Posted: Apr 9, 2020 / 12:24 PM CDT / Updated: Apr 9, 2020 / 12:36 PM CDT

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. Officials said the statistics are promising in terms of fighting the COVID-19 disease in Madison County, but its too soon to begin celebrating.

In Huntsvilles daily news conference, Crestwood Hospital CEO Dr. Pam Hudson said their inpatient load has been flat, and thats consistent with the community taking the spread of the virus seriously. But

COVID is still out there, but our community is making it hard for it to do its dirty work, Hudson said.

Huntsville-Madison County EMA Director Jeff Birdwell said the county had seen 169 confirmed cases, with two deaths and one possible death under investigation.

Hudson said there are currently 11 positive cases in hospitals, and 11 suspected hospital cases were under investigation.

The promising trend was the result two weeks prior of social distancing and scaled back interactions, Hudson said. She stressed that the next two weeks hinge on the two weeks prior, and used a sports analogy, saying the community is at halftime in efforts to slow the virus spread.

Every day counts at this point, she said. Do not let up.

Huntsville City Administrator also applauded the publics efforts, but said he sees room for improvement. He asked for people to observe their own behavior and question their actions for example, one family member going to the grocery store instead of the whole family.

Dont go out because youre bored, Hamilton said. Dont go out just because you want to.

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Progress being made, but Huntsville officials say the fight against the virus is not over yet - WHNT News 19

The Central Coast is proving along with much of California that social distancing and restricted activity can bend the curve of the coronavirus pandemic.

But the battle is far from over and there are troubling signs that the disease will double back with a vengeance once the rules are relaxed.

At press time, San Luis Obispo County was seeing flat to slow growth in new cases and while still growing, Ventura County was beginning to flatten the curve. Santa Barbara County cases were still rising dramatically, particularly in Lompoc and northern Santa Barbara County just as they had done earlier in Simi Valley and SLO County.

But for the tri-county region, our cases per 100,000 a key metric that allows for comparisons across metro areas are relatively low. And with just six deaths, thats an enviable record given that our population is 1.4 million.

However, as Gov. Gavin Newsom has pointed out, the fact that California seems to be bending the curve does not mean that the end is in sight. There are two reasons for this. First, the much-anticipated apex in new cases is really only the mid-point in the pandemic and its impact on humans.

Second, by flattening the peak, we are extending the time during which populations will be at risk, and so the number of cases will continue to climb after the peak is reached. The slope downward will be longer and more gradual but the toll will continue to rise.

An advantage to Californias response is that it reduces the pressure on the health care system, providing a lot more time to increase the supply of protective gear and spreading out demand for ventilators, allowing the Golden State to ship out some capacity.

That amount of time could prove crucial, if as is being discussed, we are able to use temperature sensing, anti-viral drugs and advanced treatments to reopen schools and get businesses back up and running before a vaccine appears. It would not surprise us to see the state order 100 million tests so that every Californian could get a risk assessment as part of the reopening process.

One downside of extending social distancing rules and stay-at-home orders is that it places families in social isolation, raising the risk of abuse and violence against women and children. A news conference by Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley, Sheriff Bill Brown and others put a spotlight on this issue it is a serious one and it will be up to family members and others to say something if they are concerned about a family members welfare.

STORMS KEEP DROUGHT AT BAY

Far back in the rear view mirror is the memory of the severe drought that afflicted the region just a few years ago.

Before ending in the 2017-2018 season, the drought brought California and the Central Coast to the brink of disaster, with wells running dry in Paso Robles and parts of Ventura County. The drought prompted draconian state action in the form of mandatory restrictions.

Drought threatened a bit of a comeback this year but rains in March and April have taken SLO County out of its drought status. Rainfall has been less in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, but reservoirs are refilling and, for once, the worst case scenario has been delayed for at least another year.

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Our view: Progress with numbers but hard road ahead - Pacific Coast Business Times

Washington officials are cautiously optimistic about the flattening of the curve of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state, but are also asking residents to continue to keep their guard up as the state continues to battle the coronavirus.

The good news is the number of newly reported cases has generally declined since March 30, when 422 positive tests had been confirmed. Washingtons current totals are 9,097 cases with 421 deaths.

We do continue to flatten the epidemic curve in Washington, which is great news, said Dr. Kathy Lofy, state health officer for the Department of Health. But we cant let this news make us complacent.

That does not mean the state is out of the woods. There is typically a four- to seven-day delay between the time an illness starts and a laboratory-confirmed positive case is reported.

Lofy said it would take a two- to three-week decline in data indicators to determine whether or not the pandemic is truly starting to subside in the Evergreen State.

Its really difficult to know if we are at peak activity, Lofy said.

The positive developments, combined with the warmer weather in the Puget Sound region, could cause people to get a little complacent about staying home and as well as social distancing, said DOH Health Secretary Jonathan Wiesman.

That is the absolute worse thing people could do right now, Wiesman said.

Wiesman urged residents to stick with good hygiene practices and to continue observing Governor Jay Inslees Stay Home, Stay Healthy mandate.

Test result reporting delays continue

The Kitsap Public Health District has not reported negative results or the total amount of tests this week as the state transitions to a new reporting system, which had been previously overwhelmed by the high-volume of results. Negative tests had to be diverted to another system.

Lofy said the state is testing between 4,000 and 5,000 people per day, Monday through Friday, and about 2,000 people per day on the weekend.

The goal is to report all test results each day and take on other initiatives such as gathering hospitalization data from around the state, Wiesman said, which will give residents a more complete picture of the reality of the situation.

States bed capacity in good shape, officials say

In many states around the country, one of the biggest concerns in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic is the ability to handle virus-related hospitalizations.

Navy Vice Admiral (retired) Raquel C. Bono, the director of the COVID-19 system health response in Washington, said the state is in good shape in that regard. Bono said one of her tasks has been to assess bed capacity throughout the state, and she reported that Washingtons capacity is sufficient, even if there is an unexpected surge in cases that require hospitalization.

Bono is also working with the states various health providers to have each hospital pledge to take on extra patients if another nearby hospital is overrun.

We are able to flex to the surge, even at the higher number, Bono said.

As far as personal protection equipment, Wiesman said the state has in its warehouse right now 554,000 N95 respiratory masks and 782,000 surgical masks. The N95 masks are being prioritized for hospitals and surgical masks are for long-term care facilities.

