NYC Radio: Rick & Sasha Debut On Radio 103.9 FM

CUMULUS MEDIA’s Westwood One announced Thursday Rick and Sasha, the fastest-growing Urban AC morning show, has launched on WNBM 103.9 FM in New York City and has expanded to 30 plus markets. 

Now in its second year, Rick and Sasha is up in ratings in 69 percent of its markets against adults 25-54 and up in 83 percent of its markets against women 25-54 (according to Nielson Audio, Metro, P-25-54; W25-54, 6am-10am/5am-9am, Fall 2019/Dec 2019). 

“The Rick and Sasha show is growing fast and going BIG! New York is going to LOVE this show!” said Kenny Smoov, Vice President of Urban Programming, Cumulus Media. “There is nothing like getting a historic first-year report card. Rick and Sasha, with George Willborn, not only sounds better than it ever has but is also showing remarkable ratings growth - extraordinary for a second-year show. It is refreshing when the actual numbers match my ear test. This show is poised for long-term greatness.” 

The Rick and Sasha show launched January 2019, with former Hot 105 FM/Miami personality Rick Party and former Kiss 104.1 FM/Atlanta personality Sasha The Diva. Comedian George Willborn, former morning co-host of WVAZ Chicago and WHUR Washington, DC, joined the show in January 2020. The team entertains and engages Urban AC listeners looking for great music, hot conversation, a connection to community, and interactive discussions.

Rick and Sasha is available via satellite receiver, web or FTP automated download. For more information on Rick & Sasha, contact Todd Alan at (212) 735-1107 or talan@westwoodone.com or Gary Bernstein at (508) 245-1776 or gary@oceanictradewinds.com

San Antonio Radio: Joe Pesh Gets Wake-Up Duty At KCYY

Cox Media Group has announced Joe Pesh will be joining New Country KCYY 100 veteran Beth Chandler as the new co-host of the radio station’s hit morning show.

Joe Pesh

Prior to joining Y100, Pesh spent the past six years in Indiana where he most recently held the position of Host of The Joe & Alex Show / Joe & The Radio Now Morning Show/ Joe & McKinzie – WNOW Indianapolis, increasing ratings across the board for the first time in six years.

“We are very excited to have Joe join the team here in San Antonio! We can’t wait to see his talent in action – just one minute speaking with Joe, and you know he is committed to his work, passionate about his audiences and dedicated to doing his very best every day,” said Jeff Garrison, Operations Manager of CMG San Antonio.

“I’m super excited to wake up in San Antonio alongside Beth Chandler and to work with the talented staff at Y100. I’m thankful to Jeff Garrison, David Abel and the entire Cox Media family for this amazing opportunity! Now can someone point me toward some BBQ?” joked Pesh.

Pesh assumes his new role on May 6, 2020.

CRS Unveils Agenda Committee For 2021 Confab

The Country Radio Broadcasters have announced the individuals who will serve on the 2020-2021 CRS Agenda Committee under Chairman Brent Michaels (KUZZ/Bakersfield) and Vice-Chair Joey Tack (KNCI/Sacramento)>

They are Carletta Blake (WGAR/Cleveland), Raffaella Braun (Triple Tigers), George Briner(Valory), Zena Burns (Futuri Media), Stephanie Callihan, Justin Cole (WUSY/ Chattanooga), Maynard Cohen (iHeart), Jen Danielson (Pandora), Tim Gerst (Thinkswell), Shelley Hargis-Gaines (Broken Bow), Jeff James (CXO5 Partners), Rob Keegan (WXTU/Philadelphia), Ali Matkosky (Big Loud), Billy McKim (Associate Professor, Texas A&M University), Paul Miraldi (iHeart), Annie Ortmeier (UMG Nashville), Maurisa Pasick (Riser House), MoJoe Roberts, Dana Swearingen (KFRG/Riverside), Michelle Tigard-Kammerer (BMLG Records), Monta Vaden (Country Aircheck), and Ryan Wild (WLHK/Indianapolis).

2020-2021 Agenda Chairman, Michaels comments, "As we prepare for a very important Country Radio Seminar in 2021 with all the recent changes in our industry, I think this team of professionals from many facets of Country music will help create an agenda of content that will be much needed as we head into the next 12 months.  I'd like to thank everyone who applied as we heard from so many qualified people, which gave us a very deep pool to select from.”

