usatoday--2020-10-07--5 things you need to stay safe in public amid COVID-19

— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed ’ s editors .
Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission .
As COVID-19 continues to spread , you may be feeling anxious about your safety , particularly in public places .
The risk of exposure still poses a larger threat in crowded settings , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) —particularly those with poor air circulation , including buses , subways and trains .
Need help finding products ?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter .
It ’ s free and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition to wearing a mask in public settings and doing your best to stay at least 6-feet away from anyone outside your household , you can take extra precautions by using disinfecting and antiseptic products , such as hand sanitizer and cleansing wipes , while you 're on-the-go .
Keep in mind that the CDC recommends frequent hand washing as one of the best ways to stay safe when leaving the house , so you should always wash your hands for at least 20 seconds after traveling .
If soap and water aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a few travel-friendly products that may help you stay germ-free when venturing outdoors .
Check out our list of the five things that can help keep you safe below .
If you ca n't get to a sink to wash your hands after touching surfaces on an airplane or in public , the CDC recommends an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 % alcohol to sanitize your hands .
While it 's been flying off the shelves this year , there 's still a few places where you can pick up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can also buy a larger hand sanitizer and put in your own containers .
If all else fails , you can even make your own by following the World Health Organization 's ( WHO ) do-it-yourself guide with 96 % ethyl alcohol , aloe vera gel and a travel-sized vessel .
• Get the Germ-X Travel Hand Sanitizer at Target for $ 0.99 • Get the Defendr+ Antibacterial Travel Hand Sanitizer at Target for $ 1.49 • Get the Germ-X Fresh Hand Sanitizer with Pump at Target for $ 2.99 • Get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 3.59 • Get the Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer Gel , 4-Pack at Amazon for $ 11.99 Cleaning wipes are one of the top products on the Environmental Protection Agency 's ( EPA ) list of disinfectants that can help protect against COVID-19 .
While they 're still sold out at most retailers , there are still a few places you can find them .
Antiseptic hand wipes can also be used to wipe down handles , grab rails , seats and tray tables before you touch them .
Plus , you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and keep it germ-free .
• Get the MediAid Sanitizing Wipes , 50-pack at Target for $ 5.39 • Get the Care Touch Hand Sanitizing Wipes , 30-pack at Amazon for $ 7.99 • Get the Travel Lite Hand Sanitizing Wipes , 50-pack at Amazon for $ 13.95 • Get the Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes , 48-pack at Amazon for $ 17.90 • Get the Caresour Advanced Hand Sanitizer Wipes , 50-pack at Amazon for $ 29.99 If you do need to sneeze and cough while in a crowded setting , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nose with a tissue and throw away used ones immediately .
The CDC cites this as a vital step to stop the spread of respiratory droplets produced by an infected person .
That 's why it 's a great idea to pack to-go tissues in your bag or pocket when you 're out and about .
( You 'll also want to sanitize hands after blowing your nose , coughing or sneezing . )
• Get the Up & Up Facial Tissue Pocket Pack at Target for $ 1.99 • Get the Kleenex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for $ 2.28 • Get the Kleenex White Facial Tissue , 16-pack at Amazon for $ 12.96 • Get the Succulent Cactus Design Facial Tissue , 60-pack at Amazon for $ 16.99 • Get the Morcte Soft 4-Ply Facial Tissues , 120-pack at Amazon for $ 16.99 While the CDC says gloves will `` not necessarily protect you from getting COVID-19 and may still lead to the spread of germs , '' the organization does recommend wearing gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces or when caring for someone who is sick .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wash your hands afterwards .
When we tested the best disposable gloves , we found that Venom Steel 's rip-resistant nitrile gloves ( currently unavailable ) are the best in terms of durability , flexibility , and comfort , but there are other great option out there .
• Get the Smartly Disposable Multipurpose Nitrile Gloves , 30-pack at Target for $ 3.59 • Get the Up & Up Vinyl Exam Gloves , 50-pack at Target for $ 4.99 • Get the Venom Steel Sportsman Nitrile Gloves at The Home Depot for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Multipurpose Nitrile Gloves , 80-pack at Target for $ 8.99 • Get the SUPPLYAID Nitrile Disposable Gloves , 100-pack at Walmart for $ 15.27 The CDC recommends wearing face masks in public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
They 're also mandated in many stores , states and cities .
Having a stash on hand to cover your face at the grocery store or at a restaurant is of the utmost importance .
You can also shop our list of the best face coverings we 've tested or pick up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Get the Athleta Non-Medical Face Masks , 5-pack at Athleta for $ 30 • Get the Old Navy Triple-Layer Cloth Face Mask , 5-pack at Old Navy for $ 12.50 • Get the Tom Bihn V1 Reusable Cloth Face Mask at Tom Bihn for $ 13 • Get the Summersalt Face Coverings , 3-pack at Summersalt for $ 32 The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered .
Follow Reviewed on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram for the latest deals , reviews , and more .
Prices were accurate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but may change over time .

Nicole Briese and Isabelle Kagan, Reviewed.com

5 things you need to stay safe in public amid COVID-19
— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
As COVID-19 continues to spread, you may be feeling anxious about your safety, particularly in public places. The risk of exposure still poses a larger threat in crowded settings, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—particularly those with poor air circulation, including buses, subways and trains.
Need help finding products? Sign up for our weekly newsletter. It’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time.
In addition to wearing a mask in public settings and doing your best to stay at least 6-feet away from anyone outside your household, you can take extra precautions by using disinfecting and antiseptic products, such as hand sanitizer and cleansing wipes, while you're on-the-go. Keep in mind that the CDC recommends frequent hand washing as one of the best ways to stay safe when leaving the house, so you should always wash your hands for at least 20 seconds after traveling. If soap and water aren’t available, however, there are a few travel-friendly products that may help you stay germ-free when venturing outdoors. Check out our list of the five things that can help keep you safe below.
1. Hand sanitizer
If you can't get to a sink to wash your hands after touching surfaces on an airplane or in public, the CDC recommends an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to sanitize your hands. While it's been flying off the shelves this year, there's still a few places where you can pick up a travel-sized bottle or two. You can also buy a larger hand sanitizer and put in your own containers. If all else fails, you can even make your own by following the World Health Organization's (WHO) do-it-yourself guide with 96% ethyl alcohol, aloe vera gel and a travel-sized vessel.
2. Disinfecting wipes
Cleaning wipes are one of the top products on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) list of disinfectants that can help protect against COVID-19. While they're still sold out at most retailers, there are still a few places you can find them. Antiseptic hand wipes can also be used to wipe down handles, grab rails, seats and tray tables before you touch them. Plus, you can use them to wipe down your phone and keep it germ-free.
3. Tissues
If you do need to sneeze and cough while in a crowded setting, it's important to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and throw away used ones immediately. The CDC cites this as a vital step to stop the spread of respiratory droplets produced by an infected person. That's why it's a great idea to pack to-go tissues in your bag or pocket when you're out and about. (You'll also want to sanitize hands after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.)
4. Surgical gloves
While the CDC says gloves will "not necessarily protect you from getting COVID-19 and may still lead to the spread of germs," the organization does recommend wearing gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces or when caring for someone who is sick. You should dispose of them after each use and wash your hands afterwards.
When we tested the best disposable gloves, we found that Venom Steel's rip-resistant nitrile gloves (currently unavailable) are the best in terms of durability, flexibility, and comfort, but there are other great option out there.
5. Face masks
The CDC recommends wearing face masks in public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. They're also mandated in many stores, states and cities. Having a stash on hand to cover your face at the grocery store or at a restaurant is of the utmost importance. You can also shop our list of the best face coverings we've tested or pick up a few of the options below.
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.


usatoday--2020-10-06--It's a boy! National Zoo welcomes new panda cub

The new panda cub at the Smithsonian 's National Zoo is a boy .
The baby 's father , Tian @ @ @ @ @ portrait to represent its significance .