The state has received 6 million total items to date, including 1,526,438 from the national stockpile and another 500,000 from donations.

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Washington is making progress, but state officials urge residents to not let their guard down - Bainbridge Island Review

TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNW) Kansas Governor Laura Kelly says her administration is suing after a legislative council revoked her executive order that limited the size of religious gatherings.

Kelly said during a news conference Thursday afternoon, that she has instructed her chief counsel to file suit against the legislative council and to request that the Kansas Supreme Court expedite the matter.

The actions of the Republican legislative leaders jeopardized both the health and safety of Kansans, she said. We do not have time to play political games during a pandemic.

The Legislative Coordinating Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to topple the order that limited in-person religious services and funerals to 10 people.

The now-overturned order had rescinded an earlier order barring any gathering with more than 10 people, raising questions about whether large gatherings are now legally permitted. Kelly said the councils vote had created confusion.

Speaker Ron Ryckman, R-Olathe, Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, and Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch, R-Ottawa, issued a statement after the Democratic governors news conference.

They said they are disappointed. They say they tried to work out a compromise that is both legal and protects the health and safety of all Kansans.

That solution does exist, the statement reads. Unfortunately, the Governors office was insistent that Executive Order #20-18 continue to contain a provision that would make church attendance in Kansas a crime. Under the advice of the Attorney General, that provision is unconstitutional and unenforceable.

Kelly said she spoke to Vice President Mike Pence Thursday. He assured her he knew what Kansas has been doing to stop the spread of the coronavirus. She says he also told her that the Trump administration supports her attempt to limit the size of gatherings, including religious gatherings.

Pence also told Kelly the administration would do everything it could to fulfill Kansas most urgent needs for personal protective equipment (PPE).

Kelly also announced Thursday that the Kansas Department of Labor has made some improvements in order to process unemployment claims more quickly.

The KDOL unemployment line shattered a record Monday with 1.6 million calls. Kelly says 78 workers from other state agencies have been brought in to help with the phones. The second wave of staffers was trained Wednesday and is now on the job.

She also aid the KDOL launched a new phone system. As of noon Thursday, workers were able to handle more than 1,300 calls. On Monday, it took all day to handle that many calls.

The governor said the fastest way to file unemployment is through the website GetKansasBenefits.gov.

Kelly said she is issuing two new executive orders Thursday. One extends professional and occupational licenses for the remainder of the pandemic and 90 days after the declaration expires. The other temporarily allows notaries and witnesses to do their job remotely.

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Governor sues over revoked limits to reglious gatherings, announces progress on unemployment help - KSN-TV

Freshly cast gold ingot bars sit in the foundry at the JSC Krastsvetmet non-ferrous metals plant in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019.

Andrew Rudakov | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Gold prices fell 1% on Tuesday,retreating from a one-month high hit earlier in the session asrisk sentiment improved on wider market optimism after therewere tentative signs of progress against coronavirus outbreaksin some countries.

Spot gold was down 0.5% at $1,653.25 per ounce by1024 GMT after rising to a one-month high of $1,671.40. Themetal had risen as much as 2.8% on Monday.

"Risk appetite is back in the markets as new infections aredeclining, that's weighing on gold prices. Also higher yieldsare negative for gold," said Quantitative Commodity Researchanalyst Peter Fertig.

"However, some investors fear that monetary policy wouldlead to inflation. For them, buying gold at these levels remains attractive."

Cautious optimism around a slowdown in new coronavirus casesin some countries lifted European shares higher for a secondday, even as major companies continued to take steps to shore upcash after lockdowns crushed global demand.

More than 1.32 million people have been reported as infectedby the virus across the world and 74,087 have died. BritishPrime Minister Boris Johnson was taken into intensive care onMonday after his symptoms worsened.

The pandemic has rattled financial markets around the worldover the course of the last quarter and prompted nations toextend lockdowns to curtail its spread.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was set to announce astate of emergency for the capital, Tokyo, and six otherprefectures and unveiled plans for a stimulus package to supportthe economy.

"Gold investors are revelling in the level of central bankstimulus and fiscal spending, especially when it raisesgovernment debt levels," said Stephen Innes, chief marketstrategist at financial services firm AxiCorp, in a note.

Indicative of sentiment, the holdings of world's largestgold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Trust, rose0.5% to 984.26 tonnes on Monday - its highest in over threeyears.

U.S. gold futures rose 0.5% to $1,703, extending alead over London spot prices and signalling market worries thatrefinery closures and logistics constraints could hamper bullionshipments to the United States to meet contract requirements.

The increase came despite measures from the CME Group's Comex Exchange to ease supply concerns and assurancesfrom the London Bullion Market Association.

Palladium was 2.3% higher at $2,203.36 per ounceafter rising more than 3% in early trading. Platinum climbed 1.2% to $744.02.

Silver jumped 1.1% to $15.15 an ounce, having toucheda more than three-week high earlier.

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Gold slips 1% as small signs of progress against coronavirus boost stocks - CNBC

AARP Washington held a tele-town hall and Q&A Wednesday with Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and public health officials in King County on the latest information about COVID-19.

UW Medicine testing app designed to predict next major outbreak

Durkan started off the call with a few updates and reminders for listeners.

The mayor recognized that this pandemic has been enormously displacing, causing social, economic, and health issues, particularly among the older, more vulnerable population.

We know that the things we have to do to fight this virus go against who we are as human beings, she said.

Physical distancing measures, closing seniors facilities to visitors, and other isolation measures have been hard for everyone.

For members of AARP and older people in Seattle, we are on the front line, Durkan said. We know, number one, we are the most vulnerable to this virus, both because of our age and if we have any kind of underlying health conditions. Two, a number of older adults already struggle with not just health issues, but isolation issues and the ability to have mobility and see people.

In addition to the cancellations of gatherings and social events, Durkan said there has also been a huge economic impact. People have lost jobs in every industry.

Weve been working really hard together the city, the county, and the state to see how do we protect the most vulnerable, both on the health care front, but also on the economic and social front.

Durkan said shes proud of what the people in the city are doing to help each other during this time, from buying groceries for their neighbors and getting meals to those who are most vulnerable, to the doctors, nurses, health care workers, scientists, and everyone doing their part to slow the spread.

