Antonio Gandy-Golden spent most nights in the summer of 2016 running routes under the neon glow of the video board at Williams Stadium in preparation for his collegiate career at Liberty.

There were no screaming fans or bright lights, no fanfare. He worked at his craft with the sole purpose of developing into a wide receiver who would shatter program records.

The 6-foot-4, 223-pound receiver is back on campus and again running routes at Williams Stadium or any outdoor field at Liberty that is open. His work on the turf has shifted to the mornings, and he is focused on standing out among a crowded wide receiver pool in this weeks NFL Draft.

Gandy-Goldens name is frequently mentioned as one of 21 wide receivers who could be drafted in the seven-round event, which begins Thursday and ends Saturday.

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said last week in a conference call Gandy-Golden is one of five receivers he predicts to be taken in the third through fifth rounds.

NFL Networks Daniel Jeremiah has Gandy-Golden at No. 79 in his top 150 prospects for this weeks NFL Draft and has Gandy-Golden ranked as the 15th best wide receiver of the 23 listed in the Top 150.

I feel like everyones dream is to get drafted as high as possible, but ultimately the dream will be fulfilled as long as I have my name called, period, Gandy-Golden said Monday in a phone interview promoting the "Road to Rated Rookie" docuseries by Panini America. Im not really worried about necessarily what day it is as much as I am just being able to get my name called and actually be able to make it to a team.

Gandy-Golden could become the highest Liberty player selected in the NFL Draft since defensive back Walt Aikens was taken in the fourth round by the Miami Dolphins in 2014.

Tight end Eric Green was a first-round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1990.

Antonio is such a great representative of Liberty. Obviously he had a great career, and just a wonderful young man, Liberty athletic director Ian McCaw said. Its exciting. He is projected right now to be the highest drafted Liberty football player since 1990. That says quite a lot. A number of the projections Ive seen have him listed in the top 100 selections. Were hopeful that he may go in the second or third or possibly early fourth round.

Hes a great credit to our football program. Coach [Hugh] Freeze and [wide receivers coach] Maurice Harris did a wonderful job working with him and developing him further this year. Were eager to see where he lands.

The record-setting receiver met with all 32 teams during the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. He said he has spoken with the teams over the phone or through video conferences since the coronavirus pandemic forced NFL teams to cancel in-person visits in the draft process.

Those in-person meetings were valuable for Gandy-Golden, who had an opportunity to showcase his talents against other top-notch athletes.

I think it was real important just to let them see my personality, just ask me any questions in person that they wanted to just get a good feel for me and that aspect of it, he said. Then, of course, the performance part of it, I feel like I did well at those. Im glad they got to be able to see that in person.

Gandy-Golden ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash and posted a 36-inch vertical leap at the combine. He turned heads when he completed 22 reps on the bench press the second-most for a wide receiver behind 23 from Wisconsins Quintez Cephus.

The strength numbers Gandy-Golden displayed at the combine backed up his gaudy highlight-reel catch-and-runs at Liberty. Scouts saw the film of him dragging defenders in games this season against Syracuse, Buffalo, Hampton, New Mexico and UMass to know he had the strength and physicality to make difficult catches at the next level.

What I liked about Antonio Gandy-Golden [during the season], not only is the fact hes got the physicality with the size to be a real factor, but I like the way he gets down the field, Kiper said. When hes down the field, hes not going to be running past people, hes not the kind of guy whos going to be a vertical stretch option, but in college he was able to do that. I was very impressed by that aspect of his game.

He could get down the field; he was able to make plays. When he looked like he was in contested situations and it wasnt going to go his way, he would come through with a reception. Even when hes covered, hell know when to break it up and not allow the defensive back to get the interception.

Gandy-Goldens preparation for the NFL Draft began in Boca Raton, Florida, at XPE Sports.

Tony Villani served as his trainer and speed coach, and former NFL standouts Cris Carter and Anquan Boldin were his receiver coaches.

Carter and Boldin were both bigger outside receivers in the NFL and taught Gandy-Golden new tricks for the next level.

At LU, Gandy-Golden overpowered smaller defensive backs with his size and used his wide catch radius and strong hands to win battles against defensive backs at Power 5 schools like Rutgers and Virginia.

He said the main aspect he worked on with Carter and Boldin, the one thats really the main part, was getting out of his breaks as a bigger receiver.

I had a lot of the other physical traits with just being able to carry my weight in that way, he said, and getting out of my breaks is very important for a bigger receiver like me.

James Jones, an NFL Network analyst and former wide receiver, said Gandy-Golden has the best hands of any receiver eligible for the draft, and Jones consistently has rated Gandy-Golden as one of his top five receivers.

You could say he didnt run that great; well, he ran good enough for a kid thats 6-4, 223 pounds, Kiper said. ... Hes got a very good stiff-arm after the catch. Hes been a guy that can break tackles after the catch. He can run across the middle. Hes got good football IQ.

His production has been off the charts. I think if you get into the fourth or fifth round, I would take a good, hard look at him.

Gandy-Golden finished his illustrious career at Liberty with 240 catches for 3,814 yards and 33 touchdowns all program records.

He posted 150 catches, 2,433 yards and 20 touchdowns during the Flames two seasons at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.

I want to be remembered in a good way, Gandy-Golden said of his playing days at LU. I want them to know I was the best receiver to play here, one of the best players to play here overall, and I feel like they can look back and reminisce in a good way to when I was here.

Gandy-Goldens mother and younger twin brothers are driving from Dallas, Georgia, to Lynchburg on Wednesday and will spend the entire draft with him at his off-campus apartment.

He said his plan is to stay in and be with his family during the event, and he may have select close friends visit throughout the three days.

The only really big difference for me is just that I wont be able to have a bigger group of people, which is honestly fine, he said.

Damien Sordelett covers Liberty University athletics for The News & Advance. Reach him at (434) 385-5550.

Damien Sordelett covers Liberty University athletics and local golf for The News & Advance. Reach him at (434) 385-5550.

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Former Liberty WR Antonio Gandy-Golden ready to hear his name called in NFL Draft - Lynchburg News and Advance

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Letter to the editor: Destruction of life, liberty, happiness - TribLIVE

EUGENE As soon as they won the WNBA draft lottery, it was a foregone conclusion the New York Liberty were going to select Sabrina Ionescu.

But during the course of Oregons season, it wasnt only Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb and new coach Walt Hopkins who attended Ducks games to watch the future face of their franchise. Numerous members of the Libertys front office, including COO Keia Clarke, vice president of marketing Shana Stephenson and later owner Joe Tsai, came to watch Ionescu play in either Eugene, Stanford or Las Vegas and saw the atmosphere she helped create at Oregon to get a sense of what might be possible in her new home in Brooklyn.

