newyorkpost--2020-03-26--With no Opening Day, this classic baseball movie is a must-see

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During the coronavirus shutdown , each day we will bring you a recommendation from The Post ’ s Peter Botte for a sports movie , TV show or book that perhaps was before your time or somehow slipped between the cracks of your viewing/reading history .
On what should have been Opening Day across America , our latest offering had to be about the national pastime .
More movies — praised , panned and in-between — have been made about baseball than any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernard Malamud ’ s 1954 novel of the same name always will be remembered by many sports fans as a “ lights-out ” home run , literally and figuratively .
Sure , some critics panned the film for its heavy-handed and improbable plot lines , but as Bill Simmons once wrote in his old ESPN Page 2 column , “ Any ‘ Best Sports Movies ’ list that doesn ’ t feature either ( past Post recommendation ) ‘ Hoosiers ’ or ‘ The Natural ’ as the No .
1 pick shouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robert Redford stars as Roy Hobbs , a 35-year-old rookie who seemingly emerges out of nowhere ( spoiler alert : he had been shot by a woman as a teenager ) as a superstar for the fictitious New York Knights and leads the last-place outfit to the National League pennant .
Hobbs ’ breakout season nearly is derailed by an illness stemming from his old bullet wounds , as is the Knights ’ improbable run by mounting pressure from gamblers .
At least until a bloodied Hobbs returns from the hospital in time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stadium lights in the climactic scene .
Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson ( “ Rain Man ” ) noted years later that while “ The Natural ” was rooted in fantasy , life imitated art in subsequent baseball seasons , such as the Dodgers ’ Kirk Gibson limping around the bases following his walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series against Oakland and the Red Sox ’ s Curt Schilling shutting down the Yankees with a bloodied sock in the 2004 ALCS .
Quote to Note : “ Go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Roy Hobbs to the batboy after his lightning-bolt injected bat , “ Wonderboy , ” breaks during the decisive game .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
During the coronavirus shutdown, each day we will bring you a recommendation from The Post’s Peter Botte for a sports movie, TV show or book that perhaps was before your time or somehow slipped between the cracks of your viewing/reading history.
The Natural (1984), Rated PG
On what should have been Opening Day across America, our latest offering had to be about the national pastime.
More movies — praised, panned and in-between — have been made about baseball than any other sport, and this adaptation of Bernard Malamud’s 1954 novel of the same name always will be remembered by many sports fans as a “lights-out” home run, literally and figuratively.
Sure, some critics panned the film for its heavy-handed and improbable plot lines, but as Bill Simmons once wrote in his old ESPN Page 2 column, “Any ‘Best Sports Movies’ list that doesn’t feature either (past Post recommendation) ‘Hoosiers’ or ‘The Natural’ as the No. 1 pick shouldn’t even count.”
Screen legend Robert Redford stars as Roy Hobbs, a 35-year-old rookie who seemingly emerges out of nowhere (spoiler alert: he had been shot by a woman as a teenager) as a superstar for the fictitious New York Knights and leads the last-place outfit to the National League pennant.
Hobbs’ breakout season nearly is derailed by an illness stemming from his old bullet wounds, as is the Knights’ improbable run by mounting pressure from gamblers. At least until a bloodied Hobbs returns from the hospital in time to belt the game-winning home run into the stadium lights in the climactic scene.
Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson (“Rain Man”) noted years later that while “The Natural” was rooted in fantasy, life imitated art in subsequent baseball seasons, such as the Dodgers’ Kirk Gibson limping around the bases following his walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series against Oakland and the Red Sox’s Curt Schilling shutting down the Yankees with a bloodied sock in the 2004 ALCS.
Quote to Note: “Go pick me out a winner, Bobby.” Roy Hobbs to the batboy after his lightning-bolt injected bat, “Wonderboy,” breaks during the decisive game.
Botte Blows: 4.6 out of 5.


newyorkpost--2020-03-26--Remains of Paige Johnson, missing since 2010, discovered in Ohio

The remains of a teenager in Kentucky who was reported missing in 2010 were discovered over the weekend in Ohio , according to officials .
The Covington Police Department said in a news release on Wednesday that the remains of 17-year-old Paige Johnson were discovered in Clermont County , Ohio .
“ Obviously , this was not the outcome any of us wanted , ” Covington Police Chief Robert Nader told reporters .
Nader said that the remains were found Sunday near Williamsburg Township .
A woman called 911 and reported that her husband was out deer hunting and found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a recording of the call obtained by FOX19 .
“ At this point , there is no cause of death , ” Nader told reporters .
Johnson , the mother of a then-2-year-old daughter , was last seen on Sept. 23 .
2010 , when her friend Jacob Bumpass said he dropped her off at the intersection of 15th and Scott streets in Covington , Ky .
Her remains were discovered about 33 miles east of where she was last reported .
“ Paige Johnson is coming home .
It ’ s monumental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders told FOX19 .
“ We ’ re just so glad her family will have some closure.
” Family members said they were notified Tuesday that her remains were discovered .
“ I am , like , shaking , ” Brittany Haywood , Paige ’ s sister , told The Enquirer on Wednesday .
“ My mom just woke me up with this right now.
” In the years since Johnson was reported missing , local officials said they have been determined to recover her and bring a resolution to her family .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but we are always on the case .
We ’ ll never give up till her family has closure and justice is served , ” Sanders told FOX19 last year .
Authorities planned to review the case this year to examine new leads and look into new technology to test evidence .
“ It ’ s an emotional case for us , ” Sanders told FOX19 on Wednesday morning .
After the 17-year-old was reported missing , police questioned Bumpass , who claimed he dropped her off in Covington .
But investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time placed Bumpass near Johnson ’ s home in Florence , about 11 miles south of Covington , according to The Enquirer .
Bumpass was never named as a suspect and never arrested for anything in relation to Johnson ’ s disappearance .
The Covington Police Department said that in conjunction with the Clermont County Sheriff ’ s Office , it is continuing its investigation .
Anyone with information about Johnson ’ s disappearance is asked to contact Greater Cincinnati Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040 .

The remains of a teenager in Kentucky who was reported missing in 2010 were discovered over the weekend in Ohio, according to officials.
The Covington Police Department said in a news release on Wednesday that the remains of 17-year-old Paige Johnson were discovered in Clermont County, Ohio.
“Obviously, this was not the outcome any of us wanted,” Covington Police Chief Robert Nader told reporters.
Nader said the remains were found Sunday near Williamsburg Township.
A woman called 911 and reported that her husband was out deer hunting and found a burned human skull, according to a recording of the call obtained by FOX19.
“At this point, there is no cause of death,” Nader told reporters.
Johnson, the mother of a then-2-year-old daughter, was last seen on Sept. 23, 2010, when her friend Jacob Bumpass said he dropped her off at the intersection of 15th and Scott streets in Covington, Ky.
Her remains were discovered about 33 miles east of where she was last reported.
“Paige Johnson is coming home. It’s monumental,” Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders told FOX19. “We’re just so glad her family will have some closure.”
Family members said they were notified Tuesday that her remains were discovered.
“I am, like, shaking,” Brittany Haywood, Paige’s sister, told the Enquirer on Wednesday. “My mom just woke me up with this right now.”
In the years since Johnson was reported missing, local officials said they have been determined to recover her and bring a resolution to her family.
“The trail goes hot and cold, but we are always on the case. We’ll never give up ’til her family has closure and justice is served,” Sanders told FOX19 last year.
Authorities planned to review the case this year to examine new leads and look into new technology to test evidence.
“It’s an emotional case for us,” Sanders told FOX19 on Wednesday morning.
After the 17-year-old was reported missing, police questioned Bumpass, who claimed he dropped her off in Covington. But investigators later found that phone records at the time placed Bumpass near Johnson’s home in Florence, about 11 miles south of Covington, according to the Enquirer.
Bumpass was never named as a suspect and never arrested for anything in relation to Johnson’s disappearance.
The Covington Police Department said that in conjunction with the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office, it is continuing its investigation.
Anyone with information about Johnson’s disappearance is asked to contact Greater Cincinnati Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.


newyorkpost--2020-03-26--The Duke, Doc Gooden’s pants and Tom Seaver’s return: The Post remembers Opening Day

