washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Missouri to release $133 million in funds for state services

LIBERTY , Mo .
( AP ) - Missouri will release about $ 133 million in funding to support critical services - including $ 61.5 million in CARES Act funding for primary and secondary schools and $ 26 million for higher education - because the state ’ s economy is weathering the coronavirus pandemic better than forecast this summer , Gov .
Mike Parson said Wednesday .
The governor , in his first news conference since leaving isolation after being diagnosed with COVID-19 , said he plans to release about $ 38 million in general revenues and $ 95 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When state officials restricted spending and made cuts in June in response to the pandemic , officials had forecast the unemployment rate would be 16.3 % .
It is currently 7 % .
The state also has recovered more than 200,000 of the 346,000 jobs it lost because of the outbreak , he said .
He also said general revenues for September were more than $ 944 million , 3 % better than the $ 917 million in September 2019 .
“ We are outpacing our budget forecast and recovering more jobs than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
Other than the funding for education , the money being released will go toward social services such as assisted living , child care providers , improving infrastructure and several others , the governor said .
Parson made the announcement on the day Missouri health officials confirmed more than 1,000 more cases of COVID-19 in the state , for a total to 135,651 , compared to 134,583 on Tuesday .
The state has had 2,236 deaths , up from 2,200 on Tuesday .
Parson noted the total cases includes all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of people who have recovered or are currently recovering , which he said is over 100,000 .
The state ’ s coronavirus data dashboard does not include data on recoveries , and Randall Williams , the director of the Missouri health department , said the number of recoveries can only be estimated because health officials aren ’ t able to contact large numbers of people to determine if they have recovered without ongoing issues .

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri will release about $133 million in funding to support critical services - including $61.5 million in CARES Act funding for primary and secondary schools and $26 million for higher education - because the state’s economy is weathering the coronavirus pandemic better than forecast this summer, Gov. Mike Parson said Wednesday.
The governor, in his first news conference since leaving isolation after being diagnosed with COVID-19, said he plans to release about $38 million in general revenues and $95 million in federal funding for coronavirus-related expenses.
When state officials restricted spending and made cuts in June in response to the pandemic, officials had forecast the unemployment rate would be 16.3%. It is currently 7%. The state also has recovered more than 200,000 of the 346,000 jobs it lost because of the outbreak, he said.
He also said general revenues for September were more than $944 million, 3% better than the $917 million in September 2019.
“We are outpacing our budget forecast and recovering more jobs than the vast majority of other states,” he said.
Other than the funding for education, the money being released will go toward social services such as assisted living, child care providers, improving infrastructure and several others, the governor said.
Parson made the announcement on the day Missouri health officials confirmed more than 1,000 more cases of COVID-19 in the state, for a total to 135,651, compared to 134,583 on Tuesday. The state has had 2,236 deaths, up from 2,200 on Tuesday.
Parson noted the total cases includes all cases since March and does not include the number of people who have recovered or are currently recovering, which he said is over 100,000.
The state’s coronavirus data dashboard does not include data on recoveries, and Randall Williams, the director of the Missouri health department, said the number of recoveries can only be estimated because health officials aren’t able to contact large numbers of people to determine if they have recovered without ongoing issues.


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Man sent to hospital instead of facing trial in wife's death

LA GRANDE , Ore. ( AP ) - An eastern Oregon man who was facing trial over the death of his wife has been sent to the state psychiatric hospital .
Ronald Lee of La Grande was set to face a Union County jury in November on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Loretta Williams .
Court records show Circuit Judge Thomas Powers on Tuesday signed a order finding Lee unfit to proceed , The Observer reported .
The state accused Lee of killing Williams in November 2018 at her home in Cove .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lee was hospitalized after having a stroke in January while in custody at the Union County Correctional Facility in La Grande .
He then underwent a mental health evaluation .
The court canceled the murder trial after Dr. Michael Saul Farris , a Portland-based psychiatrist , determined Lee was danger to himself or others because of a mental disorder and requires hospital care due to the dangerousness and the acuity of symptoms of the disorder , according to the judge ’ s order .
The court received Farris ’ report Oct. 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a 60-day evaluation , the state will determine if Lee can stand trial in the future .

LA GRANDE, Ore. (AP) - An eastern Oregon man who was facing trial over the death of his wife has been sent to the state psychiatric hospital.
Ronald Lee of La Grande was set to face a Union County jury in November on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Loretta Williams. Court records show Circuit Judge Thomas Powers on Tuesday signed a order finding Lee unfit to proceed, The Observer reported. The state accused Lee of killing Williams in November 2018 at her home in Cove. At the time the two were divorcing.
Lee was hospitalized after having a stroke in January while in custody at the Union County Correctional Facility in La Grande. He then underwent a mental health evaluation.
The court canceled the murder trial after Dr. Michael Saul Farris, a Portland-based psychiatrist, determined Lee was danger to himself or others because of a mental disorder and requires hospital care due to the dangerousness and the acuity of symptoms of the disorder, according to the judge’s order. The court received Farris’ report Oct. 1.
According to the court order, after a 60-day evaluation, the state will determine if Lee can stand trial in the future.


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Eric Trump event venue in Nevada fined over COVID-19 rules

LAS VEGAS ( AP ) - A Nevada winery that hosted President Donald Trump ’ s son , Eric Trump , for a campaign rally and an event equipment firm have been fined a combined $ 14,500 after state inspectors reported violations of coronavirus pandemic safety measures .
Eric Trump ’ s outdoor appearance Sept. 24 at Pahrump Valley Winery drew a crowd that exceeded a 50-person limit that was in place at the time , according to the state Department of Business and Industry .
Occupational safety inspectors levied a $ 8,501 fine on the winery owner , Nevada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 6,073 penalty on LMG LLC , an Orlando , Florida-based firm with a facility in Las Vegas .
Representatives of the winery and LMG did not immediately respond Wednesday to messages from The Associated Press .
Distancing between attendees was not maintained and face coverings were not worn by everyone , the department said in a Monday news release .
The event in rural Pahrump , about 60 miles ( 96 kilometers ) west of Las Vegas , followed campaign rallies featuring President Trump on Sept. 12 at an airport in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 at an indoor venue in suburban Las Vegas .
City officials fined the owner of the indoor event in Henderson $ 3,000 for violating coronavirus prevention mandates .

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A Nevada winery that hosted President Donald Trump’s son, Eric Trump, for a campaign rally and an event equipment firm have been fined a combined $14,500 after state inspectors reported violations of coronavirus pandemic safety measures.
Eric Trump’s outdoor appearance Sept. 24 at Pahrump Valley Winery drew a crowd that exceeded a 50-person limit that was in place at the time, according to the state Department of Business and Industry.
Occupational safety inspectors levied a $8,501 fine on the winery owner, Nevada Wine Cellars Inc., and imposed a $6,073 penalty on LMG LLC, an Orlando, Florida-based firm with a facility in Las Vegas.
Representatives of the winery and LMG did not immediately respond Wednesday to messages from The Associated Press.
Distancing between attendees was not maintained and face coverings were not worn by everyone, the department said in a Monday news release.
The event in rural Pahrump, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) west of Las Vegas, followed campaign rallies featuring President Trump on Sept. 12 at an airport in the northern Nevada community of Minden and Sept. 13 at an indoor venue in suburban Las Vegas.
City officials fined the owner of the indoor event in Henderson $3,000 for violating coronavirus prevention mandates.


