New US Lego factory raises concerns about North American HQ
ENFIELD, Conn. — (AP) — Lego Group's recent announcement that it will build a new factory in Virginia has focused attention on the company's North American headquarters in Connecticut, with some industry watchers saying it may not be a good sign for the company's future in the state. The Denmark-based global toymaker announced last week it plans to invest more than $1 billion to build a factory in suburban Richmond, to open in 2025. Ned Lamont told Hearst Connecticut Media that Lego's senior leadership had affirmed its commitment to keep the office in the state. “Forty percent of your long term job growth is a function of the cost of doing business. And when it comes to Connecticut, businesses are being incentivized to look elsewhere.”Copyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comEnergy secretary: US offshore wind jobs should be union jobs
The U.S. energy secretary and Danish wind developer Orsted say they want American union workers to build offshore wind farms to dot the U.S. coastlines — the building trades workers who could otherwise be left out of a transition to renewable resources.
Live updates: New York Governor defends response to virus
He said Asian countries are seeing COVID-19 cases decline overall, unlike in North America and Europe. ___BERLIN — Germany’s health minister says the country's proportion of coronavirus infections with the new omicron variant will increase sharply in the days ahead. According to the national disease control center, Germany had 3,198 COVID-19 cases attributed to omicron as of Wednesday, a 25% increase from the previous day. Until recently, Japan largely kept out coronavirus infections involving the new omicron variant by enforcing stringent border controls. ___SANTIAGO, Chile -- Chile plans to offer a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine to its citizens.
wftv.comOmicron: Washington state, Wisconsin, Connecticut report 1st cases of COVID-19 variant
Omicron: Washington state, Wisconsin, Connecticut report 1st cases of COVID-19 variant A Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster shot is administered in a person's arm as the Mount Sinai South Nassau Vaxmobile vists Freeport High School, in Freeport, New York, on November 30, 2021. (Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images)Washington state, Wisconsin and Connecticut have reported their first cases of the omicron coronavirus variant. >> RELATED STORY: 1st case of omicron variant detected in Utah, Massachusetts; NY confirms 3 new casesNo further details about the patients’ conditions were immediately available. First cases of COVID-19 Omicron variant detected in Washingtonians. >> RELATED STORY: 5 cases of omicron variant confirmed in New YorkThis evening we confirmed the first case of the Omicron variant in CT.
wftv.comConnecticut Gov. Lamont rips protesters hurling obscenities at President Biden while surrounded by children at Hartford event: ‘It was embarrassing.’
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont Tuesday ripped into protesters who hurled curses and vulgarities at President Joe Biden during a visit to a child care center in Hartford last week. Four days after the event, Lamont was still clearly bothered by the protesters, who shouted vulgarities as about 35 children, along with their teachers, were meeting the president at an event touting additional federal ...
news.yahoo.comSikorsky celebrates the delivery of its first Connecticut-made high-tech heavy lift helicopter to the US Marines
Sikorsky Aircraft gave a send-off Friday to its first Connecticut-built CH-53K heavy lift helicopter to the U.S. Marine Corps in a ceremony suitable for the massive high-tech aircraft. Nearly 100 executives and employees of the Lockheed Martin Corp. helicopter manufacturer and others celebrated in an aircraft hangar at Sikorsky’s Stratford headquarters, with the helicopter — 99 feet long and ...
news.yahoo.comIda: Narrow escapes, deadly delays and a husband's sacrifice
Tales of selflessness and heroism — and of deadly delays and heartbreaking missed opportunities — are emerging after the remnants of Hurricane Ida pummeled the Northeast with record-breaking rain that flooded roads and houses, killing dozens.
Cleanup begins in soggy Northeast as Henri plods back to sea
Tropical-Weather-Atlantic A worker cleans the outside area of Four Boys Ice Cream store during the passing of Tropical Storm Henri in Jamesburg, N.J., Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. With rain still falling off and on, but with the sun finally peeking through at times, residents in parts of the Northeast turned to cleaning up. Firefighters said they helped evacuate 18 homes and made several rescues after Henri dumped about 5 inches of rain. “The ground is so saturated with water that every inch of rain creates immediate floods and flash floods,” he said. An additional couple of inches of rain was possible, and flood watches remained in effect.
wftv.comHenri's lazy remnants hinder cleanup, threaten inland floods
President Joe Biden has declared disasters in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, opening the purse strings for federal recovery aid to those states. When Henri made landfall near Westerly, Rhode Island, it had sustained winds of about 60 mph (97 kph) and gusts as high as 70 mph (110 kph). It cut power to 140,000 homes, closed bridges, swamped roads and left some people stranded in their vehicles. Several major bridges in Rhode Island were briefly shuttered Sunday, and some coastal roads were nearly impassable. Concerns had been high when Henri was briefly rated a hurricane, with stronger winds and greater potential for a damaging storm, before it was downgraded to a tropical storm.
