dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-13--COVID vaccines roll out in historic campaign

PORTAGE , Mich. -- The first of many freezer-packed COVID-19 vaccine vials made their way to distribution sites across the United States on Sunday , as the nation 's pandemic deaths approached the horrifying new milestone of 300,000 .
The rollout of the Pfizer vaccine , the first to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration , ushers in the biggest vaccination effort in U.S. history -- one that health officials hope the American public will embrace , even as some have voiced initial skepticism or worry .
Shots are expected to be given to health care workers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transport is key for the vaccine , especially because this one must be stored at extremely low temperatures -- about 94 degrees below zero .
Early Sunday , workers at Pfizer -- dressed in fluorescent yellow clothing , hard hats and gloves -- wasted no time as they packed vials into boxes .
They scanned the packages and then placed them into freezer cases with dry ice .
The vaccines were then taken from Pfizer 's Portage , Michigan , facility to Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids , where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airport officials called a `` jubilant '' mood .
`` This is a historic day , '' said Richard W. Smith , who oversees operations in the Americas for FedEx Express , which is delivering 630-some packages of vaccine to distribution sites across the country .
UPS also is transporting a share of the vaccine .
Helping with the transport of the vaccine has special meaning to Bruce Smith , a FedEx package handler at the Grand Rapids airport , whose older sister , Queen , died after she contracted the coronavirus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one day after he saw her on a video chat , and they never spoke again .
`` I think she would be ecstatic to know that something that has ravaged our family -- that a family member is going to be part of such a big project , '' said Smith , 58 , whose nephew , Queen 's son , also got sick and is still undergoing therapy for strokelike symptoms .
`` It is very , very important . ''
Tracked with GPS-enabled sensors , the initial shipments were expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with many more to come .
Federal officials say the first shipments of Pfizer 's vaccine will be staggered , arriving in 145 distribution centers Monday , with another 425 sites getting shipments Tuesday , and the remaining 66 on Wednesday .
Doses of the vaccine , codeveloped by German partner BioNTech , are given out based on each state 's adult population .
Then the states decide where they go first .
In California , where health care workers will be among the first to be vaccinated , state health officials are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , serve high-risk populations and have the ability to vaccinate people quickly .
Initial surveys have found that even some health care workers do n't want to be first in line .
Dr. Graham Snyder , who 's led the vaccine task force at Pennsylvania health care giant UPMC , estimates that about half of its employees are willing to get the vaccine as soon as it 's offered .
But many health officials expect enthusiasm to grow .
`` There 's that thought that maybe they do n't have to be so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be vaccinated and be immune , '' said Dr. Sandra Kemmerly , medical director of hospital quality at the 40-hospital Oschner Health System in Louisiana and Mississippi .
Employees approved for the first round are getting texts and emails directing them to schedule their initial injection , she said .
Enough vaccine is being saved so that each person who gets the first dose of vaccine can get a second required shot a few weeks later .
Senior U.S. government officials , including some White House officials who work near President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are among those who will be offered coronavirus vaccines as soon as this week , two people familiar with the matter confirmed .
It was not immediately clear how many officials would be offered the vaccine initially and whether Trump or Pence would get it .
A survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about half of Americans want to get the vaccine as soon as possible .
Another quarter are n't sure , while the remaining quarter say they are n't interested .
Some simply oppose vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccines have been rushed and want to see how the rollout goes .
Dr. Stephen Hahn , commissioner of the FDA , which approved the Pfizer vaccine Friday , has repeatedly insisted that the agency 's decision was based on science , not politics , despite a White House threat to fire him if the vaccine was n't approved before Saturday .
Speaking to Fox News Sunday , Dr. Moncef Slaoui , chief science adviser to Operation Warp Speed , a U.S. effort to get vaccines developed quickly , also said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skepticism about the vaccine in some circles .
`` Unfortunately ... there 's been a confusion between how thorough and scientific and factual the work that has been done is , and the perception that people are thinking that we cut corners , '' Slaoui said .
`` I can guarantee you that no such things have happened , that we follow the science . ''
He called the development of vaccines from several pharmaceutical companies , including Moderna and AstraZeneca , `` a remarkable achievement of science , academia , the industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together . ''
While the vaccine was determined to be safe , regulators in the United Kingdom are investigating several severe allergic reactions .
The FDA 's instructions tell providers not to give it to those with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients .
The Moderna vaccine will be reviewed by an expert panel Thursday and soon afterward could be allowed for public use .

A worker places boxes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on a truck to be shipped at the Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo manufacturing plant in Portage, Mich., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020.
Boxes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are loaded onto a truck for shipping at the Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo manufacturing plant in Portage, Mich., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020.
Boxes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are prepared to be shipped at the Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo manufacturing plant in Portage, Mich., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020.
Boxes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are brought to the loading dock for shipping at the Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo manufacturing plant in Portage, Mich., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020.
Pfizer employees clap after line workers finished packing boxes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be shipped at the Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo manufacturing plant in Portage, Mich., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020.
Boxes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are prepared to be shipped at the Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo manufacturing plant in Portage, Mich., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020.
PORTAGE, Mich. -- The first of many freezer-packed COVID-19 vaccine vials made their way to distribution sites across the United States on Sunday, as the nation's pandemic deaths approached the horrifying new milestone of 300,000.
The rollout of the Pfizer vaccine, the first to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, ushers in the biggest vaccination effort in U.S. history -- one that health officials hope the American public will embrace, even as some have voiced initial skepticism or worry. Shots are expected to be given to health care workers and nursing home residents beginning Monday.
Quick transport is key for the vaccine, especially because this one must be stored at extremely low temperatures -- about 94 degrees below zero. Early Sunday, workers at Pfizer -- dressed in fluorescent yellow clothing, hard hats and gloves -- wasted no time as they packed vials into boxes. They scanned the packages and then placed them into freezer cases with dry ice. The vaccines were then taken from Pfizer's Portage, Michigan, facility to Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, where the first cargo plane took off amid what airport officials called a "jubilant" mood.
"This is a historic day," said Richard W. Smith, who oversees operations in the Americas for FedEx Express, which is delivering 630-some packages of vaccine to distribution sites across the country. UPS also is transporting a share of the vaccine.
Helping with the transport of the vaccine has special meaning to Bruce Smith, a FedEx package handler at the Grand Rapids airport, whose older sister, Queen, died after she contracted the coronavirus in May. She was hospitalized in Georgia one day after he saw her on a video chat, and they never spoke again.
"I think she would be ecstatic to know that something that has ravaged our family -- that a family member is going to be part of such a big project," said Smith, 58, whose nephew, Queen's son, also got sick and is still undergoing therapy for strokelike symptoms. "It is very, very important."
Tracked with GPS-enabled sensors, the initial shipments were expected to contain about 3 million doses, with many more to come. Federal officials say the first shipments of Pfizer's vaccine will be staggered, arriving in 145 distribution centers Monday, with another 425 sites getting shipments Tuesday, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday. Doses of the vaccine, codeveloped by German partner BioNTech, are given out based on each state's adult population. Then the states decide where they go first.
In California, where health care workers will be among the first to be vaccinated, state health officials are prioritizing hospitals that have adequate storage capacity, serve high-risk populations and have the ability to vaccinate people quickly.
Initial surveys have found that even some health care workers don't want to be first in line. Dr. Graham Snyder, who's led the vaccine task force at Pennsylvania health care giant UPMC, estimates that about half of its employees are willing to get the vaccine as soon as it's offered.
But many health officials expect enthusiasm to grow.
"There's that thought that maybe they don't have to be so afraid to come to work if they can be vaccinated and be immune," said Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, medical director of hospital quality at the 40-hospital Oschner Health System in Louisiana and Mississippi. Employees approved for the first round are getting texts and emails directing them to schedule their initial injection, she said. Enough vaccine is being saved so that each person who gets the first dose of vaccine can get a second required shot a few weeks later.
Senior U.S. government officials, including some White House officials who work near President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, are among those who will be offered coronavirus vaccines as soon as this week, two people familiar with the matter confirmed.
It was not immediately clear how many officials would be offered the vaccine initially and whether Trump or Pence would get it.
A survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about half of Americans want to get the vaccine as soon as possible. Another quarter aren't sure, while the remaining quarter say they aren't interested. Some simply oppose vaccines in general. Others are concerned that the vaccines have been rushed and want to see how the rollout goes.
Dr. Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the FDA, which approved the Pfizer vaccine Friday, has repeatedly insisted that the agency's decision was based on science, not politics, despite a White House threat to fire him if the vaccine wasn't approved before Saturday.
Speaking to Fox News Sunday, Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief science adviser to Operation Warp Speed, a U.S. effort to get vaccines developed quickly, also said he is "very concerned" about the skepticism about the vaccine in some circles.
"Unfortunately ... there's been a confusion between how thorough and scientific and factual the work that has been done is, and the perception that people are thinking that we cut corners," Slaoui said.
"I can guarantee you that no such things have happened, that we follow the science."
He called the development of vaccines from several pharmaceutical companies, including Moderna and AstraZeneca, "a remarkable achievement of science, academia, the industry ecosystem and the U.S. government, working together."