Panda cub born in Smithsonian's National Zoo is a boy.
The new panda cub at the Smithsonian's National Zoo is a boy. The baby's father, Tian Tian, painted a blue portrait to represent its significance.
USA TODAY, Storyful


usatoday--2020-10-07--Trump's Amy Coney Barrett pick for Supreme Court might backfire, analysts say

This story was published in partnership with The 19th , a nonprofit , nonpartisan newsroom reporting on gender , politics and policy .
President Donald Trump announced in September that he would nominate Amy Coney Barrett to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s vacant Supreme Court seat , making his pick official during an event at the White House Rose Garden .
“ As Amy has said , being a judge takes courage .
You are not there to decide cases as you may prefer , you are there to do your duty , and to follow the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That is exactly what Judge Barrett will do on the U.S. Supreme Court.
” He continued : “ No matter the issue , no matter the case before her .
I am supremely confident that Judge Barrett will issue rulings based solely upon a fair reading of the law .
She will defend the sacred principle of equal justice for citizens of every race , color , religion and creed.
” Barrett , a Trump-appointed judge on the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago , was thought to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also among the top contenders to fill Justice Anthony Kennedy ’ s seat in 2018 .
Conservatives assured Trump that Barrett would be the female Antonin Scalia , the late Supreme Court justice who Barrett once clerked for .
Barrett , 48 , would be the youngest woman to become a Supreme Court justice .
The mother of seven children , aged 8 to 19 , would also be the first mom on the court to have school-aged children .
Her kids , along with her husband , joined Barrett at the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Barrett is “ more than a stellar scholar and judge — she ’ s also a profoundly devoted mother.
” In her remarks at the Rose Garden event , Barrett acknowledged that she would be “ mindful ” of who came before her .
She went on to praise Ginsburg and her long legal career , noting that she was a trailblazer in a time when women were not welcome in legal careers .
“ She not only broke glass ceilings , she smashed them .
And for that she has won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Barrett said .
Since Ginsburg ’ s death , Trump said he would pick a woman to fill the court vacancy .
On the surface , Trump ’ s emphasis on picking a woman appeared to be an abrupt about-face from conventional Republican wisdom .
At the Republican National Convention , party chair Ronna McDaniel said that she was picked for her role not because of her identity , but “ because I was the best person for the job.
” Trump had for months criticized his opponent , Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as his running mate .
But the shift , political analysts told The 19th , appears to have less to do with a newfound interest in gender equity in politics and much more , they said , with an attempt to win over undecided or Trump-averse women voters in the upcoming election .
Picking a woman “ is a kind of very , very baseline of gender in politics , ” said Kelly Dittmar , director of research at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ importance of a woman on a court , and that ’ s why we ’ re going to nominate a woman .
If you hear more of that rhetoric , about why does it matter that we have perspectives from women … then that would demonstrate a shift.
” Instead , she and others argued , the commitment to picking a woman appears political : Trump ’ s administration has been criticized for being male-dominated , and his support is dwindling with women voters .
That includes White women , who played a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Picking Barrett is likely an effort to bring them back into the fold .
Trump ’ s full shortlist of Supreme Court nominees reflected a different viewpoint .
Of the 44 candidates listed , only 12 were women .
The explicit commitment to choosing a woman only emerged when Ginsburg ’ s death gave Trump the ability to nominate someone before the November 3 election .
“ It ’ s not about being a woman , but about a campaign calculus , given where the numbers are , ” said Natalie Jackson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Public Religion Research Institute .
“ It made a huge difference when the timing changed.
” The emphasis on women is , she added , also likely an effort to distract from criticisms of Republicans rushing a confirmation process as the election l , after denying President Barack Obama ’ s pick a hearing in 2016 , who was nominated 237 days out .
But when it comes to winning over voters , analysts agreed the strategy appears at the very least ineffective — and potentially counterproductive .
A.J .
Delgado , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign who now supports Biden , called the selection a rejection of typical conservative values that could instead hurt the president with Republicans .
“ I just find it funny how conservatives now openly and publicly embrace affirmative action .
I wasn ’ t aware they were for that , ” Delgado said sarcastically .
“ It ’ s definitely an identity politics appointment , they ’ re not even hiding that .
They think this will help them.
” Meanwhile , polls show that the majority of voters in general would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by whoever is sworn in come January .
And women aren ’ t an exception .
When Sarah Longwell , a Republican political strategist , held a focus group night with Republican women in swing states who previously voted for Trump , none of them favored the idea of moving forward with a confirmation process before the election , and several said they were more likely to support Biden as a result .
Many of them expressed respect for Ginsburg , and were uncomfortable with the idea of a replacement justice swinging the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right .
And the focus on selecting a woman for the nominee ?
“ They thought it was a transparent play for voters , ” Longwell said .
“ What they were clear about was , it ’ s too big a decision to rush through , ” Longwell said .
“ Having talked to tons and tons of women over the last few years — especially on the right — they do not respond to choosing a woman , whether it ’ s a Joe Biden picking Kamala Harris , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court .
They don ’ t find that persuasive.
” Plus , the Supreme Court confirmation process isn ’ t necessarily breaking into the top tier of concerns for undecided women — and not to the extent of determining how they vote .
Women in Longwell ’ s focus group expressed less concern about the court and more interest in the president ’ s refusal to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses in November .
It isn ’ t the first time Trump has suggested illegal electoral processes — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twice for him — but voters are now more likely to be paying attention , Longwell said .
The crowded news environment means Barrett ’ s nomination is far less likely to swing undecided voters , Jackson said .
In fact , the policy implications surrounding a more conservative court — in particular , the likelihood of Barrett voting on the Affordable Care Act and pending abortion cases — increases the odds that a pre-election confirmation process will compel more liberal women to vote , Jackson said .
Health law experts say Barrett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to voting against maintaining the ACA , which a group of Republican state attorneys general are arguing should be struck down , and likely support greater restrictions on abortion access .
Since Ginsburg ’ s death , ActBlue , the Democratic fundraising platform , has raised more than $ 100 million .
Liberal women across the country have , since last weekend , already made moves to support Democratic candidates , citing in particular the health care implications of a new justice .
Meanwhile , it ’ s unclear which undecided conservative voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If some of this is to try to appeal to women who weren ’ t voting for him , I ’ m not sure what group that is , ” Dittmar said .
Chabeli Carrazana and Barbara Rodriguez contributed to this report .

Trump’s Amy Coney Barrett pick for Supreme Court might backfire, analysts say
This story was published in partnership with The 19th, a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom reporting on gender, politics and policy.
President Donald Trump announced in September that he would nominate Amy Coney Barrett to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s vacant Supreme Court seat, making his pick official during an event at the White House Rose Garden.
“As Amy has said, being a judge takes courage. You are not there to decide cases as you may prefer, you are there to do your duty, and to follow the law, wherever it may take you. That is exactly what Judge Barrett will do on the U.S. Supreme Court.”
He continued: “No matter the issue, no matter the case before her. I am supremely confident that Judge Barrett will issue rulings based solely upon a fair reading of the law. She will defend the sacred principle of equal justice for citizens of every race, color, religion and creed.”
Barrett, a Trump-appointed judge on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, was thought to be a frontrunner for the nomination. She was also among the top contenders to fill Justice Anthony Kennedy’s seat in 2018. Conservatives assured Trump that Barrett would be the female Antonin Scalia, the late Supreme Court justice who Barrett once clerked for.
Barrett, 48, would be the youngest woman to become a Supreme Court justice. The mother of seven children, aged 8 to 19, would also be the first mom on the court to have school-aged children. Her kids, along with her husband, joined Barrett at the White House for the announcement. Trump noted that Barrett is “more than a stellar scholar and judge — she’s also a profoundly devoted mother.”
In her remarks at the Rose Garden event, Barrett acknowledged that she would be “mindful” of who came before her. She went on to praise Ginsburg and her long legal career, noting that she was a trailblazer in a time when women were not welcome in legal careers. “She not only broke glass ceilings, she smashed them. And for that she has won the admiration of women across the country,” Barrett said.
Coronavirus: Rose Garden announcement of Supreme Court nominee potential 'superspreader' event
Since Ginsburg’s death, Trump said he would pick a woman to fill the court vacancy. On the surface, Trump’s emphasis on picking a woman appeared to be an abrupt about-face from conventional Republican wisdom.
At the Republican National Convention, party chair Ronna McDaniel said that she was picked for her role not because of her identity, but “because I was the best person for the job.” Trump had for months criticized his opponent, Joe Biden, for vowing to pick a woman as his running mate.
But the shift, political analysts told The 19th, appears to have less to do with a newfound interest in gender equity in politics and much more, they said, with an attempt to win over undecided or Trump-averse women voters in the upcoming election.
Picking a woman “is a kind of very, very baseline of gender in politics,” said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. “I’ve seen very little discussion about the importance of a woman on a court, and that’s why we’re going to nominate a woman. If you hear more of that rhetoric, about why does it matter that we have perspectives from women … then that would demonstrate a shift.”
Instead, she and others argued, the commitment to picking a woman appears political: Trump’s administration has been criticized for being male-dominated, and his support is dwindling with women voters. That includes White women, who played a key role in his 2016 victory. Picking Barrett is likely an effort to bring them back into the fold.
Trump’s full shortlist of Supreme Court nominees reflected a different viewpoint. Of the 44 candidates listed, only 12 were women. The explicit commitment to choosing a woman only emerged when Ginsburg’s death gave Trump the ability to nominate someone before the November 3 election.
“It’s not about being a woman, but about a campaign calculus, given where the numbers are,” said Natalie Jackson, a pollster and the research director at the Public Religion Research Institute. “It made a huge difference when the timing changed.”
The emphasis on women is, she added, also likely an effort to distract from criticisms of Republicans rushing a confirmation process as the election l, after denying President Barack Obama’s pick a hearing in 2016, who was nominated 237 days out.
But when it comes to winning over voters, analysts agreed the strategy appears at the very least ineffective — and potentially counterproductive.
A.J. Delgado, a former senior adviser in the 2016 Trump campaign who now supports Biden, called the selection a rejection of typical conservative values that could instead hurt the president with Republicans.
“I just find it funny how conservatives now openly and publicly embrace affirmative action. I wasn’t aware they were for that,” Delgado said sarcastically. “It’s definitely an identity politics appointment, they’re not even hiding that. They think this will help them.”
Meanwhile, polls show that the majority of voters in general would prefer to have the court vacancy filled by whoever is sworn in come January. And women aren’t an exception.
When Sarah Longwell, a Republican political strategist, held a focus group night with Republican women in swing states who previously voted for Trump, none of them favored the idea of moving forward with a confirmation process before the election, and several said they were more likely to support Biden as a result. Many of them expressed respect for Ginsburg, and were uncomfortable with the idea of a replacement justice swinging the court’s ideological balance further to the right.
And the focus on selecting a woman for the nominee? “They thought it was a transparent play for voters,” Longwell said.
“What they were clear about was, it’s too big a decision to rush through,” Longwell said. “Having talked to tons and tons of women over the last few years — especially on the right — they do not respond to choosing a woman, whether it’s a Joe Biden picking Kamala Harris, or Donald Trump picking a woman for the court. They don’t find that persuasive.”
Plus, the Supreme Court confirmation process isn’t necessarily breaking into the top tier of concerns for undecided women — and not to the extent of determining how they vote.
Women in Longwell’s focus group expressed less concern about the court and more interest in the president’s refusal to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses in November. It isn’t the first time Trump has suggested illegal electoral processes — recently, he encouraged people to vote twice for him — but voters are now more likely to be paying attention, Longwell said.
The crowded news environment means Barrett’s nomination is far less likely to swing undecided voters, Jackson said.
In fact, the policy implications surrounding a more conservative court — in particular, the likelihood of Barrett voting on the Affordable Care Act and pending abortion cases — increases the odds that a pre-election confirmation process will compel more liberal women to vote, Jackson said. Health law experts say Barrett’s previous writings indicate an openness to voting against maintaining the ACA, which a group of Republican state attorneys general are arguing should be struck down, and likely support greater restrictions on abortion access.
Since Ginsburg’s death, ActBlue, the Democratic fundraising platform, has raised more than $100 million. Liberal women across the country have, since last weekend, already made moves to support Democratic candidates, citing in particular the health care implications of a new justice.
Meanwhile, it’s unclear which undecided conservative voters this decision would bring into the fold.
“If some of this is to try to appeal to women who weren’t voting for him, I’m not sure what group that is,” Dittmar said.
Chabeli Carrazana and Barbara Rodriguez contributed to this report.