We are fortunate in Seattle to have such a strong community of first responders, health care workers, public health workers, and a scientific community, she said. Because once we did see the virus come into our community, we were able to see very quickly that the true scale was much greater than we anticipated. And having that information, our government leaders could talk and decide how we could take some quick action to try to flatten the spread of the virus.

At the same time, though there has been some success in King County, there is still more progress to be made, Durkan reminded listeners.

Theres been some press about how we had successes because we worked and started so fast, and people have done what weve asked them to do, but we are not out of the woods, she said. Even though it looks like we are flattening the curve, if we come together again, this virus is voracious and it can take off again.

She urged everyone to stay home, to avoid gatherings, and to wear a face covering and keep your distance from others if you do have to go out of the house.

Dr. Fauci offers WA praise but warns against complacency

These are the only ways we have to stop this virus right now because we dont have a vaccine, we dont have a cure, she added. The cure is how we help each other, and that is what I think is going to get us through this.

The recording of the tele-town hall is available on AARP Washingtons Facebook page here.

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Mayor Durkan: We are not out of the woods despite recent progress in quelling outbreak - MyNorthwest.com

NEW YORK (AP) Stocks jumped in markets around the world Monday after some of the hardest-hit areas offered sparks of hope that the worst of the coronavirus outbreak may be on the horizon.

U.S. stocks climbed more than 4% in the first few minutes of trading, following up on similar gains in Europe and Asia. In another sign that investors are feeling more optimistic about the economys path, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose toward its first gain in four days.

New coronavirus infections and deaths are showing signs of slowing in Spain and Italy. The center of the United States outbreak, New York, also reported a dip in the number of daily deaths, though authorities warned its too early to tell whether its just a blip or the start of a trend.

The S&P 500 was up 4.4%, as of 9:51 a.m. Eastern time and on pace to erase all of its losses from the prior week, when the government reported a record number of layoffs sweeping the economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 991, or 4.7%, to 22,038, and the Nasdaq was up 4.3%.

Markets have been waiting anxiously for signs that the rate of new infections may stop accelerating at some point. The explosion of cases has caused businesses around the world to shut down, layoffs to soar and flights to cancel as authorities hope to slow the spread of the virus. The strict measures mean markets are bracing for a sudden, steep recession.

But a peak in new cases would give some clarity on how long the downturn may last and how deep it would be. Until then, markets are grasping at guesses.

Hundreds of people are passing away each day from the pandemic, but less so than previous days, giving markets hope that the lockdown measures are finally starting to prove effective, Jeffrey Halley of Oanda said in a commentary.

Like the rest of the world, financial markets are searching for any slivers of hope, he said.

The S&P 500 is still down more than 23% since its record set in February, but the losses have been slowing since Washington promised massive amounts of aid to prop up the economy.

In Japan, the prime minister said Monday that hes preparing to announce a 108 trillion yen ($1 trillion) package to bolster the worlds third-largest economy. It would be Japans largest-ever package for the economy and nearly twice as much as expected.

READ MORE: Japans prime minister to declare state of emergency as early as Tuesday

Japans economy was already shrinking late last year before the outbreak forced the global economy into a protective coma induced by health authorities.

The announcement pushed Japans Nikkei 225 index to surge 4.2%. Elsewhere in Asia, South Koras Kospi jumped 3.9%, and Hong Kongs Hang Seng rose 2.2%.

In Europe, Germanys DAX returned 4.9% and Frances CAC 40 jumped 3.8%. The FTSE 100 in London rose 2.4%.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury yield rose to 0.66% from 0.58% late Friday. Yields tend to rise when investors are raising their expectations for economic growth and inflation.

Crude oil fell, giving up some of its huge gains from the prior week when expectations rose that Saudi Arabia and Russia may cut back on some of their production.

Demand for oil has plummeted due to the weakening economy, and any cutback in production would help prop up its price. A meeting between OPEC, Russia and other producers initially planned for Monday, though, was reportedly pushed back to Thursday.

Benchmark U.S. crude fell $1.01 to $27.33 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, lost $1.09, or 3.2%, to $33.02 per barrel.

AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

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Stocks rise sharply on signs of progress in battling virus - PBS NewsHour

Robert Sproston, the Riverhead Town police officer who was seriously injured while responding to a police pursuit March 31, remains in the intensive care unit at Stony Brook University Hospital, according to friends and family, who have organized a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to offset his medical costs.

By Wednesday morning, the effort has raised more than $50,000. More than 745 individual donations have been made, according to the site.

Hes making progress, Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller said Tuesday. Every day is a little better news, but hes got a long way to go.

Mr. Sproston, 28, served in the Marines before joining the Riverhead Police Department in 2017, and has also volunteered in the Rocky Point Fire Department and most recently the Riverhead Fire Department.

His father Bill, whos a lieutenant in the Riverhead Fire Department, posted an update Tuesday saying his son opened his eyes and is resting.

Im sure that took a lot out of him with all the moving hes been doing the last two days, he wrote. Thank you for all your unconditional love and support.

In an update posted Monday, Bill wrote that everything is going as well as expected with Rob as positive progress. Hes totally moving around more.

On Monday, the hospital staff performed another CT scan, which came back the same, meaning good news, Bill wrote. His family was anxiously awaiting the moment he would open his eyes, which finally came Tuesday.

Last Thursday, the suspect who led police on the initial pursuit that began in Greenport was arrested. Alfred Cowell, 40, of Middle Island, who has a history of fleeing police and has previously been listed with a Riverhead address, was charged with burglary, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, unlawfully fleeing police, reckless driving, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and a number of traffic violations by Southold Town police.

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Riverhead officer injured in crash 'making progress' in recovery while in ICU - Suffolk Times

Nobody has any clue what post-pandemic politics will look like.

On the left, some fantasize about somehow replacing Joe Biden with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, which makes a lot of sense given Cuomos impressive performance of late, except for the near impossibility of orchestrating such a handoff.

The situation on the right is even more opaque. For good or ill, the pandemic has made President Trump an even more central figure in our politics, thanks to the role the White House plays in a national emergency and his nightly, often rambling, news conferences.

