HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — Hampton Police say two men were injured in a shooting late Monday night.
The shooting happened in the 1800 block of Beall Drive around 11:30 p.m.
Two men were injured. One has life-threatening injuries.
Police say there are no additional details as of 12:15 a.m. Tuesday.
Stay with WAVY.com for updates.
The NFL has taken over the independent investigation into workplace conduct within the Washington Football Team, owner Dan Snyder confirmed Monday.
Snyder said in a statement he and his wife, Tanya, suggested to Commissioner Roger Goodell the NFL assume full oversight of the review ”so that the results are thorough, complete and trusted by the fans, the players, our employees and the public.” He said the organization remains committed to fully cooperating with the investigation.
Last month, after The Washington Post reported 15 female former employees saying they were sexually harassed during their time with the team, Snyder hired Washington law firm Wilkinson Walsh LLP to review the team’s culture, policies and allegations of workplace misconduct. Attorney Beth Wilkinson now reports directly to the league office.
The change of course comes less than a week since the Post reported additional examples of workplace sexual harassment, along with allegations that Snyder was personally involved.
Lawyers Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, who represent more than 15 former team employees, met with NFL senior vice president and special counsel for investigations Lisa Friel on Monday. The law firm of Katz, Marshall and Banks LLP sent a letter to Goodell on Thursday asking the league to launch its own investigation.
”Our clients would gladly participate in such an NFL investigation but do not feel safe speaking to investigators hired by Mr. Snyder and do not trust the investigation that is currently underway,” Banks and Katz wrote in the letter.
Banks and Katz called their meeting a ”productive discussion” and said they learned the NFL and the team agreed to release current and former employees from any non-disclosure agreements so they can speak with investigators.
”We are pleased and encouraged that the league is taking this matter seriously and we expect that it will take appropriate action against Daniel Snyder and the Washington Football Team upon conclusion of the investigation,” they said.
Snyder vowed to change the culture inside the organization amid 42 women speaking out about their experiences working for Washington. In July, he said after the investigation was complete the team ”will institute new policies and procedures and strengthen our human resources infrastructure to not only avoid these issues in the future but most importantly create a team culture that is respectful and inclusive of all.”
After the Post reported a former cheerleader saying Snyder invited her to a hotel room with one of his friends, and that longtime team executive Larry Michael made extra cheerleading videos for the owner showing sensitive material that wasn’t made public, Washington’s owner denied those specific allegations.
”I want to unequivocally state that this never happened,” Snyder said of the report he invited a cheerleader to a hotel room in 2004. ”Furthermore, I do not have any knowledge of the 10-year-old videos referenced in the story. I did not request their creation, and I never saw them.”
In a separate statement, the team said it was ”deeply distressed by these terrible allegations and (is) committed to investigating them fully.”
Michael retired from his job as a senior vice president and radio voice of the team in the days before the initial Post story was published. It was part of a turbulent summer from the team, which dropped its longtime name amid pressure from sponsors because of longstanding complaints the name was a racial slur against Native Americans. Washington has yet to announce a permanent name or logo.
Goodell said the league strongly condemns the ”unprofessional, disturbing and abhorrent behavior and workplace environment alleged in the report, which is entirely inconsistent with our standards and has no place in the NFL.”
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Legislation that called for ending qualified immunity for Virginia police has failed. The bill would have allowed people who allege police violations of their civil rights to sue and collect money damages in state courts. It would have eliminated the immunity that shields police from liability.
The bill was defeated Monday when two Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee voted with Republicans against reporting it to the full House. The bill’s chief patron, Del. Jeff Bourne, called the vote “disheartening.”
Opponents argued that the legislation would result in frivolous lawsuits and make it difficult to hire and retain police officer.
TAMPA (WFLA) — The wireless company Verizon is hiring nearly 1,000 employees in work-from-home positions.
At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Verizon transitioned over 90% of its employees to work from home. Now, the wireless company is hiring 950 additional customer service employees who will work from home permanently.
The full-time customer service positions Verizon is hiring require a high school diploma or GED. The company website lists locations across the country.
Many of the individual listings require residence in a particular state.
Anyone interested can learn more about the job description and other requirements on Verizon’s website.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Facebook threatened to block Australian publishers and individuals from sharing news stories on its platform in reaction to an Australian measure that could require it to compensate media organizations for its use of their stories.
The social network said the Australian move would force it to pay arbitrary and theoretically unlimited sums for information that makes up only a small fraction of its service.
The measure would force Facebook to choose between “either removing news entirely or accepting a system that lets publishers charge us for as much content as they want at a price with no clear limits,” the company’s managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Will Easton, wrote in a blog post. “No business can operate that way.”
Campbell Brown, a former NBC and CNN anchor who is Facebook’s vice president of global news partnerships, said the cutoff threat “has nothing to do with our ongoing global commitment to journalism.” Brown’s post, which cited a variety of individual Facebook programs intended to support news organizations, was titled “Our Continued Commitment to Journalism.”
Google, meanwhile, issued an open letter that cast the proposed Australian law as a potential threat to individual privacy and a burden that would degrade the quality of its search and YouTube video services, but did not threaten a cutoff.
“Mark Zuckerberg is happy to let Facebook be a tool to spread misinformation and fake news, but is apparently fine with Facebook dropping real news altogether,” John Stanton, co-founder of the Save Journalism Project, said in a statement. “Regulators need to reign in the tech giants’ total domination of the online marketplace before it’s too late.”
Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the proposed laws would “create a more sustainable media landscape and see payment for original content.”
“Australia makes laws that advance our national interest. We don’t respond to coercion or heavy handed threats wherever they come from,” Frydenberg said in a statement, referring to the Facebook threat.
The draft legislation that aims to make Australia succeed where other countries have failed in forcing the companies to compensate media businesses for news content was made public in July.
