washingtontimes--2020-09-20--Georgia's Fulton County works to avoid another vote debacle

ATLANTA ( AP ) - Twice delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic , Georgia ’ s primary election earlier this year was marred by dysfunction : Hourslong wait times at polling places .
Absentee ballots that never arrived .
Votes cast after midnight .
The problems were most acute in Fulton County , which includes most of Atlanta and is a Democratic stronghold in a traditionally red state .
State leaders launched investigations while election officials in the most populous county said they did the best they could in unprecedented circumstances .
Now , election officials say they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November , as Georgia emerges as a potential presidential battleground , turnout is expected to set records and the coronavirus continues to rage .
With nearly 790,000 active voters , Fulton County accounts for about 11 % of the state ’ s electorate .
Voting problems in and around Atlanta in recent elections have become a national flash point because they disproportionately affect Black residents , who comprise just over half the city ’ s population .
The day after the primary , the front page of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution blared , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters , many wearing masks , in a long line outside an Atlanta polling place .
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , a Republican , said the election went well overall but promised investigations into the election ’ s handling in Fulton and neighboring DeKalb County .
The Republican speaker of the Georgia House said Fulton was particularly troubling as he called for an investigation of the primary process .
Voting rights activists and academics noted that predominantly Black communities saw some of the longest lines , which they said is especially worrisome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southern states suppressing Black votes .
“ I ’ m not necessarily accusing folks of intentionally trying to disenfranchise Black voters .
But if the outcome is that Blacks are bearing the disproportionate brunt of the decisions , then it is racial and it has to be adjusted , ” Emory University political science professor Andra Gillespie said .
LaTosha Brown , co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund , said she waited with voters who finally cast their ballots at 12:37 a.m. the next day .
“ I think it is a combination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and structural racism , and voter suppression that is alive and rampant in this state , ” she said , adding that long lines and other problems can lead to voter apathy .
The night of the primary , Fulton County elections director Rick Barron spoke frankly with reporters about challenges his staff faced .
He said the pandemic was the root of many of the problems .
It caused poll workers to drop out , complicated poll worker training on a new election system and led to a significant number of polling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To limit potential exposure to the virus , the secretary of state encouraged people to vote by mail and sent absentee ballot applications to active voters .
But then the head of Fulton County ’ s absentee ballot section tested positive for COVID-19 in early April and another staffer died from the disease , causing the office to close for several days just as absentee ballot applications began to pour in .
Technical glitches slowed the processing of applications received by email .
The county struggled to catch up , but some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up voting in person .
A report released last week by a legislative panel found that most of the problems stemmed from the coronavirus , first-time statewide use of new voting equipment and the increase in absentee voting .
Investigations by the secretary of state ’ s office found that Fulton County failed to process some absentee ballot applications and that poll workers were inadequately trained , among other problems .
Amanda Clark Palmer , an attorney for the county , acknowledged the problems but said the county ’ s election officials and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ They do not deserve to be vilified , and yet that is how they feel right now being the only county that has been called to account before this board for the June 9 election , ” she told the state election board earlier this month .
To be sure , problems during the primary were not limited to Fulton County .
Judges ordered polling sites in 20 of Georgia ’ s 159 counties to stay open past the 7 p.m. deadline because of late openings or other issues .
But Fulton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other counties , said Chris Harvey , the secretary of state ’ s elections director .
“ We weren ’ t trying to vilify anybody , but we also aren ’ t going to spare people ’ s feelings because the election in November is just too important , ” he said .
Harvey is predicting record turnout this fall , with a projected 1.5 million absentee voters , 2 million early in-person voters and 2 million to 3 million in-person voters on Election Day .
Barron , Fulton County ’ s elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems during the primary and improve .
Because of the coronavirus , the county had just eight early voting locations during the primary .
It plans to have 30 during the entire three weeks of early voting before the general election , as well as two mobile voting precincts that will move around the county .
Unlike Election Day , when voters must use assigned polling places , Fulton County voters can cast ballots at any early voting location , including State Farm Arena , home of the Atlanta Hawks .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a voting site , an effort supported by Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and his organization More Than a Vote , which aims to boost Black turnout .
About 100 people will staff three call centers to answer questions from voters or poll workers , who sometimes had trouble reaching the county during the primary .
Every polling place will have a technician to troubleshoot equipment problems .
The county plans to hire about 2,900 poll workers , including hundreds who will be on standby in case some back out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in places to vote or drop off a ballot .
Fulton County will add 91 polling locations , bringing the total from 164 in June to 255 in November .
The number of absentee ballot drop boxes will double to about 40 , so that roughly 93 % of county residents will live within 3 miles of one .
A new online portal to request absentee ballots set up by the secretary of state is making that process more efficient .
It ’ s just one step state election officials are taking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Fulton County and elsewhere , Harvey said .
“ It ’ s about making sure that on Nov. 4 the only thing people are talking about are the results , ” he said .

ATLANTA (AP) - Twice delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, Georgia’s primary election earlier this year was marred by dysfunction: Hourslong wait times at polling places. Absentee ballots that never arrived. Votes cast after midnight.
The problems were most acute in Fulton County, which includes most of Atlanta and is a Democratic stronghold in a traditionally red state. State leaders launched investigations while election officials in the most populous county said they did the best they could in unprecedented circumstances.
Now, election officials say they’re making changes to avoid a repeat in November, as Georgia emerges as a potential presidential battleground, turnout is expected to set records and the coronavirus continues to rage.
With nearly 790,000 active voters, Fulton County accounts for about 11% of the state’s electorate. Voting problems in and around Atlanta in recent elections have become a national flashpoint because they disproportionately affect Black residents, who comprise just over half the city’s population.
The day after the primary, the front page of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution blared, “COMPLETE MELTDOWN” across a photograph of voters, many wearing masks, in a long line outside an Atlanta polling place.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, said the election went well overall but promised investigations into the election’s handling in Fulton and neighboring DeKalb County. The Republican speaker of the Georgia House said Fulton was particularly troubling as he called for an investigation of the primary process.
Voting rights activists and academics noted that predominantly Black communities saw some of the longest lines, which they said is especially worrisome given the history of Georgia and other Southern states suppressing Black votes.
“I’m not necessarily accusing folks of intentionally trying to disenfranchise Black voters. But if the outcome is that Blacks are bearing the disproportionate brunt of the decisions, then it is racial and it has to be adjusted,” Emory University political science professor Andra Gillespie said.
LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund, said she waited with voters who finally cast their ballots at 12:37 a.m. the next day.
“I think it is a combination of the failure of leadership, systemic and structural racism, and voter suppression that is alive and rampant in this state,” she said, adding that long lines and other problems can lead to voter apathy.
The night of the primary, Fulton County elections director Rick Barron spoke frankly with reporters about challenges his staff faced.
He said the pandemic was the root of many of the problems. It caused poll workers to drop out, complicated poll worker training on a new election system and led to a significant number of polling places having to be changed or consolidated.
To limit potential exposure to the virus, the secretary of state encouraged people to vote by mail and sent absentee ballot applications to active voters.
But then the head of Fulton County’s absentee ballot section tested positive for COVID-19 in early April and another staffer died from the disease, causing the office to close for several days just as absentee ballot applications began to pour in. Technical glitches slowed the processing of applications received by email. The county struggled to catch up, but some voters never received requested ballots and ended up voting in person.
A report released last week by a legislative panel found that most of the problems stemmed from the coronavirus, first-time statewide use of new voting equipment and the increase in absentee voting. Investigations by the secretary of state’s office found that Fulton County failed to process some absentee ballot applications and that poll workers were inadequately trained, among other problems.
Amanda Clark Palmer, an attorney for the county, acknowledged the problems but said the county’s election officials and workers demonstrated “heroic” efforts.
“They do not deserve to be vilified, and yet that is how they feel right now being the only county that has been called to account before this board for the June 9 election,” she told the state election board earlier this month.
To be sure, problems during the primary were not limited to Fulton County. Judges ordered polling sites in 20 of Georgia’s 159 counties to stay open past the 7 p.m. deadline because of late openings or other issues.
But Fulton seemed less able to handle problems than other counties, said Chris Harvey, the secretary of state’s elections director.
“We weren’t trying to vilify anybody, but we also aren’t going to spare people’s feelings because the election in November is just too important,” he said.
Harvey is predicting record turnout this fall, with a projected 1.5 million absentee voters, 2 million early in-person voters and 2 million to 3 million in-person voters on Election Day.
Barron, Fulton County’s elections director, has vowed to learn from problems during the primary and improve.
Because of the coronavirus, the county had just eight early voting locations during the primary. It plans to have 30 during the entire three weeks of early voting before the general election, as well as two mobile voting precincts that will move around the county.
Unlike Election Day, when voters must use assigned polling places, Fulton County voters can cast ballots at any early voting location, including State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks. It was the first NBA arena to be approved as a voting site, an effort supported by Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and his organization More Than a Vote, which aims to boost Black turnout.
About 100 people will staff three call centers to answer questions from voters or poll workers, who sometimes had trouble reaching the county during the primary. Every polling place will have a technician to troubleshoot equipment problems.
The county plans to hire about 2,900 poll workers, including hundreds who will be on standby in case some back out.
An important change is a big increase in places to vote or drop off a ballot. Fulton County will add 91 polling locations, bringing the total from 164 in June to 255 in November. The number of absentee ballot drop boxes will double to about 40, so that roughly 93% of county residents will live within 3 miles of one.
A new online portal to request absentee ballots set up by the secretary of state is making that process more efficient. It’s just one step state election officials are taking to help make the November election run smoothly in Fulton County and elsewhere, Harvey said.
“It’s about making sure that on Nov. 4 the only thing people are talking about are the results,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-09-20--AG Healey: Intimidating voters illegal at polling places

BOSTON ( AP ) - Interfering or intimidating voters at polling locations is illegal , Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said .
The Democrat said she felt the need to issue the advisory on Thursday following statements by President Donald Trump raising the possibility of calling up law enforcement officials including sheriffs and police chiefs to monitor for potential cheating at polling locations .
State law prohibits intimidation of voters and interference with elections officers by anyone , including law enforcement officers and private citizens , Healy said .
She said local police officers stationed at polling places to assist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entering the immediate voting area , unless requested to assist the chief election official at the polling place .
Federal law specifically bans the military or other armed federal officers from being present at polling places , except to “ repel armed enemies of the United States , ” she said .
The president also can not order state and local law enforcement officials to monitor the polls , according to Healey .
While it ’ s also illegal for private citizens to intimidate voters , there are permissible ways to observe and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed inside the polling place , unless they are disorderly or obstruct the access of voters , Healey said .
They may observe polling place operations but under no circumstances can they intimidate , threaten , coerce or otherwise interfere with a voter ’ s right to cast a ballot , she added .

