SeaWorld is temporarily furloughing over 90% of its employees as of April 1 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Its workers won’t be paid after March 31 but will be eligible for unemployment benefits, the company stated in an SEC filing. “Our parks will remain closed and are unable to generate revenue; therefore, we have made…… MORE
A version of this article first appeared in the “Reliable Sources” newsletter. You can sign up for free right here. Misinformation and family While the coronavirus pandemic has isolated family and friends inside their homes, it has in many cases increased online or over-the-phone communication with loved ones. For instance, that my family’s iMessage group…… MORE
Thomas Keller, the famed chef behind restaurants including The French Laundry and Per Se, is seeking a court judgment to confirm his insurance company should cover coronavirus-related business losses. Keller’s attorney says the suit against insurer Hartford Fire Insurance Company — and other similar challenges filed by restaurant owners — is intended to establish legal…… MORE
Doris Burke, who works as an NBA analyst for ESPN, says she is now symptom-free, after testing positive for coronavirus earlier this month. Burke talked about her experience with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday’s episode of “The Woj Pod.” She felt her first symptoms on March 11, she said, the same day the NBA suspended…… MORE
Boeing still expects to get some help from the federal government. Just not the same kind of help that the airlines are set to receive. Although the federal government likely will end up owning stakes in the nation’s airlines, taxpayers probably won’t receive shares of Boeing. The aircraft maker asked for help from the federal…… MORE
President Trump’s media allies and social media attack dogs are deflecting criticism of the federal government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic by giving viewers and Twitterers other targets of ire. The targets include Democratic governors, presidential candidate Joe Biden and even a key member of Trump’s coronavirus task force, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious…… MORE
America’s craft brewers were headed for a rocky spell before the coronavirus pandemic. Now, many are worried their livelihoods could be doomed. In 2019, more than 300 small and independent brewers closed — the largest total in a single year. Sales at the high-overhead operations shrank as the market overflowed with competition: A record 8,000-plus…… MORE
The European Union announced on March 15 it was restricting exports of personal protective equipment, including face shields, surgical masks and gowns. India banned the export of ventilators and sanitizers on March 24. On Wednesday, Switzerland began requiring licenses for exports of masks, gloves, goggles and swabs. “It’s the least we can do for the…… MORE
2020 was supposed to be a banner year for digital media. BuzzFeed, Group Nine, and Vice each indicated that this year they would be profitable, a long-elusive goal for an industry bedeviled by diminishing ad dollars. But no one could have predicted that a global health crisis would hit just as business was picking up.…… MORE
The $50 billion airline bailout passed by the Senate will help keep the airlines alive, but it won’t solve the industry’s most severe crisis in its history. Only passengers can do that. “We have an airline industry right now that is flying empty planes,” said airline consultant Mike Boyd. “This isn’t going to save the…… MORE
