Saturday, March 7, 2020

Governor Cuomo Declares State of Emergency to Contain the Spread of COVID-19



During a briefing on the novel coronavirus, Governor Andrew Cuomo today declared a state of emergency to help New York more quickly and effectively contain the spread of the virus.

The Governor also confirmed 32 additional cases, bringing the statewide total to 76.

Additionally, the Governor directed the New York State Department of State's Consumer Protection Division to launch an investigation into reports of unfair price increases of consumer products such as household cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, and launched a toll-free hotline - 1-800-697-1220 - for New Yorkers to report suspected price gouging.

This state of emergency declaration allows, among other things: expedited procurement of cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer and other essential resources; allowing qualified professionals other than doctors and nurses to conduct testing; expedited procurement of testing supplies and equipment; expedited personnel onboarding; expedited leasing of lab space; allowing EMS personnel to transport patients to quarantine locations other than just hospitals; and providing clear basis for price gouging and enforcement investigation.  

The 32 new cases identified today are located in New York City and Westchester and Saratoga counties. Of the 76 total individuals in New York State who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows: Westchester: 57, New York City: 11, Nassau: 4, Rockland: 2, and Saratoga: 2.

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Coronavirus Outbreak: B.C. Premier, Health Officials Announce Provincial Response Plan


Global News: British Columbia Premier John Horgan, Minister of Health Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry are expected to make an announcement in regards to the province's response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The response plan comes after Dr. Henry confirmed eight more cases in B.C. on Thursday.

The provincial total of confirmed COVID-19 cases sits at 23 as of Friday morning, and the Canadian total has climbed to 49.


The coverage is conducted in English and French. 

WHO Warns That the World on the Verge of Reaching 100,000 COVID-19 Cases


Global News: Speaking at a COVID-19 update press conference on Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu said more than 2000 cases were reported yesterday from 47 countries and territories around the world.

He added that WHO continues to recommend all countries make containment their highest priority as there are now more than 3000 confirmed deaths of the virus globally. 

Click here for additional information. 

Governor Cuomo Confirms 11 More COVID-19 Cases


Statewide Total Now Stands at 33

During a briefing on the novel coronavirus, Governor Andrew Cuomo today confirmed 11 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 33 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the new cases identified since yesterday, eight are located in Westchester County, two are located in Rockland County and one is located in New York City.

Of the 33 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:
    
Nassau County: 1
Rockland County: 2
New York City: 4
Westchester County: 26

UPDATE: 5:45 PM ET - Cuomo Confirms 11 Additional Cases

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Thursday, March 5, 2020

New York State Receives Federal Approval to Increase Testing Capacity



During a briefing on the novel coronavirus earlier today, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that New York State has received federal approval to work with hospital labs to increase testing capacity. 

Source: The Office of Govenor Andrew M. Cuomo 

Mexican Scientist Creates Formula That Could Stop the Coronavirus


The Yucatan Times: Ten years ago, the illness of one of her children made Gabriela León, a Mexican biochemical engineer, look for a solution to kill viruses. And that technology, which she developed in Mexico with his (sic) brother Sergio, could (sic) the key to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Click here for the full report. 

Note: The G-Man Interviews, this site's affiliate news and information platform, has contacted an office associated with Dr. León and hopes to have her appear to discuss her creation in greater detail and provide data to support her claims.

Video Shows NYPD Officers Kicking And Beating Teen in Brooklyn

 
Young Man Repeatedly Screams ‘I Did Not Commit Any Crime’

Click here  to review the footage. 

Click here to review the report. 

Source: NEWSONE 

Update: (12:02 P.M. ET) According to a source that contacted From The G-Man, a major protest is planned from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in front of the 69th Precinct, in Canarsie, where the officers involved are stationed. The incident is under internal review, and From The G-Man hopes the situation will be resolved peacefully, respectfully and responsibly.

New York City Is Prepping for Coronavirus Mayhem


The Daily Beast: America's largest city may be uniquely vulnerable to a wider outbreak because of population density, easy access to public transit, and assorted travel hubs.

Click here for the report.

