usatoday--2020-07-09--Why I joined the Lincoln Project: It's leading the 2020 fight to repel Trump and Trumpism

On Nov. 3 , the American people will participate in what I believe to be the most pivotal election of this young century .
In a short amount of time , the unthinkable has happened .
A feckless thug with no regard for constitutional norms has ascended to the highest office in the land .
Every day , he leads an assault against our most precious freedoms .
He has threatened to unleash military force on his own citizens .
He has looked the other way while a foreign adversary reportedly put a bounty on our men and women in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical professionals and presided over the mass spreading of a deadly disease .
He has inflamed racial tensions in this country in a desperate attempt to cling onto power .
He is the greatest threat to freedom and democracy that this republic has ever confronted .
This is an all-hands-on-deck situation and for that reason , I have joined the political crusaders known as the Lincoln Project .
As described by its founders , long-time Republican consultants Rick Wilson , Steve Schmidt , John Weaver , George Conway and Reed Galen , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transcends partisanship and is dedicated to nothing less than preservation of the principles that so many have fought for , on battlefields far from home and within their own communities.
” The identity and ideology of this organization isn ’ t left or right , Democrat or Republican , liberal or conservative — it ’ s simply the truth .
To me , the Lincoln Project is the pirate ship I ’ ve been looking to join for the better part of four years .
In March of 2016 , I made the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its public relations consultant .
Up until that moment , I had spent the entirety of my professional career , which started when I was 17 years old , working with and for Republicans at all levels of government .
I was done with politics , and it seemed , politics was done with me .
My interests had diverged towards a hobby that had manifested itself into a country music email tip sheet called The Morning Hangover .
In ways I could not have forecast , this passion project became my liberator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tied to a political party , political figure or partisan media company .
My livelihood was not at the mercy of an election cycle or reliant upon political patronage .
For the first time in my life , I was free to say whatever I wanted , about whomever I wanted , with no regard for the political implications .
As time went on , I began writing for publications like USA TODAY and appearing on cable news channels , like MSNBC and CNN , to give my unfiltered perspective about what was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began to rise .
The stone-cold truth for most in politics is that who you affiliate with is your entire identity .
It ’ s your side , your team .
Speak out against it and face potential exile .
All of a sudden , consulting contracts won ’ t be available to you .
Spots on desired , high-profile campaigns will go to other more loyal soldiers .
For anyone who is still wondering why so few challenge their political party ’ s status quo , this is the reason why .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ declare your opposition to one party ’ s standard bearer , the other party is going to give you a lifeline .
The truth is , if you do what I did , speak out against your party and ultimately leave your party , you have to find a new way to make your living .
Former GOP strategist : If Republicans care about America , they should vote for Joe Biden As months turned into years and as Trump ’ s grip on the Republican Party spread , I knocked on every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imagine , offering to help .
From the Democratic National Committee to the House Judiciary Committee and everywhere in between , I made it clear that if there was a way my experience working in Republican politics could help stop the cancer that was Donald Trump from spreading any further , I was ready to get involved , but I was still unsure where I could both fit in and be a difference maker .
Enter the Lincoln Project .
It may take Republicans to beat Trump For years , I have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democrats ’ hesitancy to take the fight to Trump and his Republican accomplices .
Former First Lady Michelle Obama ’ s famous catchphrase , “ When they go low , we go high , ” makes for stirring oratory , but is not a recipe for defeating the cancer that is Trump .
Maybe it ’ s as simple as it takes a Republican to beat a Republican .
In just six months , the Lincoln Project has built a digital content machine producing dozens of viral videos and ads that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his campaign .
Be more like the Lincoln Project : Biden , Trump and the Gingrich effect : Democrats must toughen up to win the 2020 election The Lincoln Project has become the tip of the spear in the battle to repel Trumpism and wipe out those who have cravenly enabled his tyranny .
Cycle after cycle , truth has become cannon fodder in campaigns waged over the same ideological entrenchments .
In reality , most of Americans agree on most of the issues , most of the time .
Given that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move the goal posts and reframe what our elections are really about .
This coming one could not be more clear : One side believes in truth , the other does not .
Kurt Bardella is a senior adviser for the Lincoln Project , a member of USA TODAY ’ s Board of Contributors and an MSNBC contributor .
He was the spokesman and senior adviser for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Republicans from 2009-2013 .
Follow him on Twitter : @ kurtbardella

Why I joined the Lincoln Project: It's leading the 2020 fight to repel Trump and Trumpism Michelle Obama’s famous catchphrase, 'When they go low, we go high,' is stirring oratory. But it's not a recipe for defeating the cancer that is Trump.
On Nov. 3, the American people will participate in what I believe to be the most pivotal election of this young century. In a short amount of time, the unthinkable has happened. A feckless thug with no regard for constitutional norms has ascended to the highest office in the land. Every day, he leads an assault against our most precious freedoms.
He has threatened to unleash military force on his own citizens. He has looked the other way while a foreign adversary reportedly put a bounty on our men and women in uniform. He has ignored warnings from medical professionals and presided over the mass spreading of a deadly disease. He has inflamed racial tensions in this country in a desperate attempt to cling onto power. He is the greatest threat to freedom and democracy that this republic has ever confronted. This is an all-hands-on-deck situation and for that reason, I have joined the political crusaders known as the Lincoln Project.
As described by its founders, long-time Republican consultants Rick Wilson, Steve Schmidt, John Weaver, George Conway and Reed Galen, the Lincoln Project is an effort that “transcends partisanship and is dedicated to nothing less than preservation of the principles that so many have fought for, on battlefields far from home and within their own communities.”
The identity and ideology of this organization isn’t left or right, Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative — it’s simply the truth. To me, the Lincoln Project is the pirate ship I’ve been looking to join for the better part of four years.
From Breitbart to Lincoln Project
In March of 2016, I made the decision to stop representing Breitbart News as its public relations consultant. Up until that moment, I had spent the entirety of my professional career, which started when I was 17 years old, working with and for Republicans at all levels of government. I was done with politics, and it seemed, politics was done with me. My interests had diverged towards a hobby that had manifested itself into a country music email tip sheet called The Morning Hangover.
In ways I could not have forecast, this passion project became my liberator. My professional identity was no longer tied to a political party, political figure or partisan media company. My livelihood was not at the mercy of an election cycle or reliant upon political patronage. For the first time in my life, I was free to say whatever I wanted, about whomever I wanted, with no regard for the political implications.
As time went on, I began writing for publications like USA TODAY and appearing on cable news channels, like MSNBC and CNN, to give my unfiltered perspective about what was happening to the Republican Party as Trumpism began to rise.
The stone-cold truth for most in politics is that who you affiliate with is your entire identity. It’s your side, your team. Speak out against it and face potential exile. All of a sudden, consulting contracts won’t be available to you. Spots on desired, high-profile campaigns will go to other more loyal soldiers. For anyone who is still wondering why so few challenge their political party’s status quo, this is the reason why. It’s not like after you declare your opposition to one party’s standard bearer, the other party is going to give you a lifeline. The truth is, if you do what I did, speak out against your party and ultimately leave your party, you have to find a new way to make your living.
Former GOP strategist: If Republicans care about America, they should vote for Joe Biden
As months turned into years and as Trump’s grip on the Republican Party spread, I knocked on every door in the Democratic Party you can imagine, offering to help. From the Democratic National Committee to the House Judiciary Committee and everywhere in between, I made it clear that if there was a way my experience working in Republican politics could help stop the cancer that was Donald Trump from spreading any further, I was ready to get involved, but I was still unsure where I could both fit in and be a difference maker. Enter the Lincoln Project.
It may take Republicans to beat Trump
For years, I have been frustrated with what I perceived to be the Democrats’ hesitancy to take the fight to Trump and his Republican accomplices. Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s famous catchphrase, “When they go low, we go high,” makes for stirring oratory, but is not a recipe for defeating the cancer that is Trump. Maybe it’s as simple as it takes a Republican to beat a Republican. In just six months, the Lincoln Project has built a digital content machine producing dozens of viral videos and ads that has infiltrated the narrow head space of Trump and his campaign.
Be more like the Lincoln Project: Biden, Trump and the Gingrich effect: Democrats must toughen up to win the 2020 election
The Lincoln Project has become the tip of the spear in the battle to repel Trumpism and wipe out those who have cravenly enabled his tyranny. Cycle after cycle, truth has become cannon fodder in campaigns waged over the same ideological entrenchments. In reality, most of Americans agree on most of the issues, most of the time. Given that, maybe it’s time to move the goal posts and reframe what our elections are really about. This coming one could not be more clear: One side believes in truth, the other does not.
Kurt Bardella is a senior adviser for the Lincoln Project, a member of USA TODAY’s Board of Contributors and an MSNBC contributor. He was the spokesman and senior adviser for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Republicans from 2009-2013. Follow him on Twitter: @kurtbardella


usatoday--2020-07-09--Geoffrey Berman to testify before House Judiciary Committee on circumstances of his firing