A public consultation period ended last week.
Frydenberg has said he hopes Parliament will pass the legislation this year.
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Associated Press journalist Barbara Ortutay contributed to this report.
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Some Chesapeake public school students could return to on-campus learning by the end of September.
The school board released a PowerPoint presentation Monday night with some new information for fall on its latest plan for reopening schools for in-person learning.
First, second and third-graders could return to on-campus learning five days a week starting Sept. 28 under the plan, which is subject to change.
Special education, preschool and kindergarten students could be back in classrooms five days a week starting Sept. 21.
Temperature screenings will not be required when students arrive at school, but daily digital health screenings will be mandatory. Staff on-campus will need to wear masks or face coverings and maintain physical distancing.
Officials also said a “culture shift” is needed, meaning students and staff should stay home when they’re sick. Those who become sick during the day should be isolated and then immediately sent home.
The board voted July 27 to begin the fall semester with virtual instruction. At the time, school officials said the ultimate goal was to return students to the classroom as soon as it’s safe to do so.
Metrics cited in Monday’s PowerPoint presentation show the seven-day moving average for cases has been gradually trending down. On July 27, the test positivity rate was at 11.5 percent. On Aug. 22, it was at 8.3 percent.
The School Health Advisory Board revisits the issue of students returning to campus every two weeks. Decisions are made based on health metrics for the area.
View the full presentation from Monday here.
HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — The American Red Cross is hosting a blood donation drive Sept. 17, and says it will test all donations for COVID-19 antibodies.
The blood drive will be held from 1:30-7 p.m. at the Hampton Coliseum, 1000 Coliseum Drive.
COVID-19 antibody results are available seven to 10 days after testing.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Gov. Roy Cooper has extended his executive order that puts limits on how late alcohol can be sold across the state in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Executive Order 153 was set to expire Monday at 11 p.m. – it will now stay in effect until Oct. 2.
It went into effect July 31.
“North Carolina has made good progress stabilizing our COVID-19 numbers, and this order will help us continue it,” said Cooper. “Now is the time to continue staying cautious and vigilant as we work to beat this pandemic.”
Cooper said the curfew aims to keep restaurants from becoming bars after hours.
The order does not apply to grocery stores, convenience stores, or other entities permitted to sell alcohol for off-premises consumption.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The City of Norfolk has created a program that aims to reduce food and health disparities between city residents.
The Norfolk Nutritional Equity Fund has been created with a combination of funds from the city, grants and philanthropic efforts — including the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, which announced $150,000 earmarked specifically for a grocery store in the St. Paul’s area of the city.
The Pamunkey Tribe has proposed building a $500-million casino on land next to Harbor Park in Norfolk. An option to purchase agreement and development agreement were signed in January.
The St. Paul’s area recently lost its only grocery store, a Save-A-Lot. Now the area is defined as a food desert, meaning residents don’t have easy access to fresh, nutritious items.
The new fund will:
“Everyone should have consistent access to healthy food. We recognize that the current economic crisis is increasing hunger in our communities, and too many of our residents are grappling with the instability and unpredictability that is accompanied by food insecurity. We are building partnerships to confront root causes of food insecurity in Norfolk and are very grateful for the leadership of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe in supporting this effort,” said Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander.
“The goal of this fund is to bring money and capital to address the food insecurity that exists across our city. This effort is not just about opening grocery stores in food deserts but is a holistic effort to combat nutritional and health disparities through creative solutions,” said Dr. Chip Filer, Norfolk City Manager.
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Gov. Ralph Northam announced today that the Commonwealth has been approved to receive $6 million in federal funding from the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program. According to a press release from the governor’s office, grants were awarded to 171 localities, nonprofit organizations and state agencies in Virginia.
“The COVID-19 crisis continues to create tremendous challenges in all areas of our society, and our criminal justice system is no different,” Northam said. “Our public safety professionals are the front lines of this pandemic, and we must ensure they have the resources they need to perform their duties and provide critical services to Virginians who need them most.
CESF grants are part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Recovery and Economic Security Act, they are specifically used to assist in their ongoing mitigation and response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These grants will help state and local agencies and community organizations across the Commonwealth function as effectively as possible as we continue battling this virus,” Northam said.
The release states that the funding will be used towards the purchase of video technology to conduct remote hearings, laptops to enable more employees to telework and additional support for community supervision as more individuals are being diverted away from incarceration. Funding will also be used to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by equipping workers personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, and screening equipment.
The funding from the CESF will be released in waves. According to the release, the $6 million constitutes 56% of the overall funding awarded to the state. The Department of Criminal Justice Services anticipates distributing the rest within the next nine months.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — With the extension of the free meal program, kids starting school don’t need to worry about going hungry.
“It’s for all the kids everywhere. Those who are attending school in-person, those who are attending virtually,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said.
Perdue says estimating how much funds they have available is difficult because data from schools and feeding sights are 60 to 90 days behind.
“So, we’re making the best estimate based on the experience we’ve had since March,” Perdue said.
Both Democrats and Republicans wanted Perdue to renew the program, so this announcement brings a sigh of relief in both parties.
“We know in West Virginia that a lot of our children rely on schools for nutrition, breakfast and lunch,” West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said.
Capito says she’s glad to see the USDA adapting, so children and parents have one less thing to worry about.
“I don’t think there is any dispute that we want to make sure our children are able to get nutritious meals like they would if they were in school,” Capito said.
Perdue says the allocated money should last until Dec. 31. If not, USDA will have to prioritize those with the greatest need.
“The free and reduced [meal] school children will always be covered just like they always have,” Perdue said.
Perdue says parents can pick up the meals from schools or from sights like Boys and Girls Clubs or the YMCA.
SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Three years ago, a tiger cub now named Moka, was making headlines all across the country and in some parts of the world.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered the cub in the floorboard of a vehicle driven by an 18-year-old man who was attempting to smuggle the cub through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry located southeast of Downtown San Diego.
Initially, the animal was sent to the San Diego Zoo for care and it became a very popular attraction with visitors.
Months later, it was taken to an animal sanctuary east of San Diego called Lions, Tigers and Bears.
Somewhere along the line, it got the name Moka and now lives with another rescued cat named Nola from Louisiana.
“They were both the same age, so they made great roommates, now they’re best of friends,” said Bobbi Brink, founder and director for the sanctuary.
Brink said exotic animals like Moka and Nola are targets for the wrong element.
“A lot of people don’t know the exotic animal trade in our country is second to guns and weapons and human trafficking. There are hundreds of animals that need homes, the animals need our help … they are endangered species,” Brink said.
Initially, Luis Valencia then 18 years old, said he wanted to keep the tiger as a pet and had bought it on the streets of Tijuana after he saw someone walking it on a leash. Later, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and was sentenced to six months in prison.
Prosecutors argued Valencia was part of a ring exporting and selling exotic animals and showed a text to the court reportedly written by him.
“[T]he monkeys I get them for 2500 and the white tigers for 6k, I mean regular tigers, the white one goes for 10k,” reads one text message he is accused of sending a fox vendor who was in the market for a tiger. “The jaguar goes for 8k and panthers too and the lions go for 5k.”
For Moka, this is a happy ending as he now lives at his “forever home.”
“He’s kind of shy but Nola is his strength. She’ll be the first one to go out and check out something then slowly but surely he’ll be right behind her,” Brink said.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Republican leaders in the General Assembly are discussing plans to send stimulus checks to parents and temporarily increase state unemployment benefits when they return to Raleigh for a brief session this week.
Sources familiar with the discussions said legislators are negotiating a plan to send parents stimulus checks worth at least $200 using a portion of the state’s share of funding from the federal CARES Act. The payments could be a flat amount sent to each family or a dollar amount per child. Legislators were still discussing details of the proposal Monday.
It’s unclear what the total cost of the payments would be, but it’s estimated to be hundreds of millions of dollars.
The payments are meant to help parents offset the costs of transitioning to home schooling or remote learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. More details are expected to be released Tuesday.
Lyssa Barnes said she quit her job as a music teacher at a day care to be able to teach her son, 6-year-old Everett, at home.
“I had to leave my job so that we could homeschool him because he has sensory processing disorder, which means he would not sit in front of a computer for five hours a day or however long they have to do it,” she said. “I feel like there’s things we need for our curriculum like a microscope, or a globe. And, you’d be surprised how expensive a globe is on Amazon.”
State lawmakers will be in Raleigh this week to vote on how to spend about $900 million in remaining funds from the CARES Act, which Congress passed earlier this year in response to the pandemic.
Gov. Roy Cooper (D) laid out his priorities for the money last week.
Republican leaders in the House and Senate have agreed to boost state unemployment benefits by $50 per week for the rest of the year, using CARES Act money. Cooper had called for the maximum payment to be increased from $350 per week to $500.
Sen. Chuck Edwards (R-48th District) said if the Republican legislative proposal passes and is signed into law, it would increase benefits for all people who qualify for state benefits by $50 per week, which he said would impact more people. It would apply to people who qualify beginning in September.
“So many people out there are hurting right now. So many are struggling to figure out how to put groceries on their table,” said Edwards. “We simply have to look for ways to help supplement their income right now until the governor is able to, or at least willing to, help folks get back to work.”
This money would be in addition to the $300 per week federal benefits authorized by President Donald Trump in his executive order earlier in April.
Republicans in the legislature have faced criticism for not increasing state benefits during the pandemic after they voted to cut them in 2013.
Sen. Wiley Nickel (D-Wake) said the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund has about $3 billion in it, so he believes the state could afford a larger increase to benefits than $50 per week.
“It’s much more responsible and does much more to move the needle to really help North Carolinians,” he said. “With 8.5 percent unemployment, it’s pouring rain out there. And, we need to help throw jobless workers a lifeline.”
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — It’s easy to forget about the past few months when you sit and listen to 17-year-old Hassan Darden play the keyboard.
“I’ve been playing piano since I was 2 years old,” Darden said.
Music is not only a way a life for the rising Chesapeake high school senior, but also it’s his chance to get wrapped up in the melody.
“You know when you play those keys, you’re kind of lost in time whenever you play a song,” Darden added.
But lately, the songs have served as a much-needed break from the test that is literally staring the Indian River High student in the face.
“Study, study, study, study,” are the words written on a calendar in his bedroom.
There are three letters that scare most seniors: SAT.
“If there was a music portion on the SAT, I would have like 1600 or higher,” Darden said with a laugh.
Unfortunately, there isn’t, which can explain the love-hate relationship he has with his 1,200-page SAT study guide.
“I want to say it’s like a five pound weight,“ Darden said. “I’m absolutely tired of seeing this book.”
Darden actually wants to take the test, yet he still hasn’t had his chance.
“March, April, May, June, and August (I was signed up),” Darden added. “Five times it’s been canceled.”
COVID-19 is keeping this 2021 grad from the test. At this point, he’s concerned about college. The good news for Darden is most universities are waiving the SAT and ACT requirements this year.
Virginia Wesleyan, William & Mary, Norfolk State and Christopher Newport universities all say next year applications will be test-optional. Old Dominion has been test-optional for years, but it doesn’t guarantee an applicant’s admission.
“Admission into ODU remains selective,” said ODU spokeswoman Giovanna Genard. “Test-optional students are still required to demonstrate completion of a rigorous college preparatory high school curriculum.”
Darden says his first choice is to become an ODU student and enter the university’s music program.
“I’m at the point where I’m kind of freaking out mentally,” he added.
