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Thursday, July 16, 2020

The Rundown: Cases Continue To Soar

U.S. coronavirus cases are continuing to soar, with several states continuing to post record or near-record daily numbers, and the four hot-spot states of California, Arizona, Texas and Florida on Wednesday reporting a combined number of some 36,000 new cases and more than 450 deaths. The U.S. overall has had more than 137,400 deaths as of early this morning, according to Johns Hopkins University's count, and just under 3,500,000 confirmed cases.
WSJ 7/16/20
Texas again set a daily record for confirmed new cases, with nearly 10,800, and had a record 110 deaths. California had its second-highest daily totals of both cases, at 11,126, and deaths,140, and the mayor of Los Angeles said they were on the verge of having to shut down all but essential businesses in the city. Meanwhile, Alabama had 40 deaths, which was a one-day record for the state, and officials said face masks will begin to be required. But in Georgia, Republican Governor Brian Kemp banned cities and counties from requiring face masks in public, which voided orders that had been implemented in at least 15 localities, including Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah.

Oklahoma Gov. has Coronavirus: In Oklahoma, Republican Governor Kevin Stitt revealed that he'd tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the first governor announced he had. The 48-year-old said he mostly feels fine, but had been a little "achy," and is quarantining at home. His wife and children all tested negative. Stitt has had one of the nation's most aggressive reopening plans from the coronavirus shutdowns, and has refused to impose a face mask order.

Tampa Bay Times 7/16/20
Walmart, Kohl's, Kroger to Require Face Masks: Walmart announced Wednesday that it will start requiring customers to wear face masks at all Walmart and Sam's Club stores starting Monday, becoming the largest U.S. retailer to do so. Within hours, Kohl's and supermarket chain Kroger also said they will require face masks, Kohl's as of Monday and Kroger starting next Wednesday.

WSJ 7/16/20


➤JUDGE STOPS EXECUTION BECAUSE OF MENTAL FITNESS CLAIM: A federal judge on Wednesday, stopped an execution that was scheduled to take place yesterday because of a mental fitness claim on behalf of the condemned inmate. It would have been the second federal execution in two days after one hadn't previously been carried out in 17 years. Wesley Ira Purkey was convicted in the 1998 kidnapping and murder of a 16-year-old girl. His attorneys argued that because the 68-year-old now suffers from dementia, he can't understand why he's supposed to be put to death. The Justice Department appealed U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan's injunctions, which were upheld by an appeals court, and a Supreme Court appeal was pending.

➤GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY SUES MINNEAPOLIS, FOUR POLICE OFFICERS: The family of George Floyd filed a civil rights lawsuit yesterday against the city of Minneapolis and the four police officers who've been charged in his death, contending that the officers violated Floyd’s rights and the city allowed a police culture of excessive force, racism and impunity. Floyd family attorney Benjamin Crump said the lawsuit seeks to set a precedent, quote, "that makes it financially prohibitive for police to wrongfully kill marginalized people -- especially Black people -- in the future."

The lawsuit was filed the say day a court allowed the public to see video of the incident from the body cameras of two of the charged police officers. However, it must be viewed by appointment, and has not been allowed to be be released more widely, including to the media. As described by the Associated Press, Floyd in the video seems distraught as soon as police ask him to step out of his car, after they'd been called on suspicion that he'd used a counterfeit $20 bill in a grocery store. He's soon handcuffed and gets more panicky, telling the officers he's claustrophobic and pleading not to be put in the back of the police car, saying, "I'm not a bad guy!" Later, as he's lying facedown on the street with one officer's knee on his neck, he says, "I can't breathe" at least 20 times before going still.

2021 Rose Parade Cancelled LA times 7/16/20


➤TYRA BANKS IS ‘EXCITED’ TO BREAK BARRIERS ON DWTS: Tyra Banks is thrilled be able to break barriers for Black women. The latest opportunity comes as host of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. She tells Good Morning America: "I like breaking these doors down so that we don’t have any more firsts, but it’s nice to be first so that you can open that door and let so many people in after you." Banks was also the first Black model to cover both the Victoria’s Secret catalog and the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. She was also the first female model to cover GQ. "I’m used to the model [firsts], but today’s the first time I’m hearing this first Dancing with the Stars black woman, I never even thought of that," Banks admitted. She told fans to get ready for a “next level” season. "We’re doing all this crazy stuff, taking it to the next level, but still keeping the stuff America loves."

Orlando Sentinel 7/16/20
➤ELLIOTT WINS NASCAR'S ALL-STAR RACE BEFORE SOME 20,000 FANS: Chase Elliott won NASCAR's annual All-Star race and its $1 million prize last night at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, getting the victory before a limited number of fans that were allowed in the stands.

The state of Tennessee allowed up to 30,000 tickets to be sold for the race at Bristol, which can hold up to 140,000 spectators, and AP said there looked to be about 20,000 people there, the most fans at a sporting event in the U.S. since sports have slowly begun returning from their coronavirus shutdowns. The fans were socially distanced in the stands, but masks were only required when they entered, with the spectators told they could remove them once they got to their seats. After the race, the fans exited by row.

➤BROWNS SIGN GARRETT TO FIVE-YEAR, $125 MILLION EXTENSION: The Cleveland Browns signed defensive end Myles Garrett to a five-year, $125 million contract extension Wednesday, making the 24-year-old the NFL's highest-paid defensive player. The extension comes after Garrett, who was the Number 1 overall draft pick in 2017, was suspended for six games last season for ripping off Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Mason Rudolph's helmet and hitting him in the head with it at the end of a November game. Garrett claimed he did it because Rudolph used a racial slur against him, but the quarterback denied it. Browns general manager Andrew Berry referred to the incident yesterday, saying, "Myles has been accountable for his mistake and we view the incident as well out of character. We don’t believe one moment should define him based on how he has handled himself prior to and in the months after last year’s incident."

➤HENRY AGREES TO FOUR-YEAR, $50 MILLION EXTENSION WITH TITANS: Running back Derrick Henry agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract extension with the Tennessee Titans yesterday. Henry led the NFL with 1,540 yards rushing last season with 303 carries, which were both career highs, and ran 83 more times in the postseason. The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner also became the first player in NFL history to run for at least 180 yards in three consecutive games.

➤CASINO MAGNATE ADELSON JOINS GROUP TRYING TO BUY THE METS: Billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson is joining a group that's bidding to be the new owners of MLB's New York Mets, the New York Post reported yesterday. The group is led by Josh Harris, the owner of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL's New Jersey Devils. The 86-year-old Adelson is worth some $30 billion. Four groups have advanced to the second round of bidding for the Mets, including one headlined by former New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, actress/singer Jennifer Lopez, and and current and former NFL players Brian Urlacher, Travis Kelce and DeMarco Murray.

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