BALTIMORE — Americans signed more contracts in February to buy homes, but the gains are likely relics of a moment before the coronavirus outbreak sent the U.S. economy spiraling into a likely recession. The National Association of Realtors said Monday that its pending home sales index, which measures the numbers...
Eilish, Carey, More Sing From Home to Raise Funds for Virus
NEW YORK — Billie Eilish, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys and Dave Grohl opened their doors — literally — as the musicians performed from their homes for an hour-long benefit concert to raise money for those affected by the coronavirus crisis. Keys kicked off the Sunday event — which also honored...
Mercedes F1 Team Helps to Develop Breathing Aid in Pandemic
Formula One team Mercedes has helped to develop a breathing aid that could keep coronavirus patients out of intensive care and ease some pressure on Britain’s strained health service. As part of a combined effort involving seven Britain-based teams, Mercedes worked with engineers at the University College London and clinicians...
Two Convicted Valley Killers Granted Clemency by Newsom
SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday pardoned five people who already served their time and commuted the sentences of 21 state prison inmates, including more than a dozen convicted of murder or related crimes. The victims were children in two of the cases and a pregnant woman in...
Trump Extends Virus Guidelines, Braces US for Big Death Toll
WASHINGTON — Bracing the nation for a coronavirus death toll that could exceed 100,000 people, President Donald Trump extended restrictive guidelines through April, bowing to public health experts who presented him with even more dire projections for the expanding coronavirus pandemic. It was a stark shift in tone by the Republican president,...
California Prepares for Coronavirus Surge in Week Ahead
LOS ANGELES — Californians endured a weekend of stepped-up restrictions aimed at keeping them home as much as possible while health officials got ready for a week with a possible dramatic surge in coronavirus cases. The mayor of the Los Angeles warned that that families should prepare for isolating themselves...
Walters: Crisis Reveals Big Financial Shortcomings
The rapidly expanding COVID-19 pandemic threatens the lives and livelihoods of Californians, but it also lays bare some multi-billion-dollar shortcomings in state government finances that have been ignored for decades, despite many warnings. The most obvious is the state budget’s unhealthy reliance on taxing the incomes of a relative handful...
Restaurants, Trying to Stay Afloat, Revamp Menus, Operations
CINCINNATI — In the battle to keep their New York City restaurant going despite sharp restrictions during the coronavirus outbreak, the owners of Il Posto Accanto tried something Beatrice Tosti di Valminuta would have considered sacrilege in normal times. That was offering their traditional Italian dishes for delivery “which never,...
Are Gun Shops 'Essential' Businesses During a Pandemic?
In some parts of the U.S., authorities say gun shops aren’t essential businesses and should close during stay-at-home orders meant to slow the coronavirus. In other places, officials are stopping background checks for concealed carry permits. Elsewhere, city leaders have invoked emergency powers allowing bans on gun sales. As the...
California’s Shelter-In-Place Order, Explained
By Byrhonda Lyons, CalMatters As President Donald Trump considers easing national restrictions by Easter, Californians are into their first week of an official shelter-in-place directive to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered Californians to stay home except for essential services, leading many to wonder: What’s essential? That’s...