However, the Chesapeake school division says it’s working to make SAT testing available to students.
“SAT host sites have been working with the College Board representatives over the past few months to determine the most appropriate plan for offering the SAT in these challenging times,” said Richard Babb with the Chesapeake School system. “As you can imagine, there are many things to consider when making these decisions. Safety for students and staff must remain our top priority. As a result of the pandemic, many colleges and universities are changing their application requirements. Chesapeake Public Schools will continue to reassess the situation and make future decisions based on the same metrics we are using to develop our plans to return to school.”
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Not all the news is bad news on Atlantic Avenue.
Crime has been an issue, as well as a lack of police presence, protests ending in violence, and looting. Not to mention on top of all that we are facing one of the worst events in our country’s history, COVID-19.
With all that in mind, Councilwoman Rosemary Wilson calls the summer of 2020 the “Lost Summer.”
“I think it is the lost summer, and not to mention the pandemic we haven’t seen in over 100 years. None of us have ever experienced this in our lifetime, and hopefully we never will again,” Wilson said.
Wilson lives on Atlantic Avenue, and says there have been too many problems and distractions.
“With the marches, and some of the violence that has occurred on Atlantic Avenue, it’s been really hard for the store owners, retailers and hotels.”
We are told Virginia Beach hasn’t made a major investment in the Atlantic Avenue resort strip in over 30 years. The sidewalks look old, dirty, and dark.
“You know if things look run down, people are going to treat them like [they’re] run down.”
Wilson and Councilman Guy Tower both acknowledge Atlantic Avenue also needs a fighter in the form of a Resort Management Office.
“We need a fighter to be focused on Atlantic Avenue every day. They need to be asking, ‘what can I do today to make the resort area look better, work better, working with the local business people down there [on Atlantic Avenue]?”
Tower also says police presence has been greatly lacking this summer, stretched too thin, and the city needs to step it up.
“Now, don’t misconstrue that I blame police for this, I don’t, but I think … the current presence is at unacceptable levels. I think it is up to council to find a way to increase it.”
Yet, there is good news, according to recent industry data from STR Inc., a company that gives market data on the hotel industry. Norfolk and Virginia Beach have the highest occupancy rate of all market competitors. Year-to-date, we are only down 17 percent from this time last year.
“That is phenomenal [for the circumstances]. There’s a lot of hard work to do during the shoulder season,” says Tiffany Russell, who is vice-president of marketing communications for the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“It is important to promote our message of public health and safety… And we have done a really wonderful job of that. The city has also expanded beach ambassadors, and the message we are putting out there to families… We are clean.”
Russell also brings up another phenomenon.
“We are seen as a destination for families who could be virtual learning … and vacationing at the same time.”
Tower said Atlantic Avenue needs to be more of an attractive place for residents and visitors alike.
“We need to be guided by what would make Atlantic Avenue an attractive place for our residents at the beach to come. The families, the military, the single people, the young people, and the older people… This must be what guides us in our decisions.”
It has also become clear that City Council will be voting Tuesday to approve the Resort Management Office, which appears to be the first major step in turning around what could be wrong on Atlantic Avenue.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — As a removal team continues to carry away the remnants of the Confederate monument, the Portsmouth Police Department is continuing to charge those who allegedly played a role in the June 10 protest that damaged the monument beyond repair and left a man with serious injuries.
24-year-old Hannah Cuevas was arrested and released for allegedly intentionally destroying, defacing, or damaging property belonging to another with a value of more than $1,000.
The other new defendants are Harmony Y. Harris, John F. Morin-Leiding, Lauren Patrise-Jones, and Raquel L. Ammons.
These new defendants are in addition to 14 others charged Aug. 17 in connection with the protest. Those charged include state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, local NAACP chapter leaders and public defenders.
A police spokesperson and court officials told 10 On Your Side the other four new defendants had not been served as of Monday morning. They are facing the same charge as Cuevas, which is a Class 6 felony.
A police spokesperson said authorities ask that the defendants turn themselves in, just as the police department would ask of anyone with an active felony warrant.
Last Monday, Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke — Sen. Lucas’ daughter — was charged with misdemeanors after she publicly called for the firing of the police chief, an act that allgedly violates the city code.
More people could be charged.
Two weeks ago, police issued photos of 13 unidentified people who are under investigation for their alleged roles in the monument destruction. Police initially released the photos, but the photographer later claimed his copyright of them. They are no longer available.
Veteran defense attorney Michael Massie turned to Youtube to offer free legal advice for the defendants.
“Please stop talking about your case on social media outlets. It’s not going to help your case whatsoever. Use your time to speak with a very qualified and talented attorney and he or she will tell you the same thing. Trying to win your case in a public forum like social media — that’s not the way to deal with serious felony charges,” said Massie.
Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas Burke is due in court Sept., Sen. Lucas and 13 others are due in court on Sept. 4, and Cuevas has a court date for Sept. 11.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not “backpedal” on the number of deaths caused by COVID-19, reducing the figure from nearly 154,000 to just over 9,000, as social media posts claimed.
The term “Only 6%” trended widely on Twitter over the weekend as supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory promoted tweets that falsely suggested the CDC had updated its records to show that only 6% of U.S. deaths tied to COVID-19 were legitimate. President Donald Trump was among those who tweeted the information, which was later taken down by Twitter for violating platform rules.
The posts, which received hundreds of thousands of shares online, were based on a regularly updated CDC data table showing underlying conditions for those who died of COVID-19. The conditions included high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, as well as problems that are caused by COVID-19 itself, such as respiratory failure and pneumonia.
The CDC data table is based on an analysis of death certificates that mention COVID-19 as a cause. For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned, the CDC notes.
The other 94% list COVID-19 and other conditions together. Among those deaths, there were, on average, 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death, the public health agency said.
