usatoday--2020-09-24--Coronavirus updates: Trump may overrule FDA; Missouri governor, wife test positive; Fauci, Sen. Rand

Missouri Gov .
Mike Parson and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus Wednesday , the same day another Republican elected official , Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky , once again engaged Dr. Anthony Fauci in a contentious debate over the U.S. pandemic response .
And President Donald Trump cast doubt on the FDA 's assurances that it would keep politics out of the vaccine-approval process .
Earlier in the day , Johnson & Johnson said it was beginning the final stage of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate trial as the company hopes to provide safe and effective protection with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already begun their late-stage trials , Johnson & Johnson 's is the first vaccine candidate to reach Phase 3 requiring only one dose , which could ease the challenges of vaccine distribution .
The news comes as the nation 's top health experts told a Senate panel Wednesday that regulatory agencies were not cutting corners when it comes to vaccine safety .
`` We feel cautiously optimistic that we will be able to have a safe and effective vaccine , although there is never a guarantee of that , '' said Dr. Anthony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Institutes of Health .
• The Miami-Dade County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to start a staggered reopening plan on Oct. 14 in the country 's fourth-largest district .
• The CDC advised against traditional trick-or-treating this year amid the pandemic .
• The NCAA Division 1 Board of Directors approved a plan Tuesday to move fall sports championships – including the FCS football championship – to spring 2021 .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has reported more than 6.9 million cases and 201,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Montana , Utah , Wisconsin and Wyoming – set records for new cases in a week through late Tuesday while Montana had a record number of deaths in a week .
Globally , there have been more than 31.7 million cases and 973,000 fatalities .
📰 What we 're reading : Our travel writer David Oliver checked in at a few hotels to check out their coronavirus protocols .
Here 's what he found .
🗺 Mapping coronavirus : Track the U.S. outbreak , state by state This file will be updated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your inbox , subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter .
Hours after some of the administration 's leading health officials offered assurances that the search for a coronavirus vaccine would be conducted free of political interference , President Donald Trump undercut that notion and suggested he may overrule the Federal Drug Administration .
Trump , who has predicted the arrival of a vaccine before the Nov. 3 election , questioned why the FDA would set a higher standard for granting emergency authorization for a vaccine , as the agency is reportedly planning on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I think that was a political move more than anything else , '' Trump said The president added that the FDA guidance `` has to be approved by the White House .
We may or may not approve it . ''
Earlier in the day , FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn addressed concerns of politics playing a role in the approval process , emphasizing that career scientists at the FDA drive decision making : `` Science will guide our decisions , '' Hahn said .
`` FDA will not permit any pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Missouri Gov .
Mike Parson , a steadfast opponent of mandatory mask requirements , tested positive for the coronavirus Wednesday after his wife was also confirmed infected .
Parson 's office said in a news release that the Republican leader `` feels healthy and is displaying no symptoms . ''
His wife , Teresa , tested positive earlier in the day and has experienced mild symptoms that include a cough and nasal congestion , her spokeswoman said .
All of Gov .
Parson 's official and campaign events have been canceled until further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic challenger Nicole Galloway .
Parson has repeatedly urged residents to wear masks and maintain social distancing but has been an outspoken opponent of mask mandates , often appearing at functions without one .
Parson is the second state governor known to have been infected by the virus .
Fellow Republican Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma announced he had tested positive in mid-July , and three weeks later Ohio 's Mike DeWine also said he tested positive , but hours later said a more sophisticated screening came out negative .
Dr. Anthony Fauci clashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and this time the nation 's top infectious disease expert was more forceful in his comments .
Fauci scolded the Kentucky Republican for repeatedly misinterpreting his statements about the coronavirus pandemic during a hearing before the Senate Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday , at one point telling Paul , `` You are not listening to what the director of the CDC said . ''
It was the third time in about four months the two sides sparred publicly over the pandemic response .
Paul asked Fauci on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to contain the pandemic , but Fauci batted away the question .
`` No , no , you misconstrue that senator , and you 've done that repeatedly in the past .
They got hit very badly , they made some mistakes , '' Fauci said , adding that New York got its test positivity rate below 1 % by following recommendations from the coronavirus task force regarding hand-washing , mask-wearing , social distancing and outdoor activities .
At the same hearing , Fauci told senators that college administrators should not send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak on campus because they could transmit the disease to their communities .
The New Year 's Eve celebration in New York 's Times Square will be pared down to allow for social distancing and will include enhanced virtual elements , organizers said Wednesday .
Details of the in-person festivities are still being worked out , but essential workers and first responders will be among those honored .
`` Whether you want to turn off and turn away from the bad news of 2020 , or turn to the new year with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you ’ ll be able to join us virtually like never before as part of the Times Square 2021 celebration , '' Jeff Straus , president of Countdown Entertainment , said in a statement .
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that since-reversed changes to the agency 's testing guidelines that drew sharp criticism last month from infectious disease experts were misinterpreted .
The CDC posted revised guidelines in August that said asymptomatic people may not need a test – even if they ’ ve been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday walked back that revision , reinforcing the need for all people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 to get tested .
CDC head Dr. Robert Redfield told a Senate panel the changes in August `` were not interpreted in the manner in which we had intended them to be interpreted . ''
Redfield said the August revisions were intended to `` reengage the medical and public health community as part of testing so that there was a public health action that happened as a consequence of every test .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sued the city 's government for allegedly violating the First Amendment by restricting the size of religious gatherings but allowing for anti-racism protests .
The lawsuit , which was first reported by The Washington Post , says D.C. 's government `` favor ( ed ) certain expressive gatherings over others . ''
According to the Post , D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has limited services at houses of worship to 100 people or 50 % of capacity during her phased reopening plan , but the lawsuit notes that she appeared at anti-racism rallies in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban on outdoor gatherings of more than 50 people .
The lawsuit filed by the members of the Capitol Hill Baptist Church is the first by a religious group against the city and its coronavirus restrictions , the Post reported .
Parts of NYC see virus uptick that is 'cause for significant concern' Several neighborhoods in New York City have seen an uptick in coronavirus cases that is causing city officials `` significant concern . ''
New York 's health department identified multiple neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens that account for 20 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 .
The uptick in the areas began Aug. 1 , the health department said Tuesday .
`` These increases could potentially evolve into more widespread community transmission and spread to other neighborhoods unless action is taken , '' the department said .
New York City was once the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. , adding around 5,000 new cases a day in late March and early April , but the city 's new case counts have effectively flattened the past two months .
The final stage of Johnson & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which would require only one dose , is set to begin Wednesday , the company announced .
The trial will be one of the largest in the world , with 60,000 volunteers in the U.S. , South Africa , Argentina , Brazil , Chile , Colombia , Mexico and Peru expected to receive doses .
A few other companies already have vaccine candidates in the final stage of trials to test whether they 're safe and effective , but those require two shots .
“ A single-shot vaccine , if it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ substantial logistic advantages for global pandemic control , ” Dan Barouch , director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston , who partnered with Johnson & Johnson on the vaccine , told The Washington Post .
The late Ruth Bader Ginsburg returned to the Supreme Court for the final time Wednesday , with family , friends , former law clerks , colleagues on the high court and the public bidding one last goodbye to the iconic justice .
After a brief ceremony just outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be on the front portico of the court for two days of public viewing outdoors with appropriate social distancing to guard against the coronavirus .
Gas tax hikes pile up as states become desperate for road repair revenue Americans who want to stay socially distant during the COVID-19 pandemic now have another reason to think twice before going out for gas .
Several states have increased gas taxes in recent months to make up for sudden shortfalls in revenue for road repairs .
As Americans drive less during the pandemic partly because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gasoline demand has fallen .
That 's one key factor triggering the tax increases as lawmakers seek to limit the impact of lower revenue on road repair budgets .
There 's some good news for motorists : They ’ re currently saving at the pump because the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the economy to slow , pushing down demand and prices for petroleum and gasoline .
The Miami-Dade County School Board on Tuesday voted unanimously to gradually start in-person instruction on Oct. 14 after a record-breaking two-day meeting , the Miami Herald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin with students in pre-K , kindergarten and first grade and students with special needs .
All students can return to classrooms by Oct. 21 .
Those who prefer remote-learning – which accounts for 51 % of the district 's families – can stick to that option , the newspaper reported .
The decision `` reflected a collective effort from a community that has been appropriately concerned about the potentially disastrous impact of prematurely reopening physical classrooms , '' United Teachers of Dade president Karla Hernandez-Mats told The Herald in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the country 's largest school district , began limited in-person instruction Monday .
'It 's been pretty rough ' : As more schools offer in-person options , what happens to the students who stay virtual ?
Four lawmakers have renewed bipartisan calls demanding answers for `` troubling conditions '' at two federal jails in Virginia , citing a lack of personal protective equipment , unsanitary conditions and spoiled food being served to inmates .
Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and Reps. Donald McEachin and Morgan Griffith wrote a letter to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressing frustration over the lack of response to concerns they addressed in a May 21 letter .
The concerns are regarding FCC Petersburg in Prince George County and United States Penitentiary Lee in Lee County .
FDA to impose higher standard for emergency authorization of vaccine The Food and Drug Administration , whose autonomy has been questioned amid repeated interference from the Trump administration , is expected to announce a higher standard for emergency authorization of a coronavirus vaccine in an effort to gain public trust , the New York Times and Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it highly unlikely a vaccine would be available before the Nov. 3 election , contrary to what President Donald Trump has predicted .
Vaccine manufacturers will have to follow participants in Stage 3 clinical trials for at least two months after they receive a second shot of the vaccine candidate , the newspapers said .
Surveys have shown many Americans are skeptical a new coronavirus vaccine would be safe and effective , with as many as half the respondents saying they would not get the immunization if it were available today .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and convalescent plasma , two treatments for the virus touted by Trump but questioned by public health experts .
The vaccine guidelines , drafted by a team of career scientists at the FDA and being reviewed by the White House , could come as early as this week , the Times reported .
Donald Trump on 200K coronavirus deaths in US : 'It 's a shame' Making his first remarks on the latest milestone in the nation 's battle with coronavirus , President Donald Trump on Tuesday lamented the loss of 200,000 Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ describing it as `` a shame . ''
`` It 's a horrible thing , '' Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House as he left for a rally in the battleground state of Pennsylvania .
At the rally , Trump mocked his Democratic opponent Joe Biden for wearing a face mask – something White House public health experts have recommended – and said his administration had done an `` A-plus job '' dealing with the pandemic .
During 90 minutes of remarks , Trump did not mention the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blamed China for allowing it to become a pandemic , promised a vaccine will be widely available for Americans soon and criticized social distancing measures approved by state officials that his own public health experts have called for .
Veteran Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward reportedly said Tuesday that he was `` quite frankly embarrassed '' for President Donald Trump giving himself an A+ grade for his coronavirus response .
Woodward , speaking at an invite-only forum for the Citizen by CNN 2020 conference , said in his experience of covering nine different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like '' Trump 's mangled handling of the ongoing pandemic .
Woodward recently released an explosive book on Trump titled `` Rage , '' which included the president telling the journalist in a recorded interview weeks before the first death in the U.S. that despite knowing how `` deadly '' and serious the coronavirus pandemic would be , he wanted to `` play it down '' and would to continue to do so .
Trump also told Woodward in an interview on Feb. 7 about how much `` more deadly '' COVID-19 would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ juxtaposition from the president 's public remarks at the time and in subsequent months .
The Trump administration indicated Tuesday that it would support separate funding measures to provide more financial relief for airlines , a move that could stave off layoffs of thousands of workers and drastic cuts to flight schedules .
With talks for an overall additional stimulus deal stalled , press secretary Kayleigh McEnany encouraged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , to send separate funding bills , including one for airlines .
`` At this point , the onus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McEnany said at the daily media briefing .
`` We encourage her to send one-off bills , perhaps airline funding or other elements that we could work through the process to get to the American people . ''
Despite many empty seats , airlines have kept flying with help from a $ 50 billion allotment that was part of the Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act that passed in March .
Sizzler , the steakhouse chain started 62 years ago , has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result of the COVID-19 pandemic .
In a statement , Sizzler said it filed for voluntary Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District in California on Monday .
The restaurant chain will start a restructuring process to reduce debt and renegotiate its leases with landlords .
`` Our current financial state is a direct consequence of the pandemic ’ s economic impact due to long-term indoor dining closures and landlords ’ refusal to provide necessary rent abatements , '' Chris Perkins , president and chief services officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The chain operates 107 locations across 10 states and Puerto Rico .
• 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 .
• 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

