NEW YORK (AP) — Tina Fey shed tears after announcing that more than $115 million was raised toward supporting New Yorkers impacted by COVID-19 during a virtual telethon.
“Thank you, thank you,” said a tearful Fey, the host of the Rise Up New York! event Monday evening. The Emmy-winning actress along with other A-list celebrities from Barbra Streisand, Jennifer Lopez and Michael Strahan asked for donations to help relief and recovery efforts.
“Our city is under attack, but we’ve been here before,” Robert De Niro said. “In the last 20 years, both 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy. You can take your best shot but you cannot break our spirit.”
The one-hour benefit was presented by the New York-based poverty fighting organization, Robin Hood, and iHeartMedia.
Robin Hood said all the donations will provide support for food, shelter, cash assistance, mental health, legal services and education.
“If you had breakfast today, you are better off than 2 million of your neighbors who woke up hungry,” Fey said.
Mariah Carey performed her 1992 song “Make It Happen.” She sang while her backup singers and pianist performed on separate screens to the upbeat tune.
“We can make it through this together,” Carey said.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Cynthia Erivo, Idina Menzel, Ben Platt and others performed a rendition of Frank Sinatra’s classic song “New York, New York.” Lopez introduced PS22 Chorus, a collection of New York elementary school students who sang Andra Day’s “Rise Up.”
“New York, I know your strength,” said Lopez, a New York native.
Spike Lee shared encouraging words that sports would return someday soon. Streisand and Audra McDonald showed the same optimism about New York City’s Theater District coming back “stronger than ever” after being closed due to the pandemic lockdown.
New York Giants greats including Strahan, Eli Manning, Phil Simms and Justin Tuck announced an opportunity through a sweepstakes for one fan to play a game of touch football with the players in their own backyard and get a Super Bowl ring. The winner of the sweepstakes and three friends will have a chance to play against the players.
Other musical performances included Sting’s “Message in a Bottle” and Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life.”
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. The vast majority of people recover.
Dr. Anthony Fauci says a premature re-opening of the U.S. economy could lead to severe consequences. Testifying in a video conference during a Senate hearing, the NIH veteran expressed a second wave of coronavirus is “entirely conceivable and possible” in the fall. However, he added a second wave could be handled very effectively to prevent it from becoming another uncontrolled outbreak.
During the four-week virtual experiences, Winfrey will tackle topics like self-care during the pandemic, connecting in relationships while social distancing, committing to a healthy lifestyle and more.
NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Winfrey, who visited arenas earlier this year on a wellness tour, is bringing the idea to living rooms while people are homebound due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The media mogul on Tuesday announced “Oprah’s Your Life in Focus: A Vision Forward — Live Virtual Experience,” a free and interactive four-week event that is an extension of her wellness tour with WW (Weight Watchers Reimagined). The 90-minute experiences, hosted by Winfrey via Zoom, will air at 11 a.m. EDT on Saturdays from May 16 through June 6.
“In early 2020, I spent nine weeks traveling the country, talking to people about being well and staying focused. It was exhilarating. Then the pandemic hit and shook us all,” Winfrey said in a statement. “Now, it’s more important than ever to be and stay well and strong. Together, let’s reset, refocus and find clarity in what matters most.”
Winfrey’s tour, “Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus,” launched earlier this year and visited arenas like Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and The Forum in Inglewood, California. The tour included one-on-one conversations with Michelle Obama, Dwayne Johnson, Lady Gaga and other stars.
During the four-week virtual experiences, Winfrey will tackle topics like self-care during the pandemic, connecting in relationships while social distancing, committing to a healthy lifestyle and more.
Special guests will be announced at a later date and viewers can join the virtual experiences by registering at ww.com/oprah.
Broadway grossed $1.8 billion last season and attracted a record 15 million people. Producers and labor unions are discussing ways theaters can reopen safely.
NEW YORK (AP) — The shutdown on Broadway has been extended again — until at least early September.
Although an exact date for performances to resume has yet to be determined, Broadway producers are now offering refunds and exchanges for tickets purchased for shows through Sept. 6.
“While all Broadway shows would love to resume performances as soon as possible, we need to ensure the health and well-being of everyone who comes to the theater — behind the curtain and in front of it — before shows can return,” said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League, which represents producers.
Broadway theaters abruptly closed on March 12, knocking out all shows — including 16 that were still scheduled to open — and postponing indefinitely the Tony Award schedule. Producers, citing health and city authorities, previously extended the shutdown to June 7.
Broadway grossed $1.8 billion last season and attracted a record 15 million people. Producers and labor unions are discussing ways theaters can reopen safely.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, warned on Tuesday that “the consequences could be really serious” if cities and states reopen the U.S. economy too quickly with the coronavirus still spreading.
More COVID-19 infections are inevitable as people again start gathering, but how prepared communities are to stamp out those sparks will determine how bad the rebound is, Fauci told the Senate Health, Labor and Pensions Committee.
“There is no doubt, even under the best of circumstances, when you pull back on mitigation you will see some cases appear,” Fauci said.
And if there is a rush to reopen without following guidelines, “my concern is we will start to see little spikes that might turn into outbreaks,” he said. “The consequences could be really serious.”
In fact, he said opening too soon “could turn the clock back,” and that not only would cause “some suffering and death that could be avoided, but could even set you back on the road to try to get economic recovery.”
Fauci was among the health experts testifying Tuesday to the Senate panel. His testimony comes as President Donald Trump is praising states that are reopening after the prolonged lockdown aimed at controlling the virus’s spread.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn, chairman of the committee, said as the hearing opened that “what our country has done so far in testing is impressive, but not nearly enough.”
Worldwide, the virus has infected nearly 4.2 million people and killed over 287,000 — more than 80,000 in U.S. alone. Asked if the U.S. mortality count was correct, Fauci said, “the number is likely higher. I don’t know exactly what percent higher but almost certainly it’s higher.”
Fauci, a member of the coronavirus task force charged with shaping the response to COVID-19, testified via video conference after self-quarantining as a White House staffer tested positive for the virus.
With the U.S. economy in free-fall and more than 30 million people unemployed, Trump has been pressuring states to reopen.
Of the 33 states that have had a 14-day downward trajectory of either cases or positive test rates, 25 are partially opened or moving to reopen within days, the AP analysis found. Other states that have not seen a 14-day decline, remain closed despite meeting some benchmarks.
Besides Fauci, of the National Institutes of Health, the other experts include FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn and Dr. Robert Redfield, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — both in self-quarantine—and Adm. Brett Giroir, the coronavirus “testing czar” at the Department of Health and Human Services.
The event Tuesday got underway in the committee’s storied hearing room, but that’s about all that remained of the pre-pandemic way of conducting oversight. The senators running the event, Alexander and Democrat Patty Murray of Washington, were heads on video screens, with an array of personal items in the background as they isolated back home.
