thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--Thanks To Team Trump, Biden Could Score A Big Debate Win Just By Staying Awake

“ Totally , ” agreed David Axelrod , who was a top aide in former President Barack Obama ’ s 2008 campaign .
“ It is one of the only times , maybe the only time , that a candidate has so persistently worked to lower expectations for a debate opponent and build them up for himself .
Usually , it ’ s the other way around.
” Trump and Biden are scheduled to meet in the first of three debates Tuesday night at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland .
The second is set for Oct. 15 in Miami @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nashville , Tennessee .
Vice President Mike Pence and Biden running mate Kamala Harris are scheduled to debate on Oct. 7 in Salt Lake City .
“ He always can turn it on for debate night , ” Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said of Biden .
“ He ’ s been a Washington politician for 47 years , spent decades in the Senate where all they do is debate , won two debates running for vice president , and bested two dozen opponents in 11 primary debates this time .
He knows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the Biden we expect to see.
” At an airport hangar rally in Latrobe , Pennsylvania , on Sept. 3 , Trump told his audience that Biden did not understand international trade back when he was in the Senate , and understands nothing at all today .
“ He never got it , still doesn ’ t get it .
Now he really gets nothing , I am telling you .
He didn ’ t get it in prime time .
Now he really doesn ’ t get it , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rally in Jacksonville , Florida , Trump claimed Biden was too far gone to even understand the policies he is proposing .
“ Now Biden has put forward the most dangerous and extreme platform of any major party nominee in history .
The bad news is he doesn ’ t even know what the hell it is , ” Trump said .
The president ’ s comments build on millions of dollars of television and digital ads — some dishonestly edited to make Biden seem incoherent or doctored to make him look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchased over a period of months , making it one of the leading lines of attack against his opponent .
All of that , said Trump critic and longtime GOP consultant Rick Wilson , will be wasted if Biden shows on the debate stage that he can string even a few words together .
“ If your campaign has spent millions of dollars and done dozens of tweets , Facebook posts and earned media statements saying that Joe Biden is senile and he walks on stage and doesn ’ t drool on himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Wilson , who now helps run the anti-Trump Lincoln Project .
Trump debated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton three times in 2016 .
She demonstrated at each encounter that she had a superior grasp of the facts and could lay them out more logically and coherently .
Trump , nevertheless , won the election , and Brinkley said he can not imagine Trump will back away from his scorched-earth tactic of attacking and belittling his opponent .
Trump has attacked Biden ’ s abilities despite questions about his own mental and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on several occasions , confused his father and his grandfather .
He called Apple CEO “ Tim Apple ” instead of Tim Cook , and then later claimed he was using shorthand .
He had trouble coming up with the word “ origins ” and continually pronounced it “ oranges.
” At a West Point graduation ceremony in June , he had difficulty walking down a ramp and needed two hands to drink from a glass of water .
And at the Latrobe rally , Trump on two occasions started to poll members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first on which insulting nickname they preferred for Biden ; the second on whether they liked “ Keep America Great ” or “ Make America Great Again ” as the campaign slogan .
But he seemed to lose his place each time and never did poll the audience .

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LATROBE, Pa. — Person, woman, man, camera, TV.
After weathering months of insults and millions of dollars in advertising painting him as senile, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden could likely just recite those five words — which President Donald Trump previously claimed proved his own cognitive acuity — and instantly exceed expectations in Tuesday night’s first debate.
Watch the debate and follow live updates here at 9pm ET.
“The president’s branding has ensured that all ‘Sleepy Joe’ needs to do to survive the debate is to stay awake,” said Terry Sullivan, a Republican consultant who ran Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential bid. “Not a real well thought-through strategy when you’re debating a guy who has a lot more experience.”
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“Totally,” agreed David Axelrod, who was a top aide in former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign. “It is one of the only times, maybe the only time, that a candidate has so persistently worked to lower expectations for a debate opponent and build them up for himself. Usually, it’s the other way around.”
Trump and Biden are scheduled to meet in the first of three debates Tuesday night at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. The second is set for Oct. 15 in Miami and the third on Oct. 22 in Nashville, Tennessee. Vice President Mike Pence and Biden running mate Kamala Harris are scheduled to debate on Oct. 7 in Salt Lake City.
Historically, candidates heading into these encounters try to raise expectations for their opponents — the easier to cast their own performance as a great success afterward. Indeed, Trump’s professional campaign staff has been doing just that in recent weeks.
“He always can turn it on for debate night,” Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said of Biden. “He’s been a Washington politician for 47 years, spent decades in the Senate where all they do is debate, won two debates running for vice president, and bested two dozen opponents in 11 primary debates this time. He knows what he’s doing. That’s the Biden we expect to see.”
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Yet Trump himself has undone those efforts at each turn, taking nearly every opportunity to ridicule Biden’s intelligence, cognitive abilities or both.
“The president’s branding has ensured that all ‘Sleepy Joe’ needs to do to survive the debate is to stay awake.” - Terry Sullivan, Republican consultant
At an airport hangar rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 3, Trump told his audience that Biden did not understand international trade back when he was in the Senate, and understands nothing at all today. “He never got it, still doesn’t get it. Now he really gets nothing, I am telling you. He didn’t get it in prime time. Now he really doesn’t get it,” Trump said.
Four days later, at a news conference on the North Portico of the White House, he repeated that insult, and added another: “Biden is a stupid person. You know that. You’re not going to write it. But you know that.”
Last week, at a rally in Jacksonville, Florida, Trump claimed Biden was too far gone to even understand the policies he is proposing. “Now Biden has put forward the most dangerous and extreme platform of any major party nominee in history. The bad news is he doesn’t even know what the hell it is,” Trump said.
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Two nights later, at a rally outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Trump was back to the name-calling: “A dumb guy. He’s a dumb guy. Always known as the dumb guy.”
And on Sunday, Trump returned to a previous baseless claim accusing Biden of somehow improving his mental acuity by using performance-enhancing drugs. Challenged about the source for his information, Trump suggested he found it online: “You can check out the internet. You’ll see. Plenty of people say it.”
The president’s comments build on millions of dollars of television and digital ads — some dishonestly edited to make Biden seem incoherent or doctored to make him look infirm — that the Trump campaign has purchased over a period of months, making it one of the leading lines of attack against his opponent.
All of that, said Trump critic and longtime GOP consultant Rick Wilson, will be wasted if Biden shows on the debate stage that he can string even a few words together. “If your campaign has spent millions of dollars and done dozens of tweets, Facebook posts and earned media statements saying that Joe Biden is senile and he walks on stage and doesn’t drool on himself, you look like a damned fool,” said Wilson, who now helps run the anti-Trump Lincoln Project.
How Tuesday night plays out could have an enormous role in the outcome on Nov. 3, if the debates in the two most recent elections that ended with the loss of an incumbent president are a guide.
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In 1980, Democratic President Jimmy Carter was in a tight race again Ronald Reagan heading into their one and only debate. Carter had spent much of the year portraying the former California governor as a trigger-happy warmonger.
“Reagan came off as statesmanlike, not a right-wing radical,” said Rice University historian Douglas Brinkley. “Reagan had to show that he could be calm, warm, tough but not be an extremist.”
With most of the country unhappy with Carter, Reagan wound up winning in a landslide. “Reagan allowed people to imagine him as a sane alternative to Jimmy Carter,” Brinkley said.
A dozen years later, Republican George H.W. Bush faced a similarly unhappy electorate, and this time, Democrat Bill Clinton was able to use the trio of debates to make himself an acceptable alternative. “Those debates were extraordinarily helpful to Bill Clinton,” Brinkley said. “Clinton sold the argument that he could empathize with people’s problems.”
Trump debated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton three times in 2016. She demonstrated at each encounter that she had a superior grasp of the facts and could lay them out more logically and coherently. Trump, nevertheless, won the election, and Brinkley said he cannot imagine Trump will back away from his scorched-earth tactic of attacking and belittling his opponent.
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Preparations take place in Cleveland on Sept. 28, 2020, for the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
That approach, though, does offer Biden an opportunity to turn the tables and dress Trump down with pointed finger and outrage over Trump’s performance in office.
“Trump’s bully boy routine we see every day at press conferences,” Brinkley said. “But people could be looking at Biden school Trump on foreign and domestic policy.”
Trump has attacked Biden’s abilities despite questions about his own mental and physical condition. The president has, on several occasions, confused his father and his grandfather. He called Apple CEO “Tim Apple” instead of Tim Cook, and then later claimed he was using shorthand. He had trouble coming up with the word “origins” and continually pronounced it “oranges.” At a West Point graduation ceremony in June, he had difficulty walking down a ramp and needed two hands to drink from a glass of water.
And at the Latrobe rally, Trump on two occasions started to poll members of the crowd on their preferences — the first on which insulting nickname they preferred for Biden; the second on whether they liked “Keep America Great” or “Make America Great Again” as the campaign slogan. But he seemed to lose his place each time and never did poll the audience.
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Further, Trump’s White House has never given a full explanation for the president’s sudden, unplanned trip to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on a Saturday last November. Trump subsequently has claimed it was both to start a physical and also to complete a physical — but the circumstances of the trip do not match any other he has made to the hospital.
Apparently sensitive to the questions about his health, Trump has taken to spending portions of interviews and speeches bragging about it. He showed off his ability to drink from a glass with just one hand at his lightly attended June rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and spent long minutes in a Fox News interview in July explaining how well he did on a dementia screening test he took in early 2018.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--Kamala Harris Hammers Trump With The Burning Debt Questions He Won’t Answer

Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) , the Democratic candidate for vice president , says Americans need to know more about President Donald Trump ’ s reported massive debt .
“ We should know , ” Harris told MSNBC ’ s Lawrence O ’ Donnell on Monday night after The New York Times reported that Trump had $ 421 million in debt , much of which was coming due over the next four years .
“ Tell us : Who do you owe the money to ?
” she asked .
“ And do you owe debt to any foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Do you owe anybody money who is impacted by any decision you make as president of the United States ?
We need to know that .
The American people have a right to know that when the president of the United States acts , he acts with their priorities in mind , not with his priorities in mind.
” Harris said Trump already puts his political priorities ahead of America .
Now , he ’ s putting his personal interests ahead of the people by refusing to disclose details about his debt .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ money , maybe to a lot of people , ” she said .
The Times report detailed how Trump had paid little to nothing in taxes most years going back a decade and a half , including just $ 750 in taxes in both 2016 and 2017 .
Trump dismissed the report as “ fake news ” and falsely claimed the newspaper used “ illegally obtained information ” on his taxes .
We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com

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Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), the Democratic candidate for vice president, says Americans need to know more about President Donald Trump’s reported massive debt.
“We should know,” Harris told MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell on Monday night after The New York Times reported that Trump had $421 million in debt, much of which was coming due over the next four years.
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“Tell us: Who do you owe the money to?” she asked. “And do you owe debt to any foreign nation?”
She added: “Do you owe anybody money who is impacted by any decision you make as president of the United States? We need to know that. The American people have a right to know that when the president of the United States acts, he acts with their priorities in mind, not with his priorities in mind.”
Harris said Trump already puts his political priorities ahead of America. Now, he’s putting his personal interests ahead of the people by refusing to disclose details about his debt.
“Apparently he owes a lot of money, maybe to a lot of people,” she said.
The Times report detailed how Trump had paid little to nothing in taxes most years going back a decade and a half, including just $750 in taxes in both 2016 and 2017.
Trump dismissed the report as “fake news” and falsely claimed the newspaper used “illegally obtained information” on his taxes.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-28--Kentucky AG Will Release Breonna Taylor Grand Jury Details After Juror Calls For Transparency

The Kentucky attorney general said Monday he would release the recording of the grand jury proceedings in the Breonna Taylor case after a juror sued for the records to be made public and asked that grand jurors be allowed to speak freely on the matter so the “ truth may prevail.
” The unnamed juror filed a motion after the grand jury last week declined to charge any of the police officers involved in the March 13 killing of Taylor , a 26-year-old Black EMT who was shot in her home in Louisville during a botched narcotics investigation .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissed from the force and was charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment related to shots fired that entered other apartments .
The decision set off renewed protests calling for an end to police brutality while demonstrators expressed their rage at the limited charges filed against those involved in her killing .
Taylor ’ s family , which reached a $ 12 million settlement with the city of Louisville , assailed the state ’ s attorney general and has also called for the grand jury information to be released .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this matter was handled from beginning to end is now an issue of great public interest and has become a large part of the discussion of public trust throughout the country , ” Kevin Glogower , the attorney for the juror , wrote in the filing .
The motion also claimed Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron was using the jurors in the case “ as a shield to deflect accountability and responsibility for those decisions.
” Cameron said later Monday he would release the grand jury recording in compliance with a judge ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that while the process is “ meant to be a secretive body … it ’ s apparent that the public interest in this case isn ’ t going to allow that to happen.
” “ We have no concerns with grand jurors sharing their thoughts on our presentation because we are confident in the case we presented , ” he said in a statement obtained by NBC News .
“ Once the public listens to the recording , they will see that over the course of two-and-a-half days , our team presented a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jury.
” The unnamed juror on Monday said Cameron had moved to distance his office from the grand jury ’ s decision , saying the choice had been laid “ at the feet of the grand jury while failing to answer specific questions regarding the charges presented.
” “ Attorney General Cameron attempted to make it very clear that the grand jury alone made the decision on who and what to charge based solely on the evidence presented to them , ” the juror said in the filing .
Plainclothes officers used a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a late-night “ no-knock ” warrant , believing a suspect in a drug investigation was having packages delivered there .
Taylor ’ s boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , called 911 and said he shot a legally owned firearm in self-defense , hitting one officer .
Law enforcement officers returned fire , striking Taylor six times .
No drugs were found in her home and the police department said later that the suspect in the investigation had actually been arrested earlier in the day .

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The Kentucky attorney general said Monday he would release the recording of the grand jury proceedings in the Breonna Taylor case after a juror sued for the records to be made public and asked that grand jurors be allowed to speak freely on the matter so the “truth may prevail.”
The unnamed juror filed a motion after the grand jury last week declined to charge any of the police officers involved in the March 13 killing of Taylor, a 26-year-old Black EMT who was shot in her home in Louisville during a botched narcotics investigation. One officer, Detective Brett Hankison, was dismissed from the force and was charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment related to shots fired that entered other apartments.
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The decision set off renewed protests calling for an end to police brutality while demonstrators expressed their rage at the limited charges filed against those involved in her killing. Taylor’s family, which reached a $12 million settlement with the city of Louisville, assailed the state’s attorney general and has also called for the grand jury information to be released.
“The full story and absolute truth of how this matter was handled from beginning to end is now an issue of great public interest and has become a large part of the discussion of public trust throughout the country,” Kevin Glogower, the attorney for the juror, wrote in the filing.
BREAKING: A grand juror in the Breonna Taylor case has filed a motion accusing @kyoag of hiding behind secrecy requirements while misleading the public about what evidence the grand jury actually saw, using them as a “shield.” He calls for disclosure of grand jury records. pic.twitter.com/oeNa18WWQY — Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) September 29, 2020
The motion also claimed Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron was using the jurors in the case “as a shield to deflect accountability and responsibility for those decisions.”
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Cameron said later Monday he would release the grand jury recording in compliance with a judge’s ruling on Wednesday. He added that while the process is “meant to be a secretive body … it’s apparent that the public interest in this case isn’t going to allow that to happen.”
“We have no concerns with grand jurors sharing their thoughts on our presentation because we are confident in the case we presented,” he said in a statement obtained by NBC News. “Once the public listens to the recording, they will see that over the course of two-and-a-half days, our team presented a thorough and complete case to the grand jury.”
🚨 BREAKING: KY Attorney General Daniel Cameron says he *will* release grand jury recording in #BreonnaTaylor case on Wednesday.
Here’s his full statement: pic.twitter.com/T2XiClvbYY — Blayne Alexander (@ReporterBlayne) September 29, 2020
The unnamed juror on Monday said Cameron had moved to distance his office from the grand jury’s decision, saying the choice had been laid “at the feet of the grand jury while failing to answer specific questions regarding the charges presented.”
“Attorney General Cameron attempted to make it very clear that the grand jury alone made the decision on who and what to charge based solely on the evidence presented to them,” the juror said in the filing.
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Plainclothes officers used a battering ram to enter the apartment during a late-night “no-knock” warrant, believing a suspect in a drug investigation was having packages delivered there. Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, said he used a legally owned firearm to fire a warning shot after officers failed to identify themselves. An officer was hit during the incident but the evidence isn’t clear on what bullet struck him.
Law enforcement officers returned fire, striking Taylor six times. No drugs were found in her home and the police department said later that the suspect in the investigation had actually been arrested earlier in the day.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--‘Apprentice’ Windfall Helped Trump Prop Up Floundering Empire, NY Times Finds

President Donald Trump made more than $ 427 million from his role on “ The Apprentice ” and licensing deals to monetize that reality show fame , a staggering figure that helped him offset years of reported tax losses and let him rebrand himself as a savvy business mogul , according to the latest report on Trump ’ s tax history by The New York Times .
The newspaper , which obtained more than two decades of Trump ’ s tax records , said it was able to quantify the massive payday linked to his stint as the host of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 197 million in direct payments from the show , Trump made more than $ 230 million from a bevy of licensing deals , hawking everything from Double Stuf Oreos , laundry detergent and Serta mattresses to multilevel marketing schemes involving vitamins and seminars on how to get rich .
Trump ’ s windfall came after years of financial failures and the bankruptcy of his Atlantic City casinos , which were cataloged on tax returns that allowed Trump to lower his tax bill in future years by declaring more than $ 350 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payouts , however , largely helped Trump rebrand himself as the nation ’ s most famous businessman and go on a buying spree to plaster his name on properties around the globe .
The Times noted that , beginning in 2006 , Trump bought more 11 golf courses that would also turn out to be money pits .
Starting in 2014 , Trump spent more than $ 144 million on his Turnberry golf course in Scotland and $ 213 million on his Doral golf resort in Florida , even though both properties had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first details from its series on Trump ’ s taxes on Sunday , which revealed that the president paid just $ 750 in personal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017 and nothing in 10 of the 15 previous years .
The payouts from his TV stint were so great that Trump paid $ 70.1 million in taxes to the IRS over a three-year period , although he later used an accounting maneuver linked to his real estate holdings to get that figure refunded with interest .
Trump has blasted the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news , ” and a lawyer for the Trump Organization told the Times “ most , if not all , of the facts appear to be inaccurate.
” In recent years , Trump ’ s earnings from “ The Apprentice , ” which he stopped hosting in 2015 , have fallen dramatically , from a high in 2011 of $ 51 million to less than $ 3 million in 2018 .
The president has also leveraged many of his assets to borrow more money , including $ 100 million in equity against Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million from shares in real estate and stocks and bonds .
Details from the documents published Sunday revealed that Trump personally holds $ 421 million in debt and loans that are largely coming due in the next four years .
In terms of that audit , he could face a penalty from the IRS of about $ 100 million if an investigation into his tax strategies to minimize or zero-out his tax debt does not end in his favor .
Trump ’ s taxes have long been a political white elephant after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused to release them , offering vague — and false — excuses that he couldn ’ t do so because he was being audited by the IRS .