As of Aug. 26, the CDC said, there were 161,332 deaths where COVID-19 was listed on the death certificate. Social media users over the weekend posted an older screenshot of the data that showed 153,504 deaths. The posts used the 6% figure to claim the U.S. death toll was much lower — 9,210.
“CDC just backpedaled (quietly) and adjusted the U.S. COVID deaths from 153,504 to 9,210. Admitting that their numbers are so (expletive) that they are off by a whopping 94%,” said a post being shared on Facebook Monday.
But such claims misrepresent the data. A death isn’t excluded from the COVID-19 tally just because the person was obese or had diabetes or dementia. Someone with heart problems can still be killed by COVID-19, and the death certificate could mention both as contributing.
Experts say it’s not surprising that so few people who died from COVID-19 had no underlying conditions listed on their death certificates. It is rare for people not to have multiple medical issues at death.
“The underlying cause of death is the condition that began the chain of events that ultimately led to the person’s death,” Dr. Robert Anderson, who oversees the CDC’s death statistics work, said in a statement. “In 92% of all deaths that mention COVID-19, COVID-19 is listed as the underlying cause of death.”
Also, while death certificates are supposed to list any causes or conditions that contributed, past research has shown that the documents aren’t perfect. Doctors might not know – or specify – all the reasons behind a particular death.
More important, the CDC figures show what medical professionals have been saying since the outset of the pandemic — that the virus tends to have a more severe impact on people with underlying conditions.
For example, people died with diabetes not because of it, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.
“If it hadn’t been for the COVID virus infection, these people would be living today,” he said. “So yes, although they have contributing underlying chronic health factors, it’s still the COVID virus that killed them.”
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A mother and son are reunited on Sunday after a huge shock for the mom and what just seemed like a fun morning for the little boy. The Henrico County mom got a call she never could have imagined answering. A friend had seen a picture of her little boy on the news.
Her 3-year-old son Alexander had been found walking the road at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday morning after wandering away from his grandparents’ house. Alexander’s family is wishing to remain anonymous.
When his mother found out that Alexander had been out alone — she was “frantic, scared, and shocked” — but very relieved that he was safe and sound. She quickly called the police and got in the car with her husband to go get her son.
Alexander was spotted walking around in his favorite Crocs and pajamas when he was spotted by a man who called the police to come to help the little boy.
“The gentleman who stopped at 5 in the morning on a dark road, with very few lights at the time, it could’ve went a different way,” Alexander’s mom said. “He took the time to stop and keep him safe until the police could arrive.”
By the time his mother finally got in touch with Henrico Police, Alexander was simply enjoying some breakfast from McDonald’s.
“The officer went to get McDonald’s breakfast for him — got some pancakes, some bacon, a drink — and he was very happy,” Henrico Police Lieutenant Mehfoud said.
Lt. Mehfoud said they were trying to keep Alexander calm and “reassure him that we were trying to find his mom and dad.”
Alexander’s picture was sent out in order to help the police find his family. He wasn’t able to explain much to the police about where he lived. He knew his name, his mother’s name, and the color of his front door.
The family was reunited about an hour after the photo of Alexander was shared with the community. His mother was grateful to the officers and the man who found her little boy.
“So I know, that with all the stuff that is going on in the world today — that there is still good people out there who are just willing to do the right thing and help someone in need,” his mom said.
According to his mother, Alexander thinks he had a good day and picked up a few new friends along the way.
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PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Portsmouth Public Schools begin distributing mobile devices for virtual learning from August 31 to September 4.
Students who need an iPad or Chromebook, can stop by some of the Portsmouth schools Monday starting at 9 a.m.
The district has spaced out the distribution over the week.
All students can receive free breakfast and lunch for the first nine weeks of school.
RELATED: Students to receive free meals for upcoming school year at Portsmouth Public Schools
To get the free meals, students must have an I.D. The cards will be given out with the mobile devices.
“We have been able to ensure that no family in our community needs to worry about paying for their child’s meals during the school year.”
-Dr. Elie Bracy III, Portsmouth Superintendent
This Week: #Portsmouth school leaders will begin distributing student IDs and mobile devices, ahead of the virtual school year.
— Kiahnna Patterson (@KPattersonWAVY) August 31, 2020
All students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch for the 1st nine weeks.@Wavy10_News @PortsVASchools
Read Morehttps://t.co/NGueLb6mZ4 pic.twitter.com/EHymZq6i6Q
HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — Police in Hampton say a woman was shot on Sunday night.
The call came in just after 11:20 p.m. for the incident in the 400 block of Melville Road.
Police say that her injuries are not considered to be life threatening.
Officers are still on scene investigating and no further information is available.
This is a breaking news story.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — An act of vandalism marred what should have been a typical Sunday morning for residents in the Eaglewood area of Virginia Beach.
They woke up to find tires slashed on several streets.
Surveillance video captured two individuals going around the neighborhood vandalizing cars that were parked along the street
“You feel violated. You get upset when you see this happening to your neighbors,” said Troy Brimmer.
He first noticed the damage Sunday morning when he took his walk.
“I was walking my dog this morning and I saw a few people working on their cars. I thought they were just getting a little work done on the weekend until I noticed car after car and really, as I’m walking my dog, I just saw a whole string of cars with flat tires,” he said.
Brimmer said it wasn’t long before he put the pieces together.
“On the Nextdoor app a lot of people were alerting each other and I had three neighbors right in a row all three changing tires at the same time — as well as many others. So, you could definitely see that this was a little bit more than your typical vandalism,” he said.
Almost every car along Dove Drive, parts of Woodcock Lane, and parts of Hummingbird Lane had damage to either one or two tires.
“ I don’t feel good,” said resident Joe Doherty.
He had two of his vehicles damaged. He says he didn’t realize one of them until he was already driving and had to change it out on a busy road.