A few senators, such as Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski and Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy, personally attended the session in the hearing room. They wore masks, as did an array of aides buzzing behind them.
The health committee hearing offers a very different setting from the White House coronavirus task force briefings the administration witnesses have all participated in. Most significantly, Trump will not be controlling the agenda.
Eyeing the November elections, Trump has been eager to restart the economy, urging on protesters who oppose their state governors’ stay-at-home orders and expressing his own confidence that the coronavrius will fade away as summer advances and Americans return to work and other pursuits.
The U.S. has seen at least 1.3 million infections and nearly 81,000 confirmed deaths from the virus, the highest toll in the world by far, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Separately, one expert from the World Health Organization has already warned that some countries are “driving blind” into reopening their economies without having strong systems to track new outbreaks. And three countries that do have robust tracing systems — South Korea, Germany and China — have already seen new outbreaks after lockdown rules were relaxed.
WHO’s emergencies chief, Dr. Michael Ryan, said Germany and South Korea have good contact tracing that hopefully can detect and stop virus clusters before they get out of control. But he said other nations — which he did not name — have not effectively employed investigators to contact people who test positive, track down their contacts and get them into quarantine before they can spread the virus.
“Shutting your eyes and trying to drive through this blind is about as silly an equation as I’ve seen,” Ryan said. “Certain countries are setting themselves up for some seriously blind driving over the next few months.”
Apple, Google, some U.S. states and European countries are developing contact-tracing apps that show whether someone has crossed paths with an infected person. But experts say the technology only supplements and does not replace labor-intensive human work.
U.S. contact tracing remains a patchwork of approaches and readiness levels. States are hiring contact tracers but experts say tens of thousands will be needed across the country.
Worldwide, the virus has infected nearly 4.2 million people and killed over 286,000, including more than 150,000 in Europe, according to the Johns Hopkins tally. Experts believe those numbers are too low for a variety of reasons.
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Becatoros reported from Athens, Greece and Parra from Madrid. Associated Press journalists around the world contributed.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the united states… we’ve heard health experts use the term co-morbidity. Those underlying diseases that contribute to the often-lethal touch of the coronavirus. Hypertension, obesity and diabetes top the list. Those three are also severe health risks for African Americans during the pre-COVID-19 era. Now the focus is even more critical. We focus on diabetes, COVID-19, what we can do to protect ourselves and be healthier during the pandemic.
(Brunswick, GA) — New surveillance footage is being released of Ahmaud Arbery walking through a home under construction and leaving empty handed the day of his death. The attorney representing Arbery’s family says the video is proof he wasn’t burglarizing homes as Gregory and Travis McMichael claimed before killing him. The owner of the property said they never had contact with the McMichaels nor did they call on them to investigate. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now examining the new footage as well as the cell phone video of the killing.
(Washington, DC) — DC Mayor Muriel Bowser says without a vaccine, opening the city will allow the virus to spread. The DC Health Department says a level of widespread community transmission remains. The mayor failed to comment on extending the stay-at-home order. Officials urge residents to get tested and to isolate themselves if they test positive. The mayor toured the Washington Convention Center today where a COVID-19 surge center is now reading for patients. 437 beds are set up at the Convention Center.
It is safe to say the Coronavirus pandemic has us all concerned as we quarantine in our homes. Shelves in stores are emptying quickly as customers buy products that are known for strengthening the immune system. Some of the products include Black Seed Oil, Elderberry, Colloidal Silver, Sea Moss etc. Those products depending on size can run you about 30 to 60 bucks.
With businesses closing down, spending that kind of money is not ideal or considered essential at the moment for many of us. At home remedies that grandma did for us during those days we were sick with common colds or a fever is just as popular today as it was then. Did you know that steam therapy will help you build, clean, and strengthen your immune system and organs without spending that kind of money?
What is steam therapy? Steam therapy is the inhalation of water vapor. The warm moist air is known to work by, loosening mucus in the nasal passages, throat, and lungs. The mucus in our bodies can carry toxins that can weaken our systems. Covid-19 is known for attacking our immune systems and the lungs. Covid-19 causes the lungs to fill with fluid causing fatal pneumonia. Steam therapy will help the lungs to constantly drain the fluid aiding them to stay free of toxins.
Now that you know some of the benefits associated with steam therapy, let’s discuss how to properly set up a steam therapy session!
1. Fill up any pot you have at home with water. It can be tap water, purified water, or even distilled.
2. Optional: Add some spices, essential oils, or fruits that have healing properties. Some of the fruits include lemon, lime, grapefruit, and oranges. Ideas for spices are garlic, ginger, cayenne, and cinnamon. If you’re feeling fancy drop a couple of dashes of eucalyptus, peppermint, or even lavender oil into the pot.
3. Step 2 is completely optional you can always use just plain water and reap the same benefits of the steam therapy session.
4. Turn on the stove and boil the water.
5. Once the water has boiled turn the stove off remove the pot to a safe destination.
6. Grab a towel and drape it over your head creating a tent like structure.
7. Lastly, begin breathing in this miracle concoction you’ve created. Breathe in through your nose and mouth.
8. Beware, you will feel the mucus begin to loosen from all passages.
In order to feel and see the benefits of the steam therapy, you should try to steam for 20 mins a day morning and night right before bed.
He sold more than 30 million records worldwide, and his influence on other musicians was equally staggering, from the Beatles and Otis Redding to Creedence Clearwater Revival and David Bowie. In his personal life, he wavered between raunch and religion, alternately embracing the Good Book and outrageous behavior.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Little Richard, the self-proclaimed “architect of rock ‘n’ roll” whose piercing wail, pounding piano and towering pompadour irrevocably altered popular music while introducing black R&B to white America, has died Saturday. He was 87.
Pastor Bill Minson, a close friend of Little Richard’s, told The Associated Press that Little Richard died Saturday morning. Minson said he also spoke to Little Richard’s son and brother.
Minson added that the family is not releasing the cause of death.
Born Richard Penniman, Little Richard was one of rock ‘n’ roll’s founding fathers who helped shatter the color line on the music charts, joining Chuck Berry and Fats Domino in bringing what was once called “race music” into the mainstream. Richard’s hyperkinetic piano playing, coupled with his howling vocals and hairdo, made him an implausible sensation — a gay, black man celebrated across America during the buttoned-down Eisenhower era.
He sold more than 30 million records worldwide, and his influence on other musicians was equally staggering, from the Beatles and Otis Redding to Creedence Clearwater Revival and David Bowie. In his personal life, he wavered between raunch and religion, alternately embracing the Good Book and outrageous behavior.