Bill Targets New York Landlords Who Won't Rent Their Apartments


Real Estate Weekly: Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal has introduced a bill aimed at thwarting landlord efforts to warehouse apartments as new housing regulations start to bite.

The bill would fine landlords who have residential units which remain vacant for a period greater than three months and deposit the money into a fund to provide housing vouchers for the homeless.

Landlords have rounded on the proposed legislation as “unconstitutional and poorly written."
 
Click here for the report. 

'Future Hope' Column: A Sobering Setback for Bernie

 
By Ted Glick 

There are silver linings to the February 29-March 3 political tsunami that vaulted Joe Biden ahead of Bernie Sanders, and the race is far from over, but the Super Tuesday results are disappointing for Bernie. A real bummer.

What are some of the silver linings?

-It looks like billionaire mogul Bloomberg is either done as a candidate or is on his way out sooner or later. His rapid rise and fall would be a much bigger story if not for the unexpected, Biden Super Tuesday victories.

-It is now a two-person race, and Bernie has already begun concentrating on exposing Biden for his billionaire class connections and his many, past regressive votes and actions on a number of issues.

-In the upcoming debates, the next one March 15th in Arizona, it will be at most a four-person, possibly a three- or even a two-person debate. Think about Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, or just Sanders, articulating why a return, in essence, to the incrementalist, corporate-friendly approaches on issues of Obama/Biden just isn’t what we need, on issue after issue. Since there won’t be seven or eight people on the stage, these differences can be much more clearly laid out and argued for.

What about Elizabeth Warren? She did not do well yesterday. There is no basis for her or anyone else to believe that she can win the Presidential nomination. Should she drop out and throw her support to Bernie?

My views on this question are shaped in part by my former (no longer) involvement with the Green Party. For years I had to contend with people telling me I was wasting my vote, spoiling it for the Democrats, not being realistic, etc. And I took that input into account, arguing as far back as 2003, for example, that if the Green Party was going to run a Presidential candidate it should only do so in states where it was certain, based on polling and past voting history, that either the Democrat or Republican was going to win. It should not campaign in any of the swing states.

Unfortunately, I was attacked internally for having this view, and much more unfortunately this “the Democrats and Republicans are equally terrible and we’ll campaign anywhere and everywhere we want” strategic approach is still the dominant approach.

So back to Elizabeth Warren. In part because I have supported candidates in the past who have had no chance of winning but who have important things to say, to add to the political debate, I have not taken and am not now taking the position of other progressives, that Warren should drop out and throw her support to Bernie. I think that is her decision to make.

I do think, however, that those who are supporting her should speak up about some of the things she has been doing and saying, most recently and most particularly like taking $12 million from a shadowy superpac. To the extent necessary, she needs to be pressured to hold firm to her progressive platform and be allied with Bernie in the debates.

What about Bernie? It was clear from his rousing speech last evening at 10 PM in Vermont that he and his campaign see silver linings and a path forward to possible victory at the Democratic Convention in Milwaukee. I hope that is true, and I will continue to do all I can to make it so.

The truth is that this Democratic Party Presidential primary campaign has had an awful lot of twists and turns already, and the likelihood is high that there will be more. Joe Biden has some very significant issue and personal liabilities, some of which have been exposed via poor and stumbling debate performances. It remains to be seen if the Super Tuesday results were a decisive turning point for Biden, enabled mightily by SC Congressman Jim Clyburn, or more of a “sugar high” that fades and fades as the Biden liabilities are exposed.

Ted Glick is the author of the forthcoming Burglar for Peace: Lessons Learned in the Catholic Left’s Resistance to the Vietnam War. Other writing and more information can be found at https://tedglick.com, and he can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jtglick.

