thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--2020 Brought A Pandemic — And An Infodemic. Here Are The 5 Most Dangerous Conspiracy Theories.

Suddenly realizing that 2020 would be a year like no other , Americans stockpiled necessities and braced for the worst of the burgeoning pandemic .
But no one could have anticipated the parallel “ infodemic ” that would crush an already reeling nation and undermine its recovery .
Misleading information has flourished online — often pushed by Trump and his allies — and social media platforms have failed to contain it .
This is actively prolonging the crisis .
While residents of other virus-plagued countries have returned to a sense of normalcy after banding together to stop the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the midst of its third wave , and continues to shatter its own daily infection and death records .
Systemic failures have accelerated this tragedy : Swaths of the population are still refusing to wear face masks and are flouting social distancing rules — convinced that the pandemic has been exaggerated or fabricated altogether .
Locked down and isolated , people spent far more time online this year , and Big Tech wasn ’ t ready .
For months , social media sites have teemed with wild hoaxes about the virus ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so on — promoted by opportunistic grifters and profiteers , and oftentimes , the platforms ’ own recommendation algorithms .
Meanwhile , in his pursuit of reelection amid his disastrous pandemic response , Trump relentlessly downplayed the threat of COVID-19 while feeding a stream of partisan falsehoods to the American electorate .
He is the single greatest source of coronavirus misinformation , Cornell University researchers found .
Despite overflowing morgues and hospitals , mass grave sites and desperate warnings from leading public health authorities , a sect of the population still believes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or that it ’ s no more dangerous than the flu .
There ’ s a frenzy of mind-numbing theories as to why world leaders would invent or overhype a global pandemic , but most relate to power .
By creating a crisis , these conspiracy mongers surmise , governments can enact authoritarian rule by mandating lockdowns and vaccines .
Brian Lee Hitchens , a 46-year-old taxi driver from Florida , used to be one of the many Americans who believe the coronavirus is a hoax .
He ’ d read online that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no real health risk , so he and his wife , Erin , decided not to wear face masks or practice social distancing .
Both ended up contracting COVID-19 .
Hitchens made headlines in May when he spoke out about the severity of the disease and warned other skeptics to take it seriously .
Erin later died from complications tied to the virus .
2 .
The ‘ Plandemic ’ Was Orchestrated By Powerful Elites As QAnon supporters and other groups blasted the videos across the internet , journalists raced to debunk them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage was done : A month after Plandemic ’ s release , a Pew Research survey found that a quarter of American adults were convinced that there was at least some truth to the claim that powerful elites had intentionally planned the pandemic .
Soon after , an Axios-Ipsos poll revealed that 31 % of Americans believed that the reported toll of U.S. coronavirus deaths was being inflated .
3 .
Doctors And Scientists Are Hiding The Cure The next major disinformation campaign struck in July .
A group of people in white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Frontline Doctors ” staged a press conference on the steps of Capitol Hill , during which they accused doctors nationwide of withholding a cure for COVID-19 : the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine .
The group claimed that the numerous clinical trials showing that the drug offers no benefits to coronavirus patients and poses unnecessary risks are “ fake science ” funded by “ fake pharma companies.
” Far-right media outlet Breitbart livestreamed the group ’ s conference , which racked up tens of millions of views within hours .
Trump , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crisis , also promoted video of the conference on Twitter .
As the number of U.S. COVID-19 deaths surged and his reelection prospects dwindled , he allegedly pressured health officials to distribute the drug despite their concerns about its safety .
Around the world , growing numbers of people are convinced that 5G — the next generation wireless network technology — is responsible for the coronavirus crisis .
As evidence , they point to the pre-pandemic installation of 5G towers in Wuhan , China , where the global outbreak originated .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5G frequencies weakens people ’ s immune systems , making them more likely to die from COVID-19 .
The 5G hysteria quickly exploded into violence in the U.K. , where radicalized arsonists have torched dozens of phone towers .
5G conspiracy theorists there have also threatened , harassed and physically assaulted the masts ’ maintenance staff .
Someone reportedly spat in the face of a broadband engineer in London , who then fell seriously ill with suspected COVID-19 .
Another worker was even stabbed five times and hospitalized .
Anxiety about 5G has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Among other celebrities and influencers , American actor Woody Harrelson spread 5G conspiracy theories to his millions of Instagram followers in April .
The FBI is also reportedly investigating whether Anthony Warner , the man accused of blowing up an RV outside of an AT & T facility in downtown Nashville on Christmas morning , acted out of fear of 5G .
5 .
Bill Gates Wants To Vaccinate , Microchip And Track You

Suddenly realizing that 2020 would be a year like no other, Americans stockpiled necessities and braced for the worst of the burgeoning pandemic. But no one could have anticipated the parallel “infodemic” that would crush an already reeling nation and undermine its recovery. Misleading information has flourished online — often pushed by Trump and his allies — and social media platforms have failed to contain it.
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This is actively prolonging the crisis. While residents of other virus-plagued countries have returned to a sense of normalcy after banding together to stop the spread of the virus, the U.S. is in the midst of its third wave, and continues to shatter its own daily infection and death records. Systemic failures have accelerated this tragedy: Swaths of the population are still refusing to wear face masks and are flouting social distancing rules — convinced that the pandemic has been exaggerated or fabricated altogether.
2020 offered ideal conditions for an “infodemic,” the term the World Health Organization uses to describe the deluge of false and deceptive information clouding the pandemic.
Locked down and isolated, people spent far more time online this year, and Big Tech wasn’t ready. For months, social media sites have teemed with wild hoaxes about the virus’s origins, severity, supposed cures and so on — promoted by opportunistic grifters and profiteers, and oftentimes, the platforms’ own recommendation algorithms. Meanwhile, in his pursuit of reelection amid his disastrous pandemic response, Trump relentlessly downplayed the threat of COVID-19 while feeding a stream of partisan falsehoods to the American electorate. He is the single greatest source of coronavirus misinformation, Cornell University researchers found.
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This year revealed just how powerful — and harmful — disinformation can be. Below are 2020’s five most dangerous conspiracy theories derailing America’s pandemic recovery.
Coronavirus denialism is still plaguing the U.S. John Moore via Getty Images
1. The Coronavirus Isn’t Real
Despite overflowing morgues and hospitals, mass grave sites and desperate warnings from leading public health authorities, a sect of the population still believes the virus doesn’t really exist, or that it’s no more dangerous than the flu. There’s a frenzy of mind-numbing theories as to why world leaders would invent or overhype a global pandemic, but most relate to power. By creating a crisis, these conspiracy mongers surmise, governments can enact authoritarian rule by mandating lockdowns and vaccines.
QAnon, the far-right cultist movement that rode the pandemic to new heights, has been a major peddler of these beliefs. Among other cruel acts, QAnon influencers have incited their followers to show up at emergency rooms with cameras in search of evidence of inflated admission numbers, causing the hashtag #FilmYourHospital to trend on Twitter.
Coronavirus denialism has pushed some health care workers to their breaking points.
“Some people are out there who are ... going on these videos and then telling us it’s fake while we’re saving lives,” Dr. Hadi Halazun, a cardiologist treating COVID-19 patients in New York, told NBC News in May. “I felt like, ‘What are we doing this for?’”
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Brian Lee Hitchens, a 46-year-old taxi driver from Florida, used to be one of the many Americans who believe the coronavirus is a hoax. He’d read online that the illness was either made-up or posed no real health risk, so he and his wife, Erin, decided not to wear face masks or practice social distancing. Both ended up contracting COVID-19. Hitchens made headlines in May when he spoke out about the severity of the disease and warned other skeptics to take it seriously. Erin later died from complications tied to the virus.
The propaganda film "Plandemic" blew up in May. YouTube
2. The ‘Plandemic’ Was Orchestrated By Powerful Elites
Who can forget when “Plandemic,” the falsehood-laden video starring discredited medical researcher Judy Mikovits, went massively viral in early May? The film is one of the highest-profile pieces of disinformation surrounding the pandemic; it garnered millions of views almost overnight as social media platforms scrambled to take it offline.
In the now-infamous film, which gripped viewers with its professional-looking production, Mikovits rattled off a litany of false, baseless and misleading claims. She brazenly asserted that wearing face masks “literally activates your own virus” (it doesn’t), that vaccines are “a money-making enterprise that causes medical harm” (they’re not) and that microbes in the ocean and soil “sequences” can heal coronavirus patients (nope).
The thesis of Plandemic and its sequel, “Indoctornation,” was a deeply misguided warning: Powerful people, institutions and corporations — including infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, the CIA, Google and even fact-checkers — are complicit in the COVID-19 outbreak and stand to profit from it.
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As QAnon supporters and other groups blasted the videos across the internet, journalists raced to debunk them. But for many viewers, the damage was done: A month after Plandemic’s release, a Pew Research survey found that a quarter of American adults were convinced that there was at least some truth to the claim that powerful elites had intentionally planned the pandemic. Soon after, an Axios-Ipsos poll revealed that 31% of Americans believed that the reported toll of U.S. coronavirus deaths was being inflated.
“Q,” the anonymous online poster and ostensible leader of QAnon, has also floated the idea that the virus was engineered as a bioweapon to hurt Trump’s reelection chances.
A group calling itself "America's Frontline Doctors" went wildly viral pushing disinformation about the coronavirus. Breitbart
3. Doctors And Scientists Are Hiding The Cure
The next major disinformation campaign struck in July. A group of people in white lab coats calling themselves “America’s Frontline Doctors” staged a press conference on the steps of Capitol Hill, during which they accused doctors nationwide of withholding a cure for COVID-19: the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine. The group claimed that the numerous clinical trials showing that the drug offers no benefits to coronavirus patients and poses unnecessary risks are “fake science” funded by “fake pharma companies.”
Far-right media outlet Breitbart livestreamed the group’s conference, which racked up tens of millions of views within hours. Trump, who has been hydroxychloroquine’s biggest cheerleader throughout the crisis, also promoted video of the conference on Twitter. As the number of U.S. COVID-19 deaths surged and his reelection prospects dwindled, he allegedly pressured health officials to distribute the drug despite their concerns about its safety.
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As HuffPost reported at the time, a conservative dark-money group was behind the explosively viral press event. America’s Frontline Doctors appears to be connected to parties involved in the Save Our Country Coalition, which was launched by the Republican donor-backed Tea Party Patriots, and which previously helped to coordinate massive protests against coronavirus lockdowns.
One of America’s Frontline Doctors’ most prolific members, a religious minister and pediatrician named Stella Immanuel, has warned against having sex with demons and cautioned that watching Harry Potter films makes society “accept demonic activity and witchcraft as normal.” The group is now organizing anti-vaccine demonstrations.
5G conspiracy theorists incorrectly believe the wireless network technology causes COVID-19. Ta Nu via Getty Images
4. 5G Wireless Technology Causes COVID-19
Around the world, growing numbers of people are convinced that 5G — the next generation wireless network technology — is responsible for the coronavirus crisis. As evidence, they point to the pre-pandemic installation of 5G towers in Wuhan, China, where the global outbreak originated. Many have also incorrectly speculated that exposure to 5G frequencies weakens people’s immune systems, making them more likely to die from COVID-19.
As the Federal Communications Commission stressed in a statement earlier this year, 5G technology “does NOT cause coronavirus.” Not only has the virus devastated countries without access to the technology, 5G radio waves simply aren’t strong enough to harm the human body. (HuffPost’s parent company, Verizon Media, is a subsidiary of Verizon, a major developer of 5G technology.)
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Anxiety about 5G has taken off in the U.S., too. Among other celebrities and influencers, American actor Woody Harrelson spread 5G conspiracy theories to his millions of Instagram followers in April. The FBI is also reportedly investigating whether Anthony Warner, the man accused of blowing up an RV outside of an AT&T facility in downtown Nashville on Christmas morning, acted out of fear of 5G.
Coronavirus conspiracy theorists have turned billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates into a supervillain amid the pandemic. Marcos del Mazo via Getty Images
5. Bill Gates Wants To Vaccinate, Microchip And Track You
Gates has been at the heart of a dizzying number of conspiracy theories this year. Chief among them is that he will somehow inject recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine with location-tracking devices, prompting fact-checking groups to publish such asinine posts as, “No, Bill Gates isn’t partnering with ID companies to implant microchips in humans.”
Crowds of American demonstrators have gathered to demand Gates’ arrest, accusing him of attempted acts ranging from mass brainwashing to population control to enslaving all of humanity — almost entirely in relation to the hundreds of millions of dollars he has donated to vaccine development efforts. The hashtag #ExposeBillGates trended on Twitter as a result of coordinated efforts by anti-vaccine activists.
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Once again, QAnon has been one of the biggest pushers of anti-vax conspiracy theories. But it’s not just fringe figures buying into the nonsense: A stunning 44% of Republicans believe the microchip conspiracy theory is true, a Yahoo News/YouGov poll found in May.
Conspiratorial narratives about the supposedly nefarious interests of key figures and institutions surrounding vaccines are now causing just as much vaccine skepticism as safety concerns are, according to a new report from First Draft, a global nonprofit that researches misinformation.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--Sen. David Perdue Forced To Quarantine After COVID-19 Contact

Sen. David Perdue ( R-Ga. ) is in quarantine after coming into close contact with someone on his campaign who tested positive for COVID-19 .
In a statement , the campaign noted that Perdue and his wife have so far both tested negative but are still quarantining in accordance with CDC guidelines and his doctor ’ s recommendations .
Perdue ’ s abrupt exit from the campaign trail comes at a particularly troublesome time : Georgia ’ s Senate runoffs are scheduled for next Tuesday , Jan. 5 .
Notably , the campaign statement makes no mention of how long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adheres to CDC rules , that means the senator has already attended his last in-person event .
The incumbent is defending his seat against Democrat Jon Ossoff in a tight contest that , along with Sen. Kelly Loeffler ’ s ( R-Ga. ) race against contender Rev .
Raphael Warnock ( D ) , will determine control of the Senate .
Both races have drawn intense national interest and money , with hundreds of millions of dollars contributed to advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts .
President Donald Trump has also used the runoffs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” though Federal Election Commission reports show he hasn ’ t actually spent any money on the races .

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Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) is in quarantine after coming into close contact with someone on his campaign who tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement, the campaign noted that Perdue and his wife have so far both tested negative but are still quarantining in accordance with CDC guidelines and his doctor’s recommendations.
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Perdue’s abrupt exit from the campaign trail comes at a particularly troublesome time: Georgia’s Senate runoffs are scheduled for next Tuesday, Jan. 5.
Notably, the campaign statement makes no mention of how long Perdue intends to quarantine. If he adheres to CDC rules, that means the senator has already attended his last in-person event.
The incumbent is defending his seat against Democrat Jon Ossoff in a tight contest that, along with Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s (R-Ga.) race against contender Rev. Raphael Warnock (D), will determine control of the Senate.
Both races have drawn intense national interest and money, with hundreds of millions of dollars contributed to advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--Pro-Trump Lawyer Bizarrely Suggests Jeffrey Epstein Is Still Alive

Donald Trump supporter and lawyer L. Lin Wood — whose attempts to overturn the 2020 election have repeatedly failed — claimed falsely that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is still alive despite his death in custody .
Wood tweeted the Epstein claim Thursday in response to criticism he faced over his tweets falsely saying that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts was involved in the 2016 death of Justice Antonin Scalia .
Epstein ’ s death was ruled a suicide .
Scalia died of natural causes at the age of 79 .
I am fully aware of the onslaught of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my revelations about Chief Justice John Roberts .
Before attacking me , maybe fair-minded people would first ask Roberts to tell the truth .
Or ask Jeffrey Epstein .
He is alive .
— Lin Wood ( @ LLinWood ) December 31 , 2020 Wood ’ s Epstein tweet was only the latest in a series of bonkers tweets he posted Wednesday that argued without evidence that Roberts took part in nefarious activities .
A couple of more questions for Chief Justice John Roberts : ( 1 ) You are recorded discussing Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his sudden death .
How did you know Scalia was going to die ?
( 2 ) Are you a member of any club or cabal requiring minor children as initiation fee ?
pic.twitter.com/jGxfgLCk4D — Lin Wood ( @ LLinWood ) December 31 , 2020 My information from reliable source is that Roberts arranged an illegal adoption of two young children from Wales through Jeffrey Epstein .
I think we can all agree that Epstein knows pedophilia .
If only Jeffrey Epstein was still alive .
.
.
Wouldn ’ t that be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wood ( @ LLinWood ) December 31 , 2020 A bit more on CJ John Roberts .
I have publicly accused him & Justice Breyer of being profane anti-Trumpers .
I have linked Roberts to illegal adoption , Jeffrey Epstein , pedophilia & prior knowledge of Scalia ’ s death .
Did Roberts skip class on defamation ?
Maybe not .
.
.
— Lin Wood ( @ LLinWood ) December 31 , 2020 Wood supports the QAnon conspiracy theory and has been trying to garner support for the false argument that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resoundingly lost the election to President-elect Joe Biden .
A few weeks ago , Wood suggested that Trump supporters stock up on “ Second Amendment supplies ” in preparation for what he assumes will be an apocalyptic future .
But many people were skeptical of Wood ’ s newest falsehoods .
Now-prominent lawyer working on behalf of the so-called POTUS throwing scat like a serial killer in his cell because , y'know , 'Prove me wrong !
And where 's the body ?
! '
And people are playing along .
He & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick white brothers . '
2020 , go home , fool .
https : //t.co/hzJhFeXAgE — Jeffrey We Voted Out That Gameshow Clown Wright ( @ jfreewright ) December 31 , 2020 This is exactly the kind of public statement Trump needs right now to confirm to the American people that he is winning Once they hear what Lin has to say the lightbulb turns on and they immediately associate Trump 's legal battles with legitimacy and rationality https : //t.co/wN5FNrfiKR — Tim Pool ( @ Timcast ) December 31 , 2020 Step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pedophile .
Step 2 : Tell people to ask John Roberts to disprove the baseless claim you just made .
Galaxy brain step : `` Or ask Jeffrey Epstein .
He is alive . ''
https : //t.co/FAyt6DobcC — Ian Miles Cheong ( @ stillgray ) December 31 , 2020 The man leading the charge for the president 's attempts to overturn the election is , unsurprisingly , not right in the head .
https : //t.co/I1GLPXduLs — Richard Hall ( @ _RichardHall ) December 31 , 2020

