mercurynews--2020-12-27--49ers report card: Heroics abound at Arizona in what could be Robert Saleh’s penultimate act

Here is how the 49ers ( 6-9 ) graded in Sunday ’ s 20-12 win over the host Arizona Cardinals ( 8-7 ) : C.J .
Beathard enjoyed his first career three-touchdown game , over two years since his last start .
Sparking the passing attack was George Kittle ’ s return from a six-game hiatus , and he came through with signature catch-and-runs of 24 , 18 , 27 and 23 yards .
Kittle had a drop , as did Richie James and Jordan Reed , so Beathard ’ s stat line was more modest ( 13-of-22 , 182 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McGlinchey ’ s season-long issues in pass protection cost Beathard a lost fumble just before halftime .
Trent Williams hurt his elbow blocking on Beathard ’ s first touchdown pass but finished out the game .
Jeff Wilson Jr. said he related to Beathard in having to bide time for opportunities , and while Wilson has seized on his limited chances the past two years , this game yielded a career-high 183 yards ( 20 carries ) plus a 21-yard touchdown catch .
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk had two touchdown catches , but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a direct snap for a third-and-1 conversion sneak .
Beathard ’ s zone-read runs worked well , and his 17-yard dash was the longest by a 49ers ’ quarterback since Colin Kaepernick ’ s 2016 farewell season .
Brandon Aiyuk had more yards rushing ( 16-yard carry ) than receiving ( 15-yard catch ) .
The 49ers had 30 carries for 227 yards ( 7.6 average ) a day after Raheem Mostert went on season-ending Injured Reserve .
Ahkello Witherspoon made the most important play : an interception in the end zone with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lob similar to the one that burned Witherspoon on the opening series .
So many other heroic plays came from this unit , such as Fred Warner ’ s fourth-down pass breakup with nine minutes to go , or Jason Verrett ’ s tight coverage on DeAndre Hopkins both in the end zone and on Murray ’ s final throw .
Don ’ t overlook K ’ Waun Williams , who had a third-down sack after exiting the first half with a leg contusion .
Kerry Hyder and D.J .
Jones each had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through a knee injury to total 11 tackles , second only to Warner ’ s 14 tackles .
Two plays before Witherspoon ’ s interception , he bit and lost outside containment as Murray jetted 30 yards on fourth-and-1 to the 49ers ’ 13-yard line .
Aside from Murray ’ s speed ( eight plays , 75 yards ) , the Cardinals had little success with Kenyan Drake runs up the gut , aside from his 1-yard touchdown leap .
The 49ers recorded nine tackles for loss , those coming from Warner ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , Witherspoon , Verrett , Hyder , Jones and Dre Greenlaw .
The 49ers are one game away from completing their first full season since 2010 without allowing a 100-yard rusher .
Robbie Gould missed three kicks ( two field goals , one point-after attempt ) , and the 49ers ’ win was really jeopardized with his 37-yard miss with 65 seconds remaining .
How might that impact Gould ’ s 2021 option , which the 49ers must decide on next week ?
“ You got ta look at the body of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been unbelievable since he ’ s been here for us , ” Shanahan said .
“ He ’ s had an unbelievable year this year .
Yeah , it was tough on those situations .
Robbie will be harder on himself than anyone .
He ’ s played too much football in his career and he ’ s played too much football for us for one game to decide who he is.
” Jerick McKinnon ’ s four kickoff returns only reached the 18- , 21- , 14- and 20-yard lines .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ disruptive pressure to keep Kyler Murray from finding a groove , and Saleh did so with a skeleton crew on the defensive front and secondary .
If this was Saleh ’ s penultimate game with the 49ers before becoming a head coach elsewhere , Shanahan explained why Saleh was “ ready ” for this year ’ s obstacles .
“ We ’ ve been through almost every situation in our four years and for the defense being able to play this well throughout it all says a ton about him , says a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ton about these players , ” Shanahan said .
“ … I hope I don ’ t lose Saleh , but we got a lot of great coaches on the staff.
” • What the 49ers are saying after beating Cardinals • 49ers ’ George Kittle wins over Bears fans , relishes more Saturday football with Beathard • Jeff Wilson , 49ers continue to burn Cardinals with same passing route

Here is how the 49ers (6-9) graded in Sunday’s 20-12 win over the host Arizona Cardinals (8-7):
PASS OFFENSE: B
C.J. Beathard enjoyed his first career three-touchdown game, over two years since his last start. Sparking the passing attack was George Kittle’s return from a six-game hiatus, and he came through with signature catch-and-runs of 24, 18, 27 and 23 yards. Kittle had a drop, as did Richie James and Jordan Reed, so Beathard’s stat line was more modest (13-of-22, 182 yards, no interceptions). Mike McGlinchey’s season-long issues in pass protection cost Beathard a lost fumble just before halftime. Trent Williams hurt his elbow blocking on Beathard’s first touchdown pass but finished out the game.
RUN OFFENSE: A+
Jeff Wilson Jr. said he related to Beathard in having to bide time for opportunities, and while Wilson has seized on his limited chances the past two years, this game yielded a career-high 183 yards (20 carries) plus a 21-yard touchdown catch. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk had two touchdown catches, but he truly basked in the glory of taking a direct snap for a third-and-1 conversion sneak. Beathard’s zone-read runs worked well, and his 17-yard dash was the longest by a 49ers’ quarterback since Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 farewell season. Brandon Aiyuk had more yards rushing (16-yard carry) than receiving (15-yard catch). The 49ers had 30 carries for 227 yards (7.6 average) a day after Raheem Mostert went on season-ending Injured Reserve.
PASS DEFENSE: A
Ahkello Witherspoon made the most important play: an interception in the end zone with 4:37 remaining, on a Kyler Murray lob similar to the one that burned Witherspoon on the opening series. So many other heroic plays came from this unit, such as Fred Warner’s fourth-down pass breakup with nine minutes to go, or Jason Verrett’s tight coverage on DeAndre Hopkins both in the end zone and on Murray’s final throw. Don’t overlook K’Waun Williams, who had a third-down sack after exiting the first half with a leg contusion. Kerry Hyder and D.J. Jones each had a sack, and Tarvarius Moore played through a knee injury to total 11 tackles, second only to Warner’s 14 tackles.
RUN DEFENSE: B+
Two plays before Witherspoon’s interception, he bit and lost outside containment as Murray jetted 30 yards on fourth-and-1 to the 49ers’ 13-yard line. Aside from Murray’s speed (eight plays, 75 yards), the Cardinals had little success with Kenyan Drake runs up the gut, aside from his 1-yard touchdown leap. The 49ers recorded nine tackles for loss, those coming from Warner (two), Arik Armstead (two), Witherspoon, Verrett, Hyder, Jones and Dre Greenlaw. The 49ers are one game away from completing their first full season since 2010 without allowing a 100-yard rusher.
SPECIAL TEAMS: D
Robbie Gould missed three kicks (two field goals, one point-after attempt), and the 49ers’ win was really jeopardized with his 37-yard miss with 65 seconds remaining. How might that impact Gould’s 2021 option, which the 49ers must decide on next week? “You gotta look at the body of work with Robbie, and Robbie’s been unbelievable since he’s been here for us,” Shanahan said. “He’s had an unbelievable year this year. Yeah, it was tough on those situations. Robbie will be harder on himself than anyone. He’s played too much football in his career and he’s played too much football for us for one game to decide who he is.” Jerick McKinnon’s four kickoff returns only reached the 18-, 21-, 14- and 20-yard lines.
COACHING: A
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh created deceptive and disruptive pressure to keep Kyler Murray from finding a groove, and Saleh did so with a skeleton crew on the defensive front and secondary. If this was Saleh’s penultimate game with the 49ers before becoming a head coach elsewhere, Shanahan explained why Saleh was “ready” for this year’s obstacles. “We’ve been through almost every situation in our four years and for the defense being able to play this well throughout it all says a ton about him, says a ton about our staff, says a ton about these players,” Shanahan said. “… I hope I don’t lose Saleh, but we got a lot of great coaches on the staff.”


Bridge: Dec. 27, 2020

“ The nativity story is a lovely narrative , ” Wendy , my club ’ s feminist , told me .
“ I can accept some shepherds and a virgin birth .
But three wise men , all in the same place at once ?
That stretches my credulity.
” Wendy thinks most men have an intellect rivaled by garden tools .
She was today ’ s North in a team match .
The other players were male .
When South bid two hearts at his second turn , Wendy found a raise , and South went on to game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Wendy said , “ as the bidding demanded .
East won and returned a trump , and my partner won in dummy and led the singleton spade .
East dashed up with his ace and led his last trump .
My partner won , took the king of spades and ruffed a spade .
West ’ s queen fell , and declarer lost a diamond but made game .
“ East ’ s ace-of-spades play was a typical male atrocity .
He can ’ t lose his ace if he plays low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jack , losing to the queen , he loses a second spade and five tricks in all.
” “ So why are you upset ?
” I asked .
“ You made a game that might have failed.
” “ At the other table , ” Wendy bit out , “ the auction was the same , but West , my teammate , led the queen of diamonds .
South took the ace , led a club to dummy and returned a spade .
East correctly played low , and South played the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ queen , he continued diamonds instead of shifting to the obvious trump .
Declarer ruffed the third diamond and got home with a crossruff .
“ Men are a lot of things , ” Wendy said , “ but wise isn ’ t one of them .
”

