usatoday--2020-09-10--Vice President Mike Pence heard early warning about seriousness of coronavirus

WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence was at the January meeting at which President Donald Trump was warned about the severity of the novel coronavirus , he told Fox News Thursday .
`` I was in the Oval Office the day that the team came in and briefed the president about what we perceived was happening in China , '' Pence said , when asked if he had received the same briefing Trump had from National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien .
`` The team came in and laid the facts as we knew them on the table to the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` jarring '' warning that the virus would be the `` biggest national security threat '' of Trump 's presidency , according to a new book written by veteran Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward .
Trump imposed restrictions on travel from China three days after the briefing .
But he continued to assure the public that the virus was `` under control '' in the U.S. and would `` go away . ''
He compared the coronavirus to the flu , arguing that cases and deaths from the coronavirus were far less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing a mask in public after the CDC issued that recommendation in April .
The pandemic has caused nearly 190,000 deaths in the U.S. with cases totaling over 6 million .
“ President Trump never downplayed the coronavirus to any of us , ” Pence told an ABC affiliate during a campaign stop in Harrisburg Wednesday .
“ He never downplayed the coronavirus to any of us he tasked with marshaling a national response.
” More : Bob Woodward defends keeping revelations about Trump and coronavirus quiet until book release Trump put Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus task force at the end of February .
Pence told Fox News ' Sandra Smith on Thursday that `` we were learning all along the way . ''
`` Our own health experts were not yet convinced about the level of contagion or how serious it was , '' Pence said .
`` So , look , you know , hindsight is 20/20 . ''
Fauci said he does n't recall Trump saying anything differently in their own discussions than what he said publicly .
`` I did n't get any sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci told Fox News ' John Roberts .
Trump told Woodward in a March 19 interview that he `` wanted to always play it down , '' according to excerpts obtained by CNN .
“ I still like playing it down because I don ’ t want to create a panic , '' he said .
Pence said Trump 's comment came `` four days after we shut down the entire American economy to put the health of America first . ''
But days after Trump told Woodward on April 13 that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you would n't even believe it , '' the White House released guidelines on how to start reopening the country .
Trump called the book “ another political hit job ” Wednesday , despite not having read it , and told reporters he sought to avoid national panic over the virus .
“ I don ’ t want people to be frightened .
I don ’ t want to create panic , ” Trump said .
“ Certainly I ’ m not going to drive this country or the world into a frenzy.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ca n't project weakness '' in such times and he wanted to project `` calm and confidence . ''
`` There is that old saying from World War II in Great Britain , that ` Keep calm , carry on , ' '' and that was the presidential leadership that I saw . ''
More : Biden accuses Trump of 'life and death betrayal ' over Woodward book revelations

Vice President Mike Pence heard early warning about seriousness of coronavirus
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump: Didn't 'want to create panic' over COVID President Donald Trump defended his comments downplaying the coronavirus threat, which appear in Bob Woodward's new book, insisting he's a "cheerleader for the country" and didn't "want people to be frightened" or "create panic." (Sept. 9) AP
WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence was at the January meeting at which President Donald Trump was warned about the severity of the novel coronavirus, he told Fox News Thursday.
"I was in the Oval Office the day that the team came in and briefed the president about what we perceived was happening in China," Pence said, when asked if he had received the same briefing Trump had from National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien. "The team came in and laid the facts as we knew them on the table to the president."
The Jan. 28 briefing included a "jarring" warning that the virus would be the "biggest national security threat" of Trump's presidency, according to a new book written by veteran Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward.
Trump imposed restrictions on travel from China three days after the briefing. But he continued to assure the public that the virus was "under control" in the U.S. and would "go away." He compared the coronavirus to the flu, arguing that cases and deaths from the coronavirus were far less than the flu. And he resisted wearing a mask in public after the CDC issued that recommendation in April.
The pandemic has caused nearly 190,000 deaths in the U.S. with cases totaling over 6 million.
“President Trump never downplayed the coronavirus to any of us,” Pence told an ABC affiliate during a campaign stop in Harrisburg Wednesday. “He never downplayed the coronavirus to any of us he tasked with marshaling a national response.”
More: Bob Woodward defends keeping revelations about Trump and coronavirus quiet until book release
Trump put Pence in charge of the White House's coronavirus task force at the end of February.
Pence told Fox News' Sandra Smith on Thursday that "we were learning all along the way."
"Our own health experts were not yet convinced about the level of contagion or how serious it was," Pence said. "So, look, you know, hindsight is 20/20."
White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci the nation’s top infectious disease expert, defended Trump in a Fox News interview Wednesday.
Fauci said he doesn't recall Trump saying anything differently in their own discussions than what he said publicly.
"I didn't get any sense that he was distorting anything," Fauci told Fox News' John Roberts.
Trump told Woodward in a March 19 interview that he "wanted to always play it down," according to excerpts obtained by CNN.
“I still like playing it down because I don’t want to create a panic," he said.
Pence said Trump's comment came "four days after we shut down the entire American economy to put the health of America first."
But days after Trump told Woodward on April 13 that the virus is "so easily transmissible, you wouldn't even believe it," the White House released guidelines on how to start reopening the country.
Trump called the book “another political hit job” Wednesday, despite not having read it, and told reporters he sought to avoid national panic over the virus.
“I don’t want people to be frightened. I don’t want to create panic,” Trump said. “Certainly I’m not going to drive this country or the world into a frenzy.”
Pence said Trump believes that "you can't project weakness" in such times and he wanted to project "calm and confidence."
"There is that old saying from World War II in Great Britain, that `Keep calm, carry on,'" and that was the presidential leadership that I saw."
More: Biden accuses Trump of 'life and death betrayal' over Woodward book revelations
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY.


usatoday--2020-09-10--Treasury Department sanctions Ukrainian lawmaker over Biden misinformation, labels him 'an active Ru

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is sanctioning a Ukrainian lawmaker – who has meet with the president 's personal lawyer and promoted misinformation about Democrat Joe Biden – for interfering in the 2020 presidential election .
Andrii Derkach , a member of Ukraine 's parliament , `` has been an active Russian agent for over a decade '' and maintains close ties with Russia 's intelligence services , the U.S. Treasury said in announcing Thursday 's action .
The designation of Derkach is aimed at `` exposing Russian malign influence campaigns and protecting our upcoming elections from foreign interference , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has directly or indirectly `` been complicit in foreign interference in an attempt to undermine the upcoming 2020 U.S. presidential election . ''
The Treasury Department 's label makes it clear that President Donald Trump 's attorney , Rudy Giuliani , has met with an active Russian agent in an effort to undermine Biden in the November election .
`` This is , of course , the same Kremlin agent who has been meeting and communicating with the President ’ s personal lawyer and peddling this false information to Congress , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Intelligence Committee chairman .
“ Remarkably , even as the Treasury Department acknowledges Derkach has been an active Russian agent with close connections to the Russian Intelligence Services , and identifies the narrative that he is promoting as ‘ false and unsubstantiated , ’ the President of the United States continues to push out the same false claims and smears , '' Schiff said .
Trump and Giuliani 's attempts to enlist Ukrainian efforts to smear Biden led to the president 's impeachment last year and his subsequent acquittal by the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's interference in the 2020 election and obstructed Congress ' investigation into the matter – which Trump and his supporters adamantly denied .
Derkach has been a key player in the Ukraine affair .
He met with Giuliani in December , according to several media reports , when the president 's lawyer went to Kyiv as part of his campaign to collect negative and often unsubstantiated information about Biden .
Trump and Giuliani have promoted unsubstantiated allegations that Biden , while vice president , sought to have a Ukrainian prosecutor fired so that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunter Biden .
Hunter Biden was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company , Burisma , when his father was vice president .
Biden helped to oust the prosecutor because he was not aggressively pursuing corruption cases .
There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden .
In May , Derkach released audio clips of phone conversations between Biden and then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko .
According to Bloomberg and the Washington Post , the tapes involve conversations between Biden and Poroshenko about the Ukrainian prosecutor 's fate .
The Treasury Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and part of Derkach 's campaign to `` discredit U.S. officials '' with unsupported allegations .
The agency said he courted `` prominent '' members of the U.S. government in his bid to undermine the 2020 election .
`` From at least late 2019 through mid-2020 , Derkach waged a covert influence campaign centered on cultivating false and unsubstantiated narratives concerning U.S. officials in the upcoming 2020 presidential election , spurring corruption investigations in both Ukraine and the United States designed to culminate prior to election day , '' Treasury said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ populace , prominent U.S. persons , and members of the U.S .
government . ''
More : Intelligence whistleblower says he was pressured to downplay threats from Russia , white supremacists Explainer : Biden , allies pushed out Ukrainian prosecutor because he did n't pursue corruption cases

