1 Deadly Tornadoes Tear Through The Plains, Midwest
Officials say tornadoes near Ashby and Garrison, Minnesota killed one and injured at least one other was hospitalized yesterday evening. Ashby mayor Tom Grover said the tornado damaged crops and destroyed four homes. Power lines and trees were also downed during the storm with others sustained cuts and bruises, according to Ashby's fire chief. This storm produced up to 70 miles-per-hour wind gusts and ping pong ball sized hail. But they weren’t alone – as folks in Colorado also took cover. According to the National Weather Service confirmed several twisters in the Northeastern part of the state. No injuries were confirmed, but there was property damage reported.
2 White House Coronavirus Taskforce 'Encouraged' by Low Fatality Rates In Hotspots
The White House Coronavirus Taskforce say there’s something to be glad about as it relates to the uptick in coronavirus cases: lowering the average fatality rates. Speaking at the Department of Education, Vice President Mike Pence said the taskforce is actually seeing early indications of positive testing flattening in hotspots such as Arizona, Florida and Texas. Taskforce member Dr. Deborah Birx said the seven-day average is showing some flattening in places like Arizona. Still, she’s recommending that places with hotspots close bars, move to outdoor dining and decrease any kind of indoor gathering. Pence says the Trump administration's focus is shifting to getting kids back to school in the fall, because he said we can't let our kids fall behind academically and emotionally. CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield says recently-released guidelines should not be used as a rationale to keep schools closed. Instead, Redfield says they want to help all the schools develop their own unique plan to open safely.
3 Trump Ramps Up Pressure To Open Schools With Tweet Threatening Funding Cut
President Trump is ramping up the pressure on schools to reopen in the fall. On Twitter, the President is threatening to cut funding if schools don't open. Citing European countries who are opening schools, Trump claimed Democrats believe opening schools before the election would hurt them politically. That’s not all – in another tweet, Trump said he disagrees with CDC guidelines on reopening schools. He called them "very tough and expensive." The commander-in-chief claimed it's not possible for schools to follow the guidelines. Interestingly, after that comment, CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield came out to say that the guidelines should not be used as a rationale to keep schools closed. Instead, Redfield says they want to help all the schools develop their own unique plan to open safely...and that new guidelines are on the way. But aside from all that? He can't actually cut funding on his own...what he can do is cut or divert pandemic-related funding.