huffpost--2020-05-27--8 Foods That Could Be Putting You In A Bad Mood

You ’ ve polished off a batch of grandma ’ s beloved cookies when the feeling hits .
It ’ s not happiness , though it should be .
You ’ re experiencing a mix of guilt , anxiety and sluggishness , with an all-around bad mood that ’ s far from the comfort you were seeking .
And when you ’ re staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic , the last thing you need is another thing to feel bad about .
What gives ?
The idea of comfort food sounds great in theory , but many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideal nutrients .
This leaves eaters feeling cranky , not comforted .
( And to be clear , we ’ re not talking about depression , a more serious condition you should talk to your doctor about . )
“ Some of the main dietary contributors to low or bad mood are too much sugar and too many starchy and refined carbohydrates , ” British nutritional therapist Claudia Smith told HuffPost .
“ If you eat too much of these foods , you can end up with blood sugar spikes and crashes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low mood , irritability , brain fog , anxiety , fatigue and difficulty concentrating.
” Why Comfort Foods Can Leave Us Agitated Common comfort foods such as cookies or french fries activate reward triggers in our brains , Smith said .
They give us something to look forward to or get excited about — which is largely why comfort-food sales spiked as the anxiety-inducing COVID-19 pandemic took hold .
Psychologist and U.K.-based well-being consultant Lee Chambers told HuffPost that comfort foods do provide a hit of pleasure-inducing dopamine , but that pleasure is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cyclical process where low mood leads to eating foods likely to spike your blood sugar , giving us a dose of dopamine , but then it drops at the same time as we start to feel guilty , ” Chambers told HuffPost .
“ This combination often makes us feel a lack of satisfaction , with feelings of guilt , shame and regret.
” Even worse ?
Comfort foods often lead to overeating .
“ Over time , high consumption of highly palatable foods may actually lead to a reduced sensitivity of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ You may find yourself needing to eat more and more to experience the same effect.
” 8 Foods And Drinks That Could Worsen Your Mood Bad-mood-inducing comfort foods share a few things in common .
They often cause sugar spikes , then crashes , which leads to sluggishness , anxiety and irritability .
But the mood-worsening effect is more than physiological .
Many people think of certain foods as either healthy or unhealthy .
When they eat the unhealthy ones , they can feel ashamed , sad or angry .
Moderation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dietitian registered in the U.K. “ Regular and excessive consumption of foods that are high in fat and sugar may negatively influence mood , but eating just one cookie can provide pleasure and comfort to some people , ” she told HuffPost .
Studies show alcohol has some long-term health perks .
But no one should start drinking alcohol for its potential benefits , the Mayo Clinic said .
It recommends one drink — the equivalent of one 12-ounce beer or one 5-ounce glass of wine — per day .
Soda contains simple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which leads to a sugar spike followed by severe sluggishness .
And simply replacing soda with a diet version is not the solution because sweeteners such as aspartame are often associated with anxiety and depression .
One 2014 study showed a link between sweetened beverages and depression among older adults .
Water and tea are better beverage alternatives .
Ibitoye recommended limiting beverages such as caffeinated tea and coffee and replacing that extra cup with a decaf version .
Caffeinated beverages such as coffee cause the brain to release dopamine and serotonin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine in small doses , but too much — often as little as one extra cup — can lead to irritability , agitation and anxiety .
Together , these ingredients cause energy crashes followed by fatigue and dwindling motivation .
That doesn ’ t mean you should never eat them , though .
Smith recommended aiming for a healthy diet , particularly at mealtimes , with a few favorite treats here and there .
Bagels are delicious in the moment , but ingesting the carb-rich food can make you feel heavy , bloated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dumps .
That ’ s because bagels are packed with simple carbs , typically made from white grains with little to no nutritional value .
Protein is integral to a healthy , happy diet , but some proteins are better than others .
Packaged meats and cold cuts are filled with energy-sucking preservatives and additives that cause mood swings and bloating .
But alternatives such as lean meat , poultry , fish , eggs , beans and homemade cold cuts ( made by roasting and slicing the turkey yourself ) can do @ @ @

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You’ve polished off a batch of grandma’s beloved cookies when the feeling hits. It’s not happiness, though it should be. You’re experiencing a mix of guilt, anxiety and sluggishness, with an all-around bad mood that’s far from the comfort you were seeking. And when you’re staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic, the last thing you need is another thing to feel bad about. What gives?
The idea of comfort food sounds great in theory, but many of society’s favorite feel-good foods lack ideal nutrients. This leaves eaters feeling cranky, not comforted. (And to be clear, we’re not talking about depression, a more serious condition you should talk to your doctor about.)
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nito100 via Getty Images That cup of coffee is supposed to pep you up, but it could end up making you feel worse.
“Some of the main dietary contributors to low or bad mood are too much sugar and too many starchy and refined carbohydrates,” British nutritional therapist Claudia Smith told HuffPost. “If you eat too much of these foods, you can end up with blood sugar spikes and crashes, which can lead to symptoms such as low mood, irritability, brain fog, anxiety, fatigue and difficulty concentrating.”
Why Comfort Foods Can Leave Us Agitated
Common comfort foods such as cookies or french fries activate reward triggers in our brains, Smith said. They give us something to look forward to or get excited about — which is largely why comfort-food sales spiked as the anxiety-inducing COVID-19 pandemic took hold. Psychologist and U.K.-based well-being consultant Lee Chambers told HuffPost that comfort foods do provide a hit of pleasure-inducing dopamine, but that pleasure is fleeting.
“Emotional eating is a cyclical process where low mood leads to eating foods likely to spike your blood sugar, giving us a dose of dopamine, but then it drops at the same time as we start to feel guilty,” Chambers told HuffPost. “This combination often makes us feel a lack of satisfaction, with feelings of guilt, shame and regret.”
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Even worse? Comfort foods often lead to overeating. “Over time, high consumption of highly palatable foods may actually lead to a reduced sensitivity of this brain-reward response,” Smith said. “You may find yourself needing to eat more and more to experience the same effect.”
8 Foods And Drinks That Could Worsen Your Mood
Bad-mood-inducing comfort foods share a few things in common. They often cause sugar spikes, then crashes, which leads to sluggishness, anxiety and irritability. But the mood-worsening effect is more than physiological. Many people think of certain foods as either healthy or unhealthy. When they eat the unhealthy ones, they can feel ashamed, sad or angry.
Peter Dazeley via Getty Images The joy of eating a doughnut could be quickly offset by its resulting blood sugar spike.
Moderation is key, said Tai Ibitoye, a dietitian registered in the U.K. “Regular and excessive consumption of foods that are high in fat and sugar may negatively influence mood, but eating just one cookie can provide pleasure and comfort to some people,” she told HuffPost.
So which comfort foods and drinks could worsen your mood? Here are eight common culprits.
1. Alcohol
Small amounts of alcohol can be fine, and may even improve your mood, Ibitoye said. But regular or excessive alcohol consumption can worsen it — which is hardly a surprise to those who’ve experienced a hangover.
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Studies show alcohol has some long-term health perks. But no one should start drinking alcohol for its potential benefits, the Mayo Clinic said. It recommends one drink — the equivalent of one 12-ounce beer or one 5-ounce glass of wine — per day.
2. Soda
Soda contains simple sugars that the body absorbs quickly, which leads to a sugar spike followed by severe sluggishness. And simply replacing soda with a diet version is not the solution because sweeteners such as aspartame are often associated with anxiety and depression. One 2014 study showed a link between sweetened beverages and depression among older adults. Water and tea are better beverage alternatives.
3. Caffeine
Ibitoye recommended limiting beverages such as caffeinated tea and coffee and replacing that extra cup with a decaf version. Caffeinated beverages such as coffee cause the brain to release dopamine and serotonin, according to Medical Daily. This is fine in small doses, but too much — often as little as one extra cup — can lead to irritability, agitation and anxiety.
So how much coffee is too much coffee?
Recommendations are constantly changing, but the Mayo Clinic suggested no more than about four cups of coffee per day.
4. Baked Goods
Cookies and cakes are chock-full of mood-worsening ingredients such as sugar, which “rapidly breaks down into glucose and can trigger blood sugar spikes and crashes,” Smith said. The good news is that decreasing your baked goods intake can yield quick mood-boosting results.
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“Try reducing your sugar consumption by giving up cakes, biscuits, sugary drinks or sweeteners for a few days, and notice how you feel,” Smith said. “Beneficial effects can often be felt very quickly, even within a few days.”
5. French Fries
They may be delicious and temporarily comforting, but french fries are full of saturated fats, refined carbohydrates and excess salt. This is the recipe for energy spikes and crashes, with correlated bad moods and exhaustion.
Slow-releasing or complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, brown rice and quinoa can raise blood glucose levels more slowly, Ibitoye said. “Choosing these foods can help the brain receive a more consistent flow of fuel for better functioning,” she said.
6. Processed Foods
Whether it’s chips, Pop-Tarts or pizza bites, ready-to-eat processed foods can cause terrible moods. These items contain high amounts of refined sugars, saturated fats and preservatives.
Together, these ingredients cause energy crashes followed by fatigue and dwindling motivation. That doesn’t mean you should never eat them, though. Smith recommended aiming for a healthy diet, particularly at mealtimes, with a few favorite treats here and there.
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7. Bagels
Bagels are delicious in the moment, but ingesting the carb-rich food can make you feel heavy, bloated and uncomfortable — and therefore down in the dumps. That’s because bagels are packed with simple carbs, typically made from white grains with little to no nutritional value.
They’ll cause blood sugar spikes followed by crashes and foul moods. Instead of an empty-calorie white bagel, aim for some of Ibitoye’s complex-carb recommendations, such as brown rice and whole-wheat bread.
8. Packaged Deli Meat
Protein is integral to a healthy, happy diet, but some proteins are better than others. Packaged meats and cold cuts are filled with energy-sucking preservatives and additives that cause mood swings and bloating. But alternatives such as lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and homemade cold cuts (made by roasting and slicing the turkey yourself) can do the trick.