SUNY and CUNY Study Abroad Programs in China, Italy, Japan, Iran, South Korea Suspended


During a briefing on the novel coronavirus, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the State University of New York's and the City University of New York's study abroad programs in China, Italy, Japan, Iran and South Korea have been suspended effective immediately in response to concerns over novel coronavirus - or COVID-19. The decision was made based on recommendations from the New York State Department of Health. SUNY and CUNY are making arrangements to bring back all non-essential students, faculty and staff currently studying or working in those countries and begin 14-day quarantine. All five countries have either been issued a Level 2 or Level 3 travel notice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

President Trump and Dr. Anthony Fauci Speak at NIH on Coronavirus


CBS News: President Trump and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, participated in a roundtable about coronavirus at the National Institute of Health.

Report: Texas Rapidly Reduced Number of Polling Sites in Black and Latino Communities


The Huffington Post: Data shows Texas officials have quickly closed polling places in some of the most diverse, rapidly growing regions of the state.

Click here for the report. 

CDC Doctor Outlines U.S. Anti-Virus Strategy


Global News: Doctor Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), outlined for the Senate Health Committee on Tuesday morning the overall strategy the organization is taking to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S.

An increase in testing for the coronavirus began shedding light Monday on how the illness has spread in the United States, including in Washington state, where four people died at a nursing home and some schools were closed for disinfection.

New diagnoses in several states pushed the tally of COVID-19 cases past 100, and New Hampshire reported its first case, raising the total of affected states to 11. Seattle officials announced four more deaths, bringing the total in the U.S. to six.

Governor Cuomo Signs $40 Million Emergency Management Authorization for Coronavirus Response


During a novel coronavirus briefing earlier today, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a $40 million emergency management authorization for New York State's novel coronavirus response. This appropriation will allow the State to hire additional staff and procure equipment and any other resources necessary to respond to the evolving situation.

Governor Cuomo also announced he will amend his Paid Sick Leave budget proposal to specifically protect from termination people who are required to stay home from work because they are being isolated or quarantined as a result of the novel coronavirus.

The Governor also announced SUNY institutions will have students who are in study abroad programs in countries with high prevalence of novel coronavirus come home and will review all study abroad programs ahead of potential expanded travel restrictions by the federal government. SUNY is expected to release guidance later today.

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Happening in Harlem: WOZA South Africa

Click on the image to increase its size.

Motherland Messengers features some of the best South African music stars singing South African gospel, Isicathamiya (Acappella), American gospel music and R&B. 

Click here for additional information. 

COVID-19, 'the Russia Threat', and the Possible Suspension of the 2020 Presidential Election

 
A Nightmare Scenario That Congress, News Outlets, Pundits
and Every American Voter Should Consider and Discuss

By Gary Glennell Toms


During the final months of 2019, I contacted David H. Gans, Director of the Human Rights, Civil Rights & Citizenship Program at the Constitutional Accountability Center in Washington, D.C. Mr. Gans is considered to be one of the leading constitutional litigators and scholars in the country. I invited him to appear on "The G-Man Interviews" to present and discuss a terribly frightening and troubling scenario I came up with. For whatever reason, Gans never responded. Prior to contacting Gans, I presented the scenario to a renowned and widely-published author/historian and a professor emeritus at Stony Brook University, Dr. Steven Jonas, who also serves as a contributing writer for this independent news and information platform. To say he was concerned would be an understatement. "G-Man! What you propose is extremely scary..... and very possible! It's something that must be discussed among members of Congress, the media and voters, effective immediately." Yes, he thought it was that serious.

Fact: In the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election, the Mueller Report and a number of news outlets revealed how vulnerable U.S. voting machines are to hacking and/or manipulation. Moreover, officials from the Department of Homeland Security have issued dire warnings during Congressional testimonies indicating the U.S. is not adequately prepared to deal with potential cyber-attacks launched during the 2020 presidential election. FBI director Christopher Wray provided a similar assessment.

The Scenario: In September of 2020, during a 9 p.m. telecast to the nation, Donald Trump announces the following: "My fellow Americans: As a result of the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on our country over the last six months, and because of extremely serious concerns expressed by the Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security, the CDC, the Department of Justice, members of Congress and election board officials, and because there is strong evidence to suggest the integrity and security of the voting process will be compromised, I will be signing an Executive Order indefinitely suspending the 2020 presidential election. My first responsibility as President of the United States is to protect the citizens of this great country, and I will be signing the order, effective immediately, in the interest of the health and national security of the American people." 