WASHINGTON – Geoffrey Berman , whose unceremonious firing as head of the Justice Department 's most prestigious office remains clouded with questions , will speak to lawmakers Thursday about the circumstances surrounding his ouster , a spokesperson said .
Manhattan 's former chief federal prosecutor will testify behind closed-doors before the House Judiciary Committee , which has been investigating allegations of political interference within the Justice Department .
His testimony begins at noon ET .
The potentially dramatic testimony from Berman , whose office has investigated and prosecuted several of President Donald Trump 's allies , could raise further questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a White House that has purged watchdogs , whistleblowers and others seen as disloyal .
'What had happened was wrong ' : DOJ lawyers accuse agency leaders of abusing power in Roger Stone case , other probes Two weeks ago , two Justice Department prosecutors accused the agency 's leadership of abusing its power at the president 's behest .
One , a career Justice Department attorney who prosecuted Roger Stone , accused the agency 's leaders of giving the longtime GOP operative favorable treatment because he 's an ally of the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extraordinary clash with Attorney General William Barr , who had announced that Berman was stepping down to make way for Trump 's new nominee to lead the Manhattan office .
Berman , however , insisted he had no intention of resigning until the Senate confirms a nominee , setting off a highly public fight over control of the pivotal office .
Trump later fired Berman at Barr 's urging , although the president seemed to distance himself from the issue .
`` I 'm not involved , '' Trump told reporters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney in Manhattan vows to resist Barr 's effort to oust him , continue probes Before his removal , Berman referred to ongoing investigations within his office and his desire to advance them `` without delay or interruption . ''
He did not elaborate on specific probes , but his ouster came just days after former Trump national security adviser John Bolton revealed in a book that the president once sought to interfere in an investigation of a Turkish bank to pacify Turkey ’ s president , Recep Erdogan .
Berman 's former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyer , Rudy Giuliani , and two former Giuliani business associates .
Trump intends to nominate Jay Clayton , the Securities and Exchange Commission chairman who has no experience as a federal prosecutor , to replace Berman .
But Clayton 's nomination appeared to be already in peril .
Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee had signaled he would not move forward with the nomination without sign off from New York 's two senators – both of whom have called for Clayton to remove his name from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Craig Carpenito , New Jersey 's chief federal prosecutor , will take Berman 's place until a nominee is confirmed .
But Barr later backtracked , announcing that Berman 's top deputy , Audrey Strauss , will be temporarily in charge .

Kristine Phillips and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

Former US Attorney Geoffrey Berman: AG Barr pressed him to resign to make way for favored candidate
Show Caption Hide Caption Schumer calls for investigation into Berman firing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling for an investigation into the Trump administration's firing of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman. (June 22) AP
WASHINGTON – Attorney General William Barr repeatedly pressed recently ousted Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman to resign during a chaotic weekend last month, the former prosecutor told a House panel Thursday.
Berman provided the account in an opening statement during a closed-door meeting with the House Judiciary Committee, following his abrupt firing as chief of the Justice Department's most prestigious office.
"The Attorney General said that if I did not resign from my position I would be fired. He added that getting fired from my job would not be good for my resume or future job prospects. I told him that while I did not want to get fired, I would not resign," Berman told lawmakers on the committee, which has been investigating allegations of politicization of the Justice Department.
A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment.
The testimony from Berman, whose office has investigated and prosecuted several of President Donald Trump's allies, is certain to raise additional questions about the Justice Department's independence from a White House that has purged watchdogs, whistleblowers and others seen as disloyal.
Geoffrey Berman firing: Attorney General Barr's glowing account of NY prosecutor's work further clouds dismissal
'What had happened was wrong': DOJ lawyers accuse agency leaders of abusing power in Roger Stone case, other probes
Two weeks ago, two Justice Department prosecutors accused the agency's leadership of abusing its power at the president's behest. One, a career Justice Department attorney who prosecuted Roger Stone, accused the agency's leaders of giving the longtime GOP operative favorable treatment because he's an ally of the president.
Berman was fired last month after an extraordinary clash with Barr, who had announced that Berman was stepping down to make way for Trump's new nominee to lead the Manhattan office. Berman, however, insisted he had no intention of resigning until the Senate confirms a nominee, setting off a highly public fight over control of the pivotal office.
During a 45-minute meeting with Barr last month, Berman said the attorney general urged him to take a job as assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Civil Division, a post that was recently vacated.
"I responded that I loved my job and my colleagues ... I told the Attorney General that I was not interested in overseeing DOJ's Civil Division or in resigning," Berman said, adding that his office has "important investigations" he wanted to see through to the end.
Although the attorney general "was not at all dissatisfied" with his performance as chief prosecutor in Manhattan, Berman said, the Trump administration wanted to put someone else in the position. Trump intends to nominate Jay Clayton, the Securities and Exchange Commission chairman who has no experience as a federal prosecutor, to replace Berman.
'No intention of resigning': US attorney in Manhattan vows to resist Barr's effort to oust him, continue probes
"I asked the Attorney General why I was being asked to resign prior to a nominee being confirmed. He said it was because the Administration wanted to get Jay Clayton in that position," said Berman, who believes Clayton was not qualified for the job because of his lack of criminal experience.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., and chair of the House Judiciary Committee, described the effort to convince Berman to take a different position a "quid pro quo" that "gets awfully close to bribery," although he told reporters it's unclear if Barr's actions were criminal.
A summary of the interview released by Democrats accused Barr of lying. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and ranking member of the committee, countered with his own summary disputing that Barr had done anything wrong.
"The interview uncovered no evidence of misconduct, wrongdoing, or criminality. The interview uncovered no nefarious plot to stifle ongoing investigations," according to the summary.
During the conversation, Berman said he repeatedly made clear to Barr that he had no desire to leave his job and that "there was no job offer that would entice me to resign from my position." Based on Berman's account, his conversations with Barr did not give him the impression that his fate was sealed.
But hours later, the Justice Department released a statement saying Berman is "stepping down."
U.S. Attorney says he won't quit after Barr announced his resignation The Justice Dept. announced the resignation of U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of N.Y. Geoffrey Berman. But he says he has no plans of resigning. Newsy, Newsy
"That statement was false," Berman said.
Berman declined to speculate about Barr's motives, but he said the attorney general's "irregular and unexplained actions" were problematic, according to a transcript of the interview.
"The Attorney General praised me privately and publicly. Why then did he insist on me resigning (before the Senate confirms a successor)? Why did the Attorney General say that I was stepping down when he knew I had neither resigned nor been fired?" Berman said.
The Justice Department also said that Craig Carpenito, chief federal prosecutor in New Jersey, will take Berman's place until Clayton is confirmed by the Senate. Appointing Carpenito and not someone who's already in the Manhattan office was suspect, Berman said, and "would have been unprecedented, unnecessary and unexplained."
Berman said appointing an outsider "would have resulted in the delay and disruption" of ongoing investigations. Berman declined to mention any specific investigation.
Trump ultimately fired Berman at Barr's urging, although the president seemed to distance himself from the issue. Barr also ultimately backtracked from his appointment of Carpenito, announcing that Berman's top deputy, Audrey Strauss, will be temporarily in charge.
Berman said that's the outcome he preferred.
"Were I to resign, an outsider would have come in as acting U.S. attorney, and I was not going to permit that," he told lawmakers. "And I would rather be fired than have that done."
Berman's ouster came just days after former Trump national security adviser John Bolton revealed in a book that the president once sought to interfere in an investigation of a Turkish bank to pacify Turkey’s president, Recep Erdogan. The office is also investigating Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and two former Giuliani business associates.
Clayton's nomination appeared to be already in peril. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee had signaled he would not move forward with the nomination without sign off from New York's two senators – both of whom have called for Clayton to remove his name from consideration.


usatoday--2020-07-09--High school football forges ahead in some states despite positive tests, COVID-19 concerns

