thetorontostar--2020-03-02--Exit polls: Netanyahu short of majority in Israel vote

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an edge over his main rival in Israel ’ s third election in under a year , exit polls indicated Monday night , but it was unclear whether he could clinch the parliamentary majority needed to claim victory .
Exit polls on Israel ’ s main TV channels showed Netanyahu and his nationalist and religious allies winning 59 seats , two short of a parliamentary majority .
The centre-left bloc , led by former military chief Benny Gantz , was projected to win 54 to 55 seats .
Earlier projections had forecast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , putting him on the cusp of victory .
If the official results from Monday ’ s election match the exit polls , Netanyahu could find himself stuck in continued political deadlock ahead of his trial on corruption charges , set to begin March 17 .
Netanyahu , the longest-serving leader in Israeli history , has been a caretaker prime minister for more than a year as a divided country has weathered two inconclusive votes and prolonged political paralysis .
With pre-election opinion polls forecasting another deadlock , Netanyahu had sought a late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority along with other nationalist parties for a fourth consecutive term in office and fifth overall .
He appeared to get it in the form of a surprisingly high turnout despite the weariness accompanying the second repeat election .
Netanyahu tweeted a heart emoji with the word “ thanks ” as well as photo of himself surrounded by his family , aides and supporters proclaiming “ a giant victory for Israel.
” “ The nation had its say , a referendum that proved the trust of the people in Netanyahu and in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the attempts to depose Netanyahu , ” Regev said .
But as the exit polls scaled back Likud ’ s apparent performance , Netanyahu delayed what had been expected to be a joyous victory speech .
At 1:30 a.m , Netanyahu still had not emerged at his party ’ s headquarters .
Netanyahu ’ s Likud party was projected to win 36-37 seats , a gain from September , when it won 32 .
Gantz ’ s centrist Blue and White party , which ran on a message that the prime minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious charges against him , was projected to win 32-34 seats , roughly the same number as in September .
Gantz did not concede defeat and said he would “ continue fighting ” on behalf of his supporters .
Despite Netanyahu ’ s impressive showing , neither party appeared able to form a coalition with its traditional allies .
With the prospect of a unity government between them seemingly off the table after a particularly nasty campaign , the vote may well turn into merely a preamble to another election if Netanyahu ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority .
“ This is clearly an achievement from Netanyahu ’ s standpoint but by no means is it a clear , decisive outcome that enables him to form a stable , functioning government , ” said Yohanan Plesner , president of the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute .
“ The country is heading toward constitutional uncertainty.
” There was little fanfare ahead of the vote , with a noticeable absence of campaign posters on the streets and public rallies that typically characterize the run-up to Israeli elections .
The elections commission said 71 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher than the previous elections last April and September .
Israel set up some 15 stations to allow voting by hundreds of people who have been ordered to remain in home quarantine after possible exposure to the coronavirus .
“ The corona thing is completely under control .
Today we ’ ve taken all the precautions that are necessary .
People can go and vote with complete confidence , ” Netanyahu said after casting his ballot in Jerusalem .
Netanyahu sought to portray himself as a statesman who is uniquely qualified to lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has tried to paint him as divisive and scandal-plagued , offering himself as a calming influence and an honest alternative .
U.S. President Donald Trump ’ s Mideast initiative , which strongly favours Israel and was rejected by the Palestinians , had been expected to give Netanyahu a major boost .
But both Netanyahu and Gantz welcomed the initiative , and it appears to have had little impact on voters .
Gantz says he favours a national unity government with Likud , but only if it rids itself of its longtime leader because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netanyahu , who still enjoys widespread support in his party , insists he must remain prime minister in any unity deal .
With his career on the line , Netanyahu campaigned furiously .
He took a hard turn to the right in hopes of rallying his nationalist base , promising to expand and annex West Bank settlements .
In a campaign marked by ugly smears , Netanyahu ’ s surrogates have spread unfounded allegations that Gantz is corrupt , unstable and susceptible to blackmail by Iran .
Netanyahu is desperate to assemble a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He has failed to secure himself immunity from prosecution , but with a strong hold on power he could seek other avenues to derail the legal proceedings against him .
Netanyahu is charged with bribery , fraud and breach of trust stemming from accusations he accepted lavish gifts from billionaire friends and promised to promote advantageous legislation for a major newspaper in exchange for favourable coverage .
He vowed to prove his innocence in court .
Maverick politician Avigdor Lieberman , whose party is projected to win 6-8 seats , once again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not committed himself to either candidate , although he has promised there will not be a fourth election .
A weary-looking Lieberman vowed to stick to his principles and said he would take stock once the final results are in .
“ We won ’ t move a millimeter from what we promised our voters , “ he said .
Official results are expected overnight .
Attention will then shift to President Reuven Rivlin , who is responsible for choosing a candidate for prime minister .
He is supposed to select the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance of putting together a stable coalition .
The honour usually goes to the head of the largest party , but not necessarily .
Just as important is the number of lawmakers outside the party who recommend the candidate .
Rivlin ’ s selection will then have up to six weeks to form a coalition .
If he fails , another candidate then has 28 days to form an alternative coalition .
If that effort fails , new elections would be forced .
“ This is usually a holiday , but to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , just a sense of deep shame before you , the citizens of Israel , ” Rivlin said as he voted .
“ We don ’ t deserve another horrible and filthy campaign like the one that ends today and we don ’ t deserve this endless instability .
We deserve a government that will work for us .
”


thetorontostar--2020-03-02--Scientists meet in Havana on diplomats’ mystery illnesses

HAVANA - Some scientists who gathered Monday for a two-day conference on the mysterious illnesses suffered by U.S. and Canadian diplomats in Havana said they suspected pesticides as a possible culprit , although results remained inconclusive .
The dozens of illnesses reported in recent years led the U.S. and Canada to sharply reduce the staffing at their embassies in Cuba .
The phenomenon also led to increased tension between Cuba and the Trump administration , which accused Cuba of bearing at least some responsibility for the illnesses .
The conference entitled “ Is There a Havana Syndrome ?
” brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Halifax , Canada , Edinburgh , Scotland , the universities of California at Los Angeles and San Diego .
Mitchell Valdés-Sosa , a Cuban neuroscientist , said the conference was meant to debate the best way of investigating the phenomenon that left dozens of diplomats reporting illnesses including headaches , dizziness and long-term neurological problems .
But he said he was already sure that what happened was not the result of any deliberate action , as the U.S. has alleged .
“ We believe the truth will come out with the passage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
” Obviously , we don ’ t believe the idea that the diplomats were attacked.
’ ’ Valdés-Sosa said Cuba and Canada had discussed the possibility that the symptoms were caused by chemicals used to fumigate against mosquitoes .
Other participants in the conference said they believed the diplomats had suffered some sort of genuine health effects , although the causes remained far from clear .
“ There is a cluster of reports of people who are sincerely suffering and whether the cause is some sort of magical ray-gun or some sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that it ’ s caused through effectively psychiatric causes , we don ’ t know , ” said Mark Cohen , a professor of psychiatry at UCLA .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-02--Trump lobs fresh barbs at Dems, aims to rally GOP faithful

CHARLOTTE , N.C. - President Donald Trump lobbed fresh criticism at the Democratic presidential field Monday as he made an appearance in North Carolina to rev up his supporters on the eve of Super Tuesday ’ s big round of primaries .
Before leaving Washington , Trump offered reassurances about the government ’ s response to the coronavirus outbreak , saying “ our professionals are doing , really , an incredible job.
” He had one eye clearly focused on the unsettled Democratic race to decide who will face him in November .
Trump has offered daily commentary on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat has a chance against him , ridiculing the top tier of candidates with derisive nicknames , and arguing that the party ’ s establishment is trying to steal the nomination from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders .
He tweeted Monday about former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg ’ s “ hapless campaign ” and “ low-rated debates ” by the “ Radical Left.
” It ’ s a crucial moment in nomination battle : Former Vice-President Joe Biden scored a big victory in South Carolina Saturday , and is making the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop Sanders , a Democratic socialist , to give Democrats a shot at beating Trump in November .
Two moderates are exiting the race : former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar .
Bloomberg , who skipped the first four contests , will appear on the ballot for the first time Tuesday .
Trump speculated there may have been a “ quid pro quo “ for Buttigieg — the offer of a job in the next Democratic administration for dropping out and endorsing Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there ’ s no question about it , ” he said .
Trump said he had no qualms about attending a large stadium rally despite the coronavirus threat .
“ I think it ’ s very safe , ” Trump said of campaign rallies , adding that the Democratic candidates are having plenty of rallies themselves .
The threat of the virus didn ’ t deter fans of Trump from attending Monday ’ s rally in Charlotte , where people in the stands shared buckets of chicken fingers and dunked their hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awaited the president ’ s arrival .
The coronavirus outbreak has killed more than 3,000 globally and upended life for many around the globe .
In the U.S. , the number of infections has surpassed 100 , with six dead .
Federal officials have not advised against large gatherings in the U.S. , leaving that to local officials to address .
North Carolina , a perennial swing state , is among the 14 states , one territory and voters abroad that will cast their ballots Tuesday , races that represent about a third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally in Charlotte follows his campaign ’ s pattern of churning out robust counter-programming throughout the Democratic nominating process .
In recent weeks , the president has held rallies in each of the four early voting states for the presidential nomination .
The president and the GOP are giving North Carolina , which has been decided by close margins over the last three presidential election cycles , plenty of attention .
Republicans have picked Charlotte to host the Republican National Convention .
Trump also visited Charlotte last month as part of a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summits , programs he and administration officials have highlighted as he tries to chip away at the Democrats ’ electoral advantage in minority communities .
AP writer Noreen Gillespie contributed to this report from Charlotte , N.C .


