thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--Trump ‘Sitting On’ Next Federal Climate Assessment, Threatening To Inflame Disasters

“ It ’ s not being approved to go out , so therefore they ’ re just sitting on it , ” Donald Wuebbles , a climate scientist at the University of Illinois and co-author of the fourth version of the report published in 2018 , told E & E .
The in-depth federal assessments , due every four years , look at the devastating consequences of the rapidly unfolding climate crisis .
The Trump administration tried to bury the last study in 2018 by releasing it the day after the Thanksgiving holiday .
That report concluded that global temperatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modern civilization has experienced ” and that “ this warming trend can only be explained by human activities , especially emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
” It also found that without drastic cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions , temperatures in the U.S. could warm between 3 and 9 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100 .
Trump ’ s brazen attack on climate science has ramped up ahead of the November election .
Along with falsely claiming that the climate “ will start getting cooler , ” Trump has tapped at least three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .
Among them is David Legates , a University of Delaware climatology professor and close affiliate of the climate-denying Heartland Institute who has claimed , among other things , that rising atmospheric CO2 is good for the planet .
Sources close to the White House told E & E News that Legates was brought in specifically to shape the upcoming federal climate report .
The effort to slow-walk the next report comes as Exxon Mobil Corp. , the largest U.S. oil and gas producer , plans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents Bloomberg obtained .
The company ’ s projected greenhouse gases would surge as a result , just as rival oil giants are vowing to cut output and set a course for net-zero emissions in the coming decades .
It ’ s unclear whether the White House ’ s delay in summoning scientists for the next national climate assessment would hinder their ability to render an accurate picture of how climate change could upend life across the United States .
Scientists are already running models and performing studies , but the federal report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across disciplines .
Its complexity is comparable only to the reports the United Nations ’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issues each year .
Unlike the U.N. report , the federal assessment provides detailed forecasts by U.S. regions , offering scientists and policymakers a vital tool for adapting to the already chaotic uptick in fires , droughts and violent storms .
“ That ’ s something the IPCC doesn ’ t do , so it ’ s very , very valuable , ” said Steven Davis , an earth system scientist at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hopefully this won ’ t stymie the scientists.
” The move to interfere with a timely fifth report signals how the pro-fossil fuel Trump administration is likely to approach the threat of climate change if the president is elected to a second term and no longer has to consider the concerns of American voters , a growing majority of whom are worried about the climate crisis .
Trump could ultimately revive a suspended initiative to recruit scientists to challenge the all-but-irrefutable consensus that planetary warming is an immediate threat driven by the burning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a retired Princeton University physics professor and seasoned climate change denier who tried unsuccessfully to establish such a panel before leaving the Trump administration last September , previously told E & E that the president expressed interest in conducting the review after the election .

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The Trump administration is reportedly delaying work on a congressionally mandated climate change report, the latest example of President Donald Trump digging in on climate change denial ahead of the 2020 election.
The administration is behind schedule in putting out a call for scientists to produce the Fifth National Climate Assessment, E&E News reported Monday.
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“It’s not being approved to go out, so therefore they’re just sitting on it,” Donald Wuebbles, a climate scientist at the University of Illinois and co-author of the fourth version of the report published in 2018, told E&E.
The in-depth federal assessments, due every four years, look at the devastating consequences of the rapidly unfolding climate crisis. The Trump administration tried to bury the last study in 2018 by releasing it the day after the Thanksgiving holiday.
That report concluded that global temperatures are “rising more rapidly than anything modern civilization has experienced” and that “this warming trend can only be explained by human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.”
It also found that without drastic cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions, temperatures in the U.S. could warm between 3 and 9 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100.
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At the time, administration officials dismissed the findings as “radical,” “not data-driven” and based on “worst scenarios.” Trump outright rejected the science, saying “I don’t believe it.”
Trump’s brazen attack on climate science has ramped up ahead of the November election. Along with falsely claiming that the climate “will start getting cooler,” Trump has tapped at least three climate contrarians for top-level positions at the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Among them is David Legates, a University of Delaware climatology professor and close affiliate of the climate-denying Heartland Institute who has claimed, among other things, that rising atmospheric CO2 is good for the planet. Sources close to the White House told E&E News that Legates was brought in specifically to shape the upcoming federal climate report.
The effort to slow-walk the next report comes as Exxon Mobil Corp., the largest U.S. oil and gas producer, plans to ramp up drilling, according to leaked documents Bloomberg obtained. The company’s projected greenhouse gases would surge as a result, just as rival oil giants are vowing to cut output and set a course for net-zero emissions in the coming decades.
Two ice sculptures depicting U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro sit across the Hudson River from the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Sept. 30, 2020. Carlo Allegri / Reuters
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It’s unclear whether the White House’s delay in summoning scientists for the next national climate assessment would hinder their ability to render an accurate picture of how climate change could upend life across the United States. Scientists are already running models and performing studies, but the federal report represents the collective findings of climate researchers across disciplines. Its complexity is comparable only to the reports the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issues each year.
Unlike the U.N. report, the federal assessment provides detailed forecasts by U.S. regions, offering scientists and policymakers a vital tool for adapting to the already chaotic uptick in fires, droughts and violent storms.
“That’s something the IPCC doesn’t do, so it’s very, very valuable,” said Steven Davis, an earth system scientist at the University of California, Davis. “Hopefully this won’t stymie the scientists.”
The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment Monday.
The move to interfere with a timely fifth report signals how the pro-fossil fuel Trump administration is likely to approach the threat of climate change if the president is elected to a second term and no longer has to consider the concerns of American voters, a growing majority of whom are worried about the climate crisis.
Trump could ultimately revive a suspended initiative to recruit scientists to challenge the all-but-irrefutable consensus that planetary warming is an immediate threat driven by the burning of fossil fuels. William Happer, a retired Princeton University physics professor and seasoned climate change denier who tried unsuccessfully to establish such a panel before leaving the Trump administration last September, previously told E&E that the president expressed interest in conducting the review after the election.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--Trump Tells Nation Not To Fear Coronavirus He Let Kill 200,000 Americans

All eyes have been on President Donald Trump as he battles COVID-19 , the disease he has spent most of this year downplaying as hundreds of thousands of people died on his watch .
But even while he ’ s infected with the highly contagious virus , the president continues to gaslight a traumatized America by minimizing the pandemic .
On Monday , Trump left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center despite still being infected with the coronavirus .
He was admitted to the hospital in Maryland on Friday just hours after revealing that he and first lady Melania Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but White House physicians have not been transparent about the president ’ s health in daily press conferences .
Trump ’ s tweet not only implied that those who die of COVID-19 are weak but also suggested that the American people should not fear a virus that has already infected almost 7.5 million and killed about 210,000 people in the United States this year — in part due to the president ’ s own dangerous rhetoric and botched response to the pandemic .
“ My dad loved to talk and I miss talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an essential transit worker in New York whose father died from the virus , in a statement for the grassroots network COVID Survivors for Change .
“ To hear Trump say that people shouldn ’ t fear this virus hurts .
It makes me worry for all the families who will still experience the loss of a loved one because our president refuses to take this pandemic seriously.
” As Trump diminishes the virus and boasts about drug development , he is also receiving top-notch medical care and treatments out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a taxpayer-funded helicopter take him to his own secluded ward of a world-class hospital , where a team of dedicated doctors exclusively monitored him around the clock , providing him pricey experimental treatments not yet available to the public free of charge .
“ Don ’ t be afraid , says the guy with a team of a dozen doctors , access to experimental treatments that no one else gets , a four room hospital suite , who lives in a house with top doctors on site 24/7 , ” tweeted Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports showing that Trump paid little or no federal income tax in recent years .
“ All of which is provided to him for free because he refuses to pay taxes.
” Meanwhile , everyday Americans face rising medical bills for COVID-19 treatment and hospital stays .
Some people early in the pandemic could not even receive a coronavirus test unless they met certain criteria , let alone hospital admission with even stricter requirements .
And with the president and Republicans pushing for the Supreme Court to repeal the Affordable Care Act , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covered by insurance .
Reporters asked White House physician Sean Conley , who is overseeing Trump ’ s care , about the president ’ s tweet at a news conference on Monday afternoon .
Conley said he ’ s “ not going to get into what the president says , ” and noted that Trump was not “ out of the woods yet ” in his fight against the virus .
“ To see the president tell his followers not to fear COVID is a slap in the face to all of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as all of us who put our lives on the line to save others .
It ’ s a callous and dangerous remark that will do nothing to stop this horrifying pandemic , and may even make it worse , ” she added .
Trump has repeatedly tried to deflect responsibility during the pandemic .
He blamed China and Democrats for the virus , called on states with lockdowns to be “ liberated , ” mocked the wearing of masks , promoted dangerous chemicals as miracle cures , publicly undercut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create a national testing strategy , forced states to make major decisions that should have been made at the federal level , and hardly played a role in negotiations over relief legislation .
But since contracting COVID-19 , the president has only continued promoting dangerous behavior and putting people ’ s lives at risk .
Heading back to the White House while he ’ s still sick and telling the American public not to be afraid of the coronavirus are just the latest examples of that .
On Sunday , immediately after bragging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump surprised his supporters outside Walter Reed by taking a drive in the presidential motorcade to thank them for their well-wishes ― putting Secret Service agents and drivers at risk of contracting the virus .
“ Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘ drive-by ’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days , ” tweeted Dr. James Phillips , an attending physician at Walter Reed .
“ They might get sick .
They may die .
For political theater .
Commanded by Trump to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is insanity.
” The president is effectively a superspreader , as contact tracing pins clusters of recent positive cases on events that Trump attended ― including the Sept. 26 Supreme Court nomination ceremony at the Rose Garden , the first presidential debate on Tuesday , a private fundraiser and campaign rally in Minnesota on Wednesday and a large fundraiser at Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey on Thursday .
Swaths of Republicans continue to reveal that they ’ ve tested positive for the virus after ignoring safety protocols when meeting with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the coronavirus appears to be spreading through the White House .
Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced on Monday that she had contracted the virus , as have two of her deputies .
According to The New York Times , two staff members who worked for the White House housekeeping department also tested positive and were told to use “ discretion ” in discussing their cases .

