usatoday--2020-07-26--Live updates: John Lewis funeral services in Alabama on Saturday

The six days of memorial services honoring Congressman John Lewis began Saturday in Troy , Alabama , near his birthplace .
He was remembered during a service at Troy University , a school he once considered challenging in court to attend .
He will lie in repose at the school for three hours before his body is taken to Selma for a service at Brown Chapel A.M.E Church , a historic congregation long tied to the civil rights movement in Selma and Alabama .
On Saturday night , he will lie in repose in Selma , and Sunday , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights march route will bring Lewis to the state Capitol for services .
Follow along here for updates from the services Saturday .
We are done for the night with live coverage of the services Saturday in Selma and earlier in Troy .
If you would like to watch a replay of the Saturday night services in Selma , click here .
In remembering Rep. John Lewis at a memorial in Selma , Martin Luther King III suggested Congress make a change to the Voting Rights Act .
`` Maybe we ought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the John Lewis Restoration Voting Rights Act , '' he said .
`` It needs to be restored .
It has to be . ''
Sen. Doug Jones , D-Ala. , drew comparisons to young Americans leading protests this summer across the country to what Lewis did in the mid-20th century .
At a memorial in Selma , Jones said Lewis showed the way but that the young protesters , he believes , will show us to our full promise as a country , lauding them for their courage and vigor before calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protesters .
“ Like ( Lewis ) , they are protesting peacefully , nonviolently .
They love this nation just as much as John , ” Jones said .
“ President Trump paints them all with a broad brush and calls them lawless thugs .
But he is wrong .
They are patriots who want America to move forward to a nation of equals together.
” Rep. John Lewis ' casket arrived shortly before 6 p.m. for the memorial in Selma , Alabama .
Lewis ' hearse earlier traveled across the Edmund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afternoon rain for the services .
Lewis is forever connected to the bridge for enduring a fractured skull after he was beaten during the Bloody Sunday march when law enforcement beat protesters seeking better voter access to the polls for Black residents .
Rep. John Lewis ' casket was taken across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma , Alabama , during a Saturday afternoon rain for services .
Lewis is forever connected to the bridge for enduring a fractured skull after he was beaten during the Bloody Sunday march when law enforcement beat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polls for Black residents .
A look at the day in Troy Drive northeast out of Troy , Alabama , through rolling hay fields and thickening copses of loblolly pines and you 'll see the sign .
`` WE THANK JOHN R. LEWIS FOR GETTING INTO GOOD TROUBLE , '' black letters carefully spaced in the Greater Dunn 's Chapel sign read .
The red brick American Methodist Episcopal chapel this weekend is honoring the passing of an American giant .
The entire city of Troy did .
What is the significance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis will be honored inside the historic Brown Chapel A.M.E Church in Selma on Saturday night .
Built in the early 19th century , the building was a hub during the Selma to Montgomery voting rights march .
It served as the headquarters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference 's push for voter access in 1965 .
Many protests began at the church , including the Selma to Montgomery march and the Bloody Sunday march , when it served as a makeshift hospital after the marchers were beaten by law enforcement officers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ except for the stern commands from the honor guard readying Lewis ' casket for the roughly two-hour drive to Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Selma .
The tufted pillow Lewis ' head rested on was removed prior to the casket being closed .
An American flag was unfurled and secured to the casket before nine members of the military came to escort his body away .
The small crowd of people who remained to witness Lewis ' exit moved very little , some saluted .
Walking in lock-step , the honor guard marched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tunnel and out a back door where the hearse waited .
A funeral director stood nearby and when it was time he slowly closed the door , sending Lewis on his way .
Lewis will be honored Saturday night at Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Selma .
The service begins at 6 p.m. and is closed to the public .
Lewis ' final visit to Selma before his death included an inspiring message to hundreds on the Edmund Pettus Bridge during the 55th annual remembrance of Bloody Sunday in the city .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to die on the bridge in 1965 and inspired all now to keep fighting for rights and access to all .
`` We must keep the faith , keep our eyes on the prize , '' he said .
`` We must go out and vote like we never ever voted before .
Some people gave more than a little blood .
Some gave their very lives . ''
See a replay of the John Lewis services in Troy The Troy services have ended but a replay of the event is available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. John Lewis in his hometown of Troy , Alabama As the ceremony came to a close with an emphatic rendition of “ On Time God ” by Dottie Peoples , those in attendance gathered around the edges of the arena floor to view Lewis ’ body .
The American flag , draped across the congressman ’ s casket , was carefully pulled back and folded as the coffin was opened .
Lewis , wearing a dark blue suit with a navy tie , laid in the dark mahogany casket , his hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed by , some clearly came with family and friends while others stood alone in line .
A young girl , wearing a purple striped dress and a purple headband to keep her hair back , held a bouquet of red tulips bound together with a light blue ribbon .
Shortly after the Troy football team , who ’ d been practicing in the stadium nearby prior to the service , joined the line .
John Lewis was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity , along with George Washington Carver , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Members of the fraternity honored Lewis during the viewing inside Troy Arena and sang .
Three moments resonate in Troy memorial service for John Lewis A young nephew reminding us all to follow his uncle 's words and way .
Jackson Lewis Brewster in an unscripted speech told us all to keep his uncle 's legacy alive .
So beautiful .
A powerful song delivered with spirit and energy .
Dottie Peoples brought the house down with performance of `` He 's an On Time God . ''
Even when there were technical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or two , she sure did n't .
And the Troy mayor noticing a small , telling moment for Alabama and the country .
Jackson Reeves recalled a moment when he noticed Alabama state troopers escorting Lewis ' body into Troy .
This is the same organization that was empowered to beat him and others senseless on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965 .
Now they are protecting him and honoring him as we honor Lewis as a country .
That is the change Lewis fought for .
The ceremony has ended , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve prepared Lewis ' casket for a viewing .
Out of respect for the family , no photos or videos are allowed during this time , organizers announced .
One final dance with Dottie for John Lewis Dottie Peoples , before she sang the gospel song `` He 's an On Time God , '' encouraged the crowd to get on their feet for it , and said Lewis had a favorite song to “ do a dance with Dottie.
” “ Today this is going to be the final dance with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... ' A long way from the cotton fields of Alabama' Lewis ' brother Henry “ Grant ” Lewis recounted the moment John Lewis was sworn into Congress the first time .
“ He gave me a thumbs up and I asked him why and he said `` It sure is a long way from the cotton fields of Alabama , ’ ” he said .
The Lewis children were the son of the sharecroppers in Pike County , Alabama .
John Lewis fought to gain access to public systems in Troy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segregated when he was growing up .
Lewis ' nephew , Jackson Lewis Brewster , in a cute moment , spoke for about 45 seconds on the stage to honor him .
It was a small and sweet , unplanned moment .
He was n't listed on the ceremony 's program .
He asked everyone to keep his uncle 's memory and legacy alive .
When he was done , he jumped off the stage , drawing chuckles from the crowd .
Alabama state troopers escorting John Lewis ' body across state is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Troy Mayor Jason Reeves while speaking at the services Saturday ended his 5-minute speech recognizing a small , but powerful moment for Alabama and the country .
As Lewis ' body was brought into Troy Arena , state troopers were escorting his body and will be escorting his body across Alabama for memorial services .
Reeves reminded the crowd that this is the same organization of law enforcement officers that beat Lewis on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma on Bloody Sunday in 1965 .
`` ( Lewis ) became a figure known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edmund Pettus Bridge confronting Alabama state troopers , '' Reeves said .
`` And now Alabama State Troopers will lead his body around this state as we celebrate his life . ''
The crowd clapped in recognition after Reeves recalled the moment .
The memorial service is expected to last about an hour inside Troy Arena .
Kim Chandler , a reporter with The Associated Press , tweeted out an image of the program , set in blue with a prominent picture of Lewis during his congressional years .
'We stand on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got up at 4 a.m. Saturday to leave Atlanta an hour later to see Rep. John Lewis one last time , in the arena she played basketball at her alma mater .
“ We stand on his shoulders today , ” she said sitting outside the Trojan Arena with her former teammate and friend , Rosalyn Butler .
The pair sat side-by-side sporting T-shirts Sampson had made just for the viewing .
“ Danger , Troy State Educated , ” the shirts said on the front .
“ We stand on the shoulders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Lewis , ” they said on the back .
Butler didn ’ t have to get up quite so early , commuting from Montgomery , but she was happy to join her friend .
The two were some of the first in line to snag one of 800 tickets .
“ He paved the way for us , ” Butler said .
“ He actually paved the way for us .
For him not being able to attend Troy and I was able to attend Troy and graduate , so he paved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Butler said she was at home and happened to see the news of Lewis ’ death on the news .
“ It was just like wow .
We ’ re going through a pandemic and then someone like John Lewis , he just stood up , he stood up , ” she said .
“ It was very impactful for me .
Really sad because we ’ re no further along than the 50s , so that was the sad part about it .
We still have to fight .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t learn the news until the next morning .
“ It really hit me .
It felt really personal being as he could not attend Troy and integrate Troy in the 50s , and I was actually able to receive a degree in 1994 from here .
So he just really meant a lot , ” she said .
Separately the two have attended viewings of Rosa Parks in Montgomery and Coretta Scott King in Atlanta .
“ But we found it necessary to come together , in the place where we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say goodbye together , ” Butler said .
Casket of John Lewis brought into Troy Arena for memorial services The body of Congressman John Lewis arrived for memorial services in Trojan Arena at the university shortly before the memorial services were set to begin .
Members of the U.S. military are serving as pallbearers .
This ceremony is open to the public , but seating was limited .
Photos show chairs for attendees spread apart to practice social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Officials said only 800 public seats were available and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MORE PHOTOS from the day 's events honoring Lewis Born Feb. 21 , 1940 , in Pike County , Alabama , Lewis avidly followed news of the Montgomery Bus Boycott from December 1955 to December 1956 , which he wrote in his autobiography that his parents spoke of “ with a mixture of awe and disapproval in their voices.
” When he was 16 , he circulated a petition to integrate the then-segregated Troy public library .
Lewis made an attempt to transfer to Troy University ( then Troy State College ) in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to his first face-to-face meeting with King .
King , along with attorney Fred Gray , offered to work with Lewis on a lawsuit if he wanted to pursue it , though King warned him that “ if you do this , something could happen to you.
” But Lewis ’ parents , fearful of whites retaliating against them if their son took on the public fight , convinced him to drop the matter .
He instead attend college in Nashville , Tennessee , and earned degrees from from Fisk University is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Theological Seminary .