thetorontostar--2020-03-02--More testing sheds light on how virus is spreading in US

SEATTLE - An increase in testing for the coronavirus began shedding light Monday on how the illness has spread in the United States , including among nursing home residents in one Washington state facility .
New diagnoses in several states pushed the tally of COVID-19 cases past 100 , and New Hampshire reported its first case , raising the total of affected states to 11 .
Seattle officials announced four more deaths , bringing the total in the U.S. to six .
In Seattle , King County Executive Dow Constantine declared an emergency and said the county was buying a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for patients who need to be isolated .
He said the facility should be available by the end of the week .
“ We have moved to a new stage in the fight , ” he said .
Vice-President Mike Pence met with the nation ’ s governors and pledged to continue updating them weekly by teleconference .
President Donald Trump met with pharmaceutical companies to talk about progress toward a vaccine .
Four of the dead were residents of a nursing home in Kirkland , Washington , according to King County health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troubled health care experts because of the vulnerability of sick and elderly people to the illness and existing problems in nursing facilities .
“ It ’ s going to be a disaster , “ said Charlene Harrington , who studies nursing homes at the University of California , San Francisco .
Infection is already a huge problem in U.S. nursing homes because of a lack of nurses and training .
In Texas , tension between U.S. and local officials brewed over the planned release Monday of more than 120 ex-passengers of the Diamond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antonio .
Mayor Ron Nirenberg declared a public safety emergency in an attempt to continue the quarantine .
He and other officials in San Antonio called for more lab testing of the passengers after one woman tested positive after release .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said its case count includes 45 infections among people who were on the cruise ship , one more than previously reported .
The count includes people who tested positive after returning from travel to outbreak areas in other parts of the world , their close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from community spread — people who did not travel or have known contact with other infected people .
The CDC recently broadened its guidelines for who should be tested for the new virus to include people with symptoms but without a travel history to virus hot zones .
More testing will bring more confirmed cases , experts said , but they cautioned that does not mean the virus is gaining speed .
Instead , the testing is likely to reveal a picture of the virus ’ spread that was previously invisible .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but health experts cautioned that closures can have downsides .
On Monday , the F5 technology company said it was closing its 44-story tower in downtown Seattle after learning an employee had been in contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus .
The employee tested negative , but company spokesman Rob Gruening said the tower was closed as a precaution .
More than 10 schools in the Seattle area were closed for deep cleaning over virus concerns , although the city-county public health department said it was not yet recommending school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools and cancelling large gatherings are what ’ s called social distancing , the idea that distancing people will reduce spread .
The evidence for those steps is “ not as strong as we would like it to be , ” Jennifer Nuzzo of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security cautioned Monday during a webinar .
Measures such as school closures have been used during flu outbreaks , and the new coronavirus isn ’ t acting exactly like flu .
Moreover , they have downsides .
“ Maybe it makes people more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it doesn ’ t if people re-congregate elsewhere , ” Nuzzo said .
Closing schools also leaves health care workers , first responders and others without child care , making it difficult for them to come to work .
Trump and members of his Cabinet met at the White House with executives of 10 pharmaceutical companies to discuss ways to speed the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus .
There are no proven treatments for COVID-19 .
In China , scientists have been testing a combination of HIV drugs against the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug named remdesivir that was in development to fight Ebola .
In the U.S. , the University of Nebraska Medical Center also began testing remdesivir in some Americans who were found to have COVID-19 after being evacuated from a cruise ship in Japan .
It ’ s not clear how quickly such studies will answer whether any of the drugs help .
Many patients recover without needing any treatment .
The biggest concern is how to help the fraction who become severely ill. Pence , who also attended the Monday meeting , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of airlines and cruise ship operations .
On Capitol Hill , negotiations on a bipartisan , emergency $ 7 billion to $ 8 billion measure to battle the virus are almost complete , according to both Democratic and GOP aides .
The measure appears on track to be unveiled as early as Tuesday , and the hope is to speed it quickly through both House and Senate by the end of the week .
The measure would finance both federal and state response efforts , fund the federal government ’ s drive to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer Small Business Administration disaster loans to help businesses directly affected by the virus crisis .
At the Pentagon , the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , Gen. Mark Milley , told reporters that the COVID-19 outbreak has had little impact on the U.S. military .
“ Right now the overall broad impact to the U.S. uniformed military is very , very minimal .
That ’ s not to say it ’ s zero , ” he said .
U.S .
Surgeon General Jerome Adams discussed the virus Monday during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touring the state public health laboratory .
“ Caution , preparedness , but not panic , ” Adams said .
“ That ’ s how we ’ re going to successfully navigate this coronavirus situation.
” Adams and state Public Health Commissioner Renee Coleman-Mitchell urged the public to take precautions such as washing hands , elbow “ bumping ” instead of hand shaking and getting flu shots .
They said flu shots would decrease the number of people hospitalized because of flu and free up space , if needed , to treat patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writers Kevin Freking and Lauran Neergaard in Washington , Terry Wallace in Dallas and Dave Collins in Rocky Hill , Connecticut , contributed to this report .
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .


thetorontostar--2020-03-02--Man pleads not guilty in 1991 Missouri killing of classmate

JEFFERSON CITY , Mo .
- A Missouri man charged in the fatal shooting his 14-year-old classmate almost 30 years ago pleaded not guilty Monday to first-degree murder .
William Christopher Niemet , 43 , of Fulton , is charged in the death of Greg Jones , whose body was found in June 1991 near Russellville .
He had been shot twice in the head , authorities said last week .
Niemet was 15 at the time .
Niemet , who appeared via video from the Cole County Jail , will be back in court next Monday to determine if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jefferson City News-Tribune reported .
Niemet ’ s attorney , Curtis Hanrahan , asked that his client be given a $ 100,000 bond .
He said Niemet operates several businesses employing about 100 people in Missouri , Iowa and Illinois , and would agree to stay under house arrest with an ankle monitor if he was released on bond .
Cole County Associate Circuit Court Judge Cotton Walker delayed action on the bond until March 9 , noting that people connected to the case had asked to be present at Niemet ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Cole County Sheriff ’ s Department probable cause statement filed when Niemet was charged last week does not indicate a motive for the shooting , and does not say if the gun used in the killing was recovered .
It does note ammunition recovered at Niemet ’ s home at the time matched the type of rounds recovered in Jones ’ skull .
The probable cause statement says several witnesses told police Niemet “ claimed responsibility for the murder of Greg Jones , with three witnesses reporting Niemet told them about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1991 not long after Jones ’ body was found but the juvenile court case was eventually dropped , and Niemet filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the county and then-Sheriff John Hemeyer in 1997 .
That lawsuit was later dismissed .
The Fulton Sun reported that Niemet was implicated but never charged in a 2005 death in Fulton .
The victim , Shawnda Reed , was shot to death in her home .
Niemet , who was Reed ’ s landlord , was charged with insurance fraud after prosecutors alleged he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Reed ’ s life .
They also charged him with forgery , alleging Niemet had used false documents to obtain financing to construct Reed ’ s home .
Prosecutors dropped the charges in 2006 , citing a lack of evidence .
The investigation into Reed ’ s death is still open .


thetorontostar--2020-03-02--Man accused of killing officer indicted on gun possession

WARRIOR , Ala. - An Alabama man accused of fatally shooting a police officer in an ambush has been indicted on firearm possession charges .
Preston Chyenne Johnson , 37 , was indicted Thursday on three counts of illegal firearm possession , news outlets reported Monday .
Johnson is awaiting trial in the February slaying of Kimberly Police Officer Nick O ’ Rear .
Johnson was charged with capital murder , attempted murder of a police officer and firing a gun at police .
O ’ Rear was assisting officers from another department with a pursuit on Feb. 4 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rear and he was pronounced dead at the hospital the next day .
Kimberly Mayor Bob Ellerbrock described the slaying as an ambush .
O ’ Rear had been with the department about a year .
He was the father of two children and had another on the way , Ellerbrock said .
“ Everybody loved him , ” Ellerbrock said .
“ He was a tremendous asset to our community.
” Johnson has been arrested multiple times on drug possession and other charges over the past decade , court records show .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alabama said Johnson knowingly purchased and possessed three separate firearms while being a convicted felon .
Johnson faces 10 years if convicted of illegally possessing firearms .
It ’ s unclear whether Johnson had an attorney who could comment on his behalf .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-02--Man gets 5+ years’ prison for harassing Parkland victims

