usatoday--2020-09-13--Louisville anxiously awaits Breonna Taylor decision — and whether justice or chaos reigns

LOUISVILLE , Ky. — In unclouded , impassioned words , Breonna Taylor 's mother has made it clear what she expects Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to do about the three Louisville officers involved her in daughter 's death .
Tamika Palmer said as much in an unflinchingly direct and heartfelt post on her Instagram page Thursday , calling out Cameron by name , appealing to him as a mother would to a son .
`` Do you have the power and courage to call my child yours , '' she asked him , `` the power to see that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cry is heard , and the power as part of a village who raises our children to do right by one of our daughters ?
! ''
For the past 184 days — since she learned the morning of March 13 that her 26-year-old daughter was lying dead in her South Louisville apartment — Palmer has anxiously awaited a decision in the case .
She 's not the only one .
Much of Louisville and followers of the story around the country are seemingly holding their collective breath to see what decision Cameron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her death .
And , equally important , one critical question is being asked by elected officials , public safety leaders , many residents and business owners : What will happen to the city of Louisville once Cameron 's announcement goes public ?
`` No matter what the announcement is , it 's not going to be satisfactory to everybody , '' said Sam Aguiar , a Louisville attorney representing Palmer .
The protege of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell received the Louisville Metro Police 's substantially complete Public Integrity Unit investigation into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he 's stayed largely mum publicly about his office 's investigation , stating this week that it remains ongoing and `` if done properly , can not follow a specific timeline . ''
`` When the investigation concludes and a decision is made , '' he said in a Sept. 9 statement , `` we will provide an update about an announcement .
The news will come from our office and not unnamed sources .
Until that time , the investigation remains ongoing . ''
Will cops face charges ?
Grand jury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or exonerate the officers who shot her If Cameron 's office does n't come out with strong charges against the officers , Aguiar predicted , `` There 's going to be some justifiable tension across the community . ''
But , he added : `` There 's a right way to respond to that and the wrong way . ''
Here 's what attorneys for Taylor 's family , Louisville officials , protesters and police leaders say about their hopes and expectations for the Taylor decision — And what could come next .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Breonna ' — or exonerate the officers who killed her The days have been particularly trying for Palmer , an intensely private woman who has found herself uncomfortably thrust into the national spotlight after losing a daughter who she gave birth to when she was just 16 .
Her attorneys declined an interview with her for this story , seeking to give her a reprieve .
But on Thursday , Palmer took to Instagram to deliver a powerful message to Cameron : `` It 's crunch time and we 're putting our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Your mother put everything she had into raising you , '' Palmer wrote , tagging the account of the 34-year-old rookie attorney general , elected in November 2019 .
`` If you ask her , she will say without hesitation that she would stop at nothing to protect you .
She would be willing to give her life to save yours .
If you were gunned down in your own home , wouldn ’ t she demand the killers be brought to justice ?
Would she stand up and demand justice if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the support of the community and others to help her when her cry for justice for her child ’ s death was being ignored ?
`` If she had the power to make sure this type of injustice would never happen without accountability and consequences , would she make sure of it ?
Will you make sure of it ? ''
In June , The Courier Journal asked Palmer if she 'd thought about what happens if charges are n't filed .
`` I have , '' she said .
`` But I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to come to that . ''
In the early days of the protests in the last weekend of May , when seven people were shot and downtown stores saw their windows shattered and their inventories looted , Taylor 's family was quick to call for calm .
`` I did n't agree with it and I did n't feel like it was the Bre way , '' Palmer said in June .
`` It does n't represent who she was . ''
Palmer , other family members and her attorneys met with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general expressed his condolences and stressed the importance of getting all the facts in the case .
`` The attorney general committed to getting us the truth , '' Palmer said afterward .
`` We 're going to hold him up to that commitment . ''
Christopher 2X , a community activist who attended the meeting of Taylor 's family with Cameron , said `` we left that room observing , witnessing and feeling the presence of , maybe , just maybe , Breonna ’ s gon na get at least a fair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice .
Also : Special prosecutors in Breonna Taylor case said to empathize with victims , share clerical roots '' My biggest fear right now is that there 's not going to be a level of accountability that there should be , '' he said .
`` Everything , everything that we see in this case is that it implicates every officer on the scene — and then some . ''
Walker , Taylor 's boyfriend who was with her the night she was killed , said he `` prays for a peaceful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-violent '' response from the city and its police force .
Walker was charged with the attempted murder of a police officer because he fired at them the night of Taylor 's death .
That charge was dismissed in May at the request of Jefferson Commonwealth 's Attorney Tom Wine , who called for additional investigation .
Now , Walker is suing the city .
In a statement Friday to The Courier Journal , Walker shared his expectations of Cameron .
`` While Breonna ’ s murder and my treatment by LMPD has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal justice system , it is my hope that holding the officers criminally accountable for their actions can bring some measure of justice , '' Walker said .
His Louisville attorney , Steve Romines , said if no officers are charged , `` a lot of people are going to be very upset . ''
Protesters : 'Will they get what they 're crying for ? '
While the goals of the Taylor movement have grown over the summer , at the crux is the same cry that protesters have been asking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days ago : “ Arrest the cops.
” That message echoed in the early days of the protests , was sung on the steps of the state Capitol during a rally in Frankfort , presented itself in living rooms in the form of a television ad , and is still evident on artwork at Jefferson Square Park and on the lips of protesters in the small groups that continue to march from there each night .
Demanding that the three involved officers be charged with responsibility for Taylor ’ s death has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protesters .
“ Will they get what they ’ re at least crying for , cries for justice , murder charges on all three counts ?
” 2X said .
“ That ’ s a little high bar , to be quite frank.
” If the three officers are not charged with significant crimes , demonstrators may respond with anger to a justice system they feel has let them down yet again .
Kris Smith was one of the first protesters downtown the night it began on May 28 , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if there is any looting after a decision is announced , it could result in deadly encounters between looters and protective , armed business owners .
“ The first looting caught everybody off guard , ” he said .
“ But once Daniel Cameron says he ’ s going to come out with his decision , the store owners are going to be ready.
” He doesn ’ t , however , predict looting and rioting will occur .
Protesters in Louisville are determined to be nonviolent , regardless of the decision , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and anger , and even opportunism , could lead to destruction .
“ The battle is being waged on many fronts and on many levels involving leaders from various constituencies , '' said the Rev .
A. Russell Awkard , a regular at the protests , `` and therefore it ’ s hard to predict what might happen because there is no one leader or any one organization that is going to set the tone for what might happen . ''
Months of protests : Looking back at moments that have shaped the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared ' for decision day As the city braces for Cameron 's decision , Louisville Metro Police say they are preparing for large-scale protests .
“ While the uncertainty most definitely is causing concern for many , LMPD wants to assure our community that we have a plan and will be prepared to respond as needed , ” department spokeswoman Jessie Halladay said in a statement .
Such was the case in late August , when the department declared an “ all work day ” ahead of scheduled Until Freedom protests .
Tensions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the course of the 100-plus days of protests , particularly during the first week , which saw police deploy tear gas , a citywide curfew and property destruction and looting downtown .
Meanwhile , the police have weathered their share of difficulties .
Departures are spiking because of retirements , and the city has already recorded 114 fatal shootings , meaning it will soon eclipse the city 's 2016 record of 117 .
Moreover , the department is poised to get its third chief since June after Steve Conrad was fired and interim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 1 .
Yvette Gentry will take over as interim chief then until a permanent replacement is hired .
Maj. Stephen Martin , spokesman for the Kentucky National Guard , said as of Thursday , the guard hasn ’ t received requests to come to Louisville from LMPD , Mayor Greg Fischer or Gov .
Andy Beshear .
Martin said in a statement that “ generally all other options are exhausted , ” such as Kentucky State Police or neighboring police agencies , before the guard is activated .
See also : How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political landscape City officials : 'We still have a long way to go' How Louisville responds to an announcement from Cameron will play a significant role in determining the legacy of Taylor , said Metro Councilman Markus Winkler , D-17th District , who leads the Democratic caucus of the 26-member council .
The city has made progress in addressing equity gaps and changing police policies , Winkler said , but “ we still have a long way to go.
” “ Is the legacy one that takes us down a path of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it a path that leads us to conversations on equity , on better interactions between the police and the community that they serve ?
And a better understanding of racial equity and really the underlying causes of her tragic killing ?
” Winkler said .
Louisville is both “ ready and anxious ” for a decision to come down , Winkler said .
Fischer , in a statement , said that no matter what Cameron 's decision is , some people will be `` unhappy . ''
He said his goal from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the truth .
`` We all have a choice to make in how we respond .
My hope is that we lean into each other , not against each other , '' he said .
`` And then , we take our pain , our energy and our commitment to power the work of real transformation . ''
Metro Council President David James , D-6th — who said he expected Louisville residents to have “ good , robust dialogue ” following Cameron ’ s decision — agreed that “ justice for Breonna ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ That doesn ’ t eliminate the emotional factor , ” he said , “ but overall , I have to have faith in the judicial system , in the justice system , and hope the attorney general does the right thing .
”

Tessa Duvall, Darcy Costello, Hayes Gardner and Matthew Glowicki, Louisville Courier Journal

