usatoday--2020-11-03--Voters in Manhattan wait in long lines to cast their ballots on Election Day

Voters in Manhattan wait in long lines to cast their ballots on Election Day Long lines were being reported by @ @ @ @ @ got underway in New York City early on November 3 .

Voters in Manhattan wait in long lines to cast their ballots
Long lines were being reported by social media users as voting got underway in New York City early on November 3.
Storyful


usatoday--2020-11-03--All states prohibit 'militia extremists' and paramilitary activities. So why aren't they stopped?

WASHINGTON – `` People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business .
And part of my job also is to protect people .
If someone is hurt , I 'm running into harm 's way .
That 's why I have my rifle . ''
So said Kyle Rittenhouse as he stood in front of a boarded-up building in Kenosha , Wisconsin , in August .
The 17-year-old , police said , shot three people that night – two of them fatally – as heavily armed civilians who showed up to patrol the streets of Kenosha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of another Black man .
Rittenhouse is now facing homicide charges .
Rittenhouse 's comments to the Daily Caller in August appears to suggest a self-assigned role of protecting people .
That 's illegal in Wisconsin , where the state constitution forbids armed civilians from organizing and arming themselves to assume the role of law enforcement .
In fact , all 50 states prohibit such private , military-like activities .
Still , militant groups from far-right fringes have proliferated , energized by the election of President Donald Trump , experts say .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed , without evidence , that a massive voter fraud conspiracy is underway and has called on his supporters `` to go into the polls and watch very carefully . ''
Some groups have promised to do so , raising concerns among local election and law enforcement officials of voter intimidation .
Police : Extremist groups monitored to make sure they do n't interfere at polls According to the FBI : `` Many militia extremists view themselves as protecting the U.S. Constitution , other U.S. laws , or their own individual liberties .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the power to take back the federal government by force of violence if they feel it 's necessary . ''
That belief , legal experts say , is wrong .
Here 's what you need to know about laws that prohibit paramilitary groups and activities and why they 've continued to persist .
What do the laws say ?
The constitutions of 48 states require the military to be under the authority of the government .
This means private citizens do not have the authority to organize in a military-style fashion .
Twenty-nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities such as parading or conducting drills in public using firearms .
`` When self-designated private militia organizations attend public rallies purportedly to keep the peace or protect the rights of protesters or counter-protesters , they likely fall within this type of prohibition , particularly if bearing arms and wearing military-style uniforms , '' according to Georgetown University 's Institution for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection or ICAP .
In 25 states , unauthorized military activities are considered a crime .
In Colorado , for example , instructing people how to use or make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of causing civil disorder is a class 5 felony .
In 17 states , laws prohibit self-appointed peacekeepers from dressing up in uniforms and assuming the role of law enforcement .
'People 's worst fears ' came alive : Guns inject chilling dimension into protests in Kenosha What are the common misinterpretations of the laws ?
To legally justify their existence , these groups have seized on the Second Amendment , which says : `` A well regulated Militia , being necessary to the security of a free State , the right of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , shall not be infringed . ''
But the phrase `` well regulated Militia '' in this case refers to one that 's sanctioned and regulated by the government , like the National Guard , and not to privately organized paramilitary groups , said Mary McCord , acting assistant attorney general for the Justice Department 's National Security Division and legal director of Georgetown University 's ICAP .
Still , this phrase has been misinterpreted , particularly in states that do n't explicitly ban or criminalize paramilitary activities , said Amy Cooter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studied far-right militant groups .
A lot of paramilitary groups see themselves as `` supplementary to the military , '' Cooter said .
`` Most of them see themselves as doing exactly what 's required of them … From the militia 's perspective , as long as they have some sort of overarching training , some structure , that 's sufficient to maintain that legal structure . ''
These groups have also relied on the right to bear arms to defend themselves that 's guaranteed by the Second Amendment .
But the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment does not protect paramilitary activities , McCord said .
In 2008 , the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual 's right to possess a firearm for self-defense .
But the court 's opinion , authored by the late conservative Associate Justice Antonin Scalia , also said that the Second Amendment does not guarantee `` a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose . ''
Scalia also reiterated a Supreme Court ruling from more than a century earlier : That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from banning paramilitary organizations .
For the most part , it 's because local and state governments have not enforced the laws , experts say .
`` I think in many states , there 's not only a lack of political will , but we also have so-called constitutional sheriffs who refused to enforce the laws , '' said said Brian Levin , director of the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University San Bernardino .
`` I think some law enforcement executives are sympathetic ( to these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most are just not very aware of militias that are operating within their jurisdictions , particularly in rural areas and also of what the law is . ''
In many places , sheriffs reach out to paramilitary groups for help with law enforcement activities , such as search and rescue efforts , giving them a de facto legal status , Cooter said .
`` The way these folks sometimes ensconced themselves , they do so in a manner where they 're trying to cultivate positive relations with law enforcement , '' Levin said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement may simply choose not to go after heavily armed and well trained groups , said Daryl Johnson , a former Department of Homeland Security analyst who studied right-wing extremists .
`` For the most part , most militia groups are defensive in nature .
They just want to protect their families and communities , '' so local governments have simply allowed them to exist , Johnson said .
But Johnson said other groups have proved to be more brazen and more offensive in their actions , particularly in the midst of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their freedoms .
Just last month , the FBI charged members of the so-called Wolverine Watchmen group for allegedly plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer as part of a broader mission to instigate a civil war .
Several of the suspects attended protests against wearing masks and other measures imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
In Lane County , Oregon , armed groups reportedly turned away voters who were trying to drop off their ballots .
In a letter Monday to local and state officials in response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ militants have no authority to patrol ballot drop boxes .
Know your rights : What to do if you encounter intimidation at the polls What can or should police do on Election Day ?
Because a lot of states do allow people to open carry in public , police have to be sensitive to those rights , Cooter said .
Localities also have different laws on what is and is n't allowed at polling sites , and as long as groups are following local rules , there is n't much police can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the more law enforcement can basically leave them alone , the less reactionary they are , '' Cooter said .
`` I think as long as they 're following the law , it tends to be true that provocation escalates things . ''
Police will also have to be mindful of people 's right to free speech .
`` Definitely , if there 's any type of shouting or even pointing a weapon , that would be crossing the line , '' Johnson said .
`` Holding a weapon and shouting derogatory comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people going into polling places or trying to prevent them from walking in , '' would be crossing the line .
Federal , state and local law enforcement officials have been bracing for possible clashes at polling places .
In an ominous warning in September , the chief of New Jersey 's Homeland Security and Preparedness office called attention to a gathering storm of worries directly tied to the election .
`` Numerous threats from domestic extremists and foreign adversaries have emerged due to the COVID-19 pandemic , anti-government sentiment , nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinformation , '' Jared Maples wrote in a state threat assessment .
`` These threats will begin to converge with the presidential election in November in a manner not previously experienced by our nation . ''

All states prohibit 'militia extremists' and paramilitary activities. So why aren't they stopped?
Show Caption Hide Caption Expert: Militias shift focus to states since Trump Authorities announced that agents foiled a stunning plot to kidnap Michigan's Democratic governor. Analyst Mark Pitcavage with the Anti-Defamation League says it's no coincidence militia groups have recently focused more on state governments. (Oct. 8) AP
WASHINGTON – "People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business. And part of my job also is to protect people. If someone is hurt, I'm running into harm's way. That's why I have my rifle."
So said Kyle Rittenhouse as he stood in front of a boarded-up building in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August.
The 17-year-old, police said, shot three people that night – two of them fatally – as heavily armed civilians who showed up to patrol the streets of Kenosha clashed with demonstrators protesting the police shooting of another Black man. Rittenhouse is now facing homicide charges.
Rittenhouse's comments to the Daily Caller in August appears to suggest a self-assigned role of protecting people. That's illegal in Wisconsin, where the state constitution forbids armed civilians from organizing and arming themselves to assume the role of law enforcement.
In fact, all 50 states prohibit such private, military-like activities.
Kenosha protest shooting: What we know about shooter Kyle Rittenhouse 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse is being charged as an adult for shooting three people, two of them fatally, during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin. USA TODAY, Storyful
Still, militant groups from far-right fringes have proliferated, energized by the election of President Donald Trump, experts say.
As Trumpcampaigned, he has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that a massive voter fraud conspiracy is underway and has called on his supporters "to go into the polls and watch very carefully." Some groups have promised to do so, raising concerns among local election and law enforcement officials of voter intimidation.
Police: Extremist groups monitored to make sure they don't interfere at polls
The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that in the U.S., there were about 180 "militias" – defined by the law center as anti-government groups that engage in military-style training – active in 2019.
According to the FBI: "Many militia extremists view themselves as protecting the U.S. Constitution, other U.S. laws, or their own individual liberties. They believe that the Constitution grants citizens the power to take back the federal government by force of violence if they feel it's necessary."
That belief, legal experts say, is wrong. Here's what you need to know about laws that prohibit paramilitary groups and activities, and why they've continued to persist.
Election violence feared: 'Don't loot in Chicago,' police warn; stockpile food in DC, students told
What do the laws say?
The constitutions of 48 states require the military to be under the authority of the government. This means private citizens do not have the authority to organize in a military-style fashion. Twenty-nine states also don't allow private military-like activities such as parading or conducting drills in public using firearms.
"When self-designated private militia organizations attend public rallies purportedly to keep the peace or protect the rights of protesters or counterprotesters, they likely fall within this type of prohibition, particularly if bearing arms and wearing military-style uniforms," according to Georgetown University's Institution for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, or ICAP.
In 25 states, unauthorized military activities are considered a crime. In Colorado, for example, instructing people how to use or make firearms or explosive devices with the intent of causing civil disorder is a class 5 felony.
In 17 states, laws prohibit self-appointed peacekeepers from dressing up in uniforms and assuming the role of law enforcement.
'People's worst fears' came alive: Guns inject chilling dimension into protests in Kenosha
What are the common misinterpretations of the laws?
To legally justify their existence, these groups have seized on the Second Amendment, which says: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
But the phrase "well regulated Militia" in this case refers to one that's sanctioned and regulated by the government, like the National Guard, and not to privately organized paramilitary groups, said Mary McCord, acting assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's National Security Division and legal director of Georgetown University's ICAP.
Still, this phrase has been misinterpreted, particularly in states that don't explicitly ban or criminalize paramilitary activities, said Amy Cooter, a Vanderbilt University sociology professor who has studied far-right militant groups.
A lot of paramilitary groups see themselves as "supplementary to the military," Cooter said. "Most of them see themselves as doing exactly what's required of them. … From the militia's perspective, as long as they have some sort of overarching training, some structure, that's sufficient to maintain that legal structure."
The Supreme Court also has been clear that the Second Amendment does not protect paramilitary activities, McCord said.
In 2008, the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess a firearm for self-defense. But the court's opinion, authored by the late conservative Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, also said the Second Amendment does not guarantee "a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose."
Scalia also reiterated a Supreme Court ruling from more than a century earlier: That the Second Amendment does not prevent states from banning paramilitary organizations.
Why aren't these groups stopped?
For the most part, it's because local and state governments have not enforced the laws, experts say.
"I think in many states, there's not only a lack of political will, but we also have so-called 'constitutional sheriffs' who refused to enforce the laws," said Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University-San Bernardino. "I think some law enforcement executives are sympathetic (to these groups' causes). I think most are just not very aware of militias that are operating within their jurisdictions, particularly in rural areas, and also of what the law is."
In many places, sheriffs reach out to paramilitary groups for help with law enforcement activities, such as search and rescue efforts, giving them a de facto legal status, Cooter said.
"The way these folks sometimes ensconced themselves, they do so in a manner where they're trying to cultivate positive relations with law enforcement," Levin said.
In some places, local law enforcement may simply choose not to go after heavily armed and well-trained groups, said Daryl Johnson, a former Department of Homeland Security analyst who studied right-wing extremists.
"For the most part, most militia groups are defensive in nature. They just want to protect their families and communities," so local governments have simply allowed them to exist, he said. But Johnson said other groups have proved to be more brazen and more offensive in their actions, particularly in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions that many saw as an infringement on their freedoms.
Joe Biden slams President Trump for not condemning militias Joe Biden says President Donald Trump has to realize the "words he utters matter” following the kidnapping plot against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. USA TODAY
Just last month, the FBI charged members of the so-called Wolverine Watchmen group for allegedly plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as part of a broader mission to instigate a civil war. Several of the suspects attended protests against wearing masks and other measures imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Election unrest: Foiled kidnapping of Michigan governor highlights preparations for election-related conflict
In Lane County, Oregon, armed groups reportedly turned away voters who were trying to drop off their ballots. In a letter Monday to local and state officials in response to the incident, McCord reiterated that armed militants have no authority to patrol ballot drop boxes.
Voters who encounter or witness intimidation are encouraged to call the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), or the U.S. Department of Justice voting rights hotline at 800-253-3931, or, if threatened by violence, 911.
Know your rights: What to do if you encounter intimidation at the polls
What can or should police do on Election Day?
Explaining Election 2020 Facts: Voter Suppression We've heard a lot about voter suppression as we approach Election Day. So what is it and how does it manifest itself? The Associated Press explains. (Oct. 5) AP
It's tricky.
Because a lot of states do allow people to open carry in public, police have to be sensitive to those rights, Cooter said. Localities also have different laws on what is and isn't allowed at polling sites, and as long as groups are following local rules, there isn't much police can do.
"I've seen evidence that the more law enforcement can basically leave them alone, the less reactionary they are," Cooter said. "I think as long as they're following the law, it tends to be true that provocation escalates things."
Police will also have to be mindful of people's right to free speech.
"Definitely, if there's any type of shouting or even pointing a weapon, that would be crossing the line," Johnson said. "Holding a weapon and shouting derogatory comments at people, … standing in the way of people going into polling places or trying to prevent them from walking in," would be crossing the line.
Federal, state and local law enforcement officials braced for possible clashes at polling places.
In a warning in September, the chief of New Jersey's Homeland Security and Preparedness office called attention to a gathering storm of worries directly tied to the election.
"Numerous threats from domestic extremists and foreign adversaries have emerged due to the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-government sentiment, nationwide civil unrest, and various forms of disinformation," Jared Maples wrote in a state threat assessment. "These threats will begin to converge with the presidential election in November in a manner not previously experienced by our nation."


usatoday--2020-11-03--What Georgia election results could mean for the nation

What Georgia election results could mean for the nation Georgia has become a battleground state for President Trump and Joe @ @ @ @ @ Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue .

Georgia has become a true battleground for Trump, Biden and Senate
Georgia has become a battleground state for President Trump and Joe Biden as well as Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-11-03--Pot, pay and gay marriage: Voters will have a chance to decide hot-button issues on their state ball

Pot, pay and gay marriage: Voters will have a chance to decide hot-button issues on their state ballots

Tuesday is n't just the day to decide who the president will be .
In many states , voters will be deciding issues that could affect their lives on a daily basis .
More than 100 ballot initiatives spread among 34 states will give some voters a say in how their congressional districts are drawn , how much they can limit their taxes , and whether gambling should exist or even expand .
Social justice also will be on the ballot in Mississippi as voters must decide whether to adopt a new state flag to replace the former banner with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rhode Island , where voters will be asked to change the official state name by removing `` Providence Plantations '' from the preamble to the state constitution .
Some are less weighty , such as whether Utah voters will enshrine the right to hunt and fish in the state constitution .
Here are some of the most controversial or compelling issues voters will be asked to approve Tuesday : Several states this election cycle are looking to legalize recreational and medical marijuana , including Montana and South Dakota .
On the ballot in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona Act , '' which would legalize , tax and regulate recreational marijuana for those 21 and older .
However , it would ban smoking marijuana in public .
Montana is the other state considering to legalize recreational use of the drug , with two measures on its ballot .
One is to explicitly legalize recreational marijuana while the other is to amend the state 's constitution to allow the first measure to pass .
In South Dakota , there are two measures on the legalization of marijuana .
One measure is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is for recreational marijuana .
Since the measures are separate , voters can vote for one and not the other .
More : Here 's when the voting polls open and close in every state Along with South Dakota , Mississippi is another state with two measures regarding marijuana , both considering the legalization of medical marijuana .
One measure would allow patients with at least one of the specific 22 medical conditions to use the drug while the other measure would only allow terminally ill patients to use it .
After failing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recreational use in 2019 , New Jerseyplaced a measure to legalize recreational marijuana on its ballot .
The measure will also amend the state ’ s constitution will be amended and give the commission that oversees medical marijuana control for recreational marijuana use too .
The legalization of regulated medical use of psilocybin , a hallucinogen , is on the ballot in Oregon .
The state also has measures considering the decriminalization of other drugs and using law enforcement savings to fund drug-addition treatments .
Florida , Colorado and Alabama are considering a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutions in regards to voting .
All three state measures would change `` every citizen '' to `` only a citizen '' can vote in the state .
Supporters say changing the language would make clear that non-citizens , such as undocumented immigrants , can not vote .
Opponents argue that the rewording is xenophobic since only those who are citizens of the United States can vote .
On the Colorado ballot is also Proposition 113 , which would affirm the decision by Colorado lawmakers in 2019 to join the National Popular Vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state 's electoral votes would go to the popular winner of the presidential race .
If it doesn ’ t pass , Colorado is removed from the agreement and the law would be repealed .
California has two measures that will affect voting on the ballot this year .
One proposition would allow people on parole for felonies to vote while the other would allow 17-year-olds to vote in the primary if they turn 18 by the general election .
A measure on the New Jersey ballot asks voters to approve delaying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The state 's constitution requires the state commission to pass a redistricting plan within a month of getting the data and federal law states that this must occur by April 1 , 2021 .
Only two states have measures involving abortions this year : Colorado and Louisiana .
Colorado 's measure would make abortions after 22 weeks illegal , expert when the woman 's life is threatened by the pregnancy .
There currently is no laws in the state to limit abortion at any stage .
In Louisiana , Amendment 1 would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion '' into its state constitution .
California is posing a measure to repeal a 1996 measure that outlawed affirmative action in public employment , education and contracting .
Amendment 2 on Florida 's ballot would increase the state 's minimum wage to $ 15 .
The minimum wage would increase $ 1 every year until it reaches $ 15 in 2026 .
Voters in Mississippi have the chance to vote for or against the proposed new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flag , which was retired by their governor because of the Confederate symbol .
Utah has a measure on its ballot that would change the language in the state 's constitution to be more gender-neutral , like changing man to person and wife to spouse .
The state is also considering a measure that establishes hunting and fishing as constitutional rights .
On Montana 's ballot , there is a measure that would prohibit local governments from establishing regulation of firearms laws , including the regulation of carrying permitted concealed weapons and the @ @ @ @ @ @