usatoday--2020-10-07--Mike Pence vs Kamala Harris: Here's how to watch the vice presidential debate

WASHINGTON – The stakes could n't be higher for Wednesday 's debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris , D-Calif. Pence , the incumbent , and Harris , the Democratic vice presidential nominee , will meet for their only debate , being hosted at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City .
The debate will air at 9 EDT/6 PDT , and like the presidential debates , is scheduled for 90 minutes with no commercial breaks .
Viewers can stream the match-up live at USATODAY.com with real-time facts and context from USA TODAY 's team of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The debate also will be aired on most major networks and cable news channels , including Fox News , CNN , ABC , CBS , NBC , MSNBC , PBS and C-SPAN .
Susan Page : Five things to know about the moderator of Wednesday 's VP debate More : Plexiglass or no ?
Pence team says he does n't need it on his side of the debate stage Viewers also can catch the debate live on YouTube from various outlets , listen or watch on NPR , or watch live with Hulu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other streaming services .
How the debate will work The debate will be moderated by Susan Page , USA TODAY 's Washington Bureau chief .
Page will personally choose the debate topics , which have not been released yet .
The debate will be divided into nine segments of approximately 10 minutes each , with both candidates having two minutes each to answer .
She will use the remainder of the time in each segment to continue the discussion .
The debate comes just a few days after President Donald Trump tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forefront of the minds of many voters .
More than 210,000 Americans have died from the virus , so far .
Trump returned to the White House on Monday to continue treatment , three days after he was hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center .
Trump has COVID-19 : More than 20 administration officials , associates and others have tested positive 'Reckless to a shocking degree ' : Reaction to Trump saying not to 'be afraid of Covid ' as US passes 210,000 deaths The coronavirus will play a prominent role during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plexiglass to divide the candidates has become a point of contention between the campaigns .
Pence pushed back at plans for plexiglass on stage to protect the candidates , with Marc Short , chief of staff for the vice president , saying the addition of plexiglass is n't necessary given other new safety accommodations including keeping the two candidates 12 feet away as well as daily testing .
Harris said she will abide by the preparations in what 's become the latest political fight over COVID-19 restrictions .
More : Plexiglass or no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need it on his side of the debate stage Debate organizers are also requiring that anyone in the hall other than the candidates and the moderator wear a face mask , or they will be escorted out .
Several members of the Trump family did not wear masks inside the debate hall during the first debate .
Where does the race stand now ?
The debate will be the first face-to-face match-up between the campaigns since the contentious debate last week between Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
Trump continues to trail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN/SSRS poll released Tuesday that found 57 % of likely voters support Biden while 41 % support Trump .
The remaining two more presidential debates are scheduled for Oct. 15 in Miami and Oct. 22 in Nashville , Tennessee .
Biden told reporters Tuesday that the vice presidential debate Wednesday would be safe because of enhanced safety precautions , but that the presidential debate Oct. 15 should not happen if Trump is still infected .
Plexiglass and 12 feet apart : Mike Pence , Kamala Harris have new rules for vice presidential debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to follow very strict guidelines , '' Biden said .
`` Too many people have been infected .
It ’ s a very serious problem , so I will be guided by the guidelines of the Cleveland Clinic and what the docs say is the right thing to do . ''

Mike Pence vs Kamala Harris: Here's how to watch the vice presidential debate
Show Caption Hide Caption Mike Pence claims he met President Trump hours before debate Vice President Mike Pence, at a debate watch event in Lititz, Pa., on Tuesday, says he met President Trump in the Oval Office just hours before. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The stakes couldn't be higher for Wednesday's debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.
Pence, the incumbent, and Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, will meet for their only debate, being hosted at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
The debate will air at 9 EDT/6 PDT, and like the presidential debates, is scheduled for 90 minutes with no commercial breaks.
How to watch
Viewers can stream the match-up live at USATODAY.com with real-time facts and context from USA TODAY's team of experts showing on-screen during the debate. The debate also will be aired on most major networks and cable news channels, including Fox News, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, PBS and C-SPAN.
Susan Page: Five things to know about the moderator of Wednesday's VP debate
More: Plexiglass or no? Pence team says he doesn't need it on his side of the debate stage
Viewers also can catch the debate live on YouTube from various outlets, listen or watch on NPR, or watch live with Hulu, Fubo, Sling, or some other streaming services.
How the debate will work
The debate will be moderated by Susan Page, USA TODAY's Washington Bureau chief.
Page will personally choose the debate topics, which have not been released yet. The debate will be divided into nine segments of approximately 10 minutes each, with both candidates having two minutes each to answer.
She will use the remainder of the time in each segment to continue the discussion.
What about COVID precautions?
The debate comes just a few days after President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19: a topic at the forefront of the minds of many voters.
More than 210,000 Americans have died from the virus, so far.
Trump returned to the White House on Monday to continue treatment, three days after he was hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center.
Trump has COVID-19: More than 20 administration officials, associates and others have tested positive
'Reckless to a shocking degree': Reaction to Trump saying not to 'be afraid of Covid' as US passes 210,000 deaths
The coronavirus will play a prominent role during the debate, as the issue of using plexiglass to divide the candidates has become a point of contention between the campaigns.
Pence pushed back at plans for plexiglass on stage to protect the candidates, with Marc Short, chief of staff for the vice president, saying the addition of plexiglass isn't necessary given other new safety accommodations including keeping the two candidates 12 feet away as well as daily testing.
Harris said she will abide by the preparations in what's become the latest political fight over COVID-19 restrictions.
More: Plexiglass or no? Pence team says he doesn't need it on his side of the debate stage
Debate organizers are also requiring that anyone in the hall other than the candidates and the moderator wear a face mask, or they will be escorted out. Several members of the Trump family did not wear masks inside the debate hall during the first debate.
Where does the race stand now?
The debate will be the first face-to-face match-up between the campaigns since the contentious debate last week between Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Trump continues to trail Biden nationally, according to a new CNN/SSRS poll released Tuesday that found 57% of likely voters support Biden while 41% support Trump.
The remaining two more presidential debates are scheduled for Oct. 15 in Miami and Oct. 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Biden told reporters Tuesday that the vice presidential debate Wednesday would be safe because of enhanced safety precautions, but that the presidential debate Oct. 15 should not happen if Trump is still infected.
Plexiglass and 12 feet apart: Mike Pence, Kamala Harris have new rules for vice presidential debate
“I think we were gonna have to follow very strict guidelines," Biden said. "Too many people have been infected. It’s a very serious problem, so I will be guided by the guidelines of the Cleveland Clinic and what the docs say is the right thing to do."