Louisville anxiously awaits Breonna Taylor decision — and whether justice or chaos reigns
Show Caption Hide Caption 90 days of protests in Breonna Taylor's hometown Amber Brown had climbed into a city bus before dawn to drive her 8-hour shift. She was tired, but she couldn't go home. Instead, she headed to "Injustice Square," the nucleus of the nation's rage over the police killing of Breonna Taylor. (Sept. 3) AP
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In unclouded, impassioned words, Breonna Taylor's mother has made it clear what she expects Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to do about the three Louisville officers involved her in daughter's death.
Charge them all.
Tamika Palmer said as much in an unflinchingly direct and heartfelt post on her Instagram page Thursday, calling out Cameron by name, appealing to him as a mother would to a son.
"Do you have the power and courage to call my child yours," she asked him, "the power to see that my cry and my community’s cry is heard, and the power as part of a village who raises our children to do right by one of our daughters?!"
For the past 184 days — since she learned the morning of March 13 that her 26-year-old daughter was lying dead in her South Louisville apartment — Palmer has anxiously awaited a decision in the case.
She's not the only one.
Much of Louisville and followers of the story around the country are seemingly holding their collective breath to see what decision Cameron will announce in the months-long investigation into her death.
And, equally important, one critical question is being asked by elected officials, public safety leaders, many residents and business owners: What will happen to the city of Louisville once Cameron's announcement goes public?
"No matter what the announcement is, it's not going to be satisfactory to everybody," said Sam Aguiar, a Louisville attorney representing Palmer.
The protege of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell received the Louisville Metro Police's substantially complete Public Integrity Unit investigation into the shooting May 20.
Since then, he's stayed largely mum publicly about his office's investigation, stating this week that it remains ongoing and "if done properly, cannot follow a specific timeline."
"When the investigation concludes and a decision is made," he said in a Sept. 9 statement, "we will provide an update about an announcement. The news will come from our office and not unnamed sources. Until that time, the investigation remains ongoing."
Will cops face charges? Grand jury could provide 'Justice for Breonna' – or exonerate the officers who shot her
Breonna Taylor shooting: A 180-plus-day timeline shows how her death changed Louisville
If Cameron's office doesn't come out with strong charges against the officers, Aguiar predicted, "There's going to be some justifiable tension across the community."
But, he added: "There's a right way to respond to that and the wrong way."
Here's what attorneys for Taylor's family, Louisville officials, protesters and police leaders say about their hopes and expectations for the Taylor decision — And what could come next.
Related: Grand jury could provide 'Justice for Breonna' — or exonerate the officers who killed her
Breonna Taylor's family: 'It's crunch time'
The days have been particularly trying for Palmer, an intensely private woman who has found herself uncomfortably thrust into the national spotlight after losing a daughter who she gave birth to when she was just 16.
Her attorneys declined an interview with her for this story, seeking to give her a reprieve.
But on Thursday, Palmer took to Instagram to deliver a powerful message to Cameron: "It's crunch time and we're putting our faith and trust in you.
"Your mother put everything she had into raising you," Palmer wrote, tagging the account of the 34-year-old rookie attorney general, elected in November 2019.
"If you ask her, she will say without hesitation that she would stop at nothing to protect you. She would be willing to give her life to save yours. If you were gunned down in your own home, wouldn’t she demand the killers be brought to justice? Would she stand up and demand justice if it was being delayed? Would she want the support of the community and others to help her when her cry for justice for her child’s death was being ignored?
"If she had the power to make sure this type of injustice would never happen without accountability and consequences, would she make sure of it? Will you make sure of it?"
In June, The Courier Journal asked Palmer if she'd thought about what happens if charges aren't filed.
"I have," she said. "But I would like to think it shouldn't have to come to that."
In the early days of the protests in the last weekend of May, when seven people were shot and downtown stores saw their windows shattered and their inventories looted, Taylor's family was quick to call for calm.
"I didn't agree with it and I didn't feel like it was the Bre way," Palmer said in June. "It doesn't represent who she was."
Palmer, other family members and her attorneys met with Cameron Aug. 12, where the attorney general expressed his condolences and stressed the importance of getting all the facts in the case.
"The attorney general committed to getting us the truth," Palmer said afterward. "We're going to hold him up to that commitment."
Christopher 2X, a community activist who attended the meeting of Taylor's family with Cameron, said "we left that room observing, witnessing and feeling the presence of, maybe, just maybe, Breonna’s gonna get at least a fair shake in regards to the cries for justice.
Also: Special prosecutors in Breonna Taylor case said to empathize with victims, share clerical roots
But Aguiar has doubts Cameron will deliver.
"My biggest fear right now is that there's not going to be a level of accountability that there should be," he said. "Everything, everything that we see in this case is that it implicates every officer on the scene — and then some."
Walker, Taylor's boyfriend who was with her the night she was killed, said he "prays for a peaceful response" from Louisvillians and a "non-violent" response from the city and its police force.
Walker was charged with the attempted murder of a police officer because he fired at them the night of Taylor's death. That charge was dismissed in May at the request of Jefferson Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Wine, who called for additional investigation.
Now, Walker is suing the city.
In a statement Friday to The Courier Journal, Walker shared his expectations of Cameron.
"While Breonna’s murder and my treatment by LMPD has all but destroyed my faith in the criminal justice system, it is my hope that holding the officers criminally accountable for their actions can bring some measure of justice," Walker said.
His Louisville attorney, Steve Romines, said if no officers are charged, "a lot of people are going to be very upset."
Protesters: 'Will they get what they're crying for?'
While the goals of the Taylor movement have grown over the summer, at the crux is the same cry that protesters have been asking for since demonstrations began, more than 100 days ago: “Arrest the cops.”
That message echoed in the early days of the protests, was sung on the steps of the state Capitol during a rally in Frankfort, presented itself in living rooms in the form of a television ad, and is still evident on artwork at Jefferson Square Park and on the lips of protesters in the small groups that continue to march from there each night.
Demanding that the three involved officers be charged with responsibility for Taylor’s death has been the most tangible and consistent desire of the protesters.
“Will they get what they’re at least crying for, cries for justice, murder charges on all three counts?” 2X said. “That’s a little high bar, to be quite frank.”
If the three officers are not charged with significant crimes, demonstrators may respond with anger to a justice system they feel has let them down yet again.
Kris Smith was one of the first protesters downtown the night it began on May 28, and he’s worried that this time, if there is any looting after a decision is announced, it could result in deadly encounters between looters and protective, armed business owners.
“The first looting caught everybody off guard,” he said. “But once Daniel Cameron says he’s going to come out with his decision, the store owners are going to be ready.”
He doesn’t, however, predict looting and rioting will occur.
Protesters in Louisville are determined to be nonviolent, regardless of the decision, although they’re cautious that frustration and anger, and even opportunism, could lead to destruction.
“The battle is being waged on many fronts and on many levels involving leaders from various constituencies," said the Rev. A. Russell Awkard, a regular at the protests, "and therefore it’s hard to predict what might happen because there is no one leader or any one organization that is going to set the tone for what might happen."
Months of protests: Looking back at moments that have shaped the movement
Louisville police: We will 'be prepared' for decision day
As the city braces for Cameron's decision, Louisville Metro Police say they are preparing for large-scale protests.
“While the uncertainty most definitely is causing concern for many, LMPD wants to assure our community that we have a plan and will be prepared to respond as needed,” department spokeswoman Jessie Halladay said in a statement.
Such was the case in late August, when the department declared an “all work day” ahead of scheduled Until Freedom protests.
Tensions between protesters and police have flared over the course of the 100-plus days of protests, particularly during the first week, which saw police deploy tear gas, a citywide curfew and property destruction and looting downtown.
Meanwhile, the police have weathered their share of difficulties. Departures are spiking because of retirements, and the city has already recorded 114 fatal shootings, meaning it will soon eclipse the city's 2016 record of 117.
Moreover, the department is poised to get its third chief since June after Steve Conrad was fired and interim Chief Robert Schroder announced he is retiring Oct. 1. Yvette Gentry will take over as interim chief then until a permanent replacement is hired.
Maj. Stephen Martin, spokesman for the Kentucky National Guard, said as of Thursday, the guard hasn’t received requests to come to Louisville from LMPD, Mayor Greg Fischer or Gov. Andy Beshear.
Martin said in a statement that “generally all other options are exhausted,” such as Kentucky State Police or neighboring police agencies, before the guard is activated.
See also: How protests over Taylor's death have changed the political landscape
City officials: 'We still have a long way to go'
How Louisville responds to an announcement from Cameron will play a significant role in determining the legacy of Taylor, said Metro Councilman Markus Winkler, D-17th District, who leads the Democratic caucus of the 26-member council.
The city has made progress in addressing equity gaps and changing police policies, Winkler said, but “we still have a long way to go.”
“Is the legacy one that takes us down a path of complete civil unrest? Rioting? Or is it a path that leads us to conversations on equity, on better interactions between the police and the community that they serve? And a better understanding of racial equity and really the underlying causes of her tragic killing?” Winkler said.
Louisville is both “ready and anxious” for a decision to come down, Winkler said.
Fischer, in a statement, said that no matter what Cameron's decision is, some people will be "unhappy." He said his goal from the beginning has been to get to the truth.
"We all have a choice to make in how we respond. My hope is that we lean into each other, not against each other," he said. "And then, we take our pain, our energy and our commitment to power the work of real transformation."
Metro Council President David James, D-6th — who said he expected Louisville residents to have “good, robust dialogue” following Cameron’s decision — agreed that “justice for Breonna” will come from lasting policy changes.
“That doesn’t eliminate the emotional factor,” he said, “but overall, I have to have faith in the judicial system, in the justice system, and hope the attorney general does the right thing.”
Contributing: Kala Kachmar


usatoday--2020-09-13--We're trapped in an obscene distortion of democracy. But we don't have to be: Ellis Cose

