US: 31.9M Cases - 575.8K Dead - 24.4M Recovered
Worldwide: 136.7M Cases - 2.9M Dead - 109.9M Recovered

Former Senior Loss Prevention Executive
Know of any fallen LP exec? Let's remember & recognize.

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 279  
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 282
*Red indicates change in total deaths

Recent Rise in U.S. Covid-19 Cases Driven by Younger People
Younger people who haven’t been vaccinated are helping drive a rise in new Covid-19 cases, health officials are finding.

Five states—Michigan, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania and New Jersey—account for some 42% of newly reported cases. In Michigan, adults aged 20 to 39 have the highest daily case rates, new data show. Case rates for children aged 19 and under are at a record, more than quadruple from a month ago. There were 301 reported school outbreaks as of early last week, up from 248 the week prior, according to state data. wsj.com

Here’s the latest data on the effectiveness of different COVID-19 vaccines
On April 1, Pfizer and BioNTech released additional data from more than 46,000 participants, more than 12,000 of whom were followed up with at least six months after their second dose.

- The vaccine was 91.3% effective at preventing COVID-19 from seven days through up to six months after the second dose.

- A separate study published April 2 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - mRNA vaccines were 90% effective against COVID-19 illnesses 14 or more days after the second dose, regardless of symptoms. dallasnew.com

Nowhere in America is COVID pandemic more out of control than in Michigan
Michigan’s Virus Cases Are Out of Control, Putting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a Bind
Outbreaks are ripping through workplaces, restaurants, churches and family weddings. Hospitals are overwhelmed with patients. Officials are reporting more than 7,000 new infections each day, a sevenfold increase from late February. And Michigan is home to nine of the 10 metro areas with the country’s highest recent case rates.

During previous surges in Michigan, a resolute Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shut down businesses and schools as she saw fit — over the din of both praise and protests. But this time, Ms. Whitmer has stopped far short of the sweeping shutdowns that made her a lightning rod.

“Policy change alone won’t change the tide,” Ms. Whitmer said on Friday, as she asked — but did not order — that the public take a two-week break from indoor dining, in-person high school and youth sports. “We need everyone to step up and to take personal responsibility here.”

It is a rare moment in the pandemic: a high-profile Democratic governor bucking the pleas of doctors and epidemiologists in her state and instead asking for voluntary actions from the public to control the virus’s spread. Restaurants and bars remain open at a reduced capacity, Detroit Tigers fans are back at the stadium and most schools have welcomed students into the classroom.

Still, a small but growing number of doctors and public health officials are calling on Ms. Whitmer to take much more aggressive action as cases worsen by the day.

There is also re-election looming in the background. Michigan is a closely divided state, Ms. Whitmer’s office will be on the ballot next year and Republicans sense an opportunity.

The latest surge has been partly attributed to the B.1.1.7 variant that was originally identified in Britain and is widespread in the state. nytimes.com

Coronavirus shutdown of jury trials upends California’s federal courts
Federal Judge dismisses case against jewelry-store robber on federal gun charge saying emergency rules that shut down federal jury trials during the pandemic had denied the suspect his right to a speedy trial.

“Nowhere in the Constitution is there an exception for times of emergency or crisis,” Carney wrote in the ruling that setting the suspect free. And he dismissed three others for the same reason.

The 13-month suspension of trials in the federal court system’s Central District of California, which includes Los Angeles and six neighboring counties, has disrupted the prosecution of hundreds of alleged drug dealers, tax cheats, cybercriminals, child porn purveyors and health insurance swindlers. It has clogged the courts with an unprecedented backlog of both criminal and civil cases.

Criminal defendants have the right to a trial within a set time period. In federal court, if they invoke that right, their trial generally must start within 70 days of when charges were filed. Typically, judges grant requests for more time to prepare for trial.

