News and Headlines: In The News, Politics, World news, Commentary/Opinion.
In The News:
Missing NC toddler found safe, father arrested after alleged stabbing
According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, 2-year-old Jeremy Rivas-Munoz was reportedly abducted by 23-year-old Emerson Melendez Rivas.
Police said Melendez Rivas stabbed the boy’s mother and left the area in a blue Toyota Corolla.
The toddler was found safe later Thursday morning and Melendez Rivas was taken into custody.
Man arrested after fleeing, crashing, spitting on officer, police say
Saul Vazquez, 27, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of failing to remain at the scene of an injury accident, tampering with evidence, three counts of failing to stop for law enforcement, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, assault on an officer and several other traffic-related offenses.
Two female passengers suffered serious injuries to their abdomens, necks, and faces, police said.
A woman in the other vehicle also sustained serious spine, neck and chest injuries. All three women were taken to a local hospital.
Georgia bar owner removes more than $3G of bills stapled to the walls, distributes to her staff
The Sand Bar on Tybee Island, Ga., was forced to close its doors when the coronavirus outbreak hit, greatly impacting its bar staff and the musicians who perform at the popular tourist spot.
Knox, who started as a bartender before eventually owning The Sand Bar, told Fox 28 the money has been collecting for “close to 14 or 15 years” from customers, who will often write something on the bills before posting them on the walls.
“We looked around and we were like, ‘We have money on the walls and time on our hands’, and we just felt this sense of urgency to get these dollars down and into the hands of those who need it,” Knox said to the outlet.
Police arrest parolee accused of multiple rapes in San Bernardino; additional victims sought
Jonathan Arredondo, a state parolee, was arrested in Riverside and booked into San Bernardino County Jail for forcible rape, sodomy, oral copulation and assault with a deadly weapon, according to police.
He’s accused of assaulting multiple women in downtown San Bernardino between November and March.
Police say his victims willingly got into his vehicle, where Arredondo allegedly used a box cutter to forcibly rape his victims.
Washington state returns 250-bed field hospital to FEMA
The facility, which began setting up on March 30 and was ready to see patients Sunday, was intended to treat non-coronavirus patients as area hospitals anticipated a surge in patients.
It didn’t end up seeing a single patient, according to KUOW of Seattle.
According to Inslee’s office, the state has purchased more than 900 ventilators and added 1,000 hospital beds to support hospitals as the state experiences a surge in positive COVID-19 cases.
Truck drivers find signs they’re not welcome while delivering the goods we need
“It’s been especially hard if you can’t find a place to park,” said Angie Baum, who drives with her husband, Larry. “A lot of the truck stops are limiting the number of trucks that come in.”
Many truck stops are closing to anything but fuel fill-ups. Signs sometimes hang from locked doors saying “no bathrooms” or “no coffee or water” available.
“A cup of coffee keeps me energized and taking a shower makes me feel like a human out here instead of like a dog,” said Jim Allison of Ironton, Missouri as he was driving out of Chicago.
California man arrested for coronavirus price-gouging after selling box masks for $300, police say
After investigators met with the seller — identified as 30-year-old Johnwill Baldonado of Covina — they purchased a box of N95 masks for $300.
Baldonado was then arrested on suspicion of price-gouging after the sale, police said.
Upon further investigation, officers found 21 boxes containing a total of 420 N95 respirators.
“During a state of emergency the law prohibits charging a price that is more than 10 percent what an item cost before the state declaration of emergency,” police said.
2nd coronavirus vaccine trial begins in US using ‘skin-deep’ shots
(Center for Pharmaceutical Research via AP)
“It’s the most important trial that we’ve ever done,” Dr. John Ervin of the Center for Pharmaceutical Research told The Associated Press afterward. “People are beating down the door to get into this trial.”
The experiment, using a vaccine candidate developed by Inovio Pharmaceuticals, is part of a global hunt for much-needed protection against a virus that has triggered an economic shutdown and forced people indoors as countries try to stem the spread.
A different vaccine candidate began safety testing in people last month in Seattle, one developed by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. About two-thirds of that study’s participants have gotten the first of two needed doses.
Chilling video reveals how coronavirus spreads from a single cough in a supermarket
Researchers in Finland have created a chilling video that models how coronavirus could spread from a single cough in a supermarket.
The video was uploaded to YouTube by scientists at Finland’s Aalto University. “In the 3D model, a person coughs in a corridor bounded by shelves under representative indoor ventilation airflow conditions,” the video explains.
“As a result of coughing, an aerosol cloud travels in the air to the corridor. It takes up to several minutes for the cloud to spread and disperse.”
Melania Trump Says US ‘Providing $100 Million In Assistance’ To Italy In Call With Daughter Of Italian President
“Today, First Lady Melania Trump spoke with Mrs. Laura Mattarella of the Italian Republic,” reads a press release from the Office of the First Lady published Wednesday.
