Surfing casualty, hen refunds, boat sickness: News from around our 50 states
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Alabama
Montgomery: A review of Alabama school districts’ plans for reopening during the coronavirus pandemic finds that few districts provide clear guidance about what would force them to close schools again. AL.com said the plans instead refer to guidance from local health officials and the Alabama Department of Public Health. The newspaper said more than half of the state’s 138 districts have unveiled plans for how to start the new school year. Its review of those plans found nearly all give parents the choice of sending children to the classroom or having them learn virtually. Most also lay out in detail how the district would respond to a child or teacher bringing the virus to school. Baldwin County is one of a few districts that have plans to screen students for a fever at school. Many plans require students to wear masks when riding the bus. But the newspaper said what level of virus spread would trigger districts to close again is generally less clear.
Alaska
Unalaska: A factory fishing vessel that docked in Dutch Harbor on the Aleutian Islands has 85 crew members infected on board with the novel coronavirus, officials said. The boat named the American Triumph has departed the Dutch Harbor community of Unalaska late Sunday or early Monday and will travel hundreds of miles to the community of Seward, arriving Wednesday, Alaska’s Energy Desk reported Sunday. The 85 infected workers represent more than two-thirds of the crew on the ship owned by Seattle-based American Seafoods Group LLC, one of the largest firms in the billion-dollar Bering Sea pollock fishery. The crew members who tested positive and medical personnel will be taken to Anchorage for further care and monitoring after the ship arrives in Seward. American Seafoods spokeswoman Suzanne Lagoni said all crew members will be housed in a secure facility in Anchorage. The Triumph will be “deep cleaned and sanitized” before continuing to fish for pollock in the Bering Sea, Lagoni said. Lagoni cited privacy protection when declining to provide a breakdown of the nationalities of crew members. The ship arrived in Unalaska Thursday with seven crew members reporting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection. The seven workers tested positive, leading to virus screening of the remaining 112 crew by Unalaska clinic Iliuliuk Family and Health Services. All crew members were restricted to the vessel or isolation locations while the ship was docked in Unalaska, city officials said. Unalaska is the largest community in Alaska without a critical access hospital, and the nearest emergency room is almost 1,000 miles away in Anchorage.
Arizona
Phoenix: Hospitalizations from the novel coronavirus are on a slight downturn in Arizona, along with the number of people on ventilators and in intensive care units, according to the latest state figures. Arizona reported 1,559 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday and 23 deaths, but not all hospitals submit data over the weekend. The new numbers bring the state’s case total to 145,183 infections and deaths to 2,784. Arizona had been experiencing some of the highest rates of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in the country since Gov. Doug Ducey lifted a stay-at-home order in mid-May. Hospitalizations reported Monday were at the lowest level in more than two weeks, a sign that Arizona’s COVID-19 outbreak might be moderating. The number of people on ventilators and in intensive care also has decreased. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick. Only about a third of the 15,000 available testing appointment slots were used at two testing sites run by the federal government in Phoenix over the weekend, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. The federal government agreed to do 5,000 tests per day for 12 days amid pressure over a lack of testing as Arizona’s coronavirus cases soared. The federal testing sites promise results in about two to three days. Meanwhile, Sonora Quest, which processes a majority of the rest of the testing in Arizona, said results are taking more than a week, and in some cases as long as 12 days, according to its website. Sonora Quest plans to significantly upgrade its processing capacity but has struggled with a huge crush of samples to process.
Arkansas
Little Rock: The state reported nearly 700 confirmed new cases of the novel coronavirus on Monday, the first day of a statewide mask mandate that has drawn some resistance from local leaders and law enforcement. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson said hospitalizations remained at a troubling level, and he authorized the use of 10 National Guard members to support a hospital in northwest Arkansas. The true number of cases in Arkansas is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick. In south Arkansas, the El Dorado Police Department said Sunday that its officers would not wear masks while on duty, and the officers wouldn’t enforce the mask mandate either, the El Dorado-News Times reported. “A mask can significantly inhibit communication both verbal and non-verbal,” Police Chief Kenny Hickman said in a statement. “That is a compromise we cannot afford to include as a general practice. Our officers will observe ‘social distancing’ whenever possible.” Violators face a fine of up to $500 but can’t be arrested or detained under Hutchinson’s order. First-time offenders and people under 18 receive only verbal or written warnings under the order.
California
San Francisco: Another California death row inmate has died from what appears to be complications of the novel coronavirus amid an outbreak sweeping through San Quentin State Prison, authorities said Monday. Troy A. Ashmus, 58, died Monday outside of the prison near San Francisco, according to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The exact cause of his death was under investigation but appeared to be COVID-19-related, prison officials said. Ashmus was the seventh death row prisoner and the 12th overall at San Quentin to die from confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infections. Ashmus was sent to death row in 1986. convicted of raping 7-year-old Marcella Davis, who had biked to a Sacramento park in May 1984. Plastic bags, cellophane and the girl’s own shorts were shoved down her throat, prosecutors said. There have been nearly 7,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases among inmates in the state prison system, including more than 2,000 active cases and 39 confirmed deaths, according to state figures. Dozens of inmates are hospitalized, some of them in intensive care. More than 800 employees also have active cases of COVID-19, according to corrections officials.
Colorado
Denver: Staggered schedules, face coverings, limited contact among students and the option of remote learning are just a few of the changes state health and education officials recommended Monday as public school districts across the state prepare for the fall semester amid the coronavirus pandemic. Katy Anthes, Colorado’s commissioner of education, said during a virtual news conference that the State Board of Education had met with health officials to create the guidelines, many of which are backed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We’re entering this very new territory. We’ve never had to start school in an environment like this,” she said. “And so what we’re trying to do is build guidance. … I know that we won’t be able to eliminate all risk, and we’re honest about that.” Anthes and health officials recommended many practices that have become familiar during the pandemic, such as social distancing, wearing face coverings and sanitizing surfaces. But a busy school environment poses unique challenges, including isolating students in groups, or “cohorts,” to limit the spread of the disease. Dr. Brian Erly, an epidemiologist for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said keeping students in such groups “is an essential component of our guidance.”
