Politics
CDC tells about 180 fired employees to come back to work
The nation’s top public health agency says about 180 employees who were laid off two weeks ago can come back to work.
Emails went out Tuesday to some Centers for Disease Control and Prevention probationary employees who got termination notices last month, according to current and former CDC employees.
A message seen by the Associated Press was sent with the subject line, “Read this e-mail immediately.” It said that “after further review and consideration,” a Feb. 15 termination notice has been rescinded and the employee was cleared to return to work on Wednesday. “You should return to duty under your previous work schedule,” it said. “We apologize for any disruption that this may have caused.”
About 180 people received reinstatement emails, according to two federal health officials who were briefed on the tally but were not authorized to discuss it and spoke on condition of anonymity.
It’s not clear how many of the reinstated employees returned to work Wednesday. And it’s also unclear whether the employees would be spared from widespread job cuts that are expected soon across government agencies.
The CDC is the latest federal agency trying to coax back workers soon after they were dismissed as part of President Donald Trump’s and billionaire Elon Musk’s cost-cutting purge. Similar reversals have been made among employees responsible for medical device oversight, food safety, bird flu response, nuclear weapons and national parks.
The Atlanta-based CDC is charged with protecting Americans from outbreaks and other public health threats. Before the job cuts, the agency had about 13,000 employees.
Last month, Trump administration officials told the CDC that nearly 1,300 of the agency’s probationary employees would be let go. That tally quickly changed, as the number who actually got termination notices turned out to be 700 to 750.
With 180 more people now being told they can return, the actual number of CDC employees terminated so far would seem to stand somewhere around 550. But federal health officials haven’t confirmed any specifics.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last month pledged “ radical transparency ” at the department, but HHS officials have not provided detail about CDC staff changes and did not respond to emailed requests on Tuesday and Wednesday. An agency spokesman, Andrew Nixon, previously told the AP only that CDC had more full-time employees after the job cuts than it did before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those who received reinstatement emails included outbreak responders in two fellowship programs — a two-year training that prepares recent graduates to enter the public health workforce through field experience and a laboratory program that brings in doctorate-holding professionals.
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock celebrated the reinstatements, but said it’s not enough.
“Today’s announcement is a welcome relief, but until all fired CDC employees are restored, our country’s public health and national security will continue to be at risk,” Warnock, a Georgia Democrat, said in a statement Wednesday.
___
Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Post Views: 0
The on-again, off-again battle continues.
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he has postponed 25% tariffs on most goods from Mexico for a month after a conversation with that country’s President.
Trump’s announcement comes after his Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, said tariffs on both Canada and Mexico would “likely” be delayed. This is the second one-month postponement Trump has announced since first unveiling the import taxes in early February. The reprieve would apply to goods that are compliant with the trade agreement Trump negotiated with Canada and Mexico in his first term.
“We are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs threats have roiled financial markets, lowered consumer confidence, and enveloped many businesses in an uncertain atmosphere that could delay hiring and investment. Lutnick emphasized that reciprocal tariffs, in which the United States applies import taxes on countries that tariff U.S. exports, will still be implemented April 2.
U.S. markets bounced of their lows for the day shortly after Lutnick spoke.
Also Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated that he expects his country will be in a trade war with the United States for the foreseeable future.
Trudeau said the broader one-month pause “aligns with some of the conversations that we have been having with administration officials.”
The Canadian leader said the move by the Trump administration was a “promising sign,” but it also “means that the tariffs remain in place and therefore our response will remain in place.”
___
Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Post Views: 0
Roughly 80% of people who come to town say they will return.
Vacationing in Jacksonville? You’re not alone.
That’s the takeaway from a report released by Visit Jacksonville, which shows a lot of people are visiting the Northeast Florida city — and they are spending a lot of money.
According to the report conducted by Downs and St. Germain Research, more than 8 million visitors drove more than $7.4 billion in economic impact from October 2023 to September 2024.
Direct spending accounted for a majority of that sum, with $4.1 million being spent by visitors on eating out, going out, renting cars and so on.
Hotels stayed busy as well.
