newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Amanda Bynes not pregnant, also not living in sober living facility, attorney says

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 ) In March , Bynes , 33 , shared a picture of an ultrasound on Instagram , writing “ Baby on board !
” in the caption , leading many fans to believe that she was pregnant .
The post has since been deleted .
In a statement to Fox News , Bynes ’ attorney David Esquibias said that “ Amanda is not pregnant and she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility.
” Esquibias also spoke to Entertainment Tonight , adding , “ She is sheltering in a safe location and is doing very well.
” Earlier this spring , Esquibias told Fox News that Bynes was seeking treatment for her “ mental health.
” “ Any reports that Amanda is suffering from drug or alcohol addiction issues are completely false .
She is seeking treatment for ongoing mental health issues , ” Esquibias told us .
“ We ask for privacy during this time , and for any speculation about her personal life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cease so Amanda can focus on getting better.
” Bynes announced her engagement to Paul Michael on Valentine ’ s Day via Instagram but later deleted that photo as well .
Michael confirmed to In Touch that they had broken up , but just a day after , Bynes took to Instagram to share a photo of herself and Michael , captioning the pic , “ My love .
”

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Amanda Bynes’ lawyer is setting the record straight.
In March, Bynes, 33, shared a picture of an ultrasound on Instagram, writing “Baby on board!” in the caption, leading many fans to believe that she was pregnant.
The post has since been deleted.
In a statement to Fox News, Bynes’ attorney David Esquibias said that “Amanda is not pregnant and she is not residing in a sober living facility.”
Esquibias also spoke to Entertainment Tonight, adding, “She is sheltering in a safe location and is doing very well.”
Earlier this spring, Esquibias told Fox News that Bynes was seeking treatment for her “mental health.”
“Any reports that Amanda is suffering from drug or alcohol addiction issues are completely false. She is seeking treatment for ongoing mental health issues,” Esquibias told us.
“We ask for privacy during this time, and for any speculation about her personal life from the public and the media to cease so Amanda can focus on getting better.”
Bynes announced her engagement to Paul Michael on Valentine’s Day via Instagram but later deleted that photo as well.
Michael confirmed to In Touch that they had broken up, but just a day after, Bynes took to Instagram to share a photo of herself and Michael, captioning the pic, “My love.”


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--15 kids hospitalized in NYC with rare disease possibly linked to coronavirus

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Fifteen kids in New York City have been hospitalized with a rare , life-threatening inflammatory syndrome “ potentially associated with COVID-19 , ” health officials said in an alert Monday night .
Four of the 15 children with suspected Kawasaki disease also tested positive for the coronavirus , the city ’ s Health Department said .
Six others tested positive for having COVID-fighting antibodies .
Kawasaki disease is a rare childhood illness that causes the walls of blood vessels in the body to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that lasts for five days or longer , redness in the eyes , rashes and swollen glands in the neck .
Children younger than 5 are most at risk .
“ If the above-described inflammatory syndrome is suspected , pediatricians should immediately refer patients to a specialist in pediatric infectious disease , rheumatology , and/or critical care , as indicated , ” Dr. Demetre Daskalakis , deputy city health commissioner for disease control , said in the memo to health care providers .
“ Early diagnosis and treatment of patients meeting full or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to preventing end-organ damage and other long-term complications , ” he added .
Some patients also require intensive care for heart and respiratory problems , Daskalakis said .
The Post reported last week that three children with the coronavirus were also being treated for Kawasaki disease .
Links between COVID-19 and Kawasaki syndrome has also sparked concerns in the UK and Italy and the World Health organization is investigating whether there is a connection between the killer bug and inflammatory syndrome .
The 15 kids in the city were hospitalized between April 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children required mechanical ventilation but no fatalities have been reported thus far .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Fifteen kids in New York City have been hospitalized with a rare, life-threatening inflammatory syndrome “potentially associated with COVID-19,” health officials said in an alert Monday night.
Four of the 15 children with suspected Kawasaki disease also tested positive for the coronavirus, the city’s Health Department said.
Six others tested positive for having COVID-fighting antibodies.
Kawasaki disease is a rare childhood illness that causes the walls of blood vessels in the body to become inflamed. Symptoms include high temperature that lasts for five days or longer, redness in the eyes, rashes and swollen glands in the neck.
Children younger than 5 are most at risk.
“If the above-described inflammatory syndrome is suspected, pediatricians should immediately refer patients to a specialist in pediatric infectious disease, rheumatology, and/or critical care, as indicated,” Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, deputy city health commissioner for disease control, said in the memo to health care providers.
“Early diagnosis and treatment of patients meeting full or partial criteria for Kawasaki disease is critical to preventing end-organ damage and other long-term complications,” he added.
Some patients also require intensive care for heart and respiratory problems, Daskalakis said.
The Post reported last week that three children with the coronavirus were also being treated for Kawasaki disease.
Links between COVID-19 and Kawasaki syndrome have also sparked concerns in the UK and Italy, and the World Health Organization is investigating whether there is a connection between the killer bug and inflammatory syndrome.
The 15 kids in the city were hospitalized between April 17 and May 1.
Five of the children required mechanical ventilation but no fatalities have been reported thus far.


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Missouri sees record number of new coronavirus cases as state reopens

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Missouri reported the highest number of new coronavirus cases in one day Monday — the same day that the state reopened for some businesses .
The state saw an increase of 368 COVID-19 cases — the most since the pandemic hit — and six more deaths due to the illness , according to St. Louis ’ KMOV-TV .
The rise in cases was compared with 319 new cases just one day earlier .
The news came as an outbreak at a Missouri pork @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the illness .
Most of the employees were asymptomatic , the company said .
Missouri Gov .
Mike Parson said that random testing showed that the virus was not extremely widespread .
“ We did roughly 3,000 tests over the State of Missouri randomly over the weekend and of those 3,000 tests there were nine that came back positive , ” Parson said .
“ You have to take all the numbers as a whole to see how it affects the entire state.
” The state ’ s health director also pointed out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a result of increased testing .
Missouri ’ s stay-at-home order was lifted Monday and some business reopened .
The state has reported 8,386 cases and 352 deaths statewide as of Sunday night .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Missouri reported the highest number of new coronavirus cases in one day Monday — the same day that the state reopened for some businesses.
The state saw an increase of 368 COVID-19 cases — the most since the pandemic hit — and six more deaths due to the illness, according to St. Louis’ KMOV-TV.
The rise in cases was compared with 319 new cases just one day earlier.
The news came as an outbreak at a Missouri pork processing plant resulted in 373 workers contracting the illness. Most of the employees were asymptomatic, the company said.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said that random testing showed that the virus was not extremely widespread.
“We did roughly 3,000 tests over the State of Missouri randomly over the weekend and of those 3,000 tests there were nine that came back positive,” Parson said.
“You have to take all the numbers as a whole to see how it affects the entire state.”
The state’s health director also pointed out that the spike in positive cases could be a result of increased testing.
Missouri’s stay-at-home order was lifted Monday and some business reopened.
The state has reported 8,386 cases and 352 deaths statewide as of Sunday night.


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Pete Rose accused of using corked bats by former Expos groundskeeper

For Pete Rose , this is a baseball gamble worth taking ... .

Pete Rose, already banned from Major League Baseball for gambling, is now accused of breaking another of the sport’s rules.
A former groundskeeper for the Montreal Expos recently told the Montreal Gazette that Rose routinely had an Olympic Stadium staffer cork his bats in 1984. Rose played most of the 1984 season for the Expos before he was traded back to his original club, the Cincinnati Reds, that August.
Joe Jammer, then an Expos groundskeeper and now a musician in London, told the Gazette in a telephone interview, “Pete Rose would have his bats corked in the visitors’ clubhouse at Olympic Stadium. I found out he was corking bats. …
“Pete was too smart to deal with Expos equipment manager John Silverman (to cork his bats in the Expos’ clubhouse). So Bryan Greenberg, who worked in the visitors’ clubhouse, did it. He took me into a room, a door to the left, and underneath tarps there was this machine.”
Jammer said Greenberg told him the machine was used to cork Rose’s bats.
“The guy (Greenberg) was saying Rose had been corking his bat for 20 years,” Jammer told the Gazette. “The guy said that nobody checks him because he’s a singles hitter.”
The process of corking a bat to improve its performance involves hollowing out a portion of the wood and filling that section with cork or rubber balls. The procedure is banned by MLB.
Another anonymous source confirmed Jammer’s account to the newspaper.
“Yeah, Bryan Greenberg did it for (Rose),” the anonymous source reportedly said. “He only did it a few times a year. I didn’t know it was in the visitors’ clubhouse. I thought it was on (Greenberg’s) lathe in his garage.”
The Gazette reported that it spoke recently with Greenberg, who now works for a sports marketing firm in Florida, to ask if he corked Rose’s bats.
“I really can’t answer those questions. I really can’t talk about it,” he told the newspaper.
Told by the Gazette that two people had said he had altered Rose’s bats, Greenberg replied, “They can say whatever they want.”
According to the newspaper, Greenberg was a carpenter who helped build Olympic Stadium fences prior to getting a job in the visiting clubhouse.
The Gazette reported that one of Rose’s representatives, Ryan Fiterman, declined to comment on the story.
Though Rose is baseball’s all-time leader with 4,256 hits, he is not in the Hall of Fame due to a lifetime ban from the sport handed down by then-commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti in 1989 due to Rose’s alleged gambling.
After years of denying the charges that he bet on baseball games, Rose admitted in a 2004 book that he had bet on games, only on his own team.


