saraacater--2020-03-25--New York City Morgues Nearing Capacity

New York City Morgues Nearing Capacity

New York City morgues are nearing their capacities , according to a Department of Homeland Security official and a person familiar with the situation who spoke to Politico .
With New York being a hotspot for the coronavirus pandemic , the sources noted that by next week the morgues would be full .
A third source with familiarity told the news site that some of the city ’ s morgues had already hit capacity in the last week .
The city , however , says they ’ re prepared for the issue .
“ We have the ability to expand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spokesperson for the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ( OCME ) , said , “ If you look back at what we did during 9/11 , we have the ability to create mobile stations that allow us to house bodies if we run out of space.
” Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan is one hospital readying for the overflow .
Two refrigerated trailers were recently placed on their property with the label “ MOBILE COMMAND CENTER — MEDICAL EXAMINER ” , according to The New York Post .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have small morgue spaces , so it ’ s possible that with the capacity of hospitals in New York City , there may be an expectation … that they ’ ll run out of morgue space , ” Worthy-Davis added .
Their have been more than 17,856 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the city and the situation has caused officials on the White House Task Force to encourage people leaving New York to quarantine for 14 days .
Click here to read the full story on Politico.com


saraacater--2020-03-25--Pelosi Warms Up To Senate Coronavirus Relief Bill

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled that she ’ s warming up to the Senate coronavirus relief bill after earlier arguing @ @ @ @ @ corporations first rather than the American people .
Now , Pelosi says that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ workers-first.
” “ America is facing a grave health crisis with a serious impact on @ @ @ @ @ the strong leadership of Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats , ” she said Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ House Democratic Committee Chairmen , who worked hard to move the Republican proposal from corporations-focused @ @ @ @ @ now review the legislative text of this agreement with our Caucus.
” The Senate is @ @ @ @ @ $ 2 trillion plan Wednesday .
Check SaraACarter.com for updates .
Click here to read @ @ @ @

Small Minnesota City Loses Entire Police Force Amid Recruitment Struggles
In an unexpected turn of events, the city of Goodhue in southeastern Minnesota finds itself without a police force as...


saraacater--2020-03-25--Prince Charles Tests Positive For Coronavirus, Reports ‘Mild Symptoms’

Prince Charles has tested positive for the coronavirus , his office said a statement Wednesday .
The 71-year-old has reported @ @ @ @ @ The Prince of Wales has tested positive for Coronavirus .
He has been displaying mild @ @ @ @ @ good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The Duchess of Cornwall has also been tested but does not have the @ @ @ @ @ continued .
“ In accordance with Government and medical advice , the Prince and the @ @ @ @ @ home in Scotland .
The tests were carried out by the NHS in Aberdeenshire where @ @ @ @ @ for testing.
” His office concluded the statement saying that it ’ s “ not @ @ @ @ @ the Prince caught the virus owing to the high number of engagements he carried out @ @ @ @ @ recent weeks .
”


saraacater--2020-03-26--Dems Debate: Bernie is Ready but Scared Joe Biden says, “We’ve had enough debates”

After the Sanders campaign confirmed that “ If there is a debate in April , he plans to be there.
@ @ @ @ @ and all-but-certain Democratic nominee – asked on a conference call Wednesday with reporters if there @ @ @ @ @ in April – said , “ My focus is just dealing with this crisis right @ @ @ @ @ t thought about any more debates .
I think we ’ ve had enough debates @ @ @ @ @ get on with this .
”


saraacater--2020-04-16--Grassley And Johnson Request FBI Director Wray Turn Over All FBI Records On Crossfire Hurricane

