Month: April 2020

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FDA Approves First At-Home Coronavirus Test Kit

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The Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it has approved the first authorized at-home coronavirus test. The test will be made available first to health care workers and first responders, and is expected to go on sale for consumers in most states within weeks.

The test, called the Pixel, is a nasal swab kit developed and sold by LabCorp. Patients will collect their own samples using a special sterile swab provided in the kit and then send it in to one of the company’s labs for analysis.

The FDA said it granted the company emergency approval to get the tests out sooner. The test kit costs $119, and potential customers must complete a survey about their eligibility for testing before receiving one. The test’s website says it will not be available in New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Rhode Island. New York and New Jersey are the two states with the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths. 

FDA approves at-home COVID-19 test

Via www.upi.com
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Tuesday approved a new test for COVID-19 that allows users…
 

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Former XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck Sues Vince McMahon For Wrongful Termination

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Former XFL Commissioner   is suing Vince McMahon for wrongful termination, following the collapse of the spring football league. In a federal lawsuit that was filed in Connecticut last week, Luck claims he was wrongfully terminated by McMahon on April 9, one day before the league formally suspended operations and laid off its employees in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Much of the document filed last week is redacted, and three exhibits that Luck attached to it were all filed under seal. According to the lawsuit, Luck’s employment contract with McMahon came with a separate confidentiality agreement.

The XFL, which kicked off earlier this spring, got off to a promising start before the coronavirus pandemic hit in mid-March, after just five weeks of action. The league first suspended play but expressed hope of a 2021 return, then canceled the season and laid off its employees a few weeks later. The XFL has since filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Vince McMahon sued by fired former XFL commissioner Oliver Luck

Via sports.yahoo.com
Oliver Luck seemed to be doing a good job as XFL and the XFL as a whole was doing fairly well….

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New England Patriots To Trade Rob Gronkowski To Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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The Patriots have traded retired tight end Rob Gronkowski to the Buccaneers. New England will send Gronkowski and a seventh-round draft pick to Tampa Bay in exchange for a fourth-round pick, 

Gronkowski spoke to the Patriots about the chance to come out of retirement to reunite with quarterback Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. After playing in the NFL for nine seasons, Gronkowski retired in March 2018 but never ruled out a possible return to the league. The Patriots will have to send his rights to the Buccaneers who will need to reinstate him. The tight end has one year and $10 million left on his contract.

Brady surprised the NFL world this offseason when he entered free agency and left the Patriots for the Bucs. Gronkowski and Brady won three Super Bowls together with New England.

Agent: Gronk dealt to Bucs, reunited with Brady

Via www.espn.com
The Patriots have agreed to trade Rob Gronkowski to the Buccaneers, pending a physical, in a…
 

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Runaway June’s Jennifer Wayne Reveals COVID-19 Diagnosis

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Runaway June’s Jennifer Wayne revealed via Instagram that she has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Along with a statement that describes why she decided to reveal the news and how she’s been combating the virus, Jennifer shared a photo of herself holding a “3 Things I’m Grateful For” sign. Jennifer’s entire statement can be read at the link here.

Runaway June—comprised of Naomi Cooke, Hannah Mulholland and Jennifer Wayne—released their new album, Blue Roses, in 2019, which featured Top 5 single, “Buy My Own Drinks.”

Runaway June’s Jennifer Wayne Reveals She Was ‘Rocked’ by Coronavirus — and Will Be Donating Plasma

Via people.com
Celebrities Who Have Tested Positive for Coronavirus “I loaded up on Vitamin C, Vitamin…
 

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Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis Selling ‘Quarantine Wine’ To Aid Coronavirus Relief

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Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis announced that they will be selling “Quarantine Wine” in aid of those suffering because of the pandemic. The announcement was made on Kutcher’s verified social media accounts.  Kutcher wrote on his Instagram page, “Mila and I are Launching Quarantine wine! 100% of profits go to covid-19 relief efforts.” When Kutcher said “These are unprecedented times that we’re living in and unprecedented times call for unprecedented…” Kunis finished his sentence with “More drinking.”

“We’ve been finding charities that are focusing on getting PPE into the country, charities that are helping feed kids, businesses that are in distress,” Kutcher said. America’s Food Fund, Direct Relief, The Frontline Responders Fund and Give Directly are four of the charities that will benefit.

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis Launch Wine to Raise Money for Coronavirus Relief

Via www.hollywoodreporter.com
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are making it possible for people to help those impacted by the…
 

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Broadway Star Nick Cordero Has Leg Amputated Due To Coronavirus

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Tony Award-nominated actor Nick Cordero has had his right leg amputated after suffering complications from the coronavirus. His wife Amanda Kloots wrote on Instagram that Cordero “made it out of surgery alive and is headed to his room to rest and recover.” 

Cordero had been treated with blood thinners to help with clotting in his leg, but his doctors had to stop the treatment because it was causing internal bleeding. “We took him off blood thinners but that again was going to cause some clotting in the right leg, so the right leg will be amputated today,” said Kloots. Cordero entered the intensive care unit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on March 31 and has been on a ventilator and unconscious after contracting COVID-19. 

