Back to school, bowling, Sharon Stone: News from around our 50 states

Alabama

Tuscaloosa: Frustrated by scenes of crowded entertainment districts and bars on the first weekend many students returned to the University of Alabama, officials on Monday looked for ways to improve safety during the coronavirus pandemic and hopefully save college football this year. Police already are “depleted and exhausted,” and leaders don’t want to add to restrictions that already include early closing times and crowd limits at nightspots, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said. But the sight of crowds like those that gathered near campus in an area called The Strip are disheartening after officials spent weeks pleading with people to take steps that will slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, Maddox said. Maddox’s comments came after University of Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne tweeted a photo that showed dozens of people, many not wearing face masks or staying away from others, waiting to get into a popular bar in Tuscaloosa on the day sororities accepted new members. “Who wants college sports this fall?? Obviously not these people!! We’ve got to do better than this for each other and our campus community. Please wear your masks!” Byrne said in a tweet Sunday. Tuscaloosa police officers issued 12 citations for mask violations and arrested four people, but the problem wasn’t just at the University of Alabama: Photos on social media also showed large crowds and relatively few masks around Auburn University over the weekend.

Alaska

Juneau: Travel on an Alaska ferry was temporarily suspended after the vessel transported passengers who tested positive for COVID-19, officials said. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities announced sailings by the M/V Matanuska are suspended until Monday, The Juneau Empire reported. The transportation department said in a statement that five passengers who traveled aboard the Matanuska last week tested positive for the virus. The ferry’s crew was required to receive negative test results before the ship resumes service, the department said. On Monday, the department said tests on all 47 crew members returned negative. Passengers who had tickets for the canceled sailings this week were being notified and either rescheduled or refunded, the department said. The passengers are believed to have been infectious while traveling on the Matanuska, which embarked from Kake, traveled through Sitka and arrived in Juneau on Aug. 10. While the ship was in transit, the crew learned some passengers had been in close contact with an individual in Kake who had tested positive, the department said. The passengers were quarantined in their cabins and provided room service until arriving in Juneau, in accordance with protocols, the department said. The passengers informed the department they had tested positive and the department informed other passengers and the public out of an abundance of caution. State health officials recommended recent travelers on the Matanuska self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and take extra precautions.

Arizona

Window Rock: The Navajo Nation has lifted its stay-at-home order but is encouraging residents to leave their homes only for emergencies or essential activities. The stay-at-home order was rescinded Sunday, when 24 additional coronavirus cases and zero deaths were reported. Tribal officials on Monday reported 12 new COVID-19 cases but zero deaths again. The numbers are a vast change from earlier this year, when the tribe had one of the highest per-capita rates of infection in the U.S. The tribe’s executive branch released its reopening plan last week. Although some tourist destinations partially overseen by the federal government reopened Monday, tribal officials discouraged visitors from off the reservation. The National Park Service said it is working within the tribe’s guidelines but could not police who visits Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Chinle, Navajo National Monument near Shonto and Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site in Ganado. Limited services such as restrooms, self-guided trails and overlooks were open. Tribal parks such as Monument Valley and the Four Corners Monument were not open, Navajo President Jonathan Nez said Monday. Representatives for Nez didn’t respond to requests for further comment.

Arkansas

Little Rock: Dr. Deborah Birx, President Donald Trump’s top coronavirus adviser, said friends and families holding parties are driving the virus’s spread in the community, issuing the warning as outbreaks at some colleges across the country are being tied to large gatherings. Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, urged people to wear masks and socially distance after visiting with Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and state health officials, pointing to the gatherings as a particular concern. Arkansas’ Health Department on Monday reported 412 new virus cases and four more deaths from COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. Hutchinson said ensuring college students in Arkansas don’t have large parties like the ones Birx warned of is a challenge. “This is where the universities need to educate and they also need to have a plan whenever a student doesn’t behave properly or carefully,” Hutchinson said. Arkansas’ K-12 public schools are set to resume classes next week. Although schools are allowed to offer virtual classes or a hybrid option that includes some onsite classes, the state is requiring schools to be open five days a week for students who need in-person instruction. Birx stopped short of weighing in on that approach, but said offering the students the option of virtual learning decreases the number of students in the classroom.

California

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Unified School District will launch an aggressive coronavirus testing and contact tracing program for all students, staff and their families as part of a broad plan to safely reopen campuses. No date has been set for reopening schools in the nation’s second-largest district. The academic year formally begins this week with distance learning. The spread of COVID-19 in the Los Angeles area still exceeds state guidelines governing the possible return of students to campuses. The testing and tracing plan announced Sunday will provide data that can be used as a guide for renewing school operations, Superintendent Austin Beutner wrote in an opinion article for the Los Angeles Times. Tests will first be given to staff working at schools, as well as to any of their children participating in child care provided for Los Angeles Unified employees. Testing will also be provided to family members of students and staff who test positive for the coronavirus and family members who show symptoms. In the event of a positive test, contact can be made with others in the school community to quickly isolate the virus, Beutner wrote.

Colorado

Fort Collins: The beginning of Colorado State University’s move-in week is far different this year. Students are being tested for COVID-19 and required to wear masks or other facial coverings inside – outside, too, if social distancing can’t be maintained. And instead of having as many as 4,000 students moving in on a single day during the usual two-day window, they’re arriving and moving belongings into their rooms in small groups at preassigned times throughout the week. “It’s definitely going to be different,” said Martika Hererra, a freshman from Artesia, New Mexico. “It’s just a new way of life, because we all have to wear masks and do different things. There are different regulations and laws. It’s not our usual way of life and doing things.” Hererra and her parents, Rachel and Ben, had no reservations, though, about moving her into Piñon Hall during her assigned time Monday. “I’m more excited than anything,” Martika said. Students began the move-in process Monday, with even the largest residence halls – 12-story Westfall and Durward – limiting access to 15 students per hour and limiting each student to a maximum of two helpers. Move-in times begin at 8 a.m. and end at 9 p.m. daily through Friday, said Tonie Miyamoto, the director of communications and sustainability for CSU’s housing and dining services. Residence hall capacity has been reduced for the semester from 6,300 beds to about 5,600, Miyamoto said, to allow for more social distancing in community areas and to set aside living spaces with separate entrances for any students who might need to be quarantined because of a positive COVID-19 test or close contact with someone who tests positive.

