A Texas auction house has been accused of price-gouging for medical face masks during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Texas Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit this week against Auctions Unlimited, accusing them of charging as much as $180 for package of sixteen masks.

Auctions Unlimited owner Tim Worstell says price gouging is impossible because “the bidders, not Auctions Unlimited, decide the price”.

But the biggest problem is that the lawsuit has left a stash of over 750,000 masks in limbo during the investigation.

Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/price-gouging-allegation-leaves-750000-face-masks-in-limbo

Stockton, California Mayor, Michael Tubbs has been testing universal basic income in his community since February.

With a grant from the Economic Security Project, Tubbs was able to give 125 residents $500 a month for 18 months, all of the residents living below Stockton’s median income of $46,000.

Although Tubbs believes that any economic relief will be helpful for Americans, he also thinks the aid should be given more frequently and should last as long as the COVID-19 crisis does.

Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-economy-stimulus-package-money-universal-basic-income_n_5e7cd579c5b6cb08a929a2ee

Joe Biden is facing accusations of sexual assault from a former staffer who went public with her allegations this week.

The accuser, Tara Reade, told her story on a podcast hosted by Rolling Stone reporter Katie Halper. She claims that in 1993 while working as then-Senator Biden’s staff assistant, he pushed her against a wall and “penetrated me with his fingers” while kissing her.

Reade was one of several women who came forward last year to accuse Biden of sexual harassment and inappropriate touching, though she didn’t mention the alleged assault at the time.

Source: https://medium.com/@ronaldwdixon/joe-biden-rapist-824d3dee1086

Maybe those predictions of a post-outbreak baby boom are accurate – it sounds like we’re headed for a worldwide condom shortage.

The world’s largest condom producer, Karex Bhd in Malaysia, has been closed for the last ten days after a government-ordered shutdown. Since they manufacture about 20 percent of the world’s supply, it’s already led to a shortfall of more than 100 million condoms.

Karex’s CEO predicts the shortage could potentially last for months, and says they’ve applied for a special grant from the government to resume operation.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-malaysia-karex-idUSKBN21E1OJ

Thanks to the coronavirus, it might be a while before we can all enjoy an Egg McMuffin in the afternoon again.

On Wednesday, McDonald’s announced that they will stop serving all-day breakfast and cut back on some regular menu items in an effort to “simplify operations in our kitchens and for our crew, and ensure the best possible experience for our customers.”

Fortunately, Bill Garrett, the senior vice president of the fast-food giant’s US operations, said the change is temporary.

While dining rooms are shut, Garrett adds that customers can still get their fill “through take-out, Mobile Order & Pay, Drive Thru or McDelivery at the majority of our restaurants.”

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-mcdonalds-idUSKBN21D060

Here’s one industry that might turn out to be coronavirus proof: plumbing.

The Department of Public Works in Redding, California sent out an all-caps tweet warning residents “ONLY FLUSH TOILET PAPER,” after they were forced to unblock a sewer line last week.

Turns out people are flushing whatever substitutes they’ve used as stores saw a run on TP. In Redding’s case, workers pulled out a cut up t-shirt.

The issue isn’t limited to The Golden State either as plumbers across America are reporting calls for clogged pipes. On Monday, the federal Environmental Protection Agency tweeted, “Toilets are not trash cans.”

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/americans-coping-coronavirus-are-clogging-toilets-wipes-t-shirts-n1168706

Despite mounting pressure to drop out, a rep for Bernie Sanders on Tuesday said the Vermont senator plans to forge ahead with his presidential campaign, saying he’s willing to take on opponent Joe Biden in an April debate.

“Senator Sanders is still running for president,” says Mike Casca, the communications director for Sanders’ campaign. “If there is a debate in April, he plans to be there.”

The statement comes after Sanders suffered primary defeats in several states, leaving him with 910 delegates to Biden’s 1,214. The pressure on Sanders recently became apparent when a reporter asked him whether he intended on throwing in the towel. Sanders shot back, “Right now I’m trying to do my best to make sure that we don’t have an economic meltdown and that people don’t die. Is that enough for you to keep me busy for today?”

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/us/politics/biden-sanders-next-democratic-debate.html

Small businesses, the heart and soul of your community, are taking a major hit as the coronavirus forces them to shut their doors.

While some have asked customers to purchase gift cards as a way to infuse cash into their registers, Yelp has stepped up with a new way to help.

Fire up the app and you’ll see a donation button for eligible businesses. With one click, you’ll be sent to a GoFundMe page to complete the transaction.

The two companies have also pledged to match up to $1 million in donations for small businesses, with others set to join in the cause.

Source: https://www.delish.com/food-news/a31916478/yelp-donation-buttons-gofundme-coronavirus/

As the United States continues to fight COVID-19, it’s been kind of hard to keep up with what states and cities have issued a “stay at home” order.

As of Tuesday (March 24) governors in 17 states have placed their entire state under a “stay at home” order.

Denver, Dallas, Atlanta and Miami Beach have “stay at home” orders while the entire state isn’t under the order these cities have opted for it as a means to “flatten the curve” of the Coronavirus.

The “stay at home” order allows for only essential jobs such as doctors, firefighters, police and grocery store workers to go to work. People can go out for groceries, doctor appointments and exercise as long as they stay six feet away from others.

As of Tuesday the United States has over 49,000 cases of COVID-19 and 615 people have died from the virus.

Source: https://people.com/health/states-cities-under-stay-at-home-order-coronavirus/

Prince Charles is the latest big-name figure to test positive for COVID-19.

According to his office, the 71-year-old heir to the British throne is showing “mild symptoms” but otherwise has been “displaying good health” and is working from home.

He is currently self-isolating at a royal estate in Scotland. His wife Camilla has tested negative.

The BBC reports Charles hasn’t had contact with the Queen since March 12th, who is at her home in Windsor.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-prince-charles-tests-positive-for-covid-19-11963363