Today's News Headline

SAN DIEGO — Schools across San Diego County say they were caught off guard by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s idea to start the school year in July.  In a Tuesday news conference, Newsom said the effort potentially could help students and districts make up for lost time, though it’s still just an option being considered rather than a finalized plan . School campuses closed for in-person instruction in late March. “Our kids have lost a lot to this disruption,” Newsom said. “If we can maybe start up the school year a little earlier, that could help (close) that gap a little bit.” In a statement this week, the San Diego County Office of Education said that while there hasn’t been “any official guidance” from Newsom or the state’s Department of Education, the office has been advising local school districts and charter schools “to plan for every scenario.” That includes considering the possibility of starting the next school year in July or August. “For some San Diego County school districts, that

SAN DIEGO — Roughly one out of every four San Diegans is currently unemployed with numbers that spiked as the coronavirus lockdown took hold, a new analysis by the San Diego Association of Governments found. Some of the hardest hit people are those who worked in the service industry and sales. They include people such as Golden Hill resident Francesca Witte, who formerly worked at a company that sells automotive parts. “They laid us off for 60 to 90 (days) so it’s — who knows what’s going to happen?” Witte said. Witte is just one of thousands in her own community to lose jobs during the pandemic. The analysis found there are an estimated 24.7% of San Diegans currently out of work. “It’s confusing, you know?” Witte said. “Rationally, I understand why they did it, but you can’t help but feel a little bit like, ‘Why me?'” The National City Chamber of Commerce is trying to harness some of the available talent. An online job fair recently was held with employers including the San D

This content collected from Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News. A 3-year-old Sturbridge boy undergoing treatment for a brain tumor received an outdoor playset for his birthday through Make-A-Wish on Saturday. Conor Canavan turned 3 last week and was excited to receive his playset, according to Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. “He will be having memories for years and years to come that will overpower the memories of the last two years that we’ve struggled through,” mother Michelle Canavan said. Since receiving the gift last Saturday, Conor has been out in the yard playing every single day. “He did not start walking until he was about  2 and a half due to all the medical things he has been through,” Michelle said. “So this is really going to be first Fist summer that he is exploring and going on adventures. Conor’s mom said that his brain tumor was surgically removed and they thought they were in the clear, but then Conor relapsed. The family spent the next year

This content collected from Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News. A Worcester pastor held another service Wednesday night after hosting more than 50 people in his church over the weekend in direct defiance of the state-wide stay-at-home advisory Parishioners at the Adam Square Baptist Church said it was one in and one out as pastor Kris Casey appeared to limit attendance at the service. Originally, he said he would be conducting a full service once again. Over the weekend, Casey shared a letter he sent to the city of Worcester arguing his right to hold in-person gatherings of more than 10 people despite the coronavirus restrictions. The city promised to enforce the governor’s orders to protect safety. On Wednesday, Casey was seen limiting access at the door and speaking with churchgoers outside — though he did not confirm exactly how many were allowed in. “I appreciate you guys coming out here, I really do,” Casey said. “On the advice of my attorneys, I’m not making a statem

This content collected from Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News. A Worcester pastor held another service Wednesday night after hosting more than 50 people in his church over the weekend in direct defiance of the state-wide stay-at-home advisory Parishioners at the Adam Square Baptist Church said it was one in and one out as pastor Kris Casey appeared to limit attendance at the service. Originally, he said he would be conducting a full service once again. Over the weekend, Casey shared a letter he sent to the city of Worcester arguing his right to hold in-person gatherings of more than 10 people despite the coronavirus restrictions. The city promised to enforce the governor’s orders to protect safety. On Wednesday, Casey was seen limiting access at the door and speaking with churchgoers outside — though he did not confirm exactly how many were allowed in. “I appreciate you guys coming out here, I really do,” Casey said. “On the advice of my attorneys, I’m not making a statem