So it was 1963 and the Mets were opening their second and final season at the Polo Grounds , a ballpark I loved because , among other things , you could sneak down with your $ 1.30 general-admission ticket to the box seats by the fifth inning and no usher would ever bother you .
The Cardinals were in town , school was out for spring vacation , and a few of us headed to the ballpark on the D Train to meet the Mets of New York town , who had Duke Snider in the lineup , batting cleanup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a huge Brooklyn Dodgers fan .
He loved the Duke .
Now the Duke was a Met .
Now I could root for the Duke !
It was 7-0 St. Louis , it was the bottom of the ninth , there was one out and one on when Snider , wearing No .
11 , ambled to the on-deck circle .
By that time , we ’ d snuck down to the box seats , not so far away .
Naturally , I called out to the Duke .
Not once , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the idea .
And the Duke looked over his shoulder and sort of waved .
The Duke !
It was a memory for a lifetime , which I recounted to Snider when I met him later in life when he was a broadcaster for the Montreal Expos .
Oddly , he did not recall it .
PS : The only Opening Day I ’ ve ever covered was in 1994 , Mets-Cubs at Wrigley , Tuffy Rhodes with three home runs off Dwight Gooden .
Not as memorable as the Duke waving to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day , but then they usually are in Cleveland , where the Yankees opened the 1993 season .
The whipping wind off Lake Erie blew right through Cleveland Stadium ’ s rickety press box , circulating dust and dirt that likely had been there since Bob Feller ’ s prime .
But that wasn ’ t why my eyes were watering , why tears were running down my face and the faces of so many of my colleagues .
Down on the field the Yankees and the Indians stood on their respective foul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indians pitchers Steve Olin , 27 , and Tim Crews , 31 , killed after each suffered massive head injuries in a boating accident a little more than two weeks earlier .
One-time Mets pitcher Bob Ojeda was badly injured in the accident that occurred on Little Lake Nellie in Clermont , Fla. , during a day off from spring training .
But it wasn ’ t just the active players who were on the field for the brief but emotional ceremony .
So were the widows , who carried their husbands jerseys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Also on the field were the children of Olin and Crews — each had three young kids .
The Yankees beat the Indians 9-1 that day .
Jimmy Key got the win .
Matt Nokes and Pat Kelly each drove in three runs .
Wade Boggs , playing his first game with the Yanks , drove in a pair .
But the game wasn ’ t the story .
In fact , it may have been the most inconsequential Opening Day game ever .
Yet that ’ s the opener I always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 17th birthday , I realized for a long time , would be a big one for my friends and me .
Sure , getting a driver ’ s license generally would provide us with all sorts of freedoms .
But we focused specifically on one perk : the right and ability to attend Opening Day .
For me , my first remains my best .
On April 5 , 1988 , I rode in my friend Scott ’ s brown Chevy Celebrity from New Jersey to Yankee Stadium .
Along with our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Yankees rout the defending champion Twins , 8-0 , starting Billy Martin ’ s fifth and final pinstriped managerial tour on a strong note .
Dave Winfield , having just released a book critical of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner , drove in the game ’ s first run with a fourth-inning RBI single off reigning World Series MVP Frank Viola .
Winfield received a standing ovation ; The Boss was nowhere as popular back then .
Mike Pagliarulo slammed a three-run homer .
Rick Rhoden twirled a 115-pitch shutout .
Rafael Santana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yankee , grounded into an eighth-inning triple play .
The pomp , the circumstance , the history … it all lived up to all the hype .
Even the postgame , parking-lot discovery of a flat tire on Scott ’ s car didn ’ t dampen our high .
I attended six more Opening Days as a fan and have covered 23 as a journalist .
On what should have been my 31st , I ’ ll maintain my annual tradition and reflect on what it meant to be 17 and achieve a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 tries , would you be able to guess who had perhaps the greatest debut in Mets history ?
Because the answer is a player who was one of their most colossal disappointments .
Back in 2004 when I was starting my first year as the Mets beat writer for The Post , the team opened the season in Atlanta , and here ’ s what Matsui , the new $ 23 million Japanese shortstop did : He went 3-for-3 with two doubles , two walks and three RBIs in the Mets ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homered on the night ’ s first pitch — the first pitch he ever saw as a major leaguer .
Matsui ’ s performance was extraordinary , and I ’ m sure I — and maybe all Mets fans — wondered if they had legitimately landed a megastar .
They hadn ’ t .
It was an aberration as opposed to a harbinger .
But in Mets history , there ’ s probably never been anything like it .
Before or since .
April 7 , 1987 was supposed to be a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mets raised their 1986 World Series banner before facing the Pirates on Opening Day .
Submit questions on your favorite New York teams to be answered in an upcoming mailbag Everything was in place for a party — except Doc Gooden was in a drug and alcohol rehab facility in Manhattan .
Bobby Ojeda started , went seven innings , scattered 10 hits and gave up a run in a 3-2 Mets victory in front of 46,102 on a grey afternoon that necessitated having the lights on at the start of the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and center and Ojeda pitched very well , but Darryl Strawberry was the one who drew the most attention .
Not only did Strawberry hit a three-run homer off lefty Bob Patterson in the first inning , he was wearing Gooden ’ s pants .
And the blast fulfilled a promise Strawberry made to Gooden before the game that he would hit a home run .
Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter each had two hits .
Jesse Orosco worked the final two innings for the save but injected a big dose of drama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ninth before ending it by getting Bobby Bonilla to hit a bases-loaded grounder to second baseman Wally Backman .
It was played in 2 hours , 30 minutes , and NYC ’ s own John McSherry was the first-base umpire .
In 2000 , I was 25 and had just been promoted to be the Mets ’ beat writer for The Post .
That year , the Mets ’ Opening Day was in Japan against the Cubs .
One of our baseball columnists then , Tom Keegan , was on the trip with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well from his days in Los Angeles covering the Dodgers .
Lasorda was on the trip as a baseball ambassador , if memory serves me correctly .
He was also Mets manager Bobby Valentine ’ s mentor .
During batting practice where the media is outside the cage , Keegan introduced me to Lasorda as “ Jimmy Olsen.
” Keegan was having some fun , but Lasorda apparently had never seen Superman .
He didn ’ t suspect a thing .
Later that night , Bobby V and Cubs manager Don Baylor got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baylor ’ s lineup card .
Baylor had listed a player twice and Valentine waited until the ninth inning to point it out in an attempt , in Baylor ’ s view , to freeze Cubs closer Rick Aguilera .
After we spoke to the heated managers in the postgame , I was taking the elevator up to the press box when Lasorda jumped on .
It seemed like a good idea to see what he thought .
I asked Lasorda if he could comment .
He put his arm around my shoulder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Jimmy.
” It ’ s not often the most memorable scene from Opening Day comes not from the field but from the hallway outside the home clubhouse .
That ’ s what happened when the Yankees opened their season in 2013 .
There was Alex Rodriguez , who had stayed away from spring training following January hip surgery — and revelations that he had been involved in the Biogenesis scandal that was just beginning to rock the sport .
Despite being on the disabled list — and already gearing up for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to him being suspended for the 2014 season — Rodriguez showed up in The Bronx and spoke before the Yankees faced the Red Sox , fittingly , on April Fools ’ Day .
On that day , Rodriguez mostly declined comment on the investigation , but he made it clear he expected to play at some point during the season : “ That ’ s the plan , absolutely.
” Rodriguez eventually returned to the majors after spending much of the summer feuding with the Yankees as he played his way through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rehabbing his hip .
His debut came on Aug. 5 , the same day he was suspended through the 2014 season — a ruling he appealed , but served the following year .
The extent of my experience covering major league baseball had been two midseason Yankees games the previous year when I drew the assignment for the Mets ’ 1998 opener , against the Phillies at Shea Stadium .
It became an epic .
Trying to keep cool on an unexpected oppressively hot day became a challenge as the game proceeded scoreless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in his third career Opening Day start ( that ’ s two more than Jacob deGrom has pitched ) , allowed four hits over six shutout innings .
But the better starting pitcher was Curt Schilling , who fired a two-hitter over eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts .
Mike Piazza was still almost two months away from arriving in a trade to the Mets , and the composition of the team ’ s lineup for that opener indicates why such a big bat was necessary : Bernard Gilkey and Carlos Baerga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were hitting in the middle of the lineup , surrounding John Olerud .
With it scoreless in the 14th inning , the Mets loaded the bases , prompting manager Bobby Valentine with two outs to summon backup catcher Alberto Castillo , his last available pinch hitter .
Castillo delivered a single to right field against Ricky Bottalico for a 1-0 Mets victory in 4 hours , 35 minutes .
I have covered nearly 2,000 Mets games since then .
My first is still among the most memorable .
We were NYU seniors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luttrell was a huge Mets fan ; I was a fan of not going to school any longer and baseball .
So it all seemed obvious .
April 8 , 1985 .
Dwight Gooden ’ s first start after his brilliant rookie season , more importantly Gary Carter ’ s first game as a Met , plus Cardinals-Mets and all their percolating hatred .
Opening Day .
Matinee .
Did I mention , the hell with more classes ?
Jim and I had become pals working for the Washington Square News and though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we both were full-timers at United Press International .
He picked me up in his Cutlass Supreme , I already had the hero sandwiches , we bought walk-up tickets in left field at Shea .
And it was freezing .
I drank hot chocolates , Jim — now a senior staff editor at The New York Times and that paper ’ s grievance chair with the NewsGuild — was heartier and downing beers .
My most memorable Opening Day was followed two days later by strep throat .
The game was terrific , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 10 innings .
Of course , we stayed until the end .
Thankfully .
Gooden wasn ’ t sharp in the cold , the Mets blew a late 5-2 lead .
It was 5-5 , one out , bottom of the 10th .
Two huge trades had elevated the Mets to top contenders : They swapped Neil Allen for Keith Hernandez in June 1983 and dealt four players , including Hubie Brooks , for Carter in December 1984 .
Now , it was Allen versus Carter .
By this point , Jim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to first-base field level — borough kids sneaking where they shouldn ’ t be .
And there was Carter taking Allen into the left-field area we had abandoned .
I was a Reds fan — loved Pete Rose — but even I joined in the moment , hugging my Mets fan pal .
Then we had to go , even on my favorite Opening Day ever .
I was freezing .
For my father and I , this was the best kind of closure .
Six years earlier , he ’ d helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Mets traded Tom Seaver to the Reds .
“ Life isn ’ t always fair , ” he ’ d told me , “ and neither is baseball.
” Now — Tuesday , April 5 , 1983 — my dad and I sat in two mezzanine-level seats alongside 46,685 fellow believers at Shea Stadium and we stood and cheered as Seaver took a long , slow walk in from the right-field bullpen .
The king had returned from exile , restored as the Mets ’ Opening Day starter .
Video of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ version of No .
41 .
That day , we didn ’ t care .
The Franchise was back .
Tom Terrific was back .
He struck out Pete Rose , of course , the first batter he faced .
He threw six shutout innings on a bad leg .
He didn ’ t get the win but the Mets did , of course , 2-0 over the Phillies , because even in years like 1983 when the Mets were terrible they always won on Opening Day and they always beat Steve Carlton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 Mets games I ever saw live with my father , just the two of us , parking near my grandmother ’ s house in Corona and walking over to Shea .
It was a good one to go out on .