It was a great kind of endeavor for the entire organization, Kolb said on The James Crepea Show on 1050/95.7 Fox Sports Eugene. "Walt and I were out there in Eugene witnessing the (Team) USA game that Oregon had and when we got back to Brooklyn, our COO Keia Clark and our marketing head Shana Stephenson really wanted to get out to Oregon to see it for themselves. Shana went out and she spoke to a lot of people out there and they really wanted to get a feel for the environment, which is really magical out there in Eugene especially at that arena. Its something that was really specially created over the past four years there and in part obviously to Sabrina.

They came back in awe and really spoke really highly. I think they put together some wonderful content for that that will come out here in the next couple of weeks. The finishing touch on that would be our owner, Joe Tsai, also the Brooklyn Nets owner. He accompanied us to the Stanford game where Sabrina - it was the Kobe (Bryant) memorial night and then she made history there with her triple-double and her rebounding record and he was there too. Everybody knew and felt the momentum that Sabrina was bringing with her and wanted to see it first-hand.

The Liberty got an early glimpse at Sabrina-mania after drafting her No. 1 overall during Friday nights draft. An early edition Liberty T-Shirt with Ionescus name and No. 20 on the back sold out online almost instantly. Pre-orders for her official jersey, which wont ship until September, are piling up.

So business is booming around Ionescu, who signed endorsement deals with Nike and Beats by Dre, even as basketball activities are in flux due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The WNBA indefinitely postponed the start of its season, which would have been May 16 for the Liberty, and there is no clear timetable for when it will begin.

But once it does, Ionescu will be the centerpiece of a rebuilding team and running Hopkins pick-and-roll offense.

I think Ducks fans are really going to enjoy what they see, Hopkins said. Its going to be a fast game. Theres going to be a lot of three-point shots. Theres going to be a lot of driving and kicking. Youre going to see a lot of people who like to share the ball and play for one another.

Leading up to the draft and in the days since, Ionescu has repeatedly been asked where she feels she needs to improve her game in transitioning to the professional level and she is all-encompassing.

Im looking to do everything that I possibly can to get better in every aspect, whether thats scoring, defending, rebounding, passing, she said. Im really just excited to be playing against professionals and learning from them and just seeing where that takes me.

RELATED: What Sabrina Ionescu said about being drafted No. 1 in WNBA Draft by New York Liberty

Its not lip service either. Ionescu doesnt hide from the fact that shes not the strongest, fastest or most physically gifted player. What separates her are intangibles; game IQ, court vision, work ethic and competitiveness.

The interesting thing is that she doesnt do it with tremendous foot speed, UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. Like she doesnt run by you and she doesnt jump over you. She does it more old school basketball-wise. Those players are few and far in between. She beats you with her head, her eyes and she beats you with her relentlessness and how tough she is. I just said like four of five things that maybe two or three players in the country have and she happens to have all those things. If youve got those things and youre living in a world where the people youre playing against have even one of those things or two of things, you got a huge advantage every night you step on the floor, and thats where she is.

To Hopkins, it only underscores exactly the magnitude of Ionescus intelligence and understanding of the game that she was able to garner such accolades, sweep the national player of the year awards and compile such absurd statistical measures without being a physical phenom.

It kind of amplifies the importance of that and it brings so much attention to the fact that that must be an elite trait, for her to be as good as she is in spite of the fact that she doesnt really have any real genetic gifts other than her size," Hopkins said. "She has elite size for a point guard; so she does have that at 5-foot-11 and strong. ... The most exciting thing for me as I watch, is the pick and roll has kind of been my forte; its been how Ive worked my way up in player development. Really studying and understanding the nuances of pick and roll and I watch Sabrina and I see a ton of room for growth. Its not something where I see a finished product out there. I think from a farther away view it looks like Sabrina has mastered the pick and roll, but I can assure you she hasnt and thats scary because shes got a lot of room to grow.

"There are a few little tricks that shes going to pick up that are going to kind of I guess expand what she can do within pick and roll, which is already pretty amazing. Thinking of that and using her body around the rim more, using her body more in pick and roll. She does have that size and she sometimes goes away from contact in the pick and roll or off the handle where she can be taught to keep ball security and create contacts when all these teams are coming after her like they will because shes going to have a target on her back at first. Shes going to be able to weather that by knowing how to use her body and drawing fouls. She can make people pay.

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Why the New York Liberty sent so many front office staff to watch Sabrina Ionescu, how they plan to use the f - OregonLive

Judges of Galveston, Brazoria and Montgomery counties said although Harris County is requiring face coverings in public, they will not issue such a mandate.

HOUSTON While Harris County is set to implement a 30-day order requiring face coverings in public starting Monday, other county judges are making it clear they will not mandate residents cover their faces.

The Harris County order requires residents ages 10 and older to cover their nose and mouth when in public. It is set to begin Monday, April 27 and will last for 30 days. Residents who dont follow the order could face a $1,000 fine.

Galveston County Judge Mark Henry tweeted while covering ones face in public is recommended by national and local authorities, he will not mandate face coverings, as he believes it is unconstitutional to do so.

Just as critical as getting our economy back up and running, it is important that elected officials uphold their oaths to defend the Constitution and ensure individual freedoms remain intact during and after this pandemic, he said in a statement.

Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough also said he will not mandate face coverings in public.

I do not find a statutory or legal basis that would allow me or anyone else in government to issue an order requiring citizens to wear a mask In public, especially under the fear of making it a criminal offense if they dont, he said in a video statement.

I will not be issuing an order mandating the wearing of mask In public places. This is my statement on the issue.

Judge Keough encouraged residents to respect each other whether they choose to wear a mask and continue practicing social distancing.

Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta also said he will not mandate residents to wear masks in public unless the county health authority strongly recommends it. However, Judge Sebesta highly encourages everyone to wear a mask when out in public.

Fort Bend County Judge KP George said he is not issuing a mandate but still "strong recommends" residents wear masks in public.

Officials in Chambers, Waller and Liberty counties also said they have no such required face covering orders in place.

Coronavirus symptoms

The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Some patients also have nausea, body aches, headaches and stomach issues. Losing your sense of taste and/or smell can also be an early warning sign.

Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80 percent of the cases there were mild.

But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk for becoming seriously ill. However, U.S. experts are seeing a significant number of younger people being hospitalized, including some in ICU.

The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.

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'Liberty and freedom' | Other counties say they will not require masks like Harris County, Houston - KHOU.com

Updated 12:30 pm

A freedom and liberty to work rally at Five Corners for Wednesday, April 22, from 3 to 5 pm, was canceled by its organizers, which included members of the family that owns the popular Black Dog restaurants, cafes, and shops.

The idea for the rally started as a discussion of the biological and economic issues the Island was facing, Robbie Douglas told The Times Wednesday morning.

Our idea was to have a gathering or a rally just to ask some questions, which we thought were important to address, Douglas said.

Douglas stressed there were no demands, only a desire to have an open dialogue about a smart and safe reopening of the economy, protecting the vulnerable, and letting the healthy work to support the nation.

