Monthly Archives: April 2021

SAN ANTONIO Jordan Spieth continues to look for an older version of himself.

The search shows moments of success. He shot 2-under-par 70 on a gusty Friday afternoon at the Valero Texas Open. He enters the third round with share of second place at 7 under par, two shots behind the leader, Cameron Tringale.

Winless since 2017, the 27-year-old Spieth will again be a factor on the weekend in 2021.

He often has been since early February at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. That was the week his work toward finding his older self the golf swing of his youth took a beneficial turn. He started rehearsing a move on the practice range at TPC Scottsdale in an effort to shallow the plane of his downswing. He wanted to swing like he was that freshman in 2012 at the University of Texas, beating Justin Thomas in the final match of the NCAA National Championship.

RELATED: Full leaderboard| Tringale leads by two at Valero Texas Open

A swing feel that's kind of like an artistic motion, is how he explained Friday, like I almost can see it happening from behind me as I'm feeling it.

The Valero Texas Open is his seventh start since embracing the drill. Hes had three Top 5 finishes, a tie for 15th and two wins last week at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, where he lost in the Round of 16. For those anticipating a return to form for the 11-time winner from Dallas, the trend inspires hope.

He is trying, he said, to go back in time. He wants to find his swing of his 15-year-old self, or at least the one that brough him so much acclaim so soon. Spieth wants to reverse essentially everything, he said, all the bad habits I got into. He said his attack on the ball got too steep after 2017, when he won three tournaments, including The Open Championship. Then came all the questions and doubts.

I could sit here and tell you six different things Im thinking about, he said. I want it to be one or two.

He appears, at times, to have achieved that simplicity and purity. He shot 5-under 67 on Thursday at TPC San Antonio, seven birdies against two bogeys. He birdied his first two holes Friday. He was 2 under after nine.

He expected stress and it came. Texas in the springtime is a windy place. He made bogey at the 11thand the 13th. But he followed those with birdies at the next two, which included an approach on the 459-yard par-four 15thto 4 feet. Spieth coasted through the last three holes, wind and all, with straight pars.

I'm really pleased with where things are at, but they're not where I want them to be at, he said. I'm trying to kind of take it slowly and patiently and reward myself, be excited about the good ones and not get too down about the bad ones.

So on goes the search.

I'm really just trying to go back in time structurally to a place that I've been, he said.

Trying to work backwards.

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For surging Jordan Spieth, progress means a return to swing of his youth - pgatour.com

MORELAND HILLS, Ohio

Burglary-in-progress (unfounded): Giles Road

A resident thought that a neighbors house was being broken into shortly after 5 a.m. April 1 after she saw a car in the driveway and heard what were not normal noises for that time of day -- she figured it was too early for the neighbors to be getting ready for work.

A short time later, police found that the suspicious activity and sounds were those of the neighbors knocking snow off of their sally port.

Deer vs. motorcycle: Chagrin River Road

A motorcyclist escaped serious injury after colliding with a deer crossing the road around 8:30 p.m. March 30. The rider was reportedly up and walking around, then refused hospital transport after medics arrived on the scene. The motorcycle required a tow.

Road hazard: South Woodland Road

A dump truck was hit by a large tree branch that fell into the roadway, blocking the eastbound lane of Ohio 87 near Hogsback Cemetery shortly after 4 p.m. March 30. No injuries were reported. The village service department had the roadway cleared within 10 minutes.

Departmental information: Lancaster Court

A resident reported receiving an unusual text message March 30, asking if they wanted to sell their house or if they had any tenants. The residents were advised by police that it was probably a scam. Extra patrols were requested.

Theft: Wiltshire Road

An officer was called into the police station shortly after noon March 31 to take an unspecified theft report.

Damage to property: Jackson Road

A resident called the police station directly around noon on March 31, with information taken for an unspecified property damage report.

Traffic detail: Old Farm Road

A construction crew was advised March 30 to have all their vehicles parked on the job site and not blocking the cul-de-sac.

Animal (miscellaneous): Ellendale Road

Police received a complaint of a loose dog going to the bathroom in peoples yards around 8 a.m. March 31.

Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun.

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Burglary-in-progress proves to be Mother Natures April Fool: Moreland Hills Police Blotter - cleveland.com

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Hash Bash festival now in its 50th consecutive year hosted a live-streamed variety show featuring key political figures, athletes, musicians, business owners and other prominent voices in the pro-cannabis movement.

