theblaze--2020-03-18--WATCH: Top 5 scams the coronavirus has now exposed

WATCH : Top 5 scams the coronavirus has now exposed We 've been falling for this stuff for years

On the "Steve Deace Show" Wednesday, Steve broke down the top five lessons learned from the coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19, crisis so far.
If there's a silver lining to what we are all going through during this global pandemic, it's that we now know we've been falling for quite a few scams — and they've been going on for years.
Watch the video below for the details:
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theblaze--2020-03-18--New Border Patrol chief says he won’t turn illegal aliens over for criminal prosecution if sanctuary

New Border Patrol chief says he won’t turn illegal aliens over for criminal prosecution if sanctuary jurisdictions won’t return them

New Border Patrol chief says he won ’ t turn illegal aliens over for criminal prosecution if sanctuary jurisdictions won @ @ @ @ @ job is to protect the United States and to secure the borders , not to @ @ @

The Border Patrol's new chief said this week that the law enforcement agency won't be turning over illegal aliens accused of crimes if the prosecuting jurisdiction can't guarantee that they'll be given back to federal authorities for deportation afterward.
"My job is to protect the United States and to secure the borders, not to get prosecutions, so we are deporting people that have active warrants because the state will not give back that person to us, and we have to pick: federal law or state law," Rodney Scott said recently at a briefing, as reported Tuesday by the Washington Examiner.
The new chief also said it doesn't matter what kind of crime the illegal alien has been charged with if a jurisdiction won't cooperate with immigration authorities.
"It doesn't really matter the charge," Scott explained, according to the report. "If they will not give confirmation that they are going to return the individual, then we are not going to turn them over. We'll prosecute them federally, then deport them."
Scott, a 27-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol, was named chief of the agency in late January. Before that, he headed up the agency's San Diego Sector, which includes 60 miles of land border with Mexico and over 930 miles of coastal border stretching from California to Oregon. The sector also employs over 2,200 uniformed agents, according to its Fiscal Year 2019 report.
In a January statement announcing his selection for the post, acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan called Scott "the absolute embodiment of the U.S. Border Patrol's motto, 'Honor First.'"
Fighting against sanctuary jurisdiction policies throughout the United States has been a key component of the Trump administration's immigration policy since the president took office. For example, earlier this year, Immigration and Customs enforcement called out Cook County, Illinois, in January for releasing 1,070 criminal aliens and immigration violators during Fiscal Year 2019 despite detainer requests.
Last month, acting ICE Director Matthew Albence also slammed sanctuary policies following an inspector general's report that state and local jurisdictions' non-cooperation actions since 2013 had resulted in over 17,000 removable aliens still being at large.


theblaze--2020-03-18--Cheating husband decides to head to Italy for a jaunt with his mistress — then he got coronavirus

A cheating husband in the United Kingdom reportedly visited Italy with his mistress — and now allegedly has the coronavirus.
What are the details?
According to the New York Post, the unnamed man described to be "well-heeled" and in his 30s, traveled to Italy on a recent trip with his mistress.
He reportedly told his wife that he was on a business trip in the U.K.
When he returned from the illicit trip, he began showing symptoms of COVID-19 and was later reportedly diagnosed with the disease.
A source with knowledge of the alleged situation said the patient "is the talk of public health officials."
"His case would be funny if it wasn't quite so serious," the source added. "The man confessed [to doctors ] what he'd been up to in Italy, and that his wife has no idea. She thinks he just picked up the disease on his business trip away."
The man — who is expected to recover — reportedly lives in northern England, where his wife has isolated herself.
"He thought he had the perfect alibi to carry out his affair, but hadn't reckoned on the coronavirus meltdown," the source said. "The patient is just relieved he got home before flights were cancelled — that would have taken some explaining. He's in a blind panic, but more about his adultery being exposed rather than his health."
What else?
The man did not publicly identify the woman involved in the affair, the report noted, and it is not clear if the man's mistress has also been infected with the disease.
At the time of this writing, Italy has seen nearly 3,000 deaths as a result of coronavirus.
Italy remains under lockdown.


theblaze--2020-03-18--Almost 20% of households have lost work due to the coronavirus — and that was before states shut dow

Almost 20% of households have lost work due to the coronavirus — and that was before states shut down restaurants and bars

Almost 20 % of households have lost work due to the coronavirus — and that was before states shut down @ @ @ @ @ poll finds that nearly 1 in 5 Americans have lost work

The wide-ranging preventative measures introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic have resulted in nearly 1 in 5 Americans experiencing a layoff or a reduction in work hours, according to a newly released poll.
As cities and states continue to shut down schools, restaurants, bars, and more, and as people remain at home in order to stunt the spread of the virus, many businesses are starting to feel the economic effects.
By the time the NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll was conducted on March 13-14 — days before many states had announced stricter lockdown measures — layoffs and reduced hours had already hit 18% of U.S. households.
According to a report by food news website Eater.com, dozens of states mandated shutdowns for restaurants and bars effective earlier this week, on Monday and Tuesday. Unless most restaurant owners preemptively adjusted employee schedules, this news could mean that 18% is only the beginning and that the loss of work rate could significantly expand in the weeks and months ahead.
In fact, NPR noted in a report on the poll's findings that restaurants, bars, and travel industries have been among the hardest hit, but that the ripple effects of the economic downturn are expected to eventually affect the entire economy.
The poll also revealed that lower-income workers have been affected the most so far as a quarter of households making less than $50,000 have already experienced loss of work. While some American employees are able to work from home, for many blue-collar businesses and retail industry jobs, remote work is simply not an option.
In an advisory notice sent from the White House Monday, President Trump recommended that Americans avoid social gatherings consisting of more than 10 people. That notice, along with recommendations released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday calling for the cancellation of mass gatherings, prompted cities and states to order restaurants, bars, and other community gathering spaces to temporarily close.
The president, aware of the dangerous economic effects such preventative measures could result in, has advocated for a multibillion-dollar stimulus package to protect the economy. The package is reported to include $250 billion in direct payments to Americans and provide significant relief for small businesses.


theblaze--2020-03-18--President Trump blasts Democrats who don't 'play fair' — and who he says helps them: 'They have the

President Trump blasts Democrats who don't 'play fair' — and who he says helps them: 'They have the media on their side. I don't.'

President Trump blasts Democrats who do n't 'play fair ' — and who he says helps them : 'They have @ @ @ @ @ .
I do n't . '
'It was a disgraceful thing ; it was bad @ @ @ @ @ , they do a lot of bad journalism '

During a Coronavirus Task Force press briefing Tuesday, President Donald Trump took a question from Chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl of ABC News, who pointed out that Trump "lashed out" at a Democratic leader almost every day since his address to the nation last Wednesday about the pandemic:
Mr. President, I want to bring up what you referred to just a short while ago about politics. In your address to the nation, you said we have to put politics aside, stop the partisanship, and unify together. But this morning you criticized the Democratic governor of Michigan. Yesterday it was the Democratic governor of New York. You've attacked [former Democratic President Barack] Obama, you've attacked [Democratic presidential front-runner Joe] Biden. In fact, every day except one since that address, you've lashed out at a Democratic leader. Are you going to set the example on this?
Image source: MRC-TV video screenshot
Trump did not tiptoe around Karl's query:
I only do that when I have to respond. I watched [Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer] on television, she said something that was false, and therefore, I did do that. And I will continue to do that if they're not gonna play fair, because you know, they have the media on their side. I don't. I just have me. And if they're not gonna play fair, I'm gonna do that. If they are gonna play fair, there's gonna be nobody —
Karl tried to cut off the president's answer, but as we've seen many times before, Trump doesn't take interruptions lying down and kept right on with his response::
There's gonna be nobody better than Donald Trump in terms of bipartisanship. But if they're going to say things that are false, like the story that was written yesterday. A lot of people — I don't know, somebody, I think I know who — but they taped a conference call that I had with the governors. It was a good call; it was fine. I assume somebody's going to tape it. They handed it to various people, one of whom was the New York Times, and the New York Times chose to write totally inaccurately about it. It was a disgraceful thing; it was bad journalism. But you know, they do a lot of bad journalism, but we respond to that. And actually people get it, people get it. No, I want it to be bipartisan, and nobody's gonna be better than me. But when they attack me or the people — these incredible people behind me — I'm not gonna let them get away with that.
The Times' story Trump referred to in his answer indicated he "told a group of governors they should not wait for the federal government to fill the growing demand for respirators needed to help people diagnosed with coronavirus."
"Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves," the paper said Trump told governors during a conference call, a recording of which the Times said it received.
"The suggestion surprised some of the governors, who have been scrambling to contain the outbreak and looking to the federal government for help with equipment, personnel and financial aid," the Times added.
But according to the Washington Examiner, the president followed up that quote with a clarification that the White House would help governors with the effort to obtain medical equipment: "We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves. Point of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself."
Trump also called out the Times on Twitter for misrepresenting him. The Times story as of Wednesday doesn't include the latter follow-up quote from Trump.
(H/T: Red State; NewsBusters)


theblaze--2020-03-18--Iran and China have increased persecution of religious minorities during their coronavirus response:

Iran and China have increased persecution of religious minorities during their coronavirus response: report

Iran and China have increased persecution of religious minorities during their coronavirus response : report 'It is important for governments @ @ @ @ @ concerns in their responses to COVID-19 '

