usatoday--2020-09-28--Not old enough to vote, but old enough to help: How teens are helping to avert an election crisis

WASHINGTON — Like thousands of other teenagers , Abhinand Keshamouni 's introduction to working the polls came from watching `` The Daily Show . ''
Host Trevor Noah ends each episode with a pitch for Power the Polls , a national recruitment network working to ensure there are enough poll workers on Election Day .
The message resonated with Keshamouni , a 17-year-old senior from Canton , Michigan , a suburb of Detroit .
He signed up first for the Michigan state primary in August .
And he will be back at a polling site Nov. 3 , when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high school that 's conducting classes online .
Keshamouni will be among more 1 million poll workers braving a pandemic to ensure people can vote – and he got four of his buddies to do the same .
`` I thought it was a really good way to help our democracy , especially because I ca n't vote right now , '' Keshamouni said , adding that he also got a little pressure from his parents , Indian immigrants who will be voting in their first presidential election .
`` My entire family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were like , 'Go work the polls ! '
`` Facing a drastic shortage of poll workers in November because of the coronavirus pandemic , an army of voting rights groups and other organizations this summer waged the most robust poll-worker recruitment campaign in modern election history .
It has included high-profile allies , from Noah to NBA star LeBron James , whose recently formed More Than a Vote organization has worked to increase poll workers in predominantly Black districts .
Companies like Old Navy , Warby Parker and Target are paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work the polls .
Are you registered to vote ?
: Check your status or register online now Senior citizens historically make up the bulk of the workforce at polling sites but thousands opted out this year because they 're the most vulnerable to coronavirus .
For months , voting rights advocates feared cities might not have the manpower to keep all in-person polling sites open – particularly in battleground states like Pennsylvania , Wisconsin and Michigan that could decide the presidential election .
But now election officials in cities such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Houston are n't just confident they will be able to keep an expanded number of polling sites open .
Fueled in part by a willingness of people in their 20s and 30s to step up , some cities said they have thousands more applications than they need .
`` We have way more than we can even use right now , '' said Richard Barron , Fulton County director of registration and elections in Atlanta , which has added 91 new polling locations since the state 's June primary .
Fulton County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positions .
`` We 're in very good shape .
A lot of people saw what happened in June and they decided they needed to get involved . ''
Barron said that includes many poll workers in their late teens and early 20s , pointing to one early voting site during the state 's August 's primary runoff that was staffed by six people under 25 years old .
`` We 've never had that before , '' he said .
In some states , poll workers can be as young as 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young recruits return for future elections , making it their new civic tradition and creating a “ new generation of poll workers.
” Prompting much of the activism : the scenes of hours-long lines of voters during state primaries early on in the pandemic .
Among the longest lines were in Milwaukee , where only five of 180 polling locations opened for Wisconsin ’ s April primary , and Atlanta , where voters – some who did not receive absentee ballots in the mail – packed the limited number of polling sites open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were really the poster-child across the country for what it looks like not to have enough poll workers , '' said Claire Woodall-Vogg , executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission .
`` The only good thing to come out of that is that our voters really had a visual of what a poll-worker shortage looks like .
Ever since April 7 , we 've had hundreds and hundreds of people applying to be an election worker . ''
Although an unprecedented number of Americans are expected to vote by mail in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all in-person voting sites to remain open to avoid voter suppression , particularly in communities of color that are often the most likely to see polling locations closed and consolidated .
To recruit younger poll workers , Milwaukee partnered with the local Service Employees International Union , which represents restaurant workers and others in the service industry who tend to be young .
The Metro Atlanta Chamber launched an initiative to recruit `` young , tech-savvy Georgians '' in the region while the state of Georgia teamed with the ACLU .
Drawing more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , home to the NBA 's Atlanta Hawks and the WNBA 's Atlanta Dream , is one of several arenas and NFL stadiums nationally that will be used as voting sites .
In Houston , the Harris County Clerk 's Office has a young clerks program in which more than 4,500 high school students in the Houston area will work polls in November .
Texas law allows two excused absences a year for election work .
The students are among the 25,000 poll-worker applications received this year in Houston – far more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positions .
The city anticipates having 808 voting sites this year , around 60 more than 2016 .
`` There 's still more work to do , but we are in really good shape , '' Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins said .
`` We 're going to have more election workers than ever before – as many as 11,000 – but so far there 's been an outpouring of enthusiasm of folks wanting to be election workers .
Certainly , there are many more young people and middle-aged folks who have applied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bump up pay during pandemic Hollins said fewer senior poll workers backed out in Houston than expected , which combined with the thousands of more applicants , led to the large surplus .
Election officials are optimistic in Detroit , where widespread problems from the state 's August primary led Michigan Secretary of State Joceyln Benson , a Democrat , to help oversee the November election .
Her office recruited 20,000 poll workers for the state , and with efforts ongoing , they believe there will be plenty to cover Detroit 's 6,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to count absentee ballots .
“ It ’ s looking very , very promising , '' Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey said .
In Philadelphia , another city that will closely watched in the race between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden , election officials said they 've filled 5,660 of the city 's 8,515 poll worker positions – far ahead of the typical pace after receiving `` thousands '' of applications .
The response has been so great they 've been unable to contact everyone who has inquired .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the millennials , trying to get them involved in the democratic process , '' said Nakea Hurdle , chief deputy for Philadelphia City Commissioner Omar Sabir , who is overseeing the recruitment efforts .
`` We 've seen an overwhelmingly large response . ''
Part of attracting more poll workers in some cities during a pandemic is increasing pay .
Houston is paying poll workers , including the 4,500 high school students , $ 17 an hour .
Milwaukee , thanks to a grant from the Center for Tech and Civic Life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stipend on top of its normal $ 130 daily pay .
Fulton County , Georgia has $ 150 in `` hazard pay '' on top of flat rates that range between $ 175 and $ 275 based on responsibilities .
Philadelphia pays at least $ 200 .
The Center for Tech and Civic Life received a $ 250 million donation from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg to provide grants to cities to support the staffing and training of poll workers .
The flood of applicants does n't mean the work is done – recruitment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – nor does it mean that Election Day will take place without problems , long lines or fewer in-person polling sites .
Some cities and states have already cut voting sites .
Maryland , for example , will have 80 % fewer polling locations in November , opting to instead adopt a limited number of `` voting centers , '' because of a sharp a decrease in people willing to be poll workers .
More : Maryland plans to open fewer polling places .
What does that mean for rural voters ?
Complicating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a higher-than-usual 20 % drop-off rate when it comes to showing up for work assignments because of the pandemic .
An analysis from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Democracy Works in August found more than 1.1 million poll workers are needed for the Nov. 3 election .
Typically , more than half are over the age of 60 years old .
Researchers projected a shortage of more than 465,000 poll workers .
Although that figure has been cut dramatically , a gap still remains .
Power the Polls , which formed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diverse poll workers , surpassed its goal of signing up 250,000 people and is now nearing 500,000 .
But not all applicants will find available positions , making it complicated to say how many poll workers are still needed nationally .
More than 100,000 people alone signed up during the first three days of September , coinciding with National Poll Worker Recruitment Day .
The nonprofit connects the applicants with local jurisdictions .
The goal is to create a `` bench ” of prospective poll workers who can fill in as needs arise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We 're really trying to emphasize young folks as sort of the next generation of poll workers , '' said Scott Duncombe , co-director of Power the Polls .
`` Not only are they less at risk for the disease , they 're a little more tech-savvy .
A lot of times , we 've seen election technology causing lines and issues .
Additionally , young folks tend to be a little more representative . ''
He called the threat of a shortage a real `` crisis '' – but “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solve together.
” Power the Poll ’ s partners include Alpha Phi Alpha , the country 's oldest historically African American fraternity that has recruited members to work polls .
The group has also tapped into the Million Mask Challenge to help provide protective equipment at polling sites .
`` It 's certainly been a huge challenge .
We 've never had to vote in a pandemic , ” Duncombe said .
“ What really makes me hopeful is that it seems that a lot of folks really are stepping up .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways the need to serve .
Young folks in particularly are stepping up and recognizing that you got ta do something . ''
A push for more data from states Nathaniel Persily , a law professor from Stanford University , helped launch the Healthy Elections Project with MIT in April to help local election officials ensure a smooth election during the pandemic .
The project is working with two groups , Campus Compact and the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition , to recruit college undergraduate and graduate students to work polls .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I was concerned about their ability to recruit poll workers , I think they ’ re in much better position now than they were then , ” he said , referring to cities like Philadelphia , Milwaukee and Detroit .
He said the “ baptism by fire ” from the primary elections sounded the alarm early enough .
But before the election , the Healthy Elections Project is urging states to adopt an online poll-worker dashboard like Ohio has that shows needs on a county-by-county basis .
Persily said one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers is not knowing where exactly help is needed .
“ Naturally the poll-worker recruitment efforts are focusing on the battleground states and the biggest cities within them , but we don ’ t really know who ’ s doing well and who ’ s not . ''
Despite the strong recruitment , voting-rights advocates said they are continuing to monitor communities with large Black and Latino populations , which have historically experienced a disproportionate share of poll closures .
A 2019 report from the Leadership Conference Education Fund found 868 polling place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously identified as Section 5 jurisdictions under the Voting Rights Act .
Dig deeper on race and identity : Subscribe to This Is America , USA TODAY 's newsletter “ The closing of polling places has been a problem long before COVID , ” said Vanita Gupta , president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights , “ and now COVID and the impact on poll workers have made that an even dire situation .
`` What 's interesting right now is that there 's so much energy right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our democracy at a time when it is getting battered by the president and the administration , ” she said .
“ I think there are a lot of folks who want to be ‘ democracy workers.
’ ” Megan Lewis , co-founder and executive director of the Voting Rights Lab , which is working to ensure voter accessibility , noted that African Americans vote by mail at lower rates than other voters .
She said that makes it more important to ensure in-person polling sites remain open in neighborhoods with large Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study after study , even in prior elections , that if you close polling places you will have a disproportionate impact on voters of color , ” Lewis said .
`` Vigilance is key , ” she said , but added she ’ s optimistic “ the combination of efforts ” will allow the November election to run smoother than the primaries .
That optimism is thanks to people like Valerie Ogamba , a 31-year-old sales worker , avid volunteer and budding law school student from Dublin , California , in the Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the status of mail-voting for herself , she saw an online link to volunteer as a poll worker .
She signed up to work four days of early voting in Alameda County .
It will be the first time she ’ s worked as a poll worker .
“ As an African American woman , I just really wanted to put an emphasis on my volunteering and making sure I was all hands-on deck , ” Ogamba said .
“ I ’ m really thrilled .
With how important this election , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the voting polls.
” Detroit Free Press staff writer Dave Boucher contributed to this report .
Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @ joeygarrison .

