THE BIG STORY

Florida sets a national record for the biggest single-day increase in Coronavirus cases since the pandemic began

It’s a stunning number in a stunning context. On Sunday — four months and change into the pandemic — there were 15,299 people who tested positive for the coronavirus in Florida.

On the same weekend the state set that grim record, Disney World in Orlando reopened, albeit with new coronavirus safety measures.

Florida, Texas and California are seeing a sharp rise in COVID-19 deaths. Experts warn that an increase in deaths usually lags behind new infections by several weeks, given the delay between infection and serious illness. One expert told us, “As hospital staff get overwhelmed and start getting sick and we have staff shortages, then the mortality really starts to go up.”

Despite concerns from education and health officials, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has doubled down on reopening schools in the fall, saying that if Walmart and Home Depot were open, then schools could also open.

Guests awaiting entry into the Magic Kingdom on the first day of its reopen. Gregg Newton / AFP via Getty Image

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

Trump has commuted the sentence of his “loyal” ally Roger Stone

Roger Stone is a former campaign adviser for President Donald Trump. He was sentenced to prison for lying to Congress during the Russia investigation, obstructing investigators, and tampering with witnesses.

Stone was due to surrender on July 14 to spend 40 months in a federal prison. Instead, on Friday, the president commuted the sentence for his longtime ally.

There had been speculation about whether Trump would grant Stone clemency. The president issued a commutation instead, which lightens the penalty, but leaves Stone’s underlying conviction intact.

Stone “is now a free man,” according to a White House statement announcing the commutation.

SNAPSHOTS

Hundreds of Los Angeles Apparel factory workers have contracted the coronavirus and four have died. Public health officials said the company initially refused to cooperate with an investigation into an outbreak at the factory, and at one point tried to prevent officials from entering.

A cop allegedly shot and killed a fellow officer after threatening to shoot protesters. Arkansas officer Calvin Salyers is accused of killing his colleague, Scott Hutton, through his front door after Hutton stopped by his home to pick up a patrol car.

Pregnant YouTuber Nicole Thea, 24, and her unborn son have died. The British influencer was just weeks away from her due date when her death was announced. The cause of death remains unclear, and her family has asked for privacy.

Actor Kelly Preston has died of breast cancer at age 57. Preston’s husband, actor John Travolta, announced the news in an emotional Instagram post. The pair had been married for 28 years.

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

SOCIAL DISTANCE LEARNING

Frat parties. Dorms. Dining halls. Here’s how college campuses are trying to stop coronavirus outbreaks this fall.

The whole college experience is predicated on the premise of being close to a thousand strangers, all the time. Think about it: Giant libraries, frat parties, football teams, college bars, dorms — you’re always near other people, interacting with them.

That’s exactly what makes college a perfect petri dish for fresh COVID-19 outbreaks, and public health experts are warning that we’ll see an uptick in outbreaks as campuses around the country reopen this fall.

College administrators nationwide have been gradually announcing their reopening plans, using a CDC “considerations” document as their guide. COVID-19 means a whole set of new challenges, like physically distant bars, discouragement of parties, and extensive regular cleaning of residence facilities.

We took an in-depth look at the way COVID-19 will affect students, and all the steps colleges are taking to reduce the risk of outbreaks.

WOULD YOU LIKE FINES WITH THAT

A takeout order at KFC at 1:30 a.m. raised suspicions. It led to a $26,000 coronavirus fine.

Early Friday morning, two paramedics stopped at an Australian KFC restaurant in Melbourne, Victoria. While waiting for their food, they noticed something suspicious: A pair of customers had ordered roughly 20 takeout meals at 1:30 a.m.

The order raised alarm because large parts of Victoria are back in lockdown following a sudden dramatic surge in coronavirus cases. So the paramedics reported the license plates of the customers to the police.

Police officers followed the customers with the large order home, and found a group of 20 people who gathered together to celebrate a birthday. All partygoers were issued fines — a total of $26,000 AUD, or almost $18,000 USD.

Wishing you a healthy dose of bright, glowing hope today,

Elamin