Connecticut

Uncasville: The Mohegan Sun casino said it will lay off an unspecified number of employees because of impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. The southeastern Connecticut casino on sovereign tribal land opened June 1 despite opposition from Gov. Ned Lamont over the potential danger of spreading the virus in large group settings. About 3,000 of roughly 5,000 workers returned to work at that time. The company said it is ending its furlough program on Sept. 30. Mohegan Sun President & General Manager Jeff Hamilton said the move will reduce their workforce among employees who have not been called back to work before the end of September.“This difficult decision came after careful consideration and was driven by the unprecedented circumstances created by the pandemic, including reduced capacity and the inability to open all of the property amenities,” Hamilton said in a prepared statement reported by NBC Connecticut.The company said it was working with employees to find new positions.

Delaware

Dover: State health officials said that coronavirus-related hospitalizations have fallen to below 30 for the first time. The Delaware State News reported Monday that there were 29 hospitalizations. The numbers come from the Delaware Division of Public Health. Seven of the hospitalizations are considered critical. Delaware has recorded more than 16,000 positive COVID-19 cases. New Castle County has seen the most. It has 7,580 cases. Sussex County has recorded 6,197, Kent County has had 2,496. There are 263 cases where the county is not yet known.

District of Columbia

Washington: Mayor Muriel Bowser said the District will expand its number of contact tracers by 175, bringing the total to 450, WUSA-TV reported. D.C. health officials said contact tracers will begin conducting home visits starting on Thursday for cases in which individuals were reached but did not complete an interview, or were unable to be reached. The home visits will allow investigators to assess the need for additional social services.

Florida

Fort Lauderdale: The state reported its lowest number of new coronavirus cases since mid-June on Monday as the number of people hospitalized continued to fall. The state reported 2,678 new confirmed cases, a level the state hasn’t seen since June 17 just as Florida began a monthlong surge of new infections that peaked at 15,300 on July 12. The seven-day average for new cases is now about 3,600, down from 11,000 a month ago. Also, the number of people being treated in Florida hospitals for COVID-19 has been declining since highs above 9,500 on July 23. The number of patients in the late morning Monday stood at 5,657, according to a total posted online by the state. The state reported 87 deaths Monday, bringing the total since the outbreak was first reported in Florida on March 1 to at least 9,674. Mondays are typically low numbers for deaths as some hospitals don’t report over the weekend.

Georgia

Savannah: A longtime county commissioner in Georgia died Monday after more than two weeks in the hospital fighting the coronavirus. Chatham County Commissioner James Holmes of Savannah was 82. His wife, Yvonne, confirmed his death to news outlets. She said her husband had been hospitalized with COVID-19 since July 30. “This is something of a reminder, and I don’t think we need this occasion to remind folks of it, of how serious the coronavirus really is,” Al Scott, chairman of the Chatham County Commission, told reporters at a news conference. Holmes was a former high school basketball coach who had also worked as an assistant coach at Savannah State University. Scott said that Holmes planned to leave office at the end of the year after serving on the commission since 2005.

Hawaii

Honolulu: Anastasiya Kamaletdinova spent her first day of eighth grade at Kaimuki Middle School on Monday on a computer in her bedroom. “I was more shy than usual,” Kamaletdinova , 13, said. “Everything was great except for the last 20 minutes, I had problems with my computer and I couldn’t hear my teacher for some reason.” Like many public school students across Hawaii, she started the new academic year remotely as coronavirus cases are surging on Oahu, where Honolulu is located. The statewide teachers union led an effort to delay the first day for students by two weeks. At the union’s urging, the Hawaii Department of Education announced most schools would start the first four weeks online. The union is still concerned there are students on campuses this week. Education officials said some students will be on campuses for things such as picking up learning materials and learning how to use technology for remote instruction. This week, Aikahi Elementary on Oahu’s windward side is welcoming small groups of students for a few hours each day for orientation, training on distance learning systems and connecting with teachers and friends, said Principal Keoki Fraser. The union warned some teachers would be using personal or sick leave to avoid jeopardizing health and safety. Fraser said all his teachers were present Monday.

Idaho

Boise: A school district in southwestern Idaho has announced plans to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic despite recommendations against doing so from local health officials. The New Plymouth School District Board voted 4-1 on Aug. 10 to reopen classrooms five days a week to about 1,000 students starting Aug. 24, the Idaho Statesman reported Monday. However, Southwest District Health reported that Payette County has the highest level of community spread, which comes with a recommendation to close school buildings. New Plymouth is located in Payette County, about 50 miles northwest of Boise. Board Chairman Marc Haws scrutinized the community’s latest COVID-19 data, reviewed a parent survey and weighed the risk of the coronavirus against the impact of more lost time in the classroom and did not find a compelling reason to keep the schools closed. Haws said the district considered recommendations from the local health department but argued that the school board has the ultimate responsibility to open or close the schools. New Plymouth Superintendent David Sotutu said everyone at the schools will be required to wear facial coverings and practice social distancing. Sotutu also said masks will be offered, sanitation procedures will be increased and students will have the option to learn solely online.

Illinois

Chicago: State public health officials on Monday launched a COVID-19 hot spot map for travelers to assess their risk before leaving the state. The online map shows which U.S. states have an average daily case rate of at least 15 cases per 100,000 people, which is considered higher risk. “This virus does not recognize borders and specific regions and it doesn’t stop at the edge of a region or a county,” Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said at an East St. Louis news conference. “We know that people may have to travel, but potentially based on where you may go that travel may increase your risk of exposure to COVID-19.” She urged travelers to factor in details like how to safely manage airport terminals and rest areas.

Indiana

Rockville: The Parke County Board of Commissioners voted to cancel this year’s Covered Bridge Festival because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The commissioners voted 2-0 on Monday, with one member abstaining to cancel the event that had been scheduled for Oct. 9-18, the Tribune-Star reported. Commissioner Bruce Hartman said he had spoken to many local health care and emergency management professionals recently and had “come to the conclusion there is a absolutely a risk to the people of Parke County.” Hartman said he had heard from residents on both sides of the issue but not one had presented a solid reason to hold the festival other than the income it generates. As one resident pointed out to him, Hartman said, “Money’s no good if you’re dead” from the coronavirus. The festival in years past has attracted as many as 1 million visitors to the rustic western Indiana county to enjoy its 31 covered bridges. Commissioner Jim Meece agreed with Hartman, saying there was no realistic way the county could enforce or hope to achieve anti-COVID measures recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or Gov. Eric Holcomb and the State Department of Health.

Iowa

Iowa City: A state agency said it is working to fix a data error on Iowa’s coronavirus website that lowers the number of new confirmed cases and therefore downplays the severity of the outbreak, just as schools are deciding whether to reopen. The glitch means the Iowa Department of Public Health has inadvertently been reporting fewer new infections and a smaller percentage of daily positive tests than is the case, according to Dana Jones, an Iowa City nurse practitioner who uncovered the problem. It’s particularly significant because school districts are relying on state data to determine whether they will offer in-person instruction when school resumes in the coming days and weeks. Potentially thousands of coronavirus infections from recent weeks and months have instead been erroneously recorded as having happened in March, April, May and June, Jones said Monday. The numbers are skewed because some people tested negative earlier but recently tested positive. Iowa’s system has been recording their new positive results as having happened when their original negative results were reported. “It’s one of the worst data errors that could be happening right now,” said Megan Srinivas, an infectious disease physician in Fort Dodge, Iowa. “We are making these policy calls based on completely flawed numbers and that needs to be acknowledged.” An Iowa Department of Public Health official confirmed the glitch in an email to Jones Friday. He said a system-generated date when test results are reported to the state stays the same when an individual later tests positive. But the state has yet to publicly announce the error. Amy McCoy, a spokeswoman for the public health department, told the Associated Press that she hoped to have more information about the issue soon.

Kansas

Topeka: Gov. Laura Kelly imposed a new ban on evictions and foreclosures on home mortgages in Kansas because one federal program to aid unemployed workers has expired and she isn’t sure that the state will participate in an alternative offered by President Donald Trump Kelly’s order prevents landlords and lenders from initiating efforts to remove people from their apartments or homes if they can’t pay their rent or make their mortgage payments because of financial problems resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. Kelly’s executive order took effect Monday and is remains in effect until Sept. 15. The governor said she might extend the order longer if Congress does not approve another coronavirus relief package. She also said that she recognizes that her new order will burden landlords and home lenders, and her administration has started to look for ways to provide relief to them. A federal program providing an additional $600 a week to unemployed workers expired at the end of July. Trump issued an executive order earlier this month offering $300 a week in extra benefits, with an extra $100 available to jobless workers if states cover the cost. Kansas has yet to sign up for either version, and Kelly questioned whether Trump has the power to bypass Congress.

Kentucky

Frankfort: Kentucky should accept a supplemental $300 in federal weekly assistance for its unemployed workers under a White House offer that won’t require any extra spending by the state, Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said in a letter to the state’s Democratic governor. McConnell, the Senate majority leader, noted in his Monday letter to Gov. Andy Beshear that some states – including some led by Democratic governors – have started accepting the assistance. McConnell added that “Kentucky must not be left behind.” “All you need to do is sign up,” McConnell, the chief congressional ally to President Donald Trump, said in his letter. Kentucky and other states were hit by surging unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic. The option recently provided by the White House involves less than the $600 a week in federal aid that unemployment recipients received until the assistance expired on Aug 1. Congress has been unable to agree on an extension amid an impasse on a new round of coronavirus aid. Trump issued a series of executive orders, including the lower supplemental unemployment payments, after negotiations broke down over the new relief bill. Another option for Kentucky and other states is to tap into federal aid already provided under the coronavirus rescue package to raise the extra weekly payment to $400 for unemployment claimants, McConnell said. McConnell was a chief architect of the massive relief provided under the measure. Kentucky recipients will still receive regular state unemployment benefits under the options. Beshear responded later Monday that his administration had reviewed the application and “put together a draft” but still needed “clarity” on some points in the program.

Louisiana

New Orleans: A federal judge in New Orleans refused to block a state order closing bars to stop the spread of COVID-19, handing a defeat to 10 southeast Louisiana bar owners who had sued to stop the closure. U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman said the closure order was legal under the broad powers a governor has under public health emergencies such as the pandemic. Feldman, a judge in the federal court system’s Eastern District of Louisiana, ruled even as a hearing in a similar suit played out in the Western District. Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, who issued the order last month, was testifying in that lawsuit Monday afternoon, according to a Twitter post by an Edwards spokeswoman. The hearing was before U.S. District Judge Robert Summerhays in Lafayette, where 11 bar owners were fighting the closure order. Feldman heard arguments Friday. “The case turns on a classic who-decides question: As between democratically accountable state officials and a federal court, who decides what measures best protect Louisianans during a global pandemic?” Feldman wrote. “The answer is state officials.” It is unknown when Summerhays will rule. Feldman said federal court precedent makes clear that “the bar owners cannot succeed on the merits of their claim that the Governor’s enforcement of the ban of on-site consumption of food or drinks at ‘bars’ violates their constitutional rights.”

Maine

Millinocket: Two dozen Maine residents tested positive for the coronavirus after a wedding reception in Millinocket – the state’s first outbreak linked to a social gathering, officials said Monday. Eighteen people who attended the Aug. 7 reception and six others who had close contact with attendees subsequently tested positive, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control. All told, about 65 people attended the indoor event at the Big Moose Inn, said Maine CDC spokesman Robert Long. The governor’s executive orders put in place during the global pandemic limit indoor gatherings to 50 people if there’s adequate space, and 100 people are allowed at outdoor events. Attendees should also follow physical distancing guidelines and wear masks while not eating. The Maine CDC was communicating with Big Moose Inn about the nature of the event and adherence to state requirements. A telephone message was left at the inn on Monday afternoon. Millinocket Town Manager John Davis said Monday that he didn’t have all the details about the outbreak, but said there was enough concern to close the town hall and local schools as a precaution. It’s unknown if the owner of the Big Moose Inn could be cited if it’s confirmed there were too many people at the reception. The governor’s executive orders allow for a fine of up to $10,000, the governor’s spokeswoman said.

Maryland

Ocean City: SunFest, the city’s “biggest and best festival,” won’t go on as planned in 2020, becoming yet another event to be postponed until 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. SunFest is an annual festival that brings artists, musicians and food vendors to the Ocean City Inlet each fall. This year’s event was scheduled for Oct. 1-4. The Ocean City Mayor and Town Council unanimously voted Monday night to postpone SunFest after a long discussion about the festival’s viability given the pandemic and statewide restrictions. Despite the postponement, Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan still encouraged people to visit the beach town this fall, according to a press release announcing the change to SunFest. “Ocean City has actively promoted the many ways visitors can enjoy the town while maintaining physical distancing this summer, but for an event like Sunfest, we recognized it would not be possible to host the event in a way that was in the best interest of public health,” Meehan said. The decision by the town came after state officials issued guidance stating SunFest couldn’t have any audiences for live performances because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Massachusetts

Boston: The state has taken another step toward an expedited renovation project at a veterans’ care center that was the site of one of the nation’s deadliest COVID-19 outbreaks at a long-term care facility. The Office of Administration and Finance said it had selected a company to conduct a 12-week assessment of what needs to be done at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. The assessment includes meetings with stakeholders such as veterans and their families, staff, community members and state legislators. It will also look at cost estimates, financing options and realistic timelines for regulatory approvals, design and construction. The assessment by Payette will be used to develop and implement a plan to apply for a federal Veterans’ Affairs State Home Construction Grant by the April 15 deadline. “Our administration is committed to supporting important facility improvements for the Soldiers’ Home to ensure the facility can provide the best care possible for the veteran residents who have served our country with honor,” Republican Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement. During the outbreak at the 250-bed state-run facility that opened in 1952, 76 aging and sick residents died after contracting the disease caused by the coronavirus and dozens of other residents and staffers were sickened. A state investigation found that a building poorly designed for infection control, as well as “baffling” decisions by management, allowed the disease to run amok.The home’s superintendent was fired, and the state Veterans Services Director, who oversaw the home, resigned. The state has already spent $6 million to improve infection control at the facility, including the replacement of furnishings and the installation of air purification units.

Michigan

Lansing: Legislators gave final approval Monday to bills that would provide flexibility for K-12 schools as they prepare to open amid the coronavirus pandemic, waiving physical attendance and minimum instruction requirements to allow for remote classes. The legislation, which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will sign, would give districts and charter schools the option to choose in-person instruction, online or a hybrid based on consulting with local health departments. Their student count, the foundation of state funding, would be weighted heavily toward last year’s figure and less so on uncertain enrollment in the new academic year. The plan utilizes innovative methods of instruction and keeps kids safe “without jeopardizing their education,” said House Education Committee Chairwoman Pamela Hornberger, a Republican from Macomb County’s Chesterfield Township. The measures were passed on 77-33, 77-29 and 81-25 bipartisan votes in the GOP-controlled House two days after clearing the Republican-led Senate following a deal with the Democratic governor. The bills would revise how attendance is linked to funding. Currently, districts must have 75% average daily attendance to get their full state aid. Instead, schools would have to make sure there are two-way interactions between 75% of students and their teachers. Districts also would have to administer a benchmark assessment to K-8 students twice, including once in the first nine weeks.

Minnesota

St. Cloud: The City Council voted 5-1 to censure member Paul Brandmire for suggesting a mask mandate could lead to yellow star badges that mark COVID-19-positive people. At Monday’s meeting, council member Carol Lewis asked for the censure, stating she “never expected that a false equivalency of marking someone for death” would come up during during a discussion on mandating face masks to preserve life by preventing the spread of COVID-19. The council approved a mask mandate July 20, days before Gov. Tim Walz ordered masks worn in indoor spaces statewide. At the meeting, Brandmire said, “I mean, if we can mandate masks we can certainly mandate that any COVID-positive people wear some sort of identification badge, maybe like a bright yellow star or something on their lapel.” At the following meeting, on Aug. 3, Lewis and council member George Hontos asked Brandmire to apologize for his remarks. Brandmire refused to apologize for what he said was a “vague reference” against government overreach but said he would apologize to Holocaust survivors who were offended. Brandmire was unable to vote on the motion; he also did not respond to the motion or other council members’ comments Monday.

Mississippi

Jackson: The state is expanding access to free coronavirus testing for teachers and school-based emergency telehealth coverage after more than 70 of the state’s 82 counties have reported outbreaks during their first few weeks back in the classroom. The State Department of Health has reported 245 cases of coronavirus in teachers and 199 in students since some districts began returning to school in late July. More than 2,000 students and about 600 teachers at the start of this week are in quarantine after being exposed to the virus, state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said. To curb the spread of the virus, Dobbs announced Monday that K-12 teachers in the state will now have access to free testing, regardless of whether they have symptoms or know they have been exposed. They will be able to be tested at the state’s two community testing sites, as well as 16 new regional mobile testing sites to be set up early next week. Additionally, the Mississippi Division of Medicaid said that it has expanded its coverage to allow schools without nurses or school-based clinics to access telehealth services. That change began Aug. 1 and will continue through the end of the pandemic, officials said. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said the two measures will ensure that Mississippi’s schools “will remain safe,” adding that he hopes expanding testing for teachers, in particular, will give educators confidence and “peace of mind” about returning to school.

Missouri

Kansas City: The mayor of Missouri’s largest city has been getting plenty of messages about people not following social distancing guidelines at bars, so he decided to check for himself. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas told the Kansas City Star that he spent two hours on Saturday night dropping by or looking into eight businesses in the city. His decision to spot check came after a video circulated online showing more than 100 people – most without masks – at an event in the Power & Light District. The Democratic mayor publicized his personal cellphone number and he has received several messages about people ignoring guidelines aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus. He decided to check out establishments in various neighborhoods of the city: Midtown-Westport, Country Club Plaza and the 18th and Vine Jazz District, where he lives. Lucas told the Star that most businesses were trying to follow public health guidance. He found “one bad actor,” another that did an “outstanding” job following protocols, and most somewhere in the middle. “There was one establishment I went to that appeared to be following absolutely no protections in the slightest,” said Lucas, who did not name the business.

Montana

Great Falls: Gov. Steve Bullock said his office has been in contact with actress Sharon Stone, shortly after she posted on social media about her sister, in which she said it took five days in Montana to get test results for a COVID-19 test. Bullock said Stone called the governor’s office last week but there was no indication of family members in hospitals and she offered to be part of a fundraiser to increase funding for testing. Bullock said in a news conference in which he was discussing Montana’s fire fund and budget that the state is working with health care providers to make sure they have the resources they need for testing and “we’re continuing to do the work to get rapid turnaround testing … 2-5 days … everywhere across the state.” Stone, 62, urged Instagram followers Sunday to wear a mask “for yourself and others” after her sister Kelly, who is immunocompromised, was hospitalized in Montana with COVID-19, USA TODAY reported. Stone posted photos of her sister Kelly’s hospital room and wrote that Kelly, who has lupus, had only visited the pharmacy but still contracted the virus. Stone said in a video that in Montana, where Kelly and her husband, Bruce Singer, live, people can’t get tested unless they are symptomatic. She said this was happening as people carried guns in a protest in front of a courthouse saying it was their right to not wear a mask. She said earlier that Bullock was not returning her calls and that the health department had hung up on her. She urges people to vote for Democratic president candidate Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris because “with women in power we will fight for our families.” Bullock said the citizen advocate from the governor’s office called her Monday morning for more information. Bullock said there have been protesters in Helena and other places statewide about not only masks, but his stay-at-home order.

Nebraska

Omaha: A western Nebraska school district has canceled most classes this week after three staff members tested positive for the coronavirus, requiring two dozen school workers to quarantine. Classes for most grade levels in the Broken Bow School District have been canceled for the week, the Omaha World-Herald reported. Superintendent Darren Tobey said in an online announcement that classes for prekindergarten and grades 6-12 were canceled through Friday. Kindergarten through fifth-grade classes were expected to be held as usual. The district is now also requiring all students and staff to wear masks through Sept. 7, including at extracurricular activities and on school transportation. The requirement will be revisited before it expires, Tobey said. The school district covers 426 square miles in Custer County and has an enrollment of more than 800 students.

Nevada

Las Vegas: A Walmart in Mesquite and high-end retailer Nieman Marcus on the Las Vegas Strip were among 11 businesses statewide fined last week by inspectors for failure to comply with coronavirus pandemic mitigation measures, including mask-wearing and social distancing, officials said. A tire shop in Fernley was the only northern Nevada business that made the list following about 700 initial workplace visits statewide, a Nevada Occupational Safety and Health statement said. A Las Vegas pizza restaurant was fined about $6,000 and a Boulder City bar was ordered to pay more than $4,800, OSHA said. Other fines ranged from less than $3,000 for a tire store in Las Vegas to more than $12,600 for Walmart. Nieman Marcus was fined $8,501. The inspections followed Gov. Steve Sisolak’s announcement in July that he would focus more closely on data specific to businesses and municipalities rather than broad guidelines for geographic areas to reopen with measures in place to prevent COVID-19. The communities of Dayton and Mound House in Lyon County had the lowest municipal compliance rate, at 50%, OSHA said.

New Hampshire

Concord: The University of New Hampshire expects to open a coronavirus testing lab with a 12-hour turnaround time for results within a few weeks, the head of the state university system said Monday. Chancellor Todd Leach joined colleagues from private colleges and the community college system for a discussion hosted by U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan. Students have begun returning to many campuses this week, and so far the process has gone smoothly, they said. At the public universities, students are required to get tested for the virus before arriving, and will be tested upon arrival and again within weeks, Leach said. The new lab will be able to process thousands of samples a day, not just from the UNH campus in Durham but from Plymouth State University and Keene State College, Leach said. “That will ensure no matter how busy things get around the country, we’ll have a turnaround time that’s fairly tight,” he said. At the state’s community colleges, where fewer students live in campus, the focus is less on testing and more on personal protective equipment, said interim Chancellor Susan Huard. That’s because many students also work as essential workers.

New Jersey

Trenton: Gov. Phil Murphy gave a strong endorsement of having high school sports while saying such activities need to be limited to outdoors-only and with precautions. Murphy said the final determination on fall high school sports seasons will be made by the State Interscholastic Athletic Association, which he said “will only pursue a sports schedule if they feel the proper health and safety requirements can be met.” If districts opt not to have teams take the field, the state will not overrule them, he said. But Murphy said he was “hugely of the opinion we need sports,” citing beneficial mental and physical health, teamwork and camaraderie effects. If high school sports weren’t pursued, he said, third-party organizations would “fill that void” and might not provide the same level of oversight as would the high school athletic association. Murphy said most fall sports are outdoor activities and safer than indoor ones, and social distancing can be ensured among spectators and on sidelines. “There just isn’t evidence of outdoor flare-ups,” the governor said. “The flare-ups that we’ve seen at the college level, even at the community level, as far as we can tell have been overwhelmingly tied back to indoor activities that were away from the athletic activity.” The state’s high school athletic association said July 30 that “our return-to-play plan is in full swing throughout New Jersey,” adding “we’re eager to begin our seasons in mid-September.” NJ.com reported that the Newark school district, the state’s largest, announced plans Monday to begin the fall with all-remote instruction, reversing plans for some in-person instruction. Other school districts have announced similar plans and some have canceled high school sports for the fall.

New Mexico

Las Cruces: With schools beginning classes through distance learning, districts have seen cases of staff with COVID-19 on their campuses – including Hatch Valley Public Schools, Gadsden Independent School District and Deming Public Schools. This has required schools to work closely with the New Mexico Department of Health to help track down those who have come in contact with people who have tested positive. Statewide, school districts are looking ahead and planning for students’ eventual return to campus for face-to-face learning. This has led districts to consider what actions they will take to limit the spread of the virus when it comes time for in-person learning. “It’s not a matter if we’ll have positive cases, it’s when we have positive cases — (and) to the extent we have them,” said Kelly Jameson, spokeswoman for Las Cruces Public Schools. “If there was a potential outbreak, it would be incumbent upon the district to be responsible and disclose any kind of threat to the public.” Like other districts, LCPS will be following guidance and taking advice from the DOH on procedures moving forward. Jameson said LCPS will be communicating any coronavirus activity to the community.

New York

Albany: Indoor gyms in New York can reopen as soon as next week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday, if they meet public health requirements, including inspections, mandatory mask wearing, a 33% occupancy limit and 6 feet between gym-goers. All gyms that meet the state’s health and safety standards can open by Monday or as at late as Sept. 2 if local officials say they need more time for local inspections. County governments and the mayor of New York City can also decide to delay the start of indoor fitness classes beyond Sept. 2, Cuomo said. The governor’s announcement came just over five months after the state shuttered gyms and other businesses statewide in hopes of reducing the spread of the coronavirus. Gym and fitness studio owners have been clamoring for New York for their businesses to reopen as Cuomo has lifted restrictions on certain industries since mid-May. “The fitness industry is ready to reopen safely, with proper protocols in place to protect our employees and members,” Bill Lia, chairperson of the New York State Fitness Alliance, said recently. The Cuomo administration allowed bowling alleys to open with restrictions starting Monday, while indoor dining is allowed outside New York City.

North Carolina

Raleigh: Public schools returned to class Monday, with most students still learning from home through computers to start the year because of continued worries about COVID-19. Nearly every school in all K-12 districts began the new school year. Leaders of districts and charter schools that teach two-thirds of the 1.5 million public school students chose to implement full-remote learning for now, according to data from the Department of Public Instruction. The first day was marked by technical challenges beyond those that video conferencing and virtual learning bring. Districts reported trouble for children and instructors logging on to the North Carolina Education Cloud. The portal provides access to several digital applications, including tools for grading and attendance, instructional materials and lesson plans. “The product experienced a degradation in service this morning,” the Department of Public Instruction said in a news release. The service was working as of midday Monday, the agency said, and the vendor that provides the service will expain what went wrong. In a Facebook post, the Craven County Public Schools said the system experienced an “overload due to so many students across the state trying to login at the same time.” Under Gov. Roy Cooper’s plan, school boards could start the year by offering full remote learning, in-person instruction with strict social distancing or a mix.

North Dakota

Bismarck: Interim committee meetings for lawmakers have been canceled at least through next week after a member of the Legislature’s research arm tested positive for the coronavirus. John Bjornson, who heads the Legislative Council, said the staff member told him late Sunday night. Bjornson said he notified legislative leaders early Monday, who gave the OK to cancel the meetings as a precaution. Bjornson said the staff member is asymptomatic and was working from home on Monday. Five interim committee meetings had been scheduled for this week, and at least two next week. All will be rescheduled, Bjornson said. Bjornson, the Legislature’s top attorney, said he has encouraged all 32 of his staff to get tested for the coronavirus. The nonpartisan agency includes accountants and attorneys who help lawmakers with research, bill drafting and budget proposals. The staff member is not believed to have had close contact with any lawmaker over the past several days and came within reach of only a “handful” of fellow agency employees, Bjornson said.

Ohio

Columbus: A state senator and two of her family members are recovering at home from COVID-19. “Both relatives are out of the hospital,” Sen. Tina Maharath, D-Canal Winchester, told The Columbus Dispatch on Tuesday morning. The 29-year-old workforce analyst tweeted Monday night that she had tested positive and two of her family members were hospitalized. She asked her followers to “wear your masks and stay at home if you’re sick” because her sister-in-law, who had been fighting cancer before she contracted the virus, didn’t survive. “I know she’s rooting for our recovery up in heaven right now,” Maharath tweeted. Maharath, whose parents immigrated to the United States as refugees from Laos, said her surviving family members were lucky to arrive at the hospital when they did. They need help translating what was being said, and a health-care worker just happened to know Lao and Hmong.If not for that man, Maharath said, her family would have been stuck dialing a language hotline and waiting until they found someone who could translate, “which can oftentimes take too long due to the lack of staffing for the southeast Asian languages.” The state senator isn’t the only elected official in Ohio to test positive. State Rep. Stephanie Howse, D-Cleveland, tested positive for COVID-19 in July.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City: Gov. Kevin Stitt said he has submitted an application for unemployed Oklahomans to receive an additional $300 in federal unemployment benefits. Once the Federal Emergency Management Agency approves the state’s grant application, the federal government will fund the $300-per-week benefit and Oklahoma will fulfill the 25% state match through existing unemployment benefits, Stitt said. For months, on top of their state benefit, unemployed Americans also collected $600 a week in federal jobless aid, but that expired at the end of July, and negotiations in Congress to extend it collapsed. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that would provide $300 a week to replace the expired $600. Unemployed Oklahomans have faced numerous challenges in receiving their unemployment benefits, with lines of people often stretching for blocks outside the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. The agency has blamed delays on an outdated computer system, and Interim OESC Director Shelley Zumwalt acknowledged some delays in the new benefit should be expected.

Oregon

Salem: The state’s jobs recovery slowed in July despite the unemployment rate dropping to 10.4% from 11.6% in June. The state gained back 20,500 jobs in the month after adding 57,000 jobs in June, and the state has gained back 38% of the jobs cut in March and April because of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Well, although the past couple months we’ve seen historic monthly job gains, employers have only added back about two of the five jobs that were cut in March and April,” said Anna Johnson, senior economic analyst for the Oregon Employment Department. The largest monthly job gains in July were in the leisure and hospitality sector, which recovered 7,300 jobs; the government added 5,700, retail gained 3,600 and health care added 3,100. Nationally, the unemployment rate declined to 10.2% in July from 11.1% in June.

Pennsylvania

Harrisburg: Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration is trying to make it clear that masks are to be worn practically at all times by students in school, drawing complaints that school leaders must again change their preparations. The administration this week released additional guidance that Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said Tuesday clarifies the state’s intentions for mask-wearing in schools as they prepare to reopen in the coming days and weeks. Masks must be worn in school, even when students and educators are 6 feet apart, Levine said. “We have had questions about it and we’ve had enough questions that we wanted to clarify,” Levine said at a news conference. “That we mean that when the young people are wearing masks, that they are wearing masks that they are in their classroom even though they’re six feet apart, they should be wearing their masks.” But with some private or career technical schools already open, school officials said it is another frustrating change in guidance. They said they had previously been told that students and educators could remove their masks in the classrooms if they were at least 6 feet apart. The American Academy of Pediatrics said that universal face covering is ideal in schools, but not always possible in the school setting for many reasons. DiRocco said it’s going to be a much more difficult task to ensure that students have a mask on their face throughout the day in a classroom setting, particularly in younger children through third grade.

Rhode Island

Providence: There were 75 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Rhode Island on Monday and one additional death, the state Department of Health reported Tuesday. The department also reported 78 people in the hospital with the disease as of Sunday, the latest day for which the information was available, a slight decline from the previous day. Eight patients were in intensive care. The state has now had nearly 20,700 confirmed cases of the disease and 1,024 fatalities. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Rhode Island went from 104.43 per day on Aug. 3 to 91.14 per day on Monday, according to the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering. The seven-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Rhode Island declined from 2.56% on Aug. 3 to 2.36% on Monday, according to the Johns Hopkins statistics.

South Carolina

Greenville: South Carolina has the nation’s third-highest rate of COVID-19 infections in children, trailing only Arizona and Tennessee, according to a medical report issued this week. The report from the American Academy of Pediatrics stated that 15,295 children in South Carolina have contracted COVID-19 since the pandemic began. That figure accounts for slightly more than 1% of the state’s age 20-and-under population. About 15% of the state’s overall COVID-19 cases are in children. South Carolina is the nation’s 23rd-most populated state but ranks eighth in its number of COVID-19 infections in children. Two children under age 5 have died of COVID-19 in South Carolina, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. One was from Greenville County. More than 75,000 new cases of COVID-19 in children were reported across the nation between July 30 and Aug. 13 – a 24% increase from the previous two-week period, according to the AAP report. Children infected with COVID-19 are less likely to develop serious illnesses than adults who have the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, according to the most recent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the CDC noted, “hospitalization rates in children are increasing.”

South Dakota

Sioux Falls: This year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally drew more than 460,000 vehicles during the 10-day event, according to a count that South Dakota transportation officials released Tuesday. The count represents a decrease of nearly 8% from last year but showed that many were undeterred by the coronavirus pandemic. Sturgis officials said they expected fewer people to show up this year, estimating they would see between 250,000 and 300,000 people during the 10-day event. Most people didn’t take significant precautions against COVID-19 infections at this year’s rally. A few people wore masks and some said they were avoiding crowds, but many others packed close together at bars and concerts. With people traveling to the rally from all over the country, the mass gathering has raised concerns it could become an epicenter of infections that are hard to track, but spread quickly as rally-goers travel home. The city releases an estimate of rally turnout after the event every year, based mostly on the weight of the trash generated. Last year, the estimate tracked closely with the number of vehicles counted: 499,654 vehicles entered Sturgis, and city officials estimated 490,000 people came to the rally. The city plans to conduct mass COVID-19 testing in an effort to catch outbreaks.

Tennessee

Nashville: Gov. Bill Lee has signed into law sweeping protections for businesses, schools and nursing homes against coronavirus lawsuits. Lee touted the legislation as “historic” and argued the law would protect businesses from “frivolous lawsuits.” The GOP-dominated Statehouse could not advance the proposal earlier this year when negotiations among lawmakers broke down in the hectic waning hours of legislative work. Lee convened a special legislative session to not only address COVID-19 liability, but also telemedicine and penalties against protesters who violate certain laws. Under Lee’s leadership, Tennessee was one of the first states to begin reopening in late April after the Republican reluctantly issued a safer-at-home order that forced businesses to close. Lee has since maintained he will not shut down the economy and has resisted calls for a statewide mask mandate.

Texas

Austin: Texas surpassed 10,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths Monday as the lingering toll of a massive summer outbreak continues, and health experts expressed concerns that recent encouraging trends could be fragile as schools begin reopening for 5 million students across the state. Roughly four in every five of those deaths were reported after June 1. Texas embarked on one of the fastest reopenings in the country in May before an ensuing surge in cases led Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to backtrack and impose a statewide mask order. August has seen an improving outlook, although Texas officials are now concerned that not enough people are seeking tests. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 51 new deaths Monday, along with more than 2,700 new cases, Numbers are typically lower on Monday because reporting lags over weekends. Texas joins New York, New Jersey and California as the other states to surpass 10,000 coronavirus deaths. Florida is also approaching the grim milestone. Abbott is now urging Texans not to grow complacent as the numbers improve and schools and universities reopen.

Utah

Salt Lake City: A Utah lawmaker said some teachers in the state haven’t received any personal protective equipment as students start returning to schools. Democratic Sen. Kathleen Riebe, who is also a teacher, said her classroom hasn’t received any of the necessary equipment during an education subcommittee hearing Monday, Fox 13 reported. Riebe, who represents Cottonwood Heights, said teachers in her district were “nervous” about the lack of supplies. “I have not seen any of this equipment in our schools, and I’m receiving many emails and phone calls and social media displays that these things have not made it to our schools,” said Riebe, whose school district will reopen Monday. Sarah Young, the state Board of Education’s director of strategic initiatives, said the necessary PPE is in stock and that teachers in Riebe’s district will receive it this week. Education officials said they have purchased extra face coverings and other equipment, but an order for nearly 200,000 packages of disinfectant wipes likely won’t be delivered to the state until Sept. 15. Each teacher is supposed to receive five packages of the wipes.

Vermont

Montpelier: As schools prepare to restart in September, Vermont plans to expand child care capacity, including opening regional hubs to serve school-aged children on remote learning days at their schools, Republican Gov. Phil Scott said. Scott said he would also modify state regulations to allow registered home-based child care centers to serve longer hours on school days, which he believes will add about 3,000 spots. “We know we need more childcare capacity and we need it quickly,” Scott said, noting that child care will be a challenge for many parents as schools move back and forth from in-person and remote learning. The regional child care hubs will be set up in workplaces, as well as school, recreational, municipal and summer camp buildings, Agency of Human Services Secretary Mike Smith said. The state anticipates needing 73 such hubs that could serve as many as 7,000 school-aged children, he said. The state also will expedite administrative processing and increase flexibility for applicants seeking to become registered child care providers, Smith said. The Scott administration is recommending that $12 million in federal coronavirus relief funding be used on the child care initiative, he said.

Virginia

Richmond: Lawmakers met Tuesday for a special session to address the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and widespread calls for criminal justice reform sparked by the death of George Floyd. Gov. Ralph Northam also announced budget proposals aimed at increasing voter access, including $2 million for prepaid postage for all absentee ballots and budget language that expressly permits local governments to use drop boxes or implement drop-off locations for absentee voters. Before the session, two groups of protesters gathered on the sidewalk outside of the Science Museum of Virginia, where the state Senate was meeting inside. Lawmakers in the House met at Virginia Commonwealth University’s basketball arena, with desks spread far out. Many male lawmakers skipped wearing ties, which Northam – a pediatric neurologist – has said can help spread disease. Most lawmakers wore masks, but not all of them. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported one group of protesters, organized by the Virginia New Majority, gathered outside the museum to lobby for rent relief and to call for an end to evictions, chanting “eviction is violence.”

Washington

Kitsap: Under state COVID-19 guidelines, bowling alleys are listed as reopening in Phase 4, two beyond Kitsap’s current Phase 2. There’s increasing worry that Kitsap might not get there until at least 2021, leaving the family that owns Kitsap’s last two bowling alleys – All Star Lanes & Casino in Silverdale and the Hi Joy Bowl in Port Orchard – in limbo. “This is the only time we’ve ever asked, ‘Are we gonna make it,’ “ said Kylie Myers-Hicks, All Star’s operations manager. “It’s scary for sure.” These are bowling’s slow months; business picks up in the winter. Getting through late 2020 and early 2021 could make the difference, she said. The alleys, like other indoor recreation businesses, face a precarious future under the restrictions of the pandemic. Far removed from their midcentury heyday, when even Kitsap had at least a half-dozen bowling alleys, the sport now faces possible obsolescence. Earlier this month, Glacier Lanes in Everett closed its doors after 60 years in business. Hi Joy and All Star, owned by the Myers family since 1970 and 1985, respectively, have been closed since March 16. While restaurants and bars at both have been able to reopen, the lanes – 40 at All Star and 32 at Hi Joy – remain empty. The bowling alley’s management received money from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, but that money will run out by October. At that point, things are uncertain for the employer of more than 200 people. “There’s just a point where the savings runs out and there’s nothing to fall back on,” Myers-Hicks said. Myers-Hicks would like to see rules established for earlier openings of bowling alleys like those her family operates. Already, the business has created a socially distanced environment and ramped up disinfection. There is one bowling alley that remains open, albeit on a limited basis, and it’s just for sailors and their families. The Olympic Bowling Center at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor is open Friday and Saturday nights. Base officials inspect the center before opening, and bowling is restricted to every other lane. Only families can bowl together, according to Jake Chappelle, a Naval Base Kitsap spokesman.

West Virginia

Charleston: State officials have decided to cancel elk tours this year because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. Logan State Park naturalist Lauren Cole, who leads the tours, told the Charleston Gazette-Mail that there would be too many risks involved if the tours were allowed. “The problem is that we have to put 12 guests and two employees in a 15-passenger van to get to the (Tomblin) Wildlife Management Area property where the elk are. There’s no way to social-distance in a van,” she said. Division of Natural Resources officials have allowed up to 24 public tours each year since 2018, and they are usually timed between early September and mid-October to coincide with mating season. The tours quickly became very popular, and Cole said she expects resume leading them fall as long as there’s no concern about the virus.

Wisconsin

Madison: Interim University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson said he will ask Gov. Tony Evers to include a nearly $100 million boost for the system in the next state budget and give him permission to borrow up to $1 billion as the coronavirus pandemic bleeds revenue from campuses. A UW news release outlining the request makes no mention of the virus. The closest it comes is a sentence with Thompson acknowledging “unprecedented challenges.” Instead, the release lists a number of new initiatives Thompson wants to use the money to launch. Chief among them is the Wisconsin Tuition Promise, a pledge to pay up to four years’ worth of tuition and fees at any regional campus for incoming state resident freshmen and transfer students whose families make $60,000 or less. The initiative is modeled after UW-Madison’s Bucky’s Tuition Promise, which covers tuition for resident freshmen and transfer students at the state’s flagship university. The money also would go toward expanding and enhancing online courses, forgiving teachers’ student loans, providing stipends for student teachers, adding 20 county-based agriculture positions in the Division of Extension at UW-Madison, and expanding student mental health services. Thompson also plans to ask Evers to include permission in the budget to borrow between $500 million and $1 billion in the current fiscal year to cushion pandemic-related losses, according to a budget summary prepared for regents.

Wyoming

Casper: The total number of coronavirus cases in Wyoming grew by 45 on Monday, with the number of confirmed cases rising by 40 and the number of probable cases rising by five, the Casper Star-Tribune reported, according to the Wyoming Department of Health’s daily update. Patients have tested positive for coronavirus in all 23 of Wyoming’s counties. Wyoming has the second-lowest recorded number of coronavirus deaths of any state with 33, behind Hawaii, and its death rate of 5 per 100,000 residents is third-lowest behind Hawaii and Alaska, according to the New York Times.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 50 States