Florida NewsPolice Blotter

7-hour armed standoff with drug binging suspect in Martin County ends without incident

by Jeff Jones
By: Jeff Jones

MARTIN COUNTY, FL – On Tuesday, Martin County deputies engaged in a seven hour stand-off with a Hobe Sound man that ended with the subject in custody.

“The incident began around noon,” the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said Monday evening. “The subject initially told a relative that he had gone on a two-day illegal narcotic binge and he felt like he wanted to cut himself. Throughout the day, multiple deputies worked to talk the subject out of the home, but he became combative and refused to surrender telling deputies that he had a gun and he wouldn’t hesitate to shoot law enforcement.”

The suspect also told deputies if he made it out of the house, he would try to drive his car head-on into traffic. Throughout the ordeal, the suspect continued his use of illegal narcotics. At one point he brandished a large kitchen knife as he stood in front of a window.

Just before 7 pm, the MCSO SWAT team was able to safely get him outside of the home. The subject has been arrested and charged with resisting arrest with violence. Additional charges are pending following a search warrant of the home.

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Featured NewsHealth and Wellness

Watch: Joe Biden said kids don’t get COVID-19 and they don’t spread COVID-19 to mommy and daddy, he’s wrong

by Conservative Times
By: Conservative Times

The Democrat science behind COVID-19 has mutated faster than the virus itself, now President Joe Biden says children don’t have to worry about COVID-19 at a town hall meeting.

“Kids don’t get COVID that often, it’s unusual for that to happen,” Biden said. “Children aren’t the people most likely to get COVID.”

“You’re the safest group of people in the whole world, number one.  Number two you’re not likely to be exposed to something and spread it to mommy and daddy,”  Biden said. “It’s not likely mommy and daddy are able to spread it to you either.”

According to the CDC, Biden’s town hall tale is completely false.

“Children, like adults, who have COVID-19 but have no symptoms (“asymptomatic”) can still spread the virus to others. Most children with COVID-19 have mild symptoms or have no symptoms at all,” the CDC says. “Most children with COVID-19 have mild symptoms or have no symptoms at all. However, some children can get severely ill from COVID-19. They might require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe. In rare cases, they might die.”

Children who contract COVID-19 are also at risk to suffer from Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).  The CDC says MIS-C is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs.

“We do not yet know what causes MIS-C,” the CDC said, “However, we know that many children with MIS-C had the virus that causes COVID-19, or had been around someone with COVID-19. MIS-C can be serious, even deadly, but most children who were diagnosed with this condition have gotten better with medical care.”

In June of 2020, President Trump made a similar claim and the media lost their collective mind.

“They’ve come out of this at a level that’s really inconceivable. By the way, the regular flu, other flus, other things, SARS or H1N1, any of them, if you look at the young people they were affected like everybody else, but for whatever reason with respect to COVID, the numbers are very, very low,” Trump said of children.   Facebook, Snopes, CNN, the Associated Press and others quickly condemned and censored Trump’s COVID-19 misinformation.

Meanwhile today, over at CNN, the network lavished Biden with praise for lying to a child,” ‘Don’t be scared’: Biden reassures 8-year-old about Covid-19 risk.”

“When asked about children receiving a coronavirus vaccine, President Joe Biden reassured an 8-year-old about her low risk of contracting and spreading Covid-19 during CNN’s presidential town hall,” CNN’s caption of the video shown below read.

 

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Police Blotter

Nearly entire town hall in small town arrested for political corruption

by Dinesh Patel
By: Dinesh Patel

ARMSTRONG, IA – The town of Armstrong, Iowa has a population of about 880.  The entire town is essentially a 10 x 10 block that’s roughly four of five football fields long.

This week, 5 people who work and live in this town of 880 were arrested for political corruption down at the town hall by the Emmet County Sheriff’s Department.

On February 11, 2021, the Iowa Attorney General’s Office filed charges related to an investigation of current and former public officials and employees with the City of Armstrong in Emmet County, Iowa.

Mayor Greg Buum, police chief Craig Merrill, city clerk Tracie Lang, and former city clerk Connie Thackery were charged with felony and misdemeanor offenses in a 21-count joint trial information approved by the Emmet County District Court. The top count against Buum, Merrill, and Thackery is a charge of ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony. The top count against Lang is a fraudulent practice in the first degree, a Class C felony.

The trial information also alleges additional counts against some of the defendants for theft, felonious misconduct in office, non-felonious misconduct in office, tampering with records, assault with a dangerous weapon, and falsifying public documents, as committed by one or more of these defendants. Three of the defendants were arrested by the Emmet County Sheriff’s office on February 12, 2021, with assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Former city clerk Mary “Kate” Staton was charged with one count of theft in the third degree and one count of tampering with records, both aggravated misdemeanors, in two-count trial information approved by the Emmet County District Court. Staton surrendered herself at the Emmet County Courthouse on Feb. 16, 2021, and appeared before the magistrate that same date.

These charges stem from a multi-year investigation led by the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Division of Criminal Investigation and following a special investigation by the Auditor of State’s Office.

The investigation uncovered wrongdoing committed by the defendants, including but not limited to misappropriation of city funds, the presentation of fraudulent public records, deploying a TASER against a civilian in exchange for cash, and falsification of ledgers to conceal embezzlement. The Iowa Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting these cases at the request of the local county attorney due to a potential conflict of interest and one or more additional arrests are pending.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

 

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New Jersey News

Historic Pines Manor in Edison Struggles With Unprecedented Down Year Caused by COVID-19 but takes solace in providing meals and services for the community with FeedNJ

by Your News
By: Your News

HIGHTSTOWN, NJ — The Pines Manor in Edison banquet hall is used to preparing thousands of decadent meals a day to serve during once in a lifetime events, and employing over 100 people in the community to do so. The sprawling historic building which sits on five acres of land is one of the largest and oldest venues in New Jersey. The coronavirus has caused an unprecedented dip in business.

“This venue has been through the Spanish Flu, the Great Depression, World War II, a fire in 1972, and now it’s going to survive COVID-19. I don’t want this to fold on my watch,” said Joe Amore, owner of the Pines Manor. “2019 was the best year they’ve ever had and when the pandemic hit, we were getting ready for proms, weddings, and so many other big events. We’ve had 1,000 events cancelled.”

