usatoday--2020-12-13--College football winners and losers from Week 15: Alabama, Northwestern and Georgia impress

The only surprise from Alabama 's 52-3 win against Arkansas ?
That the game was once tied , 3-3 , and remained tied until the Crimson Tide surged ahead in the final minutes of the first quarter .
Such are the standards for Alabama , which has spent the last month as the unquestioned No .
1 team in the Amway Coaches Poll and the College Football Playoff rankings .
While Notre Dame , Clemson and Ohio State have staked out seats in the semifinals , the Tide 's performance since November has made the team to beat for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under first-year coach Sam Pittman , who inherited a disaster area from former coach Chad Morris but has quickly turned the Razorbacks into a middle-of-the-pack contender in the SEC .
But the program is miles off the pace set by Alabama .
After an 84-yard punt return by star wide receiver DeVonta Smith broke the tie with 2:36 left in the first quarter , the Tide would score 28 points in the second , head into halftime ahead 38-3 and cruise to another lopsided win to remain unbeaten heading into next weekend 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back Najee Harris ran for 46 yards and two touchdowns , backup Brian Robinson added 54 yards and three scores and quarterback Mac Jones completed 83 % of his attempts for 208 yards .
Alabama can make a strong case for having college football 's best quarterback , running back and wide receiver .
Saturday 's win included another impenetrable performance from the Alabama defense .
Since winning a 63-48 shootout against Mississippi on Oct. 10 , the Tide have held six of seven opponents to 17 or fewer points and allowed just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of Saturday 's winners and losers in college football : After a sluggish start against Illinois , Northwestern focused on its running game and took control early in the second quarter of a 28-10 win .
The Wildcats finished with 411 yards on 58 carries after failing to crack the 150-yard mark or average more than 3.9 yards per carry in each of the past five games , including a paltry 63 yards on 37 carries in a 29-20 loss to Michigan State on Nov. 28 .
After finishing last in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will next meet Ohio State for the Big Ten championship .
With lowly Vanderbilt up next to end the regular season , the Bulldogs essentially clinched a New Year 's Six bowl berth by beating Missouri 49-14 .
For the Tigers , who scored a combined 91 points in the past two weeks , the loss ended a three-game winning streak under first-year coach Eli Drinkwitz .
After losing last month to rival Florida to give the Gators control of the East division , Georgia has reversed its offensive woes by turning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has thrown for 839 yards and nine scores in his three games as the starter .
The Cardinals made a 22-yard field goal with 29 seconds left and beat Western Michigan 30-27 to win the MAC West and earn a spot against Buffalo in next week 's conference title game .
This caps an outstanding and unexpectedly successful regular season for Ball State , which had n't posted a winning record since 2013 .
The Cardinals will likely be the underdog against the Bulls , who entered Saturday 4-0 and averaging a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan State 39-4 for its third consecutive win , salvaging at least some respectability from what seemed like a lost season after starting 0-5 for the first time in program history .
The three wins — Michigan , Rutgers and the Spartans — did n't come against the Big Ten 's best ; the Nittany Lions lost those games , to Indiana , Ohio State and Iowa , and even managed to lose by 16 points to Maryland and by a touchdown to Nebraska .
Still , reversing the losing streak will send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high note .
After a brief and ultimately fruitless chase at former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer , Texas lent its support to embattled coach Tom Herman , who will return in 2021 .
`` With the close of the regular season , I want to reiterate that Tom Herman is our coach , '' said athletics director Chris Conte , who added , `` I see tremendous young men and promising talent . ''
The Longhorns finished 6-3 after Saturday 's game against Kansas was canceled because of an outbreak of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that had n't played in three weeks and was down dozens of players and still managed to lose 24-17 , erasing any of the positivity coming out of last week 's win against Purdue and raising another round of questions about the program 's growth under third-year coach Scott Frost .
Once again , the issues came on offense .
( The Nebraska defense has been good , actually . )
The Cornhuskers averaged just 3.8 yards per pass attempt .
Needing a win to have any chance at winning the Pac-12 South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado was dominated in the second half and suffered its first defeat under coach Karl Dorrell , losing 38-21 to Utah .
The Buffaloes were ahead 14-10 at halftime thanks to a long punt return score and took a 21-10 lead after a 61-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Sam Noyer .
But the Utes scored 28 unanswered points to even their record at 2-2 .
Despite the disappointing loss , Colorado will finish the regular season at 4-1 , marking a solid start for Dorrell .

