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UA president discusses plan to return to classrooms in the fall
May 15, 2020 - AZPM
The fall semester for the University of Arizona begins in a little more than 100 days, and President Robert Robbins still plans on having in-person classes.
He told AZPM, however, that the decision is nowhere near final until about 60 days from the start of classes and even then if the situation changes after that he will move classes back online.
"Hopefully at about that 60 to 75 day mark we can make a final decision about a true go-no go. If we determine there is a huge spike in cases, if the governor, obviously reinstitutes his order about safer in place than we would have to abort our mission here. But our mission is try to bring people back to campus in the safest possible way we can," Robbins said.
Robbins said the university is still developing the final plan for reopening campus but he expects that everyone will be wearing masks while in class or in a university building.
He also said he wants as many students, faculty and staff as possible to get tested. He said that right now the tests are voluntary, but that will change if somebody is symptomatic.
The university is also looking at other ways of testing to watch for an outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
Tucson Electric to provide pandemic refund
May 15, 2020 - AZPM
Tucson Electric customers will soon get a little taken off their monthly bill. The company has announced it's returning unused money intended for energy efficiency programs, as a way to help out customers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Home users will get a credit on their June bill averaging thirteen dollars, depending on their energy usage. Commercial customers will see an average 46 dollar credit.
The money, totaling more than eight million dollars, comes from a fund used to help the utility meet the state's energy efficiency standard, but T-E-P says it can meet the standard without spending that money.
UA spring graduates anticipate unusual commencement ceremony
May 15, 2020 - AZPM
The University of Arizona is holding its first virtual commencement ceremony tonight due to concerns about large social gatherings during the coronavirus outbreak.
UA announced in March that this year's commencement could not take place in-person because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 graduates will still get to celebrate on campus during a special homecoming weekend event on October 30.
Serena Gibson is a new UA graduate from San Diego. She admits she will miss the traditional commencement experience at Arizona Stadium, but notes the class of 2020 will ultimately consider it as something special.
"It's a little disappointing, but since they are trying to make up for it during homecoming it will be a really cool experience to do combining homecoming and graduation," she said.
The event begins at 6 p.m. and will be streamed on YouTube. UA President Robert Robbins will confer more than 11,000 academic degrees during the ceremony.
UA project to collect data about outbreak will also fight misinformation.
May 15, 2020 - AZPM
The program uses a text message survey for Arizonans to detail health and wellness conditions for themselves and others in their household. U of A epidemiologist Kacey Ernst says a follow-up component will help people understand the science behind the spread of the coronavirus.
"So, on the one hand we are collecting information to try and understand what the picture looks like, how many people are getting sick in our community, and on the other hand trying to push forward good trusted information from a scientific base," she says
The follow-up message will also include information about how to get help for issues including mental health and food insecurity
US retail sales plunged a record 16% in April as virus hit
May 15, 2020 - AP
U.S. retail sales tumbled by a record 16.4% from March to April as business shutdowns caused by the coronavirus kept shoppers away, threatened stores across the country and weighed down a sinking economy.
The Commerce Department’s report on retail purchases showed a sector that has collapsed so quickly that sales over the past 12 months are down a crippling 21.6%. The sharpest drops from March to April were at clothiers, electronics stores, furniture stores and restaurants.
A long-standing migration of consumers toward online purchases is accelerating, with that segment posting a 8.4% monthly gain. Measured year over year, online sales surged 21.6%.
Democrats push $3T coronavirus relief bill toward House OK
May 15, 2020 - AP
House Democrats powered a massive $3 trillion coronavirus response bill toward passage Friday, a measure designed to prop up a U.S. economy in free fall and a health care system overwhelmed by a pandemic that’s killed over 86,000 Americans.
Friday’s vote was sure to be partisan and sets up a long, difficult negotiation with the White House and Senate Republicans over what is likely to be the last major COVID-19 response bill before November’s presidential and congressional elections.
The enormous measure drafted by House Democrats would cost more than the prior four coronavirus bills combined. It would deliver almost $1 trillion for state and local governments, another round of $1,200 direct payments to most individuals, and help for housing payments, the Postal Service and holders of college debt.
Navajo Nation residents to be under strictest lockdown yet
May 15, 2020 - AP
Residents of the Navajo Nation will be under the strictest weekend lockdown yet. Grocery stores, gas stations and other businesses will be closed starting Friday night. Essential workers also are being told to stay home until Monday around dawn.
A frustrated Navajo Nation president made the announcement after a spike in deaths that he attributed to shifting traffic patterns in New Mexico. As of Thursday, the tribe reported 127 deaths and 3,632 positive cases since it first began tracking the figures.
Tribal officials say more than 500 people have recovered. The Navajo Nation has been hit harder by the coronavirus than any other Native American reservation.
Tourists enter reopened Grand Canyon despite virus concerns
May 15, 2020 - AP
Tourists are once again roaming portions of Grand Canyon National Park after some areas reopened Friday, despite concerns that it could hurt efforts to control the coronavirus.
During the early morning, more than two dozen people were enjoying some viewpoints along the South Rim. Park officials say the South Rim entrance will only be open until 10 a.m. through Monday. Visitors will have limited access to viewpoints and other sites.
Officials on the hard-hit Navajo Nation, which stretches into northern Arizona, expressed disappointment at the reopening. There have been at least 3,632 positive cases and 127 deaths on the reservation, which also includes parts of New Mexico and Utah.
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