Coronavirus Disinfecting Services : November 2020

Monday 30 November 2020

Police investigate shooting that killed Bay Area rapper

DUBLIN, Calif. (KRON) - A popular local rapper is being remembered as police in the East Bay continue to investigate his death.

26-year-old Mark Antonio Alexander, also known as Lil Yase, died this weekend after a shooting in Dublin.

Police are right now seeking information about the killing.

Police tell KRON4 they're still trying to piece together why the San Francisco native was in Dublin to begin with. This is an all hands on deck investigation for detectives.

Meanwhile, Alexander's label, which he co-founded, says he was a rockstar taken far too soon.

The career of a budding Bay Area rapper tragically cut short. He was shot and killed early Saturday morning.

"This is really rare for Dublin to have a homicide. Really, it's really rare to have any violent crime in Dublin at all," Captain Nate Schmidt said.

Dublin police services say Alexander was hit multiple times by gunfire near the Dublin-Pleasanton BART station.

Alexander later died from his injuries at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley.

Investigators say it's still unclear what lead up to the shooting.

"We don't have a suspect, we don't have a motive, we really have more questions than we have answers," Schmidt said.

The San Francisco native was regarded as a rising star in the local rap game.

His songs racking up millions of views on his official Lil Yase YouTube channel include references to money and life in the streets.

Friends remember him as being smart and focused.

A statement to KRON4 News from his best friend and business partner reads in part:

"He was a rockstar and lived like one. He had a permanent smile on his face and would give the shirt off of his back. Everyone felt his presence because he was a genuine guy."

Police believe Alexander's death was targeted and they need help solving his killing.

"We want to do this for the victim, for the victim's family, for the victim's friends and really to make sure that the person responsible it held accountable," Schmidt said.

Dublin police say they are in the process of reviewing security video from the area where Alexander was shot. Anyone with any information is encouraged to give them a call.

Latest Posts

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/3mqMFQo

COVID-19 vaccine distribution could begin in 3 weeks

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KRON) - Medical experts say it's likely the first group of people will begin getting the first COVID-19 vaccine during the 3rd week of December.

"The first group will probably be health care workers and older people in nursing homes, second group may be essential workers and those over 65 with other illnesses," said Chair, U.C. San Francisco Dept. of Medicine Dr. Robert Wachter.

Dr. Robert Wachter says those first two groups constituting about 150 to 200 million Americans will be vaccinated by April.

That leaves about 130 million younger healthier Americans who he thinks can be vaccinated by the end of summer.

"When you hit about 70 or 75% of people having received both doses or vaccine that are 95% effective, you reach heard immunity in the right way.

Wachter says that means enough people have been vaccinated to be immune from getting COVID-19, meaning the virus begins to die out.

"It's not unrealistic to think we reach that in the Summer, and when we reach that, its when life starts getting back to normal."

A system will need to be set up so they know which group we fall into and when we can get the vaccine.

Latest Stories:

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/3mq59k7

New lawsuit challenges education for students in CA

ALAMEDA, Calif. (KRON) - A new lawsuit is challenging California’s promise to provide free, basic education to students.

The lawsuit claims the state has failed to do its job, in providing necessary resources for kids in underserved communities during the coronavirus pandemic.

They worry students in those communities are falling further behind the education gap.

This 84-page lawsuit was filed on behalf of seven families and two education advocacy groups who say that even before the pandemic, Black, brown, and Latinx students were being cheated by the state in their education with a lack of funding and resources.

Now in the age of COVID, they say the state's lack of a game plan and direction to provide adequate resources is making a tough situation even tougher, closing the education gap in California.

"With the rise of remote learning, the problems have just multiplied and multiplied and have been exacerbated," attorney Shaelyn Dawson said.

The lawsuit filed Monday in Alameda County Superior Court claims the state is failing to live up to its constitutional commitment to provide free, quality education to every child.

The gap has only widened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The students aren't getting that basic right of education when they can't even when it's remote when they can't access that remote education, they don't have computers, other devices, they don't have connectivity," Dawson said.

According to the lawsuit claims for years, Black, brown, and Latinx students have been underserved by the education system.

Since COVID-19, issues have only grown.

The lawsuit claims many students in these groups don't have access to the necessary devices to close to the digital divide.

Also, teachers have had inadequate support.

"Right before COVID hit less than 30 percent of black and brown students in Oakland were reading at grade level, so COVID didn't help us out at all," Lakisha Young said.

Lakisha Young is the leader of Oakland REACH, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

The parent-run, parent lead education group has been filling in the gaps for students, by providing laptops, teachers, and a place where students can learn.

She says the lawsuit is about making sure Black and brown families are finally heard, with solutions, that are being done now that can make a difference.

"Our babies are already behind. We can't afford, we will not stand for this to continue, and there's no reason we can't do better by our kids," Young said.

KRON4 reached out to the state superintendent's office Monday for a comment on the lawsuit but in response to the filing, the office did issue this response when it comes to a free education saying in part:

“That there is no state enforcement of intervention mechanism to ensure that local education agencies actually provide free and equal education to all students in the state."