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--American ‘mercenaries’ among those nabbed after failed Venezuela raid

CARACAS , Venezuela ( AP ) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said authorities arrested two U.S. citizens among a group of “ mercenaries ” on Monday , a day after a beach raid purportedly aimed at capturing the socialist leader that authorities say they foiled .
Maduro held up a pair of blue U.S. passports , reading off the names and birth dates on them in a nationwide broadcast on state television .
He showed images of the fishing boats the alleged attackers rode in on and equipment like walkie-talkies and night-vision glasses collected in what Maduro called an “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blamed the attacks on the Trump administration and neighboring Colombia , both of which have denied involvement .
“ The United States government is fully and completely involved in this defeated raid , ” Maduro said , praising members of a fishing village for cornering one group in the sweep netting the “ professional American mercenaries.
” Before dawn on Sunday , officials say the first attack started on a beach near Venezuela ’ s port city of La Guaira , when security forces made the first two arrests and killed eight others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The two U.S. citizens arrested Monday were identified as as Luke Denman and Airan Berry , both former U.S. special forces soldiers .
Florida-based ex-Green Beret Jordan Goudreau said earlier Monday that he was working with the two men in a mission intending to detain Maduro and “ liberate ” Venezuela .
Goudreau has claimed responsibility for the operation .
The two served in Iraq and Afghanistan with him in the U.S. military , Goudreau said , adding that they were part of this alleged mission in Venezuela called “ Operation Gideon.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Venezuela has been in a deepening political and economic crisis under Maduro ’ s rule .
Crumbling public services such as running water , electricity and medical care have driven nearly 5 million to migrate .
But Maduro still controls all levers of power despite a U.S.-led campaign to oust him .
It recently indicted Maduro as a drug trafficker and offered a $ 15 million reward for his arrest .
Venezuela and the United States broke diplomatic ties last year amid heightened tensions , so there is no U.S. embassy in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department did not respond Monday to a request by The Associated Press for comment .
“ I ’ ve tried to engage everybody I know at every level , ” Goudreau said of the attempt to help his detained colleagues .
“ Nobody ’ s returning my calls .
It ’ s a nightmare.
” Kay Denman , the mother of one of the Americans , said the last time she heard from her son was a few weeks when he texted her from an undisclosed location to ask how she was coping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she never heard her son discuss Venezuela and only learned of his possible capture there after his friends called when they saw the reports on social media .
“ The first time I heard Jordan Goudreau ’ s name was today , ” she said when reached at her home in Austin , Texas .
Goudreau has said he signed a contract with the U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó to overthrow Maduro , which Guaidó has denied .
The opposition leader said he had nothing to do with Sunday ’ s raid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contract , but the former Green Beret pushed ahead with an underfunded operation with just 60 fighters , including the two U.S. veterans .
He said he last communicated with Denman and Berry when they were adrift in a boat “ hugging ” the Caribbean coast of Venezuela .
They were still in their boat following an initial confrontation with the Venezuelan Navy early Sunday , he said .
“ They were running dangerously low on fuel , ” Goudreau said .
“ If they had gone onto landfall , they would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the two were waiting for a boat on the Caribbean island of Aruba with emergency fuel to help extract them .
Venezuelan state TV showed showed images on state TV of several unidentified men handcuffed and lying prone in a street .
One video clip showed authorities handling a shirtless man in handcuffs .
He was identified as a National Guardsman Capt .
Antonio Sequea , who participated in a barracks revolt against Maduro a year ago .
Goudreau said Sequea was a commander working with him in recent days on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney General Tarek William Saab said that in total they ’ ve arrested 114 people suspected in the attempted attack and they are on the hunt of 92 others .
Goudreau , a three-time Bronze Star U.S. combat veteran , claims to have helped organize the deadly seaborne raid from Colombia .
Goudreau said the operation had received no aid from Guaidó or the U.S. or Colombian governments .
Opposition politicians and U.S. authorities issued statements suggesting Maduro ’ s allies had fabricated the assault to draw attention away from the country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier Monday that 52 other fighters had infiltrated Venezuelan territory and were in the first stage of a mission to recruit members of the security forces to join their cause .
An AP investigation published Friday found that Goudreau had been working with a retired Venezuelan army general — who now faces U.S. narcotics charges — to train dozens of deserters from Venezuela ’ s security forces at secret camps inside neighboring Colombia .
The goal was to mount a cross-border raid that would end in Maduro ’ s arrest .

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said authorities arrested two U.S. citizens among a group of “mercenaries” on Monday, a day after a beach raid purportedly aimed at capturing the socialist leader that authorities say they foiled.
Maduro held up a pair of blue U.S. passports, reading off the names and birth dates on them in a nationwide broadcast on state television. He showed images of the fishing boats the alleged attackers rode in on and equipment like walkie-talkies and night-vision glasses collected in what Maduro called an “intense” couple of days. He blamed the attacks on the Trump administration and neighboring Colombia, both of which have denied involvement.
“The United States government is fully and completely involved in this defeated raid,” Maduro said, praising members of a fishing village for cornering one group in the sweep netting the “professional American mercenaries.”
Before dawn on Sunday, officials say the first attack started on a beach near Venezuela’s port city of La Guaira, when security forces made the first two arrests and killed eight others attempting to make a landing by speedboats.
The two U.S. citizens arrested Monday were identified as as Luke Denman and Airan Berry, both former U.S. special forces soldiers.
Florida-based ex-Green Beret Jordan Goudreau said earlier Monday that he was working with the two men in a mission intending to detain Maduro and “liberate” Venezuela. Goudreau has claimed responsibility for the operation.
The two served in Iraq and Afghanistan with him in the U.S. military, Goudreau said, adding that they were part of this alleged mission in Venezuela called “Operation Gideon.” The aim was to capture Maduro.
Venezuela has been in a deepening political and economic crisis under Maduro’s rule. Crumbling public services such as running water, electricity and medical care have driven nearly 5 million to migrate. But Maduro still controls all levers of power despite a U.S.-led campaign to oust him. It recently indicted Maduro as a drug trafficker and offered a $15 million reward for his arrest.
Venezuela and the United States broke diplomatic ties last year amid heightened tensions, so there is no U.S. embassy in Caracas. Officials from the U.S. State Department did not respond Monday to a request by The Associated Press for comment.
“I’ve tried to engage everybody I know at every level,” Goudreau said of the attempt to help his detained colleagues. “Nobody’s returning my calls. It’s a nightmare.”
Kay Denman, the mother of one of the Americans, said the last time she heard from her son was a few weeks when he texted her from an undisclosed location to ask how she was coping with the coronavirus pandemic. She said she never heard her son discuss Venezuela and only learned of his possible capture there after his friends called when they saw the reports on social media.
“The first time I heard Jordan Goudreau’s name was today,” she said when reached at her home in Austin, Texas.
Goudreau has said he signed a contract with the U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó to overthrow Maduro, which Guaidó has denied. The opposition leader said he had nothing to do with Sunday’s raid.
Goudreau says Guaidó never fulfilled the contract, but the former Green Beret pushed ahead with an underfunded operation with just 60 fighters, including the two U.S. veterans.
He said he last communicated with Denman and Berry when they were adrift in a boat “hugging” the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. They were still in their boat following an initial confrontation with the Venezuelan Navy early Sunday, he said.
“They were running dangerously low on fuel,” Goudreau said. “If they had gone onto landfall, they would have gone to a safe house.”
Goudreau said the two were waiting for a boat on the Caribbean island of Aruba with emergency fuel to help extract them.
Venezuelan state TV showed showed images on state TV of several unidentified men handcuffed and lying prone in a street. One video clip showed authorities handling a shirtless man in handcuffs.
He was identified as a National Guardsman Capt. Antonio Sequea, who participated in a barracks revolt against Maduro a year ago. Goudreau said Sequea was a commander working with him in recent days on the ground in Venezuela.
Maduro ally and Attorney General Tarek William Saab said that in total they’ve arrested 114 people suspected in the attempted attack and they are on the hunt of 92 others.
Goudreau, a three-time Bronze Star U.S. combat veteran, claims to have helped organize the deadly seaborne raid from Colombia. Goudreau said the operation had received no aid from Guaidó or the U.S. or Colombian governments.
Opposition politicians and U.S. authorities issued statements suggesting Maduro’s allies had fabricated the assault to draw attention away from the country’s problems.
Goudreau said by telephone earlier Monday that 52 other fighters had infiltrated Venezuelan territory and were in the first stage of a mission to recruit members of the security forces to join their cause.
An AP investigation published Friday found that Goudreau had been working with a retired Venezuelan army general — who now faces U.S. narcotics charges — to train dozens of deserters from Venezuela’s security forces at secret camps inside neighboring Colombia. The goal was to mount a cross-border raid that would end in Maduro’s arrest.


