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Articles by Tom Howell Jr.

Respiratory therapist and other medical staff work on a patient in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit at Harborview Medical Center, which is part of Seattle-area health care system UW Medicine, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Coronavirus death toll in U.S. tops 100,000

The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus hit 100,000 Wednesday, a heartbreaking reminder of the scale of the pandemic as the nation gingerly tries to revive economic activity and normal life without suffering a devastating "second wave."

May 27, 2020
Clouds pass over the SpaceX Falcon 9, with the Crew Dragon spacecraft on top of the rocket, as it sits on Launch Pad 39-A Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Two astronauts will fly on the SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station scheduled for launch Wednesday. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

SpaceX launch scrubbed

Bad weather aborted a historic SpaceX mission Wednesday, forcing NASA to reschedule its first launch from U.S. soil in nine years.

May 27, 2020
One of two Bradley Fighting Vehicles waits to be driven into place in front of the Lincoln Memorial for President Donald Trump's 'Salute to America' event honoring service branches on Independence Day, Tuesday, July 2, 2019, in Washington. President Donald Trump is promising military tanks along with "Incredible Flyovers & biggest ever Fireworks!" for the Fourth of July. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

D.C.-area lawmakers balk at Trump’s July 4 plans

D.C.-area lawmakers say they're seriously concerned about President Trump's plans to hold another "Salute to America" military event on July 4 despite the coronavirus pandemic, saying the region continues to see high infection rates and large crowds would set them back.

May 27, 2020
Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, left, waits for a press briefing about the coronavirus in the Rose Garden of the White House to begin Friday, May 15, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

HHS IG office is probing CDC, FDA efforts to test for COVID-19

A government watchdog who angered President Trump said Tuesday the Health and Human Services Department inspector general is probing the administration's role in approving, producing and distributing test kits for the coronavirus, after early stutter steps were blamed for allowing the disease to spread uncontrollably.

May 26, 2020
Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a video conference on the opening of medical facilities for COVID-19 patients built by the military across the country in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 15, 2020. The Russian Defense Ministry built 16 hospitals with a total capacity of 1,600 patients.(Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) **FILE**

Top Democrats slam Trump plan to send ventilators to Russia

Top House Democrats objected Friday to White House plans to send hundreds of ventilators to Russia at a taxpayer cost of $5.6 million, saying the "gift to President Putin" is unjustified given the ongoing pandemic and needs at home.

May 22, 2020
President Donald Trump speaks during a "Rolling to Remember Ceremony," to honor the nation's veterans and POW/MIA, from the Truman Balcony of the White House, Friday, May 22, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump rallies with vets’ group ahead of Memorial Day

President Trump used a White House event for veterans Friday to tout his accomplishments ahead of the November election and rally bikers to his side, saying they seem to like him and the feeling is mutual.

May 22, 2020
President Donald Trump walks across the South Lawn of White House in Washington, Sunday, May 17, 2020. Trump was returning from nearby Camp David, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump floats idea of reinstating G-7 summit

President Trump said Wednesday he would like to revive the Group of Seven meeting at the "legendary Camp David," saying the coronavirus has slowed enough for him to reconsider an online summit.

May 20, 2020