College football winners and losers from Week 15: Alabama, Northwestern and Georgia impress
Show Caption Hide Caption College Football Playoff rankings 3.0: Committee's decisions suggest Ohio State will be given benefit of doubt SportsPulse: Despite cancellations Ohio State shouldn't be sweating their shot at the College Football Playoff according to Dan Wolken. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
The only surprise from Alabama's 52-3 win against Arkansas? That the game was once tied, 3-3, and remained tied until the Crimson Tide surged ahead in the final minutes of the first quarter.
Such are the standards for Alabama, which has spent the last month as the unquestioned No. 1 team in the Amway Coaches Poll and the College Football Playoff rankings. While Notre Dame, Clemson and Ohio State have staked out seats in the semifinals, the Tide's performance since November has made them the team to beat for the national championship.
Arkansas is undoubtedly improved under first-year coach Sam Pittman, who inherited a disaster area from former coach Chad Morris but has quickly turned the Razorbacks into a middle-of-the-pack contender in the SEC.
But the program is miles off the pace set by Alabama. After an 84-yard punt return by star wide receiver DeVonta Smith broke the tie with 2:36 left in the first quarter, the Tide would score 28 points in the second, head into halftime ahead 38-3 and cruise to another lopsided win to remain unbeaten heading into next weekend's SEC championship game against Florida.
Running back Najee Harris ran for 46 yards and two touchdowns, backup Brian Robinson added 54 yards and three scores and quarterback Mac Jones completed 83% of his attempts for 208 yards. Alabama can make a strong case for having college football's best quarterback, running back and wide receiver.
Saturday's win included another impenetrable performance from the Alabama defense. Since winning a 63-48 shootout against Mississippi on Oct. 10, the Tide have held six of seven opponents to 17 or fewer points and allowed just 2.9 yards per carry.
Here are the rest of Saturday's winners and losers in college football:
Winners
Southern California
For the third time this season, USC scored a touchdown inside the final minute of the fourth quarter to remain unbeaten. This time, a short scoring pass from Kedon Slovis to star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown gave USC a 43-38 win against rival UCLA and will send the Trojans into the Pac-12 title game as the league's lone unbeaten. Slovis threw five touchdowns, two to St. Brown, as the Trojans outscored Chip Kelly's Bruins 20-3 in the fourth quarter. USC will face Washington in the Pac-12 championship unless the Huskies are unable to play due to COVID-19, in which case Oregon will represent the North division.
Northwestern
After a sluggish start against Illinois, Northwestern focused on its running game and took control early in the second quarter of a 28-10 win. The Wildcats finished with 411 yards on 58 carries after failing to crack the 150-yard mark or average more than 3.9 yards per carry in each of the past five games, including a paltry 63 yards on 37 carries in a 29-20 loss to Michigan State on Nov. 28. After finishing last in the West division in 2019, Northwestern will next meet Ohio State for the Big Ten championship.
Georgia
With lowly Vanderbilt up next to end the regular season, the Bulldogs essentially clinched a New Year's Six bowl berth by beating Missouri 49-14. For the Tigers, who scored a combined 91 points in the past two weeks, the loss ended a three-game winning streak under first-year coach Eli Drinkwitz. After losing last month to rival Florida to give the Gators control of the East division, Georgia has reversed its offensive woes by turning to former Southern California transfer JT Daniels, who has thrown for 839 yards and nine scores in his three games as the starter.
Ball State
The Cardinals made a 22-yard field goal with 29 seconds left and beat Western Michigan 30-27 to win the MAC West and earn a spot against Buffalo in next week's conference title game. This caps an outstanding and unexpectedly successful regular season for Ball State, which hadn't posted a winning record since 2013. The Cardinals will likely be the underdog against the Bulls, who entered Saturday 4-0 and are averaging a Bowl Subdivision-best 50.8 points.
Penn State
PSU beat Michigan State 39-24 for its third consecutive win, salvaging at least some respectability from what seemed like a lost season after starting 0-5 for the first time in program history. The three wins — Michigan, Rutgers and the Spartans — didn't come against the Big Ten's best; the Nittany Lions lost those games, to Indiana, Ohio State and Iowa, and even managed to lose by 16 points to Maryland and by a touchdown to Nebraska. Still, reversing the losing streak will send Penn State into the offseason on a high note.
Tom Herman
After a brief and ultimately fruitless chase at former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, Texas lent its support to embattled coach Tom Herman, who will return in 2021. "With the close of the regular season, I want to reiterate that Tom Herman is our coach," said athletics director Chris Del Conte, who added, "I see tremendous young men and promising talent." The Longhorns finished 6-3 after Saturday's game against Kansas was canceled because of an outbreak of COVID-19.
Iowa
Left for dead at 0-2, Iowa has now won six straight after topping Wisconsin 28-7. An earlier loss to Northwestern essentially ended the Hawkeyes' shot at winning the Big Ten West. But there's still a shot at a major bowl, if not one in the New Year's Six, and enough momentum developed in the past month-plus to make Iowa a trendy pick as the second-best team in the conference heading into next season. Iowa will be a lock for preseason Top 25 lists, at least.
Coastal Carolina
In danger of a shocking letdown against Troy after last week's win against Brigham Young, the Chanticleers drove 75 yards in 45 seconds to retake the lead and then made a late defensive stand to win 42-38. That might not help the Chanticleers' standing with the playoff selection committee, especially with North Carolina and others making a case to rise in the rankings. But staying unbeaten leaves Coastal in good shape to claim the Group of Five's bid to the New Year's Six should Cincinnati stumble in next week's American championship game against Tulsa.
Losers
Florida
Is Florida eliminated from the playoff race? Yeah. Can a thrown shoe be to blame? The Gators' 37-34 loss to LSU is an embarrassment in itself: LSU is a shadow of its 2019 self and was forced to dig deep into a defensive depth chart to find bodies in the secondary. But the loss will take on a special place in SEC history for the way it unfolded in the final minutes.
With the game tied 34-34 late in the fourth quarter and LSU driving, Florida seemed to make a third-down stop that would've given the Gators possession with enough time to march on a potential game-winning drive. Then UF defensive back Marco Wilson picked up LSU tight end Kole Taylor's shoe and flung it "20 yards downfield," per the referee, drawing a penalty that extended the drive and led to the Tigers' 57-yard field goal for the win. Now with two losses, Florida can beat Alabama in the SEC championship game — I mean, it's possible — and still not make the playoff.
Nebraska
The Cornhuskers faced a Minnesota team that hadn't played in three weeks and was down dozens of players and still managed to lose 24-17, erasing any of the positivity coming out of last week's win against Purdue and raising another round of questions about the program's growth under third-year coach Scott Frost. Once again, the issues came on offense. (The Nebraska defense has been good, actually.) The Cornhuskers averaged just 3.8 yards per pass attempt.
Colorado
Needing a win to have any chance at winning the Pac-12 South and reaching the conference championship game, Colorado was dominated in the second half and suffered its first defeat under coach Karl Dorrell, losing 38-21 to Utah. The Buffaloes were ahead 14-10 at halftime thanks to a long punt return score and took a 21-10 lead after a 61-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Sam Noyer. But the Utes scored 28 unanswered points to even their record at 2-2. Despite the disappointing loss, Colorado will finish the regular season at 4-1, marking a solid start for Dorrell.
Kevin Sumlin
While Herman received a tepid vote of confidence, Sumlin was fired at Arizona at the end of an 0-5 season capped by a hideous 70-7 loss to rival Arizona State. Losing to the Sun Devils is a fitting conclusion to his tenure: Sumlin and ASU coach Herm Edwards were both hired after the 2017 season but viewed very differently, with Sumlin as the no-brainer and Edwards as a head-scratching choice. Sumlin went 9-20 with the Wildcats while Edwards is 16-13 with back-to-back bowl bids.
Miami (Fla.)
The Hurricanes could've nearly wrapped up a trip to the New Year's Six by beating North Carolina, in a matchup to determine the third-best team in the ACC behind Notre Dame and Clemson. Instead, Miami suffered a 62-26 loss that throws a bucket of cold water on what had been a strong second season from coach Manny Diaz. For the second time this year, joining a 42-17 loss to Clemson earlier this year, the Hurricanes faced a legitimate Top 25 opponent and had their doors blown off. What does that say about the state of the program? What does that say about this season? Now 8-2, Miami desperately needs to bounce back in next week's game against Georgia Tech.