In accordance with public health guidelines, the organizers of Hash Bash encouraged participants to celebrate the festival from the comfort of their own homes. Despite these efforts, some enthusiasts took the initiative to host an in-person smoke-in on the Diag, Hash Bashs birthplace.

For any other pre-pandemic year, thousands of marijuana activists, protesters and enthusiasts from across the globe travel to Ann Arbor to light a joint while advocating for marijuana legislation and celebrating cannabis culture. Last years rally was held completely online after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person activity.

In Nov. 2018, the state of Michigan passed Proposal I, making it legal for those 21 and older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of recreational marijuana. Michigan was the first state in the Midwest to legalize recreational marijuana, following other states like California, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada.

Both the in-person and virtual events commemorated the cannabis movements achievements while advocating for progressive marijuana legislation on the federal level.

The festival first began in 1972, four months after a freedom rally in protest of the conviction of longtime activist and poet John Sinclair, whom the Michigan Supreme Court sentenced to 9.5 to 10 years for the possession of two marijuana joints in 1971. Sinclair organized the first Hash Bash in protest of the Controlled Substances Act. Since then, Hash Bash has transformed into a large-scale festival drawing in social activists and cannabis enthusiasts from all across the state and country.

In an interview with The Michigan Daily prior to the event, Adam Rosenberg, University of Michigan Business School alum and founder of Green Wolverine an organization dedicated to exploring the cannabis industry echoed the importance of federal decriminalization and legalization.

When discussing his expectations for the event, Rosenberg said he hoped policymakers in attendance would promote further access to cannabis research and support for the SAFE Banking Act, which would allow cannabis companies to receive the same financial services and public listings as non-cannabis companies.

Most importantly, there needs to be an elimination of the contradiction between state law and federal law through federal decriminalization, which would eliminate the current law that essentially equates cannabis with heroin at the federal level, Rosenberg said. This conversation needs to come from our federal leadership.

The virtual festival kicked off at high noon with a Woodstock-style, Jimi Hendrix-inspired rendition of the national anthem played by The Voice finalist Laith Al-Saadi.

Emceed by Anqunette Sarfoh, former Fox 2 Detroit News anchor, Hash Bash featured a pre-recorded video from Sinclair.

In his statement, Sinclair said the cannabis movement is still protesting the same controlled-substances rhetoric as when Hash Bash began, in addition to the mass criminalization of people with marijuana-based offenses. According to the ACLU, Black people are 3.73 times more likely to be arrested on marijuana-related charges than white people in the United States.

Now that we legalized medical marijuana (in Michigan) in 2008, and we legalized recreational marijuana (in Michigan) in 2018, our big job is to get the police off our backs and get them out of the marijuana issue, completely and fully, Sinclair said. Thats my goal.

Reiterating Sinclairs call for decriminalization, the Michigan Cannabis Freedom Coalition spoke about Michael Thompson, whose story broke national headlines earlier this year. After being incarcerated for 25 years in Michigans prison system for charges related to selling marijuana, Thompson was released in January following widespread community support and lobbying efforts. Embraced by the cannabis community, Thompson found employment within the marijuana sector and is dedicated to reducing mass incarceration in Michigan.

I just hope somebody can hear me, thats dealing with prison reform because those guys are human beings, Thompson said in a video presented by the Michigan Cannabis Freedom Coalition. Its not just about me, its about thousands of guys that need help.

Through sponsorships and donations, this years Hash Bash promised to support the cannabis community by providing financial support for those impacted by the War on Drugs.

Thats why we are here today, Sarfoh said. Because of the support from people like you and support from our sponsors, we are able to give to a fund that can also help the other Michael Thompsons of the world out there because there are too many. One is too many. We want to make sure that all of them are out of jail and prison and their lives restored.

Despite the legalization of marijuana in Michigan in 2018, as of Dec. 2020, 250,000 Michigan residents have marijuana-related convictions on their records and some of them are still incarcerated.

Hash Bash also featured policymakers like Attorney General Dana Nessel and State Rep. Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor, who advocated for the cannabis movement on the legislative level.

In an interview with The Daily, LSA junior Ilan Elrom, chair of the Green Wolverines investment fund committee, said a major catalyst for the cannabis movements growth is ongoing support from state and federal leadership.

If you look at Hash Bash and how its evolved, I think it broadly speaks to the greater normalization of the cannabis industry, whether thats culturally, whether thats legally, Elrom said. It really just speaks to the change in the way that everybody thinks about the industry, and I think thats pretty evident in how Hash Bash has evolved but also in how more than half of the states now have a medical or an adult-use market.

