Monday, June 1, 2020

It's time to stop telling athletes to 'stick to sports'

I never planned to go to college. Sports gave me the opportunity and I seized it. And I now have a College World Series title. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
usatoday.com

Sports
Monday, June 1

What was the moment or reason we fell in love with sports?

This is the story of Rick Kosek, a reader from Atlanta:    

I never planned to go to college. Sports gave me the opportunity and I seized it. My grades were not good in high school. ACT score was terrible. Too hyper. I guess they call it ADD now. Never applied to college and was working in a metal fabrication plant welding and burning beams for new construction in summer of 1981. While playing summer baseball after barely completing high school, a competitor's parent asked me where I was going to college.  I said I am not going.  He said "you have some of the most talent around here. My son is going to a JUCO in Florida so tell your mom to call me." That call led to a JUCO and ultimately to a College World Series title. All heart, buddy.  Like sports, give it your all and you can overcome adversity. That's why I like (any) sports every day and that's my story. (Read more of Rick's story here.)

Now it's your turn: 

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Enjoy your regular sports headlines below. And thank you for being part of the USA TODAY Sports newsletter community.
Jamela J. Pettiford sings during a protest with Former NBA player Stephen Jackson  in response to the police killing of George Floyd outside the Hennepin County Government Center on May 29, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jackson, who was friends with George Floyd, spoke at a press conference before joining the protest.
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Welterweight boxer Curtis Cokes trains for a fight
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George Floyd protests, hurricane season and Pride Month

George Floyd protests continue as Pride Month and hurricane season begin and more news you need to know Monday. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
usatoday.com

Daily Briefing
 
Monday, June 1
Friends of George Floyd hug and cry by a makeshift memorial in honor of George Floyd, who died while in custody of the Minneapolis police, following a day of demonstration in a call for justice on May 30, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Monday's Daily Briefing: George Floyd protests, Pride Month begins
George Floyd protests continue as Pride Month and hurricane season begin and more news you need to know Monday.

Good morning, Daily Briefing readers. It's the first day of June, which brings hurricane season, Pride Month, Father's Day, and the start of summer. Many cities are starting the new month under curfew after an intense weekend of protests over the death of George Floyd. Let's get started with a quick recap of the biggest news you missed this weekend:

The protests over George Floyd's death continue: Fired Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was arrested Friday on charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter after Floyd's death. At least 4,100 people nationwide have been arrested over days of protests, according to The Associated Press. Journalists were arrested, blinded and injured while covering the Floyd protests nationwide. President Donald Trump said he'll designate Antifa as a terror organization and thinks they are leading the violence at anti-police brutality protests.
NASA and SpaceX made history with space launch: NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley returned to space Saturday on a historic mission. The launch marked the first time a private company has sent humans into orbit — and the first time in nearly a decade that the U.S. launched astronauts into orbit from American soil.
In coronavirus news: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Saturday signed a bill into law that creates a death benefit for the families of state and local government workers who have been on the front lines of the state's coronavirus response. After a packed pool party at the Lake of the Ozarks went viral last week , one person tested positive for coronavirus.

It's N'dea and here is the news you need to know today.

George Floyd: Major cities across US impose curfews amid protests

With cities wounded by days of violent unrest, America headed into a new week Monday with neighborhoods in shambles, urban streets on lockdown and shaken confidence about when leaders would find the answers to control the mayhem amid unrelenting raw emotion over police killings of black people. As cities try to quell demonstrations following the death of George Floyd, several governors and mayors across the country imposed or extended curfews into Monday morning in anticipation of another night of unrest. More than 20 cities have imposed some type of curfew. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced he would extend curfew for Minneapolis and St. Paul through Monday morning. Other cities who have announced curfews include Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Seattle, Louisville – where Breonna Taylor was killed – Richmond, Va., and Portland, Ore.

'It's time to stand up': Peaceful demonstrations, looting and chanting on sixth night of George Floyd protests.
George Floyd protests: How did we get here?
Resources, ways to donate: How you can take action from home.

Busy hurricane season expected, with up to 19 named storms possible

It's officially the start of hurricane season, and it's expected to be a busy one . The season arrives against the backdrop of the coronavirus, which will almost certainly impact evacuations and shelter from approaching storms. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects 13 to 19 named storms to develop this season (6 to 10 being hurricanes). If predictions hold true, it will be a record fifth consecutive year of above-normal activity. That would beat the previous four-year streak set from 1998 to 2001. The season runs through Nov. 30, with storms typically peaking in August and September. 

A busy hurricane season and the coronavirus : It's 'a cataclysmic scenario'
Powerhouse storms: Are Category 5 hurricanes such as Dorian the 'new normal'?