The risk of playing high school football during the coronavirus pandemic now has a name — Jacob Lemaire .
Lemaire , an offensive lineman at Teurlings Catholic High School in Lafayette , Louisiana , has been hospitalized after being infected with COVID-19 and developing pneumonia and spent four days in an intensive care unit , his mother , Tricia Lemaire , told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday .
Jacob `` is still on oxygen but he 's doing really well , '' she said , while Jacob 's older brother , Mark , was on a ventilator .
Tricia Lemaire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that likely contributed to the complications , but that the family was surprised by what 's happened with Jacob , 17 , who was practicing with the football team for about a month before he was infected with COVID-19 .
`` He works out a lot and he is in good shape , '' she said .
`` So that was kind of shocking , that it hit him that hard .
Hard enough to be hospitalized .
And now I don ’ t know .
I don ’ t know what to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me.
’ ’ Larkin Spring , a senior running back at Teurlings , said he and his teammates have been praying for Jacob Lemaire every morning since learning Lemaire had been hospitalized .
“ It ’ s scary , ’ ’ Spring told USA TODAY Sports .
“ Whenever this all started , like I really never expected it would be hitting somebody I knew so closely , so hard.
’ ’ Teurlings is tentatively set to resume practice Monday , according to assistant coach Bart Vitte .
A large number of high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in hotbeds such as Florida and Texas , are moving forward during the pandemic despite the risks .
Longview High School in East Texas was among those teams that practiced this week despite a recommendation issued July 1 by the state 's governing body , the University Interscholastic League ( UIL ) , that workouts be halted until Monday because of a spike in positive tests of COVID-19 .
John King , head coach at Longview High , said his coaching staff took precautionary measures — such as requiring players to wear face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in small groups and enforcing social distancing guidelines .
He said one of his 150 players had tested positive since summer workouts began .
“ If they don ’ t work out with us , they ’ re going to work out somewhere else and they ’ re not going to follow those guidelines , ’ ’ King said .
“ And I know our controlled environment is the best environment they need to be in.
’ ’ But King expressed concern when he learned about the hospitalization of Lemaire in Louisiana .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is the risk we all take .
I mean , players , coaches , '' he said .
`` The thing I guess we don ’ t know enough about either is the side effects or lasting effects this virus has on anybody afterwards .
And I know there ’ s not as many young athletes dying from it , but the effects it can have on their respiratory system and their heart is in question .
That ’ s the scary part . ''
The first games of the high school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginAug .
28 , according to the UIL .
Florida also is among the states planning to allow high school football teams to play as scheduled this fall , and high school players are expected to compete Saturday in the Nebraska Shrine Bowl in Lincoln , Nebraska .
California , on the other hand , is among the states still undecided , with the California Interscholastic Federation ( CIF ) set to announce a decision July 20 .
High school teams in Tennessee are barred from any contact drills until a COVID-19 state-of-emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been made about the football season .
“ I really think in the next couple of weeks you ’ re going to see a lot of decisions , ’ ’ said Bruce Howard , spokesman for the National Federation of State High School Associations .
“ You may have some states that in three or four weeks are going to be just fine to start football as normal .
Maybe you ’ ll have some states that can ’ t .
“ Certainly there ’ s been some talk about the concept of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think that the more they think about that the more complex that becomes .
You can see the thinking caps are certainly hard at work.
’ ’ Jon Ellinghouse , head football coach at Sierra Canyon in Southern California , said private schools like Sierra Canyon might consider playing even if the CIF can ’ t find enough schools to play the season .
“ We could do our own thing , ’ ’ he said .
“ ( But ) my best guess is that we ’ re going to play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to delay it and push it back and then everybody will play in January .
God willing , it gets a little bit better.
’ ’ Iowa is the only state to sponsor high school sports in the summer , and it might offer a glimpse of complications to come for football teams .
The baseball and softball seasons in Iowa were originally supposed to begin in May , but the novel coronavirus pandemic put both sports on hold until Gov .
Kim Reynolds green-lit their return for June 1 , starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks later .
In the six weeks since high school sports returned to Iowa , things have been bumpy .
As of Wednesday afternoon , as many as 26 baseball teams and 22 softball teams have been impacted by COVID-19 infections or exposures , according to officials at both the Iowa High School Athletic Association , the state ’ s governing body that oversees boys ’ sports , and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union , which oversees girls ’ sports .
The protocol calls for a two-week quarantine , which means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if a player or coach tests positive for COVID-19 .
Of the roughly 335 teams playing baseball , 120 — or about 36 % — began this week having played 10 games or fewer .
Woodbine , one of the state ’ s smaller schools , didn ’ t start play until June 22 because a player tested positive for the coronavirus during the first two weeks of practice .
Western Dubuque had its baseball season suspended in the middle of a July 1 game against Cedar Rapids Washington .
Western Dubuque @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third inning when school administrators learned through contact tracing that one of its players may have been exposed to COVID-19 .
Dowling Catholic in West Des Moines learned Wednesday that a member of the baseball team tested positive for COVID-19 , causing both the baseball and softball programs to miss the remainder of the regular season as well as the postseason .
In Lafayette , meanwhile , Larkin Spring said he and his teammates at Teurlings Catholic are hoping Jacob Lemaire and Lemaire ’ s brother get better .
Spring said he communicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ He was just sending me funny filters and kind of being himself , ’ ’ Spring said .
“ He ’ s talking about how he keeps ripping out his little IV thing , so they have to keep putting it in .
He ’ s like , ‘ I ’ m tired of getting stuck.
’ He ’ s just being himself.
’ ’ Spring said Lemaire hasn ’ t talked about the possibility of rejoining the team and that another Teurlings football player has tested positive for COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his teammates expect the first games of the 2020 high school football season to take place Sept. 5 , as scheduled .
“ But that could change any minute , ’ ’ Spring said , “ you know ?
’ ’

High school football forges ahead in some states despite positive tests, COVID-19 concerns
The risk of playing high school football during the coronavirus pandemic now has a name — Jacob Lemaire.
Lemaire, an offensive lineman at Teurlings Catholic High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, has been hospitalized after being infected with COVID-19 and developing pneumonia and spent four days in an intensive care unit, his mother, Tricia Lemaire, told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday.
Jacob "is still on oxygen but he's doing really well," she said, while Jacob's older brother, Mark, was on a ventilator.
Tricia Lemaire said Mark, 19, has asthma that likely contributed to the complications, but that the family was surprised by what's happened with Jacob, 17, who was practicing with the football team for about a month before he was infected with COVID-19.
"He works out a lot and he is in good shape,'' she said. "So that was kind of shocking, that it hit him that hard. Hard enough to be hospitalized. And now I don’t know. I don’t know what to think. It is very scary to me.’’
Larkin Spring, a senior running back at Teurlings, said he and his teammates have been praying for Jacob Lemaire every morning since learning Lemaire had been hospitalized.
“It’s scary,’’ Spring told USA TODAY Sports. “Whenever this all started, like I really never expected it would be hitting somebody I knew so closely, so hard.’’
Teurlings is tentatively set to resume practice Monday, according to assistant coach Bart Vitte.
A large number of high school football teams across America, including in hotbeds such as Florida and Texas, are moving forward during the pandemic despite the risks.
Longview High School in East Texas was among those teams that practiced this week despite a recommendation issued July 1 by the state's governing body, the University Interscholastic League (UIL), that workouts be halted until Monday because of a spike in positive tests of COVID-19.
John King, head coach at Longview High, said his coaching staff took precautionary measures — such as requiring players to wear face masks in the weight room, practicing in small groups and enforcing social distancing guidelines. He said one of his 150 players had tested positive since summer workouts began.
“If they don’t work out with us, they’re going to work out somewhere else and they’re not going to follow those guidelines,’’ King said. “And I know our controlled environment is the best environment they need to be in.’’
But King expressed concern when he learned about the hospitalization of Lemaire in Louisiana.
“That is the scary part, that is the risk we all take. I mean, players, coaches,'' he said. "The thing I guess we don’t know enough about either is the side effects or lasting effects this virus has on anybody afterwards. And I know there’s not as many young athletes dying from it, but the effects it can have on their respiratory system and their heart is in question. That’s the scary part.''
The first games of the high school football season in Texas are scheduled to beginAug. 28, according to the UIL.
Florida also is among the states planning to allow high school football teams to play as scheduled this fall, and high school players are expected to compete Saturday in the Nebraska Shrine Bowl in Lincoln, Nebraska.
California, on the other hand, is among the states still undecided, with the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) set to announce a decision July 20. High school teams in Tennessee are barred from any contact drills until a COVID-19 state-of-emergency expires Aug. 30 and no decision has been made about the football season.
“I really think in the next couple of weeks you’re going to see a lot of decisions,’’ said Bruce Howard, spokesman for the National Federation of State High School Associations. “You may have some states that in three or four weeks are going to be just fine to start football as normal. Maybe you’ll have some states that can’t.
“Certainly there’s been some talk about the concept of swapping fall and spring seasons, and I think that the more they think about that the more complex that becomes. You can see the thinking caps are certainly hard at work.’’
Jon Ellinghouse, head football coach at Sierra Canyon in Southern California, said private schools like Sierra Canyon might consider playing even if the CIF can’t find enough schools to play the season.
“We could do our own thing,’’ he said. “(But) my best guess is that we’re going to play in January, that they’re going to delay it and push it back and then everybody will play in January. God willing, it gets a little bit better.’’
Iowa is the only state to sponsor high school sports in the summer, and it might offer a glimpse of complications to come for football teams.
The baseball and softball seasons in Iowa were originally supposed to begin in May, but the novel coronavirus pandemic put both sports on hold until Gov. Kim Reynolds green-lit their return for June 1, starting with practices, followed by games two weeks later.
In the six weeks since high school sports returned to Iowa, things have been bumpy.
As of Wednesday afternoon, as many as 26 baseball teams and 22 softball teams have been impacted by COVID-19 infections or exposures, according to officials at both the Iowa High School Athletic Association, the state’s governing body that oversees boys’ sports, and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, which oversees girls’ sports.
The protocol calls for a two-week quarantine, which means no games or practice for the team, if a player or coach tests positive for COVID-19.
Of the roughly 335 teams playing baseball, 120 — or about 36% — began this week having played 10 games or fewer. Woodbine, one of the state’s smaller schools, didn’t start play until June 22 because a player tested positive for the coronavirus during the first two weeks of practice.
Western Dubuque had its baseball season suspended in the middle of a July 1 game against Cedar Rapids Washington. Western Dubuque led 6-1 in the top of the third inning when school administrators learned through contact tracing that one of its players may have been exposed to COVID-19.
Dowling Catholic in West Des Moines learned Wednesday that a member of the baseball team tested positive for COVID-19, causing both the baseball and softball programs to miss the remainder of the regular season as well as the postseason.
In Lafayette, meanwhile, Larkin Spring said he and his teammates at Teurlings Catholic are hoping Jacob Lemaire and Lemaire’s brother get better. Spring said he communicated with Jacob Lemaire on Tuesday by Snapchat.
“He was just sending me funny filters and kind of being himself,’’ Spring said. “He’s talking about how he keeps ripping out his little IV thing, so they have to keep putting it in. He’s like, ‘I’m tired of getting stuck.’ He’s just being himself.’’
Spring said Lemaire hasn’t talked about the possibility of rejoining the team and that another Teurlings football player has tested positive for COVID-19. For now, Spring said, he and his teammates expect the first games of the 2020 high school football season to take place Sept. 5, as scheduled.
“But that could change any minute,’’ Spring said, “you know?’’
Contributing: Cody Goodwin


usatoday--2020-07-08--Terrifying new symptom of COVID-19 emerges, says doctor

If you thought COVID-19 symptoms could n't get worse , doctors say a new symptom has emerged .
Hallucinations .

