Wrong Place, Wrong Time P 7

Another installment of this series...more blood

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Utah to move from high- to moderate-risk for COVID-19

Health care workers test people for COVID-19 at Intermountain Healthcare’s mobile testing unit at Park City High School on Saturday, April 18, 2020. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Coronavirus death toll at 46 in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Many of the restrictions put in place due to pandemic spread of the novel coronavirus will be lifted at midnight Friday in Utah.

Gatherings will again be permitted up to 20 people, though social distancing is encouraged throughout the duration. Businesses will be allowed to open so long as they can maintain proper standards, according to state and local health department guidelines.

There will also be more opportunities to travel, carefully, said Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.

“We’re making progress. We’re moving forward,” he said during Thursday’s briefing at the Capitol. “We’ll get through this stabilization and soon into recovery.”

The Utah Department of Health reported 4,672 cases on Thursday, an increase of 177 over Wednesday. It also reported another death caused by the novel coronavirus — a 60-year-old Salt Lake County man unrelated to outbreaks at Utah’s long-term care facilities. It brings the state’s COVID-19-related death total to 46 since March 22.

Three hundred ninety people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 in Utah, according to the health department. And, more than 108,500 people have been tested at more than 50 locations throughout the state.

Officials believe a slight uptick in cases of COVID-19 may result from the newly eased restrictions, but, “this is no time for us to relax,” Herbert said.

“As we move to reopen parts of the economy and society, we’re relying on all Utahns to continue to adhere to social distancing standards whenever they can,” said Dr. Angela Dunn, state epidemiologist with the Utah Department of Health. “Everybody needs to take responsibility to prevent the spread.”

One of the major reasons Utah is ready to move from high-risk to moderate-risk of infection, she said, is the state’s increased testing capacity. Positive cases can be identified quickly and traced to effectively prevent further spread.

The health department plans to introduce strike teams of experts to handle outbreaks within communities, including mobile testing and investigation efforts, particularly in neighborhoods and communities in Salt Lake and Utah counties, where Dunn said “known hot spots” exist.

About 10% to 15% of COVID-19 cases in Utah can be attributed to community spread, where a contact point is not identified; whereas, the majority come from known contacts with the virus.

State officials have encouraged businesses and their patrons to continue to wear masks, which Dunn said “serve as an additional barrier when social distancing isn’t possible.”

“This is something everybody is going to have to figure out, the level of risk they want to take,” she said. “The risk is quite small at this point.”

Vulnerable populations — including people age 65 and older, as well as those with underlying conditions or already compromised immune systems — are encouraged to continue staying home to stay safe.

“I’m not overly concerned,” Herbert said. “I think people understand that for their own self interest, their health and the health of their loved ones and people they don’t know but still care about, they will do what is best. When it comes down to it, people are willing to do the right thing in the right way.”

Herbert on Thursday issued an executive order to extend overdue vehicle registrations until May 15, to help slow demand and alleviate crowding at Utah’s Department of Motor Vehicle offices. At least five offices along the Wasatch Front have already begun taking appointments for services, and others are offering limited drive-through services. Some services are still available and recommended to be done online, the governor said.

While he moved the status of the state from red to orange starting Friday, as described in his Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan, Herbert, who was also wearing an orange tie, said the state has “a ways to go” before it reaches a stabilization phase.

“People of Utah have been diligent and dedicated,” he said. “Stay safe and stay strong.”

The breakdown of Utah COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths by health district:

• Salt Lake County, 2,438; 228 hospitalized; 29 deaths.
• Utah County, 957; 44 hospitalized; 7 deaths.
• Summit County, 369; 32 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Davis County, 285; 23 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Weber-Morgan, 158; 19 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Wasatch County, 148; 7 hospitalized; 1 death.
• Southwest Utah, 98; 12 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Tooele County, 65; 6 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Bear River, 60; 10 hospitalized; 1 death.
• San Juan County, 46; 7 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Central Utah, 23; 1 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• TriCounty (Uinta Basin), 13; 1 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Southeast Utah, 12; 0 hospitalized; 0 deaths.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/35kmvXH

Utah to move from high- to moderate-risk for COVID-19

Health care workers test people for COVID-19 at Intermountain Healthcare’s mobile testing unit at Park City High School on Saturday, April 18, 2020. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Coronavirus death toll at 46 in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Many of the restrictions put in place due to pandemic spread of the novel coronavirus will be lifted at midnight Friday in Utah.

Gatherings will again be permitted up to 20 people, though social distancing is encouraged throughout the duration. Businesses will be allowed to open so long as they can maintain proper standards, according to state and local health department guidelines.

There will also be more opportunities to travel, carefully, said Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.

“We’re making progress. We’re moving forward,” he said during Thursday’s briefing at the Capitol. “We’ll get through this stabilization and soon into recovery.”

The Utah Department of Health reported 4,672 cases on Thursday, an increase of 177 over Wednesday. It also reported another death caused by the novel coronavirus — a 60-year-old Salt Lake County man unrelated to outbreaks at Utah’s long-term care facilities. It brings the state’s COVID-19-related death total to 46 since March 22.

Three hundred ninety people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 in Utah, according to the health department. And, more than 108,500 people have been tested at more than 50 locations throughout the state.

Officials believe a slight uptick in cases of COVID-19 may result from the newly eased restrictions, but, “this is no time for us to relax,” Herbert said.

“As we move to reopen parts of the economy and society, we’re relying on all Utahns to continue to adhere to social distancing standards whenever they can,” said Dr. Angela Dunn, state epidemiologist with the Utah Department of Health. “Everybody needs to take responsibility to prevent the spread.”

One of the major reasons Utah is ready to move from high-risk to moderate-risk of infection, she said, is the state’s increased testing capacity. Positive cases can be identified quickly and traced to effectively prevent further spread.

The health department plans to introduce strike teams of experts to handle outbreaks within communities, including mobile testing and investigation efforts, particularly in neighborhoods and communities in Salt Lake and Utah counties, where Dunn said “known hot spots” exist.

About 10% to 15% of COVID-19 cases in Utah can be attributed to community spread, where a contact point is not identified; whereas, the majority come from known contacts with the virus.

State officials have encouraged businesses and their patrons to continue to wear masks, which Dunn said “serve as an additional barrier when social distancing isn’t possible.”

“This is something everybody is going to have to figure out, the level of risk they want to take,” she said. “The risk is quite small at this point.”

Vulnerable populations — including people age 65 and older, as well as those with underlying conditions or already compromised immune systems — are encouraged to continue staying home to stay safe.

“I’m not overly concerned,” Herbert said. “I think people understand that for their own self interest, their health and the health of their loved ones and people they don’t know but still care about, they will do what is best. When it comes down to it, people are willing to do the right thing in the right way.”

Herbert on Thursday issued an executive order to extend overdue vehicle registrations until May 15, to help slow demand and alleviate crowding at Utah’s Department of Motor Vehicle offices. At least five offices along the Wasatch Front have already begun taking appointments for services, and others are offering limited drive-through services. Some services are still available and recommended to be done online, the governor said.

While he moved the status of the state from red to orange starting Friday, as described in his Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan, Herbert, who was also wearing an orange tie, said the state has “a ways to go” before it reaches a stabilization phase.

“People of Utah have been diligent and dedicated,” he said. “Stay safe and stay strong.”