“You need to test drive your vehicles today because even if it doesn’t look like it flat, it could be flat,” he offered as advice.
Doherty seemed in good spirits despite the damage, but pointed out he feels like the people responsible were being inconsiderate.
“If 22 vehicles, according to the police, have flat tires, that’s in the neighborhood of $5,000. When does that add up? And it’s disrupting everybody’s life. Why do it, you know?” said Doherty.
Brimmer said the only good thing he saw from this was his neighbor’s willingness to help each other.
Police are still investigating this incident. If you are in the area and believe your vehicle was damaged, you’re encouraged to reach the Virginia Beach non-emergency number at 757-385-5000 and file a report.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (AP) — A St. Louis police officer who was a “hero” to his family died Sunday after being shot in the head by a barricaded gunman on the city’s south side, authorities said.
Officer Tamarris L. Bohannon, 29, had been with the department for 3 1/2 years.
A second officer who was shot in the leg was treated and released after the shooting around 6 p.m. in the South Grand neighborhood near Tower Grove Park, St. Louis Police Department spokeswoman Officer Michelle Woodling said.
Woodling said the second officer is 30 and has been on the force about six months. The 43-year-old suspect was taken into custody Sunday morning, Woodling said.
Mayor Lyda Krewson said in a statement Sunday night that she was “heartbroken” at Bohannon’s death. “I’ve had the privilege of spending some time with his family under these extraordinarily challenging circumstances. They’re wonderful people and immensely proud of the way he selflessly served and protected our community with distinction and honor for more than three years.”
“This is a horrific reminder of the dangers our brave men and women willingly face everyday to keep us safe … This is a terrible, senseless tragedy.”
A photo of a note police said came from Bohannon’s family was posted on the department’s Twitter page after the announcement of his death. “He is a hero to many, but most importantly to his loving wife and three incredible children,” read the note that referred to Bohannon as “Bo” and asked for “prayers and support in the days ahead.”
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief John Hayden said the gunman ordered a family out of their home at gunpoint and barricaded himself inside for almost 12 hours.
Officers were searching for another reported shooting victim when the gunman shot Bohannon in the head and the other officer in the leg, Hayden said.
The officers were “trying to do their job, that’s all they’re trying to do and they’re suffering under gunfire,” Hayden said, adding that the incidents are part of “a surge in violence” this summer. He asked residents to pray for the officers.
Hayden said eight of his officers have been shot in the line of duty since June 1.
“We’re trying to cope through a very trying summer, and it’s very difficult. It’s very difficult,” he said.
While the man was barricaded inside, officers armed with rifles and a SWAT team assembled outside. Police closed surrounding streets and warned residents to stay inside. Police used a bullhorn to order the suspect out and fired tear gas into the house, but fired no gunshots, the department said.
The man was taken into custody around 5:30 a.m. Police have released no details about how the standoff came to an end.
Homeowners Mimi and Steve Haag said they were trying to call 911 to help another man who had been shot when the gunman just walked into their home.
“I saw then he had a gun,” Steve Haag told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He was very calm standing there with it in his hand and he just says to Mimi: ‘Ma’am you need to get off the phone.’”
The Haags escaped through the back door and were unhurt in their encounter with the gunman. Police were unable to locate the other man who was apparently shot and wounded.
Krewson tweeted her condolences following the incident.
“Please keep our injured officers and all the men and women of @SLMPD in your thoughts and prayers as this situation continues to develop. Their friends, family and loved ones, too,” Krewson said.
Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, who has a fractious relationship with the city’s police, also issued a statement of support.
“We extend our deepest concern and sadness surrounding today’s unfortunate events,” Gardner told KDSK-TV. “I want to extend my prayers for the injured SLMPD officers and their families.”
*Warning– Some language in the video may be disturbing to viewers*
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) After a week of protests sparked by the shooting death of Trayford Pellerin, Lafayette-area protest organizers say they want to see the officers involved in his shooting death arrested and charged with his murder.
Pellerin was shot and killed as he walked away from officers outside a convenience store in North Lafayette.
Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory defended the officers decision saying Pellerin was a threat.
“Release the names and tapes of the murderers of Trayford Pellerin,” organizer Jamal Taylor said.
Protestors gathered Saturday and marched in the streets of downtown Lafayette to Martin Hall on the campus of UL Lafayette.
During a speech, one organizer also demanded that Lafayette Police increase and revise the firearm training and other violent tactics designed to be used against citizens.
Protestors said they plan to continue their march later Saturday around downtown Lafayette, making stops at the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center and City Hall.
DILLE, WV (WOWK) — The remnants of Hurricane Laura did not bring flooding rains to most of West Virginia, but in parts of Clay County, some residents are still dealing with flooding every time there’s heavy rainfall like earlier this week.
They say it’s been ongoing since the 2016 flood.
Dille resident Krysta Dodrill has had to walk across two iron beams to get to and from her house every day ever since the 2016 flood washed her bridge away.
Just two days ago her driveway was overflowing.
She worries the next heavy rain will wash the beams away and threaten her family’s safety.
“We can’t get an ambulance, we can’t get a fire truck, if we were to lose power, we’re screwed,” she said.
Her husband Scott Dodrill says their neighbor who lives out of state in New Mexico is contributing to the problem with a clogged culvert he installed that doesn’t allow the creek water to flow through.
Instead, it spills onto the road, sometimes leaving water two to three inches from their porch.
“It’s terrible because you’re helpless, you have no idea what to do, I mean you’re virtually helpless,” said Dodrill.
“You’re trying to figure out how to get to higher ground except going straight up the mountain behind the house,” he said.
Just down the street, Dille resident James Sattler says he now has a sandbar for a driveway after the culvert installed by the state in 2016 near his house is now clogged and also caused flooding.
“All of these streams need to be cleaned — dredged they call it. I mean these streams used to be six feet deeper than they are now, they’re just so full of rock and debris,” said Sattler.
The residents say their pleas to FEMA and the state for help have fallen on deaf ears.
According to the Dodrill family, a new bridge will cost them anywhere from $16,000 out-of-pocket.
They say they were rejected by FEMA and the West Virginia VOAD on the grounds that it wasn’t their primary residence when the flood happened.
“It took two years to fight with these programs to install a bridge and I mean you just get nowhere with them,” she said.
13 News contacted the out-of-state neighbor who lives in New Mexico.
He says he is currently awaiting back surgery and is immobile.
He also says FEMA had promised him a bridge in the 2016 flood.
He says he is now working with the Clay County Division of Highways to get the culvert ripped out.
Calls at to the Clay County DOH were unsuccessful Saturday.
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) Mayor-President Josh Guillory has issued a statement following a staged protest outside his home where multiple people gathered Saturday and fired up a bar-b-que grill with hot dogs and hamburgers.
“Baby Trump. You don’t want to come to our neighborhood so we coming to yours,” protestor Tara Fogleman announced LIVE on Facebook.
“Our brother was shot in the back 11 times, in cold blood by the Lafayette Police Department,” Fogleman said. “Since he [Josh Guillory] don’t wanna come in our hood and talk about Trayford, we coming to his.” she said.
Fogleman is referring to the officer involved shooting a week ago when Trayford Pellerin was shot and killed as he walked away from police near a convenience store.
“We are not here to cause trouble, we are just here to make Josh Guillory feel as uncomfortable as we feel.”
In a late evening press conference at the Lafayette Police Department, Guillory responded to the protest.
“We had members of our community take it upon themselves and come to my house today and protest; that’s not protest, that’s public intimidation,” Guillory said.
“My wife and my children had to witness that.”
Guillory says while he supports free speech, he said arrest was made and said actions like this should not continue to happen.
“We are all as a community mourning the loss of Treyford Pellerin… my heart goes out to his family. its a very unfortunate situation… but a protest outside my home crosses a line.”
Fogleman was arrested and charged with obstructing public property and disturbing the peace.
She was booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center with no bond.
Her LIVE Facebook post had over 10,000 views.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA–Approximately 800 homes were destroyed during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. Today New Orleans looks back 15 years ago. So many of us evacuated west during that time, and today our neighbors and family from Lake Charles are starting to return back home after Hurricane Laura did her worst.
In the years after Hurricane Katirna, the incredible undertaking of bringing so many displaced people back to their home city is till going on today. The 9th Ward community in New Orleans lost 100 percent of the homes during 2005. Margueritte Oestreicher is Executive Director of New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity and says “particularly here in the 9th Ward where we had some of the highest percentages of home ownership among African Americans in the city. So providing the opportunity for people to return home continues to matter. It is relevant.”
A dire situation is at hand that started after Hurricane Katrina and is now exacerbated during the coronavirus pandemic. New Orleans’s iconic places are in danger and without it’s original residents, characters and culture bearers, the city is changing. As a counter to the fight of keeping NOLA culture alive, today, there are over 70 homes built by Habitat for Humanity in musician’s village in the the Upper 9th Ward, a place where over the years, culture bearers have reestablished themselves.
Starting back in 2006, 200,000 volunteers were part of Camp Hope, a FEMA sponsored partnership of non profits who rebuilt the homes lost in Katrina’s waters. Habitat for Humanity went from building eight to ten houses a year to building over 200 houses in 2007.
Margueritte Oestreicher was one of the many New Orleans residents displaced after the storm and she lost everything. In 2014, she returned to New Orleans and redirected her life to become the executive director of the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity.
“I can very vividly remember in the weeks and months after the storm when I was relocated after state and I was the first Katrina person people had met. I was here for the 10th anniversary after Katrina and the international media kept asking how New Orleans’ recovery was not done. Quite frankly, the work is still not done,” says Margueritte.
Across the the city, there are close to 700 homes that have been built under the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, over 2,000 homes were cleaned up by Habitat for Humanity since Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana deals with storms; that much is clear. When the storms of life tear you down, the only solution is to use faith, brick and mortar to build yourself back up.
“It’s been an extraordinary journey for this community and this organization, to recognize that when people who care step up and pull together to make change, anything can happen. That is Habitat’s role is to provide home ownership, stability and quite frankly… hope,” says Margueritte Oestreicher.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KLRT) – On Friday, actor and ‘Black Panther’ star Chadwick Boseman passed away after a four-year battle with colon cancer.
For FOX16 Anchor Donna Terrell in Little Rock, Arkansas, the battle against colon cancer is a battle she knows all too well.
Her daughter, Queah (pronounced Quaya), was first diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 27.
Donna was her daughter’s caregiver.
She had no known family history and was misdiagnosed twice before doctors discovered the late-stage tumor.
Once Queah learned about her diagnosis, she set out to educate others, especially young people.
Colon cancer cases among young people are on the rise.
In a 2017 study by the American Cancer Society, the death rate for colorectal cancer among adults between 20 and 54 has been increasing since the mid 2000’s.
Why this is the case is still a mystery.
“There’s a lot of studies going on looking at the genetic changes that are happening that are causing this. I think before long we will have an answer,” says Dr. Jonathan Laryea with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).
For younger people, doctors suggests if they have symptoms like rectal bleeding or any change in your bowel habits, losing weight, or have abdominal pain, see a doctor.
Know this: Colon cancer is not an automatic death sentence.
“The earlier it’s detected, we know that it’s curable,” says Dr. Rhonda Gentry, an oncologist with CARTI. “Even if patients have the disease into their lymph nodes. For example, it’s stage III colon cancer, it’s still very curable with the addition of chemotherapy.”
