JUDY WOODRUFF: In the day's other news: The
Trump administration's new COVID-19 adviser
says Americans should feel cautiously optimistic.
Dr. Scott Atlas, who came on board this month,
says infections and deaths are declining in
hard-hit states, and there is no need to fear,
even as more schools reopen. Confirmed cases
nationwide topped six million today, with
183,000 U.S. deaths.
A federal appeals court in Washington has
refused to end the criminal case against Michael
Flynn. The former national security adviser
pled guilty to lying about contacts with Russia
before President Trump took office. But the
Justice Department had moved to dismiss the
case. The appeals court also tossed a congressional
lawsuit to make former White House counsel
Don McGahn testify. House Democrats say they
plan to appeal.
In Lebanon, lawmakers endorsed diplomat Mustapha
Adib as prime minister-designate today. The
largest Sunni party, the Shiite Hezbollah
and Christian blocs all backed him, in a rare
display of unity.
Today, Adib visited neighborhoods recovering
from a devastating Beirut port explosion.
He promised accountability.
MUSTAPHA ADIB, Lebanese Prime Minister-Designate
(through translator): Words fail to describe
this horrific scene. We will try as soon as
the government is formed to speed up the investigations
and to have the investigations' result given
to the public as soon as possible.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Lebanon has also been rocked
by protests over government failures as the
country's economy crumbles.
The first commercial flight from Israel to
the United Arab Emirates landed there today,
now that they have normalized relations. Emirati,
Israeli and American flags waved after the
plane arrived in Abu Dhabi with officials
on hand, including Jared Kushner, President
Trump's son-in-law and adviser.
Back in this country, thousands of people
in Louisiana are still waiting for power to
return after Hurricane Laura. The extent of
the damage crystallized this weekend, as evacuated
residents went home. Estimates for insured
losses are now nearing $9 billion. The storm
killed at least 18 people.
In economic news, Delta, American, and United
Airlines have now all abolished fees for changing
domestic travel plans, hoping to get people
flying again.
And on Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial
average lost 223 points today to close at
28430. The Nasdaq rose nearly 80 points to
an all-time high, and the S&P 500 slipped
seven, but had its best August since 1986,
adding 7 percent.
And Hall of Fame basketball coach John Thompson
has died. He made Georgetown University a
national champion and was outspoken about
matters of race.
Jeffrey Brown looks at his life.
MAN: Georgetown will finish the year.
JEFFREY BROWN: John Thompson Jr. made history
that day in 1984, becoming the first Black
head coach to win an NCAA title. He was known
for transforming Georgetown into a powerhouse
and molding basketball greats like Patrick
Ewing and Allen Iverson both on and off the
court.
ALLEN IVERSON, Former NBA Player: Coach Thompson
saved my life. No other schools were recruiting
me anymore. My mom went to Georgetown and
begged him to give me a chance. And he did.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
JEFFREY BROWN: Thompson saw his own role as
going beyond basketball.
JOHN THOMPSON, George University Head Basketball
Coach: I could use it to open a doorway for
myself or for other people. It was an educational
instrument for me.
JEFFREY BROWN: Thompson made a point of recruiting
Black athletes to the predominantly white
campus, and spoke out about injustices he
saw. In 1989, he famously walked off the court
before a game to protest an NCAA scholarship
rule he felt would hurt disadvantaged students.
JOHN THOMPSON: Because of the success we were
having as a basketball coach, and me being
an African American, I had an obligation to
say something about it. So, I did.
JEFFREY BROWN: The NCAA ultimately modified
the rule. John Thompson coached at Georgetown
for 27 seasons and won almost 600 games. He
was 78.
For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Jeffrey Brown.