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President Donald Trump made more than $427 million from his role on “The Apprentice” and licensing deals to monetize that reality show fame, a staggering figure that helped him offset years of reported tax losses and let him rebrand himself as a savvy business mogul, according to the latest report on Trump’s tax history by The New York Times.
The newspaper, which obtained more than two decades of Trump’s tax records, said it was able to quantify the massive payday linked to his stint as the host of the reality TV juggernaut. Aside from $197 million in direct payments from the show, Trump made more than $230 million from a bevy of licensing deals, hawking everything from Double Stuf Oreos, laundry detergent and Serta mattresses to multilevel marketing schemes involving vitamins and seminars on how to get rich.
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Trump’s windfall came after years of financial failures and the bankruptcy of his Atlantic City casinos, which were cataloged on tax returns that allowed Trump to lower his tax bill in future years by declaring more than $350 million in losses.
His “Apprentice” payouts, however, largely helped Trump rebrand himself as the nation’s most famous businessman and go on a buying spree to plaster his name on properties around the globe. The Times noted that, beginning in 2006, Trump bought more 11 golf courses that would also turn out to be money pits. Starting in 2014, Trump spent more than $144 million on his Turnberry golf course in Scotland and $213 million on his Doral golf resort in Florida, even though both properties had posted losses annually.
The Times published the first details from its series on Trump’s taxes on Sunday, which revealed that the president paid just $750 in personal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017 and nothing in 10 of the 15 previous years.
The payouts from his TV stint were so great that Trump paid $70.1 million in taxes to the IRS over a three-year period, although he later used an accounting maneuver linked to his real estate holdings to get that figure refunded with interest.
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Trump has blasted the New York Times reports as “totally fake news,” and a lawyer for the Trump Organization told the Times “most, if not all, of the facts appear to be inaccurate.”
In recent years, Trump’s earnings from “The Apprentice,” which he stopped hosting in 2015, have fallen dramatically, from a high in 2011 of $51 million to less than $3 million in 2018. The president has also leveraged many of his assets to borrow more money, including $100 million in equity against Trump Tower in Manhattan and nearly $200 million from shares in real estate and stocks and bonds.
But those sources of funding are running dry, the Times found (the newspaper did not obtain tax documents for 2018 or 2019).
Details from the documents published Sunday revealed that Trump personally holds $421 million in debt and loans that are largely coming due in the next four years. In terms of that audit, he could face a penalty from the IRS of about $100 million if an investigation into his tax strategies to minimize or zero-out his tax debt does not end in his favor.
Trump’s taxes have long been a political white elephant after the president bucked 40 years of tradition and refused to release them, offering vague — and false — excuses that he couldn’t do so because he was being audited by the IRS.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-28--GOP Sen. Joni Ernst Says There's A 'Very Minimal' Chance Roe v. Wade Will Be Overturned

Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-Iowa ) says she doesn ’ t think the Supreme Court will overturn its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion rights ruling , even though she signed a brief urging the court to do so earlier this year .
“ I think the likelihood of Roe v. Wade being overturned is very minimal .
I don ’ t see that happening , ” Ernst said Monday while facing off against Democrat Theresa Greenfield in a debate hosted by Iowa PBS .
Ernst ’ s comments were followed an hour later by Montana GOP Sen. Steve Daines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strike down the Affordable Care Act because of a lawsuit he has long supported .
The combined effort makes it appear as if vulnerable Republicans senators are trying to convince voters Barrett won ’ t push for unpopular conservative policy goals , including the repeal of abortion rights and the elimination of Medicaid expansion , if she gains a seat on the nation ’ s highest court .
Ernst , an anti-abortion senator who is seeking her second term this year , joined 38 of her Republican Senate colleagues in January in asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overturn Roe , which protects the right to abortion .
The “ friend of the court ” brief was also signed by 168 House members .
Conservatives are preparing for a showdown on abortion rights following President Donald Trump ’ s nomination last week of 48-year-old Amy Coney Barrett to fill the position made vacant by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s death on Sept. 18 .
Barrett is an appellate court judge who once clerked for the late Justice Antonin Scalia .
Her confirmation , which looks all but certain in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative majority on the high court for the foreseeable future .
“ She is certainly conservative in her views , in her rulings , and we ’ ll have to see how that all works out , but I think it will work out , ” Trump said Monday during an interview with Fox News , adding that it is “ certainly possible ” that Roe will be overturned with Barrett on the court .
Sen. Josh Hawley ( R-Mo . )
, an outspoken conservative who vowed to support only Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said last week that Barrett would meet his “ standard ” on abortion .
Though the Supreme Court may not move immediately to overturn Roe , it ’ s likely a conservative majority might allow states to pass more restrictions on the ability to obtain an abortion .
Iowa has turned into an unexpected battleground this election cycle .
Trump won the Hawkeye State by 9.6 percentage points in 2016 but currently leads Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden among likely voters by only 3 points , according to a New York Times/Siena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trails Greenfield by 2 points , 40 % to 42 % , according to the same poll .
A dramatic gender gap of 40 points in the state may be influencing how both Senate candidates are communicating with voters in the final weeks of the race .
Daines backs the lawsuit , which argues the entire Affordable Care Act should be struck down because Congress repealed the mandate for individuals to buy health insurance as part of the Republican tax law passed in 2017 .
Most mainstream legal scholars , even conservative ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican-appointed judges in Texas and on the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals have advanced its arguments to the Supreme Court , and Barrett has been critical of the health care law in the past .

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Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) says she doesn’t think the Supreme Court will overturn its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion rights ruling, even though she signed a brief urging the court to do so earlier this year.
“I think the likelihood of Roe v. Wade being overturned is very minimal. I don’t see that happening,” Ernst said Monday while facing off against Democrat Theresa Greenfield in a debate hosted by Iowa PBS.
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Ernst’s comments were followed an hour later by Montana GOP Sen. Steve Daines arguing it was unlikely the court would strike down the Affordable Care Act because of a lawsuit he has long supported.
The combined effort makes it appear as if vulnerable Republicans senators are trying to convince voters Barrett won’t push for unpopular conservative policy goals, including the repeal of abortion rights and the elimination of Medicaid expansion, if she gains a seat on the nation’s highest court.
Ernst, an anti-abortion senator who is seeking her second term this year, joined 38 of her Republican Senate colleagues in January in asking the Supreme Court to revisit and potentially overturn Roe, which protects the right to abortion. The “friend of the court” brief was also signed by 168 House members.
Conservatives are preparing for a showdown on abortion rights following President Donald Trump’s nomination last week of 48-year-old Amy Coney Barrett to fill the position made vacant by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death on Sept. 18. Barrett is an appellate court judge who once clerked for the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
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Her confirmation, which looks all but certain in the GOP-controlled Senate, would solidify a 6-3 conservative majority on the high court for the foreseeable future.
“The experts are saying it’s highly unlikely they’ll overturn the ACA. That’s the consensus of many legal experts.” - Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.
“She is certainly conservative in her views, in her rulings, and we’ll have to see how that all works out, but I think it will work out,” Trump said Monday during an interview with Fox News, adding that it is “certainly possible” that Roe will be overturned with Barrett on the court.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), an outspoken conservative who vowed to support only Supreme Court nominees who think Roe was wrongly decided, said last week that Barrett would meet his “standard” on abortion.
Though the Supreme Court may not move immediately to overturn Roe, it’s likely a conservative majority might allow states to pass more restrictions on the ability to obtain an abortion.
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Republicans are pushing a historically speedy timetable for confirming Barrett, with a final vote expected just days from the Nov. 3 presidential election.
Ernst, a member of GOP leadership in the Senate, supports moving forward with the confirmation of Trump’s nominee this presidential election year despite helping block President Barack Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court in 2016.
Iowa has turned into an unexpected battleground this election cycle. Trump won the Hawkeye State by 9.6 percentage points in 2016 but currently leads Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden among likely voters by only 3 points, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll published last week. Ernst trails Greenfield by 2 points, 40% to 42%, according to the same poll.
A dramatic gender gap of 40 points in the state may be influencing how both Senate candidates are communicating with voters in the final weeks of the race.
Though Trump leads among men in Iowa by 21 points, Biden leads women by a similar margin, 20 points, according to a recent poll conducted by The Des Moines Register and Mediacom Iowa.
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In Montana, Daines is in a tight race with Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock. A New York Times/Siena College survey released last week showed the men effectively tied in the conservative-leaning but independent-minded state.
During a debate on Montana PBS on Monday night, Daines suggested the Supreme Court justices would not actually overturn the law known as Obamacare.
“The experts are saying it’s highly unlikely they’ll overturn the ACA,” he said. “That’s the consensus of many legal experts.”
Daines backs the lawsuit, which argues the entire Affordable Care Act should be struck down because Congress repealed the mandate for individuals to buy health insurance as part of the Republican tax law passed in 2017.
In July, a Daines spokesman told local newspapers the senator supported the Justice Department’s decision to support the lawsuit and “whatever mechanism will protect Montanans from this failed law.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-28--Trump's Massive Debt Makes Him A National Security Threat, Warns His Biographer

