Surprisingly North Carolina is starting reopening with Indian casinos

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The impact of Covid-19 has been visible in almost every country. The harsh economic situation, unemployment, and discomfort it has brought to the whole world cannot be explained fully. 

When the virus first emerged in Wuhan in December 2019 no one would have expected it would take such a great scale. More than 5,000,000 people have been infected, and over 340,000 died. The WHO declared the virus as a pandemic in March, and the United States has become the “leader” country in the number of infected people.

But the President of the United States Donald Trump announced that the country would go to a regular lifestyle despite Covid-19. Several states announced the lifting of the lockdown and surprisingly North Carolina declared the reopening of Indian casinos.

Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos to begin normal functioning

On May 18, 2020, it was announced that Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos would begin gradually reopening after almost 60 days of closure. However, easing restrictions will not go without safety precautions, and there will be notable limitations in the number of people.

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort is one of the largest and popular places in North Carolina and the United States, respectively. Given the free landscape of the casino industry in the United States, a lot of people visit this resort to play real money slots, poker, roulette. Before the virus emerged in the world, it was a popular place not only for the local citizens but also for tourists as well. However, the closure has had its toll, and it is unclear whether the popularity of the resort will continue in the future or not. 

Social distancing will be in force as soon as the resort opens. Initially, only invited guests will have the opportunity to reserve a hotel, and depending on the situation, the number of invitations may increase. 

Furthermore, employees who were forced to leave the job temporarily will return to their usual working schedule. They will be required to undergo special checking, and the wearing of face masks will be compulsory during the working times.

Brooks Robinson, who is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the resort, declared that the working conditions would not be the same as it was before the closure. Social distancing will become a part of the lives of the citizens of the United States, and every customer should obey the rules.

How is the situation in the US in general?

The number of patients with COVID-19 in the United States exceeded 1 million people, according to Johns Hopkins University. In total, more than 1.4 million people have confirmed this disease.

More than 98 thousand people with coronavirus died, with more than 23 thousand deaths occurring in New York, which became the epicentre of the epidemic in the United States.

The United States remains the leader in the number of cases. In second place is Brazil, where more than 341 thousand people with COVID-19 are registered, followed by Russia (335 thousand).

The leader in the mortality of people with coronavirus is the North American country.

US President Donald Trump, speaking at a briefing at the White House on April 7, said that this and next weeks in the country would be difficult, but the situation with the spread of COVID-19 would gradually begin to improve. 

A positive sign that the US president considers reducing mortality in New York, which has become the epicentre of the spread of infection.

According to a CNN poll, most Americans are unhappy with how the country’s authorities are coping with the epidemic. Negative work of officials was estimated by 55% of respondents. However, Trump’s rating remains at 44%. Supporters of the Republican Party support him: 80% of them approve of the work of the President of the country in an outbreak.

Governor Cooper To Allow NC Restaurants To Open At 50% Capacity On Friday, According To NCRLA

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North Carolina’s largest restaurant and hospitality trade association just sent out an email to all of their members saying that Governor Cooper will be moving the state into Phase 2 on Friday and allowing restaurants and bars to open back up for dine-in guests at 50% capacity.

The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA) email states, “We expect that Gov. Cooper will make a formal announcement tomorrow, moving forward with plans for Phase 2 on Friday, May 22 as we had hoped.”

The organization also provided an early release of the official state guidelines for the reopening of restaurants in Phase 2, which is dated May 22nd.

The guidelines under Phase 2 will “Permit no more than 50% of maximum occupancy as stated in fire capacity. Restaurants may permit up to 12 people per 1,000 feet if there is not a fire code number available.”

The new guidelines also detail the following topics:

• Social Distancing and Minimizing Exposure
• Cloth Face Coverings
• Cleaning and Hygiene
• Monitoring for Symptoms
• Protecting Vulnerable Populations
• Combatting Misinformation
• Water and Ventilation Systems

In addition to the official state guidelines, NCRLA also provided additional guidelines for all their hospitality members, which they are calling the ‘Count On Me NC’ pledge.