Nessel, who spoke at the event, talked about her recent efforts to expunge marijuana-related charges.

My offices involvement in working with the legislature to draft the proper language for the expungement bills that passed and were signed into law recently is important to ensure fairness for so many individuals whove been convicted for something thats no longer a crime in our state, Nessel said.

Nessel also said she joined a coalition to urge Congress to pass the SAFE Banking Act that would allow cannabis businesses to access the Federal Bank system, protecting Michigans emerging marijuana industry and its consumers. To Nessel, these legislative initiatives work to remove the stigma of marijiana while further protecting marginalized communities.

Cannabis reform is needed to ensure restorative justice, Nessel said. Marijuana law reform would reduce the harm to people and communities of color who are disproportionately impacted by current cannabis laws, create jobs and economic opportunities as the legalization and regulation of marijuana bring one of the largest cash crops under the rule of law, save taxpayer dollars and allow already scarce law enforcement resources to be better used to ensure safe communities, while simultaneously reducing the burden on our courts and correction system.

In a pre-recorded statement, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., discussed progressive legislative efforts to support the cannabis community. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019 proposed to remove marijuana from the list of federally controlled substances and to erase federal marijuana convictions and arrests. Though the MORE Act failed to pass the Senate in 2019, Dingell said she is confident the bill will succeed with the current Congress.

We have a moral responsibility to right the wrongs of our past and the economic opportunity to help our local communities grow in a rapidly expanding industry, Dingell said. We need to get these issues dealt with at the federal level, and Ill tell you, Im going to be one of the loudest voices saying, Its time. There are things that must be done.

While Dingell focused on the future of cannabis legislation, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer who also spoke at the event reflected upon the progress achieved under her tenure.

Legalization has been a long, difficult and, for some, painful process, Whitmer said. But we came together and voted for a different future here in Michigan. The progress weve made in the last two years excites me tremendously, and I cannot imagine where the industry will be in another two years, let alone another 50.

Despite Whitmers claims of progress, social and political activists attending Hash Bash said mass incarceration is one of Michigans most pressing social issues. As an organization that supports expungement and clemency efforts, the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association works closely with the Michigan Legislature to protect access to medicinal cannabis without fear of arrest.

Reflecting upon the progress made by the Michigan Legislature thus far, Robin Schneider, executive director of MiCIA, said though cannabis was legalized in Michigan in 2018, there is more work that needs to be done to ensure that laws are equitable.

Our mission is fair and equitable licensing in the cannabis industry as well as industry inclusion, Schneider said. Weve made a ton of progress over the last two years, but theres still a lot more work to be done. Were celebrating legalization, but many of us havent forgotten where we have come from.

As for the role that Hash Bash will continue to play in the cannabis movement, Adam Brook, known as Mr. Hash Bash for his involvement in the festival, encouraged activists to continue to protest on the first Saturday of every April for years to come.

We have a lot of misinformation to correct, Brooke said. Through opportunities like this, we can change some minds. I encourage you all to come out on the first Saturday in April on the Diag at high noon, smoke a joint and protest because thats what the Hash Bash is. Its a smoke-in and a protest.

In lieu of the official Hash Bash rally, around 300 people gathered at the University of Michigans Diag Saturday afternoon for a smoke-in protest to celebrate this years Hash Bash festival in-person.

At the start of Saturdays unofficial protest, former Hash Bash organizer Adam Brook told the crowd that the purpose of Saturdays protest was to advocate for Ann Arbor marijuana laws to legalize smoking marijuana in public, as well as rally the community to fight in unison for public marijuan use. According to Michigan law, you can only smoke marijuana in private, such as in your home or others.

Now theres a point to this, Brook told the crowd. And that is to show the world and the people that arent here that were here. And why are we here? Because we care.

Brook also told the crowd that those present on the Diag should follow COVID-19 rules, including social distancing and wearing masks, though a majority of attendees were seen without masks while participating in marijuana use. The in-person Hash Bash protest was held amid increasing COVID-19 cases in Washtenaw County and the state of Michigan. On March 31, U-M officials identified a noticeable uptick in University-related cases, which now represent 15% of the total cases in the county a 6% increase from March 23.

The Universitys Office of Public Affairs told MLive that the University supports free-speech gatherings, but U-M officials do not condone the use of drugs on our campus. Ann Arbor Police Chief Michael Cox also told MLive that public marijuana use is prohibited, especially during a pandemic.

