Esparanza: A Daily Outsider Public Service Initiative

  As the Quarter comes to a close, we present the following courtesy the team at USAFACTS:    The Delta variant that drove case and death rates up in the second half of the summer and caused several states and cities to reinstate mask mandates has led to an uncertain start to fall. Here are four charts for insight on the state of the pandemic, with new data on who isn’t getting vaccinated and why.  Fourth-wave cases and deaths are at levels not seen since the winter surge.  As of September 13, 210 million people, or 64% of the population, have received at least one dose of the vaccine.   Fifty-five percent of the US population — that’s 179.2 million people — have been fully vaccinated.   New England states have the  highest percentage of vaccinated populations . States as varied as Idaho, Wyoming, Mississippi, and West Virginia have the lowest rates, ranging from 46% to 50%. US public debt  has grown during the pandemic.  The pandem...

Today is Global Citizen Live--It is a honor for us to feature this throughout our properties on this joyous day:

   FEMA Advisory Act Quickly to Prepare for Hurricane Ida Hurricane  Ida is forecast to make landfall along the U.S. northern Gulf coast as a dangerous major hurricane on Sunday. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin late Saturday night or early Saturday morning.  The National Hurricane Center is forecasting an increasing risk of life-threating storm surge along the Gulf Coast. Additionally, there is an increasing risk of dangerous hurricane force winds and extreme rainfall. A few tornadoes will be possible Sunday through early Monday across southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi. Yesterday, President Joseph R. Biden approved Louisiana’s request for an emergency declaration. This declaration authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts by identifying, mobilizing, and providing equipment and resources necessary to alleviate hardship and suffering of the local population. Additionally, it authorizes FEMA to provide appropriate assistance fo...

  As we honor all who've served in Afghanistan, we present the following as we join in saying you're not alone in all our properties: Veterans from all eras are reacting to the events in Afghanistan, such as the U.S withdrawal and the takeover by the Taliban. You are not alone. Veterans may question the meaning of their service or whether it was worth the sacrifices they made. They may feel more moral distress about experiences they had during their service.  It’s normal to feel this way.  Talk with your friends and families, reach out to battle buddies, connect with a peer-to-peer network, or sign up for mental health services. Scroll down for a list common reactions and coping advice.   Resources available right now Veterans Crisis Line  -  If you are having thoughts of suicide, call  1-800-273-8255, then PRESS 1 or visit  http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ For emergency mental health care, you can also go directly to  your local ...