promoearn: US coronavirus cases are still rare, but we're already feeling the effect

Friday, February 28

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 7: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the closing bell, June 7, 2019 in New York City.

Friday's Daily Briefing: Coronavirus fears spook the stock market

Stock market wraps up a terrible week amid coronavirus concerns, Trump holds a campaign rally in South Carolina and more things to start your Friday.

Happy Friday, Daily Briefing readers! Before Black History Month ends, I wanted to shine a spotlight on our 1619 project.

Over the past year we reported in Angola on the roots of slavery in the U.S. that started in 1619. Our mission was simple, yet daunting: taking Wanda Tucker, who believes she is a descendant of the first "20 and odd" enslaved Africans to land in the English colonies, back to the origin of her family's story in Angola.

•	Searching for Angela: She was captured, enslaved and she survived. Meet Angela, the first named African woman in Jamestown.
•	Searching for myself: The search for one woman's family led a reporter to find her own roots using oral history, archives and DNA tests. It was a stunning discovery.
•	The search continues: Pam Tucker descends from the man who owned Wanda Tucker's ancestors. She and Wanda met to confront their history.

Read more 1619 stories at 1619.usatoday.com, and more black history content at blackhistory.usatoday.com.

Now let's fast forward 400 years to the news you need to know as we cruise into this Leap Day weekend. Voters will hit the polls in South Carolina Saturday where black voters will play a key role in the Democratic presidential race.

BTW: Are you registered to vote? If so, congrats on being prepared! If not, you still have time.

•	Only people who are registered can vote. Step one: Check your status
•	We're asking voters about the issue most important to them. This is what they told us
•	Don't have a lot of time? Find FAQs on the key issues

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

Stock market wraps up a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week

Heading into the final trading day in the month February on Friday, the Dow Jones industrial average and other major indexes have slumped to huge losses over the last week due to rising anxiety over the global coronavirus outbreak. The Dow has finished down in six straight sessions, including a whopping 1,191 points on Thursday and 879 points on Tuesday, while the Nasdaq and the Standard and Poor's 500 have also dropped significantly after reaching record highs recently. Financial markets have been spooked by concerns the deadly virus. President Donald Trump announced the United States was stepping up its efforts to combat the virus outbreak. But economist Peter Cardillo told USA TODAY: "The efforts by Trump to calm the markets are being overshadowed by the news from the CDC of a possible transmission of the virus in the U.S."

•	'An economic pandemic': The coronavirus is becoming a bigger threat to the U.S., economists say
•	Coronavirus fears spook stocks: Here's how to protect your 401(k)
•	Social media: That Facebook ad promising a cure? It's fake and Facebook's cracking down

Speaking of coronavirus: Here's the latest update

As promised, I'll be rounding up the biggest updates related to coronavirus here every day in the newsletter so you can stay informed.

•	Stocks continue to get pounded. How bad can it get?
•	Retail: Medical mask prices surge on Amazon after CDC's coronavirus comments
•	CDC confirms first 'unknown' coronavirus case in California that could raise concerns about the threat of the virus
•	Travel plans? Here's what travel insurance will cover and NOT cover

Trump to counterprogram Democrats with South Carolina rally

President Donald Trump continues with his strategy of stealing Democrats' thunder when he holds a campaign rally in North Charleston, South Carolina, on Friday, one day before the Democratic primary in the state. The rally will begin at 7 p.m. ET at the North Charleston Coliseum. Last week, ahead of the Democratic caucuses in Nevada, Trump held a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, during the Democratic debate and another in Las Vegas on the eve of the caucuses. Saturday's closely watched South Carolina primary comes three days before crucial Super Tuesday, which includes nominating contests in 14 states and one U.S. territory.

