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Coronavirus: Americans Pack Beaches on Memorial Day Weekend

Nancy Clayson
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Coronavirus: Americans Pack Beaches on Memorial Day Weekend

Americans have packed beaches and lakes for Memorial Day weekend, often flouting restrictions imposed to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

In Florida, state police dispersed an unauthorized gathering of hundreds of people in Daytona Beach on May 23.

In Missouri, bars at the Lake of the Ozarks were packed with revelers, who violated social-distancing rules.

Image source: nps.gov

Coronavirus task force chief Dr. Deborah Birx said she was “very concerned” after seeing such scenes.

Dr. Birx said on ABC’s This Week on May 24: “We really want to be clear all the time that social distancing is absolutely critical. And if you can’t social distance and you’re outside, you must wear a mask.”

St Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson said: “It’s irresponsible and dangerous to engage in such high risk behavior just to have some fun over the extended holiday weekend.

“Now, these folks will be going home to S. Louis and counties across Missouri and the Midwest, raising concerns about the potential of more positive cases, hospitalizations, and tragically, deaths. Deeply disturbing.”

Coronavirus: Italy and Spain Ease Lockdown Restrictions

In Tampa area, Florida, the crowds were so big that authorities closed parking lots because they were full, the Associated Press reports.

In California, big crowds were seen enjoying beaches over the weekend. State officials said most people were covering their faces and keeping their distance on beaches and parks.

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer.

The US has more coronavirus cases than anywhere in the world. It has over 1.6 million known infection and is nearing 100,000 deaths linked to the virus.

All 50 US states have now partially reopened after a two-month shutdown. However, remaining restrictions vary across the country.

Wide discrepancies also remain between states in terms of infection rates and the pace of their economic restart.

Some of the hardest-hit states, including New Jersey, New York and Washington are now showing the sharpest declines, while majority of states have reached plateaus.

4 Key Factors in Healthy Weight Loss

Kathryn R. Bown
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4 Key Factors in Healthy Weight Loss

Losing weight is a process that can be challenging, especially because you don’t get the results overnight. You have to do it in a healthy way and consistently if you want results that will last. If you are trying to lose some weight, consider the following factors.

A Good Diet Plan

What you eat is one of the biggest contributors to your weight. Thus, start by evaluating your diet. What do you eat on a typical day? What about snacks and snacking habits? Are the foods you eat healthy? What changes can you make to your daily diet? Write down the changes you need to make. Write down menus for your breakfast, lunches and dinners. If you aren’t sure what a healthy meal looks like, you can follow the Harvard’s healthy eating plate, which recommends fruits and vegetables for half of the plate, whole grains and protein taking up a quarter of the plate each, healthy plant oils in moderation and water, tea or coffee. For your snacks, try to cut your intake of refined sugars, carbs and deep-fried foods. Finally, don’t forget to check the recommended calorie intake for your age and body weight. If you find it difficult to keep yourself on a healthy diet, there are plenty of meal-kit companies that make can make it easier on you! Check out some of the best weight loss meal delivery programs of 2020 to find one that fits your lifestyle and budget.

An Exercise Plan

Exercise is another factor in healthy weight loss. Through exercise you can boost your metabolism for weight loss. However, you should not overdo your workouts. Too much could leave your joints and muscles damaged. You need rest days to recover and also your daily workouts should be limited to an hour at most. Your workout plan should include the type of exercises you will be doing each day and the duration for each workout.

Sleep

What happens when you don’t get enough sleep? For one, your cravings can intensify. This means that you will eat more the following day and this will hamper your weight loss goals. Two, if you stay up longer at night, your chances of snacking increase, and this can lead to weight gain. Three, the following day, you may wake up feeling less energetic and less motivated to do things. You may not be in a mood to go to the gym or fix a healthy meal. Remember, a healthy meal and exercise are two factors that contribute to weight loss.

So, don’t give up your sleep for anything. If there is anything keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep, deal with it right away. Seek help if you are stressed out, and plan your day well so that you are not working when you should be resting. Get a new mattress if the one you have is causing you discomfort or pain at night. You can view some nice options here. Do whatever it takes to get that uninterrupted sleep. It’s good for weight loss and it can also boost your productivity, reduce your risk of accidents, and keep you more focused. 

Water

Water is good for your metabolism and it can create that feeling of fullness, thus reducing the amount of food you eat each day. And the good thing about water is that it has zero calories. However, stick to the recommended amount of water and don’t overdo it to avoid hyponatremia.

These are some of the key factors in healthy weight loss. You can plan your weight loss journey by yourself, or you can work with professionals. A nutritionist, for instance, can help in planning healthy menus for weight loss. A fitness trainer can help with your daily workouts. However, regardless of whether you work with a professional or by yourself, remember that the results will depend on your commitment.

Bosarge Divorce: Money Over Morality?

Lisa.Felice
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Bosarge Divorce: Money Over Morality?

Billionaire Ed Bosarge has made headlines in CNBC, The Wall Street Journal and international publications for trying to cheat his wife of 30 years out of her fair share. This is the latest release in the Ed and Marie Bosarge divorce unfolding in South Dakota and Houston.

Press release

A veteran South Dakota lawmaker worries the state is choosing money over morality with the growing secrecy and tax evasion of the powerful trust industry.

“Having any publicity, as far as they’re concerned that doesn’t come from them, they don’t want it,” Rep. Susan Wismer said in an interview with Dolcefino Consulting.

Rep. Susan Wismer spoke out on the growing controversy involving a Texas divorce case and how South Dakota law may cheat a wife of 30 years.

Texas billionaire Ed Bosarge moved upwards of $2.3 billion into secretive South Dakota trusts without Marie Bosarge knowing, everything from mansions they own to sponges in the kitchen of their huge Texas mansion.

Now she’s fighting in courts in Houston and Sioux Falls to get her rightful share of the money they made in their 30-year marriage.

“It’s community property. It’s fifty-fifty. I want what’s fair. It’s my money too, you know. That’s what’s so frustrating,” said Marie Bosarge.

CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, even international publications have raised questions about the high-stakes divorce case and the way the rich, like Houston billionaire Ed Bosarge, are using South Dakota tax laws to hide their fortunes.

Last year, the Chief Justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court said $3.2 trillion is now being hidden in South Dakota from taxation, and sometimes even from family members.

“I’m offended that South Dakota’s trust laws are being used by anyone, but rich people to avoid their familial responsibilities that they wouldn’t be able to evade if South Dakota hadn’t created this little trust empire here,” Wismer said.

The Texas judge in the Bosarge case has warned Ed Bosarge’s lawyers that he won’t let South Dakota law deprive a wife of her legal share.

“I don’t think the laws of South Dakota, the State of Texas or anything that we might imagine somehow frees him of an obligation that he has undertaken at the time he married Mrs. Bosarge,” said Judge Clinton Wells in a court hearing before the Coronavirus pandemic shut down the Harris County courthouse. 

Image source: edbosarge.com

Bosarge Divorce: Covid-19 Infects High Stakes Billion Dollar Houston Divorce Case

Bosarge Divorce: Billions at Stake in High Stakes Houston Divorce Ruling

Ed Bosarge showed up in a wheelchair for his deposition and his lawyers claimed last month he had the Coronavirus, but pictures in a culture magazine showed him at dinner a few nights ago with the young Russian girlfriend he apparently left his wife for.

“I think that if the majority of South Dakota legislators were aware of this some of these more egregious cases it might help us but the brakes on this industry a little bit,” Wismer said.

The shutdown of Houston courts has delayed the trial until later this year, but Wismer hopes the publicity surrounding the case will wake up her colleagues at the State Capitol.

“I think it’s important that the South Dakota legislature become aware of this issue and consider the real time, real life consequences to people around the country of, of their actions,” Wismer said.

“I do not think South Dakotans want their state to be used by every person who wants to cheat his partner out of money, but if Marie loses her fight that is exactly what could happen,” said Wayne Dolcefino, President of Dolcefino Consulting. “No woman would be safe.”

