usatoday--2020-10-24--Trump's campaign made stops nationwide. Coronavirus cases surged in his wake in at least five places

Trump's campaign made stops nationwide. Coronavirus cases surged in his wake in at least five places.

Correction : A previous version of this story provided cumulative coronavirus case numbers for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point .
It has been updated to reflect only the numbers in the two weeks after President Donald Trump 's rally .
As President Donald Trump jetted across the country holding campaign rallies during the past two months , he didn ’ t just defy state orders and federal health guidelines .
He left a trail of coronavirus outbreaks in his wake .
The president has participated in nearly three dozen rallies since mid-August , all but two at airport hangars .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ grew at a faster rate than before after at least five of those rallies in the following counties : Blue Earth , Minnesota ; Lackawanna , Pennsylvania ; Marathon , Wisconsin ; Dauphin , Pennsylvania ; and Beltrami , Minnesota .
Together , those counties saw 1,500 more new cases in the two weeks following Trump ’ s rallies than the two weeks before – 9,647 cases , up from 8,069 .
Public health officials additionally have linked 16 cases , including two hospitalizations , with the rally in Beltrami County , Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Marathon County , Wisconsin .
Outside of the counties identified by USA TODAY with a greater case increase after rallies , officials identified four cases linked to Trump rallies .
Although there ’ s no way to determine definitively if cases originated at Trump ’ s rallies , public health experts say the gatherings fly in the face of all recommendations to curb the spread of the coronavirus .
USA TODAY reviewed coronavirus case counts in the counties where Trump attended rallies starting from mid-August through mid-October .
The news organization examined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the two weeks before and after campaign events .
For rallies occurring within the past two weeks , not enough time has passed to draw conclusions .
The earliest post-rally spikes occurred even as the nation ’ s overall case counts were in decline from a peak in mid-July .
When U.S. cases started climbing in mid-September , Trump did not alter his campaign schedule but continued holding an average of four rallies a week .
He stopped first in Minnesota , where Blue Earth County ’ s coronavirus growth rate was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but grew to 25 % afterward .
Three days later , he was in Lackawanna County , Pennsylvania , where the coronavirus growth rate jumped from less than 3 % before his visit to more than 7 % afterward .
Even in states where cases were already rising , the spikes in at least four counties that hosted Trump rallies far surpassed their state ’ s overall growth rates .
In two counties , it was more than double : Marathon County ’ s case count surged by 67 % after Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s overall growth rate of 29 % during the same time .
In Beltrami County , Minnesota , it swelled by 35 % compared to the state ’ s 14 % .
The newspaper ’ s analysis did not include surrounding counties , nor could it account for cases where the people attending the rally had traveled from outside the area , including other states .
Indeed , most rallies draw crowds from large geographic areas , with some people driving or flying hundreds of miles to attend .
Health experts say it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the direct source of infection or community spread without an intensive outbreak investigation .
The contact tracing done by most health departments following new cases can show only that someone who later developed COVID-19 was at the event – but not that the event caused it .
They also said that a variety of factors , including the reopening of public schools , could contribute to the rising case counts .
For example , Marathon County is also near the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus , where the school reported 51 coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally .
However , major school districts in the counties hosting Trump events were taking precautions , such as reduced capacity and hybrid online learning , USA TODAY found .
But experts all agreed that holding large rallies during a pandemic interferes with efforts to contain the virus and can make things worse .
This is why officials in at least five states , including two with Republican governors , voiced concerns or issued warnings in advance of the president ’ s rallies .
“ I would ask the president , for once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constituents ahead of his own political fortunes , ” Pennsylvania Gov .
Tom Wolf , a Democrat , said on Sept. 25 .
Trump has held three rallies in the state since then .
Campaign events where people gather together cheering and screaming can carry the virus far through the crowd , said Shelley Payne , director of the LaMontagne Center for Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas .
Then those infected will take the virus back to their families , friends and coworkers – fanning an outbreak in the community .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus ; when you ’ re near people in close contact , you ’ re going to spread the virus , ” Payne said .
“ And rallies are particularly problematic.
” Campaign rallies fall within a category the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labels “ highest risk ” for the potential to spread the virus that already has claimed the lives of more than 222,000 Americans .
Courtney Parella , deputy press secretary for the Trump campaign , defended the rallies and attacked other large gatherings organized to support women ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement .
“ Americans have the right to gather under the First Amendment to hear from the President of the United States , and we take strong precautions for our campaign events , requiring every attendee to have their temperature checked , be provided a mask they ’ re instructed to wear , and ensuring access to plenty of hand sanitizer , ” Parella said in an email statement .
“ We also have signs at our events instructing attendees to wear their masks.
” In addition to the rallies , Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since August , including the Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony nominating Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
That gathering , which drew more than 300 people , has since been labeled a superspreader after 14 guests , including the president , later tested positive for the coronavirus .
In all , at least 34 cases have been linked to the White House since late September .
Political experts say the guideline-defying events are part of a strategy by the Trump administration to downplay the seriousness of the virus ahead of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over wearing masks and taking the necessary precautions to contain the virus .
“ It ’ s a trade-off between doing what ’ s right for public health or what benefits re-election , ” said Todd Belt , professor and director of the Political Management Program at The George Washington University .
“ And over and over , the greater concern for this White House is re-election.
” From conservative Christians with tucked shirts and dress shoes to bikers with long beards and leather , hundreds of Trump supporters waved flags , held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they descended on the small town of Bemidji , located in Beltrami County , Minnesota .
Despite the 250-person limit for gatherings in the state , throngs stood shoulder-to-shoulder as they waited in long lines , cheering on the commander in chief and greeting others as if the global pandemic did not exist .
A mix of locals and those who traveled hundreds of miles , the scene at the September rally has played out in small towns across America where Trump has a stronghold .
Charter buses packed full , merchandise vendors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the spectacles have marked Trump ’ s campaigns and presidency .
But many of these towns don ’ t typically draw these types of crowds – and the aftermath is now evident in their COVID-19 cases .
Between mid-August and mid-October , Trump has visited small and mid-sized communities in major swing states with county populations ranging from 47,000 to 310,000 .
They also have largely been in conservative communities that in many cases have resisted mask-wearing and social distancing efforts .
Trump , who is seeking a second term , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .
He held several in the first three months of the year but stopped after declaring the coronavirus a national emergency on March 13 .
He resumed his tour in late June , holding one event that drew 6,200 mostly unmasked supporters to an indoor arena in Tulsa and another that drew 3,000 to a megachurch in Phoenix .
USA TODAY ’ s analysis did not find that cases in those counties increased faster in the two weeks after either event .
But former presidential candidate Herman Cain died of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight members of the advance team tested positive for coronavirus .
It was deemed a superspreader event .
The White House has denied that Trump ’ s campaign is at fault .
Trump had no rallies in July .
On Aug. 17 , he ramped up his schedule and has appeared at an average of four campaign events per week since – pausing only for 11 days in early October after catching the coronavirus .
The rallies , now taking place almost daily , attract an average crowd of about 6,000 people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to local news reports .
In all , more than 120,000 people have attended his campaign events in the past nine weeks .
Rayla Campbell said she has attended over 100 events to support Trump , including the recent rally this year in New Hampshire .
Campbell , a 38-year-old from Massachusetts who 's running as a Republican write-in candidate for a seat in Congress , has been a staunch Trump supporter from the beginning , citing his patriotism and business acumen .
Even with three small children at home , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands and hugging other rally goers without any masks or social distancing .
“ I haven ’ t gotten so much as a sniffle , ” Campbell said .
“ Nobody that I ’ ve come in contact with has gotten sick , and I think this whole thing is blown out of proportion.
” Bill Batchelder , a small business owner and volunteer firefighter in Bemidji , supports Trump for the economy .
Batchelder was seated behind the president , some 45 feet away , at the rally .
He said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and understands the potential for spread .
But he still felt safe , given the temperature checks and mask handouts .
He said Trump attracts everybody from “ those who think it ’ s a joke , to those who take it more seriously , like me.
” But he also pointed to the cases at counter-protests , which drew fewer people and still created community spread .
“ I was not at all concerned at the Trump rally , ” Batchelder said .
“ I take COVID-19 very seriously .
The way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is very low but my precautions are very high.
” Audrey Thayer , who is running for city council in Bemidji , attended the two anti-Trump events that drew hundreds .
She said most of the people at these protests were wearing masks and socially distancing , a sharp contrast from the photos of the Trump event , where supporters were crammed together without face coverings .
She ’ s among those frustrated the spike of new cases in the community after the event .
“ Bemidji has worked very hard to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and now they ’ re skyrocketing , ” Thayer said .
“ We had the ( Trump ) superspreader event , and we ran into trouble , and you ’ re seeing that across the country.
” Local public health officials in several counties tracked cases back to Trump ’ s rallies and , in one case , to affiliated counter-protests that his presence drew .
The Minnesota county that ’ s home to Bemidji saw a 35 % increase in coronavirus cases in the two weeks after Trump ’ s rally – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said 20 people who tested positive for COVID-19 attended the Sept. 17 event .
Sixteen of them attended the rally , and four attended a protest outside .
Minnesota also traced three cases to a Trump rally in Duluth on Sept. 30 , just days before Trump and other White House officials tested positive for the coronavirus .
Health officials additionally tracked cases back to campaign events held by other candidates , including one positive case to a Joe Biden rally in Duluth on Sept. 18 , three to a speech by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one to an Eric Trump rally on Oct. 1 .
The gatherings have irked local and state officials .
In a document obtained by the Center for Public Integrity , just a week before the president ’ s Oct. 17 rally in Janesville , Wisconsin , the White House coronavirus task force concluded Wisconsin was in the red zone for test positivity .
They warned of extreme concern for continued increases in community transmission .
Among its mitigation recommendations ?
A warning to avoid crowds .
Ahead of an Oct. 14 rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official , Lina Tucker Reinders , sent an email to the Des Moines Register saying they could be looking at “ another super-spreader event.
” In North Carolina , Gov .
Roy Cooper asked elected leaders and candidates “ to lead by example on the campaign trail this fall by holding events with face coverings and social distancing to protect North Carolinians when visiting .
Even though activities exercising First Amendment rights are exempt from the requirements of Cooper ’ s executive orders about large events , “ large gatherings increase the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adams Ellis , a spokeswoman for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services .
Rallies in at least three states – Pennsylvania , New Hampshire and Nevada – defied orders limiting the number of people at an event .
The city of Henderson , Nevada , issued a $ 3,000 fine to Xtreme Manufacturing for hosting a Trump event that violated its 50-person limit on public gatherings .
Some 5,600 guests attended the Sept. 13 indoor rally .
In northern Nevada , local news outlets reported one of the president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because Reno airport authorities were concerned about the size of the crowd .
The campaign includes a disclaimer on rally ticket requests stating that guests “ assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.
” While Trump continues his campaign tour , door-knocking and fundraisers , Biden has mostly suspended many traditional activities .
Biden ’ s camp has been more forthright about infections within his inner circle .
The campaign announced in mid-October that two individuals tested positive for COVID-19 , a non-staff flight crew member and the communications director for Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s scheduled travel through Oct. 18 and was upfront about her last negative test .
Democrats believe Trump has responded to the pandemic poorly , while many of his supporters feel the virus is not a serious threat and that the nation needs to move on to rekindle the economy .
“ It is all about modeling and messaging , ” said Jay Wolfson , senior associate dean of the Morsani College of Medicine and associate vice president of University of Southern Florida health .
“ The public is deeply divided.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 57 % or registered voters say they are very or somewhat confident in Biden to handle the public health impact of the coronavirus , while 40 % express that level of confidence in Trump , according to the Pew Research Center .
Biden held a narrower lead on his support over the outbreak in June .
Wolfson said Trump ’ s behavior with his rallies and handling of the White House outbreak was “ ostensibly designed to demonstrate machismo in the face of a pack of rabid dogs , ” while creating “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can never enjoy the expensive and exclusive protections and care available to the president .
The CDC has consistently cited the dangers of group events such as weddings , funerals and rallies because of how easily they can spread the virus .
At every turn , Trump has defied these warnings .
The Rose Garden event in particular was a continuation of the administration ’ s strategy since mid-April , said Kathleen Sebelius , who served as the secretary of Health and Human Services for six years under the Obama administration .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC issued guidelines to tamp down the virus and reopen the economy , Sebelius said the president chose to move in a very different direction , tweeting that states should be “ liberated.
” “ From that day on , if you ’ re a fan of the president , don ’ t wear a mask , drink bleach , take hydroxychloroquine or do whatever has been seen kind of as a badge of honor , ” she said .
“ It ’ s reckless , it ’ s immoral and it ’ @ @ @ @

