MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) -- Gov. Tony Evers has directed the Department of Health Services to extend the Safer at Home order for more than a month.

The order, which was set to expire in eight days, will now be in effect until 8 a.m. on May 26, which is the day after Memorial Day, unless another superseding order changes it.

A few weeks ago, we had a pretty grim outlook for what COVID-19 could mean for our state, but because of the efforts of all of you, Safer at Home is working. That said, we aren't out of the woods just yet, said Gov. Evers.

According to Evers, everyone's compliance has helped flatten the curve and reduced the number of hospitalizations. He noted that several weeks about there were projections of 440 to 1,500 deaths in the state.

Currently, the total stands at 197.

"We saved lives together," he added.

SCHOOLS CLOSED; GOLF COURSES OPEN

The directive includes several changes including closing schools for the rest of the school year and it will also allow golf courses to reopen. The full list of changes from Gov. Evers' announcement:

REOPENING WISCONSIN

In his statement, Evers asserted his administration will rely on science and public health experts to help decide when the state can be reopened. DHS Secretary-designee Andrea Palm explained there will need to be more testing and "more robust health measures," before the order is lifted.

These steps will help us reduce the risk of a second wave of the virus," she said.

Palm warns opening the state too soon risks overwhelming the state's hospitals and could mean returning 'drastic' social distancing measures.

Evers pointed out, though, that things won't be getting back to normal until a vaccine and treatment are developed.

"Even then our new normal wont be the same as our old normal," he continued.

FITZGERALD CRITICIZES CALL

The highest ranking member of the Wisconsin Senate criticized Evers' decision, saying that it reflects a "one-size-fits-all approach" that does not take into account how different parts of the state have been affected. He cited rural communities that have not had as many reported cases, yet remain covered by the order.

The Republican Senator also attacked the Governor for not releasing a plan for how the state will get going again once the order is lifted.

Everyone agrees that reasonable measures must be taken during a public health crisis. Health and safety are a priority, however to extend this order for another month without a plan for how to reopen the state or clear benchmarks for an early expiration is simply unacceptable," he said.

Noting that the Senate has not been involved in discussions about the order, Fitzgerald stated that lawmakers intend to look into taking legislative action in conjunction with the Governor's office, to find solutions.

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Evers extends Safer at Home to May 26, closes schools for the year - WMTV

By Assistant Chief Jim Eden

LEES SUMMIT, MO On Monday, April 13, 2020, at 12:48 p.m., the Lees Summit Fire Department responded to 221 NW Commerce Court for a possible structure fire. Employees at Weed Man Lawn Care reported a truck fire in the garage. An employee walking through the garage noticed smoke and then a small fire. The fire grew quickly and building was evacuated.

When crews arrived, smoke was coming from the overhead doors of the business. Crews entered the building and extinguished a fire involving the engine compartment and cab of a pickup truck. There was some involvement of nearby equipment, but no involvement of any lawn care chemicals in the building. The incident was under control by 1:06 p.m. A search of the building confirmed there were no other employees inside.

Fire damage was contained to the front the truck and some nearby equipment. Smoke and heat damage varied throughout the garage area. Closed doors kept most of the smoke out of the office area.

The exact cause of the fire is undetermined, but believed to be due to an electrical failure in the truck.

View original post here:
Employees At Weed Man Lawn Care Report Truck Fire Inside the Building Just As It Starts - lstribune

SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) Many people are spending more time at home during Massachusetts stay-at-home advisory in effect for the coronavirus pandemic.

With the weather warming up, many homeowners are turning to lawn care to spend their free time. Now is a good time to get your yard ready for a nice summer.

Right now is the time for general yard clean up, seeding and crabgrass preventative. You can start mowing, but it helps to mow a little shorter than normal.

In the next few weeks, you can start weed preventative and lawn food.

Its not until May that you need to start fertilizing. This is also the time to start mowing at a regular height. Fertilizing wouldve been recommended earlier if we kept up with our warmer temperatures we saw earlier this month, but more recently, theyve dipped below normal, so soil temperatures dropped back down.

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Lawn care tips that can be started now and what to wait for - WWLP.com

EDGEWATER Michelle Lytle was in the middle of a major public art project when the coronavirus changed life in unprecedented ways.