The Wismer interview is part of an investigative report by Dolcefino Consulting called “South Dakota’s Little Secret”.

The video can be seen on Dolcefino Consulting’s Facebook page or www.dolcefino.com.

How Can Healthcare Marketing Transform Your Services?

Kathryn R. Bown
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How Can Healthcare Marketing Transform Your Services?
Image source: Pixabay

Improving a private practice or medical business has very different struggles compared to growing a traditional business. Can a tool like healthcare marketing help you out with this monumental task of transforming your favourite services? Let’s take a look at how they can help you out.

Expertise

First and foremost, healthcare is an area of expertise. Whether you are looking into a qualification into healthcare marketing yourself or you are hiring someone who can help you with your business, the insight and knowledge that can be gained from a qualification like this cannot be missed.

An expert in healthcare marketing will be able to recommend what is needed for the business overall. Their recommendations will be smart and filled with insight, as you might expect from someone of their expertise in any area. By taking the time to listen to an expert like this, they will be able to come up with a credible plan that you can implement to transform your business.

Analysis

Healthcare marketing is also incredibly important as it can be used to analyse how your practice is currently performing. If you feel like you are doing everything right, but you aren’t making progress, healthcare marketing can offer you the tools you need to properly analyse what is happening in the business.

Marketing techniques in this sector need to be done exactly right as they will directly impact people’s lives in a way that other campaigns will not. This, in turn, links back to the need for expertise. Not just any marketing executive could jump into a healthcare marketing role. This is a role for someone with an understanding of the industry, what its needs are, and what the best path forward is to garner the most success.

On-Trend

An industry like healthcare is still subject to trends and changes, though they might not be as obvious as in other sectors. For example, right now a patient-centric approach is thought to be the best path to operate on. By tapping into these changing trends using healthcare marketing, you will be able to transform the reputation of your practice.

This can be fantastic if you are inheriting an established practice and you want to put your own stamp on the place. Bringing it up to modern standards and changing some of the practices here could bring up the satisfaction of your existing customers and attract even more to you.

Find the Right Healthcare Marketing for You Today

It can be difficult to pinpoint precisely which paths could be right for you and your business. This is why healthcare marketing is so crucial. It takes an overview of business, analyses what you are doing right, and puts together some achievable targets to help you improve the business in easy stages.

Take the time to find the right professional to help you out, or even look into courses so you can gain some expertise in this area yourself. Before long, your business could be running in a far more efficient and profitable manner, thanks to healthcare marketing.

Here’s What’s Hot on Netflix US

Sonia Pantiss
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Here’s What’s Hot on Netflix US

You may have heard that Netflix is losing shows because every corporation needs a streaming platform nowadays. At the same time, it’s also gaining new favorites and reception of Netflix Originals has been positive so far.

Unfortunately, you can’t always access all the Netflix shows in your area. Not that US residents get to, either – but they definitely have a wider selection to choose from. No matter where you’re located, there’s an easy way to gain access to the full catalog. Click here to see how to watch Netflix US on a smart TV, for the full cinematic experience.

Or, read below to see how to watch Netflix US on any device, anywhere in the world.

How to Watch Netflix US from Abroad

If you don’t have a smart TV, you can still use a VPN to access the Netflix US catalog. All you need to do is connect to a server in the US, and a US IP address will be assigned to your device. This works for any other country your VPN provider has obfuscated servers in – great for those of you interested in foreign cinema or documentaries.

How exactly does that work? Well, IP addresses are how Netflix and other streaming platforms check your location. That’s how they know which shows to assign to you. It’s an outdated mindset to have in the digital era, but the licensing legislation is too convoluted to get into.

Does Any VPN Work with Netflix US?

You could try one of the many free VPNs out there to see if they work with Netflix. But chances are they’ve been blocked, since the providers lack the funding for fresh new IPs. Yes, Netflix are aware that people use VPNs to bypass geo-restrictions, and do everything possible to block them.

Subscription-based VPNs can afford to get new servers for streaming, or implement new obfuscation techniques that hide the fact you’re using a VPN. Moreover, this practice isn’t illegal either. After all, it’s not like you’re pirating anything.

You’ve paid for your Netflix subscription, so why shouldn’t you be able to watch the shows you want just because some out of touch executives didn’t get the memo about how the Internet works? Get a free VPN trial from a decent provider, grab some popcorn and start watching.

Here are some shows you should check out. First, a classic that’s leaving Netflix soon:

The Office

No introductions are necessary for this fan favorite. Netflix has said its goodbyes to the series already, though you can still catch it on the platform until January 2021. So better get to it while you still can, unless you plan to subscribe to NBC’s “Peacock” streaming service to watch it. With a name like that, who wouldn’t?

Jokes aside, their current selection of shows just doesn’t seem worth yet another subscription. Although they’ve taken The Office hostage, long-time fans of the show have expressed their disinterest in the comments on Netflix’s original Twitter post.

Parks and Rec

Yet another beloved sitcom that’s leaving Netflix US for NBC’s streaming service in October 2020. The show ended in 2015, but the cast have recently reunited for a one-time reunion special. It received a warm welcome from excited fans that just needed something good to happen in an otherwise dreary year.

The wholesome comedy that defined the series is still there – even if the lovable goofs of Pawnee were social distancing like everybody else. It isn’t available on Netflix like the rest of the series, though you can watch it for free on NBC’s YouTube channel. You still need a VPN to access it, though – as it appears to be a US-exclusive.

The Midnight Gospel

Let’s talk about something fresh for a change. Don’t let its colorful visuals trick you into believing it’s a kids’ show – The Midnight Gospel is some trippy stuff. If you grew up watching Adventure Time in the 2010s, you’ll be happy to know series creator Pendleton Ward handles this one too.

Even if you haven’t, fans of the show have described it as a trippier Rick and Morty. Now, while The Midnight Gospel does inter-dimensional travels on alien worlds, the show is very much its own thing. And the concept of it is fascinating.

Clancy visits worlds that are on the verge of dying by using his “universe simulator.” He then holds interviews (called “spacecasts”) with the creatures he meets. The philosophical topics they cover are varied, but we’ll let you discover the magic for yourself.

Since it’s a Netflix Original, you can basically watch it anywhere without a VPN. We all look forward to when we can watch whatever we want without jumping through hoops to do so. Until then, using a VPN is your best chance to see The Office or Parks and Rec before they depart. These two shows are classics in their own right – but if they’re not to your taste, rest assured the US Netflix library has a ton to choose from.

Johnson & Johnson To Discontinue Baby Powder in US and Canada

Kathryn R. Bown
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Johnson & Johnson To Discontinue Baby Powder in US and Canada

Johnson & Johnson has decided to stop selling its talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder in the US and Canada.

The healthcare giant faces many thousands of lawsuits from consumers who claim that its talc products caused their cancer.

The company’s decision comes after years of litigation where it has been ordered to pay out billions of dollars in compensation.

J&J has consistently defended the safety of its talc products.

The company said it would wind down sales of the product, which makes up about 0.5% of its US consumer health business, in the coming months, but that retailers would continue to sell existing inventory.

It faces more than 16,000 consumer lawsuits alleging that the company’s talc products were contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen.

Image source Flickr

With Johnson & Johnson in the limelight, what are the hidden dangers of talcum powder?

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Johnson & Johnson said that demand for Johnson’s Baby Powder had been declining in North America “due in large part to changes in consumer habits and fuelled by misinformation around the safety of the product”.

It said it had faced “a constant barrage” of lawyers advertising for clients to sue the company.

“We remain steadfastly confident in the safety of talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder. Decades of independent scientific studies by medical experts around the world support the safety of our product,” it said.

J&J added that the move was part of a reassessment of its consumer products prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The company said in October that its testing had found no asbestos in its Baby Powder after tests conducted by the FDA discovered trace amounts.

Johnson & Johnson is appealing against a 2018 order to pay $4.7 billion in damages to 22 women who alleged that its talc products caused them to develop ovarian cancer.