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Kentucky cops find dead dogs, cats in animal shelter’s freezer

WEBBVILLE , Ky. — Police seized 90 dogs from a no-kill animal shelter in Kentucky due to its allegedly poor conditions , and charged its owner after dead cats and dogs were found in the facility ’ s freezer .
The dogs were taken Saturday because of “ poor living conditions ” at the Trixie Foundation ’ s shelter , Kentucky State police said in a news release reported by news outlets .
The shelter ’ s website advertises itself as an “ Eden ” for animals and the “ best kept secret in animal welfare.
” Melissa Bowman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accompanied police during the raid .
She told the Lexington Herald-Ledger that the dogs suffered “ medical neglect ” and some were found with tumors .
Other dogs had to be tranquilized before leaving the shelter , and one dog was euthanized at the facility .
Police obtained a search warrant after receiving complaints about the shelter in April , the Herald-Ledger reported .
Shelter owner Randy Skaggs , who was scheduled to stand trial this June on misdemeanor animal cruelty charges from 2018 , said he provides medical care when the animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bury the seven cats and five dogs found in the freezer because of a high workload .
“ I ’ ve not intentionally done anything except try to help these animals , ” Skaggs said .
“ Everyone makes mistakes , and I ’ ve made plenty of them.
” Skaggs blames critics of his no-euthanization policy with influencing this latest raid , to pressure him to plead guilty to the earlier charges .
Skaggs , 68 , now faces 12 additional counts of improper disposal .
He was not arrested , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the charges .

WEBBVILLE, Ky. — Police seized 90 dogs from a no-kill animal shelter in Kentucky due to its allegedly poor conditions, and charged its owner after dead cats and dogs were found in the facility’s freezer.
The dogs were taken Saturday because of “poor living conditions” at the Trixie Foundation’s shelter, Kentucky State police said in a news release reported by news outlets. The shelter’s website advertises itself as an “Eden” for animals and the “best kept secret in animal welfare.”
Melissa Bowman, president of Kentuckians Vote for Animals, accompanied police during the raid. She told the Lexington Herald-Ledger that the dogs suffered “medical neglect” and some were found with tumors. Other dogs had to be tranquilized before leaving the shelter, and one dog was euthanized at the facility.
Police obtained a search warrant after receiving complaints about the shelter in April, the Herald-Ledger reported.
Shelter owner Randy Skaggs, who was scheduled to stand trial this June on misdemeanor animal cruelty charges from 2018, said he provides medical care when the animals need it. He said he neglected to bury the seven cats and five dogs found in the freezer because of a high workload.
“I’ve not intentionally done anything except try to help these animals,” Skaggs said. “Everyone makes mistakes, and I’ve made plenty of them.”
Skaggs blames critics of his no-euthanization policy with influencing this latest raid, to pressure him to plead guilty to the earlier charges. Skaggs, 68, now faces 12 additional counts of improper disposal. He was not arrested, and said he intends to fight all the charges.


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Anthony Fauci was inspiration behind sultry scientist in steamy 1991 novel

Dr. Anthony Fauci — who is being petitioned to be crowned the next “ Sexiest Man Alive ” — was reportedly the inspiration for a mysterious scientist who engages in a steamy love affair with the widowed First Lady in Sally Quinn ’ s 1991 novel “ Happy Endings.
” Fauci , the beloved White House coronavirus task force member , is the motivation in the bestselling book for the fictitious Michael Lanzer , a dashing National Institute of Health scientist who discovered a therapy for AIDS at a time when the president is HIV-positive .
Quinn met the real-life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two were paired at a Washington , DC dinner party and was wowed enough by his character to model Lanzer after him , she told The Washingtonian .
“ I just fell in love with him , ” Quinn told the magazine of Fauci , who at the time was already years into his career at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
“ Usually those dinners , you make polite conversation , and that ’ s it .
But we had this intense conversation , personal conversation .
I thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amazing.
’ ” The character in the book inspired by Fauci strikes up the unlikely romance with former First Lady Sadie Grey , who in the book gushes over Lanzer ’ s “ low , melodious , sexy , almost hypnotic ” voice .
Quinn described to the magazine her though process in choosing Grey ’ s partner .
“ What kind of person would she be in love with ?
It would not be somebody from a great family or with a lot of money .
But it would be somebody who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and kind , and decent , and honest .
All of those things—and sexy , ” she said .
The 78-year-old author said Fauci set himself apart from others in DC .
“ He was so different from most Washington people , because he ’ s so self-effacing .
He ’ s not in it for the glory or the name recognition , ” recalled Quinn .
After meeting Fauci , she decided Grey would “ fall in love with this doctor who does this amazing work , and doesn ’ t get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci-Lanzer connection is no secret to the real-life immunologist , said Quinn .
“ He just thought it was funny .
I think he was a little embarrassed .
”

Dr. Anthony Fauci — who is being petitioned to be crowned the next “Sexiest Man Alive” — was reportedly the inspiration for a mysterious scientist who engages in a steamy love affair with the widowed first lady in Sally Quinn’s 1991 novel “Happy Endings.”
Fauci, the beloved White House coronavirus task force member, is the motivation in the bestselling book for the fictitious Michael Lanzer, a dashing National Institute of Health scientist who discovered a therapy for AIDS at a time when the president is HIV-positive.
Quinn met the real-life Fauci for the first time when the two were paired at a Washington, DC dinner party and was wowed enough by his character to model Lanzer after him, she told The Washingtonian.
“I just fell in love with him,” Quinn told the magazine of Fauci, who at the time was already years into his career at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
“Usually those dinners, you make polite conversation, and that’s it. But we had this intense conversation, personal conversation. I thought, ‘Wow, this guy is amazing.’”
The character in the book inspired by Fauci strikes up the unlikely romance with former First Lady Sadie Grey, who in the book gushes over Lanzer’s “low, melodious, sexy, almost hypnotic” voice.
Quinn described to the magazine her thought process in choosing Grey’s partner.
“What kind of person would she be in love with? It would not be somebody from a great family or with a lot of money. But it would be somebody who was really brilliant, and compassionate, and kind, and decent, and honest. All of those things—and sexy,” she said.
The 78-year-old author said Fauci set himself apart from others in DC.
“He was so different from most Washington people, because he’s so self-effacing. He’s not in it for the glory or the name recognition,” recalled Quinn.
After meeting Fauci, she decided Grey would “fall in love with this doctor who does this amazing work, and doesn’t get a lot of publicity.”
And the Fauci-Lanzer connection is no secret to the real-life immunologist, said Quinn.
“He just thought it was funny. I think he was a little embarrassed.”


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized with infection

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized Tuesday with an infection , the US Supreme Court said .
The 87-year-old underwent @ @ @ @ @ Hospital in Baltimore Tuesday for acute cholecystitis , a benign inflammation of the gall bladder @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
“ The justice is resting comfortably , ” the statement said .
@ @ @ @ @ arguments Wednesday morning from her hospital room , where she expects to remain for another @ @ @ @ @ High Court has been holding proceedings by teleconference for the first time in history amid @ @ @ @ @ health of Ginsburg , a four-time cancer survivor , has been in the spotlight , @ @ @ @ @ could potentially give President Trump his third Supreme Court pick on a bench where the @ @ @ @ @ .

