Free Republic

… One clear message that [Sheriff] Villanueva is sending, is on gun stores. “We will be closing them, they are not an essential function,” Villanueva said. “I’m a supporter of the 2nd amendment, I’m a gun owner myself, but now you have the mixture of people that are not formerly gun owners and you have a lot more people at home and anytime you introduce a firearm in a home, from what I understand from CDC studies, it increases fourfold the chance that someone is gonna get shot.”

Jazz great Manu Dibango, best known for his 1972 hit “Soul Makoosa,” has died from complications of the coronavirus, according to a statement on his official Facebook page. “It is with deep sadness that we announce the loss of Manu Dibango, our Papy Groove, who passed away on 24th of March 2020, at 86 years old, further to covid 19,” it said. “His funeral service will be held in strict privacy, and a tribute to his memory will be organized when possible,” the message added.

New epidemiological model shows vast majority of people suffer little or no illness The new coronavirus may already have infected far more people in the UK than scientists had previously estimated — perhaps as much as half the population — according to modelling by researchers at the University of Oxford. If the results are confirmed, they imply that fewer than one in a thousand of those infected with Covid-19 become ill enough to need hospital treatment, said Sunetra Gupta, professor of theoretical epidemiology, who led the study. The vast majority develop very mild symptoms or none at all. “We need...

US doctors are hoarding two rumored “anti-coronavirus” drugs for themselves and their families, helping to drive a nationwide shortage, a report said Tuesday. The doctors are prescribing chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for themselves and their loved ones even though there is no scientific proof that the pharmaceuticals combat the contagion — and as lupus and arthritis sufferers who use the medicine go without, according to pharmacists and state regulators who talked to ProPublica. “It’s disgraceful, is what it is,” said Garth Reynolds, head of the Illinois Pharmacists Association, which was alerted to the situation through calls and emails from concerned members.

Power was quickly restored, the squirrel was not. A squirrel interfering with electrical equipment temporarily knocked out power for 15 customers near the Governor’s Mansion, an Alaska Electric Light and Power spokesperson said. “It happens. They sometimes get where they shouldn’t be,” said Debbie Driscoll, AEL&P’s vice president of consumer affairs in a phone interview. “He basically caused a problem with the fuses.” AEL&P has closed its lobby, but is maintaining full operations as many other businesses close down to help slow the outbreak of COVID-19. AEL&P will maintain full service through the outbreak, Discoll said. “Our crews were on...

President Vladimir Putin donned a hazmat suit and respirator on Tuesday during a visit to a hospital treating coronavirus patients and the mayor of Moscow said the outbreak in the Russian capital was much worse than official figures showed.

The opacity of the Chinese Communist government obliges responsible outside observers to look for clues to the truth of the coronavirus epidemic, instead of merely repeating official information without question. The official count from China is 3,277 fatalities from 81,171 infections as of Tuesday, but the Epoch Times noted the troubling disappearance of some 21 million cell phone accounts in China over the past three months – an unprecedented decline that hints at more fatalities than Beijing is prepared to admit. It should be stated at the outset that we should not be forced to read tea leaves to figure...

As Senate Republicans were reeling late Monday following two unsuccessful procedural votes on their version of a coronavirus response bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., released her chamber's version of legislation to fight the disease and its economic effects -- and it includes a raft of provisions with questionable relevance to the pandemic that has killed more than 17,000 worldwide and sickened more than 390,000. The $2.5 trillion package includes many of the same elements as the Senate bill, which is still being negotiated as of Tuesday morning -- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says he expects to vote on...

The novel coronavirus is causing working-age people to worry about missing paychecks, caring for kids home from school, stockpiling groceries and canceling plans. But people in their 50s, 60s or older have bigger worries. Many are lying awake wondering if this is how they are going to die. At its most severe, the coronavirus attacks the lungs, making it impossible to breathe without a ventilator. Landing in the hospital on a ventilator is bad. But worse is being told you can’t have one. To his credit, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is doing his best, but he admits “you can’t find available...