Sarah Elbeshbishi and Ledyard King, USA TODAY

Pot, pay and gay marriage: Voters to decide hot-button issues on state ballots
Show Caption Hide Caption Elections 2020: Mail-in voting could decide next president Many states are planning on drastically different elections this year and mail-in ballots could be a big game changer. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Legalizing marijuana. Recognizing gay marriage. Raising the minimum wage.
Tuesday isn't just the day to decide who the president will be. In many states, voters will be deciding issues that could affect their lives on a daily basis.
More than 100 ballot initiatives spread among 34 states will give some voters a say in how their congressional districts are drawn, how much they can limit their taxes, and whether gambling should exist or even expand.
BOOKMARK THIS: Follow trusted, live election results with USA TODAY
When we'll know: Here's what to expect on election night
Social justice also will be on the ballot in Mississippi as voters must decide whether to adopt a new state flag to replace the former banner with the Confederate battle symbol. And in Rhode Island, where voters will be asked to change the official state name by removing "Providence Plantations" from the preamble to the state constitution.
Some are less weighty, such as whether Utah voters will enshrine the right to hunt and fish in the state constitution.
Here are some of the most controversial or compelling issues voters will be asked to approve Tuesday:
Marijuana and other drugs
Several states this election cycle are looking to legalize recreational and medical marijuana, including Montana and South Dakota.
On the ballot in Arizona is the "Smart and Safe Arizona Act," which would legalize, tax and regulate recreational marijuana for those 21 and older. However, it would ban smoking marijuana in public.
Arizona and others: 12 key swing states to watch
Montana is the other state considering to legalize recreational use of the drug, with two measures on its ballot. One is to explicitly legalize recreational marijuana while the other is to amend the state's constitution to allow the first measure to pass.
In South Dakota, there are two measures on the legalization of marijuana. One measure is to legalize medical marijuana while the other one is for recreational marijuana. Since the measures are separate, voters can vote for one and not the other.
More: Here's when the voting polls open and close in every state
Along with South Dakota, Mississippi is another state with two measures regarding marijuana, both considering the legalization of medical marijuana. One measure would allow patients with at least one of the specific 22 medical conditions to use the drug while the other measure would only allow terminally ill patients to use it.
After failing to get enough lawmakers to support legalizing recreational use in 2019, New Jersey placed a measure to legalize recreational marijuana on its ballot. The measure will also amend the state’s constitution will be amended and give the commission that oversees medical marijuana control for recreational marijuana use too.
The legalization of regulated medical use of psilocybin, a hallucinogen, is on the ballot in Oregon. The state also has measures considering the decriminalization of other drugs and using law enforcement savings to fund drug-addition treatments.
Governance
Florida, Colorado and Alabama are considering a measure to change language in their state constitutions in regards to voting. All three state measures would change "every citizen" to "only a citizen" can vote in the state.
Florida: Live election night updates
Supporters say changing the language would make clear that non-citizens, such as undocumented immigrants, cannot vote. Opponents argue that the rewording is xenophobic since only those who are citizens of the United States can vote.
On the Colorado ballot is also Proposition 113, which would affirm the decision by Colorado lawmakers in 2019 to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Under this compact, the state's electoral votes would go to the popular winner of the presidential race. If it doesn’t pass, Colorado is removed from the agreement and the law would be repealed.
More: Opinion: National Popular Vote would not serve Colorado
California has two measures that will affect voting on the ballot this year. One proposition would allow people on parole for felonies to vote while the other would allow 17-year-olds to vote in the primary if they turn 18 by the general election.
A measure on the New Jersey ballot asks voters to approve delaying redistricting if the 2020 census is late. The state's constitution requires the state commission to pass a redistricting plan within a month of getting the data and federal law states that this must occur by April 1, 2021.
Abortion
Only two states have measures involving abortions this year: Colorado and Louisiana.
Colorado's measure would make abortions after 22 weeks illegal, expert when the woman's life is threatened by the pregnancy. There currently is no laws in the state to limit abortion at any stage.
In Louisiana, Amendment 1 would add that "nothing in this constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion" into its state constitution.
Social Issues
California is posing a measure to repeal a 1996 measure that outlawed affirmative action in public employment, education and contracting.
Amendment 2 on Florida's ballot would increase the state's minimum wage to $15. The minimum wage would increase $1 every year until it reaches $15 in 2026.
More: Election 2020: Question 2 would remove Nevada's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage
Voters in Mississippi have the chance to vote for or against the proposed new state flag in place of their former flag, which was retired by their governor because of the Confederate symbol.
Utah has a measure on its ballot that would change the language in the state's constitution to be more gender-neutral, like changing man to person and wife to spouse. The state is also considering a measure that establishes hunting and fishing as constitutional rights.
On Montana's ballot, there is a measure that would prohibit local governments from establishing regulation of firearms laws, including the regulation of carrying permitted concealed weapons and the sale of firearms to felons.


usatoday--2020-11-03--Severed deer heads found by Biden-Harris campaign sign, Black Lives Matter sign in Oregon

Oregon police are investigating severed deer heads found near a Black Lives Matter sign and a Joe Biden and Kamala Harris presidential campaign sign .
Police in Lake Oswego , Oregon , a suburb around eight miles south of Portland , discovered the deer heads in two separate locations approximately half-a-mile apart , per a police statement .
The first decapitated head , discovered near the Biden-Harris campaign sign , was found Thursday morning at a home by an intersection .
The second was found hours later , in front of a home with a Black Lives Matter sign posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heads , reported Oregon Live , were stored in trash bags .
Lake Oswego Police Sgt .
Tom Hamann told Oregon Live that he did not “ want to make assumptions ” about the intent of the deer heads , as no message was attached to either head .
Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY .
Peggy Lant , a resident of a home where a deer head was found , told Oregon Live that the discovery of the severed head was “ a horrifying incident.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was gone , ” she told the local outlet .
“ I felt like my dignity was gone and my children were in danger.
” Her children , both teenagers , are Asian American .
Another resident affected , per KATU-TV in Portland , also wrote a message published online : “ I am still shocked and trying my best to process this information , but the fact that my family could have been hurt really unsettles me .
”

Severed deer heads found by Biden-Harris campaign sign, Black Lives Matter sign in Oregon
Oregon police were investigating severed deer heads found near a Black Lives Matter sign and a Joe Biden and Kamala Harris campaign sign.
Police in Lake Oswego, Oregon, a suburb about 8 miles south of Portland, discovered the deer heads in two separate locations about half a mile apart, according to a police statement.
The first head, discovered near the Biden-Harris campaign sign, was found Thursday morning at a home by an intersection. The second was found hours later, in front of a home with a Black Lives Matter sign posted in the front yard.
Both deer heads, reported Oregon Live, were in trash bags.
Lake Oswego Police Sgt. Tom Hamann told Oregon Live he did not “want to make assumptions” about the intent of the deer heads, and no message was attached to either head.
Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.
Peggy Lant, a resident of a home where a deer head was found, told Oregon Live that the discovery was “a horrifying incident.”
“I felt like my safety was gone,” she told the local outlet. “I felt like my dignity was gone and my children were in danger.”
Her children, both teenagers, are Asian American.
Another resident, according to KATU-TV in Portland, wrote a message published online: “I am still shocked and trying my best to process this information, but the fact that my family could have been hurt really unsettles me.”
Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter: @joshua_bote.


