Tag Archives: Feb

Health

COVID-19 Statistics | Feb. 28, 2022 | Lost Coast Outpost

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Humboldt County Public Health reported today a new hospitalization of a resident aged 80 or older due to COVID-19. An additional 104 new positive cases of COVID-19 were also reported since Friday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the county to 19,596. No new deaths were reported and today marks the lowest number of new positive cases reported on a Monday since Dec. 20, at the beginning of the surge of the Omicron variant.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced today that the statewide indoor mask mandate for unvaccinated individuals ends after 11:59 p.m. Feb. 28, but health officials will continue to strongly recommend masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.

California is set to end its universal masking requirements in K-12 and childcare settings at 11:59 p.m. on March 11. State health officials said they will continue to strongly recommend masks be worn in schools and to promote masks and testing for children after the mandate is lifted. Masking will still be required in high-risk settings under the state health officer order, such as areas of public transit, health care, long-term care facilities, jails and prisons.

Humboldt County Public Health Director Sofia Pereira said, “We know masking reduces the spread of COVID-19 in our community and across the state. We join the state in strongly recommending wearing a mask indoors, regardless of your vaccination status.”

Beginning today, the Joint Information Center (JIC) will issue Case Count news releases and Data Dashboard updates three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Also starting today, the JIC Call Center will be open 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. and closed from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch. Additional scheduling reductions are planned.

Residents, particularly those who are unvaccinated, are urged to continue to take protective measures against COVID-19 by washing hands frequently, socially distancing, wearing a well-fitted mask and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.

CDPH continues to stress that COVID-19 vaccine is preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death and urge Californians to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible. State health officials recommend that every vaccinated person 12 years or older get a booster as long as they received their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least five months ago or they received their Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.

Moderately to severely immunocompromised persons should get all doses in the vaccine series which is one more than someone who is not immunocompromised. They are also strongly recommended to get a booster three months after the third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two months after receiving the second dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Individuals should stay home and away from others and get tested if they become sick or experience COVID-19 symptoms that may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue or muscle aches.

Vaccines remain readily available and, as always, Humboldt County’s vaccination and testing services are available free of charge. While walk-ins are allowed at all Public Health clinics and some pharmacy vaccination sites, appointments are recommended for all vaccinations and are the best way to ensure a shot is available during your visit. Appointments can be made at MyTurn.ca.gov.

Vaccines, including boosters, are available at local pharmacies. To check the availability of a specific vaccine, visit the vaccines.gov page, or text your ZIP code to 438829 to locate a nearby pharmacy offering vaccines.

See the schedule below for specific Public Health vaccination and testing clinic dates, times, locations and available services. Questions about clinic services can be directed to the Joint Information Center at 1-707-441-5000.

Eureka — Tuesday, March 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed from noon to 1 p.m.
       Public Health Main Office (529 I St.)
      Ages 5 and older
      Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
      No testing available
      $25 gift card for adults receiving a first or second dose
      Appointments recommended.

Willow Creek — Tuesday, March 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed from noon to 1 p.m.
      Public Health Office (77 Walnut Way)
      Ages 5 and older
      Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
      PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
      $25 gift card for adults receiving a first or second dose
      Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

Eureka — Wednesday, March 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
      Humboldt County Agriculture Building (5630 S. Broadway)
      Ages 5 and older
      Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
      PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
      Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

Blue Lake — Thursday, March 3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
       Blue Lake Resource Center (111 Greenwood Road)
       Ages 5 and older
       Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
       PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
       Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

Eureka — Friday, March 4, 1 to 8 p.m.
      Wharfinger Building (1 Marina Way)
      Ages 5 and older
      Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
      No rapid testing available at this clinic. PCR testing offered through OptumServe by appointment on the lower floor of the Wharfinger Building.
      Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

McKinleyville — Saturday, March 5, 10 a.m. to 3p.m.
      McKinleyville High School (1300 Murray Road)
      Ages 5 and older
      Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
      PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
      Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

Eureka — Monday, March 7, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Closed from noon to 1 p.m.
     Public Health Main Office (529 I St.)
     Ages 12 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     No testing available
     $25 gift card for adults receiving a first or second dose
     Appointments recommended.

View the Data Dashboard online at humboldtgov.org/dashboard, or go to humboldtgov.org/DashboardArchives to download data from a previous time. For the most recent COVID-19 information, visit cdc.gov or cdph.ca.gov. Local information is available at humboldtgov.org or by contacting covidinfo@co.humboldt.ca.us or calling 1-707-441-5000.