“Mrs. Trump gave her heartfelt condolences for the many Italians who have lost their lives to the coronavirus.”
“She also expressed optimism and hope that the positive trend would continue in Italy and stressed that the American people stand with our allay, including providing $100 million in assistance with hope that in coming weeks we can defeat the pandemic,” the release adds.
Cities across Illinois consider civil fines to stack on top of possible criminal charges for violating governor’s stay-at-home order
Normal Mayor Chris Koos said law enforcement will be out enforcing the ban on gatherings of 10 or more people.
“You can go out in your yard, or be in the park, or walk down the sidewalk, but don’t play on the playgrounds, don’t host that neighborhood party and don’t get together with friends,” Koos said.
There have been enforcement actions reported in Quincy, Rockford, Alton and elsewhere.
Similar civil charges like obstruction or other ordinance violations cities may have could also be applied to stay-at-home violations.
Fed pumps $2.3 trillion into economy
FOX Business’ Edward Lawrence breaks down the Federal Reserve’s new stimulus injection into the economy.
VIDEO: Masked man sucker punches NYPD cop
In the video the man identified as Jimenez could be seen sneaking up behind one of the officers as his partner held his knee on the back of the man identified as Castro and worked to handcuff him and place him under arrest.
Jimenez’ identity appeared concealed not only by the medical mask he was seen wearing, but also by a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap.
The sucker-puncher could then be seen delivering one blow that knocked the officers winter cap off and then another glancing blow as the NYPD officer quickly draws and fires his taser.
It is unclear from the video if the taser struck Jimenez, who is seen running off with the police officer in foot pursuit.
CDC clears virus-exposed critical workers who lack symptoms to return to work
(Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)
The CDC’s guidance has been that workers exposed to someone who tested positive for the coronavirus should self-quarantine for 14 days.
Now, the agency says those workers should return to work as long as they have no symptoms of the disease, wear a face mask, practice social distancing and monitor their body temperature for fever.
Redfield urged those workers not to remain at work if they feel sick, and to refrain from congegrating in break rooms or crowded places.
Vice President Mike Pence, speaking at the same briefing, said the new guidance “will hopefully make it clear that there would be an opportunity for those people playing such an incredible role in our nation’s response to be able to return to work and to be able to do so safely.”https://
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says US has repatriated 50,000 during COVID-19 pandemic
More than 50,000 American citizens overseas as the COVID-19 pandemic spread and sparked travel restrictions and economic shutdowns around the globe have been repatriated with the help of the State Department.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the tens of thousands of repatriated U.S. citizens came from vacations and business, church and educational trips from more than 90 countries.
Pompeo said the effort was “without parallel in our lifetime” and required more than 400 flights and coordination with foreign governments, militaries, hotels and other businesses.
New York Times Falsely Accused Sen. Tom Cotton Of Promoting Conspiracy Theories About Wuhan Virus Origin
“Since the start of this outbreak, I’ve maintained that animal-to-human transmission or a ‘good science, bad safety’ accidental breach in a lab studying coronavirus — like the one in Wuhan — are the most likely origin scenarios,” Cotton tweeted.
Cotton believes it is ridiculous to discount the bioweapon hypothesis because the CCP never revealed the virus’s origins.
He also suggested Fischer actually put some time and energy into investigating what happened in Wuhan, instead of just repeating hearsay.
Governor Of Alaska Bans Abortions During Coronavirus
Dunleavy issued a Tuesday COVID-19 update mandating that “all patients, providers, hospitals, and surgical centers” must postpone non-urgent or elective medical procedures to “decrease the overall impact on the Alaska health care structure and preserve personal protective equipment.”
Alaska joined Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Indiana, Iowa and Mississippi in deeming abortions non-essential and banning them to preserve Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for fighting coronavirus.
‘Full-court blitzkrieg’: Barr says China a bigger election interference threat than Russia
Fox News host Laura Ingraham asked the attorney general whether the Chinese Communist Party or Vladimir Putin’s Russia was the bigger threat on the election meddling front.
“In my opinion, it’s China,” Barr said. “And not just to the election process, but I think across the board — there’s simply no comparison.
China is a very serious threat to the United States geopolitically, economically, militarily, and a threat to the integrity of our institutions given their ability to influence things.”
Ingraham pressed Barr on what the Justice Department is doing to combat Chinese propaganda efforts inside the U.S.
Politics:
Trump campaign responds to Jim Acosta’s request for evidence of voter fraud
The Trump campaign’s post was in response to a promise made by the president during an exchange with Acosta this week when Trump said he would show evidence of voter fraud.
“You’ve been talking about voter fraud since the beginning of this administration, and where is the evidence of it?” Acosta asked. “All the experts say voter fraud is rare.”
“I think there’s a lot of evidence, but we’ll provide you with some, OK?” Trump responded.