Ten Post staff members share memories of their favorite Opening Days:
Larry Brooks
So it was 1963 and the Mets were opening their second and final season at the Polo Grounds, a ballpark I loved because, among other things, you could sneak down with your $1.30 general-admission ticket to the box seats by the fifth inning and no usher would ever bother you.
The Cardinals were in town, school was out for spring vacation, and a few of us headed to the ballpark on the D Train to meet the Mets of New York town, who had Duke Snider in the lineup, batting cleanup. Duke Snider! My dad had been a huge Brooklyn Dodgers fan. He loved the Duke. Now the Duke was a Met. Now I could root for the Duke!
It was 7-0 St. Louis, it was the bottom of the ninth, there was one out and one on when Snider, wearing No. 11, ambled to the on-deck circle. By that time, we’d snuck down to the box seats, not so far away. Naturally, I called out to the Duke. Not once, not twice — well, you get the idea.
And the Duke looked over his shoulder and sort of waved. The Duke! It was a memory for a lifetime, which I recounted to Snider when I met him later in life when he was a broadcaster for the Montreal Expos. Oddly, he did not recall it.
PS: The only Opening Day I’ve ever covered was in 1994, Mets-Cubs at Wrigley, Tuffy Rhodes with three home runs off Dwight Gooden. Not as memorable as the Duke waving to me.
Don Burke
It was a cold Opening Day, but then they usually are in Cleveland, where the Yankees opened the 1993 season. The whipping wind off Lake Erie blew right through Cleveland Stadium’s rickety press box, circulating dust and dirt that likely had been there since Bob Feller’s prime.
But that wasn’t why my eyes were watering, why tears were running down my face and the faces of so many of my colleagues. Down on the field the Yankees and the Indians stood on their respective foul lines as 73,290 fans paused to remember Indians pitchers Steve Olin, 27, and Tim Crews, 31, killed after each suffered massive head injuries in a boating accident a little more than two weeks earlier. One-time Mets pitcher Bob Ojeda was badly injured in the accident that occurred on Little Lake Nellie in Clermont, Fla., during a day off from spring training.
But it wasn’t just the active players who were on the field for the brief but emotional ceremony. So were the widows, who carried their husbands jerseys complete with the newly sewn memorial patches. Also on the field were the children of Olin and Crews — each had three young kids.
The Yankees beat the Indians 9-1 that day. Jimmy Key got the win. Matt Nokes and Pat Kelly each drove in three runs. Wade Boggs, playing his first game with the Yanks, drove in a pair.
But the game wasn’t the story. In fact, it may have been the most inconsequential Opening Day game ever.
Yet that’s the opener I always think about this time every year.
Ken Davidoff
The 17th birthday, I realized for a long time, would be a big one for my friends and me.
Sure, getting a driver’s license generally would provide us with all sorts of freedoms. But we focused specifically on one perk: the right and ability to attend Opening Day.
For me, my first remains my best.
On April 5, 1988, I rode in my friend Scott’s brown Chevy Celebrity from New Jersey to Yankee Stadium. Along with our buddies Perry and Beaver, we saw the Yankees rout the defending champion Twins, 8-0, starting Billy Martin’s fifth and final pinstriped managerial tour on a strong note. Dave Winfield, having just released a book critical of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, drove in the game’s first run with a fourth-inning RBI single off reigning World Series MVP Frank Viola. Winfield received a standing ovation; The Boss was nowhere as popular back then.
Mike Pagliarulo slammed a three-run homer. Rick Rhoden twirled a 115-pitch shutout. Rafael Santana, in his first game as a Yankee, grounded into an eighth-inning triple play.
The pomp, the circumstance, the history … it all lived up to all the hype. Even the postgame, parking-lot discovery of a flat tire on Scott’s car didn’t dampen our high.
I attended six more Opening Days as a fan and have covered 23 as a journalist. On what should have been my 31st, I’ll maintain my annual tradition and reflect on what it meant to be 17 and achieve a lifelong dream.
Mark Hale
If I gave you 50 tries, would you be able to guess who had perhaps the greatest debut in Mets history?
Because the answer is a player who was one of their most colossal disappointments.
The answer is Kazuo Matsui.
Back in 2004 when I was starting my first year as the Mets beat writer for The Post, the team opened the season in Atlanta, and here’s what Matsui, the new $23 million Japanese shortstop did: He went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two walks and three RBIs in the Mets’ 7-2 win.
Oh, and he homered on the night’s first pitch — the first pitch he ever saw as a major leaguer.
“It’s almost a fairy tale,” Art Howe said.
Matsui’s performance was extraordinary, and I’m sure I — and maybe all Mets fans — wondered if they had legitimately landed a megastar. They hadn’t. It was an aberration as opposed to a harbinger. But in Mets history, there’s probably never been anything like it. Before or since.
George A. King III
April 7, 1987 was supposed to be a day of celebration at Shea Stadium. The Mets raised their 1986 World Series banner before facing the Pirates on Opening Day.
Submit questions on your favorite New York teams to be answered in an upcoming mailbag
Everything was in place for a party — except Doc Gooden was in a drug and alcohol rehab facility in Manhattan.
Bobby Ojeda started, went seven innings, scattered 10 hits and gave up a run in a 3-2 Mets victory in front of 46,102 on a grey afternoon that necessitated having the lights on at the start of the game.
Gooden’s absence was front and center and Ojeda pitched very well, but Darryl Strawberry was the one who drew the most attention.
Not only did Strawberry hit a three-run homer off lefty Bob Patterson in the first inning, he was wearing Gooden’s pants. And the blast fulfilled a promise Strawberry made to Gooden before the game that he would hit a home run.
Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter each had two hits. Jesse Orosco worked the final two innings for the save but injected a big dose of drama by giving up a run in the ninth before ending it by getting Bobby Bonilla to hit a bases-loaded grounder to second baseman Wally Backman.
It was played in 2 hours, 30 minutes, and NYC’s own John McSherry was the first-base umpire.
Andrew Marchand
In 2000, I was 25 and had just been promoted to be the Mets’ beat writer for The Post. That year, the Mets’ Opening Day was in Japan against the Cubs.
One of our baseball columnists then, Tom Keegan, was on the trip with me. Keegan had known Tommy Lasorda well from his days in Los Angeles covering the Dodgers. Lasorda was on the trip as a baseball ambassador, if memory serves me correctly. He was also Mets manager Bobby Valentine’s mentor.
During batting practice where the media is outside the cage, Keegan introduced me to Lasorda as “Jimmy Olsen.” Keegan was having some fun, but Lasorda apparently had never seen Superman. He didn’t suspect a thing.
Later that night, Bobby V and Cubs manager Don Baylor got into a brouhaha over an issue with Baylor’s lineup card. Baylor had listed a player twice and Valentine waited until the ninth inning to point it out in an attempt, in Baylor’s view, to freeze Cubs closer Rick Aguilera.
After we spoke to the heated managers in the postgame, I was taking the elevator up to the press box when Lasorda jumped on. It seemed like a good idea to see what he thought.
I asked Lasorda if he could comment. He put his arm around my shoulder and said, “Anything for you, Jimmy.”
Dan Martin
It’s not often the most memorable scene from Opening Day comes not from the field but from the hallway outside the home clubhouse. That’s what happened when the Yankees opened their season in 2013.
There was Alex Rodriguez, who had stayed away from spring training following January hip surgery — and revelations that he had been involved in the Biogenesis scandal that was just beginning to rock the sport.
Despite being on the disabled list — and already gearing up for a fight with MLB that would ultimately lead to him being suspended for the 2014 season — Rodriguez showed up in The Bronx and spoke before the Yankees faced the Red Sox, fittingly, on April Fools’ Day.
On that day, Rodriguez mostly declined comment on the investigation, but he made it clear he expected to play at some point during the season: “That’s the plan, absolutely.”
Rodriguez eventually returned to the majors after spending much of the summer feuding with the Yankees as he played his way through the organization’s minor league system, rehabbing his hip. His debut came on Aug. 5, the same day he was suspended through the 2014 season — a ruling he appealed, but served the following year.
Mike Puma
The extent of my experience covering major league baseball had been two midseason Yankees games the previous year when I drew the assignment for the Mets’ 1998 opener, against the Phillies at Shea Stadium.
It became an epic.
Trying to keep cool on an unexpected oppressively hot day became a challenge as the game proceeded scoreless into the middle innings. Bobby Jones, in his third career Opening Day start (that’s two more than Jacob deGrom has pitched), allowed four hits over six shutout innings. But the better starting pitcher was Curt Schilling, who fired a two-hitter over eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts.
Mike Piazza was still almost two months away from arriving in a trade to the Mets, and the composition of the team’s lineup for that opener indicates why such a big bat was necessary: Bernard Gilkey and Carlos Baerga, then on their career downsides, were hitting in the middle of the lineup, surrounding John Olerud.
With it scoreless in the 14th inning, the Mets loaded the bases, prompting manager Bobby Valentine with two outs to summon backup catcher Alberto Castillo, his last available pinch hitter. Castillo delivered a single to right field against Ricky Bottalico for a 1-0 Mets victory in 4 hours, 35 minutes.
I have covered nearly 2,000 Mets games since then. My first is still among the most memorable.
Joel Sherman
We were NYU seniors, a few months from graduation. Jim Luttrell was a huge Mets fan; I was a fan of not going to school any longer and baseball.
So it all seemed obvious. April 9, 1985. Dwight Gooden’s first start after his brilliant rookie season, more importantly Gary Carter’s first game as a Met, plus Cardinals-Mets and all their percolating hatred. Opening Day. Matinee. Did I mention, the hell with more classes?
Jim and I had become pals working for the Washington Square News and though neither of us had graduated yet, we both were full-timers at United Press International. He picked me up in his Cutlass Supreme, I already had the hero sandwiches, we bought walk-up tickets in left field at Shea. And it was freezing.
I drank hot chocolates, Jim — now a senior staff editor at The New York Times and that paper’s grievance chair with the NewsGuild — was heartier and downing beers. My most memorable Opening Day was followed two days later by strep throat.
The game was terrific, but took 3 hours 42 minutes, over 10 innings. Of course, we stayed until the end. Thankfully. Gooden wasn’t sharp in the cold, the Mets blew a late 5-2 lead. It was 5-5, one out, bottom of the 10th.
Two huge trades had elevated the Mets to top contenders: They swapped Neil Allen for Keith Hernandez in June 1983 and dealt four players, including Hubie Brooks, for Carter in December 1984. Now, it was Allen versus Carter. By this point, Jim and I had moved from left field to first-base field level — borough kids sneaking where they shouldn’t be. And there was Carter taking Allen into the left-field area we had abandoned.
I was a Reds fan — loved Pete Rose — but even I joined in the moment, hugging my Mets fan pal. Then we had to go, even on my favorite Opening Day ever. I was freezing.
Mike Vaccaro
For my father and I, this was the best kind of closure. Six years earlier, he’d helped console inconsolable 10-year-old me on the night the Mets traded Tom Seaver to the Reds.
“Life isn’t always fair,” he’d told me, “and neither is baseball.”
Now — Tuesday, April 5, 1983 — my dad and I sat in two mezzanine-level seats alongside 46,685 fellow believers at Shea Stadium and we stood and cheered as Seaver took a long, slow walk in from the right-field bullpen. The king had returned from exile, restored as the Mets’ Opening Day starter. Video of that day now reveals an older, thicker version of No. 41.
That day, we didn’t care. The Franchise was back. Tom Terrific was back. He struck out Pete Rose, of course, the first batter he faced. He threw six shutout innings on a bad leg. He didn’t get the win but the Mets did, of course, 2-0 over the Phillies, because even in years like 1983 when the Mets were terrible they always won on Opening Day and they always beat Steve Carlton.
It was the last of the 11 Mets games I ever saw live with my father, just the two of us, parking near my grandmother’s house in Corona and walking over to Shea. It was a good one to go out on.


