usatoday--2020-08-14--Latinos most worried, most affected by economic issues amid COVID-19, survey finds

WASHINGTON – Latinos are more likely than white , Black and Asian Americans to be worried about economic issues related to coronavirus as the nation continues to deal with the ongoing pandemic , according to a new survey .
The concerns are n't unfounded : Latinos are more likely than all other racial groups to have a spouse lose their job in the last year or have had a drop in household income in the last year , according to a survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project .
A combined 77 % of Hispanic Americans say they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their personal finances in the last six months , the survey showed .
That is a more than 10 percentage point disparity from white Americans ( 62 % ) , Black Americans ( 65 % ) , and Asian and Pacific Islander Americans ( 67 % ) , according to the Nationscape Insights analysis , a project of Democracy Fund , UCLA and USA TODAY Robert Griffin , research director for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group , said that while some may initially think that disparity is caused because Latinos make up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a different median income , that is not the case .
“ It 's not just the case that young Americans are doing worse , although that 's true .
It 's not just the case of lower income Americans are doing worse when it comes to these things , although that is true .
But these … racial disparities , continue to exist even when you break down these things by both age and income , ” Griffin said .
“ Communities of color , and particularly Latino Americans , appear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project is a large-scale study of the American electorate designed to conduct 500,000 interviews about policies and the presidential candidates during the 2020 election cycle .
The poll was conducted July 30 to Aug. 5 , with 5,484 Americans surveyed .
There is a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points .
The Latino and Black communities have disproportionately been affected by the coronavirus pandemic , with Black people and Latinos four times more likely than white people to be hospitalized for COVID-19 , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Urban League .
That report also found that Black people are twice as likely as white people to die of the virus .
'This is a crisis ' : National Urban League finds persistent racial disparities exacerbated during pandemic According to the Democracy Fund + UCLA survey , 47 % of Latinos say that they or their spouse has lost their job in the last 12 months .
That more than 20-percentage points more than white Americans ( 27 % ) .
Among Black Americans , that number was 31 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 34 % .
The survey data also show : • 56 % of Latinos say they experienced a drop in household income in the last 12 months , compared with 43 % of white Americans and and 45 % of Black Americans .
Asian and Pacific Islanders were the only ethnic and racial group that had a majority with 51 % .
• Among those who had difficulty making a mortgage payment or paying rent in the last 12 months , Latinos led with 40 % .
Comparatively , all other racial and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : white Americans at 22 % ; Asian and Pacific Islanders at 27 % ; and Black Americans at 29 % .
When broken down by income levels and age groups , the survey the trend continues with Latinos being hardest hit .
A combined 85 % of Latinos who make less than $ 50,000 said they 've been very or somewhat worried about their personal finances in the last six months .
Comparatively , 71 % of white Americans at that income level say they are very or somewhat concerned .
Among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that number is 73 % and among Asian and Pacific Islanders at that income level it 's 78 % .
Griffin underscored that the issues Latinos are facing is n't due to income differences between these different racial groups .
`` Even when you try to isolate for that a bit ... you 're still seeing communities of color , and again often Latino Americans , popping out as this group that 's just much harder hit , '' he said .
However , Latinos in this income level did n't lead when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in household income in the last 12 months .
According to the survey , Asian and Pacific Islanders led , with 70 % making less than $ 50,000 said that they had seen a drop .
Latinos followed at 66 % , then Black Americans at 56 % and white Americans at 50 % .
Younger Latinos are also being hit harder than other racial and ethnic groups .
Four out of 5 Latinos under the age of 40 say they have been very or somewhat worried about their personal finances in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islanders of that age trail by only 2 percentage points ( 78 % ) , followed by white Americans at 69 % and Black Americans at 64 % .
The only case where Latinos did n't see the highest numbers was again among those who said they saw a drop in household income in the last 12 months .
Three out of 5 Asians and Pacific Islanders under the age of 40 said they saw a drop , followed by Latinos at 56 % .
Forty-nine percent of White Americans and 47 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop in household income .
Both Latinos and Asian and Pacific Islanders under 40 also saw similar numbers among those who said they or their spouse has lost their job in the last 12 months , with both at 54 % .
Comparatively , 40 % of Black Americans in that age group said they did , followed by 36 % of white Americans .

Latinos most worried, most affected by economic issues amid COVID-19, survey finds
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
WASHINGTON – Latinos are more likely than white, Black and Asian Americans to be worried about economic issues related to coronavirus as the nation continues to deal with the ongoing pandemic, according to a new survey.
The concerns aren't unfounded: Latinos are more likely than all other racial groups to have a spouse lose their job in the last year or have had a drop in household income in the last year, according to a survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project.
A combined 77% of Hispanic Americans say they have been very or somewhat worried about their personal finances in the last six months, the survey showed. That is a more than 10 percentage point disparity from white Americans (62%), Black Americans (65%), and Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (67%), according to the Nationscape Insights analysis, a project of Democracy Fund, UCLA and USA TODAY
Robert Griffin, research director for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group, said that while some may initially think that disparity is caused because Latinos make up higher proportions of young people or have a different median income, that is not the case.
“It's not just the case that young Americans are doing worse, although that's true. It's not just the case of lower income Americans are doing worse when it comes to these things, although that is true. But these … racial disparities, continue to exist even when you break down these things by both age and income,” Griffin said. “Communities of color, and particularly Latino Americans, appear to be hard hit right now.”
The Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project is a large-scale study of the American electorate designed to conduct 500,000 interviews about policies and the presidential candidates during the 2020 election cycle. The poll was conducted July 30 to Aug. 5, with 5,484 Americans surveyed. There is a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.
Fauci optimistic on COVID-19 vaccine availability Once a coronavirus vaccine is approved as safe and effective, Americans should have widespread access within a reasonable time, Dr. Anthony Fauci assured lawmakers Friday. (July 31) AP
The Latino and Black communities have disproportionately been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with Black people and Latinos four times more likely than white people to be hospitalized for COVID-19, according to a report published Thursday by the National Urban League. That report also found that Black people are twice as likely as white people to die of the virus.
'This is a crisis': National Urban League finds persistent racial disparities exacerbated during pandemic
According to the Democracy Fund + UCLA survey, 47% of Latinos say that they or their spouse has lost their job in the last 12 months. That more than 20-percentage points more than white Americans (27%). Among Black Americans, that number was 31%, and among Asian and Pacific Islanders, 34%. The survey data also show:
56% of Latinos say they experienced a drop in household income in the last 12 months, compared with 43% of white Americans and and 45% of Black Americans. Asian and Pacific Islanders were the only ethnic and racial group that had a majority with 51%.
Among those who had difficulty making a mortgage payment or paying rent in the last 12 months, Latinos led with 40%. Comparatively, all other racial and ethnic groups were less than 30%: white Americans at 22%; Asian and Pacific Islanders at 27%; and Black Americans at 29%.
When broken down by income levels and age groups, the survey the trend continues with Latinos being hardest hit.
A combined 85% of Latinos who make less than $50,000 said they've been very or somewhat worried about their personal finances in the last six months. Comparatively, 71% of white Americans at that income level say they are very or somewhat concerned. Among Black Americans at that income level, that number is 73% and among Asian and Pacific Islanders at that income level it's 78%.
Griffin underscored that the issues Latinos are facing isn't due to income differences between these different racial groups.
"Even when you try to isolate for that a bit ... you're still seeing communities of color, and again often Latino Americans, popping out as this group that's just much harder hit," he said.
However, Latinos in this income level didn't lead when asked if they had seen a drop in household income in the last 12 months.
According to the survey, Asian and Pacific Islanders led, with 70% making less than $50,000 said that they had seen a drop. Latinos followed at 66%, then Black Americans at 56% and white Americans at 50%.
US hits 150,000 COVID-19 deaths, states reconsider reopenings The US recently topped 4 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and now has reached another unenviable milestone. USA TODAY
US coronavirus map: Tracking the outbreak
Younger Latinos are also being hit harder than other racial and ethnic groups.
Four out of 5 Latinos under the age of 40 say they have been very or somewhat worried about their personal finances in the last six months. Asian and Pacific Islanders of that age trail by only 2 percentage points (78%), followed by white Americans at 69% and Black Americans at 64%.
The only case where Latinos didn't see the highest numbers was again among those who said they saw a drop in household income in the last 12 months.
Three out of 5 Asians and Pacific Islanders under the age of 40 said they saw a drop, followed by Latinos at 56%. Forty-nine percent of White Americans and 47% of Black Americans said they experienced a drop in household income.
Both Latinos and Asian and Pacific Islanders under 40 also saw similar numbers among those who said they or their spouse has lost their job in the last 12 months, with both at 54%. Comparatively, 40% of Black Americans in that age group said they did, followed by 36% of white Americans.


usatoday--2020-08-14--'A scouting nightmare': 2021 NFL draft could see big ripple effects from college football cancellati

