newyorkpost--2020-03-02--Yeshiva University takes insane winning streak into NCAAs

Setting records wasn ’ t on Yeshiva University ’ s mind when they set out at the start of the year , but those things happen when you put together the best season in program history .
The top-seeded Maccabees men ’ s basketball team defeated No .
2 Purchase , 86-74 , in the Skyline Conference final at the Max Stern Athletic Center on Sunday .
The victory gave Yeshiva , which has its main campus in Washington Heights , its 27th straight win , having not lost since its opener , for the most victories among Division III @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streak and their total wins are school records for a team currently ranked No .
13 in the country by D3Hoops.com .
“ It wasn ’ t like , ‘ Oh let ’ s get the 17th win or let ’ s get the 24th win , ’ ” said Skyline Tournament Most Outstanding Player Gabriel Leifer — who had 16 points , 24 rebounds and 12 assists in the final .
“ It was more like let ’ s take this one night at a time and eventually over time we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I guess we started to realize it once we broke the school record [ of 17 ] .
” The title is the Yeshiva ’ s second in three years , after also reaching the Skyline final in 2019 .
Ryan Turrell led all scorers with 29 points and Eitan Halpert added 19 .
The Maccabees ( 27-1 ) will find out who they play in the NCAA Tournament on Monday afternoon .
“ Really proud of this group , ” coach Elliot Steinmetz said .
“ Undefeated in the Skyline this season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After opening the season with a 72-60 loss in L.A. to Occidental College , the closest Yeshiva came to losing again was a 74-72 win on the road over Sarah Lawrence .
Leifer hit a wide-open 3-pointer off a pass from Turell with six seconds remaining in the game to claim their 15th straight victory .
Leifer said he hesitated a bit before shooting , but it felt good out of his hand .
“ I knew he was going to pass it to me in the corner , ” Leifer said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the shot.
” The team ’ s success is part of the vision Steinmetz had when he took over the program in 2014 .
He wanted to recruit the best Jewish players nationwide .
Leifer is one of five players from New York and New Jersey — while others come from California , Texas and Colorado , sometimes passing up offers Ivy League and Division I schools .
Yeshiva ’ s schedule and dual curriculum can be a better fit to observant players ’ religious needs “ It ’ s just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting people who have other offers that necessarily didn ’ t need the religious observance , but it ’ s contagious , ” Leifer said .
“ We have all these families in the community come to games and it ’ s an experience of a lifetime.
” Next Yeshiva will try to erase the memory of a first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament in 2018 .
It was Leifer ’ s first season with the team and all of the players ’ first NCAA Tournament .
With much of the core back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be invaluable this time around as the team wants to make a run .
“ It ’ s gon na take our leadership to get the guys together and really convince them that we can do this.
” Leifer said .
“ I know right now the team ’ s feeling great and we really think we can makes some noise just based on how we are playing this season .
”

Setting records wasn’t on Yeshiva University’s mind when they set out at the start of the year, but those things happen when you put together the best season in program history.
The top-seeded Maccabees men’s basketball team defeated No. 2 Purchase, 86-74, in the Skyline Conference final at the Max Stern Athletic Center on Sunday.
The victory gave Yeshiva, which has its main campus in Washington Heights, its 27th straight win, having not lost since its opener, for the most victories among Division III teams this season. Their 27-game winning streak and their total wins are school records for a team currently ranked No. 13 in the country by D3Hoops.com.
“It wasn’t like, ‘Oh let’s get the 17th win or let’s get the 24th win,’ ” said Skyline Tournament Most Outstanding Player Gabriel Leifer — who had 16 points, 24 rebounds and 12 assists in the final. “It was more like let’s take this one night at a time and eventually over time we’ll build a winning streak. But I guess we started to realize it once we broke the school record [of 17].”
The title is the Yeshiva’s second in three years, after also reaching the Skyline final in 2018. Ryan Turrell led all scorers with 29 points and Eitan Halpert added 19. The Maccabees (27-1) will find out who they play in the NCAA Tournament on Monday afternoon.
“Really proud of this group,” coach Elliot Steinmetz said. “Undefeated in the Skyline this season. That’ll last forever.”
After opening the season with a 72-60 loss in L.A. to Occidental College, the closest Yeshiva came to losing again was a 74-72 win on the road over Sarah Lawrence. Leifer hit a wide-open 3-pointer off a pass from Turell with six seconds remaining in the game to claim their 15th straight victory. Leifer said he hesitated a bit before shooting, but it felt good out of his hand.
“I knew he was going to pass it to me in the corner,” Leifer said. “I knew I just had to make the shot.”
The team’s success is part of the vision Steinmetz had when he took over the program in 2014. He wanted to recruit the best Jewish players nationwide. Leifer is one of five players from New York and New Jersey — while others come from California, Texas and Colorado, sometimes passing up offers Ivy League and Division I schools. Yeshiva’s schedule and dual curriculum can be a better fit to observant players’ religious needs
“It’s just a testament to the program that we are getting people who have other offers that necessarily didn’t need the religious observance, but it’s contagious,” Leifer said. “We have all these families in the community come to games and it’s an experience of a lifetime.”
Next Yeshiva will try to erase the memory of a first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament in 2018. It was Leifer’s first season with the team and all of the players’ first NCAA Tournament. With much of the core back from that team, the experience should be invaluable this time around as the team wants to make a run.
“It’s gonna take our leadership to get the guys together and really convince them that we can do this.” Leifer said. “I know right now the team’s feeling great and we really think we can makes some noise just based on how we are playing this season.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-01--Flavor Flav fired from Public Enemy over Bernie Sanders flap

Hip-hop legend Flavor Flav was fired from Public Enemy on Sunday night after he slapped Bernie Sanders with a cease-and-desist @ @ @ @ @ would perform at a rally in Los Angeles .
“ Public Enemy and Public Enemy @ @ @ @ @ without Flavor Flav , ” the group said in a statement to Rolling Stone .
@ @ @ @ @ his years of service and wish him well.
” Flav ’ s legal maneuver came @ @ @ @ @ Public Enemy Radio were set to perform at Sanders ’ rally — excluding Flavor Flav @ @ @ @ @ to ‘ Fight the Power ’ with hip hop icons Public Enemy — but this @ @ @ @ @ performing at the Sanders Rally , ” read the letter sent through Flav ’ s @ @ @ @ @ , and obtained by Spin .
The 60-year-old Flav said that he had no problem @ @ @ @ @ group ’ s co-founder — voicing his own political opinions , but said that it @ @ @ @ @ to speak for all of Public Enemy .

Hip-hop legend Flavor Flav was fired from Public Enemy on Sunday night after he slapped Bernie Sanders with a cease-and-desist letter for claiming the group would perform at a rally in Los Angeles.
“Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio will be moving forward without Flavor Flav,” the group said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “We thank him for his years of service and wish him well.”
Flav’s legal maneuver came just as Chuck D and Public Enemy Radio were set to perform at Sanders’ rally — excluding Flavor Flav.
“Sanders has promised to ‘Fight the Power’ with hip hop icons Public Enemy — but this Rap Icon will not be performing at the Sanders Rally,” read the letter sent through Flav’s lawyer, Matthew H. Friedman, and obtained by Spin.
For more on Flavor Flav’s battle with Chuck D, listen to this episode of the Page Six podcast, “We Hear“:
The 60-year-old Flav said he had no problem with Chuck D, the group’s co-founder, voicing his own political opinions, but that it’s not his place to speak for all of Public Enemy.


newyorkpost--2020-03-01--Zion Williamson’s career best isn’t enough to beat LeBron James

NEW ORLEANS — LeBron James keeps finding ways to assert his supremacy over the upstart New Orleans Pelicans and rookie sensation Zion Williamson — with or without the help of fellow Lakers All-Star Anthony Davis .
James had 34 points , 13 assists and 12 rebounds , and Los Angeles overcame both Davis ’ absence and Williamson ’ s highest-scoring game to beat New Orleans 122-114 on Sunday night .
“ Obviously , spectacular performance by LeBron James , ” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said .
“ His shot-making was ridiculous from both in the post , with turnaround jump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ When they brought double-teams , he is one of the best passers in the league , ” Vogel added .
“ He showed it tonight and picked their defense apart.
” Williamson finished with 35 points , but his largely productive and highlight-filled night was marred somewhat by six turnovers .
Kyle Kuzma scored 20 , including a corner 3-pointer set up by James that put the Lakers up 113-109 with 3:40 to go .
The Lakers gradually pulled away after that , aided by James ’ 3 with 2:27 left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — incredible player , ” Williamson said of James .
“ I give respect when it ’ s due .
He hit a big shot and it helped them seal the game.
” Davis , who spent the first seven of his eight seasons with New Orleans , sat out with a sore right knee , one night after playing in the Lakers ’ 105-88 loss at Memphis .
His injury did not appear too serious ; he was on the bench in street clothes and routinely reacted to the action on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and standing on the sideline .
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 13 and JaVale McGee asserted himself inside with six blocked shots and eight points , including his layup in the final minute that made it 120-112 .
“ We had one of the best players in the league out tonight ; that is what makes the win feel that much better , ” Vogel said .
“ Kuz was great and our bigs were great .
A lot of guys contributed on the perimeter , in particular on the defensive end .
… Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” James punished the Pelicans on consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter when double-teams arrived late , beating guard and former teammate Josh Hart with explosive dribble drives for a dunk and a layup .
His dominance served as an emphatic encore to his season-high 40 points in a victory over New Orleans six days earlier in Los Angeles .
“ He just controls the whole game , ” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said .
“ You go down and double him , and he finds the open pass for 3 .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s so strong and so skilled that he just lays the ball in the basket .
… I ’ m just amazed that they talk about anybody other than him for MVP.
” Ex-Laker Lonzo Ball had 19 points , nine assists and nine rebounds for New Orleans .
Derrick Favors added 12 points and 14 rebounds , but the Pelicans were done in by 7-of-33 3-point shooting .
The opening half was a crowd-pleasing affair in which James scored 19 and Williamson 17 .
Moments after Williamson had cut to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James pulled up from 35 feet for a 3 that tied it at 61 .
“ Zion had a hell of a move right before that , got the crowd into it .
I looked at the clock and saw we had an opportunity for a two-for-one , ” James recalled .
“ Nine times out of 10 , maybe 10 times out of 10 , a lot of guys are not going to contest that shot because they think I ’ m shooting that from too far .
So I know I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it before the game and I was able to knock it down.
” The Lakers widened their lead to nine in the third quarter , only to see New Orleans surge back in front , sparked by Williamson spinning free from Kuzma for a back-door dunk of Jrue Holiday ’ s alley-oop pass .
Early in the fourth , the Pelicans led by as many as six points — not nearly enough to prevent James and Co. from taking over late .