The United States is a famously and proudly diverse country .
But because of the two-senators-per-state rule , the United States has become a country overrepresented by —and forced to cater to — the least diverse and least representative portions of the country .
Consider this : the least populous 26 states have roughly one-sixth the population of the most populous 24 .
As a result , absolute authority for federal judicial appointments , and executive office confirmations , is in the hands of senators representing only 17.57 percent of the population .
In other words , 82.43 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population estimates ) have no voice over some of the most important decisions affecting their lives .
Put another way , a vote by Americans who belong to that privileged 18 % is worth roughly 5.7 times the value of a vote by the other 82 % .
Consequently , senators who represent just over 57 million Americans can legally and freely impose their will on those who represent 269 million .
And largely as a result of slavery and its fraught aftermath ( which included institutionalized Jim Crow and flagrant discrimination against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that electorally advantaged 18 % is quite different from the composition of the rest of the United States .
Blacks make up just short of 11 % of the total residents of the 26 least populous states .
They constitute over 15 % of the population of the most populous states .
Ethnic minorities ( classified by the Census as Latinos , Blacks , Asian Americans , and Native Americans ) are not particularly well integrated into the populations of the country ’ s least populous states .
In those states ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dakota and South Dakota ) , there are 39 whites for every Black person .
In the five most populous states ( California , Texas , Florida , New York and Pennsylvania ) , you find 4.5 whites for every Black person .
The five least populous states have 15 times the number of non-Hispanics as they have Hispanics .
In the most populous states , the ratio is 1.5 to 1 .
We are talking about two very different Americas , with the most segregated America empowered to impose its will on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power that is used routinely , and its exercise tears at the very fabric of an increasingly diverse nation .
In a country with highly racially polarized voting patterns , our insistence on putting power in the hands of an unrepresentative minority is an invitation to social discontent — and perhaps a looming disaster .
When it comes to changing what is clearly a cockamamie and deeply flawed system , Americans apparently stand helpless — in large measure because we have convinced ourselves that the system has more merit that it has , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Founding Fathers — not as flawed mortals who gave as us the tools to improve on their work but as gods who constructed a template for a Perfect Union .
We forget that the Constitution was forged in an era totally unlike our own by frustrated and exhausted men fretting over how to make workable compromises with people who believed in their right to enslave other people , or who just didn ’ t much believe in federal power at all .
Somehow the Founders managed , by a one-vote margin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Senate that defied the very concept of democracy but would allow them to move on .
No one who believes in democracy would come up with such a system today .
No one would argue , with a straight face , that the rights of the few outweigh the rights of the many .
Imagine , for a second , what would happen if politicians were to propose that we reallocate votes in such a way that every city dweller gets one vote , every suburbanite gets two , and every rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be laughed out of office .
Yet we accept , without much question , rules that make the Senate even more inequitable and extreme .
Get in the fight : Trump and conservatives hijacked the Supreme Court .
We 're progressives ready to win it back .
Allow me to propose this : If the prospect of changing the Constitution is too daunting to contemplate , let ’ s just change the composition of the states .
Imagine what would happen if , say , 30 million people who are Black , brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live in megacities , such as New York , Los Angeles and Chicago , suddenly moved to Wyoming and North Dakota .
Indeed , if we strongly incentivized just 3 million people of color from the five most populous states ( total population : 122,756,000 ) to relocate to the five least populous ( total population : 3,589,000 ) , the political implications would be staggering .
Or imagine moving five million voters from the 10 most populous states ( total population : 177,237,000 ) to the 10 least populous ( total population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be revolutionary .
The shift in voting would fundamentally change the United States , making it endlessly more democratic .
The result would be a significantly healthier and less polarized society .
What would happen if our major foundations decided one part of their mission was actually to form a more perfect union , to make political leadership more representative of the country ’ s citizens ?
What if , in short , civil society got behind the idea of a New Great Migration ?
What if major foundations decided to help deserving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard time in such places as Philadelphia and Washington , D.C. , and subsidized them and set them up with homes and jobs in , say , New Hampshire and Montana ?
God knows , at a time when so many have lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic , countless Americans would grab the opportunity for a fresh start .
If we are stuck with polarized voting blocs , let ’ s at least spread them around .
Let ’ s find ways to make a virtue out of what has heretofore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and what has facilitated the imposition of the will of a minority on a helpless majority .
If we lack the determination , the sense and the power to change the Constitution , we can at least lessen the impact of one of the Founders ’ biggest mistakes : their acceptance of an obscene distortion of democracy .
That situation will only get worse as urban centers continue to grow and our political leaders become increasingly less representative of the country ’ s reality .
It ’ s long past time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States for the better .
Ellis Cose is a member of USA TODAY 's Board of Contributors and the author of `` Democracy , If We Can Keep It : The ACLU ’ s 100-Year Fight for Rights in America , '' published in July .
This column was adapted from `` The Short Life and Curious Death of Free Speech in America , '' coming Tuesday from Amistad .
Follow Cose on Twitter : @ EllisCose

We're trapped in an obscene distortion of democracy. But we don't have to be: Ellis Cose What if major foundations got behind the idea of a New Great Migration? If we won't change the Constitution, let's change the composition of the states.
Show Caption Hide Caption How a contentious election affects a peaceful transition of power What history has shown us about contested elections and peaceful transitions of power. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The United States is a famously and proudly diverse country. But because of the two-senators-per-state rule, the United States has become a country overrepresented by —and forced to cater to — the least diverse and least representative portions of the country.
Consider this: the least populous 26 states have roughly one-sixth the population of the most populous 24. As a result, absolute authority for federal judicial appointments, and executive office confirmations, is in the hands of senators representing only 17.57 percent of the population.
In other words, 82.43% of Americans (according to the July 2018 population estimates) have no voice over some of the most important decisions affecting their lives. Put another way, a vote by Americans who belong to that privileged 18% is worth roughly 5.7 times the value of a vote by the other 82%. Consequently, senators who represent just over 57 million Americans can legally and freely impose their will on those who represent 269 million. And largely as a result of slavery and its fraught aftermath (which included institutionalized Jim Crow and flagrant discrimination against people of color), the composition of that electorally advantaged 18% is quite different from the composition of the rest of the United States.
Blacks make up just short of 11% of the total residents of the 26 least populous states. They constitute over 15% of the population of the most populous states. Ethnic minorities (classified by the Census as Latinos, Blacks, Asian Americans, and Native Americans) are not particularly well integrated into the populations of the country’s least populous states. In those states (Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota and South Dakota), there are 39 whites for every Black person. In the five most populous states (California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania), you find 4.5 whites for every Black person. The five least populous states have 15 times the number of non-Hispanics as they have Hispanics. In the most populous states, the ratio is 1.5 to 1.
Segregated America imposes its will
We are talking about two very different Americas, with the most segregated America empowered to impose its will on the most diverse. It is a power that is used routinely, and its exercise tears at the very fabric of an increasingly diverse nation.
In a country with highly racially polarized voting patterns, our insistence on putting power in the hands of an unrepresentative minority is an invitation to social discontent — and perhaps a looming disaster.
When it comes to changing what is clearly a cockamamie and deeply flawed system, Americans apparently stand helpless — in large measure because we have convinced ourselves that the system has more merit that it has, which no doubt stems from our view of the Founding Fathers — not as flawed mortals who gave as us the tools to improve on their work but as gods who constructed a template for a Perfect Union.
We forget that the Constitution was forged in an era totally unlike our own by frustrated and exhausted men fretting over how to make workable compromises with people who believed in their right to enslave other people, or who just didn’t much believe in federal power at all. Somehow the Founders managed, by a one-vote margin, to agree on a scheme for a Senate that defied the very concept of democracy but would allow them to move on.
No one who believes in democracy would come up with such a system today. No one would argue, with a straight face, that the rights of the few outweigh the rights of the many. Imagine, for a second, what would happen if politicians were to propose that we reallocate votes in such a way that every city dweller gets one vote, every suburbanite gets two, and every rural resident gets three. Those politicians would be laughed out of office. Yet we accept, without much question, rules that make the Senate even more inequitable and extreme.
Get in the fight: Trump and conservatives hijacked the Supreme Court. We're progressives ready to win it back.
Allow me to propose this: If the prospect of changing the Constitution is too daunting to contemplate, let’s just change the composition of the states.
Imagine what would happen if, say, 30 million people who are Black, brown, or under 35 and who now live in megacities, such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, suddenly moved to Wyoming and North Dakota.
Indeed, if we strongly incentivized just 3 million people of color from the five most populous states (total population: 122,756,000) to relocate to the five least populous (total population: 3,589,000), the political implications would be staggering. Or imagine moving five million voters from the 10 most populous states (total population: 177,237,000) to the 10 least populous (total population: 9,365,439). The results would be revolutionary. The shift in voting would fundamentally change the United States, making it endlessly more democratic. The result would be a significantly healthier and less polarized society.
A New Great Migration, a fresh start
What would happen if our major foundations decided one part of their mission was actually to form a more perfect union, to make political leadership more representative of the country’s citizens? What if, in short, civil society got behind the idea of a New Great Migration? What if major foundations decided to help deserving people of color who were having a hard time in such places as Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and subsidized them and set them up with homes and jobs in, say, New Hampshire and Montana? God knows, at a time when so many have lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, countless Americans would grab the opportunity for a fresh start.
Story time: Story time: Republican National Convention re-imagines Donald Trump as kind and fair
If we are stuck with polarized voting blocs, let’s at least spread them around. Let’s find ways to make a virtue out of what has heretofore been a prescription for gridlock and heartbreak — and what has facilitated the imposition of the will of a minority on a helpless majority.
If we lack the determination, the sense and the power to change the Constitution, we can at least lessen the impact of one of the Founders’ biggest mistakes: their acceptance of an obscene distortion of democracy. That situation will only get worse as urban centers continue to grow and our political leaders become increasingly less representative of the country’s reality. It’s long past time for people of goodwill to change the United States for the better.
Ellis Cose is a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors and the author of "Democracy, If We Can Keep It: The ACLU’s 100-Year Fight for Rights in America," published in July. This column was adapted from "The Short Life and Curious Death of Free Speech in America," coming Tuesday from Amistad. Follow Cose on Twitter: @EllisCose


usatoday--2020-09-14--Donald Trump to host indoor Nevada campaign rally, despite COVID concerns

