Back in 2014, Chick Corea visited The Checkout to promote Portraits, an solo album celebrating artists he admired. Instead, the pianist gave us a clear picture of himself.

We are coming to the end, we hope, of a melancholy season. There are a number of films in theatres and streaming currently which deal with the slow winding down of a life and the effect it has on family.

New Jersey reported another 3,149 new positive PCR tests Friday as well as another 1,007 antigen tests, for a cumulative total of all positives since the start of the pandemic to 782,833.

The positivity rate for all PCR tests recorded on Monday was 6.53%. The statewide rate of transmission is 0.89.

On Thursday there were 2,008 coronavirus patients in New Jersey hospitals, including 439 in critical care and 270 on ventilators. Hospitals also discharged 264 patients.

The head of New York City’s school system is stepping down in a few weeks.

Richard Carranza struggled to hold back tears as he mentioned he has 11 family members and close friends he has lost to Covid-19.

He was asked, though, if his departure was connected to disagreements with the mayor on education policy. “I am leaving because I need to take care of me. I need time to grieve. This city, this school system, deserves a chancellor who 100% is taking up the helm," he said.