Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Apr 21, 2021

Passings: Sorry to hear that JIM STEINMAN died on Monday in Connecticut. He was 73. Jim was probably best known for writing and producing the classic "Bat Out of Hell" for MEAT LOAF, as well as AIR SUPPLY’s "Making Love Out of Nothing at All," and BONNIE TYLER’s "Total Eclipse of the Heart." He also did Meat Loaf's "Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell" and CELINE DION's "It’s All Coming Back To Me Now."

The US state department now says Americans should avoid 80-percent of countries around the world because of the coronavirus pandemic. Currently, there are only three countries which the state department says you can visit and just "exercise normal precautions" --Macau, Taiwan and New Zealand.

Add California to the states which are boosting indoor audiences because of their falling rate of Covid-19 infections. State officials now say they will allow concerts and other indoor events to be held at 75-percent of capacity in three counties in Northern California, provided the people attending have been vaccinated or have tested negative for the virus. However, in Los Angeles County and 33 others, they are still at 50-percent capacity for indoor gatherings.

On the other coast, NY Gov. ANDREW CUOMO has okayed NYC theaters to allow a 33-percent total for movie-goers beginning next Monday. Museums and zoos will be allowed to increase to 50% capacity as well.

PRINCE HARRY has reportedly stayed to celebrate QUEEN ELIZABETH's 95th birthday today. However, some traditional events on her birthday will not be celebrated as usual. Word is the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a smaller celebration at Windsor Castle like last year, with no word on which --if any-- family members will be invited.

Meanwhile, the New Idea tabloid reports that there’s a new “bombshell allegation” about the state of PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE’s marriage and that she may be planning to divorce Harry after delivering the couple’s second baby. The paper quotes an “insider” from the Admiralty House in Sydney, Australia, where the couple stayed during their 2018 visit to the country. However, other tabloids say the story is a fake and was made up.

Finally, the LIDL grocery store chain released a statement yesterday saying they would offer free menstrual products to women and girls as part of a new initiative targeting what they called "period poverty." CNN Business reported eligible Irish women will be offered a coupon for a free box of pads or tampons each month --beginning May 3rd-- through the Lidl Plus app. The offer is currently limited to Lidl's stores in Ireland.