usatoday--2020-08-05--In Michigan, an Election Day unlike any other

DETROIT – Tuesday 's primary was a Michigan election like no other .
The casting of close to 1.6 million absentee ballots crushed absentee records for any previous primary and easily topped the 1.27 million absentee ballots cast in the November 2018 general election , formerly a record .
Though the overall turnout appeared strong for a primary , the precincts themselves were mostly quiet throughout the day and as the 8 p.m. time for polls to close approached .
Instead , any frenzy took place in nearby rooms where crews of poll workers hustled to count record numbers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did show up at the polls – amid a coronavirus pandemic and after Michigan 's 2018 approval of no-reason absentee voting – said it was because they felt most certain their vote would be counted if they stuck the ballot into the box themselves .
“ I think it ’ s more secure , ” said Marla Laurain , who voted in person in Birmingham .
“ I don ’ t know what happens when it leaves my hands .
At least here it ’ s going through the machine , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I feel a little more secure voting in-person.
” Masks – not required for voters but strongly recommended – were more prevalent than `` I voted '' stickers .
Hand sanitizer , plastic sneeze guards , gloves , and frequent cleaning of voting booths were among the other new features at various precincts .
Clerks were improvising as needed to keep people safe , said Jake Rollow , a spokesman for the Michigan Secretary of State 's Office .
For example , at one polling place where voters used to enter and exit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one door as entrance only and the other for use as an exit , he said .
A few polling places were short of election workers after some workers did not show up as expected , and at least three Detroit polling places and one in Flint opened an hour or two late as a result , Rollow said .
About 50 workers were sent Tuesday morning to shore up staffing at metro Detroit precincts .
There were also problems with some Detroit voters receiving late notice of polling place changes , Rollow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the state were that voting went smoothly amid light turnout at the polls , plenty of social distancing , and no lines to vote .
Most who opted to vote absentee reported no problems with that process either , according to a survey of Michigan voters conducted through a Free Press partnership with Columbia Journalism Investigations at New York 's Columbia University and the PBS series `` Frontline . ''
`` The process was just so simple , '' said Jo Vizzaccaro of Livonia , who voted absentee for the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , as Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson did for all Michigan voters , and who was among the hundreds who responded to the online survey .
`` I always wanted the experience of going up to the polls to see my neighbors , '' but made the switch because it was so easy , in addition to coronavirus concerns , said Vizzaccaro , who works in information technology at a Detroit hospital .
Benson 's decision to send absentee ballot applications to all registered voters , which drew praise from voting rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including President Donald Trump , resulted in requests for close to 2.1 million absentee ballots .
More : Trump backtracks on his condemnation of mail-in voting , says Florida is an exception More : 'It is what it is , ' Trump says of rising coronavirus death toll as he insists outbreak is 'under control' About 475,000 of those ballots had yet to be turned in by late Tuesday afternoon .
Analysts said many voters may have requested the ballots thinking of the Nov. 3 vote and then opted not to fill them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that contests – or any competitive statewide races – were not to be found .
Mother Nature may also have influenced turnout at the polls .
There were periodic showers Tuesday across much of Michigan .
Still , the election featured many important local contests for positions such as members of Congress , state representatives and county prosecutor .
More than 3,000 people registered to vote on Tuesday , officials said .
Same-day voter registration , along with no-reason absentee voting , were among the changes voters approved in 2018 .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supervising two rooms of about 50 people working to count more than 17,000 absentee ballots .
They had processed about 5,000 ballots through the one available high-speed tabulator by 2 p.m. Tuesday .
Workers started at 6 a.m. Tuesday and most were expected to continue straight through until early Wednesday morning , he said .
It 's not realistic to expect them to continue working even further into Wednesday , as would need to be the case in November , he said .
In Detroit , where voters requested more than 104,000 absentee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of voters wearing masks trickled into Grace Episcopal Church on Virginia Park Street .
Some were disappointed with the turnout .
`` I ’ m just kind of upset because the turnout isn ’ t what I thought it was going to be .
It ’ s after 9 and I was the ninth voter , ” said Donna Row .
She said she hoped that an influx of mail-in ballots this election would make up for the low turnout among those voting in person .
Row said she preferred going to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I vote in person .
I don ’ t pay my bills online .
I ’ m old-fashioned .
I want to see my ballot go in there and get my sticker , ” she said .
Emily Vanwormer also voted in person at Grace Episcopal .
She requested an absentee ballot but it never came .
“ I wanted to vote by mail but it didn ’ t get to me in time , ” she said .
She submitted her request online but moved recently and wondered whether that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At Edison Elementary School in Detroit ’ s Grandmont-Rosedale neighborhood , Corlis Brown-Lloyd , a Detroit voter for more than 35 years , said she considered voting absentee .
She decided against it this time but applied to vote absentee in November because the line will be longer at her polling location .
“ November ’ s different , ” Brown-Lloyd said .
In Sterling Heights , Majd Nashwati , 54 , voted at the firehouse with his wife , Hanan Fawal .
`` It 's a duty for us to vote , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice heard , '' said Nashwati , who wore a mask and said , by taking precautions : `` I did n't have a reason not to do it in person . ''
In Livingston County , Amy Klofkorn said she did not want to request an absentee ballot and risk it getting lost in the mail , but she was a little nervous to vote in person this Election Day .
So the 55-year-old Green Oak Township resident arrived before 7 a.m. at the Hawkins Elementary School polling place .
`` They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those in a used pen pile .
Everybody has face guards on .
It seemed really safe , '' said Kloforn , the second person to vote at the precinct Tuesday .
Green Oak Township Clerk Michael Sedlak , who visited the polling place a little before 8 a.m. , said the biggest concern among his election workers was Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer 's declaration that voters were not required to wear a mask .
In Pleasant Ridge , Courtney Patrick Maxwell , 25 , said she voted in person because she procrastinated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be sure her vote would be counted .
“ I just felt more confident that way , ” she said .
She also took a moment to snap a selfie in front of the “ I voted ” banner , holding hand-drawn images of her niece , Eleanor , and nephew , Lincoln , who had planned to visit her from Houston , but canceled plans as a result of the pandemic .
At Emerson Middle School in Livonia , Veronica McGhee walked proudly into the gymnasium , where more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I wanted to make my presence known in person , it means something to me to be able to walk in and have that ballot in my hand and to cast my vote , ” said McGhee , who has lived in Livonia since 2017 .
McGhee , 57 , said she did not even consider filing for an absentee ballot .
As a postal service employee , she is all too familiar with how backed up the mailing system currently is and didn ’ t want her vote to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she requested her absentee ballot about two or three weeks ago , but it never came .
Robinson , who has voted at Emerson Middle School for more than two decades , was struck when there was no wait time to cast her ballot .
“ It ’ s usually significantly busier , I ’ m hoping people are voting by mail , ” said Robinson .
“ It ’ s important to cast your ballot whether it ’ s by mail or in person because currently we have a real problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure that we ’ re getting candidates that are going to make progress toward a more united future in our country , and even at the local level it ’ s important so that ’ s where it starts.
” Robinson said voter count is typically in the 200s by the time she has hit the school ’ s gymnasium in previous years .
This year , she was voter number 41 .
Although she and her family have been staying in , she wasn ’ t concerned about hitting the polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participate in Black Lives Matter marches in the area .
“ I came today because certain things are more important than the virus , ” she said .
“ You have to get out and be as safe as you can , cast your ballot , we need to change our government.
” Contributing : Clara Hendrickson , Chanel Stitt , Miriam Marini and Keith Matheny of the Free Press ; Arpan Lobo of the Holland Sentinel

Paul Egan, Dave Boucher and Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press

In Michigan, an Election Day unlike any other
Show Caption Hide Caption Voters cast their ballots in metro Detroit The polls opened across Michigan and some voters made it a priority to exercise their right to vote in person. Detroit Free Press
DETROIT – Tuesday's primary was a Michigan election like no other.
The casting of close to 1.6 million absentee ballots crushed absentee records for any previous primary and easily topped the 1.27 million absentee ballots cast in the November 2018 general election, formerly a record.
Though the overall turnout appeared strong for a primary, the precincts themselves were mostly quiet throughout the day and as the 8 p.m. time for polls to close approached.
Instead, any frenzy took place in nearby rooms where crews of poll workers hustled to count record numbers of absentee votes.
Many of those who did show up at the polls – amid a coronavirus pandemic and after Michigan's 2018 approval of no-reason absentee voting – said it was because they felt most certain their vote would be counted if they stuck the ballot into the box themselves.
“I think it’s more secure,” said Marla Laurain, who voted in person in Birmingham.
“I don’t know what happens when it leaves my hands. At least here it’s going through the machine, and I know my vote is counted. So I feel a little more secure voting in-person.”
Masks – not required for voters but strongly recommended – were more prevalent than "I voted" stickers.
Hand sanitizer, plastic sneeze guards, gloves, and frequent cleaning of voting booths were among the other new features at various precincts.
Clerks were improvising as needed to keep people safe, said Jake Rollow, a spokesman for the Michigan Secretary of State's Office. For example, at one polling place where voters used to enter and exit through either door, election workers designated one door as entrance only and the other for use as an exit, he said.
Why voter suppression in the US has increased since 2013 Civil rights experts point to long wait times to vote as a sign of growing voter suppression in the U.S. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
A few polling places were short of election workers after some workers did not show up as expected, and at least three Detroit polling places and one in Flint opened an hour or two late as a result, Rollow said. About 50 workers were sent Tuesday morning to shore up staffing at metro Detroit precincts.
There were also problems with some Detroit voters receiving late notice of polling place changes, Rollow said.
But generally, reports from around the state were that voting went smoothly amid light turnout at the polls, plenty of social distancing, and no lines to vote.
Most who opted to vote absentee reported no problems with that process either, according to a survey of Michigan voters conducted through a Free Press partnership with Columbia Journalism Investigations at New York's Columbia University and the PBS series "Frontline."
"The process was just so simple," said Jo Vizzaccaro of Livonia, who voted absentee for the first time after having an application sent to her home, as Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson did for all Michigan voters, and who was among the hundreds who responded to the online survey.
"I always wanted the experience of going up to the polls to see my neighbors," but made the switch because it was so easy, in addition to coronavirus concerns, said Vizzaccaro, who works in information technology at a Detroit hospital.
Michigan has about 7.8 million registered voters.
Benson's decision to send absentee ballot applications to all registered voters, which drew praise from voting rights advocates but criticism from many Republicans, including President Donald Trump, resulted in requests for close to 2.1 million absentee ballots.
More: Trump backtracks on his condemnation of mail-in voting, says Florida is an exception
More: 'It is what it is,' Trump says of rising coronavirus death toll as he insists outbreak is 'under control'
About 475,000 of those ballots had yet to be turned in by late Tuesday afternoon. Analysts said many voters may have requested the ballots thinking of the Nov. 3 vote and then opted not to fill them out and turn them in when they found that contests – or any competitive statewide races – were not to be found.
Mother Nature may also have influenced turnout at the polls. There were periodic showers Tuesday across much of Michigan.
Still, the election featured many important local contests for positions such as members of Congress, state representatives and county prosecutor.
More than 3,000 people registered to vote on Tuesday, officials said. Same-day voter registration, along with no-reason absentee voting, were among the changes voters approved in 2018.
In Lansing, City Clerk Chris Swope was supervising two rooms of about 50 people working to count more than 17,000 absentee ballots. They had processed about 5,000 ballots through the one available high-speed tabulator by 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Workers started at 6 a.m. Tuesday and most were expected to continue straight through until early Wednesday morning, he said. It's not realistic to expect them to continue working even further into Wednesday, as would need to be the case in November, he said.
In Detroit, where voters requested more than 104,000 absentee ballots, a steady but slow steam of voters wearing masks trickled into Grace Episcopal Church on Virginia Park Street.
Some were disappointed with the turnout.
"I’m just kind of upset because the turnout isn’t what I thought it was going to be. It’s after 9 and I was the ninth voter,” said Donna Row. She said she hoped that an influx of mail-in ballots this election would make up for the low turnout among those voting in person.
Row said she preferred going to her polling place rather than voting absentee. “I vote in person. I don’t pay my bills online. I’m old-fashioned. I want to see my ballot go in there and get my sticker,” she said.
Emily Vanwormer also voted in person at Grace Episcopal. She requested an absentee ballot but it never came. “I wanted to vote by mail but it didn’t get to me in time,” she said. She submitted her request online but moved recently and wondered whether that was the reason her ballot never came.
At Edison Elementary School in Detroit’s Grandmont-Rosedale neighborhood, Corlis Brown-Lloyd, a Detroit voter for more than 35 years, said she considered voting absentee.
She decided against it this time but applied to vote absentee in November because the line will be longer at her polling location. “November’s different,” Brown-Lloyd said.
In Sterling Heights, Majd Nashwati, 54, voted at the firehouse with his wife, Hanan Fawal.
"It's a duty for us to vote, more than anything else to get our voice heard," said Nashwati, who wore a mask and said, by taking precautions: "I didn't have a reason not to do it in person."
In Livingston County, Amy Klofkorn said she did not want to request an absentee ballot and risk it getting lost in the mail, but she was a little nervous to vote in person this Election Day. So the 55-year-old Green Oak Township resident arrived before 7 a.m. at the Hawkins Elementary School polling place.
"They have pens, and they're putting those in a used pen pile. Everybody has face guards on. It seemed really safe," said Kloforn, the second person to vote at the precinct Tuesday.
Green Oak Township Clerk Michael Sedlak, who visited the polling place a little before 8 a.m., said the biggest concern among his election workers was Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's declaration that voters were not required to wear a mask.
In Pleasant Ridge, Courtney Patrick Maxwell, 25, said she voted in person because she procrastinated on mailing in her ballot and wanted to be sure her vote would be counted.
“I just felt more confident that way,” she said.
She also took a moment to snap a selfie in front of the “I voted” banner, holding hand-drawn images of her niece, Eleanor, and nephew, Lincoln, who had planned to visit her from Houston, but canceled plans as a result of the pandemic.
At Emerson Middle School in Livonia, Veronica McGhee walked proudly into the gymnasium, where more than a dozen polling booths were situated yards apart.
“I wanted to make my presence known in person, it means something to me to be able to walk in and have that ballot in my hand and to cast my vote,” said McGhee, who has lived in Livonia since 2017.
McGhee, 57, said she did not even consider filing for an absentee ballot. As a postal service employee, she is all too familiar with how backed up the mailing system currently is and didn’t want her vote to be affected.
Livonia voter Kelly Reilly Robinson said she requested her absentee ballot about two or three weeks ago, but it never came. Robinson, who has voted at Emerson Middle School for more than two decades, was struck when there was no wait time to cast her ballot.
“It’s usually significantly busier, I’m hoping people are voting by mail,” said Robinson. “It’s important to cast your ballot whether it’s by mail or in person because currently we have a real problem in our country and we need to make sure that we’re getting candidates that are going to make progress toward a more united future in our country, and even at the local level it’s important so that’s where it starts.”
Robinson said voter count is typically in the 200s by the time she has hit the school’s gymnasium in previous years. This year, she was voter number 41.
Although she and her family have been staying in, she wasn’t concerned about hitting the polls and the family has ventured out to participate in Black Lives Matter marches in the area.
“I came today because certain things are more important than the virus,” she said. “You have to get out and be as safe as you can, cast your ballot, we need to change our government.”
Contributing: Clara Hendrickson, Chanel Stitt, Miriam Marini and Keith Matheny of the Free Press; Arpan Lobo of the Holland Sentinel
Follow Paul Egan on Twitter @paulegan4.


usatoday--2020-08-04--Joe Biden holds final interviews with VP candidates as he looks to announce pick next week

WASHINGTON – Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti , co-chair of Joe Biden 's vice president selection committee , said Tuesday that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee plans on spending the next several days interviewing his the finalists to be his running mate .
`` We have amazing women that have been a part of this process , '' Garcetti told MSNBC 's `` Morning Joe '' Tuesday .
`` We 're keeping them all , we vetted them heavily .
All of them have passed a vet , and now in this next week , week and a half , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them . ''
Biden , who has pledged to pick a woman for the ticket , initially planned to announce his running mate the first week of August .
But reports now indicate that could come next week , giving him more time to settle on a preferred candidate .
`` I know he 's going to pick a vice president who reflects the same relationship he had with Barack Obama , '' Garcetti said .
`` He told us at the beginning of this : ' I 'm not looking for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice .
I 'm looking for somebody who can serve the American people and be the closest counselor to me in the White House ' . ''
Those reported to be on Biden 's short list include Sen. Kamala Harris of California , former national security advisor Susan Rice and Rep. Karen Bass of California .
More : Biden 's running mate announcement pushed back , likely will not come next week The three have been auditioning for a spot on the ticket , appearing on news shows to burnish their credentials .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is almost 20 years of deep experience at the senior most ranks of the executive branch , '' Rice told `` CBS This Morning '' on Tuesday .
`` Getting things done for the American people .
Wrestling with crises and dealing with the solutions we need . ''
More : 'Do not hold grudges ' : Biden 's notes reveal several talking points about Kamala Harris But Garcetti said having the finalists spend time with Biden is valuable , especially given the restrictions the coronavirus pandemic has placed on face-to-face encounters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think , together with that vice president , we can set up a relationship that would be one of the most important relationships in American History , '' Garcetti said .