Not old enough to vote, but old enough to help: How teens are helping to avert an election crisis
Show Caption Hide Caption Why voter suppression in the US has increased since 2013 Civil rights experts point to long wait times to vote as a sign of growing voter suppression in the U.S. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Like thousands of other teenagers, Abhinand Keshamouni's introduction to working the polls came from watching "The Daily Show."
Host Trevor Noah ends each episode with a pitch for Power the Polls, a national recruitment network working to ensure there are enough poll workers on Election Day. The message resonated with Keshamouni, a 17-year-old senior from Canton, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.
He signed up first for the Michigan state primary in August. And he will be back at a polling site Nov. 3, when he will take off a day from his high school that's conducting classes online. Keshamouni will be among more 1 million poll workers braving a pandemic to ensure people can vote – and he got four of his buddies to do the same.
"I thought it was a really good way to help our democracy, especially because I can't vote right now," Keshamouni said, adding that he also got a little pressure from his parents, Indian immigrants who will be voting in their first presidential election. "My entire family can vote except for me, so they were like, 'Go work the polls!' "
Facing a drastic shortage of poll workers in November because of the coronavirus pandemic, an army of voting rights groups and other organizations this summer waged the most robust poll-worker recruitment campaign in modern election history. It has included high-profile allies, from Noah to NBA star LeBron James, whose recently formed More Than a Vote organization has worked to increase poll workers in predominantly Black districts. Companies like Old Navy, Warby Parker and Target are paying their employees who take a day off to work the polls.
Are you registered to vote?: Check your status or register online now
Senior citizens historically make up the bulk of the workforce at polling sites but thousands opted out this year because they're the most vulnerable to coronavirus. For months, voting rights advocates feared cities might not have the manpower to keep all in-person polling sites open – particularly in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan that could decide the presidential election.
But now election officials in cities such as Milwaukee, Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Houston aren't just confident they will be able to keep an expanded number of polling sites open. Fueled in part by a willingness of people in their 20s and 30s to step up, some cities said they have thousands more applications than they need.
"We have way more than we can even use right now," said Richard Barron, Fulton County director of registration and elections in Atlanta, which has added 91 new polling locations since the state's June primary. Fulton County has nearly 7,000 applications for 2,900 poll-worker positions. "We're in very good shape. A lot of people saw what happened in June and they decided they needed to get involved."
Long lines snarl voting in Georgia amid pandemic Voters face long lines and waits at polling places in Georgia as the state holds its delayed primary election amid a shortage of poll workers and social-distancing precautions. (June 9) AP
Barron said that includes many poll workers in their late teens and early 20s, pointing to one early voting site during the state's August's primary runoff that was staffed by six people under 25 years old.
"We've never had that before," he said.
Lessons from recent state primaries
In some states, poll workers can be as young as 16 years old. Election officials hope the young recruits return for future elections, making it their new civic tradition and creating a “new generation of poll workers.”
Prompting much of the activism: the scenes of hours-long lines of voters during state primaries early on in the pandemic. Among the longest lines were in Milwaukee, where only five of 180 polling locations opened for Wisconsin’s April primary, and Atlanta, where voters – some who did not receive absentee ballots in the mail – packed the limited number of polling sites open during its June primary.
"We were really the poster-child across the country for what it looks like not to have enough poll workers," said Claire Woodall-Vogg, executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission. "The only good thing to come out of that is that our voters really had a visual of what a poll-worker shortage looks like. Ever since April 7, we've had hundreds and hundreds of people applying to be an election worker."
Although an unprecedented number of Americans are expected to vote by mail in November, voting rights advocates have pushed for all in-person voting sites to remain open to avoid voter suppression, particularly in communities of color that are often the most likely to see polling locations closed and consolidated.
To recruit younger poll workers, Milwaukee partnered with the local Service Employees International Union, which represents restaurant workers and others in the service industry who tend to be young.
The Metro Atlanta Chamber launched an initiative to recruit "young, tech-savvy Georgians" in the region while the state of Georgia teamed with the ACLU. Drawing more attention, Atlanta's State Farm Arena, home to the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and the WNBA's Atlanta Dream, is one of several arenas and NFL stadiums nationally that will be used as voting sites.
In Houston, the Harris County Clerk's Office has a young clerks program in which more than 4,500 high school students in the Houston area will work polls in November. Texas law allows two excused absences a year for election work. The students are among the 25,000 poll-worker applications received this year in Houston – far more than is needed to fill a record 11,000 positions. The city anticipates having 808 voting sites this year, around 60 more than 2016.
"There's still more work to do, but we are in really good shape," Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins said. "We're going to have more election workers than ever before – as many as 11,000 – but so far there's been an outpouring of enthusiasm of folks wanting to be election workers. Certainly, there are many more young people and middle-aged folks who have applied than ever before."
Some cities bump up pay during pandemic
Hollins said fewer senior poll workers backed out in Houston than expected, which combined with the thousands of more applicants, led to the large surplus.
Election officials are optimistic in Detroit, where widespread problems from the state's August primary led Michigan Secretary of State Joceyln Benson, a Democrat, to help oversee the November election. Her office recruited 20,000 poll workers for the state, and with efforts ongoing, they believe there will be plenty to cover Detroit's 6,000 election workers – one-third of whom are needed to count absentee ballots.
Elections 2020: Mail-in voting could decide next president Many states are planning on drastically different elections this year and mail-in ballots could be a big game changer. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
“It’s looking very, very promising," Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey said.
In Philadelphia, another city that will closely watched in the race between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden, election officials said they've filled 5,660 of the city's 8,515 poll worker positions – far ahead of the typical pace after receiving "thousands" of applications. The response has been so great they've been unable to contact everyone who has inquired.
"Our poll-working endeavors have been largely focused on the millennials, trying to get them involved in the democratic process," said Nakea Hurdle, chief deputy for Philadelphia City Commissioner Omar Sabir, who is overseeing the recruitment efforts. "We've seen an overwhelmingly large response."
Part of attracting more poll workers in some cities during a pandemic is increasing pay. Houston is paying poll workers, including the 4,500 high school students, $17 an hour. Milwaukee, thanks to a grant from the Center for Tech and Civic Life, added an additional $100 daily stipend on top of its normal $130 daily pay. Fulton County, Georgia has $150 in "hazard pay" on top of flat rates that range between $175 and $275 based on responsibilities. Philadelphia pays at least $200.
The Center for Tech and Civic Life received a $250 million donation from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg to provide grants to cities to support the staffing and training of poll workers.
The flood of applicants doesn't mean the work is done – recruitment efforts will continue up to the election – nor does it mean that Election Day will take place without problems, long lines or fewer in-person polling sites.
Some cities and states have already cut voting sites. Maryland, for example, will have 80% fewer polling locations in November, opting to instead adopt a limited number of "voting centers," because of a sharp a decrease in people willing to be poll workers.
More: Maryland plans to open fewer polling places. What does that mean for rural voters?
Complicating the outlook, some cities have prepared for a higher-than-usual 20% drop-off rate when it comes to showing up for work assignments because of the pandemic.
An analysis from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Democracy Works in August found more than 1.1 million poll workers are needed for the Nov. 3 election. Typically, more than half are over the age of 60 years old. Researchers projected a shortage of more than 465,000 poll workers. Although that figure has been cut dramatically, a gap still remains.
A 'bench' of poll workers
Power the Polls, which formed in June to help recruit low-risk and diverse poll workers, surpassed its goal of signing up 250,000 people and is now nearing 500,000. But not all applicants will find available positions, making it complicated to say how many poll workers are still needed nationally.
More than 100,000 people alone signed up during the first three days of September, coinciding with National Poll Worker Recruitment Day. The nonprofit connects the applicants with local jurisdictions. The goal is to create a "bench” of prospective poll workers who can fill in as needs arise and avoid any voting sites shutting down.
"We're really trying to emphasize young folks as sort of the next generation of poll workers," said Scott Duncombe, co-director of Power the Polls. "Not only are they less at risk for the disease, they're a little more tech-savvy. A lot of times, we've seen election technology causing lines and issues. Additionally, young folks tend to be a little more representative."
He called the threat of a shortage a real "crisis" – but “not one that we can’t solve together.”
Power the Poll’s partners include Alpha Phi Alpha, the country's oldest historically African American fraternity that has recruited members to work polls. The group has also tapped into the Million Mask Challenge to help provide protective equipment at polling sites.
"It's certainly been a huge challenge. We've never had to vote in a pandemic,” Duncombe said. “What really makes me hopeful is that it seems that a lot of folks really are stepping up. It seems like people are recognizing in many ways the need to serve. Young folks in particularly are stepping up and recognizing that you gotta do something."
A push for more data from states
Nathaniel Persily, a law professor from Stanford University, helped launch the Healthy Elections Project with MIT in April to help local election officials ensure a smooth election during the pandemic. The project is working with two groups, Campus Compact and the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition, to recruit college undergraduate and graduate students to work polls.
“While at the beginning of the summer, I was concerned about their ability to recruit poll workers, I think they’re in much better position now than they were then,” he said, referring to cities like Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Detroit. He said the “baptism by fire” from the primary elections sounded the alarm early enough.
But before the election, the Healthy Elections Project is urging states to adopt an online poll-worker dashboard like Ohio has that shows needs on a county-by-county basis. Persily said one of the problems with national efforts to recruit poll workers is not knowing where exactly help is needed.
“Naturally the poll-worker recruitment efforts are focusing on the battleground states and the biggest cities within them, but we don’t really know who’s doing well and who’s not."
Despite the strong recruitment, voting-rights advocates said they are continuing to monitor communities with large Black and Latino populations, which have historically experienced a disproportionate share of poll closures. A 2019 report from the Leadership Conference Education Fund found 868 polling place closures from 2012 and 2018 in areas previously identified as Section 5 jurisdictions under the Voting Rights Act.
Dig deeper on race and identity: Subscribe to This Is America, USA TODAY's newsletter
“The closing of polling places has been a problem long before COVID,” said Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, “and now COVID and the impact on poll workers have made that an even dire situation.
"What's interesting right now is that there's so much energy right now to engage and show up for our democracy at a time when it is getting battered by the president and the administration,” she said. “I think there are a lot of folks who want to be ‘democracy workers.’”
'Vigilance is key'
Megan Lewis, co-founder and executive director of the Voting Rights Lab, which is working to ensure voter accessibility, noted that African Americans vote by mail at lower rates than other voters. She said that makes it more important to ensure in-person polling sites remain open in neighborhoods with large Black populations.
“We've seen in study after study, even in prior elections, that if you close polling places you will have a disproportionate impact on voters of color,” Lewis said.
"Vigilance is key,” she said, but added she’s optimistic “the combination of efforts” will allow the November election to run smoother than the primaries.
That optimism is thanks to people like Valerie Ogamba, a 31-year-old sales worker, avid volunteer and budding law school student from Dublin, California, in the Bay Area.
As Ogamba was checking on the status of mail-voting for herself, she saw an online link to volunteer as a poll worker. She signed up to work four days of early voting in Alameda County. It will be the first time she’s worked as a poll worker.
“As an African American woman, I just really wanted to put an emphasis on my volunteering and making sure I was all hands-on deck,” Ogamba said. “I’m really thrilled. With how important this election, I just can’t wait to be at the voting polls.”
Detroit Free Press staff writer Dave Boucher contributed to this report. Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.


