Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Monday, August 3, 2020:
COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: The U.S. has entered a “new phase” of its coronavirus outbreak, which is now “extraordinarily widespread,” according to Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House task force. Areas of the country that had been relatively safe from the virus -- like Alaska, Hawaii and Montana -- are now seeing a new surge of infections. Congress comes back today but is nowhere near a deal on a fresh stimulus package. In Australia, where cases are now spiking, officials put all five million residents of Melbourne on lockdown. WASH POST
EAST COAST ON ALERT: Tropical Storm Isaias could make landfall in South Carolina later today as a Cat 1 hurricane. The storm has mostly spared Florida as it remains far enough offshore, but the entire Eastern Seaboard is now likely to see an impact from heavy rains and wind as the system moves up the coast: Carolinas tonight, D.C. tomorrow and NYC/New England late tomorrow into Wednesday. TRACK
SUMMER CRIME SPIKE: It’s not just NYC. Most large U.S. cities are reporting an increase in homicides this summer, with the murder rate up double digits in all regions of the country. Experts see a confluence of things at play: unemployment is rampant, lockdowns and the recession have people on edge, mistrust of the police is high, police retirements are up, plus the combo of warm weather and gang violence. WSJ
FATAL MILITARY ACCIDENT: The Pentagon has called off the search for seven Marines and one Navy sailor, who are all missing and now presumed dead after their amphibious assault vehicle sank off the coast of San Diego during a training mission. The Marines were based at Camp Pendleton. Eight others were on the vessel and were rescued, though one of them later died. NPR
MICROSOFT PURSUING TIKTOK: Microsoft is in talks to buy TikTok, the Chinese social media phenomenon that President Trump threatened to ban, citing national security concerns. Microsoft spoke to the White House over the weekend and said it will continue to pursue a deal to acquire TikTok’s service in the U.S., which many in the president’s circle believe is a better option than an outright ban. REUTERS
MYSTERY SEEDS: The Dept. of Agriculture has identified some of the mysterious seeds that some people are reporting receiving in the mail unsolicited, with Chinese postmarks. The USDA says the seeds are herbs and are probably harmless, but still shouldn’t be planted. (One man in Arkansas did plant his and has no idea what’s been growing out of it). Authorities think the seeds are part of a “brushing scam” in which merchants create a bunch of fake orders and send them out to random addresses in order to improve their rankings on Amazon. FOX BIZ
MLB LATEST: The St. Louis Cardinals are now the second MLB team trying to contain a COVID-19 outbreak. The Cardinals have four confirmed cases and are expecting more positive results when tests come back today. The team’s weekend series against the Brewers was postponed. Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins have finally left Philly, where the team has been stranded for a week after its own outbreak. The Marlins who tested positive were sent back to Miami on a bus, while the rest of the team headed to Baltimore to play the Orioles. ESPN
IN MEMORIAM: WILFORD BRIMLEY: The actor Wilford Brimley has died at 85. Recognizable to just about anyone from his commercial work -- he was the face of Quaker Oats in the 90’s, and had been pitching diabetes testing ever since -- Brimley also had a successful career as a TV and movie actor. He starred in Cocoon, The Natural and The China Syndrome. OBIT
ELLEN ON THE ROPES: Rumors are swirling in Hollywood over the fate of The Ellen DeGeneres Show after a series of news reports citing former employees who described a toxic and abusive work culture at the show. Actors Brad Garrett and Lea Thompson tweeted the reports about how DeGeneres treats her staff are common knowledge. Meanwhile, at least one of the show’s EPs is reportedly on the way out, though another shot down rumors of the show’s cancellation. PEOPLE
LEFTOVERS: WATER LANDING: For the first time in 45 years, NASA astronauts returning from space splashed down in the water, with their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico. Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were strapped inside for the dramatic, old-school ride. The landing marked a massively successful inaugural run for Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which is now the first private company ever to safely deliver humans to and from space. WATCH THE LANDING
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