NEW ORLEANS — LeBron James keeps finding ways to assert his supremacy over the upstart New Orleans Pelicans and rookie sensation Zion Williamson — with or without the help of fellow Lakers All-Star Anthony Davis.
James had 34 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds, and Los Angeles overcame both Davis’ absence and Williamson’s highest-scoring game to beat New Orleans 122-114 on Sunday night.
“Obviously, spectacular performance by LeBron James,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “His shot-making was ridiculous from both in the post, with turnaround jump shots, and at the 3-point line.
“When they brought double-teams, he is one of the best passers in the league,” Vogel added. “He showed it tonight and picked their defense apart.”
Williamson finished with 35 points, but his largely productive and highlight-filled night was marred somewhat by six turnovers.
Kyle Kuzma scored 20, including a corner 3-pointer set up by James that put the Lakers up 113-109 with 3:40 to go. The Lakers gradually pulled away after that, aided by James’ 3 with 2:27 left.
“He is who he is — incredible player,” Williamson said of James. “I give respect when it’s due. He hit a big shot and it helped them seal the game.”
Davis, who spent the first seven of his eight seasons with New Orleans, sat out with a sore right knee, one night after playing in the Lakers’ 105-88 loss at Memphis. His injury did not appear too serious; he was on the bench in street clothes and routinely reacted to the action on the court by springing out of his seat and standing on the sideline.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 13 and JaVale McGee asserted himself inside with six blocked shots and eight points, including his layup in the final minute that made it 120-112.
“We had one of the best players in the league out tonight; that is what makes the win feel that much better,” Vogel said. “Kuz was great and our bigs were great. A lot of guys contributed on the perimeter, in particular on the defensive end. … Just a heck of a win for us.”
James punished the Pelicans on consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter when double-teams arrived late, beating guard and former teammate Josh Hart with explosive dribble drives for a dunk and a layup. His dominance served as an emphatic encore to his season-high 40 points in a victory over New Orleans six days earlier in Los Angeles.
“He just controls the whole game,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. “You go down and double him, and he finds the open pass for 3. If you don’t double him, he’s so strong and so skilled that he just lays the ball in the basket. … I’m just amazed that they talk about anybody other than him for MVP.”
Ex-Laker Lonzo Ball had 19 points, nine assists and nine rebounds for New Orleans. Derrick Favors added 12 points and 14 rebounds, but the Pelicans were done in by 7-of-33 3-point shooting.
The opening half was a crowd-pleasing affair in which James scored 19 and Williamson 17.
Moments after Williamson had cut to the hoop for a one-handed stuff, James pulled up from 35 feet for a 3 that tied it at 61.
“Zion had a hell of a move right before that, got the crowd into it. I looked at the clock and saw we had an opportunity for a two-for-one,” James recalled. “Nine times out of 10, maybe 10 times out of 10, a lot of guys are not going to contest that shot because they think I’m shooting that from too far. So I know I have some space. I work on it before the game and I was able to knock it down.”
Caldwell-Pope’s driving finger roll gave Los Angeles a 63-61 edge at halftime.
The Lakers widened their lead to nine in the third quarter, only to see New Orleans surge back in front, sparked by Williamson spinning free from Kuzma for a back-door dunk of Jrue Holiday’s alley-oop pass.
Early in the fourth, the Pelicans led by as many as six points — not nearly enough to prevent James and Co. from taking over late.


newyorkpost--2020-03-01--Giancarlo Stanton snaps out of sad Yankees mood

TAMPA — It doesn ’ t take much to understand why Giancarlo ...

LAKELAND, Fla. — On Friday, Giancarlo Stanton’s face was smothered in dejection about the Grade 1 strain of his right calf that shut him down and placed an Opening Day roster spot in jeopardy.
Judging by what Aaron Boone saw in Stanton’s mug and walk, the left fielder/designated hitter’s mood was brighter on Sunday.
“I passed him in the hallway [at George M. Steinbrenner Field] getting ready to come over [to Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland] and he said he was feeling better,’’ Boone said. “I know [Saturday] was significantly better than the day before as far as his gait goes. He was walking better. He had a smile on his face.’’
Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire is high on former Yankees catcher Austin Romine, who left The Bronx as a free agent and landed in Detroit via a one-year deal worth $4.1 million.
Gardenhire’s knowledge of Romine came from what others said about the 31-year-old and people who knew him.
“How professional he is, he is a quiet guy who goes about his business. You don’t have to worry about him,’’ Gardenhire said before the Tigers beat the Yankees, 10-4, Sunday. “When he is called up on he will go out there and do the best he can. We know he can catch. We know he can call a ballgame and he has a bat. He will get to see a lot of it. That’s why we brought him over here. He will get plenty of opportunities and he likes that part.’’
James Paxton is nearing the day when he will add throwing to his rehab program following back surgery early last month.
“Thinking the end of the [upcoming] week or the beginning of the week after,’’ Paxton said Sunday morning in the Steinbrenner Field clubhouse. “Everything is going like it should.’’
Paxton estimated when he begins throwing he will start from about 50 feet.
David Hale, a candidate to make the Yankees’ 13-man staff, started Sunday and gave up two runs, two hits and a walk in 1 ²/₃ innings to the Tigers.
Aaron Boone included non-roster invite Rosell Herrera among the players who could provide outfield depth if Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge aren’t ready for Opening Day. Herrera, a utility player, strengthened his longshot chances by going 3-for-3 Sunday and is 7-for-14 this spring.
Summoned from the minor league facility Miguel Yajure, Kaleb Ort and Adonis Roso combined to give up eight runs and six hits in two innings.
Yajure, 21, worked a perfect sixth inning and struck out all three batters. He went out to start the seventh and was tagged for three runs. In 1 ¹/₃ innings, Yajure walked one and struck out four.
Sun. Fishing. Pool. Beach. Sleep. Beer. Monday is dark on the Yankees’ schedule. It is one of two off days during the Florida portion of spring training.


newyorkpost--2020-03-01--Devils drop Ducks to stay hot behind rare Cory Schneider shutout

ANAHEIM , Calif. — Pavel Zacha scored two power-play goals , Cory Schneider made 34 saves for his first shutout in more than a year , and the Devils beat the Ducks 3-0 on Sunday night .
Nico Hischier had a goal , Nikita Gusev had an assist to extend his point streak to six games , and the Devils extended their streak of games earning a point to six .
New Jersey is 4-0-2 in that span , matching a 3-0-3 stretch from Jan. 27-Feb. 8 as its longest of the season .
Schneider ’ s shutout was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first since Feb. 21 , 2019 , against Ottawa .
“ He looks really comfortable back there , and we try to help him as much as we can , ” Hischier said of Schneider .
“ And he helps us with big saves , with not giving up much rebounds , so he ’ s been outstanding.
” John Gibson made 31 saves for the Ducks , who could not put together their second three-game winning streak of the season after beating Edmonton on Tuesday and Pittsburgh on Friday .
Zacha gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the second period with a wrist shot from the left circle .
It was Zacha ’ s second multi-goal game of the season and fourth of his career .
“ Both ( power-play goals ) came off the rush , ” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said .
“ We just had missed reads , stick in the wrong position .
… So , honest mistakes , but this is an unforgiving league.
” Gusev had the secondary assist , giving him two goals and seven assists during his point streak .
Hischier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it 3-0 with 6:04 left in the third period .
Zacha put the Devils up 1-0 with 2:54 remaining in the first , charging in at the left circle for a one-timer off Jesper Bratt ’ s pass from behind the net to end an 11-game scoreless streak .
“ They obviously have chemistry now , ” Devils interim coach Alain Nasreddine said of Zacha and Bratt .
“ They feel good , they feel confident , and you can clearly see that.
” New Jersey was 2 for 3 on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 on the power play in their past six games , including three games scoring multiple goals with the man-advantage

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Pavel Zacha scored two power-play goals, Cory Schneider made 34 saves for his first shutout in more than a year, and the Devils beat the Ducks 3-0 on Sunday night.
Nico Hischier had a goal, Nikita Gusev had an assist to extend his point streak to six games, and the Devils extended their streak of games earning a point to six. New Jersey is 4-0-2 in that span, matching a 3-0-3 stretch from Jan. 27-Feb. 8 as its longest of the season.
Schneider’s shutout was the 26th of his career, and his first since Feb. 21, 2019, against Ottawa.
“He looks really comfortable back there, and we try to help him as much as we can,” Hischier said of Schneider. “And he helps us with big saves, with not giving up much rebounds, so he’s been outstanding.”
John Gibson made 31 saves for the Ducks, who could not put together their second three-game winning streak of the season after beating Edmonton on Tuesday and Pittsburgh on Friday.
Zacha gave the Devils a 2-0 lead at 3:48 of the second period with a wrist shot from the left circle. It was Zacha’s second multi-goal game of the season and fourth of his career.
“Both (power-play goals) came off the rush,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “We just had missed reads, stick in the wrong position. … So, honest mistakes, but this is an unforgiving league.”
Gusev had the secondary assist, giving him two goals and seven assists during his point streak.
Hischier tipped Connor Carrick’s shot to make it 3-0 with 6:04 left in the third period.
Zacha put the Devils up 1-0 with 2:54 remaining in the first, charging in at the left circle for a one-timer off Jesper Bratt’s pass from behind the net to end an 11-game scoreless streak.
“They obviously have chemistry now,” Devils interim coach Alain Nasreddine said of Zacha and Bratt. “They feel good, they feel confident, and you can clearly see that.”
New Jersey was 2 for 3 on the power play. They are 8 for 22 on the power play in their past six games, including three games scoring multiple goals with the man-advantage


newyorkpost--2020-03-01--Criticisms of Trump’s coronavirus response are sickening: Devine

President Trump on Wednesday declared that the coronavirus posed “ a ...

