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2022-03-25

Virginia's Law Barring Mask Mandates Does Not Apply to 12 Children with Disabilities

A news article from NPR talks about the parents of 12 children that challenged the newly signed law by Governor Glenn Youngkin to halt the enforcement of that law because it violated the children's rights under the federal American with Disabilities Act. This law would only give parents the right to choose for their own children. The group of parents have kids with health conditions that range from asthma to cystic fibrosis, which put them at heightened risk for COVID-19. What about other kids that have health conditions that make them a heightened risk for COVID whose parents didn't say their federal rights were violated?

2021-04-07

First Responder Monument NYC

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the controversial governor of New York, announced earlier this month that they plan to build a monument to first responders in New York City. First responders were among the group of people that were on the front lines of the pandemic response. This monument will be designed to honor the efforts and sacrifices by New York's first responders. In the coming months and years, I think we will see many other states do a similar thing for their first responders and healthcare workers.

2021-03-26

Open Questioning of Authority

On Wednesday, March 24, 2021 Governor of Arizona Doug Ducey decided to lift all COVID restrictions on businesses. The governor's action contradicted CDC guidance. On Friday morning, I vented my frustration about the governor's action. A young man came to our house on the morning of Friday, March 26 to fix an appliance. I met him at the door wearing a face mask. The young man was not wearing a mask, but pulled one out of his pocket and said he would wear it if I preferred. I indicated that I did want him to wear the mask, and without thinking I blurted out that "the governor is an idiot." The young man expressed understanding and put on his mask. Actually, I don't really think the governor is an idiot. I think he knows better but does not have the courage to do the right thing in the face of pressure from constituencies that have made public health a political issue. Unfortunately, these people endanger us all.

2021-03-15

Arizona Schools are Open (Mostly...)

Per Governor Doug Ducey's executive order which mandates all schools to reopen for in-person instruction by March 15th or "after spring break." As the article makes clear, most will be in person by the 15th, yet many schools still remain in the "high exposure" and therefore cannot open safely. The Arizona Department of Education is still in discussion with school leaders and health officials to implement the practices to ensure a successful reopening.

A woman standing in front of a wall decorated as a classroom background during distance learning.

2021-02-01

Decorating the “classroom”

I LOVE setting up my classroom for the new school year. I take great pride in making my classroom environment welcoming and comfortable. I’ve always felt that having an organized and decorated classroom helps the kids immediately know that you’re committed to them. However, with distance learning, my classroom is the corner of my bedroom. My husband has been working in the office next door since March. My kids have their distance learning set up downstairs, so that left our bedroom or the kids’ rooms. Though at first it seemed really, really strange to teach in the corner of my bedroom, I don’t even think about it anymore. The blank wall behind me though, it was really going to be a problem. I know most people have great success with Zoom backgrounds, but I have a really hard time sitting still, and I learned over the spring that I end up making my arms and head disappear because I fidget and get up and move around too much, so the virtual background just doesn’t work for me. At the very end of July, I went to my classroom for the first (and what would be the only time until November) when it was becoming clear that we might not re-open for in person instruction. When I went to my room to get the materials I needed to plan and digitize my lessons, I grabbed a few of the collage frames that hang in the front of my classroom. I ended up decorating my bedroom wall to emulate what the wall behind my desk at school looks like. It gave some normalcy to an abnormal start. In November, when it sounded like we would be re-opening, I took the pictures back to my classroom and got my room into shape. (That was a stressful day - two masks, a face shield, standing in a room I did not feel safe in and wondering how re-opening could be safe for my kids, and having a huge pit in my stomach knowing that I would not be there if we did re-open, as I had already turned in my paperwork to take a temporary leave if we re-opened). Then the county went into the Purple Tier, and re-opening was postponed. I was relieved, sad, frustrated, excited, a whole mix of contradictory emotions, because the situation was bleak but I was also able to keep teaching. Over Veteran’s Day, since my wall was now blank, I decorated my wall for the holidays. My students even sent me drawings of ornaments they make, sort of a glimmer of when we’re in person and have homeroom door decoration competitions. Winter break came and went and we remained in the Purple Tier, so I decided to redecorate my wall for January with snowflakes that my daughter and I made out of recycled materials. (A LOT of crafting has gone on these last 10 months!) This past weekend, I was startled to realize that this Monday would be the start of February. In a normal year, I make each kid a Valentine. It’s one of those things that is really dorky, but the kids actually love it. I leave a personalized one with a piece of candy on each of their seats. Many of them joke I’m their first or only Valentine. Another little bit of fun lost this year. But I like to stay positive, so I decorated my wall with hearts with their names. It may not be the personalized Valentine I usually make, but it adds some festive fun to our Zoom. I know my days of Distance Learning are coming to an end soon. The good news is our local case rates are declining, but I am anxious. My district is one of the only in the county to opt into the governor’s plan to re-open schools, lured by the promise of money and fearful of declining enrollment. Our neighboring districts have made statements that it is still unsafe and are holding out for teachers to be vaccinated. I am holding out for the same, and am dreading the repercussions that will come with taking a leave. As much as I’d love to cover the wall with shamrocks at the end of this month, I am predicting our schools will re-open by March. If I have my vaccination, I will be there for sure. However, the vaccinations are not rolling out well here, and I fear I will not have access before schools re-open. I think March is going to see me at home, without my students, staring at a blank wall, desperately trying to get a vaccine. But for now, I will find some happiness in the fact that I have already gotten dms and chats from my students joking with me that I am their first Valentine. At least some things can stay the same.