Treasury Department sanctions Ukrainian lawmaker over Biden misinformation, labels him 'an active Russian agent'
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump's Ukraine phone call: U.S. and Ukraine relationship, explained U.S. and Ukraine relations go further back than the now infamous phone call between Trump and Zelensky. We explain their relationship. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is sanctioning a Ukrainian lawmaker – who has meet with the president's personal lawyer and promoted misinformation about Democrat Joe Biden – for interfering in the 2020 presidential election.
Andrii Derkach, a member of Ukraine's parliament, "has been an active Russian agent for over a decade" and maintains close ties with Russia's intelligence services, the U.S. Treasury said in announcing Thursday's action.
The designation of Derkach is aimed at "exposing Russian malign influence campaigns and protecting our upcoming elections from foreign interference," the federal agency said. Derkach has directly or indirectly "been complicit in foreign interference in an attempt to undermine the upcoming 2020 U.S. presidential election."
The Treasury Department's label makes it clear that President Donald Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani, has met with an active Russian agent in an effort to undermine Biden in the November election.
"This is, of course, the same Kremlin agent who has been meeting and communicating with the President’s personal lawyer and peddling this false information to Congress," said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif, the House Intelligence Committee chairman.
“Remarkably, even as the Treasury Department acknowledges Derkach has been an active Russian agent with close connections to the Russian Intelligence Services, and identifies the narrative that he is promoting as ‘false and unsubstantiated,’ the President of the United States continues to push out the same false claims and smears," Schiff said.
Trump and Giuliani's attempts to enlist Ukrainian efforts to smear Biden led to the president's impeachment last year and his subsequent acquittal by the Senate. House Democrats alleged Trump solicited Ukraine's interference in the 2020 election and obstructed Congress' investigation into the matter – which Trump and his supporters adamantly denied.
Derkach has been a key player in the Ukraine affair. He met with Giuliani in December, according to several media reports, when the president's lawyer went to Kyiv as part of his campaign to collect negative and often unsubstantiated information about Biden.
Trump and Giuliani have promoted unsubstantiated allegations that Biden, while vice president, sought to have a Ukrainian prosecutor fired so that he would not investigate his son, Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, Burisma, when his father was vice president.
Biden helped to oust the prosecutor because he was not aggressively pursuing corruption cases. There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden.
In May, Derkach released audio clips of phone conversations between Biden and then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. According to Bloomberg and the Washington Post, the tapes involve conversations between Biden and Poroshenko about the Ukrainian prosecutor's fate.
The Treasury Department said Thursday that those tapes were edited and part of Derkach's campaign to "discredit U.S. officials" with unsupported allegations. The agency said he courted "prominent" members of the U.S. government in his bid to undermine the 2020 election.
"From at least late 2019 through mid-2020, Derkach waged a covert influence campaign centered on cultivating false and unsubstantiated narratives concerning U.S. officials in the upcoming 2020 presidential election, spurring corruption investigations in both Ukraine and the United States designed to culminate prior to election day," Treasury said.
"Derkach almost certainly targeted the U.S. voting populace, prominent U.S. persons, and members of the U.S. government."
More: Intelligence whistleblower says he was pressured to downplay threats from Russia, white supremacists
Explainer: Biden, allies pushed out Ukrainian prosecutor because he didn't pursue corruption cases


usatoday--2020-09-10--What President Donald Trump told Bob Woodward versus the public about COVID-19

What President Donald Trump told Bob Woodward versus the public about COVID-19 President Donald Trump told Bob Woodward in a @ @ @ @ @ to downplay coronavirus .
See what he told the public then and now .

President Trump defends downplaying COVID ahead of Bob Woodward book
President Donald Trump told Bob Woodward in a recorded interview that he wanted to downplay coronavirus. See what he told the public then and now.
USA TODAY, Wochit


usatoday--2020-09-10--Energized by Kamala Harris, South Asian voters may head to the polls in larger numbers

This story was published in partnership with The 19th , a nonprofit , nonpartisan newsroom reporting on gender , politics and policy .
Sayu Bhojwani was glad that former Vice President Joe Biden chose a woman of color to be his running mate .
But it wasn ’ t until Sen. Kamala Harris ’ formal acceptance speech that Bhojwani realized the full impact of Harris ’ presence on the presidential ticket .
“ This idea that only white men can serve as president and represent even the most diverse districts , but Black women and minority women can only represent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Bhojwani , founder and president of New American Leaders , New York City ’ s first commissioner of immigrant affairs and founder of South Asian Youth Action .
“ The nomination of Kamala is a signal , an opening to the possibility that any of us who consider ourselves American can run for the highest office of the land.
” Prominent Black activists and donors predicted that Harris , the first Black woman and first South Asian on a major party ticket , will help generate new excitement among Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also felt in the South Asian community , Bhojwani said .
“ There ’ s more of a likelihood to organize voters in the Indian American community and mobilize unreliable voters who might not have turned out at the polls , ” Bhojwani said .
“ There ’ s more excitement about the ticket because Kamala is there .
I hear this across the board.
” Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial ethnic group of the U.S. electorate , according to the Pew Research Center , and up to 1 million Indian Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – are expected to cast a ballot in November , Bhojwani said .
About three-fourths of Asian American women said they had negative feelings about the way the country was going and voted for a Democratic candidate in 2018 , according to a study by SKDKnickerbocker , a political consulting firm that typically works for Democratic politicians .
Despite the friendly relationship between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump , most Indian Americans continue to vote blue alongside other immigrant groups .
More than half of Indian Americans said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the Asian American Voters Survey .
Only 16 % said they had an unfavorable opinion , 10 % had no opinion and 20 % had never heard of her .
Still , some progressives are more cautious with their support given the senator ’ s “ tough on crime ” record as a district attorney and attorney general in California .
But most Indian Americans are “ thrilled , ” especially at a time when Asian Americans have felt under attack because of the coronavirus pandemic , Bhojwani said .
South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passing common-sense gun control laws , ensuring access to clean water and ensuring access to affordable health care for all , according to the SKDKnickerbocker study , which included thousands of interviews with women of color across the United States .
Democratic women as a whole were most interested in ending racial and ethnic discrimination and ensuring everyone has access to affordable health care , including those with preexisting conditions .
During her presidential campaign , Harris said she would sign an executive order requiring background checks for people looking to purchase firearms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun manufacturers and restrict domestic abusers from buying guns .
She also released a health care plan that guaranteed coverage to all Americans while still allowing private insurers to remain .
Last month , Harris spoke of her immigrant parents – her mother from India and her father from Jamaica – in her speech formally accepting the vice presidential nomination .
“ My mother instilled in my sister , Maya , and me the values that would chart the course of our lives , ” Harris said .
“ She raised us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And she raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage.
” The senator ’ s story , familiar to other second-generation immigrants and multiracial Americans , was an opening for immigrant women , women of color and others who have felt marginalized by the political process to “ see their potential as leaders , ” Bhojwani said .
At a virtual event organized by South Asians for Biden on Aug. 29 , Harris encouraged South Asian women in an audio message to get involved in their community and run for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women who are watching this , ” Harris said , “ I want you to know that leadership begins the day you are born .
You are never too young or too old to be a leader.
” The vice presidential nominee has sparked difficult conversations about anti-Blackness in the South Asian community .
Some argued that Harris should be celebrated for her Indian heritage without erasing her Blackness and perpetuating the model minority myth – the belief that Asian Americans are smarter or more successful than other minority groups .
“ People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to see , ” Bhojwani said .
“ Black women are focused on her Blackness .
Jamaicans and people from Caribbean countries are focused on that , and Indian Americans are much more focused on her Indian background.
” Neil Makhija , executive director of the Indian American Impact Fund , the leading Indian American advocacy organization , said this milestone can be celebrated by immigrant communities of all backgrounds , particularly after four years of “ anti-immigrant rhetoric ” from the Trump administration .
“ Kamala ’ s story is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Her acceptance of the vice presidential nomination is a quantum leap forward for Indian Americans , showing that we are taking our place in American history books .
”

Energized by Kamala Harris, South Asian voters may head to the polls in larger numbers
Show Caption Hide Caption Kamala Harris: 5 things to know about Joe Biden's running mate Joe Biden made history when he chose Kamala Harris as his running mate. USA TODAY
This story was published in partnership with The 19th, a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom reporting on gender, politics and policy.
Sayu Bhojwani was glad that former Vice President Joe Biden chose a woman of color to be his running mate. But it wasn’t until Sen. Kamala Harris’ formal acceptance speech that Bhojwani realized the full impact of Harris’ presence on the presidential ticket.
“This idea that only white men can serve as president and represent even the most diverse districts, but Black women and minority women can only represent Black and minority women, is problematic,” said Bhojwani, founder and president of New American Leaders, New York City’s first commissioner of immigrant affairs and founder of South Asian Youth Action. “The nomination of Kamala is a signal, an opening to the possibility that any of us who consider ourselves American can run for the highest office of the land.”
Prominent Black activists and donors predicted that Harris, the first Black woman and first South Asian on a major party ticket, will help generate new excitement among Black voters for Biden. That enthusiasm is also felt in the South Asian community, Bhojwani said.
“There’s more of a likelihood to organize voters in the Indian American community and mobilize unreliable voters who might not have turned out at the polls,” Bhojwani said. “There’s more excitement about the ticket because Kamala is there. I hear this across the board.”
Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial ethnic group of the U.S. electorate, according to the Pew Research Center, and up to 1 million Indian Americans – the second-largest immigrant group after Mexicans – are expected to cast a ballot in November, Bhojwani said.
About three-fourths of Asian American women said they had negative feelings about the way the country was going and voted for a Democratic candidate in 2018, according to a study by SKDKnickerbocker, a political consulting firm that typically works for Democratic politicians.
Despite the friendly relationship between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump, most Indian Americans continue to vote blue alongside other immigrant groups. More than half of Indian Americans said they had a favorable opinion of Harris, according to the Asian American Voters Survey. Only 16% said they had an unfavorable opinion, 10% had no opinion and 20% had never heard of her.
Still, some progressives are more cautious with their support given the senator’s “tough on crime” record as a district attorney and attorney general in California. But most Indian Americans are “thrilled,” especially at a time when Asian Americans have felt under attack because of the coronavirus pandemic, Bhojwani said.
Why voter suppression in the US has increased since 2013 Civil rights experts point to long wait times to vote as a sign of growing voter suppression in the U.S. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
South Asian women said their biggest priorities were passing common-sense gun control laws, ensuring access to clean water and ensuring access to affordable health care for all, according to the SKDKnickerbocker study, which included thousands of interviews with women of color across the United States. Democratic women as a whole were most interested in ending racial and ethnic discrimination and ensuring everyone has access to affordable health care, including those with preexisting conditions.
During her presidential campaign, Harris said she would sign an executive order requiring background checks for people looking to purchase firearms, call for more stringent regulation of gun manufacturers and restrict domestic abusers from buying guns. She also released a health care plan that guaranteed coverage to all Americans while still allowing private insurers to remain.
Last month, Harris spoke of her immigrant parents – her mother from India and her father from Jamaica – in her speech formally accepting the vice presidential nomination.
“My mother instilled in my sister, Maya, and me the values that would chart the course of our lives,” Harris said. “She raised us to be proud, strong Black women. And she raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage.”
The senator’s story, familiar to other second-generation immigrants and multiracial Americans, was an opening for immigrant women, women of color and others who have felt marginalized by the political process to “see their potential as leaders,” Bhojwani said.
At a virtual event organized by South Asians for Biden on Aug. 29, Harris encouraged South Asian women in an audio message to get involved in their community and run for office.
“To all the young women who are watching this,” Harris said, “I want you to know that leadership begins the day you are born. You are never too young or too old to be a leader.”
The vice presidential nominee has sparked difficult conversations about anti-Blackness in the South Asian community. Some argued that Harris should be celebrated for her Indian heritage without erasing her Blackness and perpetuating the model minority myth – the belief that Asian Americans are smarter or more successful than other minority groups.
“People are seeing the part of her they want to see,” Bhojwani said. “Black women are focused on her Blackness. Jamaicans and people from Caribbean countries are focused on that, and Indian Americans are much more focused on her Indian background.”
Neil Makhija, executive director of the Indian American Impact Fund, the leading Indian American advocacy organization, said this milestone can be celebrated by immigrant communities of all backgrounds, particularly after four years of “anti-immigrant rhetoric” from the Trump administration.
“Kamala’s story is the American story,” Makhija said. “Her acceptance of the vice presidential nomination is a quantum leap forward for Indian Americans, showing that we are taking our place in American history books.”


