Curbside voting, labor at the polls, mask billboards: News from around our 50 states

Alabama

Montgomery: Public schools across Alabama reported 723 cases of COVID-19 among students, teachers and employees in the last week, according to a new state dashboard that debuted Friday. It shows the number of cases reported by school systems to the state, but not numbers by individual schools. Some school systems are providing that information on their own sites. The dashboard does not include private schools. The Alabama Department of Public Health and the Alabama State Department of Education collaborated on the tool intended to provide parents with weekly information about the state of the virus outbreak in school systems. The numbers are self-reported by school systems. Not all systems reported cases. State Health Officer Scott Harris said the tool can help parents track the state of the pandemic in their child’s school system.

Alaska

Juneau: The Alaska Legislative Council approved a measure that requires lawmakers, employees and reporters to be screened for the coronavirus when entering the Capitol and to wear masks or face coverings in the building and other legislative offices. The council also voted Thursday to keep the Capitol building closed to the public until at least January, when the next Legislature convenes. Legislative staff and reporters will still be allowed into the building, KTOO Public Media reports. The council’s chair, Sen. Gary Stevens, said that while the Legislature could change the policies in January, he anticipates it will not as long as the pandemic persists. The council voted 9-1 to mandate face coverings and 8-2 to require screenings to enter the Capitol. Republican Rep. DeLena Johnson was the only lawmaker on the council to vote against both measures. The Republican from Palmer said the mask mandate wouldn’t be enforceable for legislators.

Arizona

Phoenix: The state reported its biggest spikes in coronavirus cases and deaths in months over the weekend. On Sunday, Arizona health officials reported more than 1,500 new COVID-19 cases for the third consecutive day and two additional deaths as the total death toll nears 6,000. The state Department of Health Services said the 1,527 cases Sunday increased Arizona’s total to 247,473 since the coronavirus pandemic began, with the known death toll now at 5,981. Health officials had reported 1,901 new cases Saturday along with 45 deaths. Saturday’s reported rise in the number of confirmed infections was the largest single-day increase since Aug. 1, following increases that have been growing over the past few days – from 1,044 on Wednesday to 1,315 on Thursday and 1,565 on Friday. The 45 deaths were the most reported in one day since Sept. 3.

Arkansas

Little Rock: A Republican candidate for the state Senate who dressed up like a member of the Ku Klux Klan for a Halloween event when he was in high school is facing criticism from former classmates and advocacy groups. Charles Beckham III is challenging state Sen. Bruce Maloch, D-Magnolia, in Tuesday’s election. Local and statewide groups spoke out against him in a public letter Wednesday in which they urged him to drop out of the race, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports. That same day, six of his former peers from the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science bought a full-page ad in the Magnolia Banner-News saying his decision to wear a Klan outfit “terrorized Black students.” Beckham did not respond to the Democrat-Gazette’s requests for comment Thursday but previously issued a statement apologizing “for any angst or grievances that I have caused anyone as a minor, as that is not the man that I am today.”

California

Sacramento: In-person voting started for most of the state’s counties over the weekend as local election officials – many for the first time – opened polling places days early in hopes of avoiding crushing crowds on Election Day. More than 22 million people are registered to vote in California, nearly 88% of all eligible adults. That’s the highest percentage heading into a general election in the past 80 years, according to the secretary of state’s office. This year, all voters got a ballot in the mail, part of the state’s effort to encourage people to vote remotely to avoid spreading the coronavirus that has killed more than 17,500 Californians and infected more than 900,000. So far, more than 9.4 million people have returned their ballots, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all votes Californians cast in the 2016 presidential election. In Los Angeles, voters can cast ballots in places like Dodger Stadium, the Hollywood Bowl and the Hollywood Pantages Theater.

Colorado

Pueblo: This southern Colorado city is imposing an overnight curfew for the next two weeks to stem a surge in the number of people hospitalized locally for the coronavirus, Mayor Nick Gradisar announced. Residents are banned from walking or driving within the city between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. in the move that started Friday, Gradisar said. Exceptions include essential errands such as shopping at groceries and pharmacies and going to work. Police will enforce the curfew in Pueblo, with a population of more than 110,000, the mayor said. “We haven’t done any modeling to know what differences this would make,” Gradisar told a news conference, according to The Pueblo Chieftain. “We think it will make a difference.” COVID-19 cases have tripled at Parkview Medical Center, which had 33 patients being treated for the virus Thursday – the highest number since March, Gradisar said. Only two intensive care unit beds were available, he said.