Whom better to have as president during the coronavirus epidemic but a renowned germaphobe, the “build-the-wall” guy who refuses to kowtow to China?
It’s a unique set of characteristics showing that President Trump understood early the need for decisive measures such as travel restrictions on China, which he imposed in January.
Yet for that sensible decision — in defiance of the World Health Organization — he was criticized by Democrats such as Joe Biden as xenophobic, and by China as racist.
“This is no time for Donald Trump’s record of hysteria and xenophobia — hysterical xenophobia — and fearmongering,” said Biden the day after the travel restrictions were imposed.
CNN ran a story warning that “the US coronavirus travel ban could backfire” and have the effect of “stigmatizing countries and ethnicities.”
The Chinese Communist Party’s official mouthpiece, the People’s Daily, called the ban “racist.”
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned it would increase “fear and stigma, with little public health benefit.”
It is hard to have much confidence in a United Nations bureaucracy run by the former health minister of the Marxist regime of Ethiopia. In 2017, Tedros tried to appoint then-Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe as a WHO goodwill ambassador, and he seems to have a soft spot for China.
The Council on Foreign Relations think tank said last week that Tedros owes China because it backed him in the election to become director-general in 2017.
Tedros denies kowtowing to Beijing, but not only did he advise governments not to restrict travel from China at the start of the epidemic, he was slow to declare a global health emergency and praised China for its “transparency,” although the Communist authorities there had been covering up the spread of the disease.
So ignoring Tedros turned out to be one of the president’s smartest decisions.
At the press conference with Trump on Saturday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the highly respected head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, praised the “original decision that was made by the president … [that] prevented travel from China to the United States.
“If we had not done that, we would have had many, many more cases right here that we would have to be dealing with.”
Trump’s travel restrictions began on Jan. 31. Australia and Singapore instituted their own travel limits the next day. Trump’s move bought valuable time to slow the spread of the virus and ease pressure on the nation’s health system before a vaccine is developed — which experts believe is at least 18 months away.
But that hasn’t stopped the barrage of fake criticisms, including that Trump had left the nation dangerously unprepared to cope with a pandemic by cutting funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Not true. The CDC’s programming budget increased from $7.2 billion in 2019 to nearly $7.7 billion this year, the Associated Press fact-checking unit reported. Trump had proposed a cut, but Congress rejected it.
It’s reprehensible for the Democrats to make political hay by blaming Trump for the coronavirus or, as a New York Times op-ed piece called it, “Trumpvirus.”
In an editorial Saturday, the Gray Lady also reiterated its debunked claim that Trump has “muzzled” Fauci.
Yet at Saturday’s 2 p.m. press conference — hours before the Times’ deadline — Fauci emphatically denied the claim.
“I have never been muzzled, ever, and I’ve been doing this since the administration of Ronald Reagan,” Fauci said. “I’m not being muzzled by this administration. That was a real misrepresentation of what happened.”
What shoddy journalism to publish such an incendiary, anonymously sourced claim, without at least including Fauci’s denial.
The anti-Trump narrative rolled on, with increasingly silly attacks. The Washington Post speculated that the coronavirus could be “Trump’s Katrina,” referring to Hurricane Katrina, the response to which had been bungled by President George W. Bush.
When Trump announced a coronavirus task force with the most eminent experts in the nation, CNN blasted him for a “lack of diversity.”
You could hardly blame the president for calling all this unfair criticism the “new hoax” of the Democrats and Resistance media, to try to take him down, like the Russia collusion hoax and the impeachment gambit. Of course, then his opponents twisted his words to pretend he had called the coronavirus a “hoax.”
The obvious untruth was spread by established journalists such as Dana Millbank of the Washington Post, who tweeted Friday night: “Remember this moment: Trump, in South Carolina, just called the coronavirus a ‘hoax.’”
When Trump pointed out that he had said no such thing, which the footage of his remarks confirms, the Daily News claimed yesterday he had “backed away from his claim that the coronavirus is a ‘hoax.’”
This is Twitter-level disinformation.
Michael Bloomberg is as bad. After spending days accusing the president of dismissing the spread of the virus as a hoax, he had the nerve to take out ads on prime-time TV Sunday saying the epidemic “requires putting politics and partisanship aside.” Hah! In our dreams.
The problem is that Trump Derangement Syndrome stands in the way of the bipartisan cooperation required to defeat this epidemic.
Related Video Panicked New York shoppers stock up at Costco amid coronavirus fears
Bern’s appeal fragile
Good for the voters of South Carolina for rejecting socialism with their decisive vote for Joe Biden in the Democratic presidential primary Saturday.
Who knows how Biden will fare on Super Tuesday, but for all the hype about Bernie Sanders, his distant second-place finish is a reminder that his momentum is fragile.
His large rallies of young people are deceptive because Sanders lures them with concerts by cool bands such as Vampire Weekend. It’s unclear how he’d fare without the free entertainment.
Plus his big promise, along with free college tuition and forgiving student debt, is legalized pot.
It will be hard to get the big turnout he needs if his voters are too stoned to get off the couch.
Toss idiotic bag ban
It’s bad enough that plastic bags have been banned. This incredible invention, which served double duty as a garbage bin liner and a pet-poop scooper, will be sorely missed.
But for the city to slap a 5-cent tax on paper bags at the same time is just cruel.


newyorkpost--2020-03-01--Texas Rangers believe in a Corey Kluber revival

PHOENIX — The Yankees have had enough early injuries to ...

PHOENIX — Corey Kluber was a backup plan. Sometimes a backup plan to a backup plan.
The starter-hungry teams needed to work through not only the top of the free-agent market with Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg, but also the next tier with Zack Wheeler and Madison Bumgarner.
Kluber had two Cy Youngs for the Indians, but three factors were working against his appeal — he would be 34 by the third week of the 2020 season, the 2019 campaign was a disaster in performance and health (5.80 ERA in just seven starts), and it was possible to believe 2019 was a reflection of his age combined with being an extreme workhorse (the second-most innings in the majors from 2014-18).
Still, there was interest. The Angels, for example, struck out on Cole and Wheeler, but thought they were going to get Kluber. However, their reluctance to include well-regarded outfield prospect Brandon Marsh left an opening for another AL West club. The Rangers landed Kluber shortly after the Winter Meetings for hard-throwing reliever Emmanuel Clase and outfielder Delino DeShields. The lack of a star prospect in return indicated just how far Kluber’s appeal had fallen.
But the Rangers believe they just might not only have acquired Corey Kluber — but that Corey Kluber, the one who was the AL Cy Young winner as recently as 2017 and finished third in 2018.
“I think we have,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “For an elite guy to still say he has a lot to prove, that is pretty significant. He has a chip on his shoulder, wanting to prove he is still Corey Kluber.”
Kluber made his Rangers debut Sunday with mainly positive results against the Dodgers. His fastball was in a familiar 90-92 mph range, he pitched three innings comfortably, he struck out the side in the second and induced six groundouts. On the downside, he allowed just one ball out of the infield, an Enrique Hernandez homer in the third. He felt it was a good pitch. Also, one of the foremost control pitchers walked two and hit one, but explained he was not missing by much.
Rust would be expected. Kluber missed most of last season with a broken forearm and an oblique strain. He said there was a bit of nerves before Sunday’s game, but once he moved into his standard routine, all was familiar.
“It was encouraging to get out there and feel good,” he said.
The main encouragement is for the Rangers. Last season they were a strong club when Lance Lynn or Mike Minor started, that underappreciated duo going 30-21 with a 3.86. All other Rangers starter were a combined 15-39 with a 7.22 ERA. They signed Kyle Gibson and Jordan Lyle to provide capability and stability to the back end. The gambit for Kluber was about something more.
“I think we have a chance,” Woodward said, “to have three aces.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-01--New-look Red Bulls’ promising start overshadowed by who left

After hosting its Round of 16 home leg at Red ...

The nature of sports since the beginning of time is that teams and players move on from one year to the next. Players come and they go and life goes on for teams. The games are still played and results continue to be expected.
But when a team has moved on from two of the most important, productive, heart-and-soul players the franchise has ever seen, there are difficult questions that must be answered.
What were the Red Bulls going to look like in Sunday’s 2020 season opener on a sunny but bone-chilling afternoon at Red Bull Arena, without Luis Robles guarding the net and Bradley Wright-Phillips prowling in front of the opposing goalkeeper with his sniper-like goal-scoring instincts?
For many Red Bulls supporters, those were uncomfortable questions to ponder and they’ll continue to be even after Sunday’s 3-2 win over FC Cincinnati.
All Robles did in his eight seasons for the Red Bulls was deliver an MLS-record 183 consecutive starts from 2012-18 and compile a career 114-71-53 won-loss record.
Wright-Phillips? He scored 108 goals in 195 games with the Red Bulls, winning the Golden Boot as the top MLS goal-scorer in 2014 and 2016.
So, you can understand the angst of Red Bulls supporters with those two pillars no longer a part of the team — Robles now the captain of Inter Miami FC and Wright-Phillips a member of LAFC.
Yes, the new-look, younger Red Bulls are 1-0 and feeling good about themselves after Sunday’s win — albeit against the worst team in MLS in 2019 with a minus-44 goal differential. And they should feel good. A win, after all, is a win — even if they looked as sloppy and disconnected for much of the second half as their bottom-feeder counterparts.
“On the outside, I can definitely understand skepticism,’’ newly minted Red Bulls captain Sean Davis said after the match, referring to the roster changeover and dependency on youth instead of star power.
“Those two guys were club legends, so whenever club legends are let go or move on to new ventures, there is question from the fans,’’ veteran defender Tim Parker said. “But what we’ve done here [Sunday] and what we did in preseason, they should believe in the group that we have here.’’
This is not to rain on the Red Bulls’ parade, because there were, indeed, significant positives that came out of the victory — namely the performances of midfielder Florian Valot and defender Kyle Duncan.
Valot delivered two assists in his first MLS appearance since he tore the ACL in his right knee — that injury coming after he’d just returned from tearing his left ACL in 2018.
“Out of all the guys, I’m so happy for Flo,’’ Davis said. “He deserves this moment.’’
Duncan, a 22-year-old New York City native, scored his second career MLS goal, a tally that gave the Red Bulls a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute it would never relinquish. He, too, added two assists and was named “Man of the Match.’’ Not a bad start for a player who bounced between the big club and the RBNY II last season because of inconsistency.
Kaku and Daniel Royer also scored, and Danish goalkeeper David Jensen won in his first match with the team — an odd look for the Red Bulls without Robles in net.
“There’s things you know and things you don’t know,’’ coach Chris Armas said when asked about the drastic roster turnover. “What I knew for sure is this team is hard to play against.’’
On this day, against one of the inferior teams in the league, yes.
Whether that continues is a question that will hover of over the heads of the Red Bulls brass that chose not to replace stars with stars this past offseason, instead betting on their system as a plug-and-play operation.