Coronavirus: President Trump Reveals He Is Taking Hydroxychloroquine

Nancy Clayson
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Coronavirus: President Trump Reveals He Is Taking Hydroxychloroquine

President Donald Trump has revealed he is taking hydroxychloroquine to ward off coronavirus, despite public health officials warning it may be unsafe.

Speaking at the White House, the president told reporters he started taking the malaria and lupus medication recently.

President Trump said: “I’m taking it for about a week and a half now and I’m still here, I’m still here.”

There is no evidence hydroxychloroquine can fight coronavirus, and regulators warn the drug may cause heart problems.

Dr. Marcos Espinal, director of the Pan American Health Organization – part of the WHO – has also since stressed that no clinical trials have recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus.

President Trump, 73, was hosting a meeting devoted to the struggling restaurant industry on May 18, when he caught reporters unawares by revealing he was taking the drug.

“You’d be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the frontline workers before you catch it, the frontline workers, many, many are taking it,” he told reporters.

“I happen to be taking it.”

“Donald Trump” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Gage Skidmore

Coronavirus: Dr Fauci and Other Members of White House Task Force Self-Isolate

Asked what was his evidence of hydroxychloroquine’s positive benefits, President Trump said: “Here’s my evidence: I get a lot of positive calls about it.”

He added: “I’ve heard a lot of good stories [about hydroxychloroquine] and if it’s not good, I’ll tell you right I’m not going to get hurt by it.”

Though some people in the White House have tested positive for coronavirus, President Trump said again he had “zero symptoms” and was being tested frequently.

He added that he had been taking a daily zinc supplement and received a single dose of azithromycin, an antibiotic meant to prevent infection.

When asked whether the White House physician had recommended he start taking the disputed remedy, President Trump said he himself had requested it.

Dr. Sean Conley, physician to the president, said in a statement issued through the White House later on May 18 that President Trump was in “very good health” and “symptom-free”.

The US Navy officer added: “After numerous discussions he and I had regarding the evidence for and against the use of hydroxychloroquine, we concluded the potential benefit from treatment outweighed the relative risks.”

The FDA last month issued an advisory saying that hydroxychloroquine has “not been shown to be safe and effective”.

The agency cited reports that the drug can cause serious heart rhythm problems in Covid-19 patients.

The FDA warned against use of the medication outside hospitals, where the agency has granted temporary authorization for its use in some cases. Clinical trials of the drug are also under way.

The CDC says there are no approved drugs or therapeutics to prevent or treat Covid-19, which is confirmed to have infected more than 1.5 million people in the US, killing more than 90,000 patients.

Coronavirus: Italy and Spain Ease Lockdown Restrictions

Diane A. Wade
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Coronavirus: Italy and Spain Ease Lockdown Restrictions

Spain, Italy and other European countries are further easing their coronavirus lockdown restrictions starting with May 18.

Spain has slightly eased restrictions on some of its least affected islands.

In Italy, most businesses, including bars and hairdressers, are reopening after more than two months of nationwide lockdown measures.

The measures follow consistent drops in the number of daily recorded deaths.

On May 17, Italy recorded the fewest daily deaths since it entered lockdown in March.

According to Italian officials, 145 people had died with the virus in the previous 24 hours. This marked a significant drop from its highest daily death toll, which was more than 900 on March 27.

In Spain, the daily death toll fell below 100 for the first time since it imposed its lockdown restrictions.

Coronavirus: Number of Confirmed Cases Worldwide Passes 4 Million

However, officials are warning that complacency over the virus could lead to a second wave of infections.

Restaurants, bars, cafes, hairdressers and shops have been allowed to reopen in Italy, providing social distancing is enforced.

Almost 32,000 people in Italy have died in the pandemic, and the economy is expected to shrink by nearly 10% this year.

Catholic churches are resuming Mass, but there is strict social distancing and worshippers must wear face masks. Other faiths are also being allowed to hold religious services.

However, health officials have warned of the continued dangers of large social gatherings.

Pope Francis held a private Mass at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, which has been disinfected ahead of its reopening to tourists.

The Mass honored the late Pope John Paul II, 100 years after his birth in Poland.

Workers’ Comp Doctors: Do They Have to Accept Workers’ Compensation?

Dana R
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Workers’ Comp Doctors: Do They Have to Accept Workers’ Compensation?

Experts report that there were 2.8 reported injuries per 100 full-time workers in the United States in 2018.

Many of these would have been minor, requiring little or no treatment. However, many more would have been serious enough to warrant ongoing care.

In these cases, workers should be entitled to treatment from workers’ comp doctors. However, not every doctor treats workers’ compensation patients.

Read on to learn more about what doctors accept workers’ compensation, and how to find them.

What Is Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation protects employees when they suffer illnesses or injuries as a result of their activities at work.

It covers a broad range of conditions, including almost any physical injury. The most common injuries are overexertion injuries, slip-related injuries, and fall-related injuries.

Workers comp may also cover mental illnesses, although causation here is more difficult to prove.

The employer is the party who is liable for payment. However, workers’ comp insurance is widely available to provide cover here, and is actually legally required in every state except Texas.

The payment provides for medical treatment as well as lost earnings.

How to Find Workers’ Comp Doctors

As mentioned above, not every doctor deals with workers’ compensation cases. To get ongoing treatment for a condition you developed at work, you will have to find a specialist Workers’ Compensation Doctor.

These are doctors that the state government approves as providers of workers’ compensation care. You may have to find such a doctor yourself, but your employer might direct you to one in some cases.

You should note that you don’t need to go to a workers’ comp provider for your initial assessment. Your usual healthcare provider (or an emergency room doctor) is acceptable for this.

While ongoing care is provided for by the workers’ compensation scheme, there are limits to your entitlements. For instance, you will only be allowed a certain number of physiotherapy or massage therapy visits under your workers’ comp plan.

What If My Employer Won’t Pay?

As noted above, workers’ compensation insurance is generally mandatory. However, many employers will still try to escape liability in order to protect their low insurance premiums.

The easiest way for an employer to do this is to attempt to prove that your injury did not arise as a result of your working activities. This is easier in some cases than in others.

For example, if you fall off a height and break your leg at work, it will be impossible for your employer to argue that you weren’t injured at work.

On the other hand, if your injury arose because of repetitive strain, your employer might be able to make a convincing argument that you sustained it due to activities carried out outside the workplace.

Getting the Care You Need

If you’ve suffered an injury, the first thing on your mind will be recovering from it. Workers’ comp doctors can help you take the first step and guide you through the entire process.

Did you find this article useful? If so, be sure to check out some of our others! We post content on a range of topics, including romance, family, and self-improvement.

Senator Richard Burr To Step Down As Intel Chair Amid Stock Sales Investigation

Diane A. Wade
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Senator Richard Burr To Step Down As Intel Chair Amid Stock Sales Investigation

Richard Burr, the Republican chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, will step down while an insider trading inquiry is carried out.

He said he had decided to do so because he did not want the investigation to distract the committee from its work.

Senator Richard Burr’s phone has been seized by the FBI as part of the inquiry.

The 64-year-old North Carolina senator, who denies wrongdoing, allegedly used inside information to avoid market losses from coronavirus.

He declined a request for comment.

Richard Burr and his wife sold as much as $1.7 million of equities in February, just before markets plunged on fears of an economic crisis.

It is illegal for members of Congress to trade based on non-public information gathered during their official duties.

Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler of Georgia and James Inhofe of Oklahoma, as well as Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, also reportedly sold holdings before the downturn, but are not confirmed to be under investigation.

Dianne Feinstein said she had answered questions from the FBI regarding trades made by her husband, however.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Senator Burr had contacted him to inform of his decision to step aside temporarily.

“We agreed that this decision would be in the best interests of the committee and will be effective at the end of the day tomorrow [May 15],” Mitch McConnell said in a statement.

Richard Burr said: “The work the Intelligence Committee and its members do is too important to risk hindering in any way. I believe this step is necessary to allow the Committee to continue its essential work free of external distractions.”

The senator turned over his mobile phone to authorities after federal agents issued and executed a search warrant at his Washington, DC, home.

The justice department began investigating Richard Burr in March.

