huffpost--2020-05-05--Smaller States With Few Virus Cases Got Big Share Of Relief Aid

Alaska , Hawaii , Montana and Wyoming are among the least-populated states in the U.S. , and not surprisingly have the lowest numbers of residents who have tested positive for the new coronavirus .
But despite their small size , they scored big this spring when Congress pumped out direct federal aid to the states .
An Associated Press analysis shows those four , along with other small states , took in an out-sized proportion of the $ 150 billion in federal money that was designed to address coronavirus-related expenses , when measured by the number of positive tests for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from $ 2 million per positive test in Hawaii to nearly $ 3.4 million per test in Alaska .
In Wyoming , the smallest state with less than 600 positive cases , the $ 1.25 billion it received from the congressional package equates to 80 percent of its annual general state budget .
To be sure , the lowest population states often receive higher dollar amounts per capita when Congress doles out federal aid to every state .
That ’ s due in part to political reality : Small states have the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ones , and those senators lobby hard for their states ’ interests .
The awards in the relief act passed in late March were based on population , but with a catch : Every state was to receive at least $ 1.25 billion , regardless of its size .
Lawmakers said setting such a minimum was needed to reach a deal in a divided government .
But in the coronavirus fight , the disproportionate share going to the smaller states has consequences .
States with high numbers of cases and deaths say they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to fighting an outbreak that threatened to overwhelm their hospital systems , from staff overtime to setting up makeshift hospitals .
Some of the states with relatively few cases have been able to reopen their economies at a quicker pace and have more options on how to spend the federal largess .
Many of them are now trying to determine how they can spend the windfall while keeping within the federal guidelines .
Wyoming Gov .
Mark Gordon , a Republican , is proposing using a portion of the money for direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of government-imposed shutdowns and shrunken demand .
Other parts of the federal aid are already aimed at individuals and businesses .
In a public meeting streamed on video , Gordon said he knew the state would be watched carefully .
After all , the state ’ s allocation is five times per capita what New York received and nearly 90 times as much per positive coronavirus test .
West Virginia has the seventh-lowest number of coronavirus cases , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , but received just over $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not determined how to use the money beyond medical expenses .
Gov .
Jim Justice , a Republican , has said he hopes the federal government will allow the state to use the relief money to alleviate its growing budget shortfall , even though federal guidance on the bill suggests that would not be allowed .
While it received billions of federal dollars for coronavirus-related expenses , it has received no money to help offset the loss of more than $ 13 billion in revenue , said Freeman Klopott , spokesman for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now considering $ 10 billion in cuts .
“ New York state has been the epicenter of the pandemic and unfortunately has been home to about one-third of all U.S. COVID-19 related deaths , and federal funding provided so far has failed to recognize this reality , ” Klopott said in a statement to the AP .
Sens .
Bill Cassidy , a Louisiana Republican , and Robert Menendez , a New Jersey Democrat , are proposing $ 500 billion more for state and local governments .
Under their plan , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allocated based on population , the second on the number of coronavirus cases and the third on the toll it ’ s taken on government budgets .

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Alaska, Hawaii, Montana and Wyoming are among the least-populated states in the U.S., and not surprisingly have the lowest numbers of residents who have tested positive for the new coronavirus. But despite their small size, they scored big this spring when Congress pumped out direct federal aid to the states.
An Associated Press analysis shows those four, along with other small states, took in an out-sized proportion of the $150 billion in federal money that was designed to address coronavirus-related expenses, when measured by the number of positive tests for the COVID-19 disease.
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Their haul ranged from $2 million per positive test in Hawaii to nearly $3.4 million per test in Alaska. In Wyoming, the smallest state with less than 600 positive cases, the $1.25 billion it received from the congressional package equates to 80 percent of its annual general state budget.
By comparison, New York and New Jersey, by far the hardest-hit states, respectively received about $24,000 and $27,000 per positive coronavirus test. Other states with high numbers of coronavirus cases, including Massachusetts, Michigan and Illinois, received less than $100,000 per positive case.
The money for state governments is a slice of a $2.2 trillion federal stimulus passed in late March. Governments are supposed to use it for new, coronavirus expenses incurred from March 1 through Dec. 30.
Under federal guidelines issued last month, the money has to be linked to coronavirus-related expenses but cannot be used, for example, to make up for lost tax revenue to keep general government services running.
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“I wish New Jersey had a low impact ... and was hit not the second-most in the country, but the second-least,” said Steve Sweeney, the Democratic state Senate president in New Jersey. “We’d give the money to somebody else.”
To be sure, the lowest population states often receive higher dollar amounts per capita when Congress doles out federal aid to every state. That’s due in part to political reality: Small states have the same number of U.S. senators as more populous ones, and those senators lobby hard for their states’ interests.
The awards in the relief act passed in late March were based on population, but with a catch: Every state was to receive at least $1.25 billion, regardless of its size. Lawmakers said setting such a minimum was needed to reach a deal in a divided government.
But in the coronavirus fight, the disproportionate share going to the smaller states has consequences. States with high numbers of cases and deaths say they need that federal money for immediate expenses related to fighting an outbreak that threatened to overwhelm their hospital systems, from staff overtime to setting up makeshift hospitals.
Some of the states with relatively few cases have been able to reopen their economies at a quicker pace and have more options on how to spend the federal largess. Many of them are now trying to determine how they can spend the windfall while keeping within the federal guidelines.
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Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican, is proposing using a portion of the money for direct help for businesses that have suffered because of government-imposed shutdowns and shrunken demand. Other parts of the federal aid are already aimed at individuals and businesses.
Gordon said his plan to help businesses should be fair game under the federal rules in part because neighboring Idaho — which received more than $600,000 per positive test — already has a similar system in place.
In a public meeting streamed on video, Gordon said he knew the state would be watched carefully. After all, the state’s allocation is five times per capita what New York received and nearly 90 times as much per positive coronavirus test.
“There will be unduly high scrutiny on how Wyoming uses those funds,” Gordon said.
Max D’Donofrio, spokesman for Republican Sen. Mike Enzi, defended the state’s share, saying Wyoming “is often the target of per capita biases due to its low population,” and faces unique challenges because of its rural nature.
Hawaii’s tourism industry was halted as the virus was spreading, and the financial consequences are dire. Gov. David Ige said the state’s share was “sorely needed.”
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Other smaller states are considering dividing up chunks of the federal money among local governments and businesses, in addition to covering the state’s health expenses. That’s the preliminary plan in Alaska.
West Virginia has the seventh-lowest number of coronavirus cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but received just over $1 million per positive test. It has not determined how to use the money beyond medical expenses. Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, has said he hopes the federal government will allow the state to use the relief money to alleviate its growing budget shortfall, even though federal guidance on the bill suggests that would not be allowed.
New York doesn’t have the luxury of trying to use the money to help cover a massive drop in tax revenue,
While it received billions of federal dollars for coronavirus-related expenses, it has received no money to help offset the loss of more than $13 billion in revenue, said Freeman Klopott, spokesman for the state budget division. The state is now considering $10 billion in cuts.
“New York state has been the epicenter of the pandemic and unfortunately has been home to about one-third of all U.S. COVID-19 related deaths, and federal funding provided so far has failed to recognize this reality,” Klopott said in a statement to the AP.
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New York and other states with high numbers of cases have been lobbying for Congress to provide more direct aid to state and local governments in a future coronavirus relief package.
Sens. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, and Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, are proposing $500 billion more for state and local governments. Under their plan, the first one-third of the money would be allocated based on population, the second on the number of coronavirus cases and the third on the toll it’s taken on government budgets.
Under their proposal, every state again would receive at least $1.25 billion — and this time with looser restrictions on how the money could be spent.
Menendez said the baseline amount was a nod to political reality: “We need to get 60 votes in the Senate.”
Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Associated Press reporters Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska; Anthony Izaguirre in Charleston, West Virginia; Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu; and Marina Villeneuve in Albany, New York, contributed to this report.


huffpost--2020-05-05--Drive-Thru Strip Club Serves Up Sexy (And Safe) Solution For Coronavirus Blues