usatoday--2020-09-28--Coronavirus stimulus plans: What we know about the negotiations between Congress and the Trump White

WASHINGTON — Negotiations over another stimulus package are deadlocked a month and a half before the November elections and as millions of Americans are left waiting for another round of aid .
Democrats and Republicans have been unable to come together on a deal to deliver COVID-19 relief weeks after unemployment benefits and eviction protections lapsed for many Americans .
Here 's what we know about the state of stimulus negotiations in Congress : How much time does Congress have ?
The House and Senate only have a few weeks left in their scheduled session before they leave ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled to stay in session until Oct. 2 , and the Senate will stay until Oct. 9 .
After they leave , the two chambers are not scheduled to return until after Election Day .
The House is set to come back on Nov. 16 , and the Senate on Nov. 9 .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , said Tuesday the House would stay in session until a deal was reached .
`` We are committed to staying here until we have an agreement , an agreement that meets the needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on CNBC Tuesday .
'Insulin or groceries ' : How reduced unemployment affects struggling Americans from California to Mississippi More : Pelosi says House will stay in session until coronavirus stimulus deal is reached , moderate lawmakers push for compromise What proposals are out there ?
Several recent stimulus proposals have emerged , though only one has passed the House or Senate .
House Democrats passed their more than $ 3 trillion plan , the HEROES Act , in May .
It included billions for cash-strapped local and state governments and another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate refused to take it up , and President Donald Trump said it was “ dead on arrival.
” Senate Republicans have offered two proposals .
The first one , the $ 1 trillion HEALS Act , offered a $ 200 boost to unemployment insurance , compared with $ 600 in the Democratic plan , and no money for state and local governments .
The HEALS Act never came up for a vote amid criticism from Senate Republicans who called it misguided and expensive .
The second , a $ 300 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a full Senate vote by Senate Democrats earlier this month .
On Tuesday , the Problem Solvers Caucus , a bipartisan group of House lawmakers , many of whom face tough reelection battles in the fall , unveiled their own $ 1.5 trillion plan for a relief bill .
Democratic leadership has signaled the bill would not come up for a vote , but the White House said it could help provide a basis for future negotiations .
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows , who has been one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bill `` provides a foundation '' for a potential deal .
He said the legislation and Pelosi 's promise to keep the House in session until a deal was brokered left him `` encouraged '' that a deal could come to fruition .
More : $ 1,200 checks ?
Money for schools ?
Breaking down what Republicans and Democrats want in the coronavirus stimulus plan The HEALS Act , the HEROES Act , and the Problem Solvers ’ plan all include $ 1,200 stimulus checks for adults .
The HEROES Act offers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Problem Solvers ’ plan and the HEALS Act include a benefit of $ 500 per child .
The smaller $ 300 billion Senate Republican plan did not include stimulus checks .
Why can ’ t they come to an agreement ?
The two sides are deadlocked over issues like unemployment insurance for out-of-work Americans , funding for cash-strapped state and local governments , and liability protections for companies .
Senate Republicans have voiced concerns about increased deficit spending and have said they do not want to bail out Democratic states and cities with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused to budge on the amounts they 've allocated for state and local funding .
Both sides also differ over the amount of money to give in enhanced unemployment benefits .
The stimulus package passed by the House and Senate in March gave a $ 600 weekly boost to state unemployment benefits .
That benefit ran out at the end of July .
Since then , Democrats have supported renewing that benefit at $ 600 per week , while Republicans have offered $ 300 and $ 200 in their proposals .
The Problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the middle — $ 450 .
Meadows said Wednesday on CNBC he hoped for a price tag in the $ 250 to $ 300 billion range for state and local funding , down from the nearly $ 1 trillion Democrats have been pushing for .
Democrats have offered to cut $ 1 trillion from their package to bring it down to a $ 2.2 trillion price tag , an offer Republicans have so far not accepted .
“ We have come down , but the needs of the American people…can only go so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MSNBC .
She said a package needed to address other issues that had come up since Democrats passed their plan like relief for airlines and restaurants .
The prolonged talks on the latest package have been largely between top Democrats : Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , and White House negotiators : Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Meadows .
What about the relief that already passed ?
COVID-19 led to Congress passing the largest ever emergency aid package , known as the CARES Act .
The more than $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many Americans , bolstered unemployment benefits and forgivable loans to small businesses .
Many of the most popular programs that were created by Congress have expired , including a $ 600 weekly boost to unemployment , a federal moratorium on evictions and a small business loan program .
The impasse led Trump to sign a series of executive orders in August that added a $ 400 weekly unemployment boost , suspended some student loan payments , protected some renters from eviction , and deferred payroll taxes .
CDC report : Majority of kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black or Native American , CDC finds When was the last time Congress passed COVID-19 relief ?
Congress passed a handful of COVID-19 stimulus bills that were signed into law in March and early April .
The aid totaled more than $ 3 trillion .
But since then , there has n't been another deal for new coronavirus stimulus spending , despite each side saying Americans need more relief .
The latest bill that received bipartisan support was passed in July and did not include more funds , but rather an extension that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apply for federal loans under the Paycheck Protection Program .
What does the election have to do with this ?
Lawmakers face an artificial deadline to wrap up a deal by the time they head out to campaign before the election .
Rep. John Yarmuth , D-Ky. , the chair of the House Budget Committee , told USA TODAY recently , “ It 's not good government to leave without doing anything ” if both sides fail to reach a deal .
“ I think we ought to signal that we are willing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to compromise , ” he said .
Groups of moderate lawmakers in both parties like those in the Problem Solvers Caucus , many of whom face tough re-election races this fall , have tried to push their parties ’ leadership to get back to the bargaining table .
More : House returns Monday for busy session with pandemic , shutdown , marijuana on agenda What have leaders said about the path forward ?
Pelosi has repeatedly said a broad package was the only way to meet the needs of Americans weathering this crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even some moderate Democrats that a smaller package might stand a better chance of passing and offer immediate relief .
“ It ’ s hard to see how we can go any lower when you only have a greater need , '' Pelosi said at a Thursday news conference , adding that while there are differing factions within the Democratic caucus on how best to proceed , `` the fact is , we want to have an agreement and we will stay until we have an agreement . ''
Senate Majority Leader Mitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Democrats Wednesday in a speech on the Senate floor , saying Pelosi was too concerned with her “ personal ego ” to compromise and claimed Democrats were “ intent that working families can not receive any more relief until Election Day.
” Meanwhile , the president appeared to be lobbying against the position of congressional Republicans , saying he wanted a broad package that included stimulus checks – something that was not included in the last GOP bill .
`` Go for the much higher numbers , Republicans , it all comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump wrote on Twitter .
The president reiterated that stance at a White House news conference Wednesday evening , applauding the bipartisan bill posed by the Problem Solvers caucus as a starting point for negotiations and explaining that despite GOP opposition to a larger bill , he could `` convince '' them to get on board .
Following Trump 's tweet , Pelosi and Schumer said in a statement they were `` encouraged '' by Trump pushing Republicans to increase the price tag of the bill and looked forward to negotiating further .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal ?
As several relief programs expired at the end of July , the number of COVID-19 cases have skyrocketed across the nation – reaching the highest levels of new reported cases since the start of the pandemic .
The lapse of programs and Congress ’ inability to pass new legislation has left the nearly 900,000 still unemployed , as of last week , without a weekly $ 600 boost in unemployment benefits .
Businesses continue to struggle and state and local governments have seen their budgets gutted and workers furloughed .
Experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave of the virus and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield testified before a Senate committee Wednesday that a vaccine could be available in the late second or third quarter of 2021 .

Nicholas Wu and Christal Hayes, USA TODAY

Coronavirus stimulus plans: What we know about the negotiations between Congress and the Trump White House
