AMNA NAWAZ: In the day's other news: New numbers reveal the continuing spread of the COVID-19
pandemic.
Hard-hit Florida reported 10,000 new cases, for a total of 300,000. And in Oklahoma, a
record number of new infections included Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, the first governor to
test positive in the country.
Meanwhile, officials in Alabama ordered face masks to be worn in public places.
Republican Governor Kay Ivey spoke in Montgomery:
GOV. KAY IVEY (R-AL): CDC and others continue to tell us that, of all the things we do,
wearing a mask is the most helpful, especially to slow down community spread. You all, it's
just the smart thing to do as a person, as a citizen, as one who loves your family and
who loves your neighbor.
AMNA NAWAZ: Around the world, several states in India imposed new lockdowns, and Hong Kong
also added new restrictions. But, in Paris, visitors are once again welcome at the top
floor of the Eiffel Tower and at Disneyland Paris. Both had been closed for four months.
The largest U.S. retailer, Walmart, announced today it will start requiring that customers
wear face coverings inside its stores. The policy affects more than 5,000 locations,
including its Sam's Club stores. Roughly 65 percent of its stores are in areas that already
mandate face coverings.
A number of political figures, financial leaders and others had their Twitter accounts hacked
today. They include former President Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden, plus
Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Michael Bloomberg, and Kanye West. The hackers used the accounts
to solicit Bitcoin donations.
President Trump has rolled out a final rule, easing a 50-year-old mandate for environmental
reviews of major projects. In Atlanta today, Mr. Trump said speeding up approval for chemical
plants, pipelines and highways would chart a path to economic revival.
DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States: You're going to get your answers quickly.
One way or the other, you're going to get those answers very quickly. And if the answers
is a big, beautiful yes, you're going to start construction immediately.
You're not going to wait around for 10, 12, and 20 years. Our bridges, tunnels, freeways
and airports will no longer the site of shame, but they will be a source of pride.
AMNA NAWAZ: The president says it can take decades to get projects approved, but he wants
to cut the review time to two years. Environmental groups say the existing law safeguards poor
communities and communities of color that are often hit hardest by major projects.
Some marquee U.S. Senate matchups are now set after Tuesday's primaries. In Alabama,
Republicans nominated former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville over former U.S. Attorney
General Jeff Sessions. Tuberville will take on Democratic Senator Doug Jones.
In Maine, Democrat Sara Gideon won her primary to face Republican Senator Susan Collins.
And Texas Democrats picked former Air Force pilot M.J. Hegar to take on Republican Senator
John Cornyn.
Kansas Republican Congressman Steve Watkins is now facing three criminal charges on voter
fraud. They include illegal voting and lying to investigators. Watkins had listed a UPS
postal box as his residence before a 2019 local election. He has a Republican primary
next month, in a bid for his second term.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is back home after being hospitalized for
a possible infection. She spent the night at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, where doctors
cleaned a bile duct stent. A spokeswoman says she is now -- quote -- "doing well." Ginsburg
is 87. She's had cancer twice, in addition to other health issues in recent years.
The family of George Floyd filed a federal civil rights lawsuit today against Minneapolis
and the four police officers involved in his killing. Floyd died in custody last May, where
a white -- rather, when a white police officer kneeled on his neck for over eight minutes.
The family's attorney, Ben Crump, said the responsibility goes well beyond just one officer.
BENJAMIN CRUMP, Attorney for Family of George Floyd: It was not just a knee of office Derek
Chauvin on George Floyd's neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds, but it was the knee of the
entire Minneapolis Police Department on the neck of George Floyd that killed him.
AMNA NAWAZ: The suit seeks unspecified damages. The four officers have been fired and are
facing criminal charges.
Police in Atlanta have arrested a teenager in the death of 8-year-old Secoriea Turner
during a racial justice protest on the Fourth of July; 19-year-old Julian Conley is charged
with murder. Police say he fired into an SUV, killing the girl. Conley's lawyer says he
was armed, but did not shoot. The shooting took place near a Wendy's restaurant where
Rayshard Brooks was killed by a white police officer last month.
The Trump administration will impose travel bans on employees of the telecom giant Huawei
and other Chinese companies. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said today those companies
support human rights abuses against China's Muslim minorities. He also threatened measures
against the Chinese social media app TikTok over data theft concerns.
A top European Union court ruled today that Apple does not have to pay $15 billion in
back taxes to Ireland. The E.U. had alleged that the tech giant received illegal tax breaks
in Ireland, where its European headquarters are based. The court said there wasn't enough
evidence to support that finding.
U.S. industrial output surged in June for the second straight month. The new numbers,
from the Federal Reserve, also show production is still well below pre-pandemic levels.
But, on Wall Street, stocks rallied today, on hopes for a COVID vaccine. The Dow Jones
industrial average gained 227 points to close at 26870. The Nasdaq rose nearly 62 points,
and the S&P 500 added 29.
Still to come on the "NewsHour": Californians weigh in on the alarming rise of coronavirus
infections in their state; how San Francisco's Chinatown has weathered the pandemic, despite
its dense population; the Democratic Republic of Congo finally defeats Ebola, only to face
COVID-19; and much more.