 

Sign up for COVID-19 vaccination: MyTurn.ca.gov
Check for vaccine availability at a local pharmacy: Vaccines.gov
Local COVID-19 vaccine information: humboldtgov.org/VaccineInfo
Humboldt County COVID-19 Data Dashboard: humboldtgov.org/Dashboard
Follow us on Facebook: @HumCoCOVID19
Instagram: @HumCoCOVID19
Twitter: @HumCoCOVID19
Humboldt Health Alert: humboldtgov.org/HumboldtHealthAlert

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Entertainment

WWE SmackDown recap & reactions (Feb. 25, 2022): Skid mark security

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WWE has taken to selling the Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar title vs. title match at WrestleMania 38 as “The biggest WrestleMania match of all time.” We had a chat about as much in the Cageside offices during Friday Night SmackDown this week and I actually think they may have some claim to selling it as such.

What was bigger? Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant? Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior? Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock? John Cena vs. The Rock? I legitimately believe you could argue in good faith that these two, with the feud they’ve put together, and the stakes at play, at the venue they’re having the match in, could be called what they’re selling it as.

Feel free to tell me how full of shit I am, if you think I am.

A quick note on all this, by the way: both The Usos and Paul Heyman called it not just a title vs. title winner take all match but a title unification. Might we finally be moving away from a title for each brand and down the path of one major championship like it always should have been?

As for the contract signing they did here, I want to note just how much I love that Lesnar has shown this new side to himself, with the cowboy hat, the turtleneck, the jacket, the whole style of it and WWE has made sure they haven’t lost sight of the absolute monster that lies underneath all that.

It makes me think of the first John Wick movie. That movie was about revenge, sure, but it worked so well because while Wick was methodically breaking down everyone in his path to get that revenge, they made sure to do a lot of character building throughout, all designed to continuously remind you of one thing — this is a baaaaaaad dude right here.

That’s what they did with Lesnar in this segment.

Yeah, he’s out here smiling and yucking it up with fans and having a blast, sure. But he also cut a hell of a promo calling security guards skid marks (lol) and reminding Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman that nothing could stop him from jumping over that table and kicking their ass. He’s also a mammoth of a man who can pick up a big ass table and hurl it at three fully grown men like it didn’t weigh an ounce. This big sum bitch picked a chair up and threw it at a guy’s face, barely breaking a sweat in the process. He easily handled like nine guys rushing him and they did nothing to stop him because they could do nothing except take the ass whooping he was giving to them.

That’s how you build up a badass.

And that’s how you build to the biggest WrestleMania match of all time.

Reigns did his part too, perfectly playing the role of the arrogant boss who has lorded over everything and everyone on this show for nearly two years and believes himself above it all. We’ve seen him make good on his words time and time again. But he’s gotta deal with a whole different beast now.

WrestleMania can’t get here soon enough.

Hey, Johnny Knoxville is back!

You know, my bar for celebrities in pro wrestling is pretty low. You’re a success in my book as long as you take it seriously enough that you don’t make a mockery of it and/or you genuinely seem to be having a good time with it. This shit is supposed to be fun, after all.

Knoxville clears that bar easily.

Because he’s an absolute madman willing to hurt himself very badly for our entertainment one would think he’s perfect for this pro wrestling thing but I get a little worried for the guy when I see him get absolutely hammered in the face with this Helluva Kick here:

Sheesh!

If they’re really planning on giving us Zayn vs. Knoxville at WrestleMania, I’m a little scared of where that might take us. He’s going to have to do something to make that match worthwhile in front of 100,000 people and he can barely take a bump.

Oh, this is going to be nuts, isn’t it?

All the rest
  • Michael Cole interviewed Ronda Rousey to kick off the show, and they went pretty heavy handed with trying to get her even more over as a babyface. They garnered sympathy with injuries and a pregnancy and her desire to return and be great again and tap out Charlotte Flair. And it worked well enough. When Flair herself showed up to say she would make Rousey tap for the first time, she was roundly booed and it was clear Ronda had the full support of the audience. Sonya Deville showed up to help Flair with a sneak attack and the fact that she’s pulling double duty like this has become the height of hilarity. Ronda fought her off and sold a knee injury. We quickly learned this was just to set up Rousey vs. Deville for next week. She’ll need matches like this to keep her strong en route to the big one.
  • Los Lotharios scored a win over The New Day and appeared poised for a push up the ladder. So this week Big E threatened to run Humberto over with his four wheeler in order to distract Angel enough get the victory. The match was really good for a TV tag.
  • We’re definitely getting a five-way tag title match at WrestleMania for The Usos’ straps, aren’t we?
  • Xia Li finally wrestled on this show, and the match was such that fans in the arena started chanting “Hershey’s chocolate.” Pat McAfee responded by saying “Pennsylvania is saying ‘Xia Li’s got it,’ and they’re 100-percent right.” She won the match, and those same fans cheered. It was fine in the end.
  • Sasha Banks is back! She scored a dominant win over Shotzi, smiling wide while submitting her with the Bank Statement. Naomi was out on commentary and revealed they are a team now and plan to win the women’s tag team titles.
  • I quite liked Drew McIntyre teasing another Alabama Slam on Madcap Moss and Moss freaking out in response, wildly grabbing at the ropes to save him from being dumped on his head again which, I will remind you, was entirely his fault. I love pro wrestling sometimes. I also love that WWE advertised McIntyre vs. Moss initially, then changed it to McIntyre vs. Corbin hours before the show, then during the show changed it back to McIntyre vs. Moss. Does that mean McIntyre vs. Corbin is being saved for WrestleMania? Do we feel good about it if so? Having said all that, this was great:

This wasn’t a particularly thrilling show until that absolute banger of a main event segment.

Grade: B-

Your turn.

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Health

COVID-19 Statistics | Feb. 24, 2022 | Lost Coast Outpost

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Humboldt County Public Health reported today the death of a resident in their 60s due to COVID-19. Staff in the Department Operations Center extend their condolences to all who have lost a loved one to the virus.

Two new hospitalizations were reported, a resident in their 60s and another aged 80 or older. An additional 24 new positive cases were also reported, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the county to 19,458.

Starting Feb. 28, the Joint Information Center (JIC) will begin reporting Case Count news releases and Data Dashboard updates three times a week instead of five. Those will be issued Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with the goal of moving to once weekly updates as Humboldt County transitions from a pandemic to an endemic response.

A calculation error involving the total percentage of Humboldt County residents aged 5 and older who are fully vaccinated was identified by a caller to the Joint Information Center. This error has now been corrected. As of Tuesday, a total of 87,791 residents, or nearly 69% of the county’s population aged 5 and older, were fully vaccinated. Approximately 7% of the population aged 5 and older has been partially vaccinated as of this reporting period.

Residents, particularly those who are unvaccinated, are urged to continue to take protective measures against COVID-19 by washing hands frequently, socially distancing, wearing a well-fitted mask approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.

CDPH recommends individuals stay home and away from others and get tested if they become sick or experience COVID-19 symptoms that may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue or muscle aches.

Vaccines remain readily available and, as always, Humboldt County’s vaccination and testing services are available free of charge. While walk-ins are allowed at all Public Health clinics and some pharmacy vaccination sites, appointments are recommended for all vaccinations and are the best way to ensure a shot is available during your visit. Appointments can be made at MyTurn.ca.gov.

Vaccines, including boosters, are available at local pharmacies. To check the availability of a specific vaccine, visit the vaccines.gov page, or text your ZIP code to 438829 to locate a nearby pharmacy offering vaccines.

See the schedule below for specific Public Health vaccination and testing clinic dates, times, locations and available services. Questions about clinic services can be directed to the Joint Information Center at 1-707-441-5000. 

Bridgeville — Friday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
     Bridgeville Community Center (38717 Kneeland Road)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

Eureka — Saturday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
     College of the Redwoods Gym Lobby (7351 Tompkins Hill Road)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

Eureka — Saturday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
     United Methodist Church (1901 F St.)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

Eureka — Monday, Feb. 28, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Closed from noon to 1 p.m.
     Public Health Main Office (529 I St.)
     Ages 12 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     No testing available
     $25 gift card for adults receiving a first or second dose
     Appointments recommended.

Eureka — Tuesday, Mar. 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed from noon to 1 p.m.
 Public Health Main Office (529 I St.)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     No testing available
     $25 gift card for adults receiving a first or second dose
     Appointments recommended.

Willow Creek — Tuesday, Mar. 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed from noon to 1 p.m.
     Public Health Office (77 Walnut Way)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     $25 gift card for adults receiving a first or second dose
     Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

Eureka — Wednesday, Mar. 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
     Humboldt County Agriculture Building (5630 S. Broadway)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

Blue Lake — Thursday, Mar. 3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
     Blue Lake Resource Center (111 Greenwood Road)
     Ages 5 and older
     Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson/Moderna
     PCR and rapid testing available on a first-come first-served basis
     Appointments for vaccinations recommended.

View the Data Dashboard online at humboldtgov.org/dashboard, or go to humboldtgov.org/DashboardArchives to download data from a previous time. For the most recent COVID-19 information, visit cdc.gov or cdph.ca.gov. Local information is available at humboldtgov.org or by contacting covidinfo@co.humboldt.ca.us or calling 1-707-441-5000.

