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To some, the beginning of summer means trips to the beach. Yet in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there had been questions as to whether those beaches would be open for people to enjoy after nearly three months of stay-at-home orders.

As mid-June approaches, the answer as to whether beaches are open is well, kind of.

While beaches in Ocean City, Maryland, or Alpena, Michigan report that its close to business as usual, other locales across the nation are still taking precautions in some cases opening at limited capacity as states advance through their respective COVID-19 recovery plans.

We reached out to business owners and local officials around the country to get a gauge for how different beaches are approaching the summer seasons. Heres what we found.

Ocean City, Maryland

When the state of Maryland gave the green light for businesses like Dandy Dons Bike Rentals to reopen May 9, owner Don Enste held off for a little over a week, unsure of how things would go.

In the beginning, it was a bit of a mess.

People were not following guidelines, no masks, on top of each other, said Enste, who has owned the business for 25 years. As the weeks have gone on, people have settled down a lot.

The last couple of weeks are traditionally senior weeks. In years past, those times are slower for Enste because the teens tend not to be active until around noon, when his bicycle rental business has to be off the Boardwalk, per city code. But hes been seeing more families, some of whom are presumably off of work due to the pandemic, visiting the beach with their kids.

Even so, he said that few of his customers have been Marylanders.

Everybodys down here from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania all up in New England, Enste said. Im actually a little bit busier than normal.

Beaches and the Boardwalk are open in Ocean City, but visitors are still encouraged to wear masks, practice social distancing and avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, according to the citys website.

Restaurants are open for delivery, takeout and outdoor dining.

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The beaches and many businesses are open in Myrtle Beach, while the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is rising.

Looking around, I think it looks like a typical mid-June at this point, said Mark Kruea, public information director for the City of Myrtle Beach. We are the Myrtle Beach that you have come to know and love; were just not at full strength.

Restaurants are open, but with 50 percent capacity indoors, he said.

The popular vacation destination saw a spike in COVID-19 cases with 181 confirmed during the first week of June, according to the Myrtle Beach Sun-News, which said the rise is likely linked both to more people being out and about and an increase in testing. The following week, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control labeled Horry County, where Myrtle Beach is located, a hot spot for the virus.

City officials are redoubling efforts to encourage social distancing, Kruea said, adding they dont want to see a return to heavier restrictions, many of which were lifted last month.

Bring patience and bring a mask, he said. Wearing a mask is not required, but we certainly recommend that you do that.

The social-distancing practice of keeping at least six feet between individuals is also still recommended in businesses and on beaches.

Realistically, its fairly easy to social distance on the beach, Kruea said.

As of June 9, there were 803 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Horry County. But SCDHEC statistics also list 4,933 estimated cases, which are based on evidence that for every known case of COVID-19, there could be up to 9 people with the virus who remain unidentified in the community.

New York

The reopening of beaches for Memorial Day weekend was welcome news to Kelly Borrello, owner of Sunset Bay Beach on Lake Erie and two beach-side restaurants.

It would have been next to impossible to keep people off the beach if we had not been open, she said, noting the ideal weather for much of the holiday weekend. I would have been paying people to come to work to say You cant be here to other people. But I wouldnt have been making any money to cover the payroll costs.

The private beach, for which entry is $5 for ages 11 and up, is limited to 950 people, half its normal capacity.

When the weathers super nice, the beach traffic has been better than a normal year at this time, Borrello said.

On June 9, so many people turned out that would-be beach-goers had to wait to enter until another party left, she said.

Other state-imposed rules include requirements that people wear face coverings unless they are seated with family or in the water and keep at least 10 feet apart from other groups. Tossing footballs and Frisbees and playing sports like volleyball are not allowed.

They follow them (the rules) cause we tell them to, Borrello said. Theyre not happy about it.

Some visitors, especially teens, dont appear to be following the news and arent aware of the requirements, she said.

We are selling hundreds of face coverings on a busy day, Borrello said.

Patio dining and takeout service has kept some traffic flowing at her restaurants, Cabana Sams Sunset Bay Grill and Sunset Bay Deli.