Shon Boulden shouldn ’ t be all that busy these days .
He owns two strip clubs in Portland , Oregon , both of which were deemed “ nonessential ” in March , along with many other businesses in the state , and were ordered to close due to the spread of COVID-19 .
But when HuffPost spoke to him late last week , he was working overtime to juggle media requests and prepare for another weekend of “ Drive Thru Food 2 Go-Go , ” a drive-thru version of his club Lucky Devil Lounge that he recently launched ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his clubs and its employees first made headlines ( including on this website ) in March when , as a way to stay open and continue to bring in income during the government-mandated shelter-in-place order , dancers from the clubs began working as delivery people , with security guards serving as drivers .
Many orders and one cease-and-desist letter from Uber later ( “ Boober Eats ” was the service ’ s original name ) , they ’ ve now come up with an even more ... revved up tactic to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started we ’ ve had a lot of local businesses showing us support and wanting to collaborate , ” Boulden said .
“ A local event company that sets up stages , tents , things like that , called us up and were like , ‘ We ’ re out of business , we ’ re not doing anything.
’ They offered to build us a huge tent , two stages , a DJ booth , a couple of stripper poles with lights , lasers , fog machines and were like , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Here ’ s how the new drive-thru works : You pay $ 30 to enter and can order any food item off the menu .
Once inside the tent , you ’ re treated to a full show , from a group of ( masked , of course ) dancers .
They do a song or two for each car , and then they send you on your way with your food .
There are tip buckets set up inside , and the dancers even have devices normally used to collect trash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a distance .
“ We had a nonstop line of cars wrapped around our parking lot Saturday night , ” Boulden said , adding that the new attraction is drawing visitors from beyond just the Portland area .
“ We had a carload of girls from Seattle ― two and a half hours away ― do a road trip down to Portland to our drive-thru just to get some food and see this going on , ” Boulden said .
“ It ’ s crazy.
” For the employees , Food 2 Go-Go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep money coming in — it ’ s a way to get back to some sense of normalcy and creativity as Brodie , who celebrated her birthday on stage last week , explained to HuffPost .
“ It feels amazing .
It ’ s still not enough , but it feels so good to move , ” she said .
“ I woke up the next day and was actually sore ― it had been so long [ since I last danced ] .
I just need this right now.
” Toxic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told HuffPost that it ’ s also been a way to help deal with some of the negative mental effects that self-isolation has caused .
“ It ’ s helped my mood and my anxiety and depression during this entire pandemic because I get to have some type of artistic expression again , ” She said .
“ It ’ s great to feel sexy ― I just feel really invigorated .
”

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Shon Boulden shouldn’t be all that busy these days. He owns two strip clubs in Portland, Oregon, both of which were deemed “nonessential” in March, along with many other businesses in the state, and were ordered to close due to the spread of COVID-19.
But when HuffPost spoke to him late last week, he was working overtime to juggle media requests and prepare for another weekend of “Drive Thru Food 2 Go-Go,” a drive-thru version of his club Lucky Devil Lounge that he recently launched ― to lines around the block.
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Dancers at Lucky Devil Lounge in Portland, Oregon, are now working a drive-thru club during the coronavirus lockdown. Danger Ehren/ @dangerehren
Boulden, his clubs and its employees first made headlines (including on this website) in March when, as a way to stay open and continue to bring in income during the government-mandated shelter-in-place order, dancers from the clubs began working as delivery people, with security guards serving as drivers. Many orders and one cease-and-desist letter from Uber later (“Boober Eats” was the service’s original name), they’ve now come up with an even more ... revved up tactic to keep business booming.
“Since food delivery started we’ve had a lot of local businesses showing us support and wanting to collaborate,” Boulden said. “A local event company that sets up stages, tents, things like that, called us up and were like, ‘We’re out of business, we’re not doing anything.’ They offered to build us a huge tent, two stages, a DJ booth, a couple of stripper poles with lights, lasers, fog machines and were like, we’ll just see how it goes.”
Here’s how the new drive-thru works: You pay $30 to enter and can order any food item off the menu. Once inside the tent, you’re treated to a full show, from a group of (masked, of course) dancers. They do a song or two for each car, and then they send you on your way with your food. There are tip buckets set up inside, and the dancers even have devices normally used to collect trash that allow them to collect tips from a distance.
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A dancer at the drive-thru Lucky Devil Lounge in Portland. Danger Ehren /@dangerehren
The drive-thru has proven even more lucrative than the original food delivery program, though they’re still providing that service, too.
“We had a nonstop line of cars wrapped around our parking lot Saturday night,” Boulden said, adding that the new attraction is drawing visitors from beyond just the Portland area.
“We had a carload of girls from Seattle ― two and a half hours away ― do a road trip down to Portland to our drive-thru just to get some food and see this going on,” Boulden said. “It’s crazy.”
For the employees, Food 2 Go-Go is more than just a way to keep money coming in — it’s a way to get back to some sense of normalcy and creativity as Brodie, who celebrated her birthday on stage last week, explained to HuffPost.
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“It feels amazing. It’s still not enough, but it feels so good to move,” she said. “I woke up the next day and was actually sore ― it had been so long [since I last danced]. I just need this right now.”
Toxic, who also works at Lucky Devil Lounge, told HuffPost that it’s also been a way to help deal with some of the negative mental effects that self-isolation has caused.
“It’s helped my mood and my anxiety and depression during this entire pandemic because I get to have some type of artistic expression again,” She said. “It’s great to feel sexy ― I just feel really invigorated.”
And she said that feeling translates to the crowds of cars showing up to the drive-thru, too.
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huffpost--2020-05-04--Instead Of Canceling, This Couple Had A Socially Distant Drive-In Wedding

The wedding was to be held on April 10 , Good Friday , ( “ nothing says ‘ He is risen ’ like a good ol ’ lesbian wedding , ” Bri joked ) at the historic Hotel Ella in Austin , Texas , with a guest list that included 96 of the pair ’ s nearest and dearest .
As the pandemic worsened ― on April 9 , the Leavertons found out that a family member had tested positive for COVID-19 ― the couple decided to let go of the wedding of their Pinterest dreams and pivot to plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socially distanced wedding at Doc ’ s Drive In Theatre in Buda , Texas .
Bri got the idea after seeing an Instagram story from a friend who ’ d visited the drive-in , which was still operating as an essential business due to its full scratch kitchen and “ to-go ” menu .
“ Once I let go of the whole idea we had for Hotel Ella and fully embraced our new wedding plan , everything fell into place , ” Bri added .
“ I mean , here we are getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic at a drive-in theatre where all our guests are able to come and support us while staying safe in their vehicles.
” The couple ’ s three kids were especially game for the new plan , which also included a movie showing prior to the ceremony .
( Bri , a lead surgical dental assistant , has a son from a previous relationship .
Lindsey , the director at a wealth management service , has twin daughters . )
As the evening went on , more than 85 cars rolled in , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sodas from a table set up by the brides .
The guests stayed in their cars through the night ; those giving speeches ― the couple ’ s parents and best friends ― had reserved front-row parking spots .
The kids , VIPs for the event , sat in chairs on the side of the stage .
Guests were able to tune in to the ceremony through 87.9 FM radio station .
The couple stood on a stage to elevate them from the ground for better visuals , but guests could also just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the ceremony .
“ When we said ‘ I do , ’ everyone ‘ applauded ’ with car honking , flashing lights , decorated cars , I even think there was a cow bell I heard , ” Bri said .
“ We still had our first dance and our family dance with our kids that we had originally planned for Hotel Ella.
” “ As we were departing from the venue , Lindsey , who is directionally challenged , turned right instead of left out of the venue which forced us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the venue to get my car , ” Bri said .
“ We had planned to have my little sister meet us down the road to exchange vehicles , ” she explained .
“ Once we returned to the venue we were actually so pleased to see that we got to say goodbye to almost all of our guests .
It was actually one of the best moments of the night.
” “ When I think back on our wedding day , I think it will be talked about for years to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grandchildren , ” Bri said .

Like many engaged couples, Lindsey and Bri Leaverton were set to marry in the spring ― until the coronavirus pandemic entered the picture.
The wedding was to be held on April 10, Good Friday, (“nothing says ‘He is risen’ like a good ol’ lesbian wedding,” Bri joked) at the historic Hotel Ella in Austin, Texas, with a guest list that included 96 of the pair’s nearest and dearest.
At first, they hustled to find a new date, but given the hotel and their vendors’ conflicting schedules, that proved difficult.
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As the pandemic worsened ― on April 9, the Leavertons found out that a family member had tested positive for COVID-19 ― the couple decided to let go of the wedding of their Pinterest dreams and pivot to plan B: a quaint, down-home, socially distanced wedding at Doc’s Drive In Theatre in Buda, Texas.
Bri got the idea after seeing an Instagram story from a friend who’d visited the drive-in, which was still operating as an essential business due to its full scratch kitchen and “to-go” menu.
“Doc’s was thrilled with the idea, and it took us 17 days to plan an entirely new wedding,” Bri said.
Greg Fulks Photography The couple welcome guests to their wedding at Doc’s Drive In Theatre in Buda, Texas.
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“Once I let go of the whole idea we had for Hotel Ella and fully embraced our new wedding plan, everything fell into place,” Bri added. “I mean, here we are getting married in the midst of a global pandemic at a drive-in theatre where all our guests are able to come and support us while staying safe in their vehicles.”
Greg Fulks The couple rented an old-school Jeepster for the big occasion.
The couple’s three kids were especially game for the new plan, which also included a movie showing prior to the ceremony. (Bri, a lead surgical dental assistant, has a son from a previous relationship. Lindsey, the director at a wealth management service, has twin daughters.)
Greg Fulks Bri and Lindsey Leaverton and their twin daughters.
As the evening went on, more than 85 cars rolled in, with guests grabbing popcorn, champagne and sodas from a table set up by the brides. The guests stayed in their cars through the night; those giving speeches ― the couple’s parents and best friends ― had reserved front-row parking spots. The kids, VIPs for the event, sat in chairs on the side of the stage.
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Greg Fulks The couple greeted car-bound guests.
Guests were able to tune in to the ceremony through 87.9 FM radio station. The couple stood on a stage to elevate them from the ground for better visuals, but guests could also just look up at the movie screens to see the ceremony.
Greg Fulks The Leavertons wed on a stage, but guests could watch it all play out on large movie screens.
Guests who couldn’t make it in person logged on to Facebook or Instagram and streamed the wedding live.
Greg Fulks Guests could watch the wedding on Instagram Live.
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In the end, the ceremony was considerably less fancy but no less sweet.
“When we said ‘I do,’ everyone ‘applauded’ with car honking, flashing lights, decorated cars, I even think there was a cow bell I heard,” Bri said. “We still had our first dance and our family dance with our kids that we had originally planned for Hotel Ella.”
Greg Fulks The couple dance, and Lindsey plays a song for Bri.
After the ceremony, the family hopped into a 1972 Jeepster Commando and prepared to make their grand exit. That didn’t go exactly as planned, however.
“As we were departing from the venue, Lindsey, who is directionally challenged, turned right instead of left out of the venue which forced us to turn back around and go back into the venue to get my car,” Bri said.
“We had planned to have my little sister meet us down the road to exchange vehicles,” she explained. “Once we returned to the venue we were actually so pleased to see that we got to say goodbye to almost all of our guests. It was actually one of the best moments of the night.”
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The couple shared air hugs, “I love you” hand signs, and blew kisses to friends and relatives who’d shown up to support them, even in the middle of a pandemic.
“When I think back on our wedding day, I think it will be talked about for years to come and then passed down to our grandchildren,” Bri said.
Scroll down for more photos from the big day.


huffpost--2020-05-05--Trump Admits He's Blocking Coronavirus Oversight Because Of 'Trump Haters'

President Donald Trump admitted Tuesday that he won ’ t let members of his coronavirus task force testify before a House committee because the lawmakers could be “ Trump haters ” critical of the White House ’ s dismal response to the pandemic .
“ The House is a setup , ” Trump told reporters when asked why he won ’ t allow top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci to testify .
“ The House is a bunch of Trump haters.
” A congressional hearing to look at the government ’ s response to the spread of COVID-19 is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of Trump ’ s task force being blocked from attending .
Last Friday , the White House claimed it would be “ counterproductive ” to let task force members speak before the House Appropriations subcommittee holding the hearing .
“ While the Trump Administration continues its whole-of-government response to COVID-19 , including safely opening up America again and expediting vaccine development , it is counterproductive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing at congressional hearings , ” White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement on Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time.
” But Trump gave an explanation more befitting of a president who would rather lash out at his perceived enemies than take responsibility for a crisis he continues to exacerbate .
“ They put every Trump hater on the committee , the same old stuff , ” he said of the Democratic-controlled House .
“ They frankly want our situation to be unsuccessful , which means death , which means death .
And our situation is going to be very successful.
” As of Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the coronavirus , with more than a million infected .
Those numbers were driven up by a serious lack of testing by an administration that dragged its feet as the virus spread across the country .
What ’ s more , Trump is pushing to reopen the economy even as multiple states still wait to hit their peak daily death totals from the virus .
He has ignored health experts who have warned that the country should not be reopened without a massive increase in testing and contact tracing , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own supporters putting others in danger as they protest government stay-at-home orders .
None of this has stopped him from trying to deflect blame onto his political opponents .
“ [ The Democrats ] do everything they can to make things as bad as possible , ” Trump said on Tuesday .
The president said that Dr. Fauci will instead testify in front of the Republican-controlled Senate .

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President Donald Trump admitted Tuesday that he won’t let members of his coronavirus task force testify before a House committee because the lawmakers could be “Trump haters” critical of the White House’s dismal response to the pandemic.
“The House is a setup,” Trump told reporters when asked why he won’t allow top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci to testify. “The House is a bunch of Trump haters.”
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A congressional hearing to look at the government’s response to the spread of COVID-19 is still planned for Wednesday, despite the top members of Trump’s task force being blocked from attending.
Last Friday, the White House claimed it would be “counterproductive” to let task force members speak before the House Appropriations subcommittee holding the hearing.
“While the Trump Administration continues its whole-of-government response to COVID-19, including safely opening up America again and expediting vaccine development, it is counterproductive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing at congressional hearings,” White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement on Friday. “We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time.”
But Trump gave an explanation more befitting of a president who would rather lash out at his perceived enemies than take responsibility for a crisis he continues to exacerbate.
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“They put every Trump hater on the committee, the same old stuff,” he said of the Democratic-controlled House. “They frankly want our situation to be unsuccessful, which means death, which means death. And our situation is going to be very successful.”
As of Tuesday, more than 70,000 Americans were dead due to the coronavirus, with more than a million infected. Those numbers were driven up by a serious lack of testing by an administration that dragged its feet as the virus spread across the country.
What’s more, Trump is pushing to reopen the economy even as multiple states still wait to hit their peak daily death totals from the virus. He has ignored health experts who have warned that the country should not be reopened without a massive increase in testing and contact tracing, and has downplayed the serious threat of his own supporters putting others in danger as they protest government stay-at-home orders. None of this has stopped him from trying to deflect blame onto his political opponents.
“[The Democrats] do everything they can to make things as bad as possible,” Trump said on Tuesday. The president said that Dr. Fauci will instead testify in front of the Republican-controlled Senate.


huffpost--2020-05-06--Poll: Pandemic Hitting Black And Hispanic Americans Hardest Financially

DETROIT ( AP ) — People of color have not only been hit harder by the deadly coronavirus than have Americans overall , but they ’ re also bearing the brunt of the pandemic ’ s financial impact , according to a recent survey from the The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research .
The financial picture is especially grim for Hispanic Americans , while some African Americans face the dual burden of being disproportionately affected by the virus itself while also struggling to pay bills due to the economic fallout .
The poll found that 61 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some kind of household income loss as a result of the outbreak , including job losses , unpaid leave , pay cuts and fewer scheduled hours .
That ’ s compared with 46 percent of Americans overall .
Thirty-seven percent of Latinos and 27 percent of black Americans say they ’ ve been unable to pay at least one type of bill as a result of the coronavirus outbreak .
Only 17 percent of white Americans say the same .
“ If our policies do not adequately address these shortfalls and the racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wages , then we ’ re going to see the same pattern that we have seen historically , ” said Valerie Wilson , director of the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute ’ s program on race , ethnicity and the economy .
“ It ’ s going to take much longer for these families to recover — if they ever recover economically.
” The survey , conducted in mid-April , found that 21 percent of Hispanics have been unable to make a rent or mortgage payment as a result of the outbreak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay a credit card bill .
That compares with eight percent of white Americans in both cases .
Black Americans are also slightly more likely than white Americans to have been unable to pay a credit card bill , at 15 percent .
NEW YORK , NY - APRIL 16 : People wait on line outside of TD Bank on April 16 , 2020 , in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City .
During his daily news briefing on Thursday , New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed $ 2 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ balance the city 's budget amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ As a community , I don ’ t see a lot of anger , just a lot of sadness and worry about what ’ s to come , ” Abraham said , adding that she ’ s worried about the Navajo Nation and people who are in the country illegally becoming infected .
“ But what this shows now is who we really need and who ’ s really doing the labor to carry our economy .
It ’ s always been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While income losses have hit Americans across the board , layoffs have been especially concentrated among lower income and less educated people .
Twenty-eight percent of Americans without college degrees say they ’ ve had a layoff in their household , compared with 19 percent of those with degrees .
Milwaukee resident Tamela Andrews was excited to start her new job a few months ago as an inventory specialist , serving some of the big box stores in her community .
She and several others at her company were furloughed after the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman , was able to land a different job , but she ’ s concerned for the future .
“ I hope when things do go back to normal maybe the stores will have us back for our other jobs , ” Andrews said .
“ It ’ s up in the air though and it ’ s really stressful to experience this.
” Along with the financial impact , people of color are also more likely to know someone close to them who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 , the illness caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 12 percent of Americans say they or a close friend or relative has been diagnosed .
Among black Americans , 21 percent say they or someone close to them has been diagnosed .
A separate Associated Press analysis of available state and local data shows that nearly one-third of those who have died of COVID-19 are African American , with black people representing about 14 percent of the population in the areas covered in the analysis .
San Diego resident Cristina Hall , who identifies as Hispanic , said communities of color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple generations of families living together .
She believes those strong familial ties have put some at risk , as has work in jobs , such as those in the service industry , that require them to interface with the public .
“ It ’ s frustrating , ” Hall , 41 , said .
“ All of these protests all over the United States ( to reopen state economies ) , who do you see ?
You don ’ t see people of color at those protests .
It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy to open , not so they can necessarily go back to work but so that people of color can go back to work and take care of them.
” While the protests have garnered attention , the AP-NORC poll found that most Americans overwhelmingly support restrictions aimed at containing the virus and are taking personal actions to protect themselves from the coronavirus .
Ninety-five percent say they ’ re both washing hands more frequently and staying away from large groups .
African Americans are also more likely than either white or Hispanic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks outside the home , 83 percent to 64 percent and 67 percent , respectively .
“ I take it very seriously , because it ’ s an invisible killer , ” said Michael French , 62 , of St. Paul , Minnesota , who says he wears a mask and gloves everywhere he goes .
“ But some people won ’ t until it affects them personally and then they ’ ll wake up to the deadliness of this virus .
”

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DETROIT (AP) — People of color have not only been hit harder by the deadly coronavirus than have Americans overall, but they’re also bearing the brunt of the pandemic’s financial impact, according to a recent survey from the The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
The financial picture is especially grim for Hispanic Americans, while some African Americans face the dual burden of being disproportionately affected by the virus itself while also struggling to pay bills due to the economic fallout.
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The poll found that 61 percent of Hispanic Americans say they’ve experienced some kind of household income loss as a result of the outbreak, including job losses, unpaid leave, pay cuts and fewer scheduled hours. That’s compared with 46 percent of Americans overall. Thirty-seven percent of Latinos and 27 percent of black Americans say they’ve been unable to pay at least one type of bill as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Only 17 percent of white Americans say the same.
“If our policies do not adequately address these shortfalls and the racial disparities in income, wealth, employment and wages, then we’re going to see the same pattern that we have seen historically,” said Valerie Wilson, director of the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute’s program on race, ethnicity and the economy. “It’s going to take much longer for these families to recover — if they ever recover economically.”
The survey, conducted in mid-April, found that 21 percent of Hispanics have been unable to make a rent or mortgage payment as a result of the outbreak, while 23 percent have been unable to pay a credit card bill. That compares with eight percent of white Americans in both cases. Black Americans are also slightly more likely than white Americans to have been unable to pay a credit card bill, at 15 percent.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 16: People wait on line outside of TD Bank on April 16, 2020, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. During his daily news briefing on Thursday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed $2 billion in budget cuts beginning July 1 to balance the city's budget amid the coronavirus pandemic. David Dee Delgado via Getty Images
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New Mexico resident Denise Abraham, a retired teacher and librarian, said her 34-year-old son has experienced a loss of income after he quit his restaurant job because he didn’t want to potentially expose his family to the virus.
“As a community, I don’t see a lot of anger, just a lot of sadness and worry about what’s to come,” Abraham said, adding that she’s worried about the Navajo Nation and people who are in the country illegally becoming infected. “But what this shows now is who we really need and who’s really doing the labor to carry our economy. It’s always been on the shoulders of poor people.”
While income losses have hit Americans across the board, layoffs have been especially concentrated among lower income and less educated people. Twenty-eight percent of Americans without college degrees say they’ve had a layoff in their household, compared with 19 percent of those with degrees.
Milwaukee resident Tamela Andrews was excited to start her new job a few months ago as an inventory specialist, serving some of the big box stores in her community. She and several others at her company were furloughed after the pandemic began. Andrews, a 51-year-old black woman, was able to land a different job, but she’s concerned for the future.
“I hope when things do go back to normal maybe the stores will have us back for our other jobs,” Andrews said. “It’s up in the air though and it’s really stressful to experience this.”
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Along with the financial impact, people of color are also more likely to know someone close to them who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. The poll found that 12 percent of Americans say they or a close friend or relative has been diagnosed. Among black Americans, 21 percent say they or someone close to them has been diagnosed.
A separate Associated Press analysis of available state and local data shows that nearly one-third of those who have died of COVID-19 are African American, with black people representing about 14 percent of the population in the areas covered in the analysis.
San Diego resident Cristina Hall, who identifies as Hispanic, said communities of color tend to have a cultural history of multiple generations of families living together. She believes those strong familial ties have put some at risk, as has work in jobs, such as those in the service industry, that require them to interface with the public.
“It’s frustrating,” Hall, 41, said. “All of these protests all over the United States (to reopen state economies), who do you see? You don’t see people of color at those protests. It’s a sense of entitlement that they want this economy to open, not so they can necessarily go back to work but so that people of color can go back to work and take care of them.”
While the protests have garnered attention, the AP-NORC poll found that most Americans overwhelmingly support restrictions aimed at containing the virus and are taking personal actions to protect themselves from the coronavirus. Ninety-five percent say they’re both washing hands more frequently and staying away from large groups. African Americans are also more likely than either white or Hispanic Americans to say they’re wearing masks outside the home, 83 percent to 64 percent and 67 percent, respectively.
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huffpost--2020-06-12--Florida Migrant Towns Become Coronavirus Hot Spots In U.S.

IMMOKALEE , Fla. ( AP ) — When much of the world was staying at home to slow the spread of the new coronavirus , Elbin Sales Perez continued to rise at 4:30 a.m. to report to his landscaping job in a rural Florida town .
Now , a couple of months later , as state-imposed restrictions are lifted and Floridians begin to venture out , the Guatemalan immigrant is ill and isolated at home with his wife and children in Immokalee , a poverty-stricken town in the throes of one of the sharpest COVID-19 upticks in the state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we don ’ t , then who does it ?
” said Sales Perez , 31 , who noted that his job was deemed essential .
“ We had to battle every day with the threat of the virus looming , until we caught it.
” Immokalee is among several immigrant communities in Florida — and numerous rural areas across the U.S. — that have recently experienced outbreaks of the coronavirus .
Once thought likely to be spared because of their remote locations and small populations , such communities have seen spikes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with them .
Per capita , Florida ranks relatively low in its rate of new COVID-19 cases , at about 31st in the country , according to data complied by Johns Hopkins University .
But the state has seen an upswing in new COVID-19 cases since it began gradually lifting restrictions on businesses and movement last month , especially in the past week .
The increase may at least partly be due to expanded testing .
Still , the uptick has been pronounced in some communities , including Immokalee .
The secluded town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported more than 1,000 cases , outpacing in recent weeks the rate of infection in Orlando , which has a population 10 times bigger and is home to a busy international airport .
The number of total cases in Immokalee has surpassed those in Miami Beach , with more than 900 , and St. Petersburg , which has more than 800 , according to state health department statistics .
Sales Perez knows many people who have gotten sick in this rural town known for its tomato farms .
A close friend got ill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized and a cousin of the two brothers died with the virus .
Efforts to conduct broad local testing in Immokalee did not begin in earnest until early May , just when officials began lifting restrictions statewide to restart the economy .
It wasn ’ t for lack of trying : The nonprofit Coalition of Immokalee Workers had requested tests in March , at the same time authorities had set up mass testing sites elsewhere in the state .
With no response from the state , the coalition contacted international aid group Doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response team in April .
Team members found that farmworkers were traveling in crowded buses and had no easy access to testing .
Some drove 45 minutes to get tested in Fort Myers and Naples .
Dr. Seth Holmes , a physician and medical anthropologist at UC Berkeley who is volunteering with the group , said it has been evident since early May that the virus was “ spreading like wildfire.
” There was a lack of contact tracing — identifying the people with whom an infected person has been in contact — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the spread , he said .
Holmes was critical of the state for not starting mass testing sooner — and of the way it eventually began : He noted that vehicles with flashing lights sat at the entrance to the first testing site , scaring away some farmworkers who do not have legal permission to be in the country .
As part of its outreach to the community , Doctors Without Borders set up mobile clinics in the evenings and on weekends and called in team members who speak Spanish and Haitian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the state Health Department in Collier County , said that in the past week the state has hired people from the community to conduct outreach and has been been broadcasting public service announcements from car loudspeakers in Spanish , Haitian Creole , and Mam , an ancient Maya language .
On Monday , there were signs of progress : At the town ’ s health department offices , truck drivers dropped off groups of landscapers and construction workers who followed a path bordered with yellow caution tape to get tested for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their positive results so they could show bosses and ask for sick pay .

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IMMOKALEE, Fla. (AP) — When much of the world was staying at home to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, Elbin Sales Perez continued to rise at 4:30 a.m. to report to his landscaping job in a rural Florida town.
Now, a couple of months later, as state-imposed restrictions are lifted and Floridians begin to venture out, the Guatemalan immigrant is ill and isolated at home with his wife and children in Immokalee, a poverty-stricken town in the throes of one of the sharpest COVID-19 upticks in the state.
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“We had to work. If we don’t, then who does it?” said Sales Perez, 31, who noted that his job was deemed essential. “We had to battle every day with the threat of the virus looming, until we caught it.”
Immokalee is among several immigrant communities in Florida — and numerous rural areas across the U.S. — that have recently experienced outbreaks of the coronavirus. Once thought likely to be spared because of their remote locations and small populations, such communities have seen spikes in infections while having fewer resources to deal with them.
Per capita, Florida ranks relatively low in its rate of new COVID-19 cases, at about 31st in the country, according to data complied by Johns Hopkins University. But the state has seen an upswing in new COVID-19 cases since it began gradually lifting restrictions on businesses and movement last month, especially in the past week. The increase may at least partly be due to expanded testing. Still, the uptick has been pronounced in some communities, including Immokalee.
Flora Garcia arrives with her daughter Krislaya Trejo at the Florida Department of Health in Collier County to be tested for COVID-19 on June 8, 2020, in Immokalee, Fla. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The secluded town of 25,000 north of the Everglades has reported more than 1,000 cases, outpacing in recent weeks the rate of infection in Orlando, which has a population 10 times bigger and is home to a busy international airport. The number of total cases in Immokalee has surpassed those in Miami Beach, with more than 900, and St. Petersburg, which has more than 800, according to state health department statistics.
Meanwhile, the percentage of tests that have come back positive in Collier County, home to Immokalee, is the highest in the state among counties that have tested more than 5,000 people.
Sales Perez knows many people who have gotten sick in this rural town known for its tomato farms. A close friend got ill, the friend’s brother was hospitalized and a cousin of the two brothers died with the virus.
Outbreaks have also erupted in other impoverished and immigrant communities in rural Florida, such as Indiantown, a small community with a large population of Guatemalan and Mexican immigrants northwest of West Palm Beach, and Belle Glade, a predominantly black town south of Lake Okeechobee.
Efforts to conduct broad local testing in Immokalee did not begin in earnest until early May, just when officials began lifting restrictions statewide to restart the economy. It wasn’t for lack of trying: The nonprofit Coalition of Immokalee Workers had requested tests in March, at the same time authorities had set up mass testing sites elsewhere in the state.
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With no response from the state, the coalition contacted international aid group Doctors Without Borders, which sent a COVID-19 response team in April. Team members found that farmworkers were traveling in crowded buses and had no easy access to testing. Some drove 45 minutes to get tested in Fort Myers and Naples.
“They are in high-volume areas in trailers with multiple people and that puts them at a higher risk for spreading the disease easily,” said Dr. Adi Nadimpalli, who coordinated the group’s arrival in Florida.
Dr. Seth Holmes, a physician and medical anthropologist at UC Berkeley who is volunteering with the group, said it has been evident since early May that the virus was “spreading like wildfire.” There was a lack of contact tracing — identifying the people with whom an infected person has been in contact — and overcrowded living conditions were likely contributing to the spread, he said.
Holmes was critical of the state for not starting mass testing sooner — and of the way it eventually began: He noted that vehicles with flashing lights sat at the entrance to the first testing site, scaring away some farmworkers who do not have legal permission to be in the country.
Elbin Sales, second from left, poses for a photograph with his wife, Yecenia Solorzano, right, and children Jordi Sales, left, and Athena Sales, amid the new coronavirus pandemic in Immokalee, Fla. on June 7, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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As part of its outreach to the community, Doctors Without Borders set up mobile clinics in the evenings and on weekends and called in team members who speak Spanish and Haitian Creole. Kristine Hollingsworth, a spokeswoman for the state Health Department in Collier County, said that in the past week the state has hired people from the community to conduct outreach and has been been broadcasting public service announcements from car loudspeakers in Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Mam, an ancient Maya language.
On Monday, there were signs of progress: At the town’s health department offices, truck drivers dropped off groups of landscapers and construction workers who followed a path bordered with yellow caution tape to get tested for the virus. Others waited outside for proof of their positive results so they could show bosses and ask for sick pay.
This week, health authorities expanded testing from weekends to weekdays after seeing hundreds lining up in the Florida heat two Sundays in a row.
Flora Garcia, 38, took her three children after learning her husband, a roofer, tested positive.


huffpost--2020-06-12--Black Tulsans Call Trump's Juneteenth Rally Plan 'A Slap In The Face'

OKLAHOMA CITY ( AP ) — Black community and political leaders called on President Donald Trump to at least change the Juneteenth date for a rally kicking off his return to public campaigning , saying Thursday that plans for a rally on the day that marks the end of slavery in America come as a “ slap in the face.
” From Sen. Kamala Harris of California to Tulsa civic officials , black leaders said it was offensive for Trump to pick that day — June 19 — and that place — Tulsa , an Oklahoma city that in 1921 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orchestrated white-on-black killing spree .
“ To choose the date , to come to Tulsa , is totally disrespectful and a slap in the face to even happen , ” said Sherry Gamble Smith , president of Tulsa ’ s Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce , an organization named after the prosperous black community that white Oklahomans burned down in the 1921 attack .
“ As the party of Lincoln , Republicans are proud of the history of Juneteenth , ” said Katrina Pierson , senior adviser to the Trump campaign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of success for Black Americans , including unprecedented low unemployment prior to the global pandemic , all-time high funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities , and criminal justice reform.
” The Trump campaign was aware in advance that the date for the president ’ s return to rallies was Juneteenth , according to two campaign officials , who were not authorized to speak publicly about internal discussions and spoke on condition of anonymity .
When the date was discussed , it was noted that Biden had held a fundraiser a year ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not meant to be incendiary , some blowback was expected , the officials said .
But the campaign was caught off guard by the intensity , particularly when some linked the selection to the 1921 massacre .
Arena marketing director Meghan Blood said Thursday she didn ’ t know yet about any plans for social distancing or other coronavirus precautions for Trump ’ s rally , which would be one of the larger public gatherings in the U.S. at this stage of the outbreak .
Campaign officials said safety decisions would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A disclaimer on the ticket registration website said attendees voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold the campaign liable for any illness .
The campaign officials said the Trump campaign picked Oklahoma because arrangements could be made quickly , for a variety of reasons : Oklahoma has a Republican , Trump-friendly governor ; the state is not seeing huge numbers of coronavirus cases ; and the arena was “ turn-key ” and could easily be opened for the rally .
Moreover , the rally will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held by Rep. Kendra Horn , one of the Democrats the GOP feels is vulnerable this fall .
Campaign officials also wanted to hold the rally where they could all but guarantee a big crowd despite coronavirus concerns , according to the officials .
Oklahoma is one of the most Republican states in the nation and Trump has not held a rally there as president , so it will likely deliver an enthusiastic audience eager to see him , the officials believed .
On Tuesday , Tulsa police released video and said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two black teenagers for jaywalking .
Video of the June 4 incident showed officers pinned one of the two unidentified teens stomach-down on the ground .
On Monday , a Tulsa police major played down police shootings of African Americans nationally by telling a radio show that statistically , “ we ’ re shooting African Americans about 24 % less than we probably ought to be , based on the crimes being committed.
” And on Wednesday , the same day Tulsa Mayor G.T .
Bynum welcomed news of Trump ’ s rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s progress against COVID-19 , Bynum apologized for remarks about a 2016 police killing of an unarmed black man .
Bynum had said the killing was “ more about the really insidious nature of drug utilization than it is about race.
” Nationally , as research brings to light more about the 1921 massacre , Tulsa increasingly is associated with the rampage in which white Tulsans razed a thriving black business community , killing as many as 300 people .
Long dismissed by generations of white Tulsans as a race “ riot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marked this year by community memorials .

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Black community and political leaders called on President Donald Trump to at least change the Juneteenth date for a rally kicking off his return to public campaigning, saying Thursday that plans for a rally on the day that marks the end of slavery in America come as a “slap in the face.”
Trump campaign officials discussed in advance the possible reaction to the Juneteenth date, but despite fierce blowback there are no plans to change it.
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From Sen. Kamala Harris of California to Tulsa civic officials, black leaders said it was offensive for Trump to pick that day — June 19 — and that place — Tulsa, an Oklahoma city that in 1921 was the site of a fiery and orchestrated white-on-black killing spree.
“This isn’t just a wink to white supremacists — he’s throwing them a welcome home party,” Harris, a leading contender to be Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s running mate, tweeted of Trump’s rally plans.
“To choose the date, to come to Tulsa, is totally disrespectful and a slap in the face to even happen,” said Sherry Gamble Smith, president of Tulsa’s Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce, an organization named after the prosperous black community that white Oklahomans burned down in the 1921 attack.
At a minimum, Gamble Smith said, the campaign should “change it to Saturday the 20th, if they’re going to have it.”
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Trump announced the rally plan Wednesday afternoon. It comes as his harsh law-and-order stance appears to fall increasingly out of sync with a growing concern over police abuse of African Americans after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Trump campaign officials defended the rally.
“As the party of Lincoln, Republicans are proud of the history of Juneteenth,” said Katrina Pierson, senior adviser to the Trump campaign. “President Trump has built a record of success for Black Americans, including unprecedented low unemployment prior to the global pandemic, all-time high funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and criminal justice reform.”
The Trump campaign was aware in advance that the date for the president’s return to rallies was Juneteenth, according to two campaign officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly about internal discussions and spoke on condition of anonymity.
When the date was discussed, it was noted that Biden had held a fundraiser a year ago on Juneteenth. Though choosing June 19 was not meant to be incendiary, some blowback was expected, the officials said. But the campaign was caught off guard by the intensity, particularly when some linked the selection to the 1921 massacre.
Scheduling the highly anticipated comeback rally in Oklahoma, a state Trump won easily in 2016, raised eyebrows.
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The campaign picked Tulsa’s BOK Center, with a listed seat capacity of 19,199. The arena’s Facebook page shows organizers calling off shows there by country singer Alan Jackson and other performers into mid-July, citing the coronavirus pandemic.
Arena marketing director Meghan Blood said Thursday she didn’t know yet about any plans for social distancing or other coronavirus precautions for Trump’s rally, which would be one of the larger public gatherings in the U.S. at this stage of the outbreak.
Campaign officials said safety decisions would be made in coordination with local authorities. A disclaimer on the ticket registration website said attendees voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold the campaign liable for any illness.
The campaign officials said the Trump campaign picked Oklahoma because arrangements could be made quickly, for a variety of reasons: Oklahoma has a Republican, Trump-friendly governor; the state is not seeing huge numbers of coronavirus cases; and the arena was “turn-key” and could easily be opened for the rally. Moreover, the rally will be held up the turnpike from a district held by Rep. Kendra Horn, one of the Democrats the GOP feels is vulnerable this fall.
Campaign officials also wanted to hold the rally where they could all but guarantee a big crowd despite coronavirus concerns, according to the officials. Oklahoma is one of the most Republican states in the nation and Trump has not held a rally there as president, so it will likely deliver an enthusiastic audience eager to see him, the officials believed.
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Tulsa, an oil center along the Arkansas River, has had its own marches, viral videos and problematic police actions during this month’s unrest.
On Tuesday, Tulsa police released video and said they were investigating officers who handcuffed and arrested two black teenagers for jaywalking. Video of the June 4 incident showed officers pinned one of the two unidentified teens stomach-down on the ground.
“Get off me! I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!” one teen shouts in the police video.
“You can breathe just fine,” the officer replies.
On Monday, a Tulsa police major played down police shootings of African Americans nationally by telling a radio show that statistically, “we’re shooting African Americans about 24% less than we probably ought to be, based on the crimes being committed.”
And on Wednesday, the same day Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum welcomed news of Trump’s rally pick as evidence of the city’s progress against COVID-19, Bynum apologized for remarks about a 2016 police killing of an unarmed black man. Bynum had said the killing was “more about the really insidious nature of drug utilization than it is about race.”
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Nationally, as research brings to light more about the 1921 massacre, Tulsa increasingly is associated with the rampage in which white Tulsans razed a thriving black business community, killing as many as 300 people. Long dismissed by generations of white Tulsans as a race “riot,” the May 31-June 1 events were marked this year by community memorials.
Oklahoma’s black Democratic Party chairwoman also condemned Trump’s rally plan. “A day set aside to commemorate the freedom of enslaved people must not be marred by the words or actions of a racist president,” Alicia Andrews said.
Community groups had earlier canceled a main Tulsa Juneteenth celebration because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Some black Tulsans said they planned to turn out for public protests of Trump on that day. “There’s definitely going to be demonstrating,” Gamble Smith said.
—-
Lemire reported from New York City. Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.


huffpost--2020-06-12--COVID-19 Live Updates: Young Chicago Patient Receives Lung Transplant

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and its effects .
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below .
( To see the latest updates , you may need to refresh the page .
All times are Eastern .
For earlier updates on the pandemic , go here . )
Beijing Braces For Resurgence Of Virus — 6/15/2020 , 6 a.m .
ET More than 100 new cases of the coronavirus have been reported in recent days in Beijing , after about a month of no local transmission , the Associated Press reported .
The cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market , which supplies much of the meat and vegetables for the capital city .
In response , Beijing has closed the market , put nearby neighborhoods on lockdown , and tested more than 76,000 people .
The resurgence in China , where the virus first appeared , underscores the difficulties countries around the world are having in containing the virus .
There have been more than 7.93 million cases worldwide , with more than 433,000 deaths attributable to the disease .
Fauci : Ban On China , U.K. Travelers Likely To Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ET Dr. Anthony Fauci , the top infectious disease expert on the White House coronavirus task force , said he believes restrictions on travel from the United Kingdom , China and other countries to the United States will likely continue for “ months.
” “ It ’ s going to be really wait and see , ” he told the British newspaper The Telegraph .
“ I don ’ t think there ’ s going to be an immediate pullback for those kinds of restrictions .
My feeling , looking at what ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I think it ’ s more likely measured in months rather than weeks.
” President Donald Trump restricted travel from China in later January , about a month after the first documented coronavirus case in the Chinese city of Wuhan .
He followed up in mid-March with a ban on travel from the U.K. , Ireland and 26 other countries in Europe .
His delayed decision to shut down travel from Europe prompted criticism from many public health experts .
The virus could “ go on for a couple of cycles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told The Telegraph .
But a so-called second wave isn ’ t inevitable if local and state officials take the proper precautions , he said .
There have been more than 2 million confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S. , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
At least 115,000 people have died nationwide .
As President Donald Trump prepares for his first campaign rally in months , health experts are warning the event could lead to a new outbreak of the coronavirus .
The upcoming rally , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19,000-seat arena in Tulsa , Oklahoma , could prove to be “ an extraordinarily dangerous move for the people participating and the people who may know them and love them and see them afterward , ” Dr. Ashish Jha , director of Harvard ’ s Global Health Institute , told the Associated Press .
Trump ’ s reelection campaign , in a recognition of the risk , has included a notice to those registering to attend the rally that essentially says you can ’ t sue the campaign if you contract the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rally , you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President , Inc. ; BOK Center ; ASM Global ; or any of their affiliates , directors , officers , employees , agents , contractors , or volunteers liable for any illness or injury , ” the waiver states .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , an infectious disease expert on the White House coronavirus task force , cautioned Friday that attending rallies or protests at this time is “ risky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He urged rallygoers to wear masks and socially distance as much as possible .
Oregon Governor To Halt Reopening As New Cases Rise — 6/12/20 , 9:46 a.m .
ET Oregon will “ press pause ” on and reevaluate its reopening process for the next seven days “ to ensure that the virus is not spreading too quickly , ” Gov .
Kate Brown announced Thursday night .
On Thursday , the state reported a new single-day high in the number of new COVID-19 infections .
It ’ s one of at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise in cases , which many experts attribute to loosening restrictions .
Deaths In Brazil Surpass 40,000 , Infections Go Beyond 800,000 — 6/12/20 , 7:25 a.m .
ET Brazil ’ s death toll from COVID-19 now exceeds 40,000 after another 1,240 deaths were announced on Thursday .
The country ’ s cumulative total of confirmed cases also surpassed 800,000 , with 30,412 new infections in the last 24 hours .
Brazil has the world ’ s second-worst outbreak of coronavirus after the United States and the third-highest death toll behind the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Janeiro states have suffered 42 % of the fatalities .
Despite the virus showing no signs of slowing in the country , many shops and businesses were allowed to reopen on Thursday .
Young COVID-19 Patient Becomes First In U.S. To Receive Double Lung Transplant — 6/12/2020 , 7 a.m .
ET A woman in her 20s who had no serious underlying health conditions before contracting COVID-19 has become the first U.S. coronavirus patient to receive a double lung transplant , her doctors said Thursday .
The operation at Chicago ’ s Northwestern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer than usual because her lungs were so damaged , doctors said .
But she is recovering well and told doctors , “ Thank you for not giving up on me.
” UK Economy Shrinks 20 % During First Full Month Of Lockdown — 6/12/20 , 6:15 a.m .
ET

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and its effects.
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below. (To see the latest updates, you may need to refresh the page. All times are Eastern. For earlier updates on the pandemic, go here.)
Beijing Braces For Resurgence Of Virus — 6/15/2020, 6 a.m. ET
More than 100 new cases of the coronavirus have been reported in recent days in Beijing, after about a month of no local transmission, the Associated Press reported.
The cases have been linked to the Xinfadi wholesale market, which supplies much of the meat and vegetables for the capital city. In response, Beijing has closed the market, put nearby neighborhoods on lockdown, and tested more than 76,000 people.
The resurgence in China, where the virus first appeared, underscores the difficulties countries around the world are having in containing the virus. There have been more than 7.93 million cases worldwide, with more than 433,000 deaths attributable to the disease.
— Liza Hearon
Fauci: Ban On China, U.K. Travelers Likely To Last Months — 6/14/20, 3:25 p.m. ET
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert on the White House coronavirus task force, said he believes restrictions on travel from the United Kingdom, China and other countries to the United States will likely continue for “months.”
“It’s going to be really wait and see,” he told the British newspaper The Telegraph. “I don’t think there’s going to be an immediate pullback for those kinds of restrictions. My feeling, looking at what’s going on with the infection rate, I think it’s more likely measured in months rather than weeks.”
President Donald Trump restricted travel from China in later January, about a month after the first documented coronavirus case in the Chinese city of Wuhan. He followed up in mid-March with a ban on travel from the U.K., Ireland and 26 other countries in Europe. His delayed decision to shut down travel from Europe prompted criticism from many public health experts.
The virus could “go on for a couple of cycles, coming back and forth,” Fauci told The Telegraph. But a so-called second wave isn’t inevitable if local and state officials take the proper precautions, he said.
There have been more than 2 million confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S., according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. At least 115,000 people have died nationwide.
—Hayley Miller
Health Expert Calls Trump’s Tulsa Rally An ‘Extraordinarily Dangerous Move’ — 6/14/20, 3:05 p.m. ET
As President Donald Trump prepares for his first campaign rally in months, health experts are warning the event could lead to a new outbreak of the coronavirus.
The upcoming rally, which is slated to be held in a 19,000-seat arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma, could prove to be “an extraordinarily dangerous move for the people participating and the people who may know them and love them and see them afterward,” Dr. Ashish Jha, director of Harvard’s Global Health Institute, told the Associated Press.
Trump’s reelection campaign, in a recognition of the risk, has included a notice to those registering to attend the rally that essentially says you can’t sue the campaign if you contract the coronavirus during event.
“By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury,” the waiver states.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, an infectious disease expert on the White House coronavirus task force, cautioned Friday that attending rallies or protests at this time is “risky” and poses “a danger.”
He urged rallygoers to wear masks and socially distance as much as possible.
Read more AP here.
― Hayley Miller
Oregon Governor To Halt Reopening As New Cases Rise — 6/12/20, 9:46 a.m. ET
Oregon will “press pause” on and reevaluate its reopening process for the next seven days “to ensure that the virus is not spreading too quickly,” Gov. Kate Brown announced Thursday night.
On Thursday, the state reported a new single-day high in the number of new COVID-19 infections. It’s one of at least a dozen states that have seen a rise in cases, which many experts attribute to loosening restrictions.
— Marina Fang
Deaths In Brazil Surpass 40,000, Infections Go Beyond 800,000 — 6/12/20, 7:25 a.m. ET
Brazil’s death toll from COVID-19 now exceeds 40,000 after another 1,240 deaths were announced on Thursday.
The country’s cumulative total of confirmed cases also surpassed 800,000, with 30,412 new infections in the last 24 hours. Brazil has the world’s second-worst outbreak of coronavirus after the United States and the third-highest death toll behind the U.S. and U.K.
Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states have suffered 42% of the fatalities. Despite the virus showing no signs of slowing in the country, many shops and businesses were allowed to reopen on Thursday.
— James Martin
Young COVID-19 Patient Becomes First In U.S. To Receive Double Lung Transplant — 6/12/2020, 7 a.m. ET
A woman in her 20s who had no serious underlying health conditions before contracting COVID-19 has become the first U.S. coronavirus patient to receive a double lung transplant, her doctors said Thursday.
The operation at Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital was more challenging and took longer than usual because her lungs were so damaged, doctors said. But she is recovering well and told doctors, “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
— Dominique Mosbergen
UK Economy Shrinks 20% During First Full Month Of Lockdown — 6/12/20, 6:15 a.m. ET


huffpost--2020-06-12--GOP Senator Touts Low Black Unemployment As Black Unemployment Hits 10-Year Peak

Amid an economic crisis spurred by the coronavirus pandemic that ’ s disproportionately hit Black and brown Americans , as hundreds of thousands of Americans march in the streets to protest racism , the Republican message to the public remains that President Donald Trump has done more for the economy ― and specifically for Blacks ― than any other president in recent history .
As a guest on conservative Hugh Hewitt ’ s talk radio show this week , Georgia GOP Sen. David Perdue , who is up for reelection this year , claimed Trump has done more for Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last ... 100 years , ” repeating some clear falsehoods .
“ In the African American community we have the lowest unemployment in U.S. history right now —the highest middle-class income ever measured , ” Perdue said , touting the Republican agenda “ before COVID-19 and even in COVID-19.
” “ President Trump has done more through justice reform , HBCUs , which are our historic black colleges and universities , and our opportunity zones ... has done more for that community than any president in the last decade — in the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeating what has been one of Trump ’ s favorite talking points : that unemployment levels for Black Americans reached its lowest levels in U.S. history under his administration .
The Black unemployment rate hit 5.4 % last August , the lowest figure under the measuring system the government has used since 1972 .
But , as The Washington Post detailed , Black unemployment was likely lower in the 1950s under the system then in use .
Also , Black unemployment had been ticking up since last August .
More broadly , until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. , the unemployment rate , across the board , had been in steady decline since 2011 .
The rate of decline hadn ’ t accelerated under Trump ’ s leadership .
But all of this was dramatically changed by the pandemic , which his administration was slow to react to and which into March Trump kept insisting would magically disappear ( the number of confirmed coronavirus cases surpassed 2 million earlier this week ) .
Between March and April , the unemployment rate for Black Americans shot up 10 percentage points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics .
In May , it hovered just shy of 17 % — the highest figure in the last decade .
Nationwide , Black Americans are dying at nearly two times the rate of their share of the population , and are losing jobs at a higher rate than white workers .
Black-owned businesses are also being forced to shut down at a higher rate , according to a recent National Bureau of Economic Research report .
These trends underscore persistent systemic inequalities that the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in some cases has worsened , as in health care .
Black Americans on average are more likely to be uninsured , and have underlying chronic health conditions like diabetes , hypertension and asthma .
They also are disproportionately represented in “ essential ” front-line jobs that put them at great risk of contracting COVID-19 .
Perdue , who faces off in November against Democrat Jon Ossoff in one of the key races in the battle for Senate control between the two parties , repeated those talking points on Hewitt ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his part , has incited violence on protesters demonstrating for racial equality and against police brutality .
He ’ s tweeted conspiracy theories about the demonstrations , celebrated law enforcement officers using excessive force on peaceful protesters , suggested those involved in lootings get shot , and described protesters as “ THUGS.
” In an interview that aired Friday on Fox News , Trump continued to tout a record that virtually all historians dispute , saying , “ I think I ’ ve done more for the black community than any other president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass on Abraham Lincoln , because he did good .
”

Amid an economic crisis spurred by the coronavirus pandemic that’s disproportionately hit Black and brown Americans, as hundreds of thousands of Americans march in the streets to protest racism, the Republican message to the public remains that President Donald Trump has done more for the economy ― and specifically for Blacks ― than any other president in recent history.
As a guest on conservative Hugh Hewitt’s talk radio show this week, Georgia GOP Sen. David Perdue, who is up for reelection this year, claimed Trump has done more for Black Americans than “any president in the last...100 years,” repeating some clear falsehoods.
“In the African American community we have the lowest unemployment in U.S. history right now —the highest middle-class income ever measured,” Perdue said, touting the Republican agenda “before COVID-19 and even in COVID-19.”
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“President Trump has done more through justice reform, HBCUs, which are our historic black colleges and universities, and our opportunity zones... has done more for that community than any president in the last decade — in the last 100 years, really.”
Perdue is repeating what has been one of Trump’s favorite talking points: that unemployment levels for Black Americans reached its lowest levels in U.S. history under his administration.
The Black unemployment rate hit 5.4% last August, the lowest figure under the measuring system the government has used since 1972. But, as The Washington Post detailed, Black unemployment was likely lower in the 1950s under the system then in use. Also, Black unemployment had been ticking up since last August.
More broadly, until the coronavirus pandemic began its spread in the U.S., the unemployment rate, across the board, had been in steady decline since 2011. The rate of decline hadn’t accelerated under Trump’s leadership.
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But all of this was dramatically changed by the pandemic, which his administration was slow to react to and which into March Trump kept insisting would magically disappear (the number of confirmed coronavirus cases surpassed 2 million earlier this week).
Perdue’s talking points are now categorically untrue.
Between March and April, the unemployment rate for Black Americans shot up 10 percentage points, from 6.7% to 16.7%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In May, it hovered just shy of 17% — the highest figure in the last decade.
The pandemic has ravaged Black and brown communities in almost every respect.
Nationwide, Black Americans are dying at nearly two times the rate of their share of the population, and are losing jobs at a higher rate than white workers. Black-owned businesses are also being forced to shut down at a higher rate, according to a recent National Bureau of Economic Research report.
These trends underscore persistent systemic inequalities that the Trump administration has done little to ameliorate — and in some cases has worsened, as in health care. Black Americans on average are more likely to be uninsured, and have underlying chronic health conditions like diabetes, hypertension and asthma. They also are disproportionately represented in “essential” front-line jobs that put them at great risk of contracting COVID-19.
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Trump himself has acknowledged the disparity: in April he said at a press briefing that Black Americans were “getting hit very, very hard.”
“This is a real problem and it is showing up very strongly in our data on the African-American community,” Trump said then.
But then in a June tweet, he focused on a positive picture that is now out-of-date.
My Admin has done more for the Black Community than any President since Abraham Lincoln. Passed Opportunity Zones with @SenatorTimScott, guaranteed funding for HBCU’s, School Choice, passed Criminal Justice Reform, lowest Black unemployment, poverty, and crime rates in history… — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2020
Perdue, who faces off in November against Democrat Jon Ossoff in one of the key races in the battle for Senate control between the two parties, repeated those talking points on Hewitt’s show almost verbatim.
Trump, for his part, has incited violence on protesters demonstrating for racial equality and against police brutality. He’s tweeted conspiracy theories about the demonstrations, celebrated law enforcement officers using excessive force on peaceful protesters, suggested those involved in lootings get shot, and described protesters as “THUGS.”
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In an interview that aired Friday on Fox News, Trump continued to tout a record that virtually all historians dispute, saying, “I think I’ve done more for the black community than any other president, and let’s take a pass on Abraham Lincoln, because he did good.”
Even with the nod to Lincoln. Trump created confusion by adding, “Although it’s always questionable, you know, in other words, the end result.”
That prompted interviewer Harris Faulkner, who is Black, to note, “Well, we are free Mr. President.”


huffpost--2020-06-12--Trump Is Back To Business As Usual As Virus Surges In States

Three months after President Donald Trump bowed to the realities of a pandemic that put big chunks of life on pause and killed more Americans than several major wars , Trump is back to business as usual — even as coronavirus cases are on the upswing in many parts of the country .
While the nation has now had months to prepare stockpiles of protective gear and ventilators , a vaccine still is many months away at best and a model cited by the White House projects tens of thousands of more deaths by the end of September .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played down the severity of the virus surge and sought to blame it on factors beyond Trump ’ s forceful push to reopen the economy , which he ’ s counting on to help him win reelection .
Still , Adams cautioned at a roundtable with Trump in Texas that while the country has flattened the curve on virus cases , “ that doesn ’ t mean that COVID has gone away , that it ’ s any less contagious , that it ’ s any less deadly to vulnerable communities.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of the safety proposals it recommended , eager to project a sense of normalcy even as it relied on strong testing capacity not available to the rest of the nation .
Now Trump , who watched the human and economic toll of the virus take the wind out of his campaign sails , sees even greater urgency in returning to how things were — no matter the state of the virus .
At the White House , the coronavirus task force has dramatically scaled back both its visibility and its operations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ week on an as-needed basis instead of every day .
Yet Trump has taken to talking about the pandemic in the past tense — an “ invisible enemy ” conquered — rather than one still ravaging a nation that has , in recent weeks , also been consumed by mass protests following George Floyd ’ s killing by police .
Within the White House complex , many staffers have been flouting directions issued last month to limit their entry to the West Wing and advising “ everyone who enters the West Wing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unless they are sitting at their desks and at least 6 feet ( 1.8 meters ) away from colleagues .
The directive came after two White House officials — the vice president ’ s press secretary and a presidential valet — tested positive for the virus , sending panic waves through the building .
Weeks later , staff members are frequently seen walking around the West Wing without masks .
That includes at meetings with the president , such as a Wednesday roundtable with African American supporters .
White House staff have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One , even in close proximity to the president .
Vice President Mike Pence , for his part , tweeted — and then deleted ― a photo of himself posing with staff huddled together at the reelection campaign ’ s headquarters .
No one appeared to be wearing a mask .
The White House and campaign did not respond to requests for comment .
The visual return to normalcy comes as the country surpassed 2 million COVID-19 cases this week , with new hot spots emerging in battleground states like Arizona and cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to an Associated Press analysis .
Though some states that have moved quickly to reopen have not seen a surge , others have seen escalations .
Yet Trump has continued to travel — even to states that still have restrictions — and announced this week that he ’ ll resume his signature campaign rallies beginning next Friday in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
The state , which was among the earliest to begin loosening coronavirus restrictions , has a relatively low rate of infection but has seen cases rising .
Campaign officials chose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stitt would raise no objections .
Stitt ’ s most recent reopening phase places no limits on the size of group gatherings .
The campaign hopes the location will all but guarantee a large crowd , since Oklahoma is one of the most Republican states in the nation and Trump has never held a rally there as president .
“ By clicking register below , you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present , ” Trump ’ s campaign advised those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By attending the Rally , you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President , Inc. ” liable for illness or injury .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON (AP) — At the White House, aides now routinely flout internal rules requiring face masks. The president’s campaign is again scheduling mass arena rallies. And he is back to spending summer weekends at his New Jersey golf club.
Three months after President Donald Trump bowed to the realities of a pandemic that put big chunks of life on pause and killed more Americans than several major wars, Trump is back to business as usual — even as coronavirus cases are on the upswing in many parts of the country.
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While the nation has now had months to prepare stockpiles of protective gear and ventilators, a vaccine still is many months away at best and a model cited by the White House projects tens of thousands of more deaths by the end of September.
Amid renewed fears of a virus resurgence, financial markets — frequently highlighted by Trump as a sign of economic recovery — suffered their worst drop since March on Thursday.
At the White House, though, officials played down the severity of the virus surge and sought to blame it on factors beyond Trump’s forceful push to reopen the economy, which he’s counting on to help him win reelection.
“The data shows that we are moving in the right direction as a nation,” said Surgeon General Jerome Adams, who stressed the country has a positive testing rate under 6%.
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Still, Adams cautioned at a roundtable with Trump in Texas that while the country has flattened the curve on virus cases, “that doesn’t mean that COVID has gone away, that it’s any less contagious, that it’s any less deadly to vulnerable communities.”
The White House was a late adopter of many of the safety proposals it recommended, eager to project a sense of normalcy even as it relied on strong testing capacity not available to the rest of the nation. Now Trump, who watched the human and economic toll of the virus take the wind out of his campaign sails, sees even greater urgency in returning to how things were — no matter the state of the virus.
At the White House, the coronavirus task force has dramatically scaled back both its visibility and its operations. It now meets once or twice a week on an as-needed basis instead of every day.
White House officials say that, because response systems have already been put in place and a strategy developed, there’s no longer a need for a whole-of-government response. Still, the president receives regular briefings, and the vice president gets briefed multiple times a day.
Yet Trump has taken to talking about the pandemic in the past tense — an “invisible enemy” conquered — rather than one still ravaging a nation that has, in recent weeks, also been consumed by mass protests following George Floyd’s killing by police.
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Within the White House complex, many staffers have been flouting directions issued last month to limit their entry to the West Wing and advising “everyone who enters the West Wing to wear a mask or facial covering” unless they are sitting at their desks and at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) away from colleagues. The directive came after two White House officials — the vice president’s press secretary and a presidential valet — tested positive for the virus, sending panic waves through the building.
Weeks later, staff members are frequently seen walking around the West Wing without masks. That includes at meetings with the president, such as a Wednesday roundtable with African American supporters. White House staff have also declined to wear masks on Air Force One, even in close proximity to the president.
Vice President Mike Pence, for his part, tweeted — and then deleted ― a photo of himself posing with staff huddled together at the reelection campaign’s headquarters. No one appeared to be wearing a mask. The White House and campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
The visual return to normalcy comes as the country surpassed 2 million COVID-19 cases this week, with new hot spots emerging in battleground states like Arizona and cases rising in nearly half of states, according to an Associated Press analysis. Though some states that have moved quickly to reopen have not seen a surge, others have seen escalations.
Yet Trump has continued to travel — even to states that still have restrictions — and announced this week that he’ll resume his signature campaign rallies beginning next Friday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The state, which was among the earliest to begin loosening coronavirus restrictions, has a relatively low rate of infection but has seen cases rising.
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“They’ve done a great job with COVID, as you know, the state of Oklahoma,” Trump said Wednesday.
Campaign officials chose the location knowing Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt would raise no objections. Stitt’s most recent reopening phase places no limits on the size of group gatherings. The campaign hopes the location will all but guarantee a large crowd, since Oklahoma is one of the most Republican states in the nation and Trump has never held a rally there as president.
Still, the reality could not be completely ignored.
“By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present,” Trump’s campaign advised those signing up for the rally. “By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.” liable for illness or injury.
Trump is also planning events in Arizona and Florida — states where cases are on the upswing. In Arizona, hospitals have been told to prepare for the worst as hospitalizations have surged.
Trump this month decided that he would no longer hold the marquee event of the Republican National Convention —- his acceptance speech — in North Carolina after the state refused to guarantee that he could fill an arena to capacity with maskless supporters. It’s being moved to Jacksonville, Florida.
For the White House, the priority is regaining economic momentum.
___
Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report.