mercurynews--2020-11-08--The Latest: Alaska hits daily new coronavirus case record

By The Associated Press ANCHORAGE , Alaska — Alaska on Saturday reported hitting a daily record in new coronavirus cases .
The state reported 604 cases , the highest in a single day since Oct. 25 , when 526 cases were tallied , the Anchorage Daily News reported .
The Department of Health and Social Services says there were no new deaths from the virus .
The state has had 19,306 cases and 79 deaths since the coronavirus hit .
The Daily News reports that 95 people were currently hospitalized with the virus in Alaska as of Saturday , slightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 97 hospitalizations .
Another 10 hospital patients were suspected of having COVID-19 , according to state data .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : — Biden wins White House , vowing new direction for divided US — Germany reports daily record of more than 23,000 virus cases — North Dakota , South Dakota have nation ’ s worst virus deaths per capita in last 30 days — Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows diagnosed with the coronavirus HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : SANTA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday for the second day in a row reported nearly 1,300 additional COVID-19 cases and 16 additional deaths .
Officials say there are 1,287 additional cases , a one-day record that was the same number reported Friday .
But officials on Saturday also said that 10 of the cases reported Friday had turned out to be duplicates or not lab-confirmed .
With those adjustments and the latest reported cases , the statewide case total reached 53,671 with 1,104 deaths .
State officials warned Thursday that new records would be set over the coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high .
WICHITA , Kan. — A council member in Kansas ’ largest city has tested positive for the coronavirus , forcing the mayor and other council members to quarantine for about two weeks .
Wichita announced Council Member Brandon Johnson ’ s positive result Saturday in a tweet .
The city says Mayor Brandon Whipple , members of the City Council and some staff , including city manager Robert Layton , must temporarily stay away from city hall .
“ The City continues to strongly urge all Wichita residents and City employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to wear face masks when distancing isn ’ t possible , limit public exposure and to wash hands frequently , ” the City of Wichita tweeted .
The Wichita Eagle reports that Johnson said he had a cough Thursday that worsened Friday , so he went to be tested .
He received his results Saturday morning .
CARSON CITY , Nev. — Nevada has reported a record number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases for the second day in row .
State officials on Saturday reported 1,846 additional cases with five additional deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday .
The state ’ s totals increased to 108,746 cases and 1,850 deaths .
State COVID-19 response Director Caleb Cage said Friday the case increase in Nevada is a surge in cases .
According to Johns Hopkins University data analyzed by The Associated Press , seven-day rolling averages for daily new cases and daily new deaths in Nevada increased over the last two weeks as the average for COVID-19 testing positivity dropped .
HILLSBORO , Ore. — The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating reports that a circuit court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and jurors by ignoring a statewide mask mandate in his courtroom .
The Oregonian/OregonianLive reports in a story on Saturday that Washington County Circuit Judge Charles Bailey describes the mask mandate as a “ nanny state ” requirement .
He doesn ’ t wear a face covering and isn ’ t requiring others to do so in his Hillsboro courtroom .
Bailey told attorneys and jurors in the Oct. 29 recording of the proceedings that it was up to them whether they wanted to wear a mask .
The incident occurred as coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CITY — The number of newly reported coronavirus cases in Oklahoma on Saturday more than doubled the previous one-day record , but the state Department of Health said a bureaucratic backlog and duplicate reporting partially account for the steep increase .
There were 4,741 new cases , bringing the total to 136,492 since the pandemic began , the department said .
The previous one-day record of 2,101 new cases was recorded Thursday as cases in the state have surged in recent weeks .
“ We have reason to believe that our normal case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trajectory without the backlog and duplication , ” which is due to a transition from a manual to electronic reporting system , according to a health department statement .
Officials said they were not sure how many cases were recorded twice but were investigating .
In a statement , Gov .
Kevin Stitt , called on residents to wash hands often , socially distance and voluntarily wear masks at indoor public places .
“ Oklahomans pulled together back in April so we could safely reopen our economy , and I am asking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slow the spread of this virus and keep Oklahomans safe , ” Stitt said .
That tops the 37,809 cases on Friday .
In Lombardy , one quarter of the coronavirus tests came back positive for a daily total of nearly 11,500 .
Lombardy is one of four regions designated a “ red zone , ” with a partial lockdown in effect since Friday .
Hospitalizations continue to rise , with 1,104 more people hospitalized on Saturday and 119 more in intensive care .
There are more than 862,000 total confirmed cases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a confirmed total of 41,063 , sixth highest in the world .
NEW DELHI — India reported 50,356 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours , while cases in New Delhi surpassed 7,000 on Saturday .
The country has seen an overall steady dip in positive cases after reaching nearly 100,000 a day in mid-September .
The government warned that the situation can worsen due to people crowding markets for festival shopping and high air pollution levels in the capital .
India ’ s confirmed cases exceeds 8.4 million , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States .
The Health Ministry reported 577 deaths on Saturday , increasing the total confirmed death toll to 125,562 .
OMAHA , Neb .
— Nebraska reported a record 2,681 coronavirus cases and a record 748 people in the hospital .
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska has increased in the past two weeks from 836 cases on Oct. 23 to 1,408 on Friday , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
The state ’ s rate of coronavirus cases is the seventh highest in the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says nine staff members tested positive , bringing the confirmed total of 225 staff members .
Nebraska has a total of 80,693 confirmed cases .
The state added 27 deaths Friday , bringing the total to 701 .
ATHENS , Greece — Health authorities registered 2,556 new coronavirus cases and a record 34 deaths on Saturday .
Greece has gone into a second nation-wide lockdown after a recent spike in cases .
All retail stores except those selling essential items such as food , medication and fuel have been shut .
Travel inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a total of 54,809 confirmed cases and 749 deaths .
HONOLULU — Hawaii public health officials reported 122 coronavirus cases and no deaths on Friday .
Oahu moved on Oct. 22 to the less-restrictive Tier 2 of Mayor Kirk Caldwell ’ s four-tier economic recovery plan and must stay there for at least four weeks .
To move to Tier 3 , Oahu must maintain a seven-day average of 49 cases or fewer and a seven-day average positivity rate of 2.49 % or lower for two weeks .
The seven-day average cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a positivity rate for Oahu at 3 % .
BALTIMORE — The United States set a record of more than 126,400 confirmed cases in a single day on Friday .
The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases in the U.S. is approaching 100,000 for the first time , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
Total U.S. cases since the start of the pandemic are nearing 10 million , and confirmed cases globally are approaching 50 million .
Worldwide infection numbers are also setting records .
The world reached 400,000 daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Oct. 26 , and 600,000 on Friday .
The seven-day rolling average for daily deaths in the U.S. rose in the past two weeks from 772 on Oct. 23 to 911 on Friday .
Those numbers were higher in the spring and August .
The global death toll hit a daily record of 11,024 confirmed deaths on Wednesday .
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump ’ s chief of staff Mark Meadows has been diagnosed with the coronavirus as the nation sets daily records for confirmed cases for the pandemic .
Two senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , which has killed more than 236,000 Americans so far this year .
Meadows traveled with Trump in the run-up to Election Day and last appeared in public early Wednesday morning without a mask as Trump falsely declared victory in the vote count .
He had been one of the close aides around Trump when the president came down with the virus more than a month ago .
The number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. have increased more than 50 % in the past two weeks , the seven-day rolling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 61,166 on Oct. 22 to 94,625 on Thursday , according to an AP analysis of data from John Hopkins University .
KUALA LUMPUR , Malaysia — Malaysia ’ s government says it will expand movement restrictions to most parts of the country after coronavirus cases tripled in a month .
Another 1,168 new cases were reported Saturday , bringing the total tally to 39,357 — compared to just 13,993 cases a month ago .
The death toll stands at 282 .
Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob says the entire peninsula Malaysia , except @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under a conditional movement control order from Monday until Dec. 6 .
He says the move will help curb the virus spread and allow targeted screening to be done .
The restrictions have been imposed since Oct. 14 in Kuala Lumpur , the administrative capital Putrajaya and the richest state of Selangor .
TEHRAN , Iran — Iran has reported 9,460 cases of the coronavirus , breaking its previous single-day record earlier this week .
The health ministry registered 423 deaths on Saturday , pushing its confirmed death toll to 37,832 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has seen a recent surge of infections as the government resists a centralized lockdown to salvage its sanctions-hit economy .
However , authorities have recently tightened movement restrictions and introduced travel bans and mask mandates as hospitals in the hard-hit capital of Tehran near overwhelming numbers of patients .
Iran ’ s medical council announced Saturday that 300 health workers had died from the virus .
BANGKOK — Health authorities in Thailand on Saturday confirmed a new case of local transmission of the coronavirus , one of a handful discovered in recent months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new case as a 37-year-old Indian man working as a waiter in the southern province of Krabi .
It says he tested positive for the disease when he applied Wednesday to have his work permit renewed .
Krabi is a province on the Andaman Sea and normally popular with tourists , though Thailand was completely shut to foreign tourists from early April until last month .
The health agency says it confirmed 12 new cases of coronavirus , including the Indian man .
Two each had traveled from France , the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Myanmar , and one each from Mexico , Switzerland and the Netherlands .
All arrivals from abroad must be quarantined for 14 days .
Thailand has confirmed a total of 3,830 coronavirus cases and 60 deaths since January .
The Robert Koch Institute says that surpassed the record of 21,506 set the day before , which was the first time the country had registered more than 20,000 daily cases .
It reported 130 deaths , a number trending upward but far lower than the high of 315 deaths reported one day in April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent the health system from being overwhelmed .
A four-week partial shutdown took effect on Monday , with bars , restaurants , leisure and sports facilities closed and new contact restrictions imposed .
Shops and schools remain open .
Germany has recorded 642,488 coronavirus cases and 11,226 deaths since the start of the pandemic .
The national coronavirus task force says 364 people died on Friday , bringing the total to 30,251 since the start of the pandemic .
It says 20,396 new infection cases were recorded , down slightly from Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , some 1.75 million people in Russia have been infected with the virus .
AUSTIN , Texas — A Texas district judge on Friday upheld an order from El Paso County ’ s top elected official shutting down businesses while the region fights an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases .
The decision from Judge Bill Moody of El Paso ’ s 34th District Court came as federal military medical teams deployed to the border region at the request of the state .
The county ’ s top elected official , El Paso County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shutdown of nonessential activities late last week .
In making his decision , Moody pointed out that during the Spanish flu pandemic in the early part of the 20th century , city and county elected officials had authority to respond as they “ thought was necessary to protect the health and financial interests of their individual communities.
” Chris Hilton , an attorney with the Texas attorney general ’ s office , said the state would appeal .
Attorney General Ken Paxton has argued that Samaniego ’ s order is illegal because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s statewide order to reopen businesses .
Meanwhile , three Air Force medical teams were expected to arrive in El Paso by the weekend , according to Seth Christensen , chief of media and communications for the Texas Department of Emergency Management .
El Paso joins a list of 10 other cities , including Houston , San Antonio and multiple communities in the Rio Grande Valley region , to receive aid from the Department of Defense at the request of Texas officials , Christensen said .