Here's what else is happening:

Is Kylie Jenner a billionaire? Forbes takes away status, says the Kardashian-Jenner family provided misleading information
'Lapdog' or watchdog? The State Department's new inspector general under fire for conflicts of interest, inexperience
School lunch programs are losing millions feeding hungry kids. They could be broke by fall
Sony to unveil PlayStation 5 launch video game titles, first look at games at June 4 event
Queen Elizabeth, 94, is back in the saddle, riding her pony without a helmet at Windsor Castle

Florida Keys to reopen to tourists, hotels limited to 50% occupancy

The Florida Keys will reopen to tourists Monday, more than two months after the island chain closed to visitors . Checkpoints that barred visitors from coming into the Florida Keys will be removed and hotels and other lodging establishments, including campgrounds and vacation rentals, will also be allowed to reopen at 50% occupancy. These businesses must implement sanitation stations and follow the American Hotel and Lodging Association's cleaning guidelines for COVID-19. Airport screenings and bus restrictions will also be lifted in June. But if the Florida Keys experience a surge in cases after reopening, "restrictions may be heightened and amenities may again be closed," according to a statement by Monroe County Emergency Management. 

States may be reopening, but many still require travelers to self-quarantine. Here's where.

Here is the latest news on COVID-19

Coronavirus updates: Family sues Princess Cruises over relative's death; 24 Hour Fitness on brink of bankruptcy; US deaths near 105K
Memory loss, gnarled fingers, panic attacks: COVID-19 didn't kill these Americans, but many might never be the same
As states reopen, medical experts recommend pregnant women stay vigilant against COVID-19
Fact check: Early research shows fabric could neutralize coronaviruses
Debate over $600 a week in jobless aid to intensify as unemployment claims rise
Nick Cordero's wife Amanda Kloots is still 'praying for a miracle' recovery, gives update
At least 16 West Point cadets test COVID-19 positive before grad speech by President Trump

Coronavirus pandemic to impact Pride Month activities

The start of the month of June on Monday also marks the beginning of Pride Month, which commemorates the Stonewall uprising in New York City 51 years ago. On June 28, 1969, New York police raided the Stonewall Inn gay bar, sparking street protests in the surrounding Greenwich Village neighborhood. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, more than 475 Pride events across the USA have been canceled or postponed, the Washington Post reported. If you can't celebrate pride month in person, here are 10 recently published books that celebrate, examine and champion gay lives.

How to be an LGBT ally, during Pride Month and beyond
From the archive: 10 great places where LGBTQ history was made
Why we have LGBTQ Pride and not 'Straight Pride'
A participant waves a rainbow flag during the annual New York Pride March in New York, New York.
A participant waves a rainbow flag during the annual New York Pride March in New York, New York.
EPA

Coronavirus-free Montenegro to open borders to tourists – but there's a catch

Montenegro, the first country to claim victory over the coronavirus with no active cases, is opening its borders Monday – but not to everyone . The country's prime minister, Dusko Markovic, announced that tourists will only be allowed to enter from countries that meet a certain criteria. The European countries whose citizens will be able to cross over the small country's borders must currently have no more than 25 COVID-19 patients per 100,000 inhabitants. Markovic said states that meet the criteria are Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Albania and Greece. The last recorded case of coronavirus in Montenegro was about three weeks ago.

Is international travel allowed yet? See when Spain, Mexico, Italy, UK plan to reopen borders

In better news: Minneapolis is trying to pick up the pieces

After nearly a week of protests over the death of George Floyd roiled Minneapolis, there were people carrying brooms and garbage bags on a sunny Sunday.

Jack Manderscheid, a University of Minnesota senior, exemplified the spirit of the day by meticulously walking through the Uptown neighborhood filling up four trash bags that he carried on his bicycle.

Manderscheid had attended a demonstration earlier in the week, but the fumes from tear gas used by police officers bothered him. So had the large crowds during a time when he is trying to keep his distance from people over fears of spreading the new coronavirus.

He instead decided to clean the streets and sidewalks, only to find that hundreds of others had the same idea. Other residents found a way to help by providing food, diapers and other essentials in a city where most stores and restaurants are closed.

Tracy Gray Knutson sat down to rest beneath this sign in south Minneapolis on Sunday and soon found herself dispensing a bounty of donated food and diapers.
Tracy Gray Knutson sat down to rest beneath this sign in south Minneapolis on Sunday and soon found herself dispensing a bounty of donated food and diapers.
Mark Emmert, Des Moines Register, USA TODAY Network
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Postal service whistleblower

Report warns USPS mail-in ballot system risks midterm elections. Here is the news to know on Wednesday. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏...