usatoday--2020-09-25--Coronavirus updates: Pac-12 football returns; Cuomo says New York will review vaccines approved by f

New York state officials will conduct a review of any coronavirus vaccines approved by the federal government before recommending them to New Yorkers , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Thursday .
Cuomo said he feared President Donald Trump would strongarm the Food and Drug Administration into using insufficiently rigorous standards to approve vaccines .
`` We are going to put together our own review committee that will advise me , so i can look at the camera and I can say , 'It is safe to take , ' '' Cuomo said .
In Houston , a new study indicates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 million people in the U.S. alone , may have mutated to a strain that 's more contagious , though not more deadly .
In Britain , the government is considering a plan to intentionally infect healthy volunteers to expedite a determination on which vaccine candidates are effective .
In Missouri , the city of St. Charles has banned music in clubs after 11 p.m. , citing rowdy crowds spilling into streets .
In other cities around the world , people are finding workarounds to make Oktoberfest a thing .
Think `` yodelgram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York has canceled its 2020-2021 season , a first in its nearly 140-year history .
• Missouri Gov .
Mike Parson , who has refused to order a statewide face mask mandate , and his wife have both tested positive for COVID-19 .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has reported more than 6.9 million cases , according to Johns Hopkins University data , and more than 202,000 deaths , a total that exceeds the population of cities such as Little Rock , Arkansas , Fort Collins , Colorado , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there have been more than 32 million cases and almost 980,000 fatalities .
📰 What we 're reading : Fever .
Chills .
Body aches .
Shortness of breath .
Some people infected with COVID-19 have battled such symptoms for months , wondering if they 'd ever feel better again .
Now , finally , a treatment program originally intended for geriatric patients is bringing relief for long-suffering patients .
🗺 Mapping coronavirus : Track the U.S. outbreak , state by state .
This file will be updated throughout the day .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Daily Briefing newsletter .
Pac-12 gives in , opts to resume football , other sports The Pac-12 , the lone holdout against playing amid the coronavirus pandemic among the Power Five conferences , gave in on Thursday and announced a return to athletic competition .
Most significantly , the conference said the high-revenue sports of football and basketball would be back on Nov. 6 and Nov. 25 , respectively .
Other winter sports will return to action as well .
The Pac-12 and Big Ten had simultaneously announced they would postpone fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aug. 11 , citing health concerns during the pandemic .
But the SEC , ACC and Big 12 pressed on and decided to play .
When the Big Ten changed its stance and opted to get back on the football field Oct. 24 , the Pac-12 was left all alone , and there was little doubt it would resume play as well .
The league 's new seven-game schedule will allow its teams to be considered for the College Football Playoff .
Fans wo n't be allowed at the conference games .
New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said he will establish a state panel to review any vaccines that win federal approval before he will recommend the vaccines to New Yorkers .
Cuomo expressed concern over bickering between President Donald Trump and the Food and Drug Administration over the standards that will be required for approval .
Trump has said he might not approve more rigorous standards if the FDA attempts to enact them .
Cuomo said he hoped his state could become the first to become fully vaccinated .
But he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to assure New Yorkers the vaccines are safe .
`` I 'm not going to trust the federal government 's opinion and I would n't recommend to New Yorkers based on the federal government 's opinion , '' Cuomo said .
Growing concerns of a second wave in Europe Britain is reporting its highest number of new coronavirus infections in a single day , 6,632 .
France recorded 52 deaths and more than 16,000 new cases in a 24-hour period .
Spain just went over 700,000 total cases , the first European country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing signs of a second wave of COVID-19 in the Old Continent , where the virus made its deepest imprint right after spreading beyond China .
While the spike in confirmed infections can be partly attributed to increased testing , British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacted to the rise in cases across all age groups by ordering pubs and restaurants closed by 10 p.m. , and he warned stricter measures may be forthcoming if transmission is not suppressed .
Britain has the highest death toll in Europe , with nearly 42,000 fatalities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ research universities -- the University of Michigan , Michigan State and Wayne State -- said Thursday that most students would probably taking classes online for the rest of the school year and wo n't return to classrooms until next fall .
M. Roy Wilson of Wayne State in Detroit said the winter semester will look like the current term because the pandemic “ is going to be with us for a while.
” Oktoberfest in the year of COVID : Yodelgrams and a reprieve for oxen Oktoberfest devotees have known since April that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Munich , Germany , this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
But now that the season has arrived , the lack of crowded tents filled with revelers dressed in dirndl skirts and lederhosen shouting `` prost ! ''
is having an impact .
The loss of Oktoberfest , which had been scheduled to run from Sept. 19 through Oct. 4 , is a huge hit for the Bavarian city , which last year saw 6.3 million guests drink 15.5 million pints of beer and consume 124 oxen , among other traditional foods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fests are underway while many establishments host small parties .
In the Washington , D.C. , area , you can even get a `` yodelgram . ''
Devils Backbone Brewing Co. says that 's when a `` real-life , yodeling TikTok sensation arrives at your house , armed with Devils Backbone Oktoberfest beer and steins plus a custom yodel . ''
United Airlines will roll out a new COVID-19 testing program for passengers beginning Oct. 15 .