Thats not all to the GOPs advantage. Trumps refusal to admit any error in how hes handled the crisis has had the unintended effect of starving Republicans of some useful talking points. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tried to float the idea that the Democrats impeachment fixation distracted Trump from following through after the travel ban with a more robust response to the pandemic when it would have made a difference, but Trump himself threw cold water on that.

Regardless, as the right gears up for either a Trump win or a lame duck presidency amid a hard period of recovery, its possible to glean some contours of post-pandemic Republican politics.

Trump was always going to be the nominee, but his set of issues has been reshuffled entirely. He was all set to run on a roaring economy, pitting himself against socialism even though his preferred foil, Bernie Sanders, just dropped out of the race. Now, the economy has headed south, and our anti-socialist president is ordering businesses to do the governments bidding and handing out direct payments to millions of Americans.

Trumps vacillation between the need to clamp down on the virus and his desire to open up the economy is somewhat symbolic of the broader divides on the right. Longtime MAGA consigliere Steve Bannon tells The New York Times that the GOPs commitment to limited government is gone forever. Others in the Trumpist orbit, such as Donald Trump Jr., are still pushing the idea that the corona-hype is overblown and just part of an effort to take down his dad.

Somewhere in the middle, conservative politicians and intellectuals are trying to find a less Trumpcentric path.

Long before the coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China, Sen. Marco Rubio and a coterie of eggheads were firing salvos at unfettered capitalism as if that described the status quo at any point in the last century of American politics and offering a blueprint for common good capitalism. Meanwhile, Nikki Haley, Trumps former U.N. ambassador (for whom my wife worked), resigned from the board of Boeing last month in protest over its request for a federal bailout. It was a principled stand, but its anyones guess whether corporate bailouts will be as unpopular on the right as they were before the pandemic.

While its hard to know whether crony capitalism will remain out of favor, you can count on China to stay in the doghouse for years to come.

Thats good news for one politician worth watching: Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas. Long a China hawk, Cotton is credited with convincing Trump to implement the China travel ban (though Trump didnt go as far as Cotton wanted). He deserves credit for spotting the threat and speaking out early on. Widely assumed to have presidential aspirations, Cotton has also deftly managed to avoid being seen as a Trump yes-man unlike, say, Sen. Lindsey Graham while remaining a favorite of the presidents.

If the GOP ultimately sours on Trumps handling of the crisis, Cotton would be ideally situated to highlight his prescience. But thats a long way off, and for now its worth noting that Cotton is running ads supporting the presidents response to the pandemic.

Jonah Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch.

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Post-pandemic political scene a work in progress - Boston Herald

Bill Atkinson Progress-Index Staff @BAtkinsonpi

ThursdayApr9,2020at9:44AM

Officers were investigating vehicle burglaries in Dunlop Farms when they encountered the suspect, who ran from the scene and was later found dead behind a residence several blocks away

COLONIAL HEIGHTS A city police officer has been placed on administrative leave after killing a burglary suspect when a traffic stop in a city neighborhood turned into a shootout early Thursday morning.

Police Sgt. Renee Walters said the suspect was killed in the exchange of gunfire around 2:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Dunlop Farms Boulevard. Walters said he ran from the scene and was later found dead several blocks away.

The stop came after police were called to investigate reports of someone breaking into vehicles on Clearfield Circle, Walters said.

"Officers arrived on scene and located an unoccupied, suspicious vehicle," Walters said in a statement issued by the police department. "Officers were canvasing the area, when an individual got into this vehicle and attempted to leave the area."

When they stopped the car on Dunlop Farms Boulevard, Walters said, the suspect got out of the car and fired multiple rounds at the officers.

The suspect then ran after the officers shot back. Prince George Police brought over a tracking dog to assist in the search, and Walters said the K-9 unit found the suspect dead behind a residence on Greenmeadow Court near East Ellerslie Avenue.

Neither the suspect nor the officer have been identified.

Walters said the officer was placed on leave while the shooting is being investigated, which is department policy. The Virginia State Police will be leading that investigation at Colonial Heights request.

Walters said the suspect was the only one in the vehicle. No one else was reported injured.

Anyone who might have information about the incident is asked to contact Colonial Heights Police Department at (804) 520-9300, option 7. Information may also be shared anonymously through Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Crime Solvers at (804) 748-0660 or the P3Tips app.

Bill Atkinson can be reached at batkinson@progress-index.com. On Twitter: @BAtkinsonpi

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Suspect killed in traffic-stop shootout with Heights police - Progress Index

Foreword

"The Connecting Business initiative (CBi) was set up to encourage private sector engagement before, during and after natural or man-made crises, or disease outbreaks."

We are confronting some of the greatest challenges of our time. In 2019, 167.6 million people needed humanitarian assistance. This represented one in about 45 people in the world, and is the highest figure in decades. As a consequence of climate change, natural disasters occur more frequently and are more intense and destructive. In 2018 alone, they affected 68 million people.

Countries around the world have committed themselves to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) pledged to "Leave No One Behind". However, 2030 Agenda Global Goals cannot be achieved if communities are not well-prepared for disasters that threaten to reverse hard-won development gains. Every year, an estimated 26 million people are pushed into poverty by disasters.

Disasters also have a profound effect on economic welfare. Between 1998 and 2017, affected countries by disasters reported direct losses of US$2.908 trillion. Several Post Disaster Needs Assessments have shown that most of the losses are experienced by the private sector. In addition to material losses, business disruption puts further pressure onto businesses, and many may not recover from disasters. There is a clear business case not only for companies to ensure their own operations can withstand shocks but also for them to contribute to the resilience of their sector and society at large.

The Connecting Business initiative (CBi) was set up to encourage private sector engagement before, during and after natural or man-made crises, or disease outbreaks. It works with the private sector at the intersection of the humanitarian, development and peace agendas.

In 2019, CBi supported 19 business networks. Nine CBi Member Networks, along with their partners, addressed a total of 31 crises. These included cyclones and a measles epidemic in Madagascar, earthquakes and typhoons in the Philippines, and the Easter Sunday attack in Sri Lanka. CBi Member Networks, including those that did not experience disasters in 2019, also engaged in preparedness and resilience activities. They organised simulation exercises, engaged in advocacy, contributed to national dialogues, built information and communication systems, and provided business continuity planning trainings, especially to micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). More CBi achievements and examples of the business networks activities are presented in the report.

