usatoday--2020-08-06--Coronavirus live updates: New York City sets up checkpoints; Dr. Deborah Birx's 'different' outbreak

Coronavirus live updates: New York City sets up checkpoints; Dr. Deborah Birx's 'different' outbreak; L.A. cutting power to party houses

Nationwide testing for COVID-19 is declining even as daily infections and deaths remain high due in part to Americans growing discouraged over long waits for tests and results .
Another concern is the extent to which a `` different '' kind of outbreak is spreading into rural America , White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx says .
Not all the news is bad – New York City has reported zero deaths for three straight days .
The city on Thursday began setting up checkpoints to warn visitors about quarantine rules .
On the West Coast , Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and water to party houses .
The nation 's top health official , Dr. Anthony Fauci , says the country 's overall response to the pandemic has allowed the daily case count to plateau at an `` unacceptable level , '' warning that the U.S. will continue to `` smolder '' without a unified effort to stop the virus .
Here are some significant developments : • More than eight in 10 teachers are concerned about returning to the classroom this fall .
• Facebook and Twitter removed President Donald Trump 's coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being `` almost immune . ''
• Jobless claims will be a key indicator of if the economy has picked up any steam at all .
📈 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 18.8 million cases .
📰 What we 're reading : A deadly explosion that rocked Lebanon 's capital city of Beirut has put a further strain on the nation 's health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on personal protective equipment and grappling with more than 5,200 cases of COVID-19 .
Our live blog is being updated throughout the day .
Refresh for the latest news , and get updates in your inbox with The Daily Briefing .
Employers continue to lay off workers at a historic pace as the pandemic roars on .
About 1.2 million people filed initial applications for unemployment insurance – a rough measure of layoffs – last week , the Labor Department said Thursday , down substantially from 1.4 million the prior week and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story here , we think , is that layoffs triggered by the second wave of COVID-19 in the South and West are now falling , '' Ian Shepherdson , chief economist of Pantheon Macroeconomics wrote in a research note .
New York City sets up checkpoints to enforce quarantines New York City began establishing registration checkpoints Thursday to try to ensure visitors from states with high COVID-19 infection rates go into quarantine when they come across the border .
The city requires anyone staying in New York from 34 states with high coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ de Blasio said .
City police will be intermittently stopping travelers who have visited the states and requiring them to complete a state Department of Health traveler form .
The first post was setup for people arriving at Penn Station , the busiest train station in the nation .
`` They will be reminded that it is required not optional , '' de Blasio said .
`` They 'll be reminded that failure to quarantine is a violation of state law , and it comes with serious penalties . ''
North Korea is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other aid to the southern city of Kaesong , locked down over coronavirus worries , officials said .
North Korea , which has closed its borders and cut travel by outsider monitors and journalists , claims only one person who had recently returned from South Korea may have tested positive .
Edwin Salvador , WHO representative to North Korea , told the Associated Press that group gatherings are banned , masks are required in public , and all educational institutions , including preschools , are on an extended summer break .
Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to party houses The city of Los Angeles will cut off power and water to homes and businesses where recurring parties take place without social distancing , Mayor Eric Garcetti says .
Earlier this week the county health department banned large gatherings following a much-publicized house party where people crowded together without masks .
Violating the order is `` punishable by fine , imprisonment , or both , '' the department warned .
Garcetti said the utility cutoffs would go into effect Friday night .
`` If LAPD responds and verifies that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we see these properties offending time and time again , they will provide notice and initiate the process to request that DWP shut off service within the next 48 hours , '' Garcetti said .
Coronavirus testing is dropping nationwide despite an unrelenting rush of new cases and death toll still averaging more than 1,000 per day , according to an analysis of data by the Associated Press .
Some experts attribute the decline in testing to the hours of waiting required to get a test in some areas – and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in obtaining the results of those test .
The number of tests per day slid 3.6 % over the past two weeks to 750,000 , with the count falling in 22 states .
That includes places where the percentage of positive tests are alarmingly high , such as Alabama , Mississippi , Missouri and Iowa .
“ There ’ s a sense of desperation , ” said Dr. Ashish Jha , director of Harvard ’ s Global Health Institute .
Five states , Puerto Rico still dealing with record weekly fatalities Hawaii and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a week while five states had a record number of deaths in a week , a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Wednesday shows .
Record numbers of deaths were reported in Arkansas , Florida , Mississippi , Nevada and Oklahoma , and also Puerto Rico .
The good news is that some large states that where cases were peeking in recent weeks , such as California , Florida and Texas , are seeing a decline in confirmed cases .
White House task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx outlined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a private phone call with state and local officials Wednesday , according to a recording of the call obtained by the journalism non-profit Center for Public Integrity .
Baltimore and Atlanta `` remain at a very high level , '' Birx said on the call .
Additionally , Kansas City in Missouri , Portland in Oregon , Omaha in Nebraska , and the Central Valley in California remain at elevated levels , according to Birx .
`` This outbreak is different from the March , April outbreak in that it 's in both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Two-thirds of K-12 teachers prefer fall classes be remote , new poll shows A new NPR/Ipsos poll released Thursday finds that more than eight in 10 teachers are concerned about returning to the classroom this fall , and that two-thirds prefer to teach fall classes primarily remotely rather than in-person .
The poll comes as many school districts prepare to reopen campuses .
Some experts fear classrooms will become the next incubators for large coronavirus outbreaks .
A May poll conducted by USA TODAY found that 1 in 5 teachers say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school if their classrooms reopen in the fall , a potential massive wave of resignations .
Facebook took down a post from President Trump 's personal page of a Fox News interview in which he said that children are “ almost immune ” from COVID-19 , citing its misinformation policy .
It was the first time Facebook has removed a post by the president for violating its policies on COVID-19 misinformation .
Twitter also took action late Wednesday .
At issue : a video clip from an interview with Fox & Friends , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said children should return to school because they are “ almost immune '' or “ virtually immune ” from the disease .
Doctors say children can catch – and pass on – the coronavirus , which has claimed more than 150,000 lives .
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he 'd support an extension of payroll support for airlines as the coronavirus pandemic continues to eat away at their business .
Trump 's support comes after 16 senators signed a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , and Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking for the extension to spare potentially tens of thousands of airline jobs that are at risk after current funding is exhausted at the end of September .
`` We don ’ t want to lose our airlines , '' Trump told reporters at a White House briefing on Wednesday .
More than 8,000 airline pilots have received notices that they could be furloughed , according to the Air Line Pilots Association .
Navajo Nation health officials have reported 39 more cases of COVID-19 and four additional deaths , bringing the total number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known death toll to 467 as of Wednesday night .
Navajo Department of Health officials said 83,527 people have been tested for the coronavirus and 6,766 have recovered .
The vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona , New Mexico and Utah .
Joe Biden wo n'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 is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More : The White House ?
Gettysburg ?
Florida ?
Trump team looks at options for nomination speech 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 and Elinor Aspegren, USA TODAY