newyorkpost--2020-03-26--NYC outlines street closures to promote ‘social distancing’ during coronavirus shutdown

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A small stretch of four streets will temporarily close to vehicular traffic as the city tests out a pilot program providing more social distancing space during the coronavirus pandemic .
Mayor Bill de Blasio has picked one street to be converted to pedestrian-only corridors in Manhattan , Queens , Brooklyn and the Bronx , for a pilot running from Friday , March 27 , to Monday , March 30 .
Each of the following streets will be closed to cars from 10 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The closures in total make up roughly 1.6 miles of the city ’ s 6,000 miles of roads : • The Bronx : Grand Concourse , between East Burnside Avenue and 184th Street Staten Island was not included in the original pilot , but a spokeswoman said more closures could be coming .
De Blasio had previously pledged to close up to two streets per borough to give pedestrians more space during the state-ordered lockdown .
“ Additional sites are being considered for this initial pilot and will be announced when details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meyer said in an email .
“ These current locations will be re-evaluated for continued public access.
” Police will be stationed at the four streets to monitor the closures and ensure social distancing protocols are followed .
Parked cars can remain in place during the closures , according to the mayor ’ s office .
Thru-traffic will be allowed on cross streets of the closed roads and any pick-ups and drop-offs will have to be completed at corners of cross streets .

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A small stretch of four streets will temporarily close to vehicular traffic as the city tests out a pilot program providing more social distancing space during the coronavirus pandemic.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has picked one street to be converted to pedestrian-only corridors in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx, for a pilot running from Friday, March 27, to Monday, March 30.
Each of the following streets will be closed to cars from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the four-day test.
The closures in total make up roughly 1.6 miles of the city’s 6,000 miles of roads:
Manhattan: Park Avenue, between 28th Street and 34th Street
Brooklyn: Bushwick Avenue, between Johnson Avenue and Flushing Avenue
Queens: 34th Avenue, from 73rd Street to 80th Street
The Bronx: Grand Concourse, between East Burnside Avenue and 184th Street
Staten Island was not included in the original pilot, but a spokeswoman said more closures could be coming. De Blasio had previously pledged to close up to two streets per borough to give pedestrians more space during the state-ordered lockdown.
“Additional sites are being considered for this initial pilot and will be announced when details are finalized,” mayoral spokeswoman Jane Meyer said in an email. “These current locations will be re-evaluated for continued public access.”
Police will be stationed at the four streets to monitor the closures and ensure social distancing protocols are followed. Parked cars can remain in place during the closures, according to the mayor’s office.
Related Video De Blasio warns half of all New Yorkers will get COVID-19
Through-traffic will be allowed on cross streets of the closed roads and any pick-ups and drop-offs will have to be completed at corners of cross streets.


newyorkpost--2020-03-26--Red Sox cheating investigation ends with coronavirus twist

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On the eve of what was supposed to be Opening Day , MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he will reveal his findings into the Red Sox cheating probe once baseball returns .
If an optimistic Manfred has his way , America ’ s pastime will be back some time in May .
“ We ’ ll have to make a determination depending on what the precise date is as to how much of a preparation period we need , ” Manfred told ESPN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back , ” Manfred said .
“ Whenever it ’ s safe to play , we ’ ll be back .
And our fans will be back.
” MLB shut down spring training as most professional sports leagues went on hiatus because of the coronavirus , and spring training likely would have to take place before the regular season were to begin .
Mandfred also said MLB is “ probably not gon na be able to do ” a 162-game season .
“ I think that ’ s clear , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during MLB ’ s coronavirus-imposed hiatus , the league and the players union also are in the middle of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement , with its current one slated to expire in December 2021 .
Baseball has had a few coronavirus cases as two Yankees minor leaguers and one Boston Red Sox minor leaguer have tested positive for the illness .
As for the Red Sox probe , it has become just part of a never-ending list of sporting matters to be affected by the pandemic .
Manfred said he “ frankly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” report his findings into whether the Red Sox cheated during the 2018 World Series season by stealing signs electronically .
Manfred said the investigation was wrapped up and that the report will be released just in time for whenever baseball starts back up .
The Red Sox were investigated after MLB confirmed a whistleblower ’ s account that the Astros electronically stole signs during the season they won the World Series in 2017 and during parts of the 2018 season .
Houston was fined $ 5 million and draft picks , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both were suspended by MLB for not stopping the cheating scandal .
But it is unlikely the Red Sox will face as harsh a penalty because this case lacks a whistleblower and video footage , both of which helped implicate the Astros .
Alex Cora , who took over as Red Sox manager in 2018 , already was fired after he was found to be involved in the Astros ring while the team ’ s bench coach .
MLB will likely issue Cora a suspension .
A lawyer for the Red Sox last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as part of a class-action suit brought on by a DraftKings bettor who claimed the Red Sox and Astros created an unfair gambling advantage .

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On the eve of what was supposed to be Opening Day, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he will reveal his findings in the Red Sox cheating probe once baseball returns.
If an optimistic Manfred has his way, America’s pastime will be back sometime in May.
“We’ll have to make a determination depending on what the precise date is as to how much of a preparation period we need,” Manfred told ESPN on Wednesday.
“Baseball will be back,” Manfred said. “Whenever it’s safe to play, we’ll be back. And our fans will be back.”
MLB shut down spring training as most professional sports leagues went on hiatus because of the coronavirus, and spring training likely would have to take place before the regular season began.
Manfred also said MLB is “probably not gonna be able to do” a 162-game season. “I think that’s clear,” he said.
Making matters more challenging for Manfred during MLB’s coronavirus-imposed hiatus, the league and the players union also are in the middle of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement, with its current one slated to expire in December 2021.
Baseball has had a few coronavirus cases as two Yankees minor leaguers and one Boston Red Sox minor leaguer have tested positive for the illness.
As for the Red Sox probe, it has become just part of a never-ending list of sporting matters affected by the pandemic.
Manfred said he “frankly [has] not had time to turn to” report his findings into whether the Red Sox cheated during the 2018 World Series season by stealing signs electronically.
Manfred said the investigation was wrapped up and that the report will be released just in time for whenever baseball starts back up.
The Red Sox were investigated after MLB confirmed a whistleblower’s account that the Astros electronically stole signs during the season they won the World Series in 2017 and during parts of the 2018 season.
Houston was fined $5 million and docked draft picks, and fired its manager and general manager after both were suspended by MLB for not stopping the cheating scandal.
But it is unlikely the Red Sox will face as harsh a penalty because this case lacks a whistleblower and video footage, both of which helped implicate the Astros.
Alex Cora, who took over as Red Sox manager in 2018, already was fired after he was found to be involved in the Astros ring while the team’s bench coach. MLB will likely issue Cora a suspension.
A lawyer for the Red Sox last week denied the team electronically stole signs, as part of a class-action suit brought by a DraftKings bettor who claimed the Red Sox and Astros created an unfair gambling advantage.


newyorkpost--2020-03-26--Lori Loughlin, college admissions scandal parents urge judge to drop charges

BOSTON — “ Full House ” Actress Lori Loughlin , her fashion designer husband , Mossimo Giannulli , and other prominent parents urged a judge Wednesday to dismiss charges against them in the college admissions bribery case , accusing prosecutors of “ extraordinary ” misconduct .
Defense attorneys for the famous couple and other parents still fighting the charges say the case can not stand because investigators bullied their informant into lying and then concealed evidence that would bolster the parents ’ claims of innocence .
“ The extraordinary government misconduct presented in this case threatens grave harm to defendants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That misconduct can not be ignored , ” the lawyers wrote .
The U.S. attorney ’ s office in Boston declined Wednesday to comment .
Loughlin and Giannulli are scheduled to go on trial in October on charges that they paid $ 500,000 to get their daughters into the University of Southern California as crew recruits even though neither girl was a rower .
Prosecutors say they snapped photos of the girls sitting on rowing machines to help make fake athletic profiles that portrayed them as star athletes .
Six other wealthy parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand trial alongside them .
Another six parents are scheduled to face trial in January .
The defense says prosecutors withheld evidence that would support the parents ’ argument that they believed the payments were legitimate donations that would benefit the schools , rather than bribes for coaches or officials .
The evidence — notes from the phone of the scheme ’ s admitted mastermind , admissions consultant Rick Singer — was not given to the defense until last month .
Singer wrote in the notes that FBI agents yelled at him and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say things in recorded phone calls that could be used against them .
Singer wrote that FBI agents told him to say that he told parents the payments were bribes .
“ They continue to ask me to tell a fib and not restate what I told my clients as to where their money was going — to the program not the coach and that it was a donation and they want it to be a payment , ” Singer wrote , according to the filing .
The defense says the notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence and try to trick parents into falsely agreeing that the payments were bribes .
“ For government agents to coerce an informant into lying on recorded calls to generate false inculpatory evidence against investigative targets—and to then knowingly prosecute those targets using that false evidence—is governmental malfeasance of the worst kind , ” the lawyers wrote .
Instead of immediately handing over the notes when they first saw them in Oct. 2018 , prosecutors “ buried ” the evidence and repeatedly told the defense it had provided everything it was supposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The defense also accused investigators of allowing Singer to delete thousands of text messages from his cellphone and then mounting an “ aggressive ( and highly successful ) pressure campaign ” to get parents to plead guilty .
“ While withholding the notes and many other examples of material exculpatory information , the government attempted to coerce defendants into pleading guilty by threatening that if they did not , they would face additional charges , ” the parents ’ lawyers wrote .
Singer ’ s notes weren ’ t given to the defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were privileged and didn ’ t review them further after discovering them , prosecutors have said .
Prosecutors say it doesn ’ t matter whether Singer called the payments bribes or donations , because it was still an illegal quid pro quo .
The defense said if the judge doesn ’ t dismiss the case , he should at least prevent prosecutors from using the “ tainted recordings ” at trial and order a hearing to “ uncover the full truth about the recordings and the government ’ s efforts to fabricate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents have pleaded guilty in the case , including “ Desperate Housewives ” star Felicity Huffman , who was sentenced to two weeks in prison for paying $ 15,000 to have a proctor correct her daughter ’ s SAT answers .