Trump is in a position to use the power of his office to erase some of his $ 421 million debt revealed by the Times by obtaining lucrative deals for his international companies from foreign interests looking to curry favor with the U.S. government .
Due to Trump ’ s “ indebtedness , his reliance on income from overseas and his refusal to authentically distance himself from his hodgepodge of business , Trump represents a profound national security threat — a threat that will only escalate if he ’ s reelected , ” Timothy L. O ’ Brien , author @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Bloomberg column .
“ The trade-offs someone like him would be willing to make to save his face and his wallet taint every public policy decision he makes — including issues around national security , ” he wrote .
If Russian President Vladimir Putin , for example , can hypothetically “ backchannel a loan or a handout to the president , how hard is Trump going to be on Russia ?
” added O ’ Brien , a former HuffPost executive editor .
Trump entered office with the biggest debts of any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a key Trump lender , but not all the sources of his loans are publicly known .
“ Fundamentally , there ’ s the concern that a president who is personally on the hook for significant loans that come due while he ’ s the president might take official actions , or appear to take official actions , that are meant to alleviate the personal financial pressure he faces , ” University of Texas School of Law professor Steve Vladeck told Rolling Stone magazine .
“ Indeed , there ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t give security clearances to those who have significant debt — it ’ s because they ’ re too much of a risk , ” noted Vladeck , an expert in national security law .
“ So , too , apparently , is the president of the United States.
” Former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander told Newsweek : “ Substantial personal debt is one of the most common reasons security clearances are denied , because it ’ s so easily exploited or leveraged by foreign intelligence services.
” Attorney Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation into Kremlin interference in the 2016 election , raised the possibility in a tweet Monday that Russia may be a source of Trump ’ s loans .
Weissmann has just published a book , “ Where Law Ends , ” criticizing special counsel Robert Mueller for not pressing harder to examine Trump ’ s personal and business finances and any possible links to foreign interests .
As you read the NYT Trump tax story , remember the Eric Trump statement in 2014 : `` We do n't rely on American banks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of Russia . ''
Now ask to whom does Trump owe the hundreds of millions of dollars coming due soon ?
— Andrew Weissmann ( @ AWeissmann_ ) September 28 , 2020 Trump paid just $ 750 in federal income tax in both 2016 and 2017 ; in 10 of the previous 15 years , he didn ’ t pay a cent , according to a Times analysis of several years of his tax returns .
Much of his $ 421 million debt — for which he is personally responsible — must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times reported .
Forbes senior editor Dan Alexander believes Trump ’ s debt is more like $ 1.1 billion , based on his examination of Securities and Exchange Commission documents with loan information about Trump properties .
Trump ’ s businesses — and his overwhelming debt — also influence domestic issues that may benefit him , warned Walter Shaub , former director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics .
One of the more shocking aspects of the NY Times report on Trump 's taxes is the extent to which it reinforces something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intersect directly with his administration 's policies .
Trump will never put America 's interest before his own interests .
— Walter Shaub ( @ waltshaub ) September 28 , 2020 Trump , for example , has repeatedly demanded that the Federal Reserve lower interest rates , which instantly earns him millions of dollars in annual interest payments on his loans .
Americans with money in their local bank , on the other hand , lose interest on their savings .

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President Donald Trump’s massive debt highlighted in a New York Times report Sunday exposing his astonishingly low federal income tax payments makes him vulnerable to foreign influence — and a threat to national security, his biographer warned Monday.
Trump is in a position to use the power of his office to erase some of his $421 million debt revealed by the Times by obtaining lucrative deals for his international companies from foreign interests looking to curry favor with the U.S. government.
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Due to Trump’s “indebtedness, his reliance on income from overseas and his refusal to authentically distance himself from his hodgepodge of business, Trump represents a profound national security threat — a threat that will only escalate if he’s reelected,” Timothy L. O’Brien, author of “TrumpNation,” warned in a Bloomberg column.
“The trade-offs someone like him would be willing to make to save his face and his wallet taint every public policy decision he makes — including issues around national security,” he wrote. If Russian President Vladimir Putin, for example, can hypothetically “backchannel a loan or a handout to the president, how hard is Trump going to be on Russia?” added O’Brien, a former HuffPost executive editor.
Other observers agreed with O’Brien’s risk assessment.
Trump entered office with the biggest debts of any president in modern times. Deutsche Bank is a key Trump lender, but not all the sources of his loans are publicly known.
“Fundamentally, there’s the concern that a president who is personally on the hook for significant loans that come due while he’s the president might take official actions, or appear to take official actions, that are meant to alleviate the personal financial pressure he faces,” University of Texas School of Law professor Steve Vladeck told Rolling Stone magazine.
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“Indeed, there’s a reason why the federal government generally won’t give security clearances to those who have significant debt — it’s because they’re too much of a risk,” noted Vladeck, an expert in national security law. “So, too, apparently, is the president of the United States.”
Former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander told Newsweek: “Substantial personal debt is one of the most common reasons security clearances are denied, because it’s so easily exploited or leveraged by foreign intelligence services.”
Attorney Andrew Weissmann, a key member of the investigation into Kremlin interference in the 2016 election, raised the possibility in a tweet Monday that Russia may be a source of Trump’s loans. Weissmann has just published a book, “Where Law Ends,” criticizing special counsel Robert Mueller for not pressing harder to examine Trump’s personal and business finances and any possible links to foreign interests.
As you read the NYT Trump tax story, remember the Eric Trump statement in 2014: "We don't rely on American banks. We have all the funding we need out of Russia."
Now ask to whom does Trump owe the hundreds of millions of dollars coming due soon? — Andrew Weissmann (@AWeissmann_) September 28, 2020
Trump paid just $750 in federal income tax in both 2016 and 2017; in 10 of the previous 15 years, he didn’t pay a cent, according to a Times analysis of several years of his tax returns. Much of his $421 million debt — for which he is personally responsible — must be repaid in four years, the Times reported.
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Forbes senior editor Dan Alexander believes Trump’s debt is more like $1.1 billion, based on his examination of Securities and Exchange Commission documents with loan information about Trump properties.
Trump’s businesses — and his overwhelming debt — also influence domestic issues that may benefit him, warned Walter Shaub, former director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.
One of the more shocking aspects of the NY Times report on Trump's taxes is the extent to which it reinforces something we knew: Trump's financial interests intersect directly with his administration's policies. Trump will never put America's interest before his own interests. — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) September 28, 2020
The tax return story is a story about conflicts of interest. Also about business failure, societal inequity, and maybe crimes. But it’s the conflicts of interest that pose an immediate threat our national security, public health, and the economy. — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) September 29, 2020
Trump, for example, has repeatedly demanded that the Federal Reserve lower interest rates, which instantly earns him millions of dollars in annual interest payments on his loans. Americans with money in their local bank, on the other hand, lose interest on their savings.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--Trevor Noah Drops Scathing Theory On Why Melania Can’t Dump Trump

Trevor Noah said the explosive New York Times report detailing President Donald Trump ’ s massive $ 421 million in debt ― most of which is coming due over the next four years ― was the “ Rosetta stone ” that explains everything else .
“ Trump doesn ’ t actually want to be president .
He just really needs that Secret Service protection , ” “ The Daily Show ” host said .
“ Shit , if I had $ 400 million in loans coming due , I ’ d also be trying to cancel the election.
” And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump hasn ’ t left the president .
“ If she divorces him , she gets half of the $ 400 million in debt , ” Noah cracked .
Noah also noted that Trump was rooting for Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) to win the Democratic presidential nomination instead of Joe Biden .
“ He wanted [ Sanders ] to win so that the government would bail him out , ” Noah said , adding : “ It even explains why Trump has been destroying the post office .
Good luck collecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail him a bill.
” We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com