The Edgewater-based photographer had been working since late 2019 to install nine murals in her neighborhood over nine months. Works include Kites Over Edgewater, which adorns the wall next to the Lytles home and studio, and Edgewater Charlie, which depicts Charlie Brown and his friend Linus peering over a brick wall on Broadway.

When the coronavirus outbreak hit Chicago, Lytle knew she wanted her project to address the situation and help out in some way. The result is a new mural along Broadway that says Everything Will Be OK and a coinciding lawn sign campaign to raise money for Edgewater charity Care For Real.

All of this hit, and its been insane, Lytle said. We wanted to do something to help. Anyone whose having a bad day, its a message that can help you in those moments.

The Everything Will Be OK mural is the continuation of a public art project started outside Atlanta by artist Jason Kofke. The installations have taken on a new meaning during the coronavirus outbreak, and a town in Georgia began selling yard and window signs with the slogan to raise money for local charities, according to Good Morning America.

Lytle got Kofkes permission to bring the art campaign to Chicago. The mural is painted on the side of 5524 N. Broadway, which is nearby The Lytle House, the former auto garage thats now an event space, photographers studio and home of Michelle and her family.

Lawn signs identical to the mural have been printed up and are available for $20 at Pizzeria Aroma, 5350 N. Broadway. All proceeds from the lawn sign sale will go to Care For Real, the Edgewater-based charity and food pantry.

Before coronavirus, Care For Real served an average of 5,000 people a month needing assistance with garnering food and personal items or other programming and services. Demand for help has skyrocketed since the coronavirus outbreak, Care For Real Executive Director Lyle Allen previously told Block Club.

A wedding photographer by trade, Lytle said she wanted to help out other small vendors, caterers, servers and bartenders who are struggling through the outbreak. She chose Care For Real because it has pledged to be a lifeline for laid-off service industry workers, Lytle said.

Were used to the winter being slow, but its starting to hit us now, Lytle said of the wedding and event photography business she operates with her wife, Robyn. This isnt going to last forever, you have to keep in mind.

Lytles mural project was always meant to spread joy and make Edgewater an even brighter place to live and visit. But with the new campaign, Lytle is hoping to be not only a source of joy, but of tangible help to her neighbors in need.

We love Edgewater, Lytle said. Whatever we can do to raise moods, that benefits everybody.

For more on the Everything Will Be Ok campaign and fundraiser, click here.

Block Club Chicagos coronavirus coverage is free for all readers. Block Club is an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom.

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'Everything Will Be OK' Mural Gives Edgewater Residents Hope, And Matching Yard Signs Help Those In Need - Block Club Chicago

Few times in history have called for the kind of engaged, courageous leadership that todays circumstances demand. People will look back on our response to COVID-19 and judge the work done by their community, business, and government leaders: Did we make the right, tough choices? Did we work without concern for political gain? Were we thoughtful and did our decisions make sense and have positive outcomes?

The governor has issued more than 30 executive orders in an effort to protect lives in this unprecedented time. We in the Legislature have worked with her to ensure these orders protect our constituents and address the greater good. And as we continue to react to COVID-19 and protect Michiganders, we must look realistically at the consequences of our decisions on livelihoods and businesses, including some of our critical seasonal industries. As Speaker Lee Chatfield has urged the governor: We need to look at activities through the lens of being safe vs. unsafe, rather than essential vs. non-essential. It is more practical, and will allow us to restart industries and parts of our economy responsibly.

I am speaking of landscape companies, nurseries, u-pick agricultural operations, some construction, golf courses and other businesses that dont require customer contact typically calling for employees to work in solitude or near-solitude in the outdoors. Riding on the back of a mower, delivering and setting mulch, planting trees and landscape elements, walking 18 holes, tending to plants in inventory, roofing a home, allowing customers to pick in groves and fields -- all of these can be done outdoors in relative solitude or, at a minimum, much further than 6 feet away from the next person.

We must give these seasonal businesses the chance to survive and free them of restrictions that dont pertain to the way they operate. In doing so, we can provide some Michiganders with jobs and outdoor activities, and protect portions of our economy and the physical and mental wellbeing of our people.