wftv.comConnecticut governor signs recreational marijuana into law
Marijuana-Connecticut Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signs into law the legalization of recreational-use marijuana with, from left, House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Connecticut State Representative Mike D'Agostino, and Senate President Martin Looney on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 in Hartford, Conn. Lamont has signed the bill making Connecticut the 19th state to legalize recreational use of marijuana, which remains an illegal drug under federal law. Ned Lamont on Tuesday signed a bill making Connecticut the 19th state to legalize recreational use of marijuana, which remains an illegal drug under federal law. “I think it will be the most comprehensive and best cannabis legalization bill in the country," said House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford. Retail sales of recreational cannabis in Connecticut are not expected to begin until the summer of 2022, at the earliest. According to the Marijuana Policy Project, Connecticut is now the 19th state to end cannabis prohibition.
wftv.comCramer says a 'rush to open is a mistake,' keeps Cinco de Mayo reopening for his restaurant
CNBC's Jim Cramer said Monday he's concerned about plans to further ease indoor dining restrictions in New York City and he won't accelerate plans to reopen his Covid-shuttered Brooklyn restaurant in May. "I just think that we don't know enough still. We don't know enough about viral load. We don't know enough about what the real number should be at a bar," Cramer added. According to the CDC, the risk of Covid transmission increases with indoor dining, especially when tables are not spaced at least 6 feet apart.
cnbc.comFlorida vs. California: Virus tolls similar despite governors’ contrasting actions
And both rank in the middle among states for COVID-19 death rates — Florida was 27th as of Friday; California was 28th. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, imposed numerous statewide restrictions over the past year after an early surge in deaths, while South Dakota Gov. “Even in a pandemic, public health policy needs to take into account people’s economic and social well-being,” Noem said during a recent conservative convention. Like Florida, Missouri had no statewide mask mandate, ended business restrictions last June and has a cumulative COVID-19 death rate similar to California's. Public health experts said individual choices could help explain the similar outcomes among some states with loose or strict orders from the governor.
Connecticut governor defends easing Covid restrictions, says many at-risk residents vaccinated
"We have the vast majority of our population most at risk has now been vaccinated. That's 65 and above, and the majority of the people 55 and above," Lamont said on "Squawk on the Street." Connecticut has recorded 7,725 deaths associated with Covid since the pandemic began, according to the latest state data. Greg Abbott last week declared on Twitter that his state is "OPEN 100%" after he lifted business restrictions and a mask mandate. Lamont said the goal of his move to ease capacity restrictions was to "emphasize that which works."
cnbc.comWatch live: Biden Covid team holds briefing as more states lift pandemic restrictions
Ned Lamont said a number of the state's businesses will be allowed to reopen at full capacity beginning March 19. The move follows similar measures from Texas and Mississippi, both run by Republican governors. But top U.S. health officials, including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, are warning against rolling back public health measures too soon. They say it could reverse the current downward trajectory in infections and delay the nation's recovery from the pandemic. Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the Covid -19 outbreak.
cnbc.comDr. Scott Gottlieb says Covid mask mandates should be last virus mitigation measures lifted
Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Friday he believes governors are right to begin easing Covid restrictions on businesses as long as mask policies remain in effect. Gottlieb — a member of Pfizer's board, which makes a Covid vaccine — said the emerging virus strains are important to watch for states that plan to ease restrictions. The B117 variant, first discovered in the U.K., is growing in Connecticut, Gottlieb said. At the same time, Gottlieb said the overall risk dynamics for Covid have changed considerably due to the vaccine rollout. "Connecticut has done a lot better than most states in getting vaccines into their older population," Gottlieb added.
cnbc.comThe Latest: Ontario wants vaccine shot in adults by June 20
Eric Holcomb received his COVID-19 vaccine shot Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the opening of the state’s first mass vaccination clinic. Holcomb wore a face mask in the front passenger seat of an SUV while getting the shot of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the drive-through clinic. Ad___TORONTO — Canada is getting a fourth vaccine to prevent COVID-19, approving the Johnson & Johnson shot that works with just one dose. Canada has pre-purchased 10 million Johnson & Johnson doses, with options to buy another 28 million. The U.S. approved the Johnson & Johnson vaccine last month.