“The nativity story is a lovely narrative,” Wendy, my club’s feminist, told me. “I can accept some shepherds and a virgin birth. But three wise men, all in the same place at once? That stretches my credulity.”
Wendy thinks most men have an intellect rivaled by garden tools. She was today’s North in a team match. The other players were male. When South bid two hearts at his second turn, Wendy found a raise, and South went on to game.
“West led a trump,” Wendy said, “as the bidding demanded. East won and returned a trump, and my partner won in dummy and led the singleton spade. East dashed up with his ace and led his last trump. My partner won, took the king of spades and ruffed a spade. West’s queen fell, and declarer lost a diamond but made game.
“East’s ace-of-spades play was a typical male atrocity. He can’t lose his ace if he plays low. Then, if South plays the jack, losing to the queen, he loses a second spade and five tricks in all.”
“So why are you upset?” I asked. “You made a game that might have failed.”
“At the other table,” Wendy bit out, “the auction was the same, but West, my teammate, led the queen of diamonds. South took the ace, led a club to dummy and returned a spade. East correctly played low, and South played the jack. But when West took the queen, he continued diamonds instead of shifting to the obvious trump. Declarer ruffed the third diamond and got home with a crossruff.
“Men are a lot of things,” Wendy said, “but wise isn’t one of them.”
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S 6
H Q J 7 4
D 8 4 3 2
C A 9 5 4
WEST
S Q 10 2
H 8 6
D Q J 10 9
C Q 10 3 2
EAST
S A 9 5 4
H A 3 2
D K 6 5
C J 8 7
SOUTH
S K J 8 7 3
H K 10 9 5
D A 7
C K 6
South West North East
1 S Pass 1 NT Pass
2 H Pass 3 H Pass
4 H All Pass
Opening lead — Choose it
(C)2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


mercurynews--2020-12-27--Horoscopes Dec. 27, 2020: Hayley Williams, embrace change

Happy Birthday : Embrace change .
Lead the way with honesty and integrity .
Put more energy into the changes that will make your life better and your relationships less stressful .
Choose to calm things down and to distance yourself from chaos and unruly individuals .
Concentrate on what ’ s important to you and how best to use your attributes to bring about positive and meaningful change .
Your numbers are 6 , 14 , 23 , 27 , 30 , 38 , 46 .
ARIES ( March 21-April 19 ) : An opportunity will help you switch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Follow through immediately .
The more aggressive you are , the easier it will be to get what you want .
Focus on positive but forceful action .
Romance is favored .
4 stars TAURUS ( April 20-May 20 ) : Emotions and money don ’ t mix .
A bargain is only to your advantage if you need the product .
Use discretion when it comes to money matters , and be smart about social distancing .
Crowded places aren ’ t in your best interest .
3 stars GEMINI ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to what ’ s going on around you .
The support you offer will change the dynamics of the outcome .
Learning something new will revitalize a goal you have yet to reach .
A romantic gesture will enhance a meaningful relationship .
3 stars CANCER ( June 21-July 22 ) : A positive attitude will improve your chance to get your way .
You can resolve a financial issue if you discuss solutions with an expert or partner .
Be observant .
Don ’ t put pressure on others or give in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stars LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22 ) : Be decisive , and close the gap that robs you of the things you want to do .
Take note of what others say , but do what suits you best .
Offer others the same freedom you want in return .
Romance will enrich your life .
4 stars VIRGO ( Aug. 23-Sept. 22 ) : Refuse to let emotional issues ruin your day .
Distance yourself from anyone out to cause problems .
Focus on what you can do to make your life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pursuing your dreams .
Verify facts before offering your opinion .
2 stars LIBRA ( Sept. 23-Oct. 22 ) : Stick to a budget .
You may want to take advantage of a sale , but don ’ t go into debt .
Be smart regarding money ; avoid criticism and complaints from someone affected by your lavish behavior .
Make romance a priority , not shopping .
5 stars SCORPIO ( Oct. 23-Nov. 21 ) : Pick up the phone and connect with someone you haven ’ t heard from in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will rediscover something you enjoy doing .
A change at home will give you the freedom to follow your heart and dreams .
3 stars SAGITTARIUS ( Nov. 22-Dec. 21 ) : Keep an open mind , but don ’ t let someone push you in a direction that will cause discord at home .
Problems will prevail if you allow emotional manipulation to interfere in meaningful relationships .
Honesty and integrity will lead to personal success .
3 stars CAPRICORN ( Dec. 22-Jan. 19 ) : A problem will surface if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words wisely , and do your best not to fuel the fire .
Stick close to home , and make improvements that will please those you live with .
You ’ ll get positive results .
3 stars AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18 ) : The adjustments you make at home will help you deal with an unstable situation .
An optimistic attitude and the use of your imagination will capture the interest of someone who has something to offer in return .
Romance is on the rise .
5 stars PISCES ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Refuse to let an emotional incident put you in a vulnerable position .
Be smart .
Make adjustments that protect you from loss , illness or injury .
Refuse to let someone ’ s poor judgment cost you .
Attempting emotional manipulation will backfire .
2 stars Birthday Baby : You are intense , complex and scholarly .
You are motivated and helpful .

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Hayley Williams, 32; Wilson Cruz, 47; Gerard Depardieu, 72; John Amos, 81.
Happy Birthday: Embrace change. Lead the way with honesty and integrity. Put more energy into the changes that will make your life better and your relationships less stressful. Choose to calm things down and to distance yourself from chaos and unruly individuals. Concentrate on what’s important to you and how best to use your attributes to bring about positive and meaningful change. Your numbers are 6, 14, 23, 27, 30, 38, 46.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): An opportunity will help you switch lanes professionally. Don’t hesitate. Follow through immediately. The more aggressive you are, the easier it will be to get what you want. Focus on positive but forceful action. Romance is favored. 4 stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Emotions and money don’t mix. A bargain is only to your advantage if you need the product. Use discretion when it comes to money matters, and be smart about social distancing. Crowded places aren’t in your best interest. 3 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Pay attention to what’s going on around you. The support you offer will change the dynamics of the outcome. Learning something new will revitalize a goal you have yet to reach. A romantic gesture will enhance a meaningful relationship. 3 stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22): A positive attitude will improve your chance to get your way. You can resolve a financial issue if you discuss solutions with an expert or partner. Be observant. Don’t put pressure on others or give in to demands placed on you. 3 stars
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be decisive, and close the gap that robs you of the things you want to do. Take note of what others say, but do what suits you best. Offer others the same freedom you want in return. Romance will enrich your life. 4 stars
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Refuse to let emotional issues ruin your day. Distance yourself from anyone out to cause problems. Focus on what you can do to make your life better. Make changes that are conducive to pursuing your dreams. Verify facts before offering your opinion. 2 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Stick to a budget. You may want to take advantage of a sale, but don’t go into debt. Be smart regarding money; avoid criticism and complaints from someone affected by your lavish behavior. Make romance a priority, not shopping. 5 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Pick up the phone and connect with someone you haven’t heard from in a while. Reminisce, and you will rediscover something you enjoy doing. A change at home will give you the freedom to follow your heart and dreams. 3 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep an open mind, but don’t let someone push you in a direction that will cause discord at home. Problems will prevail if you allow emotional manipulation to interfere in meaningful relationships. Honesty and integrity will lead to personal success. 3 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A problem will surface if you get into a debate. Choose your words wisely, and do your best not to fuel the fire. Stick close to home, and make improvements that will please those you live with. You’ll get positive results. 3 stars
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The adjustments you make at home will help you deal with an unstable situation. An optimistic attitude and the use of your imagination will capture the interest of someone who has something to offer in return. Romance is on the rise. 5 stars
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take precautions. Refuse to let an emotional incident put you in a vulnerable position. Be smart. Make adjustments that protect you from loss, illness or injury. Refuse to let someone’s poor judgment cost you. Attempting emotional manipulation will backfire. 2 stars
Birthday Baby: You are intense, complex and scholarly. You are motivated and helpful.
Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.


Word Game: Dec. 27, 2020

TODAY ’ S WORD — DISSIPATE ( DISSIPATE : DIS-ih-pate : To spend or use up wastefully or foolishly . )
Can you find 59 or more words in DISSIPATE ?
TODAY ’ S WORD — DISSIPATE dais daisies date deist desist diet idea ides sadist said sapid sate seat sepia sept side siesta site spade spat spate sped spied spies spit spite staid stead step sties paid pass passe past paste pate peat pest pied pieta pita pitied pities adept aide aped apse apsis aside asset tape taps tepid tide tidies tied tipi east edit To purchase the Word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it now for just $ 5 while supplies last !
1 .
Words must be of four or more letters .
2 .
Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “ s , ” such as “ bats ” or “ dies , ” are not allowed .
3 .
Additional words made by adding a “ d ” or an “ s ” may not be used .
For example , if “ bake ” is used , “ baked ” or “ bakes ” are not allowed , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are admissible .
4 .
Proper nouns , slang words , or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed .

TODAY’S WORD — DISSIPATE (DISSIPATE: DIS-ih-pate: To spend or use up wastefully or foolishly.)
Average mark 45 words
Time limit 60 minutes
Can you find 59 or more words in DISSIPATE? TODAY’S WORD — DISSIPATE dais daisies
date deist desist diet idea ides sadist said sapid sate seat sepia sept side siesta site spade
spat spate sped spied spies spit spite staid stead step sties paid pass passe past paste
pate peat pest pied pieta pita pitied pities adept aide aped apse apsis aside asset tape
taps tepid tide tidies tied tipi east edit
To purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!
RULES OF THE GAME:
1. Words must be of four or more letters.
2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.
3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.
4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.
Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at kzsaxe@gmail.com.


mercurynews--2020-12-28--Trump signs massive measure funding government, COVID relief

By By Jill Colvin , Lisa Mascaro and Andrew Taylor | Associated Press WEST PALM BEACH , Fla. — President Donald Trump signed a $ 900 billion pandemic relief package Sunday , ending days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown .
The massive bill includes $ 1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and contains other end-of-session priorities such as money for cash-starved transit systems and an increase in food stamp benefits .
Trump announced the signing in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the COVID-19 relief for including only $ 600 checks to most Americans instead of the $ 2,000 that his fellow Republicans rejected .
He also complained about what he considered unnecessary spending by the government at large .
But Trump ’ s eleventh-hour objections created turmoil because lawmakers had thought he was supportive of the bill , which had been negotiated for months with White House input .
“ I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
While the president insisted he would send Congress “ a redlined version ” with items to be removed under the rescission process , those are merely suggestions to Congress .
The bill , as signed , would not necessarily be changed .
Lawmakers now have breathing room to continue debating whether the relief checks should be as large as the president has demanded .
The Democratic-led House supports the larger checks and is set to vote on the issue Monday , but it ’ s expected to be ignored by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans and Democrats swiftly welcomed Trump ’ s decision to sign the bill into law .
“ The compromise bill is not perfect , but it will do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians and Americans across the country who need help now , ” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
“ I thank the President for signing this relief into law.
” Democrats are promising more aid to come once President-elect Joe Biden takes office , but Republicans are signaling a wait-and-see approach .
In the face of growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looming shutdown , lawmakers on Sunday had urged Trump to sign the legislation immediately , then have Congress follow up with additional aid .
Aside from unemployment benefits and relief payments to families , money for vaccine distribution , businesses , cash-starved public transit systems and more is on the line .
Protections against evictions also hung in the balance .
“ What the president is doing right now is unbelievably cruel , ” said Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. “ So many people are hurting .
… It is really insane and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do the right thing for the American people and stop worrying about his ego.
” Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said he understood that Trump “ wants to be remembered for advocating for big checks , but the danger is he ’ ll be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he allows this to expire.
” Toomey added : “ So I think the best thing to do , as I said , sign this and then make the case for subsequent legislation.
” The same point was echoed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Republican who ’ s criticized Trump ’ s pandemic response and his efforts to undo the election results .
“ I just gave up guessing what he might do next , ” he said .
Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said too much is at stake for Trump to “ play this old switcheroo game.
” “ I don ’ t get the point , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t understand what ’ s being done , why , unless it ’ s just to create chaos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you lost the election.
” Washington had been reeling since Trump turned on the deal .
Fingers pointed at administration officials , including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , as lawmakers tried to understand whether they were misled about Trump ’ s position .
“ Now to be put in a lurch , after the president ’ s own person negotiated something that the president doesn ’ t want , it ’ s just — it ’ s surprising , ” Kinzinger said .
Kinzinger spoke on CNN ’ s “ State of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” Associated Press writer Alexandra Olson in New York contributed to this report .

By By Jill Colvin, Lisa Mascaro and Andrew Taylor | Associated Press
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump has signed a $900 billion pandemic relief package, ending days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown.
The massive bill includes $1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and contains other end-of-session priorities such as an increase in food stamp benefits.
The signing Sunday, at his private club in Florida came amid escalating criticism over his eleventh-hour demands for larger, $2,000 relief checks and scaled-back spending even though the bill had already passed the House and Senate by wide margins. The bill was passed with what lawmakers had thought was Trump’s blessing, and after months of negotiations with his administration.
His foot-dragging resulted in a lapse in unemployment benefits for millions struggling to make ends meet and threatened a government shutdown in the midst of a pandemic.. But signing the bill into law prevents another crisis of Trump’s own creation and ends a standoff with his own party during the final days of his administration.
It was unclear what, if anything, Trump accomplished with his delay, beyond angering all sides and empowering Democrats to continue their push for higher relief checks, which his own party opposes.
In his statement, Trump repeated his frustrations with the COVID-19 relief bill for providing only $600 checks to most Americans instead of the $2,000 that his fellow Republicans already rejected. He also complained about what he considered unnecessary spending by the government at large.
“I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed,” Trump said in the statement.
While the president insisted he would send Congress “a redlined version” with items to be removed under the rescission process, those are merely suggestions to Congress. The bill, as signed, would not necessarily be changed.
Democrats, who have the majority in the House, immediately vowed to prevent any cuts. Democrats “will reject any rescissions” submitted by the president, said Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, D-N.Y. , in a statement.
Lawmakers now have breathing room to continue debating whether the relief checks should be as large as the president has demanded. The Democratic-led House supports the larger checks and is set to vote on the issue Monday, but it’s expected to be ignored by the Republican-held Senate where spending faces opposition. For now, the administration can only begin work sending out the $600 payments.
Republicans and Democrats swiftly welcomed Trump’s decision to sign the bill into law.
“The compromise bill is not perfect, but it will do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians and Americans across the country who need help now,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “I thank the President for signing this relief into law.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called the signing “welcome news for the fourteen million Americans who just lost the lifeline of unemployment benefits on Christmas weekend, and for the millions more struggling to stay afloat during this historic pandemic and economic crisis.”
But others slammed Trump’s delay in turning the bill into law. In a tweet, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., accused Trump of having “played Russian roulette with American lives. A familiar and comfortable place for him.”
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he would offer Trump’s proposal for $2,000 checks for a vote in Senate — putting Republicans on the spot.
“The House will pass a bill to give Americans $2,000 checks. Then I will move to pass it in the Senate,” Schumer tweeted. “No Democrats will object. Will Senate Republicans?”
Democrats are promising more aid to come once President-elect Joe Biden takes office, but Republicans are signaling a wait-and-see approach.
Congress will push ahead Monday, with the House expected to vote to override Trump’s veto of an annual must-pass Defense bill, confronting the president on another big issue in the final days of the session. The Senate is expected to follow on Tuesday.
In the face of growing economic hardship, spreading disease and a looming shutdown, lawmakers spent Sunday urging Trump to sign the legislation immediately, then have Congress follow up with additional aid. Aside from unemployment benefits and relief payments to families, money for vaccine distribution, businesses and more was on the line. Protections against evictions also hung in the balance.
“What the president is doing right now is unbelievably cruel,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. “So many people are hurting. … It is really insane and this president has got to finally … do the right thing for the American people and stop worrying about his ego.”
Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said he understood that Trump “wants to be remembered for advocating for big checks, but the danger is he’ll be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he allows this to expire.”
Toomey added: “So I think the best thing to do, as I said, sign this and then make the case for subsequent legislation.”
The same point was echoed by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican who’s criticized Trump’s pandemic response and his efforts to undo the election results. “I just gave up guessing what he might do next,” he said.
Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said too much is at stake for Trump to “play this old switcheroo game.”
“I don’t get the point,” he said. “I don’t understand what’s being done, why, unless it’s just to create chaos and show power and be upset because you lost the election.”
Washington had been reeling since Trump turned on the deal. Fingers pointed at administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, as lawmakers tried to understand whether they were misled about Trump’s position.
“Now to be put in a lurch, after the president’s own person negotiated something that the president doesn’t want, it’s just — it’s surprising,” Kinzinger said.
Kinzinger spoke on CNN’s “State of the Union,” and Hogan and Sanders on ABC’s “This Week.”
Associated Press writer Alexandra Olson in New York contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-12-28--Warriors’ Draymond Green will miss next two games as he works on conditioning

Warriors forward Draymond Green will not make his season debut until after the team returns from the current four-game trip , according to head coach Steve Kerr , and will not play in Tuesday ’ s game in Detroit .
He had been previously ruled out for today ’ s game in Chicago .
Having missed all of training and the preseason because of a positive coronavirus test , Green was sidelined for the first two regular-season games with the foot injury , though it ’ s not considered serious .
Green , 30 , participated in practices in Milwaukee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold him out as he continues to work on his conditioning over the next four-to-five days before playing in a game .
“ Draymond got through the scrimmage really well yesterday , and he felt good , ” Kerr said before today ’ s game against the Bulls .
“ We just felt that , from a conditioning standpoint , it made more sense to give him the next two games off.
” • Warriors ’ Draymond Green out vs. Bulls with a foot injury • Should the Warriors be concerned about Kelly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After scrimmaging Saturday , Green said his body “ feels amazing ” but he “ just has to get my wind back.
” Green ’ s return to the lineup will be a needed boost to a Warriors team that lost its first two games — to Brooklyn and Milwaukee — by a combined 65 points .
An experienced playmaker and former defensive player of the year , Green should help teammates get open shots and fortify Golden State ’ s defense .
The recent loss of center Marquese Chriss , who suffered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s scrimmage , makes the need for Green more dire , but the Warriors are being patient .
“ He ’ s doing really well , the foot has healed nicely , but he was out with the league ( coronavirus ) protocols , ” Kerr said .
“ And the conditioning level is important because it ’ s very risky to put somebody out there who ’ s not quite ready from a conditioning standpoint .
It leaves people vulnerable .
”

Warriors forward Draymond Green will not make his season debut until after the team returns from the current four-game trip, according to head coach Steve Kerr, and will not play in Tuesday’s game in Detroit.
He had been previously ruled out for today’s game in Chicago.
Having missed all of training and the preseason because of a positive coronavirus test, Green was sidelined for the first two regular-season games with the foot injury, though it’s not considered serious. Green, 30, participated in practices in Milwaukee and Chicago, but the Warriors will hold him out as he continues to work on his conditioning over the next four-to-five days before playing in a game.
“Draymond got through the scrimmage really well yesterday, and he felt good,” Kerr said before today’s game against the Bulls. “We just felt that, from a conditioning standpoint, it made more sense to give him the next two games off.” Related Articles Golden State Warriors | Here’s the Warriors’ schedule for NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament
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After scrimmaging Saturday, Green said his body “feels amazing” but he “just has to get my wind back.”
Green’s return to the lineup will be a needed boost to a Warriors team that lost its first two games — to Brooklyn and Milwaukee — by a combined 65 points. An experienced playmaker and former defensive player of the year, Green should help teammates get open shots and fortify Golden State’s defense.
The recent loss of center Marquese Chriss, who suffered a broken right leg in Saturday’s scrimmage, makes the need for Green more dire, but the Warriors are being patient.
“He’s doing really well, the foot has healed nicely, but he was out with the league (coronavirus) protocols,” Kerr said. “And the conditioning level is important because it’s very risky to put somebody out there who’s not quite ready from a conditioning standpoint. It leaves people vulnerable.”


