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1. Coronavirus
The Republican National Convention gets underway tonight, and viewers can expect to see a lot of President Donald Trump. The President will show up on each night of the convention, not just on the last night as is traditional. And compared to the Democrats’ mostly pre-recorded, virtual convention, Trump has ordered up a more spontaneous show, with live speeches and at least some audience. Nikki Haley, the former US ambassador to the United Nations, and Donald Trump Jr., the President’s oldest son, are among tonight’s speakers. This week’s convention also comes as Joe Biden gains popularity in the polls following the Democrats’ event last week.
2. Coronavirus
The FDA has given emergency authorization to treat Covid-19 patients with convalescent plasma, which is made using blood from people who have recovered from coronavirus infections. The decision comes after President Donald Trump had been pressuring the agency to move faster. The FDA says convalescent plasma has been used to treat more than 70,000 Covid-19 patients and that the “known and potential benefits of the product outweigh the known and potential risks.” But while early studies have shown some promise, some health experts argue data from randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials is needed before it can be determined that the treatment is effective against Covid-19. Some of those trials are underway.
3. Kellyanne Conway
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, one of President Trump’s fiercest and most controversial defenders, has announced she is leaving her post at the end of the month. Her husband George Conway said he would also be withdrawing from his role at the Lincoln Project, a group formed by anti-Trump Republicans. Both of them cited a need to focus on their family. Political tension between the couple had spilled out into the public in recent years, and one of their daughters had generated attention in the past few months over social media posts she made about her family and political views. Kellyanne Conway is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention this week, but it’s unclear whether that will still happen.
4. Police violence
A Black man identified as Jacob Blake was shot several times by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday afternoon and is fighting for his life. A graphic video purported to be of the shooting shows officers with their guns drawn following a man thought to be Blake as he tries to enter a vehicle. Suddenly, at least seven gunshots are heard and the man appears to go limp in the vehicle. Police said they were called to the address to deal with a domestic disturbance, but it is unclear who called or what happened before the video recording began. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers addressed the incident shortly after, saying Blake had been critically injured. Separately, police clashed with protesters in Lafayette, Louisiana, on Saturday, a day after officers shot and killed Trayford Pellerin, a 31-year-old Black man, outside a convenience store.
5. Statue removal
The Australian citizen who carried out the massacre of 51 people at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, last year appeared in court Monday for sentencing proceedings that are expected to last at least four days. Brenton Tarrant has been convicted of 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder, and one charge of being engaged in a terrorist attack. He is expected to receive a sentence of life in prison. At the hearing, the court heard that he had intended to “kill as many people as he could.” He also planned to burn the mosques to the ground and was on his way to a third site when police arrested him, the prosecutor said. Though the hearing may bring closure for some victims and their families, some say the underlying Islamophobia that New Zealand’s government was warned about before the attacks hasn’t been addressed.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
Singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle has died
Earle, the son of country rocker Steve Earle, was 38.
NASA says an asteroid is headed our way right before Election Day
It appears that 2020 is continually trying to outdo itself.
A man is allegedly giving Walmart shoppers ‘Covid hugs’
Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope!
‘The Batman’ trailer is here
So, how many times are they going to remake Batman?
Two teachers turned their students’ desks into little Jeeps to make social distancing less scary
TODAY’S NUMBER
194
That was the age of the Old Apple Tree in Vancouver, Washington, when it died this summer. It was thought to be the oldest in the Pacific Northwest.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“I feel like punching you in your mouth, okay?”
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, speaking to a reporter on Sunday after being questioned about alleged family corruption.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Check your local forecast here >>>
AND FINALLY
Who says letter writing is dead?
From messages in a bottle to an underwater post office, plenty of people still see the charm of sending a message through snail mail.