A recent report from an independent government commission says that some of the world's governments — including the repressive regimes of China and Iran — have made matters worse for people's religious freedom as a result of their efforts to address the spread of the new coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19.
The fact sheet — which the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom rolled out earlier this week — cites "activists concerns" that the Chinese government's response to the viral outbreak "risk exacerbating ongoing religious freedom violations" in the country.
Particularly, the report points to the country's previously reported detention of Uighur Muslims in concentration camps as a cause for concern, saying that a "combination of limited access to medical resources and large concentrations of elderly detainees could lead to a humanitarian disaster if the virus reaches any of those camps."
Furthermore, the document continues, "there are reports that authorities have forced Uighurs to work in factories throughout the country to compensate for decreased output during the quarantine," and that the regime "quarantined millions of people" in the Uighur province of Xinjiang "without advance warning" in January. Officials also point to reports that "some Uighur residents in the city of Ghulja have limited access to food and local officials have demanded payments in order to bring supplies."
The coronavirus outbreak started in China late last year and has since spread around the world. The regime has since been accused of lying about and trying to cover up the initial stages of the outbreak.
Meanwhile, the repressive regime in Iran has also made things worse for some members the country's own population of imprisoned religious minorities, according to USCIRF officials.
"On March 3, Iran announced it would release 54,000 prisoners on furlough, and it later released a total of 70,000," the fact sheet says. "However, 16 Sufi prisoners at Great Tehran Penitentiary (GTP) reportedly were moved to a ward with known cases of COVID-19, and 8 Sufis from Evin prison were moved to the same ward within GTP. Additionally, eight Sufis in Ghazalhasar Prison were moved to an overcrowded ward at that prison where they are at an increased risk of contracting the virus."
The Iranian and Chinese regimes' numerous violations of conscience rights have been well-documented for years. In a report put out late last year, USCIRF once again recommended labeling both nations as "countries of particular concern" for engaging in or tolerating "systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom."
But virus-related religious freedom problems haven't been limited to countries already known for the repression of conscience rights, according USCIRF, which says that the hard-hit country South Korea "provides a vivid example of how public health emergencies can increase the risk to marginalized religious groups."
Specifically, the commission describes the recent case of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, whose members had already "reported facing pressure from mainstream Protestant groups, and in some cases being subjected to deprogramming" before the outbreak of the virus, when a majority of the country's coronavirus cases were traced back to a single church member.
"Although some government measures appeared to be driven by legitimate public health concerns, others appeared to exaggerate the church's role in the outbreak," the fact sheet explains. "The government of Seoul locked down Shincheonji churches in the capital, and some mainline Protestant groups have accused the church of deliberately spreading the disease." The commission also points out that a petition to ban the church has gotten over one million signatures and that local prosecutors are looking at homicide charges against its founder for "homicide by 'willful negligence.'"
As of Wednesday, there were more than 210,000 confirmed cases of the virus around the world and over 8,700 resulting deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
"It is important for governments to account for religious freedom concerns in their responses to COVID-19, for reasons of both legality and policy effectiveness," the fact sheet's overview section explains. It adds that "considering religious freedom concerns can help build trust between governments and religious groups, who in past public health crises have played a critical role in delivering health interventions."


theblaze--2020-03-18--Was coronavirus pandemic predicted? Medical study from 2007 exposes China's responsibility in outbre

Was coronavirus pandemic predicted? Medical study from 2007 exposes China's responsibility in outbreak

Was coronavirus pandemic predicted ?
Medical study from 2007 exposes China 's responsibility in outbreak

As China attempts to shift blame onto the United States for the coronavirus outbreak, a medical paper published in 2007 appears to have both predicted the current pandemic and laid responsibility squarely at the feet of communist China.
The paper, published in Clinical Microbiology Reviews, is an examination of the SARS — which is scientifically known as SARS-CoV — outbreak in the early 2000s, its origins, and how a similar outbreak could come roaring back in the future.
SARS was traced back to the consumption of exotic animals, such as horseshoe bats and civets, and the areas where those animals are farmed and sold. These types of farms and markets are common in China, where overpopulation means finding non-traditional protein sources.
But that tradition could have deadly consequences, the study found.
In fact, the four Chinese scientists who authored the study more than a decade ago had an ominous warning that appears to be coming true in real time.
"The presence of a large reservoir of SARS-CoV-like viruses in horseshoe bats, together with the culture of eating exotic mammals in southern China, is a time bomb," the scientists wrote.
"The possibility of the reemergence of SARS and other novel viruses from animals or laboratories and therefore the need for preparedness should not be ignored," they said.
Indeed, doctors now believe the first case of COVID-19 — which is also known as SARS-CoV-2 — originated in a market last November where exotic and live animals were sold.
From Live Science:
A 55-year-old individual from Hubei province in China may have been the first person to have contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus spreading across the globe. That case dates back to Nov. 17, 2019, according to the South Morning China Post. ...
Scientists now suspect this coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, originated in a bat and somehow hopped to another animal, possibly the pangolin, which then passed it on to humans. The disease is now spreading between people without any animal intermediary.
Unfortunately, tracing the disease is not easy.
Complicating matters is China's apparent refusal to be honest with the international community, which is now grappling from exponential growth in COVID-19 cases.
Not only is China now expelling American journalists from the country, but it was reported last month that Chinese scientists had proof of COVID-19 in December, but the communist government ordered the scientists to stop testing, destroy evidence, and censored local media from reporting on the disease.
There have been more than 200,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the outbreak began, including more than 7,300 in the U.S. as of Wednesday morning.
Unfortunately, more than 8,200 people have died from the virus.


theblaze--2020-03-18--'Take that you bunch of losers!': Fight breaks out in supermarket amid coronavirus panic buying

'Take that you bunch of losers ! '
: Fight breaks out in supermarket amid coronavirus panic buying The video @ @ @ @ @ wine bottles clear across the store '

Amid the coronavirus panic shopping across America, things got physical over the weekend at a Safeway supermarket in San Francisco, KGO-TV reported.
The station said angry shoppers fought over groceries due to fears of food and supply shortages at stores amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
What are the details?
The video begins with the person recording the incident clearly unnerved as the footage quickly shift up and down aisles while the sounds of people hollering and shelves of merchandise crashing to the floor ring out in the background.
"I went to Safeway today to get something small and a violent fight broke out that led to people throwing wine bottles clear across the store," the person who posted this video said, according to KGO. "People are in hysterics right now and it's getting more and more unavoidable."
One shopper screamed, "Take that you bunch of losers!"
No injuries were reported, the station said.
Yahoo News said the incident occurred Sunday — the same day Gov. Gavin Newsom announced new measures, including the closure of all bars and a reduction in the capacity of restaurants.


theblaze--2020-03-18--Texas man on death row asked that his execution be delayed due to coronavirus — the appeals court ru

Texas man on death row asked that his execution be delayed due to coronavirus — the appeals court ruled in his favor

Texas man on death row asked that his execution be delayed due to coronavirus — the appeals court ruled in @ @ @ @ @ the execution may 'assist in spreading COVID-19 '

A Texas man sentenced to die for the brutal killing of his pregnant wife, 5-year-old daughter, and father-in-law has been granted a stay of execution due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Texas Criminal Court of Appeals halted the execution Monday, arguing it should be delayed "in light of the current health crisis and the enormous resources needed to address that emergency," the Texas Tribune reported.
The stay of execution for 44-year-old John Hummel will reportedly be in place for 60 days. After that time, the county can move to set a new date.
Hummel's lawyer, Michael Mowla, requested the delay Friday in a petition to the appeals court, citing the unique circumstances that the novel coronavirus has introduced. In addition to arguing that the outbreak has impacted his ability to conduct last-minute investigations, Mowla suggested that the process of putting Hummel to death "may itself assist in spreading COVID-19."
An execution often involves the gathering of several individuals into the death chamber, including physicians, correctional officers, attorneys, and family and friends of the inmate or the victims.
"Gathering all these people in one location presents a substantial risk of transmission of COVID-19/Coronavirus if anyone is infected," Mowla wrote, according to CBS News.
County officials strongly opposed the request, calling it speculative, and argued it should not prevent Hummel's execution. The appeals court, though it rejected all the grounds for a delay raised by Hummel's attorney, moved forward to grant a stay of execution anyway, citing the enormous resources currently needed to combat the virus.
Hummel was convicted on capital murder charges in 2011 for fatally stabbing his pregnant wife before beating his 5-year-old daughter and father-in-law to death with a baseball bat in 2009. Officials said he then set his house on fire.


theblaze--2020-03-18--Seattle hospital workers are using office supplies to make protective masks because of a severe shor

Seattle hospital workers are using office supplies to make protective masks because of a severe shortage

A severe shortage of protective masks in Seattle, one of the cities hit hardest by the coronavirus, has led some hospital workers to start making them out of material purchased at office supply and craft stores, Bloomberg reported.
What's the problem? Patient volume has sharply increased in Seattle, and the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus means more hospital personnel need personal protective equipment in order to safely treat those patients.
But, because supplies were not stocked enough to cope with a pandemic, hospitals nationwide are on the verge of running out — which could create significant risk to doctors and nurses, who would be forced out of service if they contracted the virus. From Bloomberg:
"Many ER physicians are taking things into their own hands to find ways to protect themselves," said Aimee Moulin, an emergency room doctor at UC Davis Medical Center. "They shouldn't be forced to worry about this. They're going into battle and they should be armed with whatever they need."
Some doctors are taking the N95 masks home to wash them with bleach so they can be reused. One hospital ordered protective equipment from a company that supplies goggles and masks to construction workers. One emergency department restitched old surgical masks, where the elastic bands had failed.
"These aren't normal times," said Vivian Reyes, an emergency room doctor in San Francisco and president of the California chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. "Our supply chain has been stunted. We're not getting new supplies and our stores are almost depleted."
The federal stockpile of masks was depleted in 2009 due to H1N1 and was not fully replenished after that.
How Seattle hospitals are coping: The Providence St. Joseph Health system in Washington, a 51-hospital system, may run out of face shields and masks soon.
"We are very close to being out of face shields," said Becca Bartles, executive director of infection prevention at Providence St. Joseph Health, according to Bloomberg. "Masks, we're probably a couple of days away (from running out)."
Providence employees are now going to office supply and craft stores to get materials like marine-grade vinyl, foam, elastic, and industrial tape to make their own masks. Admin workers created an assembly line Tuesday to make 500 masks for a Seattle hospital.
Seattle has the second-most coronavirus cases of any state in the U.S., with more than 900 cases and 50 deaths.