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. - A California man who is on the autism spectrum was sentenced Monday to more than five years in prison for cyberstalking families of Parkland , Florida , school shooting victims .
U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz imposed the sentence on 22-year-old Brandon Fleury of Santa Ana , California , rejecting a request by prosecutors for the maximum 20-year sentence .
Fleury was convicted by a jury in October of three counts of cyberstalking and one count of transmitting a kidnapping threat .
Trial evidence showed that between December 2018 and January 2019 , Fleury used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families of victims of the Valentine ’ s Day 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School , which left 17 dead and 17 wounded .
In some messages , he claimed kinship with and even impersonated shooting defendant Nikolas Cruz .
In others , he invoked the names of infamous serial killers such as Ted Bundy .
“ I killed your loved ones hahaha , “ one message said .
“ Did you like my Valentines gift ?
I killed your friends , ” said another .
One of his user names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show .
One message from that account said this : “ Hahaha she had her whole life ahead of her and I STOLE IT FROM HER , “ according to court documents .
“ The victims lived in constant fear that the individual bombarding them “ with the messages would follow in Cruz ’ s footsteps , Assistant U.S. Attorney Ajay Alexander said in court papers .
” The victims deserve justice .
They deserve to live in peace and with the belief that they are safe and secure.
“ On Fleury ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of saved images of Bundy , images of the targeted victims and screenshots of the messages that he had sent the victims .
“ The danger that Fleury poses is clear and if given the opportunity , there is a real danger that he will attempt to follow in the footsteps of the very mass murderers and serial killers that he idolizes , ” Alexander said .
There was ample testimony at Fleury ’ s trial that he is autistic , although several mental health experts said he did understand right from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Puglisi , said she had hoped the judge would give greater weight to his mental issues in imposing a sentence .
“ I think that it ’ s a high sentence given Brandon ’ s background and other similarly situated cases , but I believe that the judge felt the need to have the sentence send a message to others that are out there on the internet doing this bad behaviour , ” Puglisi said .
Meanwhile , Cruz , 21 , faces the death penalty if convicted in the Parkland shooting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ guilty in exchange for a life prison sentence , but prosecutors have rejected the offer .
Cruz ’ s trial is expected to begin sometime later this year .


thetorontostar--2020-03-02--1st African American on Illinois high court dies at 86

CHICAGO - Justice Charles E. Freeman , the first African American to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court , died on Monday , according to a statement from the state ’ s high court .
He was 86 .
Current Chief Justice Anne M. Burke heralded Freeman as someone with a sharp legal mind who broke down barriers throughout his life .
“ Justice Freeman was ... a trailblazer , “ she said in the statement announcing Freeman ’ s death .
She added : ” He was a gentleman and a truly gracious individual .
I never heard him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Freeman , who was also the first African American to become chief justice on the court , won election to the open seat in 1990 by defeating Republican candidate Robert Chapman Buckley with 62 % of the vote .
Freeman retired in 2018 .
While a Cook County circuit judge from 1976 to 1986 , Freeman was the first African American to swear in a Chicago mayor .
It was Harold Washington , who became the city ’ s first black mayor in 1983 .
Once asked about the significance of his becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Freeman said it would not influence his assessment of the law , according to the Monday ’ s statement .
“ I ’ m an African American who now has become chief judge , “ he said .
” I ’ m not an African American chief justice .
I have no different perception on what course I would take because of my heritage.
” Freeman was born in Richmond , Virginia , on Dec. 12 , 1933 , a descendant of slaves who secured their freedom before the Civil War .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia Union University and got his law degree from John Marshall Law School in 1962 .
Burke described Freeman as a devoted family man , saying Freeman told her how his wife of more than 50 years , Marylee , would slip a love note into his suitcase every time he travelled to Springfield .
“ I knew then that they had one of those storybook romances — everlasting , ” Burke said .
The supreme court statement says Freeman is survived by his son , Kevin Freeman , two grandchildren and a @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-03-02--Conservative Utah’s 1st medical marijuana dispensary opens

SALT LAKE CITY - Utah ’ s first medical marijuana dispensary opened Monday as the state began a slow rollout of a program that will allow residents with certain health conditions to use pot for medicinal purposes .
The online application process for people to get medical marijuana cards started on Sunday .
To get cards , people must first receive a recommendation from one of 60 approved health professionals , said Rich Oborn , director of the state ’ s Center for Medical Cannabis .
The group includes doctors , nurse practitioners and physician assistants who received training to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dragonfly Wellness , opened in an old bank building in Salt Lake City , using the original bank vaults and structure , the Deseret News reported .
“ We ’ ve got a number of different community advocates that have been fighting for patient rights and fighting for our community so that way people have a safer alternative to medicine , “ said Narith Panh , the company ’ s chief strategy officer .
“ This is for them today , too.
” .
A second dispensary is expected to open in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final five dispensaries , which will be called pharmacies , will open after July , Oborn said .
Patients with qualifying conditions have been able to use marijuana with a doctor ’ s letter since December 2018 , but they had to go to other states to get it .
Those letters are valid through the end of 2020 , but they don ’ t allow patients to buy medical marijuana products in Utah .
People seeking medical marijuana cards are most likely to cite having chronic pain condition , defined as pain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oborn said .
Utah became the 33rd state to legalize medical marijuana after voters passed a ballot initiative in November 2018 that legalized doctor-approved marijuana treatment for certain health conditions including cancer , chronic pain and epilepsy .
State lawmakers then replaced the measure with a law they said puts tighter controls on the production , distribution and use of the drug .
It was part of a compromise involving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , whose positions carry out-sized sway in its home state .
The faith , widely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long frowned upon medical marijuana use because of a key church health code called the “ Word of Wisdom , ” which prohibits coffee as well as alcohol , tobacco and illegal drugs .
Leaders also worried that allowing medical marijuana could lead to broader use in Utah .
But as opinion polls indicated that majority of the state ’ s voters would approve the 2018 medical-legalization measure , leaders publicly came out in support of patients using the drug if prescribed by a doctor , saying it can alleviate pain and suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too restrictive , and this year lawmakers addressed some of their concerns by removing a requirement that the drug be packaged in a blister pack , taking off caps on the number of patients doctors can treat and allowing patients to seek expungement of past convictions .


thetorontostar--2020-03-02--Warren bets on brokered convention. Will she last that long?

WASHINGTON - As her rivals head to the exits , Elizabeth Warren is vowing to press on to a contested convention .
For Warren , it ’ s either a high-risk strategy born of necessity or a last-gasp bid to persuade supporters in delegate-rich Super Tuesday states to stick with her .
Either scenario underscores the perilous position the once-promising candidate finds herself in as she weighs her future in the 2020 race .
Warren hasn ’ t won — or even challenged for the lead — in any of the first four states , and it ’ s unclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , beyond her home state of Massachusetts .
Yet her campaign is suddenly flush with cash after standout debate performances , and unlike some candidates , she has a robust infrastructure in states across the country , even some states beyond Super Tuesday .
Warren also hasn ’ t faced the same intense pressure to drop out that felled some of her more moderate rivals , like Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar , both of whom plan to endorse former Vice-President Joe Biden .
“ She ’ s earned the right to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meredith Kelly , a Democratic operative who served as communications director to New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand ’ s shuttered presidential campaign .
Several Democrats said Warren ’ s standing as the most prominent woman left in the race has also afforded her something of a grace period to assess her campaign ’ s future .
But they said if she continues to struggle on Tuesday and still presses forward toward the convention , that sentiment could quickly flip .
Warren campaign manager Roger Lau raised the prospect of a convention fight in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that internal campaign projections show Warren will win delegates in all 14 Super Tuesday states and that no candidate will likely emerge from the March 3 contests with a path to securing a majority of the delegates .
“ Our grassroots campaign is built to compete in every state and territory and ultimately prevail at the national convention in Milwaukee , ” Lau wrote .
Democrats have bristled at the prospect of a contested convention , which would likely pit Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders against a more moderate rival and almost certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the general election .
Sanders surged to the front of the field after the first three contests but faces new pressure from a resurgent Biden , who saved his campaign with a sweeping victory in South Carolina .
Billionaire Mike Bloomberg has also spent historic sums of money in Super Tuesday states , where he ’ ll appear on the ballot for the first time .
In a convention fight between Sanders and a more moderate candidate , some Democrats suggest Warren ’ s role would be to emerge as a consensus alternative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to back her and tolerable enough for moderates to do so as well .
Indeed , AP VoteCast data , a wide-ranging survey of voters in the South Carolina Democratic primary , shows that a majority of both Biden and Sanders supporters would be satisfied with a Warren nomination .
But that satisfaction drops among Sanders backers if Biden were to be the nominee , and the same goes for Biden supporters with Sanders .
By contrast , Bloomberg is the only major candidate who would leave a majority of all those surveyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way saying it ’ s a winning scenario , but it is one that makes sense from her point of view , ” said Kelly Dietrich , a veteran Democratic fundraiser and CEO of the National Democratic Training Committee .
Warren soared to the top of the Democratic field last summer , casting herself as a wonky liberal armed with a litany of plans for the nation ’ s problems .
She pulled in tens of millions of dollars despite eschewing traditional high-dollar fundraising .
But her campaign flagged toward the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opening weeks of 2020 to find another gear .
She finished a respectable third in Iowa but slipped to fourth in New Hampshire and Nevada and fifth in South Carolina .
Yet she has found new energy in recent days , levelling fierce attacks against Bloomberg , particularly regarding nondisclosure agreements his company entered into with women .
She ’ s also stepped up her critiques of Sanders , her closest ideological counterpart in the race , arguing that she would be more effective at implementing the policies they both support .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a boost in fundraising : $ 29 million in February , more than enough to keep her campaign afloat through Super Tuesday and well beyond .
But getting to the convention means Warren needs to keep racking up delegates , not just performing well in debates .
Heading into Super Tuesday , Sanders leads the overall race for delegates with 58 , while Biden has 50 .
Warren trails far behind with eight — and hasn ’ t captured any since Iowa .
Warren supporters say that they ’ re hoping to nab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas and California and that she could perform well in Washington state , which votes a week later — if her campaign lasts that long .
Adam Green , co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and a high-profile Warren supporter , predicted the senator “ could have hundreds of delegates ” coming out of Super Tuesday .
“ It ’ s perfect timing for Warren to have this happen right before Super Tuesday , ” Green said of Buttigieg and Klobuchar leaving the race .
But then there ’ s Massachusetts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a show of force , Sanders attracted 10,000-plus supporters to a rally in Boston Common , a few miles from Warren ’ s home , on Saturday .
His team is openly predicting victory in the state .
A Massachusetts defeat would likely increase the pressure on Warren to suspend her campaign .
Her advisers did not respond to questions on Monday about her plans under that scenario .
Even if Warren were to suspend her campaign after Super Tuesday , she could also increase her own leverage at a convention if she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who acquire delegates get more say in who sits on the convention ’ s powerful platform committee , which would give Warren a voice in outlining the Democratic Party ’ s policy priorities and could guarantee that her focus on economic inequality is at the forefront .
“ There will be discussions between people at the convention , and ( Warren ) is going to be a very powerful voice in those discussions , ” said Randi Weingarten , president of the American Federation of Teachers , who has personally endorsed Warren , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members to back Warren , Sanders or Biden .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game .
”