Jorge L. Ortiz and Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY

Coronavirus updates: Trump may overrule FDA; Missouri governor, wife test positive; Fauci, Sen. Rand Paul spar over pandemic response
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19: How Herd Immunity works, why you still need to wear a mask Without masks and a vaccine, we could reach Herd Immunity from COVID-19, but deaths would skyrocket. We break down the science of it. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus Wednesday, the same day another Republican elected official, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, once again engaged Dr. Anthony Fauci in a contentious debate over the U.S. pandemic response. And President Donald Trump cast doubt on the FDA's assurances that it would keep politics out of the vaccine-approval process.
Earlier in the day, Johnson & Johnson said it was beginning the final stage of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate trial as the company hopes to provide safe and effective protection with a single shot.
While other companies have already begun their late-stage trials, Johnson & Johnson's is the first vaccine candidate to reach Phase 3 requiring only one dose, which could ease the challenges of vaccine distribution.
The news comes as the nation's top health experts told a Senate panel Wednesday that regulatory agencies were not cutting corners when it comes to vaccine safety.
"We feel cautiously optimistic that we will be able to have a safe and effective vaccine, although there is never a guarantee of that," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health.
Some significant developments:
The Miami-Dade County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to start a staggered reopening plan on Oct. 14 in the country's fourth-largest district.
The CDC advised against traditional trick-or-treating this year amid the pandemic.
The NCAA Division 1 Board of Directors approved a plan Tuesday to move fall sports championships – including the FCS football championship – to spring 2021.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 6.9 million cases and 201,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Five states – Minnesota, Montana, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming – set records for new cases in a week through late Tuesday while Montana had a record number of deaths in a week. Globally, there have been more than 31.7 million cases and 973,000 fatalities.
📰 What we're reading: Our travel writer David Oliver checked in at a few hotels to check out their coronavirus protocols. Here's what he found.
🗺 Mapping coronavirus: Track the U.S. outbreak, state by state
This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.
Halloween: Here are 5 ways the CDC doesn't want you to celebrate Many traditional Halloween activities are a risk to spreading COVID-19, so here are some suggestions the CDC has stay safe this spooky season. USA TODAY
Hours after some of the administration's leading health officials offered assurances that the search for a coronavirus vaccine would be conducted free of political interference, President Donald Trump undercut that notion and suggested he may overrule the Federal Drug Administration.
Trump, who has predicted the arrival of a vaccine before the Nov. 3 election, questioned why the FDA would set a higher standard for granting emergency authorization for a vaccine, as the agency is reportedly planning on in an effort to gain public trust.
"I think that was a political move more than anything else,'' Trump said
The president added that the FDA guidance "has to be approved by the White House. We may or may not approve it.''
Earlier in the day, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn addressed concerns of politics playing a role in the approval process, emphasizing that career scientists at the FDA drive decision making: "Science will guide our decisions,'' Hahn said. "FDA will not permit any pressure from anyone to change that."
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a steadfast opponent of mandatory mask requirements, tested positive for the coronavirus Wednesday after his wife was also confirmed infected.
Parson's office said in a news release that the Republican leader "feels healthy and is displaying no symptoms." His wife, Teresa, tested positive earlier in the day and has experienced mild symptoms that include a cough and nasal congestion, her spokeswoman said.
All of Gov. Parson's official and campaign events have been canceled until further notice, including Friday's debate with Democratic challenger Nicole Galloway. Parson has repeatedly urged residents to wear masks and maintain social distancing but has been an outspoken opponent of mask mandates, often appearing at functions without one.
Parson is the second state governor known to have been infected by the virus. Fellow Republican Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma announced he had tested positive in mid-July, and three weeks later Ohio's Mike DeWine also said he tested positive, but hours later said a more sophisticated screening came out negative.
Dr. Anthony Fauci clashed once again with Sen. Rand Paul, and this time the nation's top infectious disease expert was more forceful in his comments.
Fauci scolded the Kentucky Republican for repeatedly misinterpreting his statements about the coronavirus pandemic during a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday, at one point telling Paul, "You are not listening to what the director of the CDC said.''
It was the third time in about four months the two sides sparred publicly over the pandemic response. Paul asked Fauci on Wednesday about his praise for New York's efforts to contain the pandemic, but Fauci batted away the question.
"No, no, you misconstrue that senator, and you've done that repeatedly in the past. They got hit very badly, they made some mistakes," Fauci said, adding that New York got its test positivity rate below 1% by following recommendations from the coronavirus task force regarding hand-washing, mask-wearing, social distancing and outdoor activities.
At the same hearing, Fauci told senators that college administrators should not send students home if there’s an outbreak on campus because they could transmit the disease to their communities.
-- Nicholas Wu
A scaled-down New Year's Eve in Times Square
The New Year's Eve celebration in New York's Times Square will be pared down to allow for social distancing and will include enhanced virtual elements, organizers said Wednesday. Details of the in-person festivities are still being worked out, but essential workers and first responders will be among those honored.
"Whether you want to turn off and turn away from the bad news of 2020, or turn to the new year with a sense of hope, renewal and resolution, you’ll be able to join us virtually like never before as part of the Times Square 2021 celebration," Jeff Straus, president of Countdown Entertainment, said in a statement.
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that since-reversed changes to the agency's testing guidelines that drew sharp criticism last month from infectious disease experts were misinterpreted.
The CDC posted revised guidelines in August that said asymptomatic people may not need a test – even if they’ve been exposed to the coronavirus. The CDC on Friday walked back that revision, reinforcing the need for all people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 to get tested.
CDC head Dr. Robert Redfield told a Senate panel the changes in August "were not interpreted in the manner in which we had intended them to be interpreted." Redfield said the August revisions were intended to "reengage the medical and public health community as part of testing so that there was a public health action that happened as a consequence of every test."
A prominent evangelical church in Washington sued the city's government for allegedly violating the First Amendment by restricting the size of religious gatherings but allowing for anti-racism protests.
The lawsuit, which was first reported by The Washington Post, says D.C.'s government "favor(ed) certain expressive gatherings over others." According to the Post, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has limited services at houses of worship to 100 people or 50% of capacity during her phased reopening plan, but the lawsuit notes that she appeared at anti-racism rallies in June and allegedly has not enforced a ban on outdoor gatherings of more than 50 people. The lawsuit filed by the members of the Capitol Hill Baptist Church is the first by a religious group against the city and its coronavirus restrictions, the Post reported.
Parts of NYC see virus uptick that is 'cause for significant concern'
Several neighborhoods in New York City have seen an uptick in coronavirus cases that is causing city officials "significant concern."
New York's health department identified multiple neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens that account for 20% of all cases citywide as of Sept. 19. The uptick in the areas began Aug. 1, the health department said Tuesday. "These increases could potentially evolve into more widespread community transmission and spread to other neighborhoods unless action is taken," the department said.
