usatoday--2020-07-04--Coronavirus updates: Some beaches closed, fireworks canceled as states fear Fourth of July crowds

Most Americans ' Fourth of July celebrations wo n't include a community fireworks display , a trip to a crowded beach or even a big backyard barbecue this year — or at least that 's what many health officials are hoping .
It 's a starkly different situation from the nation 's last major holiday .
Over Memorial Day , the United States was emerging from a months-long lockdown with states rapidly rolling back business closures and social distancing regulations .
Coronavirus case counts showed promising trends and calls to reopen the economy had grown fierce .
It 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July .
A national spike in COVID-19 cases in the weeks following Memorial Day has led nearly half of U.S. states to take new steps to limit the spread of the virus , with many making special rules to combat crowds over the holiday weekend .
That comes as the infection curve is rising in about 40 states .
As cases surge in Florida , California and Texas , some beaches are closing in an effort to discourage large crowds over the holiday .
But backyard gatherings — an iconic staple of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more concerning to public health officials .
Earlier this week , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced plans to “ tighten things up '' when it comes to the state 's stay-at-home over the holiday .
Newsom said he was particularly concerned with family gatherings , where people “ begin to mix and take down their guard.
” Here are some recent developments : • With professional fireworks displays canceled , authorities are bracing for wildfires and injuries caused by Americans shooting off fireworks at home .
• In contrast to some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shores over the weekend , many will flock to the Jersey Shore .
Boardwalks , outdoor dining , fireworks displays , water parks , amusement rides and casinos will also be open at some capacity this weekend .
• The hit musical Hamilton is now streaming on Disney+ , giving fans a social-distance-friendly Fourth of July activity .
📈Today 's stats : The U.S. recorded 52,104 new cases of the coronavirus Friday , the third day in the row that daily cases surpassed 50,000 , according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.8 million cases and more than 129,000 deaths .
Globally , there have been more than 11 million cases and over 525,000 deaths .
📰 What we 're reading : The CDC is calling on Americans to remain vigilant this Fourth of July by social distancing and wearing face masks .
So we 've compiled these tips for creating a special Fourth of July while following guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
Our live blog will be updated throughout the day .
For first-in-the-morning updates , sign up for The Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will host a scaled-back July 4th party at White House Despite objections from health officials , President Donald Trump is hosting hundreds of people for a Fourth of July party at the White House that will feature music and fireworks .
This year 's event is somewhat scaled back – there wo n't be armored military vehicles on display at the Lincoln Memorial , as happened last year .
The fight against the coronavirus pandemic is even a theme of what the White House calls a `` Salute to America . ''
Invited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other front-line responders to the COVID-19 crisis , as well as members of the military , law enforcement and their families .
Given the recent spikes in COVID-19 cases , the White House said it will provide face masks and hand sanitizer to guests , and encourage social distancing .
Some guests will be on the Ellipse just south of the White House .
Washington , D.C. , Mayor Muriel Bowser , who canceled the traditional Fourth of July parade in the nation 's capital , said her office informed Trump 's Interior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violates the health guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Thousands of people are expected to gather up and down the National Mall to watch fireworks .
What stores and restaurants are open Fourth of July ?
Costco is the largest retailer staying closed on Independence Day , which it traditionally does for other holidays too , including New Year 's Day , Easter , Memorial Day and Labor Day .
This year , Trader Joe 's is closed , a change from past years when it operated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our Crew Members a much needed and well-deserved day of rest , '' the grocer said on its website .
Read the full list of retailers , grocery stores and restaurants .
Major League Baseball , resuming spring training Friday , announced that 31 players and seven staff members tested positive for COVID-19 as part of intake screening .
The 38 positives were 1.2 % of the 3,185 total samples collected and tested , according to the league .
Teams are not permitted to identify the players who tested positive for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jr. of the Cleveland Indians and Brett Martin of the Texas Rangers each revealed their positive tests .
Any player who tests positive for COVID-19 must test negative twice at least 24 hours apart from one another , with no fever for 72 hours , before he can rejoin a team .
• This Fourth of July , American pride is at a 20-year low.Amid protests and a pandemic , what does it mean to be an American ?
• Can stores and restaurants require masks ?
The answer is yes .
Read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no joke ' : Man died of coronavirus day after saying he regretted attending a party • ' A mask is not a symbol ' : Three restaurants take a stand amid pandemic New study claims hydroxychloroquine may boost survivors ; other researchers doubtful Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration withdrew its emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine for trials as a treatment for COVID-19 , the controversial anti-malarial drug once touted by President Donald Trump is not leaving the stage quietly .
A team at Henry Ford Health System in Southeast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized patients found that patients who took the drug were much less likely to die .
A report on the findings was published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases .
The drug got widespread attention after Trump said he had taken it .
But after the FDA action , trials sponsored by the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health were halted .
Dr. Steven Kalkanis , CEO of the Henry Ford Medical Group , acknowledged to reporters that the group 's results differed from other studies but said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients '' if used before they begin to suffer some of the severe immune reactions associated with COVID-19 .
Researchers not involved with the study noted that the team did not randomly treat patients but selected them for various treatments based on certain criteria , according to CNN .
More on the coronavirus from USA TODAY Where a face mask is required : Many governors are instituting or renewing orders requiring people to wear face coverings in public as cases continue to rise .
Is your state on the list ?
See it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few ways for you to stay informed .
Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here , and come together and share the latest information about coronavirus , coping with lifestyle changes and more by joining our Facebook group .
Where are states on reopening ?
Some are taking preemptive measures to postpone further phases of their reopening , while others have rolled back their phases to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
See the list .