Cordero played a mob soldier with a flair for the dramatic in 2014 in Broadway’s Woody Allen 1994 film adaptation of “Bullets Over Broadway,” for which he received a Tony nomination for best featured actor in a musical. He moved to Los Angeles to star in “Rock of Ages.” Cordero originated the role of Earl in “Waitress” on Broadway, as well as the role of Sonny in Chazz Palminteri’s “A Bronx Tale.”  He also appeared in several episodes of “Blue Bloods” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” as well as “Lilyhammer” and he had a role in the film “Going in Style.”

Broadway star Nick Cordero had his leg amputated due to coronavirus complications

Via rss.cnn.com
Broadway actor Nick Cordero is recovering after having his right leg amputated following…
 

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Disney Furloughs Nearly 100,000 Workers Amid Shutdown

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Walt Disney Co., the world’s largest entertainment company, will be furloughing more than 100,000 employees this week. It was reported Monday that the move makes nearly half its workforce eligible for unemployment while still protecting executive bonuses.

Disney aims to save up to $500 million a month across its theme parks and hotels, which have been shut in Europe and the U.S. for almost five weeks. However, in going a step further than other theme parks and shifting potentially hundreds of millions in payroll burden to the state, Disney is reportedly protecting its executive-bonus schemes and a $1.5 billion dividend payment due in July. The move may signal Disney’s plans for a prolonged shutdown.

Over the past month, Disney has raised debt and signed new credit facilities, leaving the company with about $20 billion in fresh cash to draw upon for a downturn. Disney made nearly $7 billion in operating income from its parks, experiences and products business last year, making up nearly half of all operating profits. Shares in Disney have fallen by a quarter since the outbreak of the virus.

100,000 Disney theme park, hotel workers furloughed

Via www.nbcnews.com
Some 70,000 laid off Walt Disney World Resort workers have to rely now on Florida unemployment,…
 

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Shake Shack Plans To Send Back $10 Million Coronavirus Stimulus Loan

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Shake Shack is returning the money it received from the government’s stimulus loans program aimed at saving small businesses ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic. Shake Shack received $10 million in forgivable loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which kicked off on April 3. The plan was meant to help small businesses pay employees during the pandemic. However, the fund ran out of money on Thursday.

On Monday, the New York-based fast-food chain announced on Twitter that it’s giving the money back, pointing followers to a statement on Linkedin from two of its lead executives. Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti and founder Danny Meyer said the company sought the loan because it was supposed to be open to all businesses with 500 or fewer employees. The criteria applies to the chain’s individual franchise locations.

“We’ve decided to immediately return the entire $10 million PPP loan we received last week to the (Small Business Association) so that those restaurants who need it most can get it now,” the executives said. 

Coronavirus economic updates: Shake Shack to return $10M stimulus loan

Via abcnews.go.com
The coronavirus pandemic has quickly evolved from a health care crisis to a financial one,…
 

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Defensive End Yannick Ngakoue Calls Out Jacksonville Jaguars In Twitter Spat

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Disgruntled Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and Tony Khan, the Jaguars senior vice president of football administration and technology, got into a Twitter battle. Ngakoue called Khan, the son of Jaguars owner Shad Khan, spoiled and tweeted a clown face. Khan replied Ngakoue’s approach is not going to lead to the Jaguars getting a deal completed any faster.

″It’s a new regime here sir,″ Khan wrote. ″I think you form the bottom of my heart for all of the contributions you made. That said, tweeting insults at me won’t get you traded any faster. Only good trade compensation will do that. Please redirect your efforts into a more productive outlet.″ Ngakoue, 25, began by tweeting ”#FREEYANN,” a reference to the trade demand he issued to the team. Ngakoue also posted another tweet: ″Tired of the back and forth @Jaguars. Let’s get this (expletive) done.″ Then, Ngakoue post another tweet aimed apparently to Khan to “stop hiding.” Khan responded. “I’m not in hiding sir,” Khan wrote. “I’m in isolation getting ready for the draft. I’ve been pretty active on social media in isolation, but you wouldn’t know that since you unfollowed me (again).”

Ngakoue wants to play elsewhere despite the Jaguars designating him with the $17.8 million non-exclusive franchise tag last month. Ngakoue’s total of 37 1/2 career sacks in four seasons is the most by a Jaguars player after 63 career games. Ngakoue has not had fewer than eight sacks in a season since his arrival in Jacksonville. He has forced 14 fumbles and has combined for 121 tackles.

Heated Ngakoue rips Jags, owner’s son in tweets

Via www.espn.com
Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue’s issues with the Jaguars reached a boiling point Monday as he…
 

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Miami Marlins CEO Derek Jeter Forgoing Salary During Pandemic

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Miami Marlins CEO Derek Jeter told team employees during a conference call Monday he is forgoing his salary during the coronavirus pandemic. Other members of the Marlins’ executive team agreed to take pay cuts, while baseball operations personnel will continue to receive their full salaries through at least May 31. The person didn’t specify the figures of the pay cuts.

Major League Baseball spring training was suspended March 12 because of the pandemic. The start of the season, scheduled for March 26, has been indefinitely delayed.

MLB senior staff has taken pay cuts, and budget slashing has allowed the central office to say it will continue to pay its roughly 1,200 full-time and part-time employees through May. Some teams have taken similar stances with their administrative staff.

Source: Marlins CEO Jeter forgoing $5M salary

Via www.espn.com
 

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