usatoday--2020-08-05--Surprise! Amazon's Big Summer Sale is here and the discounts are amazing

— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed ’ s editors .
Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission .
Amazon reigns supreme when it comes to top-notch deals on a normal day , so any extra markdowns are just icing on top of the savings cake .
Today just so happens to be one to celebrate , as the retailer has launched its Big Summer Sale—a new savings event that boasting a slew of impressive seasonal discounts on a wide variety of products .
From home décor and office supplies to kids ’ toys and games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best-selling items , and we ’ ve sought out some of the most popular options for your convenience .
Need help finding products ?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter .
It ’ s free and you can unsubscribe at any time .
This Dash rapid egg cooker , for instance , is on sale for $ 14.99 in the aqua and white hues , which is a 25 % markdown from its original price of $ 19.99 and matches the Prime Day discount we saw last year .
We tried this cult-favorite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprised with the results .
While we knew it was an über-popular kitchen item ( it has more than 15,911 ratings reviews and a 4.7-star rating ) , we didn ’ t know just how well it would work to produce perfectly poached eggs , incredible hard-boiled yolks and fluffy omelets until we gave it a go .
It comes with a poaching tray , an omelet tray , a holder that 's large enough to cook six eggs at a time , and a measuring cup .
In testing , our eggs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after we got the hang of the machine , they came out completely mess-free .
You can also nab this Shark Rocket DeluxePro corded stick vacuum for only $ 159.99 , which shaves $ 120 off its usual $ 279.99 .
While we have n't yet tested this ultra-powerful cleaner out for ourselves , our lab manager , Jon Chan , can attest that Shark is a super dependable brand .
`` [ The vacuum ] has the same pet multitool that full-sized Sharks have , and a brush head studded with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can escape , '' he said .
`` Basically , what you 're getting is a vacuum that 's compact like [ a ] cordless that never runs out of batteries . ''
Perfect for quick pick-ups around the house , this thin vacuum also has high ratings for its versatility and suction power , with many shoppers maintaining that it 's great for stairs and hardwood floors .
Everyday items , like these Keurig K-Cups , are reduced as low as $ 20.79 for a set of 72 .
Keurig owners know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expensive part of owning a single-serve coffee machine , so grabbing them at a discount when possible is of the utmost importance .
This variety pack includes flavors from customer-loved brands such as The Original Donut Shop Coffee and Green Mountain , and is currently on sale for $ 34.39—14 % off its usual $ 40.11 .
This assortment has a 4.6-star rating from more than 14,000 reviewers , many of whom rave about the wide variety of brews and tasteful notes of the included coffees .
This super exciting sale won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neither will the savings : All the more reason to shop ‘ til you drop !
The best deals from the Big Summer Sale • Get the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker for $ 14.99 ( Originally $ 19.99 ) • Get the Vornado Pivot Personal Air Circulator Fan for $ 17 ( Originally $ 19.99 ) • Get the Keurig K-Cup Variety Pack , 72-count for $ 34.39 ( Originally $ 40.11 ) • Get the Greenworks 13-inch 40V Cordless String Trimmer for $ 44.44 ( Originally $ 52.28 ) • Get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 79.95 ( Originally $ 89.89 ) • Get the Greenworks 40V 3AH Smart Lithium-Ion USB Battery for $ 84.99 ( Originally $ 99.99 ) • Get the Greenworks MO40B00 40V 14-inch Cordless Lawn Mower for $ 110.76 ( Originally $ 149 ) • Get the Shark Rocket DeluxePro Ultra-Light Upright Corded Stick Vacuum for $ 159.99 ( Originally $ 279.99 ) • Get the Beats Powerbeats Pro for $ 199.99 ( Save $ 50 ) The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered .
Follow Reviewed on Facebook , Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reviews , and more .
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time .

Surprise! Amazon's Big Summer Sale is here and the discounts are amazing
— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
Amazon reigns supreme when it comes to top-notch deals on a normal day, so any extra markdowns are just icing on top of the savings cake. Today just so happens to be one to celebrate, as the retailer has launched its Big Summer Sale—a new savings event that boasting a slew of impressive seasonal discounts on a wide variety of products. From home décor and office supplies to kids’ toys and games, this incredible sale encompasses hundreds of best-selling items, and we’ve sought out some of the most popular options for your convenience.
Need help finding products? Sign up for our weekly newsletter. It’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time.
This Dash rapid egg cooker, for instance, is on sale for $14.99 in the aqua and white hues, which is a 25% markdown from its original price of $19.99 and matches the Prime Day discount we saw last year. We tried this cult-favorite product out last year and were pleasantly surprised with the results. While we knew it was an über-popular kitchen item (it has more than 15,911 ratings reviews and a 4.7-star rating), we didn’t know just how well it would work to produce perfectly poached eggs, incredible hard-boiled yolks and fluffy omelets until we gave it a go. It comes with a poaching tray, an omelet tray, a holder that's large enough to cook six eggs at a time, and a measuring cup. In testing, our eggs never burned, and, more importantly, after we got the hang of the machine, they came out completely mess-free.
You can also nab this Shark Rocket DeluxePro corded stick vacuum for only $159.99, which shaves $120 off its usual $279.99. While we haven't yet tested this ultra-powerful cleaner out for ourselves, our lab manager, Jon Chan, can attest that Shark is a super dependable brand. "[The vacuum] has the same pet multitool that full-sized Sharks have, and a brush head studded with LED lights so that no dust bunnies can escape," he said. "Basically, what you're getting is a vacuum that's compact like [a] cordless that never runs out of batteries."
Perfect for quick pick-ups around the house, this thin vacuum also has high ratings for its versatility and suction power, with many shoppers maintaining that it's great for stairs and hardwood floors.
Everyday items, like these Keurig K-Cups, are reduced as low as $20.79 for a set of 72. Keurig owners know that coffee pods can be the most expensive part of owning a single-serve coffee machine, so grabbing them at a discount when possible is of the utmost importance. This variety pack includes flavors from customer-loved brands such as The Original Donut Shop Coffee and Green Mountain, and is currently on sale for $34.39—14% off its usual $40.11. This assortment has a 4.6-star rating from more than 14,000 reviewers, many of whom rave about the wide variety of brews and tasteful notes of the included coffees.
This super exciting sale won’t last forever, though, and neither will the savings: All the more reason to shop ‘til you drop!
The best deals from the Big Summer Sale
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--2020-08-05--Look before you lock: Child safety advocates worry about hot car deaths amid COVID-19 stress and ris

In the first seven months of 2020 , 14 children in the U.S. died in hot cars , according to child safety website KidsAndCars.org .
That ’ s significantly down from the record-setting years of 2018 and 2019 .
Why ?
“ A lot of these deaths are completely accidental and are caused by parents simply leaving their children in their car for too long .
But when you shelter-in-place at home and nobody ’ s going to work , you reduce that risk , ” Janette Fennell , who runs KidsAndCars.org , told USA TODAY .
But child safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic might bring new risk factors as the mercury rises through August and into September .
According to David Diamond , a professor in the University of South Florida ’ s psychology department , the overriding stress caused by the ongoing public health emergency has the potential to impact how our memory functions .
That , he said , can lead to fatal mistakes .
“ In a sense , we ’ re always memory multi-tasking .
Part of that can be impacted by stress , '' Diamond said .
`` When we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the most vulnerable because that ’ s when we lose awareness of our child in the back seat . ''
'Look before you lock ' : There 's science behind why parents leave kids in hot cars Diamond ’ s research into memory has shown that the unintentional reprioritization of stressors is n't always the way we 'd want to organize our own priorities , especially in the face of stress .
`` When we ’ re experiencing stress , the most imminent stressor tends to become the most important one — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brain functions , '' he said .
`` For example , when you ’ re late to work , it ’ s easy to hyperfocus on that and lose sight of other more important things . ''
KidsandCars.org has a list of daily tips to avoid vehicular heatstroke .
One piece of advice : Make it a habit to open the back door every time you park to ensure nobody is inside .
To enforce this habit , place an essential item ( like key or a cellphone ) in the back seat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day without taking a look before you lock .
Secondly , have back-up measures in place , like asking your child-care provider to call you if your child hasn ’ t arrived on schedule .
“ It ’ s important to realize that the vast majority of these deaths aren ’ t negligent parents , '' Fennell said .
`` We need to take responsibility for our children but , more importantly , we need to make sure to take responsibility for our flawed memory so no child is forgotten in the car.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicular heatstroke in both 2018 and 2019 .
Thirty-five of the record 54 fatalities in 2018 happened in the first seven months of the year .
There were 53 deaths last year , including 26 in the first seven months .