During the warm weather months, Pines Manor was able to do some outdoor events at limited capacity but since then, only a few events have been held indoors, at either 25% or 35% in compliance with current state guidelines. So business is bad for Amore, who bought the restaurant five years ago with Executive Chef Jeff McNamara after serving as Director of Operations since 2004.

One of the Manor’s most consistent customers has been FeedNJ, the initiative by non-profit SoupKitchen411 to buy meals from local restaurants and serve for free at soup kitchens and houses of worship. The first Saturday of this month, they prepared 250 meals to be served at Hands of Hope in Edison.

“For these great community events, our staple has become the chicken francese with rosemary roasted potatoes and mixed vegetables. It’s a delicious, nutritious meal that has a level of decadence, but doesn’t break the bank to make,” Amore added.

Amore sells these meals to FeedNJ at cost, only $8 per meal, enough to cover ingredients and labor for the furloughed or part-time kitchen crew that are used to preparing thousands of meals every day.

These meals came from a donation by Government Strategy Group, a Shrewsbury-based consulting firm that has donated several times to FeedNJ. The long-time vendor to Edison’s Finance Department made a $5,000 donation in the municipality’s honor, to purchase meals for this month’s service, and two other meal services at Hands of Hope.

“Pines Manor is a local landmark, and the owners do so much for the local community, including hosting Blood Drives and free outdoor movie screenings. We are proud to support the mission of FeedNJ to ‘Save a Restaurant and Feed a Community’ and honored that Government Strategy Group, a firm we’ve had a wonderful working relationship with for many years, is so dedicated to fortifying our community,” said Ashley Gotz, Assistant Treasurer at the Township of Edison’s Finance Department.

Since the start of the pandemic, Pines Manor has hosted three blood drives with the American Red Cross, attended by an average of over 100 blood donors.

Pines Manor has delivered over 1,000 meals purchased by FeedNJ across Middlesex County. To date, FeedNJ has served over 35,000 meals in 13 counties across the state, but nowhere more than in Middlesex County, where it has served nearly 11,000 meals at Hands of Hope, New Brunswick’s Elijah’s Promise, Woodbridge’s Trinity Soup Kitchen, Perth Amboy’s Renovation House, and Perth Amboy’s Salvation Army Corps.

FeedNJ is operated by SoupKitchen411, a registered 501(c)(3) Non-Profit with a Platinum rating by GuideStar. To make a tax-deductible donation to support local families and restaurants, visit www.soupkitchen411.com or email [email protected].

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Police Blotter

Caught on video: Man runs over police officer after being tased

by Ryan Dickinson
By: Ryan Dickinson

LAS CRUCES, NM – Police in Las Cruces are looking for a suspect who was confronted and tased at a local Sonic drive-through.  After being tased, the suspect in the car drove off, running over a police officer.   Police then fired shots at the vehicle.

The Las Cruces Police Department reports:

Law enforcement personnel are continuing to look for the 40-year-old man believed to be responsible for Monday’s incident that injured a Las Cruces police officer and sparked an investigation that led well into the evening.

Mark James Esquibel, whose last known address was on the 5100 block of Central Road in Las Cruces, is believed to be the driver who refused to cooperate with officers at the Sonic Drive-In, at 2925 N. Main St., and then struck a Las Cruces police officer as he drove away from the scene.
Esquibel, 40, is Hispanic, 6-feet tall and weighs approximately 195 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. Esquibel has a warrant for his arrest for violating terms of his probation.

Sometime before 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 15, Las Cruces police were dispatched to conduct a welfare check on an individual who was parked in a stall at the Sonic restaurant. Officers made contact with the driver, identified as Esquibel, and determined there was probable cause to take him into custody.

Preliminary information from the investigation indicates Esquibel was uncooperative with officers and refused to exit his vehicle. Officers utilized a Taser on Esquibel but that was ineffective. Shortly after the Taser was deployed, Esquibel put the vehicle into drive and accelerated from the stall striking a Las Cruces police officer.

Investigators believe at least one round was fired during the incident. Esquibel fled west on Main Street and his vehicle was located a short time later near the intersection of Winton Circle and Neleigh Drive. Police learned someone gave Esquibel a ride from there. His whereabouts are still unknown.

The injured Las Cruces police officer was transported to Mountainview Regional Medical Center. His injuries are considered serious but not life-threatening.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts on Mark James Esquibel is asked to immediately call 911. Anyone known to harbor or provide aid to a wanted individual could face criminal charges.

 

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Business NewsCalifornia News

L.A. County Health Inspector Caught Doing Victory Dance After Mistakenly Shutting Down Brewery on Super Bowl Sunday

by Ryan Dickinson
By: Ryan Dickinson

LANCASTER, CA – There’s a fiery place in hell for those people in America that aid and abed their liberal bosses who are hellbent on shutting down small business.  There’s a special place for one Los Angeles County Health Inspector who did a victory dance after she mistakenly shut down a local brewery on Super Bowl Sunday.

The owner of Bravery Brewery in Lancaster, California said his business was visited by a Los Angeles County health inspector who told him he needed to shut down for violating the state and county’s COVID-19 laws.  California and Los Angeles have brutalized small businesses with some of the strictest anti-business lockdown measures in America.

Avery was annoyed at the victory dance, saying his business had been decimated financially by the county’s overreaching rules against small businesses.  The inspector claimed the brewery needed to have a food truck to serve alcohol on Super Bowl Sunday, but later, the wayward inspector realized that Avery was indeed in compliance.  He received a call the next day from a county supervisor apologizing for the mixup.

It turns out, Avery was only selling alcohol to go, which is acceptable, even under the worst business lockdown in the country.

Overzealous health inspectors have been harassing businesses countywide, and last wee, things boiled over when the owners of a taco stand got into a physical brawl with a pesky health inspector, although those food truck operators were later found to be operating without a license.

Here’s another case of an overzealous inspector hassling a business owner back in December.

 

 

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Massachusetts NewsPolice Blotter

El Salvadorian MS-13 Gang Member Admits to Killing 17-Year-Old Boy in Lynn

by Kristen Harrison-Oneal
By: Kristen Harrison-Oneal

LYNN, MA – An MS-13 member pleaded guilty on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 in federal court in Boston and admitted to his participation in a 2018 murder in Lynn, Mass.

