promoearn: Officer charged with felony murder of Rayshard Brooks; Atlanta police allegedly protest

Thursday, June 18

A protester raises her hand during a protest on the fifth day following Rayshard Brooks death by police in a restaurant parking lot, in Atlanta, Georgia on June 17, 2020.

Atlanta police allegedly walking off the job in protest

Atlanta may have to prep for officers calling out after charges in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks, jobless claims remain high and more news you need to know Thursday.

Good morning, Daily Briefing readers. In a year of big news days, yesterday felt like a huge news day:

•	Despite attempted efforts to block it, John Bolton's book about President Donald Trump is in the hands of reporters. Here's what he said. Here's how politicians are reacting.
•	An Atlanta police officer was charged with felony murder for the death of Rayshard Brooks, his partner will testify against him, and Atlanta police may be walking off the job as a response. More on that below.
•	Meanwhile, reality stars are getting axed for racist social media posts. And food brands Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben's are facing reckonings due to evoking racist stereotypes.

Before we dive in deeper, here's your reminder that Sunday is Father's Day and this weekend is big with graduations. Now's the time to check in on your loved ones, near or far. Hug them if you can, Zoom them if you need to. And if it feels weird celebrating with so much going on in the news, you're not alone: USA TODAY's Erin Jensen has rounded up 5 meaningful Father's Day ideas amid Black Lives Matter, Pride Month and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now let's get to the news:

Will Atlanta officers call out sick after announcement of charges?

There were reports Wednesday that Atlanta police officers were walking off the job or calling in sick in protest of the charges against former officer Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan after the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks last week. The APD said in a tweet it was experiencing a higher than usual number of officers calling out for their shifts Wednesday but that, "We have enough resources to maintain operations & remain able to respond to incidents." Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said on CNN that many of the department's partners had been notified and that the true test of police staffing would come Thursday. Prosecutors brought a felony murder charge against Rolfe, 27, which carries a sentence of life in prison or the death penalty. He was also charged with 10 other offenses punishable by decades behind bars. Brosnan, 26, who is currently on administrative leave, was charged with aggravated assault and other offenses.

•	Stunning allegations against Rolfe: Brooks was kicked, denied medical care
•	What happens now? 'I'm still doubtful there will be a conviction,' one professor says
•	'Lawful but awful': Atlanta police had better options than lethal force in Brooks shooting, experts say
•	More on the Brooks video: Legal scholars break down key moments

More news about racial equity

•	George Floyd protests lead to reckoning as Black employees speak out on racism and discrimination in the workplace
•	'We are still trying to get free': Black Americans continue fight for equality on Juneteenth
•	What is Juneteenth? Holiday marking Emancipation Proclamation takes on extra importance in 2020
•	'It got ugly': What happened when Black Lives Matter protests came to small town Ohio
•	Boycott Facebook: Civil rights groups call on big advertisers to yank ads over hate speech policies
•	FBI arrests Texas man for racist video threat to kill 'at least 200' Black Lives Matter protesters
•	Aunt Jemima brand is changing its name and removing the namesake Black character
•	Who was the last 'face' of Aunt Jemima brand? Ethel Ernestine Harper, who became a Black history teacher
•	Uncle Ben's rice brand plans to 'evolve' and change 'visual brand identity'

Jobless claims remain high even while states reopen economies

The Labor Department on Thursday is expected to report that another 1.3 million Americans filed initial jobless claims – a rough measure of layoffs – last week, according to the median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg. The projected rise in initial claims would push the total filed over the past 13 weeks to a mind-boggling 45.5 million. But it also would mark the 11th straight weekly decline since first-time claims peaked at 6.9 million at the end of March. Layoffs have spread from the travel, restaurant and retail industries that have been hit hardest to sectors such as manufacturing and professional services.