Coronavirus updates: Some Florida beaches open despite record daily case count; fireworks canceled as states fear Fourth of July crowds
Show Caption Hide Caption Pence and DeSantis remain positive as Florida hits new daily record The Florida Department of Health added a record 10,109 cases of COVID-19, making it the ninth consecutive day that at least 5,000 new cases. Associated Press, USA TODAY
Thanks to rising coronavirus infections in the U.S., most Americans' Fourth of July celebrations this year won't include a community fireworks display, a trip to a crowded beach or a big backyard barbecue — or at least that's what many health officials are hoping.
It's a starkly different situation from the nation's last major holiday. Over Memorial Day, the U.S. was emerging from a months-long lockdown with states rapidly rolling back business closures and social distancing regulations. Coronavirus case counts showed promising trends and calls to reopen the economy had grown fierce.
But it's a different story heading this Fourth of July.
A national spike in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks has led nearly half of U.S. states to take new steps to limit the spread of the virus, with many making special rules to combat crowds over the holiday weekend. That comes as the infection curve is rising in about 40 states.
As cases surge in Florida, California and Texas, some beaches are closing in an effort to discourage large crowds over the holiday. But backyard gatherings — an iconic staple of the Fourth of July holiday — are perhaps even more concerning to public health officials.
Here are some recent developments:
The World Health Organization said member states reported more than 212,000 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 Saturday, the highest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic.
With professional fireworks displays canceled, authorities are bracing for wildfires and injuries caused by Americans shooting off fireworks at home.
In contrast to some coastal states' efforts to close their shores over the weekend, many will flock to the Jersey Shore. Boardwalks, outdoor dining, fireworks displays, water parks, amusement rides and casinos will also be open at some capacity this weekend.
The hit musical Hamilton is now streaming on Disney+, giving fans a social-distance-friendly Fourth of July activity.
📈Today's stats: The U.S. recorded 52,104 new cases of the coronavirus Friday, the third day in the row that daily cases surpassed 50,000, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. has seen more than 2.8 million confirmed cases and more than 129,000 deaths. Globally, there have been more than 11.1 million cases and more than 527,000 deaths.
📰 What we're reading: The CDC is calling on Americans to remain vigilant this Fourth of July by social distancing and wearing face masks. So we've compiled these tips for creating a special Fourth of July while following guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Our live blog will be updated throughout the day. For first-in-the-morning updates, sign up for The Daily Briefing.
A look at July 4th events happening around the US
Governors and health officials are urging Americans to wear face masks and social distance, but while some fireworks shows and events were canceled, there are still many still happening across the U.S. Here's a look:
Protesters march on July 4th, wary of spreading virus
Amid thousands of protests against police brutality and a pandemic that has disproportionately ravaged communities of color, many people planned to spend Fourth of July drawing attention to what they say is a hypocritical celebration of freedom.
Rallies, marches and sit-ins were planned Saturday in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and more than a dozen other U.S. cities.
Organizers said they planned to ask everyone to social distance, wear masks and use hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Medical personnel would also be handing out face masks.
"Of course, you're always going to be scared, but it's for the movement for Black liberation. You have to risk (for) that," said D.C.-based organizer Kerrigan William, who said she is immunocompromised.
– Grace Hauck
Some flock to Florida beaches despite record cases
Florida reported 11,458 new cases of the coronavirus Saturday, setting a record for most new cases in one day. It is the eleventh straight day that the state counted at least 5,000 new cases, according to data from the Florida Department of Health.
While many beaches are closed, there are some open on South Florida's east coast. By noon Friday, beach access parking lots in Indian River County had started to fill and families had staked-their claims on the sand with umbrellas, tents and canopies.
In Vero Beach, officials are only allowing beach access to city and county residents and are checking people's identification.
The total number of COVID-19 cases statewide is now 190,052. The state has more than tripled the total number of cases since its Phase 2 reopening began June 5. Bars were closed for the second time during the pandemic June 26 to try to limit the spread of the virus.
— Rachael Thomas and Corey Arwood, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Trump will host a scaled-back July 4th party at White House
Despite objections from health officials, President Donald Trump is hosting hundreds of people for a Fourth of July party at the White House that will feature music and fireworks. This year's event is somewhat scaled back – there won't be armored military vehicles on display at the Lincoln Memorial, as happened last year.
The fight against the coronavirus pandemic is even a theme of what the White House calls a "Salute to America." Invited guests include doctors, nurses, and other front-line responders to the COVID-19 crisis, as well as members of the military, law enforcement and their families.
Given the recent spikes in COVID-19 cases, the White House said it will provide face masks and hand sanitizer to guests, and encourage social distancing. Some guests will be on the Ellipse just south of the White House.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, who canceled the traditional Fourth of July parade in the nation's capital, said her office informed Trump's Interior Department that the event it is planning violates the health guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Thousands of people are expected to gather up and down the National Mall to watch fireworks.
– David Jackson
Biden declares mask-wearing a patriotic act on Fourth of July
One day after President Donald Trump spoke to a largely maskless audience at a Fourth of July celebration at Mount Rushmore, former Vice President Joe Biden declared face-covering during the COVID-19 pandemic an expression of patriotism.
"This Fourth of July, one of the most patriotic things you can do is wear a mask," he tweeted Saturday.
90% Arizona ICU beds in use
Arizona reported 2,695 new COVID-19 cases and 17 additional deaths on Saturday, according to data from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
The number of people in the hospitals and using ICU beds again broke records Friday. Saturday's dashboard shows 85% of current inpatient beds and 90% of ICU beds were in use, which includes people being treated for COVID-19 and other patients.
Arizona is among the worst hot spots in the nation for COVID-19. The disease is widespread here, and health officials caution people to stay home as much as possible and wear masks in public.
Vice President Mike Pence, who visited Arizona on Wednesday, said he is deploying hundreds of medical personnel to assist the state.
– BrieAnna J. Frank, Arizona Republic
What stores and restaurants are open Fourth of July?
Costco is the largest retailer staying closed on Independence Day, which it traditionally does for other holidays too, including New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day and Labor Day.
This year, Trader Joe's is closed, a change from past years when it operated with reduced hours, "to give all of our Crew Members a much needed and well-deserved day of rest," the grocer said on its website.
Read the full list of retailers, grocery stores and restaurants.
— Kelly Tyko
Houston fire chief asks public to not set off fireworks as 307 firefighters sidelined by virus
Houston's fire chief says 307 firefighters — a record — are in quarantine because of exposure to COVID-10 and their absence is putting an "extreme strain" on the department. Houston is among the hardest hit cities in Texas, which is reeling from new cases of the virus.
"We will respond when called, but I also encourage citizens to help us by following health and safety protocols during the current public health crisis," Chief Sam Pena said in a statement Friday. "Please wear a mask, physical distance and wash your hands. Do not use fireworks during the July 4th holiday weekend because they can cause fires and create an additional strain on our resources."
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner authorized additional overtime pay for firefighters.
Patrick Lancton, president of the Houston Professional Firefighters Association, said some firefighters have been working for two and three days straight. He said they will continue to answer calls but warned that the fire department is "at a breaking point, and has been for a long time."
— Doug Stanglin
What we're reading
Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.'s girlfriend and campaign official, tests positive
A Trump 2020 campaign official and the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of the president's celebration event at Mount Rushmore on Friday.
Kimberly Guilfoyle and Trump Jr., who tested negative on Friday, will cancel their upcoming events and will self-isolate, according to Sergio Gor, chief of staff to Trump Victory Finance committee.
"She’s doing well, and will be retested to ensure the diagnosis is correct since she’s asymptomatic," Gor said in a statement. "But as a precaution will cancel all upcoming events. Donald Trump Jr. was tested negative, but as a precaution is also self isolating and is canceling all public events."
Guilfoyle traveled to South Dakota with Trump Jr., but not aboard Air Force One with the president, according to The New York Times and ABC News.
– Jeanine Santucci
Weekend curfew to shut down Navajo Nation reservation
Tribal police for the Navajo Nation and the New Mexico National Guard plan to enforce a curfew to shut down the Navajo reservation during the Fourth of July weekend.
The sprawling reservation has been trying to contain a coronavirus outbreak. Tribal President Jonathan Nez says the curfew will run until 5 a.m. Monday. He says it is the first of three consecutive weekend lockdowns.
Nez warns that enforcement on the reservation that spans parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah will be strict.
The tribe reported 64 new confirmed coronavirus cases Friday and two more deaths.
— Associated Press
As MLB spring training resumes, 31 players test positive for COVID-19
Major League Baseball, resuming spring training Friday, announced that 31 players and seven staff members tested positive for COVID-19 as part of intake screening. The 38 positives were 1.2% of the 3,185 total samples collected and tested, according to the league.
Teams are not permitted to identify the players who tested positive for COVID-19, but two players, Delino DeShields Jr. of the Cleveland Indians and Brett Martin of the Texas Rangers each revealed their positive tests. Any player who tests positive for COVID-19 must test negative twice at least 24 hours apart from one another, with no fever for 72 hours, before he can rejoin a team.
Atlanta Braves All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman and three other players are out indefinitely after testing positive.
— Bob Nightengale
More on the coronavirus from USA TODAY
Where a face mask is required: Many governors are instituting or renewing orders requiring people to wear face coverings in public as cases continue to rise. Is your state on the list? See it here.
Coronavirus Watch: We have a few ways for you to stay informed. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here, and come together and share the latest information about coronavirus, coping with lifestyle changes and more by joining our Facebook group.
Where are states on reopening? Some are taking preemptive measures to postpone further phases of their reopening, while others have rolled back their phases to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. See the list.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-07-04--Protesters in Keystone arrested after blocking road to Mount Rushmore for hours

Protesters demonstrating against President Donald Trump 's arrival in the Black Hills for the Mount Rushmore fireworks display were met with resistance from law enforcement , pepper sprayed and arrested after they blocked a highway to the monument with vans for nearly three hours Friday .
Over a dozen protesters were arrested after blocking Highway 16A , or Iron Mountain Road , before President Trump was set to make his way from Rapid City to Keystone and then on the highway to Mount Rushmore .
Several of those arrested prayed before being detained by law enforcement .
Protesters cited that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans and that Trump 's administration opposes interests of Native Americans and other minority groups .
Freddie Longworth , a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe , said that the problem is bigger than the current president , but that Trump was the catalyst .
`` Respect our right to exist or expect our resistance , '' he said .
`` We are orphans crying in the night and we will keep making noise until they hear us . ''
The `` orphans '' to whom he is referring are all Indigenous people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treaties throughout United States history .
Some protesters dispersed after the South Dakota National Guard arrived on scene about an hour after protesters blocked the road and law enforcement declared it as an `` unlawful assembly '' over a megaphone .
While several law enforcement agencies responded wearing riot gear , tear gas masks and use of force weapons , they only shot-close range smoke shells at protesters ' feet and pepper spray into some protesters ' eyes .
According to protestors who declined to give their name , citing concern for state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold their position against the advancing National Guard , so they pushed back against the riot shields .
This prompted law enforcement to use pepper spray against individuals as they pressed forward .
More : Oglala Sioux President says Mount Rushmore should be 'removed ' : What 's behind the site 's controversial history Good Voice Elk , a spiritual advisor for the Sioux , was among the older protestors .
He said this was by no means his first protest .
`` I grew up in protests , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and those kids , now they are the leaders . ''
Protesters ranged in age from senior citizens to children as young as 10 .
One girl was brought by her father from the Ute Mountain tribe in Colorado so she could experience Indigenous communities coming together .
At 6:30 p.m. , law enforcement gave remaining protesters 30 minutes to disperse before they would arrest anyone left in the road .
Shortly after 7 p.m. , the National Guard largely held back onlookers and pressed in on protesters while the sheriff 's department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who stayed .
“ Today has been a proud day to be Lakota , '' said Nick Tilsen of the NDN Collective .
`` We shut down Mount Rushmore .
We put this place in lockdown for three hours and we did it in a good way .
We got this power from our ancestors.
” The South Dakota American Civil Liberties Union was on scene , documenting `` incidents of police misconduct '' and `` violations of constitutional rights '' at the protest , according to a social media post by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scene , but authorities were keeping them away from protesters .
More : What we know about Mount Rushmore fireworks and President Trump 's speech , visit Friday

