The coronavirus isn’t done with us yet

Unlike the virus itself, COVID-19 relief is nearing an end. Temporary work visas will soon be harder to come by. And President Donald Trump has a new target: mail-in voting. 

It’s Alex, filling in for Ashley this week. 

But first, what’s the deal with Stonehenge? Researchers have discovered a ring of at least 20 “shafts” more than 32 feet in diameter and 16 feet deep in the United Kingdom, which could shed new light on the origins of the mystical stone circle.

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Second wave? We’re still riding the first

The World Health Organization on Sunday recorded the largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases: more than 183,000. Brazil and the United States experienced the biggest increase at 54,771 and 36,617 cases, respectively. More than two-thirds of new deaths were also reported in the Americas. Some believe the rise in numbers is a result of more testing. However, health officials such as Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, a specialist in internal medicine at the California Pacific Medical Center, told CNN that’s not necessarily the case. “If widespread testing was the entire reason for the rise in cases, you’d expect to see the proportion of positive tests go down or at the very least remain steady. We’re not seeing that,” Ungerleider said. 

A man walks past a wall painted to thank workers and frontline medical staff as they battle with the novel coronavirus pandemic, after the government loosened a lockdown as preventative measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Dhaka on June 7, 2020.
A man walks past a wall painted to thank workers and frontline medical staff as they battle with the novel coronavirus pandemic, after the government loosened a lockdown as preventative measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Dhaka on June 7, 2020.

COVID-19 relief is ending, but the pandemic isn’t

The safety net that once buoyed financially stressed Americans is beginning to fray. Soon the extra $600 in weekly unemployment checks will stop being issued. Tenants who cannot pay their rent can be evicted. And small businesses will no longer have a forgivable federal loan to make up for sales. Here’s a look at some of the programs and when they’re scheduled to run out.

School’s out for the summer… and fall?

Scheduled showers. Single rooms in dorms, apartments and hotels. And masks required – everywhere. This is what college will look like in fall 2020, if universities reopen in-person at all. Two-thirds of colleges are planning to welcome back students, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, while 7% are planning to hold classes only online. Why all the effort to reopen? Many colleges – especially smaller, residential schools – need students on campus to stay afloat.

Justice Department, FBI to investigate noose found in Bubba Wallace’s garage

The Department of Justice announced Monday that it will be looking into the noose found in NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace’s garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway. The FBI is also investigating the discovery of the noose. Wallace called the act “despicable” and a “painful reminder” of the importance of fighting against racism and protesting social injustice. In his third full-time season at NASCAR’s top level, Wallace is the only Black driver in the Cup Series and has been integral in leading the sport’s recent commitment to fighting racism and injustice. NASCAR reacted swiftly Sunday to condemn the incident as a “heinous act,” announcing an investigation and pledging to find the person responsible and ban them from the sport. 

What everyone’s talking about

Visas for foreign workers may soon be difficult to come by

President Trump is expected to sign an executive order Monday that would suspend temporary visas for foreign workers until the end of 2020, angering advocates who say he is targeting immigrants for domestic political reasons. The order will apply to a variety of work visas used for many types of jobs, a move that the administration says could free up as many as 525,000 jobs to be filled by Americans. But immigration groups, which have been bracing for the order for days, argue that Trump is targeting immigrants to placate his political base. The freeze will apply to H-1B visas designed for high-skilled workers, particularly in the tech industry, and H-2B visas used by seasonal workers, such as in the construction and hospitality industries.

Is mail-in voting the scandal of our times? Fact check: No.

Trump is once again rallying against mail-in voting for the November election, warning without evidence that it could lead to “foreign countries” printing ballots to undermine results. “IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES!” Trump tweeted. Voting experts and election officials swiftly disputed the claim, characterizing the warning as a bogus conspiracy and pointing to safeguards that states use to protect the authenticity of absentee ballots and envelopes. Trump’s tweets came on the heels of a highly anticipated trip Saturday to Tulsa, Oklahoma, that drew a considerably smaller crowd than his campaign had expected. The president’s reelection poll numbers have also been sliding for weeks.

President Donald Trump is introduced during a rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday, June 20, 2020.
President Donald Trump is introduced during a rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday, June 20, 2020.

Real quick 

Minnesota corrections officers file racial discrimination charges

Eight correctional officers in Minneapolis have filed racial discrimination charges with the state’s Department of Human Rights, alleging that they weren’t allowed to be in close contact with Derek Chauvin, the white officer who kneeled on George Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. The officers – all people of color – say they were told they would be a “liability” around Chauvin because of their race, the Star Tribune reported. According to a copy of charges obtained by the newspaper, once Chauvin arrived at the Ramsey County Jail, officers of color were ordered to a separate floor. 

News you can use

Listen up 🎧

If you’re looking to feel inspired, there’s a new podcast that launched this morning from USA TODAY Sports called “Changing the Game.” Award-winning sports journalist Nancy Armour interviews icons, Olympians, and trailblazers in this eight-part series exploring how women have revolutionized sports as we know it.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus, Trump, mail-in vote, Bubba Wallace, visas: Monday’s news

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