huffpost--2020-05-27--SpaceX Ready To Launch NASA Astronauts, Back On Home Turf

CAPE CANAVERAL , Florida ( AP ) — A SpaceX rocket is ready to boost two NASA astronauts into orbit Wednesday , the first launch of Americans from the U.S. in nearly a decade .
Liftoff is set for 4:33 p.m. EDT from the same spot at Kennedy Space Center where men flew to the moon and the last space shuttle blasted off in 2011 .
“ This is a big moment in time , ” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said on the eve of the launch .
“ It ’ s been nine years since we ’ ve had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Musk ’ s SpaceX on the cusp of becoming the first private company to put astronauts in orbit , something achieved by just three countries — Russia , the U.S. and China .
Riding aboard the brand new SpaceX Dragon capsule for the historic flight : veteran NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken .
The test flight will take them to the International Space Station .
The day before our launch on the @ NASA/ @ SpaceX Demo Mission 2 , I took the time to review pre-launch activities , hone my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ docking with @ Space_Station https : //t.co/1RBMI0g1Gp , and review the path home .
We are ready !
# LaunchAmerica pic.twitter.com/piYtLEtoiw — Bob Behnken ( @ AstroBehnken ) May 27 , 2020 Bridenstine describes the duo as bold American heroes who are “ laying the foundation for a new era in human spaceflight.
” Wednesday ’ s weather in Florida has been a concern ; it was raining with low clouds in the morning .
NASA pushed ahead with the astronaut launch despite the coronavirus pandemic , but asked spectators to stay at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
Beaches and parks along Florida ’ s Space Coast are open again , and local officials and businesses put out a socially distanced welcome mat .
Signs on local businesses wished “ Godspeed SpaceX.
” Hours before the launch , cars and RVs lined the causeway in Cape Canaveral , with prime views of the pad .
The SpaceX Falcon 9 , with the Crew Dragon spacecraft on top of the rocket , sits on Launch Pad 39-A on May 25 , 2020 , at Kennedy Space Center , Fla. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence are expected to be at Kennedy , where visitors will be limited .
NASA will have input throughout the countdown , but in the end , it will be SpaceX giving the final go — with NASA ’ s concurrence .
Besides good weather at the launch site , SpaceX needs relatively calm waves and wind up the U.S. and Canadian seaboard and across the North Atlantic to Ireland , in case astronauts Hurley and Behnken need to make an emergency splashdown along the route to orbit .
If SpaceX does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the next try would be Saturday .
The last time astronauts launched from Florida was on NASA ’ s final space shuttle flight in July 2011 .
Hurley was the pilot of that mission .
NASA hired SpaceX and Boeing in 2014 to transport astronauts to the space station , after commercial cargo shipments had taken off .
Development of SpaceX ’ s Dragon and Boeing ’ s Starliner capsules took longer than expected , however , and the U.S. has been paying Russia to launch NASA astronauts in the interim .

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) — A SpaceX rocket is ready to boost two NASA astronauts into orbit Wednesday, the first launch of Americans from the U.S. in nearly a decade.
Liftoff is set for 4:33 p.m. EDT from the same spot at Kennedy Space Center where men flew to the moon and the last space shuttle blasted off in 2011.
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“This is a big moment in time,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said on the eve of the launch. “It’s been nine years since we’ve had this opportunity.”
The launch puts Elon Musk’s SpaceX on the cusp of becoming the first private company to put astronauts in orbit, something achieved by just three countries — Russia, the U.S. and China.
Riding aboard the brand new SpaceX Dragon capsule for the historic flight: veteran NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken. The test flight will take them to the International Space Station.
“We are ready!” Behnken tweeted Tuesday night.
The day before our launch on the @NASA/@SpaceX Demo Mission 2, I took the time to review pre-launch activities, hone my launch operation technique, practice one more docking with @Space_Station https://t.co/1RBMI0g1Gp, and review the path home. We are ready! #LaunchAmerica pic.twitter.com/piYtLEtoiw — Bob Behnken (@AstroBehnken) May 27, 2020
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Bridenstine describes the duo as bold American heroes who are “laying the foundation for a new era in human spaceflight.”
Wednesday’s weather in Florida has been a concern; it was raining with low clouds in the morning.
NASA pushed ahead with the astronaut launch despite the coronavirus pandemic, but asked spectators to stay at home to lower the risk of spreading the virus. Beaches and parks along Florida’s Space Coast are open again, and local officials and businesses put out a socially distanced welcome mat. Signs on local businesses wished “Godspeed SpaceX.”
Hours before the launch, cars and RVs lined the causeway in Cape Canaveral, with prime views of the pad.
The SpaceX Falcon 9, with the Crew Dragon spacecraft on top of the rocket, sits on Launch Pad 39-A on May 25, 2020, at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are expected to be at Kennedy, where visitors will be limited.
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NASA will have input throughout the countdown, but in the end, it will be SpaceX giving the final go — with NASA’s concurrence.
“SpaceX is controlling the vehicle, there’s no fluff about that,” said Norm Knight, a NASA flight operations manager.
Besides good weather at the launch site, SpaceX needs relatively calm waves and wind up the U.S. and Canadian seaboard and across the North Atlantic to Ireland, in case astronauts Hurley and Behnken need to make an emergency splashdown along the route to orbit.
If SpaceX does not launch during Wednesday’s split-second window, the next try would be Saturday.
The last time astronauts launched from Florida was on NASA’s final space shuttle flight in July 2011. Hurley was the pilot of that mission.
Hurley, 53, and Behnken, 49, are both two-time shuttle fliers.
NASA hired SpaceX and Boeing in 2014 to transport astronauts to the space station, after commercial cargo shipments had taken off. Development of SpaceX’s Dragon and Boeing’s Starliner capsules took longer than expected, however, and the U.S. has been paying Russia to launch NASA astronauts in the interim.
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huffpost--2020-05-27--The 5 Most Underrated Netflix Movies Of 2020 So Far

Movies without major stars and big budgets rely heavily on media attention to get the word out .
Promotion usually comes by way of movie premieres , press junkets and film festivals .
None of these things , of course , have taken place during the coronavirus pandemic .
But even if these media events had happened , a news story about an indie film premiere likely wouldn ’ t have gotten much attention during the tensest months of the crisis .
Studios have pushed back the premiere dates of their most expensive and star-studded movies ( such as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smaller projects have continued to roll out on streaming services such as Netflix .
For example , the documentary “ Crip Camp ” was supposed to have a theatrical release , and the movie “ Tigertail ” was slated for a big premiere .
Instead , both just kind of showed up on the service to little fanfare .
I ’ ve gone back through the Netflix releases of 2020 and picked out five movies I think could have credibly been a bigger deal if they had debuted at a different time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot .
Premise : In this drama written and directed by Alan Yang ( “ Master of None ” ) , a man decides to give up his life in Taiwan to try his luck in the United States .
Due to the circumstances of leaving Taiwan , he must say goodbye forever to a woman he falls in love with before the move .
He ultimately marries another woman whom he likes far less as they have little in common .
Later in life , he shares his regrets about love lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time together in New York City .
The man and his daughter share many traits , which becomes a rewarding circle-of-life moment for the protagonist .
The son wants to stay in the culinary world , but his dream is to become a sommelier .
His decision to leave the restaurant to pursue sommelier studies creates a tension of competing desires within the family .
Premise : In this drama written and directed by Joe Robert Cole ( “ Black Panther , ” “ American Crime Story ” ) , a man begins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father .
He looks back on his life to figure out how he got to this place and wonders if things could go differently for his own son .
Ashton Sanders stars in both this and the 2016 movie “ Moonlight.
” The use of bright , neon-esque lighting throughout the film also has similarities to “ Moonlight.
” Premise : In this mystery thriller , a mother believes that her missing daughter was murdered .
The police won ’ t help her investigate , so she starts looking for clues herself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the sex industry and that many sex workers have gone missing in the area without police investigations .
Her research reveals that a serial killer has been targeting these sex workers .
Premise : This documentary focuses on Camp Jened , a summer camp for young people with disabilities in the Catskills of New York .
Although the camp was around for decades , the documentary focuses on the 1970s , when this inclusive space became a launchpad for the disability rights movement .