2021-01-19

The Rules That Did Make Sense and the Many That Didn't

There were a lot of rules and regulations that we had to follow to stop the spread of COVID. Most of them were simple and made sense. Others, didn't... The rules that made sense were simple. Wear a mask; wash your hands often; stay six feet away from others; don't gather in large groups. The rules that had to do with which businesses were allowed to be open, seemed a bit arbitrary... For example, restaurants could open, but bars couldn't unless they served full meals. Retail stores could open with a limited number of customers allowed in at one time, but zoos couldn't. It was perfectly fine for you to wait with 10+ other people outside of a store, but to go to a zoo which was also outdoors apparently meant certain death. The rules that annoyed me the most were the ones regarding school closures. In California, it had been made practically impossible for schools to open. The worst part was that my school was in LA County, by 500 feet! I remember that in April, I went to Carpenteria with my dad and one of his friends. My friend was there too and we were standing about 4 feet apart without masks on. A lifeguard came up to us and started to get kind of mad. The strange thing was that the sign in the parking lot said, "No lifeguard on duty." Overall, the regulations weren't to bad for me, but I was to annoyed with our governor killing small businesses to remember that.

2020-11-12

More COVID-19 Restrictions to Come

As cases are rapidly rising in the United States many cities are imposing more restrictions again such a closing down certain public spaces and services. Chicago recently issued a 30 day stay at home advisory and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is floating the idea of imposing more restrictions if the high transmission rate continues. Officials are telling people to cancel any Thanksgiving plans people might have as a result of the rising cases all over the country.

2020-08-16

“El consumo de alpaca y llama combate el coronavirus. Está comprobado científicamente que combate al COVID-19”.

News article from EL Comercio that fact checks the statemet from Arequipa's governor: “El consumo de alpaca y llama combate el coronavirus. Está comprobado científicamente que combate al COVID-19”. A number of different solutions have been proposed to combat COVID in Peru, but the idea of eating llama meat is one of the strangest.

2020-08-12

Carne de llama no se protege

El gobernador regional de Arequipa, Elmer Cáceres, volvió a hacer de las suyas. Cuando días atrás se mostraba favorable al uso del hidróxico de cloro para combatir al Covid-19, ahora afirma que el consumo de carne de alpaca y llama es efectivo para hacerle la contra a la enfermedad. «El consumo de alpaca y llama combate el coronavirus. Ojo. La llama, ¡hay que consumir carne de llama!, está comprobado científicamente que combate al Covid-19 que está matando a nuestra gente. Yo invito al pueblo de Arequipa y del Perú a consumir carne de llama, que es brillisimo», manifestó en una actividad pública. Cáceres Llica dictó esta exhortación a diversos ciudadanos de su región. Por otro lado, también dijo sostener comunicación directa con Rusia para importar, lo más pronto posible, la vacuna en este país desarrollada, a la región Arequipa. Todo lo que indica el gobernador es de su propio criterio si bases científicas luego dijieron que lo que dice de la carne es completamente falso. Fuerte : Orcopampa al día

