Biden’s ties to Obama could hamper appeal to Latino voters
By WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden’s tenure as Barack Obama’s vice president is complicating his efforts to deepen ties with Latinos who could be critical to winning the White House. For many Latinos, Biden’s embrace of the Obama years is a frightening reminder of when the former president ejected about 3 million people living in the U.S. illegally. That’s one reason Latinos overwhelmingly backed Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primary. But with Sanders out of the race, Latinos face an agonizing choice. They could look past Biden’s resume and vote for him or sit out the election and risk another four years of President Donald Trump.

VA medical facilities struggle to cope with the coronavirus
By MICHAEL CASEY and HOPE YEN Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — The Department of Veterans Affairs is struggling with shortages of workers at its health care facilities as it cares for veterans infected with the coronavirus. The agency responsible for the health care of 9 million veterans also is facing shortages of the equipment necessary to protect employees from contracting the virus. That’s according to VA staff and internal documents obtained by The Associated Press. The documents show about 1,900 VA health care workers have become sick with the coronavirus, and 20 have died. Another 3,600 health care workers are quarantined and unable to work because they have been exposed. The VA says it follows federal health guidelines when rationing personal protective equipment.

26 million have sought US jobless aid since virus hit
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week as job cuts escalated across an economy that remains all but shut down, the government said Thursday. Roughly 26 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the five weeks since the coronavirus outbreak began forcing millions of employers to close their doors. About one in six American workers have now lost their jobs since mid-March, by far the worst string of layoffs on record. Economists have forecast that the unemployment rate for April could go as high as 20%.

White House shifts from raising alarms to reopening country
By ZEKE MILLER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is shifting its message about the novel coronavirus. For weeks federal officials have raised alarms about the dangers of exposure to the virus in their effort to persuade Americans to stay at home. President Donald Trump is now aiming for a swift nationwide reopening and with that comes the challenge of convincing people it will be safe to resume their normal lives. At the White House, officials believe they’ve entered a new chapter of the pandemic response, moving from crisis mode to sustained mitigation and management. For Trump, his reelection likely rides on the pace of an economic rebound.

Another surge in US unemployment applications is likely
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government is set Thursday to issue another gloomy report on the layoffs that have swept through America’s workforce since the coronavirus outbreak forced businesses to shut down beginning last month. The Labor Department will likely report that several million more people filed for unemployment benefits last week, after nearly 22 million applied for aid in the previous four weeks. It represents by far the largest streak of U.S. job losses on record. Throughout the economy, nonessential businesses have closed, although some governors have begun easing restrictions despite warnings from health authorities that it may be too soon to do so without sparking new infections.

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Fire Broke out on the third floor of a popular business in the Strip District. The fire started around 8 pm above the Yinzers store on Penn Ave. Multiple crews were called to the scene to battle the four-alarm fire.

One firefighter injured his shoulder while battle the blaze and was taken to an area hospital.

It’s being reported there is heavy smoke damage on the third floor of the building where no merchandise was located.

AG Shapiro Urges FDA To Ease Restrictions on Blood Donations by Gay and Bisexual Men

HARRISBURG―Attorney General Josh Shapiro joined 19 of his colleagues in submitting formal legal comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration ​​supporting efforts to maintain an adequate national blood supply to aid the medical response during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the letter, the attorneys general argue that the FDA’s guidance must replace their discriminatory standard for blood donations with one based on science. The letter advocates moving toward a risk-based, gender neutral screening model and further revising guidance to make it easier for all Americans to donate blood and plasma in response to the nation’s needs during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

“It is time to end this dated, discriminatory practice, especially during an emergency when all Pennsylvanians want to play a part in keeping people in their communities safe and healthy,” said Attorney General Shapiro. ​“Restrictions for blood donations should be based on fact-based risk factors, not discredited, homophobic presumptions about someone’s life. It’s time for the Trump Administration to do what is right and roll back these outdated restrictions.”

In the midst of the COVID-19 health crisis, blood drives and donations have dropped significantly. Every day, the United States needs approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells, nearly 7,000 units of platelets, and 10,000 units of plasma to provide blood transfusions for major surgeries, treat patients and victims of trauma, and more. The American Red Cross, which provides about 40 percent of our nation’s blood and blood components, recently reported less than a five-day blood supply on hand. As of mid-March, over 4,000 blood drives have been canceled across the country due to coronavirus concerns and closures of schools and workplaces where these drives are usually held, resulting in over 100,000 fewer blood donations.

Recently, the FDA issued revised guidance related to blood donation policies for the LGBTQ community. This guidance reduced the wait period after sexual activity for gay and bisexual men from twelve months to three months.While this reform takes a step toward increasing blood donations made by healthy bisexual and gay men in a time when the nation’s supply of blood and blood products is at risk of collapse due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it does not go far enough. Data from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law Williams Institute indicates that lifting restrictions completely, as compared to a 12-month waiting period, would produce more than 2 million additional eligible blood donors, including nearly 175,000 likely blood donors, and would produce nearly 300,000 pints of additional donated blood annually.

Attorney General Shapiro also argues that moving toward a risk-based model, rather than one based on gender, is not only more appropriate to address the population’s needs, but is also more in line with laws that protect against discrimination. A population-based policy singling out bisexual and gay men threatens the constitutional right to equal protection safeguarded by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. Over the long term, the FDA should instead look at risk behavior rather than sex for determining who should donate blood.

Attorney General Shapiro joins the Attorneys General of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Virginia.

Gov. Wolf: Reopening Targeted for May 8 in North-Central, Northwest

Phased Approach Relies on Safety and Science

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today presented his detailed plan for reopening the commonwealth with a targeted May 8 start. The administration will categorize reopening into three phases: red, yellow, green. Phases will be assigned based on conditions in a county, counties or region.

The administration will first study conditions in the north-central and northwest regions with a target of moving from red to yellow on May 8. Additional monitoring will take place and direction will be provided in the next week.

To decide when to move to a new phase, the administration will use Department of Health metrics and a data tool developed by Carnegie Mellon University. The full plan is available here.

The red phase, which currently applies to the whole state, has the sole purpose of minimizing the spread of COVID-19 through strict social distancing, non-life sustaining business and school closures, and building safety protocols.

Red
Work and Congregate Setting Restrictions	Social Restrictions
Life Sustaining Businesses Only Congregate Care and Prison Restrictions in Place Schools (for in-person instruction) and Most Child Care Facilities Closed	Stay-at-Home Orders in Place Large Gatherings Prohibited Restaurants and Bars Limited to Carry-Out and Delivery Only Only Travel for Life-Sustaining Purposes Encouraged
Reiterate and reinforce safety guidance for businesses, workers, individuals, facilities, update if necessary Monitor public health indicators, adjust orders and restrictions as necessary

As regions or counties move into the yellow phase, some restrictions on work and social interaction will ease while others, such as closures of schools, gyms, and other indoor recreation centers, as well as limitations around large gatherings, remain in place. The purpose of this phase is to begin to power back up the economy while keeping a close eye on the public health data to ensure the spread of disease remains contained to the greatest extent possible.

Yellow
Work and Congregate Setting Restrictions	Social Restrictions
Telework Must Continue Where Feasible Businesses with In-Person Operations Must Follow Business and Building Safety Orders Child Care Open with Worker and Building Safety Orders Congregate Care and Prison Restrictions in Place Schools Remain Closed for In-Person Instruction	Stay-at-Home Restrictions Lifted in Favor of Aggressive Mitigation Large Gatherings of More than 25 Prohibited In-Person Retail Allowable, Curbside and Delivery Preferable Indoor Recreation, Health and Wellness Facilities (such as gyms, spas), and all Entertainment (such as casinos, theaters) Remain Closed Restaurants and Bars Limited to Carry-Out and Delivery Only
All businesses must follow CDC and DOH guidance for social distancing and cleaning Monitor public health indicators, adjust orders and restrictions as necessary

The green phase eases most restrictions by lifting the stay-at-home and business closure orders to allow the economy to strategically reopen while continuing to prioritize public health. While this phase will facilitate a return to a “new normal,” it will be equally important to continue to monitor public health indicators and adjust orders and restrictions as necessary to ensure the spread of disease remains at a minimum.

Green
Work and Congregate Setting Restrictions	Social Restrictions
All Businesses Must Follow CDC and PA Department of Health Guidelines	Aggressive Mitigation Orders Lifted All Individuals Must Follow CDC and PA Department of Health Guidelines
Monitor public health indicators, adjust orders and restrictions as necessary

Just as the administration took a measured, county-by-county approach to the stay-at-home order before expanding statewide, it will do the same to ease restrictions and reopen the state.

The governor first announced the standards for reopening last week and they remain the focal point for the comprehensive plans announced today:

• The approach will be data driven and reliant upon quantifiable criteria to drive a targeted, evidence-based, regional approach to reopenings in Pennsylvania.
• There will be guidance and recommendations for employers, individuals, and health care facilities and providers for assured accountability as we reopen.
• Reopening necessitates that adequate personal protective equipment and diagnostic testing are available.
• Reopening requires a monitoring and surveillance program that allows the commonwealth to deploy swift actions for containment or mitigation.
• Protections for vulnerable populations must remain steadfast throughout the reopening process, such as limitations on visitors to congregate care facilities and prisons.
• Limitations on large gatherings unrelated to occupations should remain in place for the duration of the reopening process.

The commonwealth is partnering with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to create a data-driven decision support tool that will enable a balance between maximizing the strengthening of the economy while minimizing public health risks. This tool will help officials better understand the current health and economic status, as well as the inherent risks and benefits to easing restrictions by sector and region.

There is no single tool or model that can determine easing of restrictions or reopening, but the commonwealth, through partnerships with Carnegie Mellon University and other institutions of higher education, and the criteria set by the Department of Health, will make informed decisions based on data and science.

To determine when a region is ready to reopen and return to work, the state will evaluate the incidence rate of COVID-19 cases per capita, relying upon existing regional health districts used by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. A regional assessment will measure the COVID-19 cases to determine if the target goals of an average of less than 50 cases per 100,000 individuals over the course of 14 days is met. The administration will work closely with county and local governments to enable the communities to reopen and transition back to work.

Throughout this process, the administration will have guidance in place to support best public health practices to avoid these negative impacts. This guidance will reinforce and build on existing business and building safety orders and will adapt to the changing nature of the pandemic, even as we learn from the first communities to reopen.

Social Security and Medicare funds at risk even before virus
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and MARTIN CRUTSINGER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The financial conditions of the government’s two biggest benefits programs remain shaky, with Medicare projected to become insolvent in six years and Social Security on track to no longer be able to pay full benefits starting in 2035. And that’s without accounting for the impact of the coronavirus, which is sure to impose further pressure on the two programs. For Social Security, the projected 2035 date for exhausting the trust fund reserves means that it would be able to pay only 79% of benefits at that time. The projected timetables, which remained unchanged from last year’s estimates, were revealed with the release of the annual trustees’ reports of both programs.