BOSTON — “Full House” actress Lori Loughlin, her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, and other prominent parents urged a judge Wednesday to dismiss charges against them in the college admissions bribery case, accusing prosecutors of “extraordinary” misconduct.
Defense attorneys for the famous couple and other parents still fighting the charges say the case cannot stand because investigators bullied their informant into lying and then concealed evidence that would bolster the parents’ claims of innocence.
“The extraordinary government misconduct presented in this case threatens grave harm to defendants and the integrity of this proceeding. That misconduct cannot be ignored,” the lawyers wrote.
The US Attorney’s Office in Boston declined to comment Wednesday.
Loughlin and Giannulli are scheduled to go on trial in October on charges that they paid $500,000 to get their daughters into the University of Southern California as crew recruits even though neither girl was a rower. Prosecutors say they snapped photos of the girls sitting on rowing machines to help make fake athletic profiles that portrayed them as star athletes.
Six other wealthy parents accused of participating in the scheme will stand trial alongside them. Another six parents are scheduled to face trial in January.
The defense says prosecutors withheld evidence that would support the parents’ argument that they believed the payments were legitimate donations that would benefit the schools, rather than bribes for coaches or officials. The evidence — notes from the phone of the scheme’s admitted mastermind, admissions consultant Rick Singer — was not given to the defense until last month.
Singer wrote in the notes that FBI agents yelled at him and told him to lie to get parents to say things in recorded phone calls that could be used against them. Singer wrote that FBI agents told him to say that he told parents the payments were bribes.
“They continue to ask me to tell a fib and not restate what I told my clients as to where their money was going — to the program not the coach and that it was a donation and they want it to be a payment,” Singer wrote, according to the filing.
The defense says the notes show that agents bullied Singer into fabricating evidence and trying to trick parents into falsely agreeing that the payments were bribes.
“For government agents to coerce an informant into lying on recorded calls to generate false inculpatory evidence against investigative targets — and to then knowingly prosecute those targets using that false evidence — is governmental malfeasance of the worst kind,” the lawyers wrote.
Instead of immediately handing over the notes when they first saw them in October 2018, prosecutors “buried” the evidence and repeatedly told the defense it had provided everything it was supposed to, the parents’ lawyers wrote.
The defense also accused investigators of allowing Singer to delete thousands of text messages from his cellphone and then mounting an “aggressive (and highly successful) pressure campaign” to get parents to plead guilty.
“While withholding the notes and many other examples of material exculpatory information, the government attempted to coerce defendants into pleading guilty by threatening that if they did not, they would face additional charges,” the parents’ lawyers wrote.
Singer’s notes weren’t given to the defense until February because the government believed they were privileged and didn’t review them further after discovering them, prosecutors have said. Prosecutors say it doesn’t matter whether Singer called the payments bribes or donations, because it was still an illegal quid pro quo.
The defense said if the judge doesn’t dismiss the case, he should at least prevent prosecutors from using the “tainted recordings” at trial and order a hearing to “uncover the full truth about the recordings and the government’s efforts to fabricate and conceal evidence.”
Related Video Did this exclusive Lori Loughlin interview foreshadow the infamous cheating scandal?
Nearly two dozen other parents have pleaded guilty in the case, including “Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman, who was sentenced to two weeks in prison for paying $15,000 to have a proctor correct her daughter’s SAT answers.


newyorkpost--2020-03-26--US death toll from coronavirus passes 1,000

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Deaths caused by @ @ @ @ @ surpassed 1,000 on Wednesday night , according to Johns Hopkins University .
The country recorded @ @ @ @ @ 827 earlier in the day , according to the university ’ s coronavirus tracker .
@ @ @ @ @ number of confirmed cases — at 68,572 .
Only China , where the virus first @ @ @ @ @ Italy have reported more .
New York has been hit especially hard by the illness @ @ @ @ @ as of Wednesday night , the majority of which are in New York City .
@ @ @ @ @ 81 deaths in an eight-hour span , raising the total to 280 .
Globally , @ @ @ @ @ than 21,000 people .

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Deaths caused by the coronavirus in the US surpassed 1,000 on Wednesday night, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The country recorded 1,031 fatalities, up from 827 earlier in the day, according to the university’s coronavirus tracker.
The US has the third-highest number of confirmed cases — at 68,572. Only China, where the virus first appeared last December, and Italy have reported more.
New York has been hit especially hard by the illness, with nearly 33,000 cases as of Wednesday night, the majority of which are in New York City.
The city on Wednesday reported 81 deaths in an eight-hour span, raising the total to 280.
Globally, the virus has killed more than 21,000 people.


newyorkpost--2020-03-25--Senate unanimously passes $2 trillion coronavirus bill with cash giveaway

The Senate passed a massive coronavirus stimulus bill that sends cash directly to most adults in a bid to shore up the faltering economy .
The bill expected to top $ 2 trillion and also bails out businesses , hospitals and local governments .
It passed late Wednesday night and now heads to the House for final approval .
The package authorizes $ 1,200 checks for all adults who earn up to $ 75,000 and creates enormous loan programs for businesses .
A generous boost of $ 600 per week in unemployment pay led to a final road bump when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change the bill so the unemployed could not get more than 100 percent of their prior pay .
The package creates a $ 500 billion loan program run by the Treasury Department to assist businesses struggling to stay afloat .
Loans to President Trump ’ s businesses and those of members of Congress , other officials and their families are banned .
A separate $ 350 billion loan program for small businesses offers to forgive money lent to businesses that avoid layoffs , inspired by cataclysmic forecasts of mass unemployment .
The deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital funding and a $ 150 billion fund for state and local governments , both pushed for by Democrats .
Another $ 25 billion goes to public transit systems , $ 4.35 billion of that to New York — with $ 3.8 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , whose ridership collapsed as COVID-19 spread .
“ It ’ s been a long hard road with a remarkable number of twists and turns , but for the sake of millions of Americans , it will be worth it , ” said Senate Minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who negotiated past midnight for days with a White House team .
Capitol Hill aides believe the deal ’ s cash giveaway will take effect in April , bringing a welcome payday to the vast majority of workers .
All adults who earn up to $ 75,000 get $ 1,200 , with $ 500 more per child .
For a family of four , that ’ s up to $ 3,400 .
For higher earners , the payout tapers from $ 1,200 to zero between salaries of $ 75,000 and $ 99,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for approval .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) said Tuesday she wants to pass the bill by unanimous consent without calling lawmakers back to vote in person .
Two House members were diagnosed last week with COVID-19 , and others are in quarantine .
Trump urged Congress to quickly send him the bill , saying during a Wednesday press conference at the White House it would be “ a great day for the American worker and for American families , and frankly for American companies .
”

The Senate passed a massive coronavirus stimulus bill that sends cash directly to most adults in a bid to shore up the faltering economy.
The bill, expected to top $2 trillion, also bails out businesses, hospitals and local governments. It passed late Wednesday and now heads to the House for final approval.
The package authorizes $1,200 checks for all adults who earn up to $75,000 and creates enormous loan programs for businesses.
A generous boost of $600 per week in unemployment pay led to a final road bump when a group of Republicans sought unsuccessfully to change the bill so the unemployed could not get more than 100 percent of their prior pay.
The package creates a $500 billion loan program run by the Treasury Department to assist businesses struggling to stay afloat. Loans to President Trump’s businesses and those of members of Congress, other officials and their families are banned.
A separate $350 billion loan program for small businesses offers to forgive money lent to businesses that avoid layoffs, inspired by cataclysmic forecasts of mass unemployment.
The deal includes a $150 billion boost in hospital funding and a $150 billion fund for state and local governments, both pushed for by Democrats.
Another $25 billion goes to public transit systems, $4.35 billion of that to New York — with $3.8 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, whose ridership collapsed as COVID-19 spread.
“It’s been a long, hard road with a remarkable number of twists and turns, but for the sake of millions of Americans, it will be worth it,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who negotiated past midnight for days with a White House team.
Capitol Hill aides believe the deal’s cash giveaway will take effect in April, bringing a welcome payday to the vast majority of workers. All adults who earn up to $75,000 get $1,200, with $500 more per child. For a family of four, that’s up to $3,400.
For higher earners, the payout tapers from $1,200 to zero between salaries of $75,000 and $99,000.
The deal now goes to the House for approval. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Tuesday she wants to pass the bill by unanimous consent without calling lawmakers back to vote in person. Two House members were diagnosed last week with COVID-19, and others are in quarantine.
Trump urged Congress to quickly send him the bill, saying during a Wednesday press conference at the White House it would be “a great day for the American worker and for American families, and frankly for American companies.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-25--Combatting coronavirus abroad sparks privacy concerns