 

Sign up for COVID-19 vaccination: MyTurn.ca.gov
Check for vaccine availability at a local pharmacy: Vaccines.gov
Local COVID-19 vaccine information: humboldtgov.org/VaccineInfo
Humboldt County COVID-19 Data Dashboard: humboldtgov.org/Dashboard
Follow us on Facebook: @HumCoCOVID19
Instagram: @HumCoCOVID19
Twitter: @HumCoCOVID19
Humboldt Health Alert: humboldtgov.org/HumboldtHealthAlert

###



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Entertainment

WWE SmackDown recap & reactions (Feb. 18, 2022): Go home indeed

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The problem with only being one note is that eventually that note is overplayed.

Goldberg has been there for quite some time now and it leads to segments like what we got here, where he has to say something and they settle something like this:

“I gotta apologize in front of all these wonderful people and the entire world. I was wrong. You’re not next. When it comes to the Universal championship, I’M NEXT!”

Like, what?!?

That’s supposed to be a slick way of saying he’ll win the title and become the next champion, yeah, I get that, but his doing so doesn’t mean Reigns isn’t next as far as being the guy he has to beat to become that. Both statements are true, and therefore he is not wrong like he claims to be.

I’m giving it this much thought because, again, there’s no other analysis to be made here. It’s just a nothing match, thrown together at the last minute for the Saudi show, a speed bump on the way to a much bigger match that actually has a storyline attached to it.

This sucked.

In hindsight, we always should have known better.

When video from the arena was posted online showcasing a hilariously bad miscommunication between Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair, it made for the kind of pro wrestling clip that makes you cringe at how fake it all is. WWE was always going to edit to make it look better, though, and through the magic of television it came off like this:

The wrestlers in the ring aren’t the only pros in WWE!

Meanwhile, this was a fairly standard contract signing that featured Rousey getting a badass line in and the babyfaces standing tall going into the match. The added stipulation that Rousey will have one arm tied behind her back doesn’t do much for me, nor does it make me any more interested in the match itself, but your mileage may vary.

Sami Zayn won the Intercontinental championship on this show and, uh, I wish there was more to say about it?

Zayn set up a fair match last week when he zapped Rick BOOGS and ensured he would still be too injured to interfere on behalf of Shinsuke Nakamura. Sure enough, it was a straight up 1v1 and Zayn came out ahead by being smart enough to avoid Nakamura’s finisher and work over a knee that Shinsuke hurt by running it into the steps earlier in the match.

That’s all well and good, it was just sort of there.

The finish was such that fans in the arena hardly knew how to react to it. It just sort of happened.

All the rest
  • Sheamus and Ricochet decided to put on an absolute banger for this taped show, and I ain’t mad at ‘em for it. Ricochet scored the win after Ridge Holland tried to interfere and kinda/sorta got in the way, costing Sheamus. The two had an argument in the ring after. It seems too early for a breakup here, but it keeps things interesting.
  • Remember two weeks ago when Jimmy Uso beat Erik in a singles match? We got the opposite this week, with Ivar beating Jey Uso. He won by disqualification, but still. At least the Viking Raiders got their gear back, I guess.
  • Drew McIntyre cut a promo where he told a few jokes they dubbed some laughter over, Madcap Moss told another bad joke, and promises were made that Elimination Chamber will be “the night the laughter died.” That’s a line that works well on paper but it was pretty cheesy here, especially coming from the guy who carries a comically large sword he can never use.

There’s some slack to give WWE here, considering they had to tape this to account for traveling around the world but there just wasn’t much to this show.

Grade: D+

Your turn.

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World

5 things to know for Feb. 15: Ukraine, Covid-19, Trump business, USPS, Afghanistan

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(You can also get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.)

1. Ukraine

Russia said today some of its troops would return to base after completing recent drills, but stressed that other major military exercises would continue. For weeks, Moscow has steadily built up its forces around Ukraine, with everything from submarines and ships in the Black Sea, to ballistic missiles and tanks near the border — raising fears that an invasion is imminent. Videos of these movements, mostly from satellite imagery and social media, are putting global stock markets on edge. While there were some signs of a possible last-minute openness to a diplomatic de-escalation by the Kremlin yesterday, officials are worried by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s erratic moves as more than 130,000 troops remain near Ukraine’s border. Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the US for sending his country $1 billion financial aid amid the ongoing crisis. He also thanked Canada for sending half a billion dollars in financial aid.

2. Pandemic protests

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is invoking the Emergencies Act for the first time to address the impact of continued protests across Canada over Covid-19 mitigation measures. The Emergencies Act can provide the use of the military, but may not necessarily lead to that. It can also temporarily suspend citizens’ rights to free movement or assembly. The Canadian government is going after those who financially support the groups by freezing personal and corporate accounts believed to be funding the protests. This comes after the Ambassador Bridge — North America’s busiest land border crossing — reopened after a blockade was cleared and Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, announced plans to loosen pandemic restrictions.

