promoearn: Is this the end for Confederate relics?

Thursday, June 11

James Kelley, 29, of Richmond, Virginia, attends a protest at the Robert E. Lee statue wearing a vest marked with the words

Thursday's Daily Briefing: George Floyd protests, jobless claims

Confederate monuments toppled and burned as George Floyd protests continue, jobless claims figures revealed and more things to start your Thursday.

Good morning, Daily Briefing readers. As protests against racism and police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's death continue across the country, the debate over Confederate symbols is in the spotlight again.

As Confederate monuments are being taken (and in some cases torn) down, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi called for the removal of 11 Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol Building on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said he would not consider renaming military bases named for Confederate military leaders. Is this the end for Confederate memorials? Here's the latest:

•	Confederate monuments toppled, burned as protests over George Floyd's death continue
•	NASCAR banned Confederate flags from all events, races and properties
•	Virginia judge blocks Gov. Ralph Northam's order to take down Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond for 10 days
•	'We hear your voices': Jacksonville takes down 122-year-old Confederate monument on historic day in Florida's largest city
•	Confederate statues in Richmond to be removed. Are other states next?
•	Army to consider changing names of forts named after Confederate generals. Here are the 10 military bases named after Confederate generals
•	Marines order Confederate flags removed in ban that includes bumper stickers and clothing

It's N'dea and here's the news you need to know today.

George Floyd protests: Seattle Police precinct to remain closed

A Seattle Police Department precinct shuttered during the ongoing George Floyd protests will remain closed Thursday as the city's department said it's working to restart conversations about how to move forward , according to local reports. The precinct is part of a larger area run by protesters since Monday, now dubbed the "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone" or "CHAZ" — named after the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood. After earlier violent clashes, the department reopened the streets so people could march in front of the precinct. Instead, the protesters set up tents and have blocked streets, KING-TV explained. The developments drew the ire of President Donald Trump, who sent two aggressive tweets late Wednesday, including one that called out Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan.

•	'Make it stop': George Floyd's brother urges Congress to 'do the right thing'
•	Reaction from Delaware: Attorneys, officials denounce arrests of protesters
•	Taking to the streets: Tracking protests in the wake of George Floyd's death

Here's the latest news on the aftermath of George Floyd's death

•	George Floyd updates: Jefferson Davis statue toppled in Virginia; Donald Trump lashes out at Seattle
•	USA TODAY Poll: Forceful clearing of Lafayette Square protest was defining moment for president and protests
•	'Live PD' canceled after report reveals footage of a black man's death in 2019 was destroyed
•	Louisville police release the Breonna Taylor incident report. It's nearly blank
•	Supreme Court's deference to police for 'reasonable' conduct faces scrutiny in wake of brutality cases
•	Workers lose pay during protests as stores curb hours, honor curfews

Well over a million more jobless claims? We'll find out

Last week's jobs report revealed a shocking 2.5 million payroll gains in May, underscoring that many are returning to work as states begin allowing businesses to reopen. The latest tally of jobless claims, due Thursday , will shine a light on the other side of the story: Hundreds of thousands of Americans are still being laid off. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect the Labor Department to report an additional 1.6 million first-time applications for unemployment insurance. That would push total initial claims over the 12 weeks of the coronavirus crisis to a staggering 44.2 million.

•	Saved by zero? Fed likely to stay the near-zero rate course for years

2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US

There are 2 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States. Think about that for a minute.

Of those cases, roughly 113,000 of them have been deadly. When America grieved for the 100,000 who died, USA TODAY's Editorial Board called it an American tragedy.

That was two weeks ago. Now health officials are warning of a potential second round of infections.

•	Viruses like the one that causes COVID-19 have long been Dr. Anthony Fauci's 'worst nightmare'
•	Are more store closings coming? As many as 25,000 stores could shutter in 2020 due to COVID-19 impact
•	U.S. voter registration plummets during coronavirus pandemic, challenging both parties
•	Should you wear a face mask to the gym? A look at the debate
•	They wanted to be buried near their father, and relatives made a vow. COVID-19 broke those promises.
•	Tell us your coronavirus story: What does your summer look like?