Will Weissert And Julie Pace - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-02--The Latest: G-7 to discuss economic response to outbreak

NEW YORK - The Latest on the new coronavirus outbreak ( all times local ) : The finance ministers and central bank leaders of the Group of Seven major industrial countries will hold a conference call to discuss an economic response to the viral outbreak .
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will lead the call Tuesday .
The group includes Japan , Germany , Britain and France , among others .
The G-7 often issues statements pledging co-operation amid global economic turbulence .
The virus outbreak that began in central China has been shutting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severely crimping travel all over the world .
More companies are warning investors that their finances will take a hit because of disruptions to supply chains and sales .
Canada has increased border-screening measures for travellers arriving from Iran in light of the growing number of cases linked to that country .
Several of Canada ’ s most recent 27 confirmed cases have been linked to travel to Iran or close contact with people who ’ ve recently returned from that country .
Anyone who returns to Canada from Iran will be asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within 24 hours and to self-isolate at home for 14 days .
Symptomatic passengers will be asked to fill out a form with their contact information so public health officials can follow up with them .
If travellers have symptoms such as a fever or dry cough , they will be assessed at the airport .
Canada also has updated its travel advisory to urge Canadians to avoid all nonessential travel to Iran .
There are no direct flights between Canada and Iran and Ottawa does not have a embassy in Tehran .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference that had been expected to bring up to 12,000 people from its 193 member nations to New York next week because of the spread of the coronavirus .
The U.N. Commission on the Status of Women decided Monday to hold a one-day event on March 9 so delegations in New York can adopt a draft political declaration commemorating the 25th anniversary of the U.N. conference in Beijing that adopted a wide-ranging plan to achieve equality for women .
But the commission decided to postpone the major event to a future date to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries and nongovernmental organizations can attend .
The commission stressed that there will be no debate on March 9 , and all side events will be cancelled .
It discouraged delegations from all capitals from coming to New York for the March 9 event .
President Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet are meeting at the White House with executives of 10 pharmaceutical companies to learn ways to speed the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus .
Today , there are no proven treatments .
In China , scientists have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new coronavirus , as well as an experimental drug named remdesivir that was in development to fight Ebola .
In the U.S. , the University of Nebraska Medical Center also began testing remdesivir in some Americans who were found to have COVID-19 after being evacuated from a cruise ship in Japan .
It ’ s not clear how quickly such studies will answer whether any of the drugs help .
Vice-President Mike Pence also attended the Monday afternoon meeting .
He says other meetings are being arranged with leaders of airlines and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liberties Union is calling on President Donald Trump ’ s administration to declare up front that immigrants will not be subject to immigration enforcement for coming forward with coronavirus illness or concerns .
ACLU staff attorney Esha Bhandari tells reporters that the administration must act now , in the early stages of the national response .
Yale University law professor Amy Kapczynski says people are less likely to seek help if they fear coming into contact with immigration enforcement .
The death toll from the coronavirus in the U.S. climbed to six Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Washington state health authorities now say six people have died from coronavirus .
At a news conference Monday Dr. Jeff Duchin from Public Health – Seattle & King County – said five of the deaths were people from King County and one was a person from Snohomish County , north of Seattle .
Researchers said earlier that the virus may have been circulating for weeks undetected in Washington state .
The number of coronavirus cases in Italy has climbed to 2,036 .
Authorities reported Monday that 52 people who had tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them had preexisting serious health problems , from cancer to kidney or heart disease , and nearly all were elderly , including many in their late 80s or early 90s .
So far , health officials have administered more than 23,000 swab tests in the country of nearly 60 million people .
National health institute officials said it could be 10 to 14 days before it is known if Italy ’ s restrictive measures , including quarantining 11 towns in the north , where nearly all the cases have been reported , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic and Republican aides in the U.S. say negotiations on a bipartisan , emergency $ 7 billion to $ 8 billion measure to battle the new coronavirus are almost complete .
The measure appears on track to be unveiled as early as Tuesday , and the hope is to speed it quickly through both House and Senate by the end of the week .
The measure would finance both federal and state response efforts , fund the federal government ’ s drive to develop and produce a vaccine , and offer Small Business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected by the growing coronavirus crisis .
U.S .
Surgeon General Jerome Adams is calling for caution but “ not panic ” over the spread of the coronavirus .
He and state Public Health Commissioner Renee Coleman-Mitchell urged the public to take precautions such as washing hands , elbow “ bumping ” instead of hand shaking and getting flu shots .
They said flu shots would decrease the number of people hospitalized because of flu and free up space , if needed , to treat patients sickened by the coronavirus .
Adams also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contain the spread of the virus , saying it has “ done a good job of limiting coronavirus entry into the United States.
” Senegal and Tunisia have reported their first cases of the new coronavirus .
Senegal Minister of Health Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr confirmed its case Monday .
The patient is a French national who had been on holiday in Nimes and at a ski resort before returning to Senegal , where he and his family live .
The health minister said he is in quarantine and his family is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calm .
He reassured Senegal that authorities are ready to face the disease .
Tunisia also reported its first case of the virus Monday , a Tunisian man who had been working in Italy but left because the virus was spreading there .
He returned to Tunisia on Thursday and then developed a fever and tested positive .
The Tunisian health minister insisted “ there ’ s no need to panic or have hostile reactions toward the patient or his relatives.
” Authorities said all those who were on the boat with him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The director-general of the World Health Organization said there is still time to stop the surging global epidemic of COVID-19 , saying “ containment is feasible and must remain the top priority for all countries.
” In a press briefing Monday , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreaks in South Korea , Italy , Iran and Japan were now the agency ’ s “ greatest concern.
” He described the new coronavirus as a “ unique ” virus capable of community transmission but that unlike flu , it could be contained with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ describe the global outbreak as a pandemic , saying the evidence did not yet support that .
He added that current concerns and worries about the virus were understandable but cautioned that “ let ’ s really calm down and do the right things ” to contain the outbreak .
Speaking at the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington , U.S .
Vice-President Mike Pence said the coronavirus risk to Americans remains low , adding “ we ’ re ready for anything.
” This week Pence , as the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be meeting with aviation industry officials Wednesday .
He will visit Minnesota-based 3M Thursday and will meet with cruise industry representatives in Florida on Saturday .
President Donald Trump will meet with representatives of large pharmaceutical companies later Monday .
he said the meeting had been on his schedule to address drug prices , but the coronavirus will now be the top agenda item at the meeting .
U.S. health officials updated the nation ’ s count of coronavirus cases to 91 on Monday .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were on the Diamond Princess cruise ship , which is one more than previously reported .
It includes people who tested positive after returning from travel to outbreak areas in other parts of the world , their close contacts and what appear to be infections from community spread — people who did not travel and did not have known contact with other infected people .
Two people have died and 10 states have reported cases .


thetorontostar--2020-03-02--Man pleads not guilty to child abuse but murder plea delayed

