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USA TODAY: COVID-19 is killing a Texan every 6 minutes, 16 seconds

Tuesday, July 28

COVID-19 antibody testing and diagnostic testing are administered at a converted vehicle inspection station, Tuesday, July 7, 2020, in San Antonio. Local officials across Texas say their hospitals are becoming increasingly stretched and are in danger of becoming overrun as cases of the coronavirus surge.

COVID-19 is killing a Texan every 6 minutes, 16 seconds

US death toll nears 150,000 as several states set fatality records. William Barr and House Democrats face off. It's Tuesday's news.

The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 is nearing 150,000. Another $1,200 is likely coming your way. And guess who was snubbed from Emmy nominations?

It's Ashley, back with today's top news.

But first, a little bit louder now: People who are hard of hearing have struggled during the pandemic because of masks. These nifty buttons let people know to speak up. 📣

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Several US states set fatality records

The record numbers of new weekly coronavirus cases that Arizona, Florida, Texas and California experienced a month ago are now playing out as record numbers of deaths in those states. Texas' death toll continues to rise, and the state had a record 1,607 deaths in the week ending Monday, a USA TODAY analysis shows. That translates into a Texan dying every 6 minutes, 16 seconds, and no sign of any relief. Texas' weekly death toll is more than seven times its worst week through April.

'I'm going to answer the damn question': Barr, Democrats clash

Attorney General William Barr and House Democrats faced off on Tuesday over the deployment of federal officers to Portland and alleged political interference at the Justice Department. The highly anticipated hearing touched on a year's worth of grievances, from the widely criticized rollout of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia report, to interference in criminal investigations involving Trump's allies, to the use of force against protesters in Portland and at Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C.

Here are some key takeaways:

•	Barr called riots in Portland, Oregon, "an assault on the government of the United States," countering Democratic lawmakers who have characterized federal officers' actions against protesters as unconstitutional. Barr added that "a mob" hijacked legitimate demonstrations against police brutality.
•	Election rigging? When asked whether he believed the 2020 election will be "rigged" – as Trump has repeatedly asserted when discussing mail-in ballots – Barr did not hesitate. "I have no reason to think it will be."
•	Roger Stone: Barr defended his decision to intervene in the case of Trump ally Roger Stone, saying he believes the prosecution of Stone was "righteous," but the prosecutors' sentence recommendation was too harsh.

Attorney General William Barr listens during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the oversight of the Department of Justice on Capitol Hill, July 28, 2020 in Washington.

Pool photo by Chip Somodevilla

What everyone is talking about

•	More than 40 people, including a pastor, tested positive for the coronavirus after an Alabama church revival event.
•	A Maine woman was killed in an apparent shark attack, the first unprovoked attack in the state.
•	Hiding from COVID-19? Don't miss your cancer screening. Missed cancer screenings could be another fatal consequence of the pandemic.
•	The question everyone's asking: Is international travel allowed yet?
•	Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas are officially parents!

The Miami Marlins strike out – for now

The Miami Marlins' season was put on pause amid an outbreak of COVID-19, which almost certainly means they won't play their scheduled 60 games, and possibly neither will their upcoming opponents. The outbreak had already resulted in a handful of game postponements this week, with 15 players and two coaches testing positive for the coronavirus. Meanwhile, in the basketball world, the NBA remains confident in its "bubble" campus, but MLB's failures show how quickly things can unravel.

What's debatably more depressing than sports being canceled left and right over the COVID-19 pandemic? Pictures like these (👇) of lonely mascots in empty stadiums.

St. Louis Cardinals mascot Fredbird stands in empty seats in left field holding a sign during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 26, 2020.

Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports

Another $1,200 likely coming your way

Senate Republicans unveiled a $1 trillion coronavirus stimulus package Monday that includes another round of $1,200 payments and more help for small businesses and schools. But a major stumbling block is a proposed sharp decrease in the $600 weekly unemployment bonus Democrats consider crucial.

Emmy Awards nominations are out, so who got snubbed?

The nominations have been revealed for the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards, led by critics' favorites "Succession" and "Schitt's Creek." "Watchmen" received the most recognition with 26 nominations, followed by "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," which had 20. (Definitely add these to your to-watch list.) The nomination I'm laughing to myself about: Brad Pitt for playing Dr. Anthony Fauci on "SNL" for three minutes. But let's talk about the snubs for a minute because there were scores of A-listers who missed out on nominations:

•	Nicole Kidman: Despite a past win for her role as an abused housewife in HBO's "Big Little Lies," the Oscar-winning actress couldn't secure a best drama actress nod.
•	"Westword": After a critically reviled third season earlier this year, HBO's sci-fi drama was shut out of contention for best drama series.
•	Elisabeth Moss. After finally winning a lead drama actress Emmy in 2017 for Hulu's "The Handmaid's Tale," she was shut out of the category for its third season.

Regina King stars as a cop who has to wear a mask to protect herself from extremists in HBO's new "Watchmen."

HBO

Real quick

•	Twitter axed a post from President Donald Trump touting a false "cure" for COVID-19.
•	John Lewis: Lawmakers push to honor the civil rights icon with a voting rights bill.
•	CES is canceled: Tech's biggest annual event will shift online because of the pandemic.
•	The ACT test website crashed when registration opened after canceled exams "due to high demand."
•	This hurricane season is showing no signs of slowing down.
•	McDonald's is permanently closing 200 of its locations this year.

Iran shot a missile at a fake US aircraft carrier

Iran's navy fired a missile at a replica U.S. aircraft carrier in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday – a fake one. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard had towed the mock-up aircraft carrier into the strategic waterway as part of war games and military drills that illustrate the persistent threat of conflict between Tehran and Washington. Tensions between Iran and the U.S. have sharply escalated since 2018 when Trump withdrew the U.S. from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers and reimposed sanctions that have restricted Tehran's oil exports and brought its economy to a standstill.

A mock-up aircraft carrier built by Iran is seen at the port of Bandar Abbas, Iran, before being put out to sea on July 27, 2020.

Maxar Technologies via AP

A break from the news

•	📱 A new scam demands victims stay on the phone: Here's how it works.
•	🍸 Fact check: Costco's Kirkland Signature vodka is not made by Grey Goose.
•	📺 TVs, hammocks: The 5 best Amazon deals you can get Tuesday.

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.