☛ ☛ NTERPRISEt h e l i v i n g s t o n E Thursday, May 13, 2021 •฀Livingston,฀Montana฀•฀Vol.฀115 No.฀103฀ $1.00 Gov’t eases up guidance on indoor mask-wearing WASHINGTON (AP) — In a strik- The CDC will also no longer rec- about how well those shots are point since the expected in the coming days. ing move to send the country back ommend that fully vaccinated peo- working. pandemic began. Just two weeks ago, the CDC rec- toward pre-pandemic life, the Cen- ple wear masks outdoors in crowds. “Anyone who is fully vaccinated To date about ommended that fully vaccinated ters for Disease Control and Pre- The announcement comes as the can participate in indoor and out- 154 million Ameri- people continue to wear masks vention on Thursday eased indoor CDC and the Biden administration door activities – large or small — cans, more than indoors in all settings and outdoors mask-wearing guidance for fully have faced pressure to ease restric- without wearing a mask or physical- 46% of the popula- in large crowds. vaccinated people, allowing them to tions on fully vaccinated people — ly distancing,” Walensky said. “If t i o n , h a v e During a virtual meeting Tuesday safely stop wearing masks inside in people who are two weeks past their you are fully vaccinated, you can received at least on vaccinations with a bipartisan most places. last required COVID-19 vaccine start doing the things that you had one dose of the group of governors, President Joe The new guidance still calls for dose — in part to highlight the bene- stopped doing because of the pan- COVID-19 vac- Biden appeared to acknowledge wearing masks in crowded indoor fits of getting the shot. demic.” ROCHELLE cines and more that his administration had to do settings like buses, planes, hospi- Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the direc- The new guidance comes as the WALENSKY than 117 million more to model the benefits of vacci- tals, prisons and homeless shelters, tor of the CDC, announced the new aggressive U.S. vaccination cam- are fully vaccinat- nation. but will help clear the way for guidance on Thursday afternoon at paign begins to pay off. U.S. virus ed. The rate of new vaccinations “I would like to say that we have reopening workplaces, schools, and a White House briefing, saying the cases are at their lowest rate since has slowed in recent weeks, but fully vaccinated people; we should other venues — even removing the long-awaited change is thanks to September, deaths are at their low- with the authorization Wednesday need for masks or social distancing millions of people getting vaccinat- est point since last April and the of the Pfizer vaccine for children for those who are fully vaccinated. ed -- and based on the latest science test positivity rate is at the lowest aged 12-15, a new burst of doses is See Masks, Page 3 Ohio’s million-dollar idea: Lottery prizes for vaccinations COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine unveiled a lottery system Wednesday to entice people to get COVID-19 shots, offering a weekly $1 million prize and full-ride college scholarships in a creative bid to overcome the vaccine hesitancy that remains a stubborn problem across the nation. The move comes as gover- nors, health officials and community leaders are com- ing up with creative incen- tives to get more shots in arms, including insider access to NFL locker rooms and an Indianapolis 500 garage, cash incentives, various other promotions. With three weeks to go Crews work Thursday on upgrading the sewer before most state restric- main under a section of Fifth Street on Livings- tions lift, DeWine rolled out ton’s north side. Enterprise photo by Sam Klomhaus the big-ticket incentives d u r i n g a p r i m e - t i m e address. Beginning May 26, adults who have received at least one vaccine dose may enter a lottery that will pro- SEWER UPGRADE vide a $1 million prize each Wednesday for five weeks. In random drawings, the state will also provide five full four-year scholarships Fifth Street Main project reaches new phase to an Ohio public university — including tuition, room- and-board, and books — to ing has been completed ahead of sched- said on Facebook Thursday a portion of By Sam Klomhaus vaccinated Ohioans under ule, according to a Facebook post by the Front Street will also be closed today. Enterprise Staff Writer 18. Livingston Public Works Department. Western Municipal Construction is The money will come The crossing was closed for a period performing the work on a $244,720 con- project upgrading the sewer from existing federal pan- Wednesday for the work, according to he tract, and TD&H engineering is being main under north Fifth Street demic relief dollars, DeW- Public