Infected ferry, Crater Lake, mask-shaming, virtual farmers market: News from around our 50 states

Alabama

Gadsden: Drive-thru testing, with next-day results, will be offered from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday in the outpatient parking lot at Riverview Regional Medical Center, according to a news release from the hospital, The Gadsden Times reported.. Patients must call (256) 442-5153 to make an appointment, print and complete the coronavirus testing form available at the hospital’s website, www.riverviewregional.com, and bring their insurance cards. The hospital is located at 300 S. Third St. in Gadsden.

Alaska

Anchorage: Forty-one crew members and passengers of an Alaska state ferry will undergo testing for COVID-19 before disembarking the Tustumena in Homer after another crew member tested positive over the weekend. The crew member on the 198-foot ferry began exhibiting symptoms and tested positive Saturday in Dutch Harbor. The ferry set sail for Homer that night after 21 passengers who boarded in Dutch Harbor were put back on shore. No other tests on crew members or passengers were conducted on Saturday. In all, 35 crew members and six passengers were to undergo testing in Homer, state officials said Monday during a news conference. “No one goes ashore until I say so,” John Falvey, the Alaska Marine Highway System general manager, said. Officials said 16 crew members had close contact with the ferry employee who tested positive. All but one remained on the ship and were in self-isolation. The other person who had close contact left the vessel at the end of a shift, but has been contacted and instructed to self-quarantine. Public health officials in that person’s home jurisdiction are monitoring. Crew members and passengers will be free to leave the ferry while waiting for test results if they head home or to their final destination, where they can quarantine for 14 days. They must also take private transportation to that location, and they cannot expose new individuals, like a cab driver, in getting to their final destination. All the passengers were Alaska residents, officials said. Crew members or passengers who do not meet that criteria or have to take public transportation back to their homes, such as an airplane, will be advised to stay on board the ferry. It wasn’t immediately clear how long the ferry would be out of service. Falvey said a commercial crew might be employed to thoroughly clean the Tustumena. The state is advising anyone who sailed on the Tustumena since June 1 to wear a mask, practice social distancing, check themselves twice daily for symptoms, and get tested for COVID-19 if symptoms do arise, said Dr. Joe McLaughlin, the state epidemiologist. He said even if they don’t have symptoms, they should consider getting tested seven to 14 days after leaving the ship.

Arizona

Phoenix: As COVID-19 numbers in Arizona climbed last week, the state health director sent a letter to hospitals urging them to “fully activate” emergency plans. Hospitals are also being asked to prepare for crisis care, and to suspend elective surgeries if they are experiencing a shortage of staff or bed capacity, Dr. Cara Christ, Arizona Department of Health Services director, said in the June 6 letter. The letter was sent on the day after the chief clinical officer of Arizona’s largest health system – Banner Health – said ICU bed occupancy was growing, and that if current trends continued would exceed capacity. One day later, Banner Health said it had reached capacity for its nine ECMO machines. ECMO stands for stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation – it works like an external lung and is for patients whose lungs get so damaged that they don’t work, even with the assistance of a ventilator. Overall, COVID-19 numbers in Arizona have jumped, hospitalizations have increased and as the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests showed increases, too. Some experts say Arizona is experiencing a spike in community spread of COVID-19. As of Monday, Arizona cases of COVID-19, rose to 27,678 with 1,047 known deaths. Maricopa County has the 26th-highest number of confirmed cases of any county in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University. In her letter, Christ asked hospital leaders to review a state crisis plan in order to “make determinations for moving your facility from conventional care to contingency care and prepare for crisis care.” Christ also told hospitals to fully activate their emergency plan, in keeping with an executive order from Gov. Doug Ducey that called for expanding hospital bed capacity, first by 25% and then by 50%.

Arkansas

Little Rock: Gov. Asa Hutchinson backed off the possibility of allowing just some parts of the state to lift more coronavirus restrictions as the number of people hospitalized from the virus hit a new high. It’s not clear when Hutchinson will implement “Phase 2,” but he told reporters Monday that he’s not considering a loosening of restrictions by region, an idea he floated last week. Hutchinson said he’s not ready to move away from the state’s plan for the next wave of reopenings to happen statewide. “We’re not ready to make any jumps or changes in that direction,” Hutchinson said. Hutchinson did not completely rule out the possibility of a regional approach later. Arkansas’ rise in recent days has come from northwest Arkansas, which earlier had not seen as much virus activity as other parts of the state. Eighty-six of the new cases came from Washington County and another 41 came from Benton County. Hutchinson cited that change as a concern in shifting to a regional approach. Arkansas in recent weeks has allowed businesses that closed because of the virus to reopen, but with limits on capacity and other safety measures. Arkansas was among a handful of states that did not have a stay-at-home order in place during the pandemic. The number of people hospitalized because of the illness caused by the virus increased by 26 Monday to 171, from 145 Sunday. The state’s death count from COVID-19 increased to 155. The 26 new hospitalizations are the largrest one-day increase Arkansas has since since the start of the pandemic, but Hutchinson and state Health Secretary Dr. Nathaniel Smith have said the state is not near its capacity for hospital beds. The increase in cases also comes as the state has expanded its testing in recent weeks. Hutchinson has set a goal of testing 120,000 by the end of June.

California

Sacramento: Movie theaters can begin opening later this week if they limit theater capacity to 25% or no more than 100 attendees, under state guidance released Monday. The guidance adds movie theaters to a long list of other businesses that can start reopening as the nation’s most populous state relaxes its stay-at-home order. Restaurants, churches, hair salons and retail stores have reopened in many counties. Soon that reopening will expand vastly in counties that can meet certain metrics including number of cases, positive test rates and testing and tracing capabilities. Other entertainment venues that can reopen later include bowling alleys, mini golf courses and arcades. The state recommended movie theaters implement reservation systems, designate arrival times and designating certain seats that people can use so that movie goers can maintain 6 feet of distance from other groups. Moviegoers should, at a minimum, wear face coverings when entering and exiting the theater or buying concessions, the state guidance said. The state also suggests theaters use disposable or washable seat covers that are easy to clean and prop open doors so people don’t have to touch handles. Meanwhile, the state is also allowing film, music and television production to resume subject to labor agreements. Film, television and commercial production make up a significant amount of the Los Angeles economy.

