westernjournal--2020-03-25--Steve Irwin’s Daughter Bindi Gets Married Amid Coronavirus, Lights Candle in Dad’s Honor

Parties , for the time being , are a thing of the past .
Huge get-togethers , lavish weddings with extensive guest lists and dancing the night away are not a part of our current reality .
In a time when pregnant women are wondering if they ’ ll even be able to have their partners with them during birth , many have chosen to cancel or postpone celebrations .
But not Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell , who have been planning their wedding for nearly a year .
They had a tough decision to make : Postpone their wedding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a tiny ceremony .
The two decided to forgo the guests and focus on what mattered : Marrying each other .
TRENDING : Lifelong Democrat Voter Says 'That Streak Will End in Nov. ' After Pelosi Stunt on COVID Relief Bill “ We held a small ceremony and I married my best friend , ” Bindi posted on Instagram , along with a photo of the newlyweds kissing .
“ There are no words to describe the amount of love and light in my heart right now.
” “ We ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year and had to change everything , as we didn ’ t have guests at our wedding .
This was a very difficult decision but important to keep everyone safe.
” “ We wish all of our friends and family could have been there with us , however it ’ s lovely that we will be able to share photos and videos.
” “ Right now we ’ re encouraging the world to hold onto hope and love , which will carry us forward during this profound time in history.
” The people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with her mom and brother able to attend and help .
The family even planned a special part of the ceremony to honor their late father and husband , legendary crocodile hunter Steve Irwin .
“ Today we celebrated life and revelled in every beautiful moment we shared together in our Australia Zoo gardens , ” Bindi ’ s post continued .
“ Mum helped me get ready , Robert walked me down the aisle , Chandler became my husband and together we lit a candle in Dad ’ s memory.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Thankfully , since we all live at Australia Zoo as a family , we could be there for each other .
To everyone reading this – stay safe , social distance and remember LOVE WINS !
” Chandler Powell also shared the snapshot with his own take on their wedding day .
“ We ’ re finally married !
” he wrote .
“ Today , March 25 , 2020 , marks the most amazing day of my life .
I married my best friend.
” “ After almost a year of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we could enjoy a safe and small private ceremony at our home , Australia Zoo .
As we embark on this new life chapter I hope that we can share some love in the world , especially during this challenging time.
” This couple clearly has eyes for each other and knew what was important about their day , even if it looked a little different than what they had anticipated .
All the best to the newlyweds !
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read @ @ @ @

Parties, for the time being, are a thing of the past. Huge get-togethers, lavish weddings with extensive guest lists and dancing the night away are not a part of our current reality.
In a time when pregnant women are wondering if they’ll even be able to have their partners with them during birth, many have chosen to cancel or postpone celebrations.
But not Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell, who have been planning their wedding for nearly a year. They had a tough decision to make: Postpone their wedding, or cut the guest list and have a tiny ceremony.
The two decided to forgo the guests and focus on what mattered: Marrying each other.
“We held a small ceremony and I married my best friend,” Bindi posted on Instagram, along with a photo of the newlyweds kissing. “There are no words to describe the amount of love and light in my heart right now.”
“We’ve planned this beautiful day for nearly a year and had to change everything, as we didn’t have guests at our wedding. This was a very difficult decision but important to keep everyone safe.”
“We wish all of our friends and family could have been there with us, however it’s lovely that we will be able to share photos and videos.”
“Right now we’re encouraging the world to hold onto hope and love, which will carry us forward during this profound time in history.”
The people most important to Bindi were there, with her mom and brother able to attend and help. The family even planned a special part of the ceremony to honor their late father and husband, legendary crocodile hunter Steve Irwin.
“Today we celebrated life and revelled in every beautiful moment we shared together in our Australia Zoo gardens,” Bindi’s post continued. “Mum helped me get ready, Robert walked me down the aisle, Chandler became my husband and together we lit a candle in Dad’s memory.”
“We shared tears and smiles and love. Thankfully, since we all live at Australia Zoo as a family, we could be there for each other. To everyone reading this – stay safe, social distance and remember LOVE WINS!”
Chandler Powell also shared the snapshot with his own take on their wedding day.
“We’re finally married!” he wrote. “Today, March 25, 2020, marks the most amazing day of my life. I married my best friend.”
“After almost a year of planning, we changed everything so that we could enjoy a safe and small private ceremony at our home, Australia Zoo. As we embark on this new life chapter I hope that we can share some love in the world, especially during this challenging time.”
This couple clearly has eyes for each other and knew what was important about their day, even if it looked a little different than what they had anticipated. All the best to the newlyweds!
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westernjournal--2020-03-25--4 Republican Senators Say They’ll Oppose Fast-Tracking Coronavirus Bill Unless ‘Massive Drafting Err

4 Republican Senators Say They’ll Oppose Fast-Tracking Coronavirus Bill Unless ‘Massive Drafting Error’ Is Fixed

Four Republican senators warned on Wednesday they will oppose fast-tracking the $ 2 trillion coronavirus response legislation unless a “ massive drafting error ” regarding unemployment insurance is changed so it does not incentivize people not to go back to work .
“ A massive drafting error in the current version of the coronavirus relief legislation could have devastating consequences : Unless this bill is fixed , there is a strong incentive for employees to be laid off instead of going to work , ” Sens .
Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina , as well Ben Sasse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Fox News .
“ This isn ’ t an abstract , philosophical point — it ’ s an immediate , real-world problem , ” they added .
Sen. Rick Scott of Florida joined his three Republican colleagues in calling for a change to the legislation before it is pushed through fast-tracking procedures .
The “ drafting error ” involves a $ 600-per-week payment in addition to the unemployment benefits — which are calculated using a worker ’ s current salary — that those who apply will receive .
TRENDING : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ End in Nov. ' After Pelosi Stunt on COVID Relief Bill In a joint news conference where the senators explained their objection to the provision of the bill , Sasse said , “ We ’ re talking that fact that one of the fundamental purposes of this bill is to maintain the employee-employer relationship through the trough of the recession that ’ s arriving right now.
” “ We want to celebrate the dignity of work , ” the senator added .
Sasse lamented that parts of the legislation “ actually incentivize the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We can not encourage people to make more money in unemployment than they do in employment , ” Tim Scott said .
Graham agreed , saying , “ This bill pays you more not to work , than if you were working.
” “ If this is not a drafting error , then it ’ s the worst idea I ’ ve seen in a long time , ” the South Carolinian said .
The four GOP senators called for the unemployment compensation provision to be changed .
“ The moment we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not create an incentive for people to say , I don ’ t need to come back to work because I can do better [ taking unemployment benefits ] , Rick Scott said .
RELATED : Ocasio-Cortez Warns She 's 'Open ' To Single-Handedly Delaying Coronavirus Bill 'If Necessary' The senators promised that the error could be quickly fixed through an amendment that would set the unemployment benefit limit at 100 percent of a recipient ’ s current salary .
“ I think we need to fix this now because it only makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , The Hill reported .
“ I want an amendment vote .
We ’ ll see what happens.
” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York wrote in a letter to his colleagues the goal was enhancing unemployment benefits to help those out of work due to the coronavirus bridge the gap until they are able to work again , according to The Hill .
“ The extended UI [ Unemployment Insurance ] program in this agreement increases the maximum unemployment benefit by $ 600 per week and ensures that laid-off workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full pay for four months , ” he said .
“ It ensures that all workers are protected whether they work for businesses small , medium or large , along with self-employed and workers in the gig economy.
” The White House and Senate leaders from both parties reached a deal early Wednesday morning , which they were slated to vote on later in the day .
The package would give one-time payments of $ 1,200 per adult and $ 500 per child directly to the public .
The legislation also sets aside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep workers on their payroll .
CORRECTION , March 25 , 2020 : When originally published , this article claimed the four GOP senators would oppose the coronavirus response bill unless the “ drafting error ” was fixed .
The headline and body have been updated to reflect that the GOP senators said they would oppose fast-tracking the bill until it was fixed .
We apologize to our readers for any confusion we may have caused .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our @ @ @