Woman tells of experience battling new COVID-19 symptom
If you thought COVID-19 symptoms couldn't get worse, doctors say a new symptom has emerged. Hallucinations.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-07-09--Dr. Anthony Fauci says extreme partisanship has made it harder for US to respond to coronavirus

WASHINGTON – Top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Thursday that divisiveness in politics has likely hurt the country 's response to the coronavirus .
`` I mean , you have to be having blindfolders on and covering your ears to think that we do n't live in a very divisive society now from a political standpoint .
I mean , it 's just unfortunate , but it is what it is , '' Fauci said in an interview with FiveThirtyEight 's `` PODCAST-19 '' released Thursday .
Fauci , who has been the subject of criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even as he assists the White House task force on coronavirus response , said that a lack of `` unanimity '' in approach weakens its effectiveness .
`` So I think you ’ d have to make the assumption that if there wasn ’ t such divisiveness , that we would have a more coordinated approach , '' he said .
Fauci 's stances have led to pushback from Republicans such as Sen. Rand Paul , R-Ky. , and Rep. Andy Biggs , R-Ariz. , who accused Fauci in a May USA TODAY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom '' and `` brush away the optimism of the president and the American people . ''
Democrats and Republicans have been at odds over how best to handle the coronavirus response for months , sparring over economic relief measures as well as whose responsibility it is to encourage masks in public .
The country has also seen a politicization of public health measures such as mask wearing , maintaining social distancing and how to reopen schools .
Fauci : US is 'knee-deep ' in first wave of coronavirus cases and prognosis is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been logged in several states in the last few weeks as states have continued their reopening processes and more people have been attending large gatherings .
Fauci said that in some cases , this is because governors and local health officials did not follow the reopening guidelines set by the administration and health experts , citing Florida as an example .
`` In other states , the governors and the mayors actually abided by the guidelines and the restrictions but the people in the state , particularly the young people , threw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Florida and other states have halted or reversed some measures they had taken to move out of their lockdowns , while other local officials have mandated the wearing of masks in public .
Fauci has also said this week that states need to admit to the mistakes they made in responding to the pandemic , or they will be unable to `` correct it . ''
Mixed messages : The White House has sent conflicting signals on wearing masks and the new coronavirus cases President Donald Trump said this week that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States is still `` knee-deep in the first wave '' of the pandemic .
Fauci made those comments Monday in a Facebook live interview .
`` I think we are in a good place .
I disagree with him , '' the president said .
But Fauci reiterated on Thursday that he does n't think the country is doing well as a whole , though certain areas may be .
And while Trump has frequently touted the United States ' testing and death rates compared with other countries , Fauci said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly in the European Union , are evidence of a better job at keeping cases at a `` baseline '' number .
`` I don ’ t think we should be congratulating ourselves about how well we ’ re doing , '' he continued .
`` We ’ ve got to do better , even though some parts of the country are indeed doing very well . ''

Dr. Anthony Fauci says extreme partisanship has made it harder for US to respond to coronavirus
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump believes these CDC school guidelines are too strict President Donald Trump criticizes the CDC guidelines for the upcoming school year. Which includes children, teachers, and staff getting regularly tested. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Thursday that divisiveness in politics has likely hurt the country's response to the coronavirus.
"I mean, you have to be having blindfolders on and covering your ears to think that we don't live in a very divisive society now from a political standpoint. I mean, it's just unfortunate, but it is what it is," Fauci said in an interview with FiveThirtyEight's "PODCAST-19" released Thursday.
Fauci, who has been the subject of criticism from Republicans over his public health advice even as he assists the White House task force on coronavirus response, said that a lack of "unanimity" in approach weakens its effectiveness.
"So I think you’d have to make the assumption that if there wasn’t such divisiveness, that we would have a more coordinated approach," he said.
Fauci's stances have led to pushback from Republicans such as Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who accused Fauci in a May USA TODAY op-ed of trying to "corral our freedom" and "brush away the optimism of the president and the American people."
Sen. Rand Paul accused Dr. Anthony Fauci and others of focusing too much on the risks at a Senate hearing on COVID-19.
Paul: "All I hear, Dr. Fauci, is, 'We can't do this, we can't do that. We can't play baseball.'"
Fauci: "The only thing I can do is ... give you the facts." pic.twitter.com/AfwwCWgwYz — NPR (@NPR) June 30, 2020
Democrats and Republicans have been at odds over how best to handle the coronavirus response for months, sparring over economic relief measures as well as whose responsibility it is to encourage masks in public. The country has also seen a politicization of public health measures such as mask wearing, maintaining social distancing and how to reopen schools.
Fauci: US is 'knee-deep' in first wave of coronavirus cases and prognosis is 'really not good'
Increases in coronavirus cases have been logged in several states in the last few weeks as states have continued their reopening processes and more people have been attending large gatherings. Fauci said that in some cases, this is because governors and local health officials did not follow the reopening guidelines set by the administration and health experts, citing Florida as an example.
"In other states, the governors and the mayors actually abided by the guidelines and the restrictions but the people in the state, particularly the young people, threw caution to the wind," he said.
Florida and other states have halted or reversed some measures they had taken to move out of their lockdowns, while other local officials have mandated the wearing of masks in public. Fauci has also said this week that states need to admit to the mistakes they made in responding to the pandemic, or they will be unable to "correct it."
Mixed messages: The White House has sent conflicting signals on wearing masks and the new coronavirus cases
President Donald Trump said this week that he disagrees with Fauci's assessment that the United States is still "knee-deep in the first wave" of the pandemic. Fauci made those comments Monday in a Facebook live interview.
"I think we are in a good place. I disagree with him," the president said.
But Fauci reiterated on Thursday that he doesn't think the country is doing well as a whole, though certain areas may be. And while Trump has frequently touted the United States' testing and death rates compared with other countries, Fauci said the curves seen in other countries, particularly in the European Union, are evidence of a better job at keeping cases at a "baseline" number.
"I don’t think we should be congratulating ourselves about how well we’re doing," he continued. "We’ve got to do better, even though some parts of the country are indeed doing very well."
Contributing: Savannah Behrmann


usatoday--2020-07-09--Supreme Court says eastern Oklahoma remains Native American territory

