'It's getting worse every day:' Wisconsin businesses urge legislators to OK reopening plan

MADISON — With all of the legal briefs in as of Thursday, April 30, the fate of Wisconsin's "Safer at Home" order is in the hands of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, after Republicans asked the justices to block the extended order.

Sex assault allegation raises questions for Biden, Democrats

WASHINGTON — A sexual assault allegation is Joe Biden's first big challenge as the Democrats' presidential nominee, fueling Republican attacks and leaving many in his own party in an uncomfortable bind.Biden's campaign has denied the allegation from his former Senate staffer Tara Reade, who has said Biden assaulted her in the basement of a Capitol Hill office building in the 1990s.

Army defends decision to have West Point graduation: 'We can’t telecommute to combat'

WASHINGTON — The Army's top leaders on Thursday defended their decision to bring 1,000 cadets back to the Military Academy at West Point for graduation, where President Donald Trump is slated to speak, saying that despite the coronavirus risk students would have had to return anyway to prepare for their next duty assignment.The announcement has been criticized as a political move to get President Trump on stage at the academy, where he hasn't yet given a graduation address.

Vice President Mike Pence wore mask as he toured GM ventilator production facility in Indiana

KOKOMO, Ind. -- Vice President Mike Pence donned a face covering Thursday, April 30 as he toured a General Motors/Ventec ventilator production facility in Indiana after coming under fire for failing to wear one earlier this week in violation of Mayo Clinic policy.Pence on toured the General Motors facility in Kokomo, which had been closed due to the coronavirus and was brought back online in mid-April to produce critical care ventilators for hospitals around the country.

President Trump predicts 'spectacular' rebound as economy plunges

WASHINGTON — Trying to dispel economic gloom, President Donald Trump said Thursday that he’s anticipating a major rebound in the coming months and a “spectacular” 2021.While economists are warning of serious long-term damage as the country plunges into recession because of the coronavirus, President Trump is predicting a strong fourth quarter thanks to pent-up demand.“I think we can actually surpass where we were,” President Trump told reporters in the Oval Office while allowing he was relying on his gut.“I feel it,” he said. “I think sometimes what I feel is better than what I think, unfortunately or fortunately.”President Trump’s comments came during a meeting with New Jersey Gov.

2 Georgia men drank cleaning products to fight COVID-19

ATLANTA --  Two Georgia men were hospitalized after drinking cleaning products hoping to prevent a coronavirus infection, officials said.Georgia Poison Control Director Gaylord Lopez told FOX 5 that one man drank bleach and the other ingested a mixture of household cleaners, beer, medication, and mouthwash over the weekend.Lopez says both Atlanta men, who have a history of mental health issues, have been discharged after psychiatric observation and are expected to be okay.During a White House briefing last Thursday, President Donald Trump inquired whether ingesting disinfectants could treat the coronavirus.

President Trump says he won't extend social distancing guidelines

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Wednesday the federal government’s coronavirus social distancing guidelines will be “fading out” when they expire Thursday, counting on states taking charge as they pivot to reopening.The administration says its cautionary guidance issued 45 days ago has been incorporated into recommendations given to the states on how they can begin gradually easing restrictions and reopening their economies.“They’ll be fading out because now the governors are doing it," President Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Wednesday as he met with John Bel Edwards, the Democratic governor of Louisiana.Edwards told President Trump that his state has turned the corner in its fight against the virus, meeting on a day that brought hopeful signs for a new treatment but also grim economic numbers.The U.S. economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate last quarter — a precursor to far grimmer reports that are expected this summer from the pandemic that has shut down much of the country and triggered a severe recession.While President Trump spoke confidently of the governors steering recovery in their states, the transition is not going smoothly everywhere.“I just wanted to congratulate you,” President Trump said to Edwards, commending him on the job he’s done after New Orleans became one of the nation's coronavirus hot spots.However, Edwards is currently under fire from Republican lawmakers in his state after he extended Louisiana’s stay-at-home order through May 15.

US economy shrank at 4.8% rate last quarter as virus struck, worst showing since 2008

WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate last quarter as the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the country and began triggering a recession that will end the longest expansion on record.The Commerce Department says the gross domestic product, the total output of goods and services, posted a quarterly drop for the first time in six years.

'Closures threaten the supply chain:' Pres. Trump orders meat processing plants to remain open

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump took executive action Tuesday, April 28 to order meat processing plants to stay open amid concerns over growing coronavirus cases and the impact on the nation's food supply.The order uses the Defense Production Act to classify meat processing as critical infrastructure to try to prevent a shortage of chicken, pork and other meat on supermarket shelves.

Wisconsin unions seek to join lawsuit challenging 'Safer at Home' order

MADISON — A group of labor unions asked the state Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 28 for permission to help defend Democratic Gov.

President Trump says ‘we’ll get that back’ after people report dead relatives receiving stimulus checks

WASHINGTON -- With the U.S. unemployment rate expected to his 20 percent soon, a number not seen since the great depression, millions of Americans received relief checks early in April in a bid to replace lost income due to the coronavirus closures.