usatoday--2020-09-10--New Hampshire woman votes topless after anti-Trump shirt disallowed

EXETER , N.H. – A woman voting in Tuesday ’ s New Hampshire primary found an unorthodox way of protesting an election official who ruled her T-shirt was a form of electioneering : She took it off and voted topless .
Exeter Town Moderator Paul Scafidi said the woman walked into the Talbot gymnasium Tuesday wearing a “ McCain Hero , Trump Zero ” T-shirt .
As a ballot clerk was checking her name off the voter list , Scafidi said he informed the woman she could not wear a shirt with a political candidate featured on it while she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was wearing a T-shirt supporting the American flag and the woman with the “ Trump Zero ” shirt questioned why she was being singled out , which escalated into a brief argument .
State law states no person “ shall distribute , wear , or post at a polling place any campaign material , ” in part , and if convicted , is subject to a fine up to $ 1,000 .
“ She asked why her and not me ?
” Scafidi said .
“ I said she was going to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shirt ) supporting the American flag was not electioneering .
That ’ s my opinion , and that was my call as the moderator.
” Scafidi said the woman then asked him if he wanted her to take her shirt off , despite not wearing anything underneath .
“ I said , I ’ d rather she not , ” Scafidi said .
“ But she took it off so fast , no one had time to react so the whole place just went , ‘ Woah , ’ and she walked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She could ’ ve just gone into the hallway and turned it inside-out.
” New Hampshire ’ s public indecency law states an individual can be found guilty of indecent exposure and lewdness if the person “ fornicates , exposes his or her genitals , or performs any other act of gross lewdness under circumstances which he or she should know will likely cause affront or alarm.
” Scafidi said he did have the authority to have police remove the voter under the indecency law , but he did not want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she put her shirt back on as soon as she stepped out of the voting booth and cast her ballot .
“ I don ’ t know if she was trying to have me get her arrested , but I thought it was better to just let things play out , ” Scafidi said .
“ I don ’ t think there were more than 15 voters in the building at the time and if there were any children there , I didn ’ t see them.
” 2020 campaign : Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fundraiser hosted by QAnon backers Scafidi said as bizarre as the incident was in the moment , poll workers mostly laughed it off and continued about their day after she left the polling location .
“ If she felt it was her right , more power to her , ” Scafidi said .
“ We all laughed about it as things were winding down , so I don ’ t know if it was a set-up , but I ’ ve never experienced anything like that .
We had more important things to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,000 people to vote safely , and check-in and count 2,000 absentee ballots .
”

New Hampshire woman votes topless after anti-Trump shirt disallowed
Show Caption Hide Caption How a contentious election affects a peaceful transition of power What history has shown us about contested elections and peaceful transitions of power. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
EXETER, N.H. – A woman voting in Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary found an unorthodox way of protesting an election official who ruled her T-shirt was a form of electioneering: She took it off and voted topless.
Exeter Town Moderator Paul Scafidi said the woman walked into the Talbot gymnasium Tuesday wearing a “McCain Hero, Trump Zero” T-shirt. As a ballot clerk was checking her name off the voter list, Scafidi said he informed the woman she could not wear a shirt with a political candidate featured on it while she voted.
Scafidi said another woman nearby was wearing a T-shirt supporting the American flag and the woman with the “Trump Zero” shirt questioned why she was being singled out, which escalated into a brief argument.
State law states no person “shall distribute, wear, or post at a polling place any campaign material,” in part, and if convicted, is subject to a fine up to $1,000.
“She asked why her and not me?” Scafidi said. “I said she was going to have to cover her shirt, and (a shirt) supporting the American flag was not electioneering. That’s my opinion, and that was my call as the moderator.”
Bob Woodward book takeaways: Trump admits 'playing' down COVID threat
Scafidi said the woman then asked him if he wanted her to take her shirt off, despite not wearing anything underneath.
“I said, I’d rather she not,” Scafidi said. “But she took it off so fast, no one had time to react so the whole place just went, ‘Woah,’ and she walked away, and I let her vote. She could’ve just gone into the hallway and turned it inside-out.”
New Hampshire’s public indecency law states an individual can be found guilty of indecent exposure and lewdness if the person “fornicates, exposes his or her genitals, or performs any other act of gross lewdness under circumstances which he or she should know will likely cause affront or alarm.”
Scafidi said he did have the authority to have police remove the voter under the indecency law, but he did not want to see the incident escalate further. He said she put her shirt back on as soon as she stepped out of the voting booth and cast her ballot.
“I don’t know if she was trying to have me get her arrested, but I thought it was better to just let things play out,” Scafidi said. “I don’t think there were more than 15 voters in the building at the time and if there were any children there, I didn’t see them.”
2020 campaign: Pence, senior Trump campaign officials to attend fundraiser hosted by QAnon backers
Scafidi said as bizarre as the incident was in the moment, poll workers mostly laughed it off and continued about their day after she left the polling location.
“If she felt it was her right, more power to her,” Scafidi said. “We all laughed about it as things were winding down, so I don’t know if it was a set-up, but I’ve never experienced anything like that. We had more important things to worry about; we had to get 2,000 people to vote safely, and check-in and count 2,000 absentee ballots.”


usatoday--2020-09-11--Like 9/11, COVID-19 has stripped away Americans' sense of security as they wonder how safe they real