theblaze--2020-03-18--Dollar General announces that first hour of shopping each day in all its stores will be dedicated to

Dollar General announces that first hour of shopping each day in all its stores will be dedicated to seniors only

Dollar General announced this week that all of the company's stores will dedicate the first hour of business every day to "senior shoppers" as a response to the coronavirus epidemic.
What's the story?
As the coronavirus — formally known as COVID-19 — has spread across the globe, the world has seen that the most vulnerable victims of the disease are the elderly.
With that in mind, Dollar General tweeted Monday evening that starting Tuesday its stores' "first hour of operations will be dedicated to our senior shoppers."
In a news release on its site Monday night, the company expanded on the new policy:
Beginning tomorrow, Dollar General is strongly encouraging that the first hour of operations each day be dedicated solely for the shopping needs of senior customers, who are one of the groups most vulnerable to the COVID-19 coronavirus. In keeping with the Company's mission of Serving Others, Dollar General wants to provide these at-risk customers with the ability to purchase the items they need and want at the beginning of each day to avoid busier and more crowded shopping periods.
Other customers are encouraged to plan their shopping trips around this window of time to allow the most susceptible customers in our communities the ability to shop during the first hour that stores are open.
Dollar General also announced that all stores are planning to close an hour earlier in order to give employees time to adequately clean and restock shelves before opening to seniors for the next day, and for the health and well-being of their employees.
CEO Todd Vassos said in the statement, "In keeping with our mission and our ongoing commitment to serve our communities, we are dedicating the first hour of each day to seniors. We appreciate our customers' understanding of our decision and request they visit our stores later in the morning to allow at-risk populations the ability to purchase the items they need at affordable prices."
The company clarified on Twitter that they were not "qualifying a specific age" for the special shopping hour.
(H/T: Syracuse.com)


theblaze--2020-03-18--White House warns: If coronavirus stimulus package not passed, unemployment could hit 20%

White House warns : If coronavirus stimulus package not passed , unemployment could hit 20 % The price tag is @ @ @ @

In the latest sign that the Trump administration views the coronavirus pandemic as an existential threat to the American economy, Republican senators were warned during a closed-door meeting this week that failure to pass the White House's proposed stimulus package could lead to a catastrophic 20% unemployment rate.
According to multiple reports, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow met with Republican senators Tuesday in a private, closed-door lunch on Capitol Hill. Multiple sources reported that Mnuchin made the dire prediction as a means to encourage senators to vote for the stimulus package favored by the White House.
At the height of the 2009 recession, unemployment barely topped 10%. Unemployment was estimated to reach 25% during the Great Depression in 1933.
Multiple businesses have already been effectively shuttered as states and cities implement measures to attempt to halt the spread of the virus. Numerous states have effectively ordered locations that are capable of accommodating more than 50 people to close their doors to large gatherings of people. Restaurants, travel, and the leisure industry have been hit particularly hard.
The details of the stimulus package are still very much in the air and are currently being hammered out between the White House and top congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle. However, the White House has hinted that some portion of the stimulus will involve direct cash payments to Americans who have been impacted by the crisis, as well as money to help businesses meet their short-term obligations and stay functional.
Although multiple sources who were present at the meeting indicated that Mnuchin used the 20% unemployment figure as a way to coax reluctant senators into voting for the bill, Treasury Department spokesman Monica Crowley said, "Mnuchin used several mathematical examples for illustrative purposes, but he never implied this would be the case."
The price tag of the stimulus package is rumored to be between $850 billion and $1 trillion. Mnuchin has publicly stated that it is the White House's desire to get stimulus checks sent out to Americans "Immediately. And I mean now, in the next two weeks."
However, the stimulus package first has to pass through a contentious gauntlet on Capitol Hill, where some Republicans are concerned about both the price tag of the bill, and where Democrats are upset that some of their pet special interests do not receive enough funding in the bill.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has promised to streamline the bill through the Senate at "warp speed." The House, meanwhile, is not in session after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) allowed the House to recess last week after passing a $100 billion sick relief package.


theblaze--2020-03-18--Some people are worried about how the coronavirus fallout could hurt abortion clinics

While the United States and the world take prudential steps to confront and combat the global spread of the new coronavirus — formally known as COVID-19 — some people have actually raised concerns that the response efforts might negatively impact women's ability to abort their unborn children.
For example, a story published Tuesday at HuffPost describes the situation of Texas abortionist Joe Nelson, who decided to self-quarantine for two weeks after he exhibited respiratory symptoms and was unable to get the coronavirus test. Nelson — who conducts abortions at three different clinics in the state — said he was worried that his self-isolation might have a "huge impact" on people seeking abortions in the Lone Star State.
"There are not that many doctors who provide abortion care in Texas," Nelson told the outlet. "A lot of the doctors that do come in from out of state. In a situation where doctors are less likely to want to travel, if there's no one to cover me, patients will have to wait."
That kind of concern isn't limited to Texas, however.
An article published last week by the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute also points to concerns about the availability of people and supplies to perform abortions amid the ongoing public health crisis, saying that "what may be lost in the chaos" is "the specific impact on sexual and reproductive health and rights, both for people in the United States and around the world."
One outcome, the authors say, is that diverting medical personnel to deal with the crisis "may create a shortage of clinicians who can provide sexual and reproductive health services and increase wait times for patients in need." They add that for places without many providers in the first place "this will put an extreme strain on capacity to serve patients, especially for non-emergency care."
National Abortion Federation President Katherine Hancock Ragsdale echoed similar abortion access anxieties, telling HuffPost, "One or two people unable to show up can make the difference between a clinic being able to function or not."
In addition of a shortage of personnel to perform the procedure, Ragsdale also voiced concerns about the possibility of finite medical supplies being taken away from abortion procedures in a shortage so they can instead be used for other procedures considered more important.
"We worry that all health care resources are being channeled to non-elective procedures, and abortion tends to be classified as an elective procedure," Ragsdale said. "We understand that abortion isn't a stroke or a heart attack, and it can be scheduled out. But it can't be scheduled out indefinitely."
According to numbers compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the United States had over 6,500 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and had seen 115 deaths as a result of the outbreak as of Wednesday morning. Globally, the same numbers show over 200,000 confirmed cases of the virus and over 8,200 deaths.


theblaze--2020-03-18--5.7 magnitude earthquake rocks Salt Lake City — the state’s largest quake since 1992 — and there's m

5.7 magnitude earthquake rocks Salt Lake City — the state’s largest quake since 1992 — and there's more shaking to come

5.7 magnitude earthquake rocks Salt Lake City — the state ’ s largest quake since 1992 — and there 's @ @ @ @

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake rocked the Salt Lake City, Utah, area Wednesday morning, according to USA Today.
What are the details?
The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed that the quake — the state's biggest since 1992 — caused power outrages in Salt Lake City.
About 55,000 homes lost power because of the quake, Rocky Mountain Power reported.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported "damage to the Salt Lake City International Airport, downtown buildings and the Salt Lake Temple, where the Angel Moroni statute has lost its trumpet. So far, there have been no reports of serious injuries."
The outlet also reported a series of aftershocks following the quake. There are likely to be "hundreds of aftershocks" in the coming days, said Keith Koper, who is director of the University of Utah's Seismograph Stations, according to the outlet.
KSTU-TV's Sydney Glenn shared video footage of damage outside of the Rescue Mission.
She wrote, "EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE: this is next to the Rescue Mission or Salt Lake at 500 S 400 W."
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert advised residents to stay out of the downtown area for the time being.
In a tweet, he wrote, "Please stay away from the downtown area while crews assess the damage. Unless you work in public safety, or are an essential employee, remain at home or telework."


theblaze--2020-03-18--Philly police announce exact crimes it will stop arresting people for over COVID-19, get blasted on

Philly police announce exact crimes it will stop arresting people for over COVID-19, get blasted on Twitter

Philly police announce exact crimes it will stop arresting people for over COVID-19 , get blasted on Twitter 'For the @ @ @ @ @ to know .
For the citizens of Philly , not so much '

The Philadelphia police revealed Tuesday exactly which crimes officers will temporarily stop arresting people for amid the coronavirus outbreak.
In an internal memo to department commanders, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw announced the department would temporarily stop arresting individuals for certain nonviolent crimes to prevent jail overcrowding during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Those crimes include:
All narcotics offenses
Personal, retail, and vehicle theft
Burglary
Vandalism
Electronic crimes like fraud
Prostitution
In addition, the memo said police will temporarily suspend enforcement of bench warrants.
Instead of arresting offenders and transporting them to jail for processing, the internal memo directed police officers to temporarily detain offenders, confirm their identity, prepare "all relevant paperwork," then release the offender. Detectives will later investigate the cases and obtain arrest warrants if necessary. The warrants, though, "will be served at a later time, as conditions dictate."
For offenders considered to "pose a threat to public safety," officers should contact their supervisor who will then use discretion to determine whether or not the offender should be jailed, the memo states.
Those who commit violent crimes will continue to be processed normally.
What was the response?
In response to the memo, the Philadelphia Police Department was promptly blasted on social media.
"For the criminals in town, good to know. For the citizens of Philly, not so much," Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said.
"How is it possibly a good idea to publicly announce this? This is pretty much the opposite of 'broken windows policy.' Call it 'go ahead and break the windows' policy," said Ben Shapiro, editor-in-chief of the DailyWire.com.
"That right there is why you own guns," one person responded.
"Brb, gotta go steal a car and buy some hookers and blow with bad checks," one person mocked.
"Buy guns buy ammo," another person said.
"Why would they even print this? It's just going to encourage the bad behavior. Basically it's open season for stealing," another person responded.
"This police dept is openly saying they won't protect their citizens and police around the country are doing the exact same thing. During a pandemic is when we need to uphold the rule of law the most! This is insane," another person said.


theblaze--2020-03-18--MSNBC legal analyst says President Trump should be charged with 'negligent homicide' for coronavirus

MSNBC legal analyst says President Trump should be charged with 'negligent homicide' for coronavirus deaths. A failed Democratic candidate backs him up.