Connecticut

Storrs: The University of Connecticut on Friday ordered residential students in Storrs to stay away from all off-campus social gatherings until the middle of next week amid a spike in COVID-19 cases. UConn reported 15 new positive tests for the coronavirus Friday, the highest single-day number since late September. Twelve of those were from students, including nine who live off campus. UConn Dean of Students Eleanor Daugherty sent an email Friday saying that anyone living on campus and caught attending an off-campus party over the Halloween weekend will be subject to school discipline. She said the prohibition, which runs through Wednesday, does not include voting Tuesday. “On campus, we continue to be healthy and there is no indication in the wastewater or in testing results that we are seeing a comparable increase in COVID-19,” she wrote.

Delaware

Newark: Police have raided several parties and charged more than 60 people with violating a coronavirus ordinance on unlawful gatherings. The charges were filed after police responded to loud music complaints at three separate residences late Thursday and early Friday. Authorities said officers found between 30 and 40 people at the first location shortly before midnight. Some fled after seeing police, but 18 were cited for violating the ordinance. Police responding to a second location five minutes later found more than 12 people inside an apartment. Some climbed out windows after seeing police, but a dozen were cited. A police visit to a third location about an hour later resulted in 33 people being cited. University of Delaware police assisted Newark Police at all three locations and referred any students for possible sanctions by the school. The ordinance prohibits more than 12 people from gathering inside a private residence without a permit.

District of Columbia

Washington: Protesters showed up at Mayor Muriel Bowser’s home Saturday to call on her to cancel all rent for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, WUSA-TV reports. Some wore costumes and chanted “no job, no rent.” About 200 protesters marched from Fort Stevens Recreation Center to Shepherd Park, where they merged with another group of tenants. Both groups then marched together to Bowser’s house, where they were met with police presence, according to the organization Stomp Out Slumlords. Police officers were outside Bowser’s home when protesters arrived. Members of the organization left a petition for the mayor outside the gate of her home, which they documented in a Twitter video. Bowser has already extended an eviction moratorium until the state of emergency for D.C. is lifted.

Florida

Orlando: A pregnant woman didn’t let labor stop her from casting her vote in the presidential election, refusing to go to the hospital until she filled out her ballot. Officials with the Orange County Supervisor of Elections said the woman was already in labor when she arrived at the polling site with her husband Tuesday afternoon, news outlets report. Elections employee Karen Briceno Gonzalez said the husband asked for a ballot for his wife and later told the staff that she was in the car, in labor and refusing to go to the hospital until she was able to vote. Briceno Gonzalez said she rushed outside to give the woman her ballot and check her ID. The staffer thought the woman would fill it out later, but while doing some controlled Lamaze breathing, the woman filled the ballot out right away. Elections clerk Eileen Deliz said the unexpected incident delivered a bunch of smiles to the election workers.

Georgia

Atlanta: Republican Gov. Brian Kemp tested negative for COVID-19 after having had “direct exposure” to someone who tested positive, but he is quarantining as a precaution, according to a statement posted to his official Twitter account Friday. The statement said first lady Marty Kemp also tested negative and is “not known to have been exposed to a confirmed case.” In a separate announcement Friday, U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson said he had tested positive for the virus. Both Kemp and Ferguson attended a Thursday night campaign event in a barbecue restaurant in Hogansville, Georgia, with 100-150 people in attendance, according to the LaGrange Daily News. Hogansville Mayor Bill Stankiewicz, who attended the event, said that “it was close quarters, and Drew (Ferguson) did not have a mask on … for much of the evening,” the newspaper reports.

Hawaii

Wailuku: Two residents of the island of Lanai infected with the coronavirus have been flown to hospitals as the number of cases on the island increased, health officials said. A COVID-19 cluster on the island increased to 97 reported cases by early Wednesday afternoon, the Hawaii Department of Health reported. One patient on Lanai was transported to Maui, and the other was moved to Oahu, Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino said. Two others could be taken to Lanai Community Hospital and later transported to Maui or Oahu hospitals if needed, Victorino said. Lanai is under a stay-at-home order until Nov. 11 because of an outbreak reported last week that officials said started at large social gatherings and spread among households. Victorino said Wednesday that there were nine new cases in Maui County, including seven on Lanai.

Idaho

Boise: The state will dedicate $4.7 million more in federal coronavirus aid funding to upgrade its computer networks and security. A state panel unanimously approved the proposal Wednesday. The funds will upgrade equipment and services overseen by the state’s Office of Information Technology Services. The agency’s administrator Jeff Weak told the state’s Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee that the pandemic has “profoundly changed how Idaho state government operates,” the Idaho Press reports. The sudden shift from office work to working from home required substantial upgrades to the state’s computer systems. The agency was initially allocated $5.2 million in federal coronavirus aid money May 4. The Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee allocated an additional $2 million in June to upgrade the state’s firewalls.