usatoday--2020-10-08--'We can and will have a respectful exchange': Harris, Pence wave to crowd, sit behind plexiglass to

WASHINGTON – All eyes are on the vice presidential debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris in the first and only vice presidential debate .
The pair entered the stage on Wednesday night , waving to the audience before acknowledging each other and taking their seats .
`` We want a debate that is lively , but Americans also deserve a discussion that is civil .
These are torturous times , but we can and will have a respectful exchange about the big issues , '' moderator Susan Page of USA TODAY said in what appeared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's contentious debate between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden .
Trump 's battle with COVID-19 , which triggered a coronavirus19 outbreak at the White House in recent days , prompted the Commission on Presidential Debates to change what was already an unconventional debate series due to the ongoing pandemic .
Much like last week 's bruising cage match between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden , Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris ditched the traditional handshake that typically opens the debate .
The pair are not standing behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are spaced 12 feet and 3 inches apart .
Pence and Harris are also separated by plexiglass , a request made by Democrats but initially rebuffed by the vice president 's team .
Pence 's staff argued it was not necessary to protect against the spread of COVID-19 but later conceded to using the dividers .
The candidates are also separated from moderator Susan Page of USA TODAY by plexiglass .
More : Watch the vice presidential debate with live fact-checking by USA TODAY 's team of experts Trump , McEnany , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen administration officials , associates and others have tested positive Page personally chose the debate topics , which were not disclosed ahead of time .
The debate will be divided into nine segments of approximately 10 minutes each , with both candidates having two minutes each to answer .
Page will use the remainder of the time in each segment to continue the discussion .
Coronavirus , which has shaped the 2020 election more than any other issue , is expected to be front and center at Wednesday night 's debate .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
After several of the president 's family members flouted Cleveland Clinic safety protocols by taking off their masks while sitting in the audience of last week 's debate , the commission said it will remove anyone who refuses to wear a mask .
`` You have to have a mask to get in this hall , '' Frank Fahrenkopf , the co-chair of the Commission of Presidential Debates told CNN on Wednesday .
`` If you get in the hall and take the mask off , you will be approached and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you don ’ t put the mask back on , you ’ ll be removed from the premises.
” Wednesday 's showdown is the first face-to-face match-up between the campaigns since last week 's acrimonious debate between Trump and Biden .
The president continues to trail Biden in national polls .
A new CNN/SSRS poll released Tuesday found 57 % of likely voters support Biden while 41 % support Trump .
Both Harris and Pence announced they tested negative for COVID-19 ahead of the debate .

'We can and will have a respectful exchange': Harris, Pence wave to crowd, sit behind plexiglass to begin vice presidential debate
WASHINGTON – All eyes are on the vice presidential debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris in the first and only vice presidential debate.
The pair entered the stage on Wednesday night, waving to the audience before acknowledging each other and taking their seats.
"We want a debate that is lively, but Americans also deserve a discussion that is civil. These are torturous times, but we can and will have a respectful exchange about the big issues," moderator Susan Page of USA TODAY said in what appeared to a be a reference to last week's contentious debate between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump's battle with COVID-19, which triggered a coronavirus19 outbreak at the White House in recent days, prompted the Commission on Presidential Debates to change what was already an unconventional debate series due to the ongoing pandemic.
Much like last week's bruising cage match between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris ditched the traditional handshake that typically opens the debate.
The pair are not standing behind podiums but are instead seated at tables that are spaced 12 feet and 3 inches apart.
Pence and Harris are also separated by plexiglass, a request made by Democrats but initially rebuffed by the vice president's team. Pence's staff argued it was not necessary to protect against the spread of COVID-19 but later conceded to using the dividers. The candidates are also separated from moderator Susan Page of USA TODAY by plexiglass.
More: Watch the vice presidential debate with live fact-checking by USA TODAY's team of experts
Trump, McEnany, others test positive:More than two dozen administration officials, associates and others have tested positive
Page personally chose the debate topics, which were not disclosed ahead of time. The debate will be divided into nine segments of approximately 10 minutes each, with both candidates having two minutes each to answer.
Page will use the remainder of the time in each segment to continue the discussion.
Coronavirus, which has shaped the 2020 election more than any other issue, is expected to be front and center at Wednesday night's debate. More than 210,000 Americans have died from the virus.
After several of the president's family members flouted Cleveland Clinic safety protocols by taking off their masks while sitting in the audience of last week's debate, the commission said it will remove anyone who refuses to wear a mask.
"You have to have a mask to get in this hall," Frank Fahrenkopf, the co-chair of the Commission of Presidential Debates told CNN on Wednesday. "If you get in the hall and take the mask off, you will be approached and asked to put the mask back on. If you don’t put the mask back on, you’ll be removed from the premises.”
Wednesday's showdown is the first face-to-face match-up between the campaigns since last week's acrimonious debate between Trump and Biden. The president continues to trail Biden in national polls. A new CNN/SSRS poll released Tuesday found 57% of likely voters support Biden while 41% support Trump.
Both Harris and Pence announced they tested negative for COVID-19 ahead of the debate.
Contributing: Savannah Behrmann


usatoday--2020-10-08--Donald Trump returns to Oval Office, breaking COVID-19 quarantine, and talks up experimental drug

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump , confined to the White House residence since returning home from the hospital Monday where he was being treated for COVID-19 , spent Wednesday afternoon in the Oval Office and taped a video near it , even as the West Wing has become a hot zone for the virus .
`` I 'm standing in front of the Oval Office at the White House , which is always an exciting place to be , '' Trump said in the video he tweeted out in the late afternoon .
Trump 's return to the Oval Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff in an office building where the president and at least a dozen employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week .
Doctors had wanted Trump to stay in the White House residence and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines say patients are supposed to quarantine for at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms – in Trump 's case , last Thursday .
Since Trump announced last week he was diagnosed with COVID-19 , a growing list of White House officials have also tested positive for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miller , who revealed his diagnosis Tuesday .
Trump has sought to downplay the seriousness of the virus in an election year and has been eager to project an image of beating his own case of the disease and returning to normal .
After returning from a three-night hospital stay for treatment Monday , he told Americans they should n't fear the virus .
In his video , Trump echoed things he has said on the campaign trail .
He claimed there would `` soon '' be a COVID-19 vaccine , though doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blamed China for the pandemic , ignoring his own administration 's actions .
And he described his own illness in the past tense , telling other patients : `` You 're going to get better fast , just like I did . ''
The president also talked up the benefits of an experimental drug given to him during his treatment , REGN-COV2 , made by Regeneron , a New York biotech company .
He said his illness may have been a `` blessing from God , '' because it enabled him to discover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
Trump was able to get the Regeneron drug under a `` compassionate use '' exemption , which the company said it has granted to fewer than 10 people so far , after requests from their doctors and approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , a process that typically takes days to weeks .
Regeneron said compassionate use is `` only for rare and exceptional circumstances as we don ’ t want to raise false hopes among the many patients out there , '' said company spokeswoman Alexandra Bowie .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the White House , officials have set tougher protocols in the wake of the president 's COVID diagnoscase .
Many staff have been working from home and images of workers in full hazmat suits disinfecting parts of the White House have captured the public 's attention .
Safety precautions were taken , officials said .
Staff access to the president was limited , and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows – wearing a mask and other personal protective equipment – was in the Oval Office with the president the whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in PPE , was in and out of the office .
Aides refused to say whether Trump wore a mask .
Trump came into the Oval Office from the outside colonnade , officials said , so White House staff members `` were not exposed , '' an official said .
While in the Oval Office , Trump tweeted that he had been briefed on the threat of Hurricane Delta , and spoken with the governors of Louisiana and Texas .
Many of Trump 's employees do not consider the West Wing a safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week because aides are working from home , afraid to come to the office for fear of catching the virus that has infected Trump and more than a dozen colleagues over the past week .
Some members of the White House press corps are not working in the building , instead setting up chairs on the driveway outside the West Wing .
A table stacked with PPE just outside the West Wing A Marine guard posted himself outside the door to the West Wing shortly after 3 p.m .
ET ; the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional signal that the president , any president , is in the Oval Office .
Two administration officials confirmed that Trump worked out of the Oval Office .
They said Trump continues to speak with aides and congressional leaders , and to do the job as needed .
The president is also talking about the possibility of some kind of national address , or perhaps an another video .
“ He wants to speak to the American people and he will do so soon , '' said White House spokesperson Brian Morgenstern .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ time or a definite way he 'll do that . ''
Trump spent the morning and afternoon out of the public eye , though he was very active on Twitter – more than 40 tweets and re-tweets before 10 a.m. , many of them attacking election opponent Joe Biden and other Democrats .
In his daily memo on the president 's condition , presidential physician Conley quoted Trump offering his own prognosis .
`` The President this morning says ' I feel great ! ''
Conley wrote in a brief memo released by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exam and vital signs , including oxygen saturation and respiratory rate , all remain stable and in normal range . ''
More : Trump feels 'great ' with COVID-19 ; Pence and Harris face off tonight : Live updates More : Donald Trump 's COVID-19 treatment is similar to the average American hospitalized with coronavirus .
Only faster .
Conley also reported that Trump – who has not been seen in public since he returned to the White House on Monday night – has been fever-free for more than four days and symptom-free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president also `` has not needed nor received any supplemental oxygen since initial hospitalization , '' the doctor said .
Conley also reported that Trump 's blood work showed `` detectable levels '' of antibodies .
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden wished President Donald Trump well in taking therapeutic medications for COVID-19 , but questioned whether the illness was a blessing in disguise .
“ I think it ’ s a tragedy the president deals with COVID like it is something not to be worried about when already 210,000 people have died , @ @ @ @

