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Commentary, Chronicle and Breaking News

Frank X. Didik
The facts and only the facts, without editorialization or opinion. You decide what to believe.

January 31, 2021 New York, NY A massive snow storm is headed towards New York City with expected snow accumulations of between 12 and 17 inches. The storm is expected to start around 4PM today and end on Tuesday, February 1, in the afternoon. Mayor Bill DeBlasio has declared a state of emergency and is urging all non essential workers to stay home, because of hazardous conditions.

January 28, 2021 New York, NY It has been reported that the American Journal of Medicine has published a study affirming the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine for use in treating Covid-19. This was the same medicine that former President Trump was pushing, but was at the time said to be ineffective in treating Covid-19.

January 28, 2021 New York, NY It has been reported that NY nursing home deaths from Covid-19 were 50 percent higher than claimed. This includes nursing home individuals who died in the hospital, rather than in the nursing home. An investigation in on going by the New York State attorney generals office.

January 28, 2021 Washington D.C. It has been reported to the National Vaccine Information Center (VAERS), which is a vaccine adverse reaction tracking system funded by the Center fro Disease Control (CDC) that 273 people have died and 9,845 people have had adverse reactions after receiving the Covid-19 vaccination, as of this date. This is out of about 2 million people who have received the vaccination. Reporting to this federally funded site is optional and thus the numbers may be higher. https://medalerts.org/vearsdb/findfield.php? .

January 28, 2021 New York, NY New York City is expected to experience an extreme cold spell starting tomorrow and extending till Saturday, January 30, with lows going down to 15F and highs only in the low 20's.

January 23, 2021 Washington, D.C. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention Domestic Surveillance (CDC) told the Washington Post that during the second week in January, only 27 people tested positive for the flu in the United States. This contrasts with 14,657 who tested positive for the flu the same time in 2020. This is the lowest number of flu cases in at least 30 years. Some reasons given for this includes more people getting the flu vaccine, social distancing and other measures to help slow the spread of Covid-19. Some have suggested that flu cases have been mis-diagnosed as Covid 19 cases. If this was the case, adjusted yearly, this would mean that over 750,000 flu cases were said to be Covid-19 cases.

January 20, 2021, 12 noon Washington, D.C. Joseph R. Biden has been sworn in as the 46 president of the United States after a very contentious election with rampant accusations of massive election fraud and allegations of a stolen election. Washington D.C. is a closed city, with the streets deserted. Instead of thousands of people in the Capital Mall, the area was empty and instead an estimated 200,000 flags were stuck in the grassy mall. The official narrative was that the flags represented the large number of people who are said to have died of the Corona/Covid illness. Unlike previous elections since the founding of the country in 1789, there were almost no civilians watching the election. Some say that President Biden's inauguration was attended by the largest crowd of his career, with the 25,000 plus National Guard troops and thousands of police officers from around the country. Unfortunately the country is still divided almost down the middle with half of the country still believing that the election was stolen. The philosophies of the two sides are radically different. The "conservatives" believe in the idea of America first, anti abortion, lower taxes, less regulations, anti-immigration and self reliance. The "liberals" believe that the government must take a greater roll in taxing the rich, paying for services such as medical, food, housing, for the people of moderate means as well as greater laws with the hope of improving the environment and controlling the effects of the theory of climate change, as well as eliminating the notion of American exceptianalism and making the USA one country of many, rather than somehow better than other countries. These differences will not make it easy for unification of the country.

January 19, 2021 Washington, D.C. The NYPD has sent 200 police officers to assist in the presidential inauguration tomorrow. Countrywide, 3,000 police officers were requested to serve in Washington D.C. along with an estimated 25,000 National Guard troops.

January 19, 2021 Washington, D.C. Is in complete lockdown and is essentially a closed city in preparation from the presidential inauguration Joe Biden tomorrow.

January 18, 2021 Brooklyn, NY A large group of protesters marched from the Barclay Center on Atlantic Avenue to Manhattan protesting. A number of protesters, believed to be numbering over 20, were arrested in Manhattan. They are protesting that a Police Officer assigned to the 84Pct in Brooklyn allegedly drew his gun when he was confronted by a different group of protesters. He never pointed the gun at the protesters, quickly put the gun back in his holster, then pulled out a can of pepper spray, which his never used, put it away and finally simply held his baton, though again, never used it. One can only wonder what the outcome would have been in different cities or countries.

January 16, 2021 Washington, D.C. Washington D.C. has become essentially like a closed city. There are military checkpoints to enter and leave downtown Washington. Bridges from nearby Virginia and scheduled to be closed next week, prior to the inauguration of President elect Biden. The National Guard has been authorized to use lethal force. This is probably the first time since the Civil War that this has happened. Such actions are reminiscent of the old Soviet Union. The country is clearly extremely divided with about half the voters under the impression that the election was somehow stolen and that the election numbers are tainted.