After the rally post went up on Facebook, Douglas said he started to get a significant number of calls about why the rally was happening and decided the best thing to do was to cancel it.

We received a significant amount of calls questioning why we were doing it and it just seemed like it got out of control. Im not so sure our original message was read, but if it was going to put more distress into the community thats never what we were about.

Douglas said they were concerned about the potential effect on business, but didnt anticipate India Roses website calling for a boycott of the company.

Douglas said their main concern is to discuss what the community could do to address the long-term effects on the economy.

The great unknown to us is the economical, which will lead back to our families and to our communities, Douglas said. We see it as an ecosystem that works when were all healthy. If were not all healthy biologically or economically, what are the consequences?

Kenny MacDonald, a friend of the Douglases and a Navy Seal veteran who helped organize the rally, said he volunteered at the food pantry and saw many families showing up for assistance. The rally was a way to bring up these issues.

Im seeing a struggling community, MacDonald said. Im seeing my neighbors that are struggling, Im seeing small businesses that might be going under and theres no jobs to go back to for those workers that dont have a job currently Losing a job is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a person.

For now, Douglas said they will pull back and reassess how to have a healthy discussion. He also advocated for his 190 employees whom he furloughed.

When you look into the eyes of these people who have mortgages, daycare payments, car payments and you say hey, thank you for your 20 years of service, well talk to you in two or three months and we hope to be able to bring you back. Thats a painful experience that I personally had to deal with. We wanted to continue to have the discussion so I can bring these individuals back. The employees succeed, the businesses succeed, and then the economy succeeds and the community succeeds.

Douglas brother Jamie Douglas said he is used to being on the frontlines with customers, and its important to maintain the summer economy.

I believe through smart measures we can do that and afford ourselves some type of an economy for the summer, which is so vital and critical to every single person that lives out here, Jamie Douglas said. This is a tourist resort Island driven by a seasonal economy 90 percent. Its essential that theres a semblance of that that remains.

While the Douglas brothers and MacDonald stepped away from the rally, they want to continue a dialogue and discuss reopening the Island economy in conjunction with healthcare professionals.

This is not political for us. This is about economic survival, Robbie Douglas said.

MacDonalds Facebook page includes posts about the tyrannical approach of the U.S. America, youve been robbed of your money, your liberty and your dignity, he wrote on April 13. Your governments have declared you unable to make responsible decisions. This should insult any freedom loving person. But instead of revolting, we applaud and defend our oppressors.

On that same post, Robbie Douglas commented with a link to one of the highly publicized and politically charged protests in Michigan.

After Douglas told The Times Wednesdays rally was off, Ben Ferry wrote on the Islanders Talk Facebook page that it is still on. This has never been about Black Dog nor will it be in the future, he wrote. This is about the crippling effect this shutdown has had on working class families in our community.

Ferrys post ignited a raging debate on the Facebook page between those who want a return to some normalcy and those who say its too soon.

When the Douglas family was still involved, the initial call for a rally was kicked off in an April 19 Facebook post by Jamie Douglas who called for people to get back to work and restore our freedom and to save M.V. economy.

The post says everyone will practice social distancing, and calls for a smart and safe reopening of the economy and that the cure cant be worse than the disease.

Douglas brother Robbie Douglas was also tagged in the post.

There was almost immediate backlash to the proposed rally, which follows highly publicized events in Michigan, Ohio, and a more modest one at the Bourne Rotary on Cape Cod.

India Rose, a business consultant from Vineyard Haven, created boycottblackdog.com, a website encouraging people to stop patronizing the company.

The CEO of The Black Dog company is planning a liberation type of protest at Five Corners in Vineyard Haven on Marthas Vineyard on Wednesday April 22, 2020. In protest of current safety and stay-at-home orders. This is an act of selfish greed and the Island of Marthas Vineyard does not want this nonsense here. We encourage everyone to boycott all of their restaurants and shops and support other Island businesses that are REAL small businesses that care about this community, the website reads.

In a phone conversation with The Times, Rose said her call for a boycott was in counter protest to the Five Corners gathering.

I think what theyre doing is dangerous and counter productive, Rose said, adding that she and her family have made sacrifices like everyone else. Its not good for anybody, its not good for our community. All of us are making sacrifices. My parents live in Vineyard Haven and we dont go to their house. Were all doing our part to keep each other safe.

She said it followed a similar trend across the country of groups holding rallies and gatherings demanding the reopening of the economy.

Hopefully they [will] just really reconsider the reasoning and what theyre doing, she said.

Updated to include an interview with the Douglas brothers and their friend on Wednesday. -ed.

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'Freedom and liberty to work' rally is canceled; or is it? - Martha's Vineyard Times

In early 2018, Vermonts governor signed into law Act 94, which placed numerous restrictions on Vermonters ability to acquire and own firearms. One of these restrictions is aban on largecapacity magazines (LCMs), which the statute defines as magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds of ammunition for along gun or more than fifteen rounds for ahandgun. Max Misch, aVermont resident who traveled to New Hampshire to buy two 30round rifle magazines and brought them back to Vermont, was charged with violating the LCM ban.

Misch moved to dismiss the charges, arguing that the ban violates the Vermont Constitution, which declares that the people have aright to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the State. The trial court denied his motion, despite recognizing the long history of the right to bear arms in Vermont. Although the court acknowledged that the LCM ban imposed aburden on aconstitutional right, it determined that the burden was minimal and reasonable.

The question of the LCM bans constitutionality has now been taken up by the Vermont Supreme Court. Cato, together with the Independence Institute and four firearmspolicy organizationshas filed abrief supporting Mr. Misch.

We argue that Vermonts magazine ban is irreconcilable with the social and political setting in which the states constitution originated and is therefore unconstitutional. We trace the lengthy history of repeating firearms with magazines exceeding the size allowed under the LCM ban. Guns with magazine sizes banned by the new law have existed and enjoyed enduring popularity for the entire history of Vermont. By contrast, restrictions on magazine size have been ararity throughout American history.

Vermont ratified its first constitutionwhich contained the current arms provisionin 1777, against abackground of Britishimposed arms controls. After the Founders experience with those restrictions, they hardly intended that their government would have the power to outlaw some of the most common firearms components in the nation. Ethan and Ira Allen, Vermonts founders, were particularly strong advocates of the right to bear arms. In 1796, Ira successfully defended himself against British seizure of 20,000 arms that he was transporting from France, explaining how in Vermont, citizens were free to turn their gardens into parks of artillery, and their houses into arsenals, without danger to Government.

The right to bear arms that Vermonts founding generation fought and died for is as relevant today as it has been throughout the states history. We urge the Vermont Supreme Court to make clear that the states constitutional protection of its citizens right to bear arms in selfdefense has not become adead letter, and to hold the LCM ban unconstitutional.