Two powerful GOP Senators sent a letter Thursday to FBI Director Christopher Wray requesting all the records from the FBI ’ s Crossfire Hurricane team , which investigated the now debunked theory that President Donald Trump ’ s campaign conspired with Russia during the 2016 election .
Sen. Ron Johnson , Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee , and Sen. Chuck Grassley , chairman of the Senate Finance Committee , who have been investigating the circumstances surrounding the FBI ’ s investigation and alleged malfeasance in obtaining Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Warrants to spy on then Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request in a letter .
The senators stated in the letter that “ on January 28 , 2020 , we wrote to Attorney General Barr and requested the declassification of four footnotes in the Office of the Inspector General ( OIG ) report about the Federal Bureau of Investigation ’ s ( FBI ) Crossfire Hurricane investigation.
” “ Since then , we received declassified versions of those and other footnotes , and they reveal disturbing facts about the FBI ’ s investigation : the Crossfire Hurricane team ’ s investigative file included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key parts of the reporting from Christopher Steele—reporting that “ played a central and essential role ” in the decision to request FISA orders —were part of a Russian disinformation campaign , ” the pair added .
The Senator ’ s noted that the information in the now-declassified footnotes from Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz ’ s December report investigating the FBI ’ s probe into the Trump campaign “ also directly contradicts statements provided by FBI officials in the OIG report.
” The footnotes revealed that former senior Obama officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Crossfire Hurricane team knew the dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele during the 2016 election was Russian disinformation to target Trump and his administration .
Further , those partially declassified footnotes reveal that those senior intelligence officials were aware of the disinformation when they included the dossier in the Obama administration ’ s Intelligence Communities Assessment ( ICA ) .
Johnson and Grassley said they were “ deeply troubled by the Crossfire Hurricane team ’ s awareness of and apparent indifference to Russian disinformation , as well as by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in charge of the investigation and its supervisory intelligence analyst.
” Further , the recently declassified footnotes raise numerous other issues of “ significant concern.
” “ What other parts of the FBI ’ s investigation were infected by Russian disinformation ?
…The FBI knew that Russian intelligence was targeting Christopher Steele ’ s company , that Steele relied on sources affiliated with Russian intelligence , and at least two of Steele ’ s reports were described as the product of a Russian disinformation campaign .
Because these facts show the intention , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinformation in Steele ’ s reporting , they suggest that the prevalence of such disinformation in the FBI ’ s Crossfire Hurricane investigation may have been widespread .
”

Two powerful GOP Senators sent a letter Thursday to FBI Director Christopher Wray requesting all the records from the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane team, which investigated the now debunked theory that President Donald Trump’s campaign conspired with Russia during the 2016 election.
Sen. Ron Johnson, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, who have been investigating the circumstances surrounding the FBI’s investigation and alleged malfeasance in obtaining Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Warrants to spy on then Trump campaign official Carter Page, made the request in a letter.
The senators stated in the letter that “on January 28, 2020, we wrote to Attorney General Barr and requested the declassification of four footnotes in the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report about the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Crossfire Hurricane investigation.”
“Since then, we received declassified versions of those and other footnotes, and they reveal disturbing facts about the FBI’s investigation: the Crossfire Hurricane team’s investigative file included at least two intelligence reports stating that key parts of the reporting from Christopher Steele—reporting that “played a central and essential role” in the decision to request FISA orders —were part of a Russian disinformation campaign,” the pair added.
The Senator’s noted that the information in the now-declassified footnotes from Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s December report investigating the FBI’s probe into the Trump campaign “also directly contradicts statements provided by FBI officials in the OIG report.”
The footnotes revealed that former senior Obama officials, including members of the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane team knew the dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele during the 2016 election was Russian disinformation to target Trump and his administration.
Further, those partially declassified footnotes reveal that those senior intelligence officials were aware of the disinformation when they included the dossier in the Obama administration’s Intelligence Communities Assessment (ICA).
Johnson and Grassley said they were “deeply troubled by the Crossfire Hurricane team’s awareness of and apparent indifference to Russian disinformation, as well as by the grossly inaccurate statements by the FBI official in charge of the investigation and its supervisory intelligence analyst.”
Further, the recently declassified footnotes raise numerous other issues of “significant concern.”
“What other parts of the FBI’s investigation were infected by Russian disinformation? …The FBI knew that Russian intelligence was targeting Christopher Steele’s company, that Steele relied on sources affiliated with Russian intelligence, and at least two of Steele’s reports were described as the product of a Russian disinformation campaign. Because these facts show the intention, means, and ability to plant Russian disinformation in Steele’s reporting, they suggest that the prevalence of such disinformation in the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation may have been widespread.”


saraacater--2020-04-16--Restructuring ODNI Is Not Political Rep. Adam Schiff, It Should’ve Happened Years Ago