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Affidavit: Man fatally shot by Texas cop offered handshake

DALLAS ( AP ) - A Black man who was fatally shot by a white police officer in a small East Texas city had offered a handshake to the officer , asking if he was “ doing good , ” as the officer arrived at a convenience store to check out a report of a fight , according to a court document released Wednesday .
Wolfe City police Officer Shaun Lucas has been charged with murder in the weekend death of 31-year-old Jonathan Price , whose funeral will be held Saturday at the high school football field in the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miles ( 113 kilometers ) northeast of Dallas .
According to the affidavit , written by a Texas Ranger , the entire interaction between the two on Oct. 3 was captured on a body camera .
That footage has not been released .
The affidavit said that when Lucas arrived at the convenience store because of a “ possible fight ” he was greeted by Price , who asked the officer “ you doing good ” several times and extended his hand in a handshake gesture .
Price apologized for broken glass on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had tried “ to wrap me up.
” The affidavit says Lucas thought Price was intoxicated and tried to detain him .
Price said “ I can ’ t be detained ” as Lucas grabbed at his arm and used verbal commands .
When Lucas produced a stun gun , Price began to walk away .
After Lucas deployed the stun gun , which wasn ’ t fully effective , Price walked toward him and appeared to reach out to grab the end of the stun gun , the affidavit said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , striking Price in the upper torso .
Price was later pronounced dead at a hospital .
In a statement Monday announcing that Lucas had been charged , the Texas Rangers said that Price “ resisted in a non-threatening posture and began walking away , ” and that the officer ’ s actions weren ’ t “ reasonable.
” Lucas ’ attorney , John Snider , has said that the officer “ only discharged his weapon in accordance with Texas law when he was confronted with an aggressive assailant who was attempting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee Merritt , a Dallas attorney representing Price ’ s family , has said on Facebook that he was told Price raised his hands and tried to explain what was going on when the officer arrived .
Merritt wrote that after the stun gun was deployed Price ’ s “ body convulsed from the electrical current , they ‘ perceived a threat ’ and shot him to death.
’ ” Police haven ’ t released any details about the reported fight that brought Lucas to the convenience store , but Price ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ football player had intervened in a domestic disturbance .
His family and friends said Price , a Wolfe City employee , was well-known in the community .
Price , who had played football for Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene , was a personal trainer and body builder with dreams of starting his own fitness center .
Tony Coleman , an Oklahoma City attorney who grew up in Wolfe City , said the community always comes together when someone dies but that the death of Price - known for his bright smile and enthusiasm for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a way that that it ’ s never been touched before.
” Coleman , who is representing Price ’ s family along with Merritt , said there haven ’ t been race-related problems in the tight-knit community .
“ I have as many white friends as I do Black friends , ” said Coleman , who is Black .
“ In fact I probably have more white friends than Black because the disparity of the population is that great.
” According to the U.S. Census Bureau , 71 % of its residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 13 % are Hispanic .
“ We all spent the night at each other ’ s houses , we come to the aid of one another when the need for aid arises , ” Coleman said .
Lucas , 22 , had been with the Wolfe City Police Department for a little less than six months when the shooting took place , according to records from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement .
His prior law enforcement experience had been working as a jailer with the Hunt County Sheriff ’ s Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was an outsider , this guy was , ” Coleman said .
“ For the community , they feel betrayed in a sense .
That ’ s the feeling that I ’ ve gotten from everyone because this was somebody who was supposed to serve and protect the community , not to kill us .
”

DALLAS (AP) - A Black man who was fatally shot by a white police officer in a small East Texas city had offered a handshake to the officer, asking if he was “doing good,” as the officer arrived at a convenience store to check out a report of a fight, according to a court document released Wednesday.
Wolfe City police Officer Shaun Lucas has been charged with murder in the weekend death of 31-year-old Jonathan Price, whose funeral will be held Saturday at the high school football field in the city of about 1,500 people located about 70 miles (113 kilometers) northeast of Dallas.
According to the affidavit, written by a Texas Ranger, the entire interaction between the two on Oct. 3 was captured on a body camera. That footage has not been released.
The affidavit said that when Lucas arrived at the convenience store because of a “possible fight” he was greeted by Price, who asked the officer “you doing good” several times and extended his hand in a handshake gesture. Price apologized for broken glass on the ground, telling the officer someone had tried “to wrap me up.”
The affidavit says Lucas thought Price was intoxicated and tried to detain him. Price said “I can’t be detained” as Lucas grabbed at his arm and used verbal commands. When Lucas produced a stun gun, Price began to walk away.
After Lucas deployed the stun gun, which wasn’t fully effective, Price walked toward him and appeared to reach out to grab the end of the stun gun, the affidavit said. The affidavit said that Lucas then fired four times, striking Price in the upper torso. Price was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
In a statement Monday announcing that Lucas had been charged, the Texas Rangers said that Price “resisted in a non-threatening posture and began walking away,” and that the officer’s actions weren’t “reasonable.”
Lucas remained jailed Wednesday on $1 million bond.
Lucas’ attorney, John Snider, has said that the officer “only discharged his weapon in accordance with Texas law when he was confronted with an aggressive assailant who was attempting to take his” stun gun.
Lee Merritt, a Dallas attorney representing Price’s family, has said on Facebook that he was told Price raised his hands and tried to explain what was going on when the officer arrived. Merritt wrote that after the stun gun was deployed Price’s “body convulsed from the electrical current, they ‘perceived a threat’ and shot him to death.’”
Police haven’t released any details about the reported fight that brought Lucas to the convenience store, but Price’s family and friends said the one-time college football player had intervened in a domestic disturbance.
His family and friends said Price, a Wolfe City employee, was well-known in the community. Price, who had played football for Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, was a personal trainer and body builder with dreams of starting his own fitness center.
Tony Coleman, an Oklahoma City attorney who grew up in Wolfe City, said the community always comes together when someone dies but that the death of Price - known for his bright smile and enthusiasm for fitness - “has touched the community in a way that that it’s never been touched before.”
Coleman, who is representing Price’s family along with Merritt, said there haven’t been race-related problems in the tight-knit community.
“I have as many white friends as I do Black friends,” said Coleman, who is Black. “In fact I probably have more white friends than Black because the disparity of the population is that great.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 71% of its residents are white, 14% are Black and 13% are Hispanic.
“We all spent the night at each other’s houses, we come to the aid of one another when the need for aid arises,” Coleman said.
Lucas, 22, had been with the Wolfe City Police Department for a little less than six months when the shooting took place, according to records from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. His prior law enforcement experience had been working as a jailer with the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office for about five months.
“He was an outsider, this guy was,” Coleman said. “For the community, they feel betrayed in a sense. That’s the feeling that I’ve gotten from everyone because this was somebody who was supposed to serve and protect the community, not to kill us.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Talks to update Pennsylvania's mail-in voting law show life

HARRISBURG , Pa. ( AP ) - Closed-door talks on updating Pennsylvania ’ s fledgling mail-in voting law showed signs of life Wednesday amid warnings that doing nothing will risk a dragged-out vote count in the high-stakes presidential election in the battleground state .
House Republicans held an internal conference call to discuss the idea of giving counties four or five days to process mail-in ballots before Election Day and to set down security requirements for the drop boxes that some counties are using to help collect mail-in ballots .
Leaders of the House and Senate Republican majorities declined interviews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Kerry Benninghoff , R-Centre , said the House Republican priority continues to be legislation that passed a month ago , nearly along party lines , and was met with a veto threat by Gov .
Tom Wolf , a Democrat .
Wednesday ’ s House Republican discussion did not involve elements of that month-old legislation opposed by many Democratic lawmakers and Wolf , such as lifting the county residency restriction on party or campaign representatives who observe inside polling places .
Another sticking point of that legislation is a provision outlawing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being used by many of the most heavily populated counties to help collect mail-in ballots , Democrats said .
Meanwhile , the top priority of counties is to get the ability to process mail-in ballots before Election Day - called pre-canvassing - as they face the prospect of digging into 3 million envelopes or more when polls open on Nov. 3 .
Processing ballots before Election Day would speed up the vote count and give it more public credibility , county officials say , warning that a presidential election result otherwise could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drawn-out vote count in Pennsylvania .
“ We are in the position where the best thing we could do right now is to allow for four or five days of pre-canvassing , and some security stuff that can be put in there , ” said Rep. Garth Everett , R-Lycoming .
“ But we just need to get it done.
” The talks are happening in the shadow of President Donald Trump ’ s claims at a recent rally near Harrisburg that the only way he can lose Pennsylvania to Democratic presidential nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a claim he also made in 2016′s election .
In last week ’ s debate with Biden , Trump suggested that widespread election fraud is afoot in Philadelphia as he urged his supporters to serve as poll watchers and said he would not go along with an election result if he sees “ tens of thousands of ballots being manipulated.
” Neither the House or Senate are scheduled to return to session until Oct. 19 .
Wolf administration officials want compromise legislation by mid-October , at the latest , to give counties time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russ Diamond , R-Lebanon , suggested that allowing pre-canvassing before Election Day and adding security requirements for drop boxes is a realistic avenue since drop boxes are already being used in some counties where ballots have been mailed out to people who applied for them .
“ So are we going to change mid-stream ?
” Diamond asked .
Some House Republicans said they are angry at being accused by Democrats in recent weeks of trying to suppress the vote - particularly in the Democratic bastion of Philadelphia - during debates over election-related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s very difficult in today ’ s hyper-politicized arena to move significant election reforms this close to an election , ” said Rep. Jesse Topper , R-Bedford .
In the meantime , litigation over the mechanics of Pennsylvania ’ s election , vote counting and poll watching is pending in Philadelphia ’ s courts , the state Supreme Court , federal court in Pittsburgh and the U.S. Supreme Court .