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It all makes sense now.
Trevor Noah said the explosive New York Times report detailing President Donald Trump’s massive $421 million in debt ― most of which is coming due over the next four years ― was the “Rosetta stone” that explains everything else.
“Trump doesn’t actually want to be president. He just really needs that Secret Service protection,” “The Daily Show” host said. “Shit, if I had $400 million in loans coming due, I’d also be trying to cancel the election.”
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And the debt explains why first lady Melania Trump hasn’t left the president.
“If she divorces him, she gets half of the $400 million in debt,” Noah cracked.
Noah also noted that Trump was rooting for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to win the Democratic presidential nomination instead of Joe Biden.
“He wanted [Sanders] to win so that the government would bail him out,” Noah said, adding: “It even explains why Trump has been destroying the post office. Good luck collecting your money when you can’t mail him a bill.”
Check out the full segment below:
We want to know what you’re hearing on the ground from the candidates. If you get any interesting ― or suspicious! ― campaign mailers, robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about, email us at scoops@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--3 Dead As Northern California Wildfires Rage

Three people were killed as two rapidly growing wildfires tore through Northern California , scorching tens of thousands of acres and forcing the evacuation of nearly 70,000 people from the famed Napa and Sonoma wine country .
Authorities said Monday three people had died in the Zogg fire in Shasta County , which began Sunday and had grown to more than 31,000 acres just over a day later .
Thousands were forced to flee in neighboring wine country as two new fires merged with the growing Glass fire , destroying homes and renowned vineyards as dry , windy conditions fanned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Glass fire had tripled in size to more than 36,000 acres .
Both that blaze and the Zogg fire were zero percent contained , according to fire officials .
The causes of the fires are under investigation .
“ Tonight ― and every night ― we ’ re eternally grateful for the firefighters and first responders that are on the frontlines keeping our state safe , ” the state ’ s governor , Gavin Newsom , wrote on Twitter .
“ California heroes.
” The extent of the damage is unclear so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire had already destroyed 146 structures and was threatening 1,500 more , according to the Los Angeles Times .
Newsom added at a press briefing that a “ substantial ” number of buildings , including wineries , had been damaged by the flames .
The blazes are just the latest threat to a region battered by the coronavirus pandemic and a series of blazes just a month ago that bathed California in smoke , prompting their own round of evacuations and concern .
The region is still recovering from a massive spate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that killed 22 people .
“ Our firefighters have not had much of a break , and these residents have not had much of a break , ” Daniel Berlant , the assistant deputy director for Cal Fire , told the Associated Press .
California is in the midst of its worst fire season on record with months to go until it ’ s over .
More than 3.7 million acres have burned so far this year , killing 26 people and destroying more than 7,000 structures .
Experts have linked the increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning that an uptick in hotter days and drier conditions would only increase the risk of massive blazes .
Officials said late Monday a brief respite in the wind would help firefighters on the ground work to get the new blazes under control , but they warned that thousands of Californians could still face evacuation in the coming days .
“ The smoky skies that we ’ re under are a sign that there ’ s not a lot of air movement out there moving the smoke around , ” Cal Fire Division @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference Monday night .
“ Not good for air quality , and folks outside exercising , but great for us to work on containing this fire and working on putting it out .
”

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Three people were killed as two rapidly growing wildfires tore through Northern California, scorching tens of thousands of acres and forcing the evacuation of nearly 70,000 people from the famed Napa and Sonoma wine country.
Authorities said Monday three people had died in the Zogg fire in Shasta County, which began Sunday and had grown to more than 31,000 acres just over a day later. Thousands were forced to flee in neighboring wine country as two new fires merged with the growing Glass fire, destroying homes and renowned vineyards as dry, windy conditions fanned the flames.
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Late Monday night, the Glass fire had tripled in size to more than 36,000 acres. Both that blaze and the Zogg fire were zero percent contained, according to fire officials. The causes of the fires are under investigation.
“Tonight ― and every night ― we’re eternally grateful for the firefighters and first responders that are on the frontlines keeping our state safe,” the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, wrote on Twitter. “California heroes.”
Tonight -- and every night -- we’re eternally grateful for the firefighters and first responders that are on the frontlines keeping our state safe. California heroes. — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 29, 2020
The extent of the damage is unclear so far, but officials said the Zogg fire had already destroyed 146 structures and was threatening 1,500 more, according to the Los Angeles Times. Newsom added at a press briefing that a “substantial” number of buildings, including wineries, had been damaged by the flames.
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The blazes are just the latest threat to a region battered by the coronavirus pandemic and a series of blazes just a month ago that bathed California in smoke, prompting their own round of evacuations and concern. The region is still recovering from a massive spate of wildfires in 2017, including one blaze that killed 22 people.
“Our firefighters have not had much of a break, and these residents have not had much of a break,” Daniel Berlant, the assistant deputy director for Cal Fire, told the Associated Press.
Flames from the Glass Fire consume the Glass Mountain Inn, late Sunday in St. Helena, Calif. AP Photo/Noah Berger
Jessie Whitman off Napa Valley with a donkey that was being rescued during the Glass Fire. Kent Nishimura via Getty Images
California is in the midst of its worst fire season on record with months to go until it’s over. More than 3.7 million acres have burned so far this year, killing 26 people and destroying more than 7,000 structures.
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Experts have linked the increased threat of wildfires to climate change, warning that an uptick in hotter days and drier conditions would only increase the risk of massive blazes.
Officials said late Monday a brief respite in the wind would help firefighters on the ground work to get the new blazes under control, but they warned that thousands of Californians could still face evacuation in the coming days.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--5 Miles Of Florida Beach Slimed With Oil Just Weeks After Hurricane Sally

Five miles of Florida beach and sea have been fouled with oil just two weeks after Hurricane Sally made landfall there .
Samples of the oil found on Johnson Beach on Perdido Key were collected in an attempt to determine the source of the pollution , according to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Dustin Williams .
It ’ s possible the storm whipped up still-submerged oil from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico or pushed the oil from another source onto the shore .
“ There is an approximately 5-mile shore impact of oil on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been on scene and has taken samples to assist in determining origin , ” Williams said in a statement Monday .
“ We are working with the Park Service to address cleanup.
” “ We want to get it cleaned up as fast as possible , ” Williams told the Pensacola News Journal .
Two weeks ago , the Perdido Key community and barrier island in Escambia County on the Alabama border was hit particularly hard by Sally : Johnson Beach , part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore , was closed after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Five miles of Florida beach and sea have been fouled with oil just two weeks after Hurricane Sally made landfall there.
Samples of the oil found on Johnson Beach on Perdido Key were collected in an attempt to determine the source of the pollution, according to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Dustin Williams. It’s possible the storm whipped up still-submerged oil from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico or pushed the oil from another source onto the shore.
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“There is an approximately 5-mile shore impact of oil on Johnson Beach. The Coast Guard has been on scene and has taken samples to assist in determining origin,” Williams said in a statement Monday. “We are working with the Park Service to address cleanup.”
“We want to get it cleaned up as fast as possible,” Williams told the Pensacola News Journal.
Two weeks ago, the Perdido Key community and barrier island in Escambia County on the Alabama border was hit particularly hard by Sally:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--Stephen Colbert Has Some Blunt Talk For Men Who Still Support Trump

Stephen Colbert has some tough talk for men who still support President Donald Trump .
On Monday night , “ The Late Show ” host discussed an ABC-Washington Post poll that found Trump ’ s lead among men to be the same as what it was over Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 , making guys one of the few groups whose support hasn ’ t dropped over the past four years .
“ C ’ mon , my mans , ” Colbert said .
“ You ’ re clinging to Trump like a worn-out pair of briefs .
Let it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a loose band with skid marks , and he ’ s making the women in your life lose sexual interest in you.
” Colbert also discussed Trump ’ s tax revelations , Dwayne “ The Rock ” Johnson ’ s endorsement of Democratic nominee Joe Biden and the Supreme Court drama : We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , @ @ @ @ @ @

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Stephen Colbert has some tough talk for men who still support President Donald Trump.
On Monday night, “The Late Show” host discussed an ABC-Washington Post poll that found Trump’s lead among men to be the same as what it was over Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, making guys one of the few groups whose support hasn’t dropped over the past four years.
“C’mon, my mans,” Colbert said. “You’re clinging to Trump like a worn-out pair of briefs. Let it go! He’s nothing but a loose band with skid marks, and he’s making the women in your life lose sexual interest in you.”
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Colbert also discussed Trump’s tax revelations, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s endorsement of Democratic nominee Joe Biden and the Supreme Court drama:
We want to know what you’re hearing on the ground from the candidates. If you get any interesting ― or suspicious! ― campaign mailers, robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about, email us at scoops@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--COVID-19 Spike In Orthodox Jewish NYC Neighborhoods Prompts Mask Crackdown

