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VOL. 44 | NO. 15 | Friday, April 10, 2020

Learning from deadly disaster

Gallatin nursing home failure will serve as blueprint for change

By the time Gov. Bill Lee ordered Tennesseans to shelter in place April 2 – after weeks of strongly suggesting people stay home – 32 Tennesseans had already died from COVID-19, including four residents from an outbreak at a nursing home in Gallatin.

Tennesseans not heeding shelter-in-place order

More people in Sumner County have died of COVID-19 than any other county in the state, 17 as of April 7, with 11 of those deaths from Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing.

State’s hospital closures to exacerbate virus crisis

Ten hospitals have closed across Tennessee in the last eight years, more than any state other than Texas. Many more are in dire financial straits and at risk of closure.

JOE ROGERS: MY TAKE

Congregations can still come together in spirit

The coronavirus threat and the disruptions it has imposed would be daunting for religious groups at any point in the year. But coming as it does in this holiest of times makes it particularly challenging.

Local Weather
Currently
Nashville, TN
41.0°F
Overcast
Wind: Southwest at 4.6 mph
Humidity: 47%

EVENTS

Topics of Today. Join Williamson, Inc. weekly from the AP Live Studio to hear what matters most to Williamson County businesses at this time. The event will stream on Facebook Live. 1 p.m. each Monday. Please visit Williamson, Inc. on Facebook for updated information on weekly topics. Information

more events »

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

Shelter in new place: Home sales rise despite precautions

As the Corona virus continues to spread across Davidson County, the number of pending home sales continue to rise.

REAL ESTATE

Davidson County real estate trends for March 2020

March 2020 real estate trends for Davidson Counties, as compiled by Chandler Reports.

US long-term mortgage rates flat to lower; 30-year at 3.33%

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates were stable to slightly lower this week after two weeks of declines amid deepening anxiety over the severe damage to the economy from the coronavirus pandemic.

NEWSMAKERS

McGlinchey Stafford expands consumer compliance team

Lynette Hotchkiss has joined McGlinchey Stafford’s consumer financial services compliance team in Nashville as of counsel.

BRIEFS

Bradford Group merges with Dalton Agency

The Bradford Group has merged with the Dalton Agency to create Nashville’s fourth-largest public relations and advertising agency as measured by revenue.

STATEWIDE

State boosts rural broadband services

The state will fund $19.7 million in broadband accessibility grants that will expand service to support 31,000 unserved Tennesseans in nearly 12,700 households and businesses, including in Middle Tennessee.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Keep your car clean to reduce risk from coronavirus

The spread of the novel coronavirus, and its associated COVID-19 disease, is made worse because it is highly contagious. Since vehicle interiors are essentially small contained spaces, it is important to take steps to reduce the risk of contracting the virus while driving or riding inside.

PERSONAL FINANCE

What to do when you can’t pay your bills

The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could be profound. Many people are already losing jobs, with unemployment jumping at a record pace. Even those who stay employed may face reduced hours or uncertainty about how long their paychecks will continue.

MILLENNIAL MONEY

8 ways to switch up the new at-home normal

Stressors are piling up with COVID-19 closures, cancellations and stay-at-home orders. On top of health concerns, lost incomes and lack of child care amid the pandemic, there's also coping with isolation, whether individually or as a couple or family.

CAREER CORNER

Routine vital when working at home

Working from home always sounded like a dream. It was this amazing concept that you heard about on TV, probably being done by people in California. You always wished you could try for a few days a week.

UT SPORTS

Tennessee adds graduate transfer Keyen Green from Liberty

KNOXVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Lady Vols have added forward-center Keyen Green as a graduate transfer from Liberty.

ENVIRONMENT

Oil and gas giant Shell targets 'net zero' emissions by 2050

BERLIN (AP) — Energy company Royal Dutch Shell told investors Thursday that it aims to stop adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by 2050, a move that was welcomed by some climate campaigners even as others called it "corporate greenwash."

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Facebook to warn users who "liked" coronavirus hoaxes

NEW YORK (AP) — Have you liked or commented on a Facebook post about the COVID-19 pandemic?

UK ready to extend lockdown as virus peak appears near

LONDON (AP) — The U.K. government was poised Thursday to extend a nationwide lockdown for several more weeks, as health officials said Britain's coronavirus outbreak — one of Europe's worst — is nearing its peak.

