Biden marks Memorial Day nearly 2 years after ending America's longest war, lauds troops' sacrifice
President Joe Biden has lauded the sacrifice of generations of U.S. troops who died fighting for their country as he marked Memorial Day with a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
Push for federal holiday to honor “Gold Star” families is creating painful division
Federal lawmakers introduced a bill to create a national holiday, making the last Monday of September the Gold Star Families Act Day. Their definition of what a Gold Star family is has caused some painful division among military families.
Need a dishwasher, light bulbs, toilet? They’re sales tax-free this weekend
If you need a new dishwasher, plants to spruce up the yard, or just want to stock up on light bulbs, Memorial Day weekend may be the time to shop. Texans pay no sales tax on qualifying energy-saving and water-sipping appliances and products.
Biden marks vaccine progress, thanks troops ahead of holiday
President Joe Biden started the Memorial Day weekend by visiting a rock climbing gym in northern Virginia as the state lifted all COVID-19 distancing and capacity restrictions at private businesses and much of the nation pushes toward a greater sense of normalcy.
SeaWorld San Antonio announces dates for Seven Seas food festival
SeaWorld Seven Seas will be open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from April 2 through May 30, plus Memorial Day. SAN ANTONIO – SeaWorld San Antonio is bringing back its “Seven Seas” food festival that will take place over several weekends this spring. During the event, participants receive a Seven Seas Food Festival Tasting Lanyard and will get to try a variety of samples of food derived from the Caribbean, Italy, Brazil, Asia and elsewhere. Samples include food like Korean Kimchi fries, German apple strudel with frozen vanilla cream, Caribbean jerk chicken or Brazilian roast beef sandwich (Bauru). AdThe Seven Seas Whiskey Tasting Hut will also debut this year, and about 50 beer, wine and cocktail selections will be available for tasting.
Minneapolis to spend $6.4M to recruit more police officers
The city of Minneapolis will spend $6.4 million to hire dozens of police officers, at a time when some City Council members and activist groups have been advocating to replace the police department in the wake of Floyds death. The City Council voted unanimously Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, to approve the additional funding, which police requested. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)MINNEAPOLIS – Minneapolis is planning to spend $6.4 million to hire dozens of police officers, at a time when some City Council members and activist groups have been advocating to replace the police department following George Floyd’s death. The City Council voted unanimously Friday to approve the additional funding that police requested. Floyd’s death sparked protests and led to a nationwide reckoning on race.
UT Health San Antonio issues warning about possible post-holiday COVID-19 outbreak
SAN ANTONIO – Doctors at UT Health San Antonio are joining top health experts nationwide by warning San Antonians that Thanksgiving needs to be different this year or we may be in for a dark winter. Dr. Robert Leverence, chief medical officer at UT Health San Antonio, said whereas the aftermath of Memorial Day gatherings was an eight on a “Coronavirus Richter Scale,” post-Thanksgiving would be a whole new level of sickness. If you look already at the other COVID curves for the number of new diagnoses per day in this country, we’ve already towered way over Memorial Day,” Leverence said. He is going against the most popular modeling being used nationally, but Leverence thinks they are likely too conservative. To assume San Antonio would be an island among a serious new wave of infections would be unlikely.
Asia Today: South Korea tightens restrictions to fight virus
South Korea says it will tighten social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area and some parts of eastern Gangwon province to try to suppress a coronavirus resurgence there. The country has been experiencing a steady increase in virus infections since it relaxed its social distancing guidelines last month. South Korea added 230 more virus cases on Tuesday, raising the country’s total to 28,998 since the pandemic began, including 494 deaths. In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:— India's number of new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours dropped to 29,164 new infections, continuing a downturn. The city reported 3,797 new coronavirus cases and 99 fatalities in the past 24 hours, fewer than last week’s daily average of nearly 7,000 cases.
The Latest: 6-day lockdown ordered in South Australia state
Officials announced the severe move Wednesday after a cluster of new coronavirus cases grew to 22. Larry Hogan is imposing limits for operating hours and capacity of businesses amid a surge in coronavirus cases. The seven-day average number of new daily cases is above 1,400 for the first time since early August. The first-term Democrat said Tuesday that he hopes the limits will help curb soaring coronavirus cases in the state. Seven-day rolling averages of daily cases increased from 1,311 on Nov. 2 to 2,459 on Monday.
The Summer of COVD-19 ends with health officials worried
Many Labor Day parades marking the unofficial end of summer were called off, and masks were usually required at the few that went on. "Please, please do not make the same mistakes we all made on Memorial Day weekend. The U.S. had about 1.6 million confirmed COVID-19 cases around Memorial Day, before backyard parties and other gatherings contributed to a summertime surge. It was their first trip out of state since COVID-19 started spreading. They had time off because the Labor Day weekend fair where they typically sell concessions canceled this year.
Comal County continues to see more COVID-19 cases, deaths, likely from Memorial Day weekend
COMAL COUNTY COVID-19 cases continue to soar for Comal County, which has put a strain on the economy and hospitals. New Braunfels is the largest city in Comal County and thats where the majority of COVID-19 cases have risen. The new mayor said the surge came after Memorial Day weekend, which is one of the busiest times for the area. Memorial Day weekend was really a catalyst for the current spread that were seeing, said Comal County Public Information Officer Paul Anthony. RELATED: COVID-19 cases surpass 19,000 in San Antonio, Bexar CountyComal County officials are still dealing with a surge of new cases.
July Fourth weekend will test Americans' discipline
In hard-hit South Florida, beaches from Palm Beach to Key West will be shut down for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)The U.S. headed into the Fourth of July weekend with many parades and fireworks displays canceled, beaches and bars closed, and health authorities warning that this will be a crucial test of Americans' self-control that could determine the trajectory of the surging coronavirus outbreak. The fear is that a weekend of crowded pool parties, picnics and parades will fuel the surge. The warnings were sounded after a Memorial Day weekend that saw many people emerge from stay-at-home orders to go to the beach, restaurants and family gatherings. Dr. Don Williamson, head of the Alabama Hospital Association, said he is really, really worried about the Fourth of July."
How Texans behave on July Fourth will shape the next phase of the state's coronavirus epidemic
The sum of these individual decisions will determine whether Texas coronavirus epidemic is pushed further past the brink. Health officials want people to choose Harper's route, finding safe alternatives to yearly traditions. "We have learned in the past these gatherings that took place during the Memorial Day holiday did lead to the spread of COVID-19," Gov. Outdoor gatherings, like those typically held for the Fourth of July, must be approved by local officials if they more than 10 people are expected. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the city cannot withstand a surge in cases following July 4th like it saw after the Memorial Day weekend.