usatoday--2020-11-03--A Pennsylvania home has been used as a polling place for about 50 years

PITTSBURG , Pa. — Les Korbett does n't go far to vote .
When he wakes up on Election Day , he 'll walk down a flight of stairs to his garage , where several poll workers will have set up their table and ballot scanner .
He might be the first to cast a ballot , might not .
`` It depends on what time I get up , '' he said , then he 'll vote in his Pittsburgh home , like he has done most of his life .
Back when his parents , Edward and Helen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basement area for voting about 50 years ago , the Elections Division paid them to house three voting machines all year .
`` It was as much about economics as it was about civic duty , '' Korbett said .
It is n't about economics any longer .
He gets paid $ 100 for each election , for the 14 or so hours the poll workers and voters control his first floor .
`` A hundred bucks 25 years ago was worth a lot more than it is now , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , he remembers a campaign worker who would stand outside the garage with a bottle of whiskey .
`` He would say , 'Here , I 'll give you a shot if you 'll vote for my candidate , ' '' Korbett said .
`` That was very common . ''
His home is in a working class neighborhood in the city , cut into the South Hills of Pittsburgh .
He bought it from his parents ' estate when they died .
Like many people who grew up in this area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until it went belly up as the industry came to a halt in the Steel City , leaving him and many others unemployed .
Two years later , he landed a job with the port authority , driving a bus for 23 years until he retired in 2008 .
These days , he no longer has to house the voting machines in his basement .
An electronic scanner for paper ballots was dropped off last week , then someone from the county tested it .
The number of voters ranges from a low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a high of about 220 .
He does n't usually wait around to see the crowds , though .
He skips out after he votes to avoid the chaos until late in the afternoon .
Election Day is a reason for him to clean his garage and basement , the first floor of a traditional Pittsburgh house with a garage and basement on the ground floor , and a ranch home above it .
The elections office once considered taking it off the list of polling places because of the steep driveway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Korbett has to sanitize the place because of the coronavirus , which kept voters out of his home for the first time in all these five decades , as polling places consolidated and shifted throughout Pennsylvania because of the coronavirus .
He does n't miss an election now , but there were a few years , when he got out of the Army , that he did n't vote .
When his father caught wind of it , that changed .
`` It 's embarrassing to admit , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ down a flight of stairs .

A Pennsylvania home has been used as a polling place for about 50 years
Show Caption Hide Caption Elections 2020: First-time voters share their experience voting First-time voters share their experience voting for the first time in a general election Mike Fant, Nashville Tennessean
PITTSBURGH – Les Korbett doesn't go far to vote.
When he wakes up on Election Day, he'll walk down a flight of stairs to his garage, where several poll workers will have set up their table and ballot scanner.
He might be the first to cast a ballot, might not.
"It depends on what time I get up," he said. Then he'll vote in his Pittsburgh home, as he has done most of his life.
Back when his parents, Edward and Helen Korbett, opened up their garage and basement area for voting about 50 years ago, the Elections Division paid them to house three voting machines all year.
"It was as much about economics as it was about civic duty," Korbett said.
It isn't about economics any longer. He gets paid $100 for each election, for the 14 or so hours the poll workers and voters control his first floor.
"A hundred bucks 25 years ago was worth a lot more than it is now," he said, laughing.
Back in those early days, he remembers a campaign worker who would stand outside the garage with a bottle of whiskey.
"He would say, 'Here, I'll give you a shot if you'll vote for my candidate,'" Korbett said. "That was very common."
His home is in a working-class neighborhood in the city, cut into the South Hills of Pittsburgh. He bought it from his parents' estate when they died.
Like many people who grew up in this area, Korbett worked at a steel mill until it went belly-up as the industry came to a halt in the Steel City, leaving him and many others unemployed. Two years later, he landed a job with the port authority, driving a bus for 23 years until he retired in 2008.
These days, he no longer has to house the voting machines in his basement. An electronic scanner for paper ballots was dropped off last week; then someone from the county tested it.
The number of voters ranges from a low of 50 (for local elections) to a high of about 220. He doesn't usually wait around to see the crowds, though. He skips out after he votes to avoid the chaos until late in the afternoon.
Election Day is a reason for him to clean his garage and basement, the first floor of a traditional Pittsburgh house with a garage and basement on the ground floor and a ranch home above it. The elections office once considered taking it off the list of polling places because of the steep driveway but kept it anyway.
This year, Korbett has to sanitize the place because of the coronavirus pandemic, which kept voters out of his home for the first time in all these five decades. Polling places have consolidated and shifted throughout Pennsylvania because of the pandemic.
He doesn't miss an election now, but there were a few years, when he got out of the Army, that he didn't vote. When his father caught wind of it, that changed.
"It's embarrassing to admit," he said.
It is, after all, just down a flight of stairs.


usatoday--2020-11-03--Georgia has two contested Senate races in a rare twist. Both could be headed to a runoff.

Georgia has not one but two competitive U.S. Senate races playing out Tuesday .
Incumbent Republican Sen. David Perdue faces off against Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff in the regularly scheduled Senate race .
But in a rare event , there is also a special election to fill the seat vacated by Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson , who resigned last year .
Polls show Perdue and Ossoff are in a dead heat , with some recent polls having Ossoff ahead by single digits .
A Monmouth poll published last week showed Ossoff ahead of Perdue , 49 % to 46 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote , the race heads to a runoff .
The Ossoff lead comes after a September Monmouth poll showed him trailing Perdue by 5 points .
Ossoff previously ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2017 in a special election for Georgia ’ s 6th congressional district , a race in the Atlanta suburbs where he broke fundraising records .
Despite placing first during the special election , he failed to garner 50 % of the vote and the race went to a runoff .
Republican Karen Handel went on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention .
More : Control of the Senate hangs in the balance on Election Day .
Here are key Senate races to watch Perdue , a businessman , is serving his first term in Congress .
The special election is a bit more complicated .
Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed to her seat after Isakson resigned , but she was not who President Donald Trump wanted to hold the seat .
That honor was bestowed upon Republican Rep. Doug Collins , who is now challenging Loeffler .
On the Democratic side , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta .
Warnock has lead in recent polling .
In the Monmouth poll last week , Warnock was at 41 % , Loeffler was at 21 % and Collins at 18 % .
But if no candidate reaches the 50 % threshold , the race goes to a runoff in January -- even if it ends up being two candidates from the same party .
Election 2020 : All eyes will be on these 6 states on Election Day .
Here 's what we know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who are trying to win back control of the Senate , which Republicans currently hold , 53-47 .
Democrats hold 45 seats , but Sens .
Bernie Sanders and Angus King are independents but caucus with the Democrats .
If both races head to runoff , the balance of power in the Senate could be influx for weeks .

Loeffler, Warnock headed to runoff in Georgia Senate race; Ossoff-Perdue race still up in the air
Show Caption Hide Caption Georgia has become a true battleground for Trump, Biden and Senate Georgia has become a battleground state for President Trump and Joe Biden as well as Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. USA TODAY
Georgia has not one but two competitive U.S. Senate races playing out Tuesday.
Incumbent Republican Sen. David Perdue faces off against Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff in the regularly scheduled Senate race. But in a rare event, there is also a special election to fill the seat vacated by Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson, who resigned last year.
Results are still undecided, but at least one major candidate has bowed out.
Republican Rep. Doug Collins conceded to Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler in Georgia's special election. A candidate must reach a 50% threshold or the race goes to a runoff in January.
"I just called @kloeffler and congratulated her on making the runoff," Collins wrote on Twitter. "She has my support and endorsement. I look forward to all Republicans coming together. Raphael Warnock would be a disaster for Georgia and America."
Loeffler will be facing Warnock, a Democrat who is the senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.
During remarks Tuesday, Warnock thanked supporters for propelling him to a runoff.
"Thank you for pushing me one step closer to the Senate," he said. "Because when I get there, you will go with me. Your concerns will go with me. Your issues will go with me.
Warnock and Loeffler were just two of six candidates, including Collins, running in the race.
The race between Perdue and Ossoff also is not decided yet. The runoff rules apply in that race as well.
Counting hit a snag shortly after polls closed.
Results in Fulton County, where Atlanta is located and the state's most-populous county, will see a delay after a water pipe burst at a room in the State Farm Arena where absentee mail ballots were being held, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. No ballots or machinery were damaged, Fulton County spokesperson Regina Waller told NBC News.
Polls show Perdue and Ossoff are in a dead heat, with some recent polls having Ossoff ahead by single digits.
A Monmouth poll published last week showed Ossoff ahead of Perdue, 49% to 46%. If neither reaches 50% of the vote, the race heads to a runoff. The Ossoff lead comes after a September Monmouth poll showed him trailing Perdue by 5 points.
Ossoff previously ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2017 in a special election for Georgia’s 6th congressional district, a race in the Atlanta suburbs where he broke fundraising records. Despite placing first during the special election, he failed to garner 50% of the vote and the race went to a runoff. Republican Karen Handel went on to win, but Ossoff earned himself national attention.
More: Control of the Senate hangs in the balance on Election Day. Here are key Senate races to watch
Perdue, a businessman, is serving his first term in Congress.
The special election is a bit more complicated.
Loeffler was appointed to her seat after Isakson resigned, but she was not who President Donald Trump wanted to hold the seat. That honor was bestowed upon Collins, who is now challenging Loeffler. Warnock is running on the Democratic side.
Warnock has lead in recent polling. In the Monmouth poll last week, Warnock was at 41%, Loeffler was at 21% and Collins at 18%.
Election 2020: All eyes will be on these 6 states on Election Day. Here's what we know.
Both races are key for Democrats, who are trying to win back control of the Senate, which Republicans currently hold, 53-47. Democrats hold 45 seats, but Sens. Bernie Sanders and Angus King are independents but caucus with the Democrats.
If both races head to runoff, the balance of power in the Senate could be influx for weeks.


