AP-VIRUS-OUTBREAK

Experimental COVID-19 vaccine is put to its biggest test

Volunteers rolled up their sleeves Monday to take part in the biggest test yet of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine. The first of some 30,000 volunteers were receiving shots created by the U.S. government as part of the all-out global race to stop the outbreak. It will be months before results trickle in. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s national security adviser tested positive for the virus. And there were setbacks in efforts to restart American baseball, with two major league games canceled because of a outbreak, and for Europe’s plans to restart tourism, with rising infection rates in Spain causing concern for that country’s neighbors.

AP-US-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-CONGRESS

Pelosi presses GOP to quickly negotiate virus aid with Dems

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Republicans and the White House should start now to negotiate with Democrats to resolve their differences over a pandemic relief package. She says “time is running out” because federal unemployment assistance and an eviction moratorium expire Friday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is set to try again to roll out the Republicans’ $1 trillion proposal Monday afternoon. At the same time, the White House is suggesting a narrower pandemic relief package may be all that’s possible. Pelosi has invited them to her office after McConnell unveils his bill to hammer out a compromise with Democrats.

AP-US-JOHN LEWIS

John Lewis’ body arrives at Capitol to lie in state

WASHINGTON (AP) — The body of the late Rep. John Lewis has arrived at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers gather to pay tribute to the long-time Georgia lawmaker and icon of the civil rights movement. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a delegation to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to greet Lewis’s flag-draped casket. A motorcade carrying the body stopped at Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House as it wound through Washington on its way to the Capitol, where he will be the first black lawmaker to lie in state in the Rotunda.

BC-US-RACIAL-INJUSTICE-TRUMP-LAFAYETTE-SQUARE

Officer challenges account of violent clearing of protesters

A senior National Guard officer says the U.S. Park Police began the violent clearing of protesters from Lafayette Square last month without apparent provocation or adequate warning. Army National Guard commander Adam DeMarco’s account challenges key aspects of the Trump administration’s explanation for the clearing of the protest just before President Donald Trump walked through the area in front of the White House for a photo opportunity. DeMarco’s statement was in prepared testimony ahead of a hearing Tuesday by the House Natural Resources Committee. The Trump administration says attacks by protesters warranted the use of force. DeMarco says it appeared the protest was peaceful.

AP-US-FILM-TENET

‘Tenet’ to open internationally first, in US a week later

NEW YORK (AP) — In the latest plan for Hollywood’s hopeful return to moviegoing during the pandemic, Warner Bros. will release Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” in an unprecedented fashion. The highly anticipated film will open internationally first on Aug. 26, with a U.S. release in select cities to follow over Labor Day weekend. Warner Bros. on Monday says “Tenet” will arrive in more than 70 countries, including Japan, Russia, much of Europe, Australia and Canada. The staggered release of the $200 million thriller will be tailored to outbreaks of COVID-19. Instead of the usual global launch of a summer blockbuster, “Tenet” will make its way through theaters as they are open.

AP-EU-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-BELGIUM

Belgium implements drastic plan to avoid another lockdown

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium’s prime minister has unveiled a set of drastic social distancing measures aimed at avoiding a new general lockdown amid a surge of COVID-19 infections. Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes said that from next Wednesday contacts outside family circles will be limited to the same five people over the next four weeks. She stressed Monday that the new measures _ which also include lowering crowd limits at public events to 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors _ could be sufficient to avoid further restrictions and to ensure children can return to school en masse in September, after the summer break.

MARLINS-VIRUS

2 MLB games postponed as Marlins deal with virus outbreak

MIAMI (AP) — Two major league games scheduled for Monday night have been postponed after more than a dozen Miami Marlins players and staff members tested positive for the coronavirus in an outbreak that stranded the team in Philadelphia. The Marlins’ home opener against Baltimore was called off, as was the New York Yankees’ game at Philadelphia. The Yankees would have been in the same clubhouse the Marlins used last weekend. A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that nine Marlins players and five staff members received positive results in tests conducted Friday. It’s unclear when the Marlins received the results.

AP-TROPICAL-WEATHER

Hanna weakens but flooding still threat in Texas, Mexico

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — A downgraded Hanna continues weakening but its remnants still threaten to bring rainfall and flash flooding to waterlogged parts of South Texas and Northern Mexico. Hanna is now a tropical depression on Monday as its winds weakened to about 25 mph. Hanna hit a region in South Texas and northern Mexico already reeling from a surge in cases of the coronavirus. When the storm roared onto the Texas Gulf Coast on Saturday, it destroyed boats, flooded streets and knocked out power. Hanna has unloaded up to 15 inches of rain in some places, and some areas could see more.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER

Trump’s national security adviser has coronavirus

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien has tested positive for the coronavirus. That’s according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss it by name. He’s the highest-ranking White House official to test positive so far. The White House confirmed that O’Brien has mild symptoms and “has been self-isolating and working from a secure location off site.” The White House says “there is no risk of exposure to the President or the Vice President” and that the “work of the National Security Council continues uninterrupted.”

AP-US-RACIAL-INJUSTICE-PORTLAND

US agents use gas, flash bangs to clear Portland protesters

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A peaceful protest morphed into an intense early morning confrontation between demonstrators and law enforcement in Oregon’s largest city. U.S. agents fired what appeared to be tear gas, flash bangs and pepper balls early Monday to clear protesters massed outside Portland’s federal courthouse. Some protesters climbed over the fence surrounding the courthouse, others shot fireworks and projected lights onto the building. The city has seen nightly protests for two months since the death of George Floyd. Earlier Sunday, Portland police say a person was shot at a park near the protest site. A bag was also found containing loaded rifle magazines and Molotov cocktails.

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