A roundup of articles on the status of the Coronavirus and ways we can help….
There are so many stories coming out now, we may need to post several roundups throughout the day….
Trump Stimulus Plan Aims To Give $2,000 To Many Americans
James Barrett, DailyWire.com, March 18, 2020
https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-stimulus-plan-to-give-2000-to-many-americans
A massive emergency stimulus package proposed by the White House will direct two $1,000 checks to many Americans, according to administration officials.
“White House officials are working with congressional Republicans on an emergency stimulus package that could send two $1,000 checks to many Americans and also devote $300 billion towards helping small businesses avoid mass layoffs, according to two senior administration officials,” The Washington Post reported Wednesday. “No final decisions have been made and talks with Republican leaders remain fluid, but the growing scale of the $1 trillion rescue plan is coming into sharper focus.”
“The White House will still need backing from Democrats before any plan can be pushed into law, but many Democrats have said they would support sending cash payments to Americans who are struggling to pay bills because of the virus’s economic impact. Still, multiple levels of negotiations remain,” the Post’s Erica Werner and Jeff Stein note.
While the Senate takes steps to pass a more modest coronavirus relief bill, the White House has been in talks with congressional leaders about its sizable stimulus package that would amount to over $900 billion in tax cuts, loan options, and payments to Americans who qualify for the emergency relief checks.
On Tuesday, multiple outlets reported that the bill would include around $500 billion in payroll tax cuts, $250 billion in Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, and around $60 billion for the airline industry, totaling around $850 billion.
The Post’s sources say now that the total amount will likely be significantly higher, some $1 trillion, which is expected to include “$500 billion towards the cash payments to individual Americans, though some people wouldn’t qualify if their income is over a certain level.” The SBA loan initiative, meanwhile, will likely include $300 billion in funding, the Post reports.
As noted by the Post Tuesday, the Trump plan “would come in addition to another roughly $100 billion package that aims to provide paid sick leave for impacted workers, though the details of that legislation remain very fluid as it moves through Congress.”
Early Wednesday, President Trump issued a tweet assuring Americans out of work because of the crisis that “money will soon be coming to you.”
“For the people that are now out of work because of the important and necessary containment policies, for instance the shutting down of hotels, bars and restaurants, money will soon be coming to you,” Trump tweeted. “The onslaught of the Chinese Virus is not your fault! Will be stronger than ever!”
Donald J. Trump
✔ @realDonaldTrump
For the people that are now out of work because of the important and necessary containment policies, for instance the shutting down of hotels, bars and restaurants, money will soon be coming to you. The onslaught of the Chinese Virus is not your fault! Will be stronger than ever!
75.6K people are talking about this
Donald J. Trump
✔ @realDonaldTrump
I will totally protect your Medicare & Social Security!
44.6K people are talking about this
“We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic. Trade will not be affected. Details to follow!” Trump tweeted.
Donald J. Trump
✔ @realDonaldTrump
We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic. Trade will not be affected. Details to follow.
‘Unbelievable Act of Kindness’: Customer Left $2,500 Tip for Restaurant Staffers Before They Closed Up Shop
A team of restaurant servers was left crying tears of joy after they discovered one of their patrons had left them a massive tip prior to their closure amidst COVID-19 shutdowns.
The Coaches Bar and Grill in Columbus, Ohio had been preparing to close up shop on Sunday evening after Gov. Mike DeWine ordered all restaurants and bars to limit their services to delivery and carryout options as a means of limiting potential infections.
Despite how Coaches restaurant owner Benny Leonard says the order may prove to be a cause for concern in his business, he and his staffers were particularly heartened by a note that was left by one of their regular customers.
The patron, a middle-aged man who insisted on remaining anonymous, left a $2,500 tip on a bill totaling just $29.75.
In addition to requesting his identity remain a secret, he also asked for the hefty gratuity to be divided equally amongst the restaurant’s five servers.
“(There were) tears, tears of joy,” Leonard told WNBS. “An unbelievable act of kindness on a pretty weird day.”
Coaches on Bethel @OnCoaches
When the going gets tough, the tough stay loyal. This loyal, amazing patron of Coaches on Bethel left the staff a $2500 tip to help lighten the losses during this required closing of Restaurants & Bars in Ohio. @OnCoaches @nbc4i @GovMikeDeWine @wsyx6 @DinoTrip @10TVBot
Spanish Musicians Perform ‘My Heart Will Go On’ On Balconies Amid Coronavirus Lockdown
Curtis F. Wong, HuffPost US, March 18, 2020
Alberto Gestoso and Alexander Lebron Torrent delivered a haunting version of Céline Dion’s “Titanic” theme high above Barcelona.
Thanks to a pair of Spanish musicians, Céline Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” took on a timely new meaning this week.
Pianist Alberto Gestoso hasn’t allowed the coronavirus pandemic to prevent him from sharing his musical talent with fellow Barcelona residents and the world at large. Like many other artists, he’s been using his balcony as a performance space as Spain is under a government-imposed lockdown in hopes of curtailing the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Before long, saxophonist Alexander Lebron Torrent began accompanying Gestoso from the balcony of a neighboring building. He also shared an Instagram video of the performance shot from his perspective.
Santana’s video had been viewed more than 1.8 million times as of Wednesday. Its popularity has endured throughout the week after being featured by other accounts and in a number of media outlets, including The Advocate and ET Canada.
Residents in Spain are prohibited from leaving their homes other than for extenuating circumstances, such as buying food or medicine. The coronavirus has reportedly infected more than 13,700 people and killed nearly 600 across the country.