usatoday--2020-11-03--Trump, Biden deliver closing arguments as millions decide nation's future with their vote

WASHINGTON – Millions of Americans head to the polls Tuesday for a presidential election that will determine the path the nation takes to conquer the coronavirus , resuscitate the economy and bridge deep divisions over racial injustice , foreign policy and the meaning of leadership at a pivotal moment in U.S. history .
Months of campaigning by President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden have underscored the polarization that will confront whoever wins , a headwind that will have to be navigated if the country is to make progress against a once-a-century pandemic that has killed some 230,000 Americans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the long and often bitter presidential race there have been signs that voters grasp the weight of the choice before them : Nearly 100 million Americans had cast a ballot in the contest before the first Election Day polling place opened , according to the nonpartisan U.S .
Elections Project , putting the nation on track for historic voter turnout .
`` There 's no downplaying the importance of this election , '' said Lee Hamilton , a former Democratic congressman from Indiana who said he understands why so many Americans view Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lifetime .
Latest : Biden to 'barnstorm Pennsylvania ' ; Trump vows to go 'in with our lawyers' How to watch : All eyes will be on these 6 states on Election Day .
Here 's what we know .
Prognosis : Washington stalled on a stimulus bill .
Will it affect the election outcome ?
`` I can understand the anxiety .
The world is unsettling and our role in the world is less than it used to be , '' he said .
`` But America is going to survive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Trump and Biden crisscrossed the country in the final hours of the campaign , delivering closing arguments in a series of events Monday that highlighted their vastly different styles as much as their competing policy visions .
Trump , eager to project an impression of normalcy during the pandemic , held large rallies Monday in North Carolina , Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin – all top tier battlegrounds in the race .
`` This election comes down to a simple choice : Do you want to be ruled by the arrogant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ class , or do you want to be governed by the American people themselves ? ''
Trump asked supporters at a rally in Fayetteville , North Carolina .
`` I am your voice . ''
Biden , who has limited attendance and practiced social distancing at his campaign stops , focused his election eve efforts heavily on Pennsylvania .
The state , which backed President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 and flipped to Trump in 2016 , is one of the biggest prizes in the Electoral College .
Biden was also scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also indicated a close race .
`` Tomorrow we have an opportunity to put an end to a presidency that 's divided this nation , '' Biden said at a drive-in rally in Cleveland , Ohio .
`` My message is simple : The power to change the country is in your hands ...
It 's time for Donald Trump to pack his bags and go home .
We 're done .
We 're done with the chaos . ''
Lawyer up : Trump vows to send lawyers into Pennsylvania if vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate hangs in the balance .
These are the key races .
Though well worn by now , their stump speeches have offered clues about how the country would look under their leadership over the next four years .
Trump 's reelection would represent a further repudiation of politics as they were practiced in Washington for decades , a smaller role for the federal government in tackling the coronavirus , a continued push to the right on immigration and more conservative judges .
A Biden win would usher in a return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it – or at least less drama at the White House – a more aggressive role for Washington in addressing the pandemic , a greater emphasis on dealing with climate change and moving away from fossil fuels and a return to the global alliances that emerged after World War II .
`` Biden has been much more of a globalist , '' said Tom Davis , a former GOP congressman from Virginia .
`` Trump is much more 'America first . '
That would be reflected in policy on things like the climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else . ''
Every presidential election offers Americans an opportunity to twist the nation 's ideological dial .
Rarely has a contest put on display such a stark contrast in approach to running the country , with Trump promising to continue the pugilistic style supporters see as establishment breaking and opponents view as dangerous .
Biden , who has emphasized his character , has promised to lower the temperature , despite partisan rancor in Washington that predated Trump and will almost certainly survive him .
How much either man would be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on control of the Senate , which is also up for grabs on Tuesday .
Democrats hope to pick up a net gain of three seats – which would give them control of the Senate if Biden wins – by toppling incumbents in states such as Maine and Arizona .
Democrats are widely expected to retain control of the House of Representatives .
Trump started 2020 in a strong position for reelection , with an economy that was humming , a freshly inked trade deal with Mexico and Canada and an impeachment that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquittal by the Republican-controlled Senate .
But then coronavirus struck , reshaping the landscape of the campaign as it upended the lives of everyone on the planet .
Unable to threaten or cajole the virus into submission , Trump was put on defense as the federal government failed to roll out nationwide testing or contact tracing , leaving those responsibilities instead to individual states .
The president was left with an argument that the pandemic could have been worse in the United States , even though the nation has one of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjusted for population .
Trump has publicly feuded with his own top scientists , drawn fire for endorsing therapies such as hydroxychloroquine that were later abandoned and was diagnosed with the virus himself after ignoring public health recommendations .
As Trump pressured states to reopen businesses , churches and schools he faced another crisis : the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
The incident led to protests and violence in some cities and altered the course of the race .
Trump 's decision to clear a park of peaceful protesters near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could pose with a Bible at a nearby church prompted immense , bipartisan blowback .
Polls at the time showed widespread support for the Black Lives Matter protests , including among suburban independent voters .
Throughout the summer , Trump conflated the peaceful protests with the violence and managed to shift the focus on the latter .
And while that handed him the opportunity to frame himself as the `` law and order '' candidate on the side of police , it also exposed the gap between a country that is growing more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its support from white voters .
Biden 's lead in national polls grew to double digits in the early fall , and the former vice president was up by healthy margins in virtually all of the nation 's battleground states .
But the race tightened after the final presidential debate on Oct. 22 .
Trump has campaigned relentlessly , frequently holding multiple rallies a day .
Biden was up Monday by just over 6 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics average of recent nationwide polling .
He held an 8-point lead over Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the final debate in Nashville .
That gap reflects little change since the survey was conducted at Labor Day , the unofficial start of the fall campaign season , when the former vice president led by 7 points .
Poll : Most Americans disapprove of Trump 's decision to hold massive campaign rallies All of it has led to handwringing among Democrats about the potential for a repeat of 2016 , when the party was confident Hillary Clinton would win and was stunned when she did not .
Party officials say the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time : The virus has acted as an anchor on Trump and Biden is viewed more favorably than Clinton .
Trump , on the other hand , predicts the prognosticators are falling into the same trap .
As always , the outcome of the race will be decided in a handful of states : Florida , Pennsylvania , Arizona , Michigan , Wisconsin and North Carolina among them .
Trump must win more of those battlegrounds than Biden , giving him a narrower path to victory .
But that same dynamic was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toppled the `` blue wall '' states of Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to cruise to victory .
`` Hot take : Democrats being nervous wrecks is why we ’ ll win , '' predicted Josh Schwerin of Priorities USA Action , a political action committee that supports Democrats .
Given the narrow margins and Trump 's longstanding – and baseless – claims of a `` rigged '' election , Republicans and Democrats are both bracing for a drawn out legal battle similar to the fight that settled the 2000 election between President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Law enforcement agencies , meanwhile , have been preparing for possible unrest , regardless of who wins .
In one striking display of that concern , authorities were seen erecting additional fencing around the White House on Monday .
Similar barriers were installed in Washington at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests this summer but some of that fencing was removed weeks later .
Yet party stalwarts in both camps have also started thinking about whether and how the nation can come together – or at least ease tensions – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will take leadership from Congress , the political parties and from the state and local communities , said former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott , a Mississippi Republican .
`` It takes a few good women and men who will stand up and say , 'OK , enough already .
We ’ re going to get something done that ’ s right for the country , ' '' Lott said .
`` Do we have that ?
That is the question .
“ You ’ ve got to be prepared to talk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take some courage , ” he added .
“ And that 's – that 's what remains to be seen .
”