Joe Biden holds final interviews with VP candidates as he looks to announce pick next week
Show Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden spotted with notes about one of his VP picks As talk swirls around Joe Biden's pick for a VP, the presumptive Democratic nominee was seen holding a note with Sen. Kamala Harris' name at the top. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, co-chair of Joe Biden's vice president selection committee, said Tuesday that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee plans on spending the next several days interviewing his the finalists to be his running mate.
"We have amazing women that have been a part of this process," Garcetti told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Tuesday. "We're keeping them all, we vetted them heavily. All of them have passed a vet, and now in this next week, week and a half, Mr. Biden can spend some time with them."
Biden, who has pledged to pick a woman for the ticket, initially planned to announce his running mate the first week of August. But reports now indicate that could come next week, giving him more time to settle on a preferred candidate.
"I know he's going to pick a vice president who reflects the same relationship he had with Barack Obama," Garcetti said. "He told us at the beginning of this: 'I'm not looking for a geographic, a demographic or a political choice. I'm looking for somebody who can serve the American people and be the closest counselor to me in the White House'."
Those reported to be on Biden's short list include Sen. Kamala Harris of California, former national security advisor Susan Rice and Rep. Karen Bass of California.
More: Biden's running mate announcement pushed back, likely will not come next week
The three have been auditioning for a spot on the ticket, appearing on news shows to burnish their credentials.
"I think what I would bring is almost 20 years of deep experience at the senior most ranks of the executive branch," Rice told "CBS This Morning" on Tuesday. "Getting things done for the American people. Wrestling with crises and dealing with the solutions we need."
More: 'Do not hold grudges': Biden's notes reveal several talking points about Kamala Harris
But Garcetti said having the finalists spend time with Biden is valuable, especially given the restrictions the coronavirus pandemic has placed on face-to-face encounters.
"It's a wonderful model and I think, together with that vice president, we can set up a relationship that would be one of the most important relationships in American History," Garcetti said.


usatoday--2020-08-04--6 out of 10 New Hampshire residents disapprove of Trump, according to new poll

New Hampshire 's disapproval of President Donald Trump has reached a record high , a new survey finds .
According to a poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey 's Center , whose results were released Monday , 60 % of New Hampshire residents disapprove of Trump 's work as president , while 39 % approve of it .
The 60 % figure is the highest reported by UNH surveys during Trump 's time in office .
The UNH poll , which was completed by about 2,000 respondents , shows that disapproval for Trump has steadily increased in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of respondents said that they `` strongly disapproved '' of Trump in April , compared to 55 % in July .
Support for the president is largely split by party lines .
The poll found that 83 % of Republicans approved of Trump 's job performance , while only 37 % of Independents and 1 % of Democrats approved .
The poll has a margin of error of 2.2 percent .
UNH noted that support among all three groups has been roughly the same since June , though approval has `` declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained largely stable among other age groups . ''
The survey also concluded that the approval of Trump was largely tied to the perception of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
Only 2 % of respondents disapproved of Trump 's handling of COVID-19 while approving of his overall job performance , and only 1 % approved of his handling of the pandemic but not his overall job performance .
This poll comes as Trump faces declining approval nationally for his handling of the pandemic .
When asked about Trump ’ s handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 56 % ) somewhat or strongly disapproved of his performance , while 37 % somewhat or strongly approved , according to a survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project in July .
That 's an 8-point drop from April when 45 % of Americans approved of Trump 's handling of the coronavirus and 48 % disapproved .
The survey also saw declines in approval for Trump 's handling of race relations and the economy over the past few months .
The Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape survey also found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or somewhat disapproved of the job Trump is doing as president , while a combined 39 % strongly or somewhat approved of it .
Since April , Trump 's national approval rating has dropped 7 percentage points , while his disapproval rating has risen 5 percentage points .
Trump also faces an increasing challenge in his polling numbers for re-election .
RealClearPolitics found that former Vice President Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic Nominee , leads him by more than seven points in national polls .

6 out of 10 New Hampshire residents disapprove of Trump, according to new poll
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump postpones New Hampshire rally, citing bad weather The President's rally in Oklahoma sparked controversy in the era of COVID-19. Now, he's canceled the next one. USA TODAY
New Hampshire's disapproval of President Donald Trump has reached a record high, a new survey finds.
According to a poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey's Center, whose results were released Monday, 60% of New Hampshire residents disapprove of Trump's work as president, while 39% approve of it. The 60% figure is the highest reported by UNH surveys during Trump's time in office.
The UNH poll, which was completed by about 2,000 respondents, shows that disapproval for Trump has steadily increased in the state over the past year. Forty-eight percent of respondents said that they "strongly disapproved" of Trump in April, compared to 55% in July.
Support for the president is largely split by party lines.
The poll found that 83% of Republicans approved of Trump's job performance, while only 37% of Independents and 1% of Democrats approved. The poll has a margin of error of 2.2 percent.
UNH noted that support among all three groups has been roughly the same since June, though approval has "declined among those aged 18 to 34 but remained largely stable among other age groups."
The survey also concluded that the approval of Trump was largely tied to the perception of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Only 2% of respondents disapproved of Trump's handling of COVID-19 while approving of his overall job performance, and only 1% approved of his handling of the pandemic but not his overall job performance.
This poll comes as Trump faces declining approval nationally for his handling of the pandemic.
When asked about Trump’s handling of COVID-19, a majority of Americans (56%) somewhat or strongly disapproved of his performance, while 37% somewhat or strongly approved, according to a survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project in July. That's an 8-point drop from April when 45% of Americans approved of Trump's handling of the coronavirus and 48% disapproved. The survey also saw declines in approval for Trump's handling of race relations and the economy over the past few months.
The Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape survey also found that a majority – 55% – strongly or somewhat disapproved of the job Trump is doing as president, while a combined 39% strongly or somewhat approved of it. Since April, Trump's national approval rating has dropped 7 percentage points, while his disapproval rating has risen 5 percentage points.
Trump also faces an increasing challenge in his polling numbers for re-election. RealClearPolitics found that former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic Nominee, leads him by more than seven points in national polls.
Contributing reporting: Rebecca Morin


usatoday--2020-08-04--Trump threatens legal action after Nevada passes bill to expand mail-in voting

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Monday said he plans to challenge a bill approved by Nevada 's state legislature that would guarantee mail-in ballots to all active voters , as the president stepped up his attacks on states ' efforts to expand vote-by-mail amid the pandemic .
`` We will be suing in Nevada , and that 's already been taken care of , '' Trump said of the measure at a White House press briefing , though the bill has yet to be signed into law .
`` We 'll probably file something tomorrow . ''
Hours earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sisolak , who is expected to sign the bill into law , of using the coronavirus crisis to `` steal '' the election after state lawmakers approved legislation Sunday .
Nevada passed Assembly Bill 4 after a June primary election in which voters were forced to wait several hours before casting a ballot at a limited number of polling places officials kept open during the coronavirus outbreak .
The bill is designed to help voters avoid long lines in November by ensuring that every active registered voter receives a mail-in ballot ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place during a statewide disaster or emergency declaration .
The measure also mandates a minimum number of in-person polling places , where voters will also be allowed to drop off mail-in ballots .
`` In an illegal late night coup , Nevada 's clubhouse Governor made it impossible for Republicans to win the state , '' he tweeted Monday morning .
`` Post office could never handle the Traffic of Mail-In Votes without preparation .
Using Covid to steal the state .
See you in Court ! ''
The threat is the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the expansion of mail-in voting .
Trump has claimed that mail-in voting will lead to widespread voter fraud , even though evidence from past elections suggests that is not the case .
One analysis from the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice found only 491 cases of absentee voter fraud out of billions of votes cast across all U.S. elections from 2000 to 2012 .
The president last week went as far as to suggest delaying the general election over his concerns of expanded mail-in voting , a decision that would require approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional Republicans and Democrats .
Trump again argued that the U.S .
Postal Service is not equipped to handle a surge in mail-in ballots and said a New York congressional primary race held in June should be invalidated as election officials have yet to determine a winner .
`` I think I can say right here and now , you have to re-run that race , ” he said .
The president called the Nevada measure a `` disgrace '' and said if it becomes law , `` you 'll never know who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ join several states that have moved to expand access to mail-in ballots amid the ongoing pandemic , including California and Vermont .
Nevada 's bill also allows for the elderly and those with physical disabilities to be able to have another individual to fill out or hand in their ballot on their behalf , a practice Republicans have assailed as illegal `` ballot harvesting . ''
The president and some Republicans have attacked several states for expanding mail-in voting , including in Michigan , where Trump threatened to withhold state funding after lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forms , not actual ballots .
The Republican National Committee and the advocacy group Judicial Watch filed separate lawsuits in May to block Democratic California Gov .
Gavin Newsom from sending mail-in ballots to all active registered voters across the state .
But both groups dropped their lawsuits July 9 , after state lawmakers approved legislation to mail ballots to all voters .
Not all Republicans are dismissing mail-in voting .
Republican state parties in critical battleground states such as Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin are promoting vote-by-mail as an option if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's own campaign has pushed state parties to encourage voters to request mail ballots .
Trump has sought to draw a distinction between mail-in voting and absentee ballots , which he argues are secure , but experts say there is no difference between the two .
`` Universal mail-in ballots [ are ] going to be a great embarrassment for our country , '' he told reporters .
'He 's scaring our own voters ' : Republicans run into a Donald Trump problem as they push mail voting