MSNBC legal analyst says President Trump should be charged with 'negligent homicide ' for coronavirus deaths .
A failed Democratic @ @ @ @ @ 'The homicide liability issue MUST be addressed '

MSNBC legal analyst Glenn Kirschner suggested that President Donald Trump should be prosecuted for negligent homicide for his response to the coronavirus outbreak in the United States.
Kirschner, a 30-year federal prosecutor specializing in homicide, pitched the idea in a series of tweets Tuesday, arguing that "Donald Trump may have criminal exposure for some level of negligent homicide or voluntary/involuntary manslaughter for the way he's mishandled the Coronavirus crisis."
"I'm trying to assimilate all available evidence (rapidly developing and being reported every day) to fairly assess whether Trump and his administration may have acted/failed to act in a way that could give rise to homicide liability," Kirschner said.
He added that the issue was "thorny" and that the evidence is not as "clear" as it is on other charges against the president, such as campaign finance crimes, obstruction of justice, bribery, and extortion. But, Kirschner vowed, "the homicide liability issue MUST be addressed."
Kirschner also made clear that the case should be investigated and prosecuted quickly before the November election.
Not an hour after Kirschner posted the tweets, former Democratic congressional candidate Mark Judson — who recently lost in a primary race for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District — responded to his suggestion by crunching the numbers for him.
Working from completely hypothetical baseline numbers such as 165 million Americans infected and a 4% fatality rate under Trump (up 2.5% from the expected fatality rate), Judson modestly presumes that more than 4 million American deaths will be able to be "directly" attributed to Trump.
"We charge Trump and culpable members of his administration for these deaths," Judson concluded.
Responding to Judson's suggestion, one Twitter user said "1) Thank you for your military service, honestly and sincerely" and "2) Have you completely lost your mind???"
Here's Judson's response:
(H/T: The Daily Caller)


theblaze--2020-03-18--Pro-life Democratic congressman — one of the few remaining — loses Democratic primary in Illinois to

Pro-life Democratic congressman — one of the few remaining — loses Democratic primary in Illinois to progressive

One of the few remaining pro-life Democrats in Congress lost his primary to a candidate backed by the progressive group Justice Democrats — the same organization that backed New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2018, among others.
Who was it? Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), a member of the Blue Dog coalition in the House that consists of centrist Democrats, lost to Marie Newman, a progressive candidate who first ran unsuccessfully in 2018.
LIpinski was running for his ninth term in Congress, but with the loss becomes the first incumbent to lose a primary in 2020.
Newman was boosted this time around by stronger fundraising efforts and stronger support from abortion rights groups like EMILY's List, NARAL, and Planned Parenthood.
"We learned from the first race — there are things that I didn't do well, and I'm now doing well," Newman said, CNN reported.
Lipinski's voting record: It is increasingly difficult for Democrats who don't move further to the left on issues like abortion and health care to avoid primary challenges from more progressive candidates.
Lipinski regularly votes on the pro-life side of abortion proposals, and he voted against the Affordable Care Act. Justice Democrats, which backed Newman, is an organization that recruits and grooms far-left candidates to challenge incumbent lawmakers from the left.
Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas is another Blue Dog Democrat who faced a Justice Democrats challenge this year, but he defeated Jessica Cisneros in their primary contest.
"This is a critical victory for the progressive movement in showing that voters are ready for a new generation of progressive leadership in the Democratic Party," said Alexandra Rojas, executive director of Justice Democrats, according to The Hill. "This isn't just a loss for one incumbent. It's a defeat for machine politics and big corporate donors who want to stop our movement for Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, and reproductive rights."


theblaze--2020-03-18--Sanders out? Bernie Sanders set to reassess his campaign following primary losses.

Sanders out ?
Bernie Sanders set to reassess his campaign following primary losses .

Presidential candidate and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is scheduled to reassess the viability of his presidential campaign after several primary losses to former Vice President Joe Biden.
What are the details?
According to a Wednesday report by The Hill, Sanders is taking his losses seriously.
In a statement, Sanders' Presidential Campaign Manager Faiz Shakir said, "The next primary contest is three weeks away. Sen. Sanders is going to be having conversations with his supporters to assess his campaign."
He continued, "In the immediate term, however, he is focused on the government response to the coronavirus outbreak and ensuring that we take care of working people and the most vulnerable."
The announcement comes on the heels of Biden's primary wins Tuesday in Arizona, Florida, and Illinois.
According to the outlet, Biden's wins put him in the position that he "will have a nearly insurmountable lead in delegates by the time all of the votes are counted from the latest nominating contests."
At the time of this writing, Biden has over 1,100 delegates. Sanders has just over 800 delegates.
On Tuesday night, Biden tweeted a message of thanks to his supporters.
He wrote, "Thank you to everyone in Arizona, Florida, and Illinois who supported our campaign. From day one, our goal has been to unify our party and our nation — and tonight, we are one step closer to achieving that goal. Let's do this, together."
What else?
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump predicted that Sanders would soon pull out of the race.
In a tweet, Trump wrote, "The DNC will have gotten their fondest wish and defeated Bernie Sanders, far ahead of schedule. Now they are doing everything possible to be nice to him in order to keep his supporters. Bernie has given up, just like he did last time. He will be dropping out soon! MAGA/KAG."


theblaze--2020-03-18--Coronavirus has shown that everything is dumb — across the board

Coronavirus has shown that everything is dumb — across the board This is n't bringing us together

The coronavirus — regardless of what its true depth and scope turn out to be — is not exactly bringing a fractured culture together.
The opportunity for domination by the paranoid style simply can't be denied at this point after a Trump era constantly filled with vast conspiracy theories, knee-jerk character assassination, and Olympic-levels of virtue signaling. We are full Spinal Tap now. Ours goes up to 11.
That, to put it in layman's terms, means things are impossibly dumb across the board. The people you loathed before. Dumber. The people you respected before. Dumber. The people you never even considered before. Dumber. It's the other virus.
Healthy teenagers are being told they can't play hoops at the park after 8 p.m. around the country, but their elderly grandparents most vulnerable to COVID-19 can go vote in droves in the Florida primary. Americans are being asked to self-exile, but the southern border remains open for drug cartels and human traffickers.
Soon it will be allergy season, when millions of Americans will have a runny nose, sinus/respiratory discomfort, and a dull cough. What's stopping them from storming the health care system, convinced that this year it's not the mulberry bush in the backyard but Captain Trips?
We aren't just eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil now. We are devouring it, with everyone doing what seems right in their own eyes. While we were already emotionally, psychologically, and morally blind as a culture for decades. Sounds like a plan.
For example, I will simply not be lectured to about proper societal safety protocols by those long drunk on the creeds of atheism, socialism, abortion, and transgenderism. What on earth do they have to teach any of us about duty, community, and science? They've been abusing those very things in the name of their cherished iconoclasm for my entire adult life. Not only do they never let a crisis go to waste, but they perpetually manufacture them or blow them out of proportion in order to achieve their nefarious ends. Hard pass on complicity in that. We can't come together now because progressivism has been our brain on drugs. It has rotted our collective soul. To hell with it once and for all.
To hell with the out-sourcing of our national sovereignty and open borders as well. A virology study found the outbreaks in Washington and New York states were primarily introduced from contacts from China and Iran. Most of the world's antibiotics come from China, too, as do the vast majority of our manufactured goods that used to be made here at home. This has left us, the most prosperous and enlightened country in the world, uniquely vulnerable to a virus that originates from a place 7,575 miles away from our nation's capital. If progressivism has rotted our collective soul, turning China into our landlords has warped our brains.
I will also not be lectured to by the "conservative" Twitter brat pack that is constantly winking and nodding at one another that their Gnostic brand of right-leaning politics is somehow more coherent, because its strawmen come in different packaging. One took to Twitter early this week to proudly screech, "Every single person saying the economic cost is too great to contain this pandemic would be silent on that front of this virus targeted the young and healthy instead of the elderly and vulnerable. We all know it."
The "you just want old people to die" trope in response to asking questions every informed citizen should be asking, and deserves answers to, is already an oldie but goody. Of course, it could also be that actual grown-ups must and are expected to weigh and measure multiple variables at the same time when serving the highest good — rather than reactionary demagoguery. Fear and faux virtue won't make a dent tackling such hefty distinctions which adulting requires, but that horse has obviously left the barn.
Despite all our avarice and enlightenment, this is a culture in deep existential peril. We are off our moorings, and sustained mainly by our superior military might and little else. Many incapable or unwilling to critically think. Many wolves within, many sheep without.
Revival or bust.