Colorado

Denver: State public schools will need to be flexible about reopening classroom instruction this fall by keeping remote learning options available for students at schools that have coronavirus outbreaks, Gov. Jared Pollis and Dr. Richard Herlihy, the state’s chief epidemiologist, told the education board Monday. Colorado is gradually reopening its economy after a stay-at-home order helped slow the spread of the virus, and school districts can offer computer instruction this summer at facilities with proper social distancing. But Polis warned, “the truth is that nobody knows where we will be in August or September,” when schools reopen. “Most likely, most schools are back already in a normal way and largely in a regular fashion,” the Democratic governor told the State Board of Education. Contingency planning is key, he said. A classroom or school outbreak will require isolation of students and staff they’ve been in contact with. Everyone will be tested before they can return. Polis said strategies for preventing outbreaks include staggering lunch, recreation and hallway use times and keeping classroom students together as a body as much as possible. Special precautions must be taken for staff 60 and over, Herlihy said, especially because most children with the virus are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Colorado adults age 60 and older are 21% of the state’s population but account for 50% of coronavirus hospitalizations and 90% of deaths caused by the virus. Districts should allow older staff to have the opportunity to teach remotely, they said.

Connecticut

Hartford: The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection plans to reopen campgrounds beginning July 8. Campers with recreational vehicles or RVs will be able to keep their reservations starting July 1. Anyone with reservations before those dates will be provided refunds. New reservations for the season can be made online beginning July 20. The deaprtment is hiring and training staff to clean bathrooms and other facilities to maintain standards required by health officials during the coronavirus pandemic. The agency has also obtained protective gear and made safety changes to camp office buildings.

Delaware

Wilmington: Gov. John Carney has extended Delaware’s state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic through the end of June. The emergency was first declared mid-March and must be extended every 30 days. The emergency order includes requirements for residents to wear face masks in public and restrictions on business operations to limit spread of the virus. The state has for the past two weeks been lifting some of Carney’s original restrictions – reopening beaches, short-term rentals, retail businesses and dine-in services at restaurants with limited capacity. Many restaurants and businesses were allowed to reopen June 1, but it didn’t trigger the economic reawakening the state had hoped for, as many stores remained closed over fears of the coronavirus and looting in Wilmington and Dover after police brutality protests. Churches this weekend were also allowed to resume services, with many religious leaders saying they would implement social distancing rules. The next round of business reopenings begins June 15. Businesses that were allowed to reopen this week will be able to expand their occupancy from 30% to 60% of their designated fire code occupancy, the governor said at a press briefing. This mostly applies to restaurants, retail, convention centers and arts organizations. Gyms, however, will remain at 30% occupancy. Indoor gatherings of up to 50 people will also be allowed, and child care centers will also be open. The state is recommending parents keep their children home, if possible.

District of Columbia

Washington: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for restricting church services while allowing protests during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I have no criticism for the millions of Americans who peacefully demonstrated in recent days. Their cause is beyond righteous,” the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor. “It is the inconsistency from leaders that has been baffling,” he added, singling out Bowser for what he said is selectively allowing racial justice protests but not church services during the pandemic. McConnell argued that restrictions on religious ceremonies are not consistent with allowing rallies and protests against police brutality in response to the death of George Floyd. “Here in the District of Columbia, the mayor celebrates massive street protests. She actually joins them herself, but on her command, churches and houses of worship remain shut,” McConnell said. “I believe even the largest church buildings in the District are still subject to the 10-person limit for the things the mayor deems inessential.”

Florida

Tallahassee: U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the top Senate Democrat, called on the Department of Labor to investigate Florida’s glitch-ridden unemployment system, asserting that the state mismanaged claims and failed to deliver timely benefits after massive job losses from the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to the department’s inspector general, Schumer joined the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, in requesting an inquiry into the Department of Labor’s oversight of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, which administers the application portal for jobless benefits. The Democratic senators assert that the state has only paid 28% of the 2 million Floridians applying for benefits since March 15 – but that assertion appeared to rely on month-old data. According to current statistics from Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity, more than half of unemployment claims have been paid. The department contends that more than 90% of 1.3 million eligible claimants it has processed have been paid. But the state’s calculation does not include nearly 500,000 people deemed ineligible, as well as hundreds of thousands more that are apparently still waiting for their claims to be processed. A spokesperson for Gov. Ron DeSantis, Helen Ferre, dismissed Schumer’s call for an investigation as “partisan politics.” Ferre noted that the governor has called one of his own inspectors general to conduct an investigation into the online portal known as CONNECT. “More than $4.6 billion has been paid to close to 1.3 million Florida residents,” Ferre said, “and under Governor DeSantis’ direction, more will be done to ensure that all who are owed unemployment benefits receive them.”

Georgia

Augusta: Georgia appears to be slowing to about 600 new cases of COVID-19 a day over the past few days, with a smaller amount of deaths, but Augusta saw a big influx of new cases and two new deaths, according to new data. Georgia saw an additional 599 cases of COVID-19 on Monday to bring its total to 52,497, with 28 new deaths for a total of 2,208, the Department of Public Health reported Monday. In the Augusta area, Richmond County had a spike of 18 new cases to raise its total to 645, Columbia County had four more for 278, Screven County had an additional case for 58, Jefferson County saw one more for 51, and Jenkins County increased two more to 29. All other counties remained the same Monday: Burke at 125, McDuffie at 72, Wilkes at 343, Warren at 18, Lincoln at 16, and Glascock and Taliaferro at one each. Richmond County had two more deaths for 32 total, which raised the Augusta toll to 59 after more deaths over the weekend. Georgia got 11,885 test results in Monday, of which 5% were positive, according to an analysis by The Augusta Chronicle. The state has now received 649,384 tests, of which 8% have been positive, a rate that has been steadily declining over the past few weeks, according to a Chronicle analysis.