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the eastern half of Oklahoma can be considered Native American territory , a decision the state warned could create `` civil , criminal and regulatory turmoil . ''
The 5-4 decision was written by Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch and joined by the court 's four liberal justices .
The justices considered the issue for the second time after failing to decide a different case last year , when Gorsuch was recused and the court likely deadlocked .
The case concerned an appeal from Jimcy McGirt , a Native American , who claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be overturned because Oklahoma lacked jurisdiction .
Congress , his lawyer Ian Gershengorn said , never properly terminated the reservation .
More:1 in 3 American Indian and Alaska Native women will be raped , but survivors rarely find justice on tribal lands During oral arguments in May , the justices reached back to 1907 to determine whether Congress , using imprecise language , failed to disestablish the 1866 boundaries of the reservation .
If so , virtually half of Oklahoma – home to 1.8 million residents and including Tulsa , where President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid a global pandemic – would remain subject to federal criminal laws .
`` We do not pretend to foretell the future , and we proceed well aware of the potential for cost and conflict around jurisdictional boundaries , especially ones that have gone unappreciated for so long , '' Gorsuch wrote .
`` But it is unclear why pessimism should rule the day .
With the passage of time , Oklahoma and its Tribes have proven they can work successfully together as partners . ''
`` The federal government promised the ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perpetuity , '' Gorsuch wrote , adding that while Congress has `` diminished '' the sanctuary over time , lawmakers had `` never withdrawn the promised reservation . ''
`` As a result , many of the arguments before us today follow a sadly familiar pattern .
Yes , promises were made , but the price of keeping them has become too great , so now we should just cast a blind eye .
We reject that thinking . ''
Chief Justice John Roberts , in a dissenting opinion , said that Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` disestablish '' reservation lands .
`` The court suggests that Congress sought to 'tiptoe to the edge of disestablishment , ' ” Roberts wrote .
`` Quite the opposite .
Through an open and concerted effort , Congress did what it set out to do : transform a reservation into a state . ''
The state 's solicitor general , Mithun Mansinghani , had warned in May that a ruling for Native Americans could require the release of more than 1,700 inmates .
That did n't sit well with several justices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal cases .
`` What makes this case hard is that there have been hundreds , hundreds of prosecutions , some very heinous offenses of the state law .
On your view , they would all become undone , '' Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told Gershengorn .
`` Wo n't ( residents ) be surprised to learn that they are living on a reservation and that they are now subject to laws imposed by a body that is not accountable to them in any way ? ''
Associate Justice Samuel Alito asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled the state lacked jurisdiction to prosecute a gruesome murder because it happened within 3 million acres belonging to the Muscogee ( Creek ) Nation .
The ruling threatened more than 19 million acres in eastern Oklahoma once inhabited by five Native American tribes .
Within hours of Thursday 's ruling , the state and five Native American nations released a statement promising cooperation .
`` The nations and the state are committed to implementing a framework of shared jurisdiction that will preserve sovereign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jurisdictional understandings , procedures , laws , and regulations that support public safety , our economy , and private property rights , '' they said .
`` We will continue our work , confident that we can accomplish more together than any of us could alone.
” Many Oklahoma public officials , including Republican Rep. Tom Cole and former Democratic Gov .
Brad Henry , had urged the justices to rule in favor of the Native American tribes whose sovereignty they said has been good for the state .
`` In one area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motor vehicle registration , law enforcement , and water rights – the Nations ’ sovereignty within their reservations and the state ’ s recognition of that sovereignty have provided the framework for the negotiation of inter-governmental agreements that benefit all Oklahomans , '' they said .
The Trump administration took the state 's side , telling the justices that Congress long ago broke up the Creek Nation 's lands , abolished its courts and set a timetable for the tribe 's dissolution .
Last year , 10 states from Maine to Texas to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lands have jurisdictional consequences there as well .
They said a decision in the tribe 's favor `` would be confusing and costly at best , and disastrous at worst , '' affecting health and energy policy , environmental regulation , economic development and taxes .

Richard Wolf and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

Supreme Court says eastern Oklahoma remains Native American territory
Show Caption Hide Caption Chief Justice John Roberts is not a sure bet for conservative rulings Chief Justice John Roberts has been a conservative vote in important past rulings, but recent decisions have some wondering if he's now a swing vote. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the eastern half of Oklahoma can be considered Native American territory, a decision the state warned could create "civil, criminal and regulatory turmoil."
The 5-4 decision was written by Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch and joined by the court's four liberal justices. The justices considered the issue for the second time after failing to decide a different case last year, when Gorsuch was recused and the court likely deadlocked.
The case concerned an appeal from Jimcy McGirt, a Native American, who claimed his state rape conviction from 1997 should be overturned because Oklahoma lacked jurisdiction. Congress, his lawyer Ian Gershengorn said, never properly terminated the reservation.
More: 1 in 3 American Indian and Alaska Native women will be raped, but survivors rarely find justice on tribal lands
During oral arguments in May, the justices reached back to 1907 to determine whether Congress, using imprecise language, failed to disestablish the 1866 boundaries of the reservation. If so, virtually half of Oklahoma – home to 1.8 million residents and including Tulsa, where President Donald Trump recently held a controversial campaign rally amid a global pandemic – would remain subject to federal criminal laws.
Oklahoman: Supreme Court rules against Oklahoma in Creek Nation case
"We do not pretend to foretell the future, and we proceed well aware of the potential for cost and conflict around jurisdictional boundaries, especially ones that have gone unappreciated for so long," Gorsuch wrote. "But it is unclear why pessimism should rule the day. With the passage of time, Oklahoma and its Tribes have proven they can work successfully together as partners."
"The federal government promised the (Muscogee Creek Nation) a reservation in perpetuity," Gorsuch wrote, adding that while Congress has "diminished" the sanctuary over time, lawmakers had "never withdrawn the promised reservation."
"As a result, many of the arguments before us today follow a sadly familiar pattern. Yes, promises were made, but the price of keeping them has become too great, so now we should just cast a blind eye. We reject that thinking."
Chief Justice John Roberts, in a dissenting opinion, said that Congress made no attempt to conceal its intention to "disestablish" reservation lands.
"The court suggests that Congress sought to 'tiptoe to the edge of disestablishment,'” Roberts wrote. "Quite the opposite. Through an open and concerted effort, Congress did what it set out to do: transform a reservation into a state."
The state's solicitor general, Mithun Mansinghani, had warned in May that a ruling for Native Americans could require the release of more than 1,700 inmates. That didn't sit well with several justices who feared a chaotic overhaul of long-decided criminal cases.
"What makes this case hard is that there have been hundreds, hundreds of prosecutions, some very heinous offenses of the state law. On your view, they would all become undone," Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told Gershengorn.
"Won't (residents) be surprised to learn that they are living on a reservation and that they are now subject to laws imposed by a body that is not accountable to them in any way?" Associate Justice Samuel Alito asked.
In last year's case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled the state lacked jurisdiction to prosecute a gruesome murder because it happened within 3 million acres belonging to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The ruling threatened more than 19 million acres in eastern Oklahoma once inhabited by five Native American tribes.
Within hours of Thursday's ruling, the state and five Native American nations released a statement promising cooperation.
"The nations and the state are committed to implementing a framework of shared jurisdiction that will preserve sovereign interests and rights to self-government while affirming jurisdictional understandings, procedures, laws, and regulations that support public safety, our economy, and private property rights," they said. "We will continue our work, confident that we can accomplish more together than any of us could alone.”
Many Oklahoma public officials, including Republican Rep. Tom Cole and former Democratic Gov. Brad Henry, had urged the justices to rule in favor of the Native American tribes whose sovereignty they said has been good for the state.
"In one area after another – taxation, gaming, motor vehicle registration, law enforcement, and water rights – the Nations’ sovereignty within their reservations and the state’s recognition of that sovereignty have provided the framework for the negotiation of inter-governmental agreements that benefit all Oklahomans," they said.
The Trump administration took the state's side, telling the justices that Congress long ago broke up the Creek Nation's lands, abolished its courts and set a timetable for the tribe's dissolution.
Last year, 10 states from Maine to Texas to Montana warned that the boundaries of tribal lands have jurisdictional consequences there as well. They said a decision in the tribe's favor "would be confusing and costly at best, and disastrous at worst," affecting health and energy policy, environmental regulation, economic development and taxes.


usatoday--2020-07-09--Coronavirus: Governors react to the Trump administration's demand for schools to reopen

WASHINGTON – Governors around the country are reacting to President Donald Trump and his administration 's insistence that school 's reopen next month amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , no matter what .
The Trump administration stated at the beginning of the week they may withhold funding from schools that wo n't reopen .
The president tweeted Wednesday that he disagrees with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 's `` very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools . ''
The opening of schools has become a central issue for Trump in recent days , and he has continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it happen in the fall .
More : What are the CDC school guidelines Trump wants changed amid COVID-19 ?
These are the highlights .
Several states recently have set daily records for new coronavirus cases and deaths just a few weeks before schools could be reopening their doors to students .
GOP Gov .
Larry Hogan of Maryland said he did n't take the administrations threat about withholding funding as `` a serious statement . ''
`` And I do n't think the governors are taking it seriously , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not following the CDC guidelines , it just came out of nowhere .
It makes no sense . ''
Hogan continued added that other governors have expressed the CDC guidance is helpful , and he believes that Trump is confused about it .
CDC 's Robert Redfield : After pressure on school reopenings from Donald Trump , changes 'not a revision ' of guidelines Dr. Robert Redfield , the director of the CDC , pushed back on the idea that the agency was revising the guidelines on reopening schools at the behest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but said the CDC instead was providing `` additional reference documents . ''
Redfield made the comments Thursday in an interview with ABC 's `` Good Morning America '' and said the documents are for parents , caregivers , schools and teachers to `` better monitor for symptoms '' and use face masks .
`` I think it 's really important , '' Redfield said .
`` It 's not a revision of the guidelines .
It 's just to provide additional information to help schools be able to use the guidance that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Can Trump do that ?
FAQ on CDC guidelines , federal funding for schools during coronavirus California Gov .
Gavin Newsom , a Democrat , said Wednesday that the decision on reopening schools in his state all will be made by local health and education officials , and he emphasized he won ’ t be influenced by statements from Trump regarding school reopenings .
“ I ’ m not worried about the latest tweets ” from Trump , Newsom stated during a news conference .
“ What we need to address is safely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a foundational principle .
That to me is not negotiable.
” Just more than a week after releasing a school reopening plan that would allow students in her state return to their classrooms , Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan tapped the brakes on her state 's reopening plans , expressing concern over recent increases in coronavirus cases , stating that if it continue , students may have to stay home .
“ We want to be in a position where we can get our kids back in schools in eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ On the trajectory we ’ re on , it ’ s very much in question.
” More : Pence says CDC changing school reopening guidelines after Trump called them 'tough and expensive' Whitmer also appeared on CNN Wednesday , emphasizing that Michigan will make the decision to reopen schools based on science , and not politics .
“ I ’ m not sending kids and our education workforce into our schools unless it 's safe .
It ’ s that simple , ” Whitmer said .
“ The reason Michigan has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because we ’ re listening to scientists .
Not threats .
Not politicians .
We got to make decisions based on keeping people safe.
” Democratic Gov .
Andrew Cuomo of New York slammed Trump on Wednesday for pressuring states to reopen their schools , saying the federal government doesn ’ t have that authority .
“ School reopenings are a state decision .
Period .
That is the law , and that is the way we ’ re going to proceed .
It ’ s not up to the president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a news conference .
Fauci says states need to address problems with COVID-19 response : 'If you do n't admit it , you ca n't correct it' Most education funding comes from the state and local levels , but the federal government provides billions through grants for low-income schools and special education programs .
Some governors that are Trump allies have pushed forward with reopening schools .
GOP Gov .
Ron DeSantis of Florida is requiring K-12 schools to reopen in August , despite rising infection rates in the Sunshine State .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients is getting better DeSantis said he `` would not hesitate '' to send his own kids to school when the academic year starts , and said during a press conference , “ I 'm confident , if you can do Home Depot , if you can do Walmart , if you can do these things , we absolutely can do the schools.
” Additionally , North Dakota Gov .
Doug Burgum , a Republican , said he agrees with reopening schools .
“ It ’ s an important part of our fabric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s an important part of our future.
” The Trump administration has been pushing to reopen school 's under the premise that children under the age of 18 `` are at very low risk '' if they catch the virus that has , as of Thursday , killed more than 133,000 Americans , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
More : Donald Trump plans to travel to West Texas for campaign fundraiser despite COVID spike However , White House health adviser Dr. Deborah Birx said Wednesday that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to definitely conclude they wo n't drive up transmission of the virus .
“ Our data is skewed originally to people with symptoms , and then skewed to adults over 18 , so we are looking very closely into that category by using our antibody test , ” Birx said Wednesday .