theblaze--2020-03-18--'Having an abortion can be transformative': Doctor details why abortions can lead to better lives fo

'Having an abortion can be transformative': Doctor details why abortions can lead to better lives for 'pregnant people'

'Having an abortion can be transformative ' : Doctor details why abortions can lead to better lives for 'pregnant people' @ @ @ @ @ abortion was so important for her own recovery and made her a better parent '

Dominika Seidman — a doctor and professor at the University of California, San Francisco, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences — wrote a piece for Salon saying that "having an abortion can be transformative."
Here's the paragraph containing her sentiment:
Giving birth can be transformative. Having an abortion can be transformative. If we don't give people the opportunity to pursue the decision that is right for them, we're compounding their trauma and creating new obstacles to recovery and wellness. Our job as doctors who provide abortion care — whether we meet patients at a shelter, clinic, hospital or anywhere else — is to provide them the care that is right for them, with compassion and free from judgment.
What are the details?
Seidman began her piece by criticizing the state of Louisiana for arguing to the Supreme Court last year in order "to save a law that would severely limit abortion access" and also convince the high court "to rule that abortion providers and clinics no longer have the standing to challenge abortion restrictions on behalf of their patients."
She then described her job with UCSF working "with pregnant people our healthcare system has cast aside. These individuals are experiencing incarceration or homelessness, have substance use disorders or significant mental illness." Seidman added that their "trauma runs deep, back to childhoods in the foster system or nights living on the streets. When they've tried to engage in care, they've been ignored or poorly treated. Their kids have been taken away by a Child Protective Services System steeped in a long history of racism. They've left their belongings in a tent on the street to go to the doctor, knowing their things might be vandalized or stolen, only to be berated for being late or forced to wait for hours."
Seidman insisted that when it comes to the "pregnant people" she assists, she stays out of their decisions regarding whether or not to continue their pregnancies.
She then detailed the experiences of two women she worked with — one who chose abortion and another who gave up her child for adoption. The woman who aborted her baby decided to do so after learning she would be in jail for longer than expected and wouldn't be able to be with her other kids at home.
"We talked regularly to ensure that the abortion was what she really wanted," Seidman noted. "It was an incredibly emotional and intense decision for her. I saw her a year later and she was thriving, back with her kids, and working as a counselor at a substance use recovery program. She talked about how the abortion was so important for her own recovery and made her a better parent."
More from her piece:
Another patient with a substance use disorder came to us when it was too late for her to have the abortion she wanted. We helped her plan around an adoption. The entire birth center rallied around her, and she had one of the most beautiful births I've ever seen. An experience that could have been weighed down with stigma and judgment was surrounded by love and support.
Seidman concluded by noting that it's "my job to challenge restrictions to" her clients' "reproductive autonomy" — and that "the Supreme Court should continue to allow people who provide abortion care to stand up in court on behalf of our patients, as yet another essential way we provide care that puts our patients first."
How did others react?
Believe it or not, not every comment on the Salon piece agreed with Seidman:
"'Having an abortion can be transformative.' In other words, abortion is not a regrettable but sometimes justified choice, but actually a good thing? Something to be celebrated? Some sort of line has been crossed here."
"Let's talk medical science: I do not see how you can justify terminating a child with a unique human DNA, often a heartbeat, brainwaves, and if late enough it can feel pain."
"Bizarre that this author went on for the entire article without ever mentioning the second person involved with this decision — the human life that will be terminated if abortion is chosen."
"Uh...pregnant 'people'?"
"This doesn't seem to be about logic or about rights of the unborn. There seems to be an emotional commitment on the part of many pro-abortion advocates to ignoring such matters; the only view is that abortion is fine and dandy and any questioning of this view is right-wing. I'm a socialist and atheist. I want an open debate with a commitment to evidence and reason on all sides."
(H/T: LifeNews)


theblaze--2020-03-18--Coronavirus hits NYPD — and there are more than 2 dozen officers out sick: Precinct is like a 'ghost

Coronavirus hits NYPD — and there are more than 2 dozen officers out sick: Precinct is like a 'ghost town'

Coronavirus hits NYPD — and there are more than 2 dozen officers out sick : Precinct is like a 'ghost @ @

At least one NYPD officer has been diagnosed with coronavirus, according to WCBS-TV, but there are at least two dozen more officers out on sick leave with symptoms.
At least 1,650 New Yorkers are sick with the virus at the time of this writing, and 923 cases are within New York City. At least 10 people in New York have died because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What are the details?
The station reported that at least one officer with the city's 1st Precinct has tested positive for the virus, and more than two dozen NYPD staffers are out sick, and many of them are "feeling symptoms."
A total of 31 officers are on sick leave, and 17 are reportedly feeling symptoms of COVID-19.
On Tuesday, the New York Post reported that "a fifth of their precinct's force" is out sick.
"That's a very large percent of the precinct out sick," the spokesman told the outlet.
The Post also noted that the NYPD officer represents "at least the fourth NYPD employee to test positive." Others include Transit Bureau Chief Edward Delatorre, Deputy Commissioner for Employee Relations Robert Ganley, and an unnamed Queens Schools safety agent.
Another alleged source told the New York Daily News that the precinct is like a "ghost town."
"The building is a ghost town," the source said. "Crime analysis, anti-crime, and the whole second floor are empty."
What else?
On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that New Yorkers should prepare for a shelter-in-place order.
However, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said that de Blasio doesn't have the authority to hand down such an order without state approval, and insisted that the concept wouldn't work anyway.
"I don't think shelter-in-place really works for one locality," Cuomo said in response to de Blasio's remarks. "I'm a New York City boy, born and raised, if you can't tell. We're very good at getting around the rules — you say shelter-in-place if you stay in New York City, I'll go stay with my sister in Westchester."
De Blasio, however, added that the city is in dire straits, and citizens could only stand to benefit from a shelter-in-place order.
“How do you ensure not only a consistent food supply, but it gets to everyone who needs it regardless of ability to pay?" he asked, according to the station. "How do you ensure that medicines, including prescription medicines, get to those who need them regardless of ability to pay? ... We have to figure out that part of the equation. We're not there yet."


theblaze--2020-03-19--VIDEO: Trump calls out reporter when she says government was unprepared on coronavirus testing

VIDEO : Trump calls out reporter when she says government was unprepared on coronavirus testing Trump denies his administration was @ @ @ @ @ the reporter

President Donald Trump shot down a reporter's question during a coronavirus media briefing on Thursday over previous accusations of racism made by her network.
NBC's Kristen Welker asked a pointed question about the government's preparedness in relation to the pandemic, and the president fired back.
"You did say a few days ago, though, you did have a sense that this was a pandemic that was coming, so why was the United States not prepared with more testing?" asked Welker.
"We were very prepared. The only thing we weren't prepared for was the media. The media has not treated it fairly," responded the president.
"I'll tell you how prepared I was. I called for a ban from people coming in from China, long before anybody thought it was, in fact, it was your network, I believe they called me a racist because I did that," he added.
"It was, many of the people in the room, they called me racist and other words because I did that, because I went so early," Trump continued. "So when you say we weren't prepared, had I let these tens of thousands of people come in from China a day, we woulda had something right now that woulda been, you wouldn't have even recognized it, compared to where we are."
Other critics of the president have pointed to shortages of medical supplies to combat coronavirus, including ventilators and masks, in addition to test kits.
Here's the video of the interaction:


theblaze--2020-03-19--'I don't have time to listen to bulls**t, people': Ex-FEMA chief storms out of MSNBC interview

' I do n't have time to listen to bulls**t , people ' : Ex-FEMA chief storms out of MSNBC @ @ @ @ @ to criticism from a fellow Obama administration alum

Former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Craig Fugate showed little patience for criticism from a fellow Obama administration alum during an MSNBC interview on Thursday and reacted by storming out on air while declaring, "I don't have time to listen to bulls**t, people."
What are the details?
Fugate joined host Katy Tur during a segment with former acting Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Andy Slavitt to discuss how involved the federal government should be versus state and local authorities in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S.
The ex-FEMA chief argued that he has "always believed the best way the federal government can support governors is to get out of their way, get them funding, [and] use CDC to give guidance."
He added, "As we're running out of stuff, I'm asking the question, why are we not looking at idle capabilities now and governors just go contract for that resource? Why wait for the federal government to do it?
Slavitt then took aim at Fugate, telling Tur, "With all due respect to your other guest, there's not a governor in the country that's waiting for the federal government, right now. They are all acting — what they need is coordination."
Slavitt went on to argue that "someone looking through the entire system" would be more capable of allocating resources among states.
Slavitt added, "So, what your other guest is suggesting here is not helpful."
With that, Fugate ripped off his microphone while saying, "I don't have time to listen to bulls**t, people," and walked off the set.
Tur attempted to call Fugate back to respond, but to no avail.
Later, on Twitter, cooler heads prevailed. Fugate apologized, tweeting, "Dear @MSNBC, @KatyTurNBC At the point I'm not helping, time to step back. Never was good at the talking head thing anyway. This is too critical of a time to let emotions get in the way. My apologies to you and your audience."
Slavitt responded, saying, "Craig my sincere apologies for contributing this. Please keep informing people as you do. You're a terrific public servant. We're on the same team. Andy."
Tur weighed in, too, writing, "We have always valued and appreciated @WCraigFugate's time and expertise. Tensions are obviously very high. We hope to have him back. We need people who know how things work now more than ever."
H/T: The Federalist's Emily Jashinsky


theblaze--2020-03-19--Florida's Republican governor orders beach closures: 'The party is over’

The nation 's overall travel slowdown is expected to result in an $ 809 billion blow to the U.S. economy

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has a message for the thousands of "spring breakers" who have crowded the Sunshine State's beaches amid the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across the nation and the world: Go home.
In an interview on "Fox and Friends" Thursday, the popular Republican leader was asked if he would be ordering beaches closed. DeSantis said the state would be expanding its restrictions on congregations:
The message I think for spring breakers is the party is over in Florida. You're not going to be able to congregate on any beach in the state. Many of the hot spots that people like to go to, whether it's Miami beach, Fort Lauderdale and Clearwater Beach are closed entirely for the time being. … We would tell those folks maybe come back next year when things are better, but that is not what we're looking for.
Some beaches will remain open, but CDC guidelines remain
As Mediaite noted, while DeSantis said some beaches will remain open, he said that local municipalities still have to comply with the Centers for Disease Control's virus prevention guidelines discouraging gatherings of more than 10 people.
The Florida governor also noted the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in high levels of cancelations that have slammed the tourism and hospitality industry.
"Regardless of local decisions, you're not going to be able to congregate like those images that you saw," he said. "That's just not something that we are going to allow and so you want to work constructively with the locals to get the best solutions."
A major blow to the travel industry
DeSantis' concern over the economic impact of the coronavirus come as the U.S. Travel Association declared Tuesday that 5 million travel-related American jobs will be lost due to the coronavirus.
As The Hill reported, the trade association estimates that 4.6 million industry jobs will be cut as a result of necessary social distancing measures and cuts to air travel. According to the association, 25% of the Americans who work in the travel industry will lose their jobs during the economic fallout.
Additionally, the association said the decline in travel will result in a major $809 billion hit to the U.S.
Americans' travel expenditures are expected to dip by $355 billion in 2020, or six times the impact that the 9/11 terrorist attacks had on the industry.


theblaze--2020-03-19--Left-wing student calls police on PragerU's Will Witt for conducting interviews on campus: 'They're

Left-wing student calls police on PragerU's Will Witt for conducting interviews on campus: 'They're threatening me ... with their ideals'

Left-wing student calls police on PragerU 's Will Witt for conducting interviews on campus : 'They 're threatening me ... @ @ @ @ @ also told cops PragerU tried to 'fearmonger ' and 'terrorize ' students with its questions

PragerU's Will Witt visited yet another college campus recently to conduct interviews with students when one recognized him — and called campus police on Witt and his camera operator.
Why?
After all, the student claimed, they were trying to "fearmonger" students with their questions.
While it isn't clear what campus PraguerU visited, Witt and his camera operator indeed caught the student calling campus police and complaining that Witt and the camera operator were "going up to students, and they're trying to ask them questions and such."
Image source: Facebook video screenshot
"The gall," Witt responded, tongue naturally in cheek.
After the student dropped dime, Witt and his co-worker tried to get the offended student to explain what was wrong with what they were doing — but the student had absolutely nothing specific to give them.
Finally, when a pair of officers arrived at the "scene," the student told them Witt and his camera operator were "terrorizing our students on this campus, and that's not OK."
Wake-up time, kiddo
The student also declared that Witt & Friend were doing much more. "They're threatening me with their language, with their ideals," he said.
But the cops gave him a lesson he's clearly not getting in the classroom.
"That's what freedom of speech is," one of them explained to the incredulous young man.
They informed the student that unless Witt and the camera operator were threatening him physically, no crime has been committed.
"So there's noting you guys can do?" he implored one last time.
Um, that'd be a big ol' no.
And that was that. Win for the First Amendment.
Witt ended the segment by reminding viewers that — once again — "leftists don't support freedom of speech" and that his "dangerous ideas" and "difference of opinion" aren't allowed on campus.


theblaze--2020-03-19--20-year-old coronavirus victim in Spain was reportedly told by doctors to go home and not to worry.

20-year-old coronavirus victim in Spain was reportedly told by doctors to go home and not to worry. He died less than a week later.

20-year-old coronavirus victim in Spain was reportedly told by doctors to go home and not to worry .
He died @ @ @ @ @ .
'We ca n't get our heads around what 's happened '

A 20-year-old from Spain who recently died after contracting the coronavirus was allegedly sent home and told not to worry by doctors less than a week before the disease killed him.
Francisco Garcia, a youth soccer coach at Malaga club Atletico Portada Alta, initially thought he had the common cold when he went he first became ill on March 6, his family told the Sun in a recent interview.
"He had a sore throat but he didn't have a temperature," Garcia's stepdad, Juan Fernandez, said. "He spent the weekend resting at home on the sofa and watching TV."
Three days later, when Garcia still wasn't recovering from the illness, Fernandez took him to a doctor who then allegedly told him to "take paracetamol [acetaminophen] and sent him home and said there was no need to worry."
When his health deteriorated again overnight, Garcia's family decided to take him to another doctor for a second opinion. That doctor sent him home again — this time with antibiotics.
"We didn't think anything was really wrong and nor did they then," Fernandez recalled. "But by the next day he couldn't stand up properly and he had a fever."
At that point, the family knew it was serious, and they quickly drove him to a local hospital where Garcia was admitted and "immediately and put him on a ventilator."
That was the last time Garcia's family saw him.
Once at the hospital, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and was placed under a quarantine due to suspicion that he had contracted the coronavirus. The following day, he tested positive for COVID-19 as well as leukemia. Four days later he died.
"It was so much to take in," Fernandez said, recalling that Garcia never complained about health problems. "We knew coronavirus was killing people — but we never thought it would kill Francis.
"He was taken to the cemetery without us being able to say goodbye to him," Fernandez added, speaking for Garcia's mother, Irene, who the Sun reported was too devastated to talk.
"We can't get our heads around what's happened," he continued. "A fortnight ago we were a normal family ... now I'm stuck indoors with my wife and my mother-in-law, grieving and worrying if we've all got coronavirus too."
According to the Independent, infectious disease experts said that had Garcia not been suffering from leukemia, he likely would have survived the disease. Garcia is one of the youngest victims of the novel respiratory disease, as most of the victims are elderly.
The coronavirus is ravaging Spain, now killing one person every 16 minutes in the country as confirmed cases surge by 25%. As of Thursday morning, there were more than 17,000 confirmed cases in the country, resulting 767 deaths.


theblaze--2020-03-19--Coronavirus CURE? President Trump fast-tracks promising treatment for COVID-19

The drug will be made available 'almost immediately '

President Donald Trump confirmed during a news conference Thursday that the FDA has rapidly approved hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a drug commonly used to treat malaria, to be prescribed to help treat Coronavirus.
Following the news conference, Trump campaign national press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweeted, "President @realDonaldTrump announces HUGE news!! Hydroxychloroquine, a drug used to treat malaria, has shown encouraging early results against the #coronavirus. By eliminating red tape, President Trump will be able to make this drug available almost immediately."
Gregory Rigano, the project lead on clinical trials for COVID-19 prevention, joined Glenn Beck on the radio program Thursday to update us on the latest regarding this potential treatment for the coronavirus. He said a recent controlled clinical study has shown that 100% patients treated with a combination of HCQ and Azithromycin were "virologically cured" within six days of treatment.
Watch the video below to catch more of the conversation:
President Trump's confirming announcement followed shortly after Glenn's interview with Rigano. Watch the highlights from his news conference below:
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theblaze--2020-03-19--Communist China blames America for coronavirus pandemic as the 'Red Plague' spreads around world

Communist China blames America for coronavirus pandemic as the 'Red Plague ' spreads around world They 're even blaming U.S. @ @ @ @

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Communist Party of China has mounted an aggressive public relations campaign to shift the blame away from Beijing and to the United States for the deadly outbreak, which has killed nearly 10,000 people around the world.
In multiple media appearances and through official channels, CPC officials have even accused Americans, including U.S. military personnel, of developing the virus and spreading it to China and Europe.
Blaming Americans on Chinese Television
A key component of China's strategy appears to be the peddling of conspiracy theories about the virus' origins. For instance, in a recent state-run Central China TV appearance, a medical expert speculated whether American officials had the virus all along.
"The US pushed out the vaccine so quickly, that only means they have been working on it way before the pandemic," she said. The show's host agreed with her contention. "So we can conclude that the US had this virus in their possession long ago."
Beijing's PR blitz has emerged as the United States and China increasingly find themselves in a war of words. Last Thursday, a high-level Chinese diplomat claimed the United States military may have brought COVID-19 to China, rather than the virus originating in Wuhan.
Chinese official blames the United States
As CNN reported, in a tweet shared with more than 300,000 followers, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian shared a video of Robert Redfield, the director for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, addressing a congressional committee and floated the conspiracy theory that the "US Army" is the one who "brought the epidemic to Wuhan."
When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation!
The baseless accusations have troubled U.S. officials, including President Trump, who has responded by referring to COVID-19 as a "Chinese Virus" in multiple news conferences and tweets. Meanwhile, conservative pundits, such as National Review's John McCormack, have also branded the illness as the "Red Plague" and the "Wuhan flu” to counter Beijing’s propaganda.
A coordinated public relations effort
According to Fox News, Red China’s public and private sectors are "working in lockstep" to expedite humanitarian aid to countries who need help in order to carry favor with foreign governments. Earlier in the week, for example, China's leader Xi Jinping pledged to send medical supplies to Italy in addition to the 2,000 rapid diagnostic tests it has already deployed to the Philippines and aid to Japan and Iraq.
"The Chinese government has been trying to project Chinese state power beyond its borders and establish China as a global leader, not dissimilar to what the U.S. government has been doing for the better part of a century, and the distribution of medical aid is part of that mission," said Cornell University's Dr. Yangyang Cheng to The Intercept.