By The Associated Press
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska on Saturday reported hitting a daily record in new coronavirus cases.
The state reported 604 cases, the highest in a single day since Oct. 25, when 526 cases were tallied, the Anchorage Daily News reported.
The Department of Health and Social Services says there were no new deaths from the virus. The state has had 19,306 cases and 79 deaths since the coronavirus hit.
The Daily News reports that 95 people were currently hospitalized with the virus in Alaska as of Saturday, slightly down from Friday’s record of 97 hospitalizations. Another 10 hospital patients were suspected of having COVID-19, according to state data.
___
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
— Biden wins White House, vowing new direction for divided US
— Italy hits record 39,800 daily coronavirus cases
— Germany reports daily record of more than 23,000 virus cases
— North Dakota, South Dakota have nation’s worst virus deaths per capita in last 30 days
— Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows diagnosed with the coronavirus
— Books? Hairdressers? Europeans split on lockdown essentials
___
— Follow AP’s coronavirus pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
___
HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico on Saturday for the second day in a row reported nearly 1,300 additional COVID-19 cases and 16 additional deaths.
Officials say there are 1,287 additional cases, a one-day record that was the same number reported Friday. But officials on Saturday also said that 10 of the cases reported Friday had turned out to be duplicates or not lab-confirmed. With those adjustments and the latest reported cases, the statewide case total reached 53,671 with 1,104 deaths.
State officials warned Thursday that new records would be set over the coming weeks as the rate of spread remains high.
___
WICHITA, Kan. — A council member in Kansas’ largest city has tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing the mayor and other council members to quarantine for about two weeks.
Wichita announced Council Member Brandon Johnson’s positive result Saturday in a tweet. The city says Mayor Brandon Whipple, members of the City Council and some staff, including city manager Robert Layton, must temporarily stay away from city hall.
“The City continues to strongly urge all Wichita residents and City employees to practice safe social distancing whenever possible, to wear face masks when distancing isn’t possible, limit public exposure and to wash hands frequently,” the City of Wichita tweeted.
The Wichita Eagle reports that Johnson said he had a cough Thursday that worsened Friday, so he went to be tested. He received his results Saturday morning.
—
CARSON CITY, Nev. — Nevada has reported a record number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases for the second day in row. State officials on Saturday reported 1,846 additional cases with five additional deaths.
The state reported 1,562 new cases on Friday. The state’s totals increased to 108,746 cases and 1,850 deaths. State COVID-19 response Director Caleb Cage said Friday the case increase in Nevada is a surge in cases.
According to Johns Hopkins University data analyzed by The Associated Press, seven-day rolling averages for daily new cases and daily new deaths in Nevada increased over the last two weeks as the average for COVID-19 testing positivity dropped.
—-
HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating reports that a circuit court judge is endangering the health of workers and jurors by ignoring a statewide mask mandate in his courtroom.
The Oregonian/OregonianLive reports in a story on Saturday that Washington County Circuit Judge Charles Bailey describes the mask mandate as a “nanny state” requirement. He doesn’t wear a face covering and isn’t requiring others to do so in his Hillsboro courtroom. Bailey told attorneys and jurors in the Oct. 29 recording of the proceedings that it was up to them whether they wanted to wear a mask. The incident occurred as coronavirus infections surge in the state.
—
OKLAHOMA CITY — The number of newly reported coronavirus cases in Oklahoma on Saturday more than doubled the previous one-day record, but the state Department of Health said a bureaucratic backlog and duplicate reporting partially account for the steep increase.
There were 4,741 new cases, bringing the total to 136,492 since the pandemic began, the department said. The previous one-day record of 2,101 new cases was recorded Thursday as cases in the state have surged in recent weeks.
“We have reason to believe that our normal case count would have continued on an upward trajectory without the backlog and duplication,” which is due to a transition from a manual to electronic reporting system, according to a health department statement. Officials said they were not sure how many cases were recorded twice but were investigating.
In a statement, Gov. Kevin Stitt, called on residents to wash hands often, socially distance and voluntarily wear masks at indoor public places.
“Oklahomans pulled together back in April so we could safely reopen our economy, and I am asking for that same unified effort once again to slow the spread of this virus and keep Oklahomans safe,” Stitt said.
—
MILAN – Italy registered a record 39,811 daily confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday.
That tops the 37,809 cases on Friday. In Lombardy, one quarter of the coronavirus tests came back positive for a daily total of nearly 11,500.
Lombardy is one of four regions designated a “red zone,” with a partial lockdown in effect since Friday.
Hospitalizations continue to rise, with 1,104 more people hospitalized on Saturday and 119 more in intensive care.
There are more than 862,000 total confirmed cases in Italy. Deaths nationwide rose by 425 for a confirmed total of 41,063, sixth highest in the world.
___
NEW DELHI — India reported 50,356 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, while cases in New Delhi surpassed 7,000 on Saturday.
The country has seen an overall steady dip in positive cases after reaching nearly 100,000 a day in mid-September.
The government warned that the situation can worsen due to people crowding markets for festival shopping and high air pollution levels in the capital.
India’s confirmed cases exceeds 8.4 million, the second highest in the world behind the United States. The Health Ministry reported 577 deaths on Saturday, increasing the total confirmed death toll to 125,562.
___
OMAHA, Neb. — Nebraska reported a record 2,681 coronavirus cases and a record 748 people in the hospital.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska has increased in the past two weeks from 836 cases on Oct. 23 to 1,408 on Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The state’s rate of coronavirus cases is the seventh highest in the nation.
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says nine staff members tested positive, bringing the confirmed total of 225 staff members.
Nebraska has a total of 80,693 confirmed cases. The state added 27 deaths Friday, bringing the total to 701.
___
ATHENS, Greece — Health authorities registered 2,556 new coronavirus cases and a record 34 deaths on Saturday.
Greece has gone into a second nation-wide lockdown after a recent spike in cases.
All retail stores except those selling essential items such as food, medication and fuel have been shut. Travel inside the country is severely restricted.
Greece has a total of 54,809 confirmed cases and 749 deaths.
__
HONOLULU — Hawaii public health officials reported 122 coronavirus cases and no deaths on Friday.
Oahu moved on Oct. 22 to the less-restrictive Tier 2 of Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s four-tier economic recovery plan and must stay there for at least four weeks.
To move to Tier 3, Oahu must maintain a seven-day average of 49 cases or fewer and a seven-day average positivity rate of 2.49% or lower for two weeks.
The seven-day average cases reached 73 cases on Friday, with a positivity rate for Oahu at 3%.
Hawaii’s totals stand at 15,691 confirmed cases and 219 deaths.
___
BALTIMORE — The United States set a record of more than 126,400 confirmed cases in a single day on Friday.
The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases in the U.S. is approaching 100,000 for the first time, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Total U.S. cases since the start of the pandemic are nearing 10 million, and confirmed cases globally are approaching 50 million.
Worldwide infection numbers are also setting records. The world reached 400,000 daily confirmed cases on Oct. 15; 500,000 on Oct. 26, and 600,000 on Friday.
The seven-day rolling average for daily deaths in the U.S. rose in the past two weeks from 772 on Oct. 23 to 911 on Friday. Those numbers were higher in the spring and August.
The global death toll hit a daily record of 11,024 confirmed deaths on Wednesday.
___
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows has been diagnosed with the coronavirus as the nation sets daily records for confirmed cases for the pandemic.
Two senior administration officials confirmed Meadows tested positive for the virus, which has killed more than 236,000 Americans so far this year. Meadows traveled with Trump in the run-up to Election Day and last appeared in public early Wednesday morning without a mask as Trump falsely declared victory in the vote count.
He had been one of the close aides around Trump when the president came down with the virus more than a month ago.
The number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. have increased more than 50% in the past two weeks, the seven-day rolling average for daily new cases rose from 61,166 on Oct. 22 to 94,625 on Thursday, according to an AP analysis of data from John Hopkins University.
___
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s government says it will expand movement restrictions to most parts of the country after coronavirus cases tripled in a month. Another 1,168 new cases were reported Saturday, bringing the total tally to 39,357 — compared to just 13,993 cases a month ago. The death toll stands at 282.
Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob says the entire peninsula Malaysia, except for three states, will be placed under a conditional movement control order from Monday until Dec. 6. He says the move will help curb the virus spread and allow targeted screening to be done.
The restrictions have been imposed since Oct. 14 in Kuala Lumpur, the administrative capital Putrajaya and the richest state of Selangor.
___
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran has reported 9,460 cases of the coronavirus, breaking its previous single-day record earlier this week.
The health ministry registered 423 deaths on Saturday, pushing its confirmed death toll to 37,832, the highest in the Middle East.
Iran has seen a recent surge of infections as the government resists a centralized lockdown to salvage its sanctions-hit economy. However, authorities have recently tightened movement restrictions and introduced travel bans and mask mandates as hospitals in the hard-hit capital of Tehran near overwhelming numbers of patients.
Iran’s medical council announced Saturday that 300 health workers had died from the virus.
___
BANGKOK — Health authorities in Thailand on Saturday confirmed a new case of local transmission of the coronavirus, one of a handful discovered in recent months.
The Department of Disease Control identified the new case as a 37-year-old Indian man working as a waiter in the southern province of Krabi. It says he tested positive for the disease when he applied Wednesday to have his work permit renewed.
Krabi is a province on the Andaman Sea and normally popular with tourists, though Thailand was completely shut to foreign tourists from early April until last month.
The health agency says it confirmed 12 new cases of coronavirus, including the Indian man. Two each had traveled from France, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and Myanmar, and one each from Mexico, Switzerland and the Netherlands. All arrivals from abroad must be quarantined for 14 days.
Thailand has confirmed a total of 3,830 coronavirus cases and 60 deaths since January.
___
BERLIN — Germany’s disease control center is reporting a daily record of 23,300 coronavirus infections.
The Robert Koch Institute says that surpassed the record of 21,506 set the day before, which was the first time the country had registered more than 20,000 daily cases.
It reported 130 deaths, a number trending upward but far lower than the high of 315 deaths reported one day in April.
Germany has imposed significant new restrictions to prevent the health system from being overwhelmed. A four-week partial shutdown took effect on Monday, with bars, restaurants, leisure and sports facilities closed and new contact restrictions imposed. Shops and schools remain open.
Germany has recorded 642,488 coronavirus cases and 11,226 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
___
MOSCOW — Russia reports the coronavirus death toll has exceeded 30,000.
The national coronavirus task force says 364 people died on Friday, bringing the total to 30,251 since the start of the pandemic.
It says 20,396 new infection cases were recorded, down slightly from Thursday’s record of 20,582. Overall, some 1.75 million people in Russia have been infected with the virus.
___
AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas district judge on Friday upheld an order from El Paso County’s top elected official shutting down businesses while the region fights an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases.
The decision from Judge Bill Moody of El Paso’s 34th District Court came as federal military medical teams deployed to the border region at the request of the state.
The county’s top elected official, El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, ordered a two-week shutdown of nonessential activities late last week.
In making his decision, Moody pointed out that during the Spanish flu pandemic in the early part of the 20th century, city and county elected officials had authority to respond as they “thought was necessary to protect the health and financial interests of their individual communities.”
Chris Hilton, an attorney with the Texas attorney general’s office, said the state would appeal. Attorney General Ken Paxton has argued that Samaniego’s order is illegal because it goes against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s statewide order to reopen businesses.
Meanwhile, three Air Force medical teams were expected to arrive in El Paso by the weekend, according to Seth Christensen, chief of media and communications for the Texas Department of Emergency Management.
El Paso joins a list of 10 other cities, including Houston, San Antonio and multiple communities in the Rio Grande Valley region, to receive aid from the Department of Defense at the request of Texas officials, Christensen said.
___