3. Trump business

Former President Donald Trump’s long-time accounting firm informed the Trump Organization last week that it should no longer rely on nearly 10 years’ worth of financial statements. The tax firm, Mazars, also announced they would no longer serve as the accountants to the Trumps, citing a conflict of interest. Mazars said the only work not completed was the filing of Trump and Melania Trump’s tax returns. A Trump Organization spokesperson responded to the firm cutting ties, expressing disappointment at the split and also suggested Mazars performed their work “in accordance with all applicable accounting standards and principles” without any discrepancies.

4. US Postal Service

The sweeping bill to overhaul the US Postal Service’s finances hit a snag yesterday in the Senate. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, objected to a unanimous consent request to make a technical fix to the bipartisan bill. The measure seeks to overhaul the Postal Service’s finances to help allow it to modernize its service. Scott, however, argued that the Senate should slow down and work to improve issues with the legislation. The Senate was not able vote to advance the bill yesterday, but despite the delay, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed the Senate will eventually pass it soon.

5. Afghanistan

The last several hundred Afghan evacuees who have been living on US military bases are expected to depart over the next week, signaling the end to a months long operation to resettle tens of thousands of Afghans. Last fall, more than 50,000 Afghan nationals arrived in the US and gradually moved to communities across the country after extensive vetting following the frenzied evacuation due to the Taliban resurgence. The effort — dubbed “Operation Allies Welcome” — has been a heavy lift for the Biden administration, which has pushed to increase its resettlement capacity across agencies.

BREAKFAST BROWSE

Netflix releases ‘Bridgerton’ Season 2 teaser trailer

Oh, the suspense! The internet is raging about this spicy and regal drama.

A rocket is on course to slam into the moon in about 2 weeks

That doesn’t sound very good… scientists say the impact won’t be visible from Earth, but will certainly create a crater.

Rare notebook with handwritten lyrics by The Beatles to go on display

Music buffs! Check out some of the group’s legendary doodles, including Paul McCartney’s draft lyrics for the song “Hey Jude.” 

Jordan Peele has another horror movie that will give you a fright

‘Nope.’ Who else still gets antsy thinking about his 2017 film ‘Get Out?’

AirAsia flight gets rerouted after snake found on board plane

Nope… can you handle a real-life ‘Snakes on a Plane’ moment? I can’t!

TODAY’S NUMBER

300,000

That’s how many jobs have been affected by the US suspension of avocado imports from Mexico, according to an organization representing avocado farmers. The suspension was initiated over the weekend by US officials after one of its officers received a threatening call to his cell phone while completing inspection work. An investigation into the threat is currently underway.

OLYMPICS UPDATE

Russian teen Kamila Valieva is expected to skate today after being cleared to compete amid a doping controversy that’s cast a shadow over Russia’s involvement in the Winter Olympics. The 15-year-old blames her positive drug test on a mix-up with her grandfather’s medication, a top IOC official said.
Follow the latest news and highlights from the Winter Olympics here.

TODAY’S QUOTE

“Can we get a solid answer on the difference of (Valieva’s) situation and mines?”

— Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, questioning why Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was allowed to continue competing at the Beijing Olympic Games after testing positive for a banned substance, months after a positive test for cannabis derailed her own Olympic dreams.

TODAY’S WEATHER

Check your local forecast here>>>

AND FINALLY

Appreciate the outdoors!

Studies show that spending time in nature — or even just watching it on a screen — will significantly boost your happiness. (Click here to learn more)



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Entertainment

Rhea Ripley vs. Doudrop – Gauntlet Match to determine who enters Chamber last: Raw, Feb. 14, 2022 – WWE

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  1. Rhea Ripley vs. Doudrop – Gauntlet Match to determine who enters Chamber last: Raw, Feb. 14, 2022 WWE
  2. WWE Monday Night RAW Live Results, Your Feedback And Viewing Party Wrestling Inc.
  3. How to Watch WWE Raw and NXT This Week Yahoo Entertainment
  4. Brock Lesnar and Lita return to prepare for Elimination Chamber: WWE Now, Feb. 14, 2022 WWE
  5. 2/14 WWE Raw Results: Powell’s live review of the Damian Priest vs. AJ Styles for the US Championship, Brock Lesnar and Lita appear on the Elimination Chamber go-home show, Randy Orton and Riddle throw a Broga Party ProWrestling.net
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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US

Illinois lifting mask mandate for some by Feb. 28, Gov. JB Pritzker says schools, jails, hospitals will be exceptions

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CHICAGO (WLS) — Gov. JB Pritzker announced plans Wednesday to partially lift Illinois’ indoor mask mandate by the end of February.

Pritzker said Illinois has handled COVID better than almost every other state in the Midwest, in part because people wore their masks. He cited improving hospitalization metrics as the driving force behind his decision to ease the statewide mandate.