In addition to his remarks during the official virtual livestream, Sinclair also attended the in-person event and addressed the crowd.

Were here today in solidarity, were leaders of human consciousness and human evolution, Sinclair said. Were healing ourselves, were doing emotional healing please heal, love embrace, accept, have radical acceptance of yourself and life itself.

Ann Arbor native Laith Al-Saadi who has performed the national anthem at Hash Bash festivals for over ten years spoke about ending the War on Drugs.

According to the ACLU, marijuana arrests make up half of all drug-related arrests in the United States, with most being low-level arrests for drug possession. Incarceration also disproportionately affects Black people who are 3.6 times more likely to be arrested for possession of mariuana compared to white people.

Many non-violent people that are in jail right now have had their liberties taken away and their lives ruined by this totally uncompassionate system that criminalizes and punishes addiction and drug problems, Al-Saadi said. And this is a major issue, so you know weve gotten far on this good fight and theres a long way to go. But this year, were gathered here for this protest, and I want to remind everybody because some people think this is a celebration weve made some progress, but until all prisoners of this War on Drugs are freed, we havent done our work.

Madison Heights resident Wayne Croutun told The Michigan Daily he attended Saturdays protest because he is passionate about the fight to legalize marijuana use in public.

The state? Theyre going in the right direction, but theres still a lot of work to be done, Croutun said. Free the weed!

Another speaker who goes by Brando the Weed Commando also addressed the audience, saying he has attended Hash Bash every year since the 1980s. He said the Hash Bash event is never a celebration, because though the marijuana community has had several victories over the past year, there is always more work to be done to legalize marijuana use in public.

You can celebrate if you want but just remember that the people that were here before that, the people that were growing during full prohibition, are the reason why were here today celebrating anything, he said. Now weve got to keep fighting.

Daily Staff Reporters Evan DeLorenzo and Meghana Lodhavia can be reached at evandelo@umich.edu and mlod@umich.edu. Daily Contributor Chava Makman Levinson can be reached at cmackman@umich.edu.

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In a dual celebration, Hash Bash marks 50 years of progress with both virtual, in-person events - The Michigan Daily

MIAMI The progress Ryan Yarbrough has made over four seasons with the Rays can be measured in many ways.

One obvious one? His ascension from primarily pitching behind an opener to a full-time spot in the rotation with the responsibility of shouldering a heavy workload and starting the second game of the season, which he will do Friday night.

Obviously, theres been a lot of work been put in over the years, Yarbrough said.

A lot of people have helped get me to this point, especially with the Rays and helped give me my development over the years to be able to be like this. So Im feeling really blessed. But at the same time, still got a lot of work to do.

Yarbrough got a win as a reliever last season but has a team record-tying 17-start winless streak, dating to Aug. 11, 2019.

Another issue Friday will be hitting. With an 0-for-3 career mark, he has a simple plan: Just make contact. I mean, lets not over-complicate things.

Tyler Glasnow wasnt sure what happened or why his back tightened up just before Thursdays start. While obviously pleased he was able to pitch through it and pitch well he was disappointed he didnt really get to hit after looking forward to it and talking about it with coaches for weeks. But Glasnow decided, smartly, he couldnt risk taking swings during his two at-bats. Instead, he stood at the plate statue-ing, he called it and struck out on five pitches both times. I was so excited to swing, he said. And then (Thursday) I was like, All right, Im not going to be able to. Unfortunate. Manager Kevin Cash praised Glasnow for finding a way to get through six innings. Two years ago, I dont know if hes able to manage that that way, Cash said. Hes certainly come a long way and understanding his body and understanding how much he means to our club.

This was the 37th 1-0 win in Rays franchise history, 13th with the run coming on a homer and first on opening day. (They had only one previous shutout win in an opener, 7-0 in 2000 at Minnesota.) Going into Thursday, there had been 43 1-0 opening-day wins overall in modern history (since 1901), 16 by road teams. The last American League team to win 1-0 on the road was the 1946 Indians, at Chicago, with Bob Feller starting. ... This was the second 1-0 win in an interleague opener, the Rangers beating the Rockies last year.

