Hot dog contest, outdoor ballet, mask protests: News from around our 50 states

Alabama

Tuscaloosa: The Alabama Department of Public Health said it could not verify reports of so-called COVID-19 parties where students deliberately tried to become infected, but it also warned people not to try it. Tuscaloosa City Councilor Sonya McKinstry told news outlets last week that she heard of students holding parties and wagering over who would become infected. The department said it could not verify any parties where persons tried to contract COVID-19 but warned that it is a dangerous and sometimes deadly virus. “Persons should not willfully expose themselves to this virus both for their own health and the health of others,” the department said. Tuscaloosa Fire Chief Randy Smith told the City Council on Tuesday that fire officials confirmed some students had attended parties despite knowing they were infected. The department thought the parties were rumors, but Smith said after some research, officials discovered they were real.

Alaska

Bethel: An official at one Alaska village says residents have been humiliated and discriminated against after the regional health corporation announced two people who were in the village tested positive for COVID-19. Napaskiak Tribal Administrator Sharon Williams said village residents have been turned away from businesses in the nearby hub community of Bethel, even though they are adhering to proper COVID-19 protocols, KYUK in Bethel reports. The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. on June 25 said there was likely community spread of COVID-19 in Napaskiak after two people who were in the village tested positive. Williams sent two village employees for parts in Bethel. Both had tested negative for COVID-19 and wore masks, she said. “Once the worker heard Napaskiak, he asked them to get out,” she said. The store manager later apologized, saying the store employee was not following store policy.

Arizona

Phoenix: The latest figures from health officials indicate the state is only intensifying as a coronavirus hot spot with new peaks in hospitalizations and emergency room visits. State health officials said Friday that the capacity of hospitals’ intensive care units was at an all-time high of 91%. The number of people hospitalized Thursday due to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 was 3,013, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported. It’s the first time that figure had reached 3,000. People who went to the ER because of COVID-19 symptoms numbered at 1,847, nearly 500 more than a day earlier. The numbers of newly confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths as of Friday were 4,433 and 31, respectively, according to the state. Arizona’s total number of reported cases stands at 91,858 with 1,788 deaths.

Arkansas

Little Rock: The governor on Friday allowed cities to enact measures requiring masks in public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, relenting after opposing such mandates at the state or local level. Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed an executive order that would allow cities to enact a “model ordinance” requiring masks. The order does not require masks statewide, and the local ordinance would not include penalties for not complying. Hutchinson, a Republican, has opposed a statewide mask mandate and has previously said cities can’t impose their own restrictions. At least two Arkansas cities, however, have enacted their own mask requirements. Hutchinson announced the order as health officials said at least 22,622 people tested positive for the virus, an increase of 547 cases since Thursday. Two more people in the state had died from COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, bringing the state’s total fatalities to 281.

California

San Francisco: As the coronavirus surges in the state, Californians celebrated Independence Day with virtual parades featuring photos of flag-draped front porches instead of pancake breakfasts and crowded festivities. Meanwhile, law enforcement officers were out and about, reminding people to wear masks in public and turning away disappointed sun-seekers from beaches that were closed to discourage crowds for the holiday weekend. California is in a make-or-break moment, with infection rates and hospitalizations rising sharply. Many communities canceled annual fireworks shows and limited or closed beaches, changes that appeared to successfully keep crowds at bay. Half Moon Bay on the Pacific Coast south of San Francisco set up barricades to prevent access to its beaches. But determined beachgoers on Friday simply carried small children and gear over the blockades.

Colorado

Fort Collins: Fans of Horsetooth Reservoir have taken to heart the message that it’s OK to enjoy the great outdoors during the coronavirus pandemic. Crowds flocked to the reservoir west of Fort Collins as well as other sites managed by Larimer County Natural Resources as they reopened in spring to boating, camping and hiking. The surge in visitation has carried over to summer. And with the people have come problems with safety and parking, county officials say. With so many people vying to get on the water at Horsetooth Reservoir, officials are looking into options for managing crowds. That could include hiring additional rangers. Potential remedies include setting up a reservation system for boat launching for entering the park.