Latest Posts

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/3mrZFoG

Health officials fear of COVID-19 surge after holiday

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) - The Thanksgiving holiday is over, but health officials say now the fallout is in front of all of us.

Top White House coronavirus task force officials issuing a warning to anyone that left home and ventured out, especially to long-distance places.

“We're probably going to have a surge on top of a surge and we hope that one reached the tipping point in terms of beds available,” Dr. Peter Chin-Hong said.

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong with UCSF and an infectious disease specialist addresses the fallout from the Thanksgiving holiday.

While the CDC strongly recommended families not to socialize this year and stay at home, packed airports belied that advice.

For example, at Oakland International Airport, 130,000 passengers traveled throughout the 4 day period.

Travelers saying they felt safe making the journey but now health experts warning, those same travelers need to protect others by taking action.

"It may incorporate testing so that you can isolate, you know quarantine for a fewer number of days. In other words, the longer you wait the more certain that the test you get is going to be a true negative rather than a false negative because people started turning positive about three or four days after exposure. If you want to wait by day seven, and then you get a test and it's negative, that could probably be the sweet spot of which you don't have to take the full 14-days," Chin-Hong said.

Following the holiday, Santa Clara officials ordering all travelers to quarantine upon returning home and other Bay Area health officials throwing their support behind the idea as well.

"So compared to about a month ago, we're about two and a half times higher numbers of hospitalizations right now, including in the ICU, so it's not a really rosy picture at all. And this week I'm on service of the inpatient setting and you know its, I think everyone's just bracing themselves," Chin-Hong said.

Latest Posts

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/3qfFhtf

3 Pleasanton high schools shut down after possible COVID exposure at party

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Amador Valley, Foothill, and Village High Schools are taking a break from in-person learning after at least two students tested positive for the coronavirus.

Those students reportedly attended parties over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend that involved all three schools.

The schools will be likely shut down until the end of the semester while the district investigates which students attended the parties.

The schools have a very small number of students in small in-person cohorts. Special programs have also been temporarily paused for a few days while they double check that those kids were not exposed.

The spokesperson for the district says they hope this is a sobering reminder to the community that we need to take this virus seriously.

"These programs could continue to be affected negatively. It's our students that will, unfortunately, bare the brunt of that said Pleasanton Unified School District Patrick Gannon.

The district says they are asking those students who were at the parties to follow the guidelines from the Alameda County health department and isolate for 14 days."

Latest Stories:

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/3mv6hCU

2 arrested for Oakland armed robberies

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) - Two men have been arrested in Oakland for three separate armed robberies that happened on Monday, according to the Oakland Police Department.

Three robberies happened in less than an hour on Nov. 30:

9:15 a.m. -- 300 block of Palm Avenue
9:25 a.m. -- 500 block of Vernon Street
9:55 a.m. -- 3400 block of Lake Shore Avenue

By 11:40 a.m. the two suspects had been arrested for robberies that happened in the 400 block of Orange Street. Officers recovered a firearm.

No other details have been released at this time.

As an investigation continues, you are asked to contact police at (510) 238-3326 if you have any information.

The police department is asking residents and businesses to consider putting in security cameras to help prevent crime.

Oakland Police Officers arrested two men in connection to three separate armed robberies. The crime spree occurred in less than an hour. Officers also recovered a firearm. Click the link for more information. https://t.co/7fw063tvdw pic.twitter.com/f3Xs6597Wx
— Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) December 1, 2020

Latest Posts

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/3ochXuC

Santa Clara County travelers must quarantine for 14-days

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) - New health order restrictions in Santa Clara County are now in effect, impacting sports, businesses, and travelers.

The new health order means people are required to quarantine after traveling.

The Santa Clara County Public Health Department has issued a directive to local transit hubs, including San Jose International Airport, requiring returning travelers from a distance of 150-miles or more to self-quarantine for 14-days.

“Details of that directive is made available upon arrival of all passengers,” Scott Wintner said.

The Deputy Director of the San Jose Airport Scott Wintner describes what to expect when you disembark the plane.

“It's a normal arrival process with the exception of the signage and receiving a copy of the order. Otherwise, there is nothing different about the experience,” Wintner said.

The airport doesn't track the number of returning passengers, however, the travelers are down from this time last year.

“From the numbers that we got we can estimate that traffic is down about 75%,” Wintner said.

Although officials from the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office say they expect voluntary compliance with the health order, deputies will respond to complaints.

The Santa Clara County Public Health Department took it further in a statement reading in part:

"Although the County has enforcement teams and will be standing up additional enforcement resources, we will necessarily rely on every individual to comply with our orders and protect the health of the community."

Bay Area resident Mary Jung explains why there will be no need to enforce the quarantine on her when she arrives from Ohio later this week.

"Not only am I willing I have already made plans to do that. I have a friend that's picking me up. I am sitting in the back of her car. She is delivering me home with groceries and I expect not to leave my house for at least a week. If you care about your health, if you care about the health of the people you interact with, you will self-isolate and make sure you're okay,” Jung said.

Health officials say the quarantine health order is a legal mandate -- failure to observe it could result in a financial fine.

Latest Posts

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/36oZp4w

Santa Clara County voters approve Measure S

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) -- In Santa Clara County, voters overwhelmingly approved Measure S renewing the Santa Clara Valley Water District's Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.

Gathering 75.06% of votes in this year's election -- Measure S will ensure public health and safety by ensuring the following:

Protect drinking water supply, dams from earthquakes and climate change
Reduce pollution, toxins and contaminants in waterways
Provide flood protection

“The program was created by the people that we serve and so we went out into the community before the election, we asked tens of thousands of residents what their priorities are and that’s how we built Measure S,” said Matt Keller, Santa Clara Valley Water District's Media and Public Relations Supervisor.

“And this election with this incredible turnout that we had, record-breaking, the voters showed that they continue to support our mission of providing safe, clean water, natural flood protection and environmental stewardship to Santa Clara County.”

The program will continue to provide $45 million annually for local projects including the Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project, the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project, and pipeline upgrades.

In addition -- under Measure S, $38.7 million will be used to work with local cities and agencies over the next 15 years to clean up large creekside encampments that contaminate waterways and damage Valley Water facilities.

“Back in 2012 when we passed the original Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program, we had funding in there for our creek cleanups but that funding quickly ran out as the encampment issue has grown exponentially over the last couple of years and it's really become a major issue here in Santa Clara County, said Keller.

“We’re also partnering with local municipalities, social services and nonprofit advocacy groups that will provide housing alternatives to the unhoused population,” Keller added.

“So even though we don’t provide those services we’re going to provide some funding to help the agencies that can do it best to try and take on this issue at the beginning of this issue in trying to help the unhoused population.”

For more information on the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program click here.

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/3lpkS1p

Ice-T calls out 'no-masker' father-in-law

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KRON) - "My father-in-law … was a serious ‘No Masker’ COVID hit him. Pneumonia in both lungs.. 40 days in ICU close to death," said Ice-T on Twitter.

The rapper is promoting mask-wearing after his father-in-law spend 40 days in the ICU battling COVID-19.

My father-in-law ‘Coco’s dad’ was a serious ‘No Masker’ COVID hit him. Pneumonia in both lungs.. 40 days in ICU close to death.. Now he’s on Oxygen indefinitely. Ohhh he’s a Believer now.. #COVIDisNotAGame pic.twitter.com/fPEifkJCge
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) November 29, 2020

Ice-T says his father-in-law was a 'no-masker,' but now says he's no longer a COVID denier.

"Now he’s on Oxygen indefinitely. Ohhh he’s a Believer now.. #COVIDisNotAGame"

Latest Stories:

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/2HV6vUV

COVID health order impacts professional, collegiate sports

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KRON) - The South Bay COVID health order affects all professional and collegiate contact sports which have teams scrambling to find practice and game-day facilities outside the county to resume play.

The NHL probably won't begin its new season until January so the San Jose Sharks are not going to be impacted all that much with the exception of its practice facility.

The new health order has three South Bay college sports programs scrambling to find someplace to practice and play outside the county.

the strict new Santa Clara County COVID health order means no practice and no home games for now at San Jose State University.

The Spartans have already seen two highly anticipated games with Boise State and Fresno State canceled due to COVID-19 related issues.

The team is now looking at its options, said a disappointed athletic director Marie Tuite.

The new health order comes amid record levels of people sick and hospitalized with COVID-19.

Officials on Saturday announced that all professional and collegiate sports involving physical contact must be suspended says Santa Clara County Counsel James Williams.

Other Santa Clara County sports programs impacted by the health order include Stanford University and Santa Clara University.

Men's and women's basketball at both schools are also impacted.

Both schools are now weighing their options about how and where to safely hold practices and games.

San Jose State, at 4-0, is off to it's best to start in decades.

The team on Monday ruled out Hawaii as a possible destination but said Humboldt State, where it practiced earlier this season, remains an option.

The 49ers are off to Arizona to practice and play.

The San Jose Sharks are also in temporary limbo.

In a statement, the teams said:

"Until we have more information. It would be premature to speculate about how the health order might affect the upcoming season but we will stay in contact with health officials and NHL as more details become available."

Latest Posts

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/3qjDaF8

Disney honors Chadwick Boseman's birthday with special 'Black Panther' opening

(NEXSTAR) – Disney+ added a special opening credit to "Black Panther" to honor late star Chadwick Boseman on what would have been his 44th birthday Sunday.

The 30-second tribute shows Boseman, who played T'Challa/Black Panther, and a redesigned Marvel logo remembering Boseman, who died in August after battling colon cancer.

Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger hinted Saturday that something was coming, tweeting, "To all fans of #BlackPanther: watch the film on #DisneyPlus late tonight, for a special tribute to someone that was and will always be near and dear to our hearts."

To all fans of #BlackPanther: watch the film on #DisneyPlus late tonight, for a special tribute to someone that was and will always be near and dear to our hearts.
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) November 28, 2020

Marvel shared the updated opening, which you can see below:

Long live the King. #WakandaForever pic.twitter.com/uW1KisOkTq
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) November 29, 2020

Boseman's death shocked the movie world as he had not spoken publicly about his diagnosis, which doctors made four years before his death, his family said in a statement Aug. 28.