Show Caption Hide Caption Federal Reserve: How creating money could save US economy Where does the U.S. stimulus money come from? Here's how the Federal Reserve is saving the economy from the COVID-19 crisis. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Negotiations over another stimulus package are deadlocked a month and a half before the November elections and as millions of Americans are left waiting for another round of aid.
Democrats and Republicans have been unable to come together on a deal to deliver COVID-19 relief weeks after unemployment benefits and eviction protections lapsed for many Americans.
Here's what we know about the state of stimulus negotiations in Congress:
How much time does Congress have?
The House and Senate only have a few weeks left in their scheduled session before they leave ahead of the November elections. The House is scheduled to stay in session until Oct. 2, and the Senate will stay until Oct. 9. After they leave, the two chambers are not scheduled to return until after Election Day. The House is set to come back on Nov. 16, and the Senate on Nov. 9.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Tuesday the House would stay in session until a deal was reached.
"We are committed to staying here until we have an agreement, an agreement that meets the needs of the American people,” Pelosi said on CNBC Tuesday.
'Insulin or groceries': How reduced unemployment affects struggling Americans from California to Mississippi
More: Pelosi says House will stay in session until coronavirus stimulus deal is reached, moderate lawmakers push for compromise
What proposals are out there?
Several recent stimulus proposals have emerged, though only one has passed the House or Senate.
House Democrats passed their more than $3 trillion plan, the HEROES Act, in May. It included billions for cash-strapped local and state governments and another round of stimulus checks. Republicans in the Senate refused to take it up, and President Donald Trump said it was “dead on arrival.”
Senate Republicans have offered two proposals. The first one, the $1 trillion HEALS Act, offered a $200 boost to unemployment insurance, compared with $600 in the Democratic plan, and no money for state and local governments. The HEALS Act never came up for a vote amid criticism from Senate Republicans who called it misguided and expensive. The second, a $300 billion plan, was blocked from coming up for a full Senate vote by Senate Democrats earlier this month.
On Tuesday, the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers, many of whom face tough reelection battles in the fall, unveiled their own $1.5 trillion plan for a relief bill. Democratic leadership has signaled the bill would not come up for a vote, but the White House said it could help provide a basis for future negotiations. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who has been one of the lead White House negotiators, said Wednesday the bill "provides a foundation" for a potential deal. He said the legislation and Pelosi's promise to keep the House in session until a deal was brokered left him "encouraged" that a deal could come to fruition.
More: $1,200 checks? Money for schools? Breaking down what Republicans and Democrats want in the coronavirus stimulus plan
Do these plans include stimulus checks?
The HEALS Act, the HEROES Act, and the Problem Solvers’ plan all include $1,200 stimulus checks for adults. The HEROES Act offers $1,200 per child, whereas the Problem Solvers’ plan and the HEALS Act include a benefit of $500 per child.
The smaller $300 billion Senate Republican plan did not include stimulus checks.
Why can’t they come to an agreement?
The two sides are deadlocked over issues like unemployment insurance for out-of-work Americans, funding for cash-strapped state and local governments, and liability protections for companies.
Senate Republicans have voiced concerns about increased deficit spending and have said they do not want to bail out Democratic states and cities with an infusion of aid. Democrats have refused to budge on the amounts they've allocated for state and local funding.
Both sides also differ over the amount of money to give in enhanced unemployment benefits. The stimulus package passed by the House and Senate in March gave a $600 weekly boost to state unemployment benefits. That benefit ran out at the end of July. Since then, Democrats have supported renewing that benefit at $600 per week, while Republicans have offered $300 and $200 in their proposals. The Problem Solvers' plan offered an amount in the middle — $450.
Meadows said Wednesday on CNBC he hoped for a price tag in the $250 to $300 billion range for state and local funding, down from the nearly $1 trillion Democrats have been pushing for.
Democrats are “heartless”. They don’t want to give STIMULUS PAYMENTS to people who desperately need the money, and whose fault it was NOT that the plague came in from China. Go for the much higher numbers, Republicans, it all comes back to the USA anyway (one way or another!). — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 16, 2020
Democrats have offered to cut $1 trillion from their package to bring it down to a $2.2 trillion price tag, an offer Republicans have so far not accepted.
“We have come down, but the needs of the American people…can only go so far,” Pelosi said Wednesday on MSNBC. She said a package needed to address other issues that had come up since Democrats passed their plan like relief for airlines and restaurants.
Who is negotiating?
The prolonged talks on the latest package have been largely between top Democrats: Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and White House negotiators: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Meadows.
What about the relief that already passed?
COVID-19 led to Congress passing the largest ever emergency aid package, known as the CARES Act. The more than $2 trillion bill included stimulus payments to many Americans, bolstered unemployment benefits and forgivable loans to small businesses. Many of the most popular programs that were created by Congress have expired, including a $600 weekly boost to unemployment, a federal moratorium on evictions and a small business loan program.
The impasse led Trump to sign a series of executive orders in August that added a $400 weekly unemployment boost, suspended some student loan payments, protected some renters from eviction, and deferred payroll taxes.
CDC report: Majority of kids who die of coronavirus are Hispanic, Black or Native American, CDC finds
When was the last time Congress passed COVID-19 relief?
Congress passed a handful of COVID-19 stimulus bills that were signed into law in March and early April. The aid totaled more than $3 trillion.
But since then, there hasn't been another deal for new coronavirus stimulus spending, despite each side saying Americans need more relief.
The latest bill that received bipartisan support was passed in July and did not include more funds, but rather an extension that offered small businesses several more weeks to apply for federal loans under the Paycheck Protection Program.
What does the election have to do with this?
Lawmakers face an artificial deadline to wrap up a deal by the time they head out to campaign before the election. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., the chair of the House Budget Committee, told USA TODAY recently, “It's not good government to leave without doing anything” if both sides fail to reach a deal.
“I think we ought to signal that we are willing to do something and we are willing to compromise,” he said.
Groups of moderate lawmakers in both parties like those in the Problem Solvers Caucus, many of whom face tough re-election races this fall, have tried to push their parties’ leadership to get back to the bargaining table.
More: House returns Monday for busy session with pandemic, shutdown, marijuana on agenda
What have leaders said about the path forward?
Pelosi has repeatedly said a broad package was the only way to meet the needs of Americans weathering this crisis, casting aside concerns from Republicans and even some moderate Democrats that a smaller package might stand a better chance of passing and offer immediate relief.
“It’s hard to see how we can go any lower when you only have a greater need," Pelosi said at a Thursday news conference, adding that while there are differing factions within the Democratic caucus on how best to proceed, "the fact is, we want to have an agreement and we will stay until we have an agreement."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., again cast blame on Democrats Wednesday in a speech on the Senate floor, saying Pelosi was too concerned with her “personal ego” to compromise and claimed Democrats were “intent that working families cannot receive any more relief until Election Day.”
Meanwhile, the president appeared to be lobbying against the position of congressional Republicans, saying he wanted a broad package that included stimulus checks – something that was not included in the last GOP bill.
"Go for the much higher numbers, Republicans, it all comes back to the USA anyway,” Trump wrote on Twitter. The president reiterated that stance at a White House news conference Wednesday evening, applauding the bipartisan bill posed by the Problem Solvers caucus as a starting point for negotiations and explaining that despite GOP opposition to a larger bill, he could "convince" them to get on board.
Following Trump's tweet, Pelosi and Schumer said in a statement they were "encouraged" by Trump pushing Republicans to increase the price tag of the bill and looked forward to negotiating further.
Why is this impasse such a big deal?
As several relief programs expired at the end of July, the number of COVID-19 cases have skyrocketed across the nation – reaching the highest levels of new reported cases since the start of the pandemic. The lapse of programs and Congress’ inability to pass new legislation has left the nearly 900,000 still unemployed, as of last week, without a weekly $600 boost in unemployment benefits. Businesses continue to struggle and state and local governments have seen their budgets gutted and workers furloughed.
Experts have long warned about a potential second wave of the virus and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield testified before a Senate committee Wednesday that a vaccine could be available in the late second or third quarter of 2021.