The airline said testing at first will only be available for passengers traveling to Hawaii from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The airline , the first in the U.S. to offer rapid testing , has more flights to the state than any other U.S. carrier , and the Aloha State 's new testing requirements begin the same day as United 's .
`` We 'll look to quickly expand customer testing to other destinations and U.S. airports later this year , '' said Toby Enqvist , the airline 's chief customer officer .
Airlines and trade groups have been calling on the federal government to establish a testing program and require passengers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major U.S. airlines now have their own mask policies in place .
Global soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimović has tested positive for COVID-19 , AC Milan announced Thursday .
The club said the Swede , one of the premier strikers of the last two decades , tested positive ahead of Thursday night 's Europa League qualifying match against Bodø/Glimt .
AC Milan `` has informed the relevant authorities '' and Ibrahimović is in quarantine at home , the team said in a statement .
Ibrahimović 's teammates and club staff have tested negative .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , '' Ibrahimović , who scored both his team 's goals in a game Monday , said in a Twitter post .
`` Bad idea . ''
A ban on `` music activities '' after 11 p.m. kicks in Friday in St. Charles , Missouri .
The city has been overwhelmed with partiers denied entry to bars in St. Louis because of coronavirus restrictions .
The ban has drawn mention of the 1984 movie “ Footloose , ” in which a small town bans dancing until a newcomer played by actor Kevin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tide .
“ I feel a little bit like the movie ‘ Footloose , ’ but that ’ s not what this is about , ” Mayor Dan Borgmeyer told KTVI-TV .
The mayor blamed rowdy crowds that have spilled into city streets , resulting in fights and creating enough concern that police presence downtown at night has tripled in recent months .
Technology ready , but fast , at-home testing still not approved for sale Nearly two months after federal regulators unveiled rules for at-home coronavirus tests , no company has federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests even though the technology is ready .
No company has been cleared to sell tests directly to consumers for widespread screening – a step some believe is necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
Gaining FDA authorization for these inexpensive , at-home tests is no easy task .
“ The way to get this under control is if people find out as early as possible they are infected and then quarantine from others , ” said Dr. Yukari Manabe , a Johns Hopkins University professor of medicine .
Welcome home : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economics The coronavirus pandemic is putting pressure on many families with grown children .
About two-thirds of parents say they are providing financial support to their adult children during the crisis , helping to pay for everything from groceries to health care expenses , a recent survey from Country Financial found .
One in five has had their adult child move back home with them , according to the survey based on responses from more than 1,300 adults in mid-August .
“ This trend of adult children moving back at home was something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Great Recession , ” says Troy Frerichs , vice president of investment services at Country Financial .
“ Now you are seeing it happen again.
” The coronavirus has exposed a secret underbelly of the travel business .
Many travel agencies operate Ponzi-style schemes where one traveler 's deposit pays for a previous traveler 's tickets and accommodations .
Everything ran smoothly as long as bookings continued to roll in .
The pandemic blurred the already muddy line between business ethics and fraud and has led to not just fried nerves , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Through public records requests , USA TODAY obtained consumer complaints related to COVID-19 filed with attorneys generals and other agencies in 20 states .
Scott Keyes , who runs the website Scott ’ s Cheap Flights , said online travel agencies often save money by providing little customer service .
“ If a catastrophic event happens like a worldwide pandemic , ” Keyes said , “ they ’ re really up a creek.
” Children may not be vaccinated until late in 2021– or beyond Children are not included in the ongoing trials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's likely to be well into next year or beyond before they can get vaccinated against the coronavirus that causes the disease .
The vast majority of children do n't get severely ill from COVID-19 , but kids can still pass on the virus – to teachers , parents , grandparents , etc .
Emory University School of Medicine pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Evan Anderson called for a rapid expansion of clinical trials to include children , ideally providing results in time for them to be vaccinated before the 2021 school year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children not to delay moving forward with initial studies to evaluate promising vaccine candidates , '' Anderson said .
Britain could become the world 's first country to intentionally infect healthy volunteers with the coronavirus in the world ’ s first `` human challenge '' trial to expedite a determination on which COVID vaccines work .
The Financial Times reported that the government-funded studies could be announced next week and begin in January .
British government officials would only say that discussions were underway for such a trial .
The BBC said no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Britain has been struggling to neutralize an uptick in cases in recent weeks .
Tighter restrictions , such as closing pubs at 10 p.m. , went into effect across the country Thursday .
Prof Peter Horby of Oxford University told the BBC such a trial was a good idea and could quickly advance knowledge of the virus .
`` I think the challenge trial has the potential to save thousands of lives and really bring the world out of the pandemic sooner , '' Horby said .
Researchers at Houston Methodist Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus to sweep across the city indicates a mutation that is more contagious than the original strain .
The later infections show the virus still has the crown shape that gives the virus its name , but the newer version has more of the spikes that latch onto human cells .
The study , which has not yet been subject to crucial peer review , found patients infected with the variant strain had more of the virus when diagnosed than the first round of patients in the spring .
There was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indication that the mutation is any more deadly than the original .
Outcomes remain primarily linked to pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and obesity .
“ We ’ ve now done molecular analyses of the two waves of the pandemic and one thing that stands out is the increase in the mutated strain ’ s frequency over a short period of time , ” Dr. James Musser , the study ’ s author , told the Houston Chronicle .
