Arkansas Times (Arkansas)

Coronavirus cases jump to 100, including residents in three nursing homes

Health Director Nate Smith said the state is most concerned about the nursing homes, with vulnerable populations.  The state is working to test all patients and staff and will segregate those who test positive. He noted the state had stopped visiting at long-term care facilities

Austin Chronicle (Texas)

Health Care Needs Your Help to Slow COVID-19’s Spread Keep your distance

As alarming as these increases are, experts continue to warn that we are just beginning to see the damage this virus can do. To mitigate here the massive impacts that have been seen in Asia and Europe, health experts say we must all commit to social distancing – staying put and avoiding contact with others. Many people don’t show symptoms; COVID-19 can travel along a chain of unaffected people until it sickens or kills someone. While young and healthy people are less likely to get sick from the virus, COVID-19 is potentially serious and life-threatening to people of any age. Its effects are most severe for people who are over 60, have a compromised or suppressed immune system, or who have existing conditions like diabetes or heart disease.

Chicago Reader (Illinois)

Nothing next to normal  As the curtain falls on live performance, museums and performing arts groups scramble to adapt online.

According to artistic director Jeremy Wechsler, “The show [directed by Brian Balcom, with MacGregor Arney in the title role] was in tech, it looked great, and I just couldn’t stand the idea that no one was going to see this play after all this work.” Union rules would have been an issue for livestreaming, but Actors Equity worked with them on this alternate plan. Wit will continue to sell no more than 98 tickets per performance, priced at $28 each, with postperformance discussions also available online. Weschler’s hoping “to preserve as much of the in-theater experience as possible.” 

City Beat (Ohio)

Hamilton County Board of Elections Closes Building, Keeps Drive-Up Dropbox Open

“The Board has a 24-hour, secure drive-up drop-box that voters can use to deposit any correspondence to the Board of Elections. In addition, a self-serve desk and drop-box will be available during regular business hours — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays — in the vestibule at the board office,” says the release.

Cleveland Scene (Ohio)

Maybe Cleveland Shouldn’t Give Away Millions to Sherwin Williams on the Precipice of Economic Collapse

The bulk of that package, which is meant to subsidize construction of a new corporate headquarters downtown, is what’s called a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) incentive. Sherwin Williams will be permitted to keep the non-school portion of what it would have paid in new property taxes and invest that sum in its facility.

Coachella Valley Independent (California)

Vine Social: Try to Fill This Turbulent Time With Joy—Including, Perhaps, Some Amazing Rosé Wine

Maybe this time of solitude can be used to learn more about ourselves. Maybe we’ll connect with our families, or maybe we’ll finally fix that broken drawer, or leaky faucet. Maybe we can sip wine from far-off places and imagine ourselves in a beautiful wine landscape. However you choose to use your time, please always try to fill it with joy.

Creative Loafing (Florida)

Pools in The Villages were forced to close because boomers ignored rules on social distancing

On a very related note, a recent poll released this week from NPR and PBS Newshour found that less than 40% of Republicans in the U.S. currently view the coronavirus as a real threat, which is troubling since the case numbers are only growing and the virus is extremely dangerous for people over 65. 

DigBoston (Massachusetts)

Displaced by coronavirus, students scramble for shelter in merciless housing market

None of these critical stipulations, however, address the housing crisis faced by Greater Boston-based college students who have been ordered to leave campus housing. The region is home to an estimated 225,000 students, of which about 75,000 students are international, low-income, and reside out-of-state (this number includes students who attend Brandeis and the University of Massachusetts system and does not include those at community colleges and language schools). Many of these students are still struggling to find temporary housing, and many are now technically homeless.

Erie Reader (Pennsylvania)

Governor Tom Wolf Orders all non-life sustaining businesses to shut down

Starting at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, all “non-life sustaining businesses” are to shut down until further notice. Beginning on Saturday, March 21, these actions will be enforced. 

Eugene Weekly (Oregon)

All Quiet on the Coronavirus Front

“Even if we do manage to reschedule most of the events, the economic impact will be hard,” he says. “Show staff won’t get paid at all, and office hours are being reduced. We still need to do building cleaning and maintenance. Can you imagine what the corner of 8th and Lincoln would look like if our facilities staff didn’t clean up every day?” 

Gambit Weekly (Louisiana)

Take a break from coronavirus with this virtual tour of the New Orleans Museum of Art

Currently, the site has seven tours, including one called “Spirituality over Time,” which includes Baroque and Renaissance paintings, and “The Desire of Women” which incorporates French Impressionist artwork. 