Coronavirus: Governors react to the Trump administration's demand for schools to reopen
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump believes these CDC school guidelines are too strict President Donald Trump criticizes the CDC guidelines for the upcoming school year. Which includes children, teachers, and staff getting regularly tested. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Governors around the country are reacting to President Donald Trump and his administration's insistence that school's reopen next month amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, no matter what.
The Trump administration stated at the beginning of the week they may withhold funding from schools that won't reopen. The president tweeted Wednesday that he disagrees with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools."
The opening of schools has become a central issue for Trump in recent days, and he has continued to put pressure on governors to make it happen in the fall.
COVID Updates:CDC defends back-to-school guide
More: What are the CDC school guidelines Trump wants changed amid COVID-19? These are the highlights.
Several states recently have set daily records for new coronavirus cases and deaths just a few weeks before schools could be reopening their doors to students.
GOP Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland said he didn't take the administrations threat about withholding funding as "a serious statement."
"And I don't think the governors are taking it seriously," he said on CNN. "The talk about not following the CDC guidelines, it just came out of nowhere. It makes no sense."
Hogan continued added that other governors have expressed the CDC guidance is helpful, and he believes that Trump is confused about it.
CDC's Robert Redfield: After pressure on school reopenings from Donald Trump, changes 'not a revision' of guidelines
Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the CDC, pushed back on the idea that the agency was revising the guidelines on reopening schools at the behest of Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, but said the CDC instead was providing "additional reference documents."
Redfield made the comments Thursday in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" and said the documents are for parents, caregivers, schools and teachers to "better monitor for symptoms" and use face masks.
"I think it's really important," Redfield said. "It's not a revision of the guidelines. It's just to provide additional information to help schools be able to use the guidance that we put forth."
More: Can Trump do that? FAQ on CDC guidelines, federal funding for schools during coronavirus
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said Wednesday that the decision on reopening schools in his state all will be made by local health and education officials, and he emphasized he won’t be influenced by statements from Trump regarding school reopenings.
“I’m not worried about the latest tweets” from Trump, Newsom stated during a news conference. “What we need to address is safely reopening schools and we need to make that a foundational principle. That to me is not negotiable.”
Just more than a week after releasing a school reopening plan that would allow students in her state return to their classrooms, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan tapped the brakes on her state's reopening plans, expressing concern over recent increases in coronavirus cases, stating that if it continue, students may have to stay home.
“We want to be in a position where we can get our kids back in schools in eight weeks,” Whitmer said Thursday. “On the trajectory we’re on, it’s very much in question.”
More: Pence says CDC changing school reopening guidelines after Trump called them 'tough and expensive'
Whitmer also appeared on CNN Wednesday, emphasizing that Michigan will make the decision to reopen schools based on science, and not politics.
“I’m not sending kids and our education workforce into our schools unless it's safe. It’s that simple,” Whitmer said. “The reason Michigan has been able to push our curve down is because we’re listening to scientists. Not threats. Not politicians. We got to make decisions based on keeping people safe.”
“I’m not sending kids and our education workforce into our schools unless it's safe. It’s that simple," says Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
“We're listening to scientists. Not threats. Not politicians. We got to make decisions based on keeping people safe.” pic.twitter.com/wamc97bvvD — CNN (@CNN) July 9, 2020
Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York slammed Trump on Wednesday for pressuring states to reopen their schools, saying the federal government doesn’t have that authority.
“School reopenings are a state decision. Period. That is the law, and that is the way we’re going to proceed. It’s not up to the president of the United States,” Cuomo said during a news conference.
Fauci says states need to address problems with COVID-19 response: 'If you don't admit it, you can't correct it'
Most education funding comes from the state and local levels, but the federal government provides billions through grants for low-income schools and special education programs.
Some governors that are Trump allies have pushed forward with reopening schools.
GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida is requiring K-12 schools to reopen in August, despite rising infection rates in the Sunshine State.
More: Medical care for very ill COVID-19 patients is getting better
DeSantis said he "would not hesitate" to send his own kids to school when the academic year starts, and said during a press conference, “I'm confident, if you can do Home Depot, if you can do Walmart, if you can do these things, we absolutely can do the schools.”
Additionally, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a Republican, said he agrees with reopening schools.
“It’s an important part of our fabric of our communities,” said Burgum. “It’s an important part of our future.”
The Trump administration has been pushing to reopen school's under the premise that children under the age of 18 "are at very low risk" if they catch the virus that has, as of Thursday, killed more than 133,000 Americans, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
More: Donald Trump plans to travel to West Texas for campaign fundraiser despite COVID spike
However, White House health adviser Dr. Deborah Birx said Wednesday that the country has not been testing enough children to definitely conclude they won't drive up transmission of the virus.
“Our data is skewed originally to people with symptoms, and then skewed to adults over 18, so we are looking very closely into that category by using our antibody test,” Birx said Wednesday.
Contributing: Ryan W. Miller, Lorenzo Reyes


usatoday--2020-07-09--Police interviews say Breonna Taylor's home was a 'soft target,' suspect already located

