23ABC News at 11 p.m. Top Stories for March 26, 2020

23ABC News at 11 p.m. Top Stories for March 26, 2020

RIDGECREST REGIONALHOSPITAL CONFIRMING IT ISCURRENTLY TREATING ACOVID-19 PATIENT...IN A VIDEO STATEMENT POSTED TOITS WEBSITE TODAY,HOSPITAL C-E-O JIM SUVER SAID ITMADE THE ANNOUNCEMENTOUT OF TRANSPARENCY AND ASSUREDTHE COMMUNITY THEHOSPITAL IS PREPARED TO TREAT APOSSIBLE SURGE IN CASESTHERE..."I WANT TO ASSURE YOU, WE AREGOINGTO GET THROUGH THIS.

THEHOSPITAL HAS BEEN PREPARING FORWEEKS NOW,ACTIVATING OUR DISASTER PLANS,TO MAKE SURE WE CAN TAKE CARE OFOURCOMMUNITY.

EVEN IN THE EVENT OFA SURGE, WE HAVE BEEN GETTINGMESSAGESOUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO PRACTICESOCIAL DISTANCING IN THEHOPES SLOWING THE VIRUS DOWN."THE C-E-O ASKING RESIDENTS TOCONTINUE PRACTICINGGUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIO NS.THAT INCLUDES SOCIAL DISTANCING,WASHING HANDSWITH WARM WATER AND SOAP FOR ATLEAST 20 SECONDS ANDSTAYING HOME IF YOU FEEL SICK.HE SAID THE HOSPITAL CURRENTLYHAS ENOUGHVENTILATORS AND INTENSIVE CAREROOMS TO TREAT A POSSIBLEOUTBREAK IN RIDGECREST.MEANWHILE -- TODAY OFFICIALSCONFIRMED 8 MORE KERNCOUNTY RESIDENTS TESTED POSITIVEFOR THECORONAVIRUS... BRINGING THETOTAL TO 32 FOR RESIDENTS -- ANDTHE 1 NON-RESIDENT CASE.HOWEVER THERE IS SOME GOODNEWS...KERN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTHDEPARTMENT SAYS THAT THENUMBER OF NEGATIVE CASES HERE INKERN COUNTY HASOFFICIALLY SURPASSED 600.OFFICIALS SAY IT COULD POSSIBLYMEAN A GOOD SIGN FOR KERNCOUNTY RESIDENTS.THOUGH HEALTH OFFICIALS POINTOUT THE PUBLIC SHOULD EXPECT TOSEE COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS TORISE.AND -- THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTORVEHICLES SAID IT WILLTEMPORARILY CLOSE ALL FIELDOFFICES STARTING TOMORROW.OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE ALSOCANCELING ALL SCHEDULEDAPPOINTMENTS BEGINNING TOMORROWBECAUSE OFCORONAVIRUS CONCERNS.THE DEPARTMENT SAID ONLINESERVICES WILL REMAIN AVAILABLEAT ITS WEBSITE AND AT AVAILABLEKIOSKS.ITS PHONE LINES WILL REMAINAVAILABLE DURING BUSINESS HOURSOR VIA CHAT AT ITS WEBSITE.THE D-M-V SAID IT WILL REOPEN ONAPRIL 2ND WITH "VIRTUAL"SERVICES.OFFICIALS SAID EMPLOYEES HAVEBEEN TRAINING ON A D-M-V VIRTUALFIELD OFFICE SINCE MONDAY.THE DEPARTMENT IS ASKING PEOPLEWHO DO NOT HAVE AN URGENT NEEDFOR D-M-V SERVICES TO DELAYTHEIR VISITS INCLUDINGAPPLYING FOR A REAL I-D.THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HASDELAYED THE NEED FOR A REALI-D UNTIL OCT.

21ST OF NEXTYEAR.A LANDLORD IN OUR COMMUNITY ISGOING VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA DUETO HIS ACTS OF KINDNESS DURINGTHE COVID-19 OUTBREAK.HE IS OFFERING HIS TENANTS ASPECIAL GIFT TO HELP THEMTHROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME.23ABCS LEZLA GOODEN SAT DOWNWITH THE LANDLORD WHOSAYS IT IS THE RIGHT THING TODO.:GOOD EVENING..

