Month: November 2020

On Tuesday, democratic challenger Cal Cunningham conceded defeat to Sen. Thom Tillis in a highly contested U.S. Senate race in North Carolina. According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, Tillis had 2,642,884 votes or 48.71% to Cunningham’s 2,547,594 votes or 46.95%The presidential vote in the state is close enough that many major media outlets have not called the race for either President Donald Trump (49.96%) or President-elect Joe Biden (48.59%).

Cunningham, a lawyer and retired Army lieutenant colonel, posted on social media that he called Tillis to congratulate him on his win, tweeting: “The voters have spoken and I respect their decision. While the results of this election suggest there remain deep political divisions in our state and nation, the complete story of our country lies in what unites us: our faith and sense of confidence in our democracy, our civic values and common humanity, our shared aspiration to care for one another, and our belief that we live in a country that does exceptional things.”

Tillis acknowledged his win on social media, tweeting, “I am incredibly humbled by the chance to serve the people of North Carolina in the United States Senate for six more years and I pledge to continue keeping my promises and delivering results. I know that my job is fighting for the jobs of the hardworking people of our state, which is why my first post-election priority will be defeating COVID-19 and getting the economy back on track.”

Tillis was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014 and was also a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, serving as speaker starting in 2011.

         

Democrat Cal Cunningham concedes North Carolina Senate race

Via www.cbsnews.com

Democrat Cal Cunningham said he had called Republican Thom Tillis to concede the Senate election.

11/10/2020 5:12 PM

 

 Editorial credit: Jeffery Edwards / Shutterstock.com

On Monday, President-elect Joe Biden announced a new COVID-19 advisory task force to work towards controlling the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in the United States. 

Biden’s transition team revealed the 13-member task force will be co-chaired by former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner David Kessler and Marcella Nunez-Smith, a public health expert at the Yale School of Medicine. Other members are: Dr. Zeke Emanuel, Dr. Luciana Borio, Dr. Rick Bright, Dr. Atul Gawande, Dr. Celine Gounder, Dr. Julie Morita, Dr. Michael Osterholm, Dr. Robert Rodriguez, Dr. Eric Goosby and global health expert Loyce Pace. Twelve of the advisory team members are medical doctors, which follows through on promises Biden made to use a “science-based” approach to taming the coronavirus. “Dealing with the coronavirus pandemic is one of the most important battles our administration will face, and I will be informed by science and by experts,” Biden said.

During a televised briefing, Biden urged Americans to put aside their political differences and put the health of others first by wearing face masks. “I implore you, wear a mask,” he said, calling it the “single most effective thing we can do to stop the spread of COVID.” A mask, he said, “is not a political statement but it is a good way to start pulling the country together.”

Live Updates: Biden urges Americans to wear masks as focus turns to transition

Via www.cbsnews.com

Biden is forging ahead with preparations to take the reins of government in just 72 days.

11/09/2020 6:25 PM

 

Editorial credit: Stratos Brilakis / Shutterstock.com

President Donald Trump will lose special Twitter privileges he has as a government official when President-elect Joe Biden is sworn into office on Jan. 20.” A Twitter spokesperson said, “A critical function of our service is providing a place where people can openly and publicly respond to their leaders and hold them accountable. With this in mind, there are certain cases where it may be in the public interest to have access to certain tweets, even if they would otherwise be in violation of our rules.”

Twitter allows government officials to tweet things that otherwise may be removed for violating its rules due to a public-interest exception. Twitter confirmed that once Trump leaves office, he could be subject to a ban like any other user who incites violence or posts false information about voting and the COVID-19 pandemic. Twitter added that tweets from a world leader can still be removed if they promote terrorism, make direct threats against an individual, post private information or intimate photos without the subject’s consent or engage in child sexual exploitation or encourage self-harm.

Trump will lose special Twitter protections in January

Via www.nbcnews.com

U.S. President Donald Trump will be subject to the same Twitter rules as any other user when…

11/09/2020 10:11 AM

 

Editorial credit: Casimiro PT / Shutterstock.com

President-elect Joe Biden is keeping a campaign promise to make the resurgent coronavirus his immediate priority, and on Monday will announce a 12-member task force to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Biden spent much of his election campaign criticizing President Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic, which has now caused the deaths of 237,000 people in America. The United States saw a record number of new infections last week, with the total number of cases nearing 10 million.

The coronavirus task force will be charged with developing a blueprint for containing the disease once Biden takes office in January. It will be headed by three co-chairs, former surgeon general Vivek Murthy, former Food and Drug Administration commissioner David Kessler, and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith of Yale University, according to two people familiar with the matter.

On Sunday, Biden’s transition team launced a new website, BuildBackBetter.com, and a new social media handle, @transition46, to provide the public with information on the handover.

U.S. sets new COVID-19 record; Biden to announce virus response team

Via www.upi.com

The United States reported 126,742 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the fourth consecutive day…

11/08/2020 7:01 PM

 

Editorial credit: Christos S / Shutterstock.com

Tropical Storm Eta was heading toward the Florida Keys on Sunday night after making landfall in central Cuba overnight with 65 mph winds. Eta could get stronger, and forecasters warned it could be a hurricane by the time it reaches the Florida Keys.

The National Hurricane Center said tropical storm force winds, storm surge and flash flooding spread over South Florida and the Keys as of Sunday evening. The National Hurricane Center issued storm surge and hurricane warnings for part of the Florida Keys, and a hurricane watch continues for part of the Florida peninsula as well.  However, there is also a chance Eta could slow down or even stall near or just west of the Florida Keys.

Forecasters also continued to warily watch Eta’s forecast path, which takes the tropical storm into the Gulf by Monday and turns it northward.  Eta should reach the eastern Gulf of Mexico by late Monday into Tuesday.

Eta could bring 6 to 12 inches of rain to parts of Central and South Florida, with isolated areas getting up to 18 inches. Tornados will also be possible in the Keys and southern Florida.

Tropical Storm Eta closes in on South Florida

Via abcnews.go.com

Tropical Storm Eta is making landfall this morning along the south-central Coast of Cuba with…

11/08/2020 4:57 PM