COLUMBIA , Mo .
- A Columbia man accused of killing his Chinese wife pleaded not guilty Monday to abuse charges related to the couple ’ s child but a plea in his wife ’ s death was delayed .
Joseph Elledge is charged with first-degree murder in the killing his wife , Mengqi Ji , who has not been seen since early October .
A grand jury indicted him Friday on the murder charge , as well as child abuse , child endangerment and third-degree domestic assault .
An initial plea on the murder charge was delayed Monday until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , KMIZ-TV reported .
Prosecutors initially charged Elledge with child abuse and endangerment for alleged crimes involving the couple ’ s 1-year-old daughter but not directly related to the murder charge .
Prosecutors allege Elledge killed Ji because he wanted to avoid a costly divorce and ensure that she didn ’ t flee to China with their daughter .
Investigators believe Elledge strangled his wife and dumped her body in a remote area , according to court documents .
Despite repeated searches , authorities have not located Ji ’ s body .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-02--Suit dismissed over Indiana attorney general groping claims

INDIANAPOLIS - A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Indiana ’ s attorney general by four women who say he drunkenly groped them during a party .
Republican Attorney General Curtis Hill has denied the allegations and his lawyers argued the women didn ’ t have a valid case for sexual harassment under federal law because they all worked for state government ’ s legislative branch while Hill is an elected officer of the executive branch .
Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson wrote in Monday ’ s ruling that the women described “ disgraceful and reprehensible conduct ” but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard to establish a violation of federal law .
Hill said in a statement that he was grateful for the ruling and looked forward to continuing as attorney general .
A spokeswoman for the women ’ s attorneys didn ’ t immediately reply to messages seeking comment .
The state Supreme Court is considering a recommendation that Hill ’ s law license be suspended for at least 60 days for alleged professional misconduct .
The Indiana House voted Monday in favour of a proposal that would prohibit anyone whose law license has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serving as attorney general .
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE .
AP ’ s earlier story is below .
Indiana legislators have taken their first step toward possibly forcing the state ’ s attorney general from office if Indiana ’ s highest court suspends his law license following allegations that he grabbed the buttocks of a female state legislator and inappropriately touched three other women during a party .
The Republican-dominated Indiana House voted 83-9 Monday in favour of a proposal that would prohibit anyone whose law license has been suspended for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney general .
Republican Attorney General Curtis Hill is awaiting a decision from the state Supreme Court on whether he ’ ll face any punishment for the alleged professional misconduct .
A hearing officer last month recommended that his law license be suspended for at least 60 days , writing that Hill ’ s “ conduct was offensive , invasive , damaging and embarrassing ” to the women .
Hill , who is seeking reelection this year , has denied wrongdoing and rebuffed calls from Republican Gov .
Eric Holcomb and other GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the March 2018 party at an Indianapolis bar .
Legislative Republicans had resisted taking steps toward forcing Hill out , but House Speaker Brian Bosma said the new provision is needed because it could take a year for Hill to regain his law license if the Supreme Court were to not allow automatic reinstatement .
“ We felt like we needed to give some clarity so that our state is not faced with a vacancy that can not be filled or is undefined , ” Bosma told reporters .
The provision still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become law .
The attorney general ’ s office said in a statement that the proposal “ raises some legal concerns – and this kind of rushed proposal lacks transparency and leaves no opportunity for public input .
”


thetorontostar--2020-03-02--Virus spreads to more countries as new cases slow in China

NEW YORK - The coronavirus spread to ever more countries and world capitals Monday — and the U.S. death toll climbed to six — even as new cases in China dropped to their lowest level in over a month .
A shift in the crisis appeared to be taking shape : Hundreds of patients were released from hospitals at the epicenter of the outbreak in China , while the World Health Organization reported that nine times as many new infections were recorded outside the country as inside it over the past 24 hours .
Alarming clusters of disease continued to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran , and the virus turned up for the first time in New York , Moscow and Berlin , as well as Latvia , Malaysia , Morocco , Tunisia , Senegal , Jordan and Portugal .
The worldwide death toll topped 3,000 , and the number of those infected rose to about 89,000 in 70 countries on every continent but Antarctica .
Global health officials sought to reassure the public that the virus remains a manageable threat .
“ Containment is feasible and must remain the top priority for all countries , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Around the world , the crisis reshaped the daily routines of millions of people .
Across Japan , children stayed home after the government announced the closing of schools until April .
In Paris , the galleries of the Louvre museum were off limits .
With Israel holding a national election , special voting booths were set up for those under quarantine .
In Germany , Chancellor Angela Merkel was rebuffed by her interior minister when she extended her hand to greet him .
At the United Nations , officials said they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been expected to bring up to 12,000 people from its 193 member countries to New York next week .
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development warned that the world economy could contract this quarter for the first time since the international financial crisis more than a decade ago .
“ Global economic prospects remain subdued and very uncertain , ” the agency said .
Nevertheless , the Dow Jones Industrial Average soared nearly 1,300 points , or 5 per cent , as stocks roared back from a seven-day rout on hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shield the global economy from the effects of the outbreak .
Finance ministers and bank leaders from the Group of Seven major industrial countries said they will confer by phone Tuesday to discuss an economic response .
Health officials in Washington state , where a particularly troubling cluster of cases surfaced at a nursing home outside Seattle , said four more people had died from the coronavirus , bringing the number of deaths in the U.S. to six , all in Washington .
New cases were also reported in New Hampshire and New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Executive Dow Constantine declared an emergency and said the county is buying a hotel to be used as a hospital for patients who need to be isolated .
“ We have moved to a new stage in the fight , ” he said .
Over 100 cases have been confirmed in the U.S. , with more almost certain in the coming weeks .
Thousands of test kits were on their way to state and local labs , and new guidelines intended to expand screening were put in place .
“ In this situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reality is reassuring .
It is deep-breath time , “ New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said .
The message was echoed by global health officials , who said they were encouraged that even in some countries that had taken far less aggressive measures than China ’ s , the virus remains largely in check .
Because the virus is not transmitted as easily as the flu , “ it offers us a glimmer ... that this virus can be suppressed and contained , ” said Dr. Mike Ryan , the WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just 202 new cases , its lowest daily count since Jan. 21 , and the city at the heart of the crisis , Wuhan , said 2,570 patients were released .
At the largest of 16 temporary hospitals that were rapidly built in Wuhan in response to the outbreak , worries over the availability of supplies and protective gear eased , along with the pressure on the medical staff .
Dr. Zhang Junjian , who leads a temporary hospital in Wuhan with a staff of 1,260 , said optimism is high that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coming weeks .
But in other places , problems continued to multiply .
South Korea , with the worst outbreak outside China , reported 599 new cases , bringing the total to 4,335 .
The death toll rose to 26 .
In Iran , a confidant of Iran ’ s supreme leader died from the virus .
The Islamic Republic confirmed 1,501 cases and 66 deaths , but many believe the true number is larger .
Its reported caseload surged more than 250 % in just 24 hours .
Italy ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
Officials said it could take up to two weeks before they know whether measures including quarantining 11 towns in northern Italy are slowing the spread of the virus .
In the U.S. , meanwhile , four Americans exposed to the virus aboard a Japanese cruise ship were released from quarantine in Nebraska after testing negative .
One of them , Jeri Seratti-Goldman of Santa Clarita , California , said leaving the hospital was bittersweet , because her husband remained quarantined .
Another , Joanne Kirkland of Knoxville , Tennessee , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will my friends shun me after this ?
” Contributing to this report were Josh Funk in Omaha , Nebraska ; Chris Grygiel in Seattle , Carley Petesch in Dakar , Senegal ; Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations ; Matt Sedensky in Bangkok , Dake Kang in Beijing ; Aniruddha Ghosal in New Delhi ; Kim Tong-Hyung in Seoul , South Korea ; Nasser Karimi in Tehran , Iran ; Jon Gambrell in Dubai , United Arab Emirates ; Thomas Adamson and Lori Hinnant in Paris ; Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Emilio in Rome ; Colleen Barry in Milan ; and Aron Heller in Jerusalem .

Adam Geller And Carla K. Johnson - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-02--LA district attorney sorry husband aimed gun at protesters