This content collected from Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The 2020 Newport Folk and Newport Jazz festivals were canceled by organizers Wednesday, the same day Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo said that all events that attract crowds of more than 50 people will not be allowed to take place this summer as the state continues to fight the coronavirus pandemic. “With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to evolve unpredictably and in accordance with state guidance on large gatherings, we are deeply saddened to announce that both the 2020 Newport Folk and Newport Jazz Festivals will be canceled this summer,” organizers said on the festivals’ website. The three-day Folk Festival was scheduled for July 31 to Aug. 3. The Jazz Festival was scheduled for Aug. 7-9. July 4th parades and large weddings with more than 50 guests also will not be allowed to go on, the governor said. “It’s a killer announcement for me to have to make, and my stomach is in a knot as

A 3-year-old Sturbridge boy undergoing treatment for a brain tumor received an outdoor playset for his birthday through Make-A-Wish on Saturday. Conor Canavan turned 3 last week and was excited to receive his playset, according to Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. “He will be having memories for years and years to come that will overpower the memories of the last two years that we’ve struggled through,” mother Michelle Canavan said. Since receiving the gift last Saturday, Conor has been out in the yard playing every single day. “He did not start walking until he was about  2 and a half due to all the medical things he has been through,” Michelle said. “So this is really going to be first Fist summer that he is exploring and going on adventures. Conor’s mom said that his brain tumor was surgically removed and they thought they were in the clear, but then Conor relapsed. The family spent the next year in and out of the hospital. “To see him out here having fun is somethi

A Worcester pastor held another service Wednesday night after hosting more than 50 people in his church over the weekend in direct defiance of the state-wide stay-at-home advisory Parishioners at the Adam Square Baptist Church said it was one in and one out as pastor Kris Casey appeared to limit attendance at the service. Originally, he said he would be conducting a full service once again. Over the weekend, Casey shared a letter he sent to the city of Worcester arguing his right to hold in-person gatherings of more than 10 people despite the coronavirus restrictions. The city promised to enforce the governor’s orders to protect safety. On Wednesday, Casey was seen limiting access at the door and speaking with churchgoers outside — though he did not confirm exactly how many were allowed in. “I appreciate you guys coming out here, I really do,” Casey said. “On the advice of my attorneys, I’m not making a statement tonight.” He does plan to make a full statement in the coming days.

A Worcester pastor held another service Wednesday night after hosting more than 50 people in his church over the weekend in direct defiance of the state-wide stay-at-home advisory Parishioners at the Adam Square Baptist Church said it was one in and one out as pastor Kris Casey appeared to limit attendance at the service. Originally, he said he would be conducting a full service once again. Over the weekend, Casey shared a letter he sent to the city of Worcester arguing his right to hold in-person gatherings of more than 10 people despite the coronavirus restrictions. The city promised to enforce the governor’s orders to protect safety. On Wednesday, Casey was seen limiting access at the door and speaking with churchgoers outside — though he did not confirm exactly how many were allowed in. “I appreciate you guys coming out here, I really do,” Casey said. “On the advice of my attorneys, I’m not making a statement tonight.” He does plan to make a full statement in the coming days.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The 2020 Newport Folk and Newport Jazz festivals were canceled by organizers Wednesday, the same day Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo said that all events that attract crowds of more than 50 people will not be allowed to take place this summer as the state continues to fight the coronavirus pandemic. “With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to evolve unpredictably and in accordance with state guidance on large gatherings, we are deeply saddened to announce that both the 2020 Newport Folk and Newport Jazz Festivals will be canceled this summer,” organizers said on the festivals’ website. The three-day Folk Festival was scheduled for July 31 to Aug. 3. The Jazz Festival was scheduled for Aug. 7-9. July 4th parades and large weddings with more than 50 guests also will not be allowed to go on, the governor said. “It’s a killer announcement for me to have to make, and my stomach is in a knot as I think about Aquidneck Island and Newport and Westerly and Bristol, wit

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The San Diego Superior Court will extend its COVID- 19-related closures through May 22, meaning county courthouses will remain shuttered until after the Memorial Day weekend, court officials announced Wednesday. Courthouses throughout the region had been slated to reopen to the general public this Friday. However, the Superior Court stated that non-emergency court services will remain suspended in the interest of public health and mitigating the spread of the virus. “As COVID-19 continues to be a concern for our community, we are closely monitoring the recommendations from local and state public health agencies while working to determine the safest way to resume normal operations,” said San Diego Superior Court Presiding Judge Lorna Alksne. “After careful consideration, we have deemed it necessary to extend the court’s suspension of our usual services. In the meantime, the court has worked to increase the number of services that we are able to safely provide and we