Even though Governor Cooper is expected to announce the transition into Phase 2 this coming Friday, nothing is guaranteed yet, especially if we see a spike in new COVID-19 cases over the next 24 hours.

Do you think we should move into Phase 2 on Friday? 

NCDOT Just Furloughed Their 9,3000 Employees

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The NCDOT has just sent an email to their employees announcing one of the biggest furloughs in our state’s history.

The department told their 9,300 workers that they now have until June 26th to use 20 hours of unpaid time off to help the department save money during the COVID-19 shutdown.

“The furlough implementation will occur in phases and will start at the top of the organization with executive and senior staff,” said Transportation Secretary J. Eric Boyette in the email.

It’s estimated that the furloughs will save the NCDOT at least $7 million over the next month and a half.  Organizational leaders hope that will help cushion the expected budget shortfall of $300 million, which is expected to be realized from the shutdown.

The NCDOT has also laid off hundreds of temporary contract workers and placed many road projects throughout the state on hold in an attempt to further cut costs.

Hilarious Sayings Only People In Charlotte Will Understand

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Do you freak out when it snows? Have you ever tried to find out where Michael Jordan lives? Do you go uptown and not downtown? Are you not from Charlotte?

How many of these Charlottean sayings have you said today (this video is from a few years ago – the Bobcats are thankfully gone):

Please share;

South Carolina Ranked 3rd for 2020’s Best States for Military Retirees

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With May being Military Appreciation Month and military retirees transitioning back to civilian life during America’s war against COVID-19, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2020’s Best & Worst States for Military Retirees.

To help our troops plan their years after service, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 29 key indicators of retirement-friendliness toward veterans. The data set ranges from job opportunities for veterans to housing affordability to quality of VA hospitals.

Best States for Military Retirees Worst States for Military Retirees
1. Virginia 42. Nebraska
2. Florida 43. Iowa
3. South Carolina 44. Ohio
4. Maryland 45. Indiana
5. New Hampshire 46. Mississippi
6. Alabama 47. Hawaii
7. Maine 48. Oregon
8. Minnesota 49. Vermont
9. Alaska 50. New York
10. Idaho 51. District of Columbia

Key Stats

  • Alaska has the highest share of veterans, 9.21 percent, which is 2.2 times higher than in the District of Columbia, the lowest at 4.23 percent.
  • South Carolina has the highest share of veteran-owned businesses, 12.38 percent, which is 2.2 times higher than in New York, the lowest at 5.66 percent.
  • The District of Columbia has the highest share of VA expenditures per number of veterans, $140,226, which is 21.5 times higher than in New Jersey, the lowest at $6,535.
  • Mississippi has the lowest share of homeless veterans, 0.04 percent, which is 25.5 times lower than in the District of Columbia, the highest at 1.02 percent.

To view the full report and your state or the District’s rank, please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-for-military-retirees/3915/

National Weather Service Issues Warning For NC Coast Ahead of Tropical Storm Arthur

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The Bermuda Triangle disturbance we have been reporting on has now officially become Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of 2020’s early hurricane season.

Tropical Storm Arthur is now expected to skim the NC coastline and cause tropical storm force winds and flash flooding around many sections of the Outer Banks.

The National Weather Service has now issued the following alert of the North Carolina coastline:

NWS officials are reminding all residents in Atlantic Coast states to start preparing for the upcoming hurricane season.

In case of a power outage, make sure to have the following emergency items stocked in your home;

North Carolina Zoo Offers a New Virtual Visit Experience

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Since a visit to the North Carolina Zoo isn’t currently possible, the Zoo is bringing its programs to you!

In an effort to help meet the educational and learning needs of children and parents during this challenging time, the Zoo is offering an all-new Virtual Visit program. This program features a wide range of different online education events, art projects, at-home activities, and stories from the Zoo and the wild that will allow children, teachers, parents and others to experience the Zoo and its animals in a completely new way.

