Today's News: May 15, 2020

World News

Israeli lab says they have reached a coronavirus antibody breakthrough, will begin mass production

The Blaze – The Israel Institute for Biological Research announced on Monday that they had completed the development phase of an antibody to battle the coronavirus, and it will head to mass production.
The Israel Institute for Biological Research announced on Monday that they had completed the development phase of an antibody to battle the coronavirus, and it will head to mass production.
Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett visited the lab on Monday and made a joint announcement about the advancement.
“A significant breakthrough has been achieved in finding an antidote to the Corona virus that attacks the virus and can neutralize it in the sick body,” read the statement from the IIBR and Bennett.
The IIBR is seeking to patent the antibody and to produce it commercially in partnership with the Israeli Defense Ministry.

U.S. News, Politics & Government

Restaurants, salons institute coronavirus surcharges, causing social media backlash

Fox News – A $2.19 coronavirus “surcharge” spotted in a receipt at a restaurant in Missouri started a backlash earlier this month, but the restaurateur who operates the establishment says he’s only trying to make ends meet.
Billy Yuzar previously told Fox News that he decided to add the surcharge to offset the rising costs of food from his suppliers, instead of raising menu across the board, with no explanation as to why. He also said that his was just one of many restaurants in his West Plains town — all of whom use the same suppliers — to institute the charge.
He hasn’t heard any complaints from his customers, either.
Despite this, Yuzar says he’s been bombarded with negative reviews from people who haven’t ever visited the restaurant, and it all started with a tweet on social media, from a woman seemingly living in California.
“Scuse me … what? A covid surcharge…?” the Twitter user wrote in a post showing a receipt from the Kiko Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Lounge that included a “covid 19 surcharge.”

Southern California store owner who banned masks says he’s being harassed over coronavirus views

Fox – A Southern California flooring store owner who banned masks in his shop said this week he’s being threatened and harassed over his coronavirus views.
“The government should not be doing what it’s doing,” Ramsay Devereux, who owns Ramsay One Construction in Ventura County, told the Los Angeles Times.
“It’s absurd what’s going on,” he added. “No one has isolated a virus. No one has proved it. You can’t catch a virus. It’s not even possible. It’s the pharmaceutical industry trying to make a lot of money and make vaccines that are poisonous.”
Four signs outside of his store read: “We’re OPEN – to the truth,” “No masks allowed,” “handshakes OK,” “Hugs very OK.”
COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that mainly spreads through respiratory droplets in the air. Wearing masks can help slow the spread of the virus to others, experts say, because it keeps droplets sent into the air through breathing, sneezing or coughing inside the mask.
Devereaux is seemingly in violation of Ventura County’s current social distancing order for businesses, requiring establishments to “enforce COVID-19 prevention plans” and give written notice for how it will comply with social distancing requirements.

OCEAN CITY, NJ CORONA RULES ALLOW SURFING BUT NOT SWIMMING, WALKING BUT NOT SUNBATHING

Information Liberation – Ocean City will allow more typical beach activities beginning Saturday.
The City reopened its beaches last weekend for active recreation, such as walking, running, surfing, exercising and fishing. But officials also prohibited certain actions such as sunbathing, sitting in chairs or lying on towels and swimming.
Ocean City updated its coronavirus information page to reflect the update for Saturday. The boardwalk, which reopened last weekend, can be used for walking, running, bicycling and access to open businesses.
Officials reminded the public to respect social-distancing guidelines and avoid “social gathering.”
Perhaps next they should allow bodyboarding but not bodysurfing, swimming the breaststroke but not freestyle and throwing a football but not kicking a soccer ball.
After all, this is what the science demands of us!

SEATTLE COP PREPARES TO BE FIRED AFTER REFUSING TO REMOVE VIRAL VIDEO REMINDING OFFICERS NOT TO OBEY ‘TYRANNICAL ORDERS’

Michael Snyder- A Port of Seattle Police Officer has been placed on administrative leave after refusing to delete a viral video reminding police officers that they don’t have unlimited powers.
“I have seen officers around the country enforcing tyrannical orders; I was hoping it was a minority of officers, anymore, I am not so sure,” said Officer Greg Anderson, a Special Forces veteran.
A Port of Seattle Police Officer has been placed on administrative leave after refusing to delete a viral video reminding police officers that they don’t have unlimited powers.
“I have seen officers around the country enforcing tyrannical orders; I was hoping it was a minority of officers, anymore, I am not so sure,” said Officer Greg Anderson, a Special Forces veteran.
Anderson took to Instagram on Tuesday to explain that he will likely be fired for refusing to remove the video, as it is considered insubordination.
A Port of Seattle Police Officer has been placed on administrative leave after refusing to delete a viral video reminding police officers that they don’t have unlimited powers.
“I have seen officers around the country enforcing tyrannical orders; I was hoping it was a minority of officers, anymore, I am not so sure,” said Officer Greg Anderson, a Special Forces veteran.
Anderson took to Instagram on Tuesday to explain that he will likely be fired for refusing to remove the video, as it is considered insubordination.
A GoFundMe has been established for Anderson which has already raised over $250,000 as of this writing, exceeding its original goal of $50,000.
As KTTH’s Todd Herman writes: “As this officer fights for his career, Gov. Jay Inlslee is releasing violent felons who have gone on to commit new crimes.”

Economy & Business

YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THIS NOW, BUT YOU NEED TO GET PREPARED FOR THE FOOD SHORTAGES THAT ARE COMING

Miachae Snyder- IMAGE CREDITS: JOSE A. BERNAT BACETE / GETTY IMAGES.
I was going to write about something completely different today, but I felt that I needed to issue this warning instead.
Even before COVID-19 came along, crazy global weather patterns were playing havoc with harvests all over the globe, the African Swine Fever plague had already killed about one-fourth of all the pigs in the world, and giant armies of locusts the size of major cities were devouring crops at a staggering rate on the other side of the planet.
And now this coronavirus pandemic has caused an unprecedented worldwide economic shutdown, and this has put an enormous amount of stress on global food supplies.

Energy & Environment

Invasive tegu lizards ‘should be shot on sight’ if seen in Georgia, wildlife group says

Fox – Wildlife officials in Georgia recently issued a warning about Argentine black and white tegus, 4-foot-long omnivorous reptiles that have been spotted in at least two counties.
But earlier this week a conservation group minced no words on how urgent the need is to eradicate the predator from the state.
“Tegus seen in Georgia can and should be shot on sight,” the Orianne Society wrote in a Facebook post.