Pence defends outbreak response, pushes against shutdowns

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence is defending the Trump administration’s guidance to states on ramping their economies back up amid the spread of the coronavirus. He says it was based on the best information at the time, and says a spike in recent cases shouldn’t mean more shutdowns. Pence was in South Carolina on Tuesday to discuss processes for reopening schools this fall. But infections in the state continue to rise. Pence says he feels sure the nation is bett