Wednesday, April 6, 2022

And another day of 5,000 dead, Bannon’s contempt of Congress case, Trump aides referred to DOJ for criminal charges, James Biden, Covid increases risk of pulmonary embolism, nursing home system needs overhaul, microplastics in lungs, and no poop for you comes to a close:

“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” — George Carlin

Deaths

US: 1,010,537 (+1147)

World: 6,191,426 (+7916)

Cases

US: 81,950,247 (+50,235)

World: 495,358,853 (+1,218,570)

Mariupol’s dead put at 5,000 as Ukraine braces in the east. The mayor of the besieged port city of Mariupol put the number of civilians killed there at more than 5,000 Wednesday, as Ukraine collected evidence of Russian atrocities on the ruined outskirts of Kyiv and braced for what could become a climactic battle for control of the country’s industrial east.

Judge deals blow to Steve Bannon’s legal defense in upcoming trial. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon cannot argue at his trial on charges of contempt of Congress that he is not guilty because he was following the advice of his lawyer, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols said that such a defense is not available in a contempt of Congress case, dealing Bannon’s defense a major setback. He faces trial in July.

House votes to refer Trump aides Scavino, Navarro to DOJ for criminal contempt. The aides — former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro and former White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino Jr. — will now be referred to the Justice Department for possible criminal charges. If indicted, they could face up to 12 months in jail and a maximum fine of $100,000.

GOP probe of Hunter Biden's business dealings turns to president's brother James. While conservative heat has for three years focused on the past business activities of President Biden's son Hunter, a key Senate Republican told CBS News this week that newly obtained banking records raise similar concerns about first brother James Biden.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has tested positive for COVID-19. The news comes hours after he held an unmasked news conference with FBI director Christopher Wray, deputy U.S. attorney general Lisa Monaco and others, announcing actions taken against criminal activity associated with the Russian regime.

Covid linked to 33-fold increase in risk of pulmonary embolism. Infection with virus also associated with fivefold increase in risk of deep vein thrombosis, data suggests.

Nursing home care, funding system need overhaul, report says. Nursing home residents are subjected to ineffective care and poor staffing, while facility finances are shrouded in secrecy and regulatory lapses go unenforced, according to a report Wednesday that called for wholesale changes in an industry whose failures have been spotlighted by the pandemic.

For the first time, researchers find microplastics deep in the lungs of living people. Researchers say they have found microplastics — tiny pieces of plastic debris that come as a result of the disposal of industrial waste — deep in the lungs of living humans for the first time.

FDA warns of raw oysters potentially contaminated with norovirus. Possibly tainted raw oysters harvested in British Columbia, Canada, were distributed in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

No poop for you: Manure supplies run short as fertilizer prices soar. Sky-high prices for industrial fertilizer are projected to reduce American farmers' corn and wheat plantings this spring, according to U.S. government data. That further threatens global food supplies as domestic wheat inventories are the lowest in 14 years, and the Russia-Ukraine war is disrupting grain shipments from those key suppliers. While manure can replace some of the nutrient shortfall, it's no panacea, agriculture specialists say. There's not enough supply to swap out all the commercial fertilizer used in the United States. Transporting it is expensive. And prices for animal waste, too, are rising on strong demand. It's also highly regulated by state and federal authorities, in part due to concerns about impacts on water systems.

Life’s short. Live, love, create, and help others.

Until next time, my friends. Stay safe and stay sane. Good night.