Stranger Than Fiction

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TOP NEWS

• There are signs that the economy is creeping back to life. Air travel and hotel bookings are up slightly, more people are applying to open new businesses and mortgage applications are rising. For the first time since COVID-19 forced closures, there are corners of the economy that are improving.

• Wealthy hospitals received government relief funds, while smaller, poorer hospitals received tiny amounts. The CARES Act, passed in March, was meant to help struggling hospitals survive a global pandemic, but those formulas devised to distribute the money favored large, wealthy institutions.

• Meat industry workers are getting sick at an alarming rate. More than 11,000 virus cases are tied to three major processors and more than 60 people have died throughout the industry, illustrating the challenge of reopening the country even for essential businesses.

• Schools are beginning to make plans for how they will reopen in the fall. Children who are academically behind or have no internet access would be given preference for in-person learning. Schools are considering having students wear masks, eat lunch in their classrooms and attending in-person only two days a week.

WHAT I’M READING + WATCHING + LISTENING TO

• NY comedian finds humor in Andrew Cuomo’s dad riffs

• Meet the Kettlebell guy of New York City

• At least 107 people have been found to be infected with the coronavirus after some of them attended Sunday services at a church in Frankfurt two weeks ago.

• Taking Note: Ramadan in lockdown

THE COMMENT

"We see our CEO is getting a 21% pay raise while the average, everyday worker has to actually fight and ask and beg for $2," Washington said of the additional hourly "Hero Pay" Kroger will cease paying May 16.

After pressure from unions to continue hazard pay, Kroger announced Friday, it would provide a one-time bonus payment of $400 for full-time workers and $200 for part-time workers as a thank you for "being instrumental in feeding America."

Frontline workers shouldn't have had to beg, Washington said. "These are the people that are taking the risk. They're the ones who have to get out and make it happen. We deserve a little extra credit," he said.

THE STRANGEST

• CDC warns about aggressive cannibal rats who don't have enough garbage to eat

THE AV ROOM

In 2001, the Supreme Court ruled that Greenwich must allow non-residents to use their beaches.