These businesses have a short season in Michigan and a short opportunity for success. It makes sense to allow them to operate -- with proper precautions -- and to have a chance to stay afloat in 2020 and beyond. Thats what Ohio has done, and we should follow suit.

Many businesses will have opportunities beyond spring and summer to get back on their feet. Others will not survive the response to COVID-19 and seasonal Michigan businesses may be at greater risk of falling into this category. We should allow them to operate now, with the necessary restrictions, to offer a glimmer of hope in our communities. And that providing hope -- is an indication of vision and strength, and a responsibility of leadership.

Rep. Lynn Afendoulis is a Republican from Grand Rapids Township. She is chair of the House Tax Policy Committee

Read this article:
Seasonal industries, such as lawn care and golf courses, must be given the chance to survive (opinion) - MLive.com

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer defended her stay home order amid criticism from Republic legislators and small businesses, saying she is prioritizing Michigans health and safety.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, ripped into Whitmer in a social media post Friday, criticizing the orders extension as destroying our health by ruining our livelihoods. The governor prolonged the order until April 30 in an announcement Thursday, April 9.

We must continue to have restrictions on social distancing...but theres room for much-needed common sense," Shirkey said in a phone interview with MLive. Businesses are proving that they can walk and chew gum at the same time and are capable of protecting their customers, suppliers and employees.

Her office justified her strict measures by citing continued increases and deaths from COVID-19.

As of yesterday, the state had over 22,700 confirmed COVID-19 cases and over 1,200 deaths," her office said in a statement to MLive. "Protecting the health and safety of the people of Michigan remains the governors number one priority. She has worked closely with Speaker (Lee) Chatfield and Sen. Shirkey throughout this emergency, and will continue to do so. We welcome constructive participation from the legislature, but the priority must be on taking actions to slow the spread of this virus and keep Michiganders safe.

Related: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extends coronavirus stay-at-home order through April 30

House Speaker Chatfield, R-Levering, questioned Whitmers logic for determining what businesses were deemed essential.

Non-essential in Michigan: Lawn care, construction, fishing if boating with a motor, realtors, buying seeds, home improvement equipment and gardening supplies, he said on Twitter. Essential in Michigan: Marijuana, lottery and alcohol. Lets be safe and reasonable. Right now, were not!

Large stores that sell gardening supplies, paint, carpeting, flooring and furniture may be forced to close due to increased restrictions, said State Rep. Michele Hoitenga, R-Manton.

Not only did Governor Whitmer not adopt the new federal (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) recommendations, that would allow certain businesses back to work safely, she went even further in restricting Michigan businesses and freedoms, Hoitenga wrote on Facebook. The CISA guidance for essential workers can be found here.

Some gardeners and farmers have urged customers to contact Whitmers office to loosen business restrictions. Staying inside for this long isnt safe nor healthy either, said Wedels Nursery, Florist and Garden Center, 5020 Texas Drive in Kalamazoo, on Facebook.

Please help the gardening industry by...sending an email to the governor, the store wrote. We dont feel that it is safe or healthy to be confined - getting in the fresh air is so good for our physical and mental well-being! What could be better for your family than growing your own food?

Red Bird Farms, 4475 Merwin Road in Lapeer, argued the move hurts Michigan growers and benefits ones from out of state.

Let Gov, Whitmer know that her ruling is hurting greenhouse growers, (which) letting big box stores sell their plants that mostly come from out of state," the greenhouse grower wrote on Facebook. We need your help.

Other pushback comes from a petition to allow motorized boating on Michigan waterways, which has nearly 14,000 signatures.

Any loosening of restrictions, even to help certain industries, will keep the economy suffering for longer than if the preventative measures were not maintained, Whitmer said Thursday.

Every single exception to the Stay Home, Stay Safe order makes this more porous and less likely to work, she said.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

Read more from MLive:

Saturday, April 11: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Michigan reports 205 new coronavirus deaths, nearly double previous daily peak

In unusual session, Michigan lawmakers OK 23-day extension of coronavirus state of emergency

Read more from the original source:
Despite criticism, Gov. Whitmer defends revised stay-at-home order - MLive.com

Coronavirus has been silently ravaging nursing homes and adult care facilities across New York State, killing residents at an alarming rate which, until this week, has largely been shielded from the public by state and local officials.

