2026.05.19
May. 19th, 2026 11:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lsandersonWHO considers use of experimental vaccines as Ebola cases and deaths rise in DRC
WHO chief said he was ‘deeply concerned’ after at least 500 suspected Ebola cases and 130 deaths reported in outbreak of Bundibugyo strain
Kat Lay in Geneva
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/19/ebola-outbreak-drc-who-tedros-adhanom-ghebreyesus-deeply-concerned
‘It’s heartbreaking’: panic in eastern DRC over return of Ebola
Residents of Ituri province fear spread of disease and economic impact of outbreak six years after the last
Carlos Mureithi in Nairobi and Prosper Heri Ngorora in Goma
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/18/ituri-eastern-drc-ebola-outbreak-panic-fear
What is Ebola and why is WHO treating outbreak as global health emergency?
Strain of fatal disease has no vaccine and conflict in DRC makes containing spread difficult as Uganda reports cases
Denis Campbell Health policy editor
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/17/what-is-ebola-why-who-says-drc-uganda-outbreak-global-health-emergency
Infectious diseases such as hantavirus and Ebola becoming more frequent and damaging, say experts
Pandemic report warns of growing global threat as health teams in Africa move to contain Ebola outbreak
Kat Lay, Global health correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/may/18/infectious-diseases-hantavirus-ebola-more-frequent-damaging-pandemic-outbreak
Measles has the highest basic reproduction number (R factor) of any known human disease. It typically ranges between 12 and 18. This means a single infected person will spread the virus to 12 to 18 others on average in an entirely susceptible population.
Because the R factor is so high, measles is highly contagious and requires very high vaccination rates (often around 95%) to achieve community immunity.
Diseases with notably high values include:
Pertussis (Whooping Cough): 12 to 17.
Chickenpox (Varicella): 10 to 12.
Mumps: 10 to 12.
COVID-19 (highly transmissible variants like Omicron): historically peaks around 8 to 12.
Polio: 4 to 12.
Smallpox 3.5 to 6.0.
Ebola: 1.5 to 2.5.
Source: Dr. Google
Comedian Paula Poundstone on pogo-sticks and politics
Poundstone will perform in St. Cloud on Friday evening, May 22, for a stop on her national tour.
by Sheila Regan
https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2026/05/comedian-paula-poundstone-on-pogo-sticks-and-politics/
How Minnesota lawmakers defied expectations to pass a bipartisan affordable housing law in the session’s final week
State lawmakers and experts said the Minnesota affordable housing bill will save thousands from eviction but also isn’t enough.
by Shadi Bushra
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/05/how-minnesota-lawmakers-defied-expectations-pass-bipartisan-affordable-housing-law/
Minnesota, the heart of ICE resistance, failed to join other blue states in curbing aggressive enforcement
A divided Legislature kept measures that have passed in California, Oregon and elsewhere from moving forward. It’s sure to become a campaign theme.
by Cleo Krejci
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/05/minnesota-heart-of-ice-resistance-failed-to-join-blue-states-curbing-enforcement/
Prosecutors say Aimee Bock should receive a 50-year prison sentence, arguing the “brazen and staggering nature of her crimes has shaken Minnesota to its core,” the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. Bock’s sentencing in the Feeding Our Future fraud case takes place Thursday. Her attorney is arguing for 37 months, noting she turned over documents to investigators. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/fraud-feeding-our-future-minnesota-aimee-bock-sentencing/601845468
Minnesota law enforcement officers handed out nearly 5,500 tickets during last month’s crackdown on distracted driving in the state including a St. Cloud woman ticketed for typing on a laptop while holding a phone in traffic and another person who was caught six times during the campaign, the Star Tribune reported Monday. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/not-getting-the-message-nearly-5500-drivers-ticketed-last-month-for-using-devices-behind-the-wheel/601843506?utm_source=gift
US claims ‘emergency refugee situation’ as it admits 10,000 more white South Africans
Trump has repeatedly made false claims that white Afrikaners facing genocide with costs of resettling them at $100m
Rachel Savage in Johannesburg and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/19/us-government-increase-white-south-africa-refugees
Jackson Pollock painting sells for record $181m at Christie’s in New York
Abstract expressionist’s Number 7A, 1948, becomes the fourth most expensive work ever sold at auction