mercurynews--2020-11-08--‘This isn’t over!’: Trump supporters refuse to accept defeat

Chanting “ This isn ’ t over !
” and “ Stop the steal , ” supporters of President Donald Trump protested at state capitols across the country Saturday , refusing to accept defeat and echoing Trump ’ s unsubstantiated allegations that the Democrats won by fraud .
From Atlanta and Tallahassee to Austin , Bismarck , Boise and Phoenix , crowds ranging in size from a few dozen to a few thousand — some of them openly carrying guns — decried the news of Joe Biden ’ s victory after more than three suspense-filled days of vote-counting put the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out in some cities .
In Atlanta , outside the state Capitol in the longtime Republican stronghold of Georgia , chants of “ Lock him up !
” rang out among an estimated 1,000 Trump supporters .
Others chanted , “ This isn ’ t over !
This isn ’ t over !
” and “ Fake news !
” The streets were awash with American flags and Trump banners .
No immediate violence was reported , though at one point , police moved to separate Trump opponents from supporters .
Biden held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hasn ’ t gone for a Democrat since 1992 .
Jordan Kelley , a 29-year-old from Murfreesboro , Tennessee , drove three-plus hours to Atlanta to attend the pro-Trump rally .
“ There ’ s election fraud going on here , ” said Kelley , claiming that voters in Georgia , a state with a GOP governor and secretary of state , had improperly counted the ballots to put Biden ahead .
“ Even though I live in Tennessee , I ’ m an American , and I want to make sure Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He planned to make the 10-hour trip to Washington next week to demonstrate on the steps of the Supreme Court , where Trump and his lawyers have vowed to eventually make his case .
Underscoring the hard feelings on both sides of the nation ’ s deep political divide , anti-Trump protesters in Washington booed , yelled obscenities , shouted “ Loser !
Loser !
” and gave the finger to Trump ’ s motorcade as the president returned to the White House from a golf outing Saturday .
Two signs posted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read “ Don ’ t be a sore loser ” and “ Face Reality.
” For his part , Biden pleaded for unity and reconciliation in a televised address Saturday night , saying it is time for Americans to “ put away the harsh rhetoric , lower the temperature ” and “ stop treating our opponents like enemies.
” “ Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end here and now , ” he said .
Contrary to the claims of Trump supporters , there has been no evidence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican elected officials around the country began to distance themselves from Trump and urge him to accept the outcome gracefully .
The utter rejection of Biden as the legitimate president by Trump and his supporters appears to represent something new in American political history , said Barbara Perry , presidential studies director at the University of Virginia ’ s Miller Center .
“ We typically haven ’ t had a leader who loses the presidency who then tells his followers , ` This is false .
This has been stolen from us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidents have been mad , so mad they didn ’ t go to the inauguration , but not like this , where they are leading those people to say this is fraudulent.
” A couple of thousand Trump supporters gathered at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg .
Pennsylvania played a crucial role in Biden ’ s victory .
“ If we don ’ t stop this today , it ’ ll all be over , ” Bruce Fields , 66 , said of news organizations declaring Biden the winner .
“ Otherwise we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen heavily armed men , some wearing camouflage , joined the rally .
At the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix , a crowd swelled to more than 1,000 within hours .
Biden won Arizona on his way to victory in the Electoral College .
“ It ’ s very suspicious that President Trump , with the red wave we ’ ve been seeing in Arizona , is struggling , ” Kelli Ward , former state senator and chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party , told boisterous pro-Trump demonstrators .
“ I want to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers coming out of the machines.
” More than 1,000 people gathered at the Texas Capitol in Austin , with police keeping Trump and Biden supporters on opposite sides of the street .
Several hundred demonstrators turned out in Salem , Oregon , for a “ Stop the Steal ” rally .
Even in a place that wasn ’ t close , Trump supporters gathered in droves to express support for him and vent frustration over the outcome of the election .
Outside North Dakota ’ s Capitol in Bismarck , the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sign-carrying protesters .
A few skirmishes broke out between Trump backers and pro-Biden and Black Lives Matters demonstrators , with one BLM supporter attempting to handcuff himself to a Trump supporter .
The two men began wrestling on the ground .
An officer escorted the Black Lives Matter supporter to a squad car .
It was unclear if he had been arrested .
In Lansing , Michigan , about 50 Trump supporters and a smaller group of marchers carrying Black Lives Matter flags converged on the state Capitol , where they pushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a tense standoff .
But within moments of the race being called , a few from both sides broke into prayer , and at least one pair hugged .
Frank Dobbs , 40 , of Henderson , Nevada , brought a bullhorn and a Trump 2020 flag that he wrestled with in a stiff wind during a rally outside the Clark County registrar of voters office in North Las Vegas .
“ It ’ s not over until it ’ s over .
There ’ s still the courts .
If ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expose widespread fraud , this is the president to do it , ” Dobbs said .
“ The media doesn ’ t decide who wins the presidency .
The legal voters of this country decide.
” AP journalists Jocelyn Noveck in New York City ; Anna Liz Nichols in Lansing , Mich. ; and James MacPherson in Bismarck , North Dakota , contributed to this report .
Goldman reported from Lansing , Mich. , and Snow contributed from Phoenix .

