In this time of COVID-19 with many businesses sadly failing, residential real estate, though slowing down, is still moving. Case in point is this John Staub beauty in River Oaks that just closed for a generous $5.5 million.

And at that price, tearing it down to make way for a McMansion would be a fools errand. Interestingly, the house was previously on the market for $6.1 million. But when the price was dropped to $5.5 million, the house sold within days.

The beautiful, New Orleans-influenced dwelling was built in 1937 when Houstons premier architect was designing his signature graceful mansions for leading citizenry, not the least of whom was Ima Hogg whose Bayou Bend mansion became a house museum of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. One can see similarities between the two homes.

The house at 3015 Inwood is one of Staubs most graceful at 6,256 square feet with four/five bedrooms, four full and two half baths. A 1957 addition, also designed by Staub, contributed to the modern day appeal.

The dwelling is replete with handsome architectural detailing including four marble fireplaces, a Jacobean walnut paneled library, a bright sun room, an octagonal dinning room and full quarters over the garage.

The one-acre lot shrouded in oaks and laced with azaleas includes a large swimming pool and pool house that echoes the architecture of the main dwelling.

In short, the house represents a gracious style of living that was celebrated in the 1930s through the 60s after which Staub and his cohorts in Houstons grand residential architecture William Ward Watkin and Birdsall Briscoe had passed on.

In recent decades, a number the grand old mansions designed by this trio have been, with little or no consideration to the past, torn down to make way for contemporary dwellings.

When this sale was completed, the home was listed with Nan & Company Properties, Christies International Real Estate.

Click thru the photo gallery below for a look inside this Staub stunner:

Read more:
Historic River Oaks Mansion That Dates Back to 1937 Sells at a Price That Should Forbid a Teardown - PaperCity Magazine

Theres no place like home. Thats never been truer than it is today, with most of us spending the lions share of our time there.

But what makes a home feel comfortable and comforting? What makes it function smoothly and efficiently? Which features attract the eye and lift the spirit?

The answers are as varied as the people who seek to create their ideal home. For one young urban couple, it was remodeling their single-bedroom warehouse loft to make room for a baby. For an architect and his wife, it was creating a new modern home designed to make the most of lakeshore living on an island, while designing for aging in place and sustainability.

These homes and more are among this years Home of the Month selected projects. Twelve designs by AIA Minnesota (American Institute of Architects) professionals were chosen from 38 submissions.

Starting in June, youll get an inside look at these dozen homes on the first Sunday of every month in the Homes section and at startribune.com. Youll hear from the homeowners and architects involved, and see plenty of photos to inspire your own building or remodeling plans.

Here's a preview of the next 12 homes:

1. Waterfront Stone and Glass

Design team: Leffert Tigelaar, Charlie Witzke and Tyler Nelson, TEA2 Architects

On a northern Minnesota lake, a new home blends modern and traditional elements to create a tranquil retreat with multiple outdoor rooms, including an entry courtyard. An open bridge separates sleeping areas for adults and children.

2. Warehouse Loft Remodeling

Design team: Todd Hansen, Jenny Seim and Katie Loecken, Albertsson Hansen Architecture

A young couple expecting a baby remodeled their single-bedroom loft-style condo to create a nursery, an improved kitchen and better flow throughout. Unused space under the staircase now contains wine storage, pantry pullouts and a built-in dog kennel.

3. Box Camp

Design team: David OBrien Wagner, Caitlin Dippo and Katie Leaf, SALA Architects

In the North Woods of Wisconsin, a low-slung new lake home is modern, while evoking a camp-like arrangement of gathering and sleeping spaces. The heart of the camp is a central gathering box with a fireplace, tall ceilings and windows facing the lake.

4. Nenookaasi

Design team: Meghan Kell Cornell, Dan Wallace and Kelly Kraemer, Kell Architects

Set on a sliver of peninsula on a lake in Crow Wing County, a new family getaway home blends with its wooded surroundings while creating spaces for extended family members to enjoy. Theres a great room with a hearth and reading nooks, a main-level owners suite and lower-level spaces for grown children and future grandchildren to sleep and play.

5. Deephaven Up/Down

Design team: Todd Hansen and Amanda Chial, Albertsson Hansen Architecture

A split-level rambler in suburbia was completely reconfigured to meet the needs of an active family, including an updated kitchen, a new mudroom and a rear addition that creates a seamless transition to the patio and captures views of a hidden pond.

6. Jewel Box Cabin

Design team: Sara Imhoff, Imprint Architecture and Design

A small 900 square feet two-story cabin was designed to be efficient and environmentally friendly, with minimal impact on its lakeside site in northern Minnesota.

7. Caliente

Design team: Christopher Strom and Theodore Grothe, Christopher Strom Architects

A growing young family living in a modest Minneapolis bungalow expanded their living space with an accessory dwelling unit in their backyard that serves as both a home office and a space for movie or game nights.

8. Shady Island Summer Home

Design team: Charles Stinson, Chuck Thiss and Kim Streeter, Charles R. Stinson Architecture + Design

An architects Lake Minnetonka home was designed for four-season family living, aging in place and sustainability. The modern home is connected to the outdoors by its west-facing sunroom and triple-pane windows overlooking the lake.

9. Norfolk Scandi

Design team: Kari Nelson, K|Nelson Architects

After living in Denmark for several years, a family returned to their St. Paul rambler. The family had doubled in size and needed more space, so they re-created the rambler as a two-story home, incorporating the Danish modern aesthetic they had come to appreciate.

10. Mahtomedi Modern

Design team: Mark Stankey and Matthew Byers, PLAAD

A new modern family oasis on White Bear Lake was designed to facilitate indoor/outdoor living. The home has a quiet one-level presence on the street side, opening up to a walkout with sweeping views of the lake.

