RI and Michigan Only Two States to Get Federal Pandemic-EBT Benefits to Children

Rhode Island is one of only two states to fully implement a new federal program supporting the poorest of children.

"Congress approved the effort in mid-March as part of the Families First act, its first major virus relief package. By May 15, only about 15 percent of eligible children had received benefits, according to an analysis by The New York Times. Only 12 states had started sending money, and Michigan and Rhode Island alone had finished," reports the New York Times.

"Among pandemic-related hardship, child hunger stands out for its urgency and symbolic resonance — after decades of exposés and reforms, a country of vast wealth still struggles to feed its young. So vital are school meals in some places that states are issuing replacement benefits in waves to keep grocers from being overwhelmed," added the Times.

Bull Market Move on News of Vaccine Developments

On Tuesday, the Dow Jones was up 529 points, and the futures point to another 347 point gain on Wednesday. 

The Dow closed at 24,995 on Tuesday.

The NASDAQ is positive for the year. The markets stand in stark contrast to state budget deficits, record-high unemployment, and a growing number of high profile corporate bankruptcies. 

Amtrak Slashing Jobs

The Wall Street Journal reports in an exclusive story that "Amtrak is preparing to cut up to 20% of its workforce in the next fiscal year as the national passenger railroad continues to suffer from a huge decline in ridership as the coronavirus pandemic brought most travel to a halt."

"Ridership and ticket revenue at the company have fallen by 95% since the pandemic began, Chief Executive Bill Flynn told Amtrak workers in an internal memo on Tuesday.

While Amtrak is planning to slowly restart some service halted during the lockdown—including the Washington-to-Boston Acela express service on June 1—the company projects ridership in 2021 will rebound to just half of what it was before the crisis," reports the WSJ.

Commerce RI Discussions of ReopeningRI Phase II: Gyms and Fitness Studios -- and General Business

Commerce RI is hosting two virtual Facebook Q&A sessions Wednesday to help business owners with reopening guidelines for phase two, slated to begin June 1.

10 AM -- Gyms and Fitness Studios

4:30 PM -- General Business

Third of Americans Suffering From Anxiety or Depression, According to Report

"A third of Americans are showing signs of clinical anxiety or depression, Census Bureau data shows, the most definitive and alarming sign yet of the psychological toll exacted by the coronavirus pandemic," as reported by the Washington Post.

"When asked questions normally used to screen patients for mental health problems, 24 percent showed clinically significant symptoms of major depressive disorder and 30 percent showed symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder," adds the Post.

Numbers

14,210 Cases in Rhode Island

93,693 Cases in Massachusetts

634 Deaths in RI 

6,473 Deaths in Massachusetts

1,716,612 Cases in the United States

100,191 Deaths in the United States

5,703,148 Global Cases

352,614 Global Deaths

2,446,399 Global Recoveries

GoLocal LIVE -- Wednesday, May 27, 2020

10:00 AM Eric Zuena, Architect -- Future of office space and hospitality (pictured here)

11:00 AM Jennifer Lawless, UVA Professor of Political Science -- Latest in national politics

12:00 PM - Dr. Michael Fine, Former RI Director of Health

12:30 PM - Lt. Governor Dan McKee -- Discussing small business loans and grants

1:00 PM - Governor Gina Raimondo Briefing

EDITOR'S NOTE: Gov. Raimondo has reversed her policy and is now allowing reporters to attend press conferences and directly ask questions.  For more than 6 weeks she had blocked reporters from directly asking questions for the public to hear.