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VOL. 44 | NO. 36 | Friday, September 4, 2020

Restaurant workers had it made ... and then

Culinary boom crushed by virus, killing the hottest jobs in town

It was the equivalent of a massive rug being pulled out from under tens of thousands of people statewide.

FROM THE EDITOR

Wealthy, weary athletes could change the world

A sleeping giant awakened last week – if just for a moment – when professional athletes from major sports refused to play in response to another police shooting of an unarmed Black man.

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

Pending, closing lag makes tracking trends difficult

There is little evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the Middle Tennessee real estate market, though some say there has been an invisible reaction, one difficult to prove.

Local Weather
Currently
Nashville, TN
44.1°F
Overcast
Wind: Northwest at 11.5 mph
Humidity: 65%

EVENTS

Business Studio: Maintaining to Creating (The Abundance Shift). Learn the steps needed to make a leaderSHIFT. Recognize the zone you are in, unlock mental blocks and implement creative principles to learn and live by. Thursday, 8-9 a.m. Webex Virtual Event. Registration, information

more events »

REAL ESTATE

Copeland offers expertise on LGBTQI housing

Nashville Realtor Brian Copeland, founder and owner of Doorbell Real Estate, wants to open up the discussion on inclusion and diversity for the real estate industry, with an emphasis on the LGBTQI community.

US long-term mortgage rates little changed; 30-year at 2.93%

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. average rates on long-term mortgages changed little this week, remaining at historically low levels that has sparked demand for homes.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Even Pro Bowler Kern concerned about readiness

Coming off three consecutive Pro Bowl seasons and a first-team, All-Pro selection in 2019, you wouldn’t think Titans punter Brett Kern would need much preparation for the upcoming season – even during a pandemic.

Titans agree to terms with kicker Gostkowski, waive Joseph

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans made a switch at kicker Thursday, agreeing to terms with four-time Pro Bowler Stephen Gostkowski and waiving Greg Joseph.

Unsettled Titans kicking game needs a solution

For several years before 2019, Ryan Succop had capably manned the kicker’s spot and performed quite well. But Succop was never healthy in 2019, and the results just weren’t the same when he came off injured reserve halfway through last season.

NEWSMAKERS

Smith named president of Tennessee Medical Association

The Tennessee Medical Association has named Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s M. Kevin Smith, M.D., Ph.D., MMHC of Nashville as 2020-21 president of the member-based nonprofit advocacy organization that represents 9,500 physicians statewide.

BRIEFS

Lipscomb University sets enrollment record

Lipscomb University is beginning its 130th academic year by setting an all-time enrollment record and has topped 4,700 for the first time in university history.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Time might be right to explore plug-in hybrids

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles – typically abbreviated as PHEVs – make up a very small percentage of vehicle sales, but they can be a smart pick for a certain kind of shopper.

PERSONAL FINANCE

Some remote workers may be in for tax surprise

If the pandemic caused you to relocate across state lines, even temporarily, the next surprise could be having to file an extra tax return and potentially pay more taxes.

CAREER CORNER

2020 isn’t a competition; if it were, we’d all be losing

I hope we’re on the same page. This is a pandemic, not a competition.

BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW

Solutions for what was to be a paperless existence

File, file, read now, round file. Manuals, left cabinet, bottom drawer. Contracts, right file cabinet in the next room, along with receipts. And because you’ll generate more paperwork today, you’ll get to file again tomorrow and won’t that be fun?

MILLENNIAL MONEY

Sometimes debt relief can do more harm than good

In a crisis, long-term planning might lose out to quick and dirty solutions – regardless of the consequences.

STATEWIDE

Tennessee officials searching for tiger spotted by deputy

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Authorities were searching Thursday morning for a tiger in East Tennessee.

BANKING

Jane Fraser to become Citi CEO; 1st woman to lead major bank

NEW YORK (AP) — Citigroup's Jane Fraser will become the first woman to ever lead a Wall Street bank when she succeeds CEO Michael Corbat in February.

COURTS

Judge blocks Tennessee law that limits new voter mail voting

NASHVILLE (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday blocked a Tennessee law for the November election that bars first-time voters from casting ballots by mail unless they show identification at an election office beforehand.

Justice Dept. push into Trump case could prompt dismissal

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr on Wednesday defended the Justice Department's move to intervene in a defamation lawsuit against President Donald Trump, even as experts were skeptical of the federal government's effort to protect the president in a seemingly private dispute.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Book: Trump said of virus, 'I wanted to always play it down'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump talked in private about the "deadly" coronavirus last February, even as he was declaring to America it was no worse than the flu and insisting it was under control, according to a new book by journalist Bob Woodward. Trump said Wednesday he was just being a "cheerleader" for the nation and trying to keep everyone calm.

'Deadly stuff': Trump's own words bring focus back to virus

WASHINGTON (AP) — Try as he might to change the subject, President Donald Trump can't escape the coronavirus.

Public vs. private: A timeline of Trump's comments on virus

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's comments on the threat posed by the coronavirus have varied widely depending on whether he was speaking in public or private.

Scarcity of key material squeezes medical mask manufacturing

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Rachel Spray is still grieving the loss of her fellow nurse who died after being exposed to the novel coronavirus at Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center. Now, as she stands in front of the gleaming glass and concrete hospital, she says she "dreads going in there" and fears she'll be next.

UK's 'Moonshot' mass virus test plan met with skepticism

LONDON (AP) — Health experts on Thursday expressed strong skepticism about the British government's ambitious plans to carry out millions of coronavirus tests daily in a bid to help people resume normal lives in the absence of a vaccine.

Vaccine by Nov. 3? Halted study explains just how unlikely

WASHINGTON (AP) — The suspension of a huge COVID-19 vaccine study over an illness in a single participant shows there will be "no compromises" on safety in the race to develop the shot, the chief of the National Institutes of Health told Congress on Wednesday.

Does my employer have to say if a coworker has the virus?

Does my employer have to say if a coworker has the virus?

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

US layoffs remain elevated as job market's gains weaken

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits was unchanged last week at 884,000, a sign that layoffs remain stuck at a historically high level six months after the viral pandemic flattened the economy.

US wholesale prices rise 0.3% in August as food costs drop

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. wholesale prices rose 0.3% in August, just half the July gain, as food and energy prices decline.

Senate GOP's virus relief bill expected to fall in vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — A GOP coronavirus relief package faces dire prospects in a Senate test vote, and negotiators involved in recent efforts to strike a deal that could pass before the November election say they see little reason for hope.

European Central Bank's stimulus program to keep on rolling

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — With almost a trillion euros still in the pipeline, the European Central Bank said Thursday that its emergency support program for the economy will run into next year, joining the Federal Reserve in making it clear that stimulus will remain set on high as the pandemic weighs on global business.

US sanctions on Huawei hit chip supply and growth, exec says

HONG KONG (AP) — A Huawei executive says that recent U.S. sanctions against the company have caused a shortage of computer chips for the company, hurting the growth of its smartphone business.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Official claims pressure to alter Homeland Security intel

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Department of Homeland Security official said in a whistleblower complaint that he was pressured by more senior officials to suppress facts in intelligence reports that President Donald Trump might find objectionable, including information about Russian interference in the election and the rising threat posed by white supremacists.

Book: Kim Jong Un told Trump about killing his uncle

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's comments about the threat from the novel coronavirus attracted widespread attention after excerpts from journalist Bob Woodward's book "Rage" were released. The excerpts also provide new details about the president's thoughts on North Korea's Kim Jong Un, racial unrest and a mysterious new weapon that Trump claims other world powers don't know about.


WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
COURTS

Trump Supreme Court list includes Sens. Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hoping to replicate a strategy that has long been seen as key to his appeal among conservative voters, President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced he is adding 20 names to a list of Supreme Court candidates that he's pledged to choose from if he has future vacancies to fill.

Judge: Park Service fails to show enough done to update public on fire

NASHVILLE (AP) — U.S. park officials have failed to show enough was done to keep the public updated as a deadly wildfire spread from Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2016, a judge ruled.

MIDSTATE

FEMA grants nearly $1.2M for Mt. Juliet tornado recovery

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a grant of nearly $1.2 million for the state of Tennessee to help the city of Mt. Juliet with costs of removing debris after the March tornadoes.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Former VW boss Winterkorn must stand trial in diesel scandal

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — A German court has ruled former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn must stand trial on fraud charges in connection with the company's diesel emission scandal in which it sold cars with software that let them cheat on emissions tests.