Dr. Jonas went on to note the following: "First, this order would immediately be challenged by a variety of authorities, including the House of Representatives,  several state governments, and a broad array of private organizations like the American Constitution Society and the American Civil Liberties Union. Given the time-factor, they’d likely appeal directly to the Supreme Court. However, given the Republican majority on the Court, the decision of the judges would be thoroughly unpredictable. Secondly, the grand contradiction is that if the epidemic reached such massive proportions that something like this could be contemplated, it did so precisely because of what the Trump administration did and did not do at the outset of the outbreak, using tried and true public health measures, that led to this national catastrophe of unprecedented proportions. Ultimately, the Trump administration could use this disaster of its own making to serve its electoral purposes, especially because the national polls, at this point, indicate Trump is far behind the top Democratic candidates heading into the election."

While investigating whether President Trump would have the legal authority to take such drastic measures, I discovered a platform called Quora. According to the website, "It's a place to gain and share knowledge. It's a platform to ask questions and connect with people who contribute unique insights and quality answers." A number of U.S. Constitution experts, historians, law students and scholars posted detailed explanations of why it would be virtually impossible and considered treasonous for any president to try and cancel or suspend a presidential election, but there has been a significant and potentially life-changing development in America since those explanations were posted: COVID-19.

Even though Department of Homeland Security and F.B.I. officials continue to acknowledge there's a strong possibility the 2020 elections will be compromised in some way, it's highly unlikely any of the aforementioned would suggest President Trump or members of Congress intervene and determine if the elections should be cancelled or suspended. However, COVID-19 changes everything. Center for Disease Control and Prevention officials have publicly stated in press conferences that the rate of infection will spread and that those most vulnerable, namely seniors and people with serious medical conditions, are likely to die. Physicians have appeared on cable and network news outlets proclaiming a COVID-19 vaccine could be a year away. Moreover, other medical experts have noted even if a vaccine is developed sooner than expected, determining its effectiveness will not be immediate. In the interim, the number of infections in the U.S. could quickly rival or surpass those in other countries. "If that happens, G-Man, the country would be on a high state of alert and millions of people would probably be forced to shelter in place," said a U.S. Marine veteran who is deeply concerned after reports that a soldier in South Korea tested positive for the virus. If the situation reaches critical mass and an order is issued for Americans to shelter in place to try and halt the rate of infections, this country and many of the guidelines and principles by which we live would change in order to protect the health and safety of the public and country, including casting ballots. Recent protocols implemented in Israel serve as confirmation.

Many will read this commentary and proclaim, "We survived the Civil War! We survived the racial turmoil of the civil rights period! We survived the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.! We survived terrorist attacks and an unprecedented number of mass shootings! We're America, and we'll survive this!" In the deepest regions of my heart, I believe that, too. Still, I realize that COVID-19 is taking us into uncharted territory, which could have a monumental impact on what many consider to be the most important election of our lifetime.  

Karen Pence Visits Military Spouses at Fort Campbell

 
The Office of the Second Lady: On February 28, Mrs. Pence traveled to Fort Campbell, Kentucky with Leah Esper, the wife of the Secretary of Defense, to encourage military spouses and highlight new measures to help create employment solutions for military spouses. 

Her visit also consisted of a briefing with senior military leaders and a visit to the Intrepid Center's art therapy program.

Click here for the report.

What Might a Second Trump Term Look Like? It Will Not be Fun, Folks


By Steven Jonas

"Either this nation shall kill racism, or racism shall kill this nation." (S. Jonas, August, 2018)

As I note in the note at the end of this column, it is based on one that I published last October on the new BuzzFlash.com. Since that time A) Trump has been totally unleashed by the Trumpublican© Senate. (This could have of course been averted if three Republicans, say Sens. Alexander, Collins, and Murkowski, just to pick at random, had had the guts [or whatever] to force the introduction of witnesses and documents. Starting with Bolton. Of course, such evidence would have made it clear that Trump had broken the law [even if that breakage was limited to that of the Impoundment Act]. Enough Trumpublicans©, using the Dershowitz Rule , still might have voted to acquit, but the evidence of his guilt would have been a lot more clear than it is now.) B) Being unleashed, he ha snot been shy about demonstrating clearly his adherence to fascist doctrine: there shall be no independent "justice" function in a fascist administration (see the functional definition of fascism six paragraphs below).

