Earlier this year it was posted on here that the railroad unions and companies were in mediation over amending their contracts. The National Mediation Board just recently said that a resolution is not possible at this time. This starts a clock where a rail shutdown is possible in about 90 days.

Here is a link to the article-[link:https://www.railwayage.com/regulatory/nmb-starts-clock-toward-rail-shutdown/|]


The next step is President Biden will have to step in and appoint a Presidential Emergency Board to investigate and make recommendations. If those recommendations are not accepted by both the unions and the companies, then Congress may have to step in as well.

I have tinnitus in both ears, the right worse then the left. I know precisely when it started and it's been manageable for the last 15 years, but now it's been getting worse. Has anyone found ways to minimize it? It's mainly bothering me when trying to sleep. A fan on low has worked for the longest, but now that isn't working as well.

Source: KTNV- Local ABC affiliate

NEVADA (KTNV) — Gov. Steve Sisolak says the statewide mask mandate in Nevada has come to an end as COVID-19 cases drop.

Effective immediately, masks will no longer be required inside public places, in most instances.

Masks are still mandated in airports, on planes on public buses and on school buses, he says.

He also clarified that while masks will not be mandated on the state level, he said employers and organizations may still set their own policies around masks.

For schools, Sisolak says local districts can come up with their own policies and that takes effect tomorrow. He says he wants to give staff and students who are in class right now a chance to go home and discuss the issue with their families before removing their masks today.

Read more: https://www.ktnv.com/news/coronavirus/mask-mandate-lifted-nevada-gov-steve-sisolak-becomes-latest-to-announce-end-date

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Well turns out what I was told was true. The indoor mask mandate was ended before Super Bowl Weekend. The Gaming Control Board rescinded their orders to the Casino's immediately as well. The casino hosts are already taking bets amongst themselves on if this will be temporary like it was last year, but my host thinks this is the end. I tend to agree with him.

Source: WRIC- Local VA ABC affiliate

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — With bipartisan support, the Virginia Senate approved an amendment to a bill giving parents the ability to choose whether their children wear masks in schools without giving an excuse and regardless of rules adopted by local school boards.

Democratic state Sen. Chap Petersen (Fairfax City) made a floor amendment on the Senate floor Tuesday to a bill from Republican state Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant that would require school boards to permanently offer in-person instruction.

The language in Sen. Petersen’s floor amendment states any parent with a child enrolled in a public school or any school-based early childhood care program could elect to send their child to the classroom without a mask “notwithstanding any other provision of law or any regulation, rule, or policy implemented by a school board, school division, school official, or other state or local authority.”

Petersen’s amendment to the bill was adopted on a 29-9 vote, a bipartisan outcome that could give Gov. Glenn Youngkin a legislative solution to legal challenges that have temporarily blocked his mask-optional executive order in schools.

Read more: https://www.wric.com/news/politics/capitol-connection/virginia-senate-approves-amendment-that-may-spell-end-to-school-mask-mandates/

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Sent to me from a friend who lives in Virginia. He was surprised it passed with that number of Dem crossover votes. He expected it to only pass with a single Dem vote, Peterson's. I guess there is a chance that the Senate will vote the entire bill down, but its probably not likely.

Source: WXYZ local station- ABC news

Fully vaccinated Michiganders will no longer be required to wear a mask or face covering indoors or outdoors, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday.

The new order will be in effect on Saturday, May 15 at 9 a.m.

Read more: https://www.wxyz.com/news/coronavirus/gov-whitmer-lifts-mask-requirements-for-fully-vaccinated-residents

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Michigan is lifting its mask mandate for vaccinated people starting tomorrow morning. No masks required outside regardless of vaccination status. The broad indoor mask mandate will expire July 1st.

Source: The Detroit News

Lansing — A Michigan Court of Appeals panel has reversed a lower court ruling that would have required election officials to count late absentee ballots and allowed third parties to collect absentee ballots from voters.

The Court of Claims "abused its discretion" by granting injunctions that allowed for the lifting of those provisions, appellate Judges Thomas Cameron, Mark Boonstra and Michael Gadola ruled in a 3-0 opinion. Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens made the ruling on Sept. 18. 

Cameron, Gadola and Boonstra were appointees of Republican former Gov. Rick Snyder.

The Court of Appeals panel noted the appellate court had already ruled the 8 p.m. Election Day ballot deadline as constitutional in a separate case. 



Read more: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2020/10/16/appellate-panel-wont-allow-michigans-late-ballots-counted/3685251001/

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My fellow Michigan voters, if you are voting absentee, either drop off your ballot or mail it in ASAP to make sure it gets there. If it's not in their hands by 8pm Election Day, your vote won't be counted.

Source: Detroit News

The decision by Whitmer would allow dine-in service with capacity restrictions by June 8. 

It also would allow for the opening of swimming pools, day camps for children, and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people. County authorities had declared Metro Detroit's swimming pools closed for the summer.

Sports practices and games would be allowed so long as individuals on the field and in the stands can maintain six-foot distances, according to the Associated Press. 

Casinos, salons and gyms will remain closed. This hurts Detroit, which relies on the three casinos there for a significant chunk of its revenues.



Read more: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/06/01/whitmer-lifts-stay-home-order-allows-dine-restaurant-service/5307119002/

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Michigan is moving forward with reopening. Initially only a handful of county's had some restrictions lifted before Memorial Day.