Monday, June 29, 2020

The Rundown: COVID-19 Deaths, Cases Reach Milestones

The Wall Street Journal 6/29/20
The number of confirmed coronavirus deaths and cases worldwide both passed milestones on Sunday, topping 500,000 deaths and 10 million confirmed cases. About one-quarter of both global deaths and cases are in the U.S., with more than 125,800 deaths as of early this morning, according to Johns Hopkins University's count, and more than 2,548,000 confirmed cases.

Source: Worldometer
There's been a rise in coronavirus cases compared to last week in 36 states, with just two states -- Connecticut and Rhode Island -- reporting a decline and 12 states holding steady. With worrying outbreaks continuing to expand in Southern and Western states, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on NBC's Meet the Press yesterday that the, quote, "window is closing" to get the pandemic under control in the U.S. He stated, "We have to act, and people as individuals have to act responsibly. We need to social-distance. We need to wear our face-coverings if we’re in settings where we can’t social-distance, particularly in these hot zones."



At least 12 states have stopped or rolled back their re-openings because of growing spread of the virus. Among them: Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Friday closed bars and limited in-restaurant dining; California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered bars closed in seven counties, and urged eight other counties to issue local health orders doing so; and some beaches in Florida were ordered closed again.

➤TRUMP DENIES BEING TOLD RUSSIA OFFERED BOUNTIES FOR KILLING U.S. TROOPS: President Trump on Sunday denied that he was briefed on the conclusion by U.S. intelligence months ago that Russia offered bounties to Taliban militants for killing American and British troops in Afghanistan. The New York Times first reported the story on Friday, which said Trump had been briefed on the intelligence assessment, but there have been conflicting reports since on whether Trump was told or not. Trump tweeted a denial yesterday that he or Vice President Mike Pence had been told, and last night tweeted that he'd just been told he wasn't given the information because intelligence officials didn't find it credible.


Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported yesterday that the bounties offered by Russia are believed to have led to the deaths of multiple U.S. troops, citing U.S. intelligence gathered from military interrogations, although it's not clear how many. CNN cited a U.S. official as saying there had been some efforts to protect U.S. forces because of the intelligence. Both Russia and the Taliban have denied the bounty claim.

➤TRUMP TWEETS VIDEO WITH 'WHITE POWER' CHANT, THEN DELETES AND WHITE HOUSE DENIES HE HEARD IT: President Trump yesterday approvingly tweeted a video that included a supporter chanting "white power" before later deleting it, with the White House saying he hadn't heard the white supremacist slogan. The video taken at The Villages retirement community in Florida showed demonstrations between supporters and opponents of Trump. About nine seconds into it, a man in a golf cart with pro-Trump flags and signs shouts "white power" twice as anti-Trump protesters shout "Nazi" and "racist" at him and other Trump supporters. Trump tweeted the video clip with the message, "Thank you to the great people of The Villages." The White House spokesman statement after Trump deleted the video said: "President Trump is a big fan of The Villages. He did not hear the one statement made on the video. What he did see was tremendous enthusiasm from his many supporters."

➤MISSISSIPPI LAWMAKERS VOTE TO REMOVE CONFEDERATE SYMBOL FROM STATE FLAG: Mississippi lawmakers voted Sunday to remove the Confederate battle emblem from their state flag, with the state Senate voting 37-14 to change the flag hours after the state House voted 91-23 to do so. Republican Governor Tate Reeves has said he will sign the legislation. A commission will design a new state flag that can't include the Confederate symbol and must have the words "In God We Trust." Voters will be asked to approve the new flag design in the November 3rd election, and if they reject it, the commission will come up with a new design that voters will again get to approve or not.


➤PATRIOTS REACH DEAL WITH QUARTERBACK CAM NEWTON: The New England Patriots have reached a deal with free-agent Cam Newton to be their new quarterback, according to multiple reports last night. The 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player has agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million. The Patriots didn't say anything, but Newton posted on Instagram: "I’m as excited as I don't what right now!! All praise to God!! Dropping content tomorrow!! I hope you’re ready!! Let’sgoPats." Newton will be taking over from Tom Brady, who left the Patriots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after 20 seasons and six Super Bowl championships.

➤PATRIOTS FINED $1.1 MILLION FOR TAPING BENGALS' SIDELINE DURING GAME: The New England Patriots have been fined $1.1 million by the NFL for filming the Cincinnati Bengals’ sideline during a game last season, and the league also took away a third-round pick in the 2021 draft. The sideline filming took place during a Bengals game against the Browns in Cleveland last December. The Patriots said when word surfaced about the taping that the video crew was producing a web series called Do Your Job when it, quote, "inappropriately" filmed the field as part of a feature on the scouting department. Patriots coach Bill Belichick said he hadn't watched any of the footage and neither had his coaching staff.

➤JOHNSON WINS TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Dustin Johnson won the Travelers Championship on Sunday, beating fellow American Kevin Streelman by one stroke at TPC River Highlands golf course in Connecticut. He finished at 19-under 261 for his 21st PGA Tour title. As with all PGA tournaments since its coronavirus suspension ended, there were no fans in attendance.

➤HAMLIN WINS AT POCONO, DAY'S THIRD RACE: Denny Hamlin won at Pocono Raceway on Sunday night, the second NASCAR Cup series race of the weekend at Pocono. Kevin Harvick came in second one day after their positions were reversed in Saturday's race, when he won and Hamlin was second. Pocono also yesterday became the first track in NASCAR history to hold three national series races on the same day, with Hamlin's victory coming after Brandon Jones won a Truck Series race and Chase Briscoe won the Xfinity race.

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