The balance of the Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2021 Agenda Committee is made up of volunteer professionals from all sectors of the Country radio, streaming, and record industries. The committee is responsible for planning sessions, panels, and events for the upcoming year’s Country Radio Seminar.  Country Radio Seminar 2021 will be held Feb. 17-19, 2021, at the Omni Nashville Hotel. 

NYC Radio: Entercom Lifts Restrictions on Mike Francesa Audio Clips

Mike Francesa

Mike Francesa announced on Thursday that effective immediately Entercom, the parent company of WFAN 660 AM / 101.9 FM and Radio.com, has lifted all restrictions on use of video and audio from his shows.

Shortly after posting the news on his Twitter feed, he told Newsday, “I asked Entercom yesterday to consider it. They got back to me today in the affirmative. It never bothered me. I don’t care if anybody uses it or not.

On April 2, Francesa announced on WFAN that Entercom was cracking down on unauthorized dissemination of its video and audio and would require that other outlets get permission to use such material.

The move was prompted in part by video of Francesa criticizing the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic that was viewed more than 2 million times after being posted by the Twitter feed @BackAftaThis.

The idea was for the company to retain control of its content, but it was widely noted at the time that even though @BackAftaThis frequently is critical of Francesa, he helps publicize his shows on Radio.com and WFAN.

In the three weeks since, @BackAftaThis has indicated that even if Entercom changed course, he would refuse to post any more Francesa content.

At the time, Francesa told Newsday, “Entercom finally enforces its rights after my video commentary receives over 2.4 million views and is aired on three major networks. This unknown, obsessive freak then whines in anger that I'm headed for obscurity. He needs a life and a new obsession. Or better, write a big check to Entercom."

Taylor Swift Slams BMLG For Releasing Live Album

Taylor Swift on Thursday revived her feud with her former record company, complaining that the release of a 2008 collection of recordings for a radio show was “tasteless.”

“I want to thank my fans for making me aware that my former record label is putting out an ‘album’ of live performances of mine tonight. ... This release is not approved by me,” Swift told her 131 million Instagram followers.

The album, “Live From Clear Channel Stripped 2008,” is a collection of recordings Swift made for a radio show when she was 18, the “Fearless” singer said.

Reuters reports she called the release by the Big Machine Label Group “another case of shameless greed in the time of Coronavirus. So tasteless, but very transparent.”

“This release is not approved by me. It looks like Scooter Braun and his financial backers have seen the latest valence sheets and realized that paying $300 MILLION for my music wasn’t exactly a wise choice and they need money. 😂” – Taylor via her Instagram Story https://t.co/GcJ0VgIpEo

— Taylor Swift Updates (@swiftsupdates) April 23, 2020

Big Machine declined to comment on Thursday.

Swift recorded her first six albums with Big Machine before leaving in 2018 for Universal Music Group. Big Machine owns the master recordings of her back catalog and under standard industry practice retains the right to release material that was recorded when she was with the label.

Swift has publicly feuded for more than a year with Big Machine and its senior executives over the use of her old songs. The dispute escalated last November when music executive Scooter Braun said his family had received death threats because of Swift’s remarks, and appealed for peace.

Locked-Down Rolling Stones Release New Track

The Rolling Stones gave their fans some satisfaction on Thursday by releasing a new track “Living in a Ghost Town”, part-recorded during the coronavirus lockdown.

Reuters reports the song, powered by a Keith Richards’ riff and a chanted refrain, comes with a video showing deserted streets and subway stations in London, Los Angeles, Kyoto and other cities.

“So the Stones were in the studio recording some new material before the lockdown and there was one song we thought would resonate through the times that we’re living in right now,” Mick Jagger said in a statement.

“We’ve worked on it in isolation. And here it is ... I hope you like it.”


The band said it started recording the track in Los Angeles in 2019. Then, as pandemic restrictions started rolling out across the world, they adjusted some of the lyrics and added other finishing touches to the mix.

In the video, Jagger is seen singing one tweaked line in a plush, wood-panelled room: “Life was so beautiful then we all got locked down. Feel like a ghost, living in a ghost town.”

Keith Richards said the track had been meant for a new album, “then shit hit the fan ... Mick and I decided this one really needed to go to work right now.”