usatoday--2020-12-12--'I see bodies flying': Woman charged for driving car into NYC protesters, injuring 6, police say

WOODLAND PARK , N.J. – A woman has been arrested and charged with reckless endangerment after driving her car into protesters Friday in New York City , injuring six of them , police said .
Kathleen Casillo , 52 , was released from custody after being given a notice to appear in court at a later date , police said .
A message seeking comment was left at a number listed for Casillo .
Online records did not list a lawyer who could speak on her behalf .
The New York City Police Department said the incident happened Friday around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Avenue and E. 39th Street .
The protestors were on hand to raise awareness and bring attention to an ongoing hunger strike by ICE detainees at the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack .
The New York Fire Department says six people were taken by ambulance to local hospitals .
Police and fire officials said the injuries did n't appear to be life-threatening .
One video shows the car stopped at the intersection before accelerating into the area of the protest , where people had been standing in the street .
Another video shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driver being taken into police custody .
Protests have occurred outside the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack every day for about two weeks .
On Friday , video emerged of an altercation between protestors and sheriff 's officers on River Street .
Footage shows one man being arrested .
A group of five officers appear to push the man back toward the parking lot , into the barricades knocking them down .
The man does not appear to struggle or resist as four officers subdue him .
A spokesman for U.S. Immigration and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detainees at the jail had stopped eating meals , but would not say for how long .
A detainee in ICE custody is deemed to be in hunger strike status if they refuse nine consecutive facility-provided meals .
That also applies even if a person eats food purchased from the commissary during that period of time , according to information on the ICE website .
The circumstances of what caused the car to go into the protest were unclear .
The car 's windshield was smashed by the impact , pictures and video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sofia Vickerman , of Denver , Colorado , told the Associated Press that when the car hit the crowd it tossed people and a bicycle in the air .
“ I hear people screaming in the front , I look behind me , the woman is plowing through , '' she said .
“ I see bodies flying . ''
Images posted online showed a heavy police presence as authorities blocked off the area , and one person being loaded into a stretcher .

'I see bodies flying': Woman charged for driving car into NYC protesters, injuring 6, police say
WOODLAND PARK, N.J. – A woman has been arrested and charged with reckless endangerment after driving her car into protesters Friday in New York City, injuring six of them, police said.
Kathleen Casillo, 52, was released from custody after being given a notice to appear in court at a later date, police said. A message seeking comment was left at a number listed for Casillo. Online records did not list a lawyer who could speak on her behalf.
The New York City Police Department said the incident happened Friday around 4 p.m. at the intersection of Third Avenue and E. 39th Street.
The protestors were on hand to raise awareness and bring attention to an ongoing hunger strike by ICE detainees at the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack.
The New York Fire Department says six people were taken by ambulance to local hospitals. Police and fire officials said the injuries didn't appear to be life-threatening.
One video shows the car stopped at the intersection before accelerating into the area of the protest, where people had been standing in the street. Another video shows a person that appears to be the driver being taken into police custody.
Just in: surveillance video shows a vehicle speeding through a group of protestors in Murray Hill, leaving 7 of them injured. Driver and passenger being questioned, although sources say this incident does not appear to be intentional. @ABC7NY @jimdolan7 @AaronKatersky pic.twitter.com/ulRlef1lPr — Morena Basteiro (@morenabasteiro) December 11, 2020
Protests have occurred outside the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack every day for about two weeks.
On Friday, video emerged of an altercation between protestors and sheriff's officers on River Street. Footage shows one man being arrested. A group of five officers appear to push the man back toward the parking lot, into the barricades knocking them down. The man does not appear to struggle or resist as four officers subdue him.
A spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said last month that nine detainees at the jail had stopped eating meals, but would not say for how long.
A detainee in ICE custody is deemed to be in hunger strike status if they refuse nine consecutive facility-provided meals. That also applies even if a person eats food purchased from the commissary during that period of time, according to information on the ICE website.
The circumstances of what caused the car to go into the protest were unclear. The car's windshield was smashed by the impact, pictures and video showed.
A participant in the protest, Sofia Vickerman, of Denver, Colorado, told the Associated Press that when the car hit the crowd it tossed people and a bicycle in the air.
“I hear people screaming in the front, I look behind me, the woman is plowing through," she said. “I see bodies flying."
Images posted online showed a heavy police presence as authorities blocked off the area, and one person being loaded into a stretcher.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-12-12--Your COVID-19 vaccine questions, answered: What are the side effects? What are the Pfizer vaccine 'i

Your COVID-19 vaccine questions, answered: What are the side effects? What are the Pfizer vaccine 'ingredients?'