John Fritze and Michael Collins, USA TODAY

'Losing is never easy.' Trump, Biden brace for election outcome as millions decide nation's future
Show Caption Hide Caption Presidential debate: Trump, Biden argue immigration policy President Trump and former Vice President Biden disagree on the statistics regarding immigration reform. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden made their final appearances Tuesday as millions of Americans flocked to the polls for a presidential election to determine how the nation conquers the coronavirus, resuscitates the economy and grapples with deep divisions over race and other issues.
Months of campaigning by the two men have underscored the polarization that will confront whoever wins, a headwind that will have to be navigated if the country is to make progress against a once-a-century pandemic that has killed some 230,000 Americans and left millions out of work.
"Winning is easy. Losing is never easy – not for me, it’s not,” Trump said during a visit to his campaign headquarters Tuesday, adding he had not readied a victory or a concession speech but expressing confidence about the results. “Everybody should come together and I think success brings us together.”
Biden started his Election Day at church with his wife, Jill, and two granddaughters. He flew to his birthplace of Scranton, Pa., where he signed the living room wall in his childhood home.
"From this house to the White House with the grace of God,” he wrote.
Now the candidates join the rest of the country and the world in waiting for the answer from voters.
Throughout the long and often bitter presidential race there have been signs that voters grasp the weight of the choice before them. More than 100 million Americans cast a ballot in the contest before the first Election Day polling place opened, according to the nonpartisan U.S. Elections Project, putting the nation on track for historic voter turnout.
Huge turnout: Early voting tops 100 million ballots cast
There were reports of long lines and heavy turnout on Election Day as well, but little indication of major problems or voter intimidation that some – including Trump himself – had predicted could mar the process.
"There's no downplaying the importance of this election," said Lee Hamilton, a former Democratic congressman from Indiana who said he understands why so many Americans view Tuesday's election as the most consequential of their lifetime.
Latest: Biden to 'barnstorm Pennsylvania'; Trump vows to go 'in with our lawyers'
How to watch: All eyes will be on these 6 states on Election Day. Here's what we know.
Prognosis: Washington stalled on a stimulus bill. Will it affect the election outcome?
"I can understand the anxiety. The world is unsettling and our role in the world is less than it used to be," he said. "But America is going to survive and it’s going to prosper."
Closing arguments
Trump and Biden crisscrossed the country in the final hours of the campaign, delivering closing arguments in a series of events Monday that highlighted their vastly different styles as much as their competing policy visions. Trump, eager to project an impression of normalcy during the pandemic, held large rallies Monday in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin – all top tier battlegrounds in the race.
"This election comes down to a simple choice: Do you want to be ruled by the arrogant, corrupt, ruthless and selfless political class, or do you want to be governed by the American people themselves?" Trump asked supporters at a rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina. "I am your voice."
Biden, who has limited attendance and practiced social distancing at his campaign stops, focused his election eve efforts heavily on Pennsylvania. The state, which backed President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 and flipped to Trump in 2016, is one of the biggest prizes in the Electoral College. Biden was also scheduled to campaign in Ohio, where polling has also indicated a close race.
"Tomorrow we have an opportunity to put an end to a presidency that's divided this nation," Biden said at a drive-in rally in Cleveland, Ohio. "My message is simple: The power to change the country is in your hands...It's time for Donald Trump to pack his bags and go home. We're done. We're done with the chaos."
Lawyer up: Trump vows to send lawyers into Pennsylvania if vote count takes time
Senate: Control of the Senate hangs in the balance. These are the key races.
Though well worn by now, their stump speeches have offered clues about how the country would look under their leadership over the next four years. Trump's reelection would represent a further repudiation of politics as they were practiced in Washington for decades, a smaller role for the federal government in tackling the coronavirus, a continued push to the right on immigration and more conservative judges.
A Biden win would usher in a return to "normalcy," as Democrats see it – or at least less drama at the White House – a more aggressive role for Washington in addressing the pandemic, a greater emphasis on dealing with climate change and moving away from fossil fuels and a return to the global alliances that emerged after World War II.
"Biden has been much more of a globalist," said Tom Davis, a former GOP congressman from Virginia. "Trump is much more 'America first.' That would be reflected in policy on things like the climate accords, the Iran agreement and everything else."
Every presidential election offers Americans an opportunity to twist the nation's ideological dial. Rarely has a contest put on display such a stark contrast in approach to running the country, with Trump promising to continue the pugilistic style supporters see as establishment breaking and opponents view as dangerous. Biden, who has emphasized his character, has promised to lower the temperature, despite partisan rancor in Washington that predated Trump and will almost certainly survive him.
How much either man would be able to pursue their agenda would turn in part on control of the Senate, which is also up for grabs on Tuesday. Democrats hope to pick up a net gain of three seats – which would give them control of the Senate if Biden wins – by toppling incumbents in states such as Maine and Arizona. Democrats are widely expected to retain control of the House of Representatives.
Echoes of 2016
Trump started 2020 in a strong position for reelection, with an economy that was humming, a freshly inked trade deal with Mexico and Canada and an impeachment that, predictably, ended in a swift acquittal by the Republican-controlled Senate.
But then coronavirus struck, reshaping the landscape of the campaign as it upended the lives of everyone on the planet. Unable to threaten or cajole the virus into submission, Trump was put on defense as the federal government failed to roll out nationwide testing or contact tracing, leaving those responsibilities instead to individual states.
The president was left with an argument that the pandemic could have been worse in the United States, even though the nation has one of the world's highest infection and death rates when adjusted for population. Trump has publicly feuded with his own top scientists, drawn fire for endorsing therapies such as hydroxychloroquine that were later abandoned and was diagnosed with the virus himself after ignoring public health recommendations.
As Trump pressured states to reopen businesses, churches and schools he faced another crisis: the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The incident led to protests and violence in some cities and altered the course of the race. Trump's decision to clear a park of peaceful protesters near the White House in June so he could pose with a Bible at a nearby church prompted immense, bipartisan blowback. Polls at the time showed widespread support for the Black Lives Matter protests, including among suburban independent voters.
Throughout the summer, Trump conflated the peaceful protests with the violence and managed to shift the focus on the latter. And while that handed him the opportunity to frame himself as the "law and order" candidate on the side of police, it also exposed the gap between a country that is growing more diverse and a GOP that draws most of its support from white voters.
Biden's lead in national polls grew to double digits in the early fall, and the former vice president was up by healthy margins in virtually all of the nation's battleground states. But the race tightened after the final presidential debate on Oct. 22. Trump has campaigned relentlessly, frequently holding multiple rallies a day.
Biden was up Monday by just over 6 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics average of recent nationwide polling. He held an 8-point lead over Trump in a USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll taken after the final debate in Nashville. That gap reflects little change since the survey was conducted at Labor Day, the unofficial start of the fall campaign season, when the former vice president led by 7 points.
Poll: Most Americans disapprove of Trump's decision to hold massive campaign rallies
All of it has led to handwringing among Democrats about the potential for a repeat of 2016, when the party was confident Hillary Clinton would win and was stunned when she did not. Party officials say the fundamentals of the race are different this time: The virus has acted as an anchor on Trump and Biden is viewed more favorably than Clinton.
Trump, on the other hand, predicts the prognosticators are falling into the same trap.
As always, the outcome of the race will be decided in a handful of states: Florida, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina among them. Trump must win more of those battlegrounds than Biden, giving him a narrower path to victory. But that same dynamic was in play four years ago, when Trump toppled the "blue wall" states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to cruise to victory.
"Hot take: Democrats being nervous wrecks is why we’ll win," predicted Josh Schwerin of Priorities USA Action, a political action committee that supports Democrats.
Uniting, someday
Given the narrow margins and Trump's longstanding – and baseless – claims of a "rigged" election, Republicans and Democrats are both bracing for a drawn out legal battle similar to the fight that settled the 2000 election between President George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore. Law enforcement agencies, meanwhile, have been preparing for possible unrest, regardless of who wins.
In one striking display of that concern, authorities were seen erecting additional fencing around the White House on Monday. Similar barriers were installed in Washington at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests this summer but some of that fencing was removed weeks later.
Yet party stalwarts in both camps have also started thinking about whether and how the nation can come together – or at least ease tensions – once the votes are counted.
That will take leadership from Congress, the political parties and from the state and local communities, said former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, a Mississippi Republican.
"It takes a few good women and men who will stand up and say, 'OK, enough already. We’re going to get something done that’s right for the country,'" Lott said. "Do we have that? That is the question.
“You’ve got to be prepared to talk to people sensibly, but it's going to take some courage,” he added. “And that's – that's what remains to be seen.”
Contributing: David Jackson and Courtney Subramanian


usatoday--2020-11-05--Coronavirus updates: US passes 100K single-day count; China bars UK travelers; Denmark wants to slau