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Donald Trump supporter and lawyer L. Lin Wood — whose attempts to overturn the 2020 election have repeatedly failed — claimed falsely that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is still alive despite his death in custody.
Wood tweeted the Epstein claim Thursday in response to criticism he faced over his tweets falsely saying that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts was involved in the 2016 death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
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Epstein’s death was ruled a suicide. Scalia died of natural causes at the age of 79.
I am fully aware of the onslaught of attacks being made against me based on my revelations about Chief Justice John Roberts. Before attacking me, maybe fair-minded people would first ask Roberts to tell the truth.
Or ask Jeffrey Epstein. He is alive. — Lin Wood (@LLinWood) December 31, 2020
Wood’s Epstein tweet was only the latest in a series of bonkers tweets he posted Wednesday that argued without evidence that Roberts took part in nefarious activities.
A couple of more questions for Chief Justice John Roberts:
(1) You are recorded discussing Justice Scalia’s successor before date of his sudden death. How did you know Scalia was going to die?
(2) Are you a member of any club or cabal requiring minor children as initiation fee? pic.twitter.com/jGxfgLCk4D — Lin Wood (@LLinWood) December 31, 2020
My information from reliable source is that Roberts arranged an illegal adoption of two young children from Wales through Jeffrey Epstein.
I think we can all agree that Epstein knows pedophilia.
If only Jeffrey Epstein was still alive . . .
Wouldn’t that be something? https://t.co/DwhgKO3gMp — Lin Wood (@LLinWood) December 31, 2020
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A bit more on CJ John Roberts.
I have publicly accused him & Justice Breyer of being profane anti-Trumpers.
I have linked Roberts to illegal adoption, Jeffrey Epstein, pedophilia & prior knowledge of Scalia’s death.
Did Roberts skip class on defamation?
Maybe not . . . — Lin Wood (@LLinWood) December 31, 2020
Wood supports the QAnon conspiracy theory and has been trying to garner support for the false argument that the election was rigged against Trump, who resoundingly lost the election to President-elect Joe Biden.
A few weeks ago, Wood suggested that Trump supporters stock up on “Second Amendment supplies” in preparation for what he assumes will be an apocalyptic future.
But many people were skeptical of Wood’s newest falsehoods.
And by "revelations" he mean batshit crazy lies. https://t.co/wC0QRN851p — Bob Levine (@idguy) December 31, 2020
Now-prominent lawyer working on behalf of the so-called POTUS throwing scat like a serial killer in his cell because, y'know, 'Prove me wrong! And where's the body?!'
And people are playing along. He & Trump are of what MLK called 'our sick white brothers.' 2020, go home, fool. https://t.co/hzJhFeXAgE — Jeffrey We Voted Out That Gameshow Clown Wright (@jfreewright) December 31, 2020
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The President is in great legal hands https://t.co/uqqBIpQBcG — rabia O'chaudry (@rabiasquared) December 31, 2020
Sure makes things easier when people aren't around to answer questions 🤔 https://t.co/0O1Mm6ODG3 — Kevin Ross (@dasoulassassin) December 31, 2020
Is he sleeping on JFK Jr's couch? https://t.co/IaCXnpF3bX — Jeffrey St. Clair (@JSCCounterPunch) December 31, 2020
Your thoughts on Tupac, sir? https://t.co/cQ4Ou7AldE — Max Weiss (@maxthegirl) December 31, 2020
This is exactly the kind of public statement Trump needs right now to confirm to the American people that he is winning
Once they hear what Lin has to say the lightbulb turns on and they immediately associate Trump's legal battles with legitimacy and rationality https://t.co/wN5FNrfiKR — Tim Pool (@Timcast) December 31, 2020
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Step 1: Accuse John Roberts of being a pedophile.
Step 2: Tell people to ask John Roberts to disprove the baseless claim you just made.
Galaxy brain step: "Or ask Jeffrey Epstein. He is alive." https://t.co/FAyt6DobcC — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) December 31, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--Lindsey Graham Calls For Stand-Alone Vote On $2,000 Stimulus Checks

Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) on Thursday called for a stand-alone vote in the Senate on a House-passed bill for $ 2,000 coronavirus relief payments .
In doing so , Graham broke from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) , who has drawn bipartisan backlash for refusing to bring the measure to a vote .
McConnell said Wednesday that there ’ s “ no realistic path to quickly ” pass the proposed legislation to boost the $ 600 stimulus checks outlined in the most recent COVID-19 relief package to $ 2,000 for every eligible American .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote on the $ 2,000 check , it might pass , ” Graham said during an appearance on “ Fox & Friends ” on Thursday .
President Donald Trump , whose administration helped negotiate the relief package , stunned Republicans last week when he called on lawmakers to boost the payments to $ 2,000 ― something some Democrats have been pushing for for months .
Trump , after several days of hemming and hawing , eventually signed the relief bill into law on Sunday but made three requests of Congress : pass $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granted to social media companies and establish a commission to investigate election fraud .
( Trump has continued to push baseless claims of widespread voter fraud , even though the Justice Department and election officials nationwide have said they ’ ve found no evidence of such fraud . )
The Democratic-controlled House passed a bill for the $ 2,000 checks on Monday , but McConnell has blocked Senate Democrats ’ efforts to move on it in the upper chamber .
“ The Senate is not going to split apart the three issues that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are afraid to address two of them , ” McConnell said from the Senate floor Wednesday .
But Graham ’ s comments Thursday signaled more Republicans may be ready to join them in their drive for a separate vote on the checks .
“ Here ’ s the facts : 70 % of Republicans don ’ t want to go to $ 2,000 , ” Graham told “ Fox & Friends.
” “ They think it ’ s a $ 430 billion cost to the Treasury .
They think it ’ s an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurting .
...
But I ’ m with the president on this.
” Graham urged McConnell to hold a separate vote on the checks after Jan. 3 , when the new Congress has been sworn in .
“ I ’ d like a stand-alone vote in the new Congress on the $ 2,000 check , ” Graham said .
“ We have seven Republicans who have already said they ’ d vote for it .
We need five more .
I think if we had the vote , it would get there.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes on protections for social media companies and the so-called election fraud commission .

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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Thursday called for a stand-alone vote in the Senate on a House-passed bill for $2,000 coronavirus relief payments. In doing so, Graham broke from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has drawn bipartisan backlash for refusing to bring the measure to a vote.
McConnell said Wednesday that there’s “no realistic path to quickly” pass the proposed legislation to boost the $600 stimulus checks outlined in the most recent COVID-19 relief package to $2,000 for every eligible American.
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“I think if you had a standalone vote on the $2,000 check, it might pass,” Graham said during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” on Thursday.
President Donald Trump, whose administration helped negotiate the relief package, stunned Republicans last week when he called on lawmakers to boost the payments to $2,000 ― something some Democrats have been pushing for for months.
Trump, after several days of hemming and hawing, eventually signed the relief bill into law on Sunday but made three requests of Congress: pass $2,000 checks, roll back certain protections granted to social media companies and establish a commission to investigate election fraud. (Trump has continued to push baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, even though the Justice Department and election officials nationwide have said they’ve found no evidence of such fraud.)
The Democratic-controlled House passed a bill for the $2,000 checks on Monday, but McConnell has blocked Senate Democrats’ efforts to move on it in the upper chamber.
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“The Senate is not going to split apart the three issues that President Trump linked together just because Democrats are afraid to address two of them,” McConnell said from the Senate floor Wednesday.
But Graham’s comments Thursday signaled more Republicans may be ready to join them in their drive for a separate vote on the checks.
“Here’s the facts: 70% of Republicans don’t want to go to $2,000,” Graham told “Fox & Friends.” “They think it’s a $430 billion cost to the Treasury. They think it’s an inefficient way of giving money to people hurting. ... But I’m with the president on this.”
Graham urged McConnell to hold a separate vote on the checks after Jan. 3, when the new Congress has been sworn in.
“I’d like a stand-alone vote in the new Congress on the $2,000 check,” Graham said. “We have seven Republicans who have already said they’d vote for it. We need five more. I think if we had the vote, it would get there.”
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He said McConnell should also hold separate votes on protections for social media companies and the so-called election fraud commission.
McConnell’s office did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Watch Graham’s full interview on “Fox & Friends” below:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--Biden To Host Inauguration Eve Memorial To Lives Lost From COVID-19

On the evening before he is sworn into office , President-elect Joe Biden plans to lead a solemn memorial service in the nation ’ s capital to honor the Americans who lost their lives to COVID-19 .
Nearly 20 million people in the U.S. have contracted the coronavirus since the start of the crisis and more than 340,000 have died ― grim statistics that reflect a sluggish and haphazard response by the federal government under outgoing President Donald Trump .
Beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 19 , just after sunset , Biden will host a ceremony around the Lincoln @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dead .
The Presidential Inauguration Committee is encouraging local leaders around the country to join at that time by illuminating buildings and ringing church bells .
“ However , in the midst of a pandemic ― when so many Americans are grieving the loss of family , friends , and neighbors ― it is important that we honor those who have died , reflect on what has been one of the more challenging periods in the nation ’ s history , and renew our commitment to coming together to end the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Because of pandemic safety measures , Biden ’ s inauguration is to be held partly outdoors , and largely virtually .
Trump ordered flags lowered to half-staff on Memorial Day to recognize COVID-19 deaths , but Biden ’ s Lincoln Memorial ceremony will be the first federal tribute of its kind to individuals who have lost their lives in the pandemic .
It likely will present a stark contrast with Trump ’ s handling of the health crisis , which has been criticized for lacking empathy .
After his release from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was treated for COVID-19 in October , Trump called on Americans not to allow the virus to “ dominate ” their lives , prompting families of coronavirus victims to accuse the president of minimizing their pain and loss .

