Spring break in Fort Lauderdale this month. Photo: Maria Alejandra Cardona/Reuters
Even some Florida Democrats are wondering whether Gov. Ron DeSantis' widely panned COVID response might turn out to be right, Axios Tampa Bay's Ben Montgomery and Selene San Felice write.
More than 32,000 Floridians have died, a number the state's leaders rarely acknowledge. But the death rate is no worse than the national average — and better than some states with tighter restrictions.
The L.A. Times compared Florida and California:
‘California imposed myriad restrictions that battered the economy ... Florida adopted a more laissez-faire approach decried by public health experts — allowing indoor restaurant dining, leaving masks optional.’
On Sunday's front page, the N.Y. Times explored the positives — from the sizzling real-estate market to Florida's low unemployment rate — of an early reopening: ‘Much of the state has a boomtown feel.’
Florida's unemployment rate is 5.1%, compared to 9.3% in California, 8.7% in New York and 6.9% in Texas, The Times notes.
The bottom line: ‘Despite their differing approaches,’ AP reports, ‘California and Florida have experienced almost identical outcomes in COVID-19 case rates.’” Read more at Axios
“Let the sales push begin.
President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses are opening an ambitious, cross-country tour this week to highlight the benefits of his $1.9 trillion plan to defeat the coronavirus and boost the economy.
The road show — dubbed the ‘Help is Here’ tour by the White House — begins Monday with Harris heading to a COVID-19 vaccination site and a culinary academy in Las Vegas and first lady Jill Biden touring a New Jersey elementary school.
The president will have more to say about the plan Monday at the White House, and he plans to visit a small business in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday. He and Harris are slated to appear together in Atlanta on Friday.” Read more at AP
“Winter and spring collided Sunday as parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Nebraska were blasted with up to 4 feet of snow while Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri braced for heavy rains, high winds, flooding and possible tornadoes. More than 2,000 flights were canceled in and out of Denver alone over the weekend, and a slew of highways were closed because of dangerous conditions. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center set the avalanche risk as high, warning of ‘very dangerous avalanche conditions.’ Cheyenne, Wyoming, saw snow totals of 25.8 inches this weekend — smashing a previous 2-day record held since 1979, according to the National Weather Service. And more could be coming — the weather service warned some areas could see up to 50 inches of snow and wind gusts of up to 60 mph before the weather eases Monday.” Read more at USA Today
“In a decree approved by Pope Francis, the Vatican on Monday said that priests cannot bless same-sex unions, saying that such relationships are ‘not ordered to the Creator's plan.’
‘The blessing of homosexual unions cannot be considered licit,’ the church said.
The ‘explanatory note,’ issued by the Vatican’s doctrinal watchdog, carries the weight of a universal ground rule for the Roman Catholic Church — and it regards one of the most controversial inside an institution divided over its stance on sexuality.
Many gay Catholics had been hopeful that Francis would create more openness inside the church, not only by speaking more welcomingly about homosexuality, but by changing church law. In a documentary released last year, the pontiff had called for the creation of civil union laws so that same-sex couples are ‘legally covered.’” Read more at Washington Post
“Pop wunderkind Billie Eilish won record of the year for the second time in a row while Taylor Swift became the first female singer to win album of the year three times — taking this year's honor with ‘Folklore’ — and Beyoncé set a new record for most wins by a female artist and most wins by a singer, male or female, at the ceremony hosted by Trevor Noah of ‘The Daily Show.’ It was Eilish who took the night's biggest prize, following up 2020's record of the year win for ‘Bad Guy’ with a victory this year for ‘Everything I Wanted,’ but she just wanted to give the honor to Megan Thee Stallion for ‘Savage,’ the Houston rapper's collaboration with Beyoncé. Sunday night's show also featured performances from Dua Lipa, Brandi Carlile and Haim, among others.” Read more at USA Today
“More than 4,000 unaccompanied migrant children are in Border Patrol custody, the latest uptick in the number of children held at border facilities. After children are taken into Border Patrol custody, the Department of Health and Human Services typically takes over their care. But the coronavirus pandemic has strained the department's efforts to accommodate the influx, since shelters had until recently been operating under capacity limits. FEMA was called in to help over the weekend. And though the current situation at the border may seem alarming, it's been building for a while. CNN's Catherine Shoichet has more on how we got here and what's missing from the debate.” Read more at CNN
“Jury selection is ongoing in Derek Chauvin's murder trial for the death of George Floyd last May. The process will take about three weeks. Given the circumstances of Floyd’s death — a Black man dying under the knee of a white police officer — the racial makeup of the jury is a key concern. Court wrapped up Friday with seven jurors seated thus far. Four of the jurors identify as white, one as multiracial, one as Hispanic and one as Black, said Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill, who is presiding over the case. Six of the jurors are in their 20s or 30s, and one is in her 50s. On Friday, Minneapolis city leaders approved a $27 million settlement with the family of George Floyd in a wrongful death lawsuit over his killing in police custody.” Read more at USA Today