While the vaccine was determined to be safe, regulators in the United Kingdom are investigating several severe allergic reactions. The FDA's instructions tell providers not to give it to those with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients.
The Moderna vaccine will be reviewed by an expert panel Thursday and soon afterward could be allowed for public use.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-14--Chiefs clinch division despite 4 turnovers, beat Miami 33-27

MIAMI GARDENS , Fla. -- Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs overcame a 30-yard sack , four turnovers and a 10-point deficit Sunday to clinch their fifth consecutive AFC West title by beating Miami 33-27 on Sunday .
Mahomes was picked off three times , his first multi-interception game in more than two years , but threw for 393 yards and two scores to help the Chiefs ( 12-1 ) earn their eighth consecutive victory .
Tyreek Hill ran through the Dolphins ' secondary and behind it , scoring on a 32-yard run and a 44-yard reception when Mahomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line .
Travis Kelce had eight catches for 136 yards and a touchdown , Mecole Hardman scored untouched on a 67-yard punt return , and Kansas City 's defense was stout against Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins ' injury-riddled offense .
Chris Jones sacked the rookie for a safety for a 30-10 lead .
Kansas City reached 12 wins for the third consecutive season , the longest streak in club history , and has the best 13-game record in franchise history .
The Chiefs set a team record with their 10th road win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8-5 ) hurt their playoff prospects by losing for only the second time in the past nine games .
Tagovailoa passed for 316 yards and two scores to Mike Gesicki , but also threw his first career interception , which came on his 154th attempt on a long pass that deflected off receiver Jakeem Grant .
DETROIT -- Aaron Rodgers ran for a tiebreaking score in the third quarter and threw three touchdown passes and the Packers clinched the NFC North title .
The Packers ( 10-3 ) knocked Matthew Stafford out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fourth quarter and went on to win their third straight game and second straight division championship .
The Packers clinched the division with the win and Minnesota 's loss to Tampa Bay earlier in the day .
The Packers ' win combined with the Saints ' loss in Philadelphia gives Green Bay the top seed in the NFC .
The teams are both 10-3 , but the Packers beat the Saints earlier this season .
Detroit ( 5-8 ) scored first and pulled into a tie late in the second quarter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The two-time MVP completed his first eight passes for 119 yards and two scores .
Rodgers finished 26 of 33 for 290 yards , three TDs and did not throw an interception for a third straight game .
He ran 6 yards , untouched , to put the Packers ahead 21-14 for his 30th career rushing TD to break Tobin Rote 's team record for a quarterback .
Green Bay receiver Davante Adams also broke a franchise record .
He extended his touchdown reception streak to eight games , turning a short pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first quarter .
Adams broke the franchise record set by Hall of Famer Don Hutson , who had a pair of seven-game streaks in the 1940s .
He finished with seven catches for 115 yards and Green Bay tight end Robert Tonyan had his ninth TD reception of the season .
Stafford went toward the team 's locker room in the fourth , returned to the field to throw some passes , then retreated out of view again .
ORCHARD PARK , N.Y. -- Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a score to lead Buffalo .
The Bills won for the sixth time in seven outings , and inched closer to claiming their first AFC East title since 1995 and third playoff berth in four seasons .
Buffalo can clinch both as early as Monday night if Baltimore loses to Cleveland .
The AFC North-leading Steelers ( 11-2 ) have lost consecutive games in six days following a 23-17 loss to Washington , and dropped a game behind the AFC-leading Kansas City Chiefs ( 12-1 ) .
Pittsburgh was still able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years before kickoff by virtue of the Miami Dolphins ' 33-27 loss to Kansas City earlier in the day .
The Bills have won at least 10 of their first 13 games of a season for the first time since 1991 .
Allen broke the game open by throwing touchdown passes 3:21 apart on Buffalo 's first two drives of the second half to put Buffalo ahead 23-7 .
PHILADELPHIA -- Jalen Hurts ran for 106 yards and threw for 167 and one touchdown , Miles Sanders had 115 yards rushing and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4-8-1 ) snapped a four-game losing streak and stayed within reach in the woeful NFC East .
The Saints ( 10-3 ) had won nine in a row and were 8-0 over the past two seasons without Drew Brees before running into the inspired Eagles .
The loss dropped the Saints to the No .
2 seed in the NFC behind Green Bay , but they already have secured a playoff berth .
Hurts was 17 of 30 in his first career start after replacing Carson Wentz .
He fumbled late in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runner-up began the season as the third-string quarterback .
He was elevated to backup in Week 2 and took a few snaps each week until Wentz was benched during a 30-16 loss at Green Bay last Sunday .
Taysom Hill was 28 of 38 for 291 yards , two TDs , one interception and was sacked five times by Philly .
Sanders brook loose for an 82-yard TD run in the second quarter , giving the Eagles a 17-0 lead .
It was the fourth-longest run in franchise history .
Sanders has three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He had a 74-yard TD run against Pittsburgh and a 74-yard run against Baltimore .
GLENDALE , Ariz. -- Rookies Chase Young and Kamren Curl scored defensive touchdowns and Washington grabbed sole possession of first place in the NFC East .
Washington ( 6-7 ) has won four straight games and is one game ahead of the New York Giants .
It is Washington 's first four-game winning streak since 2016 .
Washington can thank its young , impressive defense for this win .
The team took a 13-7 lead at halftime after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off a tackle and ran 47 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown with 1:11 left in the second quarter .
It was Young 's first professional touchdown .
Even at 264 pounds , the No .
2 overall pick easily outran the San Francisco offense into the end zone , palming the football in his left hand as he cruised past the pylon .
Curl delivered Washington 's next huge moment on the final play of the third quarter .
He snagged a pass from Nick Mullens and ran 76 yards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Curl was the team 's seventh-round pick this year .
Washington is the first team to get defensive touchdowns from two rookies in the same game since the Rams against the Texans in 2013 .
The game was in Arizona because of coronavirus restrictions in the 49ers ' home county of Santa Clara .
The 49ers ( 5-8 ) have lost five of their past six games .
LAS VEGAS -- T.Y .
Hilton caught two touchdown passes from Philip Rivers and Jonathan Taylor rushed for a career-best 150 yards and two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Taylor had a key 62-yard TD run for the Colts ( 9-4 ) , who racked up 456 total yards while scoring on seven of their first eight drives in their fourth victory in five games .
Safety Khari Willis clinched the win with a 53-yard interception return for his first career touchdown with 5:22 to play .
Indianapolis stayed securely in one of the conference 's wild-card spots and remained atop the AFC South alongside Tennessee , which has a better divisional record for now .
Derek Carr passed for 316 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Raiders ( 7-6 ) , who have lost three of four after a strong start to their relocation season .
Foster Moreau and Nelson Agholor made TD catches in the first half , but the offense could n't keep up while Indianapolis marched up and down the field to little resistance .
SEATTLE -- Russell Wilson threw four more touchdowns passes to give him a career-high with 36 for the season before finally resting in the fourth quarter .
Seattle ( 9-4 ) rebounded exactly as it hoped after last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss to the New York Giants , and stayed even with the Los Angeles Rams on top of the NFC West .
Wilson threw touchdowns to Freddie Swain and DK Metcalf in the first half , and added TD tosses to Will Dissly and David Moore in the third quarter .
It was his fifth game this season with at least four TD passes .
Metcalf commandeered a TV broadcast camera as part of his TD celebration after catching a 5-yard TD in the second quarter , his 10th of the season .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ yards and checked out late in the third quarter , giving way to former Jets QB Geno Smith for his first action since joining Seattle last season .
For the Jets , it was another miserable day in their forgettable season .
Days after firing defensive coordinator Gregg Williams after the collapse at the end of last week 's loss to Las Vegas , the Jets ( 0-13 ) showed little resistance on defense and little excitement on offense as they lost their franchise-record 13th straight .
TAMPA , Fla. -- Tom Brady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Brady tossed TD passes of 48 yards to Scotty Miller and 2 yards to Rob Gronkowski to rebound from losing two straight home games entering Tampa Bay 's bye .
Ronald Jones had a 1-yard TD run and Ryan Succop kicked field goals of 18 and 48 yards .
The Bucs ( 8-5 ) lost three of four games to division title contenders leading into last week 's bye , including a pair of 27-24 losses at home to the Rams and reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs .
They entered Sunday holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the Vikings ( 6-7 ) nipping at their heels after winning five of six following a 1-5 start .
Tampa Bay sacked Kirk Cousins six times , the last producing a fumble that ended any chance of a rally in the closing minutes .
Cousins finished 24 of 37 passing for 225 yards , one touchdown and no interceptions .
Dalvin Cook rushed for 102 yards on 22 carries , but Minnesota chances were undermined by another poor performance by kicker Dan Bailey , who missed an extra point and three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sat in the stands , wearing a face covering .
The Super Bowl will be held at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7 .
EAST RUTHERFORD , N.J. -- Haason Reddick had a franchise-record five sacks and three forced fumbles as the Cardinals spoiled the return of Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and moved back into an NFC playoff spot .
Kyler Murray added a touchdown pass as Arizona ( 7-6 ) snapped a three-game skid and ended a four-game winning streak that had moved the Giants ( 5-8 ) to the top of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off the practice squad and added his first four field goals in more than a year , and Kenyan Drake scored on a 1-yard dive as Arizona won for only the second time in six games .