The breakdown of Utah COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths by health district:

• Salt Lake County, 2,438; 228 hospitalized; 29 deaths.
• Utah County, 957; 44 hospitalized; 7 deaths.
• Summit County, 369; 32 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Davis County, 285; 23 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Weber-Morgan, 158; 19 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Wasatch County, 148; 7 hospitalized; 1 death.
• Southwest Utah, 98; 12 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Tooele County, 65; 6 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Bear River, 60; 10 hospitalized; 1 death.
• San Juan County, 46; 7 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Central Utah, 23; 1 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• TriCounty (Uinta Basin), 13; 1 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Southeast Utah, 12; 0 hospitalized; 0 deaths.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/35kmvXH

Owner of 4 convenience stores charged with running gambling operation

Adobe Stock image

SALT LAKE CITY — The owner of four Salt Lake County convenience stores and nine of his employees were charged Thursday with running a gambling operation.

Saif Al-Fatlawi, 33, whose address is listed in court documents as “unknown,” was charged in 3rd District Court with engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity and money laundering, second-degree felonies; sale of a firearm to a restricted person, a third-degree felony; and gambling promotion, gambling, possession of a gambling device, and drug possession, class B misdemeanors.

Lupe Flores-Martinez, 21; Ernesto Martinez-Figueroa, 20; Foalima Siele Pule; Antwon Earl Sweat, 21; Mohamed Haji, 20; Emily Nicole Argumedo, 31; Jimskin Emilio Lucero, 20; and Jose Guadalupe Batalla-Florez, 22; are also listed in the lengthy 15-page criminal filing as defendants. Dora Arce, 22, was also charged with money laundering and gambling promotion as part of the same investigation Thursday afternoon.

In December, police began investigating possible video gambling machines in the City Corner convenience store, 4300 S. Main.

“The machines were described as similar to slot machines in Las Vegas that you pay cash to play and are paid out cash from the store if you win,” according to charging documents.

Undercover officers observed about 10 gambling machines in the store, “all located in a dark back room behind the register,” the charges state.

“(An undercover officer) said the average person would never know the existence of the gaming machines in the business unless they were told about them.”

After playing the games, an undercover officer tried to “cash out.” To do that, a store employee had the officer write his name and birthdate on a piece of paper, the charges state, and the officer was then told to come back the next day to get his money.

In a second undercover operation in December, an officer was paid directly out of the register when he cashed out and did not have to come back the next day, the charges state.

As the investigation continued, detectives learned that Al-Fatlawi owned that store and three other City Corner stores “that also contain gambling machines” at 3695 S. Redwood, 631 W. North Temple, and 218 S. 300 East, according to court documents.

On Jan. 29, officers executed search warrants on all four City Corner stores simultaneously.

“It was confirmed that every City Corner location had video gambling machines,” the charges state.

Hundreds of documents were also seized.

“Based on review of these documents it appears that the City Corner stores made very little money on actual merchandise and the majority of the money was made from the gambling proceeds,” the charging documents allege.

Al-Fatlawi, Martinez-Figueroa and Flores-Martinez would make daily rounds, collecting cash from each of the stores, the charges say.

Investigators also reported finding a gun in the safe of the Murray store that appeared to be “passed from person to person based on whoever is working.”

While serving a search warrant at a downtown apartment, one of the suspects tried to get rid of two firearms by dropping them out a fifth story window, according to the charges. One gun hit the ground just as a pedestrian walked by. The pedestrian reacted by running away.

Martinez-Figueroa is also accused of running a “drug dealing business” on the side, selling marijuana, THC cartridges and cocaine, according to the charges.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3bSTWTz

Owner of 4 convenience stores charged with running gambling operation

Adobe Stock image

SALT LAKE CITY — The owner of four Salt Lake County convenience stores and nine of his employees were charged Thursday with running a gambling operation.

Saif Al-Fatlawi, 33, whose address is listed in court documents as “unknown,” was charged in 3rd District Court with engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity and money laundering, second-degree felonies; sale of a firearm to a restricted person, a third-degree felony; and gambling promotion, gambling, possession of a gambling device, and drug possession, class B misdemeanors.

Lupe Flores-Martinez, 21; Ernesto Martinez-Figueroa, 20; Foalima Siele Pule; Antwon Earl Sweat, 21; Mohamed Haji, 20; Emily Nicole Argumedo, 31; Jimskin Emilio Lucero, 20; and Jose Guadalupe Batalla-Florez, 22; are also listed in the lengthy 15-page criminal filing as defendants. Dora Arce, 22, was also charged with money laundering and gambling promotion as part of the same investigation Thursday afternoon.

In December, police began investigating possible video gambling machines in the City Corner convenience store, 4300 S. Main.

“The machines were described as similar to slot machines in Las Vegas that you pay cash to play and are paid out cash from the store if you win,” according to charging documents.

Undercover officers observed about 10 gambling machines in the store, “all located in a dark back room behind the register,” the charges state.

“(An undercover officer) said the average person would never know the existence of the gaming machines in the business unless they were told about them.”

After playing the games, an undercover officer tried to “cash out.” To do that, a store employee had the officer write his name and birthdate on a piece of paper, the charges state, and the officer was then told to come back the next day to get his money.

In a second undercover operation in December, an officer was paid directly out of the register when he cashed out and did not have to come back the next day, the charges state.

As the investigation continued, detectives learned that Al-Fatlawi owned that store and three other City Corner stores “that also contain gambling machines” at 3695 S. Redwood, 631 W. North Temple, and 218 S. 300 East, according to court documents.

On Jan. 29, officers executed search warrants on all four City Corner stores simultaneously.

“It was confirmed that every City Corner location had video gambling machines,” the charges state.

Hundreds of documents were also seized.

“Based on review of these documents it appears that the City Corner stores made very little money on actual merchandise and the majority of the money was made from the gambling proceeds,” the charging documents allege.

Al-Fatlawi, Martinez-Figueroa and Flores-Martinez would make daily rounds, collecting cash from each of the stores, the charges say.

Investigators also reported finding a gun in the safe of the Murray store that appeared to be “passed from person to person based on whoever is working.”

While serving a search warrant at a downtown apartment, one of the suspects tried to get rid of two firearms by dropping them out a fifth story window, according to the charges. One gun hit the ground just as a pedestrian walked by. The pedestrian reacted by running away.

Martinez-Figueroa is also accused of running a “drug dealing business” on the side, selling marijuana, THC cartridges and cocaine, according to the charges.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3bSTWTz

Macy’s will open 68 stores Monday

A Macy’s window reflects pedestrians in Boston. The retailer plans to open up 68 stores on Monday with added coronavirus precautions. | Elise Amendola, Associated Press

The retailer plans to re-open all of its stores within the next six weeks

Sixty-eight Macy’s stores are opening their doors to the public Monday, USAToday reports. An additional 50 stores are planning to open doors on May 11 — part of a gradual roll-out plan to have all 775 stores open by the middle of June.

Macy’s will be reopening stores in states and counties where coronavirus restrictions have loosened, the Hill reports. Management must still implement health and safety standards.

Macy’s will be installing plexiglass at registers, hand-sanitizer stations, signs to remind customers to stay six feet apart and stay home if they’re sick, Business Insider reports. The store will also eliminate close-contact services like ear piercings, bra fittings, alterations and makeup testing. Macy’s staff will undergo training on new sanitation and distancing protocols.