“ Clearly , this strain is very different.
” University of Wisconsin to resume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rebecca Blank said the Madison campus will begin to reopen Saturday following a two-week lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 among undergraduate students .
The university was only one week into the school year when leaders all but shut down campus facilities , moved classes online and quarantined two of the largest dorms , which house 2,220 students in total .
There will be changes .
The reopening will be gradual .
Not all classes will start immediately and not all will return to fully in-person instruction .
Classes that require specialized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but others may be modified .
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 on Wednesday 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president said 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 . ''
• In your inbox : Stay up to date with the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
• 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Together .

John Bacon and Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY

Coronavirus updates: Pac-12 football returns; Cuomo says New York will review vaccines approved by feds; fears of a second wave in Europe
Show Caption Hide Caption US hits 200,000 COVID deaths as flu season looms ahead The U.S. has reached 200,000 deaths from the coronavirus. Now experts are looking ahead, and the forecast for the fall and winter isn't good. USA TODAY
New York state officials will conduct a review of any coronavirus vaccines approved by the federal government before recommending them to New Yorkers, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.
Cuomo said he feared President Donald Trump would strongarm the Food and Drug Administration into using insufficiently rigorous standards to approve vaccines.
"We are going to put together our own review committee that will advise me, so i can look at the camera and I can say, 'It is safe to take,'" Cuomo said.
In Houston, a new study indicates the coronavirus, which has infected almost 7 million people in the U.S. alone, may have mutated to a strain that's more contagious, though not more deadly.
In Britain, the government is considering a plan to intentionally infect healthy volunteers to expedite a determination on which vaccine candidates are effective.
In Missouri, the city of St. Charles has banned music in clubs after 11 p.m., citing rowdy crowds spilling into streets. In other cities around the world, people are finding workarounds to make Oktoberfest a thing. Think "yodelgram."
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
Some significant developments:
The Metropolitan Opera in New York has canceled its 2020-2021 season, a first in its nearly 140-year history.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, who has refused to order a statewide face mask mandate, and his wife have both tested positive for COVID-19.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 6.9 million cases, according to Johns Hopkins University data, and more than 202,000 deaths, a total that exceeds the population of cities such as Little Rock, Arkansas, Fort Collins, Colorado, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Globally, there have been more than 32 million cases and almost 980,000 fatalities.
📰 What we're reading: Fever. Chills. Body aches. Shortness of breath. Some people infected with COVID-19 have battled such symptoms for months, wondering if they'd ever feel better again. Now, finally, a treatment program originally intended for geriatric patients is bringing relief for long-suffering patients.
🗺 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.
Pac-12 gives in, opts to resume football, other sports
The Pac-12, the lone holdout against playing amid the coronavirus pandemic among the Power Five conferences, gave in on Thursday and announced a return to athletic competition. Most significantly, the conference said the high-revenue sports of football and basketball would be back on Nov. 6 and Nov. 25, respectively. Other winter sports will return to action as well.
The Pac-12 and Big Ten had simultaneously announced they would postpone fall sports, most notably football, on Aug. 11, citing health concerns during the pandemic. But the SEC, ACC and Big 12 pressed on and decided to play.
When the Big Ten changed its stance and opted to get back on the football field Oct. 24, the Pac-12 was left all alone, and there was little doubt it would resume play as well. The league's new seven-game schedule will allow its teams to be considered for the College Football Playoff. Fans won't be allowed at the conference games.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he will establish a state panel to review any vaccines that win federal approval before he will recommend the vaccines to New Yorkers. Cuomo expressed concern over bickering between President Donald Trump and the Food and Drug Administration over the standards that will be required for approval. Trump has said he might not approve more rigorous standards if the FDA attempts to enact them.
Cuomo said he hoped his state could become the first to become fully vaccinated. But he also said he wants to be able to assure New Yorkers the vaccines are safe.
"I'm not going to trust the federal government's opinion and I wouldn't recommend to New Yorkers based on the federal government's opinion," Cuomo said.
Britain is reporting its highest number of new coronavirus infections in a single day, 6,632. France recorded 52 deaths and more than 16,000 new cases in a 24-hour period. Spain just went over 700,000 total cases, the first European country to reach that mark.
There are growing signs of a second wave of COVID-19 in the Old Continent, where the virus made its deepest imprint right after spreading beyond China.
While the spike in confirmed infections can be partly attributed to increased testing, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacted to the rise in cases across all age groups by ordering pubs and restaurants closed by 10 p.m., and he warned stricter measures may be forthcoming if transmission is not suppressed. Britain has the highest death toll in Europe, with nearly 42,000 fatalities.
The presidents of Michigan's three largest research universities -- the University of Michigan, Michigan State and Wayne State -- said Thursday that most students would probably taking classes online for the rest of the school year and won't return to classrooms until next fall.
M. Roy Wilson of Wayne State in Detroit said the winter semester will look like the current term because the pandemic “is going to be with us for a while.”
