'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' Talk Show Video

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Explaining the New CDC Guidance on What To Do if You Have COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 1 updated its guidance on preventing the spread of respiratory viruses, consolidating advice on a range of common respiratory illnesses including COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

Since December 2021, the agency has recommended individuals isolate for at least five days after developing symptoms of COVID-19, or after a positive test if asymptomatic. After five days, the agency recommended various symptom-based criteria for leaving isolation combined with additional continued precautions, such as masking.

The new guidance drops the standard minimum of five days of isolation in favor of a symptom-based approach. The agency advises people to stay home and away from others when they are sick with a respiratory virus. People can cease isolation if, for 24 hours, their overall symptoms have been improving and they have been fever-free without using fever-reducing medications. 

Many people have had questions about what the new guidance means for people who have COVID-19. Some, like our reader, have referred to the idea that the guidance means only one day of isolation is needed. “do you agree with Biden that one-day isolation for covid is fine and dandy??” asked one person on X, formerly known as Twitter.

But that’s not what Biden or the CDC is recommending.

Lawmakers Push Pentagon For Overdue Data on Tanker Suicide Rates

Members of both houses of Congress are calling for the Defense Department to comply with federal law and submit overdue suicide-related reports to legislative committees.

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., said they need the information to create a policy addressing systemic suicide risks across the force.

However, according to Senate staff, the Defense Department has missed its deadline on three mandatory reports from the fiscal year 2023 defense policy bill that was due in December 2023. One report called for post-9/11 suicide numbers broken down by occupational specialty and military component. Another directed the agency to craft a standardized definition for “suicide cluster,” and the third required the Pentagon to study the relationship between low recruitment, operational tempo, and physical/mental health. A 'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' Defense News and Army Times reporters went to the Capitol on Friday and verified that the reports were not there.


Senior Master Sergeant Promotion Rate Hits 6-Year High

More than 1,700 airmen have made the cut for promotion to senior master sergeant, the service’s second-highest enlisted rank, the Air Force announced on Thursday.

Nearly 11.5% of master sergeants who sought promotion, from a pool of 15,151 eligible candidates, are advancing — the highest selection rate since 2018, when it hit 11.9%, according to the Air Force Personnel Center.

Those chosen to add a stripe have spent nearly 4.5 years as master sergeants and more than 17.5 years in service, similar to those selected in last year’s cycle. Senior master sergeants are experienced operational leaders who hold supervisory jobs like serving as the top enlisted airmen at the squadron and group levels.

The senior master sergeant selection rate continues to grow as the service rebalances its enlisted force, one piece of which is expanding the E-8 corps from 1.8% to 2% of enlisted airmen, according to Air Force data. The service expects its workforce to remain essentially flat through the end of fiscal year 2025.

If the restructuring succeeds, the Air Force will grow its pool of junior enlisted airmen and build experience among fewer midlevel noncommissioned officers before they reach a slightly larger senior enlisted corps.

California Marine Unit Loses M110 Sniper Rifle


A sniper rifle went missing on March 8 at a Marine base in California.

Battalion Landing Team 1/5, the ground combat element of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, reported an M110 semi-automatic sniper system unaccounted for “following a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle movement” at Camp Pendleton, California, Marine spokesman Capt. Brian Tuthill told 'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' Defense News in an emailed statement Thursday.

The unit immediately began searching the rifle along the truck’s route and elsewhere on the base, according to Tuthill. More Marines from the battalion — 1st Battalion, 5th Marines — helped out with the search in the next two days.

But the rifle still is missing, Tuthill said.

“The incident is under investigation by NCIS and no further information is available at this time,” Tuthill said in the statement.

Some Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit already have deployed aboard the amphibious transport dock Somerset and, on March 8, wrapped up an exercise in Thailand. A shortage of ready-to-go amphibious ships, however, means the rest of the unit will deploy from California sometime in March, Defense News previously reported.

This isn’t the first time a weapon has gone missing from a Marine unit.

'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' Sports Meet The Coaches: Auburn Offensive Coordinator Derrick Nix


AUBURN, Ala. |
In a turbulent profession where turnover is the norm, Derrick Nix’s 16-year coaching stint at Ole Miss was the exception.

Through four head coaches, including Auburn’s Hugh Freeze, Nix rolled with Rebels from 2008-23.

That changed in January, when Freeze and Nix reunited on the Plains, with Derrick becoming Auburn’s offensive coordinator.

“An opportunity to come to Auburn University with a rich tradition, the history, national championships, Heisman Trophy winners,” Nix said. “Getting back with Coach Freeze, I worked with him at Ole Miss for five years and ultimately got the chance to advance in my career. It was a no-brainer.

“I grew up in this state. I know what Iron Bowl weekend feels like and what it means to the people in this state. I’m excited to be a part of it and put my mark on this great program.”

A standout running back at Etowah High School in Attalla, Alabama, Nix followed his older brother by playing at Southern Miss.

Auburn Beats Mississippi State, Earns Spot In SEC Title Game

NASHVILLE | As the final seconds ticked away Saturday, Chad Baker-Mazara stood at halfcourt, smiled up at the pro-Auburn crowd in Bridgestone Arena and called for applause. He and his teammates were just about to clinch a spot in the championship game of the SEC Tournament.

It wasn't easy. It was physical, even chippy at times, but No. 12 Auburn made enough plays late to earn a 73-66 over Mississippi State in the semifinals. 

"It was a rock fight because both teams were playing really, really physical," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. "That's Mississippi State's MO. Our MO is playing hard all the time, not always quite as physical. They beat us on the boards, but we hung in there. We hung in there. I thought that was really important."


Track & Field Closed Out the Hurricane Invitational With 12 Top-10 Times in Program History


CORAL GABLES, Fla. |
The LSU track and field closed out the first meet of the outdoor season on Saturday with day two of the Hurricane Invitational, hosted by the University of Miami at Cobb Stadium.

A year after having no women javelin throwers, the Tigers now have a pair of freshman throwers that can light it up.


James Thomas, Owner JWT Communications

James Thomas, Owner JWT Communications
James Thomas is a radio talk show host and civil rights activist. He can be heard every Monday morning on 94.7 FM | 106.9 FM & 1300 AM WTLS Radio (News-Sports-Talk). RADIO TALK SHOW HOST, ACTIVIST, AUTHOR James is a civil rights activist, and groundbreaking radio personality. He has built a legacy of using his voice to help oppressed people and those who are powerless against the injustices affecting them in their everyday lives. His radio program, “’TELL IT LIKE IT IS’ Talk Show”, airs every Monday morning. During his program, Mr. Thomas, also known as “JT”, talks about political and social issues, brings attention to social injustices around the world, and challenges himself and his listeners daily to “do something about it.” Because he is always taking action to help rectify the issues discussed on his show, TALKERS magazine ranked Mr. Thomas’s show in the top 50 of their 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America over one dozen times. He has interviewed President Barack Obama, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, Senator Chuck Schumer, Spike Lee, and hundreds of people around the world.

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The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
Founded in 1962, The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is the nation’s oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to military children. For 54 years, we’ve been providing access to affordable education for the children of Marine and Navy Corpsman attending post-high school, under-graduate and career technical education programs. In that time, we have provided more than 37,000 scholarships worth nearly $110 million.

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