Erin Mansfield, Josh Salman and Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY

Trump’s campaign made stops nationwide. Coronavirus cases surged in his wake in at least five places.
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: How R-0 can be used to fight COVID-19 R-0 may be the most important scientific term you’ve never heard of when it comes to stopping the coronavirus pandemic. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Correction: A previous version of this story provided cumulative coronavirus case numbers for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. It has been updated to reflect only the numbers in the two weeks after President Donald Trump's rally.
As President Donald Trump jetted across the country holding campaign rallies during the past two months, he didn’t just defy state orders and federal health guidelines. He left a trail of coronavirus outbreaks in his wake.
The president has participated in nearly three dozen rallies since mid-August, all but two at airport hangars. A USA TODAY analysis shows COVID-19 cases grew at a faster rate than before after at least five of those rallies in the following counties: Blue Earth, Minnesota; Lackawanna, Pennsylvania; Marathon, Wisconsin; Dauphin, Pennsylvania; and Beltrami, Minnesota.
Together, those counties saw 1,500 more new cases in the two weeks following Trump’s rallies than the two weeks before – 9,647 cases, up from 8,069.
Public health officials additionally have linked 16 cases, including two hospitalizations, with the rally in Beltrami County, Minnesota, and one case with the rally in Marathon County, Wisconsin. Outside of the counties identified by USA TODAY with a greater case increase after rallies, officials identified four cases linked to Trump rallies.
Although there’s no way to determine definitively if cases originated at Trump’s rallies, public health experts say the gatherings fly in the face of all recommendations to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
USA TODAY reviewed coronavirus case counts in the counties where Trump attended rallies starting from mid-August through mid-October. The news organization examined the rate of increase in virus cases for the two weeks before and after campaign events. For rallies occurring within the past two weeks, not enough time has passed to draw conclusions.
The earliest post-rally spikes occurred even as the nation’s overall case counts were in decline from a peak in mid-July. When U.S. cases started climbing in mid-September, Trump did not alter his campaign schedule but continued holding an average of four rallies a week.
He stopped first in Minnesota, where Blue Earth County’s coronavirus growth rate was 15% before Trump’s rally, but grew to 25% afterward. Three days later, he was in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, where the coronavirus growth rate jumped from less than 3% before his visit to more than 7% afterward.
Even in states where cases were already rising, the spikes in at least four counties that hosted Trump rallies far surpassed their state’s overall growth rates.
In two counties, it was more than double: Marathon County’s case count surged by 67% after Trump’s visit compared to Wisconsin’s overall growth rate of 29% during the same time. In Beltrami County, Minnesota, it swelled by 35% compared to the state’s 14%.
The newspaper’s analysis did not include surrounding counties, nor could it account for cases where the people attending the rally had traveled from outside the area, including other states. Indeed, most rallies draw crowds from large geographic areas, with some people driving or flying hundreds of miles to attend.
Health experts say it’s impossible to pinpoint the rallies as the direct source of infection or community spread without an intensive outbreak investigation. The contact tracing done by most health departments following new cases can show only that someone who later developed COVID-19 was at the event – but not that the event caused it.
They also said that a variety of factors, including the reopening of public schools, could contribute to the rising case counts. For example, Marathon County is also near the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus, where the school reported 51 coronavirus cases in the two weeks after the rally. However, major school districts in the counties hosting Trump events were taking precautions, such as reduced capacity and hybrid online learning, USA TODAY found.
But experts all agreed that holding large rallies during a pandemic interferes with efforts to contain the virus and can make things worse. This is why officials in at least five states, including two with Republican governors, voiced concerns or issued warnings in advance of the president’s rallies.
“I would ask the president, for once, to put the health of his constituents ahead of his own political fortunes,” Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, said on Sept. 25. Trump has held three rallies in the state since then.
Campaign events where people gather together cheering and screaming can carry the virus far through the crowd, said Shelley Payne, director of the LaMontagne Center for Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas. Then those infected will take the virus back to their families, friends and coworkers – fanning an outbreak in the community.
“This is true of any respiratory virus; when you’re near people in close contact, you’re going to spread the virus,” Payne said. “And rallies are particularly problematic.”
Campaign rallies fall within a category the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labels “highest risk” for the potential to spread the virus that already has claimed the lives of more than 222,000 Americans.
Courtney Parella, deputy press secretary for the Trump campaign, defended the rallies and attacked other large gatherings organized to support women’s rights and the Black Lives Matter movement.
“Americans have the right to gather under the First Amendment to hear from the President of the United States, and we take strong precautions for our campaign events, requiring every attendee to have their temperature checked, be provided a mask they’re instructed to wear, and ensuring access to plenty of hand sanitizer,” Parella said in an email statement. “We also have signs at our events instructing attendees to wear their masks.”
In addition to the rallies, Trump has hosted large events at the White House since August, including the Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony nominating Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
That gathering, which drew more than 300 people, has since been labeled a superspreader after 14 guests, including the president, later tested positive for the coronavirus. In all, at least 34 cases have been linked to the White House since late September.
Political experts say the guideline-defying events are part of a strategy by the Trump administration to downplay the seriousness of the virus ahead of the election. It has divided the nation over wearing masks and taking the necessary precautions to contain the virus.
“It’s a trade-off between doing what’s right for public health or what benefits re-election,” said Todd Belt, professor and director of the Political Management Program at The George Washington University. “And over and over, the greater concern for this White House is re-election.”
Targeting small-town America
From conservative Christians with tucked shirts and dress shoes to bikers with long beards and leather, hundreds of Trump supporters waved flags, held signs and donned the red caps as they descended on the small town of Bemidji, located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
Despite the 250-person limit for gatherings in the state, throngs stood shoulder-to-shoulder as they waited in long lines, cheering on the commander in chief and greeting others as if the global pandemic did not exist. A mix of locals and those who traveled hundreds of miles, the scene at the September rally has played out in small towns across America where Trump has a stronghold.
Charter buses packed full, merchandise vendors lining the streets and counter protests nearby, the spectacles have marked Trump’s campaigns and presidency.
But many of these towns don’t typically draw these types of crowds – and the aftermath is now evident in their COVID-19 cases.
Between mid-August and mid-October, Trump has visited small and mid-sized communities in major swing states with county populations ranging from 47,000 to 310,000.
They also have largely been in conservative communities that in many cases have resisted mask-wearing and social distancing efforts.
Trump, who is seeking a second term, has made these rallies a signature of his campaign. He held several in the first three months of the year but stopped after declaring the coronavirus a national emergency on March 13.
He resumed his tour in late June, holding one event that drew 6,200 mostly unmasked supporters to an indoor arena in Tulsa and another that drew 3,000 to a megachurch in Phoenix. USA TODAY’s analysis did not find that cases in those counties increased faster in the two weeks after either event.
But former presidential candidate Herman Cain died of the coronavirus after attending the Tulsa rally, where eight members of the advance team tested positive for coronavirus. It was deemed a superspreader event. The White House has denied that Trump’s campaign is at fault.
Trump had no rallies in July.
On Aug. 17, he ramped up his schedule and has appeared at an average of four campaign events per week since – pausing only for 11 days in early October after catching the coronavirus.
The rallies, now taking place almost daily, attract an average crowd of about 6,000 people. Some have attracted up to 20,000, according to local news reports. In all, more than 120,000 people have attended his campaign events in the past nine weeks.
Rayla Campbell said she has attended over 100 events to support Trump, including the recent rally this year in New Hampshire.
Campbell, a 38-year-old from Massachusetts who's running as a Republican write-in candidate for a seat in Congress, has been a staunch Trump supporter from the beginning, citing his patriotism and business acumen. Even with three small children at home, she has no qualms about COVID-19, shaking hands and hugging other rally goers without any masks or social distancing.
“I haven’t gotten so much as a sniffle,” Campbell said. “Nobody that I’ve come in contact with has gotten sick, and I think this whole thing is blown out of proportion.”
Bill Batchelder, a small business owner and volunteer firefighter in Bemidji, supports Trump for the economy. Batchelder was seated behind the president, some 45 feet away, at the rally.
He said that he believes in the dangers of COVID-19 and understands the potential for spread. But he still felt safe, given the temperature checks and mask handouts.
He said Trump attracts everybody from “those who think it’s a joke, to those who take it more seriously, like me.” But he also pointed to the cases at counter-protests, which drew fewer people and still created community spread.
“I was not at all concerned at the Trump rally,” Batchelder said. “I take COVID-19 very seriously. The way I put it is my risk threshold is very low but my precautions are very high.”
Audrey Thayer, who is running for city council in Bemidji, attended the two anti-Trump events that drew hundreds. She said most of the people at these protests were wearing masks and socially distancing, a sharp contrast from the photos of the Trump event, where supporters were crammed together without face coverings. She’s among those frustrated the spike of new cases in the community after the event.
“Bemidji has worked very hard to keep the numbers low for many months, and now they’re skyrocketing,” Thayer said. “We had the (Trump) superspreader event, and we ran into trouble, and you’re seeing that across the country.”
Defying health orders
Local public health officials in several counties tracked cases back to Trump’s rallies and, in one case, to affiliated counter-protests that his presence drew.
The Minnesota county that’s home to Bemidji saw a 35% increase in coronavirus cases in the two weeks after Trump’s rally – from 365 to 499. State health officials said 20 people who tested positive for COVID-19 attended the Sept. 17 event. Sixteen of them attended the rally, and four attended a protest outside.
Minnesota also traced three cases to a Trump rally in Duluth on Sept. 30, just days before Trump and other White House officials tested positive for the coronavirus.
Health officials additionally tracked cases back to campaign events held by other candidates, including one positive case to a Joe Biden rally in Duluth on Sept. 18, three to a speech by Mike Pence in Minneapolis on Sept. 24 and one to an Eric Trump rally on Oct. 1.
The gatherings have irked local and state officials.
In a document obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, just a week before the president’s Oct. 17 rally in Janesville, Wisconsin, the White House coronavirus task force concluded Wisconsin was in the red zone for test positivity. They warned of extreme concern for continued increases in community transmission.
Among its mitigation recommendations? A warning to avoid crowds.
Ahead of an Oct. 14 rally, Iowa’s top public health official, Lina Tucker Reinders, sent an email to the Des Moines Register saying they could be looking at “another super-spreader event.”
In North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper asked elected leaders and candidates “to lead by example on the campaign trail this fall by holding events with face coverings and social distancing to protect North Carolinians when visiting.
Even though activities exercising First Amendment rights are exempt from the requirements of Cooper’s executive orders about large events, “large gatherings increase the risk of spreading COVID-19,” said Amy Adams Ellis, a spokeswoman for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Rallies in at least three states – Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Nevada – defied orders limiting the number of people at an event.
The city of Henderson, Nevada, issued a $3,000 fine to Xtreme Manufacturing for hosting a Trump event that violated its 50-person limit on public gatherings. Some 5,600 guests attended the Sept. 13 indoor rally.
In northern Nevada, local news outlets reported one of the president’s rallies was moved in early September because Reno airport authorities were concerned about the size of the crowd.
The campaign includes a disclaimer on rally ticket requests stating that guests “assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.”
Trump versus Biden
While Trump continues his campaign tour, door-knocking and fundraisers, Biden has mostly suspended many traditional activities.
Biden’s camp has been more forthright about infections within his inner circle. The campaign announced in mid-October that two individuals tested positive for COVID-19, a non-staff flight crew member and the communications director for Sen. Kamala Harris. The campaign cancelled Harris’s scheduled travel through Oct. 18 and was upfront about her last negative test.
Democrats believe Trump has responded to the pandemic poorly, while many of his supporters feel the virus is not a serious threat and that the nation needs to move on to rekindle the economy.
“It is all about modeling and messaging,” said Jay Wolfson, senior associate dean of the Morsani College of Medicine and associate vice president of University of Southern Florida health. “The public is deeply divided.”
Following Trump’s COVID-19 infection, 57% or registered voters say they are very or somewhat confident in Biden to handle the public health impact of the coronavirus, while 40% express that level of confidence in Trump, according to the Pew Research Center. Biden held a narrower lead on his support over the outbreak in June.
Wolfson said Trump’s behavior with his rallies and handling of the White House outbreak was “ostensibly designed to demonstrate machismo in the face of a pack of rabid dogs,” while creating “the same delusion for a public that can never enjoy the expensive and exclusive protections and care available to the president.
The CDC has consistently cited the dangers of group events such as weddings, funerals and rallies because of how easily they can spread the virus.
At every turn, Trump has defied these warnings. The Rose Garden event in particular was a continuation of the administration’s strategy since mid-April, said Kathleen Sebelius, who served as the secretary of Health and Human Services for six years under the Obama administration.
On April 17, a day after the CDC issued guidelines to tamp down the virus and reopen the economy, Sebelius said the president chose to move in a very different direction, tweeting that states should be “liberated.”
“From that day on, if you’re a fan of the president, don’t wear a mask, drink bleach, take hydroxychloroquine or do whatever has been seen kind of as a badge of honor,” she said. “It’s reckless, it’s immoral and it’s unacceptable.”


usatoday--2020-10-24--Opinion: Antonio Brown's signing is a reminder to women of how little NFL cares about them

How very NFL to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month by welcoming Antonio Brown back to the league .
While Tom Brady is counting future touchdowns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians is salivating at the yardage his offense will pile up , I ’ m thinking of a few other stats .
Like the two women who ’ ve accused Brown of sexual misconduct , one of whom alleges he raped her .
The one woman who said he pushed her , causing her to fall and get scraped up .
And don ’ t forget the eight-game suspension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part on intimidating texts he sent to one of the women accusing him of sexual misconduct .
Think of those numbers the next time the NFL plasters pink ribbons all over its website and floods its online stores with pink merchandise .
As if that ’ s supposed to give the NFL a pass on its continuing abysmal treatment of what is now almost half of its fan base .
Time and again , the NFL has made it very clear that so long as a player can produce on the field , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beats women or degrades them when he ’ s off it .
The NFL is purely transactional , and the health , safety and well-being of women don ’ t figure anywhere into those equations .
What makes Brown ’ s signing Friday all the more galling is the team that did it .
Arians is , by far , the league ’ s most progressive coach when it comes to inclusion .
All three of his coordinators are Black men .
He hired the NFL ’ s first female assistant coach , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has two women on his staff this year .
The Bucs also happen to have a pink banner splashed across the top of their website , touting a 5K run that benefits breast cancer research .
Brady regularly posts gushing tributes to his wife , mother and sister .
He posted a photo of his wife and daughter in honor of International Women ’ s Day last spring and one of his daughter on National Daughters Day last month .
And yet , Brady is so desperate to prove he can win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had no qualms vouching for a man with a documented history of demeaning women and multiple allegations of abuse .
Lobbied for a former `` teammate '' he barely knows and played with even less .
Never mind that Arians , who worked with Brown in Pittsburgh , insisted in March that the receiver would n't end up in Tampa Bay .
`` It 's not a fit in our locker room , '' Arians said then .
Funny how things change when you 're 4-2 and the New Orleans Saints are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be damned .
We ’ ve got a division to win !
The only saving grace in this deal is that it ’ s probably only a matter of time before it blows up in the Bucs ’ faces .
Brown misbehaved his way out of Pittsburgh .
He was insubordinate , childish and verbally abusive in his short stint in Oakland .
He didn ’ t even last two weeks in New England , Belichick deciding he wasn ’ t worth the considerable trouble he brings .
If you honestly think Brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a model citizen in Tampa Bay , I ’ ve got some pink merchandise to sell you .
There also is potential additional discipline looming .
The suspension that ends after Week 8 is not related to the rape accusations by his former trainer , allegations the NFL is still investigating .
So there is a chance Tampa Bay could get him back , only to lose him right away .
Frankly , it would serve Brady and the Buccaneers right .
Every chance the league gets , it lets women know in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us .
How expendable we are .
Brady , Arians , the Buccaneers – they all gladly sold their souls for the chance to sign Brown .
But as it always is with the NFL , it ’ s women who pay the price .

