HIGHLIGHT: MISSOURI
Branson: The Silver Dollar City theme park opened its gates Saturday for the first time in 2020 after opening day was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. About 6,000 season pass holders made reservations to attend the park Saturday. A typical Saturday during the summer draws about 15,000. Season pass holders were the first allowed in the park on Saturday and Sunday; the park opened to the general public Monday for those who made reservations. About 8,000 to 10,000 were expected when the park opens for everyone. Those who enter have to wear a mask throughout the park except on water rides and while eating. Visitors are screened with COVID-19-related questions and temperatures are taken before they enter the park. Signs throughout encourage social distancing while reminding folks to keep their masks on. The park’s performers stay in character while wearing masks.
ALABAMA Montgomery: The state prison system said that a third inmate has died after testing positive for COVID-19 as the number of cases among inmates and staff continued to rise.
ALASKA Anchorage: The Alaska Permanent Fund dividend was completed at $992 for each resident and distribution is expected to begin early this year because of economic impacts caused by the coronavirus pandemic, state department officials said.
ARIZONA Phoenix: In one of the nation’s COVID-19 hot spots, Gov. Doug Ducey is not requiring residents to wear masks in public.
ARKANSAS Little Rock: There are 548 new coronavirus cases in Arkansas and one additional death because of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, the Arkansas State Department of Health reported Saturday.
CALIFORNIA Sacramento: Some Californians will again be able to get a manicure, a new tattoo or enjoy a massage starting late this week under new state guidance issued Friday. But studios and salons won’t look the same when they do open. Workers and customers must wear face masks, adopt far more intense cleaning practices for shared reusable items like tweezers, and the services will be limited – no mouth or nose tattoos or piercings for now.
COLORADO Denver: The Colorado Tourism Office has launched a campaign urging people to practice safety measures and follow health guidelines when visiting the state during the coronavirus pandemic.
CONNECTICUT Hartford: The state is allowing nursing homes to let some residents meet with loved ones outside, wearing a mask and adhering to social distancing, months after Gov. Ned Lamont imposed a ban on most visits to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
DELAWARE Dewey Beach: Fourth of July fireworks are a go in Dewey Beach this summer, the only beach town that didn’t cancel or postpone festivities because of the coronavirus pandemic.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington: As protesters continue to crowd the streets of the District, a nonprofit set up free testing sites, so people can check to see if they have the new coronavirus, WUSA-TV reported.
FLORIDA Naples: More than 80% of the people who live or work in Florida’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities have been tested for COVID-19 as the state approaches its goal of getting all of them tested.
GEORGIA Stone Mountain: The Park Springs elder care facility just outside of Atlanta took the unusual approach of having roughly 70 employees shelter in place on campus to protect its residents from the new coronavirus. It lifted that restriction over the weekend, and employees headed home for the first time since March 30.
HAWAII Honolulu: International college students who were unable to return home at the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic remain in Hawaii with limited means to work and get food.
IDAHO Idaho: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare officials said that the overall number of people signing up for Medicaid has picked up as the economy has struggled with the coronavirus pandemic.
ILLINOIS Springfield: A network of military and veteran organizations is offering free wellness checks for veterans, service members and their families during the coronavirus pandemic.
INDIANA Indianapolis: Indiana entered Stage 4 of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s reopening plan Friday, allowing additional businesses to reopen and fill at higher capacities. But as the coronavirus pandemic carries on, Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box still has reservations. “Just because you’re not positive today, doesn’t mean you won’t be tomorrow,” Box said.
IOWA Jefferson: The Iowa Department of Transportation has temporarily closed two maintenance garages after an employee tested positive for the new coronavirus and had contact with two dozen colleagues, a spokeswoman said.
KANSAS Topeka: A protester who attended a demonstration over the death of George Floyd in downtown Topeka last week has tested positive for the new coronavirus, health officials said.
KENTUCKY Louisville: The Kentucky Derby Festival has canceled this year’s Pegasus Parade and fireworks display known as Thunder Over Louisville, saying it would not be responsible to let the events go on in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
LOUISIANA Lafayette: Coronavirus pandemic closings have cost Louisiana casinos hundreds of millions of dollars, and one chain has told the state it might lay off as many as 1,500 workers.
MAINE Augusta: The first Mainer to receive transfusions of antibodyrich blood plasma said he remembers dreams of two groups chanting while he was on a ventilator for 18 days. Richard Stevenson said one group was chanting, “Let him die, let him die, let him die!” while the other chanted “Go Rich, go Rich, go Rich!” Stevenson, of Vinalhaven, told the Bangor Daily News that he credits his survival to the plasma transfusions at Mid Coast Hospital. He was the first person in Maine to get the experimental therapy.
MARYLAND Salisbury: Red White and Boom, the city’s annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration, has been canceled for this year. The decision announced on a Facebook post was made because it would be difficult to maintain social distancing during the event.
MASSACHUSETTS Amherst: The University of Massachusetts won’t be holding its usual presentations at the campus’ Sunwheel for the summer solstice this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the public is still invited to visit the site at sunrise and sunset this week.
MICHIGAN Ypsilanti: Eastern Michigan University is guaranteeing a single room on campus starting this fall for any enrolled student who wants one in response to safety concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.
MINNESOTA Minneapolis: The University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents on Friday approved a $4 billion operating budget for the coming fiscal year as well as a plan to help offset losses because of the coronavirus pandemic.
MISSISSIPPI Jackson: The Mississippi Department of Education is offering options for how schools can offer classes starting in the fall semester, with consideration for social distancing and other safety guidelines because of the coronavirus pandemic.
MONTANA Helena: Gov. Steve Bullock announced $8.7 million in federal funding for education interests. This funding is separate from the state’s $1.25 billion coronavirus relief fund.
NEBRASKA Omaha: The past 12 weeks at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium have been perplexing for Dennis Pate, zoo director and CEO. On June 1, though, some semblance of normalcy returned when the zoo opened with many changes and some cooperative weather.
NEVADA Las Vegas: The famous Las Vegas buffet has become a victim of the coronavirus pandemic, which shut down casinos statewide for nearly three months. Although casinos began to reopen June 4, the state has not yet given the green light for self-serve restaurants.
NEW HAMPSHIRE Concord: A racetrack that violated state orders during the coronavirus pandemic will be allowed to reopen this weekend ahead of other similar businesses.
NEW JERSEY Asbury Park: The city backed off plans to offer indoor dining beginning Monday, in defiance of a state order. The City Council had authorized restaurants last week to offer indoor dining with restrictions, violating Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order. After the state sued on Friday and a judge issued an order temporarily blocking the town’s attempt, Mayor John Moor and the council recommending that restaurants not serve diners indoors.
NEW MEXICO Albuquerque: Albuquerque Public Schools, the state’s largest school district, has asked parents for feedback after announcing plans to provide an online school experience for all grades because of the coronavirus pandemic.
NEW YORK Albany: Upset by “rampant” violations of New York’s pandemic-fighting restrictions, Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatened Sunday to pull liquor licenses of scofflaw restaurants and even reinstate closings in areas where local governments fail to enforce rules.
NORTH CAROLINA Pine Hall: Stock car racing has turned into the leading battleground over COVID-19 crowd restrictions in North Carolina, as track owners have taken their fight to reopen to the streets and to court.
NORTH DAKOTA Bismarck: City officials are debating whether to ask voters in November if they should legalize fireworks within city limits. Mayor Steve Bakken has proposed legalizing fireworks, saying families should be able to spend quality time together in the city during the coronavirus pandemic.
OHIO Cincinnati: A petition to remove the mask requirement at the Kings Island amusement park had more than 3,800 signatures Saturday morning, according to change.org. Those with season passes can return to the amusement park between July 2 and July 11, and the park will reopen to daily ticket holders on July 12.
OKLAHOMA Oklahoma City: There were 225 new coronavirus cases in Oklahoma but no additional deaths, the State Department of Health said Saturday.
OREGON Portland: Gov. Kate Brown has asked for a list of names by June 22 of inmates eligible for possible release to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the state prison system.
PENNSYLVANIA Harrisburg: Gov. Tom Wolf asked the state Supreme Court to intervene in his dispute with legislative Republicans who are trying to end pandemic restrictions he imposed in March to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
RHODE ISLAND Providence: About 2% of Rhode Island residents have been infected with the new coronavirus, with infection rates apparently higher among the state’s minority populations, according to a state Department of Health study.
SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia: Bowling alleys can now reopen in South Carolina after being closed for nearly three months to reduce the risk of coronavirus infections, even though the state’s COVID-19 case load is seeing its largest increases since the pandemic began.
SOUTH DAKOTA Rapid City: The City Council is deciding whether to leave business restrictions because of the coronavirus pandemic in place for another month or leave the option open to business owners.
TENNESSEE Nashville: The Nashville Symphony board of directors decided Friday to suspend programs through July and furlough its music director and other full-time staff and dozens of musicians because of the coronavirus pandemic.
TEXAS El Paso: Protests against the killing of George Floyd were held in the city on May 31, June 3, June 10 and June 11. Protests in support of El Paso police officers were also held June 10. The local health authority recommends participants in those protests monitor their health closely.
UTAH St. George: Bicycling has become a major hit for St. George in the era of COVID-19, but it could extend far beyond pandemic times and become commonplace activity for residents in the future.
VERMONT Montpelier: Gov. Phil Scott expressed disappointment at the scale of the Legislature’s coronavirus-related economic recovery package as well as the pace at which lawmakers have moved on it.
VIRGINIA Alexandria: A medical supply company created by two political consultants during the coronavirus pandemic have filed a lawsuit alleging that officials at a Virginia bank caused the firm to lose a $600 million equipment order and ruined its reputation.
WASHINGTON Seattle: The state Department of Health said coronavirus infections are increasing in the state’s eastern and western sides.
WEST VIRGINIA Charlesston: A coronavirus outbreak at a church has caused at least 17 virus cases, prompting Gov. Jim Justice to call in the National Guard for decontamination work, state officials said.
WISCONSIN Milwaukee: University of Wisconsin System officials are offering campuses guidelines for reopening this fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the system released the guidelines Sunday. They include putting classes of more than 50 students online, having a plan if COVID-19 cases spike, reevaluating dorm and dining operations, using masks and keeping students that share classes together in the dorms.
WYOMING Casper: The Legislature will not be meeting in a special session later this month after lawmakers said they completed work they needed to accomplish in response to immediate economic and social impacts caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
From USA TODAY Network and wire reports