Since the state finally began releasing nursing home fatality data on Tuesday, its been revealed that the virus has taken the lives of more residents in New Yorks nursing homes and adult care facilities than the total number of lives lost in any other state.

As of April 14, more than 3,000 nursing home and adult care residents in New York have died of the coronavirus disease. For context, New Jersey, the state with the second-highest number of fatalities from the virus, has had 2,805 deaths in total.

The situation is especially grim in Suffolk County, where more than half of the countys 653 coronavirus fatalities 334 people have been residents in nursing homes and adult care facilities.

The governor and state health commissioner would have us believe this dreadful result was inevitable. They talk about the medically frail conditions of nursing home residents, how its a closed environment, how once the virus gets inside, its like an ember in dry grass.

Certainly, long-term care facilities are high-risk settings. But was this carnage truly inevitable?

The first known nursing home resident known to have died of COVID-19 in the U.S. was a 73-year-old female resident of the Life Care Center in Kirkland Washington, who died March 2. An investigation by the Seattle Times revealed that a respiratory illness outbreak inside the Kirkland facility was observed by facility officials beginning in mid-February.

Even after they understood what they were dealing with a deadly coronavirus outbreak the Kirkland nursing home didnt obtain enough supplies to test all residents until March 7, and it took another week to test most employees, according to the Times.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a March 18 report said limited access to testing, a lack of protective equipment and staff working at multiple facilities while sick all contributed to the spread of the disease at Life Care Center.

Did New York learn from the Kirkland, Washington tragedy?

Did New York take steps to make sure nursing homes had the PPE they would surely need as the pandemic spread? Did it ensure nursing homes were testing their staff members? Did it take steps to enhance infection control at these facilities?

According to two residents with relatives in two different Suffolk nursing homes, the nursing homes said they were directed by the state health department to admit COVID patients from overburdened and overcrowded area hospitals. If true, the state may have dropped a lit match never mind an ember into dry grass and then fanned the flame.

Here in New York, the first reported COVID-19 deaths were on March 14. Both were elderly people with underlying health conditions. We dont know if they were nursing home residents. In fact, we dont even know when the first nursing home deaths occurred in New York, because the state did not report nursing home fatalities separately on a county level until this week. Instead, the state health department sat on this information until Tuesday one full month after the first reported COVID death here. On Tuesday, the state finally released county-level data on nursing home fatalities.

But New York has refused to release the fatality data for individual nursing homes. The state health commissioner first claimed the federal health care privacy law prevented the disclosure, but after being called out on that false claim, then vaguely cited privacy concerns. The governor said it is a law, though he couldnt cite the statute.

Today at his news briefing, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state is gathering the data on individual nursing homes and adult care facilities and will release the information later today.

Without government disclosure of infections and deaths at individual nursing home and adult care facilities, family members who are worried about their loved ones must rely on information provided by the care facilities themselves facilities which have every interest in suppressing the information.

We need your help.Now more than ever, the survival of quality local journalism depends on your support. Our community faces unprecedented economic disruption, and the future of many small businesses are under threat, including our own. It takes time and resources to provide this service. We are a small family-owned operation, and we will do everything in our power to keep it going. But today more than ever before, we will depend on your support to continue. Support RiverheadLOCAL today. You rely on us to stay informed and we depend on you to make our work possible.

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Coronavirus has killed nursing home residents at an alarming rate, yet state officials kept public in the dark - RiverheadLOCAL

FISHERSVILLE, Va. (WHSV) A couple in Highland County is hoping to help spread some positivity by creating yard signs for high school seniors graduating this year.

Cane and Lauren Sampson own CL Photoz and throughout this past school year, they have worked with many students by taking their senior photos.

Last month, Gov. Ralph Northam announced schools across the Commonwealth will be closed for the remainder of the school year due to the spread of COVID-19.

Cane said he knew many seniors that they had worked with had to be disappointed in the announcement.

"Some seniors already had their tuxes and dresses picked up," Cane said. "Some were preparing speeches and getting ready to walk across that stage, so we want to do something that will bring a smile to their face."

