usatoday--2020-10-30--The Backstory: Here's what our reporters are watching for in key swing states Tuesday, and what you

I 'm USA TODAY editor-in-chief Nicole Carroll , and this is The Backstory , insights into our biggest stories of the week .
If you 'd like to get The Backstory free in your inbox every week , sign up here .
As we near Election Day , six competitive states are likely to decide the presidency .
Florida , Michigan , Wisconsin , Pennsylvania , Arizona and North Carolina offer 101 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win .
The USA TODAY Network has veteran political reporters in each of these key states .
So if you want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 'll want to know what they are watching for Tuesday .
FLORIDA : Capitol bureau reporter Zachary Andersonsaid that unlike other swing states , most of Florida 's mail ballots will have already been counted , so it could have results Tuesday night .
And the results are critical .
`` If President Trump loses Florida , the election is pretty much over , '' Anderson said .
`` He likely doesn ’ t have a path to Electoral College victory .
If he wins , the race could go into extra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more likely . ''
Within Florida , he said , keep your eye on bellwether Pinellas County in the Tampa Bay region .
`` The county went for Obama twice but flipped to Trump and then flipped back to Democrats in the 2018 governor ’ s race , '' he said .
But be careful : While resultsfrom Democrat-heavy mail-in ballots will be released right after the polls close , `` it will take some time to see how strong of a turnout Republicans have on Election Day . ''
MICHIGAN : Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,704 votes , or about two-tenths of 1 % , in 2016 .
It was key to his victory then and will be again this year .
Todd Spangler , the Washington correspondent for the Detroit Free Press , will be watching three Michigan counties in particular .
`` I ’ m going to be looking for results from Oakland and Macomb counties in the Detroit suburbs , '' he said , `` since if Biden is doing particularly well in Oakland and/or Trump isn ’ t scoring as bigly as he did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strongly suggests the president is in deep trouble in Michigan . ''
The other county is Kent , where Grand Rapids is located .
`` Kent is traditionally Republican but voted for Gov .
Whitmer ( a Democrat ) two years ago , '' Spangler said .
`` If that flips from R to D , and if Trump is struggling here , it probably says something . ''
He also warned that Detroit is historically late reporting results and could be counting ballots for days .
WISCONSIN : Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether Trump replicates the big margins he won in many small rural counties in Wisconsin in 2016 .
`` Some of these counties should report their vote fairly quickly on election night , '' he said .
`` If Trump is going to win Wisconsin again , he will probably need to match or exceed his 2016 numbers in the rural west and north ( which were exceptional ) , because he ’ s in danger of losing ground in the populous Milwaukee and Madison metro areas.
” PENNSYLVANIA : J.D .
Proseis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bureau .
`` In southeast Pennsylvania , you have Philly , solid blue , and its collar counties , which are trending blue more and more , and in southwest Pennsylvania you have Pittsburgh and Allegheny County , both solidly blue , but surrounded by a sea of red , '' Prose said .
`` Biden needs to cut into Trump 's margins from 2016 .
`` Remember , Trump only won Pennsylvania by 44,300 votes and did n't reach 50 % , so if Biden can flip voters in red counties from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then he 's got a very good chance of winning Pennsylvania . ''
ARIZONA : Arizona Republic political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez will be closely watching the suburbs of both Phoenix ( Maricopa County ) and Tucson ( Pima County ) , `` which we expect to break for Biden , '' she said .
`` We 'll be watching how LDS ( Mormon ) voters swing ; lots of them are for Biden on the basis of character .
We 'll also be watching how our seniors break – given our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a critical voting bloc . ''
NORTH CAROLINA : Senior North Carolina reporter Paul Woolverton said Thursday afternoon that more than 3.9 million votes had already been cast via early voting and mail-in ballot , more than half of the state ’ s 7.3 million registered voters .
`` The polls say the presidential race is tight , '' he said .
`` Trump has made repeated stops in the state to rally his base . ''
And he reminds : `` Ballot counting won ’ t start until after polls close at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is tight , the results may not be known until all the mail-in ballots are received .
So long as they are postmarked by Nov. 3 , they can arrive as late as Nov .
12 . ''
And here is what you can expect from us .
We 'll be monitoring polling places nationwide , correcting misinformation and providing accurate results .
That could take a while .
It 's unlikely a winner for president , and many other key races , will be called Tuesday night .
The number of mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counting could go on for days .
The delay does n't mean there is a problem – it means the system is working and states are ensuring every ballot is counted .
We use election results from The Associated Press , which calls winners and does not make projections .
The AP explains why : `` If our race callers can not definitively say a candidate has won , we do not engage in speculation .
... Only when AP is fully confident a race has been won – defined most simply as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a path to victory – will we make a call . ''
A good example is in 2000 : AP did not call the race between George W. Bush and Al Gore because the vote in Florida made it too close to call .
And what if a candidate declares victory before the votes are confirmed ?
We 'll note that it happened but also make it clear that the results are not final , and any claim of victory is premature .
It has been a long road to this election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In our USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll this week , three out of four Americans expressed concern about the prospect of violence on Election Day .
Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page said she 'll be watching for conflict at the polls , and already , buildings around the White House in Washington , D.C. , are being boarded up .
`` It ’ s no secret that our politics have become more polarized , but the idea that citizens are able to vote in safety and that the nation can count on a peaceful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Page said .
`` Whatever the outcome , an election that goes smoothly will underscore the stability of those fundamentals .
Indeed , one that goes smoothly and that has record-breaking turnout would fortify them .
`` This year , the election itself seems the most crucial thing of all . ''
Nicole Carroll is the editor-in-chief of USA TODAY .
Reach her at EIC @ usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter here .
Thank you for supporting our journalism .
You can subscribe to our print edition , ad-free experience or @ @ @ @ @

The Backstory: Here's what our reporters are watching for in key swing states Tuesday, and what you can expect from us.
I'm USA TODAY editor-in-chief Nicole Carroll, and this is The Backstory, insights into our biggest stories of the week. If you'd like to get The Backstory free in your inbox every week, sign up here.
As we near Election Day, six competitive states are likely to decide the presidency. Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona and North Carolina offer 101 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win.
The USA TODAY Network has veteran political reporters in each of these key states. So if you want to know what to watch for, you'll want to know what they are watching for Tuesday.
FLORIDA: Capitol bureau reporter Zachary Anderson said that unlike other swing states, most of Florida's mail ballots will have already been counted, so it could have results Tuesday night. And the results are critical.
"If President Trump loses Florida, the election is pretty much over," Anderson said. "He likely doesn’t have a path to Electoral College victory. If he wins, the race could go into extra innings, and legal challenges elsewhere become more likely."
Within Florida, he said, keep your eye on bellwether Pinellas County in the Tampa Bay region. "The county went for Obama twice but flipped to Trump and then flipped back to Democrats in the 2018 governor’s race," he said. But be careful: While results from Democrat-heavy mail-in ballots will be released right after the polls close, "it will take some time to see how strong of a turnout Republicans have on Election Day."
MICHIGAN: Trump beat Hillary Clinton in Michigan by just 10,704 votes, or about two-tenths of 1%, in 2016. It was key to his victory then and will be again this year. Todd Spangler, the Washington correspondent for the Detroit Free Press, will be watching three Michigan counties in particular.
"I’m going to be looking for results from Oakland and Macomb counties in the Detroit suburbs," he said, "since if Biden is doing particularly well in Oakland and/or Trump isn’t scoring as bigly as he did in Macomb four years ago, it strongly suggests the president is in deep trouble in Michigan." The other county is Kent, where Grand Rapids is located. "Kent is traditionally Republican but voted for Gov. Whitmer (a Democrat) two years ago," Spangler said. "If that flips from R to D, and if Trump is struggling here, it probably says something."
He also warned that Detroit is historically late reporting results and could be counting ballots for days.
WISCONSIN: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Washington correspondent Craig Gilbert will be watching to see whether Trump replicates the big margins he won in many small rural counties in Wisconsin in 2016. "Some of these counties should report their vote fairly quickly on election night," he said. "If Trump is going to win Wisconsin again, he will probably need to match or exceed his 2016 numbers in the rural west and north (which were exceptional), because he’s in danger of losing ground in the populous Milwaukee and Madison metro areas.”
PENNSYLVANIA: J.D. Prose is a reporter in our Pennsylvania state capitol bureau. "In southeast Pennsylvania, you have Philly, solid blue, and its collar counties, which are trending blue more and more, and in southwest Pennsylvania you have Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, both solidly blue, but surrounded by a sea of red," Prose said. "Biden needs to cut into Trump's margins from 2016.
"Remember, Trump only won Pennsylvania by 44,300 votes and didn't reach 50%, so if Biden can flip voters in red counties from 2016 and benefit from the blue wave, then he's got a very good chance of winning Pennsylvania."
ARIZONA: Arizona Republic political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez will be closely watching the suburbs of both Phoenix (Maricopa County) and Tucson (Pima County), "which we expect to break for Biden," she said. "We'll be watching how LDS (Mormon) voters swing; lots of them are for Biden on the basis of character. We'll also be watching how our seniors break – given our high population of retirees, they are a critical voting bloc."
NORTH CAROLINA: Senior North Carolina reporter Paul Woolverton said Thursday afternoon that more than 3.9 million votes had already been cast via early voting and mail-in ballot, more than half of the state’s 7.3 million registered voters. "The polls say the presidential race is tight," he said. "Trump has made repeated stops in the state to rally his base." And he reminds: "Ballot counting won’t start until after polls close at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. If any race is tight, the results may not be known until all the mail-in ballots are received. So long as they are postmarked by Nov. 3, they can arrive as late as Nov. 12."
And here is what you can expect from us. We'll be monitoring polling places nationwide, correcting misinformation and providing accurate results. That could take a while.
It's unlikely a winner for president, and many other key races, will be called Tuesday night. The number of mail-in and absentee ballots in many states means counting could go on for days. The delay doesn't mean there is a problem – it means the system is working and states are ensuring every ballot is counted.
We use election results from The Associated Press, which calls winners and does not make projections. The AP explains why: "If our race callers cannot definitively say a candidate has won, we do not engage in speculation. ... Only when AP is fully confident a race has been won – defined most simply as the moment a trailing candidate no longer has a path to victory – will we make a call." A good example is in 2000: AP did not call the race between George W. Bush and Al Gore because the vote in Florida made it too close to call.
And what if a candidate declares victory before the votes are confirmed? We'll note that it happened but also make it clear that the results are not final, and any claim of victory is premature.
It has been a long road to this election, and we know tensions are high. In our USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll this week, three out of four Americans expressed concern about the prospect of violence on Election Day.
Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page said she'll be watching for conflict at the polls, and already, buildings around the White House in Washington, D.C., are being boarded up.
"It’s no secret that our politics have become more polarized, but the idea that citizens are able to vote in safety and that the nation can count on a peaceful transfer of power is a bedrock," Page said. "Whatever the outcome, an election that goes smoothly will underscore the stability of those fundamentals. Indeed, one that goes smoothly and that has record-breaking turnout would fortify them.
"This year, the election itself seems the most crucial thing of all."
Nicole Carroll is the editor-in-chief of USA TODAY. Reach her at EIC@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter here. Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free experience or electronic newspaper replica here.


usatoday--2020-10-30--New channel offers online video content for women in the LGBTQ community

LOS ANGELES — An online channel devoted to women in the LGBTQ community is launching with shows including a pandemic-set @ @ @ @ @ drama .
The channel debuts Thursday as part of Revry , a digital platform that @ @ @ @ @ , including the 24/7 Revry News channel .
“ I ’ m overjoyed to offer @ @ @ @ @ breathing space for queer female stories to be seen across the world , ” Revry @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
The channel ’ s name is OML on Revry , reflecting its @ @ @ @ @ One More Lesbian when it was founded in 2009 to offer video fare representing lesbian @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s become “ a tentpole brand for the lesbian and queer female @ @ @ @ @ .
OML has expanded its female-driven content and outreach to a larger audience , a @ @ @ @ @ by its partnership with Revry , OML founder Shirin Etessam said in a statement .

New channel offers online video content for women in the LGBTQ community
Show Caption Hide Caption Equality Act: Americans wrongly think LGBTQ people are protected Most Americans think LGBTQ people are protected from discrimination, but many federal protections aren't available to the LGBTQ community. USA TODAY
LOS ANGELES — An online channel devoted to women in the LGBTQ community is launching with shows including a pandemic-set romantic comedy and a paranormal drama.
The channel debuts Thursday as part of Revry, a digital platform that offers free, queer-focused programming, including the 24/7 Revry News channel.
“I’m overjoyed to offer a free, living and breathing space for queer female stories to be seen across the world,” Revry co-founder LaShawn McGhee said in a statement.
The channel’s name is OML on Revry, reflecting its roots in a venture called One More Lesbian when it was founded in 2009 to offer video fare representing lesbian lives.
Now called OML, it’s become “a tentpole brand for the lesbian and queer female communities,” McGhee said.
OML has expanded its female-driven content and outreach to a larger audience, a goal that will be enhanced by its partnership with Revry, OML founder Shirin Etessam said in a statement.


usatoday--2020-10-22--Worried about food allergies this Halloween? Here are some allergy-friendly candies.

Worried about food allergies this Halloween ?
Here are some allergy-friendly candies .
Go for these five Halloween candies to @ @ @ @

Halloween candy: Avoid an allergy scare with these candies
Go for these five Halloween candies to avoid common allergens.
ProblemSolved, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-10-30--Florida early voting site closes because of COVID-19 among election workers

MELBOURNE , Fla. — A Florida early voting site has been closed after election workers tested positive for COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ Supervisor of Elections Lori Scott announced Friday .
The affected site is in Palm Bay @ @ @ @ @ supervisor of elections ' administrative offices , which also is temporarily closed .
In announcing @ @ @ @ @ , Scott said voters `` did not have direct exposure with the affected individuals '' @ @ @ @ @ of safety measures , and the half-inch ballistic glass between affected workers and the voting @ @ @ @ @ Scott said she decided to close the polling site and her administrative offices there `` @ @ @ @ @ , '' after consulting with Florida Department of Health officials .
Citing the `` stringent @ @ @ @ @ since the March presidential preference primary , Scott said : `` It is a tribute @ @ @ @ @ that we have been able to process almost a half a million voters through the @ @ @ @ @ having our first positive case .
”

Florida early voting site closes because of COVID-19 among election workers
Show Caption Hide Caption For early voting, voting locations or registration lookup, we can help Interested in early voting? Voting locations? Find out if you're registered to vote and happenings in your state at vote.usatoday.com USA TODAY
MELBOURNE, Fla. — A Florida early voting site has been closed after election workers tested positive for COVID-19, the state's Brevard County Supervisor of Elections Lori Scott announced Friday.
The affected site is in Palm Bay, Fla. — at the supervisor of elections' administrative offices, which also is temporarily closed.
In announcing the closing of the site, Scott said voters "did not have direct exposure with the affected individuals" because of "the multitude of safety measures, and the half-inch ballistic glass between affected workers and the voting public."
Nevertheless, Scott said she decided to close the polling site and her administrative offices there "in an abundance of caution," after consulting with Florida Department of Health officials.
Citing the "stringent safety protocols" in place since the March presidential preference primary, Scott said: "It is a tribute to our strict safety measures that we have been able to process almost a half a million voters through the election process this year before having our first positive case.”
Voting 2020 live updates: Long lines plague New York; Election Day forecast shows good weather
Follow Dave Berman on Twitter: @bydaveberman


usatoday--2020-10-30--A mad dash for votes and how Americans feel about the election process-States of America

A mad dash for votes and how Americans feel about the election process-States of America Polls reveal whether Americans feel @ @ @ @ @ counted as candidates make a last-minute sprint to get votes .

