CLEVELAND, Ohio — Baseball has cleared its last manmade hurdle in order to play the 2020 season. The coronavirus is still waiting, but now the owners and players can concentrate on fighting it instead of each other.

On Monday night Commissioner Rob Manfred, with the unanimous support of MLB’s 30 owners, agreed to move forward with the season after the players association rejected their latest proposal. On Tuesday night, the players agreed to report to Spring Training II on July 1 with the idea of starting the 60-game season on July 23 or July 24 and ending it on Sept. 27.

The last item to be checked off the list was the health and safety protocols to combat the virus. When that was agreed upon, the MLBPA pushed the send button on this Tweet on Tuesday night.

Players will cycle into camp a few at a time, starting with pitchers and catchers, because they have to be tested for the virus. The Indians already have about 10 players working out at Progressive Field, including the starting rotation. Practice is expected to start on July 3.

Teams will be able to bring 60 players to camp. The Indians have made provisions to use other facilities in the area — Classic Park in Eastlake, Canal Park in Akron, St. Ignatius High School facilities or the Crushers Ballpark in Avon — if things become too crowded at Progressive Field.

The majority of teams will conduct Spring Training II at their big-league ballparks.

Teams, according to reports, could open the season with a 30-man roster, which would drop to 28 and then 26. If this was a normal season, teams would open the season with a 26-man roster, one more than last season.

Each team will keep a taxi squad of 20 to 30 players in reserve to support the big league club in case of illness, injury or poor performance. It will be interesting to see what type of players teams keep in reserve. Will they be players only from the 40-man roster or could they be prospects who teams want to keep in a competitive environment so they don’t miss an entire season with no minor-league games being played.

The DH will be used in both leagues this year. In extra-inning games a runner will be placed on second base in every inning after the ninth. If the run scores, the pitcher will not be charged with an earned run.

Aug. 31 will be the trading deadline. Teams can start making trades and roster moves, according to The Athletic, on Friday. The rosters have been frozen since spring training was suspended on March 12.

MLB has sent the 2020 schedule to the players association for review. The Indians’ opponents will be their AL Central foes and the teams in the NL Central — the Cubs, Pirates, Reds, Cardinals and Brewers. This will limit travel, expenses and exposure to the virus.

Taking the Tribe as an example, here’s how the schedule is expected to break down, according to USA Today. The Indians will play 10 games each against the Twins, White Sox, Tigers and Royals. Then they’ll play 20 games against teams from the NL Central.

“I’m excited to get going,” said Indians utility player Mike Freeman. “At the end of the day, we’re going to play baseball and compete. I think that’s what everyone has been missing at this point. Just being in the clubhouse and getting back into that routine of getting ready for games.

“I think all of us at this level we thrive on competition. So we’re looking forward to getting that going again.”

MLB’s original safety protocols called for players to shower and dress in their uniforms at home or in their hotel rooms. It sounds like that restriction has been relaxed.

New Indians face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity.

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – More prosecution testimony and more crime scene evidence were shared on day five of the trial for a former football player accused of killing a cheerleader who used to be his girlfriend.

Riley Gaul is charged with the murder of Emma Walker, 16, who was shot to death in her own bedroom. That gunfire killed her, coming through the wall of her home.

Related: Murdered Knox County cheerleader’s mother speaks about daughter, scholarship fund

During Thursday’s court proceedings, the jurors were shown secretly recorded video from a body camera worn by one of Gaul’s friends showing the time leading up to Gaul’s arrest in November 2016.

More: Suspect’s friends take stand, prosecution shows body camera footage of Gaul’s arrest

Friday’s proceedings focused on crime analysis. The photos and videos captured by investigators, that attorneys played during testimony, was not allowed to be recorded by our cameras because Emma Walker was a juvenile.

First called to the witness stand was Kenneth Cookson, an employee at AT&T. He provided cell phone records. Cookson’s testimony was brief but he discussed cell phone towers, latitude and longitude, as well as the number of calls requested for the Gaul trial.

One civilian witness was called to the stand: Walker Stanley, who was Gaul’s roommate at Maryville College.

Stanley says while they didn’t get to know each other well, he had met Emma Walker and noticed Gaul was having problems. Prosecutors referenced the days leading up to and then after Emma’s death.

“With regard to contact with Riley Gaul, did you receive a Snapchat from Riley Gaul after you were contacted by the police?” asked the prosecutor.

Stanley answered that he did; the attorney then asked what Gaul requested in the Snapchat.

“To not talk to the police,” answered Stanley.

Jurors then left the courtroom as pictures, taken by investigators, of evidence involving the firearm, crime scene, numbered pieces of evidence and inside Emma’s bedroom were discussed. Prosecutors argued they should be shown because only seconds would be spent on the photos.

KCSO forensic technician Nikki Bules took the witness stand explaining some of the crime scene photos she took. Bags of evidence were brought to her and attorneys asked her to open them, then explain the contents. At one point, attorneys had her stand and show the jury the shell casing and firearm she recovered as evidence.

Two TBI investigators also took the stand, one who tests and identifies firearms, the other specializing in forensic testing.

“I examined a wrapper from the crime scene, a blood standard from Emma Walker, a glock-19 handgun, two shoes from a Hyundai Tucson, two gloves from a Hyundai Tucson, sweatpants and a sweatshirt from the same Tucson and then a number of buckle swabs from different individuals,” said TBI Agent Kendall Stoner.

There was discussion regarding some of the more graphic photos and video taken by KCSO investigators. Ultimately the judge decided to allow the video and audio from that recording to be played for jurors.

A number of Emma’s friends, along with her family, came to court in purple, some of the shirts saying “Rest Easy EJW.”

The trial will pick up again Monday morning.

ON INLANDER.COM

NEWS: Despite opposition from Spokane County commissioners, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a

 bill that will expand the number of commissioners from three to five by the 2022 election. Voters will elect commissioners according to districts, rather than county wide.

NEWS: To build up or out? That is only one of the questions facing Spokane’s development plans. Another question: What about the neighbors?

DRINK: A once popular bar in east Spokane reopened with a new name, and new owners. The old Scotty’s Doghouse is now the Logan Tavern.

IN OTHER NEWS

Butt out
Spokane received a $5,000 award to clean up discarded cigarette butts around the courthouse and downtown. (Spokesman-Review)

‘He threatened to burn down my house with me in it’
A top financial advisor at Morgan Stanley has for years been accused by at least four Portland area women of threats, violence and intimidation. Executives reportedly knew about Douglas E. Greenberg’s behavior, but only put him on administrative leave after reporters started asking questions. (New York Times)

Fire and jail riot in Venezuela
At least 68 people are dead after a fire sparked during a jail riot in Venezuela. Sixty-six of the victims were men. Two were women who were visiting the police station where the jail was located. (NPR)

Conversion therapy illegal
Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill that outlaws sexual orientation conversion therapy for minors. (Seattle Times)

Football player tackles building
An Eastern Washington football player reportedly crashed his truck into an apartment building — causing an estimated $100,000 in damage — and then fled. Defensive end Keenan Williams is now looking at a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge after turning himself in the next morning. (Spokesman-Review)

Boys of summer
At long last, they’re back. Today is Major League Baseball’s opening day. (ESPN)

CLOSE

Watch Brandon Day’s court appearance Thursday, April 6, 2017. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault, for attacking a hockey referee at SUNY Broome Community College. Anthony Borrelli / Staff video

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Brandon Day, right, pleads guilty to misdemeanor assault in Dickinson Town Court. He‘s joined by his lawyer, Chris Brown, center. District Attorney Steve Cornwell, left, prosecuted at the court appearance.(Photo: Anthony Borrelli / Staff Photo)Buy Photo

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A hockey player pleaded guilty Thursday to assaulting a referee on the ice during a game at SUNY Broome Community College.

, 19, a freshman Erie Community College student from Cheektowaga, appeared in Dickinson Town Court for a guilty plea to a misdemeanor count of third-degree assault. He was facing that and several other charges in connection with the Feb. 26 incident at a National Junior College Athletic Association championship game, played at SUNY Broome.

According to authorities, Day had been sent to the penalty box for a game infraction and exited after serving nearly the full penalty time. He then skated toward a 62-year-old referee and pushed him to the ice with 39 seconds left in the game. Video from the incident showed the referee was not looking at Day before he was pushed down.

Erie Community College (NJCAA) player storms out of penalty box to level referee late in 3rd period, ending national title game

— Sports Illustrated ()

Day‘s guilty plea will put him on probation for three years, which District Attorney Steve Cornwell said was a fair outcome.

“The video was despicable, but the person (Day) is not the person you see in that video, so sometimes you see people at their worst,” Cornwell said after Thursday‘s court appearance. “The defendant had some issues and took responsibility immediately, and made steps to address what was going on.”

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Investigators determined Day struck the referee intentionally, causing the referee an injury to his right shoulder and right hip, also causing him to lose consciousness.

After the incident, officials stopped the game, giving Dakota College of Bottineau a 7-4 championship victory.

Day was later charged with misdemeanor counts of third-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal mischief, along with disorderly conduct and second-degree harassment violations.

According to court papers, the referee told law enforcement he lost consciousness after being knocked down, he woke up on the ice, and he was helped back to the locker room, where a team‘s doctor examined him.

The incident may have resulted in ligament injuries to his right shoulder, along with a “deep bruise” to the right arm, court papers said.

“I have had no problem with the player that hit me,” the referee told police. “I don‘t know him.”

Day‘s defense lawyer, Chris Brown, said his client has been diagnosed with stress and anxiety issues, and he‘s been getting treatment for that. The plea agreement also required Day to pay $525 for damage he caused in the SUNY Broome locker room, as well as pay toward the referee‘s medical expenses.

“He‘s taken every step he can to make amends,” Brown said Thursday.

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