The Times-Union| Florida Times-Union

12:55 p.m. |Americans are sitting on record cash savings amid pandemic and uncertain economy

While millions of people could lose most or all of the $600 bonus in their weekly unemployment benefits, threatening to slow consumer spending and the nation's economic recovery, one thing could help cushion the blow: Americans have been saving lots of money during the COVID-19 crisis.

The savings rate the portion of monthly income that households are socking away hit a record 33.5% in April before edging down to a still outsized 19% in June, Commerce Department figures show. Before the pandemic, Americans were squirreling away an average 7.5% of income.| Read more

12:20 p.m. |Big Ten presidents have voted against playing college football this fall due to coronavirus concerns

The Big Ten presidents have votedagainst conducting a season in the fall, threepeople with knowledge of the decision confirmed to the Detroit Free Press.

The peoplerequested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the decision. A formal announcement is expected on Tuesday, the peoplesaid.The situation remains fluid as the details of what happens with a spring season remains unclear. | Read more

11:30 a.m. |Duval reports fewer than 100 new cases amid reduced testing

Duval County recorded fewer than 100 new COVID-19 cases for the first time in nearly two months in Monday's daily report, although the numbers were affected by asharply reduced volume of testing for the coronavirus pandemic.

The Florida Department of Health added 4,155 new cases of COVID-19 in Monday's daily report, for a new total of 536,961.Those were the fewest newly-added cases since June 23, when the health department tallied 3,289 new positive tests, but test volume sharply declined all across Floridato 58,153 laboratory results processed on Sunday.| Read more

9:35 a.m. |'Pragmatic and cautious': As some Americans avoid travel, others visit COVID-19 hot spots anyway

Jacqui Slay, a 38-year-old stay-at-home mom of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, planned her family trip toDisney World in Floridaa year ago. One month away from her scheduled tour in early September, she said she wasn't sure if she would go, citing recentrecord-high COVID-19 cases in Florida.

Slay is one of many Americans who faces a travel dilemma during theCOVID-19 pandemic: Is it worth therisk to traveland escape the monotony of quarantine life, or is it better to wait until the country has the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, more under control? | Read more

EARLIER

State adds 77 deaths, none in Northeast Florida

Northeast Florida recorded no additional deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Sunday's daily report, while statewide numbers were also reduced in comparison to recent levels as the United States surpassed the 5 million mark in COVID-19 cases. |Read more

COVID-19 outbreak expands in Baker County

Driven by a prison outbreak, Baker County has recorded surging coronavirus numbers over the past week, its COVID-19 totals more than doubling in the statistics of the Florida Department of Health.

Now, after months of ranking among the counties least touched by the novel coronavirus, Baker County is grappling with a fast-rising wave of infections, with 522positive tests within the past week to raise the county's cumulative total from 385to 907.| Read more

'Can you hear me?' America's first trial-by-Zoom comes to Duval County

Americas first Zoom trial with a binding verdict will come Monday to Duval County, to the courts remote civil division CV-E.

After months where criminal and civil justice has come to a halt, Duval County will see its first virtual trial Monday, a one-day affair for a lawsuit against a gentlemans club.| Read more

Mark Woods: More than numbers on the COVID frontline in Jacksonville

I wish everyone in Jacksonville couldve been on the line, listening to Dr. Jennifer Fulton.

I wish they couldve heard some of the stories behind some of our COVID numbers.

I wish they couldve heard her voice in April and now.| Read more

Brisk back to school sales tax holiday sales in Jacksonville despite COVID-19 pandemic

Saturday was the second day of the statewide Back to School Sales Tax Holiday, whichbegan Friday and concludes Sunday. During that period, residents won't have to pay state sales tax an approved list of back to school supplies.

This year the qualifying list of merchandise includes face masks and hand sanitizers because of the COVID-19 pandemic. | Read more

Disney World to cut theme park hours in September as visits drop amid COVID-19

The magic is back at Disney World, but for fewer hours a day.

Afterlower-than-expected attendance amid the coronavirus pandemic, Disney is scaling back operating hours at the Magic Kingdom and several other Florida theme parks.| Read more

'An administrative nightmare': Trump's executive action is a scramble for unemployment aid

President Donald Trumpsigned an executive orderand issued three memorandumsSaturday, including one that will provide an additional $400 per week in unemployment benefits to millions of out-of-work Americans following the economic fallout from thecoronavirus pandemic.

But theres a catch: Its unclear whether Trump has the authority to extend enhanced unemployment benefits by executive action while side-stepping Congress. It lowers the weekly bonus to $400 from the extra $600 that expired in late July, with states beingasked to cover 25% of the costs.| Read more

Family Dollar, Dollar Tree requiring masks for customers

Dollar Tree and Family Dollar havereversed course againabout the use of masks amid thecoronavirus pandemic.