TECHNOLOGY

Netflix film dissects a technology-driven 'social dilemma'

SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — A new Netflix documentary is setting out to expose technology's corrosive effects on society during a pandemic that's left people more dependent than ever on tools that keep them connected with friends, family and colleagues they can no longer meet in person.

HEALTH CARE

Big drop reported in vaping by US teenagers

NEW YORK (AP) — Vaping by U.S. teenagers fell dramatically this year, especially among middle schoolers, according to a federal report released Wednesday.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

NIH: Halted vaccine study shows 'no compromises' on safety

WASHINGTON (AP) — The suspension of a huge COVID-19 vaccine study over an illness in a single participant shows there will be "no compromises" on safety in the race to develop the shot, the chief of the National Institutes of Health told Congress on Wednesday.

Planned release of Tennessee school COVID-19 cases delayed

NASHVILLE (AP) — Data on COVID-19 cases in schools across Tennessee was not released Tuesday as planned because of technical difficulties with data processing, according to the Tennessee Department of Education.

UT-Knoxville leader: COVID case count rising 'way too fast'

NASHVILLE (AP) — The chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville said Tuesday that COVID-19 cases are increasing "way too fast" and that specific actions to address the jump will be announced in the coming days.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks bounce back on Wall Street as tech bloodletting halts

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street snapped back to life on Wednesday, recovering from its worst stretch of losses in months, as the bloodletting for big technology stocks came to at least a temporary halt.

Mall owners close to buying JC Penney out of bankruptcy

NEW YORK (AP) — Mall owners Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners are close to a deal to buy department store chain J.C. Penney out of bankruptcy and keep the chain running.

What slowdown? Amazon seeks to hire 33,000 people

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon is on a hiring spree. In the latest sign of how it's prospering while others are faltering during the pandemic, Amazon said Wednesday it is seeking to bring aboard 33,000 people for corporate and tech roles in the next few months.

U.S. job postings rise to 6.6 million in July

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers advertised more jobs but hired fewer workers in July, sending mixed signals about the job market in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

GOP proposes 'targeted' virus aid, but Dems say not enough

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate prepared to vote this week on a trimmed-down Republican coronavirus relief package, though it only has a slim chance of passage in the face of Democrats' insistence for more sweeping aid.

LVMH drops $14.5B deal for Tiffany, cites US tariffs threat

Luxury goods giant LVMH is ending its takeover deal of luxury jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co., citing in part the threat of proposed U.S. tariffs on French goods.

ELECTION 2020

Book: Trump said of virus, 'I wanted to always play it down'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump talked privately about the severity of the coronavirus threat even as he was telling the nation that the virus was no worse than the seasonal flu and insisting that the U.S. government had it totally under control, according to a new book by journalist Bob Woodward.

Official claims pressure to alter Homeland Security intel Trump wouldn't like

WASHINGTON (AP) — An official at the Department of Homeland Security says he was pressured by agency leaders to suppress details in his intelligence reports that President Donald Trump might find objectionable, including intelligence on Russian interference in the election and the threat posed by white supremacists.

AP Analysis: In Trump's America, truths are not self-evident

WASHINGTON (AP) — We no longer hold these truths to be self-evident:

AP FACT CHECK: Biden's auto hype, Trump's false drug pledge

DETROIT (AP) — President Donald Trump exaggerated his administration's efforts to lower prescription drug prices and Democratic rival Joe Biden claimed too much credit for reviving the U.S. auto industry in their latest series of misstatements in the 2020 campaign.

AP Exclusive: Pence to attend event hosted by QAnon backers

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence and top officials from President Donald Trump's campaign are slated to attend a Montana fundraiser next week hosted by a couple who have expressed support for the QAnon conspiracy theory, according to an event invitation obtained by The Associated Press and a review of social media postings.

Trump and Biden run vastly different pandemic campaigns

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina caps outdoor gatherings at 50 people to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, but don't tell that to President Donald Trump. He basked in a largely maskless crowd of several thousand supporters during a rally in this critical battleground state.

GOP attacks Harris amid battle for Catholic voters' support

WASHINGTON (AP) — Soon after Joe Biden tapped Kamala Harris as his running mate, some conservatives began trying to portray her as anti-Catholic — a line of attack that President Donald Trump's campaign continues to amplify as Democrats court Roman Catholic voters.

In 3 big states, Biden looks to rebuild Democrats' Blue Wall

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — In 2016, Donald Trump tore down Democrats' "blue wall," winning the White House with surprise victories in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

AP FACT CHECK: Clean air, dirty ballot claims not so clear

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is muddying up claims about clean air and dirty election ballots in the U.S., falsely taking credit for lower gasoline prices and misrepresenting Democratic rival Joe Biden's stance on the suburbs.

South Lawn, Rose Garden under repair post-convention

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Rose Garden has been a muddy mess and the South Lawn marred by brown patches since President Donald Trump used them as backdrops for last month's Republican National Convention.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Dem report: Postal Service changes delay prescription drugs

WASHINGTON (AP) — Delivery of mail-order prescription drugs was delayed significantly this summer after the new postmaster general ordered major changes in U.S. Postal Service operations, according to a report released Wednesday by Senate Democrats.

Top Homeland Security official defends response to protests

WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday defended his response to protests in Portland, Oregon, amid criticism that the agency overstepped its authority with a heavy-handed deployment that reflected the law-and-order re-election campaign of President Donald Trump.

General says US cutting troops in Iraq to 3,000 this month

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is reducing its troop presence in Iraq this month from 5,200 to 3,000, the top American commander for the Middle East said Wednesday, as President Donald Trump tries to make good on his campaign promise to get America out of "endless wars."

McConnell proposes bill to combat doping in horse racing

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate's top Republican and a handful of senior lawmakers in both parties are making a late-session push for legislation to create national standards for the horse racing industry to prevent fatalities and discourage illegal medication practices.


TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
MUSIC INDUSTRY

Grammy-nominated composer William Pursell dies at age 94

NASHVILLE (AP) — William "Bill" Pursell, a Grammy-nominated composer who worked as a Nashville studio musician with artists like Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, has died. He was 94.

TECHNOLOGY

Bring in the experts: It's time to secure your home network

Not all that long ago, managing your home network's security didn't involve much more than installing an antivirus program on your PC. If only it were still so simple.

Samsung wins $6.6 billion Verizon contract for 5G network

Samsung Electronics Co. will develop 5G network infrastructure for Verizon Communications under a $6.65 billion deal announced Monday.

TRANSPORTATION

Boeing finds new problem with 787 that will delay deliveries

Inspections triggered by production flaws in Boeing's 787 jetliner are further slowing deliveries of the two-aisle planes, compounding Boeing's struggle to recover from the grounding of its 737 Max and the coronavirus pandemic.

AUTO INDUSTRY

GM to make electric vehicle, supply batteries for Nikola

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors announced its second major electric vehicle partnership in less than a week on Tuesday, this time a $2 billion deal with startup Nikola.

ENVIRONMENT

Trump claims environmental progress, but he's weakened rules

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is out to claim the mantle of environmental steward on Tuesday as he highlights conservation and restoration projects in Florida. But his administration has overturned or weakened numerous regulations meant to protect air and water quality and lands essential for imperiled species.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Virus testing lab suspended by state after false positives

BOSTON (AP) — A Boston-based coronavirus testing lab that counts dozens of nursing homes among its clients has been suspended by the state after it returned nearly 400 false positive tests, state officials say.

Companies testing vaccines pledge safety, high standards

The top executives of nine drugmakers likely to produce the first vaccines against the new coronavirus signed an unprecedented pledge meant to boost public confidence in any approved vaccines.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Tech's sudden sell-off continues; Nasdaq sinks 10% in 3 days

NEW YORK (AP) — Big technology stocks tumbled again on Tuesday, continuing the Icarus-like flight path for companies that just a week ago were the high-flyers carrying Wall Street to record heights.

Consumer borrowing follows June gain with 3.6% rise in July

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer borrowing rose by a solid 3.6% in July, the second monthly gain after the coronavrius pandemic had sent borrowing down sharply in the previous three months.

McConnell proposes 'targeted' virus aid, Dems say not enough

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday the Senate would vote on a trimmed-down Republican coronavirus relief package, though it has a slim chance of passage in the face of Democrats' insistence for more sweeping aid.

Japan's economy shrinks 28% in 2Q, worse than 1st estimate

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's economy shrank at a record, even worse rate in the April-June quarter than initially estimated.

Falling prices flash warning light for Europe's economy

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — A startling fall in consumer prices and a stronger euro have increased pressure on the European Central Bank to provide another blast of monetary stimulus in support of a drawn-out economic rebound from the pandemic recession.

Hopes muted as EU, UK talk again about post-Brexit ties

LONDON (AP) — The U.K.'s chief negotiator in post-Brexit trade talks called for "more realism" from the European Union before the start Tuesday of another round of discussions between the two sides.

ELECTION 2020

Trump readying potential Supreme Court nominee list

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is preparing to again release a list of potential Supreme Court nominees, one that voters can compare to rival Joe Biden's promise to nominate a Black woman to the high court if given the chance.

Chipping in? Trump may put up his own cash on reelection

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is putting out the word that he is considering spending as much as $100 million of his own fortune on his reelection effort as campaign officials try to buck up key supporters and donors amid daunting polling numbers and other bad news.

Trump, Biden spar over economy, workers in Labor Day blitz

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and President Donald Trump spent Monday diminishing each other's credentials on the economy and understanding of the American worker as the presidential campaign entered its final, post-Labor Day stretch.

COVID-19 vaccine latest flashpoint in White House campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) — The prospect of a vaccine to shield Americans from coronavirus infection emerged as a point of contention in the White House race as President Donald Trump accused Democrats of "disparaging" for political gain a vaccine he repeatedly has said could be available before the election.

Trump: Pentagon leaders want war to keep contractors 'happy'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday that top Defense Department leaders want to keep waging wars in order to keep defense contractors "happy."

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

House lawmakers ask for probe into Russian poisoning case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Democrat and the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee are together calling on President Donald Trump to investigate whether chemical weapons were used by Russia in the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

House to investigate DeJoy possible campaign law violations

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats said Tuesday they will investigate whether Postmaster General Louis DeJoy encouraged employees at his former business to contribute to Republican candidates and then reimbursed them in the guise of bonuses, a violation of campaign finance laws.

Trump says he's open to DeJoy campaign funds inquiry

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he's open to an investigation of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy following published reports that former employees of DeJoy, a major donor to Trump and other Republicans, said they felt pressured to make campaign contributions to GOP candidates.


MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
TENNESSEE TITANS

Vrabel now must figure out where Clowney fits in Titans' D

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans finally have three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, and Vic Beasley Jr., too.

Titans place top pick Wilson back on COVID-Reserve list

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have placed their top draft pick, offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson, back on the COVID-Reserve list.

Titans announce 1-year deal with OLB Jadeveon Clowney

NASHVILLE (AP) — Jadeveon Clowney made clear for months he wanted to be with a team that can win a Super Bowl, and he's finally made his choice even if he didn't get the long-term deal in the process.

COURTS

WikiLeaks' Assange in UK court to fight US extradition bid

LONDON (AP) — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appeared in a London court on Monday to fight a U.S. extradition request, at a high-stakes hearing that was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

TECHNOLOGY

Italy investigates Apple, Google, Dropbox over cloud storage

Italy's competition watchdog has launched an investigation into Apple, Google and Dropbox over their cloud storage services.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Bold hopes for virus antibody tests still unfulfilled

WASHINGTON (AP) — At the height of the coronavirus lockdown, President Donald Trump and his top health advisers trumpeted a new test that would help Americans reclaim their lives — one that would tell them if they already had the virus and were protected from getting it again.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks rally in Europe, US trading closed for holiday

BEIJING (AP) — European stocks rallied on Monday after a mixed close in Asia, while Wall Street remained closed for Labor Day after turning in its biggest weekly decline in more than two months.

Hopes fading for coronavirus deal as Congress returns

WASHINGTON (AP) — At least there won't be a government shutdown. But as lawmakers straggle back to Washington for an abbreviated preelection session, hopes are dimming for another coronavirus relief bill — or much else.

ELECTION 2020

AP FACT CHECK: Trump's errant views on voting, Biden miscues

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has been putting forth convoluted guidance to his supporters on submitting double votes in the November election, an act that would be illegal and risk public safety in the pandemic.