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized Tuesday with an infection, the US Supreme Court said.
The 87-year-old underwent non-surgical treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore Tuesday for acute cholecystitis, a benign inflammation of the gall bladder, a spokeswoman said in a statement.
“The justice is resting comfortably,” the statement said.
She will participate in oral arguments Wednesday morning from her hospital room, where she expects to remain for another day or two.
The high court has been holding proceedings by teleconference for the first time in history amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The health of Ginsburg, a four-time cancer survivor, has been in the spotlight, as her retirement or death could potentially give President Trump his third Supreme Court pick on a bench where the conservative majority stands at 5-4.


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Bill de Blasio finally moves to tackle NYC’s subway-homeless horror

Cross your fingers : Mayor Bill de Blasio might ’ ve finally gotten the message about the need to reclaim the subway .
After two vagrants turned up dead on trains , NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan vowed Tuesday to send 1,000 cops plus outreach workers into the system during Wednesday ’ s station-closings to clear things out .
That , Hizzoner insists , will “ disrupt ” the problem of the homeless turning the subway into private shelters , endangering everyone ’ s health and safety .
It ’ s “ absolutely the right thing to do to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” de Blasio said .
Monahan noted that test runs saw cops lure “ around 20 ” vagrants a night to shelters or hospitals .
Closing stations will be rough on some riders , but if it lets the city restore the system , it may be worth it .
Alas , it ’ s a big “ if.
” What happens , for example , if they refuse to leave — or do so only when cops forcefully close a station ?
And how does the mayor stop these squatters from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouldn ’ t slap Band-Aids on the problem .
It needs strong , consistent , continuous enforcement , so the homeless and riders alike clearly know : The subway is reserved for transportation — not housing .

Cross your fingers: Mayor Bill de Blasio might’ve finally gotten the message about the need to reclaim the subway.
After two vagrants turned up dead on trains, NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan vowed Tuesday to send 1,000 cops plus outreach workers into the system during Wednesday’s station-closings to clear things out. That, Hizzoner insists, will “disrupt” the problem of the homeless turning the subway into private shelters, endangering everyone’s health and safety.
It’s “absolutely the right thing to do to ensure the subways are safe and clean,” de Blasio said. Monahan noted that test runs saw cops lure “around 20” vagrants a night to shelters or hospitals.
Closing stations will be rough on some riders, but if it lets the city restore the system, it may be worth it. Alas, it’s a big “if.”
What happens, for example, if they refuse to leave — or do so only when cops forcefully close a station? And how does the mayor stop these squatters from returning just hours later?
The city shouldn’t slap Band-Aids on the problem. It needs strong, consistent, continuous enforcement, so the homeless and riders alike clearly know: The subway is reserved for transportation — not housing.


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Ranking the Rangers’ best undrafted free agent signings

The Rangers bulked up their rather thin complement of forwards in Hartford for 2020-21 — or at least they think they did — by signing three undrafted collegians who might even have a higher ceiling than the AHL .
Patrick Khodorenko , a 21-year-old center who led Michigan State in scoring with a 16-33-49 senior season , is in .
So is Austin Rueschhoff , the 22-year-old , 6-foot-7 , 228-pound winger who recorded 26 points ( 12-14 ) as a junior for Western Michigan .
Last but not least in projections is Justin Richards , the 5-10 righty center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota Duluth .
As a hit-or-miss proposition , the whiffs come as often as Aaron Judge ’ s but without the home run ratio .
As a risk-reward proposition , the downside is limited to problems that might arise from having non-prospects clogging the 50-contract organizational maximum .
The Rangers , though , think these three are prospects .
If so , anyone would be the exception .
Of course , Khodorenko , Rueschhoff and Richards are three distinct cases whose chances of making it have absolutely nothing to do with the fates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here is a review of the Rangers ’ previous 24 signings of undrafted college players in the universal draft era that commenced in 1970 : Ten of the 24 did not make it/have not made it to the NHL .
They are : Chris Nell , G , Bowling Green ( signed in 2017 ) ; Mat Bodie , D , Union ( 2014 ) ; Lee Baldwin , D , Alaska-Anchorage ( 2010 ) ; Paul Crowder , C , Alaska Anchorage ( 2009 ) ; Chris McCarthy , RW , Vermont @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D , Penn State ( 2017 ) ; Tommy Grant , LW , Alaska Anchorage ( 2011 ) ; Adam Chapie , F , UMass-Lowell ( 2016 ) ; Ryan Haggerty , RW , RPI ( 2014 ) , who was traded to Chicago straight up for Antti Raanta ; and , Patrick Newell , F , St .
Cloud State ( 2018 ) , who has finished his second season with the Wolf Pack with 13 points ( 6-7 ) in 57 games .
Ken Duggan , a defenseman out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in May of 1986 , played one game in the NHL , for the North Stars in 1987-88 .
13 .
Terry Kleisinger , G , Wisconsin ( 1985 ) Went 0-2 with a 4.42 GAA and .872 save percentage in four games for the Blueshirts in 1985-86 .
12 .
Ron Scott , G , Michigan State ( 1983 ) Recorded a 3-7-4 record with a 3.77 GAA and .868 save percentage in 16 games through 1987-88 , including nine in 1983-84 .
11 .
Jay Caufield , RW , North Dakota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rangers in 1986-87 , with two goals , one assist and 45 penalty minutes .
Was traded to North Stars before becoming an enforcer for the Penguins .
10 .
Vinni Lettieri , RW , Minnesota ( 2017 ) A work in progress , was leading Wolf Pack with 47 points ( 25-22 ) when the AHL season was suspended .
Scored goal in first game as Ranger on Dec. 29 , 2017 in Detroit but has produced only two goals with six assists in 46 games over a handful of NHL looks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , UMass-Amherst ( 2004 ) Not only inserted into the lineup on the night he signed his contract on March 23 , 2004 , but scored on a 55-footer in his debut against the Penguins .
Played 59 games with Blueshirts , recording 14 points ( 7-7 ) through 2007-08 before spending one year with Islanders .
8 .
Steve Richmond , D , Michigan ( 1982 ) Played 77 games while recording 14 points ( 2-12 ) with Blueshirts over parts of three years before trade to Detroit that brought back Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tour on Broadway .
7 .
Tim Bothwell , D , Brown ( 1978 ) The Ivy Leaguer posted 14 points ( 4-10 ) in 62 games with the Rangers through 1981-82 but could never quite earn a regular spot .
Had a reliable 501-game NHL career predominantly spent with the Blues .
6 .
Matt Gilroy , D , Boston University ( 2009 ) Blueshirts won a spirited competition to sign the Long Island native who never quite lived up to the hype .
No .
97 played 142 games with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goals and 19 assists .
5 .
Jed Ortmeyer , RW , Michigan ( 2003 ) The right wing on the critical HMO fourth line of 2005-06 that had Ryan Hollweg on the left and Dominic Moore in the middle .
Recorded 24 points ( 9-15 ) in 177 games for the Blueshirts and is currently the team ’ s director of player development .
4 .
George McPhee , RW , Bowling Green ( 1982 ) Feisty , undersized , blue-collar guy who fit well into the New York scene , registering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games for the Rangers with 247 penalty minutes .
3 .
Neal Pionk , D , Minnesota Duluth ( 2017 ) Played 101 games over two seasons with the Rangers during which he was primarily utilized as the club ’ s first-pair right D and power play first unit point man .
Recorded 40 points ( 7-33 ) for Blueshirts before his trade to Winnipeg last June in the deal that brought Jacob Trouba to New York .
2 .
Cam Talbot , G , Alabama-Huntsville ( 2010 ) Compiled a 33-15-5 record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and .931 save percentage as Henrik Lundqvist ’ s backup for two seasons .
Went 16-4-3/2.16/.929 to pace team to Presidents ’ Trophy in 2014-15 while The King was sidelined for two months after being struck in the throat with a puck .
1 .
Mark Pavelich , C , Minnesota Duluth by way of the US Olympic Team and HC Lugano ( 1981 ) Signed on to join Herb Brooks on Broadway following a year in Switzerland , became one of the headliners of The Smurfs .
Recorded 318 points ( 133-185 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 7-17 ) in 23 playoff matches in a five-year stay .