11. Edmund Residence

Design team: Lars Peterssen and Andrew Edwins, Peterssen/Keller Architecture

Set on a narrow, deep city lot, a new modern home creates a strong indoor-outdoor connection, maximizing river views. The homes design includes space for the owners to spend time with grown children and grandchildren, and features a craft room that can be converted into a main-floor master suite in the future.

12. Modest Mid-Century Remodeling

Design team: Christine Albertsson, Michael Burgoyne and Abigail Merlis, Albertsson Hansen Architecture

A 1960s suburban two-story home with small disconnected rooms was opened up to create an appealing modern home, without expanding the footprint. The formal dining room was repurposed to create space for a mudroom and pantry, improving livability.

Original post:
First peek at upcoming Home of the Month projects - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Note: The Kentucky Standard is making all of its COVID-19 coverage and its impact on our community free on our website. The news operation is largely funded by reader subscriptions. To support local news about your community, please considerbecoming a subscriber.

These days, many concepts and methods long taken for granted are being redefined, and one of the chief ones among them is the phrase business as usual.

Its different, said Chris Simpson, a manager at Joe Hills Powersports & Equipment. The business traffic hasnt changed much, but the way it and most all other businesses conduct daily activities has been altered.

Weve got our sneeze guards up, he said, as well as markers posted in the showroom to encourage social distancing. It takes a lot of time to clean things every day. Its a pain in the butt.

But to observe federal, state and local guidelines to keep the business open, its a necessity.

Businesses deemed essential have been able to remain open during the pandemic, and more will be phased back in over the course of the next few weeks as owners and operators are asked to implement methods designed to keep employees and customers safe and limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Car dealerships have kept their parts and service departments open, but on Monday, showrooms can reopen as well, in addition to other businesses such as construction firms and office-based businesses.

Adam Roll, manager at Franklin Family Chevrolet, said it has led to a number of changes in how they do things at the dealership. In the parts and service department, theyve set up tape and tables at the check-in counters to give employees and customers a buffer zone, and theyre limiting how many people can be in the waiting room at one time. On Friday, Jeff Perkins, coordinator of the parts and service department, could be found sanitizing chairs in the waiting room. The same will go on in the showroom when it opens back up.

If you want to adapt to it, adjust to it, it will work, Roll said. He said despite the showroom being closed, the dealership still sold nearly 100 vehicles last month. Thats down some from their usual numbers, but online sales have helped, and if someone wants to test-drive a vehicle, Franklin has taken steps to make that process as contactless as possible, with customers arranging times and dropoff points so it can be done without an employee in the vehicle with them.

Susan Elmore, owner of Buzick Home Center, opened her doors again last Monday after having the sales floor closed and curbside pickup only during the weeks prior to that. There are signs posted at the door requiring all customers to wear masks while inside, and her employees have to wear masks while on the job. Its not mandated until Monday, but she decided to get a jump-start on it.

Were doing this for (the safety of) the employees and the customers, Elmore said, in addition to constructing plexiglass windows at checkout counters.

She said there has been some pushback from customers who dont want to wear masks while in the store Youre always going to have that but most people have been nice about it.

If you dont have one, we can give you one, Elmore said, and if the customer doesnt want to play by the rules laid out by the state, curbside pickup is always available.

Many professional services such as law offices and accountants have been able to remain open, but by appointment only in most cases.

Jason Floyd, an attorney at Fulton, Hubbard & Hubbard, said that while courthouses are closed to the public, some matters cant wait, such as custody disputes, child support and other family court matters. But in many other cases, people are waiting to seek out legal services until after things somewhat get back to normal. Some potential clients are out of work or operating on reduced income, making hiring a lawyer cost-prohibitive. Much of the rest of the time is spent working on wills and estates, and doing as much prep work as possible, he said. That, and trying to keep the calendar straight for when the courthouse does reopen the beginning of June.

Its exciting times in the court system, he chuckled, noting that district court Judge Jack Kelley will have his work cut out for him with an overstuffed docket when court reopens. Floyd said they had their first motion day via Skype last week, which was new, and they are electronically filing documents with the clerks office, or using drop-boxes for hard copies of documents.

Hair salons and other personal grooming businesses are scheduled to reopen May 25, but customers will be required to wait outside until time for their appointments, and they will be required to wear masks while inside. Workers will have to wear masks and gloves as well, which will slow down the process for hairstylists such as Rachel Vittitow Cissell, owner of Hair Studio in Bardstown.

Its definitely gonna be out of our norm, and probably aggravating at times, but at this point Im just ready to go back to work! she said.

When that does happen, she and other hairstylists figure to be very busy, with many people by that point not having had a cut in two months, and the first week back will feature rescheduled appointments that had to be canceled when the shutdown started.

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Nelson ready to reopen | KYStandard.com - KYStandard.com

The following message was sent to faculty and professional staff on Friday, May 8.

Dear Colleagues,

As the University has taken unprecedented measures over the past several weeks to continue its mission of teaching, research and service while ensuring the health and safety of everyone in the Drexel community, I know that you have been anxious about the financial impact on Drexel of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, I want to share my assessment of where we stand, the hurdles and uncertainties that remain, and the plans we are formulating to keep the University on strong financial footing.

First, I want to reiterate how proud and grateful I am for Drexels faculty and professional staff, who have met the challenges of the past two months with remarkable skill, dedication and resilience. Each week, we see the impressive results: more than 3,200 courses and lab sessions being held remotely, core University functions fully operational while most employees work from home, and our facultys powerful research directed toward protecting vulnerable populations from COVID-19 and helping alleviate suffering for those impacted by this disease. Of course, we are also grateful to the health care workers on our faculty and professional staff, who have been serving at the front lines of care for COVID-19 patients and other patients at this critical time.

