washingtontimes--2020-12-06--Police chief appointee cuts a pioneering path to the post

MILLERSVILLE , Md .
( AP ) - A weaker police chief might have walked away .
Amal Awad chose to rise to the challenge .
The September 2019 fatal police shooting of Leonard Shand in Hyattsville by officers from three police departments in Prince George ’ s County represented the ultimate firestorm .
There was the devastated family of the 49-year-old who demanded justice , public pressure which placed the police departments - including the one Awad lead - under intense scrutiny , and the community in Hyattsville , which had just experienced the first fatal police shooting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answers .
At a local church , all eyes were on Awad .
She was at the time about a year into her tenure as the Hyattsville Police Chief .
Townhall procedures went by the wayside as emotions reached a fever pitch .
Residents shouted questions .
Awad kept her cool .
She listened and , dictated by fact , provided answers that could never appease everyone , some who attended the meeting recalled .
Her handling of that moment , perhaps the toughest of her career , came as no surprise to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current and former colleagues and elected officials interviewed by The Capital about Awad ’ s almost 30-year career as a law enforcement professional .
For Awad , there was never any doubt about what to do .
She was determined to bring the community together and to defend her officers .
“ It ’ s my job to stand up and stay the course with them , especially during the most challenging times… ” Awad said .
“ Quitting is never an option.
” Awad climbed the ranks from patrol officer to commander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Department , served as a top police administrator in Anne Arundel County and became the police chief in Hyattsville .
She ’ s overcome adversity and carved out a reputation as an accessible , ambitious and empathetic leader .
Awad worked under David Morris , chief of the Riverdale Park Police Department , when he was a district commander for Prince George ’ s County police .
He said Awad is a pioneer who doesn ’ t shy away from difficult decisions .
“ Those that don ’ t understand the true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they want to hear , Amal will tell them what they need to hear , ” Morris said .
Those qualities appealed to Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman .
He selected Awad from a pool of 44 finalists , a panel including her past boss , to become the county ’ s next police chief .
Pittman said Awad checked all the boxes , as a person who shows heart for the community , the officers protecting it and those people who sometimes make mistakes .
Her appointment marked a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be the first woman to hold the position permanently , as well as the first person of color and member of the LGBTQ community .
She ’ s expected to be approved by the County Council in December , and to begin on Dec. 17 , taking over for Interim Chief William Lowry .
She said her appointment should serve as an inspiration to others who hadn ’ t dreamed of reaching so high .
But she didn ’ t want the historical context to downplay how she got here .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bachelor ’ s and master ’ s degrees from Johns Hopkins , with honors , and graduating from the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute .
“ It took a lot of hard work , grit and passion to get here , ” Awad said .
She was born in Washington but grew up mostly in Landover .
Awad ’ s parents split when she was 9 after her father left .
She said they went from middle to low-income ; her mom from being a homemaker to figuring out how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no playground or a swimming pool in their neighborhood .
She said as kids grew up they got into trouble .
Some of Awad ’ s classmates from that time ended up incarcerated or dead from drug overdoses .
She connects with the community in part because of her upbringing ; she ’ s comfortable talking to people from all walks .
But Awad ’ s mother also emphasized how far education could take her .
Hard work , too .
Early in her career , police personnel in Prince George ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ graduated from the police academy in 1991 .
She was paired with Officer Thomas Keifline for field training .
Almost 30 years later he remembers how she separated herself from the start .
“ The first time I met her , I asked her : Tell me a little bit about herself .
She says ‘ Well , to be honest with you , I consider myself an intellectual.
’ And I thought : oh no , who ’ d they put with me ?
” Keifline , who retired for about 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bristol , Tennessee .
“ She turned out to be the best one I ever trained.
” Keifline said they taped off murder scenes , chased down drug dealers and , one time , responded to a workplace accident where a man had been jolted with electricity .
Awad rode in the ambulance to obtain a statement from the injured man .
By the end of training it wasn ’ t a teacher-pupil relationship , he recalled .
They were like partners .
Quickly indeed .
Awad spent the bulk of her career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After a few years , the promotions piled up .
With each rise in rank , her mom was proud but not complacent .
At major , it was : when will you be chief ?
Regardless , Awad could count on her No .
1 fan to be there every time her commanders pinned a new emblem to her uniform .
Until she couldn ’ t be .
After retiring from Prince George ’ s police and one year in Anne Arundel County under then Chief Kevin Davis , Awad earned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her mom couldn ’ t make it for the ceremony that night because of deteriorating health .
The void in the room was palpable and Awad chokes up talking about it .
“ It ’ s tough… She ’ s the most important person to me , ” Awad said .
“ I realized when she passed that I have her heart .
I have her drive .
I have her passion , her tenacity.
” Despite Awad ’ s rapid rise through the ranks , she never lost sight of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fair , her former colleagues said , with a gift for maintaining strong relationships with officers and residents .
And she ’ s just as fluent talking to advocates and elected officials .
“ From the lowest man on the totem pole to the highest-ranking commander under her , they all felt like they had a connection to her , ” said Sherrice Carpenter , a Prince George ’ s County police officer and the first vice president of the FOP Lodge 89 .
She counts Awad as a close friend .
Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ones that aren ’ t always popular , with grace .
Colleagues remembered how she restored six officers to duty before the conclusion of the investigation into the shooting death of Shand .
At the time in April , Awad said her ranks were already bare and the coronavirus could stretch them too thin .
She said the community couldn ’ t afford having six officers sitting out .
Awad said officers were exhausted from working overtime and filling the void of a depleted staff .
The department couldn ’ t provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide .
“ What good does a fatigued officer do for the community ?
” Retired Prince George ’ s officers Percel Alston and John Teletchea , who each served as president of the police union almost a decade apart , recalled her making difficult decisions .
Awad was at one point Teletchea ’ s commander .
He remembered her as “ one of the best supervisors ” he ’ s ever encountered .
She once had to suspend an officer who everyone suspected to take the news badly .
But “ her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still allowed the situation to go much smoother than I would ’ ve anticipated.
” Her appointment had the support of the union representing hundreds of police officers in Anne Arundel , the FOP Lodge 70 .
Awad touts transparency among the principles that guide her law enforcement leadership .
She says it ’ s the key to building trust .
Awad participated in a virtual news conference Nov. 16 , the day Pittman announced her as his pick .
Just two days later she participated in a wide-ranging interview with editors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few days before Thanksgiving , a reporter asked to speak to her past colleagues .
She provided six names and cell phone numbers ; everyone called back .
What stood out to Erica Wolf , a member of the Hyattsville City Council , was that Awad seemed to always be there .
It didn ’ t matter if it was the city ’ s socially distant summer jam sessions , an event hosted by the police or a community forum .
She was present for the good times and the bad .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Awad there facing a church-full of emotional residents in September 2019 .
Even during the most difficult time , Awad was accessible .
Wolf gained more and more respect for the chief as she passed tense hour after tense hour answering tough questions .
It was apparent Awad was speaking from the heart , Wolf said .
Wolf said nobody would ’ ve blamed her for leaving the meeting or stepping down from her post , pointing to police chiefs who walked away after their departments were put under pressure .
“ While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ she ’ s ready to lean in and have the conversation .
”

MILLERSVILLE, Md. (AP) - A weaker police chief might have walked away. Amal Awad chose to rise to the challenge.
The September 2019 fatal police shooting of Leonard Shand in Hyattsville by officers from three police departments in Prince George’s County represented the ultimate firestorm.
There was the devastated family of the 49-year-old who demanded justice, public pressure which placed the police departments - including the one Awad lead - under intense scrutiny, and the community in Hyattsville, which had just experienced the first fatal police shooting in the city’s history, wanted answers.
At a local church, all eyes were on Awad. She was at the time about a year into her tenure as the Hyattsville Police Chief. Townhall procedures went by the wayside as emotions reached a fever pitch. Residents shouted questions. Awad kept her cool. She listened and, dictated by fact, provided answers that could never appease everyone, some who attended the meeting recalled.
Her handling of that moment, perhaps the toughest of her career, came as no surprise to the more than a half a dozen current and former colleagues and elected officials interviewed by The Capital about Awad’s almost 30-year career as a law enforcement professional.
For Awad, there was never any doubt about what to do. She was determined to bring the community together and to defend her officers.
“It’s my job to stand up and stay the course with them, especially during the most challenging times…” Awad said. “Quitting is never an option.”
Awad climbed the ranks from patrol officer to commander in the Prince George’s County Police Department, served as a top police administrator in Anne Arundel County and became the police chief in Hyattsville. She’s overcome adversity and carved out a reputation as an accessible, ambitious and empathetic leader.
Awad worked under David Morris, chief of the Riverdale Park Police Department, when he was a district commander for Prince George’s County police. He said Awad is a pioneer who doesn’t shy away from difficult decisions.
“Those that don’t understand the true values of leadership will tell people what they want to hear, Amal will tell them what they need to hear,” Morris said.
Those qualities appealed to Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman. He selected Awad from a pool of 44 finalists, a panel including her past boss, to become the county’s next police chief. Pittman said Awad checked all the boxes, as a person who shows heart for the community, the officers protecting it and those people who sometimes make mistakes.
Her appointment marked a number of milestones for the county, as Awad will be the first woman to hold the position permanently, as well as the first person of color and member of the LGBTQ community. She’s expected to be approved by the County Council in December, and to begin on Dec. 17, taking over for Interim Chief William Lowry.
She said her appointment should serve as an inspiration to others who hadn’t dreamed of reaching so high. But she didn’t want the historical context to downplay how she got here. Instead, she pointed to her credentials: bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Johns Hopkins, with honors, and graduating from the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute.
“It took a lot of hard work, grit and passion to get here,” Awad said.
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
She was born in Washington but grew up mostly in Landover. Awad’s parents split when she was 9 after her father left. She said they went from middle to low-income; her mom from being a homemaker to figuring out how to provide for seven children.
There was no playground or a swimming pool in their neighborhood. She said as kids grew up they got into trouble. Some of Awad’s classmates from that time ended up incarcerated or dead from drug overdoses. She connects with the community in part because of her upbringing; she’s comfortable talking to people from all walks.
But Awad’s mother also emphasized how far education could take her. Hard work, too.
Early in her career, police personnel in Prince George’s recognized her determination and smarts.
Awad graduated from the police academy in 1991. She was paired with Officer Thomas Keifline for field training. Almost 30 years later he remembers how she separated herself from the start.
“The first time I met her, I asked her: Tell me a little bit about herself. She says ‘Well, to be honest with you, I consider myself an intellectual.’ And I thought: oh no, who’d they put with me?” Keifline, who retired for about 10 years, recalled from his home near Bristol, Tennessee. “She turned out to be the best one I ever trained.”
Keifline said they taped off murder scenes, chased down drug dealers and, one time, responded to a workplace accident where a man had been jolted with electricity. Awad rode in the ambulance to obtain a statement from the injured man. By the end of training it wasn’t a teacher-pupil relationship, he recalled. They were like partners.
“She caught on quick.”
Quickly indeed. Awad spent the bulk of her career working patrol and doing some undercover operations. After a few years, the promotions piled up.
Corporal. Sergeant. Lieutenant. Major.
With each rise in rank, her mom was proud but not complacent. At major, it was: when will you be chief? Regardless, Awad could count on her No. 1 fan to be there every time her commanders pinned a new emblem to her uniform.
Until she couldn’t be.
After retiring from Prince George’s police and one year in Anne Arundel County under then Chief Kevin Davis, Awad earned a position as deputy chief in Hyattsville. Her mom couldn’t make it for the ceremony that night because of deteriorating health. The void in the room was palpable and Awad chokes up talking about it.
“It’s tough… She’s the most important person to me,” Awad said. “I realized when she passed that I have her heart. I have her drive. I have her passion, her tenacity.”
‘SHE’S READY TO LEAN IN’
Despite Awad’s rapid rise through the ranks, she never lost sight of her roots.
She’s strong and fair, her former colleagues said, with a gift for maintaining strong relationships with officers and residents. And she’s just as fluent talking to advocates and elected officials.
“From the lowest man on the totem pole to the highest-ranking commander under her, they all felt like they had a connection to her,” said Sherrice Carpenter, a Prince George’s County police officer and the first vice president of the FOP Lodge 89. She counts Awad as a close friend.
Her compassion allows her to make tough decisions, ones that aren’t always popular, with grace. Colleagues remembered how she restored six officers to duty before the conclusion of the investigation into the shooting death of Shand. At the time in April, Awad said her ranks were already bare and the coronavirus could stretch them too thin. She said the community couldn’t afford having six officers sitting out.
Awad said officers were exhausted from working overtime and filling the void of a depleted staff. The department couldn’t provide the quality of services it pledged to provide.
“What good does a fatigued officer do for the community?”
Retired Prince George’s officers Percel Alston and John Teletchea, who each served as president of the police union almost a decade apart, recalled her making difficult decisions.
Awad was at one point Teletchea’s commander. He remembered her as “one of the best supervisors” he’s ever encountered. She once had to suspend an officer who everyone suspected to take the news badly. But “her calmness and demeanor while still maintaining authority still allowed the situation to go much smoother than I would’ve anticipated.”
Her appointment had the support of the union representing hundreds of police officers in Anne Arundel, the FOP Lodge 70.
Awad touts transparency among the principles that guide her law enforcement leadership. She says it’s the key to building trust.
Awad participated in a virtual news conference Nov. 16, the day Pittman announced her as his pick. Just two days later she participated in a wide-ranging interview with editors and reporters at The Capital. And a few days before Thanksgiving, a reporter asked to speak to her past colleagues. She provided six names and cell phone numbers; everyone called back.
What stood out to Erica Wolf, a member of the Hyattsville City Council, was that Awad seemed to always be there. It didn’t matter if it was the city’s socially distant summer jam sessions, an event hosted by the police or a community forum. She was present for the good times and the bad.
So Wolf wasn’t shocked to see Awad there facing a church-full of emotional residents in September 2019.
Even during the most difficult time, Awad was accessible. Wolf gained more and more respect for the chief as she passed tense hour after tense hour answering tough questions. It was apparent Awad was speaking from the heart, Wolf said.
Wolf said nobody would’ve blamed her for leaving the meeting or stepping down from her post, pointing to police chiefs who walked away after their departments were put under pressure.
“While others would run away,” Wolf said, “she’s ready to lean in and have the conversation.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-06--Virginia church built in the 1800s gets 1st full-time pastor

ARRINGTON , Va. ( AP ) - “ Blessed are the flexible for they won ’ t be bent out of shape.
” That ’ s the motto of the Rev .
Donna Steckline , the newest pastor to grace Trinity Episcopal Church - built in 1830 - and the first full-time pastor the Arrington church has seen , an official with the church said .
It ’ s a prospect the new pastor was excited about .
In her own experience , Steckline said years ago “ the churches had to be connected to another church to be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own and there was always a tension of some sort … so I think it ’ s wonderful that they can afford to do that , number one , and I think that helps just focus the energy in one place as opposed to trying to be in more than one place at a time.
” For nearly 200 years , Trinity , found at the edge of the Oak Ridge Farm and Estate at 475 Oak Ridge Road , has been part of the Nelson Parish , which at times included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county served by a single “ circuit riding ” priest , a news release from the church states .
Trinity ’ s senior warden , Al Weed , who has been with the church since the early 1970s , said it was the church ’ s belief that Steckline is the first full-time priest Trinity has had .
He said in recent years , Trinity was served by a half-time priest before eventually moving on and since has had to rely on “ supply priests , ” or different priests sent by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fixed fee .
While applicable to many of life ’ s situations , Steckline ’ s motto especially is poignant now .
Her transition coincides with other changes being made across the dozens of churches in rural Nelson County as ministries adjust worship practices to accommodate health and safety guidelines resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic , and Trinity Episcopal Church is no exception .
The pandemic has forced many pastors , Steckline included , to come up with alternative ways of preaching to an audience beyond what previously were packed pews on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Arrington church can hold roughly 30 people , Weed said .
In order to continue to reach churchgoers , Trinity is streaming services online and also is working on implementing an FM radio station so people can remain in their vehicles , Weed said .
“ This is forcing everyone to do things that they haven ’ t had to do before and we have the ability to reach far more people than we ever did before , ” Steckline said , adding there are family and friends from New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ About three and a half years since the half-time priest left , Weed said donations to the church have remained “ robust.
” That reserve coupled with a sizable endowment that has remained largely untouched has allowed Trinity to support a full-time priest living within the community .
“ We ’ ve been doing as much as we can , ” Weed said .
“ Unless COVID lasts for three or four years we ’ re comfortable we can make this happen.
” Although the pandemic has limited in-person interaction , Steckline said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reception she has received so far .
Steckline , who received a degree in religion and missiology from Trinity School for Ministry , moved to Nelson County in May from upstate New York , where she previously pastored for another rural church of a fairly similar size , she said .
Raised on a large dairy farm , Steckline said she feels “ very at home ” in rural settings and connecting with the people who call that setting home .
Steckline said she felt her previous experience of being pastor at another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she settles into her new congregation .
In addition to the small-town setting , Steckline said one of the reasons she chose to pastor at Trinity was because of how mission-oriented the church is , a passion she also shares .
Steckline and her husband have been out in the mission field for a number of years , having completed outreach in Argentina , Haiti , Bolivia and South Sudan , which she noted she had a special connection to .
“ That ’ s my fiber , ” Steckline said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls us to be outside of the doors of the church .
Yes , He wants us to feed the sheep but He wants to find the lost sheep as well.
” The release notes Steckline also has a passion for children and youth ministries .
Kara Eaton Dean , of Lynchburg , is a vestry member and has been attending services at Trinity since 2013 .
Dean , who has three children , said Steckline ’ s passion for youth ministry is one of many qualities she has that makes her a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ I think a lot of our older ( churchgoers ) are really excited that we have a vibrant youth population in our church and we want to see that population grow .
I think that Donna has experience in … doing children ’ s ministry and that ’ s a really wonderful thing she brings to the table , ” Dean said .
Steckline is at the church on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays starting at 9 a.m .

ARRINGTON, Va. (AP) - “Blessed are the flexible for they won’t be bent out of shape.”
That’s the motto of the Rev. Donna Steckline, the newest pastor to grace Trinity Episcopal Church - built in 1830 - and the first full-time pastor the Arrington church has seen, an official with the church said. It’s a prospect the new pastor was excited about.
In her own experience, Steckline said years ago “the churches had to be connected to another church to be able to afford to have a pastor of their own and there was always a tension of some sort … so I think it’s wonderful that they can afford to do that, number one, and I think that helps just focus the energy in one place as opposed to trying to be in more than one place at a time.”
For nearly 200 years, Trinity, found at the edge of the Oak Ridge Farm and Estate at 475 Oak Ridge Road, has been part of the Nelson Parish, which at times included up to four separate churches located throughout the county served by a single “circuit riding” priest, a news release from the church states.
Trinity’s senior warden, Al Weed, who has been with the church since the early 1970s, said it was the church’s belief that Steckline is the first full-time priest Trinity has had.
He said in recent years, Trinity was served by a half-time priest before eventually moving on and since has had to rely on “supply priests,” or different priests sent by the diocese to perform weekly services at a fixed fee.
While applicable to many of life’s situations, Steckline’s motto especially is poignant now. Her transition coincides with other changes being made across the dozens of churches in rural Nelson County as ministries adjust worship practices to accommodate health and safety guidelines resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and Trinity Episcopal Church is no exception.
The pandemic has forced many pastors, Steckline included, to come up with alternative ways of preaching to an audience beyond what previously were packed pews on Sunday mornings. Due to social distancing, the Arrington church can hold roughly 30 people, Weed said.
In order to continue to reach churchgoers, Trinity is streaming services online and also is working on implementing an FM radio station so people can remain in their vehicles, Weed said.
“This is forcing everyone to do things that they haven’t had to do before and we have the ability to reach far more people than we ever did before,” Steckline said, adding there are family and friends from New York state who tune into her services.
About three and a half years since the half-time priest left, Weed said donations to the church have remained “robust.” That reserve coupled with a sizable endowment that has remained largely untouched has allowed Trinity to support a full-time priest living within the community.
“We’ve been doing as much as we can,” Weed said. “Unless COVID lasts for three or four years we’re comfortable we can make this happen.”
Although the pandemic has limited in-person interaction, Steckline said she was pleased with attendance and the reception she has received so far.
Steckline, who received a degree in religion and missiology from Trinity School for Ministry, moved to Nelson County in May from upstate New York, where she previously pastored for another rural church of a fairly similar size, she said. Raised on a large dairy farm, Steckline said she feels “very at home” in rural settings and connecting with the people who call that setting home.
Steckline said she felt her previous experience of being pastor at another rural church would be a boon as she settles into her new congregation.
In addition to the small-town setting, Steckline said one of the reasons she chose to pastor at Trinity was because of how mission-oriented the church is, a passion she also shares.
Steckline and her husband have been out in the mission field for a number of years, having completed outreach in Argentina, Haiti, Bolivia and South Sudan, which she noted she had a special connection to.
“That’s my fiber,” Steckline said. “I’m very people-oriented and God calls us to be outside of the doors of the church. Yes, He wants us to feed the sheep but He wants to find the lost sheep as well.”
The release notes Steckline also has a passion for children and youth ministries.
Kara Eaton Dean, of Lynchburg, is a vestry member and has been attending services at Trinity since 2013. Dean, who has three children, said Steckline’s passion for youth ministry is one of many qualities she has that makes her a “wonderful fit for our church community.”
“I think a lot of our older (churchgoers) are really excited that we have a vibrant youth population in our church and we want to see that population grow. I think that Donna has experience in … doing children’s ministry and that’s a really wonderful thing she brings to the table,” Dean said.
Steckline is at the church on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays starting at 9 a.m.


washingtontimes--2020-12-06--Sheriff: Defiant NYC bar owner struck deputy with his car

NEW YORK ( AP ) - The co-owner of a New York City bar that authorities said has been defying coronavirus restrictions was taken into custody early Sunday after running over a deputy with a car , authorities said .
Danny Presti fled from his bar , Mac ’ s Public House , after deputies observed patrons entering the establishment Saturday night in violation of city and state closure orders , Sheriff Joseph Fucito said .
Deputies attempted to arrest Presti as he left the bar early Sunday , but Presti got into his car , struck a deputy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the deputy was left hanging onto the hood , Fucito said .
Presti , 34 , was eventually stopped and apprehended , the sheriff said .
Charges against him were pending .
The injured deputy was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries .
The deputy ’ s condition wasn ’ t immediately available .
An email seeking comment was sent to an attorney representing the bar ’ s owners .
The Staten Island bar was the site of protests last week after the sheriff ’ s office said plainclothes officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food and beverages on Tuesday .
Presti was arrested at the time .
The tavern is in an area designated by Gov .
Andrew Cuomo as an orange zone because of spiking COVID-19 rates and was not supposed to be serving customers indoors .
But the owners had declared the bar an “ autonomous zone , ” a nod to protesters who claimed control over a Seattle neighborhood in June .

NEW YORK (AP) - The co-owner of a New York City bar that authorities said has been defying coronavirus restrictions was taken into custody early Sunday after running over a deputy with a car, authorities said.
Danny Presti tried to drive away from his bar, Mac’s Public House, as deputies were arresting him for serving patrons in violation of city and state closure orders, Sheriff Joseph Fucito said.
Deputies attempted to arrest Presti as he left the bar early Sunday, but Presti got into his car, struck a deputy and kept driving for about 100 yards as the deputy was left hanging onto the hood, Fucito said.
Presti, 34, was eventually stopped and apprehended, the sheriff said. Presti was arraigned Sunday afternoon in Staten Island’s 122nd Precinct on 10 charges including third-degree assault, reckless driving, menacing and resisting arrest. A phone message was left for Mark Fonte, an attorney for Presti.
The injured deputy was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries. The deputy’s condition wasn’t immediately available.
The Staten Island bar was the site of protests last week after the sheriff’s office arrested Presti on charges of violating restrictions aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus and obstructing governmental administration.
The tavern is in an area designated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo as an orange zone because of spiking COVID-19 rates and was not supposed to be serving customers indoors. But the owners had declared the bar an “autonomous zone,” a nod to protesters who claimed control over a Seattle neighborhood in June.
A spokesperson for Mayor Bill de Blasio said Presti’s actions showed a disregard for human life. “In both of these instances, whether it’s flouting public health laws or ramming a car into a uniformed deputy, this individual has endangered the lives of others,” said the spokesperson, Bill Neidhardt.
Authorities said the bar was still serving patrons Saturday night even though it was ordered closed entirely after Presti’s earlier arrest.
Deputies surveilling the pub saw that the front door to the bar was locked but customers were being directed to a building next door, Fucito said. From there, they were able to enter Mac’s Public House through a back door and order food and beverages, he said.
Staten Island is much more conservative than the rest of New York City and is the only one of the city’s five boroughs that voted for Republican President Donald Trump in November. The borough is home to many police officers and firefighters and is usually seen as supportive of law enforcement.


washingtontimes--2020-12-06--Pope: Christmas a sign of hope amid difficulties of pandemic

VATICAN CITY ( AP ) - Pope Francis says the Christmas season provides reason for hope amid the difficulties of @ @ @ @ @ his Sunday blessing , Francis noted that the Vatican ’ s Christmas tree had gone @ @ @ @ @ Peter ’ s Square , and that work is underway to build the life-size Nativity @ @ @ @ @ Pointing to the tree from his studio window over the square , Francis said such @ @ @ @ @ signs of hope , especially in this difficult period.
” He urged the faithful to @ @ @ @ @ Christmas - the birth of Jesus - and lend a hand to the neediest .
@ @ @ @ @ ’ s no pandemic , there ’ s no crisis that can extinguish this light.
@ @ @ @ @ t released the pope ’ s Christmas schedule , but he usually celebrates a Christmas @ @ @ @ @ a blessing on Christmas Day .
The Vatican ’ s liturgical services are being held @ @ @ @ @ because of COVID-19 .

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis says the Christmas season provides reason for hope amid the difficulties of the coronavirus pandemic.
During his Sunday blessing, Francis noted that the Vatican’s Christmas tree had gone up last week in St. Peter’s Square, and that work is underway to build the life-size Nativity scene next to it.
Pointing to the tree from his studio window over the square, Francis said such symbols of Christmas “are signs of hope, especially in this difficult period.”
He urged the faithful to recall the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus - and lend a hand to the neediest. He said: “There’s no pandemic, there’s no crisis that can extinguish this light.”
The Vatican hasn’t released the pope’s Christmas schedule, but he usually celebrates a Christmas Eve Mass and then offers a blessing on Christmas Day. The Vatican’s liturgical services are being held without the general public present because of COVID-19.


washingtontimes--2020-12-06--Kuwait election sees two-thirds of parliament lose seats

KUWAIT CITY ( AP ) - Kuwaitis elected a new parliament in an election that saw two-thirds of lawmakers and the country ’ s only female legislator lose their seats , election results released Sunday showed .
The direction that the new 50-seat National Assembly will take remains unclear as 21 of them will become first-time legislators when they are sworn in Dec. 15 .
However , the challenges that face them remain the same in this oil-rich nation now struggling with a debt crisis and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
Saturday ’ s election for Kuwait ’ s parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Gulf Arab countries , saw an over-60 % turnout of the country ’ s more than 560,000 registered voters .
Under Kuwait ’ s system , the country is broken up into five voting districts , from which the top 10 candidates in each go on to parliament .
Online videos showed celebrations with candidates lifted onto supporters ’ shoulders , or in one case , riding a horse into a tent as traditional music blared .
The breakdown of what side the new legislators fell on wasn ’ t immediately clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling Al Sabah family , Islamists and relative liberals in this country where alcohol is illegal .
Safa al-Hashem , parliament ’ s only female lawmaker , lost her seat after getting only 430 votes compared to 3,273 in 2016 .
She had gained notoriety for her anti-foreign worker stances , including at one point saying expatriates “ must be charged for everything , for medical services , infrastructure and again I say for the air they breath here.
” As is custom after an election , Kuwait ’ s ruling emir Sheikh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cabinet dissolved ahead of the new parliament taking its seats .
The vote came after the death in September of Kuwait ’ s ruler , the 91-year-old Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah .
Sheikh Nawaf , 83 , quickly took power without any opposition .
The outgoing parliament then approved Sheikh Nawaf ’ s choice for crown prince , Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber , the 80-year-old deputy head of Kuwait ’ s National Guard .
The new parliament will need to make decisions on a number of matters , perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy .
This fall , the ratings agency Moody ’ s downgraded Kuwait for the first time in its history .
The finance minister warned the government soon wouldn ’ t be able to pay salaries .
Kuwait ’ s national bank said the country ’ s deficit could hit 40 % of its gross domestic product this year , the highest level since the financial devastation of the 1990 Iraqi invasion and subsequent Gulf War .
With crude oil prices just above $ 45 a barrel , other nearby Arab states took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes to sustain their spending .
Kuwait , however , did none of that .
That ’ s not to say Kuwait will be begging for aid at international summits anytime soon .
The Kuwait Investment Authority holds assets of $ 533 billion , according to the Las Vegas-based Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute , making it the world ’ s fourth-largest such fund .
The problem is Kuwait has no legal framework to deficit-spend beyond its current limit of $ 33 billion .
It needs the country ’ s parliament to grant approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular backlash as the public fears the money will be lost to corruption amid a series of high-profile cases shaking the country .
Kuwait has the world ’ s sixth-largest known oil reserves .
The country hosts some 13,500 American troops , many at Camp Arifjan south of Kuwait City , which is also home to the forward command of U.S. Army Central .

KUWAIT CITY (AP) - Kuwaitis elected a new parliament in an election that saw two-thirds of lawmakers and the country’s only female legislator lose their seats, election results released Sunday showed.
The direction that the new 50-seat National Assembly will take remains unclear as 21 of them will become first-time legislators when they are sworn in Dec. 15. However, the challenges that face them remain the same in this oil-rich nation now struggling with a debt crisis and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Saturday’s election for Kuwait’s parliament, the freest and most-rambunctious assembly in the Gulf Arab countries, saw an over-60% turnout of the country’s more than 560,000 registered voters. Under Kuwait’s system, the country is broken up into five voting districts, from which the top 10 candidates in each go on to parliament.
Online videos showed celebrations with candidates lifted onto supporters’ shoulders, or in one case, riding a horse into a tent as traditional music blared.
The breakdown of what side the new legislators fell on wasn’t immediately clear. Major blocs include those backing the ruling Al Sabah family, Islamists and relative liberals in this country where alcohol is illegal.
Safa al-Hashem, parliament’s only female lawmaker, lost her seat after getting only 430 votes compared to 3,273 in 2016. She had gained notoriety for her anti-foreign worker stances, including at one point saying expatriates “must be charged for everything, for medical services, infrastructure and again I say for the air they breath here.”
As is custom after an election, Kuwait’s ruling emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah ordered the Cabinet dissolved ahead of the new parliament taking its seats.
The vote came after the death in September of Kuwait’s ruler, the 91-year-old Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. Sheikh Nawaf, 83, quickly took power without any opposition. The outgoing parliament then approved Sheikh Nawaf’s choice for crown prince, Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber, the 80-year-old deputy head of Kuwait’s National Guard.
The new parliament will need to make decisions on a number of matters, perhaps none more important than Kuwait’s economy.
This fall, the ratings agency Moody’s downgraded Kuwait for the first time in its history. The finance minister warned the government soon wouldn’t be able to pay salaries. Kuwait’s national bank said the country’s deficit could hit 40% of its gross domestic product this year, the highest level since the financial devastation of the 1990 Iraqi invasion and subsequent Gulf War.
With crude oil prices just above $45 a barrel, other nearby Arab states took on debt, trimmed subsidies or introduced taxes to sustain their spending. Kuwait, however, did none of that.
That’s not to say Kuwait will be begging for aid at international summits anytime soon. The Kuwait Investment Authority holds assets of $533 billion, according to the Las Vegas-based Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, making it the world’s fourth-largest such fund.
The problem is Kuwait has no legal framework to deficit-spend beyond its current limit of $33 billion. It needs the country’s parliament to grant approval. But lawmakers likely will face a popular backlash as the public fears the money will be lost to corruption amid a series of high-profile cases shaking the country.
Kuwait has the world’s sixth-largest known oil reserves. The country hosts some 13,500 American troops, many at Camp Arifjan south of Kuwait City, which is also home to the forward command of U.S. Army Central.


washingtontimes--2020-12-06--Last-ditch post-Brexit talks to resume between EU and UK

BRUSSELS ( AP ) - British negotiators arrived in Brussels on Sunday for what is potentially the final attempt to reach a deal with the European Union over future trade ties , even though “ significant differences remain ” on three essential points .
With less than four weeks remaining before the Jan. 1 cutoff day , the negotiators might have less than 48 hours to clinch a breakthrough because European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will assess late Monday if there is any point in continuing .
While the U.K. left the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the bloc ’ s tariff-free single market and customs union through Dec. 31 .
Reaching a trade deal by then would ensure there are no tariffs and trade quotas on goods exported or imported by the two sides , although there would still be technical costs , partly associated with customs checks and non-tariff barriers on services .
Britain ’ s main negotiator , David Frost , arrived on a high-speed Eurostar train Sunday and said that “ we are going to see what happens , ” amid an ever gloomier outlook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all outstanding points .
The meeting was authorized after a phone call between von der Leyen and Johnson on Saturday , where the two leaders noted that fundamental differences between the two sides remain over a “ level playing field ” - the standards the U.K. must meet to export into the bloc - how future disputes are resolved and fishing rights for EU trawlers in U.K. waters .
Still , they said a “ further effort should be undertaken by our negotiating teams to assess whether they can be resolved.
” Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk again and underlined that “ no agreement is feasible if these issues are not resolved.
” Speed is now of the essence since EU member states have to unanimously bless any deal .
EU chief negotiator Barnier has been invited to a pre-dawn briefing of EU ambassadors on Monday , as the bloc ’ s 27 nations want to fully grasp what the chances are of getting a deal before EU leaders arrive in Brussels for a two-day summit starting Thursday .
With the U.K. ’ s post-Brexit transition period due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearly at a crunch point , not least because of the necessary approvals required on both sides after negotiators reach a deal .
Without an agreement in place , tariffs will end up being imposed on traded goods at the start of 2021 .
Both sides would suffer economically from a failure to secure a trade deal , but most economists think the British economy would take a greater hit , at least in the short-term , as it is relatively more reliant on trade with the EU than vice versa .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were the interests and economic costs at stake not so massive .
But because the EU is an economic power of 450 million people and Britain has major diplomatic and security interests beyond its own commercial might , the two sides want to explore every last chance to get a deal before they become acrimonious rivals .
The main problem at the heart of the negotiations is how to reconcile how Britain wrests itself free of EU rules and the bloc ’ s insistence that no country , however important , should get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undercutting its high environmental and social standards .
The politically charged issue of fisheries also continues to play an outsized role .
The EU has demanded widespread access to U.K. fishing grounds that historically have been open to foreign trawlers .
But in Britain , gaining control of the fishing grounds was a main issue for the Brexiteers who pushed for the country to leave the EU .
Follow all AP stories about Brexit and British politics at https : //apnews.com/Brexit

BRUSSELS (AP) - European Union and British negotiators Sunday entered what is potentially the final attempt to strike a deal over future trade ties, even though “significant differences remain” on three essential points.
With less than four weeks remaining before the Jan. 1 cutoff day, the negotiators might have less than 48 hours to clinch a breakthrough because European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will assess late Monday if there is any point in continuing.
If there remain major issues with legal oversight of any trade deal and standards of fair play the UK needs to meet to be able to export in the EU, fisheries appears to move toward some sense of compromise.
“The fisheries negotiations are slowly moving toward a landing zone. It no longer is the prime stumbling bloc,” said a diplomat from an EU nation. He didn’t want to be identified because the talks were still ongoing.
While the U.K. left the EU on Jan. 31, it remains within the bloc’s tariff-free single market and customs union through Dec. 31. Reaching a trade deal by then would ensure there are no tariffs and trade quotas on goods exported or imported by the two sides, although there would still be technical costs, partly associated with customs checks and non-tariff barriers on services.
Britain’s main negotiator, David Frost, arrived on a high-speed Eurostar train Sunday and said that “we are going to see what happens,” amid an ever gloomier outlook that a breakthrough could be achieved on all outstanding points.
Foreign Minister Simon Coveney of Ireland, which stands to lose most in case of a no-deal exit, told RTE broadcater that “we’re in a difficult place as we try to close it out.”
The new negotiating session was authorized after a phone call between von der Leyen and Johnson on Saturday, where the two leaders noted that fundamental differences between the two sides remain over a “level playing field” - the standards the U.K. must meet to export into the bloc - how future disputes are resolved and fishing rights for EU trawlers in U.K. waters.
Still, they said a “further effort should be undertaken by our negotiating teams to assess whether they can be resolved.” Johnson and von der Leyen said they would talk again and underlined that “no agreement is feasible if these issues are not resolved.”
Speed is now of the essence since EU member states have to unanimously support any deal. EU chief negotiator Barnier has been invited to a pre-dawn briefing of EU ambassadors on Monday, as the bloc’s 27 nations want to fully grasp what the chances are of getting a deal before EU leaders arrive in Brussels for a two-day summit starting Thursday.
British Environment Secretary George Eustice warned that the talks were “very difficult” after what he described as a series of “setbacks,” notably “ludicrous” demands by the EU on future fishing rights.
Both sides would suffer economically from a failure to secure a trade deal, but most economists think the British economy would take a greater hit, at least in the short-term, as it is relatively more reliant on trade with the EU than vice versa.
The talks would surely have collapsed by now were the interests and economic costs at stake not so massive. But because the EU is an economic power of 450 million people and Britain has major diplomatic and security interests beyond its own commercial might, the two sides want to explore every last chance to get a deal before they become acrimonious rivals.
The main problem at the heart of the negotiations is how to reconcile how Britain wrests itself free of EU rules and the bloc’s insistence that no country, however important, should get easy access to its lucrative market by undercutting its high environmental and social standards.
A second issue is that the EU wants the toughest legal checks possible on Britain respecting any deal that emerges.
The politically charged issue of fisheries also continues to play an outsized role. The EU has demanded widespread access to U.K. fishing grounds that historically have been open to foreign trawlers. But in Britain, gaining control of the fishing grounds was a main issue for the Brexiteers who pushed for the country to leave the EU.
___
Pan Pylas reported from London.
___
Follow all AP stories about Brexit and British politics at https://apnews.com/Brexit


washingtontimes--2020-12-06--Israeli police cleared in shooting of maimed Palestinian boy

JERUSALEM ( AP ) - Israeli authorities have cleared police of any wrongdoing in the case of a 9-year-old boy who lost an eye after apparently being shot in the face by an Israeli officer earlier this year .
Malik Eissa was struck by what appeared to be a sponge-tipped munition last February and lost vision in his left eye , and his family says he hasn ’ t returned to school because of recurring medical treatments and the embarrassment of being disfigured and reliant on a prosthetic eye .
Residents said he had just gotten off a school bus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ east Jerusalem when police opened fire .
Police said at the time they had responded to riots in the tense neighborhood and used what they call non-lethal weapons .
In a statement sent to The Associated Press on Saturday , the Israeli Justice Ministry said its unit for internal police investigations concluded that while the incident was “ sad , ” there were insufficient grounds for prosecution after interviewing witnesses and reviewing video footage and other evidence .
It said police were conducting an arrest operation at the time and were attacked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said that medical experts could not determine whether the boy had been struck by a bullet or a stone .
It said , however , that the investigations unit ordered a review of operational conduct , including its use of sponge-tipped bullets in civilian areas .
Malik ’ s father , Wael Issa , told AP that his family had been the victim of injustice twice - first when the boy was shot and now with the investigation being closed .
“ When my son was shot , the members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They were about to cry .
They told me , ‘ Don ’ t worry , those responsible for shooting him will be held accountable , ’ ” he said Sunday .
“ But 10 months after investigating , they decided to close the file.
” He said the boy suffers from constant headaches and psychological problems and has not returned to school because of repeated surgeries and embarrassment about his appearance .
He said his son finally agreed to return to school two weeks ago after receiving a glass eye , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of an embarrassing incident .
“ The eye fell out in front of the students .
He feels terrible , ” he said .
“ Frankly speaking I don ’ t believe I will ever get justice in this system.
” Palestinians and Israeli human rights groups have long accused Israel of whitewashing wrongdoing by its security forces .
B ’ tselem , Israel ’ s leading human rights group , said the case “ exemplifies whitewashing at work.
” “ Every individual case is isolated to a series of technical details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident , rather than an open fire policy , ” it said .
It accused police of operating within “ an oppressed civilian population to enforce an occupation and annexation , ” leading to civilian casualties and impunity for those who harm them .
Issawiya is part of east Jerusalem , which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war along with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip , territories the Palestinians want for a future state .
Israel later annexed east Jerusalem in a step that is not internationally recognized and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital .
The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as their future capital .
Issawiya has been the site of frequent police raids that often ignite demonstrations or clashes .
Police blame the violence on local youths , whom they accuse of throwing stones and firebombs at patrol vehicles .
Over the weekend , a 13-year-old Palestinian boy was killed by Israeli army fire during clashes with stone throwers in the occupied West Bank , according to the Palestinian Health Ministry .
The Israeli military said it used “ riot dispersal means ” and did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.N. envoy in the region has called on Israel to swiftly investigate what he called a “ shocking and unacceptable ” incident .

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli authorities have cleared police of any wrongdoing in the case of a 9-year-old boy who lost an eye after apparently being shot in the face by an Israeli officer earlier this year.
Malik Eissa was struck by what appeared to be a sponge-tipped munition last February and lost vision in his left eye, and his family says he hasn’t returned to school because of recurring medical treatments and the embarrassment of being disfigured and reliant on a prosthetic eye.
Residents said he had just gotten off a school bus in the Palestinian neighborhood of Issawiya in east Jerusalem when police opened fire. Police said at the time they had responded to riots in the tense neighborhood and used what they call non-lethal weapons.
In a statement sent to The Associated Press on Saturday, the Israeli Justice Ministry said its unit for internal police investigations concluded that while the incident was “sad,” there were insufficient grounds for prosecution after interviewing witnesses and reviewing video footage and other evidence.
It said police were conducting an arrest operation at the time and were attacked by a group of stone throwers. It also said that medical experts could not determine whether the boy had been struck by a bullet or a stone. It said, however, that the investigations unit ordered a review of operational conduct, including its use of sponge-tipped bullets in civilian areas.
Malik’s father, Wael Issa, told AP that his family had been the victim of injustice twice - first when the boy was shot and now with the investigation being closed.
“When my son was shot, the members of the investigative unit came to the hospital. They were about to cry. They told me, ‘Don’t worry, those responsible for shooting him will be held accountable,’” he said Sunday. “But 10 months after investigating, they decided to close the file.”
He said the boy suffers from constant headaches and psychological problems and has not returned to school because of repeated surgeries and embarrassment about his appearance.
He said his son finally agreed to return to school two weeks ago after receiving a glass eye, but stopped going after a couple of days because of an embarrassing incident.
“The eye fell out in front of the students. He feels terrible,” he said. “Frankly speaking I don’t believe I will ever get justice in this system.”
Palestinians and Israeli human rights groups have long accused Israel of whitewashing wrongdoing by its security forces.
B’tselem, Israel’s leading human rights group, said the case “exemplifies whitewashing at work.”
“Every individual case is isolated to a series of technical details, as though this was a singular incident, rather than an open fire policy,” it said. It accused police of operating within “an oppressed civilian population to enforce an occupation and annexation,” leading to civilian casualties and impunity for those who harm them.
Issawiya is part of east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war along with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, territories the Palestinians want for a future state. Israel later annexed east Jerusalem in a step that is not internationally recognized and views all of the city as its capital. The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as their future capital.
Issawiya has been the site of frequent police raids that often ignite demonstrations or clashes. Police blame the violence on local youths, whom they accuse of throwing stones and firebombs at patrol vehicles.
Over the weekend, a 13-year-old Palestinian boy was killed by Israeli army fire during clashes with stone throwers in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it used “riot dispersal means,” including .22-caliber bullets, and said that military police had opened an investigation.
The U.N. envoy in the region has called on Israel to swiftly investigate what he called a “shocking and unacceptable” incident.


washingtontimes--2020-12-06--Environmental agency plans hydrofluorocarbon workshop

PROVIDENCE , R.I. ( AP ) - The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has scheduled a virtual public workshop @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s draft “ Prohibition of Hydrofluorocarbons in Specific End-Uses ” regulation .
Hydrofluorocarbons @ @ @ @ @ man-made greenhouse gases primarily used for cooling and refrigeration that can be hundreds to thousands @ @ @ @ @ carbon dioxide in contributing to climate change , the agency said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ policies and federal action , the agency has been working in collaboration with the United @ @ @ @ @ states to adopt legislation to lead the transition to refrigerants with lower global warming potentials @ @ @ @ @ risk to human health and the environment .
The workshop is scheduled for Friday at @ @ @ @ @ .
The purpose of the workshop is to present an overview of the draft rule @ @ @ @ @ stakeholder feedback .

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has scheduled a virtual public workshop this week to review the state’s draft “Prohibition of Hydrofluorocarbons in Specific End-Uses” regulation.
Hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, are man-made greenhouse gases primarily used for cooling and refrigeration that can be hundreds to thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide in contributing to climate change, the agency said in a statement.
In the absence of national policies and federal action, the agency has been working in collaboration with the United States Climate Alliance and other states to adopt legislation to lead the transition to refrigerants with lower global warming potentials and which pose lower overall risk to human health and the environment.
The workshop is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. Preregistration is required.
The purpose of the workshop is to present an overview of the draft rule and provide an opportunity for stakeholder feedback.


washingtontimes--2020-12-06--Westover getting new $43M hangar to service giant planes

CHICOPEE , Mass .
( AP ) - Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts is getting a new hangar where the massive C-5M Super Galaxy planes at the base can be serviced entirely indoors .
Westover officials are in the process of seeking bids from contractors to construct the new $ 43 million hangar and officials hope to break ground on the project in the spring , an aide for U.S. Rep. Richard Neal tells Masslive.com .
In 2006 , the base in Chicopee was selected as one of three bases that would conduct regular examinations and maintenance on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never had a hangar that could fit the entire plane .
The military cargo jet is nearly as tall as a seven-story building and its wingspan measures almost 223 feet ( 68 meters ) feet .
At 247 feet ( 75 meters ) long , the tail of the jet always stuck out the back , and even though Westover eventually added a hangar door that closes around the tail , it was never considered ideal .
Construction is expected to take about 18 months .
When it is finished , the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it easier for the maintenance crews to do their jobs .
With about 5,500 military and civilian workers , Westover is the city ’ s largest employer .

CHICOPEE, Mass. (AP) - Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts is getting a new hangar where the massive C-5M Super Galaxy planes at the base can be serviced entirely indoors.
Westover officials are in the process of seeking bids from contractors to construct the new $43 million hangar and officials hope to break ground on the project in the spring, an aide for U.S. Rep. Richard Neal tells Masslive.com.
In 2006, the base in Chicopee was selected as one of three bases that would conduct regular examinations and maintenance on the entire C-5 fleet. But the base never had a hangar that could fit the entire plane.
The military cargo jet is nearly as tall as a seven-story building and its wingspan measures almost 223 feet (68 meters) feet. At 247 feet (75 meters) long, the tail of the jet always stuck out the back, and even though Westover eventually added a hangar door that closes around the tail, it was never considered ideal.
Construction is expected to take about 18 months. When it is finished, the new hangar will offer state-of-the-art systems that will make it easier for the maintenance crews to do their jobs.
With about 5,500 military and civilian workers, Westover is the city’s largest employer.


washingtontimes--2020-12-06--York River in Maine could be designated "Wild and Scenic"

KITTERY , Maine ( AP ) - Maine ’ s U.S. senators are submitting a proposal to add the York @ @ @ @ @ Service ‘ s Wild and Scenic River System .
The 13-mile-long southern Maine river is @ @ @ @ @ , South Berwick and York .
Republican Sen. Susan Collins and independent Sen. Angus King @ @ @ @ @ “ have built their communities around the York River ’ s important ecological benefits and @ @ @ @ @ ” Designation as a Wild and Scenic River would make the York River eligible for @ @ @ @ @ to help maintain its free-flowing state , the senators said .
A National Park Service @ @ @ @ @ suitable for designation as a Wild and Scenic River , said King , who proposed @ @ @

KITTERY, Maine (AP) - Maine’s U.S. senators are submitting a proposal to add the York River to the National Park Service’s Wild and Scenic River System.
The 13-mile-long southern Maine river is located in Kittery, Eliot, South Berwick and York. Republican Sen. Susan Collins and independent Sen. Angus King said generations in southern Maine “have built their communities around the York River’s important ecological benefits and the economic opportunities it creates.”
Designation as a Wild and Scenic River would make the York River eligible for more federal funding and resources to help maintain its free-flowing state, the senators said.
A National Park Service study determined the river is suitable for designation as a Wild and Scenic River, said King, who proposed the study.


washingtontimes--2020-12-06--Fish and Wildlife shooting ranges to close for the season

MONTPELIER , Vt. ( AP ) - The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department ’ s public shooting ranges in Hartland @ @ @ @ @ Management Area in Essex County will be closed for the season later this month .
@ @ @ @ @ the winter after Dec. 14 and reopen in the spring , the department said .
@ @ @ @ @ all of the people who have supported the operation of the two ranges in Windsor @ @ @ @ @ essential to hunter skill development and the safe use of firearms , ” Alison Thomas @ @ @ @ @ education coordinator , said in a statement .

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s public shooting ranges in Hartland and the West Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Essex County will be closed for the season later this month.
Both ranges will close for the winter after Dec. 14 and reopen in the spring, the department said.
“We want to thank all of the people who have supported the operation of the two ranges in Windsor and Essex Counties which are essential to hunter skill development and the safe use of firearms,” Alison Thomas, the department’s education coordinator, said in a statement.


washingtontimes--2020-12-06--Almost 220k Maine customers without electricity after storm

PORTLAND , Maine ( AP ) - Almost 220,00 Maine electric customers are without power Sunday after the first major @ @ @ @ @ brought heavy , wet snow and high winds to the region .
The winter storm @ @ @ @ @ Weather Service remains in effect through early afternoon for northern sections of Maine , New @ @ @ @ @ addition to the outages in Maine , nearly 60,000 customers are without power in New @ @ @ @ @ are in the dark in Massachusetts .
There are a handful of outages in Vermont @ @ @ @ @ .
Utility crews are working to restore power , but there is no immediate estimate @ @ @ @ @ take to restore power to all customers .
The storm that hit the region Saturday @ @ @ @ @ Canadian Maritime provinces .

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - About 143,000 Maine electric customers are still without power Sunday after the first major winter storm of the season brought heavy, wet snow and high winds to the region.
Central Maine Power, which accounts for about 127,000 of the outages in Maine, said officials were trying to determine how long it will take to restore power to all its customers. But based on historical comparisons to similar storms it could be three to five days before electricity service is fully restored.
“This storm caused significant tree and limb damage as a result of heavy, wet snow and strong winds,” said CMP Executive Chairman David Flanagan. “Crews worked hard overnight to ensure conditions were made safe, and those efforts will continue throughout the day today. Facing more wind today, our crews will work as quickly as possible to restore power to our customers.”
In addition to the outages in Maine, more than 31,000 customers are without power in New Hampshire and more than 6,100 customers are in the dark in Massachusetts. Power has been restored to all but a handful of customers in Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The storm that hit the region Saturday causing numerous traffic accidents and dumped heavy wet snow onto the region before moving into the Canadian Maritime provinces.


washingtontimes--2020-12-06--Austria postpones some virus testing after huge snowstorm

BERLIN ( AP ) - Several communities in the Austrian Alps put mass coronavirus testing on hold Sunday and others were urged to do the same after a storm dumped huge amounts of snow , sending some avalanche warnings to their highest level .
Some parts of the province of Tyrol saw 70 centimeters ( 27.5 inches ) of snow fall overnight Friday into Saturday , and another 110 centimeters ( 43 inches ) were expected on Sunday , Austria ’ s APA news agency reported .
In East Tyrol , 500 households were left without electricity after trees brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was at its highest level of 5 .
Several areas in East Tyrol postponed virus testing .
In North Tyrol , the avalanche warning was at 4 on Sunday .
Neighboring Italy and Switzerland also issued avalanche warnings , and the Brenner Pass highway between Austria and Italy was partially closed , as were some train connections , APA reported .
Tyrol authorities told local communities to assess whether the conditions warranted postponing coronavirus testing planned for Sunday .
“ The safety of the population comes first , ” authorities said .
Austria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program that officials hope will prevent long , hard lockdowns in the future .
The fast antigen tests started in Vienna and in the westernmost Vorarlberg and Tyrol provinces .
Over the first two days , some 300,000 people were tested out of Austria ’ s nearly 9 million .
The government is hoping that several million will have been tested by mid December .
The testing is part of Austria ’ s strategy to slow the spread of the coronavirus even as it starts to ease restrictions this coming week .
Tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expire on Sunday .
Going ahead , Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Austria will keep restaurants , bars and hotels closed until Jan. 7 but will allow skiing from Dec. 24 .
In other changes , a limited curfew that has applied around the clock will be eased and will apply only between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Schools will mostly be reopened , as will non-essential shops , museums , libraries and some other businesses .
Austria has seen more than 300,000 coronavirus infections and more than 3,800 deaths , although its infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is currently recording 266.5 new infections per 100,000 residents over seven days , down from around 600 last month .

BERLIN (AP) - Several communities in the Austrian Alps put mass coronavirus testing on hold Sunday and others were urged to do the same after a storm dumped huge amounts of snow, sending some avalanche warnings to their highest level.
Some parts of the province of Tyrol saw 70 centimeters (27.5 inches) of snow fall overnight Friday into Saturday, and another 110 centimeters (43 inches) were expected on Sunday, Austria’s APA news agency reported.
In East Tyrol, 500 households were left without electricity after trees brought down power lines and the avalanche warning was at its highest level of 5. Several areas in East Tyrol postponed virus testing.
In North Tyrol, the avalanche warning was at 4 on Sunday.
Neighboring Italy and Switzerland also issued avalanche warnings, and the Brenner Pass highway between Austria and Italy was partially closed, as were some train connections, APA reported.
More than a meter (three feet) of snow fell within a few hours in the Italian Dolomites and rain burst riverbanks of the Panaro river, forcing a few dozen families to evacuate from the Modena area as a precaution, the ANSA news agency reported.
The regional governor of Veneto urged residents to just stay home, noting in a Facebook post some areas of flash flooding where around 30 centimeters (one foot) of rain fell within a short period, isolating some small villages in the province of hard-hit Belluno.
In Austria, Tyrol authorities told local communities to assess whether the conditions warranted postponing coronavirus testing planned for Sunday.
“The safety of the population comes first,” authorities said.
Austria on Friday started a voluntary mass testing program that officials hope will prevent long, hard lockdowns in the future. The fast antigen tests started in Vienna and in the westernmost Vorarlberg and Tyrol provinces.
Over the first two days, some 300,000 people were tested out of Austria’s nearly 9 million. The government is hoping that several million will have been tested by mid December.
The testing is part of Austria’s strategy to slow the spread of the coronavirus even as it starts to ease restrictions this coming week. Tough lockdown measures that took effect Nov. 17 expire on Sunday.
Going ahead, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Austria will keep restaurants, bars and hotels closed until Jan. 7 but will allow skiing from Dec. 24.
In other changes, a limited curfew that has applied around the clock will be eased and will apply only between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Schools will mostly be reopened, as will non-essential shops, museums, libraries and some other businesses.
Austria has seen more than 300,000 coronavirus infections and more than 3,800 deaths, although its infection rate has declined in recent weeks. It is currently recording 266.5 new infections per 100,000 residents over seven days, down from around 600 last month.
___
Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-12-06--Courageous Nate: Donkey takes center stage to help children

HAMILTON , Mont .
( AP ) - Debora Lay had no idea where her decision to adopt three Bureau of Land Management donkeys a couple of years back was going to lead .
Dr. Irmak Birey certainly didn ’ t know that one of those donkeys was going to lead her to author a book that could change the lives of children struggling with their pasts .
A donkey that goes by the name of Nate was the catalyst that brought the two together to create a new equine therapy program they believe will help both young and old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2019 at Lay ’ s nonprofit corporation , Wings Program Inc. - which combines a unique mix of horse rescue , rehabilitation and equine-assisted therapy offerings - after attending a fundraiser where folks were asked to help name the three BLM donkeys .
“ I wanted to do something to give back to my community , ” Birey told the Ravalli Republic .
“ This seemed like the perfect opportunity .
I ’ ve loved donkeys since I was a young girl growing up in Turkey in a valley just like this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the magic started to happen .
I began writing this book in my head.
” Birey is a clinical mental health therapist who works with children dealing with difficult pasts .
Birey saw Nate , with his long ears and his gentle demeanor , as the perfect subject for a story that could help young people learn life-changing skills they need to become resilient .
“ Courageous Nate : A Donkey ’ s Tale of Bravery ” is a unique combination of a heartwarming story followed by a workbook designed to help children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and mindfulness practices to better understand , cope and effectively deal with anxiety .
Once the book was finished , Lay and Birey began to talk about the potential of using its lessons to develop an equine therapy program that could help both children and adults .
In August , the pair completed the coursework needed to become certified through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association to equine-assisted therapy .
“ EAGLA is the real deal , ” Lay said .
“ They are recognized by the Veterans Administration and all psychological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certification process…Their program focuses on developing a team that includes a licensed mental health professional , a certified equine specialist and horses.
” “ Horses are like mirrors , ” she said .
“ They are going to reflect back what the client is putting into the session , either verbally , emotionally , or through body language.
” “ It ’ s an experiential process , ” Birey said .
“ Our clients will write their own stories .
We ’ ll give them a venue to do it…Through their interactions with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-regulate and gain insights about their own behavior and mental state.
’ ” They have developed a program based on lessons from Birey ’ s book .
“ With winter coming , we ’ ve decided to start slow , ” Lay said .
“ We want this to be a professional program…While the book is written for young people , its message applies to adults as well .
We plan a six-week program that will work with both kids and adults.
” The two women are currently working with a teenage girl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program .
On one visit , the girl told the pair the horses didn ’ t seem to want anything to do with her .
To that , Lay explained that one horse was looking at the barn , another was looking at hay and the third was focused on what was happening outside the pen .
“ She figured out by the end of the session the horses ’ behavior had nothing to do with her , ” Birey said .
“ The fact that they weren ’ t coming to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They were all distracted by something else…That was a big deal for her .
She realized that when her friends don ’ t respond to her , it ’ s just because they are busy with something else and distracted.
” Part of the program includes a requirement that the client comes back with a written summary of what they had learned the week before .
“ She wrote that all these things that I worry about don ’ t have anything to do with me , ” Birey said .
“ That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13-year-old .
Through this experience and the book , she was able to understand how her thinking can impact how she feels.
” Birey ’ s book is available at the Chapter One Bookstore in Hamilton , Valley Drug and Variety Store and The Boutique in Stevensville as well as Amazon .
Anyone interested in learning about the different programs and opportunities at Lay ’ s horse rescue and sanctuary , Wings Program Inc. , can visit www.wingsprograms.org .
A portion of book sales is donated to the Wings Program .

HAMILTON, Mont. (AP) - Debora Lay had no idea where her decision to adopt three Bureau of Land Management donkeys a couple of years back was going to lead.
Dr. Irmak Birey certainly didn’t know that one of those donkeys was going to lead her to author a book that could change the lives of children struggling with their pasts.
A donkey that goes by the name of Nate was the catalyst that brought the two together to create a new equine therapy program they believe will help both young and old.
Birey started volunteering in the summer of 2019 at Lay’s nonprofit corporation, Wings Program Inc. - which combines a unique mix of horse rescue, rehabilitation and equine-assisted therapy offerings - after attending a fundraiser where folks were asked to help name the three BLM donkeys.
“I wanted to do something to give back to my community,” Birey told the Ravalli Republic. “This seemed like the perfect opportunity. I’ve loved donkeys since I was a young girl growing up in Turkey in a valley just like this one…While spending time helping out here, the magic started to happen. I began writing this book in my head.”
Birey is a clinical mental health therapist who works with children dealing with difficult pasts.
Birey saw Nate, with his long ears and his gentle demeanor, as the perfect subject for a story that could help young people learn life-changing skills they need to become resilient.
“Courageous Nate: A Donkey’s Tale of Bravery” is a unique combination of a heartwarming story followed by a workbook designed to help children and adults combine creativity, cognitive-behavioral methods and mindfulness practices to better understand, cope and effectively deal with anxiety.
Once the book was finished, Lay and Birey began to talk about the potential of using its lessons to develop an equine therapy program that could help both children and adults. In August, the pair completed the coursework needed to become certified through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association to equine-assisted therapy.
“EAGLA is the real deal,” Lay said. “They are recognized by the Veterans Administration and all psychological associations. They have a very stringent certification process…Their program focuses on developing a team that includes a licensed mental health professional, a certified equine specialist and horses.”
“Horses are like mirrors,” she said. “They are going to reflect back what the client is putting into the session, either verbally, emotionally, or through body language.”
“It’s an experiential process,” Birey said. “Our clients will write their own stories. We’ll give them a venue to do it…Through their interactions with the horses, they are able to self-regulate and gain insights about their own behavior and mental state.’”
They have developed a program based on lessons from Birey’s book.
“With winter coming, we’ve decided to start slow,” Lay said. “We want this to be a professional program…While the book is written for young people, its message applies to adults as well. We plan a six-week program that will work with both kids and adults.”
The two women are currently working with a teenage girl who is helping them pilot their new program.
On one visit, the girl told the pair the horses didn’t seem to want anything to do with her.
To that, Lay explained that one horse was looking at the barn, another was looking at hay and the third was focused on what was happening outside the pen.
“She figured out by the end of the session the horses’ behavior had nothing to do with her,” Birey said. “The fact that they weren’t coming to her had nothing to do with her. They were all distracted by something else…That was a big deal for her. She realized that when her friends don’t respond to her, it’s just because they are busy with something else and distracted.”
Part of the program includes a requirement that the client comes back with a written summary of what they had learned the week before.
“She wrote that all these things that I worry about don’t have anything to do with me,” Birey said. “That’s a big epiphany for a 13-year-old. Through this experience and the book, she was able to understand how her thinking can impact how she feels.”
Birey’s book is available at the Chapter One Bookstore in Hamilton, Valley Drug and Variety Store and The Boutique in Stevensville as well as Amazon. Anyone interested in learning about the different programs and opportunities at Lay’s horse rescue and sanctuary, Wings Program Inc., can visit www.wingsprograms.org.
A portion of book sales is donated to the Wings Program.


washingtontimes--2020-12-06--China agents in U.S. government helped influence policy, academic says

China influenced American policies for decades through a covert network of “ old friends ” — sympathizers and agents — who had penetrated the highest levels of the U.S. government and financial institutions before the Trump administration , according to an academic linked to the Chinese government .
Di Dongsheng , a professor and associate dean of the School of International Studies at Renmin University in Beijing , also suggested in a Nov. 28 speech that China ’ s Communist Party helped Hunter Biden , a son of presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden , obtain Chinese business deals .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , he could not provide further details about the work of Chinese agents without compromising their identities .
However , he said President Trump ’ s trade war with China upset decades of close ties between Washington and Beijing that the agent network facilitated .
Disputes such as the Navy ’ s EP-3 midair collision with a Chinese jet in the western Pacific in 2001 and the mistaken U.S. bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia in 1999 were resolved within months because of the influence operations .
“ Now , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Because we had people up there inside America ’ s core circle of power , we had our old friends , ” said Mr. Di , adding that he needed to speak carefully because “ I can ’ t sell out these people.
” A video of the remarks was posted on Mr. Di ’ s Weibo social media account but was quickly removed .
Copies of the video , however , survived and went viral .
Mr. Di could not be reached for comment .
The university ’ s Contemporary China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had no immediate comment .
The academic ’ s comments bolster warnings last week by senior Trump administration officials that China now poses the most significant national security threat to the United States .
“ The intelligence is clear , ” Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said in a published article .
“ Beijing intends to dominate the U.S. and the rest of the planet economically , militarily and technologically .
There are no moral or ethical boundaries to their pursuit of power.
” Bill Evanina , director of the DNI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has begun targeting officials slated to hold posts in an incoming Biden administration .
During online remarks hosted by the Aspen Institute , Mr. Evanina said China is conducting intelligence and malign influence operations “ on steroids.
” “ We ’ ve also seen an uptick , which was planned and we predicted , that China would now re-vector their influence campaigns to the new administration , ” he said .
A senior Trump administration official said Mr. Di ’ s speech was a rare case of a Chinese official revealing very sensitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biography page at Renmin University that he is a frequent consultant to Chinese Communist Party and government organs , including the Foreign Ministry and the International Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party , the Central Organization Department and other ministries and commissions .
In 2013 , the State Department sponsored him to give lectures on Sino-U.S. economic relations to senior U.S. officials .
Wall Street hedge funds have invited him “ to teach company executives the impact of China ’ s reforms on global financial markets , ” according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month in Shanghai , Mr. Di explained how one of these agents , whom he described in anti-Semitic terms , successfully pressured the owner of the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington in 2015 into permitting a Chinese government official to hold an event unveiling a book by Chinese President Xi Jinping .
China ’ s propaganda department tasked Mr. Di with arranging the book event and hosting and participating in a panel discussion .
“ Just like today , they said , ‘ Hey , Di Dongsheng , you are very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they had seen how I conned them , which they thought was very effective , ” he said .
Mr. Di said it was difficult to arrange the event on short notice and bookstore owner Bradley Graham refused to give in to the Chinese demands .
“ So I asked him , ‘ Which author booked the place for that time frame ?
’ What did I mean by asking him that ?
Well , there is nothing U.S. dollars can ’ t buy .
If one bundle of cash couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another .
That ’ s how I work , ” he said .
Mr. Graham said Mr. Di ’ s account of the book event was “ very distorted ” and “ filled with untruths.
” “ We didn ’ t feel pressured to host it and did so in the spirit of improving U.S.-China relations , ” said Mr. Graham , co-owner of Politics and Prose .
“ We set conditions for how the event was to unfold , conditions that Chinese representatives then proceeded to violate , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very unpleasant and disappointing experience that has made us wary of ever taking Chinese authorities at their word again .
Mr. Di said the bookstore owner refused to tell him as a matter of principle which author was scheduled for the time frame he requested and described him as arrogant and pretentious and having “ some opinions on our party , which is why he deliberately refused to play along.
” The problem was reported to senior Chinese Communist Party officials , and a deputy director of the propaganda department notified him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
The bookstore identified the official who spoke at the book event as Guo Weimin , deputy director of the Chinese State Council Information Office .
“ The reason why we could go as planned was because a hero had helped us out .
[ The CCP official ] introduced me to an old lady with a big nose , obviously a Jew simply by that look , ” Mr. Di said .
The woman , who was not identified by name , said she was a Chinese citizen , had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I suddenly realized she is one of the Chinese people ’ s ‘ old friends , ’ ” Mr. Di said .
“ I asked her how she managed to force him to comply , ” he said .
“ The old lady cunningly grinned , ‘ I reasoned with him.
’ Do you know where that phrase came from ?
It ’ s a famous line from the Mafia movie ‘ The Godfather , ’ in which they cut the horse head off and stick it in someone ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not Mafia.
” Mr. Di said the woman was in charge of Asian operations for a major Wall Street financial institution .
“ In plain and simple language , during the last three to four decades , we used the core circle inside America ’ s real power , ” he said .
“ As I said , the Wall Street had a very profound influence over America ’ s domestic and foreign affairs since the 1970s .
We used to heavily rely on them.
” However , after Mr. Trump was elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t control Trump , because , awkwardly , there was a soft breach of contract between them , which made them hostile to each other , ” he said .
“ During the U.S.-China trade war , they tried to help , ” Mr. Di said .
“ My friends in U.S. told me that they tried to help , but they couldn ’ t. ” However , Mr. Di said once the Biden administration takes control , China will have renewed its connections .
“ Now with Biden winning the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the establishment , they have a very close relationship with the Wall Street , ” he said .
On Mr. Trump ’ s comments that Hunter Biden has financial interests around the world , Mr. Di said : “ But who helped Biden ’ s son build his global companies ?
You understand ?
There are indeed buy-and-sell transactions involved in here .
So I think at this particular time [ after Biden won the election ] , it is of strategic and tactical value for us to show goodwill [ to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is just from my limited perspective as a political economist.
” Hunter Biden ’ s business dealings prompted the presumptive president-elect to announce last week that he would avoid all conflicts of interest once in office .
China expert Gordon Chang said , “ Di Dongsheng ’ s comments show the breathtaking arrogance of the Chinese elite , which now has no hesitation about expressing in public its belief that with a President Biden , China will once again control the highest levels in Washington .
”

China influenced American policies for decades through a covert network of “old friends” — sympathizers and agents — who had penetrated the highest levels of the U.S. government and financial institutions before the Trump administration, according to an academic linked to the Chinese government.
Di Dongsheng, a professor and associate dean of the School of International Studies at Renmin University in Beijing, also suggested in a Nov. 28 speech that China’s Communist Party helped Hunter Biden, a son of presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden, obtain Chinese business deals.
On influencing the United States, Mr. Di said, he could not provide further details about the work of Chinese agents without compromising their identities. However, he said President Trump’s trade war with China upset decades of close ties between Washington and Beijing that the agent network facilitated.
Disputes such as the Navy’s EP-3 midair collision with a Chinese jet in the western Pacific in 2001 and the mistaken U.S. bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia in 1999 were resolved within months because of the influence operations.
“Now, I’m going to drop a bomb: Because we had people up there inside America’s core circle of power, we had our old friends,” said Mr. Di, adding that he needed to speak carefully because “I can’t sell out these people.”
A video of the remarks was posted on Mr. Di’s Weibo social media account but was quickly removed. Copies of the video, however, survived and went viral.
DOCUMENT: Excerpts of remarks by Di Dongsheng
Mr. Di could not be reached for comment. The university’s Contemporary China Studies Program, where Mr. Di works, had no immediate comment.
The academic’s comments bolster warnings last week by senior Trump administration officials that China now poses the most significant national security threat to the United States.
“The intelligence is clear,” Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said in a published article. “Beijing intends to dominate the U.S. and the rest of the planet economically, militarily and technologically. There are no moral or ethical boundaries to their pursuit of power.”
Bill Evanina, director of the DNI Counterintelligence and Security Center, said China has begun targeting officials slated to hold posts in an incoming Biden administration.
During online remarks hosted by the Aspen Institute, Mr. Evanina said China is conducting intelligence and malign influence operations “on steroids.”
“We’ve also seen an uptick, which was planned and we predicted, that China would now re-vector their influence campaigns to the new administration,” he said.
A senior Trump administration official said Mr. Di’s speech was a rare case of a Chinese official revealing very sensitive information.
Mr. Di states on his biography page at Renmin University that he is a frequent consultant to Chinese Communist Party and government organs, including the Foreign Ministry and the International Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the Central Organization Department and other ministries and commissions.
In 2013, the State Department sponsored him to give lectures on Sino-U.S. economic relations to senior U.S. officials. Wall Street hedge funds have invited him “to teach company executives the impact of China’s reforms on global financial markets,” according to his biography.
In his remarks last month in Shanghai, Mr. Di explained how one of these agents, whom he described in anti-Semitic terms, successfully pressured the owner of the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington in 2015 into permitting a Chinese government official to hold an event unveiling a book by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China’s propaganda department tasked Mr. Di with arranging the book event and hosting and participating in a panel discussion.
“Just like today, they said, ‘Hey, Di Dongsheng, you are very good at fooling the foreigners,’ because they had seen how I conned them, which they thought was very effective,” he said.
Mr. Di said it was difficult to arrange the event on short notice and bookstore owner Bradley Graham refused to give in to the Chinese demands.
“So I asked him, ‘Which author booked the place for that time frame?’ What did I mean by asking him that? Well, there is nothing U.S. dollars can’t buy. If one bundle of cash couldn’t, I’d throw in another. That’s how I work,” he said.
Mr. Graham said Mr. Di’s account of the book event was “very distorted” and “filled with untruths.”
“We didn’t feel pressured to host it and did so in the spirit of improving U.S.-China relations,” said Mr. Graham, co-owner of Politics and Prose.
“We set conditions for how the event was to unfold, conditions that Chinese representatives then proceeded to violate,” he said. “All in all, it was a very unpleasant and disappointing experience that has made us wary of ever taking Chinese authorities at their word again.
Mr. Di said the bookstore owner refused to tell him as a matter of principle which author was scheduled for the time frame he requested and described him as arrogant and pretentious and having “some opinions on our party, which is why he deliberately refused to play along.”
The problem was reported to senior Chinese Communist Party officials, and a deputy director of the propaganda department notified him that the problem had been solved, he said.
The bookstore identified the official who spoke at the book event as Guo Weimin, deputy director of the Chinese State Council Information Office.
“The reason why we could go as planned was because a hero had helped us out. [The CCP official] introduced me to an old lady with a big nose, obviously a Jew simply by that look,” Mr. Di said.
The woman, who was not identified by name, said she was a Chinese citizen, had lived in China and spoke perfect Mandarin.
“I suddenly realized she is one of the Chinese people’s ‘old friends,’” Mr. Di said.
“I asked her how she managed to force him to comply,” he said. “The old lady cunningly grinned, ‘I reasoned with him.’ Do you know where that phrase came from? It’s a famous line from the Mafia movie ‘The Godfather,’ in which they cut the horse head off and stick it in someone’s bed. Of course, she is not Mafia.”
Mr. Di said the woman was in charge of Asian operations for a major Wall Street financial institution.
“In plain and simple language, during the last three to four decades, we used the core circle inside America’s real power,” he said. “As I said, the Wall Street had a very profound influence over America’s domestic and foreign affairs since the 1970s. We used to heavily rely on them.”
However, after Mr. Trump was elected in 2016, “Wall Street couldn’t control Trump, because, awkwardly, there was a soft breach of contract between them, which made them hostile to each other,” he said.
“During the U.S.-China trade war, they tried to help,” Mr. Di said. “My friends in U.S. told me that they tried to help, but they couldn’t.”
However, Mr. Di said once the Biden administration takes control, China will have renewed its connections.
“Now with Biden winning the election, the traditional elites, political elites, the establishment, they have a very close relationship with the Wall Street,” he said.
On Mr. Trump’s comments that Hunter Biden has financial interests around the world, Mr. Di said: “But who helped Biden’s son build his global companies? You understand? There are indeed buy-and-sell transactions involved in here. So I think at this particular time [after Biden won the election], it is of strategic and tactical value for us to show goodwill [to Mr. Biden]. Of course, this is just from my limited perspective as a political economist.”
Hunter Biden’s business dealings prompted the presumptive president-elect to announce last week that he would avoid all conflicts of interest once in office.
China expert Gordon Chang said, “Di Dongsheng’s comments show the breathtaking arrogance of the Chinese elite, which now has no hesitation about expressing in public its belief that with a President Biden, China will once again control the highest levels in Washington.”
• Bill Gertz can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.