Senate approves $483B virus aid deal, sends it to House
WASHINGTON — A $483 billion coronavirus aid package flew through the Senate on Tuesday after Congress and the White House reached a deal to replenish a small-business payroll fund and provided new money for hospitals and testing.Passage was swift and unanimous, despite opposition from conservative Republicans.
VA study: Hydroxychloroquine showed no benefit to COVID-19 patients; more deaths
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A malaria drug widely touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus showed no benefit in a large analysis of its use in U.S. veterans hospitals.
President Donald Trump announces executive order to temporarily suspend immigration
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Shortly after 9p.m.
President Trump, Congress near deal on small business, hospital aid
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration and Congress expect an agreement Monday on an aid package of up to $450 billion to boost a small-business loan program that has run out of money and add funds for hospitals and COVID-19 testing.As talks continued, President Donald Trump said there’s a “good chance” of reaching a bipartisan agreement with Democrats.“We are very close to a deal,” President Trump said Sunday at the White House.Along with the small business boost, President Trump said the negotiators were looking at “helping our hospitals,” particularly hard-hit rural health care providers.The Senate is scheduled for a pro forma session Monday, but no vote has been set.The House announced it could meet as soon as Wednesday for a vote on the pending package, according to a schedule update from Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.With small-business owners reeling during a coronavirus outbreak that has shuttered much economic activity, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he was hopeful of a deal that could pass Congress quickly and get the Small Business Administration program back up by midweek.“I’m hopeful that we can get that done,” Mnuchin said Sunday.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also said he believed a deal could be reached. “We still have a few more details to deal with,” he said.The emerging accord links the administration’s effort to replenish a small-business with Democrats’ demands for more money for hospitals and virus testing.
Turkish President Erdogan, President Trump agree on 'close cooperation' in virus crisis
ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump have spoken on the phone, discussing the coronavirus pandemic, bilateral relations and regional developments.According to an account of the phone call shared by the Turkish presidency’s office on Sunday, the two leaders agreed to continue their “close cooperation” against the threats posed by the coronavirus on public health and the economy.
North Korea denies that Kim sent President Trump 'a nice note'
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea on Sunday, April 19 dismissed as “ungrounded” President Donald Trump’s comment that he recently received “a nice note” from the North's leader, Kim Jong Un.President Trump said during a press briefing on the coronavirus pandemic Saturday that “I received a nice note from him recently.
President Trump consults faith leaders on phased-in reopening: 'Come together, pray and worship'
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump held a call with faith leaders on Friday that included discussion about a phased-in return to broader in-person worship after weeks of religious services largely shifting online in response to the coronavirus pandemic.President Trump's call with faith leaders came one day after the White House included houses of worship among “large venues” that could be able to reopen while observing “strict physical distancing protocols” in the first stage of a three-part plan to reopen a U.S. economy that's been frozen by the toll of the highly contagious virus.The call included representatives of multiple Christian denominations as well as Jewish and Islamic leaders, according to a statement distributed by the White House.President Trump “mentioned his memories as a young child attending Billy Graham’s service at Yankee Stadium, and acknowledged that while he has enjoyed watching services online from the White House, he told the faith leaders it is important for people to soon be able to once again come together, pray, and worship," the White House said in its statement.Participants in the call with faith leaders said it featured discussion about how restarting in-person worship could work, without any conclusion reached, and underscored their commitment to not imperiling the health of the faithful.
'LIBERATE:' President Trump pushes states to lift virus restrictions
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump urged supporters to “LIBERATE” three states led by Democratic governors Friday, apparently encouraging protests against stay-at-home restrictions.
No plan in sight: Test troubles cloud President Trump recovery effort
WASHINGTON — The United States is struggling to test enough people to track and control the spread of the novel coronavirus, a crucial first step to reopening parts of the economy, which President Donald Trump is pushing to do by May 1.President Trump on Thursday released a plan to ease business restriction that hinges on a downward trajectory of positive tests.But more than a month after he declared, “Anybody who wants a test, can get a test," the reality has been much different.
Wisconsin Dem congressional reps send letter to FEMA, say state's received no COVID testing materials
MADISON -- Democratic Wisconsin Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02), Gwen Moore (WI-04) and Ron Kind (WI-03) sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) questioning why Wisconsin has received none of the testing materials requested on March 28 and 29 -- specifically testing kits, test collection swabs and reagents.A news release Thursday, April 16 from Rep.