Makenzie Huber and Erin Bormett, Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Protesters in Keystone arrested after blocking road to Mount Rushmore for hours
Show Caption Hide Caption Protesters block highway leading to Mount Rushmore ahead of Trump visit Dozens of protesters blocked a highway leading to Mount Rushmore with vans just hours ahead of President Trump's scheduled visit. Wochit
Protesters demonstrating against President Donald Trump's arrival in the Black Hills for the Mount Rushmore fireworks display were met with resistance from law enforcement, pepper sprayed and arrested after they blocked a highway to the monument with vans for nearly three hours Friday.
Over a dozen protesters were arrested after blocking Highway 16A, or Iron Mountain Road, before President Trump was set to make his way from Rapid City to Keystone and then on the highway to Mount Rushmore. Several of those arrested prayed before being detained by law enforcement.
Protesters cited that the Black Hills are sacred to Native Americans and that Trump's administration opposes interests of Native Americans and other minority groups.
Freddie Longworth, a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, said that the problem is bigger than the current president, but that Trump was the catalyst.
"Respect our right to exist or expect our resistance," he said. "We are orphans crying in the night and we will keep making noise until they hear us."
The "orphans" to whom he is referring are all Indigenous people who were impacted for generations by broken treaties throughout United States history.
Some protesters dispersed after the South Dakota National Guard arrived on scene about an hour after protesters blocked the road and law enforcement declared it as an "unlawful assembly" over a megaphone.
While several law enforcement agencies responded wearing riot gear, tear gas masks and use of force weapons, they only shot-close range smoke shells at protesters' feet and pepper spray into some protesters' eyes.
According to protestors who declined to give their name, citing concern for state riot laws, the protesters tried to hold their position against the advancing National Guard, so they pushed back against the riot shields. This prompted law enforcement to use pepper spray against individuals as they pressed forward.
More: Oglala Sioux President says Mount Rushmore should be 'removed': What's behind the site's controversial history
Good Voice Elk, a spiritual advisor for the Sioux, was among the older protestors. He said this was by no means his first protest.
"I grew up in protests," he said. "The seventies were really bad, and those kids, now they are the leaders."
Protesters ranged in age from senior citizens to children as young as 10. One girl was brought by her father from the Ute Mountain tribe in Colorado so she could experience Indigenous communities coming together.
At 6:30 p.m., law enforcement gave remaining protesters 30 minutes to disperse before they would arrest anyone left in the road. Shortly after 7 p.m., the National Guard largely held back onlookers and pressed in on protesters while the sheriff's department moved in to arrest the 15 people who stayed.
Related: President Trump plans fiery speech for Mount Rushmore fireworks
“Today has been a proud day to be Lakota," said Nick Tilsen of the NDN Collective. "We shut down Mount Rushmore. We put this place in lockdown for three hours and we did it in a good way. We got this power from our ancestors.”
The South Dakota American Civil Liberties Union was on scene, documenting "incidents of police misconduct" and "violations of constitutional rights" at the protest, according to a social media post by the organization.
Trump supporters were also on the scene, but authorities were keeping them away from protesters.
More: What we know about Mount Rushmore fireworks and President Trump's speech, visit Friday


usatoday--2020-07-04--Trump will host a scaled-back July 4th party at White House as coronavirus cases spike

WASHINGTON – The explosion of coronavirus cases is n't stopping President Donald Trump from hosting a July 4th party Saturday at the White House , despite objections from public health officials .
This year 's Independence Day event is somewhat scaled back – there wo n't be armored military vehicles on display at the Lincoln Memorial , as happened last year – but the White House still plans to host hundreds of people on the South Lawn for music and fireworks .
The fight against the coronavirus pandemic is even a theme of what the White House calls a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include doctors , nurses , and other front-line responders to the COVID-19 crisis , as well as members of the military , law enforcement and their families .
`` The American people have shown tremendous courage and spirit , particularly our amazing frontline workers , in the fight against this global pandemic just as our forefathers did in the fight to secure our independence , '' the White House said in a statement .
Trump at Mount Rushmore : Trump accuses protesters who tear down statues of wanting to 'wipe out our history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the recent spikes in COVID-19 cases , the White House said it will provide face masks and hand sanitizer to guests , and encourage social distancing .
Some guests will be on the Ellipse just south of the White House .
The preparations underscore the unnecessary risks of the event , some lawmakers said .
“ The President , as he has since February , continues to insist that the virus will simply disappear , and the Administration ’ s response continues to be guided by wishful thinking , '' said Rep. Don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suburbs of Washington , D.C. Beyer , who has accused Trump of again `` using the military to stage yet another costly political photo op , '' said the president 's approach is `` not a strategy for ending a pandemic . ''
More:1,700 troops will support Trump 's 4th of July celebration plans , Pentagon says More : Report : Trump 's 2019 Fourth of July event cost $ 13 million , double that of previous years Washington , D.C. , Mayor Muriel Bowser , who canceled the traditional Fourth of July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said her office informed Trump 's Interior Department that the event it is planning violates the health guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ We are giving D.C. residents the same message about any of their outings for the holiday weekend , '' Bowser told reporters .
`` Ask yourself , 'Do you need to be there ? '
'' As of Thursday , the United States had set new COVID-19 daily case records in six of the past nine days , including at least 52,000 cases on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans have contracted the virus nationwide , and more than 131,000 have died .
Still , thousands of people are expected to gather up and down the National Mall to watch fireworks .
Trump , who last year gave a prepared speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial , is scheduled to make remarks during Saturday 's event in the early evening at the White House .
The event will also feature music , military demonstrations , and aircraft flyovers , as well as the annual fireworks extravaganza over the National Mall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a higher profile celebration on Friday , traveling to South Dakota to watch a fireworks show over Mount Rushmore .
`` It 's going to be very exciting , it 's going to be beautiful , '' Trump said in previewing his Fourth of July weekend .
Trump celebrates at a fraught time in his presidency .
A series of polls show Trump slipping farther behind Democratic challenger Joe Biden in the November election .
There are also renewed questions about his friendly relationship Russia President Vladimir Putin , in light of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bounties to Taliban fighters for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan .
The American president is also under attack for a shaky response to the COVID-19 pandemic , although he celebrated improving job numbers Thursday .
The South Lawn of the White House wo n't be the only place for large gatherings on Independence Day in the nation 's capital .
Civil rights groups are expected to gather near the White House for continuing demonstrations against police brutality and racial discrimination .
The protests stem from the May 25 police killing of George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personnel have re-installed tall black fences around the White House complex .
Trump took heat over the scale and expense of last year 's July Fourth event , which wound up costing taxpayers $ 13 million , according to the Government Accountability Office .
More : 'This says something ' : Thousands gather in Washington for Donald Trump 's 4th of July celebration More : Donald Trump trips up on history in 4th of July speech , mentions airports during Revolutionary War On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial , standing behind rain-streaked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paying tribute to all five branches of the military – plus the newly created Space Force The event featured a series of flyovers , including a B-2 stealth bomber , F-22 raptors , the Navy Blue Angels , and even the jumbo plane that is designated Air Force One when Trump flies in it .
Some of those same types of planes will fly over the National Mall this year as well .
Trump also made one of his most famous gaffes in his last July 4 speech .
Saluting the colonial military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Revolution , Trump said : `` Our Army manned the air ... it rammed the ramparts , it took over the airports . ''
There were no airplanes or airports the late 18th Century .
Trump later blamed a teleprompter problem .
Some lawmakers said Trump made last year 's July 4 speech and event too much about himself , and he is doing the same thing this year in the era of COVID-19 .
Said Beyer : `` It is clear he is willing to put others at risk in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

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See Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in Netflix's first 'Maestro' teaser trailer
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Netflix's teaser trailer for "Maestro" offers a first look at Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein ahead of the movie's Venice Film Festival premiere.
Deja Taylor, Virginia mother whose 6 year old son shot teacher Abby Zwerner pleads guilty
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The child's mother has apologized to teacher Abby Zwerner, who is suing the school district for $40 million for what she said was an unsafe workplace.
Republicans, ditch the Trump drama, and find a candidate not embroiled in criminal charges
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The Chrysler 300 roars into the great car history books after a final Dream Cruise
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Pennsylvania county says house that exploded was having 'hot water tank issues'
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Pennsylvania fire officials said the homeowners of the house that exploded Saturday, killing five, were having "hot water tank issues."
Why Michael Oher signed a conservatorship and what's next in 'Blind Side' lawsuit
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FBI arrests Philadelphia teen, says he was talking to terrorists, buying bomb materials
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Chick-fil-A debuting new Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich, Caramel Crumble milkshake
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Magoo, Timbaland's former musical partner, dies at 50
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usatoday--2020-07-04--July Fourth: Frederick Douglass found hope in our Declaration of Independence. So can we.