By ANITA SNOW, DAVID GOLDMAN and LISA MARIE PANE
Chanting “This isn’t over!” and “Stop the steal,” supporters of President Donald Trump protested at state capitols across the country Saturday, refusing to accept defeat and echoing Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations that the Democrats won by fraud.
From Atlanta and Tallahassee to Austin, Bismarck, Boise and Phoenix, crowds ranging in size from a few dozen to a few thousand — some of them openly carrying guns — decried the news of Joe Biden’s victory after more than three suspense-filled days of vote-counting put the Democrat over the top. Skirmishes broke out in some cities.
In Atlanta, outside the state Capitol in the longtime Republican stronghold of Georgia, chants of “Lock him up!” rang out among an estimated 1,000 Trump supporters. Others chanted, “This isn’t over! This isn’t over!” and “Fake news!” The streets were awash with American flags and Trump banners.
No immediate violence was reported, though at one point, police moved to separate Trump opponents from supporters. Biden held a slim lead in Georgia, which hasn’t gone for a Democrat since 1992.
Jordan Kelley, a 29-year-old from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, drove three-plus hours to Atlanta to attend the pro-Trump rally.
“There’s election fraud going on here,” said Kelley, claiming that voters in Georgia, a state with a GOP governor and secretary of state, had improperly counted the ballots to put Biden ahead. “Even though I live in Tennessee, I’m an American, and I want to make sure Americans have a voice in the election.”
He planned to make the 10-hour trip to Washington next week to demonstrate on the steps of the Supreme Court, where Trump and his lawyers have vowed to eventually make his case.
Underscoring the hard feelings on both sides of the nation’s deep political divide, anti-Trump protesters in Washington booed, yelled obscenities, shouted “Loser! Loser!” and gave the finger to Trump’s motorcade as the president returned to the White House from a golf outing Saturday.
Two signs posted in front of Trump’s Washington hotel read “Don’t be a sore loser” and “Face Reality.”
For his part, Biden pleaded for unity and reconciliation in a televised address Saturday night, saying it is time for Americans to “put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature” and “stop treating our opponents like enemies.”
“Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end here and now,” he said.
Contrary to the claims of Trump supporters, there has been no evidence of any serious vote fraud. And some Republican elected officials around the country began to distance themselves from Trump and urge him to accept the outcome gracefully.
The utter rejection of Biden as the legitimate president by Trump and his supporters appears to represent something new in American political history, said Barbara Perry, presidential studies director at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center.
“We typically haven’t had a leader who loses the presidency who then tells his followers, ‘This is false. This has been stolen from us,’” Perry said. “Incumbent presidents have been mad, so mad they didn’t go to the inauguration, but not like this, where they are leading those people to say this is fraudulent.”
A couple of thousand Trump supporters gathered at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania played a crucial role in Biden’s victory.
“If we don’t stop this today, it’ll all be over,” Bruce Fields, 66, said of news organizations declaring Biden the winner. “Otherwise we can kiss freedom goodbye.”
About two dozen heavily armed men, some wearing camouflage, joined the rally.
At the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix, a crowd swelled to more than 1,000 within hours. Biden won Arizona on his way to victory in the Electoral College.
“It’s very suspicious that President Trump, with the red wave we’ve been seeing in Arizona, is struggling,” Kelli Ward, former state senator and chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party, told boisterous pro-Trump demonstrators. “I want to know if there is any discrepancy with the numbers coming out of the machines.”
More than 1,000 people gathered at the Texas Capitol in Austin, with police keeping Trump and Biden supporters on opposite sides of the street. Several hundred demonstrators turned out in Salem, Oregon, for a “Stop the Steal” rally.
Even in a place that wasn’t close, Trump supporters gathered in droves to express support for him and vent frustration over the outcome of the election. Outside North Dakota’s Capitol in Bismarck, the state’s all-Republican congressional delegation joined chanting, sign-carrying protesters.
A few skirmishes broke out between Trump backers and pro-Biden and Black Lives Matters demonstrators, with one BLM supporter attempting to handcuff himself to a Trump supporter. The two men began wrestling on the ground.
An officer escorted the Black Lives Matter supporter to a squad car. It was unclear if he had been arrested.
In Lansing, Michigan, about 50 Trump supporters and a smaller group of marchers carrying Black Lives Matter flags converged on the state Capitol, where they pushed, shoved and shouted at one another in a tense standoff. But within moments of the race being called, a few from both sides broke into prayer, and at least one pair hugged.
Frank Dobbs, 40, of Henderson, Nevada, brought a bullhorn and a Trump 2020 flag that he wrestled with in a stiff wind during a rally outside the Clark County registrar of voters office in North Las Vegas.
“It’s not over until it’s over. There’s still the courts. If ever there’s ever a time to expose widespread fraud, this is the president to do it,” Dobbs said. “The media doesn’t decide who wins the presidency. The legal voters of this country decide.”
___
AP journalists Jocelyn Noveck in New York City; Anna Liz Nichols in Lansing, Michigan; and James MacPherson in Bismarck, North Dakota, contributed to this report. Goldman reported from Lansing, Michigan, and Snow contributed from Phoenix.


mercurynews--2020-11-08--Two Contra Costa brush fires contained

Two Contra Costa brush fires contained

Two small grass fires that broke out Saturday afternoon in Contra Costa County have been contained , fire officials said @ @ @ @ @ about 12:30 p.m. along Bear Creek Road near Martinez , charred about 2 acres and @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District .
A second blaze , @ @ @ @ @ , was reported about 12:45 p.m. and burned an acre before it was contained about @ @ @ @ @ said .
The cause of the fires was not known .

By Bay City News Service
Two small grass fires that broke out Saturday afternoon in Contra Costa County have been contained, fire officials said.
The first, reported about 12:30 p.m. along Bear Creek Road near Martinez, charred about 2 acres and was contained by 1:38 p.m., according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.
A second blaze, along Cummings Skyway near Rodeo, was reported about 12:45 p.m. and burned an acre before it was contained about 1:35 p.m., fire officials said.
The cause of the fires was not known.


mercurynews--2020-11-08--Trump defied gravity; now falls back to earth, future TBD