President Donald Trump will host a Nevada campaign rally indoors Sunday night , despite objections from the local government and concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19 .
It will be Trump 's first indoor rally since a June 20 event in Tulsa , Okla. , that preceded a spike in coronavirus cases in that city .
Campaign staff members and Secret Service agents tested positive for the virus right before that Tulsa rally .
The Nevada rally , which begins at 10 pm EST .
at a manufacturing business in Henderson , near Las Vegas , will likely violate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midst of the COVID pandemic .
Henderson officials have issued a compliance letter and verbal warning to the event organizers .
Kathleen Richards , a spokeswoman for the city of Henderson , said that `` gatherings of more than 50 people in a private or public setting is prohibited . ''
`` If the governor ’ s directives are not followed , '' she said , `` the city may assess a fine of up to $ 500 per violation as well as suspend or revoke the business license . ''
Aides to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally as a threat to public health .
Holding a mass event indoors reflects `` the same toxic attitude that has crippled Trump 's incoherent pandemic response , cost over 193,000 Americans their lives , killed millions of jobs , and needlessly torn the nation apart when we need to come together in this moment of crisis , '' tweeted Biden spokesman Andrew Bates .
In a statement , the Trump campaign said that everyone attending the event will receive a temperature check , be provided a mask ( and encouraged to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand sanitizers .
“ If you can join tens of thousands of people protesting in the streets , gamble in a casino , or burn down small businesses in riots , you can gather peacefully under the 1st Amendment to hear from the President of the United States , '' said campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh .
Since the problems in Tulsa , Trump has conducted a series of smaller rallies outdoors at airports .
The indoor rally will cap a day that continued a western campaign swing by raising money , attacking Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I have achieved more for Hispanic Americans in 47 months than Joe Biden in 47 years , '' Trump said while criticizing his Democratic challenger during Latino `` roundtable '' meeting at a Vegas hotel .
More : Donald Trump may need Nevada to win .
So what 's motivating his supporters ?
We asked them More : Trump rallies 2.0 : Behind the curtain at the president 's campaign events in the COVID-19 era Trump also hosted a pair of fundraisers in the Las Vegas area Sunday expected to raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the roundtable , Trump stressed the impact of policies on Latino residents , a key constituency in battleground states , which include Arizona , Florida and Nevada .
Arizona is on Trump 's itinerary Monday as he hosts a similar roundtable in Phoenix .
Trump is also scheduled to visit California to review the damage from the deadly wildfires .
More : Trump claims during Nevada campaign rally that Democrats are trying to 'rig ' upcoming election More : Trump will visit California on Monday for briefing on devastating wildfires Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aides have said that Trump 's actions to curb immigration are aimed at people of color , particularly Latinos .
The president has said that Mexico and other countries are only interested in sending `` rapists '' and criminals across the U.S. border .
That said , Democrats said the votes of many Latinos in key states are up for grabs ahead of the Nov. 3 election .
`` We know that we have work to do , '' said senior adviser Symone Sanders , speaking on ABC 's This Week .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Vice President Biden has been very clear about this as has Sen. Harris – that we are really working to earn every single vote in this country , and we want to earn the votes of the Latino Hispanic community . ''
Nationwide polls give Biden an overall edge over Trump little more than seven weeks ahead of Election Day .
During his meeting with Latino supporters , Trump again made unfounded accusations regarding Democrats and their push to expand mail-in voting , claiming that `` the only way they 're going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump 's campaign has sued Nevada over a new mail-in voting system .
Republicans are asking a federal judge to prevent mail-in ballots from going to all active Nevada voters .
Democrats said Republicans also use mail-in voting , and that Trump is lying about the system in order to lay the groundwork for a protest of the election he is likely to lose .
Four years ago , Democrat Hillary Clinton narrowly defeated Trump in Nevada by a margin of 47.9 % -45.5 % , a little less than 2.5 percentage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ College gave Biden a narrow lead over Trump in Nevada , 46 % -42 % .
During his day in Las Vegas , Trump said he signed a new executive order that he claimed will lead to lower drug prices , though those are subject to market forces .
The guests at the roundtable were very supportive of Trump .
`` Everything you 're doing is perfect , '' one guest said , while another told the president she would `` take a bullet for you . ''
Trump again touted his COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corner '' – even though coronavirus cases in the U.S. are still rising and the number of deaths is approaching 200,000 .
Trump again attacked the violence in `` Democrat-run cities , '' including the Saturday shootings of two Los Angeles County sheriff 's deputies .
`` We are going to get much faster with our courts and we have to get much tougher with our sentencing , '' Trump said .
Biden also condemned the shootings of the deputies .
`` This cold-blooded shooting is unconscionable and the perpetrator must be brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted .

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak says Trump took 'reckless and selfish actions' by holding indoor rally
Show Caption Hide Caption Pres. Trump suggests he softened COVID reaction to reduce 'panic' A new book suggests that President Trump understood the threats of the coronavirus even as he told the nation it was no worse than the seasonal flu. USA TODAY
President Donald Trump hosted a crowded indoor political rally Sunday in Nevada, ignoring objections by the governor and others that he might have spread COVID-19 to unknown numbers of people.
"Tonight, President Donald Trump is taking reckless and selfish actions that are putting countless lives in danger here in Nevada," said Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat. "The president appears to have forgotten that this country is still in the middle of a global pandemic."
Trump, who has held outdoor rallies in recent months, said the owner of the building near Las Vegas thought it was "unfair" for the president to be denied permission for indoor events.
"Tell your governor to open up your state," Trump told hundreds of supporters – most of them packed together on a factory floor, many of them not wearing masks given out by the Trump campaign.
More: Donald Trump may need Nevada to win. So what's motivating his supporters? We asked them
More: Trump rallies 2.0: Behind the curtain at the president's campaign events in the COVID-19 era
Otherwise, the president delivered his standard stump speech, filled with full-throated attacks on opponent Joe Biden and the Democrats over violence in cities, energy development, running mate Kamala Harris, foreign policy, trade, immigration, and the party's "left-wing" agenda.
COVID-19: How Herd Immunity works, why you still need to wear a mask Without masks and a vaccine, we could reach Herd Immunity from COVID-19, but deaths would skyrocket. We break down the science of it. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
It was Trump's first indoor rally since a June 20 event in Tulsa, Okla., that preceded a spike in coronavirus cases in that city. Campaign staff members and Secret Service agents tested positive for the virus right before that Tulsa rally.
The Nevada rally – at a manufacturing business in Henderson, near Las Vegas – likely violated state restrictions on large gatherings in the midst of the COVID pandemic.
Henderson officials issued a compliance letter and verbal warning to the event organizers. Kathleen Richards, a spokeswoman for the city of Henderson, said that "gatherings of more than 50 people in a private or public setting is prohibited."
"If the governor’s directives are not followed," she said, "the city may assess a fine of up to $500 per violation as well as suspend or revoke the business license."
Biden aides criticized the rally as a threat to public health.
Holding a mass event indoors reflects "the same toxic attitude that has crippled Trump's incoherent pandemic response, cost over 193,000 Americans their lives, killed millions of jobs, and needlessly torn the nation apart when we need to come together in this moment of crisis," said Biden spokesman Andrew Bates.
In a statement, the Trump campaign said that everyone attending the event received a temperature check, was provided a mask (and encouraged to wear it), and had access to hand sanitizers.
“If you can join tens of thousands of people protesting in the streets, gamble in a casino, or burn down small businesses in riots, you can gather peacefully under the 1st Amendment to hear from the President of the United States," said campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh.
Since the problems in Tulsa, Trump has conducted a series of smaller rallies outdoors at airports.
The indoor rally capped a day that continued a western campaign swing by raising money, attacking Democrats, and soliciting Latino voters in Nevada.
“I have achieved more for Hispanic Americans in 47 months than Joe Biden in 47 years," Trump said while criticizing his Democratic challenger during Latino "roundtable" meeting at a Vegas hotel.
Trump also hosted a pair of fundraisers in the Las Vegas area Sunday expected to raise about $18 million.
In remarks at the roundtable, Trump stressed the impact of policies on Latino residents, a key constituency in battleground states, which include Arizona, Florida and Nevada.
Arizona is on Trump's itinerary Monday as he hosts a similar roundtable in Phoenix. Trump is also scheduled to visit California to review the damage from the deadly wildfires.
More: Trump claims during Nevada campaign rally that Democrats are trying to 'rig' upcoming election
More: Trump will visit California on Monday for briefing on devastating wildfires
Biden, Harris, and their aides have said that Trump's actions to curb immigration are aimed at people of color, particularly Latinos. The president has said that Mexico and other countries are only interested in sending "rapists" and criminals across the U.S. border.
That said, Democrats said the votes of many Latinos in key states are up for grabs ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
"We know that we have work to do," said Biden senior adviser Symone Sanders, speaking on ABC's This Week. "We have said from the beginning – and Vice President Biden has been very clear about this as has Sen. Harris – that we are really working to earn every single vote in this country, and we want to earn the votes of the Latino Hispanic community."
Nationwide polls give Biden an overall edge over Trump little more than seven weeks ahead of Election Day.
During his meeting with Latino supporters, Trump again made unfounded accusations regarding Democrats and their push to expand mail-in voting, claiming that "the only way they're going to win is with rigged ballots."
At the rally, Trump attacked Sisolak over mail-in voting, and told supporters that "they might not count your ballot in this state."
Democrats said Republicans also use mail-in voting, and that Trump is lying about the system in order to lay the groundwork for a protest of the election he is likely to lose.
Four years ago, Democrat Hillary Clinton narrowly defeated Trump in Nevada by a margin of 47.9%-45.5%, a little less than 2.5 percentage points.
A recent New York Times/Siena College gave Biden a narrow lead over Trump in Nevada, 46%-42%.
During his day in Las Vegas, Trump said he signed a new executive order that he claimed will lead to lower drug prices, though those are subject to market forces.
Trump again touted his COVID-19 response – "we are rounding the corner" – even though coronavirus cases in the U.S. are still rising and the number of deaths is approaching 200,000.
At the roundtable and the rally, Trump attacked the violence in "Democrat-run cities," including the Saturday shootings of two Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies.
Hoping that authorities will track down the gunman, Trump told the rally crowd: "He's not a human being – he's an animal."
Biden also condemned the shootings of the deputies.
"This cold-blooded shooting is unconscionable and the perpetrator must be brought to justice," the Democratic nominee tweeted.