usatoday--2020-09-28--Pelosi urges Democrats to win more House seats in the event of Electoral College dispute in presiden

WASHINGTON – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has urged Democrats to win more House seats if a scenario unfolds in which the House of Representatives would vote to determine the outcome of the presidential election in November .
In a letter to Democrats on Sunday , Pelosi outlined an option in which neither President Donald Trump nor former Vice President Joe Biden win a majority of votes in the Electoral College , meaning the House of Representatives would have to decide the election by a vote .
Pelosi referenced remarks from Trump , who said in mid-September that `` at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) goes to Congress . ''
Under the 12th Amendment , the vote in the House would take part in two stages .
First , members of Congress would vote among their state delegations for president , the winner of each state determined by a simple majority of the state 's congressional members .
Then the votes of all 50 state delegations in Congress would be tallied to determine the final election outcome .
The candidate who wins the most states would win the election .
The House last voted to determine the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a majority of state delegations voted to award the presidency to John Quincy Adams , despite Andrew Jackson 's victory in the popular vote .
Pelosi said the upcoming elections could be the deciding factor if such a scenario were to happen , telling Democrats , `` How many state delegations the Democrats win in this upcoming election could determine who our next President is . ''
Democrats are favored to keep control of the House in November , though Republicans hold a majority of state delegations .
Republicans control 26 state delegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegations – Pennsylvania and Michigan – are tied .
Trump income taxes : Top seven revelations from the New York Times report on Trump 's income taxes '' We must achieve that majority of delegations or keep the Republicans from doing so , '' Pelosi said .

Pelosi urges Democrats to win more House seats in the event of Electoral College dispute in presidential election
Show Caption Hide Caption Pelosi: Trump 'honor your oath' in power transfer Congressional leaders from both parties, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, swiftly pushed back Thursday after President Donald Trump declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. (Sept. 24) AP
WASHINGTON – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has urged Democrats to win more House seats if a scenario unfolds in which the House of Representatives would vote to determine the outcome of the presidential election in November.
In a letter to Democrats on Sunday, Pelosi outlined an option in which neither President Donald Trump nor former Vice President Joe Biden win a majority of votes in the Electoral College, meaning the House of Representatives would have to decide the election by a vote. Pelosi referenced remarks from Trump, who said in mid-September that "at a certain point, it (the election) goes to Congress."
Under the 12th Amendment, the vote in the House would take part in two stages. First, members of Congress would vote among their state delegations for president, the winner of each state determined by a simple majority of the state's congressional members. Then the votes of all 50 state delegations in Congress would be tallied to determine the final election outcome. The candidate who wins the most states would win the election.
The House last voted to determine the president in the 1824 election, when a majority of state delegations voted to award the presidency to John Quincy Adams, despite Andrew Jackson's victory in the popular vote.
Election 2020 Facts: What is the Electoral College?
Pelosi said the upcoming elections could be the deciding factor if such a scenario were to happen, telling Democrats, "How many state delegations the Democrats win in this upcoming election could determine who our next President is."
Democrats are favored to keep control of the House in November, though Republicans hold a majority of state delegations. Republicans control 26 state delegations, Democrats control 22, and two delegations – Pennsylvania and Michigan – are tied.
2020 election live updates: New York Times releases details of Trump's income taxes; first presidential debate Tuesday
Trump income taxes: Top seven revelations from the New York Times report on Trump's income taxes
"We must achieve that majority of delegations or keep the Republicans from doing so," Pelosi said.
Contributing: Christal Hayes


usatoday--2020-09-29--Coronavirus updates: 1M deaths worldwide; 1,000 gather for party near Florida State after DeSantis e

Coronavirus updates: 1M deaths worldwide; 1,000 gather for party near Florida State after DeSantis ends restrictions