January 14, 2021 New York, NY According to the New York Post, New York City tenants owe over 1.1 Billion Dollars. Further, about 50,000 tenants are more than $15,000 behind in rent. Presently, there is an eviction moratorium in NYC, that in December, was extended to May 1, 2021. Some tenants have not paid rent since March, 2020. This is a huge burden on landlords who are hoping for Federal Government (taxpayer) funds to cover some or all of the rent. The eviction moratorium also covers mortgages and certain foreclosure actions till May 1, 2021. Further, non-payment can not be used as a blemish in credit reports.

January 14, 2021 It has been reported that Merck has abandoned its Covid-19 vaccine efforts. The company announced that their shots V590 and V591 were "well tolerated" by test patients, however they developed "inferior" immune system response, in comparison with the natural infection. Thus a person who has had Covid-19 had superior resistance to getting the virus again. Merck stated that they would concentrate their efforts on therapeutic Covid-19 drugs including MK-7110 and MK-4482 that in phase 3 studies has shown a greater than 50% reduction in deaths for patients hospitalized with Covid-19. The drugs are designed to prevent patients from damage from an overactive immune response to the virus.

January, 2021 The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a federal database, has reported that 55 people have died after receiving either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, according two reports submitted to the system.

January 13, 2021 Washington, D.C. It is now estimated that 20,000 National Guard troops have entered Washington, D.C. in advance of President elect Joe Biden's swearing in ceremony on January 20. Further, it has been reported that the troops are being issued live ammunition, such is the fear that there may be civil unrest in this most contested election and swearing in since Lincoln in 1861. For the first time in memory, the ceremony will be a "virtual" ceremony and presumably not held outside.

January 12, 2021 Washington, D.C. The United States military joint chiefs have distributed a shocking letter to all troops telling the soldiers not to participate in any sedition or revolt. This might be interpreted as a fear that the soldiers themselves may take sides. For the record, the President of the United States is the commander and chief of all military services and he is followed by the Secretary of Defense. The joint Chiefs are under the president.

January 11, 2021 New York, NY According to an NYPD press release dated January 6, 2021, the overall crime rate in 2020 reached a record low. In 2020, the overall all reported incidents was 95,552 which was 681 less than 2019 and 11,668 fewer incidents than in 2014.

January 11, 2021 It has been reported that Twitter has suspended over 70,000 accounts for sharing QAnon information. Though some ideas seem absurd to many people, such as alien abductions and whatever, traditionally in America, we had the concept of free speech. Such censorship runs counter to American ideals. Similar to shopping malls, which are also privately owned, social media platforms have emerged as the new town square for expressing ideas, no matter how absurd or unreasonable it might seem to others. The courts have long ruled that free speech is permitted in shopping malls.

January 11, 2021 Washington D.C. About 6,000 National Guard troops from various states are expected to arrive in Washington D.C. to increase security around the Capital. There is fear that the presidential swearing in on January 20th may incite another wave of violence. Such a show of force has not been seen since 1861, with the swearing in of President Lincoln.

January 10, 2021 New York, NY The radical socialist group Antifa, all dressed in black, marched down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, starting at 59 Street. The front row of this group carried homemade steel shields, that looked as though they were made from cut in half 55 gallon steel drums. This group reminds many like the paramilitary fascist groups in Spain, Italy and elsewhere, in the 1930's. Though they say they are for freedom and free speech, they do not seem to accept any viewpoint except their own. Unfortunately, this intolerance seems the norm in 2021 America. What ever happened to the ideal of uncensored, free speech and expression of ideas?

January 10, 2021 Quebec Canada In an effort to control an stated new strain of the Corona/Covid-19 Virus, Quebec has instituted very strong rules governing personal movement. A curfew has been imposed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., no one is allowed on the streets. Anyone caught outside during this lock-down period is subject to a $6,000 (Canadian / $4500 US) fine.

January 10, 2021 There is concern emerging that the country may be falling into a new type of totalitarian situation. Over the past four days, the privately owned social media companies have banned the President of the United States from addressing his followers. Apparently, though unconfirmed, thousands of Trump followers has been banned from the same sites. Reports have come in that people have lost their jobs for joining in the protest (not the invasion of the capital building), including police officers, fire department personnel, school teachers and many others. In some cases, various websites that cater to conservative views have apparently been banned by the major hosting sites. Some people in the media and government has stated that a database should be created to register the Presidents supporters , so that they may be "held accountable" for the presidents actions. This is unheard of in American history. Though one might not agree with certain political views, traditionally political talk and assembly has been protected by the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

January 10, 2021 Washington D.C Representative and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi is pushing to remove President Donald J. Trump from office using the the 25th Amendment. Mr. Trump has ten days left in office before president elect Joe Biden is sworn in to be the next president.

January 8, 2021 Washington D.C Sadly, it was confirmed that a Capital Police Officer died Thursday night of injuries sustained during the violent riots on Wednesday at the Capital. Unconfirmed reports state that the officer was struck in the head by a fire extinguisher hurled at him.

January 8, 2021 Washington D.C There has been calls from the Democrats and some republicans to remove President Trump from office, using the 25th Amendment. President Trump has been blamed for the riots that emerged during the huge pro-Trump rally on Wednesday, January 6 and the and brief take over of the Capital Building. Vice President Pence, who has apparently recently broken from President Trump, is said to be opposed to removing the President with the 25th Amendment. President Trump has only 12 days left in office before President elect Biden is sworn in.

January 8, 2021 Washington D.C Video's have emerged that conflicts with our earlier report of non-violent protests at the Capital. There have also been unconfirmed reports and circumstantial evidence indicating that members of Antifa infiltrated the pro-Trump protesters and acted as agent provocateurs and instigated violence. There are many speculative stories coming out of Washington D.C. at this time.

January 7, 2021 Washington D.C In the wake of the Pro-Trump protests, president elect Joe Biden stated that he plans to make it a priority of new domestic terrorism laws.

January 7, 2021 Washington D.C First hand account of the events of the day by photographer photo/journalist Sue Ann Miller exclusive for News1.net:

"I was there. In the front lines of an angry -- yet PEACEFUL -- crowd of thousands of pro Trump supporters who were attempting to have their voices heard. When the temporary fences were breached around the Capitol Building and the Capitol police were forced to fall back, I managed to get on the top row of the temporary structure for inaugural guests and had a very good view of the Capital doors.

NO ONE got in that way. No one. There were continual skirmishes between the police, who often sprayed the people in front with 12' red streams of pepper spray from industrial-type sprayers (not the little cans), who would then fall back, or throw flagpole sticks and water bottles at the police. Several police plexi shields were pulled away and used against them. The police occasionally lobbed tear gas cannisters at the packed areas, but not too often because of the risk to hit someone in the dense crowd. Aside from that one contested door -- where there were some almost funny 'poking contests' with police and citizens both using long flag sticks to 'beat on' each other -- it was as if both sides were VERY mindful these were fellow Americans. That single door was never breached, despite repeated pounding. At one point, a 10' construction ladder was used as a rammer, but got pulled inside by the cops. No weapons, no shots on either side. The pro Trump supporters brought no tools... and no plan, no organization.

But, there was a LOT of CS gas used. The pro Trump supporters peacefully refused to leave, and after dark, several hundred Virginia State police in full riot gear arrived, used massive clouds of tear gas, and marched towards the crowd in an elbow-to-elbow line. They pushed the crowd back to a granite wall. The Virginia State troopers discipline was very good and did not react to taunts. Like robots. ZERO violence, I only saw ONE bloodied person who had the misfortune of being hit by a tear gas grenade.

I was so covered in tear gas, that I had to wash my hair 3 times. Swollen eyes, coughing, crying -- we just poured water on our masks, which btw, 2/3 of people were not wearing, did have one in my pocket -- and maintained as well we could.

No rioters. No violent cops. Just a lot of really pissed-off, citizens. Plenty of Grandma's, like me. No kids. If people had breached that hotly contested door, OUR House would have been peacefully flooded with touristy respectfully gawking wall-to-wall middle Americans, tempering any over-enthusiastic young pro Trump supporters attempted vandalism of those hallowed halls. Whoever DID get inside had to have been LET IN through another door." -- A first hand account by By Sue Ann Miller exclusive for News1.net.

Note: Sue Ann Miller, based in North Carolina, is a known fashion photographer and photojournalist who over the past 40 years, has been published in countless leading fashion magazines and newspapers world wide including the New York Times, regarding the NYC area.

January 6, 2021 Washington D.C By 7:30 PM, the capital building was cleared of pro-trump people. In a late night session, Joe Biden electoral college election was confirmed and Joe Biden will be sworn into office on January 20, 2021. It is interesting to note that close to 130 Republican representatives and senators had stated that they would oppose the Biden confirmation, however after the brief pro-Trump capital takeover, they changed their minds and went with the Democrats in accepting President elect Biden. The country is deeply divided down the middle, with half of the country claiming that the election was stolen because of ballot stuffing. The differences are so great that it remains to be seen what will happen next.

January 6, 2021 Washington D.C The Republicans have "lost" Georgia and with Georgia, the Democrats now control both the House of Representatives as well as the Senate. This means that the Democrats will be able to carry out their policies without obstacles.