Trump, the Trumpublicans©, and the 2020 Elections

In the 2020 elections The Trumpublicans are going to run on what I call "The Six R's and The Two C's": Racism/Xenophobia, Rage, Red-baiting, Religiosity (that is the use of religion for political purposes), Repression (of the vote), Russia (interference, again); and Cheating and Conspiracy theories (to the max).

Depending upon A) who the Democrats nominate for both President and Vice-President, and B) how effective or ineffective his or her campaign is, even with Trump's poll numbers where they are and where they are likely to remain, using these tactics, Trump might indeed win a second term.

As is well-known, over the course of his pre-presidential and presidential career Trump has hit huge speed bumps, bumps that would have derailed any other politician: e.g., both before and after the 2016 election: the "Billy Bush tapes;" the pay-offs to former paramours (which also was adultery); the results of the Mueller Investigation which showed collusion with the Russians in the 2016 elections (although collusion which, with the available evidence, did not rise to the level of a criminal conspiracy provable in court beyond a reasonable doubt, by Mueller's estimation) and numerous episodes of obstruction of justice, pervasive corruption, self-profiteering, and grifting, to name a few. And then there is the Ukraine scandal, which is still a scandal, despite the O'Connell Whitewash/Cover-up.

Trump entrapped himself, in large part by his very own words, by dealing with, or trying to deal with, a foreign power in return for political favors, which is against federal law. Many Trump opponents were saying words to the effect of "we got him." But he had slipped out of the symbolic (civil) cuffs before and this time with McConnell running the show he slipped them again. Given who Trump is, and the "6 R's/2 C's", even with his approval ratings in the low 40s, given the structure of the Legacy-of-Slavery Electoral College, he could slip through again into the White House, as he did in 2016. 

And so, if he does take that oath at 12:01 PM on Jan. 20, 2021, what might be in store for our nation, in some instances right away?

The word "fascism," which I have been associating with Trump for some time now (as have others as well, of course) is appropriate as we conjure a terrifying second Trump term. In Trump's case, since the system will not mirror exactly the 20th century models of Germany, Italy, Spain, Hungary, and Japan, "21st-Century proto-fascism" is likely a more accurate one. But in any case, modern fascism is characterized by the following:

"There is a single, all powerful executive branch of government, in service of a capitalist ruling class that controls for the most part the functions of production, distribution and exchange. There is no separation of powers [one of James Madison's signal contributions to the then-unique form of government established by the Constitution]. Thus, there are no de facto independent judicial or legislative branches, at any level. There is independent media. There is a single national ideology, based on some combination of racism, misogyny, religious bigotry and authoritarianism, homophobia, and xenophobia. There is a state propaganda machine using the big and little lie techniques. There may be a full-blown dictatorship, a charismatic leader, engagement in foreign wars, and the use of the mob/private armies." 

Click here for the full article. 

Source: OpEdNews

New Yorkers: Receive Your State Tax Refund Up to Two Weeks Sooner


The New York State Department of Taxation Finance: Taxpayers can receive the refunds they’re owed up to two weeks sooner by e-filing their return and choosing direct deposit.

E-filing is safer, faster, and more efficient than sending paper returns through the mail. And you’ll receive your refund faster if it’s directly deposited into your bank account rather than mailed as a paper check.

To use direct deposit, simply check direct deposit on your tax return, then enter your bank’s nine-digit routing number and your account number. For checking accounts, this information is available on your checks; for savings accounts, contact your bank.

If you do forgo the simplicity and convenience of direct deposit, make sure your mailing address is correct when requesting a refund check by mail. Any error can delay your refund.

E-file your taxes for free
 

If your income is $69,000 or less, you can access and use Free File software available online from your computer, smartphone, or tablet at www.tax.ny.gov.