Eliseo Vaquerano Canas, a/k/a “Peligroso,” 21, a national of El Salvador, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy. As part of his guilty plea, Vaquerano Canas admitted that his racketeering activity involved the July 30, 2018 murder of a 17-year-old boy in Lynn. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for June 18, 2021.

MS-13 is a transnational street gang operating in Massachusetts and numerous other states, as well as countries such as El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. MS-13 members follow certain core rules and principles, including that members attack and attempt to kill members of rival gangs, and members do not act as informants or cooperate with law enforcement.

MS-13 is organized in Massachusetts and elsewhere in the form of “cliques” or smaller groups that operate under the larger mantle of MS-13. Vaquerano Canas was a member of the Sykos Locos Salvatrucha clique of MS-13. Court documents showed that Vaquerano Canas had “homeboy” status in MS-13, which is generally achieved by committing a significant act of violence.

Vaquerano Canas was indicted in federal court in 2018 following an investigation into the murder of a teenage boy whose body was found in a Lynn park on Aug. 2, 2018. The injuries to the victim’s body indicated that the victim had been stabbed dozens of times. As part of his guilty plea, Vaquerano Canas admitted that on or about July 30, 2018, he participated in that murder while a member of the MS-13 gang.

Vaquerano Canas faces a sentence of up to life in prison. He will also be subject to deportation upon the completion of his sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Acting Boston Police Commissioner Gregory Long; and Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary made the announcement.

The remaining defendants in this case are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Pennsylvania NewsPolice Blotter

Carjacker shot in head trying to steal another car

by Charlie Dwyer
By: Charlie Dwyer

PHILADELPHIA, PA – A carjacker in Philadelphia pushed his luck after successfully carjacking a vehicle Monday night.  Police in Philadelphia say the carjacker is now in the hospital in critical condition.

Around 6 pm, two men stole a victim’s car, wallet, and cellphone near 10th and Spruce.  Later that night, at around 8:40 pm, they decided to strike again at 18th and Callowhill, but this time, their victim was ready to fight back. Police said the man drew a gun and began firing at the suspect, striking one of the carjackers twice in the head.

Police arrived to find the carjacker laying in the first stolen car, described as a man in his twenties.  The second suspect has since been taken into custody.

 

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shell casings
Ohio NewsPolice Blotter

Four suspects identified in Valentine’s Day shooting in Columbus

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

COLUMBUS, OH – Columbus police have identified four suspects in the February 14th shooting on Mock Road. On February 14, 2021, at 2:50 pm, patrol officers were dispatched to 2200 Mock Rd on a shooting.

“Upon arrival, officers found a male and a female with gunshot wounds. Both were taken to area hospitals in critical condition.
The male who was shot, 30-year-old Shawn Nooks Jr., was identified as a shooter in this incident and has been charged.
The female had no involvement,” police here said. “A second shooter was identified as 21-year-old Dallas Jones-Hooks and was charged. There is a warrant for his arrest.”

A third suspect remains at large and a fourth individual involved in this incident was identified and arrested on unrelated warrants and will likely be charged with additional felonies after forensic testing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Columbus Police Felony Assault Unit at 614-645-4141 or [email protected] or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).

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Ohio NewsPolice Blotter

Two shot during shootout on Thacker Court

by Dinesh Patel
By: Dinesh Patel

COLUMBUS, OH – The Columbus Police Department has reported a shootout that took place Monday afternoon.

According to police, on February 15, 2021, at 2:46 pm, officers were dispatched to the area of 2810 Vista Dr. on the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a victim, 20-year-old Aaron Williams, who was transported to an area hospital and later a walk-in victim, 20-year-old Gregory Glaves, at a different area hospital.

Both of the victims were in the area of 1353 Thacker Court when a shootout occurred between to unknown individuals.

Both Williams & Glaves were struck by gunfire and are expected to survive their injuries.

Anyone with info about this incident is asked to contact Det. Jude at 614-645-4141 or [email protected] org Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.

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Business News

Bill Gates says America should switch to synthetic beef because cows cause global warming

by Conservative Times
By: Conservative Times

If there was ever an example of what happens to somebody when they’re filthy rich and bored, look no further than Bill Gates.  The Microsoft founder of late has become an icon of the left and now echoes the call of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and says American’s need to stop eating beef because cows are killing the earth.

In a bizarre interview with the MIT Technology Review, Gates said all rich nations should switch to synthetic beef, entirely.

Gates says synthetic beef manufacturers currently make up less than 1% of the overall market.

“As for scale today, they don’t represent 1% of the meat in the world, but they’re on their way. And Breakthrough Energy has four different investments in this space for making the ingredients very efficiently. So yeah, this is the one area where my optimism five years ago would have made this, steel, and cement the three hardest,” he said.

“For Africa and other poor countries, we’ll have to use animal genetics to dramatically raise the amount of beef per emissions for them. Weirdly, the US livestock, because they’re so productive, the emissions per pound of beef are dramatically less than emissions per pound in Africa,” he added.

 

 

 

 

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Featured NewsGovernment News

World condemns rocket attack that killed U.S. led contractor in Iraq, White House will circle back on that

by Phil Stilton
By: Phil Stilton

WASHINGTON, DC –  A U.S.-led military contractor was killed in a rocket attack in Erbil, Iraq overnight.  When pressed by reporters for the U.S. response to that attack, White House Press Secretary Jenn Psaki had no real answer.  As countless worldwide leaders and governments swiftly condemned the attack as an act of terrorism meant to destabilize the Kurdish region, America said, “We’ll circle back on that”.  One U.S. servicemember was wounded along with eight civilian contractors.

“The administration reserves the right to respond in a time and the manner of our choosing but we will wait for the attribution to be concluded first before we take any additional steps,” Psaki fumbled with reporters.

Luckily, Germany was there to handle the matter like an adult and issued a statement which should have been the one Psaki gave.

“We strongly condemn last night’s rocket attacks on the airbase & city of #Erbil. We express our condolences to loved ones of the deceased & wish the injured a speedy recovery. We stand by #Iraq & its people in the fight against terrorism and on its path to sustainable stability,” the German Foreign Office reported today.

Ashley Durec, a senior official in Canada’s embassy in Iraq also swiftly condemned the attack, “We condemn last night’s rocket attack on #Erbil that killed one individual and wounded others.  stands with the people of Kurdistan and supports the #KRG and the Government of Iraq in their investigation of this reckless attack.”