The release comes less than a week after the band’s four members performed “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” from their living rooms via a video conference call - part of the global “One World: Together At Home” broadcast brought together by pop icon Lady Gaga.

Former KKWF Seattle PD Joins Promotion Team At Monument Records

Top: Katie McCartney and Drew Bland. Bottom: Lisa Mastrianni and Katelyn Lester

Monument Records, led by Jason Owen and Shane McAnally, has added an in-house promotion team, led by Drew Bland, who will oversee executives based in various regions across the country.

Katie McCartney has been promoted to General Manager, while Lisa Mastrianni joins as Director, Regional Promotion and Katelyn Lester joins as Manager, Regional Promotion. One additional regional will be announced in the coming weeks.

“There has never been a more crucial time to invest in music, and in the creative community we are all part of, and that’s what we’re doing with the expansion of Monument,” said Owen.

Bland comes to Monument Records from Seattle’s KKWF, where he was the Program Director. In Bland’s 15-year career in radio, he has programmed major market radio stations in Phoenix, Orlando and Seattle. He has won an ACM Award for Station of the Year and a CMA Award for his work.

“We wanted a head of promotion that will approach radio as we approach everything we do, with a unique and limitless view. Drew’s background as a PD, and his overall vision for what a promotion staff can do, made him an obvious choice,” said McAnally.

“I am grateful to be joining Monument Records at this exciting time. It’s thrilling to start this new career chapter combining my programming background to the incredible team led by the most progressive professionals in the business” said Bland. “I can’t wait to leave the house and hit the road with our amazing regional team and dynamic artists to visit each market.”

McCartney joined Monument in 2017 to help re-launch the imprint, she had previously spent time at Universal Music Nashville, Sony Music Nashville, and Lyric Street Records, among others, and has worked on major marketing campaigns for superstar acts such as Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill, Shania Twain, Lauren Alaina, and Brothers Osborne. As General Manager, she oversees the team and all label operations.

The team will begin promoting Walker Hayes’ new single “Trash My Heart,” which releases digitally on April 24 and impacts radio in June.

Rochester NY Radio: WBEE's Steve Hausman Beats COVID-19

Long-time WBEE 92.5 FM Morning cohost Steve Hausmann says he's beat COVID-19.

Steve Hausman

Hausmann first announced he had the virus last week. and the Monroe County Health Department and a nurse called him Thursday with the good news, according to WHEC TV10.

He described the call as a kind of excitement he's never experienced before.

"The fever and the cough and all the other symptoms were bad enough, but not knowing where I stood, not knowing what was going to happen, the mental part of it was the worst part," Hausmann said.

Hausmann says he's still hosting the morning show on WBEE and sharing his coronavirus journey.

Fox, CNN Gets Personal During COVID-19 Coverage

Fox News got personal in its rivalry with CNN Wednesday when host Laura Ingraham and her guest Raymond Arroyo made light of its adversary’s anchors going on air to talk about their personal struggles with coronavirus, The NY Daily News reports.

“It almost appears they’ve launched a series of new reality shows,” Arroyo mocked. "You could call this one ‘Are You Sicker Than a CNN Anchor?’”

CNN hosts Chris Cuomo, Brooke Baldwin and Richard Quest have all discussed their battles with COVID-19 on television.


Arroyo, a frequent Fox News contributor, accused Fox’s 24-hour cable news rival of allowing its hosts to “become the story,” which he feels overshadows the plight of everyday people who are out of work and, in some cases, dying.

“Chances are, young and healthy anchors will not succumb to the disease,” Arroyo said. “To keep this narrative going every night that’s so personal, it is disturbing, because you lose all perspective.”

Ingraham agreed, then, shaking her head, claimed “Well, we’re glad everyone’s getting better,” before she and Arroyo went back to comparing CNN’s coverage to a realty show.

CNN has likewise been heavily critical of Fox’s coverage since the outbreak of the pandemic, slamming the right-wing cable channel for comparing coronavirus to the common flu, claiming coverage of the pandemic is meant to make frequent Fox contributor President Trump look bad and giving TV doctors like Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and Dr. Drew a platform for disseminating information that has been sensational, or in some cases, not factual.

Ingraham has also been accused of pushing faulty science in her coverage of the coronavirus by touting the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a “game changer” in the race to end the pandemic. She has scaled back on her advocacy of the drug in light of medical testing that has shown hydroxychloroquine largely ineffective — or worse — when used to treat coronavirus.

CNN Expects Employees To Work Remotely Thru Summer

CNN employees currently working remotely won't be returning to its offices until early September, CNN President Jeff Zucker said in a memo to employees.

According to The Hill, Zucker noted that approximately 10 percent of the organization's workforce are still working out of their offices, with the total increasing to 15 percent in early June.

“Our expectation is that the rest of you will not return before early September, with a few exceptions in July for newsgathering and some in August, depending on the political conventions,” Zucker wrote in an email obtained by Deadline. 

“Of course, none of these dates are set in stone, with many questions left to be answered before we can move forward. But, to be clear, production of our programs will continue from home, as it is now, until the end of summer.  Same for digital," he added.

Zucker added that any return would include a phased approach. 

“We will phase back in very slowly, with emphasis in the beginning on roles that are directly related to keeping the CNN US network on the air, as well as newsgathering. As a result, for the majority of you, across all of our networks and platforms, return to the office will not happen in any significant way before the end of the summer.”

Three CNN on-air anchors have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks, including Chris Cuomo, Brooke Baldwin and Richard Quest.

SiriusXM Radio: The Boss To Guest Host Friday

Bruce Springsteen

The SiriusXM station devoted to all things Bruce Springsteen announced Thursday that Springsteen himself will launch Part 2 of his “From His Home, To Yours” guest DJ set Friday at 10 a.m.

Springsteen will take over E Street Radio — remotely, from his Colts Neck home — to spin records fitting for “troubled times,” including cuts by Marvin Gaye, Billy Joel, The Bee Gees, Tupac Shakur and more. He is not scheduled to perform.

Springsteen kicked off this series two weeks ago when he hung around for 90 minutes playing old tunes from Bob Dylan, Wyclef Jean, Bon Jovi and more, plus some of his own tunes. He also mused over his feelings regarding the state of the world, as he’s wont to do.

“I think the hardest part about what we’re going through is not being able to see, hug, kiss our loved ones," he said. "My children are all off in their own homes and claim they don’t want to visit in order not to kill us.

“That’s hard to argue against,” he laughed.

The 10 a.m. Friday broadcast will be replayed at 4 p.m. and then twice a day throughout the following week.

FCC To Open Additional Spectrum For Wi-Fi Use

The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously on Thursday to adopt new rules to open a new chunk of spectrum for Wi-Fi use as the number of devices is expected to rapidly increase.

The FCC voted to make 1,200 megahertz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band available for unlicensed use and help usher in Wi-Fi 6, the next generation expected to be over 2-1/2 times faster than the current standard.

According to Reuters, Wi-Fi allows people to access the internet but also connects devices like thermostats, baby monitors, refrigerators, televisions and washing machines to networks.

The commission is also exploring whether low-power devices can use the band like “accessibility technology for Americans with disabilities, virtual reality gaming, augmented reality glasses, in-vehicle systems, and other emerging technologies,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said.

Tech firms support the action. Facebook Inc said the move “comes at a critical time to enhance Internet connectivity and will complement 5G deployment.”

Some companies, including utilities and network users, have raised concerns about interference from the additional Wi-Fi use.

Pai said he was confident that utilities, public safety, and wireless backhaul operations currently using the band will be protected from interference.

Comcast Corp said the order “will dramatically improve Wi-Fi performance and capacity, and will protect existing users of the spectrum.” Amazon.com Inc said the FCC order “paves the way to a more innovative future and will allow us to deliver a smarter, faster, and more convenient customer experience.”

The National Association of Broadcasters said it was disappointed in the vote, saying the FCC “shockingly forgoes any independent analysis that interference won’t be too bad or happen too often. This ‘fingers crossed’ approach is bad policy and not what is required under law.”

Unlicensed spectrum is expected to handle 70% of traffic as 5G use expands.

Diffie Death Has Conspiracy Theorists Working Overtime

Joe, Tara Diffie

Conspiracy theorists are twisting facts online about country singer Joe Diffie’s death from COVID-19 complications in an effort to promote their claims that health officials are exaggerating the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

Diffie, who topped the charts in the 1990s with honky-tonk singles including “Home” and “Pickup Man,” died in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 29 after he tested positive for the virus. He was 61.

