washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Officials fired: Problems with 2nd birth at Florida jail

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. ( AP ) - Two officials at a county jail in South Florida have been fired following problems surrounding a second birth at the facility in just over a year , authorities said Thursday .
The more recent Broward County jail birth took place Sept. 27 , nearly three months after the state enacted the Tammy Jackson Healthy Pregnancies for Incarcerated Women law , the Sun Sentinel reported .
The law puts safeguards in place preventing pregnant women being in restrictive or isolated cells during their detention .
It was inspired by Jackson , who gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cell in April 2019 .
Earlier last month , a 28-year-old pregnant woman was booked into the jail on a burglary charge .
Nurses were able to attend to her in an infirmary cell , but Chief Assistant Public Defender Gordon Weekes said the woman should have been kept in close monitoring by medical staff the entire length of her pregnancy or her incarceration .
Medical records show the woman was complaining about contractions and labor pains more than 12 hours before giving birth .
While the records indicate she declined treatment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail personnel offered her prenatal vitamins and didn ’ t recognize the signs of labor until it was too late .
“ She should have been taken to a hospital hours before she gave birth , ” Weekes said .
“ Detention deputies didn ’ t call for nurses to come in until after her water broke , and by then it was too late to move her.
” Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony announced the terminations of a colonel and a lieutenant colonel at the jail .
The sheriff said a new acting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been named .
“ I conducted a review of the matter and determined that command level failures occurred , ” Tony said in a statement , adding of those fired : “ They grossly failed this agency and this inmate .
”

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - Two officials at a county jail in South Florida have been fired following problems surrounding a second birth at the facility in just over a year, authorities said Thursday.
The more recent Broward County jail birth took place Sept. 27, nearly three months after the state enacted the Tammy Jackson Healthy Pregnancies for Incarcerated Women law, the Sun Sentinel reported. The law puts safeguards in place preventing pregnant women being in restrictive or isolated cells during their detention. It was inspired by Jackson, who gave birth alone in a Broward County jail cell in April 2019.
Earlier last month, a 28-year-old pregnant woman was booked into the jail on a burglary charge. Nurses were able to attend to her in an infirmary cell, but Chief Assistant Public Defender Gordon Weekes said the woman should have been kept in close monitoring by medical staff the entire length of her pregnancy or her incarceration.
Medical records show the woman was complaining about contractions and labor pains more than 12 hours before giving birth. While the records indicate she declined treatment, the woman told her attorneys that the jail personnel offered her prenatal vitamins and didn’t recognize the signs of labor until it was too late.
“She should have been taken to a hospital hours before she gave birth,” Weekes said. “Detention deputies didn’t call for nurses to come in until after her water broke, and by then it was too late to move her.”
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony announced the terminations of a colonel and a lieutenant colonel at the jail. The sheriff said a new acting colonel of the Department of Detention had been named.
“I conducted a review of the matter and determined that command level failures occurred,” Tony said in a statement, adding of those fired: “They grossly failed this agency and this inmate.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--No charges for officer accused of sharing victim's photos

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) - A former University of Utah police officer will not face criminal charges after being accused of sharing explicit photos of a student who was later killed on the campus .
prosecutors said Thursday .
The Salt Lake County District Attorney ’ s Office made the announcement involving Miguel Dera , who was accused of showing co-workers the photos of 21-year-old Lauren McCluskey .
District Attorney Sim Gill said the former officer ’ s actions were “ definitely reckless , ” but there is no state law addressing the misconduct .
McCluskey was shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shawn Rowland , who authorities said was harassing and blackmailing her for weeks prior to her death .
Police said Rowland died by suicide hours after killing McCluskey .
Deras was assigned to the case after she sought police assistance to stop the harassment .
McCluskey provided Deras with explicit photos taken of her , which were to be used in the investigation .
The Utah Department of Public Safety found in August that Deras showed the photos of McCluskey to at least three male colleagues without a work-related reason .
The department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were unprofessional comments made about the photos .
Deras did not download or digitally share the photos .
District Attorney Sim Gill said the former officer ’ s actions were “ definitely reckless , ” but there is no state law addressing the misconduct .
“ We ’ re incensed like everyone else by the behavior .
It was inappropriate , ” Gill said .
“ But if there ’ s not a statute , there ’ s nothing we can do.
” McCluskey ’ s mother , Jill McCluskey , criticized Gill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying it could create a chilling effect for women in similar situations .
Family attorney Jim McConkie said Lauren McCluskey was harmed while she was alive by the officer sharing her photos .
“ What Gill is saying to women with this decision is , ‘ We can ’ t help you .
Don ’ t come to us , ’ ” McConkie said .

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A former University of Utah police officer will not face criminal charges after being accused of sharing explicit photos of a student who was later killed on the campus. prosecutors said Thursday.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office made the announcement involving Miguel Dera, who was accused of showing co-workers the photos of 21-year-old Lauren McCluskey.
District Attorney Sim Gill said the former officer’s actions were “definitely reckless,” but there is no state law addressing the misconduct.
McCluskey was shot and killed in 2018 by 37-year-old Melvin Shawn Rowland, who authorities said was harassing and blackmailing her for weeks prior to her death. Police said Rowland died by suicide hours after killing McCluskey.
Deras was assigned to the case after she sought police assistance to stop the harassment. McCluskey provided Deras with explicit photos taken of her, which were to be used in the investigation.
The Utah Department of Public Safety found in August that Deras showed the photos of McCluskey to at least three male colleagues without a work-related reason.
The department’s report included allegations that there were unprofessional comments made about the photos. Deras did not download or digitally share the photos.
District Attorney Sim Gill said the former officer’s actions were “definitely reckless,” but there is no state law addressing the misconduct.
“We’re incensed like everyone else by the behavior. It was inappropriate,” Gill said. “But if there’s not a statute, there’s nothing we can do.”
McCluskey’s mother, Jill McCluskey, criticized Gill’s decision in a tweet, saying it could create a chilling effect for women in similar situations.
Family attorney Jim McConkie said Lauren McCluskey was harmed while she was alive by the officer sharing her photos.
“What Gill is saying to women with this decision is, ‘We can’t help you. Don’t come to us,’” McConkie said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--2 women fatally shot in Arivaca; Suspect arrested at border

TUCSON , Ariz. ( AP ) - A suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting deaths of two @ @ @ @ @ , authorities said .
Pima County Sheriff ’ s officials said 36-year-old Justin Tyler Grandstaff @ @ @ @ @ from the U.S. Border Patrol at the Arivaca Checkpoint .
They said Grandstaff was booked @ @ @ @ @ suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder .
A possible motive for the fatal shooting @ @ @ @ @ .
Sheriff ’ s deputies responded to a report of a shooting around 1 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ Kaycie Mattias was pronounced dead at the scene while 55-year-old Monica Gilkey was transported to @ @ @ @ @ died .
The Green Valley News reported that Gilkey was Mattias ’ mother .
Witnesses @ @ @ @ @ fled the scene and Grandstaff was identified as a suspect and arrested It was unclear @ @ @ @ @ a lawyer yet who can speak on his behalf .

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting deaths of two women in Arivaca near Tucson, authorities said.
Pima County Sheriff’s officials said 36-year-old Justin Tyler Grandstaff was arrested with the assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol at the Arivaca Checkpoint.
They said Grandstaff was booked into the county jail on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder.
A possible motive for the fatal shooting wasn’t immediately clear.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a shooting around 1 a.m. Thursday.
They said 33-year-old Kaycie Mattias was pronounced dead at the scene while 55-year-old Monica Gilkey was transported to a hospital where she later died.
The Green Valley News reported that Gilkey was Mattias’ mother.
Witnesses told authorities that the shooter fled the scene and Grandstaff was identified as a suspect and arrested It was unclear Thursday night if Grandstaff has a lawyer yet who can speak on his behalf.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Donald Trump, Joe Biden fire shots from afar in dueling town halls

