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5 Things To Know On Monday, June 22, 2020

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Posted at 5:25 AM, Jun 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-22 06:49:03-04

While you were sleeping, we compiled the biggest stories of the day in one place. Each story has a quick and easy summary, so you're prepared for whatever the day brings. Just click on the links if you want to know more! You can watch the latest LIVE on WPTV here from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m.

1. Noose found in stall of Bubba Wallace at NASCAR race
Two weeks ago, Bubba Wallace successfully pushed for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its tracks and properties. The move was met with some push back from NASCAR fans.

Now, NASCAR says a noose was found in the garage stall of Bubba Wallace on Sunday.

NASCAR said it has launched an immediate investigation into the noose.

Wallace says he was saddened but undeterred.

2. Rallies held around South Florida and across the country over the weekend
Rallies around West Palm Beach started with Juneteenth celebrations.

Juneteenth is an annual celebration marking the end of the slavery in the United States.

The holiday commemorates a specific date — June 19, 1865, the day many enslaved people in Texas learned they had been freed.

A "back the blue" rally in support of law enforcement officers and first responders happened Sunday in Palm City.

President Donald Trump pressed ahead with his comeback rally, but what was meant to be a show of defiant political force in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was instead met with thousands of empty seats and new coronavirus cases on his own campaign staff.

3. Florida coronavirus cases surge by record again
State coronavirus cases skyrocketed for a record-breaking third day in a row by 4,049. The death toll in Florida rose by 40 in one day with a 17-year-old boy from Pasco County becoming the youngest person to die from the coronavirus.

In addition, the positive rate has risen to 6.0 percent for all tests compared with 5.3 in the past week. The overall positive rate was 14.3 percent of tests reported Saturday.

The mortality rate involving positive cases is 3.4 percent in the state compared with 5.2 percent in the United States and 5.2 percent worldwide.

4. Former Florida State player starts petition to rename football stadium
Kendrick Scott, who played for the Seminoles from 1991-94, created the online petition Friday to rename Bobby Bowden Field at Doak S. Campbell Stadium.

Scott said in the petition that Campbell's "non-inclusive views of blacks as a segregationist is divisive."

At least one other former player, Freddie Stevenson, seems to agree. He shared examples of Campbell's segregationist actions on Twitter.

Scott suggested that the stadium should instead be named after longtime former FSU coach Bobby Bowden, who helped make the Seminoles a national power, winning two national championships and 12 Atlantic Coast Conference titles.

Although the field was dedicated in Bowden's name in 2004, Scott called for the field to be renamed after former quarterback Charlie Ward, the school's first Heisman Trophy winner.

5. The Story of Tonight: First look at Hamilton movie
Disney+ released the trailer for Hamilton. The film was shot onstage with the original cast on Broadway in 2016. It was originally slated to be released on October 15, 2021, but was among many titles to be released early as more people turn to streaming platforms.

Today's Forecast
Hot and humid over next several days with it feeling like triple digits.

South Florida weather 6/21/20

Get your complete hour-by-hour forecast here.

On This Day In History
On June 22, 1944, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the G.I. Bill, an unprecedented act of legislation designed to compensate returning members of the armed services–known as G.I.s–for their efforts in World War II.

Remember, you can join Mike Trim and Ashleigh Walters every weekday on WPTV NewsChannel 5 beginning at 4:30 a.m.