Even so, this pandemic has taught us the hard lesson that no individual, no sector of the economy, and no organization will emerge unscathed. For higher education, quite broadly, and for Drexel, in particular, the financial impact of COVID-19 has been immediate and sweeping, and we expect it to be compounded by what could be a longer-term downturn in the global economy. We must work together to strengthen Drexels financial capacity in the face of these daunting economic conditions.

Although the near-term financial outlook is very serious, and we will need to enact painful cost-reduction measures, I want to assure you that these steps are necessary to secure Drexels future. We entered this pandemic in good financial health, and I am confident that we will come out of this period even stronger and more resilient, just as we have done upon navigating other crises, such as the abrupt closure of Hahnemann University Hospital last summer.

Now that the May 1 deposit deadline for newly admitted students has passed and we have an initial understanding of fall undergraduate enrollment, the Universitys financial outlook is coming into focus, although much uncertainty remains. Taking into account the impact of COVID-19 on this fiscal year (19-20) and next (20-21), the University needs to reduce its expenses by $90 million, which includes a 25 percent contingency factor. The budget gap is due to a range of causes, most of them traceable to the pandemic.

Much of the shortfall stems directly and indirectly from COVID-related costs, particularly the unexpected expenditures needed to close down the campus in March and ramp up remote learning. This includes the loss of expected revenues from room and board for the spring term, which is approximately $11 million; loss of income from cancelled summer camps, programs and conferences; and disruption to other campus operations. In addition, revenue from room and board for fiscal year 20-21 could be reduced by half from current levels, as more students may choose to live at home.

Of greatest concern going forward are both the significant drop in enrollment expected for the first-year incoming class, and also lagging enrollment in graduate programs. We anticipate having approximately 600 fewer students in the incoming first-year class in September. That decrease mirrors national trends, where one out of every six high school graduates say they may postpone college. For a tuition-driven institution like Drexel, the impact of a smaller first-year class is particularly acute.

Graduate education revenue lags by over $8 million for this fiscal year. Now, new enrollment is trailing projections and undoubtedly will be limited by the fact that international students may face continued travel restrictions.

Faced with an uncertain higher education landscape, we have built a significant contingency factor into the budget, understanding that the situation remains volatile and these projections may change.

We have weathered challenging times before, and we will weather this one, however unprecedented it might be. But it will require some decisive and difficult actions. Before I outline the specific steps we are taking, I want to set out the principles by which we move ahead to bring expenses in line with revenues and build for Drexels future.

Our plan for Drexel University, which includes both personnel and program measures, is as follows. These plans are being developed and will be implemented in close collaboration with all academic and administrative unit leaders, as well as the Academy of Natural Sciences. Details on many aspects of these measures are being developed and will be subsequently communicated to the Drexel community.

Non-personnel Savings Through Operating Budget Reductions

As always, we will prioritize non-personnel savings whenever possible to limit the effects on our people. However, the majority of our costs are tied to personnel. We have already suspended the P-Card program, which has resulted in the reduction of nonessential spending by $5 million during the pandemic, as well as reduced our requisition activity by approximately $6 million. We will continue to look for savings of this kind. Other expense reductions in this category will include renegotiating contracts, reviewing leases, eliminating travel, and reducing spending on supplies, dues, memberships, printing and mailing.All units will be asked to examine their operations and identify opportunities for savings and efficiencies.

Personnel-Related Savings to Balance the Budget

The following steps are being taken:

Additional Budget Reduction Options Under Review

CARES Act Relief

In addition, we will utilize more than $6.5 million in federal CARES Act funding allocated for necessary University expenses (the remainder of University CARES Act funds are allocated toward student relief).

Delaying Capital Projects to Increase Liquidity

Non-essential, University-funded capital projects that have not already begun have been put on hold and will continue to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Delaying capital projects does not help balance the operating budget, but it does help with cash flow. Projects being funded through our external partnerships (Drexel Academic Tower, Powel Elementary/Science Leadership Academy, Schuylkill Yards, College of Medicine at West Reading) are proceeding now that government restrictions have been eased.

These steps will represent the first part of a phased approach to addressing this challenge. In the second phase, beginning this month, we will develop revised budget plans for the University and every college, school and administrative unit. In the third phase, beginning this fall, we will assess and adjust as needed. The COVID-19 crisis has introduced many uncertainties over the coming months and years to an already uncertain higher education landscape. We will need to be prepared for further action, depending on how scenarios play out, in public health, in our sector, and in our University.

At the same time as we implement immediate measures to secure Drexels financial position, we will focus on a long-term strategy to strengthen the Universitys competitive position. A number of the steps being taken now are temporary solutions, while we continue to explore ways to reduce structural costs and operate more efficiently in the years to come. And although our current focus is addressing and resolving this situation, we are also thinking about the long-term by moving ahead in developing a new strategic plan to guide Drexel over the next decade.

Most importantly, we will stabilize and eventually grow enrollment with a range of initiatives, including:

These are extraordinary times, and the challenges we face as a University are just as unprecedented. But Drexel has faced adversity many times in the past and overcome every obstacle to achieve success. We have been battle-tested again and again, in recent years successfully working through budget disruptions related to transforming our enrollment strategy and the closure of Hahnemann University Hospital. We have worked together to find ways to adapt with incredible flexibility then and will do so again.