“We are now seeing the fastest rate of decline in our COVID-19 hospitalization metrics since the pandemic began,” Pritzker said. “If these trends continue, and we expect them to, then on Monday, Feb. 28, we will lift the indoor mask requirement for the state of Illinois.”

Pritzker said that local jurisdictions and businesses may still require stricter rules than the state, and must be respected.

WATCH: Gov. Pritzker plans to lift indoor mask mandate in some locations this month

Pritzker said the changes will impact malls, restaurants, bars and places of business, but not schools. Schools are governed by a separate mandate, and will be addressed separately.

“We still have the sensitive locations of K-12 schools, where we have lots of people, who are joined together in smaller spaces, and so that’s something that will come weeks hence,” Pritzker said Wednesday.

A downstate judge’s ruling against the school mandate and the governor’s subsequent appeal have led to protests and confusion in districts across the state.

The changes will also not impact congregate settings like prisons or nursing homes, Pritzker said, or healthcare facilities or public transit, which are under a federal mask mandate.

RELATED: School mask policies in chaos after ruling; parents plan protests

Colleen McNeal is a CTA commuter, who is happy to keep her mask on when riding the L.

“Just because there are rush hours. It’s so many people boarding the train. There’s limited seating. There’s a lot going on, especially on the Green Line, with people smoking and things of that nature,” she said.

The governor reinstated the indoor mask mandate in late August after COVID hospitalizations started to rise again. The governor has always said the mask decision was driven by hospitalization data, and hospitalizations statewide have been falling consistently for the past seven days, and by more than 60% statewide in the past month.

Most regions in the area are out of the warning zone, or close to it, for hospital bed availability.

That has been the key metric the governor’s office has focused on in making mask mandate decisions.

“Very importantly, things are getting better across the state of Illinois,” Pritzker said.

With Democratic governors on the west and east coasts lifting their mask requirements, Pritzker is facing mounting pressure.

Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin wrote him a letter saying in part, “Governor, it has been a long two years and the people deserve to know what you are doing…Your lack of plan has forced people to give up hope that they can ever have a normal life in Illinois.”

Even if the statewide mask mandate is lifted, individual municipalities can continue to impose their own rules.

Separate announcements are expected in the coming days from Chicago and suburban counties.

Some business owners are eager for the mandate to be lifted.

The owner of Eggcited Pancake House in Naperville was anticipating this decision, and welcomes it.

“It’s a very unpleasant situation to be in as a business owner because, again, we have staff that are not comfortable with it, that want it to be off and then staff that do want to continue to be wearing masks,” said Filiz Sav, owner.

She expects some staff and customers may still decide to wear masks, at least for a while.

Moon Rabbit Acupuncture in the West loop has been carefully navigating through the pandemic, complying with any and all COVID safety mandates.

“It’s with a big feeling of relief to get back to normal. I think a lot of the other business owners are just gonna be so excited,” said Gudrun Snyder, with Moon Rabbit.

With wellness in mind, Owner Snyder still wants her customers to feel comfortable when the mask mandate is lifted.

“If they wanna continue to wear their masks, they should, but people who don’t want to once the mask mandate is lifted, we welcome them to come in and show us their smiles,” she said.

Some people are still leery, believing the governor was too hasty.

“I will still continue to wear my mask,” said Dana Garland. “I will still continue to wash hands and do all the things that prevent others from being sick. I would rather have some protection than none, and I would hope that others follow along.”

And medical experts encourage that kind of attitude.

“If you find yourself in a crowded indoor setting, a mask will continue to help protect you,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “We will continue to recommend masks as we move forward in a world where we will coexist with COVID.”

Restaurant Owner and Chairman of the Illinois Restaurant Association Sam Sanchez said lifting the mask mandate and even the vaccine mandate as quickly as possible is essential to keep more restaurants from closing.

“By removing the mask mandate and the vaccine mandate, our customers will feel comfortable and confident it’s safe to come out, and then our business will flourish,” he said.

Medical experts worry mask mandate will be lifted too soon

ICU beds are empty again at St. Anthony Hospital, but not long ago the community hospital on the border of North Lawndale and Little Village was full of COVID patients.

“Even though cases have gone down recently, it was devastating over the holidays, we saw rises and so many deaths,” said nurse supervisor Fabian Vigil.

Vigil has been on the front lines for the entire pandemic and is concerned lifting the mandate will result in another surge.

“You would almost think we would be immune to it but it still hurts,” he said. “Every COVID death, it affects us in a different way, every time.”

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Alfredo Mena-Lora said if mask mandates are going away, more people must get vaccinated. Until then, masks remain prudent.