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All eyes have been on President Donald Trump as he battles COVID-19, the disease he has spent most of this year downplaying as hundreds of thousands of people died on his watch. But even while he’s infected with the highly contagious virus, the president continues to gaslight a traumatized America by minimizing the pandemic.
On Monday, Trump left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center despite still being infected with the coronavirus. He was admitted to the hospital in Maryland on Friday just hours after revealing that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the virus, but White House physicians have not been transparent about the president’s health in daily press conferences.
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“Feeling really good!” Trump tweeted. “Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”
I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2020
Trump’s tweet not only implied that those who die of COVID-19 are weak but also suggested that the American people should not fear a virus that has already infected almost 7.5 million and killed about 210,000 people in the United States this year — in part due to the president’s own dangerous rhetoric and botched response to the pandemic.
Most COVID-19 victims have died alone due to safety precautions, leaving loved ones to navigate an already difficult mourning process, and those who survive the illness often deal with long-term health issues.
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“My dad loved to talk and I miss talking to him,” said Brian Walter, an essential transit worker in New York whose father died from the virus, in a statement for the grassroots network COVID Survivors for Change. “To hear Trump say that people shouldn’t fear this virus hurts. It makes me worry for all the families who will still experience the loss of a loved one because our president refuses to take this pandemic seriously.”
As Trump diminishes the virus and boasts about drug development, he is also receiving top-notch medical care and treatments out of the reach of many Americans. The president had a taxpayer-funded helicopter take him to his own secluded ward of a world-class hospital, where a team of dedicated doctors exclusively monitored him around the clock, providing him pricey experimental treatments not yet available to the public free of charge.
“Don’t be afraid, says the guy with a team of a dozen doctors, access to experimental treatments that no one else gets, a four room hospital suite, who lives in a house with top doctors on site 24/7,” tweeted Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), noting reports showing that Trump paid little or no federal income tax in recent years. “All of which is provided to him for free because he refuses to pay taxes.”
Don't be afraid, says the guy with a team of a dozen doctors, access to experimental treatments that no one else gets, a four room hospital suite, who lives in a house with top doctors on site 24/7.
All of which is provided to him for free because he refuses to pay taxes. https://t.co/uGScoBTiTt — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) October 5, 2020
Meanwhile, everyday Americans face rising medical bills for COVID-19 treatment and hospital stays. Some people early in the pandemic could not even receive a coronavirus test unless they met certain criteria, let alone hospital admission with even stricter requirements. And with the president and Republicans pushing for the Supreme Court to repeal the Affordable Care Act, COVID-19 could become a preexisting condition not covered by insurance.
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Reporters asked White House physician Sean Conley, who is overseeing Trump’s care, about the president’s tweet at a news conference on Monday afternoon. Conley said he’s “not going to get into what the president says,” and noted that Trump was not “out of the woods yet” in his fight against the virus.
Trump released a video from Walter Reed on Sunday ― the same day Conley revealed the president’s blood oxygen levels have dropped below 95% at least twice ― claiming he’d learned a lot about the virus.
“I learned a lot about COVID. I learned it by really going to school,” he said. “This isn’t the ‘let’s read the books’ school. I get it. And I understand it. It’s a very interesting thing.”
But Trump either doesn’t understand the severity of the virus or doesn’t care that it has plagued the country and killed 210,000 people.
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“As a nurse in New York City, I watched as medical teams fought like hell to save patients from COVID-19. All too often, this deadly and ferocious virus won,” said Liza Billings, another member of the survivors’ network who lost her brother to the virus, in a statement.
“To see the president tell his followers not to fear COVID is a slap in the face to all of those who lost a loved one to COVID-19, as well as all of us who put our lives on the line to save others. It’s a callous and dangerous remark that will do nothing to stop this horrifying pandemic, and may even make it worse,” she added.
Trump has repeatedly tried to deflect responsibility during the pandemic. He blamed China and Democrats for the virus, called on states with lockdowns to be “liberated,” mocked the wearing of masks, promoted dangerous chemicals as miracle cures, publicly undercut his own medical advisers, failed to create a national testing strategy, forced states to make major decisions that should have been made at the federal level, and hardly played a role in negotiations over relief legislation.
But since contracting COVID-19, the president has only continued promoting dangerous behavior and putting people’s lives at risk. Heading back to the White House while he’s still sick and telling the American public not to be afraid of the coronavirus are just the latest examples of that.
On Sunday, immediately after bragging about how well he understood the virus, Trump surprised his supporters outside Walter Reed by taking a drive in the presidential motorcade to thank them for their well-wishes ― putting Secret Service agents and drivers at risk of contracting the virus.
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“Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘drive-by’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days,” tweeted Dr. James Phillips, an attending physician at Walter Reed. “They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity.”
The president is effectively a superspreader, as contact tracing pins clusters of recent positive cases on events that Trump attended ― including the Sept. 26 Supreme Court nomination ceremony at the Rose Garden, the first presidential debate on Tuesday, a private fundraiser and campaign rally in Minnesota on Wednesday and a large fundraiser at Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey on Thursday. Swaths of Republicans continue to reveal that they’ve tested positive for the virus after ignoring safety protocols when meeting with Trump’s inner circle.
Coronavirus in Chief, Trump takes off mask as he returns to WH. pic.twitter.com/ukCyhU1Nv0 — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) October 5, 2020
Meanwhile, the coronavirus appears to be spreading through the White House. Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced on Monday that she had contracted the virus, as have two of her deputies. According to The New York Times, two staff members who worked for the White House housekeeping department also tested positive and were told to use “discretion” in discussing their cases.
Trump’s return to the White House while still very sick will only make the country’s COVID-19 numbers climb, and we should be very afraid of it.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--Appeals Court Rules Trump Administration Can't Hold Immigrant Children In Hotels

ASSOCIATED PRESS In this July 2020 file photo , a Hampton Inn is shown in Phoenix .
The Trump administration is detaining immigrant children in hotels before deporting them to their home countries .
( AP Photo/Matt York , File ) HOUSTON ( AP ) — An appeals court refused Sunday to allow the Trump administration to resume detaining immigrant children in hotel rooms before expelling them under rules adopted during the coronavirus pandemic .
Three judges on the 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals left in place a lower court ’ s order that requires the U.S. to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detain children unaccompanied by a parent .
The judges denied the U.S. government ’ s request for a stay of that order .
Border agents since March have placed at least 577 unaccompanied children in hotel rooms before expelling them from the country without a chance to request asylum or other immigration protections .
The Trump administration argues it has to expel most people crossing the border due to public health considerations .
Advocates for immigrants accuse the administration of using the coronavirus as a pretext to restrict immigration .
“ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed once again to ensure the basic safety of children , ” said Leecia Welch , an attorney with the National Center for Youth Law .
The appeals court judges were sharply critical of the administration during oral arguments , questioning why children in the hotels were not guaranteed access to lawyers and why the government wasn ’ t using existing youth shelters that have thousands of empty beds .
Those shelters offer legal services as required under a longstanding court settlement known as the Flores agreement .
“ Sometimes , you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re not obliged to might be a good idea , ” said Judge William A. Fletcher , an appointee of President Bill Clinton .
Fletcher added it was “ an argument you may be about to lose as to whether or not the Flores agreement applies.
” “ The idea is turn away as quickly as possible , at the border , potential vectors of infection , ” he said , adding that a variety of factors led to some children being detained for weeks .
U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detention violated “ fundamental humanitarian protections ” and said the Trump administration had not demonstrated that using hotels would prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
Under the Flores agreement and federal anti-trafficking law , most unaccompanied immigrant children who cross the border , with or without authorization , are supposed to be transferred to government shelters .
The Trump administration has set aside that practice during the pandemic .
Instead , it has hired contractors to confine children and families to hotel rooms until they can be expelled .
Lawyers who work with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know who is being detained and where .
“ The problem is we ’ re seeing children held for far longer than a few days , in some cases up to a month , in a hotel , ” said Carlos Holguin , a lawyer for the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law who opposed the Justice Department ’ s position .
In total , the U.S. has expelled at least 147,000 people since March , including 8,800 children unaccompanied by a parent , according to government figures filed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detained in hotels .
Many of those people have been directly sent back across the U.S.-Mexico border .
Other people , including unaccompanied children , are held for days or weeks in Border Patrol facilities unequipped for long-term detention before they are taken to deportation flights .

