National

News Brief: Reopening Consequences, Charges Related To Epstein Case

6:20am July 03, 2020

Texas requires masks in counties with more than 20 COVID-19 cases. California orders 19 counties to shut down. And, a British socialite is charged in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein abuse case.

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Vivian Garcia Leonard (left); Marissa Sofia Ochs (middle), holding her daughter, Liana; and Vivian J. Leonard (right) talk about being pharmacists in New York, a city that has been especially hard hit during the coronavirus pandemic.

3 Generations Of Pharmacists Reflect On The Coronavirus Pandemic

5:01am July 03, 2020

Despite her dedication to her work, a pharmacist is following the advice of her daughter and granddaughter — who are also pharmacists — to stop working during the coronavirus pandemic.

A hallway leads to a makeshift isolation ward for COVID-19 patients.

National

On The Brink, Rural Hospitals Brace For New Surge In COVID-19 Cases

5:00am July 03, 2020

by Kirk Siegler

Rural "critical access" hospitals, often some of the largest employers in small towns, have been operating on razor-thin margins throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

A mannequin wears a face mask at the Citadel Outlets in Commerce, Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday urged Californians to turn to their "better angels" and use common sense over the holiday weekend by wearing a mask and skipping traditional gatherings

U.S. Surpasses Global Record For New COVID-19 Cases Recorded In A Day

4:26am July 03, 2020

by Doreen McCallister

The U.S. reported more than 55,000 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday — reaching a daily global record for the coronavirus pandemic. The previous record was set last month by Brazil.

National

Jeffrey Epstein's Companion Ghislaine Maxwell Faces Sexual Exploitation Charges

1:37am July 03, 2020

by Ryan Lucas

The FBI arrested Ghislaine Maxwell Thursday. Prosecutors unsealed an indictment against the companion to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, alleging that she helped recruit victims for him.

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Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in May. She wants an Army officer who testified at Trump impeachment hearings to get his promotion.

Senator Puts Rare Hold On Military Promotions Over Ousted Army Officer

10:57pm July 02, 2020

by David Welna

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman testified in impeachment hearings. He's been due for promotion to the rank of full colonel, but that has not happened. Sen. Tammy Duckworth wants assurances that it will.

A demonstrator makes the OK hand gesture believed to have white supremacist connotations during the End Domestic Terrorism rally in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 17, 2019.

Reformed Neo-Nazi Discusses President Trump's Controversial Shared Tweet

9:57pm July 02, 2020

by Christianna Silva

NPR's Noel King speaks with Christian Picciolini, a reformed neo-Nazi skinhead, about what extremists may have heard when the president retweeted a video of an alleged supporter yelling "white power."

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People get tested for the coronavirus at a drive-through site in Phoenix last month. In Arizona, the portion of tests coming back positive now hovers around 24%, more than three times the national average.

In Arizona, Nearly 1 In 4 Coronavirus Tests Now Comes Back Positive

9:13pm July 02, 2020

by Will Stone

The percentage of positive tests in Arizona is more than three times the national average, and hospital capacity has become a concern.

Tips For Staying Safe On July 4th This Year

7:11pm July 02, 2020

by Allison Aubrey

The Fourth of July is traditionally a time when Americans gather with family, friends and neighbors for celebration. NPR shares tips for staying safe during July Fourth festivities this year.

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A sign marks the entrance to ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Florida, where the NBA plans to restart the season with 22 teams later this month.

NBA Says 9 More Players Test Positive For Coronavirus

6:50pm July 02, 2020

by Brakkton Booker

That brings the total to 25. Put another way, that's 7% of the league. The news comes as games are scheduled to resume later this month. Team staff has fared better — 10 positive tests out of 884.