This morning, the disturbing charges she faces. In some cases maxwell participated in the abuse and how epsteins accusers are reacting to the news, including an interview with a woman who says maxwell recruited her. Breaking overnight, under pressure, the Washington Redskins facing pressure to rebrand, including from fedex, the sponsor whose name is on its field, and nike pulls redskins merchandise from its website. Whats the teams next move . Remembering an icon. Good morning. This is today in new york. Well celebrate the life of broadcasting legend hugh downs, televisions most familiar face for six decades, including his time here on today. All that, plus a fourth like no other. From new ways of celebrating to how the weather is going to be, americas plans to mark Independence Day in this new normal, today, friday, july 3rd, 2020. Announcer from nbc news, this is today with Savannah Guthrie and hoda kotb from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Hi, everybody, good morning. Welcome to today. Its good to have you with us on a friday morning. Hoda has got the morning off. A lot of people are getting ready to celebrate the fourth of july, craig, but its not going to be like the ones were used to. No, americas birthday will be a little different this year. So many of those fourth of july celebrations, those fireworks shows cancelled all over the country because of the skyrocketing number of coronavirus cases, savannah. Yes. And there has been a dramatic rise. Look at this. A month ago the u. S. Averaged around 20,000 cases per day but that has jumped to well above 40,000 just over the past week. And the nation reached another record high yesterday, more than 56,000 new covid cases. Were going to talk about the spike, the plans to deal with it with the Surgeon General, a live interview in just a moment from now. Lets begin with nbcs Kerry Sanders whos in florida. Cases have reached a troubling new milestone there. Kerry, good morning. Reporter good morning. Were looking at the empty beaches from here at anglins fishing pier. Usually there would be crowds watching the sunrise but beaches are closed mostly across south florida. Fireworks cancelled this weekend. The only explosions are in the numbers of new coronavirus cases. As you just noted, nationwide a new single day record, more than 62,000 positive tests. This fourth of july weekend parades and fireworks cancelled because of coronavirus. Parks, beaches and boat ramps are closed too. The day were supposed to be celebrating our independence, it seems like more and more of it is being taken away from us. Reporter Health Officials hoping this is not a repeat of our last big Holiday Weekend. We did see a surge in cases after memorial day. Were hoping that that does not happen during the fourth of july weekend. Reporter the u. S. Setting another record on thursday, 53,000 new coronavirus cases, including 30 states with numbers trending in the wrong direction. An outbreak at the university of washington infecting more than 170 students living in and around greek row. The schools Interfraternity Council now asking frats to stop all social events after they reportedly threw parties without masks. And in arizona, hospitals overwhelmed by cases, getting 152 extra health care workers. In texas, a new order, mandatory masks in any county with 20 cases or more. Covid19 is not going away. In fact, its getting worse. Reporter restrictions on beaches in texas not going over well with everyone. Theres a lot of people, a lot of families like to come out here on the beach and just celebrate. Its kind of sad now that were not allowed too. Reporter here in florida where some of the most popular beaches are closed, a growing understanding of why. Its so important to stay home right now so you can go out later and people stop dying. Reporter against the backdrop of the pandemic, President Trump preparing to celebrate Independence Day with two big events, including tonights fireworks display at mt. Rushmore, the first in a decade. 7,500 people have been awarded lottery tickets for tonights show. While masks will be available, they wont be required. Many doctors fear if this weekend is a fullon celebration across the country, another spike is all but guaranteed. The biggest concern that i have is that were going to see more patients. Were going to see more people that have been exposed. Reporter unable to overcome covid19 is floridas now youngest victim, 11yearold dacon wembley. Changing up to once again trying to get a handle on the spread of all this, there is now a curfew that will go into effect in Miamidade County beginning tonight at 10 00 p. M. Savannah. Ill pick it up there for you, kerry. Kerry sanders for us there in florida. We are joined now by dr. Jerome adams, the Surgeon General of these United States. General adams, good morning to you, sir. Thanks for your time. Good morning. As we just mentioned there in kerrys story, the president of the United States hosting two large gatherings, one at mt. Rushmore, the other in washington, d. C. , where a few thousand folks are expected. Masks not going to be required at either event. We know based on cdc guidance that large gatherings presents the biggest problem right now. If a loved one came to you, dr. Adams, and said should i go to one of those events, what would you advise . Well, thank you so much for that question, craig. As we go into this fourth of july weekend, its important that everyone remembers my Surgeon Generals prescription for staying safe from coronavirus. Number one, know your risk. We know people who are older and people who have chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity and high Blood Pressure are at higher risk for coronavirus. If youre at higher risk, you should consider staying at home. Number two, understand your circumstances. Are you in a community where spread is going up or going down . Are you going to a place where you can social distance or not . Are you going to a place thats outside or inside . Outside is lower risk than inside for coronavirus. And number three. Not to interrupt you, but we know large gatherings presents the biggest risk right now. Would you advise someone to go to a large gathering, yes or no . Well, craig, its not a yes or no. Every Single Person has to make up their own mind. There are people going to beaches, going to barbecues, going to different environments and they have to look at their individual risk. As you mentioned, cdc says larger gatherings are a higher risk. You have to take that into account again with whether or not youre at risk, whether you live with someone who is vulnerable and then you have to take measures to stay safe. The most important thing i would say to people is if you do go out to a gathering or in public, please wear a Face Covering. As we talk about fourth of july, and independence is important to understand, that if we all wear these, we will actually have more independence and more freedom because more places will be able to stay open and well have less spread of the disease. Dr. Adams, one of the chief criticisms of the administration so far has been this mixed messaging as it relates to large gatherings and as it relates to that mask that you just held up. This morning and earlier this week you were practically pleading with people to wear these masks in public. But this is what you said back in early march, a reminder. One of the things they shouldnt be doing, the general public, is going out and buying masks. It actually does not help. Its not been proven to be effective in preventing spread of coronavirus amongst the general public. All right. Thats three months ago. What prompted the change of heart . Well, as i said many times, craig, and im glad you asked me the question, but it really does hurt when we share outdated information. Its important for people to understand that we now know 40 to 50 of cases of coronavirus are spread asymptomatically and thats different than any other coronavirus weve experienced before, which means you could have no symptoms, no cough, no fever, and still be someone whos spreading the disease. We know that many of the new cases are being spread in much younger people and thats why we now encourage everyone to wear a Face Covering or a mask so that you can prevent asymptomatic spread. If you want College Football in the fall, young people, please wear a Face Covering. If you want prom next year, please wear a Face Covering. It can prevent asymptomatic spread and help us overcome this virus. Or if you just want grandma or grandpa to stay alive as well. But heres the thing, requiring and encouraging are entirely different. Why not require folks who are going to be on the National Mall to wear those face masks . Why not require people who are going to be at mt. Rushmore to wear those masks, if we know that wearing them literally saves lives . Well, thats a great question. We will support governors and local officials with their decisionmaking. They know their people best. Heres the challenge, if you make something mandatory, particularly for the younger age groups were talking about, many of them will rebel and do the exact opposite. I think its more important from a Health Perspective that we help people understand why these are important and that we help them understand how they benefit from wearing them, which is why i talk about prom and homecoming and College Football and college basketball. If people understand why theyre doing it, theyll be more likely to comply. If its mandatory, theyll only do it when someone is watching. While im not against anyone who has a mandate, i think the most important from a Health Communications point of view is helping people understand how they benefit and why they should do this. Dr. Jerome adams, the Surgeon General, dr. Adams, thank you. Covid stops with us. Wear a Face Covering this weekend. Savannah. All right, good advice. Now to some breaking news overnight. The nfls Washington Redskins facing new pressure from some of the teams biggest sponsors to change its controversial name. Nbcs Geoff Bennett joins us with the very latest on this. Geoff, good morning. Reporter hey, savannah, good morning. The fight over the team name has gone on for decades, but whats new, whats different this time is the intense pressure from big brands during this National Moment of reckoning over racial issues. Now fedex, the teams top sponsor which owns the naming rights to the stadium, now says the team name is offensive and its got to go. This morning, one of the original nfl teams under mounting pressure to change its controversial name. The Washington Redskins, facing a new corporate and political push to scrap its name widely viewed as a racial slur against native americans. Fedex, which owns the naming rights for the teams home stadium requesting that the name given to the team in 1933 become a thing of the past. In a onesentence statement, the delivery giant writing we have communicated to the team in washington our request that they change the team name. Ad week magazine reporting that investment firms and shareholders worth 620 billion have requested that fedex as well as nike and pepsi all terminate their ties with the franchise unless owner Daniel Snyder makes the change. Overnight nike appearing to remove all of the teams merchandise from its online store. The washington team, which plays its home games in landover, maryland, not far from washington, d. C. , has been eyeing a potential relocation back to the district. But this week several lawmakers telling the Washington Post that any move to d. C. Would require a name change. Arizona congressman Raul Grijalva saying, quote, you either step into this century or you dont. Its up to the owner of the team to do that. Snyder, who bought the franchise in 1999, has long resisted calls to alter the name, claiming it honors native american heritage, even telling usa today in 2013, quote, well never change the name, its that simple, never. You can use caps. Several teams have faced similar pushback like baseballs Cleveland Indians who changed their logo amid a growing movement to confront racial inequality, including the removal of confederate statues. Many hope a Pro Football Team will be the next to act. Now, we should say we reached out to the nfl, to nike, to the washington football team. So far no response. Now, the team points out that in recent weeks it removed from its official team material the name of its founding owner, who happened to be a segregationist. There are critics who say thats good but not enough. Now is the time to change the time as well. Savannah. All right, Geoff Bennett, thank you very much. Craig. Savannah, heres the thing. We do better when we know better. In 2020 i think we all know that groups of people should not be mascots. So it will be interesting to see how the team handles this. When you see that yeah, i was going to say when you see that kind of corporate pressure, that seems to get folks attention. Let us turn now to those tributes that are pouring in for our former colleague, an icon in our industry, hugh downs, who died at the age of 99. Well, he was a legend, craig, of course a familiar face on television for more than 60 years, and nine of them as the anchor of the today show. As you mentioned, he died at the age of 99. Anne thompson now with a look back. Reporter hugh downs was the man america woke up to during the turbulent 60s. The president of the United States is dead. Reporter from the today anchor desk, he calmly guided the nation through the shocking assassinations of president john f. Kennedy and civil rights leader dr. Martin luther king jr. Dr. Martin luther king, civil rights leader, Nobel Prize Winner and apostle of nonviolence died violently last night in memphis, tennessee. Reporter on todays 50th anniversary in 2002, downs told katie couric where he was especially proud of his interview with dr. King. That was an indepth thing that showed me he was working for the human race, not just the black race. Reporter born in ohio, downs started his career in radio, but tv is where he would make his mark. The Nbc TelevisionNetwork Presents the jack parr show. Reporter his big break coming in 1957, helping to launch the tonight show with jack parr as the announcer and guest host. Soon he was also hosting the game show concentration. First the news. Reporter he changed his wakeup time in 1962, joining today. You might even recognize his first producer, who would soon sit next to him. Barbara walters here this morning and im hugh downs. Reporter downs and Barbara Walters reminisced about their legendary partnership on todays 60th anniversary in 2012. She actually wrote and produced the segment that welcomed me onto the program. I like to pretend that i made him a star. But the truth is eventually it was hugh who took me from behind the scenes to in front of the camera. Reporter together they witnessed history firsthand. We had a chance to see the world and show world and show people who tuned in what all was going on. Reporter downs left today in 1971. Hugh downs. Reporter he would later anchor the newsmagazine 20 20 for two decades, mostly alongside walters, in a reunion of their successful today pairing. Downs spent 75 years with his late wife ruth. They had two children. I would like it if people remembered me as being fair and enjoying what i did and being honest with the audience. Reporter for today, anne thompson, nbc news, new york. Wow. Just ahead well hear from hugh downs in his own words on his time here at today and the importance of the stories he covered. Craig, when i was a young reporter in my 20s, i had a chance to interview him. He was retired actually. I drove about three hours to meet him because he was such a legend in our industry and he was so kind and everything youd hope that he would be. Yes, he was. A legend indeed. Well have more on hugh downs in just a moment as you mentioned. Lets turn now lets turn to the weather, the allimportant holiday forecast. Dylan in for al once again. Whats the word, dylan . How are we looking for tomorrow . Hey, good morning, guys. Were actually looking really good for tomorrow. Ironically theres not that many fireworks celebrations happening across the country. We are going to see temperatures warm well up into the upper 80s and lower 90s, oppressive heat a little farther south. The best chance of seeing storms on saturday throughout the day would be along the gulf coast stretching down into florida. But elsewhere were looking at hot and dry weather in the southwest. In the northeast lots of sunshine. So for that allimportant fireworks forecast in new york city at 9 00, it looks great. Partly cloudy, 77. Like i said, most areas across the country will be seeing partly cloudy skies except along the gulf coast and those will be scattered showers and storms, not a total washout. We could also see some of those showers and storms through the Northern Plains. Then on sunday same story. Most areas that will see the scattered storms on saturday will see them again on sunday. Otherwise it is hot and humid still through the midwest and the northeast. Temperatures close to 90. It will feel even warmer. Out west its a little cooler than average, highs along in the coast in the upper