Four Republican senators warned on Wednesday they will oppose fast-tracking the $2 trillion coronavirus response legislation unless a “massive drafting error” regarding unemployment insurance is changed so it does not incentivize people not to go back to work.
“A massive drafting error in the current version of the coronavirus relief legislation could have devastating consequences: Unless this bill is fixed, there is a strong incentive for employees to be laid off instead of going to work,” Sens. Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, as well Ben Sasse of Nebraska, said in a statement, according to Fox News.
“This isn’t an abstract, philosophical point — it’s an immediate, real-world problem,” they added.
Sen. Rick Scott of Florida joined his three Republican colleagues in calling for a change to the legislation before it is pushed through fast-tracking procedures.
The “drafting error” involves a $600-per-week payment in addition to the unemployment benefits — which are calculated using a worker’s current salary — that those who apply will receive.
In a joint news conference where the senators explained their objection to the provision of the bill, Sasse said, “We’re talking that fact that one of the fundamental purposes of this bill is to maintain the employee-employer relationship through the trough of the recession that’s arriving right now.”
“We want to celebrate the dignity of work,” the senator added.
Sasse lamented that parts of the legislation “actually incentivize the severing of the employee-employer relationship.”
Do you agree this legislation needs to be changed? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 97% (4657 Votes) No: 3% (162 Votes)
“We cannot encourage people to make more money in unemployment than they do in employment,” Tim Scott said.
Graham agreed, saying, “This bill pays you more not to work, than if you were working.”
“If this is not a drafting error, then it’s the worst idea I’ve seen in a long time,” the South Carolinian said.
The four GOP senators called for the unemployment compensation provision to be changed.
“The moment we can go back to work, we cannot create an incentive for people to say, I don’t need to come back to work because I can do better [taking unemployment benefits], Rick Scott said.
“Don’t create the wrong incentive,” the lawmaker continued.
The senators promised that the error could be quickly fixed through an amendment that would set the unemployment benefit limit at 100 percent of a recipient’s current salary.
“I think we need to fix this now because it only makes the problem worse,” Graham said, The Hill reported. “I want an amendment vote. We’ll see what happens.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York wrote in a letter to his colleagues the goal was enhancing unemployment benefits to help those out of work due to the coronavirus bridge the gap until they are able to work again, according to The Hill.
“The extended UI [Unemployment Insurance] program in this agreement increases the maximum unemployment benefit by $600 per week and ensures that laid-off workers, on average, will receive their full pay for four months,” he said.
“It ensures that all workers are protected whether they work for businesses small, medium or large, along with self-employed and workers in the gig economy.”
The White House and Senate leaders from both parties reached a deal early Wednesday morning, which they were slated to vote on later in the day.
The package would give one-time payments of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child directly to the public.
Hospitals expecting a flood of COVID-19 patients will receive a large cash infusion.
The legislation also sets aside hundreds of billions in loans for companies to keep workers on their payroll.
CORRECTION, March 25, 2020: When originally published, this article claimed the four GOP senators would oppose the coronavirus response bill unless the “drafting error” was fixed. The headline and body have been updated to reflect that the GOP senators said they would oppose fast-tracking the bill until it was fixed. We apologize to our readers for any confusion we may have caused.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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westernjournal--2020-03-25--Twitter Bans James Woods but Leaves Actor Michael Rapaport Alone Despite Dehumanizing Melania Tweet

Twitter is demonstrating its continued bias against conservatives .
Conservative Hollywood actor James Woods is in Twitter jail — again — for speaking truth against liberalism , which apparently violates the social media platform ’ s policies for conduct .
Woods was locked out of his Twitter account Tuesday for sharing “ intimate media ” of a person without the person ’ s consent , Twitter notified him .
The actor tweeted a photo that purported to show former Democratic Florida gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum nude ( with his private parts blurred ) and passed out on the floor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember , this could have been Florida ’ s governor in the midst of the # WuhanCoronavirus pandemic .
Make sure you vote # Republican in November like your life depends on it , because it does .
# Trump2020Landslide , ” Woods wrote .
A follower of Woods also posted a screenshot of a message from Twitter informing Woods why he was put in timeout .
Journalist Andy Ngo reported , “ Miami Beach PD is investigating how the report & photos relating to Andrew Gillum ’ s hotel room incident with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Separately , Gillum ’ s team has been aggressively trying to remove the photo that shows him passed out naked.
” Still , images of Gillum ’ s rowdy night have been circulating nearly everywhere on social media .
They were still circulating as of Wednesday .
Apparently Twitter ’ s rules for sharing such images are only broken when they are posted by a high-profile conservative , such as Woods .
RELATED : James Woods Banned from Twitter After Being Retweeted by Trump Gillum , who is married with children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on March 15 with a male prostitute and another man .
Police also found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia , according to The Tallahassee Democrat , which reported the gay escort had overdosed on drugs .
Republican Ron DeSantis defeated Gillum in the 2018 gubernatorial election by a narrow margin of only 32,463 votes .
Woods is right to remind his followers of how close Gillum came to becoming Florida ’ s governor .
But the double standard is clear .
Twitter ’ s actions constantly reveal that conservatives are treated differently .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the platform , those on the left abound in the Twittersphere spreading hate and misinformation with apparent impunity .
Actor Michael Rapaport , for example , routinely breaks Twitter ’ s rules against bullying , harassment and hate speech with his vicious attacks on Republicans , Christians , President Donald Trump and Trump ’ s family .
WARNING : Some of the following social media posts feature vulgar language that will be offensive to some readers .
Just this week , Rapaport attacked first lady Melania Trump .
“ Look at this DUMB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is SEXXXY TIME ?
Dumb FKC !
You dumb animal @ FLOTUS , ” Michael Rapaport said in a Twitter rant Sunday in response to the first lady ’ s video about coronavirus .
“ MAGA !
!
!
!
Look at what you ’ ve done !
!
!
” he said .
That tweet was later deleted .
On Wednesday , Rapaport called for President Donald Trump ’ s daughter and adviser , Ivanka Trump , to be jailed .
Last year , the washed-up actor bullied Covington Catholic High School @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hat-wearing s—stains ” and worse .
Rapaport also previously described Fox News host Laura Ingraham as a “ filthy pig ” and a “ dog-faced animal.
” Why is this unbalanced individual allowed to use Twitter to incite and spread hate against conservatives ?
Twitter ’ s rules on “ abusive behavior ” clearly state users “ may not engage in the targeted harassment of someone , or incite other people to do so .
We consider abusive behavior an attempt to harass , intimidate , or silence someone else ’ s voice.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ insults with the purpose of harassing or intimidating others ” are specifically prohibited .
“ We take action against excessively aggressive insults that target an individual , including content that contains slurs or similar language .
Please also note that while some individuals may find certain terms to be offensive , we will not action against every instance where insulting terms are used , ” Twitter says in its guidelines for conduct .
So , why is an unhinged D-list actor such as Rapaport allowed to use his account to incite targeted harassment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because he is a Democrat .
Why doesn ’ t Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey just go ahead and tell us conservatives we ’ re not welcome on his platform ?
The virtue-signaling big-tech liberal has made it abundantly clear that hate speech is perfectly acceptable on Twitter , just as long as it comes from liberals and has-been actors .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

UPDATE, Mar. 26, 2020: James Woods’ Twitter account has been fully restored. By his own account, his suspension ended “after 24 hours.”
Twitter is demonstrating its continued bias against conservatives.
Conservative Hollywood actor James Woods is in Twitter jail — again — for speaking truth against liberalism, which apparently violates the social media platform’s policies for conduct.
Woods was locked out of his Twitter account Tuesday for sharing “intimate media” of a person without the person’s consent, Twitter notified him.
The actor tweeted a photo that purported to show former Democratic Florida gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum nude (with his private parts blurred) and passed out on the floor of a Miami Beach hotel.
“Just remember, this could have been Florida’s governor in the midst of the #WuhanCoronavirus pandemic. Make sure you vote #Republican in November like your life depends on it, because it does. #Trump2020Landslide,” Woods wrote.
James Woods gets account locked for posting a photo allegedly of a naked Andrew Gillum that’s widely available on Twitter https://t.co/JfpQcrh8Z3 — Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 25, 2020
A follower of Woods also posted a screenshot of a message from Twitter informing Woods why he was put in timeout.
Why did you censors James Woods for this tweet? pic.twitter.com/kGvLs5J6co — Exquirentibus (@Exquirentibus1) March 25, 2020
Journalist Andy Ngo reported, “Miami Beach PD is investigating how the report & photos relating to Andrew Gillum’s hotel room incident with a gay prostitute & drugs was leaked. Separately, Gillum’s team has been aggressively trying to remove the photo that shows him passed out naked.”
Miami Beach PD is investigating how the report & photos relating to Andrew Gillum’s hotel room incident with a gay prostitute & drugs was leaked. Separately, Gillum’s team has been aggressively trying to remove the photo that shows him passed out naked. https://t.co/FBuei5fW8E — Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) March 25, 2020
Still, images of Gillum’s rowdy night have been circulating nearly everywhere on social media. They were still circulating as of Wednesday.
Apparently Twitter’s rules for sharing such images are only broken when they are posted by a high-profile conservative, such as Woods.
Gillum, who is married with children, was found by police in Miami Beach on March 15 with a male prostitute and another man.
Police also found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to The Tallahassee Democrat, which reported the gay escort had overdosed on drugs.
Republican Ron DeSantis defeated Gillum in the 2018 gubernatorial election by a narrow margin of only 32,463 votes.
Woods is right to remind his followers of how close Gillum came to becoming Florida’s governor.
But the double standard is clear. Twitter’s actions constantly reveal that conservatives are treated differently.
While those on the right are silenced on the platform, those on the left abound in the Twittersphere spreading hate and misinformation with apparent impunity.
Actor Michael Rapaport, for example, routinely breaks Twitter’s rules against bullying, harassment and hate speech with his vicious attacks on Republicans, Christians, President Donald Trump and Trump’s family.
WARNING: Some of the following social media posts feature vulgar language that will be offensive to some readers.
Just this week, Rapaport attacked first lady Melania Trump.
“Look at this DUMB FKC!!! She thinks this is SEXXXY TIME? Dumb FKC! You dumb animal @FLOTUS,” Michael Rapaport said in a Twitter rant Sunday in response to the first lady’s video about coronavirus.
“MAGA!!!! Look at what you’ve done!!!” he said.
That tweet was later deleted.
On Wednesday, Rapaport called for President Donald Trump’s daughter and adviser, Ivanka Trump, to be jailed.
Last year, the washed-up actor bullied Covington Catholic High School students, describing them as “MAGA hat-wearing s—stains” and worse.
Rapaport also previously described Fox News host Laura Ingraham as a “filthy pig” and a “dog-faced animal.”
.@MichaelRapaport blasts Laura Ingraham over David Hogg tweet “You filthy pig. You dog-faced animal”https://t.co/b6yt0l6ho2 pic.twitter.com/0BpGfYkOfA — Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) March 29, 2018
Why is this unbalanced individual allowed to use Twitter to incite and spread hate against conservatives?
Twitter’s rules on “abusive behavior” clearly state users “may not engage in the targeted harassment of someone, or incite other people to do so. We consider abusive behavior an attempt to harass, intimidate, or silence someone else’s voice.”
Do you think lawmakers should intervene and stop big tech from censoring conservatives? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 97% (179 Votes) No: 3% (5 Votes)
Twitter further states that “aggressive insults with the purpose of harassing or intimidating others” are specifically prohibited.
“We take action against excessively aggressive insults that target an individual, including content that contains slurs or similar language. Please also note that while some individuals may find certain terms to be offensive, we will not action against every instance where insulting terms are used,” Twitter says in its guidelines for conduct.
So, why is an unhinged D-list actor such as Rapaport allowed to use his account to incite targeted harassment? We can only assume it is because he is a Democrat.
Why doesn’t Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey just go ahead and tell us conservatives we’re not welcome on his platform?
The virtue-signaling big-tech liberal has made it abundantly clear that hate speech is perfectly acceptable on Twitter, just as long as it comes from liberals and has-been actors.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-03-25--Op-Ed: Anti-Insider-Trading Laws Are About Envy, Not What’s Good for the Country

Four U.S. senators swear they didn ’ t use insider knowledge when they sold off stocks ahead of the coronavirus-induced record market crash .
Americans are outraged , but what if so-called insider trading is a mere gimmick of the greater political establishment ?
This is the age of the outsider .
In politics , we have President Trump and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez .
In the economy , we have Uber and Airbnb .
More than ever , being an insider carries a negative connotation .
Insider trading , then , must be nefarious .
If only it had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exchange Commission , that creature of Congress which acts as legislator , enforcer and judge , defines it this way : “ …among other things , the purchase or sale of a security of any issuer , on the basis of material nonpublic information about that security or issuer , in breach of a duty of trust or confidence that is owed directly , indirectly , or derivatively , to the issuer of that security or the shareholders of that issuer , or to any other person who is the source of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few Supreme Court cases , and the legalese starts to get complicated .
TRENDING : Lifelong Democrat Voter Says 'That Streak Will End in Nov. ' After Pelosi Stunt on COVID Relief Bill Essentially , the idea of making insider trading into a crime rests on the principle that information is a human right , that all market players have a right to the same information at the same time .
It ’ s a utopian , communist notion that can ’ t work .
One more thought experiment before getting into these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ P. Murphy asks what happens to a person who ’ s ready to buy shares of Acme , but then learns of a bad earnings report before it ’ s published and so decides not to buy the stock .
“ Should this person be prosecuted for insider non-trading ?
” Murphy quips .
Some feel that it ’ s a different ballgame altogether outside of the purely economic realm .
When it comes to politicians , the public servants , our leaders , why shouldn ’ t anti-insider-trading laws apply to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no wonder why so many Americans jumped all over the accused Sens .
Richard Burr of North Carolina , Diane Feinstein of California , Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma and Kelly Loeffler of Georgia .
Average citizens aren ’ t cut any slack from the endless laws , red tape and taxes hounding them day in and day out .
All four sold stock after being privy to information they chose to shield from their constituents , or worse , lie about to them .
This is surely bad governance , but how should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights were deprived .
No property was damaged , no money stolen .
Compare that to their voting records !
Now , Loeffler is a newbie , having been appointed to her Senate seat .
She is awaiting a special election , but it would seem as though she ’ s in the fight of her life after selling over $ 1 million worth of stocks following a Jan. 24 meeting of the Senate Health Committee covering the coronavirus .
RELATED : Dick Morris : Four Senators Put Their Greed First Fox News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding her to account .
While Loeffler claims her stock market moves are all handled by a third party that updates her weeks after the fact , she evaded Carlson ’ s question about a March 10 video she released assuring Georgians that “ the economy is strong.
” Loeffler ’ s message of calm and hope came less than a month after her financial advisors supposedly showed her for the first time her stock trades dating back to January 24 .
What ’ s more , Loeffler has worked in the financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the chairman and CEO of the New York Stock Exchange .
Next is Burr , the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee .
What does it take to reach such prestige ?
His record includes supporting the 2008 bank bailouts and withholding the 6,700-page Senate report on CIA torture .
It ’ s been reported that Burr sold between $ 628,000 and $ 1.72 million in stock at about the time he was being updated daily on the imminent coronavirus impact on Americans .
During this time , he was co-authoring an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote , “ the United States today is better prepared than ever before to face emerging public health threats , like the coronavirus.
” However , Burr follows the Hillary Clinton mantra : “ You need both a public and a private position.
” Speaking at a North Carolina club where memberships run $ 10,000 , Burr told the donor class quite the opposite , according to a leaked recording .
“ There ’ s one thing that I can tell you about this : It is much more aggressive in its transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent history , ” he said , adding , “ It is probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic.
” Burr went on to foretell of school closings and even the military being used when hospitals become overcrowded .
However , he claims his stock sell-off was based merely on CNBC reports .
It ’ s amazing how he read so much into public reports , while the rest of the market waited a week to crash .
Finally , we have Feinstein and Inhofe .
Feinstein , together with her husband , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stocks , while Inhofe sold as much as $ 400,000 .
Like Loeffler , they have third-party arrangements to handle their stock market moves .
On opposite sides of the political aisle , they unite often on the issue of war .
Feinstein notoriously supervised appropriations for military contracts that benefited corporations her husband Richard Blum had strong financial interests in .
Much less rich is Inhofe , who is a big war hawk anyway , be it promoting intervention in Venezuela , North Korea and Yemen or heating up the cold war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re getting screwed over harder with insider trading than by these policies or general ineptitude and dereliction of duty ?
Perhaps this media bandwagon of outrage is just too good an opportunity to miss .
Who could be blamed for reveling in a story that ends with some probably crooked politicians being punished ?
Unfortunately , there is a big catch that comes with this crusade against insider trading .
In addition to what has already been shown , that the absurd logic of criminalizing insider trading requires a universal human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be noted that in practice , insider trading laws are simply the ruling bureaucratic elite ’ s means toward total power .
When someone with inside knowledge buys or sells stocks , the other trader who sells to or buys from the insider would have made the exchange anyway .
There ’ s no victim , just as with any other voluntary transaction .
In fact , the inside trader ’ s buy or sell implicitly disseminates that hidden knowledge into the market , a real service for the keen observer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ being dumped did indeed signal to other market actors that they should do the same , and some did .
Not many , but a few did get out of the stock market before the crash , and they have insider trading to thank .
Insider trading is demonized no differently than how the radical left condemns “ obscene profits.
” The root of the attack is envy .
Through envy , the state can easily move mobs in its preferred direction , and it can imprison those inconveniences , the disruptive capitalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and similar rhetoric is an appeal to envy that Americans must see past in order to truly gain back their sovereignty .
What ’ s clear is that these senators lack the fortitude to be forthright with the people .
And they ’ re not the only ones .
Virtually all politicians keep up appearances of having things under control .
When they inevitably lose control , because the world can ’ t be controlled , they overreact and overreach .
Such is the story of coronavirus in America , where dependence on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable to disease , economic turmoil and restrictions on liberty .
Now is the worst time to act on envy .
This fragile society can ’ t handle it .
Its institutions are hollowed out , the Congress being just one example of many .
The loss of public trust in institutions can be healthy when there is a moral foundation from which to rebuild .
However , the reaction against these four senators is reflecting not just low public trust , but low social trust , as well .
Just look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major population centers , where there are scrimmages over toilet paper .
How does the country come out the other side for the better ?
If the mainstream media narrative , dripping with envy , is allowed to steer the public trust , it will have long-lasting ramifications for the country ’ s already declining social cohesion .
These four senators reveal deep fault lines in the political system and possibly society as a whole .
The fix won ’ t be as simple as criminalizing insider trading .
The views expressed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Four U.S. senators swear they didn’t use insider knowledge when they sold off stocks ahead of the coronavirus-induced record market crash. Americans are outraged, but what if so-called insider trading is a mere gimmick of the greater political establishment?
This is the age of the outsider. In politics, we have President Trump and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In the economy, we have Uber and Airbnb. More than ever, being an insider carries a negative connotation.
Insider trading, then, must be nefarious. If only it had a legal definition. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, that creature of Congress which acts as legislator, enforcer and judge, defines it this way:
“…among other things, the purchase or sale of a security of any issuer, on the basis of material nonpublic information about that security or issuer, in breach of a duty of trust or confidence that is owed directly, indirectly, or derivatively, to the issuer of that security or the shareholders of that issuer, or to any other person who is the source of the material nonpublic information.”
Throw in a few Supreme Court cases, and the legalese starts to get complicated.
Essentially, the idea of making insider trading into a crime rests on the principle that information is a human right, that all market players have a right to the same information at the same time. It’s a utopian, communist notion that can’t work.
One more thought experiment before getting into these four U.S. senators.
The economist Robert P. Murphy asks what happens to a person who’s ready to buy shares of Acme, but then learns of a bad earnings report before it’s published and so decides not to buy the stock.
“Should this person be prosecuted for insider non-trading?” Murphy quips.
Do you think insider trading should be criminalized? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 97% (28 Votes) No: 3% (1 Votes)
Some feel that it’s a different ballgame altogether outside of the purely economic realm. When it comes to politicians, the public servants, our leaders, why shouldn’t anti-insider-trading laws apply to them in some way?
It’s no wonder why so many Americans jumped all over the accused Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Diane Feinstein of California, Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma and Kelly Loeffler of Georgia. Average citizens aren’t cut any slack from the endless laws, red tape and taxes hounding them day in and day out.
All four sold stock after being privy to information they chose to shield from their constituents, or worse, lie about to them. This is surely bad governance, but how should it be made illegal?
No constitutional rights were deprived. No property was damaged, no money stolen. Compare that to their voting records!
Now, Loeffler is a newbie, having been appointed to her Senate seat. She is awaiting a special election, but it would seem as though she’s in the fight of her life after selling over $1 million worth of stocks following a Jan. 24 meeting of the Senate Health Committee covering the coronavirus.
Fox News’ Tucker Carlson did a solid job holding her to account. While Loeffler claims her stock market moves are all handled by a third party that updates her weeks after the fact, she evaded Carlson’s question about a March 10 video she released assuring Georgians that “the economy is strong.”
Loeffler’s message of calm and hope came less than a month after her financial advisors supposedly showed her for the first time her stock trades dating back to January 24. What’s more, Loeffler has worked in the financial industry for decades, while her husband is the chairman and CEO of the New York Stock Exchange.
Next is Burr, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. What does it take to reach such prestige? His record includes supporting the 2008 bank bailouts and withholding the 6,700-page Senate report on CIA torture.
It’s been reported that Burr sold between $628,000 and $1.72 million in stock at about the time he was being updated daily on the imminent coronavirus impact on Americans. During this time, he was co-authoring an Op-Ed for Fox News in which he wrote, “the United States today is better prepared than ever before to face emerging public health threats, like the coronavirus.”
However, Burr follows the Hillary Clinton mantra: “You need both a public and a private position.”
Speaking at a North Carolina club where memberships run $10,000, Burr told the donor class quite the opposite, according to a leaked recording.
“There’s one thing that I can tell you about this: It is much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history,” he said, adding, “It is probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic.”
Burr went on to foretell of school closings and even the military being used when hospitals become overcrowded. However, he claims his stock sell-off was based merely on CNBC reports. It’s amazing how he read so much into public reports, while the rest of the market waited a week to crash.
Finally, we have Feinstein and Inhofe. Feinstein, together with her husband, sold up to $6 million in stocks, while Inhofe sold as much as $400,000. Like Loeffler, they have third-party arrangements to handle their stock market moves.
On opposite sides of the political aisle, they unite often on the issue of war. Feinstein notoriously supervised appropriations for military contracts that benefited corporations her husband Richard Blum had strong financial interests in. Much less rich is Inhofe, who is a big war hawk anyway, be it promoting intervention in Venezuela, North Korea and Yemen or heating up the cold war with Russia.
Do Americans actually believe they’re getting screwed over harder with insider trading than by these policies or general ineptitude and dereliction of duty?
Perhaps this media bandwagon of outrage is just too good an opportunity to miss. Who could be blamed for reveling in a story that ends with some probably crooked politicians being punished?
Unfortunately, there is a big catch that comes with this crusade against insider trading.
In addition to what has already been shown, that the absurd logic of criminalizing insider trading requires a universal human right to all market information, it should be noted that in practice, insider trading laws are simply the ruling bureaucratic elite’s means toward total power.
When someone with inside knowledge buys or sells stocks, the other trader who sells to or buys from the insider would have made the exchange anyway. There’s no victim, just as with any other voluntary transaction.
In fact, the inside trader’s buy or sell implicitly disseminates that hidden knowledge into the market, a real service for the keen observer. Millions of dollars’ worth of stock being dumped did indeed signal to other market actors that they should do the same, and some did. Not many, but a few did get out of the stock market before the crash, and they have insider trading to thank.
Insider trading is demonized no differently than how the radical left condemns “obscene profits.” The root of the attack is envy. Through envy, the state can easily move mobs in its preferred direction, and it can imprison those inconveniences, the disruptive capitalists.
“Profiting off a crisis” and similar rhetoric is an appeal to envy that Americans must see past in order to truly gain back their sovereignty.
What’s clear is that these senators lack the fortitude to be forthright with the people. And they’re not the only ones. Virtually all politicians keep up appearances of having things under control. When they inevitably lose control, because the world can’t be controlled, they overreact and overreach.
Such is the story of coronavirus in America, where dependence on bureaucracy at home and abroad left millions vulnerable to disease, economic turmoil and restrictions on liberty.
Now is the worst time to act on envy. This fragile society can’t handle it. Its institutions are hollowed out, the Congress being just one example of many.
The loss of public trust in institutions can be healthy when there is a moral foundation from which to rebuild. However, the reaction against these four senators is reflecting not just low public trust, but low social trust, as well.
Just look at what the coronavirus scare is doing in major population centers, where there are scrimmages over toilet paper. How does the country come out the other side for the better?
If the mainstream media narrative, dripping with envy, is allowed to steer the public trust, it will have long-lasting ramifications for the country’s already declining social cohesion.
These four senators reveal deep fault lines in the political system and possibly society as a whole. The fix won’t be as simple as criminalizing insider trading.
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here.
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westernjournal--2020-03-25--NY Gov Gives Positive News from COVID-19 Epicenter: ‘The Arrows Are Headed in the Right Direction’

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that the state ’ s current coronavirus hospitalization rate is “ headed in the right direction.
” At the Democratic governor ’ s daily news briefing on COVID-19 , Cuomo cited projections that hospitalizations would double every 4.7 days as compared to Sunday predictions that hospitalization would double every two days , according to The Hill .
Cuomo also said that social distancing efforts “ may be working.
” “ Now that is almost too good to be true , ” he said , according to Intelligencer .
“ This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ m not 100 percent sure it holds or it ’ s accurate , but the arrows are headed in the right direction and that is always better than the arrows headed in the wrong direction.
” TRENDING : Lifelong Democrat Voter Says 'That Streak Will End in Nov. ' After Pelosi Stunt on COVID Relief Bill New York has become a U.S. epicenter for the coronavirus with its case count doubling every three days , The New York Times reported .
“ We haven ’ t flattened the curve .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Cuomo said .
“ The apex is higher than we thought , and the apex is sooner than we thought .
That is a bad combination of facts.
” On Friday , Gov .
Cuomo ordered all nonessential business workers to stay home and everyone else to practice social distancing , according to CNN .
The state will also enact “ mandatory playground social density ” to keep children safe , The Hill reported .
Following the stay-at-home order , Cuomo cited the slowing rate of infection in Westchester County during Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dramatically slowed what was an exponential rate of increase , ” Cuomo said , according to The New York Times .
“ That was the hottest cluster in the United States of America .
We closed the schools , we closed gatherings , we brought in testing , and we have dramatically slowed the increase.
” He also highlighted efforts to procure more hospital beds and equipment , predicting the peak of people needing hospitalization is about 14-21 days away .
RELATED : Ocasio-Cortez Warns She 's 'Open ' To Single-Handedly Delaying Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they will need 30,000 ventilators of which they currently only have 4,000 , The Times reported .
Cuomo said that 7,000 more ventilators have been obtained and 4,000 have been sent by the federal government .
Cuomo also said that hospitals will need to increase their capacity by at least 50 percent , saying the state may eventually need 140,000 hospital beds , the Hill reported .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that the state’s current coronavirus hospitalization rate is “headed in the right direction.”
At the Democratic governor’s daily news briefing on COVID-19, Cuomo cited projections that hospitalizations would double every 4.7 days as compared to Sunday predictions that hospitalization would double every two days, according to The Hill.
Cuomo also said that social distancing efforts “may be working.”
“Now that is almost too good to be true,” he said, according to Intelligencer.
“This is a very good sign and a positive sign. I’m not 100 percent sure it holds or it’s accurate, but the arrows are headed in the right direction and that is always better than the arrows headed in the wrong direction.”
New York has become a U.S. epicenter for the coronavirus with its case count doubling every three days, The New York Times reported.
“We haven’t flattened the curve. And the curve is actually increasing,” Cuomo said.
“The apex is higher than we thought, and the apex is sooner than we thought. That is a bad combination of facts.”
On Friday, Gov. Cuomo ordered all nonessential business workers to stay home and everyone else to practice social distancing, according to CNN.
Do you think we are close to reaching the peak of the virus cases? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 70% (310 Votes) No: 30% (132 Votes)
The state will also enact “mandatory playground social density” to keep children safe, The Hill reported.
Following the stay-at-home order, Cuomo cited the slowing rate of infection in Westchester County during Wednesday’s conference.
“We have dramatically slowed what was an exponential rate of increase,” Cuomo said, according to The New York Times.
“That was the hottest cluster in the United States of America. We closed the schools, we closed gatherings, we brought in testing, and we have dramatically slowed the increase.”
He also highlighted efforts to procure more hospital beds and equipment, predicting the peak of people needing hospitalization is about 14-21 days away.
State officials have projected they will need 30,000 ventilators of which they currently only have 4,000, The Times reported.
Cuomo said that 7,000 more ventilators have been obtained and 4,000 have been sent by the federal government.
Cuomo also said that hospitals will need to increase their capacity by at least 50 percent, saying the state may eventually need 140,000 hospital beds, the Hill reported.
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westernjournal--2020-03-25--Churches Nationwide Find New Ways To Keep Congregations Connected During Coronavirus

Churches — just like so many other institutions and businesses — are grappling with how to best serve their communities during the age of social distancing .
Despite the challenges , multiple Christian leaders with whom The Western Journal spoke see the coronavirus outbreak as the faith community ’ s time to shine the light of Jesus .
William Vanderbloemen , CEO of a Houston-based consulting firm that serves some of the nation ’ s most renowned churches , said he has been fielding many calls from congregations around the country since the crisis broke .
COVID-19 has forced people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in very unnatural ways , he explained .
Vanderbloemen pointed to the creation account in the Bible ’ s book of Genesis , where God created the land , sea , animals , plants , heavens and finally humans in His own image , saying after each it is “ good.
” “ The first thing God says is not good , He said it ’ s not good for people to be left alone , ” Vanderbloemen said .
“ We are hardwired to be in in-person relationship with one another.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he led was filled to overflowing after the 9/11 terrorist attacks .
The same was true in 2003 following the shuttle Columbia disaster , which particularly hit home in Houston , the location of the Johnson Space Center .
“ People want to be together and they want to hear a message of hope , ” Vanderbloemen said .
“ I think there is this incredibly innate longing for people to be together right now , and we can ’ t. ” So they ’ ve done the next best thing , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls and texts .
John Leach — executive senior pastor of Life Center in Harrisburg , Pennsylvania — said his church , like many larger congregations , has broadcast services online for years .
To that , it has added daily online devotionals and prayer focuses during the time of enforced physical separation .
“ We ’ re using this as a chance to expand , not pull back , ” Leach said .
The church ’ s leadership has set four goals for the congregation , which is a few thousand strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , look for opportunities to serve and remain a community .
RELATED : Ocasio-Cortez Warns She 's 'Open ' To Single-Handedly Delaying Coronavirus Bill 'If Necessary' To the objective of remaining a community , Leach said church leaders have reached out to over 1,000 members so far just to check in and see how they ’ re doing .
Brian Bowman , the lead pastor of Valley Life Church in Phoenix , said his church has done the same .
“ We just took our staff and sort of had to reassign everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in touch with our membership and the people who regularly attend , ” he said .
The church is also seeking to network with not only with its congregants but also other churches across the Phoenix metro area and beyond to set aside the beginning of the 19th hour of the day as a time of prayer focus against the pandemic .
“ The idea is that at the 19th hour of the day , which is 7 p.m. , we ’ re just asking everyone to pray to end the COVID-19 virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projects , Valley Life is establishing a website to connect people with needs and those willing to help , such as elderly members looking for someone to go shopping for them or others who might need financial assistance .
Bowman contended the church ’ s job is to be a beacon of hope during these challenging times , particularly when media outlets such as CNN and others in society tend to highlight the bad news .
“ The church is the only institution there that really can provide hope to be a part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope beyond this life , ” he said .
“ We really think we are the only hope of this type that is out there.
” Fritz Hager , who serves as executive pastor of Bethel Bible Church in Tyler , Texas , agrees .
“ I don ’ t know how people who don ’ t have faith stay sane in times like this , ” he said .
“ There is a peace and a calm that people of faith should have.
” Hager is a veteran of the Persian Gulf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Texas State Guard , deploying during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 .
When leaders in his church — including both staff and elders — call around to members of their congregation , “ We just encourage people to place their hope in Jesus , who is unchanging and who is good and whose purposes and plans are better , ” he said .
Hager related that he has been dialed into the coronavirus outbreak for the last month because he has a sister living in northern Italy , which has been hit hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lead pastor of Church for the Nations in Phoenix , focused his Sunday message on providing hope , titling it , “ Everything Is Going To Be Alright.
” “ God ’ s promise to us is true : He ’ s a very present help in time of trouble , ” the pastor told his online audience , quoting from Psalm 46 .
“ In the day of difficulty , the day of calamity , God says , ‘ Trust me , I ’ m going to make this good , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Romans 8:28 .
He told The Western Journal , “ This is a time for believers to grow closer to God , to feed themselves , to turn away from overflooding their senses , overflooding their minds with negative news reports .
“ It ’ s OK to know the facts .
It ’ s not OK to feed your fears to the point you ’ re submerged by discouragement.
” Maiden also encouraged Christians to actively look for ways to help others , especially those who suffer from anxiety and depression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this season , not just hunkering down for ourselves , but to make sure we ’ re caring about people , ” he said .
“ When someone ’ s name or face pops up in our mind , often that ’ s the Holy Spirit telling us to pray for them or to reach out to them , ” Maiden said .
“ It ’ s a great time for that.
” All the faith leaders expressed optimism that their churches and many others around the world will come out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it as a time for believers to exercise their spiritual muscles .
“ We ’ ll be stronger in the important stuff , ” he said , which is loving God and loving people .
Leach views what ’ s happening in the world right now as the opportunity for a “ reset.
” “ We ’ re hoping there ’ s kind of a reset even when everybody goes back , maybe we go back with different values , ” he said The pastor argued it is not limited to the church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the church are having a chance to rethink their priorities .
“ We kind of live in a more reclusive neighborhood , and we ’ ve been finding that everyone ’ s been out , everyone ’ s been talking way more than they have been in the three , four years we ’ ve been here .
It ’ s so nice , ” Leach said .
Vanderbloemen ’ s company has put together a website of resources for churches to learn how to go online and other best practices during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendance will spike when congregations are able to meet in person again .
“ I think there is a pent-up hunger and whenever this thing passes and people are actually able to get out and get together , I think you ’ re going to see a storm surge of church attendance , ” Vanderbloemen said .
He encouraged people to pray for their pastors and continue to financially support their churches , as they are able .
Bowman said if churches handle the crisis well , it could be among their finest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prouder of not just ours , but other churches all around , and not just in Phoenix , either , but I have friends all over the country and worldwide that are saying , ‘ Yeah , we ’ re leaning in to this trouble rather than retreating or blaming or worrying , ' ” the pastor said .
“ My church is mobilized like I ’ ve never seen before , ” Bowman said .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards @

Churches — just like so many other institutions and businesses — are grappling with how to best serve their communities during the age of social distancing.
Despite the challenges, multiple Christian leaders with whom The Western Journal spoke see the coronavirus outbreak as the faith community’s time to shine the light of Jesus.
William Vanderbloemen, CEO of a Houston-based consulting firm that serves some of the nation’s most renowned churches, said he has been fielding many calls from congregations around the country since the crisis broke.
COVID-19 has forced people, and thereby churches, to act in very unnatural ways, he explained.
Vanderbloemen pointed to the creation account in the Bible’s book of Genesis, where God created the land, sea, animals, plants, heavens and finally humans in His own image, saying after each it is “good.”
“The first thing God says is not good, He said it’s not good for people to be left alone,” Vanderbloemen said. “We are hardwired to be in in-person relationship with one another.”
The former pastor recalled how the church he led was filled to overflowing after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The same was true in 2003 following the shuttle Columbia disaster, which particularly hit home in Houston, the location of the Johnson Space Center.
“People want to be together and they want to hear a message of hope,” Vanderbloemen said. “I think there is this incredibly innate longing for people to be together right now, and we can’t.”
Is your church offering online services during the coronavirus shutdown? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 94% (58 Votes) No: 6% (4 Votes)
So they’ve done the next best thing, which is to connect online and through phone calls and texts.
John Leach — executive senior pastor of Life Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania — said his church, like many larger congregations, has broadcast services online for years.
To that, it has added daily online devotionals and prayer focuses during the time of enforced physical separation.
“We’re using this as a chance to expand, not pull back,” Leach said.
The church’s leadership has set four goals for the congregation, which is a few thousand strong: Stay in faith, stay compassionate, look for opportunities to serve and remain a community.
To the objective of remaining a community, Leach said church leaders have reached out to over 1,000 members so far just to check in and see how they’re doing.
Brian Bowman, the lead pastor of Valley Life Church in Phoenix, said his church has done the same.
“We just took our staff and sort of had to reassign everyone to, basically, communications to stay in touch with our membership and the people who regularly attend,” he said.
The church is also seeking to network with not only with its congregants but also other churches across the Phoenix metro area and beyond to set aside the beginning of the 19th hour of the day as a time of prayer focus against the pandemic.
“The idea is that at the 19th hour of the day, which is 7 p.m., we’re just asking everyone to pray to end the COVID-19 virus,” Bowman said.
Among other projects, Valley Life is establishing a website to connect people with needs and those willing to help, such as elderly members looking for someone to go shopping for them or others who might need financial assistance.
Bowman contended the church’s job is to be a beacon of hope during these challenging times, particularly when media outlets such as CNN and others in society tend to highlight the bad news.
“The church is the only institution there that really can provide hope to be a part of the solution, as well as hope beyond this life,” he said. “We really think we are the only hope of this type that is out there.”
Fritz Hager, who serves as executive pastor of Bethel Bible Church in Tyler, Texas, agrees.
“I don’t know how people who don’t have faith stay sane in times like this,” he said. “There is a peace and a calm that people of faith should have.”
Hager is a veteran of the Persian Gulf war who later became a chaplain with the Texas State Guard, deploying during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
Today I was an eyewitness to the unbreakable spirit of Deweyville – a humbling display of joy and peace.#Harvey, #TMDHarvey, #TXSG pic.twitter.com/0Rg9PJjb9j — Fritz Hager, Jr. (@fhagerjr) September 6, 2017
When leaders in his church — including both staff and elders — call around to members of their congregation, “We just encourage people to place their hope in Jesus, who is unchanging and who is good and whose purposes and plans are better,” he said.
Hager related that he has been dialed into the coronavirus outbreak for the last month because he has a sister living in northern Italy, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.
Though we aren’t gathering at any of our campuses today, you can still join us online at 9 AM or 10:30 AM! #BethelBible ▶ Watch today by clicking here: https://t.co/2tFe8AKiYA pic.twitter.com/M0Ajs9dlGF — Bethel Bible Church (@bethelbible) March 15, 2020
Michael Maiden, the lead pastor of Church for the Nations in Phoenix, focused his Sunday message on providing hope, titling it, “Everything Is Going To Be Alright.”
“God’s promise to us is true: He’s a very present help in time of trouble,” the pastor told his online audience, quoting from Psalm 46.
“In the day of difficulty, the day of calamity, God says, ‘Trust me, I’m going to make this good,'” Maiden added, a reference to Romans 8:28.
He told The Western Journal, “This is a time for believers to grow closer to God, to feed themselves, to turn away from overflooding their senses, overflooding their minds with negative news reports.
“It’s OK to know the facts. It’s not OK to feed your fears to the point you’re submerged by discouragement.”
Maiden also encouraged Christians to actively look for ways to help others, especially those who suffer from anxiety and depression.
“We should be pretty aggressive in this season, not just hunkering down for ourselves, but to make sure we’re caring about people,” he said.
“When someone’s name or face pops up in our mind, often that’s the Holy Spirit telling us to pray for them or to reach out to them,” Maiden said. “It’s a great time for that.”
All the faith leaders expressed optimism that their churches and many others around the world will come out of the COVID-19 crisis stronger.
Maiden sees it as a time for believers to exercise their spiritual muscles.
“We’ll be stronger in the important stuff,” he said, which is loving God and loving people.
Leach views what’s happening in the world right now as the opportunity for a “reset.”
“We’re hoping there’s kind of a reset even when everybody goes back, maybe we go back with different values,” he said
The pastor argued it is not limited to the church community, but people in and outside the church are having a chance to rethink their priorities.
“We kind of live in a more reclusive neighborhood, and we’ve been finding that everyone’s been out, everyone’s been talking way more than they have been in the three, four years we’ve been here. It’s so nice,” Leach said.
Vanderbloemen’s company has put together a website of resources for churches to learn how to go online and other best practices during the coronavirus outbreak.
The consultant anticipates church attendance will spike when congregations are able to meet in person again.
“I think there is a pent-up hunger and whenever this thing passes and people are actually able to get out and get together, I think you’re going to see a storm surge of church attendance,” Vanderbloemen said.
If you think the economy has pent up energy, just wait to see what church looks like once we can gather again in person. #revival pic.twitter.com/RF8L2ACvdU — William Vanderbloemen (@wvanderbloemen) March 24, 2020
He encouraged people to pray for their pastors and continue to financially support their churches, as they are able.
Bowman said if churches handle the crisis well, it could be among their finest hours.
“I could not be prouder of not just ours, but other churches all around, and not just in Phoenix, either, but I have friends all over the country and worldwide that are saying, ‘Yeah, we’re leaning in to this trouble rather than retreating or blaming or worrying,'” the pastor said.
“My church is mobilized like I’ve never seen before,” Bowman said.
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westernjournal--2020-03-25--NCAA Waives Rule After Crackdown on Trevor Lawrence’s Coronavirus Fundraising Ignites Outrage

The NCAA has ruled that Clemson University quarterback Trevor Lawrence can raise funds for people affected by the coronavirus outbreak after the school ’ s compliance department asked him to stop doing so .
Lawrence and his girlfriend , collegiate soccer player Marissa Mowry , started a GoFundMe page and quickly raised more than $ 2,600 as of late Monday , The State newspaper in Columbia , South Carolina , reported .
The couple planned to donate money raised from the campaign to organizations such as No Kid Hungry and Meals on Wheels , Mowry wrote on Instagram .
Hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the page down at the request of compliance officials at Clemson , who told the national championship-winning quarterback that the charitable gesture was noncompliant with NCAA policy .
Current NCAA bylaws prevent student-athletes from using their name or likeness for crowdfunding , ESPN reported .
Although the NCAA was not directly responsible for the page ’ s removal , the oft-criticized collegiate sports governing body took a beating online : The NCAA quickly defended itself on Twitter and announced that it had not ordered Lawrence to take the page down : RELATED : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The NCAA did not ask Clemson student-athlete Trevor Lawrence to take down his fundraiser for COVID-19 patients and their families , ” the NCAA ’ s statement read .
“ We continue to work with member schools so they have the flexibility to ensure that student-athletes and communities impacted by this illness are supported , and we applaud Trevor for his efforts.
” Fox News reported Lawrence thanked the NCAA for granting him a waiver via his Instagram story .
“ Shoutout to the NCAA .
Thank y ’ all so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on the photo-sharing platform .
“ They ’ re allowing us to continue to raise money for what we were doing originally .
So we ’ re gon na take some time and kind of think about how we ’ re going to restart it back up .
“ We ’ re going to take the night and maybe some of tomorrow or whatever to figure out exactly how we want to do it to be as efficient and to help as many people as possible , ” the Christian student-athlete added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NCAA , really .
Everyone ’ s made them out to be the bad guy , but it was more so the rules that were already in place .
They ’ ve done a really good job of responding and actually allowing us to do it , ” he concluded .
The Clemson University Athletic Department also thanked the NCAA on Twitter for issuing a waiver allowing its athlete to raise money “ to help people in a time of need.
” As of late Wednesday morning , the football star ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was unclear of Lawrence and his girlfriend planned to reactivate the original page or start another campaign .
One thing is certain : Lawrence ’ s efforts to help those in need will certainly have more awareness , now that the fundraising drive has made national headlines .
The idea that a well-intentioned student-athlete should have to risk being in violation of NCAA rules during a national emergency is an infraction against common sense .
Trevor Lawrence has showed nothing but class since his debut as a true freshmen in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lawrence , who is projected to be a top pick in the 2021 NFL draft , has previously been open about his faith in Jesus Christ .
“ Football is important to me , obviously , but it ’ s not my life , ” the star player told reporters during the 2018 season .
“ My faith is.
” Rather than listen to critics of his performance on the field , Lawrence said he preferred “ putting my identity in what Christ says — who he thinks I am and who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Months later , Lawrence put on a clinic in the 2019 National Championship game , helping the Clemson Tigers route the Alabama Crimson Tide 44-16 .
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The NCAA has ruled that Clemson University quarterback Trevor Lawrence can raise funds for people affected by the coronavirus outbreak after the school’s compliance department asked him to stop doing so.
Lawrence and his girlfriend, collegiate soccer player Marissa Mowry, started a GoFundMe page and quickly raised more than $2,600 as of late Monday, The State newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, reported.
The couple planned to donate money raised from the campaign to organizations such as No Kid Hungry and Meals on Wheels, Mowry wrote on Instagram.
Hours later, though, the couple took the page down at the request of compliance officials at Clemson, who told the national championship-winning quarterback that the charitable gesture was noncompliant with NCAA policy.
Current NCAA bylaws prevent student-athletes from using their name or likeness for crowdfunding, ESPN reported.
Although the NCAA was not directly responsible for the page’s removal, the oft-criticized collegiate sports governing body took a beating online:
Trevor Lawrence & his girlfriend set up a #coronavirus relief fund on GoFundMe. That should be the story. Instead, we are talking about whether NCAA rules prevent Lawrence from using his name, image & likeness in a charitable manner. Really? This nonsense must come to an end. — Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) March 24, 2020
You cannot possibly be this obtuse @NCAA https://t.co/CEjNZrjCJ0 — Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) March 24, 2020
TREVOR LAWRENCE STARTED A GOFUNDME TO HELP FINANCIALLY SUPPORT VICTIMS OF THE CORONAVIRUS. IT FAILED TO COMPLY WITH NCAA GUIDELINES. SO, AS OPPOSED TO MAKING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION– THE PAGE GETS TAKEN DOWN. SORRY SICK PEOPLE… ONLY THE NCAA GETS TO CAPITALIZE OFF OF HIS FAME. — Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) March 24, 2020
The NCAA quickly defended itself on Twitter and announced that it had not ordered Lawrence to take the page down:
The NCAA did not ask Clemson student-athlete Trevor Lawrence to take down his fundraiser for COVID-19 patients and their families. https://t.co/5oaG75LNQC pic.twitter.com/fUaux6SXdi — Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) March 24, 2020
“The NCAA did not ask Clemson student-athlete Trevor Lawrence to take down his fundraiser for COVID-19 patients and their families,” the NCAA’s statement read. “We continue to work with member schools so they have the flexibility to ensure that student-athletes and communities impacted by this illness are supported, and we applaud Trevor for his efforts.”
Do you think the NCAA should amend its rules to allow college athletes to raise money for charity without having to risk being noncompliant? Yes No
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Fox News reported Lawrence thanked the NCAA for granting him a waiver via his Instagram story.
“Shoutout to the NCAA. Thank y’all so much for granting a waiver,” he said on the photo-sharing platform. “They’re allowing us to continue to raise money for what we were doing originally. So we’re gonna take some time and kind of think about how we’re going to restart it back up.
“We’re going to take the night and maybe some of tomorrow or whatever to figure out exactly how we want to do it to be as efficient and to help as many people as possible,” the Christian student-athlete added.
“I just wanted to thank the NCAA, really. Everyone’s made them out to be the bad guy, but it was more so the rules that were already in place. They’ve done a really good job of responding and actually allowing us to do it,” he concluded.
The Clemson University Athletic Department also thanked the NCAA on Twitter for issuing a waiver allowing its athlete to raise money “to help people in a time of need.”
We are appreciative of the action taken by the NCAA this evening. pic.twitter.com/rq4zI8PpDR — Clemson Athletics (@ClemsonTigers) March 24, 2020
As of late Wednesday morning, the football star’s GoFundMe page has not been reactivated.
It was unclear of Lawrence and his girlfriend planned to reactivate the original page or start another campaign.
One thing is certain: Lawrence’s efforts to help those in need will certainly have more awareness, now that the fundraising drive has made national headlines.
The idea that a well-intentioned student-athlete should have to risk being in violation of NCAA rules during a national emergency is an infraction against common sense.
Trevor Lawrence has showed nothing but class since his debut as a true freshmen in 2018, and this time is no different.
Lawrence, who is projected to be a top pick in the 2021 NFL draft, has previously been open about his faith in Jesus Christ.
“Football is important to me, obviously, but it’s not my life,” the star player told reporters during the 2018 season. “My faith is.”
Rather than listen to critics of his performance on the field, Lawrence said he preferred “putting my identity in what Christ says — who he thinks I am and who I know that he says I am.”
Months later, Lawrence put on a clinic in the 2019 National Championship game, helping the Clemson Tigers route the Alabama Crimson Tide 44-16.
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westernjournal--2020-03-25--Dr. Fauci Answer Busts Media’s Anti-Trump Narrative, Says ‘Of Course’ He’d Prescribe Chloroquine

Maybe this will get NBC ’ s attention .
In an interview Tuesday night with a Philadelphia radio show , Dr. Anthony Fauci , the physician who ’ s become one of the most recognized faces on television during the COVID-19 crisis , said he wouldn ’ t hesitate to prescribe a known antimalarial drug to a patient who ’ d been infected with the coronavirus if there were no other option available .
As President Donald Trump put it in a news briefing last week , “ What the hell do you have to lose ?
” Those weren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , who has become a fixture of Trump ’ s White House media briefings on the coronavirus .
But they would have summed up his viewpoint pretty well as it came out during a WNTP-AM broadcast while answering a question about chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine , two drugs that most Americans probably never dreamed existed before words like “ social distancing ” and “ flatten the curve ” entered the national vocabulary .
When asked by host Chris Stigall about the prospects that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients , Fauci gave an equivocal yes — that might not have been as resounding an affirmative as sane Americans would hope , but no doubt came as a disappointment to the mainstream media journalists who ’ ve criticized Trump ’ s touting of the drug ’ s potential .
Check out Fauci ’ s answer here .
The relevant questions starting about the 51-minute mark .
“ As I ’ ve said many times , the data that indicate that are really anecdotal and not proven .
What the president and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it might work , and in order to give [ people ] some hope , let ’ s try it , ” he said .
“ However , I have said , and I continue to say , the only way you ’ re going to prove something … is by a controlled trial that gives you significant data .
“ It could work , that ’ s a possibility , but as a scientist , purely as a scientist , I can say that the data are what we call anecdotal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make a statement , yet , ‘ It ’ s working.
’ “ We can say , ‘ Let ’ s try it , it ’ s might work.
’ Nothing wrong with that .
But make sure we try it under the appropriate conditions.
” That sounds an awful lot like what Trump said at Friday ’ s media briefing where he was baited by NBC ’ s Peter Alexander over his optimism about chloroquine treatment for the coronavirus .
Noting that the drug could be a “ game-changer ” in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimistic .
“ I mean , there ’ s been some interesting things happened — and some good , very good things , ” Trump said .
“ Let ’ s see what happens , we have nothing to lose .
You know the expression , ‘ What the hell do you have to lose ?
’ ” Alexander disgraced himself on national television with his continued line of questioning , which prompted the president to eventually brand him a “ terrible reporter.
” Liberals around the country disgraced themselves even more .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter post likening Trump ’ s answer to the barbaric human experiments conducted by the Adolf Hitler ’ s National Socialist regime .
( To get an idea of how sick the liberal mindset really is , that tweet had received more than 1,200 “ likes ” as of Wednesday afternoon . )
But Fauci gave Stigall a different take .
Asked point-blank whether he would be willing to prescribe it for a patient personally , as a physician , not as “ the guy running the coronavirus task force right now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yeah , of course , particularly if people have no other option .
You want to give them hope , ” he said .
“ In fact , for physicians in this country , these drugs are approved drugs for other reasons .
They ’ re anti-malaria drugs and they ’ re drugs against certain autoimmune diseases , like lupus .
Physicians throughout the country can prescribe that in an off-label way .
Which means they can write it for something it was not originally approved for .
“ People do that all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an individual choice between the physician and his or her patient as to whether or not they want to do that.
” Those are not the words of a deluded Trump supporter .
They are the words of a trained physician who ’ s been an important part of the nation ’ s health care machinery for decades .
Is he promising any drug is the answer to the current crisis ?
Of course not , and neither was the president — no matter how hard the media tries to make it appear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What both have said is that there are grounds for hope — and hope is rarely a bad thing .
NBC — and the rest of the mainstream media — might want to pay attention .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Maybe this will get NBC’s attention.
In an interview Tuesday night with a Philadelphia radio show, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the physician who’s become one of the most recognized faces on television during the COVID-19 crisis, said he wouldn’t hesitate to prescribe a known antimalarial drug to a patient who’d been infected with the coronavirus if there were no other option available.
As President Donald Trump put it in a news briefing last week, “What the hell do you have to lose?”
Those weren’t the words used by Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who has become a fixture of Trump’s White House media briefings on the coronavirus.
But they would have summed up his viewpoint pretty well as it came out during a WNTP-AM broadcast while answering a question about chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, two drugs that most Americans probably never dreamed existed before words like “social distancing” and “flatten the curve” entered the national vocabulary.
When asked by host Chris Stigall about the prospects that the drugs could be useful for coronavirus patients, Fauci gave an equivocal yes — that might not have been as resounding an affirmative as sane Americans would hope, but no doubt came as a disappointment to the mainstream media journalists who’ve criticized Trump’s touting of the drug’s potential.
Check out Fauci’s answer here. The relevant questions starting about the 51-minute mark.
“As I’ve said many times, the data that indicate that are really anecdotal and not proven. What the president and others are saying is there is a possibility that it might work, and in order to give [people] some hope, let’s try it,” he said.
Do you agree with President Trump and Dr. Fauci? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 99% (565 Votes) No: 1% (5 Votes)
“However, I have said, and I continue to say, the only way you’re going to prove something … is by a controlled trial that gives you significant data.
“It could work, that’s a possibility, but as a scientist, purely as a scientist, I can say that the data are what we call anecdotal. … So we can’t make a statement, yet, ‘It’s working.’
“We can say, ‘Let’s try it, it’s might work.’ Nothing wrong with that. But make sure we try it under the appropriate conditions.”
That sounds an awful lot like what Trump said at Friday’s media briefing where he was baited by NBC’s Peter Alexander over his optimism about chloroquine treatment for the coronavirus.
Noting that the drug could be a “game-changer” in the crisis, the president said he was optimistic.
“I mean, there’s been some interesting things happened — and some good, very good things,” Trump said. “Let’s see what happens, we have nothing to lose. You know the expression, ‘What the hell do you have to lose?’”
Alexander disgraced himself on national television with his continued line of questioning, which prompted the president to eventually brand him a “terrible reporter.”
Liberals around the country disgraced themselves even more. Former CNN contributor Jacki Schechner published a Twitter post likening Trump’s answer to the barbaric human experiments conducted by the Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist regime. (To get an idea of how sick the liberal mindset really is, that tweet had received more than 1,200 “likes” as of Wednesday afternoon.)
But Fauci gave Stigall a different take. Asked point-blank whether he would be willing to prescribe it for a patient personally, as a physician, not as “the guy running the coronavirus task force right now,” his answer was unequivocal.
“Yeah, of course, particularly if people have no other option. You want to give them hope,” he said.
“In fact, for physicians in this country, these drugs are approved drugs for other reasons. They’re anti-malaria drugs and they’re drugs against certain autoimmune diseases, like lupus. Physicians throughout the country can prescribe that in an off-label way. Which means they can write it for something it was not originally approved for.
“People do that all the time, and it really is an individual choice between the physician and his or her patient as to whether or not they want to do that.”
Those are not the words of a deluded Trump supporter. They are the words of a trained physician who’s been an important part of the nation’s health care machinery for decades.
Is he promising any drug is the answer to the current crisis? Of course not, and neither was the president — no matter how hard the media tries to make it appear that the two men are at odds.
What both have said is that there are grounds for hope — and hope is rarely a bad thing.
NBC — and the rest of the mainstream media — might want to pay attention.
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westernjournal--2020-03-25--European Leader Calls for Execution of Coronavirus Quarantine-Breakers

The head of Russia ’ s republic of Chechnya said Tuesday that anyone who breaks the coronavirus quarantine and infects others should be killed , according to local news reports .
“ If you ask me , anyone who creates this problem for himself should be killed , ” Ramzan Kadyrov said , the regional Caucasian Knot news agency reported .
“ Not only does he get sick , [ but he also infects ] his family , his sisters , brothers , neighbors.
” Kadyrov made the statement during a Chechen government meeting , according to The Moscow Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the republic , which is a subject of the Russian Federation , had confirmed its first three cases of coronavirus .
Kadyrov ’ s statement was in response to a Chechen resident who returned from a visit to Mecca and didn ’ t comply with the quarantine .
During the meeting , health minister Elkhan Suleymanov said three people who had visited Turkey , Mecca and Saudi Arabia had all displayed symptoms of COVID-19 , Newsweek reported .
Kadyrov cautioned Chechens to “ not move around ” because if “ one thousand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in one day , we can ’ t do anything , ” Newsweek reported .
On Tuesday , he also ordered all restaurants and “ crowded places ” in Chechnya to close to try to stop the spread of coronavirus , according to The Moscow Times .
The leader also said anyone who spreads false information about the virus should be punished with community service .
No official executions have been carried out in Russia since 1996 , according to the International Federation for Human Rights .
This is a shift from messaging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissed concerns about COVID-19 and advised people to strengthen their immune systems by drinking water with lemon and eating garlic .
At the beginning of March , 20,000 people gathered in the Chechen capital of Grozny to sample wild garlic dishes at the annual Honk Fest festival .
“ There really are a lot of vitamins in this plant , ” tourism minister Muslim Baytaziev said .
“ It definitely boosts your immunity , has a beneficial effect on your overall health and well-being .
“ And what do you need in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong immune system.
” RELATED : Ocasio-Cortez Warns She 's 'Open ' To Single-Handedly Delaying Coronavirus Bill 'If Necessary' “ So , I think everyone that ’ s taken part in this festival has become a bit healthier and definitely become more protected against coronavirus , ” he added .
As of Wednesday morning , there have been 658 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Russia , according to data from Johns Hopkins .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The head of Russia’s republic of Chechnya said Tuesday that anyone who breaks the coronavirus quarantine and infects others should be killed, according to local news reports.
“If you ask me, anyone who creates this problem for himself should be killed,” Ramzan Kadyrov said, the regional Caucasian Knot news agency reported.
“Not only does he get sick, [but he also infects] his family, his sisters, brothers, neighbors.”
Kadyrov made the statement during a Chechen government meeting, according to The Moscow Times.
At the time of the meeting, the republic, which is a subject of the Russian Federation, had confirmed its first three cases of coronavirus.
Kadyrov’s statement was in response to a Chechen resident who returned from a visit to Mecca and didn’t comply with the quarantine.
During the meeting, health minister Elkhan Suleymanov said three people who had visited Turkey, Mecca and Saudi Arabia had all displayed symptoms of COVID-19, Newsweek reported.
Kadyrov cautioned Chechens to “not move around” because if “one thousand people have to come into a hospital in one day, we can’t do anything,” Newsweek reported.
On Tuesday, he also ordered all restaurants and “crowded places” in Chechnya to close to try to stop the spread of coronavirus, according to The Moscow Times.
Do you think people who break quarantine should be punished? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 78% (238 Votes) No: 22% (66 Votes)
The leader also said anyone who spreads false information about the virus should be punished with community service. No official executions have been carried out in Russia since 1996, according to the International Federation for Human Rights.
This is a shift from messaging a few weeks ago, when Kadyrov dismissed concerns about COVID-19 and advised people to strengthen their immune systems by drinking water with lemon and eating garlic.
At the beginning of March, 20,000 people gathered in the Chechen capital of Grozny to sample wild garlic dishes at the annual Honk Fest festival.
“There really are a lot of vitamins in this plant,” tourism minister Muslim Baytaziev said. “It definitely boosts your immunity, has a beneficial effect on your overall health and well-being.
“And what do you need in the fight against any virus? Just a strong immune system.”
“So, I think everyone that’s taken part in this festival has become a bit healthier and definitely become more protected against coronavirus,” he added.
As of Wednesday morning, there have been 658 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Russia, according to data from Johns Hopkins.
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westernjournal--2020-03-25--Coronavirus Bill Suspends All Federal Student Loan Payments for 6 Months

The roughly $ 2-trillion coronavirus relief package agreed upon by members of Congress early Wednesday morning includes provisions for a six-month hold on all federal student loan payments .
According to Fox News , which received an early look at the legislation shortly after the final draft was completed , the current plan is entirely penalty-free and assures that “ interest shall not accrue ” until the end of the six-month period .
The inclusion of such language directly expands upon previous action announced by the Trump administration Friday to provide “ at least ” 60 days of interest-free student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Executive postponement was officially put in place Wednesday by the Department of Education , however , while the administration awaits congressional passage of the newly agreed-upon relief package .
“ These are difficult times for many Americans , ” Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in a statement .
“ We don ’ t want to do anything that will make it harder for them to make ends meet or create additional stress.
” “ Americans counting on their tax refund or Social Security check to make ends meet during this national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our actions today will make sure they do , ” she added .
After days of negotiations and return trips to the drawing board , White House representatives and a bipartisan group of Senate leaders departed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s office just before 1 a.m. Wednesday morning with a finalized emergency relief deal in hand , according to CNN .
The agreement came after a frenzied weekend on the Hill , with tensions running high Sunday and Monday over Democrats ’ blocking a previously forwarded economic relief bill drafted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details on the new bill , which would constitute the largest emergency aid package ever passed by Congress , are in short supply — but those who have seen it report the inclusion of hundreds of billions of dollars in small business and distressed company loans , unemployment insurance benefits and even long-rumored direct payments to American individuals and families .
“ At last , we have a deal , ” McConnell officially announced on the Senate floor .
“ After days of intense discussions , the Senate has reached a bipartisan agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic.
” “ Today the Senate will act to help the people of this country weather this storm , ” McConnell said .
“ When our nation comes through this and takes flight again on the other side , it will be because American heroes won this fight .
All the Senate can do is to give them the resources to do it and that ’ s exactly what we ’ re going to do today.
” RELATED : Ocasio-Cortez Warns She 's 'Open ' To Single-Handedly Delaying Coronavirus Bill 'If Necessary' The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be passed in the Senate by the end of the day Wednesday , barring last minute hiccups .
Less involved with this round of legislation-crafting than with the first coronavirus relief package , Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has expressed optimism regarding the deal , but is reserving final judgment , NBC News reported .
The speaker has been tight-lipped as to if and when the House will take up or pass that package for presidential signature .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read @ @ @ @

The roughly $2-trillion coronavirus relief package agreed upon by members of Congress early Wednesday morning includes provisions for a six-month hold on all federal student loan payments.
According to Fox News, which received an early look at the legislation shortly after the final draft was completed, the current plan is entirely penalty-free and assures that “interest shall not accrue” until the end of the six-month period.
Loan payment would recommence in October.
The inclusion of such language directly expands upon previous action announced by the Trump administration Friday to provide “at least” 60 days of interest-free student loan payment postponements to all federal borrowers.
Executive postponement was officially put in place Wednesday by the Department of Education, however, while the administration awaits congressional passage of the newly agreed-upon relief package.
“These are difficult times for many Americans,” Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in a statement. “We don’t want to do anything that will make it harder for them to make ends meet or create additional stress.”
“Americans counting on their tax refund or Social Security check to make ends meet during this national emergency should receive those funds, and our actions today will make sure they do,” she added.
“At last, we have a deal.” DEVELOPING: @senatemajldr Mitch McConnell announces the implications of the agreed-upon #coronavirus stimulus package: “The Senate has reached a bipartisan agreement… it will rush new resources onto the front lines of our nation’s healthcare fight.” pic.twitter.com/ErmxVjBv2F — Newsmax (@newsmax) March 25, 2020
After days of negotiations and return trips to the drawing board, White House representatives and a bipartisan group of Senate leaders departed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office just before 1 a.m. Wednesday morning with a finalized emergency relief deal in hand, according to CNN.
The agreement came after a frenzied weekend on the Hill, with tensions running high Sunday and Monday over Democrats’ blocking a previously forwarded economic relief bill drafted by the Republican majority alone.
Publicly available details on the new bill, which would constitute the largest emergency aid package ever passed by Congress, are in short supply — but those who have seen it report the inclusion of hundreds of billions of dollars in small business and distressed company loans, unemployment insurance benefits and even long-rumored direct payments to American individuals and families.
“At last, we have a deal,” McConnell officially announced on the Senate floor. “After days of intense discussions, the Senate has reached a bipartisan agreement on a historic relief package for this pandemic.”
“Today the Senate will act to help the people of this country weather this storm,” McConnell said.
“When our nation comes through this and takes flight again on the other side, it will be because American heroes won this fight. All the Senate can do is to give them the resources to do it and that’s exactly what we’re going to do today.”
Do you support suspending student loan payments for the time being in light of the coronavirus pandemic? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 80% (363 Votes) No: 20% (89 Votes)
The newly agreed-upon relief deal is expected to be passed in the Senate by the end of the day Wednesday, barring last minute hiccups.
Less involved with this round of legislation-crafting than with the first coronavirus relief package, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has expressed optimism regarding the deal, but is reserving final judgment, NBC News reported.
The speaker has been tight-lipped as to if and when the House will take up or pass that package for presidential signature.
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* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.