Live updates: John Lewis funeral services in Alabama on Saturday
Show Caption Hide Caption John Lewis honored by fellow civil rights activists in Selma service Rep. John Lewis was honored by fellow civil rights activists in an emotional memorial service at historic Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Selma, Alabama. USA TODAY
The six days of memorial services honoring Congressman John Lewis began Saturday in Troy, Alabama, near his birthplace.
He was remembered during a service at Troy University, a school he once considered challenging in court to attend. He will lie in repose at the school for three hours before his body is taken to Selma for a service at Brown Chapel A.M.E Church, a historic congregation long tied to the civil rights movement in Selma and Alabama.
On Saturday night, he will lie in repose in Selma, and Sunday, a procession mirroring the Selma to Montgomery voting rights march route will bring Lewis to the state Capitol for services.
Follow along here for updates from the services Saturday.
Watch a replay of the Selma services
We are done for the night with live coverage of the services Saturday in Selma and earlier in Troy.
If you would like to watch a replay of the Saturday night services in Selma, click here.
Martin Luther King III encourages Voting Rights Act to be renamed
In remembering Rep. John Lewis at a memorial in Selma, Martin Luther King III suggested Congress make a change to the Voting Rights Act.
"Maybe we ought to encourage Congress to change the name to the John Lewis Restoration Voting Rights Act," he said. "It needs to be restored. It has to be."
Martin Luther King III: John Lewis, MLK together again Martin Luther King III imagines the sweet reunion between his parents and Rep. John Lewis on the other side. USA TODAY, USA TODAY
Sen. Doug Jones calls youngest protesters 'patriots,' calls out Trump for devisive words
Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., drew comparisons to young Americans leading protests this summer across the country to what Lewis did in the mid-20th century.
At a memorial in Selma, Jones said Lewis showed the way but that the young protesters, he believes, will show us to our full promise as a country, lauding them for their courage and vigor before calling out President Donald Trump for his characterization of protesters.
“Like (Lewis), they are protesting peacefully, nonviolently. They love this nation just as much as John,” Jones said. “President Trump paints them all with a broad brush and calls them lawless thugs. But he is wrong. They are patriots who want America to move forward to a nation of equals together.”
Hearse arrives at Brown Chapel
Rep. John Lewis' casket arrived shortly before 6 p.m. for the memorial in Selma, Alabama.
Lewis' hearse earlier traveled across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma during a Saturday afternoon rain for the services.
Lewis is forever connected to the bridge for enduring a fractured skull after he was beaten during the Bloody Sunday march when law enforcement beat protesters seeking better voter access to the polls for Black residents.
John Lewis' casket escorted across Edmund Pettus Bridge for Saturday night memorial service
Rep. John Lewis' casket was taken across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, during a Saturday afternoon rain for services.
Lewis is forever connected to the bridge for enduring a fractured skull after he was beaten during the Bloody Sunday march when law enforcement beat protesters seeking better voter access to the polls for Black residents.
More photos: https://bit.ly/39xgitx
Rep. John Lewis: The civil right icon in his own words A look at the life of congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis in his own words. USA TODAY
A look at the day in Troy
Drive northeast out of Troy, Alabama, through rolling hay fields and thickening copses of loblolly pines and you'll see the sign.
"WE THANK JOHN R. LEWIS FOR GETTING INTO GOOD TROUBLE," black letters carefully spaced in the Greater Dunn's Chapel sign read.
The red brick American Methodist Episcopal chapel this weekend is honoring the passing of an American giant. The entire city of Troy did.
What is the significance of Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma?
Lewis will be honored inside the historic Brown Chapel A.M.E Church in Selma on Saturday night.
Built in the early 19th century, the building was a hub during the Selma to Montgomery voting rights march. It served as the headquarters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's push for voter access in 1965.
Many protests began at the church, including the Selma to Montgomery march and the Bloody Sunday march, when it served as a makeshift hospital after the marchers were beaten by law enforcement officers.
Lewis' casket leaving Troy for Selma services
At 2 p.m. Trojan Arena was quiet except for the stern commands from the honor guard readying Lewis' casket for the roughly two-hour drive to Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Selma.
The tufted pillow Lewis' head rested on was removed prior to the casket being closed. An American flag was unfurled and secured to the casket before nine members of the military came to escort his body away.
The small crowd of people who remained to witness Lewis' exit moved very little, some saluted. Walking in lock-step, the honor guard marched Lewis out of the arena, though a tunnel and out a back door where the hearse waited.
A funeral director stood nearby and when it was time he slowly closed the door, sending Lewis on his way.
Remembering John Lewis' final time in Selma, emotional speech on Pettus Bridge
Lewis will be honored Saturday night at Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Selma. The service begins at 6 p.m. and is closed to the public.
Lewis' final visit to Selma before his death included an inspiring message to hundreds on the Edmund Pettus Bridge during the 55th annual remembrance of Bloody Sunday in the city.
He told the crowd he thought was going to die on the bridge in 1965 and inspired all now to keep fighting for rights and access to all.
"We must keep the faith, keep our eyes on the prize," he said. "We must go out and vote like we never ever voted before. Some people gave more than a little blood. Some gave their very lives."
“I thought I was going to die on this bridge.”
Incredible moment in the middle of the Edmund Pettus bridge during #Selma55 bridge crossing. Thank you @repjohnlewis. We will never stop working to honor you and all who risked their lives for the right to vote. pic.twitter.com/v0V05D36uI — Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) March 1, 2020
See a replay of the John Lewis services in Troy
The Troy services have ended but a replay of the event is available.
Watch again: Memorial service for Rep. John Lewis in his hometown of Troy, Alabama
Hundreds honor Lewis during viewing in arena
As the ceremony came to a close with an emphatic rendition of “On Time God” by Dottie Peoples, those in attendance gathered around the edges of the arena floor to view Lewis’ body. The American flag, draped across the congressman’s casket, was carefully pulled back and folded as the coffin was opened.
Lewis, wearing a dark blue suit with a navy tie, laid in the dark mahogany casket, his hands clasped one over the other.
Hundreds filed by, some clearly came with family and friends while others stood alone in line. A young girl, wearing a purple striped dress and a purple headband to keep her hair back, held a bouquet of red tulips bound together with a light blue ribbon. Shortly after the Troy football team, who’d been practicing in the stadium nearby prior to the service, joined the line.
Phi Beta Sigma fraternity brothers honor Lewis at Troy memorial
John Lewis was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, along with George Washington Carver, Scottie Pippen and Huey P. Newton.
Members of the fraternity honored Lewis during the viewing inside Troy Arena and sang.
Three moments resonate in Troy memorial service for John Lewis
A young nephew reminding us all to follow his uncle's words and way. Jackson Lewis Brewster in an unscripted speech told us all to keep his uncle's legacy alive. So beautiful.
A powerful song delivered with spirit and energy. Dottie Peoples brought the house down with performance of "He's an On Time God." Even when there were technical difficulties and the music skipped a beat or two, she sure didn't.
And the Troy mayor noticing a small, telling moment for Alabama and the country. Jackson Reeves recalled a moment when he noticed Alabama state troopers escorting Lewis' body into Troy. This is the same organization that was empowered to beat him and others senseless on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965. Now they are protecting him and honoring him as we honor Lewis as a country. That is the change Lewis fought for.
More: 'Keep his legacy alive': John Lewis' nephew speaks at Troy memorial service
John Lewis' Troy memorial ceremony ends as viewing set to begin
The ceremony has ended, about 10:55 a.m. Central, and they’ve prepared Lewis' casket for a viewing.
Out of respect for the family, no photos or videos are allowed during this time, organizers announced.
One final dance with Dottie for John Lewis
Dottie Peoples, before she sang the gospel song "He's an On Time God," encouraged the crowd to get on their feet for it, and said Lewis had a favorite song to “do a dance with Dottie.”
“Today this is going to be the final dance with Dottie,” she said.
Members of the audience are up on their feet for this song pic.twitter.com/LkRYlOPxCZ — Kirsten Fiscus (@KDFiscus) July 25, 2020
Congress ... 'A long way from the cotton fields of Alabama'
Lewis' brother Henry “Grant” Lewis recounted the moment John Lewis was sworn into Congress the first time.
“He gave me a thumbs up and I asked him why and he said "It sure is a long way from the cotton fields of Alabama,’” he said.
The Lewis children were the son of the sharecroppers in Pike County, Alabama. John Lewis fought to gain access to public systems in Troy, the county seat, that was strictly segregated when he was growing up.
John Lewis' nephew takes stage to honor his uncle
Lewis' nephew, Jackson Lewis Brewster, in a cute moment, spoke for about 45 seconds on the stage to honor him. It was a small and sweet, unplanned moment. He wasn't listed on the ceremony's program.
He asked everyone to keep his uncle's memory and legacy alive.
When he was done, he jumped off the stage, drawing chuckles from the crowd.
Alabama state troopers escorting John Lewis' body across state is a symbolic moment, Troy mayor says
Troy Mayor Jason Reeves while speaking at the services Saturday ended his 5-minute speech recognizing a small, but powerful moment for Alabama and the country.
As Lewis' body was brought into Troy Arena, state troopers were escorting his body and will be escorting his body across Alabama for memorial services.
Reeves reminded the crowd that this is the same organization of law enforcement officers that beat Lewis on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma on Bloody Sunday in 1965.
"(Lewis) became a figure known around the world for action on the Edmund Pettus Bridge confronting Alabama state troopers," Reeves said. "And now Alabama State Troopers will lead his body around this state as we celebrate his life."
The crowd clapped in recognition after Reeves recalled the moment.
A look at John Lewis Troy memorial service program
The memorial service is expected to last about an hour inside Troy Arena.
Kim Chandler, a reporter with The Associated Press, tweeted out an image of the program, set in blue with a prominent picture of Lewis during his congressional years.
'We stand on the shoulders of the Boy from Troy'
Makesha Sampson only slept three hours Friday night.
Sampson got up at 4 a.m. Saturday to leave Atlanta an hour later to see Rep. John Lewis one last time, in the arena she played basketball at her alma mater.
“We stand on his shoulders today,” she said sitting outside the Trojan Arena with her former teammate and friend, Rosalyn Butler.
The pair sat side-by-side sporting T-shirts Sampson had made just for the viewing.
“Danger, Troy State Educated,” the shirts said on the front.
“We stand on the shoulders of the boy from Troy. Congressman John Lewis,” they said on the back.
Butler didn’t have to get up quite so early, commuting from Montgomery, but she was happy to join her friend. The two were some of the first in line to snag one of 800 tickets.
“He paved the way for us,” Butler said. “He actually paved the way for us. For him not being able to attend Troy and I was able to attend Troy and graduate, so he paved the way for us,” Butler said.
Butler said she was at home and happened to see the news of Lewis’ death on the news.
“It was just like wow. We’re going through a pandemic and then someone like John Lewis, he just stood up, he stood up,” she said. “It was very impactful for me. Really sad because we’re no further along than the 50s, so that was the sad part about it. We still have to fight. We’re still fighting.”
Sampson didn’t learn the news until the next morning.
“It really hit me. It felt really personal being as he could not attend Troy and integrate Troy in the 50s, and I was actually able to receive a degree in 1994 from here. So he just really meant a lot,” she said.
Separately the two have attended viewings of Rosa Parks in Montgomery and Coretta Scott King in Atlanta.
“But we found it necessary to come together, in the place where we got to know each other, to say goodbye together,” Butler said.
Casket of John Lewis brought into Troy Arena for memorial services
The body of Congressman John Lewis arrived for memorial services in Trojan Arena at the university shortly before the memorial services were set to begin.
Members of the U.S. military are serving as pallbearers.
This ceremony is open to the public, but seating was limited. Photos show chairs for attendees spread apart to practice social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials said only 800 public seats were available and attendees must wear face coverings.
SEE MORE PHOTOS from the day's events honoring Lewis
John Lewis once considered challenging Troy University for entry
Born Feb. 21, 1940, in Pike County, Alabama, Lewis avidly followed news of the Montgomery Bus Boycott from December 1955 to December 1956, which he wrote in his autobiography that his parents spoke of “with a mixture of awe and disapproval in their voices.” When he was 16, he circulated a petition to integrate the then-segregated Troy public library.
Lewis made an attempt to transfer to Troy University (then Troy State College) in the winter of 1957, which brought him to his first face-to-face meeting with King. King, along with attorney Fred Gray, offered to work with Lewis on a lawsuit if he wanted to pursue it, though King warned him that “if you do this, something could happen to you.” But Lewis’ parents, fearful of whites retaliating against them if their son took on the public fight, convinced him to drop the matter.
He instead attend college in Nashville, Tennessee, and earned degrees from from Fisk University is also a graduate of the American Baptist Theological Seminary.
Read his obituary: Chronicling John Lewis' life in Alabama