Public disclosures first investigated by ProPublica show the senator sold more than 30 stocks between late January and mid-February. Some of the stocks were in sectors now devastated by the coronavirus outbreak, such as the hotel, restaurant and shipping industries. 

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

As chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, Richard Burr receives nearly daily briefings on threats to US national security. He defended the transactions, saying he had “relied solely on public news reports” to instruct his decision to sell.  

However, the senator was criticized for publicly downplaying the seriousness of the virus, even as he privately sold equities and warned a private North Carolina business group of the stark risks it posed.

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Richard Burr’s lawyer, Alice Fisher, said in March the senator welcomed the justice department investigation because it would “establish that his actions were appropriate”. 

“The law is clear that any American – including a Senator – may participate in the stock market based on public information, as Senator Burr did,” she said. 

The bulk of Richard Burr’s sales occurred on February 13, just before his speech to the wealthy business constituent group about the dire economic impact of the coronavirus, at a time when the Trump administration was publicly downplaying the threat.

In an audio recording, obtained by US outlet National Public Radio (NPR) Richard Burr also told the group to curtail their travel. He has accused NPR of “misrepresenting” his speech. 

First elected to the Senate in 2004, Richard Burr chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee when it investigated Russian election interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The committee endorsed intelligence community findings that Russia had interfered on President Donald Trump’s behalf.

Richard Burr’s six-year term ends in 2023 and he does not plan to run for re-election, the Associated Press reports.

Coronavirus: President Donald Trump Clashes with Dr Anthony Fauci

Diane A. Wade
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0
Coronavirus: President Donald Trump Clashes with Dr Anthony Fauci

President Donald Trump has said a sobering warning by Dr. Anthony Fauci, his top infectious diseases expert, about lifting pandemic restrictions too soon was unacceptable.

The president accused Dr. Fauci of wanting “to play all sides of the equation” in his testimony to lawmakers on May 12.

He said he was especially dissatisfied with Dr. Fauci’s caution around reopening schools too quickly.

Nearly 1.4 million people have been infected with Covid-19 in the US. Another 84,000 people have been killed by the new coronavirus, while ravaging the economy.

Image source Wikipedia

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Speaking on May 13 at the White House, President Trump took issue with Dr. Fauci’s comments to a Senate hearing a day earlier about the risks to children of reopening and his assessment that a vaccine was unlikely before classes could begin this autumn.

He said: “Look, he wants to play all sides of the equation.”

“I was surprised by his answer actually, because, you know, it’s just to me – it’s not an acceptable answer, especially when it comes to schools,” the president told reporters.

The president said “the only thing that would be acceptable” is giving older teachers and professors a few more weeks before they return.

“Because this is a disease that attacks age, and it attacks health,” he said.

“But with the young children, I mean, and students, it’s really – just take a look at the statistics. It’s pretty amazing,” he added.

President Trump is keen to get Americans back to work and has praised governors who are moving to do so while criticizing others for not acting aggressively enough.

The US is split over President Trump’s focus on protecting livelihoods, critics accuse him of gambling with lives to serve his own political interests ahead of November’s re-election bid.

His latest comments come amid reports of some young children being severely affected by an inflammatory syndrome that could be linked to the virus.

Speaking to lawmakers on May 12, Dr. Fauci, a White House task force coronavirus expert, warned that relaxing stay-at-home rules too quickly could bring more “suffering and death”.

The director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases emphasized the importance of not being “cavalier in thinking that children are completely immune to the deleterious effects” of the disease.

Dr. Anthony Fauci said: “We just have to see on a step-by-step basis as we get into the period of time with the fall, about reopening the schools, exactly where we will be in the dynamics of the outbreak.”

He also said the real US death toll is probably higher than the official figure.

On May 12, Maryland’s Governor Larry Hogan said he was lifting that state’s stay-at-home measure, replacing it on May 15 with a “safer-at-home” order.

The Republican, who has been critical of President Trump, cited a two-week decline in severe cases and deaths that federal guidelines recommend.

How to Avoid Back Pain When Working from Home

Kathryn R. Bown
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How to Avoid Back Pain When Working from Home

A lot of us are working from home amid the worldwide pandemic currently happening. This is nothing new to some. Maybe you have a nice, comfortable office space complete with a supporting chair. However, to others, this is anything but normal, and maybe your office is a kid’s art table and chair.

Whatever your situation is, a lot of us are finding ourselves sitting and working more often than not. This can mean experiencing more and new aches and pains that weren’t noticed while working in the office. This is because most offices furnish their desks with ergonomic furniture and most employees get up and walk around the office for various reasons throughout the day. There is no water cooler at home.

back-pain

These weeks have turned to months for working at home, and they have strained our bodies not only mentally, but physically. These new aches and pains may lead us down a road to debilitating muscle injuries such as bad backs, sore necks, and achy shoulders.

To avoid going down this path, make sure you are spending as much time as you are able working in a neutral position where no body part is awkwardly bent or twisted. Also, try to move around every 30 minutes. You want to walk around and get yourself a cup of coffee or water. If you can, try to stretch. There are a plethora of apps and online sites that will help you figure out what back exercises to do to stay limber. There are even health sites that will help with lumbar disc bulge exercises.

If you work at a computer, try to view your screen with a straight neck. This means putting your screen at a comfortable viewing height. We tend to look down at laptop screens, so you may want to evaluate your computer to combat this habit.

After you have found the best height for your screen, make sure it is sideways to a bright window. This will minimize eye strain from a glare and you don’t want your back to your screen because the incoming light will cause a glare on it. Also, you won’t be straining your neck and back to look away from a screen if it is too bright. If you have blue light glasses, make sure you wear those as well.

Also, don’t read from an iPad or papers that are flat on your desk or table to where you are constantly moving your head up and down. If you go back from a screen to reading material, use a vertical document holder or iPad stand to relieve this strain.

Since your computer is at a comfortable height in front of you, so should your keyboard. Your keyboard and mouse should be used with your forearms and hands level and straight. Also, your arm should be close to the side of your body when you use a mouse. You have nerves that leave your neck and run down your shoulder, elbow and wrist, so when your arm is at your side, the nerves aren’t compromised. The more you have to stretch, the greater chance there will be to strain your back, neck, or shoulder.

Other small tips are to make sure you sit back in your chair and limit the time you spend working in bed. Also try to limit the time you spend standing. Just following some of these tips at your home work environment can help you lessen your chance of injury.

Coronavirus: Dr Fauci and Other Members of White House Task Force Self-Isolate

Diane A. Wade
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Coronavirus: Dr Fauci and Other Members of White House Task Force Self-Isolate

Dr. Anthony Fauci and two other members of the White House coronavirus task force are self-isolating for two weeks after possible exposure to the illness.

Dr. Fauci has become the public face of the fight against the virus in the US.

His agency, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he was at “relatively low risk” due to the degree of his exposure.

However, the 79-year-old has tested negative.

Dr. Fauci will work from home for the time being and will be regularly tested, the institute said.

VP Mike Pence’s press secretary Katie Miller, the wife of President Donald Trump’s aide Stephen Miller, tested positive for the virus on May 8.

Katie Miller’s diagnosis came after a valet for President Trump was also confirmed to have the illness.

CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield and FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn are also self-isolating.

In a statement, the CDC said Dr. Redfield, 68, had no symptoms and was not feeling unwell, but would also be working from home for two weeks after “low risk exposure” to someone at the White House. It is unclear who this person is.

Image source Wikipedia

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An FDA spokesman told Reuters on May 8 that 60-year-old Stephen Hahn was also self-isolating. He has also tested negative, the spokesman said.

The three men were due to address a Senate committee on May 12.

Before the news about Dr. Anthony Fauci became public, committee chairman Senator Lamar Alexander said Dr. Redfield and Dr. Hahn would be allowed to testify by videolink.

The US has 1.3 million confirmed cases and has recorded 78,794 deaths – by far the highest total in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Many states brought in lockdown measures in March to try to contain the outbreak. But now some have lifted restrictions to allow people to return to work, a move health officials fear could further spread the virus.