The Associated Press reports that in the days following his death, Facebook and Twitter users posing as internet sleuths falsely claimed media reports hid that he had lung cancer. He did not. The untrue claims appear to have stemmed from an obituary posted online for Diffie’s father, Joe Diffie Sr., who passed away in November 2018 from cancer.

The inaccurate claim about Diffie is one of many from Facebook, Twitter and YouTube users seeking to sow doubt about the impact of coronavirus. Many of them claim that health officials, government leaders and media outlets have overblown the danger of the virus, millions being infected with it worldwide.

Diffie’s widow, Tara Terpening Diffie, pleaded on Instagram for people to stop sharing the misinformation about her husband. In a statement, she said she hoped to set the record straight about her husband’s death so that their family can focus on grieving for Diffie and celebrating the Grand Ole Opry member’s legacy.

“There have been some untrue statements about my late husband that are false and hurtful,” Tara Terpening Diffie said. “Joe did not have lung cancer and was a healthy, loving father, husband and friend. He also kept a very busy touring schedule and loved his fans who’ve supported him all these years.”

April 24 Radio History

➦In 1947...One of Jack Webb's short-lived pre-Dragnet detective-adventure radio show Johnny Madero: Pier 23 debuted on the Mutual Broadcasting System.

➦In 1949…Dick Powell began a four-year run as "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" on NBC Radio. The radio series centered on a wisecracking, former police officer turned private detective. Episodes typically opened with a client visiting or calling cash-strapped Diamond's office and agreeing to his fee of $100 a day plus expenses, or Diamond taking on a case at the behest of his friend and former partner, Lt. Walter Levinson

In the late 1950s, Powell's company, Four Star Television, produced a TV version of the series starring David Janssen. His secretary, Sam, was shown only from the waist down to display her beautiful legs. Initially, those were the legs of budding actress Mary Tyler Moore, but later, the legs of other actresses were shown.



➦In 1953...Eric Bogosian was born in Woburn, Massachusetts. Bogosian is best known for his starring role in the movie, Talk Radio, a 1988 American drama film directed by Oliver Stone and starring Bogosian, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Greene, and Leslie Hope.

Portions of the film and play were based on the assassination of radio host Alan Berg in 1984 and the book Talked to Death: The Life and Murder of Alan Berg.  Berg was murdered while working for Denver's KOA 850 AM.

In the movie Barry Champlain, a Jewish radio personality in Dallas, Texas, is a host with a caustic sense of humor and a knack for condescending to his audience with his controversial political views.dio.

➦In 1954...Billboard magazine, the music industry trade publication, headlined a tsunami to come in the music biz. The headline read, “Teenagers Demand Music with a Beat — Spur Rhythm and Blues” … a sign of the entertainment revolution that was underway.

➦In 1959…After 24 years of Saturday nights on radio and nine years on television, the final installment of the musical countdown show "Your Hit Parade" was televised on NBC-TV.

The final Top Five: Elvis Presley, "I Need Your Love Tonight" (#5), Brook Benton, "It's Just A Matter Of Time" (#4), Ricky Nelson, "Never Be Anyone Else But You" (#3), Dodie Stevens, "Pink Shoe Laces" (#2), and the Fleetwoods at #1 with "Come Softly To Me."

➦In 1972…John Lennon's controversial single, "Woman Is the N#gger of the World" was released in the U.S. The song televised on 11 May, on The Dick Cavett Show. Many radio stations refused to broadcast the song.  The song reached #57 on the Billboard Hot 100, even though only two major radio stations – KDAY in Los Angeles and WCFL in Chicago – aired it.

Yoko Ono originally uttered the phrase during a magazine interview in 1967 and John explained that he was making a point that women deserved higher status in society.

Abbott & Costello

➦In 1974...William Alexander "Bud" Abbott died at age 78 from prostate cancer (Born - October 2, 1897). He was best known for his comedy double act, as straight man to Lou Costello.

Born into a show business family, Abbott worked in the box office of several theatres, before becoming a comedian/producer of burlesque shows on Broadway, where he allowed Costello to appear with him when his own partner was off ill. They formally teamed up in 1935. Their signature routine, "Who's on First?", was carried through to radio and then to their film debut One Night in the Tropics (1940) and Buck Privates (1941). The duo would go on to make 36 films. During World War II, they were among the most popular entertainers in the world, and sold $85 million in war bonds.