The EU condemned the attack, “European Union condemns #Erbil attack against anti #Daesh Coalition. Our condolences to those affected. Such attacks threaten stability of Iraqi Kurdistan,Flag of Iraq& entire region. We encourage cooperation between Federal & Regional Authorities 2 investigate & hold the culprits accountable.”

You can see here, most of the world has now condemned the attack…except for America.

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Monmouth County NewsPets and AnimalsPolice Blotter

Man gets 5 years in prison for killing four German shepherd puppies

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

FREEHOLD, NJ – A Howell man was sentenced today to five years in state prison on charges of animal cruelty after admitting last year his neglect caused the deaths of four German Sheperd puppies in his care, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office issued the following statement on the sentencing:

Daniel McDonald, 26, of Freehold, was sentenced by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Vincent N. Falcetano, Jr. The five-year concurrent sentences in a New Jersey state prison included four third degree animal cruelty charges and one charge of third-degree receiving stolen property for being in possession of a stolen tractor out of Monroe Township, Middlesex County.

As part of his plea agreement in November, McDonald entered into a consent order agreeing never to own, reside with, or take into his care or custody any living animal or creature.  McDonald was also ordered to perform 30 hours of community service on each of the four animal cruelty counts and to pay $800 in restitution to the owner of the puppies. The sentence is also concurrent to pending charges in Bergen and Middlesex counties.  Judge Falcetano also ordered McDonald not to have contact with the victims, not to have contact with two witnesses, and not to return to the scenes where the puppies were stolen from in Franklin Township and killed in Howell Township.  He also ordered him not to return to the scene where the tractor was stolen in Monroe.

The animal cruelty charges are related to the deaths of four German Shepherd puppies found deceased on a property in Howell Township where McDonald was temporarily residing. The remains of two deceased German Shepherd puppies were found in a fire pit on the property on May 18, 2020.  Investigators from the Howell Township Police Department and Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Law Enforcement Division, discovered the remains of two more deceased puppies that had been buried on the property.

The joint investigation ultimately revealed that the puppies were stolen from a farm in Somerset County on or about May 12, when the puppies were only three weeks old.  Investigators learned McDonald and his co-defendant, girlfriend Tricia Jaccoma were staying at the Somerset County farm prior to the time the puppies went missing and were in possession of the puppies while residing in a camper on the property in Howell.  Investigators also learned the puppies were ill, in distress, and were struggling to breathe prior to their deaths.  A necropsy performed on the two buried puppies revealed the puppies suffered from parasites and were severely emaciated and malnourished with “no indications of recent nutritional ingestion.”  In handing down the sentence Judge Falcetano told McDonald, he “can’t conceive of any more depraved act.”

During his plea, McDonald took full responsibility for not getting the puppies the proper care, thus resulting in their deaths.  Based on his statements, the charges against Jaccoma were dismissed at McDonald’s sentencing.

This case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco, Director of the Office’s Professional Responsibility and Bias Crimes Unit, and liaison to the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Law Enforcement Division.

McDonald is represented by Paul Zager, Esq. of Red Bank.

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Monmouth County NewsPolice BlotterSchools

Jersey Shore School Teacher Busted for Sexually Assaulting 10-Year-Old Student

by Charlie Dwyer
By: Charlie Dwyer

LONG BRANCH, NJ –  The pandemic within the pandemic has reared its ugly head here at the Jersey Shore.  Nationwide, crimes against children are on the rise, and child [censored]ography is spiraling out of control according to federal authorities.  Now, a school teacher in Long Branch School District has been arrested and charged for crimes against one of his young students.

Gustavo Barrientos, 53, of Tinton Falls, has been charged with first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault and second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

“Through the investigation, law enforcement learned that while employed as an elementary school teacher in the Long Branch School District, on multiple occasions, Barrientos would show a 10-year-old female student [censored]ography and sexually assault her,” the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office reports. “The investigation was the product of a joint investigation by members of the Long Branch Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Bureau.”

Barrientos, a student advisor was suspended with pay by the district in September of 2018.  He taught math and science at the George L. Catrambone School in 2018 and in 2019 was identified as a second grade teacher.

Investigators are seeking additional information about Barrientos’ activities. Anyone with any information please contact Detective Todd Coleman of the Long Branch Police Department at 732-222-1000 or Detective Sergeant Shawn Murphy of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Bureau at 732-431-7160 ext. 7032.

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New Jersey NewsNew York NewsNorth Carolina NewsPolice Blotter

Two Out-of-State Residents Face Gun and Drug Charges in Paramus

by Charlie Dwyer
By: Charlie Dwyer

PARAMUS, NJ – Two out-of-state residents have been charged for gun and drug charges in Paramus, according to Police Chief Kenneth Ehrenberg.

The Paramus Police Department announced the arrest of Justin Hawkins, 30, of Dallas, North Carolina, and Naqwain Johnson, 36, of Schenectady, NY for possession of a loaded handgun and unlawful possession of drugs.

On Monday, February 15, 2021, at approximately 2:43 am Paramus Officer Michael Mordaga observed a 2007 Buick Lacrosse, driving at a high rate of speed on Route 17 south.

“Mordaga stopped the vehicle near the entrance to the Garden State Parkway southbound. A computer check revealed that the car was not registered. When Mordaga approached the vehicle he immediately determined that the suspects had been smoking marijuana inside of the car,” Chief Ehrenberg said. “The driver, identified as Justin Hawkins, also possessed a suspended driver’s license. Paramus Officers William Stallone, Kevin Osback, Matthew Mullick and Clario Sampson arrived as back-up officers. After they arrived, Officer Mordaga searched the vehicle and located a burnt marijuana cigarette, a loaded Glock 9mm handgun numerous bags of marijuana, numerous new empty bags used to package drugs, , and a bottle containing 58 unidentified pills.”

The two suspects were placed under arrest for the gun and drugs and transported to Paramus Police Headquarters where they were booked and processed. Both were remanded to Bergen County Jail pending a bail hearing. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Both subjects were arrested and charged on February 15, 2021 with:  Unlawful possession of a handgun 2C: 39-5, Unlawful possession of marijuana 2C: 35-10 and Possession of CDS with Intent to Distribute 2C:35-5.