January 6, 2021 Washington D.C The U.S. Capital building, which has been occupied by belligerents for the first time since the War of 1812, when it was occupied and then all but burnt down by Canadian troops under control of the British, has been cleared of protesters. During the afternoon occupation, representatives and senators ran away, in terror no doubt, from the invading protesters. Besides the main capital room, many representatives and senators had their private offices occupied including Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi's office. At least one person was shot to death During the occupation. The protesters allege that the last presidential election was stolen from President Donald J. Trump, by a conspiracy of Democratic groups. President Trump has refused to concede the election loss to apparent President elect, Joe Biden. Since country is divided down the middle, with very different points of view, the thought that enters everyone's mind is if this division might lead to civil unrest.

The pro-Trump crowds around the U.S. Capital building has swelled to
several hundred thousand people of all ages and walks of life.
Washington, D.C. March January 6, 2021 1:15PM
By Sue Ann Miller exclusive for News1.net

January 6, 2021 Washington D.C At the request of the U.S. National Guard, Governor Andrew Cuomo is sending 1,000 National Guard members to Washington D.C..

January 6, 2021 Washington D.C A woman was shot in the neck allegedly by a Congressional security agent, threw a closed door with a broken glass window. The women was said to be in the back of a large crowd. It has been reported that the woman has died of this wound and has been identified as a 14 year Air Force veteran named Ashley Babbitt from San Diego and was apparently a former security expert.

SPECIAL FOR NEWS1.net Developing story: January 6, 2021 1:15PM Washington D.C Our photographer in Washington D.C. just texted us that Trump supporters have overwhelmed the Washington D.C. police and have entered into the capital building. Supposedly people inside of the building are hiding from the protesters. Cellular internet access is either being overused or has been cut off. More soon.

Washington, D.C. March January 6, 2021 1:15PM
By Sue Ann Miller exclusive for News1.net

January 6, 2021 1:15PM Washington D.C Vice President Mike Pence, at the election certification, has stated in a letter that he does not have the power to block a congressional certification of Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election. Vice President Pence stated that he did not believe that the founders of the country intended to invest the vice president with the unilateral authority to decide which electoral votes should be counted during the joint session of Congress.

January 6, 2021 Washington D.C 12:00 noon President Donald J. Trump addresses the crowd of his supporters who have entered Washington DC ahead of the election certification. According to a News1.net photographer at the event, the crowd is not as large as some had expected, and the crowd is very peaceful, but unhappy about the turn of events. Photographs to follow shortly.

January 5, 2021 It would seem that most people in the United States are very reluctant to take the quickly developed Corona/Covid-19 vaccination. It is estimated that only 22 percent of the shipped vaccines has been administered country wide. To encourage people to take the vaccination, a hospital in Texas is paying their medical staff $500 if they take the vaccine. Still, only a small percentage of the medical staff has agreed to take the vaccine.

January 4, 2021 New York City It was reveled that of the 630,000 Covid-19 vaccinations sent to New York State, only 200,000 has been administered. Surprisingly, this 30 percent usage is higher than the national average with only about 22 percent of the shipped vaccines having been injected into people. Most of the people who received the Covid-19 vaccinations appear to be in nursing homes and a handful of medical workers. The question is if people are refusing to take this rapidly brought to market vaccination or if the state distribution methods are not efficient. In New York State, governor Cuomo and mayor De Blasio are blaming each other for the low numbers. The exact numbers of people who have submitted to the vaccination is not known in New York State, since the state has stopped releasing the statistics.

January 4, 2021 Washington D.C The Washington D.C. residence of Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri was attacked by Atifa protesters demanding that he not contest the election certification tomorrow. Apparently some of the "protesters" attempted to break into his home where his wife and infant child was. The Senator himself was in Missouri. According to Senator Hawley, the protesters screamed threats, vandalized, and tried to pound open his door before police arrived. The country is divided down the middle and this may well lead to civil unrest. It has elements of what happened before the Spanish civil war in the 1930's.

January 3, 2021 Washington D.C President Donald J. Trump tweets that the number of Covid-19 cases is far exaggerated. The exact quote is "The number of cases and deaths of the China Virus is far exaggerated in the United States because of @CDCgov's ridiculous method of determination compared to other countries, many of whom report purposely, very inaccurately and low. "When in doubt, call it Covid" Fake News!"--President Donald Trump.

January 3, 2021 New York City A crazed bat wielding man attached and injured multiple people require hospitalization and then carjacked and crashed, two separate vehicles. The rampage started in Tribeca. It is essential that the bail reform act be repealed or modified and that violent accused criminals remain in custody, without being released before their trials. Further, the NYPD must be properly funded and allowed to do their job of protecting innocent people, property and maintaining order. Presently, the sudden crime wave is out of control.