Agence France-Presse in New York
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/may/19/jackson-pollock-painting-sells-for-record-181m-christies-new-york-auction
‘America’s Mona Lisa’: how chance, genius and cheap paint made the masterpiece Whistler’s Mother
When his 15-year-old model did a runner, Whistler’s mother stepped in. As the triumphant result arrives in Britain, the work’s restorer writes about its creator’s brilliance – while wishing he’d used better paint
Sarah Walden
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/may/19/americas-mona-lisa-whistlers-mother
Why more US women are moving abroad: ‘It’s because of Trump, right? Yes and no’
As many as 40% of women aged 15 to 44 say they want to migrate, citing better work life balance to Trump’s politics
Ashifa Kassam European community affairs correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/19/us-women-migrating-europe-politics
Why data sleuths are archiving the Jeffrey Epstein files: ‘We want to provide some clarity’
Tommy Carstensen oversees one of the most sophisticated archives of Epstein materials, while Tristan Lee’s database allows searches of faces who appear in the files
Sean Craig
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/19/jeffrey-epstein-files-data-sleuths-archives
‘If your financial adviser is earning a commission, I say, run’: An investing expert’s advice
Personal finance guru Jeremy Schneider explains what human experts can still do better than robo-investors and AI
Adam Auriemma
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/may/19/do-you-need-a-financial-advisor
Billie Jean King graduates from college at age 82 after leaving for tennis: ‘Yeah baby, only 61 years!’
King distinguished herself as a tennis champ at Cal State Los Angeles, winning Wimbledon doubles while enrolled
Roque Planas
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/18/billie-jean-king-college-graduation
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu review – helmeted hero tangles with hateful Hutts in decent feature outing
The badass bounty hunter and his little green friend take on the Empire and Jabba the Hutt’s family in this solid enough addition to the ever-expanding universe
Peter Bradshaw
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/19/star-wars-the-mandalorian-and-grogu-review-helmeted-hero-tangles-with-hateful-hutts-in-decent-feature-outing
A Few Feet Away review – Buenos Aires slacker tries to balance app life and real sex in vivid hookup drama
Tadeo Pestaña Caro’s debut feature trails a young man’s compulsive screen time and his panic when faced with real intimacy
Phuong Le
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/19/a-few-feet-away-review-buenos-aires-slacker-tries-to-balance-app-life-and-real-sex-in-vivid-hookup-drama
WHO chief said he was ‘deeply concerned’ after at least 500 suspected Ebola cases and 130 deaths reported in outbreak of Bundibugyo strain
Kat Lay in Geneva
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/19/ebola-outbreak-drc-who-tedros-adhanom-ghebreyesus-deeply-concerned
‘It’s heartbreaking’: panic in eastern DRC over return of Ebola
Residents of Ituri province fear spread of disease and economic impact of outbreak six years after the last
Carlos Mureithi in Nairobi and Prosper Heri Ngorora in Goma
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/18/ituri-eastern-drc-ebola-outbreak-panic-fear
What is Ebola and why is WHO treating outbreak as global health emergency?
Strain of fatal disease has no vaccine and conflict in DRC makes containing spread difficult as Uganda reports cases
Denis Campbell Health policy editor
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/17/what-is-ebola-why-who-says-drc-uganda-outbreak-global-health-emergency
Infectious diseases such as hantavirus and Ebola becoming more frequent and damaging, say experts
Pandemic report warns of growing global threat as health teams in Africa move to contain Ebola outbreak
Kat Lay, Global health correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/may/18/infectious-diseases-hantavirus-ebola-more-frequent-damaging-pandemic-outbreak
Measles has the highest basic reproduction number (R factor) of any known human disease. It typically ranges between 12 and 18. This means a single infected person will spread the virus to 12 to 18 others on average in an entirely susceptible population.
Because the R factor is so high, measles is highly contagious and requires very high vaccination rates (often around 95%) to achieve community immunity.
Diseases with notably high values include:
Pertussis (Whooping Cough): 12 to 17.
Chickenpox (Varicella): 10 to 12.
Mumps: 10 to 12.
COVID-19 (highly transmissible variants like Omicron): historically peaks around 8 to 12.
Polio: 4 to 12.
Smallpox 3.5 to 6.0.
Ebola: 1.5 to 2.5.