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Closed-door talks on updating Pennsylvania’s fledgling mail-in voting law showed signs of life Wednesday amid warnings that doing nothing will risk a dragged-out vote count in the high-stakes presidential election in the battleground state.
House Republicans held an internal conference call to discuss the idea of giving counties four or five days to process mail-in ballots before Election Day and to set down security requirements for the drop boxes that some counties are using to help collect mail-in ballots.
Leaders of the House and Senate Republican majorities declined interviews. Through a spokesperson, House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, said the House Republican priority continues to be legislation that passed a month ago, nearly along party lines, and was met with a veto threat by Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat.
Wednesday’s House Republican discussion did not involve elements of that month-old legislation opposed by many Democratic lawmakers and Wolf, such as lifting the county residency restriction on party or campaign representatives who observe inside polling places.
Another sticking point of that legislation is a provision outlawing the drop boxes and satellite election offices that are being used by many of the most heavily populated counties to help collect mail-in ballots, Democrats said.
Meanwhile, the top priority of counties is to get the ability to process mail-in ballots before Election Day - called pre-canvassing - as they face the prospect of digging into 3 million envelopes or more when polls open on Nov. 3.
Processing ballots before Election Day would speed up the vote count and give it more public credibility, county officials say, warning that a presidential election result otherwise could hang in limbo for days on a drawn-out vote count in Pennsylvania.
“We are in the position where the best thing we could do right now is to allow for four or five days of pre-canvassing, and some security stuff that can be put in there,” said Rep. Garth Everett, R-Lycoming. “But we just need to get it done.”
The talks are happening in the shadow of President Donald Trump’s claims at a recent rally near Harrisburg that the only way he can lose Pennsylvania to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is if Democrats cheat, a claim he also made in 2016′s election.
In last week’s debate with Biden, Trump suggested that widespread election fraud is afoot in Philadelphia as he urged his supporters to serve as poll watchers and said he would not go along with an election result if he sees “tens of thousands of ballots being manipulated.”
Neither the House or Senate are scheduled to return to session until Oct. 19. Wolf administration officials want compromise legislation by mid-October, at the latest, to give counties time to incorporate the 11th-hour changes.
Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon, suggested that allowing pre-canvassing before Election Day and adding security requirements for drop boxes is a realistic avenue since drop boxes are already being used in some counties where ballots have been mailed out to people who applied for them.
“So are we going to change mid-stream?” Diamond asked.
Some House Republicans said they are angry at being accused by Democrats in recent weeks of trying to suppress the vote - particularly in the Democratic bastion of Philadelphia - during debates over election-related legislation in recent weeks.
“It’s very difficult in today’s hyper-politicized arena to move significant election reforms this close to an election,” said Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford.
In the meantime, litigation over the mechanics of Pennsylvania’s election, vote counting and poll watching is pending in Philadelphia’s courts, the state Supreme Court, federal court in Pittsburgh and the U.S. Supreme Court.
___
Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/timelywriter.


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--California's unemployment backlog shrinks to 1.3 million

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - California embattled unemployment benefits agency said Wednesday it has cleared about 246,000 of its more than 1.6 million backlogged claims following a two-week “ reset ” where it stopped taking new applications so it could improve its technology .
But the agency said it would be January before it clears the backlog , frustrating state lawmakers who questioned the agency ’ s director during a legislative hearing on Wednesday .
Sharon Hilliard , executive director of the Employment Development Department , said some people have been waiting as long as five months to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s very hard for us to tell our constituents that we have 100 percent certainty that this will be resolved in the next couple of months given the track record , ” said Assemblyman David Chiu , a Democrat from San Francisco .
Hilliard said it will take that long to clear the backlog because “ the work is very complex and complicated.
” “ We ’ re very happy with the outcome and in fact we ’ re even a little bit ahead , ” she said .
California has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment benefits since March , when Gov .
Gavin Newsom ordered most businesses to close to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
The state has processed more than 13.6 million claims .
But the volume has overwhelmed the state agency responsible for processing and paying those claims .
A report last month showed 1.6 million people were still waiting on claims .
LaToya Horne , 41 , lost her income as a hair stylist when the state shut down in March .
She said she immediately applied for unemployment benefits , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few days ago .
She struggled to live with no income for months and has been living in her sister ’ s house on a blow-up bed .
“ I ’ m actually wearing her clothes right now , ” she said Wednesday after a news conference in front of the Employment Development Department ’ s headquarters .
She added that : “ I feel like I was in a dark hole for the past six months.
” The main cause of the backlog was verifying the identity of claimants , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process .
The department was manually verifying some 40 % of claims .
The state can handle about 2,400 of these manual reviews per day , but it was getting more than 20,000 daily claims .
After the report came out , the agency stopped taking new claims for two weeks so it could install new identify verification software that promised to automatically verify the identity of up to 91 % of claimants without requiring a person to step in .
Hilliard said Wednesday it ’ s too soon to say if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its first week of use , the agency said 101,159 people used the new software to verify their identity .
Of those , 64,950 people were successful while 36,209 were not .
In a news release , the agency noted some of the unsuccessful claims could have been fraudulent .
But the system gives people up to seven days to complete the process , so it ’ s possible some people just haven ’ t finished it yet .
” We don ’ t really have any good metrics yet , ” Hilliard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hilliard told lawmakers fraud has plagued unemployment agencies across the country .
She blamed Congress for passing the “ pandemic unemployment assistance ” program , which expanded unemployment benefits to people who are not usually eligible for them , including independent contractors .
“ It has very little checks and balances , ” she said .
“ I know the incentive was to make sure everyone gest paid and that ’ s what they were focused on .
But the downstream effect was it opened the door for fraud in a way that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police in Beverly Hills launched an investigation after retailers along the city ’ s iconic Rodeo Drive reported seeing an increase of unemployment benefits debit cards and people coming in with up to $ 30,000 in cash .
Beverly Hills Assistant Police Chief Marc Coopwood outlined for state lawmakers on Wednesday the type of sophisticated criminals involved in the scheme .
In the in the last two months , police have arrested 100 people for fraud and recovered 200 fraudulent debit cards , more than $ 500,000 in cash and 13 guns .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovered a firearm in 18 years and in 30 days , we recovered 13 firearms , ” Coopwood told lawmakers on Wednesday .
“ We will not arrest our way out of this problem .
We need to see systematic changes at EDD .
”