De Blasio said he was sending teams of hundreds of outreach workers and contact tracers to nine Brooklyn and Queens ZIP codes that have seen an upswing in positive COVID-19 tests in hopes of avoiding harsher enforcement measures .
Those workers will be handing out masks , but also insisting that people put them on if they are in a place where they could be within 6 feet of other people .
“ Anyone who refuses to wear a face covering will be told that if they don ’ t put one on they will be fined , and anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That will happen aggressively , ” de Blasio said .
The Democratic mayor warned he could order further crackdowns including the closing of nonessential businesses and bans on gatherings if things don ’ t improve .
Private schools and child care centers could be closed if people refuse to comply with coronavirus guidelines , de Blasio said .
“ It is a situation at this point that is very serious and we need to have all options on the table , ” de Blasio said .
The nine ZIP codes accounted for 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests in the last two weeks though they are collectively home to just 7 % of the city ’ s population , city Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said .
De Blasio spoke as public schools in the city welcomed some elementary school students back to their classrooms for the first time since March .
He said there is so far no evidence of the virus spike affecting public schools in the areas where positive test rates have risen because the communities that are experiencing higher rates of infection don ’ t send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spring , police officers were brought in to break up large weddings and public funerals that brought hundreds of largely unmasked people together in those neighborhoods , while applying a lighter touch when dealing with crowds in city parks or at protests .
One zip code in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn has recorded more than 400 new coronavirus cases since Sept. 1 .
By comparison , the Corona section of Queens , which was ground zero for the New York City outbreak in the spring , has seen just 62 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
City officials began sounding the alarm about the recent increase in coronavirus cases in certain Orthodox neighborhoods last week , warning that gatherings during the Jewish high holidays could spark more infections .
Dr. Mitchell Katz , the head of the city ’ s public hospital system , said Tuesday that he received reports that more people were wearing masks during Yom Kippur services Monday , a sign that the message is getting through .
Avi Greenstein , the chief executive officer of the Boro Park Community Council , a social service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Borough Park , said that mask wearing is indeed higher in the area than it was two weeks ago .
But Greenstein said city officials should work with community leaders on coronavirus outreach rather than threatening heavy-handed enforcement .
“ There ’ s a way to do it , ” he said .
“ There ’ s no need to threaten fines.
” People return from a prayer service in Borough Park where three members of the city ’ s Orthodox Jewish community died from the coronavirus over the last four days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York City .

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NEW YORK (AP) — Alarmed by a spike in coronavirus infections in a few Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods, New York City officials will start issuing fines in those areas to people who refuse to wear masks, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday.
De Blasio said he was sending teams of hundreds of outreach workers and contact tracers to nine Brooklyn and Queens ZIP codes that have seen an upswing in positive COVID-19 tests in hopes of avoiding harsher enforcement measures.
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Those workers will be handing out masks, but also insisting that people put them on if they are in a place where they could be within 6 feet of other people.
“Anyone who refuses to wear a face covering will be told that if they don’t put one on they will be fined, and anyone who still refuses will be fined. That will happen aggressively,” de Blasio said.
The maximum fine for refusing to wear a mask is $1,000. “We don’t want to fine people. If we have to, we will,” de Blasio said.
An Orthodox Jewish boy walks through his Brooklyn neighborhood on September 29, 2020, in New York. TIMOTHY A. CLARY via Getty Images
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The Democratic mayor warned he could order further crackdowns including the closing of nonessential businesses and bans on gatherings if things don’t improve. Private schools and child care centers could be closed if people refuse to comply with coronavirus guidelines, de Blasio said.
“It is a situation at this point that is very serious and we need to have all options on the table,” de Blasio said.
The nine ZIP codes accounted for 25% of the city’s positive tests in the last two weeks though they are collectively home to just 7% of the city’s population, city Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said.
De Blasio spoke as public schools in the city welcomed some elementary school students back to their classrooms for the first time since March. He said there is so far no evidence of the virus spike affecting public schools in the areas where positive test rates have risen because the communities that are experiencing higher rates of infection don’t send their children to public schools.
The mayor and the city’s police department have had a fraught relationship over coronavirus enforcement with residents of some predominantly Hasidic sections of the city.
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Orthodox Jewish men walk through a Brooklyn neighborhood on September 29, 2020, in New York. TIMOTHY A. CLARY via Getty Images
In the spring, police officers were brought in to break up large weddings and public funerals that brought hundreds of largely unmasked people together in those neighborhoods, while applying a lighter touch when dealing with crowds in city parks or at protests.
This time there is little question about where the city is seeing infections spike.
One zip code in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn has recorded more than 400 new coronavirus cases since Sept. 1. By comparison, the Corona section of Queens, which was ground zero for the New York City outbreak in the spring, has seen just 62 new cases despite having a third more residents.
Residents walk by a COVID-19 testing site in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Borough Park on September 23, 2020 in New York City. Spencer Platt via Getty Images
City officials began sounding the alarm about the recent increase in coronavirus cases in certain Orthodox neighborhoods last week, warning that gatherings during the Jewish high holidays could spark more infections. Dr. Mitchell Katz, the head of the city’s public hospital system, said Tuesday that he received reports that more people were wearing masks during Yom Kippur services Monday, a sign that the message is getting through.
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Avi Greenstein, the chief executive officer of the Boro Park Community Council, a social service organization in the heavily Orthodox Brooklyn neighborhood of Borough Park, said that mask wearing is indeed higher in the area than it was two weeks ago. But Greenstein said city officials should work with community leaders on coronavirus outreach rather than threatening heavy-handed enforcement. “There’s a way to do it,” he said. “There’s no need to threaten fines.”
People return from a prayer service in Borough Park where three members of the city’s Orthodox Jewish community died from the coronavirus over the last four days on September 28, 2020 in New York City. Spencer Platt via Getty Images
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, speaking in Albany as de Blasio held his daily coronavirus briefing in New York City, also addressed the increase in virus cases in Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods inside and outside of the city.
“This is a concern for their community,” Cuomo said. “It’s also a public health concern for surrounding communities. And I’ve said from Day One, these public health rules apply to every religion. Atheists. It just applies to every citizen in the state of New York, period.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--Trump Administration Abandons Fight Over Abortion For Undocumented Teens

The fight at the intersection of two issues Trump has taken an aggressive stance on ― immigration and reproductive rights ― came to a close Tuesday after the Trump administration announced it would no longer require the Office of Refugee Resettlement ( ORR ) to notify the guardian of a teen in the department ’ s custody that the teen was seeking an abortion .
The American Civil Liberties Union first sued the Trump administration in 2017 when his ORR refused to grant minors access to the abortion altogether .
Though the administration surrendered on that thrust of the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for parental consent requirements until Tuesday .
Following the newly issued ORR rules , the ACLU alerted the U.S. District Court in Washington , D.C. , that it was dropping its case .
“ We ’ ve dismissed our case against ORR , but we ’ ll keep monitoring the situation to ensure this policy is properly applied , ” the group tweeted .
“ While this change rights one of the wrongs committed against immigrants in detention , there ’ s still a fight ahead to defend reproductive freedom for all.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be required to comply with any state laws that mandate parental consent for an abortion .
The Justice Department has also agreed to pay more than $ 330,000 to the ACLU to cover its legal fees incurred during the three-year battle .
The ACLU ’ s lawsuit came to be after a 17-year-old girl who came to the U.S. alone in 2017 was placed in the custody of ORR .
The office ’ s new director , Scott Lloyd , had denied every abortion request that came across his desk , even when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undocumented girl , known as Jane Doe , was able to get an abortion after she sued Trump ’ s administration in federal court .
However , in 2019 the Supreme Court gave the go-ahead for litigation over the issue to continue in lower courts , as it affects other detained minors .
Doe released a statement through the ACLU on Tuesday saying she was pleased to know other minors in her situation would be able to seek an abortion without undue burdens .
“ After three years of waiting , I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me will never happen to anyone else , ” she said .
“ The decision to have an abortion is personal and belongs to each individual — no one should be shamed for making the right decision for themselves or blocked from doing so .
I came to this country to make a better life for myself , and I am working on a building a life that I can be proud of .
I am happy to know that my fight means that other young women like me will be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a parent for themselves .
”

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President Donald Trump’s administration has given up on its yearslong battle to stop or place burdens on undocumented teenagers in government custody seeking abortions.
The fight at the intersection of two issues Trump has taken an aggressive stance on ― immigration and reproductive rights ― came to a close Tuesday after the Trump administration announced it would no longer require the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to notify the guardian of a teen in the department’s custody that the teen was seeking an abortion.
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BuzzFeed News was the first to report on the new guidance being issued.
The American Civil Liberties Union first sued the Trump administration in 2017 when his ORR refused to grant minors access to the abortion altogether. Though the administration surrendered on that thrust of the issue last year, it continued to push for parental consent requirements until Tuesday.
Following the newly issued ORR rules, the ACLU alerted the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., that it was dropping its case.
BREAKING: After three years of litigation, the Trump administration has changed its policy of obstructing immigrant youth in Office of Refugee Resettlement custody from accessing confidential abortion care. — ACLU (@ACLU) September 29, 2020
“We’ve dismissed our case against ORR, but we’ll keep monitoring the situation to ensure this policy is properly applied,” the group tweeted. “While this change rights one of the wrongs committed against immigrants in detention, there’s still a fight ahead to defend reproductive freedom for all.”
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The ORR, however, will still be required to comply with any state laws that mandate parental consent for an abortion.
The Justice Department has also agreed to pay more than $330,000 to the ACLU to cover its legal fees incurred during the three-year battle.
The ACLU’s lawsuit came to be after a 17-year-old girl who came to the U.S. alone in 2017 was placed in the custody of ORR. The office’s new director, Scott Lloyd, had denied every abortion request that came across his desk, even when the pregnancy resulted from rape.
The undocumented girl, known as Jane Doe, was able to get an abortion after she sued Trump’s administration in federal court. However, in 2019 the Supreme Court gave the go-ahead for litigation over the issue to continue in lower courts, as it affects other detained minors.
Doe released a statement through the ACLU on Tuesday saying she was pleased to know other minors in her situation would be able to seek an abortion without undue burdens.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--Veteran Who Voted For Trump Now Backs Biden After Wife Dies Of COVID-19

