College Battle Brewing

In March, millions of students were sent home by their respective colleges and universities in response to the growing threat of community spread on close-quarter college campuses.

Now legal battles are brewing.

"Students filed lawsuits this week against Drexel University and the University of Miami in an effort to recover spring tuition, room and board and fees after their campuses closed and their classes moved online," reports the Wall Street Journal.

"The suits, which aim to be class actions, allege the schools are failing to give them the educational experience they paid for, one with in-person instruction. Total cost to attend either the University of Miami or Drexel exceeds $70,000 a year.

That policy has prompted widespread discontent. Students at about 200 schools have started petitions demanding the return of money.

Attorneys who represent universities say schools refusing to reimburse tuition is rooted in firm legal ground: By continuing to hold classes for credit remotely, they are fulfilling the terms of their contract," reports the WSJ.

No Sail Order Extended By CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced today the extension of a No Sail Order for all cruise ships. 

“We are working with the cruise line industry to address the health and safety of crew at sea as well as communities surrounding U.S. cruise ship points of entry,” said CDC Director Robert Redfield.

“The measures we are taking today to stop the spread of COVID-19 are necessary to protect Americans, and we will continue to provide critical public health guidance to the industry to limit the impacts of COVID-19 on its workforce throughout the remainder of this pandemic.”

In recent weeks, at least 10 cruise ships reported crew or passengers that tested positive or experienced respiratory symptoms or influenza-like illness. Currently, there are approximately 100 cruise ships remaining at sea off the East Coast, West Coast, and Gulf Coast, with nearly 80,000 crew onboard. Additionally, CDC is aware of 20 cruise ships at port or anchorage in the United States with known or suspected COVID-19 infection among the crew who remain onboard.

PHOTO: Gregory Varnum

Rhode Island's Ranking

RI ranks 11th in the U.S. for deaths per 1 million.

RI ranks 7th for cases per 1 million.

RI ranks 4th for tests per 1 million after being ranked second-worst in New England in implementing thru April 3. 

Data through 6 AM Friday, April 10, 2020

Source: Worldometer 

Numbers

1727 Cases in Rhode Island

18,941 Cases in Massachusetts

43 Deaths in RI

503 Deaths in Massachusetts

468,895 Cases in the United States

16,697 Deaths in the United States

1,623,350 Global Cases

97,067 Global Deaths

369,928 Global Recoveries

Federal Stimulus Support for Small Business Under Fire

The lack of speed and alleged favoritism by banks is now facing scrutiny.

It is unclear three weeks after the passage of federal assistance legislation if any money has been distributed.

The New York Times reports:

"The CARES Act, the $2 trillion relief bill signed by President Trump last month, also authorized the S.B.A. to hand out the first $10,000 as a grant that didn’t have to be paid back. Those funds were supposed to be available to applicants within three days of their application, even if they weren’t approved for a loan. That hasn’t happened, according to more than 400 applicants who contacted The Times."

Rhode Island's Pending Budget Disaster

While Rhode Island will receive $1.3 billion from the federal stimulus package, the dollars may be far short of filling the state's financial hole.

Rhode Island was running a $200 million deficit before the economic and health crisis.

"Some governments entered the coronavirus crisis with more cash on hand than they had in 2008, meaning they’re a bit better positioned financially to weather the storm, said Erlinda Doherty, a budget expert at the National Conference of State Legislatures," reports the Washington Post. 

GoLocal LIVE Friday, April 10, 2020

10:30 AM - Rebecca Couto da Silva from Bolzano Italy

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

1:00 PM - Governor Gina Raimondo Briefing