In this July 2020 file photo, a Hampton Inn is shown in Phoenix. The Trump administration is detaining immigrant children in hotels before deporting them to their home countries. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON (AP) — An appeals court refused Sunday to allow the Trump administration to resume detaining immigrant children in hotel rooms before expelling them under rules adopted during the coronavirus pandemic.
Three judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals left in place a lower court’s order that requires the U.S. to stop using hotels in most situations to detain children unaccompanied by a parent. The judges denied the U.S. government’s request for a stay of that order.
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Border agents since March have placed at least 577 unaccompanied children in hotel rooms before expelling them from the country without a chance to request asylum or other immigration protections. The Trump administration argues it has to expel most people crossing the border due to public health considerations. Advocates for immigrants accuse the administration of using the coronavirus as a pretext to restrict immigration.
“It is a sad fact that court involvement was needed once again to ensure the basic safety of children,” said Leecia Welch, an attorney with the National Center for Youth Law.
The appeals court judges were sharply critical of the administration during oral arguments, questioning why children in the hotels were not guaranteed access to lawyers and why the government wasn’t using existing youth shelters that have thousands of empty beds. Those shelters offer legal services as required under a longstanding court settlement known as the Flores agreement.
A spokeswoman for the Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.
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Justice Department lawyer Scott Stewart argued that the Flores agreement doesn’t apply to children detained in hotels before expulsion.
“Sometimes, you know, letting people have lawyers even if you’re not obliged to might be a good idea,” said Judge William A. Fletcher, an appointee of President Bill Clinton. Fletcher added it was “an argument you may be about to lose as to whether or not the Flores agreement applies.”
Stewart said the government’s policy of expelling unaccompanied children was part of a “comprehensive, systematic approach” to fight the coronavirus.
“The idea is turn away as quickly as possible, at the border, potential vectors of infection,” he said, adding that a variety of factors led to some children being detained for weeks.
U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee’s Sept. 4 order said hotel detention violated “fundamental humanitarian protections” and said the Trump administration had not demonstrated that using hotels would prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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Under the Flores agreement and federal anti-trafficking law, most unaccompanied immigrant children who cross the border, with or without authorization, are supposed to be transferred to government shelters.
The Trump administration has set aside that practice during the pandemic. Instead, it has hired contractors to confine children and families to hotel rooms until they can be expelled. Lawyers who work with immigrant children have said they often don’t know who is being detained and where.
“The problem is we’re seeing children held for far longer than a few days, in some cases up to a month, in a hotel,” said Carlos Holguin, a lawyer for the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law who opposed the Justice Department’s position.
In total, the U.S. has expelled at least 147,000 people since March, including 8,800 children unaccompanied by a parent, according to government figures filed in court in September. Most are not detained in hotels. Many of those people have been directly sent back across the U.S.-Mexico border. Other people, including unaccompanied children, are held for days or weeks in Border Patrol facilities unequipped for long-term detention before they are taken to deportation flights.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--Led Zeppelin Wins Copyright Battle Over 'Stairway To Heaven'

The copyright battle over the iconic riff to “ Stairway to Heaven ” will not lead to the steps of @ @ @ @ @ court on Monday declined to take up a long-running legal fight over whether Led Zeppelin @ @ @ @ @ Taurus , ” a 1968 instrumental by the 1960s band Spirit , to create the @ @ @ @ @ rock ballad .
The justices didn ’ t offer any explanation for declining to review @ @ @ @ @ The Hollywood Reporter .
Variety reports the decision ended six years of litigation .
The @ @ @ @ @ not to hear the case leaves in place a decision from March in which the @ @ @ @ @ the 9th Circuit upheld a jury verdict finding “ Stairway ” did not infringe on @ @ @ @ @ to Variety .
The suit was filed in 2014 by the estate of Spirit guitarist @ @ @ @ @ in 1997 .

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The copyright battle over the iconic riff to “Stairway to Heaven” will not lead to the steps of the Supreme Court.
The court on Monday declined to take up a long-running legal fight over whether Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page plagiarized “Taurus,” a 1968 instrumental by the 1960s band Spirit, to create the riff for the classic 1971 rock ballad.
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The justices didn’t offer any explanation for declining to review the case, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Variety reports the decision ended six years of litigation.
The high court’s decision not to hear the case leaves in place a decision from March in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit upheld a jury verdict finding “Stairway” did not infringe on “Taurus,” according to Variety.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--California Wildfires Burn More Than 4 Million Acres This Year, Doubling Previous Record

NAPA , Calif. ( Reuters ) - Wildfires in California have burned more than 4 million acres ( 1.6 million hectares ) in 2020 , over twice the previous record for any year and an area larger than Connecticut , the state ’ s fire agency reported on Sunday .
The most-populous U.S. state has suffered five of its six largest wildfires in history this year as heat waves and dry-lightning sieges coincided with drier conditions that climate scientists blame on global warming .
At least 31 people have died in this year ’ s fires and over 8,454 homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cal Fire said in a statement .
California ’ s previous record burn area was nearly 2 million acres in 2018 when the state had its most deadly and destructive wildfire that killed at least 85 civilians and destroyed nearly 19,000 structures in and around the mountain town of Paradise .
“ There ’ s no words to describe what is taking place and what continues to take place , ” said Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean .
“ It goes to show how dry the state is and how volatile the vegetation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 01 : Firefighters perform structure protection against the Glass Fire in Napa County along CA-29 just past Old Lawley Toll Rd on Thursday , Oct. 1 , 2020 in Calistoga , CA .
California suffered a prolonged drought from around 2010 to 2017 , causing diseases and insect infestations that killed millions of trees .
That followed a century of fire suppression that also built up brush and dead trees , turning some forests into tinderboxes .
City real-estate prices and second-home construction have seen the growth of communities in peripheral , wildland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the world-famous wine country of Napa County , the so-called Glass Fire has damaged over a dozen wineries .
Vineyards worked through the night on Saturday to pick grape varieties that can resist smoke damage .
Some crops heavily exposed to smoke may be a write-off .
Firefighters were expected to get a break from cooler temperatures in Northern California this week , with a chance of rain , Cal Fire said .

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NAPA, Calif. (Reuters) - Wildfires in California have burned more than 4 million acres (1.6 million hectares) in 2020, over twice the previous record for any year and an area larger than Connecticut, the state’s fire agency reported on Sunday.
The most-populous U.S. state has suffered five of its six largest wildfires in history this year as heat waves and dry-lightning sieges coincided with drier conditions that climate scientists blame on global warming.
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At least 31 people have died in this year’s fires and over 8,454 homes and other structures have been destroyed, Cal Fire said in a statement.
California’s previous record burn area was nearly 2 million acres in 2018 when the state had its most deadly and destructive wildfire that killed at least 85 civilians and destroyed nearly 19,000 structures in and around the mountain town of Paradise.
“There’s no words to describe what is taking place and what continues to take place,” said Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean. “It goes to show how dry the state is and how volatile the vegetation is.”
CALISTOGA, CA - OCTOBER 01: Firefighters perform structure protection against the Glass Fire in Napa County along CA-29 just past Old Lawley Toll Rd on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020 in Calistoga, CA. Kent Nishimura via Getty Images
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California suffered a prolonged drought from around 2010 to 2017, causing diseases and insect infestations that killed millions of trees. That followed a century of fire suppression that also built up brush and dead trees, turning some forests into tinderboxes.
City real-estate prices and second-home construction have seen the growth of communities in peripheral, wildland areas that have naturally burned for millennia.
In the world-famous wine country of Napa County, the so-called Glass Fire has damaged over a dozen wineries. Vineyards worked through the night on Saturday to pick grape varieties that can resist smoke damage. Some crops heavily exposed to smoke may be a write-off.
Firefighters were expected to get a break from cooler temperatures in Northern California this week, with a chance of rain, Cal Fire said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Joe Biden: Trump Just 'Turned His Back' On Americans Who Need Coronavirus Aid

Joe Biden issued a scathing condemnation of President Donald Trump ’ s announcement Tuesday that he ’ s giving up on congressional negotiations over another COVID-19 stimulus package until after the presidential election .
“ Make no mistake : if you are out of work , if your business is closed , if your child ’ s school is shut down , if you are seeing layoffs in your community , Donald Trump decided today that none of that — none of it — matters to him , ” the Democratic presidential nominee said in a statement .
Hours before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he was ending negotiations between Democrats and Republicans over the stimulus bill , delaying critical aid to millions of Americans facing financial hardship during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when , immediately after I win , we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business , ” the president wrote .
In doing so , Biden charged , the president is abandoning Americans when they need his support most .
He turned his back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep their doors open .
He turned his back on the firefighters and police officers and other first responders who depend on state and local government budgets that are strained to the breaking point .
He turned his back on teachers and school children — standing in the way of support to get the PPE and cleaning supplies and ventilation needed to safely reopen schools .
He turned his back on every single worker whose job hasn ’ t come back yet ― and who are left to wonder when they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He turned his back on families struggling to pay rent , put food on their table , and take care of their kids .
Disagreements over the stimulus package have largely revolved around financial aid to cities and states , liability protections for businesses and the overall cost of the package .
The Democrat-controlled House passed a bill last week that , had the Republican-controlled Senate agreed to it , would have spent $ 2.2 trillion to extend the Paycheck Protection Program , restore weekly $ 600 federal unemployment payments through January , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checks , and bolster some of the sectors of the economy that are struggling most .
That was a significant move from the $ 3.4 trillion that House Democrats had originally sought in the bill .
But Trump and Senate Republicans have been unwilling to go above the $ 1.6 trillion they put across the table .
“ Not once did he bring Republicans and Democrats together in the Oval Office , on the phone , or by Zoom , to get a relief package that would help working people and small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
“ Not once in the months since the House passed a relief package in May has he stepped up to lead .
”