Trump threatens legal action after Nevada passes bill to expand mail-in voting
Show Caption Hide Caption Elections 2020: Mail-in voting could decide next president Many states are planning on drastically different elections this year and mail-in ballots could be a big game changer. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Monday said he plans to challenge a bill approved by Nevada's state legislature that would guarantee mail-in ballots to all active voters, as the president stepped up his attacks on states' efforts to expand vote-by-mail amid the pandemic.
"We will be suing in Nevada, and that's already been taken care of," Trump said of the measure at a White House press briefing, though the bill has yet to be signed into law. "We'll probably file something tomorrow."
Hours earlier the president accused Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak, who is expected to sign the bill into law, of using the coronavirus crisis to "steal" the election after state lawmakers approved legislation Sunday.
Nevada passed Assembly Bill 4 after a June primary election in which voters were forced to wait several hours before casting a ballot at a limited number of polling places officials kept open during the coronavirus outbreak. The bill is designed to help voters avoid long lines in November by ensuring that every active registered voter receives a mail-in ballot ahead of November and in any future election taking place during a statewide disaster or emergency declaration.
The measure also mandates a minimum number of in-person polling places, where voters will also be allowed to drop off mail-in ballots.
"In an illegal late night coup, Nevada's clubhouse Governor made it impossible for Republicans to win the state," he tweeted Monday morning. "Post office could never handle the Traffic of Mail-In Votes without preparation. Using Covid to steal the state. See you in Court!"
In an illegal late night coup, Nevada’s clubhouse Governor made it impossible for Republicans to win the state. Post Office could never handle the Traffic of Mail-In Votes without preparation. Using Covid to steal the state. See you in Court! https://t.co/cNSPINgCY7 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 3, 2020
The threat is the president's latest salvo in his ongoing campaign against the expansion of mail-in voting.
Trump has claimed that mail-in voting will lead to widespread voter fraud, even though evidence from past elections suggests that is not the case.
One analysis from the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice found only 491 cases of absentee voter fraud out of billions of votes cast across all U.S. elections from 2000 to 2012.
The president last week went as far as to suggest delaying the general election over his concerns of expanded mail-in voting, a decision that would require approval from Congress and was immediately dismissed by congressional Republicans and Democrats.
Trump again argued that the U.S. Postal Service is not equipped to handle a surge in mail-in ballots and said a New York congressional primary race held in June should be invalidated as election officials have yet to determine a winner.
"I think I can say right here and now, you have to re-run that race,” he said.
The president called the Nevada measure a "disgrace" and said if it becomes law, "you'll never know who won that state."
Nevada will join several states that have moved to expand access to mail-in ballots amid the ongoing pandemic, including California and Vermont. Nevada's bill also allows for the elderly and those with physical disabilities to be able to have another individual to fill out or hand in their ballot on their behalf, a practice Republicans have assailed as illegal "ballot harvesting."
The president and some Republicans have attacked several states for expanding mail-in voting, including in Michigan, where Trump threatened to withhold state funding after lawmakers moved to send voters absentee ballot request forms, not actual ballots.
Watchdog: Mail-in voting results will take time An election watchdog believes the boards of elections in New York have acted in an "appropriate, measured way" to ensure proper counting of primary ballots. "It takes time to get it right,"Susan Lerner of Common Cause New York said. (July 23) AP
The Republican National Committee and the advocacy group Judicial Watch filed separate lawsuits in May to block Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom from sending mail-in ballots to all active registered voters across the state. But both groups dropped their lawsuits July 9, after state lawmakers approved legislation to mail ballots to all voters.
Not all Republicans are dismissing mail-in voting. Republican state parties in critical battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin are promoting vote-by-mail as an option if the pandemic spills into the fall while Trump's own campaign has pushed state parties to encourage voters to request mail ballots.
Trump has sought to draw a distinction between mail-in voting and absentee ballots, which he argues are secure, but experts say there is no difference between the two.
"Universal mail-in ballots [are] going to be a great embarrassment for our country," he told reporters.
'He's scaring our own voters':Republicans run into a Donald Trump problem as they push mail voting
Contributing: James DeHaven, Reno Gazette Journal


usatoday--2020-08-05--Coronavirus updates: Johnson & Johnson announces US vaccine deal; progress toward $1 trillion stimul

Coronavirus updates: Johnson & Johnson announces US vaccine deal; progress toward $1 trillion stimulus package; US nears 5M cases

Another pharmaceutical giant announced a vaccine deal with the U.S. on Wednesday , and a second round of coronavirus stimulus checks could soon be in the mail .
Johnson & Johnson said it has a $ 1 billion agreement to supply 100 million doses of its vaccine candidate to the U.S. government .
Also Wednesday , Moderna said it expects to fully enroll 30,000 people for a trial of its vaccine candidate next month .
And a day earlier , Novavax released promising results of an early trial .
While the nation waits for a vaccine that could fully reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the White House say another stimulus deal could be reached by the end of the week .
That could be good news for tens of millions of unemployed Americans whose $ 600 weekly boost in unemployment benefits has expired .
`` We have to have an agreement , and we will have an agreement , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said .
Here are some significant developments : • Democrats and the White House are optimistic a stimulus deal could be reached this week after both sides make concessions .
• A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sued Minnesota state and local officials to try to block a face mask requirement at polling places .
• Attorneys general from more than 30 states asked the federal government to invoke a federal patent law to increase supply and lower prices of the drug remdesivir .
• New York City 's health commissioner , who clashed with city officials on their COVID-19 response , has resigned , Mayor Bill de Blasio announced .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has recorded more than 156,000 deaths and almost 4.8 million cases of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Worldwide , there have been more than 701,000 deaths and 18.5 million cases .
📰 What we 're reading : Kids are less likely to die from the coronavirus .
But some experts say a lack of information about how they contract and transmit COVID-19 will leave the nation unprepared when schools reopen .
Our live blog is being updated throughout the day .
Refresh for the latest news , and get updates in your inbox with The Daily Briefing .
One of the first cruise ships to resume overnight sailing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cruise industry has reported one case of COVID-19 .
Passengers are quarantining on board UnCruise Adventures ' Wilderness Adventurer `` until the State of Alaska deems it safe for them to return home , '' according to a travel alert posted on the cruise line 's website .
The ship was able to bypass the federal no-sail order because its capacity is less than 250 passengers and crew .
`` The guest is showing no symptoms and no other guests or crew are showing outward symptoms of any kind , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been informed and will quarantine until the State of Alaska deems it safe for them to return home . ''
Johnson & Johnson announced a deal with the U.S. government for 100 million doses of its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate , Ad26.COV2.S , for use in the United States – if and when the vaccine wins Food and Drug Administration approval .
The government may also purchase an additional 200 million doses , the company said in announcing the $ 1 billion deal .
A clinical trial is underway , and the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regimens .
The plan is to provide more than 1 billion non-for-profit doses globally through the course of 2021 .
`` We are scaling up production in the U.S. and worldwide to deliver a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for emergency use , '' said Dr. Paul Stoffels , Johnson & Johnson 's chief scientific officer .
More than 500 inmates at the Arizona State Prison Complex Tucson Whetstone Unit have tested positive for COVID-19 , authorities said .
The 517 inmates , almost half the unit 's population of 1,066 , are being housed together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a statement released by the Arizona Department of Corrections , Rehabilitation and Reentry .
The department did not immediately respond to questions , including when tests were performed and whether every inmate there was tested .
The tests came after inmates at the Whetstone Unit staged a peaceful walkout last week due to virus concerns .
Moderna in talks with 'several countries ' for vaccine candidate Biotech giant Moderna said Wednesday it expects to fully enroll 30,000 volunteers in the crucial Phase 3 study of its COVID-19 vaccine next month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by almost $ 1 billion in federal funding , last week became the nation 's first to begin such a large trial .
It 's being tested at scores of sites in the U.S. , with results expected as soon as October .
`` We began discussions with several countries for supply agreements for ( vaccine candidate ) mRNA-1273 and as of July 31 , we have received approximately $ 400 million of customer deposits for potential supply , '' Moderna said in a statement .
The announcement came one day after Novavax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early trial .
AstraZeneca , Pfizer and a group of Chinese researchers also have released promising early trial results , and China has begun providing its candidate vaccine to members of its military .
Top Democrats and White House negotiators expressed optimism Tuesday that a deal on another coronavirus stimulus package could be done by the end of the week .
The movement followed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , meeting for another day with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though there remains a number of unresolved issues , I would characterize the conversations as productive and a step in the right direction , '' Meadows said after the meeting .
`` Probably the most productive meeting we 've had . ''
By the numbers : Record deaths in California , Florida , Georgia A USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Tuesday shows one state set records for new cases in a week while three states had a record number of deaths in a week .
New case records were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rico .
Record numbers of deaths were reported in California , Florida and Georgia .
The United States has reported 4,771,080 cases and 156,801 deaths .
Shortage of Clorox disinfecting wipes could stretch into 2021 Although Clorox officials said in May that they expected retail shelves to be stocked by this summer , they now anticipate it will take longer .
Linda Rendle , president and CEO-elect of The Clorox Co. , says it could take until year 's end to reach supply levels `` that we need to be at . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dorer said the demand for the company 's disinfecting wipes has outpaced expectations and is n't expected to slow .
`` We 're certainly not at all happy with our service levels for our retail customers on many products , as demand for our products exceeded our own expectations in the face of this persistent pandemic , '' Dorer said during the call .
`` We have a high sense of urgency on this with all hands on deck . ''
• Hand sanitizers : The FDA 's list of hand sanitizers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Grocery shopping : Here are five things that have changed in grocery stores during the pandemic .
• The toll on children : Kids ' mental health can struggle during online school .
Here 's how teachers are planning ahead .
• On the brink : With Paycheck Protection Program loan money gone , thousands of restaurants at risk of closing again amid COVID-19 .
Four Station Casinos in Las Vegas may never reopen after COVID-19 closures There ’ s a chance four Station Casino resorts in Southern Nevada have closed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Station 's parent company , Red Rock Resorts , revealed in an earnings call Tuesday the company is uncertain whether Texas Station , Fiesta Henderson , Fiesta Rancho and the off-Strip Palms will reopen in the wake of COVID-19 .
“ We don ’ t know if — or when — we ’ re going to reopen any of the closed properties , ” Fertitta said .
“ We think it ’ s too early to make that decision at this time.
” Station Casinos had closed 20 properties in Southern Nevada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steve Sisolak ’ s sweeping shutdown order in March .
Disney lost nearly $ 5 billion while theme parks were closed The Walt Disney Company lost nearly $ 5 billion April , May and June , while its theme parks were shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic , according to a presentation Disney executives made Tuesday .
It cost the company $ 3.5 billion just to close the parks during the third quarter , on top of the $ 1 billion it cost to shut them down the second half of March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a loss of nearly $ 5 billion for the third quarter , including a $ 2 billion loss in its parks , experiences and products segment .
Disney 's domestic parks – Disney World and Disneyland , as well as Disneyland Paris , resorts and cruise operations were closed for the entirety of the quarter and the final two weeks of the previous quarter .
`` This is obviously a very uncertain time , '' CEO Bob Chapek said during an earnings webcast Tuesday .
`` We should be in good shape once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first school districts to reopen in Georgia reports first positive case One of the first school districts to reopen in Georgia confirmed its first COVID-19 case a day after they opened for the 2020-21 school year .
Columbia County School District Superintendent Sandra Carraway said in an email that a student at Harlem High School who was previously tested as part of a pre-op process received positive results .
“ Because the Columbia County School District has 3,400 employees and more than 20,000 students , unfortunately it can be expected that there will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hopefully on a very limited basis given expectations of our Collective Responsibility agreement , ” Carraway said .
In her email , Carraway asked families to not send their children to school if they have been tested for the virus until test results are returned and are negative .
California has undercounted COVID-19 cases , state health official says The number of COVID-19 infections in California may not be accurate due to a technical problem in the state 's system that tracks positive results and conducted tests , a top state health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said the state 's seven-day positivity rate reported Monday has been `` absolutely affected . ''
Hospitalization data , however , has not been impacted , Ghaly said .
On Monday , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom reported that daily cases dropped by an average of 2,200 in the last week and the infection rate of 6.1 % was significantly lower than the nearly 8 % recorded last month .
On Facebook : There 's still a lot unknown about the coronavirus .
But what we do know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Join our Facebook group , Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19 .
In your inbox : Stay up-to-date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network .
Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter here .
Tips for coping : Every Saturday and Tuesday we 'll be in your inbox , offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times .
Sign up for Staying Apart , Together @ @