Abbott and Costello launched their own long-running radio show in 1942, and then a live TV show. But by 1955, they were felt to be over-exposed, their film contract was terminated, and the partnership split soon afterwards. Costello died in 1959.

Groucho Marx declared Abbott to be the best straight man in the comedy business.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:

• Actress Shirley MacLaine (Downton Abbey, Shirley’s World, Battle of Mary Kay, Salem Witch Trials) is 86.
• Actress-singer-director Barbra Streisand (Ed Sullivan Show, TV Specials, Grammy/Academy Awards) is 78.
• Country singer Richard Sterban of the Oak Ridge Boys is 77.
• Drummer Doug Clifford (Creedence Clearwater Revival) is 75.
• Singer-keyboardist Rob Hyman of The Hooters is 70.
• Actor Eric Bogosian (Law & Order:CI, Love Monkey) is 67.
• Actor-comedian ‘Cedric the Entertainer’ Kyles (The Soul Man, Steve Harvey Show, The Proud Family) is 56.
• Actor Thad Luckinbill (The Young and the Restless) is 45.
• Country singer Rebecca Lynn Howard is 41.
• Singer Kelly Clarkson (The Voice, American Idol) is 38.
• Miss Alabama USA/TV personality Katherine Webb (ABC’s Splash) is 31.
• Country singer Carly Pearce is 30.

Broadcasters, Newspapers Hope for Next Stimulus Package

A nearly $500 billion spending deal reached by U.S. Senate leaders on Tuesday does not expand payroll assistance to struggling local newspapers and broadcast stations, whose advertising revenues have plummeted during the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reports.

Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Amy Klobuchar and Republicans John Kennedy and John Boozman on Sunday had called on Senate leaders to revise the rules to make thousands of local newspapers, TV and radio stations eligible for assistance under the Paycheck Protection Program.

Many local outlets are ineligible because they are owned by parent companies too large to qualify.

The four senators said local newspapers had lost as much as 50% of advertising revenue, while the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) says some local broadcasters have reported as much as a 90% loss in advertising revenues.

A separate letter signed by more than 240 of the 435-member U.S. House of Representatives on Monday called on President Donald Trump to take steps to support local media, including incentivizing some stimulus funds provided to businesses “for advertising on local media.”

Tens of thousands of local media workers are being forced to take unpaid furloughs or are taking pay cuts, while other outlets are shrinking staff and reducing the frequency of printing. Some smaller newspapers in California, Vermont and South Dakota are closing.

Earlier this month, four groups representing broadcasters and newspapers, including the NAB, asked lawmakers to back up to $10 billion in government advertising and to rewrite Paycheck Protection Program rules.

Local news outlets still hold out significant hope they will added to another stimulus bill that Congress is expected to take up in May.

Meanwhile, Newspapers in Seattle and Tampa Bay won support from a U.S. program aimed at helping small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic as local advertising revenue has fallen sharply.

Seattle Times Co President Alan Fisco confirmed on Wednesday the Washington state newspaper will receive a $9.9 million forgivable loan. It projected that April ad revenue will be off 45% versus a year earlier.

In a note to staff on Tuesday seen by Reuters, Fisco said the funds will “give us some near-term room.”

He added that “at least for now, we are putting on the back burner any plans for broad scale layoffs, or cuts to hours worked. There still may be some targeted reductions, but nothing to the extent of cuts we would have had to make without this support.”

The program allows companies to borrow 2.5 times their average monthly payroll, up to $10 million. Companies must use 75% of the proceeds to cover payroll costs.

A Tampa Bay Times spokeswoman confirmed the newspaper and its other publications would receive an $8.5 million forgivable loan. Chairman and Chief Executive Paul Tash said the funding would “not compromise our independence or limit our journalism.”

Tash added the funding would allow the newspaper to bring a “few colleagues back from furlough, and we are reversing a pay cut for most employees a month sooner than we had planned.”

Larger pay cuts for top executives will not be affected.

Earlier this month, the Tampa Bay Times began temporarily producing print editions only on Sundays and Wednesdays because of the pandemic. The newspaper said last week advertising revenues had fallen by 50%.

The Rundown: POTUS Pivots

President Trump said Wednesday that he told Georgia Governor Brian Kemp that he strongly disagrees with Kemp's plans to begin reopening parts of the state from coronavirus shutdowns starting Friday. Kemp, who's a Republican, has come under criticism after announcing earlier this week he'd allow businesses including hair and nail salons, barbershops, gyms, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys to reopen beginning Friday, and movie theaters and restaurants to reopen with social distancing measures Monday. Trump said during his daily coronavirus briefing that Kemp's plans are in violation of the first step of the phased plan for reopening released by the administration. However, he said he wouldn't ask the federal government to step in, saying, "He must do what he thinks is right. I want him to do what he thinks is right, but I disagree with him on what he is doing." Meanwhile, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Sitt announced similar plans yesterday, saying hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, and pet grooming services can reopen Friday, and restaurants, churches, gyms, and movie theaters on May 1st.

Tyson Foods suspended operations yesterday at a plant in Waterloo, Iowa, that's its largest pork plant due to a coronavirus outbreak among workers. More than 180 virus cases have been linked to the plant, and it's expected that number will shoot up as testing of its 2,800 workers is set to begin today. Tyson had come under criticism in recent days for keeping the plant open despite the outbreak. Several other meat processing plants have suspended operations due to outbreaks of the virus, and an estimated 25 percent of U.S. pork processing capacity has been idled over the past two days, according to economist Steve Meyer. That's led to pork prices starting to go up and warnings there could be shortages of some pork products in grocery stores.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday that states struggling economically during the coronavirus pandemic should declare bankruptcy rather than be given federal aid. During an interview on Hugh Hewitt's radio show, the Kentucky Republican said, "I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route. It saves some cities." Democrats were unable to get assistance to state and local governments included in the latest coronavirus aid package agreed to this week, but President Trump has said it will be part of the next relief package.

In other developments:

• Cuomo Announces Tri-State Testing and Contact Tracing Network: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that a coronavirus testing and contact tracing network will be launched in conjunction with Johns Hopkins University that will focus on the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut tri-state area. Billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be spending $10 million of his own money on the creation of the program, which will include hiring what Cuomo called an "army" of workers to do the trace the contacts of people who test positive, as well as identifying and isolating those who are infected.
• Admin. Announces Plan to Pay for COVID-19 Care for Uninsured: Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced an administration plan yesterday to pay coronavirus health care costs for uninsured patients. Under it, hospitals and doctors would submit the bills to the government, and they'd be paid at Medicare rates. The money will come from $100 billion that Congress has approved to help the health care system as it tries to deal with the burden of COVID-19 cases. However, Democrats and some health industry groups say the money allocated by Congress should go directly to health care facilities, and that the uninsured should be covered by expanding programs like Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

• First U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Were as Much as Three Weeks Earlier: Autopsy results from two California residents have shown that the earliest coronavirus deaths in the U.S. were as much as three weeks earlier than had been thought. The two were Santa Clara County residents, one a 57-year-old woman who died on February 6th, and the other a 69-year-old man who died on February 17th. Neither had traveled out of the country to an outbreak area. The first reported death had previously been in Kirkland, Washington, on February 29th, with officials later saying two February 26th deaths were caused by the virus.

➤CHRIS CUOMO'S 14-YEAR-OLD SON HAS CORONAVIRUS: First Chris Cuomo came down with the coronavirus, then his wife Cristina got it, even though the CNN prime time anchor had quarantined himself in the basement of their home, and now one of their three children, 14-year-old Mario, has it too. Cristina Cuomo shared the news on Instagram Wednesday (April 22nd), saying, "After 10 days of ups and downs, feeling good one-day and terrible the next, I am now working hard to get my son, Mario, through the virus." She stated, "This virus does not discriminate. While kids are more resilient, they can suffer same severity of symptoms." She said that among the things she's doing to help Mario is feeding him healthy foods he normally won't touch, since he's lost his senses of smell and taste due to the virus.

➤NFL DRAFT LIKELY TO BE MOST BET ON EVER DUE TO CORONAVIRUS SHUTDOWNS: When the NFL Draft begins tonight (April 23rd), in the virtual format it's being held in because of the coronavirus, American sportsbooks say they expect it will the most bet on football draft ever due to the pandemic, since gamblers have had little else to bet on with most sports shut down. According to the bets being taken at many online sportsbooks, gamblers are predicting the first three picks will be: LSU quarterback Joe Burrow; Ohio State defensive end Chase Young; and Ohio State cornerback Jeffrey Okudah.