“We are still nationwide at a point where there are 2,000 cases, 2,000 deaths a day, and it’s primarily folks who are unvaccinated,” he said.

Pediatric specialists are worried about children 5 and under who can’t get vaccinated yet, and immunocompromised patients.

“I understand people are tired of wearing masks, I’m tired of wearing masks, I think people want to get back to normal, unfortunately the virus doesn’t care what we want,” said Dr. Taylor Heald-Sargent, Lurie Children’s Hospital.

Many on the front lines say we are not yet out of the woods and suggest holding onto our masks a bit longer.

Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Sports

2022 NBA trade deadline: Live updates and rumors involving James Harden, Ben Simmons, others ahead of Feb. 10

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The NBA’s Feb. 10 trade deadline grows closer by the hour, and as such, the deals are beginning to trickle in. The Los Angeles Clippers swiped Norman Powell and Robert Covington from the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, and not to be outdone, the Cleveland Cavaliers responded by landing Caris LeVert on Sunday. Those deals are just the appetizers. The Philadelphia 76ers are still seeking a deal for Ben Simmons. James Harden is suddenly available. The Los Angeles Lakers are desperate to make a move of some kind to support LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and there’s always a surprise or two before the buzzer sounds.

There will be no shortage of action in the coming hours, and the music doesn’t stop until 3 p.m. ET on Thursday. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered until then. We’re tracking every deal, monitoring the biggest rumors and grading trades as they arrive, but in this space, we’ll be reacting to the news as it happens. Stay here for the latest updates and reactions during the final stretch of trading this NBA season.  

Key trades ahead of Feb. 10 deadline

  • Jazz acquire Blazers’ Alexander-Walker, Spurs’ Hernangomez in three-team deal
  • Kings give up Haliburton to get Sabonis: Trade Grades
  • Pelicans land McCollum from Blazers in seven-player deal: Trade Grades
  • Pacers send LeVert to Cavs for Rubio, picks: Trade Grades
  • Clippers acquire Powell, Covington from Blazers: Trade Grades
  • Knicks land Reddish from Hawks for Knox, protected 2022 first-rounder: Trade Grades

For in-depth analysis on every trade, click here.

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US

Statewide mask mandate for K-12 schools will be lifted Feb. 28, Baker says

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“People have made a lot of progress by doing all the work that they’ve done over the past two years to help kids and those who work with them in schools,” Baker said. “And today’s announcement is another big step forward to safely manage COVID while we get back to what I would describe as the familiar and normal aspects of school and life.”

Baker’s words were echoed by state Jeffrey C. Riley, commissioner of the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, both in the statement and the later briefing.

“During the past two years, the impact of COVID-19 on children has caused a strain on their mental health, emotional well-being and academic success,” Riley said in the statement. “We are relieved to now be in a place where we can provide young people additional relief from COVID-19 restrictions so they can continue to return to normalcy in the classroom.”

During the briefing, Riley told reporters that officials “believe that removing the mask requirement will make it easier for students to learn, particularly our young readers and students learning English as a second language. While masking is no longer a statewide requirement, we ask all school leaders and students to make sure they respect all individual choices around mask wearing.”

Riley added that officials are “relieved to now be in a place where we can provide young people additional relief from COVID-19 restrictions so they can continue to move towards normalcy in the classroom.” Local school districts will decide whether to keep mask mandates in place, Riley said.

“Local decision making has been, you know, a practice of Massachusetts for a long time,” Riley said. “And at time, the state has had to step in when necessary. But I can’t speak to the future. … The state mask mandate is being lifted, and then what happens next will happen at the local level.”

High vaccination rates in Mass. also make lifting the statewide mandate possible, Baker said.

“In Massachusetts we do have very high vaccination rates among our overall population,” he said. “Very high vaccination rates, again I’m speaking relative to other states, very high vaccination rates for kids who are in school. Most states don’t have a kind of surveillance testing program that we have in place. Most states don’t have pool testing. Most states don’t have take-home tests. We also have one of the lowest hospitalization rates in the country.”

As of Feb. 1, 51 percent of Massachusetts residents aged 5 to 11 had received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 83 percent of youths age 12 to 15 and 82 percent of teens 16 to 19 have, according to the most recent data posted to the DPH website.

The statement said masking continues to be required on all school buses, per a federal order.

The Department of Early Education and Care will also lift mask requirements currently in place for all licensed child care providers effective February 28, and let programs develop policies specific to the children they serve, officials said, and DESE will release additional guidance for programs next week.

Officials said data collected in recent months from the state’s Test and Stay shows students and staff individually identified as asymptomatic close contacts and repeatedly tested in school test negative more than 90 percent of the time.