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On the evening before he is sworn into office, President-elect Joe Biden plans to lead a solemn memorial service in the nation’s capital to honor the Americans who lost their lives to COVID-19.
Nearly 20 million people in the U.S. have contracted the coronavirus since the start of the crisis and more than 340,000 have died ― grim statistics that reflect a sluggish and haphazard response by the federal government under outgoing President Donald Trump.
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Beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 19, just after sunset, Biden will host a ceremony around the Lincoln Memorial’s reflecting pool to remember the dead. The Presidential Inauguration Committee is encouraging local leaders around the country to join at that time by illuminating buildings and ringing church bells.
Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration will represent “the beginning of a new national journey,” the committee’s communications director Pili Tobar said.
“However, in the midst of a pandemic ― when so many Americans are grieving the loss of family, friends, and neighbors ― it is important that we honor those who have died, reflect on what has been one of the more challenging periods in the nation’s history, and renew our commitment to coming together to end the pandemic and rebuild our nation,” Tobar said.
Because of pandemic safety measures, Biden’s inauguration is to be held partly outdoors, and largely virtually.
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Trump ordered flags lowered to half-staff on Memorial Day to recognize COVID-19 deaths, but Biden’s Lincoln Memorial ceremony will be the first federal tribute of its kind to individuals who have lost their lives in the pandemic. It likely will present a stark contrast with Trump’s handling of the health crisis, which has been criticized for lacking empathy.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--Liberty University Students 'Embarrassed' By Jerry Falwell Jr.-Founded Think Tank

Falwell , who was toppled by scandals in August , launched the Falkirk Center for Faith and Liberty in 2019 with the help of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk .
The professed goal was to build an “ army ” of believers who would defend America ’ s “ Judeo-Christian ” heritage .
But the center ’ s combative language has some students concerned that it is placing conservative politics above Christianity .
Liberty ’ s student body vice president Joel Thomas said he is worried about the “ rhetoric , tone , content ” emerging from the center , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , crucial mission to further the kingdom of God.
” “ Freedom of speech and sharing of ideas are extremely important , yes , ” Thomas wrote in a Dec. 22 tweet .
“ Yet our priority must remain fixed on what truly matters : exalting the cross of Christ through the witness we bear .
Conservative must never supersede Christian.
” Student body president Constance Schneider tweeted in response that she and Thomas have had “ dozens of conversations ” with students who are “ embarrassed ” to be associated with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s commentary .
It ’ s rare for top leaders of Liberty University ’ s student government to publicly criticize the institution .
Former students have alleged that during Falwell ’ s tenure as president , he quashed dissent , particularly from students and professors who were critical of his politics as a close ally of President Donald Trump .
Save71 , an alumni group that is advocating for changes at the school , insists that Falwell ’ s resignation was not enough to redeem Liberty ’ s reputation ― and that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Co-founder Dustin Wahl , a 2018 Liberty graduate , told HuffPost that the center ’ s “ low quality content ” is “ embarrassing ” to the university ’ s best professors .
The center presents Christians as a persecuted religious minority in the United States who need to fight their persecutors , Wahl said , which he believes is both untrue and unbiblical .
Wahl said that Liberty ’ s leadership has long been “ dismissive ” of students ’ concerns and that he isn ’ t hopeful the administration will take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether or not Liberty ’ s administration wants to begin taking its student body ’ s desires seriously , the administration needs to realize that allowing Falkirk to remain open is dangerous for the school , ” he said .
The recent push from students against the Falkirk Center appears to have been prompted by a marketing stunt that an energy drink company staged at a recent conference organized by Turning Point USA , Kirk ’ s conservative student group .
The act involved two models in skin-tight fitness clothing firing money cannons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from other conservative Christians , including current and former Liberty University professors .
The Falkirk Center tweeted on Dec. 21 that Turning Point USA is a separate organization and that the stunt had “ nothing to do with us except in the minds of folks who peddle in innuendo.
” Some Liberty alumni have also chimed in to ask the university ’ s board to drop the school ’ s ties to the Falkirk Center .
Maryland pastor Tally Wilgis called the Falkirk Center a “ distraction ” from Liberty ’ s mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liberty ’ s Helms School of Government instead .
Matthew Morris , a Liberty University freshman , started an online petition on Dec. 22 calling for the Falkirk Center to shut down .
The petition calls the center ’ s fellows “ wolves in sheep ’ s clothing ” and accuses the center of waging war “ against decency , respect , and Christian charity , all while misrepresenting Liberty students and the Christian church.
” Morris told HuffPost that he ’ s collected about 450 signatures through a Google form , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said he intends to eventually present these signatures to the school but isn ’ t too hopeful that the administration will listen .
One Liberty student , who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation from the school , told HuffPost he is upset about how the center paints Democrats as the enemy and how it insists that “ you can not be a Christian when you are on the left.
” The student agrees that it is important for Christians to engage with politics , but said using combative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump isn ’ t the right way .

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Students at Virginia’s Liberty University are speaking out against a conservative think tank co-founded by the school’s disgraced ex-president Jerry Falwell Jr., worried that the think tank’s partisan rhetoric is damaging the school’s reputation.
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But the center’s combative language has some students concerned that it is placing conservative politics above Christianity. Liberty’s student body vice president Joel Thomas said he is worried about the “rhetoric, tone, content” emerging from the center, “specifically when it comes to our greater, crucial mission to further the kingdom of God.”
“Freedom of speech and sharing of ideas are extremely important, yes,” Thomas wrote in a Dec. 22 tweet. “Yet our priority must remain fixed on what truly matters: exalting the cross of Christ through the witness we bear. Conservative must never supersede Christian.”
Student body president Constance Schneider tweeted in response that she and Thomas have had “dozens of conversations” with students who are “embarrassed” to be associated with the university because of the Falkirk Center’s commentary.
“Our concern is how the name of Christ has been used time and time again to support divisive rhetoric and insults,” Schneider wrote.
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Schneider and Thomas did not respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Our job is to represent the students of our school. When an organization like @falkirk_center is attached to Liberty, it impacts the reputation of not just our school, but our students as well.... https://t.co/Mp93gqz4SF — Constance Schneider (@constanceider) December 22, 2020
It’s rare for top leaders of Liberty University’s student government to publicly criticize the institution. Former students have alleged that during Falwell’s tenure as president, he quashed dissent, particularly from students and professors who were critical of his politics as a close ally of President Donald Trump.
President Donald Trump and Jerry Falwell Jr. (right) participate in the Pledge of Allegiance during Liberty University's commencement ceremony on May 13, 2017, in Lynchburg, Virginia. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images
Save71, an alumni group that is advocating for changes at the school, insists that Falwell’s resignation was not enough to redeem Liberty’s reputation ― and that the Falkirk Center needs to shut down. Co-founder Dustin Wahl, a 2018 Liberty graduate, told HuffPost that the center’s “low quality content” is “embarrassing” to the university’s best professors. The center presents Christians as a persecuted religious minority in the United States who need to fight their persecutors, Wahl said, which he believes is both untrue and unbiblical.
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Wahl said that Liberty’s leadership has long been “dismissive” of students’ concerns and that he isn’t hopeful the administration will take a different approach now. But “whether or not Liberty’s administration wants to begin taking its student body’s desires seriously, the administration needs to realize that allowing Falkirk to remain open is dangerous for the school,” he said.
Liberty University did not respond to HuffPost’s request for comment. School spokesperson Scott Lamb told The Christian Post that Liberty’s board of trustees “unanimously endorsed” the Falkirk Center.
“While any academic think tank will have its detractors, the University and the Center have received hundreds of supportive emails from students, parents of students, faculty, and donors,” Lamb said.
The founder of Liberty University, the late Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr., established the evangelical Christian university with the hope of "turning out moral revolutionaries." AP Photo/Steve Helber
The recent push from students against the Falkirk Center appears to have been prompted by a marketing stunt that an energy drink company staged at a recent conference organized by Turning Point USA, Kirk’s conservative student group. The act involved two models in skin-tight fitness clothing firing money cannons into the crowd. It drew criticism from other conservative Christians, including current and former Liberty University professors.
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The Falkirk Center tweeted on Dec. 21 that Turning Point USA is a separate organization and that the stunt had “nothing to do with us except in the minds of folks who peddle in innuendo.”
But Schneider suggested the stunt wasn’t the only thing that prompted students to speak up.
“There have been many instances where the center is not reflective upon the mission of our school to train champions for Christ,” she tweeted.
Some Liberty alumni have also chimed in to ask the university’s board to drop the school’s ties to the Falkirk Center. Maryland pastor Tally Wilgis called the Falkirk Center a “distraction” from Liberty’s mission and urged the administration to invest in Liberty’s Helms School of Government instead.
“We can and should engage the public policy debate with a biblical worldview but let us appreciate that no singular American political party fully encapsulates the gospel,” he posted on Twitter.
If we are consistently offending the same 50% of the nation, we are surely 100% in the wrong. If the gospel doesn't offend Republicans as well as Democrats we must ask if it is the biblical gospel that is framing our policy positions? — Tally Wilgis (@TallyWilgis) December 22, 2020
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Matthew Morris, a Liberty University freshman, started an online petition on Dec. 22 calling for the Falkirk Center to shut down. The petition calls the center’s fellows “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and accuses the center of waging war “against decency, respect, and Christian charity, all while misrepresenting Liberty students and the Christian church.”
Morris told HuffPost that he’s collected about 450 signatures through a Google form, some of which still need to be verified. He said he intends to eventually present these signatures to the school but isn’t too hopeful that the administration will listen.
The student, whose parents also attended Liberty, said he’s been concerned about the Falkirk Center for months, primarily because of the way some of its leaders express Christian nationalistic views.
“They’re trying to mix Christianity with a very nationalistic view of America first, this mentality that Christianity and conservatism in America are inseparable, which we find to be completely wrong,” Morris said.
He said he wanted the public to know that not all Liberty students are on board with the center’s stances.
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“This is a Christ-centered movement. This isn’t politically motivated at all,” he said about those criticizing the Falkirk Center. “We have nothing against conservatism or liberalism. We’re not choosing one side over the other.”
“There’s just no place for one group to be representing the whole school,” Morris said.
I want everyone to know that this opposition to Falkirk is not politically-driven. It is a Gospel issue. More than several hundred Liberty students and alumni have pledged their support to shut down a group that has only grown the division of the Church and not only at Liberty. — Matt Morris Is Speaking Out Against Falkirk (@matt_morris01) December 26, 2020
One Liberty student, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation from the school, told HuffPost he is upset about how the center paints Democrats as the enemy and how it insists that “you cannot be a Christian when you are on the left.” The student agrees that it is important for Christians to engage with politics, but said using combative rhetoric, promoting Christian nationalism and idolizing Trump isn’t the right way.
He hopes to see the Falkirk Center revived with new leadership and advisers from across the political spectrum ― Republicans, Democrats and independents.
“If we’re going to be influencing the political realm as Christians, let’s conduct ourselves to what Scripture tells us to do,” the student said. “We need to do this in a way that’s different from how the left and the right is doing it. We should do it better.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--Federal Execution Team Members Are Getting COVID. Secrecy Has Thwarted Contact Tracing.

