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University of Delaware confirmed the layoff of 122 employees due to a potential $0.25 billion shortfall in its budget. University spokesperson confirmed the reduction in force this week. Job reductions occurred mostly in the areas affected heavily by COVID-19, such as facilities maintenance, construction project management, and conference services.

However, that’s not where the reductions stop; top administrators will receive a small salary cut, and there will be other actions to deal with the shortfall.

UD also sought to use its $1.5 billion endowment to cover the shortage in the budget.

It is believed that layoffs come from those who are nonunion employees, as negotiations are underway with professors and others with union representation regarding early retirement and other options. This year’s enrollment is low, with most classes being held remotely, and as the university’s  budget model had been based on growing enrollment and broadened number of academic offerings, the impact seems to have become difficult.

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Photo credit to the Weather Channel

Hurricane Zeta landed on southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi with high winds and heavy rain, along with life-threatening storm surge. The Category 2 storm had winds of 110 mph but has decreased to 100 mph. It is moving at around 25 mph, and that speed is expected to increase Wednesday evening.

Eye of the storm passed over New Orleans at around 7:30 PM. More than 400,000 customers are without power in Louisiana and Mississippi, with more than 80,000 power outages in New Orleans alone.

Because of how fast Zeta is moving, more states inland will be affected by the storm. When Zeta turns into a tropical storm, it will affect parts of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolinas, and Tennessee.

Zeta is the 27th storm of this hurricane season. In 2005, there were 28 storms. As a result of the storm, some of the parishes have issued curfews for Wednesday evening, especially in St. Bernard parish, where it is receiving “the full brunt of Zeta.” Already, telephone poles are down, and some parishes are impassable.

Other parishes have issued evacuation orders, and even New Orleans have called for voluntary evacuations. Zeta is the first direct hit storm for New Orleans, but New Orleans had been on the outskirts of several storms this year.

With evacuees still recovering from past storms, Zeta is an unwelcome visitor. As such, more than 1,500 National Guard members and 5,000 lineament have been activated and staged for recovery efforts Thursday morning.

When Zeta struck the Yucatan peninsula on Monday night as a category 1 hurricane, trees were toppled, and much of the region faced heavy winds. The region is still recovering from hurricane Delta, just three weeks earlier, and days before Delta, was also hit by tropical storm Gamma. It is safe to say that this isn’t a great year to live on the Yucatan peninsula.

As global warming continues its rapid ascent, those living in these areas will be facing stronger, and more frequent storms as this, and governmental assistance might not be enough at a certain point.

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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved remdesivir as a treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients aged 12 and up. In May 2020, FDA approved remdesivir for severe COVID-19 cases only, under the initial Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Remdesivir was allowed only for those with low blood oxygen levels or those in need of oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation.

FDA issued another EUA in August to include all adult and pediatric hospitalized COVID-19 patients regardless of the severity of the case. EUA today allows treatment of hospitalized pediatric patients younger than 12 weighing at least 3.5 kg.

Gilead, the owner of Remdesivir, attributes the approval on three randomized controlled trials. Nonetheless, remsidivir, which will be marketed as Veklury, is advised to be administered in a hospital or in a healthcare setting that is capable of providing acute care comparable to inpatient hospital care.

The studies show that the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients improve with a 5-day treatment compared with standard of care (odds ratio of 1.65).

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Penn State College of Medicine has published a new study showing that most coronaviruses can be inactivated by mouthwash and oral rinses. The study tested various rinses, which included 1% solution of baby shampoo, net pot, peroxide sore-mouth cleansers and mouthwashes.

Out of them, the baby shampoo solution and the mouthwashes were the most effective at inactivating greater than 99.9% of virus after only 30 seconds. This turned to 99.99% after 30 seconds.

However, it is important to note that the Novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19 has not been tested. Researchers nonetheless are hopeful that this would equally apply to the Novel coronavirus given the optimistic results seen in other coronaviruses.

Ultimately, while vaccine continues to be elusive, simple methods like using mouthwash to gargle every day could significantly prevent the spread of disease, including the Novel coronavirus. However, clinical studies are necessary to determine whether this 99.9% result applies to COVID-19.

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reported that he warned the White House against striking a deal with the House on a new stimulus plan until at least November 3 election.

He blamed this on House Speaker Pelosi, claiming that she was not negotiating in “good faith” with the Treasury Secretary, and any deal reached would disrupt the Senate’s plans to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court next week. The Senate Republicans believe that the stimulus plan would divide the Republicans up in the Senate.

Therefore, most Americans will be held captive by the Republican desire to confirm a Supreme Court justice, as they continue to struggle through the pandemic-laden economy.

That being said, McConnell has not been part of the talks between Pelosi and Secretary Mnuchin. Regardless, he stays adamantly opposed to the bill. As Republicans fear losing the majority in the Senate, they believe in appealing to the fiscally conservative voters, and the signing of a stimulus plan, they believe, would definitely do the opposite of that.

Pelosi has denied McConnell’s accusations. Furthermore, Pelosi and Secretary Mnuchin have continued their talks for the stimulus plan, which will provide Americans with a second $1,200 check, along with aid for small businesses, money for covid-19 testing, and support for airlines and hospitals.

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69-year-old man who ran for governor of Idaho twice in the past has been charged to the death of then 12-year-old Colorado girl in 1984. The Weld County district attorney’s office announced that the grand jury indicted Steven Pankey for the killing of Jonelle Matthews. He is accused of kidnapping Matthews from her home in Greeley, Colorado in December 1984, and to have shot and killed her.

He is charged with first degree murder – after deliberation, first degree murder – felony murder, second degree kidnapping, and two counts of crime of violence.

He was arrested on Monday in Meridian Idaho and is being held without bail at the Ada County Jail. Colorado court date has not yet been scheduled.

Pankey had run for governorship of Idaho in 2014 and 2018 on the Constitution Party line to win the Republican nomination.

Matthews’ body was only recently found in July 2019 by a construction crew unearthing project for a pipeline installation.

Her death was ruled as homicide.

Pankey awaits trial, and it is not yet clear whether he has an attorney representing his case.

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