CORONAVIRUS UPDATES… The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. has reached 36,306,917 and the nation’s death toll stands at 619,093, according to figures released last night by Johns Hopkins University. Over the past 28 days, there have been 2,331,082 new cases and 10,793 deaths… The Supreme Court yesterday declined to block Indiana University’s requirement that all students receive the COVID-19 vaccine before attending classes in the fall semester. Justice Amy Coney Barrett unilaterally issued the ruling denying the request by eight Indiana students.
U.S. SENDING TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN… The Pentagon has announced plans to send 3,000 troops to safely remove State Department staff from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Marines are sending two infantry battalions while the Army is deploying another. The emergency move comes as a Taliban takeover of the country is expected within weeks, if not days.
BORDER SURGE.. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledged yesterday the U.S. is seeing an “unprecedented” number of migrants illegally crossing the border. Mayorkas said border officials have been shocked by the sharpness of the rise. Last month, Customs and Border Protection apprehended 212,672 people and expelled 95,788. The number of migrants detained at the border was the highest monthly total in two decades.
CENSUS DATA RELEASED… 2020 Census data released yesterday found that the U.S. is more diverse and more multiracial than ever before. People of color represented 43 percent of the total U.S. population, marking a 9-percent rise from 2010. The non-Hispanic White share of the population dropped six points to 57 percent in 2020. Detailed data from the 2020 census is likely to have an impact on upcoming federal elections, starting with next year’s midterms.
HEAT WAVE… A current heat wave gripping the nation has left nearly 200 million Americans living under heat advisories. There are 35 states under heat advisories and residents are being urged to stay inside. Some of the highest temperatures are expected to be recorded in the Northwest. Record highs are also on the forecast for the Northeast, with broiling temperatures in Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh and New York City. Forecasters say added humidity could make the red-hot temperatures even more dangerous.
ENTERTAINMENT
BRITNEY SPEARS’ FATHER SEEKS DEAL… Britney Spears’ father is seeking a deal to step down as conservator of her estate. Jamie Spears expressed a willingness to back away as conservator just weeks after his daughter’s lawyers filed a petition to remove him and replace him with a CPA. He hasn’t said when he might leave. Britney Spears has accused her father of conservatorship abuse and says the experience traumatized.
HORATIO SANZ FACES SEXUAL-ASSAULT ALLEGATION… Former “Saturday Night Live” castmember Horatio Sanz is accused of plying a 17-year-old with alcohol and sexually assaulting her at a party in 2002. A woman in Pennsylvania says she was just 15 when Sanz started flirting with her and he knew she was underage. The suit also names NBCUniversal as a defendant, claiming the network should have interceded. Sanz’s attorney denies the allegation.
SPORTS
NATIONAL LEAGUE
N.Y. METS 4 – Washington 1 (7 innings)… Brandon Nimmo belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the second inning, added a run-scoring single in the fourth and the Mets breezed past the Nationals in the opener of a doubleheader. Marcus Stroman (8-11) gave up a run on three hits over 5-1/3 innings.
N.Y. METS 5 – Washington 4 (7 innings)… Pete Alonso’s one-out solo homer in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the Mets a sweep of the twinbill. Jonathan Villar went 3-for-3 with a solo homer.
St. Louis 7 – PITTSBURGH 6… Paul Goldschmidt’s run-scoring double in the top of the ninth inning proved to be the difference in the Cardinals’ win over the Pirates. Paul DeJong and Lars Nootbaar hit two-run homers in the fourth.
PHILADELPHIA 2 – L.A. Dodgers 1… Five pitchers combined on a three-hitter as the Phillies clipped the Dodgers. Bryce Harper homered and singled home a run for Philadelphia.
Milwaukee 17 – CHI. CUBS 4… The Brewers unleashed a 22-hit attack in clobbering the Cubs. Manny Pina unloaded a grand slam and homered with a runner aboard. Luis Urias went 5-for-6 with a pair of homers and five RBIs. Jace Peterson went 5-for-5 with a two-run homer and knocked in four runs.
