Passages in bold in the body of the texts below are usually my emphasis, though not always. This is an ongoing project, and I update the site frequently during the day. Because I try to stay focused on what has actually happened, I usually let the news ‘settle’ for a day or so before posting. I hope readers will peruse the articles in full for a better understanding of the issues and their context; our democracy and our future depend on citizens who can distinguish between facts and falsehoods and who are engaged in the political process.

For independent global news, visit Democracy Now!

For a newsletter about the history behind today’s politics, subscribe to Heather Cox Richardson’s newsletter, Letters from an American.

Friday, 10 July 2020, Day 1,267:

Some Global Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 10 July 2020: New Coronavirus Cases in the U.S. Soar Past 68,000, Shattering Record. The number of daily global cases also broke a record, with the United States as the biggest source of new infections. The U.S. death toll is also on the rise. The New York Times, Friday, 10 July 2020:

• New infections in the U.S. climb to more than 68,000, a seventh record in 11 days.
• As President Trump demanded that schools reopen, his experts internally warned of the risks.
• Scotland’s fight against the virus is different from England’s. For one thing, it’s succeeding.
• Ohio and other states that had been making progress see the virus coming back.
• Facing a third wave of virus cases, Hong Kong shuts its schools.
• A war of words between Trump and Fauci is playing out through interviews with the news media.
• Singapore holds an orderly election with a (somewhat) surprising result.

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Some Business Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 10 July 2020: Oil Demand Recovery Is Threatened as Virus Cases Surge, The New York Times, Friday, 10 July 2020:

• The Fed adds another $1.3 billion in bonds to keep credit markets moving.
• Delayed by the coronavirus crisis, tax day is almost here.
• Auctions get creative as the pandemic forces them online
• Lawmakers ask Brooks Brothers to extend benefits to laid-off factory workers.
• A boycott against Goya Foods takes off after its leader praises President Trump.
• The surge in virus cases is ‘casting a shadow’ over oil demand.
• Stocks climb along with oil prices.
• Here’s what else is happening.

Some significant developments in the coronavirus pandemic on Friday, 10 July 2020: Coronavirus death toll in U.S. increases as hospitals in hot-spot states are overwhelmed, The Washington Post, Kim Bellware, Derek Hawkins, Hannah Knowles, Hannah Denham, Meryl Kornfield, Michael Brice-Saddler, Marisa Iati, and Joshua Partlow, Friday, 10 July 2020: “The daily coronavirus death toll in the United States increased this week after months of decline, as hospitals in hot-spot states were overwhelmed with new patients. The U.S. reported its highest single-day infections — more than 67,000 cases — on Thursday. The United States reported more than 4,200 deaths in the past seven days, and experts warn that the trend could continue to get worse. More than 131,000 people have died from coronavirus in the United States since the pandemic began, and at more than 3.1 million confirmed cases have been reported.

[Read more…]

Elijah McClain: Murdered by police in Aurora, Colorado, in August 2019

Passages in bold in the body of the texts below are usually my emphasis, though not always. This is an ongoing project, and I update the site frequently during the day. Because I try to stay focused on what has actually happened, I usually let the news ‘settle’ for a day or so before posting. I hope readers will peruse the articles in full for a better understanding of the issues and their context; our democracy and our future depend on citizens who can distinguish between facts and falsehoods and who are engaged in the political process.

For independent global news, visit Democracy Now!

Friday, 3 July 2020, Day 1,260:

Some Global Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 3 July 2020: Coronavirus Cases in the U.S. Are Rising, Even as Death Rates Trend Down. At least five U.S. states set single-day records on Friday as the country’s daily infection report passed 50,000 again. President Trump, in a speech at Mount Rushmore, barely mentioned the pandemic.  The New York Times, Friday, 3 July 2020:

• As infections in the U.S. are rising sharply, the death rate has dropped.
• With U.S. infections surging, Trump visits Mt. Rushmore for fireworks.
• For the U.S. capital, July 4 will mean protests as well as celebration.
• Brazil tops 1.5 million total infections, just two weeks after reaching a million.
• England will end its quarantine for visitors from more than 50 countries. The U.S. isn’t one of them.
• Foreigners in a South Korean quarantine hotel are finding the welcome anything but warm.
• Infections among Secret Service agents explain Pence’s changed visit to Arizona.

