Commemorating 9/11 amid a pandemic

Annual rituals commemorating 9/11 have been altered to accommodate the COVID-19 crisis, according to the New York Times.

Family members gathered at the 9/11 memorial site were asked to wear masks and maintain a social distance of six feet. Others were encouraged to avoid gathering near ground zero.

Now facing a deadlier crisis, the U.S. has exceeded the Sept. 11, 2001, death toll with 23,000 deaths from the virus in New York alone.

New Yorkers say like 9/11, the pandemic has been a traumatic, life-altering experience.

Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily blocks absentee ballots

The Wisconsin Supreme Court told election officials they can’t mail out absentee ballots until the court makes a decision on the addition of the Green Party’s presidential ticket, according to CNN. The decision was made one week before the Sept. 17 deadline.

The 4-3 decision argued the inclusion of Green Party presidential candidate Howie Hawkins could “tip the scales” between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden. 

One million Wisconsin voters requested ballots, and 300,000 have already been printed.

The Wisconsin Election Commission was ordered to track down the absentee ballots mailed out to voters throughout the state.

California wildfires cause evacuations

Fire officials have issued evacuation orders across the state, targeting cities in Southern California where the El Dorado fire ignited, according to CNN.

Over 14,000 firefighters are attempting to combat the 28 fires throughout California.

Over 7,600 fires have engulfed California so far in 2020, compared to last year’s 4,927 fires.

Some California residents attribute these historic fires to climate change.

COVID-19 still a problem as flu season approaches

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, said Americans must “hunker down” this fall and winter, despite a recent decline in COVID-19 cases, according to NBC.

Fauci warned against undermining the virus, adding the U.S. should never “underestimate the potential of the pandemic.”

Fauci is optimistic about vaccine trials, expressing his hope for a vaccine by the end of 2020.

October marks the start of influenza season, and people are concerned this will further overwhelm the U.S. health care system.