Jessica Flores and John Bacon, USA TODAY

Coronavirus updates: Dr. Anthony Fauci calls US plateau of cases 'unacceptable'; Beirut explosion devastates 'struggling' health system
Show Caption Hide Caption Why people of color are dying at higher rates from COVID-19 Communities of color are dying at higher rates from the novel coronavirus than white Americans. Here's how structural inequities play a role. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Days after President Donald Trump defended his administration's "incredible" handling of the coronavirus outbreak in a widely viewed interview, the nation's top health official called the country's response "disparate" and "not as well suited" to the dynamics of the pandemic.
"What happened when the rubber hit the road on this, and we did get hit, we had the kind of response that was not as well suited to what the dynamics of this outbreak is," Dr. Anthony Fauci said during a Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health forum Wednesday. "What happened is, we had a bit of a disparate response."
The country's response has allowed the daily COVID-19 case count to plateau at an "unacceptable level," Fauci said, warning that the U.S. will continue to "smolder" without a unified effort to stop the virus.
Here are some significant developments:
A deadly explosion that rocked Lebanon's capital city of Beirut has put a further strain on the nation's health system, which was already running short on personal protective equipment and grappling with more than 5,200 cases of COVID-19.
Virginia on Wednesday became the first state to roll out a smartphone app to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus.
Johnson & Johnson said it has a $1 billion agreement to supply 100 million doses of its vaccine candidate to the U.S. government. Also Wednesday, Moderna said it expects to fully enroll 30,000 people for a trial of its vaccine candidate next month.
Whatever was left of an in-person 2020 Democratic National Convention evaporated Wednesday as organizers announced Joe Biden won't travel to Milwaukee to give his presidential acceptance speech.
Trump says schools should reopen because children are "virtually immune," despite evidence suggesting they are not. “This thing’s going away – It will go away like things go away," Trump said during a wide-ranging interview on "Fox & Friends". Facebook took down a post with the interview from President Trump's personal page, and Twitter will require Trump's campaign account to remove the post before the account can tweet again.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 158,000 deaths and 4.8 million cases of COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, there have been more than 706,000 deaths and 18.7 million cases.
📰 What we're reading: Kids are less likely to die from the coronavirus. But some experts say a lack of information about how they contract and transmit COVID-19 will leave the nation unprepared when schools reopen.
Our live blog is being updated throughout the day. Refresh for the latest news, and get updates in your inbox with The Daily Briefing.
No NBA players test positive for COVID-19 for third week
No NBA players tested positive for COVID-19 for the third consecutive weekly testing period, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association said in a joint news release Wednesday.
In the latest round of precautionary measures, 343 players were tested inside the NBA’s bubble-like environment at the Disney campus near Orlando, Florida.
No player has tested positive inside the bubble since initial testing between July 7-13.
– Jeff Zillgitt
Kids less likely to die, but schools could become hot spots for spread
As many school districts prepare to reopen campuses, some experts fear classrooms will become the next incubators for large coronavirus outbreaks.
Advocates for resuming school in person, including President Donald Trump, have repeatedly claimed that children pose less of a risk of spreading COVID-19 and that the benefits outweigh the risks. About 6 out of 100,000 school-age kids are hospitalized with COVID-19 compared with the overall rate of 130 people per 100,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, a recent study estimated that closing schools in March reduced the rate of new COVID-19 cases by 66%.
“We show that it actually did make a difference in cases and in deaths," said lead study author Dr. Katherine Auger, an associate professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. "That was a very important thing society did.”
In an interview with Fox & Friends on Wednesday morning, Trump claimed children should return to school because they are “almost immune" or “virtually immune” from the disease.
The interview was posted on Trump's personal Facebook page, and later removed – it was the first time Facebook has removed a post by the president for violating its policies on COVID-19 misinformation.
Twitter hid the campaign's post of the interview, telling USA TODAY in a statement that the "account owner will be required to remove the tweet before they can tweet again,"
– Jayme Fraser, Dan Keemahill, and Jessica Guynn
NCAA releases requirements for schools hoping to play fall sports
The NCAA on Wednesday released a set of requirements for all schools wishing to complete fall sports competition. Although the NCAA left the decision on whether to hold fall sports up to individual divisions, it said divisions must determine the status of fall championships by Aug. 21.
"The board expressed serious concerns about the continuing high levels of COVID-19 infection in many parts of the nation," the NCAA statement read. "The board has determined that it will only support moving forward with fall championships and other postseason play if strict conditions are applied and adhered to."
Two of the requirements involve protecting players who choose to opt out. First, the school is required to honor the scholarship of any athlete who opts out, and each division must decide by Aug. 14 how opting out or having a season cut short would affect eligibility, and inform players of that decision.
– Aria Gerson
Coronavirus in Lebanon: 'Struggling' health system devastated by Beirut explosion
A massive, deadly explosion that rocked Lebanon's capital city of Beirut has put a further strain on the nation's health system, which was already running short on personal protective equipment and grappling with more than 5,200 cases of COVID-19.
Several hospitals were damaged in the explosion – which killed at least 135 people and wounded thousands – and those still working were overwhelmed with patients, the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a series of tweets.
"After months of a spiraling economic crisis and battling the coronavirus pandemic, Lebanon was already in a fragile state," the ICRC said. "The health system was already struggling to respond to the mounting health needs. Now it is totally overwhelmed."
At Hôtel Dieu, a university hospital in Beirut, oncologist Hampig Kourieh was just finishing his shift when the explosion happened. He described "hundreds of people covered in blood arriving on foot, cars and bikes ... the scene was apocalyptic."
The smell of blood, Kourieh said, was so strong it was like "iron was covering the ER."
– Nadia Al Faour, special for USA TODAY
Beirut explosion may be tied to ammonium nitrate stored for years Lebanese authorities believe the deadly Beirut explosion could be tied to highly explosive ammonium nitrate, which was stored at the port for years. USA TODAY, Associated Press
Georgia schools face questions after viral back-to-school photos surface
Two suburban Atlanta school districts that began in-person classes Monday with mask-optional policies face more questions about COVID-19 safety protocols after on-campus pictures showed students packed shoulder-to-shoulder.
In Cherokee County, dozens of seniors gathered at two of the district's six high schools to take traditional first-day-of-school senior photos, with students squeezing together in black outfits. In Paulding County, student pictures taken Monday and Tuesday show crowded hallways at North Paulding High School in Dallas, Georgia. Fewer than half of the students shown are wearing masks.
In Columbia County, the school district has already confirmed its first COVID-19 case.
– Miguel Legoas, The Augusta Chronicle; The Associated Press
Virginia is first state to roll out app to detect virus exposure
Virginia on Wednesday became the first state to roll out a smartphone app to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus. The new pandemic technology, created by Apple and Google, is available in Apple and Android app stores as of Wednesday. The app relies on Bluetooth wireless technology to detect when someone who downloaded the app has spent time near another app user who later tests positive for the virus. State officials said the app doesn’t track user location or collect personal information.
"We’re using every possible approach to fight this virus and keep Virginians healthy," Virginia Gov. Northam said in a statement.
Joe Biden won't go to Milwaukee to claim Democratic nomination
When Milwaukee landed the 2020 Democratic National Convention more than a year ago, city leaders hoped 50,000 people would flood into town for four non-stop days and nights of politics. Now even the party's nominee isn't going.
Officials announced that Joe Biden will accept the party's nod from his home in Delaware – and the other convention speakers won't travel to Wisconsin, either. Organizers cited the "worsening coronavirus pandemic."
“This convention will look different than any previous convention in history," said Joe Solmonese, the convention's chief executive. "It will reach more people than ever before, and truly be a convention across America for all Americans, regardless of which party you belong to or who you’ve voted for in previous elections."
– Bill Glauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Florida surpasses 500,000 virus cases
Florida became the second state to confirm more than 500,000 cases of COVID-19. The state Department of Health on Wednesday reported 5,409 new cases, bringing the state's total to 502,739. California leads the nation, with more than 526,000 cases, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.
Florida also announced an additional 225 deaths, bringing the state's seven-day rolling average for reported deaths to a record 184.86. The state death toll now stands at 7,627.
– Cheryl McCloud, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Chicago Public Schools to start online-only this year
Chicago Public Schools are joining a lengthening line of major school systems that will start the academic year fully online. The district, which had initially planned to launch a hybrid online and in-person model starting Sept. 8, said Wednesday the continued uptick in coronavirus cases and concerns from parents urged them to adjust the plan.
Tens of thousands of families indicated in a district survey that they did not intend to send their children to school. And the city’s teacher’s union threatened to go on strike over concerns about in-person classes. The district said it will consider switching to a hybrid learning model in the second quarter, which begins on Nov. 9.
Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Miami are among other major cities starting the school year online-only.
Cruise lines extend moratorium on cruises through October
The cruise industry has voluntarily extended its pause on operations in U.S. waters until "at least" Oct. 31, a month past the date the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's "no-sail" order is set to expire. CLIA's member lines carry 95% of the world's ocean-going cruisers. The new order will apply to all CLIA member ships that can carry 250 or more passengers.
"We believe it is prudent at this time to voluntarily extend the suspension of U.S. ocean-going cruise operations to Oct. 31," Cruise Lines International Association, the major trade organization for ocean-going cruise lines, said in a statement.
– Morgan Hines
UConn is first bowl-level college football program to cancel season
The University of Connecticut football team became the first bowl-level program to cancel its 2020 season Wednesday, citing an "unacceptable risk level" faced by the student athletes.
UConn, which plays as an independent, had games against Illinois, Indiana, Maine and Mississippi dropped from the schedule due to "conference-only" schedules being played by those schools. Games against North Carolina and Virginia might have faced the same fate. The players released a joint statement through the school citing "full support of the decision to not compete in 2020."
Several schools in college football's lower divisions, including the entire Ivy League, also have canceled their seasons.
– Chris Bumbaca
Alaska cruise ship quarantines after passenger tests positive
One of the first cruise ships to resume overnight sailing in U.S. waters since the pandemic shut down the cruise industry has reported one case of COVID-19. Passengers are quarantining on board UnCruise Adventures' Wilderness Adventurer "until the state of Alaska deems it safe for them to return home," according to a travel alert posted on the cruise line's website. The ship was able to bypass the federal no-sail order because its capacity is less than 250 passengers and crew.
"The guest is showing no symptoms and no other guests or crew are showing outward symptoms of any kind," the cruise line said. "All guests have been informed and will quarantine until the state of Alaska deems it safe for them to return home."
– Hannah Yasharoff and Morgan Hines
What we're reading
US buys 100 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine candidate
Johnson & Johnson announced a deal with the U.S. government for 100 million doses of its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate, Ad26.COV2.S, for use in the United States – if and when the vaccine wins Food and Drug Administration approval. The government may also purchase an additional 200 million doses, the company said in announcing the $1 billion deal. A clinical trial is underway, and the company said it is evaluating one- and two-dose regimens. The plan is to provide more than 1 billion non-for-profit doses globally through the course of 2021.
"We are scaling up production in the U.S. and worldwide to deliver a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for emergency use," said Dr. Paul Stoffels, Johnson & Johnson's chief scientific officer.
517 inmates at Arizona prison test positive for COVID-19
More than 500 inmates at the Arizona State Prison Complex Tucson Whetstone Unit have tested positive for COVID-19, authorities said. The 517 inmates, almost half the unit's population of 1,066, are being housed together in separate areas and receiving medical care, according to a statement released by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry.
The department did not immediately respond to questions, including when tests were performed and whether every inmate there was tested. The tests came after inmates at the Whetstone Unit staged a peaceful walkout last week due to virus concerns.
– Audrey Jensen, Arizona Republic
Moderna in talks with 'several countries' for vaccine candidate
Biotech giant Moderna said Wednesday it expects to fully enroll 30,000 volunteers in the crucial Phase 3 study of its COVID-19 vaccine next month. Moderna's vaccine candidate, backed by almost $1 billion in federal funding, last week became the nation's first to begin such a large trial. It's being tested at scores of sites in the U.S., with results expected as soon as October.
"We began discussions with several countries for supply agreements for (vaccine candidate) mRNA-1273 and as of July 31, we have received approximately $400 million of customer deposits for potential supply," Moderna said in a statement.
The announcement came one day after Novavax released promising results from a small, early trial. AstraZeneca, Pfizer and a group of Chinese researchers also have released promising early trial results, and China has begun providing its candidate vaccine to members of its military.
By the numbers: Record deaths in California, Florida, Georgia
A USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Tuesday shows one state set records for new cases in a week while three states had a record number of deaths in a week. New case records were set in Hawaii, and also Puerto Rico. Record numbers of deaths were reported in California, Florida and Georgia. The United States has reported 4,771,080 cases and 156,801 deaths.
– Mike Stucka
More COVID-19 resources from USA TODAY
On Facebook: There's still a lot unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. Join our Facebook group, Coronavirus Watch, to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19.
In your inbox: Stay up-to-date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter here.
Tips for coping: Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. Sign up for Staying Apart, Together here.
Contributing: Elinor Aspegren, UISA TODAY; The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-08-05--Trump campaign sues state of Nevada over mail-in ballot law ahead of November election