•	Who's leading in SC? Poll shows Biden with 20-point lead
•	'Voters themselves must pick': Why Obama isn't endorsing Biden or anyone else for president
•	'Despicable': Obama demands TV stations stop airing anti-Biden ad from Pro-Trump PAC that misuses his words
•	Opinion: Trump's terrible coronavirus response hands 2020 Democrats a chance to show they can lead

NFL Combine Day 2: More stars get their shine in Indianapolis

The NFL scouting combine is back for another prime time showing Friday as running backs, offensive lineman and specialists will take the field for testing and drills in Day 2.Several notable running backs will be going through drills and positional workouts, including Georgia's D'Andre Swift, Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor, Ohio State's J.K. Dobbins and Utah's Zack Moss, among others. On Thursday, quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends got things started with Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III and quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert earning praise for their performances, respectively. The full day's event will be broadcast on NFL Network and streamed on NFL.com.

•	NFL Combine: Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III blazes in 40-yard dash at 4.27 seconds but falls short of record
•	Isaiah Simmons' versatility is huge asset in NFL draft, but Clemson star's fit leaves questions
•	Arizona State punter Michael Turk outperforms some offensive linemen at NFL combine with 25 bench press reps

Also in the news:

•	We tell suicidal people to go to therapy. So why are therapists rarely trained in suicide?
•	Shooter at Milwaukee Molson Coors had a long-running dispute with a co-worker
•	'He eventually cooperated': Teen charged with vandalizing Plymouth Rock and other landmarks
•	Betsy DeVos orders probe after USA TODAY finds college evidently without faculty, students
•	Former Baltimore mayor sentenced to 3 years in children's book fraud scheme
•	Killed by a cartel. Betrayed by his own? US re-examines murder of federal agent featured in 'Narcos'
•	'Mini-moon' the size of a car discovered orbiting Earth. But it won't be there for long.

Prince Harry resumes his UK visit

Prince Harry is set to make another public appearance in the U.K. Friday as he and wife Meghan transition toward a more private life apart from the royal family. On Wednesday, the prince appeared at a sustainable tourism conference in Scotland. On Friday, he'll appear with Jon Bon Jovi and the Invictus Games Choir at London's Abbey Road Studios, where they'll record a single to support the Invictus Games Foundation. Since mid-January, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been living in British Columbia after their stunning declaration that they didn't want to be working royals anymore. Their formal step-down from royal duties is set for March 31.

•	Harry & Meghan's security costs: Canada won't pay for much longer
•	Stepping back: Harry and Meghan to give up 'Sussex Royal' brand
•	Madonna's offer to Harry and Meghan: Want to sublet my New York apartment?

'The Invisible Man' creeps into theaters nationwide

Writer/director Leigh Whannell's timely new version of "The Invisible Man" (rated R; in theaters nationwide Friday) pays slight homage to earlier versions — most notably, the original 1897 H.G. Wells novel and 1933 Claude Rains movie — but it goes its own way. This "Invisible Man" focuses on a victim rather than the victimizer: Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss) escapes her abusive ex-boyfriend Adrian (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) but is convinced he's made himself invisible and is terrorizing her, though the rest of the world believes the bad dude killed himself. "Blending elements of noir, sci-fi and old-fashioned Hitchcockian suspense, this 'Invisible Man' centers on a deeply disturbing narrative about abuse and gaslighting," USA TODAY's Brian Truitt wrote in his (★★★ out of four) review.

•	Old character is back: How the classic Universal monster still haunts us in modernized new 'Invisible Man'
•	More scares: Your ultimate 2020 horror film guide
•	'Fantasy Island': How the old TV show was retooled as a modern horror movie

In better news: Leap Day deals are almost here

Every four years, give or take a couple, we tack an extra day onto February. You have Julius Caesar to thank for that. And businesses are taking advantage of 2020's extra day by offering specials and freebies. The day is even more rewarding if you have the rarest of birthdays and were born Feb. 29. Several restaurants will offer birthday freebies for the group known as Leaplings, Leapsters or Leapers. Check out all the deals here.

To mark the launch of Krispy Kreme's national doughnut delivery, the company will deliver free doughnuts to hospitals Feb. 29 to celebrate Leap Day babies.

Krispy Kreme

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