Mar 16, 2017

More than 600 companies want to build Trump's wall

Christian Torres / AP

More than 600 businesses are bidding to build President Trump's border wall — including one from Mexico — reports CNBC. Most of the companies submitting their design concepts are based in California and Texas. Maine and Vermont are the only two states that didn't have any businesses apply.

Customs and Border Patrol has also extended the deadline for these initial applications several times, noting that "industry interest has been high."

Note: CBP is expected to release two formal requests for a proposal soon: one which will focus on a concrete wall and another for other types of barriers. The Federal Budget, released this morning, calls for $1.5 billion to be allocated to the wall in FY17, and $2.6 billion in FY18.

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Coronavirus dashboard

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Global: Total confirmed cases as of 1:30 p.m. ET: 887,067 — Total deaths: 44,264 — Total recoveries: 185,541 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 1:30 p.m. ET: 190,740 — Total deaths: 4,127 — Total recoveries: 7,141 — Map.
Federal government latest: Vice President Mike Pence said that White House modeling suggests "Italy may be the most comparable area to the United States" in terms of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
State updates: Florida and Pennsylvania are the latest to issue stay-at-home orders, totaling 34 states and D.C.
2020 update: New York is latest state to delay primary — Bernie Sanders urges Wisconsin to delay April 7 primary.
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What should I do? Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk.
Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

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Axios

West Virginia is latest state to delay primary due to coronavirus

Photo: Barbara Davidson/Getty Images

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice rescheduled the state's May 12 primary election to June 9 on Wednesday, citing fears surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, AP reports.

Why it matters: 23 other states and the District of Columbia haven't held primaries yet. The White House is recommending, for now, that Americans practice social distancing and gather in groups of no more than 10 people — while many states have issued stay-at-home orders.

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Rashaan Ayesh

Florida governor issues stay-at-home order

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered a statewide stay-at-home order on Wednesday after the number of coronavirus cases in the state rose to nearly 7,000.

Why it matters: DeSantis has been criticized for declining to order any statewide mandates to curb the spread of coronavirus as Florida — home to a significant elderly population — has increasingly become a hotspot. The order will go into effect Thursday at midnight and last for 30 days.

Go deeper1 hour ago - Health