•	Unemployment benefits ending: Extra $600 per week runs out next month
•	EEOC guidance: Employers cannot require COVID-19 antibody testing for employees returning to work
•	Broken glass, broken dreams: Small businesses ravaged by protests and COVID-19 contemplate an uncertain future

More coronavirus news to know

•	Why do some infected with the coronavirus escape COVID-19 unharmed? It's probably their genes
•	Ohio started reopening six weeks ago, but hasn't seen a coronavirus case surge. Why not?
•	Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pledges to keep state open, downplays rise in coronavirus cases
•	As leaders warned of US meat shortages, overseas exports of pork and beef continued

United's ramped-up mask policy goes into effect

United Airlines announced this week it will step up its mandatory mask policy and, beginning Thursday, any passenger who refuses to wear a mask will be placed on an "internal travel restriction list." Customers on the list "will lose their travel privileges on United for a duration of time to be determined pending a comprehensive incident review," United said in a statement provided to USA TODAY. According to the new policy, flight attendants will ask passengers without face coverings to use a mask and will offer one. If the passenger refuses, the flight attendant will file a report, initiating a formal review process. American said in a recent release it "may also deny future travel for customers who refuse to wear a face covering." Delta, Southwest, Alaska, Frontier, JetBlue and Hawaiian have all announced mask requirements, but haven't revealed punishments for customers who don't comply.

•	Forget to bring your mask to the airport? Federal program might save your day
•	Flying during the pandemic? Get ready to fill out a preflight health checklist
•	Face masks on the fly: Las Vegas airport adds PPE vending machines

Prince Charles to host Macron for anniversary of de Gaulle WWII speech

Britain's Prince Charles will host French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday for a special celebration marking the 80th anniversary of Gen. Charles de Gaulle's defiant appeal to the French people to resist the Nazis during World War II . Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, will receive Macron at his Clarence House home with a Guard of Honor formed by Number 7 Company of the Coldstream Guards and their band. The event commemorates de Gaulle's "Apel" via a BBC broadcast to his countrymen on June 18, 1940, urging them to fight on. The speech is widely considered to be the moment that gave birth to the French Resistance.

•	Long weeks of lockdown: Prince Charles' life in quarantine, says he misses hugging his family
•	'Food does not happen by magic': Prince Charles urges Britain to help farmers harvest crops
•	UK royals: Prince William says he 'was quite concerned' about Prince Charles' coronavirus diagnosis

Hong Kong Disneyland reopens with limited admission, required health declaration

Hong Kong Disneyland reopened its gates Thursday at a reduced capacity, the second major Disney park to resume operations after the coronavirus pandemic forced worldwide closures. Attendees will have their temperature screened upon arrival and mask wearing is required. The online reservation form features a required declaration that certifies the health status on behalf of all reservation guests (including no fever, no respiratory symptoms). Small groups of visitors lined up before the park's opening, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse characters drove by in a large taxicab and waved at the eager crowd. Shanghai Disneyland and Disney's Hong Kong park both closed Jan. 25 as China dealt with the pandemic. Shanghai reopened May 11, the first Disney park to do so, with restrictions and safety measures.

•	Shanghai Disneyland reopens: Precautions implemented after coronavirus shutdown
•	Disneyland announces health, safety protocols for July 17 reopening: Here's what to expect
•	Coming soon: Walt Disney World sets July 11 reopening date for Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom

In better news

After learning English at 17 and living in a refugee camp in Cameroon following a civil war in his home country of the Central African Republic, Alex Ngaba of Indianapolis wasn't about to let a senior year marred by the coronavirus deter him from his ambitions. He has just graduated as valedictorian at George Washington High School, his passion is computer technology, and his goal is to be the first from his village to finish college.

As a new cohort of teens graduate and head toward college in the fall, Ngaba puts a lack of physical graduation into perspective: "It's not anyone's fault, it is life," he said. "I've had really bad things in the past, worse than COVID-19."

Alex Ngaba wears his cap and gown in his home, Monday, June 1, 2020. He was 17 when he came to the U.S. as a refugee from Central Africa. Now, at 21, he graduated from George Washington High School as valedictorian four years after starting high school unable to speak English.

Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

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Thanks for reading,

Lindsay Deutsch, loyalty editor