usatoday--2020-12-07--79 Decembers later, Pearl Harbor survivor's memories won't dim: 'I will never forgive and I will nev

SLEEPY HOLLOW , N.Y. – Armando “ Chick ” Galella has lived 99 Decembers , but the one seared in his memory , the one that has come to define his life , came when he was just 20 : when he witnessed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7 , 1941 .
Galella is part of a rapidly declining fraternity ; he 's among the last remaining Pearl Harbor survivors .
He has made remembering what happened on that date his cause , representing the 2,403 Americans who perished in the surprise attack that thrust America into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never forgive and I will never forget , ” the 99-year-old says .
Galella plans to honor the fallen on Monday , the 79th anniversary of the attack , at The Intrepid Sea , Air & Space Museum in New York City — during an annual service greatly curtailed this year by coronavirus concerns .
On Veterans Day : WWII veteran says his secret to longevity is his wife - and vodka martinis The self-effacing veteran — whose 100th birthday is New Year 's Day 2021 — would have you believe he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Barnhardt Avenue ” in Sleepy Hollow , New York .
He witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor and on nearby Hickam Field , where he was stationed , but Galella insists he ’ s no hero .
The heroes , he says , are “ the boys under the flags , ” the ones who didn ’ t come home .
'Date which will live in infamy ' : What to remember about Pearl Harbor , 79 years later Seventy-nine Decembers after the attack , Galella 's memories of that sunny Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chock full of keepsakes and honors that he calls his “ memory room , ” Galella holds forth — bearing witness to the horror of war , to those who served , and to those who died .
His eyes flash as he speaks , recalling names and events , sights and sounds .
There is laughter , when he remembers finding his neighbor John Horan in Honolulu .
And there are tears : when he thinks of his widowed mother worrying at home , having sent three boys to war ; and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Dec. 7 attack .
He stands most of the time as he unfurls his remarkable memory , jutting a finger out for emphasis , his voice rising .
He remembers it all — less than a month before his 100th birthday .
He remembers wave after wave of Japanese planes , the confusion .
The bureaucratic mindlessness of a sergeant who wouldn ’ t unlock the ammunition supply without orders , despite the base being under attack , still gets his blood boiling .
And the noise .
The thud of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was obstructed from his view , and then Hickam Field , which he could see all too clearly .
`` We had no more chance than a snowball has in hell , '' he said .
In the confusion , he remembers separating from Air Force mechanic Horan , his friend and neighbor .
He remembers , as the smoke cleared , asking about Horan , only to learn he had fallen .
It was Galella who later told Margaret Horan how her son died .
Galella wears his most precious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hat : the Bronze star awarded for his service on Okinawa .
It is the one that declares , despite his protests to the contrary , that Galella is a hero , bestowed for `` heroic or meritorious achievement or service . ''
Galella ’ s thoughts are never far from those who were left behind in war — the fallen .
But these days he ’ s thinking of those left behind on the homefront , to the mothers who waited anxiously for word from Europe and the Pacific .
And later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Afghanistan .
Tears fill his eyes when he thinks of women like his widowed mother , Theodora , who sent sons Alfred and Frank to Europe and her baby , Armando , to the Pacific — half a world away .
His bites his index finger to gather himself as his voice catches , thinking of her sleepless nights on Barnhardt Avenue , sick with worry .
“ My mom was left alone , ” he says .
“ A mother prays forever ...
They pray for their son to come home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brothers , and my mother died four months later.
” Galella ’ s latest project is to honor Gold Star Mothers , those who lost children in military service .
Through the Gold Star Mothers Committee of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown , New York , in connection with the local Historical Society , Galella has led an effort to create a life-size bronze statue , by sculptor Andrew Chernak , on Horan 's Landing .
The Margaret Horan Memorial will be of a mother who casts her worried eyes skyward , leaning against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a framed photo of her military son .
The image in the frame will resemble John Horan .
The youngest of Theodora Galella ’ s three boys grew up skinny .
“ I could n't cast a shadow when I was younger , ” he said .
“ I used to go to the beach ( and they 'd say ) 'Here comes chicken legs . '
” A nickname , “ Chick , ” was born .
Decades later , it 's still how he introduces himself .
That Galella got into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water and bananas .
In the late summer of 1940 , when he went to enlist , he weighed 108 lbs , two pounds short of the Army minimum .
“ They said : 'Go down the street , get some water and bananas , ' '' he remembers .
`` I ate two bananas and drank water .
And I was in.
” In August 1945 , when Galella came home , the battalion sergeant major in the 53rd Signal Corps had served five years in the Army , nearly four of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Japanese surrender as his transport ship steamed under the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco .
Galella was 24 then , happy to be home bound , but forever marked by what he saw at age 20 — on that bright Sunday morning just after breakfast in Hawaii .
Galella came home and has lived a long life .
He married Leda , his wife of 67 years ( she died in 2015 ) , sold cars for a living and raised two sons , Michael and Armando Jr.
He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had copies of his medals made , so generations of Galellas will know that he served and what he did when the world went to war .
He is weeks from his 100th birthday , which , due to the coronavirus , will likely be a diminished affair despite marking a momentous occasion .
His friends and family are planning a drive-by parade for the centennial date : Jan. 1 , 2021 .
Michael , his son , wants to mark the milestone by lining up little glasses of wine to toast his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a knot of friends around him most afternoons to tell stories and drink wine he pours from a giant jug .
Befitting that “ little Italian boy from Barnhardt Avenue , ” the brand is Carlo Rossi Paisano table wine .

