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President Donald Trump is meeting with the heads of major banks Wednesday amid another sharp selloff in stocks and the declaration of the coronavirus as a pandemic. Trump’s scheduled 3 p.m. Eastern meeting with the chief executives of Bank of America BAC, -5.65%, Citigroup C, -9.93%, Wells Fargo WFC, -8.61% and other institutions comes as the World Health Organization designated the global spread of COVID-19 a pandemic. U.S. stocks extended losses, building on declines attributed partly to disappointment over prospects for a quick fiscal stimulus designed to cushion the U.S. economy from the outbreak.

Infectious disease specialists and health experts say that while cases of the new coronavirus will likely continue to grow in the United States, current case fatality rates appear to be an overestimation. Cases of the virus have jumped over the past few days, now with over 1,000 confirmed across the United States, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at John Hopkins University. As of this writing, there have been at least 32 coronavirus-linked deaths. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on March 3, global case fatality rate is “about 3.4 percent.” But a...

The Federal Reserve is again increasing the amount of money it’s providing to banks for overnight borrowing, raising the top level now to $175 billion. In an announcement Wednesday afternoon, the New York Fed said it would boost the top level it provides in overnight operations to at least $175 billion from the $150 billion level it had just set Monday. “Consistent with the FOMC directive to the Desk, these operations are intended to ensure that the supply of reserves remains ample and to mitigate the risk of money market pressures that could adversely affect policy implementation,” the Fed’s statement...

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Wednesday new rules to try to stop the spread of coronavirus, including limiting mass gatherings and restricting the number of visitors to people in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. "We're in a different chapter of working our way through this," DeWine said. "The essential function of government is to do everything we can to protect people. ... We know it's going to be bad. The question is how bad is it going to be? It is within our hands to determine what that outcome is going to be." Among the actions DeWine announced: there...

A local youth hockey coach had a meltdown on the ice after he was ejected from a game by a referee. The incident happened during a game Saturday night between the 12-and-under teams of the Manchester Junior Monarchs and the Springfield Junior Pics at The Bog Ice Arena in Kingston. In the middle of the second period, a Monarchs coach began banging on the door and shouting profanities at the referee. The Monarchs received a minor bench penalty for the coach's actions, but he kept shouting at the referee, who ultimately decided to eject that coach from the game. Witnesses...

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 5:43 P.M. EDT THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. We’ve just completed today’s meeting of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and I couldn’t be more proud of the efforts of the men and women standing behind me or all of those standing behind them. President Trump said from early on that this would be a whole-of-government approach. And today gives evidence of the fact that it is also a whole-of-America approach. We’re bringing the full resources of the federal government and the full resources of — of this great economy and our great business...

CBS All Access, the network’s streaming service, is launching a weekly animated series featuring real-world guests that will discuss — and mock — the news of the day, the network announced Wednesday. “Tooning Out the News" plans to release daily five- to seven-minute segments followed by a weekly full episode available every Friday. It launches Monday in the U.S. and Canada. Confirmed guests include Reps. Barbara Lee (D-Texas), Donna Shalala (D-Fla.) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), as well as Dan Abrams, Alan Dershowitz, Thomas Friedman and Nicholas Kristof. The fictional animated news show is hosted by an anchor named James Smartwood....

Legendary New York mobster John “Sonny” Franzese, the former underboss of the Colombo crime family, has died at 103, according to TMZ. As a younger man, according to Mafia lore, Franzese was a big spender and a regular at New York’s Copacabana nightclub, where he hobnobbed with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. He also provided financing for the classic 1972 porn film “Deep Throat.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, after a drubbing in the latest round of primaries, vowed Wednesday to press on with his presidential campaign -- touting the appeal of his progressive message and suggesting front-runner Joe Biden has not attracted a sufficient following among young voters. The decision from the populist senator from Vermont came the day after he was pummeled by the former vice president in Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho and failed to have a breakout performance in Washington state. As the bad news from the six March 10 contests continued to roll in Tuesday night, the self-described democratic socialist headed...