Opening day was a frustrating event for Rays fans who couldnt watch because Bally Sports Sun (formerly Fox Sports Sun) isnt carried by their provider, such as Frontier cable, Hulu or YouTube TV. We understand that many fans across Tampa Bay are unable to watch Rays baseball due to the current carriage dispute between Sinclair Broadcast Group (which owns Bally) and select providers, team president Matt Silverman said. We are very pleased that Spectrum carries Bally Sports Sun, and we support Bally Sports Sun working with all providers to make Rays baseball available in every home in Tampa Bay.

The Rays are 12-12 in openers. Thursday was their first on the road since 2009, ending a streak of 11 straight, and first against an NL team. With 7,062 fans, the stadium was at about 27-percent capacity, and Cash said they appreciated all of them: Well take whatever percentage these ballparks or cities allow. Its just a different game. Its a better game with our fans. . The Rays have shut out the Marlins in three of their last four games in Miami.

Staff writer John Romano contributed to this report.

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Rays Ryan Yarbroughs progress starting to show - Tampa Bay Times

U.S. President Joe Biden stops briefly to talk to the press as he walks toward Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC.

Drew Angerer | Getty Images News | Getty Images

President Joe Biden delivered a warning even as he touted Friday's exceptionally positive jobs report and the accelerating pace of vaccinations in the U.S.: progress can still be reversed if Americans don't moderate their behaviors to stop the spread of Covid-19.

"Too many Americans are acting as if this fight is over," Biden said. "It is not."

The comments came on the heels of the news that nonfarm payrolls increased by 916,000 for the month, smashing economist expectations of an increase of 675,000, according to a Dow Jones survey. Biden also announced that the U.S. set a record for Thursday vaccinations to cap off the first seven-day period where the country administered 20 million shots.

But the President reminded Americans there is still a long way to go when it comes to both rebuilding the economy and ending the pandemic.

"While the earliest signs from this job report announcing today are promising and the American Rescue Plan is starting to make a real difference, today's report also reminds us how deep a hole we started in," Biden said. "After a year of devastation, there are still 8.4 million fewer jobs today than there were last March."

When it comes to containing the virus, Biden urged Americans "to buckle down and keep their guard up in this home stretch."

The President discussed his new $2 trillion infrastructure package unveiled on Wednesday as a way to ensure that the country continues to create jobs and strengthen the economy. The package has already faced pushback from Republicans, some of whom claim the bill is too sweeping, while some progressives from his own party think it does not go far enough.

Biden said he's open to discussion of his proposals, but that Congress must act.

"Changes to my plan are certain. But inaction is not an option," he said.

Despite Republican resistance to his infrastructure package, Biden said he thinks lawmakers will be urged by their constituents to act.

"I think the Republicans' voters are going to have a lot to say about whether we get a lot of this done," he said.

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Biden warns progress can still be reversed on heels of major jobs report and vaccination speed-up - CNBC

Evidence is growing that Maine and the United States are at the front end of yet another surge of COVID-19 cases that could jeopardize progress the vaccination effort is making in fighting the disease.

With 283 new cases reported Thursday, the highest daily total in nearly two months, Maines seven-day daily case average increased to 232. It has not been that high since Feb. 9.

Over the past 15 days, cases have risen to more than 200 on 10 days. Over the previous 15 days, that happened only three times.

Asked Thursday what might be behind the current surge, Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, called it a $64,000 question. He said states are starting to see larger shares of coronavirus variants, especially Florida and Michigan, although Massachusetts is catching up.

The other reason is simply that more people are traveling, some to states where restrictions have been softened.

Which of those is really the main driver? Shah said. Thats what some epidemiologists across the country are trying to find out.

Maine has detected 15 cases of the variant known as B.1.1.7 that was first detected in the United Kingdom, but the actual number of cases is almost certainly higher because only 5 percent of positive COVID-19 cases are sequenced to determine if they are, in fact, a variant.

The variants are here, Gov. Janet Mills said. They are spreading to every region of the state and they are more transmissible and potentially more dangerous.

As a way to stay ahead of those variants, Mills announced Thursday she was moving up vaccine eligibility for all adults to next Wednesday. The date already had been moved ahead from May 1 a few weeks ago.

Maine is not alone. More than half of all states have seen their cases increase by at least 10 percent over the past week, according to data analysis by Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The United States as a whole has reported an average of 65,000 new cases in the last seven days, according to U.S. CDC, which is an increase of about 10,000 cases per day from two weeks ago.

Vermont had its greatest single-day total of the pandemic last week, 283, and its seven-day case average of 178 cases has reached the same level as the post-holiday surge in January.

New Hampshires trajectory has been similar to Maines with the daily average creeping up to about 380 this week after bottoming out near 200 cases this time last month.

