20s to low 30s .
Snow will likely fall over portions of the Great Lakes into interior sections of the Northeast from Friday into Saturday , where some accumulation is likely .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant amounts of wet snow with northerly winds becoming increasingly strong and gusty late Friday night into Saturday morning , ” the Weather Prediction Center is forecasting .
Temperatures in the Northeast will fall into the low to mid-30s on Saturday morning .
Atlanta is even expected to drop .
A low of 42 degrees Fahrenheit in Atlanta in May has a less than 1 % occurrence , according to CNN Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri .
Since 1974 , Atlanta has only had a low in May of 42 degrees Fahrenheit or lower two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high temperatures will stretch as far south as Florida by Sunday .
“ Over 60 million people are under some sort of frost or freeze , watch , warning , or advisory , ” Hennen says .
The polar vortex was so strong this winter and spring it lead to the largest-ever Arctic ozone hole , but not big outbreaks of cold weather .
The polar vortex , as its scary name suggests , is a circulation of strong , upper-level winds that normally surround the northern pole , moving in a west @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system .
These winds tend to keep the bitter cold air locked in the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere .
It ’ s not a single storm .
On occasion , this vortex can become distorted and dip much farther south than you would typically find it , allowing cold air to spill southward .
• Weird Bay Area weather : Into the 90s , then cool and … rainy ?
• April was a historic month for tornadoes in the US • Photos : Another warm day in the Bay Area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit Texas , Oklahoma , Louisiana • Video : Two dead as suspected tornadoes ravage the South But it didn ’ t spill out into the US this winter .
That ’ s why the spring and winter have been mild and major East Coast cities saw low snowfall amounts .
In the past few weeks , the Arctic ozone hole repaired itself .
Now the polar vortex is weakening , allowing Arctic air to spill out — leading to plunging temperatures in the East this weekend .

By Jennifer Gray and Judson Jones | CNN
It’s a tale of two extremes across the country, with temperatures well below normal in the East and triple-digit highs pushing well above normal in the Southwest.
Seasonal whiplash will be felt over a large portion of the country, going from near-record highs to near-record lows in just a matter of a few days.
We could likely see record-breaking heat on Thursday in the Southwest.
Around 25 million people are under some sort of heat watch, warning or advisory in the Southwest, including in Phoenix and Los Angeles.
An excessive heat warning means that a period of scorching temperatures, even by local standards, is expected.
Phoenix will reach 105 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, with triple-digit temperatures lasting through at least Monday, making for a sizzling Mother’s Day weekend.
Near-record heat is expected in Los Angeles, where downtown is expected to reach the mid-90s the next few days. Death Valley could top 110 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend.
On the flip side, the East will be feeling the chill, in a big way.
“A strong push of cold air from Friday into Saturday will reinforce the cold air and bring conditions more like February as opposed to May,” CNN Meteorologist Dave Hennen said.
Dozens of records for the lowest high temperatures could be broken over the next few days.
Detroit, Indianapolis and Louisville could all potentially break records early Saturday morning, with low temperatures in the upper-20s to low 30s.
Snow will likely fall over portions of the Great Lakes into interior sections of the Northeast from Friday into Saturday, where some accumulation is likely.
“It appears that interior New England will see significant amounts of wet snow with northerly winds becoming increasingly strong and gusty late Friday night into Saturday morning,” the Weather Prediction Center is forecasting.
Temperatures in the Northeast will fall into the low to mid-30s on Saturday morning.
Cities like Pittsburgh could set a record.
Atlanta is even expected to drop. A low of 42 degrees Fahrenheit in Atlanta in May has a less than 1% occurrence, according to CNN Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri. Since 1974, Atlanta has only had a low in May of 42 degrees Fahrenheit or lower two other times.
The possible record low high temperatures will stretch as far south as Florida by Sunday. “Over 60 million people are under some sort of frost or freeze, watch, warning, or advisory,” Hennen says.
Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered.
Blame the cold on a weak polar vortex
The polar vortex was so strong this winter and spring it lead to the largest-ever Arctic ozone hole, but not big outbreaks of cold weather.
The polar vortex, as its scary name suggests, is a circulation of strong, upper-level winds that normally surround the northern pole, moving in a west to east direction — a polar low-pressure system.
These winds tend to keep the bitter cold air locked in the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It’s not a single storm. On occasion, this vortex can become distorted and dip much farther south than you would typically find it, allowing cold air to spill southward.
But it didn’t spill out into the US this winter. That’s why the spring and winter have been mild and major East Coast cities saw low snowfall amounts.
In the past few weeks, the Arctic ozone hole repaired itself.
Now the polar vortex is weakening, allowing Arctic air to spill out — leading to plunging temperatures in the East this weekend.


mercurynews--2020-05-08--Newsom says first community spread of coronavirus occurred in nail salon

California ’ s first instance of community spread of the novel coronavirus occurred in a nail salon , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said in a Thursday briefing .
In response to a question about why churches and nail salons are not among the services that will be allowed to operate in the second stage of reopening , Newsom said he was “ very worried ” about salons .
“ Let me be specific now to nail salons , ” Newsom said .
“ This whole thing started in the state of California — the first community spread — in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried about that.
” He added later , “ Right now , all of our health indicators and health directives that I receive from health directors across the state put some red flags in that space.
” It is not clear when or where the community transmission Newsom referred to took place .
His office did not respond to a request for more details , including how the coronavirus had been traced to the salon and whether there were any associated infections .
On February 26 , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Solano County appeared to have contracted the coronavirus from an unknown source , marking what public health officials believed at the time was the first case of community transmission of the virus in the U.S. Public health experts now believe that the virus was likely spreading in the Bay Area at least several weeks before then .
A woman who died in Santa Clara County on Feb. 6 was recently confirmed to have been infected with the virus , and is now believed to be the first U.S. death from COVID-19 .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dowd — did not have known exposure to the virus through travel or close contact with a known infected individual , county health officials said , meaning that she was presumably exposed somewhere in the wider community .
Asked about Newsom ’ s comments Thursday , Santa Clara County Deputy Executive David Campos said that “ as far as we know the case he was referring to was not ours.
” “ We assume he ’ s speaking about a Solano County case not a Santa Clara County case , ” he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not respond to a request for comment .

California’s first instance of community spread of the novel coronavirus occurred in a nail salon, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a Thursday briefing.
In response to a question about why churches and nail salons are not among the services that will be allowed to operate in the second stage of reopening, Newsom said he was “very worried” about salons.
“Let me be specific now to nail salons,” Newsom said. “This whole thing started in the state of California — the first community spread — in a nail salon. … I’m very worried about that.”
He added later, “Right now, all of our health indicators and health directives that I receive from health directors across the state put some red flags in that space.”
It is not clear when or where the community transmission Newsom referred to took place. His office did not respond to a request for more details, including how the coronavirus had been traced to the salon and whether there were any associated infections.
On February 26, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that a woman in Solano County appeared to have contracted the coronavirus from an unknown source, marking what public health officials believed at the time was the first case of community transmission of the virus in the U.S.
Public health experts now believe that the virus was likely spreading in the Bay Area at least several weeks before then. A woman who died in Santa Clara County on Feb. 6 was recently confirmed to have been infected with the virus and is now believed to be the first U.S. death from COVID-19.
That woman — 57-year-old San Jose resident Patricia Dowd — did not have known exposure to the virus through travel or close contact with a known infected individual, county health officials said, meaning that she was presumably exposed somewhere in the wider community.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge Asked about Newsom’s comments Thursday, Santa Clara County Deputy Executive David Campos said that “as far as we know the case he was referring to was not ours.”
“We assume he’s speaking about a Solano County case not a Santa Clara County case,” he added.
The Solano County Public Health Department did not respond to a request for comment.
This is a developing story.


mercurynews--2020-05-08--Full 2020 Raiders schedule: Raiders open Allegiant Stadium Week 2 on Monday Night Football

Raiders fans will have to wait until Week 2 of the 2020 NFL season to see their team take the field for a regular season game at their new Las Vegas home .
Allegiant Stadium will get to shine its brand new lights on Monday Night Football , where Jon Gruden ’ s transplant Raiders will host Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints .
Whether fans will be in attendance for the franchise ’ s landmark game is to be seen , dependent on how COVID-19 impacts of the NFL season come Fall .
Here are some quick takeaways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will play four primetime games all in Las Vegas .
• The primetime games will be against the New Orleans Saints ( 9/13 ) , Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 10/25 ) , Kansas City Chiefs ( 11/22 ) and Los Angeles Chargers ( 12/17 ) • The Raiders ’ toughest stretch looks to come early in the season , where they ’ ll face the Saints and Bills at home with tough games against the Patriots and Chiefs on the road .
A bye week creates a nice buffer before they play Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • The Raiders and San Francisco 49ers will play a preseason game for the first time in nine years , at Levi ’ s Stadium sometime between August 20-24 .
• The rest of the preseason games : At Seahawks : August 13-17 Vs. Cardinals : August 27-30 Vs. Rams : September 3-4 Here is the remainder of the Raiders ’ 2020 schedule , complete with opponents , dates and times ( PST ) .
Week 1 : Raiders at Carolina Panthers — September 13 at 10 a.m. PT Las Vegas will need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Charlotte for the third time in franchise history .
How will this defense wrangle the newly-paid Wild Caff ( Christian McCaffrey ) ?
Week 2 : Raiders vs New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football — September 21 at 5:15 p.m. PT The Raiders will be making their Las Vegas debut against a team coming off back-to-back 13-3 seasons .
Week 3 : Raiders at New England Patriots — September 27 at 10 a.m. PT No Tom Brady…but Bill Belichick ’ s genius still looms as the Raiders visit a place where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Bills are coming off a 10-6 season , their best showing in 20 years and only their fourth winning record since 1999 .
Is that success sustainable ?
The Raiders can test it at Allegiant Stadium ’ s second home game .
Week 5 : Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs — October 11 at 10 a.m. PT The Chiefs have utterly dominated the Raiders to the tune of a 12-2 record over the last seven seasons .
Can the Raiders flip the script in a new city against the reigning Super @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Raiders had in 2019 .
Week 7 : Raiders vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football — October 25 at 5:20 p.m. PT The Raiders won ’ t see Tom Brady when they play the Patriots ; instead they will get him when they play the Bucs .
On Sunday Night Football , at home , no less .
Week 8 : Raiders at Cleveland Browns — November 1 at 10 a.m. PT Baker Mayfield in Cleveland on a Sunday morning .
The Raiders have a two-game winning streak against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Raiders swept their AFC West foe last season and did it with Philip Rivers at QB for the Chargers .
This year , they ’ ll get a rookie quarterback in Justin Herbert .
The Raiders ’ attempt to give Oakland one last playoff run last season in Denver when Derek Carr ’ s game-winning two-point conversion failed .
Welcome to Las Vegas .
Week 11 : Raiders vs Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football — November 22 at 5:20 p.m. PT Primetime ( again ) .
In Las Vegas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Raiders at Atlanta Falcons — November 29 at 10 a.m. PT The first of two consecutive games in the Eastern time zone .
Will the Raiders come home , or stay back ?
Week 13 : Raiders at New York Jets — December 6 at 10 a.m. PT The Raiders were here last season , at least in body .
They lost 34-3 to a Jets team that came in with a record of 3-7 .
The Raiders will see the Colts for a third season in a row , but Indy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at QB where old man ( Philip ) Rivers landed a one-year , $ 25-million deal .
Week 15 : Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football — December 17 at 5:20 p.m. PT The Raiders will host the Chargers for a fourth and final primetime game on Thursday Night Football .
The Dolphins have been horrible , but they ’ ve beaten the Raiders six of seven times since 2010 .
For the seventh season in a row , the Raiders will finish on the road .
For the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in Denver .
• Photos : Son of Raiders coach Jon Gruden buys condo in Las Vegas for $ 360,000 • NFL schedule expected to be released on time next week • Coronavirus & sports : The latest on when NBA , MLB , other leagues may return • On this date 2007 : Raiders select JaMarcus Russell with the first pick of the draft

Raiders fans will have to wait until Week 2 of the 2020 NFL season to see their team take the field for a regular season game at their new Las Vegas home. Allegiant Stadium will get to shine its brand new lights on Monday Night Football, where Jon Gruden’s transplant Raiders will host Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.
Whether fans will be in attendance for the franchise’s landmark game is to be seen, dependent on how COVID-19 impacts of the NFL season come Fall.
Here are some quick takeaways from the schedule:
The Raiders will play four primetime games all in Las Vegas.
The primetime games will be against the New Orleans Saints (9/13), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10/25), Kansas City Chiefs (11/22) and Los Angeles Chargers (12/17)
The Raiders’ toughest stretch looks to come early in the season, where they’ll face the Saints and Bills at home with tough games against the Patriots and Chiefs on the road. A bye week creates a nice buffer before they play Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Raiders and San Francisco 49ers will play a preseason game for the first time in nine years, at Levi’s Stadium sometime between August 20-24.
The rest of the preseason games:
At Seahawks: August 13-17
Vs. Cardinals: August 27-30
Vs. Rams: September 3-4
Here is the remainder of the Raiders’ 2020 schedule, complete with opponents, dates and times (PST).
Week 1: Raiders at Carolina Panthers — September 13 at 10 a.m. PT
Las Vegas will need to wait a week…The Raiders will play in Charlotte for the third time in franchise history. How will this defense wrangle the newly-paid Wild Caff (Christian McCaffrey)?
Week 2: Raiders vs New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football — September 21 at 5:15 p.m. PT
The Raiders will be making their Las Vegas debut against a team coming off back-to-back 13-3 seasons.
Week 3: Raiders at New England Patriots — September 27 at 10 a.m. PT
No Tom Brady…but Bill Belichick’s genius still looms as the Raiders visit a place where they haven’t won since 1994.
Week 4: Raiders vs Buffalo Bills — October 4 at 1:25 p.m. PT
The Bills are coming off a 10-6 season, their best showing in 20 years and only their fourth winning record since 1999. Is that success sustainable? The Raiders can test it at Allegiant Stadium’s second home game.
Week 5: Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs — October 11 at 10 a.m. PT
The Chiefs have utterly dominated the Raiders to the tune of a 12-2 record over the last seven seasons. Can the Raiders flip the script in a new city against the reigning Super Bowl champs?
Week 6: BYE
The same bye week the Raiders had in 2019.
Week 7: Raiders vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football — October 25 at 5:20 p.m. PT
The Raiders won’t see Tom Brady when they play the Patriots; instead they will get him when they play the Bucs. On Sunday Night Football, at home, no less.
Week 8: Raiders at Cleveland Browns — November 1 at 10 a.m. PT
Baker Mayfield in Cleveland on a Sunday morning. The Raiders have a two-game winning streak against the Browns. Can they extend it?
Week 9: Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers — November 8 at 1:05 p.m. PT
The Raiders swept their AFC West foe last season and did it with Philip Rivers at QB for the Chargers. This year, they’ll get a rookie quarterback in Justin Herbert.
Week 10: Raiders vs Denver Broncos — November 15 at 1:05 p.m. PT
The Raiders’ attempt to give Oakland one last playoff run last season in Denver when Derek Carr’s game-winning two-point conversion failed. Welcome to Las Vegas.
Week 11: Raiders vs Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football — November 22 at 5:20 p.m. PT
Primetime (again). In Las Vegas. Against the reigning champs.
Week 12: Raiders at Atlanta Falcons — November 29 at 10 a.m. PT
The first of two consecutive games in the Eastern time zone. Will the Raiders come home, or stay back?
Week 13: Raiders at New York Jets — December 6 at 10 a.m. PT
The Raiders were here last season, at least in body. They lost 34-3 to a Jets team that came in with a record of 3-7.
Week 14: Raiders vs Indianapolis Colts — December 14 at 1:05 p.m. PT
The Raiders will see the Colts for a third season in a row, but Indy will look a lot different, starting at QB where old man (Philip) Rivers landed a one-year, $25-million deal.
Week 15: Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football — December 17 at 5:20 p.m. PT
The Raiders will host the Chargers for a fourth and final primetime game on Thursday Night Football.
Week 16: Raiders vs Miami Dolphins — December 26 or 27 (time TBD)
The Dolphins have been horrible, but they’ve beaten the Raiders six of seven times since 2010.
Week 17: Raiders at Denver Broncos — January 3 at 1:25 p.m. PT
For the seventh season in a row, the Raiders will finish on the road. For the second year in a row, it will be in Denver.


mercurynews--2020-05-07--Hydroxychloroquine shows no benefit in another COVID-19 study

A new study finds no evidence of benefit from a malaria drug widely promoted as a treatment for coronavirus infection .
Hydroxychloroquine did not lower the risk of dying or needing a breathing tube in a comparison that involved nearly 1,400 patients treated at Columbia University in New York , researchers reported Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine .
Although the study is observational rather than a rigorous experiment , it gives valuable information for a decision that hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 patients have already had to make without clear evidence about the drug ’ s risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other doctors wrote in an editorial .
“ It is disappointing that several months into the pandemic , we do not yet have results ” from any strict tests of the drug , they wrote .
Still , the new study “ suggests that this treatment is not a panacea.
” President Donald Trump repeatedly urged the use of hydroxychloroquine , which is used now for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis .
It has potentially serious side effects , including altering the heartbeat in a way that could lead to sudden death .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against its use for coronavirus infections except in formal studies .
Doctors at Columbia tracked how 565 patients who did not get the drug fared compared to 811 others who received hydroxychloroquine with or without the antibiotic azithromycin , a combo Trump also has touted .
In all , 180 patients required breathing tubes and 232 died , and the drug did not seem to affect the odds of either .
Patients given hydroxychloroquine were generally sicker than the others , but widely accepted methods were used to take that into account and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug .
• DMV reopening 4 Bay Area field offices on Friday for certain transactions after coronavirus closure • Gov .
Newsom says restarting sports is ‘ difficult to imagine ’ until a vaccine is available Its use started within two days of admission for nearly all who received it .
Some critics of earlier studies have said treatment may have started too late to do any good .
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health , which has launched two of its own trials comparing hydroxychloroquine to placebo — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effectiveness .
One study involves COVID-19 patients , and the other aims to see whether the drug can help prevent infections in health care workers exposed to the virus .
Both got started in April .

[vemba-video id=”politics/2020/05/05/rick-bright-coronavirus-whistleblower-complaint-vpx.cnn”]
By Marilynn Marchione | Associated Press
A new study finds no evidence of benefit from a malaria drug widely promoted as a treatment for coronavirus infection.
Hydroxychloroquine did not lower the risk of dying or needing a breathing tube in a comparison that involved nearly 1,400 patients treated at Columbia University in New York, researchers reported Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Although the study is observational rather than a rigorous experiment, it gives valuable information for a decision that hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 patients have already had to make without clear evidence about the drug’s risks and benefits, some journal editors and other doctors wrote in an editorial.
“It is disappointing that several months into the pandemic, we do not yet have results” from any strict tests of the drug, they wrote. Still, the new study “suggests that this treatment is not a panacea.”
President Donald Trump repeatedly urged the use of hydroxychloroquine, which is used now for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. It has potentially serious side effects, including altering the heartbeat in a way that could lead to sudden death.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned against its use for coronavirus infections except in formal studies.
Doctors at Columbia tracked how 565 patients who did not get the drug fared compared to 811 others who received hydroxychloroquine with or without the antibiotic azithromycin, a combo Trump also has touted.
In all, 180 patients required breathing tubes and 232 died, and the drug did not seem to affect the odds of either.
Patients given hydroxychloroquine were generally sicker than the others, but widely accepted methods were used to take that into account and still no benefit was seen for the drug.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge Its use started within two days of admission for nearly all who received it. Some critics of earlier studies have said treatment may have started too late to do any good.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, which has launched two of its own trials comparing hydroxychloroquine to placebo — the gold standard for establishing safety and effectiveness.
One study involves COVID-19 patients, and the other aims to see whether the drug can help prevent infections in health care workers exposed to the virus. Both got started in April.