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff accused acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell last week of ‘ undermining critical intelligence functions ’ but nothing could be further from the truth .
Why ?
Because Grenell is restructuring an agency that should have been overhauled years ago .
In the four page letter Schiff sent to Grenell , which by the way was just 14 minutes before Schiff gave it to the press , he charged the acting DNI with politicizing the intelligence community .
The organizational changes being made by Grenell are far from political .
In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every authority under the purview of the executive branch to do so .
Grenell is working vigorously , according to sources , to consolidate the agency , reduce unnecessary complexity and eliminate redundant work .
These implementations should have happened years ago .
Moreover , during the past 24 months the ODNI has conducted four internal studies that have identified opportunities to eliminate duplicate work already being done by other intelligence agencies .
Further , the restructuring will allow the ODNI to combine offices within the intelligence agencies to make missions more coherent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have gone unfilled for years may be eliminated .
Intelligence officials and analysts , who spoke to SaraACarter.com , have said that for years employees of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies have complained that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has become bureaucratically bloated .
These officials stressed that the office , which was established in 2004 under the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission , has strayed from its original mandate to ensure that all intelligence agencies coordinating , verifying critical intelligence and sharing that intelligence .
Instead , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the agencies they are supposed to oversee .
The ODNI is competing for resources , employees and budgetary allocations that in fact , are repeating much of the same work being conducted by the CIA , FBI , and so forth , say sources .
Currently the ODNI has some 1800 staff employees , plus nearly as many contractors , a number that is far larger than intended when it was first established , intelligence officials added .
“ America ’ s intelligence agencies need leadership and coordination , which is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Intelligence official , directly familiar with the restructuring .
“ By implementing carefully considered reforms recommended by prior studies , ODNI can refocus on doing what it needs to do while rolling back duplication of effort and freeing up personnel to fill critical gaps inside the intelligence agencies .
This will make American intelligence stronger.
” Daniel Hoffman , who spent more than three-decades in the CIA clandestine service and a three-time station chief abroad , told this reporter that although many people in the CIA “ recognized the value of having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agencies , there was concern that the DNI itself , was a bureaucracy and was going to grow and become bloated.
” This is what happened over the years with the ODNI , added Hoffman , who was at the CIA when the ODNI was established .
He said that the decision to reorganize the ODNI by Grenell is far from the political accusations raised by Schiff .
“ You ’ ll find the majority of intelligence officers and pundits would agree with the fact that the DNI needs to be reduced in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you think Rick Grenell is the right guy for the job , ” said Hoffman , who is known for his nonpartisan stance in issues related to national security .
“ I don ’ t think you can find an intelligence agency director that would be against the restructuring .
We don ’ t have an unlimited number of people to do the jobs and our foreign counterparts see this bloated bureaucracy and wonder who they should go to ?
Who do they talk to and who they need to deal with directly.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is taking people from other agencies to fill the slots and you risk that the mission will suffer when this happens , ” said Hoffman , who added that the reforms that are being implemented are necessary .
Hoffman compared what Grenell is doing at the ODNI to what is being done at the National Security Council by National Security Adviser Robert O ’ Brien .
Last year , in October , O ’ Brien announced plans to reduce the staff , which had ballooned to over 200 people by the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaks of classified information and politicization of the agency may have instigated O ’ Brien ’ s actions but regardless it was a necessary measure just based on the history of the NSC .
For example , during President Eisenhower ’ s administration the staff was at a maximum of 50 people .
Later , President John F. Kennedy reduced the staff to 20 people , which stayed the same during Lyndon Johnson ’ s presidency .
Those numbers roughly stayed the same during Nixon ’ s presidency and then went up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then to 100 during President Bill Clinton and then to 136 during the second Bush administration .
Those numbers then jumped to over 200 during the Obama administration .
“ Grenell is doing what should ’ ve been done long ago , ” said a former CIA clandestine officer , who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the nature of their ongoing work .
“ The ODNI isn ’ t going to be negatively effected by these changes , in fact , just the opposite – the restructuring of the ODNI will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and back where they should be .
”

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff accused acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell last week of ‘undermining critical intelligence functions’ but nothing could be further from the truth. Why? Because Grenell is restructuring an agency that should have been overhauled years ago.
In the four page letter Schiff sent to Grenell, which by the way was just 14 minutes before Schiff gave it to the press, he charged the acting DNI with politicizing the intelligence community. The organizational changes being made by Grenell are far from political.
In fact, they are absolutely necessary and he has every authority under the purview of the executive branch to do so. Grenell is working vigorously, according to sources, to consolidate the agency, reduce unnecessary complexity and eliminate redundant work.
These implementations should have happened years ago. Moreover, during the past 24 months the ODNI has conducted four internal studies that have identified opportunities to eliminate duplicate work already being done by other intelligence agencies. Further, the restructuring will allow the ODNI to combine offices within the intelligence agencies to make missions more coherent. More importantly, dozens of positions that have gone unfilled for years may be eliminated.
Intelligence officials and analysts, who spoke to SaraACarter.com, have said that for years employees of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies have complained that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has become bureaucratically bloated. These officials stressed that the office, which was established in 2004 under the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, has strayed from its original mandate to ensure that all intelligence agencies coordinating, verifying critical intelligence and sharing that intelligence.
Instead, the office has become more of a competitor to the agencies they are supposed to oversee. The ODNI is competing for resources, employees and budgetary allocations that in fact, are repeating much of the same work being conducted by the CIA, FBI, and so forth, say sources.
Currently the ODNI has some 1800 staff employees, plus nearly as many contractors, a number that is far larger than intended when it was first established, intelligence officials added.
“America’s intelligence agencies need leadership and coordination, which is the purpose of ODNI,” said a U.S. Intelligence official, directly familiar with the restructuring. “By implementing carefully considered reforms recommended by prior studies, ODNI can refocus on doing what it needs to do while rolling back duplication of effort and freeing up personnel to fill critical gaps inside the intelligence agencies. This will make American intelligence stronger.”
Daniel Hoffman, who spent more than three-decades in the CIA clandestine service and a three-time station chief abroad, told this reporter that although many people in the CIA “recognized the value of having a partner that could collaborate with the agencies, there was concern that the DNI itself, was a bureaucracy and was going to grow and become bloated.”
This is what happened over the years with the ODNI, added Hoffman, who was at the CIA when the ODNI was established.
He said that the decision to reorganize the ODNI by Grenell is far from the political accusations raised by Schiff.
“You’ll find the majority of intelligence officers and pundits would agree with the fact that the DNI needs to be reduced in size and that goes far beyond whether you think Rick Grenell is the right guy for the job,” said Hoffman, who is known for his nonpartisan stance in issues related to national security. “I don’t think you can find an intelligence agency director that would be against the restructuring. We don’t have an unlimited number of people to do the jobs and our foreign counterparts see this bloated bureaucracy and wonder who they should go to? Who do they talk to and who they need to deal with directly.”
“The reality is the ODNI is taking people from other agencies to fill the slots and you risk that the mission will suffer when this happens,” said Hoffman, who added that the reforms that are being implemented are necessary.
Hoffman compared what Grenell is doing at the ODNI to what is being done at the National Security Council by National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien. Last year, in October, O’Brien announced plans to reduce the staff, which had ballooned to over 200 people by the end of the Obama administration. Concerns regarding internal leaks of classified information and politicization of the agency may have instigated O’Brien’s actions but regardless it was a necessary measure just based on the history of the NSC. For example, during President Eisenhower’s administration the staff was at a maximum of 50 people. Later, President John F. Kennedy reduced the staff to 20 people, which stayed the same during Lyndon Johnson’s presidency.
Those numbers roughly stayed the same during Nixon’s presidency and then went up to 50 during the first Bush administration, then to 100 during President Bill Clinton and then to 136 during the second Bush administration. Those numbers then jumped to over 200 during the Obama administration.
“Grenell is doing what should’ve been done long ago,” said a former CIA clandestine officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the nature of their ongoing work. “The ODNI isn’t going to be negatively effected by these changes, in fact, just the opposite – the restructuring of the ODNI will set our intelligence agencies back on track and back where they should be.”


saraacater--2020-04-16--LIVE: White House Coronavirus Task Force Briefing

President Donald Trump , along with the White House Coronavirus Task Force , are updating the American public on the @ @ @ @ @ COVID19 virus and what will be the next steps to opening up the economy .