Peter D. Kramer, Rockland/Westchester Journal News

79 Decembers later, Pearl Harbor survivor's memories won't dim: 'I will never forgive and I will never forget'
Show Caption Hide Caption Pearl Harbor survivor Armando "Chick" Galella Pearl Harbor survivor Armando "Chick" Galella recounts the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, at home in Sleepy Hollow Dec. 1, 2020. Galella, who turned 100 on Jan. 1, 2021, died Sept. 29, 2021. Tania Savayan, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. – Armando “Chick” Galella has lived 99 Decembers, but the one seared in his memory, the one that has come to define his life, came when he was just 20: when he witnessed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
Galella is part of a rapidly declining fraternity; he's among the last remaining Pearl Harbor survivors. He has made remembering what happened on that date his cause, representing the 2,403 Americans who perished in the surprise attack that thrust America into World War II.
“I will never forgive and I will never forget,” the 99-year-old says.
Galella plans to honor the fallen on Monday, the 79th anniversary of the attack, at The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City — during an annual service greatly curtailed this year by coronavirus concerns.
More: World War II vet beats COVID-19, celebrates 104th birthday
On Veterans Day: WWII veteran says his secret to longevity is his wife - and vodka martinis
The self-effacing veteran — whose 100th birthday is New Year's Day 2021 — would have you believe he’s just “a little Italian boy from Barnhardt Avenue” in Sleepy Hollow, New York.
He witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor and on nearby Hickam Field, where he was stationed, but Galella insists he’s no hero. The heroes, he says, are “the boys under the flags,” the ones who didn’t come home.
'Date which will live in infamy': What to remember about Pearl Harbor, 79 years later
Vivid memories
Seventy-nine Decembers after the attack, Galella's memories of that sunny Sunday are indelible.
In his dining room chock full of keepsakes and honors that he calls his “memory room,” Galella holds forth — bearing witness to the horror of war, to those who served, and to those who died.
His eyes flash as he speaks, recalling names and events, sights and sounds.
There is laughter, when he remembers finding his neighbor John Horan in Honolulu. And there are tears: when he thinks of his widowed mother worrying at home, having sent three boys to war; and of losing Horan, who was killed in the Dec. 7 attack.
He stands most of the time as he unfurls his remarkable memory, jutting a finger out for emphasis, his voice rising. He remembers it all — less than a month before his 100th birthday.
He remembers wave after wave of Japanese planes, the confusion. The bureaucratic mindlessness of a sergeant who wouldn’t unlock the ammunition supply without orders, despite the base being under attack, still gets his blood boiling.
And the noise. The thud of bombs hitting Battleship Row in Pearl Harbor, which was obstructed from his view, and then Hickam Field, which he could see all too clearly.
"We had no more chance than a snowball has in hell," he said.
In the confusion, he remembers separating from Air Force mechanic Horan, his friend and neighbor.
He remembers, as the smoke cleared, asking about Horan, only to learn he had fallen. It was Galella who later told Margaret Horan how her son died.
Galella wears his most precious medal pinned to his Pearl Harbor survivor hat: the Bronze star awarded for his service on Okinawa. It is the one that declares, despite his protests to the contrary, that Galella is a hero, bestowed for "heroic or meritorious achievement or service."
Gold Star mothers
Galella’s thoughts are never far from those who were left behind in war — the fallen. But these days he’s thinking of those left behind on the homefront, to the mothers who waited anxiously for word from Europe and the Pacific. And later, from Korea and Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tears fill his eyes when he thinks of women like his widowed mother, Theodora, who sent sons Alfred and Frank to Europe and her baby, Armando, to the Pacific — half a world away.
His bites his index finger to gather himself as his voice catches, thinking of her sleepless nights on Barnhardt Avenue, sick with worry.
“My mom was left alone,” he says. “A mother prays forever... They pray for their son to come home. We all came home, three brothers, and my mother died four months later.”
Galella’s latest project is to honor Gold Star Mothers, those who lost children in military service.
Through the Gold Star Mothers Committee of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, New York, in connection with the local Historical Society, Galella has led an effort to create a life-size bronze statue, by sculptor Andrew Chernak, on Horan's Landing.
The Margaret Horan Memorial will be of a mother who casts her worried eyes skyward, leaning against a small spindle table on which sits a framed photo of her military son.
The image in the frame will resemble John Horan.
Getting in, coming home
The youngest of Theodora Galella’s three boys grew up skinny.
“I couldn't cast a shadow when I was younger,” he said. “I used to go to the beach (and they'd say) 'Here comes chicken legs.'” A nickname, “Chick,” was born. Decades later, it's still how he introduces himself.
That Galella got into the Army at all was thanks to water and bananas. In the late summer of 1940, when he went to enlist, he weighed 108 lbs, two pounds short of the Army minimum.
“They said: 'Go down the street, get some water and bananas,'" he remembers. "I ate two bananas and drank water. And I was in.”
In August 1945, when Galella came home, the battalion sergeant major in the 53rd Signal Corps had served five years in the Army, nearly four of them at war. He learned of the Japanese surrender as his transport ship steamed under the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco.
Galella was 24 then, happy to be home bound, but forever marked by what he saw at age 20 — on that bright Sunday morning just after breakfast in Hawaii.
Family, friends and a long life
Galella came home and has lived a long life. He married Leda, his wife of 67 years (she died in 2015), sold cars for a living and raised two sons, Michael and Armando Jr. He’s a grandfather and great-grandfather.
He has had copies of his medals made, so generations of Galellas will know that he served and what he did when the world went to war.
He is weeks from his 100th birthday, which, due to the coronavirus, will likely be a diminished affair despite marking a momentous occasion. His friends and family are planning a drive-by parade for the centennial date: Jan. 1, 2021.
Michael, his son, wants to mark the milestone by lining up little glasses of wine to toast his father, who still likes to gather a knot of friends around him most afternoons to tell stories and drink wine he pours from a giant jug.
Befitting that “little Italian boy from Barnhardt Avenue,” the brand is Carlo Rossi Paisano table wine.
Follow Peter D. Kramer on Twitter at @PeterKramer.


usatoday--2020-12-08--Coronavirus updates: Former FDA head says to use all vaccine doses right away; more than a quarter o