On July 5 , 1852 , almost 10 years prior to the Emancipation Proclamation , Frederick Douglass delivered perhaps his most fiery and eloquent denunciation of patriotic hypocrisy .
In a speech given one day after the celebration of July Fourth — Independence Day — Douglass posed the heart-wrenching question , `` What to the Slave is the Fourth of July ? ''
Douglass went on to declare , “ This Fourth ( of ) July is yours , not mine .
You may rejoice , I must mourn.
” Forty days after the brutal killing of George Floyd , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anniversary of the original promise of life , liberty and the pursuit of happiness made on July 4 , 1776 .
As we approach this milestone , millions of Americans , of all races , are echoing Douglass ’ bold question : “ Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice , embodied in that Declaration of Independence , extended to us ?
” Douglass minced no words in calling out the contradictions of a nation that pounded its chest as a champion of freedom , while enslaving an entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But speaking truth to power did not make Frederick Douglass a bitter man .
Throughout his life , Douglass expressed a deep respect for the promise of the Declaration of Independence .
He said , “ The Fourth of July is the first great fact in your nation 's history — the very ring-bolt in the chain of your yet undeveloped destiny.
” It is within the example of the Declaration of Independence itself that we are encouraged to stand up against oppression , challenge the status quo and continue to strive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found hope in the very core of at least some of the founders ' intent — to create a government of the people , by the people , and for the people — with liberty and justice for all .
I am a proud son of the south , born in February 1955 — the year after the historic U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education and the same year of the brutal and shocking murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till .
In my lifetime , I have witnessed racism in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overt discrimination to the covert , often unconscious or denied prejudice that Black men and women face every day .
I have witnessed the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers , names we recognize for their indelible contributions in the fight for justice .
I have also witnessed the murders of too many innocent Black men , women and children whose legacies are now being etched in our consciousness by throngs of peaceful protesters insisting we “ say their names.
” I have personally seen and borne the heavy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a bitter man .
Our view : This July Fourth , deaths of three Marines haunt Donald Trump on Russian bounty to Taliban These are indeed troubled times , and yet , like Frederick Douglass , my faith in the American dream remains strong .
For millions of people of color and marginalized individuals , it may still be a dream deferred , but we may only be one protest , one young person at the podium , one vote away from fulfilling the great promise of Independence Day .
As vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of directors , my work supports the institution devoted to housing and preserving our nation ’ s history , including the original copy of the Declaration of Independence .
The National Archives holds thousands more original documents that pledge the promise of equality for all — including the Emancipation Proclamation , the 13th , 14th , and 15th Amendments following the Civil War , as well as the 19th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 .
These documents represent the sacrifices of generations and the winding road of progress they forged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live up to Declaration of Independence ’ s promise Frederick Douglass realized that a more perfect union begins with a promise , often stated in our most treasured documents .
But it does not end there .
We must make it real .
We the people , sometimes with quiet determination , sometimes with righteous indignation , must move our nation to higher ground .
So this July Fourth , along with 330 million of my fellow citizens , I will celebrate the promise of America .
I will choose to “ keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the distance we have traveled , and looking forward , with a faithful heart , to the on-going work of building our more perfect union .
Rodney E. Slater is the vice chair of the National Archives Foundation Board of Directors , partner at Squire Patton Boggs , and a former secretary of transportation .

July Fourth: Frederick Douglass found hope in our Declaration of Independence. So can we. These are troubled times and the American dream may still be a dream deferred. But the great promise of our founding documents is worth chasing after.
On July 5, 1852, almost 10 years prior to the Emancipation Proclamation, Frederick Douglass delivered perhaps his most fiery and eloquent denunciation of patriotic hypocrisy. In a speech given one day after the celebration of July Fourth — Independence Day — Douglass posed the heart-wrenching question, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" Douglass went on to declare, “This Fourth (of) July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.”
Forty days after the brutal killing of George Floyd, America will pause to celebrate the 244th anniversary of the original promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness made on July 4, 1776. As we approach this milestone, millions of Americans, of all races, are echoing Douglass’ bold question: “Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?”
Douglass minced no words in calling out the contradictions of a nation that pounded its chest as a champion of freedom, while enslaving an entire race and pounding their dreams into dust. But speaking truth to power did not make Frederick Douglass a bitter man.
Challenging without bitterness
Throughout his life, Douglass expressed a deep respect for the promise of the Declaration of Independence. He said, “The Fourth of July is the first great fact in your nation's history — the very ring-bolt in the chain of your yet undeveloped destiny.” It is within the example of the Declaration of Independence itself that we are encouraged to stand up against oppression, challenge the status quo and continue to strive for a more perfect union. Douglass found hope in the very core of at least some of the founders' intent — to create a government of the people, by the people, and for the people — with liberty and justice for all.
I am a proud son of the south, born in February 1955 — the year after the historic U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education and the same year of the brutal and shocking murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till.
In my lifetime, I have witnessed racism in its many forms, from organized and overt discrimination to the covert, often unconscious or denied prejudice that Black men and women face every day. I have witnessed the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers, names we recognize for their indelible contributions in the fight for justice. I have also witnessed the murders of too many innocent Black men, women and children whose legacies are now being etched in our consciousness by throngs of peaceful protesters insisting we “say their names.” I have personally seen and borne the heavy weight of racism. But I am not a bitter man.
Our view: This July Fourth, deaths of three Marines haunt Donald Trump on Russian bounty to Taliban
These are indeed troubled times, and yet, like Frederick Douglass, my faith in the American dream remains strong. For millions of people of color and marginalized individuals, it may still be a dream deferred, but we may only be one protest, one young person at the podium, one vote away from fulfilling the great promise of Independence Day.
Our treasured promises
As vice chair of the National Archives Foundation board of directors, my work supports the institution devoted to housing and preserving our nation’s history, including the original copy of the Declaration of Independence.
The National Archives holds thousands more original documents that pledge the promise of equality for all — including the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments following the Civil War, as well as the 19th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These documents represent the sacrifices of generations and the winding road of progress they forged.
Black Lives Matter: We must live up to Declaration of Independence’s promise
Frederick Douglass realized that a more perfect union begins with a promise, often stated in our most treasured documents. But it does not end there. We must make it real. We the people, sometimes with quiet determination, sometimes with righteous indignation, must move our nation to higher ground.
So this July Fourth, along with 330 million of my fellow citizens, I will celebrate the promise of America. I will choose to “keep hope alive,” by looking back at the distance we have traveled, and looking forward, with a faithful heart, to the on-going work of building our more perfect union.
Rodney E. Slater is the vice chair of the National Archives Foundation Board of Directors, partner at Squire Patton Boggs, and a former secretary of transportation.


usatoday--2020-07-04--Woman falls to death at Grand Canyon after hiking off trail, taking photos

PHOENIX – The body of a 59-year-old Scottsdale , Arizona woman who park officials say accidentally stepped off the rim at the Grand Canyon was recovered Friday afternoon .
Maria A. Salgado Lopez was hiking off-trail and taking photographs with family when she fell from the rim west of Mather Point , park officials said .
The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report about the incident just after 12:30 p.m. Friday .
Responding rangers found Lopez 's body approximately 100 feet below the rim .
The National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner 's Office are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were immediately available . '
A threatened bison may charge ' : California woman gored at Yellowstone National Park while trying to get a photo June 2 : National parks are reopening from coronavirus closures .
Here 's what to know .
The Saturday press release encouraged visitors to stay on designated trails and walkways and maintain a safe distance from the rim 's edge .
This is the second death in recent weeks at the national park .
On June 26 , Catherine Houe , 49 , of Daly City , California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch .
The high temperatures at Phantom Ranch , which sits at the bottom of the canyon , reached 114 degrees that day .