Icepeople (Svalbard)

Romano Juric bringing comfort as well as food to isolated residents from desolated restaurants with recently-launched business during coronavirus crisis

He’s still not likely to get rich, mind you, since his basic rates are roughly equal to a side order of fries, and he’s offering deliveries of critical supplies such as groceries and pharmacy items free or at heavy discounts. But the rewards of doing something positive for the community in a crisis is a payoff that can’t be equated on a balance sheet.

INDY Week (North Carolina)

With Concert Cancellations, Durham Venues Livestream Local Artists

The Virtual Listening Room is still in its organizing stages, but the first show is scheduled for Thursday, March 26. For $12, viewers can tune in to see local bands Violet Bell and Al Riggs livestreamed from the Blue Note Grill (the bands are playing separate time slots to avoid contact). Newton and Allen will not be taking a cut of the proceeds.

Inlander (Washington)

Staying connected: One Logan Elementary teacher holds a virtual story time during school closure

The virtual story time, he says, is one way to retain a sense of normalcy for those kids. He also held a Zoom meeting with several students earlier this week.

Isthmus (Wisconsin)

Homeless in a pandemic

Some families go to The Beacon, Dane County’s day shelter on East Washington Avenue, which has a small family room, notes Sorensen. Some go to stay with family and friends. But even places that are traditionally open and welcoming during the day, including Madison’s public libraries and the Madison Children’s Museum, are now closed.

Jackson Free Press (Mississippi)

Governor Under Fire as COVID-19 Spreads, Testing Begins at Fairgrounds

Over the weekend, Gov. Tate Reeves declined to shutter Mississippi’s beaches, and has, thus far, resisted the call to issue statewide business-closing or “shelter in place” orders, which would effectively place Mississippi under quarantine. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a shelter-in-place order for his state beginning today, March 23, at 5 p.m.

Lansing City Pulse (Michigan)

Greater Lansing grocery stores struggle with social distancing 

While Michigan’s major grocery stores ramp up safety precautions amid the spread of coronavirus in Greater Lansing, federal guidelines to maintain a proper social distance are being routinely ignored.

LEO Weekly (Kentucky)

Coronavirus shutters theater shows across Louisville

The impact is already taking a toll across the entire theater community, financially and emotionally on organizations and on individual actors. Many actors — to use another dramatic turn of phrase — aren’t getting a chance to “say good bye” to the characters they have worked so hard to bring to life.

Little Village (Iowa)

Coralville waives bus fares, closes city hall

“Although City Hall will close to the public, residents can continue to conduct city business by phone, online or by mail,” according to the city’s website.

Memphis Flyer (Tennessee) 

CannaBeat: Tennessee’s Medical Cannabis Bill Stymied by Coronavirus

So, who qualifies for medical cannabis here if the legislature picks it back up next year? Well, it’d be considered medicine, of course. So, the bill now allows for patients with a range of maladies like cancer, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, sickle cell disease, chronic pain, muscle spasms, seizures, and a raft of other disorders “that interfere with mental health.”

Monterey County NOW (California)

Veterinary clinics and animal shelters continue operations during the shelter-in-place order.

Many clinics are sending out notices of procedures via email to their current patient lists. The VCA Ocean View Animal Hospital’s notice asks pet owners to call ahead of time for an appointment, wait outside or in their car until they are called in, and remain outside the clinic if they are there to pick up food or medication and an employee will deliver the order.

Orlando Weekly (Florida)

Orlando Airport Chili’s asks servers to come in and clean, then fires them

Worse, the workers were called in and asked to disinfect and clean the entire restaurant, before being individually taken aside and terminated, according to News 13, which interviewed the workers.

Pittsburgh City Paper (Pennsylvania)

How one vulnerable Pittsburgh worker is struggling to navigate Whole Foods’ COVID-19 paid-time off policy

After reading this email, English went back to his doctor to get an official self-quarantine note and then approached management to request his emergency PTO. But English was denied that request. He says corporate management told him that since he didn’t have COVID-19, he didn’t qualify for the time off.

Pittsburgh Current (Pennsylvania)

Deluged With Waiver Requests, Wolf Admin. Extends Business Enforcement Shutdown Deadline To Monday

“When a business completes a waiver form, a team of professionals at DCED will review each request and respond based on the guiding principle of balancing public safety while ensuring the continued delivery of critical infrastructure services and functions. Those requesting a waiver will be notified via email if their operations may re-open. Businesses applying for a waiver must remain closed until a decision is made about their application.”

Random Lengths News (California)

Long Beach Launches Coronavirus Relief Fund

In the coming days and weeks, the city will grant funds to organizations that are most qualified to help people in the community that are impacted by COVID-19.

The Reader (Nebraska)

An Omahan’s life in Italian lockdown

The lockdown comes as Italy has become the new center of the global pandemic with the most active cases in the world as well as rising death rates. While there are no reported cases in her city, people take the lockdown seriously, Cimino said.

