Nuveen chief equity strategist Bob Doll on market reaction to the coronavirus, the next stimulus bill, inflation and the presidential election.

U.S. equity markets ralliedMonday, closing near the highs of the session, as President Trump discussed progress on a coronavirus vaccine and Republicans readied their $1 trillion stimulus bill.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 114points, or 0.43percent, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite were higher by 0.74percent and 1.67percent, respectively.

Trump, speaking during the final hour of trading at theBioprocess Innovation Center at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, noted the swift progress being made inthe race for a coronavirus vaccine.

Earlier in the session, Moderna announced the beginning of a Phase 3 trial for its experimental COVID-19 vaccine. Novavax also rose in tandem.

Along with the progress on a vaccine,Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is set to unveil his $1 trillioncoronavirus relief proposal, which reduces the recently expired unemployment benefits, sends a $1,200 check to Americans making less than $75,000 a year and provides billions of dollars of aid to schools and universities. Congress has just one week before a planned recess to bridge the gap between the Republican plan and the $3 trillion package passed by House Democrats in May.

MAGA STOCKS' CORONAVIRUS SURGE SPURS DOTCOM BUBBLE FLASHBACKS

Investors shrugged off developments overnight which sawthe U.S. consulate in Chengdu, China, shuttered as Beijing retaliated for last weeks closing of its Houston consulate.

Escalating tensions between the U.S. and China and the U.S. dollar sliding to its lowest level since September 2018 helped propel gold prices to record highs.

Gold futures for July delivery climbed 1.78 percent to close at a record-high $1,931 per ouncewhile silver gained 7.3 percentto $24.476, a level last seen in August 2013.

Miners, including Barrick Gold Corp., Newmont Corp. and Pan American Silver Corp., benefited from surging gold and silver prices.

DraftKings was pressured lower after two MLB games were postponed after at least 13 members of theMiami Marlins organization were diagnosed with COVID-19.

Southwest Airlines Co. CEO Gary Kelly sent a letter to employees indicating the company has no plans to lay off or furlough workers, cut pay or reduce benefits through at least the end of 2020.

Elsewhere, Software giant SAP SE plans to spin-off Qualtrics less than two years after purchasing the software-survey provider for $8 billion.

Looking at earnings, Hasbro Inc. lost $33.9 million in the three months through June as supply-chain disruptions and store closing made it difficult for the toy maker to meet consumer demand.

Albertsons Companies Inc. reported quarterly revenue spiked 21 percent from a year ago to $22.75 billion, just shy of the $22.79 billion that was expected. Meanwhile, adjusted earnings of $1.35 a share topped the $1.32 consensus. The report was the grocers first since going public in June.

Looking at oil, West Texas Intermediate crude gained 31cents to $41.60a barrel.

On the data front, durable goods orders rose 7.3 percent month-over-month, outpacing the 7 percent increase that was expected. However, durable goods excluding transportation was up 3.3 percent MoM, missing the 3.6 percent gain that analysts were anticipating.

U.S. Treasurys were little changed with the yield on the 10-year note holding near 0.609 percent.

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In Europe, Germanys DAX was little changed while Britains FTSE and Frances CAC were off 0.31percent and 0.34 percent, respectively.

Asian markets finished mixed with Chinas Shanghai Composite adding 0.27 percent while Hong Kongs Hang Seng fell 0.41 percent and Japans Nikkei lost 0.16 percent.

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Stocks jump on coronavirus vaccine progress, $1T stimulus package in the works - Fox Business

UPDATE 6:15 p.m. The East Fire burning near Potter Valley is coming under control and resources are now being cancelled or sent back. Forward progress, meaning growth, of the fire has been stopped, and with no apparent loss of structures. The fire topped out at about 20 acres.

If this reporter may editorialize a little, this is the second substantial wildfire quickly controlled in Mendocino County in just the past two hours, through a combination of local volunteer departments and Cal Fires impressive air and ground infrastructure. Its always impressive to see, and the heroic efforts of these firefighters, volunteer and full-time, are immensely appreciated.

UPDATE 5:40 p.m. We have an update from Sheriff Matt Kendall who has confirmed that the fire is at about 10 acres, with potential for 20, but surrounded by roads and therefore unlikely to spread beyond that.

Whats more the fire behavior is moderating, as the relative humidity rises and the temperature begins to drop this late afternoon. The Mendocino County Sheriffs Office will be issuing a Nixle alert localized to people in the vicinity of the fire, urging them to maintain situational awareness, but there are no evacuation orders at this time.

UPDATE 5:30 p.m. The fire has grown very quickly up to between five and 10 acres and is moving with the wind up river, along Potter Valley. It appears to be burning on the west side of the highway there, but is moving quickly and already encroaching on some homes. Fire crews are arriving and beginning to put down line and prepare to defend the structures. The fire is being called the East Incident.

ORIGINALWILLITS, 7/31/20 A small brush fire is burning in the Potter Valley area just west of and above Potter Valley Rd. at the mouth of the valley. Initial reports over the scanner indicate that the fire is approximately one quarter acre in size.

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Adrian Fernandez Baumann is the managing editor of The Mendocino Voice and a founder. He lives in the Willits area and has a dog named Bravo.

Kate Maxwell is the publisher and a founder of The Mendocino Voice. She lives inland but goes to the ocean as much as possible.

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Forward progress of East Fire near Potter Valley stopped fire burned 10 acres, quickly controlled (updated 6:15pm) - The Mendocino Voice

Amid the chaos of the pandemic's early days, doctors who faced the first coronavirus onslaught reached across oceans and language barriers to advise colleagues trying to save lives in the dark.

With no playbook to follow and no time to wait for research, YouTube videos describing autopsy findings and X-rays swapped on Twitter and WhatsApp spontaneously filled the gap.

When Stephen Donelson arrived at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in mid-March, Dr. Kristina Goff was among those who turned to what she called "the stories out of other places that were hit before."

Donelson's family hadn't left the house for two weeks after covid-19 started spreading in Texas, hoping to protect Donelson, an organ transplant recipient. Yet one night, his wife found him barely breathing, his skin turning blue, and called 911.

[CORONAVIRUS: Click here for our complete coverage arkansasonline.com/coronavirus]

In the overflowing hospitals in New York or Italy, Goff thinks Donelson wouldn't even have qualified for a then-precious ventilator. But in Dallas, "we pretty much threw everything we could at him," she said.

STEEP LEARNING CURVE

Like doctors everywhere, Goff was at the beginning of a huge learning curve.

"It's a tsunami. Something that if you don't experience it directly, you can't understand," Italian Dr. Pier Giorgio Villani said in the first of a series of webinars organized to alert other intensive care units what to expect -- just two weeks after Italy's first hospitalized patient arrived in his ICU, and 10 days before Donelson fell ill in Texas.

The video sessions, organized by an Italian association of ICUs, GiViTI, and the nonprofit Mario Negri Institute and later posted on YouTube, constitute an oral history of Italy's outbreak, narrated by the first doctors in Europe to fight the coronavirus.

Italian friends spread the word to doctors abroad, and translations began for colleagues in Spain, France, Russia and the U.S., all bracing their own ICUs for a flood of patients.

They offered "a privileged window into the future," said Dr. Diego Casali of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, who was directed to the webinars when he sought advice from an Italian front-line friend about how to prepare.

Every tidbit about the newest baffling symptom, every trick to try, served as clues as the virus bore down on the next city, the next country. By the time Donelson arrived, Goff's hospital was adjusting ventilator care based on that early advice.

But while grateful for the global swirl of information, Goff also struggled to make sense of conflicting experiences. "You have no idea how to interpret what went right or what went wrong," she said, "or was it just the native course of the disease?"

