Researchers: Coronavirus mutation could make it more contagious

New research is causing some to worry about the possibility of the coronavirus becoming even more infectious, reports CNN.

Analysts at the Scripps Research Institute in Florida reportedly found a mutation affecting the virus' spike protein, which is what the virus uses to get inside cells. The researchers worry this mutation could make it easier for the virus to infect people.

However, the World Health Organization said other mutations of the virus haven't made it more infectious and that these mutations won't impact how effective the vaccines in development now would be.



https://local12.com/news/nation-world/researchers-coronavirus-mutation-could-make-it-more-contagious-cincinnati

Wife of Man on COVID-19 Task Force Diagnosed With Coronavirus, Despite Precautions

Loren Pennington said she did everything she was supposed to do: she had her groceries delivered, rarely left the house, and made sure her family was isolated. She has no idea how she contracted COVID-19. It was a real awakening for her husband, an emergency room physician.

"I felt terrible for him because he’s on the other side of the door listening to me struggle for air. It was awful," Loren said.

Pennington, 31, said the virus came on strong and on the other side of her off-limits bedroom door was her husband, Dr. Troy Pennington, who is a member of San Bernardino’s COVID-19 response team.

"It was really frightening. My wife now a statistic on the dashboard I fill out," he said.



https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/san-bernardino-coronavirus-pennington/2388141/?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_LABrand

Early Voting Starts For Texas' Primary Runoffs. Here's What You Need To Know.

Early voting in Texas starts Monday for the July 14 primary runoff elections. The runoffs were supposed to be in May, but were postponed because of the pandemic.

The CDC has some simple guidelines to follow to protect yourself from the coronavirus if you plan to vote in person.

Travis and Williamson counties offer maps of wait times at polling sites, which can help you avoid crowds.

Texas has open primaries, which means voters don't register with a party ahead of an election. Instead, voters choose which party's ballot they want at their polling place. They can't, however, vote in both the Republican and Democratic primaries in the same election.

Two things to keep in mind: If you voted in the March 3 primary, you MUST vote in the same party primary in the runoff. So if you voted in the Republican primary in March, you have to vote in the Republican primary runoff.

If you didn't vote in the March primary, you can vote in either party's runoff.




https://www.kut.org/post/early-voting-starts-today-texas-primary-runoffs-heres-what-you-need-know

You have 1 week to register to vote in Arizona's August primary. Here's what you need to know

he deadline to register to vote in Arizona's August primaries is fast approaching.

Arizonans who want to vote in Arizona's primary elections have until Monday, July 6, to make sure they are registered.

Only those who register before the deadline can cast a vote in the state's primary election on Aug. 4. Voters can choose their preferred party candidate in a handful of elections for statewide and legislative office.

Arizona has open primaries, so, unlike the state's presidential preference election on March 17, even voters not registered as Republican or Democrat can participate.

Here's what you need to know to make sure your vote counts:




https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/06/29/arizona-voter-registration-deadline-august-4-primary/3267396001/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&cid=twitter_azcentral

NJ-02: Hottest N.J. primary features a Kennedy vs. a pundit for right to face Van Drew

South Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District was already expected to feature one of the nation’s hottest congressional races.

That’s because angry Democrats promised an all-out fight against rookie Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who switched to the Republican Party after refusing to back Donald Trump’s impeachment and then pledged his “undying support” for the president.

Political pundit Brigid Callahan Harrison, a Montclair State University political science professor, quickly lined up the backing of six county chairs and state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, and entered the race.

Then Amy Kennedy, wife of former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., and the most recent candidate from the iconic political family, also jumped in the July 7 Democratic primary.

So there’s indeed a street fight in this district — a few months early.

“I don’t think this primary would get as much attention if there wasn’t someone named Kennedy in it,” said Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of Inside Elections, which rated Van Drew as a slight favorite for re-election.




https://www.nj.com/politics/2020/06/hottest-nj-primary-features-a-kennedy-vs-a-pundit-for-right-to-face-party-switching-trump-fan.html

Trump campaign sues Pennsylvania, county election boards over mail-in voting

President Trump’s reelection campaign is suing Pennsylvania's secretary of state and 67 county election boards in an effort to change how mail-in ballots are sent and counted.

The federal lawsuit was filed in Pittsburgh on Monday by the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee, and four Pennsylvania Republican members of Congress: Glen Thompson, Mike Kelly, John Joyce and Guy Reschenthaler.

“To be free and fair, elections must be transparent and verifiable. Yet, Defendants have inexplicably chosen a path that jeopardizes election security and will lead -and has already led - to the disenfranchisement of voters, questions about the accuracy of election results, and ultimately chaos heading into the upcoming November 3, 2020 General Election,” the lawsuit reads.

The suit claims the issues are a “direct result” of Pennsylvania’s “hazardous hurried, and illegal implementation of unmonitored mail-in voting” that the Trump campaign and Republicans claim can lead to fraud and “chaos.”



https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/505092-trump-campaign-sues-pennsylvania-county-election-boards-over-mail-in-voting

Atlanta Hawks to open arena as Georgia's 'largest-ever voting precinct'

The Atlanta Hawks basketball team announced on Monday that its home venue, the State Farm Arena, will be transformed into the “largest-ever voting precinct” in the state of Georgia later this year.

“We are proud to partner with Fulton County to give all registered Fulton County residents the ability to vote early at our home,” the team tweeted on Monday afternoon.

According to NBA.com, the stadium will be opened as a precinct in time for early voting in late July ahead of the runoff election later in August.

The site reported that the venue, which is 700,000 square-feet, will also be used by the Fulton County Registration and Elections to process absentee ballots and to count votes.



https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/505152-atlanta-hawks-to-open-arena-as-voting-precinct

Tweet of the Day

Twitch temporarily bans President Trump

Twitch has temporarily banned President Donald Trump, in the latest surprise and high-profile suspension from the streaming service. Trump’s account was banned for “hateful conduct” that was aired on stream, and Twitch says the offending content has now been removed.

One of the streams in question was a rebroadcast of Trump’s infamous kickoff rally, where he said that Mexico was sending rapists to the United States. Twitch also flagged racist comments at Trump’s recent rally in Tulsa.

“Like anyone else, politicians on Twitch must adhere to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. We do not make exceptions for political or newsworthy content, and will take action on content reported to us that violates our rules,” a Twitch spokesperson told The Verge. The statement was originally issued last year when Trump’s channel was launched.

The suspension arrives a week after Twitch swore it would crack down on harassment within the community following reports of assault and harassment from streamers. It’s a sign that Twitch may be starting to take moderating streams a lot more seriously. The racist language it banned Trump for is often allowed on other platforms due to his role as a politician and president of the United States.



https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/29/21307145/twitch-donald-trump-ban-campaign-account

Kansas City mayor says he's receiving death threats over mask order

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas (D) on Monday posted a message he received to his Facebook page using a racial slur against him and saying he should “hang from a tree” after he required the wearing of masks in public.

Lucas also noted a doctored image of him appearing to hold a T-shirt reading “F--- the police” has circulated recently, posting the original photo, in which the shirt he is holding is advertising a local radio station.

“To the many texting me aghast of fake photos circulating, I recommend you not believe everything a muckraker sends your way... and use some judgment,” Lucas wrote. “Odd to have to disprove something so patently ridiculous and nonsensical (who takes a smiling F the police photo at a rock station?), but alas, that’s 2020.”

“Add to this the racial slur and subtle death threat I received yesterday about requiring masks, and it’s like, y’all... let’s do better,” he added. The message Lucas received calls him a “piece of shit n----” and says “You should swing from a tree, I’m not threatening it, but would love to see it.”



https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/505089-kansas-city-mayor-says-hes-receiving-death-threats-over-mask-order