The two retailers, both part of Dollar Tree, Inc., are now requiring shoppers wear masks likemost of the nation's largest retailers. | Read more

'Totally unacceptable': Testing delays force labs to prioritize COVID tests for some, not others

Federal officials and private labs acknowledge they must prioritize the nation's limited supply of coronavirus tests for hospitalized patients, health care workers and other high-risk individuals.But many Americans worried about contracting the sometimes deadly virus often must wait in long lines andseveral days for results.

Without a national plan on how to best allocate hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 tests each day, there simply is not enough capacity now to screen Americans who might unwittingly pass the virus to others.| Read more

Despite federal guidance, schools cite privacy laws to withhold info about COVID-19 cases

Thousands of American parents have already sent their children back to the classroom and millions more will soon join them amid fears about the raging pandemic and whether theyll even be notified when coronavirus hits their campuses.

School districts, health departments and state agencies across the country have provided mixed messages about whether they will release information about coronavirus cases in students, teachers and staff at K-12 campuses. | Read more

The deadly cost of COVID-19: Paul Simkonis was a retired Marine, woodworker

Paul M. Simkonis was a modest man devoted to his family, country and community.COVID-19 took his life March 18.| Read more

250 students and staff quarantined in Georgia school district after one week of school

After only one week of school, more than 250 students and teachers from one Georgia school district will be quarantined for two weeks after several teachers and students tested positive for COVID-19, according to the district's website.

Cherokee County School District, which is just north of Atlanta,is sharing regularupdateson coronavirus cases in its schools on its website.| Read more

12,000 crew members still on cruise ships in US waters months after COVID-19 pandemic shut cruising down

AkashDookhun, a Celebrity Cruises crew member from Mauritius, an island nationin southeastern Africa, has not set foot on dry land since he was on a port call in New Zealand in early March. And he doesn't knowwhen he'll stand on solid ground again.

Nearly five months after thecoronavirus pandemicshut down the cruise industry,more than 12,000 crew members remained on ships in U.S. waters, according to the U.S.Coast Guard. | Read more

'Feels like the world is against you': Young people struggle with finding mental health support amid COVID pandemic

Kathryn Boit feels "guilty for struggling so much" these past few months.

As the president of the Harvard Student Mental Health Liaisons, she has "college friends, acquaintances, and strangers reach out to me for resources and advice," she said. "I don't know the answers anymore."| Read more

Party killers: Colleges hope new rules will slow COVID-19 spread, students aren't convinced

Colleges want their students back this fall. That much is clear.

Whats less clear are the new rules for student conduct in the midst of a pandemic, and how universities will go about enforcing them, especially when the offensive behavior takes place off-campus or overnight.| Read more

Department of Health not giving schools guidance puts Duval in 'double bind situation'

When the Florida Department of Education ordered state schools to reopenthis fall, it was presented to superintendents as a choice: brick-and-mortar five-days-per-week orcoordinate with your local department of health

But a new review by the Gannett USA TODAY Network revealed that a directive from Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration suppressed county health directors' ability to adviseschool districts about remaining closed or reopening during a pandemic.

Jacksonville is no exception. | Read more

Gene Frenette:Momentum for college football season slipping away

Unmistakable cracks are forming across the college football landscape, and it almost feels like a matter of time before the dam starts breaking.

Look around, the momentum is heavily swinging more toward a canceled season than one in which all scheduled games would be played. | Read more

Health directors told to keep quiet as Florida leaders pressed to reopen classrooms

As Gov. Ron DeSantispushed this summerfor schools to reopen, state leaders told school boards they would need Health Department approval if they wanted to keep classrooms closed.

Then they instructed health directors not to give it.

Following a directive from DeSantis administration, county health directors across Florida refused to give school boards advice about one of the most wrenching public health decisions in modern history: whether to reopen schools in a worsening pandemic, a Gannett USA TODAY NETWORK review found.| Read more

1.8M jobs added in July, unemployment falls to 10.2% as some states halt reopening, others press ahead

The U.S. added 1.8 millionjobs in July as payroll growth slowed amid a split-screen economy that had employers stepping up hiring in parts of the country that continued to let businesses reopen, even as COVID-19 spikes forced Sunbelt firmsto pull back and lay off workers.

The unemployment rate fellto 10.2%from 11.1% in June, the Labor Department said Friday.| Read more

How do Duval students feel about going back to school? We asked them.

Worry. Masks. Dont feel safe. Sick.

Those are some of the words Duval County Public Schools students used most frequently when asked about returning to school.

With less than a month until the 2020-21 school year is supposed to start, the district has heard from hundreds of parents, teachers, bus drivers and other education stakeholders when it comes to its recently approved back-to-school plan. But what about the students? | Read more

Jacksonville distributing $3 million in additional COVID-19 aid

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday that city officials are working to distribute additional financial relief forsmall businesses, senior citizens and residents with disabilities.

The City Council recently added$2 million into its small business relief fund and $1 million into its relief program for senior residents and people with disabilities. The money comes from the federal CARES Act grant the city received earlier this summer. | Read more

The rest is here:

Coronavirus in Jacksonville: What you need to know for Monday, August 10 - The Florida Times-Union