usatoday--2020-07-25--How to watch weekend events honoring John Lewis in Alabama

Multiple events are scheduled in Alabama this weekend to honor civil rights hero and longtime U.S. Rep. John Lewis .
The 80-year-old died after a battle with pancreatic cancer on July 17 .
Here 's how you can watch regional events honoring him : On Saturday , events begin in the Troy , Lewis ' birthplace .
His family will take part in a celebration of his life service at Troy University .
The event begins at 11 a.m. EDT .
Watch the service on a livestream the Montgomery Advertiser will provide ( we 'll update this story as soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available ) .
The event will also be aired live on the TROY TrojanVision cable channel .
Following the service , Lewis will be laid in repose at a public event at Trojan Arena on the campus of Troy University until 3 p.m. After Troy , Lewis will be laid in repose at a public event from at Bethel AME Church in Selma from 9 p.m. to midnight .
Prior to this , the church will hold a private event entitled `` Selma Honors Congressman John Robert Lewis : 1940-2020 . ''
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body of John Lewis will be carried on a lone pilgrimage across Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma .
You can watch a stream of the event from the Washington Post here : From Selma , Lewis will go on to Montgomery , where there will be a receiving ceremony before he will lie in state at the Capitol from 3-8 p.m. Sunday .
Officials and community leaders have encouraged people to line the sidewalks of Dexter Avenue starting as early as 11:30 a.m. ahead that event .
Steven Reed , Montgomery 's first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vigil honoring Lewis ’ life and legacy in Bicentennial Park in front of the Capitol Sunday night .
The event is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Eastern time .
Speakers are expected to include Bernice King , Fred Gray , Joe Reed , Black Voters Matter co-founder Latosha Brown , original Freedom Rider Bernard Lafayette , and Selma-to-Montgomery March participant Sheyann Webb-Christburg .

How to watch weekend events honoring John Lewis in Alabama
Show Caption Hide Caption John Lewis's lifetime of making 'good trouble' left scars and a legacy Susan Page discusses John Lewis's legacy as the elder statesman of the ongoing civil rights movement. USA TODAY
Multiple events are scheduled in Alabama this weekend to honor civil rights hero and longtime U.S. Rep. John Lewis. The 80-year-old died after a battle with pancreatic cancer on July 17.
Here's how you can watch regional events honoring him:
Service for John Lewis in Troy
On Saturday, events begin in the Troy, Lewis' birthplace. His family will take part in a celebration of his life service at Troy University.
The event begins at 11 a.m. EDT. Watch the service on a livestream the Montgomery Advertiser will provide (we'll update this story as soon as an embed for that stream is available).
The event will also be aired live on the TROY TrojanVision cable channel.
Following the service, Lewis will be laid in repose at a public event at Trojan Arena on the campus of Troy University until 3 p.m.
John Lewis at Bethel AME Church in Selma
After Troy, Lewis will be laid in repose at a public event from at Bethel AME Church in Selma from 9 p.m. to midnight. Prior to this, the church will hold a private event entitled "Selma Honors Congressman John Robert Lewis: 1940-2020."
John Lewis' final journey across Edmund Pettus Bridge
On Sunday at 11 a.m. EDT, the body of John Lewis will be carried on a lone pilgrimage across Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma.
You can watch a stream of the event from the Washington Post here:
John Lewis lies in state at Alabama State Capitol
From Selma, Lewis will go on to Montgomery, where there will be a receiving ceremony before he will lie in state at the Capitol from 3-8 p.m. Sunday.
Officials and community leaders have encouraged people to line the sidewalks of Dexter Avenue starting as early as 11:30 a.m. ahead that event.
Vigil in Montgomery to honor John Lewis
Steven Reed, Montgomery's first Black mayor, plans to lead a vigil honoring Lewis’ life and legacy in Bicentennial Park in front of the Capitol Sunday night. The event is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Speakers are expected to include Bernice King, Fred Gray, Joe Reed, Black Voters Matter co-founder Latosha Brown, original Freedom Rider Bernard Lafayette, and Selma-to-Montgomery March participant Sheyann Webb-Christburg.


usatoday--2020-07-26--'I am in a risk category': Fauci explains why he won't be getting on a plane amid COVID-19