More than a quarter of America 's coronavirus cases have been reported since Nov. 16 , showing how widespread and aggressive the current COVID-19 surge is , according to a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data .
Most of the country 's cases have been reported since Oct. 4 , the analysis also found .
On Sunday , Georgia became the sixth state to report 500,000 cases .
Vermont , the state with the fewest cases , surpassed 5,000 on Sunday .
Meanwhile , New York City welcomed some of its students back into the classroom Monday after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting for a few weeks .
And in California , most of the state entered a new stay-at-home lockdown that will last through the Christmas holiday .
Indoor and outdoor dining is banned , people can not gather with anyone outside their households , and hair salons , barber shops and movie theaters must shut down .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has reported more than 14.9 million cases and over 283,500 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
The global totals : 67.4 million cases and 1.54 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Are there side effects from the COVID-19 vaccines ?
How much will they cost ?
And what are the ingredients ?
We 're answering your vaccine questions here .
🗺 Mapping coronavirus : Track the U.S. outbreak in your state .
This file will be updated throughout the day .
For updates in your inbox , subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter .
Former FDA head : Use all vaccine doses now , then follow up with second The U.S. government should use its entire inventory of coronavirus vaccines right away instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two-dose treatment down the road , the former head of the FDA said .
The federal government hopes to have close to 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year , and it plans to distribute half of them in December and hold back the rest to administer the second shot to the same people in January .
Dr. Scott Gottlieb , a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner who 's now a board member of the vaccine-making company Pfizer , says that 's the wrong approach .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our arms as possible right away , ” Gottlieb told the USA TODAY Editorial Board on Monday .
“ The idea that we need to cut ( the doses ) in half and give half of it now and hold onto it , so we have supply in January to get the second dose … I just fundamentally disagree with that.
” Gottlieb said he anticipates another 40 million doses should be ready in time for the second shot of the regimen .
The Pfizer vaccine requires a second dose to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while the Moderna vaccine calls for a second shot four weeks after the initial one .
Both have shown about 95 % effectiveness in trials .
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green , a three-time All-Star and former NBA Defensive Player of the Year , and rookie center James Wiseman have tested positive for the coronavirus , the San Francisco Chronicle reported .
Both players missed Monday 's first group practice of training camp and will have to quarantine for 10-12 days .
The absence from the team could be especially detrimental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall pick in last month 's draft , as he begins his NBA career after playing only three games in college .
Dr. Anthony Fauci : This is ' a very critical time ' in virus fight Get ready for even worse COVID news over the rest of the holidays .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , said the upcoming holiday season may be even worse than Thanksgiving in terms of spreading the coronavirus .
Fauci told CNN on Monday that the prospects for virus transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more compounded than what we saw at Thanksgiving.
” Fauci said “ it ’ s a very critical time in this country right now ” with the virus surging and more important than ever for people to take precautions like avoiding indoor gatherings , wearing masks and social distancing .
The U.S. has been averaging nearly 200,000 new COVID-19 cases a day during the current surge .
Tennessee state Rep. David Byrd has been hospitalized with COVID-19 after attending a House Republican caucus meeting with nearly 70 lawmakers on Nov. 24 .
Byrd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a Nashville hospital over the weekend .
Fellow Republican state Rep. Mike Carter was hospitalized earlier this year after contracting the coronavirus .
Nursing home group urges residents get first shot at vaccine Nursing home residents and workers should get top priority for the nation 's limited vaccine supply , advocates say .
American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living officials on Monday urged governors to ensure nursing home residents and workers are immunized with the two-dose vaccine by March 1 .
Last week , an influential advisory committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prevention recommended residents of long-term care facilities join frontline health workers as the first priority group for vaccines .
But governors and state health departments can decide who gets first dibs on the vaccine .
About one in five nursing home residents with COVID-19 die from the illness , according to the CDC .
`` The single best way to very quickly reduce the number of COVID deaths is to get the population vaccinated who is dying from the disease , '' said Mark Parkinson , president and CEO of the American Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Living .
South Carolina teacher dies of COVID as colleagues seek return to virtual classes The weekend death from COVID-19 of a third-grade teacher has provided further impetus for a South Carolina teacher group to ask school districts to return to virtual classes at a time when coronavirus cases are surging in the state .
The family of Staci Blakely , 50 , asked the Lexington One School District to announce her death publicly to remind people how serious the disease can be , District Superintendent Greg Little said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was diagnosed with the virus Nov. 11 .
At least four school districts in South Carolina have returned to all virtual learning .
Nearly a quarter of the state ’ s districts are teaching in person every day .
Pearl Harbor ceremony held without survivors because of pandemic The yearly Pearl Harbor commemoration in Honolulu has joined the extensive list of public events impacted by the coronavirus .
A moment of silence was held at 7:55 a.m. Monday , the same time the attack by Japanese forces on an American naval base @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures imposed because of the pandemic meant no survivors were present this year .
The military broadcast video of the ceremony live online for survivors and members of the public to watch from afar .
USS Utah survivor Warren Upton , 101 , said he would have liked to attend in person but could n't for safety reasons .
He planned to watch the ceremony from his home in California .
More than 2,400 people died in the Pearl Harbor attack , which prompted the U.S. to formally enter World War II .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stem the worrisome spike of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in the state , which has prompted the imposition of several restrictions .
The app , called CA Notify , would alert people if they spent time near someone who tests positive for COVID-19 .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced the voluntary tool Monday and said people can opt in to use it starting Thursday by activating it through the settings menu on iPhones or downloading the app on Android phones .
The technology was developed in a joint effort between Apple and Google @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t track people ’ s identities or locations but uses Bluetooth wireless signals to detect when two phones are within 6 feet of each other for at least 15 minutes , then sends notifications when one of the phone users in that group tests positive for the virus .
Sixteen other states , plus Guam and Washington , D.C. , have already made the system available , though most residents do n't use it .
The app has been used on a pilot basis on University of California campuses .
Newsom has issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that went into effect Sunday night across most of the state and will be in place for at least three weeks .
California , with a population of 40 million people , has reported more than 1.3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and about 20,000 deaths .
Nearly all intensive care unit beds on the Navajo Nation reservation were being used as health care workers fear having to make difficult decisions about providing care with limited hospital resources .
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said Sunday evening that there are few options to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are near full capacity .
“ This second wave of COVID-19 is much more dire and much more severe than the first wave we had in April and May , ” Nez said in a statement .
The tribe extended its stay-at-home order , which took effect Monday , to stop the spread of the virus .
About 50 hospitals in the United Kingdom will receive the first batch of the coronavirus vaccine created by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany 's BioNTech , according to the BBC .
Vaccinations will be administered starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Northern Ireland .
The U.K. became the first country to authorize Pfizer 's candidate vaccine for emergency use last week .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is scheduled to evaluate Pfizer 's vaccine Thursday , and distribution is expected to start within 24 hours of authorization .
The Arizona Legislature will close for a week `` out of an abundance of caution '' after Rudy Giuliani , President Donald Trump 's personal attorney , possibly exposed several Republican lawmakers to COVID-19 .
Trump announced Giuliani had tested positive for the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the former New York City mayor visited Arizona as part of a multistate tour aimed at contesting 2020 election results .
Giuliani , 76 , was later admitted to Georgetown University Medical Center .
Giuliani had spent more than 10 hours discussing election concerns with Arizona Republicans – including two members of Congress and at least 13 current and future state lawmakers – at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix last Monday .
He led the meeting maskless , flouting social distancing guidelines and posing for photos .
Giuliani also met privately with Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to lawmakers ' social media posts .
And Democratic legislators noted Sunday evening that some representatives-elect who 'd attended the Hyatt event attended an orientation for new lawmakers later in the week , possibly exposing additional legislators and Capitol staff .
Ohio club cited after 500 attend concert in violation of COVID-19 orders An Ohio club has been cited for `` egregious violations '' of public health orders after undercover agents said they observed about 500 people attending a concert there Saturday night .
Columbus ' Aftermath was cited by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disorderly activities in violation of its liquor permit , according to a news release .
The club was packed with hundreds of patrons who made no attempts to maintain social distancing , and most of the crowd and employees were not wearing facial coverings , the release said .
Agents also observed patrons standing , walking freely and sharing alcoholic beverages from the same bottle , passed between groups .
Operation Warp Speed chief : Vaccine 's impact will be felt by some by January A COVID-19 vaccine could start having an impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as January , Moncef Slaoui , the science adviser of the White House Operation Warp Speed said Sunday .
Slaoui , who is leading the vaccine development and distribution plan for the government , said `` we have light at the end of the tunnel . ''
Still , he urged Americans to continue social distancing , wearing a mask and washing their hands .
`` We may start to see some impact on the most susceptible people probably in the month of January and February , '' Slaoui told CBS News ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when infections will lower .
For most Americans , though , wondering when life will start getting back to normal : `` We 're talking about April or May , '' Slaoui said .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , is less bullish on the timing , saying last month he expects it to be the second or third quarter of 2021 .
Read more about Slaoui here .
Some of New York City 's public school students are returning to the classroom Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for virtual learning amid rising COVID-19 infection rates .
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced schools were closing for in-person instruction last month , but less than two weeks later said they would reopen Monday for preschool and elementary school students .
De Blasio has vowed to try to keep the nation 's largest school district open , using new testing protocols instead of relying on local infection rates to determine whether classrooms should shutter .
Austin Quinn-Davidson , the acting mayor of Alaska ’ s largest city , is isolating at home after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced Sunday .
She felt cold-like symptoms beginning Nov. 29 and isolated at home until taking a test the next day .
That test and another test came back negative .
However , Quinn-Davidson ’ s third test came back positive Saturday .
The 41-year-old is experiencing mild symptoms , the office said .
Her wife , Dr. Stephanie Quinn-Davidson , has tested negative and is not experiencing symptoms , the mayor ’ s office said .
Quinn-Davidson became Anchorage 's acting mayor on Oct. 23 following the resignation of Ethan Berkowitz .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first female mayor .
• In your inbox : Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network .
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• Tips for coping : Every Saturday and Tuesday we 'll be in your inbox , offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times .
Sign up for Staying Apart , Together .
• On Facebook : A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus .
But what we do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Join our Facebook group , Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19 .
Contributing : Mike Stucka and The Associated Press

Jessica Flores, Ryan W. Miller and Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY

Coronavirus updates: Former FDA head says to use all vaccine doses right away; more than a quarter of US cases reported since 11/16
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
More than a quarter of America's coronavirus cases have been reported since Nov. 16, showing how widespread and aggressive the current COVID-19 surge is, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data.
Most of the country's cases have been reported since Oct. 4, the analysis also found. On Sunday, Georgia became the sixth state to report 500,000 cases. Vermont, the state with the fewest cases, surpassed 5,000 on Sunday.
Meanwhile, New York City welcomed some of its students back into the classroom Monday after a shutdown kept them in a virtual-learning setting for a few weeks.
And in California, most of the state entered a new stay-at-home lockdown that will last through the Christmas holiday. Indoor and outdoor dining is banned, people cannot gather with anyone outside their households, and hair salons, barber shops and movie theaters must shut down.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 14.9 million cases and over 283,500 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: 67.4 million cases and 1.54 million deaths.
📰 What we're reading: Are there side effects from the COVID-19 vaccines? How much will they cost? And what are the ingredients? We're answering your vaccine questions here.
🗺 Mapping coronavirus: Track the U.S. outbreak in your state.
This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.
The U.S. government should use its entire inventory of coronavirus vaccines right away instead of saving half of it to complete the two-dose treatment down the road, the former head of the FDA said.
The federal government hopes to have close to 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year, and it plans to distribute half of them in December and hold back the rest to administer the second shot to the same people in January.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner who's now a board member of the vaccine-making company Pfizer, says that's the wrong approach.
“We should get as many shots in our arms as possible right away,” Gottlieb told the USA TODAY Editorial Board on Monday. “The idea that we need to cut (the doses) in half and give half of it now and hold onto it, so we have supply in January to get the second dose … I just fundamentally disagree with that.”
Gottlieb said he anticipates another 40 million doses should be ready in time for the second shot of the regimen. The Pfizer vaccine requires a second dose to be administered three weeks after the first one, while the Moderna vaccine calls for a second shot four weeks after the initial one. Both have shown about 95% effectiveness in trials.
– Adrianna Rodriguez
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, a three-time All-Star and former NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and rookie center James Wiseman have tested positive for the coronavirus, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Both players missed Monday's first group practice of training camp and will have to quarantine for 10-12 days. The absence from the team could be especially detrimental for Wiseman, the No. 2 overall pick in last month's draft, as he begins his NBA career after playing only three games in college.
COVID-19: How Herd Immunity works, why you still need to wear a mask Without masks and a vaccine, we could reach Herd Immunity from COVID-19, but deaths would skyrocket. We break down the science of it. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Get ready for even worse COVID news over the rest of the holidays.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said the upcoming holiday season may be even worse than Thanksgiving in terms of spreading the coronavirus. Fauci told CNN on Monday that the prospects for virus transmission as people travel “may be even more compounded than what we saw at Thanksgiving.”
Fauci said “it’s a very critical time in this country right now” with the virus surging and more important than ever for people to take precautions like avoiding indoor gatherings, wearing masks and social distancing. The U.S. has been averaging nearly 200,000 new COVID-19 cases a day during the current surge.
-- The Associated Press
Tennessee state Rep. David Byrd has been hospitalized with COVID-19 after attending a House Republican caucus meeting with nearly 70 lawmakers on Nov. 24.
Byrd, 63, was flown by helicopter to a Nashville hospital over the weekend. Fellow Republican state Rep. Mike Carter was hospitalized earlier this year after contracting the coronavirus.
Nursing home residents and workers should get top priority for the nation's limited vaccine supply, advocates say.
American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living officials on Monday urged governors to ensure nursing home residents and workers are immunized with the two-dose vaccine by March 1.
Last week, an influential advisory committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended residents of long-term care facilities join frontline health workers as the first priority group for vaccines. But governors and state health departments can decide who gets first dibs on the vaccine.
About one in five nursing home residents with COVID-19 die from the illness, according to the CDC. "The single best way to very quickly reduce the number of COVID deaths is to get the population vaccinated who is dying from the disease," said Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living.
– Ken Alltucker
The weekend death from COVID-19 of a third-grade teacher has provided further impetus for a South Carolina teacher group to ask school districts to return to virtual classes at a time when coronavirus cases are surging in the state.
The family of Staci Blakely, 50, asked the Lexington One School District to announce her death publicly to remind people how serious the disease can be, District Superintendent Greg Little said in a statement. Blakely, who taught for 28 years, was diagnosed with the virus Nov. 11.
At least four school districts in South Carolina have returned to all virtual learning. Nearly a quarter of the state’s districts are teaching in person every day.
The yearly Pearl Harbor commemoration in Honolulu has joined the extensive list of public events impacted by the coronavirus. A moment of silence was held at 7:55 a.m. Monday, the same time the attack by Japanese forces on an American naval base began in 1941, but public health measures imposed because of the pandemic meant no survivors were present this year.
The military broadcast video of the ceremony live online for survivors and members of the public to watch from afar. USS Utah survivor Warren Upton, 101, said he would have liked to attend in person but couldn't for safety reasons. He planned to watch the ceremony from his home in California.
More than 2,400 people died in the Pearl Harbor attack, which prompted the U.S. to formally enter World War II.
California hopes a smartphone app will help stem the worrisome spike of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in the state, which has prompted the imposition of several restrictions. The app, called CA Notify, would alert people if they spent time near someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the voluntary tool Monday and said people can opt in to use it starting Thursday by activating it through the settings menu on iPhones or downloading the app on Android phones. The technology was developed in a joint effort between Apple and Google.
Officials say the tool doesn’t track people’s identities or locations but uses Bluetooth wireless signals to detect when two phones are within 6 feet of each other for at least 15 minutes, then sends notifications when one of the phone users in that group tests positive for the virus.
Sixteen other states, plus Guam and Washington, D.C., have already made the system available, though most residents don't use it. The app has been used on a pilot basis on University of California campuses.
Newsom has issued a set a new, restrictive mandates that went into effect Sunday night across most of the state and will be in place for at least three weeks. California, with a population of 40 million people, has reported more than 1.3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and about 20,000 deaths.
– Nicole Hayden, Palm Springs Desert Sun, and John Bacon
Nearly all intensive care unit beds on the Navajo Nation reservation were being used as health care workers fear having to make difficult decisions about providing care with limited hospital resources.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said Sunday evening that there are few options to transport patients to other regional hospitals that are near full capacity. “This second wave of COVID-19 is much more dire and much more severe than the first wave we had in April and May,” Nez said in a statement.
The tribe extended its stay-at-home order, which took effect Monday, to stop the spread of the virus.
About 50 hospitals in the United Kingdom will receive the first batch of the coronavirus vaccine created by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech, according to the BBC. Vaccinations will be administered starting Tuesday in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The U.K. became the first country to authorize Pfizer's candidate vaccine for emergency use last week. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is scheduled to evaluate Pfizer's vaccine Thursday, and distribution is expected to start within 24 hours of authorization.
The Arizona Legislature will close for a week "out of an abundance of caution" after Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, possibly exposed several Republican lawmakers to COVID-19.
Trump announced Giuliani had tested positive for the virus Sunday afternoon, less than a week after the former New York City mayor visited Arizona as part of a multistate tour aimed at contesting 2020 election results. Giuliani, 76, was later admitted to Georgetown University Medical Center.
Giuliani had spent more than 10 hours discussing election concerns with Arizona Republicans – including two members of Congress and at least 13 current and future state lawmakers – at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix last Monday. He led the meeting maskless, flouting social distancing guidelines and posing for photos.
Giuliani also met privately with Republican lawmakers and legislative leadership the next day, according to lawmakers' social media posts. And Democratic legislators noted Sunday evening that some representatives-elect who'd attended the Hyatt event attended an orientation for new lawmakers later in the week, possibly exposing additional legislators and Capitol staff.
– Maria Polletta, Arizona Republic
An Ohio club has been cited for "egregious violations" of public health orders after undercover agents said they observed about 500 people attending a concert there Saturday night.
Columbus' Aftermath was cited by the Ohio Investigative Unit for improper conduct and disorderly activities in violation of its liquor permit, according to a news release.
The club was packed with hundreds of patrons who made no attempts to maintain social distancing, and most of the crowd and employees were not wearing facial coverings, the release said. Agents also observed patrons standing, walking freely and sharing alcoholic beverages from the same bottle, passed between groups.
– Dean Narciso, The Columbus Dispatch
A COVID-19 vaccine could start having an impact on some people's lives as soon as January, Moncef Slaoui, the science adviser of the White House Operation Warp Speed said Sunday.
Slaoui, who is leading the vaccine development and distribution plan for the government, said "we have light at the end of the tunnel." Still, he urged Americans to continue social distancing, wearing a mask and washing their hands.
"We may start to see some impact on the most susceptible people probably in the month of January and February," Slaoui told CBS News' "Face the Nation" when asked when infections will lower.
For most Americans, though, wondering when life will start getting back to normal: "We're talking about April or May," Slaoui said. Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is less bullish on the timing, saying last month he expects it to be the second or third quarter of 2021. Read more about Slaoui here.
Some of New York City's public school students are returning to the classroom Monday after a short-lived shutdown sent them home for virtual learning amid rising COVID-19 infection rates.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced schools were closing for in-person instruction last month, but less than two weeks later said they would reopen Monday for preschool and elementary school students.
De Blasio has vowed to try to keep the nation's largest school district open, using new testing protocols instead of relying on local infection rates to determine whether classrooms should shutter.
Austin Quinn-Davidson, the acting mayor of Alaska’s largest city, is isolating at home after testing positive for COVID-19, her office announced Sunday. She felt cold-like symptoms beginning Nov. 29 and isolated at home until taking a test the next day. That test and another test came back negative. However, Quinn-Davidson’s third test came back positive Saturday.
The 41-year-old is experiencing mild symptoms, the office said. Her wife, Dr. Stephanie Quinn-Davidson, has tested negative and is not experiencing symptoms, the mayor’s office said.
Quinn-Davidson became Anchorage's acting mayor on Oct. 23 following the resignation of Ethan Berkowitz. She’s the city’s first female mayor.
COVID-19 resources from USA TODAY
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Contributing: Mike Stucka and The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-12-07--Wendy Williams' mother Shirley has died, she announced: 'This is the worst'

A stoic Wendy Williams announced the passing of her mom , Shirley Williams , “ many , many , many , many weeks ago ” on the Monday broadcast of “ The Wendy Williams Show.
” Williams , wearing a dark satin dress , made the announcement during the Hot Topics segment at the beginning of the show .
“ You know how during corona , during the world , topsy-turvy , people starving , people out of jobs , just in everybody 's life there 's something new , well ... and you know how you lose track of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , all I know is that it was a long time ago , ” Williams said .
“ She passed away beautifully and peacefully and surrounded by love.
” 'It ’ ll be Wendy on her own ' : Wendy Williams to leave sober house following divorce filing Rumors of the elder Williams ' passing had been circulating on social media over the weekend .
“ She did n't suffer not one bit , thank goodness , ” Williams said .
Shirley was proud of Wendy , the middle child of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williams .
“ She 's done a lot of great things .
It 's a very exciting time for her .
We 're just so proud of her , ” said Shirley of Wendy previously to Asbury Park Press . '
I can only be me ' : Wendy Williams is 'happier than ever ' heading into Season 12 of talk show Shirley was very involved in groups as diverse as the Monmouth County Council of Girl Scouts , the Central Jersey Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Omega Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. “ I guess my mother and father set the example for me , ” Shirley said .
“ They showed me you can still be parents and also make an impact on your community.
” Shirley and her husband were both educators in the state .
Wendy said she was proud that she did not shed a tear in announcing her mom 's passing on Monday .
She left an empty seat for her in audience .
“ Things could be worse , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is the worst .
This is the worst , yeah.
” Surviving are her husband and three children .
Chris Jordan , a Jersey Shore native , covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey .
Contact him at @ chrisfhjordan ; cjordan @ app.com .