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Featured NewsGovernment NewsPolitics

McDaniel: Democrats Can’t Move Beyond Trump, They Need to Get Over It

by Phil Stilton
By: Phil Stilton

When President Donald J. Trump was in office, they called it “Trump Derangement Syndrome“.  Now that he is out of office the mysterious condition that affects Democrats and mainstream media reporters is being called “Post Traumatic Trump Syndrome“.   It’s when former President Donald J. Trump consumes every aspect of your life that you spend every waking moment of your life trying to figure out ways to make him and his supporters look and feel bad.

It’s time for Democrats to move on from being consumed by Trump

Now, GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel says it’s time for Democrats to let go and move on, but that’s not likely to happen.

In an op-ed published on Fox News, McDaniel said, “After spending four years telling Americans about the need to move on from President Trump, it turns out Democrats are the ones who can’t let him go.”

The Democrat party has been consumed with Trump since before he was President. Before he was even elected, many prominent Democrats planned his first impeachment.  For his entire four-year presidency, Trump was threatened with impeachment by Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, AOC, and the rest of the liberal whack-pack in Washington, D.C.  He was impeached twice and was acquitted twice.

“Democrats’ vendetta against President Trump has always included impeachment, with many of their members calling for him to be impeached even before he ever took office,” McDaniel said. “Now with millions of Americans still out of work, those same Democrats have decided the best use of their time and taxpayer money is to try to remove President Trump from a job he no longer holds.”

Without Trump, the Democrat agenda risks a complete and total breakdown

McDaniel said the Democrats need Trump because, without Trump, they are nothing.

“There is no doubt impeachment will bring Democrats together on the one issue that unites them most – their hatred of President Trump. Democrats are addicted to Donald Trump, and as they struggle to deal with the symptoms of withdrawal, having another bite at the impeachment apple was simply too good an opportunity to pass up,” she wrote.

Trump lives rent-free in the heads of D.C. Democrats

The Post Traumatic Trump Syndrome that has infected the Democrat party in the past 30 days is now interfering with the party’s ability to do to what they were elected to do, serving the people of the United States.  Instead, they continue to serve only their own desires and interests.

“They could be working with Republicans on solutions that get vaccines distributed, Americans back to work, our kids back in the classrooms, and targeted relief to those who need it most,” McDaniel suggests. “If they weren’t wasting time on impeachment, this week Democrats could be reaching across the aisle and working with Republicans to solve the real problems facing our country. ”

You can read McDaniel’s entire Op-ed here.

 

 

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Florida NewsGovernment NewsPolitics

DeSantis says Democrats, Unions Stalling Children’s Education is a National Disgrace

by Jeff Jones
By: Jeff Jones

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has a message for America, “If you want to reopen schools, open them. Open the door. Let them come in.”

DeSantis is under fire for his state’s decision to keep schools open and to leave the decision of whether or not to attend in-person classes up to the parents, not the state or federal government.  DeSantis calls his plan “Full Parental Choice” and it requires schools to remain open, but allows parents to opt-out of in-person instruction for remote instruction.  DeSantis said the rest of America should consider adopting the same policy.

The governor went on to say that the only things right now keeping students out of schools nationwide are the powerful teacher’s unions and the Democrat party.

“The school reopening plan that makes the most sense if you want to reopen schools…open them,” he said. “Let them come in and let them learn. The only reason that is not happening across the country like it is in Florida is because the Democrat party puts the interests of education unions and special interests ahead of the well-being of our children and of our families.”

CDC now recommends reopening schools

DeSantis noted that children in America, in some cases have been out of school for almost a year now.   This week, the CDC updated its guidelines for returning to school suggesting that school with a comprehensive COVID-19 mitigation plan can safely reopen.

“Evidence suggests that many K-12 schools that have strictly implemented mitigation strategies have been able to safely open for in-person instruction and remain open,” the CDC said this week.  “The absence of in-person educational options may disadvantage children from low-resourced communities, which may include large representation of racial and ethnic minority groups, English learners, and students with disabilities.”

“The students have been out of school for almost a year and if you follow the CDC guidance they will not go back in this school year and they may not even go back in the fall,” he said. “That is a disgrace. That is not science. That is putting politics ahead of what’s right for kids. That’s putting politics and special interests ahead of what the evidence says.”

Here’s what the CDC recommends when it comes to reopening schools

  • K–12 schools should be the last settings to close after all other mitigation measures in the community have been employed, and the first to reopen when they can do so safely. Schools should be prioritized for reopening and remaining open for in-person instruction over nonessential businesses and activities.
  • In-person instruction should be prioritized over extracurricular activities including sports and school events, to minimize risk of transmission in schools and protect in-person learning.
  • Lower incidence of COVID-19 among younger children compared to teenagers2 suggests that younger students (for example, elementary school students) are likely to have less risk of in-school transmission due to in-person learning than older students (middle school and high school).
  • Families of students who are at increased risk of severe illness (including those with special healthcare needs) or who live with people at increased risk should be given the option of virtual instruction regardless of the mode of learning offered.
  • Schools are encouraged to use cohorting or podding of students, especially in moderate (yellow), substantial (orange), and high (red) levels, to facilitate testing and contact tracing, and to minimize transmission across pods.
  • Schools that serve populations at risk for learning loss during virtual instruction should be prioritized for reopening and be provided the needed resources to implement mitigation.
  • When implementing phased mitigation in hybrid learning modes, schools should consider prioritizing in-person instruction for students with disabilities who may require special education and related services directly provided in school environments, as well as other students who may benefit from receiving essential instruction in a school setting.
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Entertainment NewsGovernment NewsPolitics

Biden Press Aide Resigns After Threatening to “Destroy” Female Reporter

by Conservative Times
By: Conservative Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Joe Biden’s administration has failed its first test of the President’s zero-tolerance policy towards disrespecting others.  This comes after a White House press aide who threatened to “destroy” a female member of the press corps was given a slap on the wrist after making his threat.

Upon taking office, Joe Biden made a public display when he told his staff, “I will fire you on the spot” if a member of his administration got out of line.  In the case of Press Aide T.J. Ducklo, that never happened.

Joe Biden’s zero-tolerance policy toward disrespect already dead

“I’m not joking when I say this…If you’re ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot…on the spot. No ifs or but,” the President said shortly after taking office.

