Winston Churchill led Britain through World War II by making tough decisions, projecting a sense of confidence to the country and being personally affectionate even as he was often severe about the work, writes Steve McKee. "He could get very emotional, but after bitterly criticizing you he had a habit of touching you, of putting his hand on your hand -- like that -- as if to say that his real feelings for you were not changed," British wartime official Lord Beaverbrook said of Churchill.

City Manager Mark Jinks is reworking the municipal budget for Alexandria, Va., but the city will likely face a $35 million shortfall rather than the expected $5 million to $10 million surplus, Mayor Justin Wilson said this week. The city's budget planning process will be restarted and community members will be able to give feedback, most likely through online meetings.

York County, S.C., Sheriff Kevin Tolson is urging residents who call 911 to be truthful with dispatchers about contact with coronavirus patients, suspected cases or recent travel. "All we ask is for you to tell us how you're feeling, good or bad, so we can prepare our deputies properly before they get to you," Tolson says.

The closure of parks and other outdoor areas due to the coronavirus pandemic doesn't need to keep people from reaping the health benefits of encountering nature, according to the organizers of the City Nature Challenge, which begins later this month. The challenge asks people to find wildlife and plants in their neighborhoods and report them using the iNaturalist app.

The 2020 census is happening amid the coronavirus pandemic, and while the Census Bureau has suspended field operations until the middle of the month, it expects to report data to the president and the states on schedule. Several mayors have called for extending the window of operations, though the bureau says the stay-at-home and other coronavirus orders only underscore the importance of filling out the census either online or via mail.

Officials in Shenzhen, China, have enacted the country's first law banning the consumption of cat, dog, snake, frog and turtle meat in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The legislation stipulates that residents may cook and consume pigs, cows, sheep, donkeys, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese and pigeons, as well as seafood.

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation has created the Parks@Home website featuring video tours of parks, meditation exercises and presentations by park rangers, among other offerings. "While our worlds have become smaller, we are committed to bringing our 30,000 acres of green space and our countless free programs to you in your homes," Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver said.

Officials in Routt County, Colo., have named a temporary replacement for City Manager Tom Sullivan, who retired from his post in March after serving the city for nearly two decades. Mark Collins, former city administrator in Sheridan, Wyo., will serve as interim city manager until a permanent replacement is hired.

When disaster hits, local government managers have the challenging task of providing leadership to the community - often while dealing with the crisis in their own home. Now, more than ever, local government managers must safeguard their emotional wellbeing as they deal with extreme personal and professional stressors. Join David E. Morrison, M.D., consultant, psychiatrist, and founder of Morrison Associates, Ltd., in an ICMA teleconference on April 3, 2:30 to 3 p.m. Eastern, when he will discuss how local government managers can cope with stress during this global health crisis. Following his presentation, there will be a Q&A session. Register today!

Local government managers are responsible for coordinating their community's response to the developing COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to provide guidance oriented to local government managers on COVID-19, ICMA has curated considerations for local preparedness, response, and recovery along with essential resources. Updated daily, read now!