Measures to track patients in the fight against the coronavirus around the world have alarmed anti-surveillance advocates .
Countries like South Korea , Russia and Italy are reportedly hoarding vast troves of data via facial recognition technology , mobile phones and credit cards to track movements of patients who ’ ve tested positive and potential residents with whom they could have come in close contact .
“ There ’ s always an ‘ important ’ justification for surveillance — whether it ’ s fighting crime , fighting terrorism or fighting this pandemic , ” said Albert Fox Cahn , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Project , a New York City-based nonprofit “ But there are also real consequences to our civil rights under what we allow under an emergency to move forward without real oversight , ” he said .
When residents are infected in South Korea , officials tap into phone and credit card data to blast an alert to anyone who was nearby in recent days , The New York Times reported .
Police use GPS apps to make sure those ordered to quarantine are actually following suit .
Officials in Lombardy , Italy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many people were obeying the government ordered lockdown , as well , local media reported .
Russia authorities , meanwhile , have boasted of facial recognition tools they ’ re allegedly using to keep patients quarantined indoors .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has pledged it doesn ’ t retain and personally identifying information from those who visit its site or use its mobile app .
“ CDC will not disclose , give , sell , or transfer any personal information about visitors to our websites unless required by law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health agency posted on its website outlining data use .
In New York , Cahn said STOP is thus far most concerned with a newly enacted state law that grants Gov .
Andrew Cuomo virtually full autonomy during the pandemic .
The group has raised red flags over the state ’ s call for volunteers to create a “ technology SWAT team ” with “ impactful solutions and skilled tech employees.
” “ It is completely unclear how these teams will be deployed and whether they will be supporting backend logistics for health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understandable — or whether they will be engaging in data collection practices as we ’ ve seen in China , Korea and elsewhere , ” Cahn said .

Measures to track patients in the fight against the coronavirus around the world have alarmed anti-surveillance advocates.
Countries like South Korea, Russia and Italy are reportedly hoarding vast troves of data via facial recognition technology, mobile phones and credit cards to track movements of patients who’ve tested positive and potential residents with whom they could have come in close contact.
“There’s always an ‘important’ justification for surveillance — whether it’s fighting crime, fighting terrorism or fighting this pandemic,” said Albert Fox Cahn, the executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, a New York City-based nonprofit
“But there are also real consequences to our civil rights under what we allow under an emergency to move forward without real oversight,” he said.
When residents are infected in South Korea, officials tap into phone and credit card data to blast an alert to anyone who was nearby in recent days, The New York Times reported. Police use GPS apps to make sure those ordered to quarantine are actually following suit.
Officials in Lombardy, Italy, used mobile phone data to track how many people were obeying the government ordered lockdown, as well, local media reported. Russia authorities, meanwhile, have boasted of facial recognition tools they’re allegedly using to keep patients quarantined indoors.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has pledged it doesn’t retain and personally identifying information from those who visit its site or use its mobile app.
“CDC will not disclose, give, sell, or transfer any personal information about visitors to our websites unless required by law enforcement or by statute,” the public health agency posted on its website outlining data use.
In New York, Cahn said STOP is thus far most concerned with a newly enacted state law that grants Gov. Andrew Cuomo virtually full autonomy during the pandemic.
The group has raised red flags over the state’s call for volunteers to create a “technology SWAT team” with “impactful solutions and skilled tech employees.”
“It is completely unclear how these teams will be deployed and whether they will be supporting backend logistics for health care centers — something that is completely understandable — or whether they will be engaging in data collection practices as we’ve seen in China, Korea and elsewhere,” Cahn said.


newyorkpost--2020-04-16--Alleged stalker ex of slain sex therapist Amie Harwick pleads not guilty

`` His behavior was abusive and threatening .
He was yelling and ...

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LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles man pleaded not guilty Thursday to killing his ex-girlfriend, a prominent family therapist and former fiancée of comedian Drew Carey, prosecutors said.
Dr. Amie Harwick died Feb. 15 after she was thrown over the third-floor balcony of her Hollywood Hills apartment, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said. An autopsy determined she had been strangled first.
Gareth Pursehouse, 41, was charged with one count each of murder and first-degree residential burglary with the special circumstance allegation of lying in wait, prosecutors said.
The defendant was initially arrested shortly after Harwick’s death and posted $2 million bond. He was re-arrested this week on a no bail warrant.
Detectives learned Harwick had expressed fear about an ex-boyfriend and had previously filed a restraining order against him, according to a police statement. The restraining order had expired.
Harwick’s website described her as a marriage and sex therapist. She appeared on TV and radio and wrote a book called “The New Sex Bible for Women.”
Carey dated Harwick, 38, for two years before the pair split in 2018, months after announcing their engagement.
Pursehouse was ordered to return to court on June 24.
The special circumstance allegation of lying in wait makes Pursehouse eligible for the death penalty. A decision on whether to seek capital punishment will be made at a later date, prosecutors said.


newyorkpost--2020-04-16--45 NYC doormen and janitors dead from coronavirus, union says

The coronavirus not just plaguing first responders and medical workers — the deadly disease is also claiming the lives of other essential workers like doormen and janitors .
At least 58 service industry employees unionized under 32BJ SEIU have died due to COVID-19 across the country — with 45 of those deaths taking place in New York City , the union announced Thursday .
Of the 45 city deaths , 19 were from the union ’ s essential division , which includes doormen and women , supers and porters .
Many of the workers have been provided with little to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gloves , according to the union .
“ Essential workers — janitors , security officers , airport and residential workers — put their health and well-being on the line every day to keep NYC safe , secure and healthy , ” said Kyle Bragg , President of 32BJ SEIU , in a statement .
“ While essential workers are keeping others safe , they and those close to them are getting sick and dying.
” Bragg is calling on the House of Representatives to pass legislation that includes economic relief and other protections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping the city moving .
The union has proposed three measures for the next congressional bailout for its workers .
The proposals include “ essential pay ” supported by the government to increase workers ’ wages to 1.5 times their regular rates and guaranteed personal protective equipment .
It ’ s also asking for layoff protection for contracted workers .
“ Now , after putting their lives on the line to protect others — thousands are facing layoffs — their livelihoods and access to health care are at risk , ” Bragg said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much such measures would cost , though the union has gained support from the likes of Reps. Carolyn Maloney ( D-NY ) and Nydia Velazquez ( D-NY ) .
Congress passed a massive , $ 2 trillion emergency economic stimulus package late last month , which included individual checks to Americans and bailouts businesses , hospitals and local governments .
But a $ 350 billion small-business relief program included in the package to prevent layoffs during the coronavirus crisis ran out of money after two weeks .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment .
Both Democrats and Republicans appeared to be at a standoff this week over details in the next stimulus package .
“ Small businesses , hospitals , frontline workers and state and local governments across the country are struggling to keep up with this national crisis , ” Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) said on Monday in a joint statement with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer ( D-NY ) .
“ They need more help from the federal government and they need it fast — our nurses , doctors and health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else .
”

The coronavirus is not just plaguing first responders and medical workers — the deadly disease is also claiming the lives of other essential workers like doormen and janitors.
At least 58 service industry employees unionized under 32BJ SEIU have died due to COVID-19 across the country — with 45 of those deaths taking place in New York City, the union announced Thursday.
Of the 45 city deaths, 19 were from the union’s essential division, which includes doormen and women, supers and porters.
Many of the workers have been provided with little to no personal protective equipment like masks or gloves, according to the union.
“Essential workers — janitors, security officers, airport and residential workers — put their health and well-being on the line every day to keep NYC safe, secure and healthy,” said Kyle Bragg, President of 32BJ SEIU, in a statement. “While essential workers are keeping others safe, they and those close to them are getting sick and dying.”
Bragg is calling on the House of Representatives to pass legislation that includes economic relief and other protections for the typically low-wage workers tasked with keeping the city moving.
The union has proposed three measures for the next congressional bailout for its workers. The proposals include “essential pay” supported by the government to increase workers’ wages to 1.5 times their regular rates and guaranteed personal protective equipment.
It’s also asking for layoff protection for contracted workers.
“Now, after putting their lives on the line to protect others — thousands are facing layoffs — their livelihoods and access to health care are at risk,” Bragg said.
It was not immediately clear how much such measures would cost, though the union has gained support from the likes of Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Nydia Velazquez (D-NY).
Congress passed a massive, $2 trillion emergency economic stimulus package late last month, which included individual checks to Americans and bailouts businesses, hospitals and local governments.
But a $350 billion small-business relief program included in the package to prevent layoffs during the coronavirus crisis ran out of money after two weeks.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Both Democrats and Republicans appeared to be at a standoff this week over details in the next stimulus package.
“Small businesses, hospitals, frontline workers and state and local governments across the country are struggling to keep up with this national crisis,” Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on Monday in a joint statement with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY). “They need more help from the federal government and they need it fast — our nurses, doctors and health care workers need it as much as anyone else.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-16--Golfers ‘apprehensive’ about PGA Tour’s restart plan

Rory McIlroy believes the coronavirus could give him his best ...

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What will it look like?
A major sporting event without spectators is a foreign concept, but it’s one of the many unwelcome new normals the COVID-19 pandemic has forced upon us.
Every major sports league — including MLB, the NBA, NHL and MLS — has acknowledged this as a possibility, if even a likelihood, once their respective seasons restart or begin.
On Thursday, the PGA Tour became the first major sports organization to announce no spectators as a reality when it mapped out its updated schedule, which begins with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club the week of June 8, and stated that at least the first four tournaments on the revised schedule will take place without fans in attendance.
Colonial is followed by the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links the week of June 15, then the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut the week of June 22 and the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club beginning July 2 — all of which will be conducted as television-only events sans fans.
“It’ll definitely be awkward not have the fans out there,’’ Jim Furyk told The Post on Thursday. “We all want to get back on the golf course when it’s safe and we’re able to. We’d rather do it with fans if we could.’’
Furyk, who shot a PGA Tour-record 58 at the 2016 Travelers, said he may play all four of those fan-less events — including Travelers, which is third on the revised schedule.
“At the end of the day, all we are is entertainment,’’ Charles Howell III told The Post. “It definitely will be different without fans. There’s definitely a certain energy level that comes from having fans. However, we’re in an unprecedented time here where everything feels different and will be different going forward.
“And, if this is what needs to be done and gets us back out to the golf course and it gets everyone closer to normalcy, well then that’s what needs to be done.’’
Howell, like Furyk, said he plans to play all four of those fan-less tournaments.
“In a way, it’ll feel a little bit like a Tuesday morning practice round,’’ Howell said. “You’re out there and you’re playing the same golf course, but there’s no one there.”
The Travelers Championship draws an estimated 300,000 fans during tournament week, making it Connecticut’s largest sporting event.
“It’s going to be different without our fans,’’ said Nathan Grube, the Travelers Championship tournament director. “But whatever that ‘different’ is we’re going to embrace it.’’
Andy Bessette, the executive vice president of Travelers, said, “Is it going to be strange without fans? Yes, it’s going to be very strange. It will feel empty, but we’re going to proceed on.’’
Furyk and Howell expressed some apprehension about how the tournaments are going to be able to “proceed on’’ safely.
“I’m anxious to see what type of plan they roll out to try to keep us safe,’’ Furyk said. “There’s a lot of things that put us in harm’s way. What I worry about most is the outside world. We still have to travel, still have to check into a hotel, we still have eat, still have to interact with people. And with those things comes a risk. That’s the part I’m apprehensive about.’’
That said, Furyk insisted that he has “a lot of respect for those in charge at the PGA Tour, and I know they’re not going to put us out there just to get it out there on the golf course. They’re going to do it in a safe environment.’’
One PGA Tour source told The Post the Tour has hopes of being able to do “extensive testing’’ before these events. But that would seem unrealistic given the current nationwide shortage of testing for people who are symptomatic. Is the Tour going to be able to test players who are asymptomatic a mere two months from now?
“I’m excited to get back out there and play again, but there still is this apprehension about making sure we can do this safely and do it the right way,’’ Howell said. “As long as the Tour and everybody follows the guidelines from [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], government and local authorities, I think we’re OK. But there still has to be a learning curve here to testing and what is safe.
“Golf, even without fans, requires a lot of people. I still think there are a whole lot of moving parts to this. Hopefully, golf can find a way back, but find a way back safely so that we all can benefit from it.’’


newyorkpost--2020-04-16--Jim Edmonds officially dating former threesome partner

It 's called `` The Answer Is … Reflections of My Life .
”

Who says you can’t have fun in quarantine?
Jim Edmonds is shacking up in his massive St. Louis mansion with his new girlfriend, Kortnie O’Connor, Page Six can reveal.
Edmonds, 49, first posted snaps of him and O’Connor on Wednesday, with his rep, Steve Honig, exclusively telling Page Six on Thursday, “Jim and Kortnie are in a relationship. They have been quarantined together for the past few weeks and, like everyone else, are trying to stay safe and healthy.”
That may be an uphill battle for the new couple, as the MLB star was diagnosed with coronavirus earlier this month. He was quarantined with his daughter, Hayley, 22, after a trip to Nashville — when he was diagnosed — and she developed a confirmed case of COVID-19 shortly after him.
Now that he’s on the mend, it appears he’s taken up a new hobby as well.
“Jim has been busy decorating and working on his new house,” his rep added.
Edmonds is currently in the midst of a divorce with former “Real Housewives of Orange County” star Meghan King Edmonds. Meghan, 35, is currently in California with the couple’s three children: daughter Aspen, 3, and twin sons Hayes and Hart, 2.
Meghan first alluded to a relationship between O’Connor and her soon-to-be ex in January on her “Intimate Knowledge” podcast. She later told us while the new couple was vacationing in Cabo that month, “We only had one threesome and only once during our marriage and that was with his current girlfriend.”
“Jim is separated from his wife and getting a divorce; if he wants to go to Cabo with a friend that is no one else’s business,” Honig told us at the time.
Congrats to the happy couple!


newyorkpost--2020-04-16--Jets defer season-ticket holders’ payments once again

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The Jets sent @ @ @ @ @ holders on Thursday to tell them their May payments will be deferred .
The franchise @ @ @ @ @ when the coronavirus pandemic began forcing people to stay home .
The Jets will continue @ @ @ @ @ as things unfold .
Right now , the NFL is planning on having a season @ @ @ @ @ could change as stay-at-home orders are extended and scientists decide when sporting events are safe @ @ @ @ @ chance that sports could begin without fans in the stands , which will create a @ @ @ @ @ ’ s business side .

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The Jets sent a letter to their season-ticket holders on Thursday to tell them their May payments will be deferred.
The franchise did the same last month when the coronavirus pandemic began forcing people to stay home. The Jets will continue to update their season-ticket holders as things unfold.
Right now, the NFL is planning on having a season without an interruption. That could change as stay-at-home orders are extended and scientists decide when sporting events are safe again.
There is a chance that sports could begin without fans in the stands, which will create a difficult situation for the franchise’s business side.


newyorkpost--2020-04-16--Most NYC coronavirus testing done in whitest and wealthiest zip codes, Post analysis finds

Staten Islanders are getting tested for coronavirus more often than any other borough — and at twice the rate of Brooklynites and Manhattanites , an analysis of data from the city Department of Health by The Post shows .
Additionally , the paper ’ s analysis found that more than two-thirds of the 30 zip codes with the highest per-capita rates of testing were either whiter or wealthier — and frequently both — than the city average population .
“ As the data shows , the COVID-19 crisis is hitting communities of more color the hardest – while those same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus or resources to fight it , ” said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams ( D-Brooklyn ) , the city ’ s highest-ranking elected black official .
“ The city needs a task force in place to rapidly implement an action plan to mitigate racial disparities in COVID-19 exposure , testing , access to resources , and fatalities.
” City officials and civil rights leaders have been sounding the alarm about COVID-19 ’ s disparate impact on the Big Apple ’ s minority communities after an analysis of death certificates revealed that black and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rate of their white counterparts .
“ There is absolutely no question that people of means have found a way to get a test during the most restrictive times and that the vast majority of people who are low income or people of color had no opportunity for testing unless they were sick enough to be hospitalized , ” said Councilman Mark Levine ( D-Manhattan ) , who chairs the health committee .
On Monday , Mayor Bill de Blasio announced City Hall was launching a new $ 10 million advertising and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardest hit by the virus to try to slow the virus ’ s spread in minority communities .
Nearly four out of every 100 residents — 3.8 — Staten Islanders have gotten a hard-to-score test for COVID-19 , far exceeding the per-capita rates in other boroughs , the paper ’ s analysis found .
Just 2.5 per 100 people in Queens have gotten a test , while testing is slightly more prevalent in The Bronx , where 2.9 people per 100 have been checked .
Both boroughs have been hard-hit by the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization , The City , found that Bronxites were more likely to die of COVID-19 than residents in any other borough .
Testing rates in Brooklyn and Manhattan are even worse , averaging just 1.9 tests per 100 people — half the rate of Staten Island .
The analysis also found that Staten Island residents tested positive for the disease at a slightly higher per-capita rate than any other borough — 1.8 per 100 people .
The Bronx came in a close second with 1.7 positives per 100 people .
New York ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first responders , possibly explaining the disparity in both testing availability and the rate of positives .
But even in New York ’ s most tested borough — only one in every 25 people have been checked for the disease .
Additionally , the analysis revealed that 22 of the 30 most tested zip codes are either whiter or wealthier than the city ’ s average population .
New York ’ s most tested zip code per capita is The Bronx ’ s 10464 , which includes City Island and Pelham Bay Park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manhattan ’ s 10280 , which covers a swath of the Financial District that stretches from Battery Park to the World Trade Center .
The Post conducted its analysis by marrying the city ’ s testing data for each of its 177 zip codes with the U.S. Census Bureau ’ s population and demographic estimations for each zip code .
“ We are deeply concerned about the disparities of the impact of this virus and are working hard to ensure the resources are available to communities experiencing the worst outcomes , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With respect to testing , we have given guidance to providers on when it is appropriate to test , however , it is ultimately the judgment of the physician.
” He added : “ While we have recently expanded testing we urge providers to limit tests to seriously ill people as well as healthcare workers , first responders , and other especially vulnerable communities .
”

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Staten Islanders are getting tested for coronavirus more often than any other borough — and at twice the rate of Brooklynites and Manhattanites, an analysis of data from the city Department of Health by The Post shows.
Additionally, the paper’s analysis found that more than two-thirds of the 30 ZIP codes with the highest per-capita rates of testing were either whiter or wealthier — and frequently both — than the city average population.
“As the data shows, the COVID-19 crisis is hitting communities of more color the hardest – while those same communities have less testing to diagnose the virus or resources to fight it,” said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn), the city’s highest-ranking elected black official. “The city needs a task force in place to rapidly implement an action plan to mitigate racial disparities in COVID-19 exposure, testing, access to resources, and fatalities.”
City officials and civil rights leaders have been sounding the alarm about COVID-19’s disparate impact on the Big Apple’s minority communities after an analysis of death certificates revealed that black and brown New Yorkers are dying at twice the rate of their white counterparts.
“There is absolutely no question that people of means have found a way to get a test during the most restrictive times and that the vast majority of people who are low income or people of color had no opportunity for testing unless they were sick enough to be hospitalized,” said Councilman Mark Levine (D-Manhattan), who chairs the health committee.
On Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced City Hall was launching a new $10 million advertising and outreach effort targeting the 88 ZIP codes hardest hit by the virus to try to slow the virus’s spread in minority communities.
Nearly four out of every 100 residents — 3.8 — Staten Islanders have gotten a hard-to-score test for COVID-19, far exceeding the per-capita rates in other boroughs, the paper’s analysis found.
Just 2.5 per 100 people in Queens have gotten a test, while testing is slightly more prevalent in The Bronx, where 2.9 people per 100 have been checked.
Both boroughs have been hard-hit by the outbreak and an analysis by a nonprofit news organization, The City, found that Bronxites were more likely to die of COVID-19 than residents in any other borough.
Testing rates in Brooklyn and Manhattan are even worse, averaging just 1.9 tests per 100 people — half the rate of Staten Island.
The analysis also found that Staten Island residents tested positive for the disease at a slightly higher per-capita rate than any other borough — 1.8 per 100 people. The Bronx came in a close second with 1.7 positives per 100 people.
New York’s smallest borough is home to many first responders, possibly explaining the disparity in both testing availability and the rate of positives.
But even in New York’s most tested borough — only one in every 25 people have been checked for the disease.
Additionally, the analysis revealed that 22 of the 30 most tested ZIP codes are either whiter or wealthier than the city’s average population.
New York’s most tested ZIP code per capita is The Bronx’s 10464, which includes City Island and Pelham Bay Park. Its least tested ZIP code was Manhattan’s 10280, which covers a swath of the Financial District that stretches from Battery Park to the World Trade Center.
The Post conducted its analysis by marrying the city’s testing data for each of its 177 ZIP codes with the U.S. Census Bureau’s population and demographic estimations for each ZIP code.
“We are deeply concerned about the disparities of the impact of this virus and are working hard to ensure the resources are available to communities experiencing the worst outcomes,” said Health Department spokesman Patrick Gallahue. “With respect to testing, we have given guidance to providers on when it is appropriate to test, however, it is ultimately the judgment of the physician.”
He added: “While we have recently expanded testing we urge providers to limit tests to seriously ill people as well as healthcare workers, first responders, and other especially vulnerable communities.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-16--What coronavirus ‘truthers’ get dead wrong