Opinion: Antonio Brown's signing is a reminder to women of how little NFL cares about them
Show Caption Hide Caption Lorenzo's Locks: Three best bets you should consider for NFL Week 7 SportsPulse: Lorenzo is looking to bounce back after his first sub .500 week of the season. Here are his best bets for Week 7 in the NFL. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
How very NFL to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month by welcoming Antonio Brown back to the league.
While Tom Brady is counting future touchdowns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians is salivating at the yardage his offense will pile up, I’m thinking of a few other stats. Like the two women who’ve accused Brown of sexual misconduct, one of whom alleges he raped her. The one woman who said he pushed her, causing her to fall and get scraped up.
And don’t forget the eight-game suspension Brown is currently serving, based in part on intimidating texts he sent to one of the women accusing him of sexual misconduct.
Think of those numbers the next time the NFL plasters pink ribbons all over its website and floods its online stores with pink merchandise. As if that’s supposed to give the NFL a pass on its continuing abysmal treatment of what is now almost half of its fan base.
NFL WEEK 7 PICKS: Do Buccaneers prevail on road against Raiders?
Time and again, the NFL has made it very clear that so long as a player can produce on the field, it doesn’t matter if he beats women or degrades them when he’s off it. The NFL is purely transactional, and the health, safety and well-being of women don’t figure anywhere into those equations.
What makes Brown’s signing Friday all the more galling is the team that did it.
Arians is, by far, the league’s most progressive coach when it comes to inclusion. All three of his coordinators are Black men. He hired the NFL’s first female assistant coach, Jen Welter, back in 2015, and has two women on his staff this year.
The Bucs also happen to have a pink banner splashed across the top of their website, touting a 5K run that benefits breast cancer research.
Brady regularly posts gushing tributes to his wife, mother and sister. He posted a photo of his wife and daughter in honor of International Women’s Day last spring and one of his daughter on National Daughters Day last month.
And yet, Brady is so desperate to prove he can win a Super Bowl without Bill Belichick that he had no qualms vouching for a man with a documented history of demeaning women and multiple allegations of abuse. Lobbied for a former "teammate" he barely knows and played with even less.
Never mind that Arians, who worked with Brown in Pittsburgh, insisted in March that the receiver wouldn't end up in Tampa Bay.
"It's not a fit in our locker room," Arians said then.
Funny how things change when you're 4-2 and the New Orleans Saints are breathing down your neck. Horrible messages be damned. We’ve got a division to win!
The only saving grace in this deal is that it’s probably only a matter of time before it blows up in the Bucs’ faces.
Brown misbehaved his way out of Pittsburgh. He was insubordinate, childish and verbally abusive in his short stint in Oakland. He didn’t even last two weeks in New England, Belichick deciding he wasn’t worth the considerable trouble he brings.
If you honestly think Brown has learned his lessons and will be a model citizen in Tampa Bay, I’ve got some pink merchandise to sell you.
There also is potential additional discipline looming. The suspension that ends after Week 8 is not related to the rape accusations by his former trainer, allegations the NFL is still investigating. So there is a chance Tampa Bay could get him back, only to lose him right away.
Frankly, it would serve Brady and the Buccaneers right.
Every chance the league gets, it lets women know in no uncertain terms how little it thinks of us. How expendable we are. Brady, Arians, the Buccaneers – they all gladly sold their souls for the chance to sign Brown.
But as it always is with the NFL, it’s women who pay the price.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.


usatoday--2020-10-24--Worried about voter suppression? Lawyers set up national hotline to answer questions about election

WASHINGTON — Onika Williams sat at her dining room table in Arlington , Virginia , flipped open her laptop and began her shift fielding calls from voters across the country .
Some wanted to know where they could go to vote early .
Others called into the national hotline to ask how they could track their mail-ballot .
“ Voters are engaged and they want to make sure their votes count , ’ ’ said Williams , a 37-year-old lawyer volunteering with Election Protection , a nonpartisan coalition that provides a national hotline for voters .
Williams is among nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country navigate changes in what has become an unprecedented election cycle plagued by confusion and problems .
With the novel coronvirus pandemic , officials have scrambled to overhaul the way voters cast ballots , leaving some frustrated and worried whether their vote will count .
Organizers of Election Protection , a national coalition of civil rights and voting rights groups , said the number of volunteers has quadrupled since the 2016 presidential election and the 2018 midterm elections .
They ’ re bracing for even more calls as Election Day nears and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The volume of litigation and intensity of the phone calls makes clear that the 2020 election is a season like none other in recent times , ’ ’ said Kristen Clarke , president and executive director of Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law , one of the groups leading the effort .
The hotline has received more than 100,000 calls since July , averaging about 7,000 a day , organizers said .
At this point in 2016 , the group had fielded 21,000 calls since January of that year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls from states like Florida and Texas , where there have been several election law changes , and from battleground states like Pennsylvania and Ohio .
“ The onset of COVID-19 has posed really unprecedented challenges to voters all across the country , ’ ’ said Harlene Katzman , pro bono counsel/director at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York , which is working with Election Protection .
She said those challenges include voters unsure about going to the polls for fear of exposure to the virus .
Several Election Protection groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responses .
Last week , after voters called the hotline , the Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law sued Virginia to extend its voter registration deadline by 48 hours after a fiber optic cable was accidentally cut and crashed the system .
The Election Protection hotline ( 866-OUR-VOTE ) is available all year , but calls have ramped up in recent weeks as millions started casting ballots early in some states .
Some complained they didn ’ t get their mail-in ballot .
Others wereconfused about election changes .
Clarke said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas and Tennessee , where she said officials have put restrictions on who has access to vote by mail .
“ Many of them are pandemic-driven concerns that are coming to the fore , ’ ’ she said .
Clarke noted a call from a voter in quarantine because of COVID-19 who hadn ’ t received a ballot and wanted to know what to do .
She said others have asked whether their ballots will be delivered on time with delays in postal service while others question whether mail-in ballots are secure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure out how to vote in a lot of different places because the laws and procedures that are governing the way voting works is complicated , ’ ’ said Katzman .
“ The most important role of the election protection volunteer is to figure out what the voter 's problem is.
” With the pandemic , many voters don ’ t have access to traditional support systems , including churches and civic organizations , to get reliable information , said Barbara Arnwine , president and founder of Transformative Justice Coalition , a racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It 's an environment in which too many voters find themselves stranded , ’ ’ she said .
Another problem , said Arnwine , is the pervasiveness of voter suppression tactics .
In the last 10 years , nearly half the states have adopted measures that make it harder to vote , including requiring voter ID and limiting early voting , according to the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice in New York .
The changes disproportionately impact voters of color , the center found earlier this year .
The center said 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have government-issued ID compared to 8 % of white Americans .
“ In the past , we were able to tell you , ‘ This state is going to be ground zero .
That state is going to be ground zero , ’ ’ Arnwine said .
`` Now , when I talk to you about ground zero , I 've got to pull out a list of states.
’ ’ Common Cause Pennsylvania , a nonpartisan watchdog group and Election Protection partner , is hearing from voters who want reassurance they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are seeing such incredible voter anxiety in Pennsylvania that is really a result of a lot of the new laws , ’ ’ said Suzanne Almeida , the group 's interim executive director .
Almeida pointed to various election changes , including vote-by-mail available to eligible voters for the first time in some states , satellite election offices and deadline extensions .
“ All of which is in the midst of probably the most fraught election – at least of my lifetime , ’ ’ she said .
More : Know your voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you encounter intimidation at the polls on Election Day Election Protection has gone mostly virtual this year because of the pandemic , with most lawyers like Williams working from their homes or other spaces .
In the past , scores of lawyers fielded calls from a law office turned command center in Washington , D.C .
The virtual conditions have meant more lawyers can volunteer because they don ’ t have to travel to call centers to work hours-long shifts , recruiters said .
More than 7,000 members of the National Bar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American lawyers , are among those joining the Election Protection effort .
Last week , the volunteers were trained on election rules in 27 states .
Many of the states have barriers to voting that particularly hurt communities of color , said CK Hoffler , the association president .
“ We just think we have a clarion call , ’ ’ she said .
“ We ’ re not playing .
We ’ re serious about this .
It ’ s protecting the right to vote , not partisan politics … Black folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beyond answering calls , some partners are also providing masks , gloves , shields and sanitizers to voters .
“ We want them to vote knowing that they are as safe as they can be , ” said Hoffler .
Williams , chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the National Bar Association , will spend upcoming days helping volunteers answer calls from voters in Alabama , Arizona , Florida , Georgia , Michigan , North Carolina , Ohio , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .
“ We have been issued a call to action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow @ Dberrygannett on Twitter .