DENNIS BEAVER ISA LOCAL ATTORNEY AND LANDLORD.WHO HAS DECIDED TO HELP HISTENANTS WITH APRILS RENT, WHILERESIDENTS FACE TOUGH TIMES DUETO THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK.

SINCETHEN HIS ACT OF KINDNESS HASINSPIRED OTHERS TO DO THE SAME-WHICH HE SAYS WAS THE GOAL-DENNIS BEAVER, A BAKERSFIELDRESIDENT AND A LANDLORD FORPROPERTIES NOT ONLY HERE IN KERNCOUNTY BUT ALSO IN LOSANGELES..

SAYS BECAUSE OF THEIMPACT OF THE COVID-19OUTBREAK- HE WANTED HIS TENANTSTO HAVE ONE LESS THINGTO WORRY ABOUT.DON'T PAY APRILS RENT THIS ISOURGIFT TO YOU.

WE ARE ALL IN THISWAR TOGETHER.BEAVER SAYS HE HOPES HIS ACTIONSENCOURAGEOTHER LANDLORDS WHO ARE IN THEPOSITION TO-DOTHE SAME.AND HAS THIS ADVICE FORTHEM.LANDLORDS WHO OWN THE PROPERTIESOUTRIGHT WHO ARE NOT MAKINGMORTGAGE PAYMENTS.

NOTTHINK OF THEM AS JUST A SOURCEOF INCOME BUT TO THINK ABOUTTHAT PERSONSWELFARE.SINCE HIS ACT OF KINDNESS BEAVERHAS BEEN RECEIVING CALLSOF ADMIRATION FROM ACROSS THECOUNTRY MOSTLY FROMOTHER LANDLORDS WHO SAY THEYWERE MOTIVATED BYHIM.-WHAT YOU DID WAS REALLYSOMETHING AND I AM GOING TO DOTHE SAME THING.

ANDYOU ENCOURAGED ME TO DO THAT..THANK YOU,.EVEN INSPIRING FELLOWBAKERSFIELD LANDLORDS LIKEPATRICK JENNSIONWE ARE GOING TO REDUCE THEIRRENTFOR THE NESXT TWO MONTHSCHARGING THEM HALF RENT IN APRILAND MAY.

WE ARE HOPING WE CANENCOURAGE OTHER LANDLORDS.

ONEOF JENNISON'S GRATEFUL TENANTSIS ANDREA HOLTE WHO LIVES INNEWPORT BEACH CALIFORNIA ANDSAYS WITH THIS RENT GIFT SHEWILL BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON OTHEREXPENSES SUCH AS HEALTHCARE.IT WON'T GO OVERLOOKED.