LOS ANGELES - The husband of the first black woman to lead the country ’ s largest local prosecutor ’ s office pointed a gun and said “ I will shoot you ” to Black Lives Matter members demonstrating outside the couple ’ s home before dawn Monday , prompting an apology from his wife on the eve of her primary election .
In an emotional press conference , Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said she and her husband , David , were awakened and frightened by the demonstration that occurred before 6 a.m.. She said he ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to someone , and that when he returned he said there were protesters .
She said he told her : “ I pulled my gun , and I asked them to leave.
“ The encounter came ahead of a Tuesday primary election in which Lacey is seeking a third term .
She has clashed repeatedly with Black Lives Matter protesters , who say she is too protective of law enforcement and doesn ’ t prosecute officers in fatal shootings .
Black Lives Matter organizers spurned Lacey ’ s apology during a separate news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traumatized.
” “ She didn ’ t apologize to us , ” Melina Abdullah said .
“ And an apology isn ’ t enough .
We need her to change .
We need her to be accountable or she can retire.
” In a video posted by Abdullah , David Lacey pointed a gun and said , “ Get off .
Get off of my porch.
“ He was an investigative auditor with the DA ’ s office until his 2016 retirement .
“ His response was in fear , and now that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me to say to the protesters , the person that he showed the gun to , that he was sorry , that he was profoundly sorry.
” the prosecutor said .
She also said she also was sorry .
Lacey said she has received death threats and has been followed , photographed and confronted repeatedly .
She said she expects people to exercise their First Amendment rights , “ but our home is our sanctuary.
” “ I do not believe it is fair or right for protesters to show up at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to public service , ” Lacey said .
She said the gun is registered but would not say if there were other weapons in her house .
Lacey said she has offered to meet with members of Black Lives Matter one on one or in a small gathering .
She said the group has rejected those options .
“ It seems like what they like is to embarrass me and intimidate me , ” Lacey said .
But Black Lives Matter organizers said Lacey has refused to meet with them and has never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not meet with them publicly so they claimed they were forced to go to her home .
They set up chairs on the sidewalk and three members rang her doorbell , Abdullah said .
“ We heard what sounded like a gun being cocked , ” she said .
“ I don ’ t know how I mustered the words to say ‘ good morning ’ but I did.
” She said David Lacey pointed the gun “ inches ” from her chest .
Detectives are investigating a “ possible assault with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
Lacey ’ s office said the case could be brought to an independent prosecutor ’ s office and the state attorney general ’ s office is assisting the LAPD .
In the video , Abdullah says off-camera : “ Good morning .
Are you going to shoot me ?
” The man says , “ I will shoot you .
Get off of my porch.
” Abdullah responds : “ Can you tell Jackie Lacey that we ’ re here ?
” The man says : “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , get off of my porch right now .
We ’ re calling the police right now.
” Police were called the home after being told roughly 50 protesters were outside .
There were no arrests .
Lacey , a two-term incumbent , is facing George Gascon , the former San Francisco district attorney , and former public defender Rachel Rossi .
The race is nonpartisan and will be decided if one of the candidates receives more than half the votes Tuesday .
If no one gets a majority , the top two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s campaign did not immediately comment .
“ As district attorney , I will never run from the community , “ Rossi said in a statement .
” And I never thought I ’ d have to say it , but I will also never threaten to shoot — or have others threaten to shoot — community members protesting my actions .
”


thetorontostar--2020-03-02--ECB’s Lagarde: ‘Ready to take targeted action’ on economy

FRANKFURT - The head of the European Central Bank said Monday that Europe ’ s top monetary authority is ready to take “ appropriate and targeted measures ” if necessary to support the economy against the headwinds from the new coronavirus .
Christine Lagarde said in a statement that the virus “ is a fast developing situation which creates risks for the economic outlook.
” She said the bank would closely monitor developments and act “ as necessary and commensurate with the underlying risks.
” Lagarde ’ s remarks come as stock markets have risen in the U.S. on speculation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action to support the global economy against the disruption caused by the spread of the virus .
That is the case even though some economists think central bank action might only have symbolic value , since lower interest rates can not re-open businesses that have been closed to prevent the spread of the virus .
Lower rates can boost stocks , however , and might be used to prevent turmoil on equity markets from spilling over to the wider economy .
The ECB has less room to cut than the U.S. Federal Reserve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank for the 19 countries that use the euro has already cut a key benchmark , its deposit rate , into negative territory .
It stands at minus 0.5 per cent .
The ECB is also purchasing bonds with newly printed money in an effort to support tepid growth and raise inflation toward more normal levels , the bank ’ s chief mandate .
While Lagarde said the ECB was ready to act , she also hedged by saying that any action would be “ commensurate with the underlying risks.
” The US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around 5 % .
The huge gains clawed back some of the ground lost in a massive sell-off that gave stocks their worst week since the financial crisis of 2008 .
The ECB holds its next rate-setting meeting on March 12 .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-02--Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg drop out of race, may endorse Joe Biden on eve of Super Tuesday

HOUSTON - Rivals no more , Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg united behind Joe Biden ’ s presidential bid on Monday as the Democratic Party ’ s moderate wing scrambled to boost the former vice-president just hours before voting began across a series of high-stakes Super Tuesday states .
The urgency of the moment reflected deep concerns from the Democratic establishment that Bernie Sanders , a polarizing progressive , was positioned to seize a significant delegate lead when 14 states , one U.S. territory and Democrats abroad vote on Tuesday .
Klobuchar suspended her campaign and endorsed Biden just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both Klobuchar and Buttigieg , who had been Biden ’ s chief competition for their party ’ s pool of more moderate voters over the last year , were set to declare their public support for Biden on Monday evening at a rally in Dallas .
The sweeping shifts come at a key crossroads in Democrats ’ turbulent primary season as the party struggles to unify behind a clear message or messenger in its urgent quest to defeat President Donald Trump .
Yet as a field that once featured more than two dozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice for primary voters is becoming clearer .
On one side stands Biden , a 77-year-old lifelong politician who represents a pragmatic approach to governing that emphasizes bipartisanship and more modest change .
On the other stands Sanders , a 78-year-old democratic socialist who has for decades demanded aggressive liberal shifts that seek to transform the nation ’ s political and economic systems .
Yet the primary isn ’ t yet a two-man race .
New York billionaire Mike Bloomberg , in particular , could create problems for Biden ’ s establishment appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who will appear on a 2020 ballot for the first time on Tuesday , has invested more than a half billion dollars into his presidential bid and wracked up many high-profile endorsements of his own .
And Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who has struggled for delegates and momentum over the last month , has vowed to stay in the race until the party ’ s national convention in July .
On the eve of Super Tuesday , however , Biden received a significant boost following his resounding victory over the weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best two-day fundraising haul in more than a year , raising roughly $ 10 million over the last 48 hours .
And the former vice-president added to his considerable endorsement lead in recent days as elected officials began to coalesce more meaningfully behind him .
He has long been the favourite of many elected officials even as he struggled through the first three primary contests of the year .
Biden ’ s new backers feature a who ’ s who of current and former Democratic officials across the nation : former Nevada Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Susan Rice ; former Colorado Sen. Mark Udall ; former California Sen. Barbara Boxer ; Rep. Jennifer Wexton , D-Va. ; Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White ; former Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln ; and Rep. Gil Cisneros , D-Calif. Virginia Rep. Don Beyer , the first member of Congress to endorse Buttigieg , said he planned to endorse Biden and expected Buttigieg to as well .
“ I do think it ’ s the most logical , ” Beyer said of a Biden endorsement , given his echo of the former vice-president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mantra of the Buttigieg campaign .
“ I think Joe is the next best possibility.
” Perhaps the most powerful endorsement would come from former President Barack Obama , who has a relationship with most of the candidates and has talked with several in recent weeks as primary voting has begun .
He spoke with Biden to congratulate him after his South Carolina victory , but still has no plans to endorse in the primary at this point .
“ It ’ s becoming increasingly clear that the candidates funded by big money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , and that ’ s not a surprise , “ said Jeff Weaver , Sanders ’ senior strategist .
” I think it ’ ll add a lot of clarity to this race.
” And while Biden ’ s momentum is undeniable , not everyone in his party ’ s moneyed establishment is convinced .
Some major donors preferred to wait until after Super Tuesday to decide whether to join the Biden movement.And even some of his more loyal fundraisers remain frustrated by disorganization within the campaign .
For example , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Silicon Valley , where many wealthy donors prioritize organization and a data-driven plan .
The inability of Biden ’ s team to demonstrate such competence pushed many donors toward his rivals , and others are taking a wait-and-see approach .
“ We need to see what happens tomorrow , which is going to be very telling , “ said Alex Sink , a Democratic donor and former Florida gubernatorial candidate who endorsed Bloomberg .
And the former vice-president ’ s strategy for the coming days , which relies on media coverage and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflects a stark reality : Compared to Sanders and Bloomberg , Biden is understaffed , underfunded and almost out of time as he fights to transform his sole South Carolina victory into a national movement .
Biden announced he raised $ 18 million in February , compared to an eye-popping $ 46.5 million for Sanders and $ 29 million for Warren .
Sanders has struggled to win over his colleagues in Congress but earned a high-profile endorsement of his own on Monday from Democracy for America , a national grassroots organization originally led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that boasts thousands of members across the county .
“ The overwhelming support for Bernie we saw in our member vote should be a wake-up call to the broken , visionless , corporate Democratic establishment , “ said the organization ’ s chair Charles Chamberlain .
“ Americans want fundamental change in Washington , not a return to the status quo.
” Some Democrats also bemoaned the distinct lack of diversity in the shrinking field .
The National Organization for Women ’ s political action committee endorsed Warren on Monday .
The group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said she ’ s alarmed about the lack of attention paid to the female candidates , who have often had to defend their “ electability.
” “ It ’ s time to support a woman , ” she said .
“ We want to make sure we ’ re not looking at all these old white men again.
” Through four primary contests , the AP allocated at least 58 delegates to Sanders , including two added Sunday as South Carolina ’ s remaining votes trickled in .
Biden vaulted past Buttigieg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegates — shrinking Sanders ’ lead from what had been 30 delegates before South Carolina to eight .
Buttigieg , Warren and Klobuchar remained stuck at 26 , eight and seven , respectively .
Candidates who drop out of the race keep the delegates they ’ ve won until each state party selects the actual people who will serve as those delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee .
At that point , delegates won based on statewide primary and caucus results are given to the remaining viable candidates .
Delegates won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free agents , who can support the candidate of his or her choice on the first ballot at the convention .
The first four states were always more about momentum more than math .
Super Tuesday states offer a trove of 1,344 new delegates based on how candidates finish .
Just 150 delegates have been awarded so far .
Peoples and Slodysko reported from Washington .
Associated Press writers Will Weissert , Hope Yen , Julie Pace and Seth Borenstein in Washington and Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines , Iowa , contributed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game .
”