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California embattled unemployment benefits agency said Wednesday it has cleared about 246,000 of its more than 1.6 million backlogged claims following a two-week “reset” where it stopped taking new applications so it could improve its technology.
But the agency said it would be January before it clears the backlog, frustrating state lawmakers who questioned the agency’s director during a legislative hearing on Wednesday. Sharon Hilliard, executive director of the Employment Development Department, said some people have been waiting as long as five months to get benefits.
“To be honest it’s very hard for us to tell our constituents that we have 100 percent certainty that this will be resolved in the next couple of months given the track record,” said Assemblyman David Chiu, a Democrat from San Francisco.
Hilliard said it will take that long to clear the backlog because “the work is very complex and complicated.”
“We’re very happy with the outcome and in fact we’re even a little bit ahead,” she said.
California has paid more than $93.8 billion in unemployment benefits since March, when Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered most businesses to close to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The state has processed more than 13.6 million claims.
But the volume has overwhelmed the state agency responsible for processing and paying those claims. A report last month showed 1.6 million people were still waiting on claims.
LaToya Horne, 41, lost her income as a hair stylist when the state shut down in March. She said she immediately applied for unemployment benefits, but she only just received her first payment a few days ago. She struggled to live with no income for months and has been living in her sister’s house on a blow-up bed.
“I’m actually wearing her clothes right now,” she said Wednesday after a news conference in front of the Employment Development Department’s headquarters. She added that: “I feel like I was in a dark hole for the past six months.”
The main cause of the backlog was verifying the identity of claimants, which is the first step in the application process. The department was manually verifying some 40% of claims. The state can handle about 2,400 of these manual reviews per day, but it was getting more than 20,000 daily claims.
After the report came out, the agency stopped taking new claims for two weeks so it could install new identify verification software that promised to automatically verify the identity of up to 91% of claimants without requiring a person to step in.
Hilliard said Wednesday it’s too soon to say if the new software is meeting expectations. In its first week of use, the agency said 101,159 people used the new software to verify their identity. Of those, 64,950 people were successful while 36,209 were not.
In a news release, the agency noted some of the unsuccessful claims could have been fraudulent. But the system gives people up to seven days to complete the process, so it’s possible some people just haven’t finished it yet.
”We don’t really have any good metrics yet,” Hilliard said.
Pressed on fraud concerns, Hilliard told lawmakers fraud has plagued unemployment agencies across the country. She blamed Congress for passing the “pandemic unemployment assistance” program, which expanded unemployment benefits to people who are not usually eligible for them, including independent contractors.
“It has very little checks and balances,” she said. “I know the incentive was to make sure everyone gest paid and that’s what they were focused on. But the downstream effect was it opened the door for fraud in a way that we’ve never seen before.”
Police in Beverly Hills launched an investigation after retailers along the city’s iconic Rodeo Drive reported seeing an increase of unemployment benefits debit cards and people coming in with up to $30,000 in cash.
Beverly Hills Assistant Police Chief Marc Coopwood outlined for state lawmakers on Wednesday the type of sophisticated criminals involved in the scheme. In the in the last two months, police have arrested 100 people for fraud and recovered 200 fraudulent debit cards, more than $500,000 in cash and 13 guns.
“Along Rodeo Drive they had not recovered a firearm in 18 years and in 30 days, we recovered 13 firearms,” Coopwood told lawmakers on Wednesday. “We will not arrest our way out of this problem. We need to see systematic changes at EDD.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Missouri governor says again he will pardon St. Louis couple

LIBERTY , Mo .
( AP ) - Missouri Gov .
Mike Parson said Wednesday he “ most certainly would ” pardon a St. Louis couple if they are convicted of gun charges after waving guns at protesters walking in front of their home this summer .
Mark and Patricia McCloskey were indicted Tuesday on charges of unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with evidence arising from their confrontation with the demonstrators in their private neighborhood .
Parson had said earlier that he would pardon the couple and he repeated that pledge during a news conference Wednesday .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and see how this all comes out in the courts , but I stand by what I said , ” he said .
Protesters marching to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson ’ s home were outside the McCloskeys ’ $ 1.15 million home when the couple emerged with guns and waved them at the demonstrators while demanding they get off their property .
The McCloskeys have argued they were exercising their Second Amendment rights and defending their home from protesters who were threatening them .
They have become heroes to conservatives and gun-rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
Protest leaders have said the marchers were peaceful and did not threaten the couple .
Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner , a Democrat , charged the couple with felony unlawful use of a weapon .
She said the use of guns risked bloodshed at what she called an otherwise peaceful protest .

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said Wednesday he “most certainly would” pardon a St. Louis couple if they are convicted of gun charges after waving guns at protesters walking in front of their home this summer.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey were indicted Tuesday on charges of unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with evidence arising from their confrontation with the demonstrators in their private neighborhood.
Parson had said earlier that he would pardon the couple and he repeated that pledge during a news conference Wednesday.
“We’ll let it play out and see how this all comes out in the courts, but I stand by what I said,” he said.
Protesters marching to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson’s home were outside the McCloskeys’ $1.15 million home when the couple emerged with guns and waved them at the demonstrators while demanding they get off their property.
The McCloskeys have argued they were exercising their Second Amendment rights and defending their home from protesters who were threatening them. They have become heroes to conservatives and gun-rights advocates and drawn support from President Donald Trump.
Protest leaders have said the marchers were peaceful and did not threaten the couple.
Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, a Democrat, charged the couple with felony unlawful use of a weapon. She said the use of guns risked bloodshed at what she called an otherwise peaceful protest.


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Arkansas hospitalizations from COVID-19 continue to rise

LITTLE ROCK , Ark .
( AP ) - The number of people in Arkansas ’ hospitals because of the illness caused by the coronavirus rose to a new high on Wednesday .
The Department of Health reported the number of people hospitalized because of COVID-19 rose by nine to 538 - a record high for Arkansas , a day after the state hit its highest point since early August .
About 27 % of the state ’ s 9,112 hospital beds and 10 % of its 1,002 intensive care unit beds are available , according to the state Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state remain available .
The state reported 242 COVID-19 patients are in ICUs .
Arkansas ’ confirmed coronavirus cases rose by 684 to 84,914 and its probable cases rose by 125 to 3,966 .
Thirteen more people in the state died from COVID-19 , bringing its total fatalities to 1,482 .
The actual number of cases in Arkansas is likely higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick .
Gov .
Asa Hutchinson said , based on a pattern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may rise further at the end of the week following people going in for testing after a weekend .
“ If the trend holds , cases may go up again toward the end of the week and then decline from there , ” Hutchinson said in a statement .
“ Regardless , we are hoping to keep the peak this week lower than last week .
Everyone , do your part .
”

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The number of people in Arkansas’ hospitals because of the illness caused by the coronavirus rose to a new high on Wednesday.
The Department of Health reported the number of people hospitalized because of COVID-19 rose by nine to 538 - a record high for Arkansas, a day after the state hit its highest point since early August.
About 27% of the state’s 9,112 hospital beds and 10% of its 1,002 intensive care unit beds are available, according to the state Department of Health. Sixty-five percent of ventilators in the state remain available. The state reported 242 COVID-19 patients are in ICUs.
Arkansas’ confirmed coronavirus cases rose by 684 to 84,914 and its probable cases rose by 125 to 3,966. Thirteen more people in the state died from COVID-19, bringing its total fatalities to 1,482. The actual number of cases in Arkansas is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said, based on a pattern the state has seen recently, cases may rise further at the end of the week following people going in for testing after a weekend.
“If the trend holds, cases may go up again toward the end of the week and then decline from there,” Hutchinson said in a statement. “Regardless, we are hoping to keep the peak this week lower than last week. Everyone, do your part.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Kentucky child care facilities to receive grant for expenses

FRANKFORT , Ky. ( AP ) - Kentucky day care facilities will receive a one-time grant of $ 130 per child from federal coronavirus funds to help pay wages and other expenses , a state official said Wednesday .
“ It ’ s been a difficult year for child care , ” Kentucky Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander said .
“ The coronavirus closed all licensed , certified and registered facilities and impacted children , families and employees of these facilities as well as the owners of these businesses.
” The funds will go to licensed day cares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; mortgage or rent , utilities and insurance payments for the facility ; and other costs .
The announcement came as Gov .
Andy Beshear said there were 2,398 newly reported cases , although 1,472 were from a backlog of data from Fayette County .
There were five new deaths , Beshear said .
More than 1.5 million coronavirus tests have been performed in Kentucky , and the positivity rate dropped to 4.21 % .
Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack said the additional data from Fayette County did not affect the positivity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the average number of tests coming back positive for the virus .

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky day care facilities will receive a one-time grant of $130 per child from federal coronavirus funds to help pay wages and other expenses, a state official said Wednesday.
“It’s been a difficult year for child care,” Kentucky Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander said. “The coronavirus closed all licensed, certified and registered facilities and impacted children, families and employees of these facilities as well as the owners of these businesses.”
The funds will go to licensed day cares and certified homes to help pay wages; mortgage or rent, utilities and insurance payments for the facility; and other costs.
The announcement came as Gov. Andy Beshear said there were 2,398 newly reported cases, although 1,472 were from a backlog of data from Fayette County. There were five new deaths, Beshear said.
More than 1.5 million coronavirus tests have been performed in Kentucky, and the positivity rate dropped to 4.21%. Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack said the additional data from Fayette County did not affect the positivity rate, a seven-day rolling figure reflecting the average number of tests coming back positive for the virus.
___
Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Prosecutors: It's time for ex-congressman to go to prison

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Prosecutors urged a judge Wednesday to reject an effort to delay or eliminate a prison sentence for the first member of Congress to endorse Donald Trump for president .
Federal prosecutors said in a letter that it ’ s time for Christopher Collins to report to a Pensacola , Florida , prison camp to begin serving a 26-month sentence .
The 70-year-old former New York congressman representing a district between Buffalo and Rochester was sentenced in January after pleading guilty last year to conspiring to commit securities fraud and lying to law enforcement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a biotechnology company to his son so his son and friends could avoid $ 800,000 in stock losses when a failed drug trial was announced .
An indictment said Collins obtained the secrets in an email from the chief executive of Innate Immunotherapeutics Ltd. while Collins was attending the Congressional Picnic at the White House on June 22 , 2017 .
Collins sat on the company ’ s board .
Lawyers for the Republican last week cited the coronavirus in asking a judge to delay when he reports to prison or to modify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rage in Florida , ” they said , and Collins ’ age and health condition put him at great risk of serious or life-threatening complications if he contracts it .
But prosecutors said the threat of COVID-19 is higher outside the prison walls than within .
And they noted that they had agreed three times before to let Collins delay reporting to prison , including in April and May when they said it was less clear that the Bureau of Prisons could control the spread of the virus .
Now , prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be housed , appears to be controlling the coronavirus much better than Collier County , Florida , where Collins resides .
They said the infection rate in Collier County is about 3.4 % of the overall population , while the infection rate in the prison is zero .
They also said his asthma and hypertension , cited by the ex-congressman ’ s lawyers as underlying health conditions that make him more vulnerable to a serious illness if he contracts the virus , were well controlled for a man who is “ in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his physician .
To support their argument , prosecutors cited a ruling by a Manhattan federal judge who ordered 76-year-old Sheldon Silver , a Democrat and former New York Assembly speaker , to report to prison to begin a 6 1/2-year stint behind bars for a corruption conviction .
Silver began his sentence in August .
“ The public has an interest in seeing justice done in this case without further delay .
It is time for Collins to begin his prison sentence , ” prosecutors wrote .

NEW YORK (AP) - Prosecutors urged a judge Wednesday to reject an effort to delay or eliminate a prison sentence for the first member of Congress to endorse Donald Trump for president.
Federal prosecutors said in a letter that it’s time for Christopher Collins to report to a Pensacola, Florida, prison camp to begin serving a 26-month sentence.
The 70-year-old former New York congressman representing a district between Buffalo and Rochester was sentenced in January after pleading guilty last year to conspiring to commit securities fraud and lying to law enforcement.
Prosecutors said he fed inside information about a biotechnology company to his son so his son and friends could avoid $800,000 in stock losses when a failed drug trial was announced. An indictment said Collins obtained the secrets in an email from the chief executive of Innate Immunotherapeutics Ltd. while Collins was attending the Congressional Picnic at the White House on June 22, 2017. Collins sat on the company’s board.
Lawyers for the Republican last week cited the coronavirus in asking a judge to delay when he reports to prison or to modify his sentence.
The virus “continues to rage in Florida,” they said, and Collins’ age and health condition put him at great risk of serious or life-threatening complications if he contracts it.
But prosecutors said the threat of COVID-19 is higher outside the prison walls than within. And they noted that they had agreed three times before to let Collins delay reporting to prison, including in April and May when they said it was less clear that the Bureau of Prisons could control the spread of the virus.
Now, prosecutors said, FPC Pensacola, where Collins will be housed, appears to be controlling the coronavirus much better than Collier County, Florida, where Collins resides.
They said the infection rate in Collier County is about 3.4% of the overall population, while the infection rate in the prison is zero.
They also said his asthma and hypertension, cited by the ex-congressman’s lawyers as underlying health conditions that make him more vulnerable to a serious illness if he contracts the virus, were well controlled for a man who is “in good health overall,” according to his physician.
To support their argument, prosecutors cited a ruling by a Manhattan federal judge who ordered 76-year-old Sheldon Silver, a Democrat and former New York Assembly speaker, to report to prison to begin a 6 1/2-year stint behind bars for a corruption conviction. Silver began his sentence in August.
“The public has an interest in seeing justice done in this case without further delay. It is time for Collins to begin his prison sentence,” prosecutors wrote.


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Coronavirus can wreak havoc for months in 'long-haulers,' specialists say

The coronavirus that has infected President Trump and killed more than 1 million people is a sneaky pathogen that uses its signature spikes to latch onto healthy cells and copy itself , creating little outward effect in some people but massive havoc in the lungs , heart and kidneys of others .
Even those who fend off the disease are seeing after-effects , from weakened heart muscles to diminished lung capacity , creating a legion of “ long-haulers ” who reel from the virus for months .
Scientists are still learning about the coronavirus that was first discovered in humans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but 10 months of worldwide woe have taught us plenty .
Once a person is exposed , the virus latches onto a receptor , known as the ACE2 , in healthy cells using the spikes that protrude from it ( and which give it the “ corona ” moniker ) .
“ The spike protein is like the key that goes into a receptor site , the lock , on a cell , ” said William Schaffer , an infectious-disease specialist at Vanderbilt University .
“ That allows the virus to enter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s there , all viruses attack the metabolism of the cell and redirect it to replicate the virus.
” Eventually , the cell opens up and millions of virus particles spill out , attacking other parts of the body .
Known as a respiratory disease , the new coronavirus tends to attack the lungs and cause shortness of breath .
President Trump , for instance , saw his blood oxygen levels drop and required supplemental oxygen twice .
But the virus can strike the body from head to toe , with doctors discovering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in particular .
The virus can infect cells that line blood vessels , known as endothelial cells , and it has been found in the gastrointestinal ( GI ) tract and brain , said Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes , chief of the infectious-diseases divisions at Brigham and Women ’ s Hospital in Boston .
Many people who contract the coronavirus have reported losing their sense of taste or smell , making it a telltale sign of infection .
It ’ s likely due to the virus ’ s impact on nerve endings .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as fogginess or confusion .
Serious blood clots have been reported and fatigue , fever and muscle aches are common , yet there are plenty of people who do not develop any symptoms .
What proportion of cases remain asymptomatic is not clear , since those people are often not tested .
The virus tends to incubate for up to 14 days , with a median period of four to five days between exposure and the onset of symptoms , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people with COVID-19 saw symptoms within 11.5 days .
Scientists believe that COVID-19 deaths result from multiple factors — from high levels of the virus , including in the blood , to the immune system going into overdrive in what ’ s known as the “ cytokine storm.
” “ That ’ s calling in the Army , Navy and the Air Corps to focus on getting rid of the virus itself .
But that response is often an over-response and you get collateral damage , ” Dr. Schaffner said .
Doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tone down the inflammatory response .
Mr. Trump received the drug over the weekend .
Age is considered a key factor in whether COVID-19 kills a patient .
An early study from China found that 15 % of people older than 80 who contracted the virus died from the illness , compared to 0.2 % of those younger than 40 .
People with no underlying conditions saw an overall fatality rate of 0.9 % while more than 10 % of those with heart disease , 7 % of those with diabetes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ succumbed to the virus .
Nursing homes are considered particularly vulnerable , since many residents are elderly and have medical conditions , or “ comorbidities.
” Even if someone is released from the hospital , they ’ re typically not out of the woods .
“ Many patients continue to suffer symptoms of COVID-19 for weeks to months after being diagnosed with COVID-19 , ” Dr. Kuritzkes said .
He pointed to a CDC study that found 94 % of patients interviewed two to three weeks after testing positive had at least one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or shortness of breath .
Federal scientists are particularly worried about myocarditis , referring to inflammation of the heart muscle .
“ The risk of heart damage may not be limited to older and middle-aged adults .
For example , young adults with COVID-19 , including athletes , can also suffer from myocarditis , ” the CDC website says .
Dr. Schaffner said in Mr. Trump ’ s situation , he would want to do a periodic electrocardiogram to check on the commander-in-chief ’ s ticker .
“ I hope he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ function , ” he said .
Mr. Trump has noted that his wife , first lady Melania Trump , is younger than him and is handling the virus as expected , with milder symptoms .
He also said that once the president recovers , he “ may be immune ” to COVID-19 , as he challenges Americans to take the virus head-on and live their lives .
Scientists are still trying to get a sense of how much immunity a COVID-19 survivor has from the antibodies that naturally develop .
There have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though data is limited .

The coronavirus that has infected President Trump and killed more than 1 million people is a sneaky pathogen that uses its signature spikes to latch onto healthy cells and copy itself, creating little outward effect in some people but massive havoc in the lungs, heart and kidneys of others.
Even those who fend off the disease are seeing after-effects, from weakened heart muscles to diminished lung capacity, creating a legion of “long-haulers” who reel from the virus for months.
Scientists are still learning about the coronavirus that was first discovered in humans in Wuhan, China, in December, but 10 months of worldwide woe have taught us plenty.
Once a person is exposed, the virus latches onto a receptor, known as the ACE2, in healthy cells using the spikes that protrude from it (and which give it the “corona” moniker).
“The spike protein is like the key that goes into a receptor site, the lock, on a cell,” said William Schaffer, an infectious-disease specialist at Vanderbilt University. “That allows the virus to enter the cell and, once it’s there, all viruses attack the metabolism of the cell and redirect it to replicate the virus.”
Eventually, the cell opens up and millions of virus particles spill out, attacking other parts of the body.
Known as a respiratory disease, the new coronavirus tends to attack the lungs and cause shortness of breath.
President Trump, for instance, saw his blood oxygen levels drop and required supplemental oxygen twice.
But the virus can strike the body from head to toe, with doctors discovering damage to the heart and kidneys, in particular.
The virus can infect cells that line blood vessels, known as endothelial cells, and it has been found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and brain, said Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, chief of the infectious-diseases divisions at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Many people who contract the coronavirus have reported losing their sense of taste or smell, making it a telltale sign of infection. It’s likely due to the virus’s impact on nerve endings.
Some patients report GI problems or cognitive problems, such as fogginess or confusion. Serious blood clots have been reported and fatigue, fever and muscle aches are common, yet there are plenty of people who do not develop any symptoms.
What proportion of cases remain asymptomatic is not clear, since those people are often not tested.
The virus tends to incubate for up to 14 days, with a median period of four to five days between exposure and the onset of symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC cites a study saying 97.5% of people with COVID-19 saw symptoms within 11.5 days.
Scientists believe that COVID-19 deaths result from multiple factors — from high levels of the virus, including in the blood, to the immune system going into overdrive in what’s known as the “cytokine storm.”
“That’s calling in the Army, Navy and the Air Corps to focus on getting rid of the virus itself. But that response is often an over-response and you get collateral damage,” Dr. Schaffner said.
Doctors are using a steroid, dexamethasone, to tone down the inflammatory response. Mr. Trump received the drug over the weekend.
Age is considered a key factor in whether COVID-19 kills a patient. An early study from China found that 15% of people older than 80 who contracted the virus died from the illness, compared to 0.2% of those younger than 40.
People with no underlying conditions saw an overall fatality rate of 0.9% while more than 10% of those with heart disease, 7% of those with diabetes and 6% with respiratory disease or cancer succumbed to the virus.
Nursing homes are considered particularly vulnerable, since many residents are elderly and have medical conditions, or “comorbidities.”
Even if someone is released from the hospital, they’re typically not out of the woods.
“Many patients continue to suffer symptoms of COVID-19 for weeks to months after being diagnosed with COVID-19,” Dr. Kuritzkes said.
He pointed to a CDC study that found 94% of patients interviewed two to three weeks after testing positive had at least one symptom, such as fatigue, cough or shortness of breath.
Federal scientists are particularly worried about myocarditis, referring to inflammation of the heart muscle.
“The risk of heart damage may not be limited to older and middle-aged adults. For example, young adults with COVID-19, including athletes, can also suffer from myocarditis,” the CDC website says.
Dr. Schaffner said in Mr. Trump’s situation, he would want to do a periodic electrocardiogram to check on the commander-in-chief’s ticker.
“I hope he’s monitored closely, especially on his cardiac function,” he said.
Mr. Trump has noted that his wife, first lady Melania Trump, is younger than him and is handling the virus as expected, with milder symptoms. He also said that once the president recovers, he “may be immune” to COVID-19, as he challenges Americans to take the virus head-on and live their lives.
Scientists are still trying to get a sense of how much immunity a COVID-19 survivor has from the antibodies that naturally develop. There have been some reports of reinfection in survivors, though data is limited.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Trump extols drug therapies in COVID-19 video: 'I want to get for you what I got'

President Trump said Wednesday it is important to speed monoclonal antibodies and other drug therapies to hospitals to help people overcome the coronavirus , saying it helped him rebound from infection .
“ I wasn ’ t feeling so hot , and within a very short period of time , they gave me Regeneron .
And other things too , but I think this was the key .
But they gave me Regeneron and it was like unbelievable , I felt good immediately , ” he said in a five-minute video from outside the West Wing .
The president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is wearing a navy suit and red necktie and doesn ’ t appear to be suffering from symptoms .
Mr. Trump noted a similar drug is coming from Eli Lilly and Co. and the Food and Drug Administration may approve it on an emergency basis .
He said seniors , in particular , will get the drugs quickly and suggested they might be delivered at no cost .
“ You ’ re gon na get better , you ’ re gon na get better really fast , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of even a few months ago.
” Mr. Trump went so far as to call his infection , confirmed last Thursday , a “ blessing in disguise , ” saying it was his suggestion to receive the Regeneron drug that was made available under “ compassionate use ” rules .
“ I want to get for you what I got , ” Mr. Trump said .
Mr. Trump complained , however , that FDA rules for emergency authorization of a vaccine will extend beyond Nov. 3 .
“ They want to play their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be right after the election , ” Mr. Trump said .
The president also reiterated his anger with China , saying it was their fault the virus spread around the world after it leaped to humans in Wuhan in December .

President Trump said Wednesday it is important to speed monoclonal antibodies and other drug therapies to hospitals to help people overcome the coronavirus, saying it helped him rebound from infection.
“I wasn’t feeling so hot, and within a very short period of time, they gave me Regeneron. And other things too, but I think this was the key. But they gave me Regeneron and it was like unbelievable, I felt good immediately,” he said in a five-minute video from outside the West Wing.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT! pic.twitter.com/uhLIcknAjT — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2020
The president, who is still recovering from the virus, is wearing a navy suit and red necktie and doesn’t appear to be suffering from symptoms.
Mr. Trump noted a similar drug is coming from Eli Lilly and Co. and the Food and Drug Administration may approve it on an emergency basis.
He said seniors, in particular, will get the drugs quickly and suggested they might be delivered at no cost.
“You’re gonna get better, you’re gonna get better really fast,” he said. “This is things that nobody even thought of even a few months ago.”
Mr. Trump went so far as to call his infection, confirmed last Thursday, a “blessing in disguise,” saying it was his suggestion to receive the Regeneron drug that was made available under “compassionate use” rules.
“I want to get for you what I got,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump complained, however, that FDA rules for emergency authorization of a vaccine will extend beyond Nov. 3.
“They want to play their games, it’s going to be right after the election,” Mr. Trump said.
The president also reiterated his anger with China, saying it was their fault the virus spread around the world after it leaped to humans in Wuhan in December.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Judge rules Kansas polling site buffer zone constitutional

KANSAS CITY , Kan. ( AP ) - A Kansas law that prohibits electioneering within a 250-foot buffer zone of a polling location is constitutional and does not infringe on the First Amendment , a federal judge ruled Wednesday .
U.S. District Judge Holly Teeter dismissed the lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas against Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and the Johnson County election commissioner .
In her ruling , Teeter cited a U.S. Supreme Court decision , Burson v. Freemen , that rejected a challenge to a similar Tennessee statute .
The nation ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at polling places was necessary to protect the fundamental right “ of an election free from the taint of intimidation and fraud.
” Teeter noted the Kansas electioneering has also stood unchallenged for nearly 60 years , and that all 50 states have similar laws .
“ I appreciate Judge Teeter ’ s ruling that the Constitution permits , and history and common sense favor , these sorts of laws that preserve the right to vote and ensure the integrity of Kansas elections , ” Schmidt said in a news release .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make their voices heard without intimidation , which goes to the heart and soul of our democratic process .
”

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - A Kansas law that prohibits electioneering within a 250-foot buffer zone of a polling location is constitutional and does not infringe on the First Amendment, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
U.S. District Judge Holly Teeter dismissed the lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas against Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and the Johnson County election commissioner.
In her ruling, Teeter cited a U.S. Supreme Court decision, Burson v. Freemen, that rejected a challenge to a similar Tennessee statute. The nation’s highest court found that a buffer zone at polling places was necessary to protect the fundamental right “of an election free from the taint of intimidation and fraud.”
Teeter noted the Kansas electioneering has also stood unchallenged for nearly 60 years, and that all 50 states have similar laws.
“I appreciate Judge Teeter’s ruling that the Constitution permits, and history and common sense favor, these sorts of laws that preserve the right to vote and ensure the integrity of Kansas elections,” Schmidt said in a news release. “These laws permit all eligible voters to make their voices heard without intimidation, which goes to the heart and soul of our democratic process.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Inside the Beltway: Star power: Millions view Kim Klacik's new campaign ad

Kimberly Klacik has offered an emphatic campaign message which has once again resonated with the public .
She is a young Black woman running for Congress as a Republican in Maryland ’ s 7th District — a seat once held by the late Rep. Elijah E. Cummings .
She lit up the campaign arena in August by issuing a video shot on the streets of Baltimore with a stunning message : “ Democrats don ’ t want you to see this .
They ’ re scared that I ’ m exposing what life is like in Democrat-run cities , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The GOP candidate has repeated her success with a new campaign outreach .
Ms. Klacik again walks through troubled Baltimore neighborhoods , this time accompanied by a multitude of women of every age and ethnicity .
“ Do you care about Black lives ?
I do .
Unlike people who currently run Baltimore , I actually have a plan to make life better for the people here .
A broken Baltimore does not have to be our future , ” Ms. Klacik advises in the new video — offering her practical solutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the local Solid Waste Bureau , tax credits for those who rehabilitate failing homes , incentives for new businesses and manufacturers , plus school choice for parents and guardians .
“ That ’ s why I ’ m running for Congress .
Because all Black lives matter .
Baltimore matters .
And Black people don ’ t have to vote Democrat , ” the candidate says in the video , surrounded by dozens of women in a dramatic showdown .
The three-minute presentation was issued by the campaign at the end of September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times on Twitter , 392,000 times on YouTube , 250,000 times on Instagram and 25,000 times on Facebook .
Find the video at KimKforCongress.com , under the news and events heading .
Ms. Klacik ’ s many endorsements include those from President Trump , Sen. Rand Paul and former Maryland Gov .
Bob Ehrlich .
She has been praised by Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Mark Levin , and been called a “ warrior princess for the truth ” by analyst Sebastian Gorka .
“ I am tempted to move to Baltimore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative actor James Woods told the candidate in a tweet .
Fox News has signed a book deal with HarperCollins Publishers , the second-largest book publisher in the world with operations in 17 countries .
The new imprint will feature titles from familiar Fox News hosts and anchors , including Pete Hegseth and Shannon Bream .
“ With a stable of bestselling authors already on our platforms , Fox News Books will provide our loyal viewers with more of the compelling stories they ’ ve come to rely on , ” says Suzanne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Brian Murray , president and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers , describes the new project as “ a winning combination for authors , readers , listeners and viewers of Fox News Media everywhere.
” The first arrives Nov. 24 with “ Modern Warriors : Real Stories from Real Heroes ” by Mr. Hegseth , which showcases highly decorated veterans as they share their war stories , combat moments and why they served .
Ms. Bream will author an inspirational book celebrating women of the Bible , ready in the spring of 2021 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ program on the same subject .
Over one-fifth of Americans who have a gun in their household have added another one since protests against police brutality erupted across the nation in late May says a Rasmussen Reports survey released Wednesday .
The pollster says 43 % of U.S. adults currently have a gun in their household , and , of this number , 22 % say an additional gun has been purchased since the protests began .
There are nuances in the findings : 54 % of gun owners say they feel more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — though that ’ s down from 61 % in a similar survey conducted in February 2018 .
“ Only seven percent ( 7 % ) feel less safe .
Thirty-eight percent ( 38 % ) think the presence of the gun has no impact on their personal safety .
Among those who have added a gun in the last four months , however , 90 % feel more safe , ” said the analysis .
The poll of 1,000 U.S. adults was conducted Oct. 4-5 .
AdWeek , a major advertising industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ burned out ” by all those ads about the coronavirus pandemic which appear smarmy or disingenuous .
“ In the first months of the pandemic , brands created an onslaught of uplifting ads that mostly delivered a similar message of ‘ we ’ re all in this together , we ’ re here to support you.
’ As the pandemic raged on , consumers have had enough of that messaging , ” AdWeek says in a new analysis .
The news organization says the majority of consumers now think these ads are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thoughtful .
“ So where can brands , desperate for a new message that takes consumers to a happier place , go ?
How about nostalgia marketing ?
” asks AdWeek .
“ Nostalgia takes us back to the past .
It ’ s familiar and certain , which enables it to fulfill a core psychological need for security , ” writes Collette Eccleston , a senior vice president for LRW , a global marketing firm , in an AdWeek essay .
There is strength and value , she says , in “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political outreach , that would mean producing a new ads that harken back to the Reagan era , don ’ t you think ?
• 61 % of U.S. adults agree that the U.S. “ has not controlled the coronavirus outbreak as much as it could have ” ; 30 % of Republicans and 88 % of Democrats agree .
• 37 % overall agree the U.S. has controlled the outbreak “ as much as it could have ” ; 68 % of Republicans and 11 % of Democrats agree .
• 39 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ has been made a bigger deal than it really is ” ; 66 % of Republicans and 15 % of Democrats agree .
• 33 % say the approach to the outbreak has been “ about right ” ; 23 % of Republicans and 41 % of Democrats agree .
• 26 % say the outbreak has been “ made a smaller dealer than it really is ” ; 9 % of Republicans and 43 % of Democrats agree .
Source : A Pew Research Center poll of 9,220 U.S. adults conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

NEWS AND OPINION:
Kimberly Klacik has offered an emphatic campaign message which has once again resonated with the public. She is a young Black woman running for Congress as a Republican in Maryland’s 7th District — a seat once held by the late Rep. Elijah E. Cummings. She lit up the campaign arena in August by issuing a video shot on the streets of Baltimore with a stunning message:
“Democrats don’t want you to see this. They’re scared that I’m exposing what life is like in Democrat-run cities,” Ms. Klacik advised in her debut ad.
The GOP candidate has repeated her success with a new campaign outreach. Ms. Klacik again walks through troubled Baltimore neighborhoods, this time accompanied by a multitude of women of every age and ethnicity.
“Do you care about Black lives? I do. Unlike people who currently run Baltimore, I actually have a plan to make life better for the people here. A broken Baltimore does not have to be our future,” Ms. Klacik advises in the new video — offering her practical solutions for the city, which include bettering the local Solid Waste Bureau, tax credits for those who rehabilitate failing homes, incentives for new businesses and manufacturers, plus school choice for parents and guardians.
“That’s why I’m running for Congress. Because all Black lives matter. Baltimore matters. And Black people don’t have to vote Democrat,” the candidate says in the video, surrounded by dozens of women in a dramatic showdown.
The three-minute presentation was issued by the campaign at the end of September and has since been viewed 2.5 million times on Twitter, 392,000 times on YouTube, 250,000 times on Instagram and 25,000 times on Facebook. Find the video at KimKforCongress.com, under the news and events heading.
Ms. Klacik’s many endorsements include those from President Trump, Sen. Rand Paul and former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich. She has been praised by Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Mark Levin, and been called a “warrior princess for the truth” by analyst Sebastian Gorka.
“I am tempted to move to Baltimore just to campaign for you,” conservative actor James Woods told the candidate in a tweet.
FOX NEWS BOOKS HAS ARRIVED
Fox News has signed a book deal with HarperCollins Publishers, the second-largest book publisher in the world with operations in 17 countries. The new imprint will feature titles from familiar Fox News hosts and anchors, including Pete Hegseth and Shannon Bream.
“With a stable of bestselling authors already on our platforms, Fox News Books will provide our loyal viewers with more of the compelling stories they’ve come to rely on,” says Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News Media.
Brian Murray, president and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers, describes the new project as “a winning combination for authors, readers, listeners and viewers of Fox News Media everywhere.”
The first arrives Nov. 24 with “Modern Warriors: Real Stories from Real Heroes” by Mr. Hegseth, which showcases highly decorated veterans as they share their war stories, combat moments and why they served. Ms. Bream will author an inspirational book celebrating women of the Bible, ready in the spring of 2021. The network will also produce a companion program on the same subject.
A SECOND AMENDMENT MOMENT
Over one-fifth of Americans who have a gun in their household have added another one since protests against police brutality erupted across the nation in late May says a Rasmussen Reports survey released Wednesday.
The pollster says 43% of U.S. adults currently have a gun in their household, and, of this number, 22% say an additional gun has been purchased since the protests began.
There are nuances in the findings: 54% of gun owners say they feel more safe with a firearm in the house — though that’s down from 61% in a similar survey conducted in February 2018.
“Only seven percent (7%) feel less safe. Thirty-eight percent (38%) think the presence of the gun has no impact on their personal safety. Among those who have added a gun in the last four months, however, 90% feel more safe,” said the analysis.
The poll of 1,000 U.S. adults was conducted Oct. 4-5.
WEARY OF THOSE COVID-19 ADS
AdWeek, a major advertising industry source, now reports that consumers are “burned out” by all those ads about the coronavirus pandemic which appear smarmy or disingenuous.
“In the first months of the pandemic, brands created an onslaught of uplifting ads that mostly delivered a similar message of ‘we’re all in this together, we’re here to support you.’ As the pandemic raged on, consumers have had enough of that messaging,” AdWeek says in a new analysis.
The news organization says the majority of consumers now think these ads are pandering, and few think they are thoughtful.
“So where can brands, desperate for a new message that takes consumers to a happier place, go? How about nostalgia marketing?” asks AdWeek.
“Nostalgia takes us back to the past. It’s familiar and certain, which enables it to fulfill a core psychological need for security,” writes Collette Eccleston, a senior vice president for LRW, a global marketing firm, in an AdWeek essay.
There is strength and value, she says, in “reliving positive memories.”
For the Republican political outreach, that would mean producing a new ads that harken back to the Reagan era, don’t you think?
POLL DU JOUR
• 61% of U.S. adults agree that the U.S. “has not controlled the coronavirus outbreak as much as it could have”; 30% of Republicans and 88% of Democrats agree.
• 37% overall agree the U.S. has controlled the outbreak “as much as it could have”; 68% of Republicans and 11% of Democrats agree.
• 39% of overall agree that the outbreak “has been made a bigger deal than it really is”; 66% of Republicans and 15% of Democrats agree.
• 33% say the approach to the outbreak has been “about right”; 23% of Republicans and 41% of Democrats agree.
• 26% say the outbreak has been “made a smaller dealer than it really is”; 9% of Republicans and 43% of Democrats agree.
Source: A Pew Research Center poll of 9,220 U.S. adults conducted Aug. 31-Sept. 7, and released Wednesday.
• Kindly follow Jennifer Harper on Twitter @HarperBulletin.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--COVID-19 outbreak kills 9 at California nursing facility

WATSONVILLE , Calif. ( AP ) - A coronavirus outbreak at a skilled nursing facility on California ’ s central coast has killed nine people and infected more than 60 residents and staff , health officials said Wednesday .
The outbreak at the Watsonville Post Acute Center in Santa Cruz County comes as the rates of new COVID-19 cases fall in that county and in California as a whole .
The first case was discovered on Sept. 17 when a resident tested positive for COVID-19 after going to a hospital for unrelated medical reasons , said Dr. David Ghilarducci , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Testing quickly showed another two dozen residents had the virus but weren ’ t showing any symptoms , he said .
The facility currently has 56 residents .
Seventeen currently are COVID-19-positive and have been segregated from other residents , 27 tested negative but were quarantined because of suspected exposure and a dozen residents showed no evidence of exposure , Ghilarducci said .
The 15 staff members who tested positive were isolated at home or in hotel rooms provided by the county , Ghilarducci said .
That caused a staffing problem and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in to help , he said .
Half the deaths occurred over the past two weeks , and the rest occurred over the weekend , he said .
They represent half of the 18 COVID-19 deaths that have occurred in the county since the pandemic started .
“ We don ’ t know right now what caused this to blow up , ” he said of the outbreak .
“ I ’ m speaking with their medical director almost daily trying to figure this out ’ .
” State public health workers also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing facilities in the county have shown only a few cases over the past months , he said .
Skilled nursing facilities were hotspots of COVID-19 infection during the early months of the pandemic .
Residents are usually elderly and have a variety of health problems that put them at greater risk of getting a serious case of the coronavirus .
At least 4,692 residents and staff members have died , representing nearly a third of all California COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic , according to figures from the California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Gov .
Gavin Newsom signed a law requiring that skilled nursing facilities to report disease-related deaths during a communicable disease emergency to the state Department of Public Health within 24 hours .
The measure also requires nursing homes to have a full-time “ infection preventionist ” on staff and to have a plan in place for preventing infections .

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (AP) - A coronavirus outbreak at a skilled nursing facility on California’s central coast has killed nine people and infected more than 60 residents and staff, health officials said Wednesday.
The outbreak at the Watsonville Post Acute Center in Santa Cruz County comes as the rates of new COVID-19 cases fall in that county and in California as a whole.
The first case was discovered on Sept. 17 when a resident tested positive for COVID-19 after going to a hospital for unrelated medical reasons, said Dr. David Ghilarducci, deputy public health officer for the county.
Testing quickly showed another two dozen residents had the virus but weren’t showing any symptoms, he said.
The facility currently has 56 residents. Seventeen currently are COVID-19-positive and have been segregated from other residents, 27 tested negative but were quarantined because of suspected exposure and a dozen residents showed no evidence of exposure, Ghilarducci said.
The 15 staff members who tested positive were isolated at home or in hotel rooms provided by the county, Ghilarducci said.
That caused a staffing problem and members of the National Guard were brought in to help, he said.
Half the deaths occurred over the past two weeks, and the rest occurred over the weekend, he said. They represent half of the 18 COVID-19 deaths that have occurred in the county since the pandemic started.
“We don’t know right now what caused this to blow up,” he said of the outbreak. “I’m speaking with their medical director almost daily trying to figure this out’.”
State public health workers also are involved, he said.
Other nursing facilities in the county have shown only a few cases over the past months, he said.
Skilled nursing facilities were hotspots of COVID-19 infection during the early months of the pandemic. Residents are usually elderly and have a variety of health problems that put them at greater risk of getting a serious case of the coronavirus.
At least 4,692 residents and staff members have died, representing nearly a third of all California COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to figures from the California Department of Public Health.
Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law requiring that skilled nursing facilities to report disease-related deaths during a communicable disease emergency to the state Department of Public Health within 24 hours. The measure also requires nursing homes to have a full-time “infection preventionist” on staff and to have a plan in place for preventing infections.


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Trump rips Kamala Harris as gaffe machine, cheers Mike Pence

President Trump on Wednesday weighed in on the only vice presidential debate Wednesday , cheering on his right-hand man Vice @ @ @ @ @ Democratic rival Sen. Kamala Harris a “ gaffe machine.
” “ Mike Pence is doing @ @ @ @ @ said on Twitter .
“ She is a gaffe machine.
” Mr. Trump is hoping @ @ @ @ @ him seize the momentum in the 2020 presidential race .
Polls show he is trailing @ @ @ @ @ nationally and in a number of battleground states .

President Trump on Wednesday weighed in on the only vice presidential debate Wednesday, cheering on his right-hand man Vice President Mike Pence and dubbing Democratic rival Sen. Kamala Harris a “gaffe machine.”
“Mike Pence is doing GREAT!” Mr. Trump said on Twitter. “She is a gaffe machine.”
Mr. Trump is hoping that Mr. Pence can help him seize the momentum in the 2020 presidential race. Polls show he is trailing Democratic rival Joseph R. Biden nationally and in a number of battleground states.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.