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US Budget Deficit at Record High in June; Driven by Coronavirus

WASHINGTON — The U.S. had its biggest monthly budget deficit in history in June, $864 billion, driven by federal spending on programs to help deal with the economic impact of the coronavirus shutdowns, including the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses keep paying their workers, and the extra $600 per week in unemployment benefits. The total deficit for the first nine months of the budget year, which began on October 1st, is a record $2.74 trillion.

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Bill Would Help Military Spouses Save for Retirement

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — U.S. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire have introduced a bill that would help spouses of active-duty service members save for retirement by expanding access to employer-sponsored retirement plans. Collins and Hassan said the economic and health effects of the coronavirus pandemic pose an additional threat to saving for retirement, and military spouses face another hurdle. When military service members experience a permanent change of station move, their spouses often relocate with them, putting their own careers on hold. Under the Military Spouse Retirement Security Act, small employers, those with 100 workers or fewer, would be eligible for a tax credit up to $500 per year per military spouse.

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Trump Postpones New Hampshire Rally Over Tropical Storm

MIAMI (AP) — President Donald Trump is postponing his planned rally Saturday in New Hampshire citing a tropical storm threatening parts of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England. Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany tells reporters traveling with the president Friday to Florida that the event — slated to be held in an aircraft hangar in Portsmouth — will be delayed by a week or two. She cited the threat of Tropical Storm Fay, which is expected to bring rain to the region. The event was to mark Trump’s first political rally in three weeks, after his return to his signature campaign events from a coronavirus-induced hiatus was overshadowed by an embarrassing display of empty seats and questions about the campaign’s ability to attract people to large events in a pandemic.

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Study Suggests Fetal Coronavirus Infection is Possible

FILE – In this Thursday, May 7, 2020 file photo, a pregnant woman wearing a face mask and gloves holds her belly as she waits in line for groceries at a food pantry. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

 

MILAN, Italy (AP) — A small study strengthens evidence that a pregnant woman infected with the coronavirus might be able to spread it to her fetus. Researchers from Italy said Thursday that they studied 31 women with COVID-19 who delivered babies in March and April. They found signs of the virus in several samples of umbilical cord blood, the placenta and, in one case, breast milk. Doctors say women shouldn’t panic. This doesn’t mean there’s viable virus in those places and it’s too soon to change care. But, they say, it shows the need for pregnant women to wear masks and avoid infection.

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The American Pickers to Film in New Hampshire and Maine

Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, and their team are excited to return to Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont! They plan to film episodes of the hit series American Pickers throughout the area in September. They understand that with the proliferation of COVID-19, we are all facing very uncertain times. The American Pickers are taking the pandemic very seriously and will be following all guidelines and protocols for safe filming as outlined by each state. While they plan to be in New England in September, they will continue to re-schedule if conditions change for the worse. Regardless, they are excited to continue to reach the many collectors in the area to discuss their years of picking!

AMERICAN PICKERS is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on History. The hit show follows Mike and Frank, two of the most skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. They are always excited to find sizeable, unique collections and learn the interesting stories behind them. As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, Mike and Frank are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, the Pickers want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items. The pair
hopes to give historically significant objects a new lease on life, while learning a thing or two about America’s past along the way. Mike and Frank have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something they’ve never seen before. They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them.

AMERICAN PICKERS is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, send them your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with
photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 1-855-OLD-RUST.

For more information about The American Pickers go to HISTORY.COM

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US to Advise Health Care Workers to Reuse PPE

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence says the U.S. government will issue guidance encouraging front-line health care workers to reuse personal protective equipment. Pence said at a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing on Wednesday that PPE supplies remain “very strong.” But he says the Trump administration will be encouraging healthcare workers “to use some of the best practices” to “preserve and reuse” face masks and other protective equipment. Pence pointed to flattening rates of positive coronavirus tests in the hard-hit states and called for Americans to “keep doing what you’re doing.” But the head of the White House task force says states that have seen a recent spike in cases need to do clamp down on gatherings.

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