The first New Orleans firefighters were furloughed on Sunday under a plan requiring six unpaid days off by the end of the year to help stem a precipitous decline in city sales tax revenue during the coronavirus pandemic. The city’s furlough requires almost all 4,700 employees to take the six unpaid days, including police, firefighters and other safety workers, reducing their salaries by about 10% and saving the city $6 million.
- PUB DATE: 10/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Nola.com

Just as predicted, the US is now grappling with a new Covid-19 surge -- one that could overwhelm hospitals, kill thousands of Americans a day by January and leave even young survivors with long-term complications. "We went down to the lowest point lately in early September, around 30,000-35,000 new cases a day.
- PUB DATE: 10/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CNN Health

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin says New York City will have to cover a $4 million shortfall to a program that helps 9/11 first responders pay for medical bills. The federal government removed funds to the World Trade Center Health Program to settle debts with the city over several years. Attorney Michael Barasch represents thousands of 9/11 first responders and survivors.
- PUB DATE: 10/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSHU Public Radio

Vancouver Fire Department (VFD) crews were dispatched to the structure fire at 3409 NE 62nd Ave. 3:48 a.m. Sunday. In addition to the initial alarm, a second alarm was struck. The first units on scene arrived with a five-minute response, despite the fact that it was the second structure fire of the shift for many of the crews.
- PUB DATE: 10/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Clark County Today

A couple burned in an eastern Washington wildfire is continuing to recover in Seattle. Jacob and Jamie Hyland were burned while fleeing from the Cold Springs Fire in September. Their unborn child and one-year-old son passed away. An update posted to a GoFundMe page for the couple on Sunday, Oct. 11 says that Jake will be having a skin-flap surgery to help the skin on his hand grow back and involves sewing it to his stomach for three weeks.
- PUB DATE: 10/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KREM-TV CBS 2 Spokane