The River (New York)

Coronavirus Hudson Valley and Catskills News

The major disaster declaration issued yesterday for New York State by the federal government entitles New York to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds, with the state currently slated to pick up 25 percent of the tab while FEMA covers the other 75 percent. Governor Andrew Cuomo is calling on President Donald Trump to have the feds cover 100 percent of the cost.

Rochester City Newspaper (New York)

Open for (limited) business

The pastries at Ugly Duck are from Flour City Bakery and Scratch Bakery, two other local businesses that are treading troubled waters. Additionally, Van Grol is setting up a virtual tip jar on the Ugly Duck website that he will distribute to all of his employees. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m

Sacramento News & Review (California)

Bracing for financial impact

However, the Sacramento city attorney’s office informed Steinberg at the meeting that it needed more time to complete its legal research. District 3 Councilman Jeff Harris mentioned he’d received a letter outlining concerns from the Sacramento Association of Realtors about banning evictions. Without elaborating, Harris asked city attorneys to read it while they were finishing their research.

Santa Fe Reporter (New Mexico)

COVID-19 Impacts Immigrant Communities

“This is a government that is working hard to protect all people in the state of New Mexico,” Lujan Grisham said, imploring undocumented residents to call the health hotline immediately if they have symptoms such as cough, fever above 100.4 degrees and shortness of breath.

Santa Barbara Independent (California)

Santa Barbara COVID-19 Cases Reach Double Digits

Public Health spokesperson Dr. Doug Metz explained that staying at home was the most helpful thing Santa Barbarans could do to keep health workers safe. The more the general population avoided infection, the greater the reduction of risk to health-care providers, especially given the current limited availability of protective facemasks and other gear.

Seven Days (Vermont)

Vermont Reports 20 New Cases; Seven More at Burlington Nursing Home

Only three of the new patients announced Saturday are hospitalized, the Health Department said. None of the new nursing home patients have been transferred to a hospital.

SLO New Times (California)

COVID disrupts the lives of the older community

Hospice SLO County is currently transitioning its services to be virtual and by telephone. The nonprofit has 31 support groups that will be online; counseling services will move to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) qualified telemedicine; 88 clients on in-home services will still be seen.

Source Weekly (Oregon)

Nowhere To Go

“It’s really expensive, but a good ‘shelter in place’ option for those who are high risk,” Heiss said. “We are still case managing them… getting them clothes and gift cards for groceries, checking in on them to make sure they are okay.”

The Stranger (Washington)

On Second Thought, Please Don’t Go Hiking

If you want to go for a run, go for a run by yourself. If you want to eat lunch on a boulder, eat lunch on a boulder by yourself. If you can’t figure out how doing things by yourself works, please stay home and send recordings of your farts to John Osebold.

Toledo City Paper (Ohio)

Arts commission announces emergency fund

Artists thrive on events. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of local performances, exhibitions, festivals, and other revenue-generating opportunities for artists have been canceled. For most artists and musicians, this loss is significant— and there has been little recourse to make up the missed funds.

Triad City Beat (North Carolina)

Don’t panic: 14 ways to help each other through the coronavirus pandemic

Backpack Beginnings — This organization helps feed children in need. They are currently asking for both monetary and food donations to their warehouse. They are also in need of volunteers to help sort, pack and deliver food.

Volume One (Michigan)

Community Pandemic Dashboard

Hang in there, Chippewa Valley. We know many of you are staying home right now. In various ways, all of us are keeping apart from the people and the community we love. But even now, amid this pandemic, we want to help serve as a connecting thread to the heartbeat of our community, because that heartbeat hasn’t stopped. Check back each day for the latest. 

Washington City Paper (Washington, DC)

Some Landlords Say They’ll Help Tenants With Rent. Others Aren’t Saying Much.

“If I make it through this thing alive, I surely cannot afford to pay 1.5 times rent,” Vogel says. “We’re the only place people can eat right now in this neighborhood and you can’t be a mensch?”

Willamette Week (Oregon)

This Is the New Normal No one knows how long Oregon’s shutdown will go on.

Part of the problem is Oregon’s lack of testing. Without it, public health and elected officials are flying blind on how many people have the virus and where it is.

BONUS

Savage Love: Quickies and Talking Dirty and Washing Hands

I’m wondering if you know of a word that describes the fetish of getting off from talking dirty. I’ve searched a lot, and I can’t find a label for this kink or fetish. While googling around, I did learn some new terms, like “katoptronophilia” (being aroused by having sex in front of mirrors) and “pubephilia” (being aroused by pubic hair), but I can’t seem to find one that describes my kink. -Dirty Talker