He died at his Los Angeles-area home surrounded by his wife and family.

Latest Posts

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/3mtzJt8

California zoo introduces Pauline the lion cub

The Santa Barbara Zoo in California has announced a lion cub born in early November is a female and will be named Pauline – a “meaningful family name” chosen by her sponsors, the zoo said.

This footage shows several shots of the cub interacting with staff at the zoo’s veterinary hospital.

Pauline was born to parents Felicia and Ralph on November 5, but had a rocky start after becoming critically ill on November 19, the zoo said.

The cub was not getting enough milk from her mother and was moved to the veterinary hospital for intensive care, where she recovered after learning to successfully nurse formula from a bottle.

“We’re happy and relieved to know the cub has recovered and is doing well,” Rich Block, president and CEO of the Santa Barbara Zoo said.

“I’d like to acknowledge our incredible animal care team, who expertly handled the birth and the cub’s critical care needs, and continue to provide around-the-clock care for the cub," he said.

“This is just the kind of warm and fuzzy news we think everybody can appreciate right now, and we look forward to introducing the new cub to everyone soon,” Block said.

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/2VhE86q

It’s Major: Pets poised for a return to the White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — Major Biden is getting an early start in the spotlight as a presidential pet after a play date ended with his owner, President-elect Joe Biden, suffering a broken foot. As if that weren’t enough for one weekend, it was also confirmed that Major will have to share the White House with, of all things, a cat.

It’ll get better, Major.

In a few weeks, Major, fellow German shepherd Champ and the TBD feline are expected to make the move to the White House. Presidential pets provide their owners with a source of comfort, entertainment, occasional drama and generally good PR.

The arrival of the Biden pets will also mark the next chapter in a long history of pets residing at the White House after a four-year hiatus during the Trump administration.

“Pets have always played an important role in the White House throughout the decades,” said Jennifer Pickens, an author who studies White House traditions. “It not only provides companionship to the president and their family, but I believe it also humanizes and softens their political image.”

Having a dog or cat will give some pet-loving constituents a connection with the president, added Tom Whalen, a presidential historian at Boston University.

“When a president, the leader of the country, the leader of the free world really, is seen with a dog or a cat, you know, basically there is a bond that they have with their public, whether they’re Republican or Democrat,” Whalen said.

President Theodore Roosevelt had Skip, who is described by the White House Historical Association as a “short-legged Black and Tan mongrel terrier brought home from a Colorado bear hunt.” Warren G. Harding had Laddie Boy, who sat in on meetings and had his own Cabinet chair. And President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had his beloved terrier Fala. At night, Fala slept in a special chair at the foot of the president’s bed.

More recently, President George H.W. Bush’s English springer spaniel Millie was featured on “The Simpsons” and starred in a bestseller, “Millie’s Book: As dictated to Barbara Bush.” Hillary Clinton followed Bush’s lead with a children’s book about family dog Buddy and cat Socks: “Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids’ Letters to the First Pets.”

When he declared victory in the 2008 presidential race, Barack Obama told his daughters: “You have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House.” Several months later, Bo joined the family, a gift from Sen. Ted Kennedy. A few years later, fellow Portuguese water dog Sunny would arrive to provide companionship.

Among the stranger White House pets was Calvin Coolidge and first lady Grace Coolidge’s raccoon named Rebecca. She was given to the Coolidge family by a supporter who suggested the raccoon be served for Thanksgiving dinner, according to the White House Historical Association. But instead she got an embroidered collar with the title “White House Raccoon” and entertained children at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

Some notable pets belonged to first kids, including Amy Carter’s Siamese cat, Misty Malarky Ying Yang, and Caroline Kennedy’s pony, Macaroni. The Kennedy family had a veritable menagerie, complete with dogs, cats, birds, hamsters and a rabbit named Zsa Zsa.

President Harry Truman famously said that “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” It should not be a surprise that many presidents have taken him up on that advice. The first President Bush once said, “There is nothing like the unconditional love of a dog to help you get through the rough spots.”

“From a presidential perspective, you know, a dog or cat or horse, they’re great because they’re nonjudgmental. They’re going to give you their unqualified love. And they’re not going to criticize what you did in Somalia or how the economy is doing,” Whalen said. “The pets are always there for you. And I think presidents, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, need that kind of reassurance from time to time, given how things are.”

Latest Posts

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/39w4vhc

COVID vaccine for Americans ready by next summer: Operation Warp Speed

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) - Everyone in the United States who wants a coronavirus vaccine will be able to do so by next summer.

That's according to Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski, who is in charge of supply, production and distribution for Operation Warp Speed, the government initiative that spearheads the development of the coronavirus vaccine.

During an interview on MSNBC, Gen. Ostrowski said he expected the U.S. to have the vaccine available by June 2021, but that more than 300 million vaccine doses would be available in the U.S. "well before then."

On Monday, Moderna announced it would submit its vaccine candidate to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization after the company’s latest round of testing suggests the drug is 94% effective at preventing coronavirus and 100% effective at keeping serious cases of the virus controlled.