NEW YORK – Wendy Lanski says she had `` an irrational fear of supermarkets . ''
She got sick with COVID-19 in March , and while she ca n't pinpoint her exact exposure , her hunch was that it was the grocery store .
She almost died in her battle against the disease – and she is one of many `` long haulers , '' or COVID-19 survivors with lingering symptoms such as irregular heartbeat and partial hair loss .
Lanski , 50 , also survived another national tragedy that reshaped how many Americans view their sense of safety : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think there are a lot of parallels , '' Lanski said of the two seminal moments in modern history .
Both caused Americans to praise and better appreciate first responders , she said .
Some believe both are a hoax or a government conspiracy .
And both have led to changes in behavior in everyday lives that may or may not be making us safer .
Does the size of a toothpaste tube really matter in helping thwart terrorist plots ?
Are temperature checks stopping the spread of the coronavirus ?
Or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People 's behavior may be governed by their perception of risk , regardless of whether that 's in line with actual risk , when there is a crisis , says Dr. Joshua Morganstein , chairman of the American Psychiatric Association ’ s Committee on the Psychiatric Dimensions of Disaster .
`` It is one thing to be safe , and it is another thing to feel safe , '' Morganstein said .
Lanski remembers flying for the first time after 9/11 , five months after the attacks .
Someone was complaining about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She took her World Trade Center ID card .
`` I said , 'Here 's why , buddy .
... You just need to take it down a notch . '
'' As the U.S. coronavirus case count continues to rise , many Americans continue to take precautions to prevent the spread while also boosting their sense of security – not unlike the safety and security measures some took and changes in behavior that occurred after 9/11 .
After the terror attacks , airport security beefed up .
Some feared large gatherings as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Today , amid the coronavirus pandemic , many Americans steer clear of big groups that could be potential `` super spreader '' events .
Some airports screen for people 's temperatures to detect a fever .
And the travel industry has faced steep declines .
`` Maybe now the era of September 11th has given way to the era of COVID-19 or pandemic , '' said Jan Ramirez , chief curator of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum .
`` They both felt sort of unprecedented in scale .
They both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that point , '' she added .
`` What emerged quickly after was an almost different collective reality . ''
For Emiliano Diaz de Leon , 44 , wiping down every item he gets from grocery deliveries or letting packages sit in his garage for three days before bringing them in is all about reducing the risk of infection for himself and his family .
His 11-year-old son tried to show him a news article recently that said surfaces are not the primary way the new coronavirus spreads and they 'd be fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come inside a few days earlier .
Diaz de Leon was n't buying it .
`` He 's a sharp kid , '' the Texas father said .
`` He wanted to open his gifts . ''
One reason Diaz de Leon says he began to take such precautions was that it was so unclear in the early days of the pandemic what the best practices were .
So doing more , rather than less , gives him `` peace of mind . ''
Last year 's 9/11 anniversary : US marks 18th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tolling bells Similar to the COVID-19 pandemic , Ramirez said , many people after 9/11 looked seriously at what level of risk they could tolerate as the threat of another terror attack prompted new behaviors .
Office buildings ordered deep cleanings to scrub the toxic debris , and some wore masks and gloves amid conflicting reports about the air quality around Ground Zero , Ramirez said .
`` On a weekly basis , the kind of malevolence of the dust started to change , '' she added , as more evidence pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afford to moved out of New York City , others purchased personal protective equipment or gas masks in case of a bioterror attack , and many feared traveling on public transportation , Ramirez said .
It was n't uncommon to see members of the National Guard in New York City or caution tape around a suspicious bag , she added .
`` We 'll never know the number of potential plots thwarted , '' Ramirez said .
Is it a bad thing if you just feel safer ?
In the beginning days of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure of the source of people 's exposure to the coronavirus , said Dr. Aaron Milstone , a hospital epidemiologist and pediatric infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins .
Now , the medical community has a better sense of where cases come from and how the virus primarily spreads via respiratory droplets .
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is possible to become infected after touching an infected surface and then your face , contracting the virus from a grocery store item `` I would say those are very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Still wiping down your grocery store purchases ?
Coronavirus risk is 'exceedingly small , ' experts say But taking similar extra precautions is not necessarily a bad thing ; they just need to be done correctly , said Dr. Kristin Englund , an infectious disease specialist at the Cleveland Clinic .
For example , wearing gloves , which the CDC does not recommend for most people , will not keep you safer if you then touch your face or cellphone , Englund said .
Temperature checks wo n't weed out people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing an extra layer of clothes while out in public may also have no effect because there is no evidence the virus spreads via clothing , Englund said .
`` While people may come up with other measures to take to decrease their risk , what they need to be sure is whatever they 're doing makes sense and they 're doing them correctly , '' Englund said .
But just because a behavior may go beyond what is necessary , it could be beneficial if it makes people feeler safer , Morganstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confers significant health benefits , '' Morganstein said .
A feeling of safety during a crisis can help reduce the likelihood of developing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder , aid in sleep and lower the chance of turning to alcohol or drugs , he said .
`` It would behoove all of us to accept and support people engaging in behaviors that are not harmful to us and allow people to achieve a certain level of safety and comfort , '' he said .
Social distancing , masks still a 'matter of choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and months that followed 9/11 , letters from children and people all over the world began pouring in for first responders who rushed to Ground Zero .
Many of those letters made a difference on the psyche of those people , Ramirez said .
`` There was this huge resurgence of appreciation for the value of human life and the awe for the kind of common-sense grit and abilities and resourcefulness of essential workers and front-line workers , '' Ramirez said .
During the COVID-19 pandemic , Ramirez has seen a similar return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her neighborhood in New York City would come outside at a certain time and provide a round of applause for doctors , nurses and other hospital workers .
A message of being a good citizen or being a good neighbor can be very motivating for some people to take health precautions that keep others safe , such as wearing a mask , Morganstein said .
For Lisa Delgado , 55 , of Philadelphia , wearing a mask is like taking off your shoes at the airport .
`` I do n't like it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a pain , but having innocent people die is a bigger deal than my inconvenience , '' she said .
But while you ca n't skip the airport security line , you can go some places and not wear a mask .
Englund said the lack of more systematic mandates marks a key difference between Americans ' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and 9/11 .
`` After 9/11 when every airport had to initiate this screening , I think there was a normalcy to it , '' Englund said .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have to get to the airport a little earlier .
... That is not the place that we 're at right now .
It 's still a matter of choice in many areas . ''
What masks are best ?
Is it safe to grocery shop ?
Your guide to COVID-19 safety Diaz de Leon said it 's `` frustrating '' and `` heartbreaking and disturbing '' to see others around him not doing the bare minimum for COVID-19 safety .
`` I do n't expect people to do what I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing and wear a mask , I would feel so much better about the future and the sense of value for their life and my life , '' he said .
Nearly 770,000 lives would be saved worldwide from early September to Jan. 1 with near-universal mask wearing and social distancing , according to the University of Washington 's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation .
`` If we could get everyone to do the basics , we could cut down dramatically on the number of COVID cases ... and then people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremes , '' Englund said .
For Lanski , returning to normal life after her time battling COVID-19 in the hospital is all about common sense and feeling empowered .
As she recovered and learned more about the virus , she began expanding where she went and what she did .
While she avoids certain grocery stores , she feels OK in the drive-through pharmacy .
Some restaurants in the next town over look too cramped , so she only goes to one where she knows the owner , is always seated 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sees all employees wearing masks correctly .
When she first was released from the hospital , Lanksi had items delivered to her door , but it was her husband 's birthday that got her out of the house to grocery-shop .
`` I was trying to get just something special , '' she said .
So she ran into Whole Foods , quickly , at an off hour , for a treat .
`` I 'm playing the odds here , '' she recalled thinking , but `` I 'm not going to @ @ @ @ @ @