“Little Richard? That’s rock ‘n’ roll,” Neil Young, who heard Richard’s riffs on the radio in Canada, told biographer Jimmy McDonough. “Little Richard was great on every record.”
It was 1956 when his classic “Tutti Frutti” landed like a hand grenade in the Top 40, exploding from radios and off turntables across the country. It was highlighted by Richard’s memorable call of “wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom.”
A string of hits followed, providing the foundation of rock music: “Lucille,” “Keep A Knockin’,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Good Golly Miss Molly.” More than 40 years after the latter charted, Bruce Springsteen was still performing “Good Golly Miss Molly” live.
The Beatles’ Paul McCartney imitated Richard’s signature yelps — perhaps most notably in the “Wooooo!” from the hit “She Loves You.” Ex-bandmate John Lennon covered Richard’s “Rip It Up” and “Ready Teddy” on the 1975 “Rock and Roll” album.
When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in 1986, he was among the charter members with Elvis Presley, Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Cooke and others.
Few were quicker to acknowledge Little Richard’s seminal role than Richard himself. The flamboyant singer claimed he paved the way for Elvis, provided Mick Jagger with his stage moves and conducted vocal lessons for McCartney.
For some of us… this could be one of the most difficult mother’s day weekend in recent history. If you don’t live with your mother, you may decide not visit because you want to keep her safe from the risk of COVID-19 infection. At a time when they may want those signs of love and support… the pandemic is getting in the way. We’re shouting out mothers, offering self-care advice and words of encouragement as we move into mother’s day weekend.
Frontier Airlines is dropping plans to charge passengers extra to sit next to an empty middle seat after congressional Democrats accused the airline of trying to profit from fear over the new coronavirus.
“We recognize the concerns raised that we are profiting from safety and this was never our intent,” Frontier CEO Barry Biffle said late Wednesday in a letter to three lawmakers. “We simply wanted to provide our customers with an option for more space.”
Biffle said the airline will rescind the extra fee, which Frontier called More Room, and block the seats from being sold.
Earlier in the day, Democrats had railed against Frontier’s plan to charge passengers at least $39 per flight to guarantee they would sit next to an empty middle seat. The offer was to begin with flights Friday and run through Aug. 31.
The chairman of the House Transportation Committee called it “outrageous.” Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., said the Denver-based airline was using the need for social distancing during a pandemic “as an opportunity to make a buck … capitalizing on fear and passengers’ well-founded concerns for their health and safety.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., highlighted the fee during a congressional hearing on how COVID-19 is affecting the airline industry.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for some passengers who can’t afford to pay an additional charge for a seat to be less safe than other travelers,” Klobuchar said.
U.S. air travel has dropped more than 90% from a year ago because of the pandemic, and many flights are nearly empty. However, some flights — highlighted on social media — have been much more full, with many passengers not wearing face coverings. That has led airlines to say they will block middle seats when possible to create space between passengers.
From the outset, Biffle rejected the notion that his airline would be charging for social distancing.
“We are offering the option, and it is guaranteed. We don’t believe you need it — if everybody is wearing a facial covering – to be safe,” he told The Associated Press earlier this week. ”It gives people more peace of mind if they want it.”
Biffle said ticket sales rose after previous announcements around safety, including a decision to require passengers to wear masks, and he expected the same reaction to the empty-seat offer.
Airlines steal ideas from each other all the time, but so far, none have copied Frontier’s More Room offer.
During Wednesday’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing, the president of Airlines for America, a trade group for the biggest U.S. carriers, said none of his airlines have a similar charge. Frontier is not a member.
The trade group official, Nicholas Calio, said other airlines block some middle seats and board passengers from back to front to keep spacing on planes.
Klobuchar asked if the federal government should issue guidelines to “fix” Frontier’s policy. Calio said rules aren’t necessary.
“Hopefully the market will take care of that,” Calio said.
“Well, it didn’t with Frontier,” Klobuchar responded.
Hilary Godwin, dean of the school of public health at the University of Washington, said the Frontier policy “is exactly the reason that some national-level guidance” is needed for social distancing on airlines and in airports.
Godwin said crowded planes and long flights create the greatest risk for spreading the virus. She said the expectation that air travel will recover slowly is a good thing — it will give airlines and health officials time to decide the best steps to protect travelers and airline and airport workers.
Biffle announced Frontier would drop the fee idea in a letter to Reps. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., and Jesus Garcia, D-Ill., and Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass.
U.S. health officials stress the importance of social distancing, and they also recommend that people wear cloth face coverings in public because some who are infected don’t feel symptoms and could unknowingly spread the virus.
Measures include increased cleaning procedures, the use of appropriate face coverings by both cast members and guests, limited-contact guest services and additional safety training for cast members.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Walt Disney World plans to reopen its restaurant and entertainment area later this month, though the theme parks and hotels will remain closed.
Disney Springs vice president Matt Simon posted Thursday on the official Disney Parks Blog that the area will reopen May 20 with enhanced safety measures to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Those measures include increased cleaning procedures, the use of appropriate face coverings by both cast members and guests, limited-contact guest services and additional safety training for cast members.
“Following the guidance of government and health officials, a limited number of shopping and dining experiences that are owned by third-party operating participants will begin to open during this initial phase,” Simon said.
The post didn’t say which businesses would open first. Disney Springs is an outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex that covers about 120 acres (49 hectares) at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Walt Disney World closed in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this edition of HUR@HOME Inspiration I talked with Vashti Murphy McKenzie and Candi Staton. Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie was the first woman in the 220-year history of the African American Episcopal Church to be elected and consecrated as Bishop. Huffington Post named her one of the 50 most powerful female religious leaders in the world.
Dr. McKenzie talked about motherhood and parenting amid the corona virus, what young people should be doing to prepare for the future, and how the church should better position itself after the pandemic. Dr. McKenzie is a member of the Murphy family who launched and still run the Afro-American newspaper. It was expected that she would excel in communications.
When asked about the shooting death of Georgia jogger Ahmaud Arbery and the arrest of white vigilantes, Dr. McKenzie advised us to continue to stay focused and strong in the fight for social justice. She also advised those who want to run for office to acknowledge the power of the Black vote, particularly Black women, and recognize the plight of the poor and disadvantaged, no matter what color.
Eighty-year old Candi Staton is a legend in Gospel, Soul, R&B, House, and Disco music. She toured with the Soul Stirrers, Rev. C.L. Franklin, and Mahalia Jackson with the Jewell Gospel Trio when she was 12. She later became the “First Lady of Southern Soul” and then a Disco hit-maker with songs like “Young Hearts Run Free” and “Victim.”
Ms. Staton was married six times and was a victim of spousal abuse. She advised women not to make the same mistakes she made. Know the character of the man before you marry him. Candi also talked about how she conquered breast cancer and shared memories of the late Little Richard and Betty Wright (“Clean Up Woman) who died recently.
