Early Voting Begins as Biden, Trump Hit the Campaign Trail

Currents News Staff

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden were both on the campaign trail Thursday, Sept. 18.

“This is the most important election in the history of our country,” said Trump.

“I’m going to be America’s president, not a Democratic president,” Biden said. “I’m a Democrat, proud of it, but America’s president.”

The race for the White House escalates as early in-person voting and absentee voting begin in several states.

Most mail-in ballot application deadlines are in October. It’s a process the Trump administration has repeatedly blasted, making unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.

“Everyone knows mail-in ballots are a disaster,” said Trump.

Attorney General Bill Barr spoke about the mail-in ballots.

“‘Oh wait a minute, we just discovered 100,000 ballots. Every vote must be counted.’ You know, we don’t know where these freaking votes came from,” Barr said.

Biden calls such comments an attempt to delegitimize the election.

“Look, if the president had even remote confidence that he was likely to win the election, he wouldn’t be doing this,” he said.

But there’s greater interest in absentee and mail-in ballots nationwide this year, due to COVID-19.

Some fear the fraud claims could lead to problems. The president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Kristen Clarke says the pandemic is playing a part.

“We started 2020 seeing intense levels of voter suppression and voting discrimination, and that picture has been compounded by the pandemic,” Clarke said.

Currents News full broadcast for Thurs, 9/17/20 (Catholic news)

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

President Trump is not seeing eye to eye with his top health officials over face masks and the timing of a vaccine.

We check in with Catholic churches in the hurricane zone after Sally ravaged so many communities down south.

We’ll show you how Catholic Charities is working to boost the census in New York neighborhoods where it is vital that everyone is counted.

Mayor Bill de Blasio Announces Another Delay to In-Person Learning for NYC Public Schools

By Jessica Easthope

September 21 was the day many students, parents and teachers had been waiting for. After six months, New York City’s public schools would have their first day of in person learning. But, it was once again delayed.

“Real concerns have been raised by my colleagues. They reached out to me and said they had specific concerns about things that had to be done to make sure our schools could start effectively and safely,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

This is the second delay for in-school learning for the Department of Education. This time it was safety and efficiency issues raised by the teachers’ union and Schools Chancellor, Richard Carranza.

“We’re giving schools more time, more staff and more support and this helps us to have the strongest possible start to the most unconventional school year any one of us have experienced,” Carranza said.

The re-opening will now happen in phases. Pre-K and special needs students will start on Monday as planned, elementary school students start on September 29, and middle and high school students on October 1.

“We need to step back and figure out some things. We now have seen after a 10 day period that there are some blanks we need to fill in, and we’re going to do that,” said Michael Mulgrew, the President of the United Federation of Teachers.

Though 42 percent of all public school students opted for an all-virtual school year, the DOE needs 10,000 teachers to successfully manage a hybrid model. The city is still 5,500 short.

Catholic schools throughout the city also recognized the need for more staff immediately. At Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy in Corona, Queens they’ve added teachers to every classroom.

“We have a teacher assistant in the overflow room, so when she’s teaching a lesson on any given day, the teacher assistant is actually walking around ensuring the kids are learning exactly what she’s teaching,” said Cristina Tancredi-Cruz, Principal of Our Lady of Sorrows.

This delay comes as the DOE announces that at least 56 schools have had one or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 among staff.

In Wake of Hurricane Sally, Alabama and Florida Parishes Face Building Damages, Power Outages

By Emily Drooby

At least one person is dead and another missing after Hurricane Sally ripped through Alabama and Florida.

“The winds were high. It was whistling like I’ve never heard before,” one Gulf Shores, Alabama resident, told a Currents News.

Areas are still plagued by downed trees and powerlines, and many homes are still floating in flood waters caused by record-breaking rainfall.

In Alabama, rescue and recovery continued on Sept. 17, with many roads and bridges still impassable.

“Our state is reeling, just as our people are hurting,” said the state’s Governor, Kay Ivey.

The Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama closed their schools and offices in preparation for the storm, leaving them unreachable.

In Florida, the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee had some damage to some of their structures, including Little Flower Catholic Church and the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel.

Many areas in their diocese have been left without power, and several of their parishes have suspended Masses and services until they can reopen.

The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee is trying to regroup, while still being left in the dark. While plans have yet to be formalized, they’ll be helping their local churches as soon as they can.

Also in Florida, hundreds were rescued from high waters with aid from 500 Florida National Guard soldiers.