The Trump administration has executed 10 people since mid-July — the most federal executions carried out in a year since 1896 .
The Trump Justice Department is so intent on keeping secret the identities of those involved in the process that they hired private executioners and paid them in cash , Propublica reported last week .
But that secrecy is also making it harder to contain the spread of the coronavirus .
For months , the government has ignored clear signs that the executions are fueling COVID-19 outbreaks .
And now , when members of the federal execution teams have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau of Prisons ( BOP ) has rarely conducted contact tracing because doing so could reveal the identities of the people who work the executions , the government admitted in a court filing .
At least nine BOP staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus after working on executions between August and November .
This figure does not include any BOP staffers who may have gotten sick after working the two executions in December or staffers who declined to take a test or report their results .
“ By way of explanation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members from various BOP locations and was designed to protect the confidentiality of its members , ” the government said in response to discovery questions in the lawsuit .
“ Therefore , when team members report back to their home institution , the institution staff may not know the employee was a member of the execution team in order to contract [ sic ] trace them , nor do they generally know of the identities of other staff members who are part of the execution team.
” By failing to do contact tracing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not only the individuals who came into contact with the sick staffers at the executions , but all of the people those other individuals came into contact with after the execution when they may have been unwitting carriers of COVID-19 .
This includes the people incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute , Indiana , which imprisons thousands of people , including most of the people on death row .
The revelations about BOP ’ s lack of contact tracing came in response to a lawsuit filed by two men incarcerated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suing the government to halt executions until after the pandemic is under control and they have received a vaccine .
The plaintiffs , Patrick R. Smith and Brandon S. Holm , argue that the executions put them and the other prisoners “ at significant risk of serious illness or even death , for no good reason.
” Smith is scheduled to be released in January 2022 and Holm is eligible for release into a halfway house in April 2023 .
Both have medical conditions that put them at risk of serious illness or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are high-risk events for COVID-19 transmission because they require dozens of people to gather indoors in close proximity .
Each execution involves a team of about 40 BOP staffers who typically travel to Indiana from out of state and work closely with the prison staff in Terre Haute .
Members of the execution team are not required to quarantine once they arrive or undergo testing before the execution .
Family members of the condemned and their victims , lawyers , members of the media , and demonstrators also travel to Indiana for each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months that people are getting sick from the executions .
In July , a BOP staff member who had attended meetings in preparation for executions tested positive for COVID-19 .
The staffer reported coming into contact with “ Alot ” of incarcerated individuals and did not always wear a mask .
In November , the spiritual adviser who performed last rites at Orlando Hall ’ s execution tested positive a few days after being in the execution chamber with unmasked executioners .
And earlier this month , Dustin Higgs and Corey Johnson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed under the Trump administration , got sick too .
As of Monday , the U. S. Penitentiary at the Terre Haute complex , the prison where federal death row is located , had 410 incarcerated people infected with COVID-19 — more than any other BOP prison in the country , lawyers for Smith and Holm wrote in a court filing .
A month earlier , just four people incarcerated in the prison had the coronavirus .
“ In the wake of the December executions , the Terre Haute prison saw a massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the American Civil Liberties Union ’ s capital punishment project , said in an email , referring to executions on Dec. 10 and 11 .
“ By disregarding public health recommendations and holding federal executions that act as super spreader events , the federal government has spread disease and illness to witnesses , prison staff , attorneys , other prisoners and the broader community .
The priorities of this administration are crystal clear : It will go to unspeakable ends in its shameful quest to carry out a record number of @ @ @

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The Trump administration has executed 10 people since mid-July — the most federal executions carried out in a year since 1896. The Trump Justice Department is so intent on keeping secret the identities of those involved in the process that they hired private executioners and paid them in cash, Propublica reported last week.
But that secrecy is also making it harder to contain the spread of the coronavirus. For months, the government has ignored clear signs that the executions are fueling COVID-19 outbreaks. And now, when members of the federal execution teams have tested positive for the virus, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has rarely conducted contact tracing because doing so could reveal the identities of the people who work the executions, the government admitted in a court filing.
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At least nine BOP staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus after working on executions between August and November. This figure does not include any BOP staffers who may have gotten sick after working the two executions in December or staffers who declined to take a test or report their results.
Of the nine positive cases, BOP only conducted contact tracing on one employee — a deliberate effort to prevent team members’ acquaintances and colleagues from knowing they worked an execution.
“By way of explanation, the execution team is comprised of members from various BOP locations and was designed to protect the confidentiality of its members,” the government said in response to discovery questions in the lawsuit. “Therefore, when team members report back to their home institution, the institution staff may not know the employee was a member of the execution team in order to contract [sic] trace them, nor do they generally know of the identities of other staff members who are part of the execution team.”
This admission contradicts BOP’s previous assertions about contact tracing. In a court filing earlier this month, DOJ lawyers claimed that “if a staff member tests positive for COVID, BOP will immediately conduct contact tracing.”
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BOP did not respond to a list of questions about its contact tracing policies and COVID-19 testing for staffers who work executions.
By failing to do contact tracing, the government is putting at risk not only the individuals who came into contact with the sick staffers at the executions, but all of the people those other individuals came into contact with after the execution when they may have been unwitting carriers of COVID-19. This includes the people incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, which imprisons thousands of people, including most of the people on death row.
The revelations about BOP’s lack of contact tracing came in response to a lawsuit filed by two men incarcerated at the Terre Haute prison who are suing the government to halt executions until after the pandemic is under control and they have received a vaccine. The plaintiffs, Patrick R. Smith and Brandon S. Holm, argue that the executions put them and the other prisoners “at significant risk of serious illness or even death, for no good reason.”
Smith is scheduled to be released in January 2022 and Holm is eligible for release into a halfway house in April 2023. Both have medical conditions that put them at risk of serious illness or death if they contract COVID-19.
“By disregarding public health recommendations and holding federal executions that act as super spreader events, the federal government has spread disease and illness to witnesses, prison staff, attorneys, other prisoners and the broader community.” - Cassandra Stubbs, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's capital punishment project
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Executions are high-risk events for COVID-19 transmission because they require dozens of people to gather indoors in close proximity. Each execution involves a team of about 40 BOP staffers who typically travel to Indiana from out of state and work closely with the prison staff in Terre Haute. Members of the execution team are not required to quarantine once they arrive or undergo testing before the execution. Family members of the condemned and their victims, lawyers, members of the media, and demonstrators also travel to Indiana for each execution.
It has been clear for months that people are getting sick from the executions. In July, a BOP staff member who had attended meetings in preparation for executions tested positive for COVID-19. The staffer reported coming into contact with “Alot” of incarcerated individuals and did not always wear a mask. In November, the spiritual adviser who performed last rites at Orlando Hall’s execution tested positive a few days after being in the execution chamber with unmasked executioners. And earlier this month, Dustin Higgs and Corey Johnson, the last two people scheduled to be killed under the Trump administration, got sick too.
Johnson’s execution is scheduled for Jan. 14, Higgs’ on the next day.
As of Monday, the U. S. Penitentiary at the Terre Haute complex, the prison where federal death row is located, had 410 incarcerated people infected with COVID-19 — more than any other BOP prison in the country, lawyers for Smith and Holm wrote in a court filing. A month earlier, just four people incarcerated in the prison had the coronavirus.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--A Fight To Guarantee Lawyers To Renters Facing Eviction Is Gaining Momentum