Safety measures will be extensive. Jury selection will be tightly choreographed so it takes place in large courtrooms where everyone can stay six feet apart. Elevator use will be curtailed. Plexiglass will section off each judge, witness and court reporter. Masks will be mandatory, with possible exceptions for witnesses.

State courts in California have also pressed ahead with trials. In January and February, four employees of the Los Angeles County Superior Court system died from COVID-19; it’s unclear whether they caught the coronavirus in court. latimes.com

20% of the World's Population has had COVID
Incarcerated and Infected: How COVID Tore Through the U.S. Prison System
America's prisons, jails and detention centers have been among the nation's most dangerous places when it comes to infections from coronavirus. Over the past year, more then 1,400 new inmate infections and seven deaths, on average, have been reported inside those facilities each day.

The cramped, often unsanitary settings of correctional institutions have been ideal for incubating and transmitting disease. Social distancing is not an option. Testing was not a priority inside prisons early in the pandemic. With little public pressure, political leaders have been slow to confront the spread.

The virus shot through many institutions, leaving inmates desperate for ways to avoid getting sick. At Pickaway Correctional Institution in Ohio, which housed about 1,900 inmates, they tried to turn bed sheets into tents to separate themselves; four in five inmates were infected anyway.

In state prisons one in three inmates had the virus. In federal facilities, at least 39% of prisoners are known to have been infected.

Prisons and jails are sometimes so crowded that three inmates sleep in cells designed for one person. Prisons have not adequately quarantined sick inmates, and have often not required testing for correctional officers. Inmates have also been given low priority to receive vaccinations, even as cases have continued to rise. nytimes.com

New York's coronavirus positivity rate hit the lowest level in a month
The statewide rate Friday when measured on a seven-day average was 3.31 percent, a bit less than the previous day and the lowest since Dec. 2.

Hospitalizations from COVID-19 across the state also fell Friday to 4,241, which Cuomo said was the lowest number since Dec. 3. nypost.com

Nearly Half of Workers Reported Substance Abuse Issue
Pandemic has worsened work issues caused by substance abuse, report says

● The pandemic may have worsened work issues related to substance abuse, according to a survey conducted by Versta Research on behalf of The Standard. Nearly half of workers reported dealing with a substance abuse issue; of those, the number reporting lower productivity or missed work due to substance abuse has "nearly doubled" since 2019, according to the survey.

● One-third of those reporting addiction issues said it has affected their work more since the pandemic began. Nearly half of employees surveyed reported problematic use of alcohol, drugs or prescription medication, with 1 in 5 noting at least weekly usage.

"The research not only reveals an alarming rate of alcohol and other substance abuse among workers across a variety of industries and generations, but also paves the way for employers to open the conversation with employees about these issues. In this way, companies can empower workers to seek the help and support they need," said Dan Jolivet, Workplace Possibilities practice consultant at The Standard.

When the opioid crisis came to light, employers found themselves with a significant role to play in stemming a nationwide epidemic. Employer benefits programs were one key avenue to care, prompting some organizations to re-examine offerings to ensure better value. A pandemic requiring mass lockdowns only further tested employers’ benefits, particularly mental health offerings.

The pandemic forced employers to reconsider mental health strategies — especially because some surveys showed that employer offerings may have been ineffective in coronavirus’ wake. hrdive.com

Put on a Few Pounds? Time to clean out the closet - Oh what fun.
Some People Can’t Wait to Dress for Work Again
Today, some workers plan to do some in-person shopping to prepare for in-person work, another change after a year of booming e-commerce.

“I do have a few clients that are totally sick of the comfy look and can’t wait to dress up again, but most of my clients want to come out of this pandemic with a more relaxed professional style,” says Jackie Conlin, a style consultant in San Francisco.

Slightly less-formal styles might prove popular for anyone going back to work this year, because bringing back structured work clothes is not without its hiccups.

“I’m sad to confess that on my first business trip last year, my suit didn’t really fit,” says Mr. Adler, the California CEO.

“A few too many pretzels and potato chips in quarantine. But even then, it felt great to wear it out again.”  wsj.com

California aims to fully reopen its economy June 15
 

Hot Topic in the News
Impacting All Retail LP & AP Investigations

'The Emerging League of Progressive Prosecutors'
Reforming the Criminal Legal System - Not Going Well
Petty Theft Prosecutions Disappearing

Editor's Note:
Progressive Prosecutor Movement Facing it's Biggest Challenge - Rising Murder Rates & Violent Crime
Can they continue to get elected while murder rates and violent crime is spiking in cities across the nation?

With all of them basically refusing to prosecute petty larceny cases and rising felony thresholds the impact on retail has already begun . So the question is how far does it go"

Here's some back ground, some details on how we got here, the funding efforts that put them there, and where it is right now. Because right now the movement could be in jeopardy. As some have said that while reforms are needed this effort has been a disaster. - Gus Downing


The Beginning - Reforming Mass Incarceration - Funding Candidates - Actively Prosecuting Police

Harvard Law Review: Dec. 2018
The Paradox of “Progressive Prosecution”
In December 2018 Harvard Law Review published this paper about an newly emerging group of "progressive prosecutors," that after witnessing racial injustice's throughout the criminal justice system from the apprehension point all the way through to the sentencing guidelines and prison itself, that where 'taking it upon themselves to reform a "fundamentally rotten" U.S. criminal legal system.'

Recognizing that the "tough on crime" age of mass incarceration no longer resonates with voters as widely as in the age of mass incarceration. With candidates like Larry Krasner in Philadelphia promising to end mass incarceration and never pursue the death penalty won his election. Along with a number of other candidates taking the same position around the country and winning a number of DA seats.

That same year, 2018, prominent civil rights activist and writer Shaun King cofounded a political action committee (PAC) to help fund campaigns of reform-minded prosecutors. And then billionaire George Soros became part of the mission to elect reform-minded prosecutors and has invested millions of dollars into their campaigns.

Fundamentally, progressive prosecutors seek to rebalance the use of prosecutorial discretion. Where traditional prosecutors have used their enforcement powers in a heavy-handed manner to punish marginalized individuals, progressive prosecutors institute practices that pull back on those punitive measures, or, at least, divert them.

And where traditional prosecutors have refused to exercise their expansive powers to hold police accountable for misdeeds, progressive prosecutors (sometimes) actively prosecute police officers.

Great read about the entire issue and the movement: harvardlawreview.org

Philly Dems Dump Their Own Progressive Prosecutor Who's Under Siege
Next Round of Elections Could Have Major Impact on LP & AP Nationwide

Homicide surge ratchets up pressure on progressive DAs
Larry Krasner’s election in 2017 was a triumph for progressives nationwide: The man who had sued cops 75 times, represented Black Lives Matter, promised to end cash bail — and was widely seen as the most liberal district attorney candidate in the country — won.

Four years later, Philadelphia’s top prosecutor — and one of the leading figures of the country’s criminal justice reform movement — is under siege.

Homicides are skyrocketing in the city, and local officials are grumbling. A former assistant district attorney backed by the local police union is challenging Krasner in the May primary. And in recent weeks, the Philadelphia Democratic Party broke with years of tradition and declined to endorse the incumbent.

The primary battle is a test of whether the left can maintain its successful campaign electing progressive district attorneys amid an uptick in murders in cities around the country. If Krasner wins, it could signal the arrival of a new era, one in which the public doesn’t recoil from liberal criminal justice policy — even when crime statistics go up. If he fails, it would be a jolt for politically beleaguered police unions, and a sudden halt to what has been a steady shift leftward in urban DA races.

Krasner isn’t the only big-city progressive prosecutor meeting fierce resistance. In California, both San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón are facing recall efforts. Opponents of the left-wing DAs have accused them of letting criminals loose on the streets and turning a blind eye to victims — all criticisms lobbed at Krasner, too.

