May 2020

Appeals court OKs June 23 NY Democratic presidential primary

NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s Democratic Party leadership gave up trying to cancel the state’s June 23 presidential primary Tuesday after an appeals court rejected arguments that holding it during the coronavirus pandemic would endanger public safety.

Pandemic will alter Communion rituals for many US Christians

NEW YORK (AP) — Holy Communion will have a different look when in-person worship services resume at the end of May in the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee: The wafers signifying the body of Christ will be placed in the hands of parishioners by priests and deacons wearing face masks and safety glasses.

Belmont set for June 20 without fans, leads off Triple Crown

(AP) - The Belmont Stakes will be run June 20 in New York without fans and serve as the opening leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown for the first time in the sport’s history.

Trump’s use of malaria drug likely to be welcomed in India

NEW DELHI (AP) — President Donald Trump’s declaration that he was taking a malaria drug of dubious effectiveness to help fend off the coronavirus will likely be welcomed in India.

US stocks rally on hopes for vaccine and economic recovery

(AP) - The stock market bounced back from its worst week in nearly two months Monday as optimism about a potential vaccine for the coronavirus and hopes for a U.S. economic recovery in the second half of the year put investors in a buying mood.

The S&P 500 climbed 3.2 percent, its best day since early April. The gains erased all of its losses from last week, when the index posted its worst showing since late March and its third weekly loss in the last four. Bond yields rose broadly in another sign that investors were becoming more optimistic.

WHO bows to calls from countries for independent virus probe

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization bowed to calls Monday from most of its member states to launch an independent probe into how it managed the international response to the coronavirus, which has been clouded by finger-pointing between the U.S. and China over a pandemic that has killed over 300,000 people and leveled the global economy.

Outside judge named to preside over cases in Arbery slaying

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A judge from outside the coastal Georgia community where Ahmaud Arbery was fatally shot has been appointed to preside over trial proceedings of the two men charged with Arbery’s murder, including one defendant with close ties to law enforcement.

Three Gulf Coast states get $88M for fisheries flooding

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Three Gulf Coast states are getting more than $88 million in fisheries disaster funds for damage from last year’s flooding, which included an unprecedented two openings of a spillway west of New Orleans.

“These funds will help industries and individuals recover from this disaster, and build resilience for the future,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who declared a fisheries disaster in September, said in a news release Monday.

NATIONAL BRIEFS

Senate votes to curb car accident lawsuits in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE (AP) — The Louisiana Senate agreed Monday to change the rules for lawsuits over car wrecks, aiming to limit damage claims against insurance companies and other businesses.

The Senate voted 29-8 for the bill by Republican Sen. Kirk Talbot of River Ridge. The Republican-led “tort reform” effort is a priority of business lobbying groups.

Two entities receive reports on finances

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office (LLAO) recently released the results of two entities in the parish.

First off, a report on financial statements for the 2019 fiscal year was released on Jeff Davis Parish Marsh Bayou Gravity Drainage District.

The statements include all funds under the control of the district. The accom-panying financial statements were prepared on the cash basis of accounting.