When this pandemic hit, we pivoted in countless ways. Public Safety and Student Life saw to it that our students reached home safely. Faculty and professional staff quickly moved us toward becoming a hybrid university. The Office of Research and Innovation kept scientific inquiry thriving. The SteinbrightCareer Development Center helped to ensure that 78 percent of students on co-ops this spring and summer are working remotely or will have a delayed start. Around the University, students, faculty and professional staff are working collaboratively, changing the way Drexel works for the better. Our community members have already shown each other and me that we are prepared to step up and that we will emerge from this historic moment stronger.

Our 129-year history of scholarship, innovation and service to community should give us great confidence in what we can achieve when we work together.

Thank you again for your patience and understanding at this difficult time. And thank you for all that you are doing to sustain and advance our University. Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones, and each other.

Sincerely,

John FryPresident

Continue reading here:
Drexel's Response to the Financial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic - DrexelNow - Drexel Now

Weeks into one of the greatest crises the nation has faced in generations, we are all learning much about the importance of the resilience of our nations utilities.The work of countless control room operators, line workers and power plant engineers, to name just a few, has been heroic during the COVID-19 pandemic.Energy keeps our health care facilities powered and enables telework for other sectors of the economy.Reliable energy delivery is foundational to modern society.

Those that oversee our energy companies are also meeting the moment.From the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which oversees the reliability of the bulk power system, to state public utility commissions, which have responsibility for the direct interface between utilities and their customers, regulators are finding themselves in a critical position.

In the succeeding months, these critical infrastructure companies must have the wherewithal to keep the lights on and energy flowing to hospitals, homes and stores.For the near term, close to half the states have required, and all investor-owned utilities have voluntarily offered, a halt to utility disconnections.In addition, state utility commissions around the country have begun proceedings to proactively address questions related to recovering costs associated with the crisis, including how to account for things such as higher bad debt expense due to customers inability to pay for energy.

In the longer term, we should expect a renewed focus on regulatory mechanisms to ensure the viability of an essential industry that has high fixed costs but falling volumetric usage, as industrial and commercial demand plummets.These reforms will be important to both mitigating the effects of this crisis and positioning utilities to successfully meet the next one.

The good news is that well-understood regulatory tools exist to address these challenges.The key for regulators will be to consider both sides of the ledger.They will need to ensure compassionate policies exist to protect customers hurting financially, while seeing to the continued viability of companies that are delivering electricity and natural gas where and when it is needed the most.

Continue reading here:
During the pandemic, don't adopt policies that make it harder to keep the lights on - Roll Call

A season ago, the Baltimore Ravens rushed into the record books.

Led by NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson's fleet feet along with the straight-ahead surge of tailback Mark Ingram, the Ravens collected an NFL-record 3,296 yards on the ground.

And they just added J.K. Dobbins, an Ohio State product fresh off a 2,000-yard season with the Buckeyes who they scooped up in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Looking anything but concerned about Baltimore adding another stud to the stable, Ingram -- along with his ever-present grin -- told NFL Network's Colleen Wolfe on Thursday's NFL Schedule Release '20 that he's excited about what Dobbins will add and their shared aspirations.

"I like his mindset, I like his attitude, I like the way he run the ball. Just bring him and his talents to our room that's already special; our backfield is gonna be the best in the league for sure," Ingram said Thursday. "We're all looking forward to it, being playmakers for the team and help us win the championship."

Despite the Ravens running roughshod en route to an AFC North crown and top seed in the AFC bracket of the playoffs, Baltimore was upset by the Titans and their one-man gang known as Derrick Henry.

The objective of winning a Super Bowl most certainly remains, and that was the message from Ingram when he first heard from Dobbins.

"He reached out to me," Ingram said. "Right after he got drafted, just shot me his number, said he was looking forward to getting to work. I told him let's go get a ring."

The Ravens' running game saw Ingram and Jackson become just the second RB-QB tandem to topple the 1,000-yard mark in the same season last year (only Warrick Dunn and Michael Vick had done it previously). It didn't stop there, though, as Gus Edwards eclipsed 700 yards and Justice Hill flashed promise.

As acclaimed and talented as the Ravens backfield is, it's also crowded. Still, Ingram is excited about Dobbins' prospects and hasn't shown any reason not to be excited about what he can still do.

The 30-year-old Ingram, who will turn 31 during the season, ran for 1,018 yards in 2019, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark for the third time in his career, all of them coming over the past four campaigns. He doesn't appear to be slowing down. And, with the addition of Dobbins, the Ravens don't appear to be either.

"I like the young bull," Ingram said. "I've been following his game, for a while. I like the way he totes the rock for sure."

Excerpt from:
Ingram: With Dobbins, backfield will be best in NFL - NFL.com

Here are quarantine-friendly ways to get mom a perfect gift for Mother's Day. USA TODAY

When celebrating mom this Mother's Day, we are going the (social) distance!

Amid a global pandemic, Sunday's festivities may detour from the usual but there are still creative ways to make an irreplaceable parent feel loved. Technology can shrink the distance and allow for shared experiences. Take-out that pulls double-duty can also be a plus. Or perhaps you can drive a decked out car and toot your mom's horn!

Here are the ways that you can make your mom feel special. And bonus for the procrastinators (whose mom would likely lovingly describe themas "just very busy"): Most of these things can still be done now.

Timree Gold, owner of Timree Paint Studio, inNewport Beach, California, has created a not-so-paint-by-numbers way moms and their kids can have a shared experience, though distance may keep them apart. She's hosting a livestream painting class (Sunday, 6:30 p.m. EDT/3:30 PDT) where attendees will painta colorful bouquet.

Gold says once the quarantine hit "within 24 hours I totally switched my business to completely online live streaming." She's had interest in her classes from people across the country.

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One client was unable to visit her mother getting cancer treatment at the City of Hope. "So she got her mom all the paintsand all that," says Gold. "Now this is their way to kind of connect while shes in the hospital, and then the daughter and her grandkids can all paint."