The Rangers bulked up their rather thin complement of forwards in Hartford for 2020-21 — or at least they think they did — by signing three undrafted collegians who might even have a higher ceiling than the AHL.
Patrick Khodorenko, a 21-year-old center who led Michigan State in scoring with a 16-33-49 senior season, is in. So is Austin Rueschhoff, the 22-year-old, 6-foot-7, 228-pound winger who recorded 26 points (12-14) as a junior for Western Michigan. Last but not least in projections is Justin Richards, the 5-10 righty center who went 14-11-25 as a junior for Minnesota Duluth.
As a hit-or-miss proposition, the whiffs come as often as Aaron Judge’s but without the home run ratio. As a risk-reward proposition, the downside is limited to problems that might arise from having non-prospects clogging the 50-contract organizational maximum. The Rangers, though, think these three are prospects.
If so, anyone would be the exception. Of course, Khodorenko, Rueschhoff and Richards are three distinct cases whose chances of making it have absolutely nothing to do with the fates of those signed before them, but here is a review of the Rangers’ previous 24 signings of undrafted college players in the universal draft era that commenced in 1970:
Ten of the 24 did not make it/have not made it to the NHL. They are: Chris Nell, G, Bowling Green (signed in 2017); Mat Bodie, D, Union (2014); Lee Baldwin, D, Alaska-Anchorage (2010); Paul Crowder, C, Alaska Anchorage (2009); Chris McCarthy, RW, Vermont (2014); Vince Pedrie, D, Penn State (2017); Tommy Grant, LW, Alaska Anchorage (2011); Adam Chapie, F, UMass-Lowell (2016); Ryan Haggerty, RW, RPI (2014), who was traded to Chicago straight up for Antti Raanta; and, Patrick Newell, F, St. Cloud State (2018), who has finished his second season with the Wolf Pack with 13 points (6-7) in 57 games.
Ken Duggan, a defenseman out of the University of Toronto whom the Blueshirts signed in May of 1986, played one game in the NHL, for the North Stars in 1987-88.
Ranking the Top 13:
13. Terry Kleisinger, G, Wisconsin (1985)
Went 0-2 with a 4.42 GAA and .872 save percentage in four games for the Blueshirts in 1985-86.
12. Ron Scott, G, Michigan State (1983)
Recorded a 3-7-4 record with a 3.77 GAA and .868 save percentage in 16 games through 1987-88, including nine in 1983-84.
11. Jay Caufield, RW, North Dakota (1985)
Played 13 games for Rangers in 1986-87, with two goals, one assist and 45 penalty minutes. Was traded to North Stars before becoming an enforcer for the Penguins.
10. Vinni Lettieri, RW, Minnesota (2017)
A work in progress, was leading Wolf Pack with 47 points (25-22) when the AHL season was suspended. Scored goal in first game as Ranger on Dec. 29, 2017 in Detroit but has produced only two goals with six assists in 46 games over a handful of NHL looks.
9. Thomas Pock, D, UMass-Amherst (2004)
Not only inserted into the lineup on the night he signed his contract on March 23, 2004, but scored on a 55-footer in his debut against the Penguins. Played 59 games with Blueshirts, recording 14 points (7-7) through 2007-08 before spending one year with Islanders.
8. Steve Richmond, D, Michigan (1982)
Played 77 games while recording 14 points (2-12) with Blueshirts over parts of three years before trade to Detroit that brought back Mike McEwen for a second (brief) tour on Broadway.
7. Tim Bothwell, D, Brown (1978)
The Ivy Leaguer posted 14 points (4-10) in 62 games with the Rangers through 1981-82 but could never quite earn a regular spot. Had a reliable 501-game NHL career predominantly spent with the Blues.
6. Matt Gilroy, D, Boston University (2009)
Blueshirts won a spirited competition to sign the Long Island native who never quite lived up to the hype. No. 97 played 142 games with the Rangers over two stints, recording seven goals and 19 assists.
5. Jed Ortmeyer, RW, Michigan (2003)
The right wing on the critical HMO fourth line of 2005-06 that had Ryan Hollweg on the left and Dominic Moore in the middle. Recorded 24 points (9-15) in 177 games for the Blueshirts and is currently the team’s director of player development.
4. George McPhee, RW, Bowling Green (1982)
Feisty, undersized, blue-collar guy who fit well into the New York scene, registering 21 goals and 24 assists in 109 games for the Rangers with 247 penalty minutes.
3. Neal Pionk, D, Minnesota Duluth (2017)
Played 101 games over two seasons with the Rangers during which he was primarily utilized as the club’s first-pair right D and power play first unit point man. Recorded 40 points (7-33) for Blueshirts before his trade to Winnipeg last June in the deal that brought Jacob Trouba to New York.
2. Cam Talbot, G, Alabama-Huntsville (2010)
Compiled a 33-15-5 record in 57 games with a 2.00 GAA and .931 save percentage as Henrik Lundqvist’s backup for two seasons. Went 16-4-3/2.16/.929 to pace team to Presidents’ Trophy in 2014-15 while The King was sidelined for two months after being struck in the throat with a puck.
1. Mark Pavelich, C, Minnesota Duluth by way of the US Olympic Team and HC Lugano (1981)
Signed on to join Herb Brooks on Broadway following a year in Switzerland, became one of the headliners of The Smurfs. Recorded 318 points (133-185) in 341 games with 24 points (7-17) in 23 playoff matches in a five-year stay.


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Dallas salon owner who reopened despite coronavirus restrictions gets 7 days in jail

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A Texas salon owner was given seven days in jail on Tuesday after she refused to apologize for defying coronavirus related restrictions by remaining open for business .
Dallas business owner Shelley Luther was given a choice : She could offer an apology for selfishness , pay a fine and shutdown until Friday , or serve jail time .
“ I have to disagree with you , sir , when you say that I ’ m selfish because feeding my kids is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I have hairstylists that are going hungry because they would rather feed their kids .
So sir , if you think the law is more important than kids getting fed , then please go ahead with your decision .
But I am not going to shut the salon.
” After her refusal to show contrition , bailiffs led her away to be booked .
Her sentence reportedly symbolizes the seven-days she stayed open , despite county regulations .
Luther had been cited by city officials but chose to ignore the warnings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 7,000 fine .
Gov .
Greg Abbott held a press conference Tuesday about the reopening of barbershops and salons , which is set to take place on Friday .
Texas hair salons , barbershops , nail and tanning salons can reopen Friday .
Gyms will be allowed to reopen at 25 percent capacity on May 18 .
There will only be one customer per stylist and people can only wait inside if they maintain social distancing .
Appointment scheduling is encouraged to avoid large crowds .
Everyone will be encouraged to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allows these types of businesses to open up , but it doesn ’ t require them to do so , ” he explained .
“ Every owner of every salon should use their own best judgment.
” There ’ s still no date set for bars to reopen in the state , but Abbott said his administration is working on a solution .
He added that the 25 percent capacity limits do not apply to outdoor seating at restaurants , but the social distancing rules of 6 feet do .
The governor also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in rules for religious services , funerals , burials and memorials .
They can occur , but must all have limited seating arrangements .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
A Texas salon owner was given seven days in jail on Tuesday after she refused to apologize for defying coronavirus related restrictions by remaining open for business.
Dallas business owner Shelley Luther was given a choice: She could offer an apology for selfishness, pay a fine and shutdown until Friday, or serve jail time.
“I have to disagree with you, sir, when you say that I’m selfish because feeding my kids is not selfish,” she told the judge. “I have hairstylists that are going hungry because they would rather feed their kids. So sir, if you think the law is more important than kids getting fed, then please go ahead with your decision. But I am not going to shut the salon.”
After her refusal to show contrition, bailiffs led her away to be booked. Her sentence reportedly symbolizes the seven-days she stayed open, despite county regulations.
Luther had been cited by city officials but chose to ignore the warnings. She must also now pay a $7,000 fine.
Gov. Greg Abbott held a press conference Tuesday about the reopening of barbershops and salons, which is set to take place on Friday.
Texas hair salons, barbershops, nail and tanning salons can reopen Friday. Gyms will be allowed to reopen at 25 percent capacity on May 18.
There will only be one customer per stylist and people can only wait inside if they maintain social distancing. Appointment scheduling is encouraged to avoid large crowds.
Everyone will be encouraged to wear masks, Abbott said.
“This allows these types of businesses to open up, but it doesn’t require them to do so,” he explained. “Every owner of every salon should use their own best judgment.”
There’s still no date set for bars to reopen in the state, but Abbott said his administration is working on a solution.
He added that the 25 percent capacity limits do not apply to outdoor seating at restaurants, but the social distancing rules of 6 feet do.
The governor also said weddings are part of the ceremonies involved in rules for religious services, funerals, burials and memorials. They can occur, but must all have limited seating arrangements.