The company previously furloughed more than 125,000 employees after closing all stores in March, CNN reported. Now, those workers will gradually be able to return to work with added precautions like mandatory face masks and temperature checks, according to CNBC.

Best Buy will also be reopening 200 of its stores starting in May, according to the Washington Post. But customers will only be able to enter the store after making an appointment for an in-store consultation.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2KKuRyx

Duchess Meghan offers inspiring message on combating coronavirus

Meghan Markle released a new statement about coronavirus on her website. | Screenshot

Meghan Markle released a new statement about coronavirus on her website.

Duchess Meghan has released a new video where she offered a message of inspiration and hope amid the coronavirus pandemic.

What’s the news:

• Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, released a new video and message on her website for the Smart Works patronage, a London charity that helps unemployed women prepare for getting a new job.
• Markle praised the company for how it has handled the coronavirus pandemic in a new video.

• Markle’s message reads: “It’s been such an honour to meet and learn from so many talented women in the Smart Works network over the years, and recently to see the amazing work they’re doing to adapt their programs to the reality of this pandemic. Their ability to continue to empower women and help them harness the confidence they need to succeed during this time is inspiring.”
• After her session with the Duchess, one client said: “I just wanted to say a big ‘thank you’ to you, the Duchess and the whole team at Smart Works for making this possible for women all around the UK, because to see such work is truly inspiring and uplifting. And thank you for the super helpful interview tips — I will be using them for years to come!”

More help from Markle

• Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, have volunteered to help deliver meals during the COVID-19 pandemic, as I wrote about for the Deseret News. The former royal couple worked with Project Angel Food to deliver meals in West Hollywood, California, to more than 20 people who are suffering from critical illnesses.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2SDWz4r

Church donates $5.5 million as it expands COVID-19 relief projects

Recipients in need receive food and other supplies provided by the Salvation Army. | IRI

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is dispatching 15 truckloads of commodities a week from its U.S. network of bishops’ storehouses to help food banks across the country.

SALT LAKE CITY — Latter-day Saint Charities is giving $5.5 million in cash donations to five American relief agencies while working on 280 coronavirus pandemic relief projects in more than 80 countries, according to a news release issued Thursday by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The release said the church has received an unprecedented number of humanitarian requests made around the world. Two weeks ago, the church said it had approved 110 pandemic-related projects in 57 countries.

The church also is dispatching 15 truckloads of commodities a week from its U.S. network of bishops’ storehouses to help food banks and other charitable organizations across the country, according to the news release.

The cash donations are being made to long-time, trusted partners of the church and Latter-day Saint Charities.

“We’re deeply concerned about those we consider to be our brothers and sisters who are suffering because of COVID-19,” Bishop Gérald Caussé, presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said in a statement in the news release. “We want to help and know we can rely on these trusted partners, who are already doing so much good, to reach those who are in greatest need.”

He said the church will also provide and generate additional volunteers via its volunteering website, JustServe.org, to help with local service opportunities around the country. The website now includes a specific category for finding volunteer opportunities related to the pandemic. It also has a category of opportunities for volunteering from home.

“Our church members, who can be found in every community, are also willing to lend a hand through volunteer service projects,” Bishop Caussé said.

The church released the following information about the organizations receiving the $5.5 million in cash donations, along with the comments from the organizations’ leaders.

• Convoy of Hope of Springfield, Illinois, will use the money to help feed those in need in the Midwest.

“This generous gift came at a pivotal time,” Convoy of Hope CEO Hal Donaldson said. “Convoy of Hope is well on its way to reaching the goal of delivering 10 million meals to those hit hardest by the coronavirus.”

• Feeding America, a nationwide network of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, will use the money to assist in the country’s hardest-hit areas.

“We are incredibly thankful for the support of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during this time of increased need,” Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot said. “Their donation will help provide more meals and other essential resources to people who need them most.”

• Partnership With Native Americans will purchase food, water and personal health products for Native American reservations, mostly throughout the western U.S.

“Our motto has always been ‘Don’t leave Native Americans behind’ and that’s more critical now than ever,” said Joshua Arce, president and CEO of the Addison, Texas-based organization. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is honoring this and helping us continue our vital deliveries to the reservations in need.”

• The Salvation Army plans to use the funds it receives to provide food, personal protective equipment and hygiene items around the United States.

“Across America, millions are worried about where their next meal will come from. They need food now,” Commissioner Kenneth G. Hodder, commander of the Salvation Army’s USA Western Territory. “So to help meet that need, The Salvation Army is proud to partner with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Working together, we’re determined to make a difference for anyone and everyone affected by this pandemic.”

• The United Way will continue to provide relief across the country.

“United Way extends our deepest gratitude for the generosity and compassion of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” United Way Worldwide U.S. President Suzanne McCormick said. “The donation of $1 million to the United Way Community Response and Recovery Fund will provide critical support to communities across the U.S. and to the 211 teams who are working around the clock to help our most vulnerable populations find the help they need in the face of this pandemic.”

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2SlHRyC

Church donates $5.5 million as it expands COVID-19 relief projects

Recipients in need receive food and other supplies provided by the Salvation Army. | IRI

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is dispatching 15 truckloads of commodities a week from its U.S. network of bishops’ storehouses to help food banks across the country.

SALT LAKE CITY — Latter-day Saint Charities is giving $5.5 million in cash donations to five American relief agencies while working on 280 coronavirus pandemic relief projects in more than 80 countries, according to a news release issued Thursday by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The release said the church has received an unprecedented number of humanitarian requests made around the world. Two weeks ago, the church said it had approved 110 pandemic-related projects in 57 countries.

The church also is dispatching 15 truckloads of commodities a week from its U.S. network of bishops’ storehouses to help food banks and other charitable organizations across the country, according to the news release.

The cash donations are being made to long-time, trusted partners of the church and Latter-day Saint Charities.

“We’re deeply concerned about those we consider to be our brothers and sisters who are suffering because of COVID-19,” Bishop Gérald Caussé, presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said in a statement in the news release. “We want to help and know we can rely on these trusted partners, who are already doing so much good, to reach those who are in greatest need.”

He said the church will also provide and generate additional volunteers via its volunteering website, JustServe.org, to help with local service opportunities around the country. The website now includes a specific category for finding volunteer opportunities related to the pandemic. It also has a category of opportunities for volunteering from home.

“Our church members, who can be found in every community, are also willing to lend a hand through volunteer service projects,” Bishop Caussé said.

The church released the following information about the organizations receiving the $5.5 million in cash donations, along with the comments from the organizations’ leaders.

• Convoy of Hope of Springfield, Illinois, will use the money to help feed those in need in the Midwest.

“This generous gift came at a pivotal time,” Convoy of Hope CEO Hal Donaldson said. “Convoy of Hope is well on its way to reaching the goal of delivering 10 million meals to those hit hardest by the coronavirus.”

• Feeding America, a nationwide network of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, will use the money to assist in the country’s hardest-hit areas.

“We are incredibly thankful for the support of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during this time of increased need,” Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot said. “Their donation will help provide more meals and other essential resources to people who need them most.”

• Partnership With Native Americans will purchase food, water and personal health products for Native American reservations, mostly throughout the western U.S.