You may be debating whether you want to get on a plane anytime soon .
One person not debating is Dr. Anthony Fauci , who says he wo n't be taking off during the coronavirus pandemic .
Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health , told MarketWatch that flying is risky right now .
And because he 's in an older age bracket , he 's not willing to take the risk .
`` I am in a risk category , '' Fauci said .
`` I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m 79 years old .
I can ’ t think of a reason to go trans-Atlantic .
Right now , I ’ m very sequestered .
I ’ m on a coronavirus task force .
I go to the White House almost every day . ''
Fauci said he spends half his day in his office working to develop a vaccine and drugs for COVID-19 , which has now infected more than 4 million Americans .
`` I don ’ t fancy seeing myself getting infected , which is a risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plane , particularly with the amount of infection that ’ s going on right now , '' he said .
Is it safe to fly ?
: Here 's how to mitigate risk when flying during the coronavirus pandemic Fauci also questioned the effectiveness of temperature checks before flights , something airlines have been pushing the U.S. federal government to start .
`` I ’ m not sure taking temperatures is all it ’ s cracked up to be because there are a lot of false negatives and false positives , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to just question people : 'Do you have any symptoms ?
Have you been near someone who is infected ? '
The time spent asking a couple of simple questions is probably more effective than just taking temperatures . ''
Uh oh : Airlines were finally starting to see passengers return .
Then coronavirus cases spiked 5 flights in 4 weeks : What it 's really like to fly during the coronavirus pandemic In spite of all the precautions now in place , Joseph Khabbaza , a pulmonary and critical care physician at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most potential of travel activities for exposure to the coronavirus , because of the nature of how planes are configured .
`` Once you ’ re in the cabin , you don ’ t know who ’ s on the plane , '' he said .
`` You ’ re in relative closer proximity to people you don ’ t know . ''
Still , he said , flying is safer than it was earlier in the pandemic because of the changes airlines have made .
In addition to spacing and sanitizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extra layer of protection from the virus .
Most U.S. carriers now require passengers to wear them .
Airlines , airports , the Transportation Security Administration and others have touted intensive new cleaning measures and safety protocols including mask requirements , social distancing , plexiglass partitions at ticket and gate counters and other precautions in a bid to protect employees and lure skittish vacation and business travelers back .
But cases have spiked , and based on recent earnings reports , airlines are still struggling .
United said Tuesday that it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through September .
United CEO Scott Kirby said that demand has taken a step backward in July from where it was in mid-June , but it now seems to have bottomed .
`` We expect we 're kind of back to where we were in late May and that demand will start to gradually recover once again as we get through the rest of the year , '' he said .
Executives from Southwest , American , Spirit and Alaska airlines also detailed the falloff in already shrunken travel demand in a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ echoing reports from United and Delta .
`` In short , the crisis continues , '' American CEO Doug Parker said .
`` This is less about people 's concern about flying and much more about having a reason to travel . ''
Contributing : Curtis Tate and Dawn Gilbertson , USA TODAY ; The Associated Press 'More likely months than weeks ' : Fauci warns UK coronavirus travel restrictions wo n't lift anytime soon Blast from the past : Why did US break Diamond Princess coronavirus quarantine ?
'Something went awry '

'I am in a risk category': Fauci explains why he won't be getting on a plane amid COVID-19
Show Caption Hide Caption Dr. Fauci: society's responsibility in conquering COVID-19 Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks to how personal responsibility and social distancing is the key to ending the spread of the coronavirus. USA TODAY
You may be debating whether you want to get on a plane anytime soon. One person not debating is Dr. Anthony Fauci, who says he won't be taking off during the coronavirus pandemic.
Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, told MarketWatch that flying is risky right now. And because he's in an older age bracket, he's not willing to take the risk.
"I am in a risk category," Fauci said. "I don’t like to admit it, but I’m 79 years old. I can’t think of a reason to go trans-Atlantic. Right now, I’m very sequestered. I’m on a coronavirus task force. I go to the White House almost every day."
Fauci said he spends half his day in his office working to develop a vaccine and drugs for COVID-19, which has now infected more than 4 million Americans.
"I don’t fancy seeing myself getting infected, which is a risk when you’re getting on a plane, particularly with the amount of infection that’s going on right now," he said.
Is it safe to fly?: Here's how to mitigate risk when flying during the coronavirus pandemic
Fauci also questioned the effectiveness of temperature checks before flights, something airlines have been pushing the U.S. federal government to start.
"I’m not sure taking temperatures is all it’s cracked up to be because there are a lot of false negatives and false positives," he said. "It’s best to just question people: 'Do you have any symptoms? Have you been near someone who is infected?' The time spent asking a couple of simple questions is probably more effective than just taking temperatures."
Uh oh: Airlines were finally starting to see passengers return. Then coronavirus cases spiked
5 flights in 4 weeks: What it's really like to fly during the coronavirus pandemic
Should you fly amid COVID-19?
In spite of all the precautions now in place, Joseph Khabbaza, a pulmonary and critical care physician at the Cleveland Clinic, said flying offers the most potential of travel activities for exposure to the coronavirus, because of the nature of how planes are configured.
"Once you’re in the cabin, you don’t know who’s on the plane," he said. "You’re in relative closer proximity to people you don’t know."
Still, he said, flying is safer than it was earlier in the pandemic because of the changes airlines have made.
In addition to spacing and sanitizing, he said, face masks add an extra layer of protection from the virus. Most U.S. carriers now require passengers to wear them.
Airlines, airports, the Transportation Security Administration and others have touted intensive new cleaning measures and safety protocols including mask requirements, social distancing, plexiglass partitions at ticket and gate counters and other precautions in a bid to protect employees and lure skittish vacation and business travelers back.
But cases have spiked, and based on recent earnings reports, airlines are still struggling.
United said Tuesday that it will operate at barely over one-third of capacity through September. United CEO Scott Kirby said that demand has taken a step backward in July from where it was in mid-June, but it now seems to have bottomed.
"We expect we're kind of back to where we were in late May and that demand will start to gradually recover once again as we get through the rest of the year," he said.
Executives from Southwest, American, Spirit and Alaska airlines also detailed the falloff in already shrunken travel demand in a series of quarterly earnings conference calls Thursday, echoing reports from United and Delta.
"In short, the crisis continues,'' American CEO Doug Parker said. "This is less about people's concern about flying and much more about having a reason to travel.''
Contributing: Curtis Tate and Dawn Gilbertson, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
'More likely months than weeks': Fauci warns UK coronavirus travel restrictions won't lift anytime soon
Blast from the past: Why did US break Diamond Princess coronavirus quarantine? 'Something went awry'


usatoday--2020-07-28--AG Barr: DOJ had been drawn into 'political maelstrom'; department used as 'political weapon'

WASHINGTON – Attorney General William Barr , facing a hotly anticipated appearance before a House panel Tuesday , offered a forceful defense of his actions as the nation 's chief law enforcement officer , asserting that he has acted apart from the interests of the White House while `` applying a standard of justice without partisan considerations . ''
Even before taking office in 2019 , Barr said he became `` deeply troubled by what I perceived as the increasing use of the criminal justice process as a political weapon and the emergence of two separate standards of justice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the political maelstrom and was being buffeted on all sides , '' Barr said in an opening statement prepared for delivery Tuesday to the House Judiciary Committee .
When he was asked to consider returning for a second term as attorney general ( following his service in the George H.W .
Bush administration ) , Barr said he did so because `` I revere the Department and believed my independence would allow me to help steer her back to her core mission of applying one standard of justice for everyone and enforcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Of mounting questions about favorable decisions rendered in a series of cases involving President Donald Trump and his allies , Barr said that his actions `` have been my own . ''
`` And they have been made because I believed they were right under the law and principles of justice , '' according to Barr 's statement .
Barr 's long-sought testimony comes as part of House Democrats ' investigation into allegations of political interference at Justice and claims that the attorney general has turned the department into a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The hearing , billed as an oversight of the Justice Department , will touch on a year 's worth of grievances , from the widely criticized roll-out of the special counsel 's Russia report in 2019 to the deployment of federal agents to Portland .
'What had happened was wrong ' : DOJ lawyers accuse agency leaders of abusing power in Roger Stone case , other probes Unrest in Portland : Portland police detain two suspects after reported shooting near federal courthouse protest site House Democrats are expected to lob questions from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he mischaracterized the findings of former special counsel Robert Mueller 's Russia investigation , interference on the criminal prosecutions of Trump allies , the contentious ouster of Manhattan 's former U.S. attorney , and the federal agents ' use of force to clear Lafayette Square of protesters in Washington D.C. ahead of a presidential photo-op , according to the House committee 's counsel .
In his opening statement , Barr referred to the Russia investigation as `` bogus , '' and that he has paid a political price for his actions since .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I was going to do everything I could to get to the bottom of the grave abuses involved in the bogus “ Russiagate ” scandal , many of the Democrats on this Committee have attempted to discredit me by conjuring up a narrative that I am simply the President ’ s factotum who disposes of criminal cases according to his instructions , '' he said .
`` Judging from the letter inviting me to this hearing , that appears to be your agenda today . ''
Lawmakers also are expected to question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quell rioting in Portland and in support of Operation Legend , a federal crime-fighting initiative that the Justice Department recently expanded to multiple cities amid resistance and skepticism from local officials .
The rioting and demonstrations against police brutality initially prompted by the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police have only grown more intense since the deployment of federal officers .
While Barr said that police abuses remain rare , he said Floyd 's death and others like it `` strike a deep chord in the black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the deeper , lingering concern that , in encounters with police , blacks will not be treated even-handedly ; they will not be given the benefit of the doubt ; they will be treated with greater suspicion than a white person would be in the same circumstances . ''
Former US Attorney Geoffrey Berman : AG Barr pressed him to resign to make way for favored candidate '' I think these concerns are legitimate , '' Barr said in the statement , though he suggests that police should n't bear all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be an oversimplification to treat the problem as rooted in some deep-seated racism generally infecting our police departments , '' Barr said .
`` It seems far more likely that the problem stems from a complex mix of factors , which can be addressed with focused attention over time . ''
Republicans have cast the committee 's investigation as a political stunt that distracts from more pressing issues , such as the coronavirus pandemic and racial unrest .
They also have defended Barr , saying his actions at the Justice Department were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous administration .
The hearing , expected to be long and contentious , follows testimony from current and former Justice Department officials who accused the agency 's leadership of impropriety .
Last month , a Justice Department prosecutor said the department 's leadership gave Roger Stone , a longtime friend of the president , `` unprecedentedly favorable treatment '' by pushing for a more lenient prison sentence against the recommendation of career prosecutors .
Aaron Zelinsky told lawmakers he and the other attorneys who prosecuted the GOP operative were pressured to `` cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be fired .
Around the same time , Barr and ousted Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman publicly clashed over control of one of the Justice Department 's most prestigious offices that have investigated and prosecuted Trump 's allies and former associates .
During a chaotic weekend last month , Berman accused Barr of not being truthful after the Justice Department announced – prematurely , according to Berman – that he was leaving his post .
Federal deployments : Mayors see broken trust , political agenda in Trump 's surge of federal officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barr repeatedly pressed him to resign to make way for Trump 's desired nominee , telling him he would be fired if he refused to do so and even offering a high-ranking position within the Justice Department .
During the closed-door testimony , Berman said he questioned why he was being asked to leave before a nominee is confirmed and was critical of Barr 's decision to appoint an outsider as a temporary replacement , calling it `` unprecedented , unnecessary and unexplained . ''
Berman declined to speculate on Barr 's motives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's `` irregular and unexplained actions '' were problematic , according to a transcript of the testimony .