Partnerships are not easy in crisis setting; they require sustained commitment and investment. We are impressed by the successful examples of coordination emerging from the work of these networks. As humanitarian needs keep rising, collective action is critical: We need to build on each others expertise and experience to better anticipate, prepare for, respond to and recover from crises.

The enormous success of CBi would not have been possible without the support of our global and local partners Boston Consulting Group, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, United Nations Global Compact, The UPS Foundation and United States Agency for International Development. These partners provided much-needed financial and in-kind contributions, expertise and guidance to the initiative. Furthermore, the activities would not have materialised without the business networks and their members in the 19 countries that CBi supported in 2019.

With the support of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), we completed a strategy refresh process in 2019 that allowed us to take stock of what has or has not worked. While feedback from our stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive, we have identified areas that need to be further explored, such as addressing complex emergencies, minimizing the impact of climate change-related hazards, and providing further support for the business networks to innovate. CBi will focus more on these areas in the future.

The complex and multidimensional nature of todays crises requires collective action. We look forward to continuing our fruitful collaboration in 2020 and beyond.

Marcos NetoDirector, Finance SectorHub, United NationsDevelopment Programme

Ramesh RajasinghamDirector, CoordinationDivision, United NationsOffice for the Coordinationof Humanitarian Affairs

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Connecting Business initiative: Progress report 2019 - World - ReliefWeb

The Grubhubs and the Uber Eats of the world (are) a marketplace, Bogus said. You, as a local restaurant, are on this platform with thousands of other restaurants who sell the exact same food as you do, sell the exact same coffee as you do, and theres really no form of customization and no control of the customer relationship. Its up to the mercy of Grubhub and DoorDash to create your menu on their app and facilitate customer relationships.

If an order goes wrong, or a driver gets out, or if their technology doesnt work, all of a sudden, thats the coffee shops problem or the local restaurants problem, rather than Grubhub. On top of that, they take 20-30 percent of every single order.

In essence, what they are providing is an easier way for businesses to maintain their image and relationships with people without having to go through a large corporate bureaucracy. Bogus said that local business is the highest priority for the group and that their needs and wants would be taken into account if they decided to join in on the project.

We allow customers to have a lot of customization of their page, Bogus said. We dont ask for any commissions, so our business model is built in a way where theres no contract, no commissions (and) a flat fee every month. Its really flexible for local restaurants.

The group has started with four coffee shops in Lincoln and is planning on expansion throughout the state. They have even made some overtures in Wyoming to businesses out there. At the moment, there are no restaurants or shops in Columbus that are on the Brim platform, but anyone who uses a Square interface should be able to access all of the features of the app with ease.

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New app has ties to city of 'Power and Progress' - Columbus Telegram

The Vancouver-based exploratory resource company said the permitting process is underway in Arizona and drill permits have already been issued in Oklahoma.

Requisite surveying, archaeological studies, reports, maps, liability insurance and surety bonds are in process for the Arizona Department of Land and Arizona Oil & Gas Conservation Commission, departments that remain open and functional in the current environment.

In addition, DME is in the process of procuring a drilling contractor and the requisite rigs for the project.

We are anticipating that everything will be in place to permit commencement of the first hole this June in the Holbrook Basin provided the coronavirus crisis begins to ease in the meantime, DME said in a statement.

In addition, the companys technical team is carrying out research and studies on other areas in the Holbrook Basin that were recently optioned by DME.

Helium, like most other industrial commodities, is suffering an immediate short-term decline in demand as a result of the worldwide coronavirus crisis. Demand from some sectors such as party balloons and diving gas has virtually disappeared.

However, it is a strategic commodity and high tech uses are continuing in computer hard-drive and semiconductor applications, military and spacecraft applications, MRI use, etc.

At the same time, there is considerable disruption in the supply chain worldwide, resulting in a short-term decline in available supply to helium distributors.

For example, DME said shipping has been disrupted by cancellation of numerous sailings from China and bottlenecked ports which have tied up empty shipping containers.

Overall, the fall in demand from the pandemic is estimated by industry sources to be 10-15% or more. It has brought helium supplies back in line with demand, leading to an end to the recent worldwide helium shortage and a short-term reduction in helium prices, DME explained.

The recent fall in demand for helium is viewed by most industry participants as a very short-term phenomenon linked to the coronavirus crisis.

Once the crisis has ended and the economy gets back on its feet, we anticipate a resumption of growth in helium demand which will lead to higher helium prices down the road.

New uses for helium continue to be developed, such as the recent announcement by Microsoft and other video games manufacturers that they will be putting helium in the hard drives of the sophisticated video games to make them faster.

In addition, the concern with future pandemics suggests that demand will be strong from MRI manufacturers and other medical applications.

Further, balloon distributors such as Party City are now in a position to replenish their helium inventory in preparation for the next business upturn.

On the supply side, DME said it sees the potential for further pressure long-term on the available supply of helium.

Approximately 90% or more of the worlds helium production is secondary to oil and gas production, produced as a byproduct of natural gas processing or LNG production.

The collapse of oil and gas prices as a result of the dispute between Russia and Saudi Arabia, combined with the coronavirus crisis, have created a glut of oil and LNG that is likely to last far into the future, DME said.

Ships have been backed up in China and India unable to offload their LNG shipments into storage tanks which are already full.

This combined with the paradigm shift to renewable energy sources from fossil fuels, is creating an environment where many traditional oil & gas operators are being forced to consider shutting-in wells, cancelling new gas development plans and slowing down growth in new refinery capacity.

New refinery projects in Qatar and Algeria have already been suspended or slowed down recently.

This will surely impact world helium production where it has been produced as a byproduct of oil & gas production.

We believe the impact is likely to be strong, resulting in a significant decline of the helium supply from those sources.

Combined with continued growth in worldwide helium demand from high tech and new economy sources after the crisis abates, we see the potential longer term for a resumption of sharp helium price increases and a renewed shortage.

According to Irwin Olian, CEO of DME, Insofar as Desert Mountain Energy is exploring for and developing primary helium resources in Arizona not associated with oil & natural gas production, we are in a very strong position unlike many helium producers who are focused on secondary production.

Further, the debacle in the oil & gas industry is already having the effect of reducing drilling and exploration costs. This will work to our advantage by reducing costs of our upcoming drill programs.