Hawaii

Honolulu: Maui County’s unemployment rose to 35% in April, the highest rate in the state, largely because of the massive impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the tourism industry. The economic collapse is a stark reminder there is a price to pay for Maui’s dependence on tourism, which Mayor Mike Victorino estimated supplies about one in three jobs, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Sunday. “We built our economy on agriculture and hospitality industry, which is bar none the most lucrative economic base that people could see,” Victorino said. “Now we need to look at what other types of occupations or businesses that we can start that are not directly tied into the tourists.”Maui visitor arrivals rose from 1.8 million in 2009 to 2.9 million in 2018, a 54% gain that was the largest increase on any island. Maui visitor arrivals in 2019 rose more than 5% to 3.1 million and spending increased more than 2% to $5 billion. Before coronavirus fears and government health restrictions devastated Hawaii’s tourism, Maui was the state’s top hotel market. In April 2019, Maui was tied with Honolulu for the lowest unemployment level in the state. Recently more than 1,500 unemployed Maui hotel workers from three top resorts turned out to collect food packages paid for by their owner, Host Hotels & Resorts. They included employees of Andaz Maui at Wailea, the Fairmont Kea Lani and the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa.

Idaho

Twin Falls: Gov. Brad Little and lawmakers have announced a plan allowing cities and counties to tap into $200 million of federal coronavirus relief money to pay police and other public safety workers as long as property taxes are also reduced. The plan announced Monday is using part of the $1.25 billion Idaho received in federal rescue money to help with the pandemic. Little’s Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee will complete specific details. “Our focus is to support our communities and our police, fire, and EMS personnel and ensure there are no reductions in public safety during these unprecedented challenges,” Little said in a statement. “I appreciate the cities and counties working with us to ensure the resulting budget savings are given back to the people of Idaho in the form of property tax relief rather than backfilling local government budgets.” Property taxes became a top issue in the legislative session earlier this year as explosive growth in parts of the state caused property values to increase, forcing up property taxes. Some longtime homeowners said they were being forced from their homes. Several property tax relief bills were introduced during the session that ended in March as the virus started spreading, but none of the bills became law. Twin Falls County Commissioner Don Hall said Little’s plan will help support public safety workers while not burdening property owners. The $1.25 billion needs to be used by Dec. 30. About $650 million has now been allocated. Idaho is in the third stage of Little’s four-stage plan to reopen during the pandemic. Nearly all businesses can now open under the guidelines.

Illinois

Chicago: The financial cost of the coronavirus pandemic in Chicago continues to climb as another major trade show has been canceled. The International Manufacturing Technology Show that was scheduled to be held at McCormick Place in September has been scrapped because of the pandemic. More than 129,000 people had signed up to attend the show, one of the largest in the city, and McCormick Place spokeswoman Cynthia McCafferty told the Chicago Tribune that the show was expected to account for more than 99,300 hotel room nights. Conventions are crucial to the city’s financial health and the show is the latest of nearly 100 events at McCormick Place to be canceled this year. McCafferty said those cancellations add up to a loss of more than $1.4 billion that attendees would have spent on things like hotels, entertainment, restaurants and transportation. Organizers of the convention that has been held every even-numbered year in Chicago since 1947 said the uncertainty of just when conventions might return to Illinois under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s five-phase reopening plan prompted them to cancel. Under the plan, gatherings of more 50 people can’t resume until the final phase. In order to get to that phase, either a vaccine must be available or there must be a highly effective treatment in place. The Association for Manufacturing Technology, the trade group that owns and manages the show, did not see that happening by the time the show was scheduled to be held, according to Peter Eelman, vice president of exhibitions and chief experience officer for the association.

Indiana

Indianapolis: Most of the state’s casinos can reopen as soon as next week under coronavirus safety plans they have submitted, an Indiana Gaming Commission official said Monday. The 13 state-regulated casinos have been closed since mid-March when widespread shutdowns started to slow the coronavirus spread. The Michigan-based Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians announced Monday that it also plans to reopen its South Bend, Indiana, casino and three in southwestern Michigan on June 15. The Indiana Gaming Commission required casino safety plans to include how they would encourage 6-foot distancing between gamblers and limit the number of people at table games, along with requiring face masks for employees. Indiana casinos could still face greater restrictions from local health officials. The Indiana casinos have remained closed even as Gov. Eric Holcomb has eased coronavirus restrictions on most other businesses beginning in early May. At least 7,000 Indiana casino workers have lost jobs during the shutdowns, according to layoff notices submitted to state officials. The casino closures have also cost state government more than $110 million in projected tax revenue during March, April and May. The Indiana casinos will decide how quickly they will reopen, although those that have submitted new safety plans are allowed to do so as early as 6 a.m. June 15, said Jennifer Reske, rhe Indiana Gaming Commission ‘s executive director. Many casinos will have fewer electronic games available as they provide greater distancing and some will spread machines and tables farther apart in their gambling areas, she said.

Iowa

Des Moines: The Des Moines Farmers Market said that an online platform has been created in partnership with UnityPoint Health-Des Moines for people to order products from vendors and pick them up or have them delivered. More than 100 vendors are participating in the platform, according to a news release from the farmers market. The platform will provide a way for vendors who rely on the market to generate income and for residents to purchase locally grown food. Customers can find the online market through the farmers market’s website. People can browse the hundreds of offerings without registering for an account but must registered to purchase and arrange delivery or pick-up times. The site includes a search option for products, options to choose products that are available for pickup and delivery, and to sort products by supplier. Profiles of suppliers are also available on the site. Products and vendors will be added to the platform throughout the summer, the release stated.

Kansas

Topeka: Kansas counties “shouldn’t feel pressure” to loosen restrictions if they aren’t seeing a decline in new coronavirus cases or new hospitalizations, Gov. Laura Kelly said Monday, with cases increasing faster in the four most populous counties than the state as a whole. Kelly said she’s feeling hopeful because Kansas is making enough progress in containing the novel coronavirus for most of the state’s 105 counties to loosen restrictions further. Her office and the state Department of Health and Environment are advising local officials that as of Monday they can allow mass gatherings of up to 45 people, permit nonessential travel and open swimming pools and summer camps. But she and Dr. Lee Norman, the health department’s top administrator, acknowledged there are counties not seeing a drop in new cases and hospitalizations or are likely to see declines halt. Norman listed three of the state’s four most populous counties – Sedgwick, Shawnee and Wyandotte – as examples. The state health department reported Monday that Kansas saw coronavirus cases increase 2.5% from Friday, up 257 to a total of 10,650 since the pandemic reached the state in early March. The three counties Norman mentioned, plus Johnson County, the state’s most populous county, together accounted for 55% of the new cases since last week.

Kentucky

Hodgenville: The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace is increasing visitor access and services this week with guidance from government health officials about the coronavirus pandemic. The park reopened access Monday to its visitors center, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Access will remain closed to the visitors center bookstore, the Memorial Building and in-person, ranger-led interpretive programs. The National Park Service is phasing in increased access on a park-by-park basis, it said in a news release. The public should follow local health orders and avoid crowds and high-risk outdoor activities, the release said. Details and updates are available online and on social media channels.

Louisiana

Shreveport: After spending roughly $18,600 on work-related travel in 2019, Mayor Adrian Perkins’ 2020 travel has been slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic to less than $10,000. Financial records for Perkins show work-related travel expenses for 2019 included mayor’s conferences, a northwest Louisiana legislative session, technology summit, and an October trip to Dallas for a meeting with the Federal Aviation Administration regarding airport leases. The mayor’s 2019 work-related travel expenses were roughly $18,600, with the bulk of those expenses in hotel and airfare. Some of the mayor’s travel for speaking engagements and leadership development were covered by the host. In 2020, the mayor traveled to the nation’s capital from Jan. 21-26 for the U.S. Conference of Mayors, for a total cost of $6,063. The mayor’s work-related travel halted after the U.S. Mayor’s Conference and the onset of COVID-19. With a budget shortfall this spring, there has been speculation about curtailing mayoral travel.

Maine

Portland: A federal appeals court is expected to hear an appeal from an evangelical church that challenged a ban on large gatherings by Gov. Janet Mills. The ban from Mills prevented worshipers from attending services in person until recently because of the coronavirus pandemic. The appeal from Calvary Chapel in Orrington will be considered by 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, though a date for oral arguments has not been set, the Bangor Daily News reported. The state has argued that Mills’ order was constitutional because it didn’t target houses of worship specifically. It included many places people gather, including theaters and bars. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen ruled in May that the restriction served the public interest

Maryland

Annapolis: A county health official is urging people who participated in recent protests against police brutality to get tested for the new coronavirus. The Capital Gazette reported Monday that Anne Arundel County’s health officer Nilesh Kalyanaraman recommended the tests to protesters who gathered in large crowds. Kalyanaraman said his fingers were crossed that the number of infections don’t rise. And he credited many demonstrators for wearing masks to the protests. But he also noted the challenges of maintaining social distance. “The reality is we’re going to see what happens with our numbers,” he said. The county is recovering from a peak in virus cases. Maryland and Anne Arundel County have seen 14 days of falling hospitalization rates as well as declining positive test results. Kalyanaraman said it will take about 10 days for data to give the first sense of how protests might affect coronavirus numbers. But it will take another three to four weeks for a clearer picture to emerge.

Massachusetts

Boston: Plimoth Plantation, a living history museum that highlights the lives of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Tribe soon after the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620, is reopening this week. The museum’s outdoor areas and a limited number of buildings are opening to members on Wednesday and to the general public on Thursday, according to a release on its website. The Plymouth facility closed in mid-May in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Capacity at the 30-acre site is limited and management is asking visitors to purchase tickets in advance. Visitors are asked to wear masks, follow one-way pathways and stay distant from other parties. The museum is also placing hand santizing stations throughout the facility. Employees will also wear masks. The museum’s Patuxet Wampanoag Homesite, 17th-century English village, the barn and animal pastures and gardens are opening. Plimoth Plantation is open seven days a week.

Michigan

Lansing: The Michigan Gaming Control Board approved minimum reopening guidelines for commercial casinos, though they remain closed amid the coronavirus pandemic under an order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Many of the 24 tribal casinos in Michigan, which are not regulated by the state, have already reopened or will do so soon. During their initial reopening, MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino and Greektown Casino will limit capacity at no more than 15% and keep poker rooms and self-serve buffets closed. They will have to check temperatures of everyone entering and frequently clean slot machines. Patrons will be required to wear a mask unless drinking or eating. Revenues at the three casinos, which have been closed since March 16 in a city that was hit hard by the virus, were down nearly 52% through May compared to a same point a year ago. Whitmer could let the casinos open in coming weeks. Bars and restaurants on Monday reopened tables, at 50% capacity, after previously being limited to takeout and delivery. Day camps, outdoor pools, libraries and museums also could open under an order issued a week ago.

Minnesota

St. Cloud: A flyover, a virtual fireworks display and a brief live fireworks salute will mark July 4 festivities in St. Cloud this summer and replace the usual fireworks and gatherings at Hester and Wilson Parks, according to a press release Monday from the STC Fireworks Committee Board. Even as some businesses are opening amid the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers of the annual fireworks celebration took a cautious route. A military flyover will salute the community and the honorary commissioners on July 4. The honorary commissioners are those who helped reduce the spread of the coronavirus and essential workers, including health care providers, grocery and transportation workers, and other key staff, including U.S. military personnel, according to the press release. Although there will be no pyrotechnics from a barge in the Mississippi River, the fireworks committee has planned “a brief and dynamic live fireworks salute to July 4th from a secure, remote location,” according to the release. Residents will be able to look for those fireworks at 10 p.m. on July 4 from their doorsteps or backyards. Media outlets and the Fireworks Committee’s social media sites will post the location of the fireworks just before 10 p.m. July 4 so people know where to look from their homes.

Mississippi

Jackson: Gov. Tate Reeves said the state still faces danger from the coronavirus pandemic, and people should not harass or make fun of those who follow public health recommendations to wear masks in public. During a news conference, a Columbus reporter asked about “mask shaming.” Joey Barnes of WCBI-TV said he had his face covered while shopping at Walmart and a man looked him in the eye and coughed three short times. “It’s wrong,” Reeves said. “If people want to wear a mask into a Walmart or into a restaurant or into any other business – not only should they be allowed to do so; in many instances, they ought to be credited for doing so. … Everyone out there that is choosing to wear a mask is actually doing something good for their fellow Mississippians.” Thousands of people in Jackson and hundreds more in several other cities took part in demonstrations Saturday to protest police violence against African Americans. Masks were prevalent among protesters. Reeves said Monday that he supports the right to protest and he was pleased the Mississippi events were peaceful. But, he said he’s concerned that protesters who stood close to each other could unintentionally spread the virus to people who are medically vulnerable. “My concern is, what if those individuals went and protested on Saturday and then went and had Sunday lunch with their grandmom,” Reeves said. Reeves said he and the state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, spent Monday morning in phone calls with mayors and county supervisors urging them to be vigilant about trying to slow the spread of the virus.

Missouri

Springfield: In a tweet Monday night, the National Rifle Association announced its annual membership meeting will be held Sept. 5 at the Springfield Expo Center. The meeting was previously scheduled for April 18 in Nashville, Tennessee, but was rescheduled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting with take place in Halls A/B/C of the Expo Center and begins at 9 a.m.

Montana

Helena: Nine new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Montana between Saturday and Monday, increasing the state’s total count to 548, the state health department said. The state reported one new case of COVID-19 on Saturday, five new cases on Sunday and three new cases on Monday. Three were reported in Big Horn county, three in Gallatin county, two in Yellowstone County and one in Stillwater County. Big Horn County health officials announced a new order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 that is more restrictive than the state directive after the county reported its first death on Friday, bringing the state’s death count to 18. Employees at all Big Horn County businesses must now have their temperature checked before starting work. People with temperatures over 100 degrees are not allowed to work. Dine-in establishments in the county are now limited to 50% capacity, while establishments in other parts of the state are permitted to operate at 75% capacity. Big Horn restaurants, convenience stores, bars and lodging must require employees to wear cloth masks. The new measures in Big Horn County are more restrictive than the statewide directive, and come as Montana marks a week since Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock announced the beginning of the second phase of reopening.

Nebraska

Lincoln: Two members of the Nebraska National Guard who helped police during recent protests have tested positive for the new coronavirus, and the the Guard said it plans to test all of its personnel still on duty in Omaha and Lincoln. The Lincoln Journal Star reported nearly 600 members of the National Guard were assigned to assist law enforcement agencies beginning May 31 following several nights of protests in Nebraska after the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. The two guard members who began to show symptoms of COVID-19 on Saturday were tested through Test Nebraska, which confirmed they contracted the virus. “They are isolating, and we are now going to test all of the personnel still on duty for this mission in Lincoln or Omaha,” said Maj. Scott Ingalsbe, public affairs officer for the Nebraska National Guard. Although the National Guard made adjustments to follow social distancing guidelines the best it could, and asked members to wear masks, Ingalsbe said it “was not always feasible” while they were working. Ingalsbe said the National Guard will wrap up its role supporting police in Lincoln and Omaha, as well as the Nebraska State Patrol, on Tuesday.

Nevada

Reno: A 35-year-old Reno man awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to stealing hundreds of surgical masks from a Veterans Affairs hospital amid the coronavirus pandemic. Peter Lucas pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Reno to one count of theft in connection with health care. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Nevada said Lucas faces up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when sentenced Sept. 9. According to court documents, the thefts happened in March and surveillance cameras caught Lucas stealing at least four boxes of surgical masks from supply carts and hiding them under his jacket before leaving the hospital. Each box contained 50 masks. According to the office, Lucas was a compensated member of a VA work therapy program that helps veterans find work.. KOLO-TV reported that a criminal complaint said Lucas admitted to police he took four boxes and that he said he took them to give the masks to homeless people.

New Hampshire

Concord: The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire has sued Gov. Chris Sununu and Secretary of State Bill Gardner, saying that the required 3,000 signatures needed from registered voters to get candidates on the ballot for the 2020 elections is unreasonable during the coronavirus pandemic. New Hampshire Public Radio reported in a complaint filed in federal court Monday, the Libertarian Party said signatures are typically collected door-to-door, and it is less safe to do that now. The party is asking the state to lower the signature requirement or suspend it altogether for the upcoming elections. The New Hampshire Attorney General’s office said it is reviewing the case and will respond. Similar lawsuits have been filed on behalf of Libertarians in Georgia, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

New Jersey

Trenton: Effective immediately, limited indoor gatherings and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people can resume in an easing of rules meant to slow the spread of the new cornavirus, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday. The governor also said that outdoor demonstrations protected by the First Amendment, including religious services and protests stemming from George Floyd’s death, can be held, regardless of the number of attendees. “We believe such a rule appropriately prioritizes individuals’ rights to speak and worship freely,” he said during a news conference. He said he planned to increase the limits for other outdoor gatherings to 250 people by June 22 and to 500 people by July 3. The decision comes a day after Murphy was criticized by political opponents for attending rallies over the weekend, apparently in violation of his own executive order limiting gatherings to 25 people or fewer. Indoor gatherings must be limited to 25% of capacity or 50 people, Murphy said. The previous limit for outdoor gatherings was 25 people. He said there is no requirement to reopen. “No one should reopen unless and until they feel fully confident in their ability to do so,” Murphy said.

New Mexico

Santa Fe: New Mexico’s lead specialist for tracking and combating infectious disease is leaving the state Health Department amid the coronavirus pandemic. Michael Landen retired as state epidemiologist to be closer to relatives in Virginia, where his parents live, said Health Department spokesman David Morgan. Landen was appointed in 2012 under Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and was a leading figure in the state’s response to the opioid epidemic before COVID-19 arrived in March. Deputy Epidemiologist Chad Smelser will lead the epidemiology and response division, and a nationwide search takes place for Landen’s successor, Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel announced Tuesday. Smelser accompanied Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham at news conferences in the early stages of the pandemic.New Mexico aggressively pursued public health restrictions at the outset of the epidemic and this month allowed dine-in restaurants, shopping malls, gyms and hair salons to reopen at limited capacity. A spike in statewide infections over the past week tied to an outbreak at prison facilities in Otero County has changed the outlook for New Mexico and efforts to safely reopen the economy.

New York

Albany: The seven-county Hudson Valley region entered Phase 2 of the state’s four-phase reopening Tuesday, which includes allowing in-person retail stores and hair salons to open their doors and letting outdoor dining at restaurants and bars. The positive news comes as the economy looks to slowly recover from the coronavirus pandemic that killed more than 24,000 New Yorkers, including 2,600 in the Hudson Valley, and led to double-digit unemployment rates. The Mid-Hudson region includes Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced late Monday the Hudson Valley had met the metrics to move to Phase 2. “The global public health experts advising New York State have reviewed the data and numbers for the Mid-Hudson region and cleared this part of the state to move ahead into Phase II of the reopening,” Cuomo said in a statement. “New Yorkers have been smart and disciplined throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, and it is essential for residents and businesses to continue to follow all necessary precautions to ensure the virus does not spread as we advance the Mid-Hudson reopening.” All of upstate New York is in Phase 2, and New York City entered Phase 1 on Monday. Long Island is set to hit Phase 2 on Wednesday.

North Carolina

Altamahaw: Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson said he won’t cite a local stock car speedway for violating the state’s prohibition against mass gatherings because of COVID-19 after another large crowd gathered there for races. The decision by Johnson appears to open the door for Gov. Roy Cooper to seek legal action against the owner of Ace Speedway, which has held racing on each of the past three weekends. Cooper’s executive order caps most outdoor meetings to 25 people. Media outlets have reported crowds at the speedway exceeding 2,000, including the one on Saturday. The governor’s office wrote to Johnson last week telling him to perform his duty over the weekend and enforce Cooper’s order. A placard at the speedway on Saturday read: “This event is held in peaceful protest of injustice and inequality everywhere.” Gatherings to express First Amendment rights are exempt from the order. Johnson wrote on Monday that no action was taken on other tracks that raced over the weekend. “This concerns me greatly to know that my citizens have basically been singled out for the same alleged violations that are occurring all over the state of North Carolina,” he wrote in a statement. “I assure you that I respect the Office of the Governor of North Carolina but I have serious reservations on the legality of his order.” Cooper said at a media briefing that opening the speedway to crowds was a “reckless decision” by the owner.

North Dakota

Bismarck: State health officials said Tuesday that 22 more people have tested positive for the new coronavirus in North Dakota, but no additional deaths have been reported. More than half of the new positive results reported are in Cass County, which includes the city of Fargo and remains the epicenter of the state’s coronavirus outbreak. The state Department of Health said the new numbers increase the number of positive cases to 2,901 with 114 individuals recovered since Monday bringing the total number of recovered people to 2,450. There have been 72 deaths associated with COVID-19 in North Dakota.

Ohio

Toledo: The state’s two big amusement parks will open in early July, but initially to season pass holders only. Kings Island near Cincinnati will open on July 2 and Cedar Point in Sandusky will start its season on July 9, the parks announced on Tuesday. Both will only be open to season pass holders to start, with other guests welcomed at a later date. The parks, which had delayed their openings because of the coronavirus pandemic, said they will require all visitors to wear masks and complete health screenings and temperature checks. Cedar Point and Kings Island along with an indoor water park operator sued the state last week, saying Ohio officials did not have the authority to shut them down. The lawsuit came after Gov. Mike DeWine had allowed other tourism businesses to open, including zoos, museums and aquariums. A day later, DeWine announced that amusement parks could reopen. Online reservations also will be required for visitors and social distancing will be in place throughout the parks, including in the lines for rides. Both parks, which are owned by Ohio-based Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., said it will announce at a later date when its water parks will open.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City: There were 158 new coronavirus cases in Oklahoma and five additional deaths because of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported Tuesday. There have been at least 7,363 confirmed cases and 353 deaths in the state, up from 7,205 cases and 348 deaths reported Monday. The actual number of people who have contracted a virus is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick. The department also reported 148 people hospitalized after either testing positive for the virus or under investigation for infection. A total of 6,073 people have recovered from the illness, according to the department.

Oregon

Salem: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon’s only national park, reopened Monday following an extended closure to limit the spread of COVID-19. The park began a phased opening that includes Munson Valley Road, West Rim Drive and North Entrance Road, weather permitting, parks officials said. Much of the park and its trails remain snow-covered – and an additional blanket of snow is forecast to fall this weekend – but Monday marked the first time people could enter and explore since March. Boat tours at the lake are canceled this season, and at least in the beginning, park information centers and bookstores, vault toilets and other buildings will remain closed. However, the back country office will be open to issue overnight permits and the Rim Village facilities will be open in part. Visit www.travelcraterlake.com for the details on what is open and closed. Visitors will be encouraged to pay entrance fees in advance by purchasing them online, and anyone paying at the entrance booth is encouraged to use a credit card, officials said. East Rim Drive and Pinnacles Road continue to be closed as they usually are this time of year because of snow, along with Watchman Peak, Garfield Peak and Cleetwood trails.

Pennsylvania

Harrisburg: Five more coronavirus testing sites are opening in underserved areas of Pennsylvania. Beginning Wednesday, drive-thru testing sites will be open in Walmart parking lots in Mill Hall, Punxsutawney, Bradford, Cranberry and Warren. They will join five other testing sites that opened Friday at Walmart stores in Clarion, Erie, Montoursville, Clearfield and Hermitage. The tests are free. Registration is required a day in advance. Patients can create an account at www.MyQuestCOVIDTestPA.com.

Rhode Island

Providence: Bryant University and the town of Smithfield have canceled this year’s Fourth of July holiday fireworks display and concert, the school announced Tuesday. Restrictions on large gatherings because of the coronavirus pandemic made holding the event, scheduled for July 2, difficult, the school said. “We know that Smithfield residents and members of Bryant’s campus community look forward to the annual fireworks and Navy Band concert, however COVID-19 presents a continuing health threat, and the safety of our community and neighbors is Bryant’s highest priority,” the school said in a statement.

South Carolina

Spartanburg: The city won’t be able to follow through on an earlier commitment to award raises to its police officers because of lost tax revenue from the coronavirus pandemic. The City Council tentatively approved a budget Monday for next fiscal year that’s roughly $1.7 million less than anticipated because of a loss in hospitality and business license tax revenue. The shortfall also means the city won’t be able to immediately move forward with a planned, new downtown fire station at 450 Wofford Street. The budget for the upcoming fiscal year (July 1-June 30, 2021) is about $42 million, slightly below the current budget of the 2019-20 fiscal year, city manager Chris Story said. The final vote on approval of the 2020-21 budget will be during the next meeting on June 22.

South Dakota

Sioux Falls: Gov. Kristi Noem on Monday took to social media to vaunt her response to the coronavirus pandemic and pitch herself as a leading conservative governor. Throughout the pandemic, Noem, a Republican, has held regular press briefings, taking questions from reporters. On Monday, she instead posted a nearly 9-minute video in which Noem said she has prioritized “freedom,” but claimed the “mainstream media” has attacked her for doing so. “More freedom, not more government is the answer,” Noem said. Although the sparsely-populated and Republican-dominated state might be an afterthought in many national political conversations, Noem has courted attention from conservative pundits and President Donald Trump, including seeking political advice from Trump’s former campaign-manager Corey Lewandowski. She has stuck to some of the most lax regulations of any governor to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and has often contrasted her hands-off approach to places like New York or New Jersey. Recently, she began positioning herself as a leading conservative governor, using the line: “There’s no governor in America that has trusted their people to make the right choices more than I have.” She also shifted her messaging on her strategy for the coronavirus. During the pandemic, Noem said repeatedly that she was using the “data, facts and science” to guide her decision-making. But in the video, Noem called out leaders from other states, saying, “A blind reliance on insufficient modeling has led some governor’s to enact disastrous lock downs.”

Tennessee

Oneida: Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in Tennessee and Kentucky has reopened parts of the park, coordinating with health officials during the coronavirus pandemic. Bandy Creek Stables and Camp Store reopened access on June 2, and Charit Creek Lodge moved into its second phase of reopening on June 1, allowing overnight guests. No date has been set to allow for day use guests at the lodge. The Station Camp Campground also opened. Blue Heron Campground, Bear Creek Horse Camp and Alum Ford Campground are opening Thursday. The park said in a news release that the National Park Service is working with public health officials to monitor the pandemic and phasing in increased access on a park-by-park basis. The public should follow local area health orders and avoid crowds and high-risk outdoor activities, the park service said

Texas

Austin: The state will push for increased coronavirus testing in minority communities that have been hit hard by expanding walk-up and drive-through testing sites, Gov. Greg Abbott said. The Republican also said Texas will be poised to react to any surge in cases that might come from exposure in large public demonstrations that have been held since the death of former Houston resident George Floyd in Minneapolis. “We must address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underserved and minority communities and ensure that anyone who needs a test can get one,” Abbott said. The move comes after several black lawmakers complained the state hasn’t adequately addressed their pleas for better racial data and efforts to decrease COVD-19′s decidedly deadly toll on black Americans. Many of the more than 70,000 confirmed cases and 1,700 deaths on the state’s case dashboard do not have information on race and ethnicity. The Texas Division of Emergency Management is working with local officials in Dallas, San Antonio, the Rio Grand Valley and several other areas to ramp up testings sites for each community, Abbott said.

Utah

Salt Lake City: Former Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has tested negative for COVID-19, several days after his campaign revealed one of its staffers had the new coronavirus. Huntsman is one of four Republican gubernatorial candidates on the June primary ballot. Campaign manager Lisa Roskelley said Monday that two more staff members tested positive for COVID-19 and five tested negative, including Huntsman and herself, the Deseret News reported. The campaign has not identified the staffers or their positions. Huntsman went into quarantine last week and canceled all of his public appearances after learning his campaign staff was at risk from the virus, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.“The health of each member of our team and the public is our primary concern,” Huntsman said Friday. “We will follow the instructions of health experts and not put politics and campaign concerns ahead of health and safety.” His campaign headquarters closed for cleaning last week and is now reopened but Huntsman continues to work from home while his family awaits their test results, officials said. His running mate, Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi, has not had recent contact with the affected staffers and has been cleared to continue campaigning in person, Roskelley said.

Vermont

Winooski: A spike in coronavirus cases in this small city has hit tightly knit immigrant communities where a language barrier might have prevented some from knowing how to prevent the spread or get tested, some immigrant community members said Tuesday. “It is kind of spreading pretty badly,” said Kamal Pradhan, a Bhutanese American, who said he knows of roughly 40 in the Bhutanese community who have been infected with COVID-19. He got tested Tuesday. Harka Khadka, a landlord and community organizer, who is also from Bhutan and lives in Winooski, where the outbreak started, said several of his tenants from the Congo also have been infected. Many are now getting tested, they said. According to the Vermont Health Department, 598 people have been tested at the Winooski site between June 1 and June 7. Interpreters, liaisons and leaders of the communities are urging people, entire families, to come in and get tested, Khadka said. “They trust the interpreters because they need someone to help at the testing site, as well,” he said. “People are coming in big numbers and they are getting tested.” But he worries that fewer non-immigrant Winooski residents are getting tested so that the numbers could be skewed and says some are waiting out the symptoms at home without a test or afraid to get tested.” The outbreak that started on Memorial Day has grown to 62 cases, including at least 24 children, and spread to other communities, Vermont officials said Monday. Nine of the people infected were from the neighboring city of Burlington and five were from other communities.

Virginia

Richmond: Gov. Ralph Northam said students will return to school this fall but with strict new social distancing guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of the new coronavirus. The guidelines unveiled Tuesday call for students to be spaced 6 feet apart at their desks and for teachers who can’t maintain that distance to wear masks. The guidelines also call for limiting access to or closing certain mixed spaces, such as school cafeterias. “All Virginia schools will open for students next year, but the school experience will look very different,” Northam said. Virginia was one of the first states to cancel the school year in March amid the coronavirus pandemic and Northam said the state’s priorities for reopening later this year are on “the health and social, emotional and physical well being of students and staff.” The state’s guidelines are divided into three phases. Most of the state is in the second phase of reopening and Northam said the metrics look good, meaning the state could enter the third phase in coming weeks. The new school guidelines only allow for widespread in-school instruction in Phase 3. Schools can offer summer camps and limited in-school instruction to certain students in Phase 2.

Washington

Vancouver: Firestone Pacific Foods has started reopening after a coronavirus outbreak infected 132 people and forced the fruit processor to halt operations. The company reopened last week after the Clark County public health department approved it, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. A Firestone spokesperson said the company plans to ramp up production as more employees return from mandatory 14-day quarantine periods and receive training on new safety procedures. As of Monday morning, 79 employees and another 53 people identified as close contacts of those employees had tested positive for COVID-19. A total of 173 employees and 155 close contacts have been tested. Firestone Pacific Foods CEO Josh Hinerfeld said last month that the company could have done more to protect employees before the outbreak. Washington state health officials temporarily suspended Clark County’s application to move to Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s reopening plan because of the Firestone outbreak. Clark County was approved to enter Phase 2 on Friday. Food processing plants have been the sites of coronavirus outbreaks throughout the United States and Pacific Northwest. As of June 1, nearly 300 COVID-19 cases had been linked to agricultural or food processing workplaces in Oregon or southwest Washington, according to a total of publicly disclosed cases.

West Virginia

Charleston: Gov. Jim Justice said outdoor concerts at fairs and festivals will be allowed to resume next month as he continues to lift coronavirus restrictions in the state. The Republican governor said the open-air concerts at fairs and festivals can be held starting on July 1. Justice has pushed forward with an aggressive plan to remove virus restrictions on businesses. Casinos and movie theaters were allowed to reopen last week. On Monday, low-contact youth sports teams, as well as middle and high school teams, were allowed to start practicing again. The youth teams can resume games on June 22 with fans in the stands if social distancing rules are followed. Private and state park campgrounds, cabins and lodges are set to reopen to out-of-state guests Wednesday. The governor’s plan to remove restrictions hinges on the state’s positive test rate staying under 3% for three days, loosening a previous goal of having the number of new cases drop for two weeks.

Wisconsin

Madison: Campgrounds closed since March because of the coronavirus pandemic can reopen starting Wednesday, but it won’t be business as usual. Campers will have to make reservations ahead of time, won’t be able to purchase firewood on site and all buildings, observation towers, playgrounds, concessions and rentals will be closed. But bathrooms will be open as will the reason most campers come to the parks – the trails, boat launches, beaches and outdoor recreation areas. If parks reach capacity, just as has been done since they reopened, they can be closed temporarily until crowding eases, said Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Preston Cole. “Concessions won’t be open, so you’ve gotta bring your bug spray, the food you eat, band aids and bandages,” Cole said. Bathrooms will be cleaned daily, and spot-checked, and some drinking fountains might be capped but water will be available for people to use to fill jugs and other containers, Cole said. Firewood won’t be for sale in the parks, and it can’t be brought from farther than 10 miles away, so campers are encouraged to buy it within 10 miles of the parks. So far, parks have had few issues with people not adhering to social distancing guidelines to prevent spread of the virus, Cole said.

Wyoming

Casper: The troubled nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Forever, said Saturday that it was further reducing its staff and suspending the operations of its educational arm, the Yellowstone Forever Institute, the Casper Star-Tribune reproted. The announcement by the organization on its website attributed the decision to severe impacts related to the coronavirus pandemic. It also said the group would reorganize to focus on its mission.