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BC-VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST
The Latest: New Zealand moves to charge some for quarantine
New Zealand’s government says it will rush through new laws to allow some people to be charged for their border quarantine costs. New Zealand hasn’t had any community transmission of the virus for three months, and everybody who enters the country is required to spend two weeks isolated at a hotel. The cost of that is currently picked up by taxpayers and has already amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars. Under the new law, adults who leave or enter the country for short holidays or business trips will be required to pay about 3,100 New Zealand dollars ($2,100) toward their quarantine costs.
AP-US-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-CONGRESS-JOBLESS-AID
GOP's jobless benefit plan could mean delays, states warn
State officials across the U.S. say Senate Republicans' proposed slashing of a federally funded boost in unemployment benefits could delay payments for weeks or even months. Democrats are pushing back, arguing that cutting the extra payments to $200 from $600 is bad policy — and that it's hard to implement. It took some states a month earlier this year to program aging computer systems to handle the initial increase. Under the GOP plan, there would be a second and maybe more challenging step of boosting benefits _ so they equal no more than 70% of a person's previous income.
2020 CENSUS
Experts worry about errors if census schedule is sped up
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — After asking for coronavirus-related deadline extensions in April, the Trump administration now appears to be abandoning that request. It has asked Congress for extra funding to wrap up the 2020 census “as quickly, and safely as possible." Such a move could help ensure that the number-crunching for redrawing congressional districts takes place on President Donald Trump’s watch. Outside experts warned Tuesday that a sped-up timetable would lead to an inaccurate census that misses people in hard-to-count minority communities. The Census Bureau currently is in the middle of the 2020 census. Some of the bureau’s 500,000 door-knockers started heading out this month to households that haven’t yet responded.
AP-US-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-CONGRESS-DEFENSE
GOP tucks $8 billion for military weaponry in virus bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new $1 trillion COVID-19 response package by Senate Republicans is supposed to give the government all the weapons it needs to battle the surging coronavirus pandemic. But Republicans have more than just the “invisible enemy” in mind. They're proposing billions for F-35 fighters, Apache helicopters and infantry carriers sought by Washington’s powerful defense lobby. Overall, the proposal stuffs $8 billion into Pentagon weapons systems built by defense contractors like Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics. The bill was drafted by Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican.
OPIOID CRISIS-PURDUE BANKRUPTCY
Judge: Purdue Pharma must halt some political contributions
A federal bankruptcy judge has ruled that OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is not allowed to contribute money to organizations aimed at the election efforts for state attorneys general. But Judge Robert Drain said the company can continue giving to some other political groups. Advocates cried foul earlier this month when it was revealed that the company had made $185,000 in political contributions after declaring bankruptcy. They were particularly troubled because the company is negotiating a settlement of lawsuits over the toll of its opioid painkillers with attorneys general from across the country.
TRUMP-IMMIGRATION
Trump administration won't accept new DACA applications
CHICAGO (AP) — The Trump administration says it will reject new applications and shorten renewal periods for an Obama-era program that shields young people from deportation. The move Tuesday is a defiant stance after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to let the administration end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The justices ruled last month that President Donald Trump failed to follow rule-making procedures when he tried to scrap DACA, but they kept a window open for him to try again. A federal judge in Maryland ruled earlier this month that DACA should be restored to its original form.
RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION
US officials: Russia behind spread of virus disinformation
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government has identified two suspected Russian military intelligence operatives who it believes are helping direct the spread of disinformation through websites that have published extensively on the coronavirus pandemic, American politics and international affairs. That's according to U.S. government officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press on Tuesday. Officials disclosed for the first time the identity of two individuals who they say have held senior roles in the Russian military intelligence agency known as the GRU, in addition to leadership positions in a Russia-registered news agency that the U.S. government has now identified as being responsible for promoting disinformation on varied topics.
RACIAL INJUSTICE-PORTLAND
Source: US, Oregon in talks about pulling agents in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A senior White House official says the Trump administration has started talks with the Oregon governor’s office and indicated that it would begin to draw down the presence of federal agents in Portland if the state steps up its own enforcement. The senior administration official stressed to The Associated Press that the talks with the office of Democratic Gov. Kate Brown are in the early stages and there's no agreement. Just a day earlier, the administration was weighing whether to send in more agents. Trump on Tuesday called the protesters “anarchist agitators.” Brown didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
AP-US-POLICE-ACCOUNTABILITY-NEW-YORK
Judge lifts ban on NYCLU releasing police discipline records
NEW YORK (AP) — Reversing her initial ruling, a federal judge cleared the way Tuesday for a civil rights organization to provide the public with disciplinary records it obtained from New York City’s police watchdog agency. Judge Katherine Polk Failla said the new ruling pertaining to the state’s chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union will take effect Wednesday afternoon, giving public safety unions challenging the release of such records 24 hours to appeal. Failla had halted the release of disciplinary records last week after the unions sued to block Mayor Bill de Blasio from taking advantage of a recent change in state law to start posting misconduct complaints on a government website.
AP-US-VIRGIN-GALACTIC
Virgin Galactic shows off passenger spaceship cabin interior
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Virgin Galactic has revealed what the interior of the rocket ship will look like that will carry passengers on suborbital flights into the space's lower reaches. An online event Tuesday showcased cabin details designed to enhance the experience of hurtling up into space, experiencing weightlessness and seeing the Earth far below. One unusual amenity is a large mirror to let passengers see themselves floating against the backdrop of space. Virgin Galactic officials say there will be a few more test flights before commercial operations begin at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico. A start date has not been announced for the passenger flights.
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