Cane and his wife have been driving around the Shenandoah Valley to homes of seniors they took photos for and dropping off a printed yard sign with their photo for free.

"This is for every senior we had in 2019 through 2020," Cane said. "We consider our clients family, so we just want to show them that we're in this together and that we care about their accomplishment."

Chloe Hise, a senior at Wilson Memorial High School, received her sign Wednesday afternoon and said even though she couldn't live out her senior year, this helps in making the best of it.

"Little things like this do help," Chloe said. " Even though we don't get actual graduation, this helps show we did do those 12 years of school and get some appreciation for it."

Cane said this is the first time they've ever created yard signs and he hopes to keep creating more. He said they are open to print off a sign for your graduating senior even if they didn't take their photo.

He said you can even use a cell photo photo and submit it through email to clphtoz3@gmail.com or click here for more information.

If you did not take photos with them before, the yard sign will cost you depending on where you live, but they will deliver throughout the entire Valley.

Cane said he would just like to continue celebrating the Class of 2020.

More here:
Valley couple creates yard signs to celebrate the Class of 2020 - WHSV

ST. PAUL. Minn. (KTTC) Minnesota Governor Tim Walz held his State of the State address Sunday evening.

He took time to briefly thank Minnesotans and reassure them that this pandemic is temporary.

"We are truly one Minnesota, and a new day will come. The sun will shine brightly. The trees will bud and the birds will sing. Spring will arrive, and when it does we will dig out Minnesota," Governor Walz said.

Following the address, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, shared his response.

"I think the Governor is really trying to, from the perspective of the leader of the state, and trying to inspire Minnesotans and let them know, we will get through this. And I would agree with him we certainly want to remain a united front, Republicans and Democrats and not only wanting to fight and defeat COVID-19 but also make sure that Minnesotans get back to normal as quickly as it is," Daudt said.

Daudt also urges the the governor to reconsider allowing certain professions to be able to work as long as they are social distancing.

"The one that comes to mind, and I got an email from some friends of mine who are older. And they can't take care of their yard work and now their lawn. They certainly were asking and they wrote and email to the Governor today about allowing lawn care workers to get back. And I know that golf courses could certainly be open and provide an opportunity for folks to get out and get a little bit of recreation. If we can't allow them to open we at least need to allow them to maintain the golf course," he said.

Walz's address statement served as a motivational speech to show the strength in our communities.

He said the state is working on increasing testing capabilities and building hospital capacity, as well as getting more personal protective equipment for health care workers.

"Minnesotans wont just prepare for COVID-19we will lead. The brilliant minds and hard work of Minnesotans will help lead the worlds response to this crisis. Mayo Clinic is leading a national trial to use blood from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 as a treatment for others who fall ill with the disease. Hospitals across the state, from the largest systems to the smallest, are preparing in new ways for a surge in patients. 3M workers are producing millions of protective face masks a month. Medtronic is publicly sharing the design specifications for its ventilators to spark rapid manufacturing of this critical equipment desperately needed to save lives," Walz said.

Walz thanks those who stay at home, and practicing social distancing. He emphasized that those efforts are helping slow down the spread of this virus. He also said he understands how this is ruining plans for students, churches, family gatherings, and sporting events.

Walz shared stories of how Minnesotans are coming together to help each other as they get through the pandemic.

"In North Branch, a state trooper pulled a woman over this weekend for speeding. It turns out, she was a doctor in town for work.The trooper noticed some medical masks in her bag that she had been forced to re-use due to the current shortage. Instead of handing her a ticket, the trooper handed her a stack of masks that he had been given to keep him safe, he put his neighbor first," he said.

The stay at home executive order goes into effect until April 10th at 5 pm.

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Minnesota GOP reacts to State of the State address; asks Walz to reconsider professions' ability to work - KTTC

Coastal Lawn Care is keeping lawns cared for during the coronavirus.

NASA Langley says employee who tested positive for COVID-19 has died

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Acting Navy Secy resigns after calling captain 'stupid'

Top Local Headlines | April 7

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Coastal Lawn Care is keeping lawns cared for during the coronavirus. - WAVY.com