Category: Local Interest,

The Coronavirus’s Unique Threat to the South

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Gulf Coast Region,, Money, Class, and Poverty,Leave a comment

Kaiser’s at-risk group includes all people over 60 years old and all adults younger than 60 who also have heart disease, cancer, lung disease, or diabetes. In each state, older people are the majority of the people considered to be at risk of complications. But the Deep South and mid-South form a solid bloc of states where younger adults are much more at risk. In Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi, relatively young people make up more than a quarter of the vulnerable population. Compare that with the coronavirus’s beachhead in Washington State, where younger adults make up only about 19 percent of the risk group.

…Southerners are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases than other Americans—even as Americans are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases than citizens of other countries with comparable wealth. According to Neuman, these estimates don’t include people with cancer or who are immunocompromised—groups that are also at high risk for serious illness from COVID-19. And cancer mortality rates are highest in southern states.

…These differences are not innate to southerners; they are the result of policy. Health disparities tend to track both race and poverty, and the states in the old domain of Jim Crow have pursued policies that ensure those disparities endure. The South is the poorest region in the country. The poor, black, Latino, or rural residents who make up large shares of southern populations tend to lack access to high-quality doctors and care. According to the State Health Access Data Assistance Center, Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana all spend less than $25 per person on public health a year, compared with $84 per person in New York. Nine of the 14 states that have refused to expand Medicaid to poor residents under the Affordable Care Act are in the South.

…Advocates have drawn attention to the extreme vulnerability of people in prison to the coronavirus—and the South incarcerates a larger proportion of its population than anywhere else in the United States.  …Southern states have some of the lowest ratios of active physicians to patients in the country.

The Coronavirus’s Unique Threat to the South – The Atlantic

Sigh…

Report: Men with guns cut down tree, block driveway to forcably quarantine Vinalhaven residents because they went to the store

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Local Interest,Leave a comment

Report: Men with guns cut down tree, block driveway to quarantine Vinalhaven residents — Midcoast — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine

The local Rep described the victims as having been described as, “arrogant,” when first confronted by the gun-wielding  crazies. “Arrogant.” Makes one wonder what the ethnicity of everyone involved was.

A second pastor has been charged with violating public orders against large gatherings

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Gulf Coast Region,, Media and Culture,, Religion,Leave a comment

“Instead of showing the strength and resilience of our community during this difficult time, Mr. Spell has chosen to embarrass us for his own self-promotion,” said Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran Tuesday in a statement.

“Mr. Spell will have his day in court where he will be held responsible for his reckless and irresponsible decisions that endangered the health of his congregation and our community,” Corcoran added.

A second pastor has been charged with violating public orders against large gatherings – CNN

In a rare turn of events, the Peanut Gallery is decidedly with the Police Chief on this one.

COVID-19 update for Thursday: Sununu issues ‘stay-at-home’ order through May 4, extends school closing, shuts beaches

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Granite State,Leave a comment

New Hampshire’s four-Democrat congressional delegation is criticizing federal health and emergency management agencies for delays in receiving medical supplies – some of which had already expired — to help the state deal with the coronavirus.

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas said it is their understanding that one supervisory error at the Federal Emergency Management Agency resulted in a request sitting unprocessed for four days.

When New Hampshire received supplies in response to its March 17 request, some of it was expired, and the 16,000-plus gloves that were sent were latex, “which are unusable in the medical setting due to latex allergies,” according to the letter sent Wednesday to the heads of FEMA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The delegation said between this shipment and a prior one this month, the agencies have provided only 28% of respirator masks requested, one-third of nasal swabs needed, about 26% of surgical masks and no ventilators.

COVID-19 update for Thursday: Sununu issues ‘stay-at-home’ order through May 4, extends school closing, shuts beaches

hmmm

COVID-19 Was Catalyst in Fight to Free Detained Americans

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Granite State,, Middle East,Leave a comment

“Sen. Shaheen was involved from Day 1. New Hampshire should be proud of a senator like this – who will not put up with one of her constituents being unlawfully detained,” Atallah said.

…Shaheen, along with several other senators, also was deeply involved in the push for the release of North Carolina pastor Andrew Brunson, who was detained in Turkey for two years on trumped up charges and released in late 2018.

…With Fakhoury en route home, Shaheen late last week thanked Atallah as well as National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, NSC staffer Virginia Boney, Roger Carstens, the presidential envoy for hostage affairs who replaced O’Brien in that position, as well as Shea and several other top State Department officials, including Pompeo and Schenker.

“This is exactly how our government should work,” she told reporters. “… Congress and the administration came together on a bipartisan basis to work together to help Americans in need.”

COVID-19 Was Catalyst in Fight to Free Detained Americans | RealClearPolitics

Coronavirus leads to class warfare in Hamptons

On By peanutgallerynhIn Local Interest,, Media and Culture,, Money, Class, and Poverty,Leave a comment

Every aspect of life, most crucially medical care, is under strain from the sudden influx of rich Manhattanites panic-fleeing, bringing along their disdain and disregard for the little people — and in some cases, knowingly bringing coronavirus.

…“We’re at the end of Long Island, the tip, and waves of people are bringing this s–t,” says lifelong Montauker James Katsipis. “We should blow up the bridges. Don’t let them in.”

Coronavirus leads to class warfare in Hamptons

hmmmmm

AP VoteCast: A state-by-state look at Democratic primaries

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Local Interest,, Media and Culture,Leave a comment

Among Michigan voters, …a wide majority — roughly three-quarters — said they think the economic system in this country is unfair. That includes about a third describing it as “very unfair.”  …Biden was considered the candidate best poised to handle the economy.

…In Missouri, a Republican-leaning state, Democratic primary voters were more confident in Biden’s chances of beating Trump than Sanders’.

…Biden bested Sanders among men and women, college graduates and those without a degree, and white and African American voters. He enjoyed a significant advantage among older voters, while Sanders maintained his edge among voters under 30. Moderates and conservatives lined up solidly behind Biden.

While Sanders led among liberal voters, many of them — about 40% — supported Biden.

…Mississippi voters wanted a nominee that cares about people like them. Voters there ranked that as as big a priority as selecting a candidate who can beat Trump and exhibit strong leadership. About 9 in 10 primary voters in Mississippi said each of the three qualities was very important in a Democratic nominee, and Biden overwhelmingly won the support of those voters.

AP VoteCast: A state-by-state look at Democratic primaries – The Washington Post

hmmm