New York City was once the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S., adding around 5,000 new cases a day in late March and early April, but the city's new case counts have effectively flattened the past two months.
The final stage of Johnson & Johnson's trial for its vaccine candidate, which would require only one dose, is set to begin Wednesday, the company announced. The trial will be one of the largest in the world, with 60,000 volunteers in the U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru expected to receive doses.
A few other companies already have vaccine candidates in the final stage of trials to test whether they're safe and effective, but those require two shots.
“A single-shot vaccine, if it’s safe and effective, will have substantial logistic advantages for global pandemic control,” Dan Barouch, director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, who partnered with Johnson & Johnson on the vaccine, told The Washington Post.
The late Ruth Bader Ginsburg returned to the Supreme Court for the final time Wednesday, with family, friends, former law clerks, colleagues on the high court and the public bidding one last goodbye to the iconic justice.
After a brief ceremony just outside the courtroom Wednesday, Ginsburg's casket will be on the front portico of the court for two days of public viewing outdoors with appropriate social distancing to guard against the coronavirus.
– Richard Wolf
Americans who want to stay socially distant during the COVID-19 pandemic now have another reason to think twice before going out for gas.
Several states have increased gas taxes in recent months to make up for sudden shortfalls in revenue for road repairs. As Americans drive less during the pandemic partly because of social distancing and remote work arrangements, gasoline demand has fallen. That's one key factor triggering the tax increases as lawmakers seek to limit the impact of lower revenue on road repair budgets.
There's some good news for motorists: They’re currently saving at the pump because the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the economy to slow, pushing down demand and prices for petroleum and gasoline.
– Nathan Bomey
The Miami-Dade County School Board on Tuesday voted unanimously to gradually start in-person instruction on Oct. 14 after a record-breaking two-day meeting, the Miami Herald reported.
The staggered reopening plan will begin with students in pre-K, kindergarten and first grade and students with special needs. All students can return to classrooms by Oct. 21. Those who prefer remote-learning – which accounts for 51% of the district's families – can stick to that option, the newspaper reported.
The decision "reflected a collective effort from a community that has been appropriately concerned about the potentially disastrous impact of prematurely reopening physical classrooms," United Teachers of Dade president Karla Hernandez-Mats told The Herald in a statement.
The decision comes after New York City, the country's largest school district, began limited in-person instruction Monday.
'It's been pretty rough': As more schools offer in-person options, what happens to the students who stay virtual?
Four lawmakers have renewed bipartisan calls demanding answers for "troubling conditions" at two federal jails in Virginia, citing a lack of personal protective equipment, unsanitary conditions and spoiled food being served to inmates.
Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and Reps. Donald McEachin and Morgan Griffith wrote a letter to the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons expressing frustration over the lack of response to concerns they addressed in a May 21 letter. The concerns are regarding FCC Petersburg in Prince George County and United States Penitentiary Lee in Lee County.
– William Atkinson, The Progress-Index
The Food and Drug Administration, whose autonomy has been questioned amid repeated interference from the Trump administration, is expected to announce a higher standard for emergency authorization of a coronavirus vaccine in an effort to gain public trust, the New York Times and Washington Post reported.
The new requirement would make it highly unlikely a vaccine would be available before the Nov. 3 election, contrary to what President Donald Trump has predicted.
Vaccine manufacturers will have to follow participants in Stage 3 clinical trials for at least two months after they receive a second shot of the vaccine candidate, the newspapers said. Surveys have shown many Americans are skeptical a new coronavirus vaccine would be safe and effective, with as many as half the respondents saying they would not get the immunization if it were available today.
The FDA granted emergency authorization to hydroxychloroquine and convalescent plasma, two treatments for the virus touted by Trump but questioned by public health experts. The vaccine guidelines, drafted by a team of career scientists at the FDA and being reviewed by the White House, could come as early as this week, the Times reported.
Making his first remarks on the latest milestone in the nation's battle with coronavirus, President Donald Trump on Tuesday lamented the loss of 200,000 Americans who have died from the disease, describing it as "a shame."
"It's a horrible thing," Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House as he left for a rally in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. At the rally, Trump mocked his Democratic opponent Joe Biden for wearing a face mask – something White House public health experts have recommended – and said his administration had done an "A-plus job" dealing with the pandemic.
During 90 minutes of remarks, Trump did not mention the death toll from the virus but instead blamed China for allowing it to become a pandemic, promised a vaccine will be widely available for Americans soon and criticized social distancing measures approved by state officials that his own public health experts have called for.
– John Fritze, Michael Collins and David Jackson
Veteran Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward reportedly said Tuesday that he was "quite frankly embarrassed" for President Donald Trump giving himself an A+ grade for his coronavirus response.
Woodward, speaking at an invite-only forum for the Citizen by CNN 2020 conference, said in his experience of covering nine different presidents he has "never seen anything like" Trump's mangled handling of the ongoing pandemic.
Woodward recently released an explosive book on Trump titled "Rage," which included the president telling the journalist in a recorded interview weeks before the first death in the U.S. that despite knowing how "deadly" and serious the coronavirus pandemic would be, he wanted to "play it down" and would to continue to do so.
Trump also told Woodward in an interview on Feb. 7 about how much "more deadly" COVID-19 would be than the flu, a startling juxtaposition from the president's public remarks at the time and in subsequent months.
– Savannah Behrmann
The Trump administration indicated Tuesday that it would support separate funding measures to provide more financial relief for airlines, a move that could stave off layoffs of thousands of workers and drastic cuts to flight schedules.
With talks for an overall additional stimulus deal stalled, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany encouraged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to send separate funding bills, including one for airlines.
"At this point, the onus is really on Speaker Pelosi," McEnany said at the daily media briefing. "We encourage her to send one-off bills, perhaps airline funding or other elements that we could work through the process to get to the American people."
Despite many empty seats, airlines have kept flying with help from a $50 billion allotment that was part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that passed in March.
– Chris Woodyard
Sizzler, the steakhouse chain started 62 years ago, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the latest business to suffer as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, Sizzler said it filed for voluntary Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District in California on Monday. The restaurant chain will start a restructuring process to reduce debt and renegotiate its leases with landlords.
"Our current financial state is a direct consequence of the pandemic’s economic impact due to long-term indoor dining closures and landlords’ refusal to provide necessary rent abatements," Chris Perkins, president and chief services officer for Sizzler, said in a statement.
The chain operates 107 locations across 10 states and Puerto Rico.
– Brett Molina
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. Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter. On Facebook: A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. Join our Facebook group, Coronavirus Watch, to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19.
A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. Join our Facebook group, Coronavirus Watch, to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19. Tips for coping: Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. Sign up for Staying Apart, Together.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-09-23--California's governor, Gavin Newsom, wants to ban gas cars by 2035. What does that mean for drivers?