mercurynews--2020-12-28--The Latest: Central, S. Calif. lockdown likely to continue

By The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — State officials are expected to extend the strictest stay-at-home orders in central and Southern California as hospitals there are quickly running out of intensive care unit beds for coronavirus patients ahead of the presumed post-holiday surge .
The situation is already dire , and the worst is expected to come in the next few weeks after Christmas and New Year ’ s travelers return home .
State stay-at-home orders for the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California are set to expire Monday .
State officials say the orders are likely to be extended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday afternoon .
The EU has launched a huge vaccine rollout.
, aimed at projecting a unified message that the vaccine is safe and Europe ’ s best chance to emerge from the pandemic and the economic devastation of lockdowns .
South Africa became the latest country to reach 1 million confirmed cases and is expected to go back to more virus restrictions .
In the U.S. , unemployment benefits have expired for millions as President Donald Trump appears no closer to signing an end-of-year COVID relief and spending bill , despite urging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s top infectious disease expert expects the general U.S. population will be getting immunized widely by late March or early April .
The outlook is much bleaker for many poorer nations , where war and instability are posing huge challenges to vaccination plans .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : OLYMPIA , Wash. — Washington state will spend $ 54 million to provide one-time payments to nearly 100,000 gig and self-employed workers cut off from unemployment benefits because of the impasse over the federal COVID-19 relief and spending bill .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the payments of $ 550 each , roughly the equivalent of two weeks ’ worth of benefits , will be issued later this week .
They will go to people who have been receiving benefits under the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program , which was set up to provide unemployment benefits to workers who normally do not qualify for them .
The program would be extended until March 14 , 2021 , if President Donald Trump signs the relief bill into law .
BALTIMORE — The U.S. has now topped 19 million coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows .
America exceeded that mark on Sunday , just six days after it reached 18 million .
The nation ’ s case numbers have more than doubled in less than two months .
COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. also have been rising , and now total more than 332,000 .
That ’ s more than one death for every 1,000 Americans .
The U.S. population as of Saturday was about 331 million , according to the U.S. Census Bureau .
The United States accounts for about 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but close to 24 % of its total coronavirus cases and 19 % of its COVID-19 deaths .
Health experts believe many cases have gone unreported , however , both in America and internationally .
JOHANNESBURG – South Africa ’ s COVID-19 spike has taken the country to more than 1 million confirmed cases on Sunday and President Cyril Ramaphosa called an emergency meeting of the National Coronavirus Command Council .
The country ’ s new variant of the coronavirus , 501.V2 , is more contagious and has quickly become dominant in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to experts .
With South Africa ’ s hospitals reaching capacity and no sign of the new surge reaching a peak , Ramaphosa is expected to announce a return to restrictive measures designed to slow the spread of the disease .
“ We are not helpless in the face of this variant , ” infectious disease specialist Dr. Richard Lessells told The Associated Press .
“ We can change our behavior to give the virus less opportunities to spread.
” He said it ’ s most important to avoid contact with others in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced a cumulative total of 1,004,431 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday evening .
That number includes 26,735 deaths .
JERUSALEM __ Israel has entered its third nationwide coronavirus lockdown – with much of the economy again shutting down as infection numbers surge .
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the lockdown will be for two weeks , though it could be extended if infection rates don ’ t come down .
But with the country simultaneously pressing ahead with an aggressive vaccination campaign , he is optimistic Israel will be able to lift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a country of 9 million people , started rolling out coronavirus vaccinations last week and has already inoculated 280,000 people , according to the Health Ministry .
That makes it one of the world ’ s leaders in administering vaccinations on a per-capita basis .
The lockdown that began Sunday includes the shutdown of most non-essential businesses , limitations on gatherings and movement from people ’ s homes and reduced public transit .
Schools and kindergartens will remain open for the time being .
Israel has recorded over 400,000 cases of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
But the infection rate has shot up in recent weeks after the government started easing restrictions put in place in September .
ISTANBUL— Turkey ’ s health minister says a shipment of vaccines from Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac has been delayed in Beijing customs .
Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted Sunday that a COVID-19 case in Beijing customs and high alert against infections there caused the delay .
The minister had said earlier this week the first shipment of CoronaVac would be en route to Turkey Sunday night .
He said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days.
” The vaccines were initially expected to arrive after Dec. 11 .
Turkey has signed a deal for 50 million doses of the vaccine .
ROME — Italy added another 305 victims to its official coronavirus death toll on the same day it joined the rest of the European Union in launching a massive vaccination campaign .
Another 8,913 people tested positive Sunday , far fewer than in recent days .
But with the Christmas holiday weekend , far fewer tests were conducted .
Italy leads Europe in the official COVID-19 death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say the true toll is far higher due to missed infections early on and testing limitations .
Italy on Sunday began administering the first Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to health care workers who have been on the front lines of the pandemic since Italy in late February became the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe .
PARIS — France started its first coronavirus vaccinations Sunday at a nursing home northeast of Paris , in one of the country ’ s poorest regions , as part of a Europe-wide vaccination rollout .
“ An intense moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted the head of the Paris region public health service , Aurelien Rousseau .
A 78-year-old woman identified only by her first name , Mauricette , was given France ’ s first vaccine shot in the town of Sevran .
Later in the day , vaccinations will be given at the Champmaillot home in Dijon .
Polls suggest that people in France are a bit skeptical of the new vaccines , so France ’ s government has been cautious in its messaging and is not making the vaccines obligatory .
The government hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 million of its 67 million people by summer .
HONOLULU — City officials say about 20 % of Honolulu ’ s 4,500 first responders have received the Moderna coronavirus vaccine .
Hiro Toiya , the city ’ s emergency management director , says 936 first responders received their shots Tuesday and Wednesday .
Honolulu Police Department officers represented 649 of the vaccines , 173 vaccines were given to firefighters with the Honolulu Fire Department and 114 vaccines were distributed to paramedics , emergency medical technicians and lifeguards with the Department of Emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of first responders are expected to receive the voluntary coronavirus vaccine .
ROME __ European Union nations kicked off a coordinated effort Sunday to give COVID-19 vaccinations to the most vulnerable among the bloc ’ s nearly 450 million people , marking a moment of hope in the continent ’ s battle against the worst public health crisis in a century .
Health care workers , the elderly and leading politicians got some of the first shots across the 27-nation bloc to reassure the public that the vaccinations are safe and represent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
“ It didn ’ t hurt at all , ” said Mihaela Anghel , a nurse at the Matei Bals Institute in Bucharest who was the first person to get the vaccine in Romania .
“ Open your eyes and take the vaccine.
” In Rome , five doctors and nurses wearing white scrubs sat in a semi-circle at the Spallanzani infectious diseases hospital to receive their doses .
ZAGREB , Croatia — A 81-year-old care home resident on Sunday became the first person to receive COVID-19 vaccine in Croatia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine before cameras .
She says it felt great to be the first in Croatia to receive the vaccine and urged others to do the same .
Croatia ’ s Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic says the vaccines first will go to those who are the most vulnerable and exposed to the virus .
He expressed hope most people will agree to vaccination .
Croatian media have reported that many among Croatia ’ s 4.2 million people remain skeptical regarding the vaccines , even among doctors .
Authorities have launched a campaign to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two women , a 96-year-old resident and a worker at a nursing home , became the first Spaniards to receive the coronavirus vaccine on Sunday morning .
The Los Olmos nursing home is located in Guadalajara near the distribution hub that vaccine maker Pfizer has in central Spain 70 kilometers ( 43 miles ) northeast of Madrid .
“ Let ’ s see if we can all behave and make this virus go away , ” said Araceli Hidalgo , the elderly resident , after receiving her injection .
“ I am proud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Mónica Tapias , the 48-year-old worker .
“ What we want is for as many people as possible to get vaccinated .
We have lost some residents here to COVID , and that has been very sad .
Let ’ s see if this can finally finish with this.
” Army trucks escorted by police cars left the company warehouse before sunrise to distribute loads of the vaccine to all the regions of mainland Spain .
Military airplanes or helicopters flew crates of doses to Spain ’ s Canary Islands , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla .
PRAGUE — Prime Minister Andrej Babis has kicked off the coronavirus vaccination in the Czech Republic .
Babis became the first Czech to receive a shot of the vaccine in Prague ’ s military hospital during the Czech public television ’ s live broadcast on Sunday morning .
“ There ’ s nothing to worry about , ” Babis told reporters before a ceremonious start of the vaccination program .
“ Everything ’ s fine , ” he added after getting a shot .
World War II @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sitting next to the prime minister , was the second .
The medical personnel in four hospitals in Prague and two in the second largest city of Brno will get vaccinated by the first batch of almost 10,000 vaccines by Germany ’ s BioNTech and American drugmaker Pfizer in three days .
The second batch of 19,500 vaccines expected to arrive next week will be distributed in all regions across the country .
The Czech Republic had 670,599 confirmed cases of coronavirus with 11,044 deaths .
SEOUL , South Korea __ South Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toughest distancing rules in the greater Seoul area despite a surge in fresh infections .
The Seoul area , which has been the heart of a recent viral resurgence , is currently under the second highest distancing rules .
There have been calls for raising the restrictions to the highest level as the current curbs haven ’ t showed much significant effects .
But the government was reluctant to do so because of worries about the economy .
Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol said Sunday the government will maintain the current level restrictions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it ’ ll see how the outbreak develops this week before determining whether to adjust the curbs .
He says the third highest level of distancing rules imposed in other regions will also remain in place until Jan 3 .
Kwon says South Korea has logged an average of 999 new cases each day last week , 690 of them in the Seoul area .
Earlier Sunday , South Korea reported 970 new cases , bringing the total to 56,872 , with 808 deaths .
DUBAI , United Arab Emirates — The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its COVID-19 inoculation campaign , with the sultanate ’ s health minister receiving the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine .
State-run media reported that the first batch of 15,600 doses was flown in industrial freezers to Muscat International Airport last week to vaccinate a priority group of older adults , health care workers and those with underlying health conditions starting on Sunday .
Another 28,000 doses of the vaccine by American drugmaker Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech are expected to arrive next month .
Oman says it aims to vaccinate 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The virus outbreak in Oman has infected over 128,000 people and killed more than 1,400 .
TOKYO — Japan is barring entry of all non-resident foreign nationals as a precaution against a new and potentially more contagious coronavirus variant that has spread across Britain .
The Foreign Ministry says the entry ban will start Monday and last through Jan. 31 .
Last week , Japan banned non-resident foreigners coming from Britain and South Africa after confirming the new variant in seven people over the last two days — five from Britain who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Tokyo .
Japan is also suspending the exemption of a 14-day quarantine for Japanese nationals and resident foreigners that began in November .
The entrants now must carry proof of a negative test 72 hours prior to departure and self-isolate for two weeks after arrival .
Japan is struggling with surging cases since November .
It has confirmed a total of 217,312 cases including 3,213 deaths , up 3,700 from the previous 24-hour period .
Tokyo alone reported 949 cases , setting a new record , despite calls by experts for people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season .
TORONTO — Officials in Canada ’ s most populous province have confirmed the first two known Canadian cases of a more contagious variant of COVID-19 that was first identified in the United Kingdom .
The province ’ s associate chief medical officer says that the cases are a couple from Durham Region , just east of Toronto , with no known travel history , exposure or high-risk contacts .
The new variant is believed to spread more easily and faster than the original version of the disease but is not believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government said in a news release that is no evidence to suggest that the vaccines approved by Health Canada will be any less effective against the new variant .

