ASM Completes Its 150th Film Score And Retains Jonathan Firstenberg As North American Rep

UK Singer/songwriter Ben Hobbs Teams Up With Grammy Nominees Catherine Duc And Gene Grimaldi On His Latest Remix

(United States Third Circuit) - Reversed the certification of a class in a lawsuit alleging that a restaurant chain violated the Americans with Disabilities Act because its parking lots were difficult to ambulate in a wheelchair. The 500-location restaurant chain contended that the plaintiffs had failed to satisfy some of the requirements for class certification under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a). Agreeing, the Third Circuit reversed and remanded to the district court to reconsider if a class should be certified.

(California Court of Appeal) - Held that the trial court erred in dismissing a proposed wage-hour class action on statute of limitations grounds. The issue involved the so-called death knell doctrine. Reversed a dismissal in relevant part, in an opinion after transfer from the California Supreme Court.

(California Court of Appeal) - Held that, in light of intervening decisional law, the trial court must reconsider its denial of class certification in a wage and hour lawsuit. Reversed and remanded, stating that the trial court must provide a more detailed explanation of its reasons for not certifying a class in this suit brought by employees of a grocery store chain.

(United States Second Circuit) - Rejected an objecting class member's challenge to the amount of attorney fees awarded to a law firm that represented the class in a shareholder lawsuit. Raising what the court described as a novel issue, the objector contended that the lodestar fee must be unenhanced because the action was initiated under a statute with a fee‐shifting provision.

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Reversed. The court reversed the dismissal of a class action consumer fraud and deceptive business case involving cat food labeled prescription cat food that was not materially different from regular cat food. The fraud claim was sufficiently pled and the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act's safe harbor didn't apply.

British Author/Musician MICHAEL MOORCOCK Releases Live At The Terminal Café.

Crystal Beth Is What Happens If You Cross Frank Zappa, Yoko Ono, Patti Smith, And Janice Joplin

The Music Artists Known As Big E And The Wild Hairs Have Released Their Latest Single, “Kiss Of Death.”

Rocking Horse Music Club Presents The Music Of Anthony Phillips Feat. Guest Appearances By Steve Hackett, John Hackett, Nick Magnus, Kate St. John, John Helliwell & Others.

The Music Artist Known As Young Trap Has Released His Latest Album, “Hustle And Glow.”

The Music Artist Known As QueenLEFT Has Released Her Latest EP Album, “Queenz Reign.”

The Music Artist Known As QueenLEFT Has Released Her Latest EP Album, “Queenz Reign.”

Hood Critic Magazine Sits Down With P And Coming Hip-hop Artist Telephone Switches For A Brief Interview.

The Music Artist Known As Fresh By 6 Has Released His Latest Single, “Vocative.”

The Music Artist Known As Donna Cristy Has Released Her Latest Single, “Lies Wit My Shake.”

The Afrobeat/Afrorap Genre’s Rise Has Really Gone On Leaps And Bounds Over The Last Few Years.

The Music Artist Known As NoFaceNors Has Released His Latest Full-length Album, “Nacho Pack Vol. 1.”

The Music Artist Known As BigMoneyHatcha Has Released His Latest Album, “1801.”

New Podcast Concept Station "Elevate Radio" To Help Podcasters And Musicians

IJazzy Classical Is Haiti’ Only Jazz Radio Station.

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Affirmed. The jury award of more than $43 mil. for the breach of a Joint Operating Agreement relating to the plugging and abandonment operation of offshore oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico was affirmed because the application of Louisiana Civil Code and interpretation of the contract was appropriate. No bad faith offset entitlement was found.

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Reversed the district court’s dismissal of an action based on the forum selection clause in the parties’ contract. Held that the district court abused its discretion in overriding the strong public policy in Idaho Code section 29-110(1).

[Updated with audio] The House of Assembly will hold a ‘virtual session’ today [May 8] and statements scheduled to be delivered include...

The official Government and Legal notices for today [May 8] include liquor licence and notification of planning applications registered. Notices of...

The Government is offering free PCR and antibody testing to the general public beginning Saturday, May 9th between 2pm  – 7pm at the Southside...

Essent Group Ltd. reported net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 of $149.5 million or $1.52 per diluted share, compared to $127.7 million...

By Rob Stein, Carmel Wroth, Alyson Hurt

To safely phase out social distancing measures, the U.S. needs more diagnostic testing for the coronavirus, experts say. But how much more?

The Trump administration said on April 27 that the U.S. will soon have enough capacity to conduct double the current amount of testing for active infections. The country has done nearly 248,000 tests daily on average in the past seven days, according to the nonprofit COVID Tracking Project. Doubling that would mean doing about 496,000 a day.

Will that be enough? What benchmark should states try to hit?

One prominent research group, Harvard's Global Health Institute, proposes that the U.S. should be doing more than 900,000 tests per day as a country. This projection, released Thursday, is a big jump from its earlier projection of testing need, which had been between 500,000 and 600,000 daily.

Harvard's testing estimate increased, says Ashish Jha, director of the Global Health Institute, because the latest modeling shows that the outbreak in the United States is worse than projected earlier.

"Just in the last few weeks, all of the models have converged on many more people getting infected and many more people [dying]," he says.

But each state's specific need for testing varies depending on the size of its outbreak, explains Jha. The bigger the outbreak, the more testing is needed.

On Thursday, Jha's group at Harvard published a simulation that estimates the amount of testing needed in each state by May 15. In the graphic below, we compare these estimates with the average numbers of daily tests states are currently doing.

Two ways to assess whether testing is adequate

To make their state-by-state estimates, the Harvard Global Health Institute group started from a model of future case counts. It calculated how much testing would be needed for a state to test all infected people and any close contacts they may have exposed to the virus. (The simulation estimates testing 10 contacts on average.)

"Testing is outbreak control 101, because what testing lets you do is figure out who's infected and who's not," Jha says. "And that lets you separate out the infected people from the noninfected people and bring the disease under control."

This approach is how communities can prevent outbreaks from flaring up. First, test all symptomatic people, then reach out to their close contacts and test them, and finally ask those who are infected or exposed to isolate themselves.

Our chart also shows another testing benchmark for each state: the ratio of tests conducted that come back positive. Communities that see about 10% or fewer positives among their test results are probably testing enough, the World Health Organization advises. If the rate is higher, they're likely missing a lot of active infections.

What is apparent from the data we present below is that many states are far from both the Harvard estimates and the 10% positive benchmark.

Just nine states are near or have exceeded the testing minimums estimated by Harvard; they are mostly larger, less populous states: Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Several states with large outbreaks — New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut, among others — are very far from the minimum testing target. Some states that are already relaxing their social distancing restrictions, such as Georgia, Texas and Colorado, are far from the target too.

Jha offers several caveats about his group's estimates.

Estimates are directional, not literal

Researchers at the Global Health Initiative at Harvard considered three different models of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak as a starting point for their testing estimates. They found that while there was significant variation in the projections of outbreak sizes, all of the models tend to point in the same direction, i.e., if one model showed that a state needed significantly more testing, the others generally did too.

The model they used to create these estimates is the Youyang Gu COVID-19 Forecasts, which they say has tracked closely with what's actually happened on the ground. Still, the researchers caution, these numbers are not meant to be taken literally but as a guide.

Can't see this visual? Click here.

If social distancing is relaxed, testing needs may grow

The Harvard testing estimates are built on a model that assumes that states continue social distancing through May 15. And about half of states have already started lifting some of those.

Jha says that without the right measures in place to contain spread, easing up could quickly lead to new cases.

"The moment you relax, the number of cases will start climbing. And therefore, the number of tests you need to keep your society, your state from having large outbreaks will also start climbing," warns Jha.