Like 9/11, COVID-19 has stripped away Americans' sense of security as they wonder how safe they really are
Show Caption Hide Caption Steve Mnuchin: Coronavirus impact on airlines 'worse than 9/11' Steve Mnuchin said the coronavirus impact on the airline industry is "worse than 9/11." Associated Press, USA TODAY
NEW YORK – Wendy Lanski says she had "an irrational fear of supermarkets."
She got sick with COVID-19 in March, and while she can't pinpoint her exact exposure, her hunch was that it was the grocery store.
She almost died in her battle against the disease – and she is one of many "long haulers," or COVID-19 survivors with lingering symptoms such as irregular heartbeat and partial hair loss.
Lanski, 50, also survived another national tragedy that reshaped how many Americans view their sense of safety: the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
"I think there are a lot of parallels," Lanski said of the two seminal moments in modern history. Both caused Americans to praise and better appreciate first responders, she said. Some believe both are a hoax or a government conspiracy.
And both have led to changes in behavior in everyday lives that may or may not be making us safer. Does the size of a toothpaste tube really matter in helping thwart terrorist plots? Are temperature checks stopping the spread of the coronavirus? Or do we just feel more secure?
People's behavior may be governed by their perception of risk, regardless of whether that's in line with actual risk, when there is a crisis, says Dr. Joshua Morganstein, chairman of the American Psychiatric Association’s Committee on the Psychiatric Dimensions of Disaster.
"It is one thing to be safe, and it is another thing to feel safe," Morganstein said.
Lanski remembers flying for the first time after 9/11, five months after the attacks. Someone was complaining about the security line taking a long time. She took her World Trade Center ID card.
"I said, 'Here's why, buddy. ... You just need to take it down a notch.'"
Security measures, risk assessments are similar
As the U.S. coronavirus case count continues to rise, many Americans continue to take precautions to prevent the spread while also boosting their sense of security – not unlike the safety and security measures some took and changes in behavior that occurred after 9/11.
After the terror attacks, airport security beefed up. Some feared large gatherings as potential next targets. People avoided traveling. Today, amid the coronavirus pandemic, many Americans steer clear of big groups that could be potential "super spreader" events. Some airports screen for people's temperatures to detect a fever. And the travel industry has faced steep declines.
"Maybe now the era of September 11th has given way to the era of COVID-19 or pandemic," said Jan Ramirez, chief curator of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
"They both felt sort of unprecedented in scale. They both felt novel and almost implausible up until that point," she added. "What emerged quickly after was an almost different collective reality."
For Emiliano Diaz de Leon, 44, wiping down every item he gets from grocery deliveries or letting packages sit in his garage for three days before bringing them in is all about reducing the risk of infection for himself and his family.
His 11-year-old son tried to show him a news article recently that said surfaces are not the primary way the new coronavirus spreads and they'd be fine if some of his birthday presents could come inside a few days earlier.
Diaz de Leon wasn't buying it. "He's a sharp kid," the Texas father said. "He wanted to open his gifts."
One reason Diaz de Leon says he began to take such precautions was that it was so unclear in the early days of the pandemic what the best practices were. So doing more, rather than less, gives him "peace of mind."
Last year's 9/11 anniversary: US marks 18th anniversary of 9/11 terror attack with silence, tolling bells
Similar to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ramirez said, many people after 9/11 looked seriously at what level of risk they could tolerate as the threat of another terror attack prompted new behaviors.
Office buildings ordered deep cleanings to scrub the toxic debris, and some wore masks and gloves amid conflicting reports about the air quality around Ground Zero, Ramirez said. "On a weekly basis, the kind of malevolence of the dust started to change," she added, as more evidence pointed to its dangers.
Some who could afford to moved out of New York City, others purchased personal protective equipment or gas masks in case of a bioterror attack, and many feared traveling on public transportation, Ramirez said.
It wasn't uncommon to see members of the National Guard in New York City or caution tape around a suspicious bag, she added.
"We'll never know the number of potential plots thwarted," Ramirez said.
Is it a bad thing if you just feel safer?
In the beginning days of the pandemic, scientists weren't always sure of the source of people's exposure to the coronavirus, said Dr. Aaron Milstone, a hospital epidemiologist and pediatric infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins.
Now, the medical community has a better sense of where cases come from and how the virus primarily spreads via respiratory droplets. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is possible to become infected after touching an infected surface and then your face, contracting the virus from a grocery store item "I would say those are very, very low-risk exposures," Milstone said.
Still wiping down your grocery store purchases? Coronavirus risk is 'exceedingly small,' experts say
But taking similar extra precautions is not necessarily a bad thing; they just need to be done correctly, said Dr. Kristin Englund, an infectious disease specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. For example, wearing gloves, which the CDC does not recommend for most people, will not keep you safer if you then touch your face or cellphone, Englund said.
Temperature checks won't weed out people who are asymptomatic or presymptomatic, and wearing an extra layer of clothes while out in public may also have no effect because there is no evidence the virus spreads via clothing, Englund said.
"While people may come up with other measures to take to decrease their risk, what they need to be sure is whatever they're doing makes sense and they're doing them correctly," Englund said.
But just because a behavior may go beyond what is necessary, it could be beneficial if it makes people feeler safer, Morganstein said.
"Believing you are safe confers significant health benefits," Morganstein said. A feeling of safety during a crisis can help reduce the likelihood of developing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, aid in sleep and lower the chance of turning to alcohol or drugs, he said.
"It would behoove all of us to accept and support people engaging in behaviors that are not harmful to us and allow people to achieve a certain level of safety and comfort," he said.
Social distancing, masks still a 'matter of choice' in the US
In the weeks and months that followed 9/11, letters from children and people all over the world began pouring in for first responders who rushed to Ground Zero.
Many of those letters made a difference on the psyche of those people, Ramirez said.
"There was this huge resurgence of appreciation for the value of human life and the awe for the kind of common-sense grit and abilities and resourcefulness of essential workers and front-line workers," Ramirez said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ramirez has seen a similar return to appreciating front-line workers.
Many in her neighborhood in New York City would come outside at a certain time and provide a round of applause for doctors, nurses and other hospital workers.
A message of being a good citizen or being a good neighbor can be very motivating for some people to take health precautions that keep others safe, such as wearing a mask, Morganstein said.
For Lisa Delgado, 55, of Philadelphia, wearing a mask is like taking off your shoes at the airport.
"I don't like it, but I do it. It's a pain, but having innocent people die is a bigger deal than my inconvenience," she said.
But while you can't skip the airport security line, you can go some places and not wear a mask. Englund said the lack of more systematic mandates marks a key difference between Americans' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and 9/11.
"After 9/11 when every airport had to initiate this screening, I think there was a normalcy to it," Englund said. "It's something we all know, that we have to get to the airport a little earlier. ... That is not the place that we're at right now. It's still a matter of choice in many areas."
What masks are best? Is it safe to grocery shop? Your guide to COVID-19 safety
Diaz de Leon said it's "frustrating" and "heartbreaking and disturbing" to see others around him not doing the bare minimum for COVID-19 safety.
"I don't expect people to do what I'm doing, but if people will practice social distancing and wear a mask, I would feel so much better about the future and the sense of value for their life and my life," he said.
Nearly 770,000 lives would be saved worldwide from early September to Jan. 1 with near-universal mask wearing and social distancing, according to the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
"If we could get everyone to do the basics, we could cut down dramatically on the number of COVID cases ... and then people wouldn't have to go to the extremes," Englund said.
For Lanski, returning to normal life after her time battling COVID-19 in the hospital is all about common sense and feeling empowered.
As she recovered and learned more about the virus, she began expanding where she went and what she did. While she avoids certain grocery stores, she feels OK in the drive-through pharmacy. Some restaurants in the next town over look too cramped, so she only goes to one where she knows the owner, is always seated 6 feet from the next table outside and sees all employees wearing masks correctly.
When she first was released from the hospital, Lanksi had items delivered to her door, but it was her husband's birthday that got her out of the house to grocery-shop.
"I was trying to get just something special," she said. So she ran into Whole Foods, quickly, at an off hour, for a treat.
"I'm playing the odds here," she recalled thinking, but "I'm not going to die buying this cheesecake."
Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller


usatoday--2020-09-11--Coronavirus updates: Adults with COVID-19 twice as likely to eat out; Florida bars to open at 50% ca

Coronavirus updates: Adults with COVID-19 twice as likely to eat out; Florida bars to open at 50% capacity; US reaches 191K deaths

On the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack , Americans are struggling with feelings of safety once again as another American is diagnosed with the coronavirus every 2.45 seconds .
Most state case counts and deaths , with the exception of Wisconsin , are improving across the nation , but deaths are still more than a third higher than they were at the beginning of July .
America has been averaging about 35,000 cases per day .
In Louisiana , Gov .
John Bel Edwards said he will ease restrictions on public gatherings beginning Friday but a face mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell , however , said she will not ease the city 's guidelines on public gatherings after a troublesome Labor Day weekend that included dozens of reported violations .
Meanwhile , in New York City , transit commuters will face a $ 50 fine beginning Monday if they refuse to wear a face mask .
But , in Florida , bars will be allowed to reopen on Monday at 50 % capacity .
Across the globe , South Korea continues to see a downward trend in infections with the daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ninth day .
But , in France , officials reported 9,843 infections , the highest daily count since the end of the country 's lockdown in April .
• Cases and deaths are down , but remain grim .
An American has been dying of COVID-19 every two minutes , Johns Hopkins University data shows .
• California reached a bleak milestone , becoming the first state in the nation to reach 750,000 coronavirus cases .
Los Angeles County claims a third of those cases , becoming the first county to surpass 250,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass a slimmed-down coronavirus relief bill Thursday in a 52-47 vote .
One Republican senator voted with Democrats against the bill .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has more than 6.3 million confirmed cases and more than 191,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
Globally , there are more than 28 million cases and more than 910,000 fatalities .
📰 What we 're reading : The chancellor at the University of Missouri blocked students on Twitter after complaining about the lack of COVID-19 precautions on campus , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lawsuit , Chancellor Mun Choi unblocked students , reports say .
🗺 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 .
Cases and deaths are down , but remain devastating Wisconsin on Thursday set a record for the most coronavirus cases in a week – and it was the only state to do so .
In July ’ s devastating surge , it wasn ’ t unusual for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every day .
But while most states are doing better than their worst , the country continues to bear a terrible burden .
Deaths are still more than a third higher than they were at the beginning of July .
Nearly 5,000 Americans died in the latest week .
America has been averaging about 35,000 cases per day .
In the latest week , that means every 2.45 seconds another American is diagnosed with the coronavirus .
In the latest week , nearly a quarter-million Americans tested positive .
On a person-by-person basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of cases South Korea has reported in the entire pandemic .
Adjusted for population , America reports as many deaths between breakfast and lunch as Vietnam has ever had .
Cases are rising again in the European Union , but the United States has substantially more cases with substantially less population .
And the European Union has been reporting deaths at a fifth the pace of the United States .
The United States has about 4.3 % of the world ’ s population , 22.7 % of the world ’ s reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Adults with COVID-19 are twice as likely to dine out : CDC study Eating out at restaurants is a high-risk activity , according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The study found adults with confirmed COVID-19 were about twice as likely as other study participants to say they dined out at a restaurant in the 14 days before becoming sick .
Also , positive patients were more likely to report going to a bar or coffee shop when the analysis was limited to those without close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The study included 314 symptomatic adults who were tested for COVID-19 in July at 11 health care facilities across multiple states .
Of that group , 154 patients tested positive for COVID-19 .
Florida bars will be allowed to reopen Monday at half capacity , state says Raise a glass : Florida bars may reopen Monday at half capacity .
Halsey Beshears , secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation , announced Thursday night that bars may reopen after Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis on June 26 ordered all bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all bars will be reopened at 50 % occupancy , '' Beshears announced on Twitter on Thursday evening .
Restrictions put in place at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic still limit restaurants to operating at only 50 % capacity for indoor dining rooms , with tables 6 feet apart to comply with social distancing orders .
Arizona Gov .
Doug Ducey on Trump : ' I do not feel misled ' on COVID-19 Revelations that President Donald Trump publicly downplayed the dangers of the novel coronavirus have not shaken Arizona Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ handling of the pandemic , the Republican leader said Thursday .
`` I do not feel misled , '' Ducey said at an afternoon news briefing , which primarily focused on suicide prevention .
`` There has been a sense of urgency and seriousness about this since Day One . ''
Ducey brushed off the news of the president 's conflicting remarks , sidestepping a question about whether he knew of Trump 's plans to downplay the virus ' gravity and arguing that , for him , `` trust is built through experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new book by journalist Bob Woodward , Trump knew weeks before the first confirmed U.S. coronavirus death that COVID-19 was deadly , highly contagious and a threat to young people , not just older adults .
Airline workers look to Congress to save them from October layoffs The days are quickly counting down for thousands of pilots , flight attendants , gate agents and other airline workers who face the prospect of being laid off at the end of the month if Congress does n't come through with a new stimulus agreement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ airlines will be forced to make very difficult business decisions including furloughs and service reductions , '' wrote Carter Yang , spokesman for the airlines ' chief industry organization , Airlines for America , in a note to USA TODAY .
Why the urgency ?
The Department of Transportation barred airlines that accepted stimulus money from laying off employees until at least Oct. 1 , when $ 25 billion in payroll support protection money from the CARES Act expires .
On Thursday , the Senate failed to reach the 60-vote minimum needed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP coronavirus relief package that did n't allocate any aid for the airline industry .
That leaves open the chance that airline funds could be included in a compromise measure with the House .
Dr. Anthony Fauci : 'We need to hunker down ' for the rest of the year Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's leading infectious diseases expert , offered a word of warning to Americans as summer 's end approaches .
Speaking at a virtual panel with doctors from Harvard Medical School , per NBC News , Fauci said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will only get more strenuous as the year reaches its close .
He also cautioned against downplaying the severity of the virus , knowing `` what 's ahead '' if preventative measures are not met .
`` We need to hunker down and get through this fall and winter , because it ’ s not going to be easy , ” he said , adding that we can not `` look at the rosy side of things . ''
Survey : Joe Biden more empathetic to those with COVID-19 than Donald Trump Nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden as more caring to those affected by the coronavirus pandemic , while less than half say the same of President Donald Trump , a new survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project finds .
Also , a combined 66 % of Americans say Biden is more caring to those who have lost their jobs , compared with Trump at 53 % .
Robert Griffin , the research director for the Democracy Fund , said that Biden is likely seen more empathetic because he is seen as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Trump is seen as a `` no nonsense deal maker . ''
• On Facebook : There 's still a lot 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 .
• 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