Connecticut

Hartford: Representatives of the nursing home and assisted living industry are urging residents “to do their part” and help keep the current spread of the coronavirus low in the state as a way to prevent a resurgence in long-term care facilities. They credited social distancing, hand washing and the wearing of masks with the decreasing rate of infections and deaths in nursing homes and assisted living centers, which have borne more than half of the state’s deaths. Data released Thursday shows there were 58 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in nursing homes from June 24 to 30 and six COVID-associated deaths. During the pandemic, there have been a total of at least 2,789 deaths in nursing homes, which represents about 64% of the state’s total deaths. In assisted living facilities, there have been 1,068 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 370 confirmed or probable COVID-associated deaths.

Delaware

Wilmington: The state announced 192 additional cases of coronavirus Friday, continuing a trend of relatively large daily increases compared with two weeks prior. Of those, 159 positive cases were reported Thursday, while 33 were from test results reported in previous days, state officials said. The state also reported two additional deaths due to the virus Friday, bringing Delaware’s death toll from coronavirus complications to 512. The state is seeing a surge in new cases compared with the rate of new cases two weeks ago. It was reporting an average of 56 new cases daily as of 18. That average had gone up to 127 as of Thursday, according to state data. The state reported 221 new cases Thursday, the highest daily increase since May.

District of Columbia

Washington: President Donald Trump enticed the masses with a “special evening” of tribute and fireworks in the nation’s capital Saturday, with new U.S. coronavirus infections on the rise. People wandered the National Mall in baking heat and took shade under the scattered trees while, not far away, music wafted from a party on the White House South Lawn. The crowds on the mall were strikingly thinner than the one gathered for last year’s jammed celebration there. Many who showed up wore masks. But not Pat Lee of Upper Dublin, Pennsylvania, or the two friends she came with, one a nurse from Fredericksburg, Virginia, whose only head gear was a MAGA hat. “POTUS said it would go away,” Lee said of the pandemic, using an acronym for president of the United States. “Masks, I think, are like a hoax.” But she said she wore one inside the Trump International Hotel, where she stayed. By the World War II Memorial, the National Park Service handed out packets of five white cloth masks to all who wanted them. People were not required to wear them.

Florida

St. Petersburg: The Fourth of July holiday weekend began Saturday with some sobering numbers in the Sunshine State: Florida logged a record number of people testing positive for the coronavirus. State health officials reported 11,445 new cases, a single-day record. The latest count brings the total number of cases in the state to 190,052. A website maintained by the Department of Health shows an additional 245 hospitalizations from the outbreak. More than 3,700 people in Florida have died. Local officials and health experts, worried that people would gather over this July Fourth holiday weekend and spread the virus through close contact, tried to mitigate spread by shutting bars statewide. On St. Pete Beach on Saturday afternoon, parking spaces were scarce as people flocked to the wide strip of sand on the Gulf of Mexico. On the beach, hundreds of people clustered in groups under umbrellas and in cabanas.

Georgia

Atlanta: A dog in the state is believed to have been the second canine in the U.S. to test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, health officials said. The 6-year-old mixed breed dog was tested after its owners contracted COVID-19 and the dog began suffering from a neurological illness, the Georgia Department of Health said in a news release Wednesday. The dog was positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The dog was euthanized after the neurological illness progressed. Officials said the dog’s neurological illness was caused by a condition unrelated to the coronavirus. Guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that based on the limited information available so far, the risk of pets spreading coronavirus to people “is considered to be low.”

Hawaii

Honolulu: A U.S. judge will not stop the state from enforcing a quarantine on arriving travelers, saying in a ruling that the emergency mandate is reasonable during the public health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. A group of Hawaii, California and Nevada residents tried to stop the quarantine by filing a lawsuit alleging it is unfair and unnecessary. It violates the fundamental right to travel freely, they argued. The quarantine mandate, which applies to out-of-state travelers and Hawaii residents, doesn’t prevent people from traveling, and the plaintiffs “have elected not to travel – whether to or from Hawaii – because they do not want to be quarantined,” U.S. District Judge Jill Otake said in a ruling issued Thursday night denying a request for a temporary restraining order. The decision is good for Hawaii, the state attorney general’s office said Friday: “Our department will continue to wholeheartedly defend the Governor’s Emergency Proclamation.”

Idaho

Boise: The mayor said Thursday that she would sign a public health emergency order requiring face coverings in all indoor and outdoor public places in the state’s largest city. Boise Mayor Lauren McLean cited the significant increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19 in making the order, which took effect Saturday, for the city’s 225,000 residents. Boise, the state capital, becomes the fifth city in the state to require face coverings, after Moscow, Hailey, McCall and Driggs. Other local governments are considering similar measures as coronavirus cases surge in the state. Republican Gov. Brad Little has encouraged face coverings and wears one himself in gatherings but has declined to make them mandatory. He said the diverse nature of the state, with some people working alone outdoors, doesn’t make such an order sensible.