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could ‘lowball’ into ritzy gated LA community

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 ) Meghan and Harry can “ lowball ” their way into a multimillion-dollar estate in a gated community in LA amid the coronavirus pandemic , Josh Altman , of “ Million Dollar Listing , ” told Page Six .
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex should be looking for a gated community for added security , he said , which they could get for a steal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great for buyers , you ’ ll get a great deal over the next six months .
If you ’ re looking to spend $ 10 to $ 20 million , there are five or six gated communities that are perfect.
” He cited Brentwood Country Estates , Beverly Park , Mulholland Estates , the Summit and Beverly Ridge as great gated developments .
Altman , who will not discuss if he ’ s working with the ex-royals , added : “ The Palisades , while it ’ s an amazing community , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property values north of $ 10 million .
”

Meghan and Harry can “lowball” their way into a multimillion-dollar estate in a gated community in LA amid the coronavirus pandemic, Josh Altman, of “Million Dollar Listing,” told Page Six.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex should be looking for a gated community for added security, he said, which they could get for a song: “The market in general is great for buyers, you’ll get a great deal over the next six months. If you’re looking to spend $10 to $20 million, there are five or six gated communities that are perfect.”
He cited Brentwood Country Estates, Beverly Park, Mulholland Estates, the Summit and Beverly Ridge as great gated developments.
Altman, who will not discuss if he’s working with the ex-royals, added: “The Palisades, while it’s an amazing community, doesn’t have guard-gated communities with property values north of $10 million.”


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--New York’s coronavirus nursing home death toll didn’t have to be so high

Revised state Health Department data reveal that at least 4,813 ...

It’s long been clear the official numbers didn’t capture the coronavirus’ full toll in New York’s nursing homes — but the updated count was nonetheless appalling.
Yet Gov. Andrew Cuomo still won’t admit his administration was wrong to mandate that facilities filled with those most virus-vulnerable take in COVID-positive patients.
The new Health Department info released late Monday adds 1,700 presumed coronavirus deaths to the grim total, suggesting that COVID-19 complications have killed 4,813 residents of nursing homes and adult-care facilities — and that doesn’t include those who died in hospitals.
Cuomo downplayed the count Tuesday: “I would take all of these numbers now with a grain of salt,” since “what does a ‘presumed death’ mean, right?”
Considering how pessimistic Cuomo has been in other areas, such doubt seems self-serving. We know fatality rates are far higher than normal — and the coronavirus has proven most deadly to the elderly and those with certain preexisting conditions. Indeed, Cuomo admitted Tuesday, “We knew the nursing homes were going to be a target.”
So why on earth did his health commissioner, Howard Zucker, force nursing homes to take in virus-positive patients starting March 25?
States that have taken better precautions have seen far fewer nursing-home deaths. With a nursing-home population of about 70 percent of New York’s, Florida has seen about 10 percent as many nursing-home deaths — albeit with far fewer COVID-19 deaths overall.
Florida opted for a less-stringent lockdown than New York — but Gov. Ron DeSantis focused attention on nursing homes from the start, and has strengthened those protections as the state begins to reopen.
No Sunshine State patient can be discharged from a hospital into a nursing home without a negative test result. Florida hospitals had already refused to send coronavirus-positive patients back; the new rule means even those who show no symptoms must be tested and confirmed negative.
A defensive Cuomo on Tuesday claimed the state had done “everything you can” to keep the coronavirus from spreading among New York’s seniors. But that’s just not true. And as the toll continues to rise, the gov still won’t reverse course and protect those most vulnerable to the pandemic.


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Richard Carranza’s sick plans to use coronavirus crisis to destroy NYC’s best schools

“ Never waste a good crisis to transform a school system.
” Those were Chancellor Richard Carranza ’ s words in a virtual roundtable with Latino leaders last month .
While the city mourns fallen teachers and other school staff , he ’ s eager to exploit the coronavirus pandemic to push his “ racial equity ” agenda .
By transformation , he means eviscerating academic standards since in his mind they simply enshrine white ( and Asian ) privilege .
That ’ s why he ’ s pushed to downgrade standardized tests and kill Gifted & Talented programs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ use this crisis , which has eliminated most letter grades and year-end testing , to kill competitive admissions for selective middle and high schools .
Carranza has such disdain for top student performers that on a recent call with Community Education Council members he spoke of “ so-called high achievers.
” Rather than create more good public schools , he prefers to dismantle the few good choices available to parents of all classes and incomes .
Instead of focusing on literacy and numeracy , this chancellor prefers to go to war against academic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enemy .
Eva Moskowitz , the CEO of the Success Academy charter school network , recently wrote the families of her mostly black and Hispanic student body to explain why she won ’ t abandon grading like her district colleagues : “ True equity honors the integrity of learning.
” Carranza ’ s “ equity ” is nothing but resentment .
He needs to go .

“Never waste a good crisis to transform a school system.” Those were Chancellor Richard Carranza’s words in a virtual roundtable with Latino leaders last month. While the city mourns fallen teachers and other school staff, he’s eager to exploit the coronavirus pandemic to push his “racial equity” agenda.
By transformation, he means eviscerating academic standards since in his mind they simply enshrine white (and Asian) privilege.
That’s why he’s pushed to downgrade standardized tests and kill Gifted & Talented programs. Now many parents fear he’ll use this crisis, which has eliminated most letter grades and year-end testing, to kill competitive admissions for selective middle and high schools.
Carranza has such disdain for top student performers that on a recent call with Community Education Council members he spoke of “so-called high achievers.”
Rather than create more good public schools, he prefers to dismantle the few good choices available to parents of all classes and incomes.
Instead of focusing on literacy and numeracy, this chancellor prefers to go to war against academic standards as though the messenger were the enemy.
Eva Moskowitz, the CEO of the Success Academy charter school network, recently wrote the families of her mostly black and Hispanic student body to explain why she won’t abandon grading like her district colleagues: “True equity honors the integrity of learning.”
Carranza’s “equity” is nothing but resentment. He needs to go.


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Yankees’ Aaron Judge getting CT scan in ‘couple more weeks’

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Aaron Judge is still not out of the woods yet regarding the fractured rib discovered during spring training, according to a source.
The right fielder is scheduled for another CT scan this month and the injury continues to heal.
The Yankees expect to see continued improvement, but while Judge expressed optimism about an early return after the injury was uncovered, the organization believed he would be out until June or July.
The time frame may prove to be immaterial, since the delay to the start of the regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic has made the possibility of any games prior to then extremely unlikely.
In the meantime, Judge’s rib “continues to heal” and the source indicated there had been no setbacks.
“It just takes time for it to get better,’’ the source said.
Speaking earlier Tuesday to MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, manager Aaron Boone said of Judge: “All signs are encouraging there and hopefully have him as part of all this, as well.”
There remains no formal plan for Major League Baseball to return after the sport was shut down by the coronavirus.
At the time the injuries — the rib fracture and a punctured lung — were discovered, Judge indicated he expected to be out at least through March. Both injuries are believed to have been suffered on a diving play in right field in September.
The other injured Yankees who may have missed extended part of the regular season had it started on time are doing well, Boone said.
Giancarlo Stanton has recovered from the strained calf that sidelined him during the spring and Boone believes “he should be good to go whenever we get ready to go back.”
Aaron Hicks, who underwent Tommy John surgery following last year’s playoffs, figures to be out until June or July, but Boone had encouraging news on the center fielder.
“He’s doing well,’’ Boone said of the switch hitter. “He’s already doing soft toss from both sides of the plate and throwing 90-plus feet. He’s trending in a really good direction.”
And in the rotation, though the Yankees spent much of the spring trying to figure out who might take James Paxton’s place in the rotation as the left-hander recovered from February back surgery, they may not need a replacement whenever the season gets underway.
Paxton has progressed well enough that he’s throwing simulated games.
Boone said Paxton had thrown “five or six bullpen [sessions]” before advancing to his first sim game on Monday.
The original timeline following the February procedure slated Paxton for a mid-May return to the roster. The shutdown will go on far longer than that and Paxton should be able to get in whatever work he needs even in an abbreviated spring training — barring any setbacks.
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“His rehab has gone really, really well,’’ Boone said.
In the meantime, Boone said he continues to check in on his players and is confident they will be prepared for whatever this unusual season might have in store.
Boone said he wants the team to put the players in “the best position to hit the ground running” and he isn’t too preoccupied by the various plans that have been floated.
“As far as scouting and trying to speculate what plan may work, we haven’t put too much into that at all,’’ Boone said. “We’re kind of, as I like to say, staying in the athletic position for whatever plan comes our way and we’ll be in a position to handle it. I feel like it’s something as an organization we do really well. Obviously, it’s gonna be unique circumstances. There’s gonna be adversity along the way and we need to be prepared to handle it and be part of the recovery.’’