How Americans feel about the election process - States of America
Polls reveal whether Americans feel their vote is truly being counted as candidates make a last-minute sprint to get votes.
States of America, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-10-30--We mailed (another) 62 packages in swing states. Here's where it went well — and didn't.

Heading into election week , the USA TODAY network ’ s effort to measure mail efficiency showed high rates of on-time delivery in some swing states but continuing signs of problems in others .
Of 62 packages mailed since Oct. 13 , 12 took more than the three-day shipping standard set forth by the post office .
Five took a week or more .
Michigan accounted for eight of the late shipments .
Florida had two .
One in Ohio sent the 19th has yet to arrive .
By contrast , mailings in Pennsylvania , Wisconsin and Nebraska ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days to arrive at their destination .
Eight of the nine Arizona letters arrived with time to spare ; one barely missed the goal at four days .
The recent mailings provided a larger set of data for those four locales than in previous weeks .
The University of Maryland ’ s Howard Center for Investigative Journalism is partnering with USA TODAY on the project .
The findings continue to demonstrate just how long delays can last , making it difficult for voters to ensure that mailed ballots will arrive on time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ delays in earlier weeks of the news organization ’ s mail effort , as well .
Due to the long delays , Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson suggested voters bypass the mail altogether in the final two weeks before the election .
The importance of speedy deliveries was highlighted again this week , when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against an effort to allow Wisconsin ballots to count if they arrive past Election Day Nov. 3 .
Millions of people are likely to vote by mail this year because of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The postal service reported significant delays this summer after cost-cutting measures were implemented by new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy .
DeJoy ordered the dismantling and deactivation of mail sorting machines , barred overtime and required carriers and trucks to start routes at certain times , regardless of whether the mail was ready , resulting in widespread slowdowns .
Many of those efforts were halted by court order .
But a filing in the Washington D.C. District Court showed many postal districts continue to see delays for a large percentage of mailings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 60 % of first-class packages delivered on time .
Detroit had the fourth-worst rate , with 72 % meeting the standard .
The mailings by USA TODAY show just how long those delays can last .
The news organization has tracked short-distance delivery times by sending certified mail , which carries a bar code and a tracking number that allow customers to check online each time and location where postal employees log its status .
The longest recent trip was recorded by a letter sent from suburban Detroit .
On Oct. 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Pontiac .
It finally left the center nine days later , and has yet to arrive at its destination back in Birmingham .
Another long mailing was recorded by a package mailed in Weinland Park , near Ohio State University in Columbus .
An envelope mailed from there Oct. 19th continues to make its way to its destination near a postal facility in the northeastern part of town .
A certified envelope mailed from Bradenton , Florida , on Oct. 22 also has not yet arrived .
Contributing , from the USA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Delfin , Gary White , Dak Le , Wade Tatengelo , Erin Mansfield , Carrie Seidman , Mike Stucka , Mark Wert , Kim Bui , Josh Susong , Craig Harris , Teresa Boeckel , Jessica Boehm , Karina Bland , Michael Squires , Wyatt Buchanan , Carrie Waters , Doug Schneider , Renee Hickman , Patrick Marley , Brian Dickerson , Steven Pepple , Kristen Shamus , Christina Hall , Elissa Robinson , Elisha Anderson , Frank Witsil , Chris Ullery , Kevin Dittman , Laura Schulte , Scott Fisher , Alison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Howard Center : Krishnan Vasudevan and Sean Mussenden .

We mailed (another) 62 packages in swing states. Here's where it went well — and didn't.
Show Caption Hide Caption Elections 2020: Mail-in voting could decide next president Many states are planning on drastically different elections this year and mail-in ballots could be a big game changer. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Heading into election week, the USA TODAY network’s effort to measure mail efficiency showed high rates of on-time delivery in some swing states but continuing signs of problems in others.
Of 62 packages mailed since Oct. 13, 12 took more than the three-day shipping standard set forth by the post office.
Five took a week or more.
Michigan accounted for eight of the late shipments. Florida had two. One in Ohio sent the 19th has yet to arrive.
By contrast, mailings in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Nebraska’s second district took no more than two days to arrive at their destination. Eight of the nine Arizona letters arrived with time to spare; one barely missed the goal at four days. The recent mailings provided a larger set of data for those four locales than in previous weeks.
The University of Maryland’s Howard Center for Investigative Journalism is partnering with USA TODAY on the project.
The findings continue to demonstrate just how long delays can last, making it difficult for voters to ensure that mailed ballots will arrive on time. Michigan, Ohio and Florida all showed delays in earlier weeks of the news organization’s mail effort, as well.
Due to the long delays, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson suggested voters bypass the mail altogether in the final two weeks before the election.
The importance of speedy deliveries was highlighted again this week, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against an effort to allow Wisconsin ballots to count if they arrive past Election Day Nov. 3.
Millions of people are likely to vote by mail this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, and most are registered Democrats.
The postal service reported significant delays this summer after cost-cutting measures were implemented by new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. DeJoy ordered the dismantling and deactivation of mail sorting machines, barred overtime and required carriers and trucks to start routes at certain times, regardless of whether the mail was ready, resulting in widespread slowdowns.
Many of those efforts were halted by court order.
But a filing in the Washington D.C. District Court showed many postal districts continue to see delays for a large percentage of mailings. Philadelphia was the worst, with less than 60% of first-class packages delivered on time. Detroit had the fourth-worst rate, with 72% meeting the standard.
The mailings by USA TODAY show just how long those delays can last.
The news organization has tracked short-distance delivery times by sending certified mail, which carries a bar code and a tracking number that allow customers to check online each time and location where postal employees log its status.
The longest recent trip was recorded by a letter sent from suburban Detroit. On Oct. 13, it arrived at a distribution center in Pontiac. It finally left the center nine days later, and has yet to arrive at its destination back in Birmingham.
Another long mailing was recorded by a package mailed in Weinland Park, near Ohio State University in Columbus. An envelope mailed from there Oct. 19th continues to make its way to its destination near a postal facility in the northeastern part of town.
A certified envelope mailed from Bradenton, Florida, on Oct. 22 also has not yet arrived.
Contributing, from the USA TODAY Network: Nick Penzenstadler, Danielle Delfin, Gary White, Dak Le, Wade Tatengelo, Erin Mansfield, Carrie Seidman, Mike Stucka, Mark Wert, Kim Bui, Josh Susong, Craig Harris, Teresa Boeckel, Jessica Boehm, Karina Bland, Michael Squires, Wyatt Buchanan, Carrie Waters, Doug Schneider, Renee Hickman, Patrick Marley, Brian Dickerson, Steven Pepple, Kristen Shamus, Christina Hall, Elissa Robinson, Elisha Anderson, Frank Witsil, Chris Ullery, Kevin Dittman, Laura Schulte, Scott Fisher, Alison Dirr, Sarah Hauer. From the Howard Center: Krishnan Vasudevan and Sean Mussenden.


usatoday--2020-10-31--Inspire Brands, parent company of Arby's and Sonic, to purchase Dunkin' Brands for $11.3 billion

Dunkin ' Brands is expected to join the Inspire Brands Inc. family .
Private equity group Roark Capital 's Inspire Brands will purchase the parent company of the chain formerly known as Dunkin Donuts and Baskin-Robbins for approximately $ 11.3 billion and would assume the company 's debt , according to a news release late Friday .
News of the potential sale started circulating Sunday .
“ Dunkin ’ and Baskin-Robbins are category leaders with more than 70 years of rich heritage , and together they are two of the most iconic restaurant brands in the world , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inspire Brands , in a statement .
“ By joining Inspire , these brands will add complementary guest experiences and occasions to our current portfolio . ''
McDonald 's McRib is coming back : Barbecue sandwich will be available nationwide for the first time since 2012 The two brands announced Friday that they entered `` into a definitive merger agreement , '' which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of Inspire and Dunkin ’ Brands .
The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2020 .
The Wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the largest restaurant deals in years .
Inspire Brands was formed two years ago by the merger of Arby 's and Buffalo Wild Wings .
That same year the newly formed company bought Sonic , and in 2019 it also added Jimmy John 's Gourmet Sandwiches .
Dunkin ' Brands has more than 12,500 Dunkin ' locations and about 8,000 Baskin-Robbins .
“ We are excited to bring meaningful value to shareholders who have been with us on this journey and believe that Inspire Brands , a preeminent operator of franchised restaurant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for our franchisees while remaining true to all that is unique and special about the Dunkin ’ and Baskin-Robbins brands , '' Dunkin ’ Brands CEO Dave Hoffmann said in a statement .
Earlier this year , Dunkin ' Brands announced plans to close about 450 locations inside Speedway gas stations .

Inspire Brands, parent company of Arby's and Sonic, to purchase Dunkin' Brands for $11.3 billion
Show Caption Hide Caption Pumpkin spice battle: Starbucks or Dunkin'? Pumpkin spice is everywhere this fall. But which coffee chain has the best drinks? USA TODAY
Dunkin' Brands is expected to join the Inspire Brands Inc. family.
Private equity group Roark Capital's Inspire Brands will purchase the parent company of the chain formerly known as Dunkin Donuts and Baskin-Robbins for approximately $11.3 billion and would assume the company's debt, according to a news release late Friday. News of the potential sale started circulating Sunday.
“Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins are category leaders with more than 70 years of rich heritage, and together they are two of the most iconic restaurant brands in the world,” said Paul Brown, co-founder and CEO of Inspire Brands, in a statement. “By joining Inspire, these brands will add complementary guest experiences and occasions to our current portfolio."
McDonald's McRib is coming back: Barbecue sandwich will be available nationwide for the first time since 2012
Black Friday 2020: Target, Best Buy, Walmart and Macy's reveal holiday plans
The two brands announced Friday that they entered "into a definitive merger agreement," which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of Inspire and Dunkin’ Brands. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2020.
The Wall Street Journal reported it's considered one of the largest restaurant deals in years.
Inspire Brands was formed two years ago by the merger of Arby's and Buffalo Wild Wings. That same year the newly formed company bought Sonic, and in 2019 it also added Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches.
Dunkin' Brands has more than 12,500 Dunkin' locations and about 8,000 Baskin-Robbins.
“We are excited to bring meaningful value to shareholders who have been with us on this journey and believe that Inspire Brands, a preeminent operator of franchised restaurant concepts, will continue to drive growth for our franchisees while remaining true to all that is unique and special about the Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins brands," Dunkin’ Brands CEO Dave Hoffmann said in a statement.
Earlier this year, Dunkin' Brands announced plans to close about 450 locations inside Speedway gas stations.
Contributing: Nathan Bomey and Josh Rivera, USA TODAY
Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko


usatoday--2020-10-30--2 charged after van full of explosives found in Philadelphia amid Walter Wallace protests

Two people are facing charges after police in Philadelphia found a van full of illegal explosives amid multiple nights of unrest in the city over the police shooting of a Black man with mental health problems .
Brian Larue and Eric Murray each received several misdemeanor charges and three felony charges , including possession of weapons of mass destruction , conspiracy , and risking a catastrophe .
The pair was transporting quarter or half sticks of dynamite , a handheld propane tank torch , a taser and various tools including electric drills , bolt cutters and machetes , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These individuals who have been charged today tried to use a message of justice to provide cover for their own gain , ” Shapiro said in a statement Thursday .
“ This is an incredibly challenging time for communities in Philadelphia , across Southeast Pennsylvania , and around the country .
We will not allow criminals to hijack , and take advantage of , lawful protests as an opportunity to sow chaos.
” Walter Wallace Jr. protests : Police union used photo of Black toddler in Philadelphia unrest as 'propaganda , ' lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wallace had a mental illness , his family says Police were responding to a commercial burglary alarm when officers spotted a `` convoy '' of 10-15 vehicles that fled when authorities arrived .
Officers followed the group and eventually pulled over the van driven by Larue which initially had its license plate covered by tape .
Bomb technicians identified the materials in the van , which officials say are commonly used to dismantle and steal money from ATMs , and officers arrested Larue and Murray .
Shapiro said there have been at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last four days .
The arrests come amid multiple days of unrest over the police shooting of Walter Wallace , Jr. Wallace , a 27-year-old aspiring rapper and father of nine , was shot Monday as officers responded to a report of a person with a weapon , police spokesperson Tanya Little said .
Officers ordered Wallace to drop the knife , but he instead “ advanced towards ” them .
Both officers then fired “ several times , ” Little said .
Video of the shooting was taken by a bystander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests in Philadelphia , the Brooklyn borough of New York City and Portland .
Body camera footage from the incident and 911 audio files will be released by the end of next week , according to a joint statement from the offices of Mayor Jim Kenney , Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw and District Attorney Larry Krasner .
Wallace 's family reviewed the body camera footage and is not calling for the officers who fatally shot him to be charged with murder , family attorney Shaka Johnson told reporters on Thursday .
`` Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and did not have the proper equipment by which to effectuate their job , '' Johnson said at a press conference .

2 charged after van full of explosives found in Philadelphia amid Walter Wallace protests
Show Caption Hide Caption Watch: Walter Wallace Jr. protest moves through West Philly night after police killing Hundreds gathered in West Philadelphia Tuesday night to protest in the wake of the police killing of Walter Wallace Jr. Monday night. Delaware News Journal
Two people are facing charges after police in Philadelphia found a van full of illegal explosives amid multiple nights of unrest in the city over the police shooting of a Black man with mental health problems.
Brian Larue and Eric Murray each received several misdemeanor charges and three felony charges, including possession of weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy, and risking a catastrophe. The pair was transporting quarter or half sticks of dynamite, a handheld propane tank torch, a taser and various tools including electric drills, bolt cutters and machetes, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
“These individuals who have been charged today tried to use a message of justice to provide cover for their own gain,” Shapiro said in a statement Thursday. “This is an incredibly challenging time for communities in Philadelphia, across Southeast Pennsylvania, and around the country. We will not allow criminals to hijack, and take advantage of, lawful protests as an opportunity to sow chaos.”
Walter Wallace Jr. protests: Police union used photo of Black toddler in Philadelphia unrest as 'propaganda,' lawyers say
Why did police respond? Walter Wallace had a mental illness, his family says
Police were responding to a commercial burglary alarm when officers spotted a "convoy" of 10-15 vehicles that fled when authorities arrived. Officers followed the group and eventually pulled over the van driven by Larue which initially had its license plate covered by tape.
Bomb technicians identified the materials in the van, which officials say are commonly used to dismantle and steal money from ATMs, and officers arrested Larue and Murray. Shapiro said there have been at least 30 ATM bombings in the city in the last four days.
The arrests come amid multiple days of unrest over the police shooting of Walter Wallace, Jr.
Wallace, a 27-year-old aspiring rapper and father of nine, was shot Monday as officers responded to a report of a person with a weapon, police spokesperson Tanya Little said. Officers ordered Wallace to drop the knife, but he instead “advanced towards” them. Both officers then fired “several times,” Little said.
Video of the shooting was taken by a bystander and shared on social media which sparked protests in Philadelphia, the Brooklyn borough of New York City and Portland.
Body camera footage from the incident and 911 audio files will be released by the end of next week, according to a joint statement from the offices of Mayor Jim Kenney, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw and District Attorney Larry Krasner.
Wallace's family reviewed the body camera footage and is not calling for the officers who fatally shot him to be charged with murder, family attorney Shaka Johnson told reporters on Thursday.
"Here's why, they were improperly trained and did not have the proper equipment by which to effectuate their job," Johnson said at a press conference.
Follow N'dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg


usatoday--2020-10-30--QAnon crackdown: Facebook restricts Save the Children hashtag ahead of Election Day

Just days before Election Day , Facebook is restricting the Save the Children hashtag which the extremist movement QAnon hijacked to push falsehoods about the exploitation of children by Democrats including presidential nominee Joe Biden .
“ Earlier this week , we stepped up how we enforce our rules against QAnon on pages , events , and groups .
Starting today , we ’ re limiting the distribution of the ‘ save our children ’ hashtag given we 've found that content tied to it is now associated with QAnon , ” Facebook said in a statement .
Users searching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credible child safety resources , ” Facebook said .
QAnon and pedophilia : Facebook cracks down QAnon for hijacking Save the Children movement Save the Children ?
: QAnon fabricates pedophile claims against Joe Biden as election looms The move is part of a widening QAnon crackdown on Facebook .
Facebook users searching for that hashtag and related hashtags already were being directed to credible child safety resources , the company said in a blog post .
QAnon content has also been `` down-ranked , '' meaning it 's far less visible on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ QAnon 's spread on social media ?
It latched onto legitimate efforts to fight child abuse to expose unsuspecting Americans to its ideology .
Followers believe that Trump is a messianic figure battling a “ deep state ” of devil-worshipping , child-molesting Democrats .
Observers say the 2016 presidential election spurred the rise of conspiracy theories once confined to the fringes .
With influential figures using their social media megaphones to amplify them , incendiary falsehoods that Biden and other Democrats are pedophiles are circulating in the mainstream before the November election in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential politicking .
QAnon exploits fears about the vulnerability of children to push such allegations into everyday people ’ s social media feeds , Michael Jensen , a senior researcher at the University of Maryland who leads a team that researches domestic radicalization , told USA TODAY .
“ Stories of child victimization are effective at mobilizing people to support a movement , even if it is based on conspiratorial views , '' Jensen said .
Some social media users who ’ ve been exposed to QAnon posts about saving the children have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country to call for an end to child exploitation .
`` We are seeing this now with QAnon ’ s use of the ‘ Save the Children ’ slogan , which has generated support from more mainstream individuals who do not necessarily subscribe to all aspects of the conspiracy , ” Jensen said .
# SaveTheChildren began as a fundraising campaign for the Save the Children charity before it was hijacked by QAnon .

QAnon crackdown: Facebook restricts Save the Children hashtag ahead of Election Day
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump on QAnon conspiracy theory: 'They like me very much' QAnon has been classified by the FBI as a domestic terror threat, according to an internal memo first published by Yahoo! News. USA TODAY
Just days before Election Day, Facebook is restricting the Save the Children hashtag which the extremist movement QAnon hijacked to push falsehoods about the exploitation of children by Democrats including presidential nominee Joe Biden.
“Earlier this week, we stepped up how we enforce our rules against QAnon on pages, events, and groups. Starting today, we’re limiting the distribution of the ‘save our children’ hashtag given we've found that content tied to it is now associated with QAnon,” Facebook said in a statement.
Users searching for that hashtag will now see “credible child safety resources,” Facebook said.
QAnon and pedophilia: Facebook cracks down QAnon for hijacking Save the Children movement
Save the Children?: QAnon fabricates pedophile claims against Joe Biden as election looms
The move is part of a widening QAnon crackdown on Facebook. Facebook users searching for that hashtag and related hashtags already were being directed to credible child safety resources, the company said in a blog post. QAnon content has also been "down-ranked," meaning it's far less visible on Facebook's platforms.
The force accelerating QAnon's spread on social media? It latched onto legitimate efforts to fight child abuse to expose unsuspecting Americans to its ideology. Followers believe that Trump is a messianic figure battling a “deep state” of devil-worshipping, child-molesting Democrats.
Observers say the 2016 presidential election spurred the rise of conspiracy theories once confined to the fringes. With influential figures using their social media megaphones to amplify them, incendiary falsehoods that Biden and other Democrats are pedophiles are circulating in the mainstream before the November election in an alarming break from the norms of presidential politicking.
QAnon exploits fears about the vulnerability of children to push such allegations into everyday people’s social media feeds, Michael Jensen, a senior researcher at the University of Maryland who leads a team that researches domestic radicalization, told USA TODAY.
“Stories of child victimization are effective at mobilizing people to support a movement, even if it is based on conspiratorial views," Jensen said.
Some social media users who’ve been exposed to QAnon posts about saving the children have turned out to rallies in cities across the country to call for an end to child exploitation.
"We are seeing this now with QAnon’s use of the ‘Save the Children’ slogan, which has generated support from more mainstream individuals who do not necessarily subscribe to all aspects of the conspiracy,” Jensen said.
#SaveTheChildren began as a fundraising campaign for the Save the Children charity before it was hijacked by QAnon.


usatoday--2020-10-30--Florida failed to spend $10 million for election security, COVID-19 protection at polls

