Month: March 2021

Miami Beach is extending its weekend curfew through April 12, in an attempt to control disorderly crowds of Spring Breakers. Florida is seeing a surge in visitors due to its relaxed coronavirus restrictionsl On Saturday, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber declared a state of emergency and set an 8 p.m. curfew, saying the crowds were out of control. The curfew was set to expire after 72 hours, but during an emergency meeting on Sunday afternoon, the Miami Beach City Commission unanimously voted to enforce the curfew Thursday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., every weekend through April 12. 

On Saturday night, hundreds of people remained on the streets after curfew, and police used pepper balls in an attempt to disperse the crowds. Over the last two weeks, more than 1,000 people have been arrested — 90 percent from out of town — and several restaurants have reported property damages and diners leaving without paying their checks. 

Mayor Dan Gelber said “the curfew is not discriminatory, and the city is not targeting a group of people, but targeting conduct. We don’t like these arrests because it endangers officers and arrestees who may be drunk or high and bystanders. The only option we have right now is to make sure we can control our streets. No community should have to endure the videos you are seeing right now.” 

Miami Beach extends curfew to control spring break crowds

Via www.nbcnews.com

The visitors aren’t just the typical college kids they’re used to seeing, city officials said…

03/21/2021 6:29 PM

 

Editorial credit: YES Market Media / Shutterstock.com

The first case of a COVID-19 variant known as the Brazilian variant was confirmed in New York, with NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo announcing that scientists at Mount Sinai Hospital identified the case, which was then verified by the state Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center Laboratories. The patient is a Brooklyn resident in their 90s who hasn’t traveled recently, officials said in a news release. Health officials are doing further investigation of the patient and any potential contacts. 

The Brazilian variant was first detected in the U.S. in January, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported nearly 50 confirmed cases nationwide. The variant has been considered potentially more severe than earlier variants and possibly more resistant to current vaccines, though some recent research has indicated it may not be as resistant to the vaccines as initially thought.

Cuomo said Sunday that 25.7% of New Yorkers have received at least one vaccine dose since the state’s vaccination effort began, and 13.2% have been fully vaccinated. He announced a slight change in the state’s vaccination rules on Sunday, stating that pharmacies, which previously were allowed to provide shots only to people over 60 and teachers, can now vaccinate people under 60 who qualify for the inoculations because of certain health conditions.

New York reports first case of Brazilian COVID-19 variant

Via www.upi.com

March 21 (UPI) –New York reported its first case of the COVID-19 variant first discovered in…

03/21/2021 5:56 PM

 

President Joe Biden said Thursday that the United States is poised to administer his goal of 100 million COVID-19 vaccines this week, more than a month early. Biden said the milestone was expected to be reached Friday.

During remarks in the the East Room of the White House, Biden said: “I’m proud to announce that tomorrow, 58 days into our administration, we will have met our goal. We’re going to beat this, we’re way ahead of schedule, but we’ve got a long way to go. We need millions more to get vaccinated.”  When he took office in January, Biden said he wanted to reach the 100 million mark within his first 100 days, which put the deadline at May 2. The administration is more than 40 days ahead of schedule.”

Biden gave top priority to delivering coronavirus vaccines nationwide when he became president. The White House tweeted earlier in the week: “The Biden-Harris administration has been working around the clock to get America vaccinated. We’ve doubled daily vaccinations, secured enough doses for every American, and opened hundreds of sites across the country.”

Biden says U.S. to hit 100 million virus goal on Friday

Via abcnews.go.com

With the U.S. closing in on President Joe Biden’s goal of injecting 100 million…

03/18/2021 5:13 PM

 

Editorial credit: Ben Von Klemperer / Shutterstock.com

On Thursday, the House passed an immigration bill that would create a pathway to citizenship for millions of “Dreamers.”

Dubbed the American Dream and Promise Act, the bill would provide a pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, as well as others granted temporary protection from deportation. The measure passed 228 to 197, with nine Republicans voting in favor of the measure. House Democrats previously passed the bill with seven Republicans voting in favor of the measure, but it was not taken up by the Senate then controlled by the GOP.

Thursday’s bill comes as the Biden administration continues to deal with a significant surge of people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, including thousands of unaccompanied children. The legislation doesn’t address that situation, which Republicans are calling a crisis.

House passes bill providing pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and those with Temporary Protected Status

Via news.yahoo.com

The House on Thursday voted 228-197 to pass the American Dream and Promise Act as part of…

03/18/2021 6:05 PM

 

Editorial credit: Christopher Penler / Shutterstock.com