promoearn: No end in sight

Wednesday, July 8

Registered Nurse Candace Trammeor grabs shoe coverings inside the Coronavirus Unit at United Memorial Medical Center, Monday, July 6, 2020, in Houston.

America surpassed 3 million COVID-19 cases. Trump threatens to cut funding from schools that won't reopen. It's Wednesday's news.

Another day, another "grim milestone." A major player in Trump's impeachment inquiry has retired due to alleged presidential bullying. And we're not quite sure who's attending Kanye West's "Birthday Party."

It's Ashley. Let's talk news, because 2020 is truly worth talking about.

But first, a sssolid excuse to avoid a speeding ticket: A man fought and killed one of the world's deadliest snakes while driving 60 mph in Australia.

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3 million coronavirus cases

We write it all too often at USA TODAY: "We've hit another 'grim' milestone in our battle against COVID-19." America surpassed 3 million reported cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday, a (here it is again) grim milestone that represents roughly a quarter of the world's cases and fatalities. What number will spark enough societal change to slow the exponential rise? Consider these stats:

•	It took the U.S. a little more than three months to hit 1 million cases on April 28.
•	It took about half that time, 44 days, to get to 2 million on June 11.
•	It's taken merely 26 days to reach 3 million on July 8.
•	By that gauge, if no new measures are taken, 4 million cases could be tallied as soon as July 22.

Can we all just agree to prioritizing a vaccine? A top Senate Republican sharply criticized President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization, saying it could jeopardize the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Are schools ready to safely reopen? Trump says "it's time to do it," and rang ~~the alarm~~ school bells nationwide on Wednesday by threatening to cut off funding if classrooms don't reopen this fall. Meanwhile, the CDC is revising its guidance on reopening schools after Trump called them "tough and expensive."

Give it to me straight: The U.S. shattered another COVID-19 record by tallying 60,021 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday. Globally, there have been almost 12 million cases and more than 545,000 deaths.

What everyone's talking about

•	The Ivy League has canceled fall sports in what could be barometer for college football amid the coronavirus pandemic.
•	Luxury apparel retailer Brooks Brothers – which survived the Civil War, the Great Depression and World War II – filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
•	A bizarre Trump family White House experience and a dark Thanksgiving dinner: Mary Trump's most cringeworthy claims in new book.
•	Crushed by coronavirus: United Airlines plans to lay off up to 36,000 U.S. employees.
•	Will Smith says police have called him racial slurs "on more than 10 occasions."

Key witness in Trump's impeachment probe is retiring, citing 'bullying'

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the Army officer who testified in President Trump's impeachment, is retiring from the military after more than 21 years of service, citing "bullying, intimidation and retaliation" by Trump. During Trump's impeachment inquiry (believe it or not, that happened THIS year), Vindman testified about his concerns with Trump's now-infamous phone call with Ukraine's president. Vindman's lawyer said he's retiring because his future in the Army will "forever be limited" due to Trump's "retaliation" following the impeachment proceedings.

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman was removed from his position as a National Security Council official on Feb. 7, 2020. Vindman had testified against President Donald J. Trump during the initial stages of impeachment investigations.

Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

The battle over birth control

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of religious groups on Wednesday in two major cases considered this year on religious freedom. The high court ruled Wednesday that employers with religious or moral objections do not have to provide insurance coverage for birth control — the latest challenge to the Affordable Care Act. The court also ruled that religious schools are exempt from most employment discrimination claims. This means religious employers have the right to select — and fire — their employees.

Real quick

•	Young Black voters say they aren't enthusiastic about a Joe Biden presidency.
•	One of four Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd's death is asking to have his case dismissed.
•	Stanford is eliminating 11 varsity sports, including wrestling, men's volleyball and women's field hockey.
•	Who was Mary Kay Letourneau, the former teacher who raped her sixth-grade student and then married him?
•	Lysol is the first surface disinfectant approved by the Environmental Protection Agency to wipe out the coronavirus.

Kanye really knows how to throw a birthday party

There ain't no political party like a Kanye West's so-called "Birthday Party." Really. West is continuing to deliver sensational details about his 2020 presidential run, despite an apparent lack of an actual campaign. The rapper said that he plans to run for president in 2020 as a member of the "Birthday Party." Why? "Because when we win, it's everybody's birthday," West told Forbes. Oh, and he apparently no longer supports Trump and says he had coronavirus.

•	When a COVID-19 vaccine is available, will Kanye West take it? He's promoting the anti-vax movement.

Rapper Kanye West smiles as he listens to a question from a reporter during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House with President Donald Trump, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, in Washington.

Evan Vucci, AP

A break from the news

•	💙 100 ways you can take action against racism right now.
•	💰 Here are five steps to building a budget during unpredictable times.
•	🍎Guess what? Ordering online groceries won't take a week anymore.

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.