Chen Hsiang Liu/Netflix "Tigertail"
Movies without major stars and big budgets rely heavily on media attention to get the word out. Promotion usually comes by way of movie premieres, press junkets and film festivals. None of these things, of course, have taken place during the coronavirus pandemic.
But even if these media events had happened, a news story about an indie film premiere likely wouldn’t have gotten much attention during the tensest months of the crisis.
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Studios have pushed back the premiere dates of their most expensive and star-studded movies (such as the latest James Bond film). But smaller projects have continued to roll out on streaming services such as Netflix.
For example, the documentary “Crip Camp” was supposed to have a theatrical release, and the movie “Tigertail” was slated for a big premiere. Instead, both just kind of showed up on the service to little fanfare.
I’ve gone back through the Netflix releases of 2020 and picked out five movies I think could have credibly been a bigger deal if they had debuted at a different time. Read on, and give them another shot.
If you want to stay informed about everything joining Netflix every week, subscribe to the Streamline newsletter.
Ji Sub Jeong/HuffPost Streamline
Premise: In this drama written and directed by Alan Yang (“Master of None”), a man decides to give up his life in Taiwan to try his luck in the United States. Due to the circumstances of leaving Taiwan, he must say goodbye forever to a woman he falls in love with before the move. He ultimately marries another woman whom he likes far less as they have little in common.
Later in life, he shares his regrets about love lost with his daughter while the two spend time together in New York City. The man and his daughter share many traits, which becomes a rewarding circle-of-life moment for the protagonist.
Setting: Taiwan and New York City
Debut date: April 10
Notable cast: Hong-Chi Lee, Christine Ko and Tzi Ma
Runtime: 1 hour, 31 minutes
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Premise: In this comedic drama, a young man works for his family’s barbecue restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee. His father is proud that this restaurant is a family business.
The son wants to stay in the culinary world, but his dream is to become a sommelier. His decision to leave the restaurant to pursue sommelier studies creates a tension of competing desires within the family.
Setting: Contemporary Memphis
Debut date: March 27
Notable cast: Mamoudou Athie, Matt McGorry, Niecy Nash and Courtney B. Vance
Runtime: 1 hour, 44 minutes
Premise: In this drama written and directed by Joe Robert Cole (“Black Panther,” “American Crime Story”), a man begins a life sentence in prison with his father. He looks back on his life to figure out how he got to this place and wonders if things could go differently for his own son.
Ashton Sanders stars in both this and the 2016 movie “Moonlight.” The use of bright, neon-esque lighting throughout the film also has similarities to “Moonlight.”
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Setting: Oakland, California
Debut date: May 1
Notable cast: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Ashton Sanders, Regina Taylor and Jeffrey Wright
Runtime: 2 hours, 1 minute
Premise: In this mystery thriller, a mother believes that her missing daughter was murdered. The police won’t help her investigate, so she starts looking for clues herself.
The mother discovers that her daughter worked in the sex industry and that many sex workers have gone missing in the area without police investigations. Her research reveals that a serial killer has been targeting these sex workers.
Setting: 2010s Long Island, New York
Debut date: March 13
Notable cast: Lola Kirke, Oona Laurence, Thomasin McKenzie, Amy Ryan and Dean Winters.
Runtime: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Premise: This documentary focuses on Camp Jened, a summer camp for young people with disabilities in the Catskills of New York. Although the camp was around for decades, the documentary focuses on the 1970s, when this inclusive space became a launchpad for the disability rights movement.
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Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions produced the movie. I’m including “Crip Camp” in this list, but Netflix has had multiple documentaries this year that have flown under the radar. I also recommend you check out “A Secret Love” and “Circus of Books.”
Setting: 1970s summer camp in New York and elsewhere in the country
Debut date: March 25
Runtime: 1 hour, 46 minutes


huffpost--2020-05-27--Coronavirus Live Updates: New York Sets Tentative Phased NYC Reopening Date

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and the measures being taken to flatten the curve of transmission .
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below .
( To see the latest updates , you may need to refresh the page .
All times are Eastern .
For earlier updates on the pandemic , go here . )
Tyson Shuts Down Pork Processing Plant In Iowa After Hundreds Fall Ill — 5/29/20 , 2:20 p.m .
ET A Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Storm Lake , Iowa , is temporarily halting operations after 22 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for COVID-19 .
Iowa Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter told the Des Moines Register 555 of the plant ’ s 2,517 employees tested positive , which the company blamed on “ a delay in COVID-19 testing results and team member absences related to quarantine.
“ Tyson said it plans to reopen next week after a “ deep cleaning and sanitizing of the entire facility.
” Mayra Lopez , vice president of the Storm Lake League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa , told the Register Tyson could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A meeting with Tyson earlier this month regarding the company ’ s efforts was “ very short , very scripted , and very vague , ” she said , though she agreed a lack of adequate testing was at least partly to blame .
“ We finally , finally have the testing we ’ ve been waiting for , ” she said .
“ I don ’ t think people are getting results quickly enough .
I ’ ve heard Tyson employees waiting as long as a week to hear back if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time they get the results , it could be too late and they ’ ve passed it on to someone else.
” Meat processing plants have become COVID-19 hot spots in rural communities across the country ; as of last week , an estimated 17,000 workers in processing plants across the US have fallen ill and 66 have died .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Friday New York City is on track to begin a phased reopening on June 8 , once hospital capacity and contract tracing are at sufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The city has been hit hard by the coronavirus .
Of the U.S. ’ s nearly 102,000 confirmed deaths , roughly a fifth — 21,415 — have been in the city alone , according to data tracked by Johns Hopkins University .
Much of the rest of the state already began relaxing restrictions on May 15 .
This year ’ s Boston Marathon , initially postponed from its traditional April date to September , will not be held in-person this year , Boston Mayor Marty Walsh ( D ) announced Thursday .
Walsh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feasible , ” given the continued threat of COVID-19′s spread , especially through large events .
Any marathon runner who had entered will receive a full refund , and is invited to run a virtual marathon from Sept. 7-14 .
Organizers will also hold a series of virtual events that week in lieu of the in-person race , which is a major event for the city .
Unemployment Tops 40 Million Across U.S. — 5/28/20 , 11:30 a.m .
ET Another 2.1 million people applied for unemployment benefits across the country last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 41 million since the crisis dramatically worsened in March .
Not all of that number are still jobless .
Around 21 million are currently receiving unemployment aid , the Labor Department reported Thursday , providing a rough count of the unemployed .
The increase in applications , however , suggests businesses are cutting staff even as all 50 states work to reopen at least some parts of their economies .
In April , the national unemployment rate reached nearly 15 % , which is the highest since the Great Depression .
While businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent spread of the coronavirus , the question remains of how quickly customers — some spooked by threat of the virus , others struggling economically — will come back .
The economy is thought to be shrinking by 40 % in the April-June quarter , according to The Associated Press .
Trump tweeted a message of condolence Thursday , a day after the confirmed COVID-19 U.S. death toll surpassed 100,000 .
“ We have just reached a very sad milestone with the coronavirus pandemic deaths reaching 100,000 , ” his account tweeted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends of those who have passed , I want to extend my heartfelt sympathy & love for everything that these great people stood for & represent .
God be with you !
” The delayed acknowledgement is in keeping with Trump ’ s messaging throughout the crisis .
He spent months publicly downplaying the severity of the pandemic , even as deaths soared .
In April , Trump patted himself on the back and predicted the death toll would top out at around 60,000 .
“ It looks like we ’ ll be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is 40,000 less than the lowest number thought of , ” he said at the April 19 briefing .
The U.S. passed that threshold one week later .
Of the 13 hours Trump spent talking at the daily coronavirus briefings ( which have since been canceled ) , he spent just 4.5 minutes expressing condolences for coronavirus victims , a Washington Post analysis found .
People who come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 will be told to self-isolate for two weeks as the British government launches its coronavirus tracing system in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program , a team of 25,000 contact tracers will work out who those infected with coronavirus have been in contact with in a bid to control local flare-ups .
Everyone who tests positive for the virus will be asked to share details about who they have seen and where they have been with the tracers .
This person ’ s close contacts will then receive an email or a text , telling them they must stay at home for 14 days – even if they don ’ t have any symptoms – to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with coronavirus symptoms should still self-isolate at home , along with their household , and get tested for COVID-19 .
Britain , which has the second-highest death toll from the virus globally , abandoned a strategy of testing and tracing in March when the virus started spreading exponentially and there was insufficient capacity to test more than a fraction of those with symptoms .
The government says there is now enough capacity for all who need tests to get them .
It is aiming to provide test results within 24 hours .
Read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Restaurants Revealed — 5/28/20 , 4:40 a.m .
The much-anticipated reopening of restaurants , pizzerias and bars in Italy has got off to a difficult start with businesses reporting a 70 % fall in turnover compared to pre-lockdown levels .
HuffPost Italy reports ( in Italian ) that a survey of the sector has revealed few customers returned in the first week of reopening while costs have increased , with many small businesses not expecting to see an improvement until the fall .
Italy , which was the epicenter of Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the longest and strictest lockdowns in the world .
Parts of the hospitality industry were given the green light to reopen May 18 .
Figures reported by the Italian Federation of Public Establishments cite the lack of tourists , fewer office workers commuting to city centers , and a cautiousness among Italians about the risks of eating out , as reasons for the sharp declines in revenue .
However , businesses that have reopened have reported customers have largely complied with social distancing regulations and rules on wearing masks and hand washing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the coronavirus in the United States , a somber milestone in the country ’ s fight against the ongoing pandemic .
Johns Hopkins updated its tally on Wednesday evening , which comes just under four months after President Donald Trump claimed , without evidence , that the virus would likely disappear “ in April as the heat comes in.
” Those estimates proved far from reality : More than 1.6 million people in the U.S. have now tested positive for the virus and while infection rates are declining in some outbreak centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the country .
Trump has routinely revised his predictions for the ultimate U.S. death toll as cases spread and has continued to urge states to reopen their economies despite bleak warnings from medical officials that doing so too soon could result in a second wave of infections .
A study released by Columbia University earlier this month found that if the U.S. had imposed broad social distancing measures just a week earlier than it did in March , around 36,000 lives could have been saved .
Several Florida Theme Parks Announce Reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular theme parks have announced plans to reopen in recent weeks , as a number of states across the U.S. continue to ease social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic .
On Wednesday , Disney World in Orlando , Florida , presented plans to a Central Florida economic task force outlining a strategy to reopen some portions of its theme park on July 11 and others on July 15 .
The park temporarily closed in March to curb the spread of the virus .