As for the spike in homicides — they are up 29 percent compared with this time in 2020, which was the most violent year in three decades — Krasner blames larger societal forces. msn.com

California Recall Efforts Underway for LA's & San Fran's 'Progressive' DAs
Movement Grows to Recall Two Progressive Prosecutors in CA
According to the advocacy group “Fair and Just Prosecution,” the goal of progressive criminal justice reform is to create “a justice system grounded in fairness, equity, compassion, and fiscal responsibility.” Starting around 2016, this movement picked up momentum across the U.S., primarily by funding candidates in County District Attorney elections. There are now dozens of cities and counties with elected district attorneys that are enforcing massive shifts in prosecutorial conduct. Reforms were needed. But so far, they have been a disaster.

Criminal justice reform can put an end to overreliance on often coerced plea bargains and punitive incarceration. But reform doesn’t have to condemn our cities to lawlessness. As balance is restored and the electorate becomes more aware of the issues, genuine progress can be made. The injustice of harsh sentencing has to be weighed against its overall value in deterring crime. The staggering expense of incarceration, or, for that matter, the staggering expense of homeless shelters in cities riddled with corruption, has to be confronted and corrected. Not every jail has to be a supermax. Not every homeless shelter has to cost $100,000 (or more) per bed. The liberty of individuals to consume drugs has to be balanced against the rights of the people who live on the streets they’ve taken over. capoliticalreview.com

No Petty Theft Prosecutions in NYC?
What Will Manhattan’s Next District Attorney Refuse To Prosecute?
Three of the eight DA candidates and the leading progressive candidate listed petty larceny as a low level crime they would not prosecute.

Taking on “Progressive Prosecutors”
District attorneys who refuse to enforce the criminal law are violating their oath to support and defend the Constitution—and could be challenged on those grounds.

From San Francisco to Los Angeles to Chicago to Philadelphia to Boston, urban dwellers have elected a new breed of district attorneys who style themselves “progressive prosecutors.” In this denomination, the adjective does the heavy lifting. The prosecutors’ campaigns have been funded by the bogeyman of the Right, billionaire leftist George Soros. The politicization of what was, in its origins, an apolitical law-enforcement function will have serious consequences for public safety and order.

According to the American Bar Association, “The prosecutor serves the public interest and should act with integrity and balanced judgment to increase public safety both by pursuing appropriate criminal charges of appropriate severity, and by exercising discretion to not pursue criminal charges in appropriate circumstances.” city-journal.org

New York Law School; Law Review, January 2020
The Hard Truths of Progressive Prosecution and a Path to Realizing the Movement’s Promise
This paper identifies the inherent obstacles prosecutors face, like negativity bias, prosecutorial culture, the actual structure of the criminal justice system itself and how we prosecute violent crime that can impede reform and actually change the prosecutor's objectives and behaviors long term.

Obviously studied after a few years of experiencing the impact of the position and difficulty each DA faces in trying to bring about the changes they set out to do. Read the paper
 

Cartels in Our Supply Chain
Delivering Your Goods & 20 Tons of Cocaine to U.S. - Cost MSC Over $100M in Security Costs

How shipping giant MSC reacted to billion-dollar cocaine bust
‘Smart’ containers, remote cameras and enhanced inspections to combat drug threat

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) — which recently surpassed Maersk to become the world’s largest ocean carrier — confirmed it “suffered significant financial and reputational damage” from the record-breaking drug bust aboard its ship, the MSC Gayane, in 2019.

MSC detailed the extent of the consequences in a newly filed court document — consequences that include over $100 million in additional security costs. “The company and everyone in it are victims,” MSC wrote in a letter to U.S. District Court Judge Harvey Bartle III.

The ship at the center of the story was new, very large and very expensive. It was built in 2018, with a capacity of 11,600 twenty-foot equivalent units, valued at around $90 million, owned by an entity affiliated with JP Morgan and leased by MSC.