“Schools are safe environments, most children now have had access to vaccinations that greatly reduce the risk for severe disease for several months, and thousands of families across the Commonwealth have taken this opportunity to protect their children,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito in the statement. “This is the right time to lift the mask mandate, and we will continue to encourage vaccination and host clinics at any school that wants to hold one to further protect their students from COVID.”

The move comes as additional local mask mandates for indoor public spaces have recently gone by the wayside in various communities.

On Tuesday, Salem became the latest community to axe its masking order, when the Board of Health voted unanimously to rescind its December indoor mask mandate as well as a separate rule requiring customers of businesses like restaurants, bars, and gyms to show proof of vaccination.

“The Salem Board of Health has and will always make decisions on Covid mitigation based upon the science and data available,” said Dr. Jeremy Schiller, the board chair, in a statement. “These metrics are analyzed on a daily basis and consequently, given the current local hospitalization numbers and ICU capacity, it warranted revisiting these measures.”

His words were echoed by Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll.

“COVID has taken the lives of 115 of our neighbors here in Salem and impacted the lives of many thousands more here,” Driscoll said in the statement. “I am incredibly grateful for the expertise and thoughtfulness of our Board of Health. They have and will continue to make decisions driven by science and data, aimed at protecting public health in the best interest of our community.”

The ending of the orders in Salem came one day after Worcester’s Board of Health voted to rescind its citywide mask mandate, following other communities that have made similar moves as COVID-19 cases decline.

By a 3-2 margin, the Worcester panel chose to remove the indoor mask requirement effective Feb. 18, just before Presidents’ Day weekend.

In Lowell, the city’s indoor mask mandate was rescinded Feb. 2, but officials said in a statement that masks “are still required in school and City buildings.”

Malden, meanwhile, rescinded its mask mandate last week, citing declining virus and hospitalization numbers and increased vaccine access, according to an executive order signed by Mayor Gary Christenson and Health Board director Christopher Webb.

In Mansfield, officials last week rescinded a town mandate requiring people to wear face coverings in indoor public locations. The change took effect Monday.

The trend is similar in other states.

In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, announced Monday that a statewide mask mandate in schools will be lifted effective March 7.

And The New York Times reported Monday that Connecticut will allow students and staff members to stop wearing masks in schools by no later than Feb. 28, after Gov. Ned Lamont recommended the statewide mask mandate end that day.

The governors of Delaware and Oregon also made announcements on Monday about relaxing mask mandates at the end of March, and California officials said that state’s universal mask mandate for indoor public places would be lifted next week, the Times reported.

The CDC says on its website that masks remain a vital tool in the battle against the once-in-a-generation global health crisis.

The CDC site says people older than 2 should mask up in indoor public places if they’re not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, if they’re fully vaccinated but in an area with substantial or high transmission, or if they’re fully vaccinated with weakened immune systems.

You’re considered fully vaccinated once you have two shots of the Pfizer of Moderna vaccine or the single-shot Johnson & Johnson poke.

Material from prior Globe stories was used in this report.

Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.



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Sports

2022 NBA trade deadline buzz: Feb. 9 edition

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Damian Lillard said in a recent Q&A he is committed to the Blazers’ future.

As we close in on the official trade deadline (Thursday, 3 p.m. ET), keep up with the latest rumblings around the NBA — and the latest deals that have been agreed to — as deadline day approaches.

Feb. 8 | Feb. 9

Lillard: My ‘heart’ is with Blazers

After Portland traded CJ McCollum yesterday in a blockbuster move amid a seeming rebuild, Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard talked with Casey Holdahl on Blazers.com. In the Q&A interview, Lillard reflected on his time with McCollum and, when asked about his feelings on the state of the team said: “For me, my heart is Portland Trail Blazer. I want to win it. I know that I have a plan that’s going to put me on my best level when I come back to play. And I want our team to fit that.”

> More details here

— 7:41 a.m.

Embiid open to Simmons’ return

Whether or not Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons gets by the Feb. 10 deadline remains to be seen. After the 76ers’ 114-109 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, star center Joel Embiid sounded open to Simmons return should that happen, per ESPN. “Anybody is welcome to play. If you want to be part of us, I’m sure everybody will be fine with it, but you have to show up and want to be there.”

— 7:22 a.m.

Webster: Dragic’s contract a ‘unique piece’

The Toronto Raptors have an intriguing potential trade piece in veteran guard Goran Dragic, who has appeared in five games for the team this season. His expiring contract — which is worth $19 million — could make Toronto a player in the trade deadline, Raptors GM Bobby Webster told the Toronto Star‘s Doug Smith of Dragic’s contract. “I don’t know about have to (make a trade) but I think it’s a unique piece. There’s not many of them around the league so you get to be in conversations that you typically aren’t.”

— 7:03 a.m.

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