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and the measures being taken to flatten the curve of transmission.
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below. (To see the latest updates, you may need to refresh the page. All times are Eastern. For earlier updates on the pandemic, go here.)
Tyson Shuts Down Pork Processing Plant In Iowa After Hundreds Fall Ill — 5/29/20, 2:20 p.m. ET
A Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Storm Lake, Iowa, is temporarily halting operations after 22% of the plant’s 2,500 workers tested positive for COVID-19.
Iowa Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter told the Des Moines Register 555 of the plant’s 2,517 employees tested positive, which the company blamed on “a delay in COVID-19 testing results and team member absences related to quarantine.“
Tyson said it plans to reopen next week after a “deep cleaning and sanitizing of the entire facility.”
Mayra Lopez, vice president of the Storm Lake League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa, told the Register Tyson could have done more to prevent the outbreak.
A meeting with Tyson earlier this month regarding the company’s efforts was “very short, very scripted, and very vague,” she said, though she agreed a lack of adequate testing was at least partly to blame.
“We finally, finally have the testing we’ve been waiting for,” she said. “I don’t think people are getting results quickly enough. I’ve heard Tyson employees waiting as long as a week to hear back if they have a confirmed case. By the time they get the results, it could be too late and they’ve passed it on to someone else.”
Meat processing plants have become COVID-19 hot spots in rural communities across the country; as of last week, an estimated 17,000 workers in processing plants across the US have fallen ill and 66 have died.
— Ryan Grenoble
New York Sets Tentative June 8 Phased NYC Reopening Date — 5/29/20, 1:30 p.m. ET
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday New York City is on track to begin a phased reopening on June 8, once hospital capacity and contract tracing are at sufficient levels to sustain the COVID-19 recovery.
The city has been hit hard by the coronavirus. Of the U.S.’s nearly 102,000 confirmed deaths, roughly a fifth — 21,415 — have been in the city alone, according to data tracked by Johns Hopkins University.
Much of the rest of the state already began relaxing restrictions on May 15.
— Ryan Grenoble
Boston Marathon Canceled — 5/28/20, 2:51 p.m. ET
This year’s Boston Marathon, initially postponed from its traditional April date to September, will not be held in-person this year, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh (D) announced Thursday. Walsh said organizers have deemed it “not feasible,” given the continued threat of COVID-19′s spread, especially through large events.
Any marathon runner who had entered will receive a full refund, and is invited to run a virtual marathon from Sept. 7-14. Organizers will also hold a series of virtual events that week in lieu of the in-person race, which is a major event for the city.
— Marina Fang
Unemployment Tops 40 Million Across U.S. — 5/28/20, 11:30 a.m. ET
Another 2.1 million people applied for unemployment benefits across the country last week, bringing the total number to around 41 million since the crisis dramatically worsened in March.
Not all of that number are still jobless. Around 21 million are currently receiving unemployment aid, the Labor Department reported Thursday, providing a rough count of the unemployed.
The increase in applications, however, suggests businesses are cutting staff even as all 50 states work to reopen at least some parts of their economies.
In April, the national unemployment rate reached nearly 15%, which is the highest since the Great Depression. While businesses work on reopening with added restrictions to prevent spread of the coronavirus, the question remains of how quickly customers — some spooked by threat of the virus, others struggling economically — will come back.
The economy is thought to be shrinking by 40% in the April-June quarter, according to The Associated Press.
— Sara Boboltz
Trump Acknowledges 100,000 Dead Americans A Day Late — 5/28/20, 10:30 a.m.
Trump tweeted a message of condolence Thursday, a day after the confirmed COVID-19 U.S. death toll surpassed 100,000.
“We have just reached a very sad milestone with the coronavirus pandemic deaths reaching 100,000,” his account tweeted. “To all of the families & friends of those who have passed, I want to extend my heartfelt sympathy & love for everything that these great people stood for & represent. God be with you!”
The delayed acknowledgement is in keeping with Trump’s messaging throughout the crisis. He spent months publicly downplaying the severity of the pandemic, even as deaths soared.
In April, Trump patted himself on the back and predicted the death toll would top out at around 60,000. “It looks like we’ll be at about a 60,000 mark, which is 40,000 less than the lowest number thought of,” he said at the April 19 briefing. The U.S. passed that threshold one week later.
Of the 13 hours Trump spent talking at the daily coronavirus briefings (which have since been canceled), he spent just 4.5 minutes expressing condolences for coronavirus victims, a Washington Post analysis found.
— Ryan Grenoble
Coronavirus Contact Tracing Program Launched In England — 5/28/20, 5:45 a.m.
People who come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 will be told to self-isolate for two weeks as the British government launches its coronavirus tracing system in England.
Under the Test and Trace program, a team of 25,000 contact tracers will work out who those infected with coronavirus have been in contact with in a bid to control local flare-ups.
Everyone who tests positive for the virus will be asked to share details about who they have seen and where they have been with the tracers. This person’s close contacts will then receive an email or a text, telling them they must stay at home for 14 days – even if they don’t have any symptoms – to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus. Anyone with coronavirus symptoms should still self-isolate at home, along with their household, and get tested for COVID-19.
Britain, which has the second-highest death toll from the virus globally, abandoned a strategy of testing and tracing in March when the virus started spreading exponentially and there was insufficient capacity to test more than a fraction of those with symptoms.
The government says there is now enough capacity for all who need tests to get them. It is aiming to provide test results within 24 hours. Read more
— Jasmin Gray
Devastating Impact Of COVID-19 On Italy’s Restaurants Revealed — 5/28/20, 4:40 a.m.
The much-anticipated reopening of restaurants, pizzerias and bars in Italy has got off to a difficult start with businesses reporting a 70% fall in turnover compared to pre-lockdown levels.
HuffPost Italy reports (in Italian) that a survey of the sector has revealed few customers returned in the first week of reopening while costs have increased, with many small businesses not expecting to see an improvement until the fall.
Italy, which was the epicenter of Europe’s coronavirus outbreak, imposed one of the longest and strictest lockdowns in the world. Parts of the hospitality industry were given the green light to reopen May 18.
Figures reported by the Italian Federation of Public Establishments cite the lack of tourists, fewer office workers commuting to city centers, and a cautiousness among Italians about the risks of eating out, as reasons for the sharp declines in revenue.
However, businesses that have reopened have reported customers have largely complied with social distancing regulations and rules on wearing masks and hand washing.
— James Martin
U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Top 100,000 In Bleak Milestone — 5/27/20, 7:45 p.m.
More than 100,000 people have died from the coronavirus in the United States, a somber milestone in the country’s fight against the ongoing pandemic.
Johns Hopkins updated its tally on Wednesday evening, which comes just under four months after President Donald Trump claimed, without evidence, that the virus would likely disappear “in April as the heat comes in.” Those estimates proved far from reality: More than 1.6 million people in the U.S. have now tested positive for the virus and while infection rates are declining in some outbreak centers, they are still rising in regions across the country.
Trump has routinely revised his predictions for the ultimate U.S. death toll as cases spread and has continued to urge states to reopen their economies despite bleak warnings from medical officials that doing so too soon could result in a second wave of infections.
A study released by Columbia University earlier this month found that if the U.S. had imposed broad social distancing measures just a week earlier than it did in March, around 36,000 lives could have been saved.
— Nick Visser
Several Florida Theme Parks Announce Reopening Plans — 5/27/20, 12:06 p.m.
Several popular theme parks have announced plans to reopen in recent weeks, as a number of states across the U.S. continue to ease social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic.
On Wednesday, Disney World in Orlando, Florida, presented plans to a Central Florida economic task force outlining a strategy to reopen some portions of its theme park on July 11 and others on July 15. The park temporarily closed in March to curb the spread of the virus.


huffpost--2020-04-09--These Are The Little Things Kids Are Appreciating Right Now

