Coronavirus pandemic in the US

While speaking to a subcommittee of AccelerateSC this afternoon, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said he would not vote to authorize more money for unemployment benefits. 

AccelerateSC serves as the advisory team to consider and recommend economic revitalization plans for South Carolina.

CORRECTION: This post has been updated to reflect that Sen. Lindsey Graham indicated that additional funds for unemployment benefits "will not get reauthorized."

Lawyers for accused murderer Robert Durst, subject of the HBO series “The Jinx,” have filed a motion for a mistrial due to what they call “a prejudicial mid-trial delay resulting from the COVD-19 pandemic.”

In court documents filed Tuesday, lawyers for Durst assert that in the “best case scenario” the jury in the high-profile trial will have been recessed for at least 80 days and “it’s unrealistic for the jury to remember the evidence.”

Durst, 77, has been in and out of the hospital since the suspension of his murder trial, Deguerin said. 

“His health has not been good at all,” the lawyer said. “He’s had urinary tract problems, his brain stent is malfunctioning and he’s got a growth on his lower bowel.”

“We are very concerned for our client’s well-being and ours,” Deguerin continued. “Two members of our team are over 70 years old, another will soon be 65. We’re not able to go into that jail and sit down with Bob [Durst.] We cannot call him. He can call us but only for three minutes and then the phone shuts off. And we’re concerned we are being recorded. It’s extremely difficult for us to communicate with our client right now and it was hard enough before the corona virus outbreak.”

John Lewin, the lead prosecutor in the Durst case, wants four New York area witnesses to have previous video-taped statements played before the jury, instead of them testifying in person. 

A motion filed in court on Wednesday asks that four witnesses, including retired detective Michael Struk, who investigated the disappearance of Durst’s first wife, be declared unavailable due to “existing physical illness and infirmity.” 

The motion points out that all of the witnesses are over 65 years old and at higher risk of developing severe illness during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lewin did not immediately respond to a CNN request for comment.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer introduced a new program today that will provide tuition-free post-secondary educational opportunities to essential workers as they fight the coronavirus pandemic.

“Futures for Frontliners" is a path "to opportunity” for Michigan’s essential workers, and similar to the GI Bill offered to returning soldiers after WWII, Whitmer said at a news conference in Lansing on Wednesday.

The program will be geared toward essential workers without college degrees, and ensure “a tuition-free pathway to college,” as well as an opportunity to earn a technical certificate, associate degree or potentially a bachelor’s degree at universities, Whitmer said.

The program will be offered not only to those working in hospitals or nursing homes, but also to grocery store employees, child care workers, sanitation workers and those who deliver supplies, the governor said.

“It will provide tuition-free college opportunities for people who have risked their lives fighting on the frontline of this pandemic,” Whitmer said. “This is the first program of its kind in the United States, and I'm hopeful that other governors across the country will follow our lead to create pathways opportunity for the people who've been on the frontlines protecting our families.”

The University of Alabama system plans to have teachers and students return to campus for in-person teaching for the fall 2020 semester, Kellee Reinhart, the senior vice chancellor for communications, told CNN.

The system is comprised of three campuses: University of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and University of Alabama in Huntsville. 

Earlier this month, Finis E. St. John IV, the chancellor of the University of Alabama system, created a task force of experts to ensure safety for students and staff when on-campus learning resumes, according to a statement.

Reinhart said the plan is to return to on-campus instruction at all three universities.

"I think that's everybody's goal," she said.

A statement from the university said plans will be developed and announced using all available research and data prior to reopening the campuses.

Indiana is still set to partially reopen some businesses on Friday, Gov. Eric Holcomb said at a news conference Wednesday.

Schools will remain closed but Holcomb indicated that the buildings might be repurposed for other uses.

In discussing the Indy 500, Holcomb said he also believes it can still happen on August 23. 

"Let's not be delusional about this, we're going to have positive cases, month after month after month after month after month. I just believe, it's how we manage our way through this, it's how we have the ability to care for those folks who are in need," he said.

Illinois is deploying 500 nurses to long-term living facilities across the state to conduct swab test training, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at a news conference Wednesday.

Over the coming days, the state will deploy an additional team of 200 nurses, the governor said.

By the numbers: At least 4,298 residents or employees at long-term care facilities have tested positive for coronavirus, and at least 625 people have died, according to the Illinois Department of Health.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said President Trump is using a "fear tactic" by threatening to withhold coronavirus funding from sanctuary cities.

More on this: On Tuesday, Trump said states that are financially crippled because of the coronavirus pandemic would have to make “sanctuary city adjustments” in order to receive emergency coronavirus federal relief.

Walsh said he is not concerned about Boston paying the price on the sanctuary city talk by the President.

"As I said throughout this entire pandemic, this is important for elected officials and leaders to work together for us to get through this very difficult time. These suggestions or threats by the White House are uncalled for. They're not going to solve either the public's health or the immigration challenge that we have in our country," Walsh said.

He went on to say, "This is not the time to politicize issues to push forward and agenda. People are hurting people with dying. People are scared. This is the time for leadership and that's exactly what we're going to provide here in Massachusetts and the city of Boston. And that's my suggestion that Washington should, providing some leadership for the people of America." 

Connecticut has reported an increase of 455 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, Gov. Ned Lamont said in a news conference, bringing the statewide total to 26,767.

Although the number of new cases is higher than the number from the previous day, it represents a smaller percentage of the number of tests performed, Lamont said. The state increased its number of tests performed by 2,073 yesterday, and has done a total of 94,818 so far.

The state reported 79 new deaths on Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 2,168.

Connecticut continued to see a slight decrease in the number of hospitalizations. As of Wednesday, there were 1,691 hospitalizations across the state, a decrease of 41 from the previous day, the governor said. 

Beachgoers are a continued focus of California’s stay-at-home order and Gov. Gavin Newsom says more guidance will be issued soon about restrictions relating to the state’s coastline. 

Of about 100 beaches along the coast, about 5% saw large crowds recently, and the governor has been outspoken over his disdain with people flocking to the shore.

The governor has spoken with state and local law enforcement, and state parks about updating the guidance.

Newsom acknowledged that current restrictions and how incremental reopening is not a "one size fits all" endeavor for the state, but expressed concern over the number of coronavirus patients hospitalized in Orange County, home to Newport Beach, one location the governor has zeroed in on for overcrowding.

Newport Beach’s City Council voted Tuesday to keep beaches open, with additional enforcement of physical distancing.