Woman falls to death at Grand Canyon after hiking off trail, taking photos
Show Caption Hide Caption Grand Canyon onlookers scream as woman fell to her death A 59-year-old woman from Scottsdale, Arizona, went off the trail and fell 100 feet to her death at Mather Point in the Grand Canyon. Storyful, Wochit
PHOENIX – The body of a 59-year-old Scottsdale, Arizona woman who park officials say accidentally stepped off the rim at the Grand Canyon was recovered Friday afternoon.
Maria A. Salgado Lopez was hiking off-trail and taking photographs with family when she fell from the rim west of Mather Point, park officials said.
The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report about the incident just after 12:30 p.m. Friday. Responding rangers found Lopez's body approximately 100 feet below the rim.
The National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office are conducting the investigation.
No further details were immediately available.
'A threatened bison may charge': California woman gored at Yellowstone National Park while trying to get a photo
June 2: National parks are reopening from coronavirus closures. Here's what to know.
The Saturday press release encouraged visitors to stay on designated trails and walkways and maintain a safe distance from the rim's edge.
This is the second death in recent weeks at the national park. On June 26, Catherine Houe, 49, of Daly City, California died after suffering heat-related symptoms while hiking into the Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch. The high temperatures at Phantom Ranch, which sits at the bottom of the canyon, reached 114 degrees that day.
Follow BrieAnna Frank on Twitter: @brieannafrank.


usatoday--2020-07-05--Caleb Williams, No. 1 quarterback prospect in class of 2021, commits to Oklahoma Sooners

NORMAN , Okla. — Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley has developed a reputation as the best in college football at developing quarterbacks .
That ’ ll happen when a program has two Heisman Trophy winners and three other top-four finishes among quarterbacks in a five-year span .
That success continues to pay off on the recruiting trail and it did in a big way Saturday when Caleb Williams , the No .
1 quarterback in the 2021 class and the No .
4 overall player in the class according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings , committed to the Sooners .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best place for me overall , '' Williams said on the stream .
`` I 've got a year here but I 'm ready to go gain the trust of my teammates , earn the starting spot and hopefully bring them a national championship . ''
Williams said the success of Baker Mayfield , Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts helped convince him to commit to Riley and the Sooners .
The way Riley was able to take advantage of each quarterback 's strengths and weaknesses despite wildly different skill sets played a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the downward Horns as his finished his announcement .
The dual-threat quarterback is from Washington , D.C. , who attended Gonzaga .
Williams is the second top-ranked 2021 quarterback to commit to the Sooners .
Brock Vandagriff , a Georgia product , committed to the Sooners last June but decommitted on New Year ’ s .
Vandagriff was the No .
1 player in the 2021 class at the time of his commitment and committed to Georgia a few weeks after his decommitment from OU .
While Vandagriff was more of a pro-style @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the speed and elusiveness to make plays happen with his feet in addition to an accurate and powerful delivery both in the pocket and on the run .
More : Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy 's contract reduced by $ 1 million , one year after internal investigation Opinion : Uncertainty of starting college football on time grows as NCAA hands off hard questions Williams is the Sooners ’ 11th commitment in the class and the third player in the Rivals top 100 .
If Williams signs with the Sooners and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , OU will have signed the top quarterback in the class in two out of the last three years .
Spencer Rattler was the top-ranked quarterback in the 2019 class .
Rattler , now a redshirt freshman , is widely expected to be the Sooners ’ starter this season .

Caleb Williams, No. 1 quarterback prospect in class of 2021, commits to Oklahoma Sooners
Show Caption Hide Caption Fragility of college football season: 'All it's going to take is one bad outcome' SportsPulse: Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg discuss if there will be college football this fall. As Wolken put its, all it takes is one bad outcome due to the pandemic to send the sport into chaos. USA TODAY
NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley has developed a reputation as the best in college football at developing quarterbacks.
That’ll happen when a program has two Heisman Trophy winners and three other top-four finishes among quarterbacks in a five-year span.
That success continues to pay off on the recruiting trail and it did in a big way Saturday when Caleb Williams, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2021 class and the No. 4 overall player in the class according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, committed to the Sooners.
Williams made his announcement on CBS Sports HQ.
"I just felt like it was the best place for me overall," Williams said on the stream. "I've got a year here but I'm ready to go gain the trust of my teammates, earn the starting spot and hopefully bring them a national championship."
BREAKING: 5-star QB Caleb Williams commits to Oklahoma.
Williams is the No. 1 QB in the 2021 Class and has drawn comparisons to Seahawks QB Russell Wilson.#BoomerSooner #OUDNA@CALEBcsw | @OU_Football | @OU247 pic.twitter.com/4cYuajHttp — CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) July 5, 2020
Williams said the success of Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts helped convince him to commit to Riley and the Sooners.
The way Riley was able to take advantage of each quarterback's strengths and weaknesses despite wildly different skill sets played a big part, Williams said.
Williams (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) chose OU over Maryland and LSU.
Williams threw the downward Horns as his finished his announcement.
Baker Mayfield ➡ Kyler Murray ➡ Jalen Hurts ➡ Caleb Williams?@CALEBcsw says the success of the @OU_Football QBs had a huge impact on his decision #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/PzvTYeub8w — CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) July 5, 2020
The dual-threat quarterback from Washington, D.C., attended Gonzaga.
Williams is the second top-ranked 2021 quarterback to commit to the Sooners. Brock Vandagriff, a Georgia product, committed to the Sooners last June but decommitted on New Year’s. Vandagriff was the No. 1 player in the 2021 class at the time of his commitment and committed to Georgia a few weeks after his decommitment from OU.
While Vandagriff was more of a pro-style quarterback, Williams is a dual-threat, with the speed and elusiveness to make plays happen with his feet in addition to an accurate and powerful delivery both in the pocket and on the run.
More: Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy's contract reduced by $1 million, one year after internal investigation
Opinion: Uncertainty of starting college football on time grows as NCAA hands off hard questions
Williams is the Sooners’ 11th commitment in the class and the third player in the Rivals top 100.
If Williams signs with the Sooners and remains the top-ranked quarterback in the class, OU will have signed the top quarterback in the class in two out of the last three years.
Spencer Rattler was the top-ranked quarterback in the 2019 class. Rattler, now a redshirt freshman, is widely expected to be the Sooners’ starter this season.


usatoday--2020-07-05--Trump targets 'Marxists' in July 4th speech, boasts of coronavirus response despite record case numb

Trump targets 'Marxists' in July 4th speech, boasts of coronavirus response despite record case numbers