In recent years, Candi Staton has been recording Gospel music and touring with secular artists. If it had not been canceled because of the corona virus, she would be on shows with Paul McCartney and Diana Ross and in the Chicago Blues Festival. Candi does not regret the cancellations because she believes in God and His purpose and that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — TV viewers craving familiarity will find it on CBS, which is renewing nearly two-dozen series including newcomers “The Unicorn” and “All Rise” and stalwarts “Blue Bloods” and “The Amazing Race.”
CBS said Wednesday that 23 returning shows will be part of the network’s lineup for the 2020-21 season, along with new series to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Also returning are “Young Sheldon,” “Bob Hearts Abishola” and “Evil.”
CBS is dropping some big-name stars and their shows: the Edie Falco drama “Tommy” and sitcoms “Carol’s Second Act” with Patricia Heaton, “Man with a Plan” starring Matt LeBlanc and “Broke” with Pauley Perrette. Previously canceled shows include “God Friended Me,” “Hawaii Five-0” and “Criminal Minds.”
That leaves relatively scant room for freshman entries, not surprising for the network with long-running, popular series including the “NCIS” franchise. Last year, CBS brought back 24 series.
The network’s low-key announcement was a sign of how much the coronavirus pandemic has unsettled the TV industry, which traditionally presents its fall schedules each May with fanfare and meet-and-greets with stars to lure commitments from ad buyers.
CBS and other broadcast networks have said that the splashy presentations that pack New York City theaters and other venues would be turned into virtual events to safeguard against the virus’s spread.
How the shows will be made remains an open question, given the TV and movie production shutdown prompted in March by the coronavirus. The shutdown remains in effect.
ABC, Fox and NBC have yet to announce their plans for next season.
Kelly Kahl, president of CBS Entertainment, said the returning shows gave CBS the edge in viewers this season and will put it in an “incredibly stable position” for the coming one, which will include the ratings powerhouse Super Bowl.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. unemployment rate hit 14.7% in April, the highest rate since the Great Depression, as 20.5 million jobs vanished in the worst monthly loss on record. The figures are stark evidence of the damage the coronavirus has done to a now-shattered economy. The losses reflect what has become a severe recession caused by sudden business shutdowns in nearly every industry. Almost all the job growth achieved during the 11-year recovery from the Great Recession has now been lost in one month.
During an announcement of programming plans on Thursday, the network said the series will “explore the history of the American presidency and the struggle for a more perfect union.”
NEW YORK (AP) — The History channel says former President Bill Clinton will help shape and be a part of an upcoming documentary series on the American presidency.
During an announcement of programming plans on Thursday, the network said the series will “explore the history of the American presidency and the struggle for a more perfect union.”
It is being produced internally by the History channel and is expected to air in early 2021.
History says it has signed with historian Doris Kearns Goodwin to make presidential miniseries on Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. Goodwin’s signing comes after “Washington,″ released earlier this year, became the most-watched miniseries on cable over the past three years.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A white father and son accused of fatally shooting a black man who was running in their Georgia neighborhood have been taken into custody and charged with murder. The arrests Thursday came after the release of a video of the February incident sparked national outcry. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says 64-year-old Gregory McMichael and 34-year-old Travis McMichael were arrested and will be booked into the Glynn County Jail. Twenty-five-year-old Ahmaud Arbery was killed Feb. 23 just outside the port city of Brunswick. His mother believes he was out for a jog. The men who pursued him in a pickup truck told police they thought Arbery was a burglar.
This has been a long and difficult couple of months for students and teachers… adjusting to online and distance learning because of the coronavirus threat. For example, Maryland teachers and students have been out of the classroom since March 13th. Just yesterday, state school superintendent Dr. Karen Salmon closed schools for the rest of the academic year. This week… as we recognize National Teacher Appreciation Week… we examine how they are teaching and coping amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Howard University Hospital workers get special recognition just in time for National Nurses Week
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Washington, D.C. (Thursday, May 7, 2020) – It’s National Nurses Week and nurses and other healthcare professionals at Howard University Hospital are getting some extra special attention. Ben’s Chili Bowl and Kia Motors treated more than 100 front-line workers to lunch as a show of thanks and support to the healthcare heroes.
While healthcare workers have always been on the forefront of caring for the fragile and sick, the coronavirus pandemic has pushed their heroic efforts into the spotlight. The food for the Howard Hospital team was purchased by Kia Motors from Ben’s Chili Bowl and a caravan of Kia cars provided the special delivery.
The effort was initially spearheaded by local TV Journalist Anqoinette Crosby who called it a win-win. “It helps Ben’s, a beloved D.C. institution, which like many restaurants has struggled during the coronavirus crisis. It also helps front-line workers and first responders and signals a reminder that their work is appreciated,” said Crosby.
Kia Motors also delivered 100 additional meals to first responders at DC Engine Co. 4 and to homeless women at The House of Ruth in D.C.
To clean your phone, first turn it off and unplug it from cables. Tech companies say you’ll want to avoid getting moisture inside the phone so don’t put it into cleaning solutions or spray it directly.
Yes. That’s why a daily wipe down of “high-touch” surfaces like phones, keyboards and tablet computers is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A scientific test shows the virus can live on plastic or stainless steel for two to three days.
To clean your phone, first turn it off and unplug it from cables. Tech companies say you’ll want to avoid getting moisture inside the phone so don’t put it into cleaning solutions or spray it directly.
You can gently use disinfectant wipes, like Clorox wipes, or anything with 70 percent alcohol to clean your device. Phone carrier AT&T recommends wringing out disinfectant wipes before using them on a phone. Paper towels work, too, if you spray them with disinfectant. Google says you can dip a cloth in soap and water to clean off your phone.
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The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this new series. Submit them at: FactCheck@ap.org.
Brandy is excited about her new single “Baby Mama”. It’s in hot rotation on WHUR! Produced by Hit Boy and featuring Chance The Rapper. There’s no mistake that it dropped just in time for Mother’s Day.
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12-time Grammy Award Winner, Film, Television, Broadway Star Brandy was all smiles when we chatted, one on one, on WHUR’s hottest new IG feature, HUR@Home. She looked stunning with long, blonde braids, swept up in an up-do. We love Brandy!
She broke quite a few barriers. As the first African American singer to have a Barbie Doll Collection that sold over 5 million dolls… First black singer to have a Covergirl endorsement deal. With over 40 million albums sold, worldwide, she’s one of the best selling female R&B artists of all time.
When asked how she’s dealing with this new normal, Brandy said she’s enjoying the down time! She gushed about how much she loves being a Mom and is enjoying every moment in quarantine with her beloved daughter, Sy’Rai.
