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1. The Senate finally passed the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package on a unanimous vote late Wednesday night. Money is set aside for small business loans, as well as bigger industries including airlines and hospitals, as well as beefing up unemployment. It will also provide one-time direct payments to Americans of $1,200 per adult making up to $75,000 a year, and $2,400 to a married couple making up to $150,000, with $500 payments per child. (AP)
2. As of Wednesday’s daily CDC briefing there are now 142 cases of the coronavirus in the state of Maine. Portland Press Herald’s Kevin Millar on twitter put that number of 142 cases in context… There were 42 confirmed cases in Maine last Wednesday and zero cases the Wednesday before that. 3,177 Maine residents have tested negative. (WGME)
3. Coronavirus concerns have effectively closed Acadia National Park to all visitors. Starting Thursday, Park Loop Road — including Ocean Drive — and all restrooms, carriage roads, campgrounds and visitor centers will close. The closure follows statements from Gov. Janet Mills and the Bar Harbor Town Council telling tourists to avoid visiting Maine to escape the pandemic. (WGME)
4. The Cheesecake Factory has told every landlord that they will not be paying rent on April 1. AMC Theatres, America’s largest movie chain, furloughed more than 600 corporate employees Wednesday over the coronavirus including CEO Adam Aron. Last week, the company closed over 1,000 screens indefinitely, and furloughed or laid off 26,000 employees. Delaware North, the company that owns and manages TD Garden, announced Wednesday it would place 68 full-time workers on temporary leave and indefinitely reduce salaries of 82 full-time associates. The company’s chairman is Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, who has a net worth of $3.3 billion. (BOSTON.COM)
5. The University of Maine System is anticipating nearly $13 million in room and board costs will be returned to students who were forced to leave the system’s seven campuses this semester because of the coronavirus outbreak. Universities will also need to reimburse shortened travel study programs. Students in the university system resumed their classes online Wednesday. (PRESS HERALD)
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