Former President Barack Obama has sharply criticized his successor’s response to the crisis. During a private phone call to former staffers, Barack Obama called the response “an absolute chaotic disaster”.

Last week, President Trump said he would refocus the White House task force on kick starting the US economy, a day after suggesting he would disband it.

Coronavirus: Number of Confirmed Cases Worldwide Passes 4 Million

Kathryn R. Bown
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Coronavirus: Number of Confirmed Cases Worldwide Passes 4 Million

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide has passed 4 million milestone, according to data collated by Johns Hopkins University.

The global death toll has also risen to above 277,000.

The US remains the worst-hit country in the world, accounting for over a quarter of confirmed cases and a third of deaths.

Experts warn the true number of infections is likely to be far higher, with low testing rates in many countries skewing the data.

Daily death tolls are continuing to drop in some nations, including Spain, but there is concern that easing lockdown restrictions could lead to a “second wave” of infections.

In addition, governments are bracing for economic fallout as the pandemic hits global markets and supply chains.

A senior Chinese official has told local media that the pandemic was a “big test” that had exposed weaknesses in the country’s public health system. The rare admission, from the director of China’s National Health Commission, Li Bin, comes after sustained criticism abroad of China’s early response.

Coronavirus: Global Cases Pass 1 Million

This week, some lockdown measures have begun easing in Italy, once the global epicenter of the pandemic. Italians have been able to exercise outdoors and visit family members in their region.

France has recorded its lowest daily number of coronavirus deaths for more than a month, with 80 deaths over the past 24 hours. Authorities are preparing to ease restrictions from May 11, as is the government in neighboring Spain.

Meanwhile, lockdowns are continuing in countries like South Africa, despite calls from opposition parties for it to end.

In South Korea, renewed restrictions are being imposed on bars and clubs after a series of transmissions linked to Seoul’s leisure district.

Russia also canceled a military parade in Moscow, planned as part of the country’s Victory Day celebrations. Instead, President Vladimir Putin hosted a subdued event on May 9, laying roses at the Eternal Flame war memorial.

However, despite scientific evidence, leaders of several countries have continued to express skepticism about the virus and the need for lockdowns.

In Belarus, thousands of soldiers marched to celebrate Victory Day, as President Alexander Lukashenko rejected calls for tougher measures.

British medical journal The Lancet has written a scathing editorial about Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, calling him the biggest threat to his country’s ability to contain the spread of coronavirus. Brazil is currently reporting the highest number of cases in Latin America – over 10,000 more on May 9, bringing the national total to nearly 156,000. But despite the outbreak, President Bolsonaro continues to dismiss the virus’ severity and has clashed with governors over lockdown measures.

Rock and Roll Legend Little Richard Dies Aged 87

Lisa.Felice
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Rock and Roll Legend Little Richard Dies Aged 87

Rock and roll legend Little Richard has died at the age of 87, his family has confirmed.

The musician’s hit Good Golly Miss Molly made the charts in 1958. Other well-known songs include Tutti Frutti and Long Tall Sally.

Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Elton John all cited Little Richard an influence. The musician was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

The pioneering rock ‘n’ roll singer died of bone cancer in Tullahoma, Tennessee, his family said.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

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Little Richard was born as Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon, Georgia, on December 5, 1932. Growing up in the southern US state, he absorbed the rhythms of gospel music and the influences of New Orleans, blending them into his own piano-laden extravaganzas.

His father was a preacher who also ran a nightclub, and his mother was a devout Baptist.

“I was born in the slums. My daddy sold whiskey, bootleg whiskey,” Little Richard told Rolling Stone magazine in 1970.

The singer left home in his teens after disagreements with his father who initially didn’t support his music.

“My daddy wanted seven boys, and I had spoiled it, because I was gay,” he later said.

Little Richard was one of 12 children, and said he had started singing because he wanted to stand out from his siblings.

His music was embraced by both black and white fans at a time when parts of the US were still segregated, and concerts had a rope up the centre of the auditorium to divide people by color.

Little Richard had his biggest hits in the 1950s and was known for his exuberant performances, shrieks, raspy voice and flamboyant outfits. He sold more than 30 million records worldwide.

Tara Reade Interview: Joe Biden Assault Accuser Urges Him to Quit Presidential Race

Nancy Clayson
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Tara Reade Interview: Joe Biden Assault Accuser Urges Him to Quit Presidential Race

Tara Reade, who accuses Democratic White House candidate Joe Biden of assaulting her 27 years ago, has called on him to quit the presidential race.

In an interview, Tara Reade urged Joe Biden to “please step forward and be held accountable”.

The 56-year-old added: “You should not be running on character for the president of the United States.”

Joe Biden, who is set to challenge President Donald Trump in November, has denied Tara Reade’s accusation.

Photo AP

Tara Reade worked as a staff assistant to Joe Biden from 1992 to 1993 when he was a Delaware senator.

In her most detailed account yet of the alleged assault, Tara Reade told media personality Megyn Kelly the incident happened in 1993.

Tara Reade was asked by Megyn Kelly if she wanted Joe Biden to withdraw from the race.

She said: “I wish he would, but he won’t, but I wish he would.

“That’s how I feel emotionally.”

She offered to take a lie detector test about her claim, on condition that Joe Biden do so also.

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Tara Reade said she had received a death threat after Biden supporters accused her without evidence of being a Russian agent.

She continued: “His surrogates have been saying really horrible things about me and to me on social media.

“He hasn’t himself, but there is a measure of hypocrisy with the campaign saying it’s been safe – it’s not been safe.

“All of my social media has been hacked, all of my personal information has been dragged through.”

Joe Biden campaign communications director Kate Bedingfield said in a statement after the interview aired that Tara Reade’s story contained “inconsistencies”.

“Women must receive the benefit of the doubt,” said the statement.

“They must be able to come forward and share their stories without fear of retribution or harm – and we all have a responsibility to ensure that.

“At the same time, we can never sacrifice the truth. And the truth is that these allegations are false and that the material that has been presented to back them up, under scrutiny, keeps proving their falsity.”

Joe Biden, who is the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee, broke his silence on the matter a week ago, appearing on a morning TV show to brand the allegations “false”.

A court document from 1996 shows Tara Reade’s ex-husband describing “a problem she was having at work regarding harassment, in US Senator Joe Biden’s office”, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reported.

“It was obvious that this event had a very traumatic effect on [Reade], and that she is still sensitive and effected [sic] by it today,” wrote Theodore Dronen, Tara Reade’s then-husband, in a legal memo during their divorce battle.

The file obtained by the California newspaper appears to be the only document from the time that might describe Tara Reade’s allegation.

Tara Reade’s brother, a former neighbor and a former colleague have all said they heard her describe the accusation against her boss after the alleged incident. Her mother appears to have called a CNN show about the claim back in 1993.

High-powered Manhattan lawyer Douglas Wigdor said in a statement that he is representing Tara Reade. He has also represented alleged assault victims of jailed Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

Coronavirus: 33.3 Million Americans Filed Unemployment Claims in Last Six Weeks

Clyde K. Valle
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Coronavirus: 33.3 Million Americans Filed Unemployment Claims in Last Six Weeks

The number of US unemployment claims has hit 33.3 million since mid-March amid coronavirus lockdown, about 20% of the US workforce.

A further 3.2 million Americans sought unemployment benefits last week as the economic toll from the coronavirus pandemic continued to mount.

The number of new claims reported each week by the Department of Labor has subsided since hitting a peak of 6.9 million in March.

However, they remain extraordinarily high.

The number of Americans collecting benefits has continued to rise, despite recent moves to start re-opening in some parts of the country.

Photo Getty Images

Companies such as Lyft, Uber and Airbnb are amongst the companies that have announced cuts in recent weeks, as shutdowns halted significant amounts of travel.

The impact has been felt across the economy, affecting medical practices, restaurants and administrative workers among many others.

Economists say the monthly unemployment rate for April, which will be released on May 8, is likely to reach 15% or higher.

Just two months ago, the unemployment rate was at 3.5%, a 50-year low.