mercurynews--2020-05-07--49ers’ 2020 schedule: Opponents, dates and times

The 49ers will open defense of their NFC championship at home against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 13 .
The schedule , announced Thursday , also includes a Nov. 15 return to New Orleans , the scene of the Niners ’ most electrifying win during last year ’ s run to the Super Bowl .
The 49ers will play back-to-back games in the New York area , against the Jets in Week 2 and Giants in Week 3 .
That probably means another week at the team ’ s home-away-from-home , Youngstown , Ohio , to avoid consecutive cross-country trips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Stadium on Nov. 5 — a Thursday night — for a rematch of last season ’ s NFC championship game .
The 49ers close the season against Seattle , just like last season , but this time in Santa Clara .
— Three Sunday Night Football games , Week 4 against Philadelphia , Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams and Week 15 at Dallas .
Of course , all of this depends on whether the coronavirus pandemic does not affect the schedule .
On to the matchups : The Cardinals nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another victory last season .
But Jimmy Garoppolo saved the day , throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Wilson with 37 seconds left to erase a three-point deficit .
The Niners added another TD 35 seconds later for a 36-26 win .
Week 2 : at New York Jets , Sunday , Sept. 20 , 10 a.m. on FOX The Niners haven ’ t been to the Big Apple since 2015 .
They ’ ll make two trips there this season , including this one against the Jets .
The teams have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory for the Jets at Levi ’ s Stadium .
Four years earlier , in the Niners ’ most recent visit to the Jets ’ home field , San Francisco won 34-0 .
Week 3 : at New York Giants , Sunday , Sept. 27 , 10 a.m. on FOX New York drafted offensive tackles with the fourth and 99th picks last month after ranking in the bottom half of the league in sacks allowed last season .
But will they be ready for this early-season matchup ?
This will be the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdueled C.J .
Beathard at Lincoln Financial Field in October 2017 .
Wentz threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns as Philadelphia won 33-10 to drop San Francisco ’ s record under first-year coach Kyle Shanahan to 0-8 .
The upcoming season will mark a new era in South Florida as former Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa takes over at quarterback .
Will Tua be the second coming of Dan Marino or another in a long line of QB flops since Marino retired after the 1999 season ?
Jared Goff , who starred at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
1 overall to the Rams in 2016 , likes coming back to the Bay Area .
The Rams have averaged 37 points per game in their past three visits to Levi ’ s , with Goff throwing seven TD passes and just one interception while averaging 272 yards through the air during that span .
Week 7 : at New England , Sunday , Oct. 25 , 1:25 p.m. on CBS In the 49ers ’ last two trips to Foxborough , some guy named Tom Brady was under center for New England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Niners prevailed 41-34 in 2012 .
This time around , it could be Jarrett Stidham throwing passes for the Pats .
The Niners picked a good time to end their eight-game skid in the Pacific Northwest , holding on in the regular-season finale to beat the Seahawks by inches , 26-21 , to clinch last year ’ s NFC West title and home-field advantage through the playoffs .
Aaron Rodgers leads the Packers into Levi ’ s Stadium for the third time since last November .
Or will it be first-round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No matter , the 49ers will aim to pack a similar punch after rolling in the two meetings last season , 37-8 in the regular season and 37-20 in the NFC championship game .
Week 10 : at New Orleans , Sunday , Nov. 15 , 1:25 p.m. on FOX If this game is anything like the one the teams played in New Orleans last season , get the popcorn ready .
The Saints are probably still trying to figure out how to legally bring George Kittle to the ground .
Kittle ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included additional yards because of a facemask penalty , set up Robbie Gould ’ s chip-shot field goal that gave the 49ers a 48-46 win .
Not a bad time for an idle week , just ahead of the stretch drive .
Last season , the Niners ’ bye was in Week 4 .
The Niners made a bone-rattling statement in their final visit to the Los Angeles Coliseum , holding the Rams to 10 first downs and 157 yards in a 20-7 win last October .
Now San Francisco makes its maiden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the nearly $ 5 billion SoFi Stadium .
The Bills make their first trip to face the 49ers since 2012 .
In other words , two years before Levi ’ s Stadium opened .
The teams are 6-6 against one another all-time , with Buffalo winning on the 49ers ’ home field in 1980 , 1992 and 2004 .
In the Bills ’ last visit to play San Francisco , Alex Smith threw for 303 yards and three TDs in a 45-3 rout .
Wouldn ’ t it be incredible if Alex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leg fracture that left him fighting for his life included a return to the Bay Area to play the 49ers ?
Smith missed all of last season , one in which the 49ers won a mud bowl at Washington , 9-0 .
Will it be Dak Prescott or recent acquisition Andy Dalton at quarterback for the Cowboys when the 49ers come to town ?
San Francisco has lost five of six to Dallas since 2005 , the win coming in the team ’ s last visit to AT & T Stadium ( 28-17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 49ers had lost eight in a row to the Cardinals before winning 28-25 in Glendale last Halloween night .
Kyler Murray , the top pick in the 2019 draft , was sacked three times but threw for 241 yards and two TDs without an interception to keep Arizona in the game .
• Former 49er Frank Gore signs a one-year deal with the Jets • Coronavirus & sports : The latest on when NBA , MLB , other leagues may return Russell Wilson and Co. make their annual trip to Levi ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much ruled since the facility opened in 2014 .
The Seahawks are 5-1 in Santa Clara , including a 27-24 triumph last season .

The 49ers will open defense of their NFC championship at home against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 13.
The schedule, announced Thursday, also includes a Nov. 15 return to New Orleans, the scene of the Niners’ most electrifying win during last year’s run to the Super Bowl.
The 49ers will play back-to-back games in the New York area, against the Jets in Week 2 and Giants in Week 3. That probably means another week at the team’s home-away-from-home, Youngstown, Ohio, to avoid consecutive cross-country trips.
Green Bay returns to Levi’s Stadium on Nov. 5 — a Thursday night — for a rematch of last season’s NFC championship game.
The 49ers close the season against Seattle, just like last season, but this time in Santa Clara.
Other highlights:
— Three Sunday Night Football games, Week 4 against Philadelphia, Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams and Week 15 at Dallas.
— One Monday Night Football game, Week 13 against Buffalo.
Of course, all of this depends on whether the coronavirus pandemic does not affect the schedule.
On to the matchups:
Week 1: vs. Arizona, Sunday, Sept. 13, 1:25 p.m. on FOX
The Cardinals nearly walked out of Levi’s with another victory last season. But Jimmy Garoppolo saved the day, throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Wilson with 37 seconds left to erase a three-point deficit. The Niners added another TD 35 seconds later for a 36-26 win.
Week 2: at New York Jets, Sunday, Sept. 20, 10 a.m. on FOX
The Niners haven’t been to the Big Apple since 2015. They’ll make two trips there this season, including this one against the Jets. The teams have not met since 2016, a 23-17 victory for the Jets at Levi’s Stadium. Four years earlier, in the Niners’ most recent visit to the Jets’ home field, San Francisco won 34-0.
Week 3: at New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. on FOX
New York drafted offensive tackles with the fourth and 99th picks last month after ranking in the bottom half of the league in sacks allowed last season. But will they be ready for this early-season matchup?
Week 4: vs. Philadelphia, Sunday, Oct. 4, 5:20 p.m. on NBC
This will be the first matchup between the teams since Carson Wentz outdueled C.J. Beathard at Lincoln Financial Field in October 2017. Wentz threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns as Philadelphia won 33-10 to drop San Francisco’s record under first-year coach Kyle Shanahan to 0-8.
Week 5: vs. Miami, Sunday, Oct. 11, 1:05 p.m. on FOX
The upcoming season will mark a new era in South Florida as former Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa takes over at quarterback. Will Tua be the second coming of Dan Marino or another in a long line of QB flops since Marino retired after the 1999 season?
Week 6: vs. Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 18, 5:20 p.m. on NBC
Jared Goff, who starred at Cal and Marin Catholic before going No. 1 overall to the Rams in 2016, likes coming back to the Bay Area. The Rams have averaged 37 points per game in their past three visits to Levi’s, with Goff throwing seven TD passes and just one interception while averaging 272 yards through the air during that span.
Week 7: at New England, Sunday, Oct. 25, 1:25 p.m. on CBS
In the 49ers’ last two trips to Foxborough, some guy named Tom Brady was under center for New England. The Patriots won 21-7 in 2005. The Niners prevailed 41-34 in 2012. This time around, it could be Jarrett Stidham throwing passes for the Pats.
Week 8: at Seattle, Sunday, Nov. 1, 1:25 p.m. on FOX
The Niners picked a good time to end their eight-game skid in the Pacific Northwest, holding on in the regular-season finale to beat the Seahawks by inches, 26-21, to clinch last year’s NFC West title and home-field advantage through the playoffs.
Week 9: vs. Green Bay, Thursday, Nov. 5, 5:20 p.m. on FOX/NFLN Amazon
Aaron Rodgers leads the Packers into Levi’s Stadium for the third time since last November. Or will it be first-round draft choice Jordan Love behind center? No matter, the 49ers will aim to pack a similar punch after rolling in the two meetings last season, 37-8 in the regular season and 37-20 in the NFC championship game.
Week 10: at New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 15, 1:25 p.m. on FOX
If this game is anything like the one the teams played in New Orleans last season, get the popcorn ready. The Saints are probably still trying to figure out how to legally bring George Kittle to the ground. Kittle’s 39-yard catch and rumble, which included additional yards because of a facemask penalty, set up Robbie Gould’s chip-shot field goal that gave the 49ers a 48-46 win.
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22 – BYE
Not a bad time for an idle week, just ahead of the stretch drive. Last season, the Niners’ bye was in Week 4.
Week 12: at Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Nov. 29, 1:05 p.m. on FOX
The Niners made a bone-rattling statement in their final visit to the Los Angeles Coliseum, holding the Rams to 10 first downs and 157 yards in a 20-7 win last October. Now San Francisco makes its maiden voyage to the Rams’ new home, the nearly $5 billion SoFi Stadium.
Week 13: vs. Buffalo, Monday, Dec. 7, 5:15 p.m. on ESPN
The Bills make their first trip to face the 49ers since 2012. In other words, two years before Levi’s Stadium opened. The teams are 6-6 against one another all-time, with Buffalo winning on the 49ers’ home field in 1980, 1992 and 2004. In the Bills’ last visit to play San Francisco, Alex Smith threw for 303 yards and three TDs in a 45-3 rout.
Week 14: vs. Washington, Sunday, Dec. 13, 1:25 p.m. on FOX
Wouldn’t it be incredible if Alex Smith’s inspirational comeback from the leg fracture that left him fighting for his life included a return to the Bay Area to play the 49ers? Smith missed all of last season, one in which the 49ers won a mud bowl at Washington, 9-0.
Week 15: at Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 5:20 p.m. on NBC
Will it be Dak Prescott or recent acquisition Andy Dalton at quarterback for the Cowboys when the 49ers come to town? San Francisco has lost five of six to Dallas since 2005, the win coming in the team’s last visit to AT&T Stadium (28-17 to open the 2014 season).
Week 16: at Arizona, Saturday, Dec. 26 or Sunday, Dec. 27
The 49ers had lost eight in a row to the Cardinals before winning 28-25 in Glendale last Halloween night. Kyler Murray, the top pick in the 2019 draft, was sacked three times but threw for 241 yards and two TDs without an interception to keep Arizona in the game.
Week 17: vs. Seattle, Sunday, Jan. 3, 1:25 p.m. on FOX
Russell Wilson and Co. make their annual trip to Levi’s, a venue they have pretty much ruled since the facility opened in 2014. The Seahawks are 5-1 in Santa Clara, including a 27-24 triumph last season.


mercurynews--2020-05-07--Photos: ‘Emergency Art Museum’ brings colorful burst of culture to Campbell

CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device Even during a global pandemic @ @ @ @ @ Neighbors living near Campbell ’ s Jack Fischer Park have been gifted with an exhibition @ @ @ @ @ in one art lover ’ s front lawn .
Johnny DePalma , a local children @ @ @ @ @ has created a pop-up art gallery , “ The Emergency Art Museum , ” displaying @ @ @ @ @ pieces — from Bansky ’ s “ Balloon Girl ” and Andy Warhol ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Can ” to a giant version of Jeff Koons ’ “ Balloon Dogs.
” The @ @ @ @ @ to visitors .
DePalma says he created the pop-up gallery as a response to the @ @ @ @ @ to children who are distance learning during the stay-at-home order in the Bay Area .

CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device
Even during a global pandemic, art never dies.
Neighbors living near Campbell’s Jack Fischer Park have been gifted with an exhibition of world-famous art pieces — in one art lover’s front lawn.
Johnny DePalma, a local children’s book author, has created a pop-up art gallery, “The Emergency Art Museum,” displaying replicas of 57 world-famous art pieces — from Bansky’s “Balloon Girl” and Andy Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Can” to a giant version of Jeff Koons’ “Balloon Dogs.” The museum is free of charge to visitors.
DePalma says he created the pop-up gallery as a response to the lack of art resources available to children who are distance learning during the stay-at-home order in the Bay Area.