CONFUSING TIME

Doctors in Italy were confused: Reports from China were suggesting a death rate of about 3% among those infected. But for the first 18 days, only dead people left the ICU at Bergamo's Pope John XXIII Hospital. While the toll eventually dropped, 30% of the hospital's initial 510 covid-19 patients died.

After decades in practice, ICU chief Dr. Luca Lorini thought he knew how to treat the dangerous kind of respiratory failure -- called ARDS, or acute respiratory distress syndrome -- first thought to be the main threat.

"Every night, I would go home and I had the doubt that I had gotten something wrong," Lorini said. "Try to imagine: I am all alone, and I can't compare it with France because the virus wasn't there, or Spain or the U.K. or America, or with anyone who is closer to me than China."

By February, China had filed only a limited number of medical journal reports on how patients were faring. Lorini's hospital tried to fill the gap by dividing patients into small groups to receive different forms of supportive care and comparing them -- not a scientific study, but some real-time information to share.

The first lessons: The coronavirus wasn't causing typical ARDS, and patients consequently needed gentler ventilation than normal, for longer than usual.

Mid-March brought a startling surprise: In a training video for U.S. cardiologists, Chinese doctors warned that the virus causes dangerous blood clots, and not just in the lungs. They urged American doctors to use blood thinners protectively in the severely ill.

"We're learning as we go," said Dr. Tiffany Osborn, a critical care physician at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "You could talk to me in two weeks, and I might be telling you something that's really different."

A NEW SKILL

When Donelson arrived in the Dallas hospital, "we had very little hope for him," Goff said. He was battling against the ventilator's artificial breaths, so Goff sedated him to let the machine do all the work.

Hospital after hospital had struggled with balancing how to get enough air into oxygen-starved coronavirus patients without further damaging fragile lungs. One procedure that helped is proning -- turning patients from their backs to their stomachs in a prone position to take pressure off the lungs.

Donelson stayed on his belly about 16 hours a day early on, as his doctors watched his oxygen levels improve.

Hospitals that specialize in treating ARDS knew how to prone before covid-19 hit. For many others, it was a brand-new skill.

"We've never had to prone anyone here before the pandemic, but now it's like second nature," said Kevin Cole, a respiratory therapist at Maryland's Fort Washington Medical Center.

Even now, Goff is humbled at how difficult it remains to predict who will live and who will die. She can't explain why Donelson, who went home after a 90-day ordeal, was ultimately one of the lucky ones.

Information for this article was contributed by Nathan Ellgren of The Associated Press.

FILE - In this Monday, March 16, 2020 file photo, a doctor watches a coronavirus patient under treatment in the intensive care unit of the Brescia hospital, Italy. Amid the chaos of the pandemics early days, doctors who faced the first COVID-19 onslaught reached across oceans and language barriers in an unprecedented effort to advise colleagues trying to save lives. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Stephen Donelson, left, smiles as he walks up his driveway to his home accompanied by his wife, Terri, in Midlothian, Texas on Friday, June 19, 2020, after his 90-day stay in the Zale Hospital on the UT Southwestern Campus. Donelsons family hadnt left the house in two weeks after COVID-19 started spreading in Texas,hoping to shield the organ transplant recipient. Yetone night, his wife found him barely breathing, his skin turning blue,and called 911. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

COVID-19 patient Stephen Donelson is applauded by family and health care professionals as he departs the Zale Hospital on the UT Southwestern Campus in Dallas, Friday, June 19, 2020. During his three-month hospital stay, Donelson spent 17 days on a ventilator. When it was removed, he was too weak to even sit without support and the breathing tube had taken away his ability to swallow. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

FILE - In this Thursday, March 12, 2020 file photo, medical staff in work at one of the emergency structures that were set up to ease procedures at the Brescia hospital, northern Italy. Amid the chaos of the pandemics early days, doctors who faced the first coronavirus onslaught reached across oceans and language barriers in an unprecedented effort to advise colleagues trying to save lives. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Terri Donelson and her husband, Stephen, right, are greeted by friends, family and neighbors after his arrival at his home in Midlothian, Texas on Friday, June 19, 2020. A trick doctors around the world shared with each other: Flip COVID-19 patients over from their backs to their stomach. Its called proning and it takes pressure off the lungs, which lie closer to the back. Donelson stayed on his belly about 16 hours a day early on, as his doctors watched his oxygen levels improve. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Terri Donelson, left, and her husband, Stephen, walk up their driveway to see friends and family awaiting him at his home in Midlothian, Texas on Friday, June 19, 2020, after his 90-day stay in the Zale Hospital on the UT Southwestern Campus. Donelsons family hadnt left the house in two weeks after COVID-19 started spreading in Texas,hoping to shield the organ transplant recipient. Yetone night, his wife found him barely breathing, his skin turning blue,and called 911. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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Treating of virus work in progress - Arkansas Online

MORRISVILLE, N.C. President TrumpDonald John TrumpOklahoma City Thunder players kneel during anthem despite threat from GOP state lawmaker Microsoft moving forward with talks to buy TikTok after conversation with Trump Controversial Trump nominee placed in senior role after nomination hearing canceled MORE and Vice President Pence hit the road on Monday to highlight progress on the development of a vaccine for COVID-19, seeking to project optimism about the administration's response to a pandemic that has killed more than 145,000 people in the U.S.

Trump visited a biotech facility here to boast of the rapid progress on finding a vaccine to combat the pandemic, claiming his administrations work through its vaccine development effort, Operation Warp Speed, had reduced the wait time by years.

He hailed the project as a historic initiative to develop, test, manufacture and deliver a vaccine in record time.

Trump kicked off his remarks by noting that Moderna had officially entered phasethree of clinical trials. The president, wearing a mask, also took a tour of the Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies Innovation Center on Monday afternoon.

The trip to North Carolina was brief hespent roughly an hour inside the biotech facility in total but remained closely on message. Trump spoke optimistically of the prospects for a vaccine that experts have cautioned may not be widely available for another year, and he made scant mention of the rising number of cases most states are seeing.

Trump took an extremely abbreviated tour of the lab, appearing in front of reporters for roughly five minutes. He wore a mask for that portion of the visit, just the second time hes done so in front of press cameras months after health officials urged the widespread use of face coverings to slow the spread of the virus.

While Trump was in North Carolina, Pence traveled to Florida to mark the start of phasethree trials for a coronavirus vaccine. The vice president visited the University of Miami. The university's school of medicine is taking part in a 30,000-person study for one of the vaccine candidates being developed by Moderna.

Florida has emerged in recent weeks as the new epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, with the state reporting more than 432,000 infections total and setting records for daily infections.

The Trump administration has struggled to get a handle on the pandemic amid mixed messaging from Trump and spikes in cases around the country in recent weeks. More than 4.2 million Americans in total have been infected with COVID-19. The situation hit home for the White House on Monday when it was revealed that national security adviser Robert O'Brien had tested positive for the virus, the highest-ranking official to test positive to date.

Trump last week resumed giving regular briefings on the coronavirus after a roughly two-month hiatus. The president signaled that the briefings would focus specifically on therapeutics and vaccine development as the White House attempts to reassert Trump as the face of the government response.

The White House halted the briefings in late April after they repeatedly got off track, with Trump sparring with reporters, bashing state leaders and musing at one point about the use of disinfectants to treat the virus.

Trump has pinned his hopes for a quick economic bounceback and return to normalcy from the pandemic on the rapid development of a vaccine. Experts have expressed optimism about the chancesof having more than one approved vaccine by early 2021, citing the volume of vaccines being developed worldwide and the influx of resources from the federal government through Operation Warp Speed.