Illinois

Springfield: Casinos that fail to follow guidelines aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus could be disciplined, including loss of their license, state regulators warned last week. Illinois allowed video gaming businesses and casinos to begin reopening Wednesday. Marcus Fruchter, administrator of the Illinois Gaming Board, reminded operators in a message released Thursday that they must follow state protocols for operating during the pandemic. Requirements include face coverings in gaming establishments and casinos and social distancing, along with regular hand washing, Fruchter said. Failing to comply could result in discipline, including revoked licenses, he said. “More importantly, disregard of such preventative measures and requirements could contribute to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Illinois and another potential suspension of gaming operations,” he said. “That is a result nobody wants. We urge you not to let it happen.”

Indiana

Indianapolis: Despite extended restrictions for restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, ongoing concerns over the coronavirus won’t hamper students’ return to school sports and activities this week. The state’s reopening plan had called for Indiana to lift nearly all coronavirus restrictions over the weekend. Worries about a possible increase in coronavirus cases across the state prompted Gov. Eric Holcomb to keep those restrictions in place until at least July 18. Extracurricular and co-curricular activities, however, can resume as planned Monday, according to the governor’s office. In the guidance provided by the Indiana Department of Education, that return is expected to happen in three stages, each providing more liberties to student participants and spectators. The Indiana High School Athletic Association announced offseason fall workouts will begin Monday.

Iowa

Des Moines: The state reported another 786 confirmed coronavirus cases Saturday, pushing its total for the pandemic past 31,000. The state Department of Public Health said 1 in every 102 Iowa residents has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, while 1 in 11 has tested negative. The total of confirmed positive cases was 31,141 as of Saturday afternoon, and the daily increase was 2.6%. The department reported one additional COVID-19-related death, bringing the total to 721. Its data indicates positive case numbers had been in decline since early May but began a slow climb again around mid-June, about two weeks after Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds reopened bars and restaurants and relaxed other restrictions on large gatherings and social activities. The department said 9.4% of tests done on Iowa residents have been positive since the pandemic began. It also reported nearly half of the confirmed positive cases, or 48%, were among adults 18 to 40.

Kansas

Wichita: Protesters who oppose a city ordinance requiring that masks be worn in public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus gathered outside Mayor Brandon Whipple’s home Saturday. The Wichita City Council voted 4-3 Friday in a special meeting called by Whipple to require masks in public. The Sedgwick County Commission had voted Thursday to opt out of a statewide mask mandate from Gov. Laura Kelly, which the law allows them to do. The Wichita Eagle reports the ordinance requires people to wear masks in public places where 6-foot social distancing is not possible. The roughly eight protesters didn’t wear masks and didn’t meet the 6-feet social distancing guideline, which means they could have been fined $25. Three Wichita officers stood near the protesters. “At this time we are choosing education over enforcement. Especially because it is a new ordinance,” Sgt. Brian Mock said.

Kentucky

Louisville: A judge has blocked some limits on auto racetracks and child care facilities put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, reasoning that participating in those kind of businesses is a value judgment best left to individuals. Boone Circuit Court Judge Richard Brueggemann’s ruling keeps Kentucky from enforcing a rule that prohibits fans, outside media, or guests or family members from attending auto races. Instead, the judge ruled those racetracks can operate at 50% capacity, assuming people can maintain a 6-foot social distance between households. The judge also blocked a rule limiting child care facilities to 10 children per group, without combining children from other classrooms. The judge ordered a maximum group size of 28. The judge wrote that it’s “unclear what criteria is being used to establish which businesses may survive versus those that must shutter.”

Louisiana

Baton Rouge: Few prisoners have been released through the furlough program that state officials developed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Louisiana Department of Corrections created a review panel in April tasked with considering up to 1,100 state prison inmates for temporary release. The program was meant to reduce the prison population, which would increase opportunities for social distancing and mitigate the spread of coronavirus behind bars. But The Advocate reports the panel reviewed fewer than 600 cases before being suspended this month, and corrections officials said just 100 people were approved. Only 63 of those will be released, corrections department spokesman Ken Pastorick said, because of complicating factors such as outstanding warrants or deficient housing plans – or because the inmates “were not agreeable to the conditions of the release, which included ankle monitoring and house arrest,” he said.

