Posts Categorized: news

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Hundreds ignore Covid-19 public gatherings ban to attend Louisiana church; News media ordered to leave church grounds

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Screen grab: YouTube/Local News 33

Hundreds of parishioners ignored a ban on large public gatherings to attend morning services at Life Tabernacle Church in a Baton Rouge, Louisiana suburb on Sunday.

Church officials ordered the news media to leave church property as entire families arrived at the church.

1,265 attended morning services on church grounds in the state of Louisiana, where 3,500 residents tested positive for the Covid-19 virus that can cause a potentially fatal pneumonia in men, the elderly, people with chronic medical conditions, and smokers.

Pentecostal preacher Tony Spell, 42, stood in defiance of the governor's ban on large public gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic.

He leaped into the pews and embraced and laid hands on worshipers' foreheads in prayer. "We're free people. We're not going to be intimidated," Rev. Spell said. "We're not going to cower. We're not breaking any laws."

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Screen grab: YouTube/Local News 33

Seven people were baptized on Sunday, and 10 parishioners were filed with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. Tears streamed down their faces as they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards banned gatherings of more than 50 people earlier this month. He issued a stay-at-home order on March 22. Most churches and synagogues complied with the orders, but Rev. Spell continues to hold services at Life Tabernacle.

Only about 10% stayed away from services on Sunday, including Rev. Spell's own 90-year-old father who in self-quarantine at home.
 

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President Trump to Meghan and Prince Harry: Pay for Your Own Security

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle will have to foot the bill for their own security while living in the U.S., President Donald Trump announced.

The former royal couple fled Canada for California after Canadian officials declined to cover the exorbitant costs of their 24-hour security.

Harry and Meghan officially stepped back as senior members of the royal family at the end of March. They reportedly abandoned their temporary home on Vancouver Island, Canada for a more permanent home in California.

Harry and Meghan had been living under the watchful eye of British security guards and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police while in Canada, part of the Commonwealth of Nations.

But in a Twitter post on Sunday, Trump made it clear they will receive no financial help from the feds to pick up the security tab, which is estimated to cost millions of dollars every year.

He wrote, "I am a great friend and admirer of the Queen & the United Kingdom. It was reported that Harry and Meghan, who left the Kingdom, would reside permanently in Canada. Now they have left Canada for the U.S., however, the U.S. will not pay for their security protection. They must pay!"

The royals have yet to comment on Trump's announcement.

Harry and Meghan previously explained they stepped away from their royal duties to lead a more private life with their baby son, Archie. But friends say Meghan desperately wants to return to acting.

Source: WENN.com

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New Jersey governor announces 90-day mortgage grace period; Vows to ‘make an example’ out of landlords who evict

File photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

New Jersey Governor Phil Murray announced Saturday he is working with major banks and mortgage lenders to extend a 90-day grace period to residents who are financially impacted by the coronavirus.

Murray announced he is working with Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Chase, and more than 40 other banking institutions and lenders to establish a grace period for mortgages.

In a follow-up tweet, Murray urged banks and landlords to "do the right thing" by not evicting their tenants who can't afford to stay in their homes.

"I urge, and expect, our financial institutions and credit card companies to do the right thing in all areas of their business," he wrote.

"That also means lowering credit card interest rates to reflect the reality many families are living, to waive late fees, and exercise compassion. To every landlord -- now is a time to show some compassion, and to work with your renters to ensure they stay safe. You cannot convict anyone at this time. If you try to, we're not going to take that lightly, and we will male an example out of you for violating the law."

He added:

"This grace period CANNOT and WILL NOT be used to downgrade anyone’s credit rating. Lenders will also waive any late fees, or other costs which would otherwise arise, because of this 90-day grace period."

But not all New Jersey residents are appreciative of the governor's efforts to protect those less fortunate.

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Study: Covid-19 May Attack Testicles, Reduce Testosterone in Men

Stock photo: itty Images

Chinese researchers who analyzed over 72,000 patient records found that the Wuhan coronavirus has been more fatal in men than women.

Covid-19 primarily targets men, elderly, smokers and those with preexisting respiratory or cardiac conditions.

According to SCMP, doctors in central Wuhan are planning to conduct a study of the effects of Covid-19 on the male reproductive system after a smaller study of 81 men found that Covid-19 patients had roughly half the normal levels of the male sex hormone testosterone.

Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images

Researchers analyzed blood samples from 81 men ages 20 to 54 who tested positive for the coronavirus and were hospitalized in January.

Previous studies show that the virus binds to ACE2 receptor cells which are found in the lungs, kidneys and testicles.

Researchers plan a long-term study which may include the collection and analysis of sperm samples as well as interviews with coronavirus patients.