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Some significant developments in the coronavirus pandemic on Friday, 3 July 2020: Trump speaks at Mount Rushmore as U.S. sets record for new cases, The Washington Post, Kim Bellware, Jacqueline Dupree, and Meryl Kornfield, Friday, 3 July 2020: “The United States tallied its largest single-day total of coronavirus infections Friday since the start of the pandemic, 57,497 confirmed cases, as President Trump attended a fireworks display at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, where the crowds were not required to wear masks or practice social distancing. Friday’s record, which comes a day after a peak of 55,220, is the seventh reported high in nine days. With the rate of new coronavirus cases rising in nearly 40 states, Fourth of July celebrations across the United States have been canceled or scaled back as anxious governors and mayors urge people to take a more restrained approach to the holiday. Trump delivered a fiery speech Friday, for the first of two nights of Independence Day celebrations he will attend. Heading into the holiday weekend, at least 20 states set record highs for the average of new cases over seven days, with Florida, Texas, California, Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina tallying the highest number of infections. Florida leads the nation with 9,488 new reported cases Friday — the 26th consecutive day it has set a record in its seven-day average. Meanwhile, scientists warn of a new coronavirus mutation, which doesn’t appear to make people sicker, but there’s concern it has made the virus more contagious.

U.S. enters Fourth of July weekend facing surging coronavirus infections, The Washington Post, Derek Hawkins, Friday, 3 July 2020: “The United States entered the Fourth of July weekend against a backdrop of surging coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, with officials and health experts nervously watching to see if the public would heed warnings to limit the size of their gatherings and take other steps to slow the virus. Nationwide, new infections reached another single-day high of 57,497 on Friday, and at least 20 states set record highs for the average of new cases over seven days. Faced with the soaring numbers, governors and mayors around the country have canceled or scaled back Independence Day celebrations and pleaded with people to wear masks, maintain social distancing and only celebrate with household members. ‘We’re going to have to celebrate differently this year. Everyone should cancel plans with others for the 4th of July,’ Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted. ‘Please stay home and save lives — it’s that simple.’ Beaches were closed in Los Angeles, South Florida and in other states, but Myrtle Beach, S.C., remained open to the public, even as cases in the city and state continued to rise sharply. The tourist hub passed a last-minute mask ordinance as it prepared for thousands of vacationers to flock in for the holiday. ‘We are doing all that we can,’ Mayor Brenda Bethune told CNN. ‘I believe that people spread this virus ⁠ — that’s been proven ⁠ — not places.’

• Donald Trump Jr.’s girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, tested positive for the coronavirus Friday while in South Dakota, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss their personal situation. Trump Jr. was cleared of the virus, and the couple will drive home together to avoid contact with others.
• Tom Frieden, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned that the new waves of infection were far from over. ‘It’s worse, will continue to get worse, and will take months to improve substantially. We are going in the wrong direction, fast,’ he tweeted.
• Ahead of baseball and basketball returning this month, several players were reported Friday to have become infected with the coronavirus. Major League Baseball announced 38 players and staff members tested positive on 19 teams, even as the 60-game schedule is set to open on July 23 or 24.

Interim Aurora, Colorado, police chief Vanessa Wilson fires 3 officers as part of Elijah McClain photo investigation. The Denver Post, Sam Tabachnik and Elizabeth Hernandez, Friday, 3 July 2020: “Aurora’s interim police chief on Friday fired two officers who posed for a photo reenacting a chokehold at the site of Elijah McClain’s violent arrest, and terminated a third officer who received the picture mocking the 23-year-old’s death last summer. Jason Rosenblatt, the officer who received that photo and a second image, was one of the three officers involved in McClain’s death, but later was cleared of criminal or departmental wrongdoing. ‘We are ashamed, we are sickened, and we are angry about what I have to share,’  interim Chief Vanessa Wilson said at a news conference. ‘While the allegations of this internal affairs case are not criminal, they are a crime against humanity and decency. To even think about doing such a thing is beyond comprehension and it is reprehensible.’ Officers Erica Marrero and Kyle Dittrich were fired for posing for the photos in October with officer Jaron Jones, who resigned Tuesday after learning he would be terminated. The official cause for firing all of the officers: conduct unbecoming. Wilson said she fired Rosenblatt because he received the photos via text and ‘replied with the inappropriate comment ha ha.’ ‘I am disgusted to my core,’ Wilson said. The photos, released Friday, were taken Oct. 20 near a memorial for McClain.” See also, Interim Aurora police chief fires 3 Colorado officers over photo taken near memorial site for Elijah McClain, The Washington Post, Nick Miroff, Thursday, 3 July 2020: “The interim police chief of Aurora, Colo., on Friday fired two officers who she said were in a photo reenacting the violent arrest of a 23-year-old black man, Elijah McClain, who died last summer after he was placed in a chokehold and injected with a heavy sedative by paramedics. Interim chief Vanessa Wilson also terminated a third officer, Jason Rosenblatt, who received the photo and participated in McClain’s arrest. Wilson said Rosenblatt replied ‘a ha’ to the image, taken last October near a memorial to McClain. McClain’s death has been a focus of the street protests in Colorado that erupted after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The Aurora officers have not been charged.” See also, Photos show Aurora police officers smiling while re-enacting chokehold that killed Elijah McClain, CBC|The Associated Press, Friday, 3 July 2020: “Police released photos Friday showing three officers smiling as they re-enacted a chokehold that their colleagues used on Elijah McClain, a Black man who died after police stopped him as he walked down the street last summer in a Denver suburb. Following an internal investigation by the Aurora Police Department, interim police chief Vanessa Wilson fired three officers, one of whom received the photos by text and responded ‘haha.’ The officer who was seen re-enacting the chokehold resigned. ‘We are ashamed, we are sickened, and we are angry,’ Wilson said. The officers may not have committed a crime, but the photographs are ‘a crime against humanity and decency,’ she said.”

Continue reading Week 181, Friday, 3 July – Thursday, 9 July 2020 (Days 1,260-1,266)

[Read more…]

George Floyd protests on the Burnside Bridge in Portland, Oregon on Tuesday, 2 June 2020.

Passages in bold in the body of the texts below are usually my emphasis, though not always. This is an ongoing project, and I update the site frequently during the day. Because I try to stay focused on what has actually happened, I usually let the news ‘settle’ for a day or so before posting. I hope readers will peruse the articles in full for a better understanding of the issues and their context; our democracy and our future depend on citizens who can distinguish between facts and falsehoods and who are engaged in the political process.

For independent global news, visit Democracy Now!

Some Global Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 26 June 2020: U.S. Hits Another Record for New Coronavirus Cases. More than 45,000 new cases in the United States were reported on Friday, the third consecutive day with a record total. The New York Times, Friday, 26 June 2020:

• The U.S. reports another record number of cases, as hard-hit states retreat from reopening.
• As Fauci pleads for more caution, the E.U. aims to bar U.S. travelers.
• Florida reports more than 8,900 new daily cases and bans drinking in bars.
• China says it has tamed an outbreak in Beijing, at least for now.
• California’s governor tells counties to consider pausing their reopenings, but doesn’t commit to rolling them back.
• Norway partially reopened some gyms as an experiment. Here’s what happened.
• Online learning in U.S. schools is here to stay for some students this fall.

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Some Business Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 26 June 2020: Stocks Slide as Texas Rolls Back Reopening, The New York Times, Friday, 26 June 2020:

• Stocks fall as economic fears resurface on Texas closures.
• Philanthropy rises in the pandemic as donors heed the call for help.
• Consumer spending surged in May as businesses began reopening.
• Bain Capital will take control of Virgin Australia.
• Unilever, the consumer products giant, joins a Facebook advertising boycott.

Other significant developments are included in this article.

Florida confirms nearly 9,000 coronavirus cases in a single day, a new record, Miami Herald, Ben Conarck and Daniel Chang, Friday, 26 June 2020: “A record week of surging coronavirus numbers was only heightened on Friday, as state health officials confirmed 8,942 cases, nearly doubling the previous record of cases reported in a single day, two days earlier. Florida’s Department of Health on Friday morning confirmed the cases, bringing the state total to 122,960. The state also announced at least 39 new deaths, bringing the total of COVID-19 deaths north of 3,360.” See also, Texas and Florida governors order bars closed and impose new restrictions as cases surge. The actions by the close allies of Trump came as the White House downplayed the spikes as ‘hot spots.’ Politico, Caitlin Oprysko, Friday, 26 June 2020: “A pair of GOP governors on Friday moved to impose new mitigation measures in their states amid record numbers of new coronavirus infections, with both Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordering bars closed and Texas placing new restrictions on other businesses the governor said were linked to the virus’s resurgence. Texas and Florida are among around a dozen other states that have hit the brakes on reopening their economies amid a resurgence of the virus across the South and West affecting more than half of the states in the country. They’re the first that have had to reinstate restrictions as case soar. That both governors — who are close allies of President Donald Trump and were criticized for resisting calls to lock down their states in the pandemic’s early days — have not only pressed pause on reopening but reimposed some restrictions, speaks to the severity of the outbreaks in two of the most populous states in the country.”