Wendy Williams' mother Shirley has died, she announced: 'This is the worst'
Show Caption Hide Caption ShowBiz Minute: Williams, Obama, Moore Wendy Williams takes a break to receive treatment; Barack Obama reads with Michelle for online series; 'Mandy Moore to host Red Nose Day. (May 19) AP
A stoic Wendy Williams announced the passing of her mom, Shirley Williams, “many, many, many, many weeks ago” on the Monday broadcast of “The Wendy Williams Show.”
Williams, wearing a dark satin dress, made the announcement during the Hot Topics segment at the beginning of the show.
“You know how during corona, during the world, topsy-turvy, people starving, people out of jobs, just in everybody's life there's something new, well ... and you know how you lose track of the day and date, and the times, all I know is that it was a long time ago,” Williams said. “She passed away beautifully and peacefully and surrounded by love.”
'It’ll be Wendy on her own': Wendy Williams to leave sober house following divorce filing
Rumors of the elder Williams' passing had been circulating on social media over the weekend.
“She didn't suffer not one bit, thank goodness,” Williams said.
Shirley was proud of Wendy, the middle child of her 65-year marriage to her husband, Tom Williams.
“She's done a lot of great things. It's a very exciting time for her. We're just so proud of her,” said Shirley of Wendy previously to Asbury Park Press.
'I can only be me': Wendy Williams is 'happier than ever' heading into Season 12 of talk show
Shirley was very involved in groups as diverse as the Monmouth County Council of Girl Scouts, the Central Jersey Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs Inc., and the Lambda Omega Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
“I guess my mother and father set the example for me,” Shirley said. “They showed me you can still be parents and also make an impact on your community.”
Shirley and her husband were both educators in the state.
Wendy said she was proud that she did not shed a tear in announcing her mom's passing on Monday. She left an empty seat for her in audience.
“Things could be worse,” Wendy said. “Not really. This is the worst. This is the worst, yeah.”
Surviving are her husband and three children.
Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com.


usatoday--2020-12-07--'B.A.P.S.' star Natalie Desselle-Reid dies of cancer at 53; Halle Berry 'heartbroken'

Actress Natalie Desselle-Reid , who 's best known for playing Halle Berry 's stylish sidekick in the 1997 cult classic `` B.A.P.S.
, '' has died from colon cancer .
She was 53 .
`` It is with extremely heavy hearts that we share the loss of our beautiful Natalie this morning from colon cancer , '' reads a statement on Desselle-Reid 's Instagram account .
`` She was a bright light in this world .
A queen .
An extraordinary mother and wife . ''
The statement added that Desselle-Reid 's `` diverse career touched so many and she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is best known for playing Mickey opposite Berry 's Nisi in `` B.A.P.S.
, '' a comedy that follows a pair of aspiring female entrepreneurs ' unlikely journey to opening a joint soul food restaurant and hair salon in Los Angeles .
They soon live the lives of `` Black American Princesses '' after caring for a Beverly Hills millionaire .
Berry said the death of her co-star has left her `` completely heartbroken . ''
`` i ’ m in total shock , '' Berry captioned an Instagram video of the duo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Completely heartbroken .
gon na need a minute .
# RIP '' Just four days ago , Berry posted a throwback Instagram video of her and Desselle-Reid in character while shopping on Rodeo Drive .
When a fan commented , `` You do know there is a whole generation of us that are obsessed with this movie , '' Berry replied : `` I do and I love you all for that .
this film is very dear to my heart . ''
Je ’ Caryous Johnson – the CEO of Je @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stage adaption of “ B.A.P.S . ''
– said Reid was looking forward to bringing her role as Mickey in the film back to life .
Johnson said everyone fell in love with Reid ’ s “ undeniably witty , always giving and caring and hilariously show-stopping personality ” during rehearsals earlier this year .
“ The world has truly lost one of its most angelic souls here on Earth , ” Johnson said in a statement , noting the dedicated approach Reid took to her acting .
“ There will never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effortlessly lit up the screen , as well as any room she walked into.
” Desselle-Reid notably starred as Minerva in the inclusive retelling of Rodgers and Hammerstein 's `` Cinderella '' ( 1997 ) alongside Brandy Norwood , Whitney Houston and Whoopi Goldberg .
In 2018 , Desselle-Reid recalled : `` At this point in my career out of thousands of girls from N.Y to L.A .
I thought I wasn ’ t going to get Minerva in 'Cinderella ' and then the skies opened up # Disney . ''
Desselle-Reid starred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over a three-season span on the UPN sitcom “ Eve ” from 2003-2006 .
Her other acting credits include the films `` How to Be a Player '' ( 1997 ) , `` Madea 's Big Happy Family '' ( 2011 ) and the TV show `` Built to Last '' ( 1997 ) .
`` Sending my love and condolences out to Natalie Desselle family .
Had the pleasure of working with her on Tyler Perrys 'Madea Big Happy Family ' sending my love , '' tweeted rapper and actor Bow Wow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's `` absolutely decimated by this news . ''
`` I got to know her when my mom was managing her , '' Peete recalled .
`` She will be so missed ... sending out prayers to her children and husband .
Rest In Peace , Sweet Girl . ''
Desselle-Reid is survived by her husband , Leonard , and the couple 's three children : Sereno , Summer and Sasha , according to her IMD page .

'B.A.P.S.' star Natalie Desselle-Reid dies of cancer at 53; Halle Berry 'heartbroken'
Actress Natalie Desselle-Reid, who's best known for playing Halle Berry's stylish sidekick in the 1997 cult classic "B.A.P.S.," has died from colon cancer. She was 53.
"It is with extremely heavy hearts that we share the loss of our beautiful Natalie this morning from colon cancer," reads a statement on Desselle-Reid's Instagram account. "She was a bright light in this world. A queen. An extraordinary mother and wife."
The statement added that Desselle-Reid's "diverse career touched so many and she will be loved forever."
Desselle-Reid is best known for playing Mickey opposite Berry's Nisi in "B.A.P.S.," a comedy that follows a pair of aspiring female entrepreneurs' unlikely journey to opening a joint soul food restaurant and hair salon in Los Angeles. They soon live the lives of "Black American Princesses" after caring for a Beverly Hills millionaire.
Berry said the death of her co-star has left her "completely heartbroken."
"i’m in total shock," Berry captioned an Instagram video of the duo hugging on set of the film. "Completely heartbroken. gonna need a minute. #RIP"
Just four days ago, Berry posted a throwback Instagram video of her and Desselle-Reid in character while shopping on Rodeo Drive. When a fan commented, "You do know there is a whole generation of us that are obsessed with this movie," Berry replied: "I do and I love you all for that. this film is very dear to my heart."
Je’Caryous Johnson – the CEO of Je’Caryous Entertainment, which was planning a stage adaption of “B.A.P.S." – said Reid was looking forward to bringing her role as Mickey in the film back to life.
Johnson said everyone fell in love with Reid’s “undeniably witty, always giving and caring and hilariously show-stopping personality” during rehearsals earlier this year.
“The world has truly lost one of its most angelic souls here on Earth,” Johnson said in a statement, noting the dedicated approach Reid took to her acting. “There will never be another woman like her who so effortlessly lit up the screen, as well as any room she walked into.”
Desselle-Reid notably starred as Minerva in the inclusive retelling of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella" (1997) alongside Brandy Norwood, Whitney Houston and Whoopi Goldberg.
In 2018, Desselle-Reid recalled: "At this point in my career out of thousands of girls from N.Y to L.A. I thought I wasn’t going to get Minerva in 'Cinderella' and then the skies opened up #Disney."
Desselle-Reid starred as Eve’s friend Janie Egins over a three-season span on the UPN sitcom “Eve” from 2003-2006. Her other acting credits include the films "How to Be a Player" (1997), "Madea's Big Happy Family" (2011) and the TV show "Built to Last" (1997).
"Sending my love and condolences out to Natalie Desselle family. Had the pleasure of working with her on Tyler Perrys 'Madea Big Happy Family' sending my love," tweeted rapper and actor Bow Wow.
Actress Holly Robinson Peete said she's "absolutely decimated by this news."
"I got to know her when my mom was managing her," Peete recalled. "She will be so missed...sending out prayers to her children and husband. Rest In Peace, Sweet Girl."
Just absolutely decimated by this news...
Actress Natalie Desselle, a bright shining star passed away this morning. I got to know her when my mom was managing her.
She will be so missed...sending out prayers to her children and husband.
💔🙏🏽😢
Rest In Peace, Sweet Girl🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/BsyltHxKRG — Holly Robinson Peete😷🥰 (@hollyrpeete) December 7, 2020
Desselle-Reid is survived by her husband, Leonard, and the couple's three children: Sereno, Summer and Sasha, according to her IMD page.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-12-07--Paul Sarbanes, longtime US senator from Maryland, dies at age 87

