Coronavirus Update

Global cases rose to nearly 1.35 million yesterday with almost 75,000 deaths. The number of confirmed U.S. cases rose to more than 367,000 with 10,871 confirmed deaths.

• Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Monday morning issued an executive order postponing the state’s primary (scheduled for today) until June 9, but the state Supreme Court overruled the order later in the day.
• British PM Boris Johnson was moved to intensive care on Monday after his COVID-19 symptoms worsened - Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will deputize “when necessary.”
• South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued a “work or home” order that requires citizens to stay at their workplace or home, with few exceptions.
• California will loan 500 ventilators to the Strategic National Stockpile. Washington and Oregon similarly pledged a combined 540 ventilators to the stockpile over the weekend.
• France recorded 833 deaths on Monday (8,911 total), its highest daily increase since the outbreak began.

Australian Court Clears Cardinal Of Sex Abuse

The highest court in Australia acquitted Cardinal George Pell, the former finance chief of the Vatican, of child sex abuse charges in a unanimous decision. Cardinal Pell is the most senior Vatican official ever to stand trial on such charges, and was serving a six-year sentence after his conviction in Dec. 2018.

White House Sanctions Russian Association

The U.S. designated a Russia-based white supremacist group as a terrorist organization yesterday, effectively freezing their U.S. assets and making it illegal for any American to engage with the group in any transaction. The Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) is the first foreign white supremacist association to be given such a designation.

The Coronavirus Effect

• U.S. stock indexes rose more than 7% on Monday, with overnight futures trading slightly up.
• Airbnb on Monday said it had raised $1 billion in debt and undisclosed equity from private equity firms Silver Lake and Sixth Street Partners.
• President Trump on Monday said the U.S. government will buy nearly 167 million masks from 3M over the next three months.
• The family of a Walmart employee who died from COVID-19-related complications has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company.
• Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company will produce 1 million face shields per week for U.S. medical workers.

Deal Or No Deal

Lawyers who negotiated a $13.5 billion settlement from PG&E for the victims of several wildfires have said they are now advising their clients not to take the deal. Under the terms of the settlement, the victims would receive half of their payout in PG&E stock - however, their attorneys are now concerned that payment will be less than projected due to the recent market downturn.

More: PG&E filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Jan. 2019, and has cleared several hurdles in the process thus far. The company has until June 30 to secure court approval to exit bankruptcy, which likely requires the support of the wildfire victims.

Grab A Quick Bite

Short-form video service startup Quibi officially launched yesterday in the form of an app available for iPhone or Android. Nearly 50 different shows (with episodes ten minutes or less) are available to watch on the app, which experienced technical difficulties at one point in the day.

The Drive For Success

With a majority of school locations across the country closed for the remainder of the year, administrators have been forced to come up with creative ways to recognize their students who have earned special accolades.

Enter Michelle Floering, the vice-principal at a Grand Traverse, MI high school. She recently surprised the newly-crowned valedictorian for the Class of 2020, Kaitlyn Watson, by taking a trip through the local drive-thru where she was working to share the good news (video).

Secret Stimulus

U.S. taxpayers are eagerly awaiting their stimulus checks in the coming weeks, but the residents of Earlham, Indiana were treated to an early taste Thursday morning.

A mysterious benefactor coordinated with the city’s mayor to arrange for an envelope containing $50 gift cards to three local businesses to be placed in the mailbox of each of the town’s 549 households.

Hear, Hear!

The CDC recently recommended all U.S. residents wear cloth face coverings while out in public - however, an unfortunate side effect of a conventional face mask is that it prevents people with hearing disabilities from effectively communicating, since they can no longer read lips.

Kentucky college student Ashley Lawrence quickly identified the potential issue and began sewing custom see-through face masks, which she has since shipped to dozens of individuals and hospitals across the country.

Attention All Tea Lovers:

Here at Cup & Leaf, we’re always on the hunt for new tea to sip and fresh knowledge to share.

We started Cup & Leaf to create an inviting space where experts and novices alike can enjoy our wide selection of tea, without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated. We write about tea on our blog, sell tea on our online store, and serve tea at our café in Austin.

Cup & Leaf is your one-stop-shop for all things tea, especially if you are:

• New to tea, but want to learn more without feeling bombarded with information
• Want the basic and proper tools to make a perfect first cup of tea
• An experienced tea drinker who’s looking for a new favorite blend
• Buying a gift for someone, but aren’t sure what to get them
• Located in Austin and want to sip some tea, co-work with some cool people, and pet cute puppies at the café

Do any of these sound like you? If so, we’re excited for you to begin your tea journey with us.

And because you’re a smart and informed Donut reader, we’re offering you 15% off your first online purchase with us. Simply use the code DONUT at check out for 15% off your entire purchase. If you’re Austin, show this email to your tea-rista for 15% off your first cup of tea at the café!