A retired Air Force veteran in Arizona who voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 has had a change of heart — and it ’ s personal .
Dave Dahlstrom , a self-proclaimed lifelong conservative , told ABC ’ s affiliate station KNXV that he is “ switching my vote to [ Joe ] Biden in November ” after losing his wife of more than 30 years to complications from COVID-19 .
Dahlstrom told the Phoenix-based news station that he believes the Trump administration ’ s public ambivalence toward the coronavirus when it first hit the United States contributed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevented .
“ Our leadership really failed the American people , and they failed my family , and they failed our friends , ” he said .
“ I ’ m really bothered by all of that.
” Earlier this month , Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward released audio recordings with Trump for his book “ Rage.
” They revealed that the president knew in early February that the coronavirus posed a unique and deadly threat , but publicly downplayed the seriousness of it by claiming it was no more dangerous than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ You just breathe the air and that ’ s how it ’ s passed , ” Trump said in a Feb. 7 call with Woodward .
“ And so that ’ s a very tricky one .
That ’ s a very delicate one .
It ’ s also more deadly than even your strenuous flus.
” “ I still like playing it down , because I don ’ t want to create a panic , ” Trump said .
According to KNXV , Dahlstrom ’ s wife , Cindy , 72 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Defense , and when she retired , she spent her free time “ working at a kitchen that served homeless men and women.
” In June , Cindy flew to Denver to visit her daughter and grandchildren .
Dahlstrom told the outlet that it was “ really important ” for his wife to visit her family , saying she “ understood the risks.
” “ She was an exceptionally cautious woman , ” he said .
Four days after flying , however , Cindy tested positive for the coronavirus and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died on July 6 — just 15 days after contracting the virus .
Dahlstrom said his wife ’ s only underlying condition was a lung that was scarred from a prior bout with valley flu .
“ They pulled the ventilator .
Two minutes later , she passed away , ” Dahlstrom told KNXV .
“ It was just a dynamic I would never wish on anybody .
It was just terrible.
” As of Tuesday , there have been over 7 million cases of COVID-19 in the United States and over 205,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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A retired Air Force veteran in Arizona who voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 has had a change of heart — and it’s personal.
Dave Dahlstrom, a self-proclaimed lifelong conservative, told ABC’s affiliate station KNXV that he is “switching my vote to [Joe] Biden in November” after losing his wife of more than 30 years to complications from COVID-19.
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Dahlstrom told the Phoenix-based news station that he believes the Trump administration’s public ambivalence toward the coronavirus when it first hit the United States contributed to hardships and deaths that could have been prevented.
“Our leadership really failed the American people, and they failed my family, and they failed our friends,” he said. “I’m really bothered by all of that.”
Earlier this month, Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward released audio recordings with Trump for his book “Rage.” They revealed that the president knew in early February that the coronavirus posed a unique and deadly threat, but publicly downplayed the seriousness of it by claiming it was no more dangerous than the flu and would eventually go away.
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“You just breathe the air and that’s how it’s passed,” Trump said in a Feb. 7 call with Woodward. “And so that’s a very tricky one. That’s a very delicate one. It’s also more deadly than even your strenuous flus.”
“This is deadly stuff,” he repeated.
Trump later told Woodward on March 19 why he “wanted to always play it down.”
“I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic,” Trump said.
According to KNXV, Dahlstrom’s wife, Cindy, 72, spent most of her career at the Department of Defense, and when she retired, she spent her free time “working at a kitchen that served homeless men and women.”
In June, Cindy flew to Denver to visit her daughter and grandchildren. Dahlstrom told the outlet that it was “really important” for his wife to visit her family, saying she “understood the risks.” “She was an exceptionally cautious woman,” he said. Four days after flying, however, Cindy tested positive for the coronavirus and was put on a ventilator. She died on July 6 — just 15 days after contracting the virus.
Dahlstrom said his wife’s only underlying condition was a lung that was scarred from a prior bout with valley fever.
“They pulled the ventilator. Two minutes later, she passed away,” Dahlstrom told KNXV. “It was just a dynamic I would never wish on anybody. It was just terrible.”
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As of Tuesday, there have been over 7 million cases of COVID-19 in the United States and over 205,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--National Institutes of Health Director Urges Americans To Believe Science

“ Of all the developments that cause me concern over the past few years , none is greater than the growing disregard of maintaining a high standard of objective truth , ” said the 70-year-old geneticist and devout Christian , who received the award for demonstrating how science and faith are compatible .
Collins is one of the researchers credited with pinpointing the genes responsible for genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis .
In 2009 , former President Barack Obama tapped him to lead the National Institutes of Health , the government agency that heads up medical and public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a global threat , Collins said he hoped it would draw people together against a common enemy .
Instead , people have become more divided , he said .
The geneticist bemoaned how simple , scientifically approved ways of combating the virus — such as wearing a face mask or getting a vaccine once one becomes available — have become controversial issues .
These divisions are taking place against the backdrop of climate change , which Collins called the “ greatest long-term threat to our planet.
” Although the data clearly demonstrates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human activity is largely responsible for it , people still doubt the science , he noted .
“ As time passes with no coordinated plan of action , we grow closer and closer to a potentially devastating outcome .
Surely all of us who care about our planet should be invested in creation care ?
Yet again , we are polarized , ” he said .
“ Any serious look at our current circumstances reveals that the consequences of 400 years of slavery and discrimination are still with us , and demand significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But once again , not all agree , and the polarization of Americans is glaringly apparent.
” Collins didn ’ t explicitly name President Donald Trump in his speech .
But he did hint at the upcoming election , stating that it was important to choose leaders who are “ healers , promoters of truth , the rule of law , advocates of spiritual anchoring , and proponents of love , respect , justice , and compassion.
” The Trump administration has taken significant steps to scale back the country ’ s efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied that systemic racism in policing exists .
The president was initially resistant to wearing face masks himself to combat COVID-19 and has also publicly clashed with Anthony Fauci , who leads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
Collins , who is Fauci ’ s boss , has steadfastly defended the infectious disease expert , including in April , when Trump shared a tweet arguing it was “ Time to # FireFauci.
” Collins has also had to directly push back against Trump ’ s suggestion that a coronavirus vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earlier this month , Collins said he was “ puzzled ” and “ disheartened ” by Trump ’ s decision to hold a campaign rally in Michigan that drew several thousand attendees , many of whom were not wearing face masks or socially distancing .
Collins suggested that an alien who realized that masks had become a politically partisan issue would conclude that “ this is just not a planet that has much promise for the future if something that is so straightforward can somehow get twisted into decision-making that really makes no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embraced Christianity in his 20s , Collins has invested time in reaching out to those in his faith community who are wary of science .
He is the founder of BioLogos , a faith-based advocacy group that promotes the idea that science and faith are compatible ― and that one can actually enhance the other .
Public opinion polls have shown that white evangelicals , in particular , have generally been less worried about contracting COVID-19 and are more ready for life to return to normal than other faith groups .
They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change is occurring and the most likely to say that police killings of unarmed Black men are isolated incidents .