Look before you lock: Child safety advocates worry about hot car deaths amid COVID-19 stress and rising temperatures
Show Caption Hide Caption 5 life-saving suggestions about hot cars Studies find that hot cars can become deadly in as little as an hour for children and pets trapped inside. USA TODAY
In the first seven months of 2020, 14 children in the U.S. died in hot cars, according to child safety website KidsAndCars.org.
That’s significantly down from the record-setting years of 2018 and 2019. Why?
“A lot of these deaths are completely accidental and are caused by parents simply leaving their children in their car for too long. But when you shelter-in-place at home and nobody’s going to work, you reduce that risk,” Janette Fennell, who runs KidsAndCars.org, told USA TODAY.
But child safety advocates like Fennell worry that the COVID-19 pandemic might bring new risk factors as the mercury rises through August and into September.
According to David Diamond, a professor in the University of South Florida’s psychology department, the overriding stress caused by the ongoing public health emergency has the potential to impact how our memory functions. That, he said, can lead to fatal mistakes.
“In a sense, we’re always memory multi-tasking. Part of that can be impacted by stress," Diamond said. "When we face a stressful situation, our memory is the most vulnerable because that’s when we lose awareness of our child in the back seat."
'Look before you lock': There's science behind why parents leave kids in hot cars
Diamond’s research into memory has shown that the unintentional reprioritization of stressors isn't always the way we'd want to organize our own priorities, especially in the face of stress.
"When we’re experiencing stress, the most imminent stressor tends to become the most important one — it’s just how the human brain functions," he said. "For example, when you’re late to work, it’s easy to hyperfocus on that and lose sight of other more important things."
KidsandCars.org has a list of daily tips to avoid vehicular heatstroke. One piece of advice: Make it a habit to open the back door every time you park to ensure nobody is inside. To enforce this habit, place an essential item (like key or a cellphone) in the back seat so you can’t start your day without taking a look before you lock.
Secondly, have back-up measures in place, like asking your child-care provider to call you if your child hasn’t arrived on schedule.
“It’s important to realize that the vast majority of these deaths aren’t negligent parents," Fennell said. "We need to take responsibility for our children but, more importantly, we need to make sure to take responsibility for our flawed memory so no child is forgotten in the car.”
More than 50 children died of vehicular heatstroke in both 2018 and 2019. Thirty-five of the record 54 fatalities in 2018 happened in the first seven months of the year. There were 53 deaths last year, including 26 in the first seven months.


usatoday--2020-08-05--Six dead, over 3.7 million without power after Isaias ravages East Coast: What we know

Isaias toggled between hurricane and tropical storm strength when it hit the East Coast this week .
The storm made landfall as a hurricane Monday night near Ocean Isle Beach , North Carolina , but was downgraded to a tropical storm Tuesday .
The storm 's center was about 45 miles southeast of Montreal late last night .
As of 5 a.m .
ET , Isaias was moving northeast into Canada Wednesday at about 28 mph , with a maximum sustained wind of 40 mph — according to the National Hurricane Center .
At least six people were killed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rain , and ( at times ) made landfall as a hurricane .
Over 3.7 million have lost electricity .
And damage has ravaged nine states across the East Coast .
Here 's a breakdown of what we know — and what you can do to help .
At least six people have died in Tropical Storm Isaias ' path on the East Coast .
Two people died when Isaias spun off a tornado that struck a North Carolina mobile home park .
Another person died in Pennsylvania when their vehicle was overtaken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others were killed by falling trees toppled by the storm in Maryland and New York City , and a sixth person died in Delaware when a tree branch fell on them , authorities said .
Power outages spread into early Wednesday , with more than 3.7 million customers losing electricity across multiple states — including New Jersey , New York and Pennsylvania — according to PowerOutage.US , which tracks utility reports .
New York City 's power utility said it saw more outages from Isaias than from any storm except Superstorm Sandy in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in at least 9 states After killing two in the Caribbean , battering Puerto Rico and the Bahamas before brushing past Florida , Isaias ravaged the U.S. East Coast .
In addition to power outages , flooding , tornadoes , fierce rain and wind have hit at least 9 states — including Delaware , Maryland , New Jersey , New York , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , South Carolina and Virginia .
In Virginia , Maryland , Delaware and New Jersey , tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service .
The NJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the railroad says crews cleared about 150 trees and repair signals and overhead wires .
In New York City , Isaias halted commuter trains , closed bridges and sent thousands of tree limbs crashing down Tuesday .
Additional deadly tree falls were reported in Delaware and Maryland .
More : Isaias was a hurricane .
Why do tropical weather systems cause tornadoes ?
Isaias : What tech you need when disaster strikes In Pennsylvania , four children were treated for minor injuries after high winds partially tore the roof off a day care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and flooding also also hit the eastern region of the state and Philadelphia , where the Schuylkill River is projected to crest early Wednesday at 15.4 feet , its highest level in more than 150 years .
In North Carolina , Isaias made landfall as a hurricane Monday , where it caused floods and fires that displaced dozens of people .
South Carolina also saw crashing waves and destruction at North Myrtle Beach Monday .
The Hurricane Center had warned oceanside dwellers near the North Carolina-South Carolina state line to brace for storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 8 inches of rain .
How to help The American Red Cross is responding across the region impacted by Isaias — from helping evacuees and distributing food in the Bahamas , to opening 18 shelters to house North Carolina victims .
You can donate to the Red Cross 2020 Hurricane relief efforts here .
You can also call 1-800-RED CROSS , text the word HURRICANES to 90999 to make a $ 10 donation , or visit redcross.org to learn more .

9 dead, millions without power after Isaias ravages East Coast: What we know
Show Caption Hide Caption Drenching rain from Isaias reaches Northeast Isaias will bring disruptive and dangerous impacts to the region into Wednesday. Accuweather
At least nine people were killed this week as Tropical Storm Isaias spawned tornadoes, dumped rain and made landfall as a hurricane on the East Coast.
Isaias toggled between hurricane and tropical storm strength. It made landfall as a hurricane Monday night near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, but was downgraded to a tropical storm Tuesday as it headed into Canada.
Isaias had sustained previous top winds of up to 65 mph for more than 18 hours after coming ashore.
Millions of people across several states were still without power Wednesday after power outages hit about 3.7 million customers late Tuesday, according to PowerOutage.US.
The storm's center was about 45 miles southeast of Montreal late Tuesday night. As of 5 a.m. EDT Wednesday, Isaias was moving northeast at about 28 mph, with a maximum sustained wind of 40 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm was forecast to dissipate over eastern Quebec over the next day or so.
Here's a breakdown of what we know and what you can do to help:
9 confirmed deaths in US
At least nine people have died after Tropical Storm Isaias tore through the U.S. East Coast.
Two people died when Isaias spun off a tornado that struck a North Carolina mobile home park. Another person died in Pennsylvania when their vehicle was overtaken by water and swept downstream.
Three others were killed by falling trees toppled by the storm in Maryland, Connecticut and New York City, and a seventh person died in Delaware when a tree branch fell, authorities said.
Late Tuesday evening, a woman was found dead inside a New Hampshire house that had been crushed by a fallen tree.
The ninth victim, a 5-year-old girl, had gone missing from her Philadelphia-area home during the height of the storm Tuesday and was found dead Wednesday. Authorities said they believed she was swept away by floodwaters in the creek behind her house.
Isaias: What tech you need when disaster strikes
Millions lose power
Power outages spread into Wednesday, with more than 2.7 million customers still without power as of 1:30 p.m. EDT in multiple states – including New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania – according to PowerOutage.US, which tracks utility reports.
New York City's power utility said it saw more outages from Isaias than from any storm except Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
Storm leaves trail of damage in at least 10 states
After killing two people in the Caribbean and battering Puerto Rico and the Bahamas before brushing past Florida, Isaias ravaged the U.S. East Coast.
In addition to power outages, flooding, tornadoes and fierce wind have hit almost a dozen states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.
In Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey, tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service. The NJ Transit train service remained suspended while the railroad says crews cleared about 150 trees and repair signals and overhead wires.
In New York City, Isaias halted commuter trains, closed bridges and sent tree limbs crashing down Tuesday. Patrick Foye, chairman of New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority, said more than 2,000 trees fell across the system's train and bus network.
Additional deadly tree falls were reported in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland and New Hampshire.
Isaias was a hurricane: Why do tropical weather systems cause tornadoes?
In Pennsylvania, four children were treated for minor injuries after high winds partially tore the roof off a day care center, officials said. High waters and flooding also hit the eastern region of the state and Philadelphia, where the Schuylkill River is projected to crest early Wednesday at 15.4 feet, its highest level in more than 150 years.
In North Carolina, Isaias made landfall as a hurricane Monday, where it caused floods and fires that displaced dozens of people.
South Carolina also saw crashing waves and destruction at North Myrtle Beach Monday. The Hurricane Center had warned oceanside dwellers near the North Carolina-South Carolina state line to brace for storm surge up to 5 feet and up to 8 inches of rain.
How to help after Isaias
The American Red Cross is responding across the region impacted by Isaias – from helping evacuees and distributing food in the Bahamas, to opening 18 shelters to house North Carolina victims.
You can donate to the Red Cross 2020 Hurricane relief efforts. You can also call 1-800-RED CROSS, text the word HURRICANES to 90999 to make a $10 donation, or visit redcross.org to learn more.
The Salvation Army is also responding in the aftermath of the storm: Financial contributions are needed most in order to most efficiently respond to demand and support local economies through the purchase of goods, the Salvation Army said.
To help, contact your local Salvation Army or visit www.HelpSalvationArmy.org. You can also donate by calling 800-SAL-ARMY (800-725-2769) to make a financial donation.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-08-05--Virgin Atlantic airline files for U.S. bankruptcy protection, tries to survive pandemic losses

NEW YORK — Virgin Atlantic , the airline founded by British businessman Richard Branson , filed Tuesday for protection in U.S. bankruptcy court as it tries to survive the virus pandemic that is hammering the airline industry .
The airline made the Chapter 15 filing in U.S. federal bankruptcy court in New York after a proceeding in the United Kingdom .
A spokeswoman for Virgin Atlantic said the bankruptcy filing is part of a court process in the United Kingdom to carry out a restructuring plan that the airline announced last month .
The process is supported by a majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company hopes to emerge from the process in September , she said .
A Virgin Atlantic lawyer said in a court filing that the company needs an order from a U.S. court to make terms of the restructuring apply in the U.S. More : Airline industry does n't expect to fully rebound from coronavirus drop until 2024 More : Airline passengers are finding 'creative ways ' to remove masks , American pilot says The airline is primarily a long-haul operator , including flights between the U.K. and the U.S .
It stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and only resumed flights in July .
It closed a base at London 's Gatwick Airport and cut about 3,500 jobs .
Branson appealed to the British government for financial help earlier this year — even saying that he would pledge his Caribbean island resort as collateral for a loan — but was rebuffed .
Last month , Virgin Atlantic announced that it had put together a deal to raise 1.2 billion pounds ( nearly $ 1.6 billion at current exchange rates ) from private sources , including 200 million pounds from Branson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lines , which owns 49 % of the airline , agreed to defer payments it was owed , and hedge fund Davidson Kempner agreed to lend Virgin Atlantic 170 million pounds .
Virgin Atlantic also delayed deliveries of Airbus jets .
Virgin Atlantic 's court moves follow bankruptcy filings in the U.S. by Latin America ’ s two biggest airlines , Latam and Avianca , and by Mexico ’ s Aeromexico since the start of the pandemic .
Virgin 's sister airline Virgin Australia filed for protection from creditors in its home country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the coronavirus outbreak that has led to travel restrictions and left many people afraid to fly .
The International Air Transport Association , a trade group for global airlines , estimates the industry will lose $ 84 billion this year and revenue will drop by half from 2019 levels .

Virgin Atlantic airline files for U.S. bankruptcy protection, tries to survive pandemic losses
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: What to expect in a recession, depression The coronavirus (COVID-19) is impacting the global economy and raising fears of a recession. What causes a recession and what are the signs? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
NEW YORK – Virgin Atlantic, the airline founded by British businessman Richard Branson, filed Tuesday for protection in U.S. bankruptcy court as it tries to survive the coronavirus pandemic that is hammering the airline industry.
The airline made the Chapter 15 filing in U.S. federal bankruptcy court in New York after a proceeding in the United Kingdom.
A spokeswoman for Virgin Atlantic said the bankruptcy filing is part of a court process in the United Kingdom to carry out a restructuring plan that the airline announced last month. The process is supported by a majority of the airline's creditors, and the company hopes to emerge from the process in September, she said.
A Virgin Atlantic lawyer said in a court filing that the company needs an order from a U.S. court to make terms of the restructuring apply in the U.S.
More: Airline industry doesn't expect to fully rebound from coronavirus drop until 2024
More: Airline passengers are finding 'creative ways' to remove masks, American pilot says
The airline is primarily a long-haul operator, including flights between the U.K. and the U.S. It stopped flying in April because of the pandemic and resumed flights only in July. It closed a base at London's Gatwick Airport and cut about 3,500 jobs.
Branson appealed to the British government for financial help earlier this year – even saying that he would pledge his Caribbean island resort as collateral for a loan – but was rebuffed.
Last month, Virgin Atlantic announced that it had put together a deal to raise 1.2 billion pounds (nearly $1.6 billion at current exchange rates) from private sources, including 200 million pounds from Branson's Virgin Group.
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, which owns 49% of the airline, agreed to defer payments it was owed, and hedge fund Davidson Kempner agreed to lend Virgin Atlantic 170 million pounds. Virgin Atlantic also delayed deliveries of Airbus jets.
Virgin Atlantic's court moves follow bankruptcy filings in the U.S. by Latin America’s two biggest airlines, Latam and Avianca, and by Mexico’s Aeromexico since the start of the pandemic. Virgin's sister airline Virgin Australia filed for protection from creditors in its home country in April.
Airlines have been slammed by the coronavirus outbreak that has led to travel restrictions and left many people afraid to fly. The International Air Transport Association, a trade group for global airlines, estimates the industry will lose $84 billion this year and revenue will drop by half from 2019 levels.


usatoday--2020-08-05--Celebrate the VP nominee, not Biden's decision to pick a woman. It's the least he can do.

In over two centuries of American presidential politics , just three women and only one person of color have ever been on major-party presidential tickets .
This year ’ s Democratic nominee for vice president will join this small club and has a very real shot at becoming the first woman to hold one of the top two most powerful positions in U.S. politics .
The attention to — and celebration of — this potential milestone is merited .
But we should take this moment to celebrate the woman nominee , not the act of nominating a woman .
Selecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sacrifice for the Joe Biden campaign .
The pool of potential women vice-presidential nominees is rich and diverse .
Women are some of the most effective and most responsive members of Congress , have been among the most prudent leaders of major cities and states through current crises , and continue to demonstrate the value of their distinct perspectives on politics and policy-making .
There 's opportunity even in the potential challenge the Biden campaign faced in identifying women , especially women of color , in traditional feeder offices to the vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been and continue to be especially underrepresented in the Senate ( only five have ever served there ) and among governors ( New Mexico Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham is the only Democrat to ever hold the job ) , Biden 's team has expanded the boundaries of where it looks for candidates and thought differently about the credentials and qualities we should expect and value in the next vice president .
Nominating a woman to the presidential ticket isn ’ t a revolutionary act .
Women first waged their candidacies for president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and despite the persistent hurdles to equal representation , women have been serving in the U.S. Congress for over a century and as governors for nearly the same amount of time .
There has not been a shortage of women who could serve as vice president during this time , only a shortage of recognition and imagination by those empowered to make the selection .
This year ’ s nomination should remind us of the opportunity costs our country has endured by not selecting women for so long .
Just as we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions , the costs of forgoing women ’ s contributions to politics in service of maintaining a white , male status quo have been high .
The privileging of white men in American politics is something that Biden knows well .
For nearly a half century , he has navigated a political space that was built for men like him .
In doing so , he has been free of the hurdles that have confronted many of his opponents and colleagues , including the man who tapped him as vice president in 2008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this persistent privilege .
For example , early polling of Democratic primary voters revealed that Biden fared best — while women candidates fared worst — among Democrats with the most sexist beliefs .
Biden also benefited from Democratic voters ’ focus on electability as a primary concern and their long-term conditioning to assume a white man was the safest bet .
When politics hits home : Pandemic moms are descendants of soccer and votes-for-women moms On the campaign trail during her own presidential candidacy , Sen. Kamala Harris told an Iowa audience , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to know that we will never be burdened by assumptions of who can do what based on who historically has done it.
” Her faith may have been premature .
Biden ’ s profile matched all but one of the 45 men who have held presidential office in the United States , while the women who ran had to make the case that they could become the first .
Biden recognized his own privilege at a January 2020 town hall when he included sexism among the factors leading to Hillary Clinton ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ That ’ s not going to happen with me.
” Biden can ’ t shed his privilege , but the least he can do is use it to bring a woman with him into presidential power .
Women are the ones who have brought Biden to power for his many decades of public service .
Three decades ago , Biden won re-election to the Senate with 66 % of Delaware women supporting him , compared to 58 % support from men .
Six years later , a 16-point gender gap emerged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with women playing an even more pivotal role in his success .
Kamala Harris : COVID-stricken USA is desperate for a strong leader .
Instead we have Trump .
It was women — and most specifically Black women — who proved to be the most reliable voters in the coalition that sent Barack Obama and Biden to the White House in 2008 and again in 2012 .
So when Black women voters call for a return on investment , it ’ s important to recognize that their investment has not only been in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Biden specifically .
When Biden names his running mate , we will celebrate her , the recognition of her accomplishments , and the work she will do to further chip away at the white male dominance in presidential politics .
What we should be cautious about celebrating , however , is Biden ’ s decision to nominate a woman .
That ’ s the least he could do .
Kelly Dittmar ( @ kdittmar ) is an associate professor of political science at Rutgers-Camden and director of research at the Center for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Debbie Walsh ( @ DebbieWalsh58 ) is director of the center .

Kelly Dittmar and Debbie Walsh, Opinion contributors

Celebrate the VP nominee, not Biden's decision to pick a woman. It's the least he can do. Our country has endured high opportunity costs for keeping white men in power for so long while ignoring the political contributions women could make.
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
In over two centuries of American presidential politics, just three women and only one person of color have ever been on a major party presidential ticket. This year’s Democratic nominee for vice president will join this small club and has a very real shot at becoming the first woman to hold one of the top two most powerful positions in U.S. politics. The attention to — and celebration of — this potential milestone is merited. But we should take this moment to celebrate the woman nominee, not the act of nominating a woman.
Selecting a woman nominee is not an act of sacrifice for Joe Biden's presidential campaign. The pool of potential women vice presidential nominees is rich and diverse. Women are some of the most effective and most responsive members of Congress, have been among the most prudent leaders of major cities and states through current crises, and continue to demonstrate the value of their distinct perspectives on politics and policymaking.
There's opportunity even in the potential challenge the Biden campaign faced in identifying women, especially women of color, in traditional feeder offices to the vice presidency. Because women of color have been and continue to be especially underrepresented in the Senate (only five have ever served there) and among governors (New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is the only Democrat of color to ever hold the job), Biden's team has expanded the boundaries of where it looks for candidates and thought differently about the credentials and qualities we should expect and value in the next vice president.
Short on vision, not qualified women
Nominating a woman to the presidential ticket isn’t a revolutionary act. Women first waged their candidacies for president and vice president in the late 1800s, and despite the persistent hurdles to equal representation, women have been serving in the U.S. Congress for over a century and as governors for nearly the same amount of time. There has not been a shortage of women who could serve as vice president during this time, only a shortage of recognition and imagination by those empowered to make the selection.
This year’s nomination should remind us of the opportunity costs our country has endured by not selecting women for so long. Just as we’ve reckoned with this across industries and institutions, the costs of forgoing women’s contributions to politics in service of maintaining a white, male status quo have been high.
The privileging of white men in American politics is something that Biden knows well. For nearly a half-century, he has navigated a political space that was built for men like him. In doing so, he has been free of the hurdles that have confronted many of his opponents and colleagues, including the man who tapped him as the vice presidential nominee in 2008.
The 2020 presidential primary election illuminated this persistent privilege. For example, early polling of Democratic primary voters revealed that Biden fared best — while women candidates fared worst — among Democrats with the most sexist beliefs. Biden also benefited from Democratic voters’ focus on electability as a primary concern and their long-term conditioning to assume a white man was the safest bet.
When politics hits home: Pandemic moms are descendants of soccer and votes-for-women moms
On the campaign trail during her own presidential candidacy, Sen. Kamala Harris told an Iowa audience, “I have faith in the American people to know that we will never be burdened by assumptions of who can do what based on who historically has done it.”
Her faith may have been premature. Biden’s profile matched all but one of the 45 men who have held presidential office in the United States, while the women who ran had to make the case that they could become the first.
Biden recognized his own privilege at a January town hall when he included sexism among the factors leading to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 loss and assured the audience, “That’s not going to happen with me.” He can’t shed his privilege, but the least he can do is use it to bring a woman with him into presidential power.
Eroding white male dominance
Women are the ones who have brought Biden to power for his many decades of public service. Three decades ago, Biden won reelection to the Senate with 66% of Delaware women supporting him, compared with 58% support from men. Six years later, a 16-point gender gap emerged in Biden’s Senate race, with women playing an even more pivotal role in his success.
Kamala Harris: COVID-stricken USA is desperate for a strong leader. Instead we have Trump.
It was women — and most specifically Black women — who proved to be the most reliable voters in the coalition that sent Barack Obama and Biden to the White House in 2008 and again in 2012. So when Black women voters call for a return on investment, it’s important to recognize that their investment has not only been in the Democratic Party overall, but also in Biden specifically.
When Biden names his running mate, we will celebrate her, the recognition of her accomplishments and the work she will do to further chip away at the white male dominance in presidential politics. What we should be cautious about celebrating, however, is Biden’s decision to nominate a woman. That’s the least he could do.
Kelly Dittmar (@kdittmar) is an associate professor of political science at Rutgers University-Camden and director of research at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers-New Brunswick. Debbie Walsh (@DebbieWalsh58) is director of the center.


usatoday--2020-08-05--The U.S. Agency for Global Media renews effort to extend American soft power

Can a free press promote a pro-American message ?
That is the key question being addressed at the U.S. Agency for Global Media .
USAGM CEO Michael Pack has lately been shaking up the agency , which oversees government global communications organizations such as the Voice of America and various regional networks .
Trump critics say Pack ’ s moves are a threat to press freedom and will make USAGM into an administration propaganda megaphone .
Some in Congress think Pack is moving too fast , and responses have ranged from proposals to increase oversight to calling for Pack ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pledged to veto any efforts to hamper Pack in his reform mission , which has been a long time coming .
USAGM is fundamentally different from most media outlets .
Outlets like VOA do not exist just to report news for the sake of news — the vast private sector media handles that — but to serve as a critical “ soft power ” component of American global strategy .
What public information agencies are for Public information agencies exist to support and promote American values abroad , while also countering adversary messaging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promote disinformation .
This mission focus does not in any way change the necessary rigor with which reporting must be approached , but does affect editorial choices .
The country hardly needs publicly-funded news organizations slamming the United States at every turn ; reporting like that is already plentiful , from sources foreign and domestic .
The most important aspect of aligning USAGM with the foreign strategy of the United States is to support American policies while avoiding U.S. partisan politics .
During the Cold War , this successful approach had bipartisan backing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Radio Liberty , and other agencies gave people in communist countries news and information denied them by their governments , offering the kind of pro-freedom , pro-human rights narratives that totalitarian governments suppressed .
This did not mean presenting the United States as a model society ; famed reporter Edward R. Murrow , who directed USAGM predecessor the U.S. Information Agency during the Kennedy administration , said that “ we can not be effective in telling the American story abroad if we tell it only in superlatives.
” Murrow actively promoted USIA reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day in the context of American social progress , to counter the communist focus on racism and rioting .
Today there is no need to fret over excessive pro-American reporting .
The superlatives Murrow worried about have become so skewed to the negative that simply promoting objective , positive stories about the country is denounced as political propaganda .
COLUMN : Joe Biden Democrats , welcome John Kasich and other Never Trumpers to national convention The USAGM mission to provide open information to closed societies is as important now as it was during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the explosion of information technology would naturally expand the zone of freedom has been dashed by authoritarian regimes using the same technology to create increasingly insidious control mechanisms .
Communist China has been a world leader at developing advanced censorship techniques , as well as the freedom-destroying social credit system .
The current shakeup at the USAGM-sponsored Open Technology Fund , which seeks to expand access to information inside total states , is primarily a dispute about tactics and oversight , not about the pressing need to develop tools to defeat foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the BBG Some members of Congress have responded to Pack ’ s shakeup by proposing restoring the functions of the Broadcasting Board of Governors , which were removed when USAGM was formed late in the Obama administration .
This would be a mistake .
The BBG was notoriously dysfunctional .
In 2013 then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that the BBG was “ practically defunct in terms of its capacity to be able to tell a message around the world.
” Employees at its components long had among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The BBG was also subject to periodic charges of waste , fraud , and abuse .
Mrs. Clinton also testified that the United States has “ the best values ” and “ the best narrative , ” and needed to get back into “ the ideological arena.
” There is no contradiction between that statement and promoting press freedom .
USAGM can and should establish itself as the gold standard for accuracy and integrity in its reporting .
USAGM is free of the market-based pressures that have harmed global journalism , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present fair and balanced news .
GOP strategist : Trump 's Republican Party is defined by racism and those who tolerate it By maintaining high journalistic standards and avoiding the hyper-partisanship and sensationalism that increasingly dominates the mainstream media , USAGM could serve as an example of what news can be .
This might inspire not only foreign journalists but also the media organizations in the United States that are rapidly losing the public trust .
Maybe Pack ’ s critics can learn from his efforts .
After all , USAGM is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need of reform .
James S. Robbins , a member of USA TODAY 's Board of Contributors and author of `` This Time We Win : Revisiting the Tet Offensive , '' has taught at the National Defense University and the Marine Corps University and served as a special assistant in the office of the secretary of Defense in the George W. Bush administration .
Follow him on Twitter : @ James_Robbins

The U.S. Agency for Global Media renews effort to extend American soft power Coverage had become so skewed to the negative that simply promoting objective, positive stories about the country is denounced as political propaganda.
Can a free press promote a pro-American message? That is the key question being addressed at the U.S. Agency for Global Media. USAGM CEO Michael Pack has lately been shaking up the agency, which oversees government global communications organizations such as the Voice of America and various regional networks. Trump critics say Pack’s moves are a threat to press freedom and will make USAGM into an administration propaganda megaphone. Some in Congress think Pack is moving too fast, and responses have ranged from proposals to increase oversight to calling for Pack’s resignation. But President Trump has pledged to veto any efforts to hamper Pack in his reform mission, which has been a long time coming.
USAGM is fundamentally different from most media outlets. Outlets like VOA do not exist just to report news for the sake of news — the vast private sector media handles that — but to serve as a critical “soft power” component of American global strategy.
What public information agencies are for
Public information agencies exist to support and promote American values abroad, while also countering adversary messaging seeking to harm the U.S. image and promote disinformation. This mission focus does not in any way change the necessary rigor with which reporting must be approached, but does affect editorial choices. The country hardly needs publicly-funded news organizations slamming the United States at every turn; reporting like that is already plentiful, from sources foreign and domestic.
The most important aspect of aligning USAGM with the foreign strategy of the United States is to support American policies while avoiding U.S. partisan politics. During the Cold War, this successful approach had bipartisan backing. VOA, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, and other agencies gave people in communist countries news and information denied them by their governments, offering the kind of pro-freedom, pro-human rights narratives that totalitarian governments suppressed.
This did not mean presenting the United States as a model society; famed reporter Edward R. Murrow, who directed USAGM predecessor the U.S. Information Agency during the Kennedy administration, said that “we cannot be effective in telling the American story abroad if we tell it only in superlatives.” Murrow actively promoted USIA reporting on the civil rights issues of his day in the context of American social progress, to counter the communist focus on racism and rioting.
Today there is no need to fret over excessive pro-American reporting. The superlatives Murrow worried about have become so skewed to the negative that simply promoting objective, positive stories about the country is denounced as political propaganda.
COLUMN: Joe Biden Democrats, welcome John Kasich and other Never Trumpers to national convention
The USAGM mission to provide open information to closed societies is as important now as it was during the Cold War. The 1990s optimism that the explosion of information technology would naturally expand the zone of freedom has been dashed by authoritarian regimes using the same technology to create increasingly insidious control mechanisms. Communist China has been a world leader at developing advanced censorship techniques, as well as the freedom-destroying social credit system. The current shakeup at the USAGM-sponsored Open Technology Fund, which seeks to expand access to information inside total states, is primarily a dispute about tactics and oversight, not about the pressing need to develop tools to defeat foreign censorship.
Don't try to restore the BBG
Some members of Congress have responded to Pack’s shakeup by proposing restoring the functions of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which were removed when USAGM was formed late in the Obama administration. This would be a mistake. The BBG was notoriously dysfunctional. In 2013 then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that the BBG was “practically defunct in terms of its capacity to be able to tell a message around the world.” Employees at its components long had among the worst morale of any government agency. The BBG was also subject to periodic charges of waste, fraud, and abuse.
Mrs. Clinton also testified that the United States has “the best values” and “the best narrative,” and needed to get back into “the ideological arena.” There is no contradiction between that statement and promoting press freedom. USAGM can and should establish itself as the gold standard for accuracy and integrity in its reporting. USAGM is free of the market-based pressures that have harmed global journalism, and its reporters are required by law to present fair and balanced news.
GOP strategist: Trump's Republican Party is defined by racism and those who tolerate it
By maintaining high journalistic standards and avoiding the hyper-partisanship and sensationalism that increasingly dominates the mainstream media, USAGM could serve as an example of what news can be. This might inspire not only foreign journalists but also the media organizations in the United States that are rapidly losing the public trust. Maybe Pack’s critics can learn from his efforts. After all, USAGM is not the only American media organization in desperate need of reform.
James S. Robbins, a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors and author of "This Time We Win: Revisiting the Tet Offensive," has taught at the National Defense University and the Marine Corps University and served as a special assistant in the office of the secretary of Defense in the George W. Bush administration. Follow him on Twitter: @James_Robbins


usatoday--2020-08-05--Former acting AG Sally Yates set to testify before Senate panel on Russia inquiry

Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates , who was dismissed for refusing to defend President Donald Trump 's Muslim travel ban days after his inauguration , is set to testify Wednesday as part of a Senate committee 's continuing inquiry into an investigation into Russia 's interference in the 2016 election .
The Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to question the former Obama administration official about the early days of the investigation into former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn , who would later plead guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia ambassador Sergey Kislyak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flynn awaited sentencing , the Justice Department earlier this year abruptly abandoned the prosecution .
The move was challenged by the sentencing judge , who has since asked a federal appeals court to reconsider Justice 's decision , leaving the former Army lieutenant general 's fate uncertain , nearly three years after he first pleaded guilty .
Yates first outlined her concerns about Flynn in explosive testimony three years ago before the same committee , saying the former national security adviser 's lies about his contacts with Kislyak extended to Vice President Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want a situation where a national security adviser could get blackmailed by the Russians , ’ ’ Yates told the committee then .
Yates is the second high-profile witness called by the panel as part of its inquiry .
In June , former deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein , a key player in the sprawling Russia investigation that shadowed much of Trump 's presidency , defended his oversight of the probe while acknowledging flaws in the FBI 's surveillance process .
`` Senators , whenever agents or prosecutors make serious mistakes or engage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must take remedial action .
And if existing policies fall short , those policies need to be changed , '' Rosenstein said in his opening statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee .
Ultimately , Rosenstein acknowledged he is responsible for the missteps that happened in the early days of the Russia investigation .
`` I 'm accountable .
I feel accountable ...
I think the issue is , 'How do we fix the problem ? '
'' Rosenstein said .
Trump and his allies have sought to frame the entire Russia investigation as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president , seizing on some aspects of Crossfire Hurricane , the code name for the FBI 's counterintelligence investigation into Russia 's election meddling and possible ties to the Trump campaign .
Last year , a report by the Justice Department 's inspector general offered a blistering account of the FBI 's handling of multiple applications to wiretap former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page during the early months of the Russia probe in 2016 and early 2017 .
Republicans have seized on those findings to cast a sprawling inquiry by Russia special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was deputy attorney general under former president Barack Obama .
She became the acting attorney general when former attorney general Loretta Lynch resigned following Trump 's election .

'No such thing happened': Former acting AG Sally Yates says Obama, Biden did not urge Flynn inquiry
Show Caption Hide Caption Yates warned White House of 'possible blackmailing' Former Attorney General Sally Yates testified that she warned President Trump's White House that Michael Flynn was susceptible to blackmail by Russia. USA TODAY
Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates told a Senate panel Wednesday that in the days before Donald Trump's inauguration, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden made no attempt to target incoming national security adviser Michael Flynn for prosecution to undermine the new administration.
Yates, describing a Jan. 5, 2017, Oval Office meeting to discuss Russian interference in the 2016 election, said she was surprised to learn from Obama that the FBI had intercepted Flynn's conversations with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in which the incoming national security adviser sought to "neuter" recently imposed sanctions on the Kremlin for its election intervention.
"My memory is clear," Yates told the Senate Judiciary Committee, adding that Obama urged caution when sharing information with Flynn during the transition to the Trump administration.
"No such thing happened," Yates said, when later pressed whether administration officials sought to pursue a Flynn inquiry. "That meeting was not about an investigation at all. That would have set off alarms for me."
The Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee called the former Obama administration official as part of its ongoing review of the Russia inquiry and the early days of the investigation into Flynn, who would later plead guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Kislyak. Flynn moved to withdraw that guilty plea in January, claiming the government had breached the plea agreement.
While Flynn awaited sentencing, the Justice Department in May abruptly abandoned the prosecution over the objection of career prosecutors. The move was challenged by the sentencing judge, who has since asked a federal appeals court to reconsider Justice's decision, leaving the retired Army lieutenant general's fate uncertain, nearly three years after he first pleaded guilty.
In her testimony Wednesday, Yates differed sharply with the current Justice Department decision and defended the Flynn investigation as legitimate, referring to Flynn's ultimate decision to plead guilty.
"I was very surprised," she said of the decision to drop the case. "The circumstances here (in the Flynn case) called out" for the FBI to pursue its investigation.
But Yates, who testified by video, also expressed deep concerns about the FBI's conduct in the early days of the Russia investigation, taking specific issue with then-FBI Director James Comey.
Yates described a tense encounter with Comey following the 2017 Oval Office meeting, saying that she upbraided the FBI director for not informing her of the intercepted Flynn conversations prior to the briefing with the president.
At the time, she said, the FBI was not providing adequate briefings on the agency's activities.
Asked by Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., whether Comey had gone "rogue," Yates responded: "You could use that term, yes."
Yates also said she would not have signed off on the surveillance of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page had she known that the FBI's wire-tap warrant was deeply flawed.
Last year, the Justice Department's internal watchdog found that the surveillance warrant was riddled with errors, raising questions about its justification.
The department's inspector general identified 17 separate inaccuracies in the surveillance applications. The inspector general, however, concluded the FBI was legally justified in launching its inquiry into Russian election interference.
"Certainly, I regret" that false information was submitted to support the warrant, Yates told lawmakers.
Prior to Wednesday's hearing, Trump targeted Yates via Twitter, saying the career Justice official has "zero credibility."
"She was a part of the greatest political crime of the Century, and Obama Biden knew EVERYTHING!" Trump wrote.
Senate Republicans followed Trump's lead, asserting that the Obama Justice Department had sought to derail Trump's campaign.
At one point, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., asked Yates whether she "despised" Trump.
"I don't despise anyone," Yates responded. "I don't respect the manner in which he has carried out the presidency."
RARE MOVE: Appeals court will rehear Michael Flynn case
Yates, ultimately fired by Trump for refusing to carry out his executive order banning travelers to the U.S. from certain Muslim countries, first outlined her concerns about Flynn in explosive testimony three years ago before the same committee, saying the former national security adviser's lies about his contacts with Kislyak extended to Vice President Mike Pence.
Sally Yates schools Ted Cruz on the law When Ted Cruz questioned former acting Attorney General Sally Yates for not supporting Donald Trump's temporary travel ban, she was ready to defend her position. USA TODAY
"You don’t want a situation where a national security adviser could get blackmailed by the Russians,’’ Yates told the committee then.
Yates is the second high-profile witness called by the panel as part of its inquiry.
In June, former deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, a key player in the sprawling Russia investigation that shadowed much of Trump's presidency, defended his oversight of the probe while acknowledging flaws in the FBI's surveillance process.
"Senators, whenever agents or prosecutors make serious mistakes or engage in misconduct, the Department of Justice must take remedial action. And if existing policies fall short, those policies need to be changed," Rosenstein said in his opening statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Ultimately, Rosenstein acknowledged he is responsible for the missteps that happened in the early days of the Russia investigation.
"I'm accountable. I feel accountable. ... I think the issue is, 'How do we fix the problem?'" Rosenstein said.
Trump and his allies have sought to frame the entire Russia investigation as a hoax and a witch hunt against the president, seizing on some aspects of Crossfire Hurricane, the code name for the FBI's counterintelligence investigation into Russia's election meddling and possible ties to the Trump campaign.
Republicans have seized on the inspector general's findings on the flawed surveillance of Page to cast a sprawling inquiry by Russia special counsel Robert Mueller as illegitimate.
Yates was deputy attorney general under former president Barack Obama. She became the acting attorney general when former attorney general Loretta Lynch resigned following Trump's election.
Contributing: Kristine Phillips


usatoday--2020-08-05--Trump says massive explosion in Beirut appears to be an attack but local officials are still investi

