Month: December 2021

Upon reopening after the holiday break on January 3rd, New York City public schools will expand in-school coronavirus testing, but relax quarantine rules for students in a bid to keep them in class as much as possible amid skyrocketing infection and hospitalization rates.  NYC Mayor de Blasio announced Tuesday that roughly 80,000 students will be tested every week across the public school system once classes resume. de Blasio said in a virtual briefing at City Hall that while only unvaccinated students were eligible for the randomized in-school surveillance tests at the start of the school year, vaccinated kids will now also be able to get them. In another policy shift, de Blasio said students who are exposed to an infected classmate will receive an at-home rapid test kit that their parents should administer as soon as they’re home. Students who are negative on the at-home test can return to school the very next day as long as they’re asymptomatic — a marked shift from the previous mandatory 10-day quarantine rule for kids exposed to an infected classmate.

de Blasio, who leaves office on Saturday, was joined for his briefing by incoming Mayor Eric Adams and New York Gov. Hochul. “We have a lot of evidence now that tells us this is going to be the approach that works in the future,” de Blasio said, citing data from the Health Department indicating 98% of kids who have a close interaction with an infected classmate do not contract the virus. Gov. Hochul added that her administration is setting aside 2 million at-home testing kits for city schools that can be distributed to students as needed in the event of a positive case.

Adams, who’s set to be sworn in as de Blasio’s successor on Saturday, noted that data indicates children are at a comparatively low risk of catching COVID-19 in school. “Your children are safer in school, the numbers speak for themselves,” said Adams.  However, he also suggested at a later press conference he may adjust the outgoing mayor’s school plan once he takes over. “We’re going to roll out our plan. It’s going to be a very clear plan,” Adams said at Brooklyn Borough Hall.

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Authorities said that five people were killed (including a police officer) and three injured in a series of shootings that began in the Denver area and ended later in the suburb of Lakewood. Police said the shootings began when the gunman killed two women and injured a man just before 6 p.m. Monday in Denver. The gunman fatally shot another man a few blocks away, with police then killing the suspect.

Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said at a news conference: “There are four significant locations where gunfire took place in the City and County of Denver.” Denver Police officers identified a vehicle associated with the incident and a pursuit ensued. There was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and officers, Pazen continued. No officers were injured as a result.

A motive for the shootings is unknown, and an investigation is ongoing. The deceased victims names were not released.

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Former NFL broadcaster, and Hall of Fame coach John Madden has died at age 85. Madden passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday morning, according to the league’s announcement.  NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said of Madden’s death: “On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Virginia, Mike, Joe and their families. We all know him as the Hall of Fame coach of the Oakland Raiders and broadcaster who worked for every major network, but more than anything, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Nobody loved football more than Coach. He was football. He was an incredible sounding board to me and so many others. There will never be another John Madden, and we will forever be indebted to him for all he did to make football and the NFL what it is today.”

Madden’s exuberant personality at both the NFL sidelines and in the broadcasting booth made him a legendary figure in the sport.  Madden never got the chance to play in the National Football League because of injuries, but in 1969 at age 32, he became the league’s youngest (at the time) to be hired as a head coach of the Oakland Raiders. Madden retired in 1979 after coaching the Oakland Raiders for 10 years.  During his 10 seasons coaching the Raiders, Madden’s teams never had a losing record and he led Oakland to the playoffs eight times. In January 1977, the Raiders won Super Bowl XI, beating the Minnesota Vikings 32-14 under Madden’s guidance.

Madden found his true calling a few years later as a color analyst with CBS. He went on to work for the other three major networks, winning 16 Emmys altogether, before retiring after 30 years in the broadcast booth. His name became perhaps most famous in the video game industry with the ‘Madden NFL’ series, for which he lent his voice.  The Madden NFL series has sold more than 250 million copies worldwide, earning over $4 billion. He was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2006.

Madden is survived by his wife Virginia and two sons, Joseph and Michael.

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