Brandy is excited about her new single “Baby Mama”. It’s in hot rotation on WHUR! Produced by Hit Boy and featuring Chance The Rapper. There’s no mistake that it dropped just in time for Mother’s Day. Brandy wants us all to download the track and enjoy it. She said this song goes out to all the mothers out there.
Stay tuned for the rest of the album to drop this summer. We’ve waited 12 years for the next Brandy album… and our wait will end this summer. Yes! She didn’t want to give a specific date, in case the date has to get pushed back. But, she said, with confidence, it will definitely drop this summer. Can’t wait!
Click on the link to hear the entire conversation.
(Washington, DC) — Someone who works closely with President Trump is testing positive for the coronavirus. A member of the U.S. Navy that acts as personal valet to the president has been confirmed. Both President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have tested negative after the valet’s result came in.
They could be considered the ground troops in the horrible war against the coronavirus pandemic. Nurses in hospitals and nursing homes are often the first people COVID-19 patients see when they are being treated. Sadly, for those who don’t survive, the nurses are the last people with the patients during their final moments. This is National Nursing Appreciation Week. We salute them for the work they’ve done during this historic time. We also examine how their work has evolved over the past several months.
Guest:
Theresa Bashorun, Charge Nurse, Howard University Hospital (not pictured)
Dr. Gina Brown, Dean of The College of Nursing & Allied Health Sciences
Boating, camping, golf, and tennis are returning to Maryland as stay-at-home restrictions are being relaxed.
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Annapolis, Maryland (Wednesday, May 6, 2020) – Maryland Governor Larry Hogan says the state is on track to reopen as early as next week. Hogan announced the state’s coronavirus hospitalizations and ICU patients have flattened in recent days, signaling encouraging progress in the right direction.
“If these trends continue into next week, we will be ready to lift the stay-at-home order and begin Stage One of our recovery plan,” said Hogan at an afternoon press conference.
In the meantime, Hogan is relaxing some of his restrictions. Starting Thursday, a range of outdoor activities will be available for residents. Hogan is opening up state parks and beaches and Marylanders can now golf, boat, camp, and play tennis.
Trump reverses his decision to disband Task Force and will keep Drs. Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx.
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Washington, D. C. (Wednesday, May 6, 2020) – In a complete about face, President Trump is reversing his stance on the White House Coronavirus Task Force now saying it will be around “indefinitely.” President Trump made that declaration today less than 24-hours after saying he was planning to disband the task force by the end of this month.
“I had no idea how popular the task force is, but actually yesterday, when I started talking about winding it down; I got calls from very respected people saying I think it would be better to keep it going,” said Trump.
Trump also said Drs. Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx will remain on the task force.
Maryland students will not return to class for the rest of the 2019-2020 academic year. Dr. Karen Salmon, the superintendent of Maryland schools announced today that schools will remain closed because of the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Maryland is one of the last schools in the nation to make this decision. Students were last in class on March 13th. Dr. Salmon said online and distance learning will continue.
You know that part involving Candiace and Monique…and somebody going to jail.
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Next up, a chat with Mrs. “I Came From Jesus,” Candiace Dillard Bassett! This was my first time meeting Candiace and she loves our WHUR listeners. We had a fun conversation. Since we’re all at home, Candiace decided to be comfortable and show up wearing a fabulous silk bathrobe, a head full of gorgeous new braids, and, of course, holding a fresh cup of tea.
She talked about how she and new hubby, Chris, are still enjoying wedded bliss, while giving each other the space they need during this quarantine. As for the upcoming RHOP season, Candiace spilled just a little tea, and said this year is chock-full of drama! Well we already knew that, when we saw, what looked like a movie, on the local news. You know that part involving Candiace and Monique…and somebody going to jail. I guess we all have to watch RHOP when it comes back in order to get the full details.
Oh, and that’s not everything… Candiace blessed us with an a cappella sample of her new single, “I See You!” It’s a love song that she wrote for Chris. Thank you for a great conversation and opening your home to us!
He revealed to us the incredible story behind the smash hit “Woman” plus talked about why he’s totally committed to create socially conscious music and more!
Just in case you missed it, the self proclaimed R&B Rockstar Raheem Devaughn was recently on another edition of HUR@Home where he shared with us intimate details about his writing and recording process. He revealed to us the incredible story behind the smash hit “Woman” plus talked about why he’s totally committed to create socially conscious music and more!
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is participating in telephone arguments from a Maryland hospital where she’s being treated for an infection caused by a gallstone.
The court said Tuesday evening that the 87-year-old justice had undergone non-surgical treatment for a benign gallbladder condition. The court said she planned to participate in arguments from the hospital Wednesday.
Ginsburg’s first question was a lengthy one, essentially saying the Trump administration tossed “to the wind” the requirement in the Affordable Care Act that women have seamless access to no-cost contraceptives.
Because of Ginsburg’s seniority on the court she has been third to ask a question during this week’s telephone arguments, following Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Clarence Thomas. But Thomas apparently was having some technical difficulties when Roberts first called on him. Instead, Thomas followed Ginsburg with questions.
The court says Ginsburg is expected to be in the hospital for a day or two. It has said some justices are participating in arguments from home while others are at the court.
For tonight’s HUR@Home discussion, I spoke to Rosie Allen-Herring, President and CEO of The United Way of the National Capital Area. Rosie spoke about the challenges and changes that the COVID-19 pandemic and shut down have presented for her organization.
During the coronavirus shutdown… many of us have had a lot of time on our had while we’re staying at home. For some of us that means overindulging in food. For others it means drinking more alcoholic beverages… a little more or even a lot more. What is a little or a lot more? Should you be concerned about it? We examining how drinking during the shutdown is affecting our health and other parts of our lives.
Will Bonnette, Community Partner, The Howard University Alcohol Research Center, President, Community Services, Prestige Healthcare ResourcesDr. Janice Davis, Director, Clinical Education, Howard University School of Social Work
MIAMI (AP) — Carnival Cruise Line announced Monday it will start cruising again, from Florida and Texas, beginning in August. These Caribbean trips are the first announced by one of the major cruise lines since the coronavirus pandemic forced a near-total pause in the global cruise industry.
The ports of Miami, Cape Canaveral and Galveston, Texas were selected because they are accessible by car for the majority of the guests, the company said in a statement. The eight ships named by the company have itineraries showing stops in the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Mexico, among other places.
Carnival Cruise Line said ships will not be cruising from Alaska, Hawaii and Australia through Aug. 31.
The State Department began warning against cruise travel on March 8, and the CDC issued a no-sail order on March 14, which was extended and set to expire on July 24. The order prompted several countries, including some in the Caribbean, to reject cruise ships suspected of carrying infected passengers and crew members, stranding some ships at sea for weeks.
Many cruise ships had outbreaks at sea, with some passengers and crew members dying on board or after disembarking from international trips.
The CDC says infectious diseases can easily spread when crew members from a ship with an outbreak transfer to other ships. The health agency says outbreaks of COVID-19 on cruise ships pose a risk because they can spread the disease into communities across the world after disembarkation.
Carnival Cruise Line has not revealed what measures is taking to prevent future outbreaks once it resumes sailing.
Many African Americans say the fact that protesters are advocating a riskier path reveals a privileged position — as does their ability to flout social-distancing rules and even brandish weapons.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Many African Americans watching protests calling for easing restrictions meant to slow the spread of the new coronavirus see them as one more example of how their health, their safety and their rights just don’t seem to matter.
To many, it seems that the people protesting — who have been predominantly white — are agitating for reopening because they won’t be the ones to suffer the consequences. So far, the facts are proving them right: The consequences of keeping some businesses open have been falling disproportionately on the shoulders of black people and other marginalized groups.
“There has always been a small, white ruling class that has been OK with seeing certain populations as disposable,” said LaTosha Brown, founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund, a power-building organization based in the South.
The pandemic has highlighted — and often deepened — gaping inequalities in the United States and around the world.
Black people are dying in disproportionate numbers from COVID-19 in the United States; people of color are especially exposed because they are more likely to hold many of the jobs that were deemed essential; and, as the reopening starts, they are likely to be among those whose workplaces open first. For instance, in New York City, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, black people make up just under 25% of the population, but more than 40% of public transit workers.
Delmonte Jefferson, a black public health professional in Atlanta, said African Americans and other people of color want to mitigate the economic damage as much as anyone else — especially since those groups are among the ones who are suffering the most from the downturn. But they don’t want a return at all costs, he said.
“Even the thought of opening the country back up shows that African Americans aren’t being valued,” said Jefferson, executive director of the Atlanta-based National African American Tobacco Prevention Network.
Some “reopen” protests have included black speakers, and a handful of black people have attended. But images of the rallies and Facebook pages dedicated to the movement indicate the vast majority of supporters are white.
Demonstrators from Alabama to Michigan haven’t focused on race. Instead, they advocate preserving constitutional freedoms and talk about the catastrophic toll on small businesses. The protesters have included organized groups like anti-vaccine advocates, gun-rights supporters and even a militia, and many have expressed support for President Donald Trump, reflecting the way the discussion has become partisan.
The complaints from protesters that their rights are being trampled, for instance, comes across as misinformed and misguided to racial minorities who have been oppressed for generations, said Nadia Richardson, who heads No More Martyrs, a nonprofit focused on the mental health of black women.
“It looks like from that perspective (it’s) a group of people who don’t really understand what it is to have your rights violated,” said Richardson.
Groups including the NAACP, meanwhile, have called for greater government action to prevent the virus’ spread in response to statistics showing that COVID-19 is killing disproportionate numbers of black people.
An Associated Press analysis of available state and local data shows that nearly one-third of those who have died are African American, with black people representing about 14% of the population in the areas covered in the analysis.
The toll in black communities, leaders say, reflects systemic policies that have made many African Americans far more vulnerable to the virus, including unequal access to health care and economic opportunity. That means many will face an untenable choice: go back to work or face unemployment with no benefits, said Antonio Lightfoot, an organizer for the Workers Center for Racial Justice in Chicago.
The Rev. William J. Barber, who advocates for groups that often perform front-line jobs, said black people aren’t the only ones being devalued.
“The issue is not what these protests are saying to just black people but what they are saying to poor and low-income people who are the most impacted,” said Barber. “Invitations to open up society and encourage people to return to their routines is an invitation to death.”
Nearly 70,000 people have died from the coronavirus in the United States, according to a tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University from official government numbers, although the true figure is likely higher. Most people who get infected suffer only mild or moderate symptoms, but some, especially the elderly and those with other health problems, become seriously ill.
As the debate over reopening has become increasingly heated, some have used racist language or symbols.
Democratic Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is black and has been an outspoken critic of Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to allow some businesses to reopen, recently tweeted an image of a text message that demanded she reopen Atlanta and called her a racial slur. Confederate flags have been visible at some demonstrations, but far more American flags are evident.
Although Americans remain overwhelmingly in favor of stay-at-home orders and other restrictions, a survey conducted in mid-April from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed a partisan divide.
The survey showed that while majorities of Democrats and Republicans thought restrictions where they lived were about right, Republicans were roughly four times as likely to think they went too far — 22% versus 5%. The largely white protest attendance might simply reflect that divide since black voters are more likely to be Democrats.
Deanna Reed, who is black, has helped her church set up drive-thru virus testing and has personal reasons for wanting to maintain social distancing: Her mother works in a shipping facility where she has to provide her own masks and gloves.
“Just having to see my mom go out is tough,” said Reed. “I pray for her safety daily.”
Maryland Congressman-elect Kweisi Mfume was officially being sworn into Congress after winning a special election to finish the term of the late Elijah Cummings. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi presided in the chair for the offical swearing-in on the House floor today. Cummings died in October and the rest of his term runs until January 3rd of next year. Mfume easily won the special election that was conducted mostly by mail-in ballots due to health concerns about the coronavirus. The 7th Congressional District includes a significant portion of Baltimore and parts of its suburbs in Baltimore and Howard counties. Mfume previously held the seat for five terms from 1987 to 1996 before leaving to lead the NAACP.
NEW YORK (AP) — “The Midnight Sun” will finally appear.
Stephenie Meyer’s long-awaited prequel to her “Twilight” series is coming out Aug. 4, the author announced on her website (www.stepheniemeyer.com) Monday. “The Midnight Sun” is narrated from vampire Edward Cullen’s perspective.
Meyer had kept her fans in suspense all weekend with a countdown clock on her site that promised a major announcement. The site soon crashed Monday morning, but the book was also announced by Meyer’s publisher, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
“It feels strange to be making this announcement when the world is suffering through a pandemic, and no one really knows what’s next. I thought seriously about delaying this announcement until things were back to normal; however, that felt wrong, considering how long those who are eager for this book have already waited,” Meyer said in a statement.
Netflix’s “Tiger King” has made Joe Exotic an object of fascination and controversy. He is now known as Joseph Maldonado-Passage and is serving a federal prison sentence for his conviction in a murder-for-hire plot and for animal abuse.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Joe Exotic phenomenon keeps growing, with Nicolas Cage to star in a TV miniseries about the colorful wild animal owner made famous by the “Tiger King” docuseries.
The TV series is the first for Cage, who has played a range of characters in movies including “Leaving Las Vegas,” for which he won an Oscar, “Moonstruck” and “National Treasure.”
Imagine Television Studios and CBS Television Studios are among the producers of the limited, eight-part project.