Coronavirus updates: 'Normal living' will come months after vaccine, Fauci says; Florida bars to re-open at half-capacity
Show Caption Hide Caption 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
On the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, Americans are struggling with feelings of safety once again as another American is diagnosed with the coronavirus every 2.45 seconds.
While a race to a vaccine is widely considered the only path back to a pre-pandemic way of life, Dr. Anthony Fauci cautioned that a safe and effective vaccine will not immediately bring back normalcy.
A return to "normal living" — life without masks and physical distancing, where people can go to a movie or a large gathering without fear of becoming infected with COVID-19 — won't come until "several months" after a vaccine first arrives, Fauci, said on CNN.
The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said infection rates need to drop dramatically, something expected after the months-long logistical nightmare of manufacturing hundreds of millions of vaccines and distributing them.
Meanwhile, most state case counts and deaths, with the exception of Wisconsin, are improving across the nation, but deaths are still more than a third higher than they were at the beginning of July. America has been averaging about 35,000 cases per day.
Some significant developments:
California reached a bleak milestone, becoming the first state in the nation to reach 750,000 coronavirus cases. Los Angeles County claims a third of those cases, becoming the first county to surpass 250,000 cases.
The Senate failed to pass a slimmed-down coronavirus relief bill Thursday in a 52-47 vote. One Republican senator voted with Democrats against the bill.
Chinese scientists began Phase 1 human trials for a coronavirus vaccine nasal spray.
New York City, transit commuters will face a $50 fine beginning Monday if they refuse to wear a face mask
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has more than 6.4 million confirmed cases and more than 192,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Globally, there are more than 28 million cases and more than 911,000 fatalities.
📰 What we're reading: The sprint to create a COVID-19 vaccine started in January. So, where do things stand? We took a look at how we got here – and how far we have to go. Read it here.
🗺 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.
The director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins, expressed disappointment in the political divisiveness over protection measures against the coronavirus, as seen by the large crowds that gather at President Donald Trump's rallies.
"As a scientist, I'm pretty puzzled and rather disheartened," Collins said Thursday when asked during a CNN town hall what he thinks of large events such as Trump's Michigan rally where few wore masks or kept distance from each other.
Trump's campaign rally on Thursday, held at MBS International Airport near Saginaw, drew more than 5,000 supporters. Despite state guidelines that require masks in areas where it is not possible to maintain 6 feet of distance from others, many in the crowd were seen without them.
Trump's recent rallies have often featured largely maskless crowds. The Republican National Convention was also criticized for speeches delivered in front of large crowds.
— Jeanine Santucci
Children who caught the coronavirus at day cares and a day camp spread it to their relatives, according to a new report that underscores that kids can bring the germ home and infect others.
Scientists already know children can spread the virus. But the study published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “definitively indicates — in a way that previous studies have struggled to do — the potential for transmission to family members,” said William Hanage, a Harvard University infectious diseases researcher.
The findings don’t mean that schools and child-care programs need to close, but it does confirm that the virus can spread within those places and then be brought home by kids. So, masks, disinfection and social distancing are needed. And people who work in such facilities have to be careful and get tested if they think they may be infected, experts said.
The study also shows that children with no symptoms, or very mild symptoms, can spread the infection, just like adults can.
— The Associated Press
Ohio State University students can expect the “new normal” on campus this semester to last at least through the spring, officials said in an announcement Friday.
The university announced plans to continue a mix of in-person and online courses for the spring semester, cancel spring break and make other changes to the academic calendar as it continues to work through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Provost Bruce A. McPheron said in an email to the university community that existing health measures and policies will continue to be in place in the spring. Instead of spring break, there will be two "instructional breaks," or days with no classes.
“This approach will keep our community together throughout the semester and reduce travel-related exposures,” McPheron said.
– Jennifer Smola, The Columbus Dispatch
New data suggests that young people may be more at risk for severe developments from coronavirus infection than previously thought.
A study of more than 3,200 hospitalized young adults, age 18 to 34, found that about 1 in 5 of them required intensive care, according to a Harvard research letter published Wednesday in JAMA Internal Medicine. Researchers also found that 10% required mechanical ventilation and 2.7% died.
While the in-hospital mortality rate is still lower than that reported for older adults with COVID-19, young adults with at least one underlying condition faced risks comparable with those observed in middle-aged adults without them. Harvard scientists also noted that more than half of these patients requiring hospitalization were Black or Hispanic.
Wisconsin on Thursday set a record for the most coronavirus cases in a week – and it was the only state to do so. In July’s devastating surge, it wasn’t unusual for a dozen states to have new records every day.
But while most states are doing better than their worst, the country continues to bear a terrible burden. Deaths are still more than a third higher than they were at the beginning of July. An American has been dying of COVID-19 every two minutes, Johns Hopkins University data shows. Nearly 5,000 Americans died in the latest week.
America has been averaging about 35,000 cases per day. In the latest week, that means every 2.45 seconds another American is diagnosed with the coronavirus. In the latest week, nearly a quarter-million Americans tested positive.
On a person-by-person basis, America reports in four days the number of cases South Korea has reported in the entire pandemic. Adjusted for population, America reports as many deaths between breakfast and lunch as Vietnam has ever had. Cases are rising again in the European Union, but the United States has substantially more cases with substantially less population. And the European Union has been reporting deaths at a fifth the pace of the United States.
The United States has about 4.3% of the world’s population, 22.7% of the world’s reported cases and 21.1% of its deaths.
– Mike Stucka
Eating out at restaurants is a high-risk activity, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study found adults with confirmed COVID-19 were about twice as likely as other study participants to say they dined out at a restaurant in the 14 days before becoming sick.
Also, positive patients were more likely to report going to a bar or coffee shop when the analysis was limited to those without close contact to people with known coronavirus.
The study included 314 symptomatic adults who were tested for COVID-19 in July at 11 health care facilities across multiple states. Of that group, 154 patients tested positive for COVID-19.
Raise a glass: Florida bars may reopen Monday at half capacity. Halsey Beshears, secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, announced Thursday night that bars may reopen after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 26 ordered all bars shut down.
"Starting Monday, all bars will be reopened at 50% occupancy," Beshears announced on Twitter on Thursday evening.
Restrictions put in place at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic still limit restaurants to operating at only 50% capacity for indoor dining rooms, with tables 6 feet apart to comply with social distancing orders.
– Sarajane Sullivan, Naples Daily News
Revelations that President Donald Trump publicly downplayed the dangers of the novel coronavirus have not shaken Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's faith in Trump's handling of the pandemic, the Republican leader said Thursday.
"I do not feel misled," Ducey said at an afternoon news briefing, which primarily focused on suicide prevention. "There has been a sense of urgency and seriousness about this since Day One."
Ducey brushed off the news of the president's conflicting remarks, sidestepping a question about whether he knew of Trump's plans to downplay the virus' gravity and arguing that, for him, "trust is built through experience and actions."
According to a new book by journalist Bob Woodward, Trump knew weeks before the first confirmed U.S. coronavirus death that COVID-19 was deadly, highly contagious and a threat to young people, not just older adults.
– Maria Polletta, Arizona Republic
The days are quickly counting down for thousands of pilots, flight attendants, gate agents and other airline workers who face the prospect of being laid off at the end of the month if Congress doesn't come through with a new stimulus agreement.
"Without additional federal aid, U.S. airlines will be forced to make very difficult business decisions including furloughs and service reductions," wrote Carter Yang, spokesman for the airlines' chief industry organization, Airlines for America, in a note to USA TODAY.
Why the urgency? The Department of Transportation barred airlines that accepted stimulus money from laying off employees until at least Oct. 1, when $25 billion in payroll support protection money from the CARES Act expires.
On Thursday, the Senate failed to reach the 60-vote minimum needed to pass a slimmed-down, $300 billion GOP coronavirus relief package that didn't allocate any aid for the airline industry. That leaves open the chance that airline funds could be included in a compromise measure with the House.
– Chris Woodyard
Nearly three quarters of Americans say they see Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden as more caring to those affected by the coronavirus pandemic, while less than half say the same of President Donald Trump, a new survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project finds.
Also, a combined 66% of Americans say Biden is more caring to those who have lost their jobs, compared with Trump at 53%.
Robert Griffin, the research director for the Democracy Fund, said that Biden is likely seen more empathetic because he is seen as a "relatively compassionate person," while Trump is seen as a "no nonsense deal maker."
– Rebecca Morin
On Facebook: There's still a lot 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.
There's still a lot 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. 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.
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Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-09-11--Winners and losers from the Chiefs' NFL season-opening win against Texans

The NFL 's 101st season kicked off Thursday , the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs again dismantling the Houston Texans in a 34-20 win that was n't as close as the score might indicate .
But hey , the winners go beyond the Chiefs and the losers are more bountiful than the Texans ... so let 's discuss : Football fans : You obviously want all players and , in Kansas City 's case , fans to emerge safely after a night at the stadium for what amounts to a largely frivolous distraction .
But , man , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ football back on time .
Sports fans : For those of you whose minds wandered in an admittedly boring Chiefs runaway , you could surf to Major League Baseball action , NBA playoffs , NHL playoffs , the WNBA or even MLS ( if you 're into that ... yikes ) .
First time in sports history that all those leagues played simultaneously .
Patrick Mahomes : Kansas City 's superstar quarterback is growing into his unofficial role as the face of the league , on the field and off .
While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MVP may be tackling more important matters in his free time , he still posted 211 efficient , turnover-free passing yards and three TDs at his day job – his first game action in more than seven months .
Clyde Edwards-Helaire : Please note , Nate Davis was the lone wolf among the USA TODAY Sports NFL staff to foresee offensive rookie of the year honors for the first-rounder from LSU .
In his debut for the Chiefs , Edwards-Helaire rushed for 138 yards and a score ... and sure looks destined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already a lethal offense .
David Johnson : He 's no DeAndre Hopkins , but the ex-Cardinals running back – acquired this offseason in the infamous deal for the Texans superstar receiver – looked spry and much closer to his 2016 All-Pro form , amassing 109 total yards and a score .
Kansas City streaking : When these clubs last met in January , in the divisional round of the playoffs , the Texans bolted to a 24-0 lead ... before the Chiefs ripped off 41 straight en route to a 51-31 triumph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanks to Johnson 's 19-yard , first-quarter TD gallop ... and then Kansas City went on a 31-0 tear .
Like any good NBA team , the Chiefs always have a run in them .
Super Bowl banner : Does anybody do it bigger than Kansas City ?
How 'bout those ... Chiiiiiefs ?
Social justice : Chiefs and Texans players locked arms in a show of unity before kickoff .
`` End racism '' and `` It takes all of us '' were painted in the end zones .
`` Lift Every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black national anthem , was played prior to `` The Star-Spangled Banner . ''
The NFL is trying to call attention to the country 's inescapable issues ... Social justice : ... but it all unfolded rather awkwardly , the Chiefs on the field for the pre-game songs while the Texans chose to emerge from the tunnel following the national anthem .
Some fans booed when the players stood united , an outcome Houston 's J.J. Watt deemed `` unfortunate . ''
NBC 's telecast addressed race relations occasionally but also abruptly pivoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disjointed displays across the league this weekend – some fans supportive , others not so much ( for whatever reason ) – and it 's worth wondering if the primary messaging will get overshadowed ... as it did in 2016 .
Super Bowl celebration : Bummer for the Chiefs and Kansas City fans that Arrowhead Stadium , which opened in 1972 , had to be mostly empty the first time it began a season housing a defending Super Bowl champion while celebrating the long-awaited return of the Lombardi Trophy .
AFC West : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a decisive W that immediately vaults them atop the division , one they 've won annually since 2016 .
Elsewhere , the Broncos are down Von Miller , and the Chargers have lost Derwin James – and the Raiders still do n't have Khalil Mack , right ?
– before any of those teams have played a snap .
Too early to put the `` x '' next to Kansas City , denoting a clinched playoff berth ?
Bill O'Brien : Let 's not overstate this based on one evening , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having to open at Arrowhead .
( And do n't worry , Billy O. , you now get 10 days to prepare for Baltimore ... oy ! )
But , based on a one-night sample size , you 'd have to say O'Brien the GM should 've hung onto Hopkins , done more to support newly minted QB Deshaun Watson 's supporting cast and perhaps taken a harder look at the defense .
Hopkins ' de facto replacements , WRs Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb , combined for four catches and 43 yards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Tough start for Houston 's rookie defensive coordinator .
Did I mention the Ravens are the Texans ' next opponent ?
Andy Reid 's face shield : The NFL 's favorite beekeeper needs a defogger for his visor .
Liam McHugh : Wear a mask , dude – something even Mahomes did at times on the field .
Just because you 've got an NBC mic , you should n't wade into the stands without a facial covering when fans you 're standing near are required to do so .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perfect spot for you .
Join our Facebook Group , The Ruling Off the Field , to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders .
Do the right thing , sign up now !

Winners and losers from the Chiefs' NFL season-opening win against Texans
Show Caption Hide Caption Lorenzo's Locks: The 3 best bets you should consider for NFL Week 1 SportsPulse: The games are finally here. And we are here to help you place the smartest bets for kickoff weekend. Lorenzo Reyes provides his locks for Week 1 in the NFL. USA TODAY
The NFL's 101st season kicked off Thursday, the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs again dismantling the Houston Texans in a 34-20 win that wasn't as close as the score might indicate.
But hey, the winners go beyond the Chiefs and the losers are more bountiful than the Texans ... so let's discuss:
WINNERS
Football fans: You obviously want all players and, in Kansas City's case, fans to emerge safely after a night at the stadium for what amounts to a largely frivolous distraction. But, man, it sure was nice to have NFL football back on time.
Sports fans: For those of you whose minds wandered in an admittedly boring Chiefs runaway, you could surf to Major League Baseball action, NBA playoffs, NHL playoffs, the WNBA or even MLS (if you're into that ... yikes). First time in sports history that all those leagues played simultaneously.
Patrick Mahomes: Kansas City's superstar quarterback is growing into his unofficial role as the face of the league, on the field and off. While the 2018 NFL MVP and Super Bowl LIV MVP may be tackling more important matters in his free time, he still posted 211 efficient, turnover-free passing yards and three TDs at his day job – his first game action in more than seven months.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire: Please note, Nate Davis was the lone wolf among the USA TODAY Sports NFL staff to foresee offensive rookie of the year honors for the first-rounder from LSU. In his debut for the Chiefs, Edwards-Helaire rushed for 138 yards and a score ... and sure looks destined to add yet another dimension to what was already a lethal offense.
David Johnson: He's no DeAndre Hopkins, but the ex-Cardinals running back – acquired this offseason in the infamous deal for the Texans superstar receiver – looked spry and much closer to his 2016 All-Pro form, amassing 109 total yards and a score.
Kansas City streaking: When these clubs last met in January, in the divisional round of the playoffs, the Texans bolted to a 24-0 lead ... before the Chiefs ripped off 41 straight en route to a 51-31 triumph. Thursday, Houston again struck first thanks to Johnson's 19-yard, first-quarter TD gallop ... and then Kansas City went on a 31-0 tear. Like any good NBA team, the Chiefs always have a run in them.
Super Bowl banner: Does anybody do it bigger than Kansas City? How 'bout those ... Chiiiiiefs?
Social justice: Chiefs and Texans players locked arms in a show of unity before kickoff. "End racism" and "It takes all of us" were painted in the end zones. "Lift Every Voice and Sing," aka the Black national anthem, was played prior to "The Star-Spangled Banner." The NFL is trying to call attention to the country's inescapable issues ...
LOSERS
Social justice: ... but it all unfolded rather awkwardly, the Chiefs on the field for the pre-game songs while the Texans chose to emerge from the tunnel following the national anthem. Some fans booed when the players stood united, an outcome Houston's J.J. Watt deemed "unfortunate." NBC's telecast addressed race relations occasionally but also abruptly pivoted. Probably gonna be more somewhat disjointed displays across the league this weekend – some fans supportive, others not so much (for whatever reason) – and it's worth wondering if the primary messaging will get overshadowed ... as it did in 2016.
J.J. Watt’s full quote when asked about the #texans staying in the locker room and the moment of unity on the field.
"The moment of unity I personally thought was good. I mean the booing during that moment was unfortunate." pic.twitter.com/3fGAN5qatN — James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) September 11, 2020
Super Bowl celebration: Bummer for the Chiefs and Kansas City fans that Arrowhead Stadium, which opened in 1972, had to be mostly empty the first time it began a season housing a defending Super Bowl champion while celebrating the long-awaited return of the Lombardi Trophy.
AFC West: The Chiefs begin their title defense with a decisive W that immediately vaults them atop the division, one they've won annually since 2016. Elsewhere, the Broncos are down Von Miller, and the Chargers have lost Derwin James – and the Raiders still don't have Khalil Mack, right? – before any of those teams have played a snap. Too early to put the "x" next to Kansas City, denoting a clinched playoff berth?
Bill O'Brien: Let's not overstate this based on one evening, and the Texans coach certainly drew the short straw having to open at Arrowhead. (And don't worry, Billy O., you now get 10 days to prepare for Baltimore ... oy!) But, based on a one-night sample size, you'd have to say O'Brien the GM should've hung onto Hopkins, done more to support newly minted QB Deshaun Watson's supporting cast and perhaps taken a harder look at the defense. Hopkins' de facto replacements, WRs Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb, combined for four catches and 43 yards in their Houston reveal.
Anthony Weaver: Tough start for Houston's rookie defensive coordinator. Did I mention the Ravens are the Texans' next opponent?
Andy Reid's face shield: The NFL's favorite beekeeper needs a defogger for his visor.
Andy Reid with the full visor over his face for tonight's game. pic.twitter.com/yEzJSqsARD — FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 11, 2020
Liam McHugh: Wear a mask, dude – something even Mahomes did at times on the field. Just because you've got an NBC mic, you shouldn't wade into the stands without a facial covering when fans you're standing near are required to do so.
Stadium ushers here in KC spreading the word. pic.twitter.com/QicGeUsSWu — Liam McHugh (@liam_mchugh) September 10, 2020
***
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis
If you love talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders. Do the right thing, sign up now!


usatoday--2020-09-11--Remembering 9/11, Western wildfires, coronavirus pandemic: 5 things to know Friday

Trump , Biden each set to mark 9/11 in Shanksville , Pennsylvania President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden are each traveling Friday to Shanksville , Pennsylvania , to honor the nearly 3,000 casualties in the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history on Sept. 11 , 2001 .
Trump will attend a ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial , which memorializes the 40 passengers and crew who battled hijackers aboard the United Airlines jet , which crashed without reaching its target of the U.S. Capitol in Washington , D.C.. Biden and his wife Jill Biden will travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9/11 Memorial & Museum anniversary commemoration ceremony in the morning and then visit Shanksville in the afternoon .
Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence will be in New York for the 9/11 museum ceremony and a separate event nearby arranged by the Stephen Stiller Tunnel to Towers Foundation which will feature the reading of the names of 2,977 people killed at the World Trade Center .
The 9/11 museum opted out of the reading of the names tradition due to safety concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic .
• Events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terror attacks will look different this year .
Here 's how to watch them .
• Like 9/11 , COVID-19 has stripped away Americans ' sense of security as they wonder how safe they really are • 'It defies logic . '
9/11 families urge Trump administration to drop deal to take Sudan off terror list • Opinion : My son born after 9/11 begins college amid coronavirus .
What will his generation show us ?
Prefer to listen ?
Check out the 5 things podcast below and subscribe for free on Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fueled the deadly wildfires that are burning in more than a dozen U.S. states , causing massive plumes of choking smoke to blanket cities all down the West Coast , but the winds could begin to settle down on Friday .
According to the National Weather Service , the winds that have helped fuel the fires will die down over the weekend , but low humidity combined with warmer temperatures in the coming days is enough to remain on high alert for fires .
It seems as if the hazy clouds of smoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the San Francisco Bay Area and parts of Los Angeles may see skies begin to clear over the weekend .
The deadly inferno has killed at least 23 people , injured countless others , destroyed hundreds of homes and incinerated swaths of land almost the size of New Jersey .
• 'Do n't come back until you find him ' : The harrowing story of a father 's desperate attempt to save his son in the Oregon wildfires • Wildfires have burned millions of acres .
See what that looks like .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Creek Fire unfolded in California The COVID-19 pandemic has been with us for 6 months ( and counting ) Friday marks six months since the World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 had become a pandemic .
Since then , the virus has claimed 905,000 lives worldwide and 191,000 in the United States – more than any other nation .
After the country went into lockdown following the WHO 's March 11 announcement , COVID-19 sent the economy into a new recession that canceled out nearly all of the employment gains of 10 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus has also profoundly disrupted everyday life .
Travel and dining out are restricted , schools have gone online , and face masks have increasingly become mandatory .
Massive research is underway for a vaccine , but even that has become embroiled in presidential politics .
Six months ?
Feels much longer .
• 'Guided by the best science ' : Officials pledge to not rush COVID-19 vaccine • 'Astonishingly risky ' : COVID cases at colleges are fueling the nation 's hottest outbreaks • A majority of Americans see Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than Trump , survey finds .
Louisiana to ease coronavirus restrictions — but New Orleans won't Louisiana will ease up on public gathering restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 on Friday — but New Orleans wo n't follow suit , the city 's mayor said .
Gov .
John Bel Edwards announced the state will move from “ Phase Two ” to “ Phase Three ” regulations when a current emergency proclamation expires and said he would provide more information at a news conference Friday .
New Orleans ’ coronavirus-related restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s .
The city was the epicenter of a spring outbreak of COVID-19 that made Louisiana one of the nation ’ s hot spots .
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell spoke Thursday on plans to begin returning students to classrooms starting Monday .
“ The primary reason for us staying in Phase Two , not moving with further easement of any restrictions , is to get our kids back into the classroom , have the time that will allow us to look at the data , look at the trends , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cantrell said .
She said the city was looking at ways to clamp down on businesses that don ’ t adhere to closure rules .
• Coronavirus pandemic : Where can Americans vacation internationally right now ?
Two NBA playoff games will be played Friday night : one will be a Game 7 and the other will feature the urgency of a Game 7 for the team needing a win to keep its season alive .
The Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics will conclude their long and – at times – contentious matchup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eastern Conference semifinal series to determine who will face the Miami Heat in the East finals next week .
Toronto has won three of the last four games after Boston won the first two .
In the other game , the Denver Nuggets will be playing for their playoff lives as they trail the Los Angeles Clippers 3-1 heading into Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal series .
The Clippers have won the last two games to build that lead , but the Nuggets are 3-0 in elimination games this postseason as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to defeat the Utah Jazz in the first round .
• Column : Kyle Lowry , the eternally underappreciated engine that makes the Raptors go • Leaving Disney : NBA writer Mark Medina reflects on his two months inside the bubble

Remembering 9/11, Western wildfires, coronavirus pandemic: 5 things to know Friday
Trump, Biden each set to mark 9/11 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania
President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden are each traveling Friday to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to honor the nearly 3,000 casualties in the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history on Sept. 11, 2001. Trump will attend a ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial, which memorializes the 40 passengers and crew who battled hijackers aboard the United Airlines jet, which crashed without reaching its target of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.. Biden and his wife Jill Biden will travel to New York City to attend the 9/11 Memorial & Museum anniversary commemoration ceremony in the morning and then visit Shanksville in the afternoon. Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence will be in New York for the 9/11 museum ceremony and a separate event nearby arranged by the Stephen Stiller Tunnel to Towers Foundation which will feature the reading of the names of 2,977 people killed at the World Trade Center. The 9/11 museum opted out of the reading of the names tradition due to safety concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Prefer to listen? Check out the 5 things podcast below and subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts:
Wildfire smoke blanketing West Coast could begin to clear
Strong, gusty winds have fueled the deadly wildfires that are burning in more than a dozen U.S. states, causing massive plumes of choking smoke to blanket cities all down the West Coast, but the winds could begin to settle down on Friday. According to the National Weather Service, the winds that have helped fuel the fires will die down over the weekend, but low humidity combined with warmer temperatures in the coming days is enough to remain on high alert for fires. It seems as if the hazy clouds of smoke may linger in most areas, though the San Francisco Bay Area and parts of Los Angeles may see skies begin to clear over the weekend. The deadly inferno has killed at least 23 people, injured countless others, destroyed hundreds of homes and incinerated swaths of land almost the size of New Jersey.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been with us for 6 months (and counting)
Friday marks six months since the World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 had become a pandemic. Since then, the virus has claimed 905,000 lives worldwide and 191,000 in the United States – more than any other nation. After the country went into lockdown following the WHO's March 11 announcement, COVID-19 sent the economy into a new recession that canceled out nearly all of the employment gains of 10 years in a matter of months. Fear of the virus has also profoundly disrupted everyday life. Travel and dining out are restricted, schools have gone online, and face masks have increasingly become mandatory. Massive research is underway for a vaccine, but even that has become embroiled in presidential politics. Six months? Feels much longer.
Louisiana to ease coronavirus restrictions — but New Orleans won't
Louisiana will ease up on public gathering restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 on Friday — but New Orleans won't follow suit, the city's mayor said. Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the state will move from “Phase Two” to “Phase Three” regulations when a current emergency proclamation expires and said he would provide more information at a news conference Friday. New Orleans’ coronavirus-related restrictions consistently have been somewhat tougher than the state’s. The city was the epicenter of a spring outbreak of COVID-19 that made Louisiana one of the nation’s hot spots. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell spoke Thursday on plans to begin returning students to classrooms starting Monday. “The primary reason for us staying in Phase Two, not moving with further easement of any restrictions, is to get our kids back into the classroom, have the time that will allow us to look at the data, look at the trends, and therefor determine the impact,” Cantrell said. She said the city was looking at ways to clamp down on businesses that don’t adhere to closure rules.
Coronavirus pandemic: Where can Americans vacation internationally right now?
NBA Playoffs feature a Game 7 and another potential elimination game
Two NBA playoff games will be played Friday night: one will be a Game 7 and the other will feature the urgency of a Game 7 for the team needing a win to keep its season alive. The Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics will conclude their long and – at times – contentious matchup when they play Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series to determine who will face the Miami Heat in the East finals next week. Toronto has won three of the last four games after Boston won the first two. In the other game, the Denver Nuggets will be playing for their playoff lives as they trail the Los Angeles Clippers 3-1 heading into Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal series. The Clippers have won the last two games to build that lead, but the Nuggets are 3-0 in elimination games this postseason as they came back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Utah Jazz in the first round.
How mental health presents biggest challenge inside NBA bubble What I'm Hearing: USA TODAY Sports' Mark Medina discusses how mental health and the stresses of being inside the NBA bubble has become an issue players are talking about as the playoffs press on. What I'm Hearing, USA TODAY
Contributing: The Associated Press