newyorkpost--2020-03-01--NYC officials: Don’t panic after first confirmed coronavirus case

New York City officials are urging folks not to panic over the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in the state on Sunday .
Shortly after the Big Apple case was announced , Mayor Bill de Blasio released a statement saying authorities are “ fully prepared to respond ” to the development .
“ From the beginning , we have said it was a matter of when , not if there would be a positive case of coronavirus in New York , ” the mayor said .
“ Our health authorities have been in a state of high alert for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond , ” the statement said .
“ We will continue to ensure New Yorkers have the facts and resources they need to protect themselves.
” New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson tweeted that “ this is no cause to panic.
” The council will hold a hearing on Thursday to find out how the Big Apple is prepared for the outbreak , Johnson said .
Governor Andrew Cuomo on Sunday evening announced the first case of the deadly virus in the state — a woman in her late 30s who recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolated and monitored at home in Manhattan .
The patient isn ’ t sick enough to be hospitalized , according to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene .
City health officials have identified close contacts of the woman who may have been exposed “ and will take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , ” Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot said in a statement .
The Health Department didn ’ t say how many people the patient was in contact with .
“ Despite this development , New Yorkers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Barbot said .
“ As we confront this emerging outbreak , we need to separate facts from fear , and guard against stigma and panic.
” Nine people have tested negative for the virus in the Big Apple , with one test still pending as of Sunday night .

New York City officials are urging folks not to panic over the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in the state on Sunday.
Shortly after the Big Apple case was announced, Mayor Bill de Blasio released a statement saying authorities are “fully prepared to respond” to the development.
“From the beginning, we have said it was a matter of when, not if there would be a positive case of coronavirus in New York,” the mayor said.
“Our health authorities have been in a state of high alert for weeks, and are fully prepared to respond,” the statement said. “We will continue to ensure New Yorkers have the facts and resources they need to protect themselves.”
New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson tweeted that “this is no cause to panic.”
The council will hold a hearing on Thursday to find out how the Big Apple is prepared for the outbreak, Johnson said.
Governor Andrew Cuomo on Sunday evening announced the first case of the deadly virus in the state — a woman in her late 30s who recently traveled to Iran.
She is being isolated and monitored at home in Manhattan.
The patient isn’t sick enough to be hospitalized, according to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
City health officials have identified close contacts of the woman who may have been exposed “and will take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot said in a statement.
The Health Department didn’t say how many people the patient was in contact with.
“Despite this development, New Yorkers remain at low risk for contracting COVID-19,” Barbot said.
“As we confront this emerging outbreak, we need to separate facts from fear, and guard against stigma and panic.”
Nine people have tested negative for the virus in the Big Apple, with one test still pending as of Sunday night.


newyorkpost--2020-03-01--Kentucky’s odd resume making it overlooked Four Four threat

On the surface , the proposed new transfer rule makes sense ... .

You hear about Kansas and Baylor, Gonzaga and Maryland, San Diego State and Dayton.
They’re the teams everyone seems to be highest on in March, teams that can get to the Final Four in Atlanta and cut down the nets the first week in April. They either have strong metrics or impressive résumés. Some have both.
Kentucky has been left out of that mix, still considered by most Bracketologists as a four-seed. Maybe it’s the two bad losses, to Evansville and Utah, that are holding back the Wildcats. The advanced statistics aren’t in their favor. They are ranked 26th by KenPom. Their offense is rated 32nd in efficiency, their defense 38th.
Here is the number I value: 24. That’s wins. In 29 games. That includes victories over preseason No. 1 Michigan State, and highly regarded Louisville, Texas Tech, Auburn and LSU.
Since the turn of the new year, John Calipari’s team has lost just twice — at Auburn and at the buzzer against South Carolina. It is surging, getting better as the NCAA Tournament nears. It has scoring depth (four players averaging at least 11.5 points per game), a dominant paint presence (Nick Richards is one of the more improved players in the country) and experience (Calipari isn’t relying on a team of freshmen for a change).
The three-headed backcourt of Tyrese Maxey, Immanuel Quickley and Ashton Hagans are all dynamic in their own way, each capable of taking over a game. Quickley, one of four sophomore starters, has become Kentucky’s best 3-point shooter, hitting 42 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc and leads the team at 16.3 points per game. Hagans is a tenacious defender and the Wildcats’ premier playmaker, while Maxey, a five-star freshman from Texas, might have the most talent of them all, as his two-way ability would suggest.
In time, we will know more if this team was undervalued, if the metrics and advanced statistics were a hint of a March disappointment or an anomaly. This much I know: The Wildcats are 12-1 in their past 13 games and has won five of their past six against Quadrant 1 opponents. Kentucky is beating NCAA Tournament teams. If it does get a four-seed, I can’t think of any No. 1 that would be happy to see the SEC regular season champions in their region.
Don’t count them out
Sometimes, we forget about what a long season it is. That a shaky November or December doesn’t mean anything come February. That coaches and players are capable of bouncing back, responding to poor stretches. Look at UCLA. Look at Texas. Look at Providence.
These are three teams that were buried, given up on, only for them to pull an Undertaker and enter March very much in play for an invite to the dance.
The most unlikely was UCLA. The Bruins lost non-conference home games to Cal State Fullerton and Hofstra. They started 1-3 in the Pac-12. New coach Mick Cronin was already getting buried. He’s the front-runner for Coach of the Year honors in the league now that UCLA has won seven straight games, sweeping Arizona and Colorado, and leads the conference.
Providence dropped consecutive games to Penn, Long Beach State and College of Charleston in November. It was 6-6 in the Big East after getting manhandled by St. John’s only to rip off commanding victories over Creighton, Seton Hall, Marquette and Villanova. UMass grad transfer Luwane Pipkins has gone from a benched disappointment to providing much-needed punch off the bench. Coach Ed Cooley is no longer being questioned.
Shaka Smart wasn’t on the hot seat a few weeks ago. His job was basically considered open following Texas’ 29-point loss at under-.500 Iowa State that dropped his team to 14-11. The question was who would take it. But after four straight wins, highlighted by road victories over West Virginia and Texas Tech, Texas can still finish third in the Big 12, and the Longhorns are in position to reach the tournament for the third time in five years under Smart.
Game of the Week
No. 12 Villanova at No. 13 Seton Hall, Wednesday, 8:30 p.m., FS1
Newark will be rocking Wednesday night. Seton Hall can clinch its first Big East outright regular season title in 27 years, and the Pirates will get the chance to do it on Senior Night, against rival Villanova no less. The evening figured to be emotional already, as All-American Myles Powell and fellow starters Romaro Gill and Quincy McKnight will play their final home game, but the stakes were just raised even higher after St. John’s stunning upset of No. 10 Creighton.
Super 16
1: Kansas, Baylor, Gonzaga, San Diego State
2: Dayton, Seton Hall, Maryland, Florida State
3: Creighton, Kentucky, Villanova, Duke
4: Louisville, Auburn, Oregon, Michigan State
Stock Watch
Up: Michigan State
Is anyone really surprised to see this team surging as March arrives? This is what Tom Izzo does. His Spartans, the nation’s preseason No. 1 who fell out of the Top 25 a few weeks ago, always seem to improve and be at their best when their best is needed. Now, as the regular season reaches its final week, No. 24 Michigan State trails ninth-ranked Maryland by just a game atop the Big Ten after manhandling the Terrapins in College Park on Saturday night for its fourth win in five games.
Up: James Bouknight
Barring a run to the AAC Tournament title, UConn will rejoin the Big East coming off four straight years of missing the NCAA Tournament. But it will enter with one of the league’s better players. The 6-foot-4 Bouknight, a freshman from Brooklyn, has come on of late, scoring in double figures in 11 straight games and averaging 18 points per game over that span. It’s no coincidence UConn has won seven of those games and looks like it will at least make the NIT.
Down: Duke
This recent skid isn’t too stunning, not if you have been paying close attention to Duke. Sure, three losses in four games — all on the road, at N.C State, Wake Forest and Virginia — for a team that was 22-3 before this stretch may seem like a surprise. But look closer. The struggles arrived before this. They really began on Feb. 4 when the Blue Devils nearly lost at woeful Boston College. They should’ve lost to North Carolina in their next game, but the Tar Heels choked a 13-point lead in the final 5:41 of regulation and missed 17 free throws. Now Duke did win the next two in more impressive fashion, knocking off sixth-ranked Florida State and blowing out Notre Dame, but there were pre-existing issues there. Now Duke finds itself in fourth place in the ACC with two games to go in the watered-down conference that was supposed to be a three-team league.
Down: Rutgers
The program’s first NCAA Tournament bid in 29 years seemed like a certainty weeks ago. Now, it’s hanging in the balance, Rutgers experiencing the precarious nature of the bubble with the arrival of March after losing four of its past five games and three in a row. The Scarlet Knights’ inability to win away from the RAC — they are 1-10 in road and neutral-site games — could be their undoing. Then again, they beat Maryland on Tuesday at home for a fourth Quadrant 1 win and Steve Pikiell’s team should at least reach Dayton for the First Four — a NET rating of 35 certainly helps — even if it fails to win at Purdue on Saturday or advance in the Big Ten Tournament.