Gold says moms can also opt out of painting beside their child, as a Mother's Day treat for themselves. "The selling point is the peace and quiet because you can set (your kids) up, give them to me and I take them step by step," she says. "Moms can definitely step away and just, like, watch some TV. Like, basically, thats what I want to do is, like, sit on the couch (laughs)."

Denise Richards,Laura Prepon and Valerie Bertinelli's tips for Mother's Day in quarantine

Just because you'resocial distancing doesn't mean you and your madre have to forgo your movie nights or TV binges, even if you aren't in the same household.

Thanks to a Google Chrome extension calledNetflix Party, groups of friends/siblings/familiescan get together virtually andwatch theirfavorite Netflix titles on their computers at the same time. The extension also comes with a chat room, so you and Mom can share your reactions as you watch. She might have something to say about the second season of "Dead to Me"or Jerry Seinfeld's new stand-up special.

In order to participate, all you need is a Google Chrome browser,the extension and a Netflix subscription. (More about how it works here.)

Netflix in May 2020: Everything new ('Hollywood,' 'Dead to Me' Season 2) and expiring

'Dead to Me' Season 2: Everything you need to know about the twisty Netflix comedy

Jordan Farrell, director of communications for theNashville-basedStrategic Hospitality, suggests checking out what local eateries and businesses have planned for the day. If you aren't in the same house as your mom, you can drop the food off with her.

"A lot of them have special packages, a lot of them are doing some really fun out of the box kind of things," she says. "So, look around. Theres a lot of ways that what theyre doing might help you figure out what to get Mom."

Strategic Hospitality'sPinewood restaurant has partnered with local vendors to create take-away offerings that please more than just the palate. Their Mother's Day Brunch Packsinclude a variety of options bath bombs and masks for a spa-like experience,a bouquet of flowers oran activity for the family.

"We want to offer everyone a really great experience so we thought, 'What do you want to do with mom on Mothers Day?'"saysFarrell. "We wanted to give people the option of enhancing that a little bit without having to try and look around too much."

Similarly, Mom 'n 'em CoffeeinCincinnati, started by brothers for their mother, has a trio of Mother's Day gift bags to choose from. All include a bouquet of flowers, tote and bottle of vino. The mid-tier option also includes a bag of coffee and the top-tier bundle adds on a gift card.

With so many out of work, there is a greater need this Mother's Day for assistance, and your mom might be touched by a donation to help other families.

Saturday, numerous celebrities are participating in an Instagram Live event (3 p.m. EDT/12 p.m. PDT) withBaby2Baby, anational nonprofit organization thatdistributes necessities likediapers, clothing and hygiene products for kidsliving in poverty.Gwyneth Paltrow,Chrissy Teigen,Kerry Washington, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Garner and Drew Barrymore are just some of the stars who will talk about their involvement with the organization, the impact of COVID-19 and theirMothers Day traditions.

"The need has increased exponentially,"says co-president Norah Weinstein. "As far as diapers go, we gave out 350% more diapers in the first month of COVID than in the previous months."

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Chrissy Teigen is one of the numerous celebrities who serves as a Baby2Baby Angel, committed to the organization the helps children in poverty receive the items they need.(Photo: Courtesy of Baby2Baby)

Baby2Baby says it has delivered 13 million items to those affected by the outbreak. and100 million items since its inception in 2011.

"In our minds, the gift that (moms) want and deserve is to be able to provide for their children, and we want to do everything in our power to help them realize that,"Weinstein says.

People inin Port Huron, Michigan have planned a Mother's Day Car Parade for Sunday. Organizers of the procession,business ownersLuke and Sindy Marion, have experienced some success and wanttopay it forwardto other local businesses with this parade. Lukesaid heand his wife spent $5,000from their own pocketsto buy gift cards from 10 local businessesto give toparade participants randomly.

He asks people decorating their vehiclesto stay focused on Mothers Day or have apositive message like appreciating first responders.

We just want to see some people smile, Luke said. Thats the objective.

Chrissy Teigen's famous banana breadrecipe is here for your self-isolation baking

'Harry Potter' starRupert Grint, Georgia Groome are 'delighted' by arrival of baby girl

Contributing:Polly Campbell, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Bryce Airgood, Port Huron Times Herald andCharles Trepany, USA TODAY

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5 Mother's Day ideas to make Mom feel special, in addition to that very important call - USA TODAY

Souper Salad Manager Eduardo Vargas explains the new buffet style set up at the restaurant Monday, May 4, in El Paso. El Paso Times

El Paso's rising coronavirus cases have reached the peak many models predicted would happen in early May.

The county surpassed 1,000COVID-19 cases Monday, and by Friday, cases reached 1,276, according to data released by the city of El Paso. Additionally, 10 more El Pasoans had died from COVID-19 this week, as of Friday, bringing the total to 32.

This past week the first full week select Texas businesses could reopenat partial capacity saw record hospitalizations in the 80s, but the impact of the state's gradualreopening won't begin to be known until this upcoming week.

Dr. Alan Tyroch, chief of surgery and trauma medical director at University Medical Center of El Paso, said it could take about 10 days to see an impact.

The spike in hospitalizations seen this past week is from infections that occurred prior to May 1, when retail stores, malls, movie theaters and restaurants were allowed to reopen at 25% capacity.

While some of these cases could be a result of people gathering with family April 12 for Easter, these casesarelikelyinstances of people continuing to gather with those outside their household, said Dr. Hector Ocaranza, the health authority for the city and county.