Pfizer announced earlier this month it would seek emergency approval for its own vaccine candidate.

Latest Posts

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/3oaIUyR

San Francisco's curfew goes into effect tonight

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) - San Francisco is implementing a curfew as part of a limited stay-at-home order effective Monday night.

The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management on Monday released the statement via AlertSF:

"ALERTSF: Due to widespread COVID-19 infection rates, beginning 10pm tonight San Francisco will follow the State's limited stay-at-home order to avoid any gatherings, including outdoors, and close non-essential businesses from 10 pm-5am daily. Learn more at https://ift.tt/3fUaCx1"

As part of this order, no outdoor gatherings are allowed between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and you should not be around people from outside your household.

However, you can go outside on your own or with people in your household.

As part of the curfew, all dining, non-essential retail and outdoor gatherings must end by 10 p.m. Customers at stores or restaurants must leave by 10 p.m.

Restaurants can still do takeout delivery after 10 p.m. and essential retail such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and hardware stores can stay open after 10 p.m.

Transportation services will still be available after 10 pm. This includes buses, taxis, and ride-sharing.

The curfew comes just two days after San Francisco landed in the most restrictive purple tier amid a rise in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.

Latest Posts

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/2VhycdH

Scott Atlas resigns as Trump's coronavirus adviser

WASHINGTON (NewsNation Now) — Dr. Scott Atlas has resigned as special adviser to President Donald Trump on coronavirus, a White House official confirmed to Reuters.

Stanford doctor Scott Atlas, who has no prior background in infectious diseases or public health, was one of the president’s lead science advisers on the pandemic. Atlas has been a public skeptic about mask-wearing and other measures widely accepted by the scientific community to slow the spread of the virus.

Stanford issued a statement earlier in November saying his views were inconsistent with the university’s approach to the pandemic.

The Faculty Senate of Stanford University also adopted a resolution criticizing Atlas. He responded, saying in part he has “always used science and factual evidence to help generate the best possible policies to save lives.”

This is a developing story.

Latest Posts

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/3lpjhbN

Meet Charlotte, a Banded Huntsman Spider who found a home

CAIRNS, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA (BRPROUD) - According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Arachnophobia is a "pathological fear or loathing of arachnids and especially spiders."

If spiders scare you, this might not be the story for you.

An Australian man named Jake Gray posted a picture of a spider on the Australian spider identification Facebook page.

That picture is making its way around the globe and Gray has quite a story to tell.

The spider in the picture is named Charlotte and it is a Banded Huntsman Spider, according to Gray.

Gray says that Charlotte moves from room to room and never bothers anyone in the home.

Charlotte is not small as the spider comes in at 15cm wide.

Gray has watched the spider grow to that size over the last year in his mother's home.

One good thing about Charlotte is that the spider "eats all of the bugs," according to Gray.

Latest Stories:

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/33wX8SL

Doctor in PPE hugs COVID-19 patient who was missing wife on Thanksgiving

HOUSTON (WJW) -- A photo of a Houston doctor hugging a distressed patient in a COVID-19 ICU unit on Thanksgiving has gone viral.

The photo of Dr. Joseph Varon was taken by photographer Go Nakamura at United Memorial Medical Care on Nov. 26. Varon is wearing full PPE in the photo.

Varon told CNN it happened after he noticed the man was out of bed, crying and trying to get out of his room.

“I was just recollecting all the patients that I’ve had to do similar things with... because they truly need somebody.”

Houston Dr. Joseph Varon, who has worked 256 straight days, was seen comforting an elderly Covid-19 patient in a widely-shared photohttps://t.co/TZFrzscle0 pic.twitter.com/2YUImD7lT0
— New Day (@NewDay) November 30, 2020

"He said he wants to be with wife," Varon told CNN. "I grabbed him, I hold him. He was just crying and eventually he felt better and he stopped crying."

In a Facebook post, Nakamura said: "Dr Joseph Varon comforts a patient with coronavirus disease. I am grateful to witness a wonderful moment and I thank all the medical staffs for their hard work even during the holiday season."

Good Morning America reports that Thanksgiving was Varon's 252nd consecutive day of work.

"He was very sad because he's in a room where he knows nobody," Varon told Good Morning America. "We come in dressed like astronauts, and even though I usually have my picture with me so they can know who I am when I go to see them, it's very frustrating for the patients, and he was very emotional. And just when I heard [his emotion], I hugged him."

Latest Stories:

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/3lxCwAh

Second stimulus checks: New bipartisan effort to pass COVID relief

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- A bipartisan group of senators is working to pass an additional round of stimulus relief as negotiations among party leadership have all but come to a screeching halt in Washington, according to a report from Politico.

Politico reports the conversations started during the Thanksgiving recess and centered around expanded unemployment insurance and a moratorium on evictions. It's unclear if an additional round of $1,200 direct payments would be included.

Chris Coons (D-Del.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) are among those involved in the discussions, according to Politico. Warner recently went on record saying it would be "stupidity on steroids if Congress didn't act before the holidays."