Connecticut
Hartford: Scientists at Connecticut’s public health laboratory said they have discovered a flaw in a manufacturer’s testing system for the novel coronavirus that’s used by labs across the country. So far, it has resulted in 90 people – mostly residents of Connecticut nursing homes and assisted living facilities – recently receiving false positive tests. State public health officials are now reviewing whether nursing home residents who received false positive tests were grouped with other residents with accurate positive tests, given the state’s recommendation to cohort nursing home residents who test positive for COVID-19. “We don’t know that yet,” said Josh Geballe, Gov. Ned Lamont’s chief operating officer, noting that a team from the state’s Department of Public Health has been reaching out to every clinician responsible for those individuals, as well as the facilities where they live, and compiling data on the situation. Meanwhile, Dr. Deidre S. Gifford, the state’s acting public health commissioner, said her agency is also reaching out to labs throughout the state to see how many of them use the testing platform manufactured by Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Delaware
Wilmington:Nearly 60% of the full-time staff at The Grand will be laid off next month as the crippling impact of the COVID-19 pandemic slams the landmark 149-year-old Market Street theater, officials told The News Journal on Monday night. Among those losing their positions is Stephen Bailey, The Grand’s managing director of programming. Bailey will stay on in a consulting role, and will take a 35% pay cut along with the remaining senior staff, said Mark Fields, The Grand’s executive director. Fields said 19 out of 33 paid full-time staff positions will be eliminated across all departments of the nonprofit theater, which also leans on an army of about 230 volunteers, who donate 24,000 hours annually. All of the remaining 14 full-time staffers will be taking pay cuts, he added. Also announced, Bailey’s former position will be filled by Matthew Hubner, The Grand’s current associate director of programming. Bailey had previously been executive director of the theater for eight years until 2014, when Fields took over. The Grand and its distinctive white cast iron façade played host to the likes of cowboy showman Buffalo Bill Cody and American composer John Philip Sousa in its earliest days dating to 1871. More recently, everyone from Willie Nelson, Wilco and The White Stripes to Keb’ Mo’, Melissa Etheridge and The Pixies have graced its well-worn stage.
District of Columbia
Washington:The city is looking for ways to shore up its finances in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Commercials advertisements might get taxed, WUSA-TV reported. On Tuesday, the D.C. Council is expected to vote on a proposed 3% tax for all media ads like billboards and commercials. It would affect all media outlets from websites to newspapers to television stations like WUSA. The council believes the ad tax could raise up to $18 million to offset the city’s losses from the pandemic. All outlets would be taxed 3% on ad sales. Business leaders believe that tax would likely get passed onto businesses that want to advertise. “Every time you’re going to make an ad, let’s say you’re a small restaurant. It is going to cost you 3% more,” said Angela Franco, from the D.C. Chamber of Commerce. “But its like 3% here, 3% there. Add that to all the tension (businesses) are already going through with the coronavirus.” The council is in the middle budget negotiations for the 2021 fiscal year. The loss in revenue from the pandemic has created shortfalls in some areas. The council has discussed income and sales tax increases. In addition to the proposed ad-sales tax, the council is also looking to raise the gasoline tax in the city. If that gas tax is raised, it would equal the gas tax level for nearby Virginia. The council also has proposed cuts to the Metropolitan police budget, as well as redirecting some police funding to other community efforts. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has opposed the advertising tax.
Florida
Melbourne: Add surfing to the list of coronavirus casualties. The World Surf League has canceled the 2020 men’s and women’s seasons. The organization said the decision was made based on the uncertainty of international travel and a desire to protect the health of the athletes. The secondary CT level events and the qualifying series were also canceled. “While we firmly believe that surfing is among the sports best suited for competition to be held safely during the age of unresolved COVID, we have huge respect for the ongoing concerns of many in our community as the world works to resolve this,” WSL CEO Erik Logan said in a video announcement. Florida Today reported the cancellation puts 11-time world champion Kelly Slater’s future in doubt, although 11 months rest could be the elixir for the Cocoa Beach, Fla., superstar. It would be his 30th season on the world circuit. It’s unclear if Slater would return. He suffered a broken foot two seasons ago. The 2021 season is set to start in December in Oahu, Hawaii, if state and local governments approve and depending on international travel restrictions.
Georgia
Atlanta: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo traveled to Georgia on Monday, pledging to help the city of Savannah fight COVID-19, in a barely concealed rebuke to Georgia’s Republican leadership as virus cases continued to rise in the state. Cuomo declined to directly criticize Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, but warmly praised Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, a native New Yorker who has been a scorching critic of Kemp in recent days. Cuomo said New York has to be interested in what’s happening in other parts of the country because infected people from other states are likely to spread virus cases in New York, and has previously promised to aid Atlanta and Houston. He portrayed his mission as an effort to help overcome political divisions on how to fight COVID-19. “This virus, it preys upon the weak and the vulnerable,” Cuomo said. “It’s the weak body that has trouble resolving the virus. The American body is in many ways, weak, right now. The body politic is weakened.” Cuomo also backed mask use, saying that “somehow in this crazy partisan world we’ve even politicized a virus.” Cuomo delivered masks, test kits, gowns, face shields and hand sanitizer. He said he would help Savannah set up two new public testing sites aimed at lower income people and said he would share contact tracing expertise. Kemp spokesperson Candace Broce declined to comment on Cuomo’s visit. Kemp separately announced a previously promised initiative with Mako Medical, a North Carolina lab company, to increase Georgia’s government testing capacity by 10,000 per day, providing results within 48 hours. Kemp spokesperson Cody Hall said Georgia will pay $100 to $110 per test and chose Mako because it offered the best combination of price, turnaround time and capacity.
Hawaii
Kailua-Kona: The mayor of Hawaii County said the state will not be ready to reopen to tourists Sept. 1 or accept university students from outside the state by Aug. 24. Mayor Harry Kim criticized plans to use a combination of preflight testing and 14-day quarantines for travelers who are not tested or who test positive before arriving in Hawaii, West Hawaii Today reported Sunday. The system is not feasible without methods of effectively separating the two groups and properly monitoring those who need to be quarantined, he said. The state was not ready for those measures when it set Aug.1 as the first proposed date for reopening and will not be ready to reopen Sept. 1, Kim said. Democratic Gov. David Ige announced July 13 he would wait until Sept. 1 to waive the 14-day quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers who test negative for COVID-19. Kim urged Ige and Hawaii’s other mayors not to attach a date to reopening, but instead to wait until the state is ready, especially in light of what he called the “explosive” situation of double-digit increases in coronavirus cases and deaths in the continental U.S. Kim has often been at odds with the governor and other mayors in discussions over reopening since Ige’s administration announced strict health and travel restrictions in March to stem the spread of the virus.
Idaho
Boise: Lawmakers concerned that Republican Gov. Brad Little has too much power following his emergency declaration because of the coronavirus pandemic considered on Monday ways to reconvene after the regular legislative session has ended. Draft legislation pitched to the State Affairs Working Group would require the governor to call the part-time Legislature back into session whenever the governor makes an emergency declaration. Lawmakers are also considering a constitutional amendment allowing lawmakers to call themselves back into session if that’s what a majority of lawmakers want. Such an amendment would have to be approved by voters. The working group didn’t make any policy votes, but instead considered potential legislation for the 2021 Legislature. Idaho’s first recorded infection came on March 13, and just three weeks later, on April 4, Idaho had 1,000 infections. Little took decisive action, issuing an emergency declaration on March 13 and a stay-at-home order on March 25 after community spread was confirmed first in Blaine County and then in highly populated Ada County, which includes Boise. Community spread is when it’s not clear how a person became infected. Little extended the stay-at-home order to April 30, and the state has since been working through a four-stage reopening that has stalled with a sharp increase in infections. Little also turned the May primary into a vote-by-mail-only primary, a first for Idaho. Some businesses have had to shut down under Little’s order, and the state has taken a huge economic hit. Little, with advice from committees he has formed that include lawmakers, has directed where the money goes. Several lawmakers said they didn’t necessarily disagree with the actions Little has taken in dealing with the pandemic, but that one person shouldn’t have that much power. “We’ve not been part of the process,” said Republican Rep. Jason Monks, the assistant majority leader. “I’m not necessarily as concerned about the results as I am about the process. There could be a very different person occupying that office.”
Illinois
Chicago: The city will again impose restrictions on bars, gyms and personal services, like facials, to fight a recent spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said. Starting Friday, bars and breweries not serving food can’t offer indoor service. Groups at restaurants and bars will be capped at six people, indoor fitness classes will be limited to 10 people and personal services requiring the removal of a mask, like facials, won’t be allowed. “We have made so much progress here in Chicago in containing the spread of the virus, protecting our health system and saving lives, and in general, the virus remains under control locally. But we are again seeing a steady increase in new cases,” Lightfoot said in a statement. “While we aren’t near the peak of the pandemic from earlier this year, none of us wants to go back there, and we feel these restrictions will help limit further community spread.” Health officials said Chicago has again topped 200 daily cases on average, with the number at 233 on Sunday. City officials said the rise has been driven partly by people, ages 18 to 29, with more activity at bars and restaurants.
Indiana
Indianapolis: Officials in Indiana’s second-largest county and one of the largest Indianapolis suburbs have adopted face mask mandates for residents and businesses to slow the coronavirus spread. The mandates throughout Lake County took effect Monday, and the order for the city of Fishers just northeast of Indianapolis will take effect Friday. Those areas join a growing lists of cities and counties across the state imposing such mask requirements. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb has declined to issue a statewide mandate even while encouraging face masks as the state has seen recent growth in the number of coronavirus infections and hospitalizations. Lake County’s health department issued the requirement for mouth and nose face covering inside a businesses or other public places where people cannot maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing. Mask requirements have been issued for the cities of Indianapolis, Evansville and West Lafayette, along with LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart and LaGrange counties in northern Indiana and Monroe County, which includes Bloomington and Indiana University’s main campus.
Iowa
Des Moines: Iowa producers who euthanized hens as a result of plummeting demand for eggs caused by coronavirus shutdowns will be eligible for government payments to cover disposal costs, a state agency said Monday. The Iowa Disposal Assistance Program has been paying pork producers $40 for each market-ready hog they euthanized as a result of supply chain disruptions. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship said the program would be extended for another round of funding and expanded to include costs related to euthanized piglets and egg-laying hens. The department said 70% of Iowa egg-laying hen flocks are tied to the liquid egg market, which serves restaurants and schools. Demand for products dropped as a result of business and government closures that began in March. The price of liquid eggs dropped by 68%, the department said, and producers responded by reducing the size of their flocks. Iowa has about 58 million egg-laying hens and is the nation’s top state for egg production and processing, according to the Iowa Poultry Association. Egg producers will be eligible for 25 cents for each hen that they euthanized between April 1 and July 20. They must provide proof of disposal and other documentation, including an affidavit from a veterinarian, when they apply between Aug. 6 and Aug. 14. Under the extension announced Monday, pork producers will be eligible for $40 payments for each market-ready hog of 225 pounds or greater disposed of between June 23 and July 20. In addition, they can claim up to $4 for every piglet of up to 25 pounds that they euthanized between May 1 and July 20. So far, 16 hog producers have filed claims for the disposal of 64,641 hogs and been paid nearly $2.6 million, department communications director Keely Coppess said. The program is funded by money from a federal law that provided coronavirus aid to states.
Kansas
Wichita: The Sedgwick County Commission has no immediate plans to follow a White House task force report that lays out additional measures officials should take to slow the spread of COVID-19. A White House Coronavirus Task Force report released Thursday by the Center for Public Integrity said communities and states were considered in the red zone if they had more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people in the week before the July 14 report. Sedgwick County is in the “red zone” for cases, the Wichita Eagle reported. The report called for more restrictive public health mandates, such as closing bars and more limits on gatherings. “It’s a lot to comprehend to try to figure out what’s real and what’s not,” Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Pete Meitzner said. Commissioner Lacey Cruse has been the lone board member to consistently push for tighter restrictions. “It’s definitely time to look into stronger measures,” Cruse said. “We have a responsibility to slow the spread of this virus and we need to take measures to do that.” Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said Monday hospitals could reach capacities this month as the number of COVID-19 patients surge, based on a weekly call with hospital leaders and city and county officials.