usatoday--2020-09-13--Cam Newton powers new-look Patriots to first post-Tom Brady win over Dolphins

FOXBOROUGH , Mass .
— Sunday ’ s opener for the New England Patriots certainly didn ’ t look normal .
That ’ ll happen when you have no fans in the stands due to the coronavirus pandemic .
When the game began , things still didn ’ t look normal for the Patriots and their new-look offense .
Sunday marked the start of a new era in Gillette Stadium now known as the Cam Newton show .
After only playing two games for the Panthers last season , this 31-year-old quarterback looked fresh and ready to lead this Patriots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The former NFL MVP drove the Miami Dolphins defense crazy en route to the Patriots 21-11 win in the regular-season opener .
The Pats improve to 1-0 behind a dominant rushing attack led by Newton .
In his first game as a Patriot , Newton led the Patriots on the ground with 15 carries , 75 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to go with 155 passing yards .
The quarterback was 15-of-19 throwing the ball but had Miami flustered .
Newton kept the Dolphins off balance with a mix of play-action passes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Dolphins players tried to grab my chain after Patriots ' win The quarterback scored the Patriots ' first two touchdowns of the 2020 season , which will look very different from the Brady-led offense .
Newton ’ s 15 carries were the most by a quarterback under Belichick since Brady had 10 carries in a 2006 game against Jacksonville .
The Patriots ' opening drive showcased the new-look offense .
The first five snaps were all run plays with two coming from Newton , including a 17-yard scamper .
Newton ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Julian Edelman , but the veteran receiver dropped the ball when Bobby McCain hit him .
That stunted the Pats first drive of the season .
The next time Newton took the field , the veteran quarterback put the Patriots on his back en route a 7-0 lead over the Dolphins .
The Patriots went run heavy , again , but Newton also showed off his arm strength with a 25-yard dart to tight end Ryan Izzo .
Newton kept the drive alive with a 7-yard gain on third-and-5 .
Three plays later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 2020 season with an easy 4-yard run at 13:12 of the second quarter .
The Patriots ' defense stepped up on the next drive as Stephon Gilmore jumped in front of a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass for an interception at 11:47 of the second quarter .
The Dolphins closed the gap to 7-3 when kicker Jason Sanders hit a 46-yard field goal at 3:53 of the second quarter .
It looked like Miami might score again before the half , but their momentum was halted when Adrian Phillips intercepted Fitzpatrick with 37 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patriots got the ball back with 31 seconds left in the half .
Newton made two quick throws to James White ( 9 yards ) and Edelman ( 16 yards ) to put the team within striking distance .
However , Nick Folk missed his first field goal attempt from the season , badly missing from 45 yards deep .
When the second half started , Newton once again put the Patriots on his back to put New England up , 14-3 .
This time , the quarterback completed his first three passes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Every pass attempt Newton threw on this drive came off play action with the quarterback pretending to hand the ball off .
It was similar at 10:21 of the third quarter , but on this play , when Newton faked a hand off to Burkhead , he kept the ball rolled out to his right and kept running for an 11-yard touchdown .
The Patriots ' offense was rolling on their next drive , too .
The team was 12 plays in and on the 10-yard line when Newton hit N'Keal Harry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the end zone .
Instead , the receiver fumbled the ball through the end zone at 1:03 of the third quarter .
That resulted in a touch back for Miami and a turnover for Harry .
The Dolphins brought the score to 14-11 on the next series .
This drive saw two defensive pass interference penalties hurt the defense .
Gilmore was flagged for a 23-yard pass interference penalty on a fourth-and-2 play .
Terrence Brooks was then whistled for the same in the end zone to set the Dolphins up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jordan Howard scored with 10:31 remaining and Ryan Fitzpatrick ran in a 2-point conversation .
The Patriots answered right back and took a 21-11 lead with 5:23 left in the game .
Edelman started off the series with a 23-yard run and Miami was flagged for a 15-yard late hit .
Newton rushed the ball four out of the next five snaps , including a 4-yard run on fourth-and-1 to bring the offense to the 1-yard line .
That set up a Sony Michel 1-yard touchdown to put the Patriots out of reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have the perfect spot for you .
Join our Facebook Group , The Ruling Off the Field , to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders .
Do the right thing , sign up now !

Cam Newton powers new-look Patriots to first post-Tom Brady win over Dolphins
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Sunday’s opener for the New England Patriots certainly didn’t look normal. That’ll happen when you have no fans in the stands due to the coronavirus pandemic. When the game began, things still didn’t look normal for the Patriots and their new-look offense.
Sunday marked the start of a new era in Gillette Stadium now known as the Cam Newton show.
After only playing two games for the Panthers last season, this 31-year-old quarterback looked fresh and ready to lead this Patriots team into the post-Tom Brady years. The former NFL MVP drove the Miami Dolphins defense crazy en route to the Patriots 21-11 win in the regular-season opener.
The Pats improve to 1-0 behind a dominant rushing attack led by Newton. In his first game as a Patriot, Newton led the Patriots on the ground with 15 carries, 75 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to go with 155 passing yards. The quarterback was 15-of-19 throwing the ball but had Miami flustered. Newton kept the Dolphins off balance with a mix of play-action passes and designed run plays.
CAM NEWTON: Dolphins players tried to grab my chain after Patriots' win
The quarterback scored the Patriots' first two touchdowns of the 2020 season, which will look very different from the Brady-led offense. Newton’s 15 carries were the most by a quarterback under Belichick since Brady had 10 carries in a 2006 game against Jacksonville.
The Patriots' opening drive showcased the new-look offense. The first five snaps were all run plays with two coming from Newton, including a 17-yard scamper. Newton’s first pass was a perfect strike to Julian Edelman, but the veteran receiver dropped the ball when Bobby McCain hit him. That stunted the Pats first drive of the season.
The next time Newton took the field, the veteran quarterback put the Patriots on his back en route a 7-0 lead over the Dolphins.
The Patriots went run heavy, again, but Newton also showed off his arm strength with a 25-yard dart to tight end Ryan Izzo. Newton kept the drive alive with a 7-yard gain on third-and-5. Three plays later, Newton scored the first Patriots touchdown of the 2020 season with an easy 4-yard run at 13:12 of the second quarter.
The Patriots' defense stepped up on the next drive as Stephon Gilmore jumped in front of a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass for an interception at 11:47 of the second quarter. The Dolphins closed the gap to 7-3 when kicker Jason Sanders hit a 46-yard field goal at 3:53 of the second quarter. It looked like Miami might score again before the half, but their momentum was halted when Adrian Phillips intercepted Fitzpatrick with 37 seconds left in the half.
The Patriots got the ball back with 31 seconds left in the half. Newton made two quick throws to James White (9 yards) and Edelman (16 yards) to put the team within striking distance. However, Nick Folk missed his first field goal attempt from the season, badly missing from 45 yards deep.
When the second half started, Newton once again put the Patriots on his back to put New England up, 14-3. This time, the quarterback completed his first three passes of the third quarter for first downs. Every pass attempt Newton threw on this drive came off play action with the quarterback pretending to hand the ball off.
It was similar at 10:21 of the third quarter, but on this play, when Newton faked a hand off to Burkhead, he kept the ball rolled out to his right and kept running for an 11-yard touchdown.
The Patriots' offense was rolling on their next drive, too. The team was 12 plays in and on the 10-yard line when Newton hit N'Keal Harry, who looked like he was heading for the end zone. Instead, the receiver fumbled the ball through the end zone at 1:03 of the third quarter. That resulted in a touch back for Miami and a turnover for Harry.
The Dolphins brought the score to 14-11 on the next series. This drive saw two defensive pass interference penalties hurt the defense. Gilmore was flagged for a 23-yard pass interference penalty on a fourth-and-2 play. Terrence Brooks was then whistled for the same in the end zone to set the Dolphins up with a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Jordan Howard scored with 10:31 remaining and Ryan Fitzpatrick ran in a 2-point conversation.
The Patriots answered right back and took a 21-11 lead with 5:23 left in the game. Edelman started off the series with a 23-yard run and Miami was flagged for a 15-yard late hit. Newton rushed the ball four out of the next five snaps, including a 4-yard run on fourth-and-1 to bring the offense to the 1-yard line.
That set up a Sony Michel 1-yard touchdown to put the Patriots out of reach.
If you love talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders. Do the right thing, sign up now!