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Joe Biden issued a scathing condemnation of President Donald Trump’s announcement Tuesday that he’s giving up on congressional negotiations over another COVID-19 stimulus package until after the presidential election.
“Make no mistake: if you are out of work, if your business is closed, if your child’s school is shut down, if you are seeing layoffs in your community, Donald Trump decided today that none of that — none of it — matters to him,” the Democratic presidential nominee said in a statement.
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Hours before Biden’s remarks, Trump tweeted that he was ending negotiations between Democrats and Republicans over the stimulus bill, delaying critical aid to millions of Americans facing financial hardship during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business,” the president wrote.
In doing so, Biden charged, the president is abandoning Americans when they need his support most.
According to the former vice president’s statement:
He turned his back on the small businesses that are struggling to keep their doors open. He turned his back on the firefighters and police officers and other first responders who depend on state and local government budgets that are strained to the breaking point. He turned his back on teachers and school children — standing in the way of support to get the PPE and cleaning supplies and ventilation needed to safely reopen schools. He turned his back on every single worker whose job hasn’t come back yet ― and who are left to wonder when they’ll get the break they deserve. He turned his back on families struggling to pay rent, put food on their table, and take care of their kids.
Disagreements over the stimulus package have largely revolved around financial aid to cities and states, liability protections for businesses and the overall cost of the package. The Democrat-controlled House passed a bill last week that, had the Republican-controlled Senate agreed to it, would have spent $2.2 trillion to extend the Paycheck Protection Program, restore weekly $600 federal unemployment payments through January, provide another round of $1,200 stimulus checks, and bolster some of the sectors of the economy that are struggling most.
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That was a significant move from the $3.4 trillion that House Democrats had originally sought in the bill. But Trump and Senate Republicans have been unwilling to go above the $1.6 trillion they put across the table.
Biden accused Trump of doing little to reach a deal with Democrats.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--CDC: Mike Pence Isn't A ‘Close Contact’ Of Trump, 'Safe' To Participate In Debate

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it does not consider Vice President Mike Pence a “ close contact ” of President Donald Trump and that he can safely participate in Wednesday ’ s vice presidential debate .
In a memo released Tuesday , CDC Director Robert Redfield wrote that after consultation with White House physician Jesse Schonau and given Schonau ’ s description of Pence ’ s movements , “ the Vice President is not a close contact of any known person with COVID-19 , including the President.
” The memo goes on to define “ close contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from two days before illness onset.
” The CDC director added that “ from a public health standpoint , ” it is “ safe ” for Pence to attend the vice presidential debate on Wednesday .
( Schonau reported again Tuesday that Pence tested negative for COVID-19 . )
Pence was sitting in the front row of the Sept. 26 Rose Garden event to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
Several attendees later tested positive for the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and two Republican senators .
Pence was not wearing a mask , nor were many other attendees , including Trump .
Pence was also photographed maskless and near Trump at a Sept. 28 press conference on the coronavirus at the White House Rose Garden .
Donald Trump and Mike Pence arrive to speak on COVID-19 testing in the Rose Garden of the White House on Sept. 28 , 2020 .
Trump tested positive on Oct. 1 .
The CDC ’ s statement echoes Schonau ’ s statement on Friday , Oct. 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , was not a “ close contact ” of Trump or anyone else who ’ d tested positive and was “ free to go about his normal activities.
” Around two dozen people connected to the White House have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days , including press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and at least three of her communications staffers , former Gov .
Chris Christie of New Jersey , and most recently , Trump adviser Stephen Miller .
For the vice presidential debate on Wednesday , Pence ’ s team has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his side of the stage to prevent the spread of coronavirus , deeming it not “ necessary , ” according to CNN .
Harris plans to have a plexiglass barrier on her side , between herself and Pence .

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it does not consider Vice President Mike Pence a “close contact” of President Donald Trump and that he can safely participate in Wednesday’s vice presidential debate.
In a memo released Tuesday, CDC Director Robert Redfield wrote that after consultation with White House physician Jesse Schonau and given Schonau’s description of Pence’s movements, “the Vice President is not a close contact of any known person with COVID-19, including the President.”
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The memo goes on to define “close contact” as anyone who was “within six feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from two days before illness onset.”
The CDC director added that “from a public health standpoint,” it is “safe” for Pence to attend the vice presidential debate on Wednesday. (Schonau reported again Tuesday that Pence tested negative for COVID-19.)
Pence was sitting in the front row of the Sept. 26 Rose Garden event to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Several attendees later tested positive for the coronavirus — including Trump, first lady Melania Trump and two Republican senators. Pence was not wearing a mask, nor were many other attendees, including Trump.
Pence was also photographed maskless and near Trump at a Sept. 28 press conference on the coronavirus at the White House Rose Garden.
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Three days later on Oct. 1, Trump tested positive for COVID-19, per the White House.
Donald Trump and Mike Pence arrive to speak on COVID-19 testing in the Rose Garden of the White House on Sept. 28, 2020. Trump tested positive on Oct. 1. MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images
The CDC’s statement echoes Schonau’s statement on Friday, Oct. 2, saying Pence had tested negative for COVID-19, was not a “close contact” of Trump or anyone else who’d tested positive and was “free to go about his normal activities.”
Around two dozen people connected to the White House have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days, including press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and at least three of her communications staffers, former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, and most recently, Trump adviser Stephen Miller.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Trump Adviser Stephen Miller Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Stephen Miller , senior adviser to President Donald Trump , has tested positive for the coronavirus , he confirmed Tuesday .
He is the latest of several people in Trump ’ s inner circle who have been confirmed to have COVID-19 in the past week .
News of Miller ’ s positive test result comes a day after Trump , who also has the contagious disease , returned to the White House from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center .
Statement from Stephen Miller : “ Over the last 5 days I have been working remotely and self-isolating , testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I tested positive for COVID-19 and am in quarantine . ''
— Jim Acosta ( @ Acosta ) October 6 , 2020 Miller , one of the longest-serving members of the Trump administration , is among those who helped the president prepare for last week ’ s debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden .
No one wore masks at any of those debate prep meetings , according to former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie , who has also tested positive .
Miller ’ s wife , Kate Miller , the communications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had COVID-19 in May and reportedly tested negative for the virus Tuesday morning .
The outbreak appears to have spread beyond the White House .
The District of Columbia reported 105 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday , marking the highest case count since June 3 .
Despite the growing outbreak , a source familiar with the matter told The New York Times that the White House does not plan to do extensive contact tracing for people who attended a large celebration Sept. 26 at the White House Rose Garden for the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That event is believed to be the source of multiple infections .
Much about Trump ’ s condition remains shrouded in mystery .
Earlier Tuesday , White House physician Sean Conley said the president was doing “ extremely well ” but provided almost no other details .

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Stephen Miller, senior adviser to President Donald Trump, has tested positive for the coronavirus, he confirmed Tuesday.
He is the latest of several people in Trump’s inner circle who have been confirmed to have COVID-19 in the past week. News of Miller’s positive test result comes a day after Trump, who also has the contagious disease, returned to the White House from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
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Statement from Stephen Miller: “Over the last 5 days I have been working remotely and self-isolating, testing negative every day through yesterday. Today, I tested positive for COVID-19 and am in quarantine." — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) October 6, 2020
Miller, one of the longest-serving members of the Trump administration, is among those who helped the president prepare for last week’s debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden. No one wore masks at any of those debate prep meetings, according to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has also tested positive.
Miller’s wife, Kate Miller, the communications director for Vice President Mike Pence, had COVID-19 in May and reportedly tested negative for the virus Tuesday morning.
The outbreak appears to have spread beyond the White House. The District of Columbia reported 105 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, marking the highest case count since June 3.
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Despite the growing outbreak, a source familiar with the matter told The New York Times that the White House does not plan to do extensive contact tracing for people who attended a large celebration Sept. 26 at the White House Rose Garden for the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett. That event is believed to be the source of multiple infections.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--People Who Wear Mesh Face Masks Are Losing The COVID-19 Battle On Every Level

The barely there facial coverings are in the news this week after singer Lana Del Rey wore a bejeweled version to a Barnes & Noble poetry reading and fan meet-and-greet in Los Angeles on Friday .
( Naturally , there were plenty of “ Born To Die ” quips on Twitter . )
Del Rey , who wore a similarly sparkly , similarly ineffective mask on the cover of Interview magazine last month , was quickly called out by concerned followers on social media .
( Photos posted on Instagram and Twitter show the singer in close proximity to some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case , Del Rey is hardly the first to flout mask regulations by wearing a questionable face covering .
In recent months , everyday , non-Grammy-nominated people have thrown on mesh and crochet masks to protest safety regulations they say are government overreach .
On Etsy , more than 7,500 search results come up for mesh masks .
Many were originally marketed for events like raves but the reviews show that people are buying them to tiptoe around mask ordinances : “ Awesome product , appeases the mask police while allowing me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fancy while doing so lol , ” a review of a popular bejeweled mesh mask reads .
“ Respiratory droplets are tiny and can easily be released through the openings of the mesh , ” said Kirsten Hokeness , professor and chair of the department of science and technology at Bryant University and an expert in immunology , virology , microbiology and human health and disease .
“ The CDC recommends masks made of two or more layers covering your face and nose.
” Hokeness said that hearing about the mesh mask trend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events of this weekend : The United States ’ mask-averse president is infected with COVID-19 .
The virus is now tearing through the West Wing and Capitol and on top of that , we still have to deal with the attention-seeking antics of the “ personal freedom ” crowd .
“ It is infuriating to continue to see people either try to skirt the mask mandates by not wearing effective masks or not wearing masks at all as we still struggle to get this virus under control in this country , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House clearly indicates how quickly this virus can spread to individuals who are not wearing masks and are in close contact , ” Hokeness said .
( Many experts believe that Trump ’ s gathering in late September to celebrate the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court could be classified as a COVID-19 superspreader event . )
They may feel as if they ’ re “ owning the libs ” with their workaround , but they still have to go through all the minor discomfort of wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the actual benefits .
Whatever their beliefs , as the war over mask use wears on , Owens thinks the mask-resistors ’ behavior is sort of like that of children in a family with a lot of conflict .

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Looking for a face mask that skirts the face covering guidelines while simultaneously screaming “Pick me next!” to the coronavirus? Look no further than the mesh mask.
The barely there facial coverings are in the news this week after singer Lana Del Rey wore a bejeweled version to a Barnes & Noble poetry reading and fan meet-and-greet in Los Angeles on Friday. (Naturally, there were plenty of “Born To Die” quips on Twitter.)
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Del Rey, who wore a similarly sparkly, similarly ineffective mask on the cover of Interview magazine last month, was quickly called out by concerned followers on social media. (Photos posted on Instagram and Twitter show the singer in close proximity to some fans while taking selfies.)
“Girl that’s not a mask,” read one comment from her more than 17 million Instagram followers. “You make good music but poor decisions.”
“ILY BUT WEAR A PROPER MASK,” read another upvoted comment.
Other fans of the singer-cum-poet insisted that the mask featured an invisible lining for added protection but as Page Six noted, the Dolls Kill “Pure Finer Things” mask Del Rey appeared to be wearing includes no such barrier.
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Whatever the case, Del Rey is hardly the first to flout mask regulations by wearing a questionable face covering. In recent months, everyday, non-Grammy-nominated people have thrown on mesh and crochet masks to protest safety regulations they say are government overreach.
Some have filmed or photographed themselves successfully going into markets and stores, claiming that their demonstrations are proof that mask ordinances are for “compliance,” not safety.
While there are Counties requiring masks in public;
NO law requires a specific type or particulate rating of mask.
The general public are making their own masks including open mesh. No fines have been issued while wearing them in public.
This is about compliance, not safety. pic.twitter.com/dZnmHwcTeF — Futilz (@futilecauz) July 7, 2020
On Etsy, more than 7,500 search results come up for mesh masks. Many were originally marketed for events like raves but the reviews show that people are buying them to tiptoe around mask ordinances: “Awesome product, appeases the mask police while allowing me to breath [sic] and look fancy while doing so lol,” a review of a popular bejeweled mesh mask reads.
It goes without saying that these “masks” offer little ― if any ― protection against a virus that has killed more than 1 million people worldwide.
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“Respiratory droplets are tiny and can easily be released through the openings of the mesh,” said Kirsten Hokeness, professor and chair of the department of science and technology at Bryant University and an expert in immunology, virology, microbiology and human health and disease. “The CDC recommends masks made of two or more layers covering your face and nose.”
Hokeness said that hearing about the mesh mask trend is especially hard to swallow after the events of this weekend: The United States’ mask-averse president is infected with COVID-19. The virus is now tearing through the West Wing and Capitol and on top of that, we still have to deal with the attention-seeking antics of the “personal freedom” crowd.
Seven months into the pandemic, Hokeness, like many Americans, is suffering from anti-masker fatigue.
“It is infuriating to continue to see people either try to skirt the mask mandates by not wearing effective masks or not wearing masks at all as we still struggle to get this virus under control in this country,” she said.
“The coronavirus outbreak at the White House clearly indicates how quickly this virus can spread to individuals who are not wearing masks and are in close contact,” Hokeness said. (Many experts believe that Trump’s gathering in late September to celebrate the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court could be classified as a COVID-19 superspreader event.)
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Lana Del Rey wearing a face mask // a random Karen wearing a face mask pic.twitter.com/2qNeoPbBSw — LG⁹¹¹ 〄 (@EnigmaticGaga) October 2, 2020
As for people who wear mesh PPE, they’re losing the COVID-19 battle on every front. First, there’s the twofold health concerns: They magnify their risk of catching the virus themselves and risk spreading it.
What’s more, their political statement has holes it in (literally): Wouldn’t real rebellion mean refusing to conform to the rules and going entirely mask-free?
They may feel as if they’re “owning the libs” with their workaround, but they still have to go through all the minor discomfort of wearing a mask ― just without any of the actual benefits.
What they do gain is attention, said Shane G. Owens, a psychologist and the assistant director of campus mental health at Farmingdale State College in New York (SUNY).
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“This makes sense with celebrities because they live on attention,” he said. “The ‘regular Joe and Jane’ faux-mask-wearers are harder to understand.”
Still, the psychologist gave some thought to why you’d risk you and your family getting COVID-19 to spite the government.
“Some value independence over personal and public health,” he said. “Some people believe that masks are more dangerous than the disease. Others believe they’re part of a sinister plot to enslave us.”
Whatever their beliefs, as the war over mask use wears on, Owens thinks the mask-resistors’ behavior is sort of like that of children in a family with a lot of conflict.
“They’re trying desperately to get their parents’ attention and control the uncontrollable.”
They may end up attracting the wrong kind of attention, though: If you’re wearing a faux mask to protest government overreach into your life, you’re behaving in a way that begs for more government intrusion into your life, Owens said.
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“Wearing masks that draw more attention to you like these mesh ones is not an effective way to keep the government off your back,” he added.
In other words: If you hate the government-mandated mask guidelines, you’re really going to hate government contract tracers incessantly calling you once you test positive for COVID-19.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Experts Predict What This 'Lost Year' Will Really Do To Our Kids

What is this going to do to him ?
What impact will this bizarre academic year have on my child ?
And what about his classmates , or the millions of children around the country starting their school years behind computers and tablets — or who aren ’ t logged on at all ?
Of course , no one really knows , because this academic year is truly unprecedented .
Yet education and mental health experts are beginning to reckon with the long-term fallout of this school year that wasn ’ t .
HuffPost Parents spoke to several who offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year ” could portend for America ’ s children .
There will be significant learning loss .
One recent estimate suggests that children who are learning remotely and who receive pretty typical instruction will lose up to four months of learning by the time they resume in-person classes in January 2021 — if that , in fact , happens .
And children who are getting lower-quality remote instruction could lose up to 11 months of learning .
Children who aren ’ t engaged in remote education at all could lose up to 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bigger problem than ever before .
We ’ ll have an urgent need to figure out where exactly kids are .
All of the experts who spoke to HuffPost Parents for this story emphasized how critical it will be to have ways of assessing how much individual children have been affected by the pandemic in order to even think about getting them the help and support they need .
But there will be plenty of other children at risk of developing depression , anxiety and other mental health conditions .
“ These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have fewer economic resources to make ends meet , and have housing instability , ” Meyers said .
“ Others may be experiencing increased risk because family members have become physically ill or their parents have had a more serious psychological response to the pandemic.
” Kids who have had prior mental health issues will also be at higher risk .
“ There are strategies and techniques that can help kids catch up , but you have to first identify them , ” said Perkins .
“ Will we invest in teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 2021 , if they are back in the classroom , instead of having TWO children who need those interventions , they might have 20.
” Our new challenge : Helping kids love learning again .
“ This is going to impact their relationship with learning .
I do not think a lot of children will come out of this year loving it , ” Dashoush said .
Even children who are in the classroom are not getting a typical experience , given safety precautions that prevent them from touching and socializing as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and educators should be prepared for the likelihood that the COVID-19 pandemic won ’ t just result in learning loss ; it will result in the loss of the love of learning for many kids , even those who seem relatively engaged online .
( “ A child could be doing all the work , but not really learning anything new , ” she warned . )

monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images “In many cases, children will be more than a year behind. Others will be a few months. But I think we will see, universally, loss,” said one education expert.
Because I am the type of person and, particularly, the type of parent with a tendency to fret, I often fixate on a string of related thoughts as I watch my elder kiddo struggle through his remote learning classes.
What is this going to do to him? What impact will this bizarre academic year have on my child? And what about his classmates, or the millions of children around the country starting their school years behind computers and tablets — or who aren’t logged on at all?
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Of course, no one really knows, because this academic year is truly unprecedented. Yet education and mental health experts are beginning to reckon with the long-term fallout of this school year that wasn’t. HuffPost Parents spoke to several who offered some predictions about what this “lost year” could portend for America’s children.
There will be significant learning loss.
Experts agree that most kids will have fallen behind where they otherwise would have been, had schools not abruptly shuttered in March. The question now is: by how much?
One recent estimate suggests that children who are learning remotely and who receive pretty typical instruction will lose up to four months of learning by the time they resume in-person classes in January 2021 — if that, in fact, happens. And children who are getting lower-quality remote instruction could lose up to 11 months of learning. Children who aren’t engaged in remote education at all could lose up to 14 months of learning.
“In many cases, children will be more than a year behind,” warned Brian Perkins, an associate professor of practice in education leadership and director of the Summer Principals Academy at Columbia University’s Teachers College. “Others will be a few months. But I think we will see, universally, loss.”
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He stressed that this is not a criticism of children, parents or teachers who are doing their best to work through an impossible situation. “It’s more of a ‘let’s face the reality,’” Perkins said.
Inequality will be a bigger problem than ever before.
Experts who work in health and education tend to believe that most of the equity problems facing children, families and educators during the COVID-19 pandemic have always been there. Now, they are magnified.
“The gaps that have always existed are just going to be wider,” said Nermeen Dashoush, an early childhood education professor at Boston University and chief curriculum officer at MarcoPolo Learning.
“We are going to see a wider gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots'.” - Brian Perkins, Columbia University's Teachers College
Students in the highest-poverty districts in the country are much more likely to have begun this academic year remotely, but children in lower-income households are much more likely to lack the tools they need, like reliable high-speed internet. Experts are predicting a surge in high school dropouts.
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Meanwhile, children whose parents can afford it may have opted to send them to private schools, to create learning pods or to supplement whatever school their children are getting with tutors and extracurriculars.
“We are going to see a wider gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots,’” Perkins said.
We’ll have an urgent need to figure out where exactly kids are.
All of the experts who spoke to HuffPost Parents for this story emphasized how critical it will be to have ways of assessing how much individual children have been affected by the pandemic in order to even think about getting them the help and support they need.
“Children whose families are physically healthy, economically secure, whose parents are available and supportive, and who can safely and consistently receive a quality education may experience short-term emotional distress,” said Steven Meyers, a professor of psychology at Roosevelt University in Illinois.
But there will be plenty of other children at risk of developing depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions. “These children have families who have lost jobs, have fewer economic resources to make ends meet, and have housing instability,” Meyers said. “Others may be experiencing increased risk because family members have become physically ill or their parents have had a more serious psychological response to the pandemic.” Kids who have had prior mental health issues will also be at higher risk.
The same goes for academics: Again, some children will have experienced relatively minimal learning loss by the time schools return. Others will be a year-plus behind.
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“There are strategies and techniques that can help kids catch up, but you have to first identify them,” said Perkins. “Will we invest in teachers so they will know how? In September 2021, if they are back in the classroom, instead of having TWO children who need those interventions, they might have 20.”
Perkins said he fears that teachers will not be given the time, support or training they need to manage that scenario. And parents and experts, from pediatricians to counselors, will also have to get involved.
“The complexity and scale of monitoring and assisting youth [will] require services that go beyond business as usual,” Meyers said.
fizkes via Getty Images Experts warn we should be planning not just for learning loss, but the possibility that children will have lost their zeal for learning as well.
Our new challenge: Helping kids love learning again.
There is plenty to suggest that children don’t particularly like remote learning. Zoom fatigue is rampant. Two-thirds of teachers say their students are less engaged with remote learning.
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“This is going to impact their relationship with learning. I do not think a lot of children will come out of this year loving it,” Dashoush said. Even children who are in the classroom are not getting a typical experience, given safety precautions that prevent them from touching and socializing as they would naturally.
Dashoush believes parents and educators should be prepared for the likelihood that the COVID-19 pandemic won’t just result in learning loss; it will result in the loss of the love of learning for many kids, even those who seem relatively engaged online. (“A child could be doing all the work, but not really learning anything new,” she warned.)
And learning that love of — and zeal for — learning matters, not simply because we’d like kids to enjoy the thing they spend six and a half hours a day doing, but also because enjoyment and achievement are clearly linked.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--US Surgeon General Jerome Adams Cited For Being In Closed Hawaii Park

HONOLULU ( AP ) — The U.S. surgeon general was cited for being in a closed Hawaii park in August while in the islands helping with surge testing amid a spike in coronavirus cases , according to a criminal complaint filed in court .
A Honolulu police officer cited Jerome Adams after seeing him with two men “ looking at the view taking pictures , ” at Kualoa Regional Park on Oahu ’ s northeastern coast , the citation said .
The park in a rural area offers a picturesque view of Mokolii island , known as Chinaman ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the officer he was visiting Hawaii to work with the governor for COVID-19 and didn ’ t know parks were closed .
At the time , Oahu parks were closed by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell in an attempt to prevent crowds from gathering .
A phone number Adams gave the officer is the same number Adams listed on an email to the Hawaii attorney general ’ s office seeking an exemption for Hawaii ’ s quarantine on arriving travelers .
Representatives for Caldwell and Hawaii Gov .
David Ige didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A spokesman for Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors says she wasn ’ t aware he had been cited .
Court records show that Dennis Anderson-Villaluz was also cited .
Adams listed him as his aide in his exemption request .
An attempt to reach Anderson-Villaluz through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services wasn ’ t immediately successful .
A few days after the citation , Adams appeared with Caldwell at a news conference announcing a partnership between the city and federal government for surge testing .
“ I ’ m proud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m proud of every single one of you who has sacrificed over the past several months , ” he said , standing in a white military uniform .
“ And to the people who are lapsing a little bit , I want you to understand that a little bit of fun right now can result in shutdowns further on down the road .
It ’ s important that we all do the right things right now , even if we don ’ t feel we are personally at risk.
” According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He wore a mask at news conferences with the mayor .
“ Seriously people — STOP BUYING MASKS !
” Adams tweeted on Feb. 29 .
Officials later recommended that people wear face coverings in public and around people who don ’ t live in their household , based on a review of the latest evidence .

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HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. surgeon general was cited for being in a closed Hawaii park in August while in the islands helping with surge testing amid a spike in coronavirus cases, according to a criminal complaint filed in court.
A Honolulu police officer cited Jerome Adams after seeing him with two men “looking at the view taking pictures,” at Kualoa Regional Park on Oahu’s northeastern coast, the citation said. The park in a rural area offers a picturesque view of Mokolii island, known as Chinaman’s Hat for its cone shape.
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Adams told the officer he was visiting Hawaii to work with the governor for COVID-19 and didn’t know parks were closed.
At the time, Oahu parks were closed by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell in an attempt to prevent crowds from gathering.
A phone number Adams gave the officer is the same number Adams listed on an email to the Hawaii attorney general’s office seeking an exemption for Hawaii’s quarantine on arriving travelers.
His office didn’t immediately comment on the citation Tuesday. Court records show a remote hearing is scheduled for Oct. 21.
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Representatives for Caldwell and Hawaii Gov. David Ige didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors says she wasn’t aware he had been cited.
Court records show that Dennis Anderson-Villaluz was also cited. Adams listed him as his aide in his exemption request. An attempt to reach Anderson-Villaluz through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services wasn’t immediately successful.
A few days after the citation, Adams appeared with Caldwell at a news conference announcing a partnership between the city and federal government for surge testing.
“I’m proud of you, Hawaii. I’m proud of every single one of you who has sacrificed over the past several months,” he said, standing in a white military uniform. “And to the people who are lapsing a little bit, I want you to understand that a little bit of fun right now can result in shutdowns further on down the road. It’s important that we all do the right things right now, even if we don’t feel we are personally at risk.”
According to the complaint, Adams put a mask on. He wore a mask at news conferences with the mayor.
“Seriously people — STOP BUYING MASKS!” Adams tweeted on Feb. 29. Officials later recommended that people wear face coverings in public and around people who don’t live in their household, based on a review of the latest evidence.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Nick Cordero’s Grieving Widow Slams Trump’s COVID Tweet: ‘It’s A Slap In The Face’