BOSTON (AP) - Interfering or intimidating voters at polling locations is illegal, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said.
The Democrat said she felt the need to issue the advisory on Thursday following statements by President Donald Trump raising the possibility of calling up law enforcement officials including sheriffs and police chiefs to monitor for potential cheating at polling locations.
State law prohibits intimidation of voters and interference with elections officers by anyone, including law enforcement officers and private citizens, Healy said.
She said local police officers stationed at polling places to assist local election officials are generally barred from entering the immediate voting area, unless requested to assist the chief election official at the polling place.
Federal law specifically bans the military or other armed federal officers from being present at polling places, except to “repel armed enemies of the United States,” she said.
The president also cannot order state and local law enforcement officials to monitor the polls, according to Healey.
While it’s also illegal for private citizens to intimidate voters, there are permissible ways to observe and monitor polling locations.
Poll observers are allowed inside the polling place, unless they are disorderly or obstruct the access of voters, Healey said.
They may observe polling place operations but under no circumstances can they intimidate, threaten, coerce or otherwise interfere with a voter’s right to cast a ballot, she added.


washingtontimes--2020-09-20--Vermont gets $6 million to reduce domestic violence

BURLINGTON , Vt. ( AP ) - More than $ 6 million in federal grant funding will go to Vermont @ @ @ @ @ domestic violence , officials said .
The grant awards are part of a new series @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement , victim service providers and prosecutors in identifying and helping victims at high @ @ @ @ @ an abusive partner , according to the Justice Department ’ s Office on Violence Against @ @ @ @ @ as my office works - and will continue to work - to prevent violent offenders @ @ @ @ @ , we know that victims need more justice in court to recover and move forward @ @ @ @ @ , U.S. attorney for Vermont , in a written statement on Wednesday .
The grants @ @ @ @ @ , support their recovery , and give them a chance at living the rest of @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
In recent years , nearly half of Vermont ’ s @ @ @ @ @ her office said .

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - More than $6 million in federal grant funding will go to Vermont organizations that help victims of domestic violence, officials said.
The grant awards are part of a new series of grants intended to assist law enforcement, victim service providers and prosecutors in identifying and helping victims at high risk of being killed by an abusive partner, according to the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women.
“As hard as my office works - and will continue to work - to prevent violent offenders from causing harm and death, we know that victims need more justice in court to recover and move forward,” said Christina Nolan, U.S. attorney for Vermont, in a written statement on Wednesday. The grants “will help identify victims, support their recovery, and give them a chance at living the rest of their lives free from abuse,” she said.
In recent years, nearly half of Vermont’s homicides were domestic-violence related, her office said.


washingtontimes--2020-09-20--Portrait honors Maine soldier critically injured in Iraq

AUGUSTA , Maine ( AP ) - A portrait of a soldier who was critically injured in 2004 in Mosul , Iraq , is now hanging in his honor at Camp Chamberlain alongside nine other fallen Maine Army National Guard soldiers who ’ ve lost their lives since 9/11 .
The bombing left shrapnel in the arm , chest and brain of Staff Sgt .
Harold Gray .
He survived for years before succumbing in February 2020 .
His family , friends and fellow soldiers were on hand for the unveiling of the portrait last week .
Dog tags with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hung on memorials at both Camp Chamberlain and in the Hall of Flags at the Maine State House .
“ I challenge all our soldiers , past and present , to never forget the sacrifice made by Staff Sgt .
Gray , and all the honorable men and women pictured alongside him .
They embody the selfless service we are all striving to achieve , ” said aid Brig .
Gen. Dean Preston .
Preston was Gray ’ s company commander during his deployment with the Maine Army National Guard ’ s 133rd @ @ @

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - A portrait of a soldier who was critically injured in 2004 in Mosul, Iraq, is now hanging in his honor at Camp Chamberlain alongside nine other fallen Maine Army National Guard soldiers who’ve lost their lives since 9/11.
The bombing left shrapnel in the arm, chest and brain of Staff Sgt. Harold Gray. He survived for years before succumbing in February 2020.
His family, friends and fellow soldiers were on hand for the unveiling of the portrait last week. Dog tags with Gray’s name will also be hung on memorials at both Camp Chamberlain and in the Hall of Flags at the Maine State House.
“I challenge all our soldiers, past and present, to never forget the sacrifice made by Staff Sgt. Gray, and all the honorable men and women pictured alongside him. They embody the selfless service we are all striving to achieve,” said aid Brig. Gen. Dean Preston.
Preston was Gray’s company commander during his deployment with the Maine Army National Guard’s 133rd Engineer Battalion.


washingtontimes--2020-09-20--USS Montana submarine christened in virtual ceremony