I FEELLIKE TIS NOT JUST FOR US BUT ITSFOR THE COMMON GOOD OF ALL OFUS..LEZLA: BOTH LANDLORDS SAY THATTHEY WANT TO ENCOURAGEOTHERS TO DO WHATEVER THEY CANTO HELP THOSE IN NEEDDURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK.NOT MATTER HOW BIGOR SMALL THE GESTURE ISTHE CITY COUNCIL OF DELANO HASISSUED AN ORDINANCEOR SMALL THE GESTURE ISTHE CITY COUNCIL OF DELANO HASISSUED AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITINGEVICTIONS OF RESIDENTIAL TENANTS-- DUETO INCOME LOSS OR MEDICALEXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITHTHE COVID-19 OUTBREAK.GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM RECENTLYISSUED AN EXECUTIVEORDER THAT AUTHORIZESJURISDICTIONS TO SUSPEND THEEVICTIONS OF TENANTS FORNON-PAYMENT OF RENT IF ITS DUETO THE CORONAVIRUS.WITHOUT THIS PROTECTION --EVICTIONS OF TENANTS COULDLEAD TO LONG TERM PERMANENTDISPLACEMENT.THE ORDINANCE IS IN EFFECT UNTILTHE EXECUTIVE ORDERTERMINATES OR THE CITY OF DELANODECLARES AN ENDTO THE LOCAL EMERGENCY.NEW DETAILS TONIGHT -- A PERSONHAS DIED FOLLOWING ASINGLE-MOTORCYCLE CRASH ON THEWESTSIDEPARKWAY NEAR COFFEE ROAD THISEVENING...ACCORDING TO BAKERSFIELD POLICE-- AT 8:05 PM, BAKERSFIELDPOLICE OFFICERS WERE DISPATCHEDTO THE WESTSIDEPARKWAY, WEST OF COFFEE ROADREGARDING AN INJURY COLLISIONINVOLVING A MOTORCYCLE.THE MOTORCYCLE RIDER SUFFEREDDEADLY INJURIES AS A RESULT OFTHE COLLISION.THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED,PRIOR TO THE COLLISIONTHE PERSON WAS RIDING EAST BOUNDON THE WESTSIDEPARKWAY IN EXCESS OF 100 MILESPER HOUR WHEN FORUNKNOWN REASONS LEFT THE ROADWAYCOLLIDING WITH ACHAIN LINK FENCE.ALCOHOL OR DRUGS DO NOT APPEARTO BE A FACTOR IN THISCOLLISION.ANYONE WITH INFORMATIONREGARDING THIS INVESTIGATION ISENCOURAGED TO CALL THEBAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT AT327-7111.THE NAVY HOSPITAL SHIP MERCYWILL SOON BEGIN ACCEPTINGPATIENTS WHO DO NOT HAVECORONAVIRUS, TO FREE UP SPACEAND RESOURCES IN L-A AREAHOSPITALS...MILITARY HELICOPTERS WERESURVEYING THE PORT OF LOSANGELES TODAY -- WHERE THE U.S.NAVY HOSPITAL SHIP MERCY WILLDOCK.IT COULD ARRIVE TOMORROW.L.A.

PORT POLICE WON'T SAY WHENSHE'LL ARRIVE ONLY THATTHEY'RE COORDINATING WITH THENAVY AND COASTGUARD FOR THE SHIPS ARRIVAL.PATIENTS NOT AFFLICTED WITHCOVID 19 WILL BE BROUGHT TO THEONE-THOUSAND BED SHIP.IT'S MISSION IS TO EASE THEPATIENT LOAD OF SOUTHERNCALIFORNIA HOSPITALS.ACCORDING TO L.A.

PORTOFFICIALS, THE PORTS OF LOSANGELES AND LONG BEACH AREOPERATING AT 80 PERCENTCAPACITY..

CARGO SHIPS ARECOMING INTO THE PORT ANDLEAVING.

THE AMOUNT OF GOODSCOMING HAVE DECREASED.SO FAR -- THERE'S BEEN NOREPORTS OF WORKERS COMINGDOWN WITH THE VIRUS.MEANWHILE -- THE U.S NOW HAS THEMOST DIAGNOSED CASES OFCORONA VIRUS IN THE WORLD,SURPASSING CHINA AND ITALY.TONIGHT, THE NUMBERS - IN JUSTONE WEEK'S TIME WE'VE GONEFROM 11 HUNDRED REPORTED CASES--TO MORE THAN 80-THOUSAND.

ABC'SMARCI GONZALES HASTHE LATEST...WITH A SURGING NUMBER OFCONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES,THE U-S SUFFERING ITS DEADLIEST24-HOURS YET.MORE THAN 1-THOUSAND PEOPLENATIONWIDE HAVENOW DIED FROM THE VIRUS?

13 OFTHEM - IN A DAY - AT THISHOSPITALIN QUEENS, NEW YORKDR. COLLEEN SMITH TAKING ABCNEWS AND THE NEW YORK TIMESINSIDE THE HEART WRENCHINGSITUATION THERE"TODAY IS KIND OF GETTING WORSEANDWORSE.

WE HAD TO GET AREFRIGERATED TRUCK TO STORE THEBODIES OF PATIENTSWHO ARE DYING."ALSO AMONG THE VICTIMS OF THISPANDEMIC: A NURSE AT NEWYORK'S MT.SINAI HOSPITAL?AND A 17-YEAR-OLD INLOUISIANA?THAT STATE SEEING A 28PERCENT INCREASE IN CASESOVERNIGHT.

