Response

Warning sirens are meant to notify people who are outdoors, and they’re designed to be heard by people near open windows if the power goes out and televisions and cellphones aren’t working, officials said Tuesday.

Cases have been rising across the country, but the Northeast has been especially hard hit. Four New England states, including Maine, are in the top five states for new cases per 100,000 people over the last seven days.

“Nearly two years into the disruption of this pandemic, we are all COVID weary and we all want life to return to more normal times. But as the saying, goes, COVID is not done with us.”

The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will coordinate disaster relief efforts, which includes providing equipment and resources for cleanup. The federal government will pay for 75% of the costs.

The rash of mass violence in November and a year-over-year increase in the number of teens killed and injured in Aurora shootings highlight what some city officials and community leaders described as a lack of attention by the city.

Even without known cases of the Omicron variant, Indiana hospitals reported about 2,750 COVID-19 patients as of Tuesday. That number has more than doubled in the past four weeks, putting a strain on hospitals across the state.

“For many of us, the symptoms of COVID-19 can seem just like a cold, but for those members of our public who are most vulnerable, residents who are immune-compromised, older adults and those who are not vaccinated, symptoms can require hospitalization.”

Gary Peters, D- Bloomfield Township, introduced The Disclosing All Spending That Ensures Relief, or "Disaster" Act in the Senate Wednesday, Dec. 1. The bill would require federal agencies to track spending and relief expenditures on disasters.

The Star compared Tucson's 911 "ring times" to a standard set by the National Emergency Numbers Association, which requires 95% of 911 calls to be answered within 20 seconds of receiving a call.

Omicron has spread to several regions, including Australia, Belgium, Britain, Hong Kong, Israel and Italy. Some cases have no connection to South Africa, suggesting the variant may already be spreading locally.

Researchers are feverishly working to better understand the variant, which reportedly has more than 30 mutations in the spike protein that is pivotal in gaining access to healthy cells, top scientists said on Sunday.

A marching band was playing “Jingle Bells” and the crowd was jovial as the parade wound through downtown Waukesha, Wis., when a red SUV barreled through, according to a social media video from the city’s feed.

Maury County, Tenn., Mayor Andy Ogles issued the order Thursday afternoon in response to a federal mandate requiring health care providers that receive federal Medicare and Medicaid funding to have all staff members vaccinated for COVID-19.

The CRASE program is conducted by the Odessa Police Department for groups and businesses seeking more knowledge about how to prepare for an active shooter situation or a safety assessment of their establishment.

More than 40 cases of physical and verbal abuse against staff have been reported over the past year at Oneida Health, a 101-bed hospital in Oneida, N.Y. The number of cases is probably higher than that because many incidents go unreported.

The new computer-aided dispatch, or CAD, system replaces technology that has been in use for more than 20 years. The upgraded system will provide new services to officers and first responders, while making it easier for officers to file reports.

"When you look at FEMA , it really revolves around East Coast and Midwestern disasters — it's floods, it's hurricanes, it's tornadoes," Santa Rosa Fire Chief Scott Westrope said.

The Fire Department said in a statement that it has had to increase overtime hours in light of demands associated with the coronavirus, and is keeping track of such expenses in order to seek federal reimbursement where possible.