An election year already defined by a cascade of national crises descended further into chaos Friday with President Donald Trump declaring that he’s tested positive for the coronavirus after consistently playing down the threat. Democratic challenger Joe Biden, who spent 90 minutes on stage with Trump in their Tuesday debate,...
Democrats Press Ahead on Partisan COVID Bill as Talks Drag
WASHINGTON — With top Washington negotiators significantly apart on a huge COVID-19 relief bill, Democrats controlling the House are plunging ahead with a partisan debate on their next option — a $2.2 trillion measure that's anathema to the White House and Capitol Hill Republicans. Thursday's vote was chiefly sought by...
US Layoffs Remain Elevated as 837,000 Seek Jobless Aid
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits declined last week to a still-high 837,000, evidence that the economy is struggling to sustain a tentative recovery that began this summer. The Labor Department's report, released Thursday, suggests that companies are still cutting a historically high number of jobs, though the...
High Demand for Flu Shots? Experts Hope to Avoid ‘Twindemic’
October is prime time for flu vaccinations, and the U.S. and Europe are gearing up for what experts hope is high demand as countries seek to avoid a “twindemic” with COVID-19. “There's considerable concern as we enter the fall and winter months and into the flu season that we'll have...
31.4% Spring Slide for a US Economy Likely to Shrink in 2020
WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy plunged at an unprecedented rate this spring and even with a record rebound expected in the just-ended third quarter, the U.S. economy will likely shrink this year, the first time that has happened since the Great Recession. The gross domestic product, the economy’s total output...
Disney to Lay off 28,000 at Its Parks in California, Florida
ORLANDO, Fla. — Squeezed by limits on attendance at its theme parks and other restrictions due to the pandemic, The Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday it planned to lay off 28,000 workers in its parks division in California and Florida. Two-thirds of the planned layoffs involve part-time workers but they...
Local Schools Inch Closer to Resuming Face to Face Instruction
When Fresno County on Tuesday moved into the red-tinged Tier 2 of the state's reopening plan because of lowered coronavirus infection rates, schools got a lot closer to being able to reopen for in-person classes. And once they do, students who play a keyboard instrument, the drums, or a trumpet...
COVID-19 Cases Rising Among Us Children as Schools Reopen
After preying heavily on the elderly in the spring, the coronavirus is increasingly infecting American children and teens in a trend authorities say appears driven by school reopenings and the resumption of sports, playdates and other activities. Children of all ages now make up 10% of all U.S cases, up...
Bubble Hockey Champions: Tampa Bay Lightning Win Stanley Cup
EDMONTON, Alberta — The joyful yells from the bench could be heard in the empty arena in the final seconds and the roar from players when Commissioner Gary Bettman called for Steven Stamkos to accept the Stanley Cup echoed even louder. The triumph of winning the NHL championship in a...
Consumer Confidence Posts Solid Gain in September
WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer confidence rebounded more quickly in September than most economists had expected though they remain far from levels that were the norm before the pandemic struck. The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose sharply to a reading of 101.8, up from 86.3 in...