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--RJ Hampton has Knicks intrigue as polarizing NBA Draft prospect

With the NBA season suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic , ...

Could there be an RJ-RJ backcourt at the Garden next season?
According to a source, RJ Hampton, who skipped college to play in New Zealand, is another point-guard-type under consideration by the Knicks if they select between sixth and 10th in the draft currently slated for June 25.
NBA insiders believe the speedy 6-foot-5, 19-year-old combo guard has been under the radar as a top-10 player because the Dallas native played on the other side of the world and saw his season cut short by a hip injury.
Leon Rose strongly pursued Hampton as a client when Rose was a superagent for Creative Artists Agency before accepting the Knicks’ presidency. Now Rose could join forces with him in a different manner in pairing Hampton with shooting guard RJ Barrett.
Rashad Phillips, a rising star in mock-draft circles who played at the University of Detroit Mercy, told The Post he sees a lot of All-Star Victor Oladipo in Hampton. Knicks GM Scott Perry drafted Oladipo for the Magic in 2013.
“RJ is the Swiss Army knife to this draft,” Phillips said. “He’s one of the few prospects who can play anywhere because of his versatility. He’s exciting, explosive and a very intelligent kid. Extremely hard worker with a great family. Anytime a kid has those qualities, you put him on the top of your board. If I’m the Knicks, I’m looking at RJ Hampton.”
In NBL Australia, Hampton averaged 8.8 points, 2.4 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 20 minutes. The Knicks had planned a trip to Australia/New Zealand to hit the LaMelo Ball/Hampton exacta, but both players’ seasons ended prematurely.
With no draft combine, individual workouts or live interviews, Hampton’s chance of raising his stock could be hampered, though the draft may be postponed.
“I’ve watched him since eighth grade because he’s a Dallas kid,’’ said ESPN draft maven Fran Fraschilla, the Sheepshead Bay product who lives in Dallas. “He left the U.S. a 10-to-20 prospect. He came home a 10-to-20 prospect. He’s an NBA athlete but could be a project. I don’t know if he was as good as the hype accorded him when he left.”
Phillips released his first mock draft last week, placing Hampton at No. 9.
However, one NBA personnel man said the lack of a normal pre-draft process will crush Hampton, saying he could slip to close to the Knicks’ second pick in the first round — No. 27 overall. He added, “[Hampton is] not a point guard, which is where he played in New Zealand.”
Phillips, who does draft analyst work for Fox Sports, doesn’t believe Hampton, repped by one of the NBA’s top agents in Happy Walters, will be punished for going Down Under.
“Sometimes we all fall under the out-of-sight, out-of-mind, but I like to look at it in the positive light,’’ Phillips said. “What RJ did was impressive. It showed you how much he believed in his own ability. He was willing to walk a road few have traveled. And had success doing that. It speaks to his character. Not too many kids can go overseas [at] 18 years old and hold their own against grown men. He’s prepared mentally and physically to have an impact in the NBA early.”
Phillips won’t call Hampton a combo guard. Too simplistic.
“When you look at the landscape the way the game is played, RJ represents that position-less guard,’’ Phillips said. “He’s 6-5, 190 pounds. He has ability to play multiple positions. He can be an offensive initiator he can play shooting guard, wings. Offensively he can get in the paint and make plays. He’s a superb athlete, he’s probably the fastest player in the draft from end line to end line. He has dynamic qualities that if he gets with the right team and coaches, he has star written all over him.”
That could happen if Hampton, who shot 29.5 percent from 3-point range, becomes a respectable shooter from beyond the arc. The Knicks would love a 3-point-shooting point guard to counterbalance Barrett, who struggles from long range. That’s in short supply in this draft. Even Ball is a poor 3-point shooter.
“I think it’s average now, but you look at the work he’s willing to put in, he’s one of those old-fashioned gym rats,’’ Phillips said. “He’ll have a chance to be a 35 percent 3-point shooter.”
Phillips has come up with different position names in the new NBA and has Hampton as a “HG” — hybrid guard akin to Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and Oladipo. Another NBA talent evaluator sees Hampton as an athletic Spencer Dinwiddie.
“I see a lot of Victor in his game — a hybrid, terrific in the lane, making plays, high-wire act,’’ Phillips said.


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--We cosmetologists need Andrew Cuomo’s help, not his smirks

This barber is taking it to the street .

Judging by your giggling about my line of work, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, I know you think I’m just a dumb hairdresser. Through that smirk, you repeatedly point out how “nonessential” hair salons and barbershops are. You giggled during a news conference about how a haircut done from 6 feet away would end up looking.
Yet as an industry, we are trained and educated on infection control and standard precautions. A lot of us paid for that education through state and federal student loans — with interest.
While we do work in salons, spas and barbershops, we also work in schools, photo studios, retail outlets, theaters, film and television — including shows like your kid brother’s, where he daily sings your praises.
We are making plans and accommodations for additional precautions. The Professional Beauty Association has outlined extensive new sanitation practices, including limiting the number of people who can come into the salon at once.
We are going much further than many other private-economy employees, including grocery-store cashiers and bank tellers. And let’s not even talk about the NYPD officers I recently saw congregating as a group — six of them, to be exact — in front of a COVID-19 testing site in The Bronx, none of them wearing protective gear or even remotely following precautions.
By the way, I’d also like to know, since your curled mane seem to look neat, tidy and a bit darker than usual — who is doing your hair?
Are you, Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago (who was called out on her haircut after she told the public “getting your roots done is not essential”) and other public officials exempt from the mandates you hand down, with little regard for their impact on our finances?
Stop the hypocrisy and work with us on a concrete plan to get us back to work while ensuring the safety of our salons, barbershops, clients and communities — not to mention our own safety.
Why? Because we provide more than just a haircut. We also volunteer in our communities.
Before the program was suspended due to COVID-19, I volunteered at New York Presbyterian Hospital for Lipstick Angels, providing mini spa services to patients receiving drastic treatments, including chemotherapy and blood transfusions. Hand massages, facials and aromatherapy are a few of the complimentary services we provide for patients and their caregivers during their time at the infusion center.
You may also want to look at the “Cut It Out” program, which builds awareness of domestic abuse through materials displayed in salons, and the “Give the Power Back” initiative, which allies salons with local domestic-violence agencies, not to mention all the training salon and spa students and professionals receive to recognize warning signs and safely refer clients to resources.
There’s also the “Hair Club For Kids,” helping young people who’ve lost their hair, and “Beauty Becomes You,” a volunteer effort that allows beauty professionals to provide free haircuts and grooming to senior citizens.
The list goes on. Not once did a client, caregiver or patient ever call us “nonessential.” They have always thanked us for our services and for helping them through a difficult or challenging time.
I’ve worked with all these volunteer programs at one time or another. Unfortunately, there are so many people that can’t be helped through programs — because you have shut us down totally and continue to do so, without laying down a realistic path to reopening.
In addition to all the joy, even rebirth, my industry provides, we also generate a lot of revenue for the state, including the fees we pay to New York for our Cosmetology, Esthetician, Nail Technician and Teachers licensing that ensures we have met all the educational requirements and understand and comply with sanitation and hygiene procedures and practices.
We also pay our taxes. And we vote. I’d like a no-giggles-allowed response to how you are going to help us be of service to our communities.
Candice Rios is a licensed cosmetologist, hairstylist and freelance makeup artist living in The Bronx.


