YOKOHAMA, Japan — Officials in Japan are using some high-tech devices to see if they can fill sports stadiums closer to capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The baseball stadium in Yokohama will be used this weekend in an experiment to test if its 32,000 seats can be filled safely. Japanese...
Curious About Going to a Movie Theater? 7 Things to Know
It’s been over two months since movie theaters started reopening in the U.S., but there is still a fair amount of consumer confusion about moviegoing in the COVID-19 era. Movie studios and theater owners have found themselves in the unique position of having to re-educate audiences on how to see movies...
US Agency Sets Rules for Cruise Ships to Start Sailing Again
NEW YORK — Federal health officials on Friday issued new rules that will enable large cruise ships to start sailing again in U.S. waters, though not immediately. Among the requirements spelled out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Ship owners must test all passengers and crew at the...
On Pandemic ‘Learning Loss,’ Schools Look Forward, Not Back
NEWARK, N.J. — A complete picture has yet to emerge of how much learning was lost by students during the pandemic. That’s all right with educators like Superintendent Craig Broeren, whose top concern is figuring out where each student stands now. Wisconsin Rapids, his small school district in central Wisconsin,...
As Virus Surges, Trump Rallies Keep Packing in Thousands
WASHINGTON — There are no crowds at Disneyland, still shut down by the coronavirus. Fewer fans attended the World Series this year than at any time in the past century. Big concerts are canceled. But it's a different story in Trumpland. Thousands of President Donald Trump's supporters regularly cram together at campaign rallies...
San Francisco Curbs Virus but Once-Vibrant Downtown Is Empty
SAN FRANCISCO — Before the pandemic, Señor Sisig food trucks were a common sight in downtown San Francisco, dishing out Filipino fusion tacos and burritos to long lines of workers who spilled out of office towers at lunch. The trucks now are gone, forced into the suburbs because there’s practically...
US Vetted Stars’ Politics to Showcase Trump Virus Response
WASHINGTON — Public relations firms hired by the Department of Health and Human Services vetted political views of hundreds of celebrities for a planned $250 million ad blitz aimed at portraying President Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus outbreak in a positive light, according to documents released Thursday by a House committee....
US Economy Grew at 33% Rate in Q3 but Recovery Slowing
WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy grew at a record 33.1% annual rate in the July-September quarter but has yet to fully rebound from its plunge in the first half of the year — and the recovery is slowing as coronavirus cases surge and government aid dries up. The Commerce Department’s...
S&P 500 Sinks 3.5% as Surging Virus Cases Lead to Shutdowns
The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 943 points Wednesday as surging coronavirus cases forced more shutdown measures in Europe and raised fears of more restrictions in the U.S. The S&P 500 slid 3.5%, its third straight loss and its biggest drop since June. The benchmark index is already down 5.6%...
Europe Locking Down Again As COVID Surges, US Cases Also Rising
A new wave of lockdowns and business closings swept across France, Germany and other places in Europe on Wednesday as surging coronavirus infections there and in the U.S. wipe out months of progress against the scourge on two continents. The resurgence and the resulting clampdown sent a shudder through Wall...