“We had 30 inches of rain, 30-plus inches of rain, which is four months of rain in four hours at some point, so it is very bad and severe,” explained Chief Ginny Cranor of the Pensacola, Fl. Fire Department.

Sally may have passed through, but the danger isn’t over, Florida’s governor warning any body of water in Northwest Florida could see a rise in levels over the next few days.

Catholic Charities of New York Boosts NYC Census Turnout in What They Say Is a Matter of ‘Fairness’

By Jessica Easthope

Every 10 years the census aims to count the entire U.S. population, but it’s not an easy task.

It’s estimated that four million Americans won’t be counted in the 2020 census. Even though legislative representation and billions of dollars in federal funding are at stake, Catholic Charities of New York is looking to close that gap.

“This is the way government structures are funded and now more than ever the way New York was hit, we want to make sure we get the COVID support three, five, 10 years down the line,” said Eddie Silverio, the Division Director of Communities Services for Catholic Charities of New York.

On Sept. 16 Catholic Charities joined forces with several community organizations in the Highbridge section of the Bronx to boost census turn out. In the Bronx, just over 60 percent of households have filled out the census. Organizers say that’s a failing grade, but by making their presence known they drew in people like Kelly Woods.

Kelly used to be homeless, but after landing on her feet she understands how important the census is, and is participating for the first time.

“It’s important to us, it can better us, our lifestyles, our jobs, our environment, basically everything in life that we’re working on,” Kelly told Currents News.

Low census turnout isn’t only a problem in the Bronx — it’s citywide. In the Diocese of Immigrants, 60.6 percent of Queens households have filled out the census and Brooklyn has the worst numbers in the entire city, with 56.6 percent.

Areas with high numbers of undocumented immigrants have historically low turnouts. Organizers say it’s because they fear it will impact their immigration status. That was the case for Matilde Gonzalez.

“I think it’s very important especially for Spanish people, we’re always behind the door, scared to do things but now is the time that we stand up and we count,” Matilde said.

Not only is the census a matter of getting proper funding, organizers say it’s a Catholic issue.

“For us as Catholics it’s an issue of fairness and participation in civic life,” said Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of New York.

“We as Catholics always want to do right by people and do right by our neighbors, and this is the way to do right by our neighbors,” said Eddie Silverio.

Catholic Charities expected to get 350 new households to fill out the census on Wednesday. The deadline to complete it is September 30.

‘Million Dollar Listing’’s Bianca D’Alessio on Why New Yorkers Are Leaving Manhattan During COVID-19

Currents News Staff

The real estate market in Manhattan took a big hit because of the pandemic with many who decided to move out of such a crowded borough. The trend might be that the coronavirus crisis had the opposite effect on another part of the city- Brooklyn.

Joining Currents News is Bianca D’Alessio, a New York City-based real estate agent. She’s part of the show “Million Dollar Listing” and part of Ryan Serhant’s nest seekers international real estate team.

Currents News full broadcast for Wed, 9/16/20 (Catholic news)

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

Caught in the act – the search for a man who desecrated a statue of the Blessed Mother at a church in Brooklyn.

How Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy in Corona, Queens is going that extra mile for parents and students adapting to the new way of learning this school year.

The fury of Hurricane Sally – the powerful storm slams into Alabama and Florida bringing widespread damage and flooding.

The remarkable story that began in Brooklyn forty years ago and one this couple says they will never forget their roots.

Diplomatic Pact Between Israel, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain Signals Change, But Impact Unclear

Currents News Staff

Israeli military jets attacked targets in Gaza after Palestianian militants fired rockets from there, injuring two people. This occurred less than 24 hours after leaders from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed a landmark deal at the White House, normalizing relations with the state of Israel.

“These agreements will serve as the foundation for a comprehensive peace across the entire region,” said President Donald Trump.

The so-called “Abraham Accord” establishes ties with much of the Arab world including embassies, enhanced security partnerships, increased business deals and travel.

The agreement is a win for the Trump administration and Israel’s longest serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who marked it as the “dawn of the new Middle East.”

“Let us rise above any political divide. For long after the pandemic has gone, the peace we make today will endure,” Netanyahu said.

The Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani expressed his support for ongoing dialogue, urging other Arab nations to move beyond the divisions of the past.

“For too long, the Middle East has been set back by conflict and mistrust,” says Al Zayani, “I’m convinced we have the opportunity to change that.”

Before the signing, Israel only had diplomatic ties with two other Arab nations, Jordan and Egypt. This agreement opens the door for other countries to come on board.