We are looking forward to an end to the coronavirus crisis soon. In the meantime, we remain committed to working hard to advance the company to the best of our ability during this challenging time.

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DME on progress and helium market | News - gasworld

The gymnastics team. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Its not how you start, its how you finish and the Whitman-Hanson Regional High gymnastics team finished strong, in its first year standing on its own.

Despite an 0-12 overall record, the Panthers showed significant growth. They opened the winter with a score of 118 and closed it with a 126.

Overall we were happy with our progress this season, said first-year head coach Alison Vance, who won the Patriot Leagues Coach of the Year. Each meet our team score improved and personal bests kept getting higher and higher.

The Panthers improvement on the score sheet can largely be attributed to four of their vaulters, who upgraded their difficulty as the season wore on.

Our vault scores, for the beginning of the season, were averaging around a 32.6, Vance said. By the end of the season, we were averaging a 34.5.

Senior captain Sarah Bombardier was a constant for W-H, finishing the winter with a team-high vault average of 8.65.

She is a hard worker and a great leader, Vance said of Bombardier, the teams lone senior. She is always willing to try anything to help improve the team score. We were so lucky to have her lead this team. She will be greatly missed.

Junior Savannah Poirier proved to be a pleasant surprise for W-H. After taking her sophomore year off to do winter cheer, Poirier came back to gymnastics and averaged a team-high 8.2 on the floor.

We were so thankful that she joined us, Vance said of Poirier, who will captain the Panthers next season alongside rising senior Madison Scaccia. Not only did she consistently put up our highest floor score, she filled a void we had on the bars. She upgraded her skills every week.

Freshman Riley Getchell was another standout, concluding the season with an 8.15 average on the vault.She was very consistent on all of her events, especially the vault and beam, Vance said. She worked hard to upgrade her difficulty to improve her scores and it paid off. It is tough coming in as a freshman and competing in the all-around, but Riley is very experienced and did it well.

Vance said her teams strength was its positive attitude regardless of how the results fell, which led to them winning the Patriot League Sportsmanship Award.

We were excited and thankful to receive this unexpected award, Vance said. We knew we were coming into this league behind the other teams that have been established with their coaching staff for so many years. We just kept our spirits up and worked on improving ourselves each week.

While Vance said its going to be tough losing Bombardier, a four-year gymnast, she is looking forward to seeing how the program develops.

The team is doing a good job of getting the word out to the eighth graders about our program, Vance said, so we are hopeful we can make up for the loss of Sarah by the start of next season. I am also very confident in the leadership of our new captains, Madison and Savannah.

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Season Review: Gymnastics shows progress standing on its own - Whitman Hanson Express

Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook has requested the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigate an officer-involved shooting that took place Wednesday evening on Monticello Road.

According to CPD officials, officers were initially patrolling an area off Monticello Road and Columbia College Drive, shortly before 6 p.m., after receiving reports of car break-ins.

While patrolling the area, one officer stopped to speak with a male who was walking along Monticello Road. As the officers got out of the patrol vehicle, the man fled the scene on foot to 4800 Monticello Road, according to officials. During the foot chase, police said the male produced a gun, causing the officer to discharge his department-issued gun. He struck the male at least once.

The male was transported to a local hospital. The officer was not injured during the incident and, according to CPD, will be placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the SLED investigation. There was no information on the male's current state.

More information will be updated when received.

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Investigation in progress after officer-involved shooting in Columbia - ColaDaily.com

Community Spotlight is heard quarter past every hour on 97.9 WHAV. Greater Haverhill nonprofit organizations are invited to submit news of events, fundraising appeals and other community calendar announcements. Click image to use the Submit News Tip form to submit your information.

WHAVs Community Spotlight is turning its microphones to those civic and charitable organizations that make Greater Haverhill a wonderful place to live.

Beginning in 2005 as a community visioning initiative sponsored by the Greater Haverhill Foundation and the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, Team Haverhill emerged in 2006 as its own organization. With the purpose of making Haverhill a better place to live, work and play, officers were elected, and the group was organized into a self-directing association.

Team Haverhills signature events, River Ruckus and Possible Dreams, are annual events planning and celebrating Haverhills progress. The River Ruckus festival features a day of live music, classic cars, local food and drinks, raffle and a conclusion with fireworks. Possible Dreams is a brainstorming session that provides community conversation, fostering new connections and evoking community aspirations.

For more information about Team Haverhill and its programs and events, visit teamhaverhill.org/.

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Team Haverhill: From Possible Dreams to Today's Haverhill Progress - WHAV News

Beginning April 23, 10 highway weigh stations across Virginia including Carson in Prince George County will double as rest areas for tractor-trailer drivers

PRINCE GEORGE The weigh station on Interstate 95 in Carson is quiet now, but come April 23, it is going to be temporarily re-purposed as more than just a place to determine how heavy or light a truck is.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles announced Thursday that Carson and nine other stations in Virginia will double as a place for tractor-trailer drivers to park and get some rest.

At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic last month, the state suspended operations at all 13 weigh stations in Virginia until April 23. DMV said it recommended setting up the rest space upon reopening at 10 of those stations as a way to support truckers who continue through the crisis.

"We recognize that these are unusual times for tractor trailer drivers hauling goods in Virginia and across the nation with the industry working around the clock to deliver food and emergency supplies to those who desperately need them," DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb said in a statement. "We applaud their efforts and are proud to offer a place of refuge in this critical time."

Opening these weigh stations adds another 246 truck spaces that will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to commercial drivers, according to DMV. You may see some portable road signs along the side of the road over the next few weeks, where the Virginia Department of Transportation and DMV are signaling to commercial drivers that there is an increase in rest space.

"The trucking industry is a vital link in our countrys supply chain," Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine said in a statement. "During these unprecedented times, we are especially grateful to these men and women serving on the front lines, and we are proud to help in any way we can."

Carson, at mile-marker 39, and Dumfries, at mile-marker 154 in northern Virginia, are the only I-95 stations serving dual purposes.

Other rest stops are being set up at stations in Sandston and Suffolk, and at locations in southwestern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.

In addition to creating more rest space, DMV also announced an extension to June 30 for commercial drivers licenses that were set to expire after March 1. Hazardous materials endorsements are also being extended to July 31.