GREAT FALLS , Mont .
( AP ) - She ’ s touted as a force to be reckoned with .
And after nearly a 100-year absence , a U.S. Navy vessel now bears the name “ Montana.
” And when she takes to the water , you better beware of the “ Vigilantes of the Deep.
” The U.S. Navy recently christened its newest nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine , the USS Montana , at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia in a ceremony that featured some flavor of the Big Sky state .
“ I christen thee United States Ship Montana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sally Jewell , the ship ’ s sponsor , said Sept. 12 as she smacked a bottle of sparkling wine against the bow .
“ God Bless this submarine and all who sail in her !
” The christening of the USS Montana , also known as SSN 794 , was a virtual celebration due to COVID-19 restrictions , meaning the Montanans who have been watching the progress on this submarine since its inception in 2015 had to watch online .
It was the first christening of a U.S. Navy ship since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The event was held at Newport News Shipbuilding , a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries , in Newport News , Virginia .
Huntington Ingalls is America ’ s largest military shipbuilding company .
The celebration started with an honor song offered by the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes , which represented the 12 tribes of Montana .
CSKT Councilman Martin Charlo noted that Native Americans serve in the Armed Forces at a higher percentage per capita than other ethnic groups in the United States .
“ It ’ s an honor to know our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highly advanced and fast machine that will carry out many missions and keep our land safe , ” he said .
“ We salute and send the Creator ’ s blessings over all men and women who help build , equip , crew , train and eventually set sail in defense of our nation.
” Members of the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes perform an honor song for the christening of the USS Montana .
“ May the Creator watch over all the new crew members and keep them from harm , ” Charlo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our prayers.
” But don ’ t pull your water wings down off the shelf just yet as officials said it could be a year or so until the $ 2.6 billion submarine - the first vessel to be named after the state since 1908 - takes to the high seas .
Montana is scheduled for delivery to the Navy in late 2021 .
The christening is a shipbuilder event that the vessel is ready to launch and is far different than the submarine being finished and ready to join the fleet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s USS Montana Committee based in the Treasure State .
He said through the committee - a nonprofit created by a group of Montana residents wanting to support the submarine and endorsed by the governor and Legislature in 2017 - the state has made the commitment to support the ship for its 30-year service life .
“ It was a very moving experience , he said of the ceremony , adding it was a “ major milestone ” in the ship joining the U.S. Navy fleet .
Jennifer Boykin , president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of Huntington Ingalls Industries , offered an explanation at the christening , the first such event since the COVID-19 pandemic began .
“ It is an important ceremony in the life of a ship , signaling it is water tight , ready to launch and prepared to start the next and final stage of its construction before going to sea , ” she said .
The relationship between a ship sponsor and crew is special .
Jewell will also impart her spirit on the ship and her crew and will possess a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Jewell said she looked forward to ringing the special bell the USS Montana Committee had made for the submarine .
She was selected by then-President Barack Obama to be the ship ’ s sponsor , a title given to a prominent citizen chosen to christen a naval vessel .
Jewell has spent time the past few years with the captain and crew and been in submarines .
Jewell spent a night as a guest of the Navy on another submarine , the USS New Mexico , doing exercises under pack ice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ In the spirit of its namesake state , the USS Montana will explore some of the wildest places on Earth in service to us all , ” she said .
“ May the magnificent fighting capabilities of this incredible submarine be an appropriate deterrent to aggressors who seek to undermine freedom and democracy for the United States and its allies across the globe .
“ May the crew be well trained … and may all of our blessings carry the USS Montana and her crew to safety throughout her years of service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Mariah Gladstone , an engineer working on her master ’ s degree and member of the Blackfeet Nation , is serving as the submarine ’ s maid of honor and offered a blessing .
The maid of honor can serve as a proxy at events for the sponsor .
Even the invocation was distinctly Montana , as it was given by Jason Sutton , a Montana native who now serves as director of manufacturing for Newport News Shipbuilding .
“ We raised our kids to believe that although the military moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Montana truly was home and the last best place , ” he said .
“ … We pray as this silent sentry prepares to run deep in harsh , oceanic environments and in close proximity to a formidable foe that their purpose remain pure as they stand guard , and when called upon to wield the sword , may it strike with swift accuracy and render further violence useless to realize a peace beyond understanding , ” Sutton said in his prayer .
Capt .
Michael Delaney , the submarine ’ s commander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most capable warships ever built .
“ To the crew , together we have the privilege and responsibility to establish Montana ’ s legacy , ” he said at the christening ceremony .
“ I am honored to lead you in this endeavor and grateful to serve with each and every one of you.
” He said over the past two years he has visited several parts of the state .
“ From its natural beauty and rugged outdoors , to mutton-busting and rodeos , the thing that stood out the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state and the reception with which they received the crew.
” Three of its 133 sailors , who came from 33 states , reportedly call Montana home .
Virginia Class submarines are 377 feet long and have a 34-foot beam .
They displace 7,800 tons when submerged and travel about 28 mph .
They have 12 Tomahawk missile tubs and four torpedo tubes , according to the U.S. Department of Defense .
The keel for the boat was laid on May 16 , 2018 and construction of the submarine involved 4,000 shipbuilders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Montana , ACR-13 , was an armored cruiser also built at Newport News Shipbuilding and commissioned in July 1908 .
She served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean , landed Marines during unrest in Haiti in 1914 and escorted convoys during World War I .
She was decommissioned in 1921 , Navy officials said in a news release .
Construction of the current USS Montana began 2015 .
It is the third of the 10 Block IV Virginia Class submarines .
Virginia Class submarines navigate deep waters while doing anti-submarine warfare ; anti-surface ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces support ; intelligence , surveillance and reconnaissance ; irregular warfare ; and mine warfare missions , Navy officials said .
They are replacing Los Angeles Class submarines .
The Navy said in a news release the submarines are known for their stealth , endurance , mobility and firepower .
Whitsitt explained the significance of the ship ’ s bell , saying it was from the first USS Montana , commissioned in 1908 , now on display at the University of Montana .
He said the new bell for the new USS Montana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a historic replica of the first bell , but has the emblem of SSN 794 .
The new bell has the state motto “ Oro y plata ” and has gold and silver dolphin pins worn by qualified submariners and has real Montana gold and silver in it as well .
“ … On behalf of all Montanans , we ask in the words of the Navy hymn “ Bless those who serve beneath the deep … , ” Whitsitt said .
The committee informs the people of Montana about the USS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation , supports the commissioning of the USS Montana , provides appropriate financial support for the USS Montana not provided by the U.S. Navy because of budget or other constraints .
The keynote speaker , Acting Undersecretary of the Navy Gregory J. Slavonic , said the USS Montana will enhance the United States ’ fleet with next generation stealth , surveillance and special warfare capabilities .
“ It sends a signal to friends and foe alike that we will maintain supremacy under the waves and extend the lethality and readiness in every domain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful platform is proof of an ironclad relationship between the Navy and industrial partners who form the backbone of our maritime strength.
” Republican Sen. Steve Daines said the day was “ long overdue ” as Montana ’ s name had not been on a battleship for nearly 100 years .
“ God bless the men and women who will serve aboard the USS Montana and may God continue to bless this great United States of America , ” he said .
Democratic Sen. Jon Tester said the Montana is a force to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time of new global threats and challenges , it will represent Montana and our nation in the waters by defending us around the world for decades and decades , ” he said .
“ I want to thank the active duty sailors and Marines who serve on vessels like the one we are celebrating today for keeping us safe .
I know you will do Montana proud .
It is an incredible honor to be part of this journey.
” GOP Rep. Greg Gianforte said we live in a challenging and unprecedented time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always embark with the support of all Montana and any sailor who boards her will be an honorary Montanan .
May God keep this submarine and her crew safe.
” Among those who viewed the christening was state Attorney General Tim Fox , who is a member of the USS Montana Committee .
He said the committee raised money for some of the finer points of the submarine , such as a Montana-themed insignia and items to the captain ’ s quarters “ so that Montana can be part of the ship.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the USS Montana , includes a Glacier National Park scene , a gold star within the submarine ’ s hull number , SSN 794 and the state motto of Oro y Plata ( gold and silver ) .
It includes two eagle feathers representing the values , culture , and courage of Native American warriors and their tribes , a grizzly bear and 3-7-77 , a symbol is associated with Montana ’ s early citizen vigilantes .
Finally , the Latin inscription within the emblem ’ s Montana border is “ May it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Montana crew has chosen to be called the “ Vigilantes of the Deep , ” Whitsitt said , noting it is a homage to Montana ’ s past .
Fox , who is termed out of office at the end of the year , said he hopes he can view the launch when that occurs in the next year or so .
Whitsitt said he watched the ceremony with a great deal of pride .
“ I ’ m proud of our U.S. Navy , I ’ m proud of the shipbuilders in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and proud of all the work everyone put into it , ” he said .
“ We are very proud of the sailors , ” he said , noting the captain has made four visits to the state , sometimes with a commanding officer and crew members and then went to different parts of Montana , often staying with families .
“ This boat is going to have 130-plus young sailors and carrying the name Montana and they need to know they are supported by those in their namesake state , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back home know about , pray about them and want to be protected .
“ Montanans , as you know , are patriots and want to support our military people and when go into harm ’ s way with our blessing and with the best equipment in the world , ” Whitsitt said .
“ We hope the mission is peace , but we want these young sailors to be protected.
” For more on the USS Montana Committee , go to : https : //ussmontanacommittee.us/

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) - She’s touted as a force to be reckoned with. And after nearly a 100-year absence, a U.S. Navy vessel now bears the name “Montana.”
And when she takes to the water, you better beware of the “Vigilantes of the Deep.”
The U.S. Navy recently christened its newest nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, the USS Montana, at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia in a ceremony that featured some flavor of the Big Sky state.
“I christen thee United States Ship Montana!” former Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, the ship’s sponsor, said Sept. 12 as she smacked a bottle of sparkling wine against the bow. “God Bless this submarine and all who sail in her!”
The christening of the USS Montana, also known as SSN 794, was a virtual celebration due to COVID-19 restrictions, meaning the Montanans who have been watching the progress on this submarine since its inception in 2015 had to watch online. It was the first christening of a U.S. Navy ship since the coronavirus outbreak began, officials said. The event was held at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, in Newport News, Virginia. Huntington Ingalls is America’s largest military shipbuilding company.
The celebration started with an honor song offered by the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes, which represented the 12 tribes of Montana. CSKT Councilman Martin Charlo noted that Native Americans serve in the Armed Forces at a higher percentage per capita than other ethnic groups in the United States.
“It’s an honor to know our warrior spirit will be carried by this highly advanced and fast machine that will carry out many missions and keep our land safe,” he said. “We salute and send the Creator’s blessings over all men and women who help build, equip, crew, train and eventually set sail in defense of our nation.”
Members of the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes perform an honor song for the christening of the USS Montana.
“May the Creator watch over all the new crew members and keep them from harm,” Charlo said. “They will be in our prayers.”
But don’t pull your water wings down off the shelf just yet as officials said it could be a year or so until the $2.6 billion submarine - the first vessel to be named after the state since 1908 - takes to the high seas. Montana is scheduled for delivery to the Navy in late 2021.
The christening is a shipbuilder event that the vessel is ready to launch and is far different than the submarine being finished and ready to join the fleet, said Bill Whitsitt, director of the state’s USS Montana Committee based in the Treasure State.
He said through the committee - a nonprofit created by a group of Montana residents wanting to support the submarine and endorsed by the governor and Legislature in 2017 - the state has made the commitment to support the ship for its 30-year service life.
“It was a very moving experience, he said of the ceremony, adding it was a “major milestone” in the ship joining the U.S. Navy fleet.
Jennifer Boykin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding and executive vice president of Huntington Ingalls Industries, offered an explanation at the christening, the first such event since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
“It is an important ceremony in the life of a ship, signaling it is water tight, ready to launch and prepared to start the next and final stage of its construction before going to sea,” she said.
The relationship between a ship sponsor and crew is special. Jewell will also impart her spirit on the ship and her crew and will possess a spirit unique to her sponsor, Boykin said.
Jewell said she looked forward to ringing the special bell the USS Montana Committee had made for the submarine. She was selected by then-President Barack Obama to be the ship’s sponsor, a title given to a prominent citizen chosen to christen a naval vessel. Jewell has spent time the past few years with the captain and crew and been in submarines.
Jewell spent a night as a guest of the Navy on another submarine, the USS New Mexico, doing exercises under pack ice of the Arctic Ocean in 2014.
“In the spirit of its namesake state, the USS Montana will explore some of the wildest places on Earth in service to us all,” she said. “May the magnificent fighting capabilities of this incredible submarine be an appropriate deterrent to aggressors who seek to undermine freedom and democracy for the United States and its allies across the globe.
“May the crew be well trained … and may all of our blessings carry the USS Montana and her crew to safety throughout her years of service to the American people,” Jewell said.
Mariah Gladstone, an engineer working on her master’s degree and member of the Blackfeet Nation, is serving as the submarine’s maid of honor and offered a blessing.
The maid of honor can serve as a proxy at events for the sponsor.
Even the invocation was distinctly Montana, as it was given by Jason Sutton, a Montana native who now serves as director of manufacturing for Newport News Shipbuilding.
“We raised our kids to believe that although the military moved us all over the world, that Montana truly was home and the last best place,” he said.
“… We pray as this silent sentry prepares to run deep in harsh, oceanic environments and in close proximity to a formidable foe that their purpose remain pure as they stand guard, and when called upon to wield the sword, may it strike with swift accuracy and render further violence useless to realize a peace beyond understanding,” Sutton said in his prayer.
Capt. Michael Delaney, the submarine’s commander, called the USS Montana one of the most capable warships ever built.
“To the crew, together we have the privilege and responsibility to establish Montana’s legacy,” he said at the christening ceremony. “I am honored to lead you in this endeavor and grateful to serve with each and every one of you.”
He said over the past two years he has visited several parts of the state.
“From its natural beauty and rugged outdoors, to mutton-busting and rodeos, the thing that stood out the most was the people that we met throughout the state and the reception with which they received the crew.”
Three of its 133 sailors, who came from 33 states, reportedly call Montana home.
Virginia Class submarines are 377 feet long and have a 34-foot beam. They displace 7,800 tons when submerged and travel about 28 mph. They have 12 Tomahawk missile tubs and four torpedo tubes, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The keel for the boat was laid on May 16, 2018 and construction of the submarine involved 4,000 shipbuilders, officials said.
The first USS Montana, ACR-13, was an armored cruiser also built at Newport News Shipbuilding and commissioned in July 1908. She served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, landed Marines during unrest in Haiti in 1914 and escorted convoys during World War I. She was decommissioned in 1921, Navy officials said in a news release.
Construction of the current USS Montana began 2015. It is the third of the 10 Block IV Virginia Class submarines.
Virginia Class submarines navigate deep waters while doing anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operation forces support; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions, Navy officials said.
They are replacing Los Angeles Class submarines. The Navy said in a news release the submarines are known for their stealth, endurance, mobility and firepower.
Whitsitt explained the significance of the ship’s bell, saying it was from the first USS Montana, commissioned in 1908, now on display at the University of Montana.
He said the new bell for the new USS Montana is filled with historical significance. It is a historic replica of the first bell, but has the emblem of SSN 794. The new bell has the state motto “Oro y plata” and has gold and silver dolphin pins worn by qualified submariners and has real Montana gold and silver in it as well.
“… On behalf of all Montanans, we ask in the words of the Navy hymn “Bless those who serve beneath the deep …,” Whitsitt said.
The committee informs the people of Montana about the USS Montana and its role in protecting our nation, supports the commissioning of the USS Montana, provides appropriate financial support for the USS Montana not provided by the U.S. Navy because of budget or other constraints.
The keynote speaker, Acting Undersecretary of the Navy Gregory J. Slavonic, said the USS Montana will enhance the United States’ fleet with next generation stealth, surveillance and special warfare capabilities.
“It sends a signal to friends and foe alike that we will maintain supremacy under the waves and extend the lethality and readiness in every domain,” he said. “This powerful platform is proof of an ironclad relationship between the Navy and industrial partners who form the backbone of our maritime strength.”
Montana’s congressional delegation wished the ship well.
Republican Sen. Steve Daines said the day was “long overdue” as Montana’s name had not been on a battleship for nearly 100 years.
“God bless the men and women who will serve aboard the USS Montana and may God continue to bless this great United States of America,” he said.
Democratic Sen. Jon Tester said the Montana is a force to be reckoned with.
“In a time of new global threats and challenges, it will represent Montana and our nation in the waters by defending us around the world for decades and decades,” he said. “I want to thank the active duty sailors and Marines who serve on vessels like the one we are celebrating today for keeping us safe. I know you will do Montana proud. It is an incredible honor to be part of this journey.”
GOP Rep. Greg Gianforte said we live in a challenging and unprecedented time.
“Know that this submarine will always embark with the support of all Montana and any sailor who boards her will be an honorary Montanan. May God keep this submarine and her crew safe.”
Among those who viewed the christening was state Attorney General Tim Fox, who is a member of the USS Montana Committee.
He said the committee raised money for some of the finer points of the submarine, such as a Montana-themed insignia and items to the captain’s quarters “so that Montana can be part of the ship.”
The insignia, the official emblem of the USS Montana, includes a Glacier National Park scene, a gold star within the submarine’s hull number, SSN 794 and the state motto of Oro y Plata (gold and silver).
It includes two eagle feathers representing the values, culture, and courage of Native American warriors and their tribes, a grizzly bear and 3-7-77, a symbol is associated with Montana’s early citizen vigilantes.
Finally, the Latin inscription within the emblem’s Montana border is “May it defend our way of life.”
The Montana crew has chosen to be called the “Vigilantes of the Deep,” Whitsitt said, noting it is a homage to Montana’s past.
Fox, who is termed out of office at the end of the year, said he hopes he can view the launch when that occurs in the next year or so.
Whitsitt said he watched the ceremony with a great deal of pride.
“I’m proud of our U.S. Navy, I’m proud of the shipbuilders in Virginia and the incredible work they did and proud of all the work everyone put into it,” he said.
“We are very proud of the sailors,” he said, noting the captain has made four visits to the state, sometimes with a commanding officer and crew members and then went to different parts of Montana, often staying with families.
“This boat is going to have 130-plus young sailors and carrying the name Montana and they need to know they are supported by those in their namesake state,” he said. “They appreciate the people back home know about, pray about them and want to be protected.
“Montanans, as you know, are patriots and want to support our military people and when go into harm’s way with our blessing and with the best equipment in the world,” Whitsitt said.
“We hope the mission is peace, but we want these young sailors to be protected.”
___
For more on the USS Montana Committee, go to: https://ussmontanacommittee.us/


washingtontimes--2020-09-20--COVID 'long haulers’ suffer symptoms weeks, months, Later

DENVER ( AP ) - In the early hours of an April morning , at her home in Erie , Malea Anderson woke up with what felt like an explosion of ice water up her spine and into her head .
She had a massive headache and tried to get out of bed to go to the bathroom , but her limbs wouldn ’ t cooperate .
She feared she was having a stroke .
Her partner , Randy , took her to the emergency room .
The doctor suspected she had COVID-19 , but she couldn ’ t get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 53-year-old had a brain scan that came back normal - no stroke .
She was sent home from the hospital , again .
It was her second visit to the emergency room in a matter of weeks and third since March .
She ’ d had countless telehealth appointments with various primary care physicians , seen specialists and started taking supplements like vitamin D and zinc to help with her long list of symptoms : fatigue , brain fog , exhaustion , headaches , vertigo , shortness of breath , chest pain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels like she might be getting better .
Then she crashes again .
“ I got to where I could walk and function and maybe go make dinner .
So I would get up , I would make coffee .
And that would determine how the day went , ” Anderson told Colorado Public Radio .
“ Most days I would come back to bed .
If I could plan meals for my family , that would be a good day .
And then outside of that , I was in bed.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook group called Survivor Corps for those who describe themselves as “ long haulers ” has just over 102,000 members .
While the World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of COVID-19 infections “ are mild or asymptomatic , ” and patients recover after two weeks , those who are still suffering question the notion of a “ mild ” case .
In Colorado , dozens of people report a wide range of lingering symptoms including shortness of breath , elevated heart rate , fatigue and malaise , headaches , gastrointestinal issues , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I call it the trifecta .
I have fatigue , insomnia and exhaustion , ” said Cindy Maetzold , who lives in Snowmass .
“ But when I say fatigue , I ’ ll go for a walk , and I ’ ll come back and I just sit down , do nothing .
It ’ s not that I ’ m lazy .
It ’ s that I don ’ t have the energy to do anything.
” Studies show COVID-19 symptoms can linger , but much is still unknown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have had lingering symptoms , and how many moving forward will .
In a multistate phone survey of adults who tested positive for the virus , 35 percent had not returned to their pre-Covid-19 health 2 to 3 weeks after their test , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
A small study out of Italy that surveyed 179 patients , found that 87 percent of patients who were hospitalized still had symptoms 60 days after they started feeling sick .
A small study in Germany found that 78 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems two to three months out .
In Colorado Springs , Dr. Robert Lam and his medical students started surveying patients with COVID-19 after they left the hospital .
The survey asks about mental , physical and financial health .
Initially , the mental implications of isolation and loneliness stood out , until they started to notice some patients just weren ’ t recovering .
“ Our initial results showed that up to a fourth of patients were still having lingering symptoms of COVID .
And so that was something that we didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We are starting to see hints and concerns that there is probably some potential long term lung damage as we ’ re not seeing patients recover completely.
” Lam ’ s patient population spent time in the hospital , so their long-term impacts will likely be different from those of people like Anderson who were never admitted , never on a ventilator and never treated for COVID-19 .
To complicate matters even more , many patients like Anderson weren ’ t able to get a PCR test while they were sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the early months of the pandemic .
It further distorts the picture of how many people have contracted the virus , and of those , how many still have symptoms .
“ It doesn ’ t look like there ’ s anything to fix and you don ’ t know how to fix it ” On Jan. 15 , Ty Godwin , 58 , was in South Africa on a work trip .
He works in sales and travels internationally a dozen times a year .
That night he woke up to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in the U.S. , he hadn ’ t heard of COVID-19 yet , but he had been traveling internationally for work .
It was one of the dozen trips he takes a year .
What he thought was a normal cold or flu hung on for weeks .
“ I ’ ve had three CT scans .
I ’ ve had two echocardiograms .
I had a $ 25,000 PET scan of my entire body , ” Godwin said .
“ And I ’ ve been tested for everything from Lyme disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you could imagine.
” None of those tests resulted in a diagnosis .
As he learned more , he started to suspect he might have had the coronavirus .
It took time and many tests , but his doctor now thinks the culprit is COVID-19 .
Early on , he had all the common symptoms , although he got an antibody test that came back negative .
He ’ s been to the doctor at least 40 times since January , and he ’ s registered a fever at some point in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think people have figured out to not ask me , are you feeling better today ?
There are no good days .
There are good hours in the day .
Typically mornings are pretty decent , but you know , yesterday I had a fever at 10:30 in the morning , ” Godwin said .
“ There ’ s a time when , I call it the witching hour , where more debilitating fatigue would kick in at the end of my business day , and sometimes that creeps in during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 , the disease it causes , much still remains unclear .
There ’ s no approved treatment nor vaccine , yet , and so doctors are left to use trial treatments and focus on treating symptoms .
“ When you ’ ve done your traditional testing and you ’ ve looked at CAT scans and functional tests , and looked at the data and everything is normal , it ’ s also frustrating for docs out there because they don ’ t know what to do , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at National Jewish Health .
“ It doesn ’ t look like there ’ s anything to fix and you don ’ t know how to fix it .
We can at least offer these patients some guidance and at least make them feel like they ’ re not alone and they ’ re not crazy.
” Some patients have struggled with their doctors not believing them , a phenomenon that ’ s been documented more often in female patients .
Anderson met with a new primary care provider looking for more answers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortness of breath when he suggested that perhaps she had anxiety .
“ I was like , I do not have anxiety , ” she said .
“ And he ’ s still only sort of taking me seriously , but I did get a referral to a neurologist .
And , um , she listened , but they don ’ t know .
They just don ’ t know what ’ s going on .
You know , they prescribed me the low half of a low dose of anxiety medicine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ And not everyone has found their community to be more supportive .
“ When I talk to people who knew I had COVID back in May , and I talk to them now , they find out I ’ m still recovering , they tend to be really surprised , ” said Paul Nielsen , a 60-year-old data architect who lives in Colorado Springs .
“ I think people don ’ t understand how much damage it does to your body.
” Nielsen turned to the internet to find community in online forums @ @ @ @ @ @ @ navigate the disease process .
He also found a community of people who understood what he was going through .
But , there are also people in other Facebook groups who don ’ t understand .
“ I find it very frustrating when people say the pandemic as a hoax , or it ’ s just being politicized or they don ’ t feel like they need to wear a mask .
Or there ’ s an easy cure with hydroxychloroquine , plus a z-pack plus zinc , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID disease is much more complex than any one simple , you know , here you go , it ’ s cured.
” Right now , the only thing doctors can do is treat the symptoms The lives of people with lingering symptoms have been flattened , and in many cases , reduced to long bouts of fatigue , racing heart rate and brain fog .
“ I like to say I ’ m relatively intelligent and sort of articulate , and now I feel like I ’ m completely inarticulate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any sort of logical way , ” said Tara Schumacher , who got sick in mid-March .
“ If I don ’ t write things down , if I don ’ t make a list before I go to the store , I ’ m not bringing back the things that I meant to.
” Schumacher , 47 , is a landscape photographer and runs an Airbnb out of her home in Fort Collins .
The worst of her symptoms lasted through May .
Now , she ’ s left with lingering brain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months after her first symptoms , she was diagnosed with post-COVID pneumonia .
Until there ’ s more research on long haulers , all doctors can do is treat the symptoms .
“ And so it ’ s mainly supportive therapy , and we don ’ t even really know what the best ones are .
We are going to try them and we ’ re going to see how people do .
And we ’ re going to read the literature and develop and change as more information becomes available , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll publish our own experience , but it ’ s really a lot of learning on the job with these patients .
There are no established guidelines or trials that can guide you.
” In the meantime , patients are left to wait and hope they get better soon .

DENVER (AP) - In the early hours of an April morning, at her home in Erie, Malea Anderson woke up with what felt like an explosion of ice water up her spine and into her head. She had a massive headache and tried to get out of bed to go to the bathroom, but her limbs wouldn’t cooperate. She feared she was having a stroke.
Her partner, Randy, took her to the emergency room. The doctor suspected she had COVID-19, but she couldn’t get a test. At the hospital, the 53-year-old had a brain scan that came back normal - no stroke. She was sent home from the hospital, again.
It was her second visit to the emergency room in a matter of weeks and third since March. She’d had countless telehealth appointments with various primary care physicians, seen specialists and started taking supplements like vitamin D and zinc to help with her long list of symptoms: fatigue, brain fog, exhaustion, headaches, vertigo, shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle aches.
Some days she feels like she might be getting better. Then she crashes again.
“I got to where I could walk and function and maybe go make dinner. So I would get up, I would make coffee. And that would determine how the day went,” Anderson told Colorado Public Radio. “Most days I would come back to bed. If I could plan meals for my family, that would be a good day. And then outside of that, I was in bed.”
Anderson isn’t alone. A Facebook group called Survivor Corps for those who describe themselves as “long haulers” has just over 102,000 members. While the World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of COVID-19 infections “are mild or asymptomatic,” and patients recover after two weeks, those who are still suffering question the notion of a “mild” case.
In Colorado, dozens of people report a wide range of lingering symptoms including shortness of breath, elevated heart rate, fatigue and malaise, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, body aches, brain fog and more.
“I call it the trifecta. I have fatigue, insomnia and exhaustion,” said Cindy Maetzold, who lives in Snowmass. “But when I say fatigue, I’ll go for a walk, and I’ll come back and I just sit down, do nothing. It’s not that I’m lazy. It’s that I don’t have the energy to do anything.”
Studies show COVID-19 symptoms can linger, but much is still unknown
It’s not clear how many people have had lingering symptoms, and how many moving forward will. In a multistate phone survey of adults who tested positive for the virus, 35 percent had not returned to their pre-Covid-19 health 2 to 3 weeks after their test, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A small study out of Italy that surveyed 179 patients, found that 87 percent of patients who were hospitalized still had symptoms 60 days after they started feeling sick. A small study in Germany found that 78 percent of COVID-19 patients had lingering heart problems two to three months out.
In Colorado Springs, Dr. Robert Lam and his medical students started surveying patients with COVID-19 after they left the hospital. The survey asks about mental, physical and financial health. Initially, the mental implications of isolation and loneliness stood out, until they started to notice some patients just weren’t recovering.
“Our initial results showed that up to a fourth of patients were still having lingering symptoms of COVID. And so that was something that we didn’t expect,” Lam said. “We are starting to see hints and concerns that there is probably some potential long term lung damage as we’re not seeing patients recover completely.”
Lam’s patient population spent time in the hospital, so their long-term impacts will likely be different from those of people like Anderson who were never admitted, never on a ventilator and never treated for COVID-19.
To complicate matters even more, many patients like Anderson weren’t able to get a PCR test while they were sick because of a lack of tests in the early months of the pandemic. It further distorts the picture of how many people have contracted the virus, and of those, how many still have symptoms.
“It doesn’t look like there’s anything to fix and you don’t know how to fix it”
On Jan. 15, Ty Godwin, 58, was in South Africa on a work trip. He works in sales and travels internationally a dozen times a year. That night he woke up to his sheets wet from sweat. Like most people in the U.S., he hadn’t heard of COVID-19 yet, but he had been traveling internationally for work. It was one of the dozen trips he takes a year. What he thought was a normal cold or flu hung on for weeks.
“I’ve had three CT scans. I’ve had two echocardiograms. I had a $25,000 PET scan of my entire body,” Godwin said. “And I’ve been tested for everything from Lyme disease to HIV, to anything and everything you could imagine.”
None of those tests resulted in a diagnosis. As he learned more, he started to suspect he might have had the coronavirus. It took time and many tests, but his doctor now thinks the culprit is COVID-19. Early on, he had all the common symptoms, although he got an antibody test that came back negative.
He’s been to the doctor at least 40 times since January, and he’s registered a fever at some point in the day, every day since.
“I think people have figured out to not ask me, are you feeling better today? There are no good days. There are good hours in the day. Typically mornings are pretty decent, but you know, yesterday I had a fever at 10:30 in the morning,” Godwin said. “There’s a time when, I call it the witching hour, where more debilitating fatigue would kick in at the end of my business day, and sometimes that creeps in during the day.”
After months of research on the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19, the disease it causes, much still remains unclear. There’s no approved treatment nor vaccine, yet, and so doctors are left to use trial treatments and focus on treating symptoms.
“When you’ve done your traditional testing and you’ve looked at CAT scans and functional tests, and looked at the data and everything is normal, it’s also frustrating for docs out there because they don’t know what to do,” said Dr. Nir Goldstein, a pulmonologist at National Jewish Health. “It doesn’t look like there’s anything to fix and you don’t know how to fix it. We can at least offer these patients some guidance and at least make them feel like they’re not alone and they’re not crazy.”
Some patients have struggled with their doctors not believing them, a phenomenon that’s been documented more often in female patients. Anderson met with a new primary care provider looking for more answers. She was telling him about her shortness of breath when he suggested that perhaps she had anxiety.
“I was like, I do not have anxiety,” she said. “And he’s still only sort of taking me seriously, but I did get a referral to a neurologist. And, um, she listened, but they don’t know. They just don’t know what’s going on. You know, they prescribed me the low half of a low dose of anxiety medicine. And it has not really helped.”
And not everyone has found their community to be more supportive.
“When I talk to people who knew I had COVID back in May, and I talk to them now, they find out I’m still recovering, they tend to be really surprised,” said Paul Nielsen, a 60-year-old data architect who lives in Colorado Springs. “I think people don’t understand how much damage it does to your body.”
Nielsen turned to the internet to find community in online forums like Survivor Corps that helped him to navigate the disease process. He also found a community of people who understood what he was going through. But, there are also people in other Facebook groups who don’t understand.
“I find it very frustrating when people say the pandemic as a hoax, or it’s just being politicized or they don’t feel like they need to wear a mask. Or there’s an easy cure with hydroxychloroquine, plus a z-pack plus zinc,” he said. “I know from my experience, that the COVID disease is much more complex than any one simple, you know, here you go, it’s cured.”
Right now, the only thing doctors can do is treat the symptoms
The lives of people with lingering symptoms have been flattened, and in many cases, reduced to long bouts of fatigue, racing heart rate and brain fog.
“I like to say I’m relatively intelligent and sort of articulate, and now I feel like I’m completely inarticulate and incapable of putting a story together in any sort of logical way,” said Tara Schumacher, who got sick in mid-March. “If I don’t write things down, if I don’t make a list before I go to the store, I’m not bringing back the things that I meant to.”
Schumacher, 47, is a landscape photographer and runs an Airbnb out of her home in Fort Collins. The worst of her symptoms lasted through May. Now, she’s left with lingering brain fog. This week, nearly five months after her first symptoms, she was diagnosed with post-COVID pneumonia.
Until there’s more research on long haulers, all doctors can do is treat the symptoms.
“And so it’s mainly supportive therapy, and we don’t even really know what the best ones are. We are going to try them and we’re going to see how people do. And we’re going to read the literature and develop and change as more information becomes available,” Goldstein said. “And hopefully we’ll publish our own experience, but it’s really a lot of learning on the job with these patients. There are no established guidelines or trials that can guide you.”
In the meantime, patients are left to wait and hope they get better soon.


washingtontimes--2020-09-20--Court to decide if electronic signatures OK for initiatives

OLYMPIA , Wash. ( AP ) - Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman is asking a court to declare that @ @ @ @ @ of initiative petitions .
Wyman filed the request in Thurston County Superior Court last week @ @ @ @ @ she believes the Legislature should weigh in before her office unilaterally begins accepting electronic signatures @ @ @ @ @ urged her office to accept them already , especially given concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ to the Legislature have been proposed this year .
The deadline to file initiatives for @ @ @ @ @ 31 .
Sponsors need about 260,000 valid signatures to qualify .

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman is asking a court to declare that electronic signatures are not acceptable of initiative petitions.
Wyman filed the request in Thurston County Superior Court last week. She has previously said she believes the Legislature should weigh in before her office unilaterally begins accepting electronic signatures.
Some initiative sponsors have urged her office to accept them already, especially given concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wyman says 67 initiatives to the Legislature have been proposed this year. The deadline to file initiatives for the upcoming session is Dec. 31. Sponsors need about 260,000 valid signatures to qualify.


washingtontimes--2020-09-20--Analysis: US to hit 200K dead; Trump sees no need for regret

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - As the coronavirus pandemic began bearing down on the United States in March , President Donald Trump set out his expectations .
If the U.S. could keep the death toll between 100,000 to 200,000 people , Trump said , it would indicate that his administration had “ done a very good job.
” In the coming days , the number of U.S. deaths is set to clear the outer band of the president ’ s projections : 200,000 , according to the official tally , though the real number is certainly higher .
The virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no approved vaccine .
Some public health experts fear infections could spike this fall and winter , perhaps even doubling the death count by the end of the year .
Yet the grim milestone and the prospect of more American deaths to come have prompted no rethinking from the president about his handling of the pandemic and no outward expressions of regrets .
Instead , Trump has sought to reshape the significance of the death tally , trying to turn the loss of 200,000 Americans into a success story by contending the numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions of his administration .
“ If we didn ’ t do our job , it would be three and a half , two and a half , maybe 3 million people , ” Trump said Friday , leaning on extreme projections of what could have happened if nothing at all were done to fight the pandemic .
“ We have done a phenomenal job with respect to COVID-19.
” Trump ’ s reelection prospects will hinge in part on whether enough voters agree with that assessment .
The challenge he faces in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six weeks before the Nov. 3 election and voting already underway in some states , is clear .
J ust 39 % of Americans approve of the president ’ s handling of the pandemic , according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research .
Roughly one-quarter of Republicans say they don ’ t approve of Trump ’ s stewardship of the public health crisis , though his overall backing among GOP voters sits at a comfortable 84 % .
There ’ s also little doubt that the death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where Trump repeatedly assured the public it would be .
In February , when the first coronavirus cases were detected in the U.S. , the president said the numbers would be “ down to close to zero ” within day s. In early April , when U.S. officials estimated at least 100,000 people would die from the pandemic even if all conceivable steps were taken against it , Trump suggested the numbers would be lower , saying : “ I think we ’ re doing better than that.
” He ’ s shifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. remains a success story because some models showed the nation could have 240,000 deaths - a threshold that appears likely to be eclipsed by the end of the year .
Well aware of his sluggish standing with voters on the pandemic , Trump has spent recent weeks trying to refocus his race against Democrat Joe Biden on other issues , including promising white suburban voters that he would keep crime in liberal cities from encroaching on their neighborhoods .
Trump will now campaign in particular on the courts , given Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ruth Bader Ginsburg , seeking to lure back Republican voters who may have turned on him during the pandemic , with the promise of more conservatives on the high court .
Though the Supreme Court vacancy does significantly jolt the White House race , Biden still wants to keep much of the focus on the coronavirus .
He strengthened his standing through the summer by hammering what he calls the Trump administration ’ s failures to take the virus threat seriously and to provide consistent guidance to the public , including around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revelations in a new book from journalist Bob Woodward that Trump intentionally played down the seriousness of the virus earlier this year , Biden said of a president ’ s responsibilities : “ You ’ ve got to level with the American people - shoot from the shoulder , ” adding , “ There ’ s not been a time they ’ ve not been able to step up.
” Trump has insisted he wasn ’ t downplaying the severity of virus when he compared it with the seasonal flu and undercut public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mitigation efforts .
Yet he ’ s repeatedly flouted his own administration ’ s safety guidelines , rarely wearing a mask himself and holding large campaign events with little evidence of social distancing among his crowds .
With the death toll continuing to climb , Trump has also repeatedly passed up opportunities to serve as a unifying force for communities and families grieving the loss of loved ones .
Instead , he ’ s effectively discounted the deaths of Americans who live in Democratic-leaning states , suggesting he has little responsibility for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support him politically .
“ If you take the blue states out , we ’ re at a level that I don ’ t think anybody in the world would be at , ” Trump said this past week about the death toll .
“ Some of the states , they were blue states and blue state-managed.
” It was a jarring statement from an American president , yet one in keeping with Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic and his presidency .
He ’ s long taken a transactional approach to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening weeks of the pandemic feuding with Democratic governors in hard-hit states , challenging them to lift restrictions that he deemed harmful to the strong economy he ’ d hoped to ride to a second term .
“ He sees everything , including the implications of this terrible virus , in terms of his own political and personal success - ‘ How does it affect me and my electability and my popularity , ’ ” said Margaret Susan Thompson , a professor of history and political science at Syracuse University .
The question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans mourn 200,000 lives lost , is what the effects of his handling of the pandemic will be on his political future .
The answer will come soon enough from his fellow Americans .
EDITOR ’ S NOTE - AP Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace has covered the White House and politics for the AP since 2007 .
Follow her at http : //twitter.com/jpaceDC

WASHINGTON (AP) - As the coronavirus pandemic began bearing down on the United States in March, President Donald Trump set out his expectations.
If the U.S. could keep the death toll between 100,000 to 200,000 people, Trump said, it would indicate that his administration had “done a very good job.”
In the coming days, the number of U.S. deaths is set to clear the outer band of the president’s projections: 200,000, according to the official tally, though the real number is certainly higher. The virus continues to spread and there is currently no approved vaccine. Some public health experts fear infections could spike this fall and winter, perhaps even doubling the death count by the end of the year.
Yet the grim milestone and the prospect of more American deaths to come have prompted no rethinking from the president about his handling of the pandemic and no outward expressions of regrets. Instead, Trump has sought to reshape the significance of the death tally, trying to turn the loss of 200,000 Americans into a success story by contending the numbers could have been even higher without the actions of his administration.
“If we didn’t do our job, it would be three and a half, two and a half, maybe 3 million people,” Trump said Friday, leaning on extreme projections of what could have happened if nothing at all were done to fight the pandemic. “We have done a phenomenal job with respect to COVID-19.”
Trump’s reelection prospects will hinge in part on whether enough voters agree with that assessment. The challenge he faces in making his case, with just over six weeks before the Nov. 3 election and voting already underway in some states, is clear.
J ust 39% of Americans approve of the president’s handling of the pandemic, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Roughly one-quarter of Republicans say they don’t approve of Trump’s stewardship of the public health crisis, though his overall backing among GOP voters sits at a comfortable 84%.
There’s also little doubt that the death toll in the U.S. has soared past where Trump repeatedly assured the public it would be. In February, when the first coronavirus cases were detected in the U.S., the president said the numbers would be “down to close to zero” within day s. In early April, when U.S. officials estimated at least 100,000 people would die from the pandemic even if all conceivable steps were taken against it, Trump suggested the numbers would be lower, saying: “I think we’re doing better than that.”
He’s shifted again in recent days, saying that the U.S. remains a success story because some models showed the nation could have 240,000 deaths - a threshold that appears likely to be eclipsed by the end of the year.
Well aware of his sluggish standing with voters on the pandemic, Trump has spent recent weeks trying to refocus his race against Democrat Joe Biden on other issues, including promising white suburban voters that he would keep crime in liberal cities from encroaching on their neighborhoods.
Trump will now campaign in particular on the courts, given Friday’s death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, seeking to lure back Republican voters who may have turned on him during the pandemic, with the promise of more conservatives on the high court.
Though the Supreme Court vacancy does significantly jolt the White House race, Biden still wants to keep much of the focus on the coronavirus. He strengthened his standing through the summer by hammering what he calls the Trump administration’s failures to take the virus threat seriously and to provide consistent guidance to the public, including around the effectiveness of wearing face masks.
After revelations in a new book from journalist Bob Woodward that Trump intentionally played down the seriousness of the virus earlier this year, Biden said of a president’s responsibilities: “You’ve got to level with the American people - shoot from the shoulder,” adding, “There’s not been a time they’ve not been able to step up.”
Trump has insisted he wasn’t downplaying the severity of virus when he compared it with the seasonal flu and undercut public health officials who pushed for more stringent mitigation efforts. Yet he’s repeatedly flouted his own administration’s safety guidelines, rarely wearing a mask himself and holding large campaign events with little evidence of social distancing among his crowds.
With the death toll continuing to climb, Trump has also repeatedly passed up opportunities to serve as a unifying force for communities and families grieving the loss of loved ones. Instead, he’s effectively discounted the deaths of Americans who live in Democratic-leaning states, suggesting he has little responsibility for the well-being of those who don’t support him politically.
“If you take the blue states out, we’re at a level that I don’t think anybody in the world would be at,” Trump said this past week about the death toll. “Some of the states, they were blue states and blue state-managed.”
It was a jarring statement from an American president, yet one in keeping with Trump’s handling of the pandemic and his presidency. He’s long taken a transactional approach to his office, and he spent the opening weeks of the pandemic feuding with Democratic governors in hard-hit states, challenging them to lift restrictions that he deemed harmful to the strong economy he’d hoped to ride to a second term.
“He sees everything, including the implications of this terrible virus, in terms of his own political and personal success - ‘How does it affect me and my electability and my popularity,’” said Margaret Susan Thompson, a professor of history and political science at Syracuse University.
The question looming over his presidency now, as Americans mourn 200,000 lives lost, is what the effects of his handling of the pandemic will be on his political future. The answer will come soon enough from his fellow Americans.
____
EDITOR’S NOTE - AP Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace has covered the White House and politics for the AP since 2007. Follow her at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Texas begins relaxing some COVID-19 restrictions

AUSTIN , Texas ( AP ) - Texas on Monday began relaxing some coronavirus restrictions , including allowing restaurants to let more people inside .
Gov .
Greg Abbott announced the changes last week .
Bars though still remain closed indefinitely and a mask mandate is still in place following a massive summer spread that became one of the deadliest outbreaks in the U.S .
Under the new orders , restaurants and retail shops that until now have only been allowed to operate at half capacity were allowed to open up to 75 % starting Monday in most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Services on Monday reported 1,742 new coronavirus cases and 24 more deaths due to COVID-19 , the illness caused by the virus .
Health officials say there have been 698,387 reported cases in Texas so far .
The death toll is at 14,917 .
The true number of cases is likely higher though because many people haven ’ t been tested and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and a cough that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas on Monday began relaxing some coronavirus restrictions, including allowing restaurants to let more people inside.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced the changes last week. Bars though still remain closed indefinitely and a mask mandate is still in place following a massive summer spread that became one of the deadliest outbreaks in the U.S.
Under the new orders, restaurants and retail shops that until now have only been allowed to operate at half capacity were allowed to open up to 75% starting Monday in most of the state.
The Texas Department of State Health Services on Monday reported 1,742 new coronavirus cases and 24 more deaths due to COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus.
Health officials say there have been 698,387 reported cases in Texas so far. The death toll is at 14,917.
The true number of cases is likely higher though because many people haven’t been tested and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and a cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Minneapolis boy charged in shooting death of campaign worker

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - Authorities have charged a Minneapolis teenager in the killing of a 17-year-old boy and wounding of a man who had done work for a Minnesota congressional candidate , the Hennepin County Attorney ’ s Office said Monday .
Jomoy Lee , 17 , is charged with second degree murder , attempted second degree murder and two other counts for the Sept. 14 shooting that killed 17-year-old Andre Conley .
Lee remains detained at the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center .
Lee is also charged with two counts of felony possession of a firearm and one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a motor vehicle .
Prosecutors are seeking to have Lee tried as an adult on all charges .
An unidentified man who also worked for Republican Lacy Johnson was wounded in the attack .
Both police and Johnson , who is challenging Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar , said the shootings didn ’ t appear to have anything to do with politics or the campaign .
Lee was arrested following a police chase on Sept. 17 .
Police say a gun that he threw out the window while fleeing was used in the killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee had an attorney .

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Authorities have charged a Minneapolis teenager in the killing of a 17-year-old boy and wounding of a man who had done work for a Minnesota congressional candidate, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said Monday.
Jomoy Lee, 17, is charged with second degree murder, attempted second degree murder and two other counts for the Sept. 14 shooting that killed 17-year-old Andre Conley. Lee remains detained at the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center.
Lee is also charged with two counts of felony possession of a firearm and one count of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. Prosecutors are seeking to have Lee tried as an adult on all charges.
An unidentified man who also worked for Republican Lacy Johnson was wounded in the attack. Both police and Johnson, who is challenging Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, said the shootings didn’t appear to have anything to do with politics or the campaign.
Lee was arrested following a police chase on Sept. 17. Police say a gun that he threw out the window while fleeing was used in the killing.
It wasn’t clear if Lee had an attorney.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Report: LAPD used facial recognition nearly 30,000 times

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - The Los Angeles Police Department has used facial-recognition software nearly 30,000 times since 2009 even while denying at times that it used the controversial technology at all , the Los Angeles Times reported Monday .
The LAPD doesn ’ t have its own face-scanning platform but uses the face-comparison software provided through the Los Angeles County Regional Identification System , a database of about 9 million mugshots , the Times said .
Recent denials that the Police Department used facial recognition were mistakes , Assistant Chief Horace Frank told the paper .
Frank said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission about its use two years ago .
“ We aren ’ t trying to hide anything , ” he said .
The software has been used to help identify suspects in crimes without witnesses , gang crimes where witnesses are afraid to come forward , and by a multi-law enforcement agency task force investigating arsons , burglaries and other crimes that took place during summer protests over police shootings , LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein told the paper .
The software was used to compare images from crime scenes , witnesses and surveillance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he couldn ’ t determine how many arrests have resulted from use of the software but said the system is “ only used to develop investigative leads , not to solely identify a suspect in a crime.
” “ No individuals are arrested by the LAPD based solely on facial recognition results , ” he said .
The LAPD also doesn ’ t use the software to scan crowds or in any live-streaming capacity , Rubenstein said .
He said 330 LAPD personnel have access to the software .
“ That is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the system , and shows its widespread usage , ” Mohammad Tajsar , a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California , told the Times .
The potential for mass use of facial-recognition technology has raised concerns about privacy and civil rights , especially since the software has shown problems with higher misidentification rates for women and people of color .
Last year , a federal study of algorithms provided by about 100 facial-recognition software providers showed higher error rates for women , the youngest and oldest people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blacks , Asians and American Indians - depending on which image database or software was used .
California has enacted a three-year ban on the use of facial recognition technology in police body cameras .
The ban followed similar moves in New Hampshire and Oregon .
Last year , San Francisco and Oakland banned the use of any facial recognition by police and other city departments .
It also has been banned in the Boston suburb of Somerville , Massachusetts .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles Police Department has used facial-recognition software nearly 30,000 times since 2009 even while denying at times that it used the controversial technology at all, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.
The LAPD doesn’t have its own face-scanning platform but uses the face-comparison software provided through the Los Angeles County Regional Identification System, a database of about 9 million mugshots, the Times said.
Recent denials that the Police Department used facial recognition were mistakes, Assistant Chief Horace Frank told the paper. Frank said he told the city’s Police Commission about its use two years ago.
“We aren’t trying to hide anything,” he said.
The software has been used to help identify suspects in crimes without witnesses, gang crimes where witnesses are afraid to come forward, and by a multi-law enforcement agency task force investigating arsons, burglaries and other crimes that took place during summer protests over police shootings, LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein told the paper.
The software was used to compare images from crime scenes, witnesses and surveillance cameras with the regional database.
Rubenstein said he couldn’t determine how many arrests have resulted from use of the software but said the system is “only used to develop investigative leads, not to solely identify a suspect in a crime.”
“No individuals are arrested by the LAPD based solely on facial recognition results,” he said.
The LAPD also doesn’t use the software to scan crowds or in any live-streaming capacity, Rubenstein said.
He said 330 LAPD personnel have access to the software.
“That is a lot of people with access to the system, and shows its widespread usage,” Mohammad Tajsar, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, told the Times.
The potential for mass use of facial-recognition technology has raised concerns about privacy and civil rights, especially since the software has shown problems with higher misidentification rates for women and people of color.
Last year, a federal study of algorithms provided by about 100 facial-recognition software providers showed higher error rates for women, the youngest and oldest people and for certain racial groups - including Blacks, Asians and American Indians - depending on which image database or software was used.
California has enacted a three-year ban on the use of facial recognition technology in police body cameras. The ban followed similar moves in New Hampshire and Oregon.
Last year, San Francisco and Oakland banned the use of any facial recognition by police and other city departments. It also has been banned in the Boston suburb of Somerville, Massachusetts.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--DA seeking Trump's taxes cites 'mountain' of allegations

NEW YORK ( AP ) - The Manhattan district attorney ’ s office told a federal appeals court Monday that its quest to gain access to President Donald Trump ’ s tax returns is supported by “ a mountainous record ” of public allegations of misconduct .
The president and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. have been battling for more than a year over a subpoena sent to Trump ’ s accounting firm , Mazars USA , seeking eight year ’ s worth of his tax documents .
Attorneys for Trump have argued that Vance , a Democrat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with an overly broad investigation that has no legal basis .
In a filing with the 2nd U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals , lawyers for Vance again declined to reveal exactly why Trump is under investigation , citing grand jury secrecy rules .
But they cited multiple news reports in which Trump or his companies have been accused of overstating the value of his assets when dealing with potential business partners and lenders while minimizing the value of those same assets for tax purposes .
“ Any investigation into the types of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessity require a review , not only of tax returns , but source documents , working papers , and communications of the sort identified in the Mazars Subpoena , to evaluate the accuracy and good faith of the positions taken in the filings , as well as the roles of various employees and other potential witnesses , ” they wrote .
Trump has called Vance ’ s investigation “ a fishing expedition ” and “ a continuation of the witch hunt - the greatest witch hunt in history.
” The U.S. Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case , dismissing his argument that presidents are immune from state criminal inquiries as long as they are in office .
Trump ’ s legal team then tried a different approach , saying the subpoena seeking his returns was issued in bad faith .
That argument was also rejected by a federal judge last month .
Trump appealed .
Even if the appeals court decides in Vance ’ s favor , it is unlikely that Trump ’ s returns will then become public before the election .
Any material produced as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protected by grand jury secrecy rules .

NEW YORK (AP) - The Manhattan district attorney’s office told a federal appeals court Monday that its quest to gain access to President Donald Trump’s tax returns is supported by “a mountainous record” of public allegations of misconduct.
The president and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. have been battling for more than a year over a subpoena sent to Trump’s accounting firm, Mazars USA, seeking eight year’s worth of his tax documents.
Attorneys for Trump have argued that Vance, a Democrat, is just trying to smear the president with an overly broad investigation that has no legal basis.
In a filing with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, lawyers for Vance again declined to reveal exactly why Trump is under investigation, citing grand jury secrecy rules.
But they cited multiple news reports in which Trump or his companies have been accused of overstating the value of his assets when dealing with potential business partners and lenders while minimizing the value of those same assets for tax purposes.
“Any investigation into the types of potential financial improprieties described above would of necessity require a review, not only of tax returns, but source documents, working papers, and communications of the sort identified in the Mazars Subpoena, to evaluate the accuracy and good faith of the positions taken in the filings, as well as the roles of various employees and other potential witnesses,” they wrote.
Trump has called Vance’s investigation “a fishing expedition” and “a continuation of the witch hunt - the greatest witch hunt in history.”
The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled against Trump once in the case, dismissing his argument that presidents are immune from state criminal inquiries as long as they are in office.
Trump’s legal team then tried a different approach, saying the subpoena seeking his returns was issued in bad faith.
That argument was also rejected by a federal judge last month. Trump appealed.
Even if the appeals court decides in Vance’s favor, it is unlikely that Trump’s returns will then become public before the election. Any material produced as a result of the subpoena will also be protected by grand jury secrecy rules.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Nevada joins federal lawsuit against campus Title IX changes

CARSON CITY , Nev. ( AP ) - Nevada has joined 17 other states and the District of Columbia in a federal lawsuit arguing that U.S. Department of Education changes to university Title IX regulations weaken student protections against sexual harassment and violence .
State Attorney General Aaron Ford announced Monday that Nevada signed on Friday to the effort in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to obtain a court order declaring new rules put in place by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos unlawful .
Nevada universities Chancellor Melody Rose praised student leaders for speaking publicly about what Rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inclusive , respectful and safe campuses .
Nevada regents adopted the federal changes to Title IX regulations last month to meet an Education Department deadline and avoid the possible loss of $ 400 million dollars in federal higher education funding and student aid for failure to comply .
The lawsuit was originally filed June 4 .
It is led by Democratic attorneys general in Pennsylvania , New Jersey and California .
It accuses DeVos of undercutting the 1972 law barring discrimination based on sex in education with policies bolstering the rights of students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of misconduct and allowing students to question one another at live hearings , among other changes .

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada has joined 17 other states and the District of Columbia in a federal lawsuit arguing that U.S. Department of Education changes to university Title IX regulations weaken student protections against sexual harassment and violence.
State Attorney General Aaron Ford announced Monday that Nevada signed on Friday to the effort in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to obtain a court order declaring new rules put in place by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos unlawful.
Nevada universities Chancellor Melody Rose praised student leaders for speaking publicly about what Rose called a step away from open, inclusive, respectful and safe campuses.
Nevada regents adopted the federal changes to Title IX regulations last month to meet an Education Department deadline and avoid the possible loss of $400 million dollars in federal higher education funding and student aid for failure to comply.
The lawsuit was originally filed June 4. It is led by Democratic attorneys general in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California.
It accuses DeVos of undercutting the 1972 law barring discrimination based on sex in education with policies bolstering the rights of students accused of harassment, narrowing the definition of misconduct and allowing students to question one another at live hearings, among other changes.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Cory Gardner says he will vote for 'qualified nominee' to fill Supreme Court vacancy

Sen. Cory Gardner , Colorado Republican , said Monday he would vote to confirm a “ qualified nominee ” for the Supreme Court who upholds the Constitution , giving Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell another vote in favor of filling the vacancy .
“ When a President exercises constitutional authority to nominate a judge for the Supreme Court vacancy , the Senate must decide how to best fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent , ” said Mr. Gardner in a statement .
“ I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uphold the law .
Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward , I will vote to confirm.
” Mr. Gardner , locked in a tight reelection bid against former Democratic Gov .
John Hickenlooper , represents a critical vote in the GOP push to approve a nominee to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who died Friday at 87 of pancreatic cancer .
Democrats have called for Mr. McConnell to wait until after the presidential inauguration , when the White House and Senate could change hands , to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Tom Cotton , Arkansas Republican , said Mr. Gardner ’ s decision was “ not surprising to me at all.
” “ I believe that once we get the nominee , that nominee will be highly capable , ” said Mr. Cotton on Fox News .
“ The Senate will be thorough and careful .
We won ’ t cut corners , we won ’ t skip steps , but there is more than enough time to confirm the president ’ s nominee , perhaps before the election , certainly by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr. Gardner supported Mr. McConnell ’ s decision not to hold a vote on President Barack Obama ’ s nominee Merrick Garland , saying in a press release that the “ next president of the United States should have an opportunity to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court , ” according to the Denver Post .
Mr. McConnell would need 50 of the Senate ’ s 53 Republicans , with Vice President Mike Pence as a tie-breaker , to vote for President Trump ’ s nominee to the high court .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pick by the end of the week .
So far only two Republican senators , Connecticut ’ s Susan Collins and Alaska ’ s Lisa Murkowski , have said they will not vote to confirm a nominee before the Nov. 3 election .

Sen. Cory Gardner, Colorado Republican, said Monday he would vote to confirm a “qualified nominee” for the Supreme Court who upholds the Constitution, giving Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell another vote in favor of filling the vacancy.
“When a President exercises constitutional authority to nominate a judge for the Supreme Court vacancy, the Senate must decide how to best fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent,” said Mr. Gardner in a statement. “I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm.”
Mr. Gardner, locked in a tight reelection bid against former Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, represents a critical vote in the GOP push to approve a nominee to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday at 87 of pancreatic cancer.
Democrats have called for Mr. McConnell to wait until after the presidential inauguration, when the White House and Senate could change hands, to hold a vote on the next justice.
Read my full statement on the Supreme Court vacancy ⬇ pic.twitter.com/n2YNP8O0Bz — Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) September 21, 2020
Sen. Tom Cotton, Arkansas Republican, said Mr. Gardner’s decision was “not surprising to me at all.”
“I believe that once we get the nominee, that nominee will be highly capable,” said Mr. Cotton on Fox News. “The Senate will be thorough and careful. We won’t cut corners, we won’t skip steps, but there is more than enough time to confirm the president’s nominee, perhaps before the election, certainly by the end of the year.”
In 2016, Mr. Gardner supported Mr. McConnell’s decision not to hold a vote on President Barack Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland, saying in a press release that the “next president of the United States should have an opportunity to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court,” according to the Denver Post.
Mr. McConnell would need 50 of the Senate’s 53 Republicans, with Vice President Mike Pence as a tie-breaker, to vote for President Trump’s nominee to the high court. Mr. Trump is expected to name his pick by the end of the week.
So far only two Republican senators, Connecticut’s Susan Collins and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, have said they will not vote to confirm a nominee before the Nov. 3 election.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.