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — As the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic stretch into 2021 , millions of U.S. renters are bracing for the possibility of having to show up in housing court to avoid getting evicted .
But unlike their landlords , only a small fraction of them will do so flanked by an attorney .
Fewer than 10 cities and counties nationwide guarantee tenants the right to a lawyer in housing-related disputes , and for people struggling to make ends meet , an attorney is beyond their means , leaving many to skip their court hearings or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Unlike criminal cases , an attorney won ’ t be assigned if someone can ’ t afford one .
Legal aid organizations and pro bono lawyers represent many renters every year , but the need outpaces what they can handle .
“ The push for right to counsel preceded the pandemic , but it ’ s particularly acute and particularly urgent in light of the pandemic , given just the overall precarity that renters are facing , ” said Gretchen Purser , an associate professor of sociology at Syracuse University who specializes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many people owe months of back rent , having lost their jobs or faced mounting medical bills during the health crisis .
By January , renters will owe as much as $ 34 billion , according to estimates by the global investment bank and advisory firm Stout .
An estimated 23 million people are at risk of getting evicted .
The moratorium is what Zachary Kettering thought would protect him when he lost two jobs during the pandemic , fell behind on rent and received a notice in October to vacate his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McKinney .
But he fell victim to a caveat that housing attorneys have warned about : The order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not a blanket moratorium ; tenants must sign a declaration and give a copy to their landlord .
By early December , Kettering , a disabled veteran , owed $ 6,900 in rent and a constable knocked on his door with an eviction notice .
“ I just kind of acquiesce to whatever they wanted , ” said Kettering , 33 , who is now raising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like you ’ re playing a game , and one of the people involved doesn ’ t know the rules of the game .
And that game is a very high stakes , to the point where , like , you will be homeless if you don ’ t play the game.
” In Baltimore , only 1 % of tenants have legal representation in eviction cases , compared with 96 % of landlords .
But this month , Maryland ’ s largest city became the latest U.S. jurisdiction to grant renters a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A Stout report estimated that 92 % of tenants represented by lawyers in Baltimore would avoid having to leave their homes .
The new ordinance requires the city ’ s Department of Housing and Community Development to hire nonprofit legal organizations and calls for funding to help spread the word and educate tenants .
It gives the city four years to fully implement the requirements .
Attorney Matthew Hill with the Public Justice Center , which advocated for the new ordinance , said Baltimore could draw from general funds and federal money to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said a measure proposing a right to counsel also will be introduced in the Maryland Legislature , potentially making state funds available for Baltimore ’ s effort .
“ This is really supposed to level the playing field and really provide tenants access , because eviction court often is just about evictions , but tenants have a lot of defenses , ” Hill said , including whether the place is livable and if landlords are licensed .
“ So , we want to try and change eviction court into housing court and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to safe , stable , healthy housing.
” In 2017 , New York became the first U.S. city to guarantee the right to an attorney in housing court .
Between July 1 , 2019 , and June 30 , 86 % of tenants represented by lawyers were able to stay in their homes , according to a city report released this fall .
Before the pandemic , about 300,000 evictions were filed in the U.S. in an average month , according to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University .
A patchwork of local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moratorium have provided some protections for people unable to pay rent .
But in some places , including cities in South Carolina , Ohio , Florida and Virginia , renters are losing their homes .
Pablo Estupiñan , interim co-coordinator of Right to Counsel NYC Coalition , said eviction filings dropped in New York since its right-to-counsel ordinance took effect three years ago .
But he said landlords ’ attorneys have increased pressure on tenants and sometimes people choose to leave because they may not know their rights .
“ As a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landlords changing their tactics , and we definitely heard from community members that landlord attorneys were threatening them , saying , ‘ If you get an attorney to represent you , then I will fight your case harder and not give you a fair settlement , ’ ” Estupiñan said .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — As the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic stretch into 2021, millions of U.S. renters are bracing for the possibility of having to show up in housing court to avoid getting evicted. But unlike their landlords, only a small fraction of them will do so flanked by an attorney.
Fewer than 10 cities and counties nationwide guarantee tenants the right to a lawyer in housing-related disputes, and for people struggling to make ends meet, an attorney is beyond their means, leaving many to skip their court hearings or walk in knowing they have little chance. Unlike criminal cases, an attorney won’t be assigned if someone can’t afford one. Legal aid organizations and pro bono lawyers represent many renters every year, but the need outpaces what they can handle.
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While housing advocates have primarily pushed for rent relief from the government, experts also expect more cities to join the movement to give tenants the right to an attorney.
“The push for right to counsel preceded the pandemic, but it’s particularly acute and particularly urgent in light of the pandemic, given just the overall precarity that renters are facing,” said Gretchen Purser, an associate professor of sociology at Syracuse University who specializes in housing, homelessness and urban poverty.
She said legal representation “is going to be one of the most important things that groups around the country can be pushing for.”
Many people owe months of back rent, having lost their jobs or faced mounting medical bills during the health crisis. By January, renters will owe as much as $34 billion, according to estimates by the global investment bank and advisory firm Stout. An estimated 23 million people are at risk of getting evicted.
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The federal COVID-19 relief package includes $25 billion for rental assistance and an extension of an eviction moratorium through January.
The moratorium is what Zachary Kettering thought would protect him when he lost two jobs during the pandemic, fell behind on rent and received a notice in October to vacate his one-bedroom apartment in the Dallas suburb of McKinney.
But he fell victim to a caveat that housing attorneys have warned about: The order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not a blanket moratorium; tenants must sign a declaration and give a copy to their landlord. By early December, Kettering, a disabled veteran, owed $6,900 in rent and a constable knocked on his door with an eviction notice.
A friend loaned him the money to cover his debt, and he agreed to sign a document from his landlord saying he won’t renew his lease in February in exchange for dropping the case.
“I just kind of acquiesce to whatever they wanted,” said Kettering, 33, who is now raising money online. “It’s like you’re playing a game, and one of the people involved doesn’t know the rules of the game. And that game is a very high stakes, to the point where, like, you will be homeless if you don’t play the game.”
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The federal relief bill also includes $20 million for legal assistance for renters.
In Baltimore, only 1% of tenants have legal representation in eviction cases, compared with 96% of landlords. But this month, Maryland’s largest city became the latest U.S. jurisdiction to grant renters a right to counsel in those cases. A Stout report estimated that 92% of tenants represented by lawyers in Baltimore would avoid having to leave their homes.
The new ordinance requires the city’s Department of Housing and Community Development to hire nonprofit legal organizations and calls for funding to help spread the word and educate tenants. It gives the city four years to fully implement the requirements.
Attorney Matthew Hill with the Public Justice Center, which advocated for the new ordinance, said Baltimore could draw from general funds and federal money to cover the program’s costs. He said a measure proposing a right to counsel also will be introduced in the Maryland Legislature, potentially making state funds available for Baltimore’s effort.
“This is really supposed to level the playing field and really provide tenants access, because eviction court often is just about evictions, but tenants have a lot of defenses,” Hill said, including whether the place is livable and if landlords are licensed. “So, we want to try and change eviction court into housing court and make sure we enforce tenants’ rights to safe, stable, healthy housing.”
The Stout report estimated that an investment of $5.7 million a year to get legal representation for Baltimore renters would result in $35.6 million in savings to the city and state on homeless shelters, Medicaid spending, school funding and foster care costs.
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In 2017, New York became the first U.S. city to guarantee the right to an attorney in housing court. Between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 86% of tenants represented by lawyers were able to stay in their homes, according to a city report released this fall.
Other cities with similar laws include San Francisco, Philadelphia and Newark, New Jersey.
Before the pandemic, about 300,000 evictions were filed in the U.S. in an average month, according to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University. A patchwork of local and state guidelines combined with the federal moratorium have provided some protections for people unable to pay rent. But in some places, including cities in South Carolina, Ohio, Florida and Virginia, renters are losing their homes.
Pablo Estupiñan, interim co-coordinator of Right to Counsel NYC Coalition, said eviction filings dropped in New York since its right-to-counsel ordinance took effect three years ago. But he said landlords’ attorneys have increased pressure on tenants and sometimes people choose to leave because they may not know their rights.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--Angry Squirrel Aggressively Attacking Residents Of Queens Neighborhood

NEW YORK ( AP ) — Residents of a Queens neighborhood are dealing with a squirrely threat .
Denizens of the New York City borough ’ s Rego Park neighborhood say an aggressive squirrel has jumped on them and bitten them in the past several weeks , WCBS-TV reported Wednesday .
Micheline Frederick pointed to a bruise on her wrist where she said the squirrel landed on her and then sank its teeth into her fingers and hand .
“ We ’ re wrestling in the snow and there ’ s blood everywhere and my fingers getting chewed and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frederick said .
“ Eventually , it just stopped and there I was a big bloody mess.
” A photo Frederick says she took after the attack shows a snowy pathway covered in blood .
“ This was an MMA cage match !
And I lost !
” she added .
Two other neighbors told WCBS the squirrel had jumped on them , seemingly unprovoked .
“ These squirrels are aggressively going after people , ” Vinati Singh said .
The city ’ s Department of Health advised the neighbors to hire a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traps have not yet captured any squirrels , the broadcaster reported .
The reason for the squirrel — or squirrels ’ — aggressive behavior is not clear .
Small rodents like squirrels rarely test positive for rabies and are not known to have transmitted it to humans , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

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NEW YORK (AP) — Residents of a Queens neighborhood are dealing with a squirrely threat.
Denizens of the New York City borough’s Rego Park neighborhood say an aggressive squirrel has jumped on them and bitten them in the past several weeks, WCBS-TV reported Wednesday.
Micheline Frederick pointed to a bruise on her wrist where she said the squirrel landed on her and then sank its teeth into her fingers and hand.
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“We’re wrestling in the snow and there’s blood everywhere and my fingers getting chewed and it won’t let go,” Frederick said. “Eventually, it just stopped and there I was a big bloody mess.”
A photo Frederick says she took after the attack shows a snowy pathway covered in blood.
“This was an MMA cage match! And I lost!” she added.
Two other neighbors told WCBS the squirrel had jumped on them, seemingly unprovoked.
“These squirrels are aggressively going after people,” Vinati Singh said.
The city’s Department of Health advised the neighbors to hire a licensed trapper, but the large metal traps have not yet captured any squirrels, the broadcaster reported.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--Minneapolis Police Release Officer Video In Fatal Shooting Of Dolal Idd

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) — Police in Minneapolis on Thursday released body-camera video from a traffic stop one night earlier that ended with a man shot dead , an extraordinarily quick move aimed at stemming public anger over the city ’ s first police-involved death since George Floyd died while being restrained by officers in May .
The confrontation happened about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday in a gas station on the south side , about a mile from where Floyd died .
Police said the man — identified by his father as Dolal Idd — was a suspect in a felony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first .
The city released a brief clip from one officer ’ s body-camera in two versions , one of them slowed down to make it easier to follow .
The video showed the man attempting to drive away from police before his vehicle was hemmed in , and then showed him looking through his driver ’ s side window at the officers .
It was difficult to make out more detail .
Chief Medaria Arradondo said a gun was found at the scene .
A woman in the car was unhurt ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news conference , Arradondo was asked whether officers used reasonable force , and he said they reacted to a deadly threat .
“ When officers are experiencing gunfire , they are trained to respond , ” Arradondo said .
Later , when he was pressed on whether it was clear to him that the man in the car fired first , he said : “ When I viewed the video that everyone else is viewing , and certainly the real-time slowed-down version , certainly it appears the individual inside the vehicle fires his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved to release the video far earlier than usual , saying he wanted people to see it for themselves even as the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigates .
Bayle Gelle , of Eden Prairie , told the Star Tribune on Thursday that the dead man was Idd , his son .
Gelle told the newspaper that authorities haven ’ t given him any more information about what happened .
He said several officers carried out a search warrant at his home Wednesday night .
Online court records showed a string of minor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a felony theft conviction in 2018 and a felony drug conviction in 2017 .
The records , which included a birthdate that would make Idd 23 years old , did not include detailed summaries of the cases .
The records also included a misdemeanor conviction in 2019 for carrying a pistol in a public place .
The Star Tribune reported that charges in the case said Idd fired a gun in the basement shower of his parents ’ home in suburban Eden Prairie with two children sleeping nearby .
The charges said Idd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been reported stolen in North Dakota .
Arradondo said the traffic stop was carried out by members of a police community response team — long-standing units that respond to situations such as drug investigations and gun crime .
He said he did not have additional details on why the man was sought .
The shooting happened less than a mile ( 1.6 kilometers ) from the street corner where Floyd , a Black man , died in May after a Minneapolis officer pressed his knee on Floyd ’ s neck for minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couldn ’ t breathe .
Floyd ’ s death sparked days of sometimes violent protest that spread around the country and resonated worldwide .
In Minneapolis , Floyd ’ s death also led to a push for radical change in the police department , long criticized by activists for what they called a brutal culture that resisted change .
A push by some City Council members to replace the department with a new public safety unit failed this summer .
Mayor Jacob Frey and Arradondo , who opposed doing away with the department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd ’ s death , including revising use-of-force policies and requiring officers to report on their attempts to de-escalate situations .
Just this week , the chief and mayor unveiled a new plan to involve the city attorney ’ s office more quickly in investigations of officers accused of misconduct .
Frey called the shooting “ a tragic and difficult day capping what has been a tragic and difficult year.
” He expressed condolences to Idd ’ s family , and said the quick release of the body-camera video was part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparent .

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Police in Minneapolis on Thursday released body-camera video from a traffic stop one night earlier that ended with a man shot dead, an extraordinarily quick move aimed at stemming public anger over the city’s first police-involved death since George Floyd died while being restrained by officers in May.
The confrontation happened about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday in a gas station on the south side, about a mile from where Floyd died. Police said the man — identified by his father as Dolal Idd — was a suspect in a felony and that eyewitnesses said he had fired first.
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The city released a brief clip from one officer’s body-camera in two versions, one of them slowed down to make it easier to follow. The video showed the man attempting to drive away from police before his vehicle was hemmed in, and then showed him looking through his driver’s side window at the officers. It was difficult to make out more detail.
The driver’s window shatters, an officer is heard swearing, and at least a dozen shots are fired.
Chief Medaria Arradondo said a gun was found at the scene. A woman in the car was unhurt; no officers were hurt. At a news conference, Arradondo was asked whether officers used reasonable force, and he said they reacted to a deadly threat.
“When officers are experiencing gunfire, they are trained to respond,” Arradondo said. Later, when he was pressed on whether it was clear to him that the man in the car fired first, he said: “When I viewed the video that everyone else is viewing, and certainly the real-time slowed-down version, certainly it appears the individual inside the vehicle fires his weapon at the officers first.”
Arradondo said the man was stopped as part of a weapons investigation, but he said he had no other details.
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Arradondo moved to release the video far earlier than usual, saying he wanted people to see it for themselves even as the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigates.
Bayle Gelle, of Eden Prairie, told the Star Tribune on Thursday that the dead man was Idd, his son. Gelle told the newspaper that authorities haven’t given him any more information about what happened. He said several officers carried out a search warrant at his home Wednesday night.
“The police they are brutality,” he told the Star Tribune. “I want to get justice.”
Online court records showed a string of minor traffic charges against Idd, but also a felony theft conviction in 2018 and a felony drug conviction in 2017. The records, which included a birthdate that would make Idd 23 years old, did not include detailed summaries of the cases.
The records also included a misdemeanor conviction in 2019 for carrying a pistol in a public place. The Star Tribune reported that charges in the case said Idd fired a gun in the basement shower of his parents’ home in suburban Eden Prairie with two children sleeping nearby. The charges said Idd was later arrested with a handgun that had been reported stolen in North Dakota.
Idd was Somali American.
Arradondo said the traffic stop was carried out by members of a police community response team — long-standing units that respond to situations such as drug investigations and gun crime. He said he did not have additional details on why the man was sought.
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The shooting happened less than a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the street corner where Floyd, a Black man, died in May after a Minneapolis officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for minutes, even as Floyd pleaded that he couldn’t breathe. Floyd’s death sparked days of sometimes violent protest that spread around the country and resonated worldwide.
In Minneapolis, Floyd’s death also led to a push for radical change in the police department, long criticized by activists for what they called a brutal culture that resisted change. A push by some City Council members to replace the department with a new public safety unit failed this summer.
Mayor Jacob Frey and Arradondo, who opposed doing away with the department, have offered several policy changes since Floyd’s death, including revising use-of-force policies and requiring officers to report on their attempts to de-escalate situations. Just this week, the chief and mayor unveiled a new plan to involve the city attorney’s office more quickly in investigations of officers accused of misconduct.
Frey called the shooting “a tragic and difficult day capping what has been a tragic and difficult year.” He expressed condolences to Idd’s family, and said the quick release of the body-camera video was part of the city’s attempt to be more transparent.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--Phyllis McGuire, Last Of Singing McGuire Sisters, Dies In Vegas At 89

LAS VEGAS ( AP ) — Phyllis McGuire , the last surviving member of the three singing McGuire Sisters who topped the charts with several hits in the 1950s , has died .
She was 89 .
The lead singer and younger sister of Dorothy and Christine McGuire died on Tuesday in Las Vegas , the Palm Eastern Mortuary and Cemetery confirmed on Thursday .
A cause of death was not provided .
Known for their sweet harmonies and identical outfits and hairdos , the McGuire Sisters earned six gold records for hits including 1954′s “ Sincerely ” and 1957′s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five presidents and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain .
They were inducted into the National Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001 .
The Las Vegas Sun reported Phyllis McGuire died at her mansion she called “ the Beverly Hills of Las Vegas ” in the Rancho Circle estates near downtown Las Vegas .
The 26,0000-square-foot ( 2,415-square-meter ) home includes a 45-foot ( 14-meter ) version of the Eiffel Tower .
The sisters began singing together as children at their mother ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and church revivals .
They rose to popularity during World War II and got their show business break in 1952 with an appearance on the `` Kate Smith Show.″ They quit performing as a trio at the height of their popularity in 1968 but returned to the stage as a threesome in 1985 .
The three last performed together in the mid-2000s , and were featured on a 2004 PBS show called “ Magic Moments - Best of 50s Pop.
” “ They were amazing .
They brought the country together by singing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of McGuire ’ s longtime friends , told the Sun .
“ Phyllis McGuire was beautiful , talented and was part of the Las Vegas allure.
” She also was known for her relationship with 1960s mobster Sam Giancana , who was slain gangland style in Chicago .
Mary Louise-Parker played the role of Phyllis McGuire in the 1995 HBO film “ Sugartime , ” which portrayed Giancana ’ s love affair with her .

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Phyllis McGuire, the last surviving member of the three singing McGuire Sisters who topped the charts with several hits in the 1950s, has died. She was 89.
The lead singer and younger sister of Dorothy and Christine McGuire died on Tuesday in Las Vegas, the Palm Eastern Mortuary and Cemetery confirmed on Thursday. A cause of death was not provided.
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Known for their sweet harmonies and identical outfits and hairdos, the McGuire Sisters earned six gold records for hits including 1954′s “Sincerely” and 1957′s “Sugartime.”
The group performed for five presidents and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. They were inducted into the National Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.
The Las Vegas Sun reported Phyllis McGuire died at her mansion she called “the Beverly Hills of Las Vegas” in the Rancho Circle estates near downtown Las Vegas. The 26,0000-square-foot (2,415-square-meter) home includes a 45-foot (14-meter) version of the Eiffel Tower.
The sisters began singing together as children at their mother’s Ohio church and then performed at weddings and church revivals.
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They rose to popularity during World War II and got their show business break in 1952 with an appearance on the ``Kate Smith Show.″ They quit performing as a trio at the height of their popularity in 1968 but returned to the stage as a threesome in 1985.
The three last performed together in the mid-2000s, and were featured on a 2004 PBS show called “Magic Moments - Best of 50s Pop.”
“They were amazing. They brought the country together by singing wonderful songs,” Lovee Arum, one of McGuire’s longtime friends, told the Sun. “Phyllis McGuire was beautiful, talented and was part of the Las Vegas allure.”
Phyllis Jean McGuire was born in Middletown, Ohio, on Feb. 14, 1931. Dorothy McGuire Williamson died in 2012. Christine McGuire died in 2018.
Phyllis McGuire married broadcaster Neal Van Ells in 1952. They divorced in 1956.
She also was known for her relationship with 1960s mobster Sam Giancana, who was slain gangland style in Chicago. Mary Louise-Parker played the role of Phyllis McGuire in the 1995 HBO film “Sugartime,” which portrayed Giancana’s love affair with her.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--Hospital Worker Arrested After Allegedly Ruining COVID-19 Vaccine Doses

MADISON , Wis. ( AP ) — Authorities arrested a suburban Milwaukee pharmacist Thursday suspected of deliberately ruining hundreds of doses of coronavirus vaccine by removing it from refrigeration for two nights .
The Grafton Police Department said the former Advocate Aurora Health pharmacist was arrested on suspicion of reckless endangerment , adulterating a prescription drug and criminal damage to property .
The department said in a news release that he was in jail .
Police did not identify the pharmacist , saying he has not yet been formally charged .
His motive remains unclear .
Police said that detectives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be useless and people who received them would mistakenly think they ’ d been vaccinated when they hadn ’ t .
Advocate Aurora Health Care Chief Medical Group Officer Jeff Bahr told reporters during a teleconference Thursday afternoon that the pharmacist deliberately removed 57 vials that held hundreds of doses of the Moderna vaccine from refrigeration at a Grafton medical center overnight on Dec. 24 into Dec. 25 , returned them , then left them out again on the night of Dec. 25 into Saturday .
The vials contained enough doses to inoculate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vials outside the refrigerator on Saturday morning .
Bahr said the pharmacist initially said that he had removed the vaccine to access other items in the refrigerator and had inadvertently failed to replace it .
The Moderna vaccine is still viable for 12 hours outside refrigeration , so workers used the vaccine to inoculate 57 people before discarding the rest .
Police said the discarded doses were worth between $ 8,000 and $ 11,000 .
Bahr said health system officials grew more suspicious of the pharmacist as they reviewed the incident .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he removed the vaccine deliberately and left it out overnight Dec. 24 into Dec. 25 , returned it to the refrigerator at some point and then removed it again overnight Dec. 25 to Dec. 26 .
Bahr said that means that the doses people received Saturday are all but useless .
Moderna has told Aurora that there ’ s no safety concerns but the system is monitoring them closely , he said .

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Authorities arrested a suburban Milwaukee pharmacist Thursday suspected of deliberately ruining hundreds of doses of coronavirus vaccine by removing it from refrigeration for two nights.
The Grafton Police Department said the former Advocate Aurora Health pharmacist was arrested on suspicion of reckless endangerment, adulterating a prescription drug and criminal damage to property. The department said in a news release that he was in jail. Police did not identify the pharmacist, saying he has not yet been formally charged.
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His motive remains unclear. Police said that detectives believe he knew the spoiled doses would be useless and people who received them would mistakenly think they’d been vaccinated when they hadn’t.
Advocate Aurora Health Care Chief Medical Group Officer Jeff Bahr told reporters during a teleconference Thursday afternoon that the pharmacist deliberately removed 57 vials that held hundreds of doses of the Moderna vaccine from refrigeration at a Grafton medical center overnight on Dec. 24 into Dec. 25, returned them, then left them out again on the night of Dec. 25 into Saturday. The vials contained enough doses to inoculate 570 people.
A pharmacy technician discovered the vials outside the refrigerator on Saturday morning. Bahr said the pharmacist initially said that he had removed the vaccine to access other items in the refrigerator and had inadvertently failed to replace it.
The Moderna vaccine is still viable for 12 hours outside refrigeration, so workers used the vaccine to inoculate 57 people before discarding the rest. Police said the discarded doses were worth between $8,000 and $11,000.
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Bahr said health system officials grew more suspicious of the pharmacist as they reviewed the incident. After multiple interviews the pharmacist acknowledged Wednesday that he removed the vaccine deliberately and left it out overnight Dec. 24 into Dec. 25, returned it to the refrigerator at some point and then removed it again overnight Dec. 25 to Dec. 26.
Bahr said that means that the doses people received Saturday are all but useless. Moderna has told Aurora that there’s no safety concerns but the system is monitoring them closely, he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--SolarWinds Hackers Accessed Microsoft Source Code, Company Says

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) -The hacking group behind the SolarWinds compromise was able to break into Microsoft Corp and access some of its source code , Microsoft said on Thursday .
In a blog post , Microsoft said its investigation had turned up irregularities with a “ small number of internal accounts ” and that one of the accounts “ had been used to view source code in a number of source code repositories.
” The disclosure adds to the ever-growing picture of the compromises associated with the SolarWinds hack , which used the Texas-based company ’ s flagship network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the sensitive U.S. government networks and other tech companies .
Microsoft had already disclosed that like other firms it found malicious versions of SolarWinds ’ software inside its network , but the source code disclosure is new .
[ L1N2IY01F ] A company ’ s source code - the underlying set of instructions that run a piece of software or an operating system - is typically among its most closely guarded secrets .
It is not clear how many or specifically which source code repositories the hackers were able to access .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the blog post .
Microsoft said the hijacked account did not have the ability to modify any Microsoft code .
The blog post further added it has found no evidence of access “ to production services or customer data.
” “ The investigation , which is ongoing , has also found no indications that our systems were used to attack others , ” it said .

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The hacking group behind the SolarWinds compromise was able to break into Microsoft Corp and access some of its source code, Microsoft said on Thursday.
In a blog post, Microsoft said its investigation had turned up irregularities with a “small number of internal accounts” and that one of the accounts “had been used to view source code in a number of source code repositories.”
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The disclosure adds to the ever-growing picture of the compromises associated with the SolarWinds hack, which used the Texas-based company’s flagship network monitoring software as a springboard to break into the sensitive U.S. government networks and other tech companies. Microsoft had already disclosed that like other firms it found malicious versions of SolarWinds’ software inside its network, but the source code disclosure is new. [L1N2IY01F]
A company’s source code - the underlying set of instructions that run a piece of software or an operating system - is typically among its most closely guarded secrets.
It is not clear how many or specifically which source code repositories the hackers were able to access. A Microsoft spokesman declined to elaborate on the blog post.
Microsoft said the hijacked account did not have the ability to modify any Microsoft code. The blog post further added it has found no evidence of access “to production services or customer data.”
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“The investigation, which is ongoing, has also found no indications that our systems were used to attack others,” it said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--Boris Johnson's Dad Applies For French Citizenship After Son’s Brexit Deal

PARIS , Dec 31 ( Reuters ) - The father of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday he was in the process of applying for a French passport to maintain his ties with the European Union after Brexit .
Stanley Johnson , a former member of the European Parliament who voted Remain in Britain ’ s 2016 referendum , told RTL radio he wanted to become a French citizen because of strong family links to France .
“ If I understand it correctly , I am French .
My mother was born in France , her mother was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So for me it is about reclaiming what I already have .
And that makes me very happy , ” said the 80-year-oldJohnson , who was speaking in French .
“ I will always be a European , that ’ s for sure .
One can not tell the British people : you are not Europeans .
Having a tie with the European Union is important , ” he added .
His son Boris was the public face of the Leave campaign in the 2016 referendum and says Britain can “ prosper mightily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he sees as an overly bureaucratic EU .
But on Wednesday the prime minister sounded a more concilatory note as parliament approved a new trade deal with the EU , saying : “ This is not the end of Britain as a European country .
We are in many ways the quintessential European civilisation ... and we will continue to be that.
” The United Kingdom officially leaves the EU ’ s orbit onThursday night , after an often strained 48-year liaison with theEuropean project

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PARIS, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The father of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday he was in the process of applying for a French passport to maintain his ties with the European Union after Brexit.
Stanley Johnson, a former member of the European Parliament who voted Remain in Britain’s 2016 referendum, told RTL radio he wanted to become a French citizen because of strong family links to France.
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“If I understand it correctly, I am French. My mother was born in France, her mother was totally French as was her grandfather. So for me it is about reclaiming what I already have. And that makes me very happy,” said the 80-year-oldJohnson, who was speaking in French.
“I will always be a European, that’s for sure. One cannot tell the British people: you are not Europeans. Having a tie with the European Union is important,” he added.
His son Boris was the public face of the Leave campaign in the 2016 referendum and says Britain can “prosper mightily” as afully sovereign nation outside what he sees as an overly bureaucratic EU.
But on Wednesday the prime minister sounded a more concilatory note as parliament approved a new trade deal with the EU, saying: “This is not the end of Britain as a European country. We are in many ways the quintessential European civilisation... and we will continue to be that.”
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The United Kingdom officially leaves the EU’s orbit onThursday night, after an often strained 48-year liaison with theEuropean project


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-31--Pope Francis Skipping New Year's Services Due To Back Pain

VATICAN CITY ( AP ) — Pope Francis is skipping New Year ’ s ceremonies due to what the Vatican says is a painful back condition , a spokesman said Thursday .
Matteo Bruni said Francis is suffering from “ painful sciatica ” and won ’ t preside at a year-end prayer service Thursday evening in St. Peter ’ s Basilica .
The pope also won ’ t celebrate Mass on New Year ’ s Day in the basilica for the same reason .
Francis has suffered from the problem in the past .
Sciatica can cause back and leg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nerve roots or on the sciatic nerve which runs from the lower spine down the thigh .
Despite the back pain , Bruni said Francis will deliver his scheduled New Year ’ s blessing during an appearance at noon Friday in the library of the Apostolic Palace .
A woman wearing a face mask walks with her dog outside of an empty St. Peter 's Square at the Vatican , December 25 , 2020 .
To discourage crowds in St. Peter ’ s Square during a COVID-19 surge in Italy , Francis lately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appearances to inside the Vatican instead of greeting faithful from a palace window overlooking the square .
The Thursday evening Vespers service and the Friday Mass will go ahead but will be presided over by Vatican cardinals .

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VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is skipping New Year’s ceremonies due to what the Vatican says is a painful back condition, a spokesman said Thursday.
Matteo Bruni said Francis is suffering from “painful sciatica” and won’t preside at a year-end prayer service Thursday evening in St. Peter’s Basilica. The pope also won’t celebrate Mass on New Year’s Day in the basilica for the same reason.
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Francis has suffered from the problem in the past. Sciatica can cause back and leg pain and is due to compression on nerve roots or on the sciatic nerve which runs from the lower spine down the thigh.
Despite the back pain, Bruni said Francis will deliver his scheduled New Year’s blessing during an appearance at noon Friday in the library of the Apostolic Palace.
A woman wearing a face mask walks with her dog outside of an empty St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, December 25, 2020. (Photo by Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
To discourage crowds in St. Peter’s Square during a COVID-19 surge in Italy, Francis lately has moved his weekly and holiday blessing appearances to inside the Vatican instead of greeting faithful from a palace window overlooking the square.
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