“I will destroy you!” Biden aide tells female reporter investigating unethical love affair

T.J. Ducklo was a White House press aide and former Biden campaign aide who got into a heated argument with Politico reporter Tara Palmeri who was snooping around in Ducklo’s love life.   Palmeri was investigating a potential conflict of interest in Ducklo’s relationship with Axios White House Press Reporter Alexi McCammond.  McCammond later confirmed her intimate relationship with a key member of the President’s inner circle while covering the Biden administration for her company.

When it was learned the Ducklo threatened to “destroy” Palmeri, the White House did not fire him as you would have expected from Biden’s zero-tolerance on such matters.

Psaki circles back for an apology

Enter Jen Psaki, Biden’s chief press secretary who, for once had a quick answer and response to the Ducklo scandal.

“TJ Ducklo, who is the deputy who you’re asking about, has apologized to the reporter — apologized to the reporter quite shortly after the comments were made.  He had a heated conversation about a story related to his personal life.  I’m not saying that’s acceptable, but I just want to be clear that it was not about an issue related to the White House or a White House policy or anything along those lines,” Psaki said as she circled back with White House reporters. “With the approval of the White House Chief of Staff, he has been placed on a one-week suspension without pay. In addition, when he returns, he will no longer be assigned to work with any reporters at Politico.”

Psaki later issued a press release confirming Ducklo’s slap on the wrist.

“TJ Ducklo has apologized to the reporter, with whom he had a heated conversation about his personal life. He is the first to acknowledge this is not the standard of behavior set out by the President,” she said. “In addition to his initial apology, he has sent the reporter a personal note expressing his profound regret.”

What about that zero-tolerance policy and “I will fire you on the spot!” stuff?

The press was stunned that after such a stern statement by the President on respecting others, a member of his inner circle was being given a pass.  What happened to “I’ll fire you on the spot”?

Eventually, as pressure mounted, Ducklo tendered his own resignation.

“We accepted the resignation of TJ Ducklo after a discussion with him this evening,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement a few days later. “This conversation occurred with the support of the White House Chief of Staff.”

Couple later admitted their relationship bordered on unethical

The couple later admitted they hid their unethical relationship, “It means a lot of calls in hallways, in bathrooms and while one of us is walking her dog,” Ducklo said.

“TJ and I knew full well the unfair criticism our relationship might face,” McCammond said. “But knew that we weren’t going to let bullies get in the way of our own happiness.”

McCammond still remains employed at Axios where she lists her job as “covering progressives”.

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Community NewsEventsFeatured NewsPoliticsViral Videos

Trump Jr: “The spirit here is amazing!” as he celebrated President’s Day with dad Donald and a Trump Parade

by Phil Stilton
By: Phil Stilton

PALM BEACH, FL – Donald Trump, Jr., the son of former President Donald J. Trump said that hundreds of fans lined the road in a President’s Day Trump Parade outside his home at Mar-A-Lago.    Trump said the parade was a sporadic parade

“The spirit here is absolutely amazing,” Trump Jr. said. “Hundreds of cars going by all day long waving Trump flags and planes.”

Later in the day, President Trump made an appearance near a crowd of followers in his motorcade and he was greeted by hundreds chanting “USA”, cheering and waving Trump flags.   Outside the Mar-A-Lago estate Trump now calls his home, a large parade procession with vehicles honking, people cheering and waving Trump flags passed by in celebration of President’s Day.

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Jersey Shore News

Jersey Shore University Medical Center Welcomes Gynecologic Oncologist Dr. Borowsky

by Your News
By: Your News

Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center recently welcomed gynecologic oncologist and surgeon Mark E. Borowsky, M.D., MBA, as director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. Dr. Borowsky is board certified in gynecologic oncology and a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists and the American College of Surgeons. He previously served as the director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Christiana Care, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center in Newark, DE, since 2005.

“We are excited to have Dr. Borowsky lead our team with his extensive leadership experience and clinical expertise,” said Scott W. Smilen, M.D., FACOG, chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “We are confident he will continue our tradition of high-quality clinical and academic performance.”

Dr. Borowsky achieved his medical doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, and completed his Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at North Shore University Hospital, NYU Medical Center, NY. He served in the U.S. Air Force, active duty, as the Women’s Health chief of service and staff OB/GYN. Dr. Borowsky received his fellowship training in gynecologic oncology at the State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, NY. He received his Masters of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration from West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX.

The Perricone Center for Gynecologic Oncology, part of Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s comprehensive cancer center, offers women an array of approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, and complete management of cancer and pre-cancerous conditions of the female reproductive organs. The center provides, among other services, access to care and national clinical trials as well as expertise in minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic and robotic), as well as adjuvant therapies, including chemotherapy, radiation and pain management.

“Dr. Borowsky is a welcome addition to our world-class cancer program and the most comprehensive gynecologic oncology service in Monmouth and Ocean counties,” said Vito Buccellato, MPA, LNHA, chief hospital executive, Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “With his leadership, I know we will continue to deliver the best experiences and outcomes for our patients.”

Dr. Borowsky also joined the Hackensack Meridian Medical Group gynecologic oncology practice, including Karim ElSahwi, M.D., and James R. Bosscher, M.D., with office locations in Monmouth, Ocean, and Middlesex counties. Dr. Borowsky is currently accepting new patients at Jersey Shore’s HOPE Tower, 7th floor, 19 Davis Ave., Neptune, NJ. To make an appointment, call 732-576-8610.

For more information about the academic medical center, visit www.jerseyshoreuniversitymedicalcenter.com/ or for a free physician referral, call 800-560-9990.

Photo caption:
Mark E. Borowsky, M.D., MBA

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Featured NewsNew York NewsPolitics

Cuomo blamed ‘criminal’ nursing home operators, employees for assisted living outbreak, not himself

by Conservative Times
By: Conservative Times

NEW YORK, NY – Facing allegations of misleading lawmakers and misinforming the public regarding the 2020 COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes that killed thousands of senior citizens, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said those nursing homes are to blame not him.  Cuomo also said his order to force nursing homes to accept COVID-19 patients didn’t make a difference, because COVID-19 was already in those homes and people were going to die either way.

Cuomo alleges criminal behavior at nursing homes

“The patients were not sent to nursing homes. The nursing home had to agree that they could agree to care for this person. That is a matter of law,” Cuomo said as he deflected blame to the nursing homes. “They cannot accept a patient who they are not prepared to care for properly: staff, PPE, ability to cohort. That is in the law. If they don’t do that, they violate the law.”

Cuomo also blamed the federal Center for Medicaid and Medical Services and the Centers for Disease Control for telling him it was alright to send COVID-19 positive patients into nursing homes.

“On March 13, federal Center for Medicaid and Medical Services — what they call CMS— and on March 23, the Center for Disease Control, the CDC, put out guidance sending people from hospitals back to nursing homes. New York State DOH followed that guidance,” Cuomo said. “Twelve other states, at least, followed guidance. The CDC, CMS, DOH reasoning at the time — residents who were leaving the hospitals were not likely to be contagious because at that time, the viral load is so low that you’re not contagious.”

Department of Justice is investigating four states that forced nursing homes to accept COVID-19 positive patients

Four states however are under scrutiny, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Michigan.

On August 26, 2020, the Department of Justice launched a federal investigation into how those states handled the situation and to see if decisions made by governors of those states led to an unnecessary increase in deaths among seniors in assisted living facilities.

“Protecting the rights of some of society’s most vulnerable members, including elderly nursing home residents, is one of our country’s most important obligations,” said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division Eric Dreiband. “We must ensure they are adequately cared for with dignity and respect and not unnecessarily put at risk.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, New York has the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in the United States, with 32,592 victims, many of them elderly. New York’s death rate by population is the second highest in the country with 1,680 deaths per million people. New Jersey’s death rate by population is 1,733 deaths per million people – the highest in the nation. In contrast, Texas’s death rate by population is 380 deaths per million people; and Texas has just over 11,000 deaths, though its population is 50 percent larger than New York and has many more recorded cases of COVID-19 – 577,537 cases in Texas versus 430,885 cases in New York. Florida’s COVID-19 death rate is 480 deaths per million; with total deaths of 10,325 and a population slightly larger than New York.

The Justice Department investigation is continuing to see whether or not those states violated patients’ civil rights and to determine if the state orders requiring admission of COVID-19 patients to nursing homes are responsible for the deaths of nursing home residents.

Nursing home workers brought COVID-19 into the facilities, not Cuomo

The governor said his executive directive denying nursing homes the ability to reject COVID-19 patients did not bring COVID-19 into those facilities, their own workers did.

“COVID did not get into the nursing homes by people coming from hospitals. COID got into the nursing homes by staff walking in to the nursing homes when we didn’t even know we had COVID. Staff walking into a nursing home even if they were asymptomatic because the national experts all told us you could only spread COVID if you had symptoms and they were wrong,” Cuomo added. “COVID may have been brought into a nursing home because visitors brought it in and didn’t know they were contagious because the guidance was, you can only be contagious if you have symptoms: if you’re sneezing, if you’re coughing. That turned out to be wrong. That’s how COVID got into the nursing homes. 98 percent of the people who took a person back from a hospital, who was probably no longer contagious, already had it in the facility and they signed and agreed that they could handle it because they already had people who were COVID positive in the nursing home.”

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Featured NewsGovernment NewsHealth and WellnessPolitics

Cuomo tries to dig himself out of nursing home scandal, instead digs a deeper hole for himself

by Adam Devine
By: Adam Devine

Albany, NY – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo once again tried to defer blame and pass the buck on nursing home deaths in his state, but only dug himself a deeper hole on Monday.  Cuomo tried to explain why he decided to hide facts and data on nursing home deaths from the public.  The Governor said regardless of the information he released, those people would have died either way.

Why did Cuomo withhold data from the state legislature in 2020?

“This past year, there was a toxic political environment and everything gets politicized and there’s political spin and then there are facts — two very different things and I just want to be sure people have facts,” Cuomo said at Monday’s press briefing.  ” Last August, Department of Justice sent a letter to Democratic governors, four of them: New York, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania asking for information on public nursing homes. New York State Legislature also sent a letter asking for information on nursing homes. We paused the State Legislators’ request while we were finishing the DOJ request. We told both houses, the Assembly and the Senate, that we had a DOJ request for information and we were prioritizing that. We did give the DOJ request precedence and we told both houses that. The August request, we replied to fully. Separately, DOH got a DOJ letter signed by Jeffrey Clark, the attorney, in October — which we learned about from the New York Post. We didn’t even get the letter. The Post called and told us about the letter and that requested information on private nursing homes and we have been voluntarily producing information on that on a rolling basis as recently as January 8 as offered by DOJ —’ the rolling basis production.”

Cuomo says he decided to “pause” the State Legislature’s request, a pause that continued until the New York Attorney General’s Office issued a statement claiming the Governor’s figures could be as much as twice as high as previously reported.

Why did Cuomo send infected COVID-19 patients into nursing homes?

The Governor passed the blame on his decision to force nursing homes to take COVID-19 positive patients into their facilities.  This happened at a time when testing was not readily available, the nursing homes were underequipped to handle the new outbreak and little was known about the virus.

“On March 13, federal Center for Medicaid and Medical Services — what they call CMS— and on March 23, the Center for Disease Control, the CDC, put out guidance sending people from hospitals back to nursing homes. New York State DOH followed that guidance. Twelve other states, at least, followed guidance,” Cuomo said. “The CDC, CMS, DOH reasoning at the time — residents who were leaving the hospitals were not likely to be contagious because at that time, the viral load is so low that you’re not contagious and they were going to be what’s called “cohorted;” Cared for on areas that are separately with other people under the right precautions.”

Cuomo said nursing homes are the real criminals here

Instead, Cuomo blamed the nursing homes for taking patients they could not properly care for and accused those homes of criminal behavior.

“The patients were not sent to nursing homes. The nursing home had to agree that they could agree to care for this person. That is a matter of law,” Cuomo said after signing an order that told nursing homes they could not reject patients based on their COVID-19 status. “They cannot accept a patient who they are not prepared to care for properly: staff, PPE, ability to cohort. That is in the law. If they don’t do that, they violate the law.”

It was a different time, Cuomo said, fearing that the hospital system would be overrun, yet in New York City, a Navy hospital ship meant to care for COVID-19 patients was hardly used.

“At the time, remember what was going on in March. The experts were projecting that our problem and our critical need was hospital capacity. We sat here every day with the hospitalization chart. We were looking at up to 140,000 people hospitalized,” Cuomo said. “We have less than 50,000 hospital beds. That is the calamity. Remember, March 25, that’s right when the New York City Health & Hospitals collapsed. It was national news.”