Read full transcripts of "Face the Nation" from 2021
Over a decade of "Face the Nation" transcripts are available online:2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020Looking for extended transcripts of our 2020 campaign interviews? And for the latest from "Face the Nation," bookmark our homepage and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. February 28, 2021Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesDirector, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Ronna McDaniel, Republican National Committee ChairwomanRepublican National Committee Chairwoman Gov. Deborah Birx, M.D., Former White House Coronavirus Response CoordinatorJanuary 17, 2021Rep. Adam Schiff, D- California, Intelligence Committee ChairmanD- California, Intelligence Committee Chairman Gov. Jim Justice, R-West VirginiaR-West Virginia Mayor Melvin Carter, D-Saint Paul, MND-Saint Paul, MN Rochelle Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., Incoming CDC DirectorIncoming CDC Director Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Former FDA CommissionerJanuary 10, 2021Chris Krebs, former CISA Directorformer CISA Director Sen. Roy Blunt, R-MOR-MO Sen. Chris Coons, D-DED-DE Mayor Muriel Bowser, D-Washington, D.C.D-Washington, D.C. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Former FDA CommissionerJanuary 3, 2021
cbsnews.comThe Latest: U.S. FDA approves J&J single-shot vaccine
Tom Moore, the 100-year-old World War II veteran who captivated the British public in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic with his fundraising efforts died, Tuesday Feb. 2, 2021. Commercial applicants will be required to provide evidence that the coronavirus pandemic caused them to lose at least 35% of revenue in 2020. ___RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Palestinian government announced a 12-day lockdown in the Israeli-occupied West Bank after a surge in coronavirus cases, including new variants. The death toll stands at 3,685, with more than a dozen deaths reported Friday. ___WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Nation has continued on a downward trend in the number of daily coronavirus cases.
The Latest: Navajo Nation new virus cases on downward trend
(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. -- The Navajo Nation has continued on a downward trend in the number of daily coronavirus cases. Canada regulators have approved AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine. Gavin Newsom expects California to start administering the new Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine next week. Addition of the J&J vaccine would come as California is seeing dramatic drops in virus cases and hospitalizations after record highs in early January. While they only comprise about 48% of coronavirus cases, they account for 74% of vaccinations.
‘We got to do a better job’ vaccinating underserved communities, says Connecticut governor
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (D) told CNBC's "The News with Shepard Smith" "we got to do a better job there" when it comes to delivering Covid vaccines to underserved communities. The Connecticut governor doubled down on his strategy and pointed to those workers who live with older family members. Pfizer's Chief Business Officer John Young said the company can ramp up production from approximately 5 million doses to more than 13 million doses by mid- March. Moderna President Dr. Stephen Hoge said his company is similarly working to double its shipments and turn out about 40 million doses a month by April. J&J Vice President of Medical Affairs Dr. Richard Nettles said that the company plans to ship more than 20 million doses to the U.S. by the end of March.
cnbc.comThe Latest: Chinese, Russian vaccines to arrive in Mexico
Health officials say the first shipments of the Chinese and Russian vaccines will be used in low-income neighborhoods of Mexico City or its suburbs. — Millions of vulnerable U.S. residents will need COVID-19 vaccines brought to them because they rarely or never leave their homes. Johnson & Johnson in December agreed to provide up to 500 million doses of its vaccine to COVAX through 2022. Ad“If we are to end the global pandemic, life-saving innovations like vaccines must be within reach for all countries,” Johnson & Johnson Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Paul Stoffels said in a statement. The state health department has scheduled vaccination clinics during the weekend to replace those postponed due to a winter storm.
The Latest: Wet snow turns to sleet in northern New England
A sprawling, lumbering winter storm has walloped the Eastern U.S., shutting down coronavirus vaccination sites, closing schools and halting transit. In its second day in the Northeast, a snow storm left nearly 15 inches (38 centimeters) of snow piled up in parts of New Hampshire. The Yale New Haven Health system, which runs several hospitals in southern Connecticut, said its vaccination sites were closed Tuesday and staff were contacting people to reschedule appointments. In New England, nearly 15 inches (38 centimeters) of snow piled up in southeast New Hampshire, and the mountains were getting heavy snow as well. The National Weather Service reported 30 inches of snow fell in parts of Sussex and Morris counties on Monday.
Vaccinations resume as not-quite-historic snowstorm fades
Coronavirus vaccination sites across the Northeastern U.S. are getting back up and running after a two-day snowstorm that also shut down public transport, closed schools and canceled flights. Some vaccination sites in New York City remained closed, but others, including those run by the public hospital system, were open Tuesday. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)Coronavirus vaccination sites across the Northeast ramped back up Tuesday after a two-day snowstorm that also shut down public transport, closed schools and stranded travelers with canceled flights. Some vaccination sites in the city remained closed, but others, including those run by the public hospital system, were open Tuesday. Tom Wolf declared a disaster emergency after snowfall of up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) throughout central and eastern regions.