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Tuesday that U.S. military officials advised him that a massive explosion in Beirut appeared to be an `` attack , '' though he offered little detail to explain how his administration had come to that conclusion .
At least 60 people were killed and thousands were wounded in an explosion that caused widespread damage in the Lebanese capital .
Trump said he had been briefed by “ our great generals ” and that they “ seem to feel ” that the explosion was not an accident .
`` According to them – they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they seem to think it was an attack , '' Trump told reporters at the White House .
`` It was a bomb of some kind . ''
The blast followed a fire that broke out in the city 's port area , based on multiple videos from the scene .
`` It looks like a terrible attack , '' Trump said during his opening remarks .
`` Our prayers go out to all the victims and their families , '' he said .
`` The United States stands ready to assist Lebanon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosion is yet to be officially determined , Abbas Ibrahim , chief of Lebanese General Security , said it might have been caused by highly explosive material that was stored at the port after it was confiscated from a ship .
In a tweet on the Lebanese presidential account , the material was identified as ammonium nitrate , citing Prime Minister Hassan Diab as saying , `` It is unacceptable that a shipment of ammonium nitrate estimated at 2,750 tons has been present for six years in a warehouse without taking preventive measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' COVID-19 : 'It is what it is , ' Trump says of rising coronavirus death toll

John Fritze and Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY

Trump says massive explosion in Beirut appears to be an attack but local officials are still investigating
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump: explosion in Beirut was likely an 'attack' President Donald Trump says U.S. military generals have told him that they think the massive explosion that rocked Beirut on Tuesday, killing more than 70 people, was likely a bomb. (Aug. 4) AP
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Tuesday that U.S. military officials advised him that a massive explosion in Beirut appeared to be an "attack," though he offered little detail to explain how his administration had come to that conclusion.
At least 60 people were killed and thousands were wounded in an explosion that caused widespread damage in the Lebanese capital. Trump said he had been briefed by “our great generals” and that they “seem to feel” that the explosion was not an accident.
"According to them – they would know better than I would – but they seem to think it was an attack," Trump told reporters at the White House. "It was a bomb of some kind."
The blast followed a fire that broke out in the city's port area, based on multiple videos from the scene.
"It looks like a terrible attack," Trump said during his opening remarks.
"Our prayers go out to all the victims and their families," he said. "The United States stands ready to assist Lebanon."
More: 'Horror show': Massive explosion in Beirut kills dozens, wounds thousands
Explosion rocks downtown Beirut leaving massive plumes of smoke A massive explosion rocks downtown Beirut, Lebanon Storyful
Though the cause of the explosion is yet to be officially determined, Abbas Ibrahim, chief of Lebanese General Security, said it might have been caused by highly explosive material that was stored at the port after it was confiscated from a ship.
In a tweet on the Lebanese presidential account, the material was identified as ammonium nitrate, citing Prime Minister Hassan Diab as saying, "It is unacceptable that a shipment of ammonium nitrate estimated at 2,750 tons has been present for six years in a warehouse without taking preventive measures that endanger the safety of citizens."
COVID-19: 'It is what it is,' Trump says of rising coronavirus death toll
Yosemite: Donald Trump mispronounces 'Yosemite' at White House event


usatoday--2020-08-06--Coronavirus updates: Dr. Anthony Fauci calls US plateau of cases 'unacceptable'; Beirut explosion de