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A Second Amendment Challenge in the Green Mountain State - Cato Institute

Liberty's portfolio of premium products include Clarity Brands, Papa's Herb, Mary's Medicinal, G Pen, PAX, Lemon and Grass, Liberty Health Sciences, Zentient and Pretty Pistil

TORONTO, April 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Liberty Health Sciences Inc. (CSE: LHS) (OTCQX: LHSIF) http://www.libertyhealthsciences.com("Liberty" or the "Company"), a provider of high quality cannabis,announced today the expansion to its award-winning brand portfolio of premium products that are available at all of its locations in Florida. Today Liberty launched its Liberty Health Sciences Shake brand to join its expanded and current portfolio that includes innovative cannabis products and formats, including premium flower, CBD, topicals, tinctures, extract and vape products.

Liberty Health Sciences Inc. (CNW Group/Liberty Health Sciences Inc.)

Liberty recently introduced Clarity Brands http://www.claritybrands.lifethat includes oil derived products on cartridges and G Pen pods and is available in all of its stores.

The Company has also recently introduced the all-new Papa's Herb classic 510 Cartridge pen to its Papa's Herb line up that has proven to be a popular new item in all of the dispensaries. In addition, Liberty has extended its popular offering of G Pen devices to include Roam, Elite, Connect, Gio, Pro, and Nova.

"We are always looking for ways to enhance our product offerings and find ways to better serve our patient's needs," said Victor Mancebo, Chief Executive Officer of Liberty. "Our passion and determination is to provide accessibility of best in class products at valued prices, especially during these challenging times. We are excited to grow our offering and provide the right cannabis derived medical options at a time when people need affordable ways to maintain their wellness and continue to practice social distancing."

Products under the Liberty umbrella include:

Clarity Brands: Clarity Brands promotes the clarification of body and soul through the use of cannabis products that are lab tested and organically and locally farm grown.

Zentient: Zentient represents a line of premium CBD and THC balanced products including topicals, vapes, and oral solutions made from a proprietary formula of ultra-high-quality cannabinoids.

Pretty Pistil: Pretty Pistil is a powerful (feminine house brand) that brings a beautifully balanced approach to high quality cannabis experiences for those with sophisticated tastes and a rebellious spirit.

Papa's Herb:Papa's Herb specializes in providing value products to the market. The brand highly prioritizes and is hyper-focused on their customers first. They offer quality Flower products at an always accessible price-point for all to enjoy.

Mary's Medicinal:Best known as the developer and exclusive distributor of the award-winning Transdermal Cannabis Patch, Mary's is transforming how people view and utilize cannabis; developing products that maximize the benefits of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant nutrients.

G Pen: Grenco Science, the maker of the G Pen Gio, Pro, Connect, Elite and Nova, is a leader in engineering advanced cannabis vaporizers, known for its aesthetics, portability, functionality, and user experience.

PAX: PAX is a leader in the design and development of premium cannabis vaporization technologies and devices.

Lemon and Grass: Lemon and Grass combines nature, science, and tech to formulate, and deliver, the highest standard of product. We strive for consistency to ensure that each and every time you use Lemon and Grass products, the results are reliable.

Story continues

Visit Liberty's social media channels for further details:

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/LibertyHealthSciences Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libertyhealthsciences/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LibertyHSInc #LiveFree

Patients may place an order online at: http://www.libertyhealthsciences.comfor in-store pick-up or free delivery.

About Liberty Health Sciences Inc.Liberty is the cannabis provider committed to providing a trusted, high quality cannabis experience based on our genuine care for all cannabis users and a focus on operational excellence from seed to sale. Liberty's measured approach to expansion opportunities is focused on maximizing returns to shareholders, while keeping consumers' well-being at the forefront of what we do. For more information, please visit: http://www.libertyhealthsciences.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "believe", "plan", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, expectations related to the Company's production capabilities, expectations concerning the receipt of all necessary approvals from the Florida Department of Health, expectations concerning the opening of new dispensaries and the expansion of its greenhouse space, and the Company's future expansion and growth strategies. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; marketing costs; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments involving medical marijuana; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; the medical marijuana industry in the United States generally, income tax and regulatory matters; the ability of Liberty to implement its business strategies; competition; crop failure; currency and interest rate fluctuations and other risks. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

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Liberty Health Sciences Announces Expansion of its Cannabis Brand Portfolio - Yahoo Finance

It was troubling to see the Utah Business Revival protest that took place at Washington Square in Salt Lake City last weekend.

It was troubling because this protest seems to have emboldened reactionary, anti-science fringe movements even as health experts continue to show the need for social distancing measures.

It was also troubling because four months ago at the same location, 100 police officers in riot gear dismantled a demonstration featuring a diverse coalition of working-class activists and homeless people. Those demonstrators made demands for better conditions for the homeless. The protest was nonviolent and featured free first aid, daily meals and winter supplies for those in need. Yet the Salt Lake City Police Department suppressed it as if it were an armed occupation.

Saturdays event featured a speaker who actually once led an armed occupation Ammon Bundy. Also of note is that the event, which brought over 1,000 people into one of the most infected zip codes in the state, was organized by a former Salt Lake City Police Department officer who was placed on leave for anti-LGBTQ bigotry. Despite these details, as well as a sea of Dont Tread on Me flags wielded by a nearly all-white audience, the event was tread on by no one. The police had almost no presence at the event at all, much less a suppressive one.

Highlighting the disparity in police response is not to call for more aggressive policing. Instead, it points out that, as much as they say otherwise, the police do take sides. They are a plainly political organization that upholds racism and the dominance of property owners.

What was particularly troubling about Saturdays event were the demands made under the guise of individual liberty. Business owners demanded that the county allow them to force their employees back to work before it is safe. Landlords demanded that the state allow them to aggressively collect rent again. Middle-class suburbanites demanded that service workers be able to start serving them again. These are the demands of a plummeting middle class that is trying to keep up with an impossibly rich, exploitative class at the expense of everyones health.

Instead, working people must make demands that acknowledge the needs of those who are most at risk. Essential workers, who are largely low-income and nonwhite, dont need more businesses to open back up. What we need to fight the virus is sick pay, 100% unemployment insurance, a moratorium on rents and mortgages, a release of huge numbers of incarcerated people to prevent virus hot spots, secure housing for all and free COVID-19 testing and health care.

Rather than demand liberty for the individual, it is time to fight for liberation of the many including communities of color, unsheltered people, older Americans, incarcerated people, students and all poor and working-class people.