An irony of the coronavirus debate is that the more successful lockdowns are in squelching the disease , the more vulnerable they will be to attack as unnecessary in the first place .
A rising chorus on the right is slamming the shutdowns as a panicked overreaction and agitating to end them , hoping to drive a wedge between President Trump and his more cautious advisers .
While there ’ s no doubt there have been absurd lockdown excesses , and we should want to return to normal as soon as plausible , the case against the initial shutdowns is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seriousness of COVID-19 .
A good example of the genre was an op-ed coauthored by former Education Secretary William Bennett and talk-radio host Seth Leibsohn , headlined “ Coronavirus Lessons : Fact and Reason vs .
Paranoia and Fear.
” Bennett and Leibsohn are public-spirited , intelligent men , but they have got this wrong and in rather elementary ways .
They cite the latest University of Washington estimate that the current outbreak will kill 68,000 people .
Then , they note that about 60,000 people died of the flu in 2017-18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve scared Americans and imposed huge economic and social costs on the country .
Their reasoning is obviously flawed .
If we are going to have 60,000 deaths with people not leaving their homes for more than a month , the number of deaths obviously would have been higher — much higher — if everyone had gone about business as usual .
We didn ’ t lock down the country to try to prevent 60,000 deaths ; we locked down the country to limit deaths to 60,000 from what would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bennett and Leibsohn ’ s logic , we could just as easily ask : Why did we adopt tough-on-crime policies when crime rates are at historic lows ?
Why did we work so hard to find a treatment for HIV when so many of the people with the disease now have normal life expectancies ?
Of course , it was precisely the actions we took that caused those welcome outcomes .
If we had shut down the country a month sooner and there had been , say , only 2,000 deaths , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even a stronger argument , that is : “ We did all this , and there were only a couple of thousand fatalities ?
” In other words , the more effective a lockdown would have been , the more opposed Bennett and Leibsohn would be to it .
As for the flu comparison : The flu season stretches as long as from October to April , although it usually peaks between December and February .
The 2017-18 season , with 60,000 flu-related deaths , was particularly bad .
But the coronavirus might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the country on lockdown .
In the 2011-12 season , 12,000 people died of the flu nationwide .
New York alone has eclipsed that in a little more than a month and recorded roughly 9,000 coronavirus deaths the first 15 days of April ( again , while on lockdown ) .
In 2018-19 , there were 34,000 flu-related deaths nationwide .
We are going to surpass that number nationally sometime soon ( yet again , while on lockdown ) .
Why have people reacted so dramatically to this virus , despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the run-of-the-mill flu ?
Bennett and Leibsohn have a theory : “ New York City is where the epidemic has struck the hardest .
The media is centered in New York City.
” There ’ s no doubt that New York is always going to get disproportionate attention .
But Gotham is the biggest city in the country , and the Empire State accounts for 8 percent of the US economy .
If New York were an independent state , it would rank as the 11th-biggest economy in the world .
What happens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America , as we all agreed after 9/11 .
If the disease struck smaller heartland cities like Omaha , Kansas City and Wichita , would Bennett and Leibsohn hope that the story got ignored and no one took any precautions based on major media companies not being headquartered in those places ?
Plus , the authors ignore the key fact that the economy began to shut down before there were widespread shutdown orders .
People voted with their feet , because they were fearful of a virulent disease .
And they acted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as normal , the outbreak would have been much worse , and we would have shutdowns anyway , just with even worse health outcomes .
By all means , let ’ s open up the economy as soon as we can , but it will require more careful thought than the most fervent critics of the shutdowns have demonstrated .

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links.
An irony of the coronavirus debate is that the more successful lockdowns are in squelching the disease, the more vulnerable they will be to attack as unnecessary in the first place.
A rising chorus on the right is slamming the shutdowns as a panicked overreaction and agitating to end them, hoping to drive a wedge between President Trump and his more cautious advisers.
While there’s no doubt there have been absurd lockdown excesses, and we should want to return to normal as soon as plausible, the case against the initial shutdowns is weak, contradictory and based on denying the seriousness of COVID-19.
A good example of the genre was an op-ed coauthored by former Education Secretary William Bennett and talk-radio host Seth Leibsohn, headlined “Coronavirus Lessons: Fact and Reason vs. Paranoia and Fear.” Bennett and Leibsohn are public-spirited, intelligent men, but they have got this wrong and in rather elementary ways.
They cite the latest University of Washington estimate that the current outbreak will kill 68,000 people. Then, they note that about 60,000 people died of the flu in 2017-18. For this, they thunder, we’ve scared Americans and imposed huge economic and social costs on the country. Their reasoning is obviously flawed.
If we are going to have 60,000 deaths with people not leaving their homes for more than a month, the number of deaths obviously would have been higher — much higher — if everyone had gone about business as usual. We didn’t lock down the country to try to prevent 60,000 deaths; we locked down the country to limit deaths to 60,000 from what would have been a number multiples larger.
By Bennett and Leibsohn’s logic, we could just as easily ask: Why did we adopt tough-on-crime policies when crime rates are at historic lows? Why did we work so hard to find a treatment for HIV when so many of the people with the disease now have normal life expectancies?
Of course, it was precisely the actions we took that caused those welcome outcomes.
If we had shut down the country a month sooner and there had been, say, only 2,000 deaths, then on their terms they’d have even a stronger argument, that is: “We did all this, and there were only a couple of thousand fatalities?”
In other words, the more effective a lockdown would have been, the more opposed Bennett and Leibsohn would be to it.
As for the flu comparison: The flu season stretches as long as from October to April, although it usually peaks between December and February. The 2017-18 season, with 60,000 flu-related deaths, was particularly bad. But the coronavirus might kill a similar number of people — with the country on lockdown.
In the 2011-12 season, 12,000 people died of the flu nationwide. New York alone has eclipsed that in a little more than a month and recorded roughly 9,000 coronavirus deaths the first 15 days of April (again, while on lockdown). In 2018-19, there were 34,000 flu-related deaths nationwide. We are going to surpass that number nationally sometime soon (yet again, while on lockdown).
Why have people reacted so dramatically to this virus, despite the fact that it is supposedly comparable to the run-of-the-mill flu? Bennett and Leibsohn have a theory: “New York City is where the epidemic has struck the hardest. The media is centered in New York City.”
There’s no doubt that New York is always going to get disproportionate attention. But Gotham is the biggest city in the country, and the Empire State accounts for 8 percent of the US economy. If New York were an independent state, it would rank as the 11th-biggest economy in the world. What happens there matters. It’s part of America, as we all agreed after 9/11.
If the disease struck smaller heartland cities like Omaha, Kansas City and Wichita, would Bennett and Leibsohn hope that the story got ignored and no one took any precautions based on major media companies not being headquartered in those places?
Plus, the authors ignore the key fact that the economy began to shut down before there were widespread shutdown orders. People voted with their feet, because they were fearful of a virulent disease. And they acted rationally. If everything had gone on as normal, the outbreak would have been much worse, and we would have shutdowns anyway, just with even worse health outcomes.
By all means, let’s open up the economy as soon as we can, but it will require more careful thought than the most fervent critics of the shutdowns have demonstrated.
Twitter: @RichLowry


newyorkpost--2020-04-16--Alex Trebek’s memoir, written amid pancreatic cancer battle, out in July

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Alex Trebek has been working @ @ @ @ @ ’ s been battling pancreatic cancer .
“ I want people to know a little @ @ @ @ @ have been cheering on for the past year , ” the “ Jeopardy !
” @ @ @ @ @ of “ The Answer Is … Reflections of My Life ” on publisher Simon & @ @ @ @ @ .
The site says the “ book combines illuminating personal anecdotes with Trebek ’ s @ @ @ @ @ topics , including marriage , parenthood , education , success , spirituality and philanthropy.
” @ @ @ @ @ release July 21 , the day before his 80th birthday .
He revealed his cancer @ @ @ @ @ year .

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Alex Trebek has been working on a memoir while he’s been battling pancreatic cancer.
“I want people to know a little more about the person they have been cheering on for the past year,” the “Jeopardy!” host writes in an excerpt of “The Answer Is … Reflections of My Life” on publisher Simon & Schuster’s Web site.
The site says the “book combines illuminating personal anecdotes with Trebek’s thoughts on a range of topics, including marriage, parenthood, education, success, spirituality and philanthropy.”
It’s set for release July 21, the day before his 80th birthday. He revealed his cancer diagnosis in March of last year.