ENCINITAS, Calif. — A shark bit a surfer Wednesday evening in Encinitas, authorities said. The shark attacked the surfer, whom lifeguards described as a “young man,” just south of Moonlight Beach around 5:50 p.m., according to Encinitas Fire Department. Lifeguards say the man accidentally kicked the shark, prompting the attack. Medics took the man to Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas to be treated for minor injuries. Lifeguards posted signs warning beachgoers of the attack, but have not closed the beach. Check back for updates on this developing story. from fox5sandiego.com Source: https://ift.tt/3cSqeOS

This content collected from Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News. A Somerville detective has spent the majority of the last month on a ventilator fighting for his life after he contracted coronavirus. Now, his wife is saying it is a miracle he is showing signs of progress. Oswaldo Martinez is just 35-years-old and has no known underlying health conditions yet, he spent weeks in a coma. “I never thought I would go through something like this,” said. In late March, he began struggling to breathe and that is when ____ rushed him to the emergency room at Holy Family in Methuen. “His hands and feet was kind of blueish purple and I also saw his lips getting purple,” she said. Martinez just came off the ventilator last week. “From nowhere Ozzie started to get better. I know God listens to our prayers. So many people praying for him.” A GoFundMe account backed by the Somerville Polcie Dept. has raised thousands of dollars for the couple. “I’ve seen people from New York, a lot of

A Somerville detective has spent the majority of the last month on a ventilator fighting for his life after he contracted coronavirus. Now, his wife is saying it is a miracle he is showing signs of progress. Oswaldo Martinez is just 35-years-old and has no known underlying health conditions yet, he spent weeks in a coma. “I never thought I would go through something like this,” said. In late March, he began struggling to breathe and that is when ____ rushed him to the emergency room at Holy Family in Methuen. “His hands and feet was kind of blueish purple and I also saw his lips getting purple,” she said. Martinez just came off the ventilator last week. “From nowhere Ozzie started to get better. I know God listens to our prayers. So many people praying for him.” A GoFundMe account backed by the Somerville Polcie Dept. has raised thousands of dollars for the couple. “I’ve seen people from New York, a lot of different police departments, unions, fire department unions have donate

OCEANSIDE, Calif. – An experimental drug developed in Oceanside is showing great promise in shortening the duration a person is sick with COVID-19. Gilead Sciences, whose research and development lab is in Oceanside, created the drug, Remdesivir, to first treat Ebola and later MERS. The drug is now going through clinical trials for COVID-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved any drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 but is moving to quickly authorize the use of  Remdesivir as an emergency treatment. “It’s been studied in humans for other diseases so we know what’s going to happen to the folks taking these drugs,” said USD professor Joseph Provost. “We know the risks involved and that shortens the lifespan in going through the clinical trials.” This comes following positive results of a preliminary trial conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases run by Dr. Anthony Fauci.    Of the nearly 400 patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms

This content collected from Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News. A jogger told police that a man walking with two young children pulled a knife on him last week claiming he was not practicing safe social distancing. The incident allegedly occurred near an intersection along Putnam Avenue around 5:15 p.m. on April 20, according to the jogger’s statement to police. He told them he was planning to go into the street to make room for social distancing but before that could happen, the runner said the man pulled a knife out and told him to “get the ‘expletive’ on the other side of the street.” https://twitter.com/emilyjpritch/status/1255659730149785605 People who run in this area said they were surprised to hear something like this had happened. “That’s really scary and disappointing because these ordinances asking people to wear masks are meant to make people safer so its strange people are maybe overreacting in ways people are less safe,” Alex Berke said. Runners told 7NEWS t