Works Department. The depart- paid $28,000 for engineering work. The from an 8-inch pipe to an ine said, and the Ohio Lot- ment had previously said the crossing project is being funded by impact fees 18-inch pipe is progressing and tery will conduct the draw- A closure could last through the week and and the city’s sewer maintenance fund, has entered a new phase, according to ings. into next week. according to Public Works Director the Livingston Public Works Depart- State Rep. Emilia Sykes, Currently, a section of Fifth Street Shannon Holmes. ment. the top House Democrat, between Front Street and Chinook Street Holmes estimated in April the project Work upgrading the main under the questioned the use of feder- is closed. The Public Works Department could take about two months total. railroad tracks at the Fifth Street cross- al funds. “Using millions of dollars in relief funds in a drawing is a grave misuse of money that could be going to respond to this ongoing cri- Israel fires shells into Gaza as fighting escalates sis,” she said. DeWine acknowledged the GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — facilities after warning civilians to unusual nature of the finan- Hamas sent a heavy barrage of rock- evacuate. cial incentives. ets deep into Israel on Thursday as Gaza’s Health Ministry said the “I know that some may Israel pounded Gaza with more air- death toll has climbed to 87 Palestin- say, ‘DeWine, you’re crazy! strikes and shells and called up 9,000 ians, including 18 children and eight This million-dollar drawing more reservists who could be used to women, with 530 people wounded. idea of yours is a waste of stage a ground invasion. The hostili- Islamic Jihad confirmed the deaths of money,’” he said. But the ties escalated despite intense media- seven militants, while Hamas has real waste, when the vac- tion efforts by Egyptian negotiators acknowledged 13 of its militants cine is now readily avail- who held in-person talks with both killed, including a senior commander. able, “is a life lost to COV- sides. Israel says the number of militants ID-19,” the governor said. The artillery and tank shells that dead is much higher. The White House and began falling into Gaza in the evening Seven people have been killed in Treasury Department had forced scores of families to flee their Israel. Among them were a soldier no immediate comment on homes, Palestinian witnesses said. killed by an anti-tank missile and a the governor’s plan. The use of artillery fire in Israel’s 6-year-old child hit in a rocket attack. All Ohio’s COVID-19 four-day-old offensive raised the like- Many world leaders have con- orders except those apply- lihood of civilian casualties. demned the violence and urged ing to nursing homes and Previous fighting between Israel restraint, and a visit by Egyptian other long-term care facili- and Gaza’s Hamas rulers, including a security officials was a significant ties will end June 2, the devastating 2014 war, was largely development in international efforts Republican also announced confined to the impoverished and to bring about a cease-fire; such during the address. Howev- blockaded Palestinian territory and efforts have been key to ending past AP er, DeWine noted that stores Israeli communities on the frontier. rounds of fighting. The officials met Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes on a building in Gaza City, Thursday. and businesses still may But this round seems to be rippling first with Hamas leaders in Gaza require customers to be farther and wider than at any time before holding talks with the Israelis masked. since the 2000 Palestinian intifada, or in Tel Aviv, two Egyptian intelligence the rocket program. massing on the border with the Gaza In announcing the man- uprising. officials said. They spoke on condi- “The decision to bomb Tel Aviv, Strip. dates’ end, the governor cit- While some rocket attacks have tion of anonymity because they were Dimona and Jerusalem is easier for The Defense Ministry said Thurs- ed the sharp drop in the reached the Tel Aviv area, Arab and not authorized to talk to the press. us than drinking water,” a spokesman day that the latest mobilization numbers of COVID-19 cases Jewish mobs have rampaged through Still, both Israel and Hamas seemed for Hamas’ military wing declared in approved by Defense Minister Benny and hospitalizations and the the streets, savagely beating people determined to press ahead. a video message. Dimona is the site of Gantz was an “exceptional call-up.” high vaccination rates and torching cars. Flights have been Even as word came of the media- Israel’s nuclear reactor. The military’s chief spokesman, among people 65 and older.