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Donald Trump , who defied political gravity with his extraordinary rise from reality star and businessman to the presidency , has fallen back to earth .
In the end , his flurry of raucous rallies , an unprecedented turnout operation and sheer force of will could not overcome the reality of his enduring unpopularity and a raging pandemic that has killed more than 236,000 people in the U.S. and thrown millions out of work .
Yet Trump ’ s acerbic brand of politics — his Twitter taunts , his vindictive drive to punish enemies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made its mark across the far reaches of the government and beyond .
And his better-than-expected election performance against Democrat Joe Biden suggests his impact is likely to resonate for generations in politics , governing and policy , even in defeat .
It remains to be seen what Trump intends to do after his term ends on Jan. 20 .
Retreat to the golf course ?
Launch his own television network ?
Lay the groundwork to run again ?
And how fiercely will he try to contest his fate ?
“ I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in politics .
I would absolutely put him on the short list of people who are likely to run in 2024 , ” Trump ’ s former chief of staff , Mick Mulvaney , said in an online interview with the Institute of International & European Affairs .
“ He doesn ’ t like losing.
” Trump retains the megaphone of his Twitter account , a far-reaching Fox News platform and the unflinching backing of his loyal base of supporters , who may never accept his defeat after he spent months insisting there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and even falsely claimed premature victory .
On Saturday , Trump declined to concede to President-elect Biden , instead promising unspecified legal challenges to try to overturn the outcome of the race .
Until a successor emerges to lead Republicans — likely not until the resolution of the 2024 Republican primary — Trump remains the de facto head of a party that he has reshaped in his image .
“ Even in defeat , Donald Trump has exceeded expectations and helped other Republicans do the same , ” said GOP consultant Michael Steel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for campaigns .
“ He will remain a powerful force within the party.
” Still , Trump ’ s loss is likely to spark a reckoning over how much of Trumpism the party should embrace going forward , especially given that Republicans could retain control of the Senate and won additional seats in the House .
Had Biden won in a blowout , that would have put “ wind at the back of a lot of Republicans who said character counts and the Republican Party should never put its faith into someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer , who served under former President George W. Bush .
But because it was closer , he predicted the party would likely “ continue to be wracked with a split between insiders and outsiders , between the establishment and the Trump supporters who fault the establishment .
And the soon-to-be former president ’ s role will be a huge question mark because if he decides to stay active , despite the close loss , he remains powerful and effective , especially for Republicans.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether Trump will accept the results of the election as he spends the next three months as a lame duck president .
Those who know him well say there is little chance he will go quietly into the night .
“ When Donald Trump loses there will never be a peaceful transition to power , ” said Trump ’ s longtime lawyer and fixer-turned-critic Michael Cohen .
He predicted Trump would do everything in his power to claim the election was “ stolen from him ” by Democrats or other forces , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the votes were being counted .
Cohen said Trump was also likely aware that after losing the presidency he might “ be served with a plethora of lawsuits , both federal and state.
” Trump is already facing lawsuits that accuse him of sexual assault and defamation , and his Trump Organization ’ s finances are being investigated by New York ’ s attorney general .
Barbara Res , a longtime Trump associate who recently wrote a book about her experience working with him , speculated the president might leave the country before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own media empire .
“ He could put on whatever he wants .
He could say whatever he wants .
It ’ s almost like having Twitter explode into everything else , ” she said .
Regardless of what he does , Douglas Brinkley , a professor of history at Rice University , said Trump would likely go down as “ an aberration in U.S. political history.
” “ One-term presidents are rare .
There ’ s a great advantage to being an incumbent .
And Trump squandered it , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be seen as “ an insurgent figure , ” even though 25 % of the American public “ will always see Donald Trump as their Rambo and John Wayne figure combined.
” As for the future for Republicans , Steel said the party would likely look to leaders who combine elements of Trump ’ s populist agenda with policies that appeal to a broader swath of the electorate .
“ The challenge will be identifying the popular , durable , and practical parts of his agenda and marrying them to policies and arguments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party will need to win at the national level in the future , ” he said .
Under Trump , the Republican Party fully embraced the populist wave set in motion by the Tea Party rebels in earlier years , shifting its focus from free trade and trickle-down economics to trade wars and an isolationist foreign policy .
His rise broke open a new path to the presidency , driven more by force of personality than policy , that echoed even as he lost the Electoral College vote .
His nativist message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proved the power of the politics of division and hastened a generational political realignment .
While he deepened his reach with white rural and working-class voters with his economic and racial grievance-stoking , he also turned off college-educated voters in the cities and suburbs with his sometimes crass rhetoric and endless tweets .
Still , many Republicans believed he would have won reelection had it not been for the coronavirus pandemic and a widespread belief among voters that he mishandled it .
Some top GOP leaders believe that while so-called “ Never Trumpers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defeat , it is unlikely Republicans will be able to repudiate him completely , given how his stances on trade , immigration and foreign policy have resonated with voters and how close he came to clinching a second win .
It remains unclear , too , whether those who have flocked to the party because of Trump will remain engaged once he is no longer on the ticket .
The race for the 2024 Republican nomination has already quietly begun behind the scenes .
A wide range of candidates are testing the waters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Larry Hogan , to firebrands like Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton and former Trump officials like ex-South Carolina Gov .
Nikki Haley .
Trump ’ s eldest son , Donald Trump Jr. , has become a particular favorite with the president ’ s loyal supporters on the campaign trail , meaning the Trump name could endure .
Fleischer said the party would likely be looking for someone with the blunt outspoken voice of an outsider who would at the same time refrain from going “ so far that your tweets push people away that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump ’ s supporters see his influence continuing .
“ We started something that is going to go on for generations , ” said Chris Haluck , 56 , looking out over a crowd of thousands at a recent Trump rally in Pennsylvania that she ’ d attended with her 17-year-old daughter .

By JILL COLVIN and ZEKE MILLER | The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump, who defied political gravity with his extraordinary rise from reality star and businessman to the presidency, has fallen back to earth.
In the end, his flurry of raucous rallies, an unprecedented turnout operation and sheer force of will could not overcome the reality of his enduring unpopularity and a raging pandemic that has killed more than 236,000 people in the U.S. and thrown millions out of work.
Yet Trump’s acerbic brand of politics — his Twitter taunts, his vindictive drive to punish enemies, his go-it-alone approach to the world — made its mark across the far reaches of the government and beyond. And his better-than-expected election performance against Democrat Joe Biden suggests his impact is likely to resonate for generations in politics, governing and policy, even in defeat.
It remains to be seen what Trump intends to do after his term ends on Jan. 20. Retreat to the golf course? Launch his own television network? Lay the groundwork to run again? And how fiercely will he try to contest his fate?
“I would absolutely expect the president to stay involved in politics. I would absolutely put him on the short list of people who are likely to run in 2024,” Trump’s former chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, said in an online interview with the Institute of International & European Affairs. “He doesn’t like losing.”
Trump retains the megaphone of his Twitter account, a far-reaching Fox News platform and the unflinching backing of his loyal base of supporters, who may never accept his defeat after he spent months insisting there was no way he could legitimately lose and even falsely claimed premature victory.
On Saturday, Trump declined to concede to President-elect Biden, instead promising unspecified legal challenges to try to overturn the outcome of the race.
Until a successor emerges to lead Republicans — likely not until the resolution of the 2024 Republican primary — Trump remains the de facto head of a party that he has reshaped in his image.
“Even in defeat, Donald Trump has exceeded expectations and helped other Republicans do the same,” said GOP consultant Michael Steel, who has worked on Capitol Hill and for campaigns. “He will remain a powerful force within the party.”
Still, Trump’s loss is likely to spark a reckoning over how much of Trumpism the party should embrace going forward, especially given that Republicans could retain control of the Senate and won additional seats in the House.
Had Biden won in a blowout, that would have put “wind at the back of a lot of Republicans who said character counts and the Republican Party should never put its faith into someone who pushed boundaries liked Donald Trump,” said former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, who served under former President George W. Bush.
But because it was closer, he predicted the party would likely “continue to be wracked with a split between insiders and outsiders, between the establishment and the Trump supporters who fault the establishment. And the soon-to-be former president’s role will be a huge question mark because if he decides to stay active, despite the close loss, he remains powerful and effective, especially for Republicans.”
In the meantime, it remains unclear whether Trump will accept the results of the election as he spends the next three months as a lame duck president.
Those who know him well say there is little chance he will go quietly into the night.
“When Donald Trump loses there will never be a peaceful transition to power,” said Trump’s longtime lawyer and fixer-turned-critic Michael Cohen. He predicted Trump would do everything in his power to claim the election was “stolen from him” by Democrats or other forces, just as Trump tried to sow discord as the votes were being counted.
Cohen said Trump was also likely aware that after losing the presidency he might “be served with a plethora of lawsuits, both federal and state.” Trump is already facing lawsuits that accuse him of sexual assault and defamation, and his Trump Organization’s finances are being investigated by New York’s attorney general.
Barbara Res, a longtime Trump associate who recently wrote a book about her experience working with him, speculated the president might leave the country before Biden’s inauguration and perhaps pursue his own media empire.
“He could put on whatever he wants. He could say whatever he wants. It’s almost like having Twitter explode into everything else,” she said.
Regardless of what he does, Douglas Brinkley, a professor of history at Rice University, said Trump would likely go down as “an aberration in U.S. political history.”
“One-term presidents are rare. There’s a great advantage to being an incumbent. And Trump squandered it,” he said, arguing that Trump would likely be seen as “an insurgent figure,” even though 25% of the American public “will always see Donald Trump as their Rambo and John Wayne figure combined.”
As for the future for Republicans, Steel said the party would likely look to leaders who combine elements of Trump’s populist agenda with policies that appeal to a broader swath of the electorate.
“The challenge will be identifying the popular, durable, and practical parts of his agenda and marrying them to policies and arguments that appeal to the broader electorate that the party will need to win at the national level in the future,” he said.
Under Trump, the Republican Party fully embraced the populist wave set in motion by the Tea Party rebels in earlier years, shifting its focus from free trade and trickle-down economics to trade wars and an isolationist foreign policy.
His rise broke open a new path to the presidency, driven more by force of personality than policy, that echoed even as he lost the Electoral College vote. His nativist message and stoking of “culture wars” proved the power of the politics of division and hastened a generational political realignment.
While he deepened his reach with white rural and working-class voters with his economic and racial grievance-stoking, he also turned off college-educated voters in the cities and suburbs with his sometimes crass rhetoric and endless tweets.
Still, many Republicans believed he would have won reelection had it not been for the coronavirus pandemic and a widespread belief among voters that he mishandled it.
Some top GOP leaders believe that while so-called “Never Trumpers” may celebrate the president’s defeat, it is unlikely Republicans will be able to repudiate him completely, given how his stances on trade, immigration and foreign policy have resonated with voters and how close he came to clinching a second win.
It remains unclear, too, whether those who have flocked to the party because of Trump will remain engaged once he is no longer on the ticket.
Related Articles Election | Opinion: If Trump loses the GOP primary, will backers shun the nominee?
Opinion: If Trump loses the GOP primary, will backers shun the nominee? Election | VP Harris: Florida rules on Black history pushed by Gov. DeSantis are ‘propaganda’
VP Harris: Florida rules on Black history pushed by Gov. DeSantis are ‘propaganda’ Election | Collins: West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin has a lot of explaining to do
Collins: West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin has a lot of explaining to do Election | Opinion: Three factors could pose a threat to Biden’s reelection prospects
Opinion: Three factors could pose a threat to Biden’s reelection prospects Election | Opinion: Mike Pence, a Republican of character and integrity The race for the 2024 Republican nomination has already quietly begun behind the scenes. A wide range of candidates are testing the waters, from moderates like Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, to firebrands like Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton and former Trump officials like ex-South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., has become a particular favorite with the president’s loyal supporters on the campaign trail, meaning the Trump name could endure.
Fleischer said the party would likely be looking for someone with the blunt outspoken voice of an outsider who would at the same time refrain from going “so far that your tweets push people away that want to be for you.”
Many of Trump’s supporters see his influence continuing.
“We started something that is going to go on for generations,” said Chris Haluck, 56, looking out over a crowd of thousands at a recent Trump rally in Pennsylvania that she’d attended with her 17-year-old daughter.


