Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
New coronavirus clusters are being recorded in places that had so far avoided them: from a strip club in Wisconsin to a nightlife district in Louisiana to a church in Oregon. Three of the states seeing the worst outbreaks - Arizona, Texas, and Florida - have tinkered with their mask policies in response. In Arizona, the governor is letting local governments decide whether to mandate masks; in Texas, the governor said the spread is happening at an "unacceptable rate" and urged Texans to wear masks; in Florida, the surgeon general signed an order "recommending" mask usage. NY TIMES
WORK VISA FREEZE
President Trump has issued an executive order that will suspend work visas until the end of the year. This will affect any foreigners trying to get a job in the U.S., from high-skilled computer programmers to seasonal hospitality workers to au pairs. Most businesses are adamantly opposed to the freeze, saying it will stifle innovation and make it harder to fill jobs Americans can’t or won’t do. VOX
PRIMARY DAY
The big storyline as a handful of states go to the polls today: can the left-wing of the Democratic party pull off a big night? In Kentucky, the progressive Charles Booker is taking on Amy McGrath for the chance to unseat Mitch McConnell in November. In the Bronx, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee could get knocked off by a middle school principal. There’s also a runoff in upstate NY to fill the seat being vacated by convicted felon Chris Collins. WHAT TO WATCH FOR
SAHARAN DUST STORM
A huge dust storm that began in the Sahara Desert last week is making its way toward the U.S. and will drift over Gulf states like Texas and Louisiana as early as tomorrow. The plume of dust could be dangerous for people with respiratory conditions, including COVID-19. But it will also make for vibrant sunsets for a couple of days. Here’s what the plume looks like on satellite: SEE IT
NO CRUISE FOR YOU
With the CDC’s cruise ship ban set to expire in a month, Carnival Cruise Line says it won’t begin sailing again in North America until October at the earliest. A cruise industry group has said no U.S. cruise operators will set sail until at least Sept. 15. USA TODAY
APPLE UPDATES
Apple kicked off its annual developer’s conference (held virtually for the first time) with a slew of announcements relevant to anyone who owns an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Apple Watch. All are getting software updates; the new iOS 14 will let iPhone users customize the home screen with widgets and set default mail and browser apps. Apple is also going to start making its own chips for Macs, ditching Intel after 15 years. Here’s everything that was announced: MACRUMORS
NASCAR <3 BUBBA
As the Justice Dept. joined the investigation into how a noose ended up hanging in Bubba Wallace’s garage stall, NASCAR drivers and their crews rallied around Wallace in an emotional show of support for the sport’s lone Black driver, pushing his No. 43 car to the front of the field at Talladega: WATCH
GOLDEN GLOBES SET
The Golden Globes will take place on Feb. 28, the date originally set for the Oscars before the Academy bumped the show until April. The Globes typically happen in early January; but moving to late Feb. will allow the Hollywood Foreign Press to still kick off the awards season. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will host. DEADLINE
DRIVE-IN CONCERT SERIES
Live Nation has announced “Live From the Drive-In,” a set of nine shows scheduled for July 10-12 at amphitheaters in Indiana, Maryland and Tennessee. Brad Paisley will headline shows in all three locations, joined by Darius Rucker in Nashville, Nelly in St. Louis, and others. Concertgoers will be allowed in four to a car, and each car will be given two parking spaces to set up a tailgate. BILLBOARD
LEFTOVERS: CANNONBALL RUN
A Maine man has smashed the record for driving coast-to-coast - known as a "cannonball run" - and he did it solo. Fred Ashmore rented a Mustang GT, replaced the back seat with fuel tanks, and drove from NYC to L.A. in 25 hours and 55 minutes, stopping just once to get gas. His average speed: 108 m.p.h. A number of cannonball run attempts have been made over the last three months, with much of the country shut down, meaning less traffic (and fewer police) to worry about. FORD AUTHORITY
The N2K Podcast
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