Several University of Dallas students in 'semi-quarantine' in Italy as coronavirus precaution

IRVING -- Several University of Dallas students studying in Rome have been placed in a “semi-quarantine” as a precaution against the coronavirus, one of their fellow students said Wednesday.

The semi-quarantine requires wearing masks on campus, eating meals outdoors and sleeping away from other students, said Natalie Villafranca, a junior studying biology.

“Everything is a little stressful,” she said.

At least 10 Italian towns have been locked down because nearly 450 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the country, most of them near Milan, where the quarantined students recently traveled.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2020/02/27/several-university-of-dallas-students-in-semi-quarantine-in-italy-as-coronavirus-precaution/

Texas' Rep. Louie Gohmert one of just four votes against bill to make lynching a federal hate crime

East Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert cast one of just four no votes Wednesday as the U.S. House approved historic legislation to make lynching a federal hate crime.

The vote was 410-4.

Gohmert, a Tyler Republican, said afterward in a floor speech that he couldn’t support a “ridiculous” 10-year prison term for lynching as provided for in the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, named for a 14-year-old African American boy who was lynched in 1955 in Mississippi.

Such serious crimes should be prosecuted under state murder statutes, he said, and subject to the death penalty as in Texas.

But for more than a century, a key impetus for a federal ban on lynching has been to allow federal law enforcement to step in when local police don’t.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/02/26/texas-rep-louie-gohmert-one-of-just-four-votes-against-bill-to-make-lynching-a-federal-hate-crime/

Go, go Louis.

Really, Louis. Just go and don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you!

Jimmy Kimmel Live: Trump Says Coronavirus is Very Much Under Control

Boston Globe: Grading the debate performance of the Democratic candidates

Jessica Cisneros Pulls in More Money Than Henry Cuellar as South Texas Democratic Primary Heats Up

Jessica Cisneros, a 26-year-old immigration attorney from Laredo, outraised rival U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar as she challenges the longtime congressman in the upcoming Democratic primary, the Express-News reports.

Cisneros banked more than $350,000 in contributions for the first six weeks of the year — some coming from celebrity backers such as actress Susan Sarandon. That compares to Cuellar's $100,000 take during the period. The incumbent still has more than $2 million in his war chest, compared to Cisneros' $296,000.

The fundraising details come as the Texas Tribune reports U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Laredo over the weekend, delivering a pep talk to staffers and volunteers at Cuellar's headquarters.

The race is shaping up to be a key battleground between the Democratic party's progressive and centrist wings.

Read more: https://www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2020/02/24/jessica-cisneros-pulls-in-more-money-than-henry-cuellar-as-south-texas-democratic-primary-heats-up

Health insurer shares pummeled by Sanders surge, virus worries

NEW YORK (Reuters) - As concerns over the spreading coronavirus outbreak hammered U.S. stocks, one corner of the market was confronted with another potentially game-changing prospect: a Bernie Sanders nomination.

The S&P 500 managed healthcare index of health insurance stocks <.SPLRCHMO> tumbled over 7% early Monday afternoon, compared to a 3.5% fall for the overall S&P 500 <.SPX>. Shares of industry bellwether UnitedHealth Group Inc <UNH.N> dropped 7.6% and were the biggest individual drag on the Dow Jones Industrial Average <.DJI>, while shares of Centene Corp <CNC.N> fell more than 10%.

Sanders, a U.S. senator whose progressive agenda includes a national Medicare for All health plan, scored a dominant win in the Nevada caucuses over the weekend, adding momentum in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination to face off against U.S. President Donald Trump in the November general election.

The Vermont senator authored Medicare for All legislation that would essentially abolish private insurance in favor of a single government-run plan that covers every American. The ambitious proposal would cost more than $30 trillion over 10 years, according to independent analyses.

Read more: https://www.metro.us/news/the-big-stories/health-insurer-shares-pummeled-sanders-surge-virus-worries

How AOC's endorsement in Bronx race could backfire and pave homophobe's way to Congress

A previously little known candidate to rep the South Bronx in Congress received $20,000 in campaign contributions within days of landing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsement, an AOC spokesman says — an example of the congresswoman’s star power at work.

But AOC’s intervention in the crowded race could backfire on her by dividing liberal voters and paving the way for a conservative councilman infamous for homophobic remarks to win.

Her endorsement of fellow democratic socialist Samelys López is poised to damage Councilman Ritchie Torres, who’s been considered a progressive front-runner, and indirectly help Councilman Rubén Díaz Sr., who loudly opposes same-sex marriage.

By picking López and snubbing Torres, Ocasio-Cortez may have made the socialist idea of the perfect being the enemy of the good, said Baruch College political scientist Doug Muzzio.

Read more: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-aoc-ruben-diaz-sr-samelys-lopez-20200224-6nglqc3sy5bdlbjyxbhqpfv2fi-story.html

Army vet running for Congress in Arizona suspends campaign after opioid overdose

Chris Taylor, one of the Republicans looking to challenge Democratic Rep. Tom O'Halleran in Arizona’s first congressional district this November, announced on Monday that he will be suspending his campaign because of a recent drug overdose.

"Today, I have suspended my campaign for the US House of Representatives and am seeking treatment for substance abuse disorder," Taylor said in a statement. "I will fully cooperate with local authorities on any matters arising from my recent relapse and overdose."

Taylor, a father of two and city councilman who served two tours in Afghanistan, said that he had struggled with an opioid addiction in the past, and recently relapsed after “many solid years in sobriety.” According to his campaign website, Taylor founded Desert Eagle Addiction Recovery and for five years had led the nonprofit in its mission to help combat vets and others suffering from drug addictions.

“I have to figure out where I went wrong,” Taylor said. "The only thing I can do is face this head on in complete humility and put one foot in front of the other so that I can get the help needed to be the father and husband that my family deserves.”

Read more: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-chris-taylor-suspends-arizona-congress-campaign-after-overdose-20200225-ancnlruayfhnjgmelfjjd457d4-story.html

Video: Jimmy Kimmel Picks Democratic Running Mates

Poll: Biden and Sanders are in a Virtual Tie in Texas

The race between Democratic presidential contenders Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders is a virtual toss-up in Texas, with a new poll showing Sanders picking up more delegates even as Biden is predicted to earn a slightly larger share of the popular vote on Super Tuesday. Elizabeth Warren finished third, followed by Michael Bloomberg.

“Democratic voters in Texas say beating President Trump in November is their top criterion in choosing a candidate, but their choices suggest they don’t agree on the best way to do that,” said Jim Granato, executive director of the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs, which conducted the poll. “Voters were almost evenly split between moderate Joe Biden, a former vice president, and progressive Bernie Sanders.”

Among likely voters, Biden had the edge with 22.5%, with Sanders the choice of 22.1%. The percentages backing other candidates included 18.3% for Warren; 13.4% for Bloomberg; 11.9% for Pete Buttigieg; 7.2% for Amy Klobuchar; 3.5% for Tulsi Gabbard; and 1.1% for Tom Steyer.

The poll, conducted between Feb. 6 and Feb. 18 among likely Democratic primary voters, was released Monday, eight days before Super Tuesday, when Texans and voters in 13 other states will head to the polls. It found clear divisions among voters based on gender, race, ethnicity and age, suggesting turnout may be key.

Read more: https://uh.edu/news-events/stories/2020/february-2020/02242020hobby-poll-primary-2020.php

Note that most of the poll was conducted before the Nevada debate.