President Trump and Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden faced off in dueling town hall events Thursday night instead of debating on the same stage , with the Democrat quickly attacking the president ’ s handling of the coronavirus crisis and Mr. Trump defending his actions .
Mr. Biden , in Philadelphia on ABC , blasted the president ’ s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as inept and deceptive .
“ Americans didn ’ t panic .
He panicked , ” Mr. Biden said in an allusion to Mr. Trump ’ s claim , repeated Thursday night , that some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent mass panic .
“ There is a presidential responsibility to lead , and he didn ’ t do it , ” Mr. Biden said .
The former vice president also questioned the administration ’ s ability to provide an eventual vaccine quickly to the public , claiming that “ there is no plan to figure out how to distribute it.
” In Miami , Mr. Trump said on his NBC town-hall meeting that his actions saved the lives of many Americans .
He said he took steps that included closing travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contrary to Democratic attacks of “ xenophobia.
” “ Dr .
Fauci said I saved thousands and thousands of lives , ” Mr. Trump said of the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
The president also defended his decision to wear a mask in public only rarely .
“ I ’ m president .
I have to see people .
I can ’ t be in a basement , ” Mr. Trump said in a backhanded shot at Mr. Biden .
“ People with masks are catching it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Mr. Biden ’ s running mate , Kamala Harris .
He said of his contracting the disease , “ I don ’ t know where it came from .
But as the president , I have to be out there .
It ’ s risky seeing people.
” The spectacle of the candidates speaking simultaneously in different cities on rival networks followed Mr. Trump ’ s positive test for COVID-19 on Oct. 1 , two days after his first debate with Mr. Biden in Cleveland .
For the second debate , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Commission on Presidential Debates proposed a virtual event because of coronavirus concerns .
Mr. Trump balked at the proposal and asked for the second debate to be postponed .
But Mr. Biden scheduled his town-hall event , and the president responded by arranging for his own live network show , also beginning at 8 p.m .
Asked if it was a mistake to support a 1994 crime bill he helped craft that many have blamed for the over-incarceration of people of color in subsequent decades , Mr. Biden said it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mistake came : the mistake came in terms of what the states did locally , ” Mr. Biden said .
He said maximum sentences were eventually reduced .
“ Black folks went to jail a lot less than they would have before , but it was a mistake , ” he said .
His campaign then said that wasn ’ t the bill he was talking about .
“ VP Biden was talking about the ‘ 86 crime bill — that ’ s the one that included mandatory minimums for drug offenses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill did not ) , which was what VP and George were discussing , ” Stef Feldman , the Biden campaign ’ s policy director , said on Twitter .
Mr. Trump clashed with NBC ’ s Savannah Guthrie repeatedly as she pressed him over denouncing White supremacy , his taxes and his support from followers in the group calling itself QAnon .
“ I denounce White supremacy .
I ’ ve denounced White supremacy for years .
You always start with that question , ” said Mr. Trump .
“ What ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she continued to prod the president on what she described as his past reluctance , he rolled his eyes .
“ Here we go again .
I denounce White supremacy .
And you know something , I denounce Antifa and I denounce the radical left that is burning cities , ” he said , demanding to know why questions about Antifa and other violent left-wing groups aren ’ t constantly fired at Mr. Biden .
She also pressed him about QAnon , the network of Trump supporters who believe in a conspiracy theory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child-trafficking ring .
“ I just don ’ t know about QAnon , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ I do know they are very much against pedophilia .
They fight it very hard , ” the president said .
Ms. Guthrie also asked about Mr. Trump ’ s Twitter post about a conspiracy that President Obama had SEAL Team 6 killed to cover up that the death of Osama bin Laden was faked .
“ That was a retweet , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ People can decide for themselves.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” a frustrated Ms. Guthrie shot back .
“ You ’ re not like someone ’ s crazy uncle who can just retweet whatever.
” Mr. Trump said he would accept a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election legitimately and fairly , but he again questioned the security of widespread mail-in balloting .
“ They ’ re fraudulent , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ I want this to be clean .
I really feel we ’ re going to win .
I ’ ve spent three years fighting off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t want a transfer , I want to win.
” On the economy , moderator George Stephanopoulos challenged Mr. Biden whether it was wise for him to plan a major tax increase , given the economy ’ s fragile state .
“ When you allow people to get back in the game and have a job , everything moves , ” Mr. Biden replied .
Mr. Trump highlighted his policies of cutting taxes and lowering regulations that he said have “ created more jobs than ever.
” “ If Biden comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you will blow this thing and you will end up with a depression , ” the president said .
The president disputed portions of a New York Times series about his finances that alleges he has paid very little in personal income taxes and that he owes more than $ 400 million .
He said the “ numbers are all wrong ” but appeared to confirm that he is more than $ 400 million in debt , but he downplayed that by saying he was underleveraged .
“ I have a very small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , compared to the assets I have , ” he said .
“ It ’ s a tiny percentage of my net worth .
It ’ s a peanut .
No , I don ’ t owe Russia money .
It ’ s called mortgages .
It ’ s very straight.
” Asked whether he expects Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett to rule on his election if the results are disputed , the president said , “ It would be totally up to her.
” “ I think she would be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I don ’ t see any conflict whatsoever .
I never asked her about it , ” Mr. Trump said .
Mr. Biden said he might tip his hand on whether he would support adding seats to the Supreme Court , a demand by the party ’ s left wing and a question that he has repeatedly ducked , saying voters would learn after the election .
Voters “ do have a right to know [ where ] I stand , and they ’ ll have a right to know where I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The dispute over the second debate essentially set up a ratings war .
Trump allies predicted that the president would draw a larger viewing audience .
Some liberal Biden supporters apparently feared as much .
More than 100 television actors and network producers criticized NBC News for holding Mr. Trump ’ s town hall opposite the Democrat ’ s event .
They said NBC was allowing the president to “ counterprogram ” Mr. Biden .
“ We are simply asking that NBC air the president ’ s town hall either before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that American voters can have the opportunity to watch both , ” they told the network in a letter .
Among the signers were “ This Is Us ” cast members Sterling K. Brown , Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia , actor-producer Ben Stiller , “ Family Guy ” creator Seth MacFarlane and Alec Baldwin , who portrays Mr. Trump on NBC ’ s “ Saturday Night Live.
” NBCUniversal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde said the network ’ s decision was “ motivated only by fairness , not business considerations.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8 p.m. because it gave the same slot to Mr. Biden in a previous town-hall event .
Mr. Trump , who has accused NBC News of liberal bias and refers to corporate owner Comcast as “ Concast , ” mocked NBC News anchor Lester Holt , “ Meet the Press ” host Chuck Todd and Ms. Guthrie before the event .
“ I ’ m being set up tonight , ” the president told his supporters .
“ If you want to see a little entertainment , watch.
” The final presidential debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tennessee .
At a campaign rally in Greenville , North Carolina , earlier Thursday , the president intensified his attacks on Mr. Biden over reports that the Democrat enabled his son , Hunter , to gain millions of dollars in foreign payments while he was serving as vice president .
Mr. Trump cited accusations , first reported by The New York Post , that Hunter Biden was paid $ 10 million per year by a wealthy Chinese businessman for “ introductions only ” during the Obama administration .
The president told supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee enriched his family while allowing U.S. manufacturing jobs to move to China .
“ These deals were made at the same time Joe Biden was letting China steal your jobs and take away your factories , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ The Bidens got rich while America got robbed.
” Mr. Biden told supporters that Mr. Trump and his allies are ratcheting up an aggressive “ misinformation ” campaign because the president is trailing in the polls .
Mr. Biden held an 11-point lead over the president : 53 % to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Thursday .
“ I know these are anxious times , ” Mr. Biden said .
“ We have 19 days left , and you know , he ’ s going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at me.
” Referring to his massive fundraising lead over the president , Mr. Biden told donors , “ I think you ’ ve put me in a position to be able to respond in real time in a way that we can compete.
” The president said he won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more money than he did .
“ Ultimately , money doesn ’ t get you there , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ My father told me a long time ago , ‘ If you can win for less money , that ’ s a good thing.
’ ” The president also warned that he intends to take legal action against Big Tech for censoring negative stories about the Bidens .
“ It ’ s like a third arm , maybe a first arm , of the DNC , ” Mr. Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s a massive campaign contribution .
”

Dave Boyer, David Sherfinski and Dave Boyer, David Sherfinski

President Trump and Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden faced off in dueling town hall events Thursday night instead of debating on the same stage, with the Democrat quickly attacking the president’s handling of the coronavirus crisis and Mr. Trump defending his actions.
Mr. Biden, in Philadelphia on ABC, blasted the president’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as inept and deceptive.
“Americans didn’t panic. He panicked,” Mr. Biden said in an allusion to Mr. Trump’s claim, repeated Thursday night, that some of his optimistic early words were an effort to prevent mass panic.
“There is a presidential responsibility to lead, and he didn’t do it,” Mr. Biden said.
The former vice president also questioned the administration’s ability to provide an eventual vaccine quickly to the public, claiming that “there is no plan to figure out how to distribute it.”
In Miami, Mr. Trump said on his NBC town-hall meeting that his actions saved the lives of many Americans. He said he took steps that included closing travel to China early in the crisis, contrary to Democratic attacks of “xenophobia.”
SEE ALSO: Joe Biden town hall features no Hunter questions
“Dr. Fauci said I saved thousands and thousands of lives,” Mr. Trump said of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The president also defended his decision to wear a mask in public only rarely.
“I’m president. I have to see people. I can’t be in a basement,” Mr. Trump said in a backhanded shot at Mr. Biden. “People with masks are catching it all the time” including a staffer for Mr. Biden’s running mate, Sen. Kamala D. Harris.
He said of his contracting the disease, “I don’t know where it came from. But as the president, I have to be out there. It’s risky seeing people.”
The spectacle of the candidates speaking simultaneously in different cities on rival networks followed Mr. Trump’s positive test for COVID-19 on Oct. 1, two days after his first debate with Mr. Biden in Cleveland. For the second debate, which had been scheduled for Thursday in Miami, the Commission on Presidential Debates proposed a virtual event because of coronavirus concerns.
Mr. Trump balked at the proposal and asked for the second debate to be postponed. But Mr. Biden scheduled his town-hall event, and the president responded by arranging for his own live network show, also beginning at 8 p.m.
SEE ALSO: Savannah Guthrie, Donald Trump spar over white supremacy, antifa
Asked if it was a mistake to support a 1994 crime bill he helped craft that many have blamed for the over-incarceration of people of color in subsequent decades, Mr. Biden said it was.
“But here’s where the mistake came: The mistake came in terms of what the states did locally,” Mr. Biden said.
He said maximum sentences were eventually reduced.
“Black folks went to jail a lot less than they would have before, but it was a mistake,” he said.
His campaign then said that wasn’t the bill he was talking about.
“VP Biden was talking about the ‘86 crime bill — that’s the one that included mandatory minimums for drug offenses (in fact, the 1994 crime bill did not), which was what VP and George were discussing,” Stef Feldman, the Biden campaign’s policy director, said on Twitter.
Mr. Trump clashed with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie repeatedly as she pressed him over denouncing White supremacy, his taxes and his support from followers in the group calling itself QAnon.
“I denounce White supremacy. I’ve denounced White supremacy for years. You always start with that question,” said Mr. Trump. “What’s the next question?”
When she continued to prod the president on what she described as his past reluctance, he rolled his eyes.
“Here we go again. I denounce White supremacy. And you know something, I denounce Antifa, and I denounce the radical left that is burning cities,” he said, demanding to know why questions about Antifa and other violent left-wing groups aren’t constantly fired at Mr. Biden.
She also pressed him about QAnon, the network of Trump supporters who believe in a conspiracy theory of celebrities and top Democrats operating a child-trafficking ring.
“I just don’t know about QAnon,” Mr. Trump said.
“You do know,” Ms. Guthrie persisted.
“I do know they are very much against pedophilia. They fight it very hard,” the president said.
Ms. Guthrie also asked about Mr. Trump’s Twitter post about a conspiracy that President Barack Obama had SEAL Team 6 killed to cover up that the death of Osama bin Laden was faked.
“That was a retweet,” Mr. Trump said. “People can decide for themselves.”
“You’re the president,” a frustrated Ms. Guthrie shot back. “You’re not like someone’s crazy uncle who can just retweet whatever.”
Mr. Trump said he would accept a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election legitimately and fairly, but he again questioned the security of widespread mail-in balloting.
“They’re fraudulent,” Mr. Trump said. “I want this to be clean. I really feel we’re going to win. I’ve spent three years fighting off these maniacs [Democrats]. I don’t want a transfer, I want to win.”
On the economy, moderator George Stephanopoulos challenged Mr. Biden whether it was wise for him to plan a major tax increase, given the economy’s fragile state.
“When you allow people to get back in the game and have a job, everything moves,” Mr. Biden replied.
Mr. Trump highlighted his policies of cutting taxes and lowering regulations that he said have “created more jobs than ever.”
“If Biden comes in and raises taxes on everybody … you will blow this thing and you will end up with a depression,” the president said.
The president disputed portions of a New York Times series about his finances that alleges he has paid very little in personal income taxes and that he owes more than $400 million. He said the “numbers are all wrong” but appeared to confirm that he is more than $400 million in debt, but he downplayed that by saying he was underleveraged.
“I have a very small percentage of debt, $400 million, compared to the assets I have,” he said. “It’s a tiny percentage of my net worth. It’s a peanut. No, I don’t owe Russia money. It’s called mortgages. It’s very straight.”
Asked whether he expects Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett to rule on his election if the results are disputed, the president said, “It would be totally up to her.”
“I think she would be able to rule for me or against me. I don’t see any conflict whatsoever. I never asked her about it,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Biden said he might tip his hand on whether he would support adding seats to the Supreme Court, a demand by the party’s left wing and a question that he has repeatedly ducked, saying voters would learn after the election.
Voters “do have a right to know [where] I stand, and they’ll have a right to know where I stand before they vote,” he said.
The dispute over the second debate essentially set up a ratings war. Trump allies predicted that the president would draw a larger viewing audience.
Some liberal Biden supporters apparently feared as much.
More than 100 television actors and network producers criticized NBC News for holding Mr. Trump’s town hall opposite the Democrat’s event. They said NBC was allowing the president to “counterprogram” Mr. Biden.
“We are simply asking that NBC air the president’s town hall either before or after Vice President Biden’s so that American voters can have the opportunity to watch both,” they told the network in a letter.
Among the signers were “This Is Us” cast members Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia, actor-producer Ben Stiller, “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane and Alec Baldwin, who portrays Mr. Trump on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”
NBCUniversal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde said the network’s decision was “motivated only by fairness, not business considerations.” He said NBC scheduled Mr. Trump at 8 p.m. because it gave the same slot to Mr. Biden in a previous town-hall event.
Mr. Trump, who has accused NBC News of liberal bias and refers to corporate owner Comcast as “Concast,” mocked NBC News anchor Lester Holt, “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd and Ms. Guthrie before the event.
“I’m being set up tonight,” the president told his supporters. “If you want to see a little entertainment, watch.”
The final presidential debate is set for Oct. 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.
At a campaign rally in Greenville, North Carolina, earlier Thursday, the president intensified his attacks on Mr. Biden over reports that the Democrat enabled his son, Hunter, to gain millions of dollars in foreign payments while he was serving as vice president.
Mr. Trump cited accusations, first reported by The New York Post, that Hunter Biden was paid $10 million per year by a wealthy Chinese businessman for “introductions only” during the Obama administration. The president told supporters in the battleground state that the Democratic nominee enriched his family while allowing U.S. manufacturing jobs to move to China.
“These deals were made at the same time Joe Biden was letting China steal your jobs and take away your factories,” Mr. Trump said. “The Bidens got rich while America got robbed.”
Mr. Biden told supporters that Mr. Trump and his allies are ratcheting up an aggressive “misinformation” campaign because the president is trailing in the polls. Mr. Biden held an 11-point lead over the president: 53% to 42%, according to a national NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Thursday.
“I know these are anxious times,” Mr. Biden said. “We have 19 days left, and you know, he’s going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at me.”
Referring to his massive fundraising lead over the president, Mr. Biden told donors, “I think you’ve put me in a position to be able to respond in real time in a way that we can compete.”
The president said he won in 2016 after Democrat Hillary Clinton raised more money than he did.
“Ultimately, money doesn’t get you there,” Mr. Trump said. “My father told me a long time ago, ‘If you can win for less money, that’s a good thing.’ “
The president also warned that he intends to take legal action against Big Tech for censoring negative stories about the Bidens.
“It’s like a third arm, maybe a first arm, of the DNC,” Mr. Trump said of the actions by Twitter and Facebook. “It’s a massive campaign contribution.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com. • David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Navajo voters lose bid for special protections

A group of Navajo voters lost their bid Thursday for special voting rules , after a federal appeals court said they lacked standing to bring their lawsuit , and besides , the extra time they were asking to get their ballots in just isn ’ t feasible .
The decision by the 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals was a blow to voting-rights activist , who have pushed for expanded mailing times and procedures across the country .
Six Navajo Nation members said mail is so slow on the reservation in northern Arizona that they should have extra time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked that as long as the ballot was postmarked by Nov. 3 , that should be good enough .
State law requires ballots to have been received by that date .
The plaintiffs said the new rules should only apply to Navajo Nation members who live on the reservation .
But the judges said it ’ s impossible for election officials to know who ’ s a Navajo member living on the reservation , versus one who lives off the reservation .
Besides , the judges said , the post office doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six voters never proved that they even planned to vote this year , much less that they faced hurdles to getting their ballots in on time , the judges said .
That meant there was no concrete injury to give them standing to sue .
The Navajo Nation had distanced itself from the six plaintiffs .
But the League of Women Voters of Arizona called the ruling “ deeply disappointing ” for the reservation ’ s residents .
“ Can we truly claim our democracy is strong when the voices of its native @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again ?
” Pinny Sheoran , a league official , said .
While the Navajo reservation spans states , the lawsuit concerned three counties in Arizona ’ s northeastern corner .
The plaintiffs said mail on the reservation is slow , and many Navajo don ’ t get postal service at their remote residences and have to make special trips to the post office to collect and send mail .
That remoteness , the lack of a car , and sometimes language and other factors such as education , make traveling — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judges said they were “ sympathetic ” to those claims , but since the voters lacked standing the court couldn ’ t grant any relief .

A group of Navajo voters lost their bid Thursday for special voting rules, after a federal appeals court said they lacked standing to bring their lawsuit, and besides, the extra time they were asking to get their ballots in just isn’t feasible.
The decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was a blow to voting-rights activist, who have pushed for expanded mailing times and procedures across the country.
Six Navajo Nation members said mail is so slow on the reservation in northern Arizona that they should have extra time to get their ballots in. They asked that as long as the ballot was postmarked by Nov. 3, that should be good enough. State law requires ballots to have been received by that date.
The plaintiffs said the new rules should only apply to Navajo Nation members who live on the reservation.
But the judges said it’s impossible for election officials to know who’s a Navajo member living on the reservation, versus one who lives off the reservation.
Besides, the judges said, the post office doesn’t always postmark ballots.
And the six voters never proved that they even planned to vote this year, much less that they faced hurdles to getting their ballots in on time, the judges said. That meant there was no concrete injury to give them standing to sue.
The Navajo Nation had distanced itself from the six plaintiffs.
But the League of Women Voters of Arizona called the ruling “deeply disappointing” for the reservation’s residents.
“Can we truly claim our democracy is strong when the voices of its native citizens are restricted and silenced again and again?” Pinny Sheoran, a league official, said.
While the Navajo reservation spans states, the lawsuit concerned three counties in Arizona’s northeastern corner.
The plaintiffs said mail on the reservation is slow, and many Navajo don’t get postal service at their remote residences and have to make special trips to the post office to collect and send mail. That remoteness, the lack of a car, and sometimes language and other factors such as education, make traveling — and completing a ballot — difficult.
The judges said they were “sympathetic” to those claims, but since the voters lacked standing the court couldn’t grant any relief.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Australia's key golf events canceled amid COVID-19 pandemic

MELBOURNE , Australia ( AP ) - The Australian PGA Championship , Australian Open and Women ’ s Australian Open have been canceled amid continuing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic .
PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman , ALPG chief executive Karen Lunn and Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland confirmed Friday that all three events , which were to have been played in February , won ’ t proceed .
“ It ’ s unprecedented and a real blow for Australian golf and its fans , ” Kirkman said .
“ We have collectively spent months in exhaustive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctioning partners to try to find a way to stage all three events safely and at that world-class level to which we ’ ve all become accustomed .
“ But even with multiple contingency plans , it has reached a point where decisions have to be made and this , regrettably , is the one we ’ ve had to take.
” Several measures were considered - including players entering a hub and competing while serving a strict quarantine period , as well as restricting crowd numbers and movement - but Kirkman said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Open and Australian PGA Championship were originally scheduled for a late November and early December window , to be played at Melbourne ’ s Kingston Heath and Brisbane ’ s Royal Queensland .
Both were postponed in recent months in the hope a late-summer time slot - potentially near the Women ’ s Australian Open – would buy time for the men ’ s events .
But Kirkman said the impact of COVID-19 , particularly with assembling international fields and ensuring the safety of players , spectators and officials , forced the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 1945 , the final year of World War II , that the men ’ s Open will not have been staged .
It ’ s the first time since 1995 that the PGA will not be played , and the first time since 2006 that the women ’ s Open will not be contested .

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - The Australian PGA Championship, Australian Open and Women’s Australian Open have been canceled amid continuing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman, ALPG chief executive Karen Lunn and Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland confirmed Friday that all three events, which were to have been played in February, won’t proceed.
“It’s unprecedented and a real blow for Australian golf and its fans,” Kirkman said. “We have collectively spent months in exhaustive consultation with all relevant authorities and our sanctioning partners to try to find a way to stage all three events safely and at that world-class level to which we’ve all become accustomed.
“But even with multiple contingency plans, it has reached a point where decisions have to be made and this, regrettably, is the one we’ve had to take.”
Several measures were considered - including players entering a hub and competing while serving a strict quarantine period, as well as restricting crowd numbers and movement - but Kirkman said all options were unviable.
The Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship were originally scheduled for a late November and early December window, to be played at Melbourne’s Kingston Heath and Brisbane’s Royal Queensland.
Both were postponed in recent months in the hope a late-summer time slot - potentially near the Women’s Australian Open – would buy time for the men’s events.
But Kirkman said the impact of COVID-19, particularly with assembling international fields and ensuring the safety of players, spectators and officials, forced the decision.
It will be the first time since 1945, the final year of World War II, that the men’s Open will not have been staged. It’s the first time since 1995 that the PGA will not be played, and the first time since 2006 that the women’s Open will not be contested.
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Care New England says it received some counterfeit masks

PROVIDENCE , R.I. ( AP ) - A Rhode Island health care organization has told staff at its hospitals to @ @ @ @ @ face mask because some turned out to be counterfeit , which could compromise their effectiveness @ @ @ @ @ has received confirmation that at least one lot of Makrite N95 respirators in our possession @ @ @ @ @ , ” Care New England spokeswoman Raina Smith told The Providence Journal .
The majority @ @ @ @ @ do not use Makrite respirators , and the hospital group has an adequate supply of @ @ @ @ @ .
Because there is no way to know which ones are real and which ones @ @ @ @ @ being discarded .
The respirators were purchased “ from a reliable vendor who provided commercial @ @ @ @ @ the Makrite factory seal , ” CNE said in en email to staff obtained by @ @ @ @ @ based in Taiwan and has a facility in Massachusetts .
The company has issued multiple @ @ @ @ @ scams .
A message was left with the company Friday .

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island’s coronavirus test positivity rate and the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 are continuing to climb, according to state Department of Health data released Friday.
The 198 new positive cases were out of about 6,600 tests, a 3% positivity rate.
The 7-day rolling average of the positivity rate in the state has now risen over the past two weeks from about 1.1% on Oct. 1 to nearly 2.1% on Thursday, according to the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
The state also adjusted the number of new confirmed cases on Wednesday to 279, the largest one-day total since early May.
The 7-day rolling average of daily new cases has risen over the past two weeks from 122 on Oct. 1 to 199 on Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins figures.
There were 137 people in the state’s hospitals with the disease as of Wednesday, up from 131 the previous day, and the highest one-day total since June 11.
The state also reported three new virus-related fatalities, for a total of 1,152.
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GOVERNOR SUED
Ten Rhode Island residents have sued Gov. Gina Raimondo in federal court for requiring them to test for COVID-19, denying them “air of best quality” by requiring them to wear face coverings, and denying them freedom of assembly.
Regulations in place to battle the pandemic have resulted in the plaintiffs “not enjoying normal events canceled by fear of said virus.”
The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday by lead plaintiff Peter Chafee Card Jr., of Middletown.
“Our whole way of life is being trashed,” Card told The Newport Daily News. “A way to stop a bully is to call the bully out. A lawsuit is a good way to call out a bully.”
A spokesperson for the Democratic governor called the restrictions necessary.
“The extraordinary circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the severe threat it poses to at-risk populations, including those over 65 years of age, has necessitated restrictions around in-person communal events and the implementation of critical public health procedures,” Audrey Lucas wrote in an email.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to issue a cease and desist order ending Raimondo’s state of emergency.
___
COUNTERFEIT MASKS
A Rhode Island health care organization has told staff at its hospitals to discard a particular brand of face mask because some turned out to be counterfeit, which could compromise their effectiveness.
“Care New England has received confirmation that at least one lot of Makrite N95 respirators in our possession is not authentic Makrite product,” Care New England spokeswoman Raina Smith told The Providence Journal.
The majority of CNE health care workers do not use Makrite respirators, and the hospital group has an adequate supply of alternative respirators, she said.
Because there is no way to know which ones are real and which ones are counterfeit, all are being discarded.
The respirators were purchased from a reliable vendor, CNE said in an email to staff obtained by the Journal.
Makrite is based in Taiwan and has a facility in Massachusetts. The company has issued multiple warnings about counterfeit products and scams. A message was left with the company Friday.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--2 women struck by car while jogging in Miami, 1 dies

MIAMI ( AP ) - A car struck two women who were out jogging in Miami , killing one of @ @ @ @ @ other one , officials said .
Miami-Dade police told news outlets one of the women @ @ @ @ @ the entrance of a private school in the Miami Shores neighborhood .
Police say the @ @ @ @ @ the street early Thursday but were not in a crosswalk .
A 27-year-old man behind @ @ @ @ @ a green light at the time .
The women were not identified by name but @ @ @ @ @ .
Officials have not said whether speed was a factor .

MIAMI (AP) - A car struck two women who were out jogging in Miami, killing one of them and critically injuring the other one, officials said.
Miami-Dade police told news outlets one of the women died at the scene near the entrance of a private school in the Miami Shores neighborhood.
Police say the joggers were trying to cross the street early Thursday but were not in a crosswalk. A 27-year-old man behind the wheel was proceeding through a green light at the time.
The women were not identified by name but both were in their 40s. Officials have not said whether speed was a factor.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Officials urge end to non-family gatherings in Alaska region

BETHEL , Alaska ( AP ) - Health officials in an Alaska region with a growing COVID-19 outbreak asked residents to stop gathering with non-household members to slow the spread of the virus .
Officials said 126 people tested positive for the virus in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta over the past two weeks , KYUK-AM reported Thursday .
The percentage of people who tested positive in the Bethel Census Area jumped from about 1 % to nearly 5 % , while the rate is more than 3 % in the Kusilvak Census Area .
The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation said it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but that more people are suddenly testing positive .
Corporation Chief of Staff Ellen Hodges said the rapid increase has surpassed testing capabilities in the region .
“ Once your test positivity rate gets to 10 % or 12 % , then the virus is basically raging out of control , ” Hodges said .
“ You ’ re not testing enough people .
You can ’ t .
You don ’ t have enough people to test all the people.
” The heath corporation urged residents to stop hosting and attending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The corporation ’ s case investigations show most positive cases in the region resulted from people gathering with family and friends .
“ For the most part , it ’ s people you know .
It ’ s not strangers , it ’ s not people in the grocery store , ” Hodges said .
One person in the region infected more than 40 people by visiting others , officials said .
The Chevak Tribal Council declared a community lockdown Oct. 12 after a student at the village school tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Superintendent David Lougee said the school has conducted remote learning since Oct. 7 when the student first experienced symptoms .
Chevak joins Quinhagak , Kipnuk and Kasigluk on the list of Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta communities currently in lockdown because of the virus .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be far higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick .

BETHEL, Alaska (AP) - Health officials in an Alaska region with a growing COVID-19 outbreak asked residents to stop gathering with non-household members to slow the spread of the virus.
Officials said 126 people tested positive for the virus in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta over the past two weeks, KYUK-AM reported Thursday.
The percentage of people who tested positive in the Bethel Census Area jumped from about 1% to nearly 5%, while the rate is more than 3% in the Kusilvak Census Area.
The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation said it is conducting about the same number of tests, but that more people are suddenly testing positive.
Corporation Chief of Staff Ellen Hodges said the rapid increase has surpassed testing capabilities in the region.
“Once your test positivity rate gets to 10% or 12%, then the virus is basically raging out of control,” Hodges said. “You’re not testing enough people. You can’t. You don’t have enough people to test all the people.”
The heath corporation urged residents to stop hosting and attending gatherings with people outside of their households. The corporation’s case investigations show most positive cases in the region resulted from people gathering with family and friends.
“For the most part, it’s people you know. It’s not strangers, it’s not people in the grocery store,” Hodges said.
One person in the region infected more than 40 people by visiting others, officials said.
The Chevak Tribal Council declared a community lockdown Oct. 12 after a student at the village school tested positive for the virus, KYUK-AM reported.
Chevak Superintendent David Lougee said the school has conducted remote learning since Oct. 7 when the student first experienced symptoms.
Chevak joins Quinhagak, Kipnuk and Kasigluk on the list of Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta communities currently in lockdown because of the virus.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Police identify man killed in drive-by shooting in Jennings

JENNINGS , Mo .
( AP ) - St. Louis County police say the man killed in a drive-by shooting @ @ @ @ @ was a 19-year-old from Bridgeton .
Police on Friday identified the victim as Ryan Hampton @ @ @ @ @ two gunmen fired into a moving vehicle .
After the shooting , the victim ’ @ @ @ @ @ utility vehicle in which the gunmen were riding collided .
Hampton suffered one gunshot wound @ @ @ @ @ the hospital .
Two of his relatives , a 9-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy @ @ @ @ @ Police said the gunmen ran from their disabled SUV armed with rifles .
No arrests @ @ @ @

JENNINGS, Mo. (AP) - St. Louis County police say the man killed in a drive-by shooting that left two children injured was a 19-year-old from Bridgeton.
Police on Friday identified the victim as Ryan Hampton. He died Thursday when two gunmen fired into a moving vehicle. After the shooting, the victim’s car and the sport utility vehicle in which the gunmen were riding collided.
Hampton suffered one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Two of his relatives, a 9-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy, suffered minor injuries.
Police said the gunmen ran from their disabled SUV armed with rifles. No arrests have been made.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Sen. Josh Hawley writing book: 'The Tyranny of Big Tech.'

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Sen. Josh Hawley is working on a book about one of the Missouri Republican ’ s ongoing targets .
Simon & Schuster announced Friday that Hawley ’ s “ The Tyranny of Big Tech ” will be released June 21 .
Hawley has frequently criticized Facebook , Twitter and other social media giants for everything from alleged anti-conservative bias to monopolistic control of the online market .
“ At a time when these platforms are determining elections , banning inconvenient political views , lining politicians ’ pockets with hundreds of millions of dollars , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I want to draw attention to the robber barons of the modern era , ” Hawley said in a statement .
“ This is the fight to recover America ’ s populist democracy .
That is why I am writing this book.
” Earlier this week , Hawley attacked Facebook and Twitter for limiting the spread of an unverified political story about Hunter Biden , son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , that was published by the conservative New York Post .
Soon after he was elected Missouri ’ s attorney general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Facebook and Google for alleged antitrust and consumer protection violations .

NEW YORK (AP) - Sen. Josh Hawley is working on a book about one of the Missouri Republican’s ongoing targets.
Simon & Schuster announced Friday that Hawley’s “The Tyranny of Big Tech” will be released June 21. Hawley has frequently criticized Facebook, Twitter and other social media giants for everything from alleged anti-conservative bias to monopolistic control of the online market.
“At a time when these platforms are determining elections, banning inconvenient political views, lining politicians’ pockets with hundreds of millions of dollars, and addicting our kids to screens, I want to draw attention to the robber barons of the modern era,” Hawley said in a statement. “This is the fight to recover America’s populist democracy. That is why I am writing this book.”
Earlier this week, Hawley attacked Facebook and Twitter for limiting the spread of an unverified political story about Hunter Biden, son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, that was published by the conservative New York Post. Soon after he was elected Missouri’s attorney general, in 2016, he launched investigations into Facebook and Google for alleged antitrust and consumer protection violations.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--KBI, police investigate after 2 killed in Independence

INDEPENDENCE , Kan. ( AP ) - Independence police and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are investigating the deaths of @ @ @ @ @ crashed into an apartment .
Independence police received a 911 call at 3:45 a.m. Friday @ @ @ @ @ heard gunfire and then saw the vehicle hit the apartment .
KBI said in a @ @ @ @ @ found two male victims dead inside the crashed vehicle , and an injured female .
@ @ @ @ @ a hospital in Joplin , Missouri .
Names of the victims have not been released @ @ @ @ @ among apartment residents .
Authorities urged anyone with information to contact KBI or Independence police @

INDEPENDENCE, Kan. (AP) - Independence police and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are investigating the deaths of two men after a vehicle crashed into an apartment.
Independence police received a 911 call at 3:45 a.m. Friday from someone who said they heard gunfire and then saw the vehicle hit the apartment. KBI said in a news release that arriving officers found 27-year-old Tyler D. Cook and 24-year-old Rodricus A. Dawson dead inside the crashed vehicle, and an injured female.
The female was flown to a hospital in Joplin, Missouri.
No injuries were reported among apartment residents. Authorities urged anyone with information to contact KBI or Independence police.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Pennsylvania sees another big monthly drop in jobless rate

HARRISBURG , Pa. ( AP ) - Pennsylvania ’ s unemployment rate began to look like the rest of the nation ’ s in September , taking another steep drop from its post-pandemic high as the labor force and payrolls grew , according to state figures released Friday .
However , the state still has yet to recover many of the jobs lost to the economic impact of the coronavirus .
Pennsylvania ’ s unemployment rate was 8.1 % in September , down 2.3 percentage points from August ’ s adjusted rate of 10.4 % , the state Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below the state ’ s pandemic-driven unemployment high of 16.1 % in April , the highest rate in more than four decades of record-keeping .
The national rate was 7.9 % in September .
Pennsylvania was harder-hit by the pandemic than most states in the spring , and its unemployment rate had been one of the highest in the nation since .
Payrolls grew more slowly in September than in recent months , but gained back 19,400 of the more than 1.1 million jobs lost since mid-March .
With payrolls at nearly 5.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than half the jobs lost in the past seven months , according to state figures .
In a survey of households , the labor force grew by an estimated 52,000 in September , closer to 6.4 million , still below the record high at close to 6.6 million in February .
Unemployment fell by 141,000 while employment grew by 194,000 .

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate began to look like the rest of the nation’s in September, taking another steep drop from its post-pandemic high as the labor force and payrolls grew, according to state figures released Friday.
However, the state still has yet to recover many of the jobs lost to the economic impact of the coronavirus.
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was 8.1% in September, down 2.3 percentage points from August’s adjusted rate of 10.4%, the state Department of Labor and Industry said.
That is below the state’s pandemic-driven unemployment high of 16.1% in April, the highest rate in more than four decades of record-keeping.
The national rate was 7.9% in September. Pennsylvania was harder-hit by the pandemic than most states in the spring, and its unemployment rate had been one of the highest in the nation since.
Payrolls grew more slowly in September than in recent months, but gained back 19,400 of the more than 1.1 million jobs lost since mid-March.
With payrolls at nearly 5.6 million, Pennsylvania has regained slightly more than half the jobs lost in the past seven months, according to state figures.
In a survey of households, the labor force grew by an estimated 52,000 in September, closer to 6.4 million, still below the record high at close to 6.6 million in February. Unemployment fell by 141,000 while employment grew by 194,000.
At the height of coronavirus-shutdown job losses, seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls fell to the lowest level in at least three decades of federal data that goes back to the start of 1990 under the same methodology.
It is still down more than 500,000 from where it was, or about 1 in 12 jobs total, and still behind where payrolls were in 2010, a dramatic drop-off after the state hit a record of more than 6.1 million in February.
Hardest hit has been the leisure and hospitality sector, which shed about 60% of its payroll as restaurants and bars were forced to shut down in-house service and shift food service to takeout or delivery.
Most sectors grew in September.
Leisure and hospitality, which includes restaurants, grew the most, by 16,000 jobs in September, and remains 150,000 jobs, or about 25%, behind where payrolls were in February.
The education and health services sector fell by 9,000, to remain above 1.2 million, and government fell by almost 17,000 jobs to 683,000.
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Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/timelywriter.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Missing woman's family asks for historical marker along road

HAVERHILL , N.H. ( AP ) - The family of Maura Murray , a 21-year-old nursing student who disappeared after a 2004 car crash in New Hampshire , is asking for a state highway historical marker to be installed at the spot where where she vanished .
For years , the family kept a blue ribbon tied around a tree near the road in Haverhill .
But the Caledonian-Record reports the property owner wants to cut down the tree .
The family , state Rep. DeSimone , R-Atkinson , and residents were planning to submit their application Friday to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Concord .
They say their petition has more than 3,000 signatures .
DeSimone said she feels for the Murray family .
“ I can not in my wildest dreams imagine losing a child in this manner , ” she said .
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst nursing student was last seen on Route 112 , which leads to the White Mountain National Forest , on February 9 , 2004 .
Her professors said she claimed , falsely , that there had been a death in her family and that she needed to leave .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maura has never been found .
The family believes she was a victim of a crime ; others theorized that she fled , possibly to Canada , or was injured , wandered off into the woods , and died of exposure .
She is classified as a missing person , and the case remains open and active .

HAVERHILL, N.H. (AP) - The family of Maura Murray, a 21-year-old nursing student who disappeared after a 2004 car crash in New Hampshire, is asking for a state highway historical marker to be installed at the spot where she vanished.
For years, the family kept a blue ribbon tied around a tree near the road in Haverhill. But the Caledonian-Record reports the property owner wants to cut down the tree.
The family, state Rep. Debra DeSimone, R-Atkinson, and residents were planning to submit their application Friday to the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources in Concord. They say their petition has more than 3,000 signatures.
DeSimone said she feels for the Murray family. “I cannot in my wildest dreams imagine losing a child in this manner,” she said.
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst nursing student was last seen on Route 112, which leads to the White Mountain National Forest, on February 9, 2004.
Her professors said she claimed, falsely, that there had been a death in her family and that she needed to leave. Her damaged car was later recovered; Maura has never been found.
The family believes she was a victim of a crime; others theorized that she fled, possibly to Canada, or was injured, wandered off into the woods, and died of exposure.
She is classified as a missing person, and the case remains open and active.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Alabama jobless rate jumps to 6.6% as pandemic woes continue

MONTGOMERY , Ala. ( AP ) - Alabama ’ s monthly unemployment rate jumped to 6.6 % in September as the coronavirus pandemic kept up its continuing damage to the state ’ s economy , the government reported Friday .
The rate was a full percentage point above the August jobless rate and even worse when compared to the pre-coronavirus rate of 2.7 % a year earlier .
The state ’ s labor secretary , Fitzgerald Washington , said fluctuations in the unemployment rate will likely continue during the pandemic , which is blamed for nearly 2,800 deaths in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the new virus .
“ In September , we saw fewer people entering the labor force , fewer people working , and more who were counted as unemployed , ” he said in a statement .
“ All of those factors will increase the unemployment rate .
We will continue to work with employers and the unemployed to put Alabamians back to work.
” The September rate represented 148,912 people without jobs , an increase of about 23,000 from a month earlier .
“ We did see an increase in the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a gain of a little more than 9,000 , ” said Washington .
“ We hope to see hiring pick up over the next couple of months as we approach the holiday season.
” Cullman County , located north of Birmingham , had the state ’ s lowest jobless rate at 3.8 % , with Franklin , Marshall and Randolph counties close behind .
Rural Wilcox County in west Alabama was worst at 17 % .

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama’s monthly unemployment rate jumped to 6.6% in September as the coronavirus pandemic kept up its continuing damage to the state’s economy, the government reported Friday.
The rate was a full percentage point above the August jobless rate and even worse when compared to the pre-coronavirus rate of 2.7% a year earlier.
The state’s labor secretary, Fitzgerald Washington, said fluctuations in the unemployment rate will likely continue during the pandemic, which is blamed for nearly 2,800 deaths in the state from COVID-19, the illness caused by the new virus.
“In September, we saw fewer people entering the labor force, fewer people working, and more who were counted as unemployed,” he said in a statement. “All of those factors will increase the unemployment rate. We will continue to work with employers and the unemployed to put Alabamians back to work.”
The September rate represented 148,912 people without jobs, an increase of about 23,000 from a month earlier.
“We did see an increase in the number of jobs the economy is supporting, with a gain of a little more than 9,000,” said Washington. “We hope to see hiring pick up over the next couple of months as we approach the holiday season.”
Cullman County, located north of Birmingham, had the state’s lowest jobless rate at 3.8%, with Franklin, Marshall and Randolph counties close behind. Rural Wilcox County in west Alabama was worst at 17%.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Kansas City tops record for killings with 2 1/2 months left

KANSAS CITY , Mo .
( AP ) - Missouri ’ s largest city has reached an unwanted milestone - @ @ @ @ @ in a year .
Two people died in separate shootings Thursday in Kansas City , @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 .
The Kansas City Star reports that breaks the record set in 2017 @ @ @ @ @ has recorded 35 more killings this year than at the same time in 2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ before 8 p.m. Officers sent to an apartment complex found a man in the hallway @ @ @ @ @ He died at the scene .
Officers responded about 10:45 p.m. to a home in @ @ @ @ @ Witnesses told police they heard gunshots and then found a man and woman both shot @ @ @ @ @ spokesman Doaa El-Ashkar said .
Both victims were taken to hospitals .
The male victim @ @ @ @ @ female victim ’ s injuries were non-life-threatening , El-Ashkar said .
Witnesses told police that @ @ @ @ @ a man who had been staying at the home .

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri’s largest city has reached an unwanted milestone - a new record for homicides in a year.
Two people died in separate shootings Thursday in Kansas City, the 155th and 156th killings in 2020. The Kansas City Star reports that breaks the record set in 2017. Meanwhile, the city has recorded 35 more killings this year than at the same time in 2019.
The first shooting happened just before 8 p.m. Officers sent to an apartment complex found a man in the hallway suffering from gunshot wounds. He died at the scene.
Officers responded about 10:45 p.m. to a home in the historic Northeast area. Witnesses told police they heard gunshots and then found a man and woman both shot inside their home, police spokesman Doaa El-Ashkar said.
Both victims were taken to hospitals. The male victim was pronounced dead. The female victim’s injuries were non-life-threatening, El-Ashkar said.
Witnesses told police that they believed the shooter was a man who had been staying at the home.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--US industrial production fell a sharp 0.6% in September

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - U.S. industrial production fell 0.6 % in September , the weakest showing since spring and a sign that the economy ’ s recovery from the pandemic recession may be faltering just as confirmed viral infections are resurging in much of the country .
The Federal Reserve reported Friday that industrial production suffered its first decline since a 12.7 % drop in April during the spring lockdowns of businesses that paralyzed the economy .
The key category that reflects manufacturing output fell 0.3 % .
At the same time , mining output , which includes oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Production at utilities rose 1.7 % .
Last month ’ s reading on industrial production followed four straight increases that began in May after sharp declines in March and April .
Industrial production has recovered more than half of its spring declines but remains 7.1 % below its pre-pandemic level in February .
“ Industrial output came in well below expectations , one of the first real signs that the recovery is losing momentum under the weight of the ongoing health crisis and fading support from fiscal relief , ” Oxford Economics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of motor vehicles and parts fell for a second straight month , dropping 4 % after a 4.3 % decline in August which had followed big increases after auto plants re-opened .
The weaker-than-expected September showing may signal a slowdown in manufacturing , which had been a rare bright spot in the economy , that could hinder overall growth in coming months .
“ Rising virus outbreaks that can interrupt activity remain a threat going forward , ” said Rubeela Farooqi , chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics .
In September , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , down from a reading of 77.4 % of capacity a year ago .

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. industrial production fell 0.6% in September, the weakest showing since spring and a sign that the economy’s recovery from the pandemic recession may be faltering just as confirmed viral infections are resurging in much of the country.
The Federal Reserve reported Friday that industrial production suffered its first decline since a 12.7% drop in April during the spring lockdowns of businesses that paralyzed the economy. The key category that reflects manufacturing output fell 0.3%. At the same time, mining output, which includes oil and gas exploration, fell 5.6%. Production at utilities rose 1.7%.
Last month’s reading on industrial production followed four straight increases that began in May after sharp declines in March and April. Industrial production has recovered more than half of its spring declines but remains 7.1% below its pre-pandemic level in February.
“Industrial output came in well below expectations, one of the first real signs that the recovery is losing momentum under the weight of the ongoing health crisis and fading support from fiscal relief,” Oxford Economics said in a research note.
Production of motor vehicles and parts fell for a second straight month, dropping 4% after a 4.3% decline in August which had followed big increases after auto plants re-opened.
The weaker-than-expected September showing may signal a slowdown in manufacturing, which had been a rare bright spot in the economy, that could hinder overall growth in coming months.
“Rising virus outbreaks that can interrupt activity remain a threat going forward,” said Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics.
In September, industry operated at 71.5% of capacity, down from a reading of 77.4% of capacity a year ago.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--School board deadlocks on plan to extend online learning

FAIRFAX , Va. ( AP ) - The board overseeing Virginia ’ s largest school district has failed to endorse @ @ @ @ @ that would keep a majority of students fully online until February .
In a series @ @ @ @ @ , the 12-member Fairfax County school board deadlocked 6-6 on whether to endorse Superintendent Scott @ @ @ @ @ or whether to push for an earlier return to in-person learning for grades 3-12 .
@ @ @ @ @ reflect the deep divisions in the county and elsewhere on whether it ’ s safe @ @ @ @ @ class as the coronavirus pandemic continues .
Brabrand ’ s proposal called for staggered returns @ @ @ @ @ beginning with kids with special needs and the youngest grades , but the vast majority @ @ @ @ @ 187,000 students would remain fully online until February 2021 under his plan .
He has @ @ @ @ @ with many teachers resisting students ’ return to class .
The school district is the @ @ @ @ @ .
The board is expected to take up the issue again next month .

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) - The board overseeing Virginia’s largest school district has failed to endorse a plan from its superintendent that would keep a majority of students fully online until February.
In a series of votes early Friday morning, the 12-member Fairfax County school board deadlocked 6-6 on whether to endorse Superintendent Scott Brabrand’s plan, or whether to push for an earlier return to in-person learning for grades 3-12.
The votes were non-binding but reflect the deep divisions in the county and elsewhere on whether it’s safe for students to return to class as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
Brabrand’s proposal called for staggered returns for limited in-person learning, beginning with kids with special needs and the youngest grades, but the vast majority of the district’s 187,000 students would remain fully online until February 2021 under his plan. He has said logistical challenges are significant with many teachers resisting students’ return to class.
The school district is the nation’s 10th largest. The board is expected to take up the issue again next month.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Merkel: EU summit on China called off as virus resurges

BRUSSELS ( AP ) - A planned European Union summit on the bloc ’ s China policy that was to @ @ @ @ @ month has been called off because of the resurgent coronavirus pandemic , German Chancellor Angela @ @ @ @ @ 27-nation EU ’ s leaders had planned to meet in Berlin on Nov. 16 to @ @ @ @ @ Merkel said after an EU summit in Brussels on Friday that the meeting won ’ @ @ @ @ @ We will have to do without it , because I think that is a necessary @ @ @ @ @ reducing ) contacts , ” she added .
New coronavirus infections are surging across Europe @ @ @ @ @ renewed restrictions .
Germany currently holds the EU ’ s rotating presidency .
Its plans @ @ @ @ @ leaders from the EU ’ s member countries and China in the German city of @ @ @ @ @ dashed by the pandemic .
In the end , Merkel and the EU ’ s @ @ @ @ @ with Chinese President Xi Jinping .

BRUSSELS (AP) - A planned European Union summit on the bloc’s China policy that was to be held in Berlin next month has been called off because of the resurgent coronavirus pandemic, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday.
The 27-nation EU’s leaders had planned to meet in Berlin on Nov. 16 to discuss policy toward China.
Merkel said after an EU summit in Brussels on Friday that the meeting won’t go ahead. “We will have to do without it, because I think that is a necessary message in terms of (reducing) contacts,” she added.
New coronavirus infections are surging across Europe, prompting governments to impose renewed restrictions.
Germany currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency. Its plans to hold a meeting of leaders from the EU’s member countries and China in the German city of Leipzig in September were already dashed by the pandemic.
In the end, Merkel and the EU’s top officials held a videoconference with Chinese President Xi Jinping.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--NY officials optimistic about fixes to mail-in voting system

ALBANY , N.Y. ( AP ) - With the clock ticking down to Election Day , officials are cautiously optimistic New York has fixed problems with mail-in voting that led to delays and disenfranchisement in a rocky June primary .
As many as 4 to 5 million New Yorkers are expected to cast absentee ballots after Gov .
Andrew Cuomo authorized their widespread use because of the coronavirus pandemic .
In the primary , two out of five votes were cast by mail , an unprecedented ratio that strained a system that normally handles fewer than 1 in 20 votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots into voters ’ hands on time .
There was confusion about ballots arriving without a postmark to indicate whether they had been mailed by Election Day .
Thousands of mailed ballots were disqualified over technical issues , like missing signatures .
But after a summer of refinements , officials say the state is better prepared .
“ I don ’ t anticipate that it ’ s going to be perfect , ” state board of election commissioner Douglas Kellner said .
“ But I do think it will be pretty good.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier - in late August , rather than early October .
-It redesigned ballot envelopes to make it clear where voters must put their signature .
-Some archaic reasons for rejected ballots are gone .
-Absentee ballots will no longer be disqualified if someone changes the color of their ink or switches from a pen to a pencil while filling out the form .
-In maybe the biggest change , election officials must now notify voters by phone or email within 24 hours if there is a problem with their ballot .
Voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fix problems , depending on when their ballot arrived at the elections office .
Before those changes , New York ’ s rate of rejected absentee ballots had been among the nation ’ s highest .
During the 2018 midterm elections , 34,095 absentee ballots - nearly 14 % of those cast - were disqualified by elections officials , according to advocacy group League of Women Voters .
“ There are always problems with every human system , but the good news is that there ’ s ample time to fix them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Common Cause New York Executive Director Susan Lerner said .
“ The most important thing is to make a plan to vote now , and then have a back-up plan in case you need it.
” New York is the largest of over two dozen states , including Pennsylvania , Illinois , and Ohio , where voters can request an absentee ballot as late as Oct. 27 - seven days before the election .
That leaves little time for officials to process an application and mail out the ballot in time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mail by Election Day .
Between 100,000 to 200,000 voters didn ’ t receive their absentee ballot in time for the June primary , according to Kellner .
He urged voters to request and mail back ballots early .
“ It ’ s time for voters to make their decision on how they ’ re going to vote now and not wait until the last minute , ” he said .
For the primary , the state also inadvertently created a problem by sending voters a postage-paid return envelope for their absentee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required , postal workers in Brooklyn then failed to put a postmark on nearly 4,900 of those envelopes , leading to uncertainty about whether they were mailed by an Election Day deadline .
For the general election , voters will have to buy stamps .
Additionally , a new law allows ballots without a postmark to be counted , as long as they are received no later than a day after Election Day .
Two dozen voters and candidates worried about postal delays have asked a federal court to extend that deadline to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.3 million people have requested an absentee ballot so far , not including Erie County , officials said .
In New York City , elections officials are trying to ensure a major mishap doesn ’ t wind up costing people their vote .
A printing error meant that nearly 100,000 ballots initially sent to general election voters in the city displayed the wrong names on ballot envelopes .
Replacement ballots were sent out , and officials have promised that people who mailed back ballots in the misprinted envelopes will have a chance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also vote early , in-person , this year between Oct. 24 and Nov. 1 .
Marla Garfield , 46 , of Brooklyn , said she received her replacement absentee ballot quickly but plans to now drop off her ballot herself during the early voting period to make sure there are no issues .
“ You just hope that they have a system in place for it to not be a problem when we go vote , ” she said .
Cost-cutting at the U.S .
Postal Service has led to concerns that some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be delayed , but Kellner said he was “ confident that the post office is taking those obligations seriously and doing what they reasonably can to make sure that all election mail will be properly and efficiently processed.
” Unlike some other states , New York hasn ’ t expanded the use of ballot drop boxes besides the usual locations found at voting sites and local election offices .
Once the votes are in , local elections boards face the challenge of counting them .
That process took weeks in some contests during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insufficient staff and general inexperience in handling so many mailed-in votes .
“ But I don ’ t expect that to be repeated for the general election , ” Kellner said .
He said many boards have added staff and bought time-saving equipment .
Onondaga County Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny said nearly 50,000 out of the 120,000 absentee ballots he expects to get in the mail have already come in .
He ’ s still concerned with the board ’ s ability to afford all the extra work needed to process those votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding .
“ We ’ re having to basically throw money and bodies at the situation to try to help ourselves , ” Czarny said .

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - With the clock ticking down to Election Day, officials are cautiously optimistic New York has fixed problems with mail-in voting that led to delays and disenfranchisement in a rocky June primary.
As many as 4 to 5 million New Yorkers are expected to cast absentee ballots after Gov. Andrew Cuomo authorized their widespread use because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In the primary, two out of five votes were cast by mail, an unprecedented ratio that strained a system that normally handles fewer than 1 in 20 votes.
Local election boards struggled to get ballots into voters’ hands on time. There was confusion about ballots arriving without a postmark to indicate whether they had been mailed by Election Day. Thousands of mailed ballots were disqualified over technical issues, like missing signatures.
But after a summer of refinements, officials say the state is better prepared.
“I don’t anticipate that it’s going to be perfect,” state board of election commissioner Douglas Kellner said. “But I do think it will be pretty good.”
Among the fixes:
-The state let voters request absentee ballots earlier - in late August, rather than early October.
-It redesigned ballot envelopes to make it clear where voters must put their signature.
-Some archaic reasons for rejected ballots are gone.
-Absentee ballots will no longer be disqualified if someone changes the color of their ink or switches from a pen to a pencil while filling out the form.
-In maybe the biggest change, election officials must now notify voters by phone or email within 24 hours if there is a problem with their ballot. Voters will get either five or seven days to fix problems, depending on when their ballot arrived at the elections office.
Before those changes, New York’s rate of rejected absentee ballots had been among the nation’s highest. During the 2018 midterm elections, 34,095 absentee ballots - nearly 14% of those cast - were disqualified by elections officials, according to advocacy group League of Women Voters.
“There are always problems with every human system, but the good news is that there’s ample time to fix them and voters have plenty of options,” Common Cause New York Executive Director Susan Lerner said. “The most important thing is to make a plan to vote now, and then have a back-up plan in case you need it.”
Concerns remain.
New York is the largest of over two dozen states, including Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio, where voters can request an absentee ballot as late as Oct. 27 - seven days before the election.
That leaves little time for officials to process an application and mail out the ballot in time for the voter to have it back in the mail by Election Day.
Between 100,000 to 200,000 voters didn’t receive their absentee ballot in time for the June primary, according to Kellner.
He urged voters to request and mail back ballots early.
“It’s time for voters to make their decision on how they’re going to vote now and not wait until the last minute,” he said.
For the primary, the state also inadvertently created a problem by sending voters a postage-paid return envelope for their absentee ballot. Because postage wasn’t required, postal workers in Brooklyn then failed to put a postmark on nearly 4,900 of those envelopes, leading to uncertainty about whether they were mailed by an Election Day deadline.
For the general election, voters will have to buy stamps. Additionally, a new law allows ballots without a postmark to be counted, as long as they are received no later than a day after Election Day.
Two dozen voters and candidates worried about postal delays have asked a federal court to extend that deadline to seven days.
Statewide, nearly 1.4 million people have requested an absentee ballot so far, officials said.
In New York City, elections officials are trying to ensure a major mishap doesn’t wind up costing people their vote. A printing error meant that nearly 100,000 ballots initially sent to general election voters in the city displayed the wrong names on ballot envelopes.
Replacement ballots were sent out, and officials have promised that people who mailed back ballots in the misprinted envelopes will have a chance to correct the problem.
New Yorkers can also vote early, in-person, this year between Oct. 24 and Nov. 1. Marla Garfield, 46, of Brooklyn, said she received her replacement absentee ballot quickly but plans to now drop off her ballot herself during the early voting period to make sure there are no issues.
“You just hope that they have a system in place for it to not be a problem when we go vote,” she said.
Cost-cutting at the U.S. Postal Service has led to concerns that some ballots mailed close to the deadline will be delayed, but Kellner said he was “confident that the post office is taking those obligations seriously and doing what they reasonably can to make sure that all election mail will be properly and efficiently processed.”
Unlike some other states, New York hasn’t expanded the use of ballot drop boxes besides the usual locations found at voting sites and local election offices.
Once the votes are in, local elections boards face the challenge of counting them. That process took weeks in some contests during the primary. Delays were compounded by insufficient staff and general inexperience in handling so many mailed-in votes.
“But I don’t expect that to be repeated for the general election,” Kellner said. He said many boards have added staff and bought time-saving equipment.
Onondaga County Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny said nearly 50,000 out of the 120,000 absentee ballots he expects to get in the mail have already come in.
He’s still concerned with the board’s ability to afford all the extra work needed to process those votes, saying they could use more state funding.
“We’re having to basically throw money and bodies at the situation to try to help ourselves,” Czarny said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Police: Man arrested following pursuit, crash in Virginia

NEWPORT NEWS , Va. ( AP ) - A man who police say was seen fleeing the area of a @ @ @ @ @ arrested after he crashed his vehicle during a pursuit .
The incident happened Thursday night @ @ @ @ @ about a shooting in Newport News , the city ’ s police department said in @ @ @ @ @ s when officers say they saw the man fleeing and pursued him .
During the @ @ @ @ @ crashed his pickup truck into another vehicle and then fled his car .
He was @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
Police said the person in the other vehicle did not sustain @ @ @ @ @ of the shooting , a man , was pronounced dead at the scene .
Authorities @ @ @ @ @ of the victim or the male subject .

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) - A man who police say was seen fleeing the area of a fatal shooting in Virginia was arrested after he crashed his vehicle during a pursuit.
The incident happened Thursday night after police received a call about a shooting in Newport News, the city’s police department said in a statement. That’s when officers say they saw the man fleeing and pursued him.
During the pursuit, police say he crashed his pickup truck into another vehicle and then fled his car. He was arrested a short distance later, police said.
Police said the person in the other vehicle did not sustain any injuries. The victim of the shooting, a man, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not released the identity of the victim or the male subject.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Democrats increasingly embrace voting in person

Democratic voters are increasingly warming to casting their ballots in person rather than by mail , according to Morning Consult polling released this week .
Forty-two percent of Democrats said they plan to vote in person and 55 % said they plan to vote by mail , according to the polling taken from Oct. 8-10 .
In a survey conducted in late July and early August , 30 % of Democrats had said they preferred to vote in person , compared to 65 % who said they preferred to vote by mail .
The shift coincides with Democratic leaders now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - not necessarily by mail - and after a series of reports of delayed or undelivered mail from the U.S .
Postal Service .
Among Republicans , 68 % said they plan to vote in person and 28 % said they plan to vote by mail - the same ratio from over the summer .
Overall , 53 % of voters said they plan to vote in person and 41 % said they plan to vote by mail .
Over the summer , 46 % had said they preferred to vote in person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting .
The October survey of about 2,000 registered voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 % .
Many states have expanded their absentee and vote-by-mail options given the coronavirus pandemic .
Early voting is already underway in a number of states and more than 21 million ballots have been cast , according to a running tally being kept by University of Florida professor Michael McDonald .

Democratic voters are increasingly warming to casting their ballots in person rather than by mail, according to Morning Consult polling released this week.
Forty-two percent of Democrats said they plan to vote in person and 55% said they plan to vote by mail, according to the polling taken from Oct. 8-10.
In a survey conducted in late July and early August, 30% of Democrats had said they preferred to vote in person, compared to 65% who said they preferred to vote by mail.
The shift coincides with Democratic leaders now encouraging people to vote “early” - not necessarily by mail - and after a series of reports of delayed or undelivered mail from the U.S. Postal Service.
Among Republicans, 68% said they plan to vote in person and 28% said they plan to vote by mail - the same ratio from over the summer.
Overall, 53% of voters said they plan to vote in person and 41% said they plan to vote by mail.
Over the summer, 46% had said they preferred to vote in person and 48% said they preferred mail voting.
The October survey of about 2,000 registered voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 2%.
Many states have expanded their absentee and vote-by-mail options given the coronavirus pandemic.
Early voting is already underway in a number of states and more than 21 million ballots have been cast, according to a running tally being kept by University of Florida professor Michael McDonald.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Pfizer CEO: We can't pursue COVID-19 vaccine approval until late November

Pfizer said Friday it will not be able to apply for emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine until the third week of November , making it all but impossible for President Trump to trumpet a breakthrough before Election Day .
CEO Albert Bourla said Pfizer may know by the end of October whether its shots are effective , depending on how many coronavirus cases appear during late-stage trials .
But it must also satisfy regulators ’ vigorous safety requirements .
The Food and Drug Administration is demanding two months of safety data on half of trial enrollees following their final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial pushes any approval closer to Thanksgiving .
“ So let me be clear , assuming positive data , Pfizer will apply for Emergency Authorization Use in the U.S. soon after the safety milestone is achieved in the third week of November , ” Mr. Bourla wrote in an open letter .
“ All the data contained in our U.S. application would be reviewed not only by the FDA ’ s own scientists but also by an external panel of independent experts at a publicly held meeting convened by the agency.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine before the end of the year , inoculating health care workers and first responders first .
But Mr. Trump hasn ’ t been shy about pushing for emergency approval of a vaccine before voters have their say on Nov. 3 , as he emphasizes drug therapies and a vaccine over mitigation methods such as mask-wearing or societal lockdowns .
Pfizer was considered the most bullish of drugmakers pursuing a vaccine .
Its CEO repeatedly pointed to late October as a critical point for knowing more about its progress .
Other companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Johnson , had suggested they would seek approval later in the year , a timeline that aligns with what federal officials besides Mr. Trump had been saying for some time .
AstraZeneca and J & J each have been forced to hit pause on their trials to investigate an unexplained illness in their respective trials .

Pfizer said Friday it will not be able to apply for emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine until the third week of November, making it all but impossible for President Trump to trumpet a breakthrough before Election Day.
CEO Albert Bourla said Pfizer may know by the end of October whether its shots are effective, depending on how many coronavirus cases appear during late-stage trials. But it must also satisfy regulators’ vigorous safety requirements.
The Food and Drug Administration is demanding two months of safety data on half of trial enrollees following their final dose, so the pace of Pfizer trial pushes any approval closer to Thanksgiving.
“So let me be clear, assuming positive data, Pfizer will apply for Emergency Authorization Use in the U.S. soon after the safety milestone is achieved in the third week of November,” Mr. Bourla wrote in an open letter. “All the data contained in our U.S. application would be reviewed not only by the FDA’s own scientists but also by an external panel of independent experts at a publicly held meeting convened by the agency.”
The upshot is the U.S. could roll out a vaccine before the end of the year, inoculating health care workers and first responders first.
But Mr. Trump hasn’t been shy about pushing for emergency approval of a vaccine before voters have their say on Nov. 3, as he emphasizes drug therapies and a vaccine over mitigation methods such as mask-wearing or societal lockdowns.
Pfizer was considered the most bullish of drugmakers pursuing a vaccine. Its CEO repeatedly pointed to late October as a critical point for knowing more about its progress.
Other companies, including AstraZeneca, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, had suggested they would seek approval later in the year, a timeline that aligns with what federal officials besides Mr. Trump had been saying for some time.
AstraZeneca and J&J each have been forced to hit pause on their trials to investigate an unexplained illness in their respective trials.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Gym owner charged with sexually assaulting clients, employee

LINCOLN , R.I. ( AP ) - A personal trainer from Rhode Island has been charged with sexually assaulting four @ @ @ @ @ the gym he owns , state police say .
Aaron Day , 26 , who @ @ @ @ @ Lincoln , was arraigned Thursday on 13 counts of second-degree sexual assault .
He did @ @ @ @ @ bail was set at $ 100,000 .
He was also ordered to have no contact @ @ @ @ @ Mr .
Day denies all of the allegations levied against him , ” his attorney @ @ @ @ @ WJAR-TV .
“ We have great confidence that the judicial process will allow the truth @ @ @ @ @ vindicated.
” State police started investigating last month after receiving complaints from former and current @ @ @ @ @ .
Some of the allegations date to 2018 .

LINCOLN, R.I. (AP) - A personal trainer from Rhode Island has been charged with sexually assaulting four female clients and employees at the gym he owns, state police say.
Aaron Day, 26, who owns All Day Physique in Lincoln, was arraigned Thursday on 13 counts of second-degree sexual assault. He did not enter a plea and bail was set at $100,000. He was also ordered to have no contact with the women.
“Mr. Day denies all of the allegations levied against him,” his attorney, Patrick Dowling Jr. told WJAR-TV. “We have great confidence that the judicial process will allow the truth to surface and his innocence vindicated.”
State police started investigating last month after receiving complaints from former and current clients and a gym employee. Some of the allegations date to 2018.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--4 killed in scaffolding collapse at German building site

BERLIN ( AP ) - Four workers were killed when scaffolding collapsed on a building site in southern Germany on @ @ @ @ @ The accident happened during work on a concrete ceiling in Denklingen , a small town @ @ @ @ @ that , in addition to the four who were killed when they fell and were @ @ @ @ @ worker was slightly hurt .
There was no immediate word on the cause of the @ @

BERLIN (AP) - Four workers were killed when scaffolding collapsed on a building site in southern Germany on Friday, authorities said.
The accident happened during work on a concrete ceiling in Denklingen, a small town in Bavaria. Police said that, in addition to the four who were killed when they fell and were buried under debris, another worker was slightly hurt.
There was no immediate word on the cause of the accident.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Montana judge blocks actions by Trump’s former land boss

BILLINGS , Mont .
( AP ) - A month after ousting the Trump administration ’ s public lands boss for being in the post unlawfully , a Montana judge on Friday blocked three land-use plans that would have opened most U.S.-owned lands in the state to energy development .
The actions struck down by Judge Brian Morris were implemented while William Perry Pendley was serving as acting director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management .
In a 10-page decision , Morris found that two Montana Resource Management Plans , one for Lewistown and one for Missoula , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Miles City , were approved by Pendley improperly .
Morris denied a request by conservation groups seeking to file more briefs that would examine other actions taken by Pendley .
The judge said he didn ’ t have the jurisdiction and any further reviews should be made with separate lawsuits .
Morris removed Pendley from his post as acting director , where he had been for more than a year without a confirmation vote from the U.S. Senate to lead the agency as required under the Constitution .
Gov .
Steve Bullock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plans approved by Pendley .
Bullock said in September that all actions undertaken during Pendley ’ s 424 days atop the agency were subject to legal challenge .
Trump administration officials rejected the claim that Pendley had illegally led the bureau and have said they would ask the court to leave in place any decisions made under his watch .
The BLM oversees almost a quarter-billion acres of land , primarily in the U.S. West .

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A month after ousting the Trump administration’s public lands boss for being in the post unlawfully, a Montana judge on Friday blocked three land-use plans that would have opened most U.S.-owned lands in the state to energy development.
The actions struck down by Judge Brian Morris were implemented while William Perry Pendley was serving as acting director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
In a 10-page decision, Morris found that two Montana Resource Management Plans, one for Lewistown and one for Missoula, as well as an amendment to a plan for Miles City, were approved by Pendley improperly.
Morris denied a request by conservation groups seeking to file more briefs that would examine other actions taken by Pendley. The judge said he didn’t have the jurisdiction and any further reviews should be made with separate lawsuits.
Morris removed Pendley from his post as acting director, where he had been for more than a year without a confirmation vote from the U.S. Senate to lead the agency as required under the Constitution.
Gov. Steve Bullock last week asked the judge to block the plans approved by Pendley. Bullock said in September that all actions undertaken during Pendley’s 424 days atop the agency were subject to legal challenge.
“This ruling affirms that there are consequences for the continued evasion of constitutional obligations to seek the Senate’s advice and consent. Our public lands deserve better,” Bullock said in a statement Friday.
Trump administration officials rejected the claim that Pendley had illegally led the bureau and have said they would ask the court to leave in place any decisions made under his watch.
The BLM oversees almost a quarter-billion acres of land, primarily in the U.S. West.