Coronavirus updates: Los Angeles County tops 200K cases; Arizona prison outbreak spurs backlash; Georgia boy, 7, is state's youngest victim
Show Caption Hide Caption 4 phases of COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials explained Approving a vaccine in the U.S. usually takes years, but COVID-19 vaccines are moving through in record time. What does that mean? USA TODAY
The U.S. State Department no longer says Americans should avoid all international travel due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the list of countries welcoming people from the U.S. is still slim.
The agency said travel advisories will now be issued on a country-by-country basis as conditions internationally improve or worsen. But according to most nations, the virus is so widespread in the U.S. that would-be American tourists face barriers or bans.
Meanwhile, a widely cited model predicts U.S. deaths from COVID-19 will reach nearly 300,000 by Dec. 1, even with the assumption that many states will impose new stay-at-home orders as deaths climb.
Here are some significant developments:
In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine was believed to have tested positive, the latest governor to be infected by the coronavirus, until he took a more sensitive test that came back negative. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced he had the disease several weeks ago.
More than eight in 10 teachers are concerned about returning to the classroom this fall, an NPR/Ipsos poll finds.
Last week's new jobless claims are down: About 1.2 million people filed initial applications for unemployment insurance last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.
Despite what you may have heard, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not create religion-based exemption from mask mandates.
A 7-year-old boy has becoming Georgia’s youngest coronavirus victim, according local health department officials.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 19,000 deaths and 4.8 million cases of COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, there have been more than 713,000 deaths and 19 million cases.
📰 What we're reading: 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.
Our live blog is being updated throughout the day. Refresh for the latest news, and get updates in your inbox with The Daily Briefing.
Los Angeles County passes 200,000 COVID-19 cases, nears 5,000 deaths
Los Angeles County passed the 200,000 mark Thursday for people having tested positive for COVID-19 and is closing in on 5,000 deaths.
The county, which encompasses the city of Los Angeles and all its surrounding suburbs, is already ranked highest in number of cases among counties by the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. If the county were a state, it would have a higher case count than all but Florida, Texas, New York and possibly Georgia.
With the addition of 3,290 new cases, Los Angeles County had recorded a total of 201,106 cases. Another 48 deaths were attributed to the coronavirus, bringing the total to 4,869.
The grim new totals came as officials warned against gatherings or parties like the one Monday night at a swanky mansion in the Hollywood Hills that attracted about 200 participants — with few seen wearing masks. The party, which ended in a fatal shooting, attracted widespread news coverage from TV new choppers overhead.
– Chris Woodyard
Arizona advocates call for stop to prison admissions amid outbreak
The day after officials announced that hundreds of inmates in an Arizona prison were infected with COVID-19, advocates slammed the state's response and called for an immediate stop to prison admissions.
The state announced Tuesday that 517 people, or nearly half of the prison population at Tucson's Whetstone Unit, tested positive for the disease. Twenty-one inmates in Arizona are believed to have died from COVID-19, according to The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry data dashboard.
"Most people in Arizona are not sentenced to prison to die," said Joe Watson, a formerly incarcerated person and spokesman for the American Friends Service Committee of Arizona. "And yet, by being so careless with these lives, that's exactly what (prison officials) are doing."
– Helen Wieffering, Arizona Republic
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tests positive for COVID-19, then later tests negative
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday before he was supposed to greet President Donald Trump. DeWine took a COVID-19 test as part of the protocol to meet Trump on the tarmac at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland.
DeWine, 73, has no symptoms, his office said in a statement. DeWine, who plans to quarantine at his home in Cedarville for 14 days, took some of the earliest aggressive action to combat the spread of COVID-19. He was one of the first governors to close bars, restaurants, and wineries in March.
DeWine then returned to Columbus and took a second COVID-19 test from Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center. That polymerase chain reaction, or PCR test came back negative late Thursday night.
– Jackie Borchardt, Jessie Balmert and Jason Lalljee, Cincinnati Enquirer
Georgia boy, 7, becomes state's youngest COVID-19 fatality
A 7-year-old Chatham County boy has become Georgia’s youngest coronavirus victim, according to the Coastal Health Department.
The African-American boy had no underlying conditions, according to a CHD spokesperson. A date of death was not immediately available; there is often a delay of several days and sometimes weeks from when a person dies to when that death is reported to the state and confirmed.
– Nick Robertson, Savannah (Ga.) Morning News
US deaths predicted at nearly 300K by December, according to new model
A widely cited University of Washington model predicts U.S. deaths from COVID-19 will reach nearly 300,000 by Dec. 1.
The forecast of 295,011 deaths is 137,000 more than the roughly 158,000 U.S. deaths reported so far. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation model assumes that many states will impose new stay-at-home orders as deaths climb.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention monitors the model along with forecasts from about 30 other modeling groups. Combined, the models predict from 168,000 to 182,000 total COVID-19 deaths by Aug. 22.
US lifts advisory against all international travel
The U.S. State Department lifted its advisory against all international travel. The highest alert level – level 4 – was issued March 19 and has been lifted in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency said Thursday.
The State Department said it will return to country-specific warnings. The CDC has lifted “do not travel” warnings for about 20 locations but advised staying away from the vast majority of the world.
The list of places where Americans can go isn't that extensive.
Several spots in the Caribbean and Mexico are welcoming guests again and drawing U.S. tourists as airlines resume and add flights. United Airlines said Friday it is adding flights to St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
– Julia Thompson
More than one vaccine may be needed
More than one coronavirus vaccine could stop the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. by 2021, according to experts from Harvard Chan Public Health.
In order to effectively mitigate the spread of the virus, roughly 60% of people globally would have to be vaccinated, a feat that no single company has the capacity to achieve. That's in part why support for multiple vaccines is widespread among health professionals and global leaders.
“The expectation is that by the end of 2021, there will be plenty of whatever vaccines are safe and effective for the United States, less clear how they will be distributed around the world,” said Barry Bloom, professor of Public Health.
– Khrysgiana Pineda
London Marathon goes remote for all but elite runners
The London Marathon became the latest mass running event to be disrupted by the global pandemic when organizers announced Thursday the the vast majority of the 40,000 registered athletes must participate remotely.
Elite runners will race in a closed, lap course through a city park. Everyone else is welcome to participate from "anywhere in the world," organizers said. The Boston Marathon and New York Marathon are among scores of major races around the world that faced postponement, cancellation or a switch to virtual racing as a result of social distancing guidelines.
Woman kicked off flight for offensive mask says it was 'because I'm Black'
A Black passenger ordered off an American Airlines flight for wearing an "offensive" mask says there was an underlying racial issue.
Arlinga Johns boarded a St. Louis-bound flight in Charlotte on July 29 while wearing a "Black Lives Matter" shirt and a face mask that read: "(Expletive) 12." The number 12 is a term used to mean law enforcement or the police. Johns said a flight attendant asked Johns to cover the language on the mask with a new mask the attendant provided. Johns said she covered the mask, but the airline says Johns continued to display the mask in question.
“I think I got taken off the plane because I’m Black," Johns said in an interview with Florida's Local 10 News.
– Sara M. Moniuszko
LA police says 2 officers attended party at bar despite statewide shutdown
A viral video allegedly shows a private gathering in Los Angeles for “first responders" on July 31 inside Hollywood’s Sassafras Saloon – despite bars being shut down in the state and county since early July.
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to USA TODAY that two of its officers attended the function. A clip published by the activist media group Knock.LA on Twitter showed multiple people responding “yes” after an individual asked, “You here for the LASD party?” LASD is the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. The department has denied throwing the party and says none of its employees attended the gathering.
– Joshua Bote
Don't drink hand sanitizer, CDC warns
Four people have died and nearly a dozen others have suffered health complications after swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that from May through June 30, there were 15 cases of methanol poisoning reported in Arizona and New Mexico, and each was associated with people drinking hand sanitizer. The CDC says hand sanitizers should contain ethanol or isopropanol as active ingredients, but some products imported from other countries contain methanol, which is "not an acceptable ingredient."
The CDC says washing and disinfecting your hands is an effective way to combat the spread of COVID-19 but that some people apparently drink it for its alcohol content.
– Dalvin Brown
1.2M more workers file for unemployment amid COVID-19 spikes
Employers continue to lay off workers at a historic pace as the pandemic roars on. About 1.2 million people filed initial applications for unemployment insurance – a rough measure of layoffs – last week, the Labor Department said Thursday, down substantially from 1.4 million the prior week and the lowest level since March.
"The story here, we think, is that layoffs triggered by the second wave of COVID-19 in the South and West are now falling," Ian Shepherdson, chief economist of Pantheon Macroeconomics wrote in a research note.
– Paul Davidson
New York City sets up checkpoints to enforce coronavirus quarantines
New York City began establishing registration checkpoints Thursday to try to ensure visitors from states with high COVID-19 infection rates go into quarantine when they come across the border. The city requires anyone staying in New York from 34 states with high coronavirus cases go 14-day quarantine, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
City police will be intermittently stopping travelers who have visited the states and requiring them to complete a state Department of Health traveler form. The first post was setup for people arriving at Penn Station, the busiest train station in the nation.
"They will be reminded that it is required not optional," de Blasio said. "They'll be reminded that failure to quarantine is a violation of state law, and it comes with serious penalties."
– Joseph Spector
North Korea locks down city of Kaesong amid virus concerns
North Korea is quarantining thousands of people and shipping food and other aid to the southern city of Kaesong, locked down over coronavirus worries, officials said. North Korea, which has closed its borders and cut travel by outsider monitors and journalists, claims only one person who had recently returned from South Korea may have tested positive.
Edwin Salvador, WHO representative to North Korea, told the Associated Press that group gatherings are banned, masks are required in public, and all educational institutions, including preschools, are on an extended summer break.
5 states, Puerto Rico still dealing with record weekly fatalities
Hawaii and Puerto Rico set records for new cases in a week while five states had a record number of deaths in a week, a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Wednesday shows. Record numbers of deaths were reported in Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada and Oklahoma, and also Puerto Rico. The good news is that some large states that where cases were peeking in recent weeks, such as California, Florida and Texas, are seeing a decline in confirmed cases.
– Mike Stucka
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
Two-thirds of K-12 teachers prefer fall classes be remote, new poll shows
A new NPR/Ipsos poll released Thursday finds that more than 8 in 10 teachers are concerned about returning to the classroom this fall, and that two-thirds prefer to teach fall classes primarily remotely rather than in-person.
The poll comes as many school districts prepare to reopen campuses. Some experts fear classrooms will become the next incubators for large coronavirus outbreaks.
A May poll conducted by USA TODAY found that 1 in 5 teachers say they are unlikely to go back to school if their classrooms reopen in the fall, a potential massive wave of resignations.
More COVID-19 resources from USA TODAY
On Facebook: There's still a lot unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. Join our Facebook group, Coronavirus Watch, to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19.
In your inbox: Stay up-to-date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter here.
Tips for coping: Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. Sign up for Staying Apart, Together here.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-08-06--Could it happen here? US ports are safer than Beirut, but dangerous cargoes present constant risk —