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized the first coronavirus vaccine for emergency use , and distribution of Pfizer 's vaccine was underway over the weekend .
Moderna has also applied for emergency use authorization for its two-shot vaccine candidate , and more companies are expected to apply in the coming months .
Meanwhile this week , Canada and the United Kingdom also authorized the widespread use of Pfizer 's vaccine .
As vaccines are being produced in record time , what do we know about these shots ?
What are the side effects ?
Will you be immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine once or every year ?
We know you have questions , and we ’ re here to help .
Ask us your vaccine questions through this online form , and we 'll speak with public health experts to answer them below .
Here 's what we know : Is there a vaccine for the coronavirus ?
There are more than 200 vaccine candidates under development , with 52 in clinical trials , according to the World Health Organization .
As of late November , Phase 3 clinical trials were in progress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The U.S. , United Kingdom and Canada have authorized the use of a vaccine developed by drug companies Pfizer and BioNTech .
China and Russia began rolling out their own vaccines before completing late-stage clinical trials .
Pfizer ’ s COVID-19 vaccine : Key committee endorsement paves way for clearance by FDA and vaccinations in US to begin The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday released a 53-page report summarizing data from Pfizer and BioNTech 's COVID-19 candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ findings that the vaccine is safe and will prevent 95 % of people from becoming sick with COVID-19 .
Read more .
Will the vaccine be safe for children and pregnant women ?
Historically , major vaccines have not been tested during pregnancy because of concerns that both the pregnant person and fetus would be at risk for complications .
Pregnant and nursing people were not included in the Pfizer/BioNTech study , so there is no data to suggest whether they should avoid vaccination .
Dr. Peter Marks , who directs the Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FDA , said Saturday that pregnant people , children and those who are immunocompromised should discuss vaccination with their providers and `` will need to consider on an individual basis . ''
In a Dec. 1 meeting of a CDC group that determines how vaccines should be allocated , several expert members said they expected the vaccine would be safe for mothers who are nursing because the virus itself does not seem to pass through the mother ’ s milk .
The Pfizer trial data only included children ages 16 and up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to age 12 , and will include younger children as soon as the company decides what dose it wants to test in this group .
Read more .
Related : No , the COVID-19 vaccine doesn ’ t cause infertility in womenmen What about 16- and 17-year-olds ?
Although there 's not as much data for this age group as others , officials believe they know enough to conclude the benefits of getting vaccinated outweigh the risks , Marks said .
Sixteen and 17-year-olds rarely get severely ill with COVID-19 , but they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing symptoms .
And some in that age group work jobs in which they interact with the public , such as check-out clerks .
What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine ?
Americans will likely experience at least one side effect from the COVID-19 vaccine , but doctors say that ’ s normal and you should still get vaccinated .
For the vaccine by Pfizer/BioNTech , many trial participants endured side effects for a day or two after getting their shots , particularly the second one .
The most commonly reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 55 was a sore arm , followed by fatigue ( 60 % after the second shot ) ; headache ( 52 % after the second shot ) ; other muscle aches ( 37 % ) ; and chills ( 35 % ) .
About 28 % took pain medication after the first shot and 45 % after the second shot .
Read more .
Can you get one dose from one vaccine and the second from another ?
The Pfizer/BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines both require two doses , given 21 and 28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines differ in composition , storage and time between the two doses , experts say people must take the same vaccine for both doses .
What is the level of immunity after one shot ?
The vaccine by Pfizer/BioNTech was 52 % effective after the first dose , according to a recent FDA report .
However , because everyone received a second dose three weeks after the first , there ’ s no evidence of protection lasting longer than a few weeks after the first dose .
Read more .
How long will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no data on how long a vaccine will be protective .
FDA officials were expected to authorize Pfizer 's vaccine in the midst of the pandemic because it is safe and at least transiently effective , rather than withholding it for two years to await the typical long-term results required for a full approval .
Vaccine companies intend to follow trial participants for two years and submit a full application when they have that data .
Read more .
Once you get vaccinated , can you still get sick or spread the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The potential vaccines are not 100 % effective , so there ’ s a small chance you could encounter the virus and still get sick .
It also typically takes `` a few weeks '' for the body to build immunity after vaccination , meaning a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and get sick , according to the CDC .
Even after vaccination , it 's not clear whether someone could catch the virus that causes COVID-19 and pass it on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ill .
The studies designed to test the candidate vaccines only examined symptomatic infections , not whether vaccinated people could still be contagious .
This means that people who are vaccinated can be pretty sure that they won ’ t develop COVID-19 themselves , but they could still pass it on to others without knowing they are infected .
Future studies will explore this .
Read more .
There has been concern that getting vaccinated against the coronavirus might cause a subsequent COVID-19 infection , as some dengue vaccines have been shown to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluded that use of the vaccine has not been widespread enough to know for certain , but that `` available data do not indicate a risk of vaccine-enhanced disease , and conversely suggest effectiveness against severe disease within the available follow-up period . ''
The risk does remain over time as immunity against the disease wanes , the FDA said , and `` needs to be evaluated further in ongoing clinical trials . ''
Read more .
Which vaccines will be only one shot ?
Johnson & Johnson is developing a single-dose vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month that the company expects to have all the data it needs to file for authorization by February or sooner .
If you already had COVID-19 , should you still get vaccinated ?
People who have had COVID-19 `` may be advised '' to get the vaccine , `` due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible , '' according to the CDC .
If you 've had COVID-19 and recovered , you have what 's called natural immunity .
Studies have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months to years .
Immunity from a vaccine is called vaccine-induced immunity , and it 's unclear how long that may last .
What are the COVID-19 vaccine 'ingredients ? '
Experts say the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech looks pretty standard for a vaccine .
They can be organized into four basic categories : the active ingredient ( messenger RNA , in this case ) , fats , sugars and salt .
Read more on ingredients .
None of the vaccines in development in the U.S. use the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the CDC .
Most of the vaccines under development introduce the `` spike '' protein found on the surface of the virus .
They train the immune system to recognize this protein and attack in case of infection .
But both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines depend on a technology never before used in a commercial vaccine : mRNA , or messenger ribonucleic acid .
Read more on mRNA .
What if I have had an allergic reaction in the past ?
About 1.6 % of the population has had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the environment , but they are eligible to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine , Marks said .
Only people who have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or one of its components should not receive the vaccine .
Sites where the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are administered will be able to treat allergic reactions , Marks said .
Two British people with severe allergies apparently had reactions to Pfizer/BioNTech 's vaccine this week .
Allergic reactions were not a significant problem in the U.S. trial , in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vaccine .
The U.S. trials kept out subjects who have had severe allergic reactions .
Where are the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines made ?
Pfizer has two plants making its COVID-19 vaccine , one in Kalamazoo , Michigan , and one in Puurs , Belgium .
The company has a distribution site in Pleasant Prairie , Wisconsin , where its vaccine is being stored .
Moderna has started producing vaccine at its plant in Norwood , Massachusetts , and it will ramp up production in the next month with help from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a facility in Portsmouth , New Hampshire .
How will the vaccine be shipped ?
Shipment of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine involves Pfizer personnel taking five-dose glass vials of vaccine out of subzero freezers and packing them into specially designed shipping containers , Wes Wheeler , president of Global Healthcare at UPS , told USA TODAY .
Pfizer 's COVID-19 vaccine is being shipped in insulated containers that hold between 195 and 975 five-dose vials and are about the size of a carry-on suitcase .
The vials are stored in flat , pizza box-sized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vials .
A fully loaded thermal container , which is reusable , contains five of these and weighs about 70 pounds .
Pfizer will ship its vaccine using UPS and FedEx as its main distributors .
Moderna 's vaccine distribution is being coordinated by McKesson , the nation 's largest medical supply distributor .
Each carton will have a GPS tracker allowing it to be located in real-time anywhere in the world , as well as a Bluetooth tracker that can locate it within 10 feet inside a UPS facility , said Wheeler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is there ?
Approximately 2.9 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will be distributed across the 50 states in the next few days , Gen. Gustave Perna , co-leader of Operation Warp Speed in charge of logistics , said Saturday .
Another 2.9 doses are being held back to distribute later for the second shot , plus reserves .
More vaccine will be rolled out in the weeks and months to come , with Pfizer and Moderna expected to deliver a combined 300 million doses of their vaccines by the middle of next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the population of the U.S. What is the vaccine delivery schedule ?
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will be sent to to 636 hospitals , clinics and public health systems nationwide this week , with 145 sites receiving doses Monday , 425 on Tuesday and the final 66 on Wednesday , Perna said .
Once the initial doses have shipped , the system will begin regular deliveries .
Each Thursday , Operation Warp Speed , the White House 's coronavirus vaccine initiative , will ask vaccine producers how much vaccine they have made during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply , production and distribution for the federal government 's Operation Warp Speed , who walked USA TODAY through the process .
On Friday , staff will meet and decide how many doses can be allocated .
States will put in their orders on Saturday and deliveries will happen on Monday morning , he said .
UPS , FedEx and McKesson all have 24-hour hotlines sites can call if there are delivery troubles .
In addition , Operation Warp Speed officials said they will have staff available at two operations centers , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both with 24-hour hotlines .
Read more .
Operation Warp Speed created a software system called Tiberius that allows states and local jurisdictions to order and track vaccine .
It records all allocations of COVID-19 vaccines to states , territories , cities and federal entities , said Col. Deacon Maddox , OWS Chief of Plans , Operations and Analysis .
It works in conjunction with the CDC 's Vaccine Tracking System , known as VTrckS , which has been distributing vaccine for children for a decade .
Read more .
How much does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer have agreed to provide the U.S. with 100 million doses apiece , already funded through federal support of manufacturing and distribution .
Vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be given to the American people at no cost , according to the CDC .
`` However , vaccine providers will be able to charge administration fees for giving or administering the shot to someone .
Vaccine providers can get this fee reimbursed by the patient ’ s public or private insurance company or , for uninsured patients , by the Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Relief Fund , '' the CDC says on its website .

Adrianna Rodriguez, Grace Hauck, Elizabeth Weise and Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY

Your vaccine questions, answered: I had COVID, should I still get vaccinated? What are the side effects? What are its 'ingredients?'
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19 vaccine concerns: You Asked, We Answered We asked you to tell us your biggest questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. Here are some answers. USA TODAY
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized the first coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, and distribution of Pfizer's vaccine was underway over the weekend.
Moderna has also applied for emergency use authorization for its two-shot vaccine candidate, and more companies are expected to apply in the coming months. Meanwhile this week, Canada and the United Kingdom also authorized the widespread use of Pfizer's vaccine.
As vaccines are being produced in record time, what do we know about these shots? What are the side effects? Will you be immune? And will you have to take the vaccine once or every year?
We know you have questions, and we’re here to help. Ask us your vaccine questions through this online form, and we'll speak with public health experts to answer them below.
Here's what we know:
Is there a vaccine for the coronavirus?
There are more than 200 vaccine candidates under development, with 52 in clinical trials, according to the World Health Organization. As of late November, Phase 3 clinical trials were in progress or being planned for five vaccines in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The U.S., United Kingdom and Canada have authorized the use of a vaccine developed by drug companies Pfizer and BioNTech. China and Russia began rolling out their own vaccines before completing late-stage clinical trials.
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine: Key committee endorsement paves way for clearance by FDA and vaccinations in US to begin
Is the vaccine safe?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday released a 53-page report summarizing data from Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 candidate vaccine trial. The data supports earlier findings that the vaccine is safe and will prevent 95% of people from becoming sick with COVID-19. Read more.
If you already had COVID-19, should you still get vaccinated?
People who have had COVID-19 "may be advised" to get the vaccine, "due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible," according to the CDC.
If you've had COVID-19 and recovered, you have what's called natural immunity. Studies have shown natural immunity to COVID-19 may last months to years. Immunity from a vaccine is called vaccine-induced immunity, and it's unclear how long that may last.
How the new RNA technology is used to create the COVID-19 vaccines The COVID-19 vaccine is using new technology that has never been used before in traditional vaccines. Here's how an mRNA vaccine works. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Will the vaccine be safe for children and pregnant women?
Historically, major vaccines have not been tested during pregnancy because of concerns that both the pregnant person and fetus would be at risk for complications. Pregnant and nursing people were not included in the Pfizer/BioNTech study, so there is no data to suggest whether they should avoid vaccination.
Dr. Peter Marks, who directs the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the FDA, said Saturday that pregnant people, children and those who are immunocompromised should discuss vaccination with their providers and "will need to consider on an individual basis."
In a Dec. 1 meeting of a CDC group that determines how vaccines should be allocated, several expert members said they expected the vaccine would be safe for mothers who are nursing because the virus itself does not seem to pass through the mother’s milk.
The Pfizer trial data only included children ages 16 and up, though the study has since been extended to age 12, and will include younger children as soon as the company decides what dose it wants to test in this group. Read more.
Related: No, the COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t cause infertility in womenmen
What about 16- and 17-year-olds?
Although there's not as much data for this age group as others, officials believe they know enough to conclude the benefits of getting vaccinated outweigh the risks, Marks said.
Sixteen and 17-year-olds rarely get severely ill with COVID-19, but they do transmit it easily, often without showing symptoms. And some in that age group work jobs in which they interact with the public, such as check-out clerks.
What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?
Americans will likely experience at least one side effect from the COVID-19 vaccine, but doctors say that’s normal and you should still get vaccinated. For the vaccine by Pfizer/BioNTech, many trial participants endured side effects for a day or two after getting their shots, particularly the second one.
The most commonly reported side effect among vaccine recipients under age 55 was a sore arm, followed by fatigue (60% after the second shot); headache (52% after the second shot); other muscle aches (37%); and chills (35%). About 28% took pain medication after the first shot and 45% after the second shot. Read more.
Can you get one dose from one vaccine and the second from another?
The Pfizer/BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines both require two doses, given 21 and 28 days apart, respectively. Since the vaccines differ in composition, storage and time between the two doses, experts say people must take the same vaccine for both doses.
What is the level of immunity after one shot?
The vaccine by Pfizer/BioNTech was 52% effective after the first dose, according to a recent FDA report. However, because everyone received a second dose three weeks after the first, there’s no evidence of protection lasting longer than a few weeks after the first dose. Read more.
How long will a COVID-19 vaccine be protective?
There is no data on how long a vaccine will be protective. FDA officials were expected to authorize Pfizer's vaccine in the midst of the pandemic because it is safe and at least transiently effective, rather than withholding it for two years to await the typical long-term results required for a full approval. Vaccine companies intend to follow trial participants for two years and submit a full application when they have that data. Read more.
Once you get vaccinated, can you still get sick or spread the virus?
Yes, it's possible. The potential vaccines are not 100% effective, so there’s a small chance you could encounter the virus and still get sick. It also typically takes "a few weeks" for the body to build immunity after vaccination, meaning a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and get sick, according to the CDC.
Even after vaccination, it's not clear whether someone could catch the virus that causes COVID-19 and pass it on to someone else, even without becoming ill. The studies designed to test the candidate vaccines only examined symptomatic infections, not whether vaccinated people could still be contagious. This means that people who are vaccinated can be pretty sure that they won’t develop COVID-19 themselves, but they could still pass it on to others without knowing they are infected. Future studies will explore this. Read more.