It doesn’t matter, those nursing homes already had COVID-19

Cuomo said it wouldn’t have mattered anyway because COVID-19 was already rampant in those nursing homes he directed to not refuse new COVID-19 patients.  Instead, he blamed visitors and workers in those homes.

Cuomo noted that of 613 nursing homes, we have 613 nursing homes in the state; 365 received a person from a hospital. Of the 365, that received a person from this March 25 guidance which was superseded in May — 98 percent of those 365 already had COVID in their facility.

“COVID did not get into the nursing homes by people coming from hospitals. COID got into the nursing homes by staff walking in to the nursing homes when we didn’t even know we had COVID. Staff walking into a nursing home even if they were asymptomatic because the national experts all told us you could only spread COVID if you had symptoms and they were wrong,” he said.  “COVID may have been brought into a nursing home because visitors brought it in and didn’t know they were contagious because the guidance was, you can only be contagious if you have symptoms: if you’re sneezing, if you’re coughing. That turned out to be wrong. That’s how COVID got into the nursing homes. 98 percent of the people who took a person back from a hospital, who was probably no longer contagious, already had it in the facility and they signed and agreed that they could handle it because they already had people who were COVID positive in the nursing home.”

 

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Featured NewsNew York NewsPolice BlotterPolitics

Cuomo: New Yorkers don’t feel safe going out as crime rises in mass transit system

by Adam Devine
By: Adam Devine

NEW YORK, NY – Crime has been spiraling upward across New York City in the past year, but nowhere is it more evident than on the city’s busses and subway system.  On Monday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed the problem.

New Yorkers don’t feel safe going out

“Crime is a problem in the MTA. Crime is a problem in New York City generally. Crime is a problem across the nation, predominantly in urban areas. But if we’re going to get the economy back we have to address this problem,” Cuomo said.  “You know people don’t talk public safety in terms of economic development, but it is the number one issue. If businesses don’t feel safe, if people don’t feel safe, if your riders don’t feel safe they’re not going to go to a restaurant, I don’t care how many, what we do with curfew, what we do with occupancy, if you don’t feel safe, you’re not going to get on the subway and go to the restaurant so that is a major concern in many areas.”

The MTA is asking for an additional 1,000 workers to bring staffing levels back to where they were in 1995 when the city began tackling the crime wave that lasted through the 1970s and 1980s.  During the 1990s violent crime in New York City dropped by 56%, a rate far better than the national average of 28%.

14-hour subway stabbing spree leaves two dead, four others wounded

This past weekend, a 21-year-old Brooklyn man went on a 14-hour stabbing spree that left two dead and four other victims with stab wounds. That incident prompted New York Police Departmetn Commissioner Dermont Shea to move 500 of his officers underground, into the subway system this weekend.

While the MTA reports overall crime is down, violent crimes, felonies, and assaults are on the rise, even as ridership in the network dwindled during the pandemic.

Cuomo cited BLM protests after George Floyd murder as contributing factor in rising crime

“Public safety is a top priority. You want to talk about reopening the economy, you have to talk about public safety. We mandated last year after the George Floyd killing, every locality has to come up with a new public safety plan,” Cuomo said.  “It will be different in different parts of the state, but we have 500 jurisdictions that have police departments and I get the tension between the community and the police department and there is no easy answer and there is no one size fits all.”

Cuomo said New Yorkers can’t ignore the tensions between black communities and police departments in the city, saying everyone is going to have to come to the table in agreement if the city wants to start fighting crime and reducing the personal health and safety risk of MTA passengers.

“But you can’t ignore the tension. Ignoring a problem will never solve the problem. That is true in life and that is true in society and that is true in government, so put people at the table, let them vent their issues and they will vent, but then let’s come to a collaborative and a consensus and let’s move on,” Cuomo added.

 

 

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Featured NewsHealth and Wellness

The seasonal flu is latest victim of COVID-19 as hospitalizations drop from 400,000 to 189

by Charlie Dwyer
By: Charlie Dwyer

It was going to be the double whammy, health experts in federal and state government said back in the fall.  But the anticipated and feared “double pandemic” of the seasonal flu and COVID-19 never happened.

Instead, the Centers for Disease Control has reported a significant drop in flu cases and flu-related deaths in 2020.  In the period from October 2020 to February 6, 2021, there have been just 165 laboratory-confirmed flu cases in all of America. That’s a sharp drop from 400,000 in the 2019-2020 season a year earlier.

How many people had the flu during the 2020-2021 flu season?

“A total of 165 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations occurring between October 1, 2020, and February 6, 2021, were reported by FluSurv-NET sites for an overall cumulative hospitalization rate of 0.6 per 100,000 population,” the CDC reported. “This is lower than average for this point in the season and lower than rates for any season since routine data collection began in 2005, including the low severity 2011-12 season. Hospitalization rates stratified by age will be presented once case counts increase to a level that produces stable rates by age.”

Flu already in decline prior to COVID-19

Last year, 22,000 Americans died from the flu. This flu season, only four, so far.   Of the 593,570 specimens tested since September 27, 2020, only 1,364 tested positive nationwide.

The CDC estimates that the burden of illness during the 2019–2020 season was moderate with an estimated 38 million people sick with flu, 18 million visits to a health care provider for flu, 400,000 hospitalizations for flu, and 22,000 flu deaths.

Why has the flu virtually vanished in 2020-2021?

But, why has the flu virtually disappeared?   Experts cite several reasons.   The seasonal flu was already in decline in the 2019-2020 season.  The CDC said when COVID-19 struck, patients were no longer going to the doctor for routine flu symptoms and respiratory illness.  From March 1st through May 16th of 2020, reported flu cases had declined 98%.  COVID-19 safety precautions have also been credited to the near eradication of the flu this year.  Hand washing, wearing face masks, social distancing and the closure of businesses and schools, the CDC says all played a part in the diminished spread of the flu.

“Where extensive community mitigation measures are maintained (e.g., face masks, social distancing, school closures, and teleworking), those locations might have little influenza circulation during the upcoming 2020–21 Northern Hemisphere influenza season. The use of community mitigation measures for the COVID-19 pandemic, plus influenza vaccination, are likely to be effective in reducing the incidence and impact of influenza, and some of these mitigation measures could have a role in preventing influenza in future seasons,” the CDC speculated.

In the U.S., a nearly 3% spike in influenza vaccines has been recorded.

 

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