News

A person shops in front of the empty shelves in the deli section of a Walmart Supercenter in Nashville on Saturday.

Empty Grocery Shelves Are Alarming, But They're Not Permanent

6:58pm March 18, 2020

by Camila Domonoske

The sudden spike in demand driven by the coronavirus pandemic has meant shortages at many stores. But retailers say products will return to shelves and urge customers to not panic or hoard items.

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The $1 trillion stimulus package proposed by the Trump administration would give Americans more spending money, but beside grocery stores many spending outlets have been closed by the pandemic.

Economy

Stimulus Cash For Strapped Workers, With Few Places To Spend It

6:45pm March 18, 2020

by Scott Horsley

The $1 trillion stimulus package proposed by the Trump administration is unusual in that it would give Americans more spending money, even as many spending outlets have been closed by the pandemic.

A sign at a bar in Washington, D.C., alerts customers that it's closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Lawmakers are considering big moves to assist small businesses.

Small Businesses To Washington: Please Send Money Soon Or We Won't Survive

6:33pm March 18, 2020

by Chris Arnold

Many small businesses have just a couple of weeks worth of cash on hand to pay rent and make payroll. Half of Americans own or work at a small business and they need help soon to stay afloat.

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Duncan Laurence of the Netherlands performs his song, "Arcade" after winning the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Music & Culture

Eurovision 2020 Is Canceled Because Of Coronavirus

5:58pm March 18, 2020

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

For the first time in its six-decade history, the international singing competition has been called off. Singers and groups from 41 countries had been set to compete.

A trader reacts after automatic circuit breakers kicked in and trading was halted temporarily Wednesday at the New York Stock Exchange.

Economy

Dow Dives 6%; NYSE To Close Its Floor, Shift To All-Electronic Trading

5:47pm March 18, 2020

by Avie Schneider

The Dow plummeted more than 1,300 points after President Trump announced new emergency steps. The New York Stock Exchange said that to protect its employees, it will close its trading floor Monday.

In San Francisco, dispensaries were first left off city's list of "essential businesses." The city's Department of Health now says "cannabis is an essential medicine for many San Francisco residents."

Health & Safety

Amid Coronavirus, San Francisco, New York, Deem Marijuana Businesses 'Essential'

4:40pm March 18, 2020

by Brakkton Booker

Officials in San Francisco reversed course and are allowing dispensaries to stay open during the "shelter in place" order. New York made a similar declaration for its medical marijuana businesses.

Astronaut Al Worden circled the moon during the Apollo 15 mission.

National

Retired Apollo 15 Astronaut Al Worden Dies At 88

4:26pm March 18, 2020

by Russell Lewis

He had one trip to the moon — not to tread the surface, but to orbit in the craft that would return the two moonwalkers to Earth. All three got in trouble later over the sale of space mementos.

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Workers say this union hall is usually packed with over 1,000 people awaiting daily jobs for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach — but shipments from China have been slow because of the coronavirus crisis.

Economy

'You Don't Expect It To Happen To You': When Your Job Is Suddenly Gone

4:14pm March 18, 2020

by Alina Selyukh

Event coordinators without events to coordinate. Truck drivers without cargo. Many find themselves applying for unemployment, dipping into savings and job searching in the middle of a pandemic.

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Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly addresses a news conference Tuesday in Topeka, Kan., after announcing the closure of schools K-12 throughout the state for the rest of the school year.

Kansas Becomes The First State To End In-Person Classes For The Year

4:00pm March 18, 2020

by Colin Dwyer

Governors in California and Ohio have suggested they might follow Kansas' lead, as officials across the U.S. step up efforts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bonnaroo Postpones Festival Until September

3:38pm March 18, 2020

by Colin Dwyer

The multi-day music event based in Manchester, Tenn., has bumped its scheduled dates back from June until September. It's one of a number of major events to change their plans due to the coronavirus.