theblaze--2020-03-19--Actress Evangeline Lilly won't self-isolate — because she values freedom over anything and says the

Actress Evangeline Lilly won't self-isolate — because she values freedom over anything and says the government already has too much control

Actress Evangeline Lilly wo n't self-isolate — because she values freedom over anything and says the government already has too @ @

Actress Evangeline Lilly says she will not self-quarantine, and it's because she puts a higher precedence on her own freedoms.
What are the details?
It all began when the 40-year-old actress shared an Instagram post documenting her day-to-day activities amid the COVID-19 crisis.
"Just dropped off my kids at gymnastics camp," she wrote. "They all washed their hands before going in. They are playing and laughing. #businessasusual."
Naturally, many of her followers called her parenting into question and asked if she believed it was truly responsible to avoid self-isolating while in the throes of a deadly pandemic.
At the time of this writing, there have been over 240,000 confirmed cases of the disease, and over 9,800 people have died because of the coronavirus.
"I am living with my father at the moment, who has stage four lukemia [sic]," she revealed. "I am also immune compromised at the moment. I have two young kids. Some people value their lives over freedom, some people value freedom over their lives. We all make our choices."
Lilly also added that she believes the U.S. government is exercising far too much control over the masses and their panic stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S.
"Where we are right now feels a lot too close to Marshall [sic] Law for my comfort already, all in the name of a respiratory flu," she reasoned. "It's unnerving. ... Let's be vigilant right now. And kind. Watchful and gracious — keeping a close eye on our leaders, making sure they don't abuse this moment to steal away more freedoms and grab more power."
She later cryptically noted, "There's 'something' every election year.'"
What else?
Lilly — famous for her role in long-running TV show "Lost" — later added, "I think we all need to slow down, take a breath and look at the facts we are being presented with. They do not add up to the all-out, global lockdown, control, pandemonia and insanity we are experiencing. I hope that people will find their peace and sanity where you are soon. Sending you loving prayers."


theblaze--2020-03-19--Queer bar workers — laid off over coronavirus social distancing — stage protest inside bar. Until co

Queer bar workers — laid off over coronavirus social distancing — stage protest inside bar. Until cops arrive to break up the party.

Queer bar workers — laid off over coronavirus social distancing — stage protest inside bar .
Until cops arrive to @ @ @ @ @ Management allegedly 'antagonized , teased , and taunted the workers ' as police led them @

A queer bar in Portland, Oregon — Crush Bar — laid off all 27 of its employees Monday after closing its doors to all dine-in food and drink transactions on the heels of Democratic Gov. Kate Brown's statewide social distancing mandates to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Eater Portland reported.
But Crush Bar employees fought back Tuesday, the outlet said.
Protesting what they called illegal withholding of funds, 12 Crush Bar employees arrived at the establishment and then refused to leave, Eater Portland said. It was a demonstration against owner John Clarke's decision to do the layoffs without financial compensation, the outlet noted, as well as a claim that he illegally denied their use of accrued sick hours to cover lost wages.
But alas, the protest — which was set to last for up to 24 hours — was dispersed by Portland police after an hour, Eater Portland reported.
Hannah Gioia — a line cook at Crush and representative for the bar and cafe's union, the Crush Bar Workers Collective — told the outlet that the protesters "peaceably left, as the cops dictated" while "management antagonized, teased, and taunted the workers."
What else did Gioia have to say?
"Yesterday we all were informed via text or phone call or from the Crush Facebook page that the bar was shutting down, and all employees would be laid off," Gioia also told the outlet. "When pressed for accrued sick time pay off, half-time pay for our scheduled hours one week out, and guarantee rehires when the bar reopens, the owner said, 'No, no, and no.'"
Gioia noted to Eater Portland that the sit-in was necessary to demonstrate urgency.
"We do not predict that we can wait out a government agency's abilities to process this charge," Gioia said. "We need resources now. Getting laid off is already devastating, but during a public health crisis it's catastrophic. We are out of options, and we expect this owner to do what is legally required and what is right by us."
What did the Crush Bar have to say?
The bar posted the following message on its Facebook page Wednesday: "Crush was exploring the option for employees to claim unemployment benefits while retaining their accrued sick time. It is clear that staff want their sick time paid out immediately, and it will be available to them today (Wednesday, March 18). We are working with the employees to get their checks to them as expeditiously as possible."
How did others react to the Crush Bar's message?"
Um, not very well:
"You need the employees (and customers) they (we) don't need you. Especially during all of this? And you decide to get s**tty? Canceled."
"No, absolutely not. You don't get to not apologize for your actions while telling some story that makes it seem like it's fine that you haven't paid your employees."
"If you were looking into this, why the hostility with your employees, and why would you call the cops on a peaceful sit-in instead of listen[ing] to their concerns? This smells foul, and nowhere do you see the management taking responsibility for their actions and apologizing. I am absolutely ashamed of you. ... I do hope the buyers see what you've done and SEVERELY reduce the amount in the contract. Irreparable damage to the brand during the buying process and all that."
"Thank you for posting. I am unfollowing now and never going there again. Telling all my friends not to go as well."
"Until the general manager is fired I'll never go here again or support this place. You're only as good as your employees say, and this place is horrible!!! You forget where you came from!!"
Editor's note: This article has been updated.


theblaze--2020-03-19--Alyssa Milano rails against President Trump for saying ‘Chinese Virus’: ‘Racist piece of s**t!’

Alyssa Milano rails against President Trump for saying ‘ Chinese Virus ’ : ‘ Racist piece of s**t !
’

Activist and actress Alyssa Milano blasted President Donald Trump for his use of the phrase "Chinese Virus."
What are the details?
In a fiery tweet, Milano — who has long been a critic of the Trump administration — railed, "Stop calling it the 'Chinese Virus,' you racist piece of s**t!"
Milano, like many others from the far left, has insisted that Trump referring to COVID-19 as a Chinese virus — since it originated in Wuhan, China — is a racist move.
Milano made the profane remark in response to Trump's tweet defending his job in managing the COVID-19 crisis within the United States.
"I always treated the Chinese Virus very seriously, and have done a very good job from the beginning, including my very early decision to close the 'borders' from China — against the wishes of almost all. Many lives were saved. The Fake News new narrative is disgraceful & false!" he wrote in a Thursday tweet.
During a news conference Wednesday, Trump defended the use of the term "Chinese Virus."
He said, "Because [the virus] comes from China. It's not racist at all, no, not at all. It comes from China, that's why I want to be accurate."
One Chinese official reportedly said that the U.S. military introduced COVID-19 to China.
"I didn't appreciate the fact that China was saying our military gave it to them. Our military did not give it to anybody," the president said during a Tuesday news conference.
Trump slams China for 'falsely' blaming US military for coronavirus origin www.youtube.com
What else?
Last week, Milano lauded Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden's attack on Trump for his response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying she got "teary."
"I have tears in my eyes watching [Biden] right now," Milano wrote. She also said she thanked God for Biden's "leadership during this crisis."
Biden also blasted the Trump administration for referring to COVID-19 as a "foreign virus."


theblaze--2020-03-19--VIDEO: Cops break up outdoor prayer meeting for violating NYC mayor's social distancing executive or

VIDEO: Cops break up outdoor prayer meeting for violating NYC mayor's social distancing executive orders

'Those who do not follow this order are subject to arrest '

New York City has a ban on crowds of 50 people or more, but that didn't stop a large group of Jewish faithful from coming together for prayer.
Then the authorities were called — and the people were sent packing, the New York Post reported.
What happened?
According to the Post, a large Jewish prayer group gathered outside the Chabad Lubavitch headquarters in Brooklyn late Wednesday. The facility closed Tuesday night for the first time ever, the paper said, citing the Times of Israel.
But the closure wasn't going to stop dozens of faithful Jewish men from gathering outside the site to pray.
Not long after they had gathered, officers from the Sheriff's Office arrived to break them up.
A video tweeted by Jewish media outlet Belaaz shows several Sheriff's Office vehicles outside the headquarters and the Jewish attendees leaving their gathering.
An officer can be heard over a loudspeaker saying: "Attention! Attention! Under the authority of the mayor's executive order No. 99 and No. 100, you must disperse, you must disperse. Those who do not follow this order are subject to arrest. Please disperse. Thank you."
What executive orders?
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio issued executive orders No. 99 and No. 100 on March 15 and 16, respectively. The orders limit crowd size and give law enforcement the power to break up large gatherings.
Both orders are in effect for up to five days.


theblaze--2020-03-19--A thief in Oregon smashed an SUV window to steal two 30-roll cases of toilet paper, police say

A thief in Oregon smashed an SUV window to steal two 30-roll cases of toilet paper , police say 'That @ @ @ @ @ of gold in your car ! '

