World News: We haven't flattened the curve

Wednesday, May 6

A mural in Milwaukee honors medical workers on the front lines during the coronavirus pandemic.

The US hasn't flattened its curve, but states are reopening. Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined Supreme Court arguments from the hospital. It's Wednesday's news.

Hate to (always) be the bearer of bad news, but it looks like we aren't doing a great job flattening our coronavirus curve, RBG is still in the hospital and sexual assault is the focus of two of today's top news items.

Call your mom. Thank your nurses. Hug your family. It's Ashley with the news to know.

But first, can someone help me pronounce this? Grimes and Elon Musk welcomed their first child into the world this week. His name? X Æ A-12 Musk.

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The US hasn't flattened its curve, but states are reopening

About half of U.S. states are taking steps to loosen social distancing measures imposed to keep the coronavirus from spreading, and others are considering it. Are we reopening too soon? Every day since mid-March, the U.S. has added at least 20,000 new cases of COVID-19, and the rate isn't slowing down. Only 12 states are currently showing a sustained case reduction, while another 15 have experienced sustained increases. New projections show a marked increase in cases and deaths, prompting experts to ponder: What happens next?

More of the latest coronavirus developments:

•	The Coronavirus Task Force won't be shutting down soon and will shift its focus to developing vaccines and reopening the economy, President Donald Trump said.
•	Some countries haven't reported a single case of coronavirus. Are these nations impervious to the COVID-19?
•	A professor "on the verge of making very significant findings" about COVID-19 was killed in an apparent murder-suicide.
•	Give it to me straight: There were more than 1.2 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 71,000 deaths in the U.S. on Wednesday.

Jersey City, N.J., started giving residents COVID-19 tests May 4 even if they did not show any symptoms of the virus. Some stood in line for 90 minutes to receive the free test. (Pets were not given tests.)

Kevin Wexler, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

RBG proves she is the MVP yet again

You can check off another "first" off the list for Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: participating in oral argument from her hospital bed. The high court's oldest justice and a four-time cancer survivor joined the court's debate by telephone on Wednesday from her hospital bed, where she is recovering from acute cholecystitis, a benign gallbladder condition. Ginsburg, 87, is expected to remain in the hospital for a day or two, the court's spokeswoman, Kathy Arberg, has said.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg participates in a discussion at the Georgetown University Law Center on February 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. Justice Ginsburg and U.S. Appeals Court Judge McKeown discussed the 19th Amendment which guaranteed women the right to vote which was passed 100 years ago.

Sarah Silbiger, Getty Images

What everyone's talking about

•	Why hello, Adele: The singer shared a photo after vowing to spend a year "all on myself."
•	Some bees can "cook" those dreaded "Murder Hornets." Unfortunately, U.S. bees don't know the trick.
•	"What would have been." Katy Perry revealed that Madonna inspired her maternity Met Gala outfit.
•	Still looking for Clorox wipes? Shelves won't be fully stocked until summer.
•	"There's some hope." Broadway actor Nick Cordero is showing "very early" signs of waking up.

Colleges must cross-examine sexual assault cases, new rules say

Colleges across America now must hold live testimony hearings with cross-examination in campus sexual assault cases, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced Wednesday. The move will make on-campus investigations somewhat mirror court hearings, complete with questions directed at the people who say they were assaulted. Survivors say such hearings will retraumatize them, and the new rules quickly drew promises of legal challenges from victim rights groups. DeVos, and those who support the changes, say adding the hearings are the only way to protect the rights of those accused of sexual assault.

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos

Jasper Colt/USA TODAY

'Killed in cold blood'

Former Vice President Joe Biden is calling for a formal investigation in the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old black man shot while jogging by white men, a father and son, who told police they thought he was a burglar. Arbery was killed in February, but no one has been arrested or charged in his death. A video reportedly of Arbery's shooting has ricocheted around social media, prompting an outcry. It shows a black man jogging before attempting to pass a truck. Soon after, gunshots are heard. In a tweet on Tuesday, Biden said Arbery was "killed in cold blood." and asked for an investigation into his murder. A Georgia prosecutor has called for a grand jury to review the case and to decide if criminal charges are warranted.

Ahmaud Arbery was killed Feb. 23 just outside of Brunswick, GA in Glynn County.

Photo courtesy of Marcus Arbery

Real quick

•	Willie Mays is celebrating his 89th birthday today! Is he the greatest living baseball player?
•	Many coronavirus mutations are circling the globe, but we don't know if any are more dangerous.
•	Cowboys rookie Bradlee Anae cliff jumps for fun.
•	Jobless claims may reach 33 million as COVID-19 layoffs likely lead to a historic jobless rate.
•	Jessica Simpson accused Vogue of body-shaming her "for having boobs."

Tensions rise over Boy Scouts' liability in abuse claims

Should local Boy Scout councils be held liable for sex abuse claims from former scouts? It's an emerging question in the national organization's ongoing bankruptcy case. More than 30 men who say they were abused as scouts have filed lawsuits against local Scout councils in recent weeks. The lawsuits come nearly four months after Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy, expected for months as a way to limit liability in abuse cases.

A break from the news

•	Iced coffee fanatic like me? Here's how to make iced coffee at home.
•	Does your mom love cooking? Check out these 10 kitchen gifts for Mother's Day.
•	There is nothing like some tummy scratches to make your day – at least for this Golden Retriever.

Thank you, Joseph Nigro

The Short List is featuring stories from health care workers on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. We want to hear your story. Email me at ashley@usatoday.com.

"The greatest gift for me as a nurse in this crisis are the people I save. I'm not doing this for a free meal, coffee, claps, or premature celebrating. This isn't over. People are just as sick as they were months ago. I'm still here. I'm not scared. I'm going to keep fighting."

– Joseph Nigro, a registered nurse at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Queens

Joseph Nigro, a registered nurse at New York Presbyterian Hospital, says "I'm going to keep fighting."

Joseph Nigro

And thank you, all nurses. Not only are our nurses on the front lines helping patients with coronavirus, but today is also the start of National Nurses Week (yes, we know it's Wednesday). Know a nurse? Pass along this list of freebies and discounts nurses can get this week. Want to say thanks? Here are 12 thoughtful gift ideas for nurses. Want to share your story? Email me at ashley@usatoday.com.

Nurses and medical workers react as police officers and pedestrians cheer them outside Lenox Hill Hospital, April 15, 2020, in New York.

Frank Franklin II, AP

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for "The Short List" newsletter here.