Continue reading Week 180, Friday, 26 June – Thursday, 2 July 2020 (Days 1,253-1,259)

[Read more…]

∑

George Floyd Protest, Williamstown, MA, Friday, 5 June 2020

Passages in bold in the body of the texts below are usually my emphasis, though not always. This is an ongoing project, and I update the site frequently during the day. Because I try to stay focused on what has actually happened, I usually let the news ‘settle’ for a day or so before posting. I hope readers will peruse the articles in full for a better understanding of the issues and their context; our democracy and our future depend on citizens who can distinguish between facts and falsehoods and who are engaged in the political process.

For independent global news, visit Democracy Now!

Friday, 12 June 2020, Day 1,239:

George Floyd Protests: Judge Peter A. Cahill Will Hear the Case of the Four Police Officers Charged in the Killing of George Floyd, The New York Times, Friday, 12 June 2020:

• The judge assigned in Floyd’s murder trial is a former assistant to Amy Klobuchar.
• Cuomo signs package of bills aimed at police misconduct.
• Boston cuts police budget as New York City Council considers similar move.
• Minneapolis voters may decide in November on whether to move ahead on dismantling the Police Department.
• Early data shows a significant presence of white protesters at Floyd demonstrations.
• The ‘concept of chokehold sounds so innocent, so perfect,’ Trump says.
• Seattle’s mayor mingles in city’s ‘autonomous zone.’

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Some Global Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 12 June 2020: China Shuts Vast Beijing Market as It Hunts Coronavirus Cluster, The New York Times, Friday, 12 June 2020:

• China’s capital shuts a produce market in a ‘wartime’ effort to control a virus cluster.
• West Point cadets, isolated for two weeks ahead of Trump’s speech, will graduate with masks and without family.
• Florida and Texas report records for daily highs in new cases.
• Large gatherings — from antiracism protests to Trump rallies — pose risks, Fauci warns.
• In China, photoshopped graduation photos stand in for the real thing.
• A Jersey Shore town rebels against the state’s indoor dining restrictions, then retreats.
• ‘Batman,’ his knowledge now in demand, navigates a political minefield.

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Some significant developments in the coronavirus pandemic on Friday, 12 June 2020: As coronavirus cases spike, Dr. Anthony Fauci warns Trump rally attendees that large gatherings are ‘risky,’ The Washington Post, Marisa Iati, Lateshia Beachum, Keith McMillan, Samantha Pell, and Angela Fritz, Friday, 12 June 2020: “Anthony S. Fauci said Friday that it is a ‘danger’ and ‘risky’ for people to be gathering in large groups — whether at a Trump rally or a protest. The nation’s top infectious-disease expert advised on a podcast that if gatherings take place, people should ‘make sure’ to wear a mask. President Trump plans to hold his first rally in months next week in Tulsa. Meanwhile, across the South and West, coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are on the rise. In Texas, more than 2,100 people in the state were hospitalized with covid-19 as of Friday, according to state data tracked by The Washington Post, and intensive care units are reportedly at 88 percent capacity in the Houston area. Arkansas reported 731 new cases, the largest since the pandemic began. And in North Carolina, cases topped 40,000 after its highest single-day increase. ‘We continue to see a decrease in social distancing,’ Mecklenburg County, N.C., health director Gibbie Harris said Friday, ‘and before long we will be back to where we were when we put the stay-at-home order in place.’

[Read more…]

Passages in bold in the body of the texts below are usually my emphasis, though not always. This is an ongoing project, and I update the site frequently during the day. Because I try to stay focused on what has actually happened, I usually let the news ‘settle’ for a day or so before posting. I hope readers will peruse the articles in full for a better understanding of the issues and their context; our democracy and our future depend on citizens who can distinguish between facts and falsehoods and who are engaged in the political process.

For independent global news, visit Democracy Now!

Friday, 5 June 2020, Day 1,232:

George Floyd Protests: Minneapolis to Ban Use of Chokeholds by Police.  Major demonstrations are planned across the country on Saturday, including in Washington, where thousands of protesters are expected to converge. The New York Times, Friday, 5 June 2020:

• Minneapolis to ban the use of chokeholds in response to George Floyd’s death.
• Protests continue in cities nationwide ahead of demonstrations planned for Saturday.
• More police violence occurs during protests over police violence.
• An officer in New Mexico faces manslaughter charges after the death of a man he put in a chokehold.
• The N.F.L. commissioner said the league should have listened to black players’ concerns earlier.
• Trudeau knelt in solidarity with protesters, but some Canadians want stronger words from him.
• The attorney general says Trump’s walk for a church photo-op expedited an order to clear a park.

Other significant developments are included in this article.

George Floyd Protests: Some New York City Protests Ended Quietly. Others Ended in Arrests. Demonstrations filled the city’s streets for another day, and mostly dispersed in a more muted way than they had the two previous nights. The New York Times, Friday, 5 June 2020:

• Some protest organizers urge crowds to go home. Others marched on, and were arrested.
• Two N.Y.P.D. officers were suspended without pay for conduct during protests.
• Demonstrators in New York City remember Breonna Taylor on her birthday.
• Three city district attorneys will not prosecute protesters accused of low-level offenses.
• Protesters rallied at a Brooklyn jail where a prisoner was pepper-sprayed and died this week.

Other significant developments are included in this article.

George Floyd Protests: Nation braces for another day of protests; North Carolina flags at half-staff for George Floyd, The Washington Post, Hannah Knowles, Ben Guarino, Alex Horton, and Brent D. Griffiths, Friday, 5 June 2020: “Cities and towns across the United States are bracing for another outpouring of protest Saturday amid national outrage over law enforcement excess sparked by the death of George Floyd in police custody. Officials in Washington, D.C., are preparing for the city’s largest demonstration yet, with tens of thousands of people expected to start gathering in the early morning hours. Rallies are also planned near the Trump golf club in Doral, Fla.; in front of Philadelphia’s famed art museum; outside Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s official residence; and in many lesser-known places, from Collegeville, Pa., to Poquoson, Va. Researchers say these protests, now in their 12th day, are the broadest in U.S. history, having spread to well over 650 cities and towns, across all 50 states.

[Read more…]

Photos tweeted by Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr., juxtaposing Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdering George Floyd and Colin Kapernick taking a knee during the national anthem, protesting police violence and racial injustice.

Passages in bold in the body of the texts below are usually my emphasis, though not always. This is an ongoing project, and I update the site frequently during the day. Because I try to stay focused on what has actually happened, I usually let the news ‘settle’ for a day or so before posting. I hope readers will peruse the articles in full for a better understanding of the issues and their context; our democracy and our future depend on citizens who can distinguish between facts and falsehoods and who are engaged in the political process.

For independent global news, visit Democracy Now!

Friday, 29 May 2020, Day 1,225:

Some Global Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 29 May 2020: India Loosens Restrictions, Despite Coronavirus Surge. Baghdad has shut down again; Israel might as well. Moscow has doubled its official death toll. The New York Times, Friday, 29 May 2020:

• Despite surging infections, India lifts its lockdown.
• Travel bubbles, airline corridors, bilateral border deals: Europe’s tangled reopening to travel.
• Trump, blaming China for the pandemic, says the U.S. will leave the W.H.O.
• Protesters in Hong Kong and the U.S. take to the streets, mostly with adjustments for the virus.
• As food-bank lines grow, Spain gives 850,000 households a minimum income guarantee.
• Daily cases in Israel spike, inviting the possible reinstatement of a lockdown.
• Latest in science: How much virus is needed to make you sick?