President Donald Trump 's campaign has filed a lawsuit against the state of Nevada in an effort to stop the state 's recently passed measure that would send ballots to all registered voters for the November election .
As first reported in the Nevada Independent , the lawsuit claims `` electoral process can not function properly if it lacks integrity and results in chaos .
Put simply , the American people must be able to trust that the result is the product of a free and fair election .
`` Nevada ’ s recently enacted election laws — collectively , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard , '' the lawsuit states .
Nevada lawmakers on Sunday passed AB4 on a party-line vote , adding the state to a growing list of U.S. states mailing active voters ballots ahead of the November election .
The bill was signed into law Monday by Democratic Gov .
Steve Sisolak .
Nevada joins seven states that plan on automatically sending voters mail ballots , including California and Vermont , which moved earlier this summer to adopt automatic mail ballot policies .
Trump called the bill ’ s passage “ an illegal late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning .
He accused Sisolak of exploiting COVID-19 to ensure votes in Nevada would favor Democrats .
Trump and Nevada : Trump threatens legal action after Nevada passes bill to expand mail-in voting Mail-in voting : Trump backtracks on his condemnation of mail-in voting , says Florida is an exception Trump on Monday claimed that he has the authority to issue an executive order on mail-in ballots .
“ I have the right to do it , '' Trump told reporters at a White House press conference on Monday .
`` We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see what happens.
” Nearly all election procedures are governed on a state-by-state basis , with the remainder set by Congress or enshrined in the Constitution .
There is no precedent or apparent authority for Trump to try to curtail the use of mail-in ballots by executive order .
Trump 's claimed authority comes days after he publicly floated a delay to the Nov. 3 presidential election , a notion was met with swift bipartisan blowback .
In Nevada 's June primary , the state mailed all active voters absentee ballots and only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske told lawmakers Friday that she wasn ’ t aware of any fraud in the process .
Limited polling places in Reno and Las Vegas resulted in lines of up to eight hours .
The bill signed on Sunday requires at least 140 polling places throughout the state , including 100 in Clark County , which had 179 in the November 2018 election .
In states such as Colorado and Oregon , which have mailed all voters ballots for years , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
But Cegavske said the equipment , education , printing and postage would cost the Secretary of State ’ s office an additional $ 3 million , not including costs to counties , which distribute and tabulate ballots .
Nevada spent more than $ 4 million in federal relief dollars in the June primary , most of which it funneled to counties .
More than $ 1 million went toward leasing counting and sorting machines to accommodate a greater number of absentee ballots .
Primary takeaways : Cori Bush defeats Rep. William @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Tuesday 's primaries Cegavske , the state ’ s top election official and only Republican to hold statewide office , opposed the revised procedures .
She blasted the Democratic-controlled Legislature for excluding her from discussions and said she saw a draft of the bill only a day before the vote in the state Assembly .
“ We were not involved in this bill ’ s writing at all ...
I wish somebody would have asked us about because we could have told you what we had planned , ” she said Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to command the secretary of state to adjust election procedures during a declared state of emergency .
It passed on a party-line vote through both the state Senate and Assembly , with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed .
Republicans were particularly distressed with provisions of the bill that expand who is allowed collect and hand in ballots .
They warned it would enable a practice detractors call “ ballot harvesting , ” in which volunteers working for political groups collect and turn in large quantities of ballots to tip the scales in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than family members to return ballots would help groups like members of Nevada ’ s 32 tribes , who have historically faced difficulty voting and live far form polling places and seniors – who may need assistance with voting and fear venturing to the polls .
In the June 2020 election , all voters were mailed ballots and 1.6 % voted in-person on Election Day , a tiny share compared to the 34.2 % that voted in-person in the November 2018 election .
Trump has increasingly sought to cast doubt on November ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mail-in and absentee voting — particularly as he has found himself trailing in public and private polling .
Trump has called remote voting options the “ biggest risk ” to his re-election .
His campaign and the Republican Party have sued to combat the practice , which was once a significant advantage for the GOP .
There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud through mail-in voting and the states that use it exclusively say they have necessary safeguards in place to ensure that a hostile foreign actor doesn ’ t disrupt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter fraud is rare in all forms of balloting , including by mail .
Stimulus talks : Dems , White House optimistic stimulus deal could be reached this week after both sides make concessions In addition to his claims of fraud , Trump argued that voting by mail would delay the determination of the election 's victor , noting that the winner of a New York Democratic congressional primary vote conducted by mail weeks ago remains undeclared .
Trump said he believes that race would need to be “ rerun . ''
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a presidential election , where the Electoral College could come down to just one state , and some states allow mail-in ballots to be received up to a week after Election Day .
“ You ’ ll never know who won that state , ” Trump said Monday of Nevada 's expansion of mail voting .
But on Tuesday , Trump encouraged voters in the critical swing state of Florida to vote by mail after months of criticizing the practice .
His encouragement follows a surge in Democratic requests to vote for mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost certainly must win to secure a second term .
Democrats currently have about 1.9 million Floridians signed up to vote by mail this November , almost 600,000 more than the Republicans ’ 1.3 million , according to the Florida Secretary of State .
In 2016 , both sides had about 1.3 million signed up before the general election .
“ Whether you call it Vote by Mail or Absentee Voting , in Florida the election system is Safe and Secure , Tried and True .
Florida ’ s Voting system has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at change ) , so in Florida I encourage all to request a Ballot & Vote by Mail !
, ” Trump tweeted Tuesday .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany rejected the notion that the president has changed his views .
She said he supports absentee voting by mail for a reason , as opposed to states mailing out ballots to all voters regardless of whether they requested them .
Most election officials say there is little effective difference between absentee voting and voting by mail .
Trump elaborated on why he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not elsewhere .
“ They ’ ve been doing this over many years and they ’ ve made it really terrific , '' Trump said .
“ This took years to do , '' he added .
`` This doesn ’ t take weeks or months .
In the case of Nevada , they ’ re going to be voting in a matter of weeks .
And you can ’ t do that.
” Yet Florida hardly has a history of flawless elections , most notably in 2000 when the state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the U.S. Supreme Court , delivering the presidency to George W. Bush over Al Gore .
More voters during this year 's primary elections opted to vote by mail , and several states relaxed restrictions for voting absentee through the mail .
Trump himself voted by mail in the Florida primary earlier this year .
Five states have relied on mail-in ballots since even before the coronavirus pandemic raised concerns about voting in person , but there is no evidence to support Trump 's assertion that voting by mail leads to widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exclusively say they have necessary safeguards in place to ensure that a hostile foreign actor doesn ’ t disrupt the vote .
Election security experts say voter fraud is rare in all forms of balloting , including by mail .