Deja Gaston and Alex Murphy are Utah community organizers and members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

Read the original here:

Deja Gaston and Alex Murphy: Coronavirus protesters demand 'liberty' at the expense of the rest of us - Salt Lake Tribune

Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:LTRPA) went up by 4.19% from its latest closing price when compared to the 1-year high value of $15.85 and move down -607.59%, while LTRPA stocks collected -6.67% of loss with the last five trading sessions. Barron's reported on 02/20/19 that 2 Deal Opportunities as John Malone Untangles His Empire

Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRPA) The 36 Months beta value for LTRPA stocks is at 2.31, while of the analysts out of 0 who provided ratings for Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. stocks as a buy while as overweight, rated it as hold and as sell. The average price we get from analysts is $8.00 which is $5.76 above current price. LTRPA currently has a short float of 2.35% and public float of 72.14M with average trading volume of 2.08M shares.

LTRPA stocks went down by -6.67% for the week, with the monthly jump of 14.29% and a quarterly performance of -68.58%, while its annual performance rate touched -84.69%. The simple moving average for the period of the last 20 days is 11.06% for LTRPA stocks with the simple moving average of -69.34% for the last 200 days.

Many brokerage firms have already submitted their reports for LTRPA stocks, with Guggenheim repeating the rating for LTRPA shares by setting it to Neutral. The predicted price for LTRPA socks in the upcoming period according to Guggenheim is $160 based on the research report published on June 13, 2019.

Evercore ISI, on the other hand, stated in their research note that they expect to see LTRPA stock at the price of $12.50. The rating they have provided for LTRPA stocks is In-line according to the report published on October 16, 2018.

Guggenheim gave Sell rating to LTRPA stocks, setting the target price at $12.50 in the report published on May 25, 2018.

After a stumble in the market that brought LTRPA to its low price for the period of the last 52 weeks, Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. was unable to take a rebound, for now settling with -85.87% of loss for the given period.

The stock volatility was left at 20.77%, however, within the period of a single month, the volatility rate increased by 13.11%, while the shares sank at the distance of -0.44% for the moving average in the last 20 days. In oppose to the moving average for the last 50 days, trading by -66.32% lower at the present time.

In the course of the last 5 trading sessions, LTRPA went down by -6.67%, which changed the moving average for the period of 200 days to the total of -81.70% of losses for the stock in comparison to the 20-day moving average settled at $2.02. In addition, Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. saw -69.52% in overturn over the period of a single year with a tendency to cut further losses.

Reports are indicating that there were more than several insider trading activities at Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. (LTRPA), starting from MAFFEI GREGORY B, who bought 15,408 shares at the price of $10.38 back on Sep 13. After this action, Rushing now owns 2,785,581 shares of Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc., valued at $160,004 with the latest closing price.

The current profitability levels are settled at +8.27 for the present operating margin and +64.29 for gross margin. The net margin for Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. stands at -1.41. Total capital return value is set at 3.21, while invested capital returns managed to touch -3.10. Equity return holds the value -6.80%, with -0.40% for asset returns.

Based on Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. (LTRPA), the companys capital structure generated 162.50 points for debt to equity in total, while total debt to capital is set at the value of 61.90. Total debt to assets is settled at the value of 10.86 with long-term debt to equity ratio rests at 5.86 and long-term debt to capital is 154.69.

The value for Enterprise to Sales is 0.23 with debt to enterprise value settled at 0.14. The receivables turnover for Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. is 7.90 with the total asset turnover at the value of 0.31. The liquidity ratio also appears to be rather interesting for investors as it stands at 1.27.

See original here:

$2.11 $2.37: is It Good Range to Buy Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. (LTRPA)? - The News Heater

LANSDALE, PA A trail in Lansdale has received recognition for excellence by the American Society of Highway Engineers, which cited the project's complexity as well as its significance to the area economy and long term master plan.

The Liberty Bell Trail, the latest phase of which was completed in Oct. 2019, has been named the Delaware Valley 2019 Project of the Year in the under $10 million category, Pennoni, an engineering firm which assisted on the project, announced.

"This project met and exceeded the Borough's goals and objectives. From start to finish, this project was a true collaboration between all parties and I applaud the entire project team for their efforts in not only making this project a success but also for their continued commitment to the future of Lansdale," John Ernst, Lansdale's borough manager, said in a statement.

The 10-foot-wide multi-use trail which runs through the heart of downtown Lansdale was no easy task to perfect. Lansdale and Montgomery County worked closed with SEPTA, Pennoni, PennDOT, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, and the Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad on various aspects of the project.

Some of the features noted by the award's organizers include the prefabricated bridge which crosses a large drainage channel next to the SEPTA tracks, as well as carefully planned at-grade rail crossings.

The trail not only increases walkability and recreation access while serving as a boon to the borough's economy, but it's also a "significant piece" of a larger puzzle in regional trails.

The project has been planned and been in varying stages of development for years. Regional developers foresee that the trail could ultimately run the length of the Liberty Bell Trolley Line between Norristown and Quakertown, which would link Lansdale to both the Schuylkill River Trail and Upper Bucks Rail Trail. Feasibility studies for further extensions have been completed or are underway.

See the original post here:

Lansdales Liberty Bell Trail Named Region Project Of The Year - Montgomeryville, PA Patch

National Review founder William F. Buckley Jr.Its been raging since Milton Friedman and Bill Buckley duked it out on Firing Line five decades ago.

Between Sohrab Ahmaris denunciations of David Frenchism, Adrian Vermeules murkily authoritarian common-good constitutionalism, and Patrick Deneens book-long broadside against the liberal tradition, much ink has been spilled about the emergent ideological fissures within American conservatism. But such debates are hardly new. In fact, theyve been going on for at least five decades.

All the way back in 1968, William F. Buckley Jr. published a little book called Gratitude. Subtitled Reflections On What We Owe To Our Country, the book was Buckleys attempt to propose a Switzerland-style national-service program for Americas youth, born out of his concern that the younger generation lacked responsibility and patriotism. No doubt fully aware of the controversy that his proposal would ignite among many of his fellow travelers on the political right, Buckley wrote:

The conviction of some conservatives that the state cant have a genuine, non-predatory interest in the cultivation of virtue strikes me as an anarchical accretion in modern conservative thought, something that grew from too humorless a reading of such spirited individualists as Albert Jay Nock and H.L. Mencken. . . . National service, if transformed merely into a state bureaucracy with huge powers of intimidation, is not only to be avoided, but to be fought. But we can open our minds to something other than a statist program, or one that lodges in the state the kind of power conservatives have been taught, at great historical expense, to husband for social uses.

So conscious was Buckley of the ire that his argument would provoke from the libertarian faction of the conservative coalition, he wrote an entire chapter entitled Anticipating the Libertarian Argument. Despite his support for free markets, he begrudgingly acknowledged the limitations of economic liberty. The deep wellsprings of patriotism are fed by other forces, and these do not leave fingerprints in the market, he wrote. They must be investigated by the use of entirely different instruments.

This is similar to a view that many of the more market-skeptical Burkean traditionalists have expressed in contemporary intra-conservative debates: the idea that the state has a vested interest in protecting and even proactively nurturing our civic institutions, placing some aspects of our cultural inheritance beyond the reach of the creative destruction that is inherent to any dynamic liberal society. Its a view that stems from a particular concern for what Buckley called connections between the individual and the community beyond those that relate either to the state or to the marketplace.