Source: Dr. Google
Comedian Paula Poundstone on pogo-sticks and politics
Poundstone will perform in St. Cloud on Friday evening, May 22, for a stop on her national tour.
by Sheila Regan
https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2026/05/comedian-paula-poundstone-on-pogo-sticks-and-politics/
How Minnesota lawmakers defied expectations to pass a bipartisan affordable housing law in the session’s final week
State lawmakers and experts said the Minnesota affordable housing bill will save thousands from eviction but also isn’t enough.
by Shadi Bushra
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/05/how-minnesota-lawmakers-defied-expectations-pass-bipartisan-affordable-housing-law/
Minnesota, the heart of ICE resistance, failed to join other blue states in curbing aggressive enforcement
A divided Legislature kept measures that have passed in California, Oregon and elsewhere from moving forward. It’s sure to become a campaign theme.
by Cleo Krejci
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/05/minnesota-heart-of-ice-resistance-failed-to-join-blue-states-curbing-enforcement/
Prosecutors say Aimee Bock should receive a 50-year prison sentence, arguing the “brazen and staggering nature of her crimes has shaken Minnesota to its core,” the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. Bock’s sentencing in the Feeding Our Future fraud case takes place Thursday. Her attorney is arguing for 37 months, noting she turned over documents to investigators. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/fraud-feeding-our-future-minnesota-aimee-bock-sentencing/601845468
Minnesota law enforcement officers handed out nearly 5,500 tickets during last month’s crackdown on distracted driving in the state including a St. Cloud woman ticketed for typing on a laptop while holding a phone in traffic and another person who was caught six times during the campaign, the Star Tribune reported Monday. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/not-getting-the-message-nearly-5500-drivers-ticketed-last-month-for-using-devices-behind-the-wheel/601843506?utm_source=gift
US claims ‘emergency refugee situation’ as it admits 10,000 more white South Africans
Trump has repeatedly made false claims that white Afrikaners facing genocide with costs of resettling them at $100m
Rachel Savage in Johannesburg and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/19/us-government-increase-white-south-africa-refugees
Jackson Pollock painting sells for record $181m at Christie’s in New York
Abstract expressionist’s Number 7A, 1948, becomes the fourth most expensive work ever sold at auction
Agence France-Presse in New York
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/may/19/jackson-pollock-painting-sells-for-record-181m-christies-new-york-auction
‘America’s Mona Lisa’: how chance, genius and cheap paint made the masterpiece Whistler’s Mother
When his 15-year-old model did a runner, Whistler’s mother stepped in. As the triumphant result arrives in Britain, the work’s restorer writes about its creator’s brilliance – while wishing he’d used better paint
Sarah Walden
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/may/19/americas-mona-lisa-whistlers-mother
Why more US women are moving abroad: ‘It’s because of Trump, right? Yes and no’
As many as 40% of women aged 15 to 44 say they want to migrate, citing better work life balance to Trump’s politics
Ashifa Kassam European community affairs correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/19/us-women-migrating-europe-politics
Why data sleuths are archiving the Jeffrey Epstein files: ‘We want to provide some clarity’
Tommy Carstensen oversees one of the most sophisticated archives of Epstein materials, while Tristan Lee’s database allows searches of faces who appear in the files
Sean Craig
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/19/jeffrey-epstein-files-data-sleuths-archives
‘If your financial adviser is earning a commission, I say, run’: An investing expert’s advice
Personal finance guru Jeremy Schneider explains what human experts can still do better than robo-investors and AI
Adam Auriemma
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/may/19/do-you-need-a-financial-advisor
Billie Jean King graduates from college at age 82 after leaving for tennis: ‘Yeah baby, only 61 years!’
King distinguished herself as a tennis champ at Cal State Los Angeles, winning Wimbledon doubles while enrolled
Roque Planas
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/18/billie-jean-king-college-graduation
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu review – helmeted hero tangles with hateful Hutts in decent feature outing
The badass bounty hunter and his little green friend take on the Empire and Jabba the Hutt’s family in this solid enough addition to the ever-expanding universe
Peter Bradshaw
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/19/star-wars-the-mandalorian-and-grogu-review-helmeted-hero-tangles-with-hateful-hutts-in-decent-feature-outing
A Few Feet Away review – Buenos Aires slacker tries to balance app life and real sex in vivid hookup drama
Tadeo Pestaña Caro’s debut feature trails a young man’s compulsive screen time and his panic when faced with real intimacy
Phuong Le
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/19/a-few-feet-away-review-buenos-aires-slacker-tries-to-balance-app-life-and-real-sex-in-vivid-hookup-drama