Associated Press and staff reports, Reno Gazette Journal

Trump campaign sues Nevada over mail-in ballot law before November election
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump slams Nevada lawmakers over mail-in voting President Donald Trump says his administration plans to sue Nevada after the state's lawmakers passed a bill to mail active voters ballots ahead of the November election amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Aug. 3) AP
President Donald Trump's campaign filed a lawsuit against the state of Nevada in an effort to stop its plan to send ballots to all registered voters for the election in November.
As first reported in the Nevada Independent, the lawsuit claims "electoral process cannot function properly if it lacks integrity and results in chaos. Put simply, the American people must be able to trust that the result is the product of a free and fair election."
"Nevada’s recently enacted election laws – collectively, AB4 – fall far short of this standard," the lawsuit says.
Nevada lawmakers passed AB4 Sunday on a party-line vote, joining a list of states mailing active voters ballots before the election.
The bill was signed into law Monday by Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak. Seven other states plan to send voters mail ballots, including California and Vermont, which moved this summer to adopt automatic mail ballot policies.
Trump called the bill’s passage “an illegal late night coup” in a tweet Monday morning. He accused Sisolak of exploiting COVID-19 to ensure votes in Nevada would favor Democrats.
Trump and Nevada: Trump threatens legal action after Nevada passes bill to expand mail-in voting
Mail-in voting: Trump backtracks on his condemnation of mail-in voting, says Florida is an exception
Trump claimed Monday that he has the authority to issue an executive order on mail-in ballots.
“I have the right to do it," Trump said at a White House news conference. "We haven't gotten there yet, we'll see what happens.”
Nearly all election procedures are governed on a state-by-state basis, the remainder set by Congress or enshrined in the Constitution. There is no precedent for Trump to try to curtail the use of mail-in ballots by executive order.
Last week, Trump publicly suggested a delay to the presidential election Nov. 3, a notion was met with swift bipartisan blowback.
Elections 2020: Mail-in voting could decide next president Many states are planning on drastically different elections this year and mail-in ballots could be a big game changer. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Nevada bill allows mail-in, in-person voting
In Nevada's primary in June, the state mailed all active voters absentee ballots and opened a limited number of polling places to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske told lawmakers Friday that she wasn’t aware of any fraud in the process.
Limited polling places in Reno and Las Vegas resulted in lines of up to eight hours.
The bill signed Sunday requires at least 140 polling places throughout the state, including 100 in Clark County, which had 179 in the election in November 2018.
In Colorado and Oregon, which have mailed all voters ballots for years, the procedure is cheaper than holding an in-person election. Cegavske said the equipment, education, printing and postage would cost the secretary of state’s office an additional $3 million, not including costs to counties, which distribute and tabulate ballots.
Nevada spent more than $4 million in federal relief dollars in the primary in June, most of which it funneled to counties. More than $1 million went toward leasing counting and sorting machines to accommodate a greater number of absentee ballots.
Primary takeaways: Cori Bush defeats Rep. William Lacy Clay, plus more takeaways from Tuesday's primaries
Cegavske, the state’s top election official and only Republican to hold statewide office, opposed the revised procedures. She blasted the Democratic-controlled Legislature for excluding her from discussions and said she saw a draft of the bill only a day before the vote in the state Assembly.
“We were not involved in this bill’s writing at all. ... I wish somebody would have asked us about it because we could have told you what we had planned,” she said Friday.
AB4 gives the governor the power to command the secretary of state to adjust election procedures during a declared state of emergency. It passed through the state Senate and Assembly, where Democrats were in favor and Republicans opposed.
Republicans were particularly distressed by provisions of the bill that expand who is allowed to collect and hand in ballots. They warned it would enable a practice detractors call “ballot harvesting,” in which volunteers working for political groups collect and turn in large quantities of ballots to tip the scales in elections.
Democrats argued allowing people other than family members to return ballots would help groups such as Nevada’s 32 tribes, whose members have historically faced difficulty voting and live far from polling places, and seniors, who may need assistance with voting and fear venturing to the polls.
In June's primary, all voters were mailed ballots, and 1.6% voted in person on Election Day, a tiny share compared with the 34.2% that voted in person in November 2018.
Trump casts doubt on election integrity
Trump has sought to cast doubt on November’s election and the expected pandemic-induced surge in mail-in and absentee voting. Trump, who trails in polling, called remote voting options the “biggest risk” to his reelection. His campaign and the Republican Party sued to combat the practice, which was once a significant advantage for the GOP.
There is no known evidence of widespread voter fraud through mail-in voting, and the states that use it exclusively say they have safeguards in place to ensure that a hostile foreign actor doesn’t disrupt the vote. Election security experts said voter fraud is rare in all forms of balloting, including by mail.
Coronavirus relief talks: Dems, White House optimistic deal could be reached this week after both sides make concessions
In addition to his claims of fraud, Trump argued that voting by mail would delay the determination of the election's victor, noting that the winner of a New York Democratic congressional primary vote conducted by mail weeks ago remains undeclared. Trump said that race would need to be “rerun."
Trump claimed the challenge would be greater in a presidential election, in which the Electoral College could come down to one state, and some states allow mail-in ballots to be received up to a week after Election Day.
“You’ll never know who won that state,” Trump said Monday.
In Florida, a different opinion
Tuesday, Trump encouraged voters in the critical swing state of Florida to vote by mail after months of criticizing the practice.
His encouragement followed a surge in Democratic requests to vote by mail in Florida, a state that Trump almost certainly must win to secure a second term. Democrats have about 1.9 million Floridians signed up to vote by mail this November, almost 600,000 more than the Republicans’ 1.3 million, according to the Florida secretary of state.
In 2016, both sides had about 1.3 million signed up before the general election.
“Whether you call it Vote by Mail or Absentee Voting, in Florida the election system is Safe and Secure, Tried and True. Florida’s Voting system has been cleaned up (we defeated Democrats attempts at change), so in Florida I encourage all to request a Ballot & Vote by Mail!” Trump tweeted Tuesday.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany rejected the notion that the president changed his views. She said he supports absentee voting by mail for a reason, as opposed to states mailing out ballots to all voters, regardless of whether they requested them. Many election officials said there is little effective difference between absentee voting and voting by mail.
Trump elaborated on why he supports voting by mail in Florida but not elsewhere.
“They’ve been doing this over many years, and they’ve made it really terrific," Trump said.
“This took years to do," he said. "This doesn’t take weeks or months. In the case of Nevada, they’re going to be voting in a matter of weeks. And you can’t do that.”
Florida hardly has a history of flawless elections. In 2000, the state's disputed vote count had to be resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court, delivering the presidency to George W. Bush over Al Gore.
Precedent for mail-in voting
More voters during this year's primary elections opted to vote by mail, and several states relaxed restrictions for voting absentee through the mail. Trump himself voted by mail in the Florida primary this year.
Five states have relied on mail-in ballots since before the coronavirus pandemic raised concerns about voting in person.


usatoday--2020-08-05--Big Ten announces schedule of 10 conference games to start Sept. 5

Big Ten teams will play 10 conference games and begin the season on Sept. 5 should teams be able to safely compete , the conference said Wednesday .
The announcement sets the parameters for a regular season that eliminates all non-conference play and adds in an additional off week to provide the highest degree of scheduling flexibility in the face of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Developing consistent medical protocols and testing procedures for the health and safety of our student-athletes and our athletic programs is critical , ” said Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Infectious Diseases and local , state , and national experts have provided guidelines throughout our decision-making process with our student athletes ’ health and safety as our first and foremost concern.
” Within the past week , two Big Ten programs , Rutgers and Northwestern , have chosen to postpone team workouts amid outbreaks among athletes and coaches .
Michigan State 's team was placed in quarantine after an outbreak last month .
Among the significant changes , rivalry games - usually played later in the season - will be moved forward in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game that traditionally takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving is now set to be played Oct. 24 .
Wisconsin and Minnesota are scheduled to play Sept. 26 .
There are two bye weeks within the schedule to allow for flexibility .
The Big Ten championship game is schedules for Dec. 5 in Indianapolis , but could be pushed back to Dec. 19 if health conditions warrant .
The release comes nearly a month after the Big Ten became the first conference to announce changes to this season 's schedule .
The Pac-12 quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed by the ACC , SEC and Big 12 .
While the Big Ten , Pac-12 and SEC have decided to play only league games , the ACC and Big 12 will allow teams to play one non-conference game .
ACC teams may play a non-conference opponent `` in the home state of the ACC institution , '' the league said , while non-conference games in the Big 12 must be played at home .
PLAN TO PLAY : How each Power Five conferences is handling football schedules With the Big Ten now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced an altered schedule .
Conference are currently staggered in terms of start dates , with the SEC scheduled to open play on Sept. 26 and others earlier in the month .
One Group of Five league , the Sun Belt , is allowing teams to begin play on Aug. 29 .
In the Big 12 , Oklahoma and Kansas currently have games scheduled against Championship Subdivision opponents on Aug. 29 , but those games could be pushed back with the league schedule likely starting Sept. 19 or 26 .
Teams in every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step in preseason workouts .
Since returning to campuses in early June , athletes have engaged in voluntary team workouts and participated in training programs .
Teams will be able to begin full practices this month .

Big Ten announces schedule of 10 conference games to start Sept. 5
Show Caption Hide Caption SEC conference-only 10-game football schedule in 2020 Sports Pulse: College football is going to look very different this year with a conference-only 10-game football schedule SportsPulse, USA TODAY
Big Ten teams will play 10 conference games and begin the season on Sept. 5 should teams be able to safely compete, the conference said Wednesday.
The announcement sets the parameters for a regular season that eliminates all non-conference play and adds in an additional off week to provide the highest degree of scheduling flexibility in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Developing consistent medical protocols and testing procedures for the health and safety of our student-athletes and our athletic programs is critical,” said Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren said in a statement. “Our Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and local, state, and national experts have provided guidelines throughout our decision-making process with our student athletes’ health and safety as our first and foremost concern.”
Within the past week, two Big Ten programs, Rutgers and Northwestern, have chosen to postpone team workouts amid outbreaks among athletes and coaches. Michigan State's team was placed in quarantine after an outbreak last month.
Among the significant changes, rivalry games - usually played later in the season - will be moved forward in the schedule. The annual Ohio State-Michigan game that traditionally takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving is now set to be played Oct. 24. Wisconsin and Minnesota are scheduled to play Sept. 26.
There are two bye weeks within the schedule to allow for flexibility. The Big Ten championship game is schedules for Dec. 5 in Indianapolis, but could be pushed back to Dec. 19 if health conditions warrant.
The football schedule starts as early as the weekend of Sept. 5 with final games slated for Nov. 21 to align with academic calendars. The Big Ten Football Championship Game remains scheduled for Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium, though it could be moved as late as Dec. 19. pic.twitter.com/vWp3OSifBc — Big Ten Conference (@bigten) August 5, 2020
The release comes nearly a month after the Big Ten became the first conference to announce changes to this season's schedule. The Pac-12 quickly echoed the Big Ten's decision, followed by the ACC, SEC and Big 12.
While the Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC have decided to play only league games, the ACC and Big 12 will allow teams to play one non-conference game. ACC teams may play a non-conference opponent "in the home state of the ACC institution," the league said, while non-conference games in the Big 12 must be played at home.
PLAN TO PLAY: How each Power Five conferences is handling football schedules
With the Big Ten now official, every Power Five conference has announced an altered schedule. Conference are currently staggered in terms of start dates, with the SEC scheduled to open play on Sept. 26 and others earlier in the month. One Group of Five league, the Sun Belt, is allowing teams to begin play on Aug. 29. In the Big 12, Oklahoma and Kansas currently have games scheduled against Championship Subdivision opponents on Aug. 29, but those games could be pushed back with the league schedule likely starting Sept. 19 or 26.
Teams in every conference are preparing to take the next step in preseason workouts. Since returning to campuses in early June, athletes have engaged in voluntary team workouts and participated in training programs. Teams will be able to begin full practices this month.