Officials found an illegal Chinese biotech laboratory being conducted in a warehouse in Reedley, California. The Chinese medical company Prestige Biotech “was the largest creditor of the now defunct med-tech company Universal Meditech and took control of it following bankruptcy. The Chinese-run company did not have a license to operate in California” reports National Review.
Wang Zhaolin, a spokesman for Prestige Biotech, told the San Joaquin Valley Sun that the mice “were genetically engineered to catch and carry the Covid-19 virus,” the newspaper reported. Court documents further showed that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conducted tests on the more than 800 chemicals found at the site and that over 20 infectious agents were found present, including Hepatitis B and C, streptococcus pneumonia, chlamydia, rubella, and Herpes 1 and 5.
The investigation began in April after a garden hose was illegally attached to the back of the building. Biological agents from the building were destroyed July 7 following a legal abatement process by the Fresno County Public Health Department.
Foreign Desk News reports:
According to reports, the tenant of the illegal lab was Prestige BioTech; a company registered in Nevada and unlicensed for business in California. City officials spoke with the company’s President, Xiuquin Yao, who told officials that Prestige BioTech transferred assets belonging to a defunct company, Universal Meditech Inc. (UMI), to the Reedley warehouse from Fresno after UMI went bankrupt.
Another official from the company, Wang Zhaolin, told investigators the mice were genetically engineered to catch and spread the COVID-19 virus.
The lab had “around 30 refrigerators, operational and non-operational freezers, incubators, and medical testing supplies. Upon searching the building, officials found 800 different chemicals and have yet to identify all of them.”


saraacater--2020-04-16--CARES Act Pays Hospitals To Report COVID Patients, Even Those Presumed

Last week , Dr. Deborah Birx , a medical expert on the White House Coronavirus Task Force , made a statement that for many questioning the current coronavirus numbers raised eyebrows .
“ If someone dies with COVID-19 , we are counting that as a COVID-19 death , ” said Birx , who added that it was based on if a person carried the virus , rather than if they died due to the virus or other extenuating circumstances .
“ In this country , we ’ ve taken a very liberal approach to mortality and I think the reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past five to six weeks , ” she said .
“ Prior to that , when there wasn ’ t testing in January , February that ’ s a very different situation .
There are other countries that if you had a pre-existing condition and let ’ s say the virus caused you to go to the ICU and then have a heart or kidney problem – some countries are recording that as a heart issue , kidney issue and not a COVID19 death .
Right now , we ’ re still recording @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forms that come in and a form that has the ability to market as COVID19 infection , the intent is right now if someone dies with COVID19 , then we are counting that as a COVID19 death , ” she added .
Upon SaraACarter.com ’ s review of the CARES Act , Dr. Birx left out a significant detail in the numbers and a key incentive driving the reporting .
Under the legislation , hospitals can receive 15 percent additional funding from Medicare if they report patients who aren ’ t initially admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while admitted either test positive initially or as ‘ secondary diagnosis.
’ The bill states : “ For discharges occurring during the emergency period described in section 1135 ( g ) ( 1 ) ( B ) , in the case of a discharge that has a principal or secondary diagnosis of COVID–19 , the Secretary shall increase the weighting factor for each diagnosis-related group ( with such a principal or secondary diagnosis ) by 15 percent.
” There is also a reported skew in COVID-19 fatality reports and the new information provides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this week the CDC changed the rules for reporting cases saying that a patient who doesn ’ t take a test for the virus , but is presumed to have it will be counted .
The CDC also recommends that COVID-19 deaths be reported based on the information provided by hospitals .
“ When reporting cause of death on a death certificate , use any information available , such as medical history , medical records , laboratory tests , an autopsy report , or other sources of relevant information .
Similar to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an informed medical opinion that should be based on sound medical judgment drawn from clinical training and experience , as well as knowledge of current disease states and local trends , ” the CDC advises .
New York City officials said Tuesday that the city would begin counting presume COVID-19 deaths for patients who never underwent testing for the virus .
After the announcement was made , the city ’ s death toll jumped by 3,700 fatalities .
The current nationwide case count is 635,825 and the number of deaths is 30,998 @