WASHINGTON – Despite warnings by public health officials about the spread of COVID-19 , President Donald Trump hosted a July 4th party Saturday in which he assailed the `` angry mob '' that opposes him and defended his administration 's coronavirus response despite record high case numbers .
`` We are now in the process of defeating the radical left , the Marxists , the anarchists , the agitators , the looters , and people who in many instances have absolutely no clue what they are doing , '' Trump said during a `` Salute to America '' event at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , Trump claimed progress is being made – `` we 've learned how to put out the flame '' – even though new U.S. cases are on a record pace , including more than 50,000 in the last three days .
Trump , who has repeatedly said the virus would eventually `` disappear , '' optimistically claimed that there would be a `` therapeutic and/or vaccine solution '' to COVID-19 `` long before '' the end of the year .
Jonathan Reiner , professor of medicine at George Washington University , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the year , `` at least not one released for widespread use . ''
The president also praised the doctors , nurses , and other first responders who were among the invited guests to the White House gala that featured a military band , flyovers , parachute jumps , and fireworks .
More frequently , Trump echoed the speech he gave Friday night at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota , where he condemned violent protesters .
He again attacked people seeking to tear down statues and tributes to past leaders who owned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Civil War , saying their targets also include revered figures like George Washington .
`` The patriots who built our country were not villains , '' he said at one point .
Political analysts and others slammed Trump 's use of Mount Rushmore , the White House , and Independence Day , as political props .
`` This speech featured a president waving the white flag against a virus that has killed 130,000 Americans and showing that his only strategy is to further divide this nation , '' said Josh Schwerin of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee that supports Democratic candidates .
Trump , who has struggled in recent polling , also echoed many campaign themes during his 30-minute speech , talking up his economic policies despite the problems brought on by the pandemic .
He extolled his foreign and military policies , and told the supportive crowd gathered on the South Lawn that `` many , many good things are going to happen '' in the future .
Trump at Mount Rushmore : Trump accuses protesters who tear down statues of wanting to 'wipe out our history ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of new COVID-19 cases in the United States has exceeded 50,000 the past three days , a record , according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University .
To date , there have been more than 2.8 million COVID-19 cases nationwide , and more than 129,00 deaths .
Trump 's planners scaled back this year 's Independence Day event – there were n't armored military vehicles on display at the Lincoln Memorial , as happened last year –but the White House still hosted hundreds of people on the South Lawn for music @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nurses , and other front-line responders to the COVID-19 crisis , as well as members of the military , law enforcement and their families .
Members of Congress and administration officials also attended .
The White House did take coronavirus precautions .
Officials handed out masks and chairs were spaced out at table and viewing areas so as to encourage social distancing .
`` Please wear a face covering and practice social distancing in this area , '' said a sign near a drink stand – though it appeared that many visitors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in clusters .
The preparations underscored the unnecessary risks of the event , some lawmakers had said before the event .
“ The President , as he has since February , continues to insist that the virus will simply disappear , and the Administration ’ s response continues to be guided by wishful thinking , '' said Rep. Don Beyer , D-Va. , whose district includes suburbs of Washington , D.C. Beyer , who has accused Trump of again `` using the military to stage yet another costly political photo op , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a strategy for ending a pandemic . ''
More:1,700 troops will support Trump 's 4th of July celebration plans , Pentagon says More : Report : Trump 's 2019 Fourth of July event cost $ 13 million , double that of previous years The COVID-19 threat hit home for Trump and his re-election team as one of its most prominent members contracted the virus .
Kimberly Guilfoyle , a campaign fundraiser and the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr. , tested positive for the virus , officials announced right before the South Dakota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4th holiday by signing an executive order creating what the administration called `` a National Garden of American Heroes , '' a topic he discussed at length in his speech .
What statues Trump wants : Billy Graham , Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass among others Washington , D.C. , Mayor Muriel Bowser , who canceled the traditional Fourth of July parade in the nation 's capital , said her office had informed Trump 's Interior Department that the event it is planning violates the health guidelines set by the Centers for Disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giving D.C. residents the same message about any of their outings for the holiday weekend , '' Bowser told reporters .
`` Ask yourself , 'Do you need to be there ? '
'' The White House held its party during a subdued celebration elsewhere in the nation 's capital .
Sparse groups of people ventured to the National Mall to watch the annual July 4th fireworks show .
Large swaths of land from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument and on up to Capitol Hill remained empty .
Further up 16th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House , small groups of protesters gathered for the latest in continuing demonstrations against police brutality and racial discrimination .
The protests , which on Saturday took up less than two blocks , stem from the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Trump celebrates at a fraught time in his presidency .
A series of polls show him slipping farther behind Democratic challenger Joe Biden in the November election .
There are also renewed questions about his friendly relationship Russia President Vladimir Putin , in light of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Taliban fighters for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan .
The American president is also under attack for a shaky response to the COVID-19 pandemic , although he celebrated improving job numbers Thursday .
Trump took heat over the scale and expense of last year 's July Fourth event , which wound up costing taxpayers $ 13 million , according to the Government Accountability Office .
More : 'This says something ' : Thousands gather in Washington for Donald Trump 's 4th of July celebration More : Donald Trump trips up on history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airports during Revolutionary War On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial , standing behind rain-streaked bulletproof glass , Trump used that event to give a speech paying tribute to all five branches of the military – plus the newly created Space Force Trump also made one of his most famous gaffes in his last July 4 speech .
Saluting the colonial military forces that defeated the British in the American Revolution , Trump said : `` Our Army manned the air ... it rammed the ramparts , it took over the airports .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the late 18th Century .
Trump later blamed a teleprompter problem .
Some lawmakers said Trump made last year 's July 4 speech and event too much about himself , and he is doing the same thing this year in the era of COVID-19 .
Said Beyer : `` It is clear he is willing to put others at risk in order to prop up his own fragile ego . ''


usatoday--2020-07-04--Opinion: 'NEVER.' The anatomy of Washington team owner Daniel Snyder's most famous quote

The news release from the Washington NFL club on Friday carried the date at the top : July 3 , 2020.But it might just as well have used the title of that 1950s Johnny Mathis tune : “ The Twelfth of Never.
” The notice said that the Washington football club would launch a thorough review of its team name .
That means , in effect , the name is gone .
Can you imagine , in today ’ s world , conducting a “ thorough review ” and deciding otherwise ?
I covered the issue of Native American team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Buffalo in the 1970s , and I covered controversies surrounding Washington ’ s NFL team name for USA TODAY for years before I retired last year .
In fact , I ’ m the one who coaxed that famous quote from the team ’ s owner , Daniel Snyder .
Maybe you know it : “ We ’ ll never change the name .
It ’ s that simple .
NEVER — you can use caps.
” That all-caps quote had a life of its own from the moment it was published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oppose the team name bristled at its dismissive tone .
Washington fans who support the name embraced it as a two-syllable rallying cry .
And scores of news stories in the years since have cited it as the clearest expression of Snyder ’ s intransigence regarding a team name he says he 's loved since he was a boy .
Snyder rarely talks publicly about the name issue and did so briefly on that day in May only at the end of a longer interview with him and his wife , Tanya , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Year by the American Cancer Society .
NEVER — in its uppercase iteration — wasn ’ t the high-handed message he sought to send that day .
“ We will never change the name of the team , ” Snyder told me at first .
“ As a lifelong Redskins fan , and I think that the Redskins fans understand the great tradition and what it ’ s all about and what it means , so we feel pretty fortunate to be just working on next season.
” This quote , too , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but its tone was measured and its content in line with things he ’ d said previously .
Next I asked him about Amanda Blackhorse , the Navajo woman who , as lead petitioner in a federal trademark registration case , sought to cancel the team ’ s marks .
I was working on a profile of Blackhorse at the time and had asked her what she would say to Snyder if she ever had a chance .
“ I ’ d ask him , ‘ Would you dare call me ‘ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my face ?
’ ” she ’ d told me .
So I asked the question for her .
“ I think the best way is to just not comment on that type of stuff , ” Snyder said .
“ I don ’ t know her.
” And then I asked if he would consider changing the name should his team lose the Blackhorse case .
His voice rose an octave , sounding on the edge of anger .
And that ’ s when he uttered the line about NEVER , complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the Supreme Court made a ruling in a separate trademark case — which effectively ended Blackhorse ’ s litigation — Snyder offered a snide callback to NEVER .
He said , in a team news release , that he was THRILLED with the ruling .
Yes , they put it in caps .
So on Friday , when another release announced that the football club was launching a thorough review of its team name , I called Blackhorse to ask her about the events of the past couple of days , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined the change-the-name movement .
“ The paradigm has shifted , ” she said .
“ There is so much more support now .
I feel like this is the moment.
” It is a moment I could feel coming .
Last week I wrote a column in Washington City Paper in which I said other NFL owners would tell Snyder that the time had come for the name to go .
“ He ’ ll resist , ” I wrote .
“ But then sponsors will tell him either the name goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name will go , as it must , and should have long ago.
” Blackhorse said she had long understood that it was going to take sponsor dollars to make Snyder rethink the notion of never .
“ Native people have been pushing him for decades , ” she said .
“ FedEx asks him to change the name , and the next day he is considering it .
That is how invisible we are to him and how much he doesn ’ t hear us or see us as real , living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to celebrate just yet .
First she wants to see what comes of the review .
“ We are for a complete rebrand of the team , ” she said , “ without any Native imagery or any Native references in the name.
” If the Washington team asked , would she consider consulting on its review of the team name ?
“ I don ’ t know , ” she said .
Snyder famously told me to put NEVER in caps .
Then , when Blackhorse ’ s case collapsed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so I asked her : Is there anything she ’ d like to put in caps for him ?
Blackhorse thought about it for a moment , and then she laughed .
“ Never say NEVER , ” she said .
Erik Brady is a contributing columnist for the Buffalo News .
He was a sports enterprise reporter for USA TODAY for 36 years and retired last year as the last member of its founding generation .