The Latest: Massachusetts braces for snow's arrival, wind
The winter weather prompted school districts to cancel in-person learning on Monday, and many COVID-19 vaccination sites were closed and rescheduling appointments. As much as 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow was predicted to fall in areas throughout the day Monday and overnight. 11:30 a.m.BOSTON — The second phase of Massachusetts’ coronavirus vaccine rollout is being disrupted by a winter storm that’s causing schedule changes and at least one vaccination location to shutdown. A winter storm warning remained in effect until Tuesday for much of the state. Most of the state remained under winter storm warnings or winter weather advisories that were expected to remain in effect through Tuesday morning.
'A long two days': Major storm pummels Northeast with snow
Although the heaviest parts of the storm had moved through the metropolitan area by Monday evening, lighter snow showers were expected to continue virtually all day Tuesday, forecaster James Tomasini said. “We’re looking at a long two days here,” New York Gov. Across the Northeast, many coronavirus vaccination sites closed Monday. AdHundreds of flights and many trains and were canceled, and aboveground New York City subway service stopped at 2 p.m. In recent days, a storm system blanketed parts of the Midwest, with some areas getting the most snow in several years.
Transcript: Governor Ned Lamont on "Face the Nation," January 31, 2021
The following is a transcript of an interview with Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont that aired Sunday, January 31, 2020, on "Face the Nation." Governor Ned Lamont joins us from Stamford good morning to you. We're doing testing at the schools or nearby--MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. So, I'm quite confident that if we keep the vaccinations going, we're going to be able to stay ahead of that curve. LAMONT: Like I said, 95% of our kids right now are already have the option to go to school either full time or a hybrid--MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.
cbsnews.comConnecticut Governor Ned Lamont urges Biden to "give us some transparency" on COVID vaccine rollout
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont urges Biden to "give us some transparency" on COVID vaccine rollout "What's most important for the Biden Administration is give us some transparency," Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said.
cbsnews.comConnecticut Governor Ned Lamont urges Biden to "give us some transparency" on vaccine rollout
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont urges Biden to "give us some transparency" on vaccine rollout "What's most important for the Biden Administration is give us some transparency," Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said.
cbsnews.comThis week on "Face the Nation," January 31, 2021: Richmond, Lamont, Suarez, Jackson, Gottlieb
"Face the Nation" Guest Lineup:Cedric Richmond, Senior Adviser to the PresidentSenior Adviser to the President Gov. Ned Lamont, (D-Connecticut(D-Connecticut Mayor Francis Suarez, R-MiamiR-Miami Dr. Janice K. Jackson, Chicago Public Schools CEOChicago Public Schools CEO Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Former FDA CommissionerHow to watch "Face the Nation"Date: Sunday, January 31, 2020TV: "Face the Nation" airs Sunday mornings on CBS. Click here for your local listingsRadio: Subscribe to "Face the Nation" from CBS Radio News to listen on-the-goFree online stream: Watch the show on CBS' streaming network CBSN at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. With the latest news and analysis from Washington, don't miss Margaret Brennan (@margbrennan) this Sunday on "Face the Nation" (@FaceTheNation). And for the latest from America's premier public affairs program, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
cbsnews.comGuard troops pour into Washington as states answer the call
Military leaders spent chunks of Thursday evening and Friday calling states in an unprecedented appeal for more National Guard troops to help lock down much of the city in the days before President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. Kate Brown said she turned down the federal request to send at least 100 more National Guard troops to D.C. “I didn’t think that we could safely fill that commitment,” Brown said. Oregon has already agreed to send 30 to Washington, but state leaders are worried about violence at the state capitol in Salem. At that point, the new round of calls to the state governors and military leaders began. Roy Cooper initially agreed to send 200 Guard, and on Friday spokesman Ford Porter said the state will send 100 more.
The Latest: Fla. lawyer in tobacco cases dies from COVID-19
Brad Little says people 65 and over will be able to get the coronavirus vaccine starting Feb. 1. Overall, Illinois has reported more than 1 million cases and 17,743 deaths. Ontario reported 2,903 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, including eight new cases of a variant from the United Kingdom. ___MADRID — Spain is reporting 25,438 coronavirus cases and more than 400 deaths for the second day in a row. Italy added 14,242 coronavirus infections on Tuesday, increasing the tally to 2.3 million cases.
Biden: Cardona right pick to lead education through pandemic
President-elect Joe Biden introduced Miguel Cardona as his pick for education secretary on Wednesday, saying Connecticut's education chief and life-long champion of public schools is the right pick to lead the department as the nation struggles to educate students safely during the pandemic. The selection delivers on Biden’s promise to nominate someone with experience working in public education and would fulfill his goal of installing an education chief who stands in sharp contrast to President Donald Trump's Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. In introducing Cardona, Biden noted his focus to broaden remote learning across communities in need and ensure schools in his state had appropriate safety gear. But despite their occasional conflict with him, a coalition of Connecticut education unions supported his candidacy as Biden's education secretary. Beyond the pandemic, Biden's education secretary will also be tasked with reversing an array of policies enacted by DeVos.