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Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert of Utah Jazz cleared of Covid-19

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Getty Images, MediaPunch / BACKGRID

Utah Jazz stars Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and the rest of the Utah Jazz staff have been cleared of the coronavirus by the state's health department.

The team received the good news on Friday. Neither player was hospitalized, though Gobert said he briefly lost his sense of taste and smell.

Mitchell took to his Instagram page to share the happy news with his followers. Even though he is cleared and he can't pass the virus on to others, he said he will stay home to ease the fears of the public.

The NBA cancelled the rest of the season after Gobert tested positive. Mitchell tested positive the next day, while the rest of the Jazz players and staff tested negative.

According to the USA Today, Oklahoma City health officials took 58 tests kits to Utah's Vivant Center to test the players and staff on site because the health department considered it a "public health decision."

Other NBA players who tested positive include 2 unidentified Lakers players, as well as Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant, Detroit Pistons forward Christian Wood, Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, 3 unidentified Philadelphia 76ers players and 3 unidentified Nets players. The Denver Nuggets also reported one member of their organization tested positive.

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ESPN’s Doris Burke, 54, tests positive for coronavirus

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ESPN's sports reporter Doris Burke has tested positive for the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

Burke, 54, covers many of ESPN's live basketball broadcasts including the NBA and WNBA playoffs. She has been with the network since 1991.

While chatting on Adrian Wojnarowski's podcast, Burke revealed she was tested because she has struggled with health problems recently.

Burke warned people to take the virus seriously and to comply with social distancing recommendations.

Burke is the highest profile NBA sports personality to be diagnosed with the disease. She joins 2 unidentified Laker players, as well as Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons forward Christian Wood, Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, and 3 unidentified Nets players.

The NBA canceled its season after Gobert, 27, was the first player to test positive. All of the players have since recovered from the virus.

Covid-19 causes no symptoms or mild flu-like symptoms in healthy adults who don't smoke.

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Hospitals considering ‘do not resuscitate’ orders to save patients who are more likely to survive

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Hospitals hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic are considering "do not resuscitate" orders to let the sickest patients die so others can live.

Hospitals are struggling with a lack of ICU beds and medical equipment shortages in the hardest hit areas such as New York and California.

Usually a DNR order is a personal decision between the patient's families and their doctors. But hospitals are considering DNR orders for coronavirus patients who are not likely to survive.

"First, do no harm" is the guiding principle for doctors who are tasked with saving lives at all costs. But hospital administrations are debating whether some patients should be removed from ventilators and allowed to die to free up the equipment for patients who have a better chance of survival.

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Dr. Patrice Harris (right), president of the American Medical Association, told Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner the AMA's code of ethics provides guidance to hospitals and doctors about this difficult decision.

"That's the appropriate thing to do," Dr. Harris said. This shouldn't be an individual doctor's decision."

The CDC offers the following tips to avoid spreading the flu or Covid-19 virus:

1. Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds
2. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
3. Avoid close contact with sick people
4. Sneeze and cough into a tissue or your elbow
5. Stay home if you are sick
5. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
6. When in doubt consult with a healthcare professional

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Atlanta ICUs at ‘full capacity’ amid coronavirus outbreak, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says

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Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says hospital intensive care units are "at capacity" during the coronavirus outbreak.

Georgia has confirmed 1,387 coronavirus cases and 7 deaths due to the virus.

Bottoms said intensive care units are struggling to find beds for the sickest patients, partly due to a water main break at Grady, the city's public hospital.

She confirmed Atlanta's hospitals aren't overrun by coronavirus patients, like hospitals in New York City.

"People have to understand that when we overrun our hospitals, people will still come in with heart attacks, people will still have car accidents," she told CBS 46.

"These things that happen every day on top of COVID-19 will make our health care system collapse in the same way you're seeing it in New York and you're seeing it happen across the globe."

Bottoms said hospitals in Atlanta are likely to be "near capacity" as the pandemic grows.

The CDC says people who have mild flu symptoms should avoid going to a hospital unless absolutely necessary.

The CDC offers the following tips to avoid spreading the flu or Covid-19 virus:

1. Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds
2. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
3. Avoid close contact with sick people
4. Sneeze and cough into a tissue or your elbow
5. Stay home if you are sick
5. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
6. When in doubt consult with a healthcare professional

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Experts warn false nails can trap coronavirus underneath

Photo by Judy Eddy/WENN.com

Experts say the coronavirus can live under long false nails for days and they warn women to cut their nails to avoid getting sick or spreading the virus to vulnerable people.

Rapper Cardi B (pictured) is among the celebrities who wear impossibly long false nails that are unhealthy and filthy according to experts.