Trump, as he has previously, said Monday that he believed a vaccine could be available by the end of the year.

"I heard very positive things, but by the end of the year, we think we're in very good shape to be doing that," the president told reporters during a briefing at the Morrisville facility.

Pence told reporters at a separate briefing in Miami that he expected the first doses to go to the most vulnerable members of the U.S. population, specifically mentioning senior citizens.

The administration has already invested billions of dollars into several different companies in hopes of having a successful vaccine, including Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. Earlier this month, the administration announced it would pay the small Maryland-based company Novavax $1.6 billion for its COVID-19 vaccine.

The government announced a roughly $2 billion deal last week with Pfizer and a smaller German biotechnology company for doses and distribution of a coronavirus vaccine.

But Anthony FauciAnthony FauciTrump: 'Fake News' not reporting 'big China Virus breakouts all over the World' Trump challenges Fauci over comments on coronavirus surges: 'Wrong!' Experts fear political pressure on COVID-19 vaccine MORE, the government's top infectious diseases expert, and other public health officials have cautioned that a successful vaccine may not be widely available until several months into 2021.

Morgan Chalfant contributed.

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Trump hits road to tout progress toward vaccine | TheHill - The Hill

I'm not sure, but I think I've seen the Royal Farms sign up for only a couple of weeks now, finally we might see someprogress onthe convenience store.

I lived in Maryland and worked on a radio station in Maryland and Royal Farms is their "big" convenience store. Wawa and Royal Farms.

This Royal Farms will be the first at the Jersey Shore. I will tell you this, personally they have the best fried chicken. If you've never tried it, you will and I think you'll agree with me.

Royal Farms is basically just like a Wawa and QuickCheck, full convenience store with gas pumps. They make sandwiches, have food, and everything you'd find at these two very popular New Jersey stores, but their fried chicken is what makes them pretty popular.

Royal Farms recently told the app.com that they are moving along and received all the state permits needed. I have seen some work on the property. It has looked empty the last couple of months, but that might have been because of Covid-19, also. It was approved by Brick's Zoning Board of Adjustment nearly 2 years ago in 2018.

This location in Brick, is theformerlocation of Jersey Paddler on the corner of Route 88 and Route 70. Wawa is everywhere in Brick, gas stations, and other convenience stores, will it do well there? That's a waiting a game. It might be something that you'll be curious to check out. I'm not even kidding, Wawa is on every corner here in New Jersey, Royal Farms is on every cornerin Maryland.

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Is There Any Progress Being Done on Royal Farms in Brick - wobm.com

FRISCO, Texas This morning FC Dallas took part in its second intrasquad scrimmage in seven days as the team continues to build towards game-readiness.

Without regular competitive fixtures, these scrimmages are a crucial litmus test for the work being done in the daily training sessions during the week.

I thought it was a better scrimmage than last week in terms of overall positioning, decisions with and without the ball, defensive shapes andthe build (ups), head coach Luchi Gonzalez said. I saw both teams having interesting builds out of pressureand thats really important in our next step. I think the presses struggled because of the builds being pretty good today, but there were still some good moments.

Dallas hasnt played a full competitive game since early March, so fitness and rhythm are front of mind as the team looks to recover from its setback in Orlando.

I think theres a lot of positives to take from it, said midfielder Fafa Picault. The most important thing right now is that were getting rhythm, getting reps. It was a longer game today so its definitely helping with the fitness side and obviously tactically gelling with the group so thats very important.

Intrasquad scrimmages also add an aspect of competition, something Dallas players are certainly craving.

Mentally its important, Picault added. Obviously for the sake of adrenaline and competitiveness its very important to get these games because right now were not looking forward to(a game) on the weekend. So, its very important for us.

Its still unclear when FC Dallas will take the field again in competitive play, but Luchi and his staff are doing their best to keep the team engaged and ready for whenever its MLS season resumes.

Weve been adapting for months now and that doesnt change, Luchi said. We just got to keep making every day important and make sure that were progressing each day and that were not stagnant. And thats our job as a staff its my role as a head coach to make sure theres a purpose with each session, with each exercise, and that includes what we do off the field. Weve got to keep pushing that way and anticipate that were going to have a game soon.

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Luchi Gonzalez Pleased with Team's Progress in Second Intrasquad Scrimmage - FC Dallas

GORMAN, Calif. - LA County firefighters stopped the forward progress of a brushfire in Gorman on Sunday evening that charred an estimated 200 acres and is 15 percent contained.

The 'Post Fire', which ignited near Gorman Post Road and the northbound Golden State (5) Freeway, was reported at 6:54 p.m., said Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Melinda Choi.

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Four water-dropping helicopters were being used and assistance was sought from the Los Angeles Fire Department, which was sending another water-dropping helicopter, said county fire Dispatch Supervisor Martin Rangel.

The California Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert in Castaic at 8:09 p.m.

The northbound 5 was closed at Smokey Bear Road and the transition road between westbound state Route 138 and northbound 5 was also shut down, the CHP said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, but some buildings were threatened, Rangel said.

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LA County firefighters stop forward progress of 200-acre brusher in Gorman - FOX 11 Los Angeles

UPDATE (Sun. 7:30 p.m.) - In a tweet posted Sunday night, CAL FIRE says the Pond Fire is has burned 1,700 acres and is 54% contained.

Evacuation orders are still in place.

---UPDATE (Sun. 8:48 a.m.) - CAL FIRE SLO said flight mapping is showing the fire has burned 1,550 acres and it 10% contained.

At least two homes destroyed, according to fire officials.

For the latest on the fire Sunday, click here.

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UPDATE (10:03 p.m.) - Red Cross volunteers are helping to assist at the temporary evacuation site at Santa Margarita Elementary School, according to a tweet from Red Cross Central California.

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UPDATE (9:51 p.m.) - The San Luis Obispo County Type 3 Incident Management Team has issued evacuation warnings for south of Las Pilatas Road, west of Park Hill Road to East Pozo Road, north and east of West Pozo Road to Highway 58.

An evacuation warning means residents can voluntarily leave, but it is not mandatory. In the event conditions worsen, they should prepare to leave.

An evacuation order is mandatory.

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UPDATE (8:44 p.m.) - More evacuations orders by the San Luis Obispo County Type 3 Incident Management Team. These include south of Highway 58, west of Huer Huero Road, north of Las Pilitas Road, and east of Pozo Road.

The current evacuation center is Santa Margarita Elementary School located at 22070 H Street, according to the post.

The Horse Emergency Evacuation Team of San Luis Obispo County also has seven trailer teams from their North and South County crews, according to a Facebook post.

The HEET team said in a comment they are staging and sheltering operations at Santa Margarita Ranch. They said to contact them at (805) 550-0213 before bringing in animals to their command center.

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UPDATE (8:36 p.m.) - Both Santa Maria Fire and Five Cities Fire are assisting with the pond fire, according to their tweets.

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UPDATE (7:42 p.m.) - CAL FIRE SLO says the fire is now 2,000 acres with 0% containment.

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UPDATE (7:00 p.m.) - The fire has grown to 1,200 acres, according to CAL FIRE SLO.

CAL FIRE SLO Chief Scott Jalbert said about 100 homes have been evacuated and more could be included in that evacuation order if conditions worsen.

Highway 58 from Parkhill Rd. to Huer Huero Rd. is closed according to Caltrans.

A SigAlert has been issued for the area.

Firefighters are facing challenges with steep and rugged terrain, according to fire officials.

About 150 fire personnel is on scene battling the fire using multiple engines, dozers and airtankers.

Chief Jalbert said state resources are limited due to several other wildfires burning across California.

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UPDATE (6:20 p.m.) - The Pond Fire has jumped to 400 acres, according to CAL FIRE SLO.

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UPDATE (5:50 p.m.) - Evacuations are in progress for the areas of Highway 58 and Huer Huero Rd south to Park Hill Rd, according to sheriff's officials.

The SLO County Sheriff's Office is using a Reverse 9-1-1 notification system to alert residents in the evacuation area.

Officials said at least one structure is destroyed and many others are threatened.----

ORIGINAL STORY (5:25 p.m.) - CAL FIRE SLO is on scene of a vegetation fire burning in Creston.

According to officials, the fire, called the Pond Fire, broke out at 6:44 p.m and is burning near the 3400 block of Katacreek Rd.

It has already burned more than 50 acres.

Road closures are in place on Highway 58 and evacuations are in progress.

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office is assisting with evacuations.

This is a developing story, check back later for details.

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UPDATE: Pond Fire burning near Creston now at 1,700 acres, 54% contained - KSBY San Luis Obispo News

This is a uniquely American mythology. Since the nations founding, its prevailing cultural sensibility has been optimistic, future-oriented, sure of itself, and convinced of Americas inherent goodness. Despite our tragic racial history, Americans generally believe that the country has made and continues to make steady progress toward racial equality. Broad acceptance of this trajectory underlies the way our leaders talk. It also influences the way racism is treated in popular culture.

When we think about the nations racial history, we often envision a linear path, one that, admittedly, begins in a shameful period but moves unerringly in a single directiontoward equality. As if were riding a Whiggish escalator, the narrative of racial progress starts with slavery, ascends to the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, speeds past segregation and Jim Crow to the victories of the civil-rights movement, and then drops us off in 2008 for Barack Obamas election. Many people asserted at the time that America had become a postracial society, or was at least getting closemaybe one more short escalator ride away. This redemptive narrative not only smooths over the past but smooths over what is yet to come: It holds out the promise of an almost predestined, naturally occurring future that will be even more just and egalitarian.

Thinking this way wont make the future better.

The mythology of racial progress distorts our perceptions of reality; perhaps more significantly, it absolves us of responsibility for changing that reality. Progress is seen as natural and inevitableinescapable, like the laws of physics. Backsliding is unlikely. Vigilance is unnecessary.

It is obviously true that many of the conditions of life for Black Americans have gotten better over time. Material standards have in many ways improved. Some essential civil rights have advanced, though unevenly, episodically, and usually only following great and contentious effort. But many areas never saw much progress, or what progress was made has been halted or even reversed. The mythology of racial progress often rings hollow when it comes to, for instance, racial gaps in education. Or health outcomes. Or voting rights. Or criminal justice. Or personal wealth. History is not a ratchet that turns in one direction only. Martin Luther King Jr. famously asserted that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. And maybe it will, in the end. But in our actual lifetimes we see backward steps and tragic detours.

From the October 2018 issue: Ibram X. Kendi on a house still divided

The protests that began in late May have focused on fundamental questions of police violence and civil rights. This sort of awakening offers great opportunitymore on that in a momentbut it is rare in our history, and challenges the nations prevailing psychology. My own research as a social psychologist focuses in part on racial wealth disparitiesparticularly, what people do and dont believe, and do and dont acknowledge about those disparities. Unless people understand the systemic forces that create and sustain racial inequality, we will never successfully address it. But perceptions, it turns out, are slippery.

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Americans Are Determined to Believe in Black Progress - The Atlantic

A Washoe County judge says he will not move to declare the state to be in contempt of the court in a lawsuit over delayed unemployment payments, saying the state was showing encouraging progress on working through a backlog even though he remains concerned things arent moving fast enough.

The comments from Judge Barry Breslow came during a hearing Thursday to check in on the progress of an order he issued last week calling on the agency to release payments to gig workers who had experienced a reduction in work but had not suspended operations entirely. He had also ordered payments that had already started and then stopped to resume again, unless there was clear evidence of fraud, applicants had failed to file weekly claims or claimants were making too much money now.

The court continues to be concerned that the progress, however, under the circumstances that people find themselves in here in Nevada, are moving too slowly, Breslow said. Whether that concern rises to the level that the court finds that [the state is] either abusing its discretion, or otherwise failing to comply with its obligations under the law we're not there yet.

Lawyers for the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) said that the state had complied with the order to release payments to gig workers, such as Uber drivers, who had their workload reduced. Claimant attorney Mark Thierman said he conceded that point, pending verification.

Apart from that, DETRs attorneys said the agency counted 30,647 claims on which payments had started and then stopped. Of those, 7,407 had not filed weekly claims or had earnings high enough that it pushed them beyond the eligibility threshold.

There were 22,387 claims on which payments stopped because of flags for potential fraud. After potential review since the last court hearing, about 3,000 of those payments have been cleared for release and claimants may see the money as soon as Monday.

Thierman questioned whether DETR was doing enough to sort through the remainder of the claims on which there are indicators of fraud and call applicants to give them a chance to argue that they are legitimate. DETR officials said their efforts to communicate with applicants include a messaging system that they expect to get going in coming days to ask claimants for further documentation.

But Kimberly Gaa, head of DETRs Employment Security Division, said many of the claims with flags appear to have more than just whispers of fraudulent activity. She said many of the flags are coming at the direction of the FBI, Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies.

I'm not certain that there's a large group left within the fraud flags bucket that is not not fraudulent, she said. This is not just DETR saying we believe that this information is suspicious. It's getting reported to us by law enforcement.

At the end of the two-hour hearing, Breslow directed court-appointed Special Master Jason Guinasso to continue working as an intermediary between the two parties, identify bottlenecks and prepare a supplemental report on what movement is taking place. Another hearing on the matter is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 20.

He said he might consider an order compelling DETR to change course if the court is convinced at that time that progress is not being made, or that it's being made too slowly.

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State reports progress complying with court order to pay out more unemployment claims, but concerns persist that it's not fast enough - The Nevada...

There may be a great, big, beautiful tomorrow aboard the Carousel of Progress, but today, things arent looking too hot for John, Rover, and the rest of the family. The Carousel of Progress attraction failed to open yesterday at the Magic Kingdom during park open, and remains closed still today.

The good news is that there seems to be some progress being made on the attraction, as maintenance crews were seen on-site actively trying to make some repairs.

The attractions status has been updated on the My Disney Experience app to reflect the downtime. Fans of the rotating show have noticed a number of issues with the attraction as of late, including faulty speakers and missing music tracks, and even more serious issues with the various animatronics, such as Johns hand falling off mid-show back in February.

Well continue to check on the status of this beloved Tomorrowland attraction, and hope that its back up soon to offer the crowds a welcome respite from the heat as well as a dose of Disney history.

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PHOTOS: Carousel of Progress Closed for Second Day at the Magic Kingdom; Maintenance Team On Site for Repairs - wdwnt.com

If not for the coronavirus pandemic, track and field events at the 2020 Olympics wouldve started Friday.

Former Mansfield Lake Ridge star Jasmine Moore had aspirations to compete in Tokyo.

Building on a dazzling high school tenure, when she won nine career state championships, set national records and earned international recognition, Moore shined during her freshman 2019-20 season at Georgia.

Her season-best mark of 21 feet, 2.75 inches in long jump ranked fifth in the nation during the indoor season and was the eighth longest in Georgia history. Moores season-best triple jump -- 45 feet, 7.25 inches -- led all NCAA competitors and ranked No. 2 all-time at Georgia.

Moore won the triple jump and finished second in the long jump at the SEC Championships en route to becoming the SEC Womens Indoor Freshman Field Athlete of the Year. She qualified for the NCAA indoor championships in both events before that competition and outdoor season were canceled amid the pandemic.

Moore, 19, adding more than nine inches to her triple jump distance less than a year after establishing a national high school record (44 feet, 10 inches) in her final UIL meet showcased the progress she hoped would help her clinch a berth to the Olympics this summer.

Because of the postponement, Olympic track and field events are now scheduled to start a year from Thursday -- July 30, 2021. In a recent interview with The Dallas Morning News, Moore reflected on her adjustment to college, her training amid the pandemic and her hopes for the upcoming year.

Her answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Looking back on your last year, how was your adjustment at Georgia as a freshman?

Moore: At first, the adjustment was kind of hard, being away from my parents and by myself and meeting so many new people. As far as training, it was a lot harder, and I wasnt used to having every day as a competition, and it was really intense. I would say the first three months I definitely struggled. After Thanksgiving break was when I started to get more into my groove.

What was especially challenging?

Moore: As far as training, my food. Obviously at home with your parents, my mom always cooked. Being at school, it was tough because you dont always have time to go to the dining hall and maybe they dont have the best options for you. I tried to balance cooking and fueling my body with appropriate stuff so I could have good performances and not slack. It shows a lot more in college at practice.

School was just a lot harder, too. In high school, you didnt have to study as much for tests or you didnt have as much homework, but in college, thats not going to fly. And Im really close with my parents, so not being with them and seeing them a lot, I was definitely homesick freshman year a lot.

What helped you improve in track to make such big strides in one year?

Moore: I still struggle with confidence a little bit, but basically everybody in the NCAA, Ive either competed against them in high school or international competition, so Ive been in the same boat before. Everyones in school. Everyone has practice. Everyones tired, so I had to stop feeling bad for myself, and that was when I was like, OK, obviously, I was a top recruit coming out of high school, so the expectations for you are pretty high and your expectations for yourself are pretty high, so just lets do it.

Around the same time NCAA canceled the rest of track and field season was when officials made the decision to postpone the Olympics. What was your reaction to that?

Moore: Honestly, as soon as we got sent home from Georgia and we really couldnt go back to school, I was happy they postponed just because it was so hard to practice at home due to all the circumstances with the closed gyms and not being able to do exactly everything how your coach has you at school.

Everything is so structured. Everything is so organized, and going from that to home and trying to practice and have the same intensity, it just wasnt there for me, so I was hoping that it would happen. Im kind of young in my event, so this is great that I have another year to work harder and develop more as an athlete.

What are the benefits of an extra year for you?

Moore: Definitely just to get my technique down a little bit more. Like I said, I am still pretty young in my event, so that will be beneficial to get stronger. Freshman year, I was all over the place because everything was so new that I was driving myself a little crazy. I dont think my practices were as great as they couldve been, so itll be nice now since Im able to get a hold of everything and its not so new anymore.

What does training for you look like during the pandemic?

Moore: Im actually in Georgia right now because my lease started for my house, so Im like, If Im paying, I might as well live here. Our tracks open, but were not able to train with our coaches and our team right now, so that part kind of sucks. My coach said whenever school starts back, well be able to. There will be a lot of new rules as far as being able to train when it comes to the virus and everything like that. Things will be looking a little bit different, but Im sure that well still be able to still get the work in that we need to, especially coming up on an Olympic year.

How do you push yourself every day to stay on top of that with no formal coaching?

Moore: I have more discipline here. I know Im in Georgia to go to school and go to practice, versus when Im at home, its easier to get distracted. I have to stay accountable for myself. The good thing is all the girls who I live with, theyre on the track team as well, so were able to do our workouts, and my trainers sent me exercises on my phone, so I do rehab with videos.

Do you let yourself think about what this summer mightve looked like in a normal, alternate universe?

Moore: We still had all of our events on our family calendar. It was like, Oh, supposed to be in Austin right now for NCAA championships, supposed to be in Oregon for Olympic Trials. That parts been kind of sad because I do think about what it couldve been. Either this couldve been a really good moment for me if I made the Olympic team, or else Id be really sad if I didnt. I dont want to have the disappointment, so thats why Im trying my best to stay on top of everything right now.

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Ex-Lake Ridge star Jasmine Moore talks progress, motivation a year before track & field starts at Tokyo - The Dallas Morning News

On the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the nations most significant legislation regarding the civil rights of people with disabilities, the MBTA reaffirms its commitment to beinga leader in accessible publictransportation.

Thanks to the ADA and our riders who have advocated and partnered with us, the MBTA is more reliable and accessible than ever before, said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. Were proud of the accessibility accomplishments weve made so far, but were committed to continuing to make improvements, which are fundamental to allowing our neighbors, friends, colleagues, and family members with disabilities to use the MBTA safely and confidently. With that in mind, we celebrate this important anniversary and look forward to continuing our path forward.

This weeksGM Video Updatefeatures additional discussion regarding the history of accessibility at the MBTA and the progress toward a fully accessible T.

By the 1970s, the MBTA had already begun projects and programs with a focus on accessibility, including the Ts first elevator going into service at Quincy Center Station in 1971 and offering door-to-door paratransit service through the use of two lift-equipped vans in and around Brookline in 1977. Early Federal laws and state oversight through the Massachusetts Architectural Board helped to expand a focus on accessibility at the T and, by 1990 when the ADA was signed, around twenty-five MBTA stations were accessible. At that time, some buses were also accessible, though customers were required to call ahead to request these lift-equipped buses be assigned to a particular route.

The signing of the ADA in 1990 aimed to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities, including in public transportation. Expectations for public transit providers like the MBTA were clarified and called for all parts of service to be accessible, including reliable stop announcements, improved employee trainings, and accessible key stations and vehicles.

The existence of the ADA has also given riders a mechanism for holding organizations accountable for providing accessible service. While the T had made some progress since the signing of the ADA in 1990, a group of riders with disabilities along with the Boston Center for Independent Living filed a class-action lawsuit against the T in 2002 that cited many ADA violations, including broken elevators, inaccessible buses, and employees not equipped to assist customers as needed.

Following a comprehensive settlement agreement of this lawsuit in 2006, the MBTA has fundamentally shifted its approach, initiating accessibility projects and programs with the goal of becoming a global leader in accessible transit. In the fifteen years since the settlement agreement, tremendous progress has been made to name a few:

The MBTA now has over 232 accessible stations including 200 elevators system-wide with elevator up time averaging 99.4 percent or better consistently over the last decade through new elevator maintenance contracts.

The Ts bus fleet is 100 percent accessible with the newest fleet designed with feedback from riders with disabilities that has resulted in a layout that will provide more space and options for all customers, including wheelchair users and families with strollers.

All front-line employees receive improved training in providing accessible and inclusive service to all customers, including one-of-a-kind training in assisting customers with disabilities during emergency situations.

Recognizing that first-hand experiences help shape a more usable system, the MBTA continues to reinforce its efforts to include riders with disabilities in its decision-making processes by hiring talented staff who also have disabilities and improving rider engagement through groups like the TsRiders Transportation Access Group (R-TAG).

The RIDE is also a leader in service quality, efficiency, and innovation among peer paratransit operations. Since the launch of this service on a smaller scale in 1977, the MBTAs ADA door-to-door paratransit RIDE program currently provides service for eligible customers in fifty-eight surrounding towns and communities, including Boston. Of the 1.6 million trips provided last year on the traditional RIDE service, over 245,000 trips were taken as part of the innovative pilot partnership withUber and Lyft, which provides customers with flexible options that best meet their needs and additional similar pilot service offerings to come soon. The upcoming software and technology transition toRoutematchwill also continue to improve the customer experience, enhance reliability, and increase efficiencies by providing customers with a new web-based trip booking platform, a compatible smart phone app, and interactive voice response prompts to assist customers in managing their own trips. The MBTA continues to explore better, more integrated ways to offer trips to its RIDE customers using both paratransit and fixed route service.