TALLAHASSEE – With days to go , Florida has failed to spend more than $ 10 million designated for election security , COVID-19 protection at the polls and a surge in mailed ballots .
A large piece of that pie is $ 3.5 million that Secretary of State Laurel Lee requested from the Legislature earlier this year for the state ’ s 67 county supervisors of elections to shore up their systems .
The counties did n't ask for that money .
And it remains unspent , sitting in a state account as `` unbudgeted reserve . ''
Another chunk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 6 million in CARES Act funds that 19 counties decided not to take advantage of , which could be used to make polling places safer for voters and hire extra people to count mail-in ballots .
As the state 's top election official , Lee insists Florida is ready .
“ Florida is very well situated to proceed to our November election , '' Lee said .
Lee said the same thing about making sure the online voter registration system could handle the onslaught of new applicants .
But it crashed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apply to vote , forcing Lee to extend the deadline and sparking a legal challenge to extend it further .
More : On day of deadline , Florida voter registration site crashes , is down for hours How much the state spent to expand the load capacity for the online voting system remains a mystery as officials have not responded to repeated requests for that information .
`` I 'm incredibly frustrated to hear that those dollars are not being spent this close to the election , '' said state Rep. Anna Eskamani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially when you request the money and it 's not even being used in one of the biggest swing states . ''
Any extra money should be spent on election security to ensure that voters trust the system and that Florida has a quick , accurate delivery of the results to dispel any doubts the president or others may have about the outcome , Eskamani said .
`` We need to make sure those results are clear cut , '' said Eskamani , who has been monitoring activities at the polls during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participating in campaign events for former Vice President Joe Biden .
Brad Ashwell , Florida director for the voter rights advocacy group All Voting is Local , was stunned to hear that election security money was available for county supervisors but not used .
“ One thing is for sure , they can ’ t use not having resources as an excuse , ” he said .
An analysis of publicly available budget records at the state-run Transparency Florida website maintained by the Department of Financial Services found Florida spent a little over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million approved for the Division of Elections ' 2020-21 budget that began July 1 .
But “ just because the state hasn ’ t spent all the money doesn ’ t mean they don ’ t have everything in place to have a safe and secure election , ” said Juan Gilbert , an expert in elections technology and chair of the Computer & Information Science & Engineering Department at the University of Florida .
He speculated that some of that money is being held back for post-election problems that might come up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ malfunctions .
“ I suspect a great deal of funding will be needed after everyone votes to affirm the results , '' Gilbert said in an email .
`` There will likely be challenges to the results , so doing audits and cybersecurity/forensics post-votes will cost.
” Mark Ard , spokesman for the Secretary of State , confirmed that some of the money is being saved for future years .
But much is riding on Florida right now — the nation 's largest swing state and a sordid history of hacking , recounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be wrong ' : Officials manage voter expectations for election night • 'Poked and prodded ' : How the Russians nearly hacked the 2016 Florida election Lee has made that clear in public service announcements and on Twitter .
She also acknowledged Florida ’ s importance this year and the difficulty of running elections in a brief filed by her lawyers in a recent Florida Supreme Court case seeking to prevent the Secretary of State from counting votes on Amendment 3 , the open primaries constitutional amendment .
“ This is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida ’ s elections officials must ensure election integrity throughout the nation ’ s most significant swing state , '' Lee said .
`` In the best of times , it is difficult enough to manage over 14 million registered voters who are spread across two time zones and over 6,000 separate voting precincts .
This year , however , the COVID-19 pandemic adds a layer of complexity that is aggravated by misinformation concerning the election.
” But when it came time to ask the Legislature for money to shore up voting systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 % of the $ 21.5 million Congress gave Florida from the Help America Vote Act .
The Help America Vote Act , or HAVA , was created in Congress in 2002 , after the presidential election fiasco of 2000 , to make sweeping reforms to voter regulations and provide financial assistance to help state and local elections officials modernize their election systems .
When asked in September during a one-on-one interview with a USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida reporter why she did n't request the full amount for this election cycle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties would be able to spend it fast enough .
Turns out , the counties did n't even request that money .
The HAVA aid was approved through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 signed by President Donald Trump on Dec. 20 , 2019 .
State elections officials had originally planned to spend $ 6.7 million of that new HAVA money during the last few months of the 2019-20 budget cycle that ended June 30 .
At that time , a one-sheet produced by the Division of Elections outlined a preliminary spending plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1.975 million to create an online grant program for the county supervisors to use to improve their voting systems .
• $ 800,000 to create a separate grant program for the supervisors to spend on voter access to make it easier to locate and get to polling places and to make poll books more available and voting systems more convenient .
• $ 3 million `` to bolster internal Department of State infrastructure and implement security enhancements to the Florida Voter Registration System .
But over $ 3 million of it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ron DeSantis ordered all departments to cut their budgets after revenues fell sharply due to the economic disruption caused by the pandemic .
The Florida Legislature in March approved spending $ 4.5 million of the new HAVA money in the 2020-21 budget cycle that began July 1 .
That amount included the $ 3.5 million in HAVA funds for election security for the counties and $ 1 million to address any vulnerabilities in the state 's election infrastructure .
“ These funds were requested as part of the Department ’ s overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Ard , the spokesman for the Secretary of State .
He said those funds were also supposed to help pay for the Albert network monitoring system , created by the Center for Internet Security for detecting hacking and phishing attempts , and other election security-related expenses .
The balance of the $ 21.5 million HAVA grant — nearly $ 12 million — has been earmarked to be used over the next several years to bolster election security , he said .
“ Not all priorities in our strategic plan are pre-election spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the form of an upfront spend — or advance payment — or a reimbursement requested by a Supervisor of Elections , ” Ard said .
Ard also said the division made $ 2.4 million available to supervisors in preparation for the upcoming election .
But a search of online records could n't confirm that allocation in the present budget cycle .
The state also received $ 20.2 million in CARES Act money from Congress to help counties make polling places safe for voters in the pandemic and to accommodate the large increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to apply for Florida ’ s share , prompting a bipartisan letter from the Florida congressional delegation urging him to request the funds .
The letter also highlighted the concerns of county elections supervisors over the significant challenges they faced during the March presidential preference primary due to COVID-19 .
More : Federal COVID-19 funds for Florida election supervisors delayed over a month , expected this week Supervisors also shared their concern about increased administrative costs to ensure voter and poll worker safety , the letter said .
Releasing the CARES money to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without explanation , until weeks before the August primary .
The delay forced several supervisors to spend money earmarked for other expenses so they could buy COVID-19 supplies and prepare polling places according to social distancing guidelines .
Counties that did n't get to apply for the money up front could submit reimbursement requests .
Forty-eight counties applied for the grants and received a total of $ 14.3 million , according to the Department of State .
But 19 counties did not avail themselves of the federal grant money , leaving $ 5.9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include Charlotte , Duval , Palm Beach and Volusia .
Counties that have n't submitted requests yet can apply for reimbursement after the election , Ard said .
One of the crucial areas where the state needed to invest was in its online voter registration system , which has crashed at least five times since it went live in 2017 , including on the Oct. 5 deadline for registering to vote .
Yet only $ 775,000 of the $ 2.2 million budgeted for the statewide system was spent , according to the Transparency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears to be used for expanding the load capacity to deal with the surge in voters applying online .
Ard said that amount reflects how much has been spent to date , calling it `` an annual appropriation for the maintenance and operations of the Florida Voter Registration System . ''
During the interview last month , Lee said information technology workers were “ working very hard to increase load capacity '' and add additional servers to the online voter registration system to handle the anticipated surge of new applicants given the system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loads in the past .
The online records do n't specify if that money was spent to buy servers and other equipment to `` expand the load capacity . ''
Questions sent to the state were not answered .
Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles , whose voters inhabit the famed I-4 corridor many pundits say is the road to the White House , said it was `` disheartening that the system could n't handle the capacity . ''
Much of the Division of Election 's $ 37 million budget is tapped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and benefits , other personnel services , data processing and capital outlay , officials explained .
But USA TODAY Network - Florida identified about $ 14 million in unspent state and federal funds that could have been used on election security , the voter registration system , COVID-19 and guarding against election fraud .
In addition to the unspent HAVA and CARES Act money , these other categories show unspent funds : • A grant of $ 553,000 from the Center for Election and Innovation & Research for COVID-19 voter education that remained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerous media outlets , including print media and radio , to place voter education and awareness ads related to voting options and public health measures that will be observed during voting , '' Ard said .
`` These ads are currently running and will pay invoices as each deliverable is met . ''
• About $ 278,000 of the $ 525,000 appropriated for voting system assistance remains unspent .
`` This funding category is used to support Supervisors of Elections for replacement of outdated voting systems , '' Ard said .
• Only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set aside to advertise proposed constitutional amendments was spent .
Ard said the department is still paying off the remainder of advertisement costs to newspapers and other media across the state and the publication of constitutional amendment booklets .
• Only 10 % of the $ 446,000 set aside to prevent election fraud was used .
That 's an annual appropriation , Ard said , and the amount only reflects spending in the first quarter .
• About $ 705,000 of the $ 1.5 million for special elections has been spent to date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ashwell said .
“ There are a ton of things supervisors could spend that money on . ''
They could buy more protective gear , hand sanitizers , masks and more drop boxes , he said , as well as hire more people to help count the additional mail-in ballots .
When the first state economic report showed a huge drop in tax revenue due to the pandemic , Democratic legislators wanted to hold a special session to discuss best ways to handle the downturn .
Among the top items on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough on the upcoming election , Eskamani said .
Because of COVID-19 , polling places are at 50 % of their building capacity to ensure social distancing , and that creates delays , Eskamani said .
`` We could have spent the extra dollars to add more early voting sites , '' Eskamani said .
`` This should n't be happening under any circumstances . ''
County election officials nationwide are beholden to state officials because those federal dollars go through the state , said Larry Norden , director of the election reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a nonpartisan law and policy institute at New York University School of Law .
“ County officials around the country are frustrated with states blocking the money they need , ” Norden said .
Norden said those unused funds could help pay for lots of things to help people feel more secure when they go to the polls and more reassured that their vote will be recorded .
But the state also may have other uses in mind for those unspent funds .
“ It may be there are things they want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term investments where it would not make sense to spend all that money at once or in a presidential year , ” he said , giving as examples a major upgrade to the voter registration system or long-term election security hires .
“ The devil is in the details , but it ’ s not crazy to want to invest in security over the long-haul , ” Norden said .
“ The problem isn ’ t static , and it doesn ’ t go away after November.
” Mark Earley , supervisor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Florida Supervisors of Elections association , said he believes the state has been very helpful in providing resources to the local officials .
The counties received their first big round of election security money from Congress in 2018 — $ 14.6 million out of $ 19 million in HAVA funds .
They had to sign confidentiality agreements to get the assistance , but the state , along with the Department of Homeland Security , helped identify deficiencies in their security and recommended what equipment to buy .
More : Will your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election security makes it nearly impossible to know More : After Florida was hacked in 2016 election , state got millions for election security .
Here 's how it was spent And in 2019 , DeSantis returned $ 2.3 million of the unspent portion of that federal grant to the counties that had n't spent all their share , and the Legislature kicked in an additional $ 2.8 million .
Lee also received $ 1.3 million to create a cybersecurity division in the Department of State and another $ 1 million to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up .
She also created the Joint Election Security Initiative with all 67 counties , conducted tabletop exercises with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI , and audited all 67 county election departments for vulnerabilities .
Lee also started a team of 10 IT experts , called cyber navigators , and hired nine additional IT people to assist smaller counties that had limited resources to shore up their defense systems against hackers .
Under the direction of DeSantis , the state also joined the Electronic Registration Information Center created by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by comparing data with other states .
And she got all 67 counties hooked up to Albert .
The state is in a daily battle to instill voter confidence in the system , which is not only under physical attack from hackers but under a constant barrage of misinformation , Lee said .
`` There is unprecedented cooperation between the state and local officials , '' she said .
`` If we succeed , it will be a success story of a magnitude not seen in state government . ''
When it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cowles , Orange County 's supervisor of elections , said , `` I think all the supervisors are confident in the security , that we are positioning ourselves to have a good election . ''
Contact Jeff Schweers at jschweers @ gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ jeffschweers .
Subscribe today using the link at the top of the page and never miss a story .

