Covid Nation: Comedian Chris Rock announced online yesterday that he has developed a breakthrough case of Covid-19 and he urged people to get vaccinated. He said, “Trust me you don’t want this.” He was vaccinated in May.

  The average US daily death toll from Covid-19 over the last seven days surpassed 2,000, the first time since March 1^st, The NY Times reports.

  On the National Mall in Washington, more that 670,000 white flags have been planted to honor the Covid dead. As of this morning, 673,768 Americans are dead of the coronavirus and Covid-19. Worldwide; 4,693,036. 

  Texas and Florida, two of the stupidest of the Stupid States, account for more than 30 percent of those deaths: Florida averages about 353 deaths a day, and Texas, where 50 percent of the population is vaccinated, averages about 286 deaths a day. 

  The Centers for Disease Control says that the majority of new cases are caused by the more contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.

  Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi, one of the stupidest of the Stupid State governors,  yesterday said his state’s high Covid death rate is an inadequate benchmark to measure the pandemic’s toll in the state.Only 42 percent of the Mississippi population is fully vaccinated

Expulsion: The US is beginning to expel as many as 14,000 Haitian migrants camped under the Del Rio International Bridge in Texas. More than 320 migrants were delivered to Port-au-Prince on three flights Sunday, and Haiti said six flights are expected tomorrow.

  The US plans to begin seven daily expulsion flights on Wednesday. Mexico says it too will begin deporting the Haitians back to their home country.

  The Haitians have been coming in from Mexico, many of them wading across the Rio Grande river with boxes of food and possessions balanced on their heads. 

  Thousands of Haitians want out of their country. A recent earthquake in Haiti and the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse have destabilized impoverished Haiti. And the Haitian government is protesting the return, questioning whether they can afford to feed their own citizens. 

End of the Road: A body authorities say is “consistent with the description” of 22-year-old Gabby Petito, who went missing a cross-country road trip with her fiancé, has been found in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. That’s on the eastern boundary of the Grand Teton National Park.

  Charles Jones of the FBI, said that a full identification hasn’t been made, but investigators did notify Petito’s parents. Jones said the FBI is still seeking information from people who might have encountered Petito and the boyfriend she was travelling with, Brian Laundrie, 23.

  The two were on a cross-country trip in Petito’s van outfitted for adventure. The two had an encounter with the police in what was described as a domestic disturbance.

 Laundrie returned to Florida in her van without Petito and has since gone under the radar. His family says he has disappeared. Neither he nor his family has spoken to investigators since the Petito went missing. 

Civil Disobedience: A Texas doctor announced in an essay published by The Washington Post that he has performed an abortion in violation of the state’s new law forbidding the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy.

  Dr. Alan Braid wrote, “I acted because I had a duty of care to this patient, as I do for all patients, and because she has a fundamental right to receive this care.”

  Under the new Texas law Braid and the woman for whom he performed the procedure can be sued for $10,000 by any Texas citizen.

  Braid wrote, “Though we never ask why someone has come to our clinic, they often tell us. They’re finishing school or they already have three children, they’re in an abusive relationship, or it’s just not time. A majority are mothers. Most are between 18 and 30. Many are struggling financially — more than half qualify for some form of financial aid from us.”

  He wrote, “Several times a month, a woman confides that she is having the abortion because she has been raped. Sometimes, she reports it to the police; more often, she doesn’t.”

The Spin Rack: The Saturday demonstration in Washington to support people arrested in the January 6^th Capitol insurrection turned out to be a bust. About 350 turned out and a handful were arrested. — The Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine has been shown safe and highly effective in young children ages 5 to 11 years, the companies announced this morning. — At least six people are dead and 24 wounded after a shooter opened fire at Perm State University in Russia. The attacker was identified as a student.

Bingeworthy: Last night’s television Emmy Awards marked the great shift in viewing from the traditional over-the-air channels to the growing cable and satellite giants.

  Netflix and AppleTV+ took major awards in drama, comedy, and limited series.  “The Crown,” the Netflix drama about the tabloid side of the British royal family, won for best drama. Also for Netflix and “The Crown,” Olivia Colman won best actress playing Queen Elizabeth II. 

  “The Crown” also won three other acting awards and “The Queen’s Gambit,” Netflix’s seven-episode drama about a chess prodigy, won best limited series, another first for them.

  Cedric the Entertainer delivered the opening monologue. “Lock the doors,” he told the crowd. “We’re not leaving until we find a new host for ‘Jeopardy!’ in here somewhere.”

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