mercurynews--2020-11-08--Watch: Projected President-elect Joe Biden addresses nation

Watch the presumptive President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris speak to the nation about their victory in the @ @ @ @

Watch the presumptive President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris speak to the nation about their victory in the 2020 presidential election.


mercurynews--2020-11-08--Sponsored: Couple’s neighbors give them a hard time about fixing up their home before putting it on

Sponsored: Couple’s neighbors give them a hard time about fixing up their home before putting it on the market; doesn’t that lead to a successful sale?

Q : The confounded neighbors are emailing and calling , inquiring as to why we have a fumigation tent over our house if we are planning to move .
We are staying at a hotel during the termite remediation process and the rebuilding of the shower stall .
The subflooring under our leaky shower pan is seriously damaged and in need of replacing .
Upon returning to the home , we will make a series of repairs to the roof , chimney , electrical and plumbing referenced in the pre-listing inspections that our seller ’ s agent ordered .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we resolutely decided that our home will be in good repair for the next owners , they poked fun at the idea .
These prying neighbors also mocked the idea of investing money into a house that we are selling .
They all contend homebuyers pay for the inspections and purchase their properties in as-is condition .
We are not about to explain ourselves to others , but would you agree that the hubris of our nosy neighbors ’ assertions are inducing procedural barriers into a successful home sale instead of removing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do .
The neighbors describe a problematic 1980s style of residential real estate brokerage that still takes place outside of Silicon Valley ’ s west Santa Clara County and the southern San Francisco Peninsula .
Recently , I took a two-hour real estate class from a reputable online educational website that promoted the idea of tracking the economics of sale homes .
The out-of-area instructor kept referencing to , and warning of , the foreboding R.F.R .
( request for repairs ) and how property sellers and their agents must “ budget it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through all the trouble of preparing a home for sale , place it on the market , eventually receive an offer , then wait for anxious homebuyers to conduct inspections and issue a “ demand ” for repairs .
It is a spectacularly counterproductive and outdated standard of practice .
Conversely , sellers who assemble and provide presale inspections for prospective homebuyers and their agents are wielding marketing power while seizing control of future transactions .
They also strengthen their negotiating positioning and sales price by conducting repairs and enhancements based on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providing themselves with an abundance of risk management that pays enormous dividends .
Not only do they reduce the chances of an in-progress sale falling apart or in-escrow renegotiations , but most importantly , post-sale litigation .
Otherwise , sellers who do no presale due diligence will see these California Association of Realtors ( C.A.R . )
R.F.R .
forms flying back and forth , jeopardizing their sales .
You , like my seller clients , will not receive a Request For Repair No.____ Or the Corrective Action C.A.R .
Form R.R .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or two weeks into a home sale .
Nor will you have to issue through your seller ’ s agent the Seller Response and Buyer Reply to Request for Repair No.____ Or other Corrective Action Form RRRR .
Prepared sellers need to map out a property ’ s listing and sale and then drive it right through escrow to a successful finish .
Unprepared sellers can let homebuyers slip behind the wheel and take them for a ride .

Q: The confounded neighbors are emailing and calling, inquiring as to why we have a fumigation tent over our house if we are planning to move. We are staying at a hotel during the termite remediation process and the rebuilding of the shower stall. The subflooring under our leaky shower pan is seriously damaged and in need of replacing. Upon returning to the home, we will make a series of repairs to the roof, chimney, electrical and plumbing referenced in the pre-listing inspections that our seller’s agent ordered. When I informed inquiring members of the neighborhood that we resolutely decided that our home will be in good repair for the next owners, they poked fun at the idea. These prying neighbors also mocked the idea of investing money into a house that we are selling. They all contend homebuyers pay for the inspections and purchase their properties in as-is condition. We are not about to explain ourselves to others, but would you agree that the hubris of our nosy neighbors’ assertions are inducing procedural barriers into a successful home sale instead of removing them?
A: Yes, I do. The neighbors describe a problematic 1980s style of residential real estate brokerage that still takes place outside of Silicon Valley’s west Santa Clara County and the southern San Francisco Peninsula. Recently, I took a two-hour real estate class from a reputable online educational website that promoted the idea of tracking the economics of sale homes. The out-of-area instructor kept referencing to, and warning of, the foreboding R.F.R. (request for repairs) and how property sellers and their agents must “budget it in.” In other words, go through all the trouble of preparing a home for sale, place it on the market, eventually receive an offer, then wait for anxious homebuyers to conduct inspections and issue a “demand” for repairs. It is a spectacularly counterproductive and outdated standard of practice.
Conversely, sellers who assemble and provide presale inspections for prospective homebuyers and their agents are wielding marketing power while seizing control of future transactions. They also strengthen their negotiating positioning and sales price by conducting repairs and enhancements based on their reports. These proactive sellers are purposely providing themselves with an abundance of risk management that pays enormous dividends. Not only do they reduce the chances of an in-progress sale falling apart or in-escrow renegotiations, but most importantly, post-sale litigation.
Otherwise, sellers who do no presale due diligence will see these California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) R.F.R. forms flying back and forth, jeopardizing their sales. You, like my seller clients, will not receive a Request For Repair No.____ Or the Corrective Action C.A.R. Form R.R. from a buyer’s agent one or two weeks into a home sale. Nor will you have to issue through your seller’s agent the Seller Response and Buyer Reply to Request for Repair No.____ Or other Corrective Action Form RRRR. Prepared sellers need to map out a property’s listing and sale and then drive it right through escrow to a successful finish. Unprepared sellers can let homebuyers slip behind the wheel and take them for a ride.
Questions? Realtor Pat Kapowich is a career-long consumer protection advocate and Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager. 408-245-7700 Pat@SiliconValleyBroker.com DRE# 00979413 www.SiliconValleyBroker.com YouTube.com/PatKapowich


mercurynews--2020-11-07--A small Irish town claims victory after Biden wins

The stars and stripes have been fluttering all week on the streets of Ballina — the town of just 10,000 in the west of Ireland where US president-elect Joe Biden ’ s Irish ancestors hail from .
Ten of the former vice president ’ s 16 great-great-grandparents were born in Ireland , according to the Irish for Biden campaign , with Edward Blewitt , Biden ’ s great-great-great-grandfather , providing the Ballina connection .
On Saturday , as CNN projected Biden ’ s White House win , Ballina residents came out to celebrate their distant kin ’ s success .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ world tonight , because without Ballina , there would be no Joe Biden , ” Smiler Mitchell , a local publican , told CNN .
Balloons were tied to cars and the crowd sang “ The Green and Red of Mayo , ” a famous ballad about the county where Ballina is situated .
One car with a cardboard cut out of Biden in the front seat had a license plate which read , “ PENNSYLVANIA BIDEN # 1.
” In the lead-up to the election , the community held a “ Ridin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bridges crossing the River Moy with a carousel of cars passing the town ’ s iconic cathedral and finishing in front of a mural of the man himself , erected in the town ’ s main square .
“ Ballina has always been an underdog town in the west of Ireland , which has had its own challenges in the past , ” said local politician Mark Duffy .
“ Now we think it ’ s our time to shine and put our best foot forward .
We look forward to welcoming as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the political divide.
” He noted that the town is in a beautiful part of the world , with lakes , mountains and urban forest in the surrounding area .
Biden still has distant relatives in the town .
Joe Blewitt , a third cousin , who has met the president-elect several times , said his namesake “ is totally down to earth.
” But Ballina isn ’ t the only Irish town with a Biden connection .
On the opposite side of the country — in Carlingford , County Louth — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premiere an anthem for Biden at noon on Sunday .
Biden ’ s great-grandfather James Finnegan arrived in New York on the Marchioness of Bute ship in 1850 from Carlingford , a coastal town located about 70 miles north of Dublin .
In honor of their most famous son ’ s election win , Carlingford ’ s local parish priest planned to ring the bells of the church with school children and members of the community in attendance .
Paul Allen , the lead organizer of the Irish for Biden campaign , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result .
“ Joe Biden is a quintessential Irish American and it shows what a combination of hard work and determination can do , ” he said .
The campaign had encouraged Irish people all over the world to phone a relative in America and ask them to vote for Biden .
“ The nurse working in Chicago , the firefighter in Boston or the policeman in New York , the construction worker building America ; that ’ s the Irish American connection , ” Allen added .
The Carlingford community hosted Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit , he wrote a letter which said : “ Northeast Pennsylvania will be written on my heart .
But Ireland will be written on my soul.
” Ireland ’ s Taoiseach , or prime minister , Micheál Martin was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Biden on his victory Saturday .
Back over in Ballina , more celebrations were expected on Sunday .
The town , twinned with Scranton , Pennsylvania , is also home to Ireland ’ s first woman president , Mary Robinson , who was elected 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Trump lawyers vow fight is not over in Philly and pledge new lawsuits “ Her message was one of hope and a light in the window for the diaspora , ” said politician Mark Duffy .
“ …30 years later to the day , one of the descendants of our diaspora , who would have left Ballina in such a dark and bleak time for Irish history , has gone on to hold the highest office in the land .
”