Steve Peoples, Bill Barrow And Brian Slodysko - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-03--Iran on war footing against coronavirus as outbreak kills 77

TEHRAN , Iran - Iran ’ s supreme leader put the Islamic Republic on war footing Tuesday against the new coronavirus by ordering its armed forces to assist health officials in combating the outbreak — the deadliest outside of China — that authorities say has killed 77 people .
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ’ s decision was announced after state media broadcast images of the 80-year-old leader planting a tree wearing disposable gloves ahead of Iran ’ s upcoming arbour day , showing how concern about the virus now reaches up to the top of the country ’ s Shiite theocracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying 23 members of parliament now had the virus .
“ Whatever helps public health and prevents the spread of the disease is good and what helps to spread it is sin , ” Khamenei said , who has not worn gloves at past arbour day plantings .
After downplaying the coronavirus as recently as last week , Iranian authorities said Tuesday they had plans to potentially mobilize 300,000 soldiers and volunteers to confront the virus .
It wasn ’ t clear if Khamenei ’ s order would set them in motion helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible contacts those ill with the virus had with others , as initially suggested .
There are now over 2,530 cases of the new coronavirus across the Mideast .
Of those outside Iran in the region , most link back to the Islamic Republic .
Yet experts worry Iran ’ s percentage of deaths to infections , now around 3.3 % , is much higher than other countries , suggesting the number of infections in Iran may be far greater than current figures show .
Iran stands alone in how the virus has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard-hit China , the epicenter of the outbreak .
The death of Expediency Council member Mohammad Mirmohammadi on Monday makes him the highest-ranking official within Iran ’ s leadership to be killed by the virus .
State media referred to him as a confidant of Khamenei .
The virus earlier killed Hadi Khosroshahi , Iran ’ s former ambassador to the Vatican , as well as a recently elected member of parliament .
Those sick include Vice-President Masoumeh Ebtekar , better known as “ Sister Mary , ” the English-speaking spokeswoman for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tehran in 1979 and sparked the 444-day hostage crisis , state media reported .
Also sick is Iraj Harirchi , the head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus who tried to downplay the virus before falling ill. On Tuesday , lawmaker Abdolreza Mesri told Iranian state television ’ s Young Journalists Club program that 23 members of parliament had the coronavirus .
He urged all lawmakers to avoid the public .
“ These people have a close relationship with the people and they carry different viruses from different parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new virus , so we recommend the lawmakers to cut off their relationship with the public for now , “ Mesri said .
An activist group also said Tuesday that Wikipedia ’ s Farsi-language website appeared to be disrupted in Iran after a close confidant to the supreme leader died of the new coronavirus .
The advocacy group NetBlocks linked Mirmohammadi ’ s death to the disruption , though Iranian officials and its state media did not immediately acknowledge it .
Authorities face increasing criticism from the Iranian public over the outbreak amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus may be higher than currently reported .
NetBlocks described the disruption to accessing Farsi Wikipedia as being nationwide , saying its technical testing suggests the online encyclopedia is being blocked by the same mechanism used to block Twitter and Facebook .
Those social media websites have been banned since Iran ’ s disputed 2009 presidential election and Green Movement protests .
Some Iranians said they couldn ’ t access Wikipedia ’ s Farsi website since Monday night .
Others said they could , including through the site ’ s mobile-friendly pages .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ faces a growing crisis following the loss of senior state figures to coronavirus and a spate of criticism and misinformation have spread through social media , ” NetBlocks said in its analysis .
The Wikimedia Foundation , which oversees the volunteer-edited encyclopedia , did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
NetBlocks previously reported internet disruptions affecting Iran in recent days and users across the Islamic Republic have reported problems .
The disruption raises fears of Iran potentially shutting off the internet entirely again , as it did for a week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separately has created its own so-called “ halal ” net of government-approved websites .
Meanwhile Tuesday , the Middle East ’ s largest airline , Emirates , said it had to reduce or ground flights due to the new virus .
Because of the slowdown , the government-owned carrier has asked its employees to take paid and even unpaid leave for up to a month at a time .
Emirates ’ operates out of Dubai , the world ’ s busiest for international travel .
“ We have been tested before and Emirates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Operating Officer Adel Al-Redha said .
The world ’ s largest airline trade association , IATA , says Mideast carriers have already lost around $ 100 million in revenue due to a drop in ticket sales because of disruptions caused by the virus .
Gambrell reported from Dubai , United Arab Emirates .
Associated Press writer Aya Batrawy in Dubai contributed to this report .

Amir Vahdat And Jon Gambrell - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-03--Disaster: Tornadoes shred 40 buildings around Nashville

NASHVILLE - At least two tornadoes touched down early Tuesday in central Tennessee , including one that ripped across downtown Nashville and caused about 40 buildings to collapse around the city , police said as they searched for injured people .
Authorities pleaded with people to stay indoors , at least until daybreak could reveal the dangers of a landscape littered with blown-down walls and roofs , snapped power lines and huge broken trees .
Schools , courts and transit lines were closed , and four polling stations were moved only hours before Super Tuesday voting was set to begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county , ” Nashville Mayor John Cooper told the Tennessean while visiting an emergency shelter early Tuesday .
“ You do have people at the hospital and frankly there have been fatalities.
” Nashville police said in a tweet that two deaths in East Nashville had been reported to the department but did not say if the fatalities were confirmed .
Reports of other deaths were likewise unconfirmed early Tuesday .
The tornado near downtown reportedly stayed on the ground into Hermitage , about 10 miles ( 16 kilometres ) east of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included Mt .
Juliet , downtown Nashville and Germantown .
“ Our community has been impacted significantly , “ the Mt .
Juliet Police Department tweeted early Tuesday .
Multiple homes were damaged and multiple injuries were reported , the department said .
” We continue to search for injured .
Stay home if you can.
” Police officers and fire crews were responding to about 40 building collapses around the city , Metro Nashville police said .
John C. Tune Airport , Nashville International ’ s sister airport in West Nashville , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weather , “ spokeswoman Kim Gerlock said in a statement early Tuesday morning .
Several hangars have been destroyed and power lines are down , she said , adding that there are no reported injuries .
Gerlock asked that the public avoid the airport until further notice and that the Airport Authority has activated its Emergency Operations Center to co-ordinate response .
A video posted online from east Nashville showed what appeared to be a well-defined tornado moving quickly across the city .
Lightning repeatedly flashed while much of the city was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wind could be heard gusting after the tornado moved out of sight .
Images on social media showed extensive damage to buildings , mangled wires on downed power lines and structures that are now unrecognizable as the tornado had reduced them to rubble .
One photo showed a white vinyl fence that had fallen a car .
Another showed the roof and walls gone from a building that still had what appeared to be boxes stacked on shelves .
A reported gas leak forced an evacuation of the IMT building in the Germantown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed dozens of people in the street carrying their belongings not long after the tornado moved through the city .
Nashville police said in a tweet that two deaths in East Nashville had been reported to the department but did not say if the fatalities were confirmed .
The American Red Cross of Tennessee said on its Twitter account that a shelter had been opened for displaced residents downtown at the Nashville Farmers Market , just north of the state capitol .
Nashville Electric tweeted that four of its substations were damaged in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 a.m. were affecting more than 44,000 customers , the utility company said .
Metro Nashville Public Schools said its schools would be closed Tuesday because of the tornado damage .
Wilson County , just east of metro Nashville will close schools for the rest of the week .
Election polling sites at schools were expected to remain open , as well as district offices , according to tweets from its official account .
Jeff Roberts of the Elections Commission said in a statement early Tuesday that information about damage to polling stations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Super Tuesday .
Any voter in Davidson County whose assigned precinct has been impacted may vote at the Election Commission Offices , the statement said .
Polls open at various times , starting at 7 a.m. CST , depending on the county .
The storm system was forecast to bring an isolated tornado , damaging winds and large hail , news outlets reported .
Heavy rain was expected to impact Gulf Coast states over the next several days , according to WTVF-TV .


thetorontostar--2020-03-03--Wine, cars: Businesses go online as virus hits trade shows