While the group hopes to craft a proposal before the end of this week, it's likely to face opposition from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The Kentucky Republican has preferred a "slim" or "targeted" package that would not include another round of stimulus checks.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has pushed McConnell to come back to the negotiating table and placed blame on the GOP leader for recent inaction.

"Over six months ago when we passed the Heroes Act, Leader McConnell said we need a pause. We need a pause. Well, I would hope that for him, the pause can come to an end. Nearly 200,000 people have died during that pause, so we're asking him to come back to the table," Pelosi said.

Congressional Democrats and Republicans generally say a new stimulus bill is needed, but they disagree on the scope of it. Some Republicans are opposed to another round of checks directly to most taxpayers, and some don’t want Washington to “bail out” state and local governments that had financial struggles before the pandemic.

As November ends, Pelosi continues to eye a bill in excess of $2 trillion while McConnell is looking for a much smaller package in the neighborhood of $500 billion.

At issue is a huge virus relief bill that would send another direct payment, restart bonus unemployment benefits, fund additional testing and vaccines, provide aid to schools and allocate money to state and local governments, a Democratic priority.

A $1.8 trillion rescue plan in March passed the House virtually unanimously. The larger Pelosi-pushed package has run into resolute opposition from Republicans. Taking care of the issue would clear the decks for a fresh start on the congressional agenda next year.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell continued to push for new relief earlier this month saying, "I think we’ll have a stronger recovery if we can just get at least some more fiscal support."

If no agreement can be reached in the next few months, a deal will fall on Biden's new administration. Economic recovery is listed as one of his "day one priorities" on the Biden-Harris transition website. There is no direct mention of stimulus checks on the economic recovery plan outlined.

However, the president-elect has said that "we must spend whatever it takes, without delay, to meet public health needs and deal with the mounting economic consequence," but he did not specify a stimulus payment amount.

Along with expanding free COVID-19 testing, mounting a national emergency effort, and funding state and local governments, part of his plan also calls for emergency paid leave covering 100% of weekly salaries or average weekly earnings capped at $1,400 a week.

Eligible recipients include sick workers, workers caring for family or loved ones, those with increased risk of health complications from COVID-19, domestic workers, caregivers, gig economy workers and independent contractors. Parents dealing with school closings would be eligible for paid leave as well as child care assistance.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/33y8RRf

Florida librarian dies after teens ran her over with vehicle, deputies say

POLK CITY, Fla. (WFLA) -- A beloved librarian from Polk City, Florida has died, weeks after deputies say a group of teenagers intentionally ran over her with a van.

A spokesperson for the Polk County Sheriff's Office said Suzette Penton died last week. Penton was rushed to the hospital earlier this month in "severely critical condition" after being run over.

According to an arrest affidavit, Penton suffered a traumatic brain injury and several broken bones on Nov. 9 when a group of teenagers ran her down. Deputies said the group included 18-year-old Elijah Stansell and three other teens aged 14, 15 and 16.

The teenagers were charged with attempted murder, but deputies say upgraded charges are now pending.

According to deputies, the Nov. 9 incident stemmed from a dispute between people in the group of teenagers and Penton's son over a "romantic entanglement." Polk County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Carrie Horstman said the group showed up at their home and attacked the boy who lived there.

Penton then went outside to confront them and take pictures of the van, according to Horstman. That's when Horstman says Penton was hit.

"They purposely and intentionally ran her over and critically injured her," said Horstman. "They had ample opportunity and space to get out of that area as she stood there in the street to take pictures of them to give to law enforcement. Instead, they ran her down in the road."

Suzette Penton (Courtesy: City of Polk City)
Suzette Penton (Courtesy: City of Polk City)
Suzette Penton (Courtesy: City of Polk City)

Coworkers said earlier this month that Penton was a "mama bear" who was fiercely protective of her kids.

"I can understand her putting herself in harm’s way to protect her children,” said Patricia Jackson, city manager of Polk City.

Jackson said Penton was passionate about the library and would stop at nothing to get kids in Polk City to pick up a new book.

Latest Stories:

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/2Vk0eFd

Fresno zoo reports 2 birds stolen, need special care

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Two birds were stolen from a zoo in Fresno, California over the weekend, officials said.

A lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo and a Nicobar pigeon were taken from Chaffee Zoo’s Australian Asian Aviary on Sunday around 4:30 a.m., The Fresno Bee reported. Both birds are of advanced age and in need of special care.

“Our bird zookeepers and entire team are deeply concerned for the safety of both of these animals,” general zoo curator Lyn Meyers said. “We do not know the condition of either bird and we hope to get them back quickly so that our veterinary team can examine them and continue the care they require.”

Security footage shows someone cutting the lock from the aviary doors, capturing the two birds and putting them into a duffel bag before leaving, authorities said. The motive for the theft is unknown.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species lists Nicobar pigeons as near threatened and lesser sulphur-crested cockatoos as critically endangered. Both species are legal to own and the zoo has notified local veterinary hospitals and pet stores.

Chafee Zoo CEO Scott Barton urged anyone with information to contact the Fresno Police Department or zoo officials.

