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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

BARCELONA, Spain When the Trump administration said Sunday it was beginning to see glimmers of progress against the COVID-19 pandemic, one of those glimmers was in Spain, the country that has reported more coronavirus infections (140,000) than any other except the United States, and a fairly reliable leading indicator of what may happen in other countries in the coming weeks.

As you can see from the hopeful signs in Italy and Spain where we see, finally, new cases and deaths declining its giving us hope of what our future could be, Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of the coronavirus task force, said.

But that hope may have been at least somewhat premature, and Americans looking forward to an end to the social distancing orders that have crippled the economy may want to temper their optimism.

In the country where morgues are so packed with corpses that some crematoria have been unable to keep up in Barcelona, those seeking to cremate remains may have to wait two years Minister of Health Salvador Illa assured the public five days ago that the rate of new infections had peaked, while other officials believe it may soon peak or, alternatively, has merely hit a ridge and may still go higher.

Death rates in Spain appeared to drop over the previous four days, but they rose again Tuesday, a statistical aberration, explained one official, resulting from insufficient data released over the weekend. The numbers of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units appear to have dropped, but then again Spains two biggest cities, both with the highest numbers of cases Madrid and Barcelona calculate those numbers differently.

And sending a mixed message, Prime Minister Pedro Snchez announced an extension of his countrys state of alarm, which shut down public spaces and restricted nonessential travel, to April 26, while allowing factory workers and construction laborers to return to their jobs on April 13. The move to end the two-week-old shutdown was denounced by Quim Torra, the president of the regional government of Catalonia, as reckless.

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While Snchez added that mass testing of Spaniards is about to launch, particularly of those in essential jobs such as medical personnel, couriers and those working in grocery stores, he didnt offer details. Other reports have said that the army would be in charge of rapid testing centers and that those workers testing positive but not showing symptoms would be isolated in hotels. Meanwhile, the efficacy of tests has been called into question with hundreds of thousands returned because they didnt work, while others that test for antibodies are effective only a week or more after exposure. Health Minister Illa has stated that Spain is conducting 15,000 to 20,000 tests a day, but as reported by the New York Times Tuesday, the testing data appears incomplete.

It seems that the Spanish authorities are themselves no longer clear about how many tests are being conducted in Spain, Guadalupe Moreno of the data company Statista told the Times.

Factor in all these inconsistencies against a backdrop where countries arent using the same tests or following the same protocol in reporting increases and deaths, and the question of exactly what the COVID-19 situation is in Spain is unanswerable. But the restrictive lockdown announced on March 28 seems to have averted some of the worst outcomes. At the start of that countrywide quarantine, known cases appeared to be growing by more than 30 percent a day according to research compiled and analyzed by El Pais. Now the increase in the rate of new infections is less than 5 percent, the paper reports. Whats more, at least 43,000 of those known to have contracted COVID-19 in Spain have recovered.

As for masks, as in the U.S., Spains experts seem divided, with the Health Ministrys lead physician recently saying they were unnecessary, while some government plans to partially lift the lockdown on April 13 call for workers to wear them. Prime Minister Snchez for the first time appeared in both mask and gloves this weekend when touring a factory making medical supplies. But, as some in the Spanish press pointed out, by touching the inside of the mask, he appeared to be giving a lesson on how not to wear one.

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Click here for the latest coronavirus news and updates. According to experts, people over 60 and those who are immunocompromised continue to be the most at risk. If you have questions, please refer to the CDCs and WHOs resource guides.

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'Glimmers of progress' on coronavirus touted by White House dim slightly in Spain - Yahoo Parenting

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 - Riverhead News Review