Biden picks Connecticut schools chief as education secretary
FILE - In this Aug. 9, 2017, photo, flags decorate a space outside the office of the Education Secretary at the Education Department in Washington. President-elect Joe Biden has chosen the education commissioner for Connecticut and a former public school teacher to serve as education secretary. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Miguel Cardona, Connecticut's education chief and a lifelong champion of public schools, to serve as education secretary. The selection delivers on Biden’s promise to nominate someone with experience working in public education and would fulfill his goal of installing an education chief who stands in sharp contrast to Secretary Betsy DeVos. Despite their occasional conflict with him, a coalition of Connecticut education unions supported his candidacy as Biden's education secretary.
Devon Dalio, son of billionaire Ray Dalio, dies in car crash
FILE - In this March 23, 2019 file photo, Bridgewater Associates Chairman Ray Dalio speaks during the Economic Summit held for the China Development Forum in Beijing, China. A family spokesperson says the 42-year-old son of hedge fund founder Ray Dalio died in a car crash this week. The family spokesperson on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 confirmed Devon Dalio's death in a Thursday afternoon crash to Hearst Connecticut Media. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)GREENWICH, Conn. – Devon Dalio, the 42-year-old son of hedge fund founder Ray Dalio, died in a car crash this week, a family spokesperson said Friday. The family spokesperson confirmed the death in a Thursday afternoon crash to Hearst Connecticut Media.
College students recruited as teachers to keep schools open
Hanson, a student at Hanover College, is one of several college students being recruited to work as substitute teachers in schools during the pandemic. Coming to the rescue in many cases are college students who are themselves learning online or home for extended winter breaks. Over a dozen college students answered the call including his own daughter, 19-year-old Grace Kern, who is studying medical imaging technology at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. College students have been tapped in growing numbers this year by Kelly Education, which contracts with districts to provide substitutes. In the past districts could manage by dividing an absent teacher’s students among the other teachers in the building.
The Latest: CT bans semitrailers on some roads for 12 hours
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)NEW YORK – The latest developments on the winter storm moving across the Northeast (all times local):7:45 p.m.Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday he is banning tractor trailer and tandem trailers from all limited access highways, beginning at 9 p.m. due to the severe winter snow storm. ___2 p.m.PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island has closed all state-run coronavirus testing sites as the region braces for a major winter storm. A winter storm warning has been issued for Providence and Kent counties from 7 p.m. Wednesday through 1 p.m. Thursday. Meanwhile, New Jersey is poised to restrict commercial traffic from some highways because of the impending snow storm.
The Latest: Oregon doc's anti-mask comment draws suspension
And we must act as though anyone we are around may be infected.”The cases reported Saturday trailed only the record 10,322 cases reported Tuesday. ___ROME — Italy had more than 21,000 daily coronavirus cases and added 662 deaths in the last 24 hours. There were 14 more deaths reported Saturday, bringing the total to 1,874 confirmed deaths. Russia’s 2.4 million confirmed cases is the fourth-largest caseload in the world behind the United States, India and Brazil. ___NEW DELHI — India has registered 36,652 confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours.
States submit vaccine orders as coronavirus death toll grows
The state expects to get enough doses of new coronavirus vaccines by the end of the year to inoculate more than 383,000 health care workers and long-term care facility residents, the state’s health director said Friday. Ned Lamont said nursing home residents, along with front-line health care workers, will get the first doses in his state. Laura Kelly said the state’s vaccine plan calls for the first shots to go to front-line health care workers with a high risk of coronavirus exposure, including workers in nursing homes, as well as nursing home residents. In Ohio, health care workers and others caring for COVID-19 patients and emergency medical responders will be first in line for the vaccine, Republican Gov. “We’re in a very dangerous situation and ... we can’t let our hospitals get to the point where health care is threatened,” DeWine said.