Nearly 5 million rooms were sold. And that drove $31.5 million in bed tax revenues, money used to restore local infrastructure targeting visitors, ranging from stadiums and arenas to performance art spaces.
Many of the visitors are from in-state, with people originating in Orlando, traveling from Tampa or residing in St. Petersburg taking up three of the top five slots.
However, New York City and Atlanta made up the other two, suggesting that Jacksonville is a draw from major cities outside of the state.
And here’s the best news: 4 out of 5 visitors expect to come back to town. That’s a good sign, given that each visitor saves locals an estimated $540 in taxes.
Roughly a quarter of visitors are attracted by advertising. But twice as many come to see family and friends.
Post Views: 0
Former Okaloosa County Commissioner Nathan Boyles is now running to represent House District 3 with support from Florida’s top finance manager.
Boyles’ campaign announced an endorsement from Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, who beat HD 3’s most recent occupant, Joel Rudman, in a Primary for Congress just over a month ago.
Patronis said Boyles would be “ready to start taking out the trash in Tallahassee” the day he arrives at the Capitol.
“He is a businessman and proven conservative that can deliver for President Trump and his America First agenda by standing up to special interests,” Patronis said in a statement.
“Electing Nathan Boyles means the Panhandle will have an America First fighter representing us.”
Patronis’ nod comes three days after Americans for Prosperity Action Florida announced it is backing Boyles in the race.
Boyles is one of eight Republicans competing in a Primary for the party’s nomination in HD 3, which covers all of Santa Rosa County and an inland portion of Okaloosa County.
With more than $22,500 in-pocket as of the latest reporting deadline, he’s raised the most outside dollars in the contest. His closest competitor, Assistant State Attorney Hayden Hudson, has amassed slightly more, but about 40% of his gains are self-loans.
They’re running to replace Rudman, who vacated his HD 3 seat on Jan. 1 to vie for a congressional seat. Patronis, who carried an endorsement from Donald Trump, defeated Rudman and eight other GOP candidates with 66% of the vote.
Others running to succeed Rudman in HD 3 include Rena McQuaig, Wade Merritt, Shon Owens, Joshua Silk, Cindy Smith and Jamie Wells.
The district leans heavily Republican — Rudman won re-election in November with more than 78% of the vote — meaning the Republican Primary’s victor is heavily favored to defeat the lone Democrat running, Dondre Wise.
Boyles, a real estate-turned-solid waste disposal entrepreneur, sat on the Okaloosa County Commission from 2012 to 2024, when he served as Vice Chair. He announced his HD 3 candidacy on Dec. 9.
His community involvements include serving as Chair of the Okaloosa Library Cooperative, Okaloosa Walton Transportation Planning Organization and Crestview Community Redevelopment Agency.
Boyles said in a statement that he “couldn’t be more thankful” for Patronis’ endorsement.
“It’s servant leaders like CFO Patronis who have fought tirelessly for President Trump’s Make America Great Again agenda,” he said. “I’m running for the Florida House to continue fighting for the MAGA agenda and I will help President Trump secure our border, grow our economy, and support our great military and veterans.”
The Primary for HD 3 is on April 1, followed by the Special General Election on June 10.
Post Views: 0
Arson Suspect Lights Self on Fire While Trying to Blow Up Car, on Video
Pomellato taps Jane Fonda in campaign denouncing domestic violence
Donald Trump delays tariffs on most goods from Mexico for a month
-
Entertainment8 years agoThe final 6 ‘Game of Thrones’ episodes might feel like a full season
-
Entertainment8 years ago
Mod turns ‘Counter-Strike’ into a ‘Tekken’ clone with fighting chickens
-
Politics8 years ago
Congress rolls out ‘Better Deal,’ new economic agenda
-
Entertainment8 years ago
New Season 8 Walking Dead trailer flashes forward in time
-
Tech8 years ago
Microsoft Paint is finally dead, and the world Is a better place
-
Tech8 years ago
Hulu hires Google marketing veteran Kelly Campbell as CMO
-
Tech8 years ago
Ford’s 2018 Mustang GT can do 0-to-60 mph in under 4 seconds
-
Politics8 years ago
Illinois’ financial crisis could bring the state to a halt