Could the vaccine make subsequent infections worse?
There has been concern that getting vaccinated against the coronavirus might cause a subsequent COVID-19 infection, as some dengue vaccines have been shown to do for that disease.
The FDA concluded that use of the vaccine has not been widespread enough to know for certain, but that "available data do not indicate a risk of vaccine-enhanced disease, and conversely suggest effectiveness against severe disease within the available follow-up period." The risk does remain over time as immunity against the disease wanes, the FDA said, and "needs to be evaluated further in ongoing clinical trials." Read more.
Which vaccines will be only one shot?
Johnson & Johnson is developing a single-dose vaccine. The company's chief scientist said last month that the company expects to have all the data it needs to file for authorization by February or sooner.
What are the COVID-19 vaccine 'ingredients?'
Experts say the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech looks pretty standard for a vaccine. They can be organized into four basic categories: the active ingredient (messenger RNA, in this case), fats, sugars and salt. Read more on ingredients.
None of the vaccines in development in the U.S. use the "live" virus that causes COVID-19, according to the CDC. Most of the vaccines under development introduce the "spike" protein found on the surface of the virus. They train the immune system to recognize this protein and attack in case of infection. But both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines depend on a technology never before used in a commercial vaccine: mRNA, or messenger ribonucleic acid. Read more on mRNA.
What if I have had an allergic reaction in the past?
About 1.6% of the population has had a severe allergic reaction to food or something in the environment, but they are eligible to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, Marks said. Only people who have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or one of its components should not receive the vaccine. Sites where the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are administered will be able to treat allergic reactions, Marks said.
Two British people with severe allergies apparently had reactions to Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine this week. Allergic reactions were not a significant problem in the U.S. trial, in which more than 20,000 people received two doses of the vaccine. The U.S. trials kept out subjects who have had severe allergic reactions.
Where are the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines made?
Pfizer has two plants making its COVID-19 vaccine, one in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and one in Puurs, Belgium. The company has a distribution site in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, where its vaccine is being stored.
Moderna has started producing vaccine at its plant in Norwood, Massachusetts, and it will ramp up production in the next month with help from contract manufacturer Lonza Biologics, which has a facility in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
How will the vaccine be shipped?
Shipment of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine involves Pfizer personnel taking five-dose glass vials of vaccine out of subzero freezers and packing them into specially designed shipping containers, Wes Wheeler, president of Global Healthcare at UPS, told USA TODAY.
Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is being shipped in insulated containers that hold between 195 and 975 five-dose vials and are about the size of a carry-on suitcase. The vials are stored in flat, pizza box-sized compartments, each of which holds 195 vials. A fully loaded thermal container, which is reusable, contains five of these and weighs about 70 pounds.
Pfizer will ship its vaccine using UPS and FedEx as its main distributors. Moderna's vaccine distribution is being coordinated by McKesson, the nation's largest medical supply distributor. Each carton will have a GPS tracker allowing it to be located in real-time anywhere in the world, as well as a Bluetooth tracker that can locate it within 10 feet inside a UPS facility, said Wheeler. Read more.
How much vaccine is there?
Approximately 2.9 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will be distributed across the 50 states in the next few days, Gen. Gustave Perna, co-leader of Operation Warp Speed in charge of logistics, said Saturday. Another 2.9 doses are being held back to distribute later for the second shot, plus reserves.
More vaccine will be rolled out in the weeks and months to come, with Pfizer and Moderna expected to deliver a combined 300 million doses of their vaccines by the middle of next year, enough to vaccinate nearly half the population of the U.S.
What is the vaccine delivery schedule?
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will be sent to to 636 hospitals, clinics and public health systems nationwide this week, with 145 sites receiving doses Monday, 425 on Tuesday and the final 66 on Wednesday, Perna said.
Once the initial doses have shipped, the system will begin regular deliveries. Each Thursday, Operation Warp Speed, the White House's coronavirus vaccine initiative, will ask vaccine producers how much vaccine they have made during the week, Paul Ostrowski, who leads supply, production and distribution for the federal government's Operation Warp Speed, who walked USA TODAY through the process. On Friday, staff will meet and decide how many doses can be allocated. States will put in their orders on Saturday and deliveries will happen on Monday morning, he said.
UPS, FedEx and McKesson all have 24-hour hotlines sites can call if there are delivery troubles. In addition, Operation Warp Speed officials said they will have staff available at two operations centers, one in Washington and one in Atlanta, both with 24-hour hotlines. Read more.
How does Operation Warp Speed track doses?
Operation Warp Speed created a software system called Tiberius that allows states and local jurisdictions to order and track vaccine. It records all allocations of COVID-19 vaccines to states, territories, cities and federal entities, said Col. Deacon Maddox, OWS Chief of Plans, Operations and Analysis. It works in conjunction with the CDC's Vaccine Tracking System, known as VTrckS, which has been distributing vaccine for children for a decade. Read more.
How much does the vaccine cost?
Moderna has agreed to provide the U.S. with 200 million doses and Pfizer at least 100 million by the middle of next year, have agreed to provide the U.S. with 100 million doses apiece, already funded through federal support of manufacturing and distribution. Vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be given to the American people at no cost, according to the CDC.
"However, vaccine providers will be able to charge administration fees for giving or administering the shot to someone. Vaccine providers can get this fee reimbursed by the patient’s public or private insurance company or, for uninsured patients, by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund," the CDC says on its website.


usatoday--2020-12-12--Audit finds DNC 'interjection' was 'catalyst for the resulting chaos' in Iowa caucuses

The national Democratic Party `` aggressively interjected itself '' into the 2020 Iowa caucuses , slowing down and complicating the development of a reporting app that crashed on caucus night and delayed the tallying of results , an audit of the process found .
The Iowa Democratic Party commissioned the audit shortly after the Feb. 3 caucuses , hiring a pair of Democratic lawyers to examine the technical and procedural failures that prevented it from announcing a caucus winner for days after the high-profile contest ended .
The party released the results to its State Central Committee Saturday morning .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moines Register , which is part of the USA TODAY Network .
Shadow Inc. designed the app for the Iowa Democratic Party , beginning its work in August .
But the company ’ s CEO , Gerard Niemira , told Motherboard , an online tech publication , that “ we didn ’ t have a final production version of this until pretty close to caucus time.
” The audit focused on a `` database conversion tool '' created at the last minute at the behest of the Democratic National Committee .
`` Attempting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onto the back-end reporting system at the proverbial eleventh hour is likely always going to be problematic , and it was ultimately the cause of a major problem on caucus night , '' the report said .
On caucus night , the report says the DNC demanded access to the state party ’ s reporting data in real-time .
It wanted access so that it could calculate the results to confirm the state 's numbers before anything would be released to the public .
`` When the DNC ’ s database conversion tool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DNC to wrongly stop the IDP from reporting its results , and the IDP ’ s entire planned reporting process was thrown into disarray , '' the report said .
`` The DNC ’ s interjection was the catalyst for the resulting chaos in the boiler room and the IDP ’ s attempts to manually collect and confirm caucus results by hand . ''
More : Iowa caucus 2020 : Inside the Iowa Democratic Party 's 'boiler room , ' where 'hell ' preceded the results catastrophe The `` boiler room '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party had staffed volunteers to take phone calls from precinct captains who wanted to report results over the telephone , rather than use the app .
When the app failed , the call center was overrun .
DNC spokesperson David Bergstein defended the `` quality control check '' system on caucus night in a statement provided to the Register .
`` The need for the IDP to include a quality control check in their system was validated by numerous press reports which found 'errors and inconsistencies ' in the initial caucus results , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technical problems were caused by errors from the IDP 's vendor . ''
But the report does not absolve the state party of responsibility .
It says that the failures within the boiler room `` were all deficiencies in the IDP 's general planning and preparations . ''
Regarding technology failures , the reports at `` the IDP — not the DNC — is ultimately responsible to ensure that its caucus tools and infrastructure are in place prior to the caucuses.
” The review spotlighted a number of other issues , including : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting app too late • App users received no training on its installation or usage • The app was not hacked or compromised by outside actors • The Iowa Democratic Party failed to manage media expectations , telling reporters that results would reported in real-time Although the state party eventually certified former South Bend , Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg as the caucus winner , The Associated Press said that reporting irregularities and potential errors meant it could not be certain of the outcome and it would not declare a victor .
Nick Klinefeldt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by President Barack Obama , and former Iowa Attorney General Bonnie Campbell , conducted the review .
The report did not include interviews with DNC staff members , who declined to participate .
`` Evaluating the nominating process always happens following the election so that DNC staff can remain focused on winning the general election , and this cycle that work helped contribute to President-Elect Biden 's historic victory , '' Bergstein said .
Iowa Democratic Party Chair Mark Smith said in a statement Saturday the report `` should speak for itself '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
`` In the interest of clarity and public reassurance , the IDP commissioned this self-critical report to help guide conversations as we move forward , ” he said .
“ It is deeply unfortunate that technical setbacks overshadowed the selfless work of thousands of volunteers who were committed to making the 2020 caucuses a success .
...
The most important thing for us to do now is to heed these lessons , listen to each other ’ s ideas , and work together to move forward . ''
Brianne Pfannenstiel is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Follow her on Twitter at @ brianneDMR .

Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register

Audit finds DNC 'interjection' was 'catalyst for the resulting chaos' in Iowa caucuses
Show Caption Hide Caption Watch: The three things that led to the Iowa caucus disaster Three things led to a disastrous caucus night for Democrats. The Des Moines Register
The national Democratic Party "aggressively interjected itself" into the 2020 Iowa caucuses, slowing down and complicating the development of a reporting app that crashed on caucus night and delayed the tallying of results, an audit of the process found.
The Iowa Democratic Party commissioned the audit shortly after the Feb. 3 caucuses, hiring a pair of Democratic lawyers to examine the technical and procedural failures that prevented it from announcing a caucus winner for days after the high-profile contest ended.
The party released the results to its State Central Committee Saturday morning. A copy was obtained by the Des Moines Register, which is part of the USA TODAY Network.
Shadow Inc. designed the app for the Iowa Democratic Party, beginning its work in August. But the company’s CEO, Gerard Niemira, told Motherboard, an online tech publication, that “we didn’t have a final production version of this until pretty close to caucus time.”
The audit focused on a "database conversion tool" created at the last minute at the behest of the Democratic National Committee.
"Attempting to graft an entirely new software element onto the back-end reporting system at the proverbial eleventh hour is likely always going to be problematic, and it was ultimately the cause of a major problem on caucus night," the report said.
On caucus night, the report says the DNC demanded access to the state party’s reporting data in real-time. It wanted access so that it could calculate the results to confirm the state's numbers before anything would be released to the public.
"When the DNC’s database conversion tool failed to work correctly, it caused the DNC to wrongly stop the IDP from reporting its results, and the IDP’s entire planned reporting process was thrown into disarray," the report said. "The DNC’s interjection was the catalyst for the resulting chaos in the boiler room and the IDP’s attempts to manually collect and confirm caucus results by hand."
More: Iowa caucus 2020: Inside the Iowa Democratic Party's 'boiler room,' where 'hell' preceded the results catastrophe
The "boiler room" was a call center where the state party had staffed volunteers to take phone calls from precinct captains who wanted to report results over the telephone, rather than use the app. When the app failed, the call center was overrun.
DNC spokesperson David Bergstein defended the "quality control check" system on caucus night in a statement provided to the Register.
"The need for the IDP to include a quality control check in their system was validated by numerous press reports which found 'errors and inconsistencies' in the initial caucus results," he said. "The underlying technical problems were caused by errors from the IDP's vendor."
But the report does not absolve the state party of responsibility. It says that the failures within the boiler room "were all deficiencies in the IDP's general planning and preparations."
Regarding technology failures, the reports at "the IDP — not the DNC — is ultimately responsible to ensure that its caucus tools and infrastructure are in place prior to the caucuses.”
The review spotlighted a number of other issues, including:
The IDP began development of the reporting app too late
App users received no training on its installation or usage
The app was not hacked or compromised by outside actors
The Iowa Democratic Party failed to manage media expectations, telling reporters that results would reported in real-time
Although the state party eventually certified former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg as the caucus winner, The Associated Press said that reporting irregularities and potential errors meant it could not be certain of the outcome and it would not declare a victor.
Nick Klinefeldt, who was a federal attorney appointed by President Barack Obama, and former Iowa Attorney General Bonnie Campbell, conducted the review.
The report did not include interviews with DNC staff members, who declined to participate.
"Evaluating the nominating process always happens following the election so that DNC staff can remain focused on winning the general election, and this cycle that work helped contribute to President-Elect Biden's historic victory," Bergstein said.
Iowa Democratic Party Chair Mark Smith said in a statement Saturday the report "should speak for itself" and thanked Klinefeldt and Campbell for their work.
"In the interest of clarity and public reassurance, the IDP commissioned this self-critical report to help guide conversations as we move forward,” he said. “It is deeply unfortunate that technical setbacks overshadowed the selfless work of thousands of volunteers who were committed to making the 2020 caucuses a success. ... The most important thing for us to do now is to heed these lessons, listen to each other’s ideas, and work together to move forward."
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.