Are you in the market for a new car? Do you hate men? Did you think Captain Marvel was a really good movie and still write Tumblr posts about it? Are you a white professional-class woman between the ages of 21-35, living in a coastal city? Well then, Nissan has got the automobile for you. We've all been there: Your boss, who is a male, refuses to promote you because he has a small penis and listens to Joe Rogan. Then Brie Larson shows up and tells you to get in her car for some reason, drives recklessly while listing...

The Trump administration plans to delay the April 15 tax deadline for most individual taxpayers as well as small businesses as part of an effort to mitigate the effects of the spread of the novel coronavirus, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Wednesday. Mr. Mnuchin said the delay would apply “to virtually all Americans, other than the super rich,” and said officials would likely announce a decision quickly...

Nearly 200 people in Italy have died in 24 hours as cases of coronavirus in the country continue to rise. There have been 827 deaths in Italy and the number of cases increased by more than 2,000, from 10,149 to 12,462, official figures showed. In the worst-hit area, the northern region of Lombardy, there have been 617 fatalities, an increase of 149 in the last 24 hours. The number of cases in the region - which includes Italy's financial capital Milan and has seen the majority of cases of the virus - has also risen by 1,489 in the last...

"Sen. Chris Murphy has requested an investigation into whether federal agencies are showing political bias by cooperating with Republican requests related to Hunter Biden. The Connecticut Democrat.."

So I'm hearing from various news sources, President Trump would like a Tax Holiday for payroll taxes, but RATs likely won't go along. Now it's being suggested he delay collecting taxes (due April 15) and delay it til later in the year; AND not charge a penalty if you don't pay all your 2019 taxes by April 15th either. Kinda puts a twist on choosing what laws to enforce !!! PS - All this is to help stimulate the economy

A new coronavirus bill drafted by House Democrats will include a reform expanding liability protection for companies that sell masks after Democratic leaders dropped their opposition to that provision, The Post has learned. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), who was perceived as the top opponent of the reform, confirmed to The Post that Democrats finally came around to agree to add liability protection. “The House will address N95 mask liability this week,” Pallone said, confirming a deal was reached. “Manufacturers initially requested an indefinite, blanket liability for themselves be attached to last week’s supplemental.” Pallone added: “Since...

Before he was handed 23 years in prison, Harvey Weinstein begged for a light sentence on Wednesday, telling the court he was going through “hell on earth” and was “really trying to be a better person.” SNIP Admitting he was the spark for the whole #MeToo movement, Weinstein said he was just one of many men “totally confused” by the complaints against them — saying he even wanted to open a specialist clinic for men who had been accused. “I really feel remorse for this situation. I feel it deeply in my heart,” he said in Manhattan Supreme Court. “I’m...

The govt said all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organizations, employment, project visas, have been suspended till 15 April The govt also said all incoming travelers, including Indians, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain and Germany, will be quarantined for minimum 14 days

Celebrity physician Dr. Drew Pinsky said the “media should be ashamed of themselves” for creating “panic” around the coronavirus outbreak. Pinsky said journalists created “a panic that is far worse than the viral outbreak” during his interview on the Washington Examiner’s podcast Examining Politics, which was hosted by Larry O’Connor. “I don’t claim to know what’s motivating the media, but my God, their reporting is absolutely reprehensible,” Pinsky said. The celebrity doctor urged people to listen and heed Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on ways to prevent the spread of the virus....

The Supreme Court issued an Order this morning, at the URL above, staying enforcement of a trial court order that had barred the Trump Administration from enforcing its policy requiring those applying for asylum having come from Mexico to remain in Mexico until the application is ruled on. The policy is being challenged in court,and the Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to review the trial court order barring enforcement. The Supreme Court says today that Trump can continue to enforce the policy while the legal challenge continues. One is tempted to read the tea leaves and see this...

On a typical Friday, some 200 people show up for services at Temple De Hirsch Sinai, a Reform congregation in Seattle. But last week, there was no one in the pews as Rabbi Daniel Weiner welcomed Shabbat in the synagogue’s smaller sanctuary. Instead, some 1,500 people watched Weiner lead the prayers on their computers. The synagogue hasn’t been holding any services for 10 days due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed 21 lives in Washington state and thousands around the world. Though there wasn’t a physical minyan, the quorum of 10 people required to say certain prayers, Weiner realized...