LOUISVILLE , Ky. — Louisville Metro Police serving a no-knock search warrant at Breonna Taylor 's apartment the night she died were told that her home was a `` soft target '' that posed minimal threats and that the 26-year-old ER technician was probably home alone , newly released police interviews reveal .
`` They said they did not believe she had children or animals , but they were n't sure , '' Sgt .
Jonathan Mattingly told investigators in a recorded interview almost two weeks after the shooting .
`` Said she should be there alone because they knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveillance conducted the same night officers served the warrant March 13 showed little activity in the apartment , Mattingly said .
The only light was the glow of the TV in her bedroom .
Jamarcus Glover , 30 , one of the main targets in the larger narcotics investigation , was arrested the same night Taylor died after police searched his home on a separate warrant .
Glover and Taylor had dated years earlier and maintained a `` passive '' friendship , according to Sam Aguiar , an attorney for Taylor 's family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have held drugs and money for Glover .
Aguiar and co-counsel Lonita Baker have insisted for months that police did not need to forcibly enter Taylor 's apartment because they knew Glover was not there .
Mattingly 's comments echo that .
Rob Eggert , the attorney for Taylor 's boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , obtained the full Public Integrity Unit interviews with Mattingly and Walker and provided copies to The Louisville Courier Journal of the USA TODAY Network .
Before the recordings were first reported by NBC News Thursday morning , only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Commonwealth 's Attorney Tom Wine played pieces of Walker 's and Mattingly 's interviews May 22 at a news conference , but Louisville police refused to release the full recordings .
The Public Integrity Unit interviewed Mattingly for about 40 minutes March 25 .
Mattingly is one of three officers who shot his weapon in Taylor 's apartment , along with officers Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison .
Hankison was fired , and Mattingly and Cosgrove remain on administrative reassignment .
Court records show that police obtained a search warrant with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Mattingly said police repeatedly knocked and announced their presence .
He was unsure why it was signed as a no-knock , but they were told to knock .
`` Our intent was to give her plenty of time to come to the door because they said she was probably there alone , '' Mattingly said .
Was a 'no-knock ' warrant justified to search Breonna Taylor 's home ?
Several experts say no He said they waited `` more than enough time for the average person or even a disabled person to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entry .
When police entered , Walker fired what he described as a `` warning '' shot because he thought officers were intruders .
It struck Mattingly in the leg .
Mattingly , Cosgrove and Hankison returned fire .
Taylor was shot and killed in her hallway .
Walker : ‘ ( An officer ) asked me , “ Were you hit by any bullets ?
” I said no .
He said , “ That ’ s unfortunate.
” ’ During Walker 's interview at 3:40 a.m. March 13 with Public Integrity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Taylor did n't know police were knocking at the door .
That would have changed the `` whole situation , '' he told investigators .
`` The only reason I even had the gun out ( was ) because we did n't know who it was .
If we knew who it was , that would have never happened , '' Walker said .
Walker said he was told after the shooting that there was a `` misunderstanding . ''
He said the police car transporting him pulled into a parking lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his window and asked his name .
“ The first thing I said to him was , was she alive ?
He was like , ‘ Well , we 'll talk about that when you get to where you 're going , ’ ” Walker said .
“ He was like , ‘ I just want to let you know right now that all of this was a – they had a misunderstanding.
’ ” '' To me , it seemed like they realized that they were at the wrong place , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Circuit Judge Mary Shaw from March 12 show that police were at the right home .
A no-knock warrant , one of five she signed that night , includes Taylor 's address and lists her name .
The full documents reflect she was not the main target of the investigation .
Walker asked if the police officer he shot was OK. `` Why did they even come there ?
… And why did he say to me that there was a misunderstanding ? ''
he asked .
Investigators told him they did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new information for us as well , so that 's what we 're trying to learn , '' an officer said .
Describing what took place when he left the apartment , Walker told investigators that when he left the apartment , he was told he was going to jail for the rest of his life and a dog was going to be let loose on him .
“ ( An officer ) asked me , ‘ Were you hit by any bullets ?
’ I said no .
He said , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walker said .
Before police used a battering ram to enter Taylor ’ s apartment , Mattingly said , a “ belligerent ” man upstairs came outside and started yelling at officers .
“ He was saying something about , ‘ Leave that girl alone ’ or something like that , ” Mattingly said .
Hankison yelled back at the man , Mattingly said , while he tried to stay focused on the door .
Mattingly knocked on Taylor ’ s door .
“ I remember Brett extending his gun , saying , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get back in your apartment , ’ ” Mattingly said .
Mattingly said Hankison “ was a little bit worked up ” as he and the neighbor yelled at each other .
“ I remember looking at Brett saying , ‘ Brett , relax , Brett , just relax , relax , ’ ” Mattingly said .
“ Because , you know , while you got to pay attention to him , that 's not your focus.
” Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder fired Hankison in June for his actions at Taylor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to Hankison that he showed `` extreme indifference to the value of human life '' and his use of deadly force was improper because he failed to verify it was directed against someone who posed an immediate threat .
Schroeder accused Hankison of `` blindly '' firing 10 rounds into Taylor 's apartment and the one next door .
`` I find your conduct a shock to the conscience , '' Schroeder said .
`` I am alarmed and stunned you used deadly force in this fashion . ''
Aguiar and Baker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willful and unjustified deadly force '' led to `` at least one of the fatal shots . ''
Aguiar wrote in court documents that `` following the initial flurry of gunshots , witnesses state that an officer ( presumably Hankison ) yelled 'reload ' and then proceeded to fire more into Breonna ’ s home . ''
Photos of Taylor 's apartment provided by Aguiar show the sliding glass patio door boarded up from the outside .
Inside , there were shards of glass on the apartment 's carpet , and bullet holes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not publicly released ballistics reports from Taylor 's death or said which officers fired the fatal shot or shots .
No officers have been criminally charged in Taylor 's death .
Supreme Court : President Trump can not keep tax , financial records from prosecutors Newly released body cam transcripts : George Floyd told officers he 'ca n't breathe ' nearly 30 times

Tessa Duvall and Darcy Costello, Louisville Courier Journal

Police interviews say Breonna Taylor's home was a 'soft target,' suspect already located
Show Caption Hide Caption Kenneth Walker's 911 call in aftermath of Breonna Taylor shooting Listen to recording of the 911 call made by Kenneth Walker in the immediate aftermath of the fatal police shooting of his girlfriend, Breonna Taylor. Jeff Faughender, Louisville Courier Journal
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Police serving a no-knock search warrant at Breonna Taylor's apartment the night she died were told that her home was a "soft target" that posed minimal threats and that the 26-year-old ER technician was probably home alone, newly released police interviews reveal.
"They said they did not believe she had children or animals, but they weren't sure," Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly told investigators in a recorded interview almost two weeks after the shooting. "Said she should be there alone because they knew where their target was."
Police surveillance conducted the same night officers served the warrant March 13 showed little activity in the apartment, Mattingly said. The only light was the glow of the TV in her bedroom.
Jamarcus Glover, 30, one of the main targets in the larger narcotics investigation, was arrested the same night Taylor died after police searched his home on a separate warrant.
Breonna Taylor family's lawyers: Police lied about search time, acted on 'stale' intelligence
Glover and Taylor had dated years earlier and maintained a "passive" friendship, according to Sam Aguiar, an attorney for Taylor's family. Mattingly said police believe Taylor may have held drugs and money for Glover.
Aguiar and co-counsel Lonita Baker have insisted for months that police did not need to forcibly enter Taylor's apartment because they knew Glover was not there. Mattingly's comments echo that.
Rob Eggert, the attorney for Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, obtained the full Public Integrity Unit interviews with Mattingly and Walker and provided copies to The Louisville Courier Journal of the USA TODAY Network.
Before the recordings were first reported by NBC News Thursday morning, only parts of them had been publicly released. Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Wine played pieces of Walker's and Mattingly's interviews May 22 at a news conference, but Louisville police refused to release the full recordings.
The Public Integrity Unit interviewed Mattingly for about 40 minutes March 25.
Mattingly is one of three officers who shot his weapon in Taylor's apartment, along with officers Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison. Hankison was fired, and Mattingly and Cosgrove remain on administrative reassignment.
Court records show that police obtained a search warrant with a no-knock clause for Taylor's apartment, but Mattingly said police repeatedly knocked and announced their presence. He was unsure why it was signed as a no-knock, but they were told to knock.
"Our intent was to give her plenty of time to come to the door because they said she was probably there alone," Mattingly said.
Was a 'no-knock' warrant justified to search Breonna Taylor's home? Several experts say no
He said they waited "more than enough time for the average person or even a disabled person to get to the door" before forcing entry.
When police entered, Walker fired what he described as a "warning" shot because he thought officers were intruders. It struck Mattingly in the leg. Mattingly, Cosgrove and Hankison returned fire.
Taylor was shot and killed in her hallway.
Walker: ‘ (An officer) asked me, “Were you hit by any bullets?” I said no. He said, “ That’s unfortunate .” ’
During Walker's interview at 3:40 a.m. March 13 with Public Integrity Unit investigators, he insisted that he and Taylor didn't know police were knocking at the door. That would have changed the "whole situation," he told investigators.
"The only reason I even had the gun out (was) because we didn't know who it was. If we knew who it was, that would have never happened," Walker said.
Walker said he was told after the shooting that there was a "misunderstanding."
He said the police car transporting him pulled into a parking lot and someone in an unmarked SUV came to his window and asked his name.
“The first thing I said to him was, was she alive? He was like, ‘Well, we'll talk about that when you get to where you're going,’ ” Walker said. “He was like, ‘I just want to let you know right now that all of this was a – they had a misunderstanding.’ ”
"To me, it seemed like they realized that they were at the wrong place," Walker said.
Search warrants signed by Circuit Judge Mary Shaw from March 12 show that police were at the right home. A no-knock warrant, one of five she signed that night, includes Taylor's address and lists her name.
The full documents reflect she was not the main target of the investigation.
Walker asked if the police officer he shot was OK. "Why did they even come there? … And why did he say to me that there was a misunderstanding?" he asked.
Investigators told him they didn't know.
"That's some new information for us as well, so that's what we're trying to learn," an officer said.
Describing what took place when he left the apartment, Walker told investigators that when he left the apartment, he was told he was going to jail for the rest of his life and a dog was going to be let loose on him.
“(An officer) asked me, ‘Were you hit by any bullets?’ I said no. He said, ‘That’s unfortunate,’ ” Walker said.
Sgt. Chad Tinnell from LMPD’s Public Integrity Unit responded, “That’s not appropriate.”
Hankison ‘was a little bit worked up’
Before police used a battering ram to enter Taylor’s apartment, Mattingly said, a “belligerent” man upstairs came outside and started yelling at officers.
“He was saying something about, ‘Leave that girl alone’ or something like that,” Mattingly said.
Hankison yelled back at the man, Mattingly said, while he tried to stay focused on the door. Mattingly knocked on Taylor’s door.
“I remember Brett extending his gun, saying, ‘Get back in your apartment, get back in your apartment,’ ” Mattingly said.
Mattingly said Hankison “was a little bit worked up” as he and the neighbor yelled at each other.
“I remember looking at Brett saying, ‘Brett, relax, Brett, just relax, relax,’ ” Mattingly said. “Because, you know, while you got to pay attention to him, that's not your focus.”
Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder fired Hankison in June for his actions at Taylor’s apartment.
Schroeder wrote in a letter to Hankison that he showed "extreme indifference to the value of human life" and his use of deadly force was improper because he failed to verify it was directed against someone who posed an immediate threat.
Schroeder accused Hankison of "blindly" firing 10 rounds into Taylor's apartment and the one next door.
"I find your conduct a shock to the conscience," Schroeder said. "I am alarmed and stunned you used deadly force in this fashion."
Aguiar and Baker argued that Hankison's "reckless, willful and unjustified deadly force" led to "at least one of the fatal shots."
Aguiar wrote in court documents that "following the initial flurry of gunshots, witnesses state that an officer (presumably Hankison) yelled 'reload' and then proceeded to fire more into Breonna’s home."
Photos of Taylor's apartment provided by Aguiar show the sliding glass patio door boarded up from the outside. Inside, there were shards of glass on the apartment's carpet, and bullet holes riddled the curtains.
The department has not publicly released ballistics reports from Taylor's death or said which officers fired the fatal shot or shots.
No officers have been criminally charged in Taylor's death.
Follow reporters Tessa Duvall and Darcy Costello on Twitter: @TessaDuvall; @dctello
Supreme Court: President Trump cannot keep tax, financial records from prosecutors
Newly released body cam transcripts: George Floyd told officers he 'can't breathe' nearly 30 times


usatoday--2020-07-10--Big Ten football reduces season schedule to only conference games, maybe setting stage for others to