The 2020 NFL draft was an unprecedented event in the league 's century-long history , the entire process basically conducted from a virtual standpoint once the COVID-19 pandemic exploded shortly after the completion of this year 's scouting combine .
And yet , with 40 % of college football 's Power Five conferences already deciding not to play this fall – and the SEC , ACC and/or Big 12 could follow the leads of the Big Ten and Pac-12 in the near future – the 2021 draft seems likely to be seismically unique in its own right .
A few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 draft from its predecessors : When will the 2021 NFL draft be held ?
It 's currently scheduled to run from April 29 through May 1 next year in Cleveland .
But the league 's new CBA allows for the `` Annual Selection Meeting '' to be conducted as late as June 2 , per the discretion of the commissioner .
It could be a consideration if some college conferences actually attempt to play in the early part of 2021 , however the NFL Players Association would have to sign off for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 .
Top 10-caliber prospects like Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons and Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman had already opted out of the 2020 season in order to focus on draft preparation even before their conference did so collectively Tuesday .
With the Big Ten and Pac-12 off the autumn docket , other superstars – quarterback Justin Fields and cornerback Shaun Wade of Ohio State and Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell among them – also find themselves sidelined .
Prospects of their stature almost surely would n't incur the risks of participating in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to gain – and way too much to lose –compared to peers who had been biding their time for a starting opportunity or were perhaps on the verge of an unforeseen breakout .
Such developmental leaps for lesser-known players so often mean the difference between eight-figure guarantees and mid-round compensation – or even what determines an NFL opportunity and forced entry into the job market outside of football .
`` I can not imagine being in this particular predicament as a senior if you have n't already established yourself as a potential first-round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and you put the offseason work in and try to give yourself the best opportunities to jump the board , '' former Dallas Cowboys first-rounder Marcus Spears and current ESPN NFL analyst Marcus Spears told USA TODAY Sports .
`` Joe Burrow may have been a free agent before this past season .
He may have been a sixth- or seventh-round pick .
You go from that to being the first pick of the draft , that can happen .
We just saw it happen . ''
Baker Mayfield , Kyler Murray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picks of the past three drafts , but good luck finding anyone who projected that a year ahead of time for any of them .
The college talent pool is replenished annually , but finding its waterline obviously requires determining how so many newly elevated players perform .
That 's likely going to be a much more significant challenge as it pertains to scouting the Big Ten and Pac-12 , which had more players drafted in 2020 – 48 and 32 , respectively – than any other conference aside from the SEC ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MAC previously announced they would n't be playing football this fall , either , as has nearly every Football Championship Subdivision conference .
How might the NFL adjust ?
Not only could the draft slide back on the calendar , the combine – normally held at the end of February – might also be impacted if some conferences try spring football .
Dan Orlovsky , a fifth-rounder in 2005 and longtime backup quarterback , suggests the league should allow more visits to team facilities for draftable players – the limit is typically 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for any this spring amid COVID-19 concerns – maybe up to 50 in 2021 , pandemic permitting .
Regardless , the league 's 32 scouting departments are likely to bear the brunt of creatively assessing players who may not have been on the field for a meaningful snap in more than a year .
The knowledge and sources of area scouts should be especially vital , especially as it pertains to finding small-school diamonds in the rough at a time when everyone will be playing catch-up to some degree on depth charts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to be a challenge tied to this for the NFL scouts and GMs , absolutely , '' Orlovsky , now an ESPN analyst , told USA TODAY Sports .
`` But the tape is the tape is the tape – it always has been , always will be .
It 's not like these guys have never played college football . ''
This could be the most fascinating ramification , whether the 2020 college season is partially or fully wiped out by the coronavirus .
It wo n't take a scouting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence , LSU receiver Ja'Marr Chase or Alabama corner Patrick Surtain II , whether they play or not – atop next year 's draft boards .
But for a process steeped in projections and speculation in a normal year , differentiating the bulk of the players in 2021 should be especially difficult .
And might the increased number of variables influence how personnel decision makers regard next year 's draft pool and the value of its selections ?
The New York Jets are one fascinating case study .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealt All-Pro safety Jamal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks for a package that included two first-round picks .
The Jets joined the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars as teams that now own multiple Round 1 picks in 2021 .
But viewing the trade in hindsight now engenders a compelling debate regarding the lens you view it through now .
Are Douglas and his team in a worse position after offloading a proven young player for picks at a time when the draft could be a bigger crapshoot than ever ?
Or are teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – all in the midst of ongoing rebuilds – advantageously positioned , able to get multiple cracks at better-known commodities atop the board or maybe empowered to extract future premiums from clubs targeting such players ?
`` There will be challenges , '' acknowledged Orlovsky .
`` But there 's definitely ways when you 're good at what you do , this should not have tremendous impact on what you 're going to do .
Joe Douglas will be fine with how he drafts . ''
And yet it 's worth wondering if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attached to the 2021 draft sparks a more active trade market .
Would you rather draft and develop a player next year in the latter part of the second round or somewhere in the third ?
Or instead invest that level of draft capital now to acquire a known veteran like Yannick Ngakoue , the disgruntled Jacksonville pass rusher who will play 2020 on the franchise tag ?
Will teams be more willing to pay through the nose before the trade deadline for , say , Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette or Chargers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cusp of free agency ?
Such considerations could come at a time when the value of picks could also be altered .
Typically the trade of a pick in the upcoming draft returns one of higher value the subsequent year – a 2021 third-rounder netting a 2022 second-rounder , for example .
But the uncertainty that could pervade the 2021 draft might simultaneously inflate the value of Round 1 choices but perhaps dilute picks in Days 2 and 3 .
Great potential for a revised calculus to replace the draft trade chart that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the XFL be a factor ?
The temporarily resurrected spring football league – its original version appeared for one season in 2001 – was shuttered in April , forced by the pandemic to shut down after five weeks .
However a group headlined by actor Dwayne Johnson purchased the league in bankruptcy court earlier this month for $ 15 million .
Details for the XFL 's next reboot are currently scant , and there 's no timeline for a return .
However if Johnson and Co. can bring it back with expedience , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for college prospects unable to play in 2020 to showcase their skills ahead of next year 's draft .
( Former West Virginia safety Kenny Robinson , who was kicked out of school for academic violations and did n't play in 2019 , wound up suiting for the XFL 's St. Louis BattleHawks this year and was subsequently obtained in the fifth round by the Carolina Panthers . )
Imagine if Fields and Bateman teamed up on an XFL field for a few months and made a little money for their trouble .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ players ... but perhaps a desirable forum for mid- and late-round prospects seeking a platform to boost their stock .
If you love talking football , we have the perfect spot for you .
Join our Facebook Group , The Ruling Off the Field , to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders .
Do the right thing , sign up now !

'A scouting nightmare': 2021 NFL draft could see big ripple effects from college football cancellations, postponements
Show Caption Hide Caption 'Time to move on': QB consultant advises top prospects to skip spring football SportsPulse: Mackenzie Salmon connected with one of the nation's top QB consultants in Jordan Palmer to discuss the possibility of spring football and how that would impact the top QB prospects in next year's NFL Draft. USA TODAY
The 2020 NFL draft was an unprecedented event in the league's century-long history, the entire process basically conducted from a virtual standpoint once the COVID-19 pandemic exploded shortly after the completion of this year's scouting combine.
And yet, with 40% of college football's Power Five conferences already deciding not to play this fall – and the SEC, ACC and/or Big 12 could follow the leads of the Big Ten and Pac-12 in the near future – the 2021 draft seems likely to be seismically unique in its own right.
"It's a scouting nightmare," ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay noted Wednesday.
Among other things.
A few things to consider that might distinguish the 2021 draft from its predecessors:
When will the 2021 NFL draft be held?
It's currently scheduled to run from April 29 through May 1 next year in Cleveland. But the league's new CBA allows for the "Annual Selection Meeting" to be conducted as late as June 2, per the discretion of the commissioner. It could be a consideration if some college conferences actually attempt to play in the early part of 2021, however the NFL Players Association would have to sign off for the draft to be pushed beyond June 2.
How are 2021 draft-eligible players affected?
Top 10-caliber prospects like Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons and Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman had already opted out of the 2020 season in order to focus on draft preparation even before their conference did so collectively Tuesday. With the Big Ten and Pac-12 off the autumn docket, other superstars – quarterback Justin Fields and cornerback Shaun Wade of Ohio State and Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell among them – also find themselves sidelined.
Prospects of their stature almost surely wouldn't incur the risks of participating in prospective spring seasons, having very little to gain – and way too much to lose –compared to peers who had been biding their time for a starting opportunity or were perhaps on the verge of an unforeseen breakout. Such developmental leaps for lesser-known players so often mean the difference between eight-figure guarantees and mid-round compensation – or even what determines an NFL opportunity and forced entry into the job market outside of football.
"I cannot imagine being in this particular predicament as a senior if you haven't already established yourself as a potential first-round draft pick or a high-round draft pick, and you put the offseason work in and try to give yourself the best opportunities to jump the board," former Dallas Cowboys first-rounder and current ESPN NFL analyst Marcus Spears told USA TODAY Sports.
"Joe Burrow may have been a free agent before this past season. He may have been a sixth- or seventh-round pick. You go from that to being the first pick of the draft, that can happen. We just saw it happen."
Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Burrow were the No. 1 picks of the past three drafts, but good luck finding anyone who projected that a year ahead of time for any of them.
I feel for all college athletes right now. I hope their voices are heard by the decision makers. If this happened a year ago I may be looking for a job right now. — Joey Burrow (@JoeyB) August 10, 2020
The college talent pool is replenished annually, but finding its waterline obviously requires determining how so many newly elevated players perform. That's likely going to be a much more significant challenge as it pertains to scouting the Big Ten and Pac-12, which had more players drafted in 2020 – 48 and 32, respectively – than any other conference aside from the SEC (63). The Mountain West and MAC previously announced they wouldn't be playing football this fall, either, as has every Football Championship Subdivision conference.
How might the NFL adjust?
Not only could the draft slide back on the calendar, the combine – normally held at the end of February – might also be impacted if some conferences try spring football.
Dan Orlovsky, a fifth-rounder in 2005 and longtime backup quarterback, suggests the league should allow more visits to team facilities for draftable players – the limit is typically 30, though the league didn't allow for any this spring amid COVID-19 concerns – maybe up to 50 in 2021, pandemic permitting.
Regardless, the league's 32 scouting departments are likely to bear the brunt of creatively assessing players who may not have been on the field for a meaningful snap in more than a year. The knowledge and sources of area scouts should be especially vital, especially as it pertains to finding small-school diamonds in the rough at a time when everyone will be playing catch-up to some degree on depth charts of the traditional football factories.
"There is going to be a challenge tied to this for the NFL scouts and GMs, absolutely," Orlovsky, now an ESPN analyst, told USA TODAY Sports.
"But the tape is the tape is the tape – it always has been, always will be. It's not like these guys have never played college football."
How will GMs adjust?
This could be the most fascinating ramification, whether the 2020 college season is partially or fully wiped out by the coronavirus.
It won't take a scouting savant to place Fields or Parsons – or Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, LSU receiver Ja'Marr Chase or Alabama corner Patrick Surtain II, whether they play or not – atop next year's draft boards. But for a process steeped in projections and speculation in a normal year, differentiating the bulk of the players in 2021 should be especially difficult.
And might the increased number of variables influence how personnel decision makers regard next year's draft pool and the value of its selections?
The New York Jets are one fascinating case study. Just last month, general manager Joe Douglas dealt All-Pro safety Jamal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks for a package that included two first-round picks. The Jets joined the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars as teams that now own multiple Round 1 picks in 2021.
But viewing the trade in hindsight now engenders a compelling debate regarding the lens you view it through now. Are Douglas and his team in a worse position after offloading a proven young player for picks at a time when the draft could be a bigger crapshoot than ever? Or are teams like the Jets, Jags and Fins – all in the midst of ongoing rebuilds – advantageously positioned, able to get multiple cracks at better-known commodities atop the board or maybe empowered to extract future premiums from clubs targeting such players?
"There will be challenges," acknowledged Orlovsky. "But there's definitely ways when you're good at what you do, this should not have tremendous impact on what you're going to do. Joe Douglas will be fine with how he drafts."
And yet it's worth wondering if the uncertainty that will almost inevitably be attached to the 2021 draft sparks a more active trade market. Would you rather draft and develop a player next year in the latter part of the second round or somewhere in the third? Or instead invest that level of draft capital now to acquire a known veteran like Yannick Ngakoue, the disgruntled Jacksonville pass rusher who will play 2020 on the franchise tag? Will teams be more willing to pay through the nose before the trade deadline for, say, Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette or Chargers receiver Keenan Allen, both on the cusp of free agency?
Such considerations could come at a time when the value of picks could also be altered. Typically the trade of a pick in the upcoming draft returns one of higher value the subsequent year – a 2021 third-rounder netting a 2022 second-rounder, for example. But the uncertainty that could pervade the 2021 draft might simultaneously inflate the value of Round 1 choices but perhaps dilute picks in Days 2 and 3. Great potential for a revised calculus to replace the draft trade chart that has typically been a guidepost.
Could the XFL be a factor?
The temporarily resurrected spring football league – its original version appeared for one season in 2001 – was shuttered in April, forced by the pandemic to shut down after five weeks. However a group headlined by actor Dwayne Johnson purchased the league in bankruptcy court earlier this month for $15 million.
Details for the XFL's next reboot are currently scant, and there's no timeline for a return. However if Johnson and Co. can bring it back with expedience, it might conceivably serve as a vehicle for college prospects unable to play in 2020 to showcase their skills ahead of next year's draft. (Former West Virginia safety Kenny Robinson, who was kicked out of school for academic violations and didn't play in 2019, wound up suiting for the XFL's St. Louis BattleHawks this year and was subsequently obtained in the fifth round by the Carolina Panthers.)
Imagine if Fields and Bateman teamed up on an XFL field for a few months and made a little money for their trouble. Admittedly, unlikely for such highly regarded players ... but perhaps a desirable forum for mid- and late-round prospects seeking a platform to boost their stock.
***
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis
If you love talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders. Do the right thing, sign up now!


usatoday--2020-08-14--Trump wants to force a ban or sale of TikTok. Here is what political activists on the platform are s

Political content creators have not shied away from the social media app TikTok despite President Donald Trump ’ s executive order that could potentially ban the app .
In fact , banning the app , some creators say , could have the unintended consequence of motivating young people to vote in November .
TikTok has millions of young users and creators , some of whom have pivoted their content on the app to the election in November .
TikTok was not designed as a platform specifically for political discourse but has become a hub for young people to talk about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , users apparently reserved tickets to the president ’ s rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , with the intent of not showing up , which resulted in a smaller than expected turnout .
“ I think there is no better way to get Gen Z to the polls than to ban TikTok , ” said Colton Hess , who founded the TikTok account ToktheVote to encourage young people to vote .
“ I think that could really mobilize young people because it is a cultural sensation.
” Survey : More than half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trump administration can ban TikTok if it is not sold by its Chinese-owned parent company , ByteDance , within 45 days of Trump ’ s Aug. 6 executive order , according to the order .
The administration is concerned about whether ByteDance is harvesting data from Americans .
TikTok creator Leo Scheck , 22 , said he believes the threatened ban is about controlling a group of people who have been actively detrimental to the president ’ s re-election campaign .
“ Social media is in need of privacy reform , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be interested in that , ” said Scheck .
“ This is about a fragile president who ca n't handle criticism , who is attempting to silence dissent on an app that happens to be foreign.
” The ban on TikTok could be reversed if it is sold to a U.S. company within 45 days .
So far Microsoft has expressed interest and would allow the app to continue operating in the U.S. , and Twitter is reportedly in talks about a potential acquisition .
Erynn Chambers , a popular creator on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the order could just be posturing by Trump .
“ I think that Trump has that as a method to his madness where he will draw attention to certain things , or make a big display of certain things , and then kind of walk it back , ” Chambers said .
While neither political party has an official presence on TikTok , teenagers collaborate on political content under Republican and Democratic “ hype houses.
” Named after a Los Angeles content creator collective , hype houses are hubs for content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 19 year-old self-identified conservative creator and contributor to the Republican Hype House account , said of the ban , “ It ’ s a valid reason to protect the American people from the Chinese government.
” Joie , who requested anonymity because of security concerns , said if the app gets banned , they will just move their content to other platforms .
Aidan Kohn-Murphy , a 15-year-old creator for the Democratic Hype House , said the potential ban would engage more young people in politics .
“ This can motivate young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never been motivated before , ” Kohn-Murphy said .
Historically , America ’ s young people have been less engaged in voting compared with their elders , but the massive reach of social media has been a game changer .
About 28 % of 18- to 29-year-olds voted in the 2018 midterm elections , marking the highest midterm youth turnout in two decades , according to estimates by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University .
“ Not only are we seeing more youth participation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're also seeing more youth to youth outreach , ” said CIRCLE Associate Researcher Kristian Lundberg .
“ TikTok is , in many ways , a great resource for young people to hear content created by other young people.
” More : Trump issues order to block U.S. transactions with TikTok parent company ByteDance When asked where they heard about the 2020 election , 29 % of those between 18 and 21 years old cited TikTok , according to CIRCLE research conducted between May and June .
TikTok has about 30 million unique @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its adult users below the age of 24 , Comscore data shows .
Popular TikTok creators whose accounts aren ’ t primarily political will sometimes use their platform to comment on politics .
Jeremy Scheck , a 20-year-old Cornell University student and Leo ’ s younger brother , has 1 million followers on his TikTok account , which focuses on food and cooking .
But occasionally he speaks out to support registering to vote and Black Lives Matter .
“ I like to include it in a video and take a second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have time to cook you have time to do this , ’ ” Scheck said .
If a ban on TikTok does become reality , young people will simply seek other platforms to express political opinions , said Brent Cohen , executive director of Generation Progress Action at the Center for American Progress .
`` I think young people are extremely resourceful , resilient and will find other methods to get their speeches out there and can get good messages out there , ” Cohen said .

Nicole Girten and Henry Ren, Medill News Service

Trump wants to force a ban or sale of TikTok. Here is what political activists on the platform are saying.
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump sets deadline for TikTok sale or shutdown President Donald Trump sets a deadline for September 15th for Tik Tok, popular Chinese-owned video app , to be sold to a U.S. company or he will shut it down. (Aug. 3) AP
Political content creators have not shied away from the social media app TikTok despite President Donald Trump’s executive order that could potentially ban the app. In fact, banning the app, some creators say, could have the unintended consequence of motivating young people to vote in November.
TikTok has millions of young users and creators, some of whom have pivoted their content on the app to the election in November. TikTok was not designed as a platform specifically for political discourse but has become a hub for young people to talk about politics and get engaged. In June, users apparently reserved tickets to the president’s rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with the intent of not showing up, which resulted in a smaller than expected turnout.
“I think there is no better way to get Gen Z to the polls than to ban TikTok,” said Colton Hess, who founded the TikTok account ToktheVote to encourage young people to vote. “I think that could really mobilize young people because it is a cultural sensation.”
TikTok: Employees filing lawsuit to fight Trump over app ban
Survey: More than half of all Americans back potential ban on TikTok
The Trump administration can ban TikTok if it is not sold by its Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, within 45 days of Trump’s Aug. 6 executive order, according to the order. The administration is concerned about whether ByteDance is harvesting data from Americans.
TikTok creator Leo Scheck, 22, said he believes the threatened ban is about controlling a group of people who have been actively detrimental to the president’s re-election campaign.
“Social media is in need of privacy reform, but the current administration really doesn't seem to be interested in that,” said Scheck. “This is about a fragile president who can't handle criticism, who is attempting to silence dissent on an app that happens to be foreign.”
The ban on TikTok could be reversed if it is sold to a U.S. company within 45 days. So far Microsoft has expressed interest and would allow the app to continue operating in the U.S., and Twitter is reportedly in talks about a potential acquisition.
Erynn Chambers, a popular creator on TikTok with almost half a million followers, said the order could just be posturing by Trump.
“I think that Trump has that as a method to his madness where he will draw attention to certain things, or make a big display of certain things, and then kind of walk it back,” Chambers said.
TikTok content creators fear app's demise in U.S. Content creators who create and post short videos on TikTok are concerned about President Donald Trump's plans to ban the Chinese-owned app that has been a source of national security and censorship concerns. (Aug. 11) AP
While neither political party has an official presence on TikTok, teenagers collaborate on political content under Republican and Democratic “hype houses.” Named after a Los Angeles content creator collective, hype houses are hubs for content for liberals and conservatives.
Joie P. a 19 year-old self-identified conservative creator and contributor to the Republican Hype House account, said of the ban, “It’s a valid reason to protect the American people from the Chinese government.”
Joie, who requested anonymity because of security concerns, said if the app gets banned, they will just move their content to other platforms.
Aidan Kohn-Murphy, a 15-year-old creator for the Democratic Hype House, said the potential ban would engage more young people in politics.
“This can motivate young voters in a way that voters have never been motivated before,” Kohn-Murphy said.
Historically, America’s young people have been less engaged in voting compared with their elders, but the massive reach of social media has been a game changer. About 28% of 18- to 29-year-olds voted in the 2018 midterm elections, marking the highest midterm youth turnout in two decades, according to estimates by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University.
“Not only are we seeing more youth participation in campaigns, marches and protests, we're also seeing more youth to youth outreach,” said CIRCLE Associate Researcher Kristian Lundberg. “TikTok is, in many ways, a great resource for young people to hear content created by other young people.”
More: Trump issues order to block U.S. transactions with TikTok parent company ByteDance
When asked where they heard about the 2020 election, 29% of those between 18 and 21 years old cited TikTok, according to CIRCLE research conducted between May and June.
TikTok has about 30 million unique users every month, with a quarter of its adult users below the age of 24, Comscore data shows.
Popular TikTok creators whose accounts aren’t primarily political will sometimes use their platform to comment on politics. Jeremy Scheck, a 20-year-old Cornell University student and Leo’s younger brother, has 1 million followers on his TikTok account, which focuses on food and cooking. But occasionally he speaks out to support registering to vote and Black Lives Matter.
“I like to include it in a video and take a second like, ‘Hey, if you have time to cook you have time to do this,’” Scheck said.
If a ban on TikTok does become reality, young people will simply seek other platforms to express political opinions, said Brent Cohen, executive director of Generation Progress Action at the Center for American Progress.
"I think young people are extremely resourceful, resilient and will find other methods to get their speeches out there and can get good messages out there,” Cohen said.


usatoday--2020-08-14--Amazon considering relocating its Seattle employees outside the city

Amazon is offering Seattle-based employees additional choices of smaller offices outside the city .
In a message to employees Thursday , Amazon asked which communities near Seattle they ’ d prefer , including Tacoma ( an hour 's drive from Seattle ) and nearby Redmond ( 15 minute drive ) .
The question was prefaced by an introductory message that said : “ GREF ( Global real estate and facilities ) is always exploring real estate options to support our diverse and growing population , and is considering new locations in the Puget Sound region ( in addition to Seattle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mechanism used to ask the question , is used by Amazon to gather employee feedback .
Amazon : Liable for defective products from third-party sellers , California court says Amazon backpedals : Will allow podcasters on its new service to criticize Amazon Amazon , which reported a total global workforce of almost 877,000 as of June 30 , has close to 8,000 open jobs across the Puget Sound region in Washington state .
Seattle ’ s City Council recently passed a tax measure where businesses with at least $ 7 million in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % to 2.4 % on the amount they pay Seattle-based employees , to be implemented in 2021 .
Amazon declined to comment when asked whether the tax played a part in the considerations .
The company reportedly has about 50,000 employees in Seattle , and in February announced its plans to create more than 15,000 in Bellevue .
In 2019 , Amazon announced the development of its first owned tower in Bellevue .

Amazon considering relocating its Seattle employees outside the city
Show Caption Hide Caption Amazon boxes will look a bit different soon Your next Amazon box might look a little different. USA TODAY
Amazon is offering Seattle-based employees additional choices of smaller offices outside the city.
In a message to employees Thursday, Amazon asked which communities near Seattle they’d prefer, including Tacoma (an hour's drive from Seattle) and nearby Redmond (15 minute drive).
The question was prefaced by an introductory message that said: “GREF (Global real estate and facilities) is always exploring real estate options to support our diverse and growing population, and is considering new locations in the Puget Sound region (in addition to Seattle and Bellevue).”
Connections, the mechanism used to ask the question, is used by Amazon to gather employee feedback.
Amazon: Liable for defective products from third-party sellers, California court says
Amazon backpedals: Will allow podcasters on its new service to criticize Amazon
Amazon, which reported a total global workforce of almost 877,000 as of June 30, has close to 8,000 open jobs across the Puget Sound region in Washington state.
Seattle’s City Council recently passed a tax measure where businesses with at least $7 million in annual payroll expenses will be taxed 0.7% to 2.4% on the amount they pay Seattle-based employees, to be implemented in 2021.
Amazon declined to comment when asked whether the tax played a part in the considerations.
The company reportedly has about 50,000 employees in Seattle, and in February announced its plans to create more than 15,000 in Bellevue.
In 2019, Amazon announced the development of its first owned tower in Bellevue.


usatoday--2020-08-14--'Starve the Postal Service': Obama criticizes Trump for sweeping changes at the USPS

WASHINGTON – Former President Barack Obama criticized President Donald Trump on Friday for attempting to stall funding for the U.S .
Postal Service , a move that Obama said `` is unheard of . ''
In a podcast with former campaign manager David Plouffe , Obama directly criticized the Trump administration for what is happening at the USPS .
More : What 's going on with the post office ?
Here 's what we know '' What we 've seen in a way that is unique to modern political history is a president who is explicit in trying to discourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` What we 've never seen before is a president say , ' I 'm going to try to actively kneecap the Postal Service to encourage voting and I will be explicit about the reason I 'm doing it . '
'' Obama added : `` That 's sort of unheard of , right ?
And we also have not had an election in the midst of a pandemic that is still deadly and killing a lot of people and we still do n't know the long-term side effects of contracting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , half of Americans fear difficulties voting in November election , poll says The 44th president is referencing ongoing negotiations between Democrats and the White House on the latest coronavirus relief legislation on Capitol Hill .
Trump has offered conflicting statements about whether he opposes supplementary funding for the USPS , which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic .
The president has suggested that a deal is n't going to happen and pointed a finger at Democrats for demanding $ 3.5 billion for mail-in voting , which he argued would perpetuate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an additional $ 25 billion for the Postal Service .
Trump has repeatedly railed against mail-in ballots heading toward November , calling them , with scant evidence , unsafe and untrustworthy , as COVID-19 forces many Americans to stay home and vote by mail .
Additionally , Louis DeJoy , who was named postmaster general in May by the the Postal Service ’ s board of governors , who are appointed by the president , has been mired in controversy following sweeping changes at the agency .
DeJoy was a significant major Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes implemented at the Postal Service include eliminating overtime , dramatically restructuring the organization and removing or reassigning nearly two dozen agency leaders .
It was also reported that the USPS is removing some mail sorting machines , which would sort mail-in ballots , from its facilities around the country .
Some of these changes have caused significant mail delays in parts of the country , raising alarms that the anticipated influx of mail-in voting in November may be impacted .
Obama also said that Trump is `` throwing in this additional monkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` My question is what are Republicans doing where you are so scared of people voting that you are now willing to undermine what is part of the basic infrastructure of American life ? ''
Obama said .

'Starve the Postal Service': Obama criticizes Trump for sweeping changes at the USPS
Show Caption Hide Caption Mail-in votes, USPS caught in COVID-19 relief negotiations President Donald Trump has offered conflicting statements about supplementary funding for the U.S. Postal Service. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Former President Barack Obama criticized President Donald Trump on Friday for attempting to stall funding for the U.S. Postal Service, a move that Obama said "is unheard of."
In a podcast with former campaign manager David Plouffe, Obama directly criticized the Trump administration for what is happening at the USPS.
More: What's going on with the post office? Here's what we know
"What we've seen in a way that is unique to modern political history is a president who is explicit in trying to discourage people from voting," Obama said. "What we've never seen before is a president say, 'I'm going to try to actively kneecap the Postal Service to encourage voting and I will be explicit about the reason I'm doing it.'"
Obama added: "That's sort of unheard of, right? And we also have not had an election in the midst of a pandemic that is still deadly and killing a lot of people and we still don't know the long-term side effects of contracting the illness.”
Barack Obama: “What we’ve never seen before is a president say, ‘I’m going to try to actively kneecap the postal service to encourage voting, and I will be explicit about the reason I’m doing it.’” pic.twitter.com/MOpa7Bi5pQ — The Recount (@therecount) August 14, 2020
More: In dramatic shift, half of Americans fear difficulties voting in November election, poll says
The 44th president is referencing ongoing negotiations between Democrats and the White House on the latest coronavirus relief legislation on Capitol Hill.
Trump has offered conflicting statements about whether he opposes supplementary funding for the USPS, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
The president has suggested that a deal isn't going to happen and pointed a finger at Democrats for demanding $3.5 billion for mail-in voting, which he argued would perpetuate voter fraud, and for pushing for an additional $25 billion for the Postal Service.
Trump has repeatedly railed against mail-in ballots heading toward November, calling them, with scant evidence, unsafe and untrustworthy, as COVID-19 forces many Americans to stay home and vote by mail.
More: President Trump requests mail-in ballot for upcoming Florida primary, despite rhetoric
Additionally, Louis DeJoy, who was named postmaster general in May by the the Postal Service’s board of governors, who are appointed by the president, has been mired in controversy following sweeping changes at the agency.
DeJoy was a significant major Republican and Trump donor. Some of the changes implemented at the Postal Service include eliminating overtime, dramatically restructuring the organization and removing or reassigning nearly two dozen agency leaders. It was also reported that the USPS is removing some mail sorting machines, which would sort mail-in ballots, from its facilities around the country.
More: GOP Sen. Susan Collins urges U.S. Postal Service to 'promptly address' delivery delays
Some of these changes have caused significant mail delays in parts of the country, raising alarms that the anticipated influx of mail-in voting in November may be impacted.
Obama also said that Trump is "throwing in this additional monkey wrench trying to starve the Postal Service."
"My question is what are Republicans doing where you are so scared of people voting that you are now willing to undermine what is part of the basic infrastructure of American life?" Obama said.


usatoday--2020-08-14--Coronavirus live updates: US-Canada border closure to continue; Georgia drops mask lawsuit; Hawaii m

President Donald Trump announced Friday that the U.S. government will be partnering with American McKesson Corporation to distribute a coronavirus vaccine once one is approved .
Three vaccines are in Phase 3 clinical trials , and 100 million doses of an effective vaccine will be ready `` before the end of the year , '' Trump said , with 500 million doses available `` very shortly thereafter . ''
Last month , the nation 's top infectious disease expert said a vaccine candidate could be available by the end of 2020 or early 2021 .
Meanwhile in California , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the state ordered a private school to close after it welcomed students back Thursday without face masks or social distancing precautions .
The school , with nearly 600 students , is now on the state 's monitoring list .
And in Hawaii , Gov .
David Ige is considering another stay-at-home order for Oahu and may delay the start of a program that allows tourists to visit as COVID-19 cases spiked in the state .
On Thursday , the state reported a new daily record of 355 infections and a total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developments : • The Canada-U.S. border will remain closed to non-essential travel for at least another month .
• Bowling alleys , gyms , museums and other low-risk indoor cultural venues will soon be allowed to open in New York with strict COVID-19 rules , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Friday .
• Alabama Gov .
Kay Ivey ’ s chief of staff is quarantining at home after his wife tested positive for the coronavirus , his office said in a statement Friday .
• Weeks after filing suit against Atlanta city officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of COVID-19 , the governor of Georgia is withdrawing the suit .
• Coronavirus stimulus negotiations are at a standstill : Congressional Democrats blamed Republicans on Thursday , while Republicans blamed Democrats , and President Donald Trump suggested that talks for a stimulus package are doomed .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has 5.2 million confirmed infections and more than 167,000 deaths .
Worldwide , there have been more than 760,000 deaths and more than 20.9 million cases , according to John Hopkins University data .
📰 What we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shirking their duties as front-line workers .
But as more early-start schools see reports of new infections , some of the unions ' dire predictions are being realized .
People who recover from COVID-19 do n't need to get tested or quarantine for 3 months , CDC says People who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months and come in close contact with someone who is actively infected do not need to quarantine , according to updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
`` People who have tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again , '' the new guidance says .
`` People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms . ''
But antibodies may begin to decline sooner than that .
A June study in the journal Nature found that antibodies may begin to decrease within 2 to 3 months after infection .
New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to open Bowling alleys , gyms , museums and other low-risk indoor cultural venues will soon be allowed to open in New York with strict COVID-19 rules , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Friday .
Bowling alleys will be allowed to open Monday , being limited to 50 % of occupancy capacity and forced to follow other rules , such as bowlers must have a face covering and every other lane will remain closed .
Food and alcohol service will also be limited to wait service , reports USA TODAY Network 's New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other low-risk indoor cultural venues will be allowed to open in New York City on Aug. 24 with various COVID-19 restrictions , including operating at 25 % occupancy capacity .
In upstate communities , museums and other indoor venues opened previously .
The opening date and rules for gyms will be revealed on Monday , Cuomo said .
The Canada-U.S. border will remain closed to non-essential travel for at least another month , Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said in a statement Friday , a day after Mexico announced a similar measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The land border restrictions aimed at controlling the coronavirus pandemic were first announced in March and have been renewed monthly .
Essential cross-border workers such as health care professionals , airline crews and truck drivers are still permitted to cross .
Americans and Canadians returning to their respective countries are exempted from the border closure .
Louisiana authorities have arrested three women accused of assaulting a teenage restaurant hostess because they were upset they couldn ’ t all be seated together due to coronavirus distancing rules .
One was charged with aggravated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counts of disturbing the peace and simple battery , Baton Rouge police said Thursday .
The 17-year-old hostess told news outlets she was working at a Baton Rouge Chili ’ s last weekend when a party of 11 people arrived and wanted to be seated together .
She said the restaurant ’ s coronavirus policies stipulated no more than six people could be seated at a table .
When the worker told the group they couldn ’ t be seated all together , they became irate , she said .
When she brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women attacked the teen , she said , adding they pushed her and began beating her .
The worker said she was trying to defend herself when one woman hit her with a `` wet floor '' sign , leaving her bleeding .
• Americans are drinking more during the COVID-19 pandemic.But how much alcohol is too much ?
• Masks are on superintendents ' back-to-school shopping lists.Some leaders wonder if there will be enough .
• 'Feels like I 'm dorming anyway ' : Hotels housing college students in effort to social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 94 % of California counties report results take more than 2 days California had a once-promising COVID-19 testing system that included short turnaround times for results .
The system , however , has buckled under the weight of supply shortages , the state 's aggressive daily testing goals , and the federal government 's nonexistent testing strategy , according to a Desert Sun investigation that involved 60 public records requests and a survey of each of California ’ s 58 counties and their public health departments .
Across California , wait times to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vary widely , and nearly all take too long , according to experts .
In Santa Barbara County , it can take nearly a month to book a test and get the result if you ’ re not showing symptoms and are not a health care worker .
In late July , of the 30 counties that provided information to The Desert Sun about booking appointments , 83 % said patients had to wait at least two days before there was an available slot , and 47 % had wait times of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suit against Atlanta city officials for implementing a mask mandate to slow the spread of COVID-19 , the governor of Georgia is withdrawing the suit .
Gov .
Brian Kemp said Thursday afternoon he would be withdrawing the suit against Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the City Council and would address the issue in an executive order Saturday .
`` Unfortunately , the Mayor has made it clear that she will not agree to a settlement that safeguards the rights of private property owners in Georgia , '' Kemp said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most affected by COVID-19 economic issues Latinos are more likely than white , Black and Asian Americans to be worried about economic issues related to coronavirus as the nation continues to deal with the ongoing pandemic , according to a new survey .
The concerns are n't unfounded : Latinos are more likely than all other racial groups to have a spouse lose their job in the last year or have had a drop in household income in the last year , according to a survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group , said that while some may initially think that disparity is caused because Latinos make up higher proportions of young people or have a different median income , that is not the case .
`` Communities of color , and particularly Latino Americans , appear to be hard hit right now , '' Griffin said .
New Zealand extends lockdown in its biggest city Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Friday that New Zealand 's government was extending lockdown orders for 12 more days in Auckland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a fresh outbreak of COVID-19 cases was detected this week .
New Zealand had gone more than 100 days without a single new COVID-19 case , earning international praise for effectively squashing the new coronavirus .
That changed Tuesday when the new cluster was detected in Auckland .
There are now 30 cases tied to the outbreak , which health officials believe came from overseas and possible spread through shipping workers .
`` Together , we have got rid of COVID before , '' Ardern said .
`` We can do all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students , teachers are in quarantine : reports As schools in some states have returned after a monthslong break from in-person instruction , students , teachers and staff members across multiple states are in quarantine because of positive COVID-19 cases .
According to CNN , more than 2,000 students , teachers and staff in five states are in quarantine after at least 230 positive cases .
And ABC News ' count says at least 2,400 students and staff were either infected themselves or self-isolating .
In Georgia alone , 1,600 students and staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I was not surprised at all , '' Jenny Hunter , a nurse and mother of two in Cherokee County , just outside Atlanta , told USA TODAY .
`` My son was saying how low in volume some of his classes were throughout the day because of kids getting quarantined .
It was becoming a question of when , not if . ''
Hawaii officials 'looking at ' delaying tourists ' return amid spike in cases Hoping to vacation in Hawaii in September ?
You might have to rethink those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rising COVID-19 case counts , officials are `` looking at '' delaying the start of a much-anticipated program that would allow out-of-state visitors to vacation there without quarantining for 14 days by presenting a negative COVID-19 test , Hawaii Gov .
David Ige said during a news conference late Thursday .
The program , set to begin Sept. 1 , was already delayed once , a month ago , due to rising cases on the mainland and in Hawaii .
`` If things do not get better we will have no choice but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ige said .
COVID-19 in some ways comparable to 1918 Spanish flu that killed 50M The 1918 Spanish flu pandemic claimed an estimated 50 million lives worldwide , yet in some ways the COVID-19 pandemic has been worse , according to a study published Thursday in the medical journal JAMA Network Open .
The current pandemic has been linked to less than 1 million deaths .
But the study compares the two months after the first recorded death of COVID-19 in New York City – the epicenter of the U.S. epidemic for weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1918 calamity .
“ They ’ re comparable events in terms of magnitude , ’ ’ said Dr. Jeremy Faust , an emergency physician at Brigham and Women ’ s Hospital in Boston and the lead author of the study .
`` What our numbers show is that what happened in New York was pretty similar to what happened in the greatest modern pandemic.
’ ’ Movie theaters reopen in Mexico City after being closed for four months Mexico City movie theaters reopened this week after closing for four months .
Moviegoers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Customers are required to wear face masks and can only lift them up to eat or drink .
And no more than two people are allowed to sit next to each other .
Theaters in the capital have been allowed to open at only 30 % of capacity .
Mexico is the fourth-largest movie market in the world following China , India and the United States .
California orders private school to shut down after defiant reopening California ordered a private school to shut down after it reopened in defiance of a state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus .
Fresno County issued a health order Thursday against Immanuel Schools in the city of Reedley .
The K-12 school was told to close its classrooms until the county is removed from a state monitoring list for two weeks .
The school , with about 600 students , allowed students into classes Thursday without masks or social distancing .
The school ’ s trustees and superintendent say they believe students ’ development will suffer if they can ’ t be taught on campus .
The parties negotiating a bill to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus agree on one point : They 're at an impasse .
`` I want you to see how vast our differences are , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , said at a news conference Thursday .
She pointed to a large blue poster detailing the wide gap between what Republicans and Democrats want to pay for various priorities .
`` It ’ s no wonder we have a vast difference because this administration , other Republicans in Congress , have never understood the gravity of this situation . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , condemned Democrats for sticking with a `` completely unrealistic , far-left proposal '' and holding the negotiations `` hostage '' over `` non-COVID-related ideological items . ''
Several of the largest restaurant companies in the U.S. are struggling with capacity restrictions on indoor dining and attempting to lure customers with takeout in a bid to avoid financial disaster .
The owners of chains like Outback Steakhouse , Applebee ’ s and The Cheesecake Factory are on a newly updated list of national restaurants that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paying back their debts .
When companies default on loans , they are often forced to file for bankruptcy protection , close locations or occasionally liquidate .
One chain , California Pizza Kitchen , has already filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection , with plans to close some locations .
As conference after conference in Division I postponed fall sports , the NCAA has made the inevitable decision that there will be no fall championships in the organization ’ s top tier in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have fall NCAA championships , ” said NCAA President Mark Emmert in a video interview posted Thursday evening , adding it is hoped championships can be moved to the 2021 calendar year .
Emmert noted that the Board of Governors requirement of 50 % of schools playing to hold the postseason would not be achievable .
`` Sadly , tragically , that 's going to be the case this fall , '' Emmert said .
`` That does n't mean we should n't and ca n't turn toward winter and spring and say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legitimate championship for all those students . '
'' China says chicken wings from Brazil were positive for coronavirus A sample of frozen chicken wings transported from Brazil to China tested positive for COVID-19 , Chinese officials announced Thursday .
But there is no evidence that shows the coronavirus can be transmitted by eating or handling food , according to health experts .
Health officials in the Shenzhen Longgang District inspected imported frozen food Wednesday when a surface sample of frozen chicken wings tested positive for the coronavirus , according to a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Control Headquarters Office .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times .
Sign up for Staying Apart , Together here .

Jessica Flores, Ryan W. Miller and Grace Hauck, USA TODAY

Coronavirus live updates: US-Canada border closure to continue; Georgia drops mask lawsuit; Hawaii may delay tourists' return
Show Caption Hide Caption Virus aid stalemate holds, no new relief in sight With Washington talks on emergency coronavirus aid having stalled, both sides are playing the blame game Thursday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted Republicans for not giving "a damn." (Aug. 13) AP
President Donald Trump announced Friday that the U.S. government will be partnering with American McKesson Corporation to distribute a coronavirus vaccine once one is approved.
Three vaccines are in Phase 3 clinical trials, and 100 million doses of an effective vaccine will be ready "before the end of the year," Trump said, with 500 million doses available "very shortly thereafter."
Last month, the nation's top infectious disease expert said a vaccine candidate could be available by the end of 2020 or early 2021.
Meanwhile in California, which is approaching 600,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the state ordered a private school to close after it welcomed students back Thursday without face masks or social distancing precautions. The school, with nearly 600 students, is now on the state's monitoring list.
And in Hawaii, Gov. David Ige is considering another stay-at-home order for Oahu and may delay the start of a program that allows tourists to visit as COVID-19 cases spiked in the state. On Thursday, the state reported a new daily record of 355 infections and a total of 40 deaths.
Here are some significant developments:
The Canada-U.S. border will remain closed to non-essential travel for at least another month.
Bowling alleys, gyms, museums and other low-risk indoor cultural venues will soon be allowed to open in New York with strict COVID-19 rules, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s chief of staff is quarantining at home after his wife tested positive for the coronavirus, his office said in a statement Friday.
Weeks after filing suit against Atlanta city officials for implementing a mask mandate to slow the spread of COVID-19, the governor of Georgia is withdrawing the suit.
Coronavirus stimulus negotiations are at a standstill: Congressional Democrats blamed Republicans on Thursday, while Republicans blamed Democrats, and President Donald Trump suggested that talks for a stimulus package are doomed.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has 5.2 million confirmed infections and more than 167,000 deaths. Worldwide, there have been more than 760,000 deaths and more than 20.9 million cases, according to John Hopkins University data.
📰 What we're reading: Critics say teachers are shirking their duties as front-line workers. But as more early-start schools see reports of new infections, some of the unions' dire predictions are being realized.
People who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months and come in close contact with someone who is actively infected do not need to quarantine, according to updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again," the new guidance says. "People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms."
But antibodies may begin to decline sooner than that. A June study in the journal Nature found that antibodies may begin to decrease within 2 to 3 months after infection.
New York to allow museums, aquariums, more to open
Bowling alleys, gyms, museums and other low-risk indoor cultural venues will soon be allowed to open in New York with strict COVID-19 rules, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday.
Bowling alleys will be allowed to open Monday, being limited to 50% of occupancy capacity and forced to follow other rules, such as bowlers must have a face covering and every other lane will remain closed. Food and alcohol service will also be limited to wait service, reports USA TODAY Network's New York State Team.
Museums, aquariums and other low-risk indoor cultural venues will be allowed to open in New York City on Aug. 24 with various COVID-19 restrictions, including operating at 25% occupancy capacity. In upstate communities, museums and other indoor venues opened previously.
The opening date and rules for gyms will be revealed on Monday, Cuomo said.
– David Robinson, New York State Team
Canada-U.S. border closed for another month
The Canada-U.S. border will remain closed to non-essential travel for at least another month, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said in a statement Friday, a day after Mexico announced a similar measure for its border with the United States. The land border restrictions aimed at controlling the coronavirus pandemic were first announced in March and have been renewed monthly.
Essential cross-border workers such as health care professionals, airline crews and truck drivers are still permitted to cross. Americans and Canadians returning to their respective countries are exempted from the border closure.
– The Associated Press
Louisiana authorities have arrested three women accused of assaulting a teenage restaurant hostess because they were upset they couldn’t all be seated together due to coronavirus distancing rules. One was charged with aggravated second-degree battery and two were booked on counts of disturbing the peace and simple battery, Baton Rouge police said Thursday.
The 17-year-old hostess told news outlets she was working at a Baton Rouge Chili’s last weekend when a party of 11 people arrived and wanted to be seated together. She said the restaurant’s coronavirus policies stipulated no more than six people could be seated at a table.
When the worker told the group they couldn’t be seated all together, they became irate, she said. When she brought her manager over, the group of women attacked the teen, she said, adding they pushed her and began beating her. The worker said she was trying to defend herself when one woman hit her with a "wet floor" sign, leaving her bleeding.
– The Associated Press
What we're reading
COVID-19 testing 'irrelevant' as 94% of California counties report results take more than 2 days
California had a once-promising COVID-19 testing system that included short turnaround times for results. The system, however, has buckled under the weight of supply shortages, the state's aggressive daily testing goals, and the federal government's nonexistent testing strategy, according to a Desert Sun investigation that involved 60 public records requests and a survey of each of California’s 58 counties and their public health departments.
Across California, wait times to book a COVID-19 test and get results vary widely, and nearly all take too long, according to experts. In Santa Barbara County, it can take nearly a month to book a test and get the result if you’re not showing symptoms and are not a health care worker. In late July, of the 30 counties that provided information to The Desert Sun about booking appointments, 83% said patients had to wait at least two days before there was an available slot, and 47% had wait times of a week or more.
– Nicole Hayden and Mark Olalde, The Desert Sun
Georgia withdraws mask mandate lawsuit against Atlanta
Weeks after filing suit against Atlanta city officials for implementing a mask mandate to slow the spread of COVID-19, the governor of Georgia is withdrawing the suit.
Gov. Brian Kemp said Thursday afternoon he would be withdrawing the suit against Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the City Council and would address the issue in an executive order Saturday.
"Unfortunately, the Mayor has made it clear that she will not agree to a settlement that safeguards the rights of private property owners in Georgia," Kemp said in a statement.
Latinos are more likely than white, Black and Asian Americans to be worried about economic issues related to coronavirus as the nation continues to deal with the ongoing pandemic, according to a new survey.
The concerns aren't unfounded: Latinos are more likely than all other racial groups to have a spouse lose their job in the last year or have had a drop in household income in the last year, according to a survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project.
Robert Griffin, research director for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group, said that while some may initially think that disparity is caused because Latinos make up higher proportions of young people or have a different median income, that is not the case. "Communities of color, and particularly Latino Americans, appear to be hard hit right now," Griffin said.
– Rebecca Morin
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Friday that New Zealand's government was extending lockdown orders for 12 more days in Auckland, the country's most populous city, after a fresh outbreak of COVID-19 cases was detected this week.
New Zealand had gone more than 100 days without a single new COVID-19 case, earning international praise for effectively squashing the new coronavirus. That changed Tuesday when the new cluster was detected in Auckland. There are now 30 cases tied to the outbreak, which health officials believe came from overseas and possible spread through shipping workers.
"Together, we have got rid of COVID before," Ardern said. "We can do all of that again."
Thousands of students, teachers are in quarantine: reports
As schools in some states have returned after a monthslong break from in-person instruction, students, teachers and staff members across multiple states are in quarantine because of positive COVID-19 cases. According to CNN, more than 2,000 students, teachers and staff in five states are in quarantine after at least 230 positive cases. And ABC News' count says at least 2,400 students and staff were either infected themselves or self-isolating.
In Georgia alone, 1,600 students and staff were told to quarantine as cases rise.
"I was not surprised at all," Jenny Hunter, a nurse and mother of two in Cherokee County, just outside Atlanta, told USA TODAY. "My son was saying how low in volume some of his classes were throughout the day because of kids getting quarantined. It was becoming a question of when, not if."
– Grace Hauck and Ryan Miller
Hawaii officials 'looking at' delaying tourists' return amid spike in cases
Hoping to vacation in Hawaii in September? You might have to rethink those plans.
Given the state's rapidly rising COVID-19 case counts, officials are "looking at'' delaying the start of a much-anticipated program that would allow out-of-state visitors to vacation there without quarantining for 14 days by presenting a negative COVID-19 test, Hawaii Gov. David Ige said during a news conference late Thursday.
The program, set to begin Sept. 1, was already delayed once, a month ago, due to rising cases on the mainland and in Hawaii.
"If things do not get better we will have no choice but to look at more restrictions,'' Ige said.
– Dawn Gilbertson
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
COVID-19 in some ways comparable to 1918 Spanish flu that killed 50M
The 1918 Spanish flu pandemic claimed an estimated 50 million lives worldwide, yet in some ways the COVID-19 pandemic has been worse, according to a study published Thursday in the medical journal JAMA Network Open.
The current pandemic has been linked to less than 1 million deaths. But the study compares the two months after the first recorded death of COVID-19 in New York City – the epicenter of the U.S. epidemic for weeks – with the deadliest two months of the 1918 calamity.
“They’re comparable events in terms of magnitude,’’ said Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and the lead author of the study. "What our numbers show is that what happened in New York was pretty similar to what happened in the greatest modern pandemic.’’
– Jorge L. Ortiz
Movie theaters reopen in Mexico City after being closed for four months
Mexico City movie theaters reopened this week after closing for four months. Moviegoers' temperatures are checked upon entry. Customers are required to wear face masks and can only lift them up to eat or drink. And no more than two people are allowed to sit next to each other.
Theaters in the capital have been allowed to open at only 30% of capacity. Mexico is the fourth-largest movie market in the world following China, India and the United States.
California orders private school to shut down after defiant reopening
California ordered a private school to shut down after it reopened in defiance of a state health order aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Fresno County issued a health order Thursday against Immanuel Schools in the city of Reedley. The K-12 school was told to close its classrooms until the county is removed from a state monitoring list for two weeks.
The school, with about 600 students, allowed students into classes Thursday without masks or social distancing. The school’s trustees and superintendent say they believe students’ development will suffer if they can’t be taught on campus.
Coronavirus stimulus bill negotiations at an impasse
The parties negotiating a bill to provide relief from the economic ravages of the coronavirus agree on one point: They're at an impasse.
"I want you to see how vast our differences are," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said at a news conference Thursday. She pointed to a large blue poster detailing the wide gap between what Republicans and Democrats want to pay for various priorities. "It’s no wonder we have a vast difference because this administration, other Republicans in Congress, have never understood the gravity of this situation."
On the other side of the Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., condemned Democrats for sticking with a "completely unrealistic, far-left proposal" and holding the negotiations "hostage" over "non-COVID-related ideological items."
– Michael Collins, Christal Hayes and Nicholas Wu
Six national restaurants, including IHOP, in deep trouble amid pandemic
Several of the largest restaurant companies in the U.S. are struggling with capacity restrictions on indoor dining and attempting to lure customers with takeout in a bid to avoid financial disaster.
The owners of chains like Outback Steakhouse, Applebee’s and The Cheesecake Factory are on a newly updated list of national restaurants that are facing the highest likelihood of not paying back their debts. When companies default on loans, they are often forced to file for bankruptcy protection, close locations or occasionally liquidate.
One chain, California Pizza Kitchen, has already filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with plans to close some locations.
– Nathan Bomey
NCAA Division I fall championships postponed amid COVID-19 concerns
As conference after conference in Division I postponed fall sports, the NCAA has made the inevitable decision that there will be no fall championships in the organization’s top tier in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We cannot, at this point, have fall NCAA championships,” said NCAA President Mark Emmert in a video interview posted Thursday evening, adding it is hoped championships can be moved to the 2021 calendar year.
Emmert noted that the Board of Governors requirement of 50% of schools playing to hold the postseason would not be achievable.
"Sadly, tragically, that's going to be the case this fall," Emmert said. "That doesn't mean we shouldn't and can't turn toward winter and spring and say 'OK, how can we create a legitimate championship for all those students.'"
– Eddie Timanus
China says chicken wings from Brazil were positive for coronavirus
A sample of frozen chicken wings transported from Brazil to China tested positive for COVID-19, Chinese officials announced Thursday.
But there is no evidence that shows the coronavirus can be transmitted by eating or handling food, according to health experts.
Health officials in the Shenzhen Longgang District inspected imported frozen food Wednesday when a surface sample of frozen chicken wings tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a statement released by the Shenzhen Epidemic Prevention and Control Headquarters Office.
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: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-08-14--Ex-FBI lawyer to plead guilty to falsifying documents in Russia inquiry; first case brought in DOJ r

A former FBI lawyer was charged Friday and is expected to plead guilty to falsifying documents used to support the surveillance of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page .
The case against Kevin Clinesmith is the first to be brought by federal prosecutor John Durham , appointed last year to review the origins of the investigation into Russia 's interference in the 2016 election .
Clinesmith 's lawyers said their client `` deeply regrets '' his actions involving work on surveillance applications for Page submitted to the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court .
`` It was never his intent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he believed the information he relayed was accurate , '' his lawyers said in a statement .
`` But Kevin understands what he did was wrong and accepts responsibility . ''
Specifically , Clinesmith is charged with altering an email in 2017 used to support a surveillance warrant .
The altered email indicated that Page had not served as a source for the Central Intelligence Agency .
The original CIA email indicated that Page had indeed been a contact for the agency .
Attorney General William Barr hinted late Thursday there would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the inquiry .
President Donald Trump and Republican allies in Congress have long cast the Russia investigation , headed by former special counsel Robert Mueller , as an attempt by the Obama administration to undermine Trump 's presidency and have urged the attorney general to publish his findings prior to the 2020 election .
On Friday , House Judiciary Republicans sought to cast Clinesmith 's guilty plea as proof of an anti-Trump conspiracy , tweeting that a `` cabal '' involving former President Barack Obama , former Vice President Joe Biden and former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get '' Trump .
But the charging documents made public Friday do not suggest Clinesmith conspired with FBI leadership when he altered the email .
`` While I ’ m encouraged by this advancement in the Durham investigation , I hope this is simply step one in our quest for accountability , '' said Rep. Doug Collins , R-Ga. , a member of the Judiciary panel .
`` It ’ s clear that this coup reached the highest levels of the Obama Administration , all the way up to the Oval Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation , Barr has maintained that neither former President Barack Obama nor former Vice President Joe Biden , the presumptive nominee for the Democratic nomination , are subjects of the investigation .
Nonetheless , the attorney general , in a Thursday interview with Fox News , said there would be `` significant developments '' before the November election in the review , headed by Durham , the chief federal prosecutor in Connecticut .
Barr appointed Durham more than a year ago after claiming federal authorities `` spied '' on the Trump campaign during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general says he will review government 'spying ' on Trump campaign ; ' I am concerned' The attorney general , harshly critical of Mueller 's work , has asserted that the special counsel promoted an `` utterly false '' theory that the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government .
`` What happened to the president in the 2016 election and throughout the first two years of his presidency was abhorrent .
It was a grave injustice and it was unprecedented in American history , '' Barr said in May .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bottom of what happened .
And it will determine whether there are federal laws broken .
Those who broke the laws will be held to account . ''

Kevin Johnson and Kristine Phillips, USA TODAY

Ex-FBI lawyer to plead guilty to falsifying documents in Russia inquiry; first case brought in DOJ review
Show Caption Hide Caption President Donald Trump signs executive orders for coronavirus relief The orders Trump signed would provide an extra $400 in unemployment benefits, suspend some student loan payments and protect renters from eviction. Associated Press, Wochit
A former FBI lawyer was charged Friday and is expected to plead guilty to falsifying documents used to support the surveillance of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.
The case against Kevin Clinesmith is the first to be brought by federal prosecutor John Durham, appointed last year to review the origins of the investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election.
Clinesmith's lawyers said their client "deeply regrets" his actions involving work on surveillance applications for Page submitted to the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
"It was never his intent to mislead the court or his colleagues as he believed the information he relayed was accurate," his lawyers said in a statement. "But Kevin understands what he did was wrong and accepts responsibility."
Specifically, Clinesmith is charged with altering an email in 2017 used to support a surveillance warrant. The altered email indicated that Page had not served as a source for the Central Intelligence Agency. The original CIA email indicated that Page had indeed been a contact for the agency.
Homeland Security: Homeland Security acting chief Chad Wolf, deputy Cuccinelli were wrongly appointed, watchdog says
Attorney General William Barr hinted late Thursday there would be new developments as soon as Friday in the inquiry.
President Donald Trump and Republican allies in Congress have long cast the Russia investigation, headed by former special counsel Robert Mueller, as an attempt by the Obama administration to undermine Trump's presidency and have urged the attorney general to publish his findings prior to the 2020 election.
On Friday, House Judiciary Republicans sought to cast Clinesmith's guilty plea as proof of an anti-Trump conspiracy, tweeting that a "cabal" involving former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden and former FBI director James Comey "was out to get" Trump. But the charging documents made public Friday do not suggest Clinesmith conspired with FBI leadership when he altered the email.
"While I’m encouraged by this advancement in the Durham investigation, I hope this is simply step one in our quest for accountability," said Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., a member of the Judiciary panel. "It’s clear that this coup reached the highest levels of the Obama Administration, all the way up to the Oval Office."
In previous references to the investigation, Barr has maintained that neither former President Barack Obama nor former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive nominee for the Democratic nomination, are subjects of the investigation.
Nonetheless, the attorney general, in a Thursday interview with Fox News, said there would be "significant developments" before the November election in the review, headed by Durham, the chief federal prosecutor in Connecticut.
Barr appointed Durham more than a year ago after claiming federal authorities "spied" on the Trump campaign during the Russia investigation.
More: Attorney general says he will review government 'spying' on Trump campaign; 'I am concerned'
The attorney general, harshly critical of Mueller's work, has asserted that the special counsel promoted an "utterly false" theory that the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government.
"What happened to the president in the 2016 election and throughout the first two years of his presidency was abhorrent. It was a grave injustice and it was unprecedented in American history," Barr said in May. "The Durham investigation is trying to get to the bottom of what happened. And it will determine whether there are federal laws broken. Those who broke the laws will be held to account."


usatoday--2020-08-14--Disney debuts matching pixie dust masks for theme park employees

Disney Parks debuted new pixie dust face coverings Friday for the company 's cast members to promote an `` unified '' front against COVID-19 at domestic theme parks .
`` The unified design speaks to the fact that we are still one unified Cast , one Disney 'world , ' '' said Yonit Olshan , a costume designer for Disneyland Resort Costuming .
The `` breathable face covering , '' which was created by fellow cast members , features a combination of Mickey Mouse-shaped constellations and pixie dust , according to the Disney Parks blog .
The blog touts the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but `` functional and comfortable . ''
“ Over the past several months , we ’ ve spent significant time and brainpower to provide our cast members with face coverings… and I ’ m proud of the incredible results , '' said Dr. Pamela Hymel , Disney Parks chief medical officer .
`` They fit well , feel great and can last for more than 50 washes . ''
The pixie dust masks , which are only available for employees ( sorry Disney fans ) , come in pleated and contoured styles and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face masks comes days after it was announced that Florida will provide coronavirus testing for Disney World cast members following a nearly two-month dispute with a union that represents stage actors at the park .
More : Disney World to cut theme park hours in September as visits drop Since Disney World reopened on July 11 , visitors have been required to wear a face mask at all times , except while eating or swimming .
In addition to face masks , Disney World requires visitors to undergo a temperature check on arrival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Disney California Adventure remain closed on the West Coast .

Disney debuts matching pixie dust masks for theme park employees
Show Caption Hide Caption Walt Disney World reopens to the public after coronavirus closure Walt Disney World has reopened to the public but with many new precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. USA TODAY, Wochit
Bring on the pixie dust.
Disney Parks debuted new pixie dust face coverings Friday for the company's cast members to promote an "unified" front against COVID-19 at domestic theme parks.
"The unified design speaks to the fact that we are still one unified Cast, one Disney 'world,'" said Yonit Olshan, a costume designer for Disneyland Resort Costuming.
The "breathable face covering," which was created by fellow cast members, features a combination of Mickey Mouse-shaped constellations and pixie dust, according to the Disney Parks blog.
The blog touts the design as not only magically stylish, but "functional and comfortable."
“Over the past several months, we’ve spent significant time and brainpower to provide our cast members with face coverings… and I’m proud of the incredible results," said Dr. Pamela Hymel, Disney Parks chief medical officer. "They fit well, feel great and can last for more than 50 washes."
More: Disney World tightens face mask requirements, closing loopholes
The pixie dust masks, which are only available for employees (sorry Disney fans), come in pleated and contoured styles and multiple sizes.
The news of uniformed face masks comes days after it was announced that Florida will provide coronavirus testing for Disney World cast members following a nearly two-month dispute with a union that represents stage actors at the park.
Disney World employees gain access to COVID-19 testing site actors' union requested
More: Disney World to cut theme park hours in September as visits drop
Since Disney World reopened on July 11, visitors have been required to wear a face mask at all times, except while eating or swimming. In addition to face masks, Disney World requires visitors to undergo a temperature check on arrival and observe social distancing guidance.
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure remain closed on the West Coast.
Contributing: Curtis Tate