The widow of Broadway star Nick Cordero , who died at age 41 after a 95-day battle with the coronavirus , shared several emotional posts on Instagram Monday after reading the president ’ s remarks about his own COVID-19 diagnosis .
Trump had tweeted Monday that Americans shouldn ’ t “ be afraid ” of COVID-19 after he left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center despite still being infected with the virus .
“ Don ’ t let it dominate your life , ” he wrote .
“ We have developed , under the Trump Administration , some really great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than I did 20 years ago !
” The tweet , consistent with Trump ’ s constant downplaying of the virus , implied that those who die of COVID-19 are weak and suggested that Americans should not fear a virus that has killed over 210,000 people in the United States under his watch .
“ I ’ m honestly not a very political person , but this is really kind of hard to ignore , ” Kloots said on Instagram Stories in response to the president ’ s remark .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m honestly frozen .
I can ’ t even move .
I couldn ’ t believe what I read.
” “ Not everyone ’ s lucky enough to walk out of the hospital after two days , ” continued Kloots , who is now parenting her 1-year-old son Elvis by herself .
“ We are afraid , we are .
I still am .
I think about if I got it , if I got as sick as Nick , little Elvis , he doesn ’ t have his mom anymore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Nick didn ’ t let it .
It wasn ’ t a choice , ” she said as she fought back tears in another Instagram story .
“ It dominated his life , it dominated my life , it dominated our family ’ s lives for 95 days and because he didn ’ t make it , it will forever affect my life .
Even if he would have survived , it would have forever affected and changed our lives.
” Kloots concluded her plea on Instagram Stories with some harsh words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic and his job as commander in chief .
“ It ’ s beyond hurtful .
Have some empathy .
Why are you bragging ?
” she asked .
“ To act like this disease is nothing and you got right over it .
I ’ m so happy that you did .
Thank God you did .
But guess what ?
There are a lot of people that didn ’ t. ” “ It ’ s been three months today since you ’ ve passed , ” she captioned the photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit tough for me .
Not a day goes by that you aren ’ t thought about and missed .
”

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The widow of Broadway star Nick Cordero, who died at age 41 after a 95-day battle with the coronavirus, shared several emotional posts on Instagram Monday after reading the president’s remarks about his own COVID-19 diagnosis.
Trump had tweeted Monday that Americans shouldn’t “be afraid” of COVID-19 after he left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center despite still being infected with the virus. “Don’t let it dominate your life,” he wrote. “We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”
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The tweet, consistent with Trump’s constant downplaying of the virus, implied that those who die of COVID-19 are weak and suggested that Americans should not fear a virus that has killed over 210,000 people in the United States under his watch.
“I’m honestly not a very political person, but this is really kind of hard to ignore,” Kloots said on Instagram Stories in response to the president’s remark. “I’m sitting here in my house and I’m honestly frozen. I can’t even move. I couldn’t believe what I read.”
Amanda Kloots gives an impassioned speech about the coronavirus on Instagram Stories while trying to hold back tears. Screenshot Amanda Kloots/Instagram
“Not everyone’s lucky enough to walk out of the hospital after two days,” continued Kloots, who is now parenting her 1-year-old son Elvis by herself. “We are afraid, we are. I still am. I think about if I got it, if I got as sick as Nick, little Elvis, he doesn’t have his mom anymore. So I’m afraid.”
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Kloots also took issue with Trump’s advice that Americans not let the global pandemic “dominate” their lives.
“Nick didn’t let it. It wasn’t a choice,” she said as she fought back tears in another Instagram story. “It dominated his life, it dominated my life, it dominated our family’s lives for 95 days and because he didn’t make it, it will forever affect my life. Even if he would have survived, it would have forever affected and changed our lives.”
Kloots concluded her plea on Instagram Stories with some harsh words about the president’s attitude toward the pandemic and his job as commander in chief.
“It’s beyond hurtful. Have some empathy. Why are you bragging?” she asked. “To act like this disease is nothing and you got right over it. I’m so happy that you did. Thank God you did. But guess what? There are a lot of people that didn’t.”
Kloots also posted numerous images of Trump’s tweet to her Instagram Stories, calling his words a “slap in the face.”
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“No decent human” would publish what Trump tweeted, Kloots said in one image.
“It’s a slap in the face,” Kloots wrote. Screenshot Amanda Kloots/Instagram
She also endorsed Joe Biden for president.
Kloots made her presidential pick public. Screenshot Amanda Kloots/Instagram
Earlier on Monday, Kloots posted a photo of herself and Cordero to mark the three-month anniversary of his death.
“It’s been three months today since you’ve passed,” she captioned the photo. “The 5ths will always be a bit tough for me. Not a day goes by that you aren’t thought about and missed.”
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She added to her followers:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Pandemic Survivors Call Trump's COVID-19 Tweets  'An Embarrassment'

SEATTLE ( AP ) — Dizzy with a soaring fever and unable to breathe , Scott Sedlacek had one thing going for him : He was among the first people to be treated for COVID-19 at Seattle ’ s Swedish Medical Center , and the doctors and nurses were able to give him plenty of attention .
The 64-year-old recovered after being treated with a bronchial nebulizer in March , but the ensuing months have done little to dull the trauma of his illness .
Hearing of President Donald Trump ’ s advice by tweet and video on Monday not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the president ’ s insistence on riding in a motorcade outside Walter Reed Medical Center and returning to the White House while still infectious — enraged him .
“ I ’ m so glad that he appears to be doing well , that he has doctors who can give him experimental drugs that aren ’ t available to the masses , ” Sedlacek said .
“ For the rest of us , who are trying to protect ourselves , that behavior is an embarrassment.
” COVID-19 has infected about 7.5 million Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions more unemployed , including Sedlacek .
The U.S. has less than 5 % of the globe ’ s population but more than 20 % of the reported deaths .
Yet the world ’ s highest-profile coronavirus patient tweeted on Monday , as he was due to be released from the hospital following a three-day stay : “ Don ’ t be afraid of Covid .
Don ’ t let it dominate your life .
We have developed , under the Trump Administration , some really great drugs & knowledge .
I feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” The advice fit in with Trump ’ s downplaying of the virus , his ridiculing of those who wear masks to protect themselves and others , and his insistence on holding rallies and White House events in contravention of federal guidelines .
But emergency room doctors , public health experts , survivors of the disease and those who have lost loved ones were nevertheless aghast , saying his cavalier words were especially dangerous at a time when infections are on the rise in many places .
“ The loss of my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life in every way for all of my days , ” Papaj said , adding this about Trump : “ He does not care about any of us — he ’ s feeling good.
” The county is a farming region along the Mexican border that , at one point , had California ’ s highest infection rate .
Its 180,000 residents are largely Latino and low-income , groups that have suffered disproportionately from the virus .
Cases overwhelmed its two hospitals in May .
“ The president has access to the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a helicopter to transport him to the hospital as needed , ” Dr. Janet Baseman , an epidemiologist at the University of Washington ’ s School of Public Health , wrote in an email .
“ The rest of us who don ’ t have such ready access to care should continue to worry about covid , which has killed a million people around the world in just a handful of months.
” To Carla Dundes , whose mother died of the coronavirus in a nursing home in April , the dichotomy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone and a powerful man , surrounded by the best medical care , trying to use the virus to his benefit .
“ He was deliberately careless but my mom was helpless , ” said Dundes , a retired 66-year-old from Mount Lebanon , Pennsylvania .
“ To have him try to spin this as if he ’ s been heroic , that ’ s just shameful and I think it ’ s heartless.
” “ I ’ m not saying the coronavirus isn ’ t real .
I ’ m not saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ I believe tuberculosis could be called a pandemic when it kills a person every 21 seconds , but we haven ’ t shut down the entire world .
I just find it interesting that we are taking this particular pandemic and shutting down economies.
” Candy Boyd , the owner of Boyd Funeral Home in Los Angeles , which serves many Black families , said Trump ’ s comments were infuriating and an “ example of him not living in reality.
” The funeral home receives fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spring , when it was several a day , but people continue to die , she said .