DMV has also notified administrators of the International Registration Plan (IRP) that Virginias waiver of registration and licensing requirements for motor carriers and a waiver of normal weight and width restriction in response to the pandemic COVID-19 emergency has been extended until May 19, 2020.

To find out more pandemic-related information specific to CDL holders, visit DMVs website.

Sean Jones can be reached at 804-722-5172 or sjones@progress-index.com. On Twitter: @SeanJones_PI

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Virginia tips the scales toward trucker comfort - Progress Index

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Welcome to The Hills Morning Report. Its Tuesday. We get you up to speed on the most important developments in politics and policy, plus trends to watch. Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver are the daily co-creators, so find us @asimendinger and @alweaver22 on Twitter and recommend the Morning Report to your friends. CLICK HERE to subscribe!

Total U.S. coronavirus deaths reported each morning this week: Monday, 9,648*. Tuesday 10,993.

* The United States surpassed 10,000 confirmed fatalities by midday Monday.

In New York, Italy and South Korea on Monday, the shared temptation was to herald any signs that fatalities and the pace of new coronavirus cases were ebbing.

Tremendous progress has been made, President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenators demand more details from Trump on intel watchdog firing Overnight Health Care: Trump steps up attack on WHO | Fauci says deaths could be lower than first projected | House panel warns federal stockpile of medical supplies depleted | Mnuchin, Schumer in talks over relief deal Trump says he'll look into small business loan program restricting casinos MORE said during a Monday briefing in which he displayed his impatience with questions that focused on states challenges in locating sufficient medical equipment and supplies.

The progress has been made before the surge comes, because the next week, week and a half is going to be a big surge, the professionals tell us, the president said, while presenting all 50 governors as very happy, every one of them during a teleconference with Vice President Pence on Monday.

Were increasingly hopeful that the aggressive mitigation strategy we put into place will ultimately allow our hospital system to successfully manage the major influx of cases we have right now, he added, reading from notes.

The president, who has repeatedly said he wants governors to decide on stay-at-home orders for their states, said a national order is not called for. If I thought it was necessary, Id do it in a heartbeat, he said.

Federal travel restrictions around urban areas experiencing surges in COVID-19 cases are unnecessary, Trump added, because U.S. airlines are cutting domestic routes on their own and flying planes that are nearly empty.

The Hill: Trump and his administration confront the most difficult week yet of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Associated Press: Modeling coronavirus: Uncertainty is the only certainty.

In Great Britain, Japan and Lebanon, on the other hand, the situation on Monday appeared more dire, and in Spain, infections continued to rise today along with the death toll. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, now in critical care, is the first known head of government to be sickened and hospitalized with the highly contagious respiratory virus. In Japan, cases of COVID-19 surged anew. Lebanon, describing a situation of extreme danger, took steps to extend the countrys lockdown order to the end of April.

Eager for any shred of relief in the United States, the Dow Jones Industrial Average soared on Monday more than 1,500 points on the idea that coronavirus cases may be slowing in some U.S. hot spots (The Hill). Stocks surged 7 percent, building on a global rally fueled by tentative signs that the rate of increase in deaths may be slowing (CNBC).

New York Gov. Andrew CuomoAndrew CuomoOvernight Health Care: Trump steps up attack on WHO | Fauci says deaths could be lower than first projected | House panel warns federal stockpile of medical supplies depleted | Mnuchin, Schumer in talks over relief deal 16 things to know for today about coronavirus Mnuchin, Schumer in talks to strike short-term relief deal MORE (D), during a briefing on Monday, said his state may have flattened the curve of the coronavirus outbreak but cautioned that it is too soon to be certain. Deaths related to COVID-19 have stayed flat for two days in New York, he said, while new hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions are down. "Those are all good signs and again would suggest a possible flattening of the curve, he added (The Hill).

At the same time that Trump warned of another tough two or three weeks with coronavirus cases and fatalities, the White House and congressional leaders are anticipating millions more Americans will lose their jobs this month.

Theyre coming closer to a meeting of the minds that the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act enacted late last month will not be enough. The conversation is moving toward at least another $1 trillion in federal help to prop up the economy (The Washington Post).

Trump said hed be open to a second round of federal assistance to furloughed workers if the payments were directly dispersed to beneficiaries rather than funneled through state unemployment insurance systems, a mechanism he said Democratic lawmakers preferred.

Asked about reported glitches, Trump made light of any fumbles. All we can do is get this massive amount of money to the states, he said. Its getting out.

Inside the executive branch, small businesses are howling that the Treasury Department and Small Business Administration (SBA) are not able to process the tsunami of applications for much-needed bridge loans available under the new law. The E-Tran system used by the SBA crashed and was down for hours on Monday before it was revived, Bloomberg News reported. Some banks are still unable to access SBA application systems, and industry leaders say questions about loan benefits remain unanswered (The Hill).

The president said more than 3,000 lenders had made loans as of Monday, adding that if the government exhausts funds appropriated for the lending programs to small businesses, well ask Congress to refill it immediately.

Congress is now feeling pressured to move quickly on the next phase of relief. Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerHouse Republicans, key administration officials push for additional funding for coronavirus small business loans Rep. Massie threatens to block next relief bill, calls for remote voting Democratic senators call for funding for local media in coronavirus stimulus MORE (D-N.Y.) bashed by Trump on Monday as a lightweight and partisan politician hes known for most of my adult life told reporters that lawmakers will have to return to Washington "relatively soon" to move on new legislation.

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiTrip that led to acting Navy secretary's resignation cost 3K: reports Overnight Health Care: Trump steps up attack on WHO | Fauci says deaths could be lower than first projected | House panel warns federal stockpile of medical supplies depleted | Mnuchin, Schumer in talks over relief deal House Republicans, key administration officials push for additional funding for coronavirus small business loans MORE (D-Calif.) said in a letter that her colleagues should move this month. Aides said federal bureaucratic delays processing the newest benefits Trump signed into law are adding to the sense of urgency (The Hill).

The Associated Press: In what proximity are you to confirmed cases of COVID-19? Drill down to the county level, and you can see the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the 50 states.

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LEADING THE DAY

POLITICS: The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled on Monday that Gov. Tony Evers (D) cannot order the states primary election today postponed, as he attempted to do earlier Monday by executive order.