The Big Ten will play conference-only schedules in all fall sports , including football , should the league be able to participate in athletic events in the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , the conference announced Thursday .
As the first member of the Bowl Subdivision to take such a step , the Big Ten ’ s move could portend similar changes across the highest level of college sports given the continued uncertainty caused by COVID-19 .
“ We are facing uncertain and unprecedented times , and the health , safety and wellness of our student-athletes , coaches , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our sports programs and campuses remain our number one priority , ” the conference said in a statement .
More : Big Ten football : Non-conference opponents feel 'dramatic ' loss of revenue in millions of dollars More : College Football Playoff committee will 'Choose the best four teams based on protocol' Attention now turns to the Big 12 , Pac-12 , ACC and SEC for what they will do .
Asked by the Des Moines Register on Thursday if there will be an announcement soon from the Big 12 on playing conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` No . ''
The SEC `` will continue to meet regularly with our campus leaders in the coming weeks , guided by medical advisors , to make the important decisions necessary to determine the best path forward related to SEC fall sports , '' commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement .
`` We recognize the challenges ahead and know the well-being of our student-athletes , coaches , staff and fans must remain at the forefront of those decisions . ''
But the Pac-12 , which has an historic Rose Bowl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be more in line with those schools .
In fact , the Pac-12 is talking about playing a conference-only schedule in football , a person familiar with the league ’ s talks told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday .
Coincidentally , Pac-12 CEO ’ s have a previously scheduled meeting set for Friday .
The ACC is also discussing the option of eliminating non-conference games but isn ’ t yet at that point , a conference official told USA TODAY Sports .
But the Big Ten ’ s announcement should move ahead the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision , the official added .
The Big Ten will play conference-only schedules “ based on medical advice ” under the caveat that the league is “ able to participate in fall sports.
” The NCAA allowed athletes to return to campuses beginning on June 1 and to participate in voluntary team activities .
Many FBS athletics departments and football programs have since experienced a large number of positive tests for COVID-19 , however , including Clemson , LSU and Texas .
The positive tests have included athletes and coaches from all sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have led several programs to table team workouts .
Ohio State and North Carolina placed team activities on hold on Wednesday , with UNC announcing it was suspending workouts after 37 athletes tested positive among 429 coronavirus tests .
Limiting competitions to conference-only play will give the Big Ten “ the greatest flexibility to adjust its own operations throughout the season and make quick decisions in real-time based on the most current evolving medical advice and the fluid nature of the pandemic , ” according to the league ’ s statement .
Based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added , the conference is “ also prepared not to play in order to ensure the health , safety and wellness of our student-athletes should the circumstances so dictate.
” Fall sports in the Big Ten include football , men ’ s and women ’ s cross country , field hockey , men ’ s and women ’ s soccer , and women ’ s volleyball .
Based on medical advice , it will move to conference-only schedules in those sports .
The league ’ s statement said that details regarding schedules will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Big Ten traditionally plays nine conference games in football .
“ We fully support the actions being taken by the Big Ten Conference , knowing that the health , safety , and wellness of our student-athletes , coaches , and staff is the top priority , ” said Iowa athletics director Gary Barta .
“ While many uncertainties still exist , today ’ s decision will provide the greatest amount of flexibility as we move forward.
” The Big Ten ’ s announcement “ represents a step , a very important step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barbour said .
“ We feel in order to establish the safest environment possible for our student-athletes , coaches , staff and our community , this is the best path forward.
” The decision comes after the Ivy League announced on Wednesday that it is canceling all fall sports , in the first such move from a conference that competes on the Division I level .
In football , the Big Ten ’ s move deletes several marquee non-conference games from the schedule , including matchups featuring Ohio State and Oregon , Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dame .
Having no non-conference opponents could have a big impact on smaller programs who rely on `` guarantee games '' at major schools for a big part of the athletic budget .
It is unclear whether those contracts would call for a penalty payment .

Big Ten football reduces season schedule to only conference games, maybe setting stage for others to follow
Show Caption Hide Caption Fragility of college football season: 'All it's going to take is one bad outcome' SportsPulse: Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg discuss if there will be college football this fall. As Wolken put its, all it takes is one bad outcome due to the pandemic to send the sport into chaos. USA TODAY
The Big Ten will play conference-only schedules in all fall sports, including football, should the league be able to participate in athletic events in the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the conference announced Thursday.
As the first member of the Bowl Subdivision to take such a step, the Big Ten’s move could portend similar changes across the highest level of college sports given the continued uncertainty caused by COVID-19.
“We are facing uncertain and unprecedented times, and the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, game officials, and others associated with our sports programs and campuses remain our number one priority,” the conference said in a statement.
More: Big Ten football: Non-conference opponents feel 'dramatic' loss of revenue in millions of dollars
More: College Football Playoff committee will 'Choose the best four teams based on protocol'
Attention now turns to the Big 12, Pac-12, ACC and SEC for what they will do. Asked by the Des Moines Register on Thursday if there will be an announcement soon from the Big 12 on playing conference games only, commissioner Bob Bowlsby replied, "No."
The SEC "will continue to meet regularly with our campus leaders in the coming weeks, guided by medical advisors, to make the important decisions necessary to determine the best path forward related to SEC fall sports," commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. "We recognize the challenges ahead and know the well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans must remain at the forefront of those decisions."
But the Pac-12, which has an historic Rose Bowl partnership with the Big Ten, could be more in line with those schools. In fact, the Pac-12 is talking about playing a conference-only schedule in football, a person familiar with the league’s talks told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. Coincidentally, Pac-12 CEO’s have a previously scheduled meeting set for Friday.
The ACC is also discussing the option of eliminating non-conference games but isn’t yet at that point, a conference official told USA TODAY Sports. But the Big Ten’s announcement should move ahead the ACC’s timeline for making a decision, the official added.
The Big Ten will play conference-only schedules “based on medical advice” under the caveat that the league is “able to participate in fall sports.”
The NCAA allowed athletes to return to campuses beginning on June 1 and to participate in voluntary team activities. Many FBS athletics departments and football programs have since experienced a large number of positive tests for COVID-19, however, including Clemson, LSU and Texas. The positive tests have included athletes and coaches from all sports and not just football.
The outbreaks have led several programs to table team workouts. Ohio State and North Carolina placed team activities on hold on Wednesday, with UNC announcing it was suspending workouts after 37 athletes tested positive among 429 coronavirus tests.
Limiting competitions to conference-only play will give the Big Ten “the greatest flexibility to adjust its own operations throughout the season and make quick decisions in real-time based on the most current evolving medical advice and the fluid nature of the pandemic,” according to the league’s statement.
Based on the same advice, the statement added, the conference is “also prepared not to play in order to ensure the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes should the circumstances so dictate.”
Fall sports in the Big Ten include football, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball. Based on medical advice, it will move to conference-only schedules in those sports.
The league’s statement said that details regarding schedules will be released at a later date. The Big Ten traditionally plays nine conference games in football.
“We fully support the actions being taken by the Big Ten Conference, knowing that the health, safety, and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff is the top priority,” said Iowa athletics director Gary Barta. “While many uncertainties still exist, today’s decision will provide the greatest amount of flexibility as we move forward.”
The Big Ten’s announcement “represents a step, a very important step,” Penn State athletics director Sandy Barbour said. “We feel in order to establish the safest environment possible for our student-athletes, coaches, staff and our community, this is the best path forward.”
The decision comes after the Ivy League announced on Wednesday that it is canceling all fall sports, in the first such move from a conference that competes on the Division I level.
In football, the Big Ten’s move deletes several marquee non-conference games from the schedule, including matchups featuring Ohio State and Oregon, Michigan and Washington, and Wisconsin and Notre Dame.
Having no non-conference opponents could have a big impact on smaller programs who rely on "guarantee games" at major schools for a big part of the athletic budget. It is unclear whether those contracts would call for a penalty payment.