Testing alone is not enough

A community can't base the decision that it's safe to open up on testing data alone. States should also see a consistent decline in the number of cases, of two weeks at least, according to White House guidance. If their cases are instead increasing, they should assume the number of tests they need will increase too.

And, Jha warns, testing is step one, but it won't contain an outbreak by itself. It needs to be part of "a much broader set of strategies and plans the states need to have in place" when they begin to reopen.

In fact, his group's model is built on the assumption that states are doing contact tracing and have plans to support isolation for infected or exposed people.

"I don't want anybody to just look at the number and say, we meet it and we're good to go," he says. "What this really is, is testing capacity in the context of having a really effective workforce of contact tracers."

The targets are floors, not goals

States that have reached the estimated target should think of that as a starting point.

"We've always built these as the floor, the bare minimum," Jha says. More testing would be even better, allowing states to more rapidly tamp down case surges.

In fact, other experts have proposed that the U.S. do even more testing. Paul Romer, a professor of economics at New York University, proposed in a recent white paper that if the U.S. tested every resident, every two weeks, isolating those who test positive, it could stop the pandemic in its tracks.

Jha warns that without sufficient testing, and the infrastructure in place to trace and isolate contacts, there's a real risk that states — even those with few cases now — will see new large outbreaks. "I think what people have to remember is that the virus isn't gone. The disease isn't gone. And it's going to be with us for a while," he says.

Can't see this visual? Click here.

Daniel Wood contributed to this report.

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Affirmed the dismissal of a consumer's proposed class action, which alleged that a debt-collection letter violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The letter allegedly stated that important information was on the back of its first page, but the information was on the front of its second page.

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Reversed. The court reversed the dismissal of a class action consumer fraud and deceptive business case involving cat food labeled prescription cat food that was not materially different from regular cat food. The fraud claim was sufficiently pled and the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act's safe harbor didn't apply.

Fair treatment for Christians by secular journalists

I read and listen to a lot of news. NPR plays in the background as I’m making breakfast and dinner. We subscribe to Time, The Atlantic, and The New Yorker (as well as to Christianity Today, Books and Culture, and Critique). I scroll through The New York Times’ headlines and most-emailed list on my phone every day, and most days I check TheWall Street Journal and TheAtlantic as well. And that’s not to mention the podcasts and books. Both explicitly Christian content and content from avowedly secular sources inform my take on our world every day.

Many Christians worry that the mainstream media demonstrates a persistent bias against Christianity, and certainly examples of this type of bias exist. But recently I have been struck by the number of mainstream outlets in which an evangelical Christian perspective (not to mention mainline Protestant and Catholic positions) is given fair treatment and earnest engagement. Some of this writing comes from Christians writing for those publications—Ross Douthat for The New York Times, for example, or Rod Dreher in Time this week. But just as often, it comes from writers who aren’t Christians and who are simply doing their jobs with integrity.

In the past week alone, I’ve noted Time's cover article—with equal space given to “The Attack on Gay Rights” and “The Attack on Believers.” Conor Friedersdorf of The Atlantic, has once again defended the religious freedom of Christians who feel morally obligated not to participate in gay weddings (although he personally supports gay marriage). Not only that, he has argued that such Christians are not bigots but that they are often loving and lovely people who are following ...

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What one night at lacrosse practice showed me about who he is becoming.

April is my bittersweet month, when the world turns blue for autism awareness, when it’s more conscious of the thing that is my constant companion. But after April, the world sometimes forgets.

I cannot.

When he was little, our neurologist commended us for being proactive in seeking Noah’s Asperger’s Diagnosis. Strange, I thought. As if we could wait, when Noah was flapping, refusing eye contact, and fixating; as if other parents would have missed it. But they do. Parents miss things. We are so fallible. We are busted and time-weary and inexperienced. Sometimes we don’t see things until later, when a child on the spectrum stands out among his peers like a road flare in the dark.

Tuesday was the first lacrosse practice of the year for Noah. Lacrosse requires a hand-eye coordination that’s so hard for him. He’s also started with a new league, where he knows neither the coaches nor the players. On this night, my husband was traveling and I had neglected to ensure my son had all required equipment. Being only passingly familiar with lacrosse, I eyeballed his gloves, helmet, and stick and thought we were covered.

We were, in fact, not.

We were missing Noah’s pads, his jersey, and a pair of shorts. He was going to have to practice in sweatpants, indoors. This would be unremarkable, save for the fact that he was also wearing a long-sleeved shirt, and Noah sweats like a hog in July. What’s more? We’d forgotten his sports bottle. I had visions of Noah’s heat-stroking, unprotected body being pelted by balls as he begged the coach for water.

The only thing “right” that night was the fact that we were punctual, and had just enough time to approach ...

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A conversation with CT editor Katelyn Beaty about blogging, books, and what's next.

Fifteen months ago, this blog began with a conversation with Katelyn Beaty about my hopes and dreams for Thin Places. As I conclude this blog, we thought it fitting to have a concluding conversation as well. Katelyn and I had a chance to talk about the most exciting and most challenging aspects of writing in this space and genre, and we also had a chance to talk about the future:

If you’d like to stay current with what I’m thinking about, where I’m speaking, and what I’m reading, you can continue to follow me on Facebook and Twitter or subscribe to my monthly newsletter.

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Rachael Sage Has Released A New Single, “Bravery’s On Fire" After Revealing Cancer Diagnosis; All Proceeds From Single And Charity Shows To Benefit Women's Cancer Research.

#62ndGrammyAwards #GrammyAwards #GrammyNominations #MelissaB

Rising Country Artist, Stephanie Ryann, Has Released Her First Music Video For The Song "Whiskey Regret" Off Of Her Debut, Self-titled EP To Commemorate The Anniversary Of Its Release Last October

Curren$y, Trademark And Young Roddy Have Set The Stage For Their Long-awaited Full-length Album, "Plan Of Attack", Dropping Worldwide On Oct. 11th.

The Orlando Based Wordsmith Has Dropped His Standout Single "The Run", Which Is Available On Soundcloud, Spotify And All Online Retailers Including ITunes, Tidal, Apple Music And Amazon.

Members of California’s Congressional delegation are center stage at the House Intelligence Committee impeachment inquiry hearings on Capitol Hill. The chair of the committee is LA area Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff. The ranking Republican member of the same committee is Fresno Rep. Devin Nunes. Other Californians are Democrats: Bay Area Rep. Jackie Speier and East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell. McClatchy DC reporter Kate Irby joins Insight. She follows the California Congressional delegation. 

California’s State Endorsement Convention is this weekend in Long Beach. One of the surprises is that candidates Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Former Vice President Joe Biden will not attend. What does this mean? 

On Saturday, Nov. 16, the California Democratic Party in conjunction with Univision will host a televised 2019 Presidential Forum from 4 to 6 pm PST. Confirmed candidates are New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, South Bend Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Former Health and Human Services Secretary Julián Castro, California Sen. Kamala Harris, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, investor Tom Steyer, and entrepreneur Andrew Yang. CapRadio’s Capitol Bureau Chief Ben Adler provides a preview to this weekend’s convention.

The Single Will Be Available Digitally, CD Single And Limited Edition 7-inch Vinyl

Ethereal Wave & Neo-Psychedelic World Beat Artist, Simrit, Set To Release Her Seventh Full Length Album, 'When We Return', In Early November 2019

The Music Artist Known As Mark Messam Has Released His Latest Single, “Best Friend.”

With Six Solo Albums, Four Grammy Nominations, Over Twenty Years In The Music Industry And Launching His Own Record Label

Dave Whitehead, Master Of Audio For Sound Design

Debut Episode Of Weekly Series Features Conversation With Ree Guyer Of Wrensong Music

One Of The Top Bassists In Canada, Earl Pereira Is Visiting Korea With Earl And The Steadies

The Music Artist Known As Ivan Enriquez Pons Has Released His Latest Single, “Perdona.”