“Our motto has always been ‘Don’t leave Native Americans behind’ and that’s more critical now than ever,” said Joshua Arce, president and CEO of the Addison, Texas-based organization. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is honoring this and helping us continue our vital deliveries to the reservations in need.”

• The Salvation Army plans to use the funds it receives to provide food, personal protective equipment and hygiene items around the United States.

“Across America, millions are worried about where their next meal will come from. They need food now,” Commissioner Kenneth G. Hodder, commander of the Salvation Army’s USA Western Territory. “So to help meet that need, The Salvation Army is proud to partner with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Working together, we’re determined to make a difference for anyone and everyone affected by this pandemic.”

• The United Way will continue to provide relief across the country.

“United Way extends our deepest gratitude for the generosity and compassion of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” United Way Worldwide U.S. President Suzanne McCormick said. “The donation of $1 million to the United Way Community Response and Recovery Fund will provide critical support to communities across the U.S. and to the 211 teams who are working around the clock to help our most vulnerable populations find the help they need in the face of this pandemic.”

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2SlHRyC

Church donates $5.5 million as it expands COVID-19 relief projects

Recipients in need receive food and other supplies provided by the Salvation Army. | IRI

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is dispatching 15 truckloads of commodities a week from its U.S. network of bishops’ storehouses to help food banks across the country.

SALT LAKE CITY — Latter-day Saint Charities is giving $5.5 million in cash donations to five American relief agencies while working on 280 coronavirus pandemic relief projects in more than 80 countries, according to a news release issued Thursday by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The release said the church has received an unprecedented number of humanitarian requests made around the world. Two weeks ago, the church said it had approved 110 pandemic-related projects in 57 countries.

The church also is dispatching 15 truckloads of commodities a week from its U.S. network of bishops’ storehouses to help food banks and other charitable organizations across the country, according to the news release.

The cash donations are being made to long-time, trusted partners of the church and Latter-day Saint Charities.

“We’re deeply concerned about those we consider to be our brothers and sisters who are suffering because of COVID-19,” Bishop Gérald Caussé, presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said in a statement in the news release. “We want to help and know we can rely on these trusted partners, who are already doing so much good, to reach those who are in greatest need.”

He said the church will also provide and generate additional volunteers via its volunteering website, JustServe.org, to help with local service opportunities around the country. The website now includes a specific category for finding volunteer opportunities related to the pandemic. It also has a category of opportunities for volunteering from home.

“Our church members, who can be found in every community, are also willing to lend a hand through volunteer service projects,” Bishop Caussé said.

The church released the following information about the organizations receiving the $5.5 million in cash donations, along with the comments from the organizations’ leaders.

• Convoy of Hope of Springfield, Illinois, will use the money to help feed those in need in the Midwest.

“This generous gift came at a pivotal time,” Convoy of Hope CEO Hal Donaldson said. “Convoy of Hope is well on its way to reaching the goal of delivering 10 million meals to those hit hardest by the coronavirus.”

• Feeding America, a nationwide network of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, will use the money to assist in the country’s hardest-hit areas.

“We are incredibly thankful for the support of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during this time of increased need,” Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot said. “Their donation will help provide more meals and other essential resources to people who need them most.”

• Partnership With Native Americans will purchase food, water and personal health products for Native American reservations, mostly throughout the western U.S.

“Our motto has always been ‘Don’t leave Native Americans behind’ and that’s more critical now than ever,” said Joshua Arce, president and CEO of the Addison, Texas-based organization. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is honoring this and helping us continue our vital deliveries to the reservations in need.”

• The Salvation Army plans to use the funds it receives to provide food, personal protective equipment and hygiene items around the United States.

“Across America, millions are worried about where their next meal will come from. They need food now,” Commissioner Kenneth G. Hodder, commander of the Salvation Army’s USA Western Territory. “So to help meet that need, The Salvation Army is proud to partner with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Working together, we’re determined to make a difference for anyone and everyone affected by this pandemic.”

• The United Way will continue to provide relief across the country.

“United Way extends our deepest gratitude for the generosity and compassion of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” United Way Worldwide U.S. President Suzanne McCormick said. “The donation of $1 million to the United Way Community Response and Recovery Fund will provide critical support to communities across the U.S. and to the 211 teams who are working around the clock to help our most vulnerable populations find the help they need in the face of this pandemic.”

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2SlHRyC

David Archuleta made a video for his new single in quarantine and is sending the proceeds to COVID-19 relief

Cyrus Pamganiban

Archuleta is donating all of the proceeds from views of the video to the organization Direct Relief

David Archuleta released a new “tribute video” for his latest single on Thursday that features scenes from around the world of medical workers and individuals dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

“Just Breathe” is the latest single to be released off Archuleta’s upcoming album “Therapy Sessions.”

“I felt compelled to put together a visual for ‘Just Breathe,’ despite being on lockdown with the rest of the world,” Archuleta wrote on Twitter on Thursday. “I filmed my parts responsibly in quarantine & we were able to edit together a simple, but moving piece with the help of some footage from friends around the world.”

I felt compelled to put together a visual for “Just Breathe,” despite being on lock down with the rest of the world. I filmed my parts responsibly in quarantine & we were able to edit together a simple, but moving piece with the help of some footage from friends around the world. pic.twitter.com/WBsfeBWhnD

— David Archuleta (@DavidArchie) April 30, 2020

The video begins with images of empty streets from around the world and “closed” signs being placed in shop windows, before beginning to show images of medical workers and other individuals around the world, all wearing masks.

Archuleta is donating all of the proceeds from views of the video to the organization Direct Relief for COVID-19 relief efforts.

“As we all get through these hard times I also hope it can help you to ‘just breathe’ and feel some peace of mind,” Archuleta wrote of the video on Twitter.

Earlier this month, Archuleta contributed to Direct Relief by performing a live-streamed concert for Billboard’s Live From Home concert series to raise money for coronavirus relief.

Archuleta’s new album “Therapy Sessions” is set to be released on May 20.

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Hill’s 388th Fighter Wing thanks those on front lines of pandemic with statewide flyover

Four members of Hill Air Force Base’s 388th Fighter Wing fly in formation over University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 30, 2020. The flyover was a “thank you” to health care workers, first responders, military members and essential personnel, as well as those who are staying home to help “flatten the curve” during the coronavirus pandemic. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Four members of Hill Air Force Base’s 388th Fighter Wing fly in formation over University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City on Thursday. The flyover was a “thank you” to health care workers, first responders, military members and essential personnel, as well as those who are staying home to help “flatten the curve” during the coronavirus pandemic. The group was led by the Air Force F-35A Lightning II demonstration team’s Capt. Kristin Wolfe. “This flyover is our way of saluting those that are keeping our homefront safe during these unique times,” Wolfe told the Deseret News Wednesday. “To provide just a small showcase of our appreciation to everyone that is doing their part to combat the virus, and to say thank you for your sacrifice and service, to let everyone who has been affected by this pandemic know that we stand by you.” The first female leader of Hill’s demo team was accompanied by three fellow F-35 fighter pilots from the 388th: Capt. Zachary Saunders, Capt. Heath Williams and Capt. Shaun Dickinson. After departing from the base, the jets flew over Salt Lake City, crisscrossing the south end of the valley before heading west toward Tooele, then on to Fillmore and St. George, before heading back north to Panguitch, Summit County and Logan, then back south to Ogden and the base.