Less than nine months after a 61-year-old man died of a mysterious disease in sprawling Wuhan , China , the global death toll has surpassed 1 million .
The New York Times , in reporting the death back in January , noted that the virus had `` put the region on alert , but there is no evidence that it can spread among humans . ''
In the U.S. , the politics of pandemic continues an unrelenting churn .
House Democrats unveiled a doomed , $ 2.2 trillion coronavirus relief aid package .
Republicans , who control the Senate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cheaper – bill .
Crowds of partiers gathered once again in Tallahassee , home of Florida State University , this weekend .
Gov .
Ron DeSantis has dropped the state 's COVID-19 restrictions and even has encouraged college kids to party .
No further urging needed .
• The Navajo Nation reported 22 new coronavirus cases on Monday and no additional deaths .
• With Thanksgiving less than two months away , the CDC recommends having small holiday dinner gatherings .
For people who usually travel to visit family , the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ India has become the second country to report 6 million confirmed cases .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has reported more than 7 million cases and 205,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
New case records were set in Kentucky , Montana , Nebraska , South Dakota , Utah , Wisconsin and Wyoming , according to a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data .
Record numbers of deaths were reported in Alaska and North Dakota .
Globally , there have been more than 33 million cases and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're reading : There was fear in August when Florida made the controversial decision to reopen schools with in-person instruction .
Many teachers and families braced for a spike in COVID-19 cases .
That has n't happened , according to a USA TODAY analysis .
🗺 Mapping coronavirus : Track the U.S. outbreak , state by state .
This file will be updated throughout the day .
For updates in your inbox , subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter .
Purdue University gave 14 students , including 13 student-athletes , until Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rooms after being suspended , accused of having a party that violated the university ’ s coronavirus-era Protect Purdue Pledge .
Dean of Students Katie Sermersheim did not name the students , where they lived or which sports the student-athletes play .
Purdue athletics issued a statement saying the 13 are `` out-of-season student-athletes . ''
The university also did not say whether the students were among the 801 who had tested positive for COVID-19 on campus since Aug. 1 .
`` We will deal with any such violation with firmness , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The fact that this episode involved student-athletes can make no difference .
At Purdue , we have one set of rules for everyone.
” A lot of Florida State University students apparently are all-in on Gov .
Ron DeSantis ' decision Friday to drop virtually all coronavirus restrictions across the state .
Tallahassee police say they spent much of the weekend responding to more than a dozen calls concerning large crowds , some at or near campus .
`` The crowds ranged in size , including one with approximately 700 vehicles and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apartment complex , police said in a statement .
`` Most of the travel lanes were blocked throughout the complex .
Thanks to efforts from TPD ’ s Patrol Bureau and the Leon County Sheriff ’ s Office helicopter , officers were able to safely disperse the crowd . ''
The school issued a warning last week that students hosting or attending a large gathering on or off campus faced suspension .
DeSantis responded , saying students should be allowed to socialize unimpeded by `` draconian '' threats of suspension or expulsion from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Direct Investment Fund , a privately held equity firm , has teamed with a leading pharmaceutical distributor in Nepal , Trinity Pharmaceuticals , to supply the mountain nation with 25 million doses of Russia 's Sputnik V vaccine .
The agreement will enable 90 % of population of Nepal to get access to the vaccine , the companies said .
The vaccine has drawn controversy around the world because it was put in use without Phase 3 trials used to test vaccines on thousands of people .
Details on when the vaccine would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kishor Adhikari , director of Trinity Pharmaceuticals , said his company was `` waiting for results of the final trial of Sputnik V. As soon as the vaccine is approved by Government of Nepal we will make it available for the population of Nepal . ''
House Democrats unveiled a $ 2.2 trillion COVID-19 relief bill in a longshot push to break the impasse on relief negotiations before the election , though the bill is likely to face opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate if it passes the House .
The bill trims $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan , decried as too costly by the GOP .
Many of the benefits previously approved by Congress ran out earlier this year , leaving millions of Americans waiting for urgently needed aid .
The $ 600 federal benefit to unemployment benefits ran out , a loan forgiveness program for small businesses expired , and airlines warned of mass layoffs as support for the industry expired .
The House could act on the bill as soon as this week .
The Senate is unlikely to act on the legislation , it represents a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than Democrats ' previous proposal .
1 million people worldwide have died in less than a year from COVID-19 In nine months since the first cases were reported in central China , more than 1 million people have died worldwide from COVID-19 .
The news comes as countries around the globe are at very different stages in managing the outbreaks : Some European nations are tightening some restrictions over fears of a second wave .
Cases in the U.S. are ticking back up after a summer spike that was followed by renewed restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases have skyrocketed in recent weeks and it may soon become the country with the most infections .
New Zealand appears to have weathered a second cluster of cases .
And South Korea is seeing its lowest case tally since it reinstituted some lockdown measures during a virus resurgence .
Meanwhile , researchers around the globe continue to make progress on clinical trials for vaccine candidates , but mass vaccinations may not come until at least mid-2021 , a World Health Organization official said Sunday .
Navajo Nation reports 22 new COVID-19 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials on Monday reported 22 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 , bringing the total tally to 10,312 .
The death toll remains at 555 as no additional deaths were reported .
The latest numbers come after the Navajo Nation has ordered residents to stay home from Friday evening until early Monday morning as officials examine new clusters of cases from family gatherings and off-reservation travel .
About 105,400 people have been tested on reservations in Arizona , New Mexico and Utah , officials said .
More than 7,200 have recovered from the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for weekend stays in October Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas will soon reopen for weekend stays .
Caesars Entertainment announced Friday the resort-casino will welcome back guests at 10 a.m. on Oct. 8 .
While the casino floor will be open seven days a week , the hotel will only book stays Thursday through Sunday .
The reopening will also debut the resort ’ s new William Hill Race & Sports Book , the company announced .
Nevada 's casinos reopened June 4 under new restrictions , including reduced occupancy , more space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting and convention spaces .
The return of Planet Hollywood to The Strip follows the reopening of Caesars Palace , Flamingo , Harrah ’ s , Paris and other hotels .
Meanwhile , the number of COVID-19 cases continues to climb in Nevada .
WHO plans to distribute 120M rapid tests to less-wealthy countries The World Health Organization intends to distribute 120 million rapid diagnostic tests for the coronavirus to lower- and middle-income nations , according to a plan that still lacks full funding .
The WHO , which approved the tests on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it agreed to the program with its partners Monday .
The antigen-based test costs $ 5 apiece , and the $ 600 million program – which may start as early as October – is expected to provide better access in areas where it ’ s harder to get the more-accurate PCR tests that are commonly used in many wealthier nations .
The WHO tests may yield results in 15-30 minutes .
• In your inbox : Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watch newsletter .
• On Facebook : A lot is still 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 .
• Tips for coping : Every Saturday and Tuesday we 'll be in your inbox , offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times .
Sign up for Staying Apart , Together .