By Eoin McSweeney | CNN
The stars and stripes have been fluttering all week on the streets of Ballina — the town of just 10,000 in the west of Ireland where US president-elect Joe Biden’s Irish ancestors hail from.
Ten of the former vice president’s 16 great-great-grandparents were born in Ireland, according to the Irish for Biden campaign, with Edward Blewitt, Biden’s great-great-great-grandfather, providing the Ballina connection.
On Saturday, as CNN projected Biden’s White House win, Ballina residents came out to celebrate their distant kin’s success.
“I think Ballina has saved the world tonight, because without Ballina, there would be no Joe Biden,” Smiler Mitchell, a local publican, told CNN.
Balloons were tied to cars and the crowd sang “The Green and Red of Mayo,” a famous ballad about the county where Ballina is situated. One car with a cardboard cut out of Biden in the front seat had a license plate which read, “PENNSYLVANIA BIDEN #1.”
[vemba-video id=”us/2020/11/07/biden-wins-election-crowd-reactions-cheers-orig-kj.cnn”]
In the lead-up to the election, the community held a “Ridin’ for Biden” event around the bridges crossing the River Moy with a carousel of cars passing the town’s iconic cathedral and finishing in front of a mural of the man himself, erected in the town’s main square.
“Ballina has always been an underdog town in the west of Ireland, which has had its own challenges in the past,” said local politician Mark Duffy.
“Now we think it’s our time to shine and put our best foot forward. We look forward to welcoming as many visitors from across the US and across the political divide.”
He noted that the town is in a beautiful part of the world, with lakes, mountains and urban forest in the surrounding area.
Biden still has distant relatives in the town.
Joe Blewitt, a third cousin, who has met the president-elect several times, said his namesake “is totally down to earth.”
“He’s a family man,” Blewitt told CNN by phone.
But Ballina isn’t the only Irish town with a Biden connection. On the opposite side of the country — in Carlingford, County Louth — a community pipe band was set to premiere an anthem for Biden at noon on Sunday.
Biden’s great-grandfather James Finnegan arrived in New York on the Marchioness of Bute ship in 1850 from Carlingford, a coastal town located about 70 miles north of Dublin.
In honor of their most famous son’s election win, Carlingford’s local parish priest planned to ring the bells of the church with school children and members of the community in attendance.
Paul Allen, the lead organizer of the Irish for Biden campaign, told CNN the town was overjoyed with the result.
“Joe Biden is a quintessential Irish American and it shows what a combination of hard work and determination can do,” he said.
The campaign had encouraged Irish people all over the world to phone a relative in America and ask them to vote for Biden.
“The nurse working in Chicago, the firefighter in Boston or the policeman in New York, the construction worker building America; that’s the Irish American connection,” Allen added.
The Carlingford community hosted Biden in 2016 and in advance of his visit, he wrote a letter which said: “Northeast Pennsylvania will be written on my heart. But Ireland will be written on my soul.”
Ireland’s Taoiseach, or prime minister, Micheál Martin was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Biden on his victory Saturday.
Back over in Ballina, more celebrations were expected on Sunday.
The town, twinned with Scranton, Pennsylvania, is also home to Ireland’s first woman president, Mary Robinson, who was elected 30 years ago to the day on Saturday.
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Opinion: Three factors could pose a threat to Biden’s reelection prospects Election | Opinion: Mike Pence, a Republican of character and integrity “Her message was one of hope and a light in the window for the diaspora,” said politician Mark Duffy. “…30 years later to the day, one of the descendants of our diaspora, who would have left Ballina in such a dark and bleak time for Irish history, has gone on to hold the highest office in the land.”
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mercurynews--2020-11-07--Coronavirus: Stanford QB Davis Mills, WR Connor Wedington won’t play against Oregon

Less than two hours before its season opener at Oregon on Saturday night , Stanford suffered its first loss .
Quarterback Davis Mills , wide receiver Connor Wedington and defensive end Trey LaBounty were ruled out because of COVID-19 testing results and contact tracing protocol , Stanford announced .
The news followed two cancellations of Pac-12 openers this weekend because of coronavirus issues — Washington at Cal and Arizona at Utah .
Mills , a redshirt junior , made six starts and appeared in eight games last season , throwing for 1,960 yards and 11 touchdowns .
“ Been waiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ # beast , ” he tweeted Friday in anticipation of Saturday ’ s opener .
One of Mills ’ top receiving targets , Wedington , also wasn ’ t on the field against Oregon .
Wedington , who caught 51 passes for 506 yards last season , took to Twitter about an hour before Saturday ’ s kickoff and said , “ I got contact traced , I tested negative for COVID.
” Jack West started in the place of Mills .
The redshirt sophomore had made one previous start for the Cardinal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UCLA .
In that game , West completed 15 of 32 passes for 143 yards and was sacked seven times .
In the first half Saturday , West completed 5 of 10 passes for 82 yards .
Stanford trailed Oregon 14-7 .

Less than two hours before its season opener at Oregon on Saturday night, Stanford suffered its first loss.
Quarterback Davis Mills, wide receiver Connor Wedington and defensive end Trey LaBounty were ruled out because of COVID-19 testing results and contact tracing protocol, Stanford announced.
The news followed two cancellations of Pac-12 openers this weekend because of coronavirus issues — Washington at Cal and Arizona at Utah.
Mills, a redshirt junior, made six starts and appeared in eight games last season, throwing for 1,960 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“Been waiting a long time for this #year4 #beast,” he tweeted Friday in anticipation of Saturday’s opener.
One of Mills’ top receiving targets, Wedington, also wasn’t on the field against Oregon.
Wedington, who caught 51 passes for 506 yards last season, took to Twitter about an hour before Saturday’s kickoff and said, “I got contact traced, I tested negative for COVID.”
Jack West started in the place of Mills. The redshirt sophomore had made one previous start for the Cardinal, a 34-16 loss last season against UCLA. In that game, West completed 15 of 32 passes for 143 yards and was sacked seven times.
In the first half Saturday, West completed 5 of 10 passes for 82 yards. Stanford trailed Oregon 14-7.


mercurynews--2020-11-08--Word Game: Nov. 8, 2020

Word Game: Nov. 8, 2020

Can you find 60 or more words in MERCENARY ?
TODAY ’ S WORD — MERCENARY mace mane many mare marry mean meaner menace mercy mere merry myna earn earner eery emery enema enemy erne race racer racy ramen ranee rare ream reamer rear rearm rename reran came cane caner care careen career carer carry cram crane creamer creamery creamy cyan nacre name nary near nearer acme acne acre aery amen army yare yarn year yearn To purchase the Word Game book , visit WordGameBooks.com .
Order it now for just $ 5 while supplies last !
1 .
Words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

TODAY’S WORD — MERCENARY (MERCENARY: MER-sih-nair-ee: Motivated solely by a desire for monetary gain.)
Average mark 40 words
Time limit 60 minutes
Can you find 60 or more words in MERCENARY?
TODAY’S WORD — MERCENARY mace mane many mare marry mean meaner menace
mercy mere merry myna earn earner eery emery enema enemy erne race racer racy ramen
ranee rare ream reamer rear rearm rename reran came cane caner care careen career
carer carry cram crane creamer creamery creamy cyan nacre name nary near nearer acme
acne acre aery amen army yare yarn year yearn
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.