The Cardinals finished with eight sacks .
Reddick broke the team mark of 4 1/2 by Curtis Greer on Dec. 18 , 1983 against the Eagles Murray went 24 of 35 for 244 yards and ran 13 times for 47 .
DeAndre Hopkins had nine catches for 136 yards .
JACKSONVILLE , Tenn. -- Derrick Henry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his best performance in five trips to his hometown area , and the Titans handed the Jaguars a 12th consecutive loss .
It was Henry 's fourth game with at least 200 yards and two scores , setting an NFL record he previously shared with Hall of Famers Jim Brown , Barry Sanders and LaDainian Tomlinson .
Henry also topped the century mark for the ninth consecutive road game , leaving him one shy of the NFL mark set by Sanders over the 1996 and 1997 seasons .
Enjoying a big performance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yulee was something new for Henry .
He had n't reached triple digits rushing in any of his four previous games in Jacksonville .
He managed just 13 yards as a rookie in 2016 , followed by outings of 92 , 57 and 44 yards in front of friends and family .
He did n't even need a full half to surpass all those outings Sunday against the Jaguars ( 1-12 ) .
Henry had 170 yards on 17 carries in the first 30 minutes , including a 36-yard touchdown run .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third as the Titans ( 9-4 ) started to pull away .
Jaguars running back James Robinson became the first rookie in NFL history to top 1,000 yards in the first 14 weeks of a season .
He also became the fourth undrafted rookie in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards rushing , joining Indianapolis ' Dominic Rhodes ( 1,104 in 2001 ) , Denver 's Phillip Lindsay ( 1,037 in 2018 ) and Tampa Bay 's LeGarrette Blount ( 1,007 in 2010 ) .
CINCINNATI -- Andy Dalton was good enough in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touchdown passes .
Cincinnati greatly contributed to the cause of its longtime quarterback , who was playing in Paul Brown Stadium for the first time since he was cast aside by the team before the season .
The Bengals fumbled the ball away on their first three drives , one fumble returned for a touchdown , and leading to 17 first-half points by the Cowboys ( 4-9 ) .
That was all they needed .
Dalton was serviceable , going 16 for 23 for 185 yards , as the Cowboys stayed in contention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threw an 11-yard , second-quarter touchdown to Amari Cooper , and hit Tony Pollard for a 7-yard score with 2:00 left in the game .
On the first Cincinnati drive , running back Giovani Bernard fumbled for the first time in 830 carries , leading to a Dallas field goal .
The Bengals were driving on the next series when running back Trayveon Williams ' fumble was recovered by linebacker Aldon Smith and returned 78 yards for a touchdown .
CHRLOTTE , N.C. -- Drew Lock threw for 280 yards and a career-high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a punt 83 yards for his first career score .
Lock connected on touchdown throws of 49 and 37 yards to rookie KJ Hamler and also threw scoring strikes to Nick Vannett and Tim Patrick to help the Broncos snap a two-game slide .
Hamler , the team 's second-round draft pick , twice beat veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas for touchdowns .
The Broncos ( 5-8 ) sacked Teddy Bridgewater four times , including one by Dre'Mont Jones on Carolina 's final possession in which the Panthers turned over the ball on downs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Panthers ( 4-9 ) , who have lost seven of their last eight .
CHICAGO -- Mitchell Trubisky threw three touchdown passes to outplay Deshaun Watson in their first meeting since they entered the NFL , and the Bears snapped a six-game losing streak .
David Montgomery ran for an 80-yard touchdown on Chicago 's first play from scrimmage , helping the Bears stopped their worst skid since the 2002 team dropped eight in a row to match a franchise record .
The Bears ( 6-7 ) sacked Watson seven times , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tie a career high for the Texans quarterback .
General manager Ryan Pace 's decision to draft Trubisky with the No .
2 overall pick in 2017 when he could have gone with Watson or Patrick Mahomes drew even more attention than usual during the week .
But on Sunday at least , Chicago 's quarterback delivered .
Trubisky buried the Texans ( 4-9 ) in the first half , throwing for three TDs as the Bears grabbed a 30-7 lead .
Facing one of the NFL 's worst defenses , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yards .
He had a 126.7 rating in his third start since returning to the lineup with Nick Foles ( hip and glute ) injured .
Montgomery tied the fourth-longest run in franchise history and finished with a season-high 113 yards on 11 carries .
Allen Robinson caught nine passes for 123 yards , matching a season high and giving him 1,027 for the season .
It 's the second straight year he has reached 1,000 yards .
INGLEWOOD , Calif -- Michael Badgley hit a 43-yard field goal as time expired .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 after Michael Davis picked off Matt Ryan 's pass intended for Calvin Ridley .
Justin Herbert 's completions of 15 yards to Hunter Henry and 25 yards to Tyron Johnson got LA into Badgley 's range .
Badgley split the uprights for the second winning kick of his career .
Herbert was 36 of 44 for 243 yards with two touchdowns and an interception .
Austin Ekeler had 146 scrimmage yards ( 79 rushing , 67 receiving ) as Los Angeles ( 4-9 ) snapped a two-game losing streak .
Ryan completed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a touchdown and three interceptions .
Ridley , who went over 1,000 receiving yards for the season , had eight receptions for 124 yards and a score .
The Falcons ( 4-9 ) were without four starters , including star wide receiver Julio Jones .

Chiefs clinch division despite 4 turnovers, beat Miami 33-27
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks to pass the football, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Associated Press
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) greets Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) at the end of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Chiefs defeated the Dolphins 33-27. Associated Press
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs overcame a 30-yard sack, four turnovers and a 10-point deficit Sunday to clinch their fifth consecutive AFC West title by beating Miami 33-27 on Sunday.
Mahomes was picked off three times, his first multi-interception game in more than two years, but threw for 393 yards and two scores to help the Chiefs (12-1) earn their eighth consecutive victory.
Tyreek Hill ran through the Dolphins' secondary and behind it, scoring on a 32-yard run and a 44-yard reception when Mahomes hit him in stride at the goal line.
Travis Kelce had eight catches for 136 yards and a touchdown, Mecole Hardman scored untouched on a 67-yard punt return, and Kansas City's defense was stout against Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins' injury-riddled offense. Chris Jones sacked the rookie for a safety for a 30-10 lead.
Kansas City reached 12 wins for the third consecutive season, the longest streak in club history, and has the best 13-game record in franchise history. The Chiefs set a team record with their 10th road win in a row.
Pittsburgh earned a playoff berth with the Miami loss.
The Dolphins (8-5) hurt their playoff prospects by losing for only the second time in the past nine games. Tagovailoa passed for 316 yards and two scores to Mike Gesicki, but also threw his first career interception, which came on his 154th attempt on a long pass that deflected off receiver Jakeem Grant.
PACKERS 31, LIONS 24
DETROIT -- Aaron Rodgers ran for a tiebreaking score in the third quarter and threw three touchdown passes and the Packers clinched the NFC North title.
The Packers (10-3) knocked Matthew Stafford out of the game with a rib injury in the fourth quarter and went on to win their third straight game and second straight division championship. The Packers clinched the division with the win and Minnesota's loss to Tampa Bay earlier in the day.
The Packers' win combined with the Saints' loss in Philadelphia gives Green Bay the top seed in the NFC. The teams are both 10-3, but the Packers beat the Saints earlier this season.
Detroit (5-8) scored first and pulled into a tie late in the second quarter, but simply couldn't stop Rodgers. The two-time MVP completed his first eight passes for 119 yards and two scores. Rodgers finished 26 of 33 for 290 yards, three TDs and did not throw an interception for a third straight game. He ran 6 yards, untouched, to put the Packers ahead 21-14 for his 30th career rushing TD to break Tobin Rote's team record for a quarterback.
Green Bay receiver Davante Adams also broke a franchise record. He extended his touchdown reception streak to eight games, turning a short pass from Rodgers into a 56-yard TD in the first quarter. Adams broke the franchise record set by Hall of Famer Don Hutson, who had a pair of seven-game streaks in the 1940s. He finished with seven catches for 115 yards and Green Bay tight end Robert Tonyan had his ninth TD reception of the season.
Stafford went toward the team's locker room in the fourth, returned to the field to throw some passes, then retreated out of view again.
BILLS 26, STEELERS 15
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and safety Taron Johnson returned an interception 51 yards for a score to lead Buffalo.
The Bills won for the sixth time in seven outings, and inched closer to claiming their first AFC East title since 1995 and third playoff berth in four seasons. Buffalo can clinch both as early as Monday night if Baltimore loses to Cleveland.
The AFC North-leading Steelers (11-2) have lost consecutive games in six days following a 23-17 loss to Washington, and dropped a game behind the AFC-leading Kansas City Chiefs (12-1). Pittsburgh was still able to clinch its first playoff berth in three years before kickoff by virtue of the Miami Dolphins' 33-27 loss to Kansas City earlier in the day.
The Bills have won at least 10 of their first 13 games of a season for the first time since 1991.
Allen broke the game open by throwing touchdown passes 3:21 apart on Buffalo's first two drives of the second half to put Buffalo ahead 23-7.
EAGLES 24, SAINTS 21
PHILADELPHIA -- Jalen Hurts ran for 106 yards and threw for 167 and one touchdown, Miles Sanders had 115 yards rushing and a pair of scores. The Eagles (4-8-1) snapped a four-game losing streak and stayed within reach in the woeful NFC East.
The Saints (10-3) had won nine in a row and were 8-0 over the past two seasons without Drew Brees before running into the inspired Eagles. The loss dropped the Saints to the No. 2 seed in the NFC behind Green Bay, but they already have secured a playoff berth.
Hurts was 17 of 30 in his first career start after replacing Carson Wentz. He fumbled late in the fourth quarter. The 2019 Heisman Trophy runner-up began the season as the third-string quarterback. He was elevated to backup in Week 2 and took a few snaps each week until Wentz was benched during a 30-16 loss at Green Bay last Sunday.
Taysom Hill was 28 of 38 for 291 yards, two TDs, one interception and was sacked five times by Philly.
Sanders brook loose for an 82-yard TD run in the second quarter, giving the Eagles a 17-0 lead. It was the fourth-longest run in franchise history. Sanders has three runs of 70-plus yards since October. He had a 74-yard TD run against Pittsburgh and a 74-yard run against Baltimore.
WASHINGTON 23, 49ERS 15
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Rookies Chase Young and Kamren Curl scored defensive touchdowns and Washington grabbed sole possession of first place in the NFC East.
Washington (6-7) has won four straight games and is one game ahead of the New York Giants. It is Washington's first four-game winning streak since 2016.
Washington can thank its young, impressive defense for this win. The team took a 13-7 lead at halftime after Young scooped up a fumble, shook off a tackle and ran 47 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown with 1:11 left in the second quarter. It was Young's first professional touchdown.
Even at 264 pounds, the No. 2 overall pick easily outran the San Francisco offense into the end zone, palming the football in his left hand as he cruised past the pylon.
Curl delivered Washington's next huge moment on the final play of the third quarter. He snagged a pass from Nick Mullens and ran 76 yards the other way for a 23-7 advantage. Curl was the team's seventh-round pick this year.
Washington is the first team to get defensive touchdowns from two rookies in the same game since the Rams against the Texans in 2013.
The game was in Arizona because of coronavirus restrictions in the 49ers' home county of Santa Clara. The 49ers (5-8) have lost five of their past six games.
COLTS 44, RAIDERS 27
LAS VEGAS -- T.Y. Hilton caught two touchdown passes from Philip Rivers and Jonathan Taylor rushed for a career-best 150 yards and two scores.
Rivers passed for 244 yards and Taylor had a key 62-yard TD run for the Colts (9-4), who racked up 456 total yards while scoring on seven of their first eight drives in their fourth victory in five games.
Safety Khari Willis clinched the win with a 53-yard interception return for his first career touchdown with 5:22 to play. Indianapolis stayed securely in one of the conference's wild-card spots and remained atop the AFC South alongside Tennessee, which has a better divisional record for now.
Derek Carr passed for 316 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Raiders (7-6), who have lost three of four after a strong start to their relocation season. Foster Moreau and Nelson Agholor made TD catches in the first half, but the offense couldn't keep up while Indianapolis marched up and down the field to little resistance.
SEAHAWKS 40, JETS 3
SEATTLE -- Russell Wilson threw four more touchdowns passes to give him a career-high with 36 for the season before finally resting in the fourth quarter.
Seattle (9-4) rebounded exactly as it hoped after last week's surprisingly poor offensive performance in its loss to the New York Giants, and stayed even with the Los Angeles Rams on top of the NFC West.
Wilson threw touchdowns to Freddie Swain and DK Metcalf in the first half, and added TD tosses to Will Dissly and David Moore in the third quarter. It was his fifth game this season with at least four TD passes. Metcalf commandeered a TV broadcast camera as part of his TD celebration after catching a 5-yard TD in the second quarter, his 10th of the season.
Wilson finished 21 of 27 for 206 yards and checked out late in the third quarter, giving way to former Jets QB Geno Smith for his first action since joining Seattle last season.
For the Jets, it was another miserable day in their forgettable season. Days after firing defensive coordinator Gregg Williams after the collapse at the end of last week's loss to Las Vegas, the Jets (0-13) showed little resistance on defense and little excitement on offense as they lost their franchise-record 13th straight.
BUCCANEERS 26, VIKINGS 14
TAMPA, Fla. -- Tom Brady threw for 196 yards and two touchdowns. Brady tossed TD passes of 48 yards to Scotty Miller and 2 yards to Rob Gronkowski to rebound from losing two straight home games entering Tampa Bay's bye. Ronald Jones had a 1-yard TD run and Ryan Succop kicked field goals of 18 and 48 yards.
The Bucs (8-5) lost three of four games to division title contenders leading into last week's bye, including a pair of 27-24 losses at home to the Rams and reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs. They entered Sunday holding the sixth playoff spot in the NFC, with the Vikings (6-7) nipping at their heels after winning five of six following a 1-5 start.
Tampa Bay sacked Kirk Cousins six times, the last producing a fumble that ended any chance of a rally in the closing minutes. Cousins finished 24 of 37 passing for 225 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Dalvin Cook rushed for 102 yards on 22 carries, but Minnesota chances were undermined by another poor performance by kicker Dan Bailey, who missed an extra point and three field goals.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sat in the stands, wearing a face covering. The Super Bowl will be held at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7.
CARDINALS 26, GIANTS 7
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Haason Reddick had a franchise-record five sacks and three forced fumbles as the Cardinals spoiled the return of Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and moved back into an NFC playoff spot.
Kyler Murray added a touchdown pass as Arizona (7-6) snapped a three-game skid and ended a four-game winning streak that had moved the Giants (5-8) to the top of the NFC East.
Mike Nugent came off the practice squad and added his first four field goals in more than a year, and Kenyan Drake scored on a 1-yard dive as Arizona won for only the second time in six games.
The Cardinals finished with eight sacks. Reddick broke the team mark of 4 1/2 by Curtis Greer on Dec. 18, 1983 against the Eagles
Murray went 24 of 35 for 244 yards and ran 13 times for 47. DeAndre Hopkins had nine catches for 136 yards.
TITANS 31, JAGUARS 10
JACKSONVILLE, Tenn. -- Derrick Henry ran for 215 yards and two touchdowns, his best performance in five trips to his hometown area, and the Titans handed the Jaguars a 12th consecutive loss. It was Henry's fourth game with at least 200 yards and two scores, setting an NFL record he previously shared with Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Barry Sanders and LaDainian Tomlinson.
Henry also topped the century mark for the ninth consecutive road game, leaving him one shy of the NFL mark set by Sanders over the 1996 and 1997 seasons.
Enjoying a big performance about 25 miles from his hometown of Yulee was something new for Henry. He hadn't reached triple digits rushing in any of his four previous games in Jacksonville. He managed just 13 yards as a rookie in 2016, followed by outings of 92, 57 and 44 yards in front of friends and family.
He didn't even need a full half to surpass all those outings Sunday against the Jaguars (1-12).
Henry had 170 yards on 17 carries in the first 30 minutes, including a 36-yard touchdown run. He added a 47-yard scamper early in the third as the Titans (9-4) started to pull away.
Jaguars running back James Robinson became the first rookie in NFL history to top 1,000 yards in the first 14 weeks of a season. He also became the fourth undrafted rookie in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards rushing, joining Indianapolis' Dominic Rhodes (1,104 in 2001), Denver's Phillip Lindsay (1,037 in 2018) and Tampa Bay's LeGarrette Blount (1,007 in 2010).
COWBOYS 30, BENGALS 7
CINCINNATI -- Andy Dalton was good enough in his return to Cincinnati, tossing two touchdown passes. Cincinnati greatly contributed to the cause of its longtime quarterback, who was playing in Paul Brown Stadium for the first time since he was cast aside by the team before the season. The Bengals fumbled the ball away on their first three drives, one fumble returned for a touchdown, and leading to 17 first-half points by the Cowboys (4-9). That was all they needed.
Dalton was serviceable, going 16 for 23 for 185 yards, as the Cowboys stayed in contention in the weak NFC East. He threw an 11-yard, second-quarter touchdown to Amari Cooper, and hit Tony Pollard for a 7-yard score with 2:00 left in the game.
On the first Cincinnati drive, running back Giovani Bernard fumbled for the first time in 830 carries, leading to a Dallas field goal. The Bengals were driving on the next series when running back Trayveon Williams' fumble was recovered by linebacker Aldon Smith and returned 78 yards for a touchdown.
BRONCOS 32, PANTHERS 27
CHRLOTTE, N.C. -- Drew Lock threw for 280 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, and Diontae Spencer returned a punt 83 yards for his first career score.
Lock connected on touchdown throws of 49 and 37 yards to rookie KJ Hamler and also threw scoring strikes to Nick Vannett and Tim Patrick to help the Broncos snap a two-game slide. Hamler, the team's second-round draft pick, twice beat veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas for touchdowns.
The Broncos (5-8) sacked Teddy Bridgewater four times, including one by Dre'Mont Jones on Carolina's final possession in which the Panthers turned over the ball on downs.
Bridgewater threw for 283 yards for the Panthers (4-9), who have lost seven of their last eight.
BEARS 36, TEXANS 7
CHICAGO -- Mitchell Trubisky threw three touchdown passes to outplay Deshaun Watson in their first meeting since they entered the NFL, and the Bears snapped a six-game losing streak.
David Montgomery ran for an 80-yard touchdown on Chicago's first play from scrimmage, helping the Bears stopped their worst skid since the 2002 team dropped eight in a row to match a franchise record. The Bears (6-7) sacked Watson seven times, including a safety by Khalil Mack, to tie a career high for the Texans quarterback.
General manager Ryan Pace's decision to draft Trubisky with the No. 2 overall pick in 2017 when he could have gone with Watson or Patrick Mahomes drew even more attention than usual during the week. But on Sunday at least, Chicago's quarterback delivered.
Trubisky buried the Texans (4-9) in the first half, throwing for three TDs as the Bears grabbed a 30-7 lead. Facing one of the NFL's worst defenses, he completed 24 of 33 passes for 267 yards. He had a 126.7 rating in his third start since returning to the lineup with Nick Foles (hip and glute) injured.
Montgomery tied the fourth-longest run in franchise history and finished with a season-high 113 yards on 11 carries.
Allen Robinson caught nine passes for 123 yards, matching a season high and giving him 1,027 for the season. It's the second straight year he has reached 1,000 yards.
CHARGERS 20, FALCONS 17
INGLEWOOD, Calif -- Michael Badgley hit a 43-yard field goal as time expired. Los Angeles got the ball on its 26 after Michael Davis picked off Matt Ryan's pass intended for Calvin Ridley. Justin Herbert's completions of 15 yards to Hunter Henry and 25 yards to Tyron Johnson got LA into Badgley's range. Badgley split the uprights for the second winning kick of his career.
Herbert was 36 of 44 for 243 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Austin Ekeler had 146 scrimmage yards (79 rushing, 67 receiving) as Los Angeles (4-9) snapped a two-game losing streak.
Ryan completed 21 of 32 passes for 224 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. Ridley, who went over 1,000 receiving yards for the season, had eight receptions for 124 yards and a score. The Falcons (4-9) were without four starters, including star wide receiver Julio Jones.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-14--VanDerveer ties Summitt's wins record, No. 1 Stanford rolls

BERKELEY , Calif. -- Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer tied the late Pat Summitt as winningest women 's coach in NCAA Division I basketball history with 1,098 on Sunday night as the top-ranked Cardinal beat rival California 83-38 .
Francesca Belibi finally dunked in a game as she typically does during every warmup and scored 14 points for Stanford ( 4-0 , 2-0 Pac-12 ) which played its first game since taking over the No .
1 spot in the AP rankings .
VanDerveer , the Hall of Fame coach in her 35th season on The Farm , is poised to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if all goes as planned - the teams were forced to cancel their first scheduled game Nov. 29 because of a positive coronavirus test in the Tigers program .
When Cal public address announcer Matt Foley congratulated VanDerveer 's achievement after the final buzzer and Stanford 's players clapped , VanDerveer shooed them toward the locker room .
Belibi stole the ball from Ornela Muca near the opposite baseline then drove end to end for a pretty one-handed slam 51 seconds before halftime to become the eighth women 's player to dunk in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman to dunk in a game since former Baylor star Brittney Griner had a trio of slams against Florida State in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament .
Freshman Cameron Brink had 16 points and seven rebounds for the Cardinal .
Fatou Samb had 10 points and freshman Michelle Onyiah had nine points and 11 rebounds for Cal ( 0-5 , 0-2 ) , coached by former Stanford star Charmin Smith .
BOSTON -- Kayla Jones scored 25 points , Elissa Cunane had 23 points and 15 rebounds and North Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to beat Boston College .
The Wolfpack ( 6-0 , 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference ) trailed 65-49 with just over six minutes left before scoring 25 of the game 's last 29 points .
Jones had 11 points , shooting 5 for 5 from the field , and Cunane had eight rebounds in the fourth quarter .
Makayla Dickens scored 20 points and Cameron Swartz and Marnelle Garraud had 15 apiece for Boston College ( 4-2 , 0-2 ) .
The Eagles made just two baskets in the fourth quarter .
CORVALLIS , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Taylor Mikesell had 21 and Oregon beat Oregon State for its 24th consecutive victory .
Mikesell and Paopao combined to make eight of the Ducks ' nine 3-pointers in the first half and scored 15 points apiece to help Oregon ( 5-0 , 3-0 Pac-12 ) take a 45-24 lead .
The Beavers ( 3-2 , 1-2 ) never got closer than 18 points in the second half .
Oregon has won five of the past six matchups against Oregon State .
It was the largest margin for Oregon in the series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season .
Patterson scored 13 points in the second half .
Dre'Una Edwards added 15 points for the Wildcats ( 6-0 ) .
COLLEGE STATION , Texas -- Aaliyah Wilson had 12 of her 15 points in the first half and Texas pulled away to beat Abilene Christian .
Wilson added four steals and three blocks for the Aggies ( 6-0 ) .
Alexis Morris scored 14 points , Jordan Nixon had 11 , and N'dea Jones had 10 points and 14 rebounds .
Anna McLeod had 18 points for the Wildcats ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Onyenwere scored 19 points and Charisma Osborne added 18 , each dominating a quarter , to help UCLA roll rout rival Southern California .
Osborne hit three 3-pointers and scored 13 points in the first quarter as the Bruins ( 4-1 , 2-1 Pac-12 Conference ) opened a 27-18 lead .
Onyenwere went 5 of 7 , making both of her 3s , and scored 14 points in the third quarter when UCLA outscored the Trojans 20-5 to open a 27-point lead .
Jordan Sanders had 12 points for the Trojans ( 1-3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- LeeAnne Wirth scored 12 points and Gonzaga made 7 of 8 free throws in the last 36 seconds to hold off Montana .
Cierra Walker added 10 points and four steals for Gonzaga ( 4-2 ) .
Dungee was 3 for 3 from 3-point range and Razorbacks ( 7-1 ) were 12 for 24 overall .
CHICAGO -- Lexi Held scored 10 of her 17 points in the last four minutes to help DePaul rally past Loyola of Chicago .

VanDerveer ties Summitt's wins record, No. 1 Stanford rolls
NC State's Elissa Cunane (33) blocks a shot by Boston College's Marnelle Garraud (14) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Boston. Associated Press
Stanford's Francesca Belibi (5) dunks the ball against California during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Berkeley, Calif. Associated Press
Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer coaches against California during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Berkeley, Calif. Associated Press
BERKELEY, Calif. -- Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer tied the late Pat Summitt as winningest women's coach in NCAA Division I basketball history with 1,098 on Sunday night as the top-ranked Cardinal beat rival California 83-38.
Francesca Belibi finally dunked in a game as she typically does during every warmup and scored 14 points for Stanford (4-0, 2-0 Pac-12) which played its first game since taking over the No. 1 spot in the AP rankings.
VanDerveer, the Hall of Fame coach in her 35th season on The Farm, is poised to pass Summitt on Tuesday night at Pacific if all goes as planned - the teams were forced to cancel their first scheduled game Nov. 29 because of a positive coronavirus test in the Tigers program.
When Cal public address announcer Matt Foley congratulated VanDerveer's achievement after the final buzzer and Stanford's players clapped, VanDerveer shooed them toward the locker room.
Belibi stole the ball from Ornela Muca near the opposite baseline then drove end to end for a pretty one-handed slam 51 seconds before halftime to become the eighth women's player to dunk in a game. Belibi is the first woman to dunk in a game since former Baylor star Brittney Griner had a trio of slams against Florida State in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
Freshman Cameron Brink had 16 points and seven rebounds for the Cardinal.
Fatou Samb had 10 points and freshman Michelle Onyiah had nine points and 11 rebounds for Cal (0-5, 0-2), coached by former Stanford star Charmin Smith.
NO. 4 N.C. STATE 75, BOSTON COLLEGE 69
BOSTON -- Kayla Jones scored 25 points, Elissa Cunane had 23 points and 15 rebounds and North Carolina State overcame a 16-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat Boston College.
The Wolfpack (6-0, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) trailed 65-49 with just over six minutes left before scoring 25 of the game's last 29 points. Jones had 11 points, shooting 5 for 5 from the field, and Cunane had eight rebounds in the fourth quarter.
Makayla Dickens scored 20 points and Cameron Swartz and Marnelle Garraud had 15 apiece for Boston College (4-2, 0-2). The Eagles made just two baskets in the fourth quarter.
NO. 8 OREGON 79, NO. 15 OREGON STATE 59
CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Te-Hina Paopao scored 22 points, Taylor Mikesell had 21 and Oregon beat Oregon State for its 24th consecutive victory.
Mikesell and Paopao combined to make eight of the Ducks' nine 3-pointers in the first half and scored 15 points apiece to help Oregon (5-0, 3-0 Pac-12) take a 45-24 lead. The Beavers (3-2, 1-2) never got closer than 18 points in the second half.
Oregon has won five of the past six matchups against Oregon State. It was the largest margin for Oregon in the series since an 82-58 victory during the 2004-05 season.
Taylor Jones led the Beavers with 14 points.
NO. 9 KENTUCKY 88, SAMFORD 54
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Chasity Patterson scored 16 points to lead Kentucky past Samford.
Patterson scored 13 points in the second half. Dre'Una Edwards added 15 points for the Wildcats (6-0).
Andrea Cournoyer led the Lady Bulldogs (1-5) with 14 points.
NO. 10 TEXAS A&M 77, ABILENE CHRISTIAN 59
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Aaliyah Wilson had 12 of her 15 points in the first half and Texas pulled away to beat Abilene Christian.
Wilson added four steals and three blocks for the Aggies (6-0). Alexis Morris scored 14 points, Jordan Nixon had 11, and N'dea Jones had 10 points and 14 rebounds.
Anna McLeod had 18 points for the Wildcats (5-1).
NO. 11 UCLA 73, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 52
LOS ANGELES -- Michaela Onyenwere scored 19 points and Charisma Osborne added 18, each dominating a quarter, to help UCLA roll rout rival Southern California.
Osborne hit three 3-pointers and scored 13 points in the first quarter as the Bruins (4-1, 2-1 Pac-12 Conference) opened a 27-18 lead. Onyenwere went 5 of 7, making both of her 3s, and scored 14 points in the third quarter when UCLA outscored the Trojans 20-5 to open a 27-point lead.
Jordan Sanders had 12 points for the Trojans (1-3, 0-3).
NO. 25 GONZAGA 58, MONTANA 51
SPOKANE, Wash. -- LeeAnne Wirth scored 12 points and Gonzaga made 7 of 8 free throws in the last 36 seconds to hold off Montana.
Cierra Walker added 10 points and four steals for Gonzaga (4-2).
Sophia Stiles scored 15 points for Montana (1-2).
NO. 13 ARKANSAS 105, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 58
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Chelsea Dungee scored 26 points, Destiny Slocum added 22 and Arkansas romped past Central Arkansas.
Dungee was 3 for 3 from 3-point range and Razorbacks (7-1) were 12 for 24 overall.
Jalisa Outlaw led the Bears (1-4) with 22 points.
NO. 24 DePAUL 76, LOYOLA OF CHICAGO 67
CHICAGO -- Lexi Held scored 10 of her 17 points in the last four minutes to help DePaul rally past Loyola of Chicago.
Sonya Morris led the Blue Demons (2-2) with 26 points. Deja Church added 15 points.
Maya Chandler led the Ramblers (1-1) with 14 points.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-14--First doses of COVID-19 vaccine arrive in Illinois. Where will they go next?

The first COVID-19 vaccinations in Illinois are slated to go into the arms of hospital staff members at Peoria 's St. Francis Medical Center at 11 a.m. Tuesday .
Other hospital workers throughout the state , including at Edward Hospital in Naperville , are expected to receive their first of the two-dose vaccine later in the day .
Illinois ' first 43,000 doses of the vaccine arrived Monday at the state 's distribution location .
The doses will be delivered to regional centers where they will be picked up by local health departments to begin distribution to hospitals , state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County and Chicago health departments are also receiving shipment of doses , as well as health departments in downstate St. Clair and Madison counties .
Meanwhile , state health officials Monday announced 103 more Illinois residents have died from the respiratory disease , while another 7,214 new cases were diagnosed .
That brings the state 's death toll to 14,394 since the outbreak began , with 856,118 Illinois residents who have been infected by the virus .
The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting the state 's infection rate is at 8.7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That number is calculated by dividing the number of new COVID-19 cases diagnosed over seven days by the total tests processed .
The statewide rate is at its lowest since Nov. 4 , according to IDPH figures .
COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide dropped to 4,951 , the first time the number of patients has been below 5,000 since Nov. 9 .
IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said she was hopeful the continued decline in cases and hospitalizations meant the state had fared better than expected after Thanksgiving .
`` There has not been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous week , so that is a good sign , '' she said .
`` But as we have said from the beginning it takes one or two incubation periods to know . ''
Each incubation period is 14 days .
But the vaccination news took center stage Monday .
Cook County Department of Public Health officials announced 20,000 doses of the vaccine would be shipped over the course of the week to 15 suburban hospitals for inoculation of health care workers and other staff members at those hospitals .
Among the 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital in Arlington Heights , Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge , Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village , St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates and North Shore Glenbrook Hospital , according to Cook County health officials .
It 's unknown how many doses each hospital will get .
State health officials are recommending hospitals stagger the vaccinations of their staffs to account for any side effects that might cause brief staffing shortages .
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports some people might have fever , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or pain at the injection site .
Dr. Kiran Joshi , a senior medical officer at the Cook County Health Department , said it would take four to five weeks to get through the `` hospital-based wave '' of vaccinations .
The other prioritized group includes residents and workers at long-term health care facilities .
Vaccinations of those individuals are being handled by local pharmacies through a federal program , county health officials said .
`` We encourage all health care workers , staff and residents of long-term care facilities to get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available , '' Joshi said .
`` Although the first doses of the vaccine are here , we must all remain vigilant and continue to wear a mask , watch our distance and wash our hands -- whether we have received the vaccine or not . ''
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine over the weekend .
Vaccinations began Monday in some states .
In the first phase of vaccinations , unaffiliated health care workers and EMS personnel are considered `` 1a '' priority alongside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and residents .
Once those inoculations are complete , the `` 1b '' group includes `` essential workers , including first responders , corrections officers , education sector , food and agriculture , utilities and transportation , '' according to federal guidelines from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices .
After that , the federal panel recommends inoculation of a `` 1c '' group who are considered `` high-risk '' elderly adults or have underlying medical conditions that place them at greater risk of dying from COVID-19 infections .
Beyond that , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to distribute vaccinations , health officials said .
`` A lot more information is still yet to come , '' Ezike said .
`` As soon as we have that information , we can share that with the public .
In some situations , ( health care ) providers might be able to make some of those determinations .
For some it might be where you use your ( work ) badge to certify that you 're in this critical infrastructure work . ''
However , both Ezike and county health officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine is available for everyone who wants it .
`` As more vaccine becomes available , more individuals will become eligible to receive the vaccine , '' Ezike said .
`` Until then , let 's exercise patience and understand that here may be others who will get the vaccine before you . ''
Elsewhere , the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about potential vaccine scams that promise buyers they can skip the lines for a fee or offer vaccines for a price .
Health officials reiterated that vaccines are free and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead in the eligibility list .

First doses of COVID-19 vaccine arrive in Illinois. Where will they go next?
Thousands of vials of the COVID-19 vaccine likes this one developed by BioNTech and Pfizer are being deployed throughout the country after emergency use was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over the weekend. Associated Press file photo/Dec. 1
Illinois' first 43,000 doses of the vaccine arrived Monday at the state's distribution location at Peoria's St. Francis Medical Center. Courtesy of state of Illinois
Illinois' first 43,000 doses of the vaccine arrived Monday at the state's distribution location at Peoria's St. Francis Medical Center. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, second from right, was on site for the delivery. Courtesy of state of Illinois
The first COVID-19 vaccinations in Illinois are slated to go into the arms of hospital staff members at Peoria's St. Francis Medical Center at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Other hospital workers throughout the state, including at Edward Hospital in Naperville, are expected to receive their first of the two-dose vaccine later in the day.
Illinois' first 43,000 doses of the vaccine arrived Monday at the state's distribution location. The doses will be delivered to regional centers where they will be picked up by local health departments to begin distribution to hospitals, state officials said.
Cook County, Lake County and Chicago health departments are also receiving shipment of doses, as well as health departments in downstate St. Clair and Madison counties.
Meanwhile, state health officials Monday announced 103 more Illinois residents have died from the respiratory disease, while another 7,214 new cases were diagnosed. That brings the state's death toll to 14,394 since the outbreak began, with 856,118 Illinois residents who have been infected by the virus.
The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting the state's infection rate is at 8.7%, based on a seven-day average. That number is calculated by dividing the number of new COVID-19 cases diagnosed over seven days by the total tests processed. The statewide rate is at its lowest since Nov. 4, according to IDPH figures.
COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide dropped to 4,951, the first time the number of patients has been below 5,000 since Nov. 9.
IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said she was hopeful the continued decline in cases and hospitalizations meant the state had fared better than expected after Thanksgiving.
"There has not been a significant surge in cases from the previous week, so that is a good sign," she said. "But as we have said from the beginning it takes one or two incubation periods to know." Each incubation period is 14 days.
But the vaccination news took center stage Monday.
Cook County Department of Public Health officials announced 20,000 doses of the vaccine would be shipped over the course of the week to 15 suburban hospitals for inoculation of health care workers and other staff members at those hospitals.
Among the 15 hospitals receiving initial batches are Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates and North Shore Glenbrook Hospital, according to Cook County health officials. It's unknown how many doses each hospital will get.
State health officials are recommending hospitals stagger the vaccinations of their staffs to account for any side effects that might cause brief staffing shortages. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports some people might have fever, chills, fatigue, headache and swelling or pain at the injection site.
Dr. Kiran Joshi, a senior medical officer at the Cook County Health Department, said it would take four to five weeks to get through the "hospital-based wave" of vaccinations.
The other prioritized group includes residents and workers at long-term health care facilities. Vaccinations of those individuals are being handled by local pharmacies through a federal program, county health officials said.
"We encourage all health care workers, staff and residents of long-term care facilities to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available," Joshi said. "Although the first doses of the vaccine are here, we must all remain vigilant and continue to wear a mask, watch our distance and wash our hands -- whether we have received the vaccine or not."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine over the weekend. Vaccinations began Monday in some states.
In the first phase of vaccinations, unaffiliated health care workers and EMS personnel are considered "1a" priority alongside hospital staffs and long-term care facility workers and residents.
Once those inoculations are complete, the "1b" group includes "essential workers, including first responders, corrections officers, education sector, food and agriculture, utilities and transportation," according to federal guidelines from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
After that, the federal panel recommends inoculation of a "1c" group who are considered "high-risk" elderly adults or have underlying medical conditions that place them at greater risk of dying from COVID-19 infections.
Beyond that, the committee has not made any recommendations on how to distribute vaccinations, health officials said.
"A lot more information is still yet to come," Ezike said. "As soon as we have that information, we can share that with the public. In some situations, (health care) providers might be able to make some of those determinations. For some it might be where you use your (work) badge to certify that you're in this critical infrastructure work."
However, both Ezike and county health officials acknowledged it will be months before a vaccine is available for everyone who wants it.
"As more vaccine becomes available, more individuals will become eligible to receive the vaccine," Ezike said. "Until then, let's exercise patience and understand that here may be others who will get the vaccine before you."
Elsewhere, the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about potential vaccine scams that promise buyers they can skip the lines for a fee or offer vaccines for a price. Health officials reiterated that vaccines are free and there is no one that can move ahead in the eligibility list.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-14--Trump says Barr resigning, will leave before Christmas

WASHINGTON -- Attorney General William Barr , one of President Donald Trump 's staunchest allies , is resigning amid lingering tension with the president over the president 's baseless claims of election fraud and the investigation into President-elect Joe Biden 's son .
Barr went Monday to the White House , where Trump said the attorney general submitted his letter of resignation .
`` As per letter , Bill will be leaving just before Christmas to spend the holidays with his family , '' Trump tweeted .
Trump has publicly expressed his anger about Barr 's statement to The Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department had found no widespread election fraud that would change the outcome of the election .
Trump has also been angry that the Justice Department did not publicly announce it was investigating Hunter Biden ahead of the election , despite department policy against such a pronouncement .
Barr in his resignation letter said he updated Trump Monday on the department 's `` review of voter fraud allegations in the 2020 election and how these allegations will continue to be pursued . ''
He added that his last day on the job would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Jeff Rosen , whom he labeled `` an outstanding person , '' will become Acting Attorney General .
Trump spent much of the day watching the Electoral College tally and calling allies but broke away to meet with Barr .
His tweet about Barr 's exit was an unusually heartfelt response from a president who is notoriously cold to his departing staff and quick to name-call and deride them once they say they are leaving .
The president has previously claimed he fired staffers who resigned to make himself appear more powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who publicly disagree with him , Barr had generally remained in the president 's good graces and has been one of the president 's most ardent allies .
Before the election , he had repeatedly raised the notion that mail-in voting could be especially vulnerable to fraud during the coronavirus pandemic as Americans feared going to polls .
But Trump has a low tolerance for criticism , especially public criticism , from his allies and often fires back in kind .
Barr , who was serving in his second stint as attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an independent leader who would not bow to political pressure .
But Democrats have repeatedly accused Barr of acting more like the president 's personal attorney than the attorney general , and Barr had proved to be a largely reliable Trump ally and defender of presidential power .
Before releasing special counsel Robert Mueller 's full report on the Russia investigation last year , Barr framed the results in a manner favorable to Trump even though Mueller pointedly said he could n't exonerate the president of obstruction of justice .
He also appointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is conducting a criminal investigation into the origins of the FBI 's probe of the 2016 election that morphed into Mueller 's investigation of possible Trump-Russia cooperation , following Trump 's repeated calls to `` investigate the investigators . ''
Barr also ordered Justice Department prosecutors to review the handling of the federal investigation into Trump 's former national security adviser Michael Flynn and then sought to dismiss the criminal charges against Flynn , who had twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI .
Trump later pardoned Flynn .
Barr 's break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first .
Earlier this year , Barr told ABC News that the president 's tweets about Justice Department cases `` make it impossible for me to do my job '' and tensions flared just a few months ago when the two were increasingly at odds over the pace of the Durham investigation .
Trump had been increasingly critical about a lack of arrests and Barr was privately telling people he was frustrated by Trump 's public pronouncements about the case .
Trump was also said to blame Barr for comments from FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail-in voting that did n't jibe with the president 's alarmist rhetoric .
Associated Press writers Colleen Long , Eric Tucker , Jonathan Lemire and Zeke Miller contributed to this report .

Trump says Barr resigning, will leave before Christmas
FILE -- In this Oct. 15, 2020, file photo Attorney General William Barr speaks during a roundtable discussion on Operation Legend, a federal program to help cities combat violent crime in St. Louis. President Donald Trump said Monday, Dec. 14, that Barr is resigning and will leave before Christmas Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- Attorney General William Barr, one of President Donald Trump's staunchest allies, is resigning amid lingering tension with the president over the president's baseless claims of election fraud and the investigation into President-elect Joe Biden's son.
Barr went Monday to the White House, where Trump said the attorney general submitted his letter of resignation. "As per letter, Bill will be leaving just before Christmas to spend the holidays with his family," Trump tweeted.
Trump has publicly expressed his anger about Barr's statement to The Associated Press earlier this month that the Justice Department had found no widespread election fraud that would change the outcome of the election. Trump has also been angry that the Justice Department did not publicly announce it was investigating Hunter Biden ahead of the election, despite department policy against such a pronouncement.
Barr in his resignation letter said he updated Trump Monday on the department's "review of voter fraud allegations in the 2020 election and how these allegations will continue to be pursued." He added that his last day on the job would be Dec. 23.
Trump said Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen, whom he labeled "an outstanding person," will become Acting Attorney General.
Trump spent much of the day watching the Electoral College tally and calling allies but broke away to meet with Barr. His tweet about Barr's exit was an unusually heartfelt response from a president who is notoriously cold to his departing staff and quick to name-call and deride them once they say they are leaving. The president has previously claimed he fired staffers who resigned to make himself appear more powerful.
Despite Trump's obvious disdain for those who publicly disagree with him, Barr had generally remained in the president's good graces and has been one of the president's most ardent allies. Before the election, he had repeatedly raised the notion that mail-in voting could be especially vulnerable to fraud during the coronavirus pandemic as Americans feared going to polls.
But Trump has a low tolerance for criticism, especially public criticism, from his allies and often fires back in kind.
Barr, who was serving in his second stint as attorney general, sought to paint himself as an independent leader who would not bow to political pressure. But Democrats have repeatedly accused Barr of acting more like the president's personal attorney than the attorney general, and Barr had proved to be a largely reliable Trump ally and defender of presidential power.
Before releasing special counsel Robert Mueller's full report on the Russia investigation last year, Barr framed the results in a manner favorable to Trump even though Mueller pointedly said he couldn't exonerate the president of obstruction of justice.
He also appointed as special counsel the U.S. attorney who is conducting a criminal investigation into the origins of the FBI's probe of the 2016 election that morphed into Mueller's investigation of possible Trump-Russia cooperation, following Trump's repeated calls to "investigate the investigators."
Barr also ordered Justice Department prosecutors to review the handling of the federal investigation into Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn and then sought to dismiss the criminal charges against Flynn, who had twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. Trump later pardoned Flynn.
Barr's break from Trump over election fraud wasn't the first. Earlier this year, Barr told ABC News that the president's tweets about Justice Department cases "make it impossible for me to do my job" and tensions flared just a few months ago when the two were increasingly at odds over the pace of the Durham investigation.
Trump had been increasingly critical about a lack of arrests and Barr was privately telling people he was frustrated by Trump's public pronouncements about the case.
Trump was also said to blame Barr for comments from FBI Director Chris Wray on election fraud and mail-in voting that didn't jibe with the president's alarmist rhetoric.
Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Eric Tucker, Jonathan Lemire and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-14--Biden clears 270-vote mark as electors affirm his victory

WASHINGTON -- The Electoral College formally chose Joe Biden on Monday as the nation 's next president , giving him a solid electoral majority of 306 votes and confirming his victory in last month 's election .
The state-by-state voting took on added importance this year because of President Donald Trump 's refusal to concede he had lost .
Heightened security was in place in some states as electors met to cast paper ballots , with masks , social distancing and other pandemic precautions the order of the day .
The results will be sent to Washington and tallied in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over which Vice President Mike Pence will preside .
For all Trump 's unsupported claims of fraud , there was little suspense and no change as all the electoral votes allocated to Biden and the president in last month 's popular vote went officially to each man .
Biden handily beat Trump , who had 232 electoral votes , a 74-vote margin that Biden noted Trump had called a landslide when he won by that much in 2016 .
On Election Day , the Democrat topped the incumbent Republican by more than 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California 's 55 electoral votes put Biden over the top .
Vermont , with 3 votes , was the first state to report .
Hawaii , with 4 votes , was the last .
`` Once again in America , the rule of law , our Constitution , and the will of the people have prevailed .
Our democracy -- pushed , tested , threatened -- proved to be resilient , true , and strong , '' Biden said in an evening speech in which he stressed the size of his win and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him .
He renewed his campaign promise to be a president for all Americans , whether they voted for him or not , and said the country has hard work ahead on the virus and economy .
But there was no concession from the White House , where Trump has continued to make unsupported allegations of fraud .
Trump remained in the Oval Office long after the sun set in Washington , calling allies and fellow Republicans while keeping track of the running Electoral College tally , according to White House and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the private dining room off the Oval Office to watch on TV , complaining that the cable networks were treating it like a mini-Election Night while not giving his challenges any airtime .
The president had grown increasingly disappointed with the size of `` Stop the Steal '' rallies across the nation as well as efforts for the GOP to field its own slates of electors in states .
A presidential wish for a fierce administration defense led to TV appearances early Monday by Stephen Miller , one of his most ferocious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ importance of the Electoral College vote and suggest that Trump 's legal challenges would continue all the way to Inauguration Day on Jan. 20 .
Late in the day , he took to Twitter to announce that Attorney General William Barr was leaving the administration before Christmas .
Barr 's departure comes amid lingering tension over Trump 's unsupported fraud claims , especially after Barr 's statement this month to The Associated Press that the election results were unaffected by any fraud .
In a Fox News interview taped over the weekend , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country having an illegitimate president , that 's what I worry about .
A president that lost and lost badly . ''
On Monday in Arizona , Georgia , Michigan , Nevada , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin -- the six battleground states that Biden won and Trump contested -- electors gave Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris their votes in low-key proceedings .
Nevada 's electors met via Zoom because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Trump 's efforts to undermine the election results also led to concerns about safety for the electors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Michigan , lawmakers from both parties reported receiving threats , and legislative offices were closed over threats of violence .
Biden won the state by 154,000 votes , or 2.8 percentage points , over Trump .
Georgia state police were out in force at the state Capitol in Atlanta before Democratic electors pledged to Biden met .
There were no protesters seen .
Even with the Electoral College 's confirmation of Biden 's victory , some Republicans continued to refuse to acknowledge that reality .
Yet their opposition to Biden had no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Democrat to be sworn in next month .
Republicans who would have been Trump electors met anyway in a handful of states Biden won .
Pennsylvania Republicans said they cast a `` procedural vote '' for Trump and Pence in case courts that have repeatedly rejected challenges to Biden 's victory were to somehow still determine that Trump had won .
In North Carolina , Utah and other states across the country where Trump won , his electors turned out to duly cast their ballots for him .
Electors in North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to enter the Capitol to vote .
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes withdrew as a Trump elector and was in quarantine because he was exposed to someone with COVID-19 .
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , whom Trump defeated four years ago , were among New York 's 29 electors for Biden and Harris .
In New Hampshire , before the state 's four electors voted for Biden at the State House in Concord , 13-year-old Brayden Harrington led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Democratic National Convention in August about the struggle with stuttering he shares with Biden .
Following weeks of Republican legal challenges that were easily dismissed by judges , Trump and Republican allies tried to persuade the Supreme Court last week to set aside 62 electoral votes for Biden in four states , which might have thrown the outcome into doubt .
The justices rejected the effort on Friday .
The Electoral College was the product of compromise during the drafting of the Constitution between those who favored electing the president by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people the power to directly choose their leader .
Each state gets a number of electors equal to its total number of seats in Congress : two senators plus however many members the state has in the House of Representatives .
Washington , D.C. , has three votes , under a constitutional amendment that was ratified in 1961 .
With the exception of Maine and Nebraska , states award all their Electoral College votes to the winner of the popular vote in their state .
The bargain struck by the nation 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president did not win the popular vote .
Trump was the most recent example in 2016 .
Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire and AP writers across the United States contributed to this report .

Electoral College makes it official: Biden won
A member of Iowa's Electoral College signs the Certificate of Vote of Electors for the state of Iowa, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, at the Statehouse in Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press
President-elect Joe Biden leaves a doctor's appointment at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, Saturday, in for a routine two-week post-injury follow up on his fractured foot. Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- The Electoral College formally chose Joe Biden on Monday as the nation's next president, giving him a solid electoral majority of 306 votes and confirming his victory in last month's election. The state-by-state voting took on added importance this year because of President Donald Trump's refusal to concede he had lost.
Heightened security was in place in some states as electors met to cast paper ballots, with masks, social distancing and other pandemic precautions the order of the day. The results will be sent to Washington and tallied in a Jan. 6 joint session of Congress over which Vice President Mike Pence will preside.
For all Trump's unsupported claims of fraud, there was little suspense and no change as all the electoral votes allocated to Biden and the president in last month's popular vote went officially to each man.
Biden handily beat Trump, who had 232 electoral votes, a 74-vote margin that Biden noted Trump had called a landslide when he won by that much in 2016. On Election Day, the Democrat topped the incumbent Republican by more than 7 million in the popular vote nationwide.
California's 55 electoral votes put Biden over the top. Vermont, with 3 votes, was the first state to report. Hawaii, with 4 votes, was the last.
"Once again in America, the rule of law, our Constitution, and the will of the people have prevailed. Our democracy -- pushed, tested, threatened -- proved to be resilient, true, and strong," Biden said in an evening speech in which he stressed the size of his win and the record 81 million people who voted for him.
He renewed his campaign promise to be a president for all Americans, whether they voted for him or not, and said the country has hard work ahead on the virus and economy.
But there was no concession from the White House, where Trump has continued to make unsupported allegations of fraud.
Trump remained in the Oval Office long after the sun set in Washington, calling allies and fellow Republicans while keeping track of the running Electoral College tally, according to White House and campaign aides. The president frequently ducked into the private dining room off the Oval Office to watch on TV, complaining that the cable networks were treating it like a mini-Election Night while not giving his challenges any airtime.
The president had grown increasingly disappointed with the size of "Stop the Steal" rallies across the nation as well as efforts for the GOP to field its own slates of electors in states. A presidential wish for a fierce administration defense led to TV appearances early Monday by Stephen Miller, one of his most ferocious advocates, to try to downplay the importance of the Electoral College vote and suggest that Trump's legal challenges would continue all the way to Inauguration Day on Jan. 20.
Late in the day, he took to Twitter to announce that Attorney General William Barr was leaving the administration before Christmas. Barr's departure comes amid lingering tension over Trump's unsupported fraud claims, especially after Barr's statement this month to The Associated Press that the election results were unaffected by any fraud.
In a Fox News interview taped over the weekend, Trump said that "I worry about the country having an illegitimate president, that's what I worry about. A president that lost and lost badly."
On Monday in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin -- the six battleground states that Biden won and Trump contested -- electors gave Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris their votes in low-key proceedings. Nevada's electors met via Zoom because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump's efforts to undermine the election results also led to concerns about safety for the electors, virtually unheard of in previous years. In Michigan, lawmakers from both parties reported receiving threats, and legislative offices were closed over threats of violence. Biden won the state by 154,000 votes, or 2.8 percentage points, over Trump.
Georgia state police were out in force at the state Capitol in Atlanta before Democratic electors pledged to Biden met. There were no protesters seen.
Even with the Electoral College's confirmation of Biden's victory, some Republicans continued to refuse to acknowledge that reality. Yet their opposition to Biden had no practical effect on the electoral process, with the Democrat to be sworn in next month.
Republicans who would have been Trump electors met anyway in a handful of states Biden won. Pennsylvania Republicans said they cast a "procedural vote" for Trump and Pence in case courts that have repeatedly rejected challenges to Biden's victory were to somehow still determine that Trump had won.
In North Carolina, Utah and other states across the country where Trump won, his electors turned out to duly cast their ballots for him. Electors in North Carolina had their temperatures checked before being allowed to enter the Capitol to vote. Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes withdrew as a Trump elector and was in quarantine because he was exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, whom Trump defeated four years ago, were among New York's 29 electors for Biden and Harris.
In New Hampshire, before the state's four electors voted for Biden at the State House in Concord, 13-year-old Brayden Harrington led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. He had delivered a moving speech at the Democratic National Convention in August about the struggle with stuttering he shares with Biden.
Following weeks of Republican legal challenges that were easily dismissed by judges, Trump and Republican allies tried to persuade the Supreme Court last week to set aside 62 electoral votes for Biden in four states, which might have thrown the outcome into doubt.
The justices rejected the effort on Friday.
The Electoral College was the product of compromise during the drafting of the Constitution between those who favored electing the president by popular vote and those who opposed giving the people the power to directly choose their leader.
Each state gets a number of electors equal to its total number of seats in Congress: two senators plus however many members the state has in the House of Representatives. Washington, D.C., has three votes, under a constitutional amendment that was ratified in 1961. With the exception of Maine and Nebraska, states award all their Electoral College votes to the winner of the popular vote in their state.
The bargain struck by the nation's founders has produced five elections in which the president did not win the popular vote. Trump was the most recent example in 2016.
Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire and AP writers across the United States contributed to this report.