A jogger told police that a man walking with two young children pulled a knife on him last week claiming he was not practicing safe social distancing. The incident allegedly occurred near an intersection along Putnam Avenue around 5:15 p.m. on April 20, according to the jogger’s statement to police. He told them he was planning to go into the street to make room for social distancing but before that could happen, the runner said the man pulled a knife out and told him to “get the ‘expletive’ on the other side of the street.” https://twitter.com/emilyjpritch/status/1255659730149785605 People who run in this area said they were surprised to hear something like this had happened. “That’s really scary and disappointing because these ordinances asking people to wear masks are meant to make people safer so its strange people are maybe overreacting in ways people are less safe,” Alex Berke said. Runners told 7NEWS they have noticed people being more vocal about distancing and wearing ma

Toy Story 4 Director Is Developing an Animated Transformers Prequel Movie In 1986, Transformers: The Movie brought Hasbro’s “Robots in Disguise” to the big screen for the first time. Nearly 35 years later, a new animated Transformers  prequel film is in the works. Via Deadline , Paramount Pictures has hired Toy Story 4 director Josh Cooley to helm the film, which was written by Ant-Man and the Wasp writers Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari. Cooley is overseeing Barrer and Ferrari’s final draft. The new animated Transformers movie will explores the war on Cybertron between the Autobots and the Decepticons. It will also revolve around the relationship between Optimus Prime and Megatron, the leaders of the rival factions. Previous animated series, comics, and video games have also touched on Optimus and Megatron’s shared past. But it’s unknown if this will be a completely new take on their origin. RELATED: Paramount Hires Writers For Two Transformers Movies Additionally, the an

This content collected from Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News. Thousands of masks will be distributed to Cambridge residents beginning on Thursday. This new program will allow the City to broaden its mask distribution program as a temporary emergency order requiring face coverings to be worn in all public places, businesses and common areas of residential buildings in Cambridge went into effect Wednesday. The city first began distributing masks to its most vulnerable populations including residents living at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, homeless shelters and the Cambridge Housing Authority. “As a City and Police Department, our goal during the order is to make masks and prevention information available to as many residents in need as possible,” said Police Commissioner Branville Bard, Jr. “The priority for our police officers is to not issue fines, but rather to make residents aware of the importance of wearing a face mask and provide them one if needed.” The

This content collected from Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News. Get used to the concept of pods and pucks if the NHL is going to have any chance of completing its season, with the most likely scenarios calling for games in empty, air-conditioned arenas during the dog days of summer. What is emerging as the leading plan involves bringing teams back in a few empty NHL buildings to complete some, if not all, of the remaining regular-season games before opening the playoffs and awarding the Stanley Cup for the 125th time in the past 127 years. The most aggressive timetable would have players returning to their home rinks as early as May 15, followed by a training camp and possible exhibition games in June, a person familiar with discussions told The Associated Press. The regular season would then resume in July, with the Cup awarded in September, the person said Tuesday, speaking on the condition of anonymity because plans haven’t been finalized. Commissioner Gary Bettman empha

Thousands of masks will be distributed to Cambridge residents beginning on Thursday. This new program will allow the City to broaden its mask distribution program as a temporary emergency order requiring face coverings to be worn in all public places, businesses and common areas of residential buildings in Cambridge went into effect Wednesday. The city first began distributing masks to its most vulnerable populations including residents living at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, homeless shelters and the Cambridge Housing Authority. “As a City and Police Department, our goal during the order is to make masks and prevention information available to as many residents in need as possible,” said Police Commissioner Branville Bard, Jr. “The priority for our police officers is to not issue fines, but rather to make residents aware of the importance of wearing a face mask and provide them one if needed.” The masks will be distributed at the meal distribution sites: Haggerty Sc

Get used to the concept of pods and pucks if the NHL is going to have any chance of completing its season, with the most likely scenarios calling for games in empty, air-conditioned arenas during the dog days of summer. What is emerging as the leading plan involves bringing teams back in a few empty NHL buildings to complete some, if not all, of the remaining regular-season games before opening the playoffs and awarding the Stanley Cup for the 125th time in the past 127 years. The most aggressive timetable would have players returning to their home rinks as early as May 15, followed by a training camp and possible exhibition games in June, a person familiar with discussions told The Associated Press. The regular season would then resume in July, with the Cup awarded in September, the person said Tuesday, speaking on the condition of anonymity because plans haven’t been finalized. Commissioner Gary Bettman emphasized no decisions have been made and noted that government and medical