Souper Salad at 7019 N. Mesa open Monday, May 4, in El Paso. Souper Salad reopened both locations after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott allowed restaurants to reopen while limiting occupancy to 25% capacity and promoting safe distancing practices.(Photo: BRIANA SANCHEZ/EL PASO TIMES)

"As the governor sends the message that the economy needs to reopen, people start relaxing, hence the message we continue sending the community: please continue to observesocial distancing," Ocaranza said.

"As more places are opening, it doesn't mean that the risk of getting exposed or infected is going to be lowered," he said.

Friday's reopening of salons and barbershops is of less immediate concern to health officials than Mother's Day, which this year falls on the same day in both the United Statesand Mexico.

Mother's Day 2020:10 gift ideas to make El Paso moms feel loved, while social distancing

If Sunday is a repeat of Easter and families get together to celebrate, Ocaranza and Tyroch said they expect hospitalizations to risein the coming weeks.

"If we don't do a good job on Mother's Day ... that may cause another peak in 10 to 14 days," Tyroch said.

Hospitalizations hit a record daily high of 83 COVID-19 patientsFriday, according to city of El Paso data.

An average 67 patients were hospitalized during the seven-day period between Saturday, May 2, and Friday, May 8. The daily hospitalization average the previous week, from April 25 to May 1, was 43 patients.

The number of patients in intensive care units also reached a record 47 Friday.

An average 40 patients were in the ICU between May 2 and Friday, higher than the prior week's 23 ICU patient average.

The city's hospitalization numbers are also a slightundercount from those UMC uses, Tyroch said.

On Friday morning, for example, UMC received a report that99 coronavirus patients in El Paso County were hospitalized. While that number can fluctuate over the course of the day, the change in patients between the morning and evening shouldn't be significant, Tyroch said.

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UMC pulls its data from the local hospital systems in addition tothe daily reports hospitals send theTexas Department of State Health Servicesand the federal government.

Ocaranza was not aware of the undercount and did not have an explanation as towhy the city's nightly numbers differ.El Paso Department of Health employees call the hospitals daily to get hospitalization numbers, he said.

Because El Paso is in the midst of a case surge, Tyroch anticipates hospitalizations to increase and potentially reach the low hundreds as soon as the early part of this next week.And high numbers of hospitalized patientswill likely continue for a few weeks.

While that wouldput a strain on the area's hospitals, hospitals are in good shape when it comes to personal protective equipment, ICU beds and equipment, like ventilators, Tyroch said.

A significant spike in hospitalizations also wouldn't happen overnight, allowing hospitals time to take steps to avoidbecoming overwhelmed, such as by limiting elective surgeries again.

The Department of State Health Services reported 53 available ICU beds Friday for the region covering El Paso, Hudspeth and Culberson counties. Though Tyroch didn't know the exact number of available beds, it is higher than what the state reports, he said. That's because the state takes a conservative approach and reports staffed beds rather than licensed beds.

City of El Paso spokesperson Laura Cruz Acosta said an average 75 ICU beds are available daily across the county's hospitals.

El Paso Mayor Dee Margo said at a Thursday news conference he and El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego were prepared to speak with Gov. Greg Abbott as early as Monday to seek an exemption from a future statewide order allowing businesses to reopen at 50% capacity.

More: El Paso Applebee's, Peter Piper Pizza operator eager to return to full capacity in COVID-19 era

Samaniego told the El Paso Times Fridaythe motivation behind this is that localhospitalizationsare trending upward.

"It doesn't make sense that we're trending up and we're opening businesses simultaneously," Samaniego said.

Applebee's dining room reopened Wednesday, May 6, at 1766 Airway Blvd. in El Paso. Applebee's reopened their dining rooms in El Paso on May 1 after being closed six weeks by city and county orders, as part of an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.(Photo: BRIANA SANCHEZ/EL PASO TIMES)

In late April, the governorsaid asecond phase of business reopenings could come as early as mid-May, at which point businesses could operate at half their occupancy. When that happens, Samaniego said he will ask to have El Paso County be exempt from allowing that for 30 days.

Such an exemption does not mean local officials are opposed toAbbott's decision to reopen the state, Samaniego said, but rather that El Paso's coronavirus peak is a month behind other parts of the state.

"It's going to take more time" for El Paso to be ready to safely reopen, the county judge said.

Tyroch acknowledged the local economy cannot remain closed forever and said El Pasoans can patron businesses "as long as (they) do the smart thing." That includes wearing a face covering, maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from others when possible, washing hands frequently and staying home when sick, as well as not socializing with those outside your household.

Ellen Germany finally has her hair colored and cut after a long beauty salon closure due to coronavirus. Markham Salon at 2200 N. Yarbrough reopened Friday to the delight of many who visited the salon.(Photo: Mark Lambie / El Paso Times)

El Paso's emergency directive prohibiting public and private social gatherings of any sizeremains in place.

"Just be smart. You gotta live life.This is part of the whole thing. This is sort of like a new normal for now," Tyroch said.

That new normal will continue into at least the early summer, he said.

Staff writer Eleanor Dearman contributed to this report.

Molly Smith may be reached at 915-546-6413;mksmith@elpasotimes.com; @smithmollykon Twitter.

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COVID-19 hospitalizations hit record high in El Paso as impact of reopening still unknown - El Paso Times

The intrinsic journey of turning a house into a home occurs alongside the evolution of the interior. An inviting selection of occasional chairs can bring a much-needed air of elegance and beauty to any room in the house and these 10, in particular, will put you on the fast track to developing a very classy abode.

British designer Damian Williamsons inspiration for this selection of occasional chairs is far from standard. A sheet of fresh pasta draped over a large rolling pin served as the starting point for Williamsons design process. Although strange, the easy-going nature as of this occasional chair lends a very unoffensive presence in the room.