usatoday--2020-12-12--Wisconsin GOP committee withholds $3 million payments to Dane and Milwaukee counties for recount cos

MADISON , Wis. – The Republican-led Legislature 's budget committee is holding up reimbursements to two counties for their recount costs .
President Donald Trump 's campaign paid $ 3 million for recounts in Dane and Milwaukee counties , Wisconsin 's two most Democratic areas .
But two top Republicans said Friday they were withholding the money from the counties for now .
They did not explain why .
Lawmakers `` are playing politics with money that is n't theirs , '' said Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson .
`` It 's acting in bad faith , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's Trump 's money and this is what he decided to spend it on . ''
Under state law , losing candidates can request recounts but must pay the cost upfront if they lost by more than 0.25 percentage points .
Trump lost Wisconsin to Democrat Joe Biden by 0.6 points and paid in advance for the recounts in the two counties .
The recounts resulted in Biden slightly widening his lead , and courts so far have upheld Biden 's victory in the state .
The counties are required to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are supposed to be reimbursed .
If their costs come in below estimates , the excess funds are supposed to be returned to Trump 's campaign .
A member of the Legislature 's Joint Finance Committee has objected to making the reimbursements , according to a letter released Friday by the Republican leaders of the committee , Sen. Alberta Darling of River Hills and Rep. Mark Born of Beaver Dam .
The proforma letter did not say who on the 16-member committee had objected or why .
The letter said a meeting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not say when .
Aides to Darling and Born did not immediately respond to questions , but some observers expressed surprise that recount workers were paid $ 30 an hour in Dane County .
Dane County Board Chairwoman Analiese Eicher said on Twitter her county should have its costs covered .
`` Expenses were incurred , '' she wrote .
`` We did our job .
Time to pay the bill .
We ’ re not a contractor Trump and his allies in the WIGOP can stiff . ''
Et tu SCOTUS ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of a conservative Supreme Court .
Here 's why .

Patrick Marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin GOP committee withholds $3 million payments to Dane and Milwaukee counties for recount costs
Show Caption Hide Caption Supreme Court rejects GOP attack on Biden victory The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a lawsuit backed by President Donald Trump to overturn Joe Biden's election victory, ending Trump's attempt to get legal issues rejected by other judges before the high court. (Dec. 11) AP
MADISON, Wis. – The Republican-led Legislature's budget committee is holding up reimbursements to two counties for their recount costs.
President Donald Trump's campaign paid $3 million for recounts in Dane and Milwaukee counties, Wisconsin's two most Democratic areas.
But two top Republicans said Friday they were withholding the money from the counties for now. They did not explain why.
Lawmakers "are playing politics with money that isn't theirs," said Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson.
"It's acting in bad faith," he said. "It's not their money. It's Trump's money and this is what he decided to spend it on."
Under state law, losing candidates can request recounts but must pay the cost upfront if they lost by more than 0.25 percentage points.
Trump lost Wisconsin to Democrat Joe Biden by 0.6 points and paid in advance for the recounts in the two counties. The recounts resulted in Biden slightly widening his lead, and courts so far have upheld Biden's victory in the state.
Wisconsin GOP election official: No 'credible evidence of large-scale voter fraud' during November election
The counties are required to calculate the actual costs they incurred and are supposed to be reimbursed. If their costs come in below estimates, the excess funds are supposed to be returned to Trump's campaign.
A member of the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee has objected to making the reimbursements, according to a letter released Friday by the Republican leaders of the committee, Sen. Alberta Darling of River Hills and Rep. Mark Born of Beaver Dam. The proforma letter did not say who on the 16-member committee had objected or why.
The letter said a meeting on the payments would be held but did not say when.
Aides to Darling and Born did not immediately respond to questions, but some observers expressed surprise that recount workers were paid $30 an hour in Dane County.
Dane County Board Chairwoman Analiese Eicher said on Twitter her county should have its costs covered.
"Expenses were incurred," she wrote. "We did our job. Time to pay the bill. We’re not a contractor Trump and his allies in the WIGOP can stiff."
Just learned that the republicans are objecting to reimbursing Dane County for Donald Trump’s recount. Expenses were incurred. We did our job. Time to pay the bill. We’re not a contractor Trump and his allies in the WIGOP can stiff. #wipolitics #recount #Election2020 pic.twitter.com/SrJbMTYWWM — Analiese Eicher (@analieseeicher) December 11, 2020
Follow Patrick Marley on Twitter at @patrickdmarley.
Et tu SCOTUS?: Donald Trump stood no chance in front of a conservative Supreme Court. Here's why.