Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Wednesday, July 1, 2020:
COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: EU borders reopen today -- but not if you’re coming from the United States. European Union countries approved a list of 15 countries, including Canada and Australia, but will not allow travelers from the U.S., Russia or Brazil for the time being because of the state of the coronavirus outbreaks in those countries. Meanwhile, Dr. Fauci warned Congress that the country is on track to more than double its caseload to 100,000 cases a day if nothing changes, and that “we’re going in the wrong direction.” AXIOS
SUPREME COURT DECISIONS: The Supreme Court ruled, 5-4, that states must give religious schools the same access to public funding that other private schools receive. Chief Justice Roberts voted with the conservatives this time, in a win for religious liberty proponents that will have implications on the separation of church and state. The Court’s last remaining big decision is on the fate of President Trump’s taxes, which is expected by mid-July. AP
PRIMARY RESULTS: The results from last week’s Democratic primary in Kentucky are finally official: Amy McGrath, a retired fighter pilot, has defeated Charles Booker, her progressive challenger. McGrath will take on Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in November. In Tuesday’s Colorado primary, Lauren Boebert, the owner of a restaurant where servers carry guns who is also a follower of the QAnon conspiracy theory, unseated a five-term Republican incumbent in the House, Scott Tipton, who had been endorsed by the president. John Hickenlooper, the former governor, easily won Colorado’s Democratic Senate primary. NY TIMES
FLOOD RISK: An analysis released this week of the country’s federal flood map suggests that FEMA has massively undercounted the number of homes at serious risk of flooding in the coming years. According to the model -- the first-ever analysis of every single property in the contiguous U.S. -- finds that at least 14.6 million homes are in jeopardy of flooding, compared to the official government count of 8.7 million. SEE YOUR COUNTY’S RISK
TESLA MORE VALUABLE THAN EXXON: Tesla stock is at another all-time high -- nearly $1,080 a share -- giving the electric car company, for the first time, a market valuation higher than that of ExxonMobil. Tesla is benefiting from huge demand, while Exxon is hurting from a global collapse in oil prices. It’s a symbolic milestone if nothing else, indicating that investors are betting heavily on the transition away from fossil fuels into clean energy. BLOOMBERG
COIN SHORTAGE: If you haven’t noticed the signs at your local stores, the country is in the middle of a national coin shortage. Businesses are asking customers to pay with credit or debit -- or exact change -- until the Fed can get more currency into circulation. The shortage stems from the height of the lockdowns, when far fewer pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters were being circulated in the money supply. The Fed has directed the U.S. Mint to “maximize coin production capacity.” PLAIN DEALER
STREAMING PRICE HIKES: YouTube TV is about to get much more expensive. The streaming service will increase $15 to $65 for new subscribers as of today; existing subscribers will see the price increase reflected in their July 30 billing cycle. Meanwhile, ESPN+ is reportedly going up by a buck to $6 per month in August. DEADLINE
IN MEMORIAM: CARL REINER: Carl Reiner, the legendary TV actor, writer, director and comedian, has died at 98. Reiner was perhaps best known for creating The Dick Van Dyke show, one of TV’s first popular sitcoms, though he had a hand in countless comedic productions over the years (not to mention launching Steve Martin’s career and fathering the director Rob Reiner). He was married to the singer Estelle Reiner for 64 years until her death in 2008. OBIT
SPOTTED...White House counselor Kellyanne Conway’s 15-year-old daughter, Claudia, posting anti-Trump memes and support for Black Lives Matter on TikTok: WATCH
LEFTOVERS: TV RENEWALS: The next season of the Netflix hit Ozark will be its last. Fortunately for fans, it’ll be an expanded, 14-episode season split into two 7-episode parts. Separately, HBO is bringing back Curb Your Enthusiasm for an 11th season, confirming that Larry David is currently at work writing the show. In the press release, David says: “Believe me, I’m as upset about this as you are. One day I can only hope that HBO will come to their senses and grant me the cancellation I so richly deserve.” DEADLINE
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