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A federal judge handed abortion rights supporters a win in Tennessee Friday by blocking a statewide order banning surgical abortions during the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman, a President Reagan appointee, said in an opinion released Friday evening that abortion is a time-sensitive procedure, CNN reported. The ruling will allow procedural abortions to continue during the pandemic for now. "Delaying a woman's access to abortion even by a matter of days can result in her having to undergo a lengthier and more complex procedure that involves progressively greater health risks, or can result in her losing the right...

Yum China’s (YUMC.N) KFC fast food chain will begin selling plant-based fried chicken for the first time in China over a limited time period, it said on Monday. The nuggets will be supplied by U.S. agribusiness Cargill Ltd [CARGIL.UL] and will be sold at only three outlets in China in Shanghai and the southern cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen between April 28-30, KFC said on its official Weibo account. Customers who would like to try a bite must purchase a pre-sale coupon, it said. One serving comprises of five chicken pieces and will be sold for 1.99 yuan. The move...

[Catholic Caucus] Funding Anti-Fertility Bishops' agency caught peddling contraception — again WASHINGTON (ChurchMilitant.com) - A new report by the Lepanto Institute reveals that Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the U.S. bishops' charitable arm, is "knowingly and willingly implementing a project in at least four African countries that was created specifically for — and aimed directly at — the spread of contraception." CRS claims it doesn't promote condom use because another program partner does it. But it's CRS' responsibility to ensure all facets of the program, including teaching the use of contraception, is carried out.  In part five of a series of reports on CRS...

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Two women allegedly violated the emergency management plan when they offered their beauty, cosmetic services from home. Their arrests were initiated for violations imposed by the COVID-19 Emergency Management Plan on Wednesday. Laredo police said they launched investigations on the cases after receiving anonymous tips via the LPD app. "Both of the violators independently solicited customers via social media. On both cases, an undercover officer working on the COVID-19 task force enforcement detail made contact with each solicitor to set up an appointment for a cosmetic, beauty service that is prohibited under the emergency ordinance," police said in a statement....

A futures contract for U.S. crude prices dropped more than 100% and turned negative for the first time in history on Monday, showing just how much demand had collapsed because of the coronavirus pandemic. But traders cautioned this collapse into negative territory was not reflecting the true reality of the beaten-up market. The price of the nearest oil futures contract, which expires Tuesday, detached from later month futures contracts, which continued to trade above $20 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery fell more than 100% to settle at negative $37.63 per barrel, meaning producers would pay traders...

Nova Scotia authorities have begun investigating the shooting of a gunman who may have been disguised as a police officer and went on 12-hour rampage that left 16 people dead in a small town. A confrontation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police began after a manhunt for the fleeing suspect overnight Saturday. Multiple crime scenes and hours of evasion later, the gunman was killed Sunday in a shootout with police. Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) took over the investigation into the death, according to a statement from SiRT. Gabriel Wortman, 51, was identified as the suspect and was...

Nearly three years after taking Leonard Fournette with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars are shopping their star running back this offseason. As the 2020 NFL Draft nears, though, things reportedly aren’t going well. The Jaguars started discussing trades involving Fournette earlier this offseason, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Now with the NFL Draft closing in, they’ve circled back with those teams to try and make a deal happen. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, they aren’t finding any takers.

Bishops Warn Priests: No Sacrifices UK's main cathedral faces 'catastrophic' financial threat LONDON (ChurchMilitant) - Bishops in England and Wales are facing a mounting backlash after advising priests in new guidelines not to make sacrifices for victims of the Wuhan virus pandemic. "There is a Catholic tradition of such self-giving in times of infectious disease," the prelates admit in their guidelines, acknowledging "that those very few who make these sacrificial acts of love and charity for the spiritual good of others are to be respected and held in love."  Nevertheless, they reiterate emphatically: "We do not advise it, nor is it to be regarded as a...