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Hill’s 388th Fighter Wing thanks those on front lines of pandemic with statewide flyover

Four members of Hill Air Force Base’s 388th Fighter Wing fly in formation over University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 30, 2020. The flyover was a “thank you” to health care workers, first responders, military members and essential personnel, as well as those who are staying home to help “flatten the curve” during the coronavirus pandemic. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Four members of Hill Air Force Base’s 388th Fighter Wing fly in formation over University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City on Thursday. The flyover was a “thank you” to health care workers, first responders, military members and essential personnel, as well as those who are staying home to help “flatten the curve” during the coronavirus pandemic. The group was led by the Air Force F-35A Lightning II demonstration team’s Capt. Kristin Wolfe. “This flyover is our way of saluting those that are keeping our homefront safe during these unique times,” Wolfe told the Deseret News Wednesday. “To provide just a small showcase of our appreciation to everyone that is doing their part to combat the virus, and to say thank you for your sacrifice and service, to let everyone who has been affected by this pandemic know that we stand by you.” The first female leader of Hill’s demo team was accompanied by three fellow F-35 fighter pilots from the 388th: Capt. Zachary Saunders, Capt. Heath Williams and Capt. Shaun Dickinson. After departing from the base, the jets flew over Salt Lake City, crisscrossing the south end of the valley before heading west toward Tooele, then on to Fillmore and St. George, before heading back north to Panguitch, Summit County and Logan, then back south to Ogden and the base.

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Disney releases new cloth face masks. Baby Yoda is one of them

Disney releases new cloth face masks. Baby Yoda is one of them. | Screenshot, ShopDisney.com

Disney has shared a slew of new face masks

Disney has released a slew of new face masks and coverings for people trying to keep social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

What’s going on:

• Disney released face masks that include characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and “Star Wars,” among several others.
• People can buy the masks at ShopDisney.com.
• The masks include characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Baby Yoda, R2-D2, The Hulk, the Avengers and Sporky from “Toy Story 4,” among other projects.
• The masks are available for preorder right now. They cost $19.99 for a four-pack set.

Disney donations:

• Disney announced it will donate 1 million cloth face masks for children and families in need across the country. MedShare will distribute the masks.
• All profits made from now until Sept. 30 from the masks with go toward MedShare up to $1 million.
• Charles Redding, CEO and president of MedShare “Disney’s donations will make a tremendous impact in the communities we serve. Their contribution of one million Disney cloth face masks will be provided to families in underserved communities and organizations working to limit the spread of COVID-19, while their monetary donation will be used to support the medical community’s ongoing efforts to provide lifesaving care to those who need it most.”

Wearing a face mask:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people wear a face cover or mask for the foreseeable future to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
• The CDC said: “Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.”

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‘It was pretty crazy’: How three basketball players with Utah ties competing overseas dealt with league shutdowns

Brigham Young Cougars guard Elijah Bryant (3) drives on the San Francisco Dons in Provo on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. BYU won 85-75. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — As the Utah Jazz became in many respects the center of the basketball universe when center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus on March 11, there was a sizable contingent of players with ties to the Beehive State playing the game professionally outside the United States who were suddenly thrust into a chaotic situation thousands of miles away from home.

Take former BYU guard Elijah Bryant for example. Playing for Israeli power Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bryant and his wife Jenelle, who is pregnant with the couple’s first child, had just welcomed Bryant’s mom and brother for a stay that had long been planned when the World Health Organization officially characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.

Maccabi was scheduled to play Spain’s Baskonia in Tel Aviv on March 12 with no fans in the stands, but the game was ultimately canceled and both the EuroLeague and the Israeli Winner League that Maccabi plays in concurrently were postponed.

“We’ll see what happens. First, we’ve got to make sure everyone’s safe, right? The goal’s always to get to the NBA.” — Former BYU guard Elijah Bryant

For about the next week, Bryant and his family stayed, as they had not received permission from his club team to return to the United States. He was able to get some workouts in while also closely monitoring when he might be able to leave the country.

“I tried to play two sides of it,” he said. “Stay locked in but also make sure everything was good in terms of if we needed to leave.”

Eventually permission was granted to leave with the idea that he could return by himself later if either of the leagues Maccabi plays in resumes action this season.

They discussed how safe it would be for his pregnant wife to travel, but determined it was better to leave when they had a clear chance to as restrictions in Israel became more stringent.

Donning N95 masks and gloves and wiping down their seats on planes, they departed soon after his mom and brother did, going to Bryant’s hometown of Atlanta (his wife is from Utah) two weeks after his basketball life had been suspended.

Given that the EuroLeague is currently eyeing a May 24 return date, Bryant said he is doing his best to “be ready for when that time comes,” while at the same time keeping his sights set on the goal of making the NBA. On April 11, Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia reported that the New Orleans Pelicans are interested in Bryant, who has also played in summer leagues for the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks.

Bryant signed a two-year contract with Maccabi last year but has an NBA out in his deal.

“We’ll see what happens,” he said. “First, we’ve got to make sure everyone’s safe, right? The goal’s always to get to the NBA.”

Paul Sakuma, AP

Utah center Jason Washburn is defended by Stanford forward John Gage during game in Stanford, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012.

About 7,600 miles away from Tel Aviv, former University of Utah center Jason Washburn had just signed with the Saigon Heat of the ASEAN Basketball League in late February and was ready to play the home stretch of the season for the Vietnamese team.

For Washburn, it was a chance to prove he still has plenty left in his tank after he injured his back last November while playing for the Yokohama B-Corsairs in Japan and rehabbed in the United States, but he never got the opportunity.

The ABL has teams from around southeast Asia, including China, where the coronavirus originated. As early as Feb. 8, the league began canceling games involving the teams from China, and on March 13, the league officially suspended the season.

Washburn was grateful his club took care of him financially and made it easy to get back to his family in Illinois. He has a young son named Wade, and his wife Beth, who was a gymnast at Utah, is pregnant.

“I’m 30 years old,” he said. “I have a kid and another baby on the way. I’m trying to have as little problems as possible. You wanted to be treated like a person, not just an investment.”

As far as basketball is concerned, he joked that “I went out to Vietnam for three weeks essentially for vacation,” but more seriously, he said, “It was tough because I was coming off injury and I really needed to play to show the world I was ready to play, so in that sense it was kind of a bummer and I like to play, obviously.”

Back up just 1,200 miles away from Tel Aviv in Rhodes, the second-biggest island in Greece, former Olympus High standout Nicholas Paulos had quite the rush in getting back to Utah in mid-March.

In early March, the A1 Greek League announced it would play with no fans in stands, but soon postponed games. Paulos said there wasn’t a whole lot of information coming to players at that point, so his team, Kolossos, hunkered down but kept practicing.

On March 15 as news spread that Greece would be closing its borders, Kolossos’ general manager told Paulos he could return to the United States, although there was a bit of a catch: Paulos had just two hours to pack his things and get to the airport.

Tom Smart, Deseret News

Olympus’ Nicholas Paulos, center, and Ben Sonntag, right, defend West Jordan’s Tyler Kiesel during game Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010, in West Jordan.

“It was pretty crazy,” he said. “I’ve gotten pretty good at packing all my things and moving around with how much travel I do, but this was like a new thing to add.”

He was all packed in about 45 minutes, but still had to get some things from the gym where his team practiced. Somehow, he made it to the airport in time to catch his first flight from Rhodes to Athens.