Kristine Phillips and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

AG Barr: DOJ had been drawn into 'political maelstrom'; department used as 'political weapon'
Show Caption Hide Caption Barr, Nadler clash on federal response to unrest Attorney General William Barr clashed with the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee over the federal response to unrest in U.S. cities. (July 28) AP
WASHINGTON – Attorney General William Barr, facing a hotly anticipated appearance before a House panel Tuesday, offered a forceful defense of his actions as the nation's chief law enforcement officer, asserting that he has acted apart from the interests of the White House while "applying a standard of justice without partisan considerations."
Even before taking office in 2019, Barr said he became "deeply troubled by what I perceived as the increasing use of the criminal justice process as a political weapon and the emergence of two separate standards of justice."
"The Department had been drawn into the political maelstrom and was being buffeted on all sides," Barr said in an opening statement prepared for delivery Tuesday to the House Judiciary Committee.
When he was asked to consider returning for a second term as attorney general (following his service in the George H.W. Bush administration), Barr said he did so because "I revere the Department and believed my independence would allow me to help steer her back to her core mission of applying one standard of justice for everyone and enforcing the law even-handedly, without partisan considerations."
Of mounting questions about favorable decisions rendered in a series of cases involving President Donald Trump and his allies, Barr said that his actions "have been my own."
"And they have been made because I believed they were right under the law and principles of justice," according to Barr's statement.
Barr's long-sought testimony comes as part of House Democrats' investigation into allegations of political interference at Justice and claims that the attorney general has turned the department into a political annex of the Trump White House.
The hearing, billed as an oversight of the Justice Department, will touch on a year's worth of grievances, from the widely criticized roll-out of the special counsel's Russia report in 2019 to the deployment of federal agents to Portland.
'What had happened was wrong': DOJ lawyers accuse agency leaders of abusing power in Roger Stone case, other probes
Unrest in Portland: Portland police detain two suspects after reported shooting near federal courthouse protest site
Nadler calls out Attorney General William Barr for being a no-show Attorney General William Barr made good Thursday on his threat to skip a House hearing into Russian interference in the 2016 election USA TODAY
House Democrats are expected to lob questions from a long list of issues, including whether he mischaracterized the findings of former special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, interference on the criminal prosecutions of Trump allies, the contentious ouster of Manhattan's former U.S. attorney, and the federal agents' use of force to clear Lafayette Square of protesters in Washington D.C. ahead of a presidential photo-op, according to the House committee's counsel.
In his opening statement, Barr referred to the Russia investigation as "bogus," and that he has paid a political price for his actions since.
"Ever since I made it clear that I was going to do everything I could to get to the bottom of the grave abuses involved in the bogus “Russiagate” scandal, many of the Democrats on this Committee have attempted to discredit me by conjuring up a narrative that I am simply the President’s factotum who disposes of criminal cases according to his instructions," he said. "Judging from the letter inviting me to this hearing, that appears to be your agenda today."
Lawmakers also are expected to question Barr about recent federal officer deployments to quell rioting in Portland and in support of Operation Legend, a federal crime-fighting initiative that the Justice Department recently expanded to multiple cities amid resistance and skepticism from local officials.
The rioting and demonstrations against police brutality initially prompted by the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police have only grown more intense since the deployment of federal officers.
While Barr said that police abuses remain rare, he said Floyd's death and others like it "strike a deep chord in the black community because they are perceived as manifestation of the deeper, lingering concern that, in encounters with police, blacks will not be treated even-handedly; they will not be given the benefit of the doubt; they will be treated with greater suspicion than a white person would be in the same circumstances."
Former US Attorney Geoffrey Berman: AG Barr pressed him to resign to make way for favored candidate
Geoffrey Berman firing: AG Barr's glowing account of NY prosecutor's work further clouds dismissal
"I think these concerns are legitimate," Barr said in the statement, though he suggests that police shouldn't bear all of the blame.
"I think it would be an oversimplification to treat the problem as rooted in some deep-seated racism generally infecting our police departments," Barr said. "It seems far more likely that the problem stems from a complex mix of factors, which can be addressed with focused attention over time."
Republicans have cast the committee's investigation as a political stunt that distracts from more pressing issues, such as the coronavirus pandemic and racial unrest. They also have defended Barr, saying his actions at the Justice Department were meant to correct the wrongs of the previous administration.
The hearing, expected to be long and contentious, follows testimony from current and former Justice Department officials who accused the agency's leadership of impropriety.
Last month, a Justice Department prosecutor said the department's leadership gave Roger Stone, a longtime friend of the president, "unprecedentedly favorable treatment" by pushing for a more lenient prison sentence against the recommendation of career prosecutors. Aaron Zelinsky told lawmakers he and the other attorneys who prosecuted the GOP operative were pressured to "cut Stone a break," or they could be fired.
Around the same time, Barr and ousted Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman publicly clashed over control of one of the Justice Department's most prestigious offices that have investigated and prosecuted Trump's allies and former associates. During a chaotic weekend last month, Berman accused Barr of not being truthful after the Justice Department announced – prematurely, according to Berman – that he was leaving his post.
'What a disaster': Aggressive federal response in Portland raises legal questions
Federal deployments: Mayors see broken trust, political agenda in Trump's surge of federal officers to US cities
The weekend ended with Berman's firing.
Berman later testified that Barr repeatedly pressed him to resign to make way for Trump's desired nominee, telling him he would be fired if he refused to do so and even offering a high-ranking position within the Justice Department. During the closed-door testimony, Berman said he questioned why he was being asked to leave before a nominee is confirmed and was critical of Barr's decision to appoint an outsider as a temporary replacement, calling it "unprecedented, unnecessary and unexplained."
Berman declined to speculate on Barr's motives, but he said the attorney general's "irregular and unexplained actions" were problematic, according to a transcript of the testimony.


usatoday--2020-07-28--We are worried that hospital COVID-19 data no longer goes to the apolitical CDC: Doctors

The Trump administration issued a new rule this month requiring hospitals to shift reporting their daily data on COVID-19 hospitalizations directly to the Trump administration , instead of reporting it to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
As physicians and licensed health care providers who have taken an oath to do no harm , we oppose this rule .
During a pandemic , a robust public health response is critical to our ability to provide the best possible care to our patients .
The CDC ’ s decades of experience , established infrastructure and apolitical nature position it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people continue to die from COVID-19 , attempting to exclude the CDC from effective decision-making is not only misguided , it may cause more deaths that were otherwise preventable .
As an non-political agency , the CDC has played a key role in promoting the health of Americans since its inception in the 1940s , when it was established to work on malaria eradication .
Over the past several decades , the CDC helped contain the Legionella outbreak in the 1970s , aided in the discovery that hepatitis B could be sexually transmitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in tuberculosis , and reported the first ever known cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS ) .
If the CDC had not had necessary data , these diseases may have claimed more lives .
Our ability to contain outbreaks and control contagious diseases was the result of physicians , scientists and epidemiologists closely monitoring infections as they arose , as well as analyzing and sharing data in real time to find important patterns in transmission and community spread .
This sudden and radical decision to change hospital reporting from the CDC to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the Department of Health and Human Services will disrupt established lines of communication and has grave potential to hobble our ability to respond to the pandemic by allocating resources like tests , personal protective equipment and hospital beds , and crafting policies that prevent new infections .
Data requirements in an emerging pandemic may not be static ; as knowledge and evidence evolve , data systems may need to capture new elements .
The CDC is a “ trusted broker ” of data .
This is critical in a pandemic where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Migrating the responsibility of any data collection to HHS presents a serious conflict of interest .
The department is led by former drug industry executive Alex Azar and the flow of information from the department is controlled by former Trump campaign adviser Michael Caputo , who now acts as an Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs .
In stark contrast to the CDC , which has long been an independent , apolitical agency with trusted protocols for emergent infections , HHS has a recent track record of promoting conservative political causes .
Hogan : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID facts .
Dr. Fauci has never let me down .
The White House has not only shown its disregard for science in its pandemic response , it has freely admitted to it .
President Donald Trump has already called for decreased testing , despite public health experts unanimously calling for broad testing as foundational to our pandemic response , and opposes more money for testing in the relief bill now being negotiated .
In addition , White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended the president ’ s push to open schools by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not stand in the way of this ” and insisting that `` the science is on our side . ''
We must consider the possibility that under HHS , data may be suppressed or manipulated as a political strategy to reflect what everyone knows the president wants to hear : that the pandemic will go away .
Report data to both HHS and CDC Changing the reporting structure from the trusted CDC to this unknown entity has limited advantages and none of them outweigh our interest in accurate data collection and reporting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time practice and policy development .
The erosion of public trust in the administration ’ s response to the pandemic can lead to mistrust when a future COVID-19 vaccine becomes available .
The consequences could be disastrous .
So far , Dr. Robert Redfield , the director of the CDC , claims he has access to needed data .
However , Dr. Daniel Pollock , surveillance branch chief for the CDC 's Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion , said in a recent interview that the data move concerns him .
Reliable data and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a global health crisis .
To safeguard the sanctity of the data and our public health response , we call on hospitals and data reporters to continue to simultaneously transfer data to the CDC while complying with the new rule .
Hospital administrators may worry about going against federal directives , especially if there is any potential for blowback .
The Trump administration has shown a propensity to condition access to federal resources on compliance with its policies .
The pandemic : With COVID-19 , don ’ t only focus on deaths .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ misery .
For example , the federal government may make access to remdesivir dependent on complying with this rule .
Its distribution of its stockpile of remdesivir has already been problematic , especially to Florida hospitals , but the very possibility that hospitals might not be able to get a critical drug they need shows exactly why we can not concentrate data — or any medical commodity — in the hands of people with a political agenda .
In fact , this is exactly what President Trump claims led him to withdraw the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : the fact that the WHO allegedly allowed China to suppress dissemination of data when the virus first appeared .
Simultaneous reporting will likely increase the reporting burden on hospitals and public health agencies at a time when they are already taxed by the enormity of the pandemic before us , but preserving the accuracy and accessibility of data is worth the cost .
Until Congress enshrines protections for data distribution in legislation , we stand as the last line of defense .
The oath we took to do no harm requires us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authors , 19 doctors and a nurse practitioner at Massachusetts General Hospital , are fellows with the Op-Ed project .
The views expressed here are solely their own and not those of the hospital .