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Some U.S. Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 29 May 2020: Sparring and Schedules Offer Glimpse of Pandemic’s Partisan Lens. There is a growing partisan divide about how to conduct political business in an era of concerns about public health. The New York Times, Friday, 29 May 2020:

• The White House sets conditions on testifying before Congress as the virus’s partisan divide widens.
• Inside an extraordinary G.O.P. event in South Carolina, where there were few masks and no social distancing.
• New York City moves toward reopening.
• Washington and Los Angeles are among the other major cities easing restrictions.
• Trump says the U.S. will end its relationship with the W.H.O., alarming health experts.
• It’s not whether you were exposed to the virus. It’s how much.
• Stung by the loss of major events, TV networks brace for billions in lost ad revenue.

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Some New York Region Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 29 May 2020: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Says New York City Is Expected to Open June 8, The New York Times, Friday, 29 May 2020:

• N.Y.C. expects to begin reopening June 8. Five upstate areas were cleared for broader reopening.
• Questions loom about safety of mass transit as N.Y.C. gears up.
• Child care and summer activities for children will begin opening in New Jersey.
• Connecticut eases restrictions on social and religious gatherings as some casinos prepare to reopen.
• The virus is forcing N.Y.C. to consider borrowing billions.

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Continue reading Week 176, Friday, 29 May – Thursday, 4 June 2020 (Days 1,225-1,231)

[Read more…]

Passages in bold in the body of the texts below are usually my emphasis, though not always. This is an ongoing project, and I update the site frequently during the day. Because I try to stay focused on what has actually happened, I usually let the news ‘settle’ for a day or so before posting. I hope readers will peruse the articles in full for a better understanding of the issues and their context; our democracy and our future depend on citizens who can distinguish between facts and falsehoods and who are engaged in the political process.

For independent global news, visit Democracy Now!

Friday, 22 May 2020, Day 1,218:

Some Global Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 22 May 2020: U.K. to Quarantine All Incoming Air Travelers; a Chinese Coronavirus Vaccine Shows Promise, The New York Times, Friday, 22 May 2020:

• U.K. announces a quarantine of all international air travelers.
• A vaccine developed in China shows promise.
• Listen to how the pandemic has hushed great cities.
• Falling immunizations raise fears that preventable diseases could claim more lives than Covid-19.
• Separated by Plexiglas. A correspondent tells us of the new normal of nursing home visits in France.
• A teenage girl crossed India on a $20 bike to get her father safely home amid the crisis.
• As virus spreads in Russia’s Caucasus, rumors swirl over a strongman’s health.

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Some U.S. Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 22 May 2020: As Death Toll Nears 100,000, Some in the Trump Administration Question the Math; Experts Disagree. President Trump ordered states to reopen places of worship, but several governors said that decision would be their call. Persistently high case levels in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington have medical experts concerned. The New York Times, Friday, 22 May 2020:

• Some White House officials suggest deaths are overcounted. Experts disagree.
• Trump demands that governors let houses of worship reopen.
• States differ on their approaches to religious services during the pandemic.
• Birx expresses concerns about case levels in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington.
• Ahead of a holiday weekend, beach towns are telling N.Y.C. residents to stay away.
• The Justice Dept. backs a lawsuit to block Illinois’s stay-at-home order.
• Airlines are permitted to stop flying to dozens of U.S. cities.

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Some New York Region Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 22 May 2020: New York Relaxes Rules, Approving All Gatherings of Up to 10 People, The New York Times, Friday, 22 May 2020:

• Groups of 10 people can now gather anywhere in New York for any reason.
• N.J. allows outdoor gatherings of 25 people and lets campgrounds open.
• A man drowns at Rockaway Beach as N.Y.C. considers when to open its beaches.
• Prayers resume at a Brooklyn synagogue.
• New York City’s suburbs could start to reopen next week, Cuomo said.

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Continue reading Week 175, Friday, 22 May – Thursday, 28 May 2020 (Days 1,218-1,224)

[Read more…]

Passages in bold in the body of the texts below are usually my emphasis, though not always. This is an ongoing project, and I update the site frequently during the day. Because I try to stay focused on what has actually happened, I usually let the news ‘settle’ for a day or so before posting. I hope readers will peruse the articles in full for a better understanding of the issues and their context; our democracy and our future depend on citizens who can distinguish between facts and falsehoods and who are engaged in the political process.

For independent global news, visit Democracy Now!

Friday, 15 May 2020, Day 1,211:

Some Global Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 15 May 2020: U.S. and China Trade Coronavirus Accusations, Sparking Fears of a New Cold War, The New York Times, Friday, 15 May 2020:

• Britain’s government promised 100,000 daily tests. It delivered, but at a cost.
• The pandemic is battering U.S.-China relations, raising fears of a new Cold War.
• Our Southeast Asia bureau chief describes parenting through the pandemic.
• Brazil’s health minister stepped down after less than a month.
• Germany enters recession as its economy, Europe’s largest, grinds to a halt.
• Nations led by women offer lessons in handling an unprecedented crisis.
• Filmmakers are working again in Iceland and Australia. Here’s how.

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Some U.S. Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 15 May 2020: House Passes $3 Trillion Relief Bill Seen as Democrats’ Opening Bid, The New York Times, Friday, 15 May 2020:

• The House narrowly passed a coronavirus relief package, but it has little chance of becoming law.
• The House approved a plan to allow members to vote remotely for the first time.
• Fears grow over new outbreaks as more states lift restrictions.
• Who’s enforcing mask-wearing rules? Often it’s retail workers.
• Trump vows to have a vaccine by the end of the year, mobilizing the military.
• The latest retail sales report depicts the largest two-month decline on record.
• Is it safe to go out to eat? What about outdoor activities?

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Some New York Region Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 15 May 2020: Some Northeast Beaches Set to Open Next Week, but Not in N.Y.C., The New York Times, Friday, 15 May 2020:

• Four Northeast states will let beaches open by Memorial Day weekend.
• Cuomo extended stay-at-home orders for parts of the state, including N.Y.C.
• How close is New York City to reopening?
• New Jersey’s primary will be conducted mostly by mail.
• Police to limit access in Central Park and shift social-distancing enforcement.

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Continue reading Week 174, Friday, 15 May – Thursday, 21 May 2020 (Days 1,211-1,217)

[Read more…]

Passages in bold in the body of the texts below are usually my emphasis, though not always. This is an ongoing project, and I update the site frequently during the day. Because I try to stay focused on what has actually happened, I usually let the news ‘settle’ for a day or so before posting. I hope readers will peruse the articles in full for a better understanding of the issues and their context; our democracy and our future depend on citizens who can distinguish between facts and falsehoods and who are engaged in the political process.

For independent global news, visit Democracy Now!

Friday, 8 May 2020, Day 1,204:

Some Global Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 8 May 2020: Mexican Government Is Hiding Huge Coronavirus Toll, Especially in the Capital, The New York Times, Friday, 8 May 2020:

• Mexico’s true coronavirus toll is hidden as the government ignores a wave of deaths in the capital.
• Lockdown is tough. In South Africa, it’s even tougher if you want a beer or a smoke.
• Our Moscow correspondent takes us to a stricken city cheated of a chance to unite over a past glory.
• A three-drug cocktail proves effective in speeding recovery for mild to moderate cases, a small trial shows.
• Argentina again teeters on default as the pandemic guts its economy.
• Celebrations commemorating the end of World War II in Europe, including a speech from Queen Elizabeth, were subdued.
• By air and sea, India begins major operation to bring home thousands of stranded citizens.

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Some U.S. Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 8 May 2020: The Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) Clears First Home Saliva Test; Pence’s Press Secretary Has Coronavirus, The New York Times, Friday, 8 May 2020:

• The F.D.A. approved the first home saliva test for the coronavirus.
• The U.S. lost 20.5 million jobs in April as unemployment rose to 14.7 percent.
• Pence’s press secretary has tested positive for the virus.
• California warns that counties flouting governor’s rules could lose funding.
• The distribution of remdesivir has become mired in controversy.
• Government watchdogs criticized a federal loan program for small businesses.
• California voters will get mail-in ballots for the November election.

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Some New York Region Coronavirus Updates for Friday, 8 May 2020: 5-Year-Old Dies in New York City of Rare Illness Linked to Coronavirus, The New York Times, Friday, 8 May 2020:

• A 5-year-old has died of a mysterious illness linked to the coronavirus.
• N.Y.C. will limit crowds at two parks amid concerns over unequal social-distance policing.
• Here’s how the beginning of Connecticut’s reopening will look.
• The M.T.A. will provide buses to protect the homeless from bad weather this weekend.
• Neighborhood celebrities, lost to the virus.

Many other significant developments are included in this article.

Continue reading Week 173, Friday, 8 May – Thursday, 14 May 2020 (Days 1,204-1,210)

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