Michigan, where more than 1,000 cases of the U.K. variant have been detected, has been especially hard hit and has seen its daily average increase to about 5,400 cases levels not seen since mid-December.

National health experts have been sounding the alarm in recent days as data shows more people are traveling, including young people for spring break last month, and more states are easing pandemic restrictions.

Maine relaxed indoor and outdoor gathering limits last week and allowed bars and tasting rooms to open. Additionally, residents from all New England states can visit without having to quarantine or provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. The state still has other safety measures in place, including a mask mandate in public.

Cases are showing up more frequently among young people. Bates College in Lewiston has imposed a temporary, campus-wide, in-room restriction to address 34 active student cases. This has resulted in 50 others being forced to quarantine. Cases also have been increasing within the University of Maine System.

Dr. Jane Carreiro, dean of the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, believes COVID-19 fatigue is largely to blame for the spike.

They are letting down some of their defenses and things they were doing, she said. The good news is: Hopefully this motivates people to go and get vaccinated.

Carreiro also said that as the spring wears on and summer approaches, case numbers wont be the most important metric. If hospitalizations and deaths decline, she said, cases alone arent as problematic.

Hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 have yet to rise with cases, but throughout the pandemic there has been a lag of at least two weeks, so its too early to tell if that will happen this time. Health experts are hopeful that those numbers will not increase substantially because many older people, who are at greater risk of hospitalization and death, have been vaccinated.

Still, there are about 40,000 people in the hospital with COVID-19 nationwide. And although deaths have dropped below 1,000 people per day for the first time since November, COVID-19 is still among the leading causes of death.

In Maine, there have been two days in the last week when five deaths were reported.

Hospitalizations, meanwhile, have been steady for the last two weeks, ranging from a low of 71 to a high of 80. On Thursday, there were 74 individuals in a Maine hospital with COVID-19, including 20 in critical care and five on ventilators.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. CDC, was emotional this week talking about the current trend.

Im going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom, she said during a White House briefing. We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope. But right now, Im scared.

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Maine's growing surge in cases threatens vaccination progress - Press Herald

AUSTIN (KXAN) Hours after the Texas Senate passed a sweeping election restriction bill, a Texas House panel considered another Republican effort to further tighten voting rules in the state.

The Texas House Elections Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 6 on Thursday. A hearing on the bill was initially scheduled last week but was abruptly canceled after a procedural error.

The bill would provide additional protections to poll watchers limiting an election judges ability to expel them from a polling location and prohibit government officials from sending unsolicited mail-in ballot applications to voters. People assisting disabled voters with their ballot would have to provide identification and a reason for helping the voter if the proposal is approved.

The Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 7 early Thursday morning after a seven-hour debate. The bill, if approved in the Texas House and signed into law, would ban mail-in ballot drop boxes and most drive-thru voting.

Republicans say it ensures election integrity. Democrats say its voter suppression and makes it harder for people with disabilities and ethnic minorities to vote.

The bill now heads to the Texas House, and committee hearings are expected to begin when lawmakers reconvene Thursday.

The bill would also require voters with disabilities to prove they cannot get to the polls in order to qualify for a mail-in ballot. The legislation would require authorization from top state leaders before any private funding over $1,000 could be doled out to local elections departments.

It would also keep local election officials from encouraging people to fill out vote-by-mail applications even if those people qualify for it.

Overall, this is designed to address areas through process where bad actors can take advantage, because we want the people of Texas to be confident their elections are fair, honest and open, State Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, told KXANs Wes Rapaport. Hughes was the author of the bill.

Democrats say all Republicans did was make it harder for Texans to vote especially those with disabilities.

Every eligible Texan deserves to have their voice heard at the ballot box regardless of their race, ethnicity, disability, gender, age, income, or party. SB 7 makes it harder for every Texan to vote, a statement from the party said. We aggressively fought this bill because we know it will disenfranchise racial and ethnic minority voters and voters with disabilities, including veterans.

American Airlines, which is Texas-based, took a stand against the proposed legislation as well.

To make Americans stance clear: We are strongly opposed to this bill and others like it. As a Texas-based business, we must stand up for the rights of our team members and customers who call Texas home, and honor the sacrifices made by generations of Americans to protect and expand the right to vote, the airline company said in a statement.

SB 7 has a state price tag of nearly $35 million, according to afinancial estimate by the Legislative Budget Board. It would also cost local governments various costs for training, software updates and new equipment. The local entities would be on the hook if the state does not fund the extra changes.