FRANKFURT - Fine wines and hipster gin .
Hunting rifles and knives .
Contemporary paintings and million-dollar sports cars .
They ’ re all marketed at trade events that are quickly going dark across the globe due to the new coronavirus - and taking with them sales opportunities that may be difficult to make up .
Some companies are taking their shows online with virtual events they stream from their headquarters to reach customers anyway .
But marketing experts and executives warn that there is no substitute for face-to-face contact with potential clients , as exhibition companies try to total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry that also pumps billions into hotels , restaurants and cabdriver ’ s wallets .
The Geneva International Motor Show resorted to putting automakers ’ product unveilings and news conferences online Tuesday after this year ’ s show was cancelled .
BMW presented its sleek i4 electric concept car at a digital news conference from Munich , while competitors Daimler and Volkswagen held their own online events .
The Geneva show was cancelled after local authorities barred gatherings of more than 1,000 people to halt the spread of the virus , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 3,100 deaths .
While some car companies were already holding online presentations before the virus in an effort to expand their reach to social media , there is no real substitute to seeing a product in person or meeting people in the industry .
“ It ’ s not just about purchases .
For many products it is also about reinforcing a kind of community building , “ said Gernot Gehrke , professor of management and event-industry marketing at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hanover .
Trade shows , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact , are “ a point of contact in a customer journey , if you like , that aims at a stable relationship to customers , and also to people and organizations that might become customers.
“ They are also big business .
Exhibitors pay in advance to book space and lose their money on such last-minute cancellations caused by health concerns .
The Geneva auto show was expected to generate $ 250 million for the wider city area .
“ This is a dramatic loss for everyone , ” said Oliver Rihs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which plans to go ahead next year .
Trade fairs are a tradition in Germany , where some 160 to 180 are held every year , reaping 14.5 billion euros ( $ 16 billion ) from visitors and exhibitors and pumping a total of 28 billion euros into the local economy as well as providing 230,000 jobs , 100,000 of them full-time positions .
Art Basel , the modern and contemporary art fair , moved up the debut of a new digital initiative after its Hong Kong fair was cancelled due the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be live from March 20-25 after two VIP preview days .
The digital initiative will be open for free to galleries that had been accepted to participate in the Hong Kong fair .
The rooms allow collectors to browse through thousands of works and directly contact galleries .
But online showings would be a poor option for the luxury watch industry , which is reeling from the cancellation of two major industry events , Baselworld and Watches & Wonders Geneva .
“ The watch industry is a touch-and-feel industry .
The only way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ luxury products is to hold them in your hands and look at them and engage in the emotion of what goes into the making of these incredible masterpieces , ” said Roberta Naas , who has written several books on the watches and founded the website www.ATimelyPerspective.com .
Other big cancellations include the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona , Spain , the biggest industry show for wireless technology .
A slew of others have been postponed that might be less known to the public but are a big deal in particular industries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone has seen the postponement of fairs for : wine and spirits , metalworking and manufacturing technology , energy storage , and wire and cables .
In Nuremberg , IWA OutdoorClassic , a hunting and outdoor gear show , was postponed until September .
Gamers Developers Conference , a major event for video game developers in San Francisco , was postponed last week after a growing number of companies dropped out , including Amazon , Sony , Facebook , Electronic Arts , Unity and Epic .
Facebook is planning to go forward with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & A sessions and other digital formats .
But smaller game developers and software companies can ’ t make up for the loss of exposure of the March 16-20 event .
Jacob Navok , CEO of Genvid , said his software development company had planned several announcements at GDC regarding games .
He had planned a keynote address , a round table discussion and an evening party with more than 120 guests .
Unlike Facebook , his company does not have the capacity to hold virtual versions of those events .
“ Nobody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to market that .
I ’ m not able to draw people to these things by myself , ” said Navok .
Instead , Navok said he plans to spend the week flying to San Francisco , Los Angeles and Seattle to meet with some of the major companies .
He also will repackage his keynote address for interviews with industry journalists .
But he will not be able to meet with many game publishers from other parts of the U.S. and Canada .
And he will miss out on the impromptu interactions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ booth .
“ It will suffice , but it can not replace that in-person presentation and the ability to meet the people that randomly happen across your product , ” said Navok .
“ It ’ s a big week of announcements .
We are still going to do it .
We are going to have to — but that in person momentum is not going to be there .
”

David McHugh And Alexandra Olson - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-03--What to watch as 14 states vote in Super Tuesday primaries

SACRAMENTO , Calif. - The Democratic presidential candidates are racing toward the biggest day on the primary calendar , when 14 states vote on Super Tuesday .
It ’ s the day when the primary moves from retail to wholesale .
Instead of one state voting at a time , candidates have to focus on contests in every region of the country with all types of voters .
While Super Tuesday won ’ t necessarily determine who wins the nomination , it has historically been difficult for a candidate who performs poorly on the day to recover .
Here ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contests : THE STATES Fourteen states hold primaries on Super Tuesday , including California and Texas , the two biggest delegate hauls of the entire primary season .
California offers 415 delegates and Texas 228 .
In total , more than 1,300 delegates will be up for grabs , about a third of the total available in the race to the Democratic presidential nomination .
Although Super Tuesday was originally created as a regional primary featuring Southern states , it has morphed over the years .
This year , it includes states from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other states are Arkansas , Alabama , Colorado , Maine , Minnesota , Massachusetts , Vermont , Utah , North Carolina , Virginia , Tennessee and Oklahoma .
Most of the Southern states are Republican strongholds in the general election , while others like California are solidly Democratic .
North Carolina is likely to be a battleground state in the general election .
Polls close between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. local time , depending on the state .
The Super Tuesday states are home to diverse electorates , both when it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California and Texas , white voters make up less than half the population .
Latinos count for nearly 40 % of the populations in both states .
California , meanwhile , has the nation ’ s highest Asian population , at roughly 15 % .
North Carolina , Tennessee , Virginia , Alabama and Arkansas have large populations of black voters , one of the Democratic Party ’ s core voting blocs .
The states blend a mix of urban and rural voters , as well as Democrats from all sides of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wooing Southern Democrats in states like Texas and Arkansas , they must also be thinking about a message that can resonate in progressive San Francisco .
Most of the Super Tuesday states have some form of widespread early voting .
Voters in Minnesota , for example , could start casting ballots in January .
Millions of mail-in ballots went out to California voters on Feb. 3 , the day of the Iowa caucuses .
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg have had the widest and most aggressive footprint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they ’ ve got the money to spend .
Bloomberg is advertising in all 14 states , while Sanders is on the airwaves in 12 .
It ’ s the first time Bloomberg will be on ballots after he skipped the first four voting states , making the day a critical test of his theory that he ’ s the best candidate to stand against Sanders and , later , Republican President Donald Trump .
Sanders spent Sunday in California , holding rallies in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strongholds .
He ’ s hoping his monthslong focus on the state and resonance with Latino voters will help him win a large chunk of the state ’ s 415 delegates .
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren will be in California on Monday , and Joe Biden plans to return on primary day .
Biden , for his part , hopes his strong showing in Saturday ’ s South Carolina primary is a harbinger of coming success with black voters , who dominate the Democratic electorate in a handful of Super Tuesday states .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though Sanders is making a play for it .
Bloomberg has also campaigned across the South in recent days as he tries to prove he can build a winning Democratic coalition .
Democrats opposed to Sanders are hoping to see voters coalesce behind a moderate alternative .
Any of the candidates could face pressure to drop out if they don ’ t perform well on Tuesday .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game .
”


thetorontostar--2020-03-03--Schools close  in French, German virus cluster zones

PARIS - Tens of thousands of students in virus cluster zones are home from school in France on Tuesday , with a smaller number in Germany and Poland facing quarantines or days without class .
France ’ s education minister , Jean-Michel Blanquer , said around 120 schools have been ordered to close , most in Brittany and the Oise region north of Paris , which have been hit hard by COVID-19 , the disease caused by the new coronavirus .
He told LCI television it was probable that more schools could close and confirmed that he had ordered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he cautioned against rushing to a general shutdown of the education system .
“ It wouldn ’ t make sense to confine everyone at home , to paralyze the country , ” he said .
A handful of schools are closed or under quarantine in Germany and even in Poland , which has no confirmed cases of the disease so far .
Meanwhile , Ukraine on Tuesday reported its first confirmed case of the new virus in a man who had recently arrived from Italy .
As the new coronavirus takes hold in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same complications seen in Asia weeks ago , including a cruise ship with hundreds of passengers now trapped in Norway .
In Haugesund , southern Norway , a German cruise ship with 1,200 passengers was waiting for the test results of two passengers who had been on land to be tested for the virus , Norwegian broadcaster NRK said .
The Aida Aura was supposed to have left harbour Monday but was still in Haugesund Tuesday and passengers were being kept on board .
Travellers from northern Italy , along with South Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Singapore and will not be allowed entry or even to transit in the country .
And Saudi Arabia advised citizens and residents to postpone travel to Germany and France due to the spread of the coronavirus in those countries .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-03--Jailed Catalan independence leader to teach at university

MADRID - A jailed pro-Catalan independence politician was allowed to leave prison Tuesday to take up part-time teaching work at @ @ @ @ @ , a former vice-president for Spain ’ s wealthy northeastern Catalonia region , is serving @ @ @ @ @ role in the illegal secession push against Spain by the Catalan government in 2017 .
@ @ @ @ @ since then and was sentenced to prison late last year along with eight others .
@ @ @ @ @ European Parliament last May while in custody .
Spain ’ s courts have ruled against @ @ @ @ @ his seat .
The separatist leader will be allowed three furloughs a week to teach @ @ @ @ @ Vic - Central University of Catalonia .
It was not clear what subject that Junqueras @ @ @ @ @ by training , would teach .
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