Placing his executive order on the hood of a red , electric Ford Mustang , Gov .
Gavin Newsom signed a directive on Wednesday to move California away from traditional , internal combustion engine cars .
The order calls on the California Air Resources Board to develop rules allowing only zero-emission cars to be sold in the state by 2035 .
If the order – which also sets goals for electrifying or otherwise decarbonizing trucks and off-road vehicles – ultimately becomes a rule , it would mean that gasoline-powered vehicles in California would go the way of the same dinosaurs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Motor Vehicles , there were more than 36 million paid vehicle registrations in the state last year , meaning the transition will be a Herculean undertaking .
So , what does it mean for you , California drivers and car owners ?
What kind of new cars will I be able to buy in 2035 ?
More nuance will come out over the next year when the California Air Resources Board develops the actual rules and regulations Newsom 's order demanded , but consumers will likely only be able to purchase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While Newsom said he remains `` agnostic '' about the type of zero-emission cars sold , electric vehicles are just about the only economically scalable option .
Expect to see a lot more Teslas , Chevy Volts and the like sitting in California traffic in 15 years .
Used gasoline-powered cars would still be available for sale .
With a push toward electric vehicles , where are we going to charge our new cars ?
It 's an important question , and it 's one without an answer .
Vehicles have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electrons in a battery or gas in a tank .
Charging stations will need to be built around the highway network just like gas stations were decades ago .
Newsom asked several state agencies to work out the question of adequate infrastructure .
The potential impact on the electricity grid from a surge of electric vehicles was not directly addressed in Newsom 's executive order , although that will have to be part of state planning over the next 15 years .
Newsom 's announcement also raised immediate concerns over the accessibility of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affordability of electric vehicles — in rural and low-income areas .
This , too , is something Newsom has directed state agencies to consider .
No , if you purchase a gas-powered car prior to 2035 , you can drive it until its wheels fall off .
Yes , any gas-powered car purchased before the 2035 deadline can still be sold on the used market , even after the mandate comes into effect .
Hybrids are cleaner than totally gas-powered cars .
How are hybrids impacted ?
Any new car that has tailpipe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off-limits for sale after 2035 , per Newsom 's plan .
California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols on Wednesday pointed out that hybrids have moved `` closer and closer to zero emissions '' anyway and predicted that the 15-year runway will give auto manufacturers time to adapt .
That remains to be seen .
The Newsom administration certainly thinks so , and the air resources board put out a similar but narrower rule in June that mandated all new trucks sold in the state be zero emission by 2045 .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much , and it mainly calls on the air resources board and other agencies to create rules .
It does n't actually write the rules itself .
Newsom 's rationale for the multistep approach is n't entirely clear , but unilateral executive orders are typically harder to defend in court than agency rules and definitely more at risk of being overturned than legislative actions .
Matt DeLorenzo , executive editor of Kelley Blue Book , predicted that the order `` will likely be either upheld or struck down in the larger court ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its own vehicle emission standards . ''
But that litigation still has a long way to go .
Why is Newsom doing this ?
Studies show that ever-increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are leading to increased temperatures , rising sea levels , severe weather events and unpredictable precipitation .
The state estimates that moving to zero-emission cars will decrease the state 's total greenhouse gas emissions by 35 % , which is expected to be accompanied by an 80 % reduction in certain noxious gases coming out of vehicles ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California is both home to the country 's largest fleet of electric vehicles and its biggest producer – Tesla – meaning the push could bring the state an even larger share of a rapidly growing industry .
Mark Olalde covers the environment for The Desert Sun .
Get in touch at molalde @ gannett.com , and follow him on Twitter at @ MarkOlalde .

California's governor, Gavin Newsom, wants to ban gas cars by 2035. What does that mean for drivers?
Show Caption Hide Caption Californians on 2035 new gas engine car sales ban There was reaction Wednesday to an announcement from Gov. Gavin Newsom that California will halt sales of new gasoline-powered passenger cars and trucks by 2035. Gov. Newsom says the move will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35% in the state. (Sept. 23) AP
Placing his executive order on the hood of a red, Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a directive on Wednesday to move California away from traditional, internal combustion engine cars. The order calls on the California Air Resources Board to develop rules allowing only zero-emission cars to be sold in the state by 2035.
If the order – which also sets goals for electrifying or otherwise decarbonizing trucks and off-road vehicles – ultimately becomes a rule, it would mean that gasoline-powered vehicles in California would go the way of the same dinosaurs that fuel them.
According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, there were more than 36 million paid vehicle registrations in the state last year, meaning the transition will be a Herculean undertaking. So, what does it mean for you, California drivers and car owners?
Moving back home: COVID-19 recession is forcing grown kids to move home, again
Palmetto cheese controversy: Costco reportedly pulls item after founder calls BLM 'terror organization'
What kind of new cars will I be able to buy in 2035?
More nuance will come out over the next year when the California Air Resources Board develops the actual rules and regulations Newsom's order demanded, but consumers will likely only be able to purchase new passenger vehicles that have zero emissions.
While Newsom said he remains "agnostic" about the type of zero-emission cars sold, electric vehicles are just about the only economically scalable option. Expect to see a lot more Teslas, Chevy Volts and the like sitting in California traffic in 15 years.
Used gasoline-powered cars would still be available for sale.
With a push toward electric vehicles, where are we going to charge our new cars?
It's an important question, and it's one without an answer. Vehicles have to carry fuel, whether that's as electrons in a battery or gas in a tank. Charging stations will need to be built around the highway network just like gas stations were decades ago. Newsom asked several state agencies to work out the question of adequate infrastructure.
The potential impact on the electricity grid from a surge of electric vehicles was not directly addressed in Newsom's executive order, although that will have to be part of state planning over the next 15 years.
Newsom's announcement also raised immediate concerns over the accessibility of charging infrastructure – in addition to the affordability of electric vehicles — in rural and low-income areas. This, too, is something Newsom has directed state agencies to consider.
Is my car suddenly illegal?
No, if you purchase a gas-powered car prior to 2035, you can drive it until its wheels fall off.
Can I sell my car?
Yes, any gas-powered car purchased before the 2035 deadline can still be sold on the used market, even after the mandate comes into effect.
Hybrids are cleaner than totally gas-powered cars. How are hybrids impacted?
Any new car that has tailpipe emissions, hybrids included, will be off-limits for sale after 2035, per Newsom's plan. California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols on Wednesday pointed out that hybrids have moved "closer and closer to zero emissions" anyway and predicted that the 15-year runway will give auto manufacturers time to adapt.
Is this legal?
That remains to be seen. The Newsom administration certainly thinks so, and the air resources board put out a similar but narrower rule in June that mandated all new trucks sold in the state be zero emission by 2045.
However, Newsom's executive order only does so much, and it mainly calls on the air resources board and other agencies to create rules. It doesn't actually write the rules itself. Newsom's rationale for the multistep approach isn't entirely clear, but unilateral executive orders are typically harder to defend in court than agency rules and definitely more at risk of being overturned than legislative actions.
Matt DeLorenzo, executive editor of Kelley Blue Book, predicted that the order "will likely be either upheld or struck down in the larger court ruling on whether or not California can set its own vehicle emission standards." But that litigation still has a long way to go.
Why is Newsom doing this?
Studies show that ever-increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are leading to increased temperatures, rising sea levels, severe weather events and unpredictable precipitation. The state estimates that moving to zero-emission cars will decrease the state's total greenhouse gas emissions by 35%, which is expected to be accompanied by an 80% reduction in certain noxious gases coming out of vehicles' tailpipes.
At the same time, California is both home to the country's largest fleet of electric vehicles and its biggest producer – Tesla – meaning the push could bring the state an even larger share of a rapidly growing industry.
Mark Olalde covers the environment for The Desert Sun. Get in touch at molalde@gannett.com, and follow him on Twitter at @MarkOlalde.


usatoday--2020-09-23--Opinion: SEC too tight-lipped about COVID-19 data, real cost of successful football season

The question Wednesday seemed to stump SEC commissioner Greg Sankey for a moment : What would constitute a successful season for his league in 2020 ?
As the SEC prepares to open play Saturday of a 10-game , conference-only season unlike any other in history , Sankey ’ s answer focused on Dec. 19 .
That ’ s the day college football has settled on for conference championship games , and the SEC plans to have two teams in Atlanta playing for the title .
“ Today it ’ s a start so we ’ re close to the starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s nowhere near the finish line , and we really define that by naming an SEC champion this year.
” Though it was almost certainly an oversight to a question he wasn ’ t expecting , it was notable that Sankey ’ s definition of success for the SEC did not include any reference at all to keeping players and staffers safe , minimizing COVID-19 outbreaks or ensuring that players who contract the virus are not going to suffer long-term complications .
Of course , we know that the SEC can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More problematic , we have no idea how hard they ’ ve even tried .
Make no mistake , the SEC is going to have its championship game Dec. 19 regardless of what happens in the next several weeks .
They are past the point of no return , and from what we ’ ve gathered over the first few weeks of the college football season , the bar doesn ’ t seem particularly high to keep the train on track .
Sure , it might be a colossal mess with positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postponements and demolished depth charts , but it ’ s going to happen one way or the other .
Is that success ?
Perhaps , in a way .
But what ’ s the cost of that success ?
We don ’ t have any real idea , particularly in the SEC , because we don ’ t know very much about what the conditions have been in those programs .
Out of the 14 SEC schools , only Florida has been regularly updating its COVID-19 numbers .
Others have been infrequent or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eli Drinkwitz revealing Tuesday that seven players were in quarantine for either testing positive or contact tracing .
Some schools , like Georgia , have been so tight with their COVID-19 information it took a Freedom of Information Act request just to get a little bit of months-old data .
In an interview with HBO ’ s Real Sports in July , Sankey was evasive and defensive when asked about the number of positive cases within the league but made sure to hammer home the talking point that players were safer working out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s true , but when you hear LSU coach Ed Orgeron say last week that “ most of our players have caught it , ” you simply can ’ t accept that talking point as dogma .
And when you hear coaches talk so cavalierly about how many of their players have had COVID-19 and subsequently allude to the competitive benefit of that development — you don ’ t have to test them again for 90 days !
— the SEC ’ s general defiance of basic transparency makes it seem like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t want us to know about .
In that vein , college athletes rights advocate Ramogi Huma sent a letter Tuesday to NCAA president Mark Emmert asking for the governing body to open an investigation into whether COVID protocols are being followed on campuses .
The letter , which was sent on behalf of the National Collegiate Players Association , cites a recent survey from the National Athletic Trainers Association in which respondents said just 35 percent of college athletes and 47 percent of coaches and staffers were fully compliant with safety protocols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , uniform COVID protections , ” Huma wrote .
“ Currently , there are a dizzying array of COVID policies within and across conferences .
A number of these policies do not incorporate best practices regarding COVID in athletics .
Many players lack information about what those protocols are and whether or not there is any recourse at all if they are not followed.
” The SEC is a microcosm of the confusion .
At Alabama , players are being tested every day .
At other schools , it ’ s two PCR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test before a game .
The Big Ten ’ s decision to play this fall beginning in October was contingent on securing antigen tests that can be administered daily .
The SEC thinks its plan , which includes contact tracing systems , is the “ gold standard , ” as Sankey said , even though they are testing less frequently .
“ The other leagues aren ’ t playing right now and we are three days away , ” Sankey said .
“ And if and when they do play , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might learn from them.
” But what have we learned from the SEC , which delayed its season to Sept. 26 in order to get through the re-opening of campuses and get more data from other sports that already re-started ?
Not much , other than it seems that a fairly significant number of players have had the coronavirus at a few schools .
In the NFL , which is releasing its testing numbers every week , it seems we have a lot more confidence than we did a couple months ago that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimizing the number of players who have had COVID-19 .
College football has offered us no such assurances .
If we knew the SEC ’ s actual numbers , would it make us more confident or less about the wisdom of trying to do this in the middle of a pandemic with an unpredictable virus whose long-term impact is unknown ?
Would it give us a different view of whether this season is actually a success or a money grab that is putting people ’ s health in danger ?
We don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us it ’ s not our business to know , and that ’ s too bad given the breadth of this public health crisis .
Perhaps we can indeed celebrate a success if the SEC finishes its season with a championship game Dec. 19 , but it is not unqualified .
If the cost is widespread sickness , unnecessary spread of disease and God forbid a terrible outcome for anyone involved , it will only be a Pyrrhic victory for the sport .