The Latest: India registers over 30,000 new virus cases
It said the country was showing a trend of declining average daily cases over the last two months. Worldwide, more than 54 million coronavirus cases have been reported with more than 1.3 million deaths. ___CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia has set another weekly record for the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, even with one day left to count. The state set three daily marks for confirmed cases in the past week, including a record 821 cases on Friday. The seven-day rolling average for new daily cases stood at 145,400 on Saturday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The Latest: Washington gov. may announces new restrictions
Washington state and county health officials have warned of a spike in coronavirus cases across the state, and pleaded with the public to take the pandemic more seriously heading into the winter holidays. The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care beds reached 362 on Friday, the most since late August. ___KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine has introduced tight weekend restrictions as the number of new confirmed coronavirus cases hit a national record. Health Minister Maxim Stepanov said Saturday that Ukraine registered 12,524 new confirmed cases, about 800 more than the previous day. Overall, Russia has reported 1,903.000 confirmed virus cases and 32,834 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Explosion kills 2 steam pipe workers at veterans hospital
WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Two workers were killed in an explosion Friday while repairing a steam pipe in a maintenance building at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Connecticut, officials said. Alfred Montoya Jr., director of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, said the men were in the basement of the small outer building and had just finished routine maintenance on a leaky pipe. He said the explosion occurred just after 8 a.m. as the pipe was being refilled with steam. “Our prayers are with the families of the victims of this explosion," VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said. The explosion occurred in a building that houses the hospital’s labor shops, such as carpentry and plumbing, a spokesperson for the hospital said.
The Latest: Connecticut governor is self-quarantining
Ned Lamont is self-quarantining after his chief spokesperson tested positive for COVID-19, his administration announced late Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. Ned Lamont is self-quarantining after his chief spokesperson tested positive for COVID-19. Another governor, Democrat Steve Sisolak of Nevada, announced Friday that he had tested positive for COVID-19. DeWine tested positive using a rapid test before testing negative later that day after using a more sensitive laboratory-developed test. The latest state health department figures also show hospitalizations have edged back up statewide — hitting 684 after dipping to 676 a day earlier.
As cases rise, states say they'll work with Biden on virus
Gary Herbert speaks as he joins state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn at a press conference at the Capitol in Salt Lake City, clarifying the state's mask mandate on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. Minnesota’s per-capita new case counts are better than neighboring Wisconsin and the Dakotas, which have some of the country’s highest transmission rates, but have still raised alarm with the state's health officials. In Idaho, where 1 of every 223 residents tested positive for the virus over the last week, Republican Gov. With Trump still not conceding the race, some Republican governors have greeted Biden’s efforts in a more measured way. In Oklahoma, where cases also are on the rise, Republican Gov.
The Latest: Italy imposing night curfew, other restrictions
Spain has a national 14-day cumulative number of 527 coronavirus cases per 100,000 population, one of the highest in Europe. The rolling average of daily deaths rose from 10.1 to 15.3 and the positivity average increased from 8.9% to 11.8%. ___THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Netherlands reported coronavirus cases fell by 5%, the first decrease in weeks. Dutch public health institute says confirmed coronavirus cases in the past seven days went from 67,542 to 64,087. It lays out new rules for what are considered “essential” items during a monthlong lockdown effort to slow coronavirus infections.
A majority of U.S. states are now on New York's Covid travel restriction list, Cuomo says
Cuomo initially adopted the coronavirus travel advisory alongside Connecticut Gov. Because New York is doing so much better than the other states, that's what's happening," Cuomo said on the call. More than half of U.S. states were on the Empire State's travel advisory over the summer as America's Sun Belt states were responding to widespread outbreaks. "The rate of infection in our microcluster, our red zone, is lower than most states' statewide number," Cuomo said. "What we consider a priority area, a high infection rate, other states do not consider a high infection rate.
cnbc.comThe Latest: UN chief cites pandemic's 'unprecedent toll'
Nearly 550 students have tested positive for the virus since in-person classes resumed last month. The reservation is located on parts of six counties that accounted for 62 new coronavirus cases and one death in Tuesday’s update. J.B. Pritzker will quarantine for two weeks after a member of his administration tested positive for the coronavirus. Naidu recently attended a session of India’s Parliament that was cut short after more than 20 lawmakers tested positive. India’s Home Minister Amit Shah tested positive last month and recovered in a hospital.
The Latest: Honolulu to allow some activities to resume
(AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)HONOLULU -- Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says the city plans to allow some activities that were shut down last month to control the spread of the coronavirus to resume under new guidelines. Gary Herbert will increase pandemic restrictions in two Utah cities as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in the state. The county accounted for 42% of the state’s cases despite having only 20% of state’s population. Eric Holcomb’s statewide mask mandate and other coronavirus restrictions poses a possible disruption to his reelection campaign. But the real toll is thought to be much higher, in part because many COVID-19 deaths were probably ascribed to other causes, especially early on, before widespread testing.
The Latest: Hollywood unions announce pandemic agreement
___WASHINGTON — The White House is urging U.S. governors to put politics aside and help the Trump administration promote future coronavirus vaccines as safe and effective. Trump has escalated his promise for a coronavirus vaccine before Election Day. ___ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s president, who has long called for a reform of the United Nations, said the world body has failed in its response to the coronavirus pandemic. ___BOISE, Idaho — Idaho school districts vary widely when it comes to letting the public know about coronavirus cases in classrooms. Greek authorities say the fire was started by residents angry at a lockdown order after 35 COVID-19 cases were recorded at Moria.
College basketball floats idea of bubbles for safe season
A much more unified plan is in place for the college basketball season. Add the effective safety measures of the pro leagues, find suitable sites and bubble basketball could work. The NBA has the ideal setup at Disney World, but college basketball might be better suited to follow the NHL's lead. In other words, basketball bubbles could pop up all over the country. "Its possible, but its not going to be easy.Pulling off a college basketball bubble, however, comes with a caveat.
Barbers to offer free haircuts to protest Michigan lockdown
The coronavirus has contributed to more than 5,000 confirmed deaths in Michigan, the fourth-highest toll in the country. Gretchen Whitmers closure of nonessential businesses is among the nations toughest and is in effect at least through May 28. I can truly see this through both lenses, said Weaver, who does not plan to attend the protest scheduled for Wednesday. One of the things I want to emphasize, Michigan, all of you business owners, you beauticians, you barbers, massage therapists all of you. Wednesday's Operation Haircut protest is being organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition, which led a car-based rally against Whitmer's orders in April.
In abrupt move, Connecticut replaces health commissioner amid pandemic
(Reuters) - Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said on Tuesday he was replacing his public health commissioner, in an abrupt decision to shakeup leadership of the agency at the heart of the states response to the coronavirus pandemic. Lamont said in a statement that Department of Social Services Commissioner Deidre Gifford would take over as head of the states public health department, replacing Renee Coleman-Mitchell, effective immediately. The move comes one day after Connecticut disclosed that it had surpassed 3,000 deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. I was informed by the Governors staff that the decision to move the Department of Public Health in a different direction was not related to job performance. The rare move by a U.S. governor to replace a leading health official during the pandemic follows two public controversies.
feeds.reuters.comConnecticut closing schools for remainder of academic year: governor
FILE PHOTO: Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont takes part in a regional cannabis and vaping summit in New York City, New York, U.S., October 17, 2019. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson(Reuters) - Connecticuts schools will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year due to the novel coronavirus, Governor Ned Lamont said on Tuesday, following similar moves by the nearby states of New York and New Jersey. Lamont, who had closed schools and many businesses until at least May 20, said in a statement that he had held out hope that students could return this year but decided that its just not possible, due to safety concerns.
feeds.reuters.comConnecticut governor says he wants Yale and state's other colleges 'to open in the fall'
Ned Lamont told CNBC on Tuesday that he wants colleges and universities in Connecticut "to open in the fall," provided it is safe to do so. "It's a big part of our state," Lamont, a Democrat, said on "Squawk on the Street." The state is home to Yale University, the University of Connecticut and Quinnipiac University, among others. The president of Yale, Peter Salovey, told the university community in an email last week that it intended to announce plans for the fall semester by early July. "I understand that we all need time to make plans," he wrote in the email, according to the Yale Daily News.
cnbc.comConnecticut reports spike in coronavirus cases, cites CDC classification changes
(Reuters) - Connecticut on Monday reported the states highest one-day totals for novel coronavirus cases and related deaths, attributing the jump to a revised total count due to new classifications from federal regulators. Connecticut recorded 1,853 new cases for a total of 19,815, and 204 additional deaths, bringing total fatalities to 1,331, according to a daily disclosure by the states health department, which it said incorporated a catch up of cases and deaths reported since April 16. Governor Ned Lamont told a daily briefing the jump reflected new classifications required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which he said had made revisions on how to count deaths and cases. We are just truing this up so we keep with the CDC and federal definition.The CDC did not immediately return a request for comment. We definitely have bent the curve, on the way down, hit the apex, Lamont said about Fairfield County.
feeds.reuters.comWatch live: Northeastern governors make announcement about the coronavirus outbreak
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will join with other governors in the northeastern U.S., including Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, to make an announcement about the states' response to the coronavirus outbreak. Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.
cnbc.comConnecticut coronavirus cases spike, governor calls it a hot spot
(Reuters) - A total of 64 percent of the people tested for the novel coronavirus in Connecticut in the past 24 hours came back positive, a spike that underscored the states status as a hot spot for the disease, Governor Ned Lamont said on Friday. FILE PHOTO: Medical personnel wear protective gear while working at a drive-through testing site for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.,March 27, 2020. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File PhotoOf the 1,715 Connecticut residents screened for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, 1,090 tested positive, according to state data. Weve been trying to explain to Washington for some time that southern Connecticut is one of those hot spots, Lamont said at a daily briefing on the coronavirus. Click tmsnrt.rs/2w7hX9T in a separate browser for a GRAPHIC on coronavirus cases in the United States.