As the U.S. exceeds 60,000 coronavirus deaths, our team in Washington, D.C. is examining the issues that likely won’t be featured tonight during primetime cable news — including a deep dive into the effort to boost the nation’s meat suppl y . You can watch our D.C. team’s original reporting in a livestream at 9/8c. Big meatpacking companies that have struggled to keep plants running during the coronavirus crisis said Wednesday that they welcomed President Donald Trump’s executive order requiring them to stay open, but unions, some employees and Democrats questioned whether workers could be kept safe. Trump used the Defense Production Act to classify meat processors as critical infrastructure to prevent supermarket shelves from  running out  of chicken, pork and other meat. Meatpacking plants across the country have closed as COVID-19 infections spread rapidly between workers,  who often stand shoulder to shoulder on production lines . Trump, who consulted with industry leaders befor

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Some U.S. lawmakers are demanding answers after reports of a lack of personal protective equipment at some Veterans Affairs facilities. Terrence Hayes, with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, says reports about inadequate personal protective equipment inside VA hospitals are causing concern. “There’s been conflicting reports [in] a few of the facilities that unfortunately some of the staff members have had to share PPE or re-use it or even ration it out, and that’s just unacceptable,” Hayes said. Now lawmakers are asking the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to find out what’s behind those reports. “We’ve heard from the workforce that they’re concerned about their safety,” Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said. Warner says the VA hospitals are told to follow the CDC guidelines for reusing equipment but Warner says the guidelines are rapidly changing and difficult to keep track of. “If you’ve got a workforce that feels unsafe and at the same time you’re saying you’ve

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Among those working on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic are DACA recipients who have more to fear than just the coronavirus. An imminent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the DACA program could force undocumented immigrants who arrived in this country as children to leave the U.S. Jonathan Rodas is a DACA recipient on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.  “I work in the operating rooms so I see patients that come into the operating rooms with the virus,” Rodas said.  DACA recipients like Rodas who arrived in the United States illegally as children are protected from deportation by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program put in place during the Obama Administration.  Many DACA recipients work in hospitals, grocery stores and other essential services but Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus said DACA recipients who are students were excluded from accessing coronavirus-related financial aid.  “We got a ruling from [U.S. Secretary of Educati

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sailors from the coronavirus -stricken USS Theodore Roosevelt will begin returning to the aircraft carrier in the next 24 to 48 hours for the first time since they were moved ashore because of COVID-19, according to a defense official. The official said that returning sailors could do so after testing negative for the virus twice in a 24-hour period, but the source declined to say how many sailors would be in the initial return. The sailors have been ashore in Guam as part of a massive effort to evacuate all of the ship’s nearly 5,000 troops and ensure they are virus-free through testing. These initial returning sailors will replace several hundred who had been left aboard to operate essential functions to keep the ship running, including manning the nuclear plant and providing safety and security. Those sailors who had remained on the ship as part of the “watch” team will now move ashore in Guam and wait at least 14 days to ensure they test negative for the cor

Some people in Manchester, New Hampshire are calling on city officials to shut down a busy thoroughfare to allow for better social distancing once businesses are allowed to reopen. It’s no secret that in a post-pandemic society, restaurants will look different with all the social distancing measures that are sure to still be in place. Peter Macone is an operations manager in Manchester is proposing that the city shut down Elm Street over the summer saying this move will be beneficial to both businesses and downtown visitors. “If we’re gonna rewrite the blueprint of what the future looks like, I would love to have this on the table,” he said. Macone is asking the board to consider closing about a mile of the street to all vehicular traffic — and he has created an online petition for his cause. His proposal is similar to what Newbury Street in Boston does three days in the summer. Macone said that restaurants will be able to offer more outdoor seating and space post-COVD-19. “How

Trip Advisor made the tough decision to cut its workforce back due to the coronavirus outbreak Tuesday The Needham based travel company laid off more than 900 people worldwide and closed down its Boston offices. A number of workers have also been placed on furlough and  CEO Stephen Kaufer said he hopes to be able to bring these people back later in the year. from Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News Source: https://ift.tt/2W78GaV