While the MBTA is proud of this progress so far, the T is committed to continuous improvement with more projects focused on accessibility in the pipeline. As part of the MBTAs Plan for Accessible Transportation Infrastructure (PATI)that aims to make the system entirely accessible, major upgrades within the next five years include:

The renovation of SymphonyandHynesStations on the Green Line to improve accessibility;

Improvements to nine street-level Green Line stops that make these stations fully accessible;

Over 50 new elevators in design; and

Many innovative technology pilot programs, including indoor navigation for blind/low vision customers.

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ADA 30th Anniversary: MBTA Highlights Progress and Upcoming Accessibility Projects - East Boston Times-Free Press

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is negotiating several bilateral trade deals to come into effect once its exit from the European Union is complete at the end of the year.

FILE PHOTO: European Union and British flags flutter in front of a chancellery ahead of a visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May in Berlin, Germany, April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo

The Department for International Trade has prioritised deals with the EU, the United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Heres where things stand:

Total trade value: 232.7 billion pounds (1)

Both sides have said they want a quick deal, but there are clear hurdles. The United States elects a new president in November, and the UK says there is no set timetable because it does not want time pressure to be used against it.

Two rounds of talks have taken place so far, with the third expected to begin on Monday. Both sides have described the talks as constructive and positive, but there are underlying tensions.

The United States imposed retaliatory tariffs on EU exports, including some from Britain, after a row over aircraft subsidies. Britain has demanded that those tariffs, which apply to a wide range of goods including Scotch whisky and tailored suits, be removed to show goodwill.

Other high-profile issues include whether a deal will give U.S. firms access to Britains state-funded healthcare system, and whether Britain will accept U.S. food hygiene standards. The British government says the National Health Service is not on the table, and food standards will not be lowered.

Total trade value: 673 billion pounds (1)

Britain and the European Union have held six formal rounds of talks on a trade agreement to form part of a deal on their future relationship when a status quo transition period expires at the end of this year.

Both sides agreed last month to speed up their talks but their positions are far apart, particularly on the level playing field guarantees of fair competition and on fisheries.

Britain said after the last round that an agreement could be reached in September; EU officials say the earliest any breakthrough could come is towards the end of August.

Total trade value: 18.6 billion pounds (1)

Britain said in its negotiating mandate, published on June 17, that it wanted an ambitious and comprehensive deal including a focus on technology, innovation and research and development.

The first round of talks was held remotely between June 29 and July 10. Trade minister Liz Truss said: Discussions between negotiators were productive and reflected our shared ambition to secure a comprehensive deal to boost trade and investment between our like-minded economies.

The next round of talks is planned for September.

Total trade value: 31.6 billion pounds (1)

Negotiations began in June. Both sides have said they want a deal to come into force by the end of 2020.

Tokyo wanted to conclude talks by the end of July, but Truss has since said she will not be bounced into signing a deal because of time pressure.

Britain says any deal with Japan should be at least as good as the one signed with the EU, and that that deal can be used as a template to speed the process up.

British analysis estimated that, in the long run, the trade deal could increase annual trade flows between both countries by 15.2 billion pounds and increase the size of the UK economy by 1.5 billion pounds.

Total trade value: 2.9 billion pounds (1)

Britain said in its negotiating mandate, published on June 17, that it wanted an ambitious and comprehensive deal supporting both governments Net Zero commitments on climate change.

The first round of trade talks began via videoconference on July 13 and concluded on July 24. Further rounds are expected in due course, Britain said.

(1) Office for National Statistics, UK total trade; all countries, non-seasonally adjusted, 2019, as of July 23.

here

Reporting by William James and Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Kevin Liffey

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Factbox: What progress is Britain making on post-Brexit trade deals? - Reuters

If one were not a scientist one might be tempted to say there is no progress.

Prehistoric man, as I just told you, was on a fair way to progress.

From this point the progress will be best narrated by extracts from my Diary.

We talked of progress; but progress, like the philosopher's stone, could not be easily attained.

From this strength we have contributed to the recovery and progress of the world.

Progress may be slowmeasured in inches and feet, not milesbut we will progress.

In no nation are the institutions of progress more advanced.

It was characterized as "a policy of which peace, progress and retrenchment were the watchwords."

We do not dread, rather do we welcome, their progress in education and industry.

Start on this journey of progress and justice, and America will walk at your side.

Go here to see the original:

Progress Synonyms, Progress Antonyms | Thesaurus.com

A coronavirus relief agreement in Congress appeared in doubt early Friday after new economic data showed a U.S. economy buckling under the pandemic's weight.

On Thursday, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., tried to unanimously pass an extension of the weekly enhanced federal unemployment insurance that would slash the benefit from $600 to $200 per week.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., rejected it. The current $600 weekly federal unemployment benefit expires today.

Schumer then attempted to unanimously approve the $3 trillion rescue package House Democrats passed in May. That legislation also failed, leaving Congress no closer to breaking an impasse over how best to boost a health-care system and economy ravaged by the pandemic.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. held late-night talks with Schumer, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, NBC News reported.

The talks apparently were unsuccessful. Late Thursday, Meadows tweeted: "Tonight, once again, the White House offered a temporary extension of needed unemployment assistancewhich expires tomorrow. And again, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi said no."

Democratic leaders and Trump administration officials left a meeting Wednesday saying they had not come close to bridging a gulf in their priorities for an aid package.

Congress is struggling to find common ground on coronavirus relief as statistics show an economy still experiencing damage from an outbreak spreading throughout the country. Initial jobless claims climbed to 1.43 million last week, rising for the second straight week. U.S. GDP also fell by a record 32.9% in the second quarter during the peak of pandemic-related shutdowns an expected but still devastating plunge.

Congressional leaders are now tossing blame for the inevitable expiration of the $600 per week enhanced federal unemployment insurance. The policy ends after Friday, though states stopped paying out the extra benefit last week leaving millions of Americans facing a sudden and sharp drop in income.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell accused Democrats of refusing to "engage" with the GOP after it released its coronavirus relief proposal on Monday. Republicans unveiled the plan more than two months after the House passed a rescue package, which Democrats considered their opening offer in the next round of aid discussions.

"Either our Democratic colleagues come to the table, or the American people won't get the help they need," McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said on the Senate floor.

The sides will have to resolve differences on a range of issues, most notably the unemployment insurance extension. Democrats want to maintain the $600 per week jobless benefit, on top of what recipients get from states, into next year. Republicans want to cut it to $200 per week through September, then set it at 70% wage replacement.

Democrats have also criticized the lack of several other provisions in the GOP plan, including direct aid for state and local governments and funds for rent, mortgage and food assistance. They also oppose liability protections for businesses, doctors and schools, which McConnell has said will have to be in any bill he brings to the Senate floor.

Schumer said the lack of a Republican consensus on pandemic aid has hindered progress toward a deal. Multiple GOP senators have said a large share of the caucus does not support the legislation Republicans released this week.

"Our friends on the other side now are scrambling," he said on the Senate floor Thursday.

As they moved closer to Friday's deadline without a comprehensive deal, both President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin floated the possibility of passing a short-term deal to extend the unemployment insurance and a federal eviction moratorium on Wednesday.

Schumer and Pelosi have both shot down a temporary fix.