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Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, is decrying the political polarization that has led some Americans to question the science behind climate change and COVID-19.
Collins, who led the Human Genome Project that mapped human DNA, urged Americans to renew their commitment to “truth and reason” while accepting the 2020 Templeton Prize, one of the world’s top religious awards, on Thursday.
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“Of all the developments that cause me concern over the past few years, none is greater than the growing disregard of maintaining a high standard of objective truth,” said the 70-year-old geneticist and devout Christian, who received the award for demonstrating how science and faith are compatible.
“Somehow, with a lot of assistance from social media, the adherence to fact over fiction, to accurate narrative over conspiracy theory, has taken a major hit. All thinking persons should raise the alarm about this,” he said.
Collins is one of the researchers credited with pinpointing the genes responsible for genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis. In 2009, former President Barack Obama tapped him to lead the National Institutes of Health, the government agency that heads up medical and public health research.
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Collins spoke during the awards ceremony about how he spends “almost every waking hour” fighting COVID-19 ― from trying to accelerate the development of better diagnostic tests to working on vaccines to prevent future infections.
When the pandemic first emerged as a global threat, Collins said he hoped it would draw people together against a common enemy. Instead, people have become more divided, he said. The geneticist bemoaned how simple, scientifically approved ways of combating the virus — such as wearing a face mask or getting a vaccine once one becomes available — have become controversial issues.
“What should have been harmony in the name of saving lives has become a conflict,” Collins said.
These divisions are taking place against the backdrop of climate change, which Collins called the “greatest long-term threat to our planet.” Although the data clearly demonstrates that climate change is real and that human activity is largely responsible for it, people still doubt the science, he noted.
“As time passes with no coordinated plan of action, we grow closer and closer to a potentially devastating outcome. Surely all of us who care about our planet should be invested in creation care? Yet again, we are polarized,” he said.
Collins also lamented that Americans are still divided about the fact that systemic racism exists.
“Any serious look at our current circumstances reveals that the consequences of 400 years of slavery and discrimination are still with us, and demand significant change,” he said. “But once again, not all agree, and the polarization of Americans is glaringly apparent.”
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Collins didn’t explicitly name President Donald Trump in his speech. But he did hint at the upcoming election, stating that it was important to choose leaders who are “healers, promoters of truth, the rule of law, advocates of spiritual anchoring, and proponents of love, respect, justice, and compassion.”
The Trump administration has taken significant steps to scale back the country’s efforts to fight climate change. Trump has denied that systemic racism in policing exists. The president was initially resistant to wearing face masks himself to combat COVID-19 and has also publicly clashed with Anthony Fauci, who leads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Collins, who is Fauci’s boss, has steadfastly defended the infectious disease expert, including in April, when Trump shared a tweet arguing it was “Time to #FireFauci.” Collins has also had to directly push back against Trump’s suggestion that a coronavirus vaccine would be available by Election Day.
Earlier this month, Collins said he was “puzzled” and “disheartened” by Trump’s decision to hold a campaign rally in Michigan that drew several thousand attendees, many of whom were not wearing face masks or socially distancing. Collins suggested that an alien who realized that masks had become a politically partisan issue would conclude that “this is just not a planet that has much promise for the future if something that is so straightforward can somehow get twisted into decision-making that really makes no sense.”
Francis Collins holds up a model of the novel coronavirus during a Senate subcommittee hearing on July 2, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)
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As a former atheist who embraced Christianity in his 20s, Collins has invested time in reaching out to those in his faith community who are wary of science. He is the founder of BioLogos, a faith-based advocacy group that promotes the idea that science and faith are compatible ― and that one can actually enhance the other.
Last month, BioLogos organized a statement signed by dozens of Christian leaders calling on fellow believers to follow the advice of public health experts to combat COVID-19.
Public opinion polls have shown that white evangelicals, in particular, have generally been less worried about contracting COVID-19 and are more ready for life to return to normal than other faith groups. They are the demographic least likely to believe that climate change is occurring and the most likely to say that police killings of unarmed Black men are isolated incidents.
To heal all of these divides, Collins urged people to seek fact over fiction, renew their commitment to spirituality, and build friendships with those they disagree with.
“Reach out to listen, not to insult or denigrate. Seek the common ground of fairness and compassion,” he said. “Blessed are the depolarizers, for harmony can show us a better way.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-29--Texas City Purges Water Supply After 6-Year-Old Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba

The governor ’ s declaration on Sunday was for Brazoria County after the amoeba , Naegleria fowleri , was found in three of 11 water samples collected in the City of Lake Jackson .
Those positive samples were taken from a children ’ s splash pad in a public park , a nearby fire hydrant , and a watering hose outside the boy ’ s house .
“ I urge Texans in Lake Jackson to follow the guidance of local officials and take the appropriate precautions to protect their health and safety as we work to restore safe tap water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
The declaration comes after Josiah McIntyre , who was infected with the amoeba and became ill , died on Sept. 8 .
The amoeba causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis ( PAM ) , a disease of the central nervous system , according to health officials .
“ I just can ’ t believe it , he was fine and then he wasn ’ t , ” Maria Castillo told News 4 San Antonio of her family ’ s tragedy .
She said she hopes speaking out about her son ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick .
“ As a parent , it ’ s hard to not think about it .
Because I ’ m supposed to protect him and I couldn ’ t from this , ” she said .
The amoeba is found in warm freshwater and can enter the body and travel to the brain if water contaminated with it enters the nose .
Infection is rare but usually fatal , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ In very rare instances , Naegleria infections may also occur when contaminated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inadequately chlorinated swimming pool water or heated and contaminated tap water ) enters the nose , ” the CDC ’ s website states .
“ You can not get infected from swallowing water contaminated with Naegleria.
” National Guard soldiers and local government employees distribute bottled water to residents in Lake Jackson on Monday .
Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration on Sunday that extends across Brazoria County , where Lake Jackson is located .
There have been only 145 confirmed cases of PAM in the U.S. from 1962 through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only four survived .
The infections were primarily in 15 Southern states , with more than half of all of them taking place in Texas and Florida , according to the CDC .
The Brazosport Water Authority on Friday issued a do-not-use advisory for eight communities in response to the water ’ s positive test results .
This advisory was later lifted but a boil notice remained in effect as of Tuesday in Lake Jackson amid efforts to flush and disinfect the city ’ s entire water system .
Residents are also advised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside of drinking and cooking .
Authorities recommend running baths and shower taps for five minutes before using them to help flush out the pipes , and ensuring that swimming pools and hot tubs are adequately disinfected with chlorine before and during use .
“ The health and safety of the public is TCEQ ’ s priority .
It is not yet known how long it will take to adequately flush the system and test the water to ensure it is completely safe to use , ” the commission said .

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for a Houston-area county after a 6-year-old boy died from a brain-eating amoeba that was later detected in a local water supply.
The governor’s declaration on Sunday was for Brazoria County after the amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, was found in three of 11 water samples collected in the City of Lake Jackson. Those positive samples were taken from a children’s splash pad in a public park, a nearby fire hydrant, and a watering hose outside the boy’s house.
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“I urge Texans in Lake Jackson to follow the guidance of local officials and take the appropriate precautions to protect their health and safety as we work to restore safe tap water in the community,” Abbott said in a statement.
A Lake Jackson water waste operator flushes water from a fire hydrant on Monday in Lake Jackson, Texas, after a brain-eating amoeba was discovered in the city's water supply. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The declaration comes after Josiah McIntyre, who was infected with the amoeba and became ill, died on Sept. 8. The amoeba causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a disease of the central nervous system, according to health officials.
Josiah’s mother said her son first showed flu-like symptoms, including a headache and a fever. He then had trouble standing and communicating.
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“I just can’t believe it, he was fine and then he wasn’t,” Maria Castillo told News 4 San Antonio of her family’s tragedy. She said she hopes speaking out about her son’s death will keep others from getting sick.
6-year-old Josiah died on Sept. 8 after being infected with a brain-eating amoeba. His death prompted @LakeJacksonTX to test the water. CDC preliminary results came back yesterday. 3 of 11 samples were positive: a downtown splash pad, his home's hose bib and a hydrant. #khou11 https://t.co/rggdGw8LDh pic.twitter.com/iylTXpFc3C — David Gonzalez (@DavidGonzKHOU) September 26, 2020
“As a parent, it’s hard to not think about it. Because I’m supposed to protect him and I couldn’t from this,” she said.
The amoeba is found in warm freshwater and can enter the body and travel to the brain if water contaminated with it enters the nose. Infection is rare but usually fatal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“In very rare instances, Naegleria infections may also occur when contaminated water from other sources (such as inadequately chlorinated swimming pool water or heated and contaminated tap water) enters the nose,” the CDC’s website states. “You cannot get infected from swallowing water contaminated with Naegleria.”
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National Guard soldiers and local government employees distribute bottled water to residents in Lake Jackson on Monday. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration on Sunday that extends across Brazoria County, where Lake Jackson is located. ASSOCIATED PRESS
There have been only 145 confirmed cases of PAM in the U.S. from 1962 through 2018. Of those infected individuals, only four survived. The infections were primarily in 15 Southern states, with more than half of all of them taking place in Texas and Florida, according to the CDC.
The Brazosport Water Authority on Friday issued a do-not-use advisory for eight communities in response to the water’s positive test results. This advisory was later lifted but a boil notice remained in effect as of Tuesday in Lake Jackson amid efforts to flush and disinfect the city’s entire water system.
Reminder: A Boil Water Notice is in effect for the City of Lake Jackson.
Boiling the tap water makes it safe for drinking & cooking. For all other uses, citizens are urged to take these precautions.
Additional Info: https://t.co/gc2EZ6mE5b pic.twitter.com/3NNqUVUwbP — Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (@TCEQ) September 28, 2020
“Until the flushing and disinfecting process is complete, the city remains under the boil notice,” the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) said in a statement.
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Residents are also advised to take extra precautions when using water outside of drinking and cooking. Authorities recommend running baths and shower taps for five minutes before using them to help flush out the pipes, and ensuring that swimming pools and hot tubs are adequately disinfected with chlorine before and during use.