Florida failed to spend $10 million for election security, COVID-19 protection at polls
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump's claims of mail-in voter fraud disputed Voters in five US states go to the polls Tuesday as election security experts say there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud through mail-in voting. (August 4) AP
TALLAHASSEE – With days to go, Florida has failed to spend more than $10 million designated for election security, COVID-19 protection at the polls and a surge in mailed ballots.
A large piece of that pie is $3.5 million that Secretary of State Laurel Lee requested from the Legislature earlier this year for the state’s 67 county supervisors of elections to shore up their systems.
The counties didn't ask for that money. And it remains unspent, sitting in a state account as "unbudgeted reserve."
Another chunk of pie left on the plate is $6 million in CARES Act funds that 19 counties decided not to take advantage of, which could be used to make polling places safer for voters and hire extra people to count mail-in ballots.
As the state's top election official, Lee insists Florida is ready.
“Florida is very well situated to proceed to our November election," Lee said.
Lee said the same thing about making sure the online voter registration system could handle the onslaught of new applicants. But it crashed on the last day people were allowed to apply to vote, forcing Lee to extend the deadline and sparking a legal challenge to extend it further.
More: On day of deadline, Florida voter registration site crashes, is down for hours
More: Federal judge won't extend voter registration in Florida, criticizes state over failures
How much the state spent to expand the load capacity for the online voting system remains a mystery as officials have not responded to repeated requests for that information.
"I'm incredibly frustrated to hear that those dollars are not being spent this close to the election," said state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando. "It's wild, especially when you request the money and it's not even being used in one of the biggest swing states."
Any extra money should be spent on election security to ensure that voters trust the system and that Florida has a quick, accurate delivery of the results to dispel any doubts the president or others may have about the outcome, Eskamani said.
"We need to make sure those results are clear cut," said Eskamani, who has been monitoring activities at the polls during early voting, recruiting poll workers and participating in campaign events for former Vice President Joe Biden.
Brad Ashwell, Florida director for the voter rights advocacy group All Voting is Local, was stunned to hear that election security money was available for county supervisors but not used.
“One thing is for sure, they can’t use not having resources as an excuse,” he said.
Election protection
An analysis of publicly available budget records at the state-run Transparency Florida website maintained by the Department of Financial Services found Florida spent a little over $17 million of the $37 million approved for the Division of Elections' 2020-21 budget that began July 1.
But “just because the state hasn’t spent all the money doesn’t mean they don’t have everything in place to have a safe and secure election,” said Juan Gilbert, an expert in elections technology and chair of the Computer & Information Science & Engineering Department at the University of Florida.
He speculated that some of that money is being held back for post-election problems that might come up, including investigations, audits and technical malfunctions.
“I suspect a great deal of funding will be needed after everyone votes to affirm the results," Gilbert said in an email. "There will likely be challenges to the results, so doing audits and cybersecurity/forensics post-votes will cost.”
Mark Ard, spokesman for the Secretary of State, confirmed that some of the money is being saved for future years.
But much is riding on Florida right now — the nation's largest swing state and a sordid history of hacking, recounts and legal disputes.
Backstory:
Lee has made that clear in public service announcements and on Twitter.
Election security is an essential priority for Florida’s state leadership. We’ve invested millions in safeguarding against cybersecurity attacks, working closely with U.S. cybersecurity experts and local Supervisors of Elections. — Laurel M. Lee (@FLSecofState) October 12, 2020
She also acknowledged Florida’s importance this year and the difficulty of running elections in a brief filed by her lawyers in a recent Florida Supreme Court case seeking to prevent the Secretary of State from counting votes on Amendment 3, the open primaries constitutional amendment.
“This is not a typical General Election, during which Florida’s elections officials must ensure election integrity throughout the nation’s most significant swing state," Lee said. "In the best of times, it is difficult enough to manage over 14 million registered voters who are spread across two time zones and over 6,000 separate voting precincts. This year, however, the COVID-19 pandemic adds a layer of complexity that is aggravated by misinformation concerning the election.”
But when it came time to ask the Legislature for money to shore up voting systems against cyber hackers, Lee requested only 16% of the $21.5 million Congress gave Florida from the Help America Vote Act.
The Help America Vote Act, or HAVA, was created in Congress in 2002, after the presidential election fiasco of 2000, to make sweeping reforms to voter regulations and provide financial assistance to help state and local elections officials modernize their election systems.
When asked in September during a one-on-one interview with a USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida reporter why she didn't request the full amount for this election cycle, Lee said she didn't think the counties would be able to spend it fast enough.
Turns out, the counties didn't even request that money.
The HAVA aid was approved through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 signed by President Donald Trump on Dec. 20, 2019.
State elections officials had originally planned to spend $6.7 million of that new HAVA money during the last few months of the 2019-20 budget cycle that ended June 30. At that time, a one-sheet produced by the Division of Elections outlined a preliminary spending plan for the funds that included:
$1.975 million to create an online grant program for the county supervisors to use to improve their voting systems.
$800,000 to create a separate grant program for the supervisors to spend on voter access to make it easier to locate and get to polling places and to make poll books more available and voting systems more convenient.
$3 million "to bolster internal Department of State infrastructure and implement security enhancements to the Florida Voter Registration System.
$750,000 for a voter education campaign.
But over $3 million of it was swept back into the bank when Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered all departments to cut their budgets after revenues fell sharply due to the economic disruption caused by the pandemic.
The Florida Legislature in March approved spending $4.5 million of the new HAVA money in the 2020-21 budget cycle that began July 1. That amount included the $3.5 million in HAVA funds for election security for the counties and $1 million to address any vulnerabilities in the state's election infrastructure.
“These funds were requested as part of the Department’s overall strategic plan for elections security,” said Ard, the spokesman for the Secretary of State.
He said those funds were also supposed to help pay for the Albert network monitoring system, created by the Center for Internet Security for detecting hacking and phishing attempts, and other election security-related expenses.
The balance of the $21.5 million HAVA grant — nearly $12 million — has been earmarked to be used over the next several years to bolster election security, he said.
“Not all priorities in our strategic plan are pre-election spending, and these funds may be in the form of an upfront spend — or advance payment — or a reimbursement requested by a Supervisor of Elections,” Ard said.
Ard also said the division made $2.4 million available to supervisors in preparation for the upcoming election. But a search of online records couldn't confirm that allocation in the present budget cycle.
COVID-19 protection
The state also received $20.2 million in CARES Act money from Congress to help counties make polling places safe for voters in the pandemic and to accommodate the large increase in mailed-in ballots.