The head of the Texas Secretary of States elections division recently told lawmakers the state had an election that was smooth and secure.

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GOP bills to tighten voting laws progress in Texas Legislature - KXAN.com

Facts, not fear: We're tracking the latest coronavirus numbers and vaccination efforts across the San Antonio area.

SAN ANTONIO We're tracking the latest numbers from the coronavirus pandemic as well as the vaccine efforts in San Antonio and across Texas.

Latest Coronavirus Numbers

Here are the latest numbers reported by Bexar County officials, as of Thursday, April 1.

Texas (data as of Sunday, April 4):

More county case information is available through theTexas Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard.

Vaccine Progress in Bexar County

Across Bexar County, more than 780,000 vaccine doses have been administered, as of April 1.

DSHS defines "population" as residents who are 16 years of age or older; in Bexar County, this represents more than 1.55 million people. The CDC states that "when a high percentage of the community is immune to a disease (through vaccination and/or prior illness)," that community will have reached herd immunity, "making the spread of this disease from person to person unlikely."

91,167 vaccines were administered last week in Bexar County; a total of 780,857 doses have been administered in the county since vaccination efforts began 15 weeks ago.

Across Texas, 4.1 million residents are fully vaccinated. In total, the state has administered 11.4 million vaccine doses, as of April 1. Texas is one of six states with less than 15% of its population fully vaccinated, as of March 31:

Bexar County COVID-19 Trends

This week's update of the Warning Signs and Progress Indicators for Bexar County saw Bexar County holding steady at the low-risk level. The positivity rate dropped to 2.1%, a decrease of 0.2% over the last week.

The county's seven-day moving average increased slightly, from 184 on Wednesday to 190 on Thursday.

The number of COVID-19 patients receiving treatments at area hospitals dropped by five in the last 24 hours, to 185. Of those, 74 patients are in intensive care, and 32 are on ventilators (both figures are up over Wednesday).

Latest Coronavirus Headlines

Coronavirus symptoms

The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

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

But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.

Experts determined there was consistent evidence these conditions increase a person's risk, regardless of age:

Human coronaviruses are usually spread...

Help stop the spread of coronavirus

Find a Testing Location

City officials recommend getting a COVID-19 test if you experience fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.

Here's a Testing Sites Locatorto help you find the testing location closest to you in San Antonio.

More:

Bexar County's Vaccine Progress: More than 32% of residents have received at least one dose - KENS5.com

The following is a joint press release from Chiloquin Fire & Rescue, Klamath County Emergency Management, Fremont-Winema National Forest and the Oregon Department of Forestry.

CHILOQUIN, Ore. This week the Chiloquin area was affected by the Chiloquin Ridge Fire and the SOcholis Fire. Firefighters have made great progress on both fires.

The Chiloquin Ridge Fire is expected to reach full containment by the end of today [April 1, 2021]. Firefighters are already engaging in mop-up activities on the SOcholis Fire and making progress towards containment.

On both fires, firefighters were able to take advantage of high humidity recoveries and cooler evening temperatures.

Freezing temperatures have presented a challenge as fire crews arriving in the mornings to continue mop up are finding frozen hoses. Even in building firelines, firefighters are finding the ground is still frozen just below the surface.

The crews will continue mop up around containment lines to strengthen the perimeters on both fires. Smoke will continue to be visible in the coming days due to pockets of fuel burning within the firelines.

Fire managers are seeing current fuel conditions closer to what they were in the fall, during September and October and Two Four Two Fire. The expected spring green-up hasnt happened yet.

Given the current weather conditions and unusually dry fuels, we are extremely fortunate that both fires were kept small and are approaching containment, said Chiloquin Ranger District Assistant Fire Management Officer Evan Wright. The local, state, and federal resources did a great job working together, responding quickly and ensuring public safety.

Relationships and partnerships between agencies, fire departments and the community have strengthened over the past several years. Those relationships are providing improved and efficient emergency response.

During the SOcholis Fire, the response included rapid and coordinated evacuations and road closures with Klamath County which aided wildland firefighting efforts.

The responsiveness and cooperation between firefighting, law enforcement and county agencies was the key to successfully responding to both the Chiloquin Ridge and SOcholis Fires, said Wright. People are committed to making the partnerships work and better serving the community. Even private businesses and citizens offered services, support and cooperation during these incidents.