Dr. Anthony Fauci said the nation’s economic recovery is not going to happen “unless we get the virus under control” amid protests of stay-at-home orders. During an interview Monday, he acknowledged it could be painful to follow guidelines for a gradual reopening, but warned opening the economy too quickly will backfire. He said testing will increase in the coming weeks from the millions of tests currently being conducted. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director also highlighted a few issues with the effectiveness of anti-body testing.

PING LIST Some of you have asked to be placed on the COVID-19 Update Ping List. Those who give me a request, will be placed on the list before the next Update is posted. If a person has expressed an appreciation for the data I'm presenting, I may add that person to the Ping List. Some folks don't like to be on ping lists, and I won't mind if you would rather I remove your name from the list. COVID-19 Update As of 04/19/2020 23:59 PDST Good morning everyone. Thank you for stopping by to check out the COVID-19 Update....

U.S. crude oil futures turned negative Monday for the first time in history as storage space was filling up, discouraging buyers as weak economic data from Germany and Japan cast doubt on when fuel consumption will recover. Physical demand for crude has dried up, creating a global supply glut as billions of people stay home to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery fell more than 100% to settle at negative $37.63 per barrel. Meanwhile, international benchmark, Brent crude, which has already rolled to the June contract, traded 8.9% lower at $25.58 per...

The Boston Globe newspaper's obituary section spanned a devastating 15 pages in its Sunday edition, as Massachusetts reels from the coronavirus crisis with more than 36,000 cases. Massachusetts has the third greatest coronavirus breakout in the country with more than 1,560 deaths reported so far. While not all the deaths that filled Sunday’s Boston Globe issue were virus-related, there has been a stunning spikes in deaths in the state as a result of the pandemic. 'Never in my life have I seen the obituary listings take up almost a whole page. I can’t imagine what NY and NJ papers look...

Tedros alluded to the so-called Spanish flu in 1918 as a reference for the coronavirus outbreak

My Tapestry is inbedded in you For you carry each and every strand and complexity of My Kingdom Harmonics ~~~ even in your voice ! So it is as you Declare My Rhema Kingdom WORD(JESUS) I ELOHIM open The storehouses of Heaven and bear forth My Fruit from The Tree of Life That is You in Me(The Father of Lights). You see My children I AM THAT I AM and We are ONE. BEAR FORTH MY KINGDOM IN YOU for you are My Bread of Life to others as My Melchizedek for My New Wine of Victory flows through your...

We Americans settled the new world, settled the west, went to the moon, conquered Nazis, conquerd empiral japanese. Time to get back at it. We live life with risk. We are past the point of overwhelming the medical system. Time to get back at it in my humble opinion.

TORONTO (AP) — Canadians on Monday mourned the shocking rampage that left at least 18 dead in rural communities across Nova Scotia, after a gunman disguised as a police officer opened fire on people hunkered down in their homes, setting houses ablaze in the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history. Officials said the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, also died in the weekend attack. Police did not provide a motive for the killings. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Superintendent Chris Leather told a news conference Monday that police expect to find more victims once they are able to...

The director of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Monday that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is still ahead. “Trust us. The worst is yet ahead of us,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a briefing.“Let’s prevent this tragedy. It’s a virus that many people still don’t understand.” The pandemic globally had infected nearly 2.5 million people and killed more than 167,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Tedros's comments come as President Trump has ordered the halt of funding to WHO, citing missteps in how the organization dealt with the pandemic. The move is supported...

A police shooting at a crowded Walmart in San Leandro, California, fatally wounded a man brandishing a baseball bat. Graphic cellphone video of the officer-involved shooting, which circulated widely online, shows responding officers tasing suspect Steven Taylor, 33. He then refused to drop the bat and was shot, leaving a trail of blood on the floor as he stumbled away. Despite life-saving measures, Taylor died from his injuries at the scene. The use of deadly force is under investigation.

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti nearly broke down in tears as he delivered his annual “State of the City” address on Sunday evening in front of an empty City Council chamber. Telling residents “this is the worst it’s ever been,” Garcetti choked up as he said: “Our city is under attack. Our daily life is unrecognizable. We are bowed and we are worn down. We are grieving our dead.”