LOSANGELES BRACING FOR A SURGE ASWELL.FOR A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE -THE CRISIS IMPACTINGTHEIR HEALTH - AND THEIRLIVELIHOODS.

NEARLY 3.3MILLION AMERICANS FILINGUNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS IN A WEEK- 4 TIMES MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK.OURCOUNTRY HAS TO GO BACK.

OURCOUNTRY IS BASED ON THAT.

AND ITHINK IT'S GOINGTO HAPPEN PRETTY QUICKLY.BUT THE TOP DOCTOR ON HISCORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE HAD THISWARNING ON CNN--"YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND, YOUDON'T MAKE THE TIMELINE - THEVIRUS MAKES THE TIMELINE."WENEEDANOTHER VOICE HERE - AN EXPDERTOR SOMEONE EXPRESSING CAUTIONABOUT OPENING EVERYTHING TOOSOONAND THE FINAL VOTE ON THE 2TRILLION DOLLAR RELIEF BILL ISSETFOR TOMORROW ON CAPITOLHILL?WHICH WOULD PAVE THEWAY FOR PAYMENTS TO START GOINGOUT TO AMERICANFAMILIES THE FIRST WEEK OFAPRIL.

MG ABC NEWS LAA SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MANARRESTED --- ACCUSED OFTRYING TO PROFIT OFF THECORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.AUTHORITIES SAY HE CLAIMED TOHAVE COME UP WITH A CURE FORTHE VIRUS.NOW HE IS CHARGED WITH A FELONY.STACEY BUTLER HAS DETAILS"THIS IS THE CURE GOING INTOMASSPRODUCTION AND THIS IS GONNASAVE AND CHANGE THE WORLD."ACCUSED OF FRAUDULENTLY POSTINGVIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIACLAIMING HE PERSONALLY DEVELOPEDA COVID19PREVENTION AND CURE."NOT ONLY DID I CREATE THE CURE,BUT THIS PILL RIGHT HERE IS THEPREVENTION."FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS SAY 53YEAR OLD KEITHMIDDLEBROOK WHO CLAIMS TO HAVEHOMES IN NEWPORT BEACH,MURRIETA AND WESTWOOD ---PROMISED INVESTORSMASSIVE PROFITS.HE ALSO CLAIMED MAGIC JOHNSONWAS ON HIS BOARD OFDIRECTORS.THE FEDS SAY THAT'S A LIE."A PATIENT IN LA HOSPITAL WHO IINJECTED THIS WITH THAT TESTEDPOSITIVE... 48 HOURS AND THREEHOURSLATER, 51 HOURS TOTAL..

THEPERSON GOT UP AND WALKED OUT OFHOSPITAL"TONIGHT IN A FACETIME CALL USATTORNEY NIC HANNA TOLD MEMIDDLEBROOK IS A CRUEL SCAMARTIST WHO USED FEAR OF THEPANDEMIC TO PROFIT."I THINK ITS DESPICABLE.

THIS ISTHE TIME WHEN ALL AMERICANS ARESUPPOSED TO COME TOGETHER ANDHELPONE ANOTHER... AND UNFORTUNATELYTHERE ARE FEW PEOPLE OUT THEREWHO LOOK AT THIS AS ANOPPORTUNITY TO LIE CHEAT ANDSTEAL AND TAKE TRY TO TAKEADVANTAGE OF THEIR NEIGHBORS.AFTER HIS POSTS WERE VIEWED 633THOUSAND TIMES ..

THE USATTORNEY SAYS THE FBI ARRESTEDHIM TODAY AT THIS RANGE RANGERPARKED IN EL SEGUNDO...DURING A MEETING WITH ANUNDERCOVER FEDERAL AGENTPOSING AS AN INVESTOR.INVESTIGATORS SAY MIDDLEBROOKDELIVERED PILLS HE CLAIMEDWOULD PREVENT THE CORONAVIRUSINFECTION.HE PROMISED A THREE HUNDREDTHOUSAND DOLLARINVESTMENT WOULD EASILY YIELD ATHIRTY MILLION DOLLARRETURN.HE NOW FACES FELONY ATTEMPTEDWIRE FRAUD WITH APENALTY OF UO TO 20 YEARS INPRISON."I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROMFEDERAL LAWENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, THIS ISA VERY HIGH PRIORITY.