Erik Brady, Special for USA TODAY Sports

Opinion: 'NEVER.' The anatomy of Washington team owner Daniel Snyder’s most famous quote
Show Caption Hide Caption Will the Washington Redskins change their name? SportsPulse: The Black Lives Matter movement and recent protests have reignited the debate over the Washington Redskins changing their name. Mike Jones explains why a change is unlikely to happen anytime soon. USA TODAY
The news release from the Washington NFL club on Friday carried the date at the top: July 3, 2020.But it might just as well have used the title of that 1950s Johnny Mathis tune: “The Twelfth of Never.”
The notice said that the Washington football club would launch a thorough review of its team name. That means, in effect, the name is gone. Can you imagine, in today’s world, conducting a “thorough review” and deciding otherwise?
I covered the issue of Native American team names in sports for decades, beginning in Buffalo in the 1970s, and I covered controversies surrounding Washington’s NFL team name for USA TODAY for years before I retired last year.
In fact, I’m the one who coaxed that famous quote from the team’s owner, Daniel Snyder. Maybe you know it: “We’ll never change the name. It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps.”
That all-caps quote had a life of its own from the moment it was published, in 2013. Native Americans who oppose the team name bristled at its dismissive tone. Washington fans who support the name embraced it as a two-syllable rallying cry. And scores of news stories in the years since have cited it as the clearest expression of Snyder’s intransigence regarding a team name he says he's loved since he was a boy.
Snyder rarely talks publicly about the name issue and did so briefly on that day in May only at the end of a longer interview with him and his wife, Tanya, about her being named Mother of the Year by the American Cancer Society. NEVER — in its uppercase iteration — wasn’t the high-handed message he sought to send that day.
“We will never change the name of the team,” Snyder told me at first. “As a lifelong Redskins fan, and I think that the Redskins fans understand the great tradition and what it’s all about and what it means, so we feel pretty fortunate to be just working on next season.”
This quote, too, contained the word “never,” but its tone was measured and its content in line with things he’d said previously. Next I asked him about Amanda Blackhorse, the Navajo woman who, as lead petitioner in a federal trademark registration case, sought to cancel the team’s marks.
I was working on a profile of Blackhorse at the time and had asked her what she would say to Snyder if she ever had a chance. “I’d ask him, ‘Would you dare call me ‘a redskin,’ right here, to my face?’ ” she’d told me. So I asked the question for her.
“I think the best way is to just not comment on that type of stuff,” Snyder said. “I don’t know her.”
And then I asked if he would consider changing the name should his team lose the Blackhorse case. His voice rose an octave, sounding on the edge of anger. And that’s when he uttered the line about NEVER, complete with suggested typography.
Years later, when the Supreme Court made a ruling in a separate trademark case — which effectively ended Blackhorse’s litigation — Snyder offered a snide callback to NEVER. He said, in a team news release, that he was THRILLED with the ruling. Yes, they put it in caps.
So on Friday, when another release announced that the football club was launching a thorough review of its team name, I called Blackhorse to ask her about the events of the past couple of days, in which Federal Express and other big-money sponsors joined the change-the-name movement.
“The paradigm has shifted,” she said. “There is so much more support now. I feel like this is the moment.”
It is a moment I could feel coming. Last week I wrote a column in Washington City Paper in which I said other NFL owners would tell Snyder that the time had come for the name to go. “He’ll resist,” I wrote. “But then sponsors will tell him either the name goes or they do. And then the name will go, as it must, and should have long ago.”
Blackhorse said she had long understood that it was going to take sponsor dollars to make Snyder rethink the notion of never.
“Native people have been pushing him for decades,” she said. “FedEx asks him to change the name, and the next day he is considering it. That is how invisible we are to him and how much he doesn’t hear us or see us as real, living human beings.”
Blackhorse isn’t ready to celebrate just yet. First she wants to see what comes of the review.
“We are for a complete rebrand of the team,” she said, “without any Native imagery or any Native references in the name.”
If the Washington team asked, would she consider consulting on its review of the team name? “I don’t know,” she said.
Snyder famously told me to put NEVER in caps. Then, when Blackhorse’s case collapsed, he put THRILLED in caps. And so I asked her: Is there anything she’d like to put in caps for him?
Blackhorse thought about it for a moment, and then she laughed.
“Never say NEVER,” she said.
Erik Brady is a contributing columnist for the Buffalo News. He was a sports enterprise reporter for USA TODAY for 36 years and retired last year as the last member of its founding generation.


usatoday--2020-07-04--Two people critically injured after car plows into protesters on Seattle freeway

A 27-year-old Seattle man was arrested Saturday after his white Jaguar struck and critically injured two women during a protest along a closed stretch of Interstate 5 in downtown Seattle , state police said .
The driver , Dawit Kelete , of Seattle , was booked on two counts of vehicular assault and denied bail .
Troopers did not know if the incident was a targeted attack , but impairment was not considered a factor , Washington State Patrol Capt .
Ron Mead said .
Video on social media showed a white car traveling at a high rate of speed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lanes as a barrier .
The vehicle careened toward a handful of protesters on the freeway , striking two people who flew into the air before landing on the ground .
A 24-year-old woman from Seattle and a 32-year-old woman from Bellingham were in critical condition with multiple injuries , according to Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman Susan Gregg .
A woman filmed the protest in a nearly two-hour-long Facebook livestream captioned “ Black Femme March takes I-5 ” when the video ended abruptly ; with about 15 seconds left , shouts of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the camera starts to shake before screeching tires and the sound of impact are heard .
Officials were trying to determine the motive as well as point of entry onto the interstate .
Mead said the driver was suspected to have driven the wrong way on a ramp .
Mead said troopers did not know whether it was a targeted attack , but impairment was not considered a factor .
Earlier this week : Seattle police clear CHOP zone and make arrests after mayor orders protesters to leave Seattle has been the site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis , which sparked nationwide protests .
Dozens of people were arrested this past week in connection with protests as demonstrations continue after authorities cleared the “ Capitol Hill Occupied Protest ” zone Wednesday morning .
Mead told reporters that protesters had shut down the interstate for 19 days in a row .
He emphasized that the freeway is “ simply not a safe place ” for pedestrians , and said he hoped protesters would cease what he termed “ unlawful behavior ” in blocking the interstate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result of this tragedy , protesters will reconsider their desire to be on the interstate because I can not guarantee their safety , plain and simple , ” Mead said .

1 killed, 1 injured after car hits protesters on closed Seattle highway
Show Caption Hide Caption Seattle police disperse protesters in occupied CHOP area Police disperse Seattle's Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone (CHOP) and arrests have been made after an emergency order by Mayor Jenny Durkan. USA TODAY, Wochit
A 27-year-old Seattle man was arrested Saturday after his white Jaguar struck two women during a protest along a closed stretch of Interstate 5 in downtown Seattle, killing one and critically injuring another, state police said.
The driver, Dawit Kelete, of Seattle, was booked on two counts of vehicular assault and denied bail. Troopers did not know whether the incident was a targeted attack, but impairment was not considered a factor, Washington State Patrol Capt. Ron Mead said.
Video on social media showed a white car traveling at a high rate of speed navigate around two vehicles positioned across the lanes as a barrier. The vehicle careened toward a handful of protesters on the freeway, striking two people who flew into the air before landing on the ground.
Summer Taylor, 24, of Seattle died in the evening at Harborview Medical Center, while Diaz Love, 32, of Portland, Oregon, remained in critical condition with multiple injuries, spokesperson Susan Gregg said.
A woman filmed the protest in a nearly two-hour-long Facebook livestream captioned “Black Femme March takes I-5” when the video ended abruptly; with about 15 seconds left, shouts of “Car!” can be heard as the camera starts to shake before screeching tires and the sound of impact are heard.
Officials were trying to determine the motive as well as point of entry onto the interstate. Mead said the driver was suspected to have driven the wrong way on a ramp. Mead said troopers did not know whether it was a targeted attack, but impairment was not considered a factor.
Earlier this week: Seattle police clear CHOP zone and make arrests after mayor orders protesters to leave
Here are two pictures of the suspect vehicle that struck two protesters on I-5 this morning. Investigation into motive and point of entry in to I-5 are still under investigation. pic.twitter.com/gU1QH6TFTu — Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) July 4, 2020
Seattle has been the site of prolonged unrest following the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which sparked nationwide protests.
Dozens of people were arrested this past week in connection with protests as demonstrations continue after authorities cleared the “Capitol Hill Occupied Protest” zone Wednesday morning.
Mead told reporters that protesters had shut down the interstate for 19 days in a row. He emphasized that the freeway is “simply not a safe place” for pedestrians, and said he hoped protesters would cease what he termed “unlawful behavior” in blocking the interstate.
“My hope is, as a result of this tragedy, protesters will reconsider their desire to be on the interstate because I cannot guarantee their safety, plain and simple,” Mead said.
Contributing: Associated Press
More: Teenager killed, another wounded in shooting inside Seattle's occupied zone


usatoday--2020-07-04--Coronavirus updates: Some Florida beaches open despite record daily case count; fireworks canceled a

Coronavirus updates: Some Florida beaches open despite record daily case count; fireworks canceled as states fear Fourth of July crowds