Bridge: Nov. 8, 2020

One reason bridge is compelling is that it has diverse elements such as mathematics and psychology .
Those two may complement each other — or conflict .
Two players asked me how South should play at today ’ s 3NT when West leads the deuce of spades .
At the table , South captured East ’ s jack , took his ace of hearts , led a club to dummy and returned a heart to finesse with his jack .
West produced the queen and led the queen of spades , and South won and took the king of hearts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him a ninth trick .
After East discarded a spade , South still had a chance , but when clubs broke 4-1 , he wound up going down .
“ I think it ’ s correct to lead a club at the third trick and play low from dummy , ” one player observed .
“ If clubs break 3-2 or 4-1 , declarer wins four clubs , two spades , two hearts and a diamond .
We ’ ve tried to compare the two lines of play percentage-wise , and it looks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the third trick is superior .
Cold numbers aside , if declarer led a low club at the second trick and West followed , declarer could confidently play low from dummy , expecting the suit to break decently : If West had started with J-10-9-8-2 , his opening lead would have been the jack of clubs .
It appears that South does best to take the king of clubs at Trick Three .
If East-West follow , South ducks a club next and is sure of nine tricks .
If East has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a club to dummy and a heart to his jack .
If the finesse loses , he can still hope for a 3-3 heart break .

One reason bridge is compelling is that it has diverse elements such as mathematics and psychology. Those two may complement each other — or conflict.
Two players asked me how South should play at today’s 3NT when West leads the deuce of spades. At the table, South captured East’s jack, took his ace of hearts, led a club to dummy and returned a heart to finesse with his jack.
West produced the queen and led the queen of spades, and South won and took the king of hearts: A 3-3 break would have given him a ninth trick. After East discarded a spade, South still had a chance, but when clubs broke 4-1, he wound up going down.
“I think it’s correct to lead a club at the third trick and play low from dummy,” one player observed. “If clubs break 3-2 or 4-1, declarer wins four clubs, two spades, two hearts and a diamond. We’ve tried to compare the two lines of play percentage-wise, and it looks like a toss-up.”
Attacking the clubs at the third trick is superior. Cold numbers aside, if declarer led a low club at the second trick and West followed, declarer could confidently play low from dummy, expecting the suit to break decently: If West had started with J-10-9-8-2, his opening lead would have been the jack of clubs.
It appears that South does best to take the king of clubs at Trick Three. If East-West follow, South ducks a club next and is sure of nine tricks. If East has all five missing clubs, South leads a club to dummy and a heart to his jack. If the finesse loses, he can still hope for a 3-3 heart break.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S 6 4
H 7 6 5 2
D 9 6
C A Q 7 5 4
WEST
S Q 10 8 2
H Q 10 8 3
D K 8 7 2
C 8
EAST
S J 9 7 3
H 9 4
D Q J 4
C J 10 9 2
SOUTH
S A K 5
H A K J
D A 10 5 3
C K 6 3
South West North East
2 NT Pass 3 C Pass
3 D Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — S 2
(C)2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


mercurynews--2020-11-08--Horoscopes Nov. 8, 2020: Alfre Woodard, think before you act

Happy Birthday : Think before you act .
Don ’ t make assumptions or jump to conclusions , regardless of what others say or do .
Take your time and study the facts , and focus on truth , justice and fair play .
Show compassion and understanding , and you will be offered respect and admiration in return .
Strive for freedom , peace and making your environment and community better .
Your numbers are 9 , 16 , 22 , 26 , 31 , 39 , 47 .
ARIES ( March 21-April 19 ) : Don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or people who don ’ t share your beliefs or values .
Concentrate on the people you love , those you can count on and those who make a difference .
Self-improvement projects are favored .
Romance is on the rise .
5 stars TAURUS ( April 20-May 20 ) : Not everyone will agree with you today .
Consider alternatives , and be willing to compromise to find common ground .
An emotional situation will arise if you or someone close to you feels insecure or jealous .
Keep the peace .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) : Improve your surroundings .
Comfort and convenience will make it easier for you and those you live with to kick back and enjoy life .
Make the most of whatever situation you face , and the outcome will encourage a safe and secure future .
4 stars CANCER ( June 21-July 22 ) : Pay closer attention to details .
Update documents about to expire , check over your bank accounts and personal bills , review contracts and confirm upcoming appointments .
Leave nothing to chance , and you will avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22 ) : Get physical , fit and ready to conquer whatever comes your way .
Refuse to let others tempt you to act frivolously or get involved in excessive behavior .
Make romance and love priorities and self-improvement your stress reliever .
3 stars VIRGO ( Aug. 23-Sept. 22 ) : Don ’ t hide your feelings .
Honesty will help solve problems ; being evasive will not .
Offer solutions and compromises , and be willing to work toward a better future with someone you love .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Moderation is mandatory .
3 stars LIBRA ( Sept. 23-Oct. 22 ) : Don ’ t stick around if you aren ’ t appreciated .
Size up your situation , make your grievances known and move on to helping people and organizations that believe in your focus .
Give only to those who are grateful , and give back accordingly .
Romance is encouraged .
4 stars SCORPIO ( Oct. 23-Nov. 21 ) : Step aside if you feel you are in harm ’ s way .
Don ’ t leave yourself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone who is emotionally manipulative .
Call the shots instead of letting others put you in a compromising position .
Personal growth is favored .
2 stars SAGITTARIUS ( Nov. 22-Dec. 21 ) : Nurture your way to tiptop shape .
Focus on diet , fitness and being around the people who bring out the best in you .
Make personal gain your target and home improvements a necessity to ease stress and accommodate your needs .
Romance is featured .
5 stars CAPRICORN ( Dec. 22-Jan. 19 ) : A change will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home to allow space for projects you want to pursue .
Steer clear of friends and relatives who are argumentative or don ’ t share your lifestyle or beliefs .
Concentrate on what makes you happy .
3 stars AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18 ) : Go over the ups and downs of a pending situation , and you ’ ll come up with a plan to combat what isn ’ t working for you .
Being prepared will help you engage in talks that are useful , factual and offer alternatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PISCES ( Feb. 19-March 20 ) : What you do for others will make you feel good about yourself .
Use your attributes and experience to make a difference that will lead to personal satisfaction and recognition .
A financial boost is apparent .
3 stars Birthday Baby : You are impressive , deliberate and helpful .
You are conscientious and persistent .

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jack Osbourne, 35; Courtney Thorne-Smith, 53; Alfre Woodard, 68; Bonnie Raitt, 71.
Happy Birthday: Think before you act. Don’t make assumptions or jump to conclusions, regardless of what others say or do. Take your time and study the facts, and focus on truth, justice and fair play. Show compassion and understanding, and you will be offered respect and admiration in return. Strive for freedom, peace and making your environment and community better. Your numbers are 9, 16, 22, 26, 31, 39, 47.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t labor over something you cannot change or people who don’t share your beliefs or values. Concentrate on the people you love, those you can count on and those who make a difference. Self-improvement projects are favored. Romance is on the rise. 5 stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Not everyone will agree with you today. Consider alternatives, and be willing to compromise to find common ground. An emotional situation will arise if you or someone close to you feels insecure or jealous. Keep the peace. 2 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Improve your surroundings. Comfort and convenience will make it easier for you and those you live with to kick back and enjoy life. Make the most of whatever situation you face, and the outcome will encourage a safe and secure future. 4 stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Pay closer attention to details. Update documents about to expire, check over your bank accounts and personal bills, review contracts and confirm upcoming appointments. Leave nothing to chance, and you will avoid disappointment and unnecessary stress. 3 stars
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Get physical, fit and ready to conquer whatever comes your way. Refuse to let others tempt you to act frivolously or get involved in excessive behavior. Make romance and love priorities and self-improvement your stress reliever. 3 stars
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Don’t hide your feelings. Honesty will help solve problems; being evasive will not. Offer solutions and compromises, and be willing to work toward a better future with someone you love. Make peace, happiness and health priorities. Moderation is mandatory. 3 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t stick around if you aren’t appreciated. Size up your situation, make your grievances known and move on to helping people and organizations that believe in your focus. Give only to those who are grateful, and give back accordingly. Romance is encouraged. 4 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Step aside if you feel you are in harm’s way. Don’t leave yourself open to being taken advantage of by someone who is emotionally manipulative. Call the shots instead of letting others put you in a compromising position. Personal growth is favored. 2 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Nurture your way to tiptop shape. Focus on diet, fitness and being around the people who bring out the best in you. Make personal gain your target and home improvements a necessity to ease stress and accommodate your needs. Romance is featured. 5 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A change will lift your spirits. Move things around at home to allow space for projects you want to pursue. Steer clear of friends and relatives who are argumentative or don’t share your lifestyle or beliefs. Concentrate on what makes you happy. 3 stars
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Go over the ups and downs of a pending situation, and you’ll come up with a plan to combat what isn’t working for you. Being prepared will help you engage in talks that are useful, factual and offer alternatives. Romance looks promising. 3 stars
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): What you do for others will make you feel good about yourself. Use your attributes and experience to make a difference that will lead to personal satisfaction and recognition. A financial boost is apparent. 3 stars
Birthday Baby: You are impressive, deliberate and helpful. You are conscientious and persistent.
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