Coronavirus updates: US passes 100K single-day count; China bars UK travelers; Denmark wants to slaughter 15M minks

A fall surge of COVID-19 — the one experts warned for months was likely — seems to be in full effect , as the United States surpassed 100,000 new daily cases for the first time on Wednesday .
That staggering number comes less than a week after surpassing more than 9 million confirmed cases , which is more than any other country .
It also comes two days after Americans went to the polls to elect a president , though the virus was n't on most voters ' minds : only 1 in 6 voters cited the pandemic as most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news here .
Cases are on the rise in the U.S. and across the globe , as numerous other countries tighten restrictions and some prepare for more lockdowns .
According to a USA TODAY analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University , the last 1,000,000 coronavirus cases confirmed worldwide were reported in less than 36 hours — a rate of 7.8 cases every second .
Here 's what to know today : • China is suspending entry for most foreign passport holders who reside in Britain , reacting to a new surge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Denmark 's prime minister said Wednesday that the government wants to slaughter all 15 million minks in Danish farms , to minimize the risk of them re-transmitting the new coronavirus to humans .
• A woman who had the coronavirus was shedding the virus for up to 70 days without showing any symptoms , according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Cell .
• As the pandemic surges on across the nation , the NFL and college football continue to feel its effects .
Another NFL quarterback is sidelined and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today 's numbers : The U.S. has reported more than 9.4 million cases and more than 233,700 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
The global totals : more than 48 million cases and 1.22 million deaths .
🗺 Mapping coronavirus : Track the U.S. outbreak in your state .
This file will be updated throughout the day .
For updates in your inbox , subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter .
US reports more than 100K cases in one day , breaking single-day count record Wednesday 's one-day record count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total to break 100,000 .
It translates to an average of more than 70 Americans reporting positive every minute .
In the seven-day period that ended Wednesday , the U.S. reported 629,012 new cases , also a record , according to a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Wednesday .
Almost half the states set records for new cases for a seven day period and five states had a record number of deaths in a week .
`` The seasonal uptick has been predicted for months , '' Dennis Carroll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal Agency for International Development for nearly 15 years , told USA TODAY .
`` As it stands we ’ re no better prepared than the spring , meaning widespread closures and shutdowns as we are witnessing in Europe are inevitable . ''
A woman who had COVID-19 was shedding the infectious virus for up to 70 days without showing any symptoms , according to a case study published Wednesday in the peer-reviewed journal Cell .
The patient had leukemia and hypogammaglobulinemia , a condition that results in fewer antibodies , making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The infectious virus was located in the woman ’ s upper respiratory tract for up to 70 days and the virus RNA was observed for up to 150 days past initial diagnosis , according to the report .
Researchers concluded that certain immunocompromised patient may shed infectious virus for longer durations than previously recognized .
The woman was treated with convalescent plasma twice before the infection finally cleared .
New Jersey begins releasing inmates who survived COVID-19 spread in prisons Thousands of people left New Jersey state prisons and halfway houses Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who served time during the coronavirus pandemic .
State officials said 2,261 inmates were released throughout the day , marking a single-day drop of 15 % in the state prison population .
The drastic decline was lawmakers ' response to the coronavirus 's devastation in New Jersey prisons .
The death rate inside Garden State prisons was the highest in the nation , according to the nonprofit criminal justice newsroom The Marshall Project .
Denmark wants to slaughter 15 million minks over coronavirus fears Denmark 's prime minister said Wednesday that the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Danish farms , to minimize the risk of them re-transmitting the new coronavirus to humans .
Mette Frederiksen said a report from a government agency that maps the coronavirus in Denmark has shown a mutation in the virus found in 12 people in the northern part of the country who got infected by minks .
Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said half the 783 human COVID-19 cases in northern Denmark ” are related ” to mink .
“ It is very , very serious , ” Frederiksen said .
“ Thus , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequences worldwide.
” Denmark is one of the world 's main mink fur exporters , producing an estimated 17 million furs per year .
Kopenhagen Fur , a cooperative of 1,500 Danish breeders , accounts for 40 % of the global mink production .
Most of its exports go to China and Hong Kong .
China bars entry for residents from Britain as cases rise in United Kingdom China is suspending entry for most foreign passport holders who reside in Britain , reacting to a new surge of coronavirus cases in the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visas or residence permits issued prior to Nov. 3 , with exceptions for diplomats and some others .
Foreign nationals wishing to visit China for emergency needs may apply for special case visas .
The Chinese Embassy in London says the suspension will be “ assessed in accordance with the evolving situation and any adjustment will be announced accordingly.
” China has largely contained the spread of coronavirus within the country but continues to record imported cases , including another 20 reported Thursday .
Chinese officials require all people arriving in China to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible COVID-19 vaccines could be ready by December , scientists say The chair of Britain ’ s coronavirus vaccine task force says data evaluating the efficacy and safety of the two most advanced candidates should be available in early December .
Kate Bingham told a Parliamentary committee on Wednesday that data on the two vaccine candidates — developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca , and Pfizer and BioNTech — should be available by then .
After that , the vaccine candidates will need regulatory approval , Bingham says .
“ If we get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deploying by year end , ” she says .
Oxford Vaccine Trial Chief Investigator Andrew Pollard said results from late-stage trials could be presented by then , Reuters reported .
The National Health Service in England is preparing to start distributing a possible vaccine before Christmas , just in case one is ready by then .
Louisville 's football game against Virginia on Saturday has been postponed .
The Cardinals , who missed nine players in last week 's game against Virginia Tech due to coronavirus-related issues , will not play the Cavaliers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be moved to Nov. 14 , replacing the Cardinals ' originally scheduled bye week .
Louisville athletics director Vince Tyra said the football program is dealing with 15 COVID-19 cases with seven more people in quarantine , for 22 virus-related issues total .
Ten players have COVID-19 , with five more in quarantine .
The team 's support staff has had five positive tests , with two more in quarantine .
No members of the coaching staff tested positive or are quarantined , Tyra said .
Matthew Stafford is back on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay could cost him at least one start .
The Detroit Lions placed the starting quarterback on the list Wednesday for the second time this season .
Stafford first went on the list Aug. 1 , as the Lions reported to training camp , but returned three days later with what the team said was a false positive .
The Lions declined Wednesday to specify whether he tested positive for the virus or whether he is in quarantine after being in close contact with a person who had been infected .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in time to play Sunday 's game against the Minnesota Vikings .
• In your inbox : Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network .
Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter .
• Tips for coping : Every Saturday and Tuesday we 'll be in your inbox , offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times .
Sign up for Staying Apart , Together .
• On Facebook : A lot is still unknown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do know , we 're sharing with you .
Join our Facebook group , Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19 .