Worried about voter suppression? Lawyers set up national hotline to answer questions about election laws
Show Caption Hide Caption Why voter suppression in the US has increased since 2013 Civil rights experts point to long wait times to vote as a sign of growing voter suppression in the U.S. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Onika Williams sat at her dining room table in Arlington, Virginia, flipped open her laptop and began her shift fielding calls from voters across the country.
Some wanted to know where they could go to vote early. Others called into the national hotline to ask how they could track their mail-ballot.
“Voters are engaged and they want to make sure their votes count,’’ said Williams, a 37-year-old lawyer volunteering with Election Protection, a nonpartisan coalition that provides a national hotline for voters.
Williams is among nearly 24,000 lawyers volunteering to help voters across the country navigate changes in what has become an unprecedented election cycle plagued by confusion and problems. With the novel coronvirus pandemic, officials have scrambled to overhaul the way voters cast ballots, leaving some frustrated and worried whether their vote will count.
Organizers of Election Protection, a national coalition of civil rights and voting rights groups, said the number of volunteers has quadrupled since the 2016 presidential election and the 2018 midterm elections. They’re bracing for even more calls as Election Day nears and in the days and weeks following.
“The volume of litigation and intensity of the phone calls makes clear that the 2020 election is a season like none other in recent times,’’ said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, one of the groups leading the effort.
The hotline has received more than 100,000 calls since July, averaging about 7,000 a day, organizers said. At this point in 2016, the group had fielded 21,000 calls since January of that year.
Organizers are particularly expecting a flood of calls from states like Florida and Texas, where there have been several election law changes, and from battleground states like Pennsylvania and Ohio.
“The onset of COVID-19 has posed really unprecedented challenges to voters all across the country,’’ said Harlene Katzman, pro bono counsel/director at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York, which is working with Election Protection.
She said those challenges include voters unsure about going to the polls for fear of exposure to the virus.
Several Election Protection groups have filed lawsuits challenging election changes and responses. Last week, after voters called the hotline, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law sued Virginia to extend its voter registration deadline by 48 hours after a fiber optic cable was accidentally cut and crashed the system.
More: Trump 'army' of poll watchers could frighten voters, incite violence, election officials warn
New laws stirring anxiety
The Election Protection hotline (866-OUR-VOTE) is available all year, but calls have ramped up in recent weeks as millions started casting ballots early in some states.
Some complained they didn’t get their mail-in ballot. Others were confused about election changes. Clarke said there has been confusion in states like Texas and Tennessee, where she said officials have put restrictions on who has access to vote by mail.
“Many of them are pandemic-driven concerns that are coming to the fore,’’ she said.
Clarke noted a call from a voter in quarantine because of COVID-19 who hadn’t received a ballot and wanted to know what to do. She said others have asked whether their ballots will be delivered on time with delays in postal service while others question whether mail-in ballots are secure.
“It is hard for people to figure out how to vote in a lot of different places because the laws and procedures that are governing the way voting works are complicated,’’ said Katzman. “The most important role of the election protection volunteer is to figure out what the voter's problem is.”
With the pandemic, many voters don’t have access to traditional support systems, including churches and civic organizations, to get reliable information, said Barbara Arnwine, president and founder of Transformative Justice Coalition, a racial justice and voting rights advocacy group.
“It's an environment in which too many voters find themselves stranded,’’ she said.
Another problem, said Arnwine, is the pervasiveness of voter suppression tactics.
In the last 10 years, nearly half the states have adopted measures that make it harder to vote, including requiring voter ID and limiting early voting, according to the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice in New York. The changes disproportionately impact voters of color, the center found earlier this year. The center said 25% of voting-age Black Americans don't have government-issued ID compared to 8% of white Americans.
“In the past, we were able to tell you, ‘This state is going to be ground zero. That state is going to be ground zero,’’ Arnwine said. "Now, when I talk to you about ground zero, I've got to pull out a list of states.’’
Common Cause Pennsylvania, a nonpartisan watchdog group and Election Protection partner, is hearing from voters who want reassurance they’re doing everything right.
“We are seeing such incredible voter anxiety in Pennsylvania that is really a result of a lot of the new laws,’’ said Suzanne Almeida, the group's interim executive director.
Almeida pointed to various election changes, including vote-by-mail available to eligible voters for the first time in some states, satellite election offices and deadline extensions.
“All of which is in the midst of probably the most fraught election – at least of my lifetime,’’ she said.
More: Know your voting rights: Here's what to do if you encounter intimidation at the polls on Election Day
'We have a clarion call'
Election Protection has gone mostly virtual this year because of the pandemic, with most lawyers like Williams working from their homes or other spaces. In the past, scores of lawyers fielded calls from a law office turned command center in Washington, D.C.
The virtual conditions have meant more lawyers can volunteer because they don’t have to travel to call centers to work hours-long shifts, recruiters said.
More than 7,000 members of the National Bar Association, a group of mostly African American lawyers, are among those joining the Election Protection effort. Last week, the volunteers were trained on election rules in 27 states.
Many of the states have barriers to voting that particularly hurt communities of color, said CK Hoffler, the association president.
“We just think we have a clarion call,’’ she said. “We’re not playing. We’re serious about this. It’s protecting the right to vote, not partisan politics … Black folks died so that we can vote.“
Beyond answering calls, some partners are also providing masks, gloves, shields and sanitizers to voters.
“We want them to vote knowing that they are as safe as they can be,” said Hoffler.
Williams, chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the National Bar Association, will spend upcoming days helping volunteers answer calls from voters in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
“We have been issued a call to action,'' said Williams.
For more follow @Dberrygannett on Twitter.


usatoday--2020-10-24--Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz nearly perfect as Badgers roll Illinois in Big Ten opener

MADISON , Wis. — Illinois defenders and the rest of the Big Ten got their first extended look at Graham Mertz on Friday night .
Wisconsin ’ s redshirt freshman quarterback , making his first college start after playing in two games last season , announced he is ready for the searing heat of the national spotlight .
Mertz , starting in place of Jack Coan ( injured foot ) , passed for four touchdowns and hit all 14 throws in a flawless first half to help Wisconsin build a 21-point lead and tied the program mark for touchdown passes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Badgers ’ 45-7 victory at Camp Randall Stadium .
His final numbers – 20 of 21 ( 95.2 % ) for 248 yards and the five scores – did not surprise his teammates .
“ Nothing he did surprised me , nothing he did shocked me , '' cornerback Rachad Wildgoose said .
“ Everything he did was expected .
`` I already knew he was going to ball out . ''
Tight end Jake Ferguson , who had touchdown catches of 5 , 14 and 3 yards and finished with seven catches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with similar expectations .
`` The kid is smooth , '' said Ferguson , who recovered nicely after losing a fumble that was returned 39 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter .
`` The kid is definitely smooth .
`` He was smiling cheek to cheek after that first touchdown .
He knew and everybody in that huddle knew that we were rolling . ''
UW ( 1-0 ) , ranked No .
14 in the Amway Coaches Poll , won its 25th consecutive home opener .
The last home-opening loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado in 1995 .
Illinois ( 0-1 ) lost its eighth consecutive game in Madison .
The Illini last won at Camp Randall Stadium in 2002 .
Mertz completed 9 of 10 passes in limited duty last season and on Friday became the first freshman quarterback to start an opener for UW since John Josten in 1978 .
Consider the numbers Mertz put up in the opening two quarters .
He hit 14 of 14 attempts for 190 yards and four touchdowns .
He averaged 13.6 yards per completion and his touchdown passes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 5 yards to Ferguson , 14 yards to Ferguson and 53 yards to wide receiver Danny Davis in the final minute of the first half .
Five UW players caught at least one pass in the half , with Ferguson leading the way with six catches for 69 yards and two scores .
Mertz ’ s first incompletion came with 6 minutes , 2 seconds left in the third quarter – on a drop by tailback Garrett Groshek .
`` That was on me , '' Mertz said with a smile .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ completions by hitting 17 straight for 214 yards .
`` In the end I just wanted to get a ‘ W , ' `` Mertz said .
`` I ’ m most proud of that .
This week of preparation was great for everybody .
I thought the O-line played great and the play-makers kept making plays .
`` My expectations were to win the game . ''
B1G is back : Ranking all seven games for Week 1 of the Big Ten season Opinion : Big Ten football set for return — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coach Lovie Smith was impressed with Mertz but much less so with his defense .
`` Their quarterback played outstanding ball , '' Smith said , `` but we have to give him a lot more competition on some of the touchdown passes on the defensive side of the football . ''
UW ’ s defense struggled to contain quarterback Brandon Peters on outside runs ( seven carries , 75 yards ) but nevertheless pitched a shutout .
The Illini converted only 2 of 10 third-down chances and they were 0-for-3 on fourth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good things that we did , '' said linebacker Jack Sanborn , one of eight UW players with at least three tackles .
`` Just from what I could tell , our D-line dominated the game . ''
UW ’ s running game without Jonathan Taylor was pedestrian .
Groshek led a trio of backs with 70 yards on 13 carries and UW finished with 182 yards on 54 attempts , an average of 3.4 yards per carry .
Turnovers were UW ’ s Achilles ’ heel in the loss to Illinois last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the opening quarter and set the tone for the night .
Defensive end Garrett Rand forced tailback Mike Epstein to fumble and linebacker Noah Burks fell on the loose ball at the Illinois 33 with 14:35 left in the quarter .
UW needed six plays to take the lead , with Mertz hitting Stokke for a 10-yard score with 11:37 left , on third-and-1 .
Jim Leonhard ’ s defense continued to stymie Illinois and the UW offense put together a 14-play , 88-yard touchdown drive for a two-score lead .
Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defensive score .
UW faced third and 8 from its 22 when Mertz hit Ferguson for 8 yards .
Ferguson lost the ball , however , and linebacker Tarique Barnes scooped it up and raced 39 yards for the score with 3:22 left in the half .
The Illini scored 17 points off three UW turnovers in a 24-23 victory last season and got back in the game Friday by forcing another turnover .
If the UW players and coaches were experiencing flashbacks to last year 's loss , the offense wiped them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five-play , 72-yard drive with a 14-yard strike to Ferguson to help UW take a 21-7 lead with 1:06 left in the half .
UW ’ s defense then recorded two sacks and forced an incompletion on the next series , the staff smartly used two of its three timeouts and forced the Illini to punt from their 5 .
Blake Hayes hit a 48-yard punt that went out of bounds at the UW 47 with 36 seconds left in the half .
Mertz and Danny Davis needed one play to find the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stride down the middle of the field for the 53-yard touchdown with 28 seconds left in the half .
Larsh ’ s conversion pushed the lead to 28-7 , Mertz was up to 14 for 14 for 190 yards and four touchdowns and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes took note by tweeting : “ That man @ GrahamMertz5 going crazy tonight !
” Fullback John Chenal got UW ’ s fifth touchdown with a 2-yard run for a 35-7 lead with 12:23 remaining in the game .
The results were different than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night when UW ’ s redshirt freshman quarterback showed he is ready for the Big Ten in 2020 .
`` I thought he had good poise , '' UW coach Paul Chryst said of Mertz .
`` I thought he saw the field well .
You never know how someone is going to react in their first start but I thought he was himself . ''

Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz nearly perfect as Badgers roll Illinois in Big Ten opener
Show Caption Hide Caption Amway Coaches Poll: Clemson and Alabama still on top USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg breaks down the latest Amway Coaches Poll. USA TODAY
MADISON, Wis. — Illinois defenders and the rest of the Big Ten got their first extended look at Graham Mertz on Friday night.
Wisconsin’s redshirt freshman quarterback, making his first college start after playing in two games last season, announced he is ready for the searing heat of the national spotlight.
Mertz, starting in place of Jack Coan (injured foot), passed for four touchdowns and hit all 14 throws in a flawless first half to help Wisconsin build a 21-point lead and tied the program mark for touchdown passes in a game with five in the Badgers’ 45-7 victory at Camp Randall Stadium.
His final numbers – 20 of 21 (95.2%) for 248 yards and the five scores – did not surprise his teammates.
“Nothing he did surprised me, nothing he did shocked me," cornerback Rachad Wildgoose said. “Everything he did was expected.
"I already knew he was going to ball out."
Tight end Jake Ferguson, who had touchdown catches of 5, 14 and 3 yards and finished with seven catches for 72 yards, entered the night with similar expectations.
"The kid is smooth," said Ferguson, who recovered nicely after losing a fumble that was returned 39 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. "The kid is definitely smooth.
"He was smiling cheek to cheek after that first touchdown. He knew and everybody in that huddle knew that we were rolling."
UW (1-0), ranked No. 14 in the Amway Coaches Poll, won its 25th consecutive home opener. The last home-opening loss UW suffered was a 43-7 decision to Colorado in 1995.
Illinois (0-1) lost its eighth consecutive game in Madison. The Illini last won at Camp Randall Stadium in 2002.
Mertz completed 9 of 10 passes in limited duty last season and on Friday became the first freshman quarterback to start an opener for UW since John Josten in 1978.
Consider the numbers Mertz put up in the opening two quarters.
He hit 14 of 14 attempts for 190 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 13.6 yards per completion and his touchdown passes were 10 yards to fullback Mason Stokke, 5 yards to Ferguson, 14 yards to Ferguson and 53 yards to wide receiver Danny Davis in the final minute of the first half.
Five UW players caught at least one pass in the half, with Ferguson leading the way with six catches for 69 yards and two scores.
Mertz’s first incompletion came with 6 minutes, 2 seconds left in the third quarter – on a drop by tailback Garrett Groshek.
"That was on me," Mertz said with a smile.
Mertz tied the program record for consecutive completions by hitting 17 straight for 214 yards.
"In the end I just wanted to get a ‘W,' " Mertz said. "I’m most proud of that. This week of preparation was great for everybody. I thought the O-line played great and the play-makers kept making plays.
"My expectations were to win the game."
B1G is back: Ranking all seven games for Week 1 of the Big Ten season
Opinion: Big Ten football set for return — and collision course with COVID-19 surge
More: Five games with College Football Playoff impact in Week 8
Illinois coach Lovie Smith was impressed with Mertz but much less so with his defense.
"Their quarterback played outstanding ball," Smith said, "but we have to give him a lot more competition on some of the touchdown passes on the defensive side of the football."
UW’s defense struggled to contain quarterback Brandon Peters on outside runs (seven carries, 75 yards) but nevertheless pitched a shutout. The Illini converted only 2 of 10 third-down chances and they were 0-for-3 on fourth down.
"There were so many good things that we did," said linebacker Jack Sanborn, one of eight UW players with at least three tackles. "Just from what I could tell, our D-line dominated the game."
UW’s running game without Jonathan Taylor was pedestrian. Groshek led a trio of backs with 70 yards on 13 carries and UW finished with 182 yards on 54 attempts, an average of 3.4 yards per carry.
Turnovers were UW’s Achilles’ heel in the loss to Illinois last season but the Badgers turned the tables in the opening quarter and set the tone for the night.
Defensive end Garrett Rand forced tailback Mike Epstein to fumble and linebacker Noah Burks fell on the loose ball at the Illinois 33 with 14:35 left in the quarter.
UW needed six plays to take the lead, with Mertz hitting Stokke for a 10-yard score with 11:37 left, on third-and-1.
Freshman QB @GrahamMertz5 sure lived up to the hype in his first career start 😎
Watch his program record-tying 5 pass TDs in @BadgerFootball's opening night win against Illinois ⬇ pic.twitter.com/pA44wjThIK — FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 24, 2020
Jim Leonhard’s defense continued to stymie Illinois and the UW offense put together a 14-play, 88-yard touchdown drive for a two-score lead.
Illinois cut the lead in half with a defensive score.
UW faced third and 8 from its 22 when Mertz hit Ferguson for 8 yards. Ferguson lost the ball, however, and linebacker Tarique Barnes scooped it up and raced 39 yards for the score with 3:22 left in the half.
The Illini scored 17 points off three UW turnovers in a 24-23 victory last season and got back in the game Friday by forcing another turnover. If the UW players and coaches were experiencing flashbacks to last year's loss, the offense wiped them away with touchdowns.
Mertz capped a five-play, 72-yard drive with a 14-yard strike to Ferguson to help UW take a 21-7 lead with 1:06 left in the half.
UW’s defense then recorded two sacks and forced an incompletion on the next series, the staff smartly used two of its three timeouts and forced the Illini to punt from their 5. Blake Hayes hit a 48-yard punt that went out of bounds at the UW 47 with 36 seconds left in the half.
Mertz and Danny Davis needed one play to find the end zone. Mertz hit Davis in stride down the middle of the field for the 53-yard touchdown with 28 seconds left in the half.
Larsh’s conversion pushed the lead to 28-7, Mertz was up to 14 for 14 for 190 yards and four touchdowns and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes took note by tweeting: “That man @GrahamMertz5 going crazy tonight!”
That man @GrahamMertz5 going crazy tonight! — Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) October 24, 2020
Fullback John Chenal got UW’s fifth touchdown with a 2-yard run for a 35-7 lead with 12:23 remaining in the game.
The results were different than last season in Champaign, on a night when UW’s redshirt freshman quarterback showed he is ready for the Big Ten in 2020.
"I thought he had good poise," UW coach Paul Chryst said of Mertz. "I thought he saw the field well. You never know how someone is going to react in their first start but I thought he was himself."


usatoday--2020-10-24--2 crew killed when U.S. Navy training plane crashes in Alabama

NAS WHITING FIELD , Fla. – A U.S. Navy training plane from Naval Air Station Whiting Field crashed at approximately 5 p.m. Friday in Magnolia Springs , Alabama , killing both crew members on board , according to Commander Zach Harrell , a spokesman for the office of the commander of Naval Air Forces .
The Navy `` is not aware of any civilian casualties at this time , '' according to a brief statement on the Naval Air Forces ' Facebook page , and the `` Navy is cooperating fully with local authorities . ''
The aircraft that crashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the Baldwin County Sheriff 's Office in Alabama , no civilians on the ground were injured , although a home in the area did catch fire as a result of the crash .
The names of the two air crew members were not immediately available Friday night , and `` will not be released until 24 hours after the next-of-kin notification , '' according to the Facebook post .
Oct. 7 : United Airlines pilot dies in small plane crash while on honeymoon in Colorado Oct. 2 : Steve Barnes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , dies in small plane crash in New York state In a brief telephone interview Friday evening , Harrell said he did not expect any additional details on the crash to be released until sometime Saturday .
Baldwin County Sheriff 's Office and fire units were called to the scene , but the Sheriff 's Office was deferring further comment on the incident to military authorities .
`` DOD ( Department of Defense ) and Navy personnel will be handling the investigation and will provide further updates , '' the Sheriff 's Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Springs is approximately 100 miles southwest of Whiting Field , just west of Foley , Alabama and between the Alabama towns of Fairhope and Gulf Shores .

Jim Thompson, Northwest Florida Daily News

2 crew killed in U.S. Navy training plane crash in Alabama identified
NAS WHITING FIELD, Fla. – A U.S. Navy training plane from Naval Air Station Whiting Field crashed at approximately 5 p.m. Friday in Magnolia Springs, Alabama, killing both crew members on board, according to Cmdr. Zach Harrell, a spokesman for the office of the commander of Naval Air Forces.
The Navy "is not aware of any civilian casualties at this time," according to a brief statement on the Naval Air Forces' Facebook page, and the "Navy is cooperating fully with local authorities."
The two crew members were identified Sunday as U.S. Navy Lt. Rhiannon Ross, 30, of Wixom, Michigan, and U.S. Coast Guard Ensign Morgan Garrett, 24, of Weddington, North Carolina.
The aircraft that crashed was a T-6B Texan II training plane. According to the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office in Alabama, no civilians on the ground were injured, although a home in the area did catch fire as a result of the crash.
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Baldwin County Sheriff's Office and fire units were called to the scene, but the Sheriff's Office was deferring further comment on the incident to military authorities.
"DOD (Department of Defense) and Navy personnel will be handling the investigation and will provide further updates," the Sheriff's Office noted Friday evening via Twitter.
Magnolia Springs is approximately 100 miles southwest of Whiting Field, just west of Foley, Alabama, and between the Alabama towns of Fairhope and Gulf Shores.
Whiting Field is a primary initial training location for Navy aviators.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-10-24--There are 10 days until Election Day. Here's what you need to know