This chair was originallydesigned by Jens Risom in 1961. Risom was at the forefront of the Danish Modernism design movement and the A-Chair is one of his most compelling creations. Its a timeless piece, prioritising comfort as much as design innovation.

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With a base structure composed of native Brazillian wood and a beautiful combination of leather fabrics, the Adriana is named after cunning designer Jorge Zalszupins granddaughter. Available in a wide array of colours and fabrics, these occasional chairs are simple yet intriguing.

Heavily leather-centric, the Rondo is luxury seating at its best. Designer Lucy Kurrein received her inspiration from punching bags an object not usually associated with finer interior living. However, the crossover is clear when one considers durability and simplicity. Hopefully, this chair gets the same amount of wear as its inspiration.

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Fans of Pierre Jeanneret will recognise his unmistakable style in the Cross Easy Chair which he designed for Chandigarh in the mid-1950s. The appeal of the chair is undeniably simple, conveying a grounded earthly presence through the warmth of teak and braided cane. A rare piece from an iconic designer.

This eccentric chair was designed by the professional design duo of GamFratesi, consisting of the Italian Enrico Fratesi and Danish Stine Gam. The wide-bodied chair, which can be upholstered to the buyers liking, features a bent beech framework framing woven cane with the option of brass feet.

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The Louise offers a very sturdy frame, planting its low position to the ground and reinforcing sturdiness. This suggests a strong beauty of design, found with the solid beech body that can be lacquered in shades of black or burgundy.

Very appropriately named, the Sling incorporates a clear resonance of relaxation and easy sitting. The intricate metal working of the legs is a clear standout of the impressivedesign. This difficult construction process means that no two Slings are the same, creating a bespoke customer experience every time.

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The Cortina seems to sink into its environment while simultaneously standing out as a beautiful addition to any room. The back includes a light-weight, web-like metal structure to ensure excellent support of the individual in the chair, seemingly defying gravity.

Espassos second feature on this list is well deserved, thanks to the Oscar. This particular piece was originally designed in 1956 for the So Paulo Jockey Club and is named after the legendary Brazillian design master, Oscar Niemeyer.

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If youre looking to tie a space together, get some inspiration from Harvey Specters decor for his home and office.

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10 Statement Chairs That Add Character To Any Room - Boss Hunting

Homeless communities are one of the most vulnerable amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and people are on the frontlines to ensure their health and safety. USA TODAY

Transgender singer and actress Mizz June was coughing up blood and wheezing. Her ribs hurt when she breathed. She had painful migraines.

But when she called 911, the telecommunicator kept putting her on hold. When someone got on the line, they told hershe shouldnt go to the emergency roomunless she was really sick.

"I said I needed to go. I'm in pain. It hurts to breathe," she said. "They were like, you're just going to sit there. So do you want to at three o'clock in the morning, go to this emergency room and just sit there?"

Mizz June pushed back. I can't breathe, she told them.

They began questioning me, but I was so angered that I demanded to go to the hospital, she said. If I had not been the kind of woman that I am, a black transgender woman who has been through so much adversity. I would be dead.

The coronavirus outbreak is pummeling LGBTQ Americans, especially those of color, leaving a population already vulnerable to health care and employment discrimination suffering from high job losses and a growing rate of positive cases, according to preliminary data collected from multiple LGBTQ advocacy groups.

Many LGBTQ Americans live in states that have seen the highest number of coronavirus cases, including California, New York and Washington. These areas have also been hit by job losses driven by economic shutdowns.

In this Oct. 8, 2019 file photo, supporters of LGBT rights stage a protest on the street in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington.(Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta, AP)

As a result, many more LGBTQ people are struggling with unemployment, homelessness and food insecurity compared with other Americans, while simultaneously facing increased rates of health issues stemming from bias, mental illness and lack of insurance.

Scout, a transgender activist and deputy directorat the National LGBT Cancer Network, a non-profit organization based in New York City,said many LGBTQ Americans already face discrimination when seeking health care, and are worried these barriers could make it hardertoget treatment during the pandemic. Scott cited a recent controversy over afield hospital in New York's Central Park that requiredemployees to sign a pledge against same-sex marriage.

"Imagine if you were in New York City and you're queer and your partner gets COVID. Your closest hospital might be that one in Central Park that is very anti-LGBT," he said."Can you imagine what kind of fear you might have to send your partner to the hospital knowing you couldn't visit them again, right, because you can't visit the hospitals. And you can't be there to protect them and to make sure that they get the kind of care they deserve."

Advocates said the U.S. needs more comprehensive data on who is being tested for COVID-19. So far, many states have collected COVID-19 data based on age, race and ethnicity, but are not collecting sexual orientation and gender identity data.

That's prompted activists to try to create their own data onpositive cases in the LGBTQ community, while alsosurveying respondents onhealth care disparities stemming from discrimination from medical providers, including being turned away because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

"I would say that there is definitely not as much research out there as other communities because so few surveys ask questions about sex orientation and gender identity," said Naomi Goldberg, policy research director of the Movement Advancement Project, a non-profit think tank that provides LGBTresearch in Colorado.

Scout saidthe health care system needs to take into accountprior medical histories, as well as societal issues, while treating Americans for coronavirus, especially LGBTQ people.

"No one's measuring our outcomes, which, in my mind, is people in the health care system forcing us back in the closet," he said. "They're hiding the way this pandemic is going to play out our extra vulnerabilities and have a disproportionate impact on us."

More: Fauci guided US through AIDS crisis, too. Survivors say it's a roadmap for coronavirus.

Experts agreethat LGBTQ people may have health complications that could put them at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 or heighten complications after contraction. For example, LGBTQ people are more likely to be smokers than other Americans, according to the Human Rights Campaign. They also are more likely to have asthma. LGBTQ Americans, especially those who are non-white, are also more likely to have chronic medical conditions such as HIV or AIDS.