It will explore how Joe Shreibvogel became Joe Exotic and detail his effort to keep his Oklahoma zoo open “even at the risk of losing his sanity,” the producers said in a statement Monday. It’s based on the Texas Monthly magazine article “Joe Exotic: A Dark Journey Into the World of a Man Gone Wild” by Leif Reigstad.
Dan Laguna, who with producer Paul Young optioned the article, will write and executive produce the series, which will be seeking a distribution deal soon, producers said.
Netflix’s “Tiger King” has made Joe Exotic an object of fascination and controversy. He is now known as Joseph Maldonado-Passage and is serving a federal prison sentence for his conviction in a murder-for-hire plot and for animal abuse.
Obama will reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption of school life, especially for seniors who have missed out on their milestone rites of passage.
NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Barack Obama will deliver a televised prime-time commencement address for the high school Class of 2020 during an hour-long event that will also feature LeBron James, Malala Yousafzai and Ben Platt, among others.
ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC will simultaneously air the special May 16 at 8 p.m. Eastern along with more than 20 other broadcast and digital streaming partners, according to the announcement Tuesday from organizers.
Several high school students from Chicago public schools and the Obama Youth Jobs Corps will join, as will the Jonas Brothers, Yara Shahidi, Bad Bunny, Lena Waithe, Pharrell Williams, Megan Rapinoe and H.E.R.
The event is titled “Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020.” It’s hosted by the education advocacy group XQ Institute, The LeBron James Family Foundation and The Entertainment Industry Foundation.
Obama will reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption of school life, especially for seniors who have missed out on their milestone rites of passage.
“This high school graduation season will be anything but ordinary — but that’s all the more reason why the Class of 2020 deserves extraordinary advice, heartfelt encouragement, and hard-won wisdom about facing new challenges in an uncertain world,” Russlynn Ali, CEO and co-founder of XQ Institute, said in a statement.
“We are grateful to President Obama for giving this gift to our nation’s three million high school seniors as they #GraduateTogether,” he added.
Mother’s day is this weekend. It is a time to honor mom. But is it also the weekend that Howard University historically has held its commencement ceremonies. It is a day that hard-studying graduates and sacrificing parents have long waited for. This year however… the coronavirus pandemic has changed everything at colleges and universities around the world and at Howard University. We talk the president of Howard University, Dr. Wayne Frederick about the impact of COVID-19 on Howard and plans for the future.
But even if she is able to let her hair down a little, there is a polish that comes with being a public figure for so long that means that she probably won’t ever be able to truly relax, especially when a camera is around.
In the lovely new Netflix documentary “Becoming,” set around Michelle Obama’s book tour for her memoir, the former first lady makes a comment about the massive venues she’s speaking to.
“What I experience in these big arenas is the power of gathering,” she says. “The shared experiences.”
Not everything in film has me reflecting on our current moment, but this moment certainly did.
Part of what makes “Becoming” such an effective representation of her magnetism is showing her on the macro and micro level. You see the effect she has on thousands and thousands of people — clearly a commanding force with stadium-sized crowds — but also her ability to have meaningful one-on-one engagements. We watch one star-struck person after another (men, women and children alike) approach her to get a handshake, a minute or so of her time and a signature in their books. It’s a reminder of the power of a crowd and an up-close moment and the rare public person who can master both. It’s hard not to feel a pang of wistfulness for the time when we could have those shared experiences with an admired figure.
This is not the point of “Becoming,” of course. It is a portrait of a woman who has just survived a life-changing experience (being first lady) and is trying to figure out who she is now and who she is going to be. Michelle Obama might feel a certain relief that she doesn’t have to appear “perfect” all the time — she says as much about leaving the White House after eight years. But even if she is able to let her hair down a little, there is a polish that comes with being a public figure for so long that means that she probably won’t ever be able to truly relax, especially when a camera is around. In other words, “Becoming” doesn’t exactly invite you into her life unfiltered.
(Netflix via AP)
But being a controlled look doesn’t make it less honest or impactful, it’s just honest in a different way that doesn’t involve showing her husband and daughters eating breakfast in pajamas. Where “Becoming,” directed by Nadia Hallgren, succeeds is in allowing Michelle to be the star of her own film (and life). There’s not even an interview with Barack Obama, although his presence is felt everywhere, naturally.
The film is set two years after she and her family have left the White House, during the 34-city tour for her memoir. She says she is reflecting for the first time about what just happened to her. It is told partially through behind-the-scenes footage from the tour, her on-stage interviews in front of thousands with the likes of Oprah, Gayle King, Stephen Colbert and Valerie Jarrett, a few interviews with her brother, her head of security and her stylist, as well as some commentary from Michelle Obama herself.
“Becoming” covers a lot of ground for a fairly short film, from her family life growing up on Chicago’s southside (a typical working class community), to her days at Princeton (one of her roommates moved out because her mother didn’t like that she was living with a black person), her first date with Barack (he was late) and the campaign (“they went after me like I was a candidate”). She is particularly candid about her difficult experiences on the campaign trail, where she tried to be honest and vulnerable and found herself the target of some in the media.
(Netflix via AP)
“The only thing I can share is that it hurts,” she says. “That changes the shape of a person’s soul.”
Hallgren weaves together a compelling narrative with these public and private interviews that builds chronologically to the present. Michelle Obama reaches some sort of clarity, for now, about who she wants to be — a citizen with an eye towards the youth. It might not be the person she imagined she’d be when she met the future president, but it’s the person she ended up becoming. And it’s a heck of a journey to watch.
“Becoming,” a Netflix release, has not been rated by the Motion Picture Association of America, but don’t worry, it’s an all-ages affair. Three stars out of four.
Local Grocery Stores and National Store Chains in Montgomery County To Offer Special “Seniors-Only” Shopping Hours. Stores are offering dedicated shopping hours for it’s senior citizens and those-at-risk. For a complete list of stores and hours go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19.
RICHMOND, Va, (AP) — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is extending an executive order mandating that some nonessential businesses close for another week, until May 15. Northam announced at a news conference Monday that the state is seeing positive trends in data related to spread and treatment of the coronavirus pandemic , but he said more time is needed before restrictions can be eased. His executive order, which forces closed some businesses and severely restricts how others operate, was set to expire May 8. His order also bans gatherings of 10 or more in public or private. The governor, a Democrat, has come under increasing pressure from Republican lawmakers and others to reopen the state like some other Southern states have done.
(Cheverly, MD) — A new COVID-19 testing site is open in Prince George’s County after the site at FedEx Field has closed. The Prince George’s County Health Department’s Cheverly Clinic is offering free COVID-19 testing for residents and will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said the clinic can test up to 200 people per day without being concerned about the weather.
