--- loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2017/06/26 01:34:32	1.1281
+++ loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2017/06/26 01:56:58	1.1282
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common routines
 #
-# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.1281 2017/06/26 01:34:32 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.1282 2017/06/26 01:56:58 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -4992,7 +4992,8 @@ sub blockcheck {
     # boards, chat or groups, check for blocking in current course only.
 
     if (($activity eq 'boards' || $activity eq 'chat' ||
-         $activity eq 'groups' || $activity eq 'printout') &&
+         $activity eq 'groups' || $activity eq 'printout' ||
+         $activity eq 'reinit' || $activity eq 'alert') &&
         ($env{'request.course.id'})) {
         foreach my $key (keys(%live_courses)) {
             if ($key ne $env{'request.course.id'}) {
@@ -5309,6 +5310,10 @@ END_MYBLOCK
         $text = &mt('Printing Blocked');
     } elsif ($activity eq 'passwd') {
         $text = &mt('Password Changing Blocked');
+    } elsif ($activity eq 'alert') {
+        $text = &mt('Checking Critical Messages Blocked');
+    } elsif ($activity eq 'reinit') {
+        $text = &mt('Checking Course Update Blocked');
     }
     $output .= <<"END_BLOCK";
 <div class='$class'>
@@ -16993,8 +16998,12 @@ sub needs_coursereinit {
         $interval = 600;
     }
     if (($now-$env{'request.course.timechecked'})>$interval) {
-        my $lastchange = &Apache::lonnet::get_coursechange($cdom,$cnum);
         &Apache::lonnet::appenv({'request.course.timechecked'=>$now});
+        my $blocked = &blocking_status('alert',$cnum,$cdom,undef,1);
+        if ($blocked) {
+            return ();
+        }
+        my $lastchange = &Apache::lonnet::get_coursechange($cdom,$cnum);
         if ($lastchange > $env{'request.course.tied'}) {
             my %curr_reqd_hash = &Apache::lonnet::userenvironment($cdom,$cnum,'internal.releaserequired');
             if ($curr_reqd_hash{'internal.releaserequired'} ne '') {
@@ -17434,9 +17443,25 @@ sub cleanup_html {
 
 # Checks for critical messages and returns a redirect url if one exists.
 # $interval indicates how often to check for messages.
+# $context is the calling context -- roles, grades, contents, menu or flip. 
 sub critical_redirect {
-    my ($interval) = @_;
+    my ($interval,$context) = @_;
     if ((time-$env{'user.criticalcheck.time'})>$interval) {
+        if (($env{'request.course.id'}) && (($context eq 'flip') || ($context eq 'contents'))) {
+            my $cdom = $env{'course.'.$env{'request.course.id'}.'.domain'};
+            my $cnum = $env{'course.'.$env{'request.course.id'}.'.num'};
+            my $blocked = &blocking_status('alert',$cnum,$cdom,undef,1);
+            if ($blocked) {
+                my $checkrole = "cm./$cdom/$cnum";
+                if ($env{'request.course.sec'} ne '') {
+                    $checkrole .= "/$env{'request.course.sec'}";
+                }
+                unless ((&Apache::lonnet::allowed('evb',undef,undef,$checkrole)) &&
+                        ($env{'request.role'} !~ m{^st\./$cdom/$cnum})) {
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+        }
         my @what=&Apache::lonnet::dump('critical', $env{'user.domain'}, 
                                         $env{'user.name'});
         &Apache::lonnet::appenv({'user.criticalcheck.time'=>time});