With just 10 days left until Election Day , more than 50 million registered voters have cast their ballots nationwide .
Early voting has vastly expanded this year due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic , allowing registered voters in all 50 states to cast their ballots both in-person and by mail .
Some states are also allowing voters to vote online .
Although mail-in voting has gained popularity among voters this year , some voters are still taking advantage of in-person voting , with a record-breaking number showing up on the first day of early voting in states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people cast their votes on the first day , according to The Tampa Bay Times .
Nationally , voter turnout has reached approximately 30 percent of the 138.8 million people who voted in 2016 .
For the first time in election history , more people are expected to vote early than on Election Day .
Early voting begins today for registered voters in New York and runs until Nov. 1 .
For prospective voters in Massachusetts , though , today is the last day to register to vote online , by mail and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postmarked by Oct. 24 .
Oct. 24 also marks national Vote Early Day .
Similar to other themed days , such as National Voter Registration Day or National Day of Giving , Vote Early Day is meant to encourage Americans to , of course , vote early .
But the effort also seeks to help people , particularly young voters , stay educated on what their state ’ s laws are related to early voting .
Not sure if you 're registered to vote ?
Check your status at vote.usatoday.com .
It takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign trail With just more than a week until Election Day , former vice president Joe Biden holds a 51-41 lead among likely voters against President Donald Trump in a new Quinnipiac University national poll released Thursday .
The two candidates are making stops in battleground states in the final days of the race .
Biden is expected to travel to Pennsylvania on Saturday .
Trump spends Saturday in North Carolina , Ohio , and Wisconsin .
His campaign is planning a Monday tour of Pennsylvania .
The last push of campaigning follows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Trump performed much better in , even if they question the impact it will have on a race that has remained largely frozen for weeks in the same place .
Both presidential campaigns and their supporters declared victory , even if voters have already made up their minds .
What else you need to know : • We mailed 64 letters , packages in battleground states to check on mail delays .
Here ’ s what we found • Where do Americans stand on election issues ?
Let them tell you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ state mail leading up to the election , and beyond

Mabinty Quarshie and Amanda Hernández, USA TODAY

There are 10 days until Election Day. Here's what you need to know
With just 10 days left until Election Day, more than 50 million registered voters have cast their ballots nationwide. Early voting has vastly expanded this year due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, allowing registered voters in all 50 states to cast their ballots both in-person and by mail. Some states are also allowing voters to vote online.
Although mail-in voting has gained popularity among voters this year, some voters are still taking advantage of in-person voting, with a record-breaking number showing up on the first day of early voting in states like Florida – where more than 366,000 people cast their votes on the first day, according to The Tampa Bay Times.
Nationally, voter turnout has reached approximately 30 percent of the 138.8 million people who voted in 2016. For the first time in election history, more people are expected to vote early than on Election Day.
Speaking of Early Voting
Early voting begins today for registered voters in New York and runs until Nov. 1. For prospective voters in Massachusetts, though, today is the last day to register to vote online, by mail and in-person. Registration by mail must be postmarked by Oct. 24.
Oct. 24 also marks national Vote Early Day. Similar to other themed days, such as National Voter Registration Day or National Day of Giving, Vote Early Day is meant to encourage Americans to, of course, vote early. But the effort also seeks to help people, particularly young voters, stay educated on what their state’s laws are related to early voting.
Not sure if you're registered to vote? Check your status at vote.usatoday.com. It takes less than two minutes.
Today in #Election2020:
•There are 10 days until Election Day
•New York starts early voting
•It's the last day to register to vote in Massachusetts
•It's #VoteEarlyDay https://t.co/7YJPT7uR2G pic.twitter.com/JrvQPm3g5v — USA TODAY Politics (@usatodayDC) October 24, 2020
On the campaign trail
With just more than a week until Election Day, former vice president Joe Biden holds a 51-41 lead among likely voters against President Donald Trump in a new Quinnipiac University national poll released Thursday.
The two candidates are making stops in battleground states in the final days of the race. Biden is expected to travel to Pennsylvania on Saturday. Trump took advantage of early voting while in Florida Saturday morning before taking off for a trio of campaign rallies in North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin. Trump cast his ballot at the West Palm Beach library near his private Mar-a-Lago club.
The last push of campaigning follows the final presidential debate that many analysts said Trump performed much better in, even if they question the impact it will have on a race that has remained largely frozen for weeks in the same place.
Both presidential campaigns and their supporters declared victory, even if voters have already made up their minds.
What else you need to know:


usatoday--2020-10-24--Illinois police officer who fatally shot Black teen Marcellis Stinnette has been fired

CHICAGO – An Illinois officer who had been placed on leave after shooting two people in a car Tuesday night , fatally injuring one , has been fired by the Waukegan Police Department .
The officer , who was not identified , was a five-year member of the department and is Hispanic .
He was terminated Friday night `` for multiple policy and procedure violations , '' Department Commander Edgar Navarro said in a press release .
Marcellis Stinnette , 19 , was killed , and his girlfriend , Tafara Williams , 20 , was injured after the officer shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
On Friday , attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio M. Romanucci – who represent the families of George Floyd , Daniel Prude , Byron Williams and others – said that they had been retained to represent Williams .
Williams has serious injuries but is expected to recover .
`` Ms. Williams ’ legal team will begin our own investigation into what happened during that incident , because we do not trust the police narrative in this case .
We have seen over and over that the 'official ' report when police kill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or misrepresenting details , '' Crump said in a press release .
`` We will share our findings with the public when we have uncovered the truth . ''
You know George Floyd and Breonna Taylor 's stories:10 years after his death , you should also know DJ Henry 's .
The incident happened just before midnight Tuesday , when an officer approached a `` suspicious '' vehicle , Navarro told reporters Wednesday .
As the officer was conducting his investigation , the vehicle fled and was spotted moments later by another officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to approach the vehicle , Navarro said .
`` That officer exited his vehicle , and the vehicle that he was investigating began to reverse towards the officer .
The officer then pulled out his duty weapon and fired into the vehicle , '' Navarro said .
The initial police report said the officer was `` in fear for his safety . ''
He struck both Stinnette , who was in the passenger seat , and Williams , who was in the driver 's seat .
They both were taken to the hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were found in the vehicle , Navarro said .
He did not elaborate on why the vehicle was initially stopped .
Navarro said Wednesday that both officers involved had been placed on leave .
Neither have been identified .
The families of Stinnette and Williams , who are Black , have questioned the department 's official narrative .
Cliftina Johnson , Williams ' mom , said she visited her daughter in the hospital , where she is in serious condition .
Her daughter is a mother of two .
Illinois State Police 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident , and the Waukegan Police Department had turned over all reports , body cam and dashcam videos , Navarro said .
Lake County State 's Attorney Michael Nerheim said Wednesday he would review the state police investigation and make the `` entire case file '' available to the public once complete .
Dozens of men , women and children marched through Waukegan on Thursday afternoon to demand justice for Williams and Stinnette , walking with fists raised and chanting `` Black lives matter . ''
`` Say his name !
Marcellis Stinnette @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williams , '' the group chanted , according to livestreams of the march posted to social media .
With a population of more than 86,000 , Waukegan is majority Hispanic or Latino and about a quarter non-Hispanic white and a quarter Black , according to the Census Bureau .
The city is about 15 miles south of Kenosha , Wisconsin , where Jacob Blake , 29 , was shot in the back multiple times as he was getting into a car , triggering unrest in the city and sparking protests around the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police have shot since 2015 , 24 % were Black , even though Black Americans make up 13 % of the U.S. population , according to a Washington Post database of fatal shootings by on-duty police officers .

Illinois police officer who fatally shot Black teen Marcellis Stinnette has been fired
Show Caption Hide Caption Waukegan shooting: Advocacy groups call for special prosecutor Bishop Tavis Grant of Rainbow P.U.S.H. Coalition speaks during a rally held in Waukegan following a police shooting that left a Black man dead. Associated Press, USA TODAY
CHICAGO – An Illinois officer who had been placed on leave after shooting two people in a car Tuesday night, fatally injuring one, has been fired by the Waukegan Police Department.
The officer, who was not identified, was a five-year member of the department and is Hispanic. He was terminated Friday night "for multiple policy and procedure violations," Department Commander Edgar Navarro said in a press release.
Marcellis Stinnette, 19, was killed, and his girlfriend, Tafara Williams, 20, was injured after the officer shot into a car that allegedly reversed toward him.
On Friday, attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio M. Romanucci – who represent the families of George Floyd, Daniel Prude, Byron Williams and others – said that they had been retained to represent Williams. Williams has serious injuries but is expected to recover.
"Ms. Williams’ legal team will begin our own investigation into what happened during that incident, because we do not trust the police narrative in this case. We have seen over and over that the 'official' report when police kill Black people is far too often missing or misrepresenting details," Crump said in a press release. "We will share our findings with the public when we have uncovered the truth."
You know George Floyd and Breonna Taylor's stories: 10 years after his death, you should also know DJ Henry's.
The incident happened just before midnight Tuesday, when an officer approached a "suspicious" vehicle, Navarro told reporters Wednesday. As the officer was conducting his investigation, the vehicle fled and was spotted moments later by another officer, who got out of his car to approach the vehicle, Navarro said.
"That officer exited his vehicle, and the vehicle that he was investigating began to reverse towards the officer. The officer then pulled out his duty weapon and fired into the vehicle," Navarro said.
The initial police report said the officer was "in fear for his safety."
He struck both Stinnette, who was in the passenger seat, and Williams, who was in the driver's seat. They both were taken to the hospital, where Stinnette died.
No firearms were found in the vehicle, Navarro said. He did not elaborate on why the vehicle was initially stopped.
Navarro said Wednesday that both officers involved had been placed on leave. Neither have been identified.
The families of Stinnette and Williams, who are Black, have questioned the department's official narrative. Cliftina Johnson, Williams' mom, said she visited her daughter in the hospital, where she is in serious condition. Her daughter is a mother of two.
Illinois State Police's Public Integrity Task Force was investigating the incident, and the Waukegan Police Department had turned over all reports, body cam and dashcam videos, Navarro said.
Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim said Wednesday he would review the state police investigation and make the "entire case file" available to the public once complete.
Dozens of men, women and children marched through Waukegan on Thursday afternoon to demand justice for Williams and Stinnette, walking with fists raised and chanting "Black lives matter."
"Say his name! Marcellis Stinnette! What's her name? Tafara Williams," the group chanted, according to livestreams of the march posted to social media.
With a population of more than 86,000, Waukegan is majority Hispanic or Latino and about a quarter non-Hispanic white and a quarter Black, according to the Census Bureau.
The city is about 15 miles south of Kenosha, Wisconsin, where Jacob Blake, 29, was shot in the back multiple times as he was getting into a car, triggering unrest in the city and sparking protests around the nation.
Of the more than 5,700 people police have shot since 2015, 24% were Black, even though Black Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population, according to a Washington Post database of fatal shootings by on-duty police officers.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-10-25--Fact check: 1898 Oklahoma tornado photo is really 2 images combined

The claim : Image shows a tornado ‘ caught on camera in Oklahoma , 1898 ’ While social media has served as a beneficial tool for stormchasers and weather forecasters to spread alerts and share images , it has also turned into a platform to spread misinformation .
A vintage image of a purportedly large tornado with two people standing yards away is making the rounds on social media .
Users in the comments describe it as `` a scene in the Wizard of Oz . ''
“ The famed 19th Century Tornado that was caught on camera in Oklahoma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post by the page Historical Pictures that has been shared over 600 times .
USA TODAY reached out to the page for comment .
More : Fact check : No evidence that Aemilia Bassano wrote all of Shakespeare ’ s plays Alex Cooke , an editor for the photography site Fstoppers , wrote in 2015 that he first came across the image when reading a 1,300-page book on tornadoes .
He noticed something was n't right about the photo .
“ The way the funnel attached to the cloud base , its location @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funnel shape ( it ’ s rare that funnels are actually shaped like funnels ) , and even the lighting were off , ” Cooke wrote , noting that the trees near the tornado appeared unaffected .
Thomas P. Grazulis , an American meteorologist , writes in his book , “ Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991 , a Chronology and Analysis of Events ” that , “ The way the funnel and the funnel join in this photograph does not look very natural .
This photo was probably touched up or combined with another photograph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Early photographs were frequently altered to make them more saleable commercially.
” Aside from the odd funnel and cloud base , Cooke writes , “ the strangest aspect ” was the two people standing yards away from the tornado , indicating the image was likely a composite , two or more photos combined to create one .
The photo claiming to show the tornado first appeared after it was sent to the Monthly Weather Review by a man who went by `` Mr .
Connor . ''
The editors of the publication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ readers sending in fake photos and were skeptical about the legitimacy of the image , so they decided not to publish it .
`` We have watched with interest and curiosity the efforts of some manipulators of the camera to reproduce the phenomena of nature in all her varying moods , '' the Monthly Weather Review wrote on May 1 , 1899 .
`` There can be no particular fault found with the enterprise of the photographer , be he amateur or professional , who sallies forth at high noon , or soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an accommodating cloud makes moonlight views by the score . ''
Shortly after , the weather journal was sent a similar photograph by someone named Mr. Gosewisch , after the Kirksville Cyclone hit on April 27 , 1899 .
The editor at the time , Alfred J. Henry , acknowledged that the funnel was forged and recalled the similar image sent by Connor .
`` We confess , too , that we can pass into the waste basket without hesitation the many poor attempts to fabricate the funnel cloud of a tornado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long ago from Mr. Connor .
It was better than the average , and instead of going into the trash basket , it went into a convenient drawer , '' Henry wrote , according to an article found by Snopes .
Who took the original photos ?
The images , that Henry said were likely created by blending a funnel with a `` beautiful photograph of sunset clouds and landscape , '' were originally made by photographer North Losey .
Losey has captured images of speeches by President Theodore Rooseveltand life in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also held patents in photographic light-diffusing and artificial light diffusing .
Two similar images of the cyclone funnel appear in the Library of Congress and the American Museum of Natural History and are credited to an unknown photographer , but could have been taken by Losey , according to Snopes .
The Library of Congress examined a scan of one of the photos and told Snopes , `` it appears there was some editing done where the tornado touches the cloud .
There ’ s also a line towards the top of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the glass if he faked it .
I can ’ t say for certain it was faked , but I would believe it someone else had proof . ''
In 2014 , the Weather Channel reported that `` meteorology was still in its infancy '' in the late 1800s and in 1833 , the government banned the word `` tornado '' from weather forecasts to avoid widespread panic .
`` Historically , the only extreme weather images were from eyewitness sketches .
Very few Americans had actually seen a tornado until the 1880s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tornado photographs , '' the Weather Channel reported .
We rate this claim as FALSE based on our research .
The photo is a composite of two images edited together .
Reports state that photos of tornados in the 1800s were mainly from sketches .
Editors at the Monthly Weather Journal at the time found that similar images had been sent to the publication and that the photo appeared edited .
• FStoppers , Oct. 31 , 2015 , The Story of One of the Earliest Composite Controversies • Snopes , July 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oklahoma Tornado ?
• American Museum of Natural History , May 17 , 1898 , Tornado , Waynoka , Oklahoma , May 17 , 1898 ; Work of Wind lecture slide , Mr. Sherwood Weather Bureau slides • Library of Congress , June 20 , 1907 , President Roosevelt addressing 150,000 people unveiling of Lawton Statue , Indianapolis , Ind.
, May 30 , 1907 Thank you for supporting our journalism .
You can subscribe to our print edition , ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here .
Our fact check work is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook .

Fact check: 1898 Oklahoma tornado photo is really 2 images combined
Show Caption Hide Caption Why do hurricanes spawn tornadoes? AccuWeather meteorologists explain the factors in tropical storms and hurricanes that often lead to tornadoes. Accuweather
The claim: Image shows a tornado ‘caught on camera in Oklahoma, 1898’
While social media has served as a beneficial tool for stormchasers and weather forecasters to spread alerts and share images, it has also turned into a platform to spread misinformation.
A vintage image of a purportedly large tornado with two people standing yards away is making the rounds on social media. Users in the comments describe it as "a scene in the Wizard of Oz."
“The famed 19th Century Tornado that was caught on camera in Oklahoma, 1898,” reads a Facebook post by the page Historical Pictures that has been shared over 600 times.
USA TODAY reached out to the page for comment.
More: Fact check: No evidence that Aemilia Bassano wrote all of Shakespeare’s plays
Area surrounding tornado is unaffected
Alex Cooke, an editor for the photography site Fstoppers, wrote in 2015 that he first came across the image when reading a 1,300-page book on tornadoes. He noticed something wasn't right about the photo.
“The way the funnel attached to the cloud base, its location in the storm, its overly perfect funnel shape (it’s rare that funnels are actually shaped like funnels), and even the lighting were off,” Cooke wrote, noting that the trees near the tornado appeared unaffected.
Thomas P. Grazulis, an American meteorologist, writes in his book, “Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991, a Chronology and Analysis of Events” that, “The way the funnel and the funnel join in this photograph does not look very natural. This photo was probably touched up or combined with another photograph that had a more interesting cloud base. Early photographs were frequently altered to make them more saleable commercially.”
Aside from the odd funnel and cloud base, Cooke writes, “the strangest aspect” was the two people standing yards away from the tornado, indicating the image was likely a composite, two or more photos combined to create one.
Similar photos sent to a weather journal
The photo claiming to show the tornado first appeared after it was sent to the Monthly Weather Review by a man who went by "Mr. Connor."
The editors of the publication, however, had grown used to readers sending in fake photos and were skeptical about the legitimacy of the image, so they decided not to publish it.
"We have watched with interest and curiosity the efforts of some manipulators of the camera to reproduce the phenomena of nature in all her varying moods," the Monthly Weather Review wrote on May 1, 1899. "There can be no particular fault found with the enterprise of the photographer, be he amateur or professional, who sallies forth at high noon, or soon thereafter, and under the friendly shadow of an accommodating cloud makes moonlight views by the score."
Shortly after, the weather journal was sent a similar photograph by someone named Mr. Gosewisch, after the Kirksville Cyclone hit on April 27, 1899.
The editor at the time, Alfred J. Henry, acknowledged that the funnel was forged and recalled the similar image sent by Connor.
"We confess, too, that we can pass into the waste basket without hesitation the many poor attempts to fabricate the funnel cloud of a tornado. We received one such not very long ago from Mr. Connor. It was better than the average, and instead of going into the trash basket, it went into a convenient drawer," Henry wrote, according to an article found by Snopes.
Who took the original photos?
The images, that Henry said were likely created by blending a funnel with a "beautiful photograph of sunset clouds and landscape," were originally made by photographer North Losey.
Losey has captured images of speeches by President Theodore Rooseveltand life in the 19th century in Oklahoma City. He also held patents in photographic light-diffusing and artificial light diffusing.
Two similar images of the cyclone funnel appear in the Library of Congress and the American Museum of Natural History and are credited to an unknown photographer, but could have been taken by Losey, according to Snopes.
The Library of Congress examined a scan of one of the photos and told Snopes, "it appears there was some editing done where the tornado touches the cloud. There’s also a line towards the top of the photo which could be the edge of the glass if he faked it. I can’t say for certain it was faked, but I would believe it someone else had proof."
In 2014, the Weather Channel reported that "meteorology was still in its infancy" in the late 1800s and in 1833, the government banned the word "tornado" from weather forecasts to avoid widespread panic.
"Historically, the only extreme weather images were from eyewitness sketches. Very few Americans had actually seen a tornado until the 1880s, when photographers released the earliest known tornado photographs," the Weather Channel reported.
Our rating: False
We rate this claim as FALSE based on our research. The photo is a composite of two images edited together. Reports state that photos of tornados in the 1800s were mainly from sketches. Editors at the Monthly Weather Journal at the time found that similar images had been sent to the publication and that the photo appeared edited.
Our fact-check sources:
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.
Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.