China foreign ministry: WHO found no evidence coronavirus started in lab
WUHAN, China -- China's foreign ministry Thursday, April 16 told reporters the World Health Organization has said there is no evidence the coronavirus outbreak came from a laboratory, according to a report.Spokesman Zhao Lijian was responding to a question about accusations the virus originated from a lab in Wuhan, China, according to Reuters.FOX News reported Wednesday that there is increasing confidence the COVID-19 outbreak likely started in a Wuhan laboratory.
Gov. Evers tells President Trump Wisconsin faces $2 billion in losses
MADISON — Wisconsin faces $2 billion in revenue losses due to skyrocketing unemployment and other hits to the economy caused by the coronavirus, Gov.
President Trump gives governors 3-phase plan to reopen economy
WASHINGTON — New White House guidelines outline a phased approach to restoring normal commerce and services, but only for places with strong testing and seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases.President Donald Trump unveiled his administration's plans to ease social distancing requirements on a call Thursday with the nation's governors.The new guidelines are aimed at clearing the way for an easing of restrictions in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus, while keeping them in place in harder-hit places.Places with declining infections and strong testing would begin a three-phased gradual reopening of businesses and schools, which each phase lasting at least 14 days, meant to ensure that the virus outbreak doesn't accelerate again.Those most susceptible to the respiratory disease would be advised to remain sheltered in place until the final phase.
EU blasts President Trump's WHO funding cut, fears it worsens pandemic
GENEVA — Nations around the world reacted with alarm Wednesday after President Donald Trump announced a halt to the sizable funding the United States sends to the World Health Organization.
President Trump halts US payments to World Health Organization
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says he has directed a halt to U.S. payments to the World Health Organization pending a review of its warnings about the coronavirus and China.President Trump says the outbreak could have been contained at its source and spared lives had the U.N. health agency done a better job investigating reports coming out of China.The president says the world depends on the World Health Organization to work with countries to make sure accurate information about health threats are shared in a timely manner.President Trump claims the organization failed to carry out its “basic duty” and must be held accountable.But Trump says the U.S. will continue to engage with the organization in pursuit of what he calls meaningful reforms.
New President Trump panel to explore path to reopening US economy
WASHINGTON — Every day, a team of public health officials turns up in the White House briefing room to lay out measures being taken to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
President Trump says he'll decide on easing guidelines, not governors
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump asserted Monday that he is the ultimate decision-maker for determining how and when to relax the nation's social distancing guidelines as he grows anxious to reopen the coronavirus-stricken country as soon as possible.Governors and local leaders, who have instituted mandatory restrictions that have the force of law, have expressed concern that President Trump's plan to restore normalcy will cost lives and extend the duration of the outbreak.President Trump has pushed to reopen the economy, which has plummeted as businesses have shuttered, leaving millions of people out of work and struggling to obtain basic commodities.Taking to Twitter on Monday, President Trump said some are "saying that it is the Governors decision to open up the states, not that of the President of the United States & the Federal Government.
White House points to hopeful signs as death toll keeps rising
WASHINGTON — At the end of a week officials had warned would be this generation's Pearl Harbor, White House officials pointed to hopeful signs that the spread of the coronavirus could be slowing, even as President Donald Trump insisted he would not move to reopen the country until it is safe.At the same time, President Trump said he would be announcing the launch of what he dubbed the “Opening our Country" task force, next Tuesday to work toward that goal.“I want to get it open as soon as possible," he said at a Good Friday briefing, while adding: “The facts are going to determine what I do.”With the economy reeling and job losses soaring, President Trump has been itching to reopen the country, drawing alarm from health experts who warn that doing so too quickly could spark a deadly resurgence that could undermine current distancing efforts.But President Trump, who had once set Easter Sunday as the date he hoped people in certain parts of the country might begin to return to work and pack church pews, said he would continue to listen to health experts like Drs.
US 'expels' nearly 10K to Mexico under new border rules
REYNOSA, Mexico -- A U.S. Border Patrol agent wouldn't let Jackeline Reyes explain why she and her 15-year-old daughter fled Honduras and needed asylum, pointing to the coronavirus.