Oktoberfest devotees have known since April that there would be no massive festival in Munich, Germany, this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But now that the season has arrived, the lack of crowded tents filled with revelers dressed in dirndl skirts and lederhosen shouting "prost!" is having an impact. The loss of Oktoberfest, which had been scheduled to run from Sept. 19 through Oct. 4, is a huge hit for the Bavarian city, which last year saw 6.3 million guests drink 15.5 million pints of beer and consume 124 oxen, among other traditional foods.
All around the world, virtual fests are underway while many establishments host small parties. In the Washington, D.C., area, you can even get a "yodelgram." Devils Backbone Brewing Co. says that's when a "real-life, yodeling TikTok sensation arrives at your house, armed with Devils Backbone Oktoberfest beer and steins plus a custom yodel."
– Morgan Hines
United Airlines will roll out a new COVID-19 testing program for passengers beginning Oct. 15. The airline said testing at first will only be available for passengers traveling to Hawaii from San Francisco International Airport. Why Hawaii? The airline, the first in the U.S. to offer rapid testing, has more flights to the state than any other U.S. carrier, and the Aloha State's new testing requirements begin the same day as United's.
"We'll look to quickly expand customer testing to other destinations and U.S. airports later this year," said Toby Enqvist, the airline's chief customer officer. Airlines and trade groups have been calling on the federal government to establish a testing program and require passengers to wear masks since this summer. All major U.S. airlines now have their own mask policies in place.
– Jayme Deerwester
Global soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimović has tested positive for COVID-19, AC Milan announced Thursday. The club said the Swede, one of the premier strikers of the last two decades, tested positive ahead of Thursday night's Europa League qualifying match against Bodø/Glimt. AC Milan "has informed the relevant authorities" and Ibrahimović is in quarantine at home, the team said in a statement. Ibrahimović's teammates and club staff have tested negative.
"Covid had the courage to challenge me," Ibrahimović, who scored both his team's goals in a game Monday, said in a Twitter post. "Bad idea."
– Chris Bumbaca
A ban on "music activities" after 11 p.m. kicks in Friday in St. Charles, Missouri. The city has been overwhelmed with partiers denied entry to bars in St. Louis because of coronavirus restrictions. The ban has drawn mention of the 1984 movie “Footloose,” in which a small town bans dancing until a newcomer played by actor Kevin Bacon rolls into town and turns the tide.
“I feel a little bit like the movie ‘Footloose,’ but that’s not what this is about,” Mayor Dan Borgmeyer told KTVI-TV. The mayor blamed rowdy crowds that have spilled into city streets, resulting in fights and creating enough concern that police presence downtown at night has tripled in recent months.
Nearly two months after federal regulators unveiled rules for at-home coronavirus tests, no company has federal approval to sell these fast and cheap tests even though the technology is ready. No company has been cleared to sell tests directly to consumers for widespread screening – a step some believe is necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19. Gaining FDA authorization for these inexpensive, at-home tests is no easy task.
“The way to get this under control is if people find out as early as possible they are infected and then quarantine from others,” said Dr. Yukari Manabe, a Johns Hopkins University professor of medicine.
– Ken Alltucker and Ramon Padilla
The coronavirus pandemic is putting pressure on many families with grown children. About two-thirds of parents say they are providing financial support to their adult children during the crisis, helping to pay for everything from groceries to health care expenses, a recent survey from Country Financial found. One in five has had their adult child move back home with them, according to the survey based on responses from more than 1,300 adults in mid-August.
“This trend of adult children moving back at home was something we saw a lot of out of the Great Recession,” says Troy Frerichs, vice president of investment services at Country Financial. “Now you are seeing it happen again.”
– Aimee Picchi
The coronavirus has exposed a secret underbelly of the travel business. Many travel agencies operate Ponzi-style schemes where one traveler's deposit pays for a previous traveler's tickets and accommodations. Everything ran smoothly as long as bookings continued to roll in. The pandemic blurred the already muddy line between business ethics and fraud and has led to not just fried nerves, but official complaints and legal action. Through public records requests, USA TODAY obtained consumer complaints related to COVID-19 filed with attorneys generals and other agencies in 20 states. Scott Keyes, who runs the website Scott’s Cheap Flights, said online travel agencies often save money by providing little customer service.
“If a catastrophic event happens like a worldwide pandemic,” Keyes said, “they’re really up a creek.”
– Nick Penzenstadler and Josh Salman
Children are not included in the ongoing trials for a COVID-19 vaccine, so it's likely to be well into next year or beyond before they can get vaccinated against the coronavirus that causes the disease. The vast majority of children don't get severely ill from COVID-19, but kids can still pass on the virus – to teachers, parents, grandparents, etc. Emory University School of Medicine pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Evan Anderson called for a rapid expansion of clinical trials to include children, ideally providing results in time for them to be vaccinated before the 2021 school year.
"We owe it to our children not to delay moving forward with initial studies to evaluate promising vaccine candidates," Anderson said.
– Karen Weintraub
Britain could become the world's first country to intentionally infect healthy volunteers with the coronavirus in the world’s first "human challenge" trial to expedite a determination on which COVID vaccines work. The Financial Times reported that the government-funded studies could be announced next week and begin in January. British government officials would only say that discussions were underway for such a trial. The BBC said no deal had been signed as of Thursday. Britain has been struggling to neutralize an uptick in cases in recent weeks. Tighter restrictions, such as closing pubs at 10 p.m., went into effect across the country Thursday.