By The Associated Press
TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga says he plans to submit legislation that will make coronavirus measures legally binding for businesses, punish violators and include economic compensation as his government struggles to slow the ongoing upsurge.
Japan had a state of emergency in April and May with non-binding requests for people to stay home and business to close, but people have complacent about the pandemic and store owners have become less cooperative due to the economic impact.
Suga said experts are discussing the legislation to make coronavirus more effectively enforced and hoped to submit the bill for parliamentary approval “as soon as possible” next year.
Suga also reiterated his request for the public to spend “quiet” year-end and New Year holidays and stick to mask-wearing and hand-washing amid concerns of a new variant of the coronavirus that has spread in Britain and detected at airports and in Tokyo last week.
Japan is barring entry of all non-resident foreign nationals as a precaution against a new and potentially more contagious variant, from Monday through Jan. 31.
Suga’s government has been unable to slow the ongoing upsurge of the infections despite his requests for basic preventive measures.
His government has been criticized for delaying measures for weeks due to apparent reluctance to hurt the pandemic-hit economy, with recent media surveys showing about 30-point decline in his support ratings since he took office in September.
Japan has 220,236 cases, with 3,252 deaths as of Sunday, the health ministry said.
___
THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
The EU has launched a huge vaccine rollout., aimed at projecting a unified message that the vaccine is safe and Europe’s best chance to emerge from the pandemic and the economic devastation of lockdowns. South Africa became the latest country to reach 1 million confirmed cases and is expected to go back to more virus restrictions. In the U.S., unemployment benefits have expired for millions as President Donald Trump appears no closer to signing an end-of-year COVID relief and spending bill, despite urging from lawmakers from both parties. America’s top infectious disease expert expects the general U.S. population will be getting immunized widely by late March or early April. The outlook is much bleaker for many poorer nations, where war and instability are posing huge challenges to vaccination plans.
___
Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
___
HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has confirmed its first cases of a more contagious variant of COVID-19 that was first identified in the United Kingdom.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Monday the cases have been confirmed in a family of three people who came to South Korea on Dec. 22.
They arrived a day before South Korea halted air travel from Britain until Dec. 31 to guard against the new version of the virus.
The three people, who reside in the U.K., are under quarantine in South Korea.
South Korea on Monday registered 808 new coronavirus cases, raising its national caseload to 57,680 with 819 deaths. It’s the second day in a row that South Korea’s daily tally has marked below 1,000. The country logged 1,241 cases on Christmas Day, the biggest daily jump in South Korea since the pandemic began, and 1,132 on Saturday.
In recent weeks, South Korea has been grappling with a sudden spike in infections tied to hospitals, nursing homes, churches, a prison, family gatherings and various other sites. The government on Sunday said it will spend another week before determining whether to enforce its toughest physical distancing rules in the greater Seoul area that officials worry would further hurt the economy.
___
SYDNEY — Authorities have banned New Year’s Eve revellers from congregating in Sydney’s downtown harborside to see the celebrated fireworks due to the pandemic risk.
New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Monday people who live in the city center can invite up to 10 guests to their homes to celebrate. The guests will have to apply for permits to enter the area.
Australia’s largest city recorded five new cases of COVID-19 connected to a cluster in the northern beaches region, bringing the total to 126 infections since Dec. 10.
Around 1 million people usually congregate on the harbor foreshore to see the fireworks that center on the Sydney Harbor Bridge.
___
LOS ANGELES — State officials are expected to extend the strictest stay-at-home orders in central and Southern California as hospitals there are quickly running out of intensive care unit beds for coronavirus patients ahead of the presumed post-holiday surge.
The situation is already dire, and the worst is expected to come in the next few weeks after Christmas and New Year’s travelers return home.
California hit 2 million confirmed coronavirus cases on Christmas Eve.
State stay-at-home orders for the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California are set to expire Monday. State officials say the orders are likely to be extended but did not make a definitive ruling Sunday afternoon.
___
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state will spend $54 million to provide one-time payments to nearly 100,000 gig and self-employed workers cut off from unemployment benefits because of the impasse over the federal COVID-19 relief and spending bill.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced Sunday that the payments of $550 each, roughly the equivalent of two weeks’ worth of benefits, will be issued later this week.
They will go to people who have been receiving benefits under the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which was set up to provide unemployment benefits to workers who normally do not qualify for them.
The program expired Saturday.
The program would be extended until March 14, 2021, if President Donald Trump signs the relief bill into law.
___
BALTIMORE — The U.S. has now topped 19 million coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, data compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows.
America exceeded that mark on Sunday, just six days after it reached 18 million. The nation’s case numbers have more than doubled in less than two months.
COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. also have been rising, and now total more than 332,000. That’s more than one death for every 1,000 Americans. The U.S. population as of Saturday was about 331 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The United States accounts for about 4% of the world’s population, but close to 24% of its total coronavirus cases and 19% of its COVID-19 deaths. Health experts believe many cases have gone unreported, however, both in America and internationally.
___
JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s COVID-19 spike has taken the country to more than 1 million confirmed cases on Sunday and President Cyril Ramaphosa called an emergency meeting of the National Coronavirus Command Council.
The country’s new variant of the coronavirus, 501.V2, is more contagious and has quickly become dominant in many areas of the resurgence, according to experts.
With South Africa’s hospitals reaching capacity and no sign of the new surge reaching a peak, Ramaphosa is expected to announce a return to restrictive measures designed to slow the spread of the disease.
“We are not helpless in the face of this variant,” infectious disease specialist Dr. Richard Lessells told The Associated Press. “We can change our behavior to give the virus less opportunities to spread.” He said it’s most important to avoid contact with others in indoor, enclosed spaces.
South Africa announced a cumulative total of 1,004,431 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday evening. That number includes 26,735 deaths.
___
JERUSALEM __ Israel has entered its third nationwide coronavirus lockdown – with much of the economy again shutting down as infection numbers surge.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the lockdown will be for two weeks, though it could be extended if infection rates don’t come down. But with the country simultaneously pressing ahead with an aggressive vaccination campaign, he is optimistic Israel will be able to lift its pandemic restrictions soon.
Israel, a country of 9 million people, started rolling out coronavirus vaccinations last week and has already inoculated 280,000 people, according to the Health Ministry. That makes it one of the world’s leaders in administering vaccinations on a per-capita basis.
The lockdown that began Sunday includes the shutdown of most non-essential businesses, limitations on gatherings and movement from people’s homes and reduced public transit. Schools and kindergartens will remain open for the time being.
Israel has recorded over 400,000 cases of the coronavirus since March, and more than 3,220 deaths. But the infection rate has shot up in recent weeks after the government started easing restrictions put in place in September.
___
ISTANBUL— Turkey’s health minister says a shipment of vaccines from Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac has been delayed in Beijing customs.
Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted Sunday that a COVID-19 case in Beijing customs and high alert against infections there caused the delay.
The minister had said earlier this week the first shipment of CoronaVac would be en route to Turkey Sunday night. He said the delay would be “one or two days.”
The vaccines were initially expected to arrive after Dec. 11. Turkey has signed a deal for 50 million doses of the vaccine.
___
ROME — Italy added another 305 victims to its official coronavirus death toll on the same day it joined the rest of the European Union in launching a massive vaccination campaign.
Another 8,913 people tested positive Sunday, far fewer than in recent days. But with the Christmas holiday weekend, far fewer tests were conducted.
Italy leads Europe in the official COVID-19 death toll with 71,925 victims, though officials say the true toll is far higher due to missed infections early on and testing limitations.
Italy on Sunday began administering the first Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to health care workers who have been on the front lines of the pandemic since Italy in late February became the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe.
___
PARIS — France started its first coronavirus vaccinations Sunday at a nursing home northeast of Paris, in one of the country’s poorest regions, as part of a Europe-wide vaccination rollout.
“An intense moment, carrying so much hope,” tweeted the head of the Paris region public health service, Aurelien Rousseau.
A 78-year-old woman identified only by her first name, Mauricette, was given France’s first vaccine shot in the town of Sevran. Later in the day, vaccinations will be given at the Champmaillot home in Dijon.
Polls suggest that people in France are a bit skeptical of the new vaccines, so France’s government has been cautious in its messaging and is not making the vaccines obligatory. The government hopes to be able to vaccinate up to 27 million of its 67 million people by summer.
___
HONOLULU — City officials say about 20% of Honolulu’s 4,500 first responders have received the Moderna coronavirus vaccine.
Hiro Toiya, the city’s emergency management director, says 936 first responders received their shots Tuesday and Wednesday.
Honolulu Police Department officers represented 649 of the vaccines, 173 vaccines were given to firefighters with the Honolulu Fire Department and 114 vaccines were distributed to paramedics, emergency medical technicians and lifeguards with the Department of Emergency Services.
Between 60% to 70% of first responders are expected to receive the voluntary coronavirus vaccine.
___
ROME __ European Union nations kicked off a coordinated effort Sunday to give COVID-19 vaccinations to the most vulnerable among the bloc’s nearly 450 million people, marking a moment of hope in the continent’s battle against the worst public health crisis in a century.
Health care workers, the elderly and leading politicians got some of the first shots across the 27-nation bloc to reassure the public that the vaccinations are safe and represent the best chance to emerge from the pandemic.
“It didn’t hurt at all,” said Mihaela Anghel, a nurse at the Matei Bals Institute in Bucharest who was the first person to get the vaccine in Romania. “Open your eyes and take the vaccine.”
In Rome, five doctors and nurses wearing white scrubs sat in a semi-circle at the Spallanzani infectious diseases hospital to receive their doses.
___
ZAGREB, Croatia — A 81-year-old care home resident on Sunday became the first person to receive COVID-19 vaccine in Croatia.
Top officials attended as Branka Anicic received the vaccine before cameras. She says it felt great to be the first in Croatia to receive the vaccine and urged others to do the same.
Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic says the vaccines first will go to those who are the most vulnerable and exposed to the virus. He expressed hope most people will agree to vaccination.
Croatian media have reported that many among Croatia’s 4.2 million people remain skeptical regarding the vaccines, even among doctors. Authorities have launched a campaign to encourage people to get vaccinated.
___
MADRID— Two women, a 96-year-old resident and a worker at a nursing home, became the first Spaniards to receive the coronavirus vaccine on Sunday morning.
The Los Olmos nursing home is located in Guadalajara near the distribution hub that vaccine maker Pfizer has in central Spain 70 kilometers (43 miles) northeast of Madrid.
“Let’s see if we can all behave and make this virus go away,” said Araceli Hidalgo, the elderly resident, after receiving her injection.
“I am proud (to receive the vaccine),” said Mónica Tapias, the 48-year-old worker. “What we want is for as many people as possible to get vaccinated. We have lost some residents here to COVID, and that has been very sad. Let’s see if this can finally finish with this.”
Army trucks escorted by police cars left the company warehouse before sunrise to distribute loads of the vaccine to all the regions of mainland Spain. Military airplanes or helicopters flew crates of doses to Spain’s Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, and its north African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
—-
PRAGUE — Prime Minister Andrej Babis has kicked off the coronavirus vaccination in the Czech Republic.
Babis became the first Czech to receive a shot of the vaccine in Prague’s military hospital during the Czech public television’s live broadcast on Sunday morning.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Babis told reporters before a ceremonious start of the vaccination program. “Everything’s fine,” he added after getting a shot.
World War II veteran, the 95-year-old Emilie Repikova, sitting next to the prime minister, was the second.
The medical personnel in four hospitals in Prague and two in the second largest city of Brno will get vaccinated by the first batch of almost 10,000 vaccines by Germany’s BioNTech and American drugmaker Pfizer in three days. The second batch of 19,500 vaccines expected to arrive next week will be distributed in all regions across the country.
The Czech Republic had 670,599 confirmed cases of coronavirus with 11,044 deaths.
___
SEOUL, South Korea __ South Korea has decided not to immediately enforce its toughest distancing rules in the greater Seoul area despite a surge in fresh infections.
The Seoul area, which has been the heart of a recent viral resurgence, is currently under the second highest distancing rules. There have been calls for raising the restrictions to the highest level as the current curbs haven’t showed much significant effects. But the government was reluctant to do so because of worries about the economy.
Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol said Sunday the government will maintain the current level restrictions in the Seoul area until Jan. 3 and that it’ll see how the outbreak develops this week before determining whether to adjust the curbs. He says the third highest level of distancing rules imposed in other regions will also remain in place until Jan 3.
Kwon says South Korea has logged an average of 999 new cases each day last week, 690 of them in the Seoul area.
Earlier Sunday, South Korea reported 970 new cases, bringing the total to 56,872, with 808 deaths.
___
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Persian Gulf state of Oman has launched its COVID-19 inoculation campaign, with the sultanate’s health minister receiving the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
State-run media reported that the first batch of 15,600 doses was flown in industrial freezers to Muscat International Airport last week to vaccinate a priority group of older adults, health care workers and those with underlying health conditions starting on Sunday.
Another 28,000 doses of the vaccine by American drugmaker Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech are expected to arrive next month.
Oman says it aims to vaccinate 60% of its roughly 5 million people.
The virus outbreak in Oman has infected over 128,000 people and killed more than 1,400.
___
TOKYO — Japan is barring entry of all non-resident foreign nationals as a precaution against a new and potentially more contagious coronavirus variant that has spread across Britain.
The Foreign Ministry says the entry ban will start Monday and last through Jan. 31.
Last week, Japan banned non-resident foreigners coming from Britain and South Africa after confirming the new variant in seven people over the last two days — five from Britain who tested positive at airports and two others in Tokyo.
Japan is also suspending the exemption of a 14-day quarantine for Japanese nationals and resident foreigners that began in November. The entrants now must carry proof of a negative test 72 hours prior to departure and self-isolate for two weeks after arrival.
Japan is struggling with surging cases since November. It has confirmed a total of 217,312 cases including 3,213 deaths, up 3,700 from the previous 24-hour period. Tokyo alone reported 949 cases, setting a new record, despite calls by experts for people to spend a “quiet” holiday season.
___
TORONTO — Officials in Canada’s most populous province have confirmed the first two known Canadian cases of a more contagious variant of COVID-19 that was first identified in the United Kingdom.
The province’s associate chief medical officer says that the cases are a couple from Durham Region, just east of Toronto, with no known travel history, exposure or high-risk contacts.
The new variant is believed to spread more easily and faster than the original version of the disease but is not believed to be more deadly.
The provincial government said in a news release that is no evidence to suggest that the vaccines approved by Health Canada will be any less effective against the new variant.