Klamath County Sheriffs Office (KCSO) and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) conducted a dual investigation on the cause of the Chiloquin Ridge Fire. It was determined that a private landowner was burning piles in conjunction with wildland fuels reduction. The landowner received a citation Monday from the KCSO for reckless burning.

Landowners are required to work with their local fire departments for burn permits to ensure all regulations are being met.

With a little wind, fire can spread from a pile to the surrounding land and cause extensive damage. In addition, these recent March fires, including the Chiloquin Ridge Fire, have cost thousands of dollars to extinguish, said ODF Protection Unit Forester Randall Baley.

Getting approvals from local fire departments before burning is important, as well as following up before burning to make sure conditions still allow for it, to avoid fines and firefighting charges.

It is very important that you burn at the right time and make sure your burn piles are completely extinguished during that right time, Baley said. As a landowner, you most likely will be held liable for the entire cost of extinguishing the fire.

This week has seen unseasonably warm temperatures, dry conditions and periods of wind, making it easy for fires to carry. These conditions will continue through the weekend. While temperatures are expected to become cooler and more seasonable next week, there is little to no precipitation in the extended forecast. Cold fronts and temperature changes can also trigger strong winds.

Right now, the spring weather outlook doesnt look too good for many lengthy burning opportunities as numerous dry and windy cold front passages are forecasted for the first couple weeks of April, Baley said.

Area landowners are asked to make sure they are in compliance with local burning regulations and fire departments.

Conditions are unseasonably warm and dry in Klamath and Lake counties this spring. The area can also see strong and erratic spring winds, especially during weather and temperature changes. The public is asked to use caution with anything that can ignite a fire. Please call 911 to report suspected wildfires.

See the article here:

Firefighters make progress on early season fires and urge public to use caution - Klamath Falls News

With Texas opening COVID-19 vaccination opportunities to all adults 16 and older, most people are now eligible to receive a vaccine dose. The City of Lubbock continues to host COVID-19 vaccine clinics at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center every week to make sure they meet the demands of citizens.

Katherine Wells, director of the Lubbock Public Health Department, said that with President Joe Biden pushing for all states to open up vaccination options for everyone, it is understandable how the eligibility suddenly got extended.

Here in Lubbock, we have already seen a decrease in the number of people seeking vaccines, Wells said. So, I had advocated with the state to open up soon, so we dont lose momentum with the number of people getting vaccinated.

Lubbock receives five thousand doses of vaccination a week, Wells said prior to the extension of eligibility. It was very hard to get people to make an appointment in order to reach all five thousand. For the week beginning from March 29, however, there is a significant change in the number of people registering for the vaccination.

Weve seen a bit of a bump this week, with more people seeking vaccines than before, Wells said.

Madeline Geeslin, a Health Promotion supervisor at the Civic Center, Lubbocks main COVID-19 vaccination clinic location, said they have seen a rise in the number of people from the age of 18 to 30 registering for a vaccination after the eligibility extension.

We have seen a lot of people looking like college students, which is great to see that they are taking advantage of it, Geeslin said. You never know if these people will make these decisions on their own, and this might be one of the first healthcare decisions that they made without their parents. We are glad to see a lot of students taking that initiative and making a step to protect their health.

There has not been any vaccine shortage recorded after the eligibility extension. In addition, there is also no problem with the vaccine storage. Geeslin said that they have a storage where vaccines are kept in the Civic Center.

Every morning, we bring vaccines here from the Health Department, Geeslin said, and it is kept until the end of clinic. The vaccines will be moved back to the Health Department later that day.

As the number of people taking vaccination rises, the amount of people susceptible to COVID-19 also drops. Geeslin said no vaccine is 100 percent effective, so people should still follow precautions like wearing masks and keeping personal hygiene to prevent contracting the virus.

Our vaccination rate is pretty high compared to the rest of the state, Geeslin said. We are about 35 percent of adults vaccinated, which is not bad, but in order to reach the herd immunity level, we really need to be at 65 or 70 percent.

The coronavirus pandemic is not over yet; cases are still rising and new variants have been found in Lubbock. Geeslin said they encourage everyone to take the vaccine because it takes everyone to help Lubbock move on from COVID-19.

The Public Health Department representatives said vaccination is highly encouraged and people should take the vaccine whenever it is available to them. People who wish to get vaccinated can call the Public Health department number or go online to the City of Lubbocks webpage to make an appointment.

Read more:

Vaccination progress after Texas' eligibility extension | News | dailytoreador.com - The Daily Toreador