Many Americans have spent almost a month in self-isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic , and while it ’ s vitally important to keep our distance right now , it ’ s certainly been challenging for many .
For self-isolating families in particular , this has been a loooong few weeks .
So we asked the HuffPost Parents ’ Facebook community to share what their kids are being more appreciative of , now that they ’ re spending so much time at home .
“ The older one has learned we don ’ t need to be busy 24/7 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fun .
She went from asking to go do something every evening or weekend to now she doesn ’ t want to leave ( but she ’ s not allowed anyhow ) .
The toddler , well we are still working on that lol.
” ― Jennifer Cassiday McCartney “ My daughter has started to love chores ...
I leave a list and she is so motivated to get it done .
It ’ s usually about 5 or 6 easy things ...
I have no idea why but I ’ m not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My 9yo daughter has become keenly aware of how important team work as a family is .
She has thanked her dad and me more than ever before , she asks if she can help out around the house , and most importantly she gives me a huge hug during the inevitable moments during this that I have broken down in tears .
There is no hiding our emotions right now and I think that ’ s been valuable for our kids to see.
” ― Lindsay Hall Cooper “ We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up late ( all night owls here ) .
Not as enriching as some people ’ s answers , LOL , but we certainly appreciate that our days fit our rhythms better than when we were forced to fit into a ( turns out arbitrary ) earlier schedule !
” ― Rachael Cleverly Hodson “ We ’ ve become more creative with our time .
We have pretend spa days at home , I have two girls 13 and 17 .
We have creative time ( we build something or create art ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things , more walks , more time together .
So far so good .
We are baking more too .
Not to mention virtual school.
” ― Cinthya Cunningham “ My 9 year old step daughter finally learned to ride a bike without training wheels .
My 9 year old son was her ‘ coach.
’ My husband and I have only been married since June , so this feels like blending on steroids .
Seeing the two kids come together and celebrate that success has been awesome.
” ―Lisa Klukas “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had more than one of my students tell me they miss school and all of their teachers .
We don ’ t get a lot of that normally.
” ―Lisa Sexton Smith “ Our son has been creating his own card games .
They ’ re so detailed .
He ’ s designed a full game based on the Roman Empire .
I never realized how crazy he is about history and how much knowledge he already has .
I ’ m impressed .
Really impressed.
” ― Justine Broadhurst “ They ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depend upon each other .
They thought they were going to miss their friends , but they seem to find comfort together.
” ―Amanda Mortensen Wallace “ My 8 year old asked me if there were any more chores he could do .
My 5 year old asked if we were ever going to wear outside clothes again .
So it ’ s going well lol.
” ― Kim Ann Mansfield “ My 7 year [ old ] appreciates that our house is very cozy .
‘ Mom , our house has carpet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carpet ...
I don ’ t have to wear shoes .
Wait , Mom ?
!
?
!
?
Will my shoes fit my feet by the time we can go out again ?
!
?
I haven ’ t put them on in a long time.
’ lol ” ― Sandy DeTellis

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Many Americans have spent almost a month in self-isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic, and while it’s vitally important to keep our distance right now, it’s certainly been challenging for many.
For self-isolating families in particular, this has been a loooong few weeks. So we asked the HuffPost Parents’ Facebook community to share what their kids are being more appreciative of, now that they’re spending so much time at home.
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Here are the small, simple things that children have come to value in this strange new time. Consider it the smallest of silver linings.
“The older one has learned we don’t need to be busy 24/7, or have to go somewhere to have fun. She went from asking to go do something every evening or weekend to now she doesn’t want to leave (but she’s not allowed anyhow). The toddler, well we are still working on that lol.” ― Jennifer Cassiday McCartney
“My daughter has started to love chores... I leave a list and she is so motivated to get it done. It’s usually about 5 or 6 easy things... I have no idea why but I’m not arguing!” ― Amanda Kirkland
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“My 9yo daughter has become keenly aware of how important team work as a family is. She has thanked her dad and me more than ever before, she asks if she can help out around the house, and most importantly she gives me a huge hug during the inevitable moments during this that I have broken down in tears. There is no hiding our emotions right now and I think that’s been valuable for our kids to see.” ― Lindsay Hall Cooper
“We’re sleeping in a lot, and staying up late (all night owls here). Not as enriching as some people’s answers, LOL, but we certainly appreciate that our days fit our rhythms better than when we were forced to fit into a (turns out arbitrary) earlier schedule!” ― Rachael Cleverly Hodson
“We’ve become more creative with our time. We have pretend spa days at home, I have two girls 13 and 17. We have creative time (we build something or create art). We have made the best of things, more walks, more time together. So far so good. We are baking more too. Not to mention virtual school.” ― Cinthya Cunningham
“My 9 year old step daughter finally learned to ride a bike without training wheels. My 9 year old son was her ‘coach.’ My husband and I have only been married since June, so this feels like blending on steroids. Seeing the two kids come together and celebrate that success has been awesome.” ―Lisa Klukas
“My 5 yo daughter genuinely loves being at home with both of her parents. I think she is excited that everyone has slowed down and is spending more time together.” ― Renee Cole
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“I am a teacher and I’ve had more than one of my students tell me they miss school and all of their teachers. We don’t get a lot of that normally.” ―Lisa Sexton Smith
“Our son has been creating his own card games. They’re so detailed. He’s designed a full game based on the Roman Empire. I never realized how crazy he is about history and how much knowledge he already has. I’m impressed. Really impressed.” ― Justine Broadhurst
“My 6 year old and 8 year old have mastered riding their bicycles. 😍
My 12 year old has learned to cut the grass on his own. (Yay!)” ― Alex Harris
“They’re realizing how much they love and depend upon each other. They thought they were going to miss their friends, but they seem to find comfort together.” ―Amanda Mortensen Wallace
“My teens fully understand the benefit of school ― it’s easy to complain when you have to go, but now that it’s gone... 💡” ― Laura Jane Tubbs Lewon
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“My teens actually deciding to spend time with their 6 year old sister of their own accord.” ― Sabrina Soros Kareha
“Each other. They are 17, 19 and 20 and hearing them stay up late into the night giggling like they did years ago has been a blessing.” ― Mandy Stitt
“My 9yr old appreciates her 4yr old sister more because she still has a friend to play with.” ― Colleen J Kearns-McMeken
“My 8 year old asked me if there were any more chores he could do. My 5 year old asked if we were ever going to wear outside clothes again. So it’s going well lol.” ― Kim Ann Mansfield
“I’ve been surprised at how self sufficient they are ― when given the opportunity!” ― Leigh Palmer
“They love playing Minecraft together and I’m totally okay with it.” ― Laura Jean
“My 7 year [old] appreciates that our house is very cozy. ‘Mom, our house has carpet. I love that our house has carpet... I don’t have to wear shoes. Wait, Mom?!?!? Will my shoes fit my feet by the time we can go out again?!? I haven’t put them on in a long time.’ lol” ― Sandy DeTellis
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huffpost--2020-04-08--Please Stop Throwing Your Used Gloves Or Masks On The Ground

Apparently , though , those gloves and masks need to come with proper disposal directions .
Everywhere you look in America , it seems , there are discarded gloves and masks in streets and parking lots , left behind by people who couldn ’ t be bothered to find a nearby trash bin .
“ I couldn ’ t believe what I saw so I went to the store and bought a grabber and for the last two hours in three square blocks of the East Village , this is what I found , ” he told HuffPost .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be brought to people ’ s attentions.
” After receiving so many reports of gloves and masks left behind in Parsippany , New Jersey , the local police department issued a warning on Facebook : “ Clean up and properly dispose of your used gloves and wipes .
If you do not , you can be charged and fined up to $ 500.
” Of course , it shouldn ’ t take a hefty fine to encourage people to clean up after themselves .
There are quite a few reasons why leaving your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can do during this pandemic .
If the used gloves have the virus on them , you could infect essential workers .
The concern that led you to put on gloves in the first place shouldn ’ t be reserved for you and your family ; you should be just as concerned about others getting coronavirus , too .
“ With such behaviors , where is our dignity ?
Where is our respect ?
Civic sense ?
” he told HuffPost .
“ We tend to judge everyone and cry about human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we throw masks and gloves that can infect others ?
We can not be safe by putting others in danger.
” It ’ s an environmental risk too : The used gloves could end up in the ocean .
“ Most people are oblivious to the negative impact that littering brings to the environment , ” she said .
“ Just like many smokers don ’ t know that cigarette butts contain plastic , people littering gloves might not be aware that latex and nitrile items are not biodegradable.
” Since launching the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ ve received over 700 pictures from people all over the United States and in other countries including Italy , Spain , Portugal , France , Canada and Japan .
( Algarra stressed that they ’ re not encouraging anyone to pick up the items , unless they feel comfortable and have the proper protective equipment . )