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--The wrong way to crack down on Grubhub

The wrong way to crack down on Grubhub

Last week the City Council unveiled legislation to limit food-delivery-app services like Grubhub , DoorDash and UberEats .
But it looks like the wrong answer .
Last May ’ s exposé by The Post ’ s Kevin Dugan and Lisa Fickenscher revealed that Grubhub was charging restaurants fees as high as $ 11 for calls that didn ’ t result in takeout orders .
That led to City Council hearings and now a six-bill “ reform ” package .
The council would limit app-services ’ commissions and impose a fee structure .
But lawmakers haven ’ t explained why existing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deal with the problem .
Councilman Mark Gjonaj ( D-Bronx ) , who chairs the Small Business Committee , explains : Apps “ come in and undermine the business model , and have an impact on whether or not [ restaurants ] stay in business.
” So abuse isn ’ t the issue : It ’ s the disruption brought by innovation .
But what makes the council competent to sort that out ?
A Grubhub flack warns , “ This bill will slash business to mom-and-pop restaurants and hurt consumers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not work with app services .
But plainly most restaurants choose to take the business , even if they pine for the old days .
New York eateries face bigger problems , including mandatory paid sick time for employees and a $ 15 minimum wage .
As one of our recent “ Save Our City ” essays noted , the City Council could make a far bigger difference by requiring economic-impact statements for each proposed new law , revealing its cost to the businesses it hits .
In other words : “ First @ @ @ @ @ @

Last week the City Council unveiled legislation to limit food-delivery-app services like Grubhub, DoorDash and UberEats. But it looks like the wrong answer.
Last May’s exposé by The Post’s Kevin Dugan and Lisa Fickenscher revealed that Grubhub was charging restaurants fees as high as $11 for calls that didn’t result in takeout orders. That led to City Council hearings and now a six-bill “reform” package.
The council would limit app-services’ commissions and impose a fee structure. But lawmakers haven’t explained why existing regulations (and agencies) were insufficient to deal with the problem.
Councilman Mark Gjonaj (D-Bronx), who chairs the Small Business Committee, explains: Apps “come in and undermine the business model, and have an impact on whether or not [restaurants] stay in business.”
So abuse isn’t the issue: It’s the disruption brought by innovation. But what makes the council competent to sort that out?
A Grubhub flack warns, “This bill will slash business to mom-and-pop restaurants and hurt consumers in the process.” Anyone is free to not work with app services. But plainly most restaurants choose to take the business, even if they pine for the old days.
New York eateries face bigger problems, including mandatory paid sick time for employees and a $15 minimum wage. As one of our recent “Save Our City” essays noted, the City Council could make a far bigger difference by requiring economic-impact statements for each proposed new law, revealing its cost to the businesses it hits.
In other words: “First, do no harm.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--Another grand failure from Chancellor Richard Carranza

Chancellor Richard Carranza ’ s new Academic Response Team initiative is getting panned by city principals , The Post ’ s Susan Edelman reports .
In the year since Carranza killed the failed “ Renewal ” school-turnaround program , principals have waited for an effective replacement .
They ’ re still waiting .
A clear sign of trouble : One of ART ’ s top three leaders is Ben Sherman , who left as principal of Forest Hills HS last June after his faculty complained the building reeked of pot and voted “ no confidence ” in him .
ART @ @ @ @ @ @ @ machine boasting a 69-person team earning six-figure salaries — three top deputies overseeing nine borough-based directors supervising 56 subject specialists paid to coach teachers in areas where kids ’ test scores have dropped .
Ridiculous .
The program was delayed at the start as principals complained about how the Department of Education dropped it out of the blue .
It took months for the DOE to work out a deal with the principals ’ union .
Yet , despite the delay , insiders told Edelman that Team Carranza still hasn ’ t “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategy.
” Meanwhile , principals are fretting over how Carranza ’ s micromanagement and slew of bureaucracy-laden mandates make it harder to do their jobs .
One principal dismisses the ART initiative as “ ludicrous and absurd.
” “ That money could be better spent on kids , ” he said — say , as funding to hire paraprofessionals to work with special-ed students .
If Carranza can ’ t pull off a clear success soon , the mayor will have no choice but to replace him .

Chancellor Richard Carranza’s new Academic Response Team initiative is getting panned by city principals, The Post’s Susan Edelman reports.
In the year since Carranza killed the failed “Renewal” school-turnaround program, principals have waited for an effective replacement. They’re still waiting.
A clear sign of trouble: One of ART’s top three leaders is Ben Sherman, who left as principal of Forest Hills HS last June after his faculty complained the building reeked of pot and voted “no confidence” in him.
ART is a $10 million Rube Goldberg machine boasting a 69-person team earning six-figure salaries — three top deputies overseeing nine borough-based directors supervising 56 subject specialists paid to coach teachers in areas where kids’ test scores have dropped. Ridiculous.
The program was delayed at the start as principals complained about how the Department of Education dropped it out of the blue. It took months for the DOE to work out a deal with the principals’ union.
Yet, despite the delay, insiders told Edelman that Team Carranza still hasn’t “been able to map out a school-improvement strategy.” Meanwhile, principals are fretting over how Carranza’s micromanagement and slew of bureaucracy-laden mandates make it harder to do their jobs.
One principal dismisses the ART initiative as “ludicrous and absurd.” “That money could be better spent on kids,” he said — say, as funding to hire paraprofessionals to work with special-ed students.
If Carranza can’t pull off a clear success soon, the mayor will have no choice but to replace him.


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--Nearly 30 first responders quarantined over coronavirus fears in Washington state

COVID-19 has arrived in New York .
No one should be ...

More than two dozen first responders near Seattle are being quarantined after they were dispatched to a coronavirus-hit nursing home — which had four residents who succumbed illness, according to a report.
Twenty-seven firefighters and two police officers were placed under isolation over fears of potential contact with the virus at the LifeCare nursing facility in Kirkland, Washington state, news station KIRO reported.
“We have also been notified that some of our firefighters in quarantine are demonstrating flu-like symptoms,” a city of Kirkland spokeswoman said in a Monday statement.
Meanwhile, the Kirkland Fire and Police Departments “remain fully staffed and are responding to calls as normal.”
“City’s first responders have CDC-recommended personal protection equipment and are following recommended protocols,” the spokeswoman said.
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The quarantine comes as officials announced there that there were four residents from the nursing home who died from the new virus, bringing the death toll from the outbreak in the state to six.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday that there have been at least 91 confirmed cases in ten states.


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--Coronavirus is here in New York: Keep calm and wash those hands!

Here are several safeguards so you can ride the rails ...

COVID-19 has arrived in New York. No one should be surprised — or panicked.
“We said early on it wasn’t a question of if but when,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo noted Monday. “This is New York, we’re a gateway to the world.”
More important, as he and Mayor Bill de Blasio agreed at their press conference on the state’s first confirmed case, a 39-year-old Manhattan woman now quarantined at home after testing positive upon her return from Iran, “we have the best health-care system on the planet right here in New York.The gov and mayor showed they’re handling the situation fine as they followed the president’s lead, calling for calm and explaining how government at every level has been preparing for all possibilities for weeks.
“It is deep-breath time,” Cuomo said of the coronavirus’ New York arrival. “This is not our first rodeo with this type of situation in New York.”
More good news: The feds agreed to let New York do its own testing — “And as New Yorkers, we like control,” Cuomo chuckled. Indeed, the system will be up and running almost immediately. So the gov’s less-combative relationship with President Trump seems to be paying off: Now we’ll be able to confirm cases in hours, not days.
New York will surely see more cases and may even endure an outbreak or two — but (in all but the most unlikely scenarios) not more than it can handle. The Legislature is working to authorize $40 million in emergency funding, and Congress will be providing billions nationwide.
Every day brings more information. And that information gives us “more reason to stay calm and go about our lives,” as de Blasio put it. “It’s not something you get from casual contact, it’s prolonged exposure with another person that has it.”
The economic impact is another question: If Monday’s Wall Street rally doesn’t hold, a prolonged stock market slump and/or a national economic slowdown would mean big trouble for both the state and city budgets.
But New York and the nation are clearly going to handle COVID-19 far better than China did. So keep calm — and keep washing your hands.


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--Cubs’ Antony Rizzo crushes Astros in mic’d up ESPN moment

Chicago Cubs superstar Anthony Rizzo wants everyone to hear his joke about the cheating Astros .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ head about where he is going to throw .
Someone bang for me , ” @ @ @ @ @ during a spring training at-bat Monday against the Angels on ESPN .
It was referencing @ @ @ @ @ banged on garbage cans in order to relay opponents ’ signs as part of the @ @ @ @ @ current and former players have attacked the Astros in the media amid the scandal , @ @ @ @ @ this offseason .
Houston players and employees also have been bombarded by heckling fans since @ @ @ @ @ .
And at least seven Astros players , including star Alex Bregman , have been @ @ @ @ @ in spring training after others around the league predicted Houston would have a beanball problem @ @ @ @ @

Chicago Cubs superstar Anthony Rizzo wants everyone to hear his joke about the cheating Astros.
“I’m doing some math in my head about where he is going to throw. Someone bang for me,” a microphone-wearing Rizzo cracked on-air during a spring training at-bat Monday against the Angels on ESPN.
The punch line was in reference to members of the Astros who banged on garbage cans in order to relay opponents’ signs as part of the illegal sign-stealing scandal.
Many current and former players have attacked the Astros in the media amid the scandal, which was the most-talked-about story this offseason. Houston players and employees also have been bombarded by heckling fans since spring training began in February.
And at least seven Astros players, including star Alex Bregman, have been hit by pitches so far in spring training after others around the league predicted Houston would have a beanball problem for breaking the rules.