SALISBURY , Md .
– Former U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes died Sunday in Baltimore .
He was 87 .
Sarbanes served Maryland in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977 and in the Senate from 1977 to 2007 .
Rep. John Sarbanes , D-Md.
, announced the passing of his father .
“ My father , Senator Paul S. Sarbanes , passed away peacefully this evening in Baltimore .
... Our family is grateful to know that we have the support of Marylanders who meant so much to him and whom he was honored to serve , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local and public health guidance amid the COVID-19 pandemic , our family will hold a private service in the coming days.
” Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan expressed his condolences as he hailed Sarbanes ' accomplishments in public life .
`` Paul Sarbanes honorably served alongside my father on the House Judiciary Committee during Watergate before going on to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate .
Over his many decades of public service , Sen. Sarbanes was a sincere and passionate advocate for our state and its natural resources .
Today , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sympathies to his family , '' Hogan 's official statement read .
Sen. Chris Van Hollen , D-Md.
, also offered his personal remembrance of Sarbanes : “ Today we mourn the loss of the son of Greek immigrants who rose from humble roots on Maryland ’ s Eastern Shore to make an important and lasting impact on our entire country and help millions of his fellow Americans – Paul Sarbanes .
Both during his time serving in the House of Delegates and as our state ’ s second-longest serving United States Senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on behalf of all Marylanders.. ... “ Paul Sarbanes left a legacy of compassion , integrity , humility , and hard work that Marylanders will never forget .
”

Paul Sarbanes, longtime US senator from Maryland, dies at age 87
SALISBURY, Md. – Former U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes died Sunday in Baltimore. He was 87.
Sarbanes served Maryland in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977 and in the Senate from 1977 to 2007.
Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., announced the passing of his father.
“My father, Senator Paul S. Sarbanes, passed away peacefully this evening in Baltimore. ... Our family is grateful to know that we have the support of Marylanders who meant so much to him and whom he was honored to serve," Sarbanes stated.
“Following state, local and public health guidance amid the COVID-19 pandemic, our family will hold a private service in the coming days.”
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan expressed his condolences as he hailed Sarbanes' accomplishments in public life.
"Paul Sarbanes honorably served alongside my father on the House Judiciary Committee during Watergate before going on to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate. Over his many decades of public service, Sen. Sarbanes was a sincere and passionate advocate for our state and its natural resources. Today, we mourn his loss and send our deepest sympathies to his family," Hogan's official statement read.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., also offered his personal remembrance of Sarbanes:
“Today we mourn the loss of the son of Greek immigrants who rose from humble roots on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to make an important and lasting impact on our entire country and help millions of his fellow Americans – Paul Sarbanes. Both during his time serving in the House of Delegates and as our state’s second-longest serving United States Senator, Paul Sarbanes was a tireless advocate on behalf of all Marylanders.. ...
“Paul Sarbanes left a legacy of compassion, integrity, humility, and hard work that Marylanders will never forget.”


usatoday--2020-12-07--New emotional support animal rule is unfair to Americans with disabilities

I don ’ t think anyone who travels by plane these days would describe it as a pleasurable experience .
But for people with disabilities , the air travel misery is exponential .
Try taking a red eye from Los Angeles to Boston without using the bathroom because the toilets are inaccessible .
Or finding your wheelchair broken upon arrival .
Or missing the flight completely because you are deaf and could not hear the announcement that your plane was moved to a different gate .
These are all common experiences for travelers with disabilities .
Regulations issued last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) will limit service animals to dogs , require advance notice and documentation to travel with a service animal , and open the door for airlines to ban emotional support animals .
These changes will only make the experiences of travelers with disabilities worse .
Considering the airlines ’ abysmal record of mistreating people with disabilities — passengers filed nearly 31,000 disability-related complaints against U.S. carriers in 2018 — I have no faith that they will administer this new system fairly .
Imagine getting a phone call that your mother is seriously ill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new DOT regulations , you would have to leave your emotional support animal behind .
Service dogs can be brought along but only if you have the right paperwork and trust that an industry notorious for ignoring customers ’ circumstances will accommodate you .
Yes , there are people who don ’ t rely on emotional support animals who have taken advantage of the law in order to avoid the fee for their pet .
But people with disabilities should not have to pay the price for other people ’ s malfeasance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it so that some people with disabilities can no longer travel by air in the same way as everyone else .
The regulations are fundamentally unfair , prioritizing corporate interests over the rights of Americans with disabilities .
We believe that the provisions dealing with emotional support animals should be rescinded .
Curt Decker is the executive director of the National Disability Rights Network .

New emotional support animal rule is unfair to Americans with disabilities Opposing View: Department of Transportation prioritizes airline interests over the rights of travelers
I don’t think anyone who travels by plane these days would describe it as a pleasurable experience. But for people with disabilities, the air travel misery is exponential.
Try taking a red eye from Los Angeles to Boston without using the bathroom because the toilets are inaccessible. Or finding your wheelchair broken upon arrival. Or missing the flight completely because you are deaf and could not hear the announcement that your plane was moved to a different gate. These are all common experiences for travelers with disabilities.
Regulations issued last week by the Department of Transportation (DOT) will limit service animals to dogs, require advance notice and documentation to travel with a service animal, and open the door for airlines to ban emotional support animals.
These changes will only make the experiences of travelers with disabilities worse. Considering the airlines’ abysmal record of mistreating people with disabilities — passengers filed nearly 31,000 disability-related complaints against U.S. carriers in 2018 — I have no faith that they will administer this new system fairly.
Imagine getting a phone call that your mother is seriously ill. In that distressing situation, with the new DOT regulations, you would have to leave your emotional support animal behind. Service dogs can be brought along but only if you have the right paperwork and trust that an industry notorious for ignoring customers’ circumstances will accommodate you.
Yes, there are people who don’t rely on emotional support animals who have taken advantage of the law in order to avoid the fee for their pet. But people with disabilities should not have to pay the price for other people’s malfeasance.
Effectively, the new rule makes it so that some people with disabilities can no longer travel by air in the same way as everyone else.
The regulations are fundamentally unfair, prioritizing corporate interests over the rights of Americans with disabilities. We believe that the provisions dealing with emotional support animals should be rescinded.
Curt Decker is the executive director of the National Disability Rights Network.


usatoday--2020-12-08--For wrestling icon Dan Gable, Presidential Medal of Freedom is an achievement of a lifetime