Could it happen here? US ports are safer than Beirut, but dangerous cargoes present constant risk — no matter the location

Those who wonder whether a chemical explosion like the one that leveled the port of Beirut , Lebanon , and killed more than 100 could happen in the U.S. should consider what happened one spring day in 1947 in the port of Texas City , Texas .
Cargo in the hold of the freighter Grandcamp started smoking .
Flames erupted and a blast so powerful that it could be heard more than 100 miles away destroyed the ship , docks and an adjoining Monsanto chemical plant .
The explosion killed more than 500 people — the exact number was hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be recovered — making it one of the worst industrial accidents in U.S. history .
The chemical product that exploded on the ship was the same as the one in the Beirut warehouse , ammonium nitrate , which is used in fertilizer .
The accident underscores the point that U.S. ports are n't immune to the kind of destruction that was wrought a half a world away in Beirut .
In ports , threats come in all forms .
Potentially explosive cargo may be petroleum , liquified natural gas , chemicals or something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occur in a single container or in a supertanker .
On land , it can be in a storage facility , a huge refinery or another industrial complex that 's part of the port complex .
But port officials say the public should have little worry .
In the U.S. , transportation of all those cargoes is covered by myriad federal and state regulations .
And those laws are backed by a web of inspection agencies , the Coast Guard being chief among them .
'Glass caked the road like ice ' : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dog who made 'dystopia more bearable' U.S. ports have long torn down the warehouses like the one in Beirut .
The emphasis is on moving containers directly from the ship to ground transport as quickly as possible , cutting out the warehouse wait .
Warehouses were raised to make way for railroad tracks or other container processing space .
Port officials in the two of the nation 's busiest ports say safety is always the top priority .
`` We will do whatever we can to mitigate risk , '' Mario Cordero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Long Beach , California , told USA TODAY .
`` We have a 100 % effort to implement appropriate firewalls to mitigate anything that can happen . ''
He added that the port built a new security center to coordinate with the various agencies that have jurisdiction for port security , from the Coast Guard to FBI , and has taken additional steps like having two large , modern fireboats .
`` We are very proud of our safety record but on the other hand , we 're vigilant , '' Cordero added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the victims in Lebanon On the opposite coast , Sam Ruda , port director of the Port of New York and New Jersey , said his agency approaches hazardous cargo with the same high priority .
`` The Port of New York and New Jersey takes dangerous goods extremely seriously , '' Ruda said in a statement .
`` The port has regulations and fire safety protocols in place limiting the types and amounts of those materials that may be stored , used or transferred through port facilities . ''
The port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subject to Coast Guard inspection , is segregated from other goods and kept in small amounts .
The goods must be stored within 500 feet of a fire extinguisher .
The port also says it does n't take dangerous cargoes in bulk .
But the hazards that come with ports became national news last month when fire broke out aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard as the amphibious assault ship underwent maintenance at a San Diego pier .
The fire burned for four days , hitting temperatures of 1,000 degrees below deck .
Smoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and samples showed the emissions contained toxic chemicals , the San Diego Union Tribune reported .
Ship explosions cause major damage .
The tanker Sansinena blew up in Los Angeles harbor in 1976 , breaking the ship in two , a blast that broke windows in the residential area next to the port , San Pedro .
It was felt 20 miles away .
It occurred 103 years ago in Halifax , Nova Scotia , when a French ammunition ship , the Mont Blanc , blew up after catching fire in the collision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming during World War I leveled much of the city , killing 1,800 and wounding 9,000 .
And Texas City 's agony would be repeated again nearly a century later .
In 2005 , an explosion at the BP refinery in the city killed 15 and injured at least 170 .

Could it happen here? US ports are safer than Beirut, but dangerous cargoes present constant risk – no matter the location
Show Caption Hide Caption 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
Those who wonder whether a chemical explosion like the one that leveled the port of Beirut and killed more than 100 could happen in the USA should consider what happened one spring day in 1947 in the port of Texas City, Texas.
Cargo in the hold of the freighter Grandcamp started smoking. Flames erupted, and a blast so powerful that it could be heard more than 100 miles away destroyed the ship, docks and an adjoining Monsanto chemical plant.
The explosion killed more than 500 people – the exact number was hard to determine because many bodies couldn't be recovered – making it one of the worst industrial accidents in U.S. history. The chemical product that exploded on the ship was the same as the one stored in a Beirut warehouse, ammonium nitrate, which is used in fertilizer.
The accident underscores the point that U.S. ports aren't immune to the kind of destruction that was wrought a half a world away in Beirut.
In ports, threats come in all forms. Potentially explosive cargo may be petroleum, liquefied natural gas, chemicals or something else. Fire or an explosion can occur in a single container or in a supertanker. On land, disaster could strike in a storage facility, a huge refinery or an industrial complex that's part of the port complex.
Port officials said the public shouldn't worry. In the USA, transportation of explosive cargoes is covered by myriad federal and state regulations, and those laws are backed by a web of inspection agencies, the Coast Guard chief among them.
'Glass caked the road like ice': Reporter reflects on Beirut explosion, burying a dog who made 'dystopia more bearable'
Warehouses like the one in Beirut were torn down at U.S. ports long ago. The emphasis is on moving containers directly from a ship to ground transport as quickly as possible, cutting out the warehouse wait. Warehouses were razed to make way for railroad tracks or other container space.
Officials in two of the nation's busiest ports said safety is always the top priority.
"We will do whatever we can to mitigate risk," Mario Cordero, executive director of the Port of Long Beach, California, told USA TODAY. "We have a 100% effort to implement appropriate firewalls to mitigate anything that can happen."
Beirut explosion: What is ammonium nitrate and why is it being blamed? Lebanon's government has said that the explosion was caused by the detonation of ammonium nitrate stored at the city's port. Euronews News, Euronews News
He said the port built a security center to coordinate with the various agencies that have jurisdiction for port security, from the Coast Guard to the FBI, and has two large, modern fireboats. "We are very proud of our safety record, but on the other hand, we're vigilant," Cordero said.
Beirut explosion: How to help to the victims in Lebanon
On the opposite coast, Sam Ruda, director of the Port of New York and New Jersey, said his agency approaches hazardous cargo with the same high priority.
"The Port of New York and New Jersey takes dangerous goods extremely seriously," Ruda said in a statement. "The port has regulations and fire safety protocols in place limiting the types and amounts of those materials that may be stored, used or transferred through port facilities."
Any cargo considered dangerous is subject to Coast Guard inspection, segregated from other goods and kept in small amounts. The goods must be stored within 500 feet of a fire extinguisher. The port doesn't take dangerous cargoes in bulk.
The hazards that come with ports became national news last month when fire broke out aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard as the amphibious assault ship underwent maintenance at a San Diego pier.
The fire burned for four days, hitting temperatures of 1,000 degrees below deck. Smoke and debris prompted complaints in nearby communities, and samples showed the emissions contained toxic chemicals, the San Diego Union Tribune reported.
Ship explosions cause major damage. The tanker Sansinena blew up in Los Angeles harbor in 1976. The blast broke the ship in two and broke windows in the residential area next to the port, San Pedro. It was felt 20 miles away.
The most deadly ship explosion occurred 103 years ago in Halifax, Nova Scotia, when a French ammunition ship, the Mont Blanc, blew up after catching fire in a collision with another vessel. The blast during World War I leveled much of the city, killing 1,800 and wounding 9,000.
Texas City's agony was repeated nearly a century later.
In 2005, an explosion at the BP refinery in the city killed 15 and injured at least 170.