usatoday--2020-09-13--'Mulan' controversy: Congressional commission writes to Disney CEO Bob Chapek demanding answers

Disney 's live-action `` Mulan '' is coming under fire for filming partly in China 's Xinjiang province , where there have been allegations of human rights abuses .
Activists and organizations have taken to social media to denounce the film after noticing the end credits share a `` special thanks '' to multiple government entities in Xinjiang .
And now , a congressional commission is demanding answers from Disney 's CEO .
In July , Washington sanctioned senior Chinese officials who it claimed are responsible for mass detentions , religious persecution and forced sterilization against Muslim Uighur minorities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistreats Uighur Muslims in far-western Xinjiang , but human rights organizations and foreign media reports alleged that authorities detained about a million people in so-called re-education camps .
China said the camps are vocational centers needed to counter radicalism .
On Friday , the Congressional-Executive Commission on China said on Twitter that it sent a bipartisan letter to Disney ’ s Chief Executive Officer , Bob Chapek , demanding answers about Disney ’ s dealings with the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region ( XUAR ) .
“ Disney ’ s apparent cooperation with officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China ( PRC ) who are most responsible for committing atrocities – or for covering up those crimes – is profoundly disturbing , ” the letter reads .
It continues , “ The decision to film parts of ‘ Mulan ’ in the XUAR , in cooperation with local security and propaganda elements , offers tacit legitimacy to these perpetrators of crimes that may warrant the designation of genocide.
” The letter also lists several specific points for the CEO to address that involve the company 's dealings in the region as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human rights abuses while making `` Mulan . ''
On Thursday , Disney CFO Christine McCarthy addressed the criticism at a virtual Bank of America investor conference .
“ Mulan was primarily shot – almost the entirety – in New Zealand , ” McCarthy told the conference .
“ And in an effort to accurately depict some of the unique landscape and geography of the country of China for this historical period-piece drama , we filmed scenery in 20 different locations in China .
“ Now , it ’ s common knowledge that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have to be granted permission , and that permission comes from the central government ’ s publicity department .
It ’ s also common knowledge in the film industry , and it ’ s a practice that is done throughout the world , to acknowledge in a film ’ s credits the national and local governments that allowed you to film there .
And so , in our credits , it recognized both China , as well as locations in New Zealand.
” USA TODAY has reached out to Disney for comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surrounding `` Mulan . ''
The film 's star Yifei Liu walked into her first global controversy last August when she retweeted a post supportive of Chinese-backed police against Hong Kong protesters .
The tweet drew heavy criticism and intensified calls from global critics to boycott the remake .
I 've fought China 's slow-motion genocide of Uighur Muslims : Now , my family are victims .
The World Uyghur Congress , an organization promoting Uyghur human rights , tweeted a statement Monday about the filming location as well as Liu 's tweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , @ Disney thanks the public security bureau in ( Xinjiang city ) Turpan , which has been involved in the internment camps in East Turkistan , '' the statement read .
`` Last year , the actor publicly supported the # HongKongPolice in their violent crackdowns on pro-democracy protesters . ''
User @ jeannette_ng shared an image of the credit screen to Twitter on Sunday .
`` Mulan specifically thank ( s ) the publicity department of CPC Xinjiang uyghur autonomous region committee in the credits .
You know , the place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the caption reads .
`` They filmed extensively in Xinjiang , which the subtitles call 'Northwest China ' # BoycottMulan . ''
User @ JooeySiiu tweeted Tuesday , `` Not only did the actress Liu Yi-fei of # Mulan publicly supported # PoliceBrutality , the film was also found to be filmed in Xinjiang — where the CCP detains countless Uyghurs inside the 're-education camps ' .
# BoycottMulan , for Hongkongers and for Uyghurs . ''
Hong Kong activist Nathan Law tweeted Monday , `` Why we should # BoycottMulan ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hollywood movies , they claim to embrace social justice .
In fact , they kowtow to autocratic China disgracefully .
They shamed themselves by upholding values they don ’ t even believe in .
Movies , should be more than money . ''
User @ shawnwzhang tweeted Monday , `` Mulan thanks Turpan Bureau of Public Security because it was filmed in Turpan in 2018 , the peak of re-education campaign .
How many thousands of Uyghur were put into camps by Turpan Bureau of Public Security when filming Mulan there ? ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the movie 's release , Liu said she is n't engaging in political discussion as an actress , adding that she was naïve to step into the debate .
`` It 's obviously very frustrating and obviously this is a very complicated question , '' she says .
`` I 'm not a political expert , I 'm an artist , so I just hoped this gets resolved soon . ''
Who is Yifei Liu ?
Meet Disney 's new 'Mulan' 'Mulan ' is streaming : Live-action 'Mulan ' is on Disney+ – @ @ @ @ @

'Mulan' controversy: Congressional commission writes to Disney CEO Bob Chapek demanding answers
Show Caption Hide Caption Stars say 'Mulan' brings fresh approach to ancient Chinese story Action star Jet Li - who appears opposite Liu Yifei in the latest version of "Mulan" - says he signed up to the movie at the insistence of his 15-year-old daughter. (Sept. 2) AP
Disney's live-action "Mulan" is coming under fire for filming partly in China's Xinjiang province, where there have been allegations of human rights abuses.
Activists and organizations have taken to social media to denounce the film after noticing the end credits share a "special thanks" to multiple government entities in Xinjiang. And now, a congressional commission is demanding answers from Disney's CEO.
In July, Washington sanctioned senior Chinese officials who it claimed are responsible for mass detentions, religious persecution and forced sterilization against Muslim Uighur minorities in Xinjiang.
China has repeatedly denied it mistreats Uighur Muslims in far-western Xinjiang, but human rights organizations and foreign media reports alleged that authorities detained about a million people in so-called re-education camps. China said the camps are vocational centers needed to counter radicalism.
On Friday, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China said on Twitter that it sent a bipartisan letter to Disney’s Chief Executive Officer, Bob Chapek, demanding answers about Disney’s dealings with the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
“Disney’s apparent cooperation with officials of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) who are most responsible for committing atrocities – or for covering up those crimes – is profoundly disturbing,” the letter reads.
Chairs send bipartisan letter to @Disney inquiring about the filming of #Mulan in #Xinjiang #Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and #Disney’s relationship with security and propaganda entities responsible for committing, or covering up, atrocities in the #XUAR. pic.twitter.com/ucKTc7o1LV — China Commission (@CECCgov) September 11, 2020
It continues, “The decision to film parts of ‘Mulan’ in the XUAR, in cooperation with local security and propaganda elements, offers tacit legitimacy to these perpetrators of crimes that may warrant the designation of genocide.”
The letter also lists several specific points for the CEO to address that involve the company's dealings in the region as well as its executives' awareness of alleged human rights abuses while making "Mulan."
On Thursday, Disney CFO Christine McCarthy addressed the criticism at a virtual Bank of America investor conference.
“Mulan was primarily shot – almost the entirety – in New Zealand,” McCarthy told the conference. “And in an effort to accurately depict some of the unique landscape and geography of the country of China for this historical period-piece drama, we filmed scenery in 20 different locations in China.
“Now, it’s common knowledge that in order to film in China, you have to be granted permission, and that permission comes from the central government’s publicity department. It’s also common knowledge in the film industry, and it’s a practice that is done throughout the world, to acknowledge in a film’s credits the national and local governments that allowed you to film there. And so, in our credits, it recognized both China, as well as locations in New Zealand.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Disney for comment.
This isn't the only controversy surrounding "Mulan."
The film's star Yifei Liu walked into her first global controversy last August when she retweeted a post supportive of Chinese-backed police against Hong Kong protesters. The tweet drew heavy criticism and intensified calls from global critics to boycott the remake.
I've fought China's slow-motion genocide of Uighur Muslims: Now, my family are victims.
The World Uyghur Congress, an organization promoting Uyghur human rights, tweeted a statement Monday about the filming location as well as Liu's tweet.
"In the new #Mulan, @Disney thanks the public security bureau in (Xinjiang city) Turpan, which has been involved in the internment camps in East Turkistan," the statement read. "Last year, the actor publicly supported the #HongKongPolice in their violent crackdowns on pro-democracy protesters."
User @jeannette_ng shared an image of the credit screen to Twitter on Sunday.
"Mulan specifically thank(s) the publicity department of CPC Xinjiang uyghur autonomous region committee in the credits. You know, the place where the cultural genocide is happening," the caption reads. "They filmed extensively in Xinjiang, which the subtitles call 'Northwest China' #BoycottMulan."
User @JooeySiiu tweeted Tuesday, "Not only did the actress Liu Yi-fei of #Mulan publicly supported #PoliceBrutality, the film was also found to be filmed in Xinjiang — where the CCP detains countless Uyghurs inside the 're-education camps'. #BoycottMulan, for Hongkongers and for Uyghurs."
Hong Kong activist Nathan Law tweeted Monday, "Why we should #BoycottMulan? It’s about hypocrisy. In Hollywood movies, they claim to embrace social justice. In fact, they kowtow to autocratic China disgracefully. They shamed themselves by upholding values they don’t even believe in. Movies, should be more than money."
User @shawnwzhang tweeted Monday, "Mulan thanks Turpan Bureau of Public Security because it was filmed in Turpan in 2018, the peak of re-education campaign. How many thousands of Uyghur were put into camps by Turpan Bureau of Public Security when filming Mulan there?"
In an interview with USA TODAY before the movie's release, Liu said she isn't engaging in political discussion as an actress, adding that she was naïve to step into the debate.
"It's obviously very frustrating and obviously this is a very complicated question," she says. "I'm not a political expert, I'm an artist, so I just hoped this gets resolved soon."
Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard, Bryan Alexander, Charles Trepany
Who is Yifei Liu? Meet Disney's new 'Mulan'
'Mulan' is streaming: Live-action 'Mulan' is on Disney+ – but there's a catch


usatoday--2020-09-13--Cam Newton: Dolphins players tried to grab my chain after Patriots' win