“A trip to the North Carolina Zoo is always more than just seeing the animals — it’s a chance to learn in a fun environment,” said the Zoo’s Curator of Education Beth Folta. “We’ve now adapted many of our learning experiences to an online format easily accessible to everyone from home.”

The Virtual Visit web page  — nczoo.org/virtual-visit — is the hub for all these experiences. It will be updated daily with new animal videos, wildlife-themed activities and other ideas for at-home learning and play, even as the Zoo’s staff continue to be busy caring for more than 1,800 animals and more than 2,000 acres of land.

Highlights of the Zoo’s Virtual Visit program include: 

  • Zoo EDventure Online Series:  every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., join us Live on Facebook to get an up-close look at our amazing animals. This is a chance to learn and interact directly with Zoo staff about the theme of the day. All our Zoo EDventures can also be viewed through the Virtual Visit webpage and YouTube.
  • Zoo Classroom is the Zoo’s free distance learning series appropriate for K-12 audiences streamed live every Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. Each program features a different and fun topic on wildlife and nature. Join us live to ask our educators questions in real time or enjoy our whole series of classes on the website on your own time. Required pre-registration is easy through the Zoo’s Virtual Visit Zoo Classroom page
  • Living with Nature is the Zoo’s distance learning event series currently available to everyone. All of the 2019-2020 events are now available online and have a variety of activities to do before, after, and during the viewing of the recorded program. These are accessible through the Zoo’s website at any time. 
  • Untamed Science: Every Tuesday and Thursday watch an episode of the Zoo’s science education show. Learn about how use science to care for the Zoo’s animals and help protect endangered species in the wild.
  • Ask an Expert: An all new offering only on Instagram. Every Tuesday meet a new Zoo expert. On Wednesday ask them your zoo and wildlife questions. Then on Thursday hear the answers live. Experts from across the Zoo will be featured, including veterinarians, conservation scientists, animal care staff and more.
  • All-new Zoo Blogs: Get in-depth stories and firsthand accounts of what it takes to run a modern zoo. New stories will be coming out every week on how we care for our animals, insights into zoo operations, and what the North Carolina Zoo is doing to save species from extinction.
  • Adventures in EdZOOcation Facebook Group:  Join the Zoo’s EdZOOcation Facebook group and get extra weekly content available only to group members. Every week we will be posting new activities, lessons, videos and more on a variety of topics. Adventures in EdZOOcation programs will include:
    • Zoo Science: Every Tuesday learn a new nature-based science experiment that you can do at home
    • Nature Arts and Crafts: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday get instructions for how to make a different animal-related craft or art project.
    • Wild about Nature: Learn about easy outdoor activities you can do locally & in your own backyard.
    • Just go to the Zoo’s Facebook page and click on “Adventure in EdZOOcation Groups” to join.

For a full list of offerings, visit the Zoo’s Virtual Visit and follow the Zoo on all social media channels Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Meat Shortages Forcing Charlotte Restaurants To Raise Their Prices on Beef and Pork

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The COVID-19 shutdown has forced millions of American workers to stay home as many companies and businesses remain closed for over 2 months now.

One of the hardest hit industries has been meat houses and processing plants. Many of the biggest in the country were forced to close their doors as COVID-19 cases spread among their workers. The closures have now resulted in millions of pounds of lost meat and severe supply shortages around the country.

Here in Charlotte, bulk suppliers and restaurant wholesalers are now running on fumes.

This is what the meat section looks like in Charlotte’s US Foods Chef’s Store:

The shortages are now forcing many local restaurants to raise their prices as they struggle to sell enough to-go orders to keep the doors open due to North Carolina’s historic ‘Stay at Home Order’.