usatoday--2020-08-06--Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor unleashes 93-mph throw home to save win in ninth inning

If the plan was to play extra innings on Wednesday , nobody told Chris Taylor .
The Los Angeles Dodgers , with closer Kenley Jansen on the hill facing San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado , clung to a one-run lead with one out in the ninth .
Trent Grisham stood on third base to represent the tying run .
Machado lined Jansen 's first pitch right at Taylor in left field .
Grisham retreated to the bag to tag up in an effort to tie the game .
Taylor took a few measured steps in and to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
MLB MEMO : MLB gets serious with protocol measures after COVID-19 outbreaks NBA BUBBLE BREAKDOWN : Gregg Popovich says Nikola Jokic is 'like a reincarnation of Larry Bird' Right on line , Taylor delivered a perfect one-hop throw to the plate , where catcher Will Smith tagged out Grisham to end the game .
`` Manny hit it pretty low , so I got a pretty good jump .
I don ’ t think he really got into it , '' Taylor told reporters after the game , per MLB.com .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me in and I just tried to get rid of it as quick as I could and make it easy on Will on one hop .
`` I do n't think I 've ever ended a game on the defensive side like that .
It was pretty exhilarating , especially coming through for Kenley . ''
Statcast measured Taylor 's throw at 93.3 mph , slightly softer than Dodgers starting pitcher Ross Stripling 's fastest delivery of the night ( 95 mph ) .
Stripling also offered a new nickname for Taylor : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dynamic outfield of reigning MVP Cody Bellinger , former American League MVP Mookie Betts , Joc Pederson and AJ Pollock , Taylor is rarely called upon to play left .
But Betts ' finger injury caused manager Dave Roberts to do some shuffling , and the versatile Taylor can play all over the diamond .
He apparently has a clutch cannon , too .

Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor unleashes 93-mph throw home to save win in ninth inning
Show Caption Hide Caption MLB's Cardinals, Marlins show how fragile non-bubble sports can be What I’m Hearing: Bob Nightengale on the latest outbreak in MLB WhatI'mHearing, USA TODAY
If the plan was to play extra innings on Wednesday, nobody told Chris Taylor.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, with closer Kenley Jansen on the hill facing San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado, clung to a one-run lead with one out in the ninth. Trent Grisham stood on third base to represent the tying run.
Machado lined Jansen's first pitch right at Taylor in left field. Grisham retreated to the bag to tag up in an effort to tie the game. Taylor took a few measured steps in and to his right and came up throwing — hard.
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Right on line, Taylor delivered a perfect one-hop throw to the plate, where catcher Will Smith tagged out Grisham to end the game.
"Manny hit it pretty low, so I got a pretty good jump. I don’t think he really got into it," Taylor told reporters after the game, per MLB.com. "Luckily, my momentum was already taking me in and I just tried to get rid of it as quick as I could and make it easy on Will on one hop.
"I don't think I've ever ended a game on the defensive side like that. It was pretty exhilarating, especially coming through for Kenley."
Statcast measured Taylor's throw at 93.3 mph, slightly softer than Dodgers starting pitcher Ross Stripling's fastest delivery of the night (95 mph). Stripling also offered a new nickname for Taylor: CT93.3.
Due to the Dodgers' dynamic outfield of reigning MVP Cody Bellinger, former American League MVP Mookie Betts, Joc Pederson and AJ Pollock, Taylor is rarely called upon to play left. But Betts' finger injury caused manager Dave Roberts to do some shuffling, and the versatile Taylor can play all over the diamond.
He apparently has a clutch cannon, too.
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.


usatoday--2020-08-06--Three teens hopped the wall into Mar-a-Lago after fleeing police. Officers found an AK-47.

PALM BEACH , Fla. – Three teenagers were charged with armed trespassing , armed burglary and resisting arrest without violence after they fled police officers and jumped a wall into Mar-a-Lago with an AK-47 concealed in a backpack , according to Palm Beach Police .
The 15-year-old boys were seen by police parked in a silver Hyundai around midnight Friday in the 300 block of Middle Road with the daytime running lights on , the report said .
When officers approached , the driver sped away toward South Ocean Boulevard , with the car ’ s headlights turned off .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Hyundai on South Ocean Boulevard , but the suspects abruptly stopped the car near the Southern Boulevard Bridge and ran toward President Donald Trump ’ s Mar-a-Lago Club , the report said .
Palm Beach Police alerted Mar-a-Lago security , who found a backpack and a key on the seawall on the southwest corner of the property .
The Palm Beach County Sheriff ’ s Office also was alerted .
The teens were found inside the property “ a short time later , ” and taken into custody , but the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found .
The car ’ s driver faces an additional charge of driving without a license .
The vehicle belongs to his mother , police said .
Palm Beach Police spokesman Michael Ogrodnick told the Daily News that the suspects didn ’ t give police any information when questioned about the AK-47 , but eventually one of them replied that he had “ found it.
” As of Wednesday , police still had no information on the gun ’ s owner .
“ Honestly , I really don ’ t believe they even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ location and proximity to Mar-a-Lago , ” Ogrodnick said .
The teens are being held at the Juvenile Assessment Center in West Palm Beach pending a decision from the State Attorney ’ s Office on whether they will face felony charges as adults .

Three teens hopped the wall into Mar-a-Lago after fleeing police. Officers found an AK-47.
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump backs mail in voting in Florida battleground In an abrupt reversal, President Donald Trump now is encouraging voters in the critical swing state of Florida to vote by mail after months of criticizing the practice. (August 4) AP
PALM BEACH, Fla. – Three teenagers were charged with armed trespassing, armed burglary and resisting arrest without violence after they fled police officers and jumped a wall into Mar-a-Lago with an AK-47 concealed in a backpack, according to Palm Beach Police.
The 15-year-old boys were seen by police parked in a silver Hyundai around midnight Friday in the 300 block of Middle Road with the daytime running lights on, the report said.
When officers approached, the driver sped away toward South Ocean Boulevard, with the car’s headlights turned off.
A second police vehicle attempted to stop the Hyundai on South Ocean Boulevard, but the suspects abruptly stopped the car near the Southern Boulevard Bridge and ran toward President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club, the report said.
Palm Beach Police alerted Mar-a-Lago security, who found a backpack and a key on the seawall on the southwest corner of the property. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office also was alerted.
Mar-a-Lago: An insider's view of Trump's Florida estate
Inside the backpack, investigators found a Mini Draco 7.62 caliber AK-47 with a 14-round magazine.
The teens were found inside the property “a short time later,” and taken into custody, but the report is unclear on what time they were found.
The car’s driver faces an additional charge of driving without a license. The vehicle belongs to his mother, police said.
Palm Beach Police spokesman Michael Ogrodnick told the Daily News that the suspects didn’t give police any information when questioned about the AK-47, but eventually one of them replied that he had “found it.” As of Wednesday, police still had no information on the gun’s owner.
“Honestly, I really don’t believe they even realized where they were in terms of location and proximity to Mar-a-Lago,” Ogrodnick said.
The teens are being held at the Juvenile Assessment Center in West Palm Beach pending a decision from the State Attorney’s Office on whether they will face felony charges as adults.
Follow Adriana Delgado on Twitter: @litadriana


usatoday--2020-08-06--Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs executive order restoring felon voting rights, removing state's last-in