mercurynews--2020-05-07--Governors disregarding White House reopening guidelines

By Michelle R. Smith , Nicky Forster and Christina A. Cassidy | Associated Press Many governors across the U.S. are disregarding or creatively interpreting White House guidelines in easing their states ’ lockdowns and letting businesses reopen , an Associated Press analysis found .
The AP determined that 17 states do not appear to meet one of the key benchmarks set by the White House for loosening up — a 14-day downward trajectory in new cases or infection rates .
And yet many of those have begun to reopen or are about to do so , including Alabama , Kentucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nebraska , Ohio , Oklahoma , Tennessee and Utah .
Because of the broad way in which the nonbinding guidelines are written , other states , including Georgia , have technically managed to meet the criteria and reopen despite not seeing a steady decline in cases and deaths .
Asked at the White House on Thursday about states that are reopening without meeting some of the federal government ’ s benchmarks , President Donald Trump said : “ The governors have great power as to that , given by us .
We want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on them .
We trust them .
And hopefully they are making the right decisions.
” The push to reopen across the country comes amid pressure from businesses that are collapsing by the day and workers who have been thrown out of a job .
Over 33 million Americans have applied for unemployment benefits over the past seven weeks , and a highly anticipated report on Friday is expected to show U.S. unemployment as high as 16 % , a level not seen since the Depression .
Elsewhere around the world , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s economy will shrink by 14 percent this year , its biggest decline since 1706 , when Europe was embroiled in the War of the Spanish Succession .
The economic woes have affected even brand-name businesses , with Neiman Marcus filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy , the first U.S. department store chain to be toppled by the outbreak .
The reopening debate in the U.S. echoes that underway in Europe , where regional and political rifts are emerging over how fast to lift the lid on the lockdowns .
French mayors are resisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools , while Italian governors want Rome to ease lockdown measures faster .
As the British government looks to reopen the economy , Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon has warned that acting too fast could let the virus wreak havoc again .
Public health experts around the world have cautioned that reopening too soon , without widespread testing and tracing , could enable the virus to come surging back with tragic consequences .
The U.S. has recorded over 74,000 deaths and 1.2 million confirmed infections .
But this week , University of Washington researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. to about 134,000 through early August , largely to reflect the loosenings of stay-at-home restrictions .
When Trump announced the guidelines April 16 , he declared a “ new front in our war ” and said he was “ establishing clear scientific metrics and benchmarks on testing , new case growth and hospital capacity that must be met before advancing each phase.
” Since then , many states have reopened while daily cases and infection rates have either plateaued or continued to climb , the AP analysis found .
Some states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own criteria , not the White House ’ s .
The White House has not been specific about how states should calculate the 14-day downward trajectory .
Depending on how you calculate it , a state might pass or fail .
The AP analyzed counts of tests and confirmed cases compiled by Johns Hopkins University and looked at the numbers using a rolling seven-day average to account for day-to-day variability in test reporting .
As governments grapple with when to restart their economies , the Trump administration has shelved a Centers for Disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to local authorities on how and when to reopen restaurants and other public places .
The 17-page report with detailed instructions on what precautions to take was supposed to be published last Friday , but agency scientists were told it “ would never see the light of day , ” according to a CDC official who was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity .
Nebraska Gov .
Pete Ricketts , a Republican , has eased some rules to allow salons , tattoo parlors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties .
Churches were allowed to resume in-person services , weddings and funerals on Monday , with some restrictions .
But both new cases and the rate of positive test results have increased in Nebraska in recent weeks .
Ricketts said Wednesday that the number of new cases is a poor indicator because it is naturally going to increase as the state ramps up testing .
He suggested that the lockdown restrictions are too drastic .
“ We could ban just about all deaths on the interstate by reducing the speed to 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do that , ” he said .
Georgia has embarked on the most aggressive reopening schedule in the country .
It has met one of the White House criteria by recording a decrease in the rate of positive test results , but it has seen nearly 600 more deaths and a hot spot in a poultry-processing area since Gov .
Brian Kemp moved to ease business restrictions .
The head of Utah ’ s response , Maj. Gen. Jeff Burton , has implemented a color-coded reopening system that was in the works before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We had that plan long before there was a federal plan , ” Burton said .
“ It ’ s a solid plan that lays out the road to recovery.
” Among other things the White House guidelines say that before reopening , states should have a downward trend in flu and COVID-19-like illnesses for 14 days ; hospitals should be able to treat all patients without crisis care ; and robust testing should be in place for at-risk health workers .
But there are few specifics , and the plan says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the application of these criteria to local circumstances.
” Of the 33 states that have had a 14-day downward trajectory of either cases or positivity rates , 25 are partially opened or moving to reopen within days , the AP analysis finds .
Illinois , Maryland , Minnesota , New Mexico , Oregon , Virginia and Wisconsin , which have not seen a 14-day decline in cases or rates of positive tests , remain closed despite meeting some other benchmarks .
Many governors are focusing on the criteria that call for a reduction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
Up to now , many states have been doing limited testing , typically on their sickest residents .
The percentage of people testing positive has dropped as testing expanded to the broader population in recent weeks .
Public health experts say the guidance from the top has been anything but clear .
In addition to burying the CDC report , the Trump administration has tried to push responsibility for expanding testing capacity onto the states .
• Hydroxychloroquine shows no benefit in another COVID-19 study • DMV reopening 4 Bay Area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after coronavirus closure • Gov .
Newsom says restarting sports is ‘ difficult to imagine ’ until a vaccine is available “ We ’ re a federalist society , so some of the blame goes to the governors and some of the blame goes to the president .
But the responsibility for coordinating and enforcing and implementing a national plan comes from the White House , ” said Lawrence Gostin , a public health expert at Georgetown University .
He likened it to “ an orchestra without a conductor.
” Worldwide , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and killed over a quarter-million , by Johns Hopkins ’ count , which experts agree understates the dimensions of the pandemic because of limited testing , differences in counting the dead and concealment by some governments .
Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report .

By Michelle R. Smith, Nicky Forster and Christina A. Cassidy | Associated Press
Many governors across the U.S. are disregarding or creatively interpreting White House guidelines in easing their states’ lockdowns and letting businesses reopen, an Associated Press analysis found.
The AP determined that 17 states do not appear to meet one of the key benchmarks set by the White House for loosening up — a 14-day downward trajectory in new cases or infection rates. And yet many of those have begun to reopen or are about to do so, including Alabama, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah.
Because of the broad way in which the nonbinding guidelines are written, other states, including Georgia, have technically managed to meet the criteria and reopen despite not seeing a steady decline in cases and deaths.
Asked at the White House on Thursday about states that are reopening without meeting some of the federal government’s benchmarks, President Donald Trump said: “The governors have great power as to that, given by us. We want them to do that. We rely on them. We trust them. And hopefully they are making the right decisions.”
The push to reopen across the country comes amid pressure from businesses that are collapsing by the day and workers who have been thrown out of a job. Over 33 million Americans have applied for unemployment benefits over the past seven weeks, and a highly anticipated report on Friday is expected to show U.S. unemployment as high as 16%, a level not seen since the Depression.
Elsewhere around the world, the Bank of England projected that Britain’s economy will shrink by 14 percent this year, its biggest decline since 1706, when Europe was embroiled in the War of the Spanish Succession.
The economic woes have affected even brand-name businesses, with Neiman Marcus filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the first U.S. department store chain to be toppled by the outbreak.
The reopening debate in the U.S. echoes that underway in Europe, where regional and political rifts are emerging over how fast to lift the lid on the lockdowns.
French mayors are resisting the government’s call to reopen schools, while Italian governors want Rome to ease lockdown measures faster. As the British government looks to reopen the economy, Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon has warned that acting too fast could let the virus wreak havoc again.
Public health experts around the world have cautioned that reopening too soon, without widespread testing and tracing, could enable the virus to come surging back with tragic consequences.
The U.S. has recorded over 74,000 deaths and 1.2 million confirmed infections. But this week, University of Washington researchers nearly doubled their projection of deaths in the U.S. to about 134,000 through early August, largely to reflect the loosenings of stay-at-home restrictions.
When Trump announced the guidelines April 16, he declared a “new front in our war” and said he was “establishing clear scientific metrics and benchmarks on testing, new case growth and hospital capacity that must be met before advancing each phase.”
Since then, many states have reopened while daily cases and infection rates have either plateaued or continued to climb, the AP analysis found. Some states are going it alone, using their own criteria, not the White House’s.
The White House has not been specific about how states should calculate the 14-day downward trajectory. Depending on how you calculate it, a state might pass or fail. The AP analyzed counts of tests and confirmed cases compiled by Johns Hopkins University and looked at the numbers using a rolling seven-day average to account for day-to-day variability in test reporting.
As governments grapple with when to restart their economies, the Trump administration has shelved a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention document with step-by-step advice to local authorities on how and when to reopen restaurants and other public places.
The 17-page report with detailed instructions on what precautions to take was supposed to be published last Friday, but agency scientists were told it “would never see the light of day,” according to a CDC official who was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican, has eased some rules to allow salons, tattoo parlors and restaurants to reopen with restrictions in most counties. Churches were allowed to resume in-person services, weddings and funerals on Monday, with some restrictions.
But both new cases and the rate of positive test results have increased in Nebraska in recent weeks. Ricketts said Wednesday that the number of new cases is a poor indicator because it is naturally going to increase as the state ramps up testing.
He suggested that the lockdown restrictions are too drastic. “We could ban just about all deaths on the interstate by reducing the speed to 5 mph, but we don’t do that,” he said.
Georgia has embarked on the most aggressive reopening schedule in the country. It has met one of the White House criteria by recording a decrease in the rate of positive test results, but it has seen nearly 600 more deaths and a hot spot in a poultry-processing area since Gov. Brian Kemp moved to ease business restrictions.
The head of Utah’s response, Maj. Gen. Jeff Burton, has implemented a color-coded reopening system that was in the works before the White House issued its guidelines.
“We had that plan long before there was a federal plan,” Burton said. “It’s a solid plan that lays out the road to recovery.”
Among other things the White House guidelines say that before reopening, states should have a downward trend in flu and COVID-19-like illnesses for 14 days; hospitals should be able to treat all patients without crisis care; and robust testing should be in place for at-risk health workers.
But there are few specifics, and the plan says local officials “may need to tailor the application of these criteria to local circumstances.”
Of the 33 states that have had a 14-day downward trajectory of either cases or positivity rates, 25 are partially opened or moving to reopen within days, the AP analysis finds.
Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Virginia and Wisconsin, which have not seen a 14-day decline in cases or rates of positive tests, remain closed despite meeting some other benchmarks.
Many governors are focusing on the criteria that call for a reduction in the percentage of positive tests for COVID-19. Up to now, many states have been doing limited testing, typically on their sickest residents. The percentage of people testing positive has dropped as testing expanded to the broader population in recent weeks.
Public health experts say the guidance from the top has been anything but clear. In addition to burying the CDC report, the Trump administration has tried to push responsibility for expanding testing capacity onto the states.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge “We’re a federalist society, so some of the blame goes to the governors and some of the blame goes to the president. But the responsibility for coordinating and enforcing and implementing a national plan comes from the White House,” said Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University.
He likened it to “an orchestra without a conductor.”
Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 3.8 million people and killed over a quarter-million, by Johns Hopkins’ count, which experts agree understates the dimensions of the pandemic because of limited testing, differences in counting the dead and concealment by some governments.
Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-05-07--Menlo Park art gallery owner who defied shelter-in-place order closes after police warnings

The owner of a Menlo Park art gallery that reopened this week in defiance of shelter-in-place orders is backing down after receiving two verbal warnings from Menlo Park police .
Katharina Powers , owner of Art Ventures Gallery on Santa Cruz Avenue , said city police Sgt .
Jeff Cooley dropped by her gallery Wednesday afternoon to issue a second warning and hand her a copy of San Mateo County ’ s shelter order .
“ I obeyed ” and closed the shop , Powers said Thursday , adding she didn ’ t want to be fined or jailed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dixon called Powers ’ plans to reopen the gallery on Wednesday “ ridiculous , ” and gave her a verbal warning .
Powers previously said she didn ’ t mean for her actions to come across as a “ challenge against Governor ( Gavin ) Newsom and the threat of COVID-19 , ” but decided to open her gallery following phone calls and emails from Menlo Park residents requesting that she do so .
Powers said she backed down after Cooley ’ s visit , however .
Powers first reopened her gallery May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s event as a soft opening with limited hours .
She encouraged other galleries to follow suit .
Asked why she decided to close , again , Powers said she didn ’ t “ want to escalate the situation right now.
” Though she would like to reopen after Mother ’ s Day , Powers said she will remain closed until she gets the go-ahead from public officials .
“ It really depends on the wording of the new order , ” Powers said .
“ If It can be interpreted in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are , for sure , not a curbside pickup business.
” In briefly defying the shelter-in-place order , Powers joined a growing number of businesses around the state that are ignoring stay-home orders despite being declared nonessential .
Monday in Napa , for example , the Quent Cordair Fine Art gallery reopened on First Street .
The owner , Linda Cordair , said in a phone call Thursday that the gallery was “ very busy.
” “ We ’ re prepared to risk fines , arrest , or jail , ” Linda and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the public .

The owner of a Menlo Park art gallery that reopened this week in defiance of county shelter-in-place orders is backing down after receiving two verbal warnings from Menlo Park police.
Katharina Powers, owner of Art Ventures Gallery on Santa Cruz Avenue, said city police Sgt. Jeff Cooley dropped by her gallery Wednesday afternoon to issue a second warning and hand her a copy of San Mateo County’s shelter order.
“I obeyed” and closed the shop, Powers said Thursday, adding she didn’t want to be fined or jailed. Earlier this week, police Commander William Dixon called Powers’ plans to reopen the gallery on Wednesday “ridiculous,” and gave her a verbal warning.
Powers previously said she didn’t mean for her actions to come across as a “challenge against Governor (Gavin) Newsom and the threat of COVID-19,” but decided to open her gallery following phone calls and emails from Menlo Park residents requesting that she do so.
Powers said she backed down after Cooley’s visit, however.
Powers first reopened her gallery May 2 and had planned on Wednesday’s event as a soft opening with limited hours. She encouraged other galleries to follow suit.
Asked why she decided to close, again, Powers said she didn’t “want to escalate the situation right now.” Though she would like to reopen after Mother’s Day, Powers said she will remain closed until she gets the go-ahead from public officials.
“It really depends on the wording of the new order,” Powers said. “If it can be interpreted in a green light for art galleries. We are, for sure, not a curbside pickup business.”
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Monday in Napa, for example, the Quent Cordair Fine Art gallery reopened on First Street. The owner, Linda Cordair, said in a phone call Thursday that the gallery was “very busy.”
“We’re prepared to risk fines, arrest, or jail,” Linda and Quent Cordair said in an open letter to the public.


mercurynews--2020-05-07--Democrats press Trump for answers about Venezuela raid

MIAMI — Three Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are demanding answers from the Trump administration about how much it knew about an attempted raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro , an operation they said potentially violated U.S. law and ran counter to American support for negotiations to end the South American country ’ s political standoff .
In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , Attorney General William Barr and Richard Grenell , the acting director of national intelligence , the lawmakers led by Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut expressed “ alarm ” about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and which has resulted in the detention in Venezuela of two American citizens .
“ Either the U.S. government was unaware of these planned operations , or was aware and allowed them to proceed , ” according to the letter sent Thursday .
“ Both possibilities are problematic.
” The letter cited the findings of an Associated Press investigation into Jordan Goudreau , who claimed responsibility for the foiled incursion .
The AP investigation detailed how Goudreau , through his Florida private security firm , had teamed up with a retired Venezuelan army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colombia dozens of deserters from Venezuela ’ s security forces for a mission targeting Maduro , for whose capture the U.S. has offered a $ 15 million bounty .
Trump has denied any U.S. involvement in the raid and Goudreau has said he was unable to ever persuade the Trump administration to support his bold plan for a private coup .
Maduro has insisted the operation was directed by the White House .
Meanwhile , aides to Juan Guaidó , the opposition leader recognized by the U.S. and 60 other nations as Venezuela @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exploring the idea last year but said they quickly backed out after deciding Goudreau couldn ’ t deliver or be trusted .
The letter , which was also signed by Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico , cites provisions in the VERDAD act , signed into law by Trump in late 2019 , that state it is U.S. policy to support diplomatic engagement to bring a negotiated and peaceful end to Venezuela ’ s political , economic and humanitarian crisis .
“ Such incursions harm the prospects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by insinuating that an armed intervention is a viable option to resolve the crisis , potentially undermining the willingness of hard-line opposition actors to negotiate , while simultaneously allowing Maduro to rally support to his side , strengthening his hand , ” the lawmakers wrote .
The letter contains six lines of questions about U.S. officials ’ awareness of Goudreau ’ s plans and whether the administration had taken any steps to prevent his actions and make sure U.S. assistance wasn ’ t directly or indirectly provided to those involved .
It also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the legitimacy of a contract that Goudreau has presented and that he says was signed by Guaidó and two Miami-based aides allegedly authorizing his actions .
“ Maduro is a dictator , and the Venezuelan people deserve to live in a democracy again , ” the Democrats wrote .
“ But that will only be achieved through vigorous and effective diplomacy , not martial adventurism.
” Officials in Venezuela said Thursday that they have now captured 23 people involved in the botched attack .
They also aired a video showing Airan Berry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , answering questions about the operation .
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How can you get one ?
Dressed in a gray T-shirt with the word “ MOSCOW ” written on it , Berry says he signed on with Silvercorp to train between 50 and 60 men in the Colombian city of Riohacha and then accompany the rebels into Caracas .
“ What were the objectives of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in halting English .
“ I believe it was to attain specific targets .
And to , I think , get Maduro , ” Berry responds .

By Joshua Goodman | Associated Press
MIAMI — Three Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are demanding answers from the Trump administration about how much it knew about an attempted raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an operation they said potentially violated U.S. law and ran counter to American support for negotiations to end the South American country’s political standoff.
In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Attorney General William Barr and Richard Grenell, the acting director of national intelligence, the lawmakers led by Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut expressed “alarm” about the raid led by a former Green Beret and which has resulted in the detention in Venezuela of two American citizens.
“Either the U.S. government was unaware of these planned operations, or was aware and allowed them to proceed,” according to the letter sent Thursday. “Both possibilities are problematic.”
The letter cited the findings of an Associated Press investigation into Jordan Goudreau, who claimed responsibility for the foiled incursion. The AP investigation detailed how Goudreau, through his Florida private security firm, had teamed up with a retired Venezuelan army official to train at secret camps in Colombia dozens of deserters from Venezuela’s security forces for a mission targeting Maduro, for whose capture the U.S. has offered a $15 million bounty.
Trump has denied any U.S. involvement in the raid and Goudreau has said he was unable to ever persuade the Trump administration to support his bold plan for a private coup.
Maduro has insisted the operation was directed by the White House. Meanwhile, aides to Juan Guaidó, the opposition leader recognized by the U.S. and 60 other nations as Venezuela’s rightful leader, have acknowledged exploring the idea last year but said they quickly backed out after deciding Goudreau couldn’t deliver or be trusted.
The letter, which was also signed by Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico, cites provisions in the VERDAD act, signed into law by Trump in late 2019, that state it is U.S. policy to support diplomatic engagement to bring a negotiated and peaceful end to Venezuela’s political, economic and humanitarian crisis.
“Such incursions harm the prospects for a peaceful democratic transition in Venezuela by insinuating that an armed intervention is a viable option to resolve the crisis, potentially undermining the willingness of hard-line opposition actors to negotiate, while simultaneously allowing Maduro to rally support to his side, strengthening his hand,” the lawmakers wrote.
The letter contains six lines of questions about U.S. officials’ awareness of Goudreau’s plans and whether the administration had taken any steps to prevent his actions and make sure U.S. assistance wasn’t directly or indirectly provided to those involved.
It also seeks the intelligence community’s assessment about the legitimacy of a contract that Goudreau has presented and that he says was signed by Guaidó and two Miami-based aides allegedly authorizing his actions.
“Maduro is a dictator, and the Venezuelan people deserve to live in a democracy again,” the Democrats wrote. “But that will only be achieved through vigorous and effective diplomacy, not martial adventurism.”
Officials in Venezuela said Thursday that they have now captured 23 people involved in the botched attack.
They also aired a video showing Airan Berry, one of the two captured Americans, answering questions about the operation.
Dressed in a gray T-shirt with the word “MOSCOW” written on it, Berry says he signed on with Silvercorp to train between 50 and 60 men in the Colombian city of Riohacha and then accompany the rebels into Caracas.
“What were the objectives of the mission?” an off-camera interrogator asks in halting English.
“I believe it was to attain specific targets. And to, I think, get Maduro,” Berry responds.