Kennedy Center stops paying musicians despite $25 million in coronavirus aid

"Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter on Friday informed the National Symphony Orchestra’s 96 musicians that they won’t be paid after April 3 despite receiving a $25 million bailout from the federal government amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to the union that represents the musicians."
— Jessica Chasmar (Washington Times) (3/30) (Email)   (Pocket)

As Trump declared coronavirus under control, local leaders faced confusion and chaos as cases piled up

"So she drafted a letter to Trump on behalf of the mayors from Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Seattle. They insisted on clear, written directions from the federal government, according to the letter, and worried about diverting health-care resources during flu season, when hospitals were already stretched."
— (Washington Post) (3/29) (Email)   (Pocket)

Demand for ventilators in Illinois increases as COVID-19 spreads

"White House Coronavirus Task Force member Dr. Debora Birx on Thursday said the federal government is managing where ventilators go based on need. Pritzker has said his requests for thousands of ventilators haven’t been met and on Saturday said he doesn't want to wait on the White House strategy. "
— (Washington Examiner) (3/30) (Email)   (Pocket)

Five ways the federal government can help health-care professionals get critical gear

"I have spent much of the past two weeks trying to understand how to get more personal protective equipment — often called PPE — into Michigan from the federal government. The supply situation is incredibly messy. The coronavirus is an unprecedented public health crisis, one that would stretch any administration, but crises are not new for anyone who has worked in national security. During my 14 years at the CIA and later at the Pentagon, I participated in and led dozens of crisis task forces on topics as varied as confronting the Ebola outbreak in West Africa to responding to the Islamic State’s takeover of parts of Iraq and Syria. My experiences have taught me that there are important things the executive branch can do, now, to improve situations across the country:"
— By Elissa Slotkin (Washington Post (Opinion)) (3/30) (Email)   (Pocket)

Maryland, Virginia, D.C. issue stay-at-home orders

"The leaders’ directives come a week to the day after they ordered all non-essential businesses in their states closed. At the time, Hogan defended his decision not to issue a stay-at-home order, saying Maryland’s guidelines at the time were "somewhat more restrictive than other states that are calling it shelter in place.""
— By Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) (3/30) (Email)   (Pocket)

Lee 'strongly urges' Tennesseans to stay home; closes nonessential businesses

"Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed an executive order Monday that closes nonessential businesses and urges Tennesseans to stay inside, but he resisted pressure from Democrats and some medical professionals to issue a mandatory stay-at-home order to stop the spread of COVID-19. "
— (Washington Examiner) (3/31) (Email)   (Pocket)

U.S. health experts pushed strongly for Trump to extend coronavirus restrictions: Fauci

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House health experts argued strongly with President Donald Trump to extend a stay-at-home order for Americans fighting the spread of the coronavirus so the country could start seeing the rates of infection come down, a top U.S. health official said on Monday. "
— (Reuters) (3/30) (Email)   (Pocket)

Coronavirus: U.S. Still Seeing Thousands Of Flights, Despite A Drop In Air Travel

"Millions of Americans are currently under stay-at-home orders, part of a wider effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, causing international air travel to plummet. But within the U.S., thousands of domestic passenger flights are still taking off each day."
— (NPR) (3/30) (Email)   (Pocket)