“We're not out of the woods yet. Though daily new cases of Covid-19 in the US have dropped since January, case numbers over the past week still averaged more than 50,000 per day. That puts the nation in a vulnerable position to experience another surge, says Dr. Anthony Fauci -- which is precisely what is happening in Europe. The good news is that people in the US are getting vaccinated relatively quickly. The bad news is that highly contagious variants are still a threat. Until then, the US shouldn't be easing restrictions before Covid-19 case numbers fall to at least below 10,000 per day, Fauci has said.” Read more at CNN
“Los Angeles County, once the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, is opening up indoor dining, movie theaters and gyms Monday. The county moved to the ‘red tier’ in California's tier-based system after reaching its goal of administrating 2 million vaccine doses to residents in its disadvantaged areas. The county also released its reopening plans, including indoor dining at the state-authorized capacity of 25% and reopening of retail at 50%. It's a welcome sign in a county that just two months ago was getting crushed by COVID-19.” Read more at USA Today
“Officials have found a December recording of then-President Trump's phone call to a Georgia investigator in a trash folder on her device. In the call, Trump encouraged the investigator to look to uncover ‘dishonesty’ in absentee ballot signatures in the state's most populous county. The audio offers yet another example of Trump's efforts to push false claims of widespread voter fraud and to influence Georgia election officials as they certified results. Meanwhile, Republicans in several swing states are touting false fraud claims to advance measures that would make it tougher to vote. Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams called a similar effort in her state ‘a redux of Jim Crow in a suit and tie.’” Read more at CNN
“Myanmar security forces killed dozens of protesters yesterday. It was one of the deadliest days since the military seized power in a coup, bringing the post-coup death toll to at least 126 people. The military junta also imposed martial law in six areas after several Chinese-funded factories were set on fire during protests. It's unclear who is behind the fires. Anti-coup protesters have been suspicious of China, with demonstrations targeting the Chinese embassy in Myanmar's largest city and protesters accusing Beijing of supporting the coup and junta. China has not outright condemned the military takeover but backed a UN Security Council statement condemning violence against peaceful protesters.” Read more at CNN
“Women's rights activists in the UK are outraged over how London's Metropolitan Police broke up a peaceful vigil on Saturday for Sarah Everard, a 33-year old who was murdered while walking home in the city this month. That the man accused of murdering her is a serving member of that same police force only added fuel to the fire. The randomness of Everard's disappearance has prompted a national reckoning on women's rights in the UK. Thousands of women have shared their own experiences of being intimidated or harassed while walking alone at night.” Read more at CNN
“In a blistering speech that ricocheted around the world, then-Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard stood in parliament after months of attacks on her for her gender and accused opposition leader Tony Abbott of misogyny.
Nearly nine years on, Prime Minister Scott Morrison is under fire for his handling of a series of rape scandals involving lawmakers. Women rallied across Australia today, protesting continued sexism in politics and in workplaces in general. Morrison’s government has hit a 13-month low in opinion polls.He’s not the only politician under pressure as women demand their leaders not only enact greater protections for them at work, at home and in their daily lives, but also behave better themselves.” Read more at Bloomberg
“House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to ‘look inside his heart’ and ask whether he can still do his job, with top Democrats urging him to resign over allegations of sexual assault and harassment. The House this week is scheduled to consider legislation aimed at combating violence against women.” Read more at Bloomberg
“Vaccine woes | Once expected to be a key to protecting much of the world from Covid-19, AstraZeneca’s vaccine is facing a spate of suspensions by governments following reports of serious blood clotting after inoculation. While the company and regulators from Europe to Asia said there was no indication of any direct link with the shot, the scare comes against a backdrop of supply problems.” Read more at Bloomberg
“Beijing has been engulfed in an orange fog as a sandstorm sweeping across northern China helped push air quality levels in the capital to the worst since 2017. The city’s government issued a yellow alert and the thick haze limited visibility to less than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet).”
A woman cycles along a street today during a sandstorm in Beijing.
Photographer: Noel Celis/AFP/Getty Images
“Open vote | Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union fell to record lows in two state elections yesterday that saw the Greens and the Social Democrats retain power in their respective regions. The vote showed a clear backlash against the CDU’s poor vaccine rollout nationally and a party scandal over profiting from medical supplies. With Merkel standing down, September’s federal election looks more open than ever.” Read more at Bloomberg
“Drew Brees has brought an end to one of the most successful careers in NFL history with his retirement from the New Orleans Saints.