Maine

South Portland: Universal testing at a youth detention center has yielded no positive cases of coronavirus, the Maine Department of Corrections said. The state conducted campuswide testing at Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland after a person who was being released from the facility in late June tested positive. Residents and staff at the facility were subjected to the testing. The corrections department said Thursday that more than 180 tests came back negative, and the results for six staff members were still pending. The department said the center will “continue to focus on precautionary measures to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 in the facility.” Maine has reported more than 3,300 cases of the virus since the beginning of the pandemic. The state has also been the site of 105 deaths, state officials have said.

Maryland

Annapolis: Coronavirus has forced the Ballet Theatre of Maryland to build an outdoor stage for practicing and possibly even performances in the future as the arts scene learns how to navigate the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, The Capital Gazette reports. Dancing in living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens wasn’t ideal for the company as it adapted to an online environment following the closure of public buildings and businesses. It was a challenging couple of months. Art Director Nicole Kelsch, who started her position when the virus hit, said transitioning into a new position while working from home has been a challenge but was relatively smooth. Kelsch previously performed for the ballet. The company has received a $10,000 grant for safety precautions and preparing for classes indoors. The ballet is allowed to practice indoors but with masks on. Kelsch said she thinks staying outside is safer.

Massachusetts

Boston: Museums are announcing reopening plans now that they are allowed to start welcoming visitors again under the third phase of the state’s coronavirus economic recovery plan. The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem announced in a statement Friday that it will open its doors July 16-17 to members, patrons and some medical workers, then open to the public July 18. The museum will limit capacity with timed tickets and is also enhancing cleaning and sanitizing measures. The Springfield Museums, a complex of five museums including one dedicated to children’s author and city native Dr. Seuss, will welcome back members July 9-10 and nonmembers starting July 13, according to its website. Three major museums in the Berkshires – the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, the Norman Rockwell Museum and the Clark Art Institute – are scheduled to reopen sometime during the weekend of July 11-12.

Michigan

West Branch: Several horses displaced by the pandemic and flooding across parts of central Michigan have found a new home at a rescue farm. Amid the COVID-19 virus, caretakers began abandoning their pets or placing them with friends and family, the Midland Daily News reports. Between the pandemic and historic flooding in May that destroyed homes, barns and fields, the situation became harder for owners to properly care for their animals. Since then, D&R Acres Hobby and Rescue Farm has received several equines. The 20-acre farm and 13,000-square-foot barn and riding facility is now home to 38 horses, donkeys, mules, ponies and miniature horses. “We’re kind of the retirement home for horses,” said Dolores ‘Doris’ Harris, chief financial officer and founder of D&R Acres, of West Branch. Animals come to live at D&R Acres because they have been abused, their owners have died, or the owner feels they can no longer take care of them.

Minnesota

Minneapolis: The number of Minnesotans receiving intensive care for COVID-19 has jumped by nine, health officials reported Friday, marking the largest single-day increase in more than a month. The Star Tribune reports the Minnesota Department of Health added 423 new confirmed cases and eight additional deaths to its tallies Friday. The state has reported 37,624 confirmed cases. Minnesota has seen a slowly increasing average number of new daily diagnoses since mid-June, as more young people contract the virus and the median age of infection drops. The nine new people in intensive care represented the largest single-day increase in ICU care since May 29. All told, 132 patients are in intensive for COVID-19 in Minnesota. The percentage of patients testing positive – about 3.7% – has been gradually rising along with the overall increase in testing in Minnesota. An increasing positivity rate is considered a sign actual transmission is growing.

Mississippi

Jackson: Days after the city passed a new rule requiring people to wear masks in public, City Councilman Kenneth Stokes is proposing its government purchase 100,000 masks to distribute to residents. Speaking with WJTV, Stokes said that “the poor, sick and elderly must have masks.” “A lot of people want to wear masks, but they can’t find masks, or they can’t afford masks,” Stokes said. He said he planned to put the proposal on the council’s agenda. The City of Jackson recently ordered masks to be worn in public. Those who don’t abide could be fined. Businesses where people aren’t wearing masks are at risk of being shut down for 24 hours. Ahead of Fourth of July weekend, the city of Biloxi gave out 27,000 face masks Thursday during a drive-thru mask giveaway, WXXV reports. Last week, Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich announced the city’s new campaign “Mask up, Biloxi,” part of his efforts to encourage people to wear a mask while they are in public.

Missouri

Bonne Terre: An eastern Missouri county has seen a big increase in confirmed coronavirus cases, and most of those infected are prison inmates. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services on Friday reported 547 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19, another big jump in cases statewide. The health department has reported nearly 3,800 new cases over the prior nine days. Missouri reopened its economy in mid-June. The state also cited nine new deaths Friday. All told, Missouri has reported 22,830 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,026 deaths since the pandemic began. A new hot spot is St. Francois County, home to two state prisons with outbreaks. The Missouri Department of Corrections reports 42 inmates and eight staff members have tested positive at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre. The nearby Farmington Correctional Center has 54 confirmed cases among inmates and four among staff.

Montana

Helena: State health officials reported 45 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and counted the 23rd death related to the coronavirus. A woman in her 60s in Big Horn County died of complications due to COVID-19 after being hospitalized, according to county officials. That marked the fourth death related to the virus in the county. Yellowstone County officials reported 23 new cases Friday. Nearly a dozen were diagnosed among the staff and residents of seven different assisted care facilities in the county, according to Health Officer John Felton. The county issued a temporary order prohibiting visitation to assisted care facilities, with an exception for compassionate visitation at the end of life. All visitors are required to wear a mask, and workers are “strongly recommended” to do so. Felton attributed other case clusters to workplaces and large gatherings.

Nebraska

Lincoln: The state has reported another 198 novel coronavirus cases, increasing the total for the pandemic to 19,660. The state Department of Health and Human Services dashboard showed Saturday that the number of cases had increased 1% in the previous day. The state reported 284 COVID-19-related deaths, up two. The health department said 14,200 people, or about 72% of those infected, have recovered. It said 1,365 people have been hospitalized, but only 111 of those hospitalizations still are active. Nearly 63% of the people who’ve been hospitalized were 55 or older, and the same group accounts for 90% of the state’s reported COVID-19-related deaths. the department said. The health department said 42% of the state’s hospital beds, 50% of its intensive care unit beds and 80% of its ventilator beds still are available.

Nevada

Las Vegas: A coronavirus mask mandate by the Democratic governor is drawing protests and organized opposition from a self-described conservative Republican activist who vows to target elected officials he says threaten personal liberty. “We’re really not trying to take a political stand,” said Ian Bayne, head of the new “No Mask Nevada” political action committee. “We’re a diverse group of people who don’t want to wear masks and don’t want the government to tell us to use masks.” Gov. Steve Sisolak called it “disappointing and outright dangerous to see any attempt to turn face coverings into a political issue during a public health crisis.” Bayne said a No Mask Nevada protest last Monday in rural Pahrump drew several dozen people. He said the governor’s order to wear masks was enacted without due process and denied liberty to state residents.

New Hampshire

Concord: The federal government is no longer sending nursing homes disposable isolation gowns described as useless garbage bags and instead is providing a different style, according to a spokesperson for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The New Hampshire Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes, said last week that the bulk of the items sent by FEMA to protect workers against the coronavirus were unusable, including child-sized gloves, surgical masks with ear loops that broke when stretched and isolation gowns with no arm openings. Gov. Chris Sununu said the state is replacing any of the defective items with items from its stockpile and is asking FEMA to do the same. He said he would prefer that FEMA send such items to the state for distribution rather than to individual facilities. “I can’t answer why FEMA’s doing it this way; it’s very frustrating,” he said.

New Jersey

Seaside Heights: Amanda Vourtis drove from her home in Wood-Ridge to spend the Fourth of July with a friend on the borough’s world-famous Boardwalk. Few people were wearing masks or observing social distancing Saturday. However, Vourtis, 27, said she was not concerned about getting COVID-19 from coming to the Jersey shore to celebrate the holiday. “I take my own precautions,” Vourtis said. She came armed with plenty of hand sanitizer in her bag and a mask ready to be donned. While many of the Boardwalk attractions and shops were opened for business, some of the rides at Casino Pier and Breakwater Beach Waterpark remained closed Saturday, as they are considered “high touch points.” Privately, Ocean County officials are torn between two competing interests: the desire to protect its $5 billion summer tourism economy and the need to prevent a new spike in COVID-19 cases, which has infected 9,760 residents and killed more than 900.