Jessica Flores and John Bacon, USA TODAY

Coronavirus updates: Illinois Gov. Pritzker enters isolation; Disney parks to lay off 28,000 workers
Show Caption Hide Caption 4 tips to convince kids to wear masks during COVID-19 Here are 4 tips on how to get your kids to wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic. ProblemSolved, USA TODAY
New York City public schools opened their doors to 300,000 K-8 students Tuesday despite an uptick in positive testing the mayor acknowledged was a "real concern."
"It should cause us all to be on alert," Mayor Bill de Blasio said of a one-day positive test rate of 3.25%. "We are going to fight this outbreak back and are going to move New York City forward."
Florida is also loosening restrictions, and students at Florida State University. celebrated. Tallahassee police said they had to break up more than a dozen unruly gatherings over the weekend after Gov. Ron DeSantis dropped the state's COVID-19 restrictions and even encouraged college kids to party. No further urging needed.
The politics of pandemic continued an unrelenting churn in the nation's capital, where House Democrats have unveiled a seemingly doomed, $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief aid package. Republicans, who control the Senate, are holding out for a slimmed-down – and cheaper – bill.
And nine months after a 61-year-old man died of a mysterious disease in sprawling Wuhan, China, the global coronavirus death toll has surpassed 1 million. The New York Times, in reporting the death back in January, noted that the virus had "put the region on alert, but there is no evidence that it can spread among humans."
Some significant developments:
The Navajo Nation reported 22 new coronavirus cases on Monday and no additional deaths.
With Thanksgiving less than two months away, the CDC recommends having small holiday dinner gatherings. For people who usually travel to visit family, the agency suggests celebrating the holiday virtually.
India has become the second country to report 6 million confirmed cases.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 7.1 million cases and 205,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. New case records were set in Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data. Record numbers of deaths were reported in Alaska and North Dakota. Globally, there have been more than 33 million cases and more than 1 million fatalities.
📰 What we're reading: There was fear in August when Florida made the controversial decision to reopen most schools with in-person instruction. Many teachers and families braced for a spike in COVID-19 cases. That hasn't happened, according to a USA TODAY analysis.
🗺 Mapping coronavirus: Track the U.S. outbreak, state by state.
This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.
Some Los An elementary schools to resume in-person learning
Some Los Angeles elementary schools will be able to apply to resume in-person instruction up to second grade under a vote Tuesday by the county Board of Supervisors.
“As October approaches it’s critical that we begin the process of reopening our schools at limited capacity,” said board Chairwoman Kathryn Barger, according to local reports. She cited inequities in distance learning that affect the education of low-income, Black and Latino students.
Previously, Los Angeles County officials had said no school campus would be able to fully reopen until November, citing high local case numbers. Although the county has seen a turn toward fewer infections, it is currently in the state’s most-restrictive purple tier.
On the other coast, New York City school’s reopening is in jeopardy.
In a news conference Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the most recent rate of positive tests was 3.25%, the highest since June. De Blasio has said he will shut down classrooms, which are all supposed to be open by Thursday, if the test positivity rate exceeds 3% over a seven-day average.
— Elinor Aspegren
Global toll: Deaths from coronavirus hit 1 million The worldwide death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has eclipsed 1 million. The milestone recorded by Johns Hopkins University comes more than nine months into a crisis that has forced multitudes to change the way they live, learn and work. (Sept. 28) AP
Disney parks to lay off 28,000 workers in Florida, California
Disney's park division is laying off 28,000 employees in California and Florida in the wake of the pandemic.
Two-thirds of the planned layoffs involve part-time workers but they ranged from salaried employees to nonunion hourly workers, Disney officials said.
In a letter to employees, Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experience and Product, said his management team had worked hard to try to avoid layoffs. They had cut expenses, suspended projects and modified operations but it wasn’t enough given limits on the number of people allowed into the park because of social distancing restrictions and other pandemic-related measures, he said.
— Josh Rivera
Appalachian State student dies of COVID-19 complications
A sophomore at Appalachian State University in North Carolina died Monday night of COVID-19 complications, a rare fatality in a healthy, athletic teen. Appalachian State University student Chad Dorrill, 19, was a high school basketball player and a member of a local track and field club. His mother posted on Facebook that doctors described Chad as "the rarest, 1-10,000,000 case.”
“Chad was just incredibly tired for two weeks and little did we know it was secretly attacking his body in a way they have never seen before,” she wrote. “If it can happen to a super healthy 19-year-old boy who doesn’t smoke, vape or do drugs, it can happen to anyone."
As of Monday, at least 3,445 people have died from COVID-19 in North Carolina.
– Elinor Aspegren
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised new training programs to help workers recover from the epidemic's crushing impact on his nation's economy. He said the coronavirus has "massively accelerated changes that were already happening in the U.K. economy,” such as increased reliance on online shopping. The country still needs construction workers, mechanics, engineers, IT experts and lab technicians, he said. He adds while some jobs would inevitably be lost because of the coronavirus, the government would “give people the skills to find and create new and better jobs.”
Public elementary schools reopened across New York City on Tuesday for 300,000 students for the first time since March as the city struggled with a bump in positive COVID-19 test results. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a one-day rate of 3.25%, although the more-relevant rolling average over seven days stood at 1.38%. De Blasio said the uptick was driven by Orthodox communities in Brooklyn and Queens. He also said the movement to get students back in classrooms would continue, and middle and high schools are scheduled to welcome students Thursday.
Remote instruction has been taking place for about three weeks in city schools. Tuesday's reopening comes on the third try – de Blasio twice had to delay opening classrooms because of staffing shortages and other issues. By week's end all 1.1 million students are scheduled to have the option of in-classroom learning. Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza says so far parents of only about half of students are opting in.
The governor of Illinois will be isolating for two weeks after a staffer tested positive for COVID-19, his office announced Tuesday. Gov. JB Pritzker’s staff member tested negative on Wednesday during weekly testing for the governor’s office, but, after experiencing symptoms, the staff member was tested again Monday and confirmed as positive, Pritzker's office said in a statement. The staffer had attended events with the governor several days last week.
It was not immediately clear whether the governor had tested negative or if he was experiencing symptoms. The governor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Coronavirus cases in Illinois are trending slightly upward, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and his wife, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and his wife and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt have all tested positive for COVID-19. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tested positive, then negative for COVID-19 last month.
– Grace Hauck
COVID-19: How Herd Immunity works, why you still need to wear a mask Without masks and a vaccine, we could reach Herd Immunity from COVID-19, but deaths would skyrocket. We break down the science of it. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Tennessee Titans announced Tuesday that they would not be holding in-person activities after the team had eight positive COVID-19 tests – three from players, five from staff – following Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement the positive tests came back Tuesday morning. The Vikings also are suspending team activities as both clubs follow the league's protocols on COVID-19.
The Titans are scheduled to play at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday; the Vikings are to play the Texans in Houston.
"Out of the abundance of caution, the organization has decided to work remotely today as we follow NFL protocols related to the COVID-19 virus," the Titans said in a statement. "Several tests have come back positive and (we) are working through the process of confirming them. We will have more information tomorrow."
– Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz and Erik Bacharach
SeaWorld San Diego is moving full-speed ahead with its annual "Spooktacular" festivities on weekend evenings through October. The park, which reopened in late August, is one of the few California theme parks celebrating this year after its neighbors, including Disneyland and Universal Studios, canceled their Halloween events because of COVID-19. Halloween events at their Florida parks are canceled as well. California's health secretary reported Friday that the state has recently seen an uptick in the number of newly confirmed cases as well as COVID-19-related ER visits and hospitalizations. SeaWorld is undeterred.
"Have no fear. Halloween’s still here!" SeaWorld advertises on its website. "It’s all waiting for your family, with new safety procedures to put your mind at ease."
– Morgan Hines
Purdue University gave 14 students, including 13 student-athletes, until Wednesday to clear out of their residence hall rooms after being suspended, accused of having a party that violated the university’s coronavirus-era Protect Purdue Pledge. Dean of Students Katie Sermersheim did not name the students, where they lived or which sports the student-athletes play. Purdue athletics issued a statement saying the 13 are "out-of-season student-athletes." The university also did not say whether the students were among the 801 who had tested positive for COVID-19 on campus since Aug. 1.
"We will deal with any such violation with firmness," Purdue President Mitch Daniels said. "The fact that this episode involved student-athletes can make no difference. At Purdue, we have one set of rules for everyone.”
– Dave Bangert, Lafayette Journal & Courier
A lot of Florida State University students apparently are all-in on Gov. Ron DeSantis' decision Friday to drop virtually all coronavirus restrictions across the state. Tallahassee police say they spent much of the weekend responding to more than a dozen calls concerning large crowds, some at or near campus.
"The crowds ranged in size, including one with approximately 700 vehicles and more than 1,000 people" at an off-campus apartment complex, police said in a statement. "Most of the travel lanes were blocked throughout the complex. Thanks to efforts from TPD’s Patrol Bureau and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, officers were able to safely disperse the crowd."
The school issued a warning last week that students hosting or attending a large gathering on or off campus faced suspension. DeSantis responded, saying students should be allowed to socialize unimpeded by "draconian" threats of suspension or expulsion from Florida's state universities.
– Tori Lynn Schneider, Tallahassee Democrat
The Russian Direct Investment Fund, a privately held equity firm, has teamed with a leading pharmaceutical distributor in Nepal, Trinity Pharmaceuticals, to supply the mountain nation with 25 million doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. The agreement will enable 90% of population of Nepal to get access to the vaccine, the companies said. The vaccine has drawn controversy around the world because it was put in use without Phase 3 trials used to test vaccines on thousands of people. Details on when the vaccine would become available across Nepal were vague. Kishor Adhikari, director of Trinity Pharmaceuticals, said his company was "waiting for results of the final trial of Sputnik V. As soon as the vaccine is approved by Government of Nepal we will make it available for the population of Nepal."
House Democrats unveiled a $2.2 trillion COVID-19 relief bill in a longshot push to break the impasse on relief negotiations before the election, though the bill is likely to face opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate if it passes the House. The bill trims $1 trillion from the Democrat's previous plan, decried as too costly by the GOP. Many of the benefits previously approved by Congress ran out earlier this year, leaving millions of Americans waiting for urgently needed aid. The $600 federal benefit to unemployment benefits ran out, a loan forgiveness program for small businesses expired, and airlines warned of mass layoffs as support for the industry expired.
The House could act on the bill as soon as this week. The Senate is unlikely to act on the legislation, it represents a negotiating point over $1 trillion lower than Democrats' previous proposal.
– Nicholas Wu
In nine months since the first cases were reported in central China, more than 1 million people have died worldwide from COVID-19.
The news comes as countries around the globe are at very different stages in managing the outbreaks: Some European nations are tightening some restrictions over fears of a second wave. Cases in the U.S. are ticking back up after a summer spike that was followed by renewed restrictions and then a decline. India's cases have skyrocketed in recent weeks and it may soon become the country with the most infections. New Zealand appears to have weathered a second cluster of cases. And South Korea is seeing its lowest case tally since it reinstituted some lockdown measures during a virus resurgence.
Meanwhile, researchers around the globe continue to make progress on clinical trials for vaccine candidates, but mass vaccinations may not come until at least mid-2021, a World Health Organization official said Sunday.
COVID-19 resources from USA TODAY
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Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-09-29--Donald Trump's tax returns has many wondering what they're doing wrong

