Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is the latest national chain to require all customers to wear masks. The change will start next week. Starbucks said last week that it will require customers to wear facial coverings or masks in all 9,000 of its company-owned US stores beginning Wednesday. Best Buy announced Tuesday that it will also require all shoppers coming into its approximately 1,000 stores to wear face masks. Costco began requiring its members to wear masks in stores beginning in May. (AP)

An out-of-state orthodox Jewish camp group that state officials have warned is out of compliance with COVID-19 occupancy orders will remain at a Rutland hotel for the time being. Rutland Town residents say they’re comfortable with the campers from New York City and New Jersey enjoying the rest of their stay in Vermont, as long as they follow proper health protocols. “At this point, they’re already here, so there’s no point of making them leave,” said Domonique Thorne of Rutland Town.

Many overnight summer camps are using various “loopholes” in the existing executive order, in which they were given temporary residence permits to operate this summer. On Friday, New York State issued new regulations, which will make it nearly impossible for many camps to continue to operate. Additionally, YWN has learned of at least two camps that were given “cease and desist orders” by the State. It remains to be seen what action the State will take, and what the response of the camps will be. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A tropical storm warning has been issued from Cape May, New Jersey to Rhode Island, including Long Island and Long Island Sound, as Tropical Storm Fay has developed off the coast of North Carolina and is moving up the coast. A flash flood watch has also been issued for New York City, Long Island and several counties in New York and New Jersey for Friday. The National Hurricane Center says Fay is expected to produce 3 to 5 inches of rain along and near the track of Fay across the mid-Atlantic states into southeast New York and southern New England. These rains may result in flash flooding where the heaviest amounts occur. Tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the coast within the warning area on Friday and spread northward through the warning area Friday night.

Changing Gears: Bike4Chai 2020 Rides into Uncharted Territory to Benefit Children of Chai Lifeline On Thursday, August 13, nearly 500 cyclists will ride more than 50,000 combined miles as part of Bike4Chai. Now in its 11th year, the annual cycling event raises funds for Chai Lifeline, the international children’s health support network which provides emotional, social, and financial assistance to children with life-threatening and lifelong illnesses and their families. “Bike4Chai is one of the world’s largest experiential fundraisers,” said Yoel Margolese, director of Bike4Chai.

The ruling has just been handed down by the judge: There will be no overnight summer camps in NY this summer. CLICK HERE TO READ THE RULING SOME QUOTES FROM THE RULING: Although Plaintiffs argue that Jewish overnight camps would have rigorous training on health and safety protocols developed from physicians and health policy professionals (Dkt. No. 7, Attach 2, at 15-16), Defendant’s executive orders apply to all overnight camps throughout the state, which may not have the appropriate resources. Overnight camps are also generally a significant distance away from hospitals and located in remote areas with limited healthcare access. (Dkt. No. 25, Attach.

Two serious crashes this morning forced the full closure of Route 17 at Exit 119 – both eastbound and westbound. In one incident, one victim suffered serious injuries after a multi-vehicle crash on Route 17 heading Eastbound. Emergency personnel – including Catskills Hatzolah – were dispatched to the crash which happened at around 9:30AM. The crash involved two vehicles, one of which overturned two times. Hatzolah Paramedics requested a Medevac for one of the victims, who suffered serious injuries. The chopper landed on the highway, and evacuated the victim to Westchester Trauma Center. An additional stable victims were transported by Hatzolah to Orange Regional Medical center. Meanwhile, at 8:00AM, a overturned tractor-trailer dump-truck overturned on Route 17 heading westbound.

Despite viral rumors on social media stating that a Federal Judge in NY ruled that summer camps would not be allowed to open, it is nothing more than “fake news”. The only update in the case is that “supplemental briefs” have been filed – both by the State of New York, as well as by the attorney representing the Association of Jewish Camp Operators (AJCO). The briefs were filed on Wednesday. At this point, there is no news other than waiting for a decision by the judge. That’s what happens when “news sources” publish news without even bothering to verify what they are posting – or even bother to read the date on a court document. STAY UPDATED WITH BREAKING UPDATES FROM YWN VIA WHATSAPP – SIGN UP NOW Just click on this link, and you will be placed into a group.

Children with serious illnesses and their families enjoyed a much-needed night out from the comfort and safety of their cars at Chai Lifeline’s Summer Kickoff Concert in Monsey, NY on July 1. The concert was the first in a series of programs and events for “Camp Simcha Without Borders,” Chai Lifeline’s new initiative to bring the magic of Camp Simcha to communities across the country this summer. Social media personality Meir Kay emceed the program, which featured performances by Beri Weber, Avraham Fried, Yoni Z, Eli Gerstner and the Yeshiva Boys Choir, and others. Close to 1,000 excited children and families sang and danced along to the music in their cars and enjoyed boxed dinners prepared by Chai Lifeline volunteers.

This morning, a plaintiff group led by the Association of Jewish Camp Operators, AJCO, as well as parents of potential campers, presented oral arguments in their case against New York State Governor, Andrew Cuomo. AJCO, founded by Agudath Israel of America to represent the interests of the Orthodox Jewish summer camp community, and parents, are requesting a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction allowing overnight camps to open this summer. Camps were barred from opening this summer due to Governor Cuomo’s March Executive Order put in place to stop the impending spread of COVID-19.