“As is often the case with complex situations,” Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, president of the National Jewish Center Learning and Leadership, says. “We don’t really know all the angles, but that shouldn’t keep us from trying.”

While many of the details are still unknown, experts say the alliance against Iran has been strengthened – and while the Palestinians have rejected it – the agreement has far reaching implications for the entire Middle East region.

“The implications of new peace between two Gulf states and the state of Israel could be a complete gamechanger for the region,” says Rabbi Brad, “especially if these are the opening two volleys in a larger strategy that include Saudi Arabia, which is the single most important government in the Saudi Arab world.”

For now, Israel will halt plans to annex Palistinian land in the West Bank as the Trump administration tries to bring Palestinians back to the negotiating table. Palestinians are calling the deal a “betrayal.”

While Waiting For COVID-19 Vaccine, U.S. to Face These Three Major Challenges This Fall

Currents News Staff

The coronavirus is known to have infected more than 6.5 million people in the United States over the past six months, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Acting Director Richard Besser called it “the worst public health crisis in our lives.”

And the next few months may be even more difficult.

“It just makes me sick to see, to know what we could have been as a nation and what we are today,” said Peter Hotez at Baylor College of Medicine.

Health experts say in addition to COVID-19, the U.S. is facing a triple-challenge of the upcoming flu season including colder weather, which drives people indoors and increases risk of spread, and outbreaks as more students return to schools.

“We see around the globe countries successfully getting this under control and getting people back to work, and public health knows the path to get there but we’re not doing that,” says Richard Besser.

As the U.S. is currently averaging about 35,000 new COVID-19 cases per day, drug maker Pfizer is working on phase three trials for a coronavirus vaccine. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CBS’s “Face the Nation” show that the drug-maker may know by the end of October if it works.

President Donald Trump says Americans are “rounding the turn” from the virus.

“Now having a vaccine is good, but we’re rounding the turn regardless, we’re rounding the turn and it’s happening, it’s happening, you’ll see,” he said.

In the meantime, people are still advised to wear masks, and to maintain social distancing.

“As we’re waiting for a vaccine we know what we can do,” says Jodie Dionne-Odom at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. “Other countries have done it. We should too.”

Police Hunt for Vandal Who Toppled Our Lady of Guadalupe Statue

By Paula Katinas

CONEY ISLAND — Police are asking the public to help them find a man who brazenly climbed over a fence outside the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace and threw a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the ground on Sept. 11.

Cops, who are investigating the incident as a case of criminal mischief, released a video of the man committing the act.

Remarkably, the statue remained mostly intact — but suffered damage to the face, hands, and base — after the vandal threw it on the sidewalk.

Many parishioners cried when they were told about the vandalism, according to Father Javier Flores, the administrator of Our Lady of Solace.

“Our parishioners are very sad. Everyone is shocked,” Father Flores told The Tablet. “Neighbors saw what happened and called the police but the man fled very quickly.”

Parishioners are determined to raise money to repair the statue, Father Flores said.

The video released by the NYPD captures images of the man standing in front of the church and talking to another person. The suspect can then be seen climbing over the fence and toppling the statue before throwing it to the ground.

The suspect then proceeded to nearby Mermaid Avenue and fled on foot, police said.

Volunteers picked up the statue and brought it into the church, according to Father Flores.

Father Flores said the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace purchased the statue three years ago for $4,000. On Sunday, Sept. 13, he announced during all Masses that the statue had been targeted by vandals. Parishioners immediately started digging into their pockets to help.

“We want to raise the money for the statue by Dec. 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe,” Father Flores said.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, named Patroness of the Americas in 1999 by St. John Paul II, is venerated by Mexicans and Latinos. The statue outside the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace is important to the whole Coney Island community.

“People would stop walking, stand in front, and pray to her. It’s like she watches over the whole community,” Father Flores said.

Police described the individual as a light-skinned male with a beard. He was last seen wearing a gray cap, a black shirt with the word “Brooklyn” on the front, and black shorts.

Anyone with information is asked to call the New York Police Department’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

The public can also submit tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.

The Sept. 11 incident wasn’t the only time vandals have targeted a statue of the Virgin Mary in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

In July, a suspect defaced a Virgin Mary statue outside Cathedral Prep School and Seminary in Elmhurst. The vandalism was discovered by staff members at 7:30 a.m. on July 10, according to police, who said a video captured an image of a person approaching the statue and defacing it by writing the word “IDOL” on the front.

The statue was cleaned within days of the vandalism. Father James Kuroly, rector and president of Cathedral Prep, led a ceremony to re-dedicate the statue.