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--Jonathan Loaisiga is Yankees’ biggest rotation wild card

TAMPA — While it is widely assumed lefty Jordan Montgomery will secure the No .
4 starter ’ s spot because he is healthy and had made 35 big league starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery , who grabs the fifth slot remains one of the few open competitions in Yankees camp .
Barring a trade , a distinct possibility because the Yankees have a bevy of young arms other teams have shown an interest in and have discussed Steven Matz with the Mets , the in-house candidates for the No .
5 spot include Jonathan Loaisiga , Michael King @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long shots Clarke Schmidt and Deivi Garcia .
Talent evaluators are split on what the 25-year old Loaisiga is .
Some see him as a starter because his workload can be managed more easily in the rotation .
Others believe his stuff , which includes a high-90s fastball , would play in the bullpen .
The final 3 ½ weeks of spring training will reveal which way the Yankees go , and it is possible they would decide a reliever starting a game is the way to go during the first month of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days off and will likely get a rainout or two with only six of the first 32 games will be played in stadiums without a roof .
The biggest question about Loaisiga is health .
The Giants released him because of shoulder issues that sidelined him for the entire 2014 and 2015 seasons .
He pitched one minor league game in May 2016 for the Yankees and was on the big league injured list last year from the middle of May to the middle of August .
So far this exhibition season , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two outings he has fanned five in three innings , which fits into his big league ratio of strikeouts ( 70 ) to innings pitched ( 56 ¹/₃ ) .
Because general manager Brian Cashman said in the offseason the starting third base job was Gio Urshela ’ s to lose , the emphasis has been on moving Miguel Andujar to several positions to take advantage of his live bat .
Andujar has gotten a taste of left field and is expected to be introduced to first base at some point this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Andujar can ’ t unseat Urshela as the starting third baseman , even though the slick-fielding Urshela is out of options .
Aroldis Chapman is scheduled to throw in a game for the first time Wednesday against the Phillies .
Masahiro Tanaka is slated to make his second spring training start against the Red Sox on Tuesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field .

TAMPA — While it is widely assumed lefty Jordan Montgomery will secure the No. 4 starter’s spot because he is healthy and had made 35 big league starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery, who grabs the fifth slot remains one of the few open competitions in Yankees camp.
Barring a trade, a distinct possibility because the Yankees have a bevy of young arms other teams have shown an interest in and have discussed Steven Matz with the Mets, the in-house candidates for the No. 5 spot include Jonathan Loaisiga, Michael King and Luis Cessa, as well as long shots Clarke Schmidt and Deivi Garcia.
Talent evaluators are split on what the 25-year-old Loaisiga is. Some see him as a starter because his workload can be managed more easily in the rotation. Others believe his stuff, which includes a high-90s fastball, would play in the bullpen.
The final 3 ½ weeks of spring training will reveal which way the Yankees go, and it is possible they would decide a reliever starting a game is the way to go during the first month of the season, when they have four days off and will likely get a rainout or two because only six of the first 32 games will be played in stadiums with a roof.
The biggest question about Loaisiga is health. The Giants released him because of shoulder issues that sidelined him for the entire 2014 and 2015 seasons. He pitched one minor league game in May 2016 for the Yankees and was on the big league injured list last year from the middle of May to the middle of August.
So far this exhibition season, the right-hander has been impressive. In two outings he has fanned five in three innings, which fits into his big league ratio of strikeouts (70) to innings pitched (56 ¹/₃).
Because general manager Brian Cashman said in the offseason the starting third base job was Gio Urshela’s to lose, the emphasis has been on moving Miguel Andujar to several positions to take advantage of his live bat. Andujar has gotten a taste of left field and is expected to be introduced to first base at some point this week.
However, nowhere does it say that Andujar can’t unseat Urshela as the starting third baseman, even though the slick-fielding Urshela is out of options.
Aroldis Chapman is scheduled to throw in a game for the first time Wednesday against the Phillies. Masahiro Tanaka is slated to make his second spring training start against the Red Sox on Tuesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--Carrie Underwood ate as few as 800 calories a day after ‘American Idol’

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) After her big “ American Idol ” win in 2005 , Carrie Underwood was eating as few as 800 calories a day to lose weight .
During her time on the hit singing competition , the 36-year-old would read message boards critiquing her weight gain .
“ I shouldn ’ t care what other people think about me , ” she said in the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding that she ’ d been living off quesadillas and pasta at the time .
“ I was tired , and I kept buying bigger clothes .
I knew I could be better for myself , and I let my haters be my motivators.
” When the show ended in May 2005 , Underwood decided to start counting calories while the group went on the “ American Idols Live !
Tour.
” “ I was sleeping better , and I had more energy for our grueling schedule , ” she said and continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until she was eating as few as 800 calories a day .
She said the diet wasn ’ t manageable at all .
“ I would ‘ fall off the wagon , ’ then feel terrible and repeat the cycle , ” she said .
“ Your body is screaming out , ‘ I need more calories , I need more carbs ! '
” These days , Underwood — who just released her own fitness manual , “ Find Your Path : Honor Your Body , Fuel Your Soul , and Get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a more structured , healthy way of keeping in shape while still tracking her calories .
“ I love rules , ” the mother of two said .
“ This is how I feel good about myself , and this is how I operate.
” Using the MyFitnessPal app , she now tracks calories , as well as protein , carbs , and fat .
According to the mag , she eats 45 percent carbs , 30 percent fat and 25 percent protein .
“ I do have my vice , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she admitted .
“ It ’ s good for my heart , right ?
!
” On top of eating well , she tries to work out seven days a week .
“ My self-care is my gym time , and that ’ s a stress reliever for me , ” Underwood , who wed hockey player Mike Fisher in 2010 , said .

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After her big “American Idol” win in 2005, Carrie Underwood was eating as few as 800 calories a day to lose weight.
During her time on the hit singing competition, the 36-year-old would read message boards critiquing her weight gain.
“I shouldn’t care what other people think about me,” she said in the new issue of Women’s Health, adding that she’d been living off quesadillas and pasta at the time. “I was tired, and I kept buying bigger clothes. I knew I could be better for myself, and I let my haters be my motivators.”
When the show ended in May 2005, Underwood decided to start counting calories while the group went on the “American Idols Live! Tour.”
“I was sleeping better, and I had more energy for our grueling schedule,” she said and continued to push the diet further and further until she was eating as few as 800 calories a day.
She said the diet wasn’t manageable at all.
“I would ‘fall off the wagon,’ then feel terrible and repeat the cycle,” she said. “Your body is screaming out, ‘I need more calories, I need more carbs!'”
These days, Underwood — who just released her own fitness manual, “Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul, and Get Strong with the Fit52 Life” — has a more structured, healthy way of keeping in shape while still tracking her calories.
“I love rules,” the mother of two said. “This is how I feel good about myself, and this is how I operate.”
Using the MyFitnessPal app, she now tracks calories, as well as protein, carbs and fat. According to the mag, she eats 45 percent carbs, 30 percent fat and 25 percent protein.
“I do have my vice, and it’s red wine,” she admitted. “It’s good for my heart, right?!”
On top of eating well, she tries to work out seven days a week.
“My self-care is my gym time, and that’s a stress reliever for me,” said Underwood, who wed hockey player Mike Fisher in 2010.


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--State Senate passes bill allowing liquor-infused ice cream

The Democratic-controlled state Senate passed a bill Monday that would “ authorize the manufacture and sale of ice cream or other frozen desserts made with liquor.
” Up to 5 percent of light alcoholic beverages like wine , cider and beer is already allowed to be infused with ice cream , but the bill would add liquor to the mix .
It would apply to sealed packages of ice cream made by dairy processors and manufacturers , liquor and craft beverage producers , restaurants and other food retailers .
Only people 21 and older would be able to purchase the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ ll help the state ’ s struggling dairy industry .
“ This legislation will help New York dairy farmers , liquor and craft beverage producers , dairy processors and manufacturers , and food retailers and restaurants meet the increasing consumer demand for these new and innovative products , ” said state Sen. Rachel May ( D-Syracuse ) .
She told The Post she wants to try maple and vanilla ice creams with a splash of bourbon .
Assembly sponsor Donna Lupardo ( D-Binghamton ) said she could see a rum and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hot summer day .
The bill passed the state Senate by a 60 to 0 margin , but has yet to clear the Assembly .

ALBANY — They’re finally putting the rum in Rum Raisin.
The Democratic-controlled state Senate passed a bill Monday that would “authorize the manufacture and sale of ice cream or other frozen desserts made with liquor.”
Up to 5 percent of light alcoholic beverages like wine, cider and beer is already allowed to be infused with ice cream, but the bill would add liquor to the mix.
It would apply to sealed packages of ice cream made by dairy processors and manufacturers, liquor and craft beverage producers, restaurants and other food retailers.
Only people 21 and older would be able to purchase the liquor-laden frozen treats.
Bill sponsors said it’ll help the state’s struggling dairy industry. “This legislation will help New York dairy farmers, liquor and craft beverage producers, dairy processors and manufacturers, and food retailers and restaurants meet the increasing consumer demand for these new and innovative products,” said state Sen. Rachel May (D-Syracuse).
She told The Post she wants to try maple and vanilla ice creams with a splash of bourbon.
Assembly sponsor Donna Lupardo (D-Binghamton) said she could see a rum and coconut flavored dish hitting the spot on a hot summer day.
The bill passed the state Senate by a 60 to 0 margin, but has yet to clear the Assembly.


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--Greek island fed up over wave of migrants from Turkey

Kanye West may have parachuted into Paris fashion week when ...