The John Hopkins Covid-19 web site has been playing fast and loose with the data! For almost a week they have made it hard to find out the number of recovered cases in the U.S. For several days, it has been listed as 0 recoveries. They used to keep a chart of Chinese cases, non-Chinese cases, and recovered cases. For the last two days, they altered the chart to show only new cases worldwide. Since the virus is blooming in more countries that is bound to go up, but it certainly looks more alarming. It is an odd coincidence that...

Today's Quotefall Puzzle features a quote by James Clyburn. Click puzzle (or click here) for full size rendition, then use your browser's print command to print puzzle. James Clyburn, recently highlighted with his blatant admission that Joe Biden cannot be trusted in public by insisting the Democrat primary process be shut down, has spectacularly outdid himself with the most blatant treasonous act in United States history, an extortion attempt that plays off the citizens' fears of a moderately dangerous virus. All hints, along with the answer, are provided in the first reply comment below, using filtered font to prevent accidental spoilers. Please...

Congressional and White House officials said Tuesday a deal appears to be at hand to provide sweeping aid to businesses and workers facing ruin from the coronavirus pandemic. Both Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer, said agreement appeared close on the nearly $2 trillion package. “I don't see any issue that can't be overcome within the next few hours," Schumer said. "Last night I thought we were on the five-yard line. Now we're on the two." Negotiators labored in the shadow of what McConnell called "the most serous threat to Americans' health in over...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlmdHi6bPDc

House Democrats released their own 1,400-page stimulus package to address the coronavirus, and it includes $300 million for refugees. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the $2.5 trillion economic relief package Monday after a $2 trillion Senate version failed to advance. The package calls “for an additional amount for ‘Migration and Refugee Assistance'" of $300 million to "remain available until expended, for necessary expenses to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of...

ALIQUIPPA, Pennsylvania -- Retired Army Capt. Sean Parnell, a decorated war veteran who served in combat in Afghanistan, found himself doing what he always does when he feels the need to serve. "My community is struggling right now," he said. "It is sort of not in my nature to stand by and do nothing. One of the things I learned in the Army is that when you are a leader, you need to go where the contact is heaviest." Parnell, the Republican candidate for Congress running against Democratic Rep. Conor Lamb, said he decided to look around and see where...

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room March 23, 2020 6:11 P.M. EDTTHE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you very much.  And I see we have fewer people because of the virus problem, and we appreciate you being here.  And this is getting to be more and more social distancing, and that’s fine.  That’s the way it should be, and it’s too bad.  We extend our best wishes to the person affected.  And we feel sure that he or she will be better very soon.And thank you for being here.  America continues to mobilize every segment of our society to turn the...

There are basically three ways to stop the Covid-19 disease for good. One involves extraordinary restrictions on free movement and assembly, as well as aggressive testing, to interrupt its transmission entirely. That may be impossible now that the virus is in over 100 countries. The second is a vaccine that could protect everyone, but it still needs to be developed. A third is potentially effective but horrible to consider: just wait until enough people get it. If the virus keeps spreading, eventually so many people will have been infected and (if they survive) become immune that the outbreak will fizzle...

Early Tuesday morning, President Trump continued to signal that it is his intention to re-open the U.S. economy and get Americans back to work sooner rather than later. Repeating yesterday’s theme that the government can’t afford to implement a draconian “cure” that is worse than the China Virus, the President issued the following tweet: Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump Our people want to return to work. They will practice Social Distancing and all else, and Seniors will be watched over protectively & lovingly. We can do two things together. THE CURE CANNOT BE WORSE (by far) THAN THE PROBLEM! Congress...

The number of confirmed cases grew 26% from 351 cases in 40 counties one day earlier - a slower growth than in recent days. The number of cases had been up 42% Sunday and 46% Saturday.

Today, I have signed into law S. 893, the “Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2020” (the “Act”).  The Act requires the President to develop and implement a strategy for the adoption of secure wireless communications technology in the United States and abroad.  The strategy will protect the American people from security threats to telecommunications networks and 5G technology.As part of the strategy, section 4 of the Act purports to require the President to engage in international diplomacy in order to share information and pursue policy goals specified by the Congress.  Consistent with longstanding constitutional practice, my Administration will...