If a billionaire who has his name on a bunch of golf courses and buildings can get away with paying just $ 750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and just $ 750 again in 2017 , well , anyone cranking out a 1040 on TurboTax has got to be wondering what they 're doing wrong .
It 's a natural question after reading the New York Times ’ extensive report based on President Donald Trump 's tax return data that spanned more than two decades .
The Times obtained the years of records from sources .
Times Executive Editor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ readers that the Times would not make the records themselves public in order to not jeopardize sources who took on personal risk to help inform the public .
The Trump Organization 's attorney was quoted in the Times saying `` most , if not all , of the facts appear to be inaccurate '' based on a summary of the findings by the Times .
Up front , it 's important to note that the president has a decade-long audit battle , one that the Times reported could cost Trump more than $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
All is not rosy when it comes to Trump and taxes .
Election 2020 : Can the stock market predict who becomes president ?
The fact that Trump has not released his own tax information , as other presidents have in the past , only adds to the mystery and suspicion that something just does n't smell right .
No doubt , the tax saga will pop up Tuesday during the first presidential debate in Cleveland between Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Even so , you 've got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rich claiming that the rest of us are n't ?
One of the big roadblock for many everyday people : where we make our money .
If you 're working a job and getting a W-2 form to report wages and taxes that are already withheld , you 're typically paying a higher tax rate on that income than the tax rate you 'd pay if you made a profit by selling a bunch of Apple or Google stock that you held for years .
Investors who buy and sell stocks outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get an edge when it comes to taxes .
`` A taxpayer whose income is primarily from salary will pay a larger amount in taxes than another taxpayer with similar amount of income that is earned from qualified dividends and long-term capital gains , '' said Sanjay Gupta , dean of the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University .
`` Sources of income matter under our current federal income tax laws . ''
Profits on the sale of stock held more than a year , for example , are taxed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes — the rate could be 0 % , 15 % or 20 % depending on your income .
The capital gains tax rates on stock that was sold after being held for less than a year do n't get that favorable treatment ; they mirror the ordinary income tax brackets of 10 % , 12 % , 22 % , 24 % , 32 % , 35 % or 37 % , again depending on your income .
And withdrawals made from a traditional 401 ( k ) plan are taxed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and losses can add up Trump 's tax returns reflect the income or losses generated from his complex network of businesses .
Some favorable tax rules relating to real estate holdings also play a key part of the picture .
`` It 's a tax on income , not on wealth , '' said James Hines Jr. , a University of Michigan professor of law and economics , as well as the research director of the Office of Tax Policy Research in the U-M 's Stephen M. Ross School of Business .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have income , you do n't owe income tax . ''
The New York Times report , he said , seems to go back and forth between saying the president 's businesses racked up chronic losses but then implying that Trump 's operations had income but manipulated the system to avoid paying taxes .
Hines said both scenarios can not be true .
The businesses either made money or they did n't .
If Trump 's tax situation was triggered by huge business losses , accounting experts agree that the tax system rightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hines gives an easily digestible example : Take a supermarket that loses money on bunches of bananas that go bad , but makes money on cereal .
`` You earn $ 1,000 on the cereal and you lose $ 300 on the bananas .
You really only earned $ 700 , '' Hines said .
Of course , it becomes a question if you 're measuring income and the losses correctly .
`` Are we accurately measuring the loss ? ''
Hines said .
The New York Times report indicated the audit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 72.9 million tax refund '' that Trump once claimed , and received , after declaring huge losses .
Lisa De Simone , associate professor of accounting at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin , said many tax breaks available for business owners are put in place to stimulate risk-taking and innovation .
And Trump 's business dealings would be similar tax-wise .
`` Economically , '' she said , `` he did poorly .
He generated a ton of business losses . ''
“ There ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of tips and tricks that only the wealthy can take advantage of , ” De Simone said .
“ The provisions weren ’ t written to try to help the wealthy get away with things.
” Instead , she said , new businesses can benefit when they ’ re able to deduct early losses from income .
“ You don ’ t have to be super rich in order to claim a business loss , ” De Simone said .
But then again , some delicious tax breaks could , really , only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , say the cost of haircuts .
More than $ 70,000 in business expenses reportedly were claimed as business costs for Trump 's hairstyling during `` The Apprentice . ''
Pro Tip : Do n't try that one when you hop onto TurboTax .
ContactSusan Tompor : stompor @ freepress.com .
Follow her on Twitter @ tompor .
To subscribe , please go to freep.com/specialoffer .
Read more on business and sign up for our business newsletter .

Donald Trump's tax returns have many wondering what they're doing wrong
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump's tax return details revealed in New York Times series President Trump paid little to no federal income taxes in recent years, according to the first series of New York Times stories on his tax returns. USA TODAY
If a billionaire who has his name on a bunch of golf courses and buildings can get away with paying just $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and just $750 again in 2017, well, anyone cranking out a 1040 on TurboTax has got to be wondering what they're doing wrong.
It's a natural question after reading the New York Times’ extensive report based on President Donald Trump's tax return data that spanned more than two decades. The Times obtained the years of records from sources. Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet said in a note to readers that the Times would not make the records themselves public in order to not jeopardize sources who took on personal risk to help inform the public.
The Trump Organization's attorney was quoted in the Times saying "most, if not all, of the facts appear to be inaccurate" based on a summary of the findings by the Times.
Up front, it's important to note that the president has a decade-long audit battle, one that the Times reported could cost Trump more than $100 million if the ruling goes against him. All is not rosy when it comes to Trump and taxes.
Trump's returns: How rich Americans avoid taxes
Election 2020: Can the stock market predict who becomes president?
The fact that Trump has not released his own tax information, as other presidents have in the past, only adds to the mystery and suspicion that something just doesn't smell right.
No doubt, the tax saga will pop up Tuesday during the first presidential debate in Cleveland between Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Even so, you've got to wonder: What tax breaks are the rich claiming that the rest of us aren't?
Portfolios or paychecks?
One of the big roadblock for many everyday people: where we make our money.
If you're working a job and getting a W-2 form to report wages and taxes that are already withheld, you're typically paying a higher tax rate on that income than the tax rate you'd pay if you made a profit by selling a bunch of Apple or Google stock that you held for years. Investors who buy and sell stocks outside of a 401(k) plan get an edge when it comes to taxes.
"A taxpayer whose income is primarily from salary will pay a larger amount in taxes than another taxpayer with similar amount of income that is earned from qualified dividends and long-term capital gains," said Sanjay Gupta, dean of the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University.
"Sources of income matter under our current federal income tax laws."
Profits on the sale of stock held more than a year, for example, are taxed at a lower rate than ordinary income taxes — the rate could be 0%, 15% or 20% depending on your income.
The capital gains tax rates on stock that was sold after being held for less than a year don't get that favorable treatment; they mirror the ordinary income tax brackets of 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% or 37%, again depending on your income.
And withdrawals made from a traditional 401(k) plan are taxed at ordinary income tax rates.
Business expenses and losses can add up
Trump's tax returns reflect the income or losses generated from his complex network of businesses. Some favorable tax rules relating to real estate holdings also play a key part of the picture.
"It's a tax on income, not on wealth," said James Hines Jr., a University of Michigan professor of law and economics, as well as the research director of the Office of Tax Policy Research in the U-M's Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
"In America, if you don't have income, you don't owe income tax."
The New York Times report, he said, seems to go back and forth between saying the president's businesses racked up chronic losses but then implying that Trump's operations had income but manipulated the system to avoid paying taxes.
Hines said both scenarios cannot be true. The businesses either made money or they didn't.
If Trump's tax situation was triggered by huge business losses, accounting experts agree that the tax system rightly enables a business to deduct appropriate losses.
Hines gives an easily digestible example: Take a supermarket that loses money on bunches of bananas that go bad, but makes money on cereal.
"You earn $1,000 on the cereal and you lose $300 on the bananas. You really only earned $700," Hines said.
Of course, it becomes a question if you're measuring income and the losses correctly.
"Are we accurately measuring the loss?" Hines said.
The New York Times report indicated the audit is over the "legitimacy of a $72.9 million tax refund" that Trump once claimed, and received, after declaring huge losses.
Lisa De Simone, associate professor of accounting at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, said many tax breaks available for business owners are put in place to stimulate risk-taking and innovation.
And Trump's business dealings would be similar tax-wise.
"Economically," she said, "he did poorly. He generated a ton of business losses."
“There’s a notion that there are lots of tips and tricks that only the wealthy can take advantage of,” De Simone said. “The provisions weren’t written to try to help the wealthy get away with things.”
Instead, she said, new businesses can benefit when they’re able to deduct early losses from income.
“You don’t have to be super rich in order to claim a business loss,” De Simone said.
But then again, some delicious tax breaks could, really, only be claimed by the Donald. Like, say the cost of haircuts. More than $70,000 in business expenses reportedly were claimed as business costs for Trump's hairstyling during "The Apprentice."
Pro Tip: Don't try that one when you hop onto TurboTax.
Contact Susan Tompor: stompor@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @tompor. To subscribe, please go to freep.com/specialoffer. Read more on business and sign up for our business newsletter.