19 doctors and a nurse practitioner, Opinion contributors

We are worried that hospital COVID-19 data no longer goes to the apolitical CDC: Doctors COVID data should be reported to CDC and HHS. That complies with the new rule and preserves accuracy and access. It's worth it even if it costs more.
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus hospital data sent to Trump administration instead of CDC The Trump administration issued a new rule requiring hospitals to report their daily data on COVID-19 hospitalizations directly to the administration. Newsy, Newsy
The Trump administration issued a new rule this month requiring hospitals to shift reporting their daily data on COVID-19 hospitalizations directly to the Trump administration, instead of reporting it to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As physicians and licensed health care providers who have taken an oath to do no harm, we oppose this rule. During a pandemic, a robust public health response is critical to our ability to provide the best possible care to our patients. The CDC’s decades of experience, established infrastructure and apolitical nature position it to lead our COVID-19 response. When people continue to die from COVID-19, attempting to exclude the CDC from effective decision-making is not only misguided, it may cause more deaths that were otherwise preventable.
As a non-political agency, the CDC has played a key role in promoting the health of Americans since its inception in the 1940s, when it was established to work on malaria eradication. Over the past several decades, the CDC helped contain the Legionella outbreak in the 1970s, aided in the discovery that hepatitis B could be sexually transmitted, identified the emergence of drug resistance in tuberculosis, and reported the first ever known cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
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
The CDC is a trusted broker
If the CDC had not had necessary data, these diseases may have claimed more lives. Our ability to contain outbreaks and control contagious diseases was the result of physicians, scientists and epidemiologists closely monitoring infections as they arose, as well as analyzing and sharing data in real time to find important patterns in transmission and community spread.
This sudden and radical decision to change hospital reporting from the CDC to a private third party (TeleTracking) within the Department of Health and Human Services will disrupt established lines of communication and has grave potential to hobble our ability to respond to the pandemic by allocating resources like tests, personal protective equipment and hospital beds, and crafting policies that prevent new infections. Data requirements in an emerging pandemic may not be static; as knowledge and evidence evolve, data systems may need to capture new elements. The CDC is a “trusted broker” of data. This is critical in a pandemic where the financial stakes have never been higher.
Migrating the responsibility of any data collection to HHS presents a serious conflict of interest. The department is led by former drug industry executive Alex Azar and the flow of information from the department is controlled by former Trump campaign adviser Michael Caputo, who now acts as an Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. In stark contrast to the CDC, which has long been an independent, apolitical agency with trusted protocols for emergent infections, HHS has a recent track record of promoting conservative political causes.
Hogan: Governors like me rely on experts for COVID facts. Dr. Fauci has never let me down.
The White House has not only shown its disregard for science in its pandemic response, it has freely admitted to it. President Donald Trump has already called for decreased testing, despite public health experts unanimously calling for broad testing as foundational to our pandemic response, and opposes more money for testing in the relief bill now being negotiated.
In addition, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended the president’s push to open schools by warning that, "The science should not stand in the way of this” and insisting that "the science is on our side." We must consider the possibility that under HHS, data may be suppressed or manipulated as a political strategy to reflect what everyone knows the president wants to hear: that the pandemic will go away.
Report data to both HHS and CDC
Changing the reporting structure from the trusted CDC to this unknown entity has limited advantages and none of them outweigh our interest in accurate data collection and reporting, as slowed analysis may significantly impede real time practice and policy development. The erosion of public trust in the administration’s response to the pandemic can lead to mistrust when a future COVID-19 vaccine becomes available. The consequences could be disastrous.
So far, Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the CDC, claims he has access to needed data. However, Dr. Daniel Pollock, surveillance branch chief for the CDC's Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, said in a recent interview that the data move concerns him. Reliable data and public trust in them are crucial in a global health crisis.
To safeguard the sanctity of the data and our public health response, we call on hospitals and data reporters to continue to simultaneously transfer data to the CDC while complying with the new rule.
Hospital administrators may worry about going against federal directives, especially if there is any potential for blowback. The Trump administration has shown a propensity to condition access to federal resources on compliance with its policies.
The pandemic: With COVID-19, don’t only focus on deaths. Too many Americans are alive and in misery.
For example, the federal government may make access to remdesivir dependent on complying with this rule. Its distribution of its stockpile of remdesivir has already been problematic, especially to Florida hospitals, but the very possibility that hospitals might not be able to get a critical drug they need shows exactly why we cannot concentrate data — or any medical commodity — in the hands of people with a political agenda. In fact, this is exactly what President Trump claims led him to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization: the fact that the WHO allegedly allowed China to suppress dissemination of data when the virus first appeared.
Simultaneous reporting will likely increase the reporting burden on hospitals and public health agencies at a time when they are already taxed by the enormity of the pandemic before us, but preserving the accuracy and accessibility of data is worth the cost. Until Congress enshrines protections for data distribution in legislation, we stand as the last line of defense. The oath we took to do no harm requires us to resist this harmful rule.
The authors, 19 doctors and a nurse practitioner at Massachusetts General Hospital, are fellows with the Op-Ed project. The views expressed here are solely their own and not those of the hospital.
Dr. Sarah Matathia, M.P.H.
Dr. Hemal N. Sampat
Dr. Monique Tello, M.P.H.
Dr. Amy Wheeler,
Dr. Melinda Mesmer
Dr. Jeff Liao
Dr. Lucas Marinacci
Dr. Michael F. Bierer
Dr. Marya J. Cohen, M.P.H.
Dr. Jing Ren
Dr. Audrey M. Provenzano, M.P.H.
Dr. Sejal Hathi, M.B.A.
Dr. Stephanie Eisenstat
Dr. Daniel M Horn
Dr. Jennifer S. Haas
Dr. Carolina Abuelo
Dallas M. Ducar, Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Nancy A. Rigotti
Dr. Andrea Reilly


usatoday--2020-07-28--Another coronavirus stimulus check: What we know about the next round of payments

Senate Republicans released a roughly $ 1 trillion coronavirus relief bill proposal Monday .
The Health Care Economic Assistance Liability Protection and Schools or HEALS Act sets off negotiations to reconcile with House Democrats ' $ 3 trillion proposal .
One item that is consistent in both proposals : Economic Impact Payments , commonly known as stimulus checks .
The stimulus bill – the fifth since the pandemic began in March – is likely the last economic rescue package before the November election .
Save better , spend better : Money tips and advice delivered right to your inbox .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stimulus check be ?
Another round of $ 1,200 checks for individuals and $ 2,400 for couples , are included in the HEALS Act , similar to the CARES Act .
The proposal from Senate Republicans will include the additional $ 500 for each dependent , and will be expanded from just children to cover dependents of any age .
When could I get another stimulus check ?
The speed of which Americans could get this Economic Impact Payment depends on Senate Republicans negotiations with House Democrats .
However , Treasury Secretary Steve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by July 31 .
The Treasury said on early June that approximately 159 million payments have been sent to Americans – falling short of the estimated 171 million stimulus checks in total to be distributed .
Since then , less than 1.5 million payments have been sent .
Who could qualify for this stimulus check ?
The income criteria for the next round of economic impact payments would be the same as stipulated under the CARES Act .
Under the HEALS Act , full payments would be made to individuals with up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or $ 150,000 for married couples who filed their taxes jointly .
Stimulus check : Calculate how much money you could get The Internal Revenue Service will make the assessment from the latest filed tax returns .
Those who did not file taxes for 2018 or 2019 , they can still submit their payment information to the IRS here .