Taxpayers can click Free File on the Tax Department website to be directed to the tax preparation software. Using the software can reduce filing errors that delay return processing and refunds. It also helps ensure that taxpayers claim all the credits they deserve.

To ensure you're not charged a fee for the tax preparation software, you must access the software at the Tax Department’s website to complete your return.

Additionally, if your income is $69,000 or less, you're eligible to file your federal and state taxes at one of the Tax Department's free tax assistance sites across the state. Tax Department experts will be on hand to guide you through the tax preparation and filing software. At certain locations, they can assist taxpayers in multiple languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu.

See free tax assistance sites for a list of locations and the necessary documents to bring with you.

The IRS and AARP also offer free tax filing services at locations statewide. If your income is $56,000 or less, AARP volunteers and certified IRS volunteers will help you prepare both federal and state returns at no cost. To locate volunteers near you, visit the IRS VITA information page.

Check your refund status

Taxpayers can also quickly view the status of their New York State tax refund anytime by using the Check your Refund application on the Tax Department website: www.tax.ny.gov. Updated daily, it’s the fastest and most convenient way to know when to expect your refund. It provides the same information available to our phone representatives—only without the wait!

You can also find out when your refund will be issued by signing up for Tax Department email alerts. Visit the Tax Department homepage at www.tax.ny.gov and select subscribe at the bottom of the page.

Don’t have a computer or smart phone? Call the Tax Department’s automated refund-status line anytime at 518-457-5149.

Key Officials Added to U.S. Coronavirus Task Force


The Office of the Vice President: Today, Vice President Mike Pence and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced the addition of the following individuals to the President’s Coronavirus Task Force: Robert Wilkie, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
 

Yesterday, the Vice President announced the addition of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson, Commissioner of Food and Drugs Dr. Stephen Hahn, and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Kelvin Droegemeier. Last week, the Vice President announced the addition of Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, Director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow, and Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx to the task force.

Additional members can be found here. 

First Lady Melania Trump to Deliver Remarks at the 2020 International Women of Courage Awards Ceremony


The Office of the First Lady: In recognition of Women’s History Month,  First Lady Melania Trump will participate in the 2020 International Women of Courage Awards with Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.

This will be the fourth year Mrs. Trump has participated the International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards. She will return this year to deliver remarks and present the IWOC Awards to a remarkable group of women from around the world. 

Over the last 13 years, the IWOC Award has honored more than 130 women from more than 70 different countries. It is the State Department’s only all-female award and it serves as an opportunity to recognize women around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership.

Vice President Pence Delivers Remarks at AIPAC



Bonus Report

 

Pence Hosts Discussion with Nation's Governors
on COVID-19 Coordination and Preparedness 

The Office of the Vice President: Vice President Mike Pence today participated in a discussion with more than 50 of our Nation’s governors to provide an update on the work of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, to continue coordination with governors and state and local officials to respond to and prepare for the coronavirus, and to thank governors and state and local leaders—particularly state and local health officials—for their leadership.

The Vice President, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, and Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Principal Deputy Director Dr. Anne Schuchat provided a status update on the Coronavirus, outlined ongoing Federal efforts, and discussed State and local actions with the governors.


Governor Larry Hogan, Chair of the National Governors Association, joined the Vice President in person, and other governors joined via video teleconference or phone.

The Vice President pledged to convene the governors for a teleconference on a weekly basis, and made assurances that Federal leaders will continue its close coordinate with our Nation’s governors and other State and local leaders.

Why the Success of The New York Times May Be Bad News for Journalism


The New York Times: In his debut, our new media columnist says The Times has become like Facebook or Google — a digital behemoth crowding out the competition.

Click here for the article. 

Sunday, March 1, 2020

US Surgeon General: 'Seriously People - STOP BUYING MASKS'


SFGATE: The U.S. Surgeon General's office shared a stern message with the American public on Twitter Saturday.

"Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS!" the government agency tweeted. "They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!"

Jerome M. Adams is the current U.S. Surgeon General.

Click here for the full report.