Thousands of Iowans with felony convictions who have served their sentences can now participate in November 's presidential election after Gov .
Kim Reynolds signed an executive order Wednesday restoring their voting rights .
Reynolds , a Republican , signed the executive order Wednesday morning in her office at the Iowa Capitol , flanked by a group of local leaders and legislators .
`` Quite simply , when someone serves their sentence and pays the price our justice system has set for their crimes , they should have their right to vote restored , automatically , plain and simple , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last state in the nation that still banned all people with felony convictions from voting — even after the completion of their sentences — unless they applied individually to the governor 's office to have their rights restored .
Reynolds has spent the past two years advocating for the Iowa Legislature to pass a constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights but had resisted calls to sign an executive order , saying she believes a constitutional amendment is the best solution because it ca n't be changed by a future governor .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate did not pass the amendment and after George Floyd 's death prompted increased advocacy on racial justice issues , she announced she would sign the order .
Are you registered to vote ?
: Check your status or register online now Iowa 's felon voting ban was estimated to affect tens of thousands of people .
The Iowa Department of Corrections has discharged an average of 5,000 people with felony convictions annually in recent years , according to Sam Langholz , the governor 's legal counsel .
A 2016 report from The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly one in 10 African-American adults .
Restoring the right to vote for Iowans with felony records has been a priority for advocacy groups such as the NAACP and American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa for years .
The issue received heightened attention this summer as protests for racial justice swept across the country after the death of Floyd , a Black Minneapolis man , in the custody of a white police officer .
Activists with Des Moines Black Lives Matter made the voting rights issue one of their top demands for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moines , spoke at the signing ceremony , wearing a T-shirt with the image of late civil rights leader and voting rights champion U.S. Rep. John Lewis , who died July 17 .
He thanked Reynolds for signing the order and described it as `` a tribute to the legacy of Congressman Lewis . ''
`` Many hands went into this , but it boiled down to the governor taking the stand , standing up to a promise that I know we had talked about over two years ago , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And who is n't ?
Reynolds ' order states that felons must have discharged their sentence , including any parole and probation , before their voting rights will be restored .
Anyone still serving a prison sentence for a felony conviction will not be able to vote .
The order does not automatically grant voting rights to people convicted of felonies outlined in Iowa Code chapter 707 , which includes murder and manslaughter .
People convicted of serious sexual abuse crimes will need to complete any special sentences before their voting rights are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 years or for life , depending on the crime , meaning people convicted of the most serious sexual crimes will never automatically regain their voting rights .
Those whose voting rights are not automatically restored under the order can still petition the governor individually to have them restored .
The executive order does not require people with felony convictions to fully pay back any restitution payments owed to their victims before regaining their rights , as was included in a bill introduced by Republicans in the Iowa Senate earlier this year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from making their payments .
Nearly one in four Iowa felony convictions in the last two years came with a judgment ordering restitution to be paid to victims .
The average tab for those nearly 4,000 convictions is $ 11,607 .
MORE DETAILS : Who 's eligible to vote about executive order signing ?
Reynolds ' signature on the executive order comes 50 days after she publicly confirmed in June that she would sign such an order after meeting twice with activists from Des Moines Black Lives Matter , the NAACP and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Des Moines Black Lives Matter organizers have continued to pressure Reynolds to act quickly .
They have held several events to organize around the issue and have shown up at Reynolds ' home and public appearances to chant and wave signs supporting immediate action .
Matthew Bruce , an organizer with Des Moines Black Lives Matter , said he did n't agree with how the executive order prevents automatic restoration for people on probation or parole .
But he said he was encouraged to see that the order does n't require payment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glad about the restitution piece , and I thought that was the biggest victory out of all of this , '' he said .
At a Des Moines Black Lives Matter news conference Wednesday , organizers said that they were not notified of or invited to the signing of the executive order .
They called the signing `` a small victory . ''
`` We were fighting for the voting rights of every single person who has been convicted of a felony , and this executive order does not go far enough in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convicted of a felony . ''
said Jaylen Cavil , a Des Moines Black Lives Matter organizer .
`` In the United States of America , voting rights should n't be conditional on anything . ''
Betty Andrews , president of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP , said that although Reynolds has been under increased pressure this summer , the NAACP , the ACLU and others have been advocating for the restoration of voting rights for years .
`` Yes , there has been increased effort to increase pressure , increased visibility to the efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she said .
`` But we definitely have a plan , and we definitely understand that though things are kind of happening right now , many of those things were scheduled to happen right now . ''
Voting rights advocates have pointed to the closing window of time leading up to the Nov. 3 election , which is now less than three months away .
They say they need as much time as possible to educate Iowans with felony convictions on whether they are now eligible to vote and to get them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have identification and proof of residency .
`` We got it done , I feel like , in a timely manner , '' Reynolds said .
`` Individuals will have ample time to get registered and to participate in the process in Iowa .
We 're one of the states where you can register the same day that you can vote . ''
Andrews said the NAACP will be working to educate people about the order and get them registered to vote ahead of the election .
`` Now , our work is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she said .
`` As of today , they are allowed to vote . ''
Bruce said a main focus for Des Moines Black Lives Matter will now be voter engagement and education , helping those in the community who now qualify to vote to get registered , he said .
The group will also push for a constitutional amendment once the legislative session begins , he said .
Mark Stringer , executive director of the ACLU of Iowa , called it a historic day and praised the activists who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders .
`` We wish there were n't exemptions , but we 'll keep working on the constitutional amendment , as the governor alluded to , '' Stringer said .
`` And I just do n't think we can underestimate the human impact of this executive order today .
This affects real people 's lives and their families and communities in this state . ''
Election officials will also need to update their list of who is eligible to vote .
The Iowa Secretary of State 's office maintains a database of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has erroneously listed people as ineligible to vote .
Kevin Hall , a spokesperson for the secretary of state 's office , said July 28 that the office was `` prepared to pivot its felon initiative '' to assist in implementing the executive order once it was signed by the governor .
Reynolds ' executive order provides that the Department of Corrections will provide the secretary of state 's office with records at least weekly of anyone covered by the order who has discharged their sentence .
In her remarks , Reynolds again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights through a constitutional amendment .
“ Let me be clear , an executive order is at best a temporary solution , ” she said .
“ It can be changed with the stroke of a pen by the next governor , which is not good enough .
Something that is fundamentally right should not be based on the benevolence of a single elected official.
” For the past two years , the governor has called for amending the Iowa Constitution to automatically restore voting rights to felons once they have completed their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed in the Republican-controlled Senate , but Reynolds has said she will try again .
`` We 're going to continue to negotiate and look for a permanent solution , and we 'll see where those conversations go , '' she said .
`` I 've had a lot of legislators reach out .
They 're very interested in continuing that conversation .
So I 'm very optimistic about that . ''
Iowa 's rules for felon voting have seesawed in the past .
Former Gov .
Tom Vilsack , a Democrat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for felons in 2005 , but Reynolds ' predecessor , Republican Gov .
Terry Branstad , rescinded it shortly after taking office in 2011 .
Senate Minority Leader Janet Petersen , D-Des Moines , criticized Senate Republicans for an `` absence of leadership '' on passing an amendment .
`` This is a temporary solution , '' Petersen said in a statement .
`` A permanent solution was blocked by Senate Republicans , who failed to amend the Iowa Constitution to allow more Iowans to vote . ''
`` The House took action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I look forward to continue working with the Governor and Senate to find resolution next session , '' Grassley said in a statement .
Reynolds said she plans to continue to work with her criminal justice task force on reducing inequalities in the justice system .
She pointed to how the task force has been focusing on forming recommendations for anti-racial profiling legislation .
`` We 'll take a look at what they recommend and go from there , '' she said .
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by email at sgrubermil @ registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169 .
Follow him on Twitter at @ sgrubermiller .
Your subscription makes our journalism possible .
Subscribe today at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal .

Stephen Gruber-Miller and Ian Richardson, Des Moines Register

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs executive order restoring felon voting rights, removing state's last-in-the-nation status
Show Caption Hide Caption Watch: Gov. Reynolds signs executive order restoring felon voting rights Iowa was the last state to ban those with felony convictions from voting, even after completion of their sentences. Des Moines Register
Thousands of Iowans with felony convictions who have served their sentences can now participate in November's presidential election after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order Wednesday restoring their voting rights.
Reynolds, a Republican, signed the executive order Wednesday morning in her office at the Iowa Capitol, flanked by a group of local leaders and legislators.
"Quite simply, when someone serves their sentence and pays the price our justice system has set for their crimes, they should have their right to vote restored, automatically, plain and simple," she said.
Iowa was the last state in the nation that still banned all people with felony convictions from voting — even after the completion of their sentences — unless they applied individually to the governor's office to have their rights restored.
Reynolds has spent the past two years advocating for the Iowa Legislature to pass a constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights but had resisted calls to sign an executive order, saying she believes a constitutional amendment is the best solution because it can't be changed by a future governor.
This summer, after Republicans in the Iowa Senate did not pass the amendment and after George Floyd's death prompted increased advocacy on racial justice issues, she announced she would sign the order.
Are you registered to vote?: Check your status or register online now
Iowa's felon voting ban was estimated to affect tens of thousands of people. The Iowa Department of Corrections has discharged an average of 5,000 people with felony convictions annually in recent years, according to Sam Langholz, the governor's legal counsel. A 2016 report from The Sentencing Project found that the ban affected nearly one in 10 African-American adults.
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
Restoring the right to vote for Iowans with felony records has been a priority for advocacy groups such as the NAACP and American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa for years. The issue received heightened attention this summer as protests for racial justice swept across the country after the death of Floyd, a Black Minneapolis man, in the custody of a white police officer. Activists with Des Moines Black Lives Matter made the voting rights issue one of their top demands for the governor.
Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines, spoke at the signing ceremony, wearing a T-shirt with the image of late civil rights leader and voting rights champion U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who died July 17. He thanked Reynolds for signing the order and described it as "a tribute to the legacy of Congressman Lewis."
"Many hands went into this, but it boiled down to the governor taking the stand, standing up to a promise that I know we had talked about over two years ago," he said.
Who is eligible to vote? And who isn't?
Reynolds' order states that felons must have discharged their sentence, including any parole and probation, before their voting rights will be restored. Anyone still serving a prison sentence for a felony conviction will not be able to vote.
The order does not automatically grant voting rights to people convicted of felonies outlined in Iowa Code chapter 707, which includes murder and manslaughter. People convicted of serious sexual abuse crimes will need to complete any special sentences before their voting rights are restored. Those special sentences last either 10 years or for life, depending on the crime, meaning people convicted of the most serious sexual crimes will never automatically regain their voting rights.
Those whose voting rights are not automatically restored under the order can still petition the governor individually to have them restored.
The executive order does not require people with felony convictions to fully pay back any restitution payments owed to their victims before regaining their rights, as was included in a bill introduced by Republicans in the Iowa Senate earlier this year. But the order does not relieve them from making their payments.
Nearly one in four Iowa felony convictions in the last two years came with a judgment ordering restitution to be paid to victims. The average tab for those nearly 4,000 convictions is $11,607.
MORE DETAILS: Who's eligible to vote about executive order signing?
A summer-long push for action
Reynolds' signature on the executive order comes 50 days after she publicly confirmed in June that she would sign such an order after meeting twice with activists from Des Moines Black Lives Matter, the NAACP and the ACLU of Iowa.
Since that pledge, Des Moines Black Lives Matter organizers have continued to pressure Reynolds to act quickly. They have held several events to organize around the issue and have shown up at Reynolds' home and public appearances to chant and wave signs supporting immediate action.
Matthew Bruce, an organizer with Des Moines Black Lives Matter, said he didn't agree with how the executive order prevents automatic restoration for people on probation or parole. But he said he was encouraged to see that the order doesn't require payment of restitution.
"I was very glad about the restitution piece, and I thought that was the biggest victory out of all of this," he said.
At a Des Moines Black Lives Matter news conference Wednesday, organizers said that they were not notified of or invited to the signing of the executive order. They called the signing "a small victory."
"We were fighting for the voting rights of every single person who has been convicted of a felony, and this executive order does not go far enough in re-enfranchising every single Iowan who's been convicted of a felony." said Jaylen Cavil, a Des Moines Black Lives Matter organizer. "In the United States of America, voting rights shouldn't be conditional on anything."
Betty Andrews, president of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP, said that although Reynolds has been under increased pressure this summer, the NAACP, the ACLU and others have been advocating for the restoration of voting rights for years.
"Yes, there has been increased effort to increase pressure, increased visibility to the efforts that we have been working on," she said. "But we definitely have a plan, and we definitely understand that though things are kind of happening right now, many of those things were scheduled to happen right now."
Voting rights advocates have pointed to the closing window of time leading up to the Nov. 3 election, which is now less than three months away. They say they need as much time as possible to educate Iowans with felony convictions on whether they are now eligible to vote and to get them registered, which involves making sure they have identification and proof of residency.
"We got it done, I feel like, in a timely manner," Reynolds said. "Individuals will have ample time to get registered and to participate in the process in Iowa. We're one of the states where you can register the same day that you can vote."
Andrews said the NAACP will be working to educate people about the order and get them registered to vote ahead of the election.
"Now, our work is to make sure that people are registered," she said. "As of today, they are allowed to vote."
Bruce said a main focus for Des Moines Black Lives Matter will now be voter engagement and education, helping those in the community who now qualify to vote to get registered, he said. The group will also push for a constitutional amendment once the legislative session begins, he said.
Mark Stringer, executive director of the ACLU of Iowa, called it a historic day and praised the activists who have kept up pressure on Reynolds and legislative leaders.
"We wish there weren't exemptions, but we'll keep working on the constitutional amendment, as the governor alluded to," Stringer said. "And I just don't think we can underestimate the human impact of this executive order today. This affects real people's lives and their families and communities in this state."
Election officials will also need to update their list of who is eligible to vote. The Iowa Secretary of State's office maintains a database of people with felony convictions that in the past has erroneously listed people as ineligible to vote.
Kevin Hall, a spokesperson for the secretary of state's office, said July 28 that the office was "prepared to pivot its felon initiative" to assist in implementing the executive order once it was signed by the governor.
Reynolds' executive order provides that the Department of Corrections will provide the secretary of state's office with records at least weekly of anyone covered by the order who has discharged their sentence.
Reynolds vows new effort to pass constitutional amendment
In her remarks, Reynolds again emphasized her commitment to eventually restoring voting rights through a constitutional amendment.
“Let me be clear, an executive order is at best a temporary solution,” she said. “It can be changed with the stroke of a pen by the next governor, which is not good enough. Something that is fundamentally right should not be based on the benevolence of a single elected official.”
For the past two years, the governor has called for amending the Iowa Constitution to automatically restore voting rights to felons once they have completed their sentences. Each year, the measure failed in the Republican-controlled Senate, but Reynolds has said she will try again.
"We're going to continue to negotiate and look for a permanent solution, and we'll see where those conversations go," she said. "I've had a lot of legislators reach out. They're very interested in continuing that conversation. So I'm very optimistic about that."
Iowa's rules for felon voting have seesawed in the past. Former Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, signed an executive order restoring voting rights for felons in 2005, but Reynolds' predecessor, Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, rescinded it shortly after taking office in 2011.
Senate Minority Leader Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, criticized Senate Republicans for an "absence of leadership" on passing an amendment.
"This is a temporary solution," Petersen said in a statement. "A permanent solution was blocked by Senate Republicans, who failed to amend the Iowa Constitution to allow more Iowans to vote."
House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, praised Reynolds for signing the executive order.
"The House took action on the constitutional amendment in 2019, and I look forward to continue working with the Governor and Senate to find resolution next session," Grassley said in a statement.
Reynolds said she plans to continue to work with her criminal justice task force on reducing inequalities in the justice system. She pointed to how the task force has been focusing on forming recommendations for anti-racial profiling legislation.
"We'll take a look at what they recommend and go from there," she said.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.
Your subscription makes our journalism possible. Subscribe today at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.


usatoday--2020-08-06--Dems, White House inch closer on coronavirus relief deal, hoping for agreement by end of week