Access to health care can also be contributing to high cases of COVID-19 among LGBTQ Americans. Roughly 17% of LGBTQ adults do not have any kind of health insurance coverage, compared with 12% of non-LGBTQ Americans, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality based in Washington, D.C.

"We need to be talking about disparities, especially around race and class, recognizing that people of color have less access to health care,"said Daniel Ramos, executive director of One Colorado, a LGBTQ advocacy group based in Denver.

Participants wave rainbow flags during the 2015 New York City Pride march in New York on June 28, 2015.(Photo: JEWEL SAMAD, AFP/Getty Images)

Stigma and discrimination can also deter LGBTQ people from seeking medical care, even when they do have health insurance. One in fourLGBTQ people reported experiencing discrimination, while 8% of lesbian, gayand bisexual adults and 29% of transgender adults reported that a health care provider refused to see them because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, according to a national survey by the Center for American Progress, a policyresearch organization in Washington, D.C.

Sean Cahill, director of health policy research at the Fenway Institute, a center for research and advocacy in Massachusetts, said there is stillanti-LGBTQ stigma in health care.

"This affects their health, well being and affects their sense of safety," he said.

Michael Adams, chief executive officer at SAGE, a non-profit organization focused on LGBTQ aging in New York, suspects that many older Americans dying from COVID-19 could be part of the LGBTQ community.LGBTQ older adults are twice as likely to be living alone and four times less likely to have children compared to non-gay people their same age, which means that older LGBTQ people are especially at risk to lack care or support from family during COVID-19, according to a study by SAGE.

In a public health crisis like this there are very thin support networks among LGBT older adults, Adamssaid.

To help raise awareness, activists plan to host virtual pride events starting June 1, the beginning ofgay pride month, saidBrian Hujdich, executive directorof HealthHIV, one of the largest national HIV nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C.

MizzJune said she contracted COVID-19 in mid-March and fears she may get it again. The symptoms initially left her with a dry cough andblood in her mucus. Then she felt constipated for a week.

I had a mild case but still I was coughing up blood, wheezing and I could feel my lungs and ribs hurting when I breathed, she said. Its just a disgusting virus.

She said was she baffled by the claims from the 911 operators that she should avoid going to the emergency room because it was too crowded. Only three other patients were waiting when she arrived.

"They told me I could contract the disease if I went. How could I when there were only three people, I expected at least a full room of 100 coronavirus patients," she said.

She has recovered since her hospital stay, but is worried that other black transgender women might have the same experience where"symptoms weren't taken seriously." She's been encouraging other black transwomen to get tested for the virus.

"I don't think people understand the seriousness of it," she said. "Whenever I go outside I put on gloves and a mask, I keep my distance because I've had it. I don't know if I can still pass it on to people but also I don't want to catch it again."

More: FDA eases restrictions on blood donations from gay and bisexual men during coronavirus pandemic

In this June 26, 2016, file photo, a woman holds a rainbow flag during the NYC Pride Parade in New York.(Photo: Seth Wenig, AP)

For LGBTQ Americans who don't get sick from coronavirus, many are struggling with unemployment or other financial burdens, activists said.

"When we think about the kind of economic earthquake that has happened as a result of COVID-19, with job losses and unemployment benefits, there's a lot of reason to be concerned about the precariousness of LGBTQ people and their families at this moment," said Goldbergof the Movement Advancement Project.

As the economy plummeted, more than 5 million LGBTQ workers were likely to have been impacted by COVID-19, according to recent estimates from the Human Rights Campaign. Jobs in restaurants and food service, hospitals, K-12 and higher education and retail industries have been hit, making up about 40% of all industries where LGBTQ people work, the organization found.More than 33million Americans havesubmittedunemployment claims since March.

"While we do not have official numbers on how many LGBTQ people have contracted coronavirus or have died because of it, we know in addition to health disparities, LGBTQ people are employed in the industries heavily impacted by the pandemic, such as retail, nightlife, restaurants, and they are more likely to live in poverty, be food insecure, and uninsured," said Tyrone Hanley, senior policy counsel of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the first national LGBTQ legal organization founded by womenin California.

Roughly 9% of LGBT were unemployed, compared with 5% of all Americans, before the outbreak.About 27% LGBT people were food insecure, compared with 15% of all Americans.

LGBTQ Americans are also more likely to be homeless than other Americans. Up to 45% of homeless youth are LGBTQ, while LGBT people ages 18 through 25 are two times more likely to be homeless than their peers,according to the Williams Institute, a leading research center on sexual orientation and gender identity at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law.

"We estimate that 139,700 transgender adults were unemployed at the time the coronavirus pandemic began. Recent job losses due to official orders enforcing social distancing practices will likely increase this number and exacerbate existing employment disparities,"said Jody L. Herman, a scholar of public policyat the Williams Institute and co-author of a recent report on COVID-19 and transgender Americans.

A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Rent Strike" Wednesday, April 1, 2020, in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. With millions of people suddenly out of work, some tenants in the U.S. are vowing to go on a rent strike until the new coronavirus pandemic subsides.(Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP)

LGBTQ people of color tend to face much harsher discrimination compared with their white counterparts because of their ethnicity, in part because of barriers such asinadequate or non-existent non-discrimination protection for LGBT workers, and a lack of mentoring,said Goldberg.

We know that with the economic issues arising many of them wont be able to work at their jobs, or their jobs arent remote, meaning they'll lose a paycheck, Goldberg said.

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LGBTQ Americans are getting coronavirus, losing jobs. Anti-gay bias is making it worse for them. - USA TODAY