Last week, Dr. Deborah Birx, a medical expert on the White House Coronavirus Task Force, made a statement that for many questioning the current coronavirus numbers raised eyebrows. “If someone dies with COVID-19, we are counting that as a COVID-19 death,” said Birx, who added that it was based on if a person carried the virus, rather than if they died due to the virus or other extenuating circumstances.
“In this country, we’ve taken a very liberal approach to mortality and I think the reporting here has been pretty straightforward over the past five to six weeks,” she said.
“Prior to that, when there wasn’t testing in January, February that’s a very different situation. There are other countries that if you had a pre-existing condition and let’s say the virus caused you to go to the ICU and then have a heart or kidney problem – some countries are recording that as a heart issue, kidney issue and not a COVID19 death. Right now, we’re still recording it and the great thing about having forms that come in and a form that has the ability to market as COVID19 infection, the intent is right now if someone dies with COVID19, then we are counting that as a COVID19 death,” she added.
Full clip:
Here is Dr. Birx saying that the government is recording anyone who dies with coronavirus in the United States, regardless of any other health issue, as a death from coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/p2nIhH4bHP — Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 7, 2020
Upon SaraACarter.com’s review of the CARES Act, Dr. Birx left out a significant detail in the numbers and a key incentive driving the reporting.
Under the legislation, hospitals can receive 15 percent additional funding from Medicare if they report patients who aren’t initially admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 but then while admitted either test positive initially or as ‘secondary diagnosis.’
The bill states: “For discharges occurring during the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B), in the case of a discharge that has a principal or secondary diagnosis of COVID–19, the Secretary shall increase the weighting factor for each diagnosis-related group (with such a principal or secondary diagnosis) by 15 percent.”
Under the CARES Act, hospitals get paid 15% more by Medicare if they classify their patients as having “a principal or secondary diagnosis of COVID-19.” Get ready for every hospital in America to pass off everyday coughing as “suspected COVID-19.” https://t.co/JXTVUmgriv #Covid19 — Avik Roy (@Avik) April 15, 2020
There is also a reported skew in COVID-19 fatality reports and the new information provides a foundation for that.
In fact, this week the CDC changed the rules for reporting cases saying that a patient who doesn’t take a test for the virus, but is presumed to have it will be counted. The CDC also recommends that COVID-19 deaths be reported based on the information provided by hospitals.
“When reporting cause of death on a death certificate, use any information available, such as medical history, medical records, laboratory tests, an autopsy report, or other sources of relevant information. Similar to many other diagnoses, a cause-of-death statement is an informed medical opinion that should be based on sound medical judgment drawn from clinical training and experience, as well as knowledge of current disease states and local trends,” the CDC advises.
New York City officials said Tuesday that the city would begin counting presumed COVID-19 deaths for patients who never underwent testing for the virus.
After the announcement was made, the city’s death toll jumped by 3,700 fatalities. The current nationwide case count is 635,825 and the number of deaths is 30,998.


saraacater--2020-04-16--Sens. Cruz, Coons Push For Increased US-Israel Medical Partnership To Combat COVID

Senators Chris Coons ( D-DE ) and Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) are joining bipartisan forces to push for an increased medical partnership with Israel in mitigating the coronavirus pandemic .
Both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are also asking for $ 12 million to “ enhance partnerships between companies in the United States and Israel to develop innovative medical projects aimed at detecting , treating , and curing COVID-19.
” “ I ’ ve long said that China poses the most significant , long-term geopolitical threat to the United States .
Our dependence on China for life-saving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Cruz said in a statement .
“ Israel is not only our friend and ally , but also a global leader in medicine with which we already cooperate on exactly those issues .
I ’ m proud to push forward to ensure both American and Israeli companies can work together to develop cures and treatments to defeat COVID-19.
” “ The United States and Israel are world leaders in the medical technology industry , and it is in the interest of all Americans , Israelis , and the rest of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This virus knows no borders , and our bill underscores the importance of international collaboration in the face of a truly global pandemic , ” Sen. Coons said in a statement .
Many Israeli companies are inching closer to a COVID-19 vaccine and have reported success in early trials of a number of therapeutics and treatments .
For example , as reported , Israel ’ s Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. ’ s treatment had a 100 percent survival rate in patients treated .
Researchers at MIGAL , an internationally recognized research institute located @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say they ’ re years ahead in developing a coronavirus vaccine that could be ready within weeks , as reported .

Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) are joining bipartisan forces to push for an increased medical partnership with Israel in mitigating the coronavirus pandemic. Both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are also asking for $12 million to “enhance partnerships between companies in the United States and Israel to develop innovative medical projects aimed at detecting, treating, and curing COVID-19.”
Israel is not only our friend & ally, but also a global leader in medicine w which we already cooperate on exactly those issues. Proud to push forward w @ChrisCoons to ensure both American & Israeli companies can work together to develop cures and treatments to defeat #COVID19. — Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) April 16, 2020
“I’ve long said that China poses the most significant, long-term geopolitical threat to the United States. Our dependence on China for life-saving medications and treatments is deeply problematic,” Cruz said in a statement. “Israel is not only our friend and ally, but also a global leader in medicine with which we already cooperate on exactly those issues. I’m proud to push forward to ensure both American and Israeli companies can work together to develop cures and treatments to defeat COVID-19.”
International collaboration in the face of this global pandemic is critical. @SenTedCruz and I are pushing for increased cooperation between the U.S. and Israel, world leaders in the medical technology industry, to fight #COVID19. https://t.co/A2liZOmF0Y — Senator Chris Coons (@ChrisCoons) April 16, 2020
“The United States and Israel are world leaders in the medical technology industry, and it is in the interest of all Americans, Israelis, and the rest of the world that we work together to fight COVID-19. This virus knows no borders, and our bill underscores the importance of international collaboration in the face of a truly global pandemic,” Sen. Coons said in a statement.
Many Israeli companies are inching closer to a COVID-19 vaccine and have reported success in early trials of a number of therapeutics and treatments. For example, as reported, Israel’s Pluristem Therapeutics Inc.’s treatment had a 100 percent survival rate in patients treated. Researchers at MIGAL, an internationally recognized research institute located in Israel’s Northern Galilee, say they’re years ahead in developing a coronavirus vaccine that could be ready within weeks, as reported.


saraacater--2020-04-16--Small Business Admin Runs Out Of COVID Loan Money, Needs Congress To Act

The U.S. Small Business Administration is no longer able to accept new applications for the coronavirus emergency loan program after hitting its $ 349 billion limit Thursday , according to their website .
The advance provides businesses with up to $ 10,000 that doesn ’ t need to be paid back and is provided for them to stay afloat in the coronavirus pandemic .
“ BA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan ( EIDL ) -COVID-19 related assistance program ( including EIDL Advances ) based on available appropriations funding , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports that the number of applications received in the last 14 days is more than 14 years of loan applications .
Their statement continued , “ Applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come , first-served basis.
” On March 27 , the CARES Act budgeted $ 376 billion to American businesses and workers .
In a joint statement released Wednesday , Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urged “ Congress to appropriate additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program—a critical and overwhelmingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again be able to process loan applications , issue loan numbers , and protect millions more paychecks.
” They added , “ The high demand we have seen underscores the need for hardworking Americans to have access to relief as soon as possible .
We want every eligible small business to participate and get the resources they need.
” U.S. lawmakers remain in a stalemate over appropriating additional funding .
In an effort to bridge the partisan gap , Mnuchin is reportedly working with Democrats who voted against the GOP ’ s $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
The Senate , however , isn ’ t scheduled to be back in session until April 20 , but may be forced to call an emergency session to provide needed funding .
In a letter sent to Republicans last week , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asked for additional funding of hospitals , personal protective equipment ( PPE ) , and the food stamps program to be included in the next bill .
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-CA , said Thursday on Twitter that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is on you , Chuck Schumer and Nancy .
”

The U.S. Small Business Administration is no longer able to accept new applications for the coronavirus emergency loan program after hitting its $349 billion limit Thursday, according to their website. The advance provides businesses with up to $10,000 that doesn’t need to be paid back and is provided for them to stay afloat in the coronavirus pandemic.
“BA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)-COVID-19 related assistance program (including EIDL Advances) based on available appropriations funding,” the SBA notice stated.
The SBA reports that the number of applications received in the last 14 days is more than 14 years of loan applications. Their statement continued, “Applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.”
The message below is brought to you by congressional Democrats. #PaycheckProtectionProgram https://t.co/eaKXRcQMYP pic.twitter.com/63lvR2nvoy — Cong. Steven Palazzo (@CongPalazzo) April 16, 2020
On March 27, the CARES Act budgeted $376 billion to American businesses and workers. In a joint statement released Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urged “Congress to appropriate additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program—a critical and overwhelmingly bipartisan program—at which point we will once again be able to process loan applications, issue loan numbers, and protect millions more paychecks.”
They added, “The high demand we have seen underscores the need for hardworking Americans to have access to relief as soon as possible. We want every eligible small business to participate and get the resources they need.”
U.S. lawmakers remain in a stalemate over appropriating additional funding. In an effort to bridge the partisan gap, Mnuchin is reportedly working with Democrats who voted against the GOP’s $250 billion bill in the Senate last week. The Senate, however, isn’t scheduled to be back in session until April 20, but may be forced to call an emergency session to provide needed funding.
In a letter sent to Republicans last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asked for additional funding of hospitals, personal protective equipment (PPE), and the food stamps program to be included in the next bill.
Exactly a week ago today, @SenateMajLdr introduced a one-page bill to fund paychecks for small business employees. Democrats blocked it. As of this morning, the program is out of money. This is on you, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.https://t.co/JK48SFSHXm — Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) April 16, 2020
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-CA, said Thursday on Twitter that the failure to get additional funding “is on you, Chuck Schumer and Nancy.”