Cincinnati 12 – ATLANTA 3… Jesse Winker went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and the Reds pounded the Braves. Tyler Naquin blasted a three-run shot and Kyle Farmer homered with a runner aboard. Jonathan India and Tyler Stephenson also went deep. Victor Gutierrez (8-3) allowed a run on five hits over six innings.
SAN FRANCISCO 7 – Colorado 0… Logan Webb (6-3) pitched three-hit ball over six innings and two relievers completed the shutout of the Rockies. Webb helped himself offensively with a two-run single. LaMonte Wade hit a three-run homer.
ARIZONA 12 – San Diego 3… The Diamondbacks rolled past the Padres after spotting them an early two-run lead. Pavin Smith slugged a two-run double and a two-run single. David Peralta homered with a runner aboard.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Oakland 17 – CLEVELAND 0… Mark Canha and Starling Marte drove in three runs apiece to lead the Athletics in their romp over the Indians. Mitch Moreland smacked a pair of solo homers. Chris Bassitt (12-3) pitched three-hit ball over six innings and got help from three relievers.
Detroit 6 – BALTIMORE 4… Renato Nunez and Victor Reyes hit two-run homers during a five-run top of the fourth inning and the Tigers held off the Orioles. Robbie Grossman added a solo homer in the fifth.
Tampa Bay 8 – BOSTON 1… Wander Franco connected for a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning and Mike Zunino connected for a three-run homer to cap a four-run eighth for the Rays. Five Tampa Bay pitchers limited Boston to two hits.
SEATTLE 3 – Texas 1… J.P. Crawford hit a go-ahead solo homer in the bottom of the fifth inning and Jake Fraley went deep in the seventh as the Mariners downed the Rangers. Marco Gonzales (4-5) went the distance, holding Texas to a run on two hits.
CHI. WHITE SOX 9 – N.Y. Yankees 8… Tim Anderson’s two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the White Sox over the Yankees in the Field of Dreams game after Chicago blew a three-run lead in the top of the inning.
L.A. ANGELS 6 – Toronto 3… Kurt Suzuki and Jared Walsh drove in two runs apiece as the Angels doubled up on the Blue Jays. Shohei Ohtani (7-1) surrendered two runs on three hits over six innings.
TODAY’S MLB SCHEDULE…
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Atlanta (Charlie Morton, 10-4) is at Washington (Josiah Gray, 0-0)…
Philadelphia (Zack Wheeler, 10-6) hosts Cincinnati (Tyler Mahle, 9-3)…
Milwaukee (Brett Anderson, 4-5) is at Pittsburgh (Mitch Keller, 3-9)…
Miami (Jesus Luzardo, 1-1) hosts the Chi. Cubs (Adbert Alzolay, 4-12)…
the L.A. Dodgers (Julio Urias, 13-3) are at the N.Y. Mets (Tylor Megill, 1-2)…
Arizona (Madison Bumgarner, 6-7) hosts San Diego (Blake Snell, 6-4)…
Colorado (Austin Gomber, 9-6) is at San Francisco (Anthony DeSclafani, 10-5)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Baltimore (Spenser Watkins, 2-3) is at Boston (Nick Pivetta, 8-5)…
Detroit (Tyler Alexander, 2-1) hosts Cleveland (Zach Plesac, 6-4)…
Oakland (Cole Irvin, 8-10) is at Texas (Dane Dunning, 5-7)…
Minnesota (Michael Pineda, 4-7) hosts Tampa Bay (Shane McClanahan, 6-4)…
Houston (Zack Greinke, 10-3) is at the L.A. Angels (Patrick Sandoval, 3-5)…
Seattle (Chris Flexen, 10-5) hosts Toronto (Robbie Ray, 9-5)
INTERLEAGUE
St. Louis (Jack Flaherty, 8-1) is at Kansas City (Mike Minor, 8-10)
Bob Sarber 