COVID-19 UPDATE, August 19, 2020: The Do-Over

The Senate isn't back in session, but the GOP moves to restart negotiations on a stimulus bill; the plan on offer isn't likely to excite the Democrats, but stay tuned, as anything can happen. Meanwhile leading Democrat Chuck Schumer provides vital support to the Save Our Stages Act. In a week marked by (socially distanced) convention hoopla and scandals surrounding the United States Postal Service and Russian interference in the country's election, can progress be made on relief for workers and small businesses?

The latest:

The GOP floats a reduced, scaled-back stimulus bill: https://nyti.ms/3haMTIQ.

Senate Chuck Schumer cosponsors the Save Our Stages Act: https://tinyurl.com/yxhw98vf.

The mask/anti-mask controversy heats up, with demands rising for legal penalties for those who ignore the rules: https://wapo.st/3iYZ8Zx.

Meanwhile:

Notre Dame University and Michigan State take classes online, trying to tame rising infections: https://nyti.ms/3h7zIIu.

Greek life is driving the surge in infections on campuses: https://nyti.ms/34guqqK.

Food for thought:

Why does the stock market continue to seemingly defy reality? https://nyti.ms/3gccW0T.

In an interesting and hopeful twist, the pandemic has largely spared the homeless: https://bit.ly/3gfEO46.

The pandemic cues creative thinking about the design of airplane cabins: https://wapo.st/329h5NU.

Around the country:

In Florida:

New cases hover around 4,000, for a total of 584,000: https://hrld.us/2EaEBlV.

The state's economy is expected to contract by 6% with a strong bounceback in 2021, COVID-19 permitting: https://hrld.us/2Q8Eqde.

The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade is canceled for 2020: https://hrld.us/321gq1a.

In Illinois:

Thanks to pandemic-starved attendance, Chicago's Navy Pier shuts down again: https://bit.ly/3hcYdnB.

The Goodman Theatre announces its new season, with no dates attached: rb.gy/a189od.

In Minnesota:

As many businesses struggle in the pandemic, Target enjoys a blowout quarter: https://cnb.cx/2CKlw9u.

In New York:

Apartments empty out in New York City: https://nyti.ms/2YfIfl7.

Around the world:

In Brazil:

New infections top 3.4 million: https://reut.rs/2YdKnd6.

In Israel:

The country's positivity rate hovers around a worrying 11%: https://bit.ly/2CHLpXx.

In Slovenia:

The #WeMakeEvents movement reaches the country: https://bit.ly/2Q8ncfW.

Spain:

With 3,715 new infections, the country sets a post-lockdown record: https://bit.ly/2EfGUDS.

In the UK:

Depression in British adults may have doubled during the pandemic: https://cnn.it/329qPHZ.

Education:

Join City Theatrical August 20, at 11am EDT for a 30-minute training webinar on the company's newest technology, RadioScan Spectrum Analyzer, a 900MHz and 2.4GHz spectrum analyzer that allows lighting and IT professionals to easily visualize radio energy that is otherwise invisible. In it, you'll learn how RadioScan can help you improve your wireless DMX setup by creating broadcast plans that optimize the available spectrum, and how it works with Multiverse wireless DMX devices. Register at https://bit.ly/3aG4CFx.

For your entertainment:

Pianist Shai Wosner will be featured on three virtual programs of this summer's Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival. First, on August 26 at 7pm ET, he joins cellist Paul Watkins of the Emerson String Quartet; violist Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, who has collaborated with artists from Midori to Yuja Wang; and violinist Tessa Lark, an Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient and Naumburg Competition winner. They perform works by Mozart, Beethoven, and Britten. On August 28 at 7pm ET, Wosner performs Brahms's "Two Songs" for voice, viola, and piano, Op. 91, with world-renowned, Richard Tucker Award-winning soprano Christine Goerke and founding member of the Brentano String Quartet, violist Misha Amory. The program on August 30 at 1pm ET features Wosner with Goerke and Watkins in music by Massenet and more. The performances were pre-recorded at the Kaufman Music Center's Merkin Concert Hall in New York. Go to https://bit.ly/3l9Jo7U.

For your pleasure:

Kimber Elayne Sprawl, of the musical Girl From the North Country, with Bob Dylan's "Tight Connection to My Heart:" https://bit.ly/31ZX2S0.