ABC/Image Group LAEric Church is raising a glass to a new partnership. The country star joined forces with Jack Daniel’s Distillery to craft a special, limited edition Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey release, which will hit U.S. liquor store shelves in early August.
“My love for Jack Daniel’s is for the whiskey, but it’s also about the can-do, small-town attitude,” notes Eric. “Where community, loyalty and hard work are the qualities the crafters of this American icon hang their hats on.”
The singer personally had a hand in selecting the new line of 94 proof whiskey, which comes in a 750 ml black bottle and features a specially-designed black and gold label. In addition to the whiskey itself, fans can browse a line of special merch celebrating Eric’s new custom whiskey, including a Single Barrel rocks glass that retails for $10.
“I’m honored to have my own special release of Jack Daniels Single Barrel,” Eric adds. “Whether we raise a glass at a table with a handful of our friends or from a stage with thousands, let’s raise our glass high. ‘Cause that’s where it belongs.”
In addition to his new limited-edition whiskey, Eric has plenty of career success to raise a glass to: His newest single, “Stick That in Your Country Song,” recently cracked the top 30 at country radio.
Ovidiu Dugulan/iStockBy JON HAWORTH and EMILY SHAPIRO, ABC News
(NEW YORK) — The novel coronavirus pandemic has now killed more than 662,000 people worldwide.
Over 16.7 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some governments are hiding or downplaying the scope of their nations’ outbreaks.
The United States has become the worst-affected country, with more than 4.3 million diagnosed cases and at least 149,873 deaths.
Here is how the news is developing today. All times Eastern. Check back for updates.
1:54 p.m.: Georgetown moving classes all online
Georgetown University is moving classes fully online this fall for undergraduate and graduate students “due to the acceleration of the spread,” the administration said Wednesday.
Earlier this month Georgetown said it planned to bring some undergraduates, including freshmen, to campus.
“We are revising this approach based on current pandemic conditions,” Georgetown President John J. DeGioia said. “We plan to introduce in-person course elements as soon as health conditions permit.”
Neighboring George Washington University announced Monday that all undergraduate courses would be online this fall.
Alabama’s “safer at home” order, which was set to expire this Friday, has now been extended until the end of August, Gov. Kay Ivey said Wednesday.
This includes extending the statewide mask ordinance through Aug. 31, Ivey said at a news conference.
At school, second-graders through college students are required to wear masks, she said.
Ivey said she encourages schools to phase-in classroom learning when and where possible.
“I respect those districts that have elected to go to virtual classrooms,” Ivey said, adding that she believes “a slide will come by keeping our kids at home.”
“And that slide is likely to have a dramatic, negative impact on Alabama’s future — our young people,” the governor said.
Alabama has over 81,000 confirmed cases and more than 1,400 confirmed fatalities, according to state data.
In the last few days, some hospitals have set all-time high patient numbers, state health officer Dr. Scott Harris said Wednesday.
11:10 a.m.: Florida reports 2nd day of record-setting deaths
In hard-hit Florida, 216 new fatalities were reported in the last 24 hours — a second day in a row of record-setting deaths, the state’s health department said Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the department said a record 191 new fatalities had been reported in the previous 24 hours.
Throughout Florida, 15.69% of the state’s adult ICU beds were available as of Wednesday morning, according to the state’s Agency for Healthcare Administration.
Three counties — Monroe, Okeechobee and Putnam — had no ICU beds, the agency said.
These numbers are expected to fluctuate throughout the day as hospitals and medical centers provide updates.
10:25 a.m.: Rep. Louis Gohmert diagnosed with COVID-19
Congressman Louie Gohmert, a Texas Republican who has refused to wear a mask, has tested positive for the coronavirus, sources told ABC News.
People familiar with the matter said Gohmert was tested because he was slated to travel with President Donald Trump to Texas. Gohmert was pre-screened at the White House, and following his positive diagnosis, he returned to his Capitol Hill office to inform his staff, people familiar with the matter said.
His staff has not responded to requests for comment.
Gohmert was in the House Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday for Attorney General William Barr’s hearing.
9:40 a.m.: Teens, pre-teens make up highest positivity rate in Austin
Those ages 10 to 19 have had the highest positivity rate average in Austin in the last two weeks, Austin Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said, ABC Austin affiliate KVUE-TV reported.
According to Escott, school district officials say 20% to 25% of students are expected to learn from home when the school year begins, KVUE reported.
Travis County, which includes Austin, has over 19,900 coronavirus cases, according to county data.
8:54 a.m.: Deaths on the rise in western Washington for first time since March
Coronavirus deaths are on the rise in western Washington for the first time since March, the state’s department of health said Tuesday, according to ABC Seattle affiliate KOMO-TV.
Deaths are continuing to rise in eastern Washington, KOMO said.
There’s a new concentration of cases among young adults, the report said, according to KOMO.
Hospitalizations are on the rise with most age groups, the report said.
“We are still at great risk for significant growth as the virus continues to spread in Washington state,” Secretary of Health John Wiesman said, according to KOMO. “And, as it moves into more vulnerable age groups, I am very concerned that hospitalizations and deaths will continue to increase.”
4:25 a.m.: McAllen, Texas Convention Center will be used to treat coronavirus patients
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that the McAllen Convention Center would be transformed into a temporary medical facility to treat coronavirus patients.
Abbott visited the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday to survey damage caused by Hurricane Hanna and meet with local leaders — who are contending with both hurricane damage and the coronavirus pandemic.
“And if there’s one thing that I want to emphasize to everyone in the Rio Grande Valley it is this: This hurricane has not eliminated COVID-19,” Abbott said.
Abbott announced several major steps designed to assist the Valley, including:
The McAllen Convention Center will be transformed into a temporary medical facility to treat coronavirus patients. The convention center’s maximum capacity will be 250 patients, Abbott said.
The U.S. Department of Defense will deploy additional medical teams to the Valley. A U.S. Army Reserve unit arrived in Cameron County on Tuesday to assist local hospitals.
Another U.S. Army Reserve unit will arrive in Hidalgo County on Wednesday to assist DHR Health.
“This is on top of the more than 2,000 medical personnel that we have already allocated to this region,” Abbott said.
Abbott was joined by local leaders and state lawmakers from across the Valley, including state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville; state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen; state Rep. Oscar Longoria, D-Mission; state Rep. Eddie Lucio III D-Brownsville; Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr., Starr County Judge Eloy Vera, Hidalgo County Precinct 1 Commissioner David Fuentes, McAllen Mayor Jim Darling, Harlingen Mayor Chris Boswell and Weslaco Mayor David Suarez, among others.
Vera, the Starr County judge, said hospital capacity remains a major problem.
Adding capacity in Hidalgo County and Cameron County will help Starr County, Vera said.
“We work together as region,” Vera said.
3:07 a.m.: 73 COVID cases in Illinois traced to July 4 parties
Seventy-three people are now part of a COVID-19 outbreak in Lake Zurich which has been traced back to several Fourth of July gatherings, health officials said.
The outbreak was first detected in a group of Lake Zurich High School students earlier in July. Lake County, Illinois, health officials said contact tracing has now led them to believe the infections stem from multiple July 4 parties, and was not the result of a super spreader event.
“We have identified multiple smaller gatherings where COVID-19 infections occurred,” said Hannah Goering, Lake County Health Department.
The outbreak was detected on the first day of an athletic camp scheduled to take place at Lake Zurich High School, when several students tested positive during an initial health screening. The camp was cancelled, and a mobile testing unit was sent to the high school for several days. Free testing was offered to those in the area.
“At least half of the cases are Lake Zurich High School students, but there are also parents and family members and people from other community members tied to this outbreak,” Goering said.
County officials said during this process they’ve had some trouble with contact tracing, as many people have either ignored messages, delayed responding, or simply didn’t pick up the phone. They said they really need anyone who is contacted by a tracer because of possible exposure to COVID-19 to take the call seriously and get themselves tested as soon as possible.
2:06 a.m.: FEMA says the COVID-19 death toll is surging
An internal FEMA memo obtained by ABC News reports that new cases are going down but deaths are surging.
In the seven days ending Monday, new cases nationwide have decreased 0.6% from the previous week but that time period also saw a 30.1% increase in deaths from the disease and deaths have been increasing steadily in recent days.
1:59 a.m.: Alaska requiring all visitors to have negative COVID-19 result within 72 hours prior to arrival
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Tuesday evening that all visitors to the state will have to present a negative result on a COVID-19 test performed within 72 hours prior to arrival. The policy goes into effect on Aug. 11.
Testing will no longer be available for non-residents when they arrive and residents can still be tested when arriving at the airport
“If you are going to other countries you require shots so we are not trying to make this difficult when you come here. We just want to make sure we are taking care of Alaskans first,” said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy during a press briefing. 12:28 a.m.: Pence held call with governors, Fauci was a participant
Vice President Pence held his usual weekly call with governors Tuesday.
A readout of the call reveals that Dr. Anthony Fauci was part of Tuesday’s discussion, the day after he came under attack from the president on Twitter.
President Donald Trump insisted Tuesday that he has a good relationship with Fauci despite his tweets undermining him but also complained that Fauci’s approval ratings are higher than his own.
At the end of the readout, the administration includes this roundup of statistics as a demonstration of the volume of work the administration has done: “Since January 2020, the Trump Administration has led over 325 briefings — including 31 governors’ briefings — with over 152,000 State, local, and Tribal participants.”
“Dr. Fauci reminded governors that universities that receive Federal funding, including funding from the National Institutes of Health, can take the burden off of commercial labs by focusing pooled testing resources on surveillance,” the statement read. “Dr. Fauci and Admiral Giroir pressed governors to encourage those colleges and universities in their states that receive such funding to begin such testing.”
“Ambassador Birx thanked the governors of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia for their time during her recent travel and recapped the findings from those discussions and recent data analysis. Ambassador Birx also highlighted efforts by states to encourage social distancing and the use of cloth face coverings when social distancing cannot be maintained, and to increase outdoor dining capacity,” it continued.
EricVega/iStockBy ELLA TORRES and SABINA GHEBREMEDHIN, ABC News
(NEW YORK) — The National Football League has released a public service announcement around the death of Stephon Clark, a 22-year-old unarmed Black man who was fatally shot by Sacramento, California, police in his grandmother’s backyard, as part of the organization’s new social justice campaign to end systemic racism.
The PSA featured Clark’s mother, Se’Quette Clark, who spoke about her son’s life and death.
He was killed March 18, 2018. Clark was shot eight times by two officers who later said they mistook his cellphone for a gun as he moved toward them with his arms extended, ignoring their commands, while in his grandmother’s backyard. Twenty rounds were fired in total, according to police.
Police said they had been chasing Clark after receiving reports of someone breaking car windows in the nearby neighborhood.
Se’Quette Clark said in the PSA that her son’s friends had just dropped him off at his grandmother’s.
“The neighbor starts chasing [Clark] into the backyard, thinking he’s the one who broke into his car. He’s scared, but he made it home. He’s thinking, ‘safe,'” his mother said. “But he wasn’t.”
The PSA, which was posted to YouTube Tuesday, is the latest one in the NFL’s Responsibility Program, a joint initiative between Roc Nation and the NFL to raise awareness about the need to create positive change and end systemic racism.
In recent months, the Responsibility Program has partnered with different leaders and organizations to share the stories of families that have lost a loved one to gun violence, either at the hands of police or others. The Players Coalition released the first PSA of the program last November around Danroy “DJ” Henry, the former Pace University football player who was fatally shot by a police officer on Oct. 17, 2010 in Mount Pleasant, N.Y.
Meek Mill unveiled the second PSA of the program in December around Antwon Rose II, an unarmed 17-year-old and honor roll student who was fatally shot by an East Pittsburgh police officer on June 19, 2018.
Other PSAs featured the death of Botham Jean, an unarmed 26-year-old man who was fatally shot by an off-duty Dallas Police Department patrol officer on Sept. 6, 2018, and Hadiya Pendleton, an unarmed 15-year-old girl who was fatally shot in the back while standing with friends at a park in Chicago, Illinois on January 29, 2013.
The PSA on Clark falls under the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative, a platform focused on the collaboration of the NFL and players to reduce barriers to opportunity and combat social injustice.
Anna Isaacson, the senior vice president of social responsibility at the NFL, said in a statement the NFL wanted “to continue to raise awareness for victims of systemic racism to ensure their stories are not forgotten.”
Clark’s mother thanked the NFL and Roc Nation for highlighting her son’s death.
“As a mother, I can’t help the immense feeling of pride; knowing my son’s life will affect so many people for generations to come. Since my son was murdered, my family has been extremely dedicated to social justice reform through our footwork in this new Civil Rights Movement,” she said in a statement, noting the passing of the Stephon Clark Law in California, aimed at holding police accountable for killing those who did not pose a deadly threat and charging them in criminal court.
The two officers who fired the shots, identified as Terrence Mercadel and Jared Robinet, did not face charges.
L-R – Laverne Cox, Taylor Schilling in “Orange is the New Black” – Jojo Whilden/Netflix(LOS ANGELES) — In what was one of the more awkward moments of Tuesday’s Emmy nominations announcements, Leslie Jones fumbled the news that her fellow presenter, Laverne Cox, had been nominated.
Watching the livestream, Cox clearly doesn’t know how to take the news, and insisted on-air that Jones misspoke — despite the fact that Jones screamed “You’ve been nominated!” multiple times.
Cox, who in 2014 became the first openly trans performer to be nominated for an Emmy in an acting category, did in fact earn a nod Tuesday in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series category for her work on the final season of Orange Is the New Black.
“It was so weird,” Cox tells E! “I thought like, ‘Leslie, what are you doing? I was nominated last year! What are you talking about?…I’ve never been that awkward on live TV, I don’t think, in my life.” The actress adds, “Like, why? I’m in one scene! It still feels like somebody made a mistake!”
That being said, Cox says she’s “really grateful” for the recognition. “I know that other actors vote for this, and for my colleagues to value the work is just incredible. It’s amazing,” she says. “I love actors so much and I love what I do, so I’m honored, but it’s just shocking.”
The trailblazing actress and activist added, “It’s a dream that I’ve had for a very long time, and I just think about the little kid growing up in Alabama that I was, dreaming of moments like this, and so in honor of that little kid who still lives inside of me, I’m just humbled and insanely excited that I even get to present and that I get to be a nominee again. The little kid is very, very, very happy.”
Cindy Ord/Getty Images(VANCOUVER) — Ryan Reynolds is celebrating the safe return of a very special teddy bear.
The bear belonged to 28-year-old Canadian Mara Soriano and contained a special recording of her late mother’s voice. But it went missing after it was stolen in a bag that also contained her iPad, a Nintendo Switch and other personal items.
Soriano’s search for the bear went viral and got the attention of fellow Canuck Reynolds, who posted a $5,000 reward for the teddy’s safe return, “zero questions asked.” He added, “I think we all need this bear to come home.”
Apparently, it worked. Soriano just tweeted a photo of her hugging the precious item. She credited the Deadpool star and spirits entrepreneur for the teddy’s safe return. “Break out the Aviation Gin,” she tweeted. “MAMABEAR is home!”
Reynolds re-tweeted the reunion photo, adding, “In happier news… thank you everyone who searched high and low. To the person who took the bear, thanks for keeping it safe. Vancouver is awesome.”
ABC/Image Group LAEric Church is raising a glass to a new partnership. The country star joined forces with Jack Daniel’s Distillery to craft a special, limited edition Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey release, which will hit U.S. liquor store shelves in early August.