Kentucky
Hazard: A coronavirus outbreak at a southeastern Kentucky school has spread to 38 people, a health official said. The outbreak among Hazard Independent High School football players had spread by Monday to 18 football players, three coaches and 17 family members and close contacts, Kentucky River District Health Department Director Scott Lockard told the Lexington Herald-Leader. Lockard said all 38 have been recovering at home. The school suspended athletic team workouts July 11 after nine players and a coach tested positive for the virus in a cluster, he said. With the increase in cases, he said athletic workouts, practices and training at the school are suspended indefinitely. “The outbreak is related, we feel like is related, to out-of-state travel,” Lockard said, adding that officials think the high school weight room “was a big part of the transmission between the students.” Hazard Independent Superintendent Sondra Combs said last week that the district would delay reopening until Aug. 24 because of “the rising number of positive cases and some anxiety of our families.” Lockard said he could not confirm whether the school was the one Gov. Andy Beshear mentioned during a Friday news conference as an example of how the virus can spread. Beshear declined to identify the school, but said masks were not being worn inside a weight room.
Louisiana
Shreveport:The coronavirus pandemic has forced the Krewe of Centaur to postpone its 2021 Mardi Gras parade, one of the largest in north Louisiana, according to a letter from Centaur Captain Ricky Bridges. “The decision was made for the safety of the members and the public. With these uncertain times we are going through in our country we feel it is in the best interest of the Krewe and the community for us to do our part in following the guidelines set by the State and Federal Government,” Bridges wrote. In a Facebook post, the organization wrote, “This is NOT a cancellation, just a ‘we’ll wait and see.’ No matter what happens, we will continue to be the the Mighty Krewe of Centaur.”’
Maine
Augusta: A virtual fundraiser held by the American Lung Association has raised more than $550,000 for coronavirus research. The association said it raised the money via The Trek Across Maine, which attracted 1,261 cyclists from California to Maine. The trek is usually a three-day, 180-mile cycling event. This year, because of the pandemic, there was no physical event. The American Lung Association said money from the fundraiser will also be used for lung disease prevention efforts. Jeff Seyler, chief division officer of the American Lung Association, said organizers “certainly weren’t going to let a lung-related virus stop our event.” The riders in the event ranged in age from 7 to 84. L.L. Bean was the top fundraising team at more than $36,000, and the top raising individual was Shawn Sabine of Lexington, Massachusetts, at more than $15,000. The cycling event usually happens on Father’s Day weekend.
Maryland
Baltimore: The Baltimore Police Department’s training academy was closed after four trainees and two staff members tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the agency said Monday. The department stopped in-person training Friday and transitioned recruits to online learning following confirmation of the cases, news outlets reported. The academy facility at the University of Baltimore was being cleaned, officials said. As of Monday, 65 Baltimore Police employees have tested positive for the virus since March, news outlets said. Forty-two employees who might have been exposed are currently quarantined. Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said in a statement that officials were researching solutions that would allow the department to resume giving “much-needed training to the members of the department.” “We continue to examine all procedures and precautionary measures put in place to minimize exposure to COVID-19 for all of our members,” Harrison said.
Massachusetts
Boston: Gov. Charlie Baker extended a statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures for another 60 days on Tuesday to help keep residents struggling to pay their rent or mortgage during the coronavirus pandemic. The initial pause took effect in April and was scheduled to expire Aug. 18, but has now been extended until Oct. 17. The law suspends most residential and small business commercial evictions, as well as residential foreclosures, but does not relieve tenants or homeowners of their obligations to make rent or mortgage payments. It does bar landlords from sending notifications to residential tenants that threaten eviction or termination of a lease, and requires lenders to grant a forbearance for up to 180 days if a homeowner is experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic. The state has also set up a $20 million Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance Fund to help low-income households make payments.
Michigan
Ludington: A northern Michigan restaurant lost thousands of dollars in sales after a busboy said he had COVID-19, but the employee just wanted a day off and lied, a manager said. “It was heartbreaking,” said David Hritco, manager at Timbers Seafood and Steakhouse in Ludington. “I worried about my staff. I worried about well now do I have COVID?” Timbers was forced to close Friday and Saturday after the COVID-19 claim and had to cancel a wedding rehearsal party, Hritco said. The timing was terrible for the restaurant, which is trying to recover during the peak summer season after months of being closed. “It’s our second busiest weekend of the year,” Hritco said. The employee confessed to the lie Saturday night, Hritco told 9and10news.com. “He doesn’t know what he did, and I feel terrible for him because this is a young kid that made a mistake,” Hritco said. “But this is now a police matter.”
Minnesota
Minneapolis: Travelers will be required to wear face coverings at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Metropolitan Airports Commission approved the resolution Monday. The new requirement takes effect next Monday and applies to all public spaces at the airport, including outdoor locations where people cannot reliably maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from others. The regulation also applies in terminals, parking ramps, shuttle buses, trams, rental car operations and other similar facilities. Commission CEO Brian Ryks said as COVID-19 cases continue to rise, “it is clear that face coverings along with social distancing and frequent hand washing or sanitizing are key to keep ourselves and those around us safer.” Ryks said that a growing number of airports already require face coverings. There are exceptions for people who cannot wear a mask for reasons of health, safety or disability, and for eating and drinking. Children 2 years and younger or unaccompanied minors 12 or younger are also excluded. Free face coverings are available at information booths at the airport’s terminals.
Mississippi
Jackson: Within two weeks, Mississippi hospitals will need to start housing patients two-to-a room and placing beds in open wards and other areas where patients don’t usually stay to keep up with the surge in new coronavirus cases, the state health officer said Monday. “If we don’t see a decrease in transmission immediately, then it’s pretty likely that the health care system is going to be thoroughly overwhelmed,” Dr. Thomas Dobbs said at a news briefing. On Monday, 943 people were hospitalized in Mississippi with confirmed cases of coronavirus and 293 people were fighting the virus in intensive care. And 40% of all patients in Mississippi’s ICU’s have coronavirus compared with 31% of patients just last Friday, a “phenomenal number,” Dobbs said. “The fact that we are growing so quickly really tells us that we are at the verge of really pushing our system over its capacity,” he said. “In large measure, we are already there.” The rising cases have forced leaders to take action. Starting Monday, people were required to wear masks in public in 23 of the 82 counties under a new executive order by Gov. Tate Reeves. Those 23 counties cover 55% to 60% of the state population, Reeves said on a call with the White House coronavirus task force Monday.
Missouri
Springfield:Missouri State University unveiled a proposed masking policy Tuesday that requires face coverings in all classroom buildings, in learning spaces in nonclassroom buildings – such as Meyer Library – and in areas where social distancing is difficult. Under the proposal, faculty and staff will be able to decide masking requirements in their private offices. “I anticipate most will require masks be worn,” MSU President Clif Smart wrote in a blog post Tuesday. Smart said he plans to submit the proposed masking policy to the Board of Governors next month during a retreat. The board is expected to make a final decision. A city ordinance requiring masking in Springfield excepted universities. But Smart said MSU’s policy ought to be “consistent with the spirit of the ordinance” even if it is not identical. For example, it does not require masking throughout the Plaster Student Union, but the office for the Dean of Students, located in the building, has decided to require masks in its workspace. “This is a perfectly appropriate decision under the draft policy,” Smart wrote. The policy, if approved by the board, is expected to be in place through Dec. 31. It will apply to students, faculty, staff and visitors. According to the university, individuals with an underlying disability will be able to ask for a “reasonable accommodation” to the masking requirement. For exemptions, students should contact the Disability Resource Center and employees should contact the Deputy Compliance Officer. Students without an exemption who refuse to wear a mask in a classroom or academic setting will be subject to “administrative withdrawal.” Students who fail to comply with masking in other parts of campus will face disciplinary action. Employees without an exemption who refuse to wear a mask will face disciplinary action that might include dismissal.
Montana
Billings: Montana’s unemployment rate dropped sharply in June as many businesses reopened, but the state’s economic rebound from the coronavirus pandemic remained on shaky ground as confirmed infections have risen. Led by hiring in the leisure and hospitality sectors, the number of people employed increased by more than 20,000, driving a 2 percentage point drop in the unemployment rate to 7.1%, state officials said. That’s one of the lowest rates in the U.S. and well below the national rate of 11.1%. But employment in Montana remains roughly 4% below prepandemic levels. That’s equal to about 21,000 fewer jobs. Officials have said repeatedly that controlling the virus’s spread is key to getting the economy fully functioning. So far that’s not happening, and a national virus testing backlog threatened to make matters worse as Montana state and local officials said they were scaling back testing of people who have not shown any symptoms. That will mean about 1,000 fewer tests a day until the problem is resolved, said Marissa Perry, a spokesperson for Gov. Steve Bullock. By comparison, an average of about 2,500 virus tests daily were completed over the past 10 days. For now, priority will be given to patients showing symptoms of illness and those who have had close contact with an infected or symptomatic person, officials said.
Nebraska
Omaha: The trial of a man charged with two murders will be rescheduled after the suspect’s sister, who had been sitting in the courtroom, tested positive for COVID-19. Douglas County District Judge Marlon Polk declared a mistrial Monday in the case of Nyir Kuek, who is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and three firearms charges in the June 2019 deaths of Michael Sykora, 57, and Tracy Atkins, 50, in a Florence-area home. Kuek’s sister was in court for opening statements Friday and later informed attorneys she had tested positive for COVID-19, The Omaha World-Herald reported. Douglas County Health Director Adi Pour said the safest action would be to reschedule the trial. Prosecution and defense attorneys agreed with the recommendation. The trial was the first in the county for several months because of the coronavirus pandemic. The trial was delayed in March and Kuek agreed to have his trial serve as a test for future trials because he was eager to have his case heard, The World-Herald reported. Jurors’ temperatures were checked each morning of the trial, which started last week. Masks also were required and seating in the courtroom was reconfigured for social distancing.
Nevada
Reno:Bishop Manogue Catholic High School is planning for a hybrid fall semester rotating students between attending three days a week with two days at home. It is similar to Washoe County School District’s plan to rotate high school students between in class and distance learning every other day. Although public schools in the county will require masks for all students, Manogue goes a step further by requiring students and staff to wear a mask and a face shield. When not in class, students will only be required to wear a mask. In a letter to parents, Manogue Principal Brianne Thoreson said the school is planning for all three possibilities for the fall semester, including a full distance learning planning or a full return to campus. But it’s the hybrid plan that is likely under the state’s current mandates to reduce occupancy by 50%. Under the plan, which must be approved the school’s board and the Catholic Diocese, the school said it will require parents to electronically submit a health form including verifying a student’s temperature every day. Students will alternate schedule by last name with students in an “A” and “B” week schedule, learning at school three days a week and at home two days a week. The private school said it purchased microphones and webcams and teachers will be teaching students at school and at home simultaneously.
New Hampshire
Concord: Students of all ages are eager to return to school, but neither parents nor teachers are confident that young children or teens will comply with restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to a survey released Monday. The state’s school reopening task force heard from more than 56,000 respondents, including nearly 42,000 parents, as it developed the guidance published last week. About 8 in 10 parents surveyed said their children were eager to return to the classroom, though parents were split on whether that should happen. Asked to rank their preferences, about half said their top choice would be onsite instruction. Depending on their children’s grade levels, between 12% and 15% of parents said they would prefer remote learning, and 15% to 21% favored a mix. Among teachers, 38% listed onsite instruction as their top choice, with 27% picking remote learning and 26% favoring a hybrid model. Compared to parents, teachers were more likely to say they would be concerned about their health and safety and that of their students. And teachers were far less likely to say students will be able to maintain new restrictions such as social distancing and avoiding congregating in groups. According to the survey, about half the teachers said they would feel safer if masks were required for students and staff. Parents were less likely to say they would feel safer with mandatory masks: Among parents of the youngest students, only 26% said they would feel safer with mandatory masks for students, while 36% favored masks for staff. Those numbers rose to 36% and 44%, respectively, for parents of high school students.
New Jersey
Trenton: New Jersey on Tuesday added to a list of states where incoming travelers must self-quarantine upon arrival. The 10 states added Tuesday – Alaska, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Virginia and Washington – increased the total number to 31. Minnesota was removed from the list. New York and Connecticut have taken similar actions to stem the spread of the virus from states where it is spiking. The advisory applies to any person arriving from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average. Last week, New Jersey Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said airlines will notify passengers traveling to New Jersey about the survey at their point of departure, and again in flight. The survey will collect information on travelers’ residence and destination, which will then be forwarded to the appropriate county health department. The county will contact the travelers, Persichilli said.
New Mexico
Albuquerque: A zoo closed because of the coronavirus pandemic is trying to raise money by selling paintings – by the zoo’s animals. KOB-TV reported the New Mexico BioPark Society is offering artwork by the ABQ BioPark Zoo’s elephants holding paint brushes in their trunks, snow leopards using their paws and other animals to buy zookeeper equipment. Art collectors can check out the paintings at the Art Gone Wild online gallery. The prices range from $25 to nearly $600. New Mexico BioPark Society development director Allyson Zahm said money raised from the art will be used to buy the zookeepers the things needed for animal enrichment. Zahm said buyers can also pick a color and have Alice, the elephant, paint it for them. She said the zoo will even capture the painting on video. The goal for this month was $3,000. The society reached the goal and hope to continue raising more.
New York
New York City: The city moved to what was supposed to be the final phase of its coronavirus reopening Monday, but with indoor service at restaurants and bars still banned, malls and museums shuttered and theaters still dark amid concerns about the virus spreading indoors. Phase four of the city’s reopening does allow more outdoors arts and reaction activities to open. Media production companies can resume work, a major business in the East Coast entertainment capital. And professional sports teams can resume play, too, though without fans. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the city was not ready for indoor nightlife and he called on local governments Monday to dispatch police to disperse crowds that have been gathering outside some bars and restaurants offering outdoor dining and curbside pick-up of alcoholic beverages. Police departments, including the NYPD, have to “enforce the law” if the crowds get larger than allowed, he said. “It’s not just showing up and watching,” Cuomo said. “The crowd has to be dispersed. It’s violating the law.” Social media posts continue to show crowds gathering outside of bars and restaurants in violation of the state’s social distancing rules and open container laws. “Local governments, you don’t want to enforce the law because you think it’s politically unpopular and you don’t want to do something that’s politically unpopular,” Cuomo said.
North Carolina
Cherokee:Health officials are investigating a cluster of coronavirus cases after five casino employees tested positive for the virus within two weeks. The cases were identified among Harrah’s Cherokee Casino employees who work in the table games section, the Jackson County Department of Public Health said in a news release Monday. They are now following isolation orders. “Based on information provided by the employees and video surveillance records, no other employees or customers have been identified as close contacts as defined by the CDC,” said Brooks Robinson, the casino’s regional manager. “All employees who test positive, show symptoms or have had close contact with someone who has tested positive have been directed not to come to work and to self-isolate.” The casino had closed in March after an executive order was issued by Gov. Roy Cooper aimed at slowing the spread of the virus. The business then announced it would be reopening in late May with 30% capacity, social distancing protocols, and a mask requirement for employees. They said in May that daily “health checks” would also be conducted on casino employees.
North Dakota
Bismarck: Air travel at the state’s eight commercial airports continued to slowly pick up in June after dropping to a historic low in the spring because of the coronavirus pandemic. In April, the state’s airports had about 5,000 passengers, or 5% of usual traffic for their lowest monthly passenger count since record-keeping began 40 years ago. The number of passengers rose to 13,474 in May, and to 24,313 in June, according to the state Aeronautics Commission. The June number was still only about 24% of expected traffic for the month, but it was up from 14% of expected traffic in May, according to Aeronautics Commissioner Kyle Wanner, the Bismarck Tribune reported. “We have now had two consecutive months of passenger growth since the month of April; however, our passengers counts are still only at 24% of precrisis levels,” he said. “Concerns regarding further spread of COVID-19 currently limits the upside of the airline industry and its ability to attract additional demand.” North Dakota has commercial service airports in Bismarck, Minot, Williston, Dickinson, Grand Forks, Fargo, Devils Lake and Jamestown. The Federal Aviation Administration is providing more than $85 million in aid to 53 North Dakota airports through the CARES Act, an economic rescue package. The Bismarck airport is getting more than $20 million.
Ohio
Mason:Kings Island is no longer requiring reservations to visit the park, officials announced Monday. Since the park opened, all guests were required to reserve a date and time of arrival online prior to showing up, even season pass holders. Guests will still need to purchase passes online and fill out a pre-entry health assessment 24 hours before entering the park. “Your responses will be cleared each night, so this must be completed each time you come to the park,” the theme park’s website stated. For more information, visit visitkingsisland.com.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City:Metro Tech classes will begin Aug. 10 for students in 10th through 12th grade in Oklahoma City, Millwood and Crooked Oak Public Schools. Faculty and staff are preparing a plan to teach classes using traditional face-to-face learning and online methods.“We are in unusual times as we navigate through our new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Metro Tech superintendent Aaron Collins. “As a district, we have worked with the Oklahoma City County Health Department, and the Oklahoma State Department of Health in creating, and implementing Safe at Work protocols and procedures. We will do the same as we create safe-at-school protocols. It is important in these times to keep safe, clean, and calm,” Collins said. The customized return to school plan for students will address transportation, social distancing, safety measures and other areas related to the return to school. Adjustments will occur as the pandemic situation changes. As decisions and adjustments are made, information will be updated at www.metrotech.edu and the Metro Technology Centers’ Facebook page. Should Metro Tech move to online learning, students will be contacted to determine technology and internet needs, according to a news release. Metro Tech also has the ability to shift classes and programs to online learning if a student or teacher becomes exposed to the virus.
Oregon
Eugene:The University of Oregon is in the samples-gathering phase of developing a new, less invasive COVID-19 test to increase testing capacity in Lane County and other communities, while making it more accessible to everyone. The university’s COVID-19 Monitoring and Assessment Program is developing a test that would rely on saliva samples instead of the more common tests from swabs in the nose and throat. “Many other institutions and facilities across the U.S. now are looking for ways to validate and use saliva because it is just much less invasive, it will end up ultimately costing much less and I think it will allow us to offer more equality in terms of access to testing,” Leslie Leve, UO’s associate vice president for research, said during an online information session in late June. The hope is that by creating a simpler method in which a person only has to spit into a sample tube, it will make access more equitable because it would not require a health care professional to perform the test such as using the nose swab. Once the project is authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, UO anticipates it will be able to process up to 5,000 tests a day.
Pennsylvania
Harrisburg: More than a thousand additional coronavirus infections were reported in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, as health officials worked to stifle a recent spike in cases. The state Health Department said the addition of 1,027 positive cases put the state’s running total at nearly 103,000. Pennsylvania’s two largest cities accounted for about a third of the latest infections, with 139 reported in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh, and 168 in Philadelphia. There were also 20 additional deaths statewide, making for 7,038 since the pandemic reached Pennsylvania earlier this year. The number of infections is thought to be far higher than the state’s confirmed case count because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.
Rhode Island
Providence: Two doctor’s offices were among several businesses cited by state officials recently for not complying with regulations designed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. A July 13 inspection of the medical office of Dr. Daniel Hochberger in East Providence found that two employees were not wearing face coverings at all, and one was wearing it improperly; that the office didn’t have a plan for safe operation during the pandemic and that the office had not been properly cleaned, the state Department of Health said Monday. Hochberger told The Providence Journal that many of the claims in the Department of Health order were false or overstated. He said staffers were not wearing masks because they were eating lunch. The office was allowed to reopen Monday. The North Providence Urgent Care and Primary Care office was ordered closed Monday after failing a state inspection last Thursday. The state said office employees were improperly wearing face coverings, and the office did not have a cleaning log, proper safety signage and was not properly screening patients. Medical Director Dr. Anthony Farina denied the violations. “We do our screenings on our patients as they come into the office,” Farina told WLNE-TV. ”We’ve always cleaned the office. We’ve always observed safe precautions.” The office was allowed to reopen Monday after a reinspection found no violations.
South Carolina
Columbia: Gov. Henry McMaster said he is allocating $32 million of federal relief money related to the coronavirus outbreak in tuition grants for students attending private schools across the state. Accompanied by state officials and parents at Hampton Park Christian School in Greenville, McMaster said he expects the funds to cover about 5,000 grants of up to $6,500 for students to attend parochial, private and independent schools in the upcoming academic year. Students from households with an adjusted gross income of up to 300% of the federal poverty level are eligible for the grant. The one-time program aims to help families whose finances have taken a hit from the pandemic’s economic fallout. The governor said enrollment in the state’s private and independent schools is estimated to decline by up to 20% this year because parents cannot afford tuition. Some 50,000 South Carolina students attend such schools. “If we don’t have a strong education system for all of our children, then we will never achieve the great prosperity that we have possible,” McMaster said. The funds are so far the largest sum McMaster has publicly portioned out from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, a $48 million discretionary fund awarded through the federal CARES Act. Earlier this month, the governor announced $2.4 million in technology upgrades for the state’s eight historically Black colleges and universities. Schools eligible for the new funds could also receive federal CARES money through a rule announced by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos last month, requiring public school districts to set aside a portion of their federal aid for private K-12 schools. That rule is being challenged in federal court by five states including California.
South Dakota
Sioux Falls:Another Sioux Falls business has fallen to the coronavirus pandemic. The Royal Fork buffet in southern Sioux Falls is “closing permanently,” according to a post Monday on the restaurant’s website and social media pages. The Royal Fork is set to close Aug. 2, ending 39 years of serving food in the Sioux Falls community. “The extended shutdown and the ongoing effects of COVID-19 have made it impossible to continue as a viable business,” representatives for the Royal Fork said in a statement. The buffet is located at the intersection of 49th Street and Valhalla Boulevard, behind the Hy-Vee on Louise Avenue near the Empire Mall. “We hope you have as many fond memories as we do,” the restaurant’s statement said. “We thank each of you for your support over the years.”
Tennessee
Memphis:COVID-19 testing sites in the Memphis area have become so overwhelmed that local officials on Tuesday discouraged people from getting tests unless they fit into a high-priority category. “Our COVID-19 labs and community testing sites are at capacity and backed up,” according to a message attributed to the area Joint COVID Task Force and posted on the city government’s website on Tuesday. “Only get tested if you are feeling sick or know you have been exposed.” That’s a dramatic change from a few weeks ago, when local officials were urging anyone with even the mildest symptoms to get tested. Some testing was available for people with or without symptoms. In the past several weeks, lab turnaround times have dramatically increased in the Memphis area. In some cases, people reported waiting a week or more. The underlying cause appears to be a sharp increase in the number of people taking tests, a phenomenon that is driven in part by an increased number of people experiencing symptoms. The issue has been reported at the national level, too. Because the system is overwhelmed, the only way to move forward is to reduce cases through other steps: encouraging mask-wearing, hand-washing, and closing down specific businesses that serve as transmission sites for the disease, said Dr. Scott Strome, executive dean of the medical school at University of Tennessee Health Science Center, which runs one of the major testing labs in the Memphis area.
Texas
Austin:Medical professionals from the U.S. Navy were deployed Sunday to aid hospitals in four cities across southern Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, according to Gov. Greg Abbott’s office, as nearly half the state’s counties have recently been designated “red zones” by the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Early on in the coronavirus pandemic, hot spots were mainly tied to outbreaks in enclosed spaces, like meatpacking plants and nursing homes. Health experts are increasingly seeing small outbreaks in the community from families and friends gathering to people congregating at summer tourist destinations. Five U.S. Navy teams were sent to four locations across Texas’s southern region: Harlingen, Del Rio, Eagle Pass and Rio Grande City. “The support from our federal partners is crucial in our work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our communities throughout Texas,” Abbott said in a written statement. Hospitals – particularly the Rio Grande Valley and the Coastal Bend – are being pushed to their limits because of the rapid spread of the coronavirus in recent weeks. Ambulance operators in the Rio Grande Valley area described wait times of up to 10 hours to deliver patients to packed emergency rooms. Doctors and nurses are working extra shifts and have had to label and save their face masks for reuse.
Utah
Provo: Four Utah County Sheriff’s deputies are in isolation after arresting a man who is accused of assaulting a woman after he reportedly tested positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Matthew Jarel Harding, 31, also threatened police officers with a small kitchen knife after they arrived at the scene in Eagle Mountain on Friday, authorities said. He screamed “Kill me now,” in an apparent effort to prompt officers to fire their weapons, the Daily Herald reported. A deputy deployed his Taser and Harding fell to the ground, where he was arrested. Harding had put a knife to the women’s throat while she was driving and stabbed the dashboard before she was able to stop the car and run into a nearby house to escape him as he struck her. She told deputies Harding had allegedly been drinking after receiving a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, police said. Harding is being held at the Utah County Jail in isolation and the four deputies involved in the arrest are in self-isolation. They will be tested for potential exposure to COVID-19. No attorney has been listed for Harding in court records.
Vermont
Montpelier: The state is going to send ballots to all active registered voters as a way to encourage voting in the November election while keeping people safe from the coronavirus pandemic, Vermont’s top election official said Monday. Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos issued the formal rules the state will follow when voting in the 2020 General Election. Condos said voting by mail is simple, safe and secure. “When it comes to something as important as our elections, we must always plan for the worst,” Condos said. “Our state and national health experts have been very clear: There is no way to predict the status of the virus in November or in the weeks and months between now and election day.” The 2020 Statewide Elections Directive is a result of laws passed by the Legislature this year that allow mail-in voting during the November election as a way to encourage voting during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the directive, mail-in ballots will be sent to every active registered voter ahead of the election. Active registered voters are those who have not been issued a challenge by their local election board. Voters can return the ballot by mail, bring it to their town or city clerks or cast that ballot at the polls on Election Day. Under the directive, there are limits on when candidates can return ballots to town or city clerks it allows the early processing of ballots by the clerks. Earlier this month, the state sent out postcards to all of its voters so they could request a mail-in ballot for the Aug. 11 primary or the November General Election. As of Monday, 108,700 had been returned to voters’ town or city clerks, a record, Condos said.
Virginia
Richmond: A federal judge refused to temporarily block enforcement of Gov. Ralph Northam’s executive orders aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. also scheduled an Aug. 27 trial date for a Loudoun County businessman’s lawsuit challenging the executive orders. Jon Tigges, owner of the Zion Springs vineyard and wedding venue, is represented by Chap Petersen, an attorney who also is a state senator. Petersen and Northam are Democrats. Tigges’ lawsuit claims the governor’s COVID-19 restrictions exceed his emergency powers. The judge, who denied Tigges’ request for a preliminary injunction, said COVID-19 “is a dangerous disease and it is the obligation of our government to address that.”
Washington
Olympia: A judge upheld coronavirus-related housing rules for farm workers, rejecting claims by a union that the state bowed to the agricultural industry and adopted unsafe standards. The Department of Labor and Industries and Department of Health strove to protect workers from a disease about which little was known, Thurston County Superior Court Judge John Skinder said. “This is a difficult time and these are extremely difficult issues,” he said. “I can’t find the state acted in an arbitrary or capricious manner.” Familias Unidas por la Justicia, a farm worker union based in northwest Washington, filed the suit, arguing that Washington should have followed Oregon and banned bunk beds, The Capital Press reported. The union’s attorney, Andrea Schmitt of Columbia Legal Services, said the rules were the result of political pressure and that state agencies didn’t consider the best evidence available for protecting workers. Several farm groups intervened in the lawsuit, saying a ban on bunk beds would force out of work about 10,000 foreign farm workers, far more than in Oregon. The state’s attorney, Elliott Furst, said L&I and the health department discussed what information they had about the virus and relied on expert advice. The farms groups said the rules have forced farms to reduce the number of workers they house. A ban on bunk beds would have cut capacity by half. The Washington Farm Bureau, Washington Growers League, Washington State Tree Fruit Association and Wafla intervened in the lawsuit.
West Virginia
Hinton: A train excursion that takes visitors to see fall foliage in southern West Virginia has been canceled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Autumn Colors Express takes passengers round-trip from Charleston and Huntington to Hinton. Railexco is the charter company that operates the train. Company spokesman Lou Capwell told The Charleston Gazette-Mail that tickets for trips originally scheduled for Oct. 22 through Oct. 25 will carry over to trips in October 2021. “With state mandates being what they are, right now is not the greatest situation for anybody,” Capwell said. “We’re saddened by the postponement of this great event, and can’t wait to get back on the rails as soon as possible.” A festival in Hinton that coincided with the train trips also has been canceled.
Wisconsin
Madison: A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by two dozen Wisconsin residents challenging a variety of local stay-at-home orders enacted to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. U.S. District Judge William Griesbach on Monday dismissed the challenge, filed in May, saying those bringing it did not properly join all of the defendants into one lawsuit. That mistake requires that the lawsuit be dismissed, Griesbach said in his order. Those bringing it can file it again if they correct the errors, the judge said. Joseph Voiland, the attorney for those who brought the lawsuit, said he was reviewing whether to file an amended lawsuit or appeal. The lawsuit was brought against Gov. Tony Evers, Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Andrea Palm and county and city officials from 14 independent government entities. It alleged that the state and local officials violated the constitutional rights of Wisconsin citizens by imposing mandatory public health orders or taking other steps in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit sought to void all of the local orders that were enacted after the Wisconsin Supreme Court in May tossed out Evers’ statewide “safer at home” order. Local public health and law enforcement officials sued came from the cities of Milwaukee, Racine, Wisconsin Dells, Oshkosh, Grand Chute, Appleton and Madison, as well as Dane, Rock, Green, Kenosha, Door, Outagamie and Winnebago counties. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has said the local orders, many of which have been rescinded, were legal. “I’m happy that this challenge to critical rules to protect public health was dismissed,” Kaul said in a statement. “To protect public health, our economy and our educational system, we must work together to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.”
Wyoming
Casper: The Legislature could consider providing up to $2 million to help the state’s tourism sector cope with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Travel, Recreation and Wildlife voted to draft legislation to provide relief for communities and businesses that rely on tourism, The Casper Star-Tribune reported Sunday. Lawmakers speculated a vote on the bill might take place in a second special session of the Legislature, although no date was announced. The funds would be appropriated from $100 million in federal coronavirus relief funds available to the state. The distribution would be similar to hundreds of millions of dollars in business relief funds managed by the Wyoming Business Council earlier this year. The money would primarily be directed toward relief for business losses incurred as the result of event cancellations. Republican state Sen. Ogden Driskill said compensated losses would be tied to events with regional and local significance. Examples include Buffalo’s Longmire Days, Cheyenne’s Frontier Days and Hulett’s annual Turkey Shoot. Businesses to be considered in the draft legislation include organizers of qualifying events, hotels, bed and breakfast operators, dude ranches and other hospitality businesses. Business that already received funds from the federal Paycheck Protection Program would not be eligible. Tourism is Wyoming’s second-largest industry after mining and mineral extraction.
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