This content collected from Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News. Some people in Manchester, New Hampshire are calling on city officials to shut down a busy thoroughfare to allow for better social distancing once businesses are allowed to reopen. It’s no secret that in a post-pandemic society, restaurants will look different with all the social distancing measures that are sure to still be in place. Peter Macone is an operations manager in Manchester is proposing that the city shut down Elm Street over the summer saying this move will be beneficial to both businesses and downtown visitors. “If we’re gonna rewrite the blueprint of what the future looks like, I would love to have this on the table,” he said. Macone is asking the board to consider closing about a mile of the street to all vehicular traffic — and he has created an online petition for his cause. His proposal is similar to what Newbury Street in Boston does three days in the summer. Macone said that restaurants w

This content collected from Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News. Trip Advisor made the tough decision to cut its workforce back due to the coronavirus outbreak Tuesday The Needham based travel company laid off more than 900 people worldwide and closed down its Boston offices. A number of workers have also been placed on furlough and  CEO Stephen Kaufer said he hopes to be able to bring these people back later in the year. Bangla Zoom is most popular bangladeshi website. We are working with bengali news , english news headlines, bangla blog tips, bangla health tips , entertainmnet and more bangla helpful tips. from Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News Source: https://whdh.com/news/trip-advisor-laying-off-more-than-900-worldwide-closes-boston-office/

With classes canceled for the rest of the year because of the coronavirus, Massachusetts school officials are considering how to re-open in the fall and what measures might be necessary to reduce exposure to the virus. Options on the table include: Encouraging students and teachers to wear masks One-way hallways to prevent overcrowding Eating lunch in classrooms instead of cafeterias Running buses at half capacity Checking students’ temperatures before they enter the building Educators said they’d have many discussions before coming up with any plans. “There isn’t going to be an easy solution to this problem,” said Tom Scott of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. “What people are going to have to do is figure what’s the least intrusive, whats the most viable option, and we’ll have to work from that.” from Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News Source: https://ift.tt/3eT8Rz8

WASHINGTON (AP) — Weeks after Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel in the Russia investigation, Roger Stone, a confidant of President Donald Trump, reassured WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in a Twitter message that if prosecutors came after him, “I will bring down the entire house of cards,” according to FBI documents made public Tuesday. The records reveal the extent of communications between Stone and Assange, whose anti-secrecy website published Democratic emails hacked by Russians during the 2016 presidential election, and underscore efforts by Trump allies to gain insight about the release of information they expected would embarrass Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. The documents — FBI affidavits submitted to obtain search warrants in the criminal investigation into Stone — were released following a court case brought by The Associated Press and other media organizations. They were made public as Stone, convicted last year in  Mueller’s investigation  into ties be

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Joe Biden won Ohio’s presidential primary Tuesday, clinching a contest that was less about the Democratic nomination and more about how states can conduct elections in the era of the coronavirus. The primary was the first major test of statewide elections via mail amid an outbreak. And the results were mixed. There were reports of confusion but no widespread disruption. It wasn’t like Wisconsin earlier this month, when voters were forced to overlook social distancing guidelines to stand in line wearing masks to cast a ballot. Still, overall turnout appeared to be off. The secretary of state’s office said that about 1.5 million votes had been cast as of midday Saturday, down sharply from the 3.2 million cast in Ohio’s 2016 presidential primary. “Within the context of the threat of the virus, it’s a decision that we will have made the best of,” Republican Ken Blackwell, a former Ohio elections chief who chairs the bipartisan International Foundation for Electora

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he will take executive action Tuesday to order meat processing plants to stay open amid concerns over growing  coronavirus cases  and the impact on the nation’s food supply. The order will use the Defense Production Act to classify meat processing as critical infrastructure and mandate plants stay open to prevent a shortage of chicken, pork and other meat on supermarket shelves. Unions fired back, saying the White House was jeopardizing lives and prioritizing cold cuts over workers’ health. More than 20 meatpacking plants have closed temporarily under pressure from local authorities and their own workers because of the virus, including two of the nation’s largest, one in Iowa and one in South Dakota. Others have slowed production as workers have fallen ill or stayed home to avoid getting sick. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million food and retail workers, said Tuesday that 20 food-proces