Another coronavirus stimulus check: What we know about the next round of payments
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19: Details on the new stimulus plan The new GOP plan includes another check for Americans and continued help for the unemployed. USA TODAY
Senate Republicans released a roughly $1 trillion coronavirus relief bill proposal Monday. The Health Care Economic Assistance Liability Protection and Schools or HEALS Act sets off negotiations to reconcile with House Democrats' $3 trillion proposal.
One item that is consistent in both proposals: Economic Impact Payments, commonly known as stimulus checks.
The stimulus bill – the fifth since the pandemic began in March – is likely the last economic rescue package before the November election.
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How much would another stimulus check be?
Federal Reserve: How creating money could save US economy Where does the U.S. stimulus money come from? Here's how the Federal Reserve is saving the economy from the COVID-19 crisis. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Another round of $1,200 checks for individuals and $2,400 for couples, are included in the HEALS Act, similar to the CARES Act.
The proposal from Senate Republicans will include the additional $500 for each dependent, and will be expanded from just children to cover dependents of any age.
When could I get another stimulus check?
The speed of which Americans could get this Economic Impact Payment depends on Senate Republicans negotiations with House Democrats. However, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said he wants to finalize legislation by July 31.
The Treasury said on early June that approximately 159 million payments have been sent to Americans – falling short of the estimated 171 million stimulus checks in total to be distributed. Since then, less than 1.5 million payments have been sent.
Who could qualify for this stimulus check?
The income criteria for the next round of economic impact payments would be the same as stipulated under the CARES Act. Under the HEALS Act, full payments would be made to individuals with up to $75,000 in adjusted gross income, or $150,000 for married couples who filed their taxes jointly.
Stimulus check: Calculate how much money you could get
The Internal Revenue Service will make the assessment from the latest filed tax returns. Those who did not file taxes for 2018 or 2019, they can still submit their payment information to the IRS here.
Follow Josh Rivera on Twitter: @Josh1Rivera.


usatoday--2020-07-28--Feds charge Florida man with fraud for buying Lamborghini with COVID relief funds

A Florida man was charged with fraud Monday after receiving $ 3.9 million in loans from the Paycheck Protection Program to buy himself , among other things , a Lamborghini sports car , authorities said .
David T. Hines of Miami , Florida , was charged with one count of bank fraud , one count of making false statements to a financial institution and one count of engaging in transactions in unlawful proceeds , according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice .
Authorities allege that Hines , 29 , applied on behalf of a few companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Paycheck Protection Program , which was designed to keep small businesses afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The complaint also alleges Hines lied about the amount paid to employees .
Instead , he used the funds to shop at luxurious stores and resorts in Miami Beach , according to the statement .
Federal prosecutors said in a statement `` that within days of receiving the PPP funds , Hines purchased a 2020 Lamborghini Huracan sports car for approximately $ 318,000 , which he registered jointly in his name and the name of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the days and weeks following the disbursement of PPP funds , the complaint alleges that Hines did not make payroll payments that he claimed on his loan applications .
He did , however , make purchases at luxury retailers and resorts in Miami Beach .
Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act in March to help Americans and businesses suffering from the economic fallout amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
Senate Republicans unveiled a $ 1 trillion coronavirus pandemic aid package that includes a second round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` sequel '' to the Paycheck Protection Program which would help hard-hit firms with 300 or fewer workers a second opportunity to draw from the fund .

Feds charge Florida man with fraud for buying Lamborghini with COVID relief funds
Show Caption Hide Caption Small business owners share struggle with receiving PPP loans Small business owners share their difficult and confusing journeys in applying for the Paycheck Protection Program loan. USA TODAY
A Florida man was charged with fraud Monday after receiving $3.9 million in loans from the Paycheck Protection Program to buy himself, among other things, a Lamborghini sports car, authorities said.
David T. Hines of Miami, Florida, was charged with one count of bank fraud, one count of making false statements to a financial institution and one count of engaging in transactions in unlawful proceeds, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Authorities allege that Hines, 29, applied on behalf of a few companies for $13.5 million in loans provided by Paycheck Protection Program, which was designed to keep small businesses afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The complaint also alleges Hines lied about the amount paid to employees. Instead, he used the funds to shop at luxurious stores and resorts in Miami Beach, according to the statement.
Federal prosecutors said in a statement "that within days of receiving the PPP funds, Hines purchased a 2020 Lamborghini Huracan sports car for approximately $318,000, which he registered jointly in his name and the name of one of his companies."
In the days and weeks following the disbursement of PPP funds, the complaint alleges that Hines did not make payroll payments that he claimed on his loan applications. He did, however, make purchases at luxury retailers and resorts in Miami Beach.
Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March to help Americans and businesses suffering from the economic fallout amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Senate Republicans unveiled a $1 trillion coronavirus pandemic aid package that includes a second round of $1,200 stimulus payments and a "sequel" to the Paycheck Protection Program which would help hard-hit firms with 300 or fewer workers a second opportunity to draw from the fund.


usatoday--2020-07-28--'I would certainly do that': Trump's openness to COVID vaccine is a victory for compliance

Being admitted to the White House these days includes being nasally swabbed for COVID-19 and being issued a mask , if you don ’ t already have one .
For this new reality to change , I suspect a widely used effective vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus will have to be available .
In the meantime , I was socially distanced from the president of the United States in the pillared walkway beside the Rose Garden , where I interviewed him for Fox News .
President Donald Trump spoke Wednesday about vaccines and said that the “ vaccines are doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” His immediate focus , he said , is on therapeutics , including the antiviral remdesivir , steroids and antibodies against the virus .
“ If I had my choice of vaccines or therapeutics , give me therapeutics every time because I ’ d love to walk into a hospital and give everybody something and they start walking out in two days.
” Unfortunately , though the therapeutics are helpful , the clinical response is nowhere near this dramatic .
The scientific community is right to continue to chase the Holy Grail of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my interview was that the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine had been contracted by the Department of Health and Human Services to provide 100 million doses for nearly $ 2 billion .
President Trump smiled and acknowledged this proudly .
The vaccine utilizes messenger RNA , a genetic communicator that works by informing our cells to make the same spike protein the virus has in order to cause an immune response against it .
SARS-CoV-2 , like many viruses , is composed of RNA , a single strand of unstable genetic material .
Vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a prodigious pace .
Two messenger RNA vaccines , by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Inc. , have shown a robust immune response to the virus in early studies and have been tolerated well , albeit with flu-like symptoms in a majority of cases .
Both vaccines made substantial neutralizing antibodies that attack the spike protein on the virus , and both vaccines also made so-called T cells — immune warriors against viruses that augment the antibody response .
Both vaccines are now entering late stage trials .
A third high-tech vaccine is even further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ utilizes a viral vector — a deactivated chimpanzee adenovirus — to deliver the genetic payload ( resembles the spike protein of the virus ) to trigger the immune response , might have completed clinical trials by late fall .
These are all new technologies that have never been tried , which makes them exciting but unpredictable at the same time .
Race for a coronavirus vaccine : Why I volunteered to be exposed to COVID-19 What remains to be seen is whether they will work and be well tolerated in the much larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in Phase 3 trials .
Will there be enough virus around in the hot spots where the vaccines are being tested to conclude that they actually prevent you from becoming infected or decrease your symptoms if you do ?
Could encountering the virus increase your side effects from the vaccine ?
Will more risky challenge trials , where the virus is deliberately given to those who have been vaccinated , have to be considered ?
If and when a coronavirus vaccine is approved for use in humans , we will also need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 % of Americans have already said they won ’ t take a COVID-19 vaccine .
There is also significant health care disparities , and we need to make sure the vaccine is freely available in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities where high-risk groups for spreading and suffering severe cases of the virus predominate .
Public health will also need to overcome the fear of flu-like side effects once it becomes well-known that a new vaccine causes them .
The goal for me and other physicians will be to convince people that fear of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine to prevent it .
But is utilizing fear to overcome fear enough to overcome noncompliance ?
I have always relied on leaders to cement resolve and help me and other physicians to fight public worry .
I brought the president in on my concern and mentioned the noncompliance figure .
Knowing about his history as a vaccine skeptic , I took a chance and asked him , “ As commander in chief and leader of the free world , would you consider being one of the first to take this vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public ?
” We ca n't wait for a vaccine : Test everyone now to help end the pandemic His willingness surprised me .
This was the same president who had showed reluctance to wear a mask even as the virus continued to spread and it became clear that a mask played at least some role in slowing it down .
“ Well , you know , the way it works .
If I 'm the first one , they 'll say he 's so selfish he wanted to get the vaccine first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hey , that 's a very brave thing to do .
I would absolutely — if they wanted me to and if they thought it was right , I 'd take it first or I take it last .
… If I take it first , and if I take it — if I do n't take it , they 'll say he does n't believe in the program .
But whatever I think is best , whatever we all agree is best , I would certainly do that.
” “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” I said .
“ I ’ ll take it and then you.
” “ We will take it together , ” Trump agreed .
His willingness could be a big victory for vaccine compliance .
If a COVID-19 vaccine emerges , the president , if he is still president by then , has declared he will join me at the front of the line to take it .
Millions of vaccine skeptics will see this and , hopefully , take it too .
Dr. Marc Siegel , a member of USA TODAY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News medical correspondent , is a clinical professor of medicine and medical director of Doctor Radio at NYU Langone Health .
Follow him on Twitter : @ DrMarcSiegel

'I would certainly do that': Trump's openness to COVID vaccine is a victory for compliance His willingness surprised me. This was the same president who showed reluctance to wear a mask as the virus continued to spread and it became clear that a mask played some role in slowing it down.
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: How vaccines are developed and tested Pressure to create a coronavirus vaccine is increasing by the day, but for a safe vaccine to enter the market, it takes time. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Being admitted to the White House these days includes being nasally swabbed for COVID-19 and being issued a mask, if you don’t already have one. For this new reality to change, I suspect a widely used effective vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus will have to be available. In the meantime, I was socially distanced from the president of the United States in the pillared walkway beside the Rose Garden, where I interviewed him for Fox News.
President Donald Trump spoke Wednesday about vaccines and said that the “vaccines are doing well” but are “longer term.” His immediate focus, he said, is on therapeutics, including the antiviral remdesivir, steroids and antibodies against the virus. “If I had my choice of vaccines or therapeutics, give me therapeutics every time because I’d love to walk into a hospital and give everybody something and they start walking out in two days.”
Vaccines are under development
Unfortunately, though the therapeutics are helpful, the clinical response is nowhere near this dramatic. The scientific community is right to continue to chase the Holy Grail of vaccines. The news the day of my interview was that the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine had been contracted by the Department of Health and Human Services to provide 100 million doses for nearly $2 billion. President Trump smiled and acknowledged this proudly. The vaccine utilizes messenger RNA, a genetic communicator that works by informing our cells to make the same spike protein the virus has in order to cause an immune response against it.
SARS-CoV-2, like many viruses, is composed of RNA, a single strand of unstable genetic material.
Vaccine research for COVID-19 has been proceeding at a prodigious pace. Two messenger RNA vaccines, by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Inc., have shown a robust immune response to the virus in early studies and have been tolerated well, albeit with flu-like symptoms in a majority of cases. Both vaccines made substantial neutralizing antibodies that attack the spike protein on the virus, and both vaccines also made so-called T cells — immune warriors against viruses that augment the antibody response. Both vaccines are now entering late stage trials.
A third high-tech vaccine is even further along. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which utilizes a viral vector — a deactivated chimpanzee adenovirus — to deliver the genetic payload (resembles the spike protein of the virus) to trigger the immune response, might have completed clinical trials by late fall.
These are all new technologies that have never been tried, which makes them exciting but unpredictable at the same time.
Race for a coronavirus vaccine: Why I volunteered to be exposed to COVID-19
What remains to be seen is whether they will work and be well tolerated in the much larger numbers of volunteers — approximately 30,000 — involved in Phase 3 trials. Will there be enough virus around in the hot spots where the vaccines are being tested to conclude that they actually prevent you from becoming infected or decrease your symptoms if you do? Could encountering the virus increase your side effects from the vaccine? Will more risky challenge trials, where the virus is deliberately given to those who have been vaccinated, have to be considered?
Persuading skeptics to be vaccinated
If and when a coronavirus vaccine is approved for use in humans, we will also need to overcome a compliance problem: Nearly 30% of Americans have already said they won’t take a COVID-19 vaccine. There is also significant health care disparities, and we need to make sure the vaccine is freely available in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities where high-risk groups for spreading and suffering severe cases of the virus predominate. Public health will also need to overcome the fear of flu-like side effects once it becomes well-known that a new vaccine causes them. The goal for me and other physicians will be to convince people that fear of the virus should be greater than fear of the vaccine to prevent it.
But is utilizing fear to overcome fear enough to overcome noncompliance? I have always relied on leaders to cement resolve and help me and other physicians to fight public worry. I brought the president in on my concern and mentioned the noncompliance figure. Knowing about his history as a vaccine skeptic, I took a chance and asked him, “As commander in chief and leader of the free world, would you consider being one of the first to take this vaccine to send a message to the American public?”
We can't wait for a vaccine: Test everyone now to help end the pandemic
His willingness surprised me. This was the same president who had showed reluctance to wear a mask even as the virus continued to spread and it became clear that a mask played at least some role in slowing it down.
“Well, you know, the way it works. If I'm the first one, they'll say he's so selfish he wanted to get the vaccine first. And then other people would say, hey, that's a very brave thing to do. I would absolutely — if they wanted me to and if they thought it was right, I'd take it first or I take it last. … If I take it first, and if I take it — if I don't take it, they'll say he doesn't believe in the program. But whatever I think is best, whatever we all agree is best, I would certainly do that.”
“I’ll make you a deal,” I said. “I’ll take it and then you.”
“We will take it together,” Trump agreed.
“That’s right,” I said.
“Good,” said the president.
His willingness could be a big victory for vaccine compliance. If a COVID-19 vaccine emerges, the president, if he is still president by then, has declared he will join me at the front of the line to take it. Millions of vaccine skeptics will see this and, hopefully, take it too.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors and a Fox News medical correspondent, is a clinical professor of medicine and medical director of Doctor Radio at NYU Langone Health. Follow him on Twitter: @DrMarcSiegel


usatoday--2020-07-28--People in several states mailed unsolicited packets of seeds that may be from China, officials say

Officials in several states said residents have reported receiving unsolicited packages of seeds in the mail that appear to be sent from China and are urging the public not to plant them .
The agriculture departments in Washington , Louisiana , Kansas and Virginia have recently issued statements warning residents that the seeds may be invasive or otherwise harmful to local plants or livestock .
People in Utah , Arizona and Ohio have also reported receiving the mysterious packages , local news outlets reported .
Some of the packages were labeled as jewelry and may have Chinese writing on them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Culley , who lives in Tooele , Utah , told Fox 13 she was excited to find two small packages in her mailbox that appeared to contain earrings .
Start the day smarter : Get USA TODAY 's Daily Briefing in your inbox “ I opened them up and they were seeds , ” Culley said .
“ Obviously they ’ re not jewelry.
” Culley told the outlet she posted about the strange incident on Facebook , and “ at least 40 people ” reached out to her saying something similar happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry , asked residents to notify his department if they receive unsolicited packages of seeds , he said in a statement Friday .
“ Right now , we are uncertain what types of seeds are in the package , ” Strain said .
`` We need to identify the seeds to ensure they do not pose a risk to Louisiana ’ s agricultural industry or the environment.
” The Washington State Department of Agriculture warned residents not to plant or open the sealed packages and urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as `` agricultural smuggling '' to the U.S. Agriculture Department in a statement .
A spokesperson for the USDA said the department 's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is aware that people across the country have received the packages and urged anyone who does to contact their state plant regulatory official and keep the seeds and packaging , including the mailing label , until they receive further instruction .
`` APHIS is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security ’ s Customs and Border Protection and State departments of agriculture to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and protect U.S. agriculture from invasive pests and noxious weeds , '' the spokesperson said in a statement .
Police in Whitehouse , Ohio , said the seeds appear to be connected to an online scam and are not `` directly dangerous . ''
“ A brushing scam is an exploit by a vendor used to bolster product ratings and increase visibility online by shipping an inexpensive product to an unwitting receiver and then submitting positive reviews on the receiver ’ s behalf under the guise of a verified owner , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the police department advised residents to contact them so they can `` properly dispose of the seeds . ''

People in nearly 30 states mailed unsolicited packets of seeds that may be from China, officials say
Show Caption Hide Caption Seeds sent to random Americans may be from China Agriculture officials are asking people to not plant these seeds, as they could wreak havoc on the environment. Fox - 10 Phoenix
Officials in several states said residents have reported receiving unsolicited packages of seeds in the mail that appear to be sent from China and are urging the public not to plant them.
The agriculture departments in 30 states have recently issued statements warning residents about the seeds: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia,Washington, and Wyoming.
People in Utah, Arizona and Ohio have also reported receiving the mysterious packages, local news outlets reported.
Start the day smarter: Get USA TODAY's Daily Briefing in your inbox
USDA advice: What to do if you've received unsolicited seeds from China
Some of the packages were labeled as jewelry and may have Chinese writing on them, according to agriculture officials.
Lori Culley, who lives in Tooele, Utah, told Fox 13 she was excited to find two small packages in her mailbox that appeared to contain earrings.
“I opened them up and they were seeds,” Culley said. “Obviously they’re not jewelry.”
Culley told the outlet she posted about the strange incident on Facebook, and “at least 40 people” reached out to her saying something similar happened to them.
Sid Miller, Texas agriculture commissioner, urged Texans not to plant these seeds, as they could contain harmful invasive species or be otherwise unsafe, according to a release. Invasive species are organisms not native to a certain region. The introduction of invasive species could cause the destruction of native crops, introduce diseases to native plants and could be dangerous to livestock.
“An invasive plant species might not sound threatening, but these small invaders could destroy Texas agriculture," Miller said in the release. The Texas Department of Agriculture "has been working closely with USDA to analyze these unknown seeds so we can protect Texas residents.”
Mail scam hits Texas: Found unsolicited seeds from China in the mail? Do not plant them, officials warn
Mike Strain, commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, asked residents to notify his department if they receive unsolicited packages of seeds in a statement Friday.
“Right now, we are uncertain what types of seeds are in the package,” Strain said. "We need to identify the seeds to ensure they do not pose a risk to Louisiana’s agricultural industry or the environment.”
The Washington State Department of Agriculture warned residents not to plant or open the sealed packages and urged them to report the incident, known as "agricultural smuggling" to the U.S. Agriculture Department in a statement.
A spokesperson for the USDA said the department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is aware that people across the country have received the packages and urged anyone who does to contact their state plant regulatory official and keep the seeds and packaging, including the mailing label, until they receive further instruction.
"At this time, we don’t have any evidence indicating this is something other than a “brushing scam” where people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales," the statement said. "USDA is currently collecting seed packages from recipients and will test their contents and determine if they contain anything that could be of concern to U.S. agriculture or the environment."
Contributing: Alana Edgin, San Angelo Standard-Times
Follow N'dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg