WASHINGTON — Nearly 1.9 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, evidence that many employers are still cutting jobs even as the gradual reopening of businesses has slowed the pace of layoffs. The total number of people who are receiving jobless aid rose slightly to 21.5 million, down...
How Coronavirus Pandemic Is Bringing a Return to Feudalism
[aggregation-styles] USA Today The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many things, but also accelerated America’s descent into a new form of feudalism. The preexisting conditions of extreme economic concentration, inequality and reduced social mobility already were painfully evident before, but the pandemic has made them considerably worse. Pestilence has often shaped...
Hints of an Economic Reawakening Amid Mass, Civic Unrest
The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments Wednesday related to the national and global response, the work place and the spread of the virus. ________________________ TESTING THE WATERS: Businesses are starting reopen, or explore how to do so,...
Scientist Defends Sweden's Hotly Debated Virus Strategy
STOCKHOLM — Sweden's chief epidemiologist on Wednesday defended his country's controversial coronavirus strategy, which avoided a lockdown but resulted in one of the highest per capita COVID-19 death rates in the world. Anders Tegnell of the Public Health Agency denied that “the Swedish strategy was wrong and should be changed....
Fresno Unified Will Expand Summer Meal Sites, Hand Out Food Boxes
Fresno Unified School District will provide grab-and-go meals through the summer meal program at 22 sites, more than twice as many as last year, Superintendent Bob Nelson said Tuesday afternoon. In past years the free meals were available at district high schools, but the number of sites has been expanded...
Fresno Unified to Parents: Please Take Survey on Reopening Schools in August
Fresno Unified parents can weigh in on what they would like to see schools look like when they reopen in August by answering a survey posted on the district's website or through the Parent Portal. The survey includes questions about how students who previously took a bus could get to...
Looting Devastates Businesses Already Shaken by Virus
NEW YORK — Looting and vandalism in cities across the country have dealt another blow to small businesses that were already reeling from the coronavirus outbreak. Along with big chain stores like Target, Walgreen and Macy’s, independent retailers in neighborhoods and downtown sections were targets of vandals and looters who...
Spending Starting to Improve, Some Retail Sales Rising
The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments Tuesday related to the national and global response, the work place and the spread of the virus. Spending — With countries starting to loosen lockdown restrictions, many nations are beginning to...
Gilead Says Drug Helped Moderately Ill Coronavirus Patients
A California biotech company says its experimental drug remdesivir improved symptoms when given for five days to moderately ill, hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Gilead Sciences gave few details on Monday but said full results would soon be published in a medical journal. Remdesivir is the only treatment that’s been shown...
Nearly 26,000 Nursing Home Deaths Reported as Lockdowns Ease
WASHINGTON — Nearly 26,000 nursing home residents in the United States have died from COVID-19, according to a report prepared for the nation’s governors, a number that is partial and likely to go higher. The disclosure came as the first day of June saw coronavirus restrictions ease from Asia to...