When U.S. authorities swarmed the ship in Philadelphia on June 17, 2019, they found almost 20 tons of cocaine worth over $1 billion hidden in seven shipping containers. That’s the same weight in cocaine as three adult male African elephants. 

See how they spent $100M on security improvements - Continue reading

Utah trucking owner admits bribing FedEx manager for $24M contract
Hubert Ivan Ugarte, 52, of Draper, Utah, pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering last week in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. He admitted to paying a former FedEx Ground (FXG) senior linehaul manager, Ryan Lee Mower, approximately $490,000 over a seven-year period between 2012 and 2019 in exchange for operating at least 45 delivery routes originating from the Salt Lake City hub, tripling the limit of routes allowed under FedEx Ground’s established policies.

In exchange for the payments, Ugarte’s 14 trucking companies netted over $24 million over seven years. Ugarte was one of 10 defendants who paid approximately $1 million in bribes to Mower, according to federal investigators.

Prosecutors claim the trucking companies involved in the scheme with Mower raked in more than $280 million total over a 10-year period. freightwaves.com

Towing fraud, staged accidents targeted by new coalition that includes ATA
Trucking industry comes together with insurance-focused groups to fight two vexing problems of fraud

A three-member coalition that includes the American Trucking Associations has come together to combat both towing fraud and staged accidents that are costing the trucking industry millions.

The ATA joined with the American Property Casualty Insurance Association and the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud in the new coalition, which doesn’t yet have a name.

“While towing fraud and staged accidents are distinct issues, they are tied together because they both involve some sort of insurance fraud that is a real burden on carriers and members of the public, in addition to insurers,” spokesmen for the three groups jointly said in an email response to questions from FreightWaves. “Additionally, both staged accidents and predatory towing contribute to skyrocketing insurance costs so addressing these problems is one step in mitigating the future cost of insurance for carriers.” freightwaves.com

Here Are the 100 Best Companies to Work For® in the U.S. in 2021, According to Over Half a Million Employees

Over half a million employees in the U.S. have weighed in to determine the 2021 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®.

Based on confidential employee surveys gathered during the pandemic, workplaces that put employee health first - both physical and psychological - enjoyed record jumps in employee experience scores.

Great Place to Work® - the global authority on company culture - determines the list each year through rigorous analysis of data from their proprietary Trust Index™ employee experience survey.

- 71% of winning workplaces scored better on employee experience than in pre-pandemic times

- Black employees' experience soared when their company took a meaningful and consistent stand against racial injustice

- Generous community giving was a standout feature of the 100 Best

- Benefits and compensation in 2020-21 went far beyond the standard

Of the Top 100, 7 were retail companies:

4. Wegman's Food Markets, Inc.
14. Target Corporation
24. Nugget Market, Inc.
36. CarMax
42. Publix Super Markets
69. Burlington Stores
83. Sheetz, Inc.

C-Stores Development
POS & Back Office Evolve
When it comes to point-of-sale (POS) and back-office technology, a number of emerging trends are expected to pick up steam in 2021.

Hybrid POS systems and hardware-agnostic POS software are two areas for convenience stores to watch in the year ahead, noted Patrick Raycroft, the Convenience and Energy vertical lead at W. Capra Consulting Group.

“More POS deployments will involve certain POS functions running in the cloud and critical POS functions running at the store-level,” he said. “Although we are still some time away from pure cloud deployments of POS software due to issues with network reliability, abstracting non-business-critical POS functions to centralized cloud instances provides retailers with efficiencies in deployment, operations and data management.”

Meanwhile, c-stores are one of the final retail spaces where most POS software relies on specified register hardware, he noted. “The ability to select and integrate POS software without being bound to particular POS software provides retailers substantial opportunities to reduce site-level costs and improve reliability of site systems.” cstoredecisions.com

Dollar Tree to hire thousands in it's 15,400 U.S. stores


Last week's #1 article --

BJ's Wholesale Club CEO and President Dies at 49