Biden woos skeptical Sanders supporters with new proposals
Biden’s swift move to shore up his left flank underscores the difficult choice many progressives were left after Sanders abandoned his presidential bid: Side with the more centrist former vice president or keep up the fight and potentially lose the White House again.
As they weigh their options, activists are already working to push Biden to the left on key issues.
And he is amenable to the idea because he will likely need them to defeat President Donald Trump in November.
Despite Thursday’s moves, Biden has signaled he’s not willing to make major concessions, including embracing Medicare for All universal health insurance and the most sweeping Green New Deal policies to combat climate change.
Dems block McConnell bid to swiftly approve $250B more for small business fund
With lawmakers home and social distancing, McConnell sought to pass the cash infusion swiftly Thursday by unanimous consent with a skeleton group of senators, but Democrats blocked the effort because they want add-ons to help businesses in disadvantaged communities and an additional $250 billion in funds for other priorities.
The extra funding is being sought amid concerns that the original $350 billion program to help businesses stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic could run dry in the near future in the face of an enormous demand.
The stalemate in the Senate comes as a record-breaking number of Americans have filed for unemployment with the economy shutting down nationwide under stay-at-home orders.
U.S. Should Bring China to U.N. Court Over Coronavirus Cover Up, Says GOP Rep
“If China’s leaders hadn’t become embarrassed by the outbreak and tried to cover up its spread, the world may have had a better chance to prepare for this or even contain it in Wuhan or China,” Banks said in a statement provided to the Washington Free Beacon.
“Instead, we have a pandemic. China shoulders most of that blame.
Rather than succumb to the propaganda and spin of Chinese officials, the world must hold them accountable for mishandling this outbreak.
If the United Nations cannot even do that, it has completely lost its purpose.”
World News:
Boris Johnson out of ICU amid coronavirus battle, in ‘good spirits,’ spokesman says
“The Prime Minister has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward, where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery,” the spokesman said. “He is in extremely good spirits.”
Johnson told the public on March 27 that he tested positive for the virus and that he had “mild symptoms,” but he kept working in self-isolation — appearing at the doors of 10 Downing Street to applaud the National Health Service in the evening.
He kept briefing the public in daily videos.
Hamas arrests Gaza peace activists for Zoom chat with Israelis
Eyad al-Bozom, a spokesperson from the Hamas-run interior ministry, said the prominent Palestinian figure Rami Aman and others had been detained on charges of “establishing normalisation activities with the Israeli occupation via the internet”.
“Any activity or communication with the Israeli occupation under any cover is a crime punishable by law, and a betrayal of our people and their sacrifices,” Bozom said.
The event was advertised publicly on a Facebook page and a recording was later published online, leading to some angry comments on Arabic-language social media.
Wuhan residents reveal the truth as CCP celebrates victory against CCP virus. US challenges China
Chinese authorities have begun celebrating the so-called victory against the #CCPvirus epidemic. But residents inside #Wuhan tell a different story.
A Chinese ambassador calls for cooperation with the US while a US spokesperson challenges Beijing to follow through—outlining 3 steps for the regime to take.
A rush to produce face masks in China, where are they being made, and how is the quality of these masks?
Video conferencing software, Zoom, is facing a lawsuit for misleading shareholders on its privacy and encryption standards.
President Trump questions whether the US should continue funding the World Health Organization (#WHO) after the way it handled the virus pandemic.
Israelis ask God to remember covenant with forefathers, Pres. Rivlin says – TV7 Israel News 09.04.20
1) A minor yet significant slowdown in the upward trend of newly verified coronavirus cases is seemingly taking hold throughout the state of Israel, offering a glimpse of light at the end of a long and dark tunnel.
2) Israeli President Reuven Rivlin says the people of Israel are praying together, asking God to remember His covenant with of our forefathers – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
3) The Palestinian Authority’s health ministry reports that, as of this morning, there are no new corona-virus cases among the Palestinian population that live in the territories under its control.
US Bagram airbase attacked with rockets in Afghanistan – ISIS claims responsibility
(DOD photo by Senior Airman Sandra Welch, U.S. Air Force/Released)
The base has reported no injuries from the rockets, which landed at the base, located near the Afghan capital of Kabul.
The attack was disclosed by the official Twitter account for Operation Resolute Support, the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan.
Reuters reported that the Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), the ISIS terror group’s Afghan branch indicated on social media that its fighters launched the attack and intended to target a helicopter landing pad on the base.
ISS crew blast off after long quarantine
The three will replace Oleg Skripochka, Andrew Morgan and Jessica Meir who are due to make their return journey from the ISS on 17 April.
ISS crew routinely go into quarantine ahead of launch day, but because of the coronavirus pandemic the process began even earlier last month.
Traditional pre-launch fanfare and visits to Moscow were abandoned as the three – along with their reserve crew – stayed in isolation at Russia’s Star City training centre outside the capital.
Commentary/Opinion:
Tucker: Are some of our leaders and the media addicted to doom and gloom?
And is their attitude endangering the country?