Prof Peter Horby of Oxford University told the BBC such a trial was a good idea and could quickly advance knowledge of the virus.
"I think the challenge trial has the potential to save thousands of lives and really bring the world out of the pandemic sooner," Horby said.
Researchers at Houston Methodist Hospital say a study of the second wave of the coronavirus to sweep across the city indicates a mutation that is more contagious than the original strain. The later infections show the virus still has the crown shape that gives the virus its name, but the newer version has more of the spikes that latch onto human cells. The study, which has not yet been subject to crucial peer review, found patients infected with the variant strain had more of the virus when diagnosed than the first round of patients in the spring. There was an upside: The study showed no indication that the mutation is any more deadly than the original. Outcomes remain primarily linked to pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and obesity.
“We’ve now done molecular analyses of the two waves of the pandemic and one thing that stands out is the increase in the mutated strain’s frequency over a short period of time,” Dr. James Musser, the study’s author, told the Houston Chronicle. “Clearly, this strain is very different.”
University of Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank said the Madison campus will begin to reopen Saturday following a two-week lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 among undergraduate students.
The university was only one week into the school year when leaders all but shut down campus facilities, moved classes online and quarantined two of the largest dorms, which house 2,220 students in total. There will be changes. The reopening will be gradual. Not all classes will start immediately and not all will return to fully in-person instruction. Classes that require specialized equipment will still be in-person or hybrid, but others may be modified.
– Devi Shastri, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
COVID-19 testing: Positivity rates and why they are so important COVID-19 widespread testing is crucial to fighting the pandemic, but is there enough testing? The answer is in the positivity rates. Just the FAQs, 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 on Wednesday 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.
The president said 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."
-- Jorge L. Ortiz
COVID-19 resources from USA TODAY
In your inbox: Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter .
Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. . 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. , 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--2020-09-24--New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has charges dropped in Florida prostitution sting

WEST PALM BEACH , Fla. — After an appeals court ruled in his favor and Florida 's attorney general said she would n't take an appeal to the Florida Supreme Court , misdemeanor prostitution solicitation charges against Robert Kraft , the part-time Palm Beach resident and full-time New England Patriots owner , were dropped Thursday , according to court documents .
Kraft , along with dozens of others across Palm Beach and several Treasure Coast ( Florida ) counties , was arrested on the misdemeanor charges in 2019 after several law-enforcement agencies , including Jupiter police , secretly installed hidden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to uncover an alleged prostitution ring .
How the detectives obtained the video showing the alleged crimes , through a controversial means known as `` sneak-and-peek '' warrants , is what eventually brought the case to its end .
More : Search warrant used to catch Robert Kraft built for terrorists , not johns , critics say Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg will speak about the cases Thursday afternoon surrounding the Orchids of Asia Day Spa cases .
In August , the Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled in favor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying the videos taken on hidden cameras that allegedly showed him paying for sexual acts at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter could not be used in the case against him .
As the judges in the lower courts ruled last year , the 4th DCA unanimously concluded that `` total suppression was the appropriate remedy under the circumstances of this case . ''
`` The type of law enforcement surveillance utilized in these cases is extreme , '' the 23-page opinion read .
Prosecutors previously acknowledged in court that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the video evidence , they were unlikely to proceed in the charges against Kraft and others .
Attorney General Ashley Moody 's office released a statement to The Palm Beach Post on Tuesday saying her attorneys were `` disappointed by the Fourth District 's decision , '' but that after review with the solicitor general , they have chosen not to seek an appeal with Florida 's Supreme Court .
`` These attorneys determined that review was unlikely and raised concerns that a decision by the Florida Supreme Court against the State on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative implications beyond the limited facts of this case , which could affect law enforcement efforts in the future , '' Moody 's office said in the written statement .
On Wednesday , prosecutors in the Treasure Coast told TCPalm they were also dropping charges in their cases .
About 60 men will have their cases dropped in Indian River County , but 55 men have already completed diversion programs , according to Assistant State Attorney Steven Wilson on Wednesday .
“ That dismissal is based upon the attorney general 's office … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 4th District Court of Appeal ruling that that evidence is no longer available to us to use in criminal prosecution , ” Wilson said .
In February 2019 , Kraft was charged with dozens of others after authorities from Martin , Indian River and other counties revealed alleged prostitution rings with hundreds of recordings of alleged sex acts performed inside licensed day spas .
In addition , four women who worked at the spas were arrested .
After the arrests , prosecutors and several law enforcement agencies involved said they believed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Investigators claimed women came to Florida mainly from Asian countries believing they had legitimate jobs , only to find themselves forced to commit sex acts and live in the spas when not working .
To date , no one has been charged with human trafficking in relation to these cases , according to court records .
Defense attorneys argued the `` sneak-and-peek '' warrants violated their clients ' right to privacy and jeopardized their right to a fair trial .
The cameras were installed under a false bomb report and then the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both those allegedly paying for sex and those receiving non-criminal day-spa massages , according to court documents .
Authorities and prosecutors argued the controversial warrants were essential to getting evidence of the prostitution .
Jupiter Police Detective Andrew Sharp said the spas were `` not a run-of-the-mill prostitution business , '' during a court hearing in 2019 .