Days after President Donald Trump defended his administration 's `` incredible '' handling of the coronavirus outbreak in a widely viewed interview , the nation 's top health official called the country 's response `` disparate '' and `` not as well suited '' to the dynamics of the pandemic .
`` What happened when the rubber hit the road on this , and we did get hit , we had the kind of response that was not as well suited to what the dynamics of this outbreak is , '' Dr. Anthony Fauci said during a Harvard T.H .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` What happened is , we had a bit of a disparate response . ''
The country 's response has allowed the daily COVID-19 case count to plateau at an `` unacceptable level , '' Fauci said , warning that the U.S. will continue to `` smolder '' without a unified effort to stop the virus .
Here are some significant developments : • A deadly explosion that rocked Lebanon 's capital city of Beirut has put a further strain on the nation 's health system , which was already running short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 5,200 cases of COVID-19 .
• Virginia on Wednesday became the first state to roll out a smartphone app to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus .
• Johnson & Johnson said it has a $ 1 billion agreement to supply 100 million doses of its vaccine candidate to the U.S. government .
Also Wednesday , Moderna said it expects to fully enroll 30,000 people for a trial of its vaccine candidate next month .
• Whatever was left of an in-person 2020 Democratic National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden wo n't travel to Milwaukee to give his presidential acceptance speech .
• Trump says schools should reopen because children are `` virtually immune , '' despite evidence suggesting they are not .
“ This thing ’ s going away – It will go away like things go away , '' Trump said during a wide-ranging interview on `` Fox & Friends '' .
Facebook took down a post with the interview from President Trump 's personal page , and Twitter will require Trump 's campaign account to remove the post before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today 's numbers : The U.S. has recorded more than 158,000 deaths and 4.8 million cases of COVID-19 , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Worldwide , there have been more than 706,000 deaths and 18.7 million cases .
📰 What we 're reading : Kids are less likely to die from the coronavirus .
But some experts say a lack of information about how they contract and transmit COVID-19 will leave the nation unprepared when schools reopen .
Our live blog is being updated throughout the day .
Refresh for the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inbox with The Daily Briefing .
No NBA players test positive for COVID-19 for third week No NBA players tested positive for COVID-19 for the third consecutive weekly testing period , the NBA and National Basketball Players Association said in a joint news release Wednesday .
In the latest round of precautionary measures , 343 players were tested inside the NBA ’ s bubble-like environment at the Disney campus near Orlando , Florida .
No player has tested positive inside the bubble since initial testing between July 7-13 .
Kids less likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spots for spread As many school districts prepare to reopen campuses , some experts fear classrooms will become the next incubators for large coronavirus outbreaks .
Advocates for resuming school in person , including President Donald Trump , have repeatedly claimed that children pose less of a risk of spreading COVID-19 and that the benefits outweigh the risks .
About 6 out of 100,000 school-age kids are hospitalized with COVID-19 compared with the overall rate of 130 people per 100,000 , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March reduced the rate of new COVID-19 cases by 66 % .
“ We show that it actually did make a difference in cases and in deaths , '' said lead study author Dr. Katherine Auger , an associate professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine .
`` That was a very important thing society did.
” In an interview with Fox & Friends on Wednesday morning , Trump claimed children should return to school because they are “ almost immune '' or “ virtually immune ” from the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's personal Facebook page , and later removed – it was the first time Facebook has removed a post by the president for violating its policies on COVID-19 misinformation .
Twitter hid the campaign 's post of the interview , telling USA TODAY in a statement that the `` account owner will be required to remove the tweet before they can tweet again , '' The NCAA on Wednesday released a set of requirements for all schools wishing to complete fall sports competition .
Although the NCAA left the decision on whether to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it said divisions must determine the status of fall championships by Aug. 21 .
`` The board expressed serious concerns about the continuing high levels of COVID-19 infection in many parts of the nation , '' the NCAA statement read .
`` The board has determined that it will only support moving forward with fall championships and other postseason play if strict conditions are applied and adhered to . ''
Two of the requirements involve protecting players who choose to opt out .
First , the school is required to honor the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and each division must decide by Aug. 14 how opting out or having a season cut short would affect eligibility , and inform players of that decision .
A massive , deadly explosion that rocked Lebanon 's capital city of Beirut has put a further strain on the nation 's health system , which was already running short on personal protective equipment and grappling with more than 5,200 cases of COVID-19 .
Several hospitals were damaged in the explosion – which killed at least 135 people and wounded thousands – and those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a series of tweets .
`` After months of a spiraling economic crisis and battling the coronavirus pandemic , Lebanon was already in a fragile state , '' the ICRC said .
`` The health system was already struggling to respond to the mounting health needs .
Now it is totally overwhelmed . ''
At Hôtel Dieu , a university hospital in Beirut , oncologist Hampig Kourieh was just finishing his shift when the explosion happened .
He described `` hundreds of people covered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and bikes ... the scene was apocalyptic . ''
The smell of blood , Kourieh said , was so strong it was like `` iron was covering the ER . ''
Two suburban Atlanta school districts that began in-person classes Monday with mask-optional policies face more questions about COVID-19 safety protocols after on-campus pictures showed students packed shoulder-to-shoulder .
In Cherokee County , dozens of seniors gathered at two of the district 's six high schools to take traditional first-day-of-school senior photos , with students squeezing together in black outfits .
In Paulding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday show crowded hallways at North Paulding High School in Dallas , Georgia .
Fewer than half of the students shown are wearing masks .
In Columbia County , the school district has already confirmed its first COVID-19 case .
– Miguel Legoas , The Augusta Chronicle ; The Associated Press Virginia is first state to roll out app to detect virus exposure Virginia on Wednesday became the first state to roll out a smartphone app to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus .
The new pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is available in Apple and Android app stores as of Wednesday .
The app relies on Bluetooth wireless technology to detect when someone who downloaded the app has spent time near another app user who later tests positive for the virus .
State officials said the app doesn ’ t track user location or collect personal information .
`` We ’ re using every possible approach to fight this virus and keep Virginians healthy , '' Virginia Gov .
Northam said in a statement .
Joe Biden wo n't go to Milwaukee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2020 Democratic National Convention more than a year ago , city leaders hoped 50,000 people would flood into town for four non-stop days and nights of politics .
Now even the party 's nominee is n't going .
Officials announced that Joe Biden will accept the party 's nod from his home in Delaware – and the other convention speakers wo n't travel to Wisconsin , either .
Organizers cited the `` worsening coronavirus pandemic . ''
“ This convention will look different than any previous convention in history , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive .
`` It will reach more people than ever before , and truly be a convention across America for all Americans , regardless of which party you belong to or who you ’ ve voted for in previous elections . ''
Florida became the second state to confirm more than 500,000 cases of COVID-19 .
The state Department of Health on Wednesday reported 5,409 new cases , bringing the state 's total to 502,739 .
California leads the nation , with more than 526,000 cases , according to data collected by Johns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional 225 deaths , bringing the state 's seven-day rolling average for reported deaths to a record 184.86 .
The state death toll now stands at 7,627 .
Chicago Public Schools are joining a lengthening line of major school systems that will start the academic year fully online .
The district , which had initially planned to launch a hybrid online and in-person model starting Sept. 8 , said Wednesday the continued uptick in coronavirus cases and concerns from parents urged them to adjust the plan .
Tens of thousands of families indicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not intend to send their children to school .
And the city ’ s teacher ’ s union threatened to go on strike over concerns about in-person classes .
The district said it will consider switching to a hybrid learning model in the second quarter , which begins on Nov. 9 .
Los Angeles , San Diego , San Francisco and Miami are among other major cities starting the school year online-only .
The cruise industry has voluntarily extended its pause on operations in U.S. waters until `` at least '' Oct. 31 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center for Disease Control and Prevention 's `` no-sail '' order is set to expire .
CLIA 's member lines carry 95 % of the world 's ocean-going cruisers .
The new order will apply to all CLIA member ships that can carry 250 or more passengers .
`` We believe it is prudent at this time to voluntarily extend the suspension of U.S. ocean-going cruise operations to Oct. 31 , '' Cruise Lines International Association , the major trade organization for ocean-going cruise lines , said in a statement .
UConn is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season The University of Connecticut football team became the first bowl-level program to cancel its 2020 season Wednesday , citing an `` unacceptable risk level '' faced by the student athletes .
UConn , which plays as an independent , had games against Illinois , Indiana , Maine and Mississippi dropped from the schedule due to `` conference-only '' schedules being played by those schools .
Games against North Carolina and Virginia might have faced the same fate .
The players released a joint statement through the school citing `` full support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Several schools in college football 's lower divisions , including the entire Ivy League , also have canceled their seasons .
One of the first cruise ships to resume overnight sailing in U.S. waters since the pandemic shut down the cruise industry has reported one case of COVID-19 .
Passengers are quarantining on board UnCruise Adventures ' Wilderness Adventurer `` until the state of Alaska deems it safe for them to return home , '' according to a travel alert posted on the cruise line 's website .
The ship was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because its capacity is less than 250 passengers and crew .
`` The guest is showing no symptoms and no other guests or crew are showing outward symptoms of any kind , '' the cruise line said .
`` All guests have been informed and will quarantine until the state of Alaska deems it safe for them to return home . ''
• A Florida shop is getting more threats over mask rule , but also an outpouring of support .
• Walmart is launching drive-in movie theaters at 160 stores amid COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parking space .
• In the rural South , telehealth is giving patients a needed lifeline during the pandemic .
• Hand sanitizers : The FDA 's list of hand sanitizers to avoid includes more than 100 varieties .
Johnson & Johnson announced a deal with the U.S. government for 100 million doses of its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate , Ad26.COV2.S , for use in the United States – if and when the vaccine wins Food and Drug Administration approval .
The government may also purchase an additional 200 million doses , the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal .
A clinical trial is underway , and the company said it is evaluating one- and two-dose regimens .
The plan is to provide more than 1 billion non-for-profit doses globally through the course of 2021 .
`` We are scaling up production in the U.S. and worldwide to deliver a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for emergency use , '' said Dr. Paul Stoffels , Johnson & Johnson 's chief scientific officer .
More than 500 inmates at the Arizona State Prison Complex Tucson Whetstone Unit have tested positive for COVID-19 , authorities said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unit 's population of 1,066 , are being housed together in separate areas and receiving medical care , according to a statement released by the Arizona Department of Corrections , Rehabilitation and Reentry .
The department did not immediately respond to questions , including when tests were performed and whether every inmate there was tested .
The tests came after inmates at the Whetstone Unit staged a peaceful walkout last week due to virus concerns .
Moderna in talks with 'several countries ' for vaccine candidate Biotech giant Moderna said Wednesday it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crucial Phase 3 study of its COVID-19 vaccine next month .
Moderna 's vaccine candidate , backed by almost $ 1 billion in federal funding , last week became the nation 's first to begin such a large trial .
It 's being tested at scores of sites in the U.S. , with results expected as soon as October .
`` We began discussions with several countries for supply agreements for ( vaccine candidate ) mRNA-1273 and as of July 31 , we have received approximately $ 400 million of customer deposits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
The announcement came one day after Novavax released promising results from a small , early trial .
AstraZeneca , Pfizer and a group of Chinese researchers also have released promising early trial results , and China has begun providing its candidate vaccine to members of its military .
By the numbers : Record deaths in California , Florida , Georgia A USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Tuesday shows one state set records for new cases in a week while three states had a record number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case records were set in Hawaii , and also Puerto Rico .
Record numbers of deaths were reported in California , Florida and Georgia .
The United States has reported 4,771,080 cases and 156,801 deaths .
On Facebook : There 's still a lot unknown about the coronavirus .
But what we do know , we 're sharing with you .
Join our Facebook group , Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19 .
In your inbox : Stay up-to-date with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the USA TODAY Network .
Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter here .
Tips for coping : Every Saturday and Tuesday we 'll be in your inbox , offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times .
Sign up for Staying Apart , Together here .

John Bacon, Jessica Flores and Grace Hauck, USA TODAY

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