Month: April 2021

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines on outdoor mask-wearing, saying that those fully-vaccinated may engage in outdoor activities, including running, hiking, and walking—without a mask—if they are alone or with members of their household. Attending small outdoor gatherings and dining outdoors without a mask are also considered safe, federal officials said. It’s been long established that outdoor contact poses significantly less risk in the spread of COVID-19 than indoors. 

The guidelines also state, however, that in situations where crowds are likely and social distancing presents a challenge, masking, even if fully vaccinated, is still recommended. 

The updated guidance comes as nearly half of the country reports being vaccinated with at least the first dose. However public health experts also ask for caution, as vaccination rates have slowed, and some areas of the country continue to see surges of the virus and its new variants.  

Fully vaccinated people can attend small-group outdoor activities without masks, CDC says

Via www.nbcnews.com

It’s unclear how much the new guidance will change people’s behavior, experts say.

04/27/2021 12:54 PM

 

Editorial credit: Elisabeth Aardema / Shutterstock.com

The Justice Department launched a wide-ranging “pattern or practice” investigation of Louisville’s police department on Monday, in the wake of last year’s police shooting death of Breonna Taylor.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a news conference that the civil investigation into the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government and the Louisville Metro Police Department is to determine “whether LMPD engages in a pattern or practice of violations of the Constitution or federal law.” The investigation, he said, “will assess whether LMPD engages in a pattern or practice of using unreasonable force, including with respect to people involved in peaceful expressive activities” as well as if it “engages in unconstitutional stops, searches and seizures” or “unlawfully executes search warrants on private homes.”

Taylor was killed in her apartment by LMPD officers in March 2020 while they were executing a search warrant. Two Louisville detectives connected with the incident were fired in January, five months after Officer Brett Hankison was similarly dismissed for blindly firing 10 rounds into Taylor’s apartment during the search.

Under the probe, if the Justice Department concludes there is reasonable cause to believe there is a pattern or practice of constitutional or statutory violations, it will issue a public report and will “aim to work with the city and police department to arrive at a set of mutually agreeable steps” that can be taken to correct problems. If an agreement cannot be reached, the department has the authority to bring a civil lawsuit seeking injunctive relief to address violations.

Justice Department launches investigation into Louisville PD’s policing practices

Via www.nbcnews.com

That department has faced intense scrutiny in the year since officers killed Breonna Taylor…

04/26/2021 4:07 PM

 

Editorial credit: Mark Van Scyoc / Shutterstock.com

U.S. to share 60 million doses of AstraZeneca Covid vaccine with other countries

Via www.nbcnews.com

White House Covid adviser Andy Slavitt said in a tweet Monday that doses would be sent to other…

04/26/2021 4:04 PM

 

Editorial credit: Tobias Arhelger / Shutterstock.com

Democratic state Sen. Troy Carter won in the race for Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District in a special election runoff, defeating fellow Democratic state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson. Carter, 48, captured 55 percent of the votes, 48,511 to 39,295, with all precincts in the district that serves serves nearly all of New Orleans. Democrat Cedric Richmond resigned in January to join the administration of President Joe Biden.

Carter posted on Twitter on Sunday: “This was a hard fought race, and now it is time to come together. The hard part starts now. We have so much work to do together. We celebrated upon victory. Today, we get back to work! “ 

Carter is the state Senate minority leader who received Richmond’s endorsement before he resigned from Congress.  Louisiana’s other five representatives and two senators are all Republicans.

Democrat Troy Carter wins New Orleans-based U.S. House seat

Via www.nbcnews.com

He easily defeated Karen Carter Peterson in the race for Louisiana’s only Democrat-held…

04/24/2021 11:26 PM

 

Editorial credit: Nagel Photography / Shutterstock.com

At least six people died in a highway crash involving a passenger van in Georgia on Sunday. According to police, the crash was reported at about 7 p.m. on Saturday in the northbound lanes of I-85 at the split to I-985 in Georgia’s Gwinett County, about 35 miles north of Atlanta. 

Police Sgt. Michele Pihera said callers initially reported a vehicle on it side engulfed in flames as passersby attempted to pull victims to safety. Pihera said six people died at the scene and several others were transported to local hospitals. A bystander sustained a minor injury and denied hospital transport. There were 16 people in the van at the time of the crash and they were from a sober living group.

Those at the scene did not provide additional information on how the crash occurred but said another vehicle may have been involved. The crash caused I-985 to be shut down for several hours on Saturday evening before reopening at 11 p.m.

Six dead after fiery crash on Georgia interstate, police say

Via www.msn.com

At least six people are dead and several others injured following a fiery crash on a Georgia…

04/25/2021 10:30 AM