New Mexico

Santa Fe: State Health Secretary Kathyleen Kunkel on Friday announced her intention to retire once the current wave of coronavirus infections subsides. Kunkel, 69, an attorney and former pediatric social worker, cited the physical and mental demands of her work at the forefront on the state’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who once led the Department of Health, announced a nationwide search for a successor. Lujan Grisham imposed aggressive public health directives at the outset of the pandemic that included business closings, state-at-home restrictions and school closures. Stubbornly high infection rates have gripped the northwest part of the state and large portions of the Navajo Nation that extends into Arizona and Utah. The Health Department is in the midst of hiring at least 200 specialists to identify outbreaks and trace exposure as it shifts toward a rapid-response model for limiting spread.

New York

New York: The coronavirus put a damper on this year’s Fourth of July celebrations in New York, but some things stayed the same. Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo repeated as men’s and women’s champions at Saturday’s Nathan’s Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest. Chestnut downed 75 wieners and buns in 10 minutes and Sudo downed 48¹/₂ in a competition that took place at an undisclosed location with no in-person spectators. Both hot dog totals were world records. “I’m always pushing for a record,” Chestnut said before the contest aired on a live sports-starved ESPN. “I know that’s what the fans want.” Meanwhile, officials including Mayor Bill de Blasio, Sen. Charles Schumer and former Mayor Mike Bloomberg gathered in lower Manhattan earlier Saturday for the reopening of the Sept. 11 memorial plaza, which had been roped off since mid-March when cultural institutions shut down across the city to halt the spread of the virus.

North Carolina

Asheville: A new Elon University survey says most people in the state have worries about the coronavirus, and most support a requirement to wear a mask to stem its spread. About 74% said the state should require people to wear masks. During the two days last month the survey was conducted, Gov. Roy Cooper made mask-wearing mandatory in public settings. Meanwhile, 21% said North Carolina’s coronavirus restrictions have been too tight, 33% said they have been about right, and 46% said they weren’t tight enough. And 53% said they are worried about getting severely sick with the virus, 50% worried about infecting others and 69% worried a family member would get severely sick. More than half said in the prior two weeks they had changed personal activities from normal, such as visiting family and going places. While 65% said their personal financial situation is the same or better than before the virus started, 36% said theirs had worsened.

North Dakota

Bismarck: A number of safety changes are being implemented as courthouses in the South Central District of North Dakota prepare for resuming jury trials July 14 amid the coronavirus pandemic. The precautions include some physical changes that will be noticeable, such as the installation of Plexiglas barriers in areas where social distancing is difficult. Other changes will be more about scheduling and managing traffic, a task not easily accomplished in a building with space limitations the Bismarck Tribune reports. “No courthouse is built to keep people 6 feet apart,” said Judge Bruce Romanick, presiding judge of the district. The North Dakota Supreme Court suspended jury trials in March as the COVID-19 pandemic gained momentum. Officials have given considerable thought to the changes needed for restarting, Romanick said.

Ohio

Cincinnati: As college administrations continue to roll out plans for fall semesters amid the coronavirus pandemic, faculty in the state are aiming to make sure their voices are heard. Midwest chapters of the American Association of University Professors voiced their concerns last week about reopening campuses and outlined principles they want universities to follow as they make decisions about the upcoming semester. “Faculty, staff, students and community members at our schools are profoundly concerned that so many of our campuses are planning to physically reopen campus in the fall, given the almost assured potential to launch a super-spreader event that will harm, or even kill, members of our communities,” the AAUP chapters said in an open letter signed by more than 20 AAUP chapters and state conferences, including the Ohio AAUP state conference and AAUP chapters at Ohio State, Ohio, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Miami and Wright State.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City: The state on Sunday reported an additional 283 confirmed coronavirus cases. The Oklahoma State Department of Health said that the additional cases bring the state’s total to 15,928. The actual number of cases is believed to be far higher, but many people haven’t been tested, and some who get the disease don’t show symptoms. Oklahoma reported no additional deaths Sunday. The state’s total number of reported deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, remained at 398. The department said 12,246 Oklahomans have recovered from the virus.

Oregon

Corvallis: An Oregon State Police trooper is on leave and the state police superintendent has publicly apologized after the uniformed officer allegedly refused to wear a face mask inside a coffee shop Wednesday morning. After a video of four troopers not wearing masks at the coffee shop was made public Thursday, and employees alleged that one trooper said the mask mandate violated his “civil liberties,” OSP Superintendent Travis Hampton called the troopers’ behavior “embarrassing and indefensible.” Officials said Thursday that the trooper who refused to wear a mask has been placed on leave and that the incident is under investigation. None of the troopers has been identified by the OSP. Hampton’s apology came after The Oregonian/OregonLive first reported the incident at Allan’s Coffee & Tea.

Pennsylvania

Harrisburg: The rising number of COVID-19 infections in the Pittsburgh area helped drive Pennsylvania’s number of confirmed new cases to 667, the state Health Department said Friday. Pennsylvania’s death toll from the coronavirus pandemic rose by 34 to more than 6,700 since the infection began to spread in the state earlier this year. There have been nearly 89,000 people diagnosed with the disease in the state so far. The number of cases in Allegheny County, which encompasses Pittsburgh, rose by 166, the department said. Allegheny County put the increase in confirmed cases at 177 on Friday. In response to a spike in cases there, the county’s Health Department closed bars and restaurants for a week, starting Friday, although they can still provide takeout and delivery. Allegheny County also ordered the casino there to close and banned gatherings of more than 25 people for the next week, while encouraging residents to stay at home to help stem the spread.

Rhode Island

Bristol: What’s billed as the oldest Fourth of July celebration in the country was scaled back but not canceled because of the pandemic. The day started with a rolling celebration with vehicles festooned in red, white and blue and the 88th Army Band performing in a flat-bed truck. Social distancing was the rule of the day, and the fireworks display in Bristol Harbor was postponed. The parade was first held in 1785. The 235-year-old celebration has taken place every year since then, though there have been modifications over time, including this year during the pandemic, said Michele Martins, chairwoman of the planning committee.

South Carolina

Columbia: The state’s wildlife agency is reopening its offices that have been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Department of Natural Resources offices around the state will open Monday for hunting licenses, boat titles and other transactions for the first time since the middle of March. The agency said it will continue to offer those services online and by mail for anyone who doesn’t want to go into their offices. Customers will be strongly encouraged to wear a mask, social distancing will be enforced, and the offices will be set up with a one-way flow of traffic, the agency said. The offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, but agency officials are encouraging people to get there before 4 p.m. so they don’t have to close before serving everyone.

South Dakota

Pierre: Health officials in the state have confirmed 50 new coronavirus cases. As of Saturday morning, South Dakota has seen 7,028 cases and 97 deaths. The state has 869 active cases, and only 54 people are currently hospitalized. Minnehaha County has seen the most cases by far with 3,659 confirmed infections. Pennington County has seen the second-highest number of cases at 556. The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher than the state’s totals because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick. Health officials have warned that President Donald Trump’s Fourth of July rally at Mount Rushmore on Friday evening could help to spread the virus across the state.

Tennessee

Knoxville: Knox County and Shelby County on Friday joined Nashville and Memphis in requiring people to wear face masks in many public settings to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The orders come as virus cases continue to surge in Tennessee. The state recorded 1,822 new cases Friday, a new one-day record. That tops the previous record of 1,806 set Wednesday. An additional 13 deaths were reported Friday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 deaths in Tennessee to at least 633. Gov. Bill Lee signed an executive order Friday granting 89 counties the authority to issue local mask requirements if COVID-19 cases spike. Lee said in a statement that local governments expressed a need for greater flexibility to address a rise in cases. Lee’s order does not include the state’s six counties with locally run health departments: Sullivan, Knox, Hamilton, Davidson, Madison and Shelby counties.

Texas

Dallas: Leaders in two of the state’s biggest cities are calling on the governor to empower local governments to order residents to stay home as Texas’ continued surge in coronavirus cases tests hospital capacity. Austin Mayor Steve Adler told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that he wants Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, to return control of his city to the local government as its hospitals face a potential crisis. “If we don’t change the trajectory, then I am within two weeks of having our hospitals overrun,” said Adler, a Democrat. “And in our ICUs, I could be 10 days away from that.” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the top county official in the Houston area, said she’s grateful for the mask mandate Abbott finally put forth, but a stay-at-home order is needed. Texas reported its highest daily increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases Saturday, and hospitalizations from the disease caused by the coronavirus have continued to climb.

Utah

Springdale: More than 3,400 people shuffled onto Zion’s shuttles on its reopening day Wednesday as the national park welcomes more visitors amid the coronavirus pandemic. The shuttles, which have been closed since April, chugged up and down the canyon as per usual but carried only 33 passengers each. Inside, most passengers wore masks and maintained social distance as every other seat was taken completely out of the bus with no standing allowed. Both entrance fees to the park and preregistered tickets are now required in order to ride the shuttle. The previously free service now costs $1 through Recreation.gov. A price has been applied as a service fee for the website, Zion spokesperson Jeff Axel said. But while thousands of more people can now come to Zion on a daily basis, the park is taking steps to curb COVID-19 infections. “It’s a careful balance as we want to allow as much access as possible while following the health guidelines,” Axel said.

Vermont

Montpelier: Vermont State Historic Sites are now open on a limited basis. The Division of Historic Preservation says the sites opened last week and will operate in accordance with the governor’s Be Smart, Stay Safe executive order and Agency of Commerce and Community Development guidance. Guests will be required to wear facial coverings in buildings and in the presence of others outdoors. Some spaces will not be open to visitors because of social distancing requirements. Those include the observation level of the Bennington Battle Monument and the birthplace of Calvin Coolidge. Events at the sites are also limited this year, and days of operation have been altered, so visitors are encouraged to check the historic sites website when planning a trip. Many of the sites also have hiking trails, gardens, or acres of preserved forest and farmland. Vermont’s Underwater Historic Preserves of Lake Champlain also opened to the divers last week.

Virginia

Hampton: Hampton University has announced it will offer only online classes in the fall due to the coronavirus outbreak. University President William R. Harvey said in a letter to campus that the decision was based on the spread of the virus and warnings from top federal health officials about the need to take steps to slow the outbreak. “Therefore, out of an abundance of caution for the health, safety and welfare of our students as well as the faculty, administrative staff, administrators, maintenance and custodial staff, and others with whom students might interact, Hampton University will provide remote instruction only for the first semester of academic year 2020-20,” Harvey said. He said tuition and fees for the fall will be reduced. He said a decision about the second semester would be made later. The historically black university had an enrollment of about 4,300 students as of 2019.

Washington

Spokane: While the coronavirus at first pounded the greater Seattle area, the epicenter of the state’s outbreak has now moved east across the Cascade Range thanks to exploding caseloads in June. Washington is seeing rising cases of COVID-19, driven in large part by increasing numbers in Yakima, Benton, Franklin and Spokane counties, the largest communities in eastern Washington. The numbers are stark. In the past week, more than 40% of the state’s 2,957 newly confirmed cases of coronavirus occurred within those three metro areas, which make up less than 15% of the state’s population, according to the state Department of Health. Yakima County, with 250,000 residents, has nearly as many cases as the neighboring state of Oregon, which has more than 4 million residents.

West Virginia

Charleston: The Flatwoods Department of Motor Vehicles office is now offering title and license plate services by appointment. Other services the office is offering by appointment are driver’s license testing, dealer salesperson testing, new driver’s licenses and ID cards, and out-of-state transfers, according to a news release. Any other services, such as license renewals, can be completed through the mail or online or by visiting a local kiosk or a sheriff’s department. Additional title work may be done through local title and licensing agencies across the state. Customers can make appointments at go.wv.gov/dmvappointment or by calling 304-558-3938. Vehicle registrations and driver’s licenses that expired after March 1 have been extended through Aug. 1. Instruction permits have been extended through Sept. 30.

Wisconsin

Madison: State health officials reported the most coronavirus cases in a single day Saturday, tallying 738 people with the virus. As the nation prepared to celebrate Independence Day, Gov. Tony Evers urged people to cancel festivities and stay home. Health officials reported no new deaths from COVID-19. Over the past two weeks, the state has seen not only an increase in confirmed cases but also an increase in the percentage of tests that come back positive. That’s a sign the virus is spreading, according to public health experts. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported Saturday that 10.8% of people who received tests for COVID-19 were confirmed to be positive. Many of the newly confirmed cases have been among people in their 20s. They account for almost a quarter of all cases in the state.

Wyoming

Green River: A company that mines and refines soda ash and related products in the city plans to lay off an unspecified number of workers in response to the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, officials said. The Casper Star-Tribune reports Genesis Alkali instituted a workforce reduction at its Green River plants and mine. The company employs about 950 people. It mines trona ore and refines it into soda ash and other products. Soda ash is used in products such as baking soda, glass, detergent and even electronics. Company officials said in a public filing that a drop in demand has posed a significant challenge to the company. Communications Director David Caplan declined to provide the number of employees affected by the layoffs.

From USA TODAY Network and wire reports

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hot dog contest, outdoor ballet: News from around our 50 states