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SEATTLE (AP) — Dizzy with a soaring fever and unable to breathe, Scott Sedlacek had one thing going for him: He was among the first people to be treated for COVID-19 at Seattle’s Swedish Medical Center, and the doctors and nurses were able to give him plenty of attention.
The 64-year-old recovered after being treated with a bronchial nebulizer in March, but the ensuing months have done little to dull the trauma of his illness. Hearing of President Donald Trump’s advice by tweet and video on Monday not to fear the disease — as well as the president’s insistence on riding in a motorcade outside Walter Reed Medical Center and returning to the White House while still infectious — enraged him.
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“I’m so glad that he appears to be doing well, that he has doctors who can give him experimental drugs that aren’t available to the masses,” Sedlacek said. “For the rest of us, who are trying to protect ourselves, that behavior is an embarrassment.”
COVID-19 has infected about 7.5 million Americans, leaving more than 210,000 dead and millions more unemployed, including Sedlacek. The U.S. has less than 5% of the globe’s population but more than 20% of the reported deaths.
Yet the world’s highest-profile coronavirus patient tweeted on Monday, as he was due to be released from the hospital following a three-day stay: “Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”
He reiterated the message in a video Monday night, saying “Be careful,” but “don’t let it dominate you.”
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“You’re going to beat it,” he said. “We have the best medical equipment, we have the best medicines.”
The advice fit in with Trump’s downplaying of the virus, his ridiculing of those who wear masks to protect themselves and others, and his insistence on holding rallies and White House events in contravention of federal guidelines. But emergency room doctors, public health experts, survivors of the disease and those who have lost loved ones were nevertheless aghast, saying his cavalier words were especially dangerous at a time when infections are on the rise in many places.
Marc Papaj, a Seneca Nation member who lives in Orchard Park, New York, lost his mother, grandmother and aunt to COVID-19. He was finding it tough to follow the president’s advice not to let the virus “dominate your life.”
“The loss of my dearest family members will forever dominate my life in every way for all of my days,” Papaj said, adding this about Trump: “He does not care about any of us — he’s feeling good.”
Dr. Tien Vo, who has administered more than 40,000 coronavirus tests at his clinics in California’s Imperial County, had this to say: “Oh, my Lord. That’s a very bad recommendation from the president.”
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The county is a farming region along the Mexican border that, at one point, had California’s highest infection rate. Its 180,000 residents are largely Latino and low-income, groups that have suffered disproportionately from the virus. Cases overwhelmed its two hospitals in May.
“The president has access to the best medical care in the world, along with a helicopter to transport him to the hospital as needed,” Dr. Janet Baseman, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington’s School of Public Health, wrote in an email. “The rest of us who don’t have such ready access to care should continue to worry about covid, which has killed a million people around the world in just a handful of months.”
To Carla Dundes, whose mother died of the coronavirus in a nursing home in April, the dichotomy was striking between a 94-year-old dying all alone and a powerful man, surrounded by the best medical care, trying to use the virus to his benefit.
“He was deliberately careless but my mom was helpless,” said Dundes, a retired 66-year-old from Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania. “To have him try to spin this as if he’s been heroic, that’s just shameful and I think it’s heartless.”
Some of Trump’s supporters said they wouldn’t be swayed by the White House outbreak: Wearing a mask is a choice, and to mandate its use limits freedom, said Melissa Blundo, chairwoman of the “No Mask Nevada” PAC.
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“I’m not saying the coronavirus isn’t real. I’m not saying that it isn’t a pandemic,” she said. “I believe tuberculosis could be called a pandemic when it kills a person every 21 seconds, but we haven’t shut down the entire world. I just find it interesting that we are taking this particular pandemic and shutting down economies.”
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control show 8,920 cases of tuberculosis in 2019. In 2017, the most recent year it reported deaths, 515 died from the bacterial lung infection.
Candy Boyd, the owner of Boyd Funeral Home in Los Angeles, which serves many Black families, said Trump’s comments were infuriating and an “example of him not living in reality.” The funeral home receives fewer virus victims now than it did in the spring, when it was several a day, but people continue to die, she said.
“We have people dying and this is a joke to him,” Boyd said. “I don’t take that lightly. This is sad. This is absurd.”
___
Prengaman reported from Phoenix. Associated Press reporters Matt Sedensky in New York, Elliot Spagat in San Diego, Michelle Price in Las Vegas and Report for America’s Sam Metz in Carson City, Nevada, contributed.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--White House Workers Could File OSHA Complaints Over Trump's COVID Recklessness

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is the federal agency tasked with keeping workers safe on the job , and its regulations primarily apply to private-sector employers .
But OSHA also has jurisdiction over the executive branch due to a 1980 executive order .
White House employees who fear that Trump and his advisers have put them in danger ― and apparently there are plenty ― could file OSHA complaints against the president .
OSHA , which is part of the Labor Department , is obligated to look into such allegations and even perform an inspection if the complaint meets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be made that he did .
Trump not only dragged Secret Service members along for a joyride to greet supporters outside Walter Reed on Sunday , upon his discharge he then showed up at his workplace when he should still be in quarantine and removed his face covering while on White House grounds .
On Sept. 26 , Trump hosted an unnecessary Rose Garden ceremony to honor his Supreme Court nominee , Amy Coney Barrett .
Attendees mingled without masks , including part of the time indoors .
The event preceded not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus test results among his inner circle as well as those on the periphery , like White House staff and journalists .
President Donald Trump made a point of removing his mask upon returning to the White House Monday night after being hospitalized for three days with COVID-19 -- continuing his pattern of discounting the seriousness of a pandemic thet has now killed more then 210,000 people in America .
OSHA has not issued any coronavirus-specific regulations and has gone remarkably easy on employers during the pandemic .
But bosses must still abide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general duty clause , and provide a workplace “ free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.
” That stipulation applies explicitly to federal workplaces .
Trump ’ s COVID-19 infection is a recognized hazard that can cause death or serious physical harm .
Given that , no worker would expect their supervisor to show up at work while still battling the disease and walk around the office without a mask , as well as telling them , as the president has , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID ] ... You ’ re going to beat it.
” OSHA has only issued a handful of fines related to coronavirus , but some of their most notable cases so far were built upon the general duty clause .
The agency fined a Smithfield meatpacking plant in South Dakota just $ 13,494 and a JBS meatpacking plant in Colorado just $ 15,615 for violating that clause .
Four workers had died at the Smithfield facility and eight at the JBS facility .
As HuffPost recently reported , OSHA has not used many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the pandemic .
It has done relatively few inspections due to worker complaints , issued only a few , small fines , and no new regulations have been put on the books .
Workplace safety experts say the agency has pretty much failed the biggest test in its 50-year history .
David Michaels , who ran OSHA during the Obama presidency , told HuffPost in an email that executive branch offices not only have to follow the agency ’ s rules but also must have their own health-and-safety programs in place ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private sector .
Career executive branch employees could file complaints , Michaels said ― but they should not expect to be protected by OSHA ’ s notoriously weak whistleblower provisions if they do .
Given the retributive nature of the Trump administration , any worker who wants to call in OSHA should be concerned about retaliation .
Workers can file complaints anonymously to protect themselves , but those are less likely to receive a thorough investigation than ones with a name attached .
OSHA also has to pick and choose where it uses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety crisis .
As Michaels noted , there are workplaces where hundreds of employees have been sickened and several have died during this pandemic .
Poking around the White House might not be the best use of time , especially for an agency that doesn ’ t seem to want to issue citations anyway .

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President Donald Trump returned to the White House from Walter Reed Medical Center on Monday night and proudly removed his mask for the cameras while presumably still contagious with a virus that’s killed more than 210,000 Americans.
His flouting of coronavirus precautions wasn’t just reckless and asinine ― it may have been a violation of his own government’s workplace safety laws.
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is the federal agency tasked with keeping workers safe on the job, and its regulations primarily apply to private-sector employers. But OSHA also has jurisdiction over the executive branch due to a 1980 executive order.
White House employees who fear that Trump and his advisers have put them in danger ― and apparently there are plenty ― could file OSHA complaints against the president. OSHA, which is part of the Labor Department, is obligated to look into such allegations and even perform an inspection if the complaint meets certain criteria.
The agency couldn’t levy fines against the White House, but it could issue citations if it found Trump ran afoul of safety laws.
A strong case can be made that he did. Trump not only dragged Secret Service members along for a joyride to greet supporters outside Walter Reed on Sunday, upon his discharge he then showed up at his workplace when he should still be in quarantine and removed his face covering while on White House grounds.
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On Sept. 26, Trump hosted an unnecessary Rose Garden ceremony to honor his Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett. Attendees mingled without masks, including part of the time indoors. The event preceded not only Trump’s illness, but positive coronavirus test results among his inner circle as well as those on the periphery, like White House staff and journalists.
President Donald Trump made a point of removing his mask upon returning to the White House Monday night after being hospitalized for three days with COVID-19 -- continuing his pattern of discounting the seriousness of a pandemic thet has now killed more then 210,000 people in America. Win McNamee via Getty Images
OSHA has not issued any coronavirus-specific regulations and has gone remarkably easy on employers during the pandemic. But bosses must still abide by what’s known as the general duty clause, and provide a workplace “free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” That stipulation applies explicitly to federal workplaces.
Trump’s COVID-19 infection is a recognized hazard that can cause death or serious physical harm. Given that, no worker would expect their supervisor to show up at work while still battling the disease and walk around the office without a mask, as well as telling them, as the president has, “don’t be afraid of [COVID] ... You’re going to beat it.”
OSHA has only issued a handful of fines related to coronavirus, but some of their most notable cases so far were built upon the general duty clause. The agency fined a Smithfield meatpacking plant in South Dakota just $13,494 and a JBS meatpacking plant in Colorado just $15,615 for violating that clause. Four workers had died at the Smithfield facility and eight at the JBS facility.
Advertisement
As HuffPost recently reported, OSHA has not used many of its available tools to protect workers during the pandemic. It has done relatively few inspections due to worker complaints, issued only a few, small fines, and no new regulations have been put on the books. Workplace safety experts say the agency has pretty much failed the biggest test in its 50-year history.
David Michaels, who ran OSHA during the Obama presidency, told HuffPost in an email that executive branch offices not only have to follow the agency’s rules but also must have their own health-and-safety programs in place ― something not required of employers in the private sector. Career executive branch employees could file complaints, Michaels said ― but they should not expect to be protected by OSHA’s notoriously weak whistleblower provisions if they do.
Given the retributive nature of the Trump administration, any worker who wants to call in OSHA should be concerned about retaliation. Workers can file complaints anonymously to protect themselves, but those are less likely to receive a thorough investigation than ones with a name attached.
OSHA also has to pick and choose where it uses its limited resources during a massive workplace safety crisis. As Michaels noted, there are workplaces where hundreds of employees have been sickened and several have died during this pandemic. Poking around the White House might not be the best use of time, especially for an agency that doesn’t seem to want to issue citations anyway.
“I think OSHA has more important places not to intervene,” Michaels said sarcastically.