Medical intelligence sleuths tracked, warned of new virus

WASHINGTON (AP) — In late February when President Donald Trump was urging Americans not to panic over the novel coronavirus, alarms were sounding at a little-known intelligence unit situated on a U.S. Army base an hour's drive north of Washington.

REAL ESTATE

US home construction collapsed 22.3% in March

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home-building activity collapsed in March as the coronavirus spread, with housing starts tumbling 22.3% from a month ago.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Record 22 million have sought US jobless aid in 4 weeks

WASHINGTON (AP) — The wave of layoffs that has engulfed the U.S. economy since the coronavirus struck forced 5.2 million more people to seek unemployment benefits last week, the government reported Thursday.

US job losses mount as economic pain deepens worldwide

WASHINGTON (AP) — The ranks of Americans thrown out of work by the coronavirus ballooned Thursday to at least 22 million in just four weeks, an unprecedented collapse that has fueled widening protests and propelled President Donald Trump's push to relax the nation's social distancing guidelines.

Trump looks to ease distancing in places; CEOs urge caution

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday he's prepared to announce new guidelines allowing some states to quickly ease up on social distancing even as business leaders told him they need more coronavirus testing and personal protective equipment before people can safely go back to work.

Powerful GOP allies propel Trump effort to reopen economy

WASHINGTON (AP) — Leading Republicans say the coronavirus shutdown cannot go on. Car-honking activists swarmed a statehouse Wednesday to protest stay-home restrictions. Capitol Hill staff are quietly drafting bills to undo the just-passed rescue aid and push Americans back to work.

GOP lawmakers push for 'clean' extension of payroll program

WASHINGTON (AP) — With a key coronavirus rescue fund nearly exhausted, negotiations are accelerating in Washington over President Donald Trump's $250 billion emergency request to help smaller employers across the country keep workers on their payroll.

Government nears lending limit on small business program

NEW YORK (AP) — The government is approaching the $349 billion lending limit on its Paycheck Protection Program that is funneling relief money to the nation's small businesses.

Hit by the virus and weighing a raid on your 401(k)? Beware

Many Americans are struggling financially due to the coronavirus. A recent federal relief package makes it easier for people financially harmed by the coronavirus outbreak to tap into their retirement savings for cash by loosening rules for withdrawals and loans.

US judge cancels permit for Keystone XL pipeline from Canada

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A U.S. judge canceled a key permit Wednesday for the Keystone XL oil pipeline that's expected to stretch from Canada to Nebraska, another setback for the disputed project that got underway less than two weeks ago following years of delays.


WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
STATEWIDE

Tennessee OKs sports betting rules

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee has ended months of work setting up its rules for an online-only sports betting law that passed last year and has yet to see its first wager.

Tennesseans seeing first federal supplement to unemployment

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennesseans receiving unemployment benefits started seeing their first payments to include a $600 federal supplement for the newly jobless Wednesday. Normal weekly benefits in Tennessee are $275.

Tennesseans seeing first federal supplement to unemployment

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennesseans receiving unemployment benefits started seeing their first payments to include a $600 federal supplement for the newly jobless Wednesday. Normal weekly benefits in Tennessee are $275.

Tennessee state parks to remain closed amid coronavirus

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's state parks will remain closed due to the ongoing threat of the coronavirus.

Urban tree planting grants now available in Tennessee

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's forestry division is now accepting proposals for urban tree planting projects.

PREDATORS

Predators sign defenseman Carrier to 3-year deal

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Nashville Predators have signed defenseman Alexandre Carrier to a three-year contract.

VANDERBILT SPORTS

Vandy senior Clevon Brown granted extra year after injury

NASHVILLE (AP) — Vanderbilt senior forward Clevon Brown has been granted an extra year of eligibility after a knee injury limited him to nine games this season.

TECHNOLOGY

Apple rolls out cheaper iPhone as pandemic curbs spending

NEW YORK (AP) — Apple is releasing a new iPhone that will be vastly cheaper than the models it rolled out last fall at a time when the economy was booming and the pandemic had yet to force people to rethink their spending.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Would you give up health or location data to return to work?

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cameron Karosis usually strives to protect his personal information. But a scary bout of COVID-19 that began last month with headaches and fevers, progressed to breathing problems and led to a hospital visit has now left him eager to disclose as much as possible to help halt the virus' spread.

Search for a COVID-19 vaccine heats up in China, US

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three potential COVID-19 vaccines are making fast progress in early-stage testing in volunteers in China and the U.S., but it's still a long road to prove if they'll really work.

Trump ends US aid to WHO, says not enough done to stop virus

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he was cutting off U.S. payments to the World Health Organization during the coronavirus pandemic, accusing the organization of failing to do enough to stop the virus from spreading when it first surfaced in China.

Military sees no quick exit from 'new world' of coronavirus

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military is bracing for a months-long struggle against the coronavirus, looking for novel ways to maintain a defensive crouch that sustains troops' health without breaking their morale — while still protecting the nation.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks sink following grim data on economic hit from virus

NEW YORK (AP) — Selling swept Wall Street Wednesday after a dismal lineup of reports made clear how historic the coronavirus crunch has been for the economy.

Emerging economic data reveals devastation; job losses grow

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments Wednesday related to the global economy, the work place and the spread of the virus.

Fed notes what most Americans see: A sharp economic downturn

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is noting what most Americans are already acutely aware of: Economic activity contracted sharply and abruptly cross all regions of the country in recent weeks as the country locked down to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

'A crisis like no other': IMF facing huge demand for support

WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday that the lending agency is facing huge demand for support from its members during the global pandemic.

US relief checks begin arriving as economic damage piles up

WASHINGTON (AP) — Government relief checks began arriving in Americans' bank accounts as the economic damage to the U.S. from the coronavirus piled up Wednesday and sluggish sales at reopened stores in Europe and China made it clear that business won't necessarily bounce right back when the crisis eases.

Amazon suspends all activity in France amid virus crisis

PARIS (AP) — Amazon said Wednesday it will "temporarily" suspend all activity in France, one day after a French court ruled it wasn't doing enough to protect its workers in the country amid the pandemic.

Pentagon: $10B cloud contract that snubbed Amazon was legal

WASHINGTON (AP) — A government watchdog agency said Wednesday the Pentagon's process for awarding a highly lucrative cloud computing contract to Microsoft was in line with legal and government purchasing standards.

Richest countries agree to freeze poorer nations' debt

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The world's richest countries agreed Wednesday to freeze poor nations' debt obligations, shortly after nearly 20 European and African leaders made a joint appeal for a massive international effort to boost Africa's coronavirus response, saying that "only a global victory that fully includes Africa can bring this pandemic to an end."

What to know about applying for gig work during the pandemic

NEW YORK (AP) — A leap in U.S. unemployment has thrown a spotlight on one type of work in high demand during the coronavirus pandemic: Gig work delivering groceries, meals and packages.

Commerce locks up, retail sales plunge unprecedented 8.7%

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. retail sales plummeted 8.7% in March, an unprecedented decline, as the viral outbreak forced an almost complete lockdown of commerce nationwide.

Factory shutdowns near WWII demobilization levels in US

WASHINGTON (AP) — American industry collapsed in March as the pandemic wreaked havoc on the U.S. economy. Manufacturing and overall industrial production posted the biggest declines since the United States demobilized after World War II.

Banks brace for big loan defaults by US, global customers

NEW YORK (AP) — The major banks in the U.S. are anticipating a flood of loan defaults as households and business customers take a big financial hit from the coronavirus pandemic.

World oil demand forecast to suffer biggest drop ever

LONDON (AP) — Global demand for oil will fall this year by the most ever due to the economic lockdowns enforced around the world to contain the coronavirus pandemic, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday.

EU unveils virus exit plan, hoping to avoid more chaos

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union moved Wednesday to head off a chaotic and potentially disastrous easing of restrictions that are limiting the spread of the coronavirus, warning its 27 nations to move very cautiously as they return to normal life and base their actions on scientific advice.

New Trump advisory groups to consult on reopening US economy

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he's enlisting advisers from nearly all sectors of American commerce, the medical field and elected office to help shape his plans to reopen the coronavirus-battered economy.

Major airlines line up to split $25 billion in payroll aid

The nation's biggest airlines have tentatively agreed to terms for $25 billion in government aid to pay workers and avoid massive layoffs in an industry that has been slammed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Virus sours business for already-reeling dairy industry

MARSHFIELD, Vt. (AP) — This was supposed to be rebound year for dairy farmers embattled by at least four years of depressed milk prices — and then the coronavirus hit.

States confront practical dilemmas on reopening economies

WASHINGTON (AP) — Setting the stage for a possible power struggle with President Donald Trump, governors around the U.S. began sketching out plans Tuesday to reopen their economies in a slow and methodical process so as to prevent the coronavirus from rebounding with tragic consequences.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Trump resort in Florida lays off 560 workers due to virus

DORAL, Fla. (AP) — The Trump golf resort in South Florida where President Donald Trump initially wanted to host this year's Group of Seven summit has temporarily laid off 560 workers.

Stimulus checks to bear Trump's name in unprecedented move

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's name will be printed on the stimulus checks that the Internal Revenue Service will be sending to tens of millions of Americans around the country, in an unprecedented move finalized this week, two administration officials said Wednesday.

Warren becomes latest ex-presidential rival to back Biden

WASHINGTON (AP) — Elizabeth Warren endorsed Joe Biden on Wednesday, the latest of the former vice president's onetime White House rivals to back him as the Democratic Party moves to project unity against President Donald Trump going into the November election.

In nod to governors, Trump walks back total authority claim

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he's open to some states "reopening" before federal social distancing guidelines expire at the end of month, as he appeared to back off his claim of absolute authority to decide when the time was right to act.


TUESDAY, APRIL 14
REGION

Death toll from tornado outbreak rises to at least 34

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The death toll from a tornado outbreak that ravaged the South rose to at least 34 on Tuesday as Mississippi officials said a 12th person had died there.

COURTS

Tennessee abortion clinics seek order to keep providing care

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee abortion providers have filed an emergency motion in federal court, asking for an order allowing them to continue serving women despite Gov. Bill Lee's executive order aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

Court allows medication abortions in Texas during pandemic

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal appeals court panel ruled that medication abortions, in which pills are taken to terminate a pregnancy, can be provided in Texas during the coronavirus pandemic.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Tennessee looking into virus testing for all state inmates

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee corrections officials are looking into whether to test all state inmates for the new coronavirus after positive tests have come back for staffers and inmates, a Department of Correction spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Search for a COVID-19 vaccine heats up in China, US

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three potential COVID-19 vaccines are making fast progress in early-stage testing in volunteers in China and the U.S., but it's still a long road to prove if they'll really work.

Fauci: 'We're not there yet' on key steps to reopen economy

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert, said Tuesday the U.S. does not yet have the critical testing and tracing procedures needed to begin reopening the nation's economy, adding a dose of caution to increasingly optimistic projections from the White House.

States confront practical dilemmas on reopening economies

WASHINGTON (AP) — Setting the stage for a possible power struggle with President Donald Trump, governors around the U.S. began collaborating on plans Tuesday to reopen their economies in what is likely to be a drawn-out, step-by-step process to prevent the coronavirus from rebounding with disastrous results.

Virus closes some meat plants, raising fears of shortages

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Some massive meat processing plants have closed at least temporarily because their workers were sickened by the new coronavirus, raising concerns that there could soon be shortages of beef, pork and poultry in supermarkets.

Cities, counties fear losing out on US virus rescue funding

WASHINGTON (AP) — The $2.2 trillion federal rescue package could fail to deliver badly needed financial aid to thousands of smaller cities and counties where a majority of Americans live, according to documents and interviews with local officials.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Renault closing main China business, will focus on electrics

BEIJING (AP) — Renault SA said Tuesday it will shut down its main China business and focus on electric and commercial vehicles.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks end higher as traders hope restrictions will ease

Stocks are ending with solid gains on Wall Street Tuesday as the market turns its attention to how and when authorities may begin to lift business shutdowns and limits on people's movements imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

IMF: Global economy will suffer worst year since Depression

WASHINGTON (AP) — Beaten down by the coronavirus outbreak, the world economy in 2020 will suffer its worst year since the Great Depression of the 1930s, the International Monetary Fund says in its latest forecast.

Great Depression-sized slowdown seen, but some light appears

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments Tuesday related to the global economy, the work place and the spread of the virus.

French court orders Amazon to suspend non-essential sales

PARIS (AP) — A French court has ordered Amazon to stop selling, receiving or delivering non-essential goods for the next month to protect its employees from the virus.

JPMorgan 1Q profit drops 70% as it readies for loan defaults

NEW YORK (AP) — JPMorgan Chase said Tuesday that its first-quarter profit plunged nearly 70%, as the bank was forced to set aside billions of dollars to cover potential losses tied to the coronavirus pandemic.

New Trump panel to explore path to reopening US economy

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he's enlisting advisers from business, the medical field and elected office to join a new council that will help shape his plans to reopen the coronavirus-battered economy.

A rare intervention by the US helped seal crucial OPEC deal

NEW YORK (AP) — As demand for fuel plummeted worldwide and the oil industry faced a devastating drop in oil prices, the U.S. took the rare move of stepping into negotiations involving the member countries of OPEC and non-members such as Russia and Mexico, an alliance called OPEC+.

Lockdowns cut driving and crashes, bring insurance discounts

DETROIT (AP) — Interstates and city streets are empty and cars are quarantined in their owners' garages, so consumer advocates argue that it only makes sense for auto insurance rates to reflect that.

Workers sue McDonald's over harassment at Florida stores

Two McDonald's workers in Florida are filing a $500 million class action lawsuit against the company, claiming a "systemic sexual harassment problem" at company-owned stores.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Congress delays return to Washington until at least May 4

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Tuesday joined the House in delaying its next meeting in Washington, citing the need to protect members from the coronavirus pandemic.

Obama endorses Biden as the best leader for 'darkest times'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Barack Obama endorsed Joe Biden on Tuesday, giving the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee a boost from the party's biggest fundraiser and one of its most popular figures.

Trump uses pandemic virus briefing to air laudatory video

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday used the daily White House briefing to air a taxpayer-funded promotional video praising his own handling of the coronavirus outbreak and slamming his critics and the press.

'We don't have a king': Backlash at Trump's authority claims

WASHINGTON (AP) — Invoking the movie "Mutiny on the Bounty," President Donald Trump suggested Tuesday that objections by governors to his claim of absolute authority over when to lift guidelines aimed at fighting the coronavirus  were tantamount to insurrection.

States largely have authority over when to shut down, reopen

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has shown no reluctance to use his White House perch to commend and criticize governors over steps they've taken to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. But one thing Trump can't do, despite his assertion to the contrary on Monday, is command them to ease restrictions  they imposed because of the virus outbreak. The Constitution largely gives states the authority to regulate their own affairs.


MONDAY, APRIL 13
NASHVILLE AREA

Ex-NFL quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, 36, dies in car crash

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Former NFL quarterback Tarvaris Jackson has died in a one-car crash outside Montgomery, authorities said Monday. He was 36.

REGION

Easter storms sweep South, killing at least 19 people

CHATSWORTH, Ga. (AP) — Storms that killed more than 30 people in the Southeast, piling fresh misery atop a pandemic, spread across the eastern United States on Monday, leaving more than 1 million homes and businesses without power amid floods and mudslides.

Appalachia project asks people to document COVID-19 life

Leaders of an East Tennessee State University project is asking local residents to document their experiences of living through the coronavirus pandemic.

COURTS

Supreme Court to hold May arguments by teleconference

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Monday it will hold arguments by teleconference in May in key cases, including President Donald Trump's bid to shield his tax and other financial records.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Tennessee safer-at-home order extended to May 1

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's "safer-at-home" order will be extended until the end of the month, with the goal of reopening the economy by May 1, Gov. Bill Lee announced Monday.

US clears first saliva test to help diagnose COVID-19

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rutgers University researchers have received U.S. government clearance for the first saliva test to help diagnose COVID-19, a new approach that could help expand testing options and reduce risks of infection for health care workers.

Heart woes spur partial stop of hydroxychloroquine study

Scientists in Brazil have stopped part of a study of a malaria drug touted as a possible coronavirus treatment after heart rhythm problems developed in one-quarter of people given the higher of two doses being tested.