Dan Gable stood inside the Oval Office on Monday afternoon .
To his left , President Donald J. Trump rattled off Gable ’ s many wrestling accomplishments : state champ , national champ , Olympic champ , successful coach , relentless ambassador , on and on .
Trump then turned to Gable with a wry smile .
“ Now , I ’ m larger than you , a little bit , ” Trump said .
“ Do you think I could take you in wrestling ?
” Gable didn ’ t even smile at the idea .
“ You would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sparking laughter .
President Trump awarded Gable the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Monday , the nation ’ s highest civilian honor .
The modern iteration of the distinction was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 to recognize extraordinary individuals who have made exceptional contributions to America 's national interests , society and culture .
“ I wouldn ’ t be here if I had just won an Olympic gold medal , ” Gable said .
“ It has been a lifetime of work , learning from others , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others in many ways so that they can perform at their highest and be successful.
” Gable is the first wrestler — athlete or coach — to receive this honor .
It is meant as an individual award , but for the 72-year-old , it represents so much more .
Gable ’ s whole family made the trip on Monday .
His wife , Kathy , stood beside him , beaming .
His four daughters , Molly , Jenni , Annie and Mackie , plus their husbands and his 13 grandchildren , filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pictured this day without them .
“ My family , all right there , ” Gable said , “ … they are witnessing this historic moment of someone quite ordinary , mostly , going to the highest level .
“ And because of this , ” Gable continued , “ they all have better chances of success.
” ► RELATED : A son-in-law 's letter to a senator led to Gable receiving the Medal of Freedom For many years , Kathy and the girls followed Gable as he pursued his wrestling goals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ But it also meant they got a front-row seat to one of America 's greatest wrestling careers .
Gable won three state high school championships for Waterloo West and two NCAA titles for Iowa State University .
Between his prep and collegiate careers , Gable went a combined 181-1 , losing only in the 1970 NCAA finals .
He won gold at the 1972 Olympics , where he won six matches at 68 kilograms ( 150 pounds ) and did n't allow a single point along the way .
As a coach , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 straight Big Ten titles and 15 NCAA team championships from 1976 through 1997 .
He produced 152 All-Americans , 46 national champions and 12 Olympians who combined to win eight Olympic medals — four gold , one silver and three bronze .
“ Gable has left me a lifetime philosophy that I do not deviate from , ” current Iowa coach Tom Brands , who wrestled under Gable , said earlier this fall .
“ I am reminded every day when I see his statue , ” which stands outside the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Those memories are strong with me , ” Brands continued .
“ The bedrock of Hawkeye wrestling will always be Dan Gable.
” Even in retirement , Gable has stayed heavily involved in wrestling .
In the early 2000s , he worked behind the scenes to save Division I programs from being discontinued as an unfortunate side effect from Title XI , when men 's sports programs were cut as universities sought to create parity for women 's programs .
There were 146 wrestling programs total in 1981 , but that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last season , there were 79 .
In 2013 , Gable used his fame and knowledge to help keep wrestling in the Olympics after it was put on the chopping block .
Not only has wrestling remained , but the United States has thrived on the international level .
Between men ’ s and women ’ s freestyle and Greco-Roman , the Olympic disciplines , Team USA has won 28 medals at the world championships from 2017-19 .
What ’ s more , 13 wrestlers won individual world titles in that span , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men ’ s freestyle world team championship for the first time since 1995 .
“ Dan Gable is the most consequential figure in the history of our sport , in our country , ” Rich Bender , USA Wrestling ’ s executive director , told the Register .
“ He has everyday household recognition , and he ’ s been the backbone of our sport for a long time .
“ Dan Gable is being honored , but I think the sport is being honored , too , and I know Dan works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrestling forward.
” Wrestling is as popular as it has ever been .
The Big Ten Network posted record viewing numbers for its wrestling programming last season .
To accommodate the growing interest , the 2020 NCAA Championships were scheduled to be held in a football stadium for the first time , before the novel coronavirus pandemic forced their cancellation .
Gable has helped fuel wrestling ’ s rise , thanks to his fame and relentless work ethic .
On Monday , he attributed his longstanding success to the lessons the sport taught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopes others will take aim at his accomplishments .
“ This opens the door for a lot of people , ” Gable said .
“ I look at it as an inspiration , that others will now have something to achieve that ’ s beyond just winning on the mat .
“ The success one has with others is more important than the success you have yourself.
” President Trump closed his speech by saying that Gable is “ an athletic giant who conquered one of the most difficult and ancient sports , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ never had anybody like him.
” Then he ended with one final note that most wrestling fans everywhere will agree with .
“ He has made our country very proud , and he is a true GOAT , ” Trump said .
He turned to Gable : “ Do you know what ‘ GOAT ’ is ?
” Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register .
Follow him on Twitter at @ codygoodwin .

For wrestling icon Dan Gable, Presidential Medal of Freedom is an achievement of a lifetime
Show Caption Hide Caption Dan Gable, wrestling legend awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom President Trump presented the nation's highest civilian honor to Dan Gable, the two-time NCAA wrestling champion and 1972 Olympic gold medalist. USA TODAY
Dan Gable stood inside the Oval Office on Monday afternoon. To his left, President Donald J. Trump rattled off Gable’s many wrestling accomplishments: state champ, national champ, Olympic champ, successful coach, relentless ambassador, on and on.
Trump then turned to Gable with a wry smile.
“Now, I’m larger than you, a little bit,” Trump said. “Do you think I could take you in wrestling?”
Gable didn’t even smile at the idea.
“You would have no chance,” he responded, sparking laughter.
President Trump awarded Gable the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Monday, the nation’s highest civilian honor. The modern iteration of the distinction was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 to recognize extraordinary individuals who have made exceptional contributions to America's national interests, society and culture.
“I wouldn’t be here if I had just won an Olympic gold medal,” Gable said. “It has been a lifetime of work, learning from others, then taking that knowledge and applying it to others in many ways so that they can perform at their highest and be successful.”
Gable is the first wrestler — athlete or coach — to receive this honor. It is meant as an individual award, but for the 72-year-old, it represents so much more.
Gable’s whole family made the trip on Monday. His wife, Kathy, stood beside him, beaming. His four daughters, Molly, Jenni, Annie and Mackie, plus their husbands and his 13 grandchildren, filed in behind. He could not have pictured this day without them.
“My family, all right there,” Gable said, “… they are witnessing this historic moment of someone quite ordinary, mostly, going to the highest level.
“And because of this,” Gable continued, “they all have better chances of success.”
► RELATED: A son-in-law's letter to a senator led to Gable receiving the Medal of Freedom
For many years, Kathy and the girls followed Gable as he pursued his wrestling goals. It consumed all of their lives. But it also meant they got a front-row seat to one of America's greatest wrestling careers.
Gable won three state high school championships for Waterloo West and two NCAA titles for Iowa State University. Between his prep and collegiate careers, Gable went a combined 181-1, losing only in the 1970 NCAA finals. He won gold at the 1972 Olympics, where he won six matches at 68 kilograms (150 pounds) and didn't allow a single point along the way.
As a coach, Gable led the Iowa wrestling program to 21 straight Big Ten titles and 15 NCAA team championships from 1976 through 1997. He produced 152 All-Americans, 46 national champions and 12 Olympians who combined to win eight Olympic medals — four gold, one silver and three bronze.
“Gable has left me a lifetime philosophy that I do not deviate from,” current Iowa coach Tom Brands, who wrestled under Gable, said earlier this fall. “I am reminded every day when I see his statue,” which stands outside the main entrance to Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.
“Those memories are strong with me,” Brands continued. “The bedrock of Hawkeye wrestling will always be Dan Gable.”
Even in retirement, Gable has stayed heavily involved in wrestling.
In the early 2000s, he worked behind the scenes to save Division I programs from being discontinued as an unfortunate side effect from Title XI, when men's sports programs were cut as universities sought to create parity for women's programs. There were 146 wrestling programs total in 1981, but that number shrunk to 77 by 2012. Last season, there were 79.
In 2013, Gable used his fame and knowledge to help keep wrestling in the Olympics after it was put on the chopping block. Not only has wrestling remained, but the United States has thrived on the international level.
Between men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman, the Olympic disciplines, Team USA has won 28 medals at the world championships from 2017-19. What’s more, 13 wrestlers won individual world titles in that span, and the United States won the 2017 men’s freestyle world team championship for the first time since 1995.
“Dan Gable is the most consequential figure in the history of our sport, in our country,” Rich Bender, USA Wrestling’s executive director, told the Register. “He has everyday household recognition, and he’s been the backbone of our sport for a long time.
“Dan Gable is being honored, but I think the sport is being honored, too, and I know Dan works every day to move the relevancy of wrestling forward.”
Wrestling is as popular as it has ever been. The Big Ten Network posted record viewing numbers for its wrestling programming last season. To accommodate the growing interest, the 2020 NCAA Championships were scheduled to be held in a football stadium for the first time, before the novel coronavirus pandemic forced their cancellation.
Gable has helped fuel wrestling’s rise, thanks to his fame and relentless work ethic. On Monday, he attributed his longstanding success to the lessons the sport taught him from the very beginning. He hopes others will take aim at his accomplishments.
“This opens the door for a lot of people,” Gable said. “I look at it as an inspiration, that others will now have something to achieve that’s beyond just winning on the mat.
“The success one has with others is more important than the success you have yourself.”
President Trump closed his speech by saying that Gable is “an athletic giant who conquered one of the most difficult and ancient sports,” and that the United States has “never had anybody like him.”
Then he ended with one final note that most wrestling fans everywhere will agree with.
“He has made our country very proud, and he is a true GOAT,” Trump said. He turned to Gable: “Do you know what ‘GOAT’ is?”
Gable cracked a smile.
“He is,” Trump continued, “the greatest of all time.”
Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.


usatoday--2020-12-07--Monolith saga continues with new structures in England and Pittsburgh

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Multiple police and fire departments joined forces in Utah to rescue two tiny kittens from a storm drain .

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usatoday--2020-12-07--Holiday gift guide for teens

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usatoday--2020-12-07--'Why is he planning a rally when he won the election?': Mixed reception to talk of Trump inaugural r

Reports that President Trump is mulling a rival rally in Florida to split screen Joe Biden ’ s inauguration on Jan. 20 drew mixed feelings from the Trump faithful and a rebuke from Democrats on Monday .
Media reports on Sunday again cited sources who said the president is considering a rally , presumably in his adopted home state , to announce he intends a comeback presidential campaign in 2024 .
That event would take place on Jan. 20 , at least in part to draw attention away from the swearing-in ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden .
In June 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelection bid at a rally in downtown Orlando .
Four years earlier , he had announced his 2016 presidential candidacy at Trump Tower in Manhattan .
More : 'Epitome of COVID-19 irresponsibility ' : Giuliani potentially exposed lawmakers , others in multiple states State Republican Party chair Joe Gruters said Monday has has “ not heard any specifics ” about an Inauguration Day Trump event .
But he said he would welcome one if the president moves forward .
“ I have not heard any specifics but Florida would welcome our home state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s obvious based on the results Florida produced that people love him here ... so it makes perfect sense if he does decide to have one here.
” But U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel , a West Palm Beach Democrat , said a countering public event by the outgoing president would be “ rude , disrespectful and embarrassing.
” “ The inauguration of a new president should signify the peaceful transition of one administration to another , ” said Frankel , whose district includes Mar-a-Lago .
“ A Donald Trump-led counter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , disrespectful , and embarrassing.
” Frankel said Biden ’ s inauguration requires the nation ’ s full attention , particularly given the national emergencies presented by the coronavirus pandemic and the economic crisis .
More : 'Organized chaos ' : Inauguration Day move into the White House for Bidens complicated by COVID-19 “ With the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis in full force , our new president , Joe Biden , will need to rally our country and the world like never before , ” Frankel said .
“ A Trump political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong message to the American people , as well to our allies and enemies , jeopardizing our domestic and national security.
” Willie Guardiola , who organizes pro-Trump street shows of support throughout Palm Beach County , said he has heard Trump might be planning a Florida event .
But Guardiola said the focus right now must remain on continued challenges to the 2020 election results .
“ Why is he planning a rally when he won the election ?
” Guardiola said .
“ I ’ m sticking to my guns that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
I can ’ t relate to another rally , I can ’ t promote another rally , because we have to do first things first .
I am a true believer that fraud took place in a lot of these swing states and it ’ s going to go to the Supreme Court.
” On Tuesday , states will submit the lists of electors who will cast votes on behalf of their states ' electorates next week in the Electoral College .
That tally will take place Dec. 14 .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electoral votes among the states that have already certified their election results .
Biden won the 2020 election with 306 electoral votes to 232 for Trump .
Biden carried the popular vote by just over 7 million votes .
Trump , however , continues to demand that swing state officials , particularly in Georgia , overrule the will of voters by abrogating the Nov. 3 voting results and instead appoint electors who will vote for him .
Reporting from The USA TODAY Network was used in this story .

Antonio Fins, Zac Anderson and Wendy Rhodes, Palm Beach Post

'Why is he planning a rally when he won the election?': Mixed reception to talk of Trump inaugural rally in Florida
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump fans steadfast at first rally after election Supporters turned out in Valdosta, Georgia for President Donald Trump’s first political rally since losing the election. The event is meant to boost Republican incumbents campaigning in two runoffs that will decide party control of the Senate. (Nov. 5) AP
Reports that President Trump is mulling a rival rally in Florida to split screen Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20 drew mixed feelings from the Trump faithful and a rebuke from Democrats on Monday.
Media reports on Sunday again cited sources who said the president is considering a rally, presumably in his adopted home state, to announce he intends a comeback presidential campaign in 2024. That event would take place on Jan. 20, at least in part to draw attention away from the swearing-in ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden.
In June 2019, Trump formally kicked off his 2020 reelection bid at a rally in downtown Orlando. Four years earlier, he had announced his 2016 presidential candidacy at Trump Tower in Manhattan.
More: 'Epitome of COVID-19 irresponsibility': Giuliani potentially exposed lawmakers, others in multiple states
State Republican Party chair Joe Gruters said Monday has has “not heard any specifics” about an Inauguration Day Trump event. But he said he would welcome one if the president moves forward.
“I have not heard any specifics but Florida would welcome our home state president anytime,” Gruters said. “It’s obvious based on the results Florida produced that people love him here ... so it makes perfect sense if he does decide to have one here.”
But U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, a West Palm Beach Democrat, said a countering public event by the outgoing president would be “rude, disrespectful and embarrassing.”
“The inauguration of a new president should signify the peaceful transition of one administration to another,” said Frankel, whose district includes Mar-a-Lago. “A Donald Trump-led counter rally on that day would be rude, disrespectful, and embarrassing.”
Frankel said Biden’s inauguration requires the nation’s full attention, particularly given the national emergencies presented by the coronavirus pandemic and the economic crisis.
More: 'Organized chaos': Inauguration Day move into the White House for Bidens complicated by COVID-19
“With the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis in full force, our new president, Joe Biden, will need to rally our country and the world like never before,” Frankel said. “A Trump political event around the inauguration would send the wrong message to the American people, as well to our allies and enemies, jeopardizing our domestic and national security.”
Willie Guardiola, who organizes pro-Trump street shows of support throughout Palm Beach County, said he has heard Trump might be planning a Florida event. But Guardiola said the focus right now must remain on continued challenges to the 2020 election results.
“Why is he planning a rally when he won the election?” Guardiola said. “I’m sticking to my guns that Trump is going to get four more years. I can’t relate to another rally, I can’t promote another rally, because we have to do first things first. I am a true believer that fraud took place in a lot of these swing states and it’s going to go to the Supreme Court.”
On Tuesday, states will submit the lists of electors who will cast votes on behalf of their states' electorates next week in the Electoral College. That tally will take place Dec. 14.
Biden has received more than the required 270 electoral votes among the states that have already certified their election results. Biden won the 2020 election with 306 electoral votes to 232 for Trump. Biden carried the popular vote by just over 7 million votes.
Trump, however, continues to demand that swing state officials, particularly in Georgia, overrule the will of voters by abrogating the Nov. 3 voting results and instead appoint electors who will vote for him.
The Republican Governor of Georgia refuses to do signature verification, which would give us an easy win. What’s wrong with this guy? What is he hiding? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2020
Reporting from The USA TODAY Network was used in this story.