WASHINGTON – Congressional Democrats and the White House again met Wednesday , hoping to hash out their differences on another coronavirus relief package and come to an agreement by the end of the week to quickly rush funds to millions of unemployed Americans stuck in financial limbo after a $ 600 weekly enhanced unemployment benefit expired Friday .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , met with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to find a compromise between Democrats ' $ 3 trillion proposal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The four have met nearly every day for more than a week , but movement toward a deal has been sluggish as both sides dug in their heels on some of the biggest sticking points , including the unemployment benefits and additional funds for state and local governments that have had their revenue gutted during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Wednesday , negotiations opened a new chapter as the group met with Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to discuss emergency funding needs and issues hampering the performance of the U.S. Post Office , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fears about mail-in ballots for the election in November .
'Insulin or groceries ' : How reduced unemployment affects struggling Americans from California to Mississippi Here 's how far apart both sides are : $ 1,200 checks ?
Money for schools ?
Breaking down what Republicans and Democrats want in the coronavirus stimulus plan After the meeting concluded , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters the negotiators had a `` heated discussion '' with the Postmaster General , adding he and Pelosi did not find his responses to questions about ensuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be satisfactory .
Both sides signaled on Wednesday that although they remained far apart on core issues , the hope was to come to a deal by the end of the week , so a bill could pass next week .
Democrats and White House negotiators made a number of concessions , hoping to break the logjam and make progress on a compromise .
Mnuchin and Meadows told Republicans at a closed-door lunch Wednesday that they may halt talks if an agreement is not made by Friday , Sen. Roy Blunt , R-Mo.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you have to set a deadline or just continue this Kabuki dance every day , and nobody wants to do that , '' he said .
Meadows , as he arrived at Pelosi 's office , said he 'd `` become extremely doubtful that we ’ ll be able to make a deal if it goes well beyond Friday '' but later clarified that the end of the week was not a `` drop dead date '' for an agreement though `` my optimism continues to diminish the closer we get to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... exponentially after Friday . ''
`` I think at this point , we ’ re either going to get serious about negotiating and get an agreement in principle , '' he said .
`` We ’ ve been spending so much time together that if you ’ re not making progress , there ’ s no sense to continue . ''
The GOP stimulus proposal : Mitch McConnell unveils $ 1 trillion pandemic aid package to criticisms from Republicans and Democrats Mnuchin told reporters following Wednesday 's meeting there needed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before a deal was struck .
`` If we can reach a compromise on these big issues , I think everything else will fall into place , '' he said .
Meadows indicated both sides were not close to striking a deal , telling reporters they had not agreed to topline numbers on a bill and that both sides were `` trillions of dollars apart . ''
Democrats were not as encouraged as they had been in previous days .
Pelosi noted she was `` confident that we will have an agreement '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming to fruition by Friday , telling MSNBC , `` The timing of it , I ca n't say because I don ’ t know . ''
Following Wednesday 's meeting , Pelosi told reporters she was `` optimistic '' about a deal but still unsure about the timing .
`` I feel optimistic that there is a light at the end of the tunnel , but how long that tunnel is remains to be seen , '' she said .
Schumer said on the Senate floor Wednesday morning there are real-life ramifications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` While we have started to generate some forward momentum , we need our partners in the White House to go much further on a number of issues , '' he said .
In a speech on the Senate floor , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , accused Democrats of dragging out the negotiations .
`` While Americans are struggling , the Democratic leaders have moved about 1 inch in eight days , '' he said .
The White House made a number of offers to Democrats on some of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including extending protections for renters facing evictions and enhanced unemployment benefits .
INTERACTIVE:24 million Americans fear missing next rent payment as benefits dry up Republicans and Democrats remain far apart on many issues at the heart of the next package , one of the biggest being the $ 600 boost to unemployment , which Democrats want to extend until at least January and Republicans argued is too high and disincentivizes Americans from going back to work .
Republicans offered to slash the benefit to $ 200 .
The bonus bolsters state benefits that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The benefits have been a financial lifeline for millions , and the sudden halt left families across the nation fearful over making ends meet as many workplaces struggle to reopen .
A survey by the Census Bureau in July found 24 million Americans said they had no or little confidence in their ability to pay their rent in August .
More than a quarter , or 26.5 % , of Americans missed rent or their mortgage payment for July .
Black and Hispanic Americans have faced even steeper losses .
About 46 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would probably not be able to pay rent in August .
Republicans and Democrats also have differences on funds for state and local governments and the post office , areas important to Democrats , and liability insurance for businesses , which Republicans said is a requirement in the next bill .
More : Trump weighs executive action as negotiations progress on next coronavirus stimulus package Lawmakers face pressure from their states ' governors to pass funding for state and local governments .
At a meeting of the National Governors Association on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the incoming chairman of the bipartisan group , said a “ top priority ” of the group was for $ 500 billion of unrestricted state and local funding to be included in the next COVID-19 relief bill .
“ All major economists agree that without providing financial assistance for state and local governments , the economy will not rebound as quickly as it would otherwise , ” he said .
President Donald Trump on Wednesday reiterated his threat to use executive action to address some of the economic hardship caused by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached , but also continued to gloss over questions about his authority to act unilaterally .
Trump said he is considering a short-term suspension of the payroll tax , an idea he has floated for months but that has met with bipartisan resistance , as well as an order to block evictions .
“ My administration is exploring executive actions to provide protections against eviction — eviction is a big problem , very unfair to a lot of people , ” Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday .
Pelosi acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might have the power to extend the eviction moratorium for some homes , but without the support of Congress to appropriate money , `` it 's helpful , but it 's not the whole thing . ''