The ruling by the state Supreme Court reinstated Tuesdays contest and came roughly five hours after Evers tried to call it off and close the polls due to the spread of the virus. The courts decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by GOP lawmakers and could result in chaos on Tuesday as clerks and election volunteers prepare for in-person voting (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).

Compounding the issues for Evers, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with a group of GOP lawmakers and blocked the state from accepting absentee ballots after todays election. The governor had pushed for absentee ballots to be counted until April 13 (The Hill).

Everss executive order, which would have pushed in-person voting until June 9, came after weeks of questions concerning whether the contest would go forward. In recent days, he said that his hands were tied and that the GOP-held legislature would have to play ball on the issue. A district judge also declined to postpone the election, arguing that it wasnt the courts responsibility.

Earlier Monday, Evers indicated that his executive order was the last gasp opportunity to postpone the election.

Theres not a Plan B. Theres not a Plan C, Evers said earlier Monday (The Associated Press).

The ruling means that voters in the state who have not cast absentee ballots will be forced to decide between health risks posed by the spread of COVID-19 and their participation in the democratic process as states across the nation have postponed their elections until June. Former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenThe Hill's Campaign Report: Sanders exits, clearing Biden's path to nomination Former Clinton staffers invited to celebrate Sanders dropping out: report Sanders exit leaves deep disappointment on left MORE is the heavy favorite to win todays Democratic primary, which has turned into a relative blip on the radar screen due to the virus.

Niall Stanage: The Memo: Political trench warfare colors views on coronavirus.

Elsewhere on the political scene, Trump and Biden spoke by phone for 15 minutes on Monday about the coronavirus emergency, following the presidents tweet earlier in the day asking, What ever happened to that phone call he told the Fake News he wanted to make to me? (The Hill).

We had a good talk, Trump said, noting that he and Biden had a really wonderful warm conversation and agreed not to detail the private back-and-forth publicly. Biden offered suggestions, and Trump said he responded by describing what the administration is doing.

The conversation was a very friendly conversation, he repeated (The Hill).

The Hill: Biden hosts Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), a potential VP pick, on podcast.

The Hill: Trump, Biden set for tight battle in Florida.

The Washington Post: Rep. John LewisJohn LewisThe Hill's Campaign Report: Wisconsin votes despite coronavirus pandemic The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Trump: Tough times but progress being made John Lewis endorses Biden for president MORE (D-Ga.) endorses Joe Bidens presidential bid.

IN FOCUS/SHARP TAKES

CORONAVIRUS & INTERNATIONAL: Prime Minister Johnson was moved to the intensive care unit a day after being admitted to St. Thomas Hospital in London after 10 days of symptoms due to coronavirus. He remains on oxygen this morning but is not on a ventilator.

According to Downing Street, the prime minister, 55, was shifted to the ICU as his condition "worsened.

"The prime minister has been under the care of doctors at St Thomas' Hospital, in London, after being admitted with persistent symptoms of coronavirus, Downing Street said. Over the course of [Monday] afternoon, the condition of the prime minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital.

The PM is receiving excellent care, and thanks all NHS staff for their hard work and dedication, the statement added (BBC).

Trump praised Johnson as such an incredible guy and said that, intensive care is big stuff, really big stuff scary stuff.

He said representatives of four U.S. companies with potentially useful therapies for COVID-19 are making drugs available at the London hospital, should Johnson and his physicians elect to try them.

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The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Trump: Tough times but progress being made | TheHill - The Hill

A trio of philosophers atVrije Universiteit Amsterdamhave won1.2 million (approximately $1.3 million) grant from the Templeton World Charity Foundationto study how universities can best enable epistemic progress in the humanities.

The three-year project is led byRen van Woudenberg, Jeroen de Ridder, and Rik Peels. They write:

The project does two things. First, it develops institutional policies and procedures foruniversities that facilitate epistemic progress.Specifically, Standard OperatingProcedures(SOPs, as we call them) for research integrity will be designed as well as training and supportprograms for mentors and supervisors. Second, it aimsto contribute directly to epistemicp rogress in the humanities by carrying out replications of twocornerstone studies, byclarifying the nature of aprominent type of humanitiesexplanations, namely non-causalexplanations, by clarifyingthe relations between thesciences and the humanities, bywritinga textbook on the philosophy ofthe humanities defending the possibility of progress inthehumanities, and by articulating what progress in theology can amount to.

Ren van Woudenberg, Jeroen de Ridder, and Rik Peels

The project arose in response to academia being shakenby reports about questionable research practices and concerns about the epistemic value and respectability of the humanities in the university.

The funding will support research and writing, lectures, conferences, seminars, summer schools, a PhD student, and three post-doctoral researchers. More details here.

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Philosophers Win $1.3 Million Grant to Study Epistemic Progress in the University - Daily Nous

EASTON, Pa. The Easton Area School Board of Education met on Tuesday to discuss amendments to the current school calendar and provided a status update on virtual learning for students.

The district began implementing its flexible instruction plan on March 30 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Everyone has just stepped up and said what can I do, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Alyssa Emili said.

The district has made iPads available to students from grades 3 to 8 for instruction. Students in high school grades already take laptops home for instruction.

Some 2,100 iPads have been distributed allowing teachers to use district approved programs like Google Classroom, See Saw, Class Dojo and Zoom for instruction. For students who dont have internet access available, officials say, paper handouts were also distributed. The transition to online instruction has gone smoothly, the district said.

One reason why this has been so successful is because the investment into technology that had already been done in the district, Emili said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in the district having to make changes to the current district calendar. Several dates that had been for spring break and election day will now become a day for online instruction instead.

Students will now have online instruction on this upcoming Thursday, April 9 and April 28. Classes will not be held, as planned, on Friday, April 10 and April 13.

It does appear that will be able to end the school year on June 3 as the original date on the calendar, Superintendent David Piperato said.

The board is also looking to extend the interim tax deadline for payments. Currently, the discount tax deadline is June 7 and total payments August 2. Board officials hope to have those dates extended an additional 30 days, until Sept. 2, for total payments. That approval, however, has to be made on a municipal level. A resolution requesting the extension could be made at the boards April 21 public meeting.

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Easton school board gives progress report on flexible instruction in district - 69News WFMZ-TV