Thanks to rising coronavirus infections in the U.S. , most Americans ' Fourth of July celebrations this year wo n't include a community fireworks display , a trip to a crowded beach or a big backyard barbecue — or at least that 's what many health officials are hoping .
It 's a starkly different situation from the nation 's last major holiday .
Over Memorial Day , the U.S. was emerging from a months-long lockdown with states rapidly rolling back business closures and social distancing regulations .
Coronavirus case counts showed promising trends and calls to reopen the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a different story heading this Fourth of July .
A national spike in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks has led nearly half of U.S. states to take new steps to limit the spread of the virus , with many making special rules to combat crowds over the holiday weekend .
That comes as the infection curve is rising in about 40 states .
As cases surge in Florida , California and Texas , some beaches are closing in an effort to discourage large crowds over the holiday .
But backyard gatherings — an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holiday — are perhaps even more concerning to public health officials .
Here are some recent developments : • The World Health Organization said member states reported more than 212,000 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 Saturday , the highest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic .
• With professional fireworks displays canceled , authorities are bracing for wildfires and injuries caused by Americans shooting off fireworks at home .
• In contrast to some coastal states ' efforts to close their shores over the weekend , many will flock to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fireworks displays , water parks , amusement rides and casinos will also be open at some capacity this weekend .
• The hit musical Hamilton is now streaming on Disney+ , giving fans a social-distance-friendly Fourth of July activity .
📈Today 's stats : The U.S. recorded 52,104 new cases of the coronavirus Friday , the third day in the row that daily cases surpassed 50,000 , according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University .
The U.S. has seen more than 2.8 million confirmed cases and more than 129,000 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 11.1 million cases and more than 527,000 deaths .
📰 What we 're reading : The CDC is calling on Americans to remain vigilant this Fourth of July by social distancing and wearing face masks .
So we 've compiled these tips for creating a special Fourth of July while following guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
Our live blog will be updated throughout the day .
For first-in-the-morning updates , sign up for The Daily Briefing .
A look at July 4th events happening around the US Governors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face masks and social distance , but while some fireworks shows and events were canceled , there are still many still happening across the U.S .
Here 's a look : • In Alabama , one amusement complex was expanding its fireworks shows to two days .
The complex was requesting those inside the park wear masks and announced it may take guests ’ temperatures as they arrive .
• In Arizona , where 90 % of ICU beds were in use Saturday , fireworks were planned to light up the sky above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Eagar said the Fourth of July parade will go on .
• In Iowa , several eventswere expected to go on , including a baseball game , drive-thru car show , skydiver demonstration , a spelling bee , a parade , several fireworks displays and a reading of the Declaration of Independence .
• In Oregon , veterans were expected to be honored during a drive-in celebration at Volcanoes Stadium .
• In Texas , scores of revelers could be seen making their way to local fireworks stands to buy sparklers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Travis County closed all parks .
• In Wisconsin , it looked like any other summer day during any other year at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee .
The music was bumping .
Footballs and volleyballs were flying .
People were laying on their towels reading a book , magazine or working on their tan .
Amid thousands of protests against police brutality and a pandemic that has disproportionately ravaged communities of color , many people planned to spend Fourth of July drawing attention to what they say is a hypocritical celebration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were planned Saturday in Chicago , Washington , D.C. , Los Angeles and more than a dozen other U.S. cities .
Organizers said they planned to ask everyone to social distance , wear masks and use hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
Medical personnel would also be handing out face masks .
`` Of course , you 're always going to be scared , but it 's for the movement for Black liberation .
You have to risk ( for ) that , '' said D.C.-based organizer Kerrigan William @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some flock to Florida beaches despite record cases Florida reported 11,458 new cases of the coronavirus Saturday , setting a record for most new cases in one day .
It is the eleventh straight day that the state counted at least 5,000 new cases , according to data from the Florida Department of Health .
While many beaches are closed , there are some open on South Florida 's east coast .
By noon Friday , beach access parking lots in Indian River County had started to fill and families had staked-their claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and canopies .
In Vero Beach , officials are only allowing beach access to city and county residents and are checking people 's identification .
The total number of COVID-19 cases statewide is now 190,052 .
The state has more than tripled the total number of cases since its Phase 2 reopening began June 5 .
Bars were closed for the second time during the pandemic June 26 to try to limit the spread of the virus .
Despite objections from health officials , President Donald Trump is hosting hundreds of people for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House that will feature music and fireworks .
This year 's event is somewhat scaled back – there wo n't be armored military vehicles on display at the Lincoln Memorial , as happened last year .
The fight against the coronavirus pandemic is even a theme of what the White House calls a `` Salute to America . ''
Invited guests include doctors , nurses , and other front-line responders to the COVID-19 crisis , as well as members of the military , law enforcement and their families .
Given the recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House said it will provide face masks and hand sanitizer to guests , and encourage social distancing .
Some guests will be on the Ellipse just south of the White House .
Washington , D.C. , Mayor Muriel Bowser , who canceled the traditional Fourth of July parade in the nation 's capital , said her office informed Trump 's Interior Department that the event it is planning violates the health guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Thousands of people are expected to gather up and down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day after President Donald Trump spoke to a largely maskless audience at a Fourth of July celebration at Mount Rushmore , former Vice President Joe Biden declared face-covering during the COVID-19 pandemic an expression of patriotism .
`` This Fourth of July , one of the most patriotic things you can do is wear a mask , '' he tweeted Saturday .
Arizona reported 2,695 new COVID-19 cases and 17 additional deaths on Saturday , according to data from the Arizona Department of Health Services .
The number of people in the hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
Saturday 's dashboard shows 85 % of current inpatient beds and 90 % of ICU beds were in use , which includes people being treated for COVID-19 and other patients .
Arizona is among the worst hot spots in the nation for COVID-19 .
The disease is widespread here , and health officials caution people to stay home as much as possible and wear masks in public .
Vice President Mike Pence , who visited Arizona on Wednesday , said he is deploying hundreds of medical personnel to assist the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fourth of July ?
Costco is the largest retailer staying closed on Independence Day , which it traditionally does for other holidays too , including New Year 's Day , Easter , Memorial Day and Labor Day .
This year , Trader Joe 's is closed , a change from past years when it operated with reduced hours , `` to give all of our Crew Members a much needed and well-deserved day of rest , '' the grocer said on its website .
Read the full list of retailers , grocery stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public to not set off fireworks as 307 firefighters sidelined by virus Houston 's fire chief says 307 firefighters — a record — are in quarantine because of exposure to COVID-10 and their absence is putting an `` extreme strain '' on the department .
Houston is among the hardest hit cities in Texas , which is reeling from new cases of the virus .
`` We will respond when called , but I also encourage citizens to help us by following health and safety protocols during the current public health crisis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement Friday .
`` Please wear a mask , physical distance and wash your hands .
Do not use fireworks during the July 4th holiday weekend because they can cause fires and create an additional strain on our resources . ''
Patrick Lancton , president of the Houston Professional Firefighters Association , said some firefighters have been working for two and three days straight .
He said they will continue to answer calls but warned that the fire department is `` at a breaking point , and has been for a long time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , American pride is at a 20-year low.Amid protests and a pandemic , what does it mean to be an American ?
• Can stores and restaurants require masks ?
The answer is yes .
Read our Q & A .
• 'This is no joke ' : Man died of coronavirus day after saying he regretted attending a party • ' A mask is not a symbol ' : Three restaurants take a stand amid pandemic Kimberly Guilfoyle , Donald Trump Jr. 's girlfriend and campaign official , tests positive A Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump Jr. , tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of the president 's celebration event at Mount Rushmore on Friday .
Kimberly Guilfoyle and Trump Jr. , who tested negative on Friday , will cancel their upcoming events and will self-isolate , according to Sergio Gor , chief of staff to Trump Victory Finance committee .
`` She ’ s doing well , and will be retested to ensure the diagnosis is correct since she ’ s asymptomatic , '' Gor said in a statement .
`` But as a precaution will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jr. was tested negative , but as a precaution is also self isolating and is canceling all public events . ''
Guilfoyle traveled to South Dakota with Trump Jr. , but not aboard Air Force One with the president , according to The New York Times and ABC News .
Tribal police for the Navajo Nation and the New Mexico National Guard plan to enforce a curfew to shut down the Navajo reservation during the Fourth of July weekend .
The sprawling reservation has been trying to contain a coronavirus outbreak .
Tribal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run until 5 a.m. Monday .
He says it is the first of three consecutive weekend lockdowns .
Nez warns that enforcement on the reservation that spans parts of Arizona , New Mexico and Utah will be strict .
The tribe reported 64 new confirmed coronavirus cases Friday and two more deaths .
Major League Baseball , resuming spring training Friday , announced that 31 players and seven staff members tested positive for COVID-19 as part of intake screening .
The 38 positives were 1.2 % of the 3,185 total samples collected and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Teams are not permitted to identify the players who tested positive for COVID-19 , but two players , Delino DeShields Jr. of the Cleveland Indians and Brett Martin of the Texas Rangers each revealed their positive tests .
Any player who tests positive for COVID-19 must test negative twice at least 24 hours apart from one another , with no fever for 72 hours , before he can rejoin a team .
Atlanta Braves All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman and three other players are out indefinitely after testing positive .
More on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask is required : Many governors are instituting or renewing orders requiring people to wear face coverings in public as cases continue to rise .
Is your state on the list ?
See it here .
Coronavirus Watch : We have a few ways for you to stay informed .
Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here , and come together and share the latest information about coronavirus , coping with lifestyle changes and more by joining our Facebook group .
Where are states on reopening ?
Some are taking preemptive measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while others have rolled back their phases to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
See the list .