Even Charlotte’s favorite burger joint has now announced an increase in their prices. Yesterday afternoon, Brooks’ Sandwich House posted the following message, along with a new menu with increased prices (last week their single was $4 and their double with bacon was $6.50):

“Due to the shortage and the more than doubled price of meat, once again we are having to make another difficult decision. Do we CLOSE or raise our prices. We have had very unfortunate circumstances in the past 6 months that have continued to create a challenge and set us back. The only way we can afford to stay open and stay BROOKS STRONG is by raising our prices until the meat prices drop. We simply can’t afford to open with price of goods continuing to rise. Meat was 2.40 a pound May 4 and by May 11 th 5.50 a pound and continues to rise. We have had a difficult time finding meat. We have brokers, wholesale and locals. It has been hit or miss each day in the search. We want to stay open to serve our awesome customers but if we don’t make a change we are not able to break even. We hope you will understand our reasons for going up on our prices. We have always tried to be reasonable with our prices and will continue in the future. We all need prayers and help each other get over this hump.”

What do you think about the meat shortages?

Huntersville Production Company’s Web Series Reminiscent of SNL

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A production in Huntersville is creating one of our region’s first sketch comedy series called ‘Mean Bean Tonight’.

23-year-old Melanie Lech noted that their new show is “a quirky, homegrown, late-night comedy show. Kinda like SNL but without all those pesky movie stars.”

They released their first episode last Spring;

Mean Bean Productions was launched by former App State classmates Melanie Lech and Alex Bradford Cobb.

The full-service production company films and produces business promos, events, music videos, and commercials, as well as their hilarious short films and sketch comedy. The ultimate passion is to shine a spotlight on the greatness of our region.

“I know so many amazingly talented people in NC that are so underrated it makes me want to weep. We’re going to give ’em a chance to shine,” commented Melanie.

They are currently incorporating some of that talent in their second episode of ‘Mean Bean Tonight’, which will be released sometime in the next few weeks.

Check out more of their videos and upcoming releases on their YouTube channel here.

The Incredible Way Livestreams Are Bringing Education Nationwide

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Livestreams are becoming part of life more than ever before. As livestream technology becomes more and more easily accessible, with many people able to livestream from their home computers, it’s becoming more of a part of people’s day-to-day lives. Educational livestreams, which are a category all on their own, are genuinely impacting the way in which people learn. Here are some interesting ways in which livestreams are making education easier to access.

An Impact On Rural Areas

If you live in a more rural area that doesn’t have a very well-funded schooling system or very many options for tutoring, you’re likely to feel that your education options are limited. This can lead to children and college students in these areas feeling cheated out of the education options that people in larger cities get.

However, educational livestreams are available to anyone who has an internet connection. With the availability of satellite internet, that’s becoming a wider category than ever. That means rural students can access the same quality options as urban students.

Availability of All Educational Options

There are many different ways someone might want to receive education. For example, some people work better with a teacher who has a more by-the-book stance, whereas some might work better with a teacher who barely consults the textbook at all.

When you have access to educational livestreams, you’re able to find a teacher that you truly connect with. There are so many options, it’s much easier to handle. You no longer have to stick exclusively to the teachers at your local school or college.

Anyone Can Share Expert Information

Becoming a teacher is hard work for a reason. Teachers don’t just provide educational information; they also create their own educational information, adapt information from many decades back, and tailor their teaching skills to their audience. That doesn’t even begin to touch the fact that many teachers also provide emotional support and have to grade tests and homework.

Livestreaming, by comparison, is much easier, even educational livestreaming. When you’re just sharing information, you don’t have to take on all the responsibilities of teaching. That’s why it’s much more accessible for many individuals, including experts on many subjects.

It’s Easy to Learn About Educational or Other Content

Why do you need to learn about the educational content you’re seeking out? Maybe you’re a student struggling through college. Maybe you’re the parent of a high school student and you want to be more invested. Maybe you’re just interested in learning something new. The good news is, an educational livestream is here for you.

Educational livestreams are ultra-easy to take in. There’s no need to sign up, no need to pay fees, and no need to have many prerequisites. Instead, anyone who’s interested in learning something new can find an educational livestream and start learning. That’s accessibility to the max.

Conclusion

These are all great reasons to encourage the growth of educational livestreams. Whether you’re using one right now or you just think you might in the future, remember that finding a high-quality educational livestream is extremely important. Stick to educational livestreams from groups like OneClass, which make sure they’re always delivering top-quality information. That way, you know you’re getting something you can rely on.