Donald Trump returns to Oval Office, breaking COVID-19 quarantine, and talks up experimental drug
Show Caption Hide Caption Pres. Trump COVID-19 care included typical drugs, only faster President Trump received mostly the same treatment as anyone would get for COVID-19, except for one experimental drug and the speed of his care. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump, confined to the White House residence since returning home from the hospital Monday where he was being treated for COVID-19, spent Wednesday afternoon in the Oval Office and taped a video near it, even as the West Wing has become a hot zone for the virus.
"I'm standing in front of the Oval Office at the White House, which is always an exciting place to be," Trump said in the video he tweeted out in the late afternoon.
Trump's return to the Oval Office prompted a flurry of precautions by his staff in an office building where the president and at least a dozen employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week.
Doctors had wanted Trump to stay in the White House residence and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines say patients are supposed to quarantine for at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms – in Trump's case, last Thursday.
Since Trump announced last week he was diagnosed with COVID-19, a growing list of White House officials have also tested positive for the virus, most recently senior aide Stephen Miller, who revealed his diagnosis Tuesday.
Trump has sought to downplay the seriousness of the virus in an election year and has been eager to project an image of beating his own case of the disease and returning to normal. After returning from a three-night hospital stay for treatment Monday, he told Americans they shouldn't fear the virus.
In his video, Trump echoed things he has said on the campaign trail. He claimed there would "soon" be a COVID-19 vaccine, though doctors said it remains months away; he blamed China for the pandemic, ignoring his own administration's actions. And he described his own illness in the past tense, telling other patients: "You're going to get better fast, just like I did."
The president also talked up the benefits of an experimental drug given to him during his treatment, REGN-COV2, made by Regeneron, a New York biotech company.
He said his illness may have been a "blessing from God," because it enabled him to discover the "right drug" for combating it.
Trump was able to get the Regeneron drug under a "compassionate use" exemption, which the company said it has granted to fewer than 10 people so far, after requests from their doctors and approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a process that typically takes days to weeks.
Regeneron said compassionate use is "only for rare and exceptional circumstances as we don’t want to raise false hopes among the many patients out there," said company spokeswoman Alexandra Bowie.
COVID-19 has killed more than 210,000 Americans.
At the White House, officials have set tougher protocols in the wake of the president's COVID diagnosis. Many staff have been working from home and images of workers in full hazmat suits disinfecting parts of the White House have captured the public's attention.
Safety precautions were taken, officials said. Staff access to the president was limited, and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows – wearing a mask and other personal protective equipment – was in the Oval Office with the president the whole time; aide Dan Scavino, also in PPE, was in and out of the office.
Aides refused to say whether Trump wore a mask.
Trump came into the Oval Office from the outside colonnade, officials said, so White House staff members "were not exposed," an official said.
While in the Oval Office, Trump tweeted that he had been briefed on the threat of Hurricane Delta, and spoken with the governors of Louisiana and Texas.
Many of Trump's employees do not consider the West Wing a safe place. The building has been near-deserted this week because aides are working from home, afraid to come to the office for fear of catching the virus that has infected Trump and more than a dozen colleagues over the past week.
Some members of the White House press corps are not working in the building, instead setting up chairs on the driveway outside the West Wing.
A Marine guard posted himself outside the door to the West Wing shortly after 3 p.m. ET; the Marine's presence has long been the traditional signal that the president, any president, is in the Oval Office.
Two administration officials confirmed that Trump worked out of the Oval Office. They said Trump continues to speak with aides and congressional leaders, and to do the job as needed.
The president is also talking about the possibility of some kind of national address, or perhaps an another video.
“He wants to speak to the American people and he will do so soon," said White House spokesperson Brian Morgenstern. "I don't have an exact time or a definite way he'll do that."
Trump spent the morning and afternoon out of the public eye, though he was very active on Twitter – more than 40 tweets and re-tweets before 10 a.m., many of them attacking election opponent Joe Biden and other Democrats.
In his daily memo on the president's condition, presidential physician Conley quoted Trump offering his own prognosis.
"The President this morning says 'I feel great!" Conley wrote in a brief memo released by the White House. "His physical exam and vital signs, including oxygen saturation and respiratory rate, all remain stable and in normal range."
More: Trump feels 'great' with COVID-19; Pence and Harris face off tonight: Live updates
More: Donald Trump's COVID-19 treatment is similar to the average American hospitalized with coronavirus. Only faster.
Conley also reported that Trump – who has not been seen in public since he returned to the White House on Monday night – has been fever-free for more than four days and symptom-free for more than 24 hours.
The president also "has not needed nor received any supplemental oxygen since initial hospitalization," the doctor said.
Conley also reported that Trump's blood work showed "detectable levels" of antibodies.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden wished President Donald Trump well in taking therapeutic medications for COVID-19, but questioned whether the illness was a blessing in disguise.
“I think it’s a tragedy the president deals with COVID like it is something not to be worried about when already 210,000 people have died,” Biden said.
“I hope you stay healthy,” Biden added.


usatoday--2020-10-08--Security agency sees no 'malicious activity' in latest crash of Florida's online voter registration

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. — U.S. Chief Judge Mark Walker could decide Thursday whether to grant a request to stop the state from enforcing its voter registration deadline for the general election after the online system crashed due to an “ unprecedented ” volume of traffic .
For several hours before Monday ’ s midnight deadline , voters encountered error messages and delays in trying to get on the state ’ s website , after several days of intermittent glitches and interruptions .
” Would-be voters attempting to register to vote through the system were faced with error messages instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of voting rights groups said in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Tallahassee Tuesday against Gov .
Ron DeSantis and Secretary of State Laurel Lee .
The group is made up of Dream Defenders , New Florida Majority , Florida Immigrant Coalition , Organize Florida and a would-be voter who failed to register before Monday 's deadline .
They said the state 's decision to extend the deadline to 7 p.m. Tuesday was not enough time to capture all the people who tried but failed to register .
Oct. 6 : Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 'unprecedented ' volume of requests The coalition released a statement Wednesday afternoon that it was encouraged by the questions Walker asked of the state .
`` We believe it showed a willingness to understand the impact this has for aspiring voters , '' the group said .
`` We stress the urgency in resolving this matter and extending the voter registration deadline so that all eligible Floridians have the opportunity to vote and participate in the November 3 election .
During a status call Wednesday morning , Walker – who is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week – asked the state to provide data showing how many people per hour were registering before the system crashed and how many were registering afterwards .
“ Are we talking hundreds per hour , or tens of thousands trying to jam in ?
” Walker asked the state ’ s attorneys .
“ We were seeing 1.1 million per hour , ” said attorney Mohammed Jazil , a lawyer representing Secretary Lee .
`` That ’ s 6.6 million in a six-hour window , or the entire state of Colorado , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found it hard to believe there were 6.6 million eligible voters in Florida , but Jazil explained that every time someone hit the refresh button it also counted as a hit .
“ If you hit the refresh button 100 times , that counts as 100 hits , ” he explained .
Lee had asked state and federal law enforcement about whether the unusually high volume was a deliberate or malicious cyberattack to crash the system , but authorities found no such evidence .
Watch : How the US votes and why advocates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported today that CISA , the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security agency , said there were no signs of a cyberattack causing the outage and suggested instead that the state was n't prepared for the unprecedented volume of traffic .
`` Yesterday , Florida 's voter registration site was unavailable for portions of the evening due to a high volume of traffic .
At this point , there is no indication of malicious activity causing the outage , '' an agency spokesperson said .
`` We will continue to monitor the situation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2020 election . ''
The state 's OVR system has crashed several times since it went live in 2017 , including a month before the deadline for the 2018 primary , again during book closing for the November 2018 general election registration deadline , after the March Presidential Preferential Primary and before the August primary .
The site also went offline on National Voter Registration Day in 2019 .
`` Florida is aware that there is increased traffic on book closing days , but the state has not taken steps to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to accommodate the increased demand , '' the lawsuit claims .
In an interview in September with USA TODAY Network , Lee said the state was adding servers to expand its load-bearing capacity in advance of an expected surge due to the presidential election and the state 's own voter registration effort to get 2.2 million potential voters to register .
`` We believe there is still time to reopen registration , and get people into the system and still have poll books ready for the general election , '' said Stuart Naifeh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other plaintiffs .
`` Our view is it does n't matter , the reason for the shutdown , whether it was malicious attack or a capacity issue .
People should be able to register . ''

