1 Trump Cancels Jacksonville GOP Convention
President Trump announced yesterday that he is canceling the Republican National Convention events that were scheduled to take place next month in Jacksonville, Florida. He pointed to the rising numbers of COVID-19 in the state. “The timing for this event is not right, it’s just not right,” Trump said during a press briefing at the White House. “To have a big convention, it’s just not the right time.” Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Ronna McDaniel said she supported the president's announcement, calling it a "difficult decision." While the Jacksonville portion of the convention has been canceled, Trump said that delegates will still meet in North Carolina and that he will give an address when he accepts the nomination. You may recall that the convention was pulled from Charlotte, North Carolina due to COVID-19 restrictions.
2 Congressman John Lewis To Lie In State At The Capitol Next Week
The body of the late Representative John Lewis will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda beginning on Monday according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. An invitation-only arrival ceremony for the late congressman and civil rights leader will take place Monday at 1:30 p.m., and the public will be allowed to pay their respects Monday and Tuesday. Lewis will lie in state at the top of the Capitol’s East Front Steps during the public viewing. Anyone wishing to pay their respects will be required to wear masks in compliance with an order issued by Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, and social distancing will be “strictly enforced” according to officials. More than 30 people have lain in state in the Capitol Rotunda, most recently the late Senator John McCain and late Representative Elijah Cummings.
3 Fox Sports Will Put 'Virtual Fans' In Baseball Stadiums This Season
MLB is back and so are fans as FOX Sports announced that they will debut"virtual fans" in its live MLB broadcasts during the shortened 2020 season. FOX will air dozens of games this season, and they'll replace empty seats and quiet stadiums with CGI fans and fake crowd noise. The network and MLB hope this move will help bring back fans, along with advertisers for this shortened MLB season. It already seems to be working as Fox Sports says they have sold more than 90% of their ad inventory for the regular season. The league had already announced that spectators would not be allowed to attend games in person this season but these virtual fans, developed by Silver Spoon Animation, will look and move like real people and can be customized for each game. Play Ball!