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5 Things To Know On Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Posted at 5:21 AM, Aug 04, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-04 05:53:58-04

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.

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

1. DeSantis calls some coronavirus test results 'useless'
Calling some COVID-19 test results "useless" because they're taking too long to come back, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says the state is aiming to speed the process up.

Speaking at Broward Health in Fort Lauderdale, the governor said the state is converting COVID-19 testing sites at Marlins Park and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami-Dade County into 15-minute rapid testing locations.

Just a few hours earlier, Florida's Agriculture Commissioner announced a new information campaign to reduce the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

2. Florida DOE approves school reopening plans for Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties
The Florida Department of Education has approved the reopening plans for schools in Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties. All three counties are offering in-person and virtual learning.

The Palm Beach County and Indian River County school districts are still waiting for the state to approve their reopening plans. Palm Beach County is offering only virtual learning until it's deemed safer.

Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said all public school districts must "open brick and mortar schools at least five days per week for all students."

3. Tampa 'Back the Blue' mural goes viral in all the right and wrong ways
A "Back the Blue" mural was painted outside the Tampa Police Department headquarters over the weekend, but city says it didn't approve it.

Critics of the mural have said the mural is just a push back on similar "Black Lives Matter" murals and others criticize it's readability.

The creators of the mural say it isn't a push back and just a message from the community to first responders.

4. Will the MLB play ball? It's not looking great
The NBA has seen success with it's first-of-it's-kind bubble, but the MLB "safety precautions and testing" method may end the season.

As the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies prepare to return to play following a week hiatus, the St. Louis Cardinals will be forced to sit out for another few days after 13 members tested positive for coronavirus.

The start of the coronavirus-shortened MLB season has been bumpy as several prominent players have opted to walk away from the season.

5. Will the theme parks survive coronavirus?
Almost two months after reopening, Universal Orlando is laying off an undisclosed number of workers.

It was the first of Orlando's major theme park operators to reopen when it welcomed back visitors in early June, but it appears it wasn't enough.

Universal has put the construction of a new theme park, Epic Universe, on pause because of the pandemic.

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Today's Forecast
Some strong storms have us under a Weather Alert from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Latest Weather Forecast: Tuesday 5 a.m.

Get your complete hour-by-hour forecast here.

On This Day In History
On August 4, 1944, Anne Frank, her family, another family and another Jewish man were captured by the Nazi Gestapo in a sealed-off area of an Amsterdam warehouse. The Franks had taken shelter there in 1942 out of fear of deportation to a Nazi concentration camp.

Her father, Otto Frank, was the only one of the 10 to survive the Nazi death camps. One of his former employees found his daughter's diary with the accounts of their hiding and gave it to him. Frank is in the photo below holding the Golden Pan award, given for the sale of one million copies of the famous paperback, “The Diary of Anne Frank”.