Illinois

Chicago: Police are prepared for any civil unrest surrounding Tuesday’s election, city officials said Friday. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said residents could expect to see more police in uniform and police vehicles parked close to commercial areas downtown and in Chicago neighborhoods starting over Halloween weekend. The 10-day strategy is similar to Chicago’s response following civil unrest this summer. Lightfoot said she’s hopeful that people will be peaceful if there are protests as election results are tallied and announced. But she said police, other law enforcement and city agencies are well prepared to respond to any violence or law-breaking. People also should feel secure voting as the coronavirus pandemic continues, Lightfoot said. Election and city health authorities said people voting in person must wear masks. Polling places also will use social distancing, plexiglass dividers and regular cleaning to minimize health risks.

Indiana

Indianapolis: The state reported more than 3,000 new coronavirus cases for a third straight day Saturday as new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continued to surge. The Indiana State Department of Health also reported 46 newly recorded COVID-19 deaths, raising the state’s pandemic death toll to 4,332, including confirmed and presumed coronavirus infections. The 3,505 new infections reported Saturday came two days after the state agency reported 3,649 new infections Thursday, a daily high and the first time Indiana had recorded more than 3,000 positive tests in one day. The state recorded 3,205 new infections Friday. Indiana’s seven-day rolling average for newly confirmed cases rose to 2,714 on Saturday – the highest level the state has seen during the pandemic and more than triple the seven-day rolling average reported Sept. 22. Holcomb late Friday afternoon issued an executive order extending the state’s public health emergency.

Iowa

Logan: A surge in coronavirus cases has led officials in Harrison County to require people to wear face masks in public. The Harrison County Board on Thursday approved the mask mandate in a 2-1 vote, according to television station KETV. Supervisor John Straight, who voted for the mandate, said he hopes requiring masks will help reduce virus numbers in the western Iowa county, where the positivity rate of the virus has topped 20% for three straight weeks. “It’s really a hot issue, and it is hard,” Straight said. Supervisor Walter Utman also voted for the mandate, while Tony Smith voted no. All three supervisors are Republicans in a county that heavily leans toward the GOP. Outbreaks in elder care facilities have been driving numbers up, said Brad Brake, the county’s health administrator. Brake said 266 of the county’s more than 700 confirmed cases come from nursing homes, and 16 COVID-19 deaths had been recorded in the county as of Friday.

Kansas

Olathe: The state’s largest county has reported a record number of new COVID-19 cases, and the county’s health director said the spread of misinformation is a significant factor in the spike. The Kansas City Star reports Johnson County health officials confirmed 287 new cases Friday, along with two additional deaths. That brings the total number of coronavirus deaths in Johnson County to 203. A statement from the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment said community spread is on the rise, putting people at risk for serious complications that can result in hospitalization and death. “We are getting into very dangerous territory,” said Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of the county health department. “This is putting our residents at risk. And rhetoric around herd immunity and deliberate infections, masks don’t work, and other inaccurate information is hurting our efforts to contain the spread of this virus.”

Kentucky

Frankfort: The state reported a near-record number of new coronavirus cases Friday as the surging outbreak continued sending more people to hospitals, Gov. Andy Beshear said. “This is a dangerous time. We’re moving the wrong way,” the Democratic governor said as he urged Kentuckians to wear masks in public to protect themselves and those around them. Beshear reported 1,941 new COVID-19 cases – the second-highest statewide daily total since the pandemic began – and 15 more virus-related deaths. The state’s positivity rate reached 6.19%, the highest level since May 6, he said. The recent surge has led to rising hospitalizations. On Friday, there were 974 patients hospitalized in Kentucky due to the virus, the governor said, noting the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care rose to 241. “Remember, the more cases, the more people in the hospital, the more people in the ICU and the more people who die,” Beshear said.

Louisiana

Baton Rouge: Attorney General Jeff Landry is asking a judge to void Gov. John Bel Edwards’ coronavirus restrictions and declare them unenforceable, in an ongoing legal battle over a House Republican petition seeking to revoke the Democratic governor’s emergency order. The Republican attorney general, representing House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, filed court documents defending the legality of the petition that House Republicans filed trying to rescind Edwards’ statewide mask mandate, business restrictions and crowd size limits. Edwards sued Schexnayder and lawmakers last week, asking state district Judge William Morvant in Baton Rouge to declare that the governor’s emergency rules remain intact and enforceable and that the petition process used by Republicans to try to nullify them is unconstitutional. Landry asked Morvant to force Edwards to terminate the public health emergency as the petition required and rule the coronavirus provisions null and void.