Opinion: SEC too tight-lipped about COVID-19 data, real cost of successful football season
Show Caption Hide Caption Medical expert questions motives of college football decision makers SportsPulse: Mackenzie Salmon connected with Yale's Dr. Sten Vermund, who specializes in the field of infectious diseases, to get his thoughts on the conferences that are still attempting to play college football in the fall. He did not hold back. USA TODAY
The question Wednesday seemed to stump SEC commissioner Greg Sankey for a moment: What would constitute a successful season for his league in 2020?
As the SEC prepares to open play Saturday of a 10-game, conference-only season unlike any other in history, Sankey’s answer focused on Dec. 19. That’s the day college football has settled on for conference championship games, and the SEC plans to have two teams in Atlanta playing for the title.
“Today it’s a start so we’re close to the starting line,” Sankey said. “That’s nowhere near the finish line, and we really define that by naming an SEC champion this year.”
Though it was almost certainly an oversight to a question he wasn’t expecting, it was notable that Sankey’s definition of success for the SEC did not include any reference at all to keeping players and staffers safe, minimizing COVID-19 outbreaks or ensuring that players who contract the virus are not going to suffer long-term complications.
Of course, we know that the SEC can’t really guarantee any of that. More problematic, we have no idea how hard they’ve even tried.
Make no mistake, the SEC is going to have its championship game Dec. 19 regardless of what happens in the next several weeks. They are past the point of no return, and from what we’ve gathered over the first few weeks of the college football season, the bar doesn’t seem particularly high to keep the train on track. Sure, it might be a colossal mess with positive tests, contact tracing issues, game postponements and demolished depth charts, but it’s going to happen one way or the other.
Is that success? Perhaps, in a way. But what’s the cost of that success? We don’t have any real idea, particularly in the SEC, because we don’t know very much about what the conditions have been in those programs.
Out of the 14 SEC schools, only Florida has been regularly updating its COVID-19 numbers. Others have been infrequent or shared anecdotally, such as Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz revealing Tuesday that seven players were in quarantine for either testing positive or contact tracing. Some schools, like Georgia, have been so tight with their COVID-19 information it took a Freedom of Information Act request just to get a little bit of months-old data.
In an interview with HBO’s Real Sports in July, Sankey was evasive and defensive when asked about the number of positive cases within the league but made sure to hammer home the talking point that players were safer working out on campus than off.
Maybe that’s true, but when you hear LSU coach Ed Orgeron say last week that “most of our players have caught it,” you simply can’t accept that talking point as dogma.
And when you hear coaches talk so cavalierly about how many of their players have had COVID-19 and subsequently allude to the competitive benefit of that development — you don’t have to test them again for 90 days! — the SEC’s general defiance of basic transparency makes it seem like there’s something they don’t want us to know about.
In that vein, college athletes rights advocate Ramogi Huma sent a letter Tuesday to NCAA president Mark Emmert asking for the governing body to open an investigation into whether COVID protocols are being followed on campuses.
The letter, which was sent on behalf of the National Collegiate Players Association, cites a recent survey from the National Athletic Trainers Association in which respondents said just 35 percent of college athletes and 47 percent of coaches and staffers were fully compliant with safety protocols.
“College athletes must have robust, uniform COVID protections,” Huma wrote. “Currently, there are a dizzying array of COVID policies within and across conferences. A number of these policies do not incorporate best practices regarding COVID in athletics. Many players lack information about what those protocols are and whether or not there is any recourse at all if they are not followed.”
The SEC is a microcosm of the confusion. At Alabama, players are being tested every day. At other schools, it’s two PCR tests during the week and an antigen test before a game. The Big Ten’s decision to play this fall beginning in October was contingent on securing antigen tests that can be administered daily. The SEC thinks its plan, which includes contact tracing systems, is the “gold standard,” as Sankey said, even though they are testing less frequently.
“The other leagues aren’t playing right now and we are three days away,” Sankey said. “And if and when they do play, we’ll be interested to see what we might learn from them.”
But what have we learned from the SEC, which delayed its season to Sept. 26 in order to get through the re-opening of campuses and get more data from other sports that already re-started? Not much, other than it seems that a fairly significant number of players have had the coronavirus at a few schools.
In the NFL, which is releasing its testing numbers every week, it seems we have a lot more confidence than we did a couple months ago that it can pull off a season while minimizing the number of players who have had COVID-19. College football has offered us no such assurances.
If we knew the SEC’s actual numbers, would it make us more confident or less about the wisdom of trying to do this in the middle of a pandemic with an unpredictable virus whose long-term impact is unknown? Would it give us a different view of whether this season is actually a success or a money grab that is putting people’s health in danger?
We don’t know because the SEC has told us it’s not our business to know, and that’s too bad given the breadth of this public health crisis. Perhaps we can indeed celebrate a success if the SEC finishes its season with a championship game Dec. 19, but it is not unqualified.
If the cost is widespread sickness, unnecessary spread of disease and God forbid a terrible outcome for anyone involved, it will only be a Pyrrhic victory for the sport.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Dan Wolken on Twitter @DanWolken


usatoday--2020-09-23--WWE Hall of Fame inductee Joe Laurinaitis, aka Road Warrior Animal, dies at 60

Joe Laurinaitis , known to wrestling fans as Road Warrior Animal , has died , World Wide Entertainment announced Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ Laurinaitis was also the father of eight-year NFL linebacker James Laurinaitis , who retired in @ @ @ @ @ Warrior Hawk ( real name Michael Hegstrand ) , the duo were called The Road @ @ @ @ @ WWE , referred to as the Legion of Doom — widely considered one of professional @ @ @ @ @ teams .
They won two WWE Tag Team titles together , and Laurinaitis dedicated his @ @ @ @ @ to his late former partner , who had died two years earlier .
Laurinaitis continued @ @ @ @ @ six years ago .
He was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011 @ @ @ @ @ Road Warriors were known for their attire — painted faces and football shoulder pads with @ @ @ @ @ their imposing figures ; Laurinaitis stood at 6-foot-2 while weighing around 300 pounds .

WWE Hall of Fame inductee Joe Laurinaitis, aka Road Warrior Animal, dies at 60
Joe Laurinaitis, known to wrestling fans as Road Warrior Animal, has died, World Wide Entertainment announced Wednesday. He was 60.
Laurinaitis was also the father of eight-year NFL linebacker James Laurinaitis, who retired in 2017.
Along with Road Warrior Hawk (real name Michael Hegstrand), the duo were called The Road Warriors and, inside the WWE, referred to as the Legion of Doom — widely considered one of professional wrestling's most iconic tag teams. They won two WWE Tag Team titles together, and Laurinaitis dedicated his 2005 championship with Jon Heidenreich to his late former partner, who had died two years earlier.
At this time, we would like to confirm the passing of Joseph Laurinaitis aka Road Warrior Animal at the age of 60. The family is planning to release a statement later today. At this time we ask for you to keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers. #OhWhatARush — RoadWarriorAnimal (@RWAnimal) September 23, 2020
Laurinaitis continued fighting until his official retirement six years ago. He was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011, alongside Hegstrand.
The Road Warriors were known for their attire — painted faces and football shoulder pads with spikes — in addition to their imposing figures; Laurinaitis stood at 6-foot-2 while weighing around 300 pounds.


usatoday--2020-09-24--Trump ally Pam Bondi calls Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, 'a little boy' trying to protect co

