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A26 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 6 augusT 2020
Biden won't go to Milwaukee to accept Democratic nomination

By BILL BARROW uled convention in Char-
Associated Press lotte, North Carolina.
Joe Biden will not travel to DNC officials later autho-
Milwaukee to accept the rized organizers to plan for
Democratic presidential virtual proceedings, then
nomination because of added an explicit call for
concerns over the coro- delegates not to travel
navirus, party officials said to Milwaukee. More than
Wednesday, signaling a 4,000 delegates already
move to a convention that were casting mail ballots
essentially has become en- for Biden's nomination and
tirely virtual. a platform that had been
It is the latest example of written and approved in
the pandemic's sweeping meetings conducted on-
effects on the 2020 presi- line. But until Wednesday,
dential election and the it was expected that Biden
latest blow to traditional and his running mate would
party nominating conven- speak from Milwaukee.
tions that historically have Biden is in the final days of
marked the start of fall gen- deciding on a vice presi-
eral election campaigns. dent, who he has said will
"From the very beginning be a woman.
of this pandemic, we put Trump was far more reluc-
the health and safety of In this July 28, 2020 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden tant than Biden to alter his
the American people first," speaks at a campaign event at the William "Hicks" Anderson Community Center in Wilmington, convention plans, as he
said Democratic National Del. sought to downplay the
Committee Chair Tom Per- Associated Press pandemic's significance
ez. "We followed the sci- and push the country to re-
ence, listened to doctors for the Aug. 17-24 conven- Wisconsin, virtually or other- added that the higher pri- turn to normal operations.
and public health experts, tion are now expected to wise, and I look forward to orities are public health, Trump jousted with North
and we continued making speak from remote loca- doing everything we can economic recovery and Carolina Gov. Roy Coo-
adjustments to our plans in tions. to win Wisconsin." nation's reckoning on sys- per, a Democrat, because
order to protect lives. That's Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, Milwaukee Mayor Tom temic racism. "I think all of Cooper wouldn't guaran-
the kind of steady and re- a Democrat, said Biden Barrett told reporters he us have to keep this in per- tee the president that he'd
sponsible leadership Ameri- made the right decision. learned of the decision ear- spective," he said. lift restrictions on large pub-
ca deserves. And that's the "A lot has changed since ly Wednesday in a phone President Donald Trump lic gatherings so that Trump
leadership Joe Biden will we set out on this journey call with the leadership has abandoned his own could pack Charlotte's NBA
bring to the White House." more than a year ago team of the Democratic plans to accept the Repub- arena.
Neither the Biden cam- now, but the one thing that National Convention. lican nomination in person. Trump then said he'd travel
paign nor DNC officials of- hasn't is Democrats' com- "I would be lying if I didn't On Wednesday, he mused to Jacksonville, Florida, to
fered details about how mitment to putting health tell you that I'm very, very about potentially making make his address, a de-
Biden might accept the and safety first," Evers said disappointed in this, pro- his acceptance speech cision welcomed at the
nomination, which even in a statement. "It has never fessionally and personally, from the White House. time by Republican Gov.
in the pandemic could be been more important for because I think we all have Biden and Democrats for Ron DeSantis. Florida has
a made-for-screen event elected officials to lead by had so much pride in hav- months have moved to- since seen its COVID-19
that reaches tens of millions example — that's the kind ing Milwaukee chosen to ward a virtual convention, cases spike, part of a na-
of voters via television and of leader Joe is, and that's host the 2020 Democratic first by delaying the con- tional trend that led Trump
online. the kind of president we National Convention," Bar- vention from its original to yield to public health
A DNC official said all need. I know he will con- rett said. mid-July date to the week experts and cancel the
speakers and presenters tinue to have a presence in But Barrett, a Democrat, before Republicans' sched- event.q
Couple in Confederate flag flap finds Scandinavian solution

ST. JOHNS, Mich. (AP) — A a vimple, a type of long, containing white stars.
couple who came under pennant-shaped flag that After they removed the
attack for displaying the can be seen displaying var- Norwegian flag last month,
Norwegian flag outside ious designs across Scandi- people around the globe
their mid-Michigan inn be- navia. The Offenbecker's contacted them and
cause some observers mis- vimple will have the colors urged them to put it back
took it for a Confederate of the Norwegian flag — up, Kjersten Offenbecker
flag have found another a red background with a said.
way to show their Scandi- blue cross superimposed Many suggested different
navian pride. on a white cross — in a nod ways to display the flag.
Greg and Kjersten Offen- to Kjersten Offenbecker's Someone in Norway sug-
becker, who own The Nor- grandfather who was born gested a vimple, which isn't
dic Pineapple in St. Johns, in Norway. an official national flag.
outside Lansing, took Nor- The colors of the Norwe- Offenbecker said they are
way's flag down last month gian flag are similar to the often displayed as an al-
This July 2020 photo shows Kjersten and Greg Offenecker, the after being accused of Confederate flag, but the ternative to Norway's flag,
owners of a Civil War-era mansion turned bed and breakfast in promoting racism, the Lan- patterns and symbols are which traditionally is only
St. Johns, Mich. sing State Journal reported. different. The Confederate displayed during certain
Associated Press They are replacing it with flag is red with a blue "X" times of the day.q