2020-08-29

Public Defender Does Not Want Elderly Client to Die in Prison

A public defender discusses the case of 'Jake Green', a 73-year-old inmate of a prison inmate with a complicated case involving domestic and gun violence. The girlfriend (also the victim) of the accused did not want Mr. Green prosecuted, but they ended up sentencing him to 5 years without parole. The lawyer discusses how Mr. Green is particularly at risk for COVID-19, citing his age and health concerns. He is concerned not only with the idea that this could be a death sentence for his client, but that the case was unjust from the beginning.

2020-03-14

A life of unpredictable moments.

During the time of our spring break in 2020 we were headed to Florida with a bunch of friends and my brother who was in high school but got switched to online 2 days before. During that time the pandemic really took off. While we were there everything got shut down in Florida and in Ohio, nervous about if we were still going to be able to make it back to Ohio. In case of a travel band. We were confused and was kinda upsetting while we did have a pool in our back yard everything was getting shut down, the beaches, parks restaurants and basically the whole state of Ohio back home. The thing that was good to come out of this was my younger brother then a senior in high school was able to last minute come with us because his school went remotely. While we spent that whole weekend in the pool and ate the only restaurant that seemed to be running while everything was closing down.

2020-07-17

Gov. Newsom Mandates Schools in Counties on California’s Watch List to Start Year with Distance Learning

After months of wondering if Princeton Joint Unified School District schools could feasibly return to in-person instruction amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Newsom decided for us. Positive cases in Colusa County and Glenn County dramatically rose in July, and, as a result, both counties were placed on the state’s watch list. While the state has offered school districts in these counties to submit a waiver request allowing them to reopen, the chance of being approved appears very slim. As the pandemic has continued, it is interesting to see how everything has become more politicized than it initially was. Politicians from both sides of the aisle appear to be making decisions concerning the health and welfare of the American public based on political ideologies. Parents have openly expressed their frustrations with the governor’s decision, often pinning it on Democrats as a whole. While the push-and-pull continues between parents wanting to return to normal and politicians keeping their kids home, schools are stuck in the middle, trying to make this new system of learning work for families who want no part of it.

2020-08-05

Tweet about the lower prison population due to death from Covid-19

This person Tweeted that they feel the prison population is the lowest it has been since the 1990s because of people dying while incarcerated from Covid-19.

2020-04-11

Business Closure – Pennsylvania Gamestops

GameStops across the state of Pennsylvania had their business license revoked by Governor Tom Wolf after the corporation did not abide by state closure orders.

Business sign reading "Due to the recent Governor Order and Safety Protocols for COVID-19".

May 1, 2020

Boonville, IN: City Hall 1

These photographs were taken to document some of what people in Evansville and its Tri-State region saw and experienced as the realities of the Covid-19 pandemic came to the area in the spring of 2020. Many of these images represent literal signs of the time, while others figuratively depict signs of the pandemic.

2020-07-12

California Releases Prisoners over Coronavirus Concerns

California is traditionally understood to be a fairly liberal state, but there is an exceptionally vocal conservative minority that exists in the state. Since the coronavirus began, there has been a similar culture war around many of the issues that are reflected in other parts of the country; in many instances, people blame the governor directly for everything that is going wrong. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #california. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it highlights a popular conservative voice in the state that is sharing their opinions on best responses to the virus.

2020-07-08

AZ governor's office assures residents its COVID infection rate lower than Brazil or Peru

It's odd that the U.S. response to COVID has been disjointed among national, state, and municipal efforts. Peru had a strong, concerted national effort, but there are so many factors that are contributing to the spiraling infection rate including a day-to-day economy, and the lack of economic support for families. But for officials in Arizona to point the finger and say- hey we're doing better than...seems shameful. Our infection rates could be under control if we followed a systematic public health program. Instead, most businesses are so desperate to reopen like bars and restaurants that they don't really protect customers or staff. The rate of infection among young people started to creep up after Arizona reopened in May, and last week Tempe had to close its bars again to get the situation under control.