Christal Hayes and Nicholas Wu, USA TODAY

Dems, White House inch closer on coronavirus relief deal, hoping for agreement by end of week
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19: Details on the new stimulus plan The new GOP plan includes another check for Americans and continued help for the unemployed. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Congressional Democrats and the White House again met Wednesday, hoping to hash out their differences on another coronavirus relief package and come to an agreement by the end of the week to quickly rush funds to millions of unemployed Americans stuck in financial limbo after a $600 weekly enhanced unemployment benefit expired Friday.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., met with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to find a compromise between Democrats' $3 trillion proposal and a $1 trillion Republican package.
The four have met nearly every day for more than a week, but movement toward a deal has been sluggish as both sides dug in their heels on some of the biggest sticking points, including the unemployment benefits and additional funds for state and local governments that have had their revenue gutted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wednesday, negotiations opened a new chapter as the group met with Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to discuss emergency funding needs and issues hampering the performance of the U.S. Post Office, which has seen mail delivery delays that have led to fears about mail-in ballots for the election in November.
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After the meeting concluded, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters the negotiators had a "heated discussion" with the Postmaster General, adding he and Pelosi did not find his responses to questions about ensuring the integrity of voting by mail to be satisfactory.
Both sides signaled on Wednesday that although they remained far apart on core issues, the hope was to come to a deal by the end of the week, so a bill could pass next week. Democrats and White House negotiators made a number of concessions, hoping to break the logjam and make progress on a compromise.
Mnuchin and Meadows told Republicans at a closed-door lunch Wednesday that they may halt talks if an agreement is not made by Friday, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said. "At some point, you have to set a deadline or just continue this Kabuki dance every day, and nobody wants to do that," he said.
Meadows, as he arrived at Pelosi's office, said he'd "become extremely doubtful that we’ll be able to make a deal if it goes well beyond Friday" but later clarified that the end of the week was not a "drop dead date" for an agreement though "my optimism continues to diminish the closer we get to Friday and certainly falls off a cliff...exponentially after Friday."
"I think at this point, we’re either going to get serious about negotiating and get an agreement in principle," he said. "We’ve been spending so much time together that if you’re not making progress, there’s no sense to continue."
Talks in Capitol to continue over US virus benefit Talks on a huge coronavirus relief measure resumed on Saturday in Washington. Negotiators on both sides said that the talks were "productive" and would continue on Monday. (Aug. 1) AP
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The GOP stimulus proposal: Mitch McConnell unveils $1 trillion pandemic aid package to criticisms from Republicans and Democrats
Mnuchin told reporters following Wednesday's meeting there needed to be "real compromise" in the negotiations before a deal was struck.
"If we can reach a compromise on these big issues, I think everything else will fall into place," he said. Meadows indicated both sides were not close to striking a deal, telling reporters they had not agreed to topline numbers on a bill and that both sides were "trillions of dollars apart."
Democrats were not as encouraged as they had been in previous days. Pelosi noted she was "confident that we will have an agreement" but appeared less optimistic on a deal coming to fruition by Friday, telling MSNBC, "The timing of it, I can't say because I don’t know."
Following Wednesday's meeting, Pelosi told reporters she was "optimistic" about a deal but still unsure about the timing.
"I feel optimistic that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but how long that tunnel is remains to be seen," she said.
Schumer said on the Senate floor Wednesday morning there are real-life ramifications for millions as the stalemate continues.
"While we have started to generate some forward momentum, we need our partners in the White House to go much further on a number of issues," he said.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., accused Democrats of dragging out the negotiations.
"While Americans are struggling, the Democratic leaders have moved about 1 inch in eight days," he said.
The White House made a number of offers to Democrats on some of their core priorities in the next package, including extending protections for renters facing evictions and enhanced unemployment benefits.
INTERACTIVE: 24 million Americans fear missing next rent payment as benefits dry up
Republicans and Democrats remain far apart on many issues at the heart of the next package, one of the biggest being the $600 boost to unemployment, which Democrats want to extend until at least January and Republicans argued is too high and disincentivizes Americans from going back to work. Republicans offered to slash the benefit to $200. The bonus bolsters state benefits that average nationally about $370 a week.
The benefits have been a financial lifeline for millions, and the sudden halt left families across the nation fearful over making ends meet as many workplaces struggle to reopen.
A survey by the Census Bureau in July found 24 million Americans said they had no or little confidence in their ability to pay their rent in August. More than a quarter, or 26.5%, of Americans missed rent or their mortgage payment for July.
Black and Hispanic Americans have faced even steeper losses. About 46% of Black and Hispanic renters said they would probably not be able to pay rent in August.
Republicans and Democrats also have differences on funds for state and local governments and the post office, areas important to Democrats, and liability insurance for businesses, which Republicans said is a requirement in the next bill.
Federal Reserve: How creating money could save US economy Where does the U.S. stimulus money come from? Here's how the Federal Reserve is saving the economy from the COVID-19 crisis. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
More: Trump weighs executive action as negotiations progress on next coronavirus stimulus package
Lawmakers face pressure from their states' governors to pass funding for state and local governments.
At a meeting of the National Governors Association on Wednesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the incoming chairman of the bipartisan group, said a “top priority” of the group was for $500 billion of unrestricted state and local funding to be included in the next COVID-19 relief bill.
“All major economists agree that without providing financial assistance for state and local governments, the economy will not rebound as quickly as it would otherwise,” he said.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday reiterated his threat to use executive action to address some of the economic hardship caused by the virus if a deal isn’t reached, but also continued to gloss over questions about his authority to act unilaterally. Trump said he is considering a short-term suspension of the payroll tax, an idea he has floated for months but that has met with bipartisan resistance, as well as an order to block evictions.
“My administration is exploring executive actions to provide protections against eviction — eviction is a big problem, very unfair to a lot of people,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday.
Pelosi acknowledged in an MSNBC interview Wednesday that Trump might have the power to extend the eviction moratorium for some homes, but without the support of Congress to appropriate money, "it's helpful, but it's not the whole thing."
Contributing: John Fritze


usatoday--2020-08-06--New Podcast: Inside Coaches Poll

New Podcast: Inside Coaches Poll

To kick off the 2020 season, Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg debut and break down the preseason Amway Coaches Poll. They also talk to three-time national champion Urban Meyer about his broadcasting career with Fox Sports and how he would approach the uncertainty surrounding this season if he were still coaching. Finally, Dan and Paul discuss some of the challenges teams will face trying to play amid COVID-19.


usatoday--2020-08-06--Feds expand officer deployments to Memphis, St. Louis in anti-violence push

The Trump administration expanded its deployment of federal law enforcement officers to two additional cities Thursday as part of its controversial anti-crime effort .
The Justice Department announced that it is surging 40 officers to Memphis , Tennessee , and 50 more to St. Louis during the next several weeks , marking a new federal presence in eight U.S. cities where local authorities are grappling with worsening violence .
Last month , Attorney General William Barr launched the effort , known as Operation Legend , despite the widespread concerns for the tactics used by federal officers dispatched to Portland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other cities to quell protests sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police .
Barr has maintained that the additional officers will only assist in combating local violence and will not take part in crowd control duties that have drawn federal agents into clashes with street protesters .
Since last month , Barr has dispatched dozens of officers to Kansas City , Chicago , Albuquerque , New Mexico , Detroit , Cleveland and Milwaukee as part of Operation Legend , a program named for a young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Lyda Krewson said she supports the assistance , citing `` an unprecedented surge '' in violent crimes in the city .
The police department , facing a staffing shortage , responded to 85 homicides in June and July , she said .
`` At a time when our police department is facing a serious shortage of approximately 140 officers , we need additional resources to help us investigate violent crimes , make arrests , and deter additional violent offenses across the city , '' the mayor said .
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal operation as long as federal agents remain focused on violent crime enforcement .
Strickland said the assistance `` is a violent crime reduction effort , with additional resources being provided to federal , state and local law enforcement to assist with traditional crime-fighting directed at gang violence , narcotics-related shootings and illegal firearms . ''
`` That 's what it is , '' he said .
`` What it is not is an introduction of federal riot police , uniformed personnel , or other federal agents to protect federal property , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional ( Immigration and Customs Enforcement ) resources to enforce immigration offenses . ''
The federal forces in Portland and D.C. included large contingents of immigration enforcement authorities drawn from the Department of Homeland Security .
Operation Legend officers are being largely dispatched from the FBI , Drug Enforcement Administration , U.S .
Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives .

Kevin Johnson and Kristine Phillips, USA TODAY

Feds expand officer deployments to Memphis, St. Louis in anti-violence push
The Trump administration expanded its deployment of federal law enforcement officers to two additional cities Thursday as part of its controversial anti-crime effort.
The Justice Department announced that it is surging 40 officers to Memphis, Tennessee, and 50 more to St. Louis during the next several weeks, marking a new federal presence in eight U.S. cities where local authorities are grappling with worsening violence.
More: Federal agents, officers head to Detroit, Cleveland, Milwaukee as Operation Legend expands
Last month, Attorney General William Barr launched the effort, known as Operation Legend, despite the widespread concerns for the tactics used by federal officers dispatched to Portland, Oregon, Washington, D.C., and other cities to quell protests sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.
More: 'What a disaster': Aggressive federal response in Portland raises legal questions
Portland protests: Police arrest protesters and seize weapons Violent protests continue near the federal courthouse in Portland, as local police detained two people after a gunshot was heard. USA TODAY
Barr has maintained that the additional officers will only assist in combating local violence and will not take part in crowd control duties that have drawn federal agents into clashes with street protesters. Since last month, Barr has dispatched dozens of officers to Kansas City, Chicago, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Detroit, Cleveland and Milwaukee as part of Operation Legend, a program named for a young Kansas City murder victim.
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson said she supports the assistance, citing "an unprecedented surge" in violent crimes in the city. The police department, facing a staffing shortage, responded to 85 homicides in June and July, she said.
"At a time when our police department is facing a serious shortage of approximately 140 officers, we need additional resources to help us investigate violent crimes, make arrests, and deter additional violent offenses across the city," the mayor said.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, meanwhile said local officials will support the federal operation as long as federal agents remain focused on violent crime enforcement.
Strickland said the assistance "is a violent crime reduction effort, with additional resources being provided to federal, state and local law enforcement to assist with traditional crime-fighting directed at gang violence, narcotics-related shootings and illegal firearms."
"That's what it is," he said. "What it is not is an introduction of federal riot police, uniformed personnel, or other federal agents to protect federal property, and is not intended to introduce any additional (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) resources to enforce immigration offenses."
The federal forces in Portland and D.C. included large contingents of immigration enforcement authorities drawn from the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Legend officers are being largely dispatched from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.