Latest Posts

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/3lp5ORo

Wisconsin confirms Joe Biden as winner following recount

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Joe Biden’s victory in battleground Wisconsin was confirmed Monday following a partial recount that only added to his 20,600-vote margin over President Donald Trump, who has promised to file a lawsuit seeking to undo the results.

Confirmation of the results by the Democratic chairwoman of the Wisconsin Elections Commission starts a five-day window for Trump to file a lawsuit. Trump on Saturday promised to file a lawsuit either on Monday or Tuesday, an attempt to overturn the results of the election by disqualifying as many as 238,000 ballots. Trump’s attorneys have alleged without evidence that there was widespread fraud and illegal activity.

Biden’s campaign has said the recount showed that Biden won Wisconsin decisively and there was no fraud. Even if Trump were successful in Wisconsin, the state’s 10 Electoral College votes would not be enough to undo Biden’s overall victory.

“There’s no basis at all for any assertion that there was widespread fraud that would have affected the results," Wisconsin's Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul said in a statement Monday. He noted that Trump's recount targeted only the state's two most populous counties where the majority of Black people live.

“I have every confidence that this disgraceful Jim Crow strategy for mass disenfranchisement of voters will fail," Kaul said. “An election isn’t a game of gotcha.”

State law gives the power to confirm the results to the chair of the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission. The position rotates between Republicans and Democrats and is currently held by Ann Jacobs, a Democrat. She signed the canvass statement showing Biden as the winner over objections from Republicans who wanted to wait until after legal challenges were exhausted.

In a possible nod to the threatened litigation, the commission called Jacobs’ action a “determination,” rather than certification, even though earlier this year and in prior elections it has called such action certification.

Republican elections commissioner Bob Spindell said final certification would not take place until after Trump’s lawsuit plays out.

Trump’s legal challenges have failed in other battleground states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania. Two lawsuits filed by others seeking to have ballots disqualified in Wisconsin were filed last week with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which has not taken action.

Trump paid $3 million for recounts in Dane and Milwaukee counties, the two largest Democratic counties in Wisconsin, increasing Biden’s lead by 74 votes. Biden won statewide by nearly 20,700 votes, or about 0.6 percentage point.

Trump, during the recount, sought to have ballots discarded where election clerks filled in missing address information on the certification envelope where the ballot is inserted. The state elections commission told clerks before the election that they can fill in missing information on the absentee ballot envelopes, a practice that has been in place for at least the past 11 elections and no court has ever ruled that it was illegal.

Trump also challenged any absentee ballot where a voter declared themselves to be “indefinitely confined” under the law, a designation that increased from about 57,000 in 2016 to nearly 216,000 this year due to the pandemic. Such a declaration exempts voters from having to show photo identification to cast a ballot, which Trump attorney Christ Troupis called “an open invitation for fraud and abuse.” The conservative-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court this past spring ruled that it is up to individual voters to determine whether they are indefinitely confined, in line with guidance from the elections commission.

Trump also sought to discard any absentee ballot where there was not a written application on file and all absentee ballots cast in-person during the two weeks before Election Day.

People who vote in-person early fill out a certification envelope that they place their ballot in and that envelope serves as the written record. But the vast majority of absentee requests these days are made online, with a voter’s name entered into an electronic log with no paper record.

Disqualifying all of the ballots in Milwaukee and Dane counties that Trump identified during the recount would result in more than 238,000 votes not counting, according to an analysis by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The conservative Wisconsin Voters Alliance sued last week seeking to block certification of the results and give the Republican-controlled Legislature the power to appoint presidential electors to cast the state’s Electoral College votes. Another lawsuit filed over the weekend by Wisconsin resident Dean Mueller argues that ballots placed in drop boxes are illegal.

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/2KLSQjU

15-year-old hiker rescued after day-long search on Utah trail

A 15-year-old boy who went missing while hiking in Utah’s Washington County on November 27 was found the following day after a search and rescue operation found him on the side of a cliff, officials said.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Facebook page shared footage of the rescue, and said the boy, identified in local reports as Britton Kelsey, went missing on the Red Mountain Trail outside St George on Friday afternoon.

“Thanks is not enough for the amazing skill of the DPS crew to be able to insert a rescuer and get the boy off the side of the cliffs,” the post read. “It saved our technical rescue untold hours that would have taken well into the night to complete this rescue.”

The teen was treated for symptoms of hypothermia, officials said.

Latest Stories:

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/2HXQiOO

2 boys, man killed in suspected DUI crash in California

(KTLA) -- Two boys, ages 2 and 4, and a man have died in a suspected DUI crash in San Bernardino, California, authorities said Sunday.

The children were in a Toyota Camry that was hit when the driver of a Ford Mustang sped through a red light Friday at around 11:45 p.m., according to the San Bernardino Police Department. The two boys were taken to a hospital where they later died.

The man driving the Camry, a 31-year-old Bakersfield man, was also killed. Two other children who were in the car with him were badly hurt, police said Saturday.

One suffered severe injuries, while the other had moderate injuries, authorities previously said. Police did not confirm the relationship between the victims.

The driver of the Mustang, 23-year-old Brandon Jaquez-Perez of Bloomington, was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter. Alcohol and speed apparently factored into the incident, police said.

He was in jail on $250,000 bail, county inmate records show. His court date was set for Tuesday.

Latest Stories:

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/2KLmEgA

San Mateo County opens free mobile coronavirus testing site

SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif. (BCN) -- Starting Tuesday, San Mateo County will provide a permanent COVID-19 mobile testing site free of charge that will operate five days per week, Supervisor David Canepa announced.

The site will operate in the Jefferson Union High School District parking lot at 699 Serramonte Blvd. in Daly City as part of a contract with the company Curative. People as young as 5 can get a test free of charge from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, according to the county.

Since Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled the Blueprint for a Safer Economy plan in September, San Mateo County has more than doubled its testing rates, and is now testing at the second-highest rate of any county in the state, behind only San Francisco, Canepa's office said.

The state sponsors one Verily/Project Baseline testing operation in San Mateo County, and the county has a private contract with Verily for a second testing site, costing San Mateo County approximately $1.7 million per month.

The county-sponsored testing operation with Verily, which is in addition to the one with Curative, rotates throughout the county, including in Daly City, San Bruno, Half Moon Bay, North Fair Oaks and East Palo Alto on a regular schedule, although the contract expires at the end of December.

A testing schedule in San Mateo County is available online at www.smcgov.org/testing.

Latest Stories:

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/2Jr3DPV

The best Cyber Monday Deals: Walmart, Amazon, Target

CHICAGO (NewsNation Now) — Cyber Monday is expected to be the largest online sales day in U.S. history, according to Adobe Analytics. The company, which tracks online shopping, estimates spending between $10.8 billion to $12.7 billion.

Major retailers are offering a variety of price cuts.

Some of the top deals include:

Walmart

Cyber Monday Deals – Monday, Nov. 30

Onn. 60” Class 4K UHD HDR Roku Smart LED TV for $288
Ninja Foodi TenderCrisp 8 qt. Pressure Cooker for $149 (was $249)
Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Chairs (Pink and Yellow) for $20 (was $35)
BISSELL PowerForce Helix Turbo Rewind Pet Bagless Vacuum for $59 (was $89)
Barbie Estate Malibu House Playset for $49 (was $99)

Amazon

Cyber Monday Deals Weekend - Saturday, Nov. 28 through Monday, Nov. 30

Echo Show 8 is $80 off – just $89.99
Kindle is $45 off – just $74.99
Fire TV Stick 4K is $25 off – just $44.99
Ring Video Doorbell Pro + Free Echo Show 5 is $199.99 off – just $199.99
Amazon Music Unlimited customers can get three months of the premium streaming tier free, to enjoy unlimited access to tens of millions of songs, ad-free.

Kohl’s

Cyber Deal Days - Saturday, Nov. 28 - Wednesday, Dec. 2

$129.99 Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch. Offers and coupons do not apply. (Nov. 28 - Nov. 30 Deal Only)
25% off Melissa & Doug toys. Select styles. Offers and coupons do not apply.
$29.99 & under active shoes for kids. Select styles.
$229.99 plus extra 20% off with coupon* Ninja Foodi Pro 5-in-1 Smart Indoor Grill with Air Fryer.

Super Cyber Monday - Monday, Nov. 30 ONLY

50% off plus extra 20% off with coupon* all Jammies For Your Families
$199.99 plus extra 20% off with coupon* Shark Navigator Pet upright vacuum. Earn $45 Kohl’s Cash
$99.99 plus extra 20% off with coupon* Nutribullet blender combo. Earn $15 Kohl’s Cash

Best Buy

Cyber Week deals starting Saturday, Nov. 28

$199.99 for TCL 55” Class LED 4-Series 4K UHD (save $200)
Save $200 on HP 15” 2-in-1 Laptop (sale price: $799.99)
$199.99 for Dyson V7 Animal Cord-Free Stick Vacuum (save $200)
Save $50 on Unlocked Samsung Galaxy A21. Plus, save an additional $50 with qualified activation (sale price: $199.99)
Save $60 on Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (sale price: $319)

Target

Cyber Deals Sunday, Nov. 29 and Monday, Nov. 30

Up to 50% off electronics, including:
Beats Studio headphones for $174.99 (Save 50%)
Plus more Top Tech items on sale, including:
Apple Watch Series 6 (Save $50)
65” Element 4k RokuTV for $279.99 (Save $120)
Calphalon Air Fryer Toaster Oven for $139.99 (Save $40)
30% off select accessories & apparel

Digital “Flash Sales”: Monday, Nov. 30

iRobot 695 for $274.99 (Save $75, 8 a.m. – noon CT)
50% off 2-pack Nordic Ware aluminum cookie sheets (8 a.m. – noon CT)
30% off select KitchenAid cutlery sets (8 a.m. – noon CT)

Many small, local businesses are also offering Cyber Monday deals. Some owners are shifting their focus to online sales because of the pandemic.

Adobe says consumers spent an estimated $9 billion on U.S. retail websites on Black Friday. That was a 22% increase over the previous record of $7.4 billion set in 2019.

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/2Viugcv