J.C. Penney files for bankruptcy, plans to close some stores
The 118-year-old retailer was struggling long before the public health crisis forced it to temporarily shutter all of its stores.
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House Dems near passage of $3T relief bill despite Trump’s veto threat
The sweeping legislation, dubbed the “Heroes Act,” also faces opposition within the House Democratic caucus, with some moderate lawmakers objecting to voting on a bill that they all know will not become law.
Study shows talking creates long-lasting airborne droplets
The findings could help explain why infections of the coronavirus so often cluster in nursing homes, households, conferences, cruise ships and other confined spaces with limited air circulation.
U.S. stocks sink after Fed chief signals economic pain ahead
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped nearly 517 points on the day, or 2.2%, closing at 23,247.97.
Stocks post weekly gain despite dismal jobless report
Shares of energy, industrial and consumer staples companies helped the S&P 500 register its first weekly gain in three weeks.
About three-quarters of U.S. Catholic parishes applied for government paycheck protection
About 13,000 of the country’s 17,000 Catholic parishes applied for the government’s small-business stimulus program, and about half have so far received the requested funds, according to the church’s group for diocesan fiscal managers.
Jobless rate soared to 14.7% in April as U.S. shed 20.5 million jobs
The staggering job losses are more than double what the nation experienced during the 2007-09 crisis.
Blood thinners show promise for boosting survival chances of sickest COVID-19 patients
For patients on ventilators, about 63% of patients who did not receive the medications died compared with 29% who received the treatment.
Lawmakers rebuff Trump’s demand for payroll tax cut in next virus aid bill
The intraparty rift on a payroll tax cut comes as the Democratic-led House scrambles to produce additional coronavirus legislation with perhaps another massive price tag.
Americans wary of reopening as White House weighs ending COVID-19 task force
Experts around the country are now revising their forecasts about the spread of the virus, and several models in the past three days suggest that resuming normal activity would spur a significant increase in the number of cases and deaths.
FDA steps up scrutiny of coronavirus antibody tests to ensure accuracy
Officials said “unscrupulous actors” have been “marketing fraudulent test kits and using the pandemic as an opportunity to take advantage of Americans’ anxiety.”
Government report predicts COVID-19 cases will reach 200,000 a day by June 1
The document predicts a sharp increase in both cases and deaths beginning about May 14.
Reopened restaurants revealing dining’s ‘new normal’
Waiters wearing plastic gloves and masks. Disposable menus. Family-only tables. Booth dividers. Eateries in several states are reopening under heavy restrictions.
One in six nursing homes across nation report COVID-19 outbreak
The tally paints a grim picture of the scale of the outbreak in homes tasked with caring for the elderly and infirm. More than 2,700 Medicare-certified nursing homes had publicly reported cases as of Tuesday.
Noted coach Haney suspended eight years by USA Gymnastics
Maggie Haney, the longtime former coach of 2016 Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez, was suspended following a hearing into complaints that she verbally and emotionally abused her gymnasts.
Quarantined actors, empty seats, fever checks might be part of return to live performances
Even as a few states began reopening some businesses this week, it remains unclear how long it will be before health experts declare it safe to cram ticket-buyers into sweaty arenas, concert halls or even performances of Shakespeare in the park.
Some businesses won’t return PPP funds despite pressure from Trump administration
Facing criticism, several public companies quickly announced plans to return the money. Others say they need the funds and have no plans to return them.
Reports that Trump may fire HHS leader Azar are ‘fake news,’ president says
One senior administration official with knowledge of the discussions said Trump has no deep affection for Alex Azar but is unlikely to change Health and Human Services secretaries as the coronavirus continues to rage.
USA Track defends CEO’s $4.2 million 2018 compensation package
Less than a week after laying off more than 10% of its staff, Indianapolis-based USA Track & Field released tax records Wednesday that showed compensation figures for CEO Max Siegel.
Mysterious blood-clotting complication killing coronavirus patients
Increasingly, doctors are reporting bizarre, unsettling cases that don’t seem to follow any of the textbooks they’ve trained on. The concern is so acute some doctor groups have raised the controversial possibility of giving preventive blood thinners to everyone with COVID-19.