Maine

Portland: The state topped 100 new coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period for the first time since the start of the pandemic, setting a single-day record, the Maine Center for Disease Control reported Friday. The 103 cases, reported Friday, followed several days of growing numbers and increasingly dire warnings from public health officials. “Take action now. For your sake, and for the sake of your family and community, wear a mask and stay apart. This is serious,” Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine CDC, tweeted Friday. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Maine has risen over the past two weeks from 30.6 on Oct. 16 to to 70.4 on Oct. 30. The seven-day has roughly doubled from two weeks ago. With the new numbers, the state has had a total of 6,570 coronavirus cases, while the number of deaths remained unchanged at 146. Because of new outbreaks, Somerset and Washington counties joined Waldo County with a “yellow” designation when it comes to school safety during the pandemic. All other counties were green.

Maryland

Baltimore: With the combination of a Dec. 30 deadline and a pandemic likely to extend into 2021 looming, county leaders across the state are asking for additional time to spend federal coronavirus relief money. Executives said they’re thinking about a COVID-19 resurgence and the regular flu season as well as the continuing health and economic problems that constituents and businesses could face in 2021, The Baltimore Sun reports. But with additional relief stalled in Congress, counties acknowledge time is running out to spend the roughly $240 million left from the federal funding approved in March. After announcing a $250 million disbursement from the state’s Rainy Day account to fund a series of relief programs meant to bolster the economy during the coronavirus pandemic, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan said last month that counties should consider using some of their federal money to match state efforts.

Massachusetts

Worcester: Students at Assumption University have been told to shelter in place for a week in response to a cluster of coronavirus cases on campus. The order took effect Friday and came after eight new positive cases among students in the prior week, school officials said. In addition, more than 100 students are in quarantine. Students will be restricted to their dorm rooms except for medical emergencies, twice-a-week COVID-19 tests and picking up meals, President Francesco Cesareo said in a statement. Classes will continue remotely. Students who violate the shelter-in-place order will be sent home, according to the university. If they leave campus on their own, they will not be able to return until January. The Roman Catholic school has about 2,400 students.

Michigan

Dewitt Township: An entire police department is off duty because of the coronavirus. DeWitt Township closed the department Wednesday due to some positive cases. Other officers and staff were told to quarantine, township manager Andrew Dymczyk said. The department’s 18 employees include 15 officers, he said. The township, which has a population of 15,000, said anyone who came in close contact with a member of the police department between Oct. 14 and Oct. 27 should monitor their health. Police in neighboring communities, as well as state police and Clinton County sheriff’s deputies, were available to respond to calls in DeWitt. Meanwhile, Michigan reported a single-day record of new confirmed coronavirus cases Saturday with 3,792. The state health department also said there were 31 additional deaths, although 20 were from a records review and could have occurred days or weeks ago.

Minnesota

Minneapolis: State health officials on Friday reported a single-day high of 3,165 new coronavirus infections, with 18 deaths. The state also reported 738 hospitalizations, another single-day high, with 176 people in intensive care. Despite the rising hospitalizations, Dr. Rahul Koranne of the Minnesota Hospital Association told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that hospitals are in a better position to handle the surge than earlier this year. “If there continues to be increased community spread, and that results in a much higher number of Minnesotans needing both ICU care or non-ICU care, we have, operationally, dials that we will continue to fine-tune within the hospitals,” he told the newspaper. State infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann said infections among staff and residents of long-term care facilities have started to increase again – with 186 identified on Tuesday alone.

Mississippi

Itta Bena: An entire city that was under threat of losing electricity before the end of the year because of unpaid bills will have more time to find a new power provider after the state stepped in, citing concerns about safety and public health. “That is the fair, right and honest thing for us to do,” Brandon Presley, a Mississippi public service commissioner, said at a meeting Thursday night in Itta Bena, a city of 1,800 in the Mississippi Delta. “We are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. It is not an option for electricity to be shut off in the town of Itta Bena – it’s that simple.” Municipal Energy Agency of Mississipi, a wholesale electricity provider, notified officials in Itta Bena in late August that it was pulling the plug Dec. 1. MEAM said the city racked up $800,000 in debt over the course of 10 years. Itta Bena has faced a slew of economic challenges throughout its history rooted in slavery, racial inequality, white flight and a declining tax base.

Missouri

St. Louis: Health department directors from across the state are walking away from their jobs after many of them were threatened and harassed over the actions they have taken to curb the coronavirus pandemic. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Friday reported that at least a dozen county health department directors have vacated their jobs since March. “It’s a common feeling among directors,” said Kelley Vollmar, chair of the Missouri Association of Local Public Health Agencies. “They are tired. They are trying to stand strong and stand up for their staff, but we are mothers and children and sisters first, and those family relationships you have to make sure are kept safe.” Vollmar, who also is director of the Jefferson County Health Department, said staff members also are retiring early because of the stress and verbal attacks. Those jobs are now difficult to fill, she said.

Montana

Helena: The state reported a daily record of 1,063 new cases of COVID-19 and 27 more deaths Friday as it kept pace with the national surge of infections. Since the pandemic began, the state has confirmed nearly 32,000 cases of the respiratory virus and at least 364 deaths. Nearly 360 people remain hospitalized, health officials said. The state’s previous one-day high was 924 cases reported Oct. 21. Montana had confirmed 5,462 cases in the prior seven days, or an average of 779 a day. Medical providers and COVID-19 survivors have been urging residents to wear masks to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Hospital workers have said their resources are strained, and the state health department is seeking court orders to get five businesses in Flathead County to comply with mask mandates.

Nebraska

Omaha: The state’s recent surge in coronavirus cases has prompted one expert to predict that the number of deaths in Nebraska linked to the virus could nearly quadruple by the start of 2021. Dr. James Lawler, a director at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Global Center for Health Security in Omaha, told the Omaha World-Herald on Friday that the state could have more than 2,500 COVID-19-related deaths by January if current trends continue without more stringent public health measures or better compliance with the measures already in place. The state has so far reported 652 deaths linked to the virus. Nebraska reported 1,087 new virus cases Saturday to give the state a total of 70,732 cases so far. The rate of new cases in the state ranked sixth-highest in the nation Saturday. And the number of people hospitalized with the virus set another new record at 612 Saturday – more than 2.5 times the spring peak of 232 set May 27.

Nevada

Carson City: The number of known coronavirus cases in the state topped 100,000 on Saturday, and Gov. Steve Sisolak warned that “now is not the time to get complacent” as the state’s outbreak heats up. State officials reported the total number of cases had reached 100,763, up from 977 on Friday. There was no increase from the total of 1,777 deaths reported Friday. Sisolak, a Democrat, urged residents follow public health guidance, including wearing face coverings, practicing social distancing, avoiding large crowds and washing hands frequently. He urged people to take the virus seriously to protect the economy and other people. “If we don’t, we will face tough choices and trade-offs that will be devastating to the livelihood of our state,” he said in a statement. The seven-day rolling averages of daily new cases and the rate of positive tests in Nevada increased over the past two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

New Hampshire

Concord: The coronavirus is catching up to the state’s northernmost county. In Coos County, with an increasing number of positive COVID-19 tests, WMUR-TV reports Berlin and Gorham emergency management officials moved to recommend residents not participate in group Halloween events over the weekend. Trick-or-treating was canceled in Pittsburg. In Berlin, public schools were moving to remote learning for two weeks; at least one positive test was confirmed within school buildings. White Mountain Community College also went to remote learning. In Colebrook, the Caledonian-Record reports school officials said they were temporarily closing Colebrook Academy and Elementary School for two weeks after a positive case was reported. Republican Gov. Chris Sununu warned that coronavirus cases are rising in the state, and the increase could continue. New Hampshire recorded a record 205 new cases Saturday.

New Jersey

Trenton: The state kicked off its open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act on Sunday, debuting its state-based health care exchange and giving residents six extra weeks to sign up for coverage. New Jersey this year is joining the District of Columbia and 14 other states in operating its own state-based exchange, instead of the federal Healthcare.gov. The new website GetCoveredNewJersey.gov lets residents compare the prices of plans and sign up for plans in the state’s individual market. New Jersey’s enrollment period will stretch to Jan. 31, six weeks longer than last year and more than a month beyond the federal exchange’s deadline of Dec. 15. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration says it set up the new site to “secure better access” to health coverage. This year’s open enrollment comes just as the Supreme Court is about to hear arguments a week after the election in a case aimed at overturning the Affordable Care Act.

New Mexico

Albuquerque: The state on Friday marked a grim milestone, as deaths related to the coronavirus topped 1,000. The statewide toll surpassed the mark with the addition of 13 more deaths, the most in a single day since the pandemic began. They included two women in their 20s and another in her 30s who all had underlying conditions. The tally came as New Mexico struggles with increasing rates of spread and record daily case totals and hospitalizations. In just a week, the number of deaths in the state jumped by about 43%. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered flags to fly at half-staff starting Monday for a week of mourning. She called it “an unfathomable tragedy,” saying the drumbeat of a few more deaths every day should not diminish the acute feeling of loss. “Every one of these 1,000 New Mexicans was loved by someone. Every one of these 1,000 lost New Mexicans leaves a hole in a family, a community, our state,” she said in a statement.

New York

Albany: New York starting Wednesday will require travelers from non-neighboring states to get a coronavirus test before and after they arrive in the state if they want to avoid a full 14-day quarantine. For months New York had attempted to maintain a list of states with high COVID-19 infection rates, where travelers from those states would be required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. It is now scrapping that effort amid a nationwide surge. Instead, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday that travelers from all non-neighboring states who don’t want to quarantine for two weeks must test negative for COVID-19 no more than three days before they enter New York. Individuals arriving without proof of a negative test won’t be stopped from entering the state but will be required to quarantine for 14 days. Individuals who tested negative will still have to quarantine for three days after they arrive and then take a second test.

North Carolina

Charlotte: Health officials on Friday eased a shutdown of a church where a COVID-19 outbreak stemming from a weeklong event led to 181 cases and six deaths. Mecklenburg County health officials announced the decision on the same day 35 new COVID-19 cases and one additional fatality were reported from the outbreak at the United House of Prayer for All People, The Charlotte Observer reports. The church was prohibited the prior weekend from holding in-person gatherings at its buildings after convocation events last month resulted in the outbreak. County officials have said church leaders initially failed to comply with public health protocols and refused to help contact tracers identify who attended church events, which kept investigators from potentially containing viral spread. The modified order, effective immediately, allows nearly a dozen House of Prayer locations in Mecklenburg County to reopen with capacity limits.

North Dakota

Bismarck: The state reported a record number of new coronavirus cases for the third straight day Saturday as health officials reported 1,433 people have tested positive. The uptick in new cases comes as the state ends its deadliest month of the pandemic. The Department of Health reported 253 deaths this month, far outpacing any other month. The total death toll stands at 524 after health officials reported 12 more deaths Saturday. The state has posted the nation’s worst virus growth per capita over the past two weeks. There were 1,574 new cases per 100,000 people, according to Johns Hopkins researchers. The rampant spread of the coronavirus is putting the state’s hospitals to the test, as the steady influx of people requiring inpatient stays has left only about 200 regular beds and 20 in intensive care units vacant, health officials indicated Friday.

Ohio

Columbus: As the state exceeded 3,000 new coronavirus cases Sunday for the third time in four days, Gov. Mike DeWine issued a pre-Election Day statement urging Ohioans to put aside their political divisions and rise to “higher ground” in the fight against the pandemic. DeWine said COVID-19 “cares not whether we voted for Donald Trump or Joe Biden,” calling it “an enemy that is relentless and clearly on the march.” He said that “in two days when this election is over, we must – as Ohioans – immediately pull together to fight” the “new enemy” of COVID-19. The Ohio Department of Health reported Sunday that another 3,300 Ohioans have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the statewide total since the start of the pandemic to 219,000. While the daily case total falls short of Friday’s record single-day case total of 3,845, it represents 385 more cases than what was reported Saturday.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City: Billboards supporting a statewide mask mandate in schools have been erected across the state. The billboards, paid for by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, read “Endangering Teachers for Politics” and “State Education Board votes no on masks.” The board voted 4-3 in July to recommend, not require, masks in schools unless the a school’s home county has 1.43 or more cases per 100,000 residents. All Oklahoma’s counties are currently at that level or higher, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Advocacy group chairman Joe Dorman said the board should vote again on the question at its next meeting, scheduled for Nov. 19. “We want policymakers to see this billboard and understand we are serious about this,” Dorman said. State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister was among those who voted for the requirement over the summer.

Oregon

Salem: In what would be a first in the U.S., possession of small amounts of heroin, cocaine, LSD and other hard drugs could be decriminalized in the state under a ballot measure that voters are deciding in Tuesday’s election. Measure 110 is one of the most watched initiatives in Oregon because it would drastically change how the state’s justice system treats people caught with amounts for their personal use. Instead of being arrested, going to trial and facing possible jail time, the users would have the option of paying $100 fines or attending new, free addiction recovery centers. The centers would be funded by tax revenue from retail marijuana sales in the state that was the country’s first to decriminalize marijuana possession. Countries including Portugal, the Netherlands and Switzerland have already decriminalized possession of small amounts of hard drugs, according to the United Nations.

Pennsylvania

Harrisburg: More than 80 tenured and tenure-track faculty members at a western Pennsylvania university have been told they may lose their jobs at the end of the 2020-21 academic year, part of more than 100 possible job cuts at five universities in the commonwealth, union officials said. Faculty union officials said retrenchment letters, or furlough letters, were sent to 81 faculty members at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and 21 at Edinboro University. Also receiving letters were six members at Cheyney University, three at Mansfield University and two at Lock Haven University. The reductions at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, combined with retirements and nonrenewal of temporary contracts, would mean job losses totaling about 128 full-time posts and elimination of the entire faculties of several departments, said David Chambers, a political science professor and vice president of the faculty union’s IUP chapter.

Rhode Island

Providence: Gov. Gina Raimondo on Friday reduced the maximum number of people allowed at casual social gatherings from 15 to 10, barred spectators from youth sporting events, closed indoor sports facilities, and ordered businesses to remind customers to wear masks in an effort to stem a rising wave of new coronavirus cases. The restrictions were announced on a day when the state Department of Health reported another 482 confirmed cases and a daily test positivity rate of 3.3%. “Unfortunately, things aren’t getting any better,” the Democratic governor said at a news conference. State data is clear that the spread is being fueled by small, unstructured social gatherings where people let their guard down and stop wearing masks, and not in structured settings such as workplaces and schools, she said. So she told residents to limit their social network to the same 10 people and avoid all nonessential activities.

South Carolina

Greenville: After finally knocking down a two-month summer spike in COVID-19 cases in the state, officials are worried things will get worse again if people don’t continue to wear masks and stay socially distant throughout the holidays. The new hot spot in the state is around Greenville, where 1,600 COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed in the past two weeks – or nearly 10% of all cases since the pandemic began in mid-March. Mayor Knox White told the residents in his mostly conservative, business-oriented city that failing to take precautions and allowing the virus to continue to spread rapidly is a danger not just to their health but to their pocketbooks because even if businesses aren’t shut down, people may be too scared to go out and spend money. “We determine where the COVID goes. We determine where the economy goes,” White said at a Friday news conference.

South Dakota

Sioux Falls: State health officials on Sunday reported a fifth straight day of more than 1,000 cases of the coronavirus, lifting the total number of positive tests above 45,000. The update showed 1,332 new infections. Twelve deaths were reported in the last day, increasing total fatalities due to complications from COVID-19 to 437. There are 421 people hospitalized, including 79 in intensive care units. Health officials said there were 21,827 new infections in October, following 8,880 in September. The number of people being treated in medical facilities across the state doubled in October. There were about 1,517 new cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks, which ranks the state second in the country behind North Dakota for new cases per capita, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University. South Dakota broke its record for new coronavirus infections reported in one day Friday, with 1,560.

Tennessee

Memphis: After saying it might not provide updated COVID-19 case data over the weekend as it upgraded its national electronic disease surveillance system, Tennessee reported an increase of more than 1,180 cases statewide Saturday. The Tennessee Department of Health announced in a news release late Friday that it might not be able to update its virus case data Saturday and Sunday due to the upgrade. But Tennessee reported an increase of 12 deaths Saturday, raising the state’s total to 3,353. The upgrade will not affect test result notification for patients, the health department said. There may be a slight delay of less than 24 hours in case investigation and contact tracing efforts of newly identified cases, officials said. Shelby County, the state’s largest by population, reported 284 additional COVID-19 cases and two deaths Saturday. More than 37,700 cases and a total of 573 deaths have been reported in the county that includes Memphis.

Texas

Austin: The state Supreme Court on Sunday denied a Republican-led petition to toss nearly 127,000 ballots cast at drive-thru voting places in the Houston area. The state’s all-Republican high court rejected the request from GOP activists and candidates without explaining its decision. The effort to have the Harris County ballots thrown out is still set to be taken up during an emergency hearing in federal court Monday. Conservative Texas activists have railed against expanded voting access in Harris County, where a record 1.4 million early votes have already been cast. The county is the nation’s third largest and a crucial battleground in Texas. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen is expected to rule on the same issue Monday. Hanen’s decision to hear arguments on the brink of Election Day drew attention from voting rights activists. The Texas Supreme Court also rejected a nearly identical challenge last month.

Utah

Salt Lake City: Gov. Gary Herbert said Friday that he is “disgusted” after someone shot at a state health department office in what he called an attempt to intimidate public health employees. The agency said someone shot at its office overnight in Salt Lake City suburb Millcreek with what appeared to be a pellet gun. The vandalism occurred the night before the state reported its highest daily COVID-19 case count Friday. “I am disgusted by the attempts to intimidate public health workers,” Herbert said in a statement to Fox 13. No one was injured in the shooting. The state health department reported a new daily record for confirmed coronavirus cases Friday with 2,292. Utah also surpassed the grim milestone of 600 deaths from the coronavirus. The state issued an emergency alert on mobile phones warning about the record number of cases and urging residents in high-transmission areas to follow mandatory mask orders and rules that curtail social gatherings to 10 or fewer people.

Vermont

Montpelier: The state is experiencing multiple coronavirus outbreaks that are growing, and cases are turning up in more schools and child care programs, Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said Friday. An outbreak stemming from an indoor ice rink has grown to nearly 90 coronavirus cases in 18 towns in four counties around the state, officials said. The outbreak associated with hockey and broomball leagues at the Central Vermont Memorial Civic Center in Montpelier led to four additional outbreaks, with the largest at St. Michael’s College, which now has at least 41 cases, said Michael Pieciak, the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. The three other subsequent outbreaks are at Union Elementary School in Montpelier and two businesses. “Now we’re seeing what happens when we let our guard down, even just a little bit, here in Vermont,” Levine said.

Virginia

Richmond: The state’s voters on Tuesday will determine the staying power of a “blue wave” that flipped two competitive congressional districts two years ago, while also casting ballots for a U.S. Senate seat and the presidency. As in other states, voters were deciding between Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden. Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Warner is running for reelection against a little-known Republican challenger. Virginia’s election features three competitive House races, including two seats that were flipped from red to blue in 2018. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters are required to show photo IDs, and anyone not already registered will not be able to cast a ballot. Virginia doesn’t allow same-day registration.

Washington

Olympia: State health officials reported more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases Friday, marking the first time the number has surpassed 1,000 since mid-July. The Washington Department of Health reported 1,047 cases Friday, saying it’s more evidence that another surge has arrived. These upward trends threaten the progress made toward containment and could impede other statewide progress in the future, state officials said in a news release. State Health Officer Kathy Lofy said officials are also concerned about the risk of overwhelming hospital systems when they see spikes like this. “Our hospitals do not have unlimited capacity,” she said. An outbreak in University of Washington sororities and fraternities has also continued with 16 COVID-19 cases reported last week. As of Thursday afternoon, at total of 321 positive student cases have been confirmed involving 19 of the 45 organizations, auniversity spokesperson said.

West Virginia

Beckley: Tamarack is temporarily closed after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The West Virginia Parkways Authority, which manages the popular tourist attraction, announced the closure Thursday. Tamarack will undergo a deep cleaning and will reopen when it is safe to do so, according to a news release. The reopening date has not yet been determined. “Closing for a short period of time while we follow the proper sanitization procedures at Tamarack is the best thing for the safety and well-being of all West Virginians and all travelers on the West Virginia Turnpike,” said Jeff Miller, director of the Parkways Authority. The authority will continue to follow all state and federal guidelines around the new coronavirus, according to the news release.

Wisconsin

Madison: The seven-day average for new coronavirus cases hit another record high Friday as the state confirmed for the first time that five people have died within the prison system. Wisconsin reported an all-time high for new cases in a single day Saturday as 5,278 people tested positive. Deaths from the virus also passed 2,000 as the Department of Health Services reported 59 more deaths, bringing the total to 2,031. The state saw more deaths during October than any other of the pandemic, with 704 of the state’s 2,031 COVID-19 deaths marked this month. The Wisconsin State Journal reported that five inmates have died from COVID-19, according to a total released by the Department of Corrections under pressure from criminal justice groups and the newspaper. The deaths come after a series of coronavirus outbreaks in several prisons over the past few months, totaling more than 4,300 positive cases among inmates as of Friday.

Wyoming

Casper: A proposed state constitutional amendment that would allow cities and towns to take on more debt for sewer projects will be on the ballot Tuesday. Currently the state constitution limits municipal debt to 4% of the value of taxable property within the municipality. Water systems are exempt. An exception for sewage systems allows an additional 4% debt to be incurred, the Casper Star-Tribune reports. The Legislature voted in favor of the constitutional amendment in 2019. If approved by voters, the change would allow the Legislature to write a law setting the debt limit for municipal sewer projects. The section of the state constitution at issue was last updated in 1962. Wyoming law hasn’t advanced with technology that has made sewage systems more expensive to repair, proponents of the change say.

From USA TODAY Network and wire reports