Yosemite National Park to reopen with crowd controls 🏞️

California's Yosemite National Park is reopening Thursday, but with some restrictions . For now, visitors must reserve day passes in advance instead of driving up to the park for entry. The park will offer 1,700 vehicle passes each day. Overnight camping and lodging will also resume Thursday, as will retail and food and beverage services. The advance reservations system for day use is temporary and will end when the park resumes regular operations, according to the park service. Yosemite draws 4.4 million visitors a year, placing it in the top 10 most-visited national parks.

•	National parks are reopening: Here's what to know

Will judge sign off on J.C. Penney store closures? 🏬

A court hearing is scheduled Thursday in J.C. Penney's proposal to close 154 stores as the company tries to stabilize its finances under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The department store chain, the largest company to file for bankruptcy protection so far during the coronavirus pandemic, had already said it would close 242 locations for good, leaving about 600 open. Assuming Bankruptcy Judge David Jones signs off, going-out-of-business sales could begin immediately and are expected to last 10 to 16 weeks.

•	J.C. Penney store closing sales to begin: 242 permanent store closures planned in bankruptcy
•	Liquidation sales have changed: Going-out-of-business sales different because of COVID-19

More news everyone is talking about

•	Husband in missing Idaho kids case hid remains of children, prosecutor says
•	HBO Max has temporarily removed 'Gone With the Wind'
•	Justice Department showed 'gross abuse of prosecutorial power' in Michael Flynn case, court-appointed arbiter says
•	Internet 'a lifeline' for the LGBTQ community: Why the spirit of Pride Month will prevail as events move online
•	A North Carolina professor who sparked outrage with his tweets still has his job. Why? It's called the First Amendment
•	MLB draft tracker: Catch up on every pick from Day 1
•	Sweden closes its 34-year investigation into Prime Minister Olof Palme's killing

PlayStation 5 event offers glimpse of games on new system 🎮

Gamers get their first glimpse of what the PlayStation 5 is capable of during the "Future of Gaming" event Thursday . The show, which will run for "a bit more than an hour," was originally scheduled for June 4, but was delayed in solidarity with protests around the world. It is still unknown what the PlayStation 5 looks like, and Sony's announcements are only promising footage of games running on PS5 during the broadcast. It's also unclear when Sony will reveal the price and release date of the PS5. The event begins at 4 p.m. ET; you can stream the show via YouTube or Twitch.

•	The (leaked) price is right? If so, it would set new high mark

In better news: Ballerina keeps dream alive in isolation

Emilie Gerrity, 29, a soloist for the New York City Ballet, has been training to keep her lifelong dream alive while in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic.

Even as she leaps and pirouettes, Gerrity is too well-grounded to complain when others are sick or dying. She does her dance workouts and takes on more work as a teacher giving virtual lessons in a two-car garage in Winter Park, Florida.

Her own company has talked of performing again next spring, but nobody can even say for certain that dance or other live performances will return in the form she knew three months ago.

When she thinks of her students, Gerrity believes that it must. She tells herself that if life is to recover a sense of normalcy, arts that remind people of the beauty and grace in the world will play a role. That's enough to keep pushing her toward a dream that may be jeopardized by the virus.

"It's scary to think that the art form won't survive," she said. "I have to inspire this generation of people to make sure it doesn't die."

Emilie Gerrity, a 29-year-old soloist for the New York City Ballet, has been training while in isolation in Florida during the coronavirus pandemic. While the experience makes for some uncomfortably warm workouts under less than ideal conditions, it's the only way to keep alive a lifelong dream to reach the prestigious company's highest ranking: a principal dancer.

Derek Catron, USA TODAY