DeSantis waited two months to apply for Florida’s share, prompting a bipartisan letter from the Florida congressional delegation urging him to request the funds. The letter also highlighted the concerns of county elections supervisors over the significant challenges they faced during the March presidential preference primary due to COVID-19.
More: Federal COVID-19 funds for Florida election supervisors delayed over a month, expected this week
Supervisors also shared their concern about increased administrative costs to ensure voter and poll worker safety, the letter said.
Releasing the CARES money to the county supervisors was further delayed, without explanation, until weeks before the August primary.
The delay forced several supervisors to spend money earmarked for other expenses so they could buy COVID-19 supplies and prepare polling places according to social distancing guidelines.
Counties that didn't get to apply for the money up front could submit reimbursement requests.
Forty-eight counties applied for the grants and received a total of $14.3 million, according to the Department of State. But 19 counties did not avail themselves of the federal grant money, leaving $5.9 million on the table. Those counties include Charlotte, Duval, Palm Beach and Volusia.
Counties that haven't submitted requests yet can apply for reimbursement after the election, Ard said.
Voter registration system
One of the crucial areas where the state needed to invest was in its online voter registration system, which has crashed at least five times since it went live in 2017, including on the Oct. 5 deadline for registering to vote.
Yet only $775,000 of the $2.2 million budgeted for the statewide system was spent, according to the Transparency Florida website. And none of it appears to be used for expanding the load capacity to deal with the surge in voters applying online.
Ard said that amount reflects how much has been spent to date, calling it "an annual appropriation for the maintenance and operations of the Florida Voter Registration System."
During the interview last month, Lee said information technology workers were “working very hard to increase load capacity" and add additional servers to the online voter registration system to handle the anticipated surge of new applicants given the system’s propensity for crashing during peak loads in the past.
The online records don't specify if that money was spent to buy servers and other equipment to "expand the load capacity." Questions sent to the state were not answered.
Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles, whose voters inhabit the famed I-4 corridor many pundits say is the road to the White House, said it was "disheartening that the system couldn't handle the capacity."
More unspent funds
Much of the Division of Election's $37 million budget is tapped for annual expenses, such as salaries and benefits, other personnel services, data processing and capital outlay, officials explained.
But USA TODAY Network - Florida identified about $14 million in unspent state and federal funds that could have been used on election security, the voter registration system, COVID-19 and guarding against election fraud.
In addition to the unspent HAVA and CARES Act money, these other categories show unspent funds:
A grant of $553,000 from the Center for Election and Innovation & Research for COVID-19 voter education that remained untouched. "We have contracted with numerous media outlets, including print media and radio, to place voter education and awareness ads related to voting options and public health measures that will be observed during voting," Ard said. "These ads are currently running and will pay invoices as each deliverable is met."
About $278,000 of the $525,000 appropriated for voting system assistance remains unspent. "This funding category is used to support Supervisors of Elections for replacement of outdated voting systems," Ard said.
Only $163,000 of the $1.28 million set aside to advertise proposed constitutional amendments was spent. Ard said the department is still paying off the remainder of advertisement costs to newspapers and other media across the state and the publication of constitutional amendment booklets.
Only 10% of the $446,000 set aside to prevent election fraud was used. That's an annual appropriation, Ard said, and the amount only reflects spending in the first quarter.
About $705,000 of the $1.5 million for special elections has been spent to date.
"It’s infuriating,” Ashwell said. “There are a ton of things supervisors could spend that money on."
They could buy more protective gear, hand sanitizers, masks and more drop boxes, he said, as well as hire more people to help count the additional mail-in ballots.
When the first state economic report showed a huge drop in tax revenue due to the pandemic, Democratic legislators wanted to hold a special session to discuss best ways to handle the downturn. Among the top items on their agenda was whether the state was spending enough on the upcoming election, Eskamani said.
That session never happened.
Because of COVID-19, polling places are at 50% of their building capacity to ensure social distancing, and that creates delays, Eskamani said.
"We could have spent the extra dollars to add more early voting sites," Eskamani said. "This shouldn't be happening under any circumstances."
County election officials nationwide are beholden to state officials because those federal dollars go through the state, said Larry Norden, director of the election reform program at the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy institute at New York University School of Law.
“County officials around the country are frustrated with states blocking the money they need,” Norden said.
Norden said those unused funds could help pay for lots of things to help people feel more secure when they go to the polls and more reassured that their vote will be recorded.
But the state also may have other uses in mind for those unspent funds.
“It may be there are things they want to do that are very expensive or long-term investments where it would not make sense to spend all that money at once or in a presidential year,” he said, giving as examples a major upgrade to the voter registration system or long-term election security hires.
“The devil is in the details, but it’s not crazy to want to invest in security over the long-haul,” Norden said. “The problem isn’t static, and it doesn’t go away after November.”
Voter confidence
Mark Earley, supervisor of elections for Leon County and vice president of the Florida Supervisors of Elections association, said he believes the state has been very helpful in providing resources to the local officials.
The counties received their first big round of election security money from Congress in 2018 — $14.6 million out of $19 million in HAVA funds. They had to sign confidentiality agreements to get the assistance, but the state, along with the Department of Homeland Security, helped identify deficiencies in their security and recommended what equipment to buy.
More: Will your vote count? Florida's secrecy about election security makes it nearly impossible to know
More: After Florida was hacked in 2016 election, state got millions for election security. Here's how it was spent
And in 2019, DeSantis returned $2.3 million of the unspent portion of that federal grant to the counties that hadn't spent all their share, and the Legislature kicked in an additional $2.8 million.
Lee also received $1.3 million to create a cybersecurity division in the Department of State and another $1 million to help the counties address issues as they cropped up.
She also created the Joint Election Security Initiative with all 67 counties, conducted tabletop exercises with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, and audited all 67 county election departments for vulnerabilities.
Lee also started a team of 10 IT experts, called cyber navigators, and hired nine additional IT people to assist smaller counties that had limited resources to shore up their defense systems against hackers.
Under the direction of DeSantis, the state also joined the Electronic Registration Information Center created by the Pew Centers to help identify out-of-date records by comparing data with other states. And she got all 67 counties hooked up to Albert.
The state is in a daily battle to instill voter confidence in the system, which is not only under physical attack from hackers but under a constant barrage of misinformation, Lee said.
"There is unprecedented cooperation between the state and local officials," she said. "If we succeed, it will be a success story of a magnitude not seen in state government."
When it comes to the security of the election, Cowles, Orange County's supervisor of elections, said, "I think all the supervisors are confident in the security, that we are positioning ourselves to have a good election."
Contact Jeff Schweers at jschweers@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @jeffschweers.
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