Since the coronavirus has taken hold in the US, the country has suffered its worst growth numbers in a decade, the worst retail sales report on record and declines in business activity not seen since the 2008 financial crisis.

Meanwhile, weeks of elevated unemployment claims have far surpassed the prior record of 700,000.

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Food pantries have seen spikes in demand, and homeowners and renters have delayed monthly payments.

The National Multifamily Housing Council – an industry group for apartment owners – reported last month that nearly a third of renters did not make their full payment by the first of the month.

Economists are hoping the pain will ease as businesses gradually restart.

Retailers such as Gap have already announced plans for re-opening some stores. Others, including J Crew and department store Neiman Marcus, have been pushed into bankruptcy.

Moody’s Investors Service has predicted that the US unemployment rate could fall back to 7% by the end of the year, but that forecast depends on the virus. The longer the shutdown persists, the harder it will be for the economy to rebound.

Coronavirus: Germany To Reopen All Shops

Clyde K. Valle
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Coronavirus: Germany To Reopen All Shops

Germany is to reopen all shops as lockdown restrictions are eased.

Meanwhile, Bundesliga soccer has been given the green light to resume and schools will gradually reopen in the summer term.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany’s goal of slowing the spread of coronavirus has been achieved.

Germany’s 16 federal states, under an agreement with the government, will take control of timing the reopening.

They will operate an “emergency brake” if there is a new surge in infections.

General contact rules involving will continue for another month. A limited resumption has already begun, but this easing of restrictions is far broader.

Two households will be able to meet and eat together, and elderly people in nursing homes and facilities for the disabled will be able to have visits from one specific person.

Chancellor Merkel said: “I think we can safely state that the very first phase of the pandemic is behind us. But we need to be very much aware we are still in the early phases and we’ll be in it for the long haul.”

Germany has seen fewer than 7,000 deaths in the coronavirus pandemic – a much lower figure than in other Western European countries including the UK, Italy, France and Spain.

Image source Wikimedia

On May 6, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), a federal public health body, reported 165 deaths in the past 24 hours and some 947 new infections.

The rate of infection has been consistently low for some time, and Angela Merkel said she was very pleased that the number of new, daily infections was into three digits. She praised the responsibility of German citizens in sticking to lockdown measures to protect the lives of others as well as themselves.

Shops of up to 800 square meters (8,600ft) in size have already been allowed to open. All restrictions on shops will now be lifted, although masks must be worn and social distancing maintained.

Schools have already begun opening for older children; all pupils will be allowed to return to class gradually during the summer term.

Germany, in common with other countries, is wary of a second surge in infections. If new infections rise to above 50 people in every 100,000 in a district over a seven-day period, then it will be up to the local authority in the affected area to re-impose restrictions.

A number of the 16 lands have been less affected by the crisis, so some are more eager to ease restrictions than others.

Bavaria in the south plans to reopen restaurants on May 18 while Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the north plans to do that on May 9.

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Reopening restaurants and hotels is seen as a particular risk because it will heighten the number of people travelling across Germany and raising infection rates. Large public events will remain banned.

The German soccer league, the Bundesliga, has been given the green light to kick off for the first time since March.

So-called ghost games without spectators could start again as early as May 15 or 21 as long as a two-week quarantine is put in place for the players, in the form of a type of training camp. A decision on the date will be made by the football authorities on May 7.

The Bundesliga will be the first major football league in Europe to resume after the pandemic. However, it is not without risk. Ten positive cases were revealed this week by the German football league out of 1,724 tests across the top two divisions.

Meanwhile, tourism commissioner Thomas Bareiss has held out the hope that Germans will be able to go on holiday this summer.

If the outbreak remained under control, he suggested they could go away in Germany and in neighboring countries that had seen a similar drop in infections.

White House Coronavirus Task Force Could Be Disbanded Within Weeks

Diane A. Wade
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White House Coronavirus Task Force Could Be Disbanded Within Weeks

President Donald Trump has confirmed the White House coronavirus task force will be winding down, with Vice-President Mike Pence suggesting it could be disbanded within weeks.

He said during a visit to a mask-manufacturing factory in Arizona: “We are bringing our country back.”

New confirmed infections per day in the US currently top 20,000, and daily deaths exceed 1,000.

However, US health officials warn the virus may spread as businesses begin to reopen.

Image source Wikipedia

The US currently has 1.2 million confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 70,000 related deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, which is tracking the pandemic.

During a visit to the plant in Phoenix after weeks holed up at the White House, President Trump told journalists: “Mike Pence and the task force have done a great job, but we’re now looking at a little bit of a different form, and that form is safety and opening. And we’ll have a different group probably set up for that.”

President Trump – who wore safety goggles but no face mask during his tour of the facility – was asked if it was “mission accomplished”, and he said: “No, not at all. The mission accomplished is when it’s over.”

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Critics have accused the president of sacrificing Americans’ public health in his eagerness to reopen the economy ahead of his re-election battle in November.

Acknowledging a human cost to the plans, President Trump told reporters: “I’m not saying anything is perfect, and yes, will some people be affected? Yes.

“Will some people be affected badly? Yes. But we have to get our country open and we have to get it open soon.”

However, it will be up to individual states to determine how they reopen.

Some Democratic governors in badly hit states have been cautious, calling for more testing and other safeguards before easing lockdowns. Other states, many led by Republicans in the south and mid-west, have already begun lifting restrictions.

The White House coronavirus task force was set up on January 29. VP Mike Pence became its chairman four weeks later and its members include more than 20 experts and leading administration officials. The White House said the task force’s duty was to “lead the administration’s efforts to monitor, contain and mitigate the spread of the virus” and provide the public with information.

President Trump’s once-daily task force briefings became increasingly scarce after he was widely condemned by the medical community for pondering at the podium last month whether injecting disinfectant might kill the virus.

How to Build a Great Law Firm Website for Your Legal Practice

Dana R
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How to Build a Great Law Firm Website for Your Legal Practice

Build a lead-generating law firm website for your legal practice by following this step-by-step guide. This guide covers all aspects of a great online presence.

There are over 1.3 million attorneys in the United States. With so many attorneys in the US, it’s difficult to stand out from the competition. 

Having a great website for your law firm is one of the best things you can do to have your name stand out. However, it’s not as easy to have a website that is easy to use, fast, and informative.

If your law firm website is not where you want it to be, you came to the right place. Read on to learn how you can create the best law firm website. 

1. Visible Law Firm Name and Logo

If you want your law firm website to stand out, you need to use your name and logo throughout your site. Using your firm name and logo on every page of your website will help create brand recognition. 

Whenever potential clients see your name offline and online, it will resonate with them. Make sure you also use your law firm name in the URL. 

2. Use the Colors of Your Logo Throughout the Website

Another way to help boost your law firm’s website is by incorporating your brand colors. Using the colors in your logo throughout your website will help solidify your brand. 

You can get creative on how you use brand colors. For example, you can use the color in the background, buttons, calls-to-action, visual accents, and more. If you haven’t settled on a color palette, you can choose a brighter one.

3. Highlight Your Area of Specialization

To ensure you attract the right client to your website, you need to highlight your area of specialization. Although many people think all lawyers are created equal, there are different areas of specialization. 

If your law firm specializes in family law, then you need to make sure you highlight this throughout your page. Aside from highlighting your area of specialization, you also need to tell them why they need to pick you as their lawyer. 

Giving them a reason why they should pick you as your lawyer should be a priority when you build your website. After all, you’re building the best website because you want to show clients you’re the best.

4. Create a Google My Business for Your Law Firm

Long gone are the days when people brought out the phone book to look for a lawyer. Whenever people need to find a product or service nowadays, they search for it on Google or any other search engine.

The purpose of a Google My Business account is to keep your business information as up to date as possible. If clients cannot find your business online, they won’t click on your website. To create a Google My Business, you should follow these steps:

Sign in to Google

Before you claim your business, you should create a Google account. Rather than using a personal email account, create an account with your firm’s name. 

Find Your Location

You want to tell your clients the specific location of your business. To get started, search for your business name and city. 