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Court overturns Quincy Jones’ win in Michael Jackson lawsuit

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 ) LOS ANGELES — A California appeals court on Tuesday overturned most of a 2017 jury verdict awarding Quincy Jones $ 9.4 million in royalties and fees from the Michael Jackson estate over the use of Jones-produced Jackson hits in the concert film “ This Is It ” and two Cirque du Soleil shows .
The state ’ s 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the judge ’ s job to interpret anyway .
It took away some $ 6.9 million that jurors had said Jones was owed for his production of “ Billie Jean , ” “ Thriller , ” and more of Jackson ’ s biggest hits .
The appeals court found that the jury wrongly granted Jones money from licensing fees , wrongly went beyond the 10 % royalty rate Jones was owed for record sales , and incorrectly granted Jones money for remixes of Jackson ’ s master recordings .
The court kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which Jones said he was owed for the use of his masters in “ This Is It ” and other fees .
The court also rejected a counter-appeal from the 87-year-old Jones arguing that the trial court should have allowed him to make a claim of financial elder abuse .
Jones , who was already a music business giant when he produced the classic Jackson albums “ Off the Wall , ” “ Thriller ” and “ Bad , ” had sought $ 30 million from the estate when he first filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jones was the last person we thought would try to take advantage of Michael Jackson by filing a lawsuit three years after he died asking for tens of millions of dollars he wasn ’ t entitled to , ” Jackson attorney Howard Weitzman said in a statement .
“ We knew the verdict was wrong when we heard it , and the court of appeal has completely vindicated us.
” A representative for Jones did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment .
Jones said in a statement at the time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never about Michael , it was about protecting the integrity of the work we all did.
” On the stand during the trial , Jones was asked by Weitzman whether he realized he was essentially suing Jackson himself .
“ I ’ m not suing Michael , ” he said .
“ I ’ m suing you all.
” The trial centered on the definitions of terms in the two contracts Jackson and Jones signed in 1978 and 1985 .
Under the deals , for example , Jones is entitled to a share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” of the songs .
The Jackson attorneys argued that the term was meant to apply to music videos and not feature films like “ This Is It.
” The film was created from rehearsal footage for a comeback tour that Jackson was working toward when he died in 2009 at age 50 .

LOS ANGELES — A California appeals court on Tuesday overturned most of a 2017 jury verdict awarding Quincy Jones $9.4 million in royalties and fees from the Michael Jackson estate over the use of Jones-produced Jackson hits in the concert film “This Is It” and two Cirque du Soleil shows.
The state’s 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled that the jury misinterpreted a contract that it was the judge’s job to interpret anyway. It took away some $6.9 million that jurors had said Jones was owed for his production of “Billie Jean,” “Thriller,” and more of Jackson’s biggest hits.
The appeals court found that the jury wrongly granted Jones money from licensing fees, wrongly went beyond the 10% royalty rate Jones was owed for record sales, and incorrectly granted Jones money for remixes of Jackson’s master recordings.
The court kept intact $2.5 million of the award, which Jones said he was owed for the use of his masters in “This Is It” and other fees.
The court also rejected a counter-appeal from the 87-year-old Jones arguing that the trial court should have allowed him to make a claim of financial elder abuse.
Jones, who was already a music business giant when he produced the classic Jackson albums “Off the Wall,” “Thriller” and “Bad,” had sought $30 million from the estate when he first filed the lawsuit in 2013.
“Quincy Jones was the last person we thought would try to take advantage of Michael Jackson by filing a lawsuit three years after he died asking for tens of millions of dollars he wasn’t entitled to,” Jackson attorney Howard Weitzman said in a statement. “We knew the verdict was wrong when we heard it, and the court of appeal has completely vindicated us.”
A representative for Jones did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.
Jones said in a statement at the time of the verdict that the lawsuit “was never about Michael, it was about protecting the integrity of the work we all did.”
On the stand during the trial, Jones was asked by Weitzman whether he realized he was essentially suing Jackson himself.
Jones angrily disagreed.
“I’m not suing Michael,” he said. “I’m suing you all.”
The trial centered on the definitions of terms in the two contracts Jackson and Jones signed in 1978 and 1985.
Under the deals, for example, Jones is entitled to a share of net receipts from a “videoshow” of the songs. The Jackson attorneys argued that the term was meant to apply to music videos and not feature films like “This Is It.”
The film was created from rehearsal footage for a comeback tour that Jackson was working toward when he died in 2009 at age 50.


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Federal judge reinstates New York Democratic presidential primary

A federal court judge has ordered New York Democrats to reinstate the presidential primary election for June 23 after one-time @ @ @ @ @ cancellation .
Judge Analisa Torres in her decision Tuesday ruled that the New York Board @ @ @ @ @ cancel the vote was unconstitutional and that all qualified candidates as of April 26 must @ @ @ @ @ “ [ T ] he removal of presidential contenders from the primary ballot not only @ @ @ @ @ chance to garner votes for the Democratic Party ’ s nomination , ” Torres wrote @ @ @ @ @ …but also deprived their pledged delegates of the opportunity to run for a position where @ @ @ @ @ platform , vote on party governance issues , pressure the eventual nominee on matters of @ @ @ @ @ react to unexpected developments at the Convention.
” Yang sued the New York State Board @ @ @ @ @ claiming the cancellation “ fundamentally denie [ d ] [ voters ] the right to @ @ @ @ @ the office of President of the United States .
”

A federal court judge has ordered New York Democrats to reinstate the presidential primary election for June 23 after one-time candidate Andrew Yang challenged its cancellation.
Judge Analisa Torres in her decision Tuesday ruled that the New York Board of Elections’ decision to cancel the vote was unconstitutional and that all qualified candidates as of April 26 must be on the ballot.
“[T]he removal of presidential contenders from the primary ballot not only deprived those candidates of the chance to garner votes for the Democratic Party’s nomination,” Torres wrote in her opinion.
“…but also deprived their pledged delegates of the opportunity to run for a position where they could influence the party platform, vote on party governance issues, pressure the eventual nominee on matters of personnel or policy, and react to unexpected developments at the Convention.”
Yang sued the New York State Board of Elections last week, claiming the cancellation “fundamentally denie[d] [voters] the right to choose our next candidate for the office of President of the United States.”
Arthur Schwartz, an attorney for plaintiffs in the case, called the decision an “extraordinary victory for the democratic process.”
“This decision is not a win for Andrew Yang or Bernie Sanders. It is a win for democracy,” Schwartz said in a statement. “And it is also a warning to President Trump not to mess around with our right to vote him out in November.”
Schwartz and other counsel called on Jay Jacobs, the Chair of the New York State Democratic Committee, to not appeal the decision.
“I saw the opinion came down. I haven’t read it yet and obviously from a policy point of view I disagree on it,” Jacobs told The Post. “I’ll have to review it.”
A spokesman for the BOE declined to comment, saying its lawyers are reviewing the decision and considering options.
“I hope that the New York Board of Elections takes from this ruling a newfound appreciation of their role in safeguarding our democracy,” Yang said in a statement.
Additional reporting by Carl Campanile


newyorkpost--2020-05-05--Woman arrested after calling cops to report fire in her crotch

An Ohio woman was placed under arrest after reportedly calling 911 to ask for help extinguishing a fire in her crotch .
Katrina Morgan , 50 , called the cops in Port Clinton at about 10 p.m. Saturday , to allegedly falsely report her “ p—y ” ablaze , the Port Clinton News-Herald reported .
Morgan asked the cops of the fire department ’ s “ hose is working ” and said “ I need somebody to come put it out with their hose , ” according to the outlet .
Police arrived at the scene to find Morgan at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she and others had been drinking , residents told the officers .
Cops then moved to arrest Morgan for false reports and disrupting police operations , according to the newspaper .
Morgan became agitated and yelled at the officers as she resisted arrest , only relenting when an officer threatened her with a stun gun , the report said .
Morgan faces charges of disrupting public services , making false alarms , resisting arrest and disorderly conduct , according to the police department .
Her friends during police questioning denied seeing Morgan on @ @ @ @ @ @ @

An Ohio woman was placed under arrest after reportedly calling 911 to ask for help extinguishing a fire in her crotch.
Katrina Morgan, 50, called the cops in Port Clinton at about 10 p.m. Saturday, to allegedly falsely report her “p—y” ablaze, the Port Clinton News-Herald reported.
Morgan asked the cops if the fire department’s “hose is working” and said, “I need somebody to come put it out with their hose,” according to the outlet.
Police arrived to find Morgan at her friend’s home, where she and others had been drinking, residents told the officers.
Cops moved to arrest Morgan for false reports and disrupting police operations, according to the newspaper.
Morgan became agitated and yelled at the officers as she resisted arrest, only relenting when an officer threatened her with a stun gun, the report said.
Morgan faces charges of disrupting public services, making false alarms, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, according to the police department.
Her friends during police questioning denied seeing Morgan on the phone, the News-Herald reported.