Trump's disdain for 'Obamacare' could hamper virus response

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration's unrelenting opposition to "Obamacare" could become an obstacle for millions of uninsured people in the coronavirus outbreak, as well as many who are losing coverage in the economic shutdown.

Trump says he'll decide on easing guidelines, not governors

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump asserted Monday that he is the ultimate decision-maker for determining how and when to reopen the coronavirus-stricken country, though it is unclear what authority he has to overrule the states.

Navy reports first coronavirus death from Roosevelt crew

WASHINGTON (AP) — A member of the crew of the coronavirus-infected USS Theodore Roosevelt died Monday of complications related to the disease, 11 days after the aircraft carrier's captain was fired for pressing his concern that the Navy had done too little to safeguard his crew. The sailor was the first active-duty military member to die of COVID-19.

ACLU: Feds 'slow walking' inmate release at stricken prison

WASHINGTON (AP) — Prisoner rights advocates accused the federal Bureau of Prisons of "slow walking" the release of inmates at a Louisiana lockup where the coronavirus has killed six prisoners and infected dozens of others.

Fauci says 'rolling reentry' of US economy possible in May

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States' top infectious disease expert said Sunday that the economy in parts of the country could have a "rolling reentry" as early as next month, provided health authorities can quickly identify and isolate people who will inevitably be infected with the coronavirus.

Fauci comments on US virus response seem to draw Trump's ire

WASHINGTON (AP) — Social restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus could have saved lives if they'd been started earlier, and when they're eased new cases are certain to arise, said the nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, seeming to draw the ire of President Donald Trump.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Government loans start flowing to small businesses

NEW YORK (AP) — The flow of money to small businesses under the government's $349 billion coronavirus relief plan is picking up momentum although many company owners are still waiting and wondering.

Virus exposes US inequality. Will it spur lasting remedies?

WASHINGTON (AP) — The sick who still go to work because they have no paid leave.

Stocks fall as investors brace for earnings hit from virus

Stocks fell on Wall Street Monday, erasing some of the market's big gains from last week, as investors braced for a sobering first look at how the coronavirus pandemic has hurt company earnings.

Relief money is coming - for some. Here's what to know.

Americans are beginning to see the first economic impact payments hit their bank accounts.

A pause on Wall Street; furloughs ramp up, travel winds down

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments Monday related to the global economy, the work place and the spread of the virus.

Virus fuels pot industry's push for online sales, delivery

DENVER (AP) — Colorado has made online sales of recreational marijuana legal during the coronavirus pandemic, fulfilling one of the pot industry's biggest wishes and fueling its argument for more concessions that could be made permanent when the crisis eases.

World Bank sees plunge in Latin America, Caribbean economies

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The new coronavirus pandemic could send economies tumbling by 4.6% this year across Latin America and the Caribbean, forcing governments to take ownership stakes in struggling major businesses, according to a World Bank report issued Sunday.

Stores try to stay relevant while their doors are closed

NEW YORK (AP) — Long before there was a global coronavirus pandemic, brick-and-mortar retailers struggled to get people to walk through their doors instead of shopping online.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Sanders backs Biden as ex-rivals join forces to beat Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bernie Sanders endorsed Joe Biden's presidential campaign on Monday, encouraging his progressive supporters to rally behind the presumptive Democratic nominee in an urgent bid to defeat President Donald Trump.

Trump campaign sues Wisconsin TV station over critical ad

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's reelection campaign is suing a Wisconsin TV station for running an anti-Trump commercial that pieces together audio clips of the president talking about the coronavirus outbreak in a way they argue is misleading and false.

Michelle Obama group backs expanding voting options for 2020

WASHINGTON (AP) — A voter initiative led by Michelle Obama announced support Monday for making it easier for people to register to vote and cast ballots during the coronavirus pandemic.

AP FACT CHECK: Trump misfires on watchdogs, mail-in voting

WASHINGTON (AP) — Man bites watchdog. In firing one inspector general, sidelining another and assailing a third, President Donald Trump in recent days has put his aversion to agents of federal accountability on stark display in a country consumed by the coronavirus.

Analysis: Will voters want a president who feels their pain?

WASHINGTON (AP) — In 1992, Americans ousted an incumbent president in the middle of an economic downturn because his challenger, Bill Clinton, seemed to better feel their pain.

Former Senate staffer accuses Joe Biden of sexual assault

WASHINGTON (AP) — A former aide to Joe Biden is accusing the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee of sexually assaulting her during the early 1990s when he was a senator. Biden's campaign denies the charges.


FRIDAY, APRIL 10
REGION

TVA board backs CEO under Trump's fire for pay

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — The board of a federal utility is criticizing "ill-informed opinions" about how much their organization's top executive gets paid after President Donald Trump blasted the pay scale as "ridiculous."

PREDATORS

Former Predator P.K. Subban is host of new NHL trivia show

Tired of sitting around the house and watching reruns on television every day?

AUTO INDUSTRY

Japan auto industry vows to protect jobs amid virus crisis

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota Chief Executive Akio Toyoda promised Friday that the Japanese auto industry would seek to protect jobs worldwide as it endures the coronavirus pandemic.

TECHNOLOGY

Apple, Google to adapt phones for virus infection tracking

Apple and Google launched a major joint effort to leverage smartphone technology to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

FDA warns Alex Jones to stop pitching bogus virus remedies

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials are warning conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones to stop pitching bogus remedies for the coronavirus.

Trump feels no need for crisis counsel from predecessors

WASHINGTON (AP) — President George W. Bush turned to one of the world's most exclusive clubs for help raising money after an Indian Ocean tsunami killed more than 200,000 people in 2004.

Fauci: Antibody tests expected next week in US

WASHINGTON — The top U.S. infectious disease official says coronavirus antibody tests are just days away.

White House says no 'surprise' bills for COVID-19 patients

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hospitals taking money from the $2 trillion stimulus bill will have to agree not to send "surprise" medical bills to patients treated for COVID-19, the White House said Thursday.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

US budget deficit totals $743.6 billion over past 6 months

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government's budget deficit for the first half of this budget year totaled $743.6 billion, up 7.6% from last year, and well on its way to topping $1 trillion even before the impacts of the coronavirus were felt.

Schumer: Trump administration OKs talks on virus aid bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer says the Trump administration has agreed to pursue bipartisan House-Senate talks on an interim bill to replenish a $350 billion "paycheck protection" program for businesses that Treasury fears is being rapidly depleted.

Virus puts brakes on US economic engine: consumer spending

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments Friday related to the global economy, the work place and the spread of the virus.

Global pact to contain oil price crash takes shape

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The OPEC oil cartel and nations including Russia have agreed to boost oil prices by cutting as much as 10 million barrels a day in production, or a tenth of global supply. More countries, including the United States, were discussing Friday their own cuts in what would be an unprecedented global pact to stabilize the market.

Consumer prices slump 0.4% as virus puts chill on spending

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer prices fell 0.4% in March, the largest decline in five years, revealing the downward pressure that the coronavirus pandemic is exerting on the cost of gasoline, airfares, hotel rooms and other goods and services.

EU agrees on virus economy aid but split over way ahead

BRUSSELS (AP) — Faced with a mounting coronavirus death toll and the prospect of a deep recession, European finance ministers have backed a major half-trillion-euro (about $550 billion) rescue package.

Senators block new virus aid, Pelosi decries 'stunt'

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has twisted itself into knots over President Donald Trump's new coronavirus aid request, as Democrats refused to rubber stamp his proposal for $250 billion more to boost small businesses, demanding modifications along with an additional $250 billion for health care providers and states. Republicans wouldn't go along.

UN urges governments to tackle recession, scrap debt payment

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — More than 60 U.N. agencies and international organizations urged governments on Thursday to take immediate steps to address the unfolding global recession and financial crisis wrought by the coronavirus pandemic, especially in the world's poorest countries.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Democrats renew vote-by-mail push as virus upends elections

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats want to bolster mail-in voting and take other steps to make balloting easier this November in the next round of congressional efforts to revive the economy and battle the coronavirus pandemic, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

Barr says Russia probe was started 'without basis'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr believes the Russia investigation that shadowed President Donald Trump for the first two years of his administration was started without any basis and amounted to an effort to "sabotage the presidency," he said in an interview with Fox News Channel that aired Thursday.