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People are increasingly wearing gloves and masks in public, in order to protect themselves and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Apparently, though, those gloves and masks need to come with proper disposal directions. Everywhere you look in America, it seems, there are discarded gloves and masks in streets and parking lots, left behind by people who couldn’t be bothered to find a nearby trash bin.
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In Los Angeles, they’re scattered in parking lots of markets like Whole Foods, waiting for some already-exhausted employee to have to pick them up.
Please throw disgusting virus gloves in the trash. These are all over the Whole Foods parking lot, discarded for workers to clean up (as if they need more crap to deal with). pic.twitter.com/4oTgF5EnKw — Aaron Mento (@AaronMento) April 3, 2020
They’re tossed aside in parking lots in Orlando, Florida, too.
New, disgusting trend: people leaving used gloves in the parking lot at the grocery store. pic.twitter.com/DHFALoyWzc — Christopher Heath (@CHeathWFTV) April 6, 2020
In Charlottesville, Virginia, local meteorologist David Reese found multiple pairs of gloves in the parking lot of his local Kroger.
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People. If you’re going to use gloves, at least dispose of them properly!! I just picked up 5-6 pairs of #gloves and a mask in the Kroger parking lot. #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/fnmGtAoglp — David Reese (@WXReese) April 4, 2020
In New England, someone abandoned their gloves in a cart at Costco, leaving an employee to fish them out and sanitize the cart before it could be used again.
Don't be this thoughtless.
Don't leave your gloves in your cart in the parking lot at Costco.
Don't put these great workers at risk. pic.twitter.com/IehgyjdrHC — John C (@jcvoetbal) April 2, 2020
It got so bad in New York City over the weekend, that Ryan McKenzie, a restauranteur who lives in Manhattan, began cleaning it up.
“I couldn’t believe what I saw so I went to the store and bought a grabber and for the last two hours in three square blocks of the East Village, this is what I found,” he told HuffPost. “It’s abhorrent and needs to be brought to people’s attentions.”
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Ryan McKenzie In New York City, Ryan McKenzie picked up and threw away all the discarded gloves and masks he found on the street over the weekend.
In the wake of complaints, local authorities are reminding folks of the penalties of littering.
After receiving so many reports of gloves and masks left behind in Parsippany, New Jersey, the local police department issued a warning on Facebook: “Clean up and properly dispose of your used gloves and wipes. If you do not, you can be charged and fined up to $500.”
In Yorktown, New York, the current fine of $500 for littering will be doubled to $1,000 for the first violation for anyone caught improperly discarding face masks and gloves.
Of course, it shouldn’t take a hefty fine to encourage people to clean up after themselves. There are quite a few reasons why leaving your gloves behind is among the worst things you can do during this pandemic.
If the used gloves have the virus on them, you could infect essential workers.
The concern that led you to put on gloves in the first place shouldn’t be reserved for you and your family; you should be just as concerned about others getting coronavirus, too.
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The obvious selfishness of throwing a used glove on the ground is what’s most frustrating, said Jagdish Khubchandani, an associate chair and professor of health science at Ball State University.
“With such behaviors, where is our dignity? Where is our respect? Civic sense?” he told HuffPost. “We tend to judge everyone and cry about human rights: Where are these rights when we throw masks and gloves that can infect others? We cannot be safe by putting others in danger.”
The danger, of course, lies in the fact that the virus could be on the used gloves; studies show that coronavirus can live on surfaces for days.
“If we keep doing this, we could end up infecting our frontline and essential workers and personnel,” Khubchandani said. “Not to mention overburdening waste management workers and city health departments who are already stretched for resources.”
It’s an environmental risk too: The used gloves could end up in the ocean.
Outside of being a potential biohazard, the gloves could eventually end up in stormwater drains.
Some of the gloves contain non-biodegradable plastics, said Mariajose Algarra, the founder of Clean This Beach Up, an environmental organization fighting plastic pollution in Miami Beach, Florida.
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“Most people are oblivious to the negative impact that littering brings to the environment,” she said. “Just like many smokers don’t know that cigarette butts contain plastic, people littering gloves might not be aware that latex and nitrile items are not biodegradable.”
To bring awareness to the current problem, Algarra started a hashtag campaign, #TheGloveChallenge.
“If you see a glove, snap a shot,” the callout on Instagram said.
Since launching the campaign on March 23, Alagarra said they’ve received over 700 pictures from people all over the United States and in other countries including Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Canada and Japan. (Algarra stressed that they’re not encouraging anyone to pick up the items, unless they feel comfortable and have the proper protective equipment.)
She hopes the campaign will educate people who never stopped to think about where their used masks and gloves might end up (or who they might infect).
That said, she recognizes that getting the message across to others might be an uphill battle.
“I think some litterers have a sense of entitlement, a feeling that other people, especially those who get paid to, should clean up after them,” Algarra said. “Others litter due to laziness and believe that disposing of trash property is an inconvenience. I don’t know how to get through to them.”
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huffpost--2020-04-09--Some Churches Plan To Challenge Coronavirus Restrictions On Easter

ST. PETERSBURG , Fla. ( AP ) — At the holiest time of year for Christians , churches are wrestling with how to hold services amid the coronavirus outbreak , and in some cases , that has set up showdowns with local governments over restrictions that forbid large gatherings .
Governors in several states have deemed church an “ essential service , ” allowing Easter worship to proceed even as public health officials warn that large gatherings could be a major setback amid a pandemic that has killed more than 14,000 people in the U.S .
The restrictions have created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kansas lawmakers on Wednesday threw out an order by the governor that limited church gatherings to 10 people .
A Georgia church where more than 30 people congregated inside a small building on Palm Sunday , prompting a visit from state troopers , plans to move forward with normal Easter worship .
The church has installed hand-washing stations and rearranged the 1,000-person sanctuary to hold about 100 people with six or more feet between them , Greiner said .
They plan to hold two abbreviated Easter services to accommodate everyone who wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arena in Orlando held in-person services on Palm Sunday and plan to do the same for Easter , Pastor Envor Moodley said .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , a Republican and close ally of President Donald Trump , exempted religious services from a stay-at-home order issued this month , although he said they must observe social distancing guidelines .
The fallout from the pandemic has upended other rituals .
Easter egg hunts have been canceled in favor of virtual events where children go on the internet to find eggs .
Families are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatives to dinner .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized that “ even short trips inside Germany , to the seaside or the mountains or relatives , can ’ t happen over Easter this year.
” New Zealand police warned people not to drive to vacation homes and risk arrest , and Lithuania moved to lock down major cities in the heavily Catholic nation .
In the Miami Archdiocese , no in-person services are being held .
But church leaders have recorded Mass in English and Spanish for broadcast on local TV at 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mary Ross Agosto .
The Rev .
Michael Waters said members of his 500-person Methodist congregation are among those who ’ ve gotten sick , and many have jobs that don ’ t allow the “ luxury of social distancing.
” “ At the core of our faith , of the Christian faith , is the commandment to love God with all our heart , soul and mind , and our neighbor as ourself , ” Waters said .
“ Anything that puts the lives of our neighbors at jeopardy should not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In New Mexico , the Archdiocese of Santa Fe said it was closing the grounds of El Santuario de Chimayó , one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the nation ’ s most Hispanic state .
“ It appears to be out of line and extreme and clearly in violation , a blatant violation , of our fundamental rights , ” she said .
Religious leaders and faithful have made similar arguments elsewhere .
After receiving a complaint Sunday , troopers showed up at Church of God the Bibleway in Statesboro , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people inside the small building .
The congregation wasn ’ t following social distancing practices , and many people were seen hugging and shaking hands with the pastor , an incident report said .
Troopers gave the pastor a warning and urged him to hold services in the parking lot .
They returned in the evening to find the pastor holding another indoor service with people again standing close together .
That ’ s when the pastor , Eli Porter , was cited on a misdemeanor charge of reckless conduct , as were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re going to do as much as we can to respect the law .
But when it comes down to telling us how our religious services should go , we ’ re not going to do that , ” he said .