mercurynews--2020-12-28--Sponsored: Buyers never send escrow deposit, but make an offer on another home; what should sellers

Sponsored: Buyers never send escrow deposit, but make an offer on another home; what should sellers do?

Q : We sold our home last week in a multiple-offer scenario .
The “ winning ” buyers had three days to transfer their earnest money deposit into the title company ’ s escrow account .
When our seller ’ s agent was alerted by the escrow officer that the earnest money deposit never arrived , he called the buyer ’ s agent .
The buyer ’ s agent claims the buyers “ changed their minds and would not be buying the house after all.
” To make matters worse , our seller ’ s agent learned that the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , listed by his realty firm , the day after putting our home under contract .
Our seller ’ s agent called an attorney and learned that there is no recourse if there is “ no escrow deposit to fight over.
” Can this type of dishonest dealings go unpunished ?
The “ winner ” buyers also hoodwinked the six other buyers who made offers .
We heard we might have permanently lost our ability to acquire an over-asking purchase price , thanks to this sale falling apart .
How do we take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Real estate attorneys inform us that homebuyers must act honestly in all fair dealings .
Conversely , if they operate dishonestly with intent to deceive , costing you time , money and the magic of a multiple-offer situation , there can be damages .
Luckily , the brokerage firm representing you has copies of the purchase offers they submitted on different properties 48 hours apart .
If they used the same buyer ’ s agent , he or she is in real trouble , too .
Real estate attorneys seek to establish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timed the offers to secure both properties and then decide which one they wanted .
Then , after selecting the “ right ” property for them , the wayward homebuyers submit an earnest money deposit into escrow .
This underhandedness is not a new negotiating gambit .
A home newly listed on the market can quickly lose that “ magic in a bottle ” excitement to dishonest homebuyers .
Properties new on the market can be stigmatized if the winning homebuyer in a multiple-offer situation cancels — a fact not lost on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attorney who specializes in residential real estate .
He or she has seen this before and will guide you correctly .
Questions ?
Seeking proven strategies when brokering real estate ?
Full-service Realtor Pat Kapowich is a Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager and career-long consumer protection advocate .
Pat ’ s landline is ( 408 ) 245-7700 , or Pat @ SiliconValleyBroker.com Broker License 00979413

