Chicago bars and breweries to reopen for outdoor services this week
From CNN's Raja Razek
Brewing tanks are seen at the Goose Island Brew Pub in Chicago, in May 2011. John Gress/Corbis/Getty Images
Bars and breweries in Chicago will reopen on Wednesday, the city announced Monday.
"Beginning Wednesday, June 17, bars, lounges, taverns, breweries and other drinking establishments that sell alcohol for on-site consumption without a Retail Food License will be able to open for outdoor service only," the city said in a statement.
The Lakefront Trail will open daily east of Lake Shore Drive for limited hours; however, beaches and parks east of Lake Shore Drive will remain closed, according to the statement.
4:14 p.m. ET, June 15, 2020
WNBA announces plan to begin 2020 season
From CNN's Kevin Dotson
Elena Delle Donne #11 of the Washington Mystics shoots the ball against Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Connecticut Sun in Game 5 of the 2019 WNBA Finals at St. Elizabeths East Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, on October 10, 2019. G Fiume/Getty Images
The Women's National Basketball Association has announced plans to begin a shortened 2020 season in late July.
The season will be played entirely at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Instead of the previously scheduled 36 games, each of the league's 12 teams will play 22 regular season games, followed by the traditional postseason format.
The WNBA announced that players will still receive full salaries and benefits, despite the abbreviated schedule and the fact that the season will be played without fans in attendance. The WNBA also committed to making social justice initiatives a focus during the season.
4:21 p.m. ET, June 15, 2020
US stocks finish higher after turbulent day
From CNN’s Anneken Tappe
American flags hang on display outside the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, on June 10. Sarah Blesener/Bloomberg/Getty Images
US stocks ended in the green on Monday, following a roller coaster of a trading day.
Stocks fell sharply at the opening bell as investors were spooked by a resurgence of Covid-19 cases in the US, as well as in China.
But the market soon recovered. Action from the Federal Reserve helped boost sentiment: The central bank finally launched its Main Street Lending Program to help small and medium-sized businesses, and it also committed to buying corporate bonds.
Here's what happened today:
The Dow swung more than 1,000 points between its high and low point of the session. The index closed up 0.6%, or 158 points.
The S&P 500 finished 0.8% higher
The Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.4%.
4:06 p.m. ET, June 15, 2020
Red Cross now testing all blood donations for Covid-19 antibodies
From CNN Health’s Naomi Thomas
A volunteer donates blood during an American Red Cross blood drive in Chicago, on May 11. Scott Olson/Getty Images
The Red Cross will now be testing all blood, plasma and platelet donations for Covid-19 antibodies, according to a press release issued Monday.
“The Red Cross hopes that testing for Covid-19 antibodies will provide its valued donors insight into whether they may have been exposed to this coronavirus,” it says.
Regardless of whether a donor experienced symptoms or not, the test will show whether their immune system has produced the antibodies for the coronavirus.
The antibody test, which has been authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration, does not diagnose donors with a current infection.
The Red Cross hopes these tests will increase interest in blood donation.
Donors can expect results within seven to ten days either on the Red Cross Blood Donor App or website.
“As a humanitarian organization and member of the broader health community, the Red Cross has adapted our services to help meet the needs of this extraordinary time,” said Chris Hrouda, president of The Red Cross Biomedical Services, in the press release.
Even though many blood drives continue to be canceled for precautionary reasons, blood donations remain vital, as surgeries and treatments that had been temporarily paused start to take place again.
3:17 p.m. ET, June 15, 2020
Rhode Island summer camps can resume this month
From CNN’s Anna Sturla
Gov. Gina Raimondo gives an update on the coronavirus during a news conference in this file photo, in Providence, Rhode Island, on March 22. Kris Craig/Providence Journal/Pool/AP
Rhode Island's in-person summer camps will be allowed to resume on June 29, according to Gov. Gina Raimondo. That includes some sleep-away options, she said.
The governor also announced today the number of positive Covid-19 cases increased by 32 for a total of at least 16,093. Deaths increased by six for a total of at least 851. The state is currently in phase two of its reopening plan.
3:10 p.m. ET, June 15, 2020
The Oscars have been delayed until April 2021
From CNN's Sandra Gonzalez
Atmosphere during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, on February 9. Lionel Hahn/Abaca/Sipa USA
Film's biggest night is being rescheduled for the first time in 40 years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Monday that the 93rd Oscars will no longer take place on February 28 as planned.
Instead, the board of governors said the show will take place on April 25, 2021.
"For over a century, movies have played an important role in comforting, inspiring, and entertaining us during the darkest of times. They certainly have this year. Our hope, in extending the eligibility period and our Awards date, is to provide the flexibility filmmakers need to finish and release their films without being penalized for something beyond anyone's control," said Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson in a joint statement.
In addition to the delay, the Academy agreed to extend the eligibility window for films, which usually corresponds to the calendar year. For the 2021 Oscars, the new window will be extended until February 28, 2021.
2:25 p.m. ET, June 15, 2020
New York AG asks Apple, Google to prohibit contact-tracing apps from abusing people's data
From CNN’s Brian Fung
New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks to the press in Washington in November 2019. Stefani Reynold/CNP/Sipa USA
New York Attorney General Letitia James called on Apple and Google today to prohibit third-party contact tracing apps from abusing consumers’ data.
In letters to the two companies, James said that contact tracing apps created by third parties do not appear to be held to the same standard as apps that work in conjunction with Apple and Google’s own Bluetooth-based Exposure Notification protocol, which must be designed under strict specifications.
"It is imperative that apps that use sensitive health information be developed only by public health agencies, to ensure that appropriate protections are in place and to provide accountability,” James wrote to the companies.
James urged the companies to take concrete steps to safeguard the data gathered by third-party contact tracing apps, including by requiring apps to disclose whether they participate in the exposure notification program and barring them from using targeted advertising.
2:19 p.m. ET, June 15, 2020
GOP congressman tests positive for coronavirus
From CNN's Haley Byrd
US Rep. Tom Rice attends a budget hearing in February 2018. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images
South Carolina Rep. Tom Rice announced on Facebook that he is recovering from coronavirus after he and his family contracted it recently.
Rice said his case has been mild, with symptoms including a low fever and mild cough.
"I never stopped eating or drinking or working or moving,” he wrote. "The only bad thing is I have completely lost sense of taste and smell. CAN’T TASTE BACON!!!"
5:00 p.m. ET, June 15, 2020
Kellyanne Conway says she hopes Tulsa rally attendees will adhere to "the reasonable guidelines"
From CNN's Nikki Carvajal
Senior Counselor Kellyanne Conway speaks to members of the media outside the White House in Washington, on May 7. Stefani Reynolds/Pool/Sipa USA
Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway said the campaign will conduct temperature checks and give out face masks and hand sanitizer at the President’s upcoming rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as Tulsa health officials express skepticism over whether this is the right time for a large campaign event.
“I saw the campaign tweeted out they’ve got about a million RSVPs, that’s quite extraordinary,” Conway said at the White House Monday. “And that they’re doing temperature checks, giving everybody a face mask, and hand sanitizer.”
“It sounds like the campaign is taking steps that comport with what the CDC has said, and possibly even Tulsa, or state of Oklahoma guidelines,” she continued. “I’d have to look at that, see what phase they’re in. They’re pretty well along there in Oklahoma.”
Conway called those decisions “good,” and “a recognition that there are guidelines in place that should be followed.”
“We certainly hope that the people in Oklahoma will adhere to all the reasonable guidelines,” she added.
Some context: Earlier Monday, Principal Deputy Communications Director for the Trump campaign Erin Perrine told Fox Business that “the campaign takes the safety and health of the American people very seriously,” and would be “taking precautions to make this a safe rally for rallygoers.”
CNN reported Sunday the director of the Tulsa Health Department said he wishes President Trump would postpone his planned campaign rally set to take place there on Saturday, citing concerns about a significant increase in local cases of Covid-19.
In an interview with the local newspaper, Tulsa World, Dr. Bruce Dart said, "I wish we could postpone this to a time when the virus isn't as large a concern as it is today."
The city's health department on Friday said it recorded its highest daily increase of coronavirus cases to date.
Trump on not postponing Tulsa rally: There won't be an empty seat
