promoearn: When you can't stay at home

Wednesday, May 20

Florida's governor responds to COVID-19 database manipulation claims. Historic flooding threatens parts of Michigan. It's Wednesday's news.

Democratic leaders urge Joe Biden to select a woman of color as his running mate. Donald Trump and Nancy Pelosi are in a war of words. And how about that housing market?

It's Alex. Happy Wednesday!

But first, What Not to Wear™: Face Mask edition. Two people walked into a Virginia convenience store wearing hollowed-out watermelons. Police say they were there to steal.

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Two dams, one historic disaster

First, rain. Then flooding. Now, two breached dams have prompted the evacuation of nearly 10,000 people in Michigan, and a city may be forced 9 feet underwater. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency Tuesday for Midland County after the Edenville and Sanford dams breached, warning that downtown Midland could be under 9 feet of water by Wednesday afternoon . The floods surpassed a high point of 33.9 feet set by a downpour in 1986, known as "the worst natural disaster in the state's modern history." Whitmer said that despite stay-at-home orders, anyone living in the affected areas should evacuate as quickly as possible. "Please do not hesitate. Go to stay with a friend or relative or go to one of these shelters now," she said.

Trump said this, Pelosi said that. Repeat.

Hydroxychloroquine. Heard of it? President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been in a war of words since it was revealed that the White House physician prescribed the president hydroxychloroquine as part of his personal health care plan to avoid being infected with the coronavirus . The drug, commonly used to prevent and treat malaria and address autoimmune diseases, hasn't been proven to effectively treat or prevent COVID-19. Now let's catch up ...

•	On Monday, Pelosi said it was "not a good idea" for the president to take hydroxychloroquine because it can pose a risk for people with heart conditions and he is "morbidly obese."
•	On Tuesday, Trump responded to Pelosi's statement: "I don't respond to her. I think she's a waste of time."
•	And on Wednesday, Pelosi said her criticism of the president was meant to be "factual" in a "very sympathetic way" because "we don't want our president taking something that could be dangerous."

Real quick

•	Health leaders: We stuck together to #StayHome, now we can start together to #OpenSafely.
•	JetBlue is blocking middle seats through the Fourth of July as airlines face backlash for not social distancing.
•	"No worker's life is worth my getting a cheaper hamburger": Joe Biden urges protections in meatpacking plants.
•	Hall of Famer Magic Johnson will give a $100 million donation in capital to fund federal loans for minority- and women-owned businesses.
•	President Trump threatened to stop funding for Michigan if state officials move ahead with plans to send absentee ballot applications to every state voter.
•	Apple and Google release contact tracing technology to help public health officials develop mobile apps.

Who should be the presumptive VP for the presumptive nominee?

Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, vowed in March to pick a woman as his running mate . Leaders within crucial factions of the Democratic base – black and Latino voters – say she must be a woman of color. Not only is it long past time to reward the party's most reliable voting bloc, black leaders say, a woman of color makes the most sense strategically to defeat President Donald Trump. More could ride on Biden's vice presidential pick because of his age – he would be 78 on Inauguration Day in 2021 – and the future of the party. Even if Biden loses, the running mate would almost certainly emerge as a contender to seek the party's nomination for president in 2024.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden promises a female running mate.

Alex Brandon, AP

An update from yesterday...

Florida scientist Rebekah Jones said she was fired for refusing to manipulate data in the state's COVID-19 dashboard, an allegation that undercuts the governor's push to reopen the state . In response to the charge, Gov. Ron DeSantis defined the controversy as a "nonissue" and said Jones sent an email to her supervisor saying the comments were misinterpreted. "I don't know who she is, but they gave me an email that she sent to her supervisor, said that, 'Uh oh, I may have said something that was misrepresented,' " DeSantis said.

Still, state Democratic officials are calling for an investigation into the incident. "Allegations that Florida's government may have tried to manipulate or alter data to make reopening appear safer is outrageous," state Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo said. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried requested that members of DeSantis' administration appear at the state's next Cabinet meeting to answer questions about the accusations levied by Jones.

What everyone's talking about

•	Does baby powder cause cancer? That remains unclear. But after years of scrutiny, Johnson & Johnson no longer sells talc powder.
•	The chief of NASA's human spaceflight resigned Monday, before a historic astronaut launch next week.
•	A Florida block party that drew 3,000 people got shut down amid violence and calls of racism.
•	More than 2.6 million people have evacuated to shelters as a powerful cyclone moves inland after crashing into the coasts of India and Bangladesh.
•	A body found early Wednesday near Venice Beach, California, was identified as former WWE star Shad Gaspard. He was 39.
•	Germany's Volkswagen pulled a social media ad for a new car and apologized after an outcry over its racist overtones.

Are we on the verge of a housing crisis?

Much of the U.S. economy is at a standstill, prompting worries about the real estate market and a pandemic-driven housing crisis. Many of the areas likely to be the hardest hit are those that were at risk before the coronavirus pandemic. Also at a greater risk are areas where housing costs are high relative to income and where recent spikes in demand may have created housing price bubbles. Is your city on the list?

Time for a Netflix break?

Exhausted all of your Netflix shows? Never fear, June is near. Here's a list of the fresh series and comedy specials coming next mont, including new episodes of "Queer Eye," "The Politician" and "Dating Around."

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for The Short List newsletter here.