THURSDAY, APRIL 9
SPORTS

Tennessee State hires Mikki Allen as new athletic director

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee State has a new athletic director, Mikki Allen, Tennessee's assistant athletic director.

REGION

Trump criticizes TVA president, says pay is too high

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — President Donald Trump took a swipe at the compensation of the Tennessee Valley Authority's president during his daily coronavirus briefing Wednesday, suggesting the executive's pay was too high.

Tennessee Democratic Party removes state rep from ballot

MEMPHIS (AP) — The Tennessee Democratic Party voted to remove a state representative from the party's primary ballot over allegations that he had Republican donor financing and voted contrary to the party.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Lockdowns mean millions of women can't reach birth control

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The callers were in tears. One by one, women in homes across rural Zimbabwe had a pleading question: When would family planning services return?

General says coronavirus likely to affect more Navy ships

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pentagon leaders anticipate that the coronavirus is likely to strike more Navy ships at sea after an outbreak aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific infected more than 400 sailors, a top general said Thursday.

REAL ESTATE

Virus casts a dark cloud over once-thriving home market

BOSTON (AP) — When Rebeka McBride and her husband put their home in Washington state on the market in early March, the coronavirus outbreak was just taking hold in the United States. They managed to hold two open houses and a smattering of private viewings before accepting an offer.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street caps best week since 1974 on latest Fed stunner

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street closed out its best week in 45 years on Thursday after the Federal Reserve launched its latest titanic effort to support the economy through the coronavirus outbreak.

Record 16.8 million have sought US jobless aid in 3 weeks

WASHINGTON (AP) — With a startling 6.6 million people seeking jobless benefits last week, the United States has reached a grim landmark: More than one in 10 workers have lost their jobs in just the past three weeks to the coronavirus outbreak.

A new $2.3 trillion Fed plan to buttress cities, businesses

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is taking additional steps to provide up to $2.3 trillion in loans to support the economy. The money will target American households and businesses, as well as local governments besieged by the coronavirus outbreak.

Panic grocery buying slows; iPhone sales plummeted in March

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments Thursday related to the global economy, the work place and the spread of the virus.

US gig workers and self-employed face delays in jobless aid

WASHINGTON (AP) — After Rich Cruse saw about $3,000 in income for his photography business quickly disappear to the coronavirus, he tried to apply for unemployment benefits in California. But like many states, his isn't yet accepting claims from the self-employed like him.

Oil exploration firm claims discovery of huge Alaska deposit

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An oil exploration firm has discovered a deposit of potentially 1.8 billion barrels in Alaska's North Slope region south of Prudhoe Bay, the company said.

Hurry up and wait? Why relief to small businesses has lagged

NEW YORK (AP) — Speed is of the essence if a federal relief program for small businesses is going to be effective in combating the damage wrought by the coronavirus lockdowns.

Pandemic has set the number of air travelers back decades

The number of Americans getting on airplanes has sunk to a level not seen in more than 60 years as people shelter in their homes to avoid catching or spreading the new coronavirus.

Wiped out of toilet paper? Here's why

What does toilet paper have to do with a global pandemic?

US economy unlikely to recover as rapidly as it collapsed

BALTIMORE (AP) — President Donald Trump has been telling voters that the U.S. economy will leap back to life "like a rocket," stronger than ever after its bout with the coronavirus.

Oil-producing nations seek global deal to stabilize market

MOSCOW (AP) — Oil-producing countries including those of the OPEC cartel and Russia are trying to strike a global deal to pump less crude in a bid to limit a crash in prices that, while welcome for consumers, has been straining government budgets and pushed energy companies toward bankruptcy.

Report: Half billion more people face poverty due to virus

LONDON (AP) — Around half a billion people could be pushed into poverty as a result of the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic unless richer countries take "urgent action" to help developing nations, a leading aid organization warned Thursday.

IMF head sees worst economic downturn since Great Depression

WASHINGTON (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic will push the global economy into the deepest recession since the Great Depression, with the world's poorest countries suffering the most, the head of the International Monetary Fund said Thursday.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Biden woos skeptical Sanders supporters with new proposals

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden on Thursday unveiled plans to expand eligibility for Medicare and forgive college debt for millions of Americans, as the former vice president begins courting progressives who lost their leader when Bernie Sanders left the presidential race.

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