FOXBOROUGH , Mass .
– Following the Patriots ' win over Miami on Sunday , tempers flared between Cam Newton and several opposing Dolphins defensive players .
It ’ s tough to tell what exactly started it all , but Newton could be seen arguing with Dolphins linebacker Kyle Van Noy , who appeared to push him , and Elandon Roberts , who got in his face .
The Patriots quarterback had to be held back and then held back against when Dolphins defensive lineman Christian Wilkins grabbed and pulled off one of Newton ’ s chains .
Both Julian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding Newton back as he searched for his chain on the turf .
“ I still got my chain .
I got two of them .
They were reaching for my chain though , ” Newton said .
“ They were reaching for my chain .
I think that kind of got up under my skin , but throughout it all , man , listen , I don ’ t want nothing taken away from a great team win .
I don ’ t want to be selfish to kind of focus for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a lot of tempers can flare .
I was just teasing with coaches letting them no that College Park almost came out .
Throughout it all , it was just fun and games.
” Newton certainly frustrated the Dolphins defense .
He completed 79 % of his passes but did most damage on the ground with two rushing touchdowns .
After the game , while speaking to the media , Newton did take a small jab at Wilkins , who once went viral for doing a split after Clemson ’ s national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to realize who you ’ re talking to ...
I realized I was talking to a person known for doing splits , ” Newton said .
“ So that was uncharacteristic of myself to keep on going back and forth .
But at the end of the day , it ’ s football .
No matter who it is , I play with a competitive edge and I expect the other team , too .
At the end of the day , anything outside of that , it ’ s all about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nobody .
I don ’ t want anybody to disrespect me , but at the end of the day , we got the thing that was most valuable.
” If you love talking football , we have the perfect spot for you .
Join our Facebook Group , The Ruling Off the Field , to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders .
Do the right thing , sign up now !

Cam Newton: Dolphins players tried to grab my chain after Patriots' win
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Following the Patriots' win over Miami on Sunday, tempers flared between Cam Newton and several opposing Dolphins defensive players.
It’s tough to tell what exactly started it all, but Newton could be seen arguing with Dolphins linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who appeared to push him, and Elandon Roberts, who got in his face. The Patriots quarterback had to be held back and then held back against when Dolphins defensive lineman Christian Wilkins grabbed and pulled off one of Newton’s chains.
Both Julian Edelman and Rex Burkhead could be seen holding Newton back as he searched for his chain on the turf.
“I still got my chain. I got two of them. They were reaching for my chain though,” Newton said. “They were reaching for my chain. I think that kind of got up under my skin, but throughout it all, man, listen, I don’t want nothing taken away from a great team win. I don’t want to be selfish to kind of focus for us as a team or me personally, a lot of tempers can flare. I was just teasing with coaches letting them no that College Park almost came out. Throughout it all, it was just fun and games.”
Newton certainly frustrated the Dolphins defense. He completed 79% of his passes but did most damage on the ground with two rushing touchdowns. After the game, while speaking to the media, Newton did take a small jab at Wilkins, who once went viral for doing a split after Clemson’s national championship in 2017.
“You just have to realize who you’re talking to... I realized I was talking to a person known for doing splits,” Newton said. “So that was uncharacteristic of myself to keep on going back and forth. But at the end of the day, it’s football. No matter who it is, I play with a competitive edge and I expect the other team, too. At the end of the day, anything outside of that, it’s all about respect. I don’t disrespect nobody. I don’t want anybody to disrespect me, but at the end of the day, we got the thing that was most valuable.”
If you love talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders. Do the right thing, sign up now!


usatoday--2020-09-13--Coronavirus updates: Dakotas take hit after Sturgis rally; schools back off classroom learning; Euro

A month after the controversial Sturgis Motorcycle Rally drew hundreds of thousands of bikers to South Dakota , COVID-19 infections are growing faster in North Dakota and South Dakota than anywhere in the nation .
The rally is not the only likely culprit : Many schools in the states recently began in-class learning , and mandates or requests to wear masks have sparked pushback from people who believe that infringes on their freedom .
Though Europe appeared to have the virus under control after a devastating spring , countries there are again struggling .
France reported a one-day record of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 1,000 from Friday .
The U.K , which has suffered Europe ’ s deadliest coronavirus outbreak , recorded more than 3,000 new cases of COVID-19 for the third day running for the first time since May .
Austria says it is seeing a “ second wave ” of infections .
• Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Oxford University have resumed clinical trials of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate in the United Kingdom after a brief global pause in testing .
• The State Department downgraded its travel warning for Mexico .
• Domestic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak , has returned to pre-pandemic levels , authorities say .
📈 Today 's numbers : Montana , Kansas , Guam and Puerto Rico set records for deaths this week , according to a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data through late Saturday .
New case records were set in Wisconsin .
The U.S. has had about 6.5 million confirmed cases and nearly 194,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
Globally , there have been more than 28 million cases and about 921,000 fatalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some people may not want to rush to reopened restaurants and beaches during the pandemic , but they may be at odds with friends and family .
Here 's how to say no to weddings , holiday dinners and more .
🗺 Mapping coronavirus : Track the U.S. outbreak , state by state This file will be updated throughout the day .
For updates in your inbox , subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter .
Since the semester started , 198 four-year colleges and universities have backed away from in-person plans , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Davidson University project .
Officials at Purdue University , however , remain cautiously optimistic that their mostly in-class learning is working .
Despite 389 student cases since Aug. 1 – including 184 recorded in the last week – Purdue ’ s campus positive rate of 3.8 % over the past week was in range of Tippecanoe County ’ s rate of 3.9 % and below the state ’ s 5.1 % .
`` We do feel a little more confident that things are going as well , maybe better than we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chief medical officer at the Protect Purdue Health Center .
“ I think now we can start looking a little farther down the road and see if we can say what the next month might look like and then what the next month might look like after that.
” As classes began across the nation , more than 60 % of public-school districts were apparently starting the year online-only , up from 52 % expected to do so a month ago , according to Burbio , a company that aggregates more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases , school officials said they had to switch to remote-only because graduation and end-of-summer parties caused more cases of COVID-19 .
But everything from staff shortages to outbreaks in the community were often to blame .
Many schools starting online hope to open classrooms in the next month or two .
Charlie Wilson , president of the national group representing school boards , said it has been challenging to balance students ' and teachers ' safety with the benefits of having them back in the classroom .
“ Many factors are outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'Front line hero ' dies after 4-month battle with virus in Kentucky An infectious disease specialist at Bowling Green Med Center Health in Kentucky died four months after testing positive for COVID-19 .
Dr. Rebecca Shadowen , who was a leader with the Bowling Green-Warren County Coronavirus Workgroup , died Friday night following a battle with COVID-19 , the medical center announced .
`` There are really no words to describe the pain felt by her family , physician colleagues and Med Center Health teammates , '' Connie Smith , president and CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
On social media Saturday morning , Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear encouraged people to `` wear a mask in her honor . ''
`` I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of Dr. Rebecca Shadowen , a front line hero who worked tirelessly to protect the lives of others , '' Beshear wrote .
`` Our thoughts and prayers are with her family , friends and colleagues . ''
A college student party over the Labor Day weekend included people who had recently tested positive for the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police in Oxford , Ohio , cited six men who attended a house party near Miami University for violating the state 's mass gathering and quarantine ordinance .
Body camera footage shows an officer arriving at a home near campus and finding men without masks on the porch .
In the footage , one of the residents tells the officer he tested positive a week before .
The officer asks how many other people in the house have COVID-19 , and the resident responds , `` They all do . ''
“ Oh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re trying to prevent , ” the officer says .
“ We want to keep this town open.
” Dr. Robert Glatter , an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City reacted to the situation in an emailed statement : `` If students could witness the death and devastation inside ERs and ICUs over the past few months , they might better understand the value of not only quarantines and isolation if they test positive , but the possibility of death if they attend or hold a party if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AstraZeneca is expected to resume clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate after a brief global pause in testing , according to Oxford University , which is co-developing the vaccine .
AstraZeneca put a hold on its clinical trials worldwide last week while it investigated an adverse reaction in a trial participant in the United Kingdom .
One person apparently developed a serious neurological problem after receiving the vaccine .
A standard review process triggered the study pause , Oxford said in a statement released Saturday , and an independent safety review committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That review is over , and based on their recommendations `` the trials will recommence in the UK , '' Oxford said .
Dentists see surge of problems , and the pandemic is likely to blame Stress and isolation brought on by the pandemic are certainly bad for our mental health , but dentists say they 're seeing evidence our oral health is suffering too .
Reports of more cracked teeth have received national media attention in recent days , but multiple dentists told USA TODAY that 's just the start of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent practice owner with Aspen Dental in Tarpon Springs , Florida , said the patients he 's seeing now need `` a ton of work . ''
• Louis Vuitton unveils full face shield with gold studs that reportedly will cost nearly $ 1,000 • In photos : Schools return to hybrid learning as pandemic continues • Online school is a nightmare.No one is fixing it .
• Fact check : Fauci , Gates , Epstein and Soros have no ties to drug company Moderna Children who caught the coronavirus at day cares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their relatives , according to a new report that underscores how kids can bring the germ home and infect others .
Scientists already know children can spread the virus .
But the study published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention `` definitively indicates — in a way that previous studies have struggled to do — the potential for transmission to family members , '' said William Hanage , a Harvard University infectious diseases researcher .
The findings don ’ t mean schools and child-care programs need to close , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those places and be brought home by kids .
Masks , disinfection and social distancing are needed to limit the spread .
And people who work in child-care facilities have to be careful and get tested if they think they may be infected , experts said .
The study also shows that children with no symptoms , or very mild symptoms , can spread the infection , just like adults can .
Adults with COVID-19 are more likely to have dined out : CDC study Eating at restaurants is a high-risk activity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Disease Control and Prevention .
The study found adults with COVID-19 were about twice as likely as other study participants to say they had dined out at a restaurant in the 14 days before getting sick .
COVID-19 patients were more likely to report having gone to a bar or coffee shop when the analysis was limited to those without close contact to people with known cases of coronavirus .
The study included 314 symptomatic adults who were tested for COVID-19 in July at 11 health care facilities across multiple states .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for COVID-19 .
• On Facebook : A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus .
But what we do know , we 're sharing with you .
Join our Facebook group , Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19 .
• In your inbox : Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network .
Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter .
• Tips for coping : Every Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inbox , offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times .
Sign up for Staying Apart , Together .

Coronavirus updates: Dakotas take hit after Sturgis rally; schools back off classroom learning; Europe sees more cases
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19 testing: Positivity rates and why they are so important COVID-19 widespread testing is crucial to fighting the pandemic, but is there enough testing? The answer is in the positivity rates. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
A month after the controversial Sturgis Motorcycle Rally drew hundreds of thousands of bikers to South Dakota, COVID-19 infections are growing faster in North Dakota and South Dakota than anywhere in the nation.
The rally is not the only likely culprit: Many schools in the states recently began in-class learning, and mandates or requests to wear masks have sparked pushback from people who believe that infringes on their freedom.
Though Europe appeared to have the virus under control after a devastating spring, countries there are again struggling. France reported a one-day record of 10,561 new cases Saturday, rising by more than 1,000 from Friday. The U.K, which has suffered Europe’s deadliest coronavirus outbreak, recorded more than 3,000 new cases of COVID-19 for the third day running for the first time since May. Austria says it is seeing a “second wave” of infections.
Some significant developments:
Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Oxford University have resumed clinical trials of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate in the United Kingdom after a brief global pause in testing.
Puerto Rico reopened beaches, casinos, gyms and movie theaters Saturday.
The State Department downgraded its travel warning for Mexico.
Domestic air travel in Wuhan, the original epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, has returned to pre-pandemic levels, authorities say.
📈 Today's numbers: Montana, Kansas, Guam and Puerto Rico set records for deaths this week, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data through late Saturday. New case records were set in Wisconsin. The U.S. has had about 6.5 million confirmed cases and nearly 194,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Globally, there have been more than 28 million cases and about 921,000 fatalities.
📰 What we're reading: Some people may not want to rush to reopened restaurants and beaches during the pandemic, but they may be at odds with friends and family. Here's how to say no to weddings, holiday dinners and more.
🗺 Mapping coronavirus: Track the U.S. outbreak, state by state
This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.
Since the semester started, 198 four-year colleges and universities have backed away from in-person plans, according to figures from the College Crisis Initiative, a Davidson University project. Officials at Purdue University, however, remain cautiously optimistic that their mostly in-class learning is working.
Despite 389 student cases since Aug. 1 – including 184 recorded in the last week – Purdue’s campus positive rate of 3.8% over the past week was in range of Tippecanoe County’s rate of 3.9% and below the state’s 5.1%.
"We do feel a little more confident that things are going as well, maybe better than we expected,” said Dr. Esteban Ramirez, chief medical officer at the Protect Purdue Health Center. “I think now we can start looking a little farther down the road and see if we can say what the next month might look like and then what the next month might look like after that.”
– Dave Bangert, Lafayette Journal & Courier
As classes began across the nation, more than 60% of public-school districts were apparently starting the year online-only, up from 52% expected to do so a month ago, according to Burbio, a company that aggregates more than 80,000 school calendars nationwide. In some cases, school officials said they had to switch to remote-only because graduation and end-of-summer parties caused more cases of COVID-19. But everything from staff shortages to outbreaks in the community were often to blame.
Many schools starting online hope to open classrooms in the next month or two. Charlie Wilson, president of the national group representing school boards, said it has been challenging to balance students' and teachers' safety with the benefits of having them back in the classroom.
“Many factors are outside our control,” he said.
– Erin Richards and Elinor Aspegren
An infectious disease specialist at Bowling Green Med Center Health in Kentucky died four months after testing positive for COVID-19.
Dr. Rebecca Shadowen, who was a leader with the Bowling Green-Warren County Coronavirus Workgroup, died Friday night following a battle with COVID-19, the medical center announced. "There are really no words to describe the pain felt by her family, physician colleagues and Med Center Health teammates," Connie Smith, president and CEO of Med Center Health, wrote in a statement.
On social media Saturday morning, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear encouraged people to "wear a mask in her honor."
"I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of Dr. Rebecca Shadowen, a front line hero who worked tirelessly to protect the lives of others," Beshear wrote. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and colleagues."
— Emma Austin, Louisville Courier-Journal
A college student party over the Labor Day weekend included people who had recently tested positive for the coronavirus, according to police body camera footage.
Police in Oxford, Ohio, cited six men who attended a house party near Miami University for violating the state's mass gathering and quarantine ordinance. Body camera footage shows an officer arriving at a home near campus and finding men without masks on the porch.
In the footage, one of the residents tells the officer he tested positive a week before. The officer asks how many other people in the house have COVID-19, and the resident responds, "They all do."
“Oh, God. This is what we’re trying to prevent,” the officer says. “We want to keep this town open.”
Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City reacted to the situation in an emailed statement: "If students could witness the death and devastation inside ERs and ICUs over the past few months, they might better understand the value of not only quarantines and isolation if they test positive, but the possibility of death if they attend or hold a party if they have COVID-19."
Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is expected to resume clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate after a brief global pause in testing, according to Oxford University, which is co-developing the vaccine.
AstraZeneca put a hold on its clinical trials worldwide last week while it investigated an adverse reaction in a trial participant in the United Kingdom. One person apparently developed a serious neurological problem after receiving the vaccine.
A standard review process triggered the study pause, Oxford said in a statement released Saturday, and an independent safety review committee and national regulators reviewed safety data. That review is over, and based on their recommendations "the trials will recommence in the UK," Oxford said.
— Grace Hauck
Stress and isolation brought on by the pandemic are certainly bad for our mental health, but dentists say they're seeing evidence our oral health is suffering too.
Reports of more cracked teeth have received national media attention in recent days, but multiple dentists told USA TODAY that's just the start of the problem.
Dr. Michael Dickerson, an independent practice owner with Aspen Dental in Tarpon Springs, Florida, said the patients he's seeing now need "a ton of work."
What we're reading
Children who caught the coronavirus at day cares and a day camp spread it to their relatives, according to a new report that underscores how kids can bring the germ home and infect others.
Scientists already know children can spread the virus. But the study published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "definitively indicates — in a way that previous studies have struggled to do — the potential for transmission to family members," said William Hanage, a Harvard University infectious diseases researcher.
The findings don’t mean schools and child-care programs need to close, but they confirm the virus can spread within those places and be brought home by kids. Masks, disinfection and social distancing are needed to limit the spread. And people who work in child-care facilities have to be careful and get tested if they think they may be infected, experts said.
The study also shows that children with no symptoms, or very mild symptoms, can spread the infection, just like adults can.
— The Associated Press
Eating at restaurants is a high-risk activity, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study found adults with COVID-19 were about twice as likely as other study participants to say they had dined out at a restaurant in the 14 days before getting sick.
COVID-19 patients were more likely to report having gone to a bar or coffee shop when the analysis was limited to those without close contact to people with known cases of coronavirus.
The study included 314 symptomatic adults who were tested for COVID-19 in July at 11 health care facilities across multiple states. Of that group, 154 patients tested positive for COVID-19.
COVID-19 resources from USA TODAY
On Facebook: A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. Join our Facebook group, Coronavirus Watch, to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19.
A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19. In your inbox: Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter.
Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Tips for coping: Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. Sign up for Staying Apart, Together.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-09-10--How to keep your phone from overheating

How to keep your phone from overheating

How to keep your phone from overheating Here are tips to keep your phone from overheating .

Phone tips: How to extend your battery life
Here are tips to keep your phone from overheating.
ProblemSolved, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-09-13--Donald Trump to host indoor Nevada campaign rally, despite COVID concerns