WE ARE OUTIN FORCEAND WE ARE GOING TO BE VERYAGGRESSIVE GOING AFTER PEOPLEWHO TRY TO TAKEADVANTAGE OF THIS CRISIS."A WINTER-LIKE STORM MOVED ACROSSKERN COUNTYOVERNIGHT.

WE ARE TRACKING A FEWSHOWERS TO MOVE THROUGHTHIS EVENING, MAINLY IN THE WESTSIDE HILLS AND THEMOUNTAINS.FRIDAY WILL BRING DRYCONDITIONS, CLEARING SKIESBUT TEMPERATURES REMAIN COLD.THE VALLEY COULDSEE TEMPERATURES IN THE 30SFRIDAY MORNING.

BY THEAFTERNOON, BAKERSFIELD WILL BEIN THE LOW-60S, LAKEISABELLA IN THE LOW-50S AND THESOUTH MOUNTAINS IN THE40S.

VALLEY AIR REMAINS GOOD.SATURDAY AND SUNDAY BRING CLOUDYSKIES AS A RATHER WEAKSTORM SYSTEM MOVES INTO NORTHERNCALIFORNIA.

ITDOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCHPRECIPITATION WILL BE FALLINGIN KERN COUNTY, BUT NOT RULINGOUT A SHOWER OR TWO IN THEMOUNTAINS.MONDAY BRINGS THE RETURN OF THE70S, CLEAR SKIES AND CALMCONDITIONS.

IT LOOKS LIKE THISTREND CONTINUES FORMOST OF NEXT WEEK.WE'VE ASKED OUR VIEWERS TO SENDPHOTOS TO SHOW US HOW THEYARE "MAKIN' IT" DURING THISPANDEMIC?

WELL -- ONE LOCALCOUPLE HAS A VERY UNIQUE ANDCREATIVE WAY OF MAKING IT -- BYSPREADING HUMOR...CHECK IT OUT...ONE LOCAL COUPLE -- LIZZ AND RAYMARTINEZ --POSTING THIS VIDEO AND SOMEPICTURES ON FACEBOOK -- OFONE OF THEM -- DRESSED AS T- REX-- STANDING AT THEINTERSECTION OF COLUMBUS ANDUNIVERSITY AVENUE --ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO PRACTICESOCIAL DISTANCING.THE "T-REX" HOLDING A SIGN THATREADS -- "EXTINCTIONSUCKS -- STAY HOME."REMEMBER WE WANT YOU TO TELL USHOW ARE YOU MAKIN ITDURING THESE TIMES?ARE YOU WATCHING MOVIES?DOING ACTIVITIES WITH YOUR KIDS?ARE YOU DOING SOME HOMEPROJECTS?

ARE YOU DRESSED UPLIKE A DINOSAUR?SEND US VIDEOS OR PICTURES ONOUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR EMAIL USAT NEWS AT K-E-R-O DOT COM.YOU MAY SEE SOME OF THEM RIGHTHERE ON 23 A-B-C.KEEPING IN THE SPIRIT OFSPREADING JOY --STAFF AND TEACHERS FROM STANDARDSCHOOL DISTRICTPUT TOGETHER THIS SPECIAL VIDEOMESSAGE FOR THEIRSTUDENTS AND FAMILIES STUCK ATHOME DURING THE OUTBREAK...CHECK THIS OUT...SINGING'WE MISS YOUR SMILES'YEAH THAT IS CUTE...THE DISTRICT CREATING THEHASHTAG STANDARDSTRONG -- AIMING TO GIVESTUDENTS HOPE AND SOME CHEER.THE FULL STANDARD STRONG VIDEOMESSAGE ISAVAILABLE TO WATCH ON OUR 23ABCFACEBOOK PAGE.COMING UP -- ALL THE NUMBERS,