Dr. Elisabeth Dancey, a British beauty and aesthetics expert, told the DailyMail.com that germs easily hide under fingernails that come in contact with the face.

She says if you can't feel your fingers, then your nails are too long.

"Long nails, nail varnish and nail extensions have always been a no-no for anybody who needs spotlessly clean hands; nurses, doctors, therapists, cooks, mothers and carers."

She said germs such as fungi, bacteria and viruses can easily hide underneath the nail space and easily be transmitted to whatever you touch.

"Doctors know this and rigorously scrub under their nails before donning gloves and performing surgery with a sterile brush and sanitizing solution. We should now follow their example."

She noted it is impossible to properly wash your hands if your nails are long.

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City sewers backing up because people can’t find toilet paper

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The toilet paper shortage in America is causing serious backups at city water treatment facilities due to clogged pipes caused by baby wipes, paper towels and other non-flushable materials.

The problem could cause untreated sewage backing up into homes via overflowing toilets.

The New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board announced Friday that it has more sewer backups than normal due to residents flushing non-disintegrating waste.

According to Nola.com, the board has asked city residents to "think before they flush."

A spokeswoman for the board told Nola.com: "As a reminder, only human waste and toilet paper are flushable. Baby wipes, paper towels, and even 'flushable' wet wipes may clog your sewer line and cause overflows."

The backups have come as New Orleans grocery stores struggle to keep a high stock of toilet paper on the shelves amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The toilet paper crisis has led to unscrupulous vendors marking up the price of toilet paper on Amazon.com and eBay.com.

According to behavioral expert Paul Sheard, people's fears over dwindling supplies amid a possible martial law is causing the problem. He said the problem is not a shortage of toilet paper, but people's fears causing them to hoard the bathroom tissue.

"It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If people are concerned that the shelves will become empty, they will become empty."

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Tamar’s fiancé, David Adefeso tells followers to invest money they will receive from feds

Photo by Earl Gibson III/Getty Images

After days of arguing back and forth, the Senate finally reached a bipartisan agreement on President Donald Trump's $2 trillion economic stimulus package deal early Wednesday.

The bill contains checks ranging from $1,200 to $4,500 for individuals and small business owners. Families will receive an additional $500 for each child.

Checks for $1,200 will be sent directly to taxpayers who earned less than $75,000 a year in 2018.

But before you start spending money you haven't received yet, Tamar Braxton's fiancé, David Adefeso is sharing financial advice on his Instagram account.

The stock market is soaring on the news of the economic stimulus deal. David thinks you should take some of that federal money and invest it for your future.
 


 

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Small businesses including retailers, restaurants, real estate and personal care professionals, comprise the largest employer pool in the U.S. They are also some of the hardest hit during this shutdown because many haven’t built up enough cash reserves to account for the plunge in revenues they are currently experiencing, with no end in sight. Mass furloughs and layoffs by small businesses could drastically drive up the unemployment rate and cause consumer spending to plunge precipitously, thereby extending the inevitable recession. To make loans cheaper the Federal Reserve reduced interest rates to close to zero and Congress is currently debating measures to aid small businesses, including loan guarantees. For those who need immediate assistance, a growing list of programs exist to help small businesses, including emergency funding from the government, protection from eviction and business loan deferment. The Small Business Administration’s website (www.sba.gov) is a good place to start for information on some of these programs. “Together We Stand; But Divided We Fall”.

A post shared by David Adefeso (@david.adefeso) on

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‘Top Chef Masters’ star Chef Floyd Cardoz, 59, dies from Covid-19

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Top Chef Masters star Chef Floyd Cardoz passed away from pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). He was 59.

Cardoz died Wednesday from complications related to the virus.

According to The Blast, Cardoz was hospitalized last week with a fever, and ultimately tested positive for the virus.

The co-owner of Mumbai's Bombay Canteen, O Pedro and NYC's Tabla restaurants likely caught the virus while on a business trip to Mumbai, India earlier this month. All of India - 1.3 billion people - are on lockdown to contain the virus.

Cardoz updated his fans by sharing an Instagram photo from his hospital bed.

"Sincere apologies everyone. I am sorry for causing undue panic around my earlier post. I was feeling feverish and hence as a precautionary measure, admitted myself into hospital in New York. I was hugely anxious about my state of health and my post was highly irresponsible causing panic in several quarters. I returned to New York on March 8th via Frankfurt."

Friends, fans and celebrities, including actress Padma Lakshmi, paid tribute to the celebrity chef on social media. "This is a huge loss," Lakshmi tweeted on Wednesday.

Cardoz, a native of India, is survived by his wife and business partner, Barkha, and their two sons, Peter and Justin.
 