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — At the holiest time of year for Christians, churches are wrestling with how to hold services amid the coronavirus outbreak, and in some cases, that has set up showdowns with local governments over restrictions that forbid large gatherings.
Many churches are offering parishioners livestreaming options so they can observe Good Friday and Easter on TVs, smart phones and computers. Others are sending worshipers to drive-in movie theaters for services.
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Governors in several states have deemed church an “essential service,” allowing Easter worship to proceed even as public health officials warn that large gatherings could be a major setback amid a pandemic that has killed more than 14,000 people in the U.S.
The restrictions have created conflicts with state and local authorities. Kansas lawmakers on Wednesday threw out an order by the governor that limited church gatherings to 10 people. A Georgia church where more than 30 people congregated inside a small building on Palm Sunday, prompting a visit from state troopers, plans to move forward with normal Easter worship.
The Rev. John Greiner said the Glorious Way Church in Houston initially moved services online after the county limited large gatherings, but his congregation will hold in-person services on Easter.
“We can’t do what God called us to do on livestream,” Greiner said.
The church has installed hand-washing stations and rearranged the 1,000-person sanctuary to hold about 100 people with six or more feet between them, Greiner said. They plan to hold two abbreviated Easter services to accommodate everyone who wants to attend.
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Joe Long, an attorney working with Pastor Tony Spell, watches as buses bring congregation members to Life Tabernacle Church for a Palm Sunday service in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on April 5, 2020, despite statewide stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic. CLAIRE BANGSER via Getty Images
Churches such as The Center Arena in Orlando held in-person services on Palm Sunday and plan to do the same for Easter, Pastor Envor Moodley said. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican and close ally of President Donald Trump, exempted religious services from a stay-at-home order issued this month, although he said they must observe social distancing guidelines.
The fallout from the pandemic has upended other rituals. Easter egg hunts have been canceled in favor of virtual events where children go on the internet to find eggs. Families are reconsidering whether to invite grandparents and other relatives to dinner.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized that “even short trips inside Germany, to the seaside or the mountains or relatives, can’t happen over Easter this year.” New Zealand police warned people not to drive to vacation homes and risk arrest, and Lithuania moved to lock down major cities in the heavily Catholic nation.
Rev. John G. Restrepo, pastor of St. Dominic Catholic Church, rides in a truck with on Holy Wednesday to bless residents in the Lakeview neighborhood on April 08, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Chris Graythen via Getty Images
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Pope Francis will celebrate Easter Mass in a nearly empty St. Peter’s Basilica, instead of the huge square outside, and in Britain, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will deliver his traditional Easter sermon by video.
In the U.S., major denominations are adhering to the restrictions and keeping parishioners at home to stop the spread of the virus.
In the Miami Archdiocese, no in-person services are being held. But church leaders have recorded Mass in English and Spanish for broadcast on local TV at 11 a.m. on Sunday instead, said spokeswoman Mary Ross Agosto.
“We taped the Easter Sunday Mass in all its glory,” she said. “The Catholic Church is not closed. People are looking for something uplifting.”
The Rev. Michael Waters said members of his 500-person Methodist congregation are among those who’ve gotten sick, and many have jobs that don’t allow the “luxury of social distancing.”
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He said religious gatherings around the world have been breeding grounds for the virus and condemned holding in-person services as reckless.
“At the core of our faith, of the Christian faith, is the commandment to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and our neighbor as ourself,” Waters said. “Anything that puts the lives of our neighbors at jeopardy should not be promoted or endorsed through the church.”
But some smaller churches plan to defy the orders, and law enforcement will be watching in some locations.
In New Mexico, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe said it was closing the grounds of El Santuario de Chimayó, one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the nation’s most Hispanic state.
Police will be at a various locations to tell pilgrims to turn around, officials said.
In Kansas, Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, said her phone had been “ringing off the wall” since the Democratic governor restricted the size of religions gatherings.
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“It appears to be out of line and extreme and clearly in violation, a blatant violation, of our fundamental rights,” she said. Religious leaders and faithful have made similar arguments elsewhere.
After receiving a complaint Sunday, troopers showed up at Church of God the Bibleway in Statesboro, Georgia, and found more than 30 people inside the small building. The congregation wasn’t following social distancing practices, and many people were seen hugging and shaking hands with the pastor, an incident report said. Troopers gave the pastor a warning and urged him to hold services in the parking lot.
They returned in the evening to find the pastor holding another indoor service with people again standing close together. That’s when the pastor, Eli Porter, was cited on a misdemeanor charge of reckless conduct, as were four other men.
Congregants worship during services at The Center Arena in Orlando on Sunday, April 5, 2020. The church is holding services during the coronavirus epidemic. Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Clayton Cowart, president of the Statesboro church’s parent corporation, told The Associated Press the church plans to move forward with a normal, indoor service for Easter.
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“We’re going to do as much as we can to respect the law. But when it comes down to telling us how our religious services should go, we’re not going to do that,” he said.
RiverTown Church in Columbus, Georgia, which has about 200 members, plans to hold drive-in services for the third straight weekend on Easter.
Pastor David Rathel estimates they drew about 55 cars last week. The church marked off every other parking place and asked parishioners to stay in their cars.
“Our message even this Easter Sunday is the resurrection has not been canceled.”
The motto on the church’s website reads:: “Come as you are, worship in your car.”
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Associated Press writers Jake Bleiberg in Dallas, Russell Contrares in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and Kate Brumback in Atlanta contributed.


huffpost--2020-04-09--Trump Quietly Shuts Down Asylum At U.S. Borders To Fight Coronavirus

SAN DIEGO ( AP ) — A U.S. Border Patrol agent wouldn ’ t let Jackeline Reyes explain why she and her 15-year-old daughter needed asylum , pointing to the coronavirus .
That confrontation in Texas came just days after the Trump administration quietly shut down the nation ’ s asylum system for the first time in decades in the name of public health .
“ The agent told us about the virus and that we couldn ’ t go further , but she didn ’ t let us speak or anything , ” said Reyes , 35 , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Reynosa , Mexico , a violent border city .
She tried to get home to crime-ridden Honduras despite learning her brother had been killed there and her mother and 7-year-old daughter had fled to the Nicaraguan border .
But she was stuck in Mexico as the virus closed borders in Central America .
The U.S. government used an obscure public health law to justify one of its most aggressive border crackdowns ever .
People fleeing violence and poverty to seek refuge in the U.S. are whisked to the nearest border crossing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apply for asylum .
It eclipses President Donald Trump ’ s other policies to curtail immigration — which often rely on help from Mexico — by setting aside decades-old national and international laws .
The Trump administration has offered little detail on the rules that , unlike its other immigration policies , have yet to be challenged in court .
The secrecy means the rules got little attention as they took effect March 20 , the same day Trump announced the southern border was closed to nonessential travel .
“ The administration is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do , ” said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick , policy counsel for the American Immigration Council , which has criticized the administration .
“ I don ’ t see this slowing down.
” The administration tapped a law allowing the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ban foreigners if their entry would create “ a serious danger ” to the spread of communicable disease .
The U.S. has the most cases in the world by far .
CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield issued a 30-day order but said he may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is returning Central American children who travel with grandparents , siblings and other relatives , said a congressional aide who was briefed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials and spoke on the condition of anonymity because the information was not intended for public release .
Previously , children who weren ’ t with parents or guardians were considered unaccompanied and automatically put into the asylum pipeline .
An internal Border Patrol memo obtained by ProPublica said an agent who determines that a migrant claims a “ reasonably believable ” fear of being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the U.N. Convention Against Torture , a lesser form of asylum that ’ s harder to qualify for .
In less than two weeks , the U.S. has expelled more than 7,000 people , according to the congressional aide who was briefed last week .
Those not sent to Mexico are flown to their home countries .
CBP had about 300 people in custody last week , down from a peak of more than 19,000 during last year ’ s surge of border crossers .
Reyes said she joined dozens who entered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reach Honduras but was stopped by soldiers and returned to Mexico , where she was quarantined in a migrant shelter .
She said Mexican authorities questioned her about her health , but U.S. authorities didn ’ t .
“ We want to leave already , but I don ’ t know who can help us , ” said Fanny Jaqueline Ortiz of Honduras , who was with her 12- and 3-year-old daughters .
“ There is no transportation , no bus , nothing .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A U.S. Border Patrol agent wouldn’t let Jackeline Reyes explain why she and her 15-year-old daughter needed asylum, pointing to the coronavirus. That confrontation in Texas came just days after the Trump administration quietly shut down the nation’s asylum system for the first time in decades in the name of public health.
“The agent told us about the virus and that we couldn’t go further, but she didn’t let us speak or anything,” said Reyes, 35, who was shuttled to a crossing March 24 in Reynosa, Mexico, a violent border city.
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She tried to get home to crime-ridden Honduras despite learning her brother had been killed there and her mother and 7-year-old daughter had fled to the Nicaraguan border. But she was stuck in Mexico as the virus closed borders in Central America.
The U.S. government used an obscure public health law to justify one of its most aggressive border crackdowns ever. People fleeing violence and poverty to seek refuge in the U.S. are whisked to the nearest border crossing and returned to Mexico without a chance to apply for asylum. It eclipses President Donald Trump’s other policies to curtail immigration — which often rely on help from Mexico — by setting aside decades-old national and international laws.
Mexico is again providing critical support. It’s accepting not only Mexicans, but people from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras who accounted for well over half of all U.S. border arrests last year.
The Trump administration has offered little detail on the rules that, unlike its other immigration policies, have yet to be challenged in court. The secrecy means the rules got little attention as they took effect March 20, the same day Trump announced the southern border was closed to nonessential travel.
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“The administration is able to do what they always wanted to do,” said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy counsel for the American Immigration Council, which has criticized the administration. “I don’t see this slowing down.”
The administration tapped a law allowing the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ban foreigners if their entry would create “a serious danger” to the spread of communicable disease. The U.S. has the most cases in the world by far. CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield issued a 30-day order but said he may extend the rules.
Mexico won’t take unaccompanied children and other “vulnerable people,” including people over 65 and those who are pregnant or sick, said Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, Mexico’s consul general in San Diego.
The U.S. also is returning Central American children who travel with grandparents, siblings and other relatives, said a congressional aide who was briefed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials and spoke on the condition of anonymity because the information was not intended for public release. Previously, children who weren’t with parents or guardians were considered unaccompanied and automatically put into the asylum pipeline.
The health risks of holding migrants in crowded spaces like Border Patrol stations is “the touchstone of this order,” Redfield wrote. He said exceptions to immediately expelling someone can be considered but didn’t elaborate.
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An internal Border Patrol memo obtained by ProPublica said an agent who determines that a migrant claims a “reasonably believable” fear of being tortured can be referred for additional screening under the U.N. Convention Against Torture, a lesser form of asylum that’s harder to qualify for.
Under the rules, agents take migrants to the nearest border crossing in specially designated vehicles and avoid stations, minimizing the risk of exposure to the virus.
Matthew Dyman, a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection, the Border Patrol’s parent agency, declined to comment on the internal memo or provide guidance about the new rules.
“Obtaining and posting leaked information is a great way to degrade trust and communication between CBP and the media,” he said.
In less than two weeks, the U.S. has expelled more than 7,000 people, according to the congressional aide who was briefed last week. Those not sent to Mexico are flown to their home countries. CBP had about 300 people in custody last week, down from a peak of more than 19,000 during last year’s surge of border crossers.
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March’s border enforcement numbers were expected to be released Thursday and may offer a closer look at the impact of the virus.
Ten Senate Democrats sent a letter to acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, who oversees border agencies, saying the Trump administration appeared to have “granted itself sweeping powers to summarily expel large, unknown numbers of individuals arriving at our border.”
“A public health crisis does not give the Executive Branch a free pass to violate constitutional rights, nor does it give the Executive Branch permission to operate outside of the law,” they wrote this week.
For Reyes and others sent to Mexico, they don’t know what’s next.
Reyes said she joined dozens who entered the Guatemalan mountains illegally in a bid to reach Honduras but was stopped by soldiers and returned to Mexico, where she was quarantined in a migrant shelter. She said Mexican authorities questioned her about her health, but U.S. authorities didn’t.
Four adults and seven children expelled from Texas also crossed into the mountains and are now hiding at a house in Guatemala because of a curfew tied to the virus.
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“We want to leave already, but I don’t know who can help us,” said Fanny Jaqueline Ortiz of Honduras, who was with her 12- and 3-year-old daughters. “There is no transportation, no bus, nothing.”
Many Mexican shelters have closed over virus concerns, leaving many stranded in violent cities or reliant on relatives in the U.S. to send money for rent.
Trump’s previous policies have targeted asylum but stopped short of ending it, acknowledging the 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention to provide haven to displaced people and a 1980 U.S. law that established the asylum system.
Under his “Remain in Mexico” policy, more than 60,000 asylum-seekers have been forced to wait across the border for U.S. court hearings. Hearings are temporarily suspended because of the virus.
___
Verza reported from Mexico City and Galvan from Phoenix. Associated Press reporter Nomaan Merchant in Houston contributed to this report.


huffpost--2020-04-09--Senate Fails To Boost Paycheck Protection Program After Partisan Clash

WASHINGTON ― An effort to quickly provide more funding for a new program designed to prevent layoffs at small businesses went down in flames in the Senate on Thursday as lawmakers from both parties accused each other of holding hostage added relief for millions of Americans struggling during the coronavirus pandemic .
At issue was the Paycheck Protection Program that Congress included in its $ 2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill less than two weeks ago .
The program has experienced a rocky rollout ― with many business owners reporting difficulties in either applying for or receiving a loan .
Businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for loans to cover two months of payroll costs , with a $ 10 million limit , that are supposed to be forgiven if the firm avoids layoffs or big pay cuts .
The funds are supposed to be disbursed through banks , which are in charge of vetting applicants .
On paper , the program has the potential to be the most significant part of the government ’ s response to the economic impact of the pandemic , which has shuttered businesses and resulted in an unprecedented 16 million unemployment claims in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the program , companies could hire some of those workers back with the government paying their wages for two months .
It ’ s not clear , however , how much of that $ 118 billion has actually made its way to businesses , which have complained of a chaotic application process as banks either didn ’ t take applications or restricted them to only certain existing customers .
But Democrats laid out their own demands for an interim spending package that included conditions on how money to small businesses was dispensed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billions of dollars to hospitals , states , and municipalities .
Democrats also sought to boost food benefits for low-income individuals and families .
Cardin , who negotiated the creation of the Paycheck Protection Program , called the GOP move a “ political stunt ” and said the program isn ’ t close to running out of money .
He noted that while $ 100 billion in small business loans had been committed , none have actually been given out yet .
“ Yes , we need more money for this program , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for goodness sake let ’ s take the opportunity to make some bipartisan fixes to allow this program to work better for the very people it ’ s designed to help.
” Senators on both sides of the aisle have expressed concerns about the rollout of the Paycheck Protection Program .
Sen. Jeff Merkely ( D-Ore. ) wrote in a letter earlier this week that in giving loans , banks “ are prioritizing bigger , more lucrative customers ” over smaller minority-owned businesses .
Sen. Rick Scott ( R-Fla. ) warned that companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the crisis are also eligible to receive funds .
“ Congress should clarify that only small businesses that have seen a substantial reduction in their revenue can qualify for these loans , so we make sure the funds available are helping businesses hurt by this crisis , ” Scott said in a statement .
Tony Roug , owner of Hot Cookie , a San Francisco bakery , said this week he dipped into his own savings to make payroll for his more than 20 employees at two locations .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the first day of the program , and his lender asked him to fill out more forms this week .
He said he ’ s been in personal contact with bank executives .
“ We ’ ve been right on top of it from the beginning , ” Roug said .
But as of Thursday morning , he ’ d been told he would be approved but hadn ’ t received any money .
While the Payroll Protection Program looks promising , a past partnership between the Treasury Department and banks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Great Recession , never lived up to the promise that it would help as many as 4 million homeowners modify their mortgages .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON ― An effort to quickly provide more funding for a new program designed to prevent layoffs at small businesses went down in flames in the Senate on Thursday as lawmakers from both parties accused each other of holding hostage added relief for millions of Americans struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
At issue was the Paycheck Protection Program that Congress included in its $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill less than two weeks ago. The program has experienced a rocky rollout ― with many business owners reporting difficulties in either applying for or receiving a loan.
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Businesses with fewer than 500 employees are eligible for loans to cover two months of payroll costs, with a $10 million limit, that are supposed to be forgiven if the firm avoids layoffs or big pay cuts. The funds are supposed to be disbursed through banks, which are in charge of vetting applicants.
On paper, the program has the potential to be the most significant part of the government’s response to the economic impact of the pandemic, which has shuttered businesses and resulted in an unprecedented 16 million unemployment claims in just three weeks. Under the terms of the program, companies could hire some of those workers back with the government paying their wages for two months.
The Small Business Administration, which administers the program with backing from the U.S. Treasury Department, said Thursday that there have been “454,000 applications totaling nearly $118 billion” at more than 3,800 lending institutions.
It’s not clear, however, how much of that $118 billion has actually made its way to businesses, which have complained of a chaotic application process as banks either didn’t take applications or restricted them to only certain existing customers.
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Seven company owners told HuffPost on Thursday that they’d applied for loans, but had not yet received them and didn’t know when they will.
Republicans wanted to quickly approve $250 billion more for the program on top of the original $350 billion it was given in March.
But Democrats laid out their own demands for an interim spending package that included conditions on how money to small businesses was dispensed, as well as additional hundreds of billions of dollars to hospitals, states, and municipalities. Democrats also sought to boost food benefits for low-income individuals and families.
Neither side got what they wanted during a pro forma session of the Senate on Thursday. Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) blocked the GOP’s request for clean funding to the small business program. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), meanwhile, blocked the Democrats’ alternative proposal.
“The Democratic leadership has suggested they may hold Americans’ paychecks hostage unless we pass another sweeping bill,” McConnell said. “The country can’t afford unnecessary wrangling or political maneuvering. Don’t block emergency aid you don’t even oppose just because you want something more.”
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Cardin, who negotiated the creation of the Paycheck Protection Program, called the GOP move a “political stunt” and said the program isn’t close to running out of money. He noted that while $100 billion in small business loans had been committed, none have actually been given out yet.
“Yes, we need more money for this program,” Van Hollen added. “But for goodness sake let’s take the opportunity to make some bipartisan fixes to allow this program to work better for the very people it’s designed to help.”
The partisan clash took place just hours after the Department of Labor reported that an additional 6.6 million people filed for unemployment benefits last week.
Senators on both sides of the aisle have expressed concerns about the rollout of the Paycheck Protection Program. Sen. Jeff Merkely (D-Ore.) wrote in a letter earlier this week that in giving loans, banks “are prioritizing bigger, more lucrative customers” over smaller minority-owned businesses. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) warned that companies that haven’t suffered at all due to the crisis are also eligible to receive funds.
“Congress should clarify that only small businesses that have seen a substantial reduction in their revenue can qualify for these loans, so we make sure the funds available are helping businesses hurt by this crisis,” Scott said in a statement.
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The Senate could try and pass more funding for the program as early as Monday, the next scheduled pro forma session.
Tony Roug, owner of Hot Cookie, a San Francisco bakery, said this week he dipped into his own savings to make payroll for his more than 20 employees at two locations. He said he filled out application forms on Friday, the first day of the program, and his lender asked him to fill out more forms this week. He said he’s been in personal contact with bank executives.
“We’ve been right on top of it from the beginning,” Roug said. But as of Thursday morning, he’d been told he would be approved but hadn’t received any money.
While the Payroll Protection Program looks promising, a past partnership between the Treasury Department and banks, designed to reduce foreclosures in the wake of the Great Recession, never lived up to the promise that it would help as many as 4 million homeowners modify their mortgages.
Reuters reported Thursday that a New York investment firm had drawn up a scheme to profit off the Payroll Protection Program, sourcing the loans from online lending platforms that are not approved to participate.
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