2020-03-16

New York Cuomo Brothers Banter

Who doesn't like to see a little brotherly competition? Here are the Cuomo brothers from New York. Andrew is the governor of the state and his younger brother, Chris, is a television journalist. During the COVID period, Andrew showed strong leadership and become something of a folk hero and many people watched his daily briefings where he scolded his citizens for misbehaving and also praised them for doing well when they were following the quarantine rules. The brothers often engaged in competitive banter and it was always entertaining to watch. This clip is about calling Mom and who is Mom's favorite son.

2020-06-18

Arizona's Troubles

Arizona was one of the earlier states that attempted to open from its lockdown, and had initially received mixed feedback on how things were going. As the reopenings have progressed through June, it is clear that Arizona is headed for trouble. The question seems to be just how much coronavirus can actually fit in the state.

2020-06-15

U.S. Excellent Response to Covid

At the beginning of quarantine, I and many people hoped that with quarantine and a sound government plan we would all collectively be able to beat coronavirus and get back to living our lives. As we pass day 94 in California since the Governor mandated a stay at home order, it really feels as though we haven't given our best go of things. Although individual states and locals have had varying success, the Federal response seems to amount to just hoping that it will go away and won't have to be dealt with anymore.

2020-06-01

Trump focuses on law and order instead of unity

The nation has experienced a full week of protests, some violent, in response to the killing of a black man in police custody. The president has remained silent except for a few tweets. On a call with the nation's governors he shared his feelings and appears to be more focused on how we appear to the world at large and maintaining law and order, rather than uniting the country, offering solutions, or addressing the feelings of the protestors.

2020-03-19

What I thought would be an extension of Summer Break.

When school was first canceled due to COVID 19, my friend and I thought that It would be sort of an extension of summer for us, but we could not foresee the extent to which business would close. This whole quarantine and lockdown serves us right for thinking that we were able to do anything that we wanted. Basically, for people who look back at this in the future, quarantine for students was basically just school at your house where you didn't have a mandatory time to show up, still pretty miserable since you were bored most of the time and couldn't even see your friends.

04/06/2020

Living through Covid-19

Journals I wrote of ever day life being quarantined *From Creator: Rahmo Abdullahi, Dougherty family college student, HIST 115

05/14/2020

Update on State of Emergency Exec. Order from Gov. -- NYC on PAUSE ("Policies Assure Uniform Safety for Everyone")

E X E C U T I V E O R D E R Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, I issued Executive Order Number 202, declaring a State disaster emergency for the entire State of New York; and WHEREAS, both travel-related cases and community contact transmission of COVID-19 have been documented in New York State and are expected to continue; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to temporarily suspend or modify any statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation, or parts thereof, of any agency during a State disaster emergency, if compliance with such statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation would prevent, hinder, or delay action necessary to cope with the disaster emergency or if necessary to assist or aid in coping with such disaster, I hereby temporarily suspend or modify, for the period from the date of this Executive Order through June 13, 2020 the following:

2020-04-27

Indigenous Peoples' Association is sounding alarm over coronavirus in Ulchi district

"Ulchi, Nani - Indigenous peoples in the Khabarovsk Territory - trying to reach the governor in an attempt to pay special attention to the situation with coronavirus. Indifference may result in the extermination of Indigenous peoples." #IndigenousStories

05/17/2020

Changing Federalism in the Time of Coronavirus

A discussion of how the state of federalism in the US has changed and how this has become evident by the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

2020-04-08

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s Daily Updates

○ Every day at 5pm people across the state of Kentucky turn on their televisions and tune in to Governor Andy Beshear’s daily update on COVID-19. For many this daily ritual has become a source of comfort and encouragement, a glimmer of hope. Every day for weeks Governor Beshear has come on TV to remind Kentuckians that their individual actions are powerful and their choices to follow social distancing guidelines during this crisis directly affect the other people in their communities, and reminds everyone that as “Team Kentucky” the state will get through the COVID-19 pandemic together. #DePaulHST391

A sign that is taped on the inside of a door that says: "Closed until Governor says open".

2020-04-03

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