You will need to click on the navigation option under “maps” in Google. It will give you the option to find the exact location of your business. Once you have the location, you will have to pin your business on the map. 

More Information

Once you have pinned the map, a “more info” link will pop up. This is your opportunity to manage the rest of the information. Click on the “manage this page” button on the bottom of the page.

Edit

When the window pops up, you will get the opportunity to edit, suspend, or unclaim the business. If you’re sure about claiming your business, start to edit the information. 

Once you start editing the information, it’s very important you verify all the links are correct. In this section, you should add links to your website and all of your social media handles. 

Photos are a useful thing to add to your Google My Business account to familiarize your clients with your firm. If you want to add photos of the attorneys working at your firm, it will give clients an opportunity to familiarize themselves with your staff. 

Make sure you also add the hours of operation, address, phone number, and any other useful information. 

Verify

Once you have completed filling out the information, it’s time to verify the account by entering a specific PIN. You can obtain the PIN in several ways, but the easiest is by calling Google and providing them with your business’ phone number. 

After you completed the steps, your firm will appear on Google. 

5. Incorporate Social Listening

While most attorney websites focus on listing case studies and outcomes, you should dig a bit deeper. To learn exactly what your clients want to see, you should dedicate some time to social listening. The purpose of social listening is to dig deeper and get more involved with potential clients. 

Start by becoming active on the social media platforms that matter, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and even Twitter. You should focus on searching for hashtags that relate to your industry and area of the law. 

After you see the search results, you will get a sense of what people are talking about. You will get a chance to look at current trends and listen to the problems people are currently facing on a daily basis. 

Social listening also gives you the option to reply to the comments and have a conversation with potential clients. 

Once you become more familiar with the issues they’re facing, you can create and write articles that address these issues. Make sure you also make your articles and blog posts shareable to keep the conversation going. 

6. SEO Optimization

Almost everyone who owns a website these days has heard the term SEO. If your law firm website is not SEO optimized, you could be missing out on organic legal leads. The purpose of optimizing your website is to help it pop up on the top of the Google results. 

While you can hire a company to help with your SEO, it’s also possible to do it yourself with a few steps.

Keyword Research

The world of SEO is all about keyword research. You need to pick the right keywords that will help you land visitors organically. Think about what your clients would type on Google if they were in search of a lawyer. 

Google keyword planner is a great tool that helps you pick the best words for your law firm. It will give you an opportunity to find only relevant keywords. 

Tailor Content to Your Keywords

Once you pick the right keywords for your law firm, you should create content that incorporates those keywords. 

Make sure you use your keywords in all of your pages but make sure you do it in a way that flows naturally. The last thing you want is to overuse keywords or use them in a way that doesn’t flow.

Increase the Speed

If you want to improve your SEO results, you need to make sure your law firm website is fast. On average, website visitors expect a website to load in 3 seconds or less. 

If your website is too slow, Google and other search engines will have no problem placing you at the bottom of the results.

Landing Pages

To help improve your law firm’s SEO, you should use landing pages the right way. When you create landing pages, make sure you keep your keywords in mind. 

Mobile-Friendly

Nowadays, people do most of their internet searches via mobile. When your potential clients look for a lawyer, they will probably use their phone. 

If you want to improve your SEO results for your law firm’s website, make sure you make it mobile-friendly. It means visitors will have the same experience if they view your site on their phone or computer. 

7. Have Client Testimonials

When potential clients look for a lawyer, they want to see the wins and testimonials. Although people care about attorney qualifications, they also want to know what previous clients have to say about them. 

If you want to take your law firm website to the next level, make sure you share client testimonials and display them on your website.

While you don’t have to display them on the main page, you should make it easy for your customers to find them. You could create banners to display on your main page, but have a dedicated page for full reviews. 

8. Show Your Achievements 

Aside from reading about what your clients have to say about you, it’s important that your clients learn about the accomplishments.

It’s very important that you put some work into the biography page of your law firm. Aside from focusing on highlighting education, you need to highlight awards and special achievements.

Clients want to know that they’re hiring the best of the best, so you need to highlight this for them. Make sure you also let your clients know which areas of the law your attorneys specialize in.

You can also have professional photographs next to attorney bios, so your clients can put a face to the name.  

9. Provide a Full List of Services

Clients want to know they’re in the right place, so make sure you display your full list of services. The last thing you want is to mislead clients to think you can take their case when you don’t specialize in that area of the law. 

Make sure you tell clients right away about all of your services. They want to know you have the full set of skills they’re looking for.

You can give them a preview on your main page, and have a separate page with a full list of services. 

10. Calls-to-Action

The main goal of your law firm’s website should be to have clients schedule an in-person consultation. Therefore, you need to include multiple calls-to-action on your website. 

If you have a blog, make sure you encourage visitors to contact you at the end of an article. Also, you should encourage them to visit other pages on your site, such as the bio page, testimonials, or a full list of services page. 

Make sure you have calls-to-action in all of the pages of your website as well.

And don’t forget to make it easy for them to find your contact forms. Rather than having a single designated contact page, you can have a contact form at the bottom of every page. 

11. Create a Responsive Website

As we briefly mentioned before, having a mobile-friendly website can help your SEO score, but it can also give your clients the best experience. 

Make sure you focus on creating a responsive website so that people can view the same content on a smartphone, tablet, or computer monitor. 

If your website freezes when someone wants to view it on a mobile device, they won’t even bother to give you a call. 

12. Contact Forms

As we mentioned, you should have plenty of calls to action on your website. However, if the call-to-action includes a contact form, you need to simplify it. 

Make sure you keep the contact forms simple to use. Trying to collect a lot of information from your clients might make them feel overwhelmed, and they might choose not to do it. 

Even if you want to collect more information about their case, avoid making this mistake. For the initial contact form, all you need is their name, email, and phone number. 

You can get more information about them later. 

13. Keep It User Friendly

Although this is the era of technology, not everyone is tech-savvy. To help your clients navigate your website, make it as easy to use as possible.

Make sure you have the most useful information on full display. Keep your menu simple and free of any distracting icons. 

Also, try to keep ads, pop-ups, and any video content from distracting your visitors. Only show the information they want to see. 

Create the Best Law Firm Website Today

Now that you know how to create the best law firm website, it’s time you put your skills to the test. 

Start by keeping it user friendly, creating a responsive website, focusing on SEO, providing testimonials, and more. 

If you enjoyed these tips and would like to learn more, check out the rest of our blog.

Boris Johnson and Partner Carrie Symonds Name Baby Boy Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas

Lisa.Felice
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Boris Johnson and Partner Carrie Symonds Name Baby Boy Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas

UK’s PM Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds have named their baby boy Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson.

The names are a tribute to their grandfathers and two doctors who treated Boris Johnson while he was in hospital with coronavirus, Carrie Symonds wrote in an Instagram post.

Image source: Carrie Symonds/Instagram

Carrie Symonds also thanked staff at University College London Hospital, saying: “I couldn’t be happier. My heart is full.”

She posted a picture of herself with the baby, who was born on April 29.

The birth came just weeks after Boris Johnson was discharged from intensive care at another London hospital following treatment for coronavirus.

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Carrie Symonds wrote on May 2 that their son shares his first name with Boris Johnson’s grandfather, and the first of his middle names, Lawrie, with her own.

Dr. Nick Price and Prof. Nick Hart offered their “warm congratulations” to the prime minister and Carrie Symonds.

They said in a statement: “We are honored and humbled to have been recognized in this way, and we give our thanks to the incredible team of professionals who we work with at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and who ensure every patient receives the best care.

“We wish the new family every health and happiness.”

Boris Johnson’s newborn is only the third baby born to a serving UK prime minister in living memory.

North Korea Fires Gunshots at South Korean Guard Post in DMZ

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Fires Gunshots at South Korean Guard Post in DMZ

North Korea and South Korea have exchanged gunfire in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) which divides the two Asian countries.

Gunshots fired by North Korea at 07:41 AM local time hit a South Korean guard post in the central border town of Cheorwon, Seoul’s military said.