Trump looms large over campaigns for control of Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — The battle for control of Congress is solidifying into a race about President Donald Trump, as Republicans hitch their fortunes to their party's leader and Democrats position themselves as a bulwark against him — and as partners in a potential Joe Biden White House.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Summer of protest: Chance for change, but obstacles exposed

WASHINGTON (AP) — Memorial Day brought the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, prompting hundreds of thousands of Americans to take to the streets in protest. President Donald Trump called Floyd's death a "disgrace" and momentum built around policing reform.


FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
STATE GOVERNMENT

Gov. Lee won't say whether he would get COVID-19 vaccination

Nashville (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday would not say whether he would be vaccinated against COVID-19 when a vaccine becomes available. His comments came during a news conference at which he also announced that the Education Department will provide information on COVID-19 cases in public schools.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Scandal-tarnished Nissan shows off production innovation

TOKYO (AP) — Nissan says it has developed a new way to produce high-tech auto parts that highlights the Japanese automaker's engineering finesse, even as it faces a criminal trial in an ongoing scandal involving former Chairman Carlos Ghosn.

Nissan's Ghosn gone, American Kelly faces Japan trial alone

TOKYO (AP) — His boss Carlos Ghosn escaped financial misconduct charges by fleeing the country, but another former Nissan executive is still awaiting trial in Japan: Greg Kelly.

TECHNOLOGY

Apple delays debut of anti-tracking tool in iPhone software

SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — Apple is delaying a new privacy feature in the next version of its iPhone operating system that will make it more difficult for app makers to track people online to help sell digital ads.

MEDIA

Trump now says he won't let Pentagon close Stars and Stripes

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that he won't allow the Pentagon to cut funding for the military's independent newspaper, Stars and Stripes, effectively halting Defense leaders plan to shut the paper down this month.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Will long Labor Day weekend mean another coronavirus spike?

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Americans headed into Labor Day weekend — the unofficial end to the Lost Summer of 2020 — amid warnings from public health experts that backyard parties, crowded bars and other gatherings could cause the coronavirus to come surging back.

Madrid struggles as center of pandemic's 2nd wave in Europe

MADRID (AP) — A mix of worry and resignation is discernible behind the masks of parents picking up school textbooks in a working class Spanish neighborhood with a steady rise in new coronavirus infections.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks claw back some of their losses in another rocky day

The stock market closed out its worst week in more than two months Friday as a second straight day of turbulent trading ended with more losses.

AP Explains: 5 key takeaways from the August jobs report

WASHINGTON (AP) — By some measures, the shrunken U.S. job market continued a solid recovery last month, with many employers recalling workers who had been temporarily laid off when the coronavirus erupted in the spring.

US unemployment rate falls to 8.4% even as hiring slows

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. unemployment dropped sharply in August from 10.2% to a still-high 8.4%, with about half the 22 million jobs lost to the coronavirus outbreak recovered so far, the government said Friday in one of the last major economic reports before Election Day.

Pentagon reaffirms Microsoft as winner of disputed JEDI deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon on Friday reaffirmed Microsoft as winner of a cloud computing contract potentially worth $10 billion, although the start of work is delayed by a legal battle over rival Amazon's claim that the bidding process was flawed.

ELECTION 2020

Biden slams Trump over alleged comments mocking US war dead

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden declared President Donald Trump "unfit" for the presidency on Friday, delivering an impassioned reaction to a report that Trump — who never served in uniform — allegedly mocked American war dead.

In Barr, Trump has powerful ally for challenging mail voting

WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Donald Trump sows doubt about the legitimacy of the 2020 election, he's found a powerful partner in Attorney General William Barr.

Biden team, Trump admin sign transition memorandum

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic nominee Joe Biden's transition team has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Trump administration to begin planning for a potential handover of power.

Trump denies calling US war dead 'losers,' 'suckers'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump defended himself Friday against accusations that he mocked American war dead as his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, intensified efforts to frame the election as a referendum on the president's character.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Trump threat to Democratic-led cities provokes outcry

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said President Donald Trump's latest threat to cut federal dollars for certain big cities is aimed at spurring them to do more to quell violence, but local leaders dismissed it Thursday as a political gimmick and unlikely to stand up in court if implemented.


WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
MIDSTATE

Jack Daniel's master distiller stepping down after 12 years

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — After 12 years of leading production of the powerhouse Jack Daniel's whiskey brand, Jeff Arnett is stepping down as master distiller, the company announced Thursday.

EDUCATION

Bloomberg gives $100M to historically Black medical schools

ATLANTA (AP) — Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is giving about $100 million to four historically Black medical schools over the next four years, with students getting up to $100,000 apiece.

COURTS

Hedge fund founder arrested in Neiman Marcus-linked case

NEW YORK (AP) — A hedge fund founder was arrested Thursday on charges that he defrauded creditors of the luxury department store chain Neiman Marcus by pressuring an investment bank not to bid against his hedge fund in buying securities from the creditors.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Jeep reveals hybrid Wrangler, 1st US battery-powered vehicle

DETROIT (AP) — Fiat Chrysler's Jeep brand is starting to offer gas-electric hybrid and eventually full electric powertrains across its lineup.

Honda, General Motors sign deal to work on vehicles together

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors and Honda are moving toward an alliance in North America to share vehicle development and technology costs as the industry moves toward electric and autonomous vehicles.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

White House faces skepticism over prospects for a vaccine

Could the U.S. really see a coronavirus vaccine before Election Day? A letter from federal health officials instructing states to be ready to begin distributing a vaccine by Nov. 1 — two days before the election — has been met, not with exhilaration, but with suspicion among some public health experts, who wonder whether the Trump administration is hyping the possibility or intends to rush approval for political gain.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Tech rout sends stock market to its biggest loss since June

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street's euphoria took a break Thursday, as steep losses in technology stocks dragged the rest of the market down with them.

Pelosi, Mnuchin agree on plan to avoid government shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Trump administration have informally agreed to keep a stopgap government-wide funding bill — needed to avert a shutdown at the end of this month — free of controversy or conflict.

A new $300 federal jobless benefit? Not likely for some

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — Down to a weekly unemployment check of $96, Fakisha Fenderson brushed aside her doctor's advice last month and began looking for a job.

US trade deficit surges in July to highest in 12 years

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. trade deficit surged in July to $63.6 billion, the highest level in 12 years, as imports jumped by a record amount.

Jobless claims fall to 881,000 but layoffs remain elevated

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of laid-off Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to a still-elevated 881,000 last week, evidence that the viral pandemic keeps forcing many businesses to slash jobs.

Services sector growth slows in August but still positive

WASHINGTON (AP) — Growth in the U.S. services sector, where most Americans work, slowed in August after big rebounds in June and July, indicating lingering problems stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

U.S. productivity rises a record 10.1% in second quarter

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — U.S. productivity rose at a 10.1% rate in the second quarter as the number of hours worked declined by the largest amount since the government started compiling the data more than 70 years ago.

ELECTION 2020

Biden meets Jacob Blake's family to start Wisconsin trip

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden began a visit to the battleground state of Wisconsin on Thursday by meeting with the family of Jacob Blake, the Black man whose shooting by a white police officer sparked days of sometimes violent protests.

Election chiefs worry about uncertainty as voting nears

Political battles and pending court fights threaten to upend months of planning for the pandemic election, election officials are warning. In key states, they remain hamstrung with only weeks to prepare.

Facebook curbs political ads - for 7 days before US election

Bracing for a contentious election with no immediate results and possible "civil unrest," Facebook is enacting a host of measures to ensure its platform is not used to sow chaos and spread misinformation before, during and after the U.S. presidential election.

Ex-Michigan Gov. Snyder is latest Republican to back Biden

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder backed Joe Biden for president on Thursday, becoming the latest high-profile Republican to support the Democratic nominee over President Donald Trump.

Trump suggests polling place double-check for mail-in voters

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that people who vote early by mail should show up at their local polling places on Election Day and vote again if their ballots haven't been counted, a suggestion that experts said would lead to chaos, long lines and more work for election officials during a public health crisis.

Facebook moves to target misinformation before election

Facebook is trying just two months before the U.S. election to better police political misinformation on its platform, a tacit acknowledgement that the social network is rife with falsehoods that could sway the vote.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Democrats request Hatch Act probe of Republican convention

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are seeking an investigation into what they call repeated violations of the federal Hatch Act by members of the Trump administration during last month's Republican National Convention.

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