Even as the progress of talks looked bleak Thursday, Schumer said he believes the parties can still reach a deal.

"It's never easy, it's never painless, but it can be done," he said.

CNBC's Terri Cullen contributed to this report.

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Congress fails to agree on the next coronavirus stimulus deal as $600-a-week unemployment benefits expire - CNBC

Friday is layoff day for 6,000 Boeing employees. They will join 1.3 million Washingtonians who have already filed for unemployment.

KUOWs Carolyn Adolph is here with more.

This interview has been edited for clarity.

These are Covid-19 layoffs, too, but Boeing workers have some assets other unemployed people are not getting. These were won for them by their unions, who made the case that the feds should use an assistance program for workers displaced by trade agreements.

These Boeing workers are getting unemployment benefits for up to two years, which is about twice as long as other people who are unemployed but they need to be in training for new work. They will be guided toward that training. There will also be help to pay for it.

Boeing CEO David Calhoun didn't have a lot of specifics, but he talked on Wednesday about what the next cuts are going to look like. They're going to start to get into the bone of the commercial airplanes business: Reducing production rates for wide-body jets like the 787 and the 777, and possibly stopping production of the 787 at Everett all together while they transfer that to South Carolina. Now, that is not at all clear, but that's among the options.

We don't know how many workers are next. Boeing says in two years, it could be back up to full strength. But right now, after the Max crisis, which began in March 2019, it's got drained cash flow. And then the Covid crisis crashed global aviation, and now airlines are backing away from orders. Only cargo freighters, the Boeing 767, are in high demand right now.

Just to show you how serious it is, I was startled yesterday to hear Greg Smith, Boeing's Chief Financial Officer, thanking the federal government for stabilizing credit markets so Boeing could go out and borrow $25 billion to keep the operation running. Boeing also gave thanks for stable government contracts.

Boeing workers say it's a very scary time to be there. People who survived the first round don't know how long their luck is going to last, or what they would do if they couldn't stay. This said, Boeing workers can be okay because of that federal package. Right now, the bigger worry is for people already in the unemployment system, who are losing some key support right now.

Losing the $600 a week means that the average amount that Washingtonians will now receive per week is $374, according to Employment Security. That works out to be about $1,600 worth of income a month. Of course, there's a federal stimulus package coming with another $1,200 per person, but now we can see that it's going to be several weeks, maybe longer, before the political fight over the fate of the $600 a week is going to be resolved. Seattle's Mayor Jenny Durkan is saying this is going to be devastating.

So, there is more insecurity at a time when reopening has stalled in our state. However, there is some good news. I've been hearing from people who are getting paid after months of receiving no money from Employment Security for a bunch of reasons.

There's been this long backlog of people filing for unemployment and we're going to know more pretty soon. The Employment Security Department has a goal of resolving stale cases by Friday. This said, it does look like up to 11,000 people still haven't been paid as of a few days ago.

People I've spoken to who have solved their problems say contact your state representative. State reps have a back channel they use, a separate staff in every department that handles requests from them. If people get trapped in a situation where they can't verify their identity, because the website already thinks they're fraudsters this is just one example of the kinds of jams people are getting into contact the state representative. That can be a very hard nut to crack on your own.

Listen to the interview by clicking the play button above.

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Boeing layoffs hit amid progress on unemployment backlog - KUOW News and Information

Compass Group PLC, the U.K. foodservice provider whose holdings include Compass Group USA and Canteen Vending, reported some progress against the COVID-19 losses in the third quarter as customer locations began to reopen. The company's revenues in the quarter ending June 30 fell 44%, with losses in Europe heaviest at 54% while North America was down 45% and the rest of the world was down 20%.

The company noted that compared to an earlier stated recovery scenario of being down 50%, the current scenario indicates some improvement over prior expectations.

"What we've seen typically is faster reopening of the industry sector, and higher volumes," Dominic Blakemore, group chief executive, said in an investors call. "And I think those are for the obvious reasons that typically need people need to be onsite to produce and manufacture, and that has been our sort of consistent experience around the globe."

As for the 60% of the critical B&I sector that is business, he said, "Clients across all sectors are being, I think, very cautious and careful about the pace at which they bring staff back, especially with regard to their obligations around health and safety for those individuals, and especially with the uncertainty that we see around further spikes more generally."

"We're starting to see a small number of sites reopening, and we're also working with our clients to pass through higher operating costs," he said. "However, a greater weighting towards business and industry, stricter containment measures and a less flexible workforce mean that while we are vigorously managing the situation, progress in the region will inevitably be slower."

Accounts in the business and industry sector, which accounts for 38% of the company's business, were mostly closed in April and May, and started to reopen in June.

By the end of June, about 60% of the company's business accounts were open, compared to 55% by the end of May.

Due to the different containment measures at the state level in the U.S., the company's operations in North America were slightly more open than in Europe, the company noted.

As the sites reopen, the company has held conversations with clients to recover the higher costs of operating with enhanced health and safety protocols and lower participation rates. This, combined with more flexible labor laws, has allowed Compass to adjust its cost structure and start to rebuild the operating margin.

Accounts were also mostly closed in the education sector, which accounts for 20% of the company's business.

September will be an important month, said Karen Witts, chief financial officer.

"We will need to see what happens when the schools and the higher education institutions go back and, indeed, what the student behaviors are like once they go back to their schools and universities," Witts said during the call. "And then we also need to see the pace of returning to work in the B&I sector."

The healthcare sector, which accounts for 24% of the company's business, was good.

Sports and leisure, 11% of the business, remained fully shut.

In Europe, the lockdown measures have been deeper and more widespread than in other regions. Stricter containment measures and a less flexible work force mean progress in the region will be slower.

In rest of the world, most of the business was open at the end of June.

The pace at which volumes will recover remains unclear, however, especially given a possible increase in local lockdowns, the company noted.

In the third quarter, the company spent 42 million ($54.76 million) in resizing costs, mainly in North and South America, Blakemore said.

He cited the company's 95% account retention rate as a key win in the quarter, as it is slightly above its long-term retention rate.

In North America, he said he expects the company will have its best year ever for new business.

Blakemore also mentioned the possibility of Compass becoming active in the food delivery space, a rapidly growing segment of the foodservice industry. He noted the company has kitchens that can be used to prepare delivery orders.

"There's no reason they can't be used for batch production of high-quality meal offerings," Blakemore said. "So I think we have the assets, and I think we're also figuring out that, in the new world post COVID, you know, the assets that we share with our clients can be more fully used and utilized when they're not being utilized with our clients."

For an update on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting convenience services, click here.

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Compass Group report slow progress in COVID-19 recovery for Q3 - Vending Times

The acting director of the Oregon Employment Department, said in a press call that the backlog of claims has been reduced. But many require further processing that could take months.

The number of initial unemployment claims have risen sharply and are now declining after the outbreak of COVID-19. (Courtesy/Oregon Employment Department).

The Oregon Employment Department has made progress in processing the record backlog of unemployment claims caused by the coronavirus pandemic. However, tens of thousands of unemployed people will still have to wait months for benefits, David Gerstenfeld, the acting director of the Oregon Employment Department, said in a media call on Wednesday.

He said that between March 15 and July 18, the department received 533,000, a record number of claims for unemployment insurance. Of those, fewer than 1,200 have not been processed yet. Those remaining were all filed this month and are being processed quickly he said.

We've gone from the lowest unemployment rate in the state's history to the highest unemployment rate in the state's history, he said. And that happened not over the course of a year, like most traditional recessions, but almost overnight. And that's been incredibly stressful on so many people who rapidly saw their income just disappear.

But Gerstenfeld said that many of those claims that have been processed are stuck in adjudication. The adjudication is a fact-finding process to determine if someone is eligible for benefits after quitting a job, being fired or not accepting work.

Gerstenfeld didnt have a precise number of how many claims are in adjudication but its in the tens of thousands and the timeline for clearing them is 12 to 14 weeks.

He said that the department had 80 adjudicators before the pandemic began and there are now more than 210. There are plans to hire at least 100 more, he said.

The department has made progress on processing the claims filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, he said. The program was created by the federal relief package passed by Congress this spring and extends unemployment to self-employed and gig workers who wouldnt normally qualify for traditional unemployment benefits.

Earlier this month, the department contracted with Google to set up a new form for the program. Gerstenfeld said that the department has had 115,000 weekly claims handled by the new system. Several weeks ago the department had 70,000 applications for the new program with a goal to process them by Aug. 8.

As of last week, the department has processed about 70% or 50,000 of those claims, paying out $65 million in benefits, he said.

As part of the federal pandemic relief package, people receiving unemployment get an additional $600. The additional benefit ended last week, but Gerstenfeld said it will be applied retroactively to claims that havent been paid.

Congress is considering another relief package and is debating extending the benefit or reducing it.

Gerstenfeld has paid out $2.2 billion in the additional pandemic benefit, which he said has had a big impact on the state economy.

Patrick OConnor, a regional economist with the department, said that numbers on how many people in the Salem area have received the additional $600 benefit were not yet available.

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Contact reporter Jake Thomas at 503-575-1251 or[emailprotected]or @jakethomas2009.

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The state has made progress on unemployment claims, but tens of thousands still waiting - Salem Reporter

ByHub staff report

The latest editions of Johns Hopkins University's reports on the composition of its graduate students, faculty, and staff show that the critical commitments to advancing equity and creating a more inclusive Johns Hopkins outlined in the Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion are showing positive results: There has been growth over several years in the number of female affiliates and those that identify as a member of underrepresented racial minority groups.

The reports are a key part of the Roadmap's promise of transparency so the community can see where the university has achieved greater diversity and where work remains to be done.

"This kind of reporting is a critical part of the effort we established five years ago with the creation of the Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion," JHU President Ronald J. Daniels says. "Our commitment to rigorous reporting of data, down in many cases to the departmental level, makes us stand apart and allows the entire community to regularly track progress."

Ronald J. Daniels

President, Johns Hopkins University

He added: "This fuels the oversight of leadership, including the board of trustees, around our collective objectives articulated in the Roadmap. We have much to do to ensure that this moment motivates us to do more, but we are able to build on a firm foundation of data generation and collection, reporting, and transparency that is the wellspring of progress."

Efforts to increase the number of affiliates from groups that are underrepresented in higher education (URM)including Black or African American, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanderhave led to steady progress. URM individuals were 16% of the total graduate student population in 2019, up from 13% in 2011. The percentage went from 8% to 10% of full-time professorial faculty between 2015 and 2019 (the same percentages as among all full-time faculty).

An increase in female graduate student representation, from 51% in 2011 to 53% in 2019, was driven by the enrollment of more women in master's programs and doctoral programs other than PhDs; the percentage of women in PhD programs decreased. Female representation among full-time professorial faculty increased from 37% to 41% between 2015 and 2019.

Because recruitment and retention depend upon efforts within schools, departments, and programs, the reports disaggregate the data to assess progress at a number of levels. The university community is encouraged to review all three reports online:

The reports note that the use of male and female as the only gender categories reflect federal reporting guidelines and not the full scope of gender identities represented and supported in the Johns Hopkins community, an issue leaders hope to address in future reports. In addition, they add, the documents are not intended to examine how university students, staff, and faculty view the institutional climatethere are other tools and programs accomplish that goal, including the annual Gallup employee engagement survey, exit interviews, and the COACHE survey of faculty.

The university plans to continue to share composition data as its diversity efforts progress. In early July, Daniels announced several new diversity efforts that will begin this year, including a task force to assess the Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion and recommend next steps. The JHU community will be invited to listening sessions and a virtual town hall focused on the Roadmap 2020 Task Force launch. The discussions will be guided by the data and lessons learned from the latest composition reports.

The president also announced a scholarly initiative focused on discrimination in Johns Hopkins University's history, and a committee to create the criteria for reexamining the names of buildings and programs. Members of the university community can share their ideas and feedback on all of the diversity projects on the on the university's Diversity and Inclusion website.

The faculty composition report specifically helps the university track gains made through its Faculty Diversity Initiative, which was launched in 2015 with a $25 million funding commitment and a goal of developing a multifaceted approach to faculty recruitment and retention.

The Johns Hopkins University Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion, released in November 2016, lays out specific actions to promote diversity, inclusion, and equity across the Hopkins community

The report says, "It is clear that, through the life of the initiative, important gains have been made. During a period of faculty growth14% growth in professorial faculty and 11% growth overall since fall 2015female and underrepresented minority faculty representation grew faster, reducing historical imbalances in those two areas of faculty diversity." The proportions of female, Black, Hispanic, minority, and URM faculty at the university have all increased over that time period.

"Reporting on the composition of our faculty, students, and staff offers a regular opportunity to deliver on our promise of transparency and make sure our community can easily find the data that drives our efforts," says Sunil Kumar, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. "The increases we see in the numbers reflect substantial efforts in every division to improve recruitment and hiring practices and support individuals from a variety of backgrounds."

Kumar adds that with the leadership of Katrina Caldwell as JHU's new chief diversity officer, the university will develop the next phase of the faculty diversity initiative. Areas that call for additional focus include increasing opportunities for advancement, improving the climate around diversity and inclusion, and creating more effective work-life balance, he says.

The university uses the data compiled in the Report on Staff Composition to evaluate whether its recruitment, development, and compensation practices are resulting in gender equity and a broad representation of individuals who identify as a minority. The most recent report reflects statistics from 2015, 2017, and 2019; examines each school and several administrative divisions; and divides the data by employee groups.

Minority staff composition grew from 37% in 2015 to 41% in 2019. URM is not a category used in the staff composition report. The term minority encompasses all of the groups in the definition of URM (which aligns with the one used by the National Center for Educational Statistics) plus individuals who self-identify as Asian. Female representation remained steady among staff at 71% across those same years.

The employee groups with the highest minority composition in 2019 were Service (85%), Administrative Support (51%), and Tech/Paraprofessional (51%). The employee groups with the lowest minority composition in 2019 were Executive/Administrative (19%) and Managerial (27%).

"A number of strategic initiatives are underway to attract and retain a diverse workforce and promote a workplace climate where all employees feel included and engaged in our success," says Heidi Conway, vice president for human resources.

Recently, in conversations with the Hopkins Diaspora and Black Faculty and Staff Association, university leaders discussed plans for JHU to offer mandatory unconscious bias and anti-racist training to all managers, and said the university will look to sustain its internal review of salary equity as well as seek outside consultation on that topic.

Also, a universitywide advisory committee, led by the talent acquisition team in Human Resources, has developed recommendations to improve the process for promoting qualified internal candidates. The plan includes ways to increase transparency and address gaps that employees experience as they navigate their career growth.

"I am truly grateful to our colleagues in the BFSA, the Hopkins Diaspora, and the Diversity Leadership Council, our students in the Black Student Union and the Multicultural Leadership Council, and to all across Johns Hopkins who have worked to advance these priorities and embed transparency and accountability into the structures of our university," Daniels says. "At a watershed moment in our country, we are bringing new energy and urgency to this essential work."

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Johns Hopkins makes meaningful progress toward equity and inclusion goals - The Hub at Johns Hopkins