Fed-up residents on a small Greek island are now trying to personally stem the wave of migrants flowing in since Turkey’s president declared his country’s borders with Europe open last week, according to reports.
About 25,000 migrants were already living in the overcrowded Moria camp on the Aegean island of Lesbos prior to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s abrupt announcement on Thursday that his country would allow passage to refugees.
As the flood of incoming migrants soared over the weekend, simmering tensions boiled over — with some locals blocking buses from taking new refugees to the camp, leaving the group to spend the night on the beach.
Another group of locals prevented migrants, including young children and babies, from disembarking a dinghy at a harbor.
“They can’t turn us into Ellis Island,” Christina Chatzidaki, a resident of Lesbos’ capital Mytilene, where the camp is located, told German outlet DW.
“Mytilini has 30,000 inhabitants, but there are 25,000 refugees on the island — the figures alone show how absurd the whole thing is,” she added.
Thousands of island locals protested in Athens last Thursday for the government to process or remove the refugees.
“It’s a powder keg ready to explode,” regional governor Kostas Moutzouris told local news about the situation.
Tensions are also on the rise among asylum seekers in the camp, which is only designed to hold 2,800 people.
Some have been living in the filthy camp for years — instead of the designated six months.
“The conditions are unbearable. We are suffering,” a 42-year-old man from Nigeria who has been in Moria since 2017 told the outlet, adding: “Please get us out of here.”
There have been at least two murders in the camp, and rape is common, CNBC reported.
Greek authorities said they have stopped more than 24,000 attempted illegal crossings at the border with Turkey since early Saturday — 4,354 on Monday alone.
Overnight into Monday, 977 people reached Greece by boats. One dinghy carrying 48 migrants to Lesbos overturned, and a boy, believed to be around 6 or 7 and from Syria, drowned.
Another dinghy with about 30 Afghans arrived on Lesbos early on Monday, a Reuters journalist reported from the island.
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Greek Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis said the country faced “an organized invasion from a foreign country.”
“Turkey is making use of innocent people in its efforts to destabilize Greece and Europe,” he told state ERT TV.
Erdogan’s decision to allow passage to Europe marked a dramatic turn from the country’s previous policy of containing migrants under a 2016 deal with the European Union that promised it 6 billion euros in aid.
On Monday, Erdogan claimed Ankara had received only a fraction of the cash — something European leaders deny.
He said he rejected an EU offer of an additional 1 billion euros to help deal with the approximately four million migrants that Turkey houses.
As European leaders on Monday urged Erdogan to reverse the decision, he warned that “millions” more migrants would be attempting to get in.
“It’s done, the gates are open now. You will have your share of this burden now,” he said he told them.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--North West raps in video of Kanye’s show at Paris fashion week

Kanye West may have parachuted into Paris fashion week when he sent out surprise invitations on Saturday to his showing of Yeezy Season 8 , but at Monday ’ s presentation for the artist ’ s label , his daughter North stole the show .
Held at the Espace Niemeyer at 9:30 p.m. , guests stood on a slippery , grassy hill outside of the venue .
Some were wrapped in felt blankets ( handed out at the show ’ s entrance ) and awaited the start of the show .
By 9:52 p.m. , against a backdrop of silence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a streamlined edit of crop tops , puffer coats and wide-legged pants .
Moments later , the urgent , relentless sound of cars honking emerged , and what may have been initially mistaken as traffic sounds coming from the street were , in fact , part of the soundtrack for the show .
But it wasn ’ t until the end — seven minutes later — that the runway performance took a surprising star-in-the-making turn : As models took their finale walk , West ’ s 6-year-old daughter , North , appeared on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was received with enthusiastic applause .
A sunglasses-clad Kanye then emerged , proudly beaming as he closed in on his daughter for a hug .
Kanye blessed his Parisian show with a Sunday Service yesterday , where wife Kim Kardashian West arrived wearing a sexy latex outfit straight off the Balmain runway .

Kanye West may have parachuted into Paris fashion week when he sent out surprise invitations on Saturday to his showing of Yeezy Season 8, but at Monday’s presentation for the artist’s label, his daughter North stole the show.
Held at the Espace Niemeyer at 9:30 p.m., guests stood on a slippery, grassy hill outside of the venue. Some were wrapped in felt blankets (handed out at the show’s entrance) and awaited the start of the show.
By 9:52 p.m., against a backdrop of silence, models took to the runway wearing a streamlined edit of crop tops, puffer coats and wide-legged pants. Moments later, the urgent, relentless sound of cars honking emerged, and what may have been initially mistaken as traffic sounds coming from the street were, in fact, part of the soundtrack for the show.
But it wasn’t until the end — seven minutes later — that the runway performance took a surprising star-in-the-making turn: As models took their finale walk, West’s 6-year-old daughter, North, appeared on the runway and started rapping — and she was received with enthusiastic applause.
A sunglasses-clad Kanye then emerged, proudly beaming as he closed in on his daughter for a hug.
Kanye blessed his Parisian show with a Sunday Service yesterday, where wife Kim Kardashian West arrived wearing a sexy latex outfit straight off the Balmain runway.


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--Flavor Flav and Chuck D still battling over Bernie Sanders benefit concert

Bernie Sanders may be struggling to unify the Democratic party — but he ’ s doing a world-class job of splitting up Public Enemy .
Hip-hop legend Flavor Flav isn ’ t taking being fired from Public Enemy over a fight about presidential hopeful Sanders lying down .
Undecided voter Flav lost it on Monday after he was booted from the band for slapping the Sanders campaign with a cease-and-desist letter late Friday after it announced the “ Fight the Power ” group would perform at a rally in Los Angeles .
But it turned out Chuck D and Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally — without Flav .
So on Sunday the group — the self-proclaimed “ Rolling Stones of Rap ” — said in a statement , “ Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio will be moving forward without Flavor Flav .
We thank him for his years of service and wish him well.
” On Monday , Flav — who insists he is yet to endorse a 2020 candidate — was still up for a fight , ranting on Twitter , amid a hail of commas , “ @ MrChuckD are you kidding me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , over Bernie Sanders ?
?
?
You wan na destroy something we ’ ve built over 35 years OVER POLITICS ?
?
?
, , , all because I don ’ t wan na endorse a candidate , , , I ’ m very disappointed in you and your decisions right now Chuck , , , ” Flav continued in his Twitter rant , “ And @ MrChuckD , , , i didn ’ t sue you on Friday , , , i asked the @ berniesanders campaign to correct misleading marketing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was , , , I ’ m not your employee , , , i ’ m your partner , , , you can ’ t fire me , , , there is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav , , , so let ’ s get it right Chuck , , , ” However , Chuck would not have Twitter believe the hype and fired back , “ If there was a $ bag , Flav would ’ ve been there front & center .
He will NOT do free benefit shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time I let him back in .
His ambulance lawyer sued me again on Friday & so now he stays home & better find REHAB.
” This left Flav continuing to rebel without a pause , responding , “ Also @ MrChuckD , , , i ’ m not on drugs like you ’ re saying and have been clean for 10 years , , , i have battled addiction before and like millions of other Americans I know the massive toll it takes , , , Chuck you know better than to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , , ”

Bernie Sanders may be struggling to unify the Democratic party — but he’s doing a world-class job of splitting up Public Enemy.
Hip-hop legend Flavor Flav isn’t taking being fired from Public Enemy over a fight about presidential hopeful Sanders lying down. Undecided voter Flav lost it on Monday after he was booted from the band for slapping the Sanders campaign with a cease-and-desist letter late Friday after it announced the “Fight the Power” group would perform at a rally in Los Angeles.
But it turned out Chuck D and Public Enemy Radio were actually headlining Sanders’ rally — without Flav.
So on Sunday the group — the self-proclaimed “Rolling Stones of Rap” — said in a statement, “Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio will be moving forward without Flavor Flav. We thank him for his years of service and wish him well.”
On Monday, Flav — who insists he is yet to endorse a 2020 candidate — was still up for a fight, ranting on Twitter, amid a hail of commas, “@MrChuckD are you kidding me right now???,,,over Bernie Sanders??? You wanna destroy something we’ve built over 35 years OVER POLITICS???,,,all because I don’t wanna endorse a candidate,,,I’m very disappointed in you and your decisions right now Chuck,,,” Flav continued in his Twitter rant, “And @MrChuckD,,,i didn’t sue you on Friday,,,i asked the @berniesanders campaign to correct misleading marketing,,,that’s all it was,,,I’m not your employee,,,i’m your partner,,,you can’t fire me,,,there is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav,,,so let’s get it right Chuck,,,”
For more on Flavor Flav’s battle with Chuck D, listen to this episode of the Page Six podcast, “We Hear“:
However, Chuck would not have Twitter believe the hype and fired back, “If there was a $bag, Flav would’ve been there front & center. He will NOT do free benefit shows. Sued me in court the 1st time I let him back in. His ambulance lawyer sued me again on Friday & so now he stays home & better find REHAB.”
This left Flav continuing to rebel without a pause, responding, “Also @MrChuckD,,,i’m not on drugs like you’re saying and have been clean for 10 years,,,i have battled addiction before and like millions of other Americans I know the massive toll it takes,,,Chuck you know better than to lie about shit like that,,,,”


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--Jewish leaders say they’re in ‘fight’ against Bernie Sanders at AIPAC

Mike Bloomberg bashed Bernie Sanders on Monday for boycotting the ...

WASHINGTON — The specter of Bernie Sanders loomed large over this year’s pro-Israel AIPAC conference — powerful Jewish leaders painting a doomsday scenario around the man who could be the first Jewish president.
The Vermont senator’s decision to boycott the meeting — once a crucial soapbox for presidential wannabes — also rankled Jewish voters at the event who blasted him for fostering growing anti-Semitism in the Democrat Party, they said.
“He is bad news,” Malcolm Sherman, a retired math professor from Albany, New York, told The Post. “He is not a friend of Israel.”
The 78-year-old sparked a feud with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee last week when he claimed it provided a platform “for leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights.”
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon told the crowd of 20,000 gathered at the conference on Sunday that Sanders was an “ignorant fool.”
“We don’t want Bernie Sanders at AIPAC. We don’t want him in Israel,” Danon said.
“Anyone who calls our prime minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] a racist is either a liar, ignorant fool, or both,” he added.
Incoming AIPAC president Betsy Berns Korn warned that attacks to the US-Israel relationship were no longer coming from the fringes and were now “being led by those growing in power and influence.”
“Those who stand against the US-Israel relationship must know that the pro-Israel community will work to defeat them,” Korn said in what appeared to be a warning shot to Sanders. “We’re in a fight,” she cautioned.
Howard Kohr, the longtime executive director of AIPAC, also opened this year’s conference with a thinly-veiled shot at Sanders.
“Any leader who energizes their political movement by demonizing Israel is not a friend of Israel,” he said.
Sanders identifies himself as Jewish but has close ties to firebrand Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar and activist Linda Sarsour — all supporters of the international BDS movement to boycott Israel — and that troubles many Jewish voters.
Sherman said he was concerned the Democratic Party was becoming increasingly hostile toward Israel and those who support it.
“It’s the kind of anti-Semitism where Jews are welcome, so long as they’re leftist, and they share their overall woke agenda,” he said.
“I don’t want Sanders to get the nomination because I don’t want the Democrats to go in that direction.”
In a tweet, Sanders blasted the conference he has never attended, unlike many of his Democrat and Republican colleagues on Capitol Hill who agree US support of Israel is a bipartisan issue.
“The Israeli people have the right to live in peace and security. So do the Palestinian people,” Sanders wrote last Sunday. “I remain concerned about the platform AIPAC provides for leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights. For that reason I will not attend their conference.”
“As president, I will support the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians and do everything possible to bring peace and security to the region,” he vowed.
AIPAC has been accused of moving increasingly to the right and has been blasted for its support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is facing corruption charges.
Rabbi Jonathan Hecht of Cincinnati, Ohio, told The Post he identifies as a Liberal Democrat supportive of a two-state solution and said he was disappointed by Sanders’ decision not to attend.
“I’m very much pained by the decision that he views this as a place for bigotry,” Hecht said, calling the boycott “problematic.”
“This is a place to exchange ideas and views and not coming here is a statement that he’s not willing to engage in that kind of dialogue with Americans of all kinds.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--Trump accuses Buttigieg, Klobuchar of ‘quid pro quo’ with Biden