`` It was a criminal enterprise , '' he said .
In May 2019 , County Judge Leonard Hanser agreed with defense attorneys and wrote in his ruling , `` The fact that some totally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawful time spent in a massage room fully recorded and viewed intermittently by a detective-monitor is unacceptable and results from the lack of sufficient pre-monitoring written guidelines . ''
Circuit Judge Joseph Marx agreed with Hanser 's ruling and suppressed the videos allegedly showing four women engaged in prostitution-related crimes at Orchids of Asia .
He said the search warrants lacked the `` minimization '' requirement , which are the steps taken by police to protect the innocent during covert surveillance .
`` If you 're going to do it , you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
On Aug. 19 , the Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court 's ruling .
In a motion filed this month , Kraft 's attorneys have asked that because the evidence was suppressed , the recordings should be destroyed to prevent any `` improper use and that any public access rights are superseded by Kraft ’ s constitutional rights . ''
At this time , no court date has been set to hear the motion .

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has charges dropped in Florida prostitution sting
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — After an appeals court ruled in his favor and Florida's attorney general said she wouldn't take an appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, misdemeanor prostitution solicitation charges against Robert Kraft, the part-time Palm Beach resident and full-time New England Patriots owner, were dropped Thursday, according to court documents.
Kraft, along with dozens of others across Palm Beach and several Treasure Coast (Florida) counties, was arrested on the misdemeanor charges in 2019 after several law-enforcement agencies, including Jupiter police, secretly installed hidden cameras inside several massage parlors in an attempt to uncover an alleged prostitution ring.
How the detectives obtained the video showing the alleged crimes, through a controversial means known as "sneak-and-peek" warrants, is what eventually brought the case to its end.
More: Search warrant used to catch Robert Kraft built for terrorists, not johns, critics say
Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg will speak about the cases Thursday afternoon surrounding the Orchids of Asia Day Spa cases.
In August, the Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled in favor o f Kraft and the other plaintiffs, saying the videos taken on hidden cameras that allegedly showed him paying for sexual acts at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter could not be used in the case against him.
As the judges in the lower courts ruled last year, the 4th DCA unanimously concluded that "total suppression was the appropriate remedy under the circumstances of this case."
"The type of law enforcement surveillance utilized in these cases is extreme," the 23-page opinion read.
Prosecutors previously acknowledged in court that if they were not able to use the video evidence, they were unlikely to proceed in the charges against Kraft and others.
Attorney General Ashley Moody's office released a statement to The Palm Beach Post on Tuesday saying her attorneys were "disappointed by the Fourth District's decision," but that after review with the solicitor general, they have chosen not to seek an appeal with Florida's Supreme Court.
"These attorneys determined that review was unlikely and raised concerns that a decision by the Florida Supreme Court against the State on these case facts could have broader, negative implications beyond the limited facts of this case, which could affect law enforcement efforts in the future," Moody's office said in the written statement.
On Wednesday, prosecutors in the Treasure Coast told TCPalm they were also dropping charges in their cases. About 60 men will have their cases dropped in Indian River County, but 55 men have already completed diversion programs, according to Assistant State Attorney Steven Wilson on Wednesday.
“That dismissal is based upon the attorney general's office … (deciding) not to further appeal the 4th District Court of Appeal ruling that that evidence is no longer available to us to use in criminal prosecution,” Wilson said.
In February 2019, Kraft was charged with dozens of others after authorities from Martin, Indian River and other counties revealed alleged prostitution rings with hundreds of recordings of alleged sex acts performed inside licensed day spas.
In addition, four women who worked at the spas were arrested.
After the arrests, prosecutors and several law enforcement agencies involved said they believed the spas may be linked to a human-trafficking.
Investigators claimed women came to Florida mainly from Asian countries believing they had legitimate jobs, only to find themselves forced to commit sex acts and live in the spas when not working.
To date, no one has been charged with human trafficking in relation to these cases, according to court records.
Defense attorneys argued the "sneak-and-peek" warrants violated their clients' right to privacy and jeopardized their right to a fair trial.
The cameras were installed under a false bomb report and then the videos ran continuously for days, recording both those allegedly paying for sex and those receiving non-criminal day-spa massages, according to court documents.
Authorities and prosecutors argued the controversial warrants were essential to getting evidence of the prostitution.
Jupiter Police Detective Andrew Sharp said the spas were "not a run-of-the-mill prostitution business," during a court hearing in 2019.
"It was a criminal enterprise," he said.
In May 2019, County Judge Leonard Hanser agreed with defense attorneys and wrote in his ruling, "The fact that some totally innocent women and men had their entire lawful time spent in a massage room fully recorded and viewed intermittently by a detective-monitor is unacceptable and results from the lack of sufficient pre-monitoring written guidelines."
Circuit Judge Joseph Marx agreed with Hanser's ruling and suppressed the videos allegedly showing four women engaged in prostitution-related crimes at Orchids of Asia. He said the search warrants lacked the "minimization" requirement, which are the steps taken by police to protect the innocent during covert surveillance.
"If you're going to do it, you have to do it correctly," Marx said.
On Aug. 19, the Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court's ruling.
In a motion filed this month, Kraft's attorneys have asked that because the evidence was suppressed, the recordings should be destroyed to prevent any "improper use and that any public access rights are superseded by Kraft’s constitutional rights."