saraacater--2020-04-16--U.S. Home Building Drops 22.3 Percent Amid Coronavirus Shutdown

As the coronavirus shutdown enters its second month U.S. home-building dropped in March to 22.3 percent from the previous month @ @ @ @ @ Press .
On Thursday The Commerce Department said “ ground breakings occurred last month at @ @ @ @ @ of 1.2 million units , down from a 1.56 million pace in February .
Construction @ @ @ @ @ % , while apartment and condo starts were off 32.1 % from a month ago.
@ @ @ @ @ the lockdown to quell the spread of COVID19 , more than 20 million Americans have @ @ @ @ @ past four weeks .
For more on this story go to the AP .

In an unexpected turn of events, the city of Goodhue in southeastern Minnesota finds itself without a police force as the chief and other department members tendered their resignations.
Mayor Ellen Anderson Buck conveyed the city’s determination to move forward despite the setback, assuring the public of continued police coverage.
Mayor Buck emphasized, “I want to reiterate that we will have police coverage in the city of Goodhue. That is not an issue.” Police Chief Josh Smith, who will remain in his position until August 24th, attributed the force’s dissolution to the inability to recruit new officers, according to reports from Fox News.
“This has been three weeks now, we have zero applicants, and I have zero prospects,” Smith disclosed on July 26. “I’ve called every PD around for the youngest guys out there, getting into the game. There’s nobody getting into the game.”
Chris Schmit, a Goodhue City Council member, praised the police force for their commitment to upholding law and order in the city, underscoring their invaluable contribution to the community’s safety. “I can probably speak for everyone when I say that they provided excellent safety and security to our community. And the small-town policing that they did, we want that back.”
Smith bared a stark truth to the Goodhue City Council, unraveling the crux of the department’s recruitment turmoil. The resounding echo of low wages and the unrelenting surge of rivalry from neighboring larger communities reverberated through his words. With an urgency born of necessity, he underscored the imperative for swift and substantial transformation to reorient this daunting trajectory.
In a state that has witnessed significant policing developments, including the George Floyd case, Minneapolis serves as a prominent backdrop. The latest ex-Minneapolis police officer convicted in Floyd’s death received a sentence of four years and nine months on August 7. Prior to his sentencing, Tou Thao, the former officer, shared a personal reflection on his faith journey while incarcerated.
Despite repeated attempts, the Goodhue Police Department, the mayor, and city council members remained unavailable for comments.
This unexpected loss of an entire police force underscores the challenges many smaller communities face in maintaining law enforcement personnel amidst increasing demands and competition from larger urban centers.
Follow Alexander Carter on Twitter @AlexCarterDC for more!


saraacater--2020-04-16--Biden: Trump’s Response To Coronavirus ‘Drives Me Crazy’

Former Vice President and expected 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said President Donald Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus outbreak “ drives me crazy ” , during an interview Thursday morning with MSNBC host Joe Scarborough .
“ The President talks about this like ok , it ’ s gon na be ok. We ’ re gon na open tomorrow we ’ re gon na do this , ” Biden explained , “ I mean it just , I must tell you , it drives me crazy.
” He added , “ I don ’ t know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s fears.
” The two spoke via phone last week about the President ’ s efforts in mitigating the spread of the virus .
“ We had a really wonderful , warm conversation , a very nice conversation , ” Trump said during a task force briefing last week .
“ Vice President Biden and President Trump had a good call , ” Biden ’ s deputy campaign manager and communications director Kate Bedingfield said in a statement to Fox News .
“ VP Biden shared several suggestions for actions the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic and expressed his appreciation for the spirit of the American people in meeting the challenges facing the nation .
”