Q: We sold our home last week in a multiple-offer scenario. The “winning” buyers had three days to transfer their earnest money deposit into the title company’s escrow account. When our seller’s agent was alerted by the escrow officer that the earnest money deposit never arrived, he called the buyer’s agent. The buyer’s agent claims the buyers “changed their minds and would not be buying the house after all.” To make matters worse, our seller’s agent learned that the same buyers made an offer on another house, listed by his realty firm, the day after putting our home under contract. Our seller’s agent called an attorney and learned that there is no recourse if there is “no escrow deposit to fight over.” Can this type of dishonest dealings go unpunished? The “winner” buyers also hoodwinked the six other buyers who made offers. We heard we might have permanently lost our ability to acquire an over-asking purchase price, thanks to this sale falling apart. How do we take this to the next level?
A: Real estate attorneys inform us that homebuyers must act honestly in all fair dealings. Conversely, if they operate dishonestly with intent to deceive, costing you time, money and the magic of a multiple-offer situation, there can be damages. Luckily, the brokerage firm representing you has copies of the purchase offers they submitted on different properties 48 hours apart. If they used the same buyer’s agent, he or she is in real trouble, too. Real estate attorneys seek to establish a timeline. These homebuyers might have timed the offers to secure both properties and then decide which one they wanted. Then, after selecting the “right” property for them, the wayward homebuyers submit an earnest money deposit into escrow. This underhandedness is not a new negotiating gambit.
A home newly listed on the market can quickly lose that “magic in a bottle” excitement to dishonest homebuyers. Properties new on the market can be stigmatized if the winning homebuyer in a multiple-offer situation cancels — a fact not lost on the right real estate attorney. Consult with an attorney who specializes in residential real estate. He or she has seen this before and will guide you correctly.
Questions? Seeking proven strategies when brokering real estate? Full-service Realtor Pat Kapowich is a Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager and career-long consumer protection advocate. Pat’s landline is (408) 245-7700, or Pat@SiliconValleyBroker.com Broker License 00979413


mercurynews--2020-12-27--US officials: Suspect in Nashville explosion died in blast

NASHVILLE , Tenn. ( AP ) — The man believed to be responsible for the Christmas Day bombing that tore through downtown Nashville blew himself up in the explosion , and appears to have acted alone , federal officials said Sunday .
Investigators used DNA and other evidence to link the man , identified as Anthony Quinn Warner , to the mysterious explosion but said they have not determined a motive .
Officials have received hundreds of tips and leads , but have concluded that no one other than Warner is believed to have been involved in the early morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injured three people .
“ Nashville is considered safe , ” said Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake .
“ There are no known threats against this city.
” In publicly identifying the suspect and his fate , officials disclosed a major breakthrough in their investigation even as they acknowledged the lingering mystery behind the explosion , which took place on a holiday morning well before downtown streets were bustling with activity and was accompanied by a recorded announcement warning anyone nearby that a bomb would soon detonate .
Then , for reasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audio switched to a recording of Petula Clark ’ s 1964 hit “ Downtown ” shortly before the blast .
Investigators have not uncovered a singular motive for the act nor was it revealed why Warner had selected the particular location for the bombing , which damaged an AT & T building and has continued to wreak havoc on cellphone service and police and hospital communications in several Southern states as the company worked to restore service .
Authorities said Warner , 63 , was not known to law enforcement before the Christmas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show had experience with electronics and alarms and who had also worked as a computer consultant for a Nashville realtor , had been regarded as a person of interest in the bombing since at least Saturday when federal and local investigators converged on a home in suburban Nashville linked to him .
Federal agents could be seen looking around the property , searching the home and the backyard .
A Google Maps image captured in May 2019 had shown a recreational vehicle similar to the one that exploded parked in the backyard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday , according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene .
On Sunday morning , police formally named Warner as being under investigation .
Officials said their identification of Warner relied on several key pieces of evidence , including DNA found at the explosion site .
Investigators had previously revealed that human remains had been found in the vicinity .
In addition , investigators from the Tennessee Highway Patrol recovered parts from the RV among the wreckage from the blast , and were able to link the vehicle identification number to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officials said .
“ We ’ re still following leads , but right now there is no indication that any other persons were involved , ” said Douglas Korneski , special agent in charge of the FBI ’ s Memphis field office .
“ We ’ ve reviewed hours of security video surrounding the recreation vehicle .
We saw no other people involved.
” Police were responding to a report of shots fired Friday when they encountered the RV blaring a recorded warning that a bomb would detonate in 15 minutes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hit , “ Downtown , ” started playing .
The RV exploded shortly afterward , sending black smoke and flames billowing from the heart of downtown Nashville ’ s tourist scene , an area packed with honky-tonks , restaurants and shops .
Buildings shook and windows shattered streets away from the explosion near a building owned by AT & T that lies one block from the company ’ s office tower , a landmark in downtown .
Forensic analysts were reviewing evidence collected from the blast site to try to identify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as information from the U.S .
Bomb Data Center for intelligence and investigative leads , according to a law enforcement official who said investigators were examining Warner ’ s digital footprint and financial history , as well as a recent deed transfer of the home they searched in suburban Nashville .
The official , who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity , said federal agents were examining a number of potential leads and pursuing several theories , including the possibility that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korneski said Sunday that officials were looking at any and all motives and were interviewing acquaintances of Warner ’ s to try to determine what may have motivated him .
Meanwhile , just blocks from where the bombing took place , tourists had already begun to fill the sidewalks Sunday on Lower Broadway , a central entertainment district .
Some took selfies while others tried to get as close as possible to the explosion site , blocked by police barricades .
Earlier Sunday , the officers who responded provided harrowing details , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that led up to the blast .
“ This is going to tie us together forever , for the rest of my life , ” Officer James Wells , who suffered some hearing loss due to the explosion , told reporters at a news conference .
“ Christmas will never be the same.
” Officer Brenna Hosey said she and her colleagues knocked on six or seven doors in nearby apartments to warn people to evacuate .
She particularly remembered a startled mother of four children .
“ I don ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , people who I love who are small , ” Hosey said , adding she had to plead with the family to leave the building as quickly as possible .
Balsamo and Tucker reported from Washington .
Associated Press writer Scott Stroud and photographer Mark Humphrey in Nashville contributed to this report .

By KIMBERLEE KRUESI, MICHAEL BALSAMO and ERIC TUCKER | The Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The man believed to be responsible for the Christmas Day bombing that tore through downtown Nashville blew himself up in the explosion, and appears to have acted alone, federal officials said Sunday.
Investigators used DNA and other evidence to link the man, identified as Anthony Quinn Warner, to the mysterious explosion but said they have not determined a motive. Officials have received hundreds of tips and leads, but have concluded that no one other than Warner is believed to have been involved in the early morning explosion that damaged dozens of buildings and injured three people.
“Nashville is considered safe,” said Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake. “There are no known threats against this city.”
In publicly identifying the suspect and his fate, officials disclosed a major breakthrough in their investigation even as they acknowledged the lingering mystery behind the explosion, which took place on a holiday morning well before downtown streets were bustling with activity and was accompanied by a recorded announcement warning anyone nearby that a bomb would soon detonate.
Then, for reasons that may never be known, the audio switched to a recording of Petula Clark’s 1964 hit “Downtown” shortly before the blast.
Investigators have not uncovered a singular motive for the act nor was it revealed why Warner had selected the particular location for the bombing, which damaged an AT&T building and has continued to wreak havoc on cellphone service and police and hospital communications in several Southern states as the company worked to restore service.
Authorities said Warner, 63, was not known to law enforcement before the Christmas blast.
Warner, who public records show had experience with electronics and alarms and who had also worked as a computer consultant for a Nashville realtor, had been regarded as a person of interest in the bombing since at least Saturday when federal and local investigators converged on a home in suburban Nashville linked to him.
Federal agents could be seen looking around the property, searching the home and the backyard. A Google Maps image captured in May 2019 had shown a recreational vehicle similar to the one that exploded parked in the backyard, but it was not at the property on Saturday, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene.
On Sunday morning, police formally named Warner as being under investigation.
Officials said their identification of Warner relied on several key pieces of evidence, including DNA found at the explosion site. Investigators had previously revealed that human remains had been found in the vicinity.
In addition, investigators from the Tennessee Highway Patrol recovered parts from the RV among the wreckage from the blast, and were able to link the vehicle identification number to an RV that was registered to Warner, officials said.
“We’re still following leads, but right now there is no indication that any other persons were involved,” said Douglas Korneski, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Memphis field office. “We’ve reviewed hours of security video surrounding the recreation vehicle. We saw no other people involved.”
Police were responding to a report of shots fired Friday when they encountered the RV blaring a recorded warning that a bomb would detonate in 15 minutes. Suddenly the warning stopped, and Clark’s hit, “Downtown,” started playing.
The RV exploded shortly afterward, sending black smoke and flames billowing from the heart of downtown Nashville’s tourist scene, an area packed with honky-tonks, restaurants and shops.
Buildings shook and windows shattered streets away from the explosion near a building owned by AT&T that lies one block from the company’s office tower, a landmark in downtown.
Forensic analysts were reviewing evidence collected from the blast site to try to identify the components of the explosives as well as information from the U.S. Bomb Data Center for intelligence and investigative leads, according to a law enforcement official who said investigators were examining Warner’s digital footprint and financial history, as well as a recent deed transfer of the home they searched in suburban Nashville.
The official, who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity, said federal agents were examining a number of potential leads and pursuing several theories, including the possibility that the AT&T building was targeted.
Korneski said Sunday that officials were looking at any and all motives and were interviewing acquaintances of Warner’s to try to determine what may have motivated him.
Meanwhile, just blocks from where the bombing took place, tourists had already begun to fill the sidewalks Sunday on Lower Broadway, a central entertainment district. Some took selfies while others tried to get as close as possible to the explosion site, blocked by police barricades.
Earlier Sunday, the officers who responded provided harrowing details, at times getting choked up reliving the moments that led up to the blast.
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Mom of U.S. teen accused of trying to join Islamic State blames FBI ‘encouragement’ Crime and Public Safety | Judge rejects bid to move Paul Pelosi attacker trial out of SF “This is going to tie us together forever, for the rest of my life,” Officer James Wells, who suffered some hearing loss due to the explosion, told reporters at a news conference. “Christmas will never be the same.”
Officer Brenna Hosey said she and her colleagues knocked on six or seven doors in nearby apartments to warn people to evacuate. She particularly remembered a startled mother of four children.
“I don’t have kids but I have cousins and nieces, people who I love who are small,” Hosey said, adding she had to plead with the family to leave the building as quickly as possible.
___
Balsamo and Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Scott Stroud and photographer Mark Humphrey in Nashville contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-12-27--Leslie West, guitarist of rock band Mountain, has died at 75