“I didn’t know it was possible, but it happened,” he said.

Kolossos was just barely in playoff contention when its season was canceled, but Paulos believed the squad could have made a run, which left him with a feeling of unfinished business. That said, he knew there were more important things at stake, both where he was and around the world.

“You want to see what you could have done for the rest of the season. As a competitor, that’s always something that you look forward to,” he said. “At the same time, there’s bigger issues at hand and you understand that they have to take whatever precautions they feel are necessary.”

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Coronavirus: Utah responds to the pandemic

People embrace while waiting in line to be tested for COVID-19 at Intermountain Healthcare’s mobile testing unit at Park City High School on Saturday, April 18, 2020. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Sens. Mitt Romney and Mike Lee, Rep. Ben McAdams and Gov. Gary Herbert have been key figures as the Beehive State responds to COVID-19

Utah Health Department

The coronavirus count in Utah as of Thursday, April 30, 2020.

Utah has seen 4,672 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 46 deaths as of Thursday, according to the Utah Department of Health.

Worldwide, the novel coronavirus pandemic has now infected 3,090,445 and killed 217,769 people as of Thursday, according to the World Health Organization.

The respiratory illness is especially hard on those who are elderly, immune-compromised or who have chronic health conditions. Children are not severely ill with COVID-19, as the resulting illness is called, unless they have an underlying condition, but they can transmit the illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is one of many government agencies providing extensive resources and advice on managing this coronavirus.

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Is it safe to re-open? The answer might be in your toilet

Dr. Justin Jacob with the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences runs a mock COVID-19 sample test inside a mobile testing lab unit that will be testing in response to the coronavirus outbreak, Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in Washington. A team of technicians will be able to test up to 50 samples within four hours and provide same day results. | Andrew Harnik, Associated Press

Why researchers are monitoring wastewater to measure the spread of coronavirus through communities

Scientists tracking the novel coronavirus as it spreads through communities are turning to an unsavory yet universal source: the sewer.

Researchers around the globe are studying “wastewater-based-epidemiology,” reported the Los Angeles Times. Research shows that monitoring sewage can help to measure the spread and scale of the a virus, allowing government health officials to determine when to ease social distancing orders.

“With wastewater, you can very quickly get a snapshot of an entire population,” said Mariana Matus, cofounder of start-up Biobot Analytics, according to the Los Angeles Times. “The closest approach to replicating the data from wastewater would be to literally test every single person in a community and then take the average of that. It is very powerful.”

Biobot Analytics — which traces its roots to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — began by tracking the country’s opioid crisis through its wastewater, but has shifted to COVID-19. The company has completed one coronavirus study in Massachusetts, with a team of other research partners, that is awaiting peer review. Hundreds of wastewater treatment plants across the country have asked for testing.

Experts believe wastewater can offer an early warning if the coronavirus begins to spike in a certain area. For decades, similar testing has been used to identify norovirus, Hepatitis A, polio and other outbreaks — even before clinical cases could be identified — according to the Los Angeles Times.

A monthlong study of wastewater in Paris — that also needs peer-review— detected a curve in the concentration of the coronavirus that matched the city’s outbreak of COVID-19 cases, according to Science magazine. The researchers said they saw a spike in the virus before it was echoed by confirmed cases in France’s capital.

“This visibility is also going to help us predict a second wave of outbreaks,” Sébastien Wurtzer, a Parisian public water virologist, told Science.

Additional studies will be needed to refine COVID-19 wastewater testing. One expert told the Los Angeles Times that sewage testing is quick and relatively inexpensive.

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Watch: Dateline NBC releases promo for upcoming Lori Vallow special

The FBI released a new photo that shows Lori Vallow’s daughter on the day she disappeared. Another photo shows Vallow and her son JJ. | FBI

Dateline NBC will host a two-hour special on Lori Vallow

Dateline NBC has released a new promotional video for its upcoming two-hour special on Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell.

• The video, which you can watch below, teases how the NBC crew has followed Lori Vallow back to Rexburg, Idaho, where she currently sits in jail.
• The video says: “And we’ll tell the story of what we’ve learned since that time. But this time it won’t just be us telling you. This time we’ll be speaking to insiders, Lori’s family members, who’ve never spoken before.”
• The video says: “Of course, there is that one question that’s still out there ... what happened to the children?”
• That last question — “What Happened to the Children?” — appears to be the title of the upcoming special.
• Watch below:

Dateline: What Happened to the Children?

Friday on an all-new 2-hour Dateline at 9/8c...

Posted by Dateline NBC on Wednesday, April 29, 2020

More about the Dateline NBC special:

As I reported, NBC producers and NBC correspondent Keith Morrison have teamed up with EastIdahoNews.com to bring new developments in the Lori Vallow case in the upcoming special.

• Morrison told EastIdahoNews.com: “It’s a shocking story and a remarkable story. I’ve seen public interest in cases before but this really is far more than anything I’ve seen in a very long time — since maybe Michael Jackson or OJ Simpson.”

The two-hour special will air Friday, May 1, beginning at 8 p.m. MDT.

Previously on “Dateline”

“Dateline” aired a two-hour special on Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell back in February, too.

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NBCUniversal CEO defended his comments about ‘Trolls World Tour’ after AMC, Universal scandal

Legsly (Ester Dean), from left, Guy Diamond (Kunal Nayyar), Tiny Diamond (Kenan Thompson), Smidge (Walt Dohrn), Biggie (James Corden), Mr. Dinkles (Kevin Michael Richardson), Satin (Aino Jawo) and Chenille (Caroline Hjelt) in DreamWorks Animation’s “Trolls World Tour,” directed by Walt Dohrn. | Universal Studios

The battle between Universal and AMC continues

NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell didn’t back down from his previous comments that movies will shift to on-demand platforms in a new interview Thursday.

What’s the news:

• Shell — who made headlines earlier this week by suggesting Universal and Comcast will release films on digital release and theaters — said in an earnings call Thursday that on demand will be a part of the equation moving forward, according to Deadline.
• He said: “The question is when we come out of this (pandemic), what is going to be the model? I would expect that consumers will return to the theaters and we will be part of that. And I also expect that PVOD is going to be a part of that in some way. It’s not a replacement, it’s going to be a complementary element. We’re just going to have to see how long that takes and where it takes us.”
• Shell said: “But the flip side is the majority of our movies, whether we like it or not, are being consumed at home. It’s not realistic to assume that we’re not going to change, that this part of the business isn’t going to change like all parts of the business are going to change.”
• Shell said Universal had to either delay films, sell them to different studios, move them to streaming or release them through digital means, according to CNN’s Frank Pallotta.

What happened:

Earlier this week, Shell told The Wall Street Journal that Comcast and Universal hope to release new films in movie theaters and paid on-demand platforms in the future due to the success of “Trolls World Tour,” which was pulled from theaters because of the coronavirus pandemic.

• Shell said: “The results for ‘Trolls World Tour’ have exceeded our expectations and demonstrated the viability of PVOD.”

In response, AMC Theaters told Universal that it would no longer show any Comcast or Universal film in theaters. AMC Theaters chairman-CEO Adam Aron called the decision “unacceptable.”

• Aron wrote: “This policy affects any and all Universal movies per se, goes into effect today and as our theaters reopen, and is not some hollow or ill-considered threat. Incidentally, this policy is not aimed solely at Universal out of pique or to be punitive in any way, it also extends to any movie maker who unilaterally abandons current windowing practices absent good faith negotiations between us, so that they as distributor and we as exhibitor both benefit and neither are hurt from such changes.”

Universal responded to AMC’s decision, saying that the company believes “in the theatrical experience and have made no statement to the contrary. As we stated earlier, going forward, we expect to release future films directly to theaters, as well as on PVOD when that distribution outlet makes sense. We look forward to having additional private conversations with our exhibition parters but are disappointed by this seemingly coordinated attempt from AMC and NATO to confuse our positions and our actions.”

The National Association of Theatre Owners slammed Universal as well, saying the company “has a destructive tendency to both announce decisions affecting their exhibitor partners without actually consulting with those partners, and now of making unfounded accusations without consulting with their partners.”

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Morgan man charged in crashes that sent car into doughnut store

Adobe Stock image

SOUTH SALT LAKE — A Morgan man was charged Thursday with running off after causing a series of crashes, sending one vehicle into a nearby doughnut store.

Arthur Todd Rowland, 49, is charged in 3rd District Court with failing to stop for an officer and failing to stop for a serious injury accident, third-degree felonies; failing to stop for an accident, failing to stop for an officer, class A misdemeanors; crashing and causing property damage, a class B misdemeanor; driving on a suspended license, a class C misdemeanor; and two traffic infractions.

On July 1, Rowland got into a crash with another vehicle at 2700 S. Main. He was traveling an estimated 57 mph in the 30 mph zone, charging documents state. Two people were in the vehicle that was hit: a man who was driving who suffered facial and hand injuries; and his passenger, a woman, who suffered serious injuries including losing consciousness, the charges state.

A nearby officer attempted to pull Rowland over, but he sped off, ran a red light and hit another car, according to charging documents. That car — containing a man, his wife and three children — was spun 180 degrees from the collision and caused the injuries to the woman that were not considered to be life-threatening.

The impact from the collision caused Rowland’s car to “violently roll off the road” and into Fresh Donuts and Deli, 2699 S. State, the charges state. Rowland got out of his car and allegedly ran. But police said they found his driver’s license on the floorboard. A woman in the passenger seat of Rowland’s car was also injured.

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Another GOP gubernatorial candidate seeking to get on Utah primary ballot under lower signature threshold

Republican Jeff Burningham announces his candidacy for Utah governor on the steps of the state Capitol in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News

Jeff Burningham says he owes it to supporters to ‘exhaust every avenue’

SALT LAKE CITY — A second candidate for governor, Provo entrepreneur Jeff Burningham, is asking a federal court to either place him on the primary ballot or let him submit voter signatures under an even lower threshold established for another contender in the race, Jan Garbett.

“I owe it to everyone who has supported me to exhaust every avenue to make it on the primary ballot,” Burningham said in a statement Thursday. “Many supporters and donors have urged me to pursue ballot access, and with the lowered threshold, I intend to submit the signatures our team gathered.”

Burningham suspended his signature gathering efforts to guarantee a place on the June primary ballot when Gov. Gary Herbert declared a state of emergency in early March because of the COVID-19 outbreak, to “put the safety and well-being of all Utahns ahead of politics, to the detriment of my campaign,” he said.

His court filing says he has 19,150 voter signatures, short of the 28,000 required — and just slightly over the reduced 19,040 total set by U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby on Monday for Garbett, who previously had sued the state. Burningham is asking the court that his signatures be accepted conditioned upon a 70% verification rate.

Shelby reduced the ballot requirement for Garbett by 32% to reflect days lost for signature gathering after the state’s “stay safe, stay home” directive was issued.

In his statement, Burningham said, “COVID-19 made it difficult to collect signatures, campaign and share my vision with voters.”

The lieutenant governor’s office, which oversees state elections, notified the court Wednesday that it’s “mathematically impossible” for Garbett to meet the 19,040 threshold for the ballot with the 20,874 signatures she turned because more than 1,800 signatures have already been declared invalid.

State Elections Director Justin Lee said he could not comment on whether his office will accept signatures from Burningham because his pleading is before the court.

Unlike Garbett, Burningham also competed for the Republican nomination to the primary ballot at the party’s virtual state convention last Saturday. He came in fifth place among delegates, who advanced Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox and former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes to the ballot.

Salt Lake County Councilwoman Aimee Winder Newton, who finished third at the state party convention, said Thursday she is “not pursuing legal action. I’ve made my decision based on principle and belief that the process was fair and the people have spoken.”

Cox, along with former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and former Utah GOP Chairman Thomas Wright, all successfully gathered voter signatures for a place on the ballot.

“Last September, when I announced my run for governor, I told supporters that I was all in and that I would go all out to bring new leadership and a fresh perspective to Utah,” Burningham said. “This remains a critical election.”

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Revelation guided ‘an interlocking pattern of strength’ that now sustains the Church during COVID-19, Elder Cook says

https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-04-29/coronavirus-elder-cook-revelation-home-centered-church-ministering-182549

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The Avengers Quinjet is visible at Disneyland’s Avengers Campus

Throughout the day at Avengers Headquarters at Avengers Campus inside Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, recruits may encounter epic, live-action moments with Avengers heading off the threat of their foes. The Avengers Headquarters is the heart of the land and features the iconic Quinjet stealth aircraft. Avengers Campus opens July 18. | Disney, Marvel

It’s backstage near another Marvel ride

The official Avengers Quinjet has been spotted backstage at Disney California Adventure.

What the news:

• The Avengers Quinjet will be a centerpiece on the new Marvel Avengers Campus. So far, it’s been spotted backstage at the theme park, which remains closed because of the coronavirus outbreak.
• The Quinjet is currently covered by a tarp.
• The Quinjet is now set in a backstage location at the Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout attraction.
• MiceChat, a Disney fan website, shared images of the Quinjet.
• A helicopter captured the photos, showing signs of Cars Land and Hollywood Land. It appears the aircraft sits behind an under-construction location, which “will eventually serve as the entrance and gift shop for an Avengers Quinjet attraction,” according to The Orange County Register.

Quinjet dos Vingadores é visto no Avengers Campus em novas fotos da Disneylândia.

No momento, não há visitantes na Disneylândia, mas o @MiceChat, conseguiu tirar uma foto decima do parque. A imagem mostra uma lona enorme no meio de alguns prédios. A arte conceitual [+] pic.twitter.com/Y4fXNdqW64

— Avengers Assemble Brasil (@AAssembleBR) April 29, 2020

More on Avengers Campus

• Back in March, Disneyland released first details of the Avengers Campus, which was slated to open on July 18. It’s unclear if it will still open at that time.
• Avengers Campus will have a number of rides and attractions, including “Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure,” “Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout!” and Avengers Headquarters, where you can meet actually heroes.
• Disneyland remains closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Reports suggest the park could reopen in January 2021.

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Utah high schools will return pay-to-play athletics fees to students after canceled spring season

Pleasant Grove players pile onto of each other as they celebrate their victory over Lone Peak for the 6A high school baseball championship at the UCUU ball park in Orem on Friday, May 24, 2019. | Steve Griffin

SALT LAKE CITY — The cancellation of the high school sports season has been a gut punch for athletes across the state, especially for the seniors whose prep careers are wrapping up in very unceremonious fashion.

Fortunately for all of those athletes, it appears most if not all of their pay-to-play participation fees will be refunded. The Deseret News reached out to every high school principal this week about school fees, and regardless of if the response came directly from the principal or through the school district, the 95 responses indicated students would receive full or prorated refunds on their pay-to-play fees.

For underclassmen, they’ll have the option of rolling the fees toward next year’s participation fees, which typically covers equipment usage, transportation, ref fees, etc.

For seniors or underclassmen who request a refund, they’ll be issued by the school in the manner requested. Any portion of fees that were used for personal items, such as hoodies, T-shirts and spirit packs, etc., won’t be refunded as students are keeping those items.

Some school districts, including Cache County, Box Elder and Nebo, indicated the refunds will be prorated for those teams who participated in games or tournaments during the first two weeks of the season before the UHSAA suspended play.

Cache County School District deputy superintendent Mike Liechty indicated several teams from his district participated in tournaments in St. George during those first two weeks, and fees for those teams would be prorated at each school’s discretion.

Many other school districts including Jordan, Granite, Washington, Davis and Canyons indicated students would receive full refunds.

Copper Hills principal Bryan Veazie noted that he felt it was important to provide a full refund to his seniors even though most of the sports had a few weeks of competition before the shutdown.

“The principals of the Jordan District, in collaboration, have decided to refund all participation fees for spring sports and activities. Given that the preseason got underway prior to the school dismissal, there are costs associated with those sports, i.e. bus/transportation, officials, etc. The schools in Jordan District will seek other funding available within the school budgets to absorb those costs,” said Veazie.

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The dilemma of getting back to business in Utah tourist towns

Autem Hirschfeld delivers pizza to customers waiting in their truck outside of Zax in Moab on Saturday, April 18, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

MOAB — As communities try to reopen businesses in the next few weeks, no one has a tougher job than those health directors who oversee rural counties with economies tied to tourism.

While many rural communities have so far escaped with few, if any, incidents of COVID-19, the glaring exception is rural counties with economic reliance on tourism. Of the 10 rural U.S. counties with the most cases per capita, seven of those are communities in which the economy relies heavily on tourism, according to an analysis by Daily Yoder.

Their analysis excluded Native American cases on reservations like the Navajo Nation, which has been one of the hardest hit areas of the country — rural or urban.

But among those top 10 rural counties is Summit County, where the first three coronavirus cases were visitors. Park City was also Utah’s first case of community spread, where a resident tested positive for COVID-19 with no known exposure on March 13, leading to the closure of restaurants and bars in Park City and eventually the closure of all ski resorts.

The Daily Yoder analysis found that infection rates in rural counties “with strong recreation economies was more than three times higher than other rural counties.”

Now that the governor is giving businesses the green light to open their doors, with precautions, how do those rural counties dependent on tourism plan to balance the need for visitors with the risks that travelers bring?

“We’ve gathered together groups — local government, chamber of commerce, hospital administrators, travel council — all of these entities that are affected, not only from disease care standpoint, but who are affected economically,” said Brady Bradford, health director of the Southeast District, which governs Carbon, Emery and Grand counties. “We’re working on a plan that will allow modifications and a gradual reintroduction of visitors.”

Carbon and Emery counties are reopening sooner and with fewer restrictions than Grand, a county of about 15,000 residents that attracts more than 1.5 million each year. While state parks and some businesses open in Carbon and Emery, Moab’s parks remain off-limits to out-of-county visitors until Friday.

Officials released a detailed plan that will ask businesses offering lodging to keep some percentage of their rooms vacant and space rentals at least 72 hours apart.

“We’re trying to figure out what gradual means,” Bradford said. “We have some good ideas on that, but it will be slightly different for different areas. In the end, we also want to kind of fall back on this idea that everyone is going to have to take some responsibility for themselves and their businesses. ... We expect people to adhere to what we’ve learned.”

San Juan County, which borders Grand, opened as soon as the governor said state parks could reopen to visitors from outside their counties on April 17. Tourist can camp in Blanding, Monticello and Bluff, but they’re still not allowed in Moab.

“We’re trying to balance keeping our economy functioning while preventing excess deaths,” said Kirk Benge, health director for San Juan County.

“My view is pretty straightforward. My job is to protect the health of the community, in the case of this pandemic it’s protecting our health care infrastructure. As long as tourism isn’t a threat to overwhelming our hospitals, it is not something I want to try and regulate,” Benge said.

“We’re open. But we ask everyone to comply with their local jurisdiction. So if you live in a place that has a stay-at-home order, then stay home. We have limits on group gatherings, but we don’t anticipate right now that there are so many recreators that it’s a threat.”

Summit County created 31 different work groups and asked them to submit written proposals by the first of this week. With plans to reopen some businesses by Friday, they hope a “ground up” approach will allow them to deal proactively with the challenges business owners see.

“It’s definitely a concern as much as a challenge,” said Philip Bondurant, Summit County’s deputy health director. “We knew we had to be innovative and creative in how best to do this.”

Summit County dealt with the worst per capita numbers in the state, but it mitigated what looked to be a massive outbreak so successfully, it was held up as a model for dealing with hot spots. Officials there closed all restaurants, except for takeout, about three days after that first case of community spread, and then soon after that, they issued a mandatory stay-at-home order, which officials saw as critical to allow them to mitigate the spread in the county of nearly 30,000 residents.

“It’s a testament to our community,” Bondurant said. “If you look at where Summit County was at the beginning of March and where we are now, it’s impressive. ... We know there is nothing we can take lightly.”

The business owners, he said, “are the driving force behind creating what will be our new normal.”

David Blodgett, director of the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, oversees Garfield and Washington counties, which include international tourist attractions like Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, as well as extremely popular state parks like Sand Hollow, Quail Creek and Gunlock.

That district has some very different communities to consider, and it recently announced it would be reopening businesses on Friday. While national parks remain closed, the state parks were inundated with visitors, forcing three of them to close midday Saturday.

If national parks reopen, it could mean some of the smallest towns, like Springdale, which is located at the entrance of Zion and home to slightly more than 600 people, could be dealing with millions of visitors. Zion attracts about 4.3 million people each year.

Still, like the other health directors, Blodgett said it’s time — and safe — to reopen most businesses with recommended precautions like adhering to social distancing and wearing masks in public, indoor spaces.

“We’ve accumulated data,” he said Monday. “We’ve watched the trends, and it’s time to redirect our efforts as we continue to protect people but also continue to protect the financial element of this community.”

Washington and San Juan counties have had deaths, although San Juan’s deaths are due to a mother and son who live on the Navajo Reservation inside Utah and sought treatment in Arizona.

Death is only one reason to try and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Most health directors said many of the precautions are to make sure hospitals were not overwhelmed with extremely sick, very contagious patients.

Benge said San Juan County has less than 20 hospital beds for a county of 17,000 people.

“In the summer months, we sometimes double that population on the weekend,” he said. “That’s a risk that represents a real threat, in my opinion. That’s the piece that we’re monitoring.”

And as Bradford points out, dealing with COVID-19 is only one of the issues they have to consider.

“From the public health standpoint, there are elements of the economy that play into that,” Bradford said. “From suicide awareness to programs around opioid addiction, we deal with all of those kinds of programs and public health issues. And in times of economic despair, those things are also concerns.”

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