Pam Bondi , the former Florida attorney general and a prominent surrogate for President Donald Trump 's campaign , on Tuesday defended Kyle Rittenhouse – the 17-year-old charged in the shooting deaths of two people in Kenosha , Wisconsin – as `` a little boy out there trying to protect his community . ''
Rittenhouse of Antioch , Illinois , is facing six charges , including one count of first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the shootings of three people , two of whom were killed .
The shooting happened after 11 p.m. Aug. 25 during the third night of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacob Blake seven times in the back .
Bondi told FOX News ' Hannity how that prosecutors have been too hasty to charge Rittenhouse , who had come to Kenosha armed with an assault-style rifle during demonstrations against police brutality .
`` There were bullets flying everywhere .
Other people were firing , This kid was trying to help people .
Were there people killed ?
Absolutely , '' said Bondi , who has been active within the Trump campaign and spoke at the Republican National Convention last month .
`` You 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect his community , '' she said .
`` Should he have been out there with a gun ?
No .
But should he have been charged with murder ?
We just do n't know yet . ''
Rittenhouse 's lawyers argue the teenager was acting in self defense and his prosecution has become a rallying cry for pro-gun groups who emphasize the constitutional right to bear arms .
He is being charged as an adult in Wisconsin and would face life in prison if convicted of the most serious charge .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media from critics who accused her of fanning Trump 's frequent and misplaced rhetoric about lawlessness in cities , especially those run by Democrats such as Kenosha .
More : 'That 's the shooter ' : Witnesses describe the night Kyle Rittenhouse opened fire in Kenosha '' It 's a war zone out there , '' she told Hannity .
`` What ' it 's coming to in these liberal cities when teenagers have to go out there to try to provide aid to other people who are getting injured by these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's top prosecutor from 2011 to 2019 .
Critics on social media accused her of having a double standard when it came to another 17-year-old : Trayvon Martin , a Black youth who was shot and killed on Feb. 26 , 2012 while walking back from a convenience store in Sanford , Florida , in a case that helped spur a national debate on racial justice .
Though Martin 's shooter , George Zimmerman , was acquitted of second-degree murder charges thanks to the state 's Stand Your Ground law , Bondi had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case and defended the decision to press charges .

Trump ally Pam Bondi calls Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, 'a little boy' trying to protect community
Show Caption Hide Caption 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
Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general and a prominent surrogate for President Donald Trump's campaign, on Tuesday defended Kyle Rittenhouse – the 17-year-old charged in the shooting deaths of two people in Kenosha, Wisconsin – as "a little boy out there trying to protect his community."
Rittenhouse of Antioch, Illinois, is facing six charges, including one count of first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the shootings of three people, two of whom were killed. The shooting happened after 11 p.m. Aug. 25 during the third night of protests after a Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back.
Bondi told FOX News' Hannity how that prosecutors have been too hasty to charge Rittenhouse, who had come to Kenosha armed with an assault-style rifle during demonstrations against police brutality.
"There were bullets flying everywhere. Other people were firing, This kid was trying to help people. Were there people killed? Absolutely," said Bondi, who has been active within the Trump campaign and spoke at the Republican National Convention last month.
"You've got a little boy out there trying to protect his community," she said. "Should he have been out there with a gun? No. But should he have been charged with murder? We just don't know yet."
Rittenhouse's lawyers argue the teenager was acting in self defense and his prosecution has become a rallying cry for pro-gun groups who emphasize the constitutional right to bear arms.
He is being charged as an adult in Wisconsin and would face life in prison if convicted of the most serious charge.
Bondi' comments drew sharp fire on social media from critics who accused her of fanning Trump's frequent and misplaced rhetoric about lawlessness in cities, especially those run by Democrats such as Kenosha.
More: 'That's the shooter': Witnesses describe the night Kyle Rittenhouse opened fire in Kenosha
"It's a war zone out there," she told Hannity. "What' it's coming to in these liberal cities when teenagers have to go out there to try to provide aid to other people who are getting injured by these rioters."
Bondi served as Florida's top prosecutor from 2011 to 2019.
More: Dallas school district investigating after teacher listed Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse as 'hero'
Critics on social media accused her of having a double standard when it came to another 17-year-old: Trayvon Martin, a Black youth who was shot and killed on Feb. 26, 2012 while walking back from a convenience store in Sanford, Florida, in a case that helped spur a national debate on racial justice.
Though Martin's shooter, George Zimmerman, was acquitted of second-degree murder charges thanks to the state's Stand Your Ground law, Bondi had helped select the special prosecutor in the case and defended the decision to press charges.


usatoday--2020-09-23--How to throw a virtual bachelorette party

It 's not the same as seeing everyone in person , but it 's a safe way to still make @ @ @ @ @

Virtual party: Plan a bachelorette online
It's not the same as seeing everyone in person, but it's a safe way to still make a bride feel special.
ProblemSolved, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-09-23--Did you get our text? Countdown to Election Day

Our hosts do their best to answer you directly .
With many subscribers though , it ’ s not always @ @ @ @ @ question .
You may find that your question is addressed by the host in a @ @ @ @ @ as other subscribers were asking the same question .
Great minds think alike !

Our hosts do their best to answer you directly. With many subscribers though, it’s not always possible to respond to every question. You may find that your question is addressed by the host in a text to all subscribers, as other subscribers were asking the same question. Great minds think alike!


usatoday--2020-09-23--FBI warns delayed election results could be exploited by foreign actors spreading disinformation

WASHINGTON – The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned that foreign actors and cybercriminals could try to discredit the electoral process by spreading false information as state and election officials work to certify 2020 election results .
The widespread use of mail-in ballots because of COVID-19 will cause delays in announcing the results of elections , as some states allow the ballots to be postmarked on election day .
`` Foreign actors and cybercriminals could exploit the time required to certify and announce elections ' results by disseminating disinformation that includes reports of voter suppression , cyberattacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud , and other problems intended to convince the public of the elections ' illegitimacy , '' the agencies said in a public service announcement released Tuesday .
The agencies said false information could be found on social media or new or altered websites .
The agencies urge people to think critically about the sources of information they consume .
U.S. intel : Russia working to defeat Biden ; China and Iran prefer Trump defeat An intelligence assessment published last month found that Russia is actively working to `` denigrate '' Democratic presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Counter-Intelligence and Security Center called out pro-Russia Ukraine parliamentarian Andriy Derkach for spreading false corruption claims to undermine Biden 's presidential bid .
The assessment also concluded that China saw President Donald Trump as `` unpredictable '' and wants him to lose the election .
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before a House panel last week that Russia remains `` very active '' in its effort to sow discord in the U.S. electoral process .
Reports by the Senate Intelligence Committee have backed findings by former special counsel Robert Mueller that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race in Trump 's favor .
Wray testifies : Russia 'very active ' in 2020 election ; antifa not a terror group , FBI director testifies Trump attacked Wray following his testimony , telling reporters Friday that he `` did not like '' the FBI director 's answers .
`` The big problem is China , and why he does n't want to say that ... that certainly bothers me , '' said Trump , who has frequently tried to discredit evidence of Russian interference and has unleashed relentless attacks on the legitimacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting : Donald Trump keeps blasting 'universal ' mail voting .
But few states are planning that in November Attorney General William Barr echoed Trump , telling CNN that China , not Russia , is the most aggressive in efforts to interfere in U.S. elections .
`` Because I 've seen the intelligence .
That 's what I 've concluded , '' Barr said , declining to elaborate further .
On Tuesday , Facebook said it removed fake accounts and pages that originated from China and posted content favoring and opposing Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buttigieg .
The company , however , said the activity was not linked to the Chinese government and gained very little following .

Kristine Phillips and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

FBI warns delayed election results could be exploited by foreign actors spreading disinformation
Show Caption Hide Caption How a contentious election affects a peaceful transition of power What history has shown us about contested elections and peaceful transitions of power. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned that foreign actors and cybercriminals could try to discredit the electoral process by spreading false information as state and election officials work to certify 2020 election results.
The widespread use of mail-in ballots because of COVID-19 will cause delays in announcing the results of elections, as some states allow the ballots to be postmarked on election day.
"Foreign actors and cybercriminals could exploit the time required to certify and announce elections' results by disseminating disinformation that includes reports of voter suppression, cyberattacks targeting election infrastructure, voter or ballot fraud, and other problems intended to convince the public of the elections' illegitimacy," the agencies said in a public service announcement released Tuesday.
The agencies said false information could be found on social media or new or altered websites. The agencies urge people to think critically about the sources of information they consume.
U.S. intel: Russia working to defeat Biden; China and Iran prefer Trump defeat
An intelligence assessment published last month found that Russia is actively working to "denigrate" Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. The findings by the National Counter-Intelligence and Security Center called out pro-Russia Ukraine parliamentarian Andriy Derkach for spreading false corruption claims to undermine Biden's presidential bid.
The assessment also concluded that China saw President Donald Trump as "unpredictable" and wants him to lose the election.
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before a House panel last week that Russia remains "very active" in its effort to sow discord in the U.S. electoral process. Reports by the Senate Intelligence Committee have backed findings by former special counsel Robert Mueller that Russia sought to sway the 2016 presidential race in Trump's favor.
Wray testifies: Russia 'very active' in 2020 election; antifa not a terror group, FBI director testifies
Trump attacked Wray following his testimony, telling reporters Friday that he "did not like" the FBI director's answers.
"The big problem is China, and why he doesn't want to say that ... that certainly bothers me," said Trump, who has frequently tried to discredit evidence of Russian interference and has unleashed relentless attacks on the legitimacy of mail-in voting.
Senate report: Manafort a 'grave' threat as Russia meddled in election A Senate report found that Manafort shared Trump campaign strategy with a Russian official. It also said a Russian attorney who met at Trump Tower with Manafort, Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner had "significant connections" to the Kremlin. Newsy, Newsy
Trump attacks mail-in voting: Donald Trump keeps blasting 'universal' mail voting. But few states are planning that in November
Attorney General William Barr echoed Trump, telling CNN that China, not Russia, is the most aggressive in efforts to interfere in U.S. elections.
"Because I've seen the intelligence. That's what I've concluded," Barr said, declining to elaborate further.
On Tuesday, Facebook said it removed fake accounts and pages that originated from China and posted content favoring and opposing Trump, Biden and former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. The company, however, said the activity was not linked to the Chinese government and gained very little following.
Contributing: David Jackson and Joey Garrison


usatoday--2020-09-23--Three of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's most lasting legacies in the fight for equality