Security agency sees no 'malicious activity' in latest crash of Florida's online voter registration system
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
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — U.S. Chief Judge Mark Walker could decide Thursday whether to grant a request to stop the state from enforcing its voter registration deadline for the general election after the online system crashed due to an “unprecedented” volume of traffic.
For several hours before Monday’s midnight deadline, voters encountered error messages and delays in trying to get on the state’s website, after several days of intermittent glitches and interruptions.
”Would-be voters attempting to register to vote through the system were faced with error messages instead of successful voter registrations,” a coalition of voting rights groups said in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Tallahassee Tuesday against Gov. Ron DeSantis and Secretary of State Laurel Lee.
The group is made up of Dream Defenders, New Florida Majority, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Organize Florida and a would-be voter who failed to register before Monday's deadline. They said the state's decision to extend the deadline to 7 p.m. Tuesday was not enough time to capture all the people who tried but failed to register.
Oct. 6: Florida reopens voter registration after system crashed due to 'unprecedented' volume of requests
The coalition released a statement Wednesday afternoon that it was encouraged by the questions Walker asked of the state.
"We believe it showed a willingness to understand the impact this has for aspiring voters," the group said. "We stress the urgency in resolving this matter and extending the voter registration deadline so that all eligible Floridians have the opportunity to vote and participate in the November 3 election.
During a status call Wednesday morning, Walker – who is also presiding over a federal case in Gainesville this week – asked the state to provide data showing how many people per hour were registering before the system crashed and how many were registering afterwards.
“Are we talking hundreds per hour, or tens of thousands trying to jam in?” Walker asked the state’s attorneys.
“We were seeing 1.1 million per hour,” said attorney Mohammed Jazil, a lawyer representing Secretary Lee. "That’s 6.6 million in a six-hour window, or the entire state of Colorado, which was unusual.”
Walker said he found it hard to believe there were 6.6 million eligible voters in Florida, but Jazil explained that every time someone hit the refresh button it also counted as a hit.
“If you hit the refresh button 100 times, that counts as 100 hits,” he explained.
Lee had asked state and federal law enforcement about whether the unusually high volume was a deliberate or malicious cyberattack to crash the system, but authorities found no such evidence.
Watch: How the US votes and why advocates say the system needs to change
C/Net reported today that CISA, the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security agency, said there were no signs of a cyberattack causing the outage and suggested instead that the state wasn't prepared for the unprecedented volume of traffic.
"Yesterday, Florida's voter registration site was unavailable for portions of the evening due to a high volume of traffic. At this point, there is no indication of malicious activity causing the outage," an agency spokesperson said. "We will continue to monitor the situation and support Florida and other states in protecting the 2020 election."
The state's OVR system has crashed several times since it went live in 2017, including a month before the deadline for the 2018 primary, again during book closing for the November 2018 general election registration deadline, after the March Presidential Preferential Primary and before the August primary.
The site also went offline on National Voter Registration Day in 2019.
"Florida is aware that there is increased traffic on book closing days, but the state has not taken steps to ensure that the site has the necessary capacity to accommodate the increased demand," the lawsuit claims.
In an interview in September with USA TODAY Network, Lee said the state was adding servers to expand its load-bearing capacity in advance of an expected surge due to the presidential election and the state's own voter registration effort to get 2.2 million potential voters to register.
"We believe there is still time to reopen registration, and get people into the system and still have poll books ready for the general election," said Stuart Naifeh, a lawyer for the Dream Defenders and other plaintiffs.
"Our view is it doesn't matter, the reason for the shutdown, whether it was malicious attack or a capacity issue. People should be able to register."
Follow Jeff Schweers on Twitter @jeffschweers


usatoday--2020-10-07--How's Melania? First lady 'feels well' and POTUS is feeling 'great!'

It 's been five days since first lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and she 's not been heard from but for a few tweets .
So what 's her status now that President Donald Trump has returned to the White House from the hospital and is trumpeting about how great he feels ?
She 's not saying anything on Twitter but her chief of staff says the first lady is good .
`` She continues to feel well , '' Stephanie Grisham , told USA TODAY on Wednesday .
Both are isolating at home , Trump in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experienced at least mild symptoms of the virus , and Grisham because much of the White House staff , including all of the East Wing staff , are working from home for the time being .
On Tuesday evening , Trump , 50 , tweeted her regrets for having to miss an engagement with Housing Secretary Ben Carson in Colorado , but she did n't mention anything about how she 's feeling .
`` While I wish I could have joined @ SecretaryCarson today as planned , I ’ m glad to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with # FYI to make sure our foster youth have a safe place to call home # BeBest , '' she tweeted .
Carson went to Colorado Christian University in Lakewood to see the impact of Fostering Youth to Independence , a Housing and Urban Development program to support young adults who have aged out of foster care .
Grisham said the trip was intended to be part of Trump 's `` Be Best '' initiative to promote the well-being of children .
Even before the pandemic hit in the spring , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and since she announced she tested positive early Friday , all of her engagements and campaign events have been cancelled for the time being .
Meanwhile , the president , 74 , who spent three nights at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in suburban Maryland being treated for his COVID-19 symptoms , is back at the White House and tweeting , often in all caps .
`` THE FAKE NEWS MEDIA IS THE REAL OPPOSITION PARTY ! ''
he posted on Wednesday .
He 's supposed to be quarantined in the residence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's mingling with his wife or their son , Barron , 14 , who tested negative .
The president has long been more forthcoming in public , especially on Twitter , about his feelings and status than his wife , who was a low-key FLOTUS even before the pandemic hit in the spring .
Melania Trump 's last tweet on her health was Monday , when she said she was feeling good and resting at the White House .
`` My family is grateful for all of the prayers & support !
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest at home .
Thank you to medical staff & caretakers everywhere , & my continued prayers for those who are ill or have a family member impacted by the virus , '' her post on her official Twitter account read .
Since then , multiple members of the president 's White House staff , including press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and top aides Hope Hicks , Nicholas Luna and Stephen Miller , have announced they have tested positive and are staying home .
Other staffers who have not tested positive are working from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the virus in what has become the capital 's chief virus hot spot .
Reporters who cover the White House say it 's almost empty as a result .

How's Melania? First lady 'feels well' and POTUS is feeling 'great!'
Show Caption Hide Caption President Donald Trump, first lady test positive for coronavirus President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19 and "will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately." USA TODAY
It's been five days since first lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and she's not been heard from but for a few tweets. So what's her status now that President Donald Trump has returned to the White House from the hospital and is trumpeting about how great he feels?
She's not saying anything on Twitter but her chief of staff says the first lady is good.
"She continues to feel well," Stephanie Grisham, told USA TODAY on Wednesday.
Both are isolating at home, Trump in the White House because she tested positive and experienced at least mild symptoms of the virus, and Grisham because much of the White House staff, including all of the East Wing staff, are working from home for the time being.
On Tuesday evening, Trump, 50, tweeted her regrets for having to miss an engagement with Housing Secretary Ben Carson in Colorado, but she didn't mention anything about how she's feeling.
"While I wish I could have joined @SecretaryCarson today as planned, I’m glad to see the incredible work @HUDgov is doing with #FYI to make sure our foster youth have a safe place to call home #BeBest," she tweeted.
Carson went to Colorado Christian University in Lakewood to see the impact of Fostering Youth to Independence, a Housing and Urban Development program to support young adults who have aged out of foster care.
Grisham said the trip was intended to be part of Trump's "Be Best" initiative to promote the well-being of children.
While I wish I could have joined @SecretaryCarson today as planned, I’m glad to see the incredible work @HUDgov is doing with #FYI to make sure our foster youth have a safe place to call home #BeBest https://t.co/d49HVSTsfQ — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 6, 2020
Even before the pandemic hit in the spring, Trump rarely announced her schedule in advance, and since she announced she tested positive early Friday, all of her engagements and campaign events have been cancelled for the time being.
Meanwhile, the president, 74, who spent three nights at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in suburban Maryland being treated for his COVID-19 symptoms, is back at the White House and tweeting, often in all caps.
"THE FAKE NEWS MEDIA IS THE REAL OPPOSITION PARTY!" he posted on Wednesday.
He's supposed to be quarantined in the residence but it's not clear if he's mingling with his wife or their son, Barron, 14, who tested negative.
"FEELING GREAT!" he posted Tuesday.
FEELING GREAT! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2020
The president has long been more forthcoming in public, especially on Twitter, about his feelings and status than his wife, who was a low-key FLOTUS even before the pandemic hit in the spring.
Melania Trump's last tweet on her health was Monday, when she said she was feeling good and resting at the White House.
"My family is grateful for all of the prayers & support! I am feeling good & will continue to rest at home. Thank you to medical staff & caretakers everywhere, & my continued prayers for those who are ill or have a family member impacted by the virus," her post on her official Twitter account read.
My family is grateful for all of the prayers & support! I am feeling good & will continue to rest at home. Thank you to medical staff & caretakers everywhere, & my continued prayers for those who are ill or have a family member impacted by the virus. — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 5, 2020
Since then, multiple members of the president's White House staff, including press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and top aides Hope Hicks, Nicholas Luna and Stephen Miller, have announced they have tested positive and are staying home.
Other staffers who have not tested positive are working from home, too, to reduce the spread of the virus in what has become the capital's chief virus hot spot. Reporters who cover the White House say it's almost empty as a result.