LOS ANGELES — Leslie West , an iconic guitarist-vocalist who was behind several ’ 70s rock anthems including “ Mississippi Queen ” with the popular band Mountain , has died .
He was 75 .
His spokesman Steve Karas said West died Wednesday in Palm Coast , Florida .
Karas said West died from cardiac arrest after being rushed to the hospital .
West battled with health issues in the past few years .
In 2011 , his lower right leg was amputated in a life-saving operation related to his diabetes .
Rockers like Gene Simmons and Slash showed support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before his death when it was clear he was in dire condition .
Paul Stanley called West a “ gentle man and guitar hero ” on Twitter .
West began his music career in the mid-60s with The Vagrants with his brother Larry West Weinstein , who played bass .
The band known as a blue-eyed soul group had a minor hit with “ I Can ’ t Make a Friend ” and covered Otis Redding ’ s “ Respect ” in 1967 .
West stepped out on his own with a solo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mountain , ” which was produced by Felix Pappalardi .
West and Pappalardi ended up starting the hard rock band Mountain , which was named after West ’ s debut solo album .
In 1969 , Mountain performed an 11-song set at Woodstock before the Grateful Dead .
A year later , the band released their biggest hit “ Mississippi Queen , ” which appeared on numerous movie and TV soundtracks along with video games including Guitar Hero .
The song was covered by several artists such as Ozzy Osbourne , W.A.S.P .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ song “ Long Red ” became popular among multiple hip-hop artists including Jay-Z , Kanye West and Nas , who sampled the single .
“ Theme From An Imaginary Western ” was another of the band ’ s notable songs .
During a Mountain hiatus , West formed the group West , Bruce and Laing along with Cream bassist Jack Bruce and Mountain drummer Corky Laing .
West appeared in films such as “ Family Honor ” and “ Money Pit.
” He was a regular guest on the Howard Stern Show .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006 .
• Names we won ’ t forget : Famous people who died in 2020 • 49ers : Hall of Fame linebacker and sack artist Kevin Greene dies at 58 West is survived by his wife , Jenni , whom he married on stage after Mountain ’ s performance at the Woodstock 40th anniversary concert in Bethel , New York in 2009 .

By Jonathan Landrum Jr. | Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Leslie West, an iconic guitarist-vocalist who was behind several ’70s rock anthems including “Mississippi Queen” with the popular band Mountain, has died. He was 75.
His spokesman Steve Karas said West died Wednesday in Palm Coast, Florida. Karas said West died from cardiac arrest after being rushed to the hospital.
West battled with health issues in the past few years. In 2011, his lower right leg was amputated in a life-saving operation related to his diabetes.
Rockers like Gene Simmons and Slash showed support for West on social media a day before his death when it was clear he was in dire condition. Paul Stanley called West a “gentle man and guitar hero” on Twitter.
West began his music career in the mid-60s with The Vagrants with his brother Larry West Weinstein, who played bass. The band known as a blue-eyed soul group had a minor hit with “I Can’t Make a Friend” and covered Otis Redding’s “Respect” in 1967.
West stepped out on his own with a solo career, releasing the 1969 album “Mountain,” which was produced by Felix Pappalardi. West and Pappalardi ended up starting the hard rock band Mountain, which was named after West’s debut solo album.
In 1969, Mountain performed an 11-song set at Woodstock before the Grateful Dead. A year later, the band released their biggest hit “Mississippi Queen,” which appeared on numerous movie and TV soundtracks along with video games including Guitar Hero. The song was covered by several artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, W.A.S.P. and Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
Mountain’s song “Long Red” became popular among multiple hip-hop artists including Jay-Z, Kanye West and Nas, who sampled the single. “Theme From An Imaginary Western” was another of the band’s notable songs.
During a Mountain hiatus, West formed the group West, Bruce and Laing along with Cream bassist Jack Bruce and Mountain drummer Corky Laing.
West appeared in films such as “Family Honor” and “Money Pit.” He was a regular guest on the Howard Stern Show. The musician was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006.


mercurynews--2020-12-27--Oakland: Sculpture honoring Breonna Taylor smashed to pieces downtown

OAKLAND — A bust sculpted in honor of Breonna Taylor was smashed to pieces on Saturday just two weeks after it was installed downtown , prompting police to launch a vandalism investigation .
Sculptor and Oakland resident Leo Carson called the vandalism an act of “ racist aggression ” against Taylor , a figure that propelled millions of people across the country to protest police brutality and call for defunding the police .
He said made the sculpture to honor the legacy of the Black Lives Matter movement and its influences on contemporary political art , and was “ super @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve put in hours and hours of my work and built it by hand , ” Carson said .
“ Before the pandemic I was a waiter so I paid for this out of my own pocket .
It wasn ’ t cheap and it was incredibly hurtful personally .
But it was also an attack on Breonna Taylor and the Black Lives Matter movement .
That is racist aggression.
” Oakland police said in a statement that they are aware of the vandalism and are investigating after a police report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Latham Square two weeks ago , right in front of the wedge-shaped Cathedral Building downtown .
The vandalism comes months after massive protests sparked across the Bay Area in large part based on both the killing of Taylor by Louisville , Ky. police officers during a botched drug raid while executing a “ no-knock ” warrant and by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
While all three police officers involved in Floyd ’ s killing were charged , in September grand jurors brought only one indictment against one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of his firearm .
The officer was charged with three counts of “ wanton enlargement ” but the other two officers who also shot Taylor were not charged .
Though the Black Lives Matter movement saw a resurgence in the summer of 2020 , Carson said he has been inspired also by the movement ’ s beginnings in 2015 .
He said that just as the BLM movement faces threats today , so has the civil rights movement and the black liberation movement that came before it .
“ This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so I want my art to help encourage that process and encourage people to fight longer , fight harder and be more passionate , ” Carson said .
“ Those protests have the power to really change things.
” Carson , a thirty-year-old Bay Area native , has long associated with artists of his ilk and political leaning .
He said that the recent protests and movements to protect Black lives have sparked “ one of the most incredible art movements of modern times.
” “ The art community that we have now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives Matter struggle and it has since then completely transformed the city of Oakland , ” he said .
“ It has really connected with the movement and so I really want my art to be a part of that course to change history.
” While he believes that his art can inspire people to protest against the police , Carson said fostering mass movements of everyday people is what ’ s important in the end .
“ The way we fight racism is with solidarity , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smash racism should get involved in the fight against it .
Art is powerful , but it ’ s mass protests that actually shift the earth .
”

OAKLAND — A bust sculpted in honor of Breonna Taylor was smashed to pieces on Saturday, just two weeks after it was installed downtown, prompting police to launch a vandalism investigation.
Sculptor and Oakland resident Leo Carson called the vandalism an act of “racist aggression” against Taylor, a figure who propelled millions of people across the country to protest police brutality and call for defunding the police. He said made the sculpture to honor the legacy of the Black Lives Matter movement and its influences on contemporary political art, and was “super upset” about the vandalism.
“I’ve put in hours and hours of my work and built it by hand,” Carson said. “Before the pandemic I was a waiter so I paid for this out of my own pocket. It wasn’t cheap and it was incredibly hurtful personally. But it was also an attack on Breonna Taylor and the Black Lives Matter movement. That is racist aggression.”
Oakland police said in a statement that they are aware of the vandalism and are investigating after a police report was filed. The sculpture was installed at Latham Square two weeks ago, right in front of the wedge-shaped Cathedral Building.
The vandalism comes months after massive protests sparked across the Bay Area in large part by the killings of Taylor — by police executing a “no-knock” warrant during a Louisville, Ky., drug raid — and of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
While all three police officers involved in Floyd’s killing were charged, in September grand jurors brought only one indictment against one of the officers who shot Taylor, for reckless use of his firearm. The officer was charged with three counts of “wanton endangerment.” The two other officers who shot Taylor were not charged.
Though the Black Lives Matter movement saw a resurgence in the summer of 2020, Carson said he has been inspired also by the movement’s beginnings in 2015. He said that just as the BLM movement faces threats today, so has the civil rights movement and the black liberation movement that came before it.
“This is a struggle that will continue to go on so I want my art to help encourage that process and encourage people to fight longer, fight harder and be more passionate,” Carson said. “Those protests have the power to really change things.”
Carson, a 30-year-old Bay Area native, has long associated with artists of his ilk and political leaning. He said that the recent protests and movements to protect Black lives have sparked “one of the most incredible art movements of modern times.”
“The art community that we have now, it originally sprung up around the Black Lives Matter struggle and it has since then completely transformed the city of Oakland,” he said. “It has really connected with the movement and so I really want my art to be a part of that course to change history.”
While he believes that his art can inspire people to protest against the police, Carson said fostering mass movements of everyday people is what’s important in the end.
“The way we fight racism is with solidarity,” he said. “Every working class person who wants to smash racism should get involved in the fight against it. Art is powerful, but it’s mass protests that actually shift the earth.”