Three things for April 9
1. Bernie Sanders suspends his presidential campaign
On Wednesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders announced the suspension of his campaign for the 2020 presidential election.
In a video posted to social media, Sanders began by thanking the many donors, volunteers and staff that made his grassroots campaign possible.
Sanders used the majority of his time to speak about healthcare during the pandemic and his disapproval of the current system in place. Finally, Sanders announced the suspension of his campaign.
“The next couple of months will require an enormous amount of work,” said Sanders, speaking on the current health crisis. “I cannot in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that would not be successful, and that would interfere with the important work required of all of us in this difficult hour.”
Although his name will remain on the primary ballot in the remaining states until the Democratic National Convention, Sanders said he fully expects former Vice President Joe Biden to receive the democratic nomination.
“Let us go forward together. The struggle continues,” Sanders wrote in a Tweet.
2. Trump criticizes TVA’s CEO Jeff Lyash for $8 million salary
During a Wednesday White House news conference, President Donald Trump criticized the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) chief executive Jeff Lyash for receiving too much compensation.
“You said Tennessee Valley Authority, right? Has to be the highest-paid man in any government – makes approximately $8 million or $9 million,” Trump said. “I don’t know the gentleman, but he’s got a heck of a job. He gets paid a lot of money. He’s been there for a long while, hasn’t he?”
In reference to the executive’s salary, Trump noted he could “reduce it by a lot” as part of the coronavirus-related infrastructure bill being negotiated by Congress.
TVA released a statement in response to Trump’s comments.
“TVA’s mission of service requires that we attract and retain highly skilled individuals in a specialized industry,” TVA stated. “Although a federal corporation, TVA receives no federal funding for its operations. All funds are generated through wholesale sale of electricity.”
Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander said in a press release, “Attacking TVA doesn’t do one thing to solve the pandemic and has no place in federal COVID-19 response legislation. TVA does not receive one dollar in federal taxpayer subsidies or federal appropriations.”
3. Tyler Perry picks up the grocery tab during ‘senior hour’
On Wednesday morning, media mogul Tyler Perry paid the grocery bills during senior hour at 44 Krogers and 29 Winn-Dixies in Atlanta and New Orleans.
Senior hour is a time set aside by grocery stores across the U.S., allowing senior citizens in the “at risk” category for COVID-19 to grocery shop before everyone else. Major grocery stores participating in this include Target, Walmart and Costco.
Perry used senior hour as an opportunity to give to his community by picking up the bill. Seniors who checked out before senior hour ended were surprised at the register by their groceries being paid in full.
