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Articles by Tom Howell Jr.

Teachers and staff welcome back students to Bissonet Plaza Elementary in the Jefferson Parish Public School District for in-person classes with coronavirus restrictions including temperature checks and masks in Metairie, La. Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (Max Becherer/The Advocate via AP)

U.S. coronavirus death toll tops 180,000 amid setbacks, silver linings

The COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. has hit a once-unthinkable 180,000, school reopenings are a struggle and the economy is still a mess, but there is good news to be found: Daily cases are steadily declining and a lower percentage of tests are coming back positive.

August 31, 2020
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) ** FILE **

Pro-Trump cops: Joe Biden would ‘sit by’ amid riots

The Trump campaign and its law enforcement surrogates accused former Vice President Joseph R. Biden on Monday of being an "apologist" who refuses to condemn rioting and will be "led around by the nose" by leftist activists and undercut police who must grapple with the mayhem.

August 31, 2020
Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence greet supporters on the third day of the Republican National Convention at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

RNC coronavirus message a stark contrast to DNC

People who watched the Republican and Democratic national conventions a mere week apart could be forgiven for thinking they lived in two different countries, each with its own reality.

August 27, 2020
Assistant Secretary for Health, Admiral Brett P. Giroir, speaks as Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, right, listens during a House Select Subcommittee hearing on the Coronavirus, Friday, July 31, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington.  (Erin Scott/Pool via AP)

Brett Giroir: Changes to guidance were not directed by Trump

A Trump administration official said Wednesday that controversial changes to coronavirus testing guidelines were determined by scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the White House task force and not commanded by political figures.

August 26, 2020
Eric Trump, the son of President Donald Trump, tapes his speech for the second day of the Republican National Convention from the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Eric Trump says father will prove doubters wrong again

The president's second son, Eric Trump, said Tuesday his family "lost friends" after his father's victory but it's only "pushed us to fight harder" for another victory after President Trump was counted out in 2016.

August 25, 2020
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during the second day of the Republican National Convention from the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Pam Bondi rips Joe Biden on Hunter Biden ties to Ukraine, China

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday questioned former Vice President Joseph R. Biden's integrity, saying his son Hunter benefited from deals in Ukraine while his father handled policy in the eastern European country.

August 25, 2020
In this image from video, Jason Joyce, a lobsterman from Swan's Island, Maine, speaks from Washington, during the second night of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via AP)

RNC day 2 stars workers, farmers from swing-states

Fishermen, dairy farmers and businessmen from key swing states vouched for President Trump late Tuesday, saying his get-tough trade policies and focus on blue-collar workers thawed their cold skepticism of Washington leadership and, in some cases, the idea of a Trump candidacy four years ago.

August 25, 2020
President Donald Trump speaks during a media briefing in the James Brady Briefing Room of the White House, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Washington.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump second-term agenda includes term limits for Congress

President Trump would push for congressional term limits and focus heavily on ending American reliance on China, his campaign said late Sunday, outlining a wish-list for a second term before the Republican National Convention.

August 23, 2020