At this time, no court date has been set to hear the motion.


usatoday--2020-09-24--'Naked ballots': Philadelphia official warns court ruling could negate 100k mail-in ballots

A recent court ruling could force Pennsylvania to ignore more than 100,000 mail-in ballots in the hotly contested presidential race .
In a letter to legislative leaders , Lisa Deeley , the chairwoman of the Philadelphia City Commissioners , told legislative leaders that the state Supreme Court ’ s decision would prohibit counties from counting so-called “ naked ballots , ” or those that do not arrive in a secrecy envelope , the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday .
Those naked ballots were counted in Pennsylvania ’ s June 2 primary , but President Donald Trump 's campaign and other Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall .
Last week , the state Supreme Court also granted a request from the Pennsylvania Democratic Party to allow mail-in ballots to be counted if they are received by the Friday after the election and drop-off boxes to collect mail-in ballots .
Deeley warned that the decision concerning naked ballots could disenfranchise more than 100,000 voters based on previous election results .
She compared the potential outcome this November to the infamous 2000 presidential election in Florida that was eventually settled by the U.S. Supreme Court .
“ This is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We are talking about the voting rights of our constituents , whether they be Democrats , Republicans , or independents , whose ballots will be needlessly set aside.
” More : What do Pa. voters want ?
Some say Biden , some say Trump , some want a better choice Voter Protection Corps chairman Quentin Palfrey released a statement in which he called for the state Legislature to take “ immediate action ” to allow naked ballots to be counted .
“ Even if the legislature won ’ t act to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it should immediately provide greater flexibility to process mail ballots as soon as each ballot is received from the voter , ” Palfrey said , “ and allow every eligible voter whose ballot might need to be rejected an opportunity to fix any problems that occur.
” He also called on the state and counties to “ double down ” on nonpartisan voter education and adding poll workers .
Trump won Pennsylvania by just 44,000 votes in 2016 .
Since the Inquirer ’ s story , the issue has exploded in the media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk shows .
MSNBC ’ s Chris Hayes did a segment in which he explained the issue and how ballots are placed in the secrecy envelope , which is then placed in an outer envelope before being mailed or dropped off .
“ It is , however , a bit complicated , ” Hayes said .
“ I actually froze when I was filling out my absentee ballot in New York over this .
”

J.D. Prose, USA TODAY Network - PA State Capitol Bureau, Beaver County Times

'Naked ballots': Philadelphia official warns court ruling could negate 100k mail-in ballots
Show Caption Hide Caption Elections 2020: Mail-in voting could decide next president Many states are planning on drastically different elections this year and mail-in ballots could be a big game changer. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
A recent court ruling could force Pennsylvania to ignore more than 100,000 mail-in ballots in the hotly contested presidential race.
In a letter to legislative leaders, Lisa Deeley, the chairwoman of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, told legislative leaders that the state Supreme Court’s decision would prohibit counties from counting so-called “naked ballots,” or those that do not arrive in a secrecy envelope, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday.
Those naked ballots were counted in Pennsylvania’s June 2 primary, but President Donald Trump's campaign and other Republicans sued to have them not counted this fall.
Last week, the state Supreme Court also granted a request from the Pennsylvania Democratic Party to allow mail-in ballots to be counted if they are received by the Friday after the election and drop-off boxes to collect mail-in ballots.
Deeley warned that the decision concerning naked ballots could disenfranchise more than 100,000 voters based on previous election results. She compared the potential outcome this November to the infamous 2000 presidential election in Florida that was eventually settled by the U.S. Supreme Court.
“This is not a partisan issue,” Deeley wrote. “We are talking about the voting rights of our constituents, whether they be Democrats, Republicans, or independents, whose ballots will be needlessly set aside.”
More: What do Pa. voters want? Some say Biden, some say Trump, some want a better choice
Voter Protection Corps chairman Quentin Palfrey released a statement in which he called for the state Legislature to take “immediate action” to allow naked ballots to be counted.
“Even if the legislature won’t act to allow these so-called ‘naked’ ballots, it should immediately provide greater flexibility to process mail ballots as soon as each ballot is received from the voter,” Palfrey said, “and allow every eligible voter whose ballot might need to be rejected an opportunity to fix any problems that occur.”
He also called on the state and counties to “double down” on nonpartisan voter education and adding poll workers.
More: Advocates: PA mail-in ballots not accessible for disabled voters
Trump won Pennsylvania by just 44,000 votes in 2016.
Since the Inquirer’s story, the issue has exploded in the media, and on social media and political talk shows.
MSNBC’s Chris Hayes did a segment in which he explained the issue and how ballots are placed in the secrecy envelope, which is then placed in an outer envelope before being mailed or dropped off.
“It is, however, a bit complicated,” Hayes said. “I actually froze when I was filling out my absentee ballot in New York over this.”


usatoday--2020-09-24--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 , 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

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--2020-09-24--Hurricane season takes a breather, but activity could ramp up again in October

• For the first time in weeks , no tropical storms or hurricanes are spinning anywhere in the Atlantic Basin .
• So far this year , a whopping 23 named storms have formed , which is about double the average for an entire season .
• The weather next week wo n't feel very tropical in much of the central , eastern and southern U.S .
The fierce 2020 hurricane season appears to be taking a breather .
For the first time in weeks , no tropical storms or hurricanes are spinning anywhere in the Atlantic Basin , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caribbean Sea , according to the National Hurricane Center .
And , as of Thursday , no storms are forecast to develop over at least the next five days .
So far this year , a whopping 23 named storms have formed .
This is about double the average for an entire season .
The 23 storms have included two Greek-letter named storms ( Alpha and Beta ) , which became necessary when the seasonal list of 21 regular names was exhausted .
The U.S. has already experienced nine landfalls from tropical systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1916 for the most in one season , AccuWeather said .
Very few parts of the eastern and southern coasts have been spared : The only portion of the entire Gulf and East Coasts that has not been under some form of storm surge , tropical storm , or hurricane watch or warning this year is the west coast of Florida , the Weather Channel reported .
Storms Alpha and Beta form : Hurricane season 2020 has been so busy , we have to use Greek letters Looking ahead , the weather next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of the central , eastern and southern U.S. , where an unusual ( for October ) invasion of Arctic air is forecast .
Some record cold temperatures are possible by the middle to end of the week , especially in the Midwest , where frosts and freezes look to be widespread .
Unfortunately , while the eastern half of the nation shivers , the weather looks to be very hot and dry in the parched West next week .
The Western heat will exacerbate the wildfire threat there .
`` For many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will build next week will only add to what 's already been an arduous wildfire season fraught with widespread drought , '' AccuWeather meteorologist Jake Sojda said .
Some record highs are possible .
As for hurricanes , the break may only be temporary : “ Given the extremely warm Caribbean and the push toward La Niña conditions , I do expect the rest of the season to be quite active , ” Colorado State University meteorologist Phil Klotzbach told the Capital Weather Gang .
La Niña , a natural cooling of ocean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tends to increase hurricane activity in the Atlantic Basin .
The Caribbean may be one place to watch in October : '' Computer forecasts continue to show the development of a large counterclockwise wind pattern over Central America , commonly referred to as a gyre , later next week .
This could lead to the development of an organized tropical system in the southern Caribbean during early October , '' AccuWeather 's lead hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski said .
And we still have over two months to go : The hurricane season wo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 30 , although storms have been known to form in December .

Hurricane season takes a breather, but activity could ramp up again in October
Show Caption Hide Caption Hurricane names, explained Katrina, Maria, Harvey and Sandy are all infamous names belonging to some of the worst hurricanes in history. But where do these names come from? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
For the first time in weeks, no tropical storms or hurricanes are spinning anywhere in the Atlantic Basin.
So far this year, a whopping 23 named storms have formed, which is about double the average for an entire season.
The weather next week won't feel very tropical in much of the central, eastern and southern U.S.
The fierce 2020 hurricane season appears to be taking a breather.
For the first time in weeks, no tropical storms or hurricanes are spinning in the Atlantic Basin, which includes the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, according to the National Hurricane Center.
As of Thursday, no storms were forecast to develop over at least the next five days.
This year, 23 named storms have formed – about double the average for an entire season. The 23 storms included two storms named for Greek letters (Alpha and Beta), which became necessary when the seasonal list of 21 regular names was exhausted.
The USA has experienced nine landfalls from tropical systems this year, which ties 1916 for the most in one season, AccuWeather said.
Very few parts of the eastern and southern coasts have been spared: The only portion of the Gulf and East Coasts that has not been under some form of storm surge, tropical storm or hurricane watch or warning this year is the west coast of Florida, the Weather Channel reported.
Hurricane Sally brings severe flooding to Florida Panhandle Hurricane Sally brought wild winds and rain to the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama. Credit: @BeachNavarre via Storyful Storyful
Storms Alpha and Beta form: Hurricane season 2020 has been so busy, we have to use Greek letters
Looking ahead, the weather next week won't feel very tropical in much of the central, eastern and southern USA, where an unusual (for October) invasion of Arctic air is forecast.
Some record cold temperatures are possible by the middle to end of the week, especially in the Midwest, where frosts and freezes look to be widespread.
While the eastern half of the nation shivers, the weather looks to be very hot and dry in the parched West next week, which will exacerbate the wildfire threat.
"For many in the West, the heat wave that will build next week will only add to what's already been an arduous wildfire season fraught with widespread drought," AccuWeather meteorologist Jacob Sojda said. Record highs are possible.
As for hurricanes, the break may only be temporary: “Given the extremely warm Caribbean and the push toward La Niña conditions, I do expect the rest of the season to be quite active,” Colorado State University meteorologist Phil Klotzbach told the Capital Weather Gang.
La Niña, a natural cooling of ocean water in the central Pacific Ocean, tends to increase hurricane activity in the Atlantic Basin.
The Caribbean may be one place to watch in October:
"Computer forecasts continue to show the development of a large counterclockwise wind pattern over Central America, commonly referred to as a gyre, later next week. This could lead to the development of an organized tropical system in the southern Caribbean during early October," AccuWeather's lead hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski said.
And we still have more than two months to go: The hurricane season won't come to its merciful end until Nov. 30, although storms have been known to form in December.