No casualties were reported on the South Korean side.

In response, South Korea fired “two rounds of gunfire and a warning announcement according to our manual”, the military statement said.

It is not clear what provoked the initial gunshots. The joint chiefs of staff (JCS) said that they were trying to contact North Korea through their military hotline to determine the cause of the incident.

Kim Jong-un Appears In Public After 20 Days of Absence

This is the first time in five years that North Korean troops have directly fired on South Korea. The last incident happened when a North Korean soldier made a dash across the military demarcation line to defect to South Korea.

The DMZ was set up after the Korean War in 1953 in order to create a buffer zone between the two countries.

For the past two years, the South Korean government has tried to turn the heavily fortified border into a peace zone.

Easing military tensions at the border was one of the agreements reached between the leaders of the two countries held a summit in Pyongyang in September 2018.

Coronavirus: FDA Authorizes Ebola Drug Remdesivir for Treating Covid-19

Kathryn R. Bown
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Coronavirus: FDA Authorizes Ebola Drug Remdesivir for Treating Covid-19

The FDA has authorized emergency use of the Ebola drug remdesivir for treating the coronavirus.

The authorization means the anti-viral drug can now be used on people who are hospitalized with severe Covid-19.

A recent clinical trial showed remdesivir helped shorten the recovery time for people who were seriously ill.

However, the drug did not significantly improve survival rates.

Experts have warned remdesivir – which was originally developed to treat Ebola, and is produced by Gilead pharmaceutical company in California – should not be seen as a “magic bullet” for coronavirus.

Remdesivir interferes with the virus’s genome, disrupting its ability to replicate.

During a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Gilead Chief Executive Daniel O’Day said the FDA authorization was an important first step.

Gilead would donate 1.5 million vials of the drug, he said.

FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn also said at the meeting: “It’s the first authorized therapy for Covid-19, so we’re really proud to be part of it.”

Emergency FDA authorization is not the same as formal approval, which requires a higher level of review.

Remdesivir did not cure Ebola, and the producing company says on its website: “Remdesivir is an experimental medicine that does not have established safety or efficacy for the treatment of any condition.”

Gilead also warns of possible serious side-effects.

However, President Trump has been a vocal supporter of remdesivir as a potential treatment for the coronavirus.

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In its clinical trial, whose full results are yet to be released, the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) found that remdesivir cut the duration of symptoms from 15 days down to 11.

The trials involved 1,063 people at hospitals around the world – including the US, France, Italy, the UK, China and South Korea. Some patients were given the drug and others were given a placebo (dummy) treatment.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, who runs NIAID, said that remdesivir had “a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery”.

However, although remdesivir may aid recovery – and possibly stop people having to be treated in intensive care – the trials did not give any clear indication whether it can prevent deaths from coronavirus.

As much remains uncertain about the treatment regime, Gilead suggests a 10-day dosing duration for patients on ventilators and five days for patients who are not.

The FDA’s jurisdiction does not stretch overseas so the authorization only applies to US. Experts also stressed that the emergency use is not the same as full approval.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPsXpeao9yo

Kim Jong-un Appears In Public After 20 Days of Absence

Roy Siemens
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Kim Jong-un Appears In Public After 20 Days of Absence

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has appeared in public for the first time after 20 days of absence, North Korean state media says.

According to KCNA news agency, Kim Jong-un cut the ribbon at the opening of a fertilizer factory.

The agency adds that people at the factory “broke into thunderous cheers of hurrah” when he appeared on May 1st.

The reported appearance – Kim Jong-un’s first since an event on state media on April 12 – comes amid global speculation over his health.

However, the latest reports from North Korean media could not be independently confirmed.

State media later released images that it said showed Kim Jong-un cutting a ribbon outside a factory.

Asked about Kim Jong-un’s reported reappearance, President Donald Trump told reporters that he didn’t want to comment yet.

According to KCNA, Kim Jong-un was accompanied by several senior North Korean officials, including his sister Kim Yo-jong.

He cut a ribbon at a ceremony at the plant, in a region north of Pyongyang, and people who were attending the event “burst into thunderous cheers of ‘hurrah!’ for the Supreme Leader who is commanding the all-people general march for accomplishing the great cause of prosperity”, KCNA says.

Kim Jong-un said he was satisfied with the factory’s production system, and praised it for contributing to the progress of the country’s chemical industry and food production, the state news agency adds.

Speculation about Kim Jong-un’s health began after he missed the birth anniversary celebrations of his grandfather, state founder Kim Il-sung on April 15.

The anniversary is one of the biggest events in the North Korean calendar, and the North Korean usually marks it by visiting the mausoleum where his grandfather lies. Kim Jong-un had never missed this event.

Claims about Kim Jong-un’s ill-health then surfaced in a report for a website run by North Korean defectors.

An anonymous source told the Daily NK that they understood Kim Jong-un had been struggling with cardiovascular problems since last August “but it worsened after repeated visits to Mount Paektu”.

Image source: KCNA

Kim Jong-un Climbs Mount Paektu on Horseback

Kim Jong-un climbs Mount Paektu

This led to a chain of reporting by international media on a single-sourced story.

News agencies then began to run with that claim, and it was all they had until some reports emerged that intelligence agencies in South Korea and the US were monitoring the claim.

Then came a more sensational headline in US media that Kim Jong-un was in a critical condition after heart surgery.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appeared to stoke the rumors on April 29, by saying US officials “hadn’t seen” Kim Jong-un recently.

However, a statement from the South Korean government, and sources at Chinese intelligence – speaking to the Reuters – said this was not true.

Kim Jong-un went missing for 40 days in September 2014, after attending a concert. He reappeared in mid-October, using a cane.

State media never explained where Kim Jong-un had been. However, South Korea’s intelligence agency said he probably had an operation on his left ankle stemming from problems with a cyst.

How to Exercise Safely During the COVID-19 Lockdown

Nancy Clayson
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How to Exercise Safely During the COVID-19 Lockdown

The coronavirus has affected nearly every aspect of modern life. From movie theaters, to sporting events, to bars and restaurants, virtually no industry has been spared from lockdowns and cancellations. Of course, most gyms and fitness centers have also closed down for the time being. However, it’s still important for health-conscious individuals to exercise –– even during this pandemic. Fortunately, it is possible to stick to a fitness regimen without putting yourself or others at risk. Here are a few ways how:

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Dumbells green apple and tape measure isolated on white.

Work Out Indoors

Though you may not be able to go to the gym, it’s still possible to engage in a solid exercise session in your own home. Individuals can use treadmills, weights, or yoga mats to exercise on their own at home. Make sure to designate a space for exercise inside of your house, and try to avoid any unnecessary distractions. Don’t try and watch television while working out, and avoid busy areas like your kitchen, for instance.

Go on Walk, Run, or Jog

If you or someone you know has been exposed to COVID-19, or if you or someone you know has experienced COVID-19 symptoms, it’s important to maintain a stringent self quarantine for several weeks. However, for others who haven’t been exposed, it’s still possible to take a walk, run, or jog around their neighborhood or local park. Just ensure that you maintain proper social distancing while outside of your home. Also, wash your hands thoroughly after you work out –– especially outside of your home. Lastly, don’t join up with friends or neighbors for a work-out session in the park or elsewhere.

Avoid Overexertion

If you’re bored and tired of staying inside, you might find yourself motivated to push yourself during your next work out. While it’s great to be excited about physician fitness, it’s also important not to overexert yourself during workouts, particularly during quarantine. Always stretch and warm up before you begin a workout in earnest, and give yourself plenty of time to recover. Rest days can be crucial for your physical and mental well-being.

Speak to a Doctor

If you experience pain or discomfort during any of your workouts, then don’t hesitate to speak to a doctor. They may be able to recommend a number of treatments, such as minimally invasive bunion surgery for individuals with foot issues, for example.

Conclusion

Staying safe during the lockdown is tough, but necessary. That’s why developing a winning exercise program is so important. It will help you stay fit and reduce stress during this difficult time. Keep these tips handy for future reference!

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