7 Things: First debate has big stakes, both sides of the mask debate speak out, Anniston Confederate monument moved and more …

7. A stimulus deal could be in the making

• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have been meeting to discuss a new deal that would provide economic stimulus, and the latest reporting indicates that Democrats have a new $2.2 billion dollar offer.
• The bill reportedly has something for everyone: $436 billion for state and local government, $1,200 stimulus checks, $600 expanded unemployment payments, $75 billion for testing, contact tracing and other health care efforts, housing assistance, funding to shore up the Census, U.S. Postal Service and elections, $25 billion to stave off thousands of layoffs at passenger airlines, as well as $3 billion for airline contractors.

6. The world passes one million coronavirus deaths

• The world has now reached a grim total of over a million coronavirus deaths, with deaths slowing but cases spiking around the globe. The spikes come as many countries re-implement restrictions.
• In the United States, some states are seeing a jump in new cases, with a surge predicted, while others are seeing a steady decrease in new cases, and Florida’s removal of all restrictions is being watched as a test case for the entire country.

5. Confederate monument in Anniston removed

• In the middle of the night, city employees in Anniston removed a Confederate monument. The monument will be moved to a Confederate-themed park. It took 20 minutes to remove the monument that has been up since 1905, and the reason for removing it in the middle of the night was due to traffic.
• The Anniston City Council has voted twice in recent months to remove the monument, and they said they wanted to remove the monument to “create an inclusive environment in … public spaces.” With the council vote being 4-1, the only vote against removal was by Councilman Ben Little, who seemed to oppose the measure due to current state law that makes removing the monuments illegal.

4. Mask mandate lawsuit ordered to change

• In Huntsville, U.S. District Judge Liles Burke has ordered that the lawsuit against Governor Kay Ivey and State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris brought by former Chief Justice Roy Moore be moved to the Middle District of Alabama instead of the Northern District.
• Moore said the decision is disappointing, but added that moving the case to the Middle District “seems like it moves it back into the political sphere in Montgomery,” but didn’t detail his concerns.

3. Doctors asking Ivey to extend the mask mandate

• The head of the Alabama Hospital Association and the Medical Association of the State of Alabama are requesting that Governor Kay Ivey extend the statewide mask mandate that is set to expire on October 2.
• Dr. Donald Williamson, president of the Alabama Hospital Association, has brought attention to the mask mandate and how it’s helped the state handle the coronavirus pandemic, but Ivey’s already indicated that she’ll extend the order.

2. Biden has a six-point lead

• Former Vice President Joe Biden currently holds a six-point lead over President Donald Trump in a new national poll through Monmouth University. Biden has 50 points, while Trump is at 44 points; 2% are undecided. The rest are voting third party.
• Previously in similar polls, Biden was shown with a 10-13 point lead, and after the Democratic National Convention, he had at least a nine-point lead.

1. Debate Tuesday night; Big risks for each candidate

• The first presidential debate of the general election is set to take place Tuesday night with Fox News Channel host Chris Wallace as the moderator and former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump taking the stage.
• There will be a range of topics covered, each in their own 15-minute segment: the coronavirus pandemic, Supreme Court, each candidate’s records, the economy, issues of race and violence in cities, and the integrity of the election. The real story is going to be about creating a viral moment that can change the race (Trump) or seal the election (Biden) for one of the candidates.