Neither one of them are really takeout restaurants, Borrello said. Its really more about the atmosphere and the entertainment, which cant be offered right now.

In addition to being located on Lake Erie, the area also boasts Chautauqua Lake, which has some private beaches but is mostly a fishing and boating draw, said Todd Tranum, president and CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce.

Getting the lakes open, the beaches open, activities going again is incredibly important to the local economy, he said.

Tranum said hes noticed increased boat traffic, something he attributes to more people doing staycations or coming from nearby areas rather than traveling extensively during the pandemic.

New Hampshire

Beaches in New Hampshire opened to the public on June 1, but only allowed recreational activities. Then, on June 5, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu announced sunbathing and other beach activities may resume, but people must maintain a six-foot distance from one another.

Previously, only activities like swimming, running, walking and surfing were allowed on the beaches, but sitting, congregating, sunbathing and lounging are now permitted as well.

Chuck Rage, Chairman of the Hampton Beach Village District, said about 90 percent of everything is open in the state.

We have a lot of outdoor dining, Rage said. We closed the boulevard off and made the back boulevard two-way traffic and its giving a lot of social distancing because theres a lot more space for people to walk around.

Rage said restaurants will be able to host indoor dining next week at 50 percent capacity something about which he is excited.

And while you can do more on the beach, parking restrictions are in place that will only allow 50 percent capacity at state parks. Dropping off passengers or items in the parking area is not permitted and could be fined.

Rage said its been invigorating seeing people return to the area and the beaches.

People just want to get away, he said. I had someone the other day say you know Im working from home. I can work from the beach, use your WiFi and look at the ocean while Im working. I think people are excited to just not be stuck in the house looking at the same four walls.

Day-use parking reservations are available for Wallis Sands and Hampton South Beach parking lots. Metered parking is also open and limited to 50 percent capacity.

All seacoast beaches are also open including Wallis Sands, Jenness, Hampton, North Beach and North Hampton State Beach.

Inland beaches must also limit occupancy and picnic tables must be spread 10 feet apart, which can be reserved online.

Rage said the weather has been wonderful and most hotels are open, with restrictions.

Its exciting and people are happy people walking and just having a grand time, he said.

Ohio

In Ohio, most outdoor spaces, such as nature preserves, state parks, trails and fishing piers, are open. Visitors still must adhere to social distancing guidelines but popular summer destination Put-in-Bay is now accessible by ferry again.

Previously, travel to the island off the coast of Lake Erie was limited to essential travel, but vacationers may now return. Hotels, restaurants and golf cart rentals are also back up and running.

Staying on the mainland, Vermilions Main Street Beach has seen more visitors now that the winter weather has dissipated.

Jim Forthofer, mayor of Vermilion, said the beach was never closed to the public but the playground equipment near it was. Playground equipment can now be used and Forthofer said theyre trying open things that are safe.

He said that over the weekend, the beach had a lot of visitors but they seemed to be following social distancing.

Were a big festival town and they bring in tens of thousands of people, Forthofer said. Certainly the fish festival, we just couldnt see our way clear to justifying bringing that many people in when the rules are no more than 10 people in one group.

He said Vermilion is focusing more on small things to do for the community rather than big festivals.

Things that are controllable and can be a few people at a time but still get people out, Forthofer said. (We want people) to have fun and get them downtown without creating a big crowd.

He said that the initial reopening of businesses and restaurants started out slowly, but things are picking up now and restaurants are hitting their allowed capacities.

I made a statement to the public that it doesnt really matter whether you believe that this whole virus thing is a real thing or government hoax I dont care, follow the rules, Forthofer said.

He said, for the most part, people have been following guidelines set by the Ohio Department of Health.

With the weather, people just want to get out and weve got some great places to go downtown, Forthofer said.

Virginia Beach

Jeff Wynkoop starts booking up his rental home on the northern side of Virginia Beach in early March, but after the pandemic struck, 90 percent of them canceled, he said.

We were like, whats going to happen here?' he wondered.

Two weeks ago, he started getting inquiries about their cleaning procedures at the rental due to coronavirus. Hed tell them theyre using the same cleaning products and procedures theyve always used.

About the same time, people started booking five day vacations, wanting to be on the safe side and leave a day or two between whenever the last guest left, Wynkoop said. But that didnt last long.

All of a sudden, a week ago, we got slammed, he said. Were booked. We have one week left in August.

Most of the bookings have been young families from Northern Virginia and Maryland, he said. He suspects the bookings are because people are worn down by the pandemic and stay-at-home orders.

I can tell a big difference between the people around here and people from up north, he said. The Northern Virginia people are scared to death that the virus is going to jump in their car and attack them. Its a totally different outlook down here. Virginia Beach is pretty laid back.

The state recently lifted more restrictions on beachgoers. Now, they can gather in groups of 50 people instead of 10. People are still expected to stay six feet away from people who arent family members and no sports, including Frisbees, are allowed.

People arent allowed to bring in large coolers, music speakers, alcohol, tents or more than two umbrellas, to discourage large groups and parties. According to a state update June 5, parking lots and garages are also limited to 50 percent capacity.

Erin Goldmeier, director of public relations for the tourism agency Visit Virginia Beach, said the groups website has seen an increase in people looking for travel content rather than coronavirus information.

Weekend business is strong, and we have slowly seen an increase in customers going to and returning to attractions and restaurants, Goldmeier said in an email.

In Central Virginia, families have also started booking summer vacations on Lake Anna.

I think people are starting to come back, said Jeff Heidig, owner of the Lake Anna Winery. Theyre getting antsy and want to get out of the house.

Because of its size and central location, Heidig said Lake Anna gets vacationers from northern and southern Virginia.

People in the north, where the population is, are coming down here where its a little more laid back, he said.

MICHIGAN

At Starlite Beach in Alpena, Mich., Loni Schroeder watched as her five year old daughter Kenlea Schroeder tossed stones into Lake Huron on Thursday afternoon. The temperature had only made it to 66 that day, so they were just hanging out on the shoreline enjoying the sunshine.

Kenlea was excited to be near the water even if it wasnt hot enough to go swimming.

I love to go everywhere! she exclaimed.

Her mom was enjoying the beach as well.

Its my happy place, said Loni Schroeder. I love hearing the waves crash and watching the water, and watching her have fun.

The state is now heading into Stage 4 of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers Safe Start Plan, which allows for gradual reopening of outdoor recreation areas with social distancing in place.

Schroeder has no qualms about crowds of people congregating at the beach as things reopen after the COVID-19 quarantine period.

If youre outside, get fresh air, dont wear a mask, she said. If you have to wear a mask outside, why are you outside?

She added that people that go to the beach generally stay in their own groups of family and friends with whom they came, so social distancing should not be a problem.

Mary Beth Stutzman, president and CEO of the Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, said outdoor recreation, including beach-going, is a huge summer draw for those visiting Northern Michigan.

As travel begins to wake up after our recent experience, people are taking more road trips and they are looking for outdoor recreation destinations because they can maintain social distancing and be out in the fresh air and not in enclosed spaces, Stutzman said on Thursday.

The Alpena Area CVB covers a variety of Lake Huron beaches in the area, including Starlite, Mich-e-ke-wis and Thompson parks within the city limits, Ossineke and Negwegon beaches to the south, and Rockport and Thompsons Harbor to the north.

State Parks, including Negwegon and Thompsons Harbor, are under the Michigan Department of Natural Resources jurisdiction, while other municipalities determine their own parks restrictions, under the umbrella of the governors guidelines.

We are excited to open up these resources to visitors again, Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, said in a June 4 press release. We can identify with the passion and enthusiasm people have for these beautiful outdoor spaces, especially during the warmer months, and were working hard to make sure everything is ready.

Because Alpena is smaller than some other Great Lakes destinations, it is a great place to visit to both save money, avoid crowded areas, all while enjoying the outdoors, Stutzman said.

Its an excellent thing, Stutzman said about Alpena tourism. The three main things that we have been following, as far as predictions of what will come back first weve seen road trips, outdoor recreation, and traveling to budget destinations that are not crowded. And Alpena checks all those boxes.

She expects tourism to kick back in, but it may not be as strong as prior years because of the pandemic.

So we will have tourism traffic this summer, and into fall and winter, as infection rates decline and everything is opened back up again, Stutzman said. We will see travel, but it wont be at the level that weve seen in previous years. We have a long road ahead to build back up to the levels that we were seeing. But it does position Alpena in a really good light, and were fortunate that we have those things going for us.

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Flocking to the coast | News, Sports, Jobs - Marshalltown Times Republican

A Virginia Republican congressman who angered social conservatives in his district when he officiated a gay wedding has lost his partys nomination.

Representative Denver Riggleman lost on Saturday in a party convention which was carried out as a drive-thru because of the coronavirus pandemic. He was defeated by Bob Good, a former official in the athletics department at the evangelical Liberty University.

Riggleman, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, upset many Republicans in his district last summer when he officiated the wedding of two male campaign aides.

Donald Trump endorsed him, as did Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. But Good is now the Republican nominee for Virginias fifth district. Four Democrats are vying to challenge him in the fall, with the winner picked later this summer.

Good has pledged to restore Judeo-Christian values to Congress, is a hardliner on immigration and wants English to be the official language of the US. His victory could make national Democrats and outside groups more likely to spend money in the district, which easily went for Trump in 2016.

Riggleman has said a small coterie of party insiders were trying to rig the contest against him, forcing the nomination to be decided with a convention instead of a primary. Conventions favor more conservative candidates and have been used for years by Virginia Republicans to block moderate Republicans from winning office.

The convention was held at a Lynchburg-area church near Goods home and was the only place delegates could cast a ballot in a district that stretches from northern Virginia to the North Carolina border.

While the convention ended at 7pm the vote tally was not announced until after 1am on Sunday. Good said he won 58% of the vote, news outlets reported, and district Republican chair Melvin Adams said 2,537 of more than 3,500 registered delegates voted.

Voting irregularities and ballot stuffing has been reported in multiple counties in the #VA05, Riggleman tweeted a little over an hour before results were announced.

Voter fraud has been a hallmark of this nomination process and I will not stand for it. The Virginia Republican party needs to re-evaluate their priorities. We are evaluating all our options at this time.

Thats what losers say, Good told reporters.

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Virginia Republican who officiated gay wedding loses nomination for Congress - The Guardian

A pickup truck decorated with conservative- and Trump-supporting bumper stickers sits at a Republican campaign event in 2018. On Saturday, conservative political analyst Shermichael Singleton wonders where he fits in that party. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

A pickup truck decorated with conservative- and Trump-supporting bumper stickers sits at a Republican campaign event in 2018. On Saturday, conservative political analyst Shermichael Singleton wonders where he fits in that party.

Shermichael Singleton isn't sure where he fits in the Republican Party anymore.

That didn't used to be the case. Singleton is an experienced conservative political analyst who has worked for plenty of prominent Republicans, including Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Ben Carson.

But as a black man, he says he has watched with grief and disappointment as the GOP and many of its supporters have struggled to grapple with the recent protests over racial injustice and policing in the U.S. under President Trump.

"It leaves me wondering: Why am I a Republican?" he said in an interview Saturday with NPR's Weekend Edition. "What is the Republican Party even attempting to conserve that I believe is consistent with my values as an American, with my values as an African American, with my values as a Christian? And unfortunately ... I hate to say this, but I don't know anymore."

For example, both before and after George Floyd's killing by Minneapolis police officers incited protests nationwide, Trump has made it clear that he supports and defends the Confederate memorials that have reemerged as flashpoints of controversy in the demonstrations.

Earlier this week, he vowed to block bipartisan congressional efforts to rename military bases that bear the names of Confederate generals, saying they stand for "a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom."

Here is how Singleton who has been a vocal critic of Trump explained how he came to feel he is in a "no-man's land," alongside "many right-leaning and conservative individuals who are slowly finding themselves in that same position."

What are your feelings right now, as a human being, as a black man in America?

I am gravely disappointed about this moment in time we find ourselves in. I often have been taught by my parents ... that despite our differences differences of race, that is that our hopes and dreams in this country have always been the same. And that is to be free and explore every opportunity and to do things that those before us weren't capable or able to do.

And it appears to me in this particular moment that there still remains a significant percent of people who are traveling on a road so far removed from where I think many of us are, that it's heartfelt, it makes me grieve, it makes me sad, it makes me confused. ...

But I still have hope. I have to have hope in this country, because I know that the country that my grandparents and my great-grandparents lived in is no more; there's still remnants. And so my hope is that this time, we can clear those remnants so that as we go forward, there will be no more. So that when I have children, they won't have to deal with or imagine the things that I am currently dealing with now not only as an African-American, but simply as as an American.

These things should stress us all out. They should give us all anxiety that we have not quite reached the pinnacle of what we are capable of reaching.

Has the Republican Party, which after all, founded in 1854 to expose the expansion of slavery, the party of [Abraham] Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Jackie Robinson, Sen. Edward Brooke, Colin Powell and you, how did they become the party that defends the Confederate flag?

Again, this just goes to the greatest disappointment that I have and I think a lot of people in the Republican Party have become so reactionary in their views.

To be a conservative doesn't necessarily mean that one wants to go backwards. To be a conservative is to understand that there are certain things that we have inherited that are good, that we must preserve as we move forward, because to move forward is an innate part of human nature.

But it is also to understand, Scott, that there are some bad things that we have inherited, such as the Confederacy, and that those are things that we should throw away, that we should discard, things that we recognize we cannot keep if we are to move forward in the right direction.

And it seems that the Republican Party under President Trump doesn't seem to recognize that. That is not conservative; that is reactionary. And I don't think we can tolerate those types of sentiments as we move forward. I just don't see how it's consistent with a country that's becoming so diverse demographically.

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'Why Am I A Republican?' Conservative Analyst Questions GOP's Response To Protests - NPR

We Republican state legislators have different ideas on policies and programs. We run the gamut from strictly adhering to the Republican platform, to viewing it as a guideline. There is, however, a commonality: we are there because we want to serve the state and make it the best place possible.

In 2013 legislative spending really ramped up. I then realized that there was no group to turn to or bounce ideas off to try and be stronger on the party platform. A group was formed in which legislators could associate and discuss policies within the framework of the platform. All legislators were invited. The name given to the loosely-affiliated group of legislators is the Bastiat Caucus.

Over the years, there has been occasional squabbling between the Bastiats and the non-Bastiats (I want to say moderates, but thats not fully accurate, since some conservative legislators simply prefer not to caucus with the group). Much like with siblings, that squabbling is entirely natural. Its even healthy, for how can we get to the best outcomes if everyone simply agrees without challenge or discourse?

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Enter Gov. Doug Burgum, and witness that the referenced family squabbling isnt what took place in the June primary. In 2016 Burgum did not receive the Republican party endorsement, nevertheless he ran in the primary election as was his right to do. What I didnt realize, was that his decision to break from party protocol was but a glimpse into his view of North Dakota politics.

He claimed he wanted to break up the good ol boys club in Bismarck, (which sounds good if one believes that a group of elected bureaucrats arent doing right by the citizens of the state), but it turns out Burgum wasnt looking to do that. He was simply intending to take complete control. The good ol boys he was referring to was anyone who doesnt conform to what he wants.

Burgum thinks of himself as CEO of North Dakota. The upside is he might be more likely to look for efficiencies of government, and to think outside the box. The downside, and what became clear in this election, is that he has no regard for the importance of the separation of powers, or his limited role as the executive. He has no respect for the process by which local people ought to be able to choose their representatives without intense manipulation by the executive. The root of the problem is that a CEO often confuses himself as king.

Sadly, through his PAC, Burgum dragged us through the mud with severe negativity and a daily bombardment of ugly mailers. He has shown that he cares nothing for the political process in general, and much less for his own party. He is a Republican by convenience only. North Dakota deserved better.

Becker, R-Bismarck, serves in the North Dakota House of Representatives.

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Becker: Burgum is a Republican by convenience only - Grand Forks Herald

Republicans expect to move their national convention from Charlotte, N.C., to Jacksonville, Fla., a shift planned after President Trump told officials in North Carolina that he did not want to use social distancing measures aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus, according to three senior Republicans.

The decision could change, the Republicans cautioned, but as of now, officials are on track to announce the new location as early as Thursday.

Jacksonville has been Republicans top choice for days, after Mr. Trump told the governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, a Democrat, that he needed an answer about whether Charlotte could accommodate the convention in August with a promise that there would not be social distancing.

Jacksonville is the most populous city in Florida, where Ron DeSantis, a Republican and an ally of Mr. Trump, is the governor. Jacksonvilles mayor, Lenny Curry, is a longtime Republican official.

Once they decided to uproot the convention, Mr. Trumps aides and Republican officials had wanted to relocate to a state, and a city, controlled by Republicans. Jacksonville also may have enough hotel rooms to accommodate the gathering, people familiar with the discussions said, and it is a comparatively easy drive from Charlotte.

New reported cases of the coronavirus are on the rise in both North Carolina and Florida.

What exactly the event will look like remains unclear. Conventions normally last for four days, with thousands of party officials, delegates, donors, members of the news media and others coming together for speeches and votes.

Aides to Mr. Curry declined to comment.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, Joe Gruters, said, While no final decision has been made by the RNC we understand Jacksonville is a frontrunner. This certainly has been generating a lot of attention and excitement. We continue to believe that Florida would be the best place for the convention.

Officials have said some party business will still be conducted in North Carolina, even with the move, but that the presidents nomination will be celebrated at the new site. Whether any additional business is conducted there remains to be seen.

One idea being discussed is to have the first lady speak on Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence deliver a speech accepting his nomination on Wednesday, and Mr. Trump deliver his acceptance speech on Thursday, a person familiar with the discussions said.

But it remains unclear whether there will be the typical slate of floor speeches from Republicans looking to get attention for their own political futures. Under Mr. Trump, the party has increasingly functioned as a reflection of his desires.

The president is also set to return to the campaign trail on June 19 with a rally in Tulsa, Okla., for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak forced most of the country into quarantine, a campaign official said Wednesday. There are unlikely to be any social distancing measures, or a requirement to wear masks.

Some of the partys business that is typically handled at its national nominating convention was taken care of remotely on Wednesday. The Republican National Committee notified members that its executive committee had voted unanimously to adopt the 2016 rules and platform for 2020, a reflection of concerns about whatever business is conducted in Charlotte being done by a small number of people.

The presidents son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, had been working to make changes to the platform to remove some of the language about gay rights, such as opposition to same-sex marriage, which will now remain in the platform. The platform in 2016 also weakened the partys position on support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.

Mr. Cooper had repeatedly told Mr. Trump that it was too early to make any promises about social distancing, and state health officials said the R.N.C. and the host committee in Charlotte had not provided a requested plan for safely holding the event.

Jacksonville is among the dozens of cities and towns where protesters have called for changes in the treatment of black people by law enforcement. On Tuesday, Mr. Curry walked with protesters who were demonstrating outside City Hall. Early Tuesday morning, city officials took down a confederate statue there.

Party conventions are often the focus of protests, and an event in Jacksonville is unlikely to be an exception.

Its a little too early right now to plan, but I can guarantee youre going to see some protesting, said Isaiah Rumlin, the president of the Jacksonville branch of the N.A.A.C.P.

This is a bad time for the president to think of coming here to host the R.N.C., Mr. Rumlin said, citing the ongoing fight to contain the spread of the coronavirus and the protests across the country against police brutality and systemic racism.

With Trump coming here, its just going to be another major problem here in this city, Mr. Rumlin said. He should not be coming here. He should be working this out in Charlotte.

Mr. Rumlin noted that Jacksonville residents had been holding their own demonstrations for weeks, and that there have been multiple controversies in the city over police shootings.

All of this is going to come into play with the rhetoric the president is going to bring to Jacksonville, he said.

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Republicans Weighing New Convention Options as They Eye Move to Jacksonville - The New York Times