The NFL is moving its five games scheduled for London and Mexico City this season back to U.S. stadiums because of the coronavirus pandemic. All five regular-season games will be played at the stadiums of the host teams.
Scheduled were two home games for the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London and two at Tottenham’s new facility, with the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins as hosts. The Arizona Cardinals were to be the home team for the game at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
Opponents had not been announced.
The NFL said in a statement Monday that “in order for the entire season to be played in NFL teams’ stadia under consistent protocols focused on the well-being of players, personnel and fans … Commissioner Roger Goodell made this decision after consultation with our clubs, national and local governments, the NFL Players Association, medical authorities and international stadium partners.”
The NFL has staged regular-season games in London every year since 2007. Since 2013, the Jaguars have hosted one game there each season.
“While the NFL’s many fans in London, the U.K. and Europe will obviously be disappointed by this news, it is absolutely the right decision to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the sport,” London Mayor Sadiq Khan said. “I know that the NFL remains fully committed to London and I look forward to welcoming NFL teams back to the capital in 2021.”
Mexico City has had a regular-season game in 2016, 2017 and 2019.
“After considerable analysis, we believe the decision to play all our games domestically this season is the right one for our players, our clubs, and all our fans in the U.S., Mexico and U.K.,” said Christopher Halpin, an NFL executive vice president. “We greatly appreciate the support of our governmental and stadium partners in Mexico and the United Kingdom, who all agree with this decision, and we look forward to returning for games in both countries in the 2021 season.”
The league is set to release the full schedule this week and is planning on adhering to it, though contingencies are being discussed as a safeguard against the pandemic.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The legal drama “All Rise” has become the first U.S. scripted television series to adapt the the pandemic by producing an episode remotely, enlisting its stars to work from home on their own makeup, set design and lighting.
The season finale, airing Monday night on CBS, finds Simone Missick’s Judge Lola Carmichael presiding over a Los Angeles Superior Court bench trial via video conference.
Missick said she was exhausted at the end of each shooting day after making her own adjustments to costume and sound, converting her living room into an office and her dining room into a court room.
“I did pick up new skills. I think that I could be a location scout-slash-set design coordinator. I don’t need to lead the department, but I could be in the background,” Missick laughed in a Zoom interview. “So if this acting stuff doesn’t work out, I could maybe pick up a career doing it virtually because that was the fun part.”
While most full-season shows cut production short due to stay-home orders, “All Rise” creator Greg Spottiswood said he realized that the dialogue-heavy nature of his show allowed for remote production. A key challenge — predicting how the legal world would adjust to the novel coronavirus, with prisons becoming outbreak hotspots and video chats replacing in-court hearings.
“The justice system needs to find a way to respond to this moment. Technology is one of the ways that they’re responding to it,” he said.
Spottiswood said producers paid the full crew, even those that weren’t able to work, for the episode. While the show could produce more episodes remotely in a second season if necessary, he’s anxious to get back to sets and real-world locations.
Missick said her mother-in-law in Atlanta had been hospitalized with COVID-19 for eight days, with symptoms serious enough to require a ventilator. She had fully recovered by the time Missick began shooting, but it brought the coronavirus crisis close to home for the 38-year-old actress.
In her downtime after production, Missick has enjoyed Hulu’s “Little Fires Everywhere” and the Netflix series “Unorthodox.” But she’s been struck by how far away from today’s reality the action on the screen can feel.
“Everything is BC. It’s ‘before coronavirus.’ You’re watching people — they’re in restaurants, they’re hugging each other. You’re like, ‘God, I remember what that was like.’ Now, I think every show that comes after is going to have to deal with what this pandemic is.”
Howard University providing COVID-19 testing East of the Anacostia River.
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Washington, DC (Saturday, May 2, 2020) – Howard University Faculty Practice Plan (HUFPP) is set to open a new coronavirus testing site in one of the hardest hit parts of the District of Columbia.
Beginning Tuesday, May 5, HUFPP will host testing at the new Benning Road Center, located at 4414 Benning Road, N.E., Washington, D.C., Suite 2400. The free testing will be available on Tuesdays and Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the next three months.
Bank of America has awarded a $1M grant to the Howard University Faculty Practice Plan to improve access to COVID-19 testing in the diverse east of the river. As of Saturday, May 2nd, Wards 7 and 8 account for 84 of the 240 deaths in DC and over 1,400 of the 4,797 infections in the city. African Americans in the District have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
“We’re excited to partner with Bank of America to get these critical resources to the areas that need them the most,” says Howard UniversityPresident Wayne A. I. Frederick. “Many of our patients travel great distances to come to Howard University Hospital, which makes it challenging to seek medical attention at the first sign of illness. Our goal is to meet the community where they live so their access to care greatly improves and hopefully we can reduce the spread of the coronavirus significantly.”
Residents can sign up by appointment by calling 202-865-2119, option 3. The team will see patients who are showing symptoms or who believe they are asymptomatic.
“You will not need to have a doctor’s prescription in advance to get tested at our location,” says Dr.Hugh E. Mighty, Howard University vice president of clinical affairs. “We want to eliminate the obstacles so more people can be tested because we believe everyone should be tested. We want to screen our community neighbors in the areas where there are higher incidents of hypertension, heart disease and diabetes because those pre-existing conditions are linked to the higher incidents of coronavirus that we’ve seen in African American communities.”
As the need increases, the Howard team will look at expanding to include a mobile unit to provide testing options in a second area of the city. In addition to funding the tests and equipment, a portion of the grant will be used to enhance Howard University Hospital’s telehealth services. This will expand a doctor’s ability to see patients remotely and increase the patient’s access to care.
“Once we set up a telehealth system outside of the classic intensive care units, we’ll be able to manage multiple ICUS from one location, which brings more expertise to the table,” says Dr.Mighty. “We can remotely manage a unit and talk them through what they need, which helps to extend the ICU doctor’s reach. We could even extend this across hospitals ultimately.”
“Howard University Hospital is on the front lines in this war against the coronavirus and we are proud to partner in getting help to where it is needed the most,” says Larry Di Rita, Greater Washington, D.C. Market President, Bank of America.
The Howard University Faculty Practice Plan has repurposed an existing clinic at 4414 Benning Rd NE, suite 2400 to test residents from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. To make an appointment, call 202-865-2119 and Press 3. A prescription is not necessary.
How is your love life doing during the COVID-19 shutdown? For couples married or living together, and working from home for nearly two monthS, things might be… really interesting. There have been several reports predicting at least one of two things when all of this is over. There may be a lot of divorces and a lot of babies. What about single folks who are stewing at home alone? How are they doing? We’re talking about survival skills for your romantic relationship during the coronavirus shutdown.
James Marshall, Marriage Counselor, Executive Director, Kindred Hope
Erica St. Bernard, Licensed Clinical Marriage & Family Therapist