Three of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's most lasting legacies in the fight for equality Ruth Bader Ginsburg worked to @ @ @ @ @ long before she was on the Supreme Court .
Here are three of her most @ @ @

Three major changes Ruth Bader Ginsburg helped make in women's lives
Ruth Bader Ginsburg worked to advance equal rights for women long before she was on the Supreme Court. Here are three of her most lasting legacies.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-09-23--Trump to court Latino votes in Miami as campaigns battle for Florida in final stretch

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is planning to court Florida 's crucial Latino population – specifically Cuban Americans – during a whirlwind tour to Miami this week , underscoring the importance of a demographic highly sought after by both campaigns .
After weeks of flooding TV and radio airtime in the state aimed at Cuban Americans , Trump plans to hold a Latino-focused roundtable in Miami on Friday , the campaign announced Wednesday .
Similar events held recently in Arizona and Nevada have taken on the air of a trademark Trump campaign rally .
Others are watching to see if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with appeals court Judge Barbara Lagoa , considered a frontrunner for the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death Friday of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Trump has said he `` may '' meet with Lagoa , the daughter of Cuban exiles , during his two-day trip to Florida .
More : Biden is getting trounced with Cuban American voters in Florida , More : A 'superhero ' who 'never quit ' : Ginsburg returns to Supreme Court for final time The event comes as Trump has leaned heavily on an unfounded message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extension Democratic nominee Joe Biden , are running on a socialist platform .
In fact , Biden has spent a career in politics largely within the party 's center , and he won the Democratic primary this year by beating a more liberal field .
The events in Miami will be part of two-day trip that will also take Trump to Jacksonville , Florida and also to Charlotte , North Carolina , where he plans to discuss health care , and Atlanta , Georgia , where he will meet with a group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he will name his Supreme Court nominee at 5 p.m. on Saturday .
In another indication of Trump 's desire to make Cuba an election year issue , the State Department announced Wednesday that Americans visiting Cuba will be prohibited from staying at 433 hotels believed to be owned or controlled by the government or `` certain well-connected insiders . ''
The order was taken as part of a broader effort announced by Trump to tighten restrictions on the Cuban government , a sharp reversal from the more open policies toward the island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We do n't need socialists , and we do n't need communists telling us how to run our country , '' Trump asserted during a campaign rally in Pittsburgh on Tuesday .
That message has been amplified in advertising in Florida , catering to groups of Americans who fled authoritative regimes .
Hispanics make up about a quarter of Florida 's roughly 21.5 million population and 17 % of its registered voters .
As the single largest Hispanic ethnicity in the state , Cuban Americans in South Florida wield enormous influence on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican , though younger generations are more liberal .
Polls show Trump and Biden are virtually tied in the Sunshine State , but also indicate that Biden has lost ground with Latinos when compared with Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
Biden is trailing Trump among Florida Latinos , 46 % -50 % , an NBC News/Marist poll earlier this month .
Clinton won the demographic by nearly 30 points four years ago .
The RealClearPolitics average of recent polls in Florida puts Biden up 1.5 points .
Biden , meanwhile , has pushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I beat the socialist , '' he said this week , referring to Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. – and he focused on Puerto Rican voters during remarks in Kissimmee , Florida , last week .
`` Even after being president for nearly four years , Donald Trump doesn ’ t seem to grasp that the people of Puerto Rico are American citizens already , and they deserve to have leadership in government that understands that in America there ’ s no room for the idea of second-class citizens , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a President for all Americans , including 3 million American citizens living in Puerto Rico . ''

John Fritze and David Jackson, USA TODAY

Trump to court Latino votes in Miami as campaigns battle for Florida in final stretch
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump attacks Biden in battleground Michigan President Donald Trump tries to refocus attention on the economy at a rally in battleground Michigan Thursday, deriding his Democratic opponent for his trade and immigration policies. (Sept. 10) AP
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is planning to court Florida's crucial Latino population – specifically Cuban Americans – during a whirlwind tour to Miami this week, underscoring the importance of a demographic highly sought after by both campaigns.
After weeks of flooding TV and radio airtime in the state aimed at Cuban Americans, Trump plans to hold a Latino-focused roundtable in Miami on Friday, the campaign announced Wednesday. Similar events held recently in Arizona and Nevada have taken on the air of a trademark Trump campaign rally.
Others are watching to see if Trump will use the trip to meet with appeals court Judge Barbara Lagoa, considered a frontrunner for the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death Friday of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Trump has said he "may" meet with Lagoa, the daughter of Cuban exiles, during his two-day trip to Florida.
More: Biden is getting trounced with Cuban American voters in Florida,
More: A 'superhero' who 'never quit': Ginsburg returns to Supreme Court for final time
The event comes as Trump has leaned heavily on an unfounded message that the Democratic party, and by extension Democratic nominee Joe Biden, are running on a socialist platform. In fact, Biden has spent a career in politics largely within the party's center, and he won the Democratic primary this year by beating a more liberal field.
The events in Miami will be part of two-day trip that will also take Trump to Jacksonville, Florida and also to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he plans to discuss health care, and Atlanta, Georgia, where he will meet with a group of African-American voters. The president has said he will name his Supreme Court nominee at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
In another indication of Trump's desire to make Cuba an election year issue, the State Department announced Wednesday that Americans visiting Cuba will be prohibited from staying at 433 hotels believed to be owned or controlled by the government or "certain well-connected insiders."
The order was taken as part of a broader effort announced by Trump to tighten restrictions on the Cuban government, a sharp reversal from the more open policies toward the island nation under President Barack Obama.
More: Trump bars Americans from staying at Cuban hotels
"We don't need socialists, and we don't need communists telling us how to run our country," Trump asserted during a campaign rally in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
That message has been amplified in advertising in Florida, catering to groups of Americans who fled authoritative regimes.
Hispanics make up about a quarter of Florida's roughly 21.5 million population and 17% of its registered voters. As the single largest Hispanic ethnicity in the state, Cuban Americans in South Florida wield enormous influence on the political stage. They have generally leaned Republican, though younger generations are more liberal.
Polls show Trump and Biden are virtually tied in the Sunshine State, but also indicate that Biden has lost ground with Latinos when compared with Hillary Clinton in 2016. Biden is trailing Trump among Florida Latinos, 46%-50%, an NBC News/Marist poll earlier this month. Clinton won the demographic by nearly 30 points four years ago.
The RealClearPolitics average of recent polls in Florida puts Biden up 1.5 points.
A recent Wall Street Journal/NBC/Telemundo poll showed Biden leading Trump 62%-28% among Latinos nationally.
Biden, meanwhile, has pushed back on the socialist label – "I beat the socialist," he said this week, referring to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. – and he focused on Puerto Rican voters during remarks in Kissimmee, Florida, last week.
"Even after being president for nearly four years, Donald Trump doesn’t seem to grasp that the people of Puerto Rico are American citizens already, and they deserve to have leadership in government that understands that in America there’s no room for the idea of second-class citizens," he said. "I am running to be a President for all Americans, including 3 million American citizens living in Puerto Rico."
Contributing: Rebecca Morin, Ledyard King, Alan Gomez


usatoday--2020-09-23--'Joe shares our values': Cindy McCain endorses Biden, citing military family members

Praising Joe Biden as a longtime family friend and an ally to military families like hers , Cindy McCain , the woman Republicans wanted to make first lady in 2008 , is endorsing the Democratic presidential nominee .
McCain on Tuesday avoided directly criticizing President Donald Trump , who had a stormy rivalry with her husband , the late Sen. John McCain , R-Ariz. , that lingered even after his death in 2018 .
Her endorsement comes just weeks before Arizonans are set to begin voting and after anonymous sources claimed to The Atlantic that Trump ridiculed McCain and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
McCain declined to speak about the impact she believes Trump would have on the nation , and globally , should he win a second term .
Instead , she told The Arizona Republic in an interview Tuesday that her endorsement is in part attributable to the character she sees in Biden , a longtime friend of the family who , like her , is a parent to troops who have served the United States in the military .
The decision , she said , was not about honoring her husband 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I 'm like everybody else : I like a good leader and I feel like right now the president does n't have my back , he does n't take a stand on things that are really important and we have a time of crisis , '' Cindy McCain said .
`` I 'm worried that this could go further than it should .
My point in getting on board with Joe is that he 's proven — he 's been there .
I 've known him for 40 years .
I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honor and his integrity and those things are very important to me . ''
McCain said she will remain a registered Republican .
She said Biden practices the kind of bipartisan politics her husband did : `` Joe shares our values and our concerns and he cares about us .
I 'm a mother , I 'm a business owner , I 'm the mother of two military men and I want someone that understands me and understands what 's going on and knows what it takes to really make the tough decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decision to endorse Biden for some time .
She said he did not ask for her endorsement but was `` excited '' when she told him of her decision a few weeks ago .
`` It had nothing to do with John McCain at all ; it had everything to do with how I felt and how I 'm feeling , especially during these tough times , '' she said , noting Biden 's respect for the military .
`` That 's really important to my family , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not losers .
They 're not losers .
You call one a loser , you call all the members of the military losers , including my son . ''
McCain ’ s endorsement , which she announced from her home in Phoenix , comes as Biden is leading polls nationally and more narrowly in Arizona , which is expected to be a critical battleground for the White House .
Biden announced the endorsement earlier in the day , telling reporters she was backing him because of The Atlantic 's article .
`` Maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm about to go on one of these Zooms with John McCain 's wife , who is first time ever is endorsing me because of what he talks about with my son and John ’ s who are heroes , who served their country , you know he said they ’ re losers , they ’ re suckers , '' Biden said Tuesday at a fundraiser .
McCain has resisted injecting herself in partisan politics , largely avoiding the controversies that involved Trump and her husband since Trump first entered presidential politics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocated less-partisan causes , such as ending human trafficking and aid to third-world countries .
McCain ’ s voice could help Democrats reach undecided independent voters and Republicans uneasy with Trump , the kind who for more than three decades supported John McCain .
McCain said she hopes her endorsement gives voters the courage to cross party lines , particularly women .
`` It is OK to look outside the box , it is OK to cross a party line and vote for someone else that 's perhaps not of your party but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
`` I hope I have an impact , I hope what I 'm doing is important and I just hope that Joe wins . ''
McCain ’ s endorsement comes weeks after she appeared in a video played during the Democratic National Convention that paid tribute to her husband and the long friendship he and Biden maintained in Washington .
That video , overlaid with photos and footage of the two men , sought to remind America of the type of bipartisanship and collegiality that once defined Washington .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The McCain-Biden friendship extended from politics to their home life , where the families celebrated milestones , hosted family get-togethers and , at the end of McCain ’ s life at the family home in Cornville , reflected on their adventures of days past .
McCain joins more than 100 former staffers and campaign workers of her late husband to endorse Biden ’ s bid .
McCain , along with her daughter , TV commentator Meghan McCain , have been at times outspoken critics against Trump , whose feud with the late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched his first presidential bid .
The McCain women occasionally speak out against Trump , but these days , tend to only speak out in such a forceful manner when he re-airs his grievances .
McCain did not weigh in on Arizona ’ s closely watched U.S. Senate special election , where two well-funded candidates are vying to fill the remainder of her husband ’ s term .
Sen. Martha McSally , R-Ariz. , who lost her 2018 race for the state ’ s other Senate seat , is facing an aggressive challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a retired NASA astronaut and husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords , D-Ariz. Kelly is scheduled to appear on ABC ’ s “ The View , ” with Meghan and other co-hosts on Wednesday .
Cindy McCain told The Republic she would not be getting involved in Arizona politics this cycle or that particular race .
Have news to share about Arizona 's U.S. senators or national politics ?
Reach the reporter on Twitter and Facebook .
Contact her at yvonne.wingett @ arizonarepublic.com and 602-444-4712 .

Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Ronald J. Hansen, Arizona Republic

'Joe shares our values': Cindy McCain endorses Biden, citing military family members
Show Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden talks systemic racism and COVID-19 at town hall Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden spoke about systematic racism at a town hall in Pennsylvania hosted by CNN's Anderson Cooper. USA TODAY
Praising Joe Biden as a longtime family friend and an ally to military families like hers, Cindy McCain, the woman Republicans wanted to make first lady in 2008, is endorsing the Democratic presidential nominee.
McCain on Tuesday avoided directly criticizing President Donald Trump, who had a stormy rivalry with her husband, the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that lingered even after his death in 2018.
Her endorsement comes just weeks before Arizonans are set to begin voting and after anonymous sources claimed to The Atlantic that Trump ridiculed McCain and others in the military throughout his term in office.
McCain declined to speak about the impact she believes Trump would have on the nation, and globally, should he win a second term.
Instead, she told The Arizona Republic in an interview Tuesday that her endorsement is in part attributable to the character she sees in Biden, a longtime friend of the family who, like her, is a parent to troops who have served the United States in the military.
The decision, she said, was not about honoring her husband's legacy. This was about her.
"I'm like everybody else: I like a good leader and I feel like right now the president doesn't have my back, he doesn't take a stand on things that are really important and we have a time of crisis," Cindy McCain said. "I'm worried that this could go further than it should. My point in getting on board with Joe is that he's proven — he's been there. I've known him for 40 years. I know his character and his leadership and his honor and his integrity and those things are very important to me."
McCain said she will remain a registered Republican. She said Biden practices the kind of bipartisan politics her husband did: "Joe shares our values and our concerns and he cares about us. I'm a mother, I'm a business owner, I'm the mother of two military men and I want someone that understands me and understands what's going on and knows what it takes to really make the tough decisions."
McCain had been thinking about the decision to endorse Biden for some time. She said he did not ask for her endorsement but was "excited" when she told him of her decision a few weeks ago.
"It had nothing to do with John McCain at all; it had everything to do with how I felt and how I'm feeling, especially during these tough times," she said, noting Biden's respect for the military.
"That's really important to my family," she said. "Our members of the military are not losers. They're not losers. You call one a loser, you call all the members of the military losers, including my son."
McCain’s endorsement, which she announced from her home in Phoenix, comes as Biden is leading polls nationally and more narrowly in Arizona, which is expected to be a critical battleground for the White House.
Biden announced the endorsement earlier in the day, telling reporters she was backing him because of The Atlantic's article.
"Maybe I shouldn’t say it but I'm about to go on one of these Zooms with John McCain's wife, who is first time ever is endorsing me because of what he talks about with my son and John’s who are heroes, who served their country, you know he said they’re losers, they’re suckers," Biden said Tuesday at a fundraiser.
McCain has resisted injecting herself in partisan politics, largely avoiding the controversies that involved Trump and her husband since Trump first entered presidential politics. She has throughout her public life advocated less-partisan causes, such as ending human trafficking and aid to third-world countries.
McCain’s voice could help Democrats reach undecided independent voters and Republicans uneasy with Trump, the kind who for more than three decades supported John McCain.
McCain said she hopes her endorsement gives voters the courage to cross party lines, particularly women.
"It is OK to look outside the box, it is OK to cross a party line and vote for someone else that's perhaps not of your party but is perhaps a better candidate," she said. "I hope I have an impact, I hope what I'm doing is important and I just hope that Joe wins."
McCain’s endorsement comes weeks after she appeared in a video played during the Democratic National Convention that paid tribute to her husband and the long friendship he and Biden maintained in Washington. That video, overlaid with photos and footage of the two men, sought to remind America of the type of bipartisanship and collegiality that once defined Washington. It stopped short of an endorsement of Biden.
The McCain-Biden friendship extended from politics to their home life, where the families celebrated milestones, hosted family get-togethers and, at the end of McCain’s life at the family home in Cornville, reflected on their adventures of days past.
McCain joins more than 100 former staffers and campaign workers of her late husband to endorse Biden’s bid.
McCain, along with her daughter, TV commentator Meghan McCain, have been at times outspoken critics against Trump, whose feud with the late senator dates to 2015, when Trump launched his first presidential bid. The McCain women occasionally speak out against Trump, but these days, tend to only speak out in such a forceful manner when he re-airs his grievances.
McCain did not weigh in on Arizona’s closely watched U.S. Senate special election, where two well-funded candidates are vying to fill the remainder of her husband’s term.
Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., who lost her 2018 race for the state’s other Senate seat, is facing an aggressive challenge by Democratic Senate candidate Mark Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut and husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.
Kelly is scheduled to appear on ABC’s “The View,” with Meghan and other co-hosts on Wednesday.
Cindy McCain told The Republic she would not be getting involved in Arizona politics this cycle or that particular race.
Have news to share about Arizona's U.S. senators or national politics? Reach the reporter on Twitter and Facebook. Contact her at yvonne.wingett@arizonarepublic.com and 602-444-4712.


usatoday--2020-09-23--Here are the prominent Republicans not supporting Trump, instead supporting Biden

Here are the prominent Republicans not supporting Trump , instead supporting Biden Prominent Republicans have publicly endorsed or shown support @ @ @ @ @ their party 's incumbent , Donald Trump .

More Republicans publicly support Biden for president
Prominent Republicans have publicly endorsed or shown support for Joe Biden instead of their party's incumbent, Donald Trump.
USA TODAY