Lindsay Schnell and Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY

Coronavirus updates: Positive test forces Pac-12 to cancel game; Ohio governor wishes Trump would mask up; US passes 100K single-day count
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19 symptoms versus flu symptoms We answer the often searched question: "What are the symptoms of coronavirus versus the flu?" USA TODAY
A fall surge of COVID-19 — the one experts warned for months was likely — seems to be in full effect, as the United States surpassed 100,000 new daily cases for the first time.
That staggering number comes less than a week after surpassing more than 9 million confirmed cases, which is more than any other country.
It also comes two days after Americans went to the polls to elect a president, though the virus wasn't on most voters' minds: only 1 in 6 voters cited the pandemic as most important to their vote. Follow election news here.
Cases are on the rise in the U.S. and across the globe, as numerous other countries tighten restrictions and some prepare for more lockdowns. According to a USA TODAY analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University, the last 1 million coronavirus cases confirmed worldwide were reported in less than 36 hours — a rate of 7.8 cases every second.
Here's what to know today:
The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits for the first time fell slightly last week to 751,000, a still-historically high level.
China is suspending entry for most foreign passport holders who reside in Britain, reacting to a new surge of coronavirus cases in the United Kingdom.
Denmark's prime minister said Wednesday that the government wants to slaughter all 15 million minks in Danish farms to minimize the risk of them transmitting the coronavirus to humans.
As the pandemic surges on across the nation, the NFL and college football continue to feel its effects. Another NFL quarterback is sidelined and another ACC game is postponed.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 9.5 million cases and more than 233,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: more than 48 million cases and 1.22 million deaths.
🗺 Mapping coronavirus: Track the U.S. outbreak in your state.
This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.
Start of Pac-12 football season marred by canceled Washington-Cal game
Saturday's delayed start to the Pac-12 football season will take place with one fewer game than scheduled.
Washington's game at Cal was canceled at the request of the host Golden Bears after one of their players tested positive for the coronavirus. The required isolation of other players left Cal without enough players to participate. The game won't be rescheduled and will be declared no-contest.
Cal coach Justin Wilcox said he felt especially bad for his players. "They have done so well following the protocols that have been put in place,'' Wilcox said, "but as we are finding out first-hand, playing football during 2020 is a fragile situation.”
On Aug. 11, the Pac-12 and Big Ten announced they were postponing their seasons because of the risks of playing amid a pandemic. But after the Big Ten reversed course a month later and opted to play a limited schedule, the Pac-12 was left as the only one of the Power Five conferences out of action and eventually chose a seven-game schedule of only league games.
An election judge supervisor in Missouri may have exposed nine poll workers to the coronavirus after testing positive and ignoring instructions to quarantine by working on Election Day, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The supervisor, who was not identified, later died.
St. Charles County health officials said the supervisor tested positive for the virus Oct. 30 and was told to quarantine for 14 days, but ''failed to follow the advice.'' The officials don't believe the supervisor came in close contact with any of the 1,800-plus voters who cast their ballots at the polling site Tuesday.
Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told NPR on Wednesday that he wished President Donald Trump had a "more happy relationship with masks."
The Ohio Department of Health reported 4,071 new cases of coronavirus in the state on Wednesday. It was the second day in a row that the state had reported more than 4,000 new cases after a single-day record of 4,229 cases was reported Tuesday.
"Well, I certainly wish the president had a more happy relationship with masks. You know, we know so much more today than we knew in March. We now know that these masks really work," DeWine told NPR.
He stressed that the current virus spread is happening because people are not wearing masks around friends and family.
"If Ohioans understand that they can't let their guard down, that realization, I think, is really what will make a difference because it's personal decisions that are being made, personal responsibility," DeWine said.
– Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati Enquirer
The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits for the first time fell slightly last week to 751,000, a still-historically high level that shows many employers keep cutting jobs in the face of the accelerating pandemic.
A surge in viral cases and Congress’ failure to provide more aid for struggling individuals and businesses are threatening to deepen Americans' economic pain. Before the virus struck in March, the weekly figure had remained below 300,000 for more than five straight years.
Thursday’s report from the Labor Department said the number of people who are continuing to receive traditional unemployment benefits declined to 7.3 million. That figure shows that some of the unemployed are being recalled to their old jobs or are finding new ones.
But it also indicates that many jobless Americans have used up their state unemployment aid — which typically expires after six months — and have transitioned to a federal extended-benefits program that lasts an additional 13 weeks.
Wednesday's one-day record count, reported Thursday by Johns Hopkins University, of 102,831 was the first U.S. daily total to break 100,000. It translates to an average of more than 70 Americans reporting positive every minute.
In the seven-day period that ended Wednesday, the U.S. reported 629,012 new cases, also a record, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data. Almost half the states set records for new cases for a seven-day period and five states had a record number of deaths in a week. Illinois reported 9,935 new cases Thursday, more than 2,000 above its previous high set Oct. 31. In Minnesota, ICU bed use was at 92% capacity statewide and at 98% in the Twin Cities area.
"The seasonal uptick has been predicted for months," Dennis Carroll, who led the pandemic unit at the federal Agency for International Development for nearly 15 years, told USA TODAY. "As it stands, we’re no better prepared than the spring, meaning widespread closures and shutdowns as we are witnessing in Europe are inevitable."
– Mike Stucka and John Bacon
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 San Francisco 49ers are still expected to host their Thursday night game against the Green Bay Packers despite placing four players on the NFL's reserve/COVID-19 list the previous day.
According to several reports, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne tested positive for the coronavirus and fellow receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, as well as offensive tackle, also were put on the list because of close exposure to Bourne.
The virus disrupted normal operations for four other NFL teams Thursday, when the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs had to close their facilities because of a positive test. The Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans also had to alter their game preparations because of positive tests on their ranks.
The U.S. joined Israel and Armenia as the only countries to abstain from voting as the United Nations unanimously decided Thursday to hold a December summit on the COVID-19 pandemic to press for action on the global spread of the coronavirus. The vote was 150-0.
The summit, scheduled for Dec. 3-4, will include prerecorded speeches by world leaders and a discussion led by World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who currently has COVID.
Assembly President Volkan Bozkir called the high-level special session “a historic moment and a test for multilateralism” that “will be defined by our collective action on one of the most critical issues of our time.”
-- The Associated Press
A Texas televangelist who railed against sex outside marriage and called the coronavirus "a wakeup call'' and "a privilege'' has died of COVID-19, his ministry announced.
Irvin Baxter, who founded Endtime Ministries -- now based in the Plano, Texas -- was hospitalized with the disease last week and died Tuesday, according to a posting in the Christian organization's website. He was 75.
In a March television appearance, Baxter denunciated "fornication'' and said 7.5 million unwed American couples were living together, which he said meant they wouldn't get to heaven. “God may be using this as a wake-up call,” Baxter said. “This coronavirus may be a privilege, because I'll tell you right now, there is a much bigger judgment coming. It's in the Bible.”
A woman who had COVID-19 was shedding the infectious virus for up to 70 days without showing any symptoms, according to a case study published Wednesday in the peer-reviewed journal Cell.
The patient had leukemia and hypogammaglobulinemia, a condition that results in fewer antibodies, making her immunocompromised and more vulnerable to infection.
The infectious virus was located in the woman’s upper respiratory tract for up to 70 days and the virus RNA was observed for up to 150 days past initial diagnosis, according to the report.
Researchers concluded that certain immunocompromised patients may shed infectious virus for longer durations than previously recognized. The woman was treated with convalescent plasma twice before the infection finally cleared.
Thousands of people left New Jersey state prisons and halfway houses Wednesday under a law reducing sentences for inmates who served time during the coronavirus pandemic.
State officials said 2,261 inmates were released throughout the day, marking a single-day drop of 15% in the state prison population.
The drastic decline was lawmakers' response to the coronavirus's devastation in New Jersey prisons. The death rate inside state prisons was the highest in the nation, according to the nonprofit criminal justice newsroom The Marshall Project.
– Stacey Barchenger, Trenton Bureau
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Wednesday the government wants to cull all 15 million minks in Danish farms to minimize the risk of them transmitting the new coronavirus to humans.
Frederiksen said a report from a government agency that maps the coronavirus in Denmark has shown a mutation in the virus found in 12 people in the northern part of the country who got infected by minks. Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said half the 783 human COVID-19 cases in northern Denmark ”are related” to minks.
“It is very, very serious,” Frederiksen said. “Thus, the mutated virus in minks can have devastating consequences worldwide.”
Denmark is one of the world's main mink fur exporters, producing an estimated 17 million furs per year. Kopenhagen Fur, a cooperative of 1,500 Danish breeders, accounts for 40% of the global mink production. Most of its exports go to China and Hong Kong.
China is suspending entry for most foreign passport holders who reside in Britain, reacting to a new surge of coronavirus cases in the United Kingdom.
The suspension covers those holding visas or residence permits issued before Nov. 3, with exceptions for diplomats and some others. Foreign nationals wishing to visit China for emergency needs may apply for special-case visas.
The Chinese Embassy in London says the suspension will be “assessed in accordance with the evolving situation and any adjustment will be announced accordingly.”
China has largely contained the spread of the coronavirus within the country but continues to record imported cases, including another 20 reported Thursday. Chinese officials require all people arriving in China to undergo two weeks of quarantine.
The chair of Britain’s coronavirus vaccine task force said data evaluating the efficacy and safety of the two most advanced candidates should be available in early December.
Kate Bingham told a Parliamentary committee on Wednesday that information on the two vaccine candidates — developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, and Pfizer and BioNTech — should be available by then. After that, the vaccine candidates will need regulatory approval, Bingham says.
“If we get that, we have the possibility of deploying by year end,” she said.
Oxford Vaccine Trial Chief Investigator Andrew Pollard said results from late-stage trials could be presented by then, Reuters reported. The National Health Service in England is preparing to start distributing a possible vaccine before Christmas, just in case one is ready by then.
Louisville's football game against Virginia on Saturday has been postponed because of a coronavirus outbreak on the Cardinals team. The game will be moved to Nov. 14, replacing the Cardinals' originally scheduled bye week. Louisville missed nine players in last week's game against Virginia Tech due to coronavirus-related issues.
Louisville athletics director Vince Tyra said the football program is dealing with 15 COVID-19 cases -- 10 of them among players -- with seven more people in quarantine. Five of them are players.
— Cameron Teague Robinson, Louisville Courier Journal
COVID-19 resources from USA TODAY
In your inbox: Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter.
Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Tips for coping: Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. Sign up for Staying Apart, Together.
Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. On Facebook: A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. Join our Facebook group, Coronavirus Watch, to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19.
Contributing: Grace Hauck; The Associated Press