A thief in Oregon smashed in the rear window of an SUV to steal two 30-roll cases of toilet paper, police reported.
The Eugene Police Department alerted the community about the incident in post on the department's Facebook page. They reported that the crime took place early Sunday morning, when the bandit allegedly shattered the entire rear window and took "all valuables including two cases of 30-roll toilet paper and some valuable business and personal items."
The police department used the news as an opportunity to remind the public not to leave their vehicles unattended.
"Anytime vehicles are left unattended for extended periods of time, local thieves view it as a favorable opportunity," the post stated. "It is not enough to lock the vehicle before leaving. To reduce the possibility of theft and deter criminals from breaking in to your vehicle, it is important to incorporate the following tips when leaving your vehicle."
Police then went on to offer helpful tips in the post such as not to leave property visible inside your vehicle, to make sure to roll up the windows and lock the doors, and, of course, not to leave anything "valuable" inside the vehicle.
In the midst of the coronavirus hysteria, toilet paper is just that — an extremely valuable item.
One Facebook user noted as much in their response: "I literally took 2 rolls of paper towels out of my car last night because I didn't want this to happen. C'mon!! I hate to victim shame ... but that's like leaving 2 bricks of gold in your car!!" he said.
People around the world began panic-buying over the last couple weeks prepping for the potential of lengthy quarantines due to the quickening spread of the coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19. While face masks and hand sanitizer were the first items to fly off shelves, household staples like bread, meat, paper towels — and yes, toilet paper — soon followed.
Hoarders descended on the supermarkets, the toilet paper supply completely vanished in many stores, and fights literally broke out over who would get to purchase the scarce commodity.
Two women in Australia were soon charged for their violent toilet paper brawl, which was caught on video and soon went viral.
Earlier this week, another police department in Oregon — the same state where the smashed window SUV theft took place — preemptively urged residents against reporting toilet paper shortages to emergency services.
In a Facebook post Sunday, the Newport Police Department said, "It's hard to believe that we even have to post this. Do not call 9-1-1 just because you ran out of toilet paper. You will survive without our assistance."


theblaze--2020-03-19--Surgeon General Jerome Adams wants to recruit Kylie Jenner in the fight against coronavirus

Surgeon General Jerome Adams wants to recruit Kylie Jenner in the fight against coronavirus 'What I really think we need @ @ @ @ @ get our influencers ' to raise awareness among young people

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said that he wants to recruit America's "influencers" to help flatten the curve on the COVID-19 outbreak that has gripped the country — such as billionaire socialite Kylie Jenner.
What are the details?
Adams, who appeared on Thursday's "Good Morning America," said that the 22-year-old social media star was a prime pick for such a job.
"What I really think we need to do [is] get our influencers [involved]," he said.
He also said that NBA stars Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell would also be good figureheads to spread awareness. Both players were infected with COVID-19 earlier this month.
"We need to get Kylie Jenner and social media influencers out there, in helping folks understand that, look, this is serious, this is absolutely serious," he insisted. "People are dying."
He also added that the younger generation is simply keen to do what they see fit without any regard for others' opinions. Using his own teenage children as an example, Adams noted, "[T]he more I tell them not to do something, the more they want to do it."
Adams added that young people seemingly aren't as impervious to the disease as previously assumed.
"We are seeing new data from Italy that suggests that young people may be at a higher risk than what we previously thought," he warned. "Think about your grandfather, think about your grandmother, think about the fact you're spreading disease that could ultimately be what kills them."
ABC's "Good Morning America" shared a snippet of the interview on its Twitter page, captioning it, "Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams on millennials and the coronavirus: 'We need to get our social media influencers out there and helping folks understand that look this is serious.'"
What's Kylie saying these days?
On Wednesday, Jenner said that her pregnancy in 2018 helped her prepare for the repercussions of COVID-19 — or similar — outbreak.
"My pregnancy prepared me for this. I didn't leave the house for months," she admitted during a recent Instagram story, according to E! Online.
On Tuesday, Jenner updated her Twitter page, writing, "[I] hope everyone is feeling well! it's so important right now to self quarantine to ensure we aren't endangering ourselves or anyone who can't handle this virus."


theblaze--2020-03-19--Video: Joe Biden adviser confronted by Fox News host after claiming 'Chinese virus' is a 'racial slu

Video: Joe Biden adviser confronted by Fox News host after claiming 'Chinese virus' is a 'racial slur'

Video : Joe Biden adviser confronted by Fox News host after claiming 'Chinese virus ' is a 'racial slur' Symone @ @ @ @ @ blame from the Chinese communist leadership

Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum pressed Symone Sanders, a senior adviser to Joe Biden's presidential campaign, on Wednesday after the Democratic operative accused President Donald Trump of using a "racial slur" by describing COVID-19 as a "Chinese virus."
McCallum asked Sanders if wouldn't it better for Biden to say "this is a moment to get behind our president," despite partisan disagreements.
A 'racial slur'
Sanders responded by acknowledging while "some of what he said today was good," Trump "also stood at the podium today and called the coronavirus, COVID-19, what I would suggest is a racial slur."
The Biden campaign's accusation that Trump is using "racist" language comes as other leading Democrats have also slammed the president for describing COVID-19 as the "Chinese virus" after Communist Party officials in Beijing blamed the United States for the pandemic.
On Wednesday, for instance, failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said Trump invoked "racist rhetoric" in his response to the Communist Party of China.
MacCallum slams Sanders
A visibly perplexed MacCallum fired back at the Biden campaign spokeswoman: "Why? Why is that? Why would it be to call it a 'Chinese virus' when it originated in China? Why is that a problem?"
"It is something that is offensive to many Americans," responded Sanders who began listing the things President Trump should be doing "instead of name calling."
MacCallum was having none of it and pressed Sanders on the history of naming viruses after regions and places.
"Do you know why it's called MERS?" MacCallum asked.
Sanders responded: "You tell me, Martha. You brought it up."
"Because it's called the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome," replied MacCallum. "Because that's where it originated. So this rabbit-hole of getting into this whole issue of racism I just think is so counter-productive to what we're trying to do here."
She added: "I just talked to this amazing scholar on China moments ago who said, absolutely, China at the leadership level has tried to obfuscate and be everything but transparent. Since the very beginning they've lied and lied and lied about this situation."
Sanders then deflected blame from China, telling MacCallum: "This is not about if China has been forthright and forthcoming. The reality is..."
"Yes, it is. That's exactly what this is about," MacCallum fired back .


theblaze--2020-03-19--'Above and beyond': Anonymous couple in Texas leave almost $10K tip to help pay restaurant staff

'Above and beyond ' : Anonymous couple in Texas leave almost $ 10K tip to help pay restaurant staff 'Hold @ @ @ @ @ over the next few weeks '

As American restaurants struggle with the financial fallout of the Wuhan coronavirus — formally known as COVID-19 — some anonymous customers in Houston tipped a restaurant almost $10,000 in order to help the owners pay their staff.
According to a story at KTRK-TV on Tuesday, the hefty $9,400 gratuity was left Monday just hours after local officials ordered restaurants to stop serving dine-in customers.
"We were amazed by their generosity. We didn't expect it. They went above and beyond what was necessary," restaurant owner Louis Galvan told the Houston Chronicle of the payout. The newspaper adds that the tip came from a couple who eat at the restaurant regularly and was split between cash and a credit card.
Galvan says that the wait and kitchen staff will split the amount evenly, getting around $300 per person.
According to the new restrictions on Houston-area establishments, which went into effect Tuesday morning, bars and nightclubs have to temporarily shut down while restaurants are permitted to offer only pickup, drive-through, or delivery options.
"I know this is very difficult. It's a difficult time, and that's why we're taking extraordinary measures," Harris County Judge Lina Hildago said of the measures, according to KHOU-TV. "History will say that we prioritized human life. History will say that we erred on the side of action. This doesn't work unless we all buy in."
"What we are attempting to do is slow down the progression and not burden our healthcare system," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner tweeted of the order on Monday. "Every time we take a step, it does affect people's lives. Galvan says that, right now, he's just trying to keep things afloat while paying his employees."
Meanwhile, government officials around the country have put in place similar restrictions on dining in at restaurants in efforts to slow the spread of the virus, while other businesses have voluntarily opted to close their own dining areas. In guidance issued on Monday, the White House recommended that people avoid eating and drinking at restaurants, food courts, and bars for 15 days as a precautionary measure.
In response to his current circumstances, Galvan said he's just trying to keep the business afloat while still paying his employees.
"We're just trying to make it to that window where everyone has a consistent paycheck," Galvan told CNN. "We're not even worried about profitability at this point. We're in survival mode."
KTRK has more on the story here:


theblaze--2020-03-19--Radio host goes viral for emotional, passionate plea to spring breakers ignoring social distancing r

Radio host goes viral for emotional, passionate plea to spring breakers ignoring social distancing recommendation: ‘Call your mom and dad’

Radio host goes viral for emotional , passionate plea to spring breakers ignoring social distancing recommendation : ‘ Call your @ @ @ @

KISS-FM Seattle's Carla Marie says that millennials need to pay close attention to social distancing in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
What did she do?
Marie shared an emotional Instagram video earlier this week detailing how her mother's open-heart surgery was postponed because of the deadly virus.
The radio host, who lives on the other side of the country from her New Jersey-area family, is unable to visit her parents during this time due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In the video, she begged for people to remain at home and keep themselves as healthy as possible in order to flatten the curve of the pandemic within the U.S.
She captioned the video, which has since gone viral, "I need you to be a good human right now. I'm going through the hardest thing of my life ... not being able to be there for my family. How can you help? Stay home. Be human. Compassion is easy. It's all we have right now."
What did she say on Fox?
Marie told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" hosts, "So now, it's way beyond coronavirus patients and getting the coronavirus. I mean, I'm sure there are people in their families who have cancer, who have heart problems, and you want your family to get the best treatment for whatever they have. It's not just catching a virus that you think you are invincible from everyone."
She added, "I think that [people not heeding warnings] need people in their lives to tell them how they are feeling and their stories. I have friends and family who, at first, weren't thinking this was real either."
"Call your mom and your dad because you can do that," she advised. "I think that's the problem: they aren't connecting with their family right now."
At the time of this writing, there are nearly 11,000 cases of coronavirus in the U.S., and 163 people in the U.S. have died from the deadly pandemic.