feeds.reuters.com'On our own now': U.S. strategic stockpile empty of medical supplies
(Reuters) - Connecticuts governor on Tuesday said the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile of medical supplies was now empty and the state was on its own trying to secure ventilators and masks to fight the coronavirus pandemic. FILE PHOTO: Boxes of N95 protective masks for use by medical field personnel are seen at a New York State emergency operations incident command center during the coronavirus outbreak in New Rochelle, New York, U.S., March 17, 2020. REUTERS/Mike SegarThe stockpile is the countrys largest store of medical supplies for use in a crisis and for weeks governors have been clamoring for its dwindling stocks of face masks and other gear to protect frontline medics, first responders and patients. It was disturbing today to find out that the national strategic stockpile is now empty. The governor said Connecticut was releasing nonviolent offenders from state prisons to slow the spread of the virus amongst inmates.
feeds.reuters.comU.S. strategic stockpile of medical supplies 'now empty': Connecticut governor
FILE PHOTO: Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont takes part in a regional cannabis and vaping summit in New York City, New York, U.S., October 17, 2019. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson(Reuters) - Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said on Tuesday that the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile of medical supplies was now empty and the state was on its own trying to secure ventilators and personal protective equipment to fight the coronavirus pandemic. It was disturbing today to find out that the national strategic stockpile is now empty. We did get 50 ventilators, for which I am very thankful, Lamont told a news conference. Lamont said he did not expect renters to be evicted as a result of job losses or other coronavirus-related factors, not least because eviction courts were closed.
feeds.reuters.comConnecticut becomes latest state to postpone 2020 primary as coronavirus spreads
Connecticut will move its 2020 primary to June 2 from the originally planned April 28 in response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak, Gov. Connecticut, with 60 delegates up for grabs, is the latest state to postpone its primary because of looming threats brought on by the coronavirus, which has roiled markets and infected hundreds of thousands of people globally. Ohio delayed its in-person primary voting that was supposed to take place Tuesday. The Rhode Island Board of Elections voted to postpone the state's primary from April 28 to June 2, but the decision is "pending the Governor signing an emergency order," according to the board's deputy director of elections, Miguel Nunez. There are at least 10,755 cases in the United States and at least 150 deaths, according to the latest tallies.
cnbc.comConnecticut reports first coronavirus death
(Reuters) - Connecticut reported its first coronavirus-related death on Wednesday, saying a man in his 80s who had been living in a retirement facility had passed away due to complications from the COVID-19 disease. The man was a resident of an assisted living facility in Ridgefield, a town about 55 miles (88.5 km) outside of New York City, and had been undergoing treatment at the nearby Danbury Hospital, Governor Ned Lamont said on Twitter.
feeds.reuters.comConnecticut governor: 'I am worried' about ventilator availability if coronavirus cases surge
Ned Lamont told CNBC on Tuesday he's concerned that the number of ventilators in the state wouldn't be enough to handle a dramatic surge in coronavirus cases. He said they are necessary to ensure a flattening of the curve essentially trying to limit the surge of coronavirus cases. The U.S. has more than 4,600 confirmed cases and 85 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Lamont declared a state of emergency a week ago, when Connecticut had four confirmed cases. As of Tuesday morning, the state had 41 confirmed cases and no deaths.
cnbc.comWorld War II-era bomber crashes; at least 7 reported dead
A World War II-era plane with 13 people aboard crashed and burned at the Hartford airport after encountering mechanical trouble on takeoff Wednesday, killing seven of them. The airport _ New England's second-busiest _ was closed afterward but reopened a single runway about 3 hours later. The same plane also crashed in 1987 at an air show near Pittsburgh, injuring several people, the Collings Foundation said. Hit by a severe crosswind as it touched down, the bomber overshot a runway and plunged down a hill. The B-17 that went down was built in 1945, too late to see combat in the war, according to the Collings Foundation.
chicagotribune.comConn. health commissioner calls for repeal of vaccine exemptions
Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesHARTFORD, Conn. - Health officials, lawmakers and religious leaders made a plea on Monday to repeal certain immunizations exemptions. Democratic lawmakers have been talking about this for a few months and support a repeal of the religious exemption. While overall Connecticut has high vaccination rates, there are more than 100 schools were vaccine rates are below government recommendations. "High vaccination rates protect not only vaccinated children but also those who cannot be or have not been vaccinated," Coleman-Mitchell said in a letter to lawmakers. Low immunization rates are a serious public health concern and it's critical that we work with health professionals across the state to fight back against misinformation on this topic."