President Donald Trump on Monday accused Democratic presidential hopefuls Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar of dropping out of the race in exchange for possible posts in a Joe Biden administration — calling the move a “ quid pro quo.
” Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Ind.
, bowed out on Sunday , while Klobuchar suspended her campaign on Monday .
Both have signaled they will endorse former Vice President Biden , a fellow moderate now on much more solid footing ahead of his Super Tuesday duel against far-left Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no question about it , ” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for a Keep America Great rally in Charlotte , N.C. Trump went on to accuse Buttigieg and Klobuchar of stepping aside in an attempt to get in good with Biden should he win in November .
The remark was an apparent playful callback to Democrats ’ allegations that Trump established a quid pro quo by asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July 2019 to probe Biden and his adult son ’ s dealings in the nation while a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ balance .
Trump was ultimately brought up on two articles of impeachment in the Ukraine imbroglio , but the effort failed in the Senate .

President Donald Trump on Monday accused Democratic presidential hopefuls Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar of dropping out of the race in exchange for possible posts in a Joe Biden administration — calling the move a “quid pro quo.”
Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., bowed out on Sunday, while Klobuchar suspended her campaign on Monday.
Both have signaled they will endorse former Vice President Biden, a fellow moderate now on much more solid footing ahead of his Super Tuesday duel against far-left Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“It’s rigged against Bernie, there is no question about it,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for a Keep America Great rally in Charlotte, N.C.
Trump went on to accuse Buttigieg and Klobuchar of stepping aside in an attempt to get in good with Biden should he win in November.
“That’s called a quid pro quo, right?” Trump asked. “Quid pro quo.”
The remark was an apparent playful callback to Democrats’ allegations that Trump established a quid pro quo by asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July 2019 to probe Biden and his adult son’s dealings in the nation while a substantial US aid package was in the balance.
Trump was ultimately brought up on two articles of impeachment in the Ukraine imbroglio, but the effort failed in the Senate.


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--Legal Aid Society staffer stole credit card, claimed to be police officer: cops

A Legal Aid Society paralegal was arrested Monday for allegedly stealing a man ’ s credit card to buy a @ @ @ @ @ then claiming to be a police officer when she was confronted .
Toni Myers , @ @ @ @ @ black handbag delivered to the 20-year-old male victim ’ s Flatiron District building on Feb. @ @ @ @ @ pick it up the next day , the NYPD said .
When the doorman confronted @ @ @ @ @ him she was a cop — before running off when he called 911 .
It @ @ @ @ @ how she knows the victim .
Myers , who lives in Midtown , turned herself @ @ @ @ @ on Monday .
She was charged with robbery , grand larceny and criminal impersonation of @ @ @ @ @ was awaiting arraignment on Monday afternoon .

A Legal Aid Society paralegal was arrested Monday in a case involving credit-card fraud, a Chanel handbag and police impersonation.
Toni Myers, 30, allegedly stole a man’s credit-card to buy a $5,500 purse Feb. 21, and had it delivered to his Flatiron District apartment building, the NYPD said.
The pricey purchase triggered a fraud alert to the 20-year-old victim, cops said.
When Myers went to pick up the package from the building the next morning, the doorman became suspicious and refused to hand it over, according to a criminal complaint.
Myers “attempted to wrestle the package from the doorman’s hands,” but failed and took off, the complaint said.
She returned an hour later, allegedly claimed to be a cop and asked the doorman to give her the package. When the doorman called 911, she booked it.
It’s unclear if or how Myers knows the victim.
She turned herself in at the 13th Precinct station house Monday morning.
On the way to the precinct she told cops that: “I went there to get my bag, I didn’t do anything wrong,” according to prosecutors.
Myers, of Midtown, was released without bail after her arraignment Monday evening on charges of grand larceny in the third degree and criminal impersonation of a police officer. She didn’t comment.
Her next court appearance is April 1.
She was previously arrested in December 2015 on charges of acting in a manner injurious to a child after allegedly leaving four young children in a parked car unattended while she went to pay a ticket in Lower Manhattan. Myers pleaded down to disorderly conduct in that case, according to prosecutors.
The Legal Aid Society, which provides free representation for defendants who can’t afford it, confirmed Myers’ employment but didn’t comment further.


newyorkpost--2020-03-02--Hand-washing or hand sanitizer: What’s more effective against coronavirus?

NY Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links .
Stocking up on Softsoap and Purell ?
Join the scrub .
Coronavirus panic has anxious New Yorkers swarming drugstores and supermarkets for germ-killers .
And with public-health specialists stressing the importance of keeping your hands clean during a viral outbreak , hand soaps and sanitizers are flying off the shelves .
But are these products really effective against COVID-19 — and are some better than others ?
“ From what we know about this coronavirus , it ’ s similar to [ previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respiratory syndrome ] and MERS [ Middle East respiratory syndrome ] , so it should not be that difficult of a microorganism to kill , ” Dr. Nahid Bhadelia , medical director of the special pathogens unit at Boston Medical Center , tells The Post .
“ Soap and water , and alcohol-based hand sanitizers , can kill it.
” As for what ’ s most effective , she and other experts agree that washing your hands is generally the better choice : It ’ s more effective at removing stubborn grime — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially feed on — and at killing certain pathogens .
Lathering up will also help you ward off more than coronavirus .
“ It ’ s going to protect you from other infectious diseases , too , like the flu and diarrheal diseases , ” Bhadelia says .
Any kind of soap will do .
There “ isn ’ t enough science ” to suggest that over-the-counter antibacterial soaps are any more effective at preventing illness than plain old soap and water , according to the Food and Drug Administration .
But if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sink quickly — during your commute , for example — hand sanitizer and wipes can be an effective tool to kill illness-causing germs .
Those made with at least 60 percent alcohol tend to be the most effective , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
( Check the back of the label for phrases like ethyl alcohol , ethanol , isopropanol or n-propanol — all are fine . )
Some “ natural ” sanitizers make the cut : Dr. Bronner ’ s organic hand sanitizer spray , for example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alcohol ; and Purell Naturals hand sanitizer , made with “ plant-based alcohol ” and “ essential oils , ” consists of 70 percent ethyl alcohol .
But it ’ s not enough to buy the best brand .
You also have to learn how to use it right .
“ You can have all the hand sanitizer and soap you want , but unless you ’ re washing correctly or using it the right way , you may still have virus on your hands , ” Bhadelia says .
The CDC recommends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — warm or cold is fine — and then applying soap .
When lathering , make sure to get the backs of your hands , between fingers and under nails .
Scrub for at least 20 seconds ( hum the “ Happy Birthday ” song twice ) , rinse well and then dry with a clean towel or let them air dry .
For hand sanitizer , instructions vary by product , whether it ’ s the number of sprays or the amount to dollop on your hands .
Beyond following those guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands are covered — again , including between the fingers and under the nails — and rubbed until dry , per CDC guidelines .

Stocking up on Softsoap and Purell? Join the scrub.
Coronavirus panic has anxious New Yorkers swarming drugstores and supermarkets for germ-killers. And with public health specialists stressing the importance of keeping your hands clean during a viral outbreak, hand soaps and sanitizers are flying off the shelves.
But are these products really effective against COVID-19 — and are some better than others?
“From what we know about this coronavirus, it’s similar to [previous epidemics of] SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] and MERS [Middle East respiratory syndrome], so it should not be that difficult of a microorganism to kill,” Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, medical director of the special pathogens unit at Boston Medical Center, tells The Post. “Soap and water, and alcohol-based hand sanitizers, can kill it.”
As for what’s most effective, experts agree that washing your hands is generally the better choice: It’s more effective at removing stubborn grime — which bugs can cling to, and potentially feed on — and at killing certain pathogens. Lathering up will also help you ward off more than coronavirus. “It’s going to protect you from other infectious diseases, too, like the flu and diarrheal diseases,” Bhadelia says.
Any kind of soap will do. There “isn’t enough science” to suggest that over-the-counter antibacterial soaps are any more effective at preventing illness than plain old soap and water, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
But if you can’t get to a sink quickly — during your commute, for example — hand sanitizer and wipes can be an effective tool to kill illness-causing germs. Those made with at least 60 percent alcohol tend to be the most effective, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Check the back of the label for phrases like ethyl alcohol, ethanol, isopropanol or n-propanol — all are fine.)
Some “natural” sanitizers make the cut: Dr. Bronner’s organic hand sanitizer spray, for example, is made with 62 percent ethyl alcohol, and Purell Naturals hand sanitizer, made with “plant-based alcohol” and “essential oils,” consists of 70 percent ethyl alcohol.
But it’s not enough to buy the best brand. You also have to learn how to use it right.
“You can have all the hand sanitizer and soap you want, but unless you’re washing correctly or using it the right way, you may still have virus on your hands,” Bhadelia says.
The CDC recommends wetting hands with clean, running water — warm or cold is fine — and then applying soap. When lathering, make sure to get the backs of your hands, between fingers and under nails. Scrub for at least 20 seconds (hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice), rinse well and then dry with a clean towel or let them air dry.
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For hand sanitizer, instructions vary by product, whether it’s the number of sprays or the amount to dollop on your hands. Beyond following those guidelines, make sure all areas of your hands are covered — again, including between the fingers and under the nails — and rubbed until dry, per CDC guidelines.
— Additional reporting by Mary Huhn