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Andrew Gillum’s Rent Boy, Travis Dyson, Surrenders His Registered Nurse License

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Photo: Instagram.com

Travis Dyson, a well-known male escort who was involved in a crystal methamphetamine incident with Florida Democrat Andrew Gillum, voluntarily surrendered his professional license to practice as a registered nurse in Florida.

Dyson, 30, was found in a South Beach hotel room with Gillum, 40, who made history as the first Black gubernatorial candidate in Florida.

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Both men were apparently under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Dyson was treated for a suspected drug overdose by paramedics.

A search of the Florida nursing board website for Dyson's name reveals he voluntarily surrendered his registered nurse license. He was originally licensed as a RN on Dec. 11, 2017 and he renewed his RN license on April 30, 2019.

Dyson is a popular male escort who advertises his escort services under his government name on Rentboy.com and other adult websites.

Working as a male escort is not prohibited under the Florida Board of Nursing's professional code of conduct rules.

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Britain’s Prince Charles Tests Positive for Coronavirus

Photo by WENN.com

Britain's Prince Charles has tested positive for the novel coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The Prince of Wales is pictured with his youngest son, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, 35.

Clarence House confirmed the news in a statement on Wednesday. The 71-year-old royal was said to be displaying "mild symptoms" but is otherwise in "good health".

"The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus," the statement read. "He has been displaying mild symptoms but otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual."

Photo: Starpress/WENN.com

Charles' wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, was also tested but does not currently have the virus, the statement confirmed.

The couple is now "self-isolating at home in Scotland".

"The tests were carried out by the NHS in Aberdeenshire where they met the criteria required for testing," the statement continued. "It is not possible to ascertain from whom the Prince caught the virus owing to the high number of engagements he carried out in his public role during recent weeks."

Photo: Ward/WENN.com

Prince Charles is the latest high profile name to test positive for Covid-19, following Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Idris Elba, Kevin Durant and Harvey Weinstein. All have recovered or are in the process of recovering from the virus that causes mild flu-like symptoms in most healthy adults.

Source: WENN.com

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Open Letter Calls On Black Men to Support Andrew Gillum

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Andrew Gillum, the former mayor of Tallahassee, was literally caught with his pants down with a naked man in a hotel room on South Beach on March 13.

The news coverage slowed to a crawl and then halted days after Gillum, 40, was found naked and vomiting on the bathroom floor in room 1107 at the Mondrian South Beach Hotel. His friend, male escort Travis Dyson, 30, was treated for a possible drug overdose.

A police report was leaked to conservative activist Candace Owens by someone who knew the news media would cover up the story.

Gillum apologized to his wife, R. Jai Gillum, and his friends and supporters. He announced he was entering rehab for an alcoholism problem.

After recovering from their shock, Gillum's supporters collectively shrugged and moved on, leaving Gillum to his sexual demons.

But 2 of Gillum's supporters believe Black men should uplift Gillum, and the news media should not demonize down low Black men.

Preston Mitchum and Michael Seaberry penned an open letter to Gillum, Black men and the news media to "be our Brother's keeper".

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The open letter came days after The Central Florida Post and London's Daily Mail published embarrassing photos of Gillum naked in a hotel room strewn with drug paraphernalia and bedsheets soiled with blood and feces.

Mitchum, an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown Law Center, told NewsOne in an email Monday night that "all media has a role to play" in supporting Gillum and Black people.

"...mainstream media, in particular, must be careful in how it displays Black people and our bodies and it isn't something they are often forced to do."

Seaberry, a high school science teacher in Clayton County, Georgia, appealed to Black men to be more supportive of Gillum and each other in their times of need.

"Fellow Black men, allow this letter to be a reminder that we, too, must be allowed the space to explore, mess up, reevaluate ourselves and become anew," Seaberry and Mitchum wrote.

Addressing the rightwing news media. Mitchum and Seaberry wrote:

"We should not be shocked that you, the media, would fetishize a Black life for clickbait, likes, and shares -- for anything. Black life, in moments of pain and terror, has long been delectable to the American palate."

While acknowledging that Gillum's story is newsworthy, they said the coverage should not be done in such a "salacious way."

The men asked the news media for decorum and restraint when covering stories about down low high-profile men.

"Sharing photos of Mayor Gillum's naked body, especially in such a vulnerable state, is inexcusable and triggering to a community that has seen our own bodies fetishized and/or slain across the nation, from the lynching tree to Main Street. Quite frankly, we are sick of seeing Black bodies become a call-to-fame and the subject of your headlines."

NewsOne chose not to publish the nude photo of Gillum or the drug-strewn hotel room.