The 42-year-old quarterback made the announcement 15 years to the day he signed with the Saints, starting a career in New Orleans that brought the team a Super Bowl title in the 2009 season. Along the way he set NFL records for career passing yards and completions as well as being named to the Pro Bowl 13 times.” Read more at The Guardian
“A controversy-ridden season of ‘The Bachelor’ will end Monday, with the finale airing at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Matt James' season was meant to show signs of progress — he's the first Black male lead in 25 seasons, joined by the most diverse cast in franchise history. Instead, the historic season was marred by racist comments and actions. Rachael Kirkconnell, the front-runner, faced backlash after fans found she had ‘liked’ Confederate flag-related TikTok videos and attended an Antebellum-themed fraternity formal in 2018. Days later came an Extra TV interview in which host Chris Harrison slammed the ‘woke police,’ called for ‘compassion’ for Kirkconnell and excused the party she attended as a product of a different time. He has since announced he will not be hosting the next season of ‘The Bachelorette’ after outcry over his comments.” Read more at USA Today
“Most of Italy entered a new lockdown today. Cases have risen over the past three weeks, driven by the spread of the variant first found in Britain and a slow vaccination campaign.” Read more at New York Times
“Faith leaders in the U.S. are coaxing their congregations to get vaccinated.” Read more at New York Times
“Dr. Anthony Fauci called on Donald Trump to urge his supporters to get a vaccine ‘for your health, the health of your family and the health of the country.’ Many Republicans are hesitant to get the vaccine, polls show.” Read more at New York Times
“Senator Mitt Romney of Utah is urging American spectators, companies and diplomats to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, to punish China for its human rights abuses. He favors that approach over an athlete boycott.” Read more at New York Times
“Janet Yellen says Biden administration is undecided on wealth tax. The Treasury secretary said the new administration will likely issue proposals to address the swelling federal budget deficit, noting that the president proposed higher taxes on corporations, on some individuals and on capital gains or dividend payments during his 2020 campaign.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“$40 billion — Roughly how much child-care providers are set to receive under the Biden administration’s Covid-19 relief law for operating expenses and tuition assistance for the children of essential workers. The money would help centers cope with revenue shortfalls and increased costs while making it easier for parents, especially mothers, to return to work as the economy reopens.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“Spain will soon begin a nationwide trial of a four-day work week after the Spanish government accepted a proposal by the left-wing Más País party to explore the concept. Although the program’s details have yet to be finalized, Más País propose creating a cost-covering fund to encourage businesses to opt-in to the trial with minimal risk. ‘Spain will be the first country to undertake a trial of this magnitude,’ said Héctor Tejero of Más País. ‘A pilot project like this hasn’t been undertaken anywhere in the world.’
Despite the country’s siesta stereotype, Spain’s workweek is slightly longer than the EU average, clocking in at 36.4 hours per week in 2019. Those wishing to put their feet up early should look to Northern Europe, where Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands report the shortest work weeks in the EU.” Read more at Foreign Policy
“COVID testing and new ventilation systems are costing school districts tens of millions, forcing poorer districts to freeze hiring and cut entire programs, Axios' Erica Pandey and David Nather report.
Schools are having to buy oodles of masks, and provide more staff and space to reduce class sizes.
The effects are often worse in smaller, more rural districts, and in long underfunded urban districts.
In Goreville, Ill., restrictions on the number of kids on buses became a big problem because rural school bus routes are so long, and adding buses was too expensive.” Read more at Axios
“Vaccine enthusiasm has increased but a giant group is holding out — Republicans, Axios Vitals author Caitlin Owens reports.
Nearly half of Republican men — 49% — said in an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey, conducted March 3-8, that they won't choose to be vaccinated when they're allowed.
41% of all Republicans said the same.
By contrast, 6% of Democratic men said they wouldn't get the shot.
25% of Black respondents, 28% of white respondents and 37% of Latino respondents said the same.
⚡ A stunning 25% of House members — all with access to the vaccine — have refused to get it, haven't reported getting it, or are avoiding it for medical reasons, Axios Kadia Goba scooped in Axios Sneak Peek.
Although officials won't give the party breakdown, Democrats want more Republicans to get vaccinated before returning to regular voting.” Read more at Axios
Photo: Jonah Sykes/Berkshire Community College via AP
“After Yo-Yo Ma received his second jab of COVID vaccine at Berkshire Community College in in Pittsfield, Mass., he transformed his 15-minute waiting period into a quick concert, the Berkshire Eagle reports:
The world-famous cellist took a seat along the wall of the observation area — masked and socially distanced — then played for an applauding audience.”
Video (Click to third frame).