As Buckley expected, many prominent libertarians remained unconvinced by his ambitious case for a national-service program. Milton Friedman, the great padrino of classical liberalism and an old friend of Buckleys, was particularly upset by the proposal. In a now-famous Firing Line debate between the two, Friedman thundered: I am absolutely astounded that you, of all people, use the English language the way that you use it. Theres nothing voluntary about your program. . . . My God, whats happened to you?

Though it only lasted for about 25 minutes, the BuckleyFriedman debate crystallized the tug of war between common-good and liberty-minded conservatives that continues to this day. Friedman was the strident individualist, deeply suspicious of central planning and instinctually indignant at the prospect of expanding coercive state power. He denounced Buckleys organismic, collectivist philosophy, and, striking a characteristically Lockean tone, argued that our society is a collection of individuals who join together to achieve their common purposes, and the state is simply a mechanism through which they achieve their common purposes. Buckley, by contrast, argued that a decline in the collective virtue and patriotic duty of a people was a serious problem that could not be solved by private action alone. He shot back at Friedman that society is not a meaningless term, but rather a vehicle which will continue to protect your sons and mine, and that we have therefore an interest in the shape of.

This should all sound familiar to students of the contemporary rights internecine wars. Buckleys proposal of a national-service program that would act as a government-run promoter of good character was anathema to Friedman, who argued that the whole system of private enterprise itself functions as voluntary national service, using the terms correctly. A similar debate is occurring in our current moment: Some contemporary conservative thinkers have argued that, in our increasingly atomized and individualistic culture, the state must be more aggressive in promoting virtue, order, and the common good. Others, echoing Friedman, counter that liberty is the common good, at least insofar as the role of government is concerned.

For conservatives in both 1968 and today, the fundamental question remains the same: In a free society, how far should the state go in exercising its coercive powers to ensure positive outcomes for society? I object to it strenuously, Friedman said of such state action. I think its one of the typical cases of some people who think they know whats good for other people. Buckley, meanwhile, argued that some state action is justified by the necessity for virtuous citizenry.

It is worth noting, of course, that the two men agreed on the vast majority of political issues. Both understood themselves as advocating for freedom, republican democracy, a flourishing civil society, and a virtuous, self-governing people. The fiery nature of their debate was largely borne out of the fact that they understood themselves as being on the same side, and were thus upset at what they saw as the others betrayal of a shared vision.

Now more than ever, conservatives must take care to keep sight of what we share, however many contentious feuds may erupt over what we dont. Buckley and Friedman remain a great model of how to maintain a persistently deep friendship despite vehement disagreements. In the closing seconds of their storied 1968 debate, the two intellectual giants even flashed sheepish grins at each other. When the fight was over, there was a palpable exhalation throughout the television studio though they had been energetic rivals mere minutes before, the two men were companions once again. The lights began to dim, and the Firing Line music signaled the end of another episode.

Okay, Buckley smiled at Friedman. Ill see you in Alta, Milton.

Read more:

The Debate Between Liberty-Minded and Common-Good Conservatives Is Nothing New - National Review

When schools closed and the shut down order began, the city of Liberty Lake swung into action. It activated a new Facebook group called Connecting Liberty Lake and recruited volunteers to sign up to help their neighbors with things like grocery deliveries.

Our goal is to connect people who need help with people who need assistance, said city administrator Katy Allen. We have a lot of volunteers signing up on Facebook.

Its a tried-and-true method for the city. A similar group called the Snow Angels matches volunteers with residents who need help shoveling the snow off sidewalks and driveways. Another group rakes leaves in the fall and still another does spring yard work. Weve used that same platform, Allen said.

It seems like every season we have something, said Operations and Maintenance Director Jennifer Camp.

When the city was under a boil-water order earlier this week it was able to martial volunteers who had signed up to shovel snow and rake leaves to bring bottled water to those who couldnt pick it up. It was very successful during the boil-water advisory, she said.

The Connecting Liberty Lake group has been popular since it began a month ago. There are 100 people signed up, Camp said.

But for some reason, no one has contacted the city to ask for help. Camp said theyre not sure if its because people dont know about it or if people are getting help in other ways.

Im not sure what it is, she said. This is different than our other efforts.

Camp said she has seen people seeking and receiving help on other community Facebook pages, including a mother who couldnt leave the house and needed diapers. Someone in the community volunteered to go to the store and get her some.

What Ive seen on the community pages is a lot of people helping each other out, she said. People are looking out for each other.

People can ask for whatever help they need, and the city will match them with a volunteer, Camp said. It could be anything from getting groceries to yard work.

Its really between the citizen asking for what they need and what a volunteer is willing to do, she said. The tasks could be endless, really. We just facilitate the coordination between the volunteer and the citizen in need.

Those who are in need of help can contact the city by calling (509) 755-6727 or sending an email to onlineinquiry@libertylakewa.gov. The city will then reach out to a volunteer who can help.

Meanwhile, the people who signed up to volunteer will go on the citys list of people willing to help in a time of need.

You can never have too many, Camp said. Once we create a database of volunteers, we can tap them for other things.

Thats something the city has already done. The snow angel and leaf-raking volunteers not only helped during the boil-water advisory, but the city also used the list to recruit volunteers to help set up the Winter Glow Christmas lighting event. They had so many people respond that they had to tell people to stop coming.

Allen said its clear people in Liberty Lake want to help each other.

If we had a natural disaster, I bet we could get 100 volunteers without trying, she said.

Read the original:

Connecting Liberty Lake ready to help: Citys volunteers wait for calls from those in need - The Spokesman-Review

A group of protestors gathered at Five Corners on a cold and windy afternoon Wednesday for the freedom and liberty to work rally holding American flags and signs saying I want to buy local and Thank you hospital.

The number of protestors hovered around 10 as people came and stood peacefully in support of the rally to reopen businesses.

Kenny MacDonald, who helped organize the rally with Jamie and Robbie Douglas before they pulled out of the event and decided not to attend, ended up joining the protest, holding a sign that said, All jobs are essential. The Douglas brothers are part of the family that owns the Black Dog restaurant, cafe, and retail shops, which faced a backlash from the event.

The rally comes on the heels of similar events across the country in Michigan, Ohio, and a smaller event at the Bourne Rotary Sunday, urging the government to end stay-at-home orders and business closures.

Chris DeMello, a landscaper, said it was important for people to be safe but equally as important for them to keep working.

We have to try and find that sweet spot of keeping people safe, DeMello said. The economy cant stay down forever.

Jason Cray, an Oak Bluffs carpenter who was wearing a Trump hat, held a large American flag and a sign saying liberty, freedom, work, socialism sucks!

Cray, who is also an Iraq war veteran, said he didnt want anyone to be sick, but the economy could be hurt.

Weve got to fight for peoples right to feed their families, he said. You shut down an economy its economic suicide.

Original post:

Rallying for the 'freedom and liberty to work' - Martha's Vineyard Times

One of the best investments we can make is in our own knowledge and skill set. With that in mind, this article will work through how we can use Return On Equity (ROE) to better understand a business. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of One Liberty Properties, Inc. (NYSE:OLP).

Return on equity or ROE is an important factor to be considered by a shareholder because it tells them how effectively their capital is being reinvested. In other words, it is a profitability ratio which measures the rate of return on the capital provided by the company's shareholders.

View our latest analysis for One Liberty Properties

The formula for return on equity is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for One Liberty Properties is:

6.4% = US$19m US$292m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2019).

The 'return' refers to a company's earnings over the last year. That means that for every $1 worth of shareholders' equity, the company generated $0.06 in profit.

Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. However, this method is only useful as a rough check, because companies do differ quite a bit within the same industry classification. The image below shows that One Liberty Properties has an ROE that is roughly in line with the REITs industry average (5.8%).

NYSE:OLP Past Revenue and Net Income April 23rd 2020

So while the ROE is not exceptional, at least its acceptable. Although the ROE is similar to the industry, we should still perform further checks to see if the company's ROE is being boosted by high debt levels. If true, then it is more an indication of risk than the potential. To know the 5 risks we have identified for One Liberty Properties visit our risks dashboard for free.

Most companies need money -- from somewhere -- to grow their profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. Thus the use of debt can improve ROE, albeit along with extra risk in the case of stormy weather, metaphorically speaking.

One Liberty Properties clearly uses a high amount of debt to boost returns, as it has a debt to equity ratio of 1.54. Its ROE is quite low, even with the use of significant debt; that's not a good result, in our opinion. Debt increases risk and reduces options for the company in the future, so you generally want to see some good returns from using it.

Return on equity is a useful indicator of the ability of a business to generate profits and return them to shareholders. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better.

But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So you might want to check this FREE visualization of analyst forecasts for the company.

Story continues

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.

Read the original post:

Is One Liberty Properties, Inc.'s (NYSE:OLP) ROE Of 6.4% Impressive? - Yahoo Finance

Apr 17, 2020

Mechelle VoepelESPN.com

The New York Liberty were involved in two trades on WNBA draft night, both bringing them forwards.

The Liberty received No. 10 pick Jocelyn Willoughby from Phoenix in exchange for the contract of guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. New York also got the contract of forward Stephanie Talbot from Minnesota in a swap for Rice guard Erica Ogwumike, who was the No. 26 pick by the Liberty.

With the trades, the Liberty ended up with four of the top 12 selections from Friday's draft and six overall. They acquired Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu at No. 1, UConn's Megan Walker at No. 9, Willoughby at No. 10, Louisville's Jazmine Jones at No. 12, Louisville's Kylee Shook at No. 13 and Duke's Leaonna Odom at No. 15.

2 Related

Willoughby, a 6-foot wing from Virginia, averaged 19.2 points per game this season for the Cavaliers.

Walker-Kimbrough, a former Maryland standout, played for the defending WNBA champion Washington Mystics the past three seasons and had been traded to New York this week as part of the Tina Charles deal. Walker-Kimbrough now joins the Mercury; the 5-foot-9 guard averaged 6.7 points last year.

Ogwumike averaged 19.0 points this season for the Owls, and she joins older sisters Nneka (2012) and Chiney (2014) Ogwumike in being selected in the WNBA draft. Nneka and Chiney were No. 1 picks, and both now play for the Los Angeles Sparks.

Talbot is a 6-foot-2 forward from Australia who averaged 5.2 points last season for the Lynx.

Read the original post:

Liberty end up with 4 of top 12 picks after draft-night deals - ESPN

Can the government restrict individual liberties to stop the spread of COVID-19? Its a question being raised by protesters and in lawsuits filed to contest government-imposed restrictions.

There have been very few Supreme Court cases involving the governments power to deal with the spread of communicable diseases. The most relevant decision for today was issued in Jacobson vs. Massachusetts in 1905. In that case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of a state law requiring compulsory vaccinations against smallpox. The court declared, Upon the principle of self-defense, of paramount necessity, a community has the right to protect itself against an epidemic of disease which threatens the safety of its members.

The court explicitly rejected the claim that liberty under the Constitution includes the right of individuals to make decisions about their own health in instances where those decisions could endanger others. But the court also made clear that restrictions imposed by the government to control communicable diseases must have a real or substantial relation to protecting public health.

Under this standard, there is no doubt that quarantine, shelter in place, and closure requirements are constitutional as a way of stopping the spread of COVID-19, even though they restrict freedom.

Throughout American history, quarantine orders have been upheld as valid exercises of the police power possessed by state and local governments. Not long after the Revolutionary War, Philadelphia imposed a quarantine to stop the spread of yellow fever. In 1799, Congress, by statute, recognized the power of states to impose quarantines. In 1926, the Supreme Court ruled that a state, in the exercise of its police power, may establish quarantines against human beings, or animals, or plants. Most recently, in 2016, a federal district court in New Jersey upheld a quarantine order for a nurse who had returned from Africa after treating Ebola patients.

The power to quarantine is not unlimited, however, and courts should invalidate orders that do not have a real and substantial relation to public health. In 1900, for example, a federal district court declared unconstitutional a quarantine order in San Francisco to stop the spread of bubonic plague because it was clear that it is made to operate against the Chinese population only and was based on racism, not public health needs.

At this stage, after a week when COVID-19 was second only to heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States, courts unquestionably should uphold orders for quarantine, shelter in place, and closure of nonessential businesses. All are designed to stop the transmission of a highly communicable disease that, if left unchecked, could overwhelm the healthcare system.

These orders are constitutional even when they preclude people from assembling for religious worship. A number of lawsuits have been filed by those who wish to gather for religious services, saying they have a 1st Amendment right to gather. But the Supreme Court has been clear that there is no exception to general laws for religion. Moreover, if people gather in large groups for this or any other purpose there is the serious risk of spreading COVID-19.

But this does not mean that the government can do whatever it wants in the name of stopping the spread of a communicable disease. There is always a danger that government might use its power as an excuse for unnecessary restrictions on freedom. This has occurred during our current crisis in countries including Hungary, which canceled elections, and Thailand and Jordan, which have restricted speech critical of the government.

In the United States, a number of states have adopted regulations preventing abortions, including medically induced abortions that involve no surgical procedure at all. It is hard to see how such restrictions have a real and substantial relationship to stopping the spread of COVID-19 as opposed to attempts to use the crisis as a pretext for imposing additional limits on abortion.

And courts would probably look skeptically on banning a religious service if it involved people staying in their cars in a parking lot a drive-in service, as some churches have instituted. Such gatherings present no valid public health threat, since they do not involve interpersonal contact.

Still, most closure orders are clearly constitutional. The right to swing your fist stops at another persons nose. With coronavirus, your freedom stops when it endangers others by facilitating transmission of a highly communicable disease.

Erwin Chemerinsky is dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law and a contributing writer to Opinion.

Read more:

Yes, government can restrict your liberty to protect public health - Los Angeles Times

Liberty offers many different types of technology for a wide variety of applications. Easily find just the products you need using our handy Product Selectors.

Know the Brand you're looking for? Focus our site by brand to make items easier to browse.

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Wow, all that in one place. You might never have to call us again (but we'd still love to hear from you).

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We've brought together links to tons of helpful info and tools all in one place for easy browsing.

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Join our mailing list so you always know what's new and upcoming.

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Liberty AV Solutions - Your Best Source for Pro AV ...

We think you should have a great time at sea. Carnival Liberty feels the same way! This is one ship thats ready to put its fun where your vacation is, with plenty of ways to enjoy your time away.

All day long, Carnival Liberty can be found serving up signature burgers designed by Guy Fieri, right there at Guys Burger Joint and look! just over there is SkyBox Sports Bar: a double-header of a sports bar that brings together live sports on TV and lively sports-gaming competition... oh, not to mention great drinks! Enjoy BlueIguana Cantina tacos and burritos on Lido deck made fresh, and fast, while you wait plus two great bars: one rum-slinging, one tequila-wielding, both dueling for your heart. Thats right: just a quick stroll from RedFrog Rum Bar youll find BlueIguana Tequila Bar.

On the entertainment side of things, Carnival Liberty features two of our best, live on stage. First theres Playlist Productions, where pros sing and dance their hearts out, performing high-energy themed revues of tunes you know, backed by amazing visual effects. Then theres Hasbro, The Game Show, where you might get the chance to come on down, get up on stage and compete in larger-than-life versions of your family-favorite Hasbro games each with a unique twist. Kids have three unique youth spaces where they can hang out with others their age and enjoy supervised activities, games and more.

You might call Carnival Liberty a vacation spot thats just full of great vacation spots and wed agree!

Original post:

Carnival Liberty | Deck Plans, Activities & Sailings ...

LYNCHBURG Liberty University offered $1,000 credits to students who decided not to return to campus residence halls because of the coronavirus pandemic, the university announced Friday.

For students returning in the fall, the credit will be available for tuition and room and board costs.

Graduating students will be provided a refund for any money left over after the credit is applied to their accounts in late April. Students not returning in the fall are not eligible.

Students had until Saturday to leave their dorms to qualify for the credit, according to the universitys online announcement Friday.

The offer could help incentivize some students who remained on campus to return to their hometowns. On Tuesday, a Liberty representative said about 1,900 were back on campus.

Liberty faced a flood of criticism from state and local officials after President Jerry Falwell Jr. invited students to return to campus even as most classes moved to an online format in response to the coronavirus threat.

I think we have a responsibility to our students who paid to be here, who want to be here, who love it here to give them the ability to be with their friends, to continue their studies, enjoy the room and board theyve already paid for and to not interrupt their college life, Falwell told The News & Advance on March 22.

During a news conference Wednesday, Gov. Ralph Northam called on Falwell to reconsider his decision to invite students back to campus.

Fridays announcement made Liberty the first institution of higher learning in the Lynchburg area to announce specific plans to reimburse students.

Leaders at Randolph College and Sweet Briar College have pledged to offer reimbursements in the future but had not yet released details about the exact size of the refunds.

The University of Lynchburg, meanwhile, has a policy against providing refunds in response to a pandemic, but administrators have said they are considering changing that policy.

Robert Lambeth Jr., the president of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia, said most private institutions in the state were considering offering refunds to students but are taking different approaches.

Some independent colleges and universities, including Liberty, are offering refunds at a flat rate, while others are prorating refunds based on the amount of time students spend on campus and the level of financial aid they receive, Lambeth said.

Theyre all over the map as to how the amount is calculated, Lambeth said. Everybody is making their own decisions.

Lambeth said several institutions were waiting to see how much assistance they would receive from the federal government as part of a $2 trillion emergency stimulus package.

Colleges and universities across the country are expected to receive about $14 billion in total relief.

Private institutions in particular are taking a huge financial hit from this whole crisis, he said. Its very difficult for all colleges, but particularly private colleges that dont get any direct state assistance.

Housing costs at Liberty range from $2,300 to $3,750 a semester, depending on the residence hall.

Richard Chumney covers Liberty University for The News & Advance. Reach him at (434) 385-5547.

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Liberty University to offer $1,000 credit to students who leave dorms by Saturday because of coronavirus - Richmond.com

GALVESTON

Two crew members from Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas cruise ship have tested positive for COVID-19, Port of Galveston officials confirmed Monday.

One of those crew members has been hospitalized and the other was still quarantined aboard the ship, along with about 1,250 other crew members, as of Monday evening, officials said.

The Liberty of the Seas is one of four nearly empty cruise ships that have been rotating out of the Port of Galveston over the past two weeks. The ship left the port Monday and was moored at an anchorage point off the Texas coast, Port of Galveston Director Rodger Rees said.

The ships need to move occasionally to resupply and keep their engines and other equipment working properly, he said, explaining that crew members remain aboard while the ships are berthed.

Liberty of the Seas is the second Galveston-based cruise ship to be connected to a case of COVID-19. Last week, Carnival Cruise Line informed passengers that one of the crew members of the Carnival Freedom had tested positive for COVID-19 and urged them to quarantine themselves because of their potential exposure.

It was unclear Monday whether Royal Caribbean was similarly notifying passengers who were on the Liberty of the Seas during its most recent voyage March 8. The ship returned to port from that voyage March 15.

In a statement to The Daily News, a Royal Caribbean spokesman said the situation aboard the Liberty of the Seas was "fluid."

"The health and well-being of our crew is our foremost priority," Jonathan Fishman said. "Crew members who exhibited symptoms will receive medical care in accordance with our health and safety protocols.

"We are in continuous contact with multiple government authorities and public health officials, and we appreciate their support and guidance in protecting everyones health and safety."

Members of the Wharves Board of Trustees were informed about the first diagnosed case Sunday, officials said. Trustees were told that at least 30 crew members were allowed off the ship and driven to an airport, officials said.

Those crew members were U.S. citizens, Rees said on Monday. They were screened for COVID-19 symptoms before they were allowed off the ship and then driven directly to a local airport, Rees said.

The Galveston County Health District has been informed about the infection aboard the cruise ship, a spokeswoman said.

The U.S. Coast Guard is one of the lead agencies in charge of monitoring and screening people on ships coming into the port for COVID-19 symptoms, Rees said. The Coast Guard did not respond to a request for comment about the situation aboard the Liberty of the Seas on Monday.

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Two COVID-19 cases confirmed aboard Liberty of the Seas - Galveston County Daily News