The good news for survivors today is there are advancements in the way doctors treat the disease and new drugs.
The following could put you at high risk for the disease:
Gastroenterologist Dr. Brian McGee says if you’re 45 and over you should get a colonoscopy and definitely if you have symptoms or family history.
For more information about colon cancer, click here.
Queah had battled the disease and beat it.
Three and a half years later, it came back with a vengeance at stage IV.
On May 19, 2011, Queah lost her battle with colon cancer.
Donna continued her daughter’s mission to educate others by creating Yoga Warriors Fighting Colon Cancer.
The 501(c)3 nonprofit organization promotes the practice of yoga as a tool to help cancer survivors relieve stress and anxiety from the diagnosis and treatments and has made free classes available to survivors.
Yoga Warriors also works to bring awareness of early detection for colon and other cancers.
In addition, Yoga Warriors provides funds to support cancer-fighting tools and techniques.
The organization also helps by providing nutritional supplements and pay for housing for cancer survivors in the Little Rock area for treatment at any of the area hospitals and treatment facilities.
To learn more about Yoga Warriors and how you can help, click here.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Trump administration’s immigration squeeze and the hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic threaten to leave the horse racing industry short of workers, racing officials warn as they prepare for a reconfigured Kentucky Derby.
The racing world’s premier event, rescheduled to take place Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, hasn’t been severely hampered by the looming labor shortage so far. But trainers and advocates say President Donald Trump’s executive order extending the federal government’s March suspension of certain types of work visas has added to an air of uncertainty in a business that relies heavily on an immigrant workforce.
“It’s such a moving target that can change so rapidly,” trainer Dale Romans said. “I don’t plan on continuing my business, much less have growth, if I can’t plan on a labor force consistently year after year.”
Romans, the second-winningest trainer in Churchill’s history, put the problem bluntly. When people can’t get into the country and nobody else steps forward to take the crucial jobs of feeding and caring for horses, he said, “There’s nobody out there to do the work.”
The number of available workers is difficult to determine, as is the impact of the coronavirus. Many trainers in the racing industry rely on the H-2B visa program to supply immigrant workers legally, but many jobs go to undocumented workers as the demand for visas often outpaces the established cap of 66,000. The visa ban through the end of the year and the pandemic have made crossing the border more challenging, and arrests for illegal crossings on the Mexican border have dipped well below last year’s levels.
The work is every day, year-round with no allowances for bad weather or a pandemic. In the busy days leading up to the Derby, workers in the backside area of Churchill Downs wake up in the early morning to start preparing horses for upcoming races. Generally tasked with caring for four or five horses each, workers clean and water stalls, walk horses after tough workouts, and make sure they are healthy and fed.
Conditions and low pay in the industry worry advocates such as Evy Peña, communications directer of the Center for Migrant Rights. In the past two years, two training centers were ordered to pay migrant workers tens of thousands of dollars for lost wages and poor living conditions.
These risks are elevated now, Peña said, and trainers and racetracks should be doing more to protect workers.
Peña argues that H-2B visa workers have less legal protection than their American counterparts. They risk losing their jobs, immigration status and possibly the opportunity of being hired again under the program if they complain.
The horse industry also has a stake in workers being hired again. A steady stream of migrant workers are rehired year after year. Trainers and owners have come to view them as dependable workers, and some say American workers who are hired often quit after a few days or weeks.
Low pay is part of the problem, contends Elisabeth Jensen, the executive vice president of the Kentucky Equine Education Project, an organization that supports the state’s horse industry.
“We’re also working with our employers to help them understand that it’s not like it was 20 years ago,” she said. “They’re competing with the Amazons and the other people who are able to offer more financially.”
Take a backside worker at Churchill Downs as an example. A worker hired under the H-2B visa program makes roughly $11.50 an hour on average, according to data provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. Amazon employees make $15 per hour. Both pay higher than Kentucky minimum wage, which is $7.25 an hour.
For Romans, the typical rhythm of a working day at the track or the stables makes it difficult to change working times to fit the demands of American workers.
“A horse has got to eat three times a day. They have to train during certain hours of the day because the races are during the afternoon,” Romans said. “So it’s basically impossible to change when they don’t have to be there, to make it more comfortable.”
A worker shortage can have a ripple effect throughout the industry. The number of workers often determines the number of horses a trainer can take on. To accommodate the number of horses with a limited supply of workers, trainers have to work with fewer horses. The sale and breeding of horses is affected, as well as the number of horses that end up on the racetrack.
This month, the U.S. Department of State issued new guidance that allows more foreign workers to enter the U.S., but with the season nearly up, it’s unlikely to change things this year, said Elizabeth Conley Buckley, an immigration attorney based in Lexington.
“This exemption to the executive order is not going to help them because they never got visas,” she said. “So they have been dealing with any kind of staff they can put together from college students to day workers, whatever they can find.”
Racing industry applications for work visas are outnumbered by applicants in hospitality, construction and landscaping industries. This is why Buckley would like to see grooms and stable attendants reclassified as agricultural workers.
“My clients were all successful this year, but across the board, it was pretty terrible,” she said . “Major horse trainers were not able to get H-2B visas at all.”
But even if such changes were made, the coronavirus pandemic also has limited travel between countries where many workers come from. For instance, a large proportion of workers employed by Buckley’s clients come from Guatemala, and the country has not opened up and continues to struggle with the pandemic.
Laurie Mays, a project manager at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, is in charge of developing a local workforce for the horse industry. She’s optimistic about bringing more American workers into the industry but insists that the need for migrant workers would still exist when that day comes.
“There’s still not enough people, even if you get all of the local talent to be engaged in the industry, our industry is very labor-intensive, and it takes a lot of manpower to happen,” Mays said. “The horses don’t take holidays; they don’t care what the weather is outside.”
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Hudspeth Blackburn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.