Comment on COVID-19 rising with summer emergency room visits and deaths - USA TODAY

Provo, Utah — Malfunctioning fireworks veered into the stands at a crowded Utah football stadium and struck members of the audience during a Fourth of July celebration, sending up to six people to the hospital, according to authorities and the event organizer. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The accident occurred during the opening ceremonies of the Stadium of Fire show, the flagship event at Provo’s annual Freedom Festival at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Brigham Young University. Organizers halted the show for about 15 minutes while injured audience members received medical attention, said Freedom Festival spokesperson Emory Cook. Six people were taken to the hospital, Cook said, but the number struck by fireworks and the severity of their injuries was not immediately available. The cause of the mishap — which involved fireworks shot off inside the stadium as several jets passed overhead — is under investigation by local authorities. Videos posted on social media show individual fireworks veering off from the cluster sent into the sky over the field and landing among rows of spectators in the stands at the outdoor arena.

Miami — Donald Trump distanced himself Friday from Project 2025, a massive proposed overhaul of the federal government drafted by longtime allies and former officials in his administration, days after the head of the think tank responsible for the program suggested there would be a second American Revolution. “I know nothing about Project 2025,” Trump posted on his social media website.

Washington — President Joe Biden is fighting to save his endangered reelection effort Friday as he holds a rally and sits down for a network television interview in a pivotal battleground state, with his every answer sure to be scrutinized for evidence of his competency and fitness to run for office. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] It could be a watershed moment for Biden, who is under pressure to bow out of the campaign after his disastrous debate performance against Republican Donald Trump ignited concern that the 81-year-old Democrat is not up for the job for another four years. The interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, being taped after a campaign rally in Madison, Wisconsin, is expected to be intensive and probing, and two people familiar with the president’s efforts said he had been preparing aggressively.

A Denver district court judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought by several Colorado school districts over the state’s universal preschool program, ruling that the plaintiffs don’t have legal grounds to sue. In his 20-page ruling, Judge Jon J. Olafson concluded that the six school districts, two education groups, a cooperative education services board, and two families that sued the state last year had not suffered any “injury” covered by state or federal law.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — An armed person who was making unspecified threats at Yellowstone National Park died and a park ranger was hospitalized following an exchange of gunfire Thursday, authorities said. The shooting happened at Canyon Village, an area in the central part of the park that has a campground, lodging and visitor center, after rangers responded to a report of a person making threats, park officials said in a statement. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Woman dead after apparent grizzly bear attack near Yellowstone Crime and Public Safety | Yellowstone National Park is all patched up.

Hundreds of fires were reported across the Denver area Thursday night, and fire officials believe most of them were started by fireworks. Throughout the day on the Fourth of July, Aurora Fire Rescue responded to 250 calls for service — including both fire and medical calls — according to fire department spokesperson Sean Dunnion. Nearly 110 of those calls came in between 8 p.m.