usatoday--2020-10-07--Jacob Blake released from hospital, transferred to spinal cord rehab center in Chicago

MILWAUKEE – Jacob Blake , whose shooting by a Kenosha police officer led to unrest in the city and sparked protests around the nation , has left the Wisconsin hospital where he 'd been recovering and moved to a spinal cord injury rehabilitation center in Chicago .
Attorney Patrick Cafferty , who represents Blake on potential criminal charges , said he had no other details about Blake 's condition .
Messages to Blake 's other lawyer , nationally known civil rights attorney Ben Crump , were not immediately returned Wednesday .
Blake , 29 , was shot in the back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a car Aug. 23 as police with guns drawn were ordering him to stop .
An attorney for Officer Rusten Sheskey , who fired seven times at Blake , has said Blake had a knife , and appeared to be preparing to drive away with his three children in the car .
Sheskey is on administrative leave while the state Department of Justice investigates the shooting .
Former Madison police chief Noble Wray has been hired by the DOJ to review its findings .
Background : Jacob Blake was shot less than 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene , according to dispatch audio Crump has said his client was unarmed and was paralyzed from the waist down by the shooting .
Blake had been at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa , Wisconsin , for treatment until his transfer .
Derek Chauvin : Ex-police officer accused of killing George Floyd out on $ 1 million bail 'We are overwhelmed ' : COVID-19 cases rising in 39 states – 9 months into the pandemic

Bruce Vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Jacob Blake released from hospital, transferred to spinal cord rehab center in Chicago
Show Caption Hide Caption Jacob Blake speaks from hospital bed: Life can change in an instant Jacob Blake delivered the minute-long video from his hospital bed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. USA TODAY, Wochit
MILWAUKEE – Jacob Blake, whose shooting by a Kenosha police officer led to unrest in the city and sparked protests around the nation, has left the Wisconsin hospital where he'd been recovering and moved to a spinal cord injury rehabilitation center in Chicago.
Attorney Patrick Cafferty, who represents Blake on potential criminal charges, said he had no other details about Blake's condition.
Messages to Blake's other lawyer, nationally known civil rights attorney Ben Crump, were not immediately returned Wednesday.
Blake, 29, was shot in the back multiple times as he was getting into a car Aug. 23 as police with guns drawn were ordering him to stop.
An attorney for Officer Rusten Sheskey, who fired seven times at Blake, has said Blake had a knife, and appeared to be preparing to drive away with his three children in the car. Sheskey is on administrative leave while the state Department of Justice investigates the shooting. Former Madison police chief Noble Wray has been hired by the DOJ to review its findings.
Background: Jacob Blake was shot less than 3 minutes after Wisconsin police arrived at the scene, according to dispatch audio
Crump has said his client was unarmed and was paralyzed from the waist down by the shooting. Blake had been at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, for treatment until his transfer.
Follow reporter Bruce Vielmetti on Twitter at @ProofHearsay.
Derek Chauvin: Ex-police officer accused of killing George Floyd out on $1 million bail
'We are overwhelmed': COVID-19 cases rising in 39 states – 9 months into the pandemic


usatoday--2020-10-07--Postal worker charged after nearly 2,000 pieces of mail, including ballots, found in trash

A 26-year-old postal worker from New Jersey faces federal charges after nearly 2,000 pieces of mail , including ballots , were found discarded in dumpsters , but prosecutors do not believe there was any political motive in the case .
Nicholas Beauchene faces charges of delay , secretion or detention of mail and obstruction of mail after about 1,875 pieces of mail , including 99 general election ballots , intended for Essex County , New Jersey , locations were found in dumpsters on Friday and Monday , U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said .
U.S. Attorney Sara Merin had asked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because Beauchene had resigned from his job with the postal service and admitted to dumping the mail , though there was “ no indication that there was any political motive.
” Beauchene did not say anything during his first court appearance , which was held Wednesday via Zoom .
He was released on $ 25,000 bail into the custody of his brother .
Election 2020 : When early voting and mail voting for president begins in every state The mail had been scheduled to be delivered on Sept. 28 , Oct. 1 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain postal routes , and Beauchene was the only mail carrier assigned to deliver mail to the addresses on the recovered mail , Carpenito said .
The recovered mail was placed back into the mail stream for delivery to its intended recipients .
Copies of the recovered mail were made and retained as evidence , said Carpenito .
In addition to the ballots there were 627 pieces of first class , 873 pieces of standard class , two pieces of certified mail and 276 campaign flyers from local candidates for West Orange Town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carpenito said .
The delay of mail charge is punishable by a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $ 250,000 fine .
The obstruction of mail charge is punishable by a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $ 5,000 fine .

Postal worker charged after nearly 2,000 pieces of mail, including ballots, found in trash
Show Caption Hide Caption Elections 2020: Mail-in voting could decide next president Many states are planning on drastically different elections this year and mail-in ballots could be a big game changer. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
A 26-year-old postal worker from New Jersey faces federal charges after nearly 2,000 pieces of mail, including ballots, were found discarded in dumpsters, but prosecutors do not believe there was any political motive in the case.
Nicholas Beauchene faces charges of delay, secretion or detention of mail and obstruction of mail after about 1,875 pieces of mail, including 99 general election ballots, intended for Essex County, New Jersey, locations were found in dumpsters on Friday and Monday, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.
U.S. Attorney Sara Merin had asked for bail to be set at $50,000 because Beauchene had resigned from his job with the Postal Service and admitted dumping the mail, though there was “no indication that there was any political motive.”
Beauchene did not say anything during his first court appearance, which was held Wednesday via Zoom. He was released on $25,000 bail into the custody of his brother.
More: Trump makes unfounded claims about mail-in voting
Election 2020: When early voting and mail voting for president begins in every state
The mail had been scheduled to be delivered Sept. 28, Oct. 1, and Oct. 2, to addresses on certain postal routes, and Beauchene was the only mail carrier assigned to deliver mail to the addresses on the recovered mail, Carpenito said.
The recovered mail was placed back into the mail stream for delivery to its intended recipients. Copies of the recovered mail were made and retained as evidence, said Carpenito.
In addition to the ballots, there were 627 pieces of first class, 873 pieces of standard class, two pieces of certified mail and 276 campaign flyers from local candidates for West Orange Town Council and Board of Education recovered, Carpenito said.
The delay of mail charge is punishable by a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The obstruction of mail charge is punishable by a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Follow Katie Sobko on Twitter: @katesobko


usatoday--2020-10-08--Texas man who sold AR-15 rifle used in 2019 Midland-Odessa mass shooting pleads guilty to dealing fi

LUBBOCK , Texas — The man who sold the AR-15 rifle used to shoot 32 people in the West Texas towns of Midland and Odessa last year has pleaded guilty to a gun crime , U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox announced Wednesday in a Justice Department news release .
Marcus Anthony Braziel , 45 , of Lubbock , pleaded guilty to one count of dealing firearms without a license and one count of subscribing to a false tax return before U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix on Wednesday .
“ If you ’ re a firearms dealer — whether you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store , in your basement , or online — you must ensure that a background check is conducted on your purchasers , ” said Cox .
Braziel entered a guilty plea roughly a month after surviving family members of the mass shooting filed a separate lawsuit seeking more than $ 1 million in damages against both Braziel and an arms manufacturer .
The lawsuit , which claims the AR-15 used by the mass shooter was illegally obtained through Braziel and manufactured by Anderson Arms , seeks `` to hold accountable the actors that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the firearm that was used in the shooting . ''
Surviving family members said they also hoped `` by imposing accountability on the defendants for their negligence and violations of the law , that they might prevent future gun violence and future gun deaths in Texas , and beyond , '' according to the petition .
In plea papers , Braziel admitted he sold Midland-Odessa shooter Seth Aaron Ator an AR-15-style rifle on Oct. 8 , 2016 , according to the release .
Ator used the same weapon to murder seven people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Aug. 31 , 2019 , before law enforcement ended the shooter 's life with gunfire of their own , he left a trail of grief for the families of his victims : Leilah Hernandez , 15 ; Mary Granados , 29 ; Joseph Griffith , 40 ; Rodolfo “ Rudy ” Arco , 57 ; Kameron Brown , 30 ; Edwin Peregrino , 25 ; and Raul Garcia , 35 .
Midland-Odessa shooting : Autopsy reveals shooter not under the influence of drugs or alcohol Officials determined Ator was “ mentally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possessing firearms , according to the Justice Department news release .
He first attempted to purchase a gun from a sporting goods store , but was rejected after the National Instant Criminal Background Check System ( NICS ) flagged his mental status .
Ator was able to circumvent the NICS system by purchasing a gun from Braziel , who elected not to run background checks on any of his buyers , according to the release .
“ As this case makes clear , dealing firearms without a license isn ’ t some obscure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conduct that has real-world impact and the potential for devastating results , '' Cox said in the release .
`` The Justice Department is committed to enforcing our nation ’ s long-held gun laws , designed to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
” In addition to selling firearms without a license , Braziel admitted he concealed the income from his firearms sales from the IRS .
Justice Department officials said Braziel faces up to five years in federal prison .
His sentencing has been set for in January 2021 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in West Texas .
Send him a news tip at JTufts @ Gannett.com .

Texas man who sold AR-15 rifle used in 2019 Midland-Odessa mass shooting pleads guilty to dealing firearms without license
Show Caption Hide Caption At least 5 dead in mass shooting in Midland-Odessa, Texas A traffic stop triggered a deadly shooting rampage. Fox - 26 Houston, Fox - 26 Houston
LUBBOCK, Texas — The man who sold the AR-15 rifle used to shoot 32 people in the West Texas towns of Midland and Odessa last year has pleaded guilty to a gun crime, U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox announced Wednesday in a Justice Department news release.
Marcus Anthony Braziel, 45, of Lubbock, pleaded guilty to one count of dealing firearms without a license and one count of subscribing to a false tax return before U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix on Wednesday.
“If you’re a firearms dealer — whether you’re selling out of a brick-and-mortar store, in your basement, or online — you must ensure that a background check is conducted on your purchasers,” said Cox.
Braziel entered a guilty plea roughly a month after surviving family members of the mass shooting filed a separate lawsuit seeking more than $1 million in damages against both Braziel and an arms manufacturer.
The lawsuit, which claims the AR-15 used by the mass shooter was illegally obtained through Braziel and manufactured by Anderson Arms, seeks "to hold accountable the actors that manufactured, profited from, and supplied the firearm that was used in the shooting."
Surviving family members said they also hoped "by imposing accountability on the defendants for their negligence and violations of the law, that they might prevent future gun violence and future gun deaths in Texas, and beyond," according to the petition.
In plea papers, Braziel admitted he sold Midland-Odessa shooter Seth Aaron Ator an AR-15-style rifle on Oct. 8, 2016, according to the release. Ator used the same weapon to murder seven people and wound 25 others nearly three years later.
On Aug. 31, 2019, before law enforcement ended the shooter's life with gunfire of their own, he left a trail of grief for the families of his victims: Leilah Hernandez, 15; Mary Granados, 29; Joseph Griffith, 40; Rodolfo “Rudy” Arco, 57; Kameron Brown, 30; Edwin Peregrino, 25; and Raul Garcia, 35.
Midland-Odessa shooting: Autopsy reveals shooter not under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Officials determined Ator was “mentally defective” and therefore legally prohibited from possessing firearms, according to the Justice Department news release. He first attempted to purchase a gun from a sporting goods store, but was rejected after the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) flagged his mental status.
Ator was able to circumvent the NICS system by purchasing a gun from Braziel, who elected not to run background checks on any of his buyers, according to the release.
“As this case makes clear, dealing firearms without a license isn’t some obscure, technical violation. It is unlawful conduct that has real-world impact and the potential for devastating results," Cox said in the release. "The Justice Department is committed to enforcing our nation’s long-held gun laws, designed to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.”
In addition to selling firearms without a license, Braziel admitted he concealed the income from his firearms sales from the IRS.
Justice Department officials said Braziel faces up to five years in federal prison. His sentencing has been set for in January 2021.
John Tufts covers enterprise and investigative topics in West Texas. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.


usatoday--2020-10-07--Disneyland: Calif. governor says there's 'no hurry' to reopen theme parks with COVID-19 rules

LOS ANGELES — Disneyland and other large theme parks in the Golden State wo n't be reopening anytime soon , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Wednesday .
In fact , he said the state `` is in no hurry in putting out guidelines , '' the rules that theme parks would need to operate safely as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage .
His grim pronouncement marked a turnabout from last month , when Newsom said he expected the guidelines to be issued `` very , very shortly '' as the state negotiated with the industry .
Newsom 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disneyland and to the city of Anaheim , east of Los Angeles , where what is normally the Happiest Place on Earth is the largest employer .
`` We do n't anticipate in the immediate term any of these larger theme parks opening until we see more stability in terms of the data , '' Newsom said at a news conference .
Besides the Disneyland Resort complex , which also includes the California Adventure theme park , southern California is also home to Knott 's Berry Farm , Universal Studios Hollywood and SeaWorld @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Universal Studios at odds with California over expected theme park guidelines Disneyland has been shuttered since March , when businesses across the country shut down in response to the pandemic .
While Walt Disney World in Orlando , Florida , reopened with reduced capacity in July , Anaheim 's Disneyland has remained closed even as California has seen a gradual reduction in the number of new COVID-19 infections and deaths .
A trade group presenting theme parks , the California Attractions and Parks Association , said there is no reason for the attractions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence they can reopen safely .
`` We find it disconcerting that Governor Newsom has no planned timeline for issuing guidance for theme parks , and of great concern that he does not anticipate theme parks opening soon , '' wrote Executive Director Erin Guerrero .
Disneyland and Anaheim officials have been trying to step up the pressure on Newsom to issue the guidelines .
`` As soon as a date and those guidelines are set , I can tell you , we ’ re ready , '' Josh D'Amaro , chairman of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unit , told Roger Dow , CEO of the U.S. Travel Association trade group , in August .
More : Disneyland 'ready ' to reopen when California allows ; Florida governor OK with raising park capacity They have n't come soon enough to hold back staff reductions .
Disney announced Sept. 29 that it is laying off 28,000 theme-park division workers in Florida and in California .
A month ago , state guidelines looked like they were days away .
Newsom said , `` We will be making announcements soon as it relates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' But they never came .
More : At least a quarter of Disney 's 28,000 layoffs will be coming from Florida On Wednesday , he said science and data will determine when it 's safe to reopen amusement parks , which he likened to small cities in their complexity when it comes to safety .
`` We are going to be led by a health-first framework and we 're going to be stubborn about it and that 's our commitment , '' Newsom said .

Disney slams California governor after he slows reopening of California theme parks
Show Caption Hide Caption Little boy's happy place is with Disney characters Diagnosed with Autism and microcephaly, four-year-old Evan finds joy and comfort in all the cast members around Disneyland. Humankind, USA TODAY
LOS ANGELES – Disneyland and other large theme parks in the Golden State won't be reopening anytime soon, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday.
In fact, he said the state "is in no hurry in putting out guidelines," the rules that theme parks would need to operate safely as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage. His grim pronouncement marked a turnabout from last month, when Newsom said he expected the guidelines to be issued "very, very shortly" as the state negotiated with the industry.
Newsom's latest declaration comes as a blow to Disneyland and to the city of Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, where what is normally the Happiest Place on Earth is the largest employer.
"We don't anticipate in the immediate term any of these larger theme parks opening until we see more stability in terms of the data," Newsom said at a news conference.
Besides the Disneyland Resort complex, which also includes the California Adventure theme park, Southern California is also home to Knott's Berry Farm, Universal Studios Hollywood and SeaWorld San Diego.
More: Disneyland, Universal Studios at odds with California over expected theme park guidelines
Disneyland has been shuttered since March, when businesses across the country shut down in response to the pandemic. While Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, reopened with reduced capacity in July, Anaheim's Disneyland has remained closed even as California has seen a gradual reduction in the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths.
A trade group presenting theme parks, the California Attractions and Parks Association, said there is no reason for the attractions to remain closed when there is ample evidence they can reopen safely.
"We find it disconcerting that Governor Newsom has no planned timeline for issuing guidance for theme parks, and of great concern that he does not anticipate theme parks opening soon," wrote Executive Director Erin Guerrero.
Disneyland and Anaheim officials have been trying to step up the pressure on Newsom to issue the guidelines. "As soon as a date and those guidelines are set, I can tell you, we’re ready," Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney's parks, products and experiences unit, told Roger Dow, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association trade group, in August.
More: Disneyland 'ready' to reopen when California allows; Florida governor OK with raising park capacity
They haven't come soon enough to hold back staff reductions. Disney announced Sept. 29 that it was laying off 28,000 theme-park division workers in Florida and in California.
A month ago, state guidelines looked as if they were days away. Newsom said, "We will be making announcements soon as it relates to theme parks and amusement parks." But they never came.
More: At least a quarter of Disney's 28,000 layoffs will be coming from Florida
On Wednesday, he said science and data will determine when it's safe to reopen amusement parks, which he likened to small cities in their complexity when it comes to safety.
"We are going to be led by a health-first framework, and we're going to be stubborn about it, and that's our commitment," Newsom said.
Disney countered Newsom's assessment.
"We absolutely reject the suggestion that reopening the Disneyland Resort is incompatible with a 'health-first' approach," Dr. Pamela Hymel, chief medical officer for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, said in a statement shared on Disney Parks' Twitter account.
She added: "All of our other theme parks both in the United States and around the world have been allowed to open on the strength of our proven ability to operate with responsible health and safety protocols."