The first Presidential Debate of the 2020 election took place Tuesday night in Cleveland, Ohio.

President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, clashed on several topics, including the future of climate change, the integrity of election results and the pandemic.

Near the end of the debate, Trump was asked if he was willing to condemn white supremacy groups. Rather than condemning them, he addressed a violent far right group, “the Proud Boys,” and told them to, “stand back, stand by.”

With five weeks until Election Day and citizens already voting through absentee ballots, Biden has pulled ahead nationally and in many battleground states. The next debate is scheduled for Thursday, October 15.

The Walt Disney Co. stated on Tuesday that it plans to lay off 28,000 of its employees.

Both California and Florida parks closed to the public last spring due to the spread of COVID-19 throughout the United States. The Florida parks reopened this summer, but attendance remains low due to social distance requirements. California parks have been unable to reopen and are awaiting further instruction from the California governor.

On Monday, St. Thomas’s Center for Well-Being reported 56 positive COVID-19 cases last week. This is 20